We are one day removed from the darkest moment in WCW history...
Well, second darkest day.
At Bash at the Beach, the outsiders revealed their mysterious third man, and it turned out to be Hulk Hogan. Now this trio, referring to themselves as the New World Order, look to take over WCW. And where better to start than with Nitro airing live in Disney MGM Studios for another two hours of action.
-WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Rey Mysterio Jr. VS Dean Malenko-
Our opening contest is Cruiserwiehgt action with the championship at stake. Both Malenko and Mysterio had wins the prior night at Bash at the Beach, not to mention both men have had history as they've faced several times in the past. Back and forth early with Rey scoring a headscissors, followed by an arm drag that sends Malenko out of the ring. Rey teases a dive outside, but spins the ropes instead. Rey goes for a moonsault, but Malenko catches him, only for Rey to slide behind and send him to the corner. A pair of unique springboard dropkicks from Rey. Cover gets a two. Malenko tries a powerbomb, but Rey avoids, only for Malenko to come back with a backbreaker. Northern lights suplex from Malenko who then covers for two. He stretches Rey as we go to break.
When we return, Malenko is still keeping on Rey as he hits a flapjack. Underhook powerbomb and a cover only gets two for Malenko. But just like butter he slides right into a camel clutch. A great example of that amazing transitioning from hold to hold that only Malenko could pull off. Malenko tries a knee, but Rey catches him with a roll-up for two. Schiavone is focused less on the amazing action and is talking about the situation with Hogan last night. Malenko throws Rey sternum-first into the ropes, sending Rey bouncing to the outside. He then locks a chinlock on Rey, transitioning into a body scissors, but Rey gets the ropes. He throws Rey out and hits a brainbuster on the ground. With only a light mat covering concrete, that looks even sicker than you'd think.
He brings Rey back in for a scoop slam and covers for two. He goes for a pumphandle, but Rey turns it into a cross body for two. Malenko tries another flapjack, but Rey turns it into a hurricanrana that sloppily sends them to the outside. Rey follows with an asai moonsault off the apron that barely hits Malenko (Rey getting mostly concrete). Both men slowly recover, but Rey gets Malenko in. He then dives hitting a beautiful hurricanrana off the top rope for two. Springboard moonsault and another cover, but Malenko kicks out again. Malenko hits a super gutbuster off the tope and slowly covers. He chooses to raise Rey's head up instead of taking the three. He follows with a beautiful belly to belly. Cover, but he again neglects to make the three. He goes for a spinning backbreaker, but Rey turns it into another Hurricanrana, covering for three. We have a new cruiserweight champion!
A really good match. Not my favorite of their encounters, but we got some great spots throughout with Malenko especially looking crisp and hard hitting. Rey was a bit off though, with a few of his spots being a bit messy. But otherwise, this was a great upset moment and a great way to kick off this episode of Nitro.
Mean Gene is backstage with the Nasty Boys and the Steiner Brothers. They'll face off tonight to challenge Harlem Heat at Hog Wild next month. The Steiners aren't happy about losing last week to the Steiners thanks to Colonel Parker. They do respect the wrestling ability of the Nasties, but Saggs says that they don't care about anything but winning the tag titles. They aren't backing down. Rick rambles about the ring being the dog pound, while Knobbs says that the ring will be fourth of July. This got weird quick.
WEEK ELEVEN!! Eleven weeks and we're still ways away from Glacier's big debut. In fact, the promos no longer even say that he'll be debuting in July.
-The Blue Bloods VS Big Bubba and Hugh Morrus-
Lord Steven Regal and Squire Dave Taylor representing the Blue Bloods in action for our second match. It's weird that we have two heel teams taking on each other. Loud USA chants as there's a lot of stalling to start. A bit of arguing between Taylor and Regal as Taylor gets shoved by Morrus. Taylor ducks offense and hits a big dropkick, only to eat a clothesline from Morrus. Tag to Regal. Tag to Big Bubba Boss Man. Regal and Taylor beat down on Bubba in the corner, then Regal hits an elbow. Cover, but Bubba kicks out. Regal gets caught in a Boss Man Slam. Cover, but Taylor breaks it. Tags to Morrus and Taylor as Taylor lands uppercuts. Suddenly John Tenta shows up and brawls with Bubba while the Blue Bloods hit a double back suplex on Morrus for the win.
-Eddie Guerrero VS Psychosis-
As Eddie and Psychosis start, we get a video from the new cruiserweight champion Rey Mysterio Jr. And instead of this being him talking about how amazing it is to be the new champ, his focus is, of course, on how heartbreaking it was that Hogan was the third man last night. Some fast counters from both men, but Eddie comes through with an arm drag that sends Psychosis groin-first into the ropes. Eddie teases diving off the buckle, but splatting on concrete doesn't seem wise. Eddie puts Psychosis in a long headlock that follows with a shoulder block. Psychosis uses Eddie's speed to throw him out of the ring. Pyschosis does a flip off the buckle that unlike Rey's earilier, actually connects perfectly. And considering the thud of Eddie's head on the pavement, perhaps a bit too hard.
Psychosis begins arm work, locking in hammerlocks and throwing Eddie into the buckle. He follows up with a cross arm breaker. We learn from Schiavone that Hogan won't even be on Nitro tonight, but he'll be here next week instead. Eddie manages to get a frankensteiner in a spot similar to Rey. Cover, but Psychosis kicks out. Psychosis dives off the buckle, but gets caught with a massive inverted atomic drop. Psychosis comes right back by throwing Eddie into the buckle. Frankensteiner off the top buckle by Psychosis who slowly covers for two. He goes back up, but Eddie goes for him, only for Psychosis to turn it into a sunset flip off the top. He goes back up again, but Eddie turns it into a superplex. Frog Splash and a cover gets the three for Eddie in a really good back and forth match that was given the right amount of time.
Mean Gene interviews Taskmaster, Jimmy Hart and The Giant. Hart says that this is the first time that he's been lost for words when it comes to Hogan. Sullivan says that they lived for the destruction of Hulkamania, and he did it himself. But he turns it to Benoit, who he calls a mad man. Jimmy talks about how the NWO could mean that Gene and others are out of a job. Giant says that as long as he has the title, nothing in WCW can go wrong. He took the belt from Hogan at Halloween Havoc. The Horsemen won the battle, but didn't win the war.
-The Steiner Brothers VS The Nasty Boys-
Knobbs and Saggs work on Scott early on. Fast tags and double teams. After a double shoulder block, Saggs covers for two. Saggs ducks a clothesline, but gets caught with an underhook slam. Knobbs tries to attack, but Rick lands a big clothesline. Rick comes in as the Nasties continue to double team. Saggs hits a clothesline in the corner. Tag to Knobbs who gets a big cross body splash in the corner. Cover and barely a two. Rick catches Knobbs for a big body slam and lands an elbow and a clothesline. Cover, but still only two. Tag to Scott who gets a big T-Bone suplex. Hair pull by Knobbs who tags in Saggs. Saggs throws Scott outside and grabs a chair, clattering him right in the sternum (No DQ I guess).
Second hour begins with Eric Bischoff and Bobby Heenan. No immediate explanation as to where Bischoff was last night. We just continue the in ring with Scott hitting a belly to belly to Knobbs. Cover, but Saggs breaks it. Saggs tries a bearhug, but Scott gets an overhead belly to belly. We see Colonel Parker and Sister Sherri looking on. Sherri rushes to the ring and tries to get in. Parker tries to hit Scott with the cane, but accidentally lays out Saggs. Cover by Scott for the win in a decent enough brawl. Better than I was expecting for a match with the Nasty Boys.
Mean Gene talks to Saggs and Knobbs. Saggs says that life, as is wrestling, is all about attitude, and theirs has always been nasty. The big man and that cane just sent a message to their heads. Change is inevitable. They have to change. He starts to say that it'll be a cold day in hell when something. I don't know exactly because Gene, like a jackass, just takes the mic away from him mid-sentence to talk to Knobbs, who calls him out on it. Knobbs says that they don't condone what Hogan did, it was a shock to them. But they don't see anything wrong in what he did. It seems like the New World Order do whatever they want, just like the Nasties used to do. A very weird and abrupt promo, I'll give it that.
-WCW United States Championship: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair VS Jim Powers-
Bischoff apologizes for missing last night. He also mentions that all of the Hulkamania merchandise that was supposed to be sold has been destroyed. Heenan said that he told everyone for twenty years about his opinion on Hogan, and last night proved him right. Powers goes for a headlock, but Flair rolls him up for two. Headlock and shoulder block spot by Flair. Powers comes back with a back drop ahd a headlock. Flair with a hair pull slam, then throws Powers out, allowing Woman to claw the eyes. Powers comes back in with a sunset flip. Flair tries to punch him, but punches mat instead. Powers locks the head, but Flair takes him to the corner and pokes the eye. An exchange of chops with Powers getting the better and following with another back body drop.
Flair corner bump sends him to the outside. Flair yells at someone at ringside and starts dancing. He gets back in and begs off Powers, only to get another thumb to the eye on Powers. He goes up top, but of course that means he gets thrown off. Powers hits a big pair of clotheslines and covers for two. Flair avoids a dropkick and goes for a figure four, only to get rolled up for two. Powers goes for a tackle in the corner, but Flair avoids and hits a chop block. Knee drop to the leg and a figure four gets the win in a basic Flair match.
Mean Gene is with Three of the horsemen, and the ladies. Arn says that there were highs and lows last night. Mainly in that they didn't get their title shot tonight. He turns his attention to Hogan and says that everyone's hearts that were stomped hard last night are going to fight him. Mongo says that the apocalypse is on WCW, and it has nothing to do with anyone but the Four Horsemen. Flair flaunts Mongo's superbowl ring, then rambles about waking the dead, and making little girls out of their head. Flair's promos are usually spirited, but lately it's mostly just more coked up ramblings. Still amazing, but crazed.
-Chris Benoit VS Sergeant Craig "Pitbull" Pittman-
Pittman starts strong hitting a powerslam and a really nice German suplex. Benoit gets in the corner and lands an elbow and some stiff knee strikes. He takes Pittman to the corner with more chops and a rake of the face. Pittman whips him in the corner, but Benoit gets the knees up and lands a clothesline. Benoit gets distracted by Teddy Long, allowing for Pittman to get in a punch on Benoit. Benoit gets in and locks in a cross face. Teddy gets in the ring and tells the ref to throw the match off. Benoit yells at the camera saying that Sullivan should beware
-Sting VS Arn Anderson-
It's main event time as The Man Called Sting is in action against "Double A" Arn Anderson. Bischoff mentions that there may be certain visitors backstage tonight, and there's not enough security here at Disney to deal with them. They also play up how this is a different Sting after last night. Sting starts in control early on. Some hammerlocks from both men early on, with Sting winning the exchange. Arn throws Sting out and tries a piledriver on the concrete, but Sting gets a back drop, causing Arn to land hard. Some stalling as we go to commercial.
When we return, Sting is still in control. He whips Arn, but Arn comes back with a big spinebuster. Arn stomps on Sting then throws him hard into the corner, then chokes him out by the ropes. The IRS special abdominal stretch using the ropes when possible. Eventually the referee catches him, allowing Sting to get a hiptoss. Sting tries a splash, but Arn gets his knees up. Cover, but only two. Arn locks in a Boston crab as we cut to a black limo outside of the arena. Returning to the ring, Arn covers Sting multiple times, but can't get more than a two count.
Hall and Nash leave the limo and make their way into the building while Sting is back in control. He hits a diving clothesline and covers for two. A brawl beteen both Sting and Arn is eventually while security keeps Hall and Nash from entering the ring. Arn tries to attack Sting, but Sting locks a scorpion death lock for the win. Savage is out there trying to get a shot on Hall and Nash. Eventually security send both Outsiders back out of the arena.
Mean Gene interviews Sting first. Sting isn't surprised about the outcome last night from the two outsiders, but he should have known about Hogan. About how he traveled town to town in the limo and not with the boys. When Hogan was on the dark side, he should have known. When Hogan referred to Luger, Savage and Sting as three dogs who want Hogan, he should have known. He then gets angry about how Hogan betrayed the kids. It's a good thing Hogan told the kids to believe in themselves, because they no longer believe in him. He tells Hogan to stick it. Savage has a message for Hollywood Hogan, but what he wants to do to him can't be said on television, especially at Disney. Take the worst thing you can think of and multiply it by nine million then infinity and beyond, and it's just amounts to one grain of sand in the Sahara as it comes to what he'll do to Hogan.
Mean Gene then goes to interview Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. Nash said that WCW took a beating. The fans took a beating because Hulk told them for what it was. Next week, Hogan will be at Nitro and we'll see what the WCW will put against them. Last night they felt like Mark Furman at the Apollo. Hall says that this portion of WCW is brought by the Outsiders and Hulk Hogan. They said they'd do it and they delivered. They crashed the party and everyone should be begging them to come in the door. He says that Gene's got a job with the NWO, but Gene would prefer to work for Turner. Nash says that Hogan isn't here tonight because he's working on a movie instead. We end the show with a recap of the Hogan turn last night at Bash at the Beach once again.
This was a really strong Nitro to follow an event such as Bash at the Beach. A lot of good in-ring this week with the standouts being Eddie vs Psychosis and Rey vs Malenko for the Cruiserweight title. Benoit and Pittman was a surprisingly decent affair for what it was, Flair vs Powers was inoffensive, Nasties Vs Steiners was better than expected and Blue Bloods vs Dungeon of Doom was quick, but decent. As for Sting and Arn, it was also good, but again overshadowed by the involvement of the outsiders. I liked that the whole show felt like this somber affair, like WCW really is about to die thanks to Hogan's betrayal. There's something hilarious about so many people being depressed at the happiest place on earth that makes this all the greater. No Hogan this week, but I like that. It adds to this stigma that he was never about the fans, that he's all about himself and screw everyone else. Overall, the NWO stuff is heating up and this show is a good example of just how captivating this whole angle is. A great edition, and an A show.
WHO WON THE WAR WEEK #40: NITRO
Nitro put on a great piece of television this week, building up the sense of dread that followed Hogan's betrayal, and also gave us some decent wrestling. Raw was also pretty good this week, but felt off with how they had to so quickly rush getting Ultimate Warrior written off television to replace him with Sycho Sid. Overall, it was a good week all around, but Nitro was the much stronger show. 24 wins for Nitro.
RAW:
September 25th, 1995
October 2nd, 1995
October 23rd, 1995
November 13th, 1995
November 20th, 1995
December 4th, 1995
December 11th, 1995
January 1st, 1996
January 22nd, 1996
February 19th, 1996
February 26th, 1996
March 11th, 1996
April 1st, 1996
April 15th, 1996
May 27th, 1996
June 23rd, 1996
April 1st, 1996
April 15th, 1996
May 27th, 1996
June 23rd, 1996
NITRO:
September 11th, 1995
September 18th-21st, 1995
October 9th, 1995
October 16th, 1995
October 30th, 1995
November 6th, 1995
November 27th, 1995
December 18th, 1995
January 8th, 1996
January 15th, 1996
January 29th, 1996
February 5th, 1996
March 18th, 1996
March 25th, 1996
April 22nd, 1996
April 29th, 1996
May 6th, 1996
May 13th, 1996
May 20th, 1996
June 3rd, 1996
June 10th, 1996
June 17th, 1996
July 1st, 1996
July 8th, 1996
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