Lurker > Chronic1000

Match Four: Big Bubba w/Jimmy Hart vs. John Tenta

Tenta doesn’t come out to any music. A marginally better match between these two men, whom had the stinker of the night the night before. Hart hits Tenta with his microphone, but Tenta no sells it. He hits an atomic drop on Hart, power slam on Bubba, and he gets the pin.

Winner by pinfall: John Tenta

Tenta chases Hart around the ring. Hart goes into the ring and throws a loaded sock to Bubba. Bubba beats him down with a loaded sock of coins.

¾*.

Gene interviews Hart and Bubba. Typically heel promo with Bubba here.

Back from a break, we are backstage with Mean Gene interviewing Savage. Savage cuts a promo on Flair, and says he’ll destroy Flair.

Match Five: Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair w/Debra, Elizabeth, and Woman

As hour two starts, Savage chases Heenan around the arena briefly. That was kinda funny.

Flair comes out with a T-Shirt that says ‘Mean Greene sack machine in the ring.’ He asks where is Kevin Greene now. Flair makes his way to the ring. Instead of getting inside, he grabs a mic from the ring announcer and cuts yet another promo on Savage. Flair says that everyone must face the agony and pain of defeat. He says Savage is facing pain, agony, and defeat of divorce. Savage’s retort? “I’m gonna kick your ass!” Savage now chasing Flair around the arena. Flair and Savage finally in the ring… and Savage clotheslines Flair out.

Flair is able to control Savage after a commercial break, but Savage is able after they duke it out at Flair's VIP section and Savage pours champagne on Flair. After another break, Flair is chopping down at Savage, but Savage no sells the chops thrice. Flair hits Savage with brass knuckles instead.

Flair and the ref jaw at each other and get in a shoving match, but that just sets up the ref bump. Savage with a low blow on Flair. Savage hits an elbow drop. The women try to stop Savage, but Savage again with an elbow drop. Benoit in, but Savage hits him with a piledriver. Arn in now, but he’s thrown out of the ring. Nevermind that s***, here comes Mongo... With a briefcase! Mongo with a few shots with that briefcase on Savage. Mongo puts Flair over Savage, Arn throws the ref in.. and Flair wins!

Winner by pinfall: Ric Flair

Postmatch, the Horsemen destroy Savage.

Good, fun match. Though that’s expected from these two. Best match of the night thus far. ***¼

Out back again, we are with Hart, Sullivan ,and Giant. Sullivan says that there is war all over WCW. It has been declared. Giant cuts a promo on the Horsemen. He wonders how they can be the elite if he’s the champion. Sullivan says that he cares about WCW first, then the Horsemen.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

WCW Nitro
Airdate: June 17th, 1996
Arena/Location: Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, VA
Commentators: Hour One: Larry Zbyszko and Tony Schiavone. Hour Two: Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan

Larry and Tony are now at the announce booth that Eric and Bobby (and Mongo, when he announced) have been at since the 2nd episode now, instead of beside ringside. Tony will be doing both hours of Nitro, due to the ‘injuries’ Bischoff sustained at the PPV. They also mention that tonight we’ll learn what three wrestlers will go against these two Outsiders at Bash at the Beach. We then gets stills of various matches from last night. In fact, we’ll get Dean Malenko vs. Rey Mysterio later on tonight. Yes, please!

We go to video of the Outsiders talking to Bischoff. It cuts off before Bischoff is thrown t’rew the tayble.

Match One: Stevie Ray vs. Rick Steiner

Relatively quick matchup, unlike the match between Scott and Booker T on the previous Nitro. Stevie Ray has control in the early going, but Rick Steiner is able to regain control and eventually pin Stevie Ray after a clothesline.

Winner by pinfall: Rick Steiner

Postmatch, Booker T is in and he scissors kick Rick Steiner. Stevie Ray with a powerbomb. Scott is out now, and is trying to protect his brother, but Booker T off the top rope with a knee to his back.

Not really enough given to this match to amount to anything. *½

After a break, Disco Inferno in the ring. He dances briefly, before grabbing a mic. He says everyone is there to see Inferno dance. He wants them to hit his music, instead we get the music of…

Match Two: Disco Inferno vs. Joe Gomez

… Who? Oh right. The guy that got beaten up by Arn and Flair a few shows back… Who?

Whoever he is, he is able to hold his own against Inferno. Looks like Disco is going to win after a swinging neckbreaker, but Inferno would rather dance. Gomez is able to get the quick pin here.

Winner by pinfall: Joe Gomez

Apparently Disco Inferno isn’t too worried about losing, just as long as his hair is still in place.

…. Who thought this guy could wrestle? ½*

Backstage we go with Mean Gene. He’s interviewing Flair, as well as Elizabeth, Debra, and Woman (whom’s flirting with Gene.) Debra says she did it for the money. Flair cuts a promo on Savage, since he’s got a match against him later tonight.

Match Three: Four Horsemen (Benoit and Anderson) vs. American Males (AMERICAN MALES)

Bagwell is worked over on by both Benoit and Anderson for most of the match. Benoit hit’s a diving headbutt on Bagwell he goes for the pin and Riggs breaks it up. Arn in and hits Bagwell. Bagwell however makes the hot tag and Riggs and Bagwell hit a double dropkick on Benoit. Anderson then makes the save. Benoit with a suplex into the ropes on Riggs for the win.

Winners by pinfall: Four Horsemen

**¼ for a fair seven minute tag contest.

Mean Gene in the ring with Benoit and Anderson. Anderson said that McMichael made the right choice in joining the Horsemen. He says that while him and Sullivan had a business deal, things were going south, and there is only room on top for Four Horsemen. Benoit says Sullivan’s quest to nullify the Horsemen has failed.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Match Eight: Arn Anderson and Ric Flair w/Miss Elizabeth, Woman, and Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan vs. Mongo McMichael and Kevin Greene w/Debra McMichael, Pepe, Tara Greene, and ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage

Damn. Someone’s dressed up just like Macho Man in the crowd. Complete with beard, outfit, and everything.

Arn and Mongo start this one off. Mongo gets the advantage early, and Green and Mongo are stomping at Arn. Savage even gets a punch in on Anderson. After a huddle, Flair is tagged in, along with Greene. Greene able to get the upperhand on Flair. Flair goes running down the ramp, but Savage subdues him. Greene hits about six or seven flying clotheslines on Flair before tagging in Mongo. Flair runs to tag in Arn, but Arn ducks off the apron.

Flair now with a few chops, but nevermind that ****, here comes Mongo! Some chops on Flair, then an armdrag. Then a back body drop on Flair. Mongo with the figure four on Flair. Arn in to stop him but Greene hits Arn with another flying clothesline. Greene even applies the figure four to Arn for a moment. Woman with a rake to the eyes of Mongo. Woman and Elizabeth chase Tara and Debra to the back now.

Flair is able to regain control and both Arn and Flair work over Greene briefly. Figure Four on Greene by Flair. Savage is trying to attack Arn, but Benoit is out now. Benoit and Arn now attacking Savage. As they are attacking Savage, Elizabeth, Woman, and Debra are walking down to ringside together. Debra has a briefcase. Mongo steps off the apron and opens it up. Inside is a Four Horsemen shirt, and lots of money. Greene is looking for a tag now. Mongo tags him.. WITH THE BRIEFCASE! Ric Flair pins Kevin Greene!

Winners by pinfall: Ric Flair and Arn Anderson

Mongo and Savage go at it, but Flair and Anderson destroy Savage. Flair hits Savage with the briefcase. Looks like Mongo is now a member of the Four Horsemen.

Believe it or not, this wasn’t a bad match. Mongo and Kevin Greene were worked over by Flair and Arn for most of this match, so it really helped. I’ll give this one ***.

Eric Bischoff at the entranceway now. He is talking about the ‘interruptions’ from The Outsiders. The two men come out to talk with Bischoff. They are told they’ll get their match. It’ll be Bash at the Beach, the next PPV. Bischoff asks if either man works for the WWF. Both men say no, they don’t. The first man asks who the three men are. Nacho Man? The Huckster? He says that they and their third man will carve them up. Bischoff says they’ll find out on the next Nitro.

They aren’t happy with that answer, however. They attack Bischoff! The first man hit’s a punch, and the big man hit’s a powerbomb on Bischoff, right through a table! The two men leave, as Bischoff is put on a stretcher. Tony mentions that Bischoff is Executive Producer of WCW. Tony goes down there to check on Bischoff. Dusty is shocked at what happened.

Main Event: Lex Luger vs. The Giant© w/Jimmy Hart for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship

These two men duke it out for a few minutes. At one point Luger’s got a sleeper on the Giant. Hart is on the ring apron and appears to be ready to attack Luger, but Sting chases him away from ringside. Luger tries to gain the upperhand over Giant, and even tries to put the Giant in the torture rack, but that doesn‘t work. Giant wins with a chokeslam for the win.

Winner, and STILL WCW World Heavyweight Championship: The Giant

Tony signs off to end the PPV.

Lots of great matches on the card, some weak matches, but nothing so bad that it ruined the show. The whole Outsiders angle is definitely gaining steam now. Makes me wonder who their third man they keep referring to is. Great PPV, definitely one of the better ones thus far. 8.5/10

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Backstage we go, where Mean Gene is interviewing Mongo McMichael, Kevin Greene, and their wives. They cut a promo on Flair and Anderson. Macho Man comes in and says that they are the winning team.

Match Six: Chris Benoit vs. Kevin Sullivan w/Jimmy Hart in a falls count anywhere match

Before Sullivan can even get in the ring, Benoit attacks him. Benoit and Sullivan go through the crowd and going up through the stands. They then fight backstage, and go into the men’s room. They are duking it out in the men’s room, and a crowd of people start coming in to watch the match up close. Eventually, security shows up to keep the people back.

Sullivan slams the bathroom door on Benoit’s head several times. Each time he does, I cringe just a bit. Sullivan tries to dunk Benoit’s head in the urinal, but to no avail. As they are starting to leave the bathroom, a woman appears in the crowd, much to Dusty Rhode’s amusement. Both men exchange blows by using a (plastic) trash can. There’s a huge crowd around them now.

Back in the arena itself, Sullivan throws Benoit down the row of steps. Sullivan throws Benoit over the guardrail now. After moving around the arena, Sullivan then gets thrown down on the guardrail. Benoit goes under the ring, and tries to pull out a table, to no avail. Benoit throws Sullivan over another guardrail, and gets the table out (which Tony thinks is a chair, for some reason.)

Benoit sets the table up in the corner, and starts punching at Sullivan again. Benoit thrown into the table, Sullivan goes for an elbow and… he misses! The table doesn’t break however. Benoit sets the table up on the top turnbuckle. Sullivan leaning on the table, Benoit tries an elbow, to no avail. Benoit now set up on top of the table. Hart and a referee are holding the table in place. Benoit on top of the table…. SUPERPLEX OFF THE TABLE on Kevin Sullivan! Benoit gets the three!

Winner by pinfall: Chris Benoit

Postmatch, Benoit is attacking Sulllivan. Arn Anderson comes out, and yanks Benoit off of Sullivan. Arn and Benoit stand off briefly.. And Arn kicks Sullivan right in the gut. The crowd explodes as Benoit and Anderson destroy Sullivan. The DoD come out, but Benoit and Arn escape.

Great brawl. It was fun to watch, without being too silly, yet there were some awesome spots in it. For a twelve minute match, it was definitely one to catch. ***½

Mean Gene with Miss Elizabeth and Woman. Arn, Benoit, Flair, and Heenan now there as well. Arn cuts a promo, stating that Benoit earned the right to be called a Horsemen. DoD and Horsemen are apparently at war now. They then cut a promo on Mongo and Greene, basically stating the are ready. Good promo.

Match Seven: Lord Steven Regal w/Jeeves vs. Sting

Sting with a massive pop. Sting starts off early on with the advantage over Regal. Regal is quick to take control of this match, with a few European Uppercuts. For some reason, Tony and Rhodes grow quiet for a minute or so. Regal goes out of the ring and jaws with one of the fa.. Wait. Is that ECW Straw Hat Guy? Sure as hell looks like him, save for the hat.

Regal with most of the offense now. He applies several holds onto Sting, but Sting never taps. Sting with some quick offense, and with an abdominal stretch, but Regal knocks him down. After some more submission holds, he applies the Regal stretch on Sting. He holds it on for a few seconds, but lets it go to attack Sting some more. Sting however finally comes back, and is beating down on Regal. Scorpion Deathlock on Regal, whom taps out almost immediately.

Winner by submission: Sting

Good matchup. Regal got a whole lot of offense in, but Sting was able to come out with the win. ***¾

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Match Three: ‘Lord of the Ring’ Diamond Dallas Page vs. Marcus Bagwell (MARCUS BAGWELL) in a Lord of the Ring match

Bagwell comes running down to the ring, ready for this match. Bagwell in control of this contest, and there is even a Bagwell chant. DDP finally gains control of the match, however and is able to stay in control for the middle part of the match. After a few hope spots for Bagwell, DDP wins with a Diamond Cutter.

Winner, and STILL Lord of the Ring: Diamond Dallas Page

Alright matchup. DDP is really being put over as of late. **¼

We go back to Mean Gene, who’s now interviewing Jimmy Hart and The Giant. The Giant seems to be still applying the baby oil to his body. There’s an image for you. Giant hypes up his match later on tonight against Lex Luger.

Match Four: Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Dean Malenko© for the WCW Crusierweight Championship

Mike Tenay joins Tony and Dusty on commentary. Neither man can take advantage of the other in the early going of this bout. However, things begin to turn to the champion’s corner as Malenko works over Rey Mysterio’s arm and elbow. Mysterio tries to regain control, but Malenko never lets up and continues to work over Rey’s left arm.

Mysterio tries to come back after a dropkick on Malenko, however Malenko hit’s a overhead belly to belly hammerlock suplex for a two. Malenko has Mysterio in an STF, but lets it go after a few seconds. Malenko then applies a Mexican Surfboard, then goes into a bridge on Mysterio, but Rey’s out after two.

Rey finally catches a break as Malenko goes tumbling out of the ring. Dean on the apron, but Mysterio hit’s a baseball slide to knock him down. Mysterio the kicks Malenko through the ropes and.. Springboard Sommersault off the top rope! Malenko was a good seven or eight feet from the ring, and Mysterio connected easily with that move. The crowd is finally awake for this.

Mysterio throws Malenko in the ring, and dropkick off the top rope for a two. Mysterio now on the apron and springboard hurricarana (or as Tony calls it, frankensteiner) for a two. Malenko looks to be trying to regain control and is on the top rope. He looks to be going for the gutwrench off the top turnbuckle, but Mysterio counters into another hurricarana. Two count on Dean Malenko. Malenko with an irish whip, Mysterio counters into a tilt-a-whirl for another two count. Rey goes for a third hurricarana, but Malenko reverses it into a powerbomb. He’s got his feet on the ropes and wins!

Winner, and STILL WCW Cruiserweight Champion: Dean Malenko

The crowd, who not ten minutes earlier were chanting boring, are now on their feet giving each man a standing ovation, and it is well deserved.

Beautiful bout that told nice story. Malenko tried everything he could to make Mysterio either tap out, stay down for three, or otherwise win this match, and when that didn’t work, he used the ropes to keep him down. An excellent matchup, and I can’t wait to see the rematch. ****¼

Mean Gene now talking to ½ of the Tag Team and World Television champion Lex Luger. Luger says that his mind is in the ring, and he is ready for The Giant.

Match Five: Big Bubba w/Jimmy Hart vs. John Tenta

After the great match I just saw.. This was definitely a change of pace. Slow match, bunch of punches and scoop slams. John Tenta picks up the win after reversing Bubba’s top turnbuckle move.

Winner by pinfall: John Tenta

DUD

Postmatch, Tenta looks to cut Hart's hair, but Bubba prevents that. Tenta cuts some of Bubba's goatee, and Bubba is freaking out. It's only a goatee man. Mine grows in after a month.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

WCW Great American Bash
Airdate: June 16th, 1996
Arena/Location: Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Tony Schiavone and ‘The American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes

Nice opening video with all the wrestlers in the major feuds cutting a quick promo on their opponents.

Match One: Fire and Ice vs. The Steiner Brothers in a ’Must be a winner’ #1 Contendership mathc for the WCW World Tag Team Championships

Norton and Ice Train work over Scott Steiner’s shoulder for most of this matchup. At one point, Norton has Scott Steiner in a reverse armbar. Rick tries to break it up by repeatedly kicking Norton, but it takes about five kicks for Norton to let go. Scott Steiner immediately gets the hot tag, and Rick is clearing house.

The four men pair off, as Norton and Rick (the legal men) duke it out, as does Scott Steiner and Ice Train. Ice Train throws Scott Steiner out of the ring, and now Fire and Ice are double teaming Rick. Powerbomb (Norton) and body splash (Ice) on Rick Steiner for the two. Scott back in and tries to help his brother, but he’s again thrown back out.

Ice Train again on the top turnbuckle as Norton has Rick on his shoulders. Scott Steiner interferes, by attacking both men. Rick gets a tag in on Scott, and they have Norton up for a diving bulldog. Scott Steiner hits Norton with a Frankensteiner for the win.

Winners by pinfall: The Steiner Brothers

Good start for the PPV. The Steiners (at this point in their career) could have ***+ star matches with anyone, and this was no excpetion. ***¼

We go to the back where Mean Gene is interviewing Jimmy Hart and ‘Taskmaster’ Kevin Sullivan. Hart says that the DoD really don’t need the Four Horsemen. Sullivan hypes up his matchup against Chris Benoit later on, which’ll be Falls Count Anywhere. Looks like Sullivan is reading off cue cards. Sullivan says his match is for Arn Anderson.

Match Two: El Gato vs. Konnan© for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship

El Gato has some of the worst entrance music I’ve ever heard. It’s as though they got one of those Sounds of the Rain Forest CDs and just started it from the beginning. El Gato, or Pat Tanaka, gets one of the worst reactions I’ve ever seen, though that’s not surprising considering he’s barely gotten any mention on Nitro.

Lots of restholds in this match. The crowd even starts a boring chant at one point, though they stop long enough after Konnan starts hitting a few aerial maneuvers. Gato tries to keep up, but he slips several time. Konnan wins with a bridge.

Winner, and STILL WCW United States Heavyweight Champion: Konnan

Not a great match. Konnan I’ve noticed has been rather inconsistent. He’s good with Guerrero or other high flyers, poor with guys like One Man Gang. Here, it was rather mediocre. *½

Mean Gene out back now interviewing Sting. Mean Gene notes that while Regal may act like a bit of a sissy, he’s one of the toughest men in the ring. Sting, one of the top faces in professional wrestling history, and considered one of the nicest guys in the industry... Basically calls Steven Regal a homosexual. He doesn’t use the term, but he heavily implies it. It gets worse when he openly wonders if all the British men are that way, and then says that Americans aren’t bred that way. Sting then immediately says and I’ll quote word for word here. “If there is anyone that can ‘straighten’ you out in the course of ten, twenty, or thirty minutes, it’s the Stinger!” Considering what Sting is accusing Regal of, I seriously doubt that he can do what he’s planning on doing. Mean Gene all but apologizes for calling Regal a sissy.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Anyone else interested? If not, I might not try if it'll be just me and Jakyl.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

I really couldn't hear the name real well, even after listening to it several times.

Good to hear you're up for watching it, though I figured you would at least be one of the people who'd want to watch it.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Match Seven: Nasty Boys vs. Public Enemy

These two teams get nine minutes, and this match is basically brawl. They fight around the ring, in the ring, and just about everywhere else. Eventually, Rocco Rock gets a trashcan, but the Nasty Boys use it against him, causing a DQ.

Winners by DQ: Public Enemy

Eh. This wasn’t as good as their PPV match a months back. *

Apparently, there was a video package of Hogan, and of Mongo/Greene between these two match, but apparently the version I’m watching has neither. Ah well. I didn’t miss much.

Main Event: Sting and Luger© vs. Ric Flair and Arn Anderson w/Miss Elizabeth and Woman

Fairly good main event, that runs pretty damn long. However, the match ends when Giant shows up.

Winners by DQ: Sting and Lex Luger

**½

Giant in the ring now, and is being interviewed by Mean Gene. Basically hypes up the match between him and Luger at GAB, and promises Luger will leave on a stretcher.

We go to the announce booth as Heenan and Bischoff hype up the GAB some more. Heenan is yelling about Savage, Bischoff makes an.. Odd handgesture, and Heenan shuts up and runs off. Turns out, Heenan is running from him. Bischoff wants to know what the surprise is. He points behind Bischoff and his running buddy shows up. He yanks the mic from Bischoff hands and utters these now immortal words:

“You’re been sitting out here for six months running your mouth. This is where the big boys play, huh? Look at the adjective - play. We ain’t here to play. Now he said last week, that he was going to bring somebody out here. I’m here. You still don’t have your three people. You know why? Because nobody wants to face us. This show is about as interesting as Mark Shot reading excerpts from Mein Kampf… Yeah, no trouble because you know I’ll kick your teeth down your throat. Where’s your three guys? You couldn’t get a paleontologists to get a couple of these fossils cleared, you don’t have enough guys off a dialysis machine to get a team? … Where’s Hogan? Where’s Hogan? Out doing another episode of Blunder in Paradise? Where’s the Macho Man, huh? Doing some Slim Jim commercial? Hey, we’re here. You wanna say something?”

Bischoff then gets on the mic, says he’ll go to WCW Office, and then get the three guys. They’ll announce it this Sunday on the PPV. He says if they’ll show up, they’ll get a fight.

That ends Nitro for us again.

Grammatical errors aside, the newest outsider’s debut promo was really effective. The rest of the show.. Didn’t do it for me. Too many squashes for my liking. The few matches that got time were either meh, or pretty average. From a storyline standpoint, there were a few good things, but nothing to write home about. 5.5/10

TV Rating: 2.6, just .1 point lower than Raw. This however is the final Nitro for a good while that will do worse than Raw. Next week is the start of the 84 consecutive weeks of Nitro beating Raw.

Other Nitro Notes:

1. So, just wondering. I might try to hold another WCW PPV watch for the Great American Bash, but only if I know people are willing to watch with me. If so, then we can watch it Saturday night. Otherwise, I’ll probably watch it sometime tomorrow.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Match Four: ‘Squire’ Dave Taylor w/Jeeves vs. ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan

Apparently, Sting and Luger have agreed to compete against Flair and Anderson.. For the World Tag Team titles. Wut. So, Flair/Anderson beat up their original opponents, then get a title shot?!

Quick matchup, with Duggan getting an easy pin after hitting Taylor with a taped fist.

Winner by pinfall: Jim Duggan

Three minute squash, basically. ½*

We get a hype video for the WCW Crusierweight Championship match at Great American Bash. The two opponents? Dean Malenko and Rey Mysterio Jr. That’ll be a great one to watch.

We go backstage where Mean Gene is interviewing Jimmy Hart and Big Bubba.

Match Five: Scott ‘Flash’ Norton vs. The Giant© w/Jimmy Hart for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship

We again get a big fireworks display for hour two of Nitro.

Basic squash match for The Giant. He chokeslams Norton outside the ring, then gets the pin.

Winner, and STILL WCW World Heavyweight Champion: The Giant

SQUASH

Postmatch, Luger comes out, and is attacked by Giant. He then goes to the announce booth and hypes up his match against the Giant at GAB.

We get a video package of Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags making Dennis Rodman an honorary Nasty Boys. That’s out there.

We then get a video package of Kevin Greene on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Leno says that Greene needs an awesome nickname when he wrestles. I got a good one for Leno if he ever thinks about stepping into the ring (which I highly doubt will never ever happen. Ever) is Jay “Spotlight Stealing” Leno.

Match Six: Billy Kidman vs. ‘Lord’ Steven Regal w/Jeeves

Pretty much another squash match that Regal wins via submission.

Winner by submission: Steven Regal

SQUASH

Postmatch, Sting comes out and slaps Regal.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

WCW Nitro
Airdate: June 10th, 1996
Arena/Location: Wheeling Civic Center in Wheeling, West Virginia
Commentators: Hour One: Larry Zbyszko and Tony Schiavone. Hour Two: Eric Bischoff and Bobby Heenan

After the pyro goes off, Tony and Larry welcome us to Monday Nitro. They hype up hour two more than hour one. Actually, that’s pretty much what Tony and Larry talk about since the first two hour show. They show us video of what happened last week between the mysterious man and Sting, and Tony wonders what his big surprise is.

Match One:Booker T vs. Scott Steiner

Booker T controls Steiner for most of this contest, however Steiner starts to come back after an inverted DDT. Belly to Belly suplex from Steiner to Booker T, then Steiner goes for the Frankensteiner.. But Booker T holds onto the ropes! Scissors kick on Steiner for a two count.

Booker T goes to the top turnbuckle for a diving splash, but Steiner moves out of the way! Steiner hit’s another belly to belly suplex on Booker T for the win.

Winner by pinfall: Scott Steiner

Pretty decent 10 minute TV matchup between these two. Both men show a lot of promise as singles competitors. I wonder if that’ll ever happen though. **¾

After a commercial break, Mean Gene is interviewing Scott Steiner at the entranceway. He hypes up his tag team matchup between the Steiners and Fire & Ice. Before he gets too far in the interview, Debra McMichael shows up and is now being interviewed by Mean Gene. She’s worried for Mongo and Kevin Greene. She asks that they cancel the matchup. Doubtful, considering how much hype it’s gotten.

Match Two: Jim Powers vs. Diamond Dallas Page

The first time I heard Smells Like Teen Spirit, I immediately wondered when someone remade DDP’s theme music.

Powers gets a fair amount of offense in here, but like the previous matches DDP has had, he gets the win.

Winner by pinfall: DDP

Alright for a squash match. *½

Video package of the Benoit/Sullivan feud that’s practically been exclusive to Saturday Night. Not a bad video package of the feud.

We get another video package, this time of Konnan. You know, the guy who happens to be holding the 2nd most prestigious title in WCW. Never heard of him? I’m not surprised.

Konnan is now backstage with Mean Gene. Apparently he’s putting the title on the line against El Gato. And for those who know Spanish, no it’s not really Ernest Miller. He calls El Gato a legend in South America. I wonder if he’s from Rio De Janeiro.

Match Three: Meng vs. Sting

Relatively decent matchup here. Meng is able to control Sting for a while, but Sting gains control after Meng falls off the top turnbuckle and onto the ropes. Sting wins it with a Scorpion Deathlock

Winner by submission: Sting

Alright match, though nothing exceptional. *¾

Backstage, Mean Gene is talking with Debra and Bobby Heenan. Heenan promises to give an audience to Debra. They go into Flair’s locker room and.. We’re shut out. After a few seconds, we hear screaming and Debra comes running out. Flair and Arn then attack Joe Gomez and Renegade, whom were Flair and Anderson’s opponents later tonight.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Match Seven: Ice Train vs. The Giant © w/Jimmy Hart for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship

This looks like a nice encounter between two powerf- oh wait. Giant wins with a chokeslam.

Winner, and STILL WCW World Heavyweight Champion: The Giant

Less than thirty seconds. SQUASH.

Norton comes out, has a few words with Giant… and Giant chokeslams him twice. He then goes over Mean Gene, says he doesn’t understand why there are so many Hogan video packages. He wasn’t champion! He then cuts a quick promo on Luger

Match Eight: Scott Norton vs. Hugh Morrus

What you’d expect: Hugh Morrus comes down, get the quick pin, and that’s it.

What really happened: Hugh Morrus comes down, taunts Norton, hit’s a few elbows, goes for a sommersault, Norton blocks it, and gets the pin.

Winner by pinfall: Scott Norton

Man, who did Hugh Morrus piss off? N/R

We get another video package of Mongo and Kevin Greene. I guess they’re training in the ring now. After a few seconds of them in the ring, we go over to a dry erase board with a ring drawn on it. Greene’s munching on a Slim Jim as Mongo discusses how to beat Flair and Anderson. It basically boils down to the fact that they try to come up with a gameplan using football. Eventually, they realize they’ll need a coach. Who do they think of? Both stare at the Slim Jim and think of… THIS GUY!



Er.. Wait no. Not him. The other guy who promoted Slim Jims…



OH YEAH! Slim Jims save the day once again!

Main Event:The Steiner Brothers vs. Sting and Luger© for the WCW World Tag Team Championships

At the start of the match, we get a split screen of the action and Bischoff/Heenan on the phone with Macho Man. He says he can’t compete, but can coach, and will do it for Greene and McMichael.

These two teams compete for several minutes, however the Giant comes out, chokeslams Rick Steiner, goes into the ring, and dukes it out with Luger. Sting and Scott Steiner eventually get in the ring and help take down the Giant. They knock him out of the ring, and he retreats.

No Contest:

It was a good match while it lasted. They should‘ve gotten more time. **¾.

We go to the announce booth. Heenan pleads with Savage not to coach Greene and Mongo when all of a sudden we get a cut to that certain individual, and he’s making his way to the announce booth. Heenan bolts. He grabs a mic, and says that he had such a good time last week, that he came back for more. He says that Bischoff started a war, and that we are going to finish it. When Bischoff asks who is we, he just states that you know who.

Sting shows up now, and Bischoff tries to tell him not to worry about it, but Sting and this individual exchange some words. Sting says he wants to go at it ‘right here, right now.’ He only states they’ll go when he wants, then he throws a toothpick at Sting. Sting responds by slapping him. He promises that next week, he has a ‘little - no, BIG surprise.’ With that, we end Nitro.

Yet another average Nitro. Arguably the last five minutes of the show were the best part. Lots of squash matches, but one or two good matches as well. I’ll go with 6/10 here.

TV Rating: 3. Raw has scored a 2.3 three weeks running, too. I wonder what it is next week…

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Match Four: ‘Lord’ Steven Regal w/Jeeves vs. ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan

A bit of stalling on Regal’s part to start off. Duggan in control for most of this matchup. Duggan looks to be going for the pin, when Squire Dave Taylor and Earl Robert Eaton pop up, steal the 2x4 and distract the ref respectively, and help Regal get the pin on Duggan.

Winner by pinfall: ‘Lord’ Steven Regal

Postmatch, Hacksaw chases Dave Taylor out of the arena.

Eh, Regal won, which is nice. He looks to be getting something resembling a push. Duggan though had most of the offense, which isn’t nice. *

Mean Gene again interviews Steven Regal. This is more to put over the match between Sting and Regal at the Great American Bash.

After the break, we get a video of what‘s been going on WCW Saturday Night between Benoit and Kevin Sullivan and the war of words feud between those two. They’re going to have a match at Great American Bash

Match Five: Kevin Sullivan w/Jimmy Hart vs. Prince Iaukea

Another squash, another two minute match. Sullivan wins with a double stomp.

Winner by pinfall: Kevin Sullivan

N/R

Mean Gene now in the ring interviewing Sullivan and Hart. Hart doesn’t know why the DoD are allied to the Four Horsemen. Sullivan says that he trusts Arn and Flair, and knows that once Hogan comes back, that there will be two wars, going on. One the WCW legal department can take care of, and the one between Hogan and DoD/Four Horsemen. Well, he’s partly right. Aside from that, he hypes up his match against Benoit at GAB.

Match Six: Rock ‘n Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) vs. Arn Anderson and Ric Flair w/Woman and Miss Elizabeth

RnR Express were one of the biggest tag teams of the 80s, so much so that the wrestler that takes the most offense in a tag team match is said to be playing Ricky Morton (as I’ve used several times in this before.) Flair and Anderson out in a Kevin Greene and Mongo McMichael jersey, respectively. During the intro, the audio from Tony and Larry is barely audible.

At the beginning of the match, we have a little animation of a dynamite counting down to the start of the second hour. Man, they really hyped the hell out of the two hour show. We get a quick fireworks display to start hour two.

Morton plays himself relatively well during this match. Arn and Flair work over Morton relatively well during the match, though Morton and Gibson are able to hold their own relatively well. Near the end of the match, Heenan goes down to ringside. He says something to Woman and Elizabeth, then makes his way to the VIP section.

Gibson finally gets the hot tag from Morton, and Gibson is in clearing house. Double dropkick on Flair and Arn. Elizabeth distracts the ref as Woman has a thumb to the eye of Gibson. Arn hit’s a DDT, and Flair picks up the win.

Winner by pinfall: Arn and Flair

Good tag team match. RnR Express are vets in the ring and though they looked well past their prime here, they could still go. Arn and Flair easily held their own as well. ***

Mean Gene at the VIP section with Flair, Arn, Woman, Elizabeth, and Heenan. Arn says that Mongo’s jersey could barely fit him. Must’ve been a small. Flair cuts a typical promo on Greene and Mongo.

He then speaks to Heenan, and asks him directly if he’s managing. Heenan. Heenan states he’d never manage again. However, Heenan will coach Flair and Anderson.

Yet another Hogan package.

We get a new Blood Runs Cold promo. This time, it specifically names Glacier as coming to WCW. It’s still a few months for that.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Sorry for the delay. I've had a busy day.

WCW Nitro
Airdate: June 3rd, 1996
Arena/Location: Asheville Civic Center Asheville, NC
Commentators: Hour One: Larry Zbyszko and Tony Schiavone. Hour Two: Eric Bischoff and Bobby Heenan

Tony and Larry with a typical hype job for the start of Nitro. They run down the card, talk about the PPV, and general normal talking points, before we head over to Mean Gene. Gene is at the entranceway, and is ready to interview Shark. Shark comes out, and cuts a promo on why he didn’t cut the other half of his hair. He then says he’s no fish, he’s no avalanche, he’s John Tenta. He promises t beat up the guy that did it to him, then shave the Giant’s head. Honestly, did someone in WCW have a hair shaving feitsh? Regardless, this sets up our first match!

Match One: John Tenta vs. Big Bubba w/Jimmy Hart

Tenta dominating Big Bubba to start. Shark grabs the scissors and, like any normal person pissed off with another person and wielding a weapon, threatens to cut Bubba’s hair. Bubba escapes the ring, and is heading back to the locker room. Tenta stays in the ring, and gets the win?

Winner by count out: John Tenta

Less than two minutes for this ‘match’. N/R from me

Match Two: High Voltage (Kenny Kaos and Ruckus) vs. The Faces of Fear

I mentioned this a few shows back, but the name of High Voltage was stolen from Matt Hardy. I’m glad they didn’t go with the original name he used: Grape Eating Prima Donnas

Barbarian with another top rope belly to belly. I admit that is pretty impressive. Both Meng and Barbarian go for the double headbutt on Ruckus, and his partner just stands in his corner. He doesn’t come in until after the move’s been hit, despite the fact that he could’ve knocked Barbarian off. Meng wins this one with a Mafia kick on Ruckus

Winner by pinfall: Faces of Fear

Not a horrid match, despite being more squash that anything else. F.o.F. have been rather impressive. *¾

Mean Gene backstage with Sting and Luger. Luger talks about the match the week before between Sting and Scott Steiner. Before long, the Steiners are there with Luger and Sting, and they are debating on whether or not Luger kicking Scott in the gut is a cheap shot. No, really. It eventually degenerates into a shoving match. Sting and Luger vs. The Steiner Brothers later on in the show!

We get a quick video package of Hogan destroying the Giant. Good way to bury your Champion. Make him look weak against a guy who hasn’t competed in two months.

Match Three: Sgt. Craig Pittman w/Teddy Long vs. Disco Inferno

I finally found a demographic that Disco Inferno appeals to: fat middle aged women.



I really wish I could gif that.

Pittman with an irish whip into the ropes on Disco. He goes down, Disco jumps over him and… he stops, and slaps Pittman once he gets up. I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen someone just stop after an irish whip.

Pittman in control of this match. He looks to be going for the code red armbar.. But before he even applies it Inferno taps out?

Winner by submission:Craig Pittman

Alright for a five minute match. *½

Postmatch, Disco tells the camera man he’s a genius, cause he if Pittman put that maneuver on him, he wouldn’t be able to do those silly Disco moves.

We get a quick video of Steven Regal slapping Sting. Turns out these two will have a match at the Great American Bash. Before that though, Regal’s got a match now!

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Match Six: ‘Hardwork’ Bobby Walker vs. Brad Armstrong

A ‘cruiserweight’ match. Bobby Walker, for those unaware, is over the 220lbs mark for cruiserweights. Walker, the great cruiserweight he is, botches not once, not twice, but thrice during this match. Somehow, he still beats Armstrong.

Winner by pinfall: Bobby Walker

I’m glad Walker didn’t break his neck out there. This guy shouldn’t be fighting in cruiserweight matches. ¼*

Match Seven: Lord Steven Regal w/Jeeves vs. Alex Wright

Pretty good matchup between these two Europeans. Near the end of the match, Regal has Wright in a submission hold, and he threatens anyone coming into his company. Must be alluding to Mr. Nameless.

Regal wins this one with a bridge.

Winner by pinfall: Steven Regal

Finally, another decent match. Nitro needs more of them. **½

Hey, Regal’s getting airtime! He basically wants to challenge Sting to a match. I wouldn’t be upset with that.

Main Event: Scott Steiner vs. Sting

Relatively even matchup between these two. Luger and Rick Steiner come out partway through the match to watch on. Steiner goesfor (and failing) to hit a Frankensteiner. Sting goes for a Scorpion Deathlock, but Steiner is in the ropes. Piledriver on Steiner, for a two. Both men out the ring now. Luger goes over to break up a suplex on Sting, Rick comes over, and this practically degenerates into a brawl.

Winner by DQ: Scott Steiner

The lockeroom empties to separate these four men.

Good match, bad ending, though I guess it does protect both men. Got to take off a bit for that. ***¼

We go to the announce booth, as Bischoff and Heenan talk about what happen when he shows up. He challenges Bischoff to get his three best men, and ‘we’ (I assume not the royal we) will face them in the ring. Not on the mic, newspaper, or dirtsheets, but where it matters. In the ring. “You want a war? You got it.” He says, then throws his toothpick at Bischoff. That is how we end Nitro.

Discounting the start of the nWo angle, this show would've probably got a 5/10. It wasn't too terrible since there were a few good matches, but his introduction and confrontation with Bischoff were both very strong 6.5/10.

TV Rating: 2.8 - Down from the week before, but they didn’t lose viewers to Raw. Both hours got a 2.7 and a 2.8, respectively.

Other Nitro Notes:

1. You know, looking back on the promo with the ‘unidentified’ man, it was very unusual he didn’t call out the Huckster when he used the names of all the other people involved in those Billionaire Ted skits.

2. Quote of the Show: The promo I wrote out above is easily QotS.

3. Bischoff was very careful not to name who was involved in what happened, seeing as how the WWF would’ve probably sued them. Glad they never did THAT >_>.

4. I admit that I was (and, in a weird sense, still am) a mark for the man that debuted tonight and made such a huge impact on Nitro. It upsets me that he let alcohol ruin his life. From an obejctive standpoint, I believe he was one of the best never to be a world champion.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Match Three: Sgt. Craig Pittman w/Teddy Long vs. Diamond Dallas Page

DDP starts this match by mocking Pittman with a few pushups. Pittman retorts to doing some one armed pushups. I didn’t know this was a pushup match. DDP tries to cheap shot Pittman, but he rolls out of the way.

Pittman able to control most of this match. He has DDP in the Code Red, which is an armbar. Long is next to the ring ropes and appears to be taunting DDP, and DDP is able to grab onto him and throw him against the guardrail. Pittman is distracted, and DDP is able to hit the Diamond Cutter for the win.

Winner by pinfall: Diamond Dallas Page

Relatively quick match that helps put over DDP as back on a lucky streak. Pittman wasn’t all that bad in the ring. *½

We get a video package of Macho Man. He’s suspended for going crazy, yet he gets a video packages… that shows off how insane he is?

Back from commercial, we are out back with Mean Gene, who’s interviewing the Shark. It seems that Shark is no longer in the Dungeon of Doom. So.. He’s a good guy now? He’s got a match against World Champion Giant tonight, and it’s for the title. He promises to win the belt. I doubt that. He mentions that he nearly ended Hulkamania, he’ll end The Giant.

Speaking of Hogan, we get a video package of Hogan. It’s basically a video that shows Hogan with all sorts of famous sports stars. We see Hogan with various celebrities including Dennis Rodman, Shaq, Kevin Greene, Sugar Ray Leonard, and George Foreman back when he debuted in WCW. Hogan is telling Foreman about this grill these people want him to sponsor, but Foreman tells him it’ll never catch on.

We now start hour two of Nitro, and we go to the regular announce booth with Bischoff and Heenan. Heenan and Bischoff hype up the Mongo and Greene/Four Horsemen match at GAB. Then Bischoff says they won’t dignify what happened earlier, and that he‘s ready, willing, and able to talk to him.
.
Match Four: The Shark vs. The Giant© w/Jimmy Hart for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship

Another relatively quick matchup. Shark tries to get the Giant off his feet, while Giant tries to do the same. Giant strikes first as he hit’s a scoop slam on Shark. Shark back up, and he gets the Giant off his feet after a clothesline from the middle turnbuckle. Hart however is on the ring apron, and Shark is distracted. This gives Giant enough time to get up, chokeslam Shark, and retain.

Winner, and STILL WCW World Heavyweight Champion: The Giant

Typical big man vs. big man match. ¾*

Postmatch, Big Bubba, now a member of the DoD, comes out with cliippers and electric razor. Bubba shaves half of Shark’s hair off. You know, the entire Dark side of Hulkamania gimmick would’ve been ten times better if Taskmaster only shaved half of Hogan’s mustache. Of course, that means it would’ve still been ****. Bischoff sells the hair clipping as the most disgraceful thing a wrestler could do to another. In Bischoff logic, that means it’s more disgraceful then making a luchadore lose their mask outside of Mexico.

Match Five: Maxx vs. Lex Luger© for the WCW World Television Championship

Good news: The TV title is being defended on Nitro. Bad news: Luger retains. Well, it would’ve been worse if Maxx somehow won it. Luger wins with a torture rack.

Winner, and STILL WCW World Television Champion: Lex Luger

*yawns* ¾*

Mean Gene now in the ring. Gene shows us the video of Giant chokeslamming Luger into that table. Luger says he wants every big man he can get before he defeats the Giant. Oh no…

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

WCW Nitro
Airdate: May 27th, 1996
Arena/Location: Macon Coliseum in Macon, GA
Commentators: Hour One: Larry Zbyszko and Tony Schiavone. Hour Two: Eric Bischoff and Bobby Heenan

Yep, two different announce teams for both hours. It’s also worth pointing out that Tony and Larry are at ringside, instead of the announce set. They hype up tonight’s show, then go to the first match!

Match One: American Males (AMERICAN MALES!) vs. Arn Anderson and Ric Flair w/Woman and Miss Elizabeth

Larry notes that when Giant fights the Shark, it’ll be the first time he wrestles a guy larger than him.. So, we’re forgetting about Loch Ness?

Back and forth matchup to start off, though Arn and Flair are able to corner and work over Riggs. A pivotal moment comes as Arn is thrown out of the ring, Riggs is down and crawling toward Bagwell, and Flair gets in a shoving match with the referee. Arn tags in Flair, Riggs tags in Bagwell, and Bagwell begins to clean house.

Bagwell and Flair are the legal men, and everytime Bagwell has Flair pinned, Arn switches them around while the ref is distracted by Riggs. Eventually, Bagwell has Flair, but Elizabeth hits Bagwell with a thumb to the eye, Anderson hit’s a DDT, and Flair gets the win.

Winners by pinfall: Ric Flair and Arn Anderson

Alright tag team match to start off Nitro. Flair and Arn worked over Riggs for most of it, so it wasn’t that bad. **¼

Postmatch, Mean Gene interviews these four at the VIP Area. Arn cuts a promo on Greene and Mongo. Flair says that Debra belongs to the Nature Boy. He then goes on to say that Elizabeth is Arn and Flair’s sugar momma, though Mean Gene is quick to cut him off. My only question is where is Benoit in all of this? He’s a Horsemen, yet he gets very little screentime with them, at least on Nitro. I’m sure on one of the four B-Shows he appears with them.

Back from a break, we get a video package of Mongo and Greene at the gym and working out. So apparently all it takes to be a wrestler is to work out a gym, scream a man’s name, and grunt a lot? Who knew!

Match Two: Steve Doll vs. The Mauler w/Col. Rob Parker

The Mauler is making his debut tonight. The Mauler is Mike Enos, and was one half of the Beverly Brothers in the WWF.

Mauler is able to manhandle Doll during the early part of this match. Both men go over the top rope, yet no DQ. Apparently if two men go over the top rope, it’s no DQ. Why don’t we get rid of the weird ****ing rule?

Back from commercial, and Doll and Mauler are still going at it in the ring and.. What the hell? Is that who I think it is!? Razor Ramon walks out of the crowd, grabs a mic, and goes into the ring. Looks like he has something to say.

“You people, you know who I am, but you don’t know why I’m here. Where is Billionaire Ted? Where is the Nacho Man? That punk can‘t even get in the building! Me? I go wherever I want, whenever I want, and where, oh where, is Scheme Geme? Cause I got a scoop for you. When that Ken Doll look-a-like, when that weatherman wannabe comes out here later tonight, I got a challenge for him, for Billionaire Ted, for the Nacho Man, and for anybody else in the WCW ahuhuh. Hey, you want to go to war? You want a war? You‘re going to get one.”

The man, who wouldn’t identify himself, leaves the ring, and instead of going back through the crowd, he goes through the locker room. That was a bad move.

The match that was going on is officially over. no contest, and no rating.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Outside the arena, Savage is literally beating on the door to get in, as Mean Gene tries to interview him. Savage threatens the WCW higher ups, and says he’ll destroy Flair. I wonder why Savage didn’t go around the building, looking for an opening not guarded by security.

Match Four: Brad Armstrong vs. Diamond Dallas Page

Armstrong gets some decent offense on Page, but eventually falls to the Diamond Cutter.

Winner by pinfall: Diamond Dallas Page

Relatively quick match that puts over the #1 Contender pretty well. *¾

Mean Gene in the ring with DDP. DDP is excited to not only be Lord of the Ring, but #1 Contender. He talks for a few minutes, until Geno informs him that he won’t be getting the title shot since his foot touched the floor when he was thrown out. Instead, the title shot is going to Lex Luger of all people. Why? We’re not told. I thought Barbarian would be the logical choice since he was the last guy in the match.

Main Event: Arn Anderson w/Kevin Sullivan vs. The Giant © w/Jimmy Hart for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.

Hart asks why Sullivan is out there, and Sullivan notes that Arn has been fair with Sullivan, and he wants to make sure Arn has a fair shot.

Arn throws about everything he has at Giant, but to no avail. Arn however looks like he has Giant where he wants him after a few double axe handles off the turnbuckle. He goes for a DDT and.. Giant is up now! Chokeslam, and pin!

Winner, and STILL WCW World Heavyweight Champion: The Giant

Not really a match, more of a squash to put over Giant than anything else. N/R

Flair bails on Bobby and Eric, as Giant celebrates in the ring. Bischoff is hyping up Nitro’s two hour start next week, as Heenan is grabbing stuff and going to follow Flair, and that’s how we end Nitro.

Good show match wise, though from a storyline standpoint, why does Luger get yet another shot at the title? Was it because of his match the previous Nitro, where he went through a table? If so, why doesn‘t Sting get a second chance? I dunno. That‘s just one blemish on an otherwise good Nitro. 7/10

TV Rating: 3.1. They finally snapped the six week winning streak Raw had over them, by finally be back on at the regular time.

Other Nitro Notes:

1. Quote of the Show: Bobby Heenan, during the Flair/Guerrero match. “He (Flair) has done it (won the world title), he’s been there thirteen times. Well, fifteen, if you counting all..” Eric Bischoff, quickly cutting off Heenan: “We’re not counting those two championships. Those are not wrestling championships.”

2. I actually wrote a near play by play of the Eddie Guerrero/Ric Flair, but since it was so damn long, I had to make a super condensed version of the contest. I could put the full length version if anyone wants to read it >_>.

3. You know, it’s sad that Guerrero was never used to his full potential in WCW. It’s obvious from this (and previous matches) that they had high hopes for him. I’m sure part of the blame does fall on Eddie for his substance abuse, but it’s obvious that even in 1996 they saw something in Eddie Guerrero.

4. The whole DDP/one foot on the floor angle really feels like a ripoff of the Shawn Michaels story from 1995 Royal Rumble, except they went in the opposite direction. WWF from that point on stated both feet much touch the floor. Apparently, all you need is one foot to touch the floor in WCW to be eliminated.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

They must have really wanted to give Disco/Wright the tag team titles <_<.

WCW Nitro
Airdate: May 20th, 1996
Arena/Location: Civic Center in Monroe, LA
Commentators: Eric Bischoff and Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

You read that right folks. Mongo McMichael has announced his final Nitro. I would rejoice, but I know that all that means is he’s going to be wrestling now. We even get a video package of Mongo bringing out Kevin Greene as his tag team partner from Slamboree the night before. Glad no one messed with this tape. Speaking of that, was that angle ever resolved? Oh whatever. Let’s get to our first match!

Match One: Fire and Ice vs. The Steiner Brothers

These two teams start off in the ring and are pounding on each other, but it eventually degenerates down to a brawl outside of the ring. The ref has no choice but to call a double count out.

Double Count Out

Rick and Ice Train fight to the back, while S. Steiner and Norton are still duking it at ringside, before we go to commercial break.

Not a bad brawl, sort of like their previous match a few Nitros back, but I‘d say this was a bit better, because it does leave you wanting more. **½

Match Two:Eddie Guerrero vs. Ric Flair w/Woman and Miss Elizabeth

Editors notes: I actually wrote a rather lengthy (near) play by play of this match, but this is a super condensed version of what happened.

Guerrero starts with an early advantage over Flair. Both men duke it out in the corner, exchanging blows and chops. Eventually, Flair gets an edge and works over Eddie's leg for good part of the match. Guerrero has control of Flair again, and he hits a nice hurricarana off the ropes on Flair, though it looked like Flair's feet got tangled up in the ropes.

Guerrero up for a frog splash, but doesn't capitalize because it looked as though he hurt his leg going down. Flair up, locks on the figure four, and Eddie Guerrero practically passes out to give Flair the win.

Winner by pinfall: Ric Flair

Both men got plenty of offense in, but it was the bad knee that ended this for Eddie. Definitely a must watch if you’re a Eddie Guerrero or Ric Flair fan. ****

Mean Gene now interviewing Flair, Woman, and Elizabeth at the VIP table. Flair cuts a quick promo on Savage, before he moves onto Mongo and Kevin Greene. He says that Greene will be an Ex-NFL star.

After the break, Flair, Woman, and Elizabeth join the commentary booth. Flair is on the mic, while Woman and Elizabeth are behind him. There is various foods and alcohol on the desk. Heenan is lighting candles. This should be fun.

Match Three: The Faces of Fear vs. Sting and Luger© for the WCW World Tag Team Championships

Bischoff asks Flair if he’s scared to be in the ring with such football player as Kevin Green and Mongo McMichael. Flair points out that he’s beaten former football players in the ring before. He brings up Wahoo McDaniel, and Ernie Ladd. He’s got a point there.

The FoF work over Sting for the majority of this match. Barbarian hits a nice top rope belly to belly on Sting, then both Barbarian and Meng hit a double headbutt, again on Sting. Sting is finally able to get up, get the pin on Luger. Luger and Meng duke it out on the floor, as Barbarian sets Sting up for another BtB off the top rope. Luger comes around and helps Sting knock Barbarian off, Sting hits a crossbody, and Luger get the pin.

Winner, and STILL WCW World Tag Team Championship: Sting and Lex Luger

Above average tag match that got around ten minutes of time. The Faces of Fear were on the ball for this match. **¾

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Yeah, Dancing Fools/Boogie Knights were both names for them, but I like Dancing Fools better <_<.

Also, didn't General Rection substitute for Disco in that tag team title match? I vaguely recall reading that somewhere.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Match Eight: Eddie Guerrero and Arn Anderson vs. Ric Flair and Randy Savage

Arn attacks Savage early on, then Flair runs out and attacks Savage. Guerrero and Flair start off. Both teams fight each other more than anything. The match ends with Arn hitting a DDT on Guerrero, and Savage and Flair duking it on in the corner, Arn pulls Savage off, giving Flair and Savage the win.

Winners by pinfall: Flair and Savage

Postmatch, Flair and Arn dismantle Savage. Elizabeth slaps Savage, then Savage takes a DDT on the outside of the ring.

Quick intense match that was surprisingly fun to watch. **½

Match Nine: Dean Malenko© vs. Brad Armstrong for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship

Otani lost the match relatively quickly.

Malenko wins this one with a gut buster off the middle rope.

Winner, and STILL WCW Cruiserweight Champion: Dean Malenko

Alright matchup that got about eight minutes. **½

Match Ten: Dick Slater and Robert Eaton vs. VK Wallstreet and Jim Duggan

Crowd starts a USA Chant. Everyone in this match is from the USA.

Dick Slater and Robert Eaton win this one after Slater gets a quick pin on Wallstreet.

Match Eleven:Public Enemy vs. Ric Flair w/Miss Elizabeth and Woman and Randy Savage.

… Doesn’t happen when Savage destroys Flair as he’s walking out. Flair and Savage counted out.

Winners by Count Out: Public Enemy

Match Twelve: DDP and Barbarian vs. Rick Steiner and Booty Man

DDP and Barbarian won after DDP hit Booty Man while he was pinning Barbarian.

Winners by Pinfall: DDP and Barbarian

*½

Match Thirteen: Konnan© vs. Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger w/Sonny Onoo for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship

Mike Tenay is out to commentate for this match.

Good competitive match between these two that Konnan is able to win with a power drop pin on Liger.

Winner, and STILL WCW United States Heavyweight Champion: Konnan

Good matchup between these two. Easily the best match on the card thus far. ***¼

Mean Gene interviewing Ric Flair, who‘s with Anderson, Woman, and Miss Elizabeth. He cuts a promo on Savage and Mongo. Flair slams Mongo, and Mongo comes out with Kevin Greene, former ally of Savage and Hogan. Mongo says he’ll take on Flair and Anderson.

Match Fourteen: DDP, Barbarian, Norton, Ice Train, Grunge, Rock, Eaton and Dick Slater in a #1 Contendership ‘Lord of the Ring’ Battle Royal

Rocco Rock is out First, followed by Robert Eaton. Dick Slater is out next, then Scott Norton. Ice Train and Johnny Grunge are pinned.. What?! It’s down to Barbarian and DDP. DDP eventually wins by pinning Barbarian following the DDT.

Winner, and new #1 Contender: Diamond Dallas Page

Eight men battle royal that lasted ten minutes? With pins? Boo. At least DDP won.

Giant and Jimmy Hart out back talking to Mean Gene about Sting. Guess that match is next.

Main Event: The Giant © w/Jimmy Hart vs. Sting for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship

Lex Luger is handcuffed to Jimmy Hart. Why? I’m not sure.


The Giant wins this one when Sting has the Scorpion Deathlock, and Lex Luger inadvertently pulls Hart in the way for Hart to hit the megaphone on Sting. Giant wins with a choke slam.

Winner, and STILL WCW World Heavyweight Champion: The Giant

The commentary wonder if Luger is friend or foe. Tony thinks it was an accident, as does Heenan. Dusty isn’t sure, however. That ends Slamboree.

Alright main event with yet another cheap finish **¾ though.

This was rather insane. Why couldn’t they have the entire tournament over a few weeks? Meh.. 4/10

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

WCW Slamboree
Airdate: May 19th, 1996
Arena/Location: Riverside Centroplex in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Dusty Rhodes, & Bobby Heenan.

The commentary team talks up the PPV before we go to our first match!

Match One: Animal and Booker T vs. Hawk and Lex Luger

Luger is in for most of this match, as he’s dominated by Animal and Booker T. Booker T is going for the pin, Hawk breaks it up, but Luger and Hawk start to duke it out. It all beaks down as the Road Warrios beat up on their tag team partners all four men fight on the outside.

Double countout.

In ring, Animal and Hawk celebrate in the ring.

Despite them hyping up Hawk and Animal duking it out, it doesn’t happen. This was a pretty pointless match, then. *

Match Two: Public Enemy vs. Kevin Sullivan w/Jimmy Hart and Chris Benoit

PE double team Benoit for most of the match. Sullivan is in.. and really doesn’t want to do anything. Benoit and Sullivan are stacked on the table, but Sullivan escapes,. Benoit is put through a table, and PE pin him for the win.

Winners by pinfall: Public Enemy

Postmatch, Sullivan claims he hurt his leg.

This match didn’t even get five minutes. It wasn’t all that great, considering Benoit was involved. *¼

Match Three: Craig Pittman w/Teddy Long and Scott Steiner vs. Rick Steiner and Booty Man w/Kimberly

BM and Pittman start off this match. All four men are in it for a few minutes, but Scott and Rick aren’t on opposite sides, at least in the early going. Rick has the upper hand over Pittman, and Pittman tags in Scott. These two really don’t do anything major against each other for a few minutes, until Scott hit’s a suplex on Rick. Rick comes back with a clothesline. Scott is slow to get up, but he’s playing possum and rolls Rick up for a two. After a few more punches and a superplex, BM is tagged in by Rick.

Pittman with an armbar on BM, but Rick is able to tag in, hit a German suplex on Pittman for the win.

Winners by pinfall: Rick Steiner and Booty Man.

The Steiners weren’t too bad, but otherwise, not a strong match. *¾

Match Four: The Blue Bloods (Regal and Taylor) w/Jeeves vs. Jim Duggan and VK Wallstreet

This is pretty much a squash with Duggan and Wallstreet winning after Duggan hit’s Taylor with his taped fist. ¾*

Match Five: Dick Slater w/Col. Parker and Robert Eaton w/Jeeves vs. Alex Wright and Disco Inferno

Hey, the Dancing Fools first match together as a team! Okay, so they aren’t really the Dancing Fools yet, but I’m going with that >_>

Quick matchup that Slater wins for his team with a cowboy boot to Disco Inferno.

Winners by pinfall: Dick Slater and Robert Eaton

N/R for a quick squash.

Match Six: DDP and Barbarian vs. Meng and Hugh Morrus

DDP replaced Bobby Walker. Hey, he’s got the JHV of Smells like Teen Spirit now!

Meng and Barbarian, which are in a tag team, fight against each other no problem. The match ends with all four men in the ring, Meng is pinning DDP, and Barbarian pinning Morrus. We get a three count and.. Barbarian and DDP win.

Winners by pinfall: DDP and Barbarian

Not a horrid tag match. **

Match Seven: Big Bubba and Stevie Ray vs. Fire and Ice

Big Bubba is apparently in the Dungeon of Doom now.

Another quick one that Norton and Ice Train win with a double clothesline on Big Bubba.

Winners by pinfall: Fire and Ice

* for that one.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Probably should put the link in this topic as well >_>.

B8watchesSlamboree

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

I'm still aiming at a 7:00 CST time start, but I'm willing to start it earlier.

Also, so that we are all (roughly) starting at the same time, we'll all start when I say 'GO!' I'll provide the link when we're ready, as well.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Main Event: Lex Luger vs. The Giant© w/Jimmy Hart for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship

The commentary team mentions that Luger missed two World Title matches (one on Saturday Night, the one on Nitro) so maybe third time is the charm for Luger.

Luger tries running into the Giant, to no avail. Giant hits him with a clothesline. Flair is at ringside with Woman and Elizabeth eating various foods. Giant and Luger fight it out for a few more minutes, before Giant grabs Luger, takes him to the table, clears it of the stuff, and chokeslams him threw the table!

Winner by DQ: Lex Luger (Giant Retains)

Hart tries to stop Giant, to no avail. Sting is out helping out Luger,

The table spot was nice, the match was barely a match. N/R.

The commentary team hype up Slamboree as they go off the air.

The matches were a step down from the previous Nitro, but nothing was too bad. It seems as though that Luger’s finally got a full face turn as commentary team are ‘shocked’ at what happened to Luger. Nothing terrible, but it could have been better going into the PPV. 6.5/10

TV Rating: 2.3

Other Nitro Notes:

1. Despite the fact that Hogan hasn’t been on TV for the last few Nitros, He’s been getting video packages on Saturday Night and constant references on Nitro. Glad to know a guy not even on TV is getting airtime, yet Champions barely get any time.

2. This is the final episode of WCW Nitro that was an hour long, at least for the time being. The next Nitro is 90 minutes, and the one after that starts the two hour long episodes.

3. Quote of the Show: Heenan, after Luger went through the table. “Maybe he (Luger) can team up with Billy Ray Cyrus and sing about his Achy Breaky Back.”


Speaking of Slamboree, I'm going to have the AIM Chat set up roughly around 6:30 or 6:45 so those that can get in do. I'm going to post a link to the chat in the All Purpose thread.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

WCW Nitro
Airdate: May 13th, 1996
Arena/Location: Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN
Commentators: Steve 'Mongo' McMichael, Pepe, Eric Bischoff, and Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

We start off Nitro with Bischoff stating that Luger will indeed get a title shot tonight. He was camping outside the arena all night. We go to a video package of Luger (presumably) outside the arena the night before, swatting at flies. Maybe they were flying elves.

Match One: Public Enemy vs. The Steiner Brothers

PE with no intro. Chances they win? .5%

Despite that, they are able double team on Scott Steiner for the majority of this match. That changes however as Rocco Rock goes to the top rope for a senton, Scott gets out of the way, tags in Rick, and Rick clears house. Rocco and Rick are fighting outside of the ring, when Grunge comes from nowhere to help his partner. Rocco goes in the ring, ready to hit Rick with a diving senton, but Rick gets out of the way and he hits Grunge! Scotty hit’s a Frankensteiner on Rocco Rock for the win.

Winners by pinfall: The Steiner Brothers

Alright tag match that got eight or so minutes. PE weren’t on their A Game here. ** from me.

Match Two: Squire Dave Tayler w/Jeeves vs. Chris Benoit

Relatively quick match that saw Taylor with control early. Partway through the match, Mongo hears Savage is there, and leaves. That’s odd. Benoit wins this one with a dragon suplex pin.

Winner by pinfall: Chris Benoit

This was more of a squash, but a little completive since it got four and a half minutes. *¾

After the break, we are outside with Savage, since he’s been barred from entering the arena. Mongo comes out, and says that he sympathizes with Savage, since they’ve been going through the same thing. Mongo cuts a promo on Flair, saying he’s got a plan for him. He then goes back in the arena. Gene says that Savage has lost his mind. Savage says you haven’t seen nothing yet, then states that he doesn’t care about the money. Savage says he’ll do anything he can to win the Lethal Lottery and become #1 Contender.

We get another Blood Runs Cold promo. It’s the same one from the week before. Get ready to read that sentence for a while.

Match Three: V.K. Wallstreet vs. Ric Flair w/Miss Elizabeth and Woman

Mongo says that he’s got a plan that involves Kevin Green from the Steelers, now in the Panthers.

Wallstreet to my surprise gets a sizable amount of offense in early in this matchup. That however turns around near the end of the match while both men are outside on the floor, and Wallstreet goes for a knee smash on Flair. Flair dodges, and Wallstreet hits his knee on the turnbuckle post. Flair throws him into the ring, figure four, and Flair wins.

Winner by submission: Ric Flair

Again, I was surprised to see Wallstreet get that much offense in, but Flair got the win. **¼

Postmatch, Flair, Woman, and Elizabeth make their way over to a buffet table, where Mean Gene is standing by. Flair cuts a quick promo on Savage, before Geno mentions Debra. Flair compares himself to Joe Namath, and says he’s better than Mongo. We then go to commercial

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Match Three: Lord Steven Regal vs. Sting

Regal is taped up from his Parking Lot Brawl on the previous Nitro. That was a fun match to watch.

Speaking of those two, it appears that they won’t be teaming up at Slamboree. Bruiser was apparently injured and is to be replaced with Squire Dave Taylor.

Back and forth match between these two. Regal, despite being taped up, gets some decent offense in on Sting, but Sting is able to come back and win with a suplex and bridge.

Winner by pinfall: Sting

Alright match that I’m surprised Regal got as much offense as he did in. **¼

Main Event:Jim Duggan vs. The Giant© w/Jimmy Hart for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship

This was supposed to be Luger/Giant, but apparently Luger was nowhere to be found.

Duggan tries everything to take the Giant down, but to no avail. Giant wins easily in about five minutes with a chokeslam.

Winner, and STILL WCW World Heavyweight Champion: The Giant

* for basically being a squash

Postmatch, Giant again chokeslams Duggan. A few jobbers come out to stop Giant, to no avail. Flair out with a wooden chair, breaks it over Giant’s head, but Giant isn’t phased. Sting now out and is able to take Giant off his feet. Sting has the deathlock on, but Hart distracts Sting. Giant up, and Luger finally comes out. Hart calls Giant off.

Mean Gene now interviewing Sting and Luger. Sting accuses Luger of not showing up for his match, they are arguing and Nitro goes off the air.

Overall, another decent Nitro. The Giant/Duggan match was pretty much a squash, and the Sting/Luger stuff is getting a bit boring. Otherwise, I liked Nitro. There was a nice mix of good action and furthering storylines. Definitely one of the better Nitros I’ve watched thus far. 8/10

TV Rating: 1.9. This looks bad, but considering that Nitro was again earlier than usual, it’s understandable. Raw on the other hand posted a very strong 4.1, which is the highest rating either show when both shows were on. (Raw had a 4.7 on 4-8-96 when Nitro didn’t air, which is the highest rating thus far in the Monday Night Wars.)

Other Nitro Notes:

1. Bischoff was hyping up a new PPV coming up: Hog Wild. What month does it come on in? August. It’s May o_O. He’s hyping up a PPV three months early?

2. I liked how Regal got plenty of offense in on Sting. Definitely more offense than a midcarder like him probably should have got. Is there a push in line for him in the future?


I'll be back a little later on with the 5-13-96 episode of Nitro.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

WCW Nitro
Airdate: May 6th, 1996
Arena/Location: Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, FL
Commentators: Steve 'Mongo' McMichael, Pepe, Eric Bischoff, and Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

Usual start to Nitro. The commentary team hypes up Giant/Luger for the title later in the broadcast. Let’s get to our first match!

Match One: Hugh Morrus vs. Randy Savage

Morrus attacks Savage as he is walking down the ramp, and Morrus manhandles him for a few minutes before he throws him into the ring. Morrus puts on Savage’s hat, glasses, and jacket, and taunts him, before Savage goes crazy and attacks Morrus. Savage has the jacket around Morrus’ throat, throws him over the ring ropes, and chokes Morrus, though Morrus is clearly sitting on the ring apron.

Winner by DQ: Hugh Morrus

Savage hit’s a flying elbow on Morrus. The ref tries to stop Savage, but Savage retorts by slapping him.. Savage throws Morrus out of the ring, and a second ref is out now. He tries to stop Savage, but to no avail. Savage scoop slams the first ref, then hit’s a flying elbow on him! The crowd is going nuts. The back clears out as Security, trainers, and medics check on the downed ref and escort Savage away

This was less of a match and more of an angle to further the Savage/Flair feud. I thought it was pretty well done, N/R for the match proper, though.

Back from break, and Bischoff announces that Ray ‘The Crippler’ Stevens passed away.

Match Two: Dean Malenko vs. Jushin ’Thunder’ Liger w/Sonny Onoo

Bischoff announces that Otani was the new WCW Cruiserweight Champion. Glad we got to see him wrestle on Nit- Oh wait. Bischoff announces that Otani will debut May 18th, and defend the title at Slamboree.

Early on, we got Flair coming out in what appears to be a Tuxedo. He, Woman, and Miss Elizabeth are drinking wine and watching Nitro.

Malenko works over Liger’s leg for a good portion of the match, though Liger is going for pin attempts constantly. Liger goes to the top rope, Malenko attacks, then puts Liger on his shoulder and.. Gutbuster off the top rope! Instead of going for a pin, Malenko is going for a powerbomb, but Liger counters into a pin! Almost gets the three count.

Both men back up now, Malenko looks to be going for a DDT, Liger counters, then Malenko recounters, hit’s Liger in the midsection with a knee, then pins him with a double underhook powerbomb!

Winner by pinfall: Dean Malenko

We got a nice seven minute match of fast pace action. The match was above average for a match of it’s length and all, but I still question why they couldn’t have the new Crusierweight champion show up? Regardless, I’m fine with this match. ***¼

Back from break, we have Mean Gene interviewing Ric Flair. Flair says he’ll get his title back from Giant, then cuts a promo for Slamboree. Flair then says there’s a killer blonde that wants a cocktail with him, of course he’s referring to Debra McMichael. He has a butler take her a drink, she grabs it, and pours it out. Flair then makes a few lewd comments toward him, which riles Mongo up. Not a bad promo.

We get a video package of Blood Runs Cold. I’m sure it’ll debut about the same time as Duke Nukem Forever comes out.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Main Event: The Giant w/Jimmy Hart vs. Ric Flair© w/Miss Elizabeth and Woman

Ric Flair again flirts with Debra, this time asking for a kiss on the cheek. She denies him that. Mongo is less than happy about that.

Giant controls Flair for most of the early going. Woman and Elizabeth are on the ring apron distracting the Ref. Flair takes this opportunity to low blow the Giant. The Giant are on his knees, and still keeps Flair off of him. Hart now on the ring apron, and Flair now hits Giant with some brass knuckles, which finally knocks the Giant down.

Flair now stomping on the apparently unconscious Giant, then goes for the Figure Four. Giant wakes up, grabs Flair by the throat and… Chokeslam! He goes for the pin.. One.. Two… THREE?!

Winner and NEW WCW World Heavyweight Champion: The Giant

Hart and Giant celebrate in the ring, as the crowd looks stunned.

I’m shocked. After all the cheap title exchanges, we finally get a clean pin! And it’s by Giant on Ric Flair. The match itself was relatively short, but had a definite surprising ending. **¼

Postmatch, Mean Gene in the ring. Giant says the belt has been his since Halloween Havoc, and challenges Hogan, Sting, Luger, and everyone else to try and beat him.

The commentary hype up Slamboree, and announce it’ll be Sting and The Giant for the title. Heenan is shocked, but believes that Flair will be Lord of the Ring. That ends this episode of Nitro.

This was a relatively good Nitro. The matches weren’t spectacularly, but roughly above average. Flair as usual cut a good promo, and the Giant winning cleanly was a definite positive change. I can understand why they gave it back to Giant. They wanted to build up a new star, and Flair was busy with Savage. Guess they didn’t want to have Savage and Flair exchange the title for several months. Above average Nitro. 7/10

TV Rating: 2.1, which isn't that bad considering that the show was an hour earlier than usual due to the NBA Playoffs. Still, it is a big step down from 2.8 the week previous.

Other Nitro Note:

1. I’m pretty sure this edition of Nitro was recorded the week prior, what with them being in the same arena and all.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

WCW Nitro
Airdate: April 29th, 1996
Arena/Location: Albany Civic Center Albany, GA
Commentators: Steve 'Mongo' McMichael, Pepe, Eric Bischoff, and Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

I noticed in my last few Nitro reviews, I left Pepe off the commentary team. Don’t worry, he was still there. I was just on a different computer. I’m sure no one really cares either way.

Typically hype job for Nitro. Bischoff puts over the Giant/Flair main event, as well as the other matches.

Match One: Harlem Heat vs. Sting and Luger© for the WCW World Tag Team Championships

This is a rematch as the previous match on WCW Saturday Night ended when Jimmy Hart threw in a towel for Harlem Heat, despite not being their manager, nor were they in any sort of trouble.

Sting takes the brunt of the offense from Harlem Heat in this match. He however gets the hot tag from Lex Luger, Luger clotheslines both Booker T and Stevie Ray, but they are able to double team on Luger. Hart again comes out, throws a towel in the ring. Booker T catches it, throws it back, and Stevie Ray throws Hart into the ring. It looks as though Booker T’s about to attack him… when Sting comes from nowhere and takes advantage of the distraction by rolling up Booker T for the win!

Winners, and STILL WCW World Tag Team Champions: Sting and Luger

Sting got the pin… despite not being the legal man in the ring. This has happened a few times before. Despite that, the match got roughly ten minutes, and was pretty average. **½

Match Two: Fire and Ice (Scott Norton and Ice Train) vs. Steiner Brothers

The crowd’s solidly behind the Steiners, particularly Rick. Norton and Ice Train use their power to control the Steiners, but the Steiners are more than tough enough to handle themselves. The match ends with all four coming in, Rick and Norton going out and brawling on the outside, Scott and Train fighting on the inside. Norton comes in as Scott goes for a power bomb and they go fighting around the arena floor. Rick sneaks up behind Ice Train and gets the pin.

Winners by pinfall: The Steiner Brothers

The Steiners are able to adept to the style of most teams, and they did relatively well here against the team of Fire and Ice. Another decent tag team contest though it didn’t get much time. **

Back from commercial, we have interview time with Mean Gene. He says the fans are literally hanging from the rafters. Sting won’t be too happy about them hanging out there. Ric Flair comes out with Woman and Miss Elizabeth. Hype job for the title match later on tonight. WOO!

Match Three: Lord Steven Regal vs. The Belfast Bruiser in a Parking Lot Brawl

We immediately start this match with Bruiser going for a big boot to Regal, but his boot goes right through a car window. I’ve heard people have broken arms doing that.

These two fight four eight minutes, and I mean fight. They use a bumper, tire, a slab of a concrete block, and damn near everything else they can get their hands on against each other. The match ends when Lord Steven Regal hit’s a piledriver on Bruiser on top of a car.

Winner by pinfall: Steven Regal

This is what you’d expect from these two. Hard hitting fighting with painful looking weapon usage. These two could duke it out every week and I’d like it. Shame it was only like seven minutes. **¾

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Anyone can join, assuming you got roughly three hours of time to watch a fifteen year old PPV!

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Main Event: Ric Flair© and The Giant w/Woman, Elzabeth, and Jimmy Hart vs. Sting© and Lex Luger© in an All Titles on the Line match.

Flair kisses Debra’s hand this week. Mongo is a bit perturbed by all of this. Savage is out and tries to attack Flair, but security stops him in time. Wow, useful security. Flair gets a few cheap shots on Savage. Normally he’d be going to jail as well right now. He then goes out and flirts with Debra some more.

Back and forth tag match. Luger in for the most part working over Flair. Giant is in a few times to slow Luger down, but they never really gain control. The match ends with Woman handing coffee to Flair, Flair throwing said coffee at Sting/Luger… but they duck and it hits Giant in the face! Giant is flipping the **** out in the ring as we got another DQ.

Winners by DQ: Sting and Luger (no titles change hands)

Not a terrible tag match, but yet another DQ. **

Sting, Luger, and Flair all bolt as the Giant starts to throw fists. Flair comes out a few seconds later with a towel and is begging for forgiveness from the Giant. Giant doesn’t seem so happy, so Flair leaves. That was kinda funny. Gene is now interviewing the Giant. Giant isn’t happy, and demands a title shot. Flair, who’s at the announce booth. He demands an apology from the Giant, or else he’ll kick his big ass. Giant runs down the ramp, chasing Flair.

Bischoff apologizes for Flair’s language, then hypes up the title match next week. That ends this Nitro.

Not a bad Nitro this week. Two matches ended in DQ, one was forgetable, and the fourth was a relatively short Benot/Guerrero match. The Savage stuff was alright, and Flair/Giant doesn’t sound bad. Plus, No Hogan! So, decent show that focused on the storylines. 6/10

TV Rating:2.7

Other Nitro Notes:

1. During the PE/American Males match, Bischoff took the time to wish Brian Pillman well after his automobile accident. Considering that Pillman was no longer employed to WCW at this time, I found this rather surprising. Kudos to Bischoff for that.

2. Why use a similarly named title for a wrestler in an event that happens just one month from the event you’re ripping off?! Also, how the hell is Lord of the Ring not trademarked? I know it’s a letter off by the popular book franchise, but you’d think someone would’ve snatched it up by then and stolen it!

3. I’m shocked that the WWE Video package of Hacksaw didn’t mention he was from a long line of Taped First champions. Okay, I’m really not.

4.Quote of the Show: Mean Gene, interview Giant: “Ric Flair, Giant, nailed you in the face with scolding hot coffee, and you’re not happy.” Giant: “I’m not happy! That coffee burned!”



On a final, note, I’ve decided to move the WCW PPV riff/watch to Sunday at 7:00 PM CST. So, expect another Nitro tonight, and two tomorrow. I’ll also make a note in the wrestling thread for those that may be curious to follow it as well.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

WCW Nitro
Airdate: April 22th, 1996
Arena/Location: Albany Civic Center in Albany, GA
Commentators: Steve 'Mongo' McMichael, Eric Bischoff, and Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

We’re back to the regular start of Nitro. Bischoff shills tonight’s main event, as it’ll Sting and Luger vs. Ric Flair and The Giant in an ‘all titles on the line’ match. Chances of this match not ending with a DQ or count out? I’d give it 5%. Let’s go to the first match!

Match One:Public Enemy vs. American Males (AMERICAN MALES!)

As PE are coming to the ring, Bischoff gives away the results for Raw. How nice. There is more security around the ring, most likely if/when Randy Savage shows up.

Most of the (male) audience waved theirs arms about as PE came out. Some of the (female) audience were clapping along with American Males. They must be pumping a ****load of oxygen into the arena for tonight.

Bagwell is being worked over for most of the match. He finally gets the hot tag in, Rock sends Bagwell into the guardrail, then goes back in and both Rock and Grunge throw Riggs over the top rope to cause a DQ.

Winner by DQ: American Males

Postmatch, Riggs gets sent threw a table.

Weak finish to a relatively plain match. That was always a stupid rule for WCW, and was rarely enforced. *¼ from me.

After the break, we go to Mean Gene who’s with two women I’ve never seen before. This is a drawing for the Slamboree lethal lottery, where two “random” people are teamed together in a 32 man, sixteen team tournament that will be whittled down to four teams, and the final four teams will fight in an eight man over the top battle royal for the title Lord of the Ring. Mean Gene opens up a few ‘random’ envelopes and gets the ‘completely random team’ of Ric Flair and… Randy Savage. They’ll be going against Arn Anderson and… Eddie Guerrero. Actually, that doesn’t sound like a bad match.

Speaking of Guerrero, he’s got a match!

Match Two: Eddie Guerrero vs. Chris Benoit

Fast pace match that gets about seven or so minutes. Guerrero is looking to put Benoit away, but Benoit is able to pull a fast one and win with a rollup near the corner as he holds the ropes.

Winner by pinfall: Chris Benoit

This wasn’t given much time, but it was pretty fun to watch. The ending was cheap, so they’ll probably go at it once again. ***¼

Mean Gene out again, this time with someone who’s apparently VP of WCW. Rob Gardner is his name. They’re going to talk about how crazy Savage is.. But Savage himself comes out. Savage is angry with the guy, Gardner suggests Savage seek professional help. Savage retorts by calling him a stupid person. The Savage leaves. That ends that angle.

I admit that it is a bit silly to call Savage out for acting a bit crazy considering who’s all been a bit crazy in WCW the last few months. Hogan tried to kill a guy, Flair runs up to the announce booth every other week, there’s one guy who thinks he’s a shark. Not to mention the mummy/ninja named Yeti. It’s not this is a bad angle, but it seems a bit odd they are picking on Savage in particular.

Match Three: Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. Meng

During the match, Bischoff mocks the Goldust gimmick. I could easily copy/paste the last two gimmicks I mentioned above this match, but I’ll let it slide.

Forgettable match that Duggan wins after taping his fist. Meng sold it like it was a brick to the face.

Winner by pinfall: Jim Duggan

Boring match is boring. ½*

Back to Mean Gene, as he announces that Alex Wright and Disco Inferno will go against Dirty Dick Slater and Earl Robert Eaton. It’ll also be Steve Regal and Finlay vs. VK Wallstreet and Jim Duggan. Yay?

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Match Three: Earl Robert Eaton w/ Jeeves vs. Randy Savage

Back and forth match, surprisingly. Eaton starts to get the upper hand, then begins to copy Flair. First the strut, then the figure four, then he has a Horsemen shirt. Of course, Savage beats Eaton a few minutes later with the flying elbow.

Winner by pinfall: Randy Savage

Postmatch, Savage continues to sell the ‘He’s losing it and going crazy’ angle by throwing the ref to the side, going back to the top rope, and hitting an elbow drop on Eaton again. Wrestles, trainers, and cops are out and they try to subdue and arrest Savage.

Alright match, that did sell the Savage/Flair feud pretty well, albeit oddly. It also helped sell the Savage was going crazy angle, which is something we‘ve always known! **

Main Event: Ric Flair/Giant w/Woman and Miss Elizabeth vs. Sting and Lex Luger

Flair again goes toward Debra McMichael. He grabs her hands for a second, but she resists. Mongo is less enthusiastic about that. I think I smell a feud.. Or that burrito I ate last night.

Early on, Sting throws Flair out of the ring. Giant, who was knocked off the apron, catches Flair, and throws him back in. Luger comes in, does the exact same move, with the same results, and Sting is back in for a rollup. Flair runs out of the ring and chops Giant. After a break.. And they are fine. Weird.

After the break, Flair/Giant work over Luger. Flair has a figure four locked in on Luger, Ref stops it, and Flair and Nick Patrick have a shoving match. Luger gets a second wind, tags in Sting, and Sting is controlling Flair. Giant and Luger go at it, as Elizabeth distracts the ref. Woman has another cup of coffee, aims it at Luger, and Luger ducks! Sting takes the full brunt of it.

Winners by DQ: Sting and Luger

Heenan implies that Luger ducked so that Sting could take the coffee shot. I have to disagree with Heenan there.

Not a bad tag match, though there were a few head scratchers. Why did Giant/Flair cooperate after Flair chopped him? How could have Luger knew the coffee would hit Sting? Aside from that, the in ring action was above average, considering Lex Luger was in this match. **¾

We go back to the commentary booth, and Heenan has some handcuffs. Bischoff grabs the cuffs, and handcuffs Heenan, and that ends the show.

Yet another bad Nitro. Hogan dominating really took this down several notches. Savage going crazy wasn’t bad, and the Main Event was decent, for once. Seeing Kimberly wearing pink short shorts was really great, though. 3/10

TV Rating:2.8

Other Nitro Notes:

1. Six months later, Savage is still selling that arm injury. I wonder if people even remember why his arm was ‘injured’ in the first place.

2. Speaking of Savage, they were hyping up the “Dial M for Monkey’ short he was in. Man, now I want to watch some old Dexter’s Laboratory shows.

3. Lately, I’ve noticed that Sting’s hair has been getting longer and darker. I find it quite unusual that it has been getting this way since like January. I didn’t think they planned out this stuff that far out. That, or Sting was going for a change..

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

WCW Nitro
Airdate: April 15th, 1996
Arena/Location: Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, West Virgina.
Commentators: Steve 'Mongo' McMichael, Eric Bischoff, and Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

During the opening video, we hear someone yell fifteen seconds. Whoops!

Match One: Hulk Hogan w/Kimberly vs. Arn Anderson and Kevin Sullivan w/Miss Elizabeth, Woman, and Jimmy Hart in a “Winner gets five minutes alone with a manager” Handicap match

This was Booty Man’s big plan? The winner gets five minutes alone with a manager? That sounds mildly dirty. Speaking of BM, he was ‘injured’ on Saturday Night, so I guess Hogan has to go at it alone. Maybe there is an off chance Arn/Sullivan can wi-

Oh wait, Hogan is no-selling everything Arn and Sullivan throw at him. They are outside the ring, Sullivan grabs a chair.. Hogan steals it, hits them with it, and the ref doesn’t call for a bell? Are weapons legal?!

Both men (and now Jimmy Hart) stomping on Hogan. He gets thrown back in the ring, no sells the beating, destroys both men, hit’s the legdrop on Sullivan and wins?!

Winner by pinfall: Hulk Hogan

… Hogan won a handicap match, using a weapon, in less than FOUR minutes? I would be lying if I didn’t say the best part of this entire ordeal was Kimberly wearing short shorts outside the ring for a few minutes. -**

Postmatch, Hogan grabs Woman and puts her in the ring, Elizabeth is in there now. I can’t blame him for wanting those two alone for five minutes. He then sees Jimmy Hart, and chooses him. I’m not saying this is sexual, but Hogan is ripping off Hart’s clothes. Powder starts to randomly fly, but neither Hart nor Hogan sell it.

Thankfully, Giant is now to stop this. Chokeslam on Hogan, and this is final- OH WHAT THE f***! Hogan no sells the EFFING CHOKESLAM?! Hogan hit’s the scoop slam on Giant. Mean Gene now in the ring. He taps Hogan, and Hogan looks to slam Gene?! However, he puts Gene down, and we have a hype job by Hogan who says he’ll win the World Title. The crowd is rather divided. Everyone over 13 is booing Hogan. The kids are cheering .like crazy.

This.. Was terrible. Hogan buries three heels in less than ten minutes. You say Triple H is bad, at least Triple H didn’t no sell a beating, chokeslam, and other **** like this. I need booze…

After a break, we get the typical hype job/whatever for Nitro. Why do we get the pyro and crap after a match?

Match Two: Public Enemy vs. The Nasty Boys in a Street Fight

This is a feud that’s been building up between these two. Turns out PE attacked Nasty Boys a few Nitros back when the Steiners debuted.

PE Are coming out, and Nasty Boys attack from behind with trash cans.

Lots of weapon usage in the match. Trash cans, chairs, tables, it was your typical garbage wrestling match that ended similarly to their match at Superbrawl, with Knobbs on the table, Grunge going through the table instead, and Nasty Boys winning.

Winners by pinfall: Nasty Boys

Postmatch, Saggs does go through a table.

Not a great match. Very little actual moves aside from weapon shots. The crowded started off excited, but slowly quieted down. Still, the table spot after the match was nice. *¼.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Not a great Nitro. The Sting/Giant match plus the bribe could’ve been done TV, instead of before the show. Hogan dominates Arn/Sullivan again. The only saving graces were Bobby Heenan and the triangle match. 4/10

TV Rating: 2.8, which starts off a six straight weeks of WWF Raw beating WCW Nitro in the ratings, though it appears that Nitro was preempted during the majority of the time..

Other Nitro Notes:

1. The crowd was absolutely dead for Hulk Hogan and Booty Man. During their intro, match, post match, and interview. No Hogan chant, and not that many boos either. It’s like they are just.. tired of him.

2. Quote of the Show: Eric Bischoff, to Heenan retiring. “I wish you well in your future endeavors.”\

3. No 4/8/96 Nitro. I won’t be reviewing a Saturday Night anytime soon, so my next update will be the 4/15/96 Nitro tomorrow.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

WCW Nitro
Airdate: April 1st, 1996
Arena/Location: CSU Convocation Center in Cleveland, OH
Commentators: Steve 'Mongo' McMichael, Eric Bischoff, and Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

We start Nitro off abruptly with a match going on in the ring!

Match One: The Giant w/Jimmy Hart vs. Sting

Bischoff explains that Jimmy Hart paid off both the Giant and Harlem Heat so that Giant could face Sting here. It makes sense until you wonder that the ‘executive committee’ wouldn’t have approved.

After about two and a half minutes of fighting, Luger comes running out, stands in the ring with Sting.. And the bell rings. The hell?

Winner by DQ: The Giant

I’m not even sure if this constitutes as a match. N/R.

After the first ‘match’ we get the usual start for Nitro. We get footage of Hart paying off Harlem Heat. Why couldn’t they just have this after the intro? Also, Lex Luger is getting a shot at the World Title against Ric Flair.

Match Two: The Steiner Brothers vs. Road Warriors vs. Nasty Boys in a Triangle match.

All three teams got some decent offense in. The match ends with Knobbs outside of the ring, Public Enemy coming out, Rocco Rock attacks Knobbs as Johnny Grunge (dressed as Knobbs, except a different colored shirt) enters the ring and gets pinned by Scott Steiner.

Winners by pinfall: The Steiner Brothers.

Public Enemy escapes as we get a replay of what just happened. No one noticed that Knobbs was all of a sudden thinner and wearing a different shirt?

Aside from the endning, this wasn't so bad. **¼.

Match Three: Arn Anderson and Kevin Sullivan w/Woman and Miss Elizabeth vs. Hulk Hogan and Booty Man w/Kimberly

Hey, Hogan is wearing tights instead of underwear now.

Bobby Heenan announces that this will be his final Nitro. Apparently neither Bischoff nor Mongo knew that that was April 1st.

Hogan and BM dominate the early part of this matchup, but Arn and Sullivan start to get back into it once Hogan is on the ring apron. BM is worked over for several minutes, before Hogan gets back in, destroys Arn and Sullivan then, for whatever reason, uses Kimberly’s heel to hit Sullivan for the pin. Apparently, Sullivan had Woman’s shoe.

Winners by pinfall: Hogan and BM

Post match, Arn Anderson attacks Booty Man’s knee.

Boring match with Hogan going over? How many times have I written that sentence. ½*

Mean Gene is now talking to Hogan, BM, and Kimberly. Booty Man says he’s got something on the back burner that could get rid of the alliance for good. Beating them every single week isn’t good enough?

Main Event: Lex Luger vs. Ric Flair© w/Woman and Miss Elizabeth for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship match.

As Flair is walking down to ringside, he stops and looks in the crowd at a rather attractive blond. The blond, it turns out, is Debra McMichael, Mongo’s wife. Mongo says at least Flair has good taste in women. Right..

Luger controls most of this ten minute championship bout. Flair tries to leave the arena, puts the figure four on Luger, but to no avail. The match ends with Luger applying the torture rack to Flair. Elizabeth distracts the ref long enough for Woman to get some coffee or something from a member of the crowd, she throws it in Luger’s face, and Flair gets the win.

Winner, and STILL WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Ric Flair

Flair was able to bring this up to a ¾* match.

Sting is out quickly, but Flair escapes. He poses with the belt and runs to the back.

We get a recap of Nitro from the commentary team. Heenan shakes Mongo’s and Bischoff’s hand.. Then says April Fools. I admit that I laughed there. We end Nitro with Heenan laughing.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

WCW Nitro
Airdate: March 25th, 1996
Arena/Location: Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Commentators: Steve 'Mongo' McMichael, Eric Bischoff, and Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

Usual hype job for WCW Nitro. We got three title matches tonight, those being the US, World Tag Team, and World Heavyweight Titles. Mongo says there will finally be a wedge to end Hulkamania. They’ve been together a month! They talk about Ric Flair for a bit, then we kick off our first match!

Match One: Randy Savage vs. The Belfast Bruiser

Finlay controls most of the match… only for Savage to hit one move on Finlay, then go for the Flying Elbow for the win after five minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Randy Savage

Nothing too special, but they make Finlay look weak for losing so easily. I guess it make a bit of sense after his brutal match the night before, but didn't Savage go through an even more brutal match? *

After the commercial break, we go to Mean Gene who’s in the entranceway. We’re getting an interview with Ric “I did the job last night” Flair. He hypes up his match tonight against The Giant. Flair believes the Giant can breathe fire. He then starts singing for a few minutes.

Match Two: Mr. JL vs. Konnan© for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship.

Konnan still has his name spelled Konan in the name plate. They need to fix that.

Decent six minute match here, with both guys getting some offense in. It ends when Konnan get a bridge on JL for the win.

Winner, and STILL WCW United States Heavyweight Champion: Konnan

Decent six minute match. *¾

Match Three: Disco Inferno vs. Booty Man

The battle between a silly gimmick that requires lots of booty shaking and bad dancing.. And Booty Man.

Booty Babe is out cheering Booty Man on. She then slaps Booty Man’s ass.. BM wins with a high knee.

Winner by pinfall: Booty Man.

N/R

Match Four: American Males (AMERICAN MALES) vs. Sting and Luger© for the WCW World Tag Team Championships

Luger works the majority of this match. Sting gets the hot tag, dominates Riggs. He covers him. Bagwell is in the ring, then remembers that he’s supposed to not break up the pin, and it looks like he forgets how to lift his leg. Sting and Luger win.

Winners, and STILL WCW World Tag Team Champions: Lex Luger and Sting

Not a good tag team match. I’d prefer Steiners/Harlem Heat or something. *

Sting celebrates with American Males after the match.

Main Event: The Giant w/Jimmy Hart vs. Ric Flair© w/Miss Elizabeth and Woman for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship

While Flair is coming out, Savage runs out, and is restrained by Security.

Nature Boy chant by the crowd. Giant gets an early advantage, but Flair is able to get some control here. This goes for eight minutes, before Arn and Sullivan are out. Arn attacks Giant with a chair, Sullivan takes the chair from Arn, Giant attacks Sullivan, then Arn. Flair, Arn, and Sullivan are out.

No Contest Flair retains

Giant walks from the ring as the women and Jimmy Hart check up on their allies.

Alright match for eight minutes. Giant got some aerial moves out of this, which is always surprising to see. The ending just helped pull apart DoD and the Four Horsemen more. *¾

Five matches, though none of them got **. No Hogan was a huge plus, though they talked about him all throughout the show. This Nitro pushed the storylines more than anything, which isn’t all bad. I‘ll go with average because none of the matches were outright terrible. 5/10

TV Rating: 3.1

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

After doing a quick check, I got seven Nitros to go before the next PPV. Assuming I only watch one per day, that puts us down for next Tuesday Night for me to watch the next PPV (Slamboree.) It isn't set in stone yet, but how does everyone feel about watching a WCW PPV Tuesday night? I'm game for any night, personally.

Oh, and Nitro will be up a bit later than usual. I just got my PC back, and I need to do some updating and scans to make sure it's clean.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

The commentary team hypes up the Doomsday cage match as well as explain the rules. Basically, it’s a gantlet match, and Hogan and Savage start at the top of the structure, and fight their way down.

Main Event: Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage vs. The Alliance to End Hulk mania (Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Kevin Sullivan, Lex Luger, Meng, Barbarian, The Ultimate Solution, and Z-Gangsta) in a Tower of Doom Doomsday Cage match

This was horrid. The best part of this entire ordeal was Bobby Heenan, Lex Luger (for working most of the match), and watching it with War and Sytha. They helped made this watchable.

Here’s a synopsis of what happened here: Hogan and Savage start at the top of this structure with Flair and Anderson. Powder is thrown for some reason or another, then Hogan/Savage escape in five minutes to the second level, eliminating Ric Flair/Arn Anderson. They then fight Luger/Sullivan/Meng/Barbarian in for a few minutes, until Hogan and Sullivan leave the cage and start to fight around the arena. Luger/Savage are out as well, fighting. Meng/Barbarian just wonder off, I guess.

These four fight for ten minutes, not in the cage mind you, but in the ring, around the arena, everywhere but the cage. Eventually Z-Gangsta/Ultimate Solution show up. They wonder into the cage where Hogan and Savage now are. They fight for a few seconds, then Arn/Flair are out to fight them. Booty Man comes out and throws frying pans to Hogan and Savage. They dominate the four, until Luger comes out with a loaded glove. He goes to hit Hogan, Hogan ducks, and instead he (purposely) hits Flair. Hogan and Savage escape the cage.. Until they remember they got to pin (?) Ric Flair (??) to win (!!!)

Winners by pinfall: Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage.

This match was voted the worst worked match by the Observer. They were supposed to win by escape.. But they escaped the match to fight around the arena, and it wasn’t counted? Then, they are back in the cage, bury six guys, then they pin, not the actor or some secondary guy they pin the WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION. Despite him being eliminated earlier!? The match deserved all worst match ever awards it got, will get, and should get. -****

Discounting the final match, this PPV is close to a 6 or 7/10 PPV. Yeah, there was other crap on the show, but the three good matches were good enough to keep this show above average. The final match though brings it down to below average range. It takes away from the good matches, but I wouldn’t call this the worst WCW PPV I’ve done so far. 4/10

Other Uncensored Notes:

1. Quote of the Show: Dusty Rhodes, distilling his genius geographical knowledge: “Where’s Ireleand? Like, five miles from London?” Bobby Heenan insulting Rhodes the best way he can: “It’s seven miles, if you take a bus.”

2. Tony noted that this was the first PPV to be broadcasted in Australia. I’m sure the fans down there LOVED the main event.

3. There were at least ten or so different quotes I wanted to use for QotS, and most of them were from Heenan. He was on fire that night.

4. You know, I sort of feel bad for Ed Leslie aka the Booty Man. He is like the Patron Saint of bad wrestling gimmicks. The worst part is he wasn’t exactly a terrible performer. Not really the greatest guy out there, but watchable.

5. War and Sytha mentioned that they'd love to watch another WCW PPV. I figure that maybe I could 'host' a B8 Watches WCW PPVs for the hell of it. Like I stated, they helped keep the last match watchable. I wish now we had watched the entire show.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

WCW Uncensored
Airdate: March 24th, 1996
Arena/Location: Tupelo Coliseum in Tupelo, Mississippi
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan, and ‘The American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes

Hype job for the Doomsday cage with a video package. We then see the cage itself. It looks… insane? Now we have the commentary team hyping up the cage match.

Match One: Eddie Guerrero vs. Konnan© for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship

The crowd goes.. Dead. Really, this is an extremely quiet crowd. Not a good start for this PPV. They finally wake up partway through this match with the crowd doing both an Eddie and Konnan chant.

The match is a good back and forth match that gets close to twenty minutes. It ends with Eddie going for a leap frog, then starts selling a low blow, though it didn’t look like Konnan hit one. Konnan rolls him over for the pin.

Winner, and STILL WCW United States Heavyweight Champion: Konnan

Postmatch, Konnan checks on Eddie, but Eddie isn’t happy. I wouldn’t be happy either if I was selling a phantom low blow.

The match was good, the crowd woke up long enough to start a few chants, but… the ending was awkward and did weaken the overall match, but not enough to dip it that far down. ***½

Mean Gene in the back interviewing Col. Rob Parker and Dick Slater. Parker hypes up his match against Madusa, while Slater mumbles and stumbles over his words.

Match Two: Lord Steven Regal w/ Jeeves vs. ‘Belfast Bruiser’ Fit Finlay

This is going to a stiff match, and I’m not wrong. Both men work each other over with some stiff punches and really painful looking maneuvers.

Partway through the match, we get a shot of Konnan talking on with the Spanish Announce team in what appears to be the farthest spot in the arena from the match. I’d make an LAX joke here, but I did it with the previous PPV.

After twenty minutes of pounding, fighting, brawling in and out of the ring, Earl Robert Eaton and Squire Dave Taylor come out and attack the Belfast Bruiser, ending the contest.

Winner by DQ: Fit Finlay.

Postmatch, Finlay isn’t too happy about it what has happened, and is fighting the three men to the back.

This was a stiff, bloody (though for some reason they censored the blood), and overall entertainng match that got plenty of time to showcase the talent of both men. These two have probably had countless contests against each other, and I for one am grateful to see this fight. While the ending was a bit weak, and the crowd was more worried about getting snacks, the match itself put over how tough both men are. Definitely a must watch if you’re a fan of either man. ***¼.

Mean Gene now talking to Giant and Hart. Giant is hyping up his match against Loch Ness. I knew this show wouldn’t be good for long. Mean Gene also points out that this match is the #1 Contendership match.

Match Three: Col. Rob Parker vs. Madusa in a Man on Woman match.

Yes, that’s the actual name of this match.

This is more of a comedy match that anything. Madusa has the upper hand on Parker for most of the match, but Dick Slater comes out and interferes to give Parker the win.

Winner by pinfall: Col. Rob Parker

Comedy match that really didn’t do anything but show how much of a chicken **** heel Parker was. Madusa did hit some impressive moves on a person twice her size.. ½*

Lee Marshall in the back now interviewing the Road Warriors. They hype up their match against Sting and Booker T. Hawk rambles about them needing Depends and being stinky. Marshall thinks THEY’RE GREAT tag team wrestlers.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Match Four: Booty Man w/Kimberly aka Booty Girl vs.. Diamond Dallas Page in a I Quit Wrestling match

If DDP loses he must leave WCW, if he wins, he regains Kimberly and the money.

This was originally supposed to be DDP/Johnny B. Badd, but Badd left for the WWF. At least on Mero made a name for themselves there.

Slow start between these two. DDP is stalling for the most part. They finally start and… BM is shaking his butt around to the… cheers of the women in the crowd? I’m dead f***ing serious, the women in the crowd pop every time BM shakes his ass.

BM hit’s the ten turnbuckle head smash on DDP, DDP is up.. And stumbles out between the bottom ropes.. Then hits his head on the ringpost, then falls over the railing. Railing Kill!.. No wait, he’s still alive.

Partway through the match Kimberly is out in one of the most bizarre outfits I’ve ever seen. It’s a pink and white outfit that is supposed to match BM. Though she does look great, though she thinks BM looks cute. Uh.. Right.

The finish comes with a very long Headlock on BM. Kimberly is on the apron. DDP kisses her, she slaps him, and BM hit’s the high knee (sigh) on DDP for the win.

Winner by pinfall: Booty Man

Postmatch, BM kisses Kimberly, and apparently Kimberly is now the Booty Girl.

The stalling and long, LONG headlock took away from a match that otherwise was watchable. Not the best match on the card, but definitely better than I anticipated *.

Mean Gene talking to Lex Luger and Jimmy Hart. Hart says he won’t manage Luger anymore, and Luger puts over both the Chicago Street Fight (which he isn’t in) and the Doomsday Cage Match.

Match Five: The Giant w/Jimmy Hart vs. Loch Ness in a #1 Contendership match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship

You read that right, this is a #1 Contendership match. I got my money on the guy who isn’t pushing 50.

This match got less than four minutes, and Giant was able to win this one pretty easily.

Winner by pinfall: The Giant

Nothing fancy here. ¼*

Lee Marshall out back interviewing Sting and Booker T. They hype up the Chicago Street Fight match and seem to be on the same page.

Match Six: Road Warriors vs. Sting and Booker T in a Chicago Street Fight

They take no time fighting each other as Road Warriors attack Booker T and Sting as they are walking out.

Great back and forth street fight as all four men leave it in the ring, and the arena itself. Near the end of the match, Booker T is trying to escape Animal, but Animal follows him. Animal is attacking Booker T and accidentally hits Luger (Who’s in front of a mirror) and both Luger and Stevie Ray attack Animal. Hawk and Sting are still fighting in and around the ring.

Booker T finally comes back out and Hawk and Booker T are going at it. Booker T on the top rope going for the Harlem Hangover, but misses. Stevie Ray out, attacks Hawk with a chair, and Booker T gets the win.

Winners by pinfall: Booker T and Sting

This match got thirty minutes, yet it really didn’t feel like it. It was a fast paced hard hitting match that saw both teams get plenty of offense in. Road Warriors were in their zone in this match, and Sting and Booker T definitely held their own. ***¼ from me.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Main Event Ric Flair/Kevin Sullivan w/ Woman vs. Mega Powers (Hogan and Savage) in a Texas Tornado Match

These four guys brawl all over the ring and arena floor for a good eight minutes. Arn Anderson and Brian Pillman come out attack Hogan and Savage, and the bell rings signaling a DQ.

Winners by DQ: Hogan and Savage

¾*

Booty Man is out.. It’s an all out fight between these men. Arn is signaling for someone and.. Zeus aka Tony Lister comes out. Yes. The guy that Hogan fought in that crappy movie is here to fight Hogan now. He’s being followed by some big white dude. Instead of beating up the Mega Powers.. They allow them to escape?

Tony in the ring now interviewing TAtEH. These two new guys are called Z-Gangsta (Zeus) and The Final Solution. They end the show by looking like a dominating force. That won’t last a week!

Aside from the Steiners/PE match, this Nitro was just terrible. I was actually looking forward to the rest of Nitro after that match, but now I wish I had quit while I was ahead. 3.5/10

TV Rating: 3.6

Other Nitro Notes:

1. Hulk Hogan Stink-o-Meter: One. “What we like about the Texas Tornado and Uncensored is that there are no STINKING titles on the line!” Wait, Hogan likes it when the title isn’t on the line?

2. I said it in the previous ONN, but Rick Steiner was massively more over than Scott was. It’s ridiculous seeing most of the crowd doing the Steiner bark taunt.

3. Quote of the Show: “I just got word, Dennis Rodman suspended for six games, fined $20,000 for a head but. Don’t be surprised if Dennis Rodman hooks up with Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage!” This was a completely out of the blue statement by Eric Bischoff. He noted that Rodman was friends with Hogan, but.. It felt like some weird as hell foreshadowing.

4. The Final Solution would get a name change by the PPV to The Ultimate Solution, due to the fact that The Final Solution was the name of the plan to kill all the Jewish people. Guess someone informed WCW it wasn’t the best of ideas to name a wrestler that.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

WCW Nitro
Airdate: March 18th, 1996
Arena/Location: UTC Arena in Chattanooga, TN
Commentators: Steve 'Mongo' McMichael, Pepe, Eric Bischoff, and Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

Instead of the usual intro, we start Nitro with Giant and Loch Ness fighting in the entranceway. Giant is dominating Loch Ness here. As they are going at it, Lex Luger comes out, poses, and goes to the ring. He poses in the ring.. And we got a match?

Match One: Lex Luger© vs. Loch Ness for the WCW World Television Championship

Luger’s in the ring.. Loch Ness is still fighting the Giant. The ref counts to ten, and Luger wins.

Winner, and STILL WCW World Television Champion: Lex Luger

N/R since this wasn’t really a match.. But doesn’t both guys have to be in the ring for the match to start? This doesn’t make any sense!

Postmatch, Hart celebrates with Luger, but Luger apparently wants none of it. Luger goes to the announce booth, and says that’s the shortest title defense in WCW history. He’s ecstatic.

We’re back, and Bischoff said we were getting a standby match, but instead we got a Hogan and Savage interview. Tony Schiavone is out interviewing these two. Hogan and Savage hype up both the Doomsday Cage match and the Texas Tornado match later tonight.

Match Two: Public Enemy vs. The Steiner Brothers

During their entrance, PE grab a table and bring it to the ring. Steiners are out to a massive pop. Honestly, I think they got the biggest pop of the entire night. Most of the crowd is doing the Rick Steiner barking taunt.

PE dominants Scott Steiner for most of this contest, he gets the hot tag on Rick. Rick and Rock fight on the outside, and Rick is on the table. Rock in the ring, goes for a splash and misses when Scott pulls Rick off the table. Scott in the ring now and has Grunge on his shoulders. Rick goes for the bulldog off the top rope, and they win the match.

Winners by pinfall: The Steiner Brothers

This was completely different from what I was expecting. My only complaint is that these two teams got only seven minutes. I would love to see what these four could have done with fifteen or twenty minutes. ***

Match Three: Arn Anderson w/Woman vs. The Booty Man

Holy crap what terrible music. I thought the American Males song was bad.. Booty Man’s intro sounds like something out of a bad 70’s porn flick. His name is immediately quite appropriate, then!

BM dominates Arn Anderson for most of the match. Arn comes back briefly, only for BM to regain control. Near the end of the match, Kimberly is out. Woman and Kimberly confront each other. BM holds them apar. Arn throws BM back in the ring, BM hit’s a high knee on Arn and gets the pin.

Winner by pinfall: Booty Man

*yawn* ½*

Match Four: Road Warriors vs. Nasty Boys

The Nasty Boys, who are selling the beating from last week, are taped up. Sags doesn’t look so bad, but the person who worked on Knobbs taped him up over the shirt. Guess that person went to the Ada Wong Medical School for training.

Jerry Saggs hits Animal with a chair. Not the typical steel chair, but it looks like one of those blue plastic kiddy chairs. The ref sees it.. And no bell call. Animal does the same thing, again no bell. Is this no DQ? I thought as much, until the end of the match when the Steiners came out, attacked the Nasty Boys and Road Warriors, Animal hit Knobbs with the spiked elbow pad, and got the win. The ref didn’t see it, and the commentary team acted like it was a cheap shot.

Winners by pinfall: Road Warriors

This was a head scratcher because it seems the rules of the match varied throughout the match. It was more confusing than anything *¼

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The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Hogan/Savage/Booty Man winning a second time makes the heels look super weak, though that is expected since it’s Hogan. The Giant/Duggan and Luger/Wright matches weren’t that great, but watchable. Steiners/Road Warriors I liked, which helps me give this one a 5.5/10

TV Rating: 3.2

Other Nitro Notes:

1. During the Giant/Duggan match, Brian Pillman made an appearance. Eric Bischoff got off the commentary booth and confronted him briefly, but he was escorted out of the arena. Once Bischoff got back, neither he nor did the rest of the commentary team mention it. It felt like a Big Lipped Alligator Moment, but what was the story to all that? Wasn’t he in ECW by then?

2. WCW doesn’t get a whole lot of credit for this, but they had a pretty good tag team division at this point. Much better than what the WWF had to offer.

3. Lex Luger, as the announcers noted, won’t be in the Chicago Street Fight because Hart forced him into the Doomsday Cage match.

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The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

WCW Monday Nitro
Airdate: March 11th, 1996
Arena/Location: Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston Salem, NC
Commentators: Steve 'Mongo' McMichael, Pepe, Eric Bischoff, and Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

After a quick rundown of the card, telling us of a new WCW TV Champion (they didn’t say who, but they will be in action) and hyping up the main event, we go to our first match.

Match One: Jim Duggan vs. The Giant w/Jimmy Hart

This match stems from the confrontation on WCW Saturday Night. Can you feel the excitement? I sure can’t

Giant dominating the match as everything Duggan throws at him has little effect. Duggan tapes his fist up and actually knocks Giant down, but Giant is able to get Duggan into a choke slam for the win.

Winner by pinfall: The Giant

The most interesting part was Pillman randomly showing up. Why did he show up? I’m not even sure WCW knew. The match was just a five minute semi-squash match that put over Giant as a monster. ¾*

Match Two: Steiner Bros. vs. Road Warriors

This was supposed to be Nasty Boys vs. Road Warriors, but the Steiners are making their return to WCW here. They come out on motorcycles, and the crowd goes crazy. The Steiners had been working in ECW during most of the previous year, and WWF before that.

The Steiners control most of this match once Animal is tagged in. Scott goes for a dropkick, and it looks as though he missed Animal. Looked like Animal fell faster than he was supposed to.

The match ends with Scott hitting a frankensteiner on Animal, Scott does the Doomsday Device on Hawk, Animal hits Rick with the spiked armband, and Hawk getting the win.

Winners by pinfall: Road Warriors

Good ten minute tag team action here. The Steiners controlled most of the match, and both men were still good workers at this point. I am somewhat surprised that Rick was the Steiner that was more over here. ***

Mean Gene out to interview the Steiners. He calls Scott Scotty, which is kinda funny to hear. They say that their thing with Road Warriors isn’t over yet. Not a bad promo

Match Three: Alex Wright vs. Lex Luger© for the WCW World Television Championship

Yes folks, management thought it would be a good idea to give Lex Luger two titles. Johnny B. Badd left the company for the WWF as I’ve mentioned before, sand the first person that came to mind to give the belt to was Luger.

Decent back and forth action that saw Alex Wright get a fair bit of offense in. The match ends with Wright on the top turnbuckle, Hart comes out and distracts Wright. Wright goes for a cross body, and Luger reverses it with a win.

Winner, and STILL WCW World Television Champion: Lex Luger

Post match, Luger is arguing with Jimmy Hart.

Wright wasn’t bad here, but Luger was Luger. *¼

Main Event: Arn/Flair/Sullivan w/Woman and Elizabeth vs. Hogan/Savage/Booty Man in a double strap Lumberjack match

The Lumberjacks actually got flannel on. That’s new. Loch Ness punches Giant early on, and these two duke it out into the back. Hell, the lumberjacks are going at it.

Early on, Kimberly is out again with flowers and is watching the action. Bischoff speculates that she’s got eyes for Booty Man.

Hogan and his friends pretty much dominate the entire match. Hogan is thrown out of the ring, and beats up on most of the lumberjacks. Hell, the lumberjacks beat each other up. The match ends with Hogan leg dropping Flair for the win.

Winners by pinfall: Hogan/Savage/Booty Man

Not exactly a top tier match, but not horrid. *

Postmatch, Flair/Arn/Sullivan put themselves over and say they can defeat Hogan/Savage/Booty Man. Flair acts like his crazy self here.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Match Eight: The Giant w/Jimmy Hart vs. Dave ‘Evad’ Sullivan w/Ralph the Rabbit

And yes, Dave Sullivan is carrying around a real rabbit. The match is shorter than the entrance here as Giant wins with a choke slam.

Winner by pinfall: The Giant

Postmatch, The Gambler and Mark Kyle try to stop Giant, but Giant choke slams them. Duggan is out now taping his fist up. Duggan takes Giant out of the ring.

After a video package of the WCW Motor Sports, we get an exclusive interview with Miss Elizabeth. She claims all of Savage’s success is because of her. She then puts over Flair. Eh, it was okay.

Match Nine: Faces of Fear (Meng and Barbarian) vs. Larry Santo and Pat Tanaka

Guess what this is. Squash!

Winners by pinfall: Faces of Fear

We see a video of Sting beating up Vader. Gee, wonder what promotion Vader was in at this point >_>.

Main Event: Sting vs. Ric Flair© w/Woman and Miss Elizabeth for the WCW World Heavyweight Champion

Tony, while talking about the history between these two, brings up the Black Scorpion. Of all the things to talk about for these two, you talk about that angle?

We got a pretty decent match going on.. Until Tony tells us that the show is running out of time and it goes off the air. WTF?! Well, knowing Sting didn’t win the there, I’m going to go ahead and say

Winner, and STILL WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Ric Flair

Okay, who thought that was a good idea? “I got it! Let’s have an good match between these two megastars, and not show the ending!” Otherwise, this was a decent match. **¼

Considering that WCW Saturday Night was quickly becoming the B-Show of WCW, it was somewhat surprising to see a few stars on here. The weird thing though is that this is the B-Show, yet it’s twice as long as the A-Show. That wouldn’t last long though.

Lots of squashes, which is expected, but there was a relatively decent Benoit./Guerrero match. With more time, we all know these two could put on a match that easily got in the ****+ star range. Sting/Flair is what I expect from these two, but it wasn’t too bad. The ending though was a bit of a cop out to get people to watch WCW Pro. Other than those two bits, it was a relatively average B-Show. 5.5/10

Other Saturday Night Notes:

1. Lee Marshall, for those that don’t know, is the current voice of Tony the Tiger. I am really hoping he had a segment with Arn Anderson <_<.

2. I admit that I laughed more than I should have when Sting told Luger he didn’t know what a street fight was. I was almost expecting an “I DON’T KNOW!” from Luger.

3. Don’t expect this to be a regular thing. For one thing, I don’t think I can take two hours of squashes and interviews. For another.. I can’t really find that many WCW Saturday Nights online. I’ll probably just go straight to Nitro

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Match Three: Kevin Sullivan and Arn Anderson w/Jimmy Hart vs. Tom Kent and Scott D’Amore

Yep, that’s the same Scott D’Amore that would later be Coach of Team Canada. He looks like he stole DDP’s tights.

Squash match that sees Arn pin Scott D’Amore.

Winners by pinfall: Kevin Sullivan/Arn Anderson

N/R for short squash

Postmatch, Arn puts a Hulk Hogan shirt on D’Amore, and they beat him up. Flair, Elizabeth, and Woman is out there as well now.

Gene now with the Alliance to end Hulkamania.. Or TAteH for short. They hype up a six man lumberjack strap match. That’s a mouthful.

Mean Gene hyping up the WCW Hotline. Good for him.

Match Four: Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero

Well, this show got a whole lot more interesting. Hell, the crowd is pretty damn psyched to see them as well! That’s a good sign.

In a funny moment, Tony shills WCW events “all over the road.” Every event he talks about is in Georgia.

Decent five minute match between these two that saw Guerrero hit Benoit with the frog splash (still referred to as the Jackknife,) then a rollup for the win.

Winner by pinfall: Eddie Guerrero

Postmatch, Benoit attacks Guerrero and throws Guerrero into the guardrail (called a fence Rhodes.)

A fun match that is thus far the is the longest for this Saturday Night. *¾

Backstage Lee Marshall is speaking to Chris Benoit. Benoit wants a match against Guerrero next week on Saturday Night. Marshall thinks the Four Horsemen/DoD alliance isn’t all that great.

Match Five: Diamond Dallas Page vs. ’Jumping’ Joey Maggs w/Teddy Long

The biggest difference in appearance for Teddy Long here and now is Long no longer has a soul patch. I think I’ve seen him wear the same suit on Smackdown before, as well!

The “story” here is that DDP is so poor that he’s sold off everything he has, including his wrestling tights. He really looks all frazzled here. I guess wrestling really doesn’t pay.

DDP wins with a Diamond Cutter.

Winner by pinfall: DDP.

N/R for yet another squash match.

Lee Marshall now talking to DDP. DDP wants yet another match against Johnny B. Badd. Hope he can settle for someone with more.. Booty.

Match Six: Lex Luger vs. Cobra

I mentioned earlier in the topic that Cobra was nWo Sting.. So in a sense it’s like we’re watching Hulk Hogan vs. Sting! Yeah.. I’m not buying it either.

Cobra dominates most of the match, only for Hart to come out, interfere, and give Luger the win with a torture rack.

Winner by submission: Lex Luger

Sting is out and chases Hart to the back. They again argue. This is like watching the exact same match from the previous Nitro. So… does that make fake Sting the fake fake Ultimate Warrior? Okay, I’ll stop.

Back to Mean Gene, and Sting and Luger hype up their Chicago Street Fight with the Road Warriors. Sting points out that Luger doesn’t know what a Chicago Street Fight is. I can believe it.

After the break, we get an interview with the Mega Powers. They hype up the double strap lumberjack match. That’s a mouthful. Hogan wants Bootyman to strap their booties. That’s horrifying.

Match Seven: V.K. Wallstreet vs. Jim Duggan

Boring match with lots of right punches. VK loses after trying to get the pin when Craig Pittman comes out and knocks him out.

Winner by pinfall: Jim Duggan

Duggan and Pittman celebrate their win.

This wasn’t a really entertaining match. The punch was the only move used here. ¼*.

We go back to the WCW Control Center and more of a hype job for WCW Uncensored.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

Show: WCW Saturday Night
Airdate: March 2nd, 1996
Arena/Location: Georgia Mountains Center in Gainesville, GA
Commentators: Tony Schiavone and Dusty Rhodes

I think I’ve said it before, but that was some badass music they used for the intro of WCW Saturday Night. I swear they could give that theme to a guy like Tyler Reks and he would immediately become a main eventer.

We get a quick recap of the main event of Nitro, then go to Tony and Dusty who hype up this edition of Saturday Night. Dusty Rhodes, if you didn’t know, called Saturday Night the Mothership. Nice to know. They introduce the newest addition of the WCW announce team: Lee Marshall. For those not aware, Lee Marshall was the voice of AWA back in the 80’s, so he’s not just some random hobo they pulled off the street. Immediately after I wrote that joke, Tony calls him the man with the golden voice. Uh, let’s get to the action before I break the space time continuum.

Match One: Loch Ness w/ Jimmy Hart vs. The Shadow and Kenny Shaw in a handicap match

Keeny Shaw was Kenny Kaos aka one half of High Voltage (a name that WCW stole from Matt Hardy, of all people) I couldn’t find anything on Shadow, though.

Squash match is a squash. Loch Ness stands in a corner and just kicks both men, drops an elbow on Shaw, and wins.

Winner by pinfall: Loch Ness

Postmatch, Loch Ness does an elbow drop on The Shadow. I wonder, if he’s from Parts Unknown, where do they send the check?

N/R for squashes.

We go to Mean Gene backstage as he interviews a apparently quick moving Loch Ness and Jimmy Hart. Hart is hyping up an apparent program between Loch Ness and Hogan. Loch Ness stated Hart promised him a shot against Hogan. Hart says it’ll happen real soon. I hope not.

We get a random video of Lord Steven Regal beating up the British Bulldog. I think this was some sort of burial of WWF talent that once worked in WCW? Okay..

Match Two: DickSlater w/ Col. Rob Parker vs. American Males (AMERICAN MALES!) in a handicap match

This was supposed to be a regular tag team match, but Bunkhouse Bunk is nowhere to be found, apparently.

Slater holds off both American Males briefly, till he tires out and falls out of the ring. What, he is tired after two minutes? He’s back in and American Males beat him soundly after that.

Winners by pinfall: American Males

We get a replay of the match we just saw. It lasted less than five minutes. Do we need a replay?

Quick match that got worse once American Males started to play again. ¾*

Backstage again with Mean Gene as he speaks with Dick Slater and Col. Parker. Parker tries to keep Slater calm, but Slater wants to get rid of him. Madusa is out, punches Parker, and demands a match against him.

Back from commercial, we have Mean Gene at the WCW Control Center? Okay.. Hype job for Uncensored. Mean Gene said Hogan was sent a telegram by the Alliance to end Hulkamania to a Doomsday Cage match. I’m shocked Hogan didn’t find out about it online. The internet has the REAL scoops.

--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...

The main event and Luger/Renegade matches were sub-par, while the two moderately entertaining matches both ended in a weak finish. Sting over(re)acting to Hart helping Luger was funny though. 4.5/10

TV Rating: 3.2

Other Nitro Notes:

1. The whole ‘Zodiac was a spy’ thing was a pretty bad twist. Why would they constantly fight/attack him if he was on their side? Why does Hogan need a spy in the DoD? Everything is done in front of a camera!

2. How often do big boots and cross bodies finish a match?

3. Quote of the Show: Bischoff, after Mongo talks about having spies in the enemy camp. “You know I’ve heard that one myself *fake clears throat* from time to time.” I know it doesn’t seem rather quotable, but it did remind me of an old rumor that Tod Gordon was a mole in ECW and trying to lure talent to WCW. I think Gordon claimed years later it was just a work, but it just comes off as highly unusual for Bischoff to say.

4. There was no Nitro next week, so I'm thinking the next Nitro was on 3-11-96. Who thinks I should watch one or both episodes of Saturday Night to keep things flowing?

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The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...