WCW Nitro
Airdate: August 26th, 1996
Arena/Location: Manatee Civic Center in Palmetto , FL
Hour One Commentators: Larry Zbyszko and Tony Schiavone
Match One: Billy Kidman vs. Juventud Guerrera
They hype up Juventud, who’s making his debut on Nitro.
Guerrera controls the early going on this fast paced contest, but Kidman comes back after he countered a springboard hurricanrana into a powerbomb. Kidman goes to the top rope and connects with a shooting star press! He goes for the cover, but Juventud kicks out! Kidman back up on the top rope, but Juventud is up and hit’s a hurricanrana off the top rope for the win.
Winner by pinfall: Juventud Guerrera
*** for a quick but good back and forth contest.
Mean Gene in the ring now with Juventud Guerrera. Juventud didn’t know English quite well at this point, as he transitions back and forth between English and Spanish. All I can pick up is that he says he’s the best worker in Mexico. Well, I guess he’s a heel.
Tony shills the then new Crow movie, before we get an exclusive clip of it. I was never a fan of the movies.
Match Two: Marcus Bagwell (MARCUS BAGWELL!) and Jim Powers w/Teddy Long vs. Dungeon of Doom (Kevin Sullivan and Big Bubba) w/Jimmy Hart
Apparently, Scotty Riggs has been injured.
Powers and Bagwell actually manhandles the Dungeon of Doom for the majority of this bout. Sullivan and Bubba do come back briefly, but Powers is able to use his weight to take Bubba down and gets the three.
Winners by pi-
Wait, Nick Patrick has reversed the decision. He says Bubba’s arm came up. Bubba and Sullivan attack the two men from behind, Bubba hit’s a sideslam and gets the win.
Winners by pinfall: Kevin Sullivan and Big Bubba
*½
Mean Gene in the ring now interviewing Sullivan and Bubba. Bubba says he should be getting all the title shots. He then wonders when the hell Glacier is coming. We’ve been getting videos for him for months. I know! Sullivan claims that he saw Gene Okerlund hanging with Hogan, though Gene rebuffs by saying it was Bischoff. Hmm..
After a break, we go to Mean Gene in the back with Sting and Luger. They hype up their match against Benoit and Mongo McMichael tonight. Guess this is a gut check, or something.
Match Three: Mike Enos vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.
Enos in control for the majority of this match. Dick Slater shows up partway through this contest. He’s got a towel over his head for some reason. The end of this contest sees the ref going down, Slater taking Eno’s places, but Chavo getting the pin over Slater!
Winner by pinfall: Chavo Guerrero Jr.
*¼ from me.
Match Four: J.L. vs. Rey Mysterio Jr.© for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship
A few minutes into this contest, they camera cuts to the back where the nWo are spraypainting over the WCW Production truck. Hogan is writing nWo over it, while Hall writes in 4 Life under it. After we get footage of this for a moment or two, we go back to the ring.
Back from the break, and JL is using the size advantage he has over Mysterio to control the match. Rey Mysterio however does come back briefly, but he’s distracted by Dean Malenko, who’s standing at the entranceway. JL and Mysterio out of the ring now. Mysterio is on the steps, and hit’s a nice hurricanrana on JL. Back in the ring, and Rey Mysterio hits another one, but is able hold JL into a pin, to win!
Winner, and STILL WCW Cruiserweight Champion: Rey Mysterio Jr.
**¾. Alright, but Mysterio didn’t get much of his usual high flying moves in.
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