WCW Monday Night Nitro - Monday, 10/20/97
WCW Monday Night Nitro - Monday, 10/20/97
- Believe it or not, I'm actually home to watch Nitro this week. I don't fly out to Phoenix until Saturday morning and then I stay over the weekend. Of course, staying over the weekend ain't so bad when it includes seeing a live pay-per-view.
- Only a couple people noticed that the first anniversary of DDT Digest passed by quietly on 10/14. One year for a paper publication is nothing in the grand scheme of things, although supposedly the average active lifespan of a web page is less than a year. Rather than do a retrospective, I'll save it for the Year In Review.
- This week's trivia question: Who made up Tekno Team 2000, the really lame WWF tag team in 1995? The answer is at the bottom, and if you don't already know it, it will knock your socks off.
- If you haven't already bought it, you should really check out the PWI Top 500 issue. Some of their ratings are very interesting, and often make a lot of sense once you think about them. My personal favorite being Juventud Guerrera at 40th in the world, ahead of Shane Douglas, Vader, Piper, Hogan, and a host of others.
- Two stories I've been asked about over the last week is the "I respect you, bookerman!" and the MSG breaking kayfabe incident. I didn't witness either of them personally, but this is what I know:
- At Superbrawl VI on 2/11/96, Brian Pillman was to wrestle Kevin Sullivan in a Respect Strap Match. The loser of the match had to say "I respect you" to the winner. The match started, Pillman whacked Sullivan a couple times, grabbed a microphone, and said "I respect you, bookerman!" and stormed off. There was some confusion and then Arn Anderson came in to take Pillman's place. Ric Flair then came to the ring and convinced Anderson and Sullivan not to fight.
The incident is somewhat legendary for three reasons. First, the use of the word "bookerman". This incident happened before the any "smart marks" ever existed. It may have been the first use of the word "booker" in front of the marks. Second, it was the last, or one of the last, appearances Pillman ever made for WCW. Lastly, the confusion after Pillman walked out and the seemingly unplanned ending. As a result, many people felt Pillman's performance in the match was a complete shoot.
- The Madison Square Garden incident. On Kevin Nash's and Scott Hall's last night in the WWF, after the last match, Hunter Hearst Helmsley announced that it was Nash's and Hall's last night in the WWF and told them to come out and take a bow. They, HHH, and Shawn Michaels took their bows and all of them embraced. Sean Waltman was the only member of the clique that didn't participate. Dropping kayfabe in the arena like that is a big no-no, obviously. Supposedly, McMahon was livid and HHH was sentenced to a period of jobberdom, even jobbing to some jobbers, as punishment.
The fact that Michaels and HHH showed the tape of it made people think that was another shoot, but anybody who thinks Michaels or HHH have that kind of power over the control room is crazy, in my opinion.
- Has anyone else noticed that Dean Malenko has a habit of rubbing his wrist and then flicking his right arm out on the way to the ring? The first couple of times I saw it, I thought he was swatting fans' hands away. However, on last week's Nitro, he did it before he got anywhere near the crowd.
- Far be it from me to be critical, but I'm enjoying Raven's little segments about as much as I enjoyed the Glacier promos before he debuted.
- My wacky theory of the week is that Tony Schiavone is going to turn nWo. His disgust over what happened to Ric Flair at War Games is strangely reminiscent of Bischoff's "You guys are a bunch of thugs and we're not going to take it anyomore..." speech to the nWo right before he turned. The thing that drove it home was on WCWSN when Schiavone kept going "Why should we even be behind the WCW when they don't show cohesiveness?"
- On the subject of WCWSN, I saw Kendall Windham's return. Granted he's put some muscle on, but he's also got a belly. I guess I should criticize since I have the belly without the muscle. :-) This is a wild theory, but I'm guessing his tryout in a dark match a couple weeks ago was for the gimmick Bill Goldberg wound up landing. I can see why. Kendall definitely looks tougher, but Goldberg really looks like a legit bad-ass (I love that phrase...). Kendall needs to do something about the back hair. Yuck!
- Also, "Gentleman" Chris Adams was on WCWSN. I didn't see the match, but from what I hear, he physically looks great.
- Look for a few more "old-timers" reappearing in WCW, and not just ex-WCW guys. At least one more wrestled at the last WCWSN tapings. I don't want to spoil it for anybody...I'll just leave it that the return of this man that is so smart that he does his taxes in Roman numerals will be poetic justice. ;-)
- E-mail of the week. My first repeat winner. Too bad I don't give away prizes...
A few notes on Nitro...
- The bat Hogan used to hit Piper was Nerf! Watch the replay...THE BAT BENDS! I'm wondering if that's why Bischoff wasn't on the mat laughing.
- And possibly the funniest thing of the night, when all the ridiculously fake Stings ran to the ring, the fans picked up on it and were stealing their wigs and masks on the way to the ring. A bunch of fruity Power Plant rejects with hair nets on ended up rushing the ring.
Phil S. - DDT Digest Medical Advisor
- Show opens with Hennig, Konan, Vincent and Norton laid out with DDP and ICON spray painted on the ground and a bat. Bischoff, Savage, and Hogan come over and freak out at the carnage. Norton is seriously hurt and isn't getting up. Bischoff, Savage, and Hogan go to the ring and rant and rave and say that there is a cage over the ring and they want to get it on tonight.
- Wow, that cage is convenient.
- Announcing team is, obviously, happy to start the show. They replay the ending from last week with Sting pulling the belt out from under his coat. (Remember Piper saying it was in "good hands"?)
- Eddie Guerrero pinned "Crippler" Chris Benoit following a frog splash to retain the WCW World Cruiserweight championship.
- Nice pop for Benoit. He always looks totally frightened on the way to the ring. All business once he is inside, of course.
- New music for Guerrero.
- Lots of stiff backhand chops by Benoit to start the match.
- Nice suicide dive by Benoit.
- The Steiner title win and the DDP non win of the title was confirmed.
- Great, hard hitting match by Benoit and Guerrero.
- In a weird finish, Guerrero single leg tripped Benoit face-first into the bottom turnbuckle, knocking him (possibly legit) out. The ref turned Benoit over to check if he was OK, and Guerrero nailed Benoit with a frog splash.
- This match was great work and great booking.
- Bill Goldberg pinned Wrath following the Jackhammer after Pearl Harboring him in a match that lasted about ten seconds.
- Mortis and Vandenburg were stunned after the match.
- Wrath loooked like he landed on his head on the Jackhammer. Eiether the second stiff ending in the row, or two cases of extremely great work by the wrestlers.
- I'm still waiting for my dream match of Glacier jobbing to Bill Goldberg.
- Steve "Mongo" McMichael pinned Mortis following a Tombstone Piledriver.
- Mongo had a staredown with Goldberg on his way to the ring.
- Mongo has new music.
- Mongo got the initial advantage, but Mortis eventually took control and kept it for most of the match.
- Toward the end, Vandenburg tried interfering to Mortis' advantage. All for naught.
- After the match, Debra comes out to tease as all about the big surprise opponent. All she says is that it won't be Jeff Jarrett. Duh! Great investigative journalism, Gene-O.
- After the interview, Mongo grabs a sign from Stevie Richards who is sitting at ringside, rips it up, and throws it back into Stevie Richards' face. Strangely enough, the announcers don't notice it or just don't say anything about it so, if you weren't paying attention, you missed it.
- Whiny promo by Raven. Time to put the laundry in the dryer...
- Mike Tenay series on the Luchadores continues. Feature on Rey Misterio, Jr. tonight. They showed him with his uncle, whose mask Rey is now wearing. Rey's uncle was shown without his mask. They showed clips of Misterio giving his outer mask to fans. They showed the clip from last week with the baby, but stopped short of showing where the kid threw it back.
- Yuji Nagata made Juventud Guerrera submit with his standing figure-four leglock, better known as the Nagata Lock.
- Ow, stiff kicks right to Guerrera's chest to start the match.
- Raven and his not-at-all-merry band appear in the crowd.
- Guerrera delivers chops to Nagata's arm. Ummm, Juvy, I think you are supposed to hit him in the chest.
- The finish was set up by Onoo's interference. As a result, Ultimo Dragon comes out to chase Onoo around the ring. Nagata pearl harbors Dragon and eventually gets him back in the ring and puts on the Nagata Lock.
- And, in some uncharacteristically terrible camera work, as Nagata has the Dragon in the lock in the ring, and the control room cuts to a replay. WTF?
- Another look at Raven's Nest. Who cares?
- Villanos IV and V and Damien come to the ring. Out comes the Giant who towers over them. Giant grabs the mic and says Kevin Nash is being a wuss. That's not a quote...I just though I'd summarize the soliloquy in one word. Eventually, Damien gets fed up with the Giant delaying the arrival of their opponents and attacks Giant. Swatted away like a fly. The Villanos attack. Villano V gets chokeslammed and Villano IV gets powerbombed.
- If I worked for Wrigley, I'd make a commercial for Doublemint gum with the Villanos.
- First appearance of the Nitro Girls. Where have they been all night? Like everyone else who heard about or saw the Nipple On Nitro, I was watching very carefully. Geez, they still have no synchronization.
- Rey Misterio, Jr. defeated Disco Inferno via disqualification when Eddie Guerrero interfered. Disco Inferno retains the TV belt due to the DQ.
- Stevie Richards with a sign "Disco Inferno, You're 30, Move Out"
- Misterio gave his outer mask to a kid who actually wanted it tonight.
- Disco Inferno demonstrated the Macarena for us tonight. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
- Guerrero and Misterio duke it out after the match as Guerrero tries to get the mask off to no avail.
- As that battle is going on, Jacqueline comes in and pearl harbors (I'm typing that a lot tonight) Disco Inferno in the ring. He rolls at and she attacks him in the aisle again.
- Beginning of hour number two. Why was Heenan announcing the previous match?
- Savage, Hogan, and Bischoff come out irate. The doors are locked and noone leaves the building until they get their hands on Page, Piper, and Sting. (Hey, isn't that a fire code violation?) They are daring the fans to fight them, too. I'm just waiting for someone to try to jump the railing. "Nobody leaves the building!" Eventually, they go back and we break for commercial.
- Promo for Flair/Hennig at Halloween Havoc. Tickets are still available, by the way. You can see me in my La Parka mask.
- WCW U.S. Heavyweight Champion Curt Hennig pinned "The Iceman" Dean Malenko with a Fisherman's Suplex.
- Malenko did the arm flick on the way out again tonight.
- A kid totally covered in black face paint with nWo in white letters. That can't be good for the skin.
- Somebody with a "WCW fears Taz" sign. That's gonna' get confiscated by the Keystone Cops.
- Page supposedly suffered torn cartilege in his ribs in last week's nWo attack.
- A lot of subtly missed spots in this match.
- Lousy ending. The finish came out of nowhere and was discongruous to the advantage Malenko had.
- More Nitro Girls.
- Scott "Flash" Norton pinned Ray Traylor following a clothesline following Vincent spraypainting Ray Traylor in the eyes.
- This match looked like two drunk fat guys dukin' it out at a picnic on Labor Day.
- Ray Traylor recovered after the pin and attacked Norton and Vincent. The nWo came out to attack Traylor and just when Traylor started getting beaten up...cut to a promo for Page/Savage at Halloween Havoc. This is the second time they cut away from a live beating.
- "The Total Package" Lex Luger made Booker T. submit to The Human Torture Rack.
- You know, Jacqueline would be a great looking woman if she wasn't so ridiculously proportioned from the neck down.
- Luger may have won the match, but Booker T. carried it.
- Well, I guess Luger racking a main eventer is better than his usual racking of a big fat jobber.
- Okerlund interviews Luger after the match. As Luger talks about Zbyszko being impartial, Zbyszko comes to the ring looking a little peeved to tell Luger not to be overconfident. Luger is nonplussed. Luger says, and I quote, "I don't know what's up with that". Uh, Lex, it's called a swerve. S...W...E...R...V...E...swerve.
- More Nitro Girls. This time featuring my favorite one. Man, last time I saw a mouth like that, it had a hook in it.
- Scott Hall pinned Scott (Ein)Steiner following an Outsider Edge with the three-count made by a masked referee.
- Sign: "Kimberly is my mom". With those abs, Kimberly ain't anybody's mom.
- Hall's survey turns up a pro-WCW crowd tonight.
- Hall's says "Big Grouchy" is sitting in Phoenix getting ready for the Giant. "Big Grouchy" is sitting in Phoenix? Nah, I'm home this week.
- During Hall's extended monologue, crowd starts chanting "Boring".
- After getting the toothpick flicked in his face, Scott (Ein)Steiner gives the international symbol for "Up Yours".
- During the match, Ted DiBiase gets a punch in on Hall outside the ring. Whatever you do, Ted, don't splash him. With that gut, you might kill him.
- Hall chokeslams Scott Steiner at one point and then mocks the Giant, doing a Frankenstein imitation.
- Hall, in a heap of trouble, knocks out the referee. I can see what's coming here.
- Steiner puts Hall down, gets distracted, Hall recovers. Hall nails Steiner with the Outsider Edge, and a masked referee comes in and gives the three count. Everyone's wondering if it was Zbyszko, but the skin was awfully dark and the pants looked a lot like Vincent.
- Savage, Hogan, and Bischoff come to the ring to promote Hogan's new movie.
- Bischoff: "No heart, no soul, no will to win...no, I'm not talking about Vince McMahon..." Ouch!
- Savage, Hogan, and Bischoff push Assault on Devil's Island. Ohhh!! I get it! This whole angle tonight was to give Hogan camera time to promote his crappy movie.
- Sting in the entranceway, and two Stings in the ring. The Stings in the ring attack Hogan and Bischoff and it's Piper and Page. The nWo rushes the ring and knocks the Sting in the entranceway to the ground. As they start beating on Piper and Page, the cage lowers. As the cage comes down, the real Sting rappels from the ceiling and starts beating on the nWo. Savage and Hogan bail out of the cage. The fight continues with Page, Sting, and Piper on the advantage. Fade to black.
- Specte sends this report on Nitro after the cameras went off:
Sting came down and he, DDP, and Piper kicked some @$$. The crowd went ape-@#$%, even the nWo fans started cheering. Sting splashed Hall twice, once with only Hall the second time he splashed Henning & Hall at the same time. He gave the Deathdrop to Henning & Vince while Piper had the sleeper on Hall and DDP giving the DC to Konan and I think Henning. Hall managed to get out of the ring after he broke loose of the sleeper. Sting then started taunting Hall by doing the crotch chops and the look on Hall's face was priceless. Sting then pointed at Piper and gave the DC sign after the nWo left. The cage then lifted and the trio walked away triumphantly. Sting then gave the Stinger Shout and the crowd erupts with a 10.0 on the Richter Scale.
- See you in six days with my live report from the MGM Grand on Halloween Havoc. Because of the time difference, and my four hour drive back to Phoenix, the report won't be posted until very early on Monday morning.
- Believe it or not, Tekno Team 2000 was my least favorite flash in the pan, Erik Watts as Troy, and WCW's own winless jobber, Chad Fortune, as Travis. Maybe you knew this already, but I had thought Erik was out of the sport after his fifteen minutes of fame. Is he still wrestling these days?