WCW Monday Nitro 02-10-97

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

Thanks to the Westminster Dog Show, we have an unopposed Nitro. Let’s hope there isn’t a series of Glacier squashes. Read on!

Match 1 (non-title): WCW US champion Eddie Guerrero versus WCW Cruiserweight champion Dean Malenko

Right off the bat, the show began with a match!
Before Eddie made his entrance, Malenko called out Syxx.
After an extensive stalemate, Malenko delivered a flying headscissors.
As Malenko leap-frogged him, Eddie gave him his own flying headscissors.
Malenko then reversed a cross-corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
When Eddie charged, Malenko delivered a powerslam for 2.
Eddie then flipped out of a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and gave Malenko one of his own for 2.
To counter a side head lock, Malenko delivered a belly-to-back suplex.
Following that, Malenko gave Eddie a release German suplex for 2.
As Eddie countered a powerbomb into a sunset flip, Syxx suddenly appeared.
When Syxx tried to steal the US title belt, Eddie stopped him.

Malenko won by countout.

Summary: That was definitely a convoluted way to ensure neither champion lost by pinfall. I’m glad they inserted Syxx because it added story to the match.

As opposed to last week when he took Jacqueline’s chair, DDP comes through the entrance with his own chair. As he sits down in the middle of the ring, he claims to have a bullseye in the middle of his forehead. That would be a strange tattoo. Regardless, he wants something to “HAPPEN RIGHT NOW.” Abruptly, Savage and Sting make their way through the Jacksonville faithful to the ring.

As Sting and Savage circle DDP, they unseat him, and Sting pokes him in the chest with the bat. To answer Sting’s test of courage, Sting almost nails DDP then hands him the bat. DDP doesn’t hit them so they leave. It would seem that DDP has some allies.

At the onset, Konnan gave Eaton a dropkick.
After a cross-corner whip, he delivered a second one.
Upon giving Eaton another cross-corner whip, Konnan came up empty on his follow-through.
As referee Scott Dickinson admonished Eaton for using fists, Konnan hit Eaton with a somersault clothesline.
After an Irish whip, Konnan delivered a second one.
Schiavone then shilled SuperBrawl VII live on PPV on 2/23 from San Francisco, CA.
Upon giving Eaton a seated dropkick, Konnan leap-frogged him twice then gave him the 187.
1-2-3.
Konnan won.

After a commercial break, we revisit last week’s show when the Outsiders laid out Luger backstage.

As Luger came through the entrance, he sported a cast on his left arm.
Suddenly, Bischoff came out and prohibited Luger from wrestling until he obtained a doctor’s release. That included SuperBrawl VII.
As Giant came through the entrance, he scared the bejeezus out of Bischoff.

Let’s hope this ham’n’egger improved since his last appearance.
As Giant gave Powers a cross-corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
After shrugging off Power’s futile offense, Giant clotheslined him.

Upon slamming Powers, Giant chokeslammed him.
1-2-3.
Giant won.

After the match, Tenay interviews Giant who confirms that Luger is his partner. As Luger enters the ring, Giant asks him a loaded question then states he’ll beat the Outsiders by himself and give the second belt to Luger. If you’re wondering where Okerlund is, he was OUT SICK according to Meltzer.

On WCW Saturday Night, Eddie defends the US title against Konnan. Otherwise, it’s pretty skippable.

As the Steiners made their entrance, their pre-taped interview played in split-screen.
Schiavone then noted that there will be a four corners match at SuperBrawl VII featuring the Steiners, Harlem Heat, Faces of Fear, and Public Enemy. The winner will be the #1 contender to the WCW World tag team titles. Hmmm…
Meanwhile, Harlem Heat watched the match near the broadcast table.
Rage then chop-blocked Scott and mounted the top turnbuckle.

When Rage attempted a double axe handle, Scott caught him and delivered an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
After a gorilla press, he dropped him faster than the stock market crash in 1929.

Add Faces of Fear to the group of wrestlers observing this match near the broadcast table.
Shortly after, Kaos gave Rick a swinging neckbreaker.
To add Cheese Whiz to the scene, Public Enemy also watched the match near the broadcast table.

After a powerslam by Rick, Schiavone announced that Malenko will defend the Cruiserweight title against Syxx at SuperBrawl VII.
Scott tagged in and bullied Kaos in the corner.
As Scott came off the ropes, Rage nailed him.
When Rage tagged in, Scott reversed an Irish whip and delivered an inverted atomic drop.
Rick tagged in and gave Rage a Steinerline for 2.
While Rage slammed Rick, he went to the apron and attempted a springboard maneuver.
To counter, Rick caught and powerbombed him.
Upon dispatching Kaos, the Steiners delivered the Steinerizer to Rage.
1-2-3.
Steiners won.

After a commercial break, the nWo emerge and overtake the broadcast table. Bischoff then brings out referee Randy Anderson with his wife and children. Anderson pleads for his job back, yet Bischoff instructs Anderson’s kids that their father is STILL fired. He then offers Anderson his job back if he beats Nick Patrick next week. While Anderson’s wife objects, Anderson accepts the challenge.

Match 5 for the WCW World tag team titles: The Outsiders (champions w/ Syxx) versus the Extreme

Again?

While Syxx wore the Cruiserweight belt and taunted the Extreme in the aisle, the Outsiders attacked them from behind.
Hall then rammed Storm face-first into the steps.
In the ring, Hall gave Darling a fallaway slam.
While Nash hooked his version of the Torture Rack on Storm, Hall chokeslammed Darling.

The Outsiders won.

Match 6 for the WCW World TV title: Lord Steven Regal (champion) versus Rey Mysterio, Jr.

To counter an arm bar, Regal gave Mysterio a backbreaker.
From the apron, Mysterio delivered a springboard dropkick.
Shortly after, Mysterio delivered another dropkick that sent Regal over the top rope to the floor.
On the other hand, Regal guillotined Mysterio using the top rope.
Upon Regal’s return, Mysterio gave him a huracanrana and rolled him up for 2.
After giving Regal a cross-corner whip, Mysterio hooked a victory roll for another 2.
As Mysterio attempted a sunset flip, the bell rang.
Time-limit draw.

Summary: Complete contrast of styles as Regal manhandled Mysterio but didn’t put him away. Interestingly, they couldn’t put together a ten-minute match as the bell rang early. Faux pas or timing issue?

Lee Marshall then delivers the 1-800-COLLECT road report from “Tampa, FL.” Perhaps he can find out what happens when you reach the top of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

Who?
By the way, Benoit/Taskmaster part infinity will occur at SuperBrawl VII.

Taskmaster wasted no time attacking Wild at the bell.
After getting tossed outside the ring by Taskmaster, Jacqueline manhandled Wild and whipped him back-first into the steel railing.
Next, she clotheslined and tossed him back into the ring.
After a knee lift, Taskmaster tossed him back outside.
Upon giving Wild a snap mare, Jacqueline slammed him on the floor.
I’ll give credit to her because she can wrestle.
Back in the ring, Taskmaster tied Wild to the Tree of Woe and put a knee into his midsection.
After a double stomp, Taskmaster pinned him.

After the match, Jacqueline enters the ring and nails Wild while Hart distracts referee Scott Dickinson.

At the entrance, Tenay interviews Taskmaster who refers to Woman and Benoit as “Nancy and Chris.” He then mentions a phone call from “Paul E.” who told him to “do your job.” Next, he mentions Mark Lewin and King Curtis. He then addresses “Nancy” and cuts a promo on behalf of Jacqueline. When Hart calls him Taskmaster, he gets corrected with “Kevin.” Jacqueline then repeats “Kevin’s” words. I smell a worked shoot.

We then revisit last week’s show and the entire Piper-Hogan confrontation. With RAW pre-empted until Thursday, did we need to see this again? I don’t think so.

After Morrus missed a shot to Wright in the corner, Wright rolled him up for 2.
He then gave Morrus a cross-corner whip but ate a clothesline on his follow-through.
As Wright gave Morrus a spinning heel kick, Morrus sought refuge outside the ring.
Wright then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a tope on him. Wow!
Back in the ring, Wright missed a dropkick.
Morrus then gave him a cross-corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Again, Wright mounted the top turnbuckle but lost his balance and fell to the mat. Oops.

Morrus capitalized by delivering a powerbomb.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit the No Laughing Matter.
1-2-3.
Morrus won.

Match 9: Jeff Jarrett and Chavo Guerrero versus the “Crippler” Chris Benoit & Mongo McMichael (w/ Woman & Debra)

According to Tony, WCW Uncensored will emanate from Charleston, SC on March 16.
After a dropkick, Chavo gave Benoit a pair of flying headscissors followed by a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
As Chavo delivered another dropkick, Jarrett tagged in as they mimic the Midnight Express with a drop toehold/elbow drop tandem combo.
Jarrett then gave Benoit a cross-corner whip that resulted in a sternum-first bump and a Woman shriek.
Next, he delivered a belly-to-back suplex.
After Benoit reversed an Irish whip, Mongo put a knee into Jarrett’s back. SNEAKY!
When Jarrett turned his attention to Mongo, Benoit nailed him from behind.
Mongo tagged in and gave Jarrett a powerslam for 2.
As Benoit tagged in, Jarrett delivered a dropkick.
Chavo tagged in and gave the incoming Mongo a series of dropkicks.
Afterward, he slammed Benoit, mounted the top turnbuckle, and hit a moonsault for only 2 thanks to a save by Mongo.
Meanwhile, outside the ring, Debra “checked” on Jarrett. I’m sure Mrs. Jarrett didn’t appreciate Debra’s actions here.

Mongo tagged in and gave Chavo a tombstone piledriver.
1-2-3.
Benoit and Mongo won.

Summary: Unlike last week when Debra helped Jarrett win a match, she helped Jarrett lose this one.

After the match, Tenay interviews the Four Horsemen. After Arn briefly touches on current affairs in WCW, he informs Jarrett that his coffin awaits if he keeps his eyes on Debra. Afterward, he wants Chris to “bury the body.” Yikes! To lighten the mood, “Nature Boy” Ric Flair dances for the Jacksonville faithful. Benoit then tells “Kevin” to “stick it.” As Mongo mocks the Jacksonville “expansion wimps,” he berates Debra for flirting with Jarrett. Politely, he then removes gum from Debra’s hair that came from the Jacksonville “losers.” Lastly, he cuts a promo on Jarrett as Debra belittles Sullivan and Jacqueline.

Next, Piper comes to the ring alone to a huge ovation. According to Tony, Hogan will be available “via satellite from the nWo studios in Hollywood.” Piper then calls Hogan a “bald-headed geek” and accuses Hogan and Bischoff of being married.

To close the show, Piper compares Hogan to Dennis Rodman, small forward for the Chicago Bulls and attention-grabber.

Conclusion: Besides the promotion of SuperBrawl VII, this show accomplished nothing. Yes, the Jacqueline beats up a man bit was cute, but will she and “Nancy” get it on at the PPV? I highly doubt it. What happens on RAW this Thursday? I’m betting something monumental.