Matches of the Month

[Loss]

January:

 

#1 - Kiyoshi Tamura vs Mikhail Ilioukhine (RINGS 01/21/98) ****1/2

#2 - Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jun Akiyama (AJPW 01/26/98) ***3/4

#3 - Yuki Ishikawa vs Alexander Otsuka (BattlARTS 01/20/98) ***3/4

#4 - Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker (WWF Royal Rumble 01/18/98) ***3/4

#5 - Raven vs Chris Benoit (WCW Souled Out 01/24/98) ***1/2

#6 - Mr. Aguila, Pantera, Salsero & Venum Black vs Juventud Guerrera, Mosco De La Merced, Pantera Del Ring & Super Crazy (Promo Azteca 01/30/98) ***1/2

#7 - Rey Misterio Jr. vs Juventud Guerrera (WCW Thunder 01/15/98) ***1/2

#8 - Ultimo Dragon vs Shinjiro Otani (NJPW Tokyo Dome 01/04/98) ***1/2

#9 - Etsuko Mita & Mima Shimoda vs Meiko Satomura & Sonoko Kato (GAEA 01/15/98) ***1/2

#10 - Ric Flair vs Bret Hart (WCW Souled Out 01/24/98) ***1/2

#11 - Masato Tanaka vs Mr. Gannosuke (FMW 01/06/98) ***1/4

#12 - Mens Teoh vs Shoichi Funaki (Michinoku Pro 01/14/98) ***1/4

#13 - Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko vs Chris Jericho & Eddy Guerrero (WCW Thunder 01/29/98) ***

#14 - Sandman vs Sabu (ECW House Party 01/10/98) ***

#15 - Juventud Guerrera, Super Calo & Lizmark Jr. vs La Parka, Psicosis & Silver King (WCW Souled Out 01/24/98) ***

#16 - Justin Credible vs Great Sasuke (ECW House Party 01/10/98) ***

#17 - Goldberg vs Jerry Flynn (WCW Monday Nitro 01/12/98)

#18 - Goldberg vs Brad Armstrong (WCW Monday Nitro 01/26/98)

#19 - Diamond Dallas Page vs Chris Jericho (WCW Monday Nitro 01/05/98)

#20 - Cham Pain & Venom vs Surge & Kid Dynamo (NWA 2000 01/03/98)

#21 - Goldust vs Flash Funk (WWF Monday Night RAW 01/05/98)

#22 - Genichiro Tenryu vs Nobutaka Araya (WAR 01/14/98)

#23 - Rob Van Dam vs Bam Bam Bigelow (ECW House Party 01/10/98)

 

Not the best month for in-ring action, but I am interested in watching all the holes in WCW storylines while the WWF stumbles on to something hot.

[Loss]

February:

 

#1 - Yumi Fukawa vs Candy Okutsu (ARSION Grand Opening 02/18/98) ****

#2 - Diamond Dallas Page vs Chris Benoit (WCW SuperBrawl VIII 02/22/98) ***1/2

#3 - Yoshihiro Taijiri vs Gedo (BJPW Indy Hyper J Tournament 02/03/98) ***1/4

#4 - Chris Jericho vs Juventud Guerrera (WCW SuperBrawl VIII 02/22/98) ***1/4
#5 - Steve Austin, Cactus Jack, Chainsaw Charlie & Owen Hart vs HHH, New Age Outlaws & Savio Vega (WWF No Way Out 02/15/98) ***

#6 - Booker T vs Rick Martel (WCW SuperBrawl VIII 02/22/98) ***

#7 - Cactus Jack vs Chainsaw Charlie (WWF Monday Night RAW 02/02/98)

#8 - Yoshihiro Taijiri vs Minoru Tanaka (BJPW Indy Hyper J Tournament 02/03/98)

#9 - Booker T vs Perry Saturn (WCW SuperBrawl VIII 02/22/98)

#10 - Goldberg vs Fit Finlay (WCW Thunder 02/19/98)

#11 - Goldberg vs Steven Regal (WCW Monday Nitro 02/09/98)

[Loss]

March:

 

#1 - Shawn Michaels vs Steve Austin (WWF Wrestlemania XIV 03/30/98) ****

#2 - Hayabusa vs Masato Tanaka (FMW 03/13/98) ****

#3 - Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW Championship Carnival 03/29/98) ***3/4

#4 - Yuki Ishikawa vs Katsumi Usuda (BattlARTS 03/06/98) ***3/4

#5 - Sting vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Monday Nitro 03/23/98) ***1/2

#6 - 2 Cold Scorpio vs Shane Douglas (ECW 03/07/98) ***1/2

#7 - Diamond Dallas Page vs Chris Benoit vs Raven (WCW Uncensored 03/15/98) ***1/4

#8 - Toshiaki Kawada vs Jun Akiyama (AJPW Championship Carnival 03/26/98) ***1/4

#9 - Tracy Smothers & Little Guido vs Chris Candido & Lance Storm (ECW 03/06/98) ***1/4

#10 - Hayabusa vs The Gladiator (FMW 03/17/98)

#11 - New Age Outlaws vs Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie (WWF Wrestlemania XIV 03/29/98)

#12 - Goldberg vs Jerry Flynn (WCW Thunder 03/26/98)

#13 - Bam Bam Bigelow vs Taz (ECW Living Dangerously 03/01/98)

#14 - Ace Darling vs Mike Quackenbush (ECWA Super 8 03/21/98)

#15 - New Age Outlaws vs Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie (WWF Monday Night RAW 03/30/98)

#16 - Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall & Kevin Nash vs Randy Savage, The Giant & Sting (WCW Monday Nitro 03/09/98)

#17 - Chris Jericho vs Marty Jannetty (WCW Monday Nitro 03/30/98)

#18 - Rob Van Dam vs 2 Cold Scorpio (ECW 03/20/98)

[Childs]

Not many high-end matches compared to previous years, huh? Not that I disagree. And yet the year still rolls by in fairly entertaining fashion, even if some of the entertainment comes from eye rolling at WCW.

[Loss]

Yeah, there aren't as many good matches, but watching the week-to-week story of the Monday Night Wars is great fun. Luckily, the G-1 and some of the better looking All Japan on paper is still ahead of us. Plus, more RINGS is on the horizon and I know 1999 FMW is excellent, so I'm hoping there are more matches at that level in '98.

[Loss]

April:

 

#1 - Yuki Ishikawa vs Carl Greco (BattlARTS 04/24/98) ****1/4

#2 - Atlantis, Mr. Niebla & Negro Casas vs El Hijo del Santo, Black Warrior & Blue Panther (CMLL 04/24/98) ****1/4

#3 - Kenta Kobashi vs Jun Akiyama (AJPW Championship Carnival 04/11/98) ****1/4

#4 - Yuki Ishikawa & Alexander Otsuka vs Daisuke Ikeda & Carl Greco (BattlARTS 04/19/98) ****

#5 - Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jun Akiyama (AJPW Championship Carnival 04/18/98) ****

#6 - Hayabusa vs Mr. Gannosuke (FMW 04/30/98) ****

#7 - Candy Okutsu vs Mikiko Futagami (ARSION 04/17/98) ***3/4

#8 - Rob Van Dam vs Bam Bam Bigelow (ECW 04/04/98) ***1/2

#9 - Mr. Gannosuke vs Jinsei Shinzaki (FMW 04/21/98) ***1/4

#10 - Goldberg vs Raven (WCW Monday Nitro 04/20/98) ***

#11 - Steve Austin vs Dude Love (WWF Unforgiven 04/26/98) ***

#12 - Goldberg vs Saturn (WCW Spring Stampede 04/19/98) ***

#13 - Antonio Inoki vs Don Frye (NJPW 04/04/98)

#14 - Goldberg vs Rocco Rock (WCW Monday Nitro 04/13/98)

 

Business is picking up!

[Loss]

May:

 

#1 - Yuki Ishikawa vs Daisuke Ikeda (BattlARTS 05/27/98) ****1/2

#2 - Steve Austin vs Dude Love (WWF Over The Edge 05/31/98) ****1/2

#3 - Hayabusa & Masato Tanaka vs Kodo Fuyuki & Yukihiro Kanemura (FMW 05/27/98) ****1/2

#4 - Hayabusa vs Masato Tanaka (FMW 05/19/98) ****1/4

#5 - Serial Thrillaz vs Death and Destruction (OMEGA 05/08/98) ****

#6 - Booker T vs Chris Benoit (WCW Thunder 05/27/98) ****

#7 - Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW Tokyo Dome 05/01/98) ***3/4

#8 - Chris Benoit vs Fit Finlay (WCW Slamboree 05/17/98) ***1/2

#9 - Minoru Tanaka vs Masaaki Mochizuki (BattlARTS 05/27/98) ***1/2

#10 - Volk Han vs Tsuyoshi Kohsaka (RINGS 05/29/98) ***1/2

#11 - Booker T vs Chris Benoit (WCW Saturday Night 05/30/98) ***1/2

#12 - Terry Funk vs Mick Foley (WWF Monday Night RAW 05/04/98) ***1/4

#13 - Tracy Smothers & Little Guido vs Nova & Blue Meanie (ECW 05/29/98) ***1/4

#14 - Randy Savage vs Bret Hart (WCW Slamboree 05/17/98) ***

#15 - Chris Benoit vs Booker T (WCW Monday Nitro 05/25/98) ***

#16 - Brian Christopher vs Billy Joe Travis (MPPW TV 05/02/98)

#17 - Tracy Smothers & Little Guido vs Axl Rotten & Balls Mahoney (ECW Matter of Respect 05/16/98)

#18 - Steve Austin vs Pat Patterson & Gerald Brisco (WWF Monday Night RAW 05/18/98)

#19 - Steve Austin & Vince McMahon vs The Rock & D-Lo Brown (WWF Monday Night RAW 05/11/98)

#20 - Kiyoshi Tamura vs Bitsadze Tariel (RINGS 05/29/98)

#21 - Jerry Lawler & Stacy Carter vs Paul Diamond & Brandon Baxter (MPPW TV 05/23/98)

 

Now we're cookin'!

[Loss]

An incredibly loaded month.

 

June:

 

#1 - Kiyoshi Tamura vs Tsuyoshi Kohsaka (RINGS 06/27/98) *****

#2 - Toshiaki Kawada vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 06/12/98) ****3/4

#3 - Koji Kanemoto vs Dr. Wagner Jr. (NJPW 06/03/98) ****3/4

#4 - Reiko Amano & Chikayo Nagashima vs Toshie Uematsu & Sonoko Kato (Oz Academy 06/21/98) ****1/2

#5 - Chris Benoit vs Booker T (WCW Great American Bash 06/14/98) ****1/4

#6 - Hayabusa, Daisuke Ikeda, Hisakatsu Oya & Ricky Fuji vs Kodo Fuyuki, Koji Nakagawa, Kintaro Kanemura & Gedo (FMW 06/19/98) ****1/4

#7 - Genichiro Tenryu & Shiro Koshinaka vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Masa Chono (NJPW 06/05/98) ****1/4

#8 - Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs Kenta Kobashi & Johnny Ace (AJPW 06/05/98) ****

#9 - Jushin Liger, El Samurai, Kendo Ka Shin, Dr. Wagner Jr. & Hayato Nanjyo vs Shinjiro Otani, Koji Kanemoto, Tatsuhito Takaiwa, Kaz Hayashi & Masakazu Fukuda (NJPW 06/05/98) ****

#10 - Booker T vs Fit Finlay (WCW Great American Bash 06/14/98) ****

#11 - Chris Benoit vs Booker T (WCW Monday Nitro 06/08/98) ***1/2

#12 - Octagoncito vs Mini Abismo Negro (AAA 06/05/98) ***1/2

#13 - Aja Kong vs Mariko Yoshida (ARSION 06/21/98) ***1/2

#14 - Masato Tanaka vs Tetsuhiro Kuroda (FMW 06/19/98) ***1/2

#15 - Chris Benoit vs Booker T (WCW Thunder 06/04/98) ***

#16 - Chris Benoit vs Booker T (WCW Thunder 06/11/98)

#17 - Chris Benoit vs Booker T (WCW Monday Nitro 06/01/98)

#18 - Undertaker vs Mankind (WWF King of the Ring 06/28/98)

#19 - Randy Savage vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Monday Nitro 06/15/98)

#20 - HHH vs X-Pac (WWF Monday Night RAW 06/15/98)

[Loss]

July:

 

#1 - Kenta Kobashi vs Jun Akiyama (AJPW 07/24/98) ****3/4

#2 - Akira Maeda vs Yoshihisa Yammamoto (RINGS 07/20/98) ****1/2

#3 - Owen Hart vs Ken Shamrock (WWF Fully Loaded 07/26/98) ****

#4 - Shadow WX vs Tomoaki Honma (BJPW 07/26/98) ****

#5 - Hardy Boys vs Venom & Shane Helms (OMEGA 07/24/98) ***3/4

#6 - Genichiro Tenryu vs Keiji Muto (NJPW G-1 Climax 07/31/98) ***1/2

#7 - The Rock vs X-Pac (WWF Monday Night RAW 07/20/98) ***1/4

#8 - Hulk Hogan vs Goldberg (WCW Monday Nitro 07/06/98) ***

#9 - Willow the Whisp vs Shannon Moore (Music City TV 07/18/98) ***

#10 - Chris Jericho vs Dean Malenko (WCW Monday Nitro 07/27/98)

#11 - Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee vs Billy Joe Travis & Bulldog Raines (MPPW TV 07/25/98)

#12 - HHH vs The Rock vs X-Pac (WWF Monday Night RAW 07/27/98)

#13 - Hulk Hogan vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Monday Nitro 07/27/98)

#14 - Goldberg vs Scott Hall (WCW Monday Nitro 07/06/98)

#15 - Surge vs Willow the Whisp (OMEGA 07/31/98)

[Loss]

August:

 

#1 - The Rock vs HHH (WWF Summerslam 08/30/98) ****1/4

#2 - Manami Toyota vs Shinobu Kandori (AJW 08/23/98) ****1/4

#3 - Shinya Hashimoto vs Kazuo Yamazaki (NJPW G-1 Climax 08/02/98) ****1/4

#4 - Mitsuharu Misawa, Jun Akiyama & Satoru Asako vs Toshiaki Kawada, Yoshinari Ogawa & Takao Omori (AJPW 08/23/98) ****

#5 - Genichiro Tenryu vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW G-1 Climax 08/01/98) ****

#6 - Meiko Satomura vs Sonoko Kato (GAEA 08/23/98) ****

#7 - Owen Hart vs Ken Shamrock (WWF Summerslam 08/30/98) ***3/4

#8 - Yuki Ishikawa vs Alexander Otsuka (BattlARTS 08/29/98) ***1/2

#9 - Genichiro Tenryu vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW 08/08/98) ***1/2

#10 - Mike Awesome vs Masato Tanaka (ECW Heat Wave 08/02/98) ***1/2

#11 - Magnum Tokyo, Dragon Kid & SAITO vs Shiima Nobunaga, Judo Suwa & Sumo Fuji (Toryumon 08/29/98) ***1/4

#12 - Bret Hart vs Lex Luger (WCW Monday Nitro 08/10/98) ***1/4

#13 - X-Pac vs Jeff Jarrett (WWF Summerslam 08/30/98) ***

#14 - Kane vs Mankind (WWF Monday Night RAW 08/24/98) ***

#15 - Shinjiro Otani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs Koji Kanemoto & Dr. Wagner Jr. (NJPW 08/08/98)

#16 - Mankind vs New Age Outlaws (WWF Summerslam 08/30/98)

#17 - Masa Chono vs Shiro Koshinaka (NJPW G-1 Climax 08/01/98)

#18 - Steve Austin vs Undertaker (WWF Summerslam 08/30/98)

#19 - HHH, X-Pac & New Age Outlaws vs The Rock, D-Lo Brown, Mark Henry & Owen Hart (WWF Monday Night RAW 08/17/98)

#20 - Jerry Lawler vs Billy Joe Travis (MPPW TV 08/08/98)

#21 - Jerry Lawler & Stacy vs Billy Joe Travis & Randy Hales (MPPW TV 08/15/98)

#22 - Steve Austin & Undertaker vs Kane & Mankind vs New Age Outlaws vs The Rock & D-Lo Brown (WWF Monday Night RAW 08/10/98)

#23 - HHH vs X-Pac (WWF Monday Night RAW 08/03/98)

#24 - Goldberg vs Meng (WCW Monday Nitro 08/10/98)

#25 - Bam Bam Bigelow vs Taz (ECW Heat Wave 08/02/98)

[Loss]

September:

 

#1 - Kiyoshi Tamura vs Yoshihisa Yammamoto (RINGS 09/21/98) ****3/4

#2 - Kenta Kobashi vs Akira Taue (AJPW 09/11/98) ****1/4

#3 - Jun Akiyama vs Yoshinari Ogawa (AJPW 09/11/98) ****

#4 - Billy Kidman vs Juventud Guerrera (WCW Monday Nitro 09/14/98) ***3/4

#5 - Goldberg vs Sting (WCW Monday Nitro 09/14/98) ***1/2

#6 - The Rock vs Ken Shamrock vs Mankind (WWF Breakdown 09/27/98) ***1/4

#7 - Raven vs Saturn (WCW Fall Brawl 09/13/98) ***

#8 - Jerry Lawler vs Billy Joe Travis (MPPW TV 09/05/98)

#9 - Hulk Hogan vs Bret Hart (WCW Monday Nitro 09/28/98)

#10 - Chris Candido vs Lance Storm (ECW TV 09/05/98)

#11 - Mankind vs Ken Shamrock vs The Rock (WWF Monday Night RAW 09/21/98)

#12 - Owen Hart vs Val Venis (WWF Monday Night RAW 09/21/98)

#13 - Jerry Lawler, Streak, Robert Gibson & ?? vs Billy Joe Travis, Heinrick Von Keller, Bulldog Raines & The Bodyguards (MPPW TV 09/05/98)

#14 - Raven & Kanyon vs Villano IV & Villano V (WCW Monday Nitro 09/21/98)

[Loss]

October:

 

#1 - Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 10/31/98) ****3/4

#2 - Olimpico vs Halcon Negro (CMLL 10/23/98) ****1/2

#3 - El Hijo del Santo vs Felino (Monterrey 10/18/98) ****

#4 - Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW 10/11/98) ****

#5 - Olimpico vs Halcon Negro (CMLL 10/30/98) ****

#6 - Bret Hart vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Monday Nitro 10/26/98) ***1/2

#7 - Goldberg vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Halloween Havoc 10/25/98) ***1/4

#8 - Bret Hart vs Sting (WCW Monday Nitro 10/05/98) ***

#9 - Steve Austin & The Rock vs Undertaker & Kane (WWF Monday Night RAW 10/12/98) ***

#10 - Val Venis vs Goldust (WWF Judgment Day 10/18/98) ***

#11 - Aja Kong vs Kyoko Inoue (NEO 10/20/98)

#12 - Yuki Ishikawa vs Mitsuhiro Matsunaga (BattlARTS 10/05/98)

#13 - Jerry Lawler vs Rex King (MPPW TV 10/24/98)

#14 - Hulk Hogan & Bret Hart vs Sting & Ultimate Warrior (WCW Monday Nitro 10/12/98)

#15 - Steve Austin vs Ken Shamrock (WWF Monday Night RAW 10/26/98)

#16 - Chris Jericho vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Monday Nitro 10/19/98)

#17 - Rey Misterio Jr. vs Billy Kidman (WCW Monday Nitro 10/19/98)

#18 - Hulk Hogan vs Ultimate Warrior (WCW Halloween Havoc 10/25/98)

[Loss]

November:

 

#1 - Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko vs Chris Jericho & Eddy Guerrero (Brian Hildebrand Tribute 11/29/98) ****1/4

#2 - Hayabusa vs Kodo Fuyuki (FMW 11/20/98) ****

#3 - Billy Kidman vs Juventud Guerrera (WCW Monday Nitro 11/16/98) ****

#4 - Super Delphin & Gran Naniwa vs Naohiro Hoshikawa & Masato Yakushiji (Michinoku Pro 11/08/98) ****

#5 - Rey Misterio Jr. vs Juventud Guerrera (WCW Thunder 11/12/98) ***3/4

#6 - Steve Austin vs The Rock (WWF Monday Night RAW 11/16/98) ***1/4

#7 - Chris Jericho vs Konnan (WCW Monday Nitro 11/30/98) ***1/4

#8 - The Rock vs Ken Shamrock (WWF Monday Night RAW 11/02/98) ***1/4

#9 - Astro Rey Jr., Oriental, Yoshihiro Taijiri & Tony Rivera vs Karloff Lagarde Jr., Ultimo Guerrero, Violencia & Zumbido (CMLL 11/03/98) ***

#10 - Mankind vs The Rock (WWF Survivor Series 11/15/98) ***

#11 - Rey Misterio Jr. vs Billy Kidman (WCW Monday Nitro 11/23/98) ***

#12 - Eddy Guerrero vs Rey Misterio Jr. (WCW Thunder 11/05/98)

#13 - Steve Austin vs Mankind (WWF Survivor Series 11/15/98)

#14 - Mankind vs Ken Shamrock (WWF Monday Night RAW 11/09/98)

#15 - Eddy Guerrero vs Rey Misterio Jr. (WCW Monday Nitro 11/16/98)

#16 - Jerry Lawler & Stacy vs Bill Dundee & Samantha (MPPW TV 11/21/98)

#17 - Kevin Nash vs Wrath (WCW Monday Nitro 11/23/98)

#18 - The Rock vs Mark Henry (WWF Monday Night RAW 11/09/98)

#19 - The Rock vs X-Pac (WWF Monday Night RAW 11/23/98)

#20 - El Hijo del Santo vs Super Loco (WWF Super Astros 11/22/98)

#21 - Steve Austin vs Big Boss Man (WWF Survivor Series 11/15/98)

#22 - Goldberg vs The Giant (WCW Monday Nitro 11/23/98)

#23 - Mankind vs Big Boss Man (WWF Monday Night RAW 11/30/98)

[Loss]

December:

 

#1 - Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama vs Vader & Stan Hansen (AJPW 12/05/98) ****

#2 - Mariko Yoshida vs Candy Okutsu (ARSION 12/18/98) ****

#3 - Eddy Guerrero vs Billy Kidman (WCW Starrcade 12/27/98) ****

#4 - El Hijo del Santo, Negro Casas & Felino vs Silver King, Villano IV & Villano V (CMLL 12/18/98) ***3/4

#5 - Rey Misterio Jr vs Juventud Guerrera vs Billy Kidman (WCW Starrcade 12/27/98) ***3/4

#6 - Eddy Guerrero & Juventud Guerrera vs Rey Misterio Jr. & Billy Kidman (WCW Monday Nitro 12/28/98) ***3/4

#7 - Eddy Guerrero vs Rey Misterio Jr. (WCW Monday Nitro 12/21/98) ***1/2

#8 - Hardy Boys vs Serial Thrillaz (OMEGA 12/05/98) ***1/2

#9 - Hayabusa vs Hisakatsu Oya (FMW 12/13/98) ***1/2

#10 - Mayumi Ozaki & Aja Kong vs Toshiyo Yamada & Meiko Satomura (GAEA 12/27/98) ***1/2

#11 - Bill Dundee vs Brian Christopher (MPPW TV 12/05/98) ***

#12 - Steve Austin & Mankind vs The Rock & Undertaker (WWF Monday Night RAW 12/07/98)

#13 - Mini Max vs El Torito (WWF Super Astros 12/20/98)

#14 - Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee vs Brian Christopher & Sean Stasiak (MPPW TV 12/12/98)

#15 - Goldberg vs Kevin Nash (WCW Starrcade 12/27/98)

#16 - Negro Casas vs Dick Togo (WWF Super Astros 12/06/98)

#17 - Ric Flair vs Eric Bischoff (WCW Monday Nitro 12/28/98)

#18 - Ric Flair vs Eric Bischoff (WCW Starrcade 12/27/98)

[JKWebb]

1998 - Here we go.  I remember at the end of 1997, my friends and I were in high-school.  We didn't care about the finish of Starrcade, and all that mattered to us was that Sting won.  We didn't talk about the match quality because we were just simply invested in the characters and the story.  Unfortunately, in 1998 WCW was asked to add a new show for additional content that was called Thunder.  They decided to extend the Sting drama to the opening of that show, and by doing that pointed to the controversy of Starrcade which cut Stings legs out from under him a little bit.  Along with Sting & Austin, Bret Hart was one of hottest wrestlers in 1997.  They put him in a odd scenario at Starrcade, but he could have easily bounced into 1998 on fire.  Maybe it's just me, but it wasn't too exciting to see him and Ric Flair cut (pretty much) the same promos on each other week after week.  I get the idea of Hart vs. Flair, but they probably could have made it a little more interesting.  Anyways, that being said... In 1998, WCW remained my favorite promotion (all the way through the year).  So, I'm excited to dive in here and see how it holds up vs. the direction WWF is taking.  I watched both at the time.  Obviously, since I've gone through the YBs 1990-1997, I've seen the least All Japan from 98 & 99 (only the highly praised matches).  So, I'm really interested in that promotion and ECW as well.  I was a huge fan of ECW in 1998.  So, as in the other years, I'm going post my favorite matches of the month here really just for my own memory.  It helps to go back and look at these lists when trying to remember what I liked so much about certain years or brands etc....

Jan 1998 Favorite Matches: 

1.  Goldberg vs Jerry Flynn (WCW Monday Nitro 01/12/98) -- This was my favorite match of the month, it’s an awesome Goldberg charisma and energy driven plow through match. 

2.  Ric Flair vs. Bret Hart - Souled Out *ended up enjoying this feud and the match itself more than I remembered 

3.  Goldberg vs Brad Armstrong (WCW Monday Nitro 01/26/98) — you watch a Goldberg performance around this time, and it’s a shot of espresso.  Easy to see why he became so huge so quick — you’re watching all these matches and when he comes on the a screen you have to ask... Where is this energy in every match? He is out to kill.  It’s captivating.  I’m loving it.  He’s like a better looking & possibly less-crazy Buzz Sawyer.  I remember loving Goldberg as he developed in 98... had the shirt... at some point back then I turned on him.  It will be interesting to see if I feel that way going through it now...

4.  Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jun Akiyama (AJPW 01/26/98 - sure, it’s not a squash ha, and some of the offense was incredible - loves Akiyama’s explosiveness and Misawa’s counters - just sort of drug in between the greatness for me...

5.  Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho - Souled Out 98 - I think this is underrated 

DDP and Jericho had a match on Nitro, and I'm really looking forward to their year.  DDP may be the best in-ring performer for the company in 1998 and Jericho's rise is so fun to watch.   As I thought towards the end of 1997, Michaels really found his groove with DX and I do like him much better as a heel at this stage of his career.  His match with Undertaker was probably my favorite singles match of the month for WWF.  What a great camera shot of Undertaker pulling Shawn into the casket with him by his legs.  Good stuff.   Epic Raw for WWF with the Mike Tyson moment on Raw.  Through the first month of 1998, I'm leaning WWF over WCW.  Austin is just a meteor.  I think Austin will be my WOTY for 1998, but we'll see.

By Feb., WCW is holding firm in what is one my most memorable years as a fan.  Goldberg is over huge and they try to repair Sting/Starrcade awkwardness when Sting wins the World Title at SuperBrawl.  Sure, Sting could have looked stronger in the match and didn't need assistance from Macho Man to tell the story.  But, Hogan always wanted a "Where do we go from here," and I assume his feud with Macho Man was the answer to that at the time.  I think fans at the time were just glad to see Sting finally actually win the title and spray paint WCW on Hogan.  I think that moment would have been one of the most memorable moments in WCW history had they just let Sting run through Hogan at Starrcade and spray pain him there, but whatever.  I just don't see why Hogan felt the need to take so much of the matches overall.  Sting essentially went form the most unique and over wrestler in the world, that fans saw as tougher than anyone, back to being another really popular wrestler that could be Champion.  They could have turned him on and let him run wild over the NWO for a while, and then he could have clashed with Goldberg eventually and it probably would have been huge.  WCW is still in good shape by this point (but, could have been better), and one of my favorite memories as a fan from this time is the return of Rick Martel!  I loved him as kid and was pumped to see him back.  I have always loved his matches with Booker T around this time.  WWF is of course on fire going into WM 14.  What a time to be a fan.  Oh, and the end of Feb. marks the first edition of Monday Night Jericho. 

Favorite Feb. Matches:

Booker T vs Rick Martel (WCW SuperBrawl VIII 02/22/98)

March Favorites: 

Living Dangerously 1998 was the first ECW PPV I rented as a fan.  I had caught up in story in 1997 through purchasing old videos, and had started watching the TV at some point in 1997.  But, this was the first PPV I ordered.  My only memory from it prior to watching the footage from the YB was New Jack's dive from a balcony.  ECW hasn't held up for me as well as WCW and WWF have in 1998 in particular, but I'm sure that can change.  WWF has the hottest angle around this time because the build to WM 14 is incredible.  Stone Cold and Michaels with Tyson feels like, and is the biggest and most hyped Mania since WM6.  It feels mainstream and important and they have really got me pumped to revisit Mania.  I've watched it many times of course, but I guess what I enjoy most about wresting now continues to evolve over the years and I feel like I could end up enjoying Michaels vs. Austin even more than I have in the past (thought it was great in the past too). WCW is still the wrestling I love through March of 98.  Even though Hogan and Savage main evented Uncensored, Sting is starting to feel like the Champ by this point.  He looked really good vs. Hall at Uncensored and his match with DDP at the end of the month is fantastic.  He also drops form the helicopter at Club La Vela!  This guy may be the bravest man to lace them up, that drop is insane.  It's one of the best moments in Nitro history no doubt.  WCW seems to have bounced back from the let down of Starrcade and a big piece of that is Raven/DDP.  Great match at Uncensored and two favorite worlds collide on MTV when Raven shows up on TRL (I think it was that show) and hits DDP in the head with a Stop sign (DDP is seated next to the Foo Fighters).  It's great.  March of 1998 is such a fun month for US Wrestling.  One of the best....

1.  Shawn Michaels vs Steve Austin (WWF Wrestlemania XIV 03/30/98) -- I love the Stone Cold entrance... the walk from the back, the glass breaking, the crowd explosion.  Shawn's entrance is great too with the live band.  Really fun match and an awesome moment.  Loved the press conference after too. 

2.  Sting vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Monday Nitro 03/23/98)

3.  Diamond Dallas Page vs Chris Benoit vs Raven (WCW Uncensored 03/15/98)

4.  Bret Hart vs. Curt Hennig  (WCW Uncensored)

5.  Tracy Smothers & Little Guido vs Chris Candido & Lance Storm (ECW 03/06/98)

6.  Sting vs. Scott Hall (WCW Uncensored)

7.  Macho Man vs. Hulk Hogan (WCW Uncensored) - I actually really enjoyed this outside of no finish.  It seems with this finish they should have just let Sting drop Hall in the main event.  I guess it was the cage. 

April Favorites: 

1.  Yuki Ishikawa vs Carl Greco (BattlARTS 04/24/98)

2.  Atlantis, Mr. Niebla & Negro Casas vs El Hijo del Santo, Black Warrior & Blue Panther (CMLL 04/24/98) -- A sleeper match from 1998.  This match is fantastic.

3.  Goldberg vs Raven (WCW Monday Nitro 04/20/98) - Goldberg is so entertaining during this run.  He's explosive.  I love watching a match like this just as much as a   "classic" that goes 25 minutes.  Well, this one is a classic.  It's a one of the most memorable moments from Nitro, probably Raven's biggest moment, and one fun time.  I love watching Goldberg plow through the flock.  Also, great moment when Raven tries to escape through the crowd but the fans throw him over the guardrail back into the ringside area. 

4.  Kenta Kobashi vs Jun Akiyama (AJPW Championship Carnival 04/11/98

5.  Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jun Akiyama (AJPW Championship Carnival 04/18/98

6.  Rob Van Dam vs Bam Bam Bigelow (ECW 04/04/98)

7.  Steve Austin vs Dude Love (WWF Unforgiven 04/26/98)

8.  Antonio Inoki vs Don Frye (NJPW 04/04/98)

9.  Goldberg vs Rocco Rock (WCW Monday Nitro 04/13/98)

10.  Goldberg vs Saturn (WCW Spring Stampede 04/19/98)

1998 -- A time where it still seemed more about the win or the loss, and not as many were stuck solely in the "workrate bubble."  Just an awesome time.  I loved the episode of RAW in April where Stone Cold challenges Vince and offers him a title shot.  It felt very Memphis with the multiple promos and the story that was told throughout the show.  GREAT stuff.  I know Austin will be my WOTY for 1998.  He's untouchable.  But, man what a year for DPP.  I love the Raven feud.  It's around May that the Wolfpack starts up.  You get the red and black.  I remember seeing those shirts everywhere.  Where I lived, everyone loved nWo Wolfpack.  I remember at the time I was ready to see the Sting change.  I also loved Kevin Nash in 1998.  Getting ahead, I remember my house full of friends becoming unglued when he defeats Goldberg at the end of they year.  Good times. 

May Favorites:

1.  Steve Austin vs Dude Love (WWF Over The Edge 05/31/98)

2.  Randy Savage vs Bret Hart (WCW Slamboree 05/17/98) - Probably one of (if not the) last truly great Savage performance.  And, a trademark performance of wonderfully selling a knee injury at that.  I do think he has a pretty good performance against Rodman down the line, but I'll have to get to that and refresh. 

3.  Cruiserweight Battle Royale/Malenko vs. Jericho - Slamboree 1998 - So entertaining. 

4.  Serial Thrillaz vs Death and Destruction (OMEGA 05/08/98)

5.  Steve Austin vs Pat Patterson & Gerald Brisco (WWF Monday Night RAW 05/18/98)

6.  Steve Austin & Vince McMahon vs The Rock & D-Lo Brown (WWF Monday Night RAW 05/11/98)

I really didn't like that WCW split up Hall & Nash at the end of Slamboree.  I've never liked that finish, and always seemed odd to have the two on opposing sides.  It just didn't make sense.  

June Favorites: 

1.  Toshiaki Kawada vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 06/12/98)

2.  Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs Kenta Kobashi & Johnny Ace (AJPW 06/05/98) -- Kenta Kobashi is such a beast in this.  I love the interactions in this match between him and Kawada. 

King of the Ring was of course a huge moment and another turning point for the WWF at the time.  I remember watching it live and we all became unglued.  Austin is still on fire.  ECW isn't holding my interest very well during this time period. 

July Favorite and my likely MOTY:  Kenta Kobashi vs Jun Akiyama (AJPW 07/24/98)

August Favorites:

1.  The Rock vs HHH (WWF Summerslam 08/30/98

2.  Genichiro Tenryu vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW G-1 Climax 08/01/98)

3.  Bret Hart vs Lex Luger (WCW Monday Nitro 08/10/98) -- I would say a hidden gem from the Hart WCW days.  I don't see this one talked about and his performance was really good.  It's not an all-time classic or anything but something definitely worth checking out if you're looking for good Hart WCW matches. 

4.  Steve Austin vs Undertaker (WWF Summerslam 08/30/98)

5.  HHH, X-Pac & New Age Outlaws vs The Rock, D-Lo Brown, Mark Henry & Owen Hart (WWF Monday Night RAW 08/17/98) - Really stiff match.  I thought the Rock's offense looked particularly good.  Lot's of fun and hard-hitting action building to the Summerslam rivalry in this one.

Of course the Warrior returned in August.  I remember everyone being hyped for the return.  It started off well - pretty funny moments when Hogan said he thought he was dead and tried to hand him an nWo shirt.  Of course, he went too long, and the next day most had a good laugh about it.  WCW finding the next big thing for Hogan and hopeful for ratings and PPV buys post-Malone and Leno. 

September Favorites:

1.  Goldberg vs Sting (WCW Monday Nitro 09/14/98) - A match that has stuck with me since it aired. 

2.  Kiyoshi Tamura vs Yoshihisa Yammamoto (RINGS 09/21/98)

3.  Kenta Kobashi vs Akira Taue (AJPW 09/11/98)

I have really enjoyed seeing all of the Chris Jericho stuff again from 1998.  He was definitely one of the WCW highlights of 1998.  I enjoy and have strong nostalgia for the Wolfpack stuff too.  Sting is on a roll during this time main eventing most Nitros.  Really -- it's the Warrior angle that brings WCW down for me around this time.  Also, was not a fan of the Scott Hall drinking stuff. 

October Favorites:

1.  Goldberg vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Halloween Havoc 10/25/98)

2.  Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 10/31/98)

3.  Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW 10/11/98)

4.  Bret Hart vs Sting (WCW Monday Nitro 10/05/98)

November Favorites: 

1.  Kevin Nash vs Wrath (WCW Monday Nitro 11/23/98) & Goldberg vs. Giant - I love how they had Nash take out the undefeated Goldberg-like Wrath, then later in the show had Goldberg take out the Nash-like Superheavyweight Giant.  Both matches were super entertaining.  Really fun stuff. I'm just looping all of into one thing. 

2.  Billy Kidman vs Juventud Guerrera (WCW Monday Nitro 11/16/98)

3.  Steve Austin vs The Rock (WWF Monday Night RAW 11/16/98)

4.  Rey Misterio Jr. vs Billy Kidman (WCW Monday Nitro 11/23/98)

Love the Raw after Survivor Series where they walk through Vince's plan and the Rock turn.  When Flair returned, he cut one of his best promos ever on EB, but I did grow tired of the feud as it progressed.  Nash was super over at this point in 98, so I think he was the right choice to challenge Goldberg at Starrcade.

December Favorites:

1.  Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama vs Vader & Stan Hansen (AJPW 12/05/98) - I had only seen this once back in 2017 when Loss did the top matches of the 90's project.  This might be my favorite match of 1998.  It's off the charts fun.  I had assumed Kobashi vs. Akiyama would be my MOTY, as it has historically been my favorite match from this year, but this one is close.

2.  Rey Misterio Jr vs Juventud Guerrera vs Billy Kidman (WCW Starrcade 12/27/98)

3.  Eddy Guerrero vs Billy Kidman (WCW Starrcade 12/27/98)

4.  Eddy Guerrero & Juventud Guerrera vs Rey Misterio Jr. & Billy Kidman (WCW Monday Nitro 12/28/98) - I remember being so pumped for the Kidman/Rey duo in 1998.  It was a dream team. 

December RAWs were Russo on another level terrible.  I didn't enjoy the Flair/Bischoff stuff as it progressed either.  I do still think Nash was the right guy to challenge Goldberg.  He was super over, and the Wolfpack was one of the better things going for WCW in 98,  You can hear the crowd starting to turn on Goldberg some... it's probably how they followed all this up in 99 that made it seem worse to some.  Either way, I was glad then & am glad now to see Nash get the win ha.  Huge pop from the crowd.  Overall, 1998 was a fun year revisit. 

 

[JKWebb]

I have one more year left to wrap up the YBs.  Here are my thoughts on 1998 and how it ranked against the other years for me:

Top 5:

1998 MOTY/#1:  Kenta Kobashi vs Jun Akiyama (AJPW 07/24/98)

2.  Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama vs Vader & Stan Hansen (AJPW 12/05/98)

3.  Steve Austin vs Dude Love (WWF Over The Edge 05/31/98)

4.  Goldberg vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Halloween Havoc 10/25/98)

5.  Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 10/31/98)

Previous MOTY:

1997:  Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 01/20/97)

1996:  Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW 12/06/96)

1995:  Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW 06/09/95)

1994:  Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW 06/03/94)

1993:  Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi - 7-29-1993

1992:  Sting vs. Vader from Starrcade 1992

1991:  Warrior vs. Savage WM7

1990:  El Dandy vs. El Satanico - 12/14/1990

Wrestler of the Year:

1998:  Steve Austin

1997:  Mitsuharu Misawa

1996:  Rey Mysterio Jr.

1995:  Mitsuharu Misawa

1994:  Vader

1993:  Kenta Kobashi

1992:  Randy Savage

1991:  Randy Savage

1990:  Mitsuharu MIsawa

Promotion of the Year: 

1998:  WWF

1997:  WCW

1996:  WCW

1995:  ECW

1994:  WCW

1993:  All Japan

1992.  WWF

1991:  WWF

1990:  All Japan

YB Rankings:

1.  1997

2.  1996

3.  1991

4.  1990

5.  1992

6.  1995

7.  1994

8.  1998

9.  1993