WCW Monday Nitro 11-10-97

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

Is there a new addition to WCW? Can Eddie regain the Cruiserweight title? Why is Flair facing Luger? Let’s find out!

To open the show, Hogan and Bischoff emerge through the entrance waving Canadian flags. The entire nWo comes to the ring, and Bischoff has two surprises for us. To start, he re-introduces Kevin Nash. Syxx wheels him to the ring, yet Nash leaps to his feet to celebrate with his homies. After mimicking Lou Gehrig, Nash cuts a promo on Giant.

Suddenly, a LOUD “We Want Sting” chant emanates from the Memphis faithful while Nash challenges Giant for a match at the PPV. Next, Bischoff introduces the newest member of the nWo including the post-PPV fight with Vince McMahon—Bret “Hitman” Hart. Hogan jokes that Bret “passed the initiation.” Since Bret’s contract doesn’t expire until 12/1, he doesn’t appear. However, Bischoff distributes lyrics while the nWo butchers “O Canada.”

Prior to the opening match, we revisit last week’s episode when Luger and Flair went face-to-face.

At the entrance, “Mean” Gene Okerlund shills the hotline with plenty of Montreal rumors.

Match 1: Harlem Heat (w/ Jacqueline) versus Lord Steven Regal & “Squire” Dave Taylor

Booker T backdropped Regal and landed a superkick.
When Taylor came in, Booker T hip-tossed him.
Tags were exchanged on both sides while Taylor gave Stevie Ray a cross corner whip.
On the other hand, he ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
Stevie Ray then clotheslined him and tagged in Booker T.
As Regal tagged in, Booker T ran over both Brits like a locomotive.

Hot tag Stevie Ray.
After a sidewalk slam by Stevie Ray, Booker T mounted the top turnbuckle but missed a knee drop. Methinks Taylor missed his cue.
Stevie Ray then attempted to slam Regal, but Taylor clipped him.
When Taylor hooked a double underhook suplex, he pinned Stevie Ray.
UPSET CITY!

Summary: Zero chemistry between these teams, and the match along with the finish felt rushed.

Jericho clotheslined Disco, gave him a cross corner whip, but came up empty on his follow-through.
As Jericho attempted a sunset flip, the Flock made their trek to their ringside seats.
Disco then mounted the second turnbuckle while Zybszko asked an intriguing question: How does the Flock get great seats to Nitro each and every week?

When Disco came up empty on a flying knee drop attempt, Jericho landed a jumping side kick.
He then hooked a double underhook backbreaker followed by a LionTamer.
As a result, Disco submitted; thus, Jericho won.

After the match, Kidman tossed his beverage at Disco. Subsequently, Disco yanks him out of the front row and applies the Chartbuster. Sick Boy then CREAMS Disco, and Saturn threatens to end Disco’s career. Suddenly, Scotty Riggs comes to Disco’s defense and stares down Raven. Riggs backs away from him instead of fighting. I smell something cult-like.

On WCW Saturday Night, we have a battle of Brits as Regal faces “Gentleman” Chris Adams. Also, Public Enemy squares off against the Faces of Fear. Get all this!

For those wondering why Hart was managing Barbarian here (and I know some of you are), Hart made his bones in the Memphis territory and wanted to translate his heat to Barbarian.
Barbarian reversed an Irish whip, but Glacier unleashed a series of kicks to take him down.
When Glacier reversed an Irish whip, he leap-frogged Barbarian.
To a HUGE round of applause, Hart came to ringside.

Barbarian then tossed Glacier to the floor while Hart absorbed all of the “Jim-my” chants.
As Barbarian joined him on the floor, he rammed Glacier face-first into the steps.
With Glacier on the apron, Barbarian brought him in the hard way for 2.
He then delivered an inverted atomic drop, but Glacier blocked a belly-to-belly suplex.
After Glacier hit his own belly-to-belly suplex, Hart got up on the apron.
Glacier then superkicked Hart down to the floor much to the dismay of the Memphis faithful. Needless to say, but Hart was OUT COLD.
When Barbarian clotheslined him, Glacier provided us with a 360° sell. Woohoo!
Barbarian then mounted the second turnbuckle but ate a Cryonic kick on the way down.
1-2-3.
Glacier won.

Summary: Interesting dynamic as bringing Hart out for Barbarian caused the Memphis faithful to boo Glacier. Decent finish to a rather mediocre match.

After the match, Meng enters the ring and applies the Tongan death grip to Glacier.

After a commercial break, Raven enters the ring and grabs the microphone. Upon sitting in the corner, Raven apologizes to Riggs and tells the fans to “blame yourselves.” If you can believe it, Van Hammer stands next to Raven looking like he’s on fifteen different varieties of Quaaludes.

Match 4: “Das Wunderkind” Alex Wright (w/ Debra) versus Yuji Nagata (w/ Sonny Onoo)

While the Memphis faithful questioned Wright’s bedroom habits, their nemesis ate an abisegeri from Nagata.
Wright then sought refuge outside the ring, challenged Nagata to join him, and clotheslined Nagata.
As he rammed Nagata back-first into the apron, Wright slowly mounted the top turnbuckle.
Nagata crotched, joined, and superplexed Wright.
With Wright in the corner, Nagata charged but ate boot.
Wright then catapulted Nagata face-first into the top turnbuckle.
When he mounted the top turnbuckle, Wright hit a flying stomp.
Nagata rebounded with an Exploder suplex, gave Wright a cross corner whip, but came up empty on his follow-through.
After Wright delivered a belly-to-back suplex, he got 2.
Meanwhile, Onoo supplied Debra with a handful of cash and planted a kiss on her.
Debra then slapped the taste from Onoo’s mouth while Wright got distracted.

As Nagata took him down, he applied a Nagata-lock to Wright.
Due to Wright’s submission, Nagata won.

Summary: Nagata must be hanging out in Glacier’s freezer, ‘cuz he’s got NO heat. Great workrate from these guys though.

To begin the second hour, Bischoff and Hogan head to the ring, and Bischoff is PISSED about Sting’s movie The Real Reason (Men Commit Crimes). Hogan then refers to Sting as a “Hollywood wannabe,” crumples up the movie poster, and challenges Sting for TONIGHT. Will it happen?

Match 5 for the WCW World TV title: Saturn (champion) versus the “Crippler” Chris Benoit

Saturn jumped Benoit before the bell and clotheslined him.
When he delivered a pumphandle suplex, Saturn attempted an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
On the contrary, Benoit unleashed some vicious chops much to the delight of the Memphis faithful.
He then hit a belly-to-back suplex and avoided a charging Saturn in the corner.
As Benoit attempted a roll-up, Saturn sat down to block it, grabbed the bottom rope, and pinned him.
Saturn won.

Summary: More time! I want these guys to have more time to showcase how great a match between them really could be.

After the match, Kidman charges in only to get chopped down by Benoit. Sick Boy suffers the same fate, and Benoit suplexes Kidman over the top rope to the floor. That did NOT look safe. Next, he launches Sick Boy over the top rope to the floor. In the process, Sick Boy tastes the steel railing. It must taste like the Madison Avenue burger at Huey’s. He then hooks the Crippler Crossface on Saturn until Hammer gets up on the apron. Suddenly, Fit Finlay hits the ring and clotheslines the bejeezus out of Benoit. He then tombstones Benoit, and the Flock ambushes the downed Benoit.

Nitro Girls dance in the ring with top hats while Schiavone shills the Nitro Party contest.

At the entrance, Okerlund interviews Flair who uncorks a “Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeean Wooooooooooo Gene.” He’s ready for Hennig, the nWo, and the PPV.

Match 6 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Rey Mysterio, Jr. (champion) versus Eddie Guerrero

Eddie dropkicked Mysterio before the bell and delivered a pumphandle backbreaker.
As he hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, Eddie got 2.
He then gave Mysterio a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
When Mysterio monkey-flipped him, Eddie landed on his feet.
Mysterio then delivered a flying headscissors, leap-frogged Eddie, and hit a second monkey flip.
After Mysterio dropkicked him, Eddie sought refuge outside the ring.
Mysterio then flipped over the top rope and delivered another flying headscissors on the floor.
Back in the ring, Mysterio mounted the top turnbuckle, but Eddie caught and joined him.
Eddie then hit a top rope superplex for another 2.
As Mysterio reversed an Irish whip, he backdropped Eddie.
He then delivered a West Coast Pop but only got 2.
When he slammed Eddie, Mysterio followed with an Asai moonsault for another 2.
He then slammed Eddie again but ate knees on a springboard splash attempt.
After Eddie hit a seated dropkick, he flapjacked Mysterio.
Mysterio then leaped to the top rope and delivered a springboard DDT.
GET OUT THE SPATULA!
As Mysterio attempted another West Coast Pop, Eddie countered with a stungun.
Eddie then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a frog splash.
1-2-3.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Summary: Nowhere near as good as their match at the PPV, but these guys shine no matter how few minutes you give them.

After the match, Dean Malenko comes to the ring and stands face-to-face with Eddie. I guess Malenko wants a shot at the Cruiserweight title.

Brandon Lowry from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga won a Nitro Party pack, and a video of his party is shown.

Traylor caught up with Savage on the floor and made him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Rambo at Bar Dog.
When he made Savage HIT THE POLE, Traylor rammed him into the steps.
Back in the ring, Traylor delivered an enziguri that returned Savage to the floor.
He then LAMBASTED Savage with a chair shot to the head, but referee Billy Silverman didn’t disqualify him.
As he hit a big boot to the midsection, Traylor hit a bear hug slam for 2.
He then gave Savage a cross corner whip and followed with an avalanche.
After he provided Savage with a running guillotine, Traylor supplied him with a sliding uppercut.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle, but Elizabeth crotched him. How dastardly!
When Savage slammed him, he mounted the top turnbuckle.
He then delivered the big elbow and pinned Traylor.
As a result, Savage won.

Summary: Formulaic Savage match where he takes a shit-kicking until the tide is turned.

After the match, Savage mounts the top turnbuckle again and hits another big elbow. He then did it a third time and BELTS Silverman for trying to stop him. To add insult to injury, Elizabeth spray-paints Traylor while Savage delivers big elbow #4. Schiavone then states that Silverman reverses the decision, and Traylor wins by DQ.

Match 8 for the WCW US title: Curt Hennig (champion) versus Diamond Dallas Page

Hennig hip-tossed DDP who retaliated with his own hip toss and slam.
As he delivered a swinging neckbreaker, DDP attempted the Diamond Cutter.
On the other hand, Hennig immediately exited the ring and grabbed his belt to leave.
DDP then caught up to him in the aisle and rammed him face-first into the apron.
When Hennig used leverage to send DDP face-first into the second turnbuckle, the Memphis faithful LOUDLY chanted “D-D-P.”
Hennig then worked on DDP’s injured ribs and pulled off the protective tape.
After he applied a rope-assisted abdominal stretch, referee Mickey Jay stopped Hennig’s shenanigans by breaking the hold.
DDP rebounded by pounding and pancaking Hennig.
As Hennig hit a jawbreaker, he grabbed the belt and WHACKED DDP in the ribs with it.
Mickey Jay then called for the bell disqualifying Hennig.
Thus, DDP won.

Summary: Memphis was ready for a fight between these two, but Hennig’s inner heel cost him the W.

Match 9: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair versus the “Total Package” Lex Luger

Luger gorilla-press-slammed Flair and clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor.
When Flair gave him a cross corner whip, Luger exploded from the corner with another clothesline.
Flair then chop-blocked him, worked on Luger’s knee, and hooked a figure-four leg lock.
Will Luger submit?
No, he reversed it while both wrestlers grabbed the bottom rope.
As Flair confronted referee Randy Anderson, he tried to suplex Luger from the ring to the floor.
Instead, Luger reversed it and suplexed Flair back into the ring.
Luger then reversed an Irish whip and provided Flair with gorilla press slam #2.
After Luger gave Flair a cross corner whip, a Flair flip ensued.
Flair then mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but got caught.
When Luger placed him atop the top turnbuckle, he delivered a superplex. Wow!
He then powerslammed Flair and signaled for the Torture Rack.
Suddenly, Hennig hit the ring, but Luger sent him packing.
Nonetheless, Anderson called for the bell to throw the match out.

Summary: The match had glimpses of former encounters, but did you really expect a clean finish?

After the match, Luger presses Flair overhead and tosses him at an incoming Hennig. Flair and Hennig then brawl, and Flair makes Hennig taste the steel railing. It must taste like the Lowrider at the Slider Inn.

Following a commercial break, Hogan and Bischoff reemerge through the entrance and head to the ring. Hogan then calls Sting a “coward” yet still wants to face him. While the Memphis faithful chant “We Want Sting,” their hero repels from the ceiling and meets Hogan in the ring. Before anything transpires, Savage enters the ring to distract Sting. Hogan then nails Sting from behind. The nWo then pummels Sting, and Hogan leg-drops him to end the show.

Conclusion: Although merely an afterthought, Eddie became the new Cruiserweight champion. That trumped any and all wrestling on RAW is WAR. Next, as expected, Bischoff announced Bret as the newest addition to the WCW roster albeit through creative means. WCW is rolling, and any opposition is swirling in the toilet at this point in wrestling history.