The following is a reprint of the Torch Newsletter review of WCW Nitro from five years ago this week.

-Jason Powell, Torch assistant editor

* * *

Torch Newsletter Archive
By Wade Keller, Torch editor
May 18, 1998 - WCW Nitro
Originally published: Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly newsletter #495
Cover dated: May 23, 1998

INDEPENDENT HIGHLIGHTS
Power Pro Wrestling: May 14 in Lula, Ms. at the Lady Luck Casino (250): Tony Falk beat Mr. Wrestling, Kid Wicked beat Ashley Hudson to retain the Young Guns Title, Spellbinder beat Reality, Jackie (a/k/a Miss Texas) beat "Lumberjack" Paula Bunyan, Brandon Baxter beat Stacey (w/real life boyfrield Jerry Lawler) in a mixed match despite interference by Lawler, B.J. Awesome (a/k/a Men on a Mission's Mo) beat Brian Christopher when Billy Travis interfered, and Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee beat Billy Travis & Paul Diamond in a terrible, sloppy match. [Chuck Morris]

NWA New Jersey: May 9 in Keyport, N.J. at the St. Joe's H.S. (1,300 sellout): Icepick beat Crazy Ivan, Johnny Handsome pinned Rik Ratchet, Lance Diamond beat Steve Corino and Twiggy Rameriez in a three-way match for the NWA 2000 Title, Chain Gang & Doug Gilbert beat Misfits & Lupus when Gilbert pinned Lupus after a Michinoku Driver #1, Devon Storm pinned J.R. Ryder to retain the NWA Lt. Hvt. Title, Tom Brandi pinned Vampire Warrior (w/Luna) after a Ligerbomb, 911 pinned Hellraiser (w/Dapper Johnny Falco), Julio Sanchez pinned Patch (w/Barry Casino), The Head Bangers & Rocco Rock beat The Pitbulls & Megatron when Rocco pinned Pitbull2.

United Championship Wrestling: May 9 in Mellville, N.J. at the H.S.: Ace Darling fought Ray Odyssey to a draw, Special K beat Mr. Puerto Rico, Doink beat Flyboy Rocco Rock, Skull Von Crush beat Spider (local high school wrestling coach), Kid U.S.A. & Cousin Luke beat Chris Hamrick & Spanish Fly & High School's Dean of Discipline, Sweet Destiny fought Sky Shadow to a DDQ, Tommy Cairo beat Manny Fernandez (who bled) to retain the North American Hvt. Title, Jimmy Snuka beat Nikolai Volkoff via DQ. [Frank Douglas]

Omega Pro Wrestling: May 9 in Wendell, N.C. (325): Joey Matthews beat Christian York, Wolverine (Jeff Hardy) beat Black Skull, Otto Schwanz beat Venom (Jason Arndt) via DQ, Mike Maverick & Kid Vicious beat Frank Parker & Roger Anderson, Willow the Wisp (Jeff Hardy) beat Kid Dynamo, Surge beat Campaign (Marty Gardner) to retain the OPW Hvt. Title.

NWA New Jersey: May 8 in Blackwood, N.J. (est. 400): Before the event began, Dennis and Marc Coraluzzo (father/son) and Donnie B. came out and explained why Sid and Ahmed Johnson would not be there as advertised. Dennis said Sid was in a car accident and said he hoped he'd be fully recovered soon. Regarding Ahmed, besides wanting more money than originally agreed upon, he didn't like that Dennis sent a Honda to pick him up rather than a limousine. Coraluzzo then gave out Ahmed's hotel room phone number and encouraged fans to call him at all hours of the night to wake him up. During Dennis's explanation, Marc and Donnie B. were doing everything they could to not break out laughing. The Pitbulls came out and asked who need's Ahmed. They ran down The Head Bangers. The Bangers came out and a pullapart brawl emptied the locker room. Biggie Biggs the Overweight Lover beat Rev. John Dahmed with a bullfrog splash off the top rope. Steve Corino pinned Lupus (w/Mary Kate) with a top rope powerbomb. Rik Ratchet (w/Donnie B. & The Master) beat Lost Boy Yar after using brass knuckles. Lance Diamond pinned J.R. Ryder with a northern lights suplex, Tom Brandi pinned Patch. Twiggy Rameriez beat Julio Sanchez with a northern lights suplex. The Misfits (w/Lupus) beat Doug Gilbert & Flyboy Rocco Rock after Lupus hit Gilbert with a double reverse Russian leg sweep, The Headbangers beat The Misfits with a roll-up on Pitbull2.

Power Pro Wrestling: May 7 in Lula, Ms. at the Lady Luck Casino (300): Ashley Hudson beat "Mr. Personality" Derek King (w/Brandon Baxter), Kid Wicked beat Tony DeNucci, "Superstar" Bill Dundee beat Tony Falk, Jackie (a/k/a Miss Texas) beat Samantha (the crowd surprisingly wasn't into the match), Jerry Lawler (w/Stacy) beat Tracy Smothers (w/Brandon Baxter) at 20:43, Brian Christopher & Spellbinder beat Paul Diamond & Billy Joe Travis at 14:09 in a wild brawl ending with Dundee and Smothers getting involved. [Chuck Morris]

NWA All Star Wrestling: May 3 in Salisbury, N.C. at Erwin Middle School (810): Foxy Lady beat Brandi Wine in a ladies' leather strap match, The Border Patrol beat Madd Maxx & Fly-High Eddie, Willow the Wisp beat Kid Dynamo, Gene Ligon beat Thunderfoot, Bobby Duncum Jr. pinned Ulf Hermann, The Midnight Express beat The Rock & Roll Express to retain the NWA Tag Team Titles.

All Pro Wrestling: May 1 in Hayward, Calif. at the APW Garage (130): El Chicano Flame beat "Slick" Rick Turner (w/Westside Playas), "Cowboy" Frank Murdoch & "Mad Mosher" Boom Boom Comini beat "Black Jesus" Kuame Kamoze & "Playa" Jay Smooth via DQ, "Shooter" Tony Jones (w/Michael Modest) beat "Rookie" Chris Ward, "Vicious" Vic Grimes beat "Leprechaun" Erin O'Grady (both wrestling their final APW match as they were off to the WWF training camp), "Gigolo" Vinny Massaro (w/Nathaniel Sweete) beat "Bad Boy" Boyce LeGrande, Vic Grimes (subbing for Modest) beat "La Migra" Maxx Justice (w/Shane Dynasty) with the Grimes-Cutter to capture the APW Universal Title, "Suicide Machine" Donovan Morgan beat "Brown Bomber" Robert Thompson

Universal Championship Wrestling: Apr. 17 in Lorraine, Ohio at the Eagle's Nest Entertainment Complex (220): Rod Destiny beat Toby Rudo, Elvis Elliot beat Delicious Devon Daniels, "Stun Gun" Biff Beverly beat "Hot Body" Johnny Paradise, Rod Destiny beat J.T. Lightning in a hair vs. hair match after Destiny pinned Commissioner Simmons and shaved him bald, Doink the Clown beat Lord Zoltan, J.T. Lightning won an 18-man battle royal for the UCW Championship Title, Manslaughter beat Mad Man Pondo in a "fans bring the weapons match." [Aaron Simmons]

Independent: Apr. 11 in Forrest City, N.C. (160): James Fulton beat Pat Rukus, Gene Davis & Kevin Kirby beat Hunter Thompson & Ringmaster, Jeff Hamerick beat The Grunge Master via DQ, Jay Eagle beat Jake Steele, Jeff Hamerick won a battle royal. [Dan Paris]

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