WCW 1996: Re-Booking the Biggest Storyline Ever

WCW Monday Nitro | Week 1, August 1996

Denver Coliseum | Denver, CO

Last week:

• The New World Order attacked several WCW wrestlers backstage. Emergency personnel transported Marcus Bagwell, Scotty Riggs, Arn Anderson and Rey Mysterio Jr to local medical centers.
• The nWo submitted a black-and-white promo making fun of Lex Luger, Sting and WCW.
• The Giant defeated Greg Valentine in a WCW World Heavyweight Championship defense.
  
  

Dark Match: Hugh Morrus d. Bobby Walker (pinfall, 4:52)
Dark Match: Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags (The Nasty Boys) d. VK Wallstreet & Erik Watts (pinfall, 5:34)

We start with Tony Schaivone, Larry Zybszko and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan running through tonight’s card, which includes Chris Benoit vs Kevin Sullivan, Steve McMichael vs Eddy Guerrero and a main event of Lex Luger and Sting vs the Blue Bloods!

They also discuss last week’s heinous attack by the New World Order on several WCW wrestlers. They provide updates on Rey Mysterio Jr, Arn Anderson, Buff Bagwell and Scotty Riggs, noting that each should be back in action within the next few weeks. The announcers decry the nWo and say security is on watch tonight, including around the ring, where the Dungeon of Doom volunteered their services to guard the area. We see Meng, The Barbarian, Hugh Morrus and Big Bubba Rogers standing dutifully around the perimeter of the ring.

Match 1: Diamond Dallas Page vs Robert Gibson

Page, who the announcers say is slowly gaining momentum in WCW, dominates early, but Gibson gets control using some intelligence. An organic battle ensues with a combination of mat wrestling and power moves, leading DDP to regain control. Gibson gets a hope spot, but DDP cuts him off and finishes out of seemingly nowhere with the Diamond Cutter.

Winner: Diamond Dallas Page (pinfall, 4:56)

After the match, Gene Okerlund catches up with DDP. Page wants a fight at Hog Wild, demanding an open challenge match. “First guy to sign on the dotted line is my next victim!”

[Commercial break]

Back to the ring after commercial, and Steve McMichael makes his way out with Debra and Fifi. Big Bubba gets in Mongo’s face, but he ultimately lets him pass as Debra stands sheepishly by the timekeeper. He’s facing Eddy Guerrero.

Match 2: Steve McMichael vs Eddy Guerrero

Guerrero uses his speed to get an early advantage, but McMichael sends him out of the ring. The match goes like that: Guerrero wrestles circles around the ring while Mongo uses power and chicanery to stop the upstart. At some point it stops working for Mongo, as Guerrero catches a number of near falls. Finally, Mongo has enough, sending Guerrero out and retrieving his briefcase from Debra. A shot in plain view of the referee to Guerrero ends the bout.

Winner: Eddy Guerrero (disqualification, 4:48)

McMichael tries to keep the beatdown going, but the Dungeon members get on the apron to surround Mongo. He drops the case and backs off while Chris Benoit starts down the aisle. In the ruckus, officials keep everything from getting crazy. The announcers talk about the current battle between the Four Horsemen and the Dungeon of Doom, and how tensions have been simmering for months now.

[Commercial break]

Back from commercial, it’s time for Scott Norton to come to the ring. He’s facing Steve Armstrong, who’s already in the squared circle.

Match 3: Steve Armstrong vs Scott Norton

Teddy Long makes his way to ringside as the match begins. In a squash, Norton puts Armstrong away quickly with a shoulderbreaker.

Winner: Scott Norton (pinfall, 1:47)

After the match, Mean Gene pulls Long into the ring. Long says on behalf of Ice Train, he wants a match at Hog Wild. Norton accepts and threatens Long, also on behalf of Ice Train. But here comes Ice Train to save his manager, and Norton bails.

Next up, Chris Benoit faces Kevin Sullivan!

[Commercial break]

We come back with Kevin Sullivan and Jimmy Hart coming to the ring; Mean Gene catches up with them, and the whole Dungeon says nobody had better mess with them. Schiavone wonders how this setup is fair with the Dungeon of Doom members surrounding the ring. Heenan suggests that maybe the Horsemen should’ve stepped up, too. Chris Benoit is out next with Woman, and again the Dungeon intimidates.

Match 4: Kevin Sullivan vs Chris Benoit

Immediately the brawl is on with Sullivan attacking before Benoit hits the ring. The Dungeon members close in, but the official keeps them at bay momentarily. Sullivan has a wide advantage because of this, until Benoit finally is able to ram the Taskmaster into the barricade and suplex him to the floor. Benoit hits the ring, Sullivan follows, and an actual match starts. The announcers take us into an ad break.

[Commercial break]

Back from commercial and Benoit controls this portion, but the Dungeon takes liberties on the apron. The fight leaves the ring a few times and is pretty brutal. Ultimately, Benoit misses tackling Sullivan and stumbles outside. As Sullivan distracts, Meng and Barbarian beat down Benoit. The count is administered, and Sullivan gets the sneaky duke.

Winner: Kevin Sullivan (countout, 7:32)

As the chaos intensifies, out come McMichael and Flair. Dean Malenko also heads out to ensure he gets his in on Benoit. A crazy brawl continues for minutes as announcers worry about the fighting. Says Heenan: “I know these two groups have a lot of bad blood between them, but a bigger threat has emerged!” Officials come out to break things up, but it’s too wild. We cut to commercial.

[Commercial break]

Back from commercial, and the teams have been separated. But now the Dungeon is no longer at ringside. Zybszko wonders if the Dungeon only worked ringside to beat down the Horsemen, “not concerned at all about the New World Odor!” Fireworks explode to start the second hour of Nitro, and Eric Bischoff comes to the dais.

Bischoff tells the announcers that he’s stepping back from desk duties, as dealing with this New World Order stuff has taken up too much time and too many resources. But he does have some news from the WCW Board of Directors. Because of the disgusting attack on multiple WCW payrolled wrestlers last week on Nitro, the board has decided to restrict Nash and Hall beyond Hog Wild. Any future appearance by either man at a WCW event will result in legal action.

Also, Bischoff said that the Board reviewed tapes of “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan’s actions over the last month. They decided that intimating choking Gene Okerlund and playfully slapping Big Bubba Rogers do not constitute as fireable offenses; however, they are taking steps to possibly suspend Hogan after Hog Wild. Heenan asks Bischoff what happens if Hogan beats The Giant for the WCW Title, and Bischoff says it’ll be Hogan’s, as the result of Sunday’s match is independent of the Board’s potential decision.

The announcers thank Bischoff and cut back to the ring, where Cobra and Sgt. Craig Pittman are awaiting Harlem Heat. Then they throw it to commercial.

[Commercial break]

We come back, and Booker T and Stevie Ray are in the ring. The bout is on.

Match 5: Cobra & Sgt. Craig Pittman vs Booker T & Stevie Ray (Harlem Heat)

The announcers use this match to discuss the news about the nWo and possibilities for Hog Wild. Harlem Heat give little offense to Cobra and Pittman, as they put away the military men with the Hangover pretty easily.

Winner: Harlem Heat (pinfall, 4:12)

After the match, Mean Gene comes into the ring to talk with Harlem Heat. Stevie Ray says that once they beat the Steiner Brothers at Hog Wild, they’ll get no more shots at the belt. Booker T says he’d love to see those pretty boys one more time to laugh in their face before Sunday. That brings out the Steiners, who up the ante with Harlem Heat by challenging them to a two-out-of-three-falls match at Hog Wild. Harlem Heat accepts, saying it’ll only take them two.

[Commercial break]

Back from the break, Pat Tanaka is in the ring. John Tenta is next.

Match 6: Pat Tanaka vs John Tenta

This is a big-time squash to give the fans a breather, with Tenta getting the splash for the pin.

Winner: John Tenta (pinfall, 2:17)

After the match, the announcers get us ready for the main event, but first, The Giant is in the ring with Mean Gene! And there, The Giant says Hollywood Hogan has no idea what’s about to hit him. “This isn’t about the Dungeon of Doom. This isn’t about some fantasy to end Hulkamania. In fact, Hulkamania ended the moment you turned your back on everyone. No, Hogan, this is about me proving that I am the absolute most dominant force in professional wrestling today.”

[Commercial break]

The announcers run through the card currently announced for Hog Wild:

Then they take it to ringside. Lord Steven Regal and Earl Robert Eaton of the Blue Bloods hit the ring, followed by Lex Luger and Sting. The match is next!

[Commercial break]

Match 7: Lord Steven Regal & Earl Robert Eaton (Blue Bloods) vs Lex Luger & Sting

This is a longer bout with both teams taking some time to feel one another out. Sting and Regal rekindle their feud from earlier in the summer, as Regal uses a host of holds to bring down the Franchise. Regal and Eaton get in an extended heat section where they double-team Sting, but he’s finally able to break out and get a hot tag in to Luger. Lex gets some good offense in, but the Blue Bloods cut him down pretty quickly. Another heat section ensues, then the battle leaves the ring for a minute. We go back to commercial.

[Commercial break]

Back in, Luger gets the advantage again and brings Sting in. The good guys share offense for a bit as Eaton gets worn down, but the veteran is able to snake out and bring the momentum back to the Blue Bloods. Regal and Eaton take turns keeping Sting in trouble. Finally, the Franchise gets the move he needs and tags Luger in for real heat. It’s back and forth until Luger gains a true advantage. Then he and Sting get some double-team work in. Sting deposits Regal to the outside while Luger gets Eaton in the Torture Rack. The win is theirs.

Winner: Lex Luger & Sting (submission, 15:31)

As they celebrate, the lights flicker on and off. “The following announcement has been paid for by the New World Order.” Hogan, Nash and Hall cut a vicious promo on The Giant, Luger and Sting, saying that Sunday night will be a coronation. Nash: “Sorry Lex, you can’t hop in the ol’ tour bus now!” Hall can’t wait to carve up Sting. The Outsiders say they may even do it now in the back parking lot! That’s when the feed cuts off.

As the announcers wonder if the nWo is out back, Luger and Sting high-tail it out of the ring and head to the parking area. They come upon a limousine. They approach carefully, open the door … and find a note. “Sorry boys, we had to catch the Express. Six more days.”