SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 9:14 Min.
Recorded on the January 15, 1998 edition of WCW Thunder, this tag team match’s location isn’t identified. “The Total Package” Lex Luger opts to go it alone without his already-injured partner, Diamond Dallas Page. As for the nefarious New World Order (NWO) faction, “Macho Man” Randy Savage (with Elizabeth) isn’t getting along with his own partner, WCW World Champion “Big Sexy” Kevin Nash.
Despite lingering issues with his longtime Mega-Powers cohort, “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan is present as a mediator between Savage and Nash. Inflaming the situation further is The Giant (Paul Wight) and seemingly the entire NWO horde.
The ringside commentators are Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, “Iron” Mike Tenay, & Lee Marshall.
Note: The match’s short running time includes ring entrances.
REVIEW:
The match-up is potentially good, but the result is predictable WCW TV dreck. Having Page play injured and thereby subject to more of the NWO’s ringside gang abuse (without ever tagging in) proves pointless. Though Luger supplies a welcome amount of offense, this bout’s purpose is strictly to sell nothing more than NWO internal dissension. Seeing Savage & Nash turn on each other is fun (beyond Luger’s contributions), but the rest is pure WCW trash. Backfiring as comedy, Hogan’s ridiculously overplayed facial expression realizing that the formidable Giant is standing behind him in the ring is proof enough.
Even worse, the long-mandatory WCW non-finish where the entire NWO storms the ring (this time, against The Giant) instantly renders this match’s impressive star power inconsequential. The fact that fans are cheated out of anything close to a watchable finish is, of course, besides the point.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 2 Stars
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