Nitro Episode 7:
Wednesday 13 June 2001
Live late-night on FX
4,250 crowd in Seattle, Washington
---------
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 SEATTLE!!
We've got a great show for you tonight and a heck of a match to start things off for you-
Tony comments that to his knowledge the opening match does not involve the WCW United States Champion... but Rob Van Dam appears to be making his way to the ring... potentially not happy about his elimination in the Battle Royale last week?
RVD comes out with the US title and Bill Alfonso and he gets a mic in the ring
RVD says he was robbed of a spot on Team WCW by Hugh Morrus and so if Hugh Morrus is a man he'll get his ass out here and pick a hand!
Shane comes out and says he agrees with Rob that the way he was eliminated from the Battle Royale wasn't right but Mike Awesome won that match and he's on the team.
RVD says he accepts that but demands Shane gives him a match with Hugh Morrus to get his revenge. RVD says he doesn't care what it takes, even if he has to put his WCW United States championship on the line... he wants a match with Morrus whatever it takes.
Shane says that given Hugh Morrus' actions in cheating RVD out of the match Johnny Ace as Head of Talent relations alongside Shane and Bischoff agreed to suspend Hugh Morrus for 1 week so he will not be here tonight.
Fans not happy.
RVD says he's a fighting champion so if he can't fight Hugh Morrus he's putting out an open challenge tonight for anyone in the back to have a shot at the U.S Title.
Funk comes out and says he appreciated RVD's help in the Battle Royale last week, he's got a lot of respect for him... what about it? He's never won the WCW United States Championship and it would be an honour to hold the belt.
Shane makes the match!
Tonight's main event will be Rob Van Dam vs Terry Funk for the WCW United States Championship!
Shane says to fans that later tonight we will also see Team WCW in action as they prepare for their 5 on 5 War Games match at The Great American Bash!
Freestyle segment with Rob Van Dam, Shane McMahon and Terry Funk (78 rated)
-----------
Match 1:
Fit's Fight Club (Fit Finlay, Dave Taylor & Tajiri) vs The MexiCruisers (Juventud Guerrera, Super Crazy and Psychosis)
The announcers hype up this match. Hot off the tails of their win last week against the WCW Cruiserweight champion Shane Helms, Billy Kidman and 3 Count, Juventud Guerrera is now joint number 1 contender for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship alongside Billy Kidman. It's not clear yet when that match will take place, but either way this is a big 6-man match to open the show with The MexiCruisers and Fit's Fight Club both in decent form recently.
Shane Helms and Billy Kidman are on commentary for this match.
A solid match to start the show with both teams getting in a decent amount of offence.
The MexiCruisers extra speed and stamina over Finlay and Taylor seems to be putting the match in their direction, when towards the end of the match Shannon Moore and Evan Karagias cause a distraction at ringside, much to Helms and Kidman's surprise which sees Tajiri get a roll-up win over Super Crazy.
Fit's Fight Club wins via pinfall - (7.42) - (61 rating)
----------
After the match we see all 3 of the MexiCruisers chase after 3 Count with Shane Helms reluctantly legging it whilst Billy Kidman looks on a bit awkwardly about what's just happened.
----------
JJ Dillon in the back says that someone quite unexpected has requested some interview time with him.
'Sinister' James Mitchell enters the set looking evil in a dark suit.
JJ Dillon asks what the hell he's doing here in WCW?!
'Sinister' James Mitchell says he'll tell him why the hell he's here, why the hell else would he be here but the same reason as everyone else? To make money, JJ!
Mitchell says as one of this business's most successful managers he's only a call away if there's anyone on the roster looking for someone to take them to the next level... but for now he's already got his first client.
JJ asks who it is??
Mitchell states that at The Great American Bash there's a match for the as of now vacant WCW Women's World Championship... he states times are changing and he can tell WCW is about to see a new landscape of women's wrestling... he's managed to secure as his client a former WCW Women's World champion... and next week he will be at ringside watching on as Akira Hokuto secures her place in the triangle match for the belt at The Great American Bash
'Sinister' James Mitchell says there is nothing more American than helping ensure one of Japan's top talents holds the Japanese flag high at The Great American Bash... that right there JJ, that's the American dream.
Freestyle segment with JJ Dillon and 'Sinister' James Mitchell - (59 rated)
--------------
Joey Styles and Axl Rotten on camera in a recorded promo
Joey says that just because Axl Rotten isn't in the War Games match for the Extreme Alliance doesn't mean he should miss out on the PPV. Joey says his message to Shane McMahon and the WCW locker-room is that if anyone is man enough to go 1-on-1 with this Chair Swingin' Freak then step up!
Axl Rotten looking angry and up for a fight ends the promo calling everyone on the roster too scared to face him
Freestyle segment with Joey Styles, Axl Rotten and Roddy Piper - (43 rated)
-------------
Backstage we see Johnny 'The Bull' with Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke
Guido says we Italians have to stick together. Johnny, we're sorry it didn't work out for your with Bagwell, but the guy's an asshole, we've got your back now so don't worry about that guy again.
Johnny seems happy
Freestyle segment with The FBI - (49 rated)
-------------
Match 2:
Jason Jett vs Kanyon
This is a fairly decisive win for Kanyon who looks to get into form again after a disappointing end to his bid to be on Team WCW in the War Games match.
Kanyon wins via pinfall - (8.44) - (56 rated)
-------
After the match Kanyon cuts a promo where he says whilst he's disappointed not to be on Team WCW in the War Games match at The Great American Bash... he's more than happy to make up for that disappointment by beating some sense into Axl Rotten.
Kanyon accepts Axl Rotten's open challenge for a WCW wrestler to face him at The Great American Bash
Kanyon promo on Axl Rotten - (60 rated)
-------------
Shane, Eric Bischoff and Johnny Ace in Shane's office
Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda come in, they're both annoyed that they lost on the chance to represent Team WCW at War Games because of Shawn Stasiak and Mark Jindrak
Eric Bischoff says it was their own fault they shouldn't have got into a fight before the match. Windham and Rotunda furious at this.
Shane tells them to calm down.
Shane says if we're going to beat The Extreme Alliance generally we can't keep having all these petty feuds between ourselves. Shane says he needs Team WCW to get some 5-on-5 practice before the War Games match at The Great American Bash. With that in mind... later tonight it will be Team WCW vs Barry Windham, Mike Rotunda, AJ Styles (Windham and Rotunda seem happy enough with this)... and Shawn Stasiak and Mark Jindrak!!
Windham and Rotunda not happy at all! You've got to be kidding me they say as they walk off!
Freestyle segment with Shane, Eric Bischoff, Johnny Ace, Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda - (55 rated)
--------------
Booker T, DDP and Curt Hennig backstage
Booker T with the WCW World Heavyweight Championship belt is getting ready for their match later tonight. DDP and Curt Hennig there too. DDP asks Curt how he's feeling about the War Games match. Curt says he's ready to get some revenge on The Extreme Alliance and whilst he's got one eye on that big gold belt of Booker's he's willing to put that aside for the time being whilst they focus on beating The Extreme Alliance.
DDP says Curt will have to get in the queue, he should get the first shot at Booker given he never lost at Big Bang!
Booker says they can both back off. DDP never lost... but he never won neither... and Curt hasn't done anything to deserve a shot at the belt either... they can leave the title talk until after they've put those Extreme Suckers down at Great American Bash!
Both DDP and Curt Hennig seem to accept this but the 3 lock eyes at the end of the promo after all looking at the belt
Freestyle segment with Booker T, DDP and Curt Hennig - (76 rated)
--------------
Match 3:
Malia Hosaka (with Terry Taylor) vs Meiko Satomura (with Ricky 'The Dragon' Steamboat)
Before the match Terry Taylor comes out in a Hawaiian shirt and cuts a promo introducing Malia Hosaka. Terry Taylor says he was enjoying partial retirement in Hawaii and he was done with wrestling but then in a local gym he saw Malia Hosaka training and they got talking and she said she was signing with WCW and wanted to help put Hawaii on the map by becoming WCW World Women's Champion. Taylor says he's been a champion in multiple promotions and with his experience and Malia's raw ability they'll make a fine team.
This is a balanced match between face and face with both women getting in an equal amount of offence. It looks like maybe Meiko Satomura has the better of it when Stacy Keibler comes out from the back and distracts Meiko with Ricky Steamboat getting involved too. Malia Hosaka, with Terry Taylor's advice hits her finish with this distraction and then gets the win.
Malia Hosaka wins via pinfall - (6.26) - (38 rated)
Malia Hosaka joins Stacy Keibler in the Women's Triangle match for the vacant WCW Women's World Championship at The Great American Bash
After the match Ricky 'The Dragon' Steamboat consols Meiko who looks really upset and annoyed by what happened
-------------
Don Callis and Steve Corino on Real Talk with Roddy
Don Callis says that it's not long now before Steve Corino and the rest of The Extreme Alliance show the world what they're missing out on.
Don Callis says if WCW had their top guys that were sitting at home collecting money then not a single member of Team WCW would even make their Top 5
Steve Corino warns that maybe the 5 guys on Team WCW still won't even make it to The Great American Bash...
Freestyle segment with Don Callis, Steve Corino and Roddy Piper - (52 rated)
--------------
Shane's office with just Eric Bischoff and Johnny Ace
The MexiCruisers all burst in shouting and screaming in broken English and Spanish
Eric Bischoff says shut up whilst Johnny Ace says tranquilo tranquilo
Juvi says he wants his title match with Shane Helms next week.
Bischoff says look given there's two of you as number 1 contender that means it will need to be a Triangle Match and that match won't take place next week... but Shane has confirmed that the match for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship will in-fact take place at The Great American Bash!
Juvi seems pretty happy with this but he says that Super Crazy and Psychosis want a match with 3 Count but 3 Count are babies and keep running away... Bischoff says hmmm, fine... next week it will be the 2 members of 3 Count... what's their names anyway? versus you two MexiCruisers!
As they walk off Eric Bischoff doesn't seem too happy but is glad that has got rid of them at least.
Suddenly Meiko Satomura and Ricky 'The Dragon' Steamboat come in
Ricky explains what happened and how Stacy Keibler cost Meiko the chance to compete for the WCW Women's World Championship.
Johnny Ace says he sympathises with the situation but it would be down to Eric really to sort this out.
Eric says to Ricky that if it was down to him there wouldn't even be a WCW Women's World Championship match... he doesn't care about women's wrestling and he doesn't care which women are in the match at The Great American Bash.
Ricky Steamboat says that's not fair as Meiko looks crestfallen
Eric Bischoff says life is not fair and then tells Meiko to get lost. She looks close to tears as she leaves with Steamboat not looking happy.
Freestyle segment with Eric Bischoff, Johnny Ace, The MexiCruisers, Meiko Satomura and Ricky 'The Dragon Steamboat' - (59 rated)
------------------
Match 4:
Buff Bagwell (with Buff Daddy V) vs Jimmy Yang (with Kaz Hayashi)
Jimmy Yang is already in the ring as Buff Bagwell and Buff Daddy V come out.
This is a decisive win/squash match for Buff Bagwell who also has Buff Daddy V as an imposing presence at ringside.
Buff Bagwell wins via pinfall - (4.39) - (50 rated)
After the match Buff Daddy V hits a chokeslam on Kaz Hayashi on the outside.
Little Guido, Tony Mamaluke and Johnny 'The Bull' make the save with chairs as Buff Bagwell flees. Buff Daddy V stands his ground again and eyes up Johnny 'The Bull'.
---------------
JJ Dillon with Rob Van Dam (with Bill Alfonso)
JJ asking Rob about the main event tonight where he'll face off against Terry Funk for the United States Championship.
Lance Storm and Mike Awesome barge in
Lance Storm says if he can be serious for a minute he wants to wish RVD the best of luck tonight in defending his title against that chump Terry Funk. Mike Awesome adds he doesn't like Rob Van Dam but sometimes the enemy of my enemy is my friend and he hopes tonight Rob wins so much that he puts Funk out and retires him for good this time!
RVD defends Funk and says the best man will win tonight... Awesome says yeah, just like the best man won last week in that Battle Royale!
RVD doesn't look too happy at this
Freestyle segment with JJ Dillon, Rob Van Dam, Lance Storm and Mike Awesome (71 rated)
------------
Tajiri is backstage training with Fit Finlay and Dave Taylor
Mikey Whipwreck comes into set. Mikey says hi to Tajiri and Tajiri says hi back. Mikey says he's now got a rolling contract with WCW after impressing last week and says he was wondering if Tajiri wants to start tag-teaming with him again.
Tajiri seems to consider this when Fit Finlay answers for him and says if Mikey Whipwreck wants to team with Tajiri he'll have to join Fit's Fight Club first... and to join Fit's Fight club you've got to prove you can fight!
Whipwreck says he's up for the challenge and says why not Tajiri and Whipwreck vs Finlay and Taylor next week on Nitro!
Finlay says no way! You don't set the demands! Finlay says next week on Nitro it will be Fit's Fight Club vs Whipwreck and whatever 2 friends he can find... if he can't find anyone it will be 3 vs 1... if he can.. then 3 vs 3 and if Whipwreck gets a win then maybe he will think about letting him tag with Tajiri again...
Freestyle segment with Fit's Fight Club and Mikey Whipwreck - (40 rated)
---------------
Match 5:
The Harris Twins vs Road Warrior Animal & ????? - Non Title match
Tony on commentary mentions this is quite an extraordinary tag team match as we have the scenario where Animal doesn't even know who his partner will be. Road Warrior Animal, currently still the WCW World Tag Team champion... has been hand selected a new tag team partner by Shane McMahon after his old partner Hawk retired just days after they won the titles from Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo... but who is his partner going to be???
Shane comes out and says he's sure everybody is excited to see who Animal's tag team partner is going to be
Shane says Animal's new partner is a multiple time tag team champion...
Shane says everybody loves The Road Warriors... but perhaps it's time for a new version of the Road Warriors... a modern iteration for a new age of fans...
Shane says that nobody could ever replace Hawk like for like... a Hawk is a hell of an animal... and Hawk was a loyal tag team partner... but what other animals are loyal? Well, Dog's are supposed to be the most loyal animals out there...
Shane says... ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, children of all ages, WCW proudly brings to you...THE ROAD WARRIOR DOG BG James!!!!
Wait a minute! Tony says
Road Warrior Dog (Road Dogg) comes out on the stage with a live mic already in hand...
Road Warrior Dog says "Ohhhhh you didn't know... yo Animal had to call somebody.... this ain't The Old Road Warriors... this is The Nu Road Warriors for a New Age... The New Generation... "
Crowd cheers
Animal looks bemused at this development in the ring
Road Warrior Dog then says "I had to drop the double G in the Dog... but it turns out if you just add Warrior after the Road because WCW own the copyright for the Road Warrior name I can still go by Road Warrior Dog and we can't get sued... and Vince McMahon... if you're not down with that... I got two words for ya!!!"
Crowd loudly chant SUCK IT!!!
Road Warrior Dog gets in the ring and shakes hands with Road Warrior Animal ahead of the match.
The Harris Twins actually being a tag team means they look the better unit throughout this match as Animal and BG James seem to struggle to get to grips with being a team given their inexperience tagging together
BG James though especially has the backing of the crowd and their energy gives him a new lease of life and he manages to get a hot tag and get the win through a quick-thinking roll up on Don Harris
The Nu Road Warriors (Road Warrior Animal & Road Warrior Dog) win via pinfall - (10.49) - (53 rated)
-------------
As the Nu Road Warriors are celebrating after the match Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo's music hits
Sean O'Haire especially is really annoyed. Sean says if this is the best that Animal has got then at The Great American Bash it will be light work for O'Haire and Palumbo to win the titles back. Every dog has it's day and Road Warrior Dog or BG James or whatever knock-off name you want to go by to avoid being sued... being sued will be the last of your problem when at The Great American Bash we'll add Animal to the retirement home like his buddy Hawk by giving him the beating of his life! But look Animal... I'm not telling you anything you don't already know...
Animal and BG James in the ring are both hot and annoyed at this. Palumbo looks on not too sure he completely agrees with how far O'Haire has gone with.
Announcers confirm that at The Great American Bash it will be The Nu Road Warriors vs Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo for the WCW World Tag Team Championships
O'Haire & Palumbo promo on The Nu Road Warriors - (56 rated)
--------------
Real Talk with Roddy Piper
The Sandman, Sabu and Tommy Dreamer
Tommy Dreamer says he's sure he's seen more of Roddy Piper in recent weeks than he has his own family.
Sabu says it's about time they stopped with the sit down interviews and started with dropping his legs on chairs for interviews and started dropping his legs through tables again!!!
The Sandman issues a warning to Team WCW.
Next week The Extreme Alliance have got tickets to Nitro... legally bought... hell, ain't like you guys would sell out a show now, is it?!
Tommy Dreamer says they better watch out as it's not just a scouting mission they've got planned!
Freestyle segment with Roddy Piper, The Sandman, Sabu and Tommy Dreamer - (56 rated)
-----------
Match 6:
AJ Styles, Barry Windham & Mike Rotunda and Shawn Stasiak (with Stacy Keibler) & Mark Jindrak vs Team WCW - Booker T (with Sharmell), DDP, Curt Hennig and Team Canada (Lance Storm and Mike Awesome)
Scott Hudson comments there's a lot of tension in the ring with Windham and Rotunda and Stasiak and Jindrak... and that's tension just on the same team!
This match gets a decent amount of time as Team WCW try to gel before War Games. Team Canada don't seem completely on the same page as the other guys with Mike Awesome forcing a tag in on Booker T at one point which annoys Booker T.
Windham and Rotunda look in good form, with AJ Styles also looking half decent, but Stasiak and Jindrak keep complaining they can't get a tag in when suddenly Rotunda accidentally knocks Stasiak off the apron.
This causes Stasiak to go crazy and he orders Jindrak to leave... they both leave the match and it ends up being 3 vs 5... the numbers game makes it easy for Team WCW and DDP ends up getting the win with a Diamond Cutter on AJ Styles
Team WCW wins via pinfall - (10.23) - (66 rated)
-----------
Shane McMahon quick interview with JJ Dillon
JJ says Shane has a big excitement for The Great American Bash but before that does he have any comment on The Extreme Alliance stating they'll be at Nitro next week!
Shane says to WCW fans and the locker-room don't worry we will not let them into the building whether they have a ticket or not and I'm not going to let them get in the way of my big announcement!
Shane says at The Great American Bash to open the show he will announce a big name and big money signing that they have now got signed and delivered despite competition from both Japan and his father!
Shane McMahon promo - (92 rated)
--------------
Match 7 / Main Event:
Rob Van Dam (c) with Bill Alfonso vs Terry Funk for the WCW United States Championship.
Arn Anderson asks where Funk is as after 10-15 seconds of his music playing he's not come out. This is a big main event for the WCW United States Championship... where is he??
The camera cuts to gorilla where Funk seems to be in an altercation with Mike Awesome. Awesome seemingly still in gorilla from the previous match as Funk was entering. Several guys in the back trying to separate them.
Out of nowhere Mike Awesome choke-slams Terry Funk through a table!
Oh my god Tony says!
Rob Van Dam manages to come onto the scene and fights off Awesome and Lance Storm who are laughing at Funk
RVD is asking Funk if he's okay. There's a medic there with Funk asking him if he's okay... Funk eventually manages to get up and says he's still good to go...
Funk comes out looking in a real bad way... struggling to walk but he's still doing his best to get down
RVD comes out with the WCW United States Championship and Bill Alfonso who is excitedly blowing the whistle
RVD playing up to the crowd but once he gets in the ring he looks over at Funk and is a bit concerned for him
The ref blows the whistle
RVD is fresh and bang up for it with Funk already looking quite dazed and in a bad way. RVD rungs rings around Terry Funk for the opening 4-5 minutes with Funk getting in a bit of offence but RVD not looking too damaged by any of it.
Then from out of nowhere Funk hits a roll-up and gets a 2.5 count! RVD looks pretty shocked and after Funk has his fists up and is ready for the fight.
This near loss spurs RVD on to step up his game and from here on out whilst Funk is hanging on it's by the skin of his teeth.
Eventually RVD manages to get a huge kick in and then goes up for the Five Star Frog Splash and gets the win!
Rob Van Dam retains the WCW United States Championship via pinfall - (10.45) - (73 rated)
The show ends with RVD checking on Funk whilst Mike Awesome and Lance Storm can be seen at the top of the entrance ramp smiling at Funk having lost.
-------
Show Rating: 78
0.97 TV rating (729K viewers)
