Thunderstruck - Thunder recap for January 29, 1998

After only three episodes, the fourth episode debuts a new look with a lot of metallic-looking elements. Ventilation shafts can be seen in the background as part of the stage, and various rooftop elements can be seen at the side of the stage during the show. The detailed apron that is painted to look like a wall made of stones is gone; replaced by a simple gray apron and mat with the Thunder logo on the sides.

Diamond Dallas Page retains the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship against Sick Boy after lifting Sick Boy up into the air before hitting the Diamond Cutter. Kidman and Lodi of Raven's Flock are seen in the front row during the match (it is revealed later in the show that Scotty Riggs and Van Hammer are there with them). After the match, Kidman and Lodi consider jumping the guardrail, but Scotty Riggs hits Lodi to make him reconsider, allowing Diamond Dallas Page to leave through the crowd in celebration.

Mike Tenay interviews WCW Executive Committee Chairman J.J. Dillon. Dillon says it would be an understatement to say he was shocked and appalled by the blatant disregard for rules and authority displayed by Kevin Nash on Nitro. He says the Jackknife Power Bomb was banned for good reason and that the Executive Committee means business, and announces that WCW has levied a fine of $50,000 against Nash. He hopes that this is the first and last time anyone is fined for performing the move, and also hopes it will wipe the smirk off Nash's face. Dillon also admits he has suspicions as to who will be paying the fine, and says that people who run in Hollywood circle know that there are budgets to everything. He says that if enough fines are levied, then the Executive Committee will get the people's attention and prove that they mean business.

Meng beats "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan by pinfall with the Tongan Death Grip. At one point in the match, Duggan yanks the coat off of Jimmy Hart and drapes it over Meng's face before punching him a few times. Later on in the match, Jimmy Hart grabs Duggan's 2x4 and holds on to the referee to try to toss it to Meng. Duggan grabs the 2x4 instead and breaks it over Meng's back, but it only brings Meng to his knees and does not knock him out. After Duggan punches Jimmy Hart off the apron, Meng locks Duggan in the Tongan Death Grip as soon as he turns around. Meng pins Duggan to the mat with the hold to get the win.

This Saturday on WCW Saturday Night: "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan! Eddie Guerrero! Steve "Mongo" McMichael! Bill Goldberg vs. Meng!

Raven is in the ring. He says people fear most what they do not understand or cannot comprehend. He then announces that the next match will be anything goes.

Raven beats Marty Jannetty in a match under Raven's Rules.

Rock 'n roll music legend Jerry Lee Lewis is seen in the crowd sitting behind Kidman, Raven and Scotty Riggs of Raven's Flock.

Bill Goldberg beats Yuji Nagata. After the match, Sonny Onoo tries to attack Goldberg from behind, but Goldberg turns around and scares him off.

Scott Hall shows up. After taking a survey to see who came for WCW and for The New World Order, he reminds everyone that he won World War 3 in the midst of the drama between "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan and Sting, and verbally blasts "Rowdy" Roddy Piper for "coming down in a dress" and telling him his dream of winning the WCW World Heavyweight Championship won't come true. He then says where he comes from, it is not how many times one goes down but how many times one gets back up, and that he his coming for Piper and WCW Executive Committee Chairman J.J. Dillon. He then introduces "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, who makes his way to the ring. Dusty tells the crowd to pay attention, and says that in 1981, corporate America tried to tear down what he helped build: the tradition of professional wrestling. He says that he talked to the corporate powers that be, and he told them to take their suits and shove them. Afterwards, he was moved down to color commentary, and after carrying Tony Schiavone for so many years, he got sick and tired of it. It was then that Eric Bischoff, whom he calls "a man of vision," eased in, and The New World Order became the soundboard for professional wrestling as we know it. He says that the nWo is why people watch television, go to the arenas, and help everybody make a living in WCW. Scott Hall then says that when you are nWo, you are nWo for life, and Dusty tells "The Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko and "the marks on the Internet" that there will be no comeback, and tells WCW Executive Committee Chairman J.J. Dillon not to tell the nWo what to do, as they will do what they want when they want to, how they want to and to whomever they want to do it. He also says that if someone much smaller than Kevin Nash cannot defend themselves against Nash, then they should not get in the ring with Nash. He also tells Syxx, who is still currently out with an injury, that he is just "too sweet."

It is announced that WCW Nitro is now available on Sony PlayStation wherever video games are sold.

Scott Hall beats Disco Inferno. During the match, Scott Hall mocks The Giant and his neck injury. Disco Inferno takes advantage of the situation by wriggling out of the Outsider's Edge and hitting the Chart Buster, but "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes pulls one of Hall's legs to the underside of the bottom rope to break up the pinfall attempt. Disco never regains any momentum, and Scott Hall hits the Outsider's Edge to get the win.

Mike Tenay interviews suspended WCW referee Nick Patrick. He says it has been a month since he has been suspended without pay following the outcome of Sting vs. "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Starrcade, and asks the crowd if they have ever seen two officials officiate in exactly the same way, and says that all of the WCW referees have their own unique cadence. He then says the World title match at Starrcade match was more of a brawl than a wrestling match, and says there was only one pinfall attempt in the match which he counted with his own cadence before Bret "The Hit Man" Hart took it upon himself to knock him out and reverse the decision himself despite not being a licensed official. He then says it is an outrage to him and the fans that WCW agreed with Bret's reverse decision and fired him afterwards, as it desecrates the World title. He then says that according to his lawyers, the fans will be seeing him again on WCW programming, and that he stands by his reputation, his decision and his count until his dying day. As for the rematch, he wants to be the man who referees it so he can prove he is "for real," not "4 lyfe."

Booker T retains the WCW World Television Championship against Saturn. During the match, members of Raven's Flock go after Booker T one by one, but Booker T fights them off. Rick Martel suddenly shows up and fights one of them off. When Saturn goes after Martel, Booker T goes for a roll-up from behind and gets the win. After the match, Saturn pushes Booker T into Martel, and Martel gets in the ring thinking Booker T hit him on purpose. This leads to an short argument between Booker T and Martel.

"The Canadian Crippler" Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko beat Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero with a Crippler Crossface to Jericho. After the match, Mike Tenay interviews Benoit in the ring. He says his chapter with Raven has come to an end after their battle at Souled Out, and that he needs no belt of gold around his waist to prove how good he is, and all he needs is an opponent and the fans to tune in for the match. Due to his political incorrectness and his affiliations, however, he does not get all the opportunities, but he will continue inflicting pain and punishment and crippling opponents until someone takes notice. Suddenly, Diamond Dallas Page shows up and says he is taking notice. He says Benoit has never gotten a shot at the title or been in the main event is because "the so-called promoters" never saw Benoit as a main eventer. He says the promoters saw him the same way, but they were wrong about him and they are wrong about Benoit, because he can tell how badly he wants it by the look in his eyes, which reminds DDP of himself. He then says the only difference between himself and Benoit is that what Benoit wants, he has, and since the promoters won't make the match, he wants to see how the people react. He asks the crowd if there is anybody who wants to see them get it on, and he is met with positive fan reaction. DDP then says the people have spoken, and Benoit tells DDP to name the time and place, and if DDP wants to give him a shot, he will take it. DDP says it will be in Beaumont, Texas next week on Thunder. Benoit accepts.

The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner) beat Kevin Nash and Konnan by disqualification. During the match, Bugg Bagwell shows up and jerks Scott Steiner off the apron, distracting him with a pose-off in the aisle. As referee Charles Robinson is arguing with Ted DiBiase on the apron, Kevin Nash tries to hit Rick Steiner in the back with one of the tag team titles, but he is caught by Charles Robinson, who calls for the bell. After the match, Nash and Robinson argue, and when Robinson turns his back, Nash hits him with a Jackknife Power Bomb. Members of the local police show up, and Nash allows himself to be handcuffed and arrested when he gets out of the ring. Nash then says to the camera "Make sure Jack Ruby ain't sittin' in the back, alright?!" Konnan and Buff Bagwell asks if Nash will be bailed out, and Nash tells them to call "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan as Nash is led out to the back to end the show.