Post by Leo on Aug 12, 2023 11:32:44 GMT -5
WCW Monday Nitro episode 34 for 08.14.23
Live from the Four States Arena in Texarkana, Arkansas
Commentary: Gorilla Monsoon and Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Gary Michael Cappetta
Interviewer: SoCal Val
Referees: Tommy Young, Joey Marella and Aubrey Edwards
Monsoon and Barrett welcome everyone to the show. We’ll hear from the Queen of the Ring Tournament winner, Wendi Richter, see the debut of Adrian Street, have a triple threat for the WCW Trios Titles and a main event of Eddie Guerrero and Kurt Angle vs. Black Mamba and Jake Roberts. But, first, is match three in the best of seven series for the vacant WCW U.S. Title between Nick Aldis and Rick Martel.
As the match begins, the commentary team talks about the gamesmanship in the series so far, with Madusa dressing up as Mickie James to distract Aldis in the first match and Aldis having the Nitro girls come down to distract Martel in the second. Aldis then came to the ring with AC Jazz and Spice of the Nitro Girls to distract James in her match at the Queen of the Ring Tournament. James has been banned from ringside for the series.
James pops up on the Shane-O-Tron ranting and raving, saying she paid off a tech guy to patch her in and she’s not physically at ringside. The shrill screaming of his estranged wife definitely annoys and rattles Aldis. Martel backdrops out of a Treasure Chest attempt, super kicks Aldis as he stands and nails a second rope knee drop for the pinfall victory at 7:45. Martel is up 2-1.
Segment Notes
* It was thought to open the show with a match to change things up from the usual promo open.
— — —
The six man tag chaos from the last Nitro is shown leading to the triple threat six man tag for the Trios Titles tonight between the nWo, Jive Soul Bros and Hart Foundation.
SoCal Val has Bruce and Keith Hart and Natalya on the interview stage. They talk about not letting the nWo get away with their chicanery and they’re okay with the Jive Soul Bros winning the bout tonight as long as the nWo loses the Trios belts. And, Bruce and Keith haven’t forgotten about the WCW U.S. Tag Team Titles the Miracle Workers have. They want a rematch for those really soon too.
COMMERCIAL
“Exotic” Adrian Street makes his debut by defeating Sir William Regal by pinfall at 8:45. This was a pretty physical bout with British style grappling. Street kisses Regal, who sells it with some over the top facial expressions, allowing Street to sucker him with a small package for the win. Street skips around ringside and to the back after.
— — —
Will Hobbs, Odyssey Jones and Ember Moon with Slick are on the interview stage with SoCal Val. They don’t need the Hart Foundation butting in where they don’t belong, but if there is one thing they can agree on, it’s that neither want the nWo to keep the Trios belts. Plus, Power Station wants a shot at those WCW U.S. Tag Team Titles too. If the Miracle Workers step into the ring with Hobbs and Jones, turn out the lights because the party will be over.
COMMERCIAL
“Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff with Col. Robert Fuller defeated Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart by pinfall via piledriver at 7:57. Fuller whacked Neidhart in the back with his shoe while Orndorff had the referee distracted. Commentary mentions how the newly formed Perfectly Wonderful of the Stud Stable has singles wins over the WCW World Tag Team Champions, Owen Hart and Jim Neidhart. They also mention Hennig and Orndorff competing in an open invitational battle royal recently for World Class Championship Wrestling.
— — —
Highlights of the Queen of the Ring Tournament are shown, resulting in Wendi Richter getting the win in the finals over Rhea Ripley. Her first round match featured getting misted by Asuka.
Wendi Richter is in the ring and thanks the fans for their support. Charlotte Flair isn’t there tonight because of her grueling cage match with Jade Cargill, but she can’t wait to face Flair at Great American Bash. Asuka then comes out and says in broken English how Richter wasn’t ready for Asuka and she goes to mist her again. Richter ducks it and comes up behind Asuka with a rear waistlock. She fights out and they brawl. Steve Blackman, with new security team member Tamina Snuka, come out to break it up. Shane McMaon comes out and books a no disqualification match between Richter and Asuka for next week.
COMMERCIAL
The promo of Hulk Hogan and Tony Atlas from Thunder is shown. We go live to Atlas in the ring and Hogan emerges on the entrance stage. “I told you, brother, you’re nWo for life until you’re not, brother. And tonight, you would be able to prove what you really mean to the black and white and Hollywood, brother.”
Atlas is jumped from behind by the Disciple. He beats the surprised Atlas around the ring and finishes with the Apocalypse at 1:33. Hogan hugs the Disciple and they then spray paint nWo on Atlas’ broad back with white spray paint.
Segment Notes
* Atlas was thought a bad fit for the nWo. Hogan, naturally, wanted to bring Brutus Beefcake in and he thought the nWo needed some more old school members.
— — —
SoCal Val has “Stunning” Steve Austin with Robert Fuller on the entrance stage. “Randy Savage, you’re fixing for an industrial can size of ass whipping to be opened on you at Great American Bash. The WCW World Heavyweight Title is my destiny to win. And you can jump off all the Elimination Chamber pods, scaffolds, ladders and skyscrapers you want with that weak ass elbow smash of yours; but when it’s you and me in a wrestling ring, straight up, nothing crazy, you can’t win.”
Savage comes out and stares down Austin. “I’m crazy like a fox and I’ll do what I have to do to retain this WCW World Heavyweight Title, uh-huh, yeah. I’ll jump on you from on high, yeah, but I’ll kick you low too, yeah. And I’ll fight you in the middle of that ring under any rules on any night..”
Savage is cut off by Curt Hennig attacking him from behind. Blackman leads out security to break it up and goes nose to nose with Austin who won’t back down.
COMMERCIAL
After the break it’s revealed that Savage vs. Hennig and Blackman vs. Austin has been booked for next week.
— — —
We also go to the back where Shane McMahon has called a meeting between Nick Aldis and Rick Martel with Mickie James. Obviously his ban of James at ringside has been circumvented many ways. The best of seven series will go until the Great American Bash at least. If neither side pulls any funny business in the match on the next Nitro, McMahon will allow James to be at ringside for GAB. Also, Aldis can have Spice and AC Jazz. That’s cool with Martel. James said if those floozies step to her, they’ll get a smack in the mouth.
Segment Notes
* Creative feels it will work better if they announce matches in advance and not announce matches on the night. They want to see how this will work for the next Nitro.
— — —
The nWo (Eli Drake, Mike Bennett and Taya Valkyrie) with Maria Kanellis-Bennett retain the WCW Trios Titles over the Hart Foundation (Natayla Neidhart, Bruce Hart and Keith Hart) and the Jive Soul Bros (Will Hobbs, Odyssey Jones and Ember Moon) with Dr. of Style, Slick by pinfall of Drake on Keith via diving elbow drop at 11:37. The match is pretty chaotic with it really breaking down at the end. Maria and Slick both get in the ring and Maria low blows Keith in mess, with Drake taking the opportunistic win.
COMMERCIAL
Bret “The Hitman” Hart defeated “Squire” David Taylor by submission via sharpshooter at 8:49. Hulk Hogan comes out waving a U.S. Flag and tries to get a “U.S.A.” chant going for Taylor, even though he’s British. Hart just ignores Hogan and wrestles the match. Post match, he and Hogan jaw at each other.
— — —
Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero are in the locker room talking. Guerrero tells Angle not screw him in their tag match tonight. The master of lying, cheating and stealing is worrying about the master of integrity, intelligence and intensity screwing him? There’s a pregnant pause and Eddie just says ‘yeah.’
COMMERCIAL
Kamille Kaine defeated Madusa Micelli with Col. Robert Fuller by disqualification at 5:45. Toni Storm ran out and speared Kaine, then hit Storm Zero. She gets a microphone. “You want to show the whole world what you don’t have going on under your clothes by being a Playboy cover model, let’s show them.” Storm goes to strip Kaine, but Tamina Snuka, now in security, comes out and stops her. Commentary reminds how Kaine got the Playboy cover spot, but Storm debuted at the Queen of the Ring to dispute it.
— — —
Shane McMahon has another meeting in the back, this time with the three teams from the Trios Titles match. He books a two straight falls match for Great American Bash. Winner of the first fall gets the WCW U.S. Tag Team Titles and winner of the second fall gets the WCW Trios Titles. Since the women can’t be part co-holders of the tag team belts, McMahon books Valkyrie vs. Moon vs. Natalya in a triple threat match at GAB with the winner getting a WCW U.S. Women’s Title shot. Maria says Killer Kross will join the Miracle Workers. Harts Afire will have Harry Smith. Slick says he needs to make a couple phone calls, but he’ll have a cool cat there next week. McMahon books Kross vs. Smith vs. Slick’s new man for the next Nitro.
COMMERCIAL
Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Black Mamba (Omos) defeated “Latino Heat” Eddie Guerrero and Kurt Angle by pinfall of Roberts on Guerrero via DDT at 14:24. Angle is fine with wrestling Jake, but tags out whenever Mamba comes in. Mamba goes for a choke slam on Guerrero, but he elbows out and gets a heel trip. Guerrero with a springboard moonsault for two. He crawls to tag Angle, who acts like there’s something in his eye. Ultimate Warrior then runs out and scares Angle off the apron and chases him around the ringside area. Roberts runs in to punt Eddie in the groin while the referee is distracted and then makes the tag for the finish.
Segment Notes
* Tweener Angle is a full blown heel now.