WCW Monday Nitro 04-07-97

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

Will the nWo splinter tonight? What will be the aftermath from last night’s main event? Read on!

As the program begins, we revisit the ending to Spring Stampede when Savage grabbed Kimberly followed by tension between Savage and Bischoff.

Match 1: Hugh Morrus & Konnan versus “Das Wunderkind” Alex Wright & Psicosis

After Wright back-flipped from the top turnbuckle, he hip-tossed Morrus.

He then hit a spinning heel kick for a 1-count.
As Psicosis tagged in, he mounted the top turnbuckle and lowered the boom on Morrus.
Konnan tagged in and delivered a somersault clothesline to Psicosis.
While Wright distracted referee Mickey Jay, Psicosis gave Konnan a superkick.
Konnan then reversed a cross corner whip but fell victim to a flying headscissors.
Psicosis mounted the top turnbuckle, he delivered a spinning heel kick to Konnan.
He then dropkicked Morrus to the floor, mounted the top turnbuckle, and hit a corkscrew moonsault on him. Wow!
With Psicosis on the apron, Konnan dropkicked him.
Morrus tagged in and clotheslined Psicosis.
Meanwhile, in split-screen, DDP arrived at the arena earlier today sporting a black eye.
Konnan then delivered a powerbomb for 2.
After Morrus tagged in, he gave Psicosis a powerslam.
He then mounted the second turnbuckle but missed an elbow drop.
Wright tagged in, he mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a missile dropkick.
He then gave Konnan a flying back elbow.
Upon mounting the top turnbuckle again, he hit a cross body block for a 1-count.
Morrus came back with a swinging neckbreaker, mounted the top turnbuckle, and delivered the No Laughing Matter.

1-2-3.
Konnan and Morrus won.

Summary: Showcase match for Konnan and Morrus with some great high-flying from their opponents.

After the match, Konnan delivers the 187 to Psicosis and demands that Mickey Jay count his pin too.

Upon giving Mysterio a flapjack, Regal tossed him outside the ring.
He then joined and guillotined him using the steel railing.
From the parking lot, Hogan and Bischoff arrived at the arena. He’s hoping for unity but will punish for mutiny. DiBiase and Vincent were the only nWo members with them.

Regal then attempted a gutwrench suplex, but Mysterio countered with an arm drag.
Following a dropkick, Mysterio hit a springboard dropkick.
He then reversed a reversal of a cross corner whip sending Regal over the top turnbuckle to the floor.
When Regal mounted the top turnbuckle, Mysterio joined and gave him a flying headscissors for 2.
He then hit the West Coast Pop but couldn’t secure the legs. That got 2.
Upon giving Mysterio an inverted suplex, Regal hooked the Regal Stretch.
Mysterio then grabbed the bottom rope to cause a break.
When Regal wouldn’t release it, referee Randy Anderson disqualified him.

Summary: Short big man-small man match that furthered the heel characterization of Regal.

After the match, Iaukea hits the ring and dropkicks Regal to a raucous ovation. That’s a switch! As Iaukea misses a second dropkick, Regal hooks him in a Regal stretch injuring the World TV champion. Officials come to the ring to remove Regal.

After a commercial break, we revisit stills of the macing of Scott Steiner followed by the Nash squash of Rick Steiner.

Match 3: The “Crippler” Chris Benoit (w/ Woman) versus Ice Train (w/ Teddy Long)

After a leap frog, Ice Train gave Benoit a military-press slam.
He then clotheslined Benoit, delivered a cross corner whip, but ate boot on his follow-through.
Next, Ice Train gave Benoit a running body block as the nWo held a meeting in split-screen.
As Savage and Bischoff had a tense discussion, Ice Train gave Benoit a cross corner whip followed by an avalanche.
Both Woman and Long got up on the apron allowing Benoit to send Ice Train into Long.
After Benoit hit a DDT, he pinned Ice Train.

Summary: Showcase match for Benoit. The DDT finish must have been a tribute to fellow Horseman Arn Anderson.

After a commercial break, a video of the premiere of Double Team airs. The less said the better, but I will note that Rodman wore golden glitter.

Match 4: Kevin Sullivan (w/ Jacqueline and Jimmy Hart) versus Hector Guerrero

Sullivan gave Hector a flapjack and chopped him coming off the ropes. Pass the syrup!

When Hector sought refuge outside the ring, Jacqueline suplexed him on the floor. How dastardly!
Back in the ring, Hector reversed a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Sullivan then tossed him outside the ring so that Jacqueline could slam him on the floor.
As Hector returned to the ring, Sullivan tied him to the Tree of Woe and put a knee into his midsection.
He then hit the double stomp.
1-2-3.
Sullivan won.

After a commercial break, the nWo hits the ring in two separate groups minus Nick Patrick. Hogan then confronts Nash regarding the movie premiere last week. When Nash rebuts, he states that he has no problem with Rodman. Next, he apologizes for being “grouchy” last week. Hogan then questions Hall’s whereabouts so Nash confirms that Hall’s “nWo 4 life.”

Hogan either wants Nash to stick together or get it on. After Hogan removes his jewelry, Nash says he’s “nWo 4 life.” When the Huntsville faithful chants “We Want Sting,” Hogan rebuffs them and asks Savage to “bury the hatchet” with Bischoff. As Savage conveys that Bischoff is on probation with Ted Turner, they’re on probation with one another. Isn’t harmony great?

In the ring, “Mean” Gene Okerlund interviews “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. After Flair requests his presence, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper comes to the ring. Sensing dissension in the nWo, Flair and Piper are ready to “strike” them. As they mention his name, Carolina Panthers linebacker Kevin Greene appears. We have a six-man WCW team ready for the nWo.

Prior to the next match, we revisit last week’s show when Jericho beat Regal but got decimated afterward.

Match 5 for the WCW US title: Dean Malenko (champion) versus “Lionheart” Chris Jericho

According to Schiavone, Slamboree will take place on 5/18 LIVE on PPV.
Malenko used a cartwheel to avoid Jericho but ate an enziguri shortly after.
After a spinning heel kick, Jericho hit a springboard shoulder block to Malenko on the apron.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a missile dropkick.
As Malenko reversed a cross corner whip, Jericho hooked a backslide for 2.
Malenko came back with a powerbomb, hooked the Texas Cloverleaf, but Jericho made the ropes.
When Jericho reversed a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
Malenko then mounted the top turnbuckle, but Jericho caught and superplexed him.
Next, a double shoulder block put both wrestlers down on the mat.
With Jericho on the apron, Malenko made him HIT THE POLE legitimately BUSTING Jericho’s nose.
To pat himself on the back, Malenko punted Jericho in the face.
1-2-3.
Malenko won.

Prior to the next match, we revisit the previous encounter between Public Enemy and High Voltage.

As High Voltage made their entrance, Schiavone noted that next week’s Nitro emanates from Philadelphia. Hmmm…isn’t there a PPV from another wrestling company there over the weekend?

Public Enemy reversed cross corner whips sending High Voltage into one another.
Next, they gave Rage a double back drop and Kaos a double suplex.
Rocco then tried to come off the ropes, but Rage low-bridged him.
Upon leaping from the apron, he gave Rocco a double axe handle.
Rage tagged in and hit a shoulder block for 2.
When Kaos tagged in, Rocco gave him a swinging neckbreaker.
Public Enemy then gave Kaos a double back drop while the Huntsville faithful again requested the presence of Sting.
As they clotheslined Rage over the top rope to the floor, Rocco put Kaos on the table.
Grunge then mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, and went through it because Kaos evaded him.
In the ring, Rage gave Rocco a Northern Lights suplex.
1-2-3.
High Voltage won.

After the match, Okerlund interviews Public Enemy who challenges High Voltage to a Philadelphia street fight next week on Nitro. They “might” have to get “extreme.”

Backstage, the injured Iaukea gets taped up in preparation for his upcoming title defense. I don’t like his odds.

Match 7: Jeff Jarrett & Steve “Mongo” McMichael (w/ Debra) versus Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri)

As the Horsemen made their entrance, Mongo was nowhere to be found.
Jarrett attempted a cross body block, but Stevie Ray caught and slammed him.
While Debra complained to the camera, we missed Jarrett’s dropkicks sending Harlem Heat scurrying.
Sherri got up on the apron to distract referee Mickey Jay. In the meantime, Booker T gave Jarrett a Harlem sidekick.
After Stevie Ray delivered a clothesline, he gave Jarrett a leg drop for 2.
Booker T tagged in, nailed Jarrett with a forearm, and got 2.
Upon slamming Jarrett, Booker T delivered a scissors kick.
Stevie Ray tagged in and gave Jarrett a bicycle kick for another 2.
When Booker T tagged in, Jarrett hooked an inside cradle for 2.
Booker T then gave Jarrett a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
As Jarrett hooked a sunset flip, he only got 2 thanks to a save by Stevie Ray.
Stevie Ray tagged in, and Harlem Heat delivered a delayed double vertical suplex to Jarrett for 2.
After Jarrett reversed an Irish whip, he missed a dropkick.
Stevie Ray then distracted Jay so that Booker T could guillotine Jarrett using the top rope.
Also, Sherri clawed and scratched Jarrett behind Jay’s back. SNEAKY!
Booker T tagged in, but Jarrett hooked a backslide for 2.
When Booker T attempted another Harlem sidekick, Jarrett evaded him. That caused Booker T to crotch himself on the top rope. OUCH!
Stevie Ray tagged in and gave Jarrett a vertical suplex.
Finally, Mongo appeared at the entrance.
Booker T then mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but came up empty.
Upon coming to the ring, Mongo received the hot tag.
He then cleaned house and tagged Jarrett back in.

As Mongo physically encouraged Jarrett to wrestle, Booker T delivered another Harlem sidekick.
1-2-3.
Harlem Heat won.

In the ring, Okerlund interviews the disgruntled Horsemen. When Jarrett questions Mongo’s whereabouts, Mongo avoids the question by cutting an egocentric promo.

Lee Marshall then delivers the 1-800-COLLECT road report from “Philadelphia, PA.” Methinks Lee’s idea of “extreme” is mortadella instead of turkey on rye.

Match 8 for the WCW World TV title: Prince Iaukea (champion) versus Ultimo Dragon (w/ Sonny Onoo)

Can the injured rookie retain his title?
When Dragon attempted a slam, Iaukea hooked an inside cradle for 2.
He then hooked a backslide for another 2.
As Dragon came back with a clothesline, he followed with a series of kicks.
He then slammed Iaukea, mounted the top turnbuckle, but ate foot on the way down.
Upon kicking Iaukea repeatedly in the midsection, Dragon pinned Iaukea.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

We then revisit stills of the Harlem Heat versus Luger versus Giant match from last night.

Giant came to the ring to Luger’s entrance music.
As Scott made his entrance, Konnan ran out and ambushed him.
Morrus joined in the attack, but Giant rescued Scott from being double-teamed.
No match.

Afterward, Morrus WALLOPS Giant with a steel chair in the back, but Giant no-sells it. Scott then makes Konnan taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Wegulator at the West End Grill. Giant and Scott then shoo Konnan and Morrus backstage to a chorus of boos.

We then revisit stills from the one-on-one squash for the tag titles from last night.

After a commercial break, DDP comes to the ring while wearing an ice pack on his shoulder. Upon touting Savage, he notes that even two years ago no one thought DDP would become a main event talent. True. He then calls himself an anomaly. When he found out last night that Savage strong-armed Kimberly, he says he “would have killed (him).” Next, he challenges Savage to a match RIGHT NOW.

Savage walks out on crutches by himself until Hogan catches up to him. With the nWo behind them, Hogan wants to confront DDP on Savage’s behalf. Sting then rappels from the ceiling and lands in the aisle. As he points his bat at Hogan, he tosses it to DDP. But he has another one! Sting then enters the ring standing side-by-side with DDP. It’s a stand-off on Nitro, but WE’RE OUTTA TIME!

Conclusion: First, let’s discuss the elephant in the room. Why didn’t the nWo break up? Well, look at their catchphrase—for life. It would be meaningless if they broke up less than a year after uniting. The stare-down between Nash and Hogan lays a foundation for a future storyline, and an immediate return on investment would be unwise.

Second, the end of the show solidifies DDP as a main event player. With his standing next to Sting along with his main event victory at the PPV, DDP has been MADE. The only question remains—when will he get a rematch with an apparently quite injured Savage?

Third and finally, the Kevin Greene appearance, the Horsemen dysfunction, and the title change make this show worthwhile. What’s on RAW is WAR?