Post by ph71 on Dec 17, 2023 23:39:35 GMT 1
Nitro Episode 4:
Wednesday 23rd May 2001
Live late-night on FX
5,442 crowd at the Aladdin Theatre
Announcers: Tony Schiavone, Scott Hudson & Arn Anderson
Announcers: Tony Schiavone, Scott Hudson & Arn Anderson
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Show opens up with Linkin Park's 'Runaway'
Tony Schiavone on comms says it's Wednesday night folks and you know what that means...IT'S WCW NITRO LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS!!!
To kick-start the show we have some mixed tag-team action as we will see the WCW United States Champion, Rob Van Dam, teaming with young Japanese talent Meiko Satomura, as they take on Shawn Stasiak and Stacy Keibler
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Match 1:
Rob Van Dam (with Bill Alfonso) & Meiko Satomura vs Shawn Stasiak & Stacy Keibler (with Mark Jindrak)
A good match to get the crowd going at the start of Nitro. RVD and Stasiak start the match with RVD getting a lot of offence before Stasiak tags out for Stacy to come in. RVD tags Meiko in who seems a lot more technically efficient than Stacy, but Stacy is taller and has a height advantage which she uses to help her at times.
Stasiak eventually distracts Rob Van Dam by pushing around Bill Alfonso and the referee gets involved briefly as Alfonso's whistling is causing a ruckus.
In this distraction Stacy rolls up Meiko, the ref quickly turns round to start counting and in the distraction he doesn't notice Stacy stick one of her long legs on the ropes to cheat and get the advantage.
RVD and Alfonso look really annoyed at the end of the match with Meiko looking crestfallen at the lost. Shawn and Stacy celebrate cockily as they leave the ring
Shawn Stasiak & Stacy Keibler win via pinfall - (5.44) - (56 rated)
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Backstage in Shane's office where Eric Bischoff and Shane McMahon are talking with Chavo Guerrero Jr
Kanyon followed sharply by DDP barges into the office and starts shouting aggressively and going for Chavo who quicky jumps over Shane's desk and hides behind Bischoff/Shane
Kanyon is furious at Chavo for last week's interference and he demands a match with Chavo tonight. DDP tries to reason with Shane and says if they can squash their feud in a match that should put an end to the ongoing drama.
Shane says he can see that might work, but why tonight, why not at Big Bang this Sunday?!
Bischoff interuppts Shane and says they shouldn't just be giving out PPV matches like that. There's a lot of guys and girls in the locker-room that want to be on that card and so Kanyon/Chavo shouldn't be on the PPV
Chavo pops in and says "I agree boss"
Bischoff says "Shut up Chavo"
Chavo says "Shutting up, boss"
Shane says he's sure they can all come to a compromise and says if Kanyon wants that match at the PPV then he will have to earn it tonight... he proposes for the main event of Nitro tonight... it will be... KANYON & DDP... vs HARLEM HEAT!!!
If DDP & Kanyon win then Kanyon gets to face Chavo at Big Bang and of course DDP can send a message to Booker T ahead of their big main event match.
Kanyon enthusiastically accepts with DDP happy with this too, Bischoff not super happy about it but seems agreeable enough.
Kanyon then says, what about him?? points to Chavo. What if he intereferes in our match again??
Shane then turns to Chavo and sternly says... Chavo let me be clear you will be banned from ringside... there will be no lying... no cheating and no stealing in our main event tonight is that clear? Chavo says yes, then Shane says, because if you do interefere... I'll have to take a page out of my father's book and make you unemployed... and trust me the McMahon family have got enough practice in making people unemployed this month!"
The camera pans to an XFL hat in the bin and the announcers all crack up at this dig at Vince McMahon's XFL project breaking down just last week.
Freestyle segment with Shane McMahon, Eric Bischoff, Kanyon, DDP & Chavo Guerrero Jr - (70 rated)
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JJ Dillon interviewing Rob Van Dam (with Bill Alfonso and a disappointed looking Meiko Satomura)
JJ asks RVD and Meiko how they feel to taking a loss like that especially given Stacy cheated to win.
RVD says this is wrestling, this can happen, they did what they had to do to get the win and they have to accept that and Meiko will need to learn from that moving forward.
Shawn Stasiak and Stacy Keibler come into the interview.
Shawn jibes RVD for saying Stacy needed some tips from him last week and actually it sounds like him and Meiko need some tips from her.
Alfonso starts blowing his whistle and having a go, JJ calms him down.
RVD congratulates Stacy for getting the win but cautions her that now every woman and referee on the roster will be expecting her to do that now.
Meiko says "be careful Stacy, because karma... is a bitch!"
The two women look like they might get into a fight but RVD manages to prevent this from happening.
Stasiak says to Rob that since he lost to them tonight... maybe he should try and get some good karma back by picking up a win at Big Bang! Stasiak says RVD won't get the win anyway, but he's welcome to try if he puts the US Title on the line against Stasiak at Big Bang!
Stacy says to Stasiak she doesn't think RVD will do it because he's a coward
RVD gets agitated at this and says he doesn't believe Stasiak deserves a shot based on tonight... but he's a fighting champion and if Stasiak wants to take a big loss at the PPV then he's more than happy to give it to him!
Freestyle segment with JJ Dillon, RVD, Meiko Satomura, Shawn Stasiak & Stacy Keibler - (61 rated)
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Match 2:
3 Count (Evan Karagias & Shannon Moore) vs Kid Romeo & Elix Skipper
Shane Helms comes out with the WCW Cruiserweight Championship and joins the announcers on commentary for the match. The announcers mention Shane Helms/3 Count ongoing drama and Shane Helms says as the Cruiserweight champion he's just here in an official capacity watching these 3 cruiserweights in action and wants nothing to do with 3 Count
3 Count 1st Theme - Can't Get You Outta My Heart (Full) + Download Link (youtube.com)
WCW THEMES: Elix Skipper "Primetime Elix Skipper" (youtube.com)
This one is an exciting high-flying tag affair with both teams getting a mixed amount of action in. 3 Count eventually get the win taking advantage of a Kid Romeo mistake on the top rope
3 Count win via pinfall (5.45) - (47 rated)
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After the match Evan Karagias and Shannon Moore start beating down on Romeo & Skipper with the ref trying to break it up. Shane Helms on commentary says he's disappointed to see this happening and doesn't condone it. That's not what 3 Count should be doing.
Juventud Guerrera, Super Crazy and Psychosis all come rushing down to the ring to make the save and chase off 3 Count.
Juvi grabs a mic and calls out to Shane Helms on commentary saying at Big Bang! it doesn't matter if he has to take on 1, 2 or 3 of these clowns he's got his back-up and he's going to get the 1-2-3 to be the next WCW Cruiserweight champion!
Freestyle segment with Shane Helms, 3 Count, Romeo & Skipper & The MexiCools (Juventud, Super Crazy & Psychosis) - (51 rated)
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Road Warriors backstage in Shane McMahon's office with Shane, Johnny Ace and Eric Bischoff
Shane is super pumped to see Animal and Hawk and gives them both a big hug as Bishcoff watches on disapprovingly. Johnny Ace happy to see his brother Animal and Hawk too.
Shane says he's excited for a massive tag team match at Big Bang! Animal says this will be the show that puts the Road Warriors back on top of the world of wrestling as they will become the WCW World Tag Team Champions and just at the dawn of a new era for WCW. Hawk seems quiet but says "here, here" quietly.
Bischoff says that the Road Warriors shouldn't under-estimate Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo and that either way WCW wins as either The Road Warriors come in on top of the mountain or they go out of the business with a BIG BANG!
Freestyle segment with Shane McMahon, Johnny Ace, Eric Bischoff & The Road Warriors - (68 rated)
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Match 3:
Jung Dragons (Kaz Hayashi & Jimmy Yang) vs Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo - (Non-Title match)
O'Haire & Palumbo dominate this match with Jung Dragons not really getting much offence in at all as they can't compete physically with the teag team champions.
O'Haire gets the win via pinfall in the end.
O'Haire & Palumbo win via pinfall - (6.41) - (53 rated)
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After the match Sean O'Haire & Chuck Palumbo cut a promo in the ring
Chuck Palumbo says he grew up dreaming of being in a tag team like the Road Warriors but at Big Bang! it's the end of the road for Animal & Hawk.
Sean O'Haire says he has huge respect for Animal and Hawk. O'Haire says he's not had an easy up bring and he's struggled with addiction in his past. He says Hawk's journey in beating his own demons should be an inspiration to every man and woman in the back who is struggling with their own problems.
Fans cheer this.
But then Sean O'Haire adds that Animal & Hawk aren't getting any younger. He questions if Animal and Hawk really need the money anymore. Wouldn't it be nice to just hang up the old boots and see out the rest of their lives with their family away from the road and the toils and tribulations of being a professional wrestler? O'Haire says whether the Road Warriors win or lose, they're still winners in the game of life. So don't even worry about Sunday. Just chill. Relax. If you win... that's great... but if you lose... that's great too.... O'Haire then finishes the promo by saying...but I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know...
Freestyle segment Sean O'Haire & Chuck Palumbo - (57 rated)
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Eric Bischoff is in Shane's office talking with Billy Kidman and Torrie Wilson.
Bischoff tells Kidman he's sorry but Kidman lost fair and square to Juventud last week so he has to get to the back of the line for the Cruiserweight Title. Kidman looks crestfallen but Torrie comforts him.
Shane Helms bursts in with the WCW Cruiserweight title.
Speaking of the devil, Bischoff says.
Helms says he's glad to see Bischoff. Offers commisserations to Kidman for his loss last week.
Helms says he's just here to say to Bischoff that thought Super Crazy & Psychosis deserve some sort of reward for a huge upset win against DDP & Kanyon last week. Bischoff says he's not really sure what he's getting at, sure it was a good upset win but
Shane Helms says he wants to personally reward them... Helms proposes at Big Bang... you have Super Crazy vs Psychosis... the winner... becomes the number 1 contender to the Cruiserweight Title!
Tony Schiavone on commentary mentions this could just be a shady scheme to keep the other MexiCools busy whilst he takes on Juventud for the Cruiserweight title. Arn says or maybe he's trying to create some in-fighting within the group... it's smart!
Bischoff says he's not sure about this.
Torrie Wilson buts in.
Torrie flirts with Bischoff and says he's right. Super Crazy, Psychosis... 1 on 1... maybe that's now what he wants to book... but what about a triangle match... Psychosis... Super Crazy and BILLY KIDMAN!!! With the winner becoming the number 1 contender for the Cruiserweight title.
Bischoff thinks about it.
Shane Helms says he likes it.
Bischoff says okay then I'll book that.
Shane wishes Kidman luck and tells him to make sure he works them hard!
Freestyle segment with Eric Bischoff, Billy Kidman, Torrie Wilson and Shane Helms - (49 rated)
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Match 4:
Chavo Guerrero Jr vs Mike Sanders
The announcers hype up Chavo being in action. He'll surely have one eye on the main event as if Kanyon & DDP beat Harlem Heat he will have Kanyon to deal with at Big Bang!
Mike Sanders looks a bit off the pace in this match with Chavo using his superior high flying and technical ability to get the upper hand. After a while Chavo manages to get the win with the Gory Bomb
Chavo Guerrero Jr wins via pinfall - (6.31) - (49 rated)
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Video Package advert for Big Bang!
The announcers hype up Booker T vs DDP for the WCW title, Sean O'Haire & Chuck Palumbo vs The Road Warriors - Title v s Career, Rob van Dam vs Shawn Stasiak for the U.S title, Shane Helms vs Juventud Guerrera for the Cruiserweight title, Windham & Rotunda vs Buff Bagwell and Johnny 'The Bull' and a Triangle match between Billy Kidman, Super Crazy and Psychosis to be Number 1 contender for the Cruiserweight Title
(59 rated)
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Terry Funk comes out looking like a man on a mission as the commentators hype him up.
Terry Funk on the mic says last week Lance Storm and Mike Awesome showed the world what cowards they are by taking cheap shops with chairs at him and Christoper Daniels. Funk says they've put Daniels out for several weeks, he's just a young kid trying to make his name for himself in this business and Team Canada think they can run rough shot over him and Funk. Well Funk ain't gonna stand for that.
Funk tells Storm and Awesome to get their asses out here right now!
Lance Storm comes out with Mike Awesome who still has the eye-patch and the neck brace. He looks around the crowd scanning intently worried that Tommy Dreamer might be in the crowd ready to pounce at him again.
Lance Storm says he didn't realise it was the local old folks home big day out at the wrestling. He says whoever lost their senile grandpa they better come out and pick him up.
Funk says he might be 24 years older than Storm but he could still run rings round him in the ring. You see teenagers who still live in their momma's basement talk about Lance Storm, best technical wrestler in all of WCW, maybe even the world... well you ain't better technically than me, boy!
Mike Awesome says Terry Funk is a traitor to WCW! If Mike was medically cleared to compete he'd come down their and whoop Funk's ass, but he isn't fit to compete after the savage attack on him by Funk's buddy.
Lance Storm says Funk is beneath him. He would face Funk 1 on 1 but he doesn't need to prove anything to him.
Funk says well it's funny you say that as I was speaking to Johnny Ace and Shane McMahon earlier today and they were asking if I wanted to press charges after you boys assault on me last week. I'm also a Road Agent here and you attacked a member of the office!
Funk says the only thing he wanted was a match at Big Bang to make them pay!
Funk says at Big Bang it will be Terry Funk going 1-on-1 with Lance Storm!!
Storm and Awesome are furious at this development
Freestyle segment with Terry Funk & Team Canada (Lance Storm & Mike Awesome) - (46 rated)
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Backstage segment in the locker-room area is Booker T and Stevie Ray
Stevie Ray asking Booker how he's feeling about tonight. Has he recovered enough to compete?
Booker says he's medically cleared to compete and he wants to get a win on DDP and that crazy cat Kanyon before Big Bang to send a message to DDP and anyone else who might want to challenge him for the title or come after him.
Booker says he doesn't know for sure that DDP or Kanyon were behind the car crash, maybe it was Van Dam, who knows, he ain't no detective and it sure as hell don't seem like Shane or Eric Bischoff want to investigate it. But he's excited for the first Harlem Heat match in a while and he knows with his brother at his side he can't go wrong!
Stevie Ray thanks him, says he's excited for the match tonight but wants Booker to make sure he takes it easy if he feels any pain as he doesn't want Booker going into the PPV injured.
Freestyle segment with Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray) - (71 rated)
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Match 5:
Curt Hennig vs Kwee Wee
Curt Hennig comes out and is in full game mode for the match. Kwee Wee seems a bit out of form in the match and can never really get into it. Curt Hennig eventually gets the win fairly comfortably in a decisive match.
Curt Hennig wins via pinfall - (6.20) - (51 rated)
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Backstage we see Tajiri in the ring working bags with Akira Hokuto.
Fit Finlay barges into the gym and approaches Tajiri.
Tajiri asks Fit what he wants whilst still periodically striking bags
Fit says he's putting together a collective... a club... of young like minded talent that he can train and coach to become champions. He thinks Tajiri is the toughest S.O.B he's seen in a long time and with Fit and Dave behind him they can make him the most dangerous man in WCW.
Tajiri says he doesn't think he needs Fit or that silly Englishman to become a champion.
Fit says how about at Big Bang they have a match. Tajiri vs Fit Finlay. If Tajiri wins, Fit will leave him alone. But if Fit wins... Tajiri joins Fit's Fight Club!
Tajiri kicks the bag a few more times, thinks about it and then says okay, if Fit can beat him then he can be his coach.
Freestyle segment with Fit Finlay, Tajiri and Akira Hokuto - (36 rated)
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Match 6:
AJ Styles vs Buff Bagwell (with Johnny 'The Bull')
AJ Styles starts the match quick and catches Buff off guard who seems to have under-estimated him and taking this as an easy win that he doesn't have to work for. Johnny urges Buff on at ringside and actually manages to help him at one point when he distracts the ref and Buff gets a finger poke to the eye of AJ which halts his momentum.
AJ gets back into the match though and really makes Buff work for the win until eventually Buff gets the victory after working very hard for it.
Buff Bagwell wins via pinfall (7.30) - (55 rated)
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After the match Buff Bagwell looks pretty frustrated with how hard AJ Styles made him work. He tells Johnny to get in the ring and the two look like they are going to dish out some post-match beat-down on the young upstart when...
Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda storm the ring, save AJ as Buff and Johnny get out of there with Buff particularly furious at them.
Freestyle segment with Buff Bagwell, Johnny 'The Bull', AJ Styles, Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda (49 rated)
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Shane McMahon promo to the audience/viewers from his office
He hypes up all of the exciting PPV matches for this Sunday's Big Bang! giving one final push to get fans to make sure they order the PPV and tune in!
He then says it's now time for the main event which will see Harlem Heat take on DDP & Kanyon! If DDP & Kanyon wins Kanyon will get his hands on Chavo Guerrero Jr at Big Bang! If Chavo interferes he will get fired!
Angle with Shane McMahon (97 rated)
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Main Event / Match 7
DDP & Kanyon vs Harlem Heat
Kanyon (youtube.com)
WCW DDP Theme Song Self High Five (youtube.com)
Harlem Heat WCW Theme (youtube.com)
Kanyon (youtube.com)
WCW DDP Theme Song Self High Five (youtube.com)
Harlem Heat WCW Theme (youtube.com)
This is a match that gets a good amount of time with all 4 guys getting a decent showing in this one. Booker T is kept strong with DDP and Kanyon isolating him for a decent amount of the match with Stevie Ray waiting to get the hot tag. Stevie Ray eventually gets the hot tag and Harlem Heat get back in the match.
A mistake from Kanyon at one point means he inadvertently knocks DDP off the apron whilst trying to go for Booker T. Booker T gets a Book-End in on Kanyon and sets him up for a Scissor Kick, but just like again Rob Van Dam the other week Booker pulls up when he's about to do the kick. Stevie looks worried as Booker holds his back in agony for a few seconds. Stevie tags in as Booker has a doctor checking up on him outside the ring, he's trying to wave them away as he wants to get back in the match.
In the ring Kanyon capitalises on a mistake from Stevie Ray as he's looking over to see if his brother is there/alright. Kanyon hits a flatliner on Stevie Ray and whilst Booker manages to scramble into the ring, DDP manages to prevent him from breaking up the ref's 3 count and the ref counts 1-2-3
DDP & Kanyon beat Harlem Heat via pinfall - (12.45) - (69 rated)
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Post-match the commentators hype up this big win for DDP & Kanyon going into Big Bang! and confirm that it will be Kanyon vs Chavo Guerrero Jr at Big Bang!
Tony on comms says you have to question what sort of condition Booker T will be in going into that match at Big Bang! with DDP, clearly that car hitting him is still taking its toll and whilst he may be medically cleared to compete he can't seem to hit that Scissor Kick without tweaking it.
In the ring Booker is annoyed to have lost and starts talking inaudible trash to DDP who seems bewildered by it. They lock eyes and square up to each other with DDP almost laughing at how mad Booker has got at him.
Freestyle segment with Harlem Heat & DDP and Kanyon - (64 rated)
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Show Rating: 80
1.07 TV rating (804K viewers)
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