Week #3 from Disney/MGM Studios for Monday Nitro with Hog Wild rapidly approaching. Schiavone mentions Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic Torch, which gives us a recap of Ali making an appearance on WCW programming in 1994. We also cut to Shaquille O'Neal and Hulk Hogan a few years back as well. On tap for this edition: The Giant will give his answer to Hulk Hogan's challenge for Hog Wild, Eddie Guerrero will face Psychosis, and Sting, Luger and Randy Savage will face off against the Four Horsemen.
-Squire David Taylor VS Scott Norton-
Opening action tonight sees Blue Blood member David Taylor facing off with Scott Norton. Last we saw of Norton, he and his Fire and Ice partner Ice Train had their falling out. On Saturday Night, we saw the ultimate split with both men. This will lead to Ice Train VS Scott Norton at Hog Wild. Loud USA chants as Taylor plays to the riled up crowd. Headlock and shoulder block spot with Norton winning out. Taylor tries a dropkick, but doesn't knock Norton down. Taylor ducks a clothesline and hits some uppercuts, only to eat a clothesline. David retreats from the ring to regroup, only to be thrown back in. Norton misses a charge in the corner, allowing for Taylor to land more shots. Norton throws Taylor over the top rope, causing a disqualification. Both men brawl outside with Norton getting the better.
Mean Gene is with the Horsemen at their buffet table. No Ric Flair to be seen. Arn says that Flair likes expensive cars and pretty women, but he loves to make an entrance more. He'll be here right on cue. Mongo says that he'll take care of a few pretty boys in Luger, Savage and Sting. Benoit promises they'll experience the crippler tonight. Silent but violent.
-V.K Wallstreet VS Konnan-
Loud "IRS" chants as the former Irwin makes his way to the ring for his match with Konnan. Quick exchanges from both men early on, with Konnan getting the better. Irwin throws Konnan into the buckle, then follows with a sleeper, only for Konnan to quickly escape and hit a dropkick to the back of the head. Irwin throws Konnan out of the ring and smacks him head-first into the steel steps. Irwin begins to work the leg of Konnan, which is still smarting from his match with Ric Flair a few weeks back.
Classic Irwin rope grab spots as he keeps the leg held. Referee catches him, allowing Konnan to roll him up for two. Rake to the eyes, a slam and an elbow by Irwin who covers for two. He then goes into a chin lock. Konnan escapes and tries to charge Irwin, only for Irwin to avoid. Cover using the ropes, but the referee catches Irwin. Eventually Konnan comes back with a clothesline, a side kick and a face buster. Irwin reverses a whip and hits a Samoan drop. Cover, but Konnan rolls him over to get the three count in a basic IRS match.
Mean Gene is with Sting, Luger and Savage. Luger says that maybe Ric is in his hotel room, or his limo, but the three of them are here to take care of business. He took a beating last week, but doesn't blame Sting or Savage due to them being in Japan. Sting says that there's only one guy who rides a limo, and he can stick it. Sting feels like chomping on horsemen. Savage says that he wants Hogan and Flair, along with the outsiders to get this over with.
It's time for a brand new vignette for Glacier, who is looking as Sub-Zero as you'd expect. Dark blue ninja getup complete with facemask. Even if you have the faintest of knowledge about Mortal Kombat, you'd take one look at this gimmick and know exactly what they're trying to rip off. But, for as cheesy as it is, it's still better than both of Al Snow's attempts at a ninja character.
We get a very cheesy video package for the four man team of Jim Powers, Joe Gomez, Alex Wright and Renegade. you know, Wrestling often gets mocked as being a very "gay" profession to be a fan of, and seeing a vignette like this with four men in short and tight shirts, taking them off as they slowly walk on a beach, showing off their hot bods, I can safely say that maybe those people have a point. Seriously, this felt like I somehow turned to some sort of late night infomercial.
-Joe Gomez, Jim Powers, Alex Wright and Renegade VS The Dungeon of Doom-
Which leads us into this next match featuring the four hot young studs of WCW taking on the Dungeon of Doom's Kevin Sullivan, Barbarian, Hugh Morrus and their newest member, Braun the Leprechaun. You read that correctly. Braun THE LEPRECHAUN! Yes, before there was Hornswoggle, WCW had a man who pranced around as if he were a real leprechaun. You know, between this and the really really homerotic video for the young studs, I once again must say that wrestling is frigging weird. And he's full on "they're after me Lucky Charms" Leprechaun too, complete with speaking in snarls and running around the ring like a maniac.
Renegade and Morrus start things off with a hiptoss, but never mind the wrestling, as the cameraman makes his way backstage. Back in the ring, Wright lands a nice moonsault on Barbarian as the teams brawl. We see the Outsiders in the control room, berating the operators and just screwing around like Beavis and Butt-Head if they were jacked muscle men. They have the cameramen pan the crowd until WCW security eventually forces them outside. Back to the match as Gomez rolls up Sullivan for two. Powers comes in, only to get thrown out by Morrus. Teddy Long shows up and starts giving advice to Powers, giving Powers the energy to come back with punches and a knee lift.
The faces beat down on the Dungeon of Doom until the Giant comes in and lays the faces out with chokeslams. Mean Gene approaches the ring and interviews the WCW Champion, asking about Hogan's challenge for Hog Wild. Giant says that his mission was to win the WCW title and he's sworn to defend it wherever it needed to be. Whether it's Japan like last week, or in the states tonight. While Hogan has been making movies, Giant has been the cancer with no cure. He promises to choke slam Hogan in Sturgis at Hog Wild.
-Prince Iaukea VS Diamond Dallas Page-
Iaukea gets a dropkick in early, but Page comes back with a back elbow, a tilt-a-whirl slam and a throw trough the ropes. Iaukea comes back with some springboards, but Page quickly counters with a diamond cutter. Cover and the three in match that was barely one minute long.
-Dean Malenko VS Chavo Guerrero Jr-
It's the blog debut of Eddie's nephew Chavo as he takes on the former WCW Cruiserweight champion Dean Malenko, who will face off with Chris Benoit at Hog Wild. Super fast flips and counters early until Malenko lands a knee to the gut. Gutbuster by Malenko who covers, but Chavo gets his foot on the ropes. Malenko keeps control until Chavo lands a dropkick sending him outside. Back suplex by Malenko who follows that up with an elbow to the back of the neck and a fallaway slam. He set Chavo up for a superplex, but Chavo breaks free as we enter hour two.
Flying sunset flip from Chavo gets a two, but Malenko comes right back with a stiff clothesline. Elbow to the head and a cover only gets a two count. He then goes into a long leg scissor over the head of Chavo. Some guy tries to get a boring chant while Dean keeps up the pressure. He then follows that up with a stretch into an STF. Eventually Chavo escapes, only to get hit with a stomp and an elbow to the head. Malenko lands some stiff elbows in the corner, then follows with a suplex. We see Jimmy Hart at ringside again as Malenko lands a snap powerbomb. Malenko gets distracted, allowing Chavo to roll up for two. A second roll up by Chavo only gets a two. Chavo rams Dean into the buckle and goes for a dive, only to get caught in a Texas Cloverleaf for the win in a decent match. Not the strongest Malenko match, but still very effective in showing how much of a threat he is.
-Meng VS Ice Train-
Meng rushes Ice Train early on followed by a headlock/shoulder block and a clothesline that doesn't knock Train down. Train follows that up with a cross body, covering for two as Teddy Long applauds on the outside. Meng tosses Ice Train outside and both men exchange stiff chops. They return to the ring as Ice Train hits a sunset flip for two. Clothesline and a cover gets two for Meng. Big jumping leg drop only gets Meng a two count. Ice Train counters a slam into a roll-up for two.
Ice Train tries a slam, but Meng powers it over into a cross body for two. He continues to pound on Ice Train, locking in a nerve hold, before turning it into some more strikes. Ice Train, angered, comes back with a clothesline. Ax handle and a cover for two yet again. The crowd is more focused with chanting what I first thought was "USA", but upon closer inspection, it's "you suck dick" at Jimmy Hart. Stay classy happiest place on earth. Ice Train recovers and hits a big clothesline in the corner, and follows with a second. Powerslam and a cover only gets a two. He goes for an ax handle, only to eat a massive boot to the face.
Meng continues brawling, until Scott Norton shows up for the save, oddly. He then goes to the camera to tell Ice Train that he has his back at Hog Wild, instead of, you know, SAYING IT TO HIS FACE.
-Eddie Guerrero VS Psychosis-
A lot of playing to the crowd early on before both men exchange quick holds. Eddie getting the better of the exchange until Psychosis drops his weight on the knee of Eddie as we go to break. We return as Psychosis tries a dropkick in the corner, only for Eddie to dodge. Arm drag by Eddie, but Psychosis comes back with a dropkick. Eddie launches Psychosis into the rope, then clotheslines him out of the ring. He goes up and lands a perfect cross body dive. Both men return to the ring as Eddie lands a back suplex, covering for two.
A second back suplex is reversed by Psychosis ho regains control. Leg drop by Psychosis follows by a slam. He goes up for a big spin kick off the top buckle, connecting. He follows with a suicide dive that sends Eddie crashing into the fans up front (Surprising lack of a barrier on this set). He brings Eddie back in and goes for a big diving leg drop, connecting. He whips Eddie, only for Eddie to turn it into a roll up for two. Big hurricanrana and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker as Eddie covers for two. Psychosis goes for a hurricanrana with a cover, but Eddie escapes.
Powerbomb follows from Psychosis. He goes for a moonsault, connecting. Instead of covering, he plays to the crowd, then covers. Eddie hits a top rope frankensteiner and a frog splash for the win in a great match. A bit off in places, but very hard hitting and fast paced action as you'd expect from both men.
-Chris Benoit, Steve "Mongo" McMichael and Arn Anderson VS "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Sting and Lex Luger-
Still no sign of Ric Flair as the rest of the Horsemen make their way to the ring. A white limo arrives, and we assume it's the NWO. Arn looks through the windows then walks off. Arn and Sting start things off as Sting shoves Arn and follows with a big back body drop and clotheslines to Arn and Benoit. Mongo hits a diving shoulder block, taking Sting out. Arn throws him out, allowing Mongo and Benoit to get cheap shots until Savage goes on the chase. Regardless, The Horsemen continue to beat down on Sting as Benoit comes in with stigg chops and headbutts.
Mongo tags in and hits a neckbreaker. Cover, but only a two count. Sting ducks an elbow and hits a cross body, covering for two. Mongo hits a massive dropkick as we cut back to the limo. A security member opens the front door to inquire further. Benoit is in and hits an elbow to the chest, covering for two. Benoit rams Sting head-first into the buckle, then brings Arn in. Sting fights back, landing some elbows. He tries a tag, but Arn keeps him downed. Tag back to Mongo who lands some chops. Sting fights off all three, but Mongo keeps him downed.
Mongo tries some sort of back suplex, while Sting keeps his hand on the rope, looked all sorts of screwed up. Tag to Benoit as he continues to stomp on Sting while Savage continues to roam around the ring like the leprechaun from earlier. Tag to Arn who whips Sting, only for Sting to turn it into a sleeper. Arn counters it into a sleeper of his own until Sting hits a back suplex. Tag to Benoit and a tag to Luger. Luger lands a knee and some clotheslines and slams to all of the horsemen. Eventually all six men begin brawling until the match is thrown off. Savage grabs the briefcase and nails Benoit with it, allowing Luger to get the pin. A bit of a mess in places, and way too focused on "face in peril", but otherwise worked well for a TV six-man tag.
Mean Gene is in the ring as someone throws what may have been underwear into the ring (at least what Gene refers to it). He interviews Sting, Luger and Savage about Hog Wild with Luger and Sting taking on Hall and Nash. Sting says that last week, the total package was beat down, but now he's ready for Sturgis. They're feeling kinda mean, so mean. He says that Sturgis will be a bad day for Leos, as apparently Hall and Nash are Leos. Luger says that the outsiders have been pushing all the wrong buttons. They've pushed them over the edge. Luger is losing it because he cares a lot about WCW while Hall and Nash have nothing but disdain for this comany. He promises to finish them. Savage promises to beat up Hogan at Hog Wild and nothing will stop him. Nitro comes to an end as we still have no answer as to who was in the limo.
Another two hours of Nitro have come and gone and while there wasn't anything offensively bad on this edition, it was kind of bland this week. Eddie vs Psychosis being the highlight. Chavo and Malenko was fine, but again more of an exhibition of Malenko's in-ring skill. Ice Train vs Meng was okay, as was Scott Norton and Dave Taylor. The eight man tag with the young studs was okay, but then again, there was little focus on it what with Hall and Nash's antics. DDP and Iaukea was too short, and the main event was an okay six-man. Overall a good middle of the road show as we get closer to Hog Wild. C+.
WHO WON THE WAR WEEK #42: RAW
Both shows ended up with a C+ rating this week as neither really blew me away. But I feel that Raw had more going for it, mainly with being the first Raw following International Incident. Plus a fresh feeling on the show with a lot of new and old faces beginning to show up. And both shows gave me what I love in really lame gimmicks. Be it Raw with The Goon and Faarooq or Nitro with Braun the Leprechaun and the never ending build to Glacier. In the end, Raw just ekes out a win for their eighteenth victory.
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
July 15th, 1996
July 22nd, 1996
April 1st, 1996
April 15th, 1996
May 27th, 1996
June 23rd, 1996
July 15th, 1996
July 22nd, 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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