Post by anthonymm13 on Dec 12, 2021 17:55:45 GMT 1
MONDAY NITRO (March 25, 1996)
Interview with the Four Horsemen
To open Nitro, Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Marcus Bagwell, Jeff Jarrett and Davey Boy Smith all came to the ring celebrating Flair’s victory over Steve Austin. He said that chapter is over and done with and now wants to focus on getting back the world title.
However, some business needed to be done. They pointed out that anyone that can count can see there’s five men in the ring, but there’s only supposed to be four Horsemen. Arn Anderson turned to Jarrett and said, Jeff, thanks for the help, but Austin needed to see a full Horsemen group so he wouldn’t suspect Davey Boy Smith of turning on him.
Jarrett looked puzzled so they made it clearer. The used him and now they no longer need him. Anderson offered him the choice to leave on his own, or to leave with help. Jarrett refused to go so Davey Boy smacked him in the head with his US title belt, much like he did to Steve Austin, and the four all stomped away on Jarrett.
[CRUISERWEIGHT TOURNAMENT 1ST ROUND]:
Mr. J.L. pinned Juventud Guerrera in 6:56.
Rating: **
To the surprise of everyone, Johnny B. Badd came to the broadcast table. He was outraged he wasn’t allowed in the tournament since he was 10 pounds too heavy. After J.L.’s win, Badd said it was a travesty that Juventud was able to be in a title tournament instead of him. He then went in the ring and started attacking Juventud. Eventually, Eddie Guerrero ran down and chased Badd off. Badd pointed to Guerrero saying he made a huge mistake.
Sabu pinned Diamond Dallas Page with the Triple Jump Moonsault in 7:18.
Rating: *** 1/4
(Sabu won the WCW TELEVISION TITLE.)
Diamond Dallas Page injured his right knee. He will be out for approximately 4 months
After the events of Uncensored, Page picked Sabu as his next TV title defense. Page said Sabu ruined his road to glory and needed to prove he was the better man. Only one problem, Sabu beat Page.
When Page attempted a Diamond Cutter, Sabu fought his way out and shoved Page into the corner, then caught him with a leg lariat as he bounced out. He hit his triple jump moonsault to get the pin and win the title.
After the match, Page needed some help as he limped to the back.
Lord Steven Regal pinned Jim Duggan after a lariat in 7:16.
Rating: ** 1/2
Also coming out of Uncensored, Regal challenged Jim Duggan to a match since he eliminated him for the US title battle royal. Regal got the win, again with some help from his friends Fit Finlay and David Taylor.
After the match, the three attacked Duggan until Konnan ran down to help Duggan fight the Europeans off. Duggan and Konnan shook hands.
Lex Luger pinned Big Van Vader in 14:38.
Rating: ** 1/2
Randy Savage came out to celebrate his world title victory but the celebration was short lived. His ally Vader came out and said they had a deal that the world title should come down to them two and called out Miss Elizabeth for spraying him with Mace.
Lex Luger also came out pointing to Elizabeth’s Mace costing him the match. This turned into an impromptu Luger/Vader match to determine the No. 1 contender.
Despite giving up size to Vader, Luger was able to match him in strength. Savage and Elizabeth got involved with Elizabeth distracting the ref while Savage went after Luger with a chair. Only Luger got out of the way and Savage smacked Vader. Luger knocked Savage out of the ring, then pinned Vader.
Card rating: ** 1/2
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MONDAY NITRO (April 1, 1996)
[CRUISERWEIGHT TOURNAMENT 1ST ROUND]:
Eddie Guerrero pinned Jushin Liger after a small package in 9:34.
Rating: *** ½
The next first round matchup had all indications of being a classic. Unfortunately we didn’t get the clean finish we’d hope for, but fortunately for Guerrero, he was able to overcome Johnny B. Badd’s interference.
Toward the end of a grueling match, Liger went for a moonsault on the outside, only to have Guerrero move and Liger crash to the mat. Guerrero rolled back in the ring while the ref checked on Liger. Meanwhile, Johnny B. Badd ran into the ring and sucker punched Guerrero while wearing a boxing glove, knocking him out.
Liger didn’t see what happened. Recovered and got back in the ring looking confused. He went to pick Guerrero up, only to have Guerrero roll him up in a small package for the pin. Guerrero advances to the semifinals against Mr. J.L.
Barry Windham pinned Alex Wright after a flying clothesline in 5:22.
Rating: ***
Alex Wright called for a one-on-one match with Barry Windham after the attack at Uncensored. Wright’s the one he has a problem with so let’s settle it just the two of them.
Windham’s strength and mean streak had him dominating the match in which he got a quick pin. Afterwards, he and his new partner Justin Bradshaw weren’t satisfied and continued attacking Wright. Scotty Riggs ran down to help, but was also beaten down by the new team, The Unforgiven.
Interview with The Faces of Fear
Meng and The Barbarian come out for an interview with Gene Okerlund who said he heard the team called for this interview to get something off their chest. Meng proceeded to give what seemed to be a passionate speech entirely in Tongan. But what seemed to be clear were the two holding up 1 finger and motioning around their waists.
Arn Anderson pinned Jeff Jarrett with the DDT in 7:26.
Rating: *** 1/2
Jeff Jarrett didn’t take kindly to being used by the Horsemen. He got his first chance at revenge against Arn Anderson but fell victim to Horsemen shenanigans.
Chris Candido pinned Disco Inferno in 8:26.
Rating: *** ½
Candido looked impressive beating Disco Inferno. After the match, The Diamond in the Rough grabbed a mic and said he owes everything he’s become to his mentor, Diamond Dallas Page. He said thanks to Sabu, Page injured his knee last week and will be out of action for a while, but he wants revenge. He challenged the new TV champion Sabu to face him for the title next week so he can bring it home.
Lex Luger pinned Ric Flair after a Gorilla Press in 13:38.
Rating: ** 1/2
Ric Flair took exception to Luger’s position of No. 1 contender he earned by beating Vader last week. He challenged Luger to tonight’s match.
But Luger has been around long enough, he’s ready for all the typical Horsemen games trying to steal a match. He also got a bit of aid from Jeff Jarrett.
With Flair distracting the ref, Davey Boy Smith went to attack Luger with his US title belt but Jarrett came down grabbing Smith’s leg preventing him from his attack. Luger clotheslined Smith out of the ring, then put Flair away with a slam. After beating Vader and Flair in consecutive weeks, Luger is primed to get a shot at Randy Savage.
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MONDAY NITRO (April 8, 1996)
Chris Candido pinned Sabu after a powerbomb in 9:15.
Rating: *** 1/2
(Chris Candido won the WCW TELEVISION TITLE.)
Chris Candido made a vow to avenge his mentor’s title loss and injury and tonight he made good on it. He did what few have been able to in WCW, tame the wildman Sabu.
Sabu and Candido were fighting on the top rope til Sabu kicked him off. He then went for a flying hurricanrana, but Candido caught him and dropped him in a powerbomb. He got the pin and won the title.
[CRUISERWEIGHT TOURNAMENT 1ST ROUND]:
Dean Malenko made Super Calo submit to the Texas Cloverleaf in 5:15.
Rating: ***
In the latest first round match, Dean Malenko advanced with a pretty quick victory. He gave a quick interview after saying that this tournament was just a formality. No one can beat him, the title is his.
BACKSTAGE FIGHT
The cameras cut to the backstage area where Harlem Heat and the Road Warriors are engaged in an all-out brawl. The four are fighting in and out of the locker rooms and through hallways in the back of the area.
Trash cans are picked up and used as weapons. Basically anything not bolted down was used as a weapon.
Eventually, officials and other wrestlers came by to break up the fight and finally separate the two sides.
Johnny B. Badd pinned Juventud Guerrera with the Tutti Frutti in 7:44.
Rating: *** 3/4
Badd has been livid he wasn’t included in the Cruiserweight tournament for being 10 pounds too heavy, so he took his frustrations out on Guerrera who lost his first round match and Badd questions how he could be included in a tournament but not him.
While Guerrera caught Badd with a couple nice moves, Badd controlled most of the match and ultimately got the win. After, he spoke to Guerrera to tell his buddy Eddie Guerrero to keep his nose out of his business.
The Faces of Fear (Meng and The Barbarian) defeated The Ultimate Males (Alex Wright and Scotty Riggs) when Barbarian pinned A. Wright after a belly-to-back suplex in 11:12.
Rating: 1/2*
(The Faces of Fear won the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES.)
The Ultimate Males were still hurting from several attacks from The Unforgiven over the past few weeks. It was evident early as The Faces of Fear were the fresher team and controlled the early stages.
However, the Males weathered the storm and started to mount a comeback, only to have Justin Bradshaw put an end to it when he ran down and hit Alex Wright with a vicious lariat on the floor the ref didn’t see.
Wright was easy pickings from there as the Faces of Fear put him away and won the world titles.
Fit Finlay and David Taylor defeated Jim Duggan and Konnan when Taylor pinned Duggan after hitting him with a foreign object in 0:19:05.
Rating: ** 1/2
Lord Steven Regal sent his two friends to fight his two enemies who’ve newly aligned. Despite being their first team teaming together, Duggan and Konnan worked well together, but a shot from what appeared to be brass knuckles gave the Europeans the win.
Interview with Randy Savage and Lex Luger
World champion Randy Savage and Lex Luger were together in the ring in a joint interview. Savage pointed out everyone who tried to challenge him he sent away. Hogan ran away to make movies and Sting is still in a hospital bed.
Luger said he will be the one to end Savage’s reign of terror. He’s standing up for Sting, for Hogan and everyone Savage has stepped on to get where he is.
The two went back and forth and they agreed not to wait to settle this. Next week on Nitro they’ll meet for the World Title!
Card rating: ** 1/4
