Monday Nitro – September 15, 1997
By Scott Keith on February 7, 2013
Monday Nitro #105
Date: September 15,
1997
1997
Location: Independence
Arena, Charlotte, North Carolina
Arena, Charlotte, North Carolina
Commentators: Mike
Tenay, Larry Zbyszko, Bobby Heenan, Tony Schiavone
Tenay, Larry Zbyszko, Bobby Heenan, Tony Schiavone
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
It’s the night after
Fall Brawl and to the shock of no one paying attention, the NWO beat
up WCW again last night. This time though they did it with the help
of Curt Hennig, who turned on the Horsemen last night and slammed the
cage door on Flair’s head. The NWO won WarGames after Mongo
submitted to make the NWO stop beating on Flair, which of course they
did anyway. Halloween Havoc is in about six weeks. Let’s get to it.
Fall Brawl and to the shock of no one paying attention, the NWO beat
up WCW again last night. This time though they did it with the help
of Curt Hennig, who turned on the Horsemen last night and slammed the
cage door on Flair’s head. The NWO won WarGames after Mongo
submitted to make the NWO stop beating on Flair, which of course they
did anyway. Halloween Havoc is in about six weeks. Let’s get to it.
We open with a shot of
Flair in the emergency room and Tony says he can’t do the show
tonight. Apparently Flair got him into the business and he’s too
disturbed to do this. Well if that’s what we get from Flair having
his head crushed, I can’t say I’m that upset.
Flair in the emergency room and Tony says he can’t do the show
tonight. Apparently Flair got him into the business and he’s too
disturbed to do this. Well if that’s what we get from Flair having
his head crushed, I can’t say I’m that upset.
Dean Malenko vs.
Disco Inferno
Disco Inferno
Dean has a bad knee
from last night thanks to Jarrett. Disco arm drags him down but
walks into a clothesline like the idiot that he is. Malenko pounds
away which isn’t exactly his norm. A leg lariat puts Disco down but
he rakes the eyes to break up the Cloverleaf. Inferno tries a double
ax off the middle rope but jumps into a punch to the ribs. Back to
the stomping for Dean which is something you almost never get to say.
from last night thanks to Jarrett. Disco arm drags him down but
walks into a clothesline like the idiot that he is. Malenko pounds
away which isn’t exactly his norm. A leg lariat puts Disco down but
he rakes the eyes to break up the Cloverleaf. Inferno tries a double
ax off the middle rope but jumps into a punch to the ribs. Back to
the stomping for Dean which is something you almost never get to say.
Disco gets up an elbow
in the corner to slow Dean down but charges into a powerslam. Dean
hammers away but can’t get into it because A, he’s Dean Malenko and
B, his knee is messed up. Disco, FINALLY having a brain, goes after
the big bandage on the knee. Malenko can barely even run the ropes
but he’s pulling a Bret Hart as he grabs Disco in the double
underhook powerbomb and Cloverleafs him for the win.
in the corner to slow Dean down but charges into a powerslam. Dean
hammers away but can’t get into it because A, he’s Dean Malenko and
B, his knee is messed up. Disco, FINALLY having a brain, goes after
the big bandage on the knee. Malenko can barely even run the ropes
but he’s pulling a Bret Hart as he grabs Disco in the double
underhook powerbomb and Cloverleafs him for the win.
Rating: C-.
Disco was just a foil here but Dean was selling the knee very well.
Note the difference here between his selling and most regular
selling: Dean actually changed up his style because of an injury
rather than doing his regular stuff and holding his knee. That’s a
BIG difference and it makes an injury that much more believable.
Disco was just a foil here but Dean was selling the knee very well.
Note the difference here between his selling and most regular
selling: Dean actually changed up his style because of an injury
rather than doing his regular stuff and holding his knee. That’s a
BIG difference and it makes an injury that much more believable.
Eddie is on WCW.com.
Faces of Fear vs.
Harlem Heat
Harlem Heat
Mike runs down the card
for the rest of the card and it’s rather refreshing over hearing
Tony’s same stuff over and over. Stevie and Meng start things off
and Meng be clubberin. Barbarian comes in illegally and Stevie
clears the ring. Off to Booker but the monsters double team him down
and take over. A double headbutt keeps Booker down in the corner and
it’s off to Barbarian.
for the rest of the card and it’s rather refreshing over hearing
Tony’s same stuff over and over. Stevie and Meng start things off
and Meng be clubberin. Barbarian comes in illegally and Stevie
clears the ring. Off to Booker but the monsters double team him down
and take over. A double headbutt keeps Booker down in the corner and
it’s off to Barbarian.
Raven is sitting in the
crowd. Back to Stevie who gets choked down by Meng as things slow
down. Back to Barbie for more slow chops and strikes and an even
slower choke. Ray comes back with a falling suplex and there’s the
hot tag to Booker. He cleans house as everything breaks down but
Meng gets Booker in the Tongan Death Grip for the win.
crowd. Back to Stevie who gets choked down by Meng as things slow
down. Back to Barbie for more slow chops and strikes and an even
slower choke. Ray comes back with a falling suplex and there’s the
hot tag to Booker. He cleans house as everything breaks down but
Meng gets Booker in the Tongan Death Grip for the win.
Rating: D+.
This was a pretty slow paced match that didn’t really work all that
well. As I’ve talked about before, there’s no reason for these teams
to be fighting when no one ever gets a title shot at the Outsiders
other than the Steiners on occasion. The Faces of Fear were fine for
what they were but they never went anywhere.
This was a pretty slow paced match that didn’t really work all that
well. As I’ve talked about before, there’s no reason for these teams
to be fighting when no one ever gets a title shot at the Outsiders
other than the Steiners on occasion. The Faces of Fear were fine for
what they were but they never went anywhere.
Gene talks to Page (and
even fires off a Diamond Cutter sign) and apparently it’s going to be
Page vs. Savage III at Halloween Havoc.
even fires off a Diamond Cutter sign) and apparently it’s going to be
Page vs. Savage III at Halloween Havoc.
Rey Mysterio Jr. vs.
Juventud Guerrera
Juventud Guerrera
Rey takes off his mask
to reveal another one before giving the original to the crowd. Not
only is this cool, but Mike’s panicking when Rey unhooked the match
was hilarious. Mysterio immediately takes him down for two but Juvy
escapes into a headlock. A flying headscissors puts Guerrera down
again but Rey gets draped over the top. With Rey on the apron, Juvy
hits a running sunset bomb out to the floor in a SICK looking bump.
to reveal another one before giving the original to the crowd. Not
only is this cool, but Mike’s panicking when Rey unhooked the match
was hilarious. Mysterio immediately takes him down for two but Juvy
escapes into a headlock. A flying headscissors puts Guerrera down
again but Rey gets draped over the top. With Rey on the apron, Juvy
hits a running sunset bomb out to the floor in a SICK looking bump.
A suplex back in sets
up a slingshot legdrop from Juvy for two. Rey counters a powerbomb
into a seated senton for no count as Juvy is in the ropes and things
start speeding up. A kind of Sky High from Rey gets two as does a
top rope rana. Juvy comes right back with a falling back powerbomb
to put both guys down. This is starting to get pretty awesome. Juvy
misses a charge into the corner and winds up on the floor so Rey can
hit a BIG flip dive over the corner into a seated senton to take both
guys out. Back in and Juvy springboards into a powerbomb and a
perfectly smooth West Coast Pop gets the pin.
up a slingshot legdrop from Juvy for two. Rey counters a powerbomb
into a seated senton for no count as Juvy is in the ropes and things
start speeding up. A kind of Sky High from Rey gets two as does a
top rope rana. Juvy comes right back with a falling back powerbomb
to put both guys down. This is starting to get pretty awesome. Juvy
misses a charge into the corner and winds up on the floor so Rey can
hit a BIG flip dive over the corner into a seated senton to take both
guys out. Back in and Juvy springboards into a powerbomb and a
perfectly smooth West Coast Pop gets the pin.
Rating: B.
Take two cruiserweights, give them seven minutes and let them wow the
crowd. It worked time after time and it worked here again. This was
nothing but a spot fest and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with
that. It’s WCW sticking with the idea of something for everyone
again and it works here again. Really good stuff here.
Take two cruiserweights, give them seven minutes and let them wow the
crowd. It worked time after time and it worked here again. This was
nothing but a spot fest and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with
that. It’s WCW sticking with the idea of something for everyone
again and it works here again. Really good stuff here.
Rey says he’s coming
for Konnan.
for Konnan.
TV Title: Alex
Wright vs. Steven Regal
Wright vs. Steven Regal
Regal is challenging.
Wright immediately takes him down with an armdrag and it’s time to
dance! They trade arm control until Regal takes him down to the mat
with an arm hold of his own. Nice job of trading the same moves
there. A big slap to the face staggers Wright so he comes back with
European uppercuts from one European to the other.
Wright immediately takes him down with an armdrag and it’s time to
dance! They trade arm control until Regal takes him down to the mat
with an arm hold of his own. Nice job of trading the same moves
there. A big slap to the face staggers Wright so he comes back with
European uppercuts from one European to the other.
The crowd actually
cheers for Regal which isn’t something you often hear. That’s a good
sign for Wright as a heel if nothing else. Alex dances a bit and
Regal dropkicks him down to a face pop. Both guys collide and hit
the mat to give them a breather. The challenger wins a slugout but
can’t get the Regal Stretch on before Alex makes the rope. They
trade rollups until Regal is sent into the corner and staggers into a
German suplex to retain the title.
cheers for Regal which isn’t something you often hear. That’s a good
sign for Wright as a heel if nothing else. Alex dances a bit and
Regal dropkicks him down to a face pop. Both guys collide and hit
the mat to give them a breather. The challenger wins a slugout but
can’t get the Regal Stretch on before Alex makes the rope. They
trade rollups until Regal is sent into the corner and staggers into a
German suplex to retain the title.
Rating: C+.
Wright is definitely getting over as a heel and Regal is as solid as
ever. This title would bounce around more than any other in the
company which made for exciting periods, but the feuds never really
went anywhere. At the end of the day, there weren’t a ton of feuds
going on and that’s why the title didn’t mean much for a good while.
Wright is definitely getting over as a heel and Regal is as solid as
ever. This title would bounce around more than any other in the
company which made for exciting periods, but the feuds never really
went anywhere. At the end of the day, there weren’t a ton of feuds
going on and that’s why the title didn’t mean much for a good while.
Ray Traylor will fight
any member of the NWO if they’re man enough to face him.
any member of the NWO if they’re man enough to face him.
Konnan vs. The Giant
Apparently Tony can’t
bring himself out to do commentary. Still a sweet show so far.
Giant tosses Konnan to the floor to start and the beating begins.
Konnan tries to fire off some shots but they have no effect. We head
to the floor again with Konnan trying to run but getting a headbutt
for his efforts. Back in and Konnan is in BIG trouble as he gets
slammed down. We head to the floor yet again and Konnan gets in some
shots as they come back in, only to jump into the chokeslam for the
pin. Total squash.
bring himself out to do commentary. Still a sweet show so far.
Giant tosses Konnan to the floor to start and the beating begins.
Konnan tries to fire off some shots but they have no effect. We head
to the floor again with Konnan trying to run but getting a headbutt
for his efforts. Back in and Konnan is in BIG trouble as he gets
slammed down. We head to the floor yet again and Konnan gets in some
shots as they come back in, only to jump into the chokeslam for the
pin. Total squash.
Hour #2 begins and
STILL NO TONY!
STILL NO TONY!
Nitro Girls do their
thing.
thing.
The announcers discuss
if the Horsemen are dead or not. Larry is SURE that Curt was in the
NWO since he got here.
if the Horsemen are dead or not. Larry is SURE that Curt was in the
NWO since he got here.
Diamond Dallas Page
vs. Stevie Richards
vs. Stevie Richards
Stevie tunes up the
band before getting in the Crane stance from Karate Kid. Page gives
him the Diamond sign before starting to pound on the shoulder. A
gutwrench gutbuster puts Richards down but Richards manages to
guillotine him on the top rope. Raven is watching intently.
Richards hits a running elbow in the corner before getting punched in
the face for his efforts. TKO ends this easily for Page.
band before getting in the Crane stance from Karate Kid. Page gives
him the Diamond sign before starting to pound on the shoulder. A
gutwrench gutbuster puts Richards down but Richards manages to
guillotine him on the top rope. Raven is watching intently.
Richards hits a running elbow in the corner before getting punched in
the face for his efforts. TKO ends this easily for Page.
Rating: D.
This was just to do more stuff with Raven vs. Stevie, even though
Richards wouldn’t be around much longer at all. Page was just
killing time before the next match with Savage before he could head
towards the rest of his feud with the NWO. Actually I think he would
be fighting Raven soon too.
This was just to do more stuff with Raven vs. Stevie, even though
Richards wouldn’t be around much longer at all. Page was just
killing time before the next match with Savage before he could head
towards the rest of his feud with the NWO. Actually I think he would
be fighting Raven soon too.
Raven slaps Richards
and sends him to the floor post match before leaving through the
crowd.
and sends him to the floor post match before leaving through the
crowd.
Tag Titles:
Outsiders vs. Wrath/Mortis
Outsiders vs. Wrath/Mortis
Hall and Mortis start
things off with the Outsiders making fun of how over the top the
challengers are. Scott cranks on the arm before pounding away but
Mortis comes back with a big kick. He then spits on Hall’s body,
despite wearing am ask meaning the spit would go nowhere. Hall comes
right back with the fallaway slam and it’s off to Wrath vs. Nash.
things off with the Outsiders making fun of how over the top the
challengers are. Scott cranks on the arm before pounding away but
Mortis comes back with a big kick. He then spits on Hall’s body,
despite wearing am ask meaning the spit would go nowhere. Hall comes
right back with the fallaway slam and it’s off to Wrath vs. Nash.
Big Kev pounds him into
the corner but Wrath throws him into the opposite corner and beats
the TAR out of Nash, including getting two off a bicycle kick. Off
to Mortis for a Russian legsweep and a middle rope legdrop for two
each. A Syxx distraction lets Nash get in the big boot to both guys.
The Jackknife ends Mortis.
the corner but Wrath throws him into the opposite corner and beats
the TAR out of Nash, including getting two off a bicycle kick. Off
to Mortis for a Russian legsweep and a middle rope legdrop for two
each. A Syxx distraction lets Nash get in the big boot to both guys.
The Jackknife ends Mortis.
Rating: C+.
WAY better than I was expecting here, which is what I’ve wound up
saying about every Mortis/Wrath match I’ve seen so far. Wrath had
potential if he never had to talk, but since it was WCW he wound up
being fed to people like Nash and Rick Steiner for the sake of making
the old guys look good. The fans were getting into this when the
Outsiders were in trouble. Naturally Hall and Nash wouldn’t be
beaten for the titles until January.
WAY better than I was expecting here, which is what I’ve wound up
saying about every Mortis/Wrath match I’ve seen so far. Wrath had
potential if he never had to talk, but since it was WCW he wound up
being fed to people like Nash and Rick Steiner for the sake of making
the old guys look good. The fans were getting into this when the
Outsiders were in trouble. Naturally Hall and Nash wouldn’t be
beaten for the titles until January.
Here are Bischoff and
Hogan flanked by the rest of the NWO. Flair’s music plays and here’s
Hennig in Flair’s red robe. Just getting everyone into the ring took
SEVEN MINUTES. Hennig is welcomed into the team and gets hit in the
head with a drink. Curt talks about how good it felt to slam the
door on Ric’s head last night and join the greatest wrestling
organization in wrestling history. He gives the robe to Hogan and we
get an evil laugh.
Hogan flanked by the rest of the NWO. Flair’s music plays and here’s
Hennig in Flair’s red robe. Just getting everyone into the ring took
SEVEN MINUTES. Hennig is welcomed into the team and gets hit in the
head with a drink. Curt talks about how good it felt to slam the
door on Ric’s head last night and join the greatest wrestling
organization in wrestling history. He gives the robe to Hogan and we
get an evil laugh.
Savage says he’ll beat
DDP at Havoc. Hogan talks about how Piper was President of the WWF
and tried to boss him around. I’ll leave it to you all as an
exercise to figure out how stupid that line is. Now Piper has lied
about going home to his family. Hall and Hogan tell Piper to come
visit him “down here” (basically the NWO version of Suck It) and
say Sting won’t be a problem after that. This was nearly 14 minutes
of NOTHING.
DDP at Havoc. Hogan talks about how Piper was President of the WWF
and tried to boss him around. I’ll leave it to you all as an
exercise to figure out how stupid that line is. Now Piper has lied
about going home to his family. Hall and Hogan tell Piper to come
visit him “down here” (basically the NWO version of Suck It) and
say Sting won’t be a problem after that. This was nearly 14 minutes
of NOTHING.
Video on Piper vs.
Hogan.
Hogan.
Cruiserweight Title:
Eddie Guerrero vs. Ultimo Dragon
Eddie Guerrero vs. Ultimo Dragon
Eddie won the title
last night. They immediately head to the mat but it’s a standoff.
With no one being able to get an advantage, Dragon offers a test of
strength. Apparently Eddie isn’t interested as he kicks Dragon down
and then dropkicks him in the mask. Eddie cranks on the arm for a
bit and even throws in an old fashioned hammerlock slam ala Arn
Anderson. A few European uppercuts stagger Dragon but Eddie charges
into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker to reset things a bit.
last night. They immediately head to the mat but it’s a standoff.
With no one being able to get an advantage, Dragon offers a test of
strength. Apparently Eddie isn’t interested as he kicks Dragon down
and then dropkicks him in the mask. Eddie cranks on the arm for a
bit and even throws in an old fashioned hammerlock slam ala Arn
Anderson. A few European uppercuts stagger Dragon but Eddie charges
into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker to reset things a bit.
Eddie sends Dragon into
the corner and there’s the headstand in the corner. Its hypnotic
powers continue to astound and Eddie gets kicked in the face. A BIG
running Liger Bomb gets a near fall for Dragon so it’s time for a
freaking giant swing. Dragon’s arm goes out before he can really get
going, but he still manages to counter an Eddie powerbomb.
the corner and there’s the headstand in the corner. Its hypnotic
powers continue to astound and Eddie gets kicked in the face. A BIG
running Liger Bomb gets a near fall for Dragon so it’s time for a
freaking giant swing. Dragon’s arm goes out before he can really get
going, but he still manages to counter an Eddie powerbomb.
Guerrero tries to send
him into the corner but gets caught in a regular sleeper that grows a
tail and breathes enough fire to turn into the Dragon Sleeper. Eddie
somehow kicks Dragon in the head to escape, followed by a shoulder
breaker (psychology!) and the Frog Splash retains. Nice to see the
arm work earlier coming back more than once.
him into the corner but gets caught in a regular sleeper that grows a
tail and breathes enough fire to turn into the Dragon Sleeper. Eddie
somehow kicks Dragon in the head to escape, followed by a shoulder
breaker (psychology!) and the Frog Splash retains. Nice to see the
arm work earlier coming back more than once.
Rating: B-.
Even more good stuff from the cruiserweights here as Eddie begins his
reign on top. Dragon was a good guy to put in a spot like this as
he’s been established as solid already but isn’t going to get the
title off Eddie yet. Good stuff here too with both guys flying
around but not so much to make it a spot fest. Eddie was on fire
back then.
Even more good stuff from the cruiserweights here as Eddie begins his
reign on top. Dragon was a good guy to put in a spot like this as
he’s been established as solid already but isn’t going to get the
title off Eddie yet. Good stuff here too with both guys flying
around but not so much to make it a spot fest. Eddie was on fire
back then.
Nitro Girls.
US Title: Steve
McMichael vs. Curt Hennig
McMichael vs. Curt Hennig
Mongo is both defending
and out for revenge at the same time. He sprints to the ring and the
fight is on fast. Hennig decks him fast but Mongo stares him down.
He throws Hennig down but McMichael can’t even hit a double ax handle
right. Hennig takes the knee out and wraps it around the post before
cannonballing down onto it ala Flair. Off to a reverse Figure Four
but Mongo pokes him in the eye to break out. Hennig takes Mongo
right back down and works on the knee even more.
and out for revenge at the same time. He sprints to the ring and the
fight is on fast. Hennig decks him fast but Mongo stares him down.
He throws Hennig down but McMichael can’t even hit a double ax handle
right. Hennig takes the knee out and wraps it around the post before
cannonballing down onto it ala Flair. Off to a reverse Figure Four
but Mongo pokes him in the eye to break out. Hennig takes Mongo
right back down and works on the knee even more.
Mongo comes back with
some kicks (remember what I said about psychology earlier?) but Curt
pounds him down and works on the leg even more. Steve throws Curt
into the corner and yells at him a lot before throwing Hennig into
the corner for the crotching. Mongo hits some clotheslines and an
atomic drop to REALLY emphasize that he isn’t selling the leg.
Hennig gets rammed into three buckles but avoids the three point
stance charge. Mongo hits the bottom buckle (not really but close
enough) and the PerfectPlex gives the NWO the title.
some kicks (remember what I said about psychology earlier?) but Curt
pounds him down and works on the leg even more. Steve throws Curt
into the corner and yells at him a lot before throwing Hennig into
the corner for the crotching. Mongo hits some clotheslines and an
atomic drop to REALLY emphasize that he isn’t selling the leg.
Hennig gets rammed into three buckles but avoids the three point
stance charge. Mongo hits the bottom buckle (not really but close
enough) and the PerfectPlex gives the NWO the title.
Rating: D.
To clarify, anything bad about this is ALL on Mongo. He couldn’t
sell, he couldn’t hit a buckle, and he couldn’t even hit a freaking
DOUBLE AX HANDLE properly. You put your hands together and whack a
guy in the back. Thankfully they kept this short and it was clear
that there was no way Mongo was winning here. This was pretty much
it for Mongo as far as anything important. Also, how weird is it to
see the title change completely clean like that?
To clarify, anything bad about this is ALL on Mongo. He couldn’t
sell, he couldn’t hit a buckle, and he couldn’t even hit a freaking
DOUBLE AX HANDLE properly. You put your hands together and whack a
guy in the back. Thankfully they kept this short and it was clear
that there was no way Mongo was winning here. This was pretty much
it for Mongo as far as anything important. Also, how weird is it to
see the title change completely clean like that?
Overall Rating: B-.
More good wrestling here but it’s getting annoying seeing WCW get
strong one week and then get crushed even harder a week later.
Unfortunately once the time came for WCW to get their big win, that
got screwed up too. There’s some good wrestling here though and the
shows were really getting into a groove at this point. Something big
was coming next week that would make them even better. Well,
eventually.
More good wrestling here but it’s getting annoying seeing WCW get
strong one week and then get crushed even harder a week later.
Unfortunately once the time came for WCW to get their big win, that
got screwed up too. There’s some good wrestling here though and the
shows were really getting into a groove at this point. Something big
was coming next week that would make them even better. Well,
eventually.
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews
Also check out my new e-book of Monday Night Raw reviews from 1998 at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B9K3POI
Comments are disable in preview.