WCW Monday Nitro
Monday, Week 2, December 1997
Bud Walton Arena; Fayetteville, AR
Fireworks explode as Tony Schiavone, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, and Mike Tenay once again welcome us to WCW Monday Nitro! They briefly run down the card, which includes Kevin Nash taking on "The Crippler" Chris Benoit, as well as Raven against Konnan! As they run down the show, they are surprised - not by the typical arrival of the nWo to kick them out of their seats, but by Larry Zbyszko, The Steiner Brothers, and Ted DiBiase, who post up near the table in case of nWo interference!
Rating: 71 (B-)
vs. 
Dean Malenko vs. Psychosis
Mike Tenay let us know that there's a big future in store for Psychosis in the Cruiserweight Division here in WCW, but despite Psychosis's best efforts, he came up empty on a Missile Dropkick attempt and was locked in the Texas Cloverleaf as Malenko picked up the win by submission.
Rating: 61 (C)
After a commercial break, a graphic announces a championship match for Starrcade: following his victory, Dean Malenko will challenge the winner of Saturday Night's upcoming bout between Prince Iaukea and Eddie Guerrero for the Cruiserweight belt at the jam-packed pay-per-view event!
Rating: 56 (C-)
Before turning back to the ring, the announce team brings us back a couple of weeks ago, when, after defeating Disco Inferno, "Macho Man" Randy Savage buried him in Flying Elbow after Flying Elbow. Elizabeth stood by and watched, and Heenan in particular says he can't believe that she would allow Randy to do what he did to the Disco Inferno that night.
vs. 
Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Randy Savage
"The Macho Man" has been inside those ropes with some of the greatest of all time and rarely had as much trouble as he did with the plucky luchador Rey Jr. Every time Randy would land a big maneuver and the crowd thought it was over, Mysterio would barely get a shoulder up. Rey also had Savage on his heels with his innovative offense, but in the end, the veteran would grab the win with a Flying Elbow Drop.
Out of sheer frustration, after the bell, Savage disregards the warnings of Randy Anderson and continues to drop Flying Elbow after Flying Elbow from the top rope, just as he did to the Disco Inferno a couple of weeks ago! This time, however, he is greeted by the ominous entrance of a familiar foe as The Giant steps his way down the aisle! As The Giant enters the ring, Savage retreats in spite of The Giant's no-contact order from JJ Dillon. Giant grabs a microphone and has a simple message for "The Macho Man" - "why don't you pick on someone a little bit bigger at Starrcade?!" Tony lets out an audible "YEAAHH!!" from ringside as the challenge has been laid down!
Rating: 70 (C+; recap); 79 (B; match); 74 (B-; Giant save)
After a quick break, we get a graphic reminding us that Konnan of the New World Order would be going one-on-one with Raven later on this evening! Heenan says that Raven and his crew give him the creeps, but that he'd be happy to welcome Raven to the WCW fold if he'll stand up against the nWo.
Rating: 61 (C)
vs. 
The Public Enemy vs. The Faces of Fear
These two heavy-hitting teams brawled it out and bombs flew back and forth with Jimmy Hart's squealing voice emanating from ringside. At one point Public Enemy set up a table on the outside, but they never got to employ it. Despite Rocco's and Johnny's best efforts, it took a Savate Kick to Rocco and the Tongan Death Grip to Grunge to complete a victory by stoppage for The Faces of Fear.
After the match though, they weren't done. The two savages conducted a well-orchestrated beatdown of the former WCW Tag Team Champions, including sending them both through the large wooden cafeteria-style table posted outside the ring! Leaving Public Enemy in a heap, the Faces appeared satisfied...for now.
Rating: 55 (C-; match); 62 (C; beatdown)
Note: Both members of Public Enemy showed up wasted. Thankfully they didn't pull anything with Meng or Barbarian or they'd have ended up in the hospital instead of the unemployment line.
We get a Saturday Night preview next, which hypes the already announced Cruiserweight Title match between Prince Iaukea, the former WCW Television Champion, and Eddie Guerrero! We'll also see"The Total Package" Lex Luger in action!
Rating: 75 (B-)
As we head back to ringside, the New World Order music hits and the commentary team hypes up the upcoming tag team contest between Curt Hennig and Scott "Flash" Norton against Ric Flair and DDP. But it's not just the two competitors who enter the aisle way - they're accompanied by The Outsiders, Vincent, and Buff Bagwell. The nWo crew heads over to the announce table, with Hall wiggling his fingers in faux fear at Zbyszko and The Steiner Brothers. After some jawing back and forth, Zbyszko and the Steiners throw right hands! After a big brawl, the nWo starts to get the upper hand, but Page, Flair, and Lex Luger hit the table area for the save! The Outsiders and Bagwell head out through the crowd and the WCW faithful cheer along with the commentary team!
vs. 
Diamond Dallas Page and Ric Flair vs. Curt Hennig and Scott Norton
Throughout this contest, Hennig smartly relied upon the strength and speed of Norton to wear their opponents down for his technical maneuvers. But once the crowd willed Flair to tag in Page, the United States Champion caught fire. And when Vincent tried to get involved, Page ducked a clothesline attempt by Norton which caught Vincent and sent him to the floor! Amidst the confusion, Norton turned around into a Diamond Cutter! DDP made the cover and Hennig elected not to make the save as Page and Flair took the victory!
Rating: 82 (B; brawl); 75 (B-; match)
After another commercial break, "Mean" Gene Okerlund welcomes "The Total Package" Lex Luger back out to the entranceway. Luger walks out flexing for the fans as Gene questions him about the words and actions of Buff Bagwell. Luger's words are succinct - he tells Okerlund that if Buff thinks Lex is Sting's bitch and he thinks he can do all Luger's moves, then he should meet him in the ring at Starrcade! Lex lets Buff know that if he accepts, Lex will make Buff his bitch!
Rating: 70 (C+)
vs. 
Kenny Kaos vs. Steve "Mongo" McMichael
This one was a quick one, and it wasn't pretty. "Mongo" simply toyed with the newcomer all the while taunting Bill Goldberg into the camera. Kaos attempted a cross-body which Mongo turned into the Mongo Spike for the victory.
After the match, McMichael grabs a microphone and continues his jawing at Goldberg. To his dismay though, Goldberg hears his remarks and makes his way down to the ring! As the two stare each other down, Mongo, chomping on gum, tells him he'll "see him at Starrcade, baby," and slides away through the ropes.
Rating: 31 (E+; match); 71 (B-; staredown)
Next up, Konnan makes his way out to the ring for his match against Raven. Raven, seated at ringside with The Flock as usual, doesn't appear to have any interest in getting up to wrestle. After a few moments, "Mean" Gene Okerlund hits ringside and is irate, asking Raven what his deal is and whether he's friendly with the nWo. As Raven silently stares straight ahead, Okerlund chastises him for being a selfish coward. Lodi holds a sign in front of Gene with "RAVEN RULES" crudely written on it, and Gene smacks it away, exclaiming "get that garbage out of my face!" Unexpectedly, the music of"Lionheart" Chris Jericho hits and Jericho says he's always looking for an opportunity, and if Raven is too much of a coward to fight Konnan, he'll do it!
vs. 
Chris Jericho vs. Konnan
Jericho used the surprise factor to his advantage early, as the commentary team noted the stylistic differences between preparing for Raven and preparing for a agile youngster like Jericho. Konnan eventually settled in, however, and the veteran picked up a clean submission victory with the Tequila Sunrise.
Rating: 62 (C; pre-match); 73 (B-; match)
After a final commercial break, the commentators hype our main event! Kevin Nash makes his way out to the ring alongside Scott Hall and Buff Bagwell. Then, as Chris Benoit makes his way out, he's jumped from behind by Riggs, Hammer, Kidman, and the rest of The Flock! In the ring, Bagwell obnoxiously feigns shock, Hall points and laughs, and Nash smirks and shrugs. The three lean back and let the assault continue, as Raven drops Benoit with a DDT on the floor! With Benoit barely moving, Raven points toward the ring, and Saturn grabs Benoit in a Fireman's Carry and rolls him in for Nash. The Flock escape through the crowd as the commentary team is livid at Raven! Conflicted, referee Nick Patrick waits for Benoit to crawl to his feet, and after Benoit says he wants the match to start, Patrick calls for the bell!
vs. 
Chris Benoit vs. Kevin Nash
Unfortunately, this match was over before it started. Despite Benoit's grit, determination, and best efforts, the damage was already done. While he almost surprised Nash with the Crippler Crossface, Kevin was able to make his way out and landed a Jacknife on the beaten-down Benoit for a victory.
Predictably, the entire nWo immediately enters the ring to lay a beatdown on Benoit and Eric Bischoff and "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan saunter down the aisle. As Hogan drops a leg on Benoit and Konnan breaks out the spraypaint, the nWo music is cut off by the music of...Roddy Piper!
After getting a beat-down of his own at the hands of the nWo just last month, Piper still looks worse for wear, but stands at the top of the aisle with a microphone in hand. He says "oh, yanno, it's been a bit of a pain since the attack you boys put on me, but I uh, just happened to be in the area so I thought I'd stop by and see how you guys were doin'! And uh, while I was here I walked over to JJ Dillon's office and talked to him for a bit and he wanted me to let you know, Hogan, that at Starrcade, it ain't just gonna be you gettin' your be-hind kicked by Sting...it's gonna be you and Sting...in a steel...cage...match!"
Piper laughs as Hogan's eyes widen and his jaw drops! He and Bischoff protest off-mic, saying that can't be, and that Piper has no authority to make that announcement! The broadcast ends with the nWo in the ring and a camera shot of Sting in the rafters, looking...pleased.
Rating: 82 (B; Raven attack); 75 (B-; match); 92 (A; announcement)
Overall Show Rating: 81 (B). This show increased our popularity in 21 regions.
Backstage Notes: Prior to the show, The Public Enemy egged Lex Luger into a fight, and I planned to suspend them both after their warning last week. Since they were wasted in the ring against the Faces of Fear, though, they both got the ax.
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WCW Monday Nitro Quick Results
Dean Malenko vs. Psychosis
Rey Mysterio, Jr. vs. Randy Savage w/Elizabeth
The Public Enemy vs. The Faces of Fear w/Jimmy Hart
Diamond Dallas Page and Ric Flair vs. Curt Hennig and Scott Norton w/Vincent
Kenny Kaos vs. Steve "Mongo" McMichael
Chris Jericho vs. Konnan
Chris Benoit vs. Kevin Nash w/Scott Hall and Buff Bagwell
