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WCW Monday Nitro

Live from Memphis, TN

Airdate: October 14, 1996

Attendance: 6,930 (5,650 paid)

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

Opening montage.

Prior to the first match, we revisit last week and the nWo destruction of Savage.

Match 1: Dean Malenko versus Brad Armstrong

Highlights:

Rating: ***1/2

Summary: Great match between these two grapplers. Malenko appears to be ready for Mysterio.

Valvoline sponsors the replay.

Ad for the WCW Monday Nitro denim shirt for only $39.95 shilled by Debra and Mongo. Make mine a large please!

A pair of black limousines arrive and the nWo heads into the arena.

On WCW Saturday Night “two” nights ago, Duggan pinned Wallstreet, but referee Nick Patrick reversed the decision due to the athletic tape.

Match 2: “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan versus M. Wallstreet

Highlights:

Rating: *1/2

Summary: At least the crowd was firmly behind Duggan here. To me, this matchup has become overexposed.

Match 3: Hugh Morrus versus Jim Powers (w/ Teddy Long)

Highlights:

Rating: **

Summary: This match was more storyline with Patrick than anything else.

After the match, Long and Patrick argued vociferously face-to-face.

On WCW Saturday Night, Faces of Fear wrestles Rough’n’Ready. Actually, they wrestled Mike Enos and Bunkhouse Buck. According to Tony, the nWo will have their own segment as well.

Prior to the next match, we revisit last week when Arn destroyed Luger with a steel chair. Attaboy, Arn!

Match 4: The “Total Package” Lex Luger versus Greg “The Hammer” Valentine

Highlights:

Rating: *1/2

Summary: I wasn’t sure an “injured” Luger could beat Valentine in standard fashion. Color me surprised.

At ringside, Tony interviews Nick Patrick and tells him that Savage’s fine will be $500 instead of $1 million. In addition, Savage is also suspended for the first five dates in 1997. Patrick is OUTRAGED by the decision. On nWo Saturday night, Patrick “supposedly” was the referee under the ski mask, but Patrick denies it implicating Randy Anderson in doing so. Good promo.

Hour #2 begins as Enos makes his entrance. Tenay and Heenan are on the microphone, but Bischoff comes out to interview Savage by the entrance. Savage is ready to kick Hogan’s “ass” right here and now. On the other hand, Bischoff brings up Elizabeth, and Savage is resistant. A video on the TV is shown as Elizabeth sits on a swing and divulges her intimate feelings toward him. An emotional Savage is practically brought to tears but can’t say anything. He then tries to walk to the ring but changes his mind since he’s obviously overwhelmed. He then gets into a white limousine and leaves.

Match 5: “Macho Man” Randy Savage versus “Mean” Mike Enos

Highlights:

Rating: NONE

THE FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN PAID FOR BY THE NEW WORLD ORDER:

Buy the shirt! You owe it to Rock Star Gary. Make it XL.

THE PRECEDING ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN PAID FOR BY THE NEW WORLD ORDER.

Match 6: Eddie Guerrero versus the Cheetah Kid

Highlights:

Rating: **

Summary: Showcase match for Guerrero

In the very first On the Road report, “Stagger” Lee Marshall supposedly calls from Minneapolis to promote the WCW event there on 10/18 care of 1-800-COLLECT. I bet he had dinner at Pastamania.

Match 7: Jeff Jarrett versus Big Bubba Rogers (w/ Jimmy Hart)

Highlights:

Rating: **1/2

Summary: The hometown boy got the victory, and the Memphis faithful ate it up with a spoon. Jarrett’s wrestling debut should have been here rather than last week.

After the match, Tony interviews Jarrett by the entrance. Instead of Flair, Jarrett will face the Giant at Halloween Havoc. Jarrett then cuts a promo on the Giant.

Match 8: WCW World tag team champions Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri & Col. Parker) versus Faces of Fear (w/ Jimmy Hart)

Highlights:

Rating: **

Summary: Sports-entertainment finish as WCW confronts the nWo.

Ad for Halloween Havoc live on 10/27 only on PPV. Order now!

After the commercial break, Hogan leads the nWo to the ring including Elizabeth. He then takes the microphone and shills his new movie 3 Ninjas. After Hogan calls Elizabeth “the greatest actress in the world” for her performance in the video, she tries to slap him to no avail. Suddenly, the Nasty Boys come to the ring wearing nWo shirts. Knobbs questions the contract, but Hogan says he didn’t sign it. Therefore, they shouldn’t be wearing nWo colors, so the nWo punks them out. Afterward, Hogan claims that Elizabeth “dreamed about” him. Yikes! Next, the nWo chases off the announcers as the Outsiders “expose” Harlem Heat as “two country bumpkins from Texas.” Finally, the replay of Savage’s reaction to Elizabeth’s video closes the show.

Conclusion: If the Savage interview doesn’t entice you to buy Halloween Havoc, I don’t know what will. Great work, WCW! What’s on RAW?

TV Rating: 3.20

WWF Monday Night RAW

Taped from Hershey, PA

Airdate: October 14, 1996 (taped 9/23)

Attendance: 3,923 (barely breathing)

Hosted by Kevin Kelly and Jim Ross

Austin vows to whip Michael’s “ass.” Woohoo!

Opening montage.

Prior to the first match, we revisit last week when Sid no-sold Vader’s offense and chokeslammed him.

Match 1: Vader (w/ Jim Cornette) versus Phineas Godwinn (w/ Hillbilly Jim)

Highlights:

Rating: DUD

Summary: Showcase match for Vader.

Ad for Survivor Series emanating from MSG on 11/17 preceded by the Hall of Fame on 11/16.

After a commercial break, Ross interviews Mr. Perfect.

The WWF “Big Bang Boom” Tour was advertised:

  1. 10/20 in Indianapolis, IN for IYH XI
  2. 10/21 in Ft. Wayne, IN for RAW
  3. 10/22 in Cincinnati, OH
  4. 10/23 in Evansville, IN
  5. 10/24 in Springfield, IL
  6. 10/25 in Rosemont, IL
  7. 10/26 in St. Louis, MO
  8. 10/27 in Cape Girardeau, MO

Ad for the Michaels, Undertaker, and Bret denim shirts for only $49 each. Take it, BH!

Match 2: Jerry “The King” Lawler versus Jake “The Snake” Roberts

Highlights:

Rating: DUD

Summary: That should put an end to this feud once and for all.

After the match, Roberts grabs the whiskey bottle and pours it on Lawler. Roberts then wraps his snake Revelations all over Lawler.

More on the Double J exposure. Next week, Jesse James’ experience in Desert Storm will be discussed.

Get your copy of the WWF Magazine with Paul Bearer’s betrayal of the Undertaker on the cover.

Match 3: Hunter Hearst Helmsley versus Freddie Joe Floyd

Highlights:

Rating: ½*

Summary: This was more angle than match, but it’s always great to see Helmsley lose.

The Playstation slam of the week was Henry Godwinn giving Davey Boy Smith the Slop Drop on Superstars (aired 10/13, taped 9/24). The kicker was that it was a non-title match between the tag champions and the hog farmers. Yeah, a non-title match will truly draw ratings to now no-longer-syndicated USA show.

Next week on RAW, Mr. Perfect faces Helmsley LIVE. I betcha can’t wait!

Prior to the next match, Mankind and Paul Bearer cut a promo on the Undertaker in the graveyard while it rains. Interestingly, this promo was in color while previous ones were shot in black and white.

Match 4: Faarooq (w/o Sunny) versus the Pug

Highlights:

Rating: DUD

Summary: Showcase match for Faarooq.

On last Saturday’s LiveWire, Ahmed Johnson was pimpin’ it in the studio, and Faarooq called in to trade words with him. On this coming Saturday’s episode, Austin will keep the censors busy.

Meanwhile, Undertaker cuts a promo on Mankind from the graveyard. Yet again, the promo was in color. Did Ted Turner colorize it?

Match 5: WWF champion The “Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels (w/ Jose Lothario) versus Stone Cold Steve Austin

Highlights:

Rating: *

Summary: I have a MAJOR problem with how the WWF handled this match. My gripe, however, is not with the finish. Instead, it’s the timing along with the AWFUL announcing during the match. How can you only show five minutes of a match that could easily go twenty and pop a great rating?

After the match, Vega comes to the ring only to eat a Stone Cold Stunner. Austin and Vader then double-team Michaels until Sid reappears. Immediately, Vader escapes before Sid can touch him. I think he’s injured by this point. In addition, Ramon and Diesel stood in the aisle behind the promotional sign for the PPV.

Nonetheless, Austin whips Michaels into Sid so they go face-to-face. Austin and Vader return, but Michaels nails Austin with a flying forearm then clotheslines him over the top rope to the floor.

Conclusion: Yuck! Ladies and gentlemen, THIS was the go-home show for IYH XI. While they promoted the PPV well, this show had more DUDs than a bomb factory during WWII.

TV Rating: 1.80 (Holy bottom dwellers, Batman!)

Who won? This wasn’t just a victory. This was a SLAUGHTER by WCW over the WWF by a margin of 1.4. RAW needs some serious improvements in order to compete with the nWo vehicle running roughshod over on Nitro.

Stay tuned for WWF In Your House XI: Buried Alive!

Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).

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