Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 68: The Giant vs. Curt Hennig (Nitro 9/29/97)

Bischoff is on commentary and by this point he’s pretty bad. He was better as an in-ring promo with Hogan. The smarminess just sits there and he has little to say. This is not the Hennig I grew up with, this is “collect-a-check” Curt, but this is also early in the run so maybe he does something to justify his spot. He’s NWO at this point, having screwed over Flair and the Horseman. The Giant gets goofy old school Giant green light opening. It is so weird seeing Paul Wight in his long haired Giant faze in from ’09 eyes.

I’m shocked. Hennig bumps around at near Hart match levels in this one, though without the spry step he once had, and with much more muscle (making it even more impressive). Big Show (sorry, couldn’t resist) does a lot of power spots and it works. Hennig gets the advantage a few minutes in off a miscue and goes right to work. Bisch spends most of his time downing Ric Flair – typical WCW semi-shoot crap that was entertaining as hell to follow online, but never helped with business.

Hennig pulled off the perfect-plex on The Giant. Spot of the f’n year. Why didn’t I know about this? There was an audible gasp from the crowd. Too Cool (and not Brian Christopher). The cherry on top was the near fall and then the Giant nipping up (like the Rock, not like HBK). The Giant goes for a chokeslam and the NWO hits the ring for the DQ in about 4 minutes of the match. Wow that was a fun four minutes. Sting hits the ring and a brawl breaks out with the fans going nuts. This was a classic Nitro formula and week to week it got old, but damn it it isn’t fun to watch in isolated incidents like now. 2 ½ and 5/10.