His heel champion run is way more memorable than his face runs. This was perfect timing for Jericho to get the Cruiserweight belt back. This would be his last match until Bash at the Beach 1998. Rey Mysterio was limited in the ring with a severe knee injury. Winner: Chris Benoit Chris Jericho vs Rey Mysterio Jr. The way that this feud had been booked the previous two months, it was time for Benoit to get the win and move on. Raven definitely needed the win more than Benoit for sure. On the podcast, we were split on the decision to give Benoit the win here. This was a stand out performance to separate himself. Benoit had always been associated with the Horseman. The crowd responds in a big way, even chanting his name. Chris Benoit nearly kills himself by delivering a flying headbutt on to a chair. His WCW run had been very stop and start up to this point. The next two matches were not classics, but were certainly solid follow ups to the hot opening Lucha match. Winner: Juventud Guerrera, Super Calo, Lizmark Jr. Silver King and La Parka were the stand out performers in this match. The boys didn’t bother with the convoluted Star spot that only confused the American crowd in the past. gave the crowd a fun spot fest with a logical finish. This time around, guys like La Parka, Silver King, and Lizmark Jr. The Lucha tag matches were typically wedged in the middle as filler matches. WCW usually started their PPVs with the Cruiserweight Title match. The Lucha wrestlers, however, have one of their best matches to open the show. Strong undercard with a lackluster main event. Souled Out 1998 is your typical WCW show. The famous ‘banging the chair against the ringpost with NWO music in the background’ incident actually occurred on Nitro the day after Starrcade 1997. My personal recollection made the Jericho heel turn seem like it came later in 1998. When things didn’t go his way, here came a tantrum. Jericho was the hero that the crowd deserves.
Souled out 1997 match card tv#
While other guys would work on their tan, Jericho took their spot to plug local TV ads. In his book, Jericho comments on the work he put in backstage on his promo work. Now Jericho gets promo time sometimes even twice a week. Before this, Jericho was struggling with a bland baby face gimmick. With 3 extra hours every week, there were opportunities galore for new talent to either sink or swim. The wrestling business has been over-saturated on television ever since. Just one year after 1998, WWF would follow up with their second prime-time weekly show, SmackDown. WWF and WCW had found the sweet spot in 1997 by offering 2-hour, live, prime-time shows as their flagship offerings, with the occasional weekend show reserved for the hardcore fans. This change in programming would change wrestling forever. WCW Monday Nitro was also extended to 3 hours going forward. Executives wanted another show, so WCW Thunder debuted on January 8th, 1998. The Biggest Change in the History of our Great Sportġ998 brought expansion for the company behind the scenes. What a difference a year makes, especially for the ‘Souled Out’ brand! Souled Out 1997 is one of the worst shows of all time for a reason. I chatted with my Irish cohorts on the WCW vs NWO Podcast about this show. The world title has been vacated! JJ Dillion vows to lay down the law to further complicate the title picture. WCW Thunder has launched on TBS and WCW Monday Nitro has moved to 3 hours, starting January. Souled Out 1998: It’s a new year and a new WCW.