Raw vs Nitro "Reliving The War": Episode 165 - December 21st 1998

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Reliving The War takes a look at the entire WWF vs WCW Monday Night War from start to end. Each week WCW Monday Nitro and WWF Raw is War go head-to-head to see which show was really the best.
WCW are 6 days away from Starrcade 1998. That event will feature Goldberg vs Kevin Nash, but this week on Nitro Goldberg wrestles Scott Hall while Nash has a few words for the world champion. Fans also get treated to another Eddie Guerrero vs Rey Mysterio match, and the rivalry between Ric Flair and Eric Bischoff continues on with The Horsemen surprising Eric with a mid-show appearance.
On the WWF Channel Shane McMahon is in charge while Vince prepares for the Royal Rumble. Shane and commissioner Shawn Michaels book DX in a series of matches against The Corporation, while Shane himself wants a match against Mankind.
00:00 - Intro
02:48 - Fit Finlay vs Scott Putski
03:31 - Ernest Millar interrupts Santa Claus
04:02 - Chavo Guerrero vs Kaz Hayashi
04:14 - Kevin Nash promo
05:21 - Raven & Kanyon promo
05:54 - Eric Bischoff promo
06:36 - Corporation promo / Wrath vs Lizmark Jr
08:44 - Gangrel vs Al Snow / Eddie Guerrero vs Rey Mysterio
11:56 - Billy Gunn vs Ken Shamrock / Scott Steiner promo
14:47 - Hawk promo / Norman Smiley vs Prince Iaukea
17:17 - Steve Blackman vs Blue Blazer / Windham vs Hammer
20:42 - Boss Man vs Road Dogg / Ric Flair promo
25:35 - JOB squad vs Acolytes / Kenny Kaos vs Lex Luger
28:00 - Shane McMahon vs Mankind / Konnan vs Alex Wright
32:20 - D’Lo vs The Headbangers / Disco Inferno Open Challenge
35:22 - Goldberg vs Scott Hall
38:40 - The Rock & Test vs HHH & X-Pac
41:47 - Final Scores / Credits
#WCW #nWo

[@JustJulyo]

This will mark an end of an era Thank you for the last dance. You will be missed Alex Wright!

[@danalong1237]

Wright would be repackaged as Berlyn in 1999 with the late Jerry “The Wall” Tuite (who passed away in 2003), known for choke slamming people through tables, as his bodyguard.

[@JustJulyo]

@@danalong1237 Nothing will beat the Dancing era

[@EssexAggiegrad2011]

@@JustJulyo He would reunite with Disco

[@frankez1975]

Aufweidersehn 😢

[@infamousprime694]

But now we have Smilin Norman and the wiggle.

[@mikechamplin22]

The finger poke of doom should be a live chat. Because we all remember that night.

[@mockery_finn]

YEEEEEEEEEEES

[@holagovito]

I like that idea. I always say I was part of the 640k that changed the channel. I was like "Mankind is winning the belt?! No way!!"...the main reason I tell people I don't care about spoilers in movies and TV shows cuz I still wanna SEE what happens, HOW it happens

[@brandenarnett7162]

Premiere baby!

[@bigpoppajersh]

Hell yeah brother

[@galarthenry1450]

YESSSS LOVE THIS

[@bathroomattendant]

People say the fingerpoke of doom was the death knell for WCW. But we all know it was the end of Saturday Wright fever

[@michaelkeller5927]

I'm watching this episode with my biggest fan. MY CAT! Hello Brucie.

[@A.o.D]

Your cat is a mark.

[@louisvelez40]

It never gets old when Bret says “He’s an animal”😂😂 closer to the Goldberg streak ending

[@JayRasheed718]

I remember watching this back a few years ago, Owen had me crying laughing acting like nobody saw Jarrett under the mask “WHO WAS THAT MASKED MAN?!” 😂😂 rest in peace Owen

[@Obscusion2]

I'm guessing next week with be the skit where Owen & Jeff bring in Koko B. Ware under a mask & claim that the real Blue Blazer has been a black man the entire time?

[@JayRasheed718]

@@Obscusion2 find out on the next episode of Dragonball Z

[@bennyloggins488]

Saturday wright fever is almost at an end…. But Ryan delivers yet again with the wiggle, wiggle. Outstanding.

[@mikerotchitch6399]

Scott Steiner from this point, up until the death of WCW was the only reason I kept up with them. Some banger Steiner moments to come, can't wait!! ❤️👊

[@gumdeo]

A modern poet for sure. And later on, quite a mathematician as well...

[@Carlitonsp1]

Steiner shooting on Ric Flair is a legendary promo.

[@davidcurry332]

Yep 🤘🤘 love ❤ the genetic freak

[@HarmonySword]

We are almost there to the final nail in the coffin for WCW. History is being relived in front of our eyes

[@PancakeProduct]

Are we going until the end of 1999?

[@anthonyrivera2306]

​@@PancakeProductThe series ends with the March 26th, 2001 simulcast.

[@toddmorrissey8372]

Nash would vehemently disagree.

[@WrestlingCompilations]

We're soon to see the beginning of WCW's End Game

[@jackcarraway4707]

Honestly, WCW was sinking the moment Thunder arrived. Bischoff himself said that's when he started to worry about the product.

[@nextgreatmedia3552]

I gained massive appreciation for Alex Wright and Disco from this series. So much so that I've booked the two as a team in Total Extreme Wrestling and Alex is a main eventer.

[@ananyaraizada7657]

It's a shame Alex never came to wwe. Vince loves goofy wrestling. I am sure he would have promoted him a lot

[@Dr_1212]

Reliving WCW in 99 & especially 2000 is going to be rough

[@Dr_1212]

@@michaelsinger4638 It can be summed up in two words Russo bro 🤦‍♂️

[@stevengrvp]

​@@Dr_1212bro wcw was already done bro before I even got in charge bro

[@Dr_1212]

@@stevengrvp 😆🤣

[@Calculon1712]

With 2000 itll be a Raw win every week i would be shocked if Nitro won even for just one week

[@Dr_1212]

@@Calculon1712 Unfortunately your right it's all over again for WCW RIP WCW Gone but never forgotten

[@XKTwentyFive]

Mysterio's springboard X-Factor looked great! "TO HAWK: SUCK IT!, HHH" written on Hawk's cast made me almost die laughing! No more Saturday Wright Fever!! NOOOOOOOII!! Everybody, including me, said the war was over on January 4, 1999, but it really ended on December 21, 1998. When Alex Wright took a leave of absence from Nitro, Monday Nitro and WCW never recovered from it. It was never the same.

[@woobgamer5210]

We are officially 5 months away from the most tragic moment in wrestling history

[@milthonpaniagua7924]

Wym

[@syxodude91]

@@milthonpaniagua7924 May 1999. Over The Edge.

[@frootloop4149]

@@milthonpaniagua7924 the return of alex wright as the wall brother! 🤣

[@stephenmcilwraith9639]

I know i had the same thought :(

[@richspeck8932]

​@@frootloop4149He comes back as Berlyn. His bodyguard is the Wall

[@JM1993951]

This whole series has gone by so much faster than 4 years seems, but 1998 is going by really fast.

[@JayRasheed718]

Because it was the most entertaining year

[@saxonshieldwall5315]

Jesus Christ has it been almost 4 years.... 😮

[@G-TV_TheOneManArmy]

3 years because he started I believe April 2020 right in the smack of the pandemic

[@JM1993951]

@@G-TV_TheOneManArmy it’s all been kind of a blur for me

[@ZBR_ProXP]

@@JayRasheed718absolutely terrible year

[@danalong1237]

0:49: “Merry Christmas, you filthy animal… (gunshots) …and a happy new year! (final gunshot)”-Ralph Foody.

[@spangly_J]

I quit my job so I could watch this on time. Also my job was horrible.

[@josiahboatengmyrie]

I guess you weren’t too legit to quit lol

[@Dr_1212]

😆👍

[@spangly_J]

@@josiahboatengmyrie I guess I'm no Jimmy Hart lol. Best sound clip of all time

[@deandredukes95]

Can’t wait for the Jan 4th review!

[@chibipoe]

"Kevin nash was insanely over in WCW at this time." Yes, so glad you pointed that out! He was so over at the time, regardless of what people want to say in hindsight.

[@kaysebain1004]

Yeah he got done wrong by WCW and hogan so did Scott hall think that's why he drank so much Nash should won clean on Goldberg woulda cemented his legacy in a more positive light

[@matthewrosenthal753]

@@kaysebain1004While Nash was over, what should have happend at Starcade was Nash getting Squashed as after the stupid end of Goldberg’s streak which only the booker(Kevin Nash) thought was good idea, took place WCW imploded.

[@coreyhall1150]

​@@matthewrosenthal753Yes, he should have beaten all the big names and THEN DDP ends the streak. But only after Goldberg has beaten the hell out of him.

[@kaysebain1004]

@matthewrosenthal753 yeah we don't know all the behind the scenes stuff for sure I'm with ya it was a stupid idea whatever match Goldbergs streak ended it should have been a clean match loss but WCW didn't like doing that

[@kaysebain1004]

@@coreyhall1150 hogan was in the way he had a lot to do with it..

[@theirishhammer5986]

RIP Saturday Wright Fever End of an era!

[@skyguy5587]

Just want to say hi to my one little KZbinr out there. Hello Smokey, my cat!!

[@crapsmalloy7273]

Just two weeks away from Tony Schiavone and the spoiler heard 'round the world.

[@gemayelphifer7627]

I could care less how many times you cover Mysterio vs. Guerrero. I love these two in the ring.

[@ernieb352]

Shawn losing his smile is nothing compared to Alex losing his fever.

[@StnkTrek]

Ok so short story about this Nitro. I was there (decenet seats like 6th row). The show was ok, but afterwards when going home it was like -20 f outside. So obviously my dad is scrapping the car windshield. I see this woman come when an obviously steaming cup of water (i have no clue where she got the hot water) and i guess she wanted to like melt the ice? Instead, she throws it on the windshield and it shatters into pieces all over her front seat. It was easily the best show I watched that night.

[@thefckumean2209]

Anybody else didn’t realize that Alex Wright going away was coming up this soon? Legitimately shed a tear because I’m going to miss the Saturday Wright Fever stuff.

[@ShaunInce123]

Oh boy, we're this close to Starcade 98. And we all know what it's going to lead to later.

[@danalong1237]

When we get to 1999, there’ll be more WCW and WWE PPV reviews such as: -WCW Souled Out 1999 -WWF Royal Rumble 1999: No Chance in Hell -WCW SuperBrawl IX -WWF St. Valentine’s Day Massacre (the final In Your House PPV/PLE) -WCW Uncensored 1999 -WWF WrestleMania XV -WCW Spring Stampede 1999 -WWF Backlash 1999 -WCW Slamboree 1999 -WWF Over the Edge 1999 (the one with Owen Hart’s tragic death) -WCW Great American Bash 1999 -WWF King of the Ring 1999 -WCW Bash at the Beach -WWF Fully Loaded 1999 -WCW Road Wild 1999 (the final one) -WWF SummerSlam 1999 -WCW Fall Brawl 1999 -WWF Unforgiven 1999 -WCW Halloween Havoc 1999 -WWF No Mercy 1999 -WCW Mayhem 1999 -WWF Survivor Series 1999 -WCW Starrcade 1999 (the final wrestling PPV/PLE of the second millennium) …and… -WWF Armageddon 1999

[@natediaz1863]

Brother....

[@jbanks979]

“This is the action the horsemen should have taken years ago” Truer words have never been spoken Brain. Imagine WCW with more than one faction being allowed to win occasionally. was hoping this week was gonna happen when you steal from the shopkeeper and are insta killed

[@reecepower8906]

Can't wait for the Berlin bit to replace Saturday Wright fever haha

[@theresultsphase]

I can't believe we're almost in 1999. As someone who's been here since episode 1, I don't know what I'm going to do on Thursdays when this is over

[@Foo-oo-oo-oolsGold89]

The memories that come flooding back watching this series has been one of the best things about watching the whole thing from the very beginning. It showed me how long I actually followed pro wrestling back then as I remember the majority of the monday night wars. Another excellent episode of Reliving The War.

[@thementos15]

I made it through all episodes to now being up to date right before Starcade. As someone who was to young to experience the magic of the attitude era I only can say thank you for your amazing work, sir! It has been a blast so far watching your videos and the best possibility living through the monday night wars so many years later.

[@Foo-oo-oo-oolsGold89]

Dude you've relieved what was the most exciting time to be a Pro Wrestling fan. The rise of the attitude era brought so many eyes to the buisness. I grew up during the 80's and 90's eras of pro wrestling and the monday night wars was us fans being spoiled for choice when it came to pro wrestling. I've not long caught up myself after going through every episode.

[@abidiqbal3585]

36secs Hes an animal! how you conduct Horseman Business! 😂

[@Nyfancam01]

Had a rough morning... Flat tire on the way home from work. Been awake for a LONG time now. But an Oil change later and 2 new tires.... I'm home and ready to click play on this one! THANK YOU for all that you do!!!! You're the Mufuggin' Man!

[@emanuelperez3595]

That sucks man ive been there many times with my 2004 armada. That always broke in the most unhinged places and times. I remember anger levels that i could had lofted andre the giant with 1 hand😂 Not sure if you have the same with your car. But i had a love hate relationship with mine. until i bought a toyota. 😂 straight up sold that armada asap. Driving without mechanical worries is way to good honestly

[@loboneiner1034]

This show is too legit... too legit to quit

[@Brando-Lee3725]

Alex Wright shouldve had the gimmick where the camera would only shoot him from the waist up while he danced like old ELVIS TV show appearances lol !!!

[@Insomniaaron]

If you're sad about Alex Wright now, wait until you see how he is when he returns.

[@matthewnunley1775]

Continues to be the best series on the internet

[@CreationsVibration]

Bam Bam should have been the streak ender

[@robertgrosso3317]

Ministry of Darkness is upon us...and i'm so happy to see it.

[@RichterTheEternal]

Smiley sure was filling in for our currently absent Bratwurst (aka. Alex Wright) around this time period. Norman is still a treat to see, though.

[@michaelkeller5927]

We're losing Alex and we don't get the Scorpio song anymore. This is a rough episode to watch 😢😢

[@johnepants]

The Blue Blazer thing kills me because Owen and Jarrett really nailed the entertainment factor of all this at the time. They were some of my favorite Raw segments, but knowing that the whole gimmick takes his life in the end is a major gut stab

[@storiedworlds6261]

Glad to see Norman Smiley getting some respect. He was one of my favorites back in the day and another example of WCW having great talent but terrible booking. They could have used all these guys much better.

[@ericdravenX00X]

Thanks for this Wrestling Bios. Norman Smiley is always hilarious and also Buff Bagwell in the Mark Mcguire costume was comedy also..

[@timnovak698]

Hey Wrestling Bios, when Reliving the War is done, would you be open to doing a Slammy’s-esque award show to commemorate some of the under-appreciated stars,matches, PPVs as well as your overall takeaways from this whole series? I think that would be a lot of fun and rewarding for everyone who is a Day one viewer of RTW.

[@mattk3654]

Yes!!! Some of these guys need to be recognized. Even if the actual WWE official people may not see it. We, the fans, the real fans of this time period, will see and appreciate the recognition that these guys could get. 💯 Call it the RTW Slammy's or figure out a cooler name.

[@frickaaron]

So sorry about your loss. Losing Alex for this long will be hard.

[@dreadkalibur1613]

This will mark an end of an era.... Glory to Saterday Wright Fever....

[@criminalmindsgirl2936]

Road Dogg is funny as hell 🤣🤣🤣

[@gezeo750]

27:25 you know this was unintentional since the ref didn't immediately crumple into a heap on the mat lol

[@UpUpBobby]

"Here comes Vincent to save Wyndam's Weiner" oh my God I could not stop laughing 😂

[@steven5232]

"Talk to the hand because the bratwurst isn't listening" 🤣🤣🤣

[@mushroomsamba82]

The little in-jokes and gag bits like "feel the BANG" and Hitman telling Road Dogg to shut up always make me smile.

[@2Sweeet]

We're almost in to '99, boys, let's go! Thanks again for another upload, Ryan. I've been watching your stuff for years, and am a frequent re-watcher.

[@MrBlazemaster525]

Happy 1998 Christmas you animals!Special mention to Smokey the Cat!

[@gumdeo]

🐱💗🖤

[@wademiller3859]

I feel in honor of Saturday Wright Fever, we need a compilation of all the Saturday Wright Fever bits.

[@geoffprime4579]

Woah, a Nitro win. I wasn't expecting that all. Raw missing Austin and Taker this week, while Nitro is still without Hogan and Sting.

[@LiquidScorpion]

19:50 Them low blow sounds are hilarious. It’s even funnier when you see Flair constantly low blow someone in a fight.

[@FerraristDX]

Goodbye, Saturday Wright Fever 😢 And yeah, can't wait for the January 4th review.

[@stevengrvp]

That lod segment is even more sad r.i.p lod

[@MuddieRain]

Shout out to Smokey! 🐈‍⬛

[@dandymatt]

21:10 I smiled so much at that knowing 1999 is almost here and Bossman was so wild that year lol

[@JohnnyBoombatz1119]

OH NO! Pour one out for Wrestling Bios on the end on Saturday Wright Fever!

[@AFMountaineer2000]

Been waiting all day for this to drop. Thank you for your service and hard work.

[@anthonyclark9441]

Nash was insanely over at this time, and I believe had the Finger Pole not happened, 99 would have gone a lot better. Business didn't immediately tank for them after, but the Finger Poke was just ridiculous, even though I did like seeing them together again myself. Not like that though.

[@lexkanyima2195]

But it's risky move

[@cliffbogard9546]

Can't wait until we get to the Stiener DDap fued which contains my Favorite Scott line " While your laying on your back acreaming in pain your wife will be on her back screaming my name"

[@Obscusion2]

It's so weird now, in hindsight, to realize that the initial seeds that were sown that would lead to the formation of the nWo Elite... was Disco Inferno somehow joining the Wolfpac. WCW literally had Disco, of all people, be the harbinger of the re-unification of the nWo. Disco Inferno led to the Fingerpoke of Doom! Anyway, while Saturday Wright Fever may be coming to an end (until way later in WCW's life, at least) maybe we can at least Saturday Wright Metal when Berlyn debuts in mid-1999.

[@thethinker2149]

OH HELL YEAH, BOYS! LET'S GET IT TODAY!!!

[@omarvazquez3355]

Wrestling Bios. The GOAT of Wrestling KZbin ❤

[@powerhound]

It’s a sad time for this series with Das Wunderkind will be gone for a while.

[@alexrekzu4079]

W I G G L E W I G G L E 🎶

[@Hyde_Hill]

I'd say those Bagwell and Steiner segments are really underrated as they barely get brought up in retrospectives and they range from decent to very good.

[@haydoss96]

I don’t know how I can survive without Saturday wright fever. Looks like I’ll have to settle for the smiley wiggle

[@erikgonzalez1306]

Lawler: "No drugs in the WWF" X Pac: exists

[@camwatson9172]

Thank you wrestling bios for everything thing you do and how dedicated you are into your work I've been here since the start of Reliving The War you give so many fans who are going through tough times something to be happy for when there is a new episode keep up the good work

[@KiLLeRisMe100]

It's possible that Goldberg's match with Scott Hall could have been viewed as a no contest, making Goldberg 173-0.

[@LwandaMandla-eo3io]

A reliving the war episode ain't awesome without Steve "Mufuggin" Blackman😭

[@tomascarrasco9892]

I'll miss Saturday Wright Fever 😢

[@oogabooga1023]

Norman Smiley Wiggle is a treasure

[@didymus3348]

I guess this is when they were building up to Alex's Berlyn character.

[@nextgreatmedia3552]

We need a wiggle wiggle shirt

[@jamesinnes4719]

25yrs later and Mr daddy ass is still on the intro to a wrestling show and also holding a tag team championship

[@brettrossi034]

I will say, i absolutely loved Test's big boots. Always looked deadly

[@williamoates3831]

Road dogg tastin his finger after he kicked the nose candy is priceless

[@tpammt8276]

Im so excited for the starrcade one. My older brother (im 26, hes 10 years my eldest) got me into wrestling and he attended this starrcade in DC. I look forward to talking about it with him, as we don't talk a great deal

[@tysoncarpenter8628]

Still the best show on KZbin! I'ma watch your videos for as long as u put them out!! Thank you!!!!!

[@Vic-ey7kl]

The intro to ur vids is amazing, but when the drop comes after Flair and Bret Hart walks out is just incredible. The drop has a slight nostalgia to his original WWF guitart. If Bret's clip was edited just for that part of the music, then hats of the you 👌🏽

[@kevinwilliams6889]

This makes Thursday's worth it.

[@LoneLeeGH]

Hell, I think Russo was saying 176 when Goldberg had his career ending storyline in 2000. Monumental episode here. There streak counter is over and Alex Wright is gone for a bit.

[@BENNY_MAC]

RIP Alex Wright. We will see you next year when you rise up again like a Phoenix.

[@the__wolf5087]

Next week will be... interesting

[@Hilversumborn]

Looking forward to Starrcade this Sunday, great way to start my vacation!

[@blairwilliams3311]

In a alternate timeline we would be getting Norman smiley vs Steve Blackman world champ vs world champ… man I wish we lived in that timeline

[@CarbonKnights]

RIP to the dancing gimmick

[@stevenrobinson4454]

Lol @22:22 You can see the road dog, jessie james, licking his fingers, hoping it was coke😂

[@TheImapotato]

I have to agree, Ray Traylor had such a resurgence when he came back to WWF. Many just recall that horrible Undertaker match but he had very good matches up until then, which I seemed to have forgotten. WcW really screwed up the 4 Horseman resurgence...of all the factions that should have finally ended the NWO, it should have been the 4 Horseman with help from the Wolfpac

[@darwinespinoza3440]

This was my birthday, I turned 9 on this date and I remember this episode of RAW. Good times!

[@Fire_Panda738]

I now want to see Norman Smiley vs Steve Blackman

[@RetroJR3379]

Ive been waiting for this since 1998. My Vince McMahon made me work the night shift so I missed this and Thunder

[@NJ973201]

26:39 Sounds like a reference to Ice Cube's "Check Yo Self".

[@blackfoxx86]

A moment of silence for Saturday Wright Fever and his big bratwurst.