World Championship Wrestling
Monday Nitro
January 4, 1999
Live from Atlanta, GA
Video: WCW Monday Nitro Theme and Pyro in the Arena as Tony and Bobby welcome fans to the show.
In Ring: Mean Gene Oakerlund kicks off Nitro with the new President of WCW, and Ric Flair walks in his finest suit and styles and profiles his way down to the ring. Flair gets on the microphone and welcomes fans to WCW, and declares that in the next 90 days that he’s at the helm, the company is going to see some of the biggest changes ever to happen in the company. First off, Flair reinstates Randy Anderson to the referee roster after being suspended previously by Eric Bischoff. Speaking of Bischoff, Flair welcomes Eric to come out and go back to his roots. Bischoff is forced to join Bobby Heenan and Tony Schaivone at the broadcast booth. Flair’s final set of announcements are focused on the NWO and the Wolfpac. Flair insists that by the end of his 90 day term, the NWO will cease to exist and it all starts tonight when Kevin Nash defends his WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Mean Gene asks who Flair has in mind to wrestle Nash and Flair holds off on the announcement, for now.
Tony and Bobby hype the WCW Title Match in the main event, and question who Flair is considering as Nash’s opponent tonight. They ask Eric for his opinion, but Bischoff refuses to talk to either of them.
Match One: Chris Jericho w. Ralphus def. Perry Saturn
Saturn dominated the former TV Champion, and provided a suplex clinic on his opponent, but Jericho’s ability to think quickly allowed him to throw Referee Scott Dickinson in the way of the Saturn splash. Jericho capitalized with a low blow followed by a Lion Tamer, but with Dickinson out nobody was able to count Saturn out. Perry broke out of the Lion Tamer and slapped on the Rings of Saturn. The referee calls for the bell and ends up disqualifying Saturn for a blatant blow on the referee.
-Break-
Backstage: Goldberg is surrounded by the Wolfpac and the World Champion who all accuse Goldberg of Sexually Harassing Elizabeth. Goldberg denies the accusations, but the Wolfpac refuses to listen, leading to the pac attacking him backstage. Goldberg fends off some of the NWO until security comes to break them up. Nash warns Goldberg that this isn’t through. As the pac walks away, they are stopped dead in their tracks by the returning Hollywood Hulk Hogan. Nash and Hogan have a stare down backstage.
Broadcast Booth: Tony and the Brain talk about the return of Hollywood Hogan and the accusations towards Goldberg. They speculate as to what’s going to go down later in the broadcast. Bischoff continues to sit there not saying a word.
Backstage: Ric Flair, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Arn Anderson talk about the future of the Four Horsemen now that Flair is the President of WCW. Flair announces that the first match announcement for WCW Souled Out is that Chris Benoit is going to get a shot at the WCW United States Champion, Bret Hart. Chris Benoit is flattered by the news.
Match Two: Chavo Guerrero w. Pepe def. Norman Smiley
Focused on the rematch between these two, Chavo brought the quick fight to the dancing and wiggling Norman Smiley. A small package roll up found Chavo getting the pin on his opponent and coming out as the winner. In the post match, an enraged Norman Smiley attacked Chavo and destroyed Pepe in the middle of the ring.
-Break-
Kevin Nash walks out to the ring and orders the Nature Boy Ric Flair to come out and confront him. Nash wants to know who he’s going to face in the main event for Nitro this evening. Flair admits that he quite seriously considered Goldberg for the shot, but realized that Goldberg has unfinished business with Scott Hall, so Flair decided to give the shot to somebody else tonight. Before Flair could announce the main event, Goldberg barges out to the ring and confronts both men in his home town. The huge Goldberg chant comes over the arena and Goldberg orders Flair to give him his rematch for the belt. Flair refuses, but promises Goldberg the chance to get his revenge on everyone whose cost him wrong. Flair announces tonight in Atlanta, Goldberg will wrestle Lex Luger of the Wolfpac. Should Goldberg win he will then get a number one contender’s match at Souled Out against Scott Hall. Flair then introduces Nash to his opponent tonight... Hollywood Hulk Hogan! The fans in Atlanta are on their feet as Hogan emerges from the entrance and walks down the aisle. Flair delivers a blockbuster match that will drive a huge wedge into the plans of the NWO.
Hogan and Nash have a stare down in the middle of the ring. Nash asks Hogan why he’s decided to come back to WCW after retiring and Hogan makes it clear that he has unfinished business. Part of the unfinished business is to walk away with the WCW World Title once again. The two of them continue their stare down as Flair walks out of the ring.
-Break-
Match Three: TV Title – Scott Steiner(c) w. Buff Bagwell def. Konan
The NWO and the Wolfpac square off in the first of two matches signed between the two of them on Monday Nitro. Before the match, Scott Steiner enraged the crowd with a barrage of hurtful comments then started to belittle his partner, Buff Bagwell. Tensions between Steiner and Bagwell continued throughout the match with Konan. Konan hit the Tequila Sunrise on Steiner and covers him for a near fall as Bagwell watches on. Steiner gets up and slams Konan to the canvas then goes after Bagwell again. Buff, having enough walks out on Steiner who then focuses his attention back on Konan. Steiner hits the Steiner line and covers him for the win. Big Poppa Pump is still the TV Champion.
Steiner is handed the belt and goes after his longtime partner. The two of them have another confrontation up the ramp and Bagwell slugs Steiner across the face. Buff Daddy walks out on Steiner. Tony and the King are really questioning what is going on between the two of them. They ask Eric for his opinion, but Bischoff still refuses to talk.
Backstage: Hogan is getting his wrestling boots on when a few NWO Hollywood members join him. Horace, Vincent, Brian Adams, and Curt Henning all ask him about his return and his plans for the NWO moving forward. Hogan tells them that he’s back to bring the title back to the group and show Ric Flair who’s really in control around here. The locker room clears out and Nash stares Hogan down. He tells Hogan that the two of them need to talk. Hogan orders the NWO Black and White out and they shut the door.
-Break-
Video: WCW returns to Pay-Per-View on January 17 with Souled Out live from Charleston, West Virginia.
Match Four: Goldberg def. Lex Luger w. Miss Elizabeth
An irate Goldberg destroys Luger in the opening minutes of the match, but with the help of Elizabeth, Luger is able to nail Goldberg with a low blow, and starts working on the mid section of the former champion. The fans in Atlanta are solidly behind their hometown boy as the “Goldberg” chants fill the stadium. Luger adds more insult to injury to the mid section of Goldberg with the use of a steel chair while Elizabeth distracts the referee. Luger dominates Goldberg and is about to put him in the torture rack when the arena goes pitch black. A scorpion appears on the screen with the message “2-21-99.” The lights come back on to a confused Total Package who has some words with the referee over the message. Luger turns around and is nailed with a spear by Goldberg who then follows through with a Jackhammer for the pin. Goldberg get s a one way ticket to Scott Hall at Souled Out.
Mean Gene waits at the entrance ramp to talk to Goldberg, but the former champion pushes past Oakerlund and heads to the locker room.
Backstage: Bret Hart takes out Chris Benoit in the locker room area. After making cheap cracks about Benoit, Hart makes his intentions clear, to cripple the crippler before Souled Out. Bret gets back up from the rest of his NWO colleagues minus Hollywood Hogan and Buff Bagwell. Steiner, Henning, and Horace help beat the pulp out of Benoit when Flair, Malenko, and Mongo race to his aid. A huge brawl between the NWO and the Horsemen go on backstage with the Horsemen being outnumbered. Buff Bagwell races in and takes out Scott Steiner, shocking the NWO and allowing the Four Horsemen to battle back. The NWO retreat as Flair, Malenko, Mongo, and Buff watch out for Benoit.
Backstage: Hogan is lacing up his boots when his son Nick comes in. Hogan asks his son what’s going on and his son tells him that it’s time to do the right thing. Hogan looks at his son with a confused look, and Nick hands him a red and yellow bandana.
-Break-
Main Event: WCW World Heavyweight Championship – Hollywood Hogan def. Kevin Nash (c)
The fans in Atlanta are geared up for Hogan’s return to the wrestling ring as he prepares to take on the New WCW Champion. Hollywood Hogan marches out to “Voodoo Child” as the fans cheer for him. The boys from the Black and White follow out behind him, but Hogan stops and tells them that this is something he’s going to do on his own. Hogan looks like he’s in the best shape of his life as he prepares for the fight that fans have wanted to see since the NWO broke up. The Champion comes down with the Wolfpac music and poses for the fans. Hogan and Nash have a stare down again and Nash tells Hogan to do it. Hogan locks up with Nash and hits him with the finger poke of doom. Nash falls to the canvas as Tony and the Brain sit in disbelief. Hogan, torn up inside lays down on top of Nash for the cover, but just before Nick Patrick counts the 3 Hogan gets up from the pin. Nash is now shocked at what happened, but Hogan starts getting pumped up and rips his shirt off. Hogan points to Nash and motions that he’s going to break him in half. The real match now happens as Hogan and Nash lock up in the ring. Nash gets the better of Hogan in the early goings of the contest with Tony and the Brain questioning whether Hogan did the right thing by not taking the pin. Hogan is slammed into the corner with Nash drilling him with hard elbows across the face. Big Sexy is taking Hogan out in a big way with Hollywood being left helpless in the ring. Nash taunts Hogan, telling him that he had his chance and that he’s washed up, but Hogan starts fighting back. The two of them have a faceoff with Hogan getting the best of Big Sexy. Hollywood clotheslines Nash out of the ring and starts posing for fans like he used to. Nash is taking a long time to get in the ring, so Hogan goes out after and whips Nash into the ring steps then face first into the apron. Hogan rakes the eyes of the Giant Killer and rolls him back into the ring. The Hulkster drops a few elbows then covers Nash for a two count. Big Sexy starts getting his second wind and slams Hogan to the canvas with a side slam. Big Sexy regains control of the match and drops Hogan with a Jackknife Powerbomb. Hogan is pinned, but kicks out after 2. Hogan starts his Hulk up and Nash is left with a big boot to the face. Hogan slams him to the canvas, delivers the atomic leg drop and covers Big Sexy for the win. Hogan becomes the NEW WCW World Heavyweight Champion.
Hogan’s celebration in the ring is short lived however when he is nailed with a stun gun from Scott Hall. The Outsiders reunite with Nash using the stun gun on Hogan again. The Wolfpac come out as Luger and Konan join Nash in attacking Hogan. The Black and White come out what looked to be the aid of Hogan, but Bret Hart, Curt Henning, Brian Adams, Stevie Ray, and Scott Steiner all attacked the new World Champion. Kevin Nash Powerbombs Hogan once again then poses over his body with the World Title. A huge “Goldberg” chant rings out as he races to the ring to aid Hogan, but the NWO numbers outmatch Goldberg. Bischoff finally breaks his silence and comments on how you just don’t mess with New World Order. Hogan and Goldberg are getting what they deserve.
WCW Presents
Souled Out
1-17-1999
Number One Contender’s Match
Goldberg vs. Scott Hall
WCW United States Championship
Bret Hart (c) vs. Chris Benoit