WCW Monday Nitro - Monday, May 1st, 2000

• Monday, April 24th - DDP defeats Jeff Jarrett to win the WCW Title in a match that wasn't even announced at the start of the show. Surprising? I thought so. Was it a good kind of surprising? Again, I thought so.

  Tuesday, April 25th - David Arquette wins the WCW title in a Tag Match at the Thunder tapings. Surprising? Oh hell yeah. Good kind of surprise? Not by a long shot.

  I've been a WCW fan for the last three years solid, watching every Nitro and most Thunders and Saturday Nights. I didn't always like what I saw, but usually I was content with the show if I saw 1 good match or a title change I liked such as Benoit winning the US Title. Since I started recapping for DDT Digest, I haven't had the pleasure to recap many matches I felt were good. Since Ruschoff took over, things started to look up for the storylines. The matches have all pretty much been 2 minutes and ended in a screwjob of some sort with a few exceptions.

  Thunder, along with the change in format for WCW Saturday Night, spoke volumes to me about what the new WCW was all about. It 100% drove home that Ruschoff has no interest whatsoever in promoting a wrestling product. Ruschoff wants to shock me, he wants me to wonder what's next. I'm shocked alright, but the only thing left to wonder is how low can they go? Thunder also drove home why Russo was a success in the WWF; he had the other Vince looking over his shoulder, someone who knows what his audience wants and *gasp* listens to them.

  I could go on for a few more paragraphs, but Aldo pretty much already said everything I would have. So what's the point of all this? Due to a complete lack of hope for WCW ever becoming good, I won't be watching it anymore and thus, no more Nitro recaps from me. Short and sweet, thanks to anyone who ever wrote me an e-mail, good or bad, but mostly, thanks to Bill for letting me do this and standing by me when more than a few of you told him to replace me for panning the 4/10 Nitro. Thanks Bill.

That said, let's dip into the mailbag for the last time.

• Mailbag:
  • Steve writes:

    Watching Thunder and Nitro this week I couldn't help but feel as if I'd accidentally tuned in to the wrong show, and ECW was on instead. If we wanted 'hardcore' no wrestling, all tables action, then ECW would be the biggest show, WWF and WCW bankrupt, and copying ECW would be acceptable. I think the fact that most WCW fans agree is shown in the fact that the huge 'ECW' chants which seem to happen in WWF when ECW stars appear simply don't happen in WCW. I think everyone just comes these days in the off chance they get to see Hogan get the cr@p kicked out of him, and even that isn't entertaining, just the most realistic part of the show.

    Yeah, but if this was ECW, we'd get matches that were a little longer and usually end with a pinfall. A wrestler is their World Champion too.

  • Chris writes:

    I'm not usually the type to nitpick, as I love this site and it's reporting, but I feel the need to address the situation regarding all the signs at Nitro that publicly and blatantly display the fan's apparent wish to be at RAW vs. Nitro. And since it was brought up in the Nitro report that you wrote for April 24th that we all know how you feel about that, I thought I would throw in MY two cents...

    I'm all for the right to free speech and freedom of expression. It's one of the things this country was founded on, and If I didn't believe in that, I wouldn't be proudly serving my country in the United States Navy right now to help upkeep and defend those freedoms for the masses who wish to express them. But the OTHER great thing about America is the freedom of choice. We should all feel so lucky to have that work to our advantage. That's why I guess I just don't understand the fans' constant belittling of WCW, it's product, wrestlers and/or marketing skills. Quite simply put, if you don't like it, or wish you were somewhere else you could just as easily stay home or go to such said event when it comes to your town. Berating the product you pay your good money to see doesn't solve anything. It doesn't make you look cool, hip or trendy either, because it's the most tired sign in the crowd.

    Here's an afterthought: Who really wins when you plunk down your hard earned cash to see a WCW event and bring (or make) said signs and display them to the crowd? In the end it wouldn't really matter because WCW has made their money from you and could probably care less.

  Knowing WCW, the people who brought those signs in have free tickets they won on a radio station and aren't really WCW fans, but rather are casual wrestling fans.

• WCW Logo

• Recap from Thunder

• Opening montage

• DDP, Kanyon and David Arquette arrive at the arena and are met by the New Blood.
  • "Stone Cold" Hulk Hogan speeds towards the New Blood, who scatter.
  • "Stone Cold" Hulk Hogan rams his car into the limo the New Blood arrived in.
  • And we've got a huge brawl.
  • Security pulls everyone apart eventually.

• And we are live from Birmingham, Alabama.

• The announcers talk about the World Champion.
  • Madden mentions that a lot of former World Champions must be rolling over in their graves.
  • Madden, you've never said anything that was more truthful.

• Match 1: Crowbar vs. Norman Smiley and ?
  • Smiley's partner is wearing a sports mascot's costume, complete with a mask.
  • Madden comments on how fat the mystery partner is.
    • Madden, mayhap we need to remind you of several weeks ago when you proved you are the fattest guy in WCW today.
  • The mystery partner just stands there, while Crowbar attacks Smiley.
    • My guess is Ralphus, he's about that fat and mobile.
  • Crowbar takes Smiley out and attacks the mascot.
    • Hudson says it's the mascot of a local hockey team.
  • Smiley tries to take advantage of Crowbar's distraction, but Crowbar punches him into a corner, then whips him in the far corner.
  • Crowbar runs in, but Smiley leaps over him.
  • Crowbar hits Smiley with a trashcan.
  • Smiley slams Crowbar on it.
  • Smiley throws Crowbar out, Crowbar catches the ropes and grabs Smiley with his legs and throws him out.
  • Crowbar follows him outside and whips him into the guardrail.
  • Crowbar grabs a trashcan lid out from underneath the ring.
  • Hudson (referring to the mascot): "Is that Oprah? Is that the Shockmaster for Pete's sake?"
  • Schiavone: "The Shockmaster? The Shockmaster? Oh lordee.... don't bring that up."
  • Hi-fricken-larious. Probably the best exchange between any announcers on Nitro this year.
  • Crowbar hits the mascot, Smiley attacks him from behind and throws him into the guardrail.
  • Smiley goes for a cover outside, only getting 2. Maybe I missed it, but I guess this is a hardcore match.
  • Smiley charges in with the trashcan lid, Crowbar kicks it into Smiley's face.
  • Crowbar charges Smiley and knocks him down with the lid.
  • Crowbar gets up on the apron and runs off and splashes Smiley!
  • Crowbar covers and gets 2.
  • Crowbar gets in the ring and goes for a suicide dive, Smiley nails him in the head with a chair.
  • Smiley signals for the Big Wiggle, Crowbar hits him low with a kendo stick.
  • Crowbar then signals for the Wiggle, this time behind the mascot.
  • Smiley cracks Crowbar in the back with the kendo stick, who falls on the mascot.
  • Smiley then does the Big Wiggle on Crowbar, who is still leaning on the mascot.
  • Smiley whips Crowbar into the far rope, then goes for a crossbody, but Crowbar goes for the same.
  • Both men down, the mascot finally gets his head out from between the ropes and he grabs the kendo stick.
  • Crowbar kicks him the stomach and hits him with a trashcan, the mascot stumbles back a bit.
  • Crowbar slams Smiley, then goes up top.
  • Smiley poses, then chops out Crowbar's leg.
  • Smiley goes for a top rope belly to back suplex, but Crowbar rolls over and lands on Smiley.
  • Smiley gets up, stumbles over the mascot and gets rolled up by Crowbar, Smiley rolls through and pins Crowbar.
  • Your Winner: Norman Smiley and Mystery Partner via pinfall
  • Smiley looks shocked he won, Crowbar argues with the ref.

• The announcers go over Arquette's reign again.
  • Hudson says Arquette has an announcement to make later tonight.
  • Madden tells Arquette he's too small and he has something everyone wants.
  • Schiavone has the balls to say Arquette winning the belt was a great moment in Sports Entertainment history.

• DDP, Kanyon and David Arquette walk to the ring.
  • Arquette says he doesn't deserve this and he wants to give the belt back.
  • Jarrett, Bischoff and Kim are also walking.
  • And taped from the set of 3,000 Miles to Graceland, Courtney Cox tells David she doesn't want him to get hurt and he's not a wrestler. They argue back and forth.
  • Kurt Russell walks by and tells Courtney he's ready to shoot their love scene.
  • She tells him David is the WCW World Champion.
  • He laughs and walks off.
  • David grabs a chair and runs after Kurt.
  • This is so stupid, much like a Jim Duggan match, you feel dumber just watching.

• Shawn Stasiak is in a gym.
  • He has a basketball.
  • He says tonight, he'll prove he's not just a one dimensional wrestler.
  • He's going to break the free throw record.
  • I can already hear people tuning into the USA Network and Walker is still on...

• DDP, Chris Kanyon and David Arquette come out.
  • They come out to the Bif Naked song.
  • We're not gonna take it? How ironic..
  • Wade, after seeing Kanyon with Arquette, now I know exactly how you felt seeing Brad Armstrong as a No Limit Soldier.
  • Arquette says this whole experience has been incredible, mostly how the fans have treated him.
    • The shower he got on Thunder was fair treatment.
  • Arquette says after talking to DDP and Kanyon, he's going to give up the belt and let DDP and Jarrett decide the championship at Slamboree in the triple cage.
  • Cowboy plays, looks like Kid Rock saw Arquette win the belt and got some ideas.
  • My bad, it's Jarrett and crew.
  • Russo has Liz with him and 2 security guards.
  • Jarrett says Arquette don't make the rules.
  • He says Arquette decided to become a sports entertainer, he decided to get in the ring.
  • Schiavone says they wanted Arquette in the ring on Thunder.
    • Yes Schiavone, but according to Russo on WCW Live, the whole business is a work, remember?
    • So if he got in the ring, obviously he must have wanted to.
    • Otherwise, Jarrett and Ruschoff would have been arrested or something.
    • So which one is it today Schiavone, work or shoot?
  • Bischoff says Arquette had no business in the ring..
    • Speaking of people with no business in the ring...
  • Bisch says come Slamboree, it will be a 3 way match in the triple cage for the WCW Title; Arquette, DDP and Jarrett.
    • I'm sure people who pre-ordered the PPV are calling their cable company to unorder it right about now.
  • Luger runs down to ringside and chase Russo off through the crowd. Russo still has Liz with him.
  • Bisch continues and says tonight, Arquette can take on Tank Abbott.
  • Abbott comes to the ring.
  • DDP tells Bisch doesn't have to work hard to be an asshole.
  • Arquette ain't getting in the ring tonight.
  • Abbott tells DDP to keep his nose out of their business.
  • Abbott tells him to put up or shut up.
  • DDP tells him to shut up and calls him a billy goat.
  • Abbott charges DDP and we get a brawl.
  • Security separates everyone.
  • Abbott grabs a mic and challenges DDP to a match tonight, but if he wins, he gets to face Arquette.
  • DDP accepts.

• Backstage, Luger continues the search for Russo.

• Stasiak continues to shoot baskets.

• Backstage, Bischoff meets with Hugh Morrus.
  • Tonight, Morrus will face Scott Steiner and Jeff Jarrett in a triple threat match.
  • And if of Morrus' Misfits in Action interfere, they're all fired.

• Match 2: the Wall (w/half his entrance) vs. Horace Hogan - Table Match
  • Long Story Short: Miss Hancock walks around the ring, scouting the wrestlers involved in this match. Horace sets up a table in the ring and almost puts Wall through it, but Kidman runs down and distracts Horace. Wall takes advantage and chokeslams Horace through it.
  • Your Winner: The Wall
  • Post match, Kidman and Wall beat down Horace.
  • Hulk Hogan's music plays.
  • Is it the Showster?
  • Nope, just "Stone Cold" Hulk Hogan.
  • Wall and Kidman bale, leaving Hogan open to an attack from behind from Mike Awesome.
  • 3 on 1, Hogan no-sells and knocks everybody down with some half-assed punches.
  • Awesome finally takes "Stone Cold" down and sets up a table.
  • They set Hogan up on the table, Awesome goes up top while Kidman and Wall hold him down.
  • Due to superb camera work, we don't see how Hogan got up, but he does.
  • He catches Awesome on the turnbuckle and grabs him for a superplex.
  • Like Hogan could ever pull that one off.
  • Awesome hits Hogan with a sunset flip through the table.
  • That never would have happened had he figured out how to do the Stunner.

• Vampiro is in a graveyard
  • Vamp says this is his home and he challenges Sting to show up.
  • He says he knows Sting is curious, but curiosity killed the Scorpion.
  • Neat sound editing, Hogan's music is heard in the background.

• Local ad for Saturday's ECW Show.
  • They removed Awesome from the commercial.
  • Ooh, Justin Credible vs. Raven - ECW Title match.
  • I might have to go.

• Russo come out with his guards and Liz.
  • Russo challenges Luger to come out tonight.
  • So apparently, later we get Luger vs. Russo.

• Match 3: Jeff Jarrett vs. Scott Steiner (W/Ho Train) vs. Hugh Morrus
  • Steiner grabs a sign from a fan that reads "Big Poppa Pump Sucks".
  • He grabs a mic and says if he sees anymore signs like that, he's going to do what he does best.
  • That's kicking white-trash, trailer park ass.
  • Jarrett and Steiner double team Morrus, not a whole lot to start.
  • Steiner pounds Morrus in the corner while Jarrett poses.
  • Steiner grabs Morrus for a spinning belly to belly suplex.
  • Steiner does push-ups while Jarrett tries to grabs the pin, only getting 2.
  • Steiner argues with Jarrett.
  • They go back to a double team.
  • Steiner poses in the corner while Jarrett sets Morrus up for the Stroke.
  • Steiner clotheslines Jarrett.
  • Steiner hits Jarrett with an overhead belly to belly that Hudson calls a t-bone.
  • Morrus takes Steiner down with a clothesline, then goes up top for the No Laughing Matter on Jarrett.
  • Jarrett moves and bails outside. Steiner hooks the Steiner Recliner on Morrus.
  • Jarrett grabs his guitar and pastes Steiner with it.
  • Steiner falls forward and Morrus puts an arm on Steiner to get the 3 count.
  • Your Winner: Hugh Morrus via pinfall
  • Lash LeRoux and Chavo come down to celebrate with their leader.
  • First clue your Wrestling Stable sucks: Hugh Morrus is your leader.

• Sting looks for Vampiro in the graveyard.
  • He's wearing a Walkman with a Scorpions tape in.
  • Whoops, that's just the crappy audio and Hugh Morrus' theme music in the background.

• Backstage, The Misfits in Action are celebrating
  • Eric Bischoff walks up and fires all four of them.

• Sting continues to walk through the graveyard.
  • Sting sees Vamp, who runs and hides.
  • Vamp comes out from behind Sting and hits him with a shovel.
  • Vamp drags Sting over to an open grave and hits him with another shovel.
  • Vamp grabs a tombstone and pauses.
  • Sting: "Who are you?"
  • Vampiro: "I'm the monster you should be."
  • Vamp shatters the tombstone over Sting's head.
  • Sting falls into the grave.
  • Vamp throws a wheel-barrow on Sting and leaves.
  • Almost immediately, Sting's hand is seen crawling out of the grave.

• Recap of what just went down.
  • Vamp beating Sting, not the ratings, which plummet now that Raw's on.

• Team Package is backstage.
  • Luger trains for his match with Russo.

• Match 4: Diamond Dallas Page vs. Tank Abbott
  • Abbott match, lots of punches.
  • Abbott drops DDP with a right, then leaves assuming he's already won.
  • DDP gets up in the corner, They brawl outside, DDP's is getting the worst of this.
  • Backstage, Kanyon and Arquette try to go help DDP, but the door is locked.
  • Jarrett hits DDP with a bottle from the crowd.
  • Abbott follows that up with a punch to the head, knocking him out outside the ring.
  • The ref calls for the bell.
  • WTF? Shouldn't the ref count DDP out first?
  • Nevermind, Russo's god. Why should I question him?
  • Your Winner: Tank Abbott via knockout I guess.
  • Backstage, Arquette panics and wets himself.

• Backstage, paramedics put DDP on a stretcher.

• Also backstage, "Stone Cold" Hulk Hogan brawls with Mike Awesome.

• Match 5: Billy Kidman vs. Kevin Nash
  • Kidman comes out wearing that BRAND NEW New Blood T-Shirts.
  • Hey, why not throw a commercial in?
  • Kidman says he knows everyone is grateful he beat up Hogan, Horace and showing everyone what the New Blood is all about.
  • He says the New Blood is about taking down the heroes in wrestling, who have been there too long.
  • Blah blah, thank me, blah blah.
  • He says he's not going to talk anymore, to which the crowd cheers.
  • Then he talks some more.
  • He says he'll take on anyone in the back.
  • Backstage, Terry Taylor and Big Lazy watch on a monitor.
  • Please Taylor, take the match, not Nash!
  • Damn, no dice.
  • I loath Nash more than Hogan. Is that possible?
  • Nash hits the ring and uses the standard knee lifts, elbows in the corner.
  • Nash tosses Kidman across the ring, then chokes him with his boot.
  • Rey Mysterio Jr. and Konnan hit the ring!
  • 3 on 1, so Nash dominates.
  • Sidewalk slams and big boots, Nash goes for the Lazy-bomb on Kidman, but Konnan gets up on the apron.
  • Nash walks after Konnan and Rey, who escape backstage.
  • Rey and Konnan get in a truck and start to pull off.
  • This is pitiful, the truck isn't moving and Rey is in the back, so Nash opens the door to get in another car.
  • Nash walks towards the truck, so Rey and Konnan get out and we go to commercial.
  • It looked like car and a crowd was in front of the truck, way to plan, WCW.

• Back from commercial, Nash beat down both Konnan and Rey.

• Match 6: Vince Russo (W/Elizabeth) vs. Lex Luger
  • Russo says at Slamboree, he will interfere because he wants 5 minutes of kicking Flair's ass.
  • Russo says if Luger wins tonight, he gets the key to Liz.
  • Russo then tells Liz to do him.
  • Liz tells him to kiss her Kentucky ass.
  • Russo then calls Luger out.
  • Luger comes out with Flair.
  • Buff and Shane Douglas take down Flair from behind.
  • Security mobs Luger, they handcuff and spray mace in his eyes.
  • Russo tells the security to let him go.
  • Buff grabs his legs, Douglas headbutts him low.
  • They pick him up and Buff hits him with a reverse DDT.
  • Liz goes to Luger, then when Russo asks what she's doing, she hits him with a bat.
  • Liz runs off.
  • Kronic hits the ring and takes down all the security guards.
  • Russo and crew retreat.
  • Adams hits a guard with a full nelson slam.
  • They grab another for the High Time.
  • Cops hit the ring and watch while they finish the move, then try to restrain them.

• Backstage, Kanyon and Arquette try to figure out what to do.
  • Arquette tries to suggest giving back the belt again, but Kanyon says it won't work.
  • Kanyon goes off to do something.

• Nash continues to torment Konnan.
  • Nash shatters the windows on the truck with a crowbar.
  • Not a whole lot here.

• Backstage, cops arrest Kronic.

• Vampiro comes to the ring.
  • Schiavone announces Mike Awesome will take on Hogan later.
  • Vamp says tonight, the hunter has become the hunted.
  • Vamp says in a whole lotta words he's the monster Sting should have been.
  • Lights go out, thunder crackles and lights blink.
  • Sting's music cues.
  • A crow is in the entryway.
  • Sting drops from the rafters with a bat.
  • Sting beats Vamp down with the bat.
  • Hey Vamp, capture the crow. That's his weakness.
  • That made no sense if you haven't seen the Crow: City of Angels.
  • Sting leaves Vamp laying.

• Stasiak continues to shoot baskets.
  • Is this going anywhere?
  • If so, could it happen tonight?

• Tank is walking to the ring.
  • As is Arquette and Kanyon.

• Vampiro T-Shirt ad.

• Russo corners Liz
  • Russo tells her she will never disrespect him again.
  • She slaps him hard.
  • Russo says she won and left her.
  • ¿Que?

• "Match 7": Tank Abbott vs. WCW World Heavyweight Champion David Arquette (w/Chris Kanyon)
  • That hurts just to type.
  • Sign: "David Arquette: 110 lbs of whoop ass"
  • 110 lbs is a bit generous, I think.
  • Kanyon slips on brass knuckles.
  • The ref sees this and tells Kanyon to leave ringside.
  • Arquette grabs a sleeper right away.
  • Abbott laughs and throws Arquette into the corner, grabbing his neck.
  • Abbott lets go and turns his back.
  • Arquette charges and elbows him in the back.
  • Abbott picks Arquette up and slams him.
  • More of the same.
  • Backstage, an ambulance arrives and DDP gets out and heads to the ring.
  • Abbott knocks the ref out.
  • Abbott knocks Arquette out and DDP's music cues.
  • Abbott watches the entryway.
  • Bischoff tells Jarrett to head to the ring.
  • Due to some smooth camera work, we only see the end of a Diamond Cutter and have no clue how DDP arrived.
  • Way to go WCW!
  • DDP puts Arquette on Abbott and wakes the ref who counts to 3.
  • Your Winner: David Arquette via pinfall
  • DDP carries Arquette off.
  • On the replay, DDP came though the crowd.

• Backstage, we see a replay of why Jarrett never made it to the ring.
  • Scott Steiner attacked him and threw him around.

• Vampiro T-Shirt ad again.

• Stasiak is still shooting baskets.
  • He's one shot away from the record.
  • He goes to shoot, but Hennig attacks him from behind.
  • That took too many segments to accomplish.

• Match 8: "Stone Cold" Hulk Hogan vs. Mike Awesome
  • Stone Cold attacks Awesome when he slides into the ring.
  • A whole lot of brawling to start.
  • Awesome takes Hogan down with a clothesline.
  • Awesome throws Hogan outside.
  • Hogan walks off down the aisle.
  • Hogan turns around and get knocked down by Awesome.
  • They brawl back towards the ring, mostly Awesome in control.
  • Awesome rolls Hogan into the ring, then goes up top.
  • Awesome comes off with a top rope clothesline then covers for 2.
  • Hogan rolls out and pulls Awesome out.
  • Hogan gets a chair and hits Awesome with it a few times.
  • Hogan throws Awesome into the guard rails, then whips him with the weight belt.
  • Awesome gets the belt and punches Hogan in the head with it.
  • Awesome chokes Hogan with it, then whips him some more.
  • Boring...
  • Hogan comes back with punches, then a belly to back suplex.
  • More choking, more punching.
  • They've now been outside four minutes, ref think you could count them out?
  • Awesome hits Hogan with a chair.
  • Schiavone says the ref won't DQ anyone or count them out due to the relaxed rules.
    • Funny, most matches end in DQs as of late...
  • Hogan no-sells a whole lot, some sloppy looking punches, a bunch of clotheslines.
  • Kidman hits the ring and tries to hit Hogan with a chair from behind, but Hogan turns and kicks Kidman, then hits him with the chair.
  • Bisch gets in the ring and distracts the ref.
  • Hogan looks at Kidman with the chair, then goes back to punching Awesome.
  • Kidman goes up top with the chair and jumps down, hitting Hogan with the chair.
  • Hogans wipes his forehead, blading (once again) in clear view of the camera.
  • Awesome and Kidman roll Hogan inside, then Awesome pins Hogan, getting the 3 count.
  • Your Winner: Mike Awesome via pinfall
  • Post-match, Awesome celebrates while Hogan goes outside and gets the chair.
  • Hogan chases Awesome and Kidman off with the chair, meanwhile a fan climbs in the ring wearing a Sting mask.
  • Security nabs him while Hogan watches on.
  • The red liquid lands on Hogan from above, same as last week for Sting.
  • The New Blood beat Hogan down.
  • Bischoff walks out to the entryway and salutes the New Blood as we fade..

I thought I'd share this one with you, I'm finishing this recap and a local ad plays on TV for Slamboree on PPV. No problem, except it says Sid will defend the WCW Title against Jeff Jarrett. That is almost as funny as when I went to a House Show on 2/27/00. I got back to my hotel room after the show and an ad is on TV for the show I was just at, stating the main event would be Bret Hart defending the WCW Title against Chris Benoit. Who arranges this stuff for WCW?

For those curious, Sid defended the title against Luger at that show.

The Good: No more Nitro for me. Konnan and Mysterio's return was pretty surprising, too bad Nash shredded their credibility when he took out three people at once.

The Bad: As usual, the wrestling sucked. Hogans blade job, plus Madden's commentary gets more annoying by the minute.

The Ugly: Tank Abbott jobbing to Arquette. Hey DDP, thank God a wrestler didn't job to Arquette. Care to stick your foot in your mouth anymore?