Monday Night War week 55

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

Prior to the first match, we revisit the ending to last week’s show when Savage was yelling at a distraught Elizabeth.

We then revisit the previous WCW Saturday Night when Harlem Heat regained the World tag team titles from Public Enemy. If you want to relive it, the link to the match is in last week’s reflection.

Match 1: WCW World tag team champions Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri & Col. Parker) versus Public Enemy

At the onset, Grunge countered a leap frog by Booker T with a right hand.
Rock tagged in as Public Enemy delivered a drop toehold/elbow drop combo on Booker T.
Stevie Ray tagged in and put the boots to Rock. In the meantime, Sherri poured on the badmouthing.
Rock then confronted Sherri outside the ring, but Booker T nailed him.
During a commercial break, the “Macho Man” t-shirt and bandana were shilled for only $24.95.
Afterward, Elizabeth knocked on Savage’s dressing room, but Savage wasn’t inside.
In the ring, Stevie Ray gave Rock a sidewalk slam.
Booker T tagged in and gave Rock a Harlem sidekick for 1.
After Booker T tossed Rock outside the ring, Stevie Ray held him so Sherri could nail him. That’ll learn ‘im!
Stevie Ray then made Rock taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Blue Ribbon at the Green Truck Pub.
False tag occurred as Stevie Ray distracted referee Nick Patrick.
Meanwhile, the nWo showed up in the arena to a big ovation.
Hall got on the microphone and called out Harlem Heat. He then made the Friday the 13th sound effect.
In the ring, Booker T gave Rock a cross-corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
After a clothesline, Booker T mounted the second turnbuckle but missed a forearm smash.
Hot tag Grunge.
Grunge tried a double noggin knocker, but Harlem Heat blocked it. Immediately, Rock came in and gave them a double bulldog.
After Grunge slammed Booker T, Rock mounted the top turnbuckle.
Sherri then got up on the apron to distract Patrick. Simultaneously, Parker shook the top rope making Rock lose his balance and fall through the table they set up by their corner.
Stevie Ray then clipped Grunge’s injured knee.
After Parker handed Stevie Ray a chair, Stevie Ray demolished Grunge’s knee with it.
Stevie Ray then gave Grunge a sidewalk slam as Booker T mounted the top turnbuckle.
He then delivered a knee drop to the chair-covered knee of Grunge.
1-2-3.
Harlem Heat won.

Summary: Suspension of disbelief is a huge characteristic of any wrestling fan. With that being said, when something is so blatantly obvious, it’s hard to maintain that suspension. I understand Patrick’s penchant for allowing heels to cheat, but this went well beyond that.

On the previous WCW Saturday Night, Nick Patrick fined Savage $1 million. He also wanted Savage suspended then subtly pointed fingers at the MIA “Mean” Gene Okerlund.

Powers sure got a lot of exposure on Nitro. Chicks dug his ability to “juice” the ratings.
Nick Patrick was the referee for this match and still sported the neck brace.
DDP hooked a full nelson, but Powers escaped.
In a pre-recorded interview in split-screen, DDP cut a promo on Eddie Guerrero.
In the ring, DDP gave Powers a cross-corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Powers immediately rolled him up and got 2.
A second rollup got another 2.
A subsequent cross body block by Powers got yet another 2.
On the other hand, within a split-second, DDP hit the Diamond Cutter.
1-2-3.

At the entrance, Tenay interviews Savage who actually shows up this week. Accompanying him is Jason Keller who drives the Slim Jim vehicle in NASCAR. Savage asks Keller how the nWo car fared in Charlotte over the weekend. Keller said it “hit the wall” while Keller finished tenth. He vows to do even better in Rockingham. Savage then proclaims that he will make Hogan “crash and burn” at Halloween Havoc. Suddenly, Elizabeth confronts Savage, but he walks away from her.

According to Tony, Jarrett will make his WCW debut in the second hour.
After Meng gave Kaos a cross-corner whip, he ate boot on his follow-through.
Next, Kaos attempted a clothesline, but it didn’t faze Meng.
A second one still didn’t faze him.
Rage tagged in as High Voltage delivered a double dropkick to Meng.
Meanwhile, Benoit, Mongo, and Debra observed the match from the entrance.
Shortly after, Meng gave Rage an inverted atomic drop.
Barbarian tagged in and ran over Rage with a clothesline.
Pumphandle slam by Barbarian got 2 as Barbarian picked him up.
Upon ramming Rage’s back in the corner, Barbarian tagged Meng in.
Meng then gave Rage a sit-out powerbomb.
After Barbarian tagged in, he gave Rage a regular powerbomb but only got 2 thanks to a save by Kaos.
As Kaos distracted referee Mark Curtis, Meng gave Rage a catapult into a Mafia kick by Barbarian.
1-2-3.

On WCW Saturday Night, Eddie Guerrero faces Disco Inferno while Rough & Ready wrestle against Harlem Heat.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Go Wenner!
While Glacier made his entrance, I made plans for my summer vacation which included purchasing travel arrangements, clothing, sunscreen, among other things. Otherwise, I’d be bored to tears. ECW’s Sandman had a better entrance. Sheesh!
Once again, the match took place under blue lights.
Upon giving Wenner a boot to the midsection, Glacier took him down with a leg sweep.
After a jumping back kick, Glacier pancaked Wenner.
Another kick by Glacier sent Wenner over the top rope to the floor.
Glacier then hit Wenner with a plancha. Wow!
After tossing Wenner back in, Glacier hit the Cryonic kick and got the pin.

Summary: Wrestling-wise, Glacier needs some improvement although the plancha was a good move for him.

After Jarrett gave Morrus a drop toehold, he got cocky and ate a clothesline from Morrus.
A subsequent back elbow by Morrus was followed by a cross-corner whip and avalanche.
Jarrett then missed an enziguri but gave Morrus an inverted atomic drop and clothesline.
Next, he gave Morrus a running guillotine followed by a swinging neckbreaker for 2.
He then delivered a dropkick for another 2.
Morrus came back with a powerslam and mounted the top turnbuckle.
After taking his time, Morrus missed a flying leg drop.
Jarrett then hooked the figure-four leg lock and got the submission.

Summary: Even with the video wall installed, the Savannah faithful didn’t respond well to Jarrett’s debut. On another note, since Flair is the master of the figure-four, I’m curious as to why WCW would allow Jarrett to use the hold as well.

After the match, Tony interviews Jarrett by the entrance. In response to being a member of the nWo, Jarrett tells Hogan to “stick it.” The pro-nWo crowd boos him.

Tenay disparaged Arn by bringing up Renegade’s upset victory at GAB ’95. Shame on him!
After a leap frog by Renegade, Arn tried a piledriver but received a back drop instead.
Renegade then slammed him causing Arn to exit the ring to regroup.
After Arn delivered a knee drop, Renegade tried a sunset flip but ate a knuckle sandwich instead.
While Arn held a reverse chin lock, Heenan subtly teased Tenay about hitting the brothels on the outskirts of Las Vegas, NV. HA!
As the Savannah faithful chanted “DDT,” Arn gave Renegade a slam, but a Vader bomb hit knees. OUCH!
Renegade then gave Arn another back drop followed by a clothesline.
After whipping Arn into the corner, Renegade hit a corner clothesline followed by the ten-punch count-along.
After another cross-corner whip, Renegade delivered a handspring elbow.
Yet another cross-corner whip from Renegade occurred, but Arn nailed him upon a second attempt at a handspring elbow.
He then gave Renegade the DDT and got the pin.

After the match, Arn ties Renegade to the Tree of Woe with assistance from Woman and puts the boots to him until Luger chases him away.

Match 7: The “Total Package” Lex Luger versus “Squire” David Taylor (w/ Jeeves)

Before the match, Taylor destroyed Jeeves in the aisle.
In the meantime, Bischoff scoffed at the $1 million fine levied by Patrick. After all, he’s the boss.
Earlier tonight, Luger cut a promo on Regal and Arn.
Taylor attempted a hip toss, but Luger countered with a backslide for 2.
He then reversed a cross-corner whip and gave Taylor a corner clothesline.
Following that, he hit Taylor with a flying forearm.
After a cross-corner whip, Luger ate boot on his follow-through.
Taylor then mounted the second turnbuckle but missed an elbow drop.
Luger then hooked the Torture Rack and got the submission.

After the match, Arn attacks Luger with a steel chair in the aisle until referee Randy Anderson forcibly removes the chair from him.

Match 8: The “Crippler” Chris Benoit (w/ Mongo & Debra) versus Rick Steiner (w/ Scott Steiner)

According to Bischoff, Scott had two bulging discs in his back. Yikes!
Let’s hope this match is better than last week’s mess.
As you’d expect, when Benoit attempted a leap frog, Rick countered with a powerslam.
While Rick gave Benoit a belly-to-belly suplex netting a 2 count, Bischoff mentioned that Rick will team with the Great Muta in Japan. That sounds awesome!
After Benoit missed a clothesline, Rick gave him a release German suplex for only 2 as Benoit put his foot on the bottom rope.
Following a commercial break, Benoit delivered a back elbow for 2.
Meanwhile, Scott grabbed referee Nick Patrick by the head aggravating Patrick’s neck “injury.”
Upon delivering a snap suplex, Benoit got another 2.
Benoit then gave Rick a cross-corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
In the meantime, the nWo (as evidenced on the license plate) limousine pulled in backstage. Hogan and Giant emerged as Hogan told Giant he had “business to take care of.”
Back in the ring, Benoit slammed Rick, gave him an elbow drop, and got 2.
After another slam Benoit gave Rick a belly-to-back suplex and got another 2.
According to Bischoff, the nWo will NOT take over the broadcast table tonight.
Rick came back with a flying Steinerline in between Benoit reverse chin locks.
After yet another slam that knocked Rick’s head gear off, Benoit mounted the top turnbuckle and hit the diving head butt for only 2.
Again Benoit mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but got caught and received an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Wow!
Rick then gave him the DDT for 2.
After a slam, Rick mounted the top turnbuckle, hit the bulldog, but only got 2.
He then gave Benoit a cross-corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
A double clothesline put both men down on the mat.
While Debra distracted Patrick, Mongo offered Benoit the Haliburton.
However, when Scott confronted Mongo, Rick grabbed the Haliburton and clocked Mongo with it.
Afterward, he clocked Benoit with it while sliding it out of the ring within Patrick’s peripheral vision.
1-2-3.
Rick won.

Summary: In spite of the rest holds to make up for nWo plotlines, these guys performed tremendously better here than during their match last week. I truly feel sorry for the Cleveland faithful since these guys could have given this to them with more time.

Before the next match occurred, Hogan walked with Brian Knobbs of the Nasty Boys backstage. With Sags and DiBiase also involved, Hogan wants the Nasty Boys to watch his back. Whilst they do that, DiBiase has their nWo paperwork ready.

Flair’s entrance music plays, but the nWo beat him up with an aluminum baseball bat while Nash yells “thug life.” As Flair screams in agony, Giant menaces Elizabeth toward the ring. As Savage holds off Giant with a steel chair, Hogan nails him from behind. Giant then tosses referee Randy Anderson down on the concrete floor as Hogan makes Savage taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Texas Hold ‘em Porker sandwich at Wet Willie’s.

When Hogan uses the chair on Savage, Elizabeth pulls him off. As Hogan makes her watch the chicanery, Giant carries Savage to the ring over his shoulder. However, as Giant walks up the steps, he trips and drops Savage on the floor in the process. OUCH! To make up for his gaffe, Giant tosses Savage over the top rope into the ring. Before Giant can chokeslam him, Hogan stops him so he can nail Savage. While Giant holds Elizabeth, Hogan destroys Savage. In the meantime, Hogan tells her “I own you.”

Next, Hogan delivers the leg drop to the back of Savage’s neck twice and grabs the can of spray paint. After a third leg drop, Hogan sprays around Savage like a chalk outline. While Hogan drops a fourth leg, Giant gets pelted with a full beverage. Hogan then drops a fifth leg and sprays nWo rules on the mat.

As Hall and Nash come to the ring, Hogan grabs the microphone. It would seem that by signing the contract, Elizabeth has sold her soul to the nWo but isn’t thrilled about it. Hogan then threatens to take over the broadcast table just as the nWo monster truck comes through the curtain wih Syxx in the passenger seat.

Conclusion: This week, WCW does a good job of not overexposing the nWo. Additionally, the Benoit-Steiner match is a hidden gem not to be missed. What’s on RAW?

Match 1: WWF Intercontinental champion “Wildman” Marc Mero (w/ Sable) versus Diesel (w/ Jim Ross)

Ross came to the ring with Diesel then joined the broadcast table.
After a framed elbow, Diesel gave Mero a cross-corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
However, when he gave Mero another cross-corner whip, he ate boot on his follow-through.
Mero then gave Diesel a dropkick sending Diesel over the top rope to the floor.
Following that, Mero hit a plancha. Wow! Perhaps he’s imitating Glacier. On second thought, scratch that!
Nonetheless, after tossing Diesel back in, Mero delivered a springboard splash for 2.
Diesel then reversed an Irish whip and guillotined Mero using the top rope.
Next, he gave Mero a running guillotine followed by a big boot.
As Ramon cut a promo in split-screen, Diesel gave Mero a sidewalk slam.
After a commercial break, Diesel gave Mero another cross-corner whip, but Mero rolled him up for 2.
Diesel came back with a clothesline and a slam then missed an elbow drop as Ramon came to the ring.
Mero responded with a flying headscissors and a knee lift.
After Mero clotheslined Diesel over the top rope to the floor, Mero gave Ramon a somersault plancha on the other side of the ring.
Peeved, Ramon entered the ring to go after Mero so referee Tim White called for the bell.

After the match, with a distraught Sable on the apron, Diesel gives Mero a jackknife powerbomb.

We then go to the graveyard where Undertaker digs a grave and cuts a promo on Mankind.

Ad for denim shirts featuring the man Shawn Michaels, the myth Undertaker, and the legend Bret Hart for only $49.00. That was the style of the promo, not my musings.

“Nobody beats Mr. Perfect” claims Hennig while mostly old clips of him are shown. How’s that Lloyd’s of London policy going, Curt?

Sunny is on the phone and will rejoin the Gunns should they regain the titles. Also, Ahmed Johnson will be live on LiveWire this Saturday. Hopefully, closed-captioning will be available.

Rollup by Jannetty of Bart got 2.
He then countered a slam with an inside cradle for another 2.
Jannetty then hooked a backslide for yet another 2.
After Billy tagged in, Jannetty reversed a cross-corner whip but ate boot.
Billy then delivered a clothesline.
As Bart chased Jannetty around the ring, Cassidy caught him with a clothesline.
Back in the ring, Jannetty gave Bart a spinning back elbow.
Cassidy tagged in, gave Bart a clothesline, and got 2.
Lawler then mentioned that he will face Roberts next week on RAW.
Afterward, Cassidy gave Bart a belly-to-belly suplex, tagged in Jannetty, and the New Rockers split the uprights on Bart. OUCH!
Jannetty then delivered a fist drop and got 2.
After a whip to the corner, the new Rockers gave Bart a double hip toss.
While Cassidy occupied referee Jack Doan’s attention, Billy put a boot in Jannetty’s back.
Billy then delivered a Bart-assisted flying fist to Jannetty in the corner.
However, Jannetty low-bridged Billy sending him down to the floor.
Cassidy tagged in but fell victim to the Sidewinder for the pin.

Summary: Who exactly is the crowd supposed to cheer or boo? The Smoking Gunns are out of ammunition in my opinion.

Meanwhile, Jim Johnston plays guitar as Jesse James sings “With My Baby Tonight.” As Pettengill once again exposes Jarrett as a fake, James then runs down Jarrett while discussing the IC title match at IYH II. I believe the Jarrett match was simultaneously taking place on Nitro.

On LiveWire this past Saturday, Vince McMahon answered questions as Sunny and Vic Venom looked on. Believe it or not, Paul Heyman called in to wreak havoc.

In the ring, Ross interviews Vader with Jim Cornette. During the promo, we revisit the tag match from last week where Vader pinned Michaels. Ross then mentions that the winner of the Sid-Vader match at IYH XI will face Michaels for the title at Survivor Series. Rightfully, Cornette questions why Vader needs to win a match since he has already pinned Michaels. Regardless, Cornette cuts a promo on Sid.

Ad for the WWF Hall of Fame ceremony on 11/16 and Survivor Series on 11/17 in New York City.

Match 3: The Sultan (w/ Mr. Bob Backlund & the Iron Sheik) versus Aldo Montoya

After a pair of dropkicks, Montoya gave Sultan a sunset flip, but Sultan choked him instead.
A subsequent belly-to-belly suplex was overshadowed by Backlund on commentary wearing sunglasses. Seriously?
While Backlund fought the war on drugs, Sultan slammed Montoya.
HARD cross-corner whip by Sultan hurt Montoya’s back.
After a second one, Sultan gave Montoya a German suplex with a bridge for 1.
He then applied the camel clutch and got the submission.

The Playstation slam of the week shows several Perfectplexes from Mr. Perfect in preparation for Helmsley.

While Goldust made his entrance, Ramon watched the match on a monitor backstage.
At the onset, Goldust gave Sid a clothesline followed by the ten-punch count along.
But when Goldust used his machinations, Sid came back with an inverted atomic drop and a pair of clotheslines.
Sid then attempted the chokeslam, switched to the powerbomb, but Goldust scampered out of the ring to escape.
On the phone was WWF Champion Shawn Michaels.
After Goldust hung Sid out to dry on the top rope, Marlena blew cigar smoke in his mouth. Ew!
Goldust then gave him a face plant as Cornette came to the ring.
As he joined the broadcast table, Goldust hit a powerslam for 2.
After a commercial break, Sid gave Goldust the chokeslam followed by the powerbomb.
1-2-3.
Sid won.

Summary: While Sid advances up the card, Goldust descends down it. This paled in comparison to Nitro’s main event.

After the match, Vader nails Sid from behind and slams him. Next, he mounts the second turnbuckle and delivers a tremendous splash. Unfortunately, Sid no-sells it and gives Vader the chokeslam. Sigh.

Conclusion: Yuck! What an awful show! From the “returns” of former gimmicks portrayed by different wrestlers to “exposing” a former superstar who now works for WCW to awful matches throughout the show, this is NOT worth your time. Avoid at all costs.

Who won? Another solid butt-whooping by Nitro by almost a point and a half here as WCW showed Jarrett’s debut, the nWo, and an excellent Benoit-Steiner match. Hopefully, the Michaels-Austin match improves RAW by leaps and bounds next week.