02/22/1999: WCW Monday Nitro: Bret Hart vs. Booker T: This was a number one contender’s match for the US title held by Scott Hall because lord knows Bret has to prove himself to be worthy of a title recently held by Mongo McMichael. They started really slow with a lot of stalling and holds in a way that didn’t seem authentic to either guy. Bret did a lot of territory heel stalling in particular. Then, Disco Inferno was backstage telling a WCW production person they (as in the NWO) would use their satellite. Who the fuck cares, right? I think that’s why Bret put together such a slow beginning. He didn’t want to be in the middle of a hot sequence in the match and be cut off by the NWO flunkie directing satellite time in the back. They got going immediately after the dumb Disco shit ended, and Bret worked the heat on Booker. Tony Schiavone said he had to leave commentary to produce (an apparently pointed) Ric Flair and David Flair interview segment. Hence, Mike Tenay took over on PBP and performed better than 90% of his stuff in TNA. He was excited and knowledgeable without sounding the least bit over the top. It looked like, after they got word, the Disco shit was out of the way, Bret turned it up to a more typical Hitman match, and the crowd responded accordingly. The best spot in the match was probably Booker setting up for a dropkick from the top, and Bret quickly climbing the ropes and hitting a superplex. Booker eventually won by sitting down on a Bret sunset flip attempt in 17:45. The match was good after the Disco nonsense was off our fucking TV screens. ***1/4