WCW Monday Nitro 07-14-97

Hosted by Tony Schiavone, Larry Zbyszko, “Iron” Mike Tenay, & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

How does WCW follow up on Rodman's wrestling appearance from last night? What's up with Kevin Nash? Can Flair regain the US title against Jarrett? Let's find out!

As the program begins, Michael Buffer rumbles while introducing the Nitro Girls who make their Nitro debut. Kimberly emerges from the entrance, but her microphone doesn't work. She then introduces Spice, AC Jazz, Chae, Fire, and Tayo. As all six women enter the ring, they perform with steel chairs for props.

Prior to the opening match, we revisit stills from last night. Afterward, the broadcast team doesn't believe the real Sting attacked Giant.

As Wright made his entrance, his pre-recorded promo aired in split-screen.
Wright then slapped Iaukea who leap-frogged referee Jimmy Jett to get at Wright.
When Wright gave Iaukea a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
Iaukea then backdropped Wright as the Orlando faithful ERUPTED.
Oh, that's because Giant emerged from the entrance and came to the ring.
After Jett instructed him to leave the ring, Giant chokeslammed him.
Iaukea and Wright then stopped wrestling, and Giant chokeslammed Iaukea.
While WCW Security hit the ring, Wright fled.
No match.

Summary: Angle development for Giant who seeks revenge against the nWo for last night.

Afterward, Giant chokeslams six security guards, grabs the microphone, and is fed up. He then singles out Nash by calling him a "goon" and calls him out RIGHT NOW. WCW Security Director Doug Dellinger, with some backup, subsequently remove Giant from the building.

Prior to the next match, we revisit last week's show when Eddie left Chavo to the wolves.

Eddie delivered a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, but Chavo came back with a back drop with some serious hang time by Eddie.

Next, a flying forearm by Chavo sent Eddie to the floor.
Chavo then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a tope. Woohoo!
After Chavo rammed him back-first into the steel railing, he tossed Eddie back in and mounted the top turnbuckle.
Eddie then crotched him. OUCH!
As he joined him, Eddie gave Chavo a superplex. Wow!
He then smugly taunted Chavo with "say hello to Grandma. Hi Ma!" HA!
When Chavo reversed a cross corner whip, he ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
He then elevated Eddie face-first into the top turnbuckle.
Upon hooking a Northern Lights suplex, Chavo got 2.
He then delivered a German suplex with a bridge for another 2.
After he slammed Eddie, Chavo mounted the top turnbuckle, attempted the frog splash, but ate knees.
Eddie then powerbombed Chavo, mounted the top turnbuckle, and hit the frog splash.
1-2-3.
Eddie won.

After the match, Eddie mounts the top turnbuckle and hits a second frog splash. Before he attempts a third one, Eddie's brother, Hector, comes to the ring to check on Chavo. When Hector admonishes him, Eddie shoves him down before leaving.

At the entrance, "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews DDP with Kimberly. Although he previously believed Hennig was a "stand-up guy," DDP was proven wrong last night. He then states that he'll get even with Hennig. When he mentions surprises, he tells Hennig to ask Savage about La Parka. Hmmm...

As we return from a commercial break, the Nitro Girls have changed costumes and dance at the entrance. Okerlund then interviews Harlem Heat. When Okerlund mentions Vincent's involvement in their matches, Booker T screws up his American history by associating Lee Harvey Oswald and 1962. Concurrently, Stevie Ray's ready for an "old-fashioned ghetto street fight" tonight against Hall and Nash.

According to Schiavone, the Steiners will challenge for the World tag team titles at Road Wild '97.
After a leap frog, Bagwell dropkicked Scott.
He then attempted a leap frog but ate a Steinerline from Scott instead.
As Bagwell slapped him, Scott backdropped him.
He then gorilla-press-slammed Bagwell and delivered a second Steinerline.
When Scott clotheslined Bagwell over the top rope to the floor, Rick tagged in to a chorus of barks from the Orlando faithful.

Meanwhile, a black limo arrived backstage, and Konnan emerged. C'mon, man, you ain't got the loot for that! Wait a minute! Syxx and Hall also emerged. Has Konnan joined the nWo? When Nash exited the limo, he held his back with his right hand while smoking a cigar in his left. Priorites!
Back in the ring, Norton shoulder-blocked Rick. It was as if Rick had hit a brick wall.

All four wrestlers were in the ring while Scott gave Bagwell the ten-punch count-along.
Suddenly, Vincent entered the ring as referee Nick Patrick was occupied with Scott and Bagwell.
He then interrupted an attempted overhead belly-to-belly suplex from Rick. SNEAKY!
While Norton was still on the second rope, he delivered a tornado DDT to Rick. Impressive!
He then face-planted Rick and tagged in Bagwell.
As Bagwell slammed Rick, he hit an elbow drop for 2.
He then slammed Rick again, mounted the top turnbuckle, and leaped.
On the other hand, Rick caught and gave Bagwell an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
Hot tag Scott.
When Norton came in, Scott delivered an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
He then gave Bagwell a T-bone suplex followed by a double underhook powerbomb.
After Rick mounted the top turnbuckle, Masahiro Chono and Great Muta entered the ring to disrupt the Steiners.
Patrick then called for the bell disqualifying Vicious & Delicious.

Summary: Good match with a crappy ending. The nWo limo segment should have occurred after the match.

During the aftermath, Chono gives Rick a Yakuza kick while the nWo quintuple-teams the Steiners. Scott comes back with some Steinerlines and gives Muta a gorilla press slam. As Rick clotheslines Bagwell, he delivers a German suplex to Norton. They then clear the ring. Don't mess with the Steiners!

On WCW Saturday Night, chairman of the WCW Executive Committee James J. Dillon will make an announcement. Don't miss out!

At the entrance, Okerlund reviews his previous interaction with Raven. We then revisit Raven's interview from last night. According to Meltzer, ECW sued WCW for breach of contract based upon this appearance. Nonetheless, Okerlund interviews Raven at ringside and asks about the impending announcement. Raven then decries that "there is no announcement." When Stevie Richards interjects, Raven spits in his face. Ew.

As Benoit made his entrance, his pre-recorded interview occurred in split-screen.
He clotheslined Enos but received a guillotine on the top rope in retaliation.
After Enos slammed him, he placed Benoit atop the top turnbuckle, joined, and delivered a super fallaway slam. Wow!
With Benoit in the corner, Enos hit a corner clothesline.
He then gave Benoit a hangman's neckbreaker for 2.
Next, he PLANTED Benoit with a ganso bomb. Give credit to Enos for originality in his matches, but that looked DANGEROUS! It also got another 2.

He then hooked a bear hug on Benoit, followed with a powerslam, but couldn't get 3.
When he attempted a short-arm clothesline, Benoit applied the Crippler Crossface.
Enos then tapped out, and Benoit won.

Summary: Showcase match for Benoit, but, once again, Enos had his working boots on.

Prior to the next match, we revisit last week's episode when DDP disguised himself as La Parka and fooled Savage.

Heenan replaced Zbyszko for the remainder of the show at this point.
As La Parka made his entrance, Kimberly got his attention. Could it be DDP again?

Calo leap-frogged La Parka, mounted the top turnbuckle, and moonsaulted to his feet.
Unimpressed, La Parka clotheslined him into the middle of 1998.
Suddenly, Savage hit the ring and demolished both wrestlers.
No match.

After referee Mark Curtis throws the match out, Savage manhandles La Parka until DDP emerges through the Orlando faithful. He then attacks Savage until Hennig hits the ring. Upon spinning DDP around, Hennig CLOCKS him with brass knuckles. He then leaves as Savage regains his composure. When Savage mounts the top turnbuckle, he hits the big elbow.

At the entrance, Okerlund interviews Hennig who calls DDP "the biggest mark in the business." He then runs down both DDP and Kimberly. In fact, he refers to Kimberly as a "hosebag." Suddenly, Flair comes out, shares both a handshake and hug with Hennig, and invites him out for fun at Pleasure Island after the show.

Lee Marshall then delivers the 1-800-COLLECT road report from “Jacksonville, FL." Methinks Lee believes Chris Mullin played basketball in the St. Johns River.

As the nWo emerges through the entrance, Nash sits in a wheelchair. Eric Bischoff then mentions that Nash is injured and refutes the notion of Nash's Sting impersonation last night. Nash also refutes the accusation, struggles to stand up, yet welcomes Konnan to the group. While yelling "Arriba la raza," Konnan reveals an nWo t-shirt. Nash then refers to him as "K-dog."

Prior to the next match, we revisit Nitro from 6/16 when Harlem Heat demolished Vincent.

According to Schiavone, Nitro will occur next Tuesday rather than Monday. This was due to TNT's mini-series Rough Riders.
Syxx will substitute for Nash in this match.
As Syxx gave Booker T a leg lariat, he provided Stevie Ray with a crotch chop.
He then delivered a leg drop but missed an elbow drop.
When Booker T missed an elbow drop, he performed the spinaroonie. Woohoo!
He then delivered the Harlem sidekick.
After tags were exchanged on both sides, Stevie Ray gave Hall a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Hall then mounted the second turnbuckle and gave Stevie Ray a bulldog for 2.
As Stevie Ray came back with a clothesline, Harlem Heat double-teamed Hall.
Hall then reversed an Irish whip, caught Booker T's cross body block, and delivered a fallaway slam for 2.
When Booker T hit a flying forearm, Hall fell out of the ring.
Stevie Ray tagged in, slammed Hall, and got 2.
While Nash rallied the troops from his wheelchair, Hall countered a side head lock with a belly-to-back suplex.

Booker T tagged in and gave Hall a scissors kick for another 2.
After Hall reversed an Irish whip, he clotheslined Booker T for 2.
Meanwhile, Nash tried to rise from the wheelchair but felt discomfort.

Booker T then hit a superkick for 2.
As Hall placed him atop the top turnbuckle, Booker T elbowed him down to the mat.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle, hit a cross body block, and got another 2.
When Syxx came in and attempted a leg lariat, Stevie Ray caught and powerbombed him.
Hall then reversed an Irish whip, and Nash rose from the wheelchair without difficulty to nail Booker T. In the meantime, referee Mickey Jay was detained by Stevie Ray and Syxx outside the ring. Nefarious!
After Stevie Ray pressed Syxx overhead and dropped him on the floor, Hall gave Booker T the Outsider Edge.
1-2-3.
Hall and Syxx won.

Summary: While the ending seems telegraphed from Tampa, that's what makes pro wrestling what it is. Good heel work by Nash.

Muta wore his Halloween costume again. If you haven't seen it, check it out in my Bash at the Beach '97 reflection.
While Tenay rattled off the tour schedule, he mentioned Clash XXXV on 8/21 from Nashville, TN.
Chono met Rocco on the floor to begin the match and made him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Plain Jane at Nona Blue.
As he took Rocco into the aisle, Chono delivered a Yakuza kick.
He then rammed Rocco back-first into the steel railing.
In the ring, Public Enemy reversed simultaneous cross corner whips ramming Chono and Muta together.
They then delivered stereo ten-punch count-alongs.
While the Orlando faithful chanted "U-S-A," Chono gave Grunge a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
Grunge then delivered a swinging neckbreaker and tagged in Rocco.
After Rocco mounted the top turnbuckle, he lowered the boom on Chono.
Muta tagged in, but Rocco reversed an Irish whip and landed a flying head butt.
As Chono tagged in, he reversed an Irish whip, missed a Yakuza kick, and received a springboard moonsault from Rocco.
Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Muta gave Grunge a cross corner whip followed by a handspring elbow.
When he bulldogged Grunge, Muta hit the flashing elbow.
Again, tags were exchanged on both sides, and Rocco clotheslined Muta.
All four wrestlers were in the ring while Vincent got up on the apron.
After Muta gave Grunge an Irish whip, Grunge nailed Vincent.
While referee Mark Curtis was occupied with Vincent, Muta sprayed green mist in Grunge's face.

Chono then gave the blinded Grunge a Yakuza kick.
1-2-3.
Muta and Chono won.

Summary: Did anyone give Public Enemy a chance against these guys? Did anyone truly believe these guys would fly from Japan to Florida to lose two straight matches?

Match 8 for the WCW US title: Jeff Jarrett (champion w/ Debra) versus “Nature Boy” Ric Flair

After a leap frog, Jarrett backdropped Flair.
Speaking of Flair, he gave Jarrett a cross corner whip and faked out Jarrett who flipped over nothing but air.

As Flair gave Jarrett another cross corner whip, he ate a clothesline.
Jarrett then dropkicked Flair over the top rope to the floor.
When Jarrett joined him, Flair reversed an Irish whip sending Jarrett back-first into the steel railing.
Jarrett then backdropped Flair on the floor, tossed him into the ring, mounted the top turnbuckle, and hit a cross body block.
After Flair used momentum to land on top, he got 2.
Jarrett then gave Flair a cross corner whip, and a Flair flip almost ensued. While I said almost, Flair must have mistimed it because he rammed his surgically-repaired shoulder into the ring post. OUCH!
As Jarrett gave Flair another cross corner whip, a Flair flip followed. That's odd. You don't see Flair repeating spots too often.
Regardless, Flair landed on the apron, mounted the top turnbuckle, and leaped.
In mid-air, Jarrett caught Flair with a dropkick. Wow!
He then placed Flair atop the top turnbuckle, joined, and gave Flair a superplex.
When Jarrett attempted a figure-four leg lock, Flair blocked it.
He then made a second attempt, and Flair successfully blocked it again.
Upon Jarrett's third attempt, Flair hooked an inside cradle.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
Jarrett then unhooked his straps like he meant business.
After he chopped Jarrett, Flair thrusted his hips at Debra. HA!
He then asked referee Randy Anderson to check on Debra so that he could nail Jarrett down near Kissimmee.

As Jarrett reversed an Irish whip, he hooked a sleeper.
In the meantime, Debra gabbed at the ringside camera for what seemed like an eternity.
Flair then countered with a jawbreaker, and Jarrett missed a dropkick.
Suddenly, Mongo confronted Debra about her betrayal last night.
Flair then hooked the figure-four leg lock, but Mongo and Benoit ran in to triple-team Jarrett.
As you'd expect, Anderson called for the bell disqualifying Flair.

Summary: What a difference a day makes. When Flair faced Piper, he wrestled Piper's match which was slower-paced and less workrate-heavy. Conversely, Flair and Jarrett provided an entertaining wrestling match but with a crappy finish. This was due to the title shot belonging to Mongo rather than Flair.

In the ring, Okerlund interviews the "Total Package" Lex Luger who sarcastically welcomes Dennis Rodman to WCW. When Okerlund switched the topic to Road Wild '97, Luger's ready to face Hogan for the WCW World title.

Abruptly, the nWo comes out to surround the ring. Next, a long-haired Sting imposter emerges and enters the ring. When he removes the wig and mask, it's the real Sting! WE'RE OUTTA TIME!

Conclusion: Good storytelling as the Nash impersonation from last night led to Sting's disguise tonight. In addition, the Flair-Jarrett, Steiners-Vicious & Delicious, Eddie-Chavo matches make this show worthwhile. What’s on RAW is WAR?