100th column, a Time to Look Back

The wrestling industry, today placed under the “sports entertainment” label, is no different than many businesses; change is inevitable. This being my 100th column, I thought it would be an appropriate time to note how much has changed since September 1998, the debut of this weekly pro wrestling feature.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin held the WWF championship. His second of four WWF title reigns. At the Breakdown PPV, Kane and the Undertaker simultaneously pinned Austin, but the title wouldn’t be decided until the Survivor Series. Rocky Maivia became The Rock, and Vince McMahon’s corporate champion, winning a fourteen-man tournament for the vacant WWF title.

Bill Goldberg was still on his amazing winning streaking, possessing the WCW title since July 6th, when he defeated “Hollywood” Hogan in the Georgia Dome on “Nitro.” Goldberg remained perfect until Starrcade ’98, when Kevin Nash ended his reign and remarkable winning streak at 173.

The Intercontinental title was in Hunter Hearst Helmsley’s possession following his thrilling victory over Maivia in a ladder match at the 1998 Summerslam in Madison Square Garden. Helmsley’s was later stripped of the title due to a knee injury.

Bret “Hitman” Hart held down the United States title. “The Hitman” eventually won four U.S. titles, which remains a company record.

“The Franchise” Shane Douglas retained the ECW title for the entire year of 1998. Taz eventually relieved Douglas of the championship at the 1999 Guilty As Charged. ECW held four pay-per-views in 1998 and switched to its current six PPV’s a year in 1999.

On April 4, 1998, Rob Van Dam took the ECW Television title from Bam Bam Bigelow. Van Dam retained the title until an ankle injury, back in January, ended his lengthy reign. Van Dam also captured the ECW World Tag Team title in 1998 with Sabu. In October 1998, the Dudley Boys became the company’s tag team champions.

The New Age Outlaws captured the WWF World Tag Team title at the 1998 Summerslam. Jeff Jarrett and the late Owen Hart defeated Gunn and James for the title on the January 25, 1999 edition of “Raw.” Scott Hall and the Giant (The Big Show) held the WCW World Tag Team title.

In the ever-important Nielsen ratings, “Nitro” averaged a 4.48 for the month of September, while “Raw” averaged a 4.2 (excluding the first show of the month, which was pre-empted for the U.S. Tennis Open). Despite “Raw” ending “Nitro’s” 83 week winning streak in April 1998, WCW still lead the WWF in the yearly average rating.

Other matches of notes from the WWF’s September 1998 Breakdown PPV: Val Venis (with Terri) defeated Dustin Runnels and Marc Mero defeated Darren Drozdov. At WCW’s September offering Fall Brawl: Television champion Chris Jericho beat a Goldberg impostor and Perry Saturn pinned Raven.

Tidbits: WWF’s “Raw” moves to TNN on Monday, September 25th … Former WCW tag team High Voltage received a WWF try out last week … ECW’s New Jack underwent surgery on his injured leg last week… Comedy Central's "Turn Ben Stein On" features Goldberg on Thursday, August 17th …WCW has officially released Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Van Hammer (Major Stash) …ECW is negotiating with the USA Network … Mona has signed with the WWF … Kanyon has requested his WCW release.

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