MONDAY NITRO (March 17, 1997)
The nWo arrives
After their loss last night, the nWo wasn't in the best of moods. Cameras caught a number of them arriving at the arena at the start of the show, no one was saying anything, there was no trademark swagger they usally have. All you could hear was Scott Hall saying "Somebody's going to get hurt tonight."
Billy Kidman pinned David Taylor with the Shooting Star Press in 12:09.
Rating: ***
In the opening match, Billy Kidman kept up the hot streak he's been on, stepping out of the Cruiserweight division but still getting a win over David Taylor.
M. Wallstreet and Scotty Riggs battled to a no contest in 5:54.
Rating: **
Scotty Riggs and M. Wallstrett didn't get much time in the ring before a distraught Chris Candido came into the ring with a chair and knocked out both men with it. Candido then set the chair up and sat down and took a mic. He was speechless for a second before finally saying, "She chose him." He then got up and left.
Interview with Prince Iaukea
Gene Okerlund interviewed Prince Iaukea, who's been billed as a top Cruiserweight prospect, but was attacked before his debut a couple weeks ago. Iaukea went right to the top putting the blame on Cruiserweight champion Syxx of the nWo, saying the attack was trademark nWo, and It's obvious Syxx would want to take him out.
This brought out the champ, who confronted Iaukea, saying the nWo and especially himself have better things to worry about then some punk rookie. They exchanged words and eventually agreed to go right to the ring for a title match.
Syxx pinned Prince Iaukea after a German suplex in 10:00.
Rating: * 1/4
(Syxx retained the WCW WORLD CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE.)
Syxx picked up the win but kept stomping away at Iaukea after the match before Billy Kidman ran down and fought Syxx off.
Scott Steiner made Johnny B. Badd submit to the Steiner Recliner in 13:41.
Rating: *** ¼
Scott Steiner made an enemy out of Stone Cold Steve Austin last night and after Steiner picked up a win tonight and kept his opponent in the Steiner Recliner, Austin ran down and started brawling with Steiner in the ring until security broke them up.
Marcus Bagwell defeated Jeff Jarrett by disqualification in 4:30.
Rating: 1/2*
Marcus Bagwell got a match with Jeff Jarrett after what he did to Ric Flair last night, but Bagwell suffered the same fate quickly into the match, getting hit over the head with a guitar. This brought Arn Anderson out who rushed Jarrett, but Jarrett ran out and Anderson backed off to tend to Bagwell.
Justin Bradshaw pinned Davey Boy Smith with the Lariat in 14:46.
Rating: *** ½
With Flair not in the building after last night and Anderson tending to Bagwell, this left Davey Boy without Horsemen backup during his match against Bradshaw.
The nWo member won the match clean, but after the match nWo members Curt Hennig, Randy Savage, Scott Norton came to help Bradshaw decimate Davey Boy. Eventually, WCW members Luger, Vader and DDP ran down to help but the damage was done.
Cage Match:
Harlem Heat (Stevie Ray and Booker T) defeated The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) when Booker pinned Hall with the Harlem Sidekick in 15:47.
Rating: *
(Harlem Heat won the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES.)
As part of the stipulation for winning at Uncensored, WCW earned the right to challenge for any title the nWo has at any time. Harlem Heat chose tonight to fight the Outsiders for the World Tag Team titles they never truly lost in a cage match.
With the cage keeping the rest of the nWo at bay. Harlem Heat won the match and the titles. But after the match, the nWo rushed the cage, Syxx, Hogan and Savage came in through the cage door then put a pad lock on it.
They joined Hall and Nash in a 5-on-2 attack of the new champs but just like last night, Fireworks came off the ceiling and Sting came ziplining down into the ring. He had a bat in hand and took out everyone with the bat before pointing it at Hogan and backing him into a corner.
Rick Rude meanwhile took a key and unlocked the door, getting Hogan out of there before Sting could attack him. Other nWo members began crawling to the door as Sting and Harlem Heat stood tall in the ring.
Card rating: **
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MONDAY NITRO (March 24, 1997)
Disco Inferno pinned Matt Hardy with the Last Dance in 5:53.
Rating: *** ¼
Disco Inferno opened the show with his trademark dancing girls coming out with him, but Disco stopped his entrance middance, to point to the back as Tammy Lynn came out dancing to Disco's side and they went arm and arm to the ring. Disco made quick work of his opponent and then the dance party continued.
Billy Kidman and Prince Iaukea defeated Super Calo and Psicosis when Kidman pinned Psicosis after a backslide in 11:19.
Rating: ***
Prince Iaukea and Billy Kidman formed a tag team for tonight. Gene Okerlund caught up with them after the match and Iaukea said when you're dealing with people like the nWo, it never hurts to have people watching your back. Kidman said Iaukea was attacked a couple weeks ago, nobody's safe. It's always better to have strength in numbers.
Carl Ouellet pinned Chris Kanyon with the Cannonball in 5:49.
Rating: ***
Carl Ouellet has been professing himself to be the toughest man in WCW, Chris Kanyon at one time walked by and heard his claim, and said only "I've seen tougher."
Ouellet tried to make a point of Kanyon tonight, beating him pretty handily. He asked Kanyon after he was ready to admit that he was the toughest wrestler not only in WCW but in this entire business. Kanyon again just said, "I've seen tougher." But got another beating for it.
Interview with Diamond Dallas Page
Gene Okerlund was doing an interview with Diamond Dallas Page about Randy Savage, when Savage ran out from behind and blindsided Page. Savage decimated DDP on the floor before spraypainting nWo on Page’s body.
The Faces of Fear (Meng and The Barbarian) defeated The Destruction Crew (Mike Enos and Wayne Bloom) when Barbarian pinned Enos with the Flying Clothesline in 15:46.
Rating: * ¼
The Faces of Fear made an example of the nWo associates, The Destruction Crew, coming up with a victory that should put move them up the tag team ladder.
Syxx pinned Rey Misterio Jr. with the Top Rope Legdrop in 13:05.
Rating: ** 3/4
(Syxx retained the WCW WORLD CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE.)
Rey Misterio got a chance to win back his Cruiserweight title from Syxx, but fell victim to the nWo numbers game.
Rey was going for his top rope hurracanranna, but Scott Hall came out to distract the ref, while Vincent got on the apron, climbed up and hit Rey with what looked to be brass knuckles.
Jeff Jarrett pinned Arn Anderson with the Stroke in 13:41.
Rating: *** ½
Jeff Jarrett swore vengeance against the Horsemen and is backing up that decree. Arn was ready to hit Jarrett with a DDT, but Jarrett backed him up into the ref, knocking him down. Jarrett took advantage of the down ref and smashed a guitar over Anderson’s head.
Backstage attack on Stevie Ray
The cameras raced to the back where they caught the Outsiders and Syxx attacking Stevie Ray. Stevie tried to fight back but the numbers were too much. Scott Hall gave Stevie an Outsiders Edge on the floor.
Booker T finally got to the scene but the damage was done and the nWo ran off.
Justin Bradshaw, Curt Hennig and Randy Savage defeated Big Van Vader, Lex Luger and Stone Cold Steve Austin when Bradshaw defeated Vader by disqualification in :06.
Rating: *
Lex Luger called out the nWo said he wanted to take advantage of the clause where any WCW wrestler can challenge an nWo wrestler at any time, he wanted a world title match with Hollywood Hogan. Instead Rick Rude came out and said "Aw shuck, Hollywood Hogan isn't here tonight. He's out in Hollywood closing a deal on a new movie.
So it was decided that instead, the main event would be a 6 man WCW vs nWo tag team match. The nWo used its numbers advantage to attack the WCW team. Steiner came out and blindside Steve Austin to start the assault.
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MONDAY NITRO (March 31, 1997)
Lex Luger in-ring promo
Lex Luger tried again to request a match tonight against Hollywood Hogan for the World Title. However, once again Rick Rude informed Luger that Hogan was not in the building, but Luger could have a main event fight tonight against Curt Hennig.
This time, Eric Bischoff, recently reinstated into power, informed Rude that Hogan is contractually obligated to defend his title. If he does not appear at Spring Stampede to face Luger for the World Title, he will be stripped of the belt. AND, the match at Spring Stampede will be in a steel cage.
Billy Kidman beat Syxx battled by disqualification in 14:48.
Rating: ***
(Syxx retained the WCW WORLD CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE.)
[Vincent interfered against Billy Kidman.]
Billy Kidman's hot streak of late earned him a Cruiserweight title shot against Syxx of the nWo. Kidman looked like he might pull off the upset, but when he was up on the top rope getting ready for a shooting star press, Vincent pushed him off and Kidman crashed hard to the floor. He got the win by DQ but Kidman was definitely hurt after his fall.
The Headbangers (Headbanger Mosh and Headbanger Thrasher) defeated The
Destruction Crew (Mike Enos and Wayne Bloom) when Thrasher pinned W. Bloom with the Top Rope Legdrop in 14:57.
Rating: ***
The Destruction Crew were victims of a mild upset from the Headbangers, but after the match, the Crew got some help from their new friend The Boss, and the three began attacking the Headbangers. However, Boss' recent nemesis, Shark, ran down to even up the sides.
2 Cold Scorpio pinned Mr. J.L. with the Flying Scorpio Splash in 11:40.
Rating: ** ¾
2 Cold Scorpio made his return to WCW and had a fantastic match with former Cruiserweight champion, Mr. JL. But Scorpio showed the same kind of moves that made him a former TV Champion and picked up the win.
Rey Misterio Jr. pinned Jeff Hardy with a Hurracanrana in 12:03.
Rating: ***
Rey Misterio picked up a quick win over young rookie Jeff Hardy. After, Rey Misterio spoke to Gene Okerlund and called out someone he used to look up to, Konnan. He said the way Konnan has been acting lately, he didn't recognize him anymore.
These words brought Konnan out who called Rey ungrateful for everything Konnan has done for this generation of Luchadores. If Rey thinks he can be the man all of a sudden, he can meet him at Spring Stampede.
La Parka pinned Randy Savage after a The Diamond Cutter in 6:46.
Rating: ** 1/2
Randy Savage thought he was gonna have a pretty easy time with La Parka, toying with the Luchadore early in the match. He went up for his flying Elbow, but La Parka instead got a foot up to catch Savage coming in.
With Savage stunned, La Parka then hit him with a Diamond Cutter and got the 1-2-3!!
La Parka then left the ring and went up in the crowd, taking his mask off to reveal himself really being Diamond Dallas Page.
Interview with Jeff Jarrett
Jeff Jarrett came out for his interview with his guitar and a bottle of champaign. He handed a glass to Gene Okerlund and pour a drink. They did a salute, Gene asked what to and Jarrett said the death of the Four Horsemen. Gene threw his drink down but Jarrett continued to gloat about taking each and every one of them out. He called it his Greatest Hits Tour, and set out an open challenge for anyone who wants to be next.
The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) defeated The Faces of Fear (Meng and The Barbarian) when Nash pinned Meng after the Jackknife powerbomb in 21:03.
Rating: 3/4*
The Outsiders were named No. 1 contenders for Harlem Heat's world tag titles after beating the Faces of Fear, thanks to Kevin Nash hitting Meng with a low blow, then delivering a jackknife powerbomb.
Backstage
Before the next match, the announcers said something was going on in the back, the camera cuts backstage to where Big Van Vader is laying face down unconscious with what looks like a cracked cinderblock next to his head. Luger was there along with medical professionals, but they told Luger he needed to go to the ring for his match, while Vader was loaded into an ambulance and taken away.
Lex Luger defeated Curt Hennig when Curt Hennig passed out in the Torture Rack in 14:19.
Rating: **
Luger got the win but quickly after was attacked by the nWo, including Hollywood Hogan who was allegedly not in the building tonight. The decimation the nWo has been doing lately on the WCW roster caught up WCW as the numbers game was in favor of the nWo and even though WCW members tried to help out, the nWo fought them off.
Card rating: ** 1/4
