Monday Night Wars: From The Beginning

"WELCOME EVERYBODY, TO A NEW ERA IN PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING! WELCOME TO A NEW ERA IN WCW, WELCOME....TO MONDAY NITRO! We are here LIVE to you from the Mall of America I am Eric Bischoff, joined by my broadcast partners, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and Tony Schiavone! Gentleman, it's official, MONDAY NITRO IS HERE!"


"Eric, let me tell you something I have been in this industry for a long time and I can honestly say I have NEVER seen anything quite like this! WE HAVE PACKED OUT A MALL FOLKS! AND WE ARE LIVE! Not just live occasionally, not just live a couple times a week, but live every Monday Night, from this night on!"


"And folks if you think you should flip over to our competition at any point. Let me just let you now know that tonight they're gonna' have some PERVERT in a skin tight golden suit and a WIG talkin' like some sort of freak! Does that sound like wrestling to you? It certainly doesn't. This is WCW. This is WHERE THE BIG BOYS PLAY and unlike our competition we aren't gonna' waste your time with hype. We're gonna head straight into the action!

BRIAN PILLMAN VS. JUSHIN THUNDER LIGER


It is quickly established that the strategy for this initial broadcast of Nitro is to show you a style of wrestling that is different than anything else in America right now. Brian Pillman, despite his current moral disposition has a unique style that can not be denied and meshes extremely well with the mystery man from Japan, Jushin Thunder Liger. A truly athletic bout to get things started, fast paced, tumbling, rolling, back and forth technical prowess. It's clear to Pillman that unlike the common opponents he may face from the U.S Jushin Liger can play him at his own game and some could say, he does it better. Pillman's frustrations grow as the match goes on and he fails to out perform and out class Liger and eventually Pillman's style becomes harder, more aggressive, less about speed and more about brute power and the match comes to a head when Liger tries going for a diving attack only to end up caught by Pillman and driven to the mat with a devastating neckbreaker.

AFTER THE MATCH




Pillman is sitting on the ring apron catching his breath as his eyes scan the audience around him, chuckling to himself as thoughts run through his mind, his eyes look out to the announce table and he notices Eric Bischoff, immediately his chuckling stops, his eyes become icy, his head snaps over to one of the guys running the cameras. You can hear his raspy voice yelling through the camera mic.

GET ME A MICROPHONE!

You can see the camera shifting around, a ring hand running by looking confused over to the time keeper's area to grab a mic, Pillman starts rocking back and forth on the ring apron as the referee tends to Jushin Liger, making sure that Pillman gets no funny ideas he starts gathering ringside security to make sure Liger gets out without any further provocation from Pillman. You can hear Pillman shout once more as the ring hand stumbles around looking for a mic.

GET. ME. A GOD DAMN. MICROPHONE!

After a couple of moments of fumbling, the ring hand runs back with a mic and hands it to Pillman, the aura of confusion only growing across the entire Mall, even the announcers seem unaware of what is happening here.Pillman runs his hands through his hair as he raises the microphone to his mouth.

"Really important night here for you isn't it Bischoff? You must feel real proud of yourself booker man, managing to convince Teddy to fork out some his billions for a project like this?! I CAN call him Teddy can't I? Why am I asking YOU?! I imagine he's watching because he wouldn't want to miss the first edition of his new investment...would you Teddy?!"

Pillman's eyes shift from the announce table directly to the center of the camera, he's talking to Ted Turner now. Who if Ted isn't watching, he definitely is going to hear about this or be shown this later on in the night.

"Real big improvement to the show Teddy, well done, you've really polished things up here, but there's just one problem...you can polish this company up as much as you want, but the fact of the matter is...THAT IT'S STILL NOTHIN' BUT A PIECE OF S**T!"

WOAH! HE CAN'T SAY THAT! WE'RE LIVE! WE CAN'T CENSOR THAT! SOMEONE CUT THE MIC! SOMEONE GET THE MIC FROM HIM! THIS GUY IS A LOOSE CANNON!

"I have sat here patiently as booker, after booker, cheap suit, after cheap suit that YOU brought in Teddy, who had NO idea what they were doing, no idea how to run a wrestling company and have absolutely NO BUSINESS even being associated with this sport! I sat patiently hoping someone with a brain would see the caliber of talent being overlooked! I sat patiently as I waited as like so many other guys in that locker room, I waited for MY opportunity that had been promised to me time...and time...and time again. Need an example? Okay here's one. Hey Brian! Keep up the good work pal! With a work ethic like that, you'll get an opportunity in no time! Hey Brian we got plans for you pal! You're on the come up! HEY BRIAN...Sorry but plans have changed, we got NOTHIN FOR YOU, so we're gonna put you in a tag team with "Stunning" Steve Austin, but we're not gonna' tell HIM that, YOU'RE GONNA BE THE ONE TO HAVE TO BREAK THE NEWS!"

Now he's bringing up wrestlers who aren't even here any more? Is this real? Is this a shoot? Is it a work? The reaction from members of staff and the announce table seem to indicate they didn't know this was going to happen. It certainly seems...unscheduled...and more importantly, unscripted.

"And what did me and Steve DO Teddy?! Do you even know?! I know your new yes man Eric Bischoff knows! Isn't that right BOOKER MAN!? We took this slap dash, last minute, COULDN'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT EITHER OF US BOOKING! AND WE TURNED IT INTO GOLD! We did what NOBODY thought we could do and we were on track to becoming one of the best tag teams not only in this company but in the entire damn industry and you know what? Me and Steve became VERY good friends in the process! It was a blessing in disguise and we didn't even know it, we were that DAMN good, that we took your last minute, slap dash, COULDN'T GIVE A DAMN BOOKING...and we showed the world...why they need to keep their eyes on us...and just as we were gaining momentum what happened Bischoff? You might not have had the power you do now but you know...WE GET BROKEN UP! BECAUSE THE BIG BOYS IN THE BACK COULDN'T HANDLE US BEING RISING STARS!"

You can hear an audible "Oooohhhh" from the crowd as shots get fired to some of the boys in the back, though no names get mentioned, some ideas certainly start circling around the minds of those in the know. there's always talk of the main eventers holding the young guys back and the rumor mill is enough for them to connect the dots.

"But hey, we work with it right? Make it work, that's what we always get told. And that's what we do...we bu7st our ass for this company and we bust our ass for YOU Teddy...and the cheap, used car salesmen that you DARE to put in charge of this company were just too damn dense to notice! Too damn dense to care what we do, how hard we work, even if we GET HURT...Like Steve got hurt...and just when Steve Austin, MY FRIEND is at the lowest point of his career, busted up, broken down, burned out, INJURED from all the work he put in for WCW...what does he get? He gets a phone call from your new henchman, ERIC BISCHOFF...tellin' him that he's out, he's done, the high payin' job is OVER! AND HE FIRES MY FRIEND OVER THE PHONE! Not face to face, like a man, not calling him to the office, LIKE A MAN, because doin' somethin like that, would require a set of BALLS and that's just somethin' you don't have is it ERIC?!"

Eric rises from his seat in the announce table and takes off his headset, he walks off screen for a moment shaking his head and yelling towards some of the engineers

CUT THE MIC! CUT HIS DAMN MIC AND GET HIM OUT OF HERE!
Pillman is continuing regardless, no intention of leaving.

"You want to know more about Eric Bischoff? About who he really is?! Why don't we?! Class is in session! Eric Bischoff...is a-"

Before he can finish the engineers do as Eric told them and the mic is cut, once Pillman notices all he can do is laugh, he shoots a wink at the camera as he jumps down from the apron and drops the microphone to the floor. He notices security starting to head towards the ring and looks around scoping the area. It's a mall, it's a public place, it's absolutely packed. This sin't a standard arena, he can get out easily and he does just that, hopping the barricade, escaping through the gathering crowd and heading out through the mall, getting lost in the crowd...

EDDIE GUERRERO VS. SABU




Once again a new refreshing presentation of wrestling seems to be the focus for the undercard as the lucha libre inspired style of Eddie Guerrero faces off against the mad, death defying style of wrestling of Sabu. If one thing was clear here in this match, it is the threat that Sabu poses not only to his opponents, but to himself, willing to put himself in harms way just to get a shot in at Eddie with the way he throws himself around the ring. Eddie's heart and resilience helped him mount a come back thanks to the support of the fans and using his nimble athletic ability he rolled out of the way of what wouldcould have been a match ending slingshot leg drop from Sabu and once Sabu came crashing down the match was growing more and more into Eddie's favor until Eddie managed to put an end to it with a Frog Splash.

THE DIAMOND SUITE

We return from the ad break to see the ring is now set up to look like a V.I.P lounge. In the center is a black leather lounger sofa, with a couple leather lounger seats beside it. There's a large flat screen TV on a stand behind the sofa, there's a large metal stand with an ice bucket on it and inside a bottle of champagne, besides it a table with a set of champagne glasses. A Diamond logo with "The Diamond Suite" branded on it is showing on the screen of the television, a fancy carpet tug lays on the mat, the wolf whistles of desperate men can be heard eminating from the audience amidst the boos of the rest of the crowd, as splayed out across the sofa, in a black velvet robe, leaving very little to the imagination, was The Diamond Doll, Kimberly Page, branded microphone in hand, and a smile upon her face.


"Like The Diamond Cutter...you poor pathetic losers never saw it coming. the absolute GENIUS of my man Diamond Dallas Page CAN NOT BE DENIED! His great mind for business saw an opportunity and he took it and thanks to his great creative mind, here I am before you, PROUD to introduce to you the latest and the greatest interview show that will ever hit the airwaves. Forget the Late Night Show, THIS is going to be the most PREMIUM and EXCLUSIVE show not only in wrestling, but in the whole of entertainment and MY MAN is the one that's going to bring it to you! So be thankful, be grateful...and welcome your fabulous host of The Diamond Suite, MY MAN...DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE!






DDP comes out with the biggest, self aggrandizing grin you can imagine, cigar in his mouth, tinted shades and a walk that just exuded arrogance as he made his way towards the ring. As he made his way down, The Diamond Doll popped open the bottle of champagne and began pouring a couple of glasses as DDP grandstanded and showboated, so happy with himself that he has now got his very own show! As he enters the ring The Doll hands him a glass of bubbly, the two hook arms and slowly sip down the fizz to the annoyance of the fans, until both glasses are empty! They place the glasses back down and in unison, shoot a diamond toward the sky with their hands as the music slowly fades out...The Doll hands DDP his mic, giving him a peck on the cheek as she does so

"Everyone please, give a round of applause to my lovely Diamond Doll for such a wonderful introduction! Isn't she just amazin'?!"

The crowd responds with mainly boos, outside the couple hound dogs that would root for The Diamond Doll no matter what she did, the rest of the WCW faithful make it clear, this is not a woman you should be showing your support to.

"Thanks to the powers that be of TBS, you all now get to see my beautiful face and my Diamond Dolls SMOKIN' HOT BOD LIVE on Monday Nights! See coz when I heard that Billionaire Ted was investin' his money on a new, live, PRIME TIME PROJECT...well...I just KNEW that Diamond Enterprises had to get a piece of that business man!  I came to the suits, I had my meetin' and I promised them a show like no other baby! No cheap guests! No wannabe's! No Jabronis! ONLY THE BEST! ONLY THE BIGGEST! ONLY THE MOST TALKED ABOUT THING IN WRESTLIN' TODAY! Brought to you...by yours truly of course!"

DDP points at himself and shoots a wink to the camera, The Diamond Doll nodding and applauding as the fans continue to throw their hatred to no avail. DDP either doesn't notice and is deluded, or he just doesn't care.

"Of course they were hesitant at first, I mean, who wouldn't be?! When someone is promisin' you premium and exclusive content that nobody else can bring you...well they better be able to bring it! When they asked me who exactly I had in mind as my first guest! I didn't even NEED a moment of hesitation bro! He's easily one of the most talked about faces in wrestling today, easily one of the biggest stars in WCW AND...he's been facin' quite a lotta' hostility lately from none other than the Dungeon of Doom and DDP...well he had some pressin' questions for this star anyways. So when I asked for the man who I wanted to be my first guest...I was MORE than happy to hear the very quick response in a matter of days. he agreed without any stipulations, any caveats, any catch. And I think we all know why, because he realizes just how much of a BOOST a show like this will give to his image! He KNOWS what bein' the very first guest of The Diamond Suite can do for his career!"

"So, without further a do, allow me to introduce to you, a man I know you all love, and ladies I ESPECIALLY know that's the case for you if ya' know what I mean, eh?! He has been declared by some as the wrestler of the decade! He is the man.called.STING!"



The fans are hesitant to truly believe it at first as Sting's music hits. They wouldn't exactly put it past DDP to talk a big game and not deliver, it isn't like it would be the first time it's happened. However when he appears on the walkway, clad as always in his bright colored tights, his flashy jacket, his painted face and his blonde buzz cut, the fans explode. Cheers, screaming women, yelling children all throwing their support behind their hero, not really caring as to WHY he agreed to this. Just happy to see him, although they know Sting will explain to them why he's even bothering with the likes of DDP. The Diamond Doll pours another glass of champagne and offers it to Sting as he enters the ring. Sting just shakes his head, causing The Doll to shrug and hand it to DDP instead, who gives The Doll a thankful pat on the butt before necking the fizz once more. The Doll brings over Sting another mic as DDP welcomes him to the show...

"Stinger I just gotta' say man it's unreal havin you here dude! They didn't think I'd actually manage to get you here so the fact you proved my doubters wrong, that just has ta' get a huge thank you from me bro!"


"Actually DDP, the reason I agreed to come on to your show was because I heard you were talkin' a lot of trash about me in the locker room to the other boys and I wanted to see if you had the nerve to say it to my face!"

"Ooooooh" The fans get it now. the shoe has dropped, DDP's just putting on the nice guy act. He's kissing butt, he's playing the role of a TV host, but he's still the same sleaze ball we all know he is! DDP is clearly feigning a look of shock, shaking his head frantically as he raises his hands trying to calm the situation immediately as it has already!

DDP
"Talkin' trash? Naw man, Stinger I#m sorry buddy but ya' got it all wrong, all I been doin' is askin' questions with what's been goin on lately that's all. You know what the rumor mill is like in the locker room, man'! I promise. I was just askin' questions."

STING
"Okay...what kind of questions?"

Sting is clearly, and rightfully apprehensive. Once again, it wouldn't be the first time that DDP has talked tough behind someone's back and then acted ignorant when confronted face to face.

DDP
Well let's talk about The Dungeon shall we? 

You can hear some groans amongst the boos. Oh god. Not The Dungeon. There's definitely some "Go away" heat at the mere mention of the group although there are certainly members of the group that the crowd despise the way they are supposed to. 

STING
What about The Dungeon?

DDP 
Well it's no secret they been runnin' rough shot, bein' a thorn in the side of Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage...yourself...and I'm just curious is all Stinger as to why this company is allowin' The situation with The Dungeon to affect your responsibilities as United States Champion?

STING
Excuse me?! The Dungeon might be a hurdle but my status as United States Champion is...

DDP
Undisputed?! I KNOW MAN and THAT'S what I don't get. See Stinger, I don't know if you realize this man, but there's a long standing rule that championship belts need to be defended at least once within a thirty day period. Well it ain't no secret that at Fall Brawl you have your hands tied with The Dungeon, so when exactly do you intend on defendin' your title this month?

STING
WCW has already announced on putting together a Number One Contender's match at Fall Brawl. Whoever wins that match DDP? Whoever it may be? I will be MORE than happy to defend my belt against them in whatever remaining time there is in the month of September. 

DDP
And do you know who is gonna' be in that Number One Contender's match?

STING
That isn't my responsibility Page, and you know that. Why? IS this your long winded way of saying you wanna avoid the process and face me for the title?

DDP
And what if it is huh? Don't ya' think I deserve it Stinger?! I mean...LOOK AROUND YA'! Look at what I was able to put together! You'd have to be blind not ta' see...that I deserve a shot at that belt!

STING
With all due respect...whether you think you deserve it or not. You want to face me? One on one? Name the place, name the date...we'll get it done. You want to face me for the belt? You earn it. Just like I did...just like everybody else before me did. You want to be in that Number One Contender's match? Talk to the board about it.

DDP
Well...I guess I'll just have to take it into my own hands then won't I?

With an overhand reach, DDP cracks the champagne glass over Sting's head causing glass to shatter everywhere and for the Stinger to reel back, before he has a chance to respond DDP leaps up and out of nowhere sends him straight down to the mat with The Diamond Cutter! DDP is yelling and cussing out Sting though we can't hear it because the microphones were dropped. The Diamond Doll rushing to DDP's side to try and calm him down as he delivers boots to the back of the fallen Stinger. The show fades to back as DDP eventually leaves the ring with the fallen stinger in the center.



*WRITER'S NOTE* If anybody could make a logo for The Diamond Suite I would greatly appreciate it as I am terrible at making graphics

ARN ANDERSON VS. JIM DUGGAN




We go on to a more traditional style of match now as we head into the upper card, perhaps not as new or as unique as the under card presented, but star power alone helped carry the excitement built up through the show as Arn and Duggan had a battle of brawn between them. Anderson proved to be the more wiley of the two using pin point precision to get the most out of his offence where as Duggan was trying to use an all out assault to get the win. Arn's tactic was essentially a wrestling version of a rope-a-dope, wearing down Duggan before putting him away and sealing the deal with a Spinebuster

PASTAMANIA


"Folks we're just taking a moment here, because you see, Monday Nitro isn't the only thing enjoying it's debut here tonight! Today we are officially seeing the grand opening of Hulk Hogan's venture into the culinary arts! Today PATAMANIA opens in the Mall of America! Hogan! You must be flyin' high right now?!"



"LET ME TELL YA' SOMETHIN' BISCHOFF! I'm feelin' trim! I'm feelin fit! I'M FEELIN' AT FULL FORCE BROTHER! AND YOU CAN THANK MY HULKAROOS RIGHT HERE FROM PASTAMANIA FOR THAT BROTHER! You can see all my little Hulkamaniacs around me! They KNOW the truth brother! They KNOW the power that Hulkamania has and now they TOO can get that same power, with the fuel, the energy, the FORCE of PASTAMANIA DUDE!"

ERIC
"How do you feel coming into this Monday Nitro tonight? Do you have any words for your opponent? One of the members of The Dungeon of Doom, Kamala?"


HULK HOGAN
Well the Dungeon of Doom is gonna' get what's comin' to 'em come Fall brawl dude and Kamala's just gonna' get a TASTE of that tonight! Taskmaster! I hope you're listenin' brother, because Randy Savage, The Stinger and The Hulkster are comin' for ya' at Fall Brawl man! We might be out numbered, but we certainly won't be outmatched, because with PASTAMANIA BY OUR SIDE, WITH THE HULKAMANIACS BELIEVIN' IN US, NOTHIN'S GONNA STOP US AND KAMALA'S GONNA FIND THAT OUT FIRST HAND TONIGHT DUDE! WHATCHA GONNA DOOOO KAMALA, WHEN HULKAMANIA! PASTAMANIA! HULK HOGAN RUNS WILD.ON. YOOOOOOU!!!



(Yes. Pastamania got me an 80.)

HULK HOGAN VS. KAMALA



Now if you wanna talk about old school. This right here is a match that probably belongs in the previous decade, but god damn it. It's Hulk Hogan, it's Hulkamania and while it might not be getting the white hot reaction it used to. It was still easily the match of the night in regards to the fan reaction. Whilst certainly not the match of the night in regards to an in ring performance. It's a Hogan match, it's exactly what you'd expect it to be, not as many bumps, Hogan starts out struggling, Hulks up, comes back, Punch, Punch, YOOOOU, Leg Drop. Pin. The fans ate it up like Pastamania regardless.

AFTER THE MATCH



IT'S THE GIANT! IT'S THE GIANT Easily the most dominant and intimidating member of The Dungeon! He's coming out after Hogan's match, Oh god what does he have in store for The Hulkster! GET OUTTA THERE HOGAN! The Giant is getting closer and closer to the ring but The Hulkster isn't backing down, he's just finished a fight and he's getting prepared for another one and as The Giant heads in Hogan starts delivering the shots! Punch after Punch but it doesn't seem to even dent The massive BEAST as he just seems to shrug them off. He catches one of Hogan's hands and Hogan freezes in disbelif and with a mighty CHOP! He sends Hogan careening to the floor in pain, clutching at his chest. The Giant then hoists Hogan up with both hands, LIFITNG HIM UP ABOVE HIS HEAD! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! THE GIANT HAS HOGAN IN THE AIR AND...! OH MY GOD HE THROWS HIM TO THE OUTSIDE, OVER THE TOP ROPE! GET SECURITY IN THERE, GET THE REFEREES, GET THE EMT'S! We gotta' go folks! GOD DAMN IT