[WCW97] results 11/24/97-12/27/97

[LillaThrilla]

WCW Monday Nitro
November 24, 1997

Highlights of the World War 3 PPV from the night before, including Kevin Nash (dressed as Sting) and Hogan helping Scott Hall win the three-ring battle royale and thus earn a World Title shot.

nWo come out for their typical opening interview. They have laughs about the PPV. Hogan says Hall wont actually use his challenge the way The Giant did last year and it was all a big nWo plot to protect his title. Hogan lays out a challenge to anyone with the guts to face him tonight. Appropriately, The Giant comes out to answer that challenge. JJ Dillon interrupts because The Giant has a cast on his injured hand and needs a doctor's clearance or he will have to sign a waiver of liability. The Giant doesn't care.

The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner) defeated Disorderly Conduct (Tough Tom and Mean Mike) when Rick pinned Mean Mike with the Steiner Bulldog in 0:06:10.
Rating: **
(The Steiner Brothers retained the WCW World Tag Team Championship.)

JJ Dillon confronts Raven at ringside and demands for the last time that he must sign a contract. The Flock are sitting with Raven as usual and they have a new member who looks like Billy Idol; the announcers say he's called Lodi. Raven signs the contract in a huff and states that despite the contract he will not conform. Riggs comes down and joins The Flock. The announcers remind us the reason he has an eye patch is because of an injury caused by Raven.

Chris Benoit comes out for a match with Raven, but Raven forces Sick Boy to wrestle instead.

Chris Benoit made Sick Boy submit to the Crippler Crossface in 0:06:01.
Rating: **** 1/4

As soon as the match is over, Raven has The Flock rush the ring. Benoit fights them off until Saturn clocks him with the TV Title. Saturn puts him in the Rings of Saturn for good measure.

Alex Wright pinned Prince Iaukea with the Reverse Neckbreaker in 0:09:47.
Rating: ** 1/2
[Debra interfered against Prince Iaukea.]

Iaukea returns from some time overseas but it's the ever cocky Alex Wright who gets the win, with some help from his valet, the former Debra McMichael.

Randy Savage pinned Disco Inferno with the Flying Elbowdrop in 0:09:31.
Rating: *** 1/4

Savage gives Disco TWO Flying Elbowdrops just to be a dick.

Dean Malenko made Brad Armstrong submit to the Texas Cloverleaf in 0:09:52.
Rating: **

Buff Bagwell pinned Chris Jericho with the Buff Blockbuster in 0:10:31.
Rating: ***

Jericho seems a bit angry about the loss.

Ray Traylor defeated Curt Hennig by disqualification in 0:10:39.
Rating: * 1/4
(Curt Hennig retained the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship.)
[Rick Rude interfered against Ray Traylor.]

Traylor hit his finisher on Hennig, but Rude broke up the pinfall attempt. Scott Norton comes out as well and the nWo goes 3-on-1 until the Steiner Brothers and DiBiase chase them off.

The Giant defeated Hollywood Hogan by disqualification in 0:10:11.
Rating: -1/4*
(Hollywood Hogan retained the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.)
[Fake Sting interfered against The Giant.]

"Sting" attacks the Giant, hitting him in the injured hand with a baseball bat. Of course, it's just Kevin Nash again. Scott Hall joins in and everyone beats down on The Giant. Another "Sting" repells from the rafters, but it's just a mannequin and Nash beats it up too.

[LillaThrilla]

WCW Saturday Night
November 29, 1997

Super Calo and Silver King defeated Los Villanos (Villano IV and Villano V) when S. King pinned Villano V with the Airplane Spin in 0:11:13.
Rating: ***

Bill Goldberg pinned Kendall Windham with the Jackhammer in 0:05:39.
Rating: ***

The announcers note that Goldberg is now 12-0 since debuting a couple months ago.

Meng defeated The Renegade when The Renegade passed out in the Tongan Death Grip in 0:07:54.
Rating: -3/4*
[Jimmy Hart interfered against The Renegade]

During the match, Jimmy Hart got up on the ring apron to distract Renegade and got knocked to the floor as a result. This made Meng ANGRY! Even after the match ended, Meng kept the Tongan Death Grip before Hart and The Barbarian finally convinced him to let go. Renegade was left laying in the ring for several minutes and the announcers were worried about oxygen deprevation.

Public Enemy (Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge) defeated Glacier and Ernest Miller when Rocco Rock pinned E. Miller with the Drive By in 0:06:13.
Rating: 1/4*

Glacier made a half-hearted effort to save Miller from being pinned. Afterwards, he got the mic and told Miller "Now you know what it's like when your tag partner is a little slow." (refering to events at World War III last weekend)

Ultimo Dragon defeated Damien by disqualification in 0:08:09.
Rating: ***

Damien felt the referee's count was too slow and delivered a shove which drew the DQ.

Mortis and Wrath defeated The Armstrong Brothers (Scott Armstrong and Steve Armstrong) when Mortis pinned Scott Armstrong with the DOA in 0:04:34.
Rating: ** 1/2

Eddie Guerrero pinned Lizmark Jr. with the Frog Splash in 0:17:33.
Rating: *** 3/4
(Eddie Guerrero retained the WCW Cruiserweight Title.)

Saturn made Norman Smiley submit to the Rings of Saturn in 0:13:19.
Rating: **** 1/4
(Saturn retained the WCW TV Title.)

The Flock was at ringside for this. Saturn had the match apparently won via pinfall, but Raven ordered him to pull Smiley up at the two count and apply the Rings of Saturn instead. Raven cut a promo while skulking in the corner of the ring stating "Chris Benoit: this could be you!" as Saturn continued to apply the move, drawing screams of pain from Smiley.

[LillaThrilla]

[Dark Match]
Los Villanos (Villano IV and Villano V), Damien and Ciclope defeated Chavo Guerrero Jr., La Parka, El Dandy and Super Calo when Villano V made Parka submit to a medio cerrajera in 0:17:40.
Rating: **

[Dark Match]
High Voltage (Kenny Kaos and Robbie Rage) defeated Dave Taylor and Steven Regal when Rage pinned Taylor after a powerslam in 0:08:21.
Rating: *** 1/4

The nWo come out for their usual opening interview. Hogan talks about how he's sick of seeing Sting masks everywhere and says Sting doesn't have the guts to face him.

Juventud Guerrera pinned Rey Mysterio Jr. with the Juvy Driver in 0:08:05.
Rating: *** 1/2

Harlem Heat (Stevie Ray and Booker T) defeated Glacier and Ernest Miller when Stevie pinned Glacier after a kick to the head in 0:00:46.
Rating: 1/2*

Glacier started off the match but quickly wanted to tag out. Instead of tagging, Miller kicked him. Glacier stagged back right into a big boot from Stevie Ray.

Rowdy Roddy Piper comes out to the ring. He talks about being an ICON (I Cower Over Nothing). But he says that Scott Hall and Hollywood Hogan are not ICONs but the opposite: cowards. Hall is afraid to use the challenge he won at World War III against Hogan and Hogan is afraid he would lose to Hall if they faced each other.

Mean Gene Okerlund starts to shill his Hotline and namedrops Bret Hart when Ernest Miller interrupts. He rants about being a black belt and a karate champion with lethal weapons for hands. Glacier is just some hack with a fancy ring entrance who can throw a few kicks. "I'm The Cat! I don't need this..." He gets cut off when Glacier attacks him to end the impromptu interview.

Rick Martel pinned Chris Jericho after an inside cradle in 0:02:17.
Rating: * 1/2

Martel gets the surprise pinfall on Jericho. Jericho throws a fit afterwards.

Eddie Guerrero comes out for to do guest commentary for the next match which will determine who faces him for the Cruiserweight Title at Starrcade.

Number-One-Contenders-Match
Dean Malenko defeated Yuji Nagata when Yuji Nagata passed out in the Texas Cloverleaf in 0:08:04.
Rating: ** 3/4

The Outsiders are prowling around the back in a bad mood when they run into Disco Inferno. Remembering the beating he took last week from Randy Savage, Disco unsuccessfully tries to flee. Hall drags him to the ring for a match.

Scott Hall pinned Disco Inferno with the Outsider Edge in 0:04:14.
Rating: **

Disco gets squashed again.

Chris Benoit made Kidman submit to the Crippler Crossface in 0:06:45.
Rating: *** 3/4

This was supposed to be Benoit vs Raven, but again Raven sends in a member of the Flock instead. As soon as the match is over, the rest of the Flock storms the ring and attacks Benoit. Benoit fights them all off and gives Saturn a German Suplex. He goes for the Crossface on Saturn, but Raven comes in an DDTs him then leaves.

The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner) and Ray Traylor defeated The nWo (Buff Bagwell, Scott Norton and Vincent) when Traylor defeated Norton by disqualification in 0:06:06.
Rating: -* 1/4

The nWo just started cheating savagely after awhile.

[Main Event]
Diamond Dallas Page defeated Curt Hennig by disqualification in 0:05:16.
Rating: * 1/4
(Curt Hennig retained the WCW United States Title.)
[Scott Hall and Kevin Nash interfered against Diamond Dallas Page.]

This is a rematch from the November 10th Nitro, which also ending in DQ due to nWo run-in. The Outsiders attack and are joined by Savage and Hogan. Piper "runs" out to back up his talk from earlier, but the nWo has a major advantage in size and numbers so he gets pummeled too. Suddenly the lights go out. When they come back on, there is a Sting mask on each of the top turnbuckles. Hogan freaks out as the show goes off the air.

[LillaThrilla]

The Renegade delivers a bizarre promo about having a inspirational vision last week when he passed out from Meng's Tongan Death Grip. He will harness the power inside him and blaze a trail of destruction through his adversaries lest he be judged unworthy when the warriors return at Ragnarok! Or something like that. After it's over the announcers question whether Renegade suffered brain damage due to oxygen deprivation.

The Renegade comes out and demands a rematch against Meng, but Jimmy Hart sends Jerry Flynn instead.

The Renegade pinned Jerry Flynn with the Flying Splash in 0:09:07.
Rating: 3/4*

Bill Goldberg pinned Lenny Lane with the Jackhammer in 0:01:29.
Rating: **

Goldberg's streak goes to 13-0.

Fit Finlay pinned Brad Armstrong with the Tombstone Piledriver in 0:07:09.
Rating: ** 3/4

Alex Wright pinned El Dandy with the Reverse Neckbreaker in 0:11:55.
Rating: ** 1/2

Wright got a mic afterwards and wanted to know why he hasn't gotten a shot at the Cruiserweight Title as he has the moves (he dances), the body (he dances some more), and a hot valet (points to Debra).

Meng defeated Rick Fuller when Fuller passed out in the Tongan Death Grip in 0:05:35.
Rating: -* 1/4

Jimmy Hart also brought out The Barbarian and Hugh Morrus to ringside for this match, presumably taking no chances against a possible attack by The Renegade.

Steve McMichael pinned Barry Darsow with the Tombstone Piledriver in 0:05:08.
Rating: -** 1/2

After the match, Mongo tells the camera that Goldberg ain't so tough.

Table Match
Public Enemy (Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge) defeated Disorderly Conduct (Tough Tom and Mean Mike) when Grunge defeated Tom by putting him through a table in 0:09:20.
Rating: * 1/2

[LillaThrilla]

WCW Monday Nitro
12/8/1997

We get a replay of DDP and Piper getting pummeled at the end of last week's Nitro. Then the nWo makes their way out for their usual brand of opening interview. Hogan yucks it up, he's not afraid of Sting, and they've got a plan too. Hall and Nash mock Rowdy Roddy Piper as a washed up old cripple and challenge him to a match at Starrcade. They encourage him to team with Disco Inferno, who knows how to properly take a beating from the nWo.

Alex Wright defeated Scott Putski by countout in 0:03:55.
Rating: *

In the back, the cameras find Lex Luger laid out by an apparent nWo attack. He is supposed to have a match later, teaming with The Giant against the nWo.

Chris Jericho gets a mic before his match and apologizes to the crowd for his poor performance lately and being a sore loser. He promises to do better tonight.

Disco Inferno pinned Chris Jericho after an inside cradle in 0:06:25.
Rating: **

Disco had spent the last couple weeks getting beaten up by the nWo for no particular reason, but he picked up the win over Jericho tonight on a bit of a fluke rollup. Jericho throws another tantrum afterwards and then attacks Disco and puts him in the Liontamer.

JJ Dillon knocks on the the nWo locker room. Vincent answers and Dillon is looking for Randy Savage because is match is up next. Savage comes to the door and says he thought the match was off because Luger was taken out earlier. Dillon says the Giant has found someone to tag with tonight so Savage and Konnan better get to the ring. Savage and Vincent go in search of Konnan, who had left the locker room earlier. They soon find him in the remains of a table with a garbage can having been emptied on him. The Giant and Ray Traylor show up moments later and show mock sympathy for Savage. "Looks like someone chokeslammed him through that table" suggests The Giant. "I guess it was time to take out the trash" suggests Traylor. Savage is pissed and tells them to head to the ring for the match, dragging a reluctant Vincent along.

Ray Traylor and The Giant defeated The nWo (Randy Savage and Vincent) when Traylor pinned Savage with the Traylor Park Trash in 0:12:29.
Rating: ** 1/4
(Lex Luger and Konnan no-showed.)

Hall, Nash, Bagwell, and Norton run in after the match but Ted Dibiase leads The Steiners out to chase off the nWo.

Steve McMichael pinned Louie Spicolli with the Tombstone Piledriver in 0:11:56.
Rating: 3/4*

Mongo gets a mic afterwards and says that Goldberg's winning streak is a fluke. He wants a match at Starrcade.

Mean Gene interviews Diamond Dallas Page in the back. He's going to be part of bringing down the nWo and doesn't care how many beatings he takes in the process. He thanks Piper for coming to his aid last week. He challenges Hennig to a match at Starrcade for the US Title. DDP wonders if Hennig can be enough of a man to face him one on one and leave all his nWo buddies in the locker room?

Glacier and Dean Malenko defeated Ernest Miller and Eddie Guerrero when Glacier pinned E. Miller after the Cryonic Kick in 0:04:35.
Rating: ** 1/4

Benoit comes to the ring and gets a mic. He challenges Raven to face him, "Quoteth the Wolverine, your whining is a bore." Raven starts to get up but then sends Riggs to the ring instead.

Chris Benoit defeated Riggs by disqualification in 0:01:29.
Rating: **
[Lodi interfered against Chris Benoit.]

The match was barely underway when Raven sent the rest of The Flock to attack Benoit. He fights them off until Raven hits him with a chair. JJ Dillon leads out security to break things up and announces that the Benoit vs Saturn match at Starrcade will now be a cage match to keep the rest of The Flock from getting involved.

Mean Gene interviews Rowdy Roddy Piper in the back. Piper is impressed: he didn't think Hall had the guts to face him. He accepts the match at Starrcade and says he already knows the first person he's going to ask to team with him. There's a natural choice, he suggests.

The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner), Diamond Dallas Page and Roddy Piper defeated
The nWo (Buff Bagwell, Curt Hennig, Hollywood Hogan and Scott Norton)
when Piper defeated Curt Hennig by disqualification in 0:10:15.
Rating: -1/2*
[Scott Hall and Kevin Nash interfered against Roddy Piper.]

Another nWo main event, another nWo run-in. The Outsiders attack Piper to cause the DQ. A general brawl breaks out. Ted Dibiase goes for reenforcements but Rick Rude lays him out with a chair. Savage and Vincent come out to join the beating and nWo numbers win out. Cameras cut to the back to find the door to the Steiners/Traylor/Dibiase locker room locked. The announcers say The Giant had left the building with Lex Luger for him to get checked on at a local hospital after his attack earlier. Hogan gets a mic to talk about how the nWo always has a plan. "Sting" repels from the rafters to a crowd pop, but it's just a mannequin with a wig and Sting mask like it was two weeks ago. The nWo have their laughs and Hogan goes to beat up the mannequin when it suddenly moves! The "mannequin" removes his mask to reveal he's the real Sting! Hogan tells everyone to attack but Sting pulls out his trademark black bat from his trenchcoat. Hogan bails and now it's Sting's turn to clean house as the show goes off the air.

[LillaThrilla]

WCW Saturday Night
12/13/97

[Dark Match]: 10-Man Battle Royal
Chris Adams won a 10-man Battle Royal:
x L. Biggs threw out Pittman in 0:00:20
x Adams threw out L. Biggs in 0:02:51
x Taylor threw out Nord after a roundhouse right in 0:04:24
x K. Windham threw out Taylor in 0:10:02
x K. Windham threw out M. Starr after a swinging neckbreaker in 0:11:39
x Adams threw out Eaton after a sleeperhold in 0:16:06
x K. Windham threw out Valentine after a superplex in 0:19:29
x Adams threw out S. Putski in 0:27:10
x Adams threw out K. Windham after a sleeperhold in 0:27:50
Rating: ** 1/4

Bill Goldberg pinned Yuji Nagata with the Jackhammer in 0:04:03.
Rating: ***

Goldberg is now 14-0.

The Renegade pinned Hugh Morrus with the Flying Splash in 0:05:47.
Rating: *** 1/4

The Renegade goes through another of Jimmy Hart's wrestlers as he seeks revenge against Meng.

Harlem Heat (Stevie Ray and Booker T) defeated The Destruction Crew (Mike Enos and Wayne Bloom)
when Booker pinned Enos after the the Harlem Hangover in 0:13:07.
Rating: *** 1/4

The Flock (Kidman, Saturn and Sick Boy) defeated Magnum Tokyo, Dragon Kid and Kaz Hayashi
when Kidman pinned Hayashi after a flying cross body press in 0:04:38.
Rating: **

Chavo Guerrero Jr. pinned Silver King after a Frankensteiner in 0:00:14.
Rating: *
(Rey Mysterio Jr. no-showed.)

Mortis and Wrath defeated The Armstrong Brothers (Scott Armstrong and Steve Armstrong)
when Mortis pinned Steve Armstrong after an inside cradle in 0:08:37.
Rating: ** 1/4
[James Vandenburg interfered against Steve Armstrong.]

Saturn pinned Rick Martel after a power bomb in 0:23:13.
Rating: ****
(Saturn retained the WCW TV Title.)

[LillaThrilla]

WCW Monday Nitro
December 15, 1997

The announcers tell us we're live from Charlotte, North Carolina which is the home of some famous wrestler who has been out of action since Fall Brawl when Curt Hennig slammed the cage door repeatedly on his head. And indeed instead of an nWo opening interview, we have Gene Okerlund in the middle of the ring and he introduces Charlotte's own...Arn Anderson. Arn works the crowd and promises that Hennig is going to pay for what he did at the end of the War Games match. And then he introduces...Ric Flair! The hometown crowd goes crazy as Flair comes out and struts and gives some "Whooo!" Flair finally gets a mic and says it took some time for his body to heal, but he's back and ready for payback. He wants Hennig tonight! And then he calls out Rowdy Roddy Piper. Piper welcomes Flair back. Flair has heard Piper needs a tag partner at Starrcade to take on the Outsiders and Flair agrees to be that partner.

Juventud Guerrera, Lizmark Jr. and Super Calo defeated Psychosis, La Parka and Silver King
when Lizmark Jr. pinned Psychosis after a Northern Lights suplex in 0:14:18.
Rating: ** 3/4

Bill Goldberg pinned Disco Inferno with the Jackhammer in 0:03:40.
Rating: ***

Goldberg goes to 15-0. And after pinning Disco he gets close to a camera and announces "Hey Mongo: at Starrcade, YOU'RE NEXT!"

Chris Jericho is throwing a tantrum in the back and trashing a room. Eddie Guerrero walks in with his Cruiserweight Title. Guerrero knows the solution to Jericho's problems: Cheat To Win.

Eddie Guerrero and Chris Jericho defeated Dean Malenko and Prince Iaukea when Jericho pinned Iaukea after the Lionsault in 0:10:19.
Rating: ***

Jericho snaps his losing streak thanks to Guerrero's advice.

Chris Benoit is out for a match with Raven, but you can guess how that goes.

Chris Benoit made Hammer submit to the Crippler Crossface in 0:11:08.
Rating: *

The Flock kept distracting Benoit, causing the match to drag on. Hammer appears to have have hurt his neck during the match. The Flock circles Benoit who cautiously makes his way back to the locker room, expecting an attack that never comes.

The nWo (Buff Bagwell, Konnan and Randy Savage) defeated Lex Luger, Scott Steiner and Ray Traylor
when Konnan made Traylor submit to the Tequila Sunrise in 0:11:02.
Rating: * 1/2

Harlem Heat (Stevie Ray and Booker T) defeated Los Villanos (Villano IV and Villano V)
when Stevie pinned Villano IV with the Slapjack in 0:13:30.
Rating: ** 3/4

After the match, James Vandenberg comes out and sends Mortis and Wrath to attack Harlem Heat. Booker and Stevie take a serious beating before Vandenberg calls off the troops. Booker has to help Stevie to the back due to an apparent knee injury.

Curt Hennig defeated Ric Flair by countout in 0:04:01.
Rating: *
[Scott Hall and Kevin Nash interfered against Ric Flair.]

Rick Rude distracted the referee allowing The Outsiders to come down and powerbomb Flair outside the ring. Arn Anderson tries to stop them but gets pummelled as well. Rick Rude leaves the referee alone to count out Flair. Piper tries to make the save but gets ambushed by Syxx. DDP is next and he gives Syxx a Diamond Cutter, but then numbers take their toll. Hogan comes out as well but then the lights go out. When they come on again, Sting is standing on top of the big metal WCW logo. He points his bat at Hogan as the show goes off the air.

[LillaThrilla]

WCW Saturday Night
December 20, 1997

Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned Scott Putski with the Springboard Hurracanrana in 0:06:18.
Rating: ***

Chris Adams defeated Craig Pittman by countout in 0:15:38.
Rating: **

Adams and Pittman got into a brawl outside the ring and only Adams beat the count.

Vicious & Delicious (Buff Bagwell and Scott Norton) defeated
The Armstrong Brothers (Scott Armstrong and Steve Armstrong)
when Norton made Steve Armstrong submit to a Fujiwara armbar in 0:10:23.
Rating: ***

Promo is show with The Renegade. In between ranting nonsensically about something that sounds vaguely metaphysical, he also says Jimmy Hart can throw whatever wrestlers in his path but The Renegade will plow through all of them on his quest for vengeance. He wants Meng at Starrcade.

Meng pinned Luther Biggs after a gutwrench suplex in 0:09:28.
Rating: -* 1/4

Meng puts the Tongan Death Grip on Biggs.

Bill Goldberg pinned Mark Starr with the Jackhammer in 0:01:12.
Rating: **

Goldberg goes to 16-0.

Yuji Nagata pinned Kaz Hayashi after a lariat in 0:02:41.
Rating: * 1/2

After the match, Sonny Onoo (Nagata's manager) says something to Kaz in Japanese.

Ernest Miller and Alex Wright defeated Glacier and Brad Armstrong when Wright pinned Armstrong after an over-the-shoulder stomachbreaker in 0:10:05.
Rating: ** 1/2

The Renegade pinned The Barbarian with the Flying Splash in 0:15:29.
Rating: 3/4*

[LillaThrilla]

WCW Monday Nitro
December 22, 1997

[Dark Match]
El Dandy made Blitzkrieg submit to the Cavernaria in 0:11:23.
Rating: ** 3/4

[Dark Match]
Kidman defeated Ultimo Dragon via pinfall in 0:08:29.
Rating: ***

Nitro opens as the announcers welcome us to a special THREE HOUR edition of the show. Tenay, Schiavone, and Zybysko talk about mysterious notes left in the backstage area. Various WCW wrestlers found them in their locker rooms when they arrived at the arena today but nobody knows who left them there. The announcers show one of the notes: a normal sized piece of paper with the WCW and the words "United we stand, divided we fall." Zybysko philosophizes as usual and says he's been calling for WCW unity for a long time.

Rey Mysterio Jr., Juventud Guerrera and Hector Garza defeated
La Parka, Psychosis and Silver King when Juvi pinned Parka with the Juvy Driver in 0:08:21.
Rating: ** 3/4

Booker T pinned Wrath after a flying forearm in 0:04:22.
Rating: ** 3/4
[James Vandenburg and Mortis interfered against Booker T.]

Booker managed to fend of interference and pick up the win, but he took a beating afterwards.

Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit defeated Eddie Guerrero and Saturn when Benoit
defeated Saturn when Saturn passed out in the Crippler Crossface in 0:14:30.
Rating: **** 1/4

The Flock watches from their usual ringside seats. After the match is over, they circle the ring like vultures. Benoit leaves with caution again - last Nitro they let him go. However, this time the Flock actually do attack. Benoit tries to fight them all off but numbers prove too much when Dean Malenko joins the fight and helps Benoit. Raven watches from his seat with his usual grumpy look.

Steve McMichael pinned Fit Finlay with the Tombstone Piledriver in 0:05:45.
Rating: ** 1/2

Mean Gene Okerlund shills his hotline and promises that Bret Hart has signed with WCW and will be at Starrcade! Okerlund then interviews DDP and asks him for his reaction to the mysterious notes and whether he thinks Bret will side with WCW or the nWo. Page says he doesn't know Bret but he knows he's one of the best in the business and respects that. Page has always fought for WCW, often alone. He'll keep fighting the good fight and if Bret joins the nWo he'll feel the bang just like the rest of them.

The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner) and Ray Traylor defeated
The nWo (Buff Bagwell, Scott Norton and Vincent) when S. Steiner made Vincent
submit to the Steiner Recliner in 0:14:35.
Rating: 3/4*
[Ted DiBiase interfered against Scott Norton.]

Bill Goldberg pinned John Nord with the Jackhammer in 0:02:19.
Rating: 3/4*

Goldberg goes to 17-0. As Goldberg heads back to the locker room after his match, Steve McMichael meets him at the top of the ramp. Goldberg and Mongo have a stare down as we go to a commercial.

In the back, a UPS deliveryman knocks on the nWo locker room door carrying a package. Vincent answers the door and is told the package is for Hogan and he must sign for it. Hogan comes out and signs. He has no idea what it is and opens the box. He pulls out a card and asks "What the hell does 'sic semper tyranus' mean?" then pulls out the rest of the package's contents. He promptly freaks out, drops the package and slams the door to the locker room. The camera shows the contents of the box now laying on the floor: a replica of his Hogan's head but clearly implied to have been severed from its body.

Chris Jericho comes out with renewed confidence after breaking his losing streak last week. He chews out the fans for doubting him then calls out "Prince Naki-maki" to prove to everyone last week was no fluke.

Chris Jericho pinned Prince Iaukea after the Lionsault in 0:10:13.
Rating: *** 1/4

Iaukea does well, but Jericho gets a low blow and hits the Lionsault to win. "Cheat to win! Yeah, baby!"

Lex Luger and Diamond Dallas Page defeated The nWo (Curt Hennig and Randy Savage)
when Page defeated Savage by disqualification in 0:12:50.
Rating: 1/2*
[Rick Rude interfered against Diamond Dallas Page.]

[Main Event]
The nWo (Hollywood Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) defeated
Roddy Piper, Ric Flair and The Giant when Hogan pinned Giant with the Big Leg Drop in 0:05:39.
Rating: 1/4*
[Randy Savage interfered against The Giant.]

Syxx (who had accompanied the nWo to ringside) attacked Arn Anderson (who had come out with Flair) distracted the referee while Randy Savage made a run-in. Savage smashed Giant's knee with a chair, allowing Hogan to get the pin while Hall and Nash kept Piper and Flair occupied. Lex Luger came out and went after Savage, but was likewise taken out by the chair. The camera cuts to the back where DDP and the Steiners are fighting with the rest of the nWo. Savage clocks Arn with the chair then everyone gangs up on Flair and Piper. Flair gets an Outsider Edge, Piper gets a Jacknife Powerbomb, and Hogan hits the Big Leg Drop on both of them. But then Sting comes down from the rafters and cleans house with the bat as we fade to black.

[LillaThrilla]

WCW Saturday Night
December 27, 1997

Konnan defeated Hector Garza when Hector Garza passed out in the Tequila Sunrise in 0:07:23.
Rating: ***

Table Match
Public Enemy (Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge) defeated The Destruction Crew (Mike Enos and Wayne Bloom)
when Rocco Rock defeated Enos by putting him through a table in 0:11:32.
Rating: * 3/4

Juventud Guerrera pinned Ciclope with the Juvy Driver in 0:10:28.
Rating: *** 3/4

Fit Finlay pinned Mark Starr with the Tombstone Piledriver in 0:05:48.
Rating: ** 3/4

Chavo Guerrero Jr. pinned Damien after a small package in 0:01:07.
Rating: **

Sonny Onoo leads out Yuji Nagata...and Kaz Hayashi?! Onoo makes Kaz hold the ropes for him and Nagata. Onoo gets a mic and explains that even though Kaz is bad now, he has potential to be great in the future. Maybe almost as good as Nagata. Kaz has agreed to Onoo's managerial and training services. The announcers point out that Nagata and Hayashi can't speak or understand English; only Onoo can.

Kaz Hayashi and Yuji Nagata defeated The Armstrong Brothers (Scott Armstrong and Steve Armstrong)
when Nagata pinned Scott Armstrong after a side step in 0:08:09.
Rating: ** 1/2

Scott missed something off the top rope.

Chris Adams pinned Craig Pittman with the Superkick in 0:08:41.
Rating: * 3/4

This was a rematch from last week when Adams won by countout.

The Renegade and Glacier defeated Meng and Ernest Miller when Renegade defeated Miller via pinfall in 0:17:29.
Rating: -1/4*
[Hugh Morrus interfered against The Renegade.]

Renegade pinned Miller after an elbow. Hugh Morrus interefered unsuccessfully in the match. Afterwards, Jimmy Hart sent the rest of the First Family after Renegade. Renegade fights them off at first but gets overwhelmed by sheer numbers. But he manages to get ahold of the ropes and starts shaking them wildly. He shakes off the blows, hulks up, and levels Jerry Flynn and Hugh Morrus. Hart calls off his stable and shouts at Renegade that he'll get his revenge at Starrcade.