Post by Leo on May 6, 2023 10:18:02 GMT -5
WCW Monday Nitro episode 21 for 05.08.23
Live from the Massari Arena in Pueblo, Colorado
Commentary: Gorilla Monsoon and Don Callis
Ring Announcer: Gary Michael Cappetta
Interviewer: SoCal Val
Referees: Tommy Young, Joey Marella and Aubrey Edwards
The show starts with “Macho Man” Randy Savage in the ring holding his Money in the Bank Briefcase.
“The Macho Man is snapping into that Colorado Rocky Mountain High here tonight in Pueblo, yeah. I wasn’t on Nitro last week because WarGames was a hell of a match, yeah. But I’m bright eyed, bushy tail and here tonight to call my shot, yeah. (he taps the briefcase) We got a successful cash in last week when Lady Frost climbed that ladder to the stars and took the WCW Women’s Title, yeah. Who here tonight wants to see the Macho Man do the same thing…”
The crowd goes wild and WCW World Heavyweight Champion “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff comes out to the entrance stage with a microphone.
“You’re a bigger idiot than I thought you were, Savage, and I already thought you were monumentally stupid. Take advantage of your automatic title shot whenever you want it when I’m most vulnerable, I can respect. But to call me out face to face, that’s just dumb.”
“Well, the Macho Man is going to do you one better than that. Not only am I calling you out to your face, but I’m giving you time to prepare, because I’m using my Money in the Bank contract at Slamboree. You see, Mr. Wonderful, when I take that title from you I don’t want there to be any excuses. I know I can beat you anytime, anywhere, any place with you seeing me coming and weeks to get ready. I know you can’t do the same when it comes to me. I just don’t want to win the title, I want to dominate you for it. Oh yeah!”
“Savage, that’s stupider still. You say what you know, but that wouldn’t fill a thimble. I’ve got more brains and more wrestling acumen in my little finger than you’ve got in your whole body and I’ll show it to you at Slamboree.”
-----
We then go to Monsoon and Callis at the commentary table. Monsoon says that’s a hell of a way to open Nitro and we have much more to come. The big main event will see The Miracle Workers of Eli Drake and Mike Bennett of the nWo put their U.S. Tag Team Titles on the line against the Rock ‘n Roll Express of Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson. We’ll also see “Latino Heat” Eddie Guerrero vs. “Stunning” Steve Austin in a rematch from Hollywood Homecoming II where count outs won’t be in effect. Other matches include Junkyard Dog vs. Killer Kross, Dusty Rhodes and Harry Smith vs. Magnum TA and Davey Boy Smith and mixed match tournament winners Rick Martel and Mickie James vs. Sam Houston and Rockin’ Robin. Plus, we’ll hear from Kurt Angle, Curt Hennig, the new women’s champ Lady Frost and much more.
COMMERCIAL
Killer Kross with Maria Kannellis-Bennett defeated Junkyard Dog by pinfall via Doomsday Saito at 6:47. Maria held JYD’s foot from the floor and when he turned to look, Kross cheap shotted him to take over.
-----
SoCal Val has the new WCW Women’s Champion Lady Frost on the interview stage. The end of the ladder match from last week is shown. Frost is going to prove her win was no fluke and she’s going to be a fighting champion taking on all comers. Charlotte Flair comes out and demands a rematch as the former champion. Kamille Kaine comes out and demands a shot. Flair tells her to get to the end of the line, because she never beat her. Tessa Blanchard then comes out and demands a title shot, since she’s a former champion and notched a win at Hollywood Homecoming II. Frost said she’ll take them all on. Shane McMahon appears and books a triple threat for next week between Kaine, Flair and Blanchard. The winner will face Frost at Slamboree…maybe. Because, McMahon also books Frost’s first title defense for the main event of next week’s Nitro to keep his promise of having main event title defense’s on WCW’s flagship program each week. Lady Frost will do battle with former WCW U.S. Women’s Champion Tamina Snuka.
COMMERCIAL
Rick Martel and Mickie James defeated Sam Houston and Rockin’ Robin by pinfall of James on Robin via MickDDT at 10:28. Nick Aldis came out and sat in on commentary. He got on Monsoon for suggesting there’s issues in his marriage. After the bout, he tries to congratulate Mickie but she snubs him and walks off with Martel.
-----
SoCal Val has “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig on the interview stage. His good friend Randy Savage called his shot earlier tonight by going for the WCW World Heavyweight Title at Slamboree. Well, Hennig is calling the perfect shot now by challenging the UWA Universal Men’s Champion Chris Jericho. This draws out Jake Roberts. He’s not done with Jericho yet and Hennig needs to get in line. Hennig tells Jake he has his chance and he blew it. Roberts tells Hennig he blew it by making this challenge. He kicks Curt in the gut, nails the short arm clothesline and then leaves him laying out with a DDT.
COMMERCIAL
Power Station (Will Hobbs and Odyssey Jones) with Dr. of Style Slick defeated MNM (Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro) with Melina by pinfall of Jones on Mercury via Blackout at 8:34.
-----
SoCal Val has Dusty Rhodes and Harry Smith on the interview stage. They will face Magnum TA and Davey Boy Smith later on. Dusty talks about how Harry is a fine and upstanding young man, despite what his father says, and is appreciating the tutelage and guidance of the Dream, unlike some other people. Harry says he’s privileged to be tagging with Dusty Rhodes, someone he can truly look up to.
COMMERCIAL
Tamina Snuka with “Number One” Paul Jones defeated Molly Holly by pinfall at 9:45 when Snuka caught Molly on a Molly-Go-Round attempt and turned it into a powerbomb.
-----
We get a performance from the Nitro Girls.
-----
We then cut to the back where SoCal Val is trying to talk with Aldis and James, but there’s just yelling and screaming from the dressing room. Rick Martel appears out of nowhere and asks Val if he can take her away from all this domestic strife. She looks at him blankly. Then the Nitro Girls come by and Martel says “excuse me, duty calls” and follows the dance troop.
COMMERCIAL
Magnum TA and Davey Boy Smith defeated Harry Smith and Dusty Rhodes by pinfall of Davey Boy on Harry via running power slam at 14:40. Dusty and Magnum eventually brawl off and the distraction allows Davey Boy to pull a foreign object out of his tights and nail Harry with it.
-----
Kurt Angle is on the interview stage with SoCal Val wearing his old Super Patriot Mark III mask. He’s gotten himself into the predicament he’s in, because he forgot the three I’s. Integrity, intensity and intelligence. That’s what Mark III stood for. Brian Pillman took his gold medal, took his hair and is now trying to take his career. Good luck with that, because at Slamboree you’ll be facing the new Kurt Angle. He removes the mask to reveal his bald head.
COMMERCIAL
“Stunning” Steve Austin vs. “Latino Heat” Eddie Guerrero ends in a double disqualification at 11:34. Referee Joey Marella gets in the way of a Stun Gun by Austin and is knocked out. Austin takes off Eddie’s boot and then falls down, acting like Eddie knocked him out with it. Eddie comes around and sees this. So, he takes off his other boot and falls down like Austin knocked him out with it. Marella comes too, sees both guys down with boots by their heads and just calls the match a double disqualification. Both men immediately jump up just fine and argue with him.
-----
Kevin Owens is on the interview stage with SoCal Val. “Hulk Hogan believes he’s outsmarted me at every turn. To borrow a line from one of Hogan’s greatest foes, he’s playing checkers while I’m playing chess. If there’s one thing that Hulk Hogan has always needed, whether it’s basking in the cheers or gloating over the jeers, are the fans. He needs, he craves, he thrives on an arena full of people. And at Slamboree, that’s what I’m going to take away from him. It’s going to be him, me and a referee and that’s it. I challenge Hogan to an empty arena bout at Slamboree.”
COMMERCIAL
The Miracle Workers (Eli Drake and Mike Bennett) with Maria Kannellis-Bennett retained the WCW U.S. Tag Team Titles over the Rock ‘n Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) by pinfall of Drake on Morton via Spiked Gravy Train at 14:38. Morton has the hot tag, but Killer Kross yanks Gibson off the apron. Referee Tommy Young orders him to the back and this allows Maria to spray Morton in the eyes with her hairspray to set up the finish.
Kevin Owens comes out and brawls with Killer Kross. Drake and Bennett join in on the beat down, but the R‘nR do a suicide dive out onto everybody. The faces hold the ring and Hulk Hogan comes out to the entrance stage with a microphone.
“Owens Kevin, brother. I heard you out here earlier and the one thing the Hulkster has never needed is the fans, brother. Yeah, sure, Hulkamania and the 34 million Hulkamaniacs across the cosmos was what I based my entire persona on, but I didn’t need to, brother. All I need is this right hand and this left hand right here…and my left leg for the big boot and my right leg for the leg drop…and this dew rag to cover my head…and this weight belt to whip you with…but that’s all I need and all I’ll bring with me to Slamboree, brother.”