TEW 08: WCW after the Screwjob

[Crim]

I'm intrigued by the Jericho/Benoit angle, spiced up by the duplicitous Flair.

I always loved Jericho v. Benoit, never even mattered to me which was heel, and which was face.

[DeToxRox]

WCW/nWo Souled Out
Sunday, Week 4, January 1998
Minute Maid Park (Southwest)
41,032 people
Live on PPV

Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Eddy Guerrero and Juventud Guerrera in 11:51 when Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Juventud Guerrera by pinfall with a Springboard Hurracanrana. Rey Mysterio Jr. makes defence number 3 of his WCW Cruiserweight title (C+)

Booker T defeated Buff Bagwell in 12:08 by pinfall with a Harlem Hangover (B)

Chris Jericho is backstage hyping himself up for his TV Title Match with Chris Benoit. He promises if he doesn't win he will NEVEERRRR .. EVEEERRR ask for a TV Title match a-gain (C+)

Chris Jericho defeated Chris Benoit in 13:50 by submission with a Lion Tamer after blatantly cheating. Chris Jericho wins the WCW World Television title (B-) Afterwards Jericho celebrates with faux tears in his eyes (B)

DDP is backstage with Mean Gene. He says that tonight in a Street Fight he is going to silence Raven and all his angst for once! (B)

Diamond Dallas Page drew with Raven in 17:52 when both men went crashing through a table off the ramp and were unable to make a standing 10 count (B)

Kevin Nash defeated Lex Luger in 10:32 by pinfall with a Jacknife Power Bomb (C+)

The announce team of Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan discuss Ric Flair's pursuit of the US Title which is up next (B-)

Ric Flair defeated Curt Hennig in 16:25 by pinfall. Ric Flair wins the WCW United States Heavyweight title (B+)

A video airs hyping our Tag Team Title match (B+)

The Giant and Randy Savage defeated The Steiner Brothers in 16:55 when Randy Savage defeated Scott Steiner by pinfall. Randy Savage and The Giant make defence number 1 of their WCW World Tag Team titles (B-) After the match Rick Steiner asks Scott what happened. Scott looks blank faced at letting his brother down. Then, without warning, Scott clubs Rick in the face with a forearm and drags him to the outside. He pulls up the protective matting and delievers a vicious piledriver on the concrete as the crowd watches in stunned silence (B+)

Scott Hall and Hulk Hogan are backstage, seemingly united after all the uncertainity the past few weeks. They say they're finally on the same page and we'll both leave Minute Maid Park happy tonight (A*)

A video airs replaying the events that've lead us to our Main Event (A*)

Sting and Bret Hart drew with Scott Hall and Hollywood Hulk Hogan in 17:31 when Bret Hart and Scott Hall both had their shoulders on the mat as the ref counted 3 (A-) Replays are shown and they show in Bret Hart's German Suplex neither he nor Hall had their shoulders up so both men were pinned. Souled Out goes off air with all four men looking confused at what has transpired (A-)

Show Rating: B+

[DeToxRox]

PPV Buys

Souled Out: 20.85
Royal Rumble: 16.27 (Headlined by HBK vs UT)

[DeToxRox]

January 1998 Finances

INCOME

PPV Revenue: $6,778,213
Ticket Sales: $3,755,270
TV Revenue: $174,999
Sponsors: $2,142,746
Merch: $1,458,000
Misc: $4,278

EXPENDITURES

Workers: $644,300
Show Costs: $591,800
Marketing: $750,000
Merch: $1,093,500
Production: $2,560,000
Development: $1,700
Misc: $3,234,531

Performance: $5,437,675

Total Cash: $60,517,037

Worker costs were cut in half this month as last month we spent a lot of money buying out talent. That was the most notable difference in expenditures from the past month. Beyond that everything is humming along on the financial end.

[DeToxRox]

WCW Monday Nitro
Monday, Week 1, February 1998
Hawaii Medium
8000 People

Nitro opens up with Eric Bischoff in the ring where he says based on the main event last night at Souled Out he has no choice but to make the main event of SuperBrawl a three way dance as Sting will defend vs Scott Hall and Bret Hart in a match where the first man to score a pinfall will win the WCW World Title (B)

This leads to Hulk Hogan coming out saying he was screwed and it should be a four corners match but Bischoff says no. Bischoff says Hogan will have a chance to earn a title match but says he needs to wait until later in the show to find out how (A-)

Randy Savage defeated The British Bulldog in 10:37 by pinfall (C)

Konnan defeated La Parka in 9:51 by submission with a Ziplock (D)

Scott Steiner comes out and says ever since last night his cell phone was blowing up with calls asking "why Scott, why?!" The answer is simple: he has become to big for Rick and Rick can't keep up. He says he is his own man now and is ready to take the WCW by storm, even if it means ending his own flesh and bloods career (B)

Scott Steiner defeated Booker T in 15:53 by pinfall with a Frankensteiner (C)

Bill Goldberg defeated Hugh Morrus in 7:41 by pinfall with The Spear (D)

Chris Jericho is backstage holding his WCW TV Title. He says he hears Benoit is pissed at how Jericho embarrassed him last night, but too bad so sad. He said he'll NEVEEERR ... EVERRRRR get a shot to regain his gold as long as Jericho is the champ (B-)

Scott Hall defeated Jim Neidhart in 10:44 by pinfall with a Razor's Edge (B)

Sting comes out and says last night was great because now he can prove he is the flag bearer of WCW by beating the two best it has to offer in the same match. He says he might respect Bret Hart, and he sure as hell hates Scott Hall, but that aside, he knows both can wrestle their asses off, and Sting is going to make sure that his A game beats theirs (A)

Bischoff comes back out and announces that starting next week on Nitro a 16 man tournament featuring Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Ric Flair, DDP and others will begin with the finals being held at March's Uncensored. The winner will be the #1 contender for the World Title! (B+)

Bret Hart defeated Dean Malenko in 13:36 by submission with a Sharpshooter (B-)

Show Rating: B-

[DeToxRox]

Monday Night Ratings

Nitro: 5.82
Raw: 4.08 (Headlined by UT vs HBK [B+])

[DeToxRox]

Wrestling Observer Breaking News: WCW adds second show
WCW teams up with ESPN

WCW has agreed to terms with ESPN for a new Thursday night show that will air at 10 PM. The show will be taped on Wednesday nights and is to be treated as an equal to Nitro. Further details were not released.

[DeToxRox]

WCW #1 Contender Tournament Bracket

Hulk Hogan
Davey Boy Smith

Booker T
Buff Bagwell

Raven
Mortis

Curt Hennig
Randy Savage


The Giant
Kevin Nash

Ric Flair
Jim Neidhart

DDP
Chris Benoit

Rick Steiner
Scott Steiner

The semi finals will be held at SuperBrawl and the finals at Uncensored.

[General Mike]

No Luger

[DeToxRox]

WCW Monday Nitro
Monday, Week 2, February 1998
Kemper Arena (Midwest)
15000 People -- Sellout

Scott Hall kicks off Nitro sitting in the ring on a steel chair. He says he'd love to see Bret Hart or Sting try to forcefully remove him from the ring because they'll pay the consequences. He says him sitting in the ring as King Shit is foreshadowing the end of SuperBrawl when he has his arm raised as the WCW World Heavyweight Champion and he truly becomes King Shit of WCW (A)

A video airs of Rick Steiner at home in Detroit, wearing a neck brace looking totally devestated. He says having his own flesh and blood turn on him was something he never thought could happen but it did and even though Rick isn't 100%, when he found out he was in this tournament he demanded to be in a match vs Scott so he can get revenge. And Scott, Rick says, revenge is going to be sweet (C+)

Raven defeated Mortis in 9:31 by pinfall with a Piledriver following interference from Kevin Sullivan (C+) After the match Sullivan gives his trademark crazy laugh as he locks eyes with Raven. Raven, unmoved by the display continues staring. Then, for some reason, Sullivan walks over to Mortis, picks him up and gives him a giant hug. Sullivan and Mortis leave the ring as Raven slumps into the corner. Mortis manager James Vandenburg looks on in shock (B)

Bill Goldberg defeated The Booty Man by pinfall after The Spear (C-)

Backstage Mean Gene is with Bret Hart. Hart says since working with him in New York all Scott Hall does is talk, talk, talk and Hart is finally going to get his chance to shut him up. Hart says he respects Sting as a person and a wrestler, but Hall is garbage. He says unfortunatley for Sting, he has to give him the same punishment he will give Hall, he just won't enjoy it as much as Hart is on a mission to prove he is the true World's Champion! (A)

Booker T defeated Buff Bagwell in 13:18 by pinfall with a Harlem Hangover (C+)

Hulk Hogan comes out to the ring and says this tournament is a waste of time because its a given he will win it. He said for a lot of these guys it's just a chance to make some money working a Main Event with Hollywood. He says Davey Boy is first, but he knows his old friend Randy Savage is waiting in the wings and he will be making sure to keep an eye on him (A)

Backstage Ric Flair and Arn Anderson formally announce the re-formation of the Four Horsemen and they already have two of the three new candidates in mind but they'll wait just a while longer before unveiling the newest incarnation of the most powerful group in wrestling (B+)

Randy Savage defeated Curt Hennig in 15:42 by pinfall (B-)

A video airs hyping the SuperBrawl Main Event (A*)

Bobby Heenan hypes our Main Event between Hollywood Hogan and The British Bulldog (B)

Hollywood Hulk Hogan defeated The British Bulldog in 13:48 by pinfall with a Big Leg Drop (B) After the match Randy Savage comes out to the top of the aisle and lets Hogan know he'll be seeing him soon (B+)

Show Rating: B+

[DeToxRox]

Monday Night Ratings

Nitro: 5.97
Raw: 4.13 [Headlined by HBK vs Jarrett vs Ahmed vs HHH (A)]

[DeToxRox]

WCW Monday Nitro
Monday, Week 3, February 1998
Hartford Civic Center (New England)
15000 People - Sellout

Diamond Dallas Page defeated Chris Benoit in 13:33 by pinfall with a Diamond Cutter following interference from Chris Jericho (B-) After the match Chris Jericho hits the ring and begins laying into Benoit, but DDP rolls back into the ring and lays Jericho out with a Diamond Cutter (C-) DDP extends his hand and lifts Benoit up. The two men shake before leaving the ring (C+)

Highlights air of Scott Steiner piledriving his brother on the outside of the ring at Souled Out (B-)

Scott Steiner defeated Rick Steiner in 13:58 by pinfall with a Frankensteiner (B-)

Backstage The Giant is getting ready for the Main Event tonight vs Kevin Nash, when Nash sneaks up behind The Giant and drops him with a vicious chair shot. The Giant is immediatley busted open and has a hard time getting to his feet as Nash walks away nonchalantly (B+)

Kevin Sullivan comes out and says he has had his eye on some guys in WCW for a while and plans on making a new destructive force the likes of which have never been seen in WCW! (C+)

Raven and Mortis defeated The Public Enemey in 11:42 when Mortis defeated Johnny Grunge by pinfall (C)

Backstage Rick Steiner is having his neck checked out after the match vs Scott, when Scott comes back and lays into Rick even more. He calls Rick a stupid SOB and says he'll never be able to lace Scott's boots! (C+)

Ric Flair defeated Jim Neidhart in 11:31 by pinfall (C)

Sting comes out to the ring and says Bret Hart and Scott Hall are once again talking too much and Sting will reiterate what he said before: he is going to prove himself in the ring in two weeks! (A)

Kevin Nash defeated The Giant in 13:55 by pinfall with a Jacknife Power Bomb (B-) After the match Hulk Hogan comes out to congratulate Nash. The two men eye the laid out Giant but before they can do anything Randy Savage hits the ring to check on his partner, which sends the two men retreating (B+)

Show Rating: B-

[DeToxRox]

Monday Night Ratings

Nitro: 5.79
Raw: 4.04 [headlined by the Rock and Mankind vs Vader & Bigelow (B)]

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by dubb93

Good job so far. Maybe at some point we will see Scott Hall get the world title run he never saw in real life. He was absolutely money at this time and prehaps the most entertaining wrestler in the business in the late 90s. Hart v Hall would have sold without a doubt.

Just started reading along with this and I agree with this sentiment.

Also - if you (even in this little play-world) job Flair to Kevin Nash I will come to your house and jackknife powerbomb you

[DaddyTorgo]

yay! flair lives! and you're going to do a flair-benoit horseman...which just makes me tingle with happiness

[DeToxRox]

WCW Monday Nitro
Monday, Week 4, February 1998
Rose Garden (North West)
15000 People -- Sellout

Eric Bischoff opens up Nitro with an announcement regarding Sould Out. He says that if Kevin Nash loses tonight he will be forced to pay for his attack last week and meet The Giant one on one this Sunday! So for Nash's sake, he better win, because The Giant is none too pleased (B+)

Bill Goldberg defeated Alex Wright in 6:07 by pinfall with The Spear (D)

Randy Savage defeated Raven in 12:47 by pinfall (B-)

Hulk Hogan is backstage looking at a monitor. He says once Booker T gets taken care of tonight, Hogan will have no problems making sure Savages life turns into a living hell on Sunday! (A)

Hollywood Hulk Hogan defeated Booker T in 13:33 by pinfall with an Axe Bomber (B-) After the match Randy Savage comes out and gets in Hogan's face. Savage says Hogan won't dare cross him with the nWo not having his back. Savage and Hogan get nose to nose but a slew of officials hit the ring to seperate the two men (A)

Curt Hennig is backstage saying he is not happy how he's been treated since he came to WCW so he's challenging Lex Luger, a WCW Icon to a match at SuperBrawl because Hennig needs someone to take his frustration out on (C-)

Backstage DDP is warming up for his match when Chris Benoit stops by to wish him luck. Then out of nowhere Raven and Mortis attack both men and leave them laying. Raven says he hasn't forgotten DDP's secret, but he's going to save it for Uncensored (B-)

Bret Hart defeated Disco Inferno in 6:03 by submission with a Sharpshooter (B-)

Scott Steiner defeated Diamond Dallas Page in 12:52 by pinfall with a Frankensteiner (B+) After the match Kevin Sullivan comes out and says he is sick of DDP and everything he and the people like him stand for. He offers a challenge for SuperBrawl as his newest protege Mortis and Raven want to fight DDP and a partner of his choosing. DDP, pissed at losing takes a mic says "You got it!" (C)

A videos airs highlighting the Ric Flair vs Kevin Nash feud from December (A)

Ric Flair defeated Kevin Nash in 13:49 by pinfall (B)

Show Rating: B+

[DeToxRox]

Monday Night Ratings

Nitro: 8.06
Raw: 4.04 [headined by Kane vs Shamrock (B-)]

Wow. An 8.06? I had a stacked show, with all the advanced booked matches ranging from A* to B+ but that is just crazy. That's the best rating for a show I've had, that's for sure.

[DeToxRox]

WCW SuperBrawl
Sunday, Week 4, February 1998
RCA Dome (Great Lakes)
40000 People -- SELLOUT

Chris Jericho defeated Buff Bagwell in 13:38 by submission with a Lion Tamer. Chris Jericho makes defence number 1 of his WCW World Television title (C+)

Harlem Heat defeated Jim Neidhart and The British Bulldog in 13:36 when Booker T defeated The British Bulldog by pinfall with a Missile Dropkick (C)

DDP is backstage and says he is so sick and tired of Raven and now he has brought in Mortis and Kevin Sullivan into this to make it that much worse. DDP says tonight he and Chris Benoit are going to teach them both a lesson but DDP wants to make it a little more interesting so tonight the winners team gets to determine the stipulation of their Uncensored match! (B)

Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Benoit defeated Raven and Mortis in 17:09 when Diamond Dallas Page defeated Mortis by pinfall with a Diamond Cutter (C)

Curt Hennig defeated Lex Luger in 13:57 by pinfall with a Hennig Plex (B-)

Ric Flair is backstage where he questions what Scott Steiner has turned into. Flair says Rick is a friend of his and what Scott did to him made Flair sick to his stomach. Flair says tonight he is going to beat the respect into Scott Steiner (B+)

Scott Steiner defeated Ric Flair in 17:38 by pinfall with a handful of tights (B+)

A video airs hyping Nash vs The Giant (B)

The Giant defeated Kevin Nash in 12:28 by pinfall with a Choke Slam (C+)

Hulk Hogan promises that tonight Randy Savage will be done playing in the big leagues within WCW (A)

Hollywood Hulk Hogan defeated Randy Savage in 14:48 by pinfall with an Axe Bomber (B+)

A video airs hyping the Main Event (A*) Mean Gene says all three men declined interviews as they geared up for the match (A)

Sting defeated Scott Hall and Bret Hart in 25:40 when Sting defeated Scott Hall by submission with a Scorpion Deathlock after Hulk Hogan inadvertently threw brass knuckles meant for Scott Hall to Sting. Sting makes defence number 2 of his WCW World Heavyweight title (A)

Show Rating: B+

[DeToxRox]

PPV Buys

SuperBrawl: 18.56
No Way Out: 16.03

No Way Out was headlined by Sid Vicious defeating Shawn Michaels (A) for the WWF World Title.

[dubb93]

Sid Vicious??? WWF is countering your programming with a Sid Vicious title run!?!?!? Are they completely insane?

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by dubb93

Sid Vicious??? WWF is countering your programming with a Sid Vicious title run!?!?!? Are they completely insane?

I know HBK is God in this but the fact he got an A out of Sid is as mind boggling.

Raw gives away a lot of big matches on Raw I've noticed. I mean I do too but I am far top heavier in the Main Event then they are. I wonder how it'll affect them.

[DeToxRox]

February 1998 Financials

INCOME

PPV Revenue: $6,033,807
Ticket Sales: $2,867,380
TV Revenue: $150,000
Sponsors: $2,686,765
Merch: $1,512,000
Misc: $3,831

EXPENDITURES

Workers: $671,300
Show Costs: $519,800
Marketing: $750,000
Merchandise: $1,134,000
Production: $2,560,000
Development: $850
Misc: $3,660,130

Peformance: $3,957,703

Total Cash: $64,474,740

[DeToxRox]

State of WCW

Obviously right now we're humming. Solid ratings, good PPV buys and lots of quality shows. We have some solid storylines though a few have dragged on and will be resolved soon. We keep making money, and this month is huge for us as we add another TV show. The difference between Thunder and Saturday Night is Thunder is considered an A show so we should expect better ratings and thus more visibility.

We also have sold International Rights of Nitro to a Japanese station which was the one area we didn't have a market for Nitro. Next time out we'll try getting an international deal for Thunder to keep our International viewing audience happy.

It's getting to be time to start building up new stars which is our top priority for Thunder. Hopefully it works.

[DeToxRox]

WCW Monday Nitro
Monday, Week 1, March 1998
American Airlines Arena (Southeast)
15000 People -- Sellout

Nitro opens up with Scott Hall demanding Hulk Hogan come to the ring. Hall asks Hogan what the hell he was thinking last night helping Sting keep the title? Hogan says he's sorry brother it was a mistake and that he was trying to unite the nWo. Hogan says when he beats Scott Steiner at Uncensored and gets his title shot, he'll beat Sting and let Hall have an honest crack at him. Hall says whatever. Hogan asks what his problem is and the two men get chest to chest before Kevin Nash comes out and seperates them (A)

Eric Bischoff comes out and says he wants Thursday's Thunder debut to be an event unto itself, so he will have all five titles on the line! First up to be announced will be Chris Benoit getting one more chance at Chris Jericho for the Television Title! (C)

Scott Steiner is in the back. He warns Hogan that he better not say "once he wins at Uncensored" again because Steiner doesn't believe in lying and the trash Hogan is spewing is the biggest lie he's ever told! (A)

Eddy Guerrero defeated Psychosis in 11:54 by pinfall with a Frog Splash (C-)

Bill Goldberg defeated Jim Duggan in 5:45 by pinfall with The Spear (C-)

Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Villano IV in 13:09 by pinfall with a Springboard Hurracanrana. Rey Mysterio Jr. makes defence number 4 of his WCW Cruiserweight title (C)

Bret Hart comes out to the ring and says once again Hulk Hogan screws him out of a title. If it's not playing politics with Vince, it's throwing like a little bitch and letting Sting crack Hall with some brass knuckles. He says he wasn't pinned and he wants Sting to man up and give him a one on one match at Uncensored (A)

The Blue Bloods defeated 'The Belfast Bruiser' and Dean Malenko in 12:01 when Steven Regal defeated 'The Belfast Bruiser' by submission with a Regal Stretch (C-)

Bret Hart defeated Curt Hennig in 17:35 by submission with a Sharpshooter (B+)

Eric Bischoff says that on Thunder Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash will team up to face The Giant and Randy Savage for the Tag Team Titles (B+)

Scott Hall defeated Lex Luger in 12:02 by pinfall with a Razor's Edge (A)

Before Nitro goes off air Bobby Heenan announces that also on Thunder will be Ric Flair v Diamond Dallas Page for the US title and Sting defending his World Title vs Buff Bagwell (B+)

Show Rating: B+

[DeToxRox]

Monday Night Ratings

Nitro: 10.15
Raw: 1.38

... Apparently Raw didn't extend their deal on USA and is now only viewable in Canada. I am not sure what the hell happened by it looks like we have no competition and our ratings spiked becaue of it.

[DeToxRox]

WCW Thunder
Wednesday, Week 1, March 1998
DC Armory (Mid Atlantic)
10000 People -- Sellout
Television Taping

Thunder opens with WCW World Heavyweight Champion Sting agreeing that Bret Hart was screwed on Sunday, and Sting, respecting Bret Hart as a wrestler, is going to accept his challenge to to face him one on one at Uncensored (A)

Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Villano IV, Ultimo Dragon and Dean Malenko in 14:43 when Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Ultimo Dragon by pinfall with a Springboard Hurracanrana. Rey Mysterio Jr. makes defence number 5 of his WCW Cruiserweight title (C-)

Chris Jericho is backstage looking for Eric Bischoff. He finally finds him in his office. Jericho says Bischoff has some nerve giving Benoit a rematch tonight. Jericho asks Bischoff who the hell he thinks he is? Bischoff tells Jericho he better shut up or he is not going to like what happens to him. Jericho says he isn't done with him (B)

Chris Benoit defeated Chris Jericho in 12:46 by pinfall with a Dragon Suplex. Chris Benoit wins the WCW World Television title (C)

Ric Flair is backstage preparing to defend his US Title vs DDP. He says DDP has been on a roll lately and Flair likes how DDP is progressing. He says tonight will be a war (B)

Ric Flair drew with Diamond Dallas Page in 15:00 when the time limit expired (B) After the match, both men, obviously spent from the match they had, shake hands (B+)

Backstage Hall, Nash and Hogan are together, everything seeming all hunky dory. Hall says tonight the nWo regroups by bringing the Tag Team Titles back to the nWo. Hogan says to be Tag Team Champion and future #1 contender has him on the high of a life time. Hall says Steiner better watch out at Uncensored because the nWo is back, better then ever (A)

Sting defeated Buff Bagwell in 14:23 by submission with a Scorpion Deathlock. Sting makes defence number 3 of his WCW World Heavyweight title (B-)

A video airs hyping Sting vs Bret Hart at Uncensored (A*)

The Giant and Randy Savage defeated Kevin Nash and Hollywood Hulk Hogan in 15:55 when Randy Savage defeated Hollywood Hulk Hogan by pinfall (B-) After the match Kevin Nash gets in Hogans face asking him why he continues to be a hinderance to the nWo. Hogan tells Nash to bite him. Finally Scott Hall seperates them but the damage looks alreayd done (A)

Show Rating: C+

[DeToxRox]

Thunder Rating

Thunder draws a 5.05 rating. I am not sure if that'll be the norm as this was a stacked show, but I was figuring low 3's so that is awesome.

[DeToxRox]

WCW Monday Nitro
Monday, Week 1, March 1998
Frank Erwin Center (Mid South)
10000 People -- Sellout

Bill Goldberg defeated Steven Regal in 11:58 by pinfall with The Spear (B-)

Scott Steiner comes out to the ring to warn Hogan that his time at the top is coming to an end (B+)

Kevin Nash comes out to the ring and taunts the Giant. He says he fluked his way to a win last week, and tonight he'll take a vicious beating before the night is over (B-)

Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Psychosis in 10:41 by pinfall with a Springboard Hurracanrana. Rey Mysterio Jr. makes defence number 6 of his WCW Cruiserweight title (C-)

Ric Flair comes out and says on Thursday DDP took him to the limit and earned a rematch, so tonight, he is giving DDP one more crack at his US Title in a No Time Limit match (B)

Scott Steiner defeated The Giant in 12:53 by pinfall with a Frankensteiner following interference from Kevin Nash (B)

Eric Bischoff comes out and says all week he had to hear Scott Hall whining about how he was screwed. Bischoff says the title picture is set right now but Bischoff will throw him a bone and give him and Kevin Nash a Tag Team Title shot at Uncensored (B+)

Before Bischoff can say anything else, Chris Jericho sneaks through the crowd and lays Bischoff out with a huge clothesline. Jericho then locks in the Lion Tamer on Bischoff all the while screaming "YOU BASTARD". Officials race to the ring to pull Jericho off. Jericho smirks as he is dragged away to the back (B)

Booker T is backstage looking for Stevie Ray who apparently isn't at the building. He spots TV Champ Chris Benoit and says he needs a partner tonight to take on Hogan and Buff Bagwell. Benoit agree (C+)

Booker T and Chris Benoit defeated Buff Bagwell and Hollywood Hulk Hogan in 14:39 when Chris Benoit defeated Buff Bagwell by pinfall with a Dragon Suplex (B-)

Kevin Sullivan comes out and begins hyping his new group (C)

Ric Flair defeated Diamond Dallas Page in 17:23 by pinfall following interference from Raven. Ric Flair makes defence number 1 of his WCW United States Heavyweight title (B) After the match Raven begins laying into DDP but Flair comes in and begins throwing chops at Raven. Arn Anderson runs into the ring and hits Raven with a massive Spinebuster. DDP gets up and sees the two men looking over Raven's prone body. Flair and Arn look at one another, then at DDP, then give the 4 fingers to DDP. He returns them as the crowd goes wild (B+)

Show Rating: B-

[DeToxRox]

WCW Monday Nitro Rating

Nitro: 9.52

[DeToxRox]

WCW Thunder
Wednesday, Week 2, March 1998
Selland Arena (Southwest)
10000 People -- Sellout
TV Taping

Thunder opens up with Roddy Piper backstage announcing that because of Chris Jericho attacking Eric Bischoff last night, Piper is the new full time Commissioner. Piper says he may not like Bischoff, but what Jericho did was reprehensible and now he will suffer the consequences. So tonight it'll be Jericho taking on Kevin Nash and The Giant in a triple threat match! (B)

Bill Goldberg defeated 'The Belfast Bruiser' in 11:45 by pinfall with The Spear (C)

Eddy Guerrero defeated Yuji Nagata in 12:35 by pinfall with a Frog Splash (C-)

Scott Hall and Kevin Nash are in the back promising that at Uncensored they're going to reclaim the tag belts, and put Savage and The Giant away for good (A-)

Scott Hall defeated Perry Saturn in 12:54 by pinfall with a Razor's Edge (C+)

Ric Flair comes out to the ring with Arn Anderson. He says it's time to formally introduce the first member of the newest version of the Horsemen: Diamond Dallas Page! (B+)

Raven is backstage where he says DDP won their tag match at SuperBrawl so he can make any match he wants, it won't matter. Raven will win beat DDP and tell the world his secret (B+)

Steven Regal defeated Konnan in 9:34 by submission with a Regal Stretch (C)

Chris Jericho defeated The Giant and Kevin Nash in 14:54 when Chris Jericho won when Nash and The Giant were counted out brawling to the back (B)

Sting defeated Raven in 16:30 by submission with a Scorpion Deathlock (B+) Dallas Page interfered against Raven during the match.

Show Rating: B-

[DeToxRox]

Thunder Rating

WCW Thunder: 4.88

[DeToxRox]

WCW Monday Nitro
Monday, Week 3, March 1998
Liacouras Center (Tricity)
10000 People -- Sellout

Nitro opens with Booker T saying Stevie Ray has a match tonight vs Kevin Nash as punishment for missing last week, so Book needs a partner. Out comes DDP to accept the open invitation (B)

Diamond Dallas Page and Booker T defeated The Public Enemey in 10:31 when Booker T defeated Rocco Rock by pinfall with a Harlem Hangover (C)

After the match DDP takes a mic and tells Raven that at Uncensored they'll be doing battle in a Tables match! (C+)

Bill Goldberg defeated Villano IV in 8:32 by pinfall with The Spear (C) After the match Lex Luger comes out and tells Bill he is impressed by his streak so far, but at Uncensored, Luger is challenging him to face his first real test. Goldberg shakes his head up and down and smiles (C+)

Hulk Hogan is backstage. He says tonight he requested a match vs Rick Steiner so he can give Scott a little preview of Uncensored (B+)

Kevin Nash defeated Stevie Ray in 12:17 by pinfall with a Jacknife Power Bomb (C+)

Scott Hall gets on the mic and promises that the Tag Team Titles are coming back to the Outsiders (A)

Mortis defeated The Booty Man in 11:05 by pinfall (C)

Bret Hart defeated The British Bulldog in 14:46 by submission with a Sharpshooter (B-)

Curt Hennig is backstage where he challenges Ric Flair to a US Title Match at Uncensored (B+)

Hollywood Hulk Hogan defeated Rick Steiner in 14:42 by pinfall with an Axe Bomber (B) After the match Scott Steiner comes out. Hogan bails. Scott takes a mic and says "You wanna see what you have coming Sunday? WATCH THIS!" Steiner then picks up his beaten brother and Release German Suplexes him over the top rope to the outside! (B+)

Show Rating: B

[DeToxRox]

WCW Nitro Rating

Nitro: 9.46

[DeToxRox]

Wrestling Observer Breaking News
WCW-ECW Talent Trade

The new WCW regime has decided to season some of their workers not doing much presently by sending them to ECW in talent trades, while also allowing ECW wrestlers to reach a wider audience.

Eddy Guerrero was traded for Rob Van Dam for one show, while Mortis was traded for Chris Candido for three shows.

RVD is expected to challenge Rey Mysterio Jr for the Cruiserweight Title at Uncensored.

[DeToxRox]

WCW Thunder
Wednesday, Week 3, March 1998
Municipal Coliseum (Midwest)
10000 People -- Sellout
TV Taping

Lex Luger defeated Steven Regal in 9:56 by submission with a Torture Rack (B-)

Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Super Calo in 12:18 by pinfall with a Springboard Hurracanrana. Rey Mysterio Jr. makes defence number 7 of his WCW Cruiserweight title (C-)

Roddy Piper comes out to announce on Nitro Chris Jericho will face his biggest test yet - Hulk Hogan! Piper says Jericho better win or else face even more misery (B)

Bill Goldberg defeated Jim Neidhart in 9:12 by pinfall with The Spear (C)

A video plays hyping Scott Steiner vs Hulk Hogan (B+)

Bret Hart defeated Buff Bagwell in 9:37 by submission with a Sharpshooter (B)

Piper announces Ric Flair and DDP vs Curt Hennig and Raven tonight (C+)

Ric Flair and Diamond Dallas Page drew with Raven and Curt Hennig in 14:17 when the referee lost control and stopped the match (B-)

A video airs hyping Bret Hart vs Sting (A*)

Scott Steiner defeated Rick Steiner in 15:21 by pinfall with a Frankensteiner (B-)

Thunder ends with Sting promising to show Bret Hart why Sting is the Cornerstone of WCW (A*)

Show Rating: B

[DeToxRox]

Thunder Rating

Thunder: 5.05

[DeToxRox]

WCW Monday Nitro
Monday, Week 4, March 1998
Mass Mutual Center (New England)
10000 People -- Sellout

Chris Jericho is backstage gearing up for the biggest match of his life. He says Piper is a dinosaur who must go extinct (C+)

Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Chris Candido in 9:26 by pinfall with a Springboard Hurracanrana (C-)

A video air hyping the Raven/DDP Tables Match (B)

Chris Benoit defeated Scott Steiner in 15:58 by pinfall with a Dragon Suplex following interference from Rick Steiner (B-)

Hulk Hogan is shown backstage laughing as Scott throws a tantrum in the ring after the match (B+)

The Giant and Randy Savage defeated The British Bulldog and Jim Neidhart in 13:11 when Randy Savage defeated The British Bulldog by pinfall. Randy Savage and The Giant make defence number 2 of their WCW World Tag Team titles (C+)

Kevin Nash is backstage walking around like a Zombie, apparently as a means to mock the Giant (B+)

Chris Jericho runs into Roddy Piper backstage. Piper says he should call him a dinosaur to his face. Jericho says right now he doesn't need distractions, but promises Piper has some payback coming his way (B-)

Scott Hall defeated Rick Martel after the Razor's Edge in 11:31 (B-)

Bret Hart comes out promising it's time for a new era in WCW, and come Sunday he will be the true World's Champion (A*)

Chris Jericho defeated Hollywood Hulk Hogan in 12:52 by submission with a Lion Tamer after interference from Scott Steiner (B) After the match Steiner begins laying boots into Hogan and Jericho throws some in for good measure. Steiner stops and stares at him causing Jericho to beeline for the curtain (B+)

Show Rating: B-

[DeToxRox]

Nitro Rating

Nitro: 9.43

[DeToxRox]

WCW Thunder
Wednesday, Week 4, March 1998
RICOH Coliseum (Ontario)
10000 People -- Sellout
TV Taping

A video airs hyping the Canadian Legend Bret Hart (A)

Chris Jericho cuts a promo saying he is glad to be back in Canada where he's respected by such simple plebians. Jericho says he wants nothing to do with Canada and they can all kiss his ass! He beat Hogan BY HIMSELF and next up is Piper or whatever other goon he throws his way (B)

Booker T defeated Chris Candido in 9:44 by pinfall with a Harlem Hangover (C)

Bill Goldberg defeated Jim Duggan in 6:44 by pinfall with The Spear (C-)

Roddy Piper announces tonight Sting and Bret Hart will team up to face the Outsiders and a third team of Hulk Hogan and whoever wants to team up with him! (A)

Chris Jericho defeated Rick Martel in 10:46 by submission with a Lion Tamer (B-)

Randy Savage says he wants a shot at the Outsiders tonight so he is going to be Hogans partner but Hulk better realize this is more like a 2 vs 2 vs 1 vs 1 because he won't cooperate with him at all! (A*)

Curt Hennig defeated Steven Regal in 10:53 by pinfall with a Hennig Plex (C)

Chris Benoit defeated Buff Bagwell in 7:47 by pinfall with a Dragon Suplex (C)

Scott Steiner defeated Rick Steiner in 9:15 by pinfall with a Frankensteiner (B-) Afterwards Scott says he's officially done with his brother (B+)

Sting and Bret Hart drew with Hollywood Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage and The Outsiders in 13:36 when all six men started brawling and the ref through the match out (A)

Show Rating: B+

[DeToxRox]

WCW Thunder Rating

Thunder: 4.98

[DeToxRox]

ECW Living Dangerously Report

Of note to WCW:

The Sandman d. Eddy Guerrero (C-)
Brian Adams d. Mortis (C)
Shane Douglas d. RVD (C) Douglas retains the World Title

Mortis was named Star of the Night

[DeToxRox]

WCW Uncensored
Sunday, Week 4, March 1998
Tropicana Field (Southeast)
45000 People -- Sellout

Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Rob Van Dam in 9:50 by pinfall with a Springboard Hurracanrana to make defence #8 of his WCW Cruiserweight Title (C)

Chris Jericho defeated The British Bulldog in 11:41 by submission with a Lion Tamer (B-) Afterwards Jericho takes the mic and makes a challenge to Roddy Piper for anywhere, anytime! (B)

Bill Goldberg defeated Lex Luger in 10:37 by pinfall with The Spear (B-)

Backstage Booker T is obviously annoyed. He says once again Stevie Rey shows up when he wants so tonight Booker is introducing his newest partner, Chris Benoit. He says they have obviously chemistry from their past match and will prove it tonight on PPV (B-)

Booker T and Chris Benoit defeated Vicious & Delicious in 13:11 when Booker T defeated Scott Norton by pinfall with a Missile Dropkick (B-)

A video airs hyping Ric Flair and his numerous accomplishments (A-)

Ric Flair defeated Curt Hennig in 14:54 by pinfall. Ric Flair makes defence number 2 of his WCW United States Heavyweight title (B+)

Diamond Dallas Page defeated Raven in 13:48 when Raven was put through a table (A) After the match Kevin Sullivan comes in the ring and handcuffs a battered DDP to the ropes. Raven slowly gets up and begins unloading on DDP. Ric Flair hits the ring by Kevin Sullivan grabs a chair and keeps him at bay. Raven grabs a mic and says ten years ago DDP sold his soul to the Devil to get into the business. Raven says that -- He is cut off when Booker T and Chris Benoit hit the ring, along with Flair.

The three men cause Raven and Sullivan to bolt the ring. Booker helps unlock DDP from the cuffs, and then together the four men, plus Arn Anderson who quietly hits the ring hold up four fingers as Raven and Sullivan swear and throw tantrums up the ramp (B+)

A video airs hyping out Tag Team Title match (B+)

The Giant and Randy Savage defeated The Outsiders in 8:43 when Randy Savage defeated Kevin Nash by pinfall. Randy Savage and The Giant make defence number 3 of their WCW World Tag Team titles (B) After the match Scott Hall looks at Nash and then the celebrating champs. He just shakes his head disgustedly and walks to the back alone (B+)

Hulk Hogan is backstage promising that tonight he will reclaim his position as #1 contender! (B+)

Scott Steiner defeated Hollywood Hulk Hogan in 13:18 by pinfall with a Frankensteiner (B) Steiner celebrates making the belt pantamine with both hands as he stands over Hogan (A)

A video airs hyping our Main Event (A*)

Bret Hart defeated Sting in 25:11 by submission with a Sharpshooter. Bret Hart wins the WCW World Heavyweight title (A) The show ends with Bret Hart holding the WCW Title triumphantly over his head (A)

Show Rating: B+

[DeToxRox]

PPV Buys

Uncensored: 19.65
WrestleMania: 16.97

WM was headlined by Sid successfully defending his title vs Ahmed Johnson (B-)

[dubb93]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

WM was headlined by Sid successfully defending his title vs Ahmed Johnson (B-)

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by dubb93

A B- between them = Miracle.

[Neuqua]

Keep up the good work, been a fun read so far.

[DaddyTorgo]

detox - your damn wcw dynasties always make me buy TEW!!!

[DeToxRox]

Ha DT, appreciate it and you should, it's a blast.

Neq - Also appreciate the kind words. I'm having a blast with this one.

[DeToxRox]

March 1998 Financials

INCOME

PPV Revenue: $6,388,031
Ticket Sales: $3,812,920
TV Revenue: $590,000
Sponsors: $2,884,778
Merch: $1,428,000
Misc: $1,389

EXPENDITURE

Workers: $678,200
Show Costs: $605,800
Marketing: $750,000
Merch: $1,071,000
Production: $3,520,000
Development: $850
Misc: $2,049,736

Performance: $6,429,532

Total Cash: $70,904,272

[DeToxRox]

A Look At Development

Something I forget to touch on is our developemental organzation, Jersey All Pro Wrestling. Presently we have 14 wrestlers in JAPW honing their skills, and now 4 trainers to work with them.

Wrestlers

Adam Copeland
Christian Cage
Christopher Daniels
Ernest Miller
Hector Garza Jr
Homicide
Kid Kash
Mike Quackenbush
Reckless Youth
Rhino
Shane Helms
Steve Corino
Stevie Ray
Stevie Richards

Trainers

Brad Armstrong
Dave Taylor
Larry Zbyszko
Dave Finlay

The plan is to keep all developmental workers there for a year minimum before they're called up. Everyone listed but Stevie Ray, Stevie Richards, Hector Garza and Earnest Miller have been there four months so they're 1/3 the way through. All of these guys look good, and have made solid improvement without trainers, but now because of a bloated roster, we have four excellent trainers.

Part of the creative license is with WCW's backing, JAPW will be given 200K a year, of which I sill subtract from my own cash. I will also bump their popularity in the Tri City to 50 or so, and bump it to 30 ish in New England. The reason for this is to hopefully get them running more then once a month so my guys can continue to get steady work.