Nitro Episode 1:
Wednesday 2nd May 2001
Live late-night on FX
8,511 crowd at the Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum
Show opens up with Linkin Park's 'Runaway' and some fireworks
Tony Schiavone, Scott Hudson and Arn Anderson hyping up the return of Nitro and showing shots of an excited crowd.
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Shane McMahon enters to a huge pop with a scattering of boos here and there and makes his way down to the ring.
Shane welcomes fans in the arena and the TV back to Nitro and how excited he is to get WCW its own TV deal on FX.
He addresses fans who don't believe this is genuine and that it is just a Vince/WWF feeder project. Says that he couldn't use his own theme music (maybe he'll have to sign Jim Johnson) and mentions a few Shane O'Mac signs, says you won't see him using that nickname here as WWF trademarked it!
Shane says this is the real deal. He won't lie and say he's been a WCW fanboy or hoped they wouldn't go out of business in the past (boos) but this was not his Dad's idea. This is not a WWF project where in a few months you'll see some third-rate invasion angle with WWF guys and WCW guys invading each others show (some boos to this) this is a WCW project and Shane's goal is to take WCW back to the top!
WCW is his chance to show the world and his Dad that he's not just the future of wrestling promoting but he's the best in the business today! He's not just a daredevil risk-taker in a wrestling ring, but behind the scenes too!
Shane says WCW is back with a bang and announces their first PPV back in business will be WCW Big Bang! Sunday May 27th! Shane says he wants this PPV to announce to the world that WCW is back and Shane McMahon is not here to take part but he's here to take-over!
With that in mind Shane says he's going to waste no time in announcing Big Bang's main event. First of all Shane tells the fans to give it up for their WCW double crown World and U.S champion...Booker T!
Booker T comes out with both belts to a huge pop from the fans in the arena. Booker T gets in the ring with Shane McMahon and skeptically shakes his hand. Shane hypes up Booker T as double crown champion.
Booker T cuts a promo thanking the fans and saying he agrees with some who aren't sure about Shane or how genuine this project is, but he will give his all for WCW and the two prestigious titles that he holds.
Booker T makes a comment about how he didn't even have to sleep with the bosses daughter to win two titles, fans go wild for this dig at WWF/Triple H. Shane laughs a bit but doesn't seem super happy and makes a comment about how "that's still my sister!"
Booker T then asks who he will face in the main event at Big Bang.
Shane says he wants to start off with a bang at Big Bang and who better to challenge Booker T in the main event than this man...
Crowd goes nuts for DDP
DDP cuts short promo how he's excited for WCW to be back and at Big Bang he's going to beat Booker and equal his 4 times as champion and become U.S champion whilst he's at it!
Booker T says he respects DDP and is a fighting champion but he finds it a bit odd that DDP just gets a shot at both titles without having earned either.
Shane McMahon says Booker is right. DDP hasn't earned the right to challenge for both titles. DDP and Booker T will main event Big Bang for the WCW World Heavyweight championship, but the WCW United States Championship is another story altogether. Shane says he respects Booker wanting to be a fighting champion and he will give him the chance to prove just that.
Shane mentions it being the US Title, what better way to decide who will challenge for the US title than with one of America's favourite past-times...gambling!
Shane gets out a deck of playing cards. Shane says he's already told Tony Schiavone (welcome back by the way) a random card... and he will be letting everybody on the roster pick a card at random and that for the main event of Nitro's return... Booker T will defend the WCW United States championship against the person with that card!
Shane drops the mic and goes to leave the ring but not before DDP stops him to ask for a first pick at the deck of cards. The commentary team mention maybe the main event of the first Nitro could even be Booker T vs DDP for the US title!
Shane McMahon, Booker T & DDP freestyle (88 rated)
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Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo backstage talking to Johnny Ace and JJ Dillon.
O'Haire says Booker T isn't the only fighting champion in WCW and they want to know who they'll defend the titles against at Big Bang. Johnny Ace says Shane's the boss, not him or JJ and from what he's heard there might be a new booker in town from next week's Nitro.
Mid-way through the promo Shane returns to his office and asks what's going on. Johnny Ace explains and Shane says, if you're so keen on defending those titles, forget Big Bang! You can defend them tonight! You just get out there later and I'll worry about finding a team to face you!
Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo both take a card from Shane and then leave.
Shane looks stressed and asks Johnny if he's finalised getting a GM sorted to help handle the booking of the show whilst he deals with production etc. Johnny says he'll get it done whatever it takes. Shane thanks his head of talent relations and then says how are you getting on with the hottest free agent in wrestling? Johnny Ace says he's working on that too but there's a lot of competition. Shane says he doesn't give a damn how much it costs he wants him at next week's Nitro to show the world WCW is the future of this industry!
Shane rushes off. JJ says to Johnny "well I know who the free agent is, but who are we hiring to be the new GM?"
Johnny whispers it to JJ who reacts furiously and can't believe it! What?!? You've got to be kidding me!
Freestyle segment with Sean O'Haire, Chuck Palumbo, Johnny Ace, JJ Dillon and Shane McMahon (70 rated)
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Match 1:
Shane Helms (C) vs AJ Styles for the WCW Cruiserweight Title
In the first match of the night we see Cruiserweight champion Shane Helms put his title on the line against rookie young talent AJ Styles. It's a fairly open match with a nice amount of high-spots throughout which gets the crowd interested. At various points AJ looks like maybe he could pull off an upset but eventually Shane Helms finds his opening and gets the clean win.
Shane Helms retains the title via pinfall (8.04 minutes) - (56 rated)
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Jamie Knoble backstage with Kid Kash watching the monitor. Jamie mentions how Shane might be able to beat a rookie but he wouldn't find it so easy against someone more experienced like him.
Buff Bagwell enters the frame flanked by Johnny 'The Bull' Stamboli. He squares up to Jamie Knoble and says I don't know if you've seen the card for tonight, but we've got a match against each other late on. You want to talk about experience and finding it easy, kid? Well we'll see who finds it easy later tonight as The Bull laughs.
Freestyle segment with Buff Bagwell, Jamie Knoble and Kid Kash (48 rated)
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Billy Kidman and Torrie Wilson are talking about what card Billy Kidman picked up for the U.S title match with Dawn Marie chilling with them. Billy says he has the Queen of Hearts and Torrie is the Queen of his Heart. Torrie laughs along. Billy is flirting with Torrie and showing off in front of Dawn Marie and says as his manager he hopes she can manage to keep his card safe. She puts in her jacket. Chavo Guerrero Jr comes into set greeting Billy and the ladies. He gives a flirty hug to Dawn Marie and politely hugs Torrie Wilson and wishes Kidman best of luck later on tonight
Freestyle segment with Billy Kidman, Torrie Wilson, Dawn Marie and Chavo Guerrero (44 rated)
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Match 2:
Skipper and Romeo give a half-decent account of themselves in the match but Lance Storm especially is just too good technically for them to deal with and Storm gets the win via pinfall
Team Canada wins via pinfall (8.27) - (57 rated)
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DDP and Kanyon in the back. Kanyon says he's genuinely pleased for DDP to get the big match at Big Bang for the title. DDP says maybe if you play your cards right you might be U.S champion by then. He asks what card he got? Kanyon says the Ace of Spades but that he gets no luck so he won't get a break tonight, but either way he's got DDP's back and wishes him luck in his match which DDP says is up next so he better get ready to leave.
Chavo Guerrero comes in to congratulate DDP on being Number 1 contender and says he's rooting for him. Gives both of them an elaborate hand shake/hug type thing.
DDP and Kanyon both looking at each other like WTF is this guy doing as Chavo goes off screen
Freestyle segment with DDP, Kanyon and Chavo - (61 rated)
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Booker T getting ready in the back. Stevie Ray comes into set looking super annoyed and flustered. Booker T pleased to see his brother and asks what's up. Stevie Ray thanks Booker for letting him borrow his car but that he had a nightmare getting to the arena and only just got here. Johnny Ace unhappy that he was late but it wasn't his fault, he had a flat tyre when he left his hotel and in the parking lot coming into the arena some guy almost rear ended Booker's car. The guy drove off before Stevie could do anything.
Booker says the important thing is he's here now and if Johnny Ace gives him trouble he'll put a word in for him.
Curt Hennig comes into frame and shakes Booker's hand. Booker asks what he wants? Curt says he didn't come back for the money or the fame, he came back because he's never won the big one and points to the big gold belt. Curt says he might not be the biggest name on the card so he might not have got a free shot at it like DDP did, but he wants Booker to know that whether it's him or DDP who's champion he wants his shot at being a World champion and will work his ass off until he gets it
Freestyle segment with Booker T, Stevie Ray and Curt Hennig - (82 rated)
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Match 3:
DDP vs Reno
This is a decisive win for DDP. Reno gets in a bit of offence at the start but DDP quickly gets the momentum and dispatches of him with a Diamond Cutter.
DDP wins via pinfall (5.52) - (62 rated)
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Fit Finlay and Dave Taylor backstage. Dave Taylor saying he's not sure he wants to keep wrestling and that he'd be happy enough just being a road agent at this stage in his career helping out the younger guys and girls. Fit Finlay angry at him. Fit tells him to fix up. They can be road agents and active performers. The problem the younger talent has today is they weren't trained old school like we were, Dave. They don't know how to hit a man or kick a man. That's what we're here for and what better way to show these kids how to work then by fighting them in the ring!
Freestyle segment with Fit Finlay and Dave Taylor - (34 rated)
* - I forgot to press scripted on this one and their performances were a bit of a disaster. Hoping they're not usually that bad when scripted and should be better in future stuff, they'll be mainly in-ring rather than cutting promos anyway but needed to set the storyline up with this segment
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Terry Funk and Ricky 'The Dragon' Steamboat backstage. Ricky says he's glad that a legend like Funk has joined the company. Funk thanks him and said he's here for one last ride before his retirement. Lance Storm and Mike Awesome bursts in. Mike laughs at Funk. He says that Funk could get away with being past it in ECW but that won't cut it here. Funk says Awesome should be careful what he says about ECW as there's a lot of folks from there who ain't too happy with him.
Awesome says that's fighting talk and he'll show Funk and anyone else from ECW what happens when they mess him with. He challenges Funk to a match next week and Funk accepts.
Freestyle segment with Terry Funk, Ricky Steamboat, Mike Awesome and Lance Storm - (51 rated)
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Match 4:
Buff Bagwell (with Johnny 'The Bull') vs Jamie Knoble
Buff comes out with Knoble already in the ring.
Jamie Knoble is the underdog in this match and Buff gets in a lot of offensive moves. Johnny 'The Bull' seems to try too hard to help his friend and he gets caught by Charles Robinson trying to help Buff cheat to win which causes Johnny to be ejected. Knoble uses this distraction and nearly scores a big upset with a roll-up. A furious Buff Bagwell then gets the win but he does not look happy afterwards.
Buff Bagwell wins via pinfall (5.48) - (53 rated)
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Buff Bagwell beats up Jamie Knoble after the match and it's Windham & Rotunda who rush out to make the save.
Post-match segment (Knoble, Buff, Windham & Rotunda) - (44 rated)
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Shane Helms backstage as Evan Karagias and Shannon Moore come in. They say it's time to bring 3 Count back for a Reunion Tour! Shane Helms asks if they saw him out there? First match under the Shane McMahon Nitro era and he made that rookie AJ Styles look like a chump! 3 Count dragged him down and he's moved on from that crap. He storms off.
Freestyle segment with Shane Helms & 3 Count (Karagias & Moore) - (44 rated)
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Match 5:
Jason Jett vs Shawn Stasiak (with Stacy Keibler)
Jason Jett gives a good account of himself. Shawn Stasiak looks on the ropes at one point but Stacy intervenes, getting up on the apron and flirting with Jason Jett. This distraction helps out Stasiak massively and leads to him getting the win. Stacy laughs at Jett on the floor and blows him a kiss as Shawn Stasiak celebrates in the ring.
Shawn Stasiak wins via pinfall (5.51) - (49 rated)
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Promo Package hyping up the upcoming debut of Tajiri
Promo Video with Tajiri - (33 rated)
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Match 6:
Sean O'Haire & Chuck Palumbo (C) vs The MexiCruisers (Super Crazy & Psychosis) (with Juventud Guerrera) for the WCW World Tag Team Championships
An open match which lets Super Crazy and Psychosis show off their athletic and high-flying ability. O'Haire and Palumbo have to work hard for the win but ultimately retain the title when O'Haire gets the pin after they hit their finishing move on Super Crazy.
O'Haire & Palumbo retain via pinfall (8.04)
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The camera pans to backstage where a lot of wrestlers are gathered waiting for the reveal of who will get the U.S Title shot.
Billy Kidman is raging at Torrie Wilson. What do you mean you can't find my card?!
Tony Schiavone is standing by at the entrance way for the big reveal.
The crowd goes wild for Booker T who comes out with both titles which he proudly displays.
Tony on the mic as the entrance theme finishes and says it gives him great pleasure to reveal that the card which Shane McMahon gave him is... The Ace of Spades! He just needs the winning wrestler to come to the entrance way with their card.
Anderson and Hudson hyping up on commentary that they think that means it's Kanyon/Booker T in the main event.
The camera pans to backstage where Kanyon, standing with DDP, cannot find his card in his pocket. DDP is telling him to go out there. It's the Ace of Spades, Kanyon, you got your shot! But Kanyon can't find the card!
The camera cuts back to Tony Schiavone looking a bit awkward, Booker T in the ring is annoyed at the delay.
Suddenly, an all-smiles Chavo Guerrero Jr struts out to the entrance way and after seeming to pull out 8 or 9 cards, he finds a card and gives it to a baffled Tony Schiavone who the states anxiously "it's the Ace of Spades..."
The camera cuts backstage to Kanyon who realises.
That bastard stole my card! He stole my card!
Kanyon barges over to the Gorilla position where Shane is standing with a few random producers and starts screaming. A stressed out Shane is furious. What are you doing you idiot?! This is our first Nitro main event what do you want?! Speak to me after the show!
Kanyon is furious but DDP drags him away. DDP goes to speak to Shane but Shane says AFTER THE SHOW!!!! so DDP thinks better of it.
Camera cuts back to the entrance way with Chavo Guerrero Jr waiting nervously
Tony Schiavone announces that it seems like it will in-fact be Booker T vs Chavo Guerrero Jr for the WCW United States Championship!
Scott Hudson mentions this doesn't seem particularly fair and that Chavo stole Kanyon's card, but Arn says it's finders keepers and Kanyon should've held his card closer to his chest!
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Main Event / Match 7
Booker T (with Sharmell) (C) vs Chavo Guerrero Jr for the WCW United States Championship
The crowd is hyped to see Booker T in action for the first time in the Shane McMahon era and he doesn't disappoint them with his performance in the match. Chavo gets a bit of offence in here and there but Booker dominates the match and has the crowd on his side.
Chavo edges his way into the match purely by luck as half-way through the match there appears to be an incident in the crowd. It seems like a fairly overweight looking fan in a Luchador mask tries to jump the barrier but they get stopped by security and a few security come running out from the entrance-way to deal with it. It looks like security will grab the masked man but he fights a few of them off.
Booker T is asking the ref WTF is going on when Chavo takes advantage and gets in his first proper run of attacking moves on Booker throughout the whole match. But Chavo is no match for Booker T and despite this distraction Booker recovers to get the Book-End and then a Scissor-Kick to get the win.
Booker T celebrates in the ring with Sharmell and raises the U.S title whilst still a bit confused and he seems to be asking Sharmell if she knows what happened in the crowd
Booker T retains via pinfall - (8.34) - (67 rated)
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Show rating: 71
0.93 TV rating (701K viewers)
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