WCW Monday Nitro
Monday, Week 3, December 1997
Rochester Community War Memorial; Rochester, NY
Tony, Brain, and Mike Tenay welcome us to the show! We are thirteen days out from the Starrcade mega-card, but tonight, we have a pay-per-view caliber main event as "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair goes one-on-one with his longtime rival "The Macho Man" Randy Savage! As Heenan calls for "The Nature Boy" to finish off whatever brain cells are left in Savage's head, The Steiners, Ted DiBiase, and "The Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko hit the announce table area and post up once again to ensure no nWo interference. Tenay mentions how excited he is after the massive announcement last week by Roddy Piper that Sting would be taking on "Hollywood" Hogan inside a steel cage at Starrcade!
Rating: 61 (C)
Backup at the announce table was well-timed, as the music of the nWo hits and much of the gang hits the ring, taunting Larry and The Steiners. We get Eric Bischoff, Buff Bagwell, Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, Konnan, Scott Norton, and the nWo Champion, "Hollywood" Hogan. Unlike their normal gloating and open scheming, however, Bischoff's and Hogan's words are much more pointed. Hogan argues that a steel cage match favors him over Sting because "The Stinger" is a yellow-bellied coward too afraid even come out of his hiding spot to look the nWo Champion in the eye man-to-man. Bischoff takes the microphone and calls it a miscarriage of justice that Piper, who had no authority to make the match, was allowed to send Sting into Starrcade to get buried by Hogan, and he demands that JJ Dillon come out and reverse Piper's decision.
Dillon enters the aisleway with "Mean" Gene holding the microphone. Dillon says that Eric is right, Piper did not have the authority to put Hogan and Sting in the cage. He says that he doesn't buy their nonsense because he knows Hogan is afraid of Sting. But Dillon says that Piper made the announcement with Dillon's permission, and that if they want to hear it straight from the horse's mouth, so be it - in two weeks at Starrcade, it will be Hogan. It will be Sting. And it will be inside a steel...cage! And if Hogan doesn't sign the contract or doesn't show up, then he will be sure that Hogan and the nWo never appear on WCW television again! The crowd erupts again as it is now confirmed - the Starrcade main event is set!
Rating: 95 (A*)
vs. 
Harlem Heat vs. Mortis and Wrath
In preparation for their Starrcade showdown with The Faces of Fear, Harlem Heat looked to pick up a big win against another hard-hitting team, Mortis and Wrath. Unfortunately, though both teams looked impressive, we didn't get to see a conclusive ending as Meng and The Barbarian hit the ring and assaulted Harlem Heat for a disqualification. Stevie took a kick to the face from The Barbarian and Meng locked in the Tongan Death Grip on Booker! With Jimmy Hart barking orders, Jacqueline Moore tried to get in the ring to stop the assault, but ended up on the receiving end of a Powerslam from The Barbarian!
Rating: 66 (C+)
After a commercial break, "Mean" Gene Okerlund is at ringside where Raven's Flock is seated. Gene starts in hot with Raven, blasting him for refusing to take on Konnan last week and then assaulting Chris Benoit before his match with Kevin Nash. He calls Raven a traitor to WCW and asks him why he's aligned himself with the New World Order.
After initially hesitating and ignoring Okerlund, Raven speaks. He says that Gene and the masses don't understand. His actions last week had nothing to do with the nWo. They had nothing to do with WCW. He explains that the nWo and WCW are two sides of the same coin, and that he is not a sheep that is going to align with either tribe. Instead, Raven is here to provide clarity and cleansing to WCW. He plans on ridding the landscape of men like Chris Benoit who don't know what it's like to be cast aside. When Gene asks whether he's going to be a man and get in the ring with Benoit, Raven goes silent and Hammer climbs over the rail with Riggs and they escort Gene away by his arm.
vs. 
Disco Inferno vs. Saturn (c)
In a rematch from a few weeks ago in which Saturn captured the Television belt from Disco Inferno, the former champion looked to gain revenge. Despite Disco's best efforts, though, thanks to the swarm of Flock members surrounding the ring, the dangerous Saturn was able to catch him in the Rings of Saturn for the victory.
Rating: 80 (B; promo); 60 (C; match)
After a quick break, we see Lord Steven Regal in the back on the WCW Hotline looking rather disgusted with either the caller or the WCW support technician seated next to him. Call up now!
Rating: 59 (C)
vs. 
Rey Mysterio Jr. and Dean Malenko vs. Eddy Guerrero and Juventud Guerrera
Fast-paced cruiserweight action followed and it got the crowd going. The combination of Rey's innovative offense and Dean's ground and pound technical style were on display as Juvi tapped to the Texas Cloverleaf with Eddy looking on, choosing not to intervene.
After the match, Mike Tenay grabs a microphone and asks Eddy about his performance and how he's going to prepare for Malenko at Starrcade. Guerrero points out that Dean never made him submit and that he's not going to do it at Starrcade either! Despite Malenko's pleas for the Cruiserweight Champion to come back to the ring for another fight, a frustrated Eddy backs up the aisle, mouthing off at Dean and the fans.
Rating: 66 (C+; match); 73 (B-; Eddy promo)
After a commercial break, "Mean" Gene is backstage with "The Total Package" Lex Luger. Lex says he hopes Bagwell and the nWo were watching his win over Mike Enos on Saturday Night because that's how it's done. He notes that he was surprised by Bagwell accepting his Starrcade challenge, and at that moment, Bagwell appears onscreen grinning. Buff tells Lex that he's the real "Total Package" and flexes his biceps. Gene calls him a pompous moron and tells him this is not his segment time. Luger waves Gene off and tells Buff he can't wait to Rack him at Starrcade when Bagwell steps in the ring one-on-one. Before he can finish his sentence, he's attacked from behind by Vincent! Buff gets a couple of punches in before Luger pushes him off and cracks Vincent with a right hand! As Gene scurries away, Luger gets the upper hand and locks Vincent in the Torture Rack! Bagwell retreats as Luger drops Vincent and poses for the camera!
Rating: 80 (B)
vs. 
Bill Goldberg vs. Fit Finlay
Despite Finlay's toughness and proclivity for a good fight, he was no match for the sheer power, athleticism, and explosiveness of the undefeated Goldberg. A Spear and a Jackhammer ended this one in swift fashion.
After the match, Steve "Mongo" McMichael walks down the aisle in his Chicago Bears Starter jacket and a microphone. He tells Goldberg that just like Jeff Jarrett, who recently quit WCW "when he saw the look in mah eye," Goldberg better run scared while he still can. Bill doesn't appear afraid though, and he takes the opportunity to leave the ring and bull-rush McMichael! As the two tussle, Goldberg gets up to hype himself up and play to the crowd! As he turns around though, Mongo had slid the lead pipe he used at Starrcade out of his Bears jacket and smacks Goldberg in the head with it! He puts the boots to Goldberg and holds the pipe high!
Rating: 54 (C-; match); 73 (B-; brawl)
Next out are The Outsiders along with Eric Bischoff, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Rick Rude, and Curt Hennig. They get on Larry Zbyszko and The Steiner Brothers, who are still posted up by the announce table. Kevin and Scott taunt The Steiners with their nWo Tag Team Title belts as the Steiners hold up the true belts and shout back at them. Meanwhile, Bischoff calls Larry "The Living Loser" and lets out a shrill laugh. Ted DiBiase grabs a microphone and tells the nWo that his clients aren't going to fight at the announce table like last week - they're coming to the ring! But they noticed they're a bit outnumbered, so they made a couple of phone calls just in case.
As the trio makes their way toward the ring, they're backed up by "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair and Diamond Dallas Page once again! Tony notes that Flair is scheduled to take on "The Macho Man" later tonight, but first we get a sneak peek! There's a major brawl in the ring as Rude immediately slides out. Amidst the chaos, Zbyszko gets a hand on the jacket of a fleeing Bischoff, but right before Larry lays the lumber, Nash grabs Bischoff's leg and pulls him outside the ring to the disappointment of the WCW faithful. The nWo licks their wounds and heads out through the crowd as The Steiners and friends taunt them from the ring!
Rating: 88 (B+)
Before the next segment, we get a preview for Saturday Night - we have "The Crippler" Chris Benoit, La Parka and Psychosis, and Diamond Dallas Page all in action!
Speaking of Benoit, he's out to ringside next for an interview with "Mean" Gene. Gene asks if he has anything to say to Raven regarding Raven's assault last week prior to Benoit's match with Kevin Nash. Benoit says he's disgusted by how much of a coward Raven is and he wants him at Starrcade! Benoit walks over to the side of the ring where Raven's Flock is seated and tries to goad Raven into accepting his challenge, but Raven simply stares at him disinterested. With the likes of Lodi and Kidman taunting him, Benoit snaps and launches himself over the railing right into Raven, knocking him backwards! Gene lets out a cry of shock as Benoit's surprise attack pays dividends. He grabs Raven's chair and cracks Hammer in the head with it, swinging it wildly as The Flock retreats!
Rating: 58 (C-; preview); 65 (C; brawl)
vs. 
Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage
It's main event time! Savage walked to the ring surrounded by a substantial portion of the nWo, and Flair was backed by The Steiners, Larry Zbyszko, Diamond Dallas Page, and Lex Luger! The two picked up right where they left off, as Savage jumped Flair as soon as he hit the ring. The drama outside the ring was too much for referee Nick Patrick to adequately control, as Savage picked up the victory once Curt Hennig blasted Flair in the head with one of The Outsiders' Tag Team belts behind Patrick's back and Savage dropped an elbow for the pin.
Basically as soon as the bell rings, the tension outside the ring descends into full-blown chaos. Konnan catches a Diamond Cutter from Page, Vincent is Powerslammed by Scott Steiner, Hall and Bagwell put the boots to Zbyszko, and pandemonium reigns - and then The Giant hits the ring! Cognizant of JJ Dillon's warning that if The Giant threw a punch with his hurt hand, he would be suspended indefinitely, The Giant's arrival is simply to buy time for the WCW loyalists to regroup. Hall, Nash, and especially Savage feign fear at The Giant and mock him, asking him to hit them. That's when"Hollywood" Hulk Hogan runs down the aisle with the nWo Heavyweight Championship and cracks The Giant with it! A beatdown ensues as the nWo puts the boots to the fallen WCW wrestlers. All of a sudden, the lights go out...
The power returns to the arena and a new man is standing in the ring, clad in black, monochromatic face paint, signature baseball bat in hand - it's STING!! For the first time in weeks, Hogan's challenger is in the ring and lays waste to the nWo members inside the ring! Scott Norton takes a bat to the gut, doubles over, and gets cracked in the spine with the same weapon. "The Macho Man" hurls his body at Sting, who steps to the side and grabs him for the Scorpion Death Drop! Kevin Nash just ducks a swing at his head, and this allows for Team WCW to get back to their feet and fend off the remaining New World Order members! The show ends with Sting, The Steiners, Zbyszko, DDP, Flair, Luger, and The Giant riling up the crowd and the nWo heading for the hills!
Rating: 78 (B; match); 93 (A; post-match)
Overall Show Rating: 84 (B+). This show increased our popularity in 22 regions.
Backstage Notes: Prior to the show, Fit Finlay agreed to a contract with WWF and let WCW management know he would be leaving when his contract expires at the end of the month.
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WCW Monday Nitro Quick Results
Harlem Heat w/Jacqueline Moore (DQ) vs. Mortis and Wrath w/James Vandenberg
WCW Television Championship
Disco Inferno vs. Saturn w/Raven's Flock
Dean Malenko and Rey Mysterio, Jr. vs. Eddy Guerrero & Juventud Guerrera
Bill Goldberg vs. Fit Finlay
Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage w/the nWo and Elizabeth
