WCW Thunder - Thursday, February 4, 1999

• Mike Czaplinski defends the honor of one Tony Schiavone:

  In your (as always excellent) Thunder Report for 1/28/99, you say:

  Schiavone then has the gall to call Superbrawl the "Super Bowl of WCW."

  I agree 200% that Schiavone has gall, but to be fair, Sr. Le Brain did slip and call Superbrawl "Superbowl" before. Tony was simply covering for Heenan's midwestern accent (and, no doubt, trying to save the much-litigated-against WCW any more lawyers bills and protect it from having to pay the NFL for misappropriating their copyrighted term).

  The things people will sue over nowadays...

• Joseph Nix ponders:

  OK, for my second letter to the digest, I thought I might point out something that I found rather odd. During the not-so-"Fit" Finlay / Super Calo match, with Finlay taking the "shortcut" as Schiavone kept calling it (eye poke). How could this be, when we all know that Calo wears the super glasses that never move no matter the beatdown he's taking? If I was Calo I'd take my glasses back and get me a new pair, that pair doesn't seem to be too resistant.

  You know, that's the trouble with going to lens providers that promise glasses in one hour or they're free. Not enough time to do quality work.

• Here's Barry P. of The Lodi Page with his Thunder wrap-up:

  Just about every match featured a Mexican! And the two that didn't had Bobby Duncum Jr. (Texas-close enough) and Kaz Hayashi (Japan-same thing). All luchadores, all the time!

  Wasn't the lWo upset that Eric Bischoff had all of the luchadores facing each other? Well, they didn't on Thunder, and they all got slaughtered. That plan worked to perfection, eh?

  When the nWo ran in at the end, Hogan brought up the rear. How appropriate.

  Miss Elizabeth looks a little top-heavy, if you know what I mean, and I think you do.

  I liked how the Luchas got a chance to do their thing on Thunder. However, I think there were enough cruiserweights in the back so we could avoid the heavyweight-versus-cruiserweight motif that the night seemed to be based on.

  On the subject of Miss Elizabeth, I was thinking back to that "Match Made In Heaven" gimmick they did in the WWF many years ago. Not to sound mean or anything, but you could compare Liz's chest to that of cartoon character Olive Oyl.

• Michael Miller has an idea:

  I have an idea for a new wrestling stable. Perry Saturn, Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker, Tugboat, Tatanka, and the Man's Man Steve Regal. The Young Men's Crossed Association or YMCA.

• Finally, Jason Kreitzer makes a discovery:

  Have you ever noticed that the first guy you see in TBS's "Movies for Guys Who Like Movies" promo looks like Ken Shamrock? Similarly, the guy in the red hat and long dark hair looks like Sean Waltman (Syxx/X-Pac). Could this be meant as a dig at the competition?

• They promise us two matches in the tag team tournament tonight.
• In the booth is Schiavone, Tenay, and Heenan.
• They talk about last Monday's Nitro and "one of the biggest matches ever," Flair vs. Hogan at Superbrawl IX.
• We go backstage to hear Arn Anderson on the phone finding out about David Flair's condition. Turns out David was not harmed last Monday.

• New looks. New music. Y'know, Riggs looks like a bonafide American male tonight.
• However, he might job tonight, as per usual.
• We cut to a shot taped earlier in the day of the nWo B-Team riding in a limo.
• Jericho comes out. With his de-push, it's going to be a bit more difficult in choosing a winner.
• A nice looking woman blows a couple kisses at the camera.
• Some doofus has a sign that says "Wrestling is fake."
  • OK, so what's the problem? The sign is upside-down. Duh.
• Before the match starts, Jericho forces Ralphus away from ringside.
• Jericho gets a mic and says the reason the fans came was to see the Ayatollah of Rock-n-rollah, Chris Jericho.
• Jericho knows the fans came to "see, cheer, and yell for their role model, moi".
• Jericho calls the fans card-carrying Jerichoholics.
• Note that Jericho's speech came after the bell. We don't get a lockup until ninety seconds in.
• Riggs breaks clean in the corner.
• Another lockup, Jericho applies a side headlock.
• Off the ropes, Jericho lands a shoulderblock.
• Riggs leapfrogs over Jericho and lands a dropkick.
• Jericho insists that Randy Anderson check his face.
• Jericho lands a kick and two chops.
• Jericho whips Riggs and misses an elbow.
• Jericho tries a dropkick but Riggs holds the ropes.
• Riggs grabs a hold of Jericho's legs and catapults him outside.
• Riggs planchas himself over the top rope onto Jericho.
• Both men are back in.
• Riggs gets in a punch and an Irish Whip.
• Jericho reverses the whip and hot-shots Riggs on the ropes.
• With Riggs on the apron, Jericho leaps to the turnbuckle and does a springboard shoulderblock, sending Riggs to the concrete!
• Jericho applies a facelock outside of the ring.
• Three minutes worth of commercials...
  • It really bugs me how they pick the cruiserweight matches to take a commercial break.
• Jericho slaps Riggs back on the ropes.
• Jericho goes to the ropes and misses a knee dive when Riggs moves.
• Riggs tries a corner charge, in which Jericho sends him into the turnbuckle.
• Jericho with a scoop slam.
• Jericho goes to the ropes and delivers a back splash.
• Jericho covers for two.
• Riggs gets some punches in.
• Jericho pokes the eyes.
• In the corner, Jericho lands a spinning kick.
• Jericho rolls Riggs out of the ring and goes outside himself.
• Jericho tosses Penzer aside and picks up a chair.
• Jericho kicks Riggs and heads on the apron.
• Jericho, holding the chair in front of him, leaps at Riggs, who dropkicks Jericho AND the chair.
• Back in the ring, Riggs goes up top and lands a crossbody for two.
• Jericho gets some elbows in the back.
• A downed Riggs becomes the recipient of a dropkick to the face.
• Jericho does a boot choke in the corner.
• Jericho with a backbreaker, and stretches Riggs in the hold.
• Riggs uses a fist to the mush to get out.
• Riggs takes Jericho down and rolls him up for two.
• Jericho lands a kick to the back.
• Jericho punches Riggs and sends him into the other corner.
• On the charge, Jericho runs into a boot.
• Riggs with a running lariat and a cover for two.
• Riggs lands a punch.
• Riggs whips Jericho into a side slam.
• Riggs covers for two.
• Another punch and whip by Riggs.
• Riggs misses the forearm.
• Both men crossbody block each other simultaneously.
• Both men get back up.
• Jericho counters some punches with a kick and a jawbreaker.
• Jericho tries the Lionsault and lands on raised knees.
• Riggs lands some punches and a lariat.
• Riggs goes for a kick, in which Jericho grabs the leg.
• Riggs turns this into a nice spinning heel kick and covers for two.
• Riggs does an atomic drop.
• Riggs goes for the ol' ten punches on the turnbuckle, but Jericho counters with the Liontamer.
• Riggs gets to the ropes.
• Jericho bitches to Anderson, which allows Riggs to land a flying knee for two.
• Riggs tries a missile dropkick from the top and gets swatted away.
• Liontamer attempt #2 is successful. Jericho wins tonight, folks.
• YOUR WINNER: Chris Jericho via Liontamer in 14:40.
• Great start to a live Thunder.

• This is notable because David Penzer can be overheard doing his countdown to going back live.

• Well, at least I have the pleasure of knowing who will win this match.
• This bout is NOT part of the tag team tournament.
• Konnan does his verbal diahrrea on the mic.
• It's gonna be Mysterio and "Tough Tom" to start.
• Lockup, Tom gets a shoulderblock.
• Tom hot-shots Mysterio on the top rope.
• Mysterio reverses a biel into an armdrag takedown.
• Mysterio does a dropkick, sending Tom outside.
• "Mean Mike" goes to console Tom, and the both of them get splashed by Mysterio from the ring!
• Back inside, Konnan offers an assist with a lariat.
• Konnan is tagged in.
• Konnan mudholes Mike in the corner.
• Konnan does a nice bulldog.
• There's the seated dropkick.
• Tag to Mysterio.
• Mike reverses a whip, sending Mysterio into Tom's elbow.
• Mike slams Mysterio and tags in Tom.
• Tom with a spinning slam for two.
• Tom sends Mysterio into Mike's boot and tags him in.
• Nice doubleteam by the Disorderlies.
  • Tom sets up Mysterio for a neckbreaker and as Mike comes down for the axehandle blow, Tom drops Mysterio.
  • Disorderly Conduct is showing a bit of promise in this bout thus far.
• Tom chokes Mysterio with his boot next to the ropes.
• Heenan mentions the lawn dart incident of a few years back.
• Mysterio slips under the Disorderlies and tags in Konnan.
• Konnan becomes a house o' fire.
• All four men go at it, with Mysterio doing his Bronco Buster at one point.
• Konnan does the mule kick and facebuster.
• Konnan puts the Tequila Sunrise on Mike.
• As Tom tries to come in, Mysterio hops over Konnan and delivers a frankensteiner!
• Mysterio pins Tom as Mike is locked in the Sunrise.
• YOUR WINNER: Rey Mysterio, Jr. and Konnan via Mysterio's frankensteiner in 4:55.
• Considering the short length, this was a good match.

• Stevie Ray gives a pep talk until Vince butts in.
• Stevie Ray teases dissension with Vince.
• Brian Adams (to Vince): "You know what? Your momma's in charge! [shove]"

• Yes! Smiley!
• Smiley's doing his Hiawatha pose on the entryway.
• The announcers give praise to Schiavone for pronouncing Smi-LAY's name correctly.
• Disciple? WTF?!?
• Wade: "I wouldn't want to be near Aldo if Ed Leslie's sorry ass gets the win."
  • That would be a good idea, my friend. :)
• Smiley wiggles as Disciple gets ready.
• Lockup, Smiley puts on a headlock.
• Smiley applies an armbar.
• Disciple breaks the hold by getting to the ropes.
• Disciple slaps his ass at the crowd. I guess he's a heel now.
• Disciple puts on a facelock on the mat.
• The crowd is giving it to the Disciple. Good job, Providence!
• European uppercut courtesy of Nor-MON.
• Smiley whips Disciple, who lands a boot to Smiley's face.
• Disciple drags Smiley to the middle of the ring and drops an elbow.
• Disciple boot-chokes Smiley near the apron.
• Smiley does a roll-up for two, sending Disciple out of the ring.
• Disciple complains about his hair being pulled.
• Smiley gets the crowd fired up. So, he's a face tonight?
• Disciple gets an armbar.
• Smiley monkeyflips Disciple and puts on an armlock.
• Disciple gets to the ropes.
• Smiley wiggles some, which serves to piss off Disciple.
  • You'd better stop, Norman, or Ed Leslie will call upon the Warrior to speak! Spare the fans! :)
• Standing switch by Disciple.
• Smiley turns it into a "full armdrag and twist."
• Smiley applies a snapmare into an armbar.
• Smiley takes Disciple down and teases the SMBU.
• Smiley lands a European uppercut.
• Smiley sends Disciple into the corner.
• Smiley runs into Disciple with a lariat.
• Smiley fires away with another European uppercut.
• Smiley applies a double underhook suplex for two.
• Smiley whips Disciple and misses a dropkick when Disciple holds the ropes.
• Disciple locks on a blatant chokehold.
• Smiley blocks two vertical suplex attempt and does one of his own.
• Smiley sits up and wiggles.
• Smiley backflips to a vertical base and does the SMBU!
  
• Disciple reverses a whip to the corner and lands some fists.
• Disciple tries to send Smiley to the corner...
• Smiley turns it around and puts on the Norman Conquest!
  
• DISCIPLE TAPS! HELL YES!
• So much for Ed Leslie standing on his own...
• YOUR WINNER: Norman Smiley via Norman Conquest in 6:30.
• That was a breath of fresh air.

• Meng
• Saturn
• Hugh Morrus
• Curt Hennig and Barry Windham
• Bam Bam Bigelow

• Disco Inferno comes in to ask where Vince is.
• Adams replies "down there."

• The Faces of Fear make another appearance in the tag team tournament.
• Their opponents: Brian Adams and Horace.
• The FoF have a dreadlock motif going on for them tonight.
• It's Horace and Barbarian to start.
• Horace tries an armbar but Barbarian reverses.
• Barbarian lands some knees and goes to the corner.
• Barbarian hits a shoulderblock and is then levelled by Adams.
• All four men fight briefly.
• Barbarian takes care of Horace and all four go outside.
• Just like at World War 3, Heenan changes his votes every half hour, this time picking the Faces of Fear to be the eventual champions.
• Horace and Barbarian are back in.
• Barbarian has the advantage and whips Horace.
• Horace takes control and lands some boots.
• Tag to Adams.
• Adams with a scoop slam.
• Adams whips Barbarian into a clothesline and then hits Meng.
• Meng comes in but Adams takes care of him.
• The FoF no-sell a "meeting of the minds."
• Meng and Barbarian land a double headbutt on Adams.
• Barbarian takes over and chokes Adams at the ropes.
• Meng gets some kicks in when Billy Silverman is distracted.
• Tag to Meng, who kicks away.
• Meng chokes Adams in the corner.
• Meng distracts Silverman, allowing Barbarian to choke.
• Commercials. Well, at least it isn't a cruiserweight match.
• Meng is working on Horace when we return.
• Meng lands a powerslam for two.
• Tag to Barbarian.
• Barbarian does a side slam for two.
• Barbarian lands a headbutt in the groin.
  • That's a new meaning to giving... OH HI!!!! :)
• Barbarian puts on a bearhug and runs Horace into the corner.
• Barbarian goes to work on Horace.
• Barbarian takes a page out of Hollywood's book and applies the BACK RAKE OF DEATH.
• Tag to Meng.
• Meng no-sells some punches and takes over.
• Meng gouges the eyes and delivers a scoop slam.
• Meng misses a legdrop.
• Horace tags in Adams to NO CROWD HEAT.
• Adams administers a backbreaker for two.
• Adams whips Meng and misses a forearm.
• Adams leapfrogs over Meng but is caught and kicked in the head.
• Barbarian is tagged in and unloads in the corner.
• During this spot, Schiavone mistakenly identifies Barbarian as Meng.
  • Folks, this is WCW's highest ranking announcer.
• Adams hits an atomic drop.
• Tag to Horace is made.
• That sounds like a "Boring" chant.
• Horace scoop slams Barbarian.
• Horace drops an elbow for two.
• Horace lands some kicks in the midsection.
• Horace lands a chop and sends Barbarian into the corner.
• Horace hits a running splash.
• Horace does a backbreaker for two.
• Tag is made to Adams.
• Horace whips Barbarian and does a drop toe-hold.
• Adams then drops a leg for two.
• Piledriver gets two when Meng makes the save.
• Tag to Horace.
• Horace applies a crucifix slam for two.
• Barbarian no-sells Horace's punches and tags Meng in.
• Meng chops and stomps Horace.
• Meng brings Horace to the FoF corner for a doubleteaming.
• Barbarian sends Horace outside.
• Barbarian sends Horace to the safety rail.
• Horace sends Barbarian back in the ring and gets kicked out.
• Jimmy Hart kicks away at Horace.
• Vince comes out from behind and clocks Hart with Stevie Ray's blackjack.
• Horace goes to the apron and applies a rope jawbreaker on Barbarian.
• A splash by Horace gets two when Meng comes in.
• As Meng and Adams duke it out, Barbarian does a Liger Bomb on Horace for two.
• Barbarian lands the Kick of Fear and gets two when Adams makes the save.
• Meng kicks Adams in the groin.
• As Barbarian sets Horace on the turnbuckle, Vince beans Barbarian with the blackjack.
• Horace drops an elbow from the turnbuckle and covers for the victory.
• YOUR WINNER: Brian Adams and Horace via Horace's turnbuckle elbow drop in 16:43.

• Why, oh why, is Flynn appearing this late in the show?
• Oh, he's facing Bigelow. I'll forgive WCW this time.
• The last time these two went at it, the match lasted 26 seconds.
• Bigelow pushes Flynn into the corner and breaks clean.
• Flynn chains a drop toe-hold into a cross-armbreaker.
• Bigelow gets to the ropes, as Flynn keeps the hold on until the count of four.
• Flynn with some kicks and a sweep.
• More kicks in the corner.
• Bigelow applies a short-arm clothesline.
• Bigelow bashes Flynn into the turnbuckle.
• Flynn reverses a corner whip and does his spinning heel kick over the top rope.
• Flynn gets crotched, allowing Bigelow to take over.
• Bigelow does a knee choke near the ropes.
• Bigelow punches Flynn to the mat.
• Bigelow manhandles Flynn in the corner.
• Bigelow takes down Flynn.
• Bigelow with a scoop slam.
• Bigelow applies a snapmare into a chinlock.
• Flynn elbows out and goes to the ropes.
• Bigelow lands a knee to the midsection.
• Bigelow sends Flynn into the corner and lands a splash.
• Bigelow tries this again and meets a boot.
• Flynn with a spinning heel kick.
• Flynn lands a discus chop and a dropkick.
• Flynn charges in the corner for his front kick and misses.
• Greetings From Asbury Park mercifully ends this.
• YOUR WINNER: Bam Bam Bigelow via Greetings From Asbury Park in 4:44.

• I'm hoping that Glacier meets the same fate Disciple did.
• Zzzz....
• First time in a while I've seen DDP on Thunder.
• DDP goes through the crowd.
• Glacier taunts DDP to start.
• DDP clotheslines Glacier and takes it to him.
• DDP sends Glacier to the corner and does a belly-to-back suplex.
• DDP sends Glacier out of the ring with a fist.
• Glacier and DDP exchange slaps.
• DDP does a neckbreaker.
• Glacier gets the advantage with a mule kick to the male anatomy.
• Glacier kicks DDP in the corner.
• DDP grabs Glacier, throws him to the corner, and beats on him.
• DDP sends Glacier to the corner and baseball slides under the ring ropes.
• DDP trips Glacier from the outside and posts his legs.
• Inside, DDP stomps on Glacier's fingers and hits a clothesline.
• Glacier goes out of the ring and applies a jawbreaker on the ropes.
• Glacier goes up top and is crotched when DDP shakes the rope.
• DDP then delivers a top-rope Diamond Cutter (Diamond Death Drop) for the win!
• YOUR WINNER: Diamond Dallas Page via top-rope Diamond Cutter (Diamond Death Drop) in 3:21.

• What the hell is Enos and Duncum doing in my main event?
• Their opponents in this tag team tournament contest will be Hennig and Windham.
• It would be kind of humorous to see Enos and Duncum walk away the winners, though.
• Heenan changes his vote for the tag team tournament winners to Hennig and Windham.
• Schiavone berates Heenan for being the only announcer to dunk Bischoff last Monday in the booth.
• Hennig and Blake Beverly, err, Enos will start.
• Lockup, Enos with a side headlock.
• Enos hits a shoulderblock.
• Hennig does an armdrag takedown.
• Hennig does a nice swinging takedown.
• Tag to Windham.
• Enos delivers a fireman's carry slam and tags Duncum.
• Enos holds Windham's arm while Duncum comes off the top with an axehandle.
• Windham gets some offense.
• Duncum lands an atomic drop.
• A test of strength leads to a fist in the face by Windham.
• Duncum lands some rights and slams Windham.
• Duncum goes to the turnbuckle and splashes for two.
• Windham makes the tag to Hennig.
• Hennig sends down Duncum with a shoulderblock.
• We go to a commercial with the promise of instant replay in something happens.

  • While this sounds like a load of shit, instant replay was used on one occasion in the NWA.

    My memory of this is foggy at best, and I forget the participants, but one of the Horsemen was defending a belt against a face. All I remember was that when the Horsemen was about to be pinned, J.J. Dillon went to the timekeeper's area and rung the bell.

    The ref, thinking time ran out, called for a draw, but the finish was disputed and they used instant replay to find out that it was Dillon who rang the bell. Schiavone, showing that he was the same in the mid-80s as he is now, made a big deal on how the instant replay feature was used. The match was then restarted.

    As I stated, I don't remember much of the details, since this happened well over a decade ago. If anyone can correct me on the details (and I'm sure y'all could), please e-mail me. Thanks!

• Enos sends Hennig down.
• Enos whips Hennig into a powerslam for two.
• Enos hot-shots Hennig in the ropes.
• Enos distracts the ref, allowing Duncum to get some offense.
• Hennig blocks a catapult attempt by Enos.
• Enos puts on a chinlock.
• Hennig gets up and delivers a belly-to-back.
• Hennig drops the knee on Enos and tags Windham.
• Windham tries to work on Enos' leg and is kicked away.
• Windham tosses Enos out of the ring.
• Windham picks on Duncum, who enters the ring.
• As the ref tends to Duncum, Hennig takes advantage of the situation, working over Enos outside.
• Windham lands a forearm for two.
• Windham does a scoop slam and a kneedrop.
• Windham applies a chinlock.
• Tag to Hennig, who chops away.
• Enos reverses a whip to the corner and hits a clothesline.
• As Enos goes for a tag, Hennig grabs the leg and tags in Windham.
• Hennig puts on a figure-four while Windham comes in.
• Enos gets a headbutt on Windham, and makes the tag to Duncum.
• Duncum lands a boot to Windham.
• Windham tags in Hennig.
• Duncum biels Hennig and lands a running elbow.
• Duncum with a flying clothesline from the middle rope for two.
• Duncum sends Hennig in the corner and does a lariat.
• Duncum lands a bulldog.
• A noticably slow count gets two.
• Another cover gets two when Windham makes the save.
• Duncum tries a roll-up, but is knocked cold after a forearm from behind by Windham.
• Windham rolls Hennig on top of Duncum for the win. Laaaame!
• YOUR WINNER: Curt Hennig and Barry Windham after a forearm to the back of the head in 10:52.

The Good: The trend of matches going ten minutes-plus continues. Seeing Norman Smiley make an ass out of Ed Leslie was also very satisfying. Jericho vs. Riggs was a good match and didn't look to be mailed-in like most Jericho matches as of late. Finally, Disorderly Conduct looked decent for once.

The Bad: I like Mike Enos as much as the next guy, but what was he doing in tonight's LIVE main event?

The Ugly: A sixteen-minute tag match on free television is good. However, if you plan to book a lengthy match, please use different wrestlers than Meng, Barbarian, Horace, and Brian Adams. The entire match got little to no heat at all.