Monday Night War week 3

Hosted by Eric Bischoff, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and Steve “Mongo” McMichael

Disco had “Shake Your Booty” on the back of his tights.
After Disco tossed Wright outside the ring Wright mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a missile dropkick to Disco’s booty. I’d say it’s shaking now.
After a cross corner whip Wright gave Disco a leg lariat.
Plancha by Wright.
Running clothesline by Disco.
Short-arm clothesline by Disco.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle but got nailed by a dropkick.
Five-arm by Wright.
Belly-to-back suplex by Disco.
Disco attempted a swinging neckbreaker but got caught with a backslide.
1-2-3.
Wright won.

Summary: Decent opening match with some good workrate, but is Disco a flop? Or will he be a one-hit wonder?

Back in the locker room WCW World champion Hulk Hogan is wearing a neck brace as Jimmy Hart helps him rehab his neck. Hogan challenges the Giant to a monster truck battle as well as a title match. I kindly ignore Hogan’s reference to the Giant as Andre’s son.

“Mean” Gene Okerlund is in the ring and has us revisit the Luger-Savage confrontation from last week. Savage joins him and calls out Luger. “The Total Package” runs out calling for some respect. He then challenges Savage to a match next week on Nitro. Savage accepts. To add some incentive Luger puts his title shot on the line as well as his WCW career. Considering his burnt bridge with the “guys up north” Luger is seriously rolling the dice here.

Match 2: Kurasawa (w/ Colonel Parker) versus Sergeant Craig “Pit Bull” Pittman

Are you kidding me? This is seriously change-the-channel stuff here.
Pittman used his head as a battering ram to the midsection.
Some kicks by Kurasawa sent Pittman over the top rope to the floor.
Baseball slide by Kurasawa.
Kurasawa pulled up the mats outside the ring then dumped Pittman over his shoulder directly on the concrete particle board. OUCH!
After charging at Pittman Kurasawa was vaulted over the top rope to the floor.
Disqualification, right?
Referee Nick Patrick said NO!
Pittman again used his head as a battering ram to the midsection sending Kurasawa from the apron back down to the floor.
He then rammed Kurasawa’s shoulder into the apron.
Make that twice.
Overhead belly-to-belly suplex by Pittman.
Code Red by Pittman.
German suplex with a bridge by Kurasawa got the pin.

Summary: This was better than it had any right to be; however, this is genuine WCW Saturday Night rather than Nitro material.

Gene is in the ring with “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson and “Flyin’” Brian Pillman. While Pillman exercises his inalienable rights Arn tells Flair that he’s turned the tables on him and good luck finding a partner.

Check out WCW Saturday Night as Johnny B. Badd challenges Sting for the US title. Also, the NEW World tag team champions the American Males are in action. Additionally the Giant and the Taskmaster give their rebuttal to Hogan’s challenges.

Before the match got underway Zodiac clotheslined Savage then rammed him into the ring post.
After tossing Savage outside the ring Taskmaster crotched him on the steel railing. YEE-OUCH!
Savage made Taskmaster taste the steel railing. Tasted like the Bill Finley at Tubbs Shrimp and Fish.
Double axe handle from the top rope by Savage.
Savage gave Zodiac a snap mare into the ring then a back elbow.
Referee Randy Anderson got shoved down by Savage.
He then disqualified Savage.

After slamming Taskmaster atop Zodiac Savage mounts the top turnbuckle and delivers the big elbow to Zodiac. Taskmaster escapes at the last moment. The Giant makes his way to the ring and gives Savage a chokeslam. Frankie Lancaster comes to Savage’s aid and eats a chokeslam too. Mark Starr arrives and receives the same medicine. Hearing the call for the cavalry, Alex Wright runs in, mounts the top turnbuckle, and gets caught in a vicious bear hug. As the Giant delivers another chokeslam to Savage Luger charges, stands over Savage, and then fights with the Giant. He eats a chokeslam for dinner too. Your main event monster is born.

Luger was still down as Meng sprinted towards the ring.
Hogan will be in Denver for Nitro next week according to Eric.
Piledriver by Meng.
Vertical suplex.
Nerve hold.
Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
Reverse chinlock.
Leg drop.
Samoan drop.
Meng mounted the top turnbuckle but only ate canvas on the way down.
Running clothesline in the corner by Luger.
While referee Randy Anderson held Luger back Meng pulled a spike out of his boot.
He nailed Luger in the throat and got the pin.

Summary: I hope Luger never goes into used car selling because he can’t sell water to thirsty people.

Next week Hogan will be in Denver. The American Males will face the Nasty Boys. Dean Malenko will be in action along with the main event of Savage versus Luger.

Conclusion: The two latter matches were completely sculpted around the Giant’s rampage. Unfortunately from the time the Kurasawa match started until the Giant rampage began was 15-20 minutes where the audience had the opportunity to check out football or RAW. I hope, for WCW’s sake, it didn’t ruin their chances of winning.

Earlier today WWF President Gorilla Monsoon met with Jim Cornette along with his lawyer and declared that Owen Hart and Yokozuna were still the WWF tag team champions (*cough* Dusty finish *cough*), but they had to defend the titles tonight against the Smoking Gunns.

Let me get this straight…you sell a PPV guaranteeing a title change and then reverse the decision the following day? If I had spent money on this PPV back in ’95 I would demand a REFUND. That’s bad business, and I hope the WWF doesn’t try that again.

Holy Midnight Rockers, Batman! Marty returned to the WWF!
A fan in the front row had a sign that read “Nitro ran out of gas. RAW runs on Diesel power.”
Dropkick by Jannetty.
The crowd chanted “Marty.”
Jannetty played tricks on both Skip and Sunny outside the ring.
Doctorbomb by Skip. Dr. Death Steve Williams would be proud.
Snap suplex by Skip.
Dean Douglas stood by taking notes.
Leg drop by Skip.
Clothesline by Skip followed by a 360° sell by Jannetty. Awesome!
German suplex by Jannetty.
Powerbomb by Jannetty.
Flying back elbow by Jannetty.
Knee lift by Jannetty.
Cross body press by Jannetty. Sunny got up on the apron.
With Jannetty distracted Skip charged but received a back body drop over the top rope to the floor.
Rocker Dropper by Jannetty.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle, delivered the fist drop, and got the pin.

Summary: Fast-paced opener to aid the removal of the horrible taste of the tag title situation from my mouth.

We then recount the events of last night with Monsoon’s “integrity.” Clarence Mason finds a technicality to return the titles back to Owen and Yokozuna.

Dok Hendrix shills the t-shirt for last night’s PPV. It costs $20 but it’s worthless to me.

Match 2 for the World tag team titles: Owen Hart and Yokozuna (champions w/ Jim Cornette and Mr. Fuji) versus the Smoking Gunns

Shoulder block by Yokozuna to Billy.
WWF Champion Diesel and Intercontinental champion Shawn Michaels watched the match on a monitor backstage.
Dropkick by Billy to Yokozuna.
Bulldog by Billy to Yokozuna.
Crucifix by Billy countered into a Samoan Drop by Yokozuna.
As Bart distracted referee Mike Chioda(?) Owen put the boots to Billy outside the ring.
Enziguri by Owen to Billy.
Leg drop by Owen.
Swinging neckbreaker by Owen.
Owen mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a high cross body, but Billy used momentum to come out on top for 2.
Nerve hold by Yokozuna.
Vince shilled WrestleMania: The Special on FOX this Saturday at 11pm ET.
Yokozuna missed an elbow drop.
Leg drop missed by Billy.
Yokozuna missed a splash.
Owen tagged in.
Hot tag Bart.
Clothesline by Bart.
Military press slam by Bart.
Billy and Bart double-Irish whip Owen into Yokozuna.
Yokozuna was slumped in the corner.
Sidewinder by the Gunns.
Yokozuna tried to break up the pin by splashing Bart but SQUISHED Owen instead.
Billy dropkicked Yokozuna outside the ring.
Bart pinned Owen.
WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!

Summary: To further quell the bad taste in my mouth the WWF delivers a title change here. While Owen made this match very entertaining Billy Gunn did a good job as well.

After the match the “Two Dudes with Attitude” hit the ring and congratulate the Smoking Gunns.

Next week on RAW Jean-Pierre LaFitte gets a rematch against Bret “Hitman” Hart. Also Razor Ramon takes on the 1-2-3 Kid one more time.

Dok Hendrix interviews Monsoon and shills WWF In Your House 4 on October 22 live on PPV from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Monsoon announces that Diesel will defend the WWF title against “the British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith. In turn Bret Hart will face the winner of said match at Survivor Series. Also, Shawn Michaels will defend the Intercontinental title against Dean Douglas.

Match 3: “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith (w/ Jim Cornette) versus the Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer)

Flying clothesline by the Undertaker.
Undertaker mounted the top turnbuckle but received an arm drag down to the canvas.
Big boot by Undertaker.
Undertaker missed an elbow drop.
Bulldog clotheslined Undertaker over the top rope to the floor.
With Undertaker distracted by Cornette Bulldog clipped the knee. Personal foul. #0 Defense. 15 yards. First down.
He then whipped Undertaker into the steel steps.
Mo and Mabel watched the match back in the entryway.
Waylon Mercy also observed this match.
Undertaker countered a powerslam with a belly-to-back suplex.
Ropewalk by Undertaker.
Piledriver by Bulldog for 2.
Vertical suplex by Bulldog.
Make that 2.
Chokeslam by Undertaker.
Mabel entered the ring. Bulldog put a knee into Undertaker’s back.
Mabel then gave Undertaker a belly-to-belly suplex.
Referee Earl Hebner disqualified Bulldog.

Summary: Not a great effort by the #1 contender here. Perhaps we’ll see something between the Undertaker and Mabel soon.

After the match Bulldog gives the Undertaker the running powerslam, and Mabel gives him a leg drop. Michaels and Diesel chase Mabel and Bulldog from the ring. Owen and Yokozuna join Mabel and Bulldog to surround the faces in the ring. Without a hitch the Smoking Gunns even up the odds and jump in the ring.

The Undertaker looks stunned that these four guys would come to help him. With the “Two Dudes with Attitude” in the ring and Vince dancing along he gives us some shorts from last night’s PPV. The first is the match between Razor Ramon and Dean Douglas. According to Lawler the 1-2-3 Kid has been “negotiating” with the Million Dollar Man.

Shawn tossed his t-shirt to Lawler and McMahon. Lawler then tossed it on top of the camera.

Conclusion: The old adage of “two wrongs don’t make a right” applies to this episode. That tag title crap stunk, and Vince McMahon knew it. Additionally the timing of this episode is terrible. The main event ended with at least ten minutes left in the show. Someone fire the director!

Who won? As the ratings dictate WCW won by crushing the WWF 2.7-1.9. I’m sure a lot of people were pissed off by the bait-and-switch tactics pulled by the WWF. In 1995 only the smark crowd would truly enjoy Jannetty/Skip and avoid an Alex Wright match. In turn they’d watch the tag title match over the Kurasawa match.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the introduction of “Superstar” Steve Austin to ECW during this week in wrestling history. In the midst of a backstage clip “the Stevester” made an appearance. The rocket ship to shoot Steve Austin to the moon had been constructed.