WCW’s TV ratings continue to slip at a rapid rate, but despite the rating slipping they are continuing to push the same stars from years past. In recent weeks, WCW has been teasing a potential young vs. old storyline. Several ‘younger’ wrestlers have expressed frustration on television with their inability to break into the main event picture. Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit have broken away from the Four Horsemen due to Flair’s new association with Diamond Dallas Page and Bam-Bam Bigelow.
I took a little bit of time and searched what some of the notable stars ages were at the time of this episode of Nitro I’m about to watch. There are a couple of surprising ages.
Chris Benoit: 32 (just turned)
Dean Malenko: 39
Disco Inferno: 31
Buff Bagwell: 29
Hugh Morrus: 32
Rey Mysterio: 24
Billy Kidman: 25 (just turned)
Raven: 34
Saturn: 32
Booker T: 34
Kanyon: 29 (just turned)
Eddy Guerrero: 31
Konnan: 35
Goldberg: 33
Hulk Hogan: 45
Ric Flair: 50
Diamond Dallas Page: 43
Kevin Nash: 39
Randy Savage: 46
Sting: 40
Rick Steiner: 38
Scott Steiner: 37
Lex Luger: 40
Bret Hart: 41
Roddy Piper: 45
Bam-Bam Bigelow: 37
Curt Hennig: 41
Scott Hall: 40
I was stunned to learn that Dean Malenko is 39 years old at this point. Malenko being the same age as Kevin Nash is something I can’t wrap my head around. Buff Bagwell is only 29 years old. I should have realized Bagwell was so young considering he was barely 20 when he got on the scene in 91-92, but it just felt as if he was at least in his mid-30’s.
Sting is still fairly young and could absolutely find a role in a younger generation of wrestling. Konnan is 35, but he’s moving around as if he’s much, much older. Bret Hart is 41, but is still wrestling as if he’s in his prime at this point. Bigelow being 37 doesn’t seem right, but that’s largely because he’s been on national TV in some capacity for nearly a decade.
There’s no denying that WCW has a good young core, and now is the right time to fully push the young generation as I can’t imagine the ratings getting much more worse than they are now. Also, clean finishes in the main event would be a major positive. Bischoff, remember, promised to right the wrongs he’s done in the past and has done quite literally zero of that.
MAY 31ST — HOUSTON, TX — ASTRODOME
RAVEN IS ATTACKED OUTSIDE
CONTEXT: Outside in the parking lot, WCW Tag Team Champion Raven is attacked by Diamond Dallas Page and Bam-Bam Bigelow. DDP tosses Raven into a dumpster. They slam the plastic topping onto Raven’s head to end the segment.
Bob’s Take: This kind of segment screams that Raven is being written off TV due to an injury or something. I’m not sure where the pivot would be other than a handicap match at the PPV now. Wait, I suppose Kanyon could fill the spot with Saturn. 1 for 1
EDDY GUERRERO RETURNS TO WCW
CONTEXT: Eddy Guerrero makes his way down to the ring as the announcers are promoting the show. Guerrero suffered serious injuries back in January due to a car accident. Guerrero appears to be in great shape. Guerrero joined commentary. They show pictures of Guerrero’s car and the car was totaled. Guerrero describes his injuries and I’m honestly shocked that he’s walking four months later. Guerrero hopes to return to the ring soon.
Bob’s Take: Eddy is one of the favorite wrestlers and I am thrilled that he’s recovered from the car accident and he’ll be returning to WCW in the second half of ’99. We all know the success Eddy would achieve later on in the WWE. It would be foolish to not push Eddy to the moon in WCW. People tend to forget that Eddy had previously won the WCW United States Championship in ’97 and hadn’t always been ‘just a Cruiserweight’ in WCW. 2 for 2
MATCH #1: BILLY KIDMAN VS. HAK
NOTE: Tank Abbott came down to ringside with three guys by his side during the match. Abbott went to the commentary table and said that they know why he’s there. Abbott says he’s hardcore and the cage is hardcore. Abbott reveals he’ll be the referee for the cage match tonight.
FINISH: Late in the match, Hugh Morrus attacks Kidman on the floor causing a disqualification. After the match, Brian Knobbs attacks Hak with a trash can and puts Hak through a table in the corner.
Bob’s Take: There’s nothing to this match, really. Abbott comes out to distract the viewer and then Morrus comes out to cause the DQ. I feel like this should have been Kidman vs. Morrus to begin with since last weeks segment came across well. Unless Kidman and Morrus are wrestling at GAB, I’m not sure why it didn’t happen here. There’s a lot going on here promoting two feuds and the main event. The match wasn’t good, but it was a productive segment with all that was happening. 3 for 3
RIC FLAIR ON THE PHONE
CONTEXT: Flair is on the phone talking about getting eight girls delivered to his room tonight. Flair asks JJ Dillon if Randy Savage’s elbow drop is illegal. Dillon assures that the elbow drop is banned because Flair banned it. Flair declares that Savage can no longer use the move no matter what. Flair repeats several times that the elbow drop is banned.
Bob’s Take: I think this is more of a favor to Savage to save his hip and knees. If Savage adapts the piledriver as his finisher the it’s probably not a big deal. Plus, Savage is a heel and the elbow drop gets a face pop. WCW probably wants to avoid pops. 3 for 4
DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE & BAM-BAM BIGELOW PROMO
CONTEXT: DDP says he doesn’t understand the Houston fans. DDP tried to do the right thing and tried to apologize after putting Hogan out at Spring Stampede. DDP knew it was the wrong thing to put Hogan out with a knee injury. He knew that deep down inside. DDP tried to apologize, but he gets attacked by Hogan last week. DDP suggests next time they will take Hogan out forever. They talk about taking out the trash (Raven) earlier. DDP doesn’t want to wait until Great American Bash to get a tag title match. They want it tonight.
Bob’s Take: Handicap match appears to be the direction and that’s fine for a TV match. I’d imagine the money is in the faces chasing the titles, right? 4 for 5
MIKE TENAY TELLS SATURN & KANYON WHAT HAPPENED
CONTEXT: Tenay tells Saturn that Raven got beaten up. Kanyon claims he didn’t know that was going to happen. Tenay tells them the challenge for tonight. Kanyon quickly accepts the challenge.
Bob’s Take: Okay, so it is a tag match with Raven replacing Kanyon. Kanyon said they accepted suspiciously quick. 5 for 6
CURT HENNIG CONFRONTS DJ RAM
CONTEXT: Hennig joins the commentary table and says that rap is crap. He’s had enough of rap. Hennig claims he’s capable of doing anything and suggests he could sing a country song. Hennig decides to head over to DJ Ram in the audience and sing a country song. Bobby Duncum Jr. arrives and gives Hennig a cowboy hat as they both go over to DJ Ram’s station. Hennig gives Ram the opportunity to leave the area and gives him to the count of three. Ram leaves without incident. Hennig proceeds to a sing a bit. Eventually, Rey Mysterio Jr. and Konnan make their way out to join the segment wearing Astros jerseys. Konnan says Hennig and Duncum don’t have a game. They don’t have a problem with where they are from, but rather their attitude. Hennig says he’ll slap Konnan and that leads to a pull apart with security quickly getting involved.
Bob’s Take: Obviously the point of this angle is that Hennig and Duncum are not good at singing. The segment was fine and sets up a tag match between the two teams. So, that’s fine by me. 6 for 7
MATCH #2: VAN HAMMER VS. EVAN KARAGIAS
FINISH: Hammer finishes Karagias off with the cobra clutch slam for the win.
Bob’s Take: Boring. I’m not into this Hammer push, at all. 6 for 8
RODDY PIPER PROMO, MALENKO & RIC FLAIR JOIN THE SEGMENT
CONTEXT: Piper reminds everyone the importance of Memorial Day and how they are able to be there because of other people sacrificing their lives. Piper says there’s a big dispute amongst the Horsemen. Piper notes that Dean Malenko wants to be freed from the Horsemen. Piper isn’t going to repeat what Malenko told him and instead calls out Malenko to share his thoughts directly.
Piper puts over Malenko as the greatest WCW Cruiserweight champion of all time. Piper wants to know the deal amongst the Horsemen. Malenko stays quiet at the start. Piper tries to get a response regarding the Horsemen. Malenko chimes in and says Ric Flair walked away from Malenko and Benoit, not the other way around. Ric Flair’s music hits and Flair makes his way down to the ring with Arn Anderson.
Malenko tells Flair for eight to ten months they had to sit in the back and listen to Flair serve his own ego. Malenko says it’s not about Rolex watches and fancy items. It is about passing the torch. Malenko believes to take WCW into the year 2000 and beyond it is with the future and the future is staring Flair in the eyes. Flair tells Malenko that without him there s not Horsemen, Malenko or Benoit’s. Flair isn’t going to pass the torch until he sees someone who can carry it. Malenko tells Anderson that ten months he put his heart and soul into the Horsemen. Anderson recalls telling Malenko that he was only coming out of retirement for Horsemen to be back at the top. Anderson tells Malenko this can be patched up. Malenko tells Anderson last week he had loyalty to Arn, but that was last week and simply leaves the ring. Anderson walks to the back, as well. Flair attacks Piper from behind and chops Piper several times. Piper fights back with a series of strikes and uses his belt. Piper backdrops Flair and delivers several more whips over the back. Piper nails Flair with the belt and Flair bails to the floor, but the brawling continues. Eventually, Flair heads backstage to escape the beating.
Bob’s Take: Does Piper not realize that Malenko is essentially talking about taking Piper’s spot, too? Malenko didn’t come across strong in the promo and may be the least intimidating guy out of the core young guys to have this spot in the promo. I think Piper is going to realize that he’s more so part of Flair’s class than he is with the younger revolution. 7 for 9
MATCH #3: KONNAN & REY MYSTERIO JR. VS. CURT HENNIG & BOBBY DUNCUM JR.
NOTE: Eric Bischoff joins commentary before the match begins.
FINISH: Late in the match, Konnan locks in the Tequila Sunrise, but Duncum Jr. hit Konnan with his cowbell to cause a disqualification. Hennig hog ties Mysterio in the corner as they stand tall to end the segment.
Bob’s Take: Konnna got a great reaction during his hot tag segment, and I then remembered the show is in Houston and considering Konnan’s great success came in Mexico there may be some kind of extra attachment to Konnan from the crowd. The action wasn’t all that memorable, but they are continuing the issues, as expected. 7 for 10
RANDY SAVAGE PROMO
CONTEXT: Randy Savage comes out and cuts a promo about his match with WCW World Champion Kevin Nash at Great American Bash. Savage talks about painting Nash’s lips red and putting him in the closet where he belongs. Savage tells the audience that Nash is coming to the Astrodome to wrestle him tonight. Savage doesn’t believe anyone truly believes Nash can beat him. Madusa runs down to the ring. Madusa tells Savage that Kevin Nash is in the building. Savage calls Nash a coward and he’s going to push Nash into the closet where he belongs.
Bob’s Take: Alright, so now Savage is resorting to passively suggesting that Nash is a homosexual to get heat. It screams desperation to get heat to use that tactic. The promos lack substance quite a bit. 7 for 11
KANYON IS LAID OUT BACKSTAGE
CONTEXT: DDP and Bigelow have laid out Kanyon and they walk out. The attack portion isn’t shown.
Bob’s Take: Could there be another backup option? Is Saturn screwed? I don’t hate the suspense aspect. 8 for 12
MATCH #4: DAVID FLAIR VS. ERIK WATTS
FINISH: Late in the match, Arn Anderson hits a spinebuster on Watts while Ric Flair distracts the referee.
Bob’s Take: A guy who benefited from blatant nepotism in 1992/1993 squares off against a guy benefiting from blatant nepotism in 1999. Before the match even started I thought this could be the worst match in WCW Nitro history. As you’d expect, it’s one of the worst WCW Nitro matches to ever take place. 8 for 13
BUFF BAGWELL TALKS WITH RIC FLAIR BACKSTAGE
CONTEXT: Bagwell is sitting with Flair and wants a match with Randy Savage tonight on Nitro. Bagwell is ready for Savage and wants him tonight. Flair tells Bagwell that he’s not in Macho Man’s league and he’s not going to give Bagwell the match. Flair doesn’t want to look bad when Bagwell gets murdered. Flair gives Bagwell the backup plan. Flair gives Bagwell a match against… Bobby Eaton. Bagwell asks if Eaton even works for the company anymore. Bagwell says Flair is taking care of all his buddies. Bagwell is going to show that he’s buff and stuff and Eaton is going t get hurt.
Bob’s Take: This is kind of a bizarre segment to me. If we’re trying to get the younger talents over, why are we saying that Bagwell isn’t in the same league as a broken down Savage? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to see a third match between Savage and Bagwell since their previous two matches on Thunder were not very good. I also didn’t like putting down Bobby Eaton. The segment didn’t help anyone. 8 for 14
THE CAT OPEN CHALLENGE
CONTEXT: The Cat cuts a promo issuing an open challenge for anyone in the locker room. Cat is sick and tired of Scott Norton running into his matches. Scott Norton answers the challenge.
Bob’s Take: I think the bit has ran its course. 8 for 15
MATCH #5: SCOTT NORTON VS. THE CAT
FINISH: Cat hits Norton with a crowbar in the corner and pins Norton. After the match, the New World Order heads to the ring after watching the match, but the segment ends.
Bob’s Take: This has to be the end of the bit, right? Norton should be used far better than he has been, but there’s no reason to drag this bit out any longer. 8 for 16
MATCH #6: RANDY SAVAGE VS. FAKE KEVIN NASH
NOTE: The impersonator is wearing a dress.
FINISH: Savage hits the illegal top rope elbow drop to ‘win the match’.
Bob’s Take: Even in a clear mockery of a match, the ladies get involved to make sure Savage is limited in doing anything physical. This is probably funnier as a thought than it ended up being in execution. 8 for 17
MATCH #7: BUFF BAGWELL VS. BOBBY EATON
FINISH: Bagwell hits the Blockbuster to win the match.
Bob’s Take: Eaton is great, but he sticks out like a sore thumb in this era of wrestling. Eaton’s look screams 1980s, and that’s something WCW should be actively trying to distance themselves from. I’m happy for Eaton getting an appearance on Nitro in 1999, though. A rather lifeless match. Somehow this is what fans to see, Bischoff? 8 for 18
MATCH #8: WCW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS SATURN & KANYON VS. BAM-BAM BIGELOW & DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE
NOTE: Saturn took the microphone and agreed to take the match two on one. DDP responds by saying that Saturn is more stupid than he looks before the bout begins. Also, Saturn is no longer wearing a dress in any capacity. This is the first time I’ve noticed that.
FINISH: Late in the match, Saturn hit a Death Valley Driver on DDP and seemingly won, but the referee didn’t count to three. Saturn does the same to Bigelow when Kanyon runs to the ring to accept a tag. Kanyon enters and is met with a right hand by DDP and wins the titles.
Bob’s Take: For the most part, this is just Saturn getting his ass kicked for an extended period of time. There was a brief moment at the start where Saturn had a great sequence of offense, but then it went to constant butt whoopin’. Kanyon getting decked with a simple right hand and losing the match can provide believable doubt since he was attacked earlier, but we never saw the actual attack. It seems fishy. The crowd became deflated after that finish, as well. It’s a fine match and segment, but I’m looking forward to an actual tag match at GAB if that still happens. 9 for 19
KEVIN NASH POURS SEWAGE INTO RANDY SAVAGE’S LIMO
CONTEXT: Randy Savage and his ladies enter a limo celebrating their night. The limo suddenly stops as a swage truck stops in front. Nash exits the truck and eventually stands on top of the limo pouring sewage into the limo containing Savage and his ladies. Eventually they manage to escape the limo and they freak out while dry heaving.
Bob’s Take: Now we’re using poop to advance the storyline. It is an entertaining segment, I’ll give them that. They ran an ad of the septic service, as well. 10 for 20
MAIN EVENT: WCW TELEVISION CHAMPION RICK STEINER VS. STING — STEEL CAGE MATCH
NOTE: The cage has a roof to it, but there’s not spacing around ringside. Tank Abbott is in the ring acting as the referee.
FINISH: Late in the match, Abbott pulls Steiner out of the corner to avoid a Stinger Splash and punches Sting. Steiner uses athletic tape to tape Sting to the ropes. Abbott leaves the ring quickly and Steiner pummels Sting to end the show.
Bob’s Take: The swerve of Abbott decking Sting didn’t have much of a reaction, and I really don’t care for it. Where is Lex Luger to make a save? These two were restricted in what they could do and the crowd seemed a bit lifeless considering what they’ve been subject to see tonight. If there was ever a time for a clean finish with a babyface going over cleanly it was right here and they didn’t bother to do it. Steiner can job here and not lose the title. A bad overall main event. 10 for 21
A downer of an episode. There was nothing to get excited about throughout the entire show. I feel bad for the 20k+ fans in the Astrodome for having to sit through this program. Aside from Bagwell getting a clean win on the show there wasn’t a lot accomplished for any of the babyfaces for the fans to cheer for. This show didn’t get me more interested in GAB, and rather probably more concerned for a disaster the PPV could end up being.
Nitro 5/31 TV Rating: 3.3
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