WCW Monday Nitro 08-11-97

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

What's going on with Giant? Will Malenko get revenge against Jarrett? Is Sting going to sign a contract this week? What other shenanigans occur? Let's find out!

As the program begins, WCW Security and Denver's finest serve Giant with some papers. Zbyszko believes it could be a summons while Giant storms off angrily.

While the Outsiders and Syxx emerge through the entrance, Nash offers us a Warren Zevon lyric. Unfathomably, Hall wants to "give the people what they want." He then runs down the Steiners, and the Steiners music plays. Do we get a rematch from the PPV right off the bat?

Match 1 for the WCW World tag team titles: The Outsiders (champions w/ Syxx) versus the “Steiners”

Nope, the “Steiners” were portrayed by David Moore and Bobby Starr.
Hall gave Moore a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
As Starr tagged in, Hall hoisted him atop the top turnbuckle and delivered a belly-to-back superplex.
Nash tagged in and jackknife-powerbombed Starr.
1-2-3.
The Outsiders retained.

Summary: Just a showcase match so that the Outsiders can gloat about still being the champs.

After the match, the Steiners jump the steel railing and brawl with the Outsiders. They then send the Outsiders to the floor and rile up the Denver faithful with Ted DiBiase and the belts.

Meng met Wrath in the aisle and made him taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Bombshell at the Highland Tavern.
When they entered the ring, Meng reversed an Irish whip and delivered a thrust kick.
He then clotheslined Wrath over the top rope to the floor.
As Vandenberg distracted Meng, Wrath dragged him to the floor and whipped him into the steel railing.
He then got up on the apron and hit a somersault senton.
After he mounted the top turnbuckle, Meng crotched, joined, and gave him a superplex for 2.
He then gave Wrath a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
When Wrath mounted the second turnbuckle, he hit a flying clothesline for 2.
He then delivered a bicycle kick for another 2.
As Meng hooked the Tongan death grip, he pinned Wrath.

After the match, Mortis storms the ring, and Barbarian follows closely behind. I smell an upcoming tag match. Mortis hits a spinning heel kick to Barbarian, and Faces of Fear exit the ring to corner Vandenberg. Luckily for him, he's wearing black and able to jump the steel railing to safety.

On WCW Saturday Night, "Das Wunderkind" Alex Wright defends the Cruiserweight title one more time against Jericho. Will he succeed? Tune into the "muthaship" for the answer!

At the entrance, "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews the Steners with DiBiase. After DiBiase mentions his name, referee Nick Patrick emerges, provides a believable explanation for the DQ at the PPV, and criticizes fellow referee Randy Anderson.

Jericho dropkicked Eddie twice before gorilla-press-slamming him.
As Eddie reversed a cross corner whip, he ate boot on his follow-through.
Jericho then leap-frogged and guillotined Eddie with the top rope.
After Jericho hit a spinning heel kick, Eddie sought refuge outside the ring.
He then tried to sneak-attack Jericho then pleaded with him when Jericho turned around. HA!
When Jericho reversed a cross corner whip, he followed with a series of cross corner whips and corner clotheslines.
He then attempted the Lionsault but ate knees.
As Eddie charged, Jericho powerslammed him for 2.
He then gave Eddie a release German suplex for another 2.
After he delivered a double underhook powerbomb, Jericho delivered a giant swing.
Eddie then fell out of the ring so Jericho hit a plancha. Sweet!
When Jericho mounted the top turnbuckle, Eddie upset his balance crotching Jericho. OUCH!
He then mounted the adjacent top turnbuckle and SQUISHED Jericho with a frog splash. That sounded VIOLENT!
1-2-3.
Eddie won.

Summary: Great match that would have benefitted from some backstage promos to get the match over. The match went flat with the Denver faithful after the swing.

Nitro Girls dance at the entrance, and Alex Wright joins them. In other words, they leave wanting nothing to do with him. I bet that happens a lot to him at the club.

At the entrance, Okerlund interviews Wright who initially speaks in German. Wright gets a decent heel reaction while touting his "chooserweight" championship status. HA!

Match 4 for the WCW US title: Jeff Jarrett (champion w/ Debra) versus Dean Malenko

While the Denver faithful chanted "Jarrett sucks," Malenko clotheslined Jarrett.
He then gave Jarrett a cross corner whip, but Jarrett floated over.
When Jarrett sought refuge outside the ring, Malenko joined and sent Jarrett into the steel railing.
Back in the ring, he gave Jarrett a pair of spinning heel kicks so Jarrett tried to hightail it.
Before he could reach the entrance, Mongo stood in his path.
After a commercial break, Jarrett used Debra as a decoy and rammed Malenko face-first into the steps.
He then dropkicked Malenko and followed with a belly-to-back suplex.
As Jarrett delivered a vertical suplex, Schiavone and Tenay hype WarGames at Fall Brawl '97 on 9/14.
Jarrett then attempted a running guillotine, but Malenko evaded him.
When Malenko didn't fall for the floatover, he gave Jarrett a double underhook powerbomb. Has Scott Steiner been giving lessons recently?

Never mind.
Nonetheless, Malenko hooked the Texas Cloverleaf, but Eddie hit the ring and nailed him.
With no available recourse, referee Mickey Jay called for the bell disqualifying Jarrett.

Summary: Wouldn't you know, right before Malenko's about to win the title, Eddie screws him over again?

After the match, Jarrett and Eddie double-team Malenko and give him a double-back-drop. Mongo joins the fray and clobbers Jarrett. Once Malenko and Mongo scatter the heels, Malenko attacks him. He then backdrops Mongo and clotheslines him out of the ring. In reference to Malenko, Mongo states "that guy's as tough as a nickel steak."

At the entrance, Okerlund interviews "Nature Boy" Ric Flair and Hennig. Flair questions Hennig about his dealings with Eric Bischoff. While Mongo and Benoit join the group, Flair requests that Hennig join the Horsemen yet again. After Flair asks him to team up against K-Dogg and Syxx at the Clash, Hennig agrees but stops short of becoming a Horsemen. The story continues...

After a commercial break, Eric Bischoff rides a motorcycle while escorting Scott Norton to the ring. Supposedly, Norton is scheduled to face Giant. When Bischoff grabs the microphone, he runs down Luger for losing the World title to Hogan. Suddenly, Hall, Syxx, Bagwell, and Vincent join the party. Bischoff then congratulates Hogan, and the nWo sings "Happy Birthday" to him. Following that, Bischoff informs Giant of a restraining order against him. So it wasn't a parking ticket after all!

If Giant comes within 50 feet of Bischoff, he'll be arrested. Bagwell then exits the ring and spray-paints a line approximately 50 feet from the ring. As Giant emerges, Zbyszko and JJ Dillon try to stop him. Nevertheless, Giant steps across the line and gets sent to jail. Interestingly, the handcuffs don't fit him, but Giant acquiesces. Hall then taunts Zbyszko to close the segment.

Backstage, Harlem Heat and Jacqueline yak it up with Mark Madden for the WCW web site.

Match 5: The Steiners (w/ Ted DiBiase) versus the “Crippler” Chris Benoit & Steve “Mongo” McMichael

Mongo gave Scott a sidewalk slam followed by a cross corner whip.
Unfortunately for Mongo, he ate boot on his follow-through.
Scott then delivered a belly-to-belly suplex for 2.
As tags were exchanged on both sides, Benoit attempted a leap frog, but Rick caught and powerslammed him.
Scott tagged in and gorilla-press-dropped Benoit.
When Scott hooked a modified STF, Benoit came back with a snap suplex.
Tags were exchanged on both sides again while Mongo reversed a cross corner whip and tackled Rick.
After he slammed Rick, Mongo mounted the top turnbuckle.
He then leaped, but Rick caught and delivered an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
Without question, Mongo landed on his head because he was OUT COLD.
1-2-3.
The Steiners won.

Summary: STIFF match, and methinks Mongo didn't take that suplex properly because the Steiners usually don't fuck it up.

In the ring, Okerlund interviews the "Total Package" Lex Luger who garbles some words yet wants a rematch with Hogan.

As DDP made his entrance, he kissed Kimberly. Aw.
DDP attempted an early Diamond Cutter, but Bagwell escaped and sought refuge outside the ring.
After Bagwell flipped out of a hip toss attempt, DDP clotheslined the bejeezus out of him.
Bagwell then dropkicked DDP and distracted referee Scott Dickinson.
In the meantime, Vincent gave DDP the business. How dastardly!
Bagwell then escaped a powerbomb attempt and delivered a swinging neckbreaker for 2.
When Bagwell argued with him, Dickinson read him the riot act.
Bagwell then countered a second Diamond Cutter attempt with a backslide for another 2.
As Bagwell clotheslined DDP, Dickinson checked the time with the timekeeper.

Meanwhile, Vincent got up on the apron only for DDP to reverse an Irish whip. That sent Bagwell directly into Vincent.
DDP then hit the Diamond Cutter.
1-2-3.
DDP won.

Lee Marshall then delivers the 1-800-COLLECT road report from “Birmingham, AL." He probably saw the Vulcan statue and told others to "live long and prosper."

Match 7 for the WCW World TV title: Ultimo Dragon (champion) versus Mortis (w/ James Vandenberg)

As Dragon performed a headstand on the top turnbuckle, Schiavone shilled Clash XXXV LIVE on TBS on 8/21. Set your VCRs NOW!
Dragon then unleashed a series of kicks and landed on his feet post-back-drop.
Unimpressed, Mortis delivered a back elbow while the Denver faithful chanted "Mortis sucks."
He then gave Dragon a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Upon hoisting Mortis atop the top turnbuckle, Dragon joined him, but Vandenberg stopped him.
Mortis then attempted a top rope superplex, but Dragon countered with a front suplex sending both wrestlers down to the mat.
When Mortis hooked a modified Northern Lights suplex, he got 2.
Dragon then reversed an Irish whip but fell victim to a Rocker Dropper for another 2.
As Mortis attempted the Flatliner, Dragon escaped and powerbombed him.
He then hooked the Dragon sleeper, and Mortis submitted.
Dragon retained.

Summary: Good counter wrestling in this short match, but Vandenberg's charges lost both of their matches tonight.

In the ring, Okerlund interviews Chairman of the WCW Executive Committee J.J. Dillon who has "a brand new" contract for Sting. As the camera angle widens, Sting repels from the rafters and comes through the Denver faithful to the ring. Dillon then offers him a match against Syxx, but Sting shoves the contract back in Dillon's pocket. When Okerlund asks Sting who he wants, Sting points to the Denver faithful chanting Hogan's name.

After Hennig leap-frogged him, Savage clotheslined him.
He then attempted to make Hennig taste the steel railing but ate it himself. It must have tasted like the Boom Boom sandwich at Vine Street.
Next, Savage tried to use Elizabeth as a decoy, but she ducked. That led Hennig to clothesline Savage on the floor.
After a commercial break, Savage made Hennig taste the steel railing. Waiter, could you give the used-to-be-Perfect one a Junk burger please?
Back in the ring, Hennig gave Savage a somersault neck snap followed by a knee lift.
As Hennig tossed Savage between the ropes to the floor, DDP hit the ring and nailed Hennig.
Referee Randy Anderson then called for the bell disqualifying Savage.

DDP then nails Hennig out of the ring, but Savage clobbers DDP from behind. When Hall comes to the ring, he delivers a fallaway slam to DDP. Savage then mounts the top turnbuckle and hits the big elbow. As he mounts an adjacent top turnbuckle, Savage gives DDP a second big elbow. Abruptly, Luger storms the ring to scatter the heels. I smell an upcoming tag match.

Conclusion: Solid episode that promoted both Fall Brawl '97 as well as Clash XXXV. While somewhat hokey, the Giant storyline progresses. I wonder how he gets his comeuppance. Also, Malenko almost wins the US title no thanks to Eddie. Mongo somehow survives after being dumped on his head, and Sting wants Hogan much to Dillon's confusion. What’s on RAW is WAR?