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WCW Monday Nitro - February 1, 1999

by Wrestling Recap's Bob Colling

From: Minneapolis, MN

Earlier today, Curt Hennig and Barry Windham showed up together. Hennig mentions that they are in the tag team title tournament and believes they will win the championships. Hennig wants to get to Kevin Nash and Scott Hall for what they did to him last week.

Tony Schiavone, Larry Zbyszko and Mike Tenay are on commentary and they go over what we just saw. Schiavone mentions a disgusting event that happened earlier involving the Nitro Girls.

Earlier today, the Nitro Girls were rehearsing until Scott Steiner came over and talked to Kimberly. Steiner grabbed Kimberly’s arm and she “slipped”. She was knocked out when she fell down. Steiner quickly left the scene.

Mean Gene is standing in the ring to interview Konnan and Rey Mysterio Jr. Konnan does his catchphrases before the actual interview. Gene acts like he knows what Konnan is talking about. Mysterio doesn’t understand the issue between himself and Lex Luger. Mysterio says his mask means the world to him. Mysterio says that Lex Luger and Kevin Nash were some kind of mentor to him when Mysterio first came to WCW. Konnan knows that Luger and Nash attacked Mysterio to get back at him. Konnan is going to make Luger and Nash bow down to them. Mysterio issues a challenge to Lex Luger and Kevin Nash at Superbrawl IX. Konnan will allow Nash and Luger to choose the match. Konnan insults Nash and Luger’s manhood.

In the parking lot, the New World Order B Team are pissed about not having a ride to the arena. Eventually, Horace is able to get a limo for the guys. However, Vincent is not allowed into the car. Vincent calls Kevin Nash and asks for a ride. A limo shows up insanely quickly. Vincent gets in a limo with Kevin Nash, Lex Luger, Elizabeth and Buff Bagwell.

Nitro opening video

Backstage, WCW President has a new job for Eric Bischoff. Flair mentions that Bischoff has to work for him for fifty seven more days. Flair brings Bischoff over to a dunking booth. Bischoff doesn’t want to get sick, but eventually does it. Bischoff promises Flair that he will get the last laugh tonight. Bischoff asks where David Flair is tonight, which Ric says he is at home.

The announcers go over the Ric Flair/Eric Bischoff segment we just saw.

Opening Contest: Curt Hennig/Barry Windham defeated Chris Benoit/Dean Malenko in a tag team title tournament match:

Benoit and Hennig start off the contest. Hennig with a side headlock and shoulder blocks Benoit. Drop toe hold by Benoit and kicks Hennig to the floor. Hennig with a eye poke back in the ring and chops Benoit. Benoit leg trips Hennig and works on Hennig in the corner with chops and right hands. Forearm smash by Benoit as Hennig comes off the ropes. Malenko tags in and delivers several blows to Hennig’s face and chest. Malenko runs into a big boot in the corner but Malenko hammers away on Hennig and knocks Windham off the apron. Double back elbow knocks Hennig down and Benoit gets a near fall. Snap suplex by Benoit for a two count as Nitro goes to commercial. All four men are brawling on the aisle way until Benoit and Windham return to the ring. Windham and Hennig are rammed into each other and Benoit nails Hennig with a right hand for a near fall. Spinning heel kick by Malenko gets a near fall on Hennig. Benoit punches Hennig to the floor but misses a baseball slide. Hennig rams Benoit chest first into the guard railing and tags in Windham. Running lariat by Windham for a two count. Gut wrench suplex by Windham but Benoit pops his shoulder up at two. Windham chops Benoit in the corner and delivers right hands. Hennig tags back into the contest and Benoit is clotheslined by both men. Benoit is tossed to the floor and Windham gets a few cheap shots in as the referee is distracted. Windham rams Benoit face first into a steel chair and gouges Benoit’s eyes. Hennig chops Benoit but Benoit comes back with a few of his own. Hennig stops Benoit with a eye poke. Benoit runs into a big boot but is able to go for the Crossface. Windham enters the ring and attacks Benoit to break the hold. Hennig scoop slams Benoit but misses a middle rope elbow drop. Malenko and Windham get the tags and Malenko nails Windham with a spinning heel kick. Malenko backdrops Windham and takes Windham over with a vertical suplex for a two count. Benoit and Hennig tag back in and trade a series of blows in the corner. All four men are in the ring brawling. Hennig is tossed to the floor by Benoit as Malenko is crotched on the top rope. Windham connects with a superplex on Malenko! Benoit leaps off the top and hit’s the flying head butt on Windham. Hennig comes back in and pins Benoit with a fisherman suplex. **½

Outside, JJ Dillon and several other WCW employees are trying to dunk Bischoff. After a few tosses, Dillon manages to dunk Bischoff into the water.

In the parking lot, Stevie Ray meets up with Kevin Nash and the Wolfpack. Ray badmouths Vincent to Kevin Nash until Vincent comes in from behind Nash. Nash mentions that Hogan isn’t in the arena tonight.

Backstage, the New World Order B Team enter their locker room and are greeted by several women.

A video going over what happened during last weeks' main event.

Mean Gene is standing in the ring and introduces WCW President Ric Flair for a interview. Flair mentions that Eric Bischoff has been abusive to quite a few wrestlers in WCW. Flair says that Bischoff is going to be wet all night long. Gene asks about Chris Benoit and his status. Flair mentions that Hulk Hogan isn’t in the arena tonight. Flair mentions Vincent by his WWF name, Virgil as he says the New World Order is doing their own separate things. Flair says that on the 21st of this month Hogan is going somewhere to try and prove to be called a world champion. Flair says that Hogan has made a mockery out of the championship by painting on it. Flair puts himself over as a great wrestler and tells Hogan he will tie him into a knot. Flair turns his attention to Bret Hart. Flair calls Hart’s career “lame”. Flair announces that Bret Hart will wrestle Chris Benoit at WCW Supebrawl IX for the WCW United States Championship. Scott Hall and Disco Inferno make their way down to the ring to cut off Ric Flair. Scott Hall says that everyone at the arena came to see the New World Order. Hall isn’t going to be told what to do by Ric Flair. Hall doesn’t understand why Benoit is the number one contender. Hall jokes that Benoit washes Flair’s car. Hall goes over all the things he has done recently to earn a title shot. Flair calls Hall one half of a fantasy world. Hall calls Benoit a loser and says he would proof to Benoit that he is the number one contender. Chris Benoit makes his way down to the ring. Benoit slaps Hall and Flair attacks Inferno. Benoit with a snap suplex on Hall and the Wolfpack bail to the floor. Flair announces that Scott Hall will wrestle Chris Benoit later tonight!

Second Contest: Van Hammer defeated Kenny Kaos

Long story short, Hammer plants Kaos with a double leg slam to win the match. NR

After the match, Hak attacks Hammer with a kendo stick. Hak with a side Russian leg sweep on Hammer as Kaos was dumped to the floor. Hak says that he is tired of people coming out to the ring claiming to be hardcore. Hak claims to be the first person to have a barbed wire match. Hak claims to the be the first man to use barbed wire in many different ways. Hak calls himself the “King of the Extreme”. Hak asks Bam-Bam Bigelow how does it feel to be hunted. The announcers do not know the name of the man as this is Hak’s debut.

Third Contest: Bam-Bam Bigelow defeated Hak in a hardcore match

Hak with a few kendo stick shots to Bigelow’s back as Bigelow enters the ring. Hak chokes Bigelow with the kendo stick in the corner and hits Bigelow several times with the kendo stick. Hak leaps off the apron to the floor but Bigelow catches Hak and rams Hak back first into the ring steps. Bigelow rams Hak head first into the ring post. Bigelow grabs a chair and smashes the chair over Hak’s head. Bigelow connects with a standing side kick and follows up with a falling head butt dive. Bigelow delivers a chair shot across Hak’s back and puts the boots to Hak. Bigelow runs into a big boot and Hak drops Bigelow with a running clothesline. Running bulldog by Hak onto the steel chair and this allows Hak to grab some barbed wire. Hak sets the barbed wire up in the corner. Hak short arm clotheslines Bigelow out of the corner and uses the kendo stick to clothesline Bigelow. Hak connects with a slingshot leg drop from the apron back into the ring. Bigelow comes back with a DDT onto the steel chair. Bigelow sends Hak back first into the barbed wire and splashes Hak in the corner. Bigelow leaps off the top rope and hit’s a flying head butt. Bigelow hits the Greetings from Asbury Park and pins Hak. *½

Outside, several employees are still trying to dunk Bischoff. One employee takes forever to dunk Bischoff.

A video of Lex Luger and Elizabeth putting over all the elite talent forming the Wolfpack and they are happy to be apart of the group. They believe that Goldberg needs some anger management sessions. Luger really enjoyed screwing Goldberg over on the first Nitro of the year.

Back outside, Scott Dickinson dunks Eric Bischoff.

The announcers talk about the recent happenings between Scott Steiner, Kimberly and Diamond Dallas Page.

Backstage, WCW Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman tells Diamond Dallas Page what happened earlier between Scott Steiner and Kimberly. DDP begins to look for Scott Steiner and enters the Wolfpack locker room. DDP asks where Scott Steiner is. The Wolfpack are making a joke out of the situation. DDP tells the Wolfpack that they better hope his wife if okay. Scott Steiner was in the bathroom in the locker room. Steiner teases that he is messing around with woman in the back that could Kimberly. Nash tells Vincent to talk to DDP and slap DDP in the mouth. Vincent tells Disco Inferno to do what he was just told and says that when Inferno slaps DDP, the Wolfpack will come out to help him. By the way, Vincent is a horrible talker.

Diamond Dallas Page makes his way down to the ring and calls out Scott Steiner. DDP says that Steiner is under his skin and wants Steiner in the ring right now! Disco Inferno makes his way down to the ring and tells DDP to stop crying. Inferno tells DDP that Scott Steiner has accepted a match against DDP at Superbrawl. Inferno slaps DDP. DDP doesn’t take that kindly and drives Inferno down to the canvas with the diamond cutter! Vincent returns to the locker room and is told that he is becoming smart. DDP gets in his car and leaves the arena as Nitro goes to commercial.

Fourth Contest: WCW Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman defeated Lash LeRoux to retain the title

Hammerlock by LeRoux but Kidman is able to snap mare LeRoux. Kidman follows up with a head scissors but LeRoux returns with a head scissors that sends Kidman to the floor. LeRoux takes Kidman out with a hurricanrana on the floor. LeRoux leaps off the ring steps but misses a splash and falls into the crowd. Kidman leaps off the steps and connects with a cross body in the crowd. Kidman leaps off the top rope connecting with a cross body for a near fall. LeRoux drives Kidman down to the mat with a double under hook slam but doesn’t follow up quickly. LeRoux chokes Kidman briefly. Kidman with a rollup and a series of right hands following a near fall. LeRoux lifts Kidman into the air and drops Kidman gut first to the mat. LeRoux does a split and nails Kidman with a clothesline. LeRoux controls Kidman with a neck vice. Kidman with a series of forearms and splashes LeRoux in the corner. Kidman heads to the top rope but misses a frog splash. LeRoux controls Kidman with a arm bar for a few moments. Nice exploder suplex by LeRoux and nearly gets the win! LeRoux crotches Kidman on the top rope but taunts the fans. This allows Kidman to drive LeRoux down to the mat with a sit out spine buster off the middle rope. Kidman with a quick clothesline and gets a two count. Kidman rolls through a rollup and covers LeRoux for a near fall. LeRoux connects with a spinning fireman’s carry slam for a two count! Kidman gets out of a back suplex and connects with a springboard bulldog but LeRoux kicks out at two. LeRoux counters a vertical suplex attempt and slams Kidman down to the mat. Kidman counters a power bomb attempt by ramming LeRoux down to the canvas. Kidman heads to the top rope and connects with the Shooting Star Press. ***

Outside, Bobby Heenan is talking to Eric Bischoff and says that he is going to hand Bischoff the balls. Heenan walks over but slips and presses the button which dunks Bischoff!

Inside a car, WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan is talking to Chuck Vito from the television show OZ. They are talking about Ric Flair as they driving around in a limo.

Backstage, Mean Gene is with Booker T. Gene brings up Booker T’s ACL injury that landed his year in 1998. Booker says he has had to rethink things following his match with Bret Hart last night. Booker is going to turn a negative into a positive. Booker was told that at Superbrawl he will be wrestling Disco Inferno. Booker promises to raise the roof at Superbrawl.

Before the next match, Scott Steiner cuts a promo about having to wrestle all comers, even white trash. Steiner tells DDP that he needs to step aside and allow Steiner to please Kimberly, basically.

Fifth Contest: WCW Television Champion Scott Steiner defeated Chris Jericho in a non-title match

Steiner shoves Jericho to the floor to start the contest. Steiner takes Jericho down and delivers several forearm strikes. Steiner gorilla press slams Jericho as Buff Bagwell laughs on the floor. Jericho ducks a clothesline and kicks Steiner to the apron. Jericho connects with a springboard dropkick and Steiner falls to the floor. Bagwell attacks Jericho from behind and Steiner tosses Jericho over the railing into the crowd. Steiner hits Jericho with a chair and sends Jericho into the ring post. Bagwell gets a cheap shot in on Jericho. Jericho drops Steiner throat first across the top rope and comes off the top rope with a spinning back elbow. Steiner kicks out of an arrogant cover and clotheslines Jericho. Bagwell pokes Jericho in the eyes in the corner. Steiner with a big gut wrench power bomb to continue his domination of Jericho. Steiner places Jericho in the tree of woe. Jericho gets out of it and knocks Bagwell out on the floor and kicks Steiner a few times. Steiner with a inside cradle but Jericho kicks out at two. Steiner chokes Jericho in the corner but Jericho comes back with a leaping back elbow as Steiner comes off the ropes for a near fall. Jericho dropkicks Bagwell off the apron but Steiner takes Jericho over with a exploder suplex for a near fall. Jericho with a jaw breaker and a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Steiner comes off the ropes and clotheslines Jericho. Steiner drives Jericho down with a pump handle slam and gets a near fall only because Steiner pulls Jericho up. Jericho connects with a super kick and decides he has had enough. Perry Saturn walks down to the ring and cuts Jericho off. Jericho is tossed back into the ring where Steiner connects with a exploder suplex and locks in the Steiner Recliner. Jericho submits. **

Footage of Bret Hart “attacking” Will Sasso on a recent edition of Mad TV. Hart says that Sasso tried to make him look like a fool during his last appearance on the show. Hart places Sasso in the Sharpshooter until several producers run over.

Kevin Nash, Lex Luger and Miss Elizabeth make their way down to the ring. Luger can’t help but chuckle at the thought of Konnan and Rey Mysterio Jr. challenging them to a match. Nash focuses on the stipulation that Rey Mysterio would put his mask on the line against Kevin Nash and Lex Luger’s hair. Nash announces they accept the challenge as long as if they lose, Elizabeth will shave her head!

Before the next match, Ernest Miller tells David Penzer that Miller wants to be known as “the greatest of all time”. Miller tells the fans to shut up and sit down so he can talk. Miller issues a open challenge to anyone in the back to fight him. Backstage, several Wolfpack members tell Scott Norton that Miller called him out directly and they get a laugh out of Norton heading to the ring.

Sixth Contest: Scott Norton defeated Ernest Miller

Long story short, Norton controls Miller for most of the match. Norton eventually wins the match following a power bomb. NR

Mean Gene is in the ring again and introduces Bill Goldberg for a interview. Gene puts over Goldberg’s win streak and says he still believes Goldberg is undefeated. Goldberg claims to have moved past what happened at Starrcade 1998. Gene brings up Bam-Bam Bigelow and how Bigelow has tried everything to get at Goldberg. Goldberg wants Bigelow to try and find fear in his eyes, but Bigelow isn’t going to find any. Goldberg says that Bigelow is only one thing… “you’re next!” Goldberg poses for the fans.

Outside, the Horsemen are throwing balls at the dunk tank. Ric Flair and Dean Malenko are trying to dunk Bischoff. Flair eventually just pushes the button to dunk Bischoff.

Main Event:
Scott Hall defeated Chris Benoit to earn a WCW United States Championship match at Superbrawl IX

Benoit arm drags Hall to start the match as WCW United States Champion Bret Hart has joined commentary for the contest. Hall wants to a test of strength but Benoit blows snot on Hall. Benoit dropkicks Hall to the floor. Benoit nails Hall with a baseball slide and Hall falls to the floor. Inferno trips Benoit in the ring but Benoit recovers to hammer away on Hall. Hall is dropkicked into Inferno who falls off the apron. Benoit goes for the Crossface but Inferno pulls Benoit out. Mongo comes down and sends Inferno into the guard railing. Benoit hammers away on Hall in the corner with several boots and right hands. Mongo is brawling with Inferno to the backstage area. Mongo tosses Inferno into a locker room where Arn Anderson has a tire iron as Nitro goes to commercial. Benoit chops Hall in the corner until Hall pokes Benoit in the eyes. Benoit has a sleeper hold on Benoit but Hall gets out of it by crotching Benoit on the top rope. Hall takes Benoit over with a fall away slam. Hall hammers away on Benoit and clotheslines Benoit in the corner. Hall locks in a abdominal stretch in the middle of the ring. Hall uses the ropes for leverage. Benoit gets out of it by hip tossing Hall but misses a elbow drop. Hall drops Benoit with a right hand. Hall and Benoit trade right hands and chops in the corner. Benoit gets the advantage and clotheslines Hall. Benoit connects with a snap suplex and a backbreaker. Benoit signals for the flying head butt and heads to the top rope. Benoit connects with the flying head butt! Benoit knocks Kevin Nash off the apron. Hall crotches Benoit on the top rope and drives Benoit down to the mat with the Outsiders Edge to earn the win. *¼
After the match, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash celebrate the win.

Back to Hulk Hogan and Chuck Vito talking in a limo. Hogan says they are going to have a lot of fun in Charlotte. Hogan is apparently going to ruin David Flair’s life. David is going to workout as Hogan follows David into the gym. Backstage at the arena, the Horsemen are watching what Hogan is talking. Vito tells the camera guy to turn off the camera as Nitro comes to an end.

End of show.

My Take: I thought it was surprising to have Konnan and Rey Mysterio be the first main interview segment. I don’t think that is necessarily a bad thing but rather a good thing. It’s good to mix things up as usually Ric Flair or the New World Order kick off the show. The promo wasn’t great but at least they are getting some proper air time.

I enjoyed the opening tag team match. It wasn’t a big shock to see Hennig/Windham go over considering they are a new tag team and they need to get some momentum going. I just wish that they didn’t go over Benoit and Malenko.

Way too much of the New World Order Black and White on this show. Especially way too much of Vincent. Vincent is a horrible talker and doesn’t offer anything to WCW. His air time could have gone to someone who is far more entertaining.

Bigelow/Hak was a simple hardcore match that wasn’t really “extreme”. It was funny, in a bad way, that the announcers didn’t know Hak’s name. So, throughout the whole match the commentary is lackluster because they refer to him as “that guy” or some form of that statement.

The whole woman violence angle with Steiner, Kimberly and Page is something I am mixed on. It certainly adds some heat to the program but I don’t think having Steiner put his hands on Kimberly was needed.

The crowd was dead by the time Kidman vs. LeRoux happened which is a shame because it was a good television match. LeRoux has some promise as he displayed some good moves while Kidman hit all his spots as well. If this was put on earlier in the show I am sure the crowd would have been hot for it. It didn’t help that they most likely didn’t have any idea who LeRoux was, anyway.

Steiner/Jericho was okay, I guess. I’m not big on all these heel vs. heel matches on this show. Jericho was getting a few cheers, but he gets them every week no matter who he wrestles. At least it wasn’t a complete squash match as I was expecting.

Not a good main event. Not a good show for Chris Benoit period. The poor guy loses both matches he is in by pin fall. The idea of a Bret Hart vs. Chris Benoit match is more appealing and interesting then a Hart vs. Scott Hall match. I guess when your best friend is the booker, you get inserted into spots you have no right to be in.

Overall, the first half or so of the show was decent but not great. The last hour wasn’t worth the time. Kidman vs. LeRoux was the match of the night. Mediocre show at best.

Thanks for reading.

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