Man, WCW Nitro this week sure was bizarre. Ric Flair, who is booked to challenge WCW World Champion Hollywood Hogan at Superbrawl in less than a week, was viciously attacked in a field by the New World Order. It was an uncomfortable watch, and made me think of the senseless murder of Matthew Shepard. Flair being left in the field to seemingly die was unsettling. The remarkable return to the fairgrounds with the help of a random truck driver prompted an immediate eye roll. It’s a weird booking decision to make viewers think that Flair wouldn’t be able to make it to the pay per view. Flair has not been able to get any actual momentum on the New World Order and if he doesn’t win the title at Superbrawl, what does any of this accomplish?
It would appear that the man that Torrie Wilson is seducing would be David Flair. David hasn’t been on television and since he wasn’t touched by Hogan and Chuck Zito weeks ago, I think it’s safe to say they instead managed to manipulate David into turning against his father. That would be the only logical reveal I can think of.
Bret Hart being wasted in a feud with Will Sasso should be a fireable offense for anyone on creative. A guy like Disco Inferno would have been better off in that spot, but Disco isn’t going to get a mainstream press of being on MadTV to justify it.
Nitro didn’t make me feel any more interested in Superbrawl, but hopefully Thunder can rebound where Nitro faltered.
FEBRUARY 18TH — SALT LAKE CITY, UT — E CENTER
HARLEM HEAT MEET UP BACKSTAGE
CONTEXT: Stevie Ray walks up to Booker T asking if Booker is still working for JJ Dillon. Stevie is the leader of the NWO and wants Booker to join him and they can run things like they use to. Booker notes they talked about this before and tells Stevie that Hogan isn’t done for nothing. Booker says that Stevie is just packing Hogan’s bags. Disco Inferno enters the scene and says if Harlem Heat is getting together than there’s a spot opened in the NWO. Disco asks if it’s a “brother thing” prompting Stevie to walk off and Booker chokes Disco against the wall.
Bob’s Take: Booker should never be in the NWO, and I’m glad that’s not happening. This is some final last minute promotion for the Booker/Disco match at Superbrawl that hasn’t gotten much attention whatsoever. 0 for 1
TORRIE WILSON AT THE HOTEL
CONTEXT: Torrie welcomes the cameraman back to the hotel and continues to be a flirt and teases tasing the cameraman.
Bob’s Take: I don’t recall seeing this on Nitro, so it’s interesting that Thunder is getting a fresh video of Wilson flirting. 1 for 2
THE WOLFPAC POKE FUN AT HOT ROD
CONTEXT: Disco Inferno makes his way out to the NWO Wolfpac music and is wearing the NWO Wolfpac shirt. Inferno gets some decent heat for saying Wolfpac is in the house. Inferno introduces WCW United States Champion Roddy Piper, but instead of Piper it’s actually Scott Hall coming out wearing a kilt. Hall says everyone is buzzing about what’s going to go down in Oakland on Sunday. Hall confirms that Disco is the newest member of the NWO Wolfpac. Hall promotes Disco’s match with Booker T at Superbrawl. Inferno says that Booker is mediocre and is a guy climbing the ladder to success, but is still on the first rung. Disco isn’t going to lay down for Booker T at Superbrawl. Disco says that Booker can’t stop him, but can only hope to contain him. Hall provides a message for WCW United States Champion Roddy Piper. Hall knows that Piper is shining up the championship for Oakland. Hall says there’s one guy who is walking out with the title and describes himself. Hall takes the kilt off and tosses it into the crowd.
Bob’s Take: Not a good segment, at all. Disco being in the NWO Wolfpac already diminishes the group. That is what the NWO Black & White is for. Why on earth would Disco be involved in the main group? You’d think they’d learn their lesson, but they continue to make the same mistakes. There’s no interest in Hall vs. Piper and his promo was weak in attempting to draw up interest in the match. 1 for 3
MATCH#1: LASH LEROUX VS. CHAVO GUERRERO JR.
FINISH: LeRoux is trapped in the tree of woe on the apron, but Chavo won’t stop working over LeRoux causing the referee to throw out the match. After the match, Kidman runs down and makes the save, but Chavo bails to the floor. Chavo sends Kidman into LeRoux causing LeRoux to crash to the floor. Chavo spikes Kidman with a tornado DDT on the floor. Chavo taunts the crowd to end the segment.
Bob’s Take: The match itself isn’t all that memorable or noteworthy, but the aftermath was nicely done an gives the match between Chavo and Kidman much more of a purpose and gives Chavo proper momentum leading into the title match at Superbrawl. 2 for 4
LEX LUGER IS TAKEN OUT BY REY MYSTERIO JR.
CONTEXT: During the early stages of the previous match, the cameras go to the parking lot where a limo is arriving. Rey Mysterio Jr. is in the parking lot where Lex Luger and Elizabeth taunt Rey for hitch hiking from the limo. Luger and Liz get out of the limo, but Mysterio came back over and kicked the limo door into Luger’s arm. Rey runs off yelling “thug life, baby” and the limo drives off.
Bob’s Take: Luger suffered a major arm injury last month on the house shows with Konnan and this is the way their writing him off TV it looks like. With Luger unable to compete at Superbrawl, who knows who will replace him. This is a fine way to accomplish their mission in pivoting away from Luger. 3 for 5
NWO B-TEAM CHATTING
CONTEXT: Horace & Brian Adams cut a promo about wrestling the Horsemen tonight with the winner going to Superbrawl. Horace believes they’ve had the toughest challenge in the tournament while the Horsemen has had the easiest road. Horace says they are the toughest, and meanest team in wrestling. Adams says they have a size and strength advantage. Adams notes that Ric Flair took a hell of a beating and Steve McMichael needing a seeing eye dog. Adams claims that Arn Anderson is the new cigarette boy in county jail. Adams tells them to come get some.
Bob’s Take: I don’t know why, but I like the team of Adams and Horace. The promo isn’t the best, but I like the quick promo to add some hype for the match with the Horsemen tonight. 4 for 6
CHRIS JERICHO PROMO; RALPHUS WEARING A DRESS
CONTEXT: Jericho talks about being the fans one and only role model. Jericho says he’s the god of thunder and rock and roll, baby. Jericho apologizes to all the Jerichoholics for being a superior competitor to Saturn and forcing Saturn to wear a dress. Jericho apologizes for subjecting the fans to seeing Saturn wearing a dress. Jericho has brought along a man with real class and looks how someone should look wearing a dress. Jericho introduces Ralphus wearing a dress!
Bob’s Take: This is good comedy. Ralphus is hilarious and doesn’t even talk. 5 for 7
MATCH #2: CHRIS JERICHO VS. JUVENTUD GUERRERA
FINISH: Jericho counters an attempted hurricanrana with the Lion Tamer and forces Guerrera to submit to win the match.
Bob’s Take: A short match, but it’s an enjoyable bout for what it was. Ralphus involvement at one point got a chuckle as Jericho demanded Ralphus kiss Guerrera, but failed and was instead taken out with a crossbody. They’ve had better matches with more time, obviously. I also remember a time when Guerrera’s motto was “never surrender, never give up” and he kind of tapped out without much issue here. 6 for 8
BUFF BAGWELL & SCOTT STEINER PROMO; SCOTT STEINER WANTS KIMBERLY FOR 30 DAYS
CONTEXT: Buff Bagwell is standing in the ring to cut a promo. Bagwell tells the fans to sit down and shut up. Bagwell reveals that he’s gotten his medical release and he’ll be wrestling in all the arenas soon. Bagwell introduces the WCW Television Champion Scott Steiner. Steiner comes out, but isn’t wearing the championship. Steiner sees fans doing the diamond cutter sign and sees fans holding DDP signs. That makes him think this may be DDP country. Steiner knows he’s in DDP country because of the white trash in the cheap seats. Steiner calls DDP the biggest white trash in WCW. Steiner notes that DDP isn’t there because he’s a coward. Steiner says that DDP found out that Kimberly likes Steiner for his body and personality. Steiner believes Kimberly realized that DDP would never look as good as him. Steiner wants to raise the stakes and stipulations at Superbrawl IX. Steiner remembers beating DDP before and saying that Kimberly would know what it’s like to be with a real man. Steiner says that if he beats DDP then he gets Kimberly for 30 days. Steiner notes that the last time he had someone for 30 days was four years ago and she’s still calling him and she calls him the Big Bad Booty Daddy. Steiner issues a challenge since DDP isn’t there and it’s answered by Bobby Blaze.
Bob’s Take: Okay, that was a good promo. There’s no way that Steiner is winning at Superbrawl with such a stipulation. I don’t envision a way where Kimberly would be with Steiner for a month. However, if that happened Kimberly is likely turning heel, but again, I truly doubt that’s even a viable option. 7 for 9
MATCH #3: WCW TELEVISION CHAMPION SCOTT STEINER VS. BOBBY BLAZE
FINISH: Steiner easily wins the match following the Steiner Recliner. After the match, Steiner tips over the stretcher and continues to beat up Blaze putting the Steiner Recliner on Blaze again.
Bob’s Take: Steiner kicking ass is always enjoyable to see. 8 for 10
MATCH #4: KONNAN & REY MYSTERIO JR. VS. HECTOR GARZA & SILVER KING
FINISH: Mysterio pinned King following a hurricanrana
Bob’s Take: It’s a solid match though it’s mostly an extended squash for Konnan and Mysterio. I wish I could say the win gives them creditability before Superbrawl, but they’re beating fellow Cruiserweights and not heavyweight wrestlers that they’re dealing with at the PPV. Konnan looked to be moving around badly and seemed to be favoring his lower body. Mysterio continues to be great. 9 for 11
DEAN MALENKO & CHRIS BENOIT PROMO
CONTEXT: Malenko says this is a moment they’ve been waiting for and they’ve had a lot of obstacles put in their way. Those obstacles include the New World Order. Malenko says tonight is a do or die situation. They have to take one serious gut check. Benoit chimes in and talks about January 4th where Hogan and Nash abolished the meaning of being a champion. They are going to show everyone what being champion is all about. Brian Adams and Horace their best will not be good enough.
Bob’s Take: Another fine promo by the Horsemen to build interest for the main event. 10 for 12
MATCH #5: BOOKER T VS. JERRY FLYNN
FINISH: During the match, Disco Inferno came down to ringside to watch the match. Flynn kicked Inferno off the apron at one point. Late in the match, Inferno pulled down the ropes causing Booker to crash to the floor and hit the Chartbuster. Flynn had the referee distracted and delivers a spin kick to the chest to pickup the win.
Bob’s Take: This has been quite the week for Flynn having won against Saturn on Nitro with an assist from Jericho. It’s a little baffling to have Booker do the job, but I could potentially get behind a Flynn push, which feels a little nuts to say. Flynn has believable offense and comes across as a hard hitting fighter. Booker continues to come across as a future main event act for WCW, too. I enjoyed the match. 11 for 13
RIC FLAIR IS ALIVE AND HE’S HERE TO CUT A PROMO WITH MEAN GENE
CONTEXT: Flair makes his way out wearing sunglasses and has couple of small bandages on his face. Gene calls it a travesty for what the Wolfpac did to Flair on Nitro. Flair wants to talk to Gene in voice and level that is difficult for him. Flair wants to get loud and tell it how it is, but tonight he wants to drive it home that he’ll know Hogan will hear about it. Flair faults himself for thinking that he had everything under control. Flair says Hogan and the Outsiders aren’t cool. Flair says Hogan is the guy who needs to have commercials and they’re given to him because he’s a champion. Flair spent 20 years being the best he can be. Flair has heard people laugh at him for getting his ass kicked on Nitro. Flair says he’s been champion for times than Hogan just by accident. Flair is going to make Oakland a special day for himself because this time there will not be other networks as it will be Flair and Hogan. Flair knows that on his worst day he can kick Hogan’s ass. Gene says he’s ashamed to be part of wrestling after what happened on Nitro. Flair lists several former champions that he’s beaten over the years. Flair says in Hollywood they say you’ve got to beat Hulk Hogan. However, in Oakland to be the man you’ll have to beat Ric Flair.
Bob’s Take: All things considered from the extended beatdown on Nitro, Flair doesn’t look all that bad. Which, makes the beating look dumb. The beating should have been the night after Souled Out and kept Flair off TV until Superbrawl. Wolfpac barely left a scratch on Flair and it makes them look like idiots for not being able to take Flair out. Flair kept to a formula promo to promote the match with Hogan. I wish Flair looked like he had actually been almost killed on Nitro. That kind of took me out the segment. 11 for 14
MAIN EVENT: CHRIS BENOIT & DEAN MALENKO VS. BRIAN ADAMS & HORACE — STEEL CAGE — WCW TAG TITLE TOURNAMENT MATCH
FINISH: Late in the match, the referee is knocked down and Vincent slides a chair into the ring. Horace sends Benoit through the door to the floor leaving Malenko by himself. Vincent attacked Benoit on the floor. Benoit sends Vincent into the ring steps face first. Benoit climbs the cage and stands at the top after kicking Horace off. Malenko kicks the chair into Adams and Benoit dove off the top of the cage to hit a diving headbutt. Malenko pins Adams to win the match and advance to Superbrawl.
Bob’s Take: They started off following traditional tag rules, which is something that always drives me nuts in tag team steel cage matches. The finish is insane as Benoit diving off the cage in a throwaway cage match on Thunder is a bit nuts. I’d expect something like that to happen on Nitro or PPV. The action wasn’t anything all that memorable, but the finish sure is. 12 for 15
Overall, a solid episode of Thunder as we finish up the build towards Superbrawl. the angles leading into the PPV seemed to get progressively worse and my interest in the PPV has certainly gone down. On paper, Superbrawl IX should be considered a good show, but I’m wary of the results once we get there.
Flair vs. Hogan is the most interesting match, but at this point it’s only because I’m wondering if Flair is going to do the job. I feel like, typically, when a face encounters so much from a heel leading into a PPV showdown that the face is going to prevail. However, the endgame is likely not Flair to win the title, but at some point, the title getting back on Goldberg. I say that, but it also feels like they are trying to shift away from the January 4th angle and haven’t mentioned it all that much in reference to Hogan/Goldberg.
Speaking of guys getting revenge, Diamond Dallas Page probably needs to win at Superbrawl, too. The stipulation of Steiner getting Kimberly for a month may be making it obvious that DDP is going over. They can’t afford to make it that the NWO continues to be a dominate stable over WCW. It’s been done once and there’s no reason to continue it in that manner. Some of the good guys need to be able to prevail.
Goldberg hasn’t been a focus on television all that much, but I’m not all that upset about it. We all know that Goldberg is going to plow through Bigelow at Superbrawl. I still think it should have been Goldberg vs. Luger if Luger hadn’t gotten hurt.
That’s a wrap. Lets get to Superbrawl IX.
Thunder 2/18 TV Rating: 3.8
Thanks for reading.