Thunderstruck - Thunder recap for January 15, 1998

Tony Schiavone interviews The Giant in the ring to start tonight's show. The Giant says this is a while coming, but if it took a $1.5 million performance bond, he wants Kevin Nash to show up as he has a choke slam ready for him. Suddenly, Lodi shows up carrying a sign saying "Nash Rulz Giant Drools." The Giant grabs the sign and rips it up, and Lodi confronts him about it. This proves a mistake, as he gets choke slammed. Sick Boy goes after The Giant and gets choke slammed, and Van Hammer, Scotty Riggs and Kidman fare no better. Perry Saturn gets The Giant in a sleeper hold only to be backed into the corner, and when Kidman goes for a high-flying cross body, The Giant tosses Kidman into the front row where Van Hammer is there to catch him. Suddenly, Kevin Nash gets in the ring and gets in The Giant's face, and The Giant does what he can to avoid hitting him. Nash tosses coffee into The Giant's face, but The Giant does not give in even as Nash follows him to the back, goading The Giant into hitting him all the while.

The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner) and Ray Traylor beat Black Cat, Michiyoshi Ohara and Gedo. During the match, it is announced that Diamond Dallas Page was mugged during an attack in the parking lot after this week's Nitro and that DDP's right knee is injured to the point that he may not be able to wrestle tonight. It is also announced that WCW Executive Committee Chairman is currently in a heated discussion with DDP backstage. Near the end of the match, Scott Steiner grabs Mickey Jack by the neck at the corner, refuses to tag Rick Steiner in before getting the victory himself, much to Rick's disappointment. After the match, Scott Steiner shoves Mickey Jay with one hand.

This Saturday on WCW Saturday Night: The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner)! Diamond Dallas Page! The returning Marty Jannetty! Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and "Flyboy" Rocco Rock)!

It is announced that World Championship Wrestling is currently considering forming a martial arts division contested under professional wrestling rules, and that the next match is a test match for that purpose. (The martial arts division never makes it past the test stage.)

Ernest Miller beats Yuji Nagata after Nagata argues with the referee. After the match, Sonny Onoo tries to kick at Miller, but his kicks have no effect and Miller kicks Onoo out of the ring.

Tony Schiavone interviews WCW Executive Committee Chairman J.J. Dillon, who says that he has conflicting reports about what recently happened to Diamond Dallas Page. Microphone problems plague the rest of the interview until DDP arrives, and tells Dillon that when he says he will do something, he goes out there and does it. Dillon says there will be liability issues if he goes along with the match, but DDP says he does not do lawsuit and tells him to get some release papers ready for tonight's match so he can get WCW off the hook.

Before the next match, Scott Hall interviews his opponent, Louie Spicolli. When asked who he wants to see by Hall, Spicolli says he is here to see the nWo and that Scott Hall is his hero. Suddenly, "The Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko shows up and tries to tell Spicolli that Hall will throw him in the garbage and that Hall is buttering up to him at the moment that he can achieve fortune and glory because Hall is afraid of him. Hall tells Zbyszko to bring it, not sing it, if he wants him so badly. Zbyszko gets in the ring and takes his suit jacket off, but Spicolli attacks Zbyszko from behind so he and Hall can gang up on him. This doesn't last as Zbyszko is able to duck under hall and hit a stunned Spicolli with a spinning back kick, sending Spicolli out of the ring along with Hall.

Before the next match, Chris Jericho says that during the past week, everyone has been wondering what is going on between him and Rey Mysterio Jr. He says that Rey talked under his breath and made derogatory statements about him and his family that only he could hear. Jericho says that he had to put Rey in his place like the role model and paragon of virtue that he is, and that it is all water under the bridge. He hopes that Rey wins the WCW Cruiserweight Championship back, and says this will never happen again.

Chris Jericho beats Eddie Guerrero after reversing a hurricanrana off the top rope into the Lion Tamer.

Disco Inferno shows up before the next match, which is supposed to be Bill Goldberg vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr., and dances in the ring. Chavo takes exception to this, and Disco tells Chavo that nobody came to see him wrestle; instead, everyone came to see him dance. Chavo tells Disco he can't dance and that this is not even his match, and asks what kind of name "Disco Inferno" is before telling Disco that he, the fans, everyone in the back and even Disco himself knows that Disco is a joke. He tells Disco to go back to the Copacabana, but Disco says he's not going anywhere. Chavo says he is leaving one way or another, and Disco concedes just to sneak attack Chavo from behind. Suddenly, Bill Goldberg shows up, and keeps Disco from leaving the ring. Disco tries to run at Goldberg, but Goldberg tackles him before hitting him with the Jackhammer.

Mike Tenay apologizes on behalf of WCW for the video problems taking place tonight, and announces that seemingly appropriately-timed thunderstorms in the Lakeland, Florida area are to blame.

"Hollywood" Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff show up. Bischoff says he can think of "1.5 million reasons" he and the nWo will always be in Hogan's debt, and he thanks Hogan for being there for him and the nWo. Hogan says when it comes to $1.5 million, that is no big deal. What is a big deal to him, however, is "the lies, the deception and the out-and-out untruths of the unraveling of the nWo." Hogan has asked himself why WCW Executive Committee Chairman J.J. Dillon has to lie, and realized it is because he is the real champion. When he went to court, the judge told him and Bischoff that they are right and that they beat Sting for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Starrcade. He gives J.J. Dillon two choices: give the WCW World Heavyweight Championship back to him, or run for his life and hand it to him next week, as he will take the title back one way or another. Bischoff then says that he agrees with Sting saying Dillon has no guts, and if Dillon does have any guts that they don't know about, he will hand the belt back to Hogan. Hogan then says he is the focus of professional wrestling, the man who made wrestling and the man who got everyone to come to tonight's show, then says Bischoff is the nWo's boss, the nWo is intact, and that Sting will never show his face again when Hogan takes back the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.

Rey Mysterio Jr. beats Juventud Guerrera to become the WCW Cruiserweight Champion for the third time after Juventud Guerrera is forced to land on his feet during the top rope 450 splash and Rey counters with a hurricanrana into a pinfall after he dodges the 450 splash.

Before the next match, "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan tries to play peacemaker between "Macho Man" Randy Savage and Kevin Nash. When Lex Luger shows up, Diamond Dallas Page is not far behind, and when Luger notices DDP, he asks DDP to let him take on Savage and Nash alone. DDP tries to get on the apron, but Hogan yanks DDP off the apron and attacks him with his crutch.

"Macho Man" Randy Savage and Kevin Nash vs. Lex Luger and Diamond Dallas Page ends in a no-contest. As Hogan and Savage argue, The Giant shows up and gets in the ring, and Savage pushes Hogan into The Giant, who choke slams Hogan as soon as he turns around. The Giant notices Nash and threatens to choke slam him, then The New World Order show up and attack The Giant, ending the match. Afterwards, Sting shows up and cleans house along with The Giant and Lex Luger to end the show.