It's another packed two hours of Nitro this week as we'll see everything from The Giant defending the WCW title. against the Ice Train, Flair and Arn will take on The Rock and Roll Express and Sting and Lex Luger will defend the WCW Tag Team Championships against The Steiner Brothers. Opening action tonight will be Big Bubba Boss Man against Sharkquake. Last week, Bubba had shaved half of his head, and this week he still has the hair to throw around. Shark says that he's not cutting the other half, despite reliving the embarrassment. He also says he's not a shark, a fish, an avalanche. He's a man, John Tenta. He's going to hurt the man who did this to him, then promises to do the same to The Giant.
-John Tenta VS Big Bubba-
Tenta goes right in on the attack and follows with a big slam. He then grabs the scissors, but Bubba runs off in a panic. Schiavone mentions that the papers mentioned Johnny B. Badd and Vader being advertised, but they don't "play where the big boys play". Also the match is considered a count out as Bubba and Jimmy Hart make their exit.
-High Voltage VS The Faces of Fear-
Mean Gene is backstage with Lex Luger and Sting. He brings up the situation with the Steiners, and Luger begins to talk, only for Gene to interrupt him with footage. Luger says he was here to cheer Sting on and Rick came out and things have gotten out of hand. Sting says that Luger did attack Scott last week, but Luger says they all go way back and tonight is a huge match. If Sting and the Steiners are such good friends, why would Scott try to slam him on the floor? Rick and Scott show up to defend themselves, Rick saying that Scott was trying to win, that's why he tried to slam Sting on the floor. All four men ramble, but Luger shoves Scott, causing a quick brawl until Gene sends them all off, threatening to never interviewing them again.
-Disco Inferno VS Sgt. Craig "Pitbull" Pittman-
-Lord Steven Regal VS Hacksaw Jim Duggan-
We see footage from Sunday's edition of The Main Event as Regal put a challenge to Sting, slapping him across the face. This continuing to stem from last week's promo from Regal saying he wants recognition. Loud USA chants as Regal retreats for a bit and argues with the crowd. Lots of stalling as both men play to the crowd. Eventually Duggan gets Regal in the corner, only to break the hold and play to the crowd some more. Regal tries to whip, but Hacksaw reverses with some clotheslines. Regal retreats again, meaning more stalling. Fists from Duggan knock Regal down. He whips Regal, but Regal comes back with a boot. Thumb to the eye from Regal who tries for a flip, but hacksaw gets up and hits more punches and a back drop.
Dave Taylor and Earl Eaton distract Duggan, allowing Regal to roll up for the three in a bad match. Regal's facials were great and his heeling was solid, but everything else was awful. Mean Gene gets in the ring with the Blue Bloods. Regal says he was reprimanded with a large fine for his attack of Sting, and now he's in credit. He could have come here and insulted Sting and his family, but instead when he gets Sting at The Great American Bash, he wants him mean, nasty, and downright bloody rude when he beats him in the ring.
-"Taskmaster" Kevin Sullivan VS Prince Iaukea-
We take a look back at the history between Sullivan and Benioit, which has been building over the past month on WCW Saturday Night. This has led to the two of them facing off on at The Great American Bash in a Falls Count Anywhere match. This leads to our next match which features Sullivan taking on Prince Iaukea. Sullivan throws Iaukea over the ropes and slams him into the steps. he sets him on the rail and then hits a clothesline that knocks Iaukea into the steps. He returns to the ring and lands a few fists. Tree of Woe and a running knee followed by a double stomp. Cover gets the three in a total obliteration.
Mean Gene in the ring again talking to Sullivan and Hart. Focus is on the upcoming Chris Benoit match. Hart wonders why they have to bond with the Horsemen since they don't need any help. Sullivan says there's two wars going on. Let the legal department handle the first one, but eh second problem is that Hulkamania isn't dead and he'll be back eventually. He respects Arn and Flair. He brings up Brian Pillman, who was a quitter. He knows serpents better than anyone in this planet, and the only way to kill them is to crush the eggs. He's going to get rid of Benoit to get rid of Hogan.
-Rock & Roll Express VS Ric Flair & Arn Anderson-
Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson, the Rock & Roll Express make their Nitro debut. Flair and Arn come out with the jerseys of Kevin Greene and Steve McMichael to continue their mind games as we get closer to the Bash. Arn's so thick that he can't get his jersey off, so Woman and Liz have to do the job for him. Nitro also has a little cartoon dynamite stick to count down to the second hour. That's kind of cute. Headlock and shoulder block by Arn as pyro hits for the second hour. Bischoff and Heenan take the table as we get some more stalling.
Ricky and Robert are in control early until Arn makes the tag to Naitch. Flair and Ricky exchange blows until Ricky gets control with a back body drop. Tag to Robert, who fights off both Horsemen. Arn comes in, but Robert maintains control, ramming Arn into the corner and hitting a crossbody for two. Fresh tag to Flair as we get another headlock and shoulder block spot. Robert goes for a figure four, and Ricky gets one in on Arn until they break is forced. He goes after referee Randy Anderson, but the ref shoves him around instead.
Tag to Flair who goes for the figure four, but Ricky rolls him up for two. Sunset flip attempt by Ricky is turned to punches by Flair. However, Ricky still rolls him for two. Tag to Arn who locks in a front facelock, and knocks Gibson. Bobby Heenan leaves the table and whispers to Woman and Liz. Gibson finally gets in and cleans house. Double dropkick from the Rock and Roll on both Horsemen. Woman rakes the eyes of Gibson as Arn hits a DDT. Cover from Flair gets the win. Decent match, but got boring in the middle due to way too much "face in peril" work.
Mean Gene is with Flair's crew. Arn says that he's too big and thick to play pro football, because McMichael's Jersey's too small. He says that they're way too big for the footballers. Flair says that Debra sent them the jerseys as a gift. Kevin Greene, whether you like it or not, they are bigger, faster and slicker, and all night long. On to Bobby Heenan who says he suggested to Woman where to get her diamonds cleaned. When it comes to managing Flair and Arn, he declines managing again. He hands Arn a briefcase and inside is a trophy for Managing John Madden. So, he says that he won't manage, but he will coach instead.
Week #6 for Glacier vignettes. We're still a loooooong way away.
Image: Nitro14
Speaking of vignettes, we get another video package for Hulk Hogan. Hey, if that's the most I have to see of him for a while, then that's fine by me. Keep them coming.
-Ice Train VS The Giant for the WCW Title-
Both men stare each other down until Jimmy Hart trips Ice Train, allowing Giant to get a chokeslam. cover and a three in one hell of a burial. Scott Norton tries to help his partner, but Giant lays him out with several chokeslams as well. Officials check on Norton as Mean Gene goes to Giant. Giant says that he's unhappy that they're running packages of Hogan while he's the world champion. He's taken out everyone, and his friend Lex Luger is the one he wants to eliminate most. He almost got between him and Jimmy Hart, that was a mistake. Luger is his.
-Scott Norton VS Hugh Morrus-
Despite Norton being laid out, he still has to take on the laughing man next. Morrus runs to the ring and hits a leg drop. He mocks Norton for getting chokeslammed, then covers Norton with one finger, only to break it. He drops several elbow drops and yells at Norton some more. He goes up for the moonsault, but Norton gets up, and barely catches Morrus. a few punches and a cover gets the win in whatever the hell that was.
We get another video package of Steve McMichael and Kevin Greene training some more as they get ready for their tag match at the Bash. They have their game plan in motion, using a bunch of football jargon in hopes that this will be enough to help them out in their match. They think that they need a coach of their own to aid them. How convenient that Kevin Greene takes out a Slim Jim. That little bit of product placement gives them an idea. Their coach should be Randy Savage, which does make sense since he wants to legitimately kill Flair and Arn.
-The Steiner Brothers VS Sting & Lex Luger for the WCW Tag Team Titles-
It's main event time as we settle this issue between the Steiners and Luger & Sting. Meanwhile, Randy Savage is on the phone line to talk about the match at the Bash. Savage says that while he can't wrestle on TV, PPV or get world title matches, but it doesn't say anything about not coaching, and he'll be the coach for Greene and Mongo. Heenan tries to "weasel" out of the situation by saying that Savage shouldn't get involved, but nothing doing.
Back in the ring, Scott is in control, hitting an underhook powerbomb on Luger as we go to break. When we return, Rick is in, working the arm of Luger. He follows with a clothesline to Luger and covers for two. He then sets Luger up and hits a belly to belly off the buckle. He then follows with a diving bulldog off the top rope. Cover, but Sting makes the break. Sting comes in and hits a Stinger Splash. He follows with a Scorpion Death Lock, but Scott breaks it with a clothesline. Scott comes in with a belly to belly, then goes for a Frankensteiner, connecting. Cover, but Luger breaks it. Sting reverses a suplex into a Scorpion Death Drop, then tags in Luger. Powerslam into a torture rack, but Rick breaks it.
Luger tries a suplex on Scott, much like what happened last week, but Rick makes the save. He clotheslines Luger, but the match turns into a brawl as the referee throws it out. Sting tries to piledrive Rick, but Rick back drops him. Giant walks out and gives one of the worst chokeslams ever on Rick. He goes after Luger as Luger tries to beat him down. Luger ducks a fist and lays in multiple strikes, avoiding offense. Sting and the Scott Steiner show up and lay into Giant, eventually clotheslining him out of the ring. An enraged Giant makes his exit.
Nitro is about to end, but Scott Hall once again shows up at the announce table. He tells "Ken Doll" to relax. He had such a good time last week that he came back for more. Bischoff started the war, and now "we're" gonna finish it. Sting shows up to defend Bischoff, saying that Hall said some horrible things about WCW and himself. Hall's in the jungle of WCW and every week he says he wants three of the best, but he doesn't see two with them. He says to settle this one on one right now. Hall says that you got a fight, but nobody tells him what to do, or when to do it. He flicks the toothpick at Sting, so Sting retorts with a slap. Officials separate the two as Hall says that he's got a big surprise for them next week.
Overall, this was a mediocre episode of Nitro. there were a few positives, like the stuff involving Bobby Heenan, the Regal promo, and more good build for this invasion angle with the end segment involing Hall and Sting. But in terms of in ring, it was kind of dire. A lot of squash matches, non-matches, rushed matches. Nothing that really left any impact. Flair and Arn vs Rock and Roll was okay, but too much slow "face in peril" work for my tastes. And I liked Sting/Luger vs The Steiners, but wish it didn't just end in a no contest to get us to the Giant/Luger stuff. Overall, not one of the stronger shows, and not really showing why this show needs two hours at this point. A C rating this week.
WHO WON THE WAR WEEK #35: NITRO
At least stuff felt like it mattered on Nitro, where this week's Raw was one of the most forgettable editions in a while. The only thing of note I even remember is the Goldust segments. Other than that, nothing of value was recalled. Nitro, despite some sloppy booking, still is giving us reasons to be invested towards the Great American Bash. After losing a step last week, Nitro returns on the board with their 20th win
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
April 1st, 1996
April 15th, 1996
May 27th, 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
April 22nd, 1996
April 29th, 1996
May 6th, 1996
May 13th, 1996
May 20th, 1996
June 3rd, 1996
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