Starrcade 98: The Streak Is Over

Throughout the first half of 1998, it seemed like World Championship Wrestling could do no wrong. The company had record revenue, record ratings, record attendance – everything across the board was making money. The only problem that WCW had during this time was itself and how the powers that be handled the success. By the end of 1998, WCW was still entrenched in the battle of the Monday Night War, but the decline in popularity was becoming more obvious to the audience and WWE.

Just not to WCW’s front office.

Before we discuss Starrcade 1998, let’s go through what was rumored to be going on with the company around this time. You can easily see why WCW quickly went on the decline in 1999. This information can be found on a Reddit website where a user has been putting up condensed versions of Dave Meltzer’s weekly Wrestling Observer year by year. The site is:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/83877o/wrestling_observer_rewind_dec_21_1998/.

By December of 1998, business was dropping severely, especially coming off of November’s World War 3 pay-per-view. As a matter of fact, the three PPVs before Starrcade had horrible buy rates (0.70, 0.78, 0.63, according to IndeedWrestling). WCW was hopeful that the upcoming Goldberg/Kevin Nash main event could help, but the lack of new stars and overabundance of abysmal storylines had frustrated the fan base.

It was reported that Executive VP Eric Bischoff held a meeting before the 12/14 episode of Nitro to announce that Nash and Diamond Dallas Page were both on the creative team (how ironic). He would scold the entire roster over the timing of their promos and matches going too long, causing issues for the rest of the show. He would emphasize that they had the better product compared to WWF and the only reason McMahon’s company had been winning was because of “shock value.” Bischoff believed that it couldn’t last much longer and WCW would eventually conquer.

It was reported that Hulk Hogan may have had a falling out with Bischoff and especially Nash over being head booker. Specifically, Hogan was unhappy with how the Starrcade main event was being booked with Nash planned to end Goldberg’s undefeated streak. Hogan was under the impression that since he dropped the title to Goldberg in July, that when the time came for Goldberg to lose the title, he would regain it and end the streak. There was talk at one time of Nash winning at Starrcade and then handing the title over to Hogan to reform the original NWO. We all know that this would be the scenario on the infamous January 4th Nitro with the “Fingerpoke of Doom.”

Hogan was said to be “retiring,” but it was believed to all be a political move especially after announcing he was running for President of the United States on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Hogan knew WCW was on the decline and many believed that he was stepping away to let WCW sink even further before coming back as the “savior” of the company.

By this point in 1998, Warrior hadn’t been on TV or advertised since the night after Halloween Havoc (two months before) and now WCW just plans on eating the rest of Warrior’s contract, paying him to stay home for the remainder of the deal.

However, there signs that Randy Savage was coming back sooner rather than later (he would come back in April at Spring Stampede). He would be with his 23-year-old girlfriend (Savage was 46 at the time), who was described simply as a “Pamela Anderson look-a-like.” This girl was a stripper from Florida named Stephanie Bellars aka “Gorgeous George.”

TV Guide released four wrestling related covers, two WWF (Austin and Undertaker) and two WCW (Hogan and Goldberg). WWF advertised the covers all over its programming while WCW failed to even once mention anything at all.

WCW would do an unannounced tribute show for referee Mark Curtis (real name Brian Hildebrand). He was diagnosed with stomach and bowel cancer in October 1997. The main event of the show was picked by Hildebrand himself: Chris Beniot and Dean Malenko vs. Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero. The assigned referee got knocked out during the match and Hildebrand ran down from the back for the three-count. Hildebrand sadly passed away in 1999, but this show and his story is amazing and not something you hear so often about this company.

WCW appeared to be signing away ECW talent around this time: Sandman (Hak), Chastity (Hak’s manager) and Mikey Whipwreck. Whipwreck’s contract was believed to be signed for two years at $200,000. Chris Candido and his wife Tammy (Sunny in WWF) were reportedly on their way as well, but they wouldn’t come in for another year.

Sting was reported to have signed a new contract with WCW, estimated to be four years’ worth for around $6.5 million. If this contract was true, it would had made him the 4th highest paid wrestler in the industry behind Hogan, Austin and Bret Hart.

Despite these contracts being signed, WCW would be set to lose the backbone of its roster at the beginning of 1999. The Giant, Steiner Brothers, Malenko, Jericho, Benoit, Rey Mysterio and Juventud Guerrera all had contracts set to expire. The Giant was believed to be “good as gone” after being offered an extension and refused. He would be losing his remaining matches on the way out and would debut as The Big Show in WWF in February 1999. Both Jericho and Benoit refused to sign new contracts at the time. Benoit would take to WCW’s online show and say that he wanted out of the company. However, he would stay for one more year and wouldn’t debut for WWF until January of 2000. Jericho, on the other hand, stayed with the company through the spring and would debut on Raw in August of 1999. The Steiners both received contracts from both companies; however, WWF would low ball both contracts especially Scott’s. There was a massive concern over Scott’s physical condition by WWF because of the multiple injuries he had accrued and also because he was a walking steroid. Both guys would resign with WCW. Mysterio and Juvi would remain on the roster until the final show in March 2001. They would later debut for WWE.

Let’s get to Starrcade 98!

The opening video almost resembles that of a promo that’ll be shown when a new wrestler “is coming,” but this video is about Goldberg who debuted about 15 months ago. Oh, and he’s the current World Heavyweight Champion.

Tony Schavonie at the top of the show says “this is the biggest world title match we have ever seen.” Feel like we have heard that from WCW many times, especially in the last three years.

They show a promo video featuring Bret Hart, Scott Steiner and Chris Jericho for QVC. This is at the top of the show. OF THE BIGGEST SHOW OF THE YEAR. Why is this here right now?

They make sure to plug Gene Okerlund’s hotline before anything else happens for the night. That number is 1-900-909-9900, remember 1-900-909-9900 and one last time 1-900-909-9900. It’ll cost you about $35 for six minutes of your time to find out the results of the PPV that you are currently watching.

CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: KIDMAN (c) VS REY MYSTERIO VS JUVI
Crowd seemed half way dead during this match, which is sad because this is a good match with innovative moves especially for 1998. These three complement each other so well. Crowd finally comes alive in the last two minutes because of the hate for Eddie Guerrero when he gets involved. Kidman wins after a rollup on Juvi.
WINNER: STILL CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION KIDMAN

Eddie, who is the leader of the Latino World Order at this time, enters the ring and begins yelling at Juvi and Rey. He calls Kidman a “sissy boy” and a “creampuff.” Eddie challenges Kidman to a match because he knows he can beat him and Kidman accepts.

CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: KIDMAN (C) VS EDDIE GUERRERO
Watching this I quickly realize how much more WCW dropped the ball with Eddie, who is wrestling this match in jeans and construction boots, because he was just so good and was sadly taken away from us too soon in 2005. Great match as well, but the three-way was just a little better.
WINNER: STILL CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION KIDMAN

They now show a Goldberg-Nash hype video. I’m thinking right now that they are just wanting to show that they can make a video via the little software on their MacBooks at that time.

NORMAN SMILEY VS PRINCE IAUKEA
The crowd is booing 30 seconds into the match, which truthfully, should only be broadcast on WCW WorldWide. I estimated this match time around 12:36, which is roughly 12:38 seconds too long because I’m figuring it only took WCW two seconds to think of this match.
WINNER: NORMAN SMILEY

Scott Hall comes out next to hype the Goldberg-Nash match. At least it appears that he is sober. Next is a video of Bam Bam Bigelow showing up in WCW and inciting the three-way fight between him, Goldberg and Nash on a recent episode of Nitro. I get that this is the buildup for the match, but why is this important to the story of the world title and Goldberg’s undefeated streak being on the line?

ERNEST MILLER VS SATURN
This show is quickly turning into an episode of Thunder. I’ll still take this over Crown Jewel, though, and I haven’t seen that yet and don’t intend to. I honestly didn’t watch the match because I was reading the recent The Wrestling Estate interview with ROH star TK O’Ryan (great interview).
WINNER: SATURN

Ric Flair interview discussing his upcoming match with Eric Bischoff, followed by promo video of the match mostly highlighting Bischoff’s two-year reign of terror.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onM0DMyNHkQ

FINLAY & JERRY FLYNN VS BRIAN ADAMS & SCOTT NORTON
Who booked this shit? The announcers spent more time discussing the BREAKING NEWS of the “No Disqualification” stipulation added to the world title match.
WINNER: BRIAN ADAMS & SCOTT NORTON

Eric Bischoff is out next for an interview. He makes fun of Flair’s on-screen heart attack as well as making out with Flair’s wife during a recent episode of Thunder.

TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP: KONNAN (C) VS CHRIS JERICHO
This era Jericho is top 3 to me along with current day New Japan Jericho and Kevin Owens’ best friend, and that just made the list. I am 99% sure that Stacy Keibler is shown in the audience on camera between both wrestler entrances wearing a NWO Wolfpac shirt. I always wondered why Konnan’s opponents wouldn’t try to grab one of his earrings and twist them like Randy Orton did to Jeff Hardy. Konnan wins a good match, but I felt it would have been better if they had more time to work.
WINNER: STILL TELEVISION CHAMPION KONNAN

ERIC BISCHOFF VS RIC FLAIR
I love that Flair came out, never stopped starring at Bischoff and then did a dead sprint to the ring because that’s how a grudge match works. Makes me wonder honestly how much of this match was actually planned out compared to Flair legitimately kicking Bischoff’s ass. Bischoff wins after Curt Henning runs down and gives Bischoff some brass knuckles type object to knock out Flair. Good match for what it was, which wasn’t a wrestling match, but instead a fight.
WINNER: ERIC BISCHOFF

THE GIANT VS DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE
The Giant is billed at 553 pounds during this. I feel like he was still in good shape then compared to his 2006 ECW run. Bret Hart interferes to attempt a chairshot on Page, who ducks while Bret nails The Giant. I’m not sure if Bret pulled back enough on that, looked like it was a little stiff. Page wins with a Diamond Cutter from the top rope – now I know where Ember Moon came up with her finisher from.
WINNER: DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE

They replay the same exact promo video from earlier after the Cruiserweight Title match to hype the next match between Goldberg and Nash. Now is the time to pay Michael Buffer $250,000 for his five minutes of air time.

WCW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: GOLDBERG (C) VS KEVIN NASH
Since Nash is the head booker for the show, I’m surprised he still came to the ring first. Damn, Buffer’s introduction for Nash was longer than his actual entrance into the arena. Goldberg stopped mid-entrance in the locker room area to sign a shirt for a young fan. While nice and a great moment, someone please tell me this wasn’t planned in advance. If this is your main event and biggest match of your career, why are you signing autographs AS YOU’RE WALKING TO THE RING?

Good back and forth match until Disco Inferno interferes, eating a spear. Bam Bam Bigelow interferes, too, and security runs him out. Scott Hall, disguised as a security officer, hops onto the ring apron and takes a stun gun to Goldberg’s chest.

Kevin Nash, not fully realizing what had happened, grabs Goldberg and gives him a Jackknife Power bomb and the referee counts to 3. Half the crowd explodes in celebration while the other half is in stunned silence because “the streak is over” as Bobby Heenan would scream.

Nash continues to act confused as to what happened despite winning the title and Goldberg stumbles out to the back seemingly looking for Scott Hall.

Goldberg is now 173-1. They go to replays of the power bomb and sign off the air.

This show overall – mainly the Cruiserweight Title matches and the last four matches – is good. However, it runs so long and slow in between because of matches that have no storyline or meaning behind them. This is a complete 180-degree swing from the previous year’s Starrcade with Hogan and Sting on top after an 18-month build. I would only recommend the main event if you want to watch it because, at the end of the day, this is the historic moment that the much discussed “streak” of Bill Goldberg came to an end after 15 months.

Sadly, that’s all this event will be remembered for.