This match exemplifies the reasons I began to hate WCW in 1998. I’m not even talking about the match itself, but simply the contextual set up. Nash and Sting come out. They’re the WCW tag champs. Champs despite the fact Sting was the resistance to Nash’s NWO invasion, and they spent a very long time feuding by proxy through Hogan. Put that away for a second and realize the stoic Crow Sting is now IN THE NWO, except this is the fun loving NWO, because their colors are red and black. If that’s not enough, their opponents are Scott Hall, traditionally depicted as the best of friends forever and never as adversaries. Why are Nash and Hall Feuding? Well, because WCW couldn’t pull off a brother vs brother feud I suppose. And Hall’s partner? The man he mocked for years, who jumped in and out of the NWO more times than anyone else, The Giant. These four guys shouldn’t be in the ring together without some seriously memorable angles where forgiveness and bonds were formed. But this is WCW, so you just hope for a good match from some main event personalities, then expect a run in.

This is a fun, exciting match that benefitted from a really hot Salt Lake City crowd. They picked a solid formula, and while the work wasn’t quick or tight, it was good and made sense. About my only complaint, other than not liking WCW finishes, is the tone of Hall and Sting’s characters. Sting resembled and acted like a a modern day Jeff Hardy at his most pluckiest. He was jumping around doing ridiculous crotch chops. It was such a goofy alteration from what his Crow character had been and I didn’t feel connected to it in the least. It wasn’t a huge problem, and the fans loved him coming from underneath, but he felt like a poser to me. Odder was Hall, who did all his typical over the top histrionics. That’s fine, and he’s a good bumping big man (sort of how you might admire the versatility of a Karl Malone in basketball), but as a character he didn’t play up any anger or betrayal issues with Nash. There was nothing palpable about these two best friends ripped apart, Hogan in Hall’s ear, or his drinking problems used for storyline issues. I thought it could have been played more intensely to maximize the match up.

Overall this was a good 12-13 minute match, of which we got 10 minutes shown. The Giant was really on here, and he had it as a big man. Nash wasn’t lazy either, which was nice to see. Sting brought a lot of energy (part of which I liked). Bret Hart came out, distracted Sting, and Hall hit the Razor’s Edge for the win. New tag champs. Did a mention the crowd really helped make this match? I’m done. 3 and 6/10.

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.

Steiner is taped up at the ribs from a Harlem Heat attack, so that should factor in. The Giant was pretty bad ass in 1996, and he was the champ at this point too. The Giant is the WCW Champ too. If Steiner is motivated this should be a very good power contest.

Real basic meat-and-potatoes stuff here. Steiner goes for the slam or suplex and can’t get the Giant over. Giant works the hell out of those ribs. Steiner is’nt as over as you’d think while Giant is getting the heat w/ heavy forearms and chokes. The Giant sure uses his feet a lot for a guy that never kicks.

A lot of NWO talk during this one. A fascinating time to be a WCW fan because even the heel champ was being called on to fight off Hall/Nash, plus you had the mystery of who the third guy was (Hogan).

This match really isn’t to fascinating as far as the body of it. Giant throws a suplex, which I didn’t remember, and Steiner bumps more then usual (and hard given his opponent), but it’s pretty dull/average stuff. The trick to the Giant is a faster opponent I’d say.

The Steiner hope spots are okay. The place explodes when Steiner suplexes The Giant, but then it’s like after the near fall Steiner doesn’t quite know what to do offensively. The finish is what I’m sure everyone remembers. Wooden chair over the Giant’s back. No sell. The Giant puts him way up in the air and chokeslams the muscle man. Clean win for the Giant in about 12 minutes. Heenan yells “go to your room” during the pin. I love that man. The match is a novelty for the finish and the suplex on the big man before that, but it’s not even the sprint that The Giant had with Luger in terms of fun or story. 2 ½ and 5/10.

The Giant is dominant monster heel champ at this point having killed Ric Flair for the belt. The future Big Show is in great shape too. Luger is just Luger. Who knows or cares if he’s a good guy or a bad guy in the current booking scheme. Let’s just hope this is a well worked out power match.

First thing I notice is Luger is bumping more than I’ve ever seen from him. He keeps trying to use power on Giant and it’s not working. Good story early going. Luger tries for the body slam and gets thrown through the ropes. Wow, Luger is moving fast and is an inspired as Sting working Malenko or Regal (Matches # 7 & # 29). Luger hits as hard and fast elbow that Giant no sells, and Bischoff brings up Luger K.O.ing Yoko in the WWF. Ya don’t say. Well it was a good choice as the hope spots and faster stuff looks great, and when the Giant gains control they slow it down. He looks dominant. I can’t believe I’m actually enjoying this match.

Angle alert. They show Flair at the table again, much like the match before, eating and drinking w/ his ladies. He’s in his robe and everything. Giant takes some shots and brings Luger to the outside. He puts Luger through the table hard! ECW-ECW! Well there goes a fun match. No wonder they worked it as a sprint instead of a normal Giant or Luger match. Fun while it lasted. They use this to put over Luger as a face, vy the way. Mean Gene is being a gutter punk, trying to talk to Sting while he tends to his fallen friend. No class, that drunken Gene. 2 ¼ and 4/10.

Flair has his working boots on here. Classic early match Flair doing all the movement and taking the beating. The broomstick treatment. He makes the Giant chase once coming to him doesn’t work. When the Giant catches him it’s a thumb to the eye. Flair is laying in the chops on the big man. The Giant actually does a good job of knowing when and what to sell in this match. Flair uses a foreign object and puts on the figure four after some dancin’ time. Problem is the Giant wakes up and grabs his throat. Great spot. The Giant gives him a huge choke slam and gets the clean pin in 6 minutes. Wow, very effective match that probably doesn’t get it’s due as it was only six minutes, but wow was that a good six minute match give the dynamics. 2 ¾ and 5/10.

I have no idea why Flair and the Giant made friends after their match (Match # 23). I guess there just that much of bad guys. Sting and Luger are always friends no matter what. I’m not expecting to much out of this, aging Flair and the big guy as the offensive force in this one. This one is for the titles held by Luger/Sting.

Sting looks like he’s got the energy to go early. Flair makes him look like a million bucks early. Luger is a goof, flexing to scare Flair. But Flair makes him look like gold too. The faces press slam Flair onto the Giant, and then Flair & The Giant get mad at one another. Apparently they aren’t suck bad guys that they don’t have a professional rivalry.

Back from commercial. Luger selling for the Giants power offense is plain old boring. Sadly, the heels get the heat on Luger for a few minutes. It monotonous, sometimes pretty good, but overall not very inspiring as a consumer. The crowd live seems to stick with it better than I can. Flair is always entertaining, and the Giant was agile in his youth (for a giant).

Flair really makes the middle section of this match work. I actually had to re-watch it as I simply walked away at one point, but heard the crowd popping on my TV. I came back to see Flair dancing around, hitting some fun moves, then taking the fierce comeback of Luger and the hot tag beating of Sting. He knocks over the camera man doing his patented turn buckle bump. This match breaks down and Giant sells great for Luger punches. I’m reminded of why WCW wasn’t cool and ECW was to high school me as Woman throws coffee at the faces and hits Sting for the DQ. Hot coffee decided this match. What a shame. A good ending would have put this match a lot higher. The Giant chokeslams everyone after, which looked pretty cool. 2 ¾ and 6/10.

Elizabeth throws Savage’s money to the crowd as they come down the aisle. She’s won a lot in the settlement apparently. You would too if the stories about her treatment are true.

A heel vs heel match on live TV. I guess they figure Flair is the defacto face as this match is in the south. He does get chants. Meanwhile, Eric Bischoff on commentary talks over that to say that Hogan is professional wrestling. Okay then.

The Giant gimmick is just to lame for me to get into. I admittedly don’t love most big man work, but the way Paul Wight acted pre-NOW was just embarrassing to me. Flair looks old early, and tentative, but takes a lot of bumps via The Giant pressing him around. Flair tries to run away and the Giant carries him back to the ring. They really put over the Giant as this bad ass monster, though it doesn’t have the effect of other attempts (with better big men). Maybe I’m not fully buying in how over fans were. Suffice to say Giant destroys Flair for most of this match.

Flair’s hope spot is off a stupid Giant dive from the second rope to splash the ring. Then he charges Flair and goes over the top rope. That was impressive. Flair gains the advantage choking Giant with a thin rope. At least the dirtiest player in the game makes it mean something. Otherwise it’s a bit dull. Flair’s determined strikes are pretty fun to watch. You really get the sense he’s trying to beat the big man.

Flair of course gets caught on the top rope. He takes the bump and gets choke slammed. Now we get the run-ins. Liz and Woman. Then Arn Anderson with a chair. Kevin Sullivan is in to take it away, but the Giant thinks Sullivan hit him. The Giant chokeslams them all. DQ finish. It was actually pretty decent while it lasted, which was about 8 minutes. 2 ½ and 5/10.