WCW Monday Nitro 09-22-97

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

Place your bets! Who’s taking the favorite and who’s betting the underdog? Speaking of underdogs, will Jarrett upend Hennig and regain the US title? Let’s find out!

As Schiavone, Tenay, and Zbyszko welcome us to the show, Eric Bischoff interrupts them and warns Zbyszko about getting involved in nWo business. Zbyszko then helps us revisit Great American Bash ‘96 when the Outsiders PULVERIZED Bischoff. Afterward, he cuts a promo on Bischoff.

Mysterio gave Silver King a flying headscissors, leap-frogged him, and delivered another flying headscissors over the top rope to the floor.
When Raven made his way to his front-row seat, Mysterio hit a springboard moonsault for 2.
Silver King rebounded by reversing a cross corner whip followed by a spinning heel kick.
As he charged Mysterio, Silver King came up empty.
Mysterio then mounted the top turnbuckle and gave Silver King an inverted huracanrana for another 2. Wow!
After Silver King reversed an Irish whip, he countered a huracanrana into a sunset flip for 2.
Suddenly, Eddie Guerrero meandered toward ringside.
Mysterio then delivered another huracanrana for 2.
While the Salt Lake City faithful chanted “Eddie sucks,” Silver King landed a superkick followed by an elbow drop.
He then slammed Mysterio, mounted the top turnbuckle, but missed a moonsault.
When Mysterio hit the West Coast Pop, he pinned Silver King.
Mysterio won.

Summary: Good match between the luchadores while Mysterio preps for his title shot at the PPV.

After the match, Eddie confronts Mysterio on the apron, but referee Mark Curtis advises him to return to the floor. Mysterio then leaps over Curtis and hits a somersault plancha on Eddie. Woohoo!

Who’s this ham’n’egger? Even Tenay doesn’t know!

As Goldberg gave him a cross corner whip, Morrus leaped to the second turnbuckle and OBLITERATED him.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit the No Laughing Matter.
It’s over!
1-2-3.
Morrus won.
Oh wait, Goldberg actually kicked out at 2. Perhaps his per diem hadn’t been met yet.
Regardless, Goldberg reversed a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
He then performed a back flip and powerslammed Morrus.
When he slammed Morrus, Goldberg hit the Jackhammer.
1-2-3.
Goldberg won.
UPSET CITY! Take the court!

Summary: This match marks Goldberg’s TV pro wrestling debut. Solid victory but he got lost in spots much like a green rookie would be.

After the match, “Mean” Gene Okerlund attempts to interview Goldberg who remains stoic and walks away.

Nitro Girls dance in the ring wearing white while Schiavone shills an upcoming show in Fairfax, VA. Next, he shills the Nitro Party contest.

We then revisit Fall Brawl ‘97 when Zbyszko asserted his authority and counted the pin in favor of WCW.

Match 3 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: “Das Wunderkind” Alex Wright (champion) versus Disco Inferno

While the Salt Lake City faithful chanted “Alex sucks,” Wright and Disco exchanged slaps to the face.
Disco then hip-tossed Wright who sought refuge outside the ring.
After a commercial break, Disco gave Wright a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
Wright then delivered a spinning heel kick, gave Disco a cross corner whip, and followed with another back elbow.
When he gave Disco another cross corner whip, Wright came up empty on his follow-through.
Disco then delivered a belly-to-back suplex but ate a clothesline.
As Wright tried to pin him, he placed his feet on the second rope. SNEAKY!
He then suplexed Disco, mounted the top turnbuckle, and hit a flying stomp.
After he gave Disco a third cross corner whip, Wright came up empty again.
Disco then reversed a cross corner whip, but Wright climbed the ropes.
Not to be outdone, Disco crotched him on the top rope. OUCH!
He then backdropped Wright and followed with a swinging neckbreaker for 2.
When he slammed Wright, Disco mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.

Wright then rebounded with a belly-to-back suplex for 2.
As Disco reversed an Irish whip, he leap-frogged Wright who whiffed on a sunset flip attempt.
Both wrestlers then hit simultaneous cross body blocks, and Disco landed on top.
1-2-3.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
UPSET CITY! Take the court!

Summary: Instead of parading around trying to maintain his appearance, Disco busted his ass, stood toe-to-toe with Wright, and persevered. Congrats, Disco!

After the match, Jacqueline drags Okerlund to the ring and confronts the NEW WCW World TV champion—Disco Inferno. She then “questions” him about his six-month sabbatical earlier this year. In case you didn’t know, Disco refused to job to Jacqueline and was fired earlier in 1997. Nonetheless, she challenges Disco to a match, yet Disco dismisses it.

Prior to the next match, Hall grabs the microphone and performs his first survey. He then runs down Zbyszko while the Salt Lake City faithful chant “Lar-ry.” Next, he calls out Lex Luger who isn’t available. When he drops Zbyszko’s name, Zbyszko heads to the ring. In a wise move, Zbyszko refuses to enter due to Syxx’s presence and returns to the broadcast table.

Match 4: WCW World tag team champion Scott Hall (w/ Syxx) versus Hector Garza

In insulting fashion, Hall ripped the pocket from referee Mark Curtis’ shirt.
Garza then attempted a cross body block, but Hall caught him.
As he placed Garza atop the top turnbuckle, Hall punted him.
He then joined and gave Garza a super fallaway slam.
When Hall embarrassed Curtis, Garza rolled him up.
1-2-3.
Garza won.
UPSET CITY! Take the court!

Summary: Stunning upset #3 of the night. Who knows what’ll happen on Nitro, right?

After the match, Hall delivers an Outsider Edge to Garza and follows with a crotch chop. Syxx grabs Curtis and feeds him to Hall. Upon giving Curtis an Outsider Edge, Hall drags him atop Garza while Syxx pantomimes a three-count.

Partido 5: Psicosis, La Parka, & los Villanos IV y V (w/ Sonny Onoo) contra Ultimo Dragon, Juventud Guerrera, Lizmark, Jr., & Ciclope

Dragon hit a spin kick to Psicosis but got nailed during a leap frog attempt.
When Psicosis gave him a cross corner whip, Dragon performed a headstand on the top turnbuckle.
He then sent Psicosis sliding head-first out of the ring and for a taste of the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Old Man burger at Lucky 13.
As La Parka whiffed on a missile dropkick, Guerrera delivered a springboard flying headscissors to him.
Ciclope came in and superkicked V out of the ring.
After IV powerslammed him, he booted Ciclope to the floor.
Lizmark came in, received a cross corner whip, leaped to the top turnbuckle, and hit a cross body block to IV.
When Dragon backdropped IV, Lizmark hooked a huracanrana into a cradle for 2 much like Mysterio.
With all eight luchadores in the ring, Lizmark clotheslined IV to the floor.
He then gave IV a plancha but succumbed to a tope suicida by V. Woohoo!
As Ciclope practically committed suicide with a somersault plancha, La Parka delivered a corkscrew plancha.

Guerrera, not to be outdone, hit his own version of a somersault plancha.
In the ring, Psicosis gave Dragon a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Dragon then placed Psicosis atop the top turnbuckle, but Onoo made him CRASH AND BURN by pulling him down to the floor.
After Psicosis mounted the top turnbuckle, he leaped but nailed Onoo instead of Dragon with a double axe handle.
La Parka then powerslammed Guerrera in the ring, mounted the top turnbuckle, but Guerrera met him there.
When Guerrera crotched him on the top rope, he hit a springboard flying headscissors to La Parka.
He then hooked a victory roll and pinned La Parka.
Although not an upset, Dragon, Guerrera, Ciclope, and Lizmark won.

Summary: Is it a wrestling match or a train wreck? Either way, it’s a fun-filled lucha spotfest. Have your chips and salsa handy when watching this barnburner.

In the ring, Okerlund interviews the interim “commissioner” --” Rowdy” Roddy Piper. While Piper mocks him, he pits Hall against Luger with Zbyszko as special guest referee at the upcoming PPV. Next, he mentions that WCW wants to ban cage matches. Despite this, Piper’s ready for his cage match against Hogan at the PPV. Finally, he cuts a promo on Hogan.

Lee Marshall then delivers the 1-800-COLLECT road report from "Worcester, MA.” Knowing Lee, he had his A1 sauce handy.

As Scott gave Meng a double underhook suplex, Barbarian came in but ate a Steinerline from Rick.
Tags were exchanged on both sides while Rick powerslammed Barbarian during a leap frog attempt.
When he delivered another Steinerline, Rick got 2.
Scott tagged in and hit a dragon suplex to Barbarian, but Meng made a blind tag.
After Faces of Fear gave Scott a back drop/powerbomb combo, Barbarian got 2.
Meng tagged in and delivered a backbreaker to Scott for another 2.
As Barbarian tagged in, Faces of Fear gave Scott a double head butt.
Barbarian then slammed Scott but couldn’t get 3.
When Meng tagged in, Scott hit a double clothesline but couldn’t take either member of Faces of Fear off his feet.
He then avoided a double-team and double-clotheslined Faces of Fear.
Hot tag Rick.
After he cleaned house, Rick mounted the top turnbuckle while Scott hoisted Barbarian upon his shoulders.

Meng then shoved Rick into both Scott and Barbarian like he just picked up a unique split in bowling.
As Rick attempted a belly-to-belly suplex, Meng countered with his Tongan death grip.
1-2-3.
Faces of Fear won.
UPSET CITY! Take the court!

Summary: While there was a glimmer of greatness between them, neither team emptied its arsenal in this one. With that being said, upset #4 on the night transpired while the Salt Lake City faithful sought popcorn.

As Hogan makes his entrance with Bischoff, he wears Flair’s robe from last week minus the sleeves. To the WWE Network’s credit, they play a facsimile of Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile” rather than insert the nWo theme. Hogan questions Sting’s whereabouts and “pays respect” to Hennig. While he runs down Piper, Hogan refers to the nWo as “patient fishermen.”

Prior to the next match, Savage grabs the microphone while he and Elizabeth run down DDP. Savage then promises a present for Hennig later in the show.

Match 7: “Macho Man” Randy Savage (w/ Elizabeth) versus “Dancin’” Stevie Richards

If Richards beats Savage, I’ll eat my shorts.

Savage clotheslined and guillotined Richards with the top rope.
While Savage distracted referee Mickey Jay, Elizabeth gave Richards the business. Wow!
Savage then tossed Richards outside the ring and made him taste the steel railing right in front of Raven. It must have tasted like the Mother Clucker at the Green Pig Pub.
When Savage slammed him, he mounted the top turnbuckle and hit the big elbow.
He then pinned Richards with one foot on his chest.

After the match, Raven jumps the steel railing, climbs into the ring, and gets in Savage’s face. As Jay tries to stop them, Savage shoves him down into the corner. Instead of touching Savage, Raven delivers a DDT to Richards. Savage then leaves the ring while Elizabeth smiles from ear-to-ear.

On WCW Saturday Night, Harlem Heat faces Wrath and Mortis. When will these shows appear on the WWE Network?

Match 8: Harlem Heat (w/ Jacqueline) versus Scott “Flash” Norton & K-Dogg (w/ Vincent)

Only Booker T came to the ring, but where’s Stevie Ray?
Booker T grabbed the microphone and informed everyone that Stevie Ray pulled his Achilles tendon. OUCH! Obviously, he won’t be competing tonight. Booker T then informed Vincent that Jacqueline was “more man (he’ll) ever be.” HA!
Norton then stated that this’ll be a handicap match.
As K-Dogg gave Booker T a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
Norton then tried to hit Booker T but ate a leg lariat instead.
When K-Dogg reversed an Irish whip, he backdropped Booker T.
Speaking of Booker T, he performed the spinaroonie followed by a leg lariat to K-Dogg.
While K-Dogg reversed another Irish whip, Norton low-bridged Booker T sending him to the floor.
Norton then made Booker T taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Tatonka Chicken at Squatters.
After Norton rammed him face-first into the apron, Booker T rebounded with full nelson slam to K-Dogg for 2.
K-Dogg then gave Booker T another cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
As he delivered a second leg lariat, Booker T nailed both Norton and Vincent on adjacent aprons.
Booker T then tried his best to roll up K-Dogg, but Norton made the save.
When Norton and K-Dogg hit a spike piledriver, Vincent entered the ring.
Immediately, referee Nick Patrick called for the bell to disqualify Norton and K-Dogg.
Booker T won.

Match 9 for the WCW US title: Curt Hennig (champion w/ Elizabeth) versus Jeff Jarrett (w/ Debra)

In a surprising twist, Elizabeth accompanied Hennig. I guess that was Savage’s present to him.

This match was supposed to happen at Halloween Havoc ‘97, but WCW hot-shot the match for reasons that will become clearer in the coming weeks.
Schiavone then wished that Flair was in Salt Lake City while Jarrett and Hennig have a stalemate.
When Hennig gave Jarrett a knee crusher, he rammed Jarrett’s knee into the ring post.
On the floor, Hennig tried to DESTROY him with a chair, but Jarrett evaded him.
Jarrett then rammed Hennig face-first into the chair on the floor. That’ll ruin his weekend!
As he guillotined Hennig with the steel railing, he missed a dropkick back in the ring.
Hennig then clotheslined Jarrett over the top rope to the floor.
After Jarrett grabbed Hennig’s leg, he crotched Hennig with the ring post. OUCH!
Hennig then reversed an Irish whip but fell prey to a swinging neckbreaker.
When Hennig hooked a sleeper, Jarrett countered with a jawbreaker.
He then delivered a DDT to Hennig but couldn’t capitalize.
As he clotheslined Hennig, Jarrett catapulted him into the top turnbuckle.
He then applied a figure-four leg lock while Savage came to ringside.
While Elizabeth distracted referee Randy Anderson, Savage slid the title belt to Hennig. How dastardly!
Hennig then CLOCKED Jarrett with the belt and discarded it immediately.
After Hennig secured a Hennigplex, he pinned Jarrett.
Hennig retained.

Summary: Finish made sense as the new champion should retain the title in his next televised match.

Afterward, the nWo hits the ring, and Syxx applies the Buzzkiller to Jarrett. Hogan then pounds on Jarrett until Giant arrives. As Giant enters the ring, the nWo hightails it. WE’RE OUTTA TIME!

Conclusion: The theme of the night was upsets. With four of them on the show, it gave Nitro of feeling of uncertainty and surprise. In addition, Goldberg’s debut match makes this episode historical so check it out! What’s on RAW is WAR?