Nitro is live from Miami, Florida for the second edition of Monday Nitro. We're out of the Malls and into what ia more standard looking Nitro set. It's Eric Bischoff, Bobby Heenan and Mongo on the commentary table. Mongo says tonight's going to be the biggest thing since the old lady said "where's the beef". Loud "weasel" chants towards Heenan as we recap Luger's challenge to Hogan last week, which will lead to our main event between Lex Luger and Hulk Hogan. In other news, Vader is AWOL and off the Fall Brawl card.
Opening action for Nitro is Sabu taking on "Das Wunderkind" Alex Wright. I absolutely adore Wright's techno theme. Arm drag by Sabu followed by one by Wright. Sabu chokes Wright and follows by a springboad and a hurricanrana that sends both men falling over the top rope. Sabu comes back into the ring nad hits a baseball slide and a plancha over the top rope. Sabu grabs a chair...
But Wright avoids contact. Wright follows with some stomps and a body slam on the outside. Wright goes up top and hits a great looking missile dropkick. Baseball slide by Wright who follows by diving over the top rope on to Sabu. Sabu grabs Wright and gets some strikes. He goes up, but Wright is quick to grab him and land a superplex. Sabu reverses a ship and hits a springboad elbow off the ropes. Wright gets a German suplex on Sabu for barely two. He goes back up, but Sabu stops him, and lands a rolling slam off the top to get the win.
Really hot opener. You could argue there were far too many high flying spots and far less actual ring psychology, but since this is Sabu and his psychology doesn't quite entail much in-ring strategy, you can forgive it. Both men looked really great with Sabu's "homicidal, suicidal, genocidal" style looking unique and Alex Wright hitting some crisp offense and great looking high flying maneuvers. Definitely a strong way to start Nitro.
Post-match, Sabut attacks Alex Wright and drops him face first on to the apron. He grabs a table and sets it up. He puts Alex on it, goes up on the buckle and dives on to Wright, breaking the table. Due to this assault post-match, the referee reverses the decision, awarding the win to Alex Wright.
"Mean" Gene Okerlund is in the ring to introduce the 11 time champion, Ric Flair. Flair brings up the absence of Arn Anderson, who instead of running wild with the nature boy, he was calling his wife and kid. There was no path in life Arn couldn't walk because he was at Flair's side. Flair's promo is interrupted by Lex Luger, who enters the ring. Flair compliments Luger, Luger says he's too much, and just leaves, as Flair says that Hogan will go down to Lex Luger.
Up next, the US title is on the line. VK Wallstreet taking on Sting. As mentioned last week, the VK is a dig at Vince McMahon. Bischoff spoils the results of Shawn Michaels vs Sid as Mongo mocks Raw's name for being based on uncooked eggs. Sting gets some strikes and a headlock on Wallstreet early on, and follows with a hiptoss and two dropkicks. Sting whips Wallstrett hard into the buckle, sending him retreating to outside of the ring. Wallstreet comes back by throwing Sting to the outside and ramming him into the apron.
A clubbing blow to the chest of Sting by Wallstreet, but Sting gets a springboard shoulder block. Wallstreet follows with some elbows and an attempt at a Samoan Drop, but Sting rolls him up for two. Sting blocks a ram of the head into the buckle and follows with several of his own. Some punches and a clothesline by the Stinger who follows with a knee to the back and a Stinger Splash. Sting goes to the top, and hits the cross body off the top for the three.
A pretty decent little match. It felt like it was on fast forward from minute one, and while Irwin... err, Wallstreet looked decent, this was all about showing how great Sting is in the ring. It's weird that a match with IRS would be a better exhibition for Sting than a match with Ric Flair, but that's how things goes I guess.
Up next, it's Scott "Flash" Norton taking on "Macho Man" Randy Savage. Norton goes on the attack immediately, with some strikes and a clothesline. Norton yells at Mongo, saying that he's after him next. Savage tries a sunset flip, but Norton picks him up and slams him to the mat. Savage ducks a clothesline, and follows with a couple of his own to send Norton over the top rope. Double ax handle by Savage to the outside connects on Norton. Both men return to the ring as Savage goes back up, but gets caught in a bearhug.
Norton works on the back of Savage with some clubbing fists. He follows with a powerbomb, covering for two. Norton continues to work the back with some rib breakers and a press slam. Powerslam by Norton, who covers for another two. Heenan and Bischoff continue to treat Norton's offense like it's destroying Savage. Savage ducks a clothesline, but gets hit with a shoulder block,sending him out of the ring. Norton lifts Savage up to the ropes and lands a DDT over the ropes (looked really sloppy). Norton goes up top for a diving attack, but Savage gets a facebuster.
Kamala and Shark (our old buddy Earthquake) of the Dungeon of Doom try to aid Norton, but prove comically ineffective. Shark topples on to Norton (how is that not a DQ) as Savage takes that opportunity to drop the elbow for the win. The rest of the Dungeon of Doom rush the ring as Savage makes his escape. They get in a heated argument with Norton before they make their exit.
An okay match, which felt more like an exhibition to show how talented Scott Norton is, which after seeing a lot of his offense I am impressed with. It flowed at a good pace, never felt like it was bogged down with rest holds, and lasted as long as it needed to. The Dungeon of Doom's involvement was more comical than concerning, however.
It's our main event next as Lex Luger challenges Hogan-Senpai. Crowd is far more pro-Luger as he takes Hogan to the corner early on and shoves the Hulkster. They pace around the ring and eventually Hogan takes Luger into the corner. We get even more stalling and pacing as Hogan takes Luger to the ground and locks in a half nelson, following with a vertical suplex, but Luger no-sells completely. Hogan has a shocked reaction as if to say "Bitch, that's my gimmick, brother!"
And speaking of which, Luger goes for his own suplex, but Hogan no-sells, to noticeable boos that turn to Hogan chants. Luger locks in a headlock until Hogan shoves him off and sends him retreat. Hogan quickly brings him back and hits a back body drop following with a clothesline. Hogan misses a charge in the corner, allowing Luger to hit a powerslam. Luger locks Hogan into the torture rack as the referee does the arm drop spot, but Hogan escapes, I think. Luger covers, Hogan kicks out and Hulks Up, and I'm annoyed by this as always. Boot and leg drop by Hogan
When we return, it's Okerlund in the ring who says that Hogan's War Games team is short a member with Vader gone. Hogan is concerned that he doesn't know what side Luger is on. Sting is the only member of the team that trusts Luger, because Sting is an idiot. He suggests that Luger should be in the team, but Savage and Hogan are unable to trust him. Savage says that the Dungeon didn't attack Sting or Jimmy Hart. Eventually Hogan gives his vote to add Luger to the team, despite Savage's concerns. Luger says he'll join provided he'll get a title shot down the line. And we end with a shill of next week's Nitro as well as Sunday's Fall Brawl.
Another good episode of Monday Nitro. Really enjoyed Sabu vs Alex Wright, as well as Sting vs Wallstreet, and Savage vs Scott Norton. Hogan and Luger, woof, that was not a good match at all. Your basic no-selling from both men and a lot of stalling, only to lead us to two segments of this supposedly dangerous stable of the Dungeon of Doom looking like a bunch of geeks. Really brought down what was still a solid wrestling show. With that said, I give Nitro a B+ still.
WHO WON THE WAR WEEK 1: WCW MONDAY NITRO