Starrcade (1998)
Starrcade (1998) was the sixteenth annual Starrcade professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event, produced by World Championship Wrestling (WCW). It took place on December 27, 1998 from the MCI Center in Washington, D.C.
| Starrcade (1998) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Promotional poster featuring Goldberg | |||
| Promotion | World Championship Wrestling[1] | ||
| Brand(s) | WCW nWo | ||
| Date | December 27, 1998[1] | ||
| City | Washington, D.C.[1] | ||
| Venue | MCI Center[1] | ||
| Attendance | 16,066 | ||
| Tagline(s) | Who's Next? The Challenge Has Been Issued. | ||
| Pay-per-view chronology | |||
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| Starrcade chronology | |||
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The main event was a No Disqualification match between Goldberg and Kevin Nash for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Their feud began when Nash won a battle royal at World War 3, and earned a title match. Other matches included Diamond Dallas Page against The Giant, Eric Bischoff against Ric Flair, and Konnan against Chris Jericho for the WCW World Television Championship.[1] In 2015, All WCW pay-per-views were made available on the WWE Network.
Storylines
The event featured wrestlers from pre-existing feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.[2]
The main feud heading into Starrcade was between Goldberg and Kevin Nash over the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Since his debut, Goldberg started an undefeated streak, and won the title from Hollywood Hogan on the July 6 edition of Nitro.[3] At World War 3, Nash won a battle royal to earn a title match with Goldberg at Starrcade, and their feud began.[4] Heading into Starrcade, Goldberg had an undefeated streak of 173 matches.[1]
The feud between Ric Flair and Eric Bischoff began on September 14, when Flair returned to reform the Four Horsemen. The Four Horsemen feuded with the New World Order, but it soon reduced to a feud between Flair and Bischoff.[5][6] The feud between Diamond Dallas Page and The Giant began when Bret Hart defeated Page with the help of The Giant to win the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship on the November 30 edition of Nitro.[7]
Event
The first match was a Triangle match between Juventud Guerrera, Rey Mysterio, Jr. and Billy Kidman for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship. The match went back and forth between all three. It ended when Mysterio sent Guerrera outside the ring with a headscissors takedown, and Kidman performed a shooting star press to both. Eddy Guerrero came out as Kidman fought Guerrera in the ring. Kidman had Guerrera in a roll-up, and Guerrero reversed it into a sunset flip on Kidman. Mysterio dropkicked Guerrera, and Kidman pinned Guerrera with a roll-up to win the match, and retain the title.
After the match, Guerrero lectured Mysterio and Guerrera, and challenged Kidman for the title. Kidman accepted, and the match started with Guerrero having the advantage. Kidman fought back with a headscissors takedown, and they went back and forth. After Kidman countered a powerbomb into a sitout facebuster, he attempted a Frankensteiner, but Guerrero held on. After interference from Guerrera and Mysterio, who helped Guerrero and Kidman respectively, Kidman pinned Guerrero after a shooting star press to win the match, and retain the title.
The third match was between Norman Smiley and Prince Iaukea. The match started back and forth until Smiley dropped Iaukea across the ropes. Smiley dominated Iaukea with the use of many holds. Iaukea attempted to fight back with a springboard crossbody, but Smiley rolled through, and forced Iaukea to submit with the Norman Conquest. Smiley won the match.
The fourth match was between Ernest Miller (accompanied by Sonny Onoo) and Perry Saturn. The match started back and forth. Saturn had the early advantage until Miller performed an eye rake, and choked Saturn. Miller performed a superkick, but Saturn fought back with suplexes. After Saturn missed an axe handle, Miller fought back with kicks, and held Saturn for Onoo to attack him. Onoo accidentally kicked Miller, and Miller kicked Onoo. Saturn then pinned Miller after a Death Valley driver to win the match.
| Role: | Name: |
|---|---|
| Commentator | Bobby Heenan |
| Tony Schiavone | |
| Mike Tenay | |
| Interviewer | Gene Okerlund[1] |
| Referee | Mickey Jay |
| Charles Robinson | |
| Billy Silverman | |
| Ring announcer | Michael Buffer |
| David Penzer |
The fifth match was between the team of Brian Adams and Scott Norton and the team of Fit Finlay and Jerry Flynn. The match went back and forth until Adams performed a piledriver to Finlay. Adams and Norton dominated Finlay with a DDT and a hangman's neckbreaker from Norton. Finlay performed a jawbreaker to Adams, but Adams fought back with a gorilla press gutbuster. Flynn tagged in after Finlay blocked a seated senton from Adams. Norton pinned Flynn after a clothesline and a powerbomb to win the match.
The sixth match was between Chris Jericho and Konnan for the WCW World Television Championship. Jericho gained the advantage after sending Konnan into the ringpost. Konnan fought back with a rolling thunder lariat, and they went back and forth. Jericho performed a Lionsault, but sent himself into the ringsteps. After Konnan kicked him in the corner, Jericho hit Konnan with the belt. Konnan fought back with a Facejam, and forced Jericho to submit with the Tequila Sunrise. Konnan won the match, and retained the title.
The seventh match was between Eric Bischoff and Ric Flair. The match started with Flair dominating Bischoff with knife edge chops, punches and kicks. Flair performed a knee drop, and targeted Bischoff's right leg. Bischoff fought back briefly with kicks. Flair performed repeated low blows and knife edge chops. Flair knocked down the referee, and performed suplexes before applying the figure four leglock. Curt Hennig came down, and handed Bischoff a weapon. Bischoff punched Flair with it, and pinned him to win the match.
The eighth match was between The Giant and Diamond Dallas Page. The Giant dominated Page after sending him into the ringsteps and ringposts. After delivering several attacks, The Giant applied the bear hug. Page fought out, and bit The Giant's forehead, but The Giant performed a chokeslam backbreaker. Page performed a tornado DDT, and both were down. Bret Hart came out, and accidentally hit The Giant with a steel chair. Page performed flying clotheslines until The Giant caught him, and attempted a chokeslam from the top turnbuckle. Page countered it into a Diamond Cutter, and pinned The Giant to win the match.
The main event was a No Disqualification match between Kevin Nash and Goldberg for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Michael Buffer did the introductions for the bout and incorrectly announced Goldberg as having a 174-0 record despite it being 173-0. The match started back and forth. Nash attacked Goldberg in the corner, but Goldberg pushed him down, and applied the ankle lock. Goldberg attacked Nash in the corner, but Nash sent him into the turnbuckle. Nash performed a corner foot choke, and attempted a big boot. Goldberg ducked, and performed a spear. As Goldberg was about to perform a Jackhammer, Nash performed a low blow. Nash performed a sidewalk slam, and attacked Goldberg's back. Goldberg fought back with a swinging neckbreaker and a superkick. After Goldberg performed a front powerslam and a spinning heel kick, Disco Inferno and Bam Bam Bigelow came out to attack Goldberg. Goldberg performed a spear to Inferno, and sent Bigelow out of the ring with a clothesline. As Goldberg was about to perform a spear to Nash, Scott Hall shocked Goldberg with a stun gun. Nash performed a Jackknife Powerbomb to Goldberg, and pinned him to win the match and the title, and thus ending Goldberg's streak 173-1.[1][8]
Aftermath
Goldberg's match at Starrcade ended his undefeated streak. On the January 4 episode of Nitro, Kevin Nash was scheduled to face Goldberg in a rematch for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Goldberg was arrested, however, when he was falsely accused of stalking Miss Elizabeth. Instead, Nash faced Hollywood Hogan, who had returned after a hiatus, purportedly to announce his retirement in the wake of his run for President of the United States,[9] and offered to face Nash in place of Goldberg. Nash would lay down and allow Hogan to pin him, effectively handing the title to Hogan, in an incident infamously known as the "Fingerpoke of Doom."[10] The match was followed by a reunion of the New World Order.[11][12]
After Starrcade, Goldberg feuded with Scott Hall due to his interference in the match. They faced each other in a ladder match involving a stun gun at Souled Out. After Goldberg won the match, Bam Bam Bigelow came out and attacked Goldberg, and a feud started between them.[13] It led to their match at SuperBrawl IX, where Goldberg defeated Bigelow to end their feud.[14] The feud between Ric Flair and Eric Bischoff continued, with Hogan eventually becoming a part of the rivalry as well. The entire feud, which led to Flair gaining control of WCW for ninety days following a win the night after Starrcade, culminated with Flair's defeat of Hogan at Uncensored in March to take Hogan's championship and the presidency of WCW from Bischoff permanently.[5] Flair would eventually lose both the World Heavyweight Championship (at Spring Stampede) and the WCW Presidency, the latter thanks to a returning Bischoff who had disappeared from television shortly after the Hogan-Flair match at Uncensored.[5]
Results
| No. | Results[1] | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Billy Kidman (c) defeated Rey Mysterio Jr. and Juventud Guerrera | Triple threat match for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship | 14:55 |
| 2 | Billy Kidman (c) defeated Eddie Guerrero | Singles match for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship | 10:49 |
| 3 | Norman Smiley defeated Prince Iaukea by submission | Singles match | 11:31 |
| 4 | Perry Saturn defeated Ernest Miller (with Sonny Onoo) | Singles match | 7:07 |
| 5 | Brian Adams and Scott Norton (with Vincent) defeated Fit Finlay and Jerry Flynn | Tag team match | 8:56 |
| 6 | Konnan (c) defeated Chris Jericho (with Ralphus) by submission | Singles match for the WCW World Television Championship | 7:27 |
| 7 | Eric Bischoff defeated Ric Flair | Singles match | 7:08 |
| 8 | Diamond Dallas Page defeated The Giant | Singles match | 12:45 |
| 9 | Kevin Nash defeated Goldberg (c) | No Disqualification match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship | 11:20 |
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References
- Powell, John (1998-12-28). "Nash wins title, ends Goldberg's streak". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
- Grabianowski, Ed. "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
- "History of the WCW World Championship: Goldberg". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
- Powell, John (1998-11-23). "Nash dominates WW3". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
- Milner, John; Kamchen, Richard (2004-11-18). "Ric Flair". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
- The Monday Night War: WWE Raw vs. WCW Nitro (DVD). World Wrestling Entertainment. 2004-02-03. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- Milner, John (2005-08-14). "Diamond Dallas Page". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
- "History of the WCW World Championship: Kevin Nash". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
- Reynolds, R.D.; Alvarez, Bryan (2004). The Death of WCW. ECW Press.
- Shaffer, Jed. "What if the Finger Poke of Doom Never Happened?". WrestleCrap: The Very Worst in Pro Wrestling. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
- Milner, John (2005-10-21). "Kevin Nash". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
- "History of the WCW World Championship: Hulk Hogan". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
- Powell, John (1999-01-18). "Hall zapped at Souled Out". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
- Powell, John (1999-02-22). "David Flair turns at SuperBrawl". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2008-06-05.