WCW Monday Nitro
January 6, 1997
Monroe, LA
Civic Center

The current WCW champs were as follows:
WCW World Champion: Hollywood Hogan (8/10/1996)
WCW U.S. Champion: Eddie Guerrero (12/29/1996)
WCW World Tag Team Champions: The Outsiders (10/27/1996)
WCW World Television Champion: Lord Steven Regal (8/20/1996)
WCW Cruiserweight Champion: Ultimo Dragon (12/29/1996)
WCW Women’s Champion: Akira Hokuto (12/29/1996)

When we last left you in 1996, the Giant asked Hollywood Hogan for a WCW world title shot after winning World War 3 back in November. At Starrcade, the Giant failed to chokeslam Hogan’s enemy Roddy Piper. Because of this mistake, Hogan blamed his loss on the Giant. This enraged the Giant and on the next night at Monday Nitro, the Giant didn’t join in on the massive Roddy Piper beatdown. As Piper left speaking gibberish on a stretcher, the Giant grabbed Hogan by the throat and yelled for the nWo to clear out of the ring. Well they do, but once Hogan agrees to a title match and Giant lets him go, Hogan orders his troops to all attack the Giant at once. They beat him down and strip him of his nWo t-shirt and bash him with the world title belt until the Giant is left unconscious. Oh yeah, and still nobody is sure about where Sting’s alliance is at just yet. I know you could have just read the 1996 recaps, but it helps me (and you!) recall exactly where we are at without doing that.

HOUR NUMBER ONE! Your hosts are Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyszko.

• Glacier vs. Bobby Eaton

We kick off 1997 with Glacier? He tries to wrestle, but it’s pretty bad. CRYONIC KICK near the ropes ends awkwardly as Eaton seems to want to kick out of the pin. They try again and Glacier puts Eaton down with the kick for real this time. (1:56) Where is MORTIS? ¼*

For all the Denim Dan’s of the world, pick up your ‘Monday Nitro’ denim shirt today for only $39.95 plus S&H!

• Konnan (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Big Bubba – Mexican Strap Match
  

The Dungeon of Doom have sent Konnan out to get revenge on Bubba for dumping them and joining up with the nWo. Bubba no-showed the strap match last week and now Tony is positive Bubba will be here this week. Most of the hot points of the match are these two whipping and choking each other with the strap. Standard strap match action. Skip ahead to the end, Konnan taps three corners and Bubba kicks him down when he heads over to the fourth corner. In any other strap match, falling on your back would mean you had to start over again, but not this time. As Konnan gets back up, Bubba punches him into the fourth corner for the win. (5:50) Bubba is PISSED and delivers a post-match BUBBA SLAM. ½*

In the back, Gene Okerlund asks Kevin Sullivan why he and Chris Benoit don’t settle their problems and go after the real enemy: the new World order. No answer. Okerlund mentions another video that doesn’t involve Benoit and Woman. Uh oh. Sullivan refuses to go into the matter.

After a break, Gene Okerlund brings out the Four Horsemen minus Chris Benoit and Woman. Where are they at, Nature Boy? It’s the same old story: when she’s been married to the Devil for ten years, she needs a night out with Chris Benoit. He assures that Benoit is “working her out in true Horsemen fashion” as we speak. Alright, Ric. WOO! Debra runs her mouth off about Woman again. As she sticks her arm out, Ric starts to kiss it on down. Uhhhh. She brings up Jeff Jarrett saying that he’s the most professional member of the Four Horsemen. Uhhhh. Out comes Jeff Jarrett. He asks Ric if he wants a part-time Horsemen like Chris Benoit or a full-time Horsemen who can do it ALL night long. Arn interrupts and speaks the truth. Jeff Jarrett is not a Horsemen and if he wants to be a Horsemen, he needs to quit whining about being some sort of victim. Jeff responds to Arn’s comments by saying that he didn’t come out here to talk to a guy who has always played second fiddle whether it was to Ole, to Tully, or to Ric. He didn’t come to talk to the horse’s rear, he came to the lead horse. Oh you just messed up, son. Arn beats Jeff Jarrett all the way to the ring while Flair and Mongo stand back and let it go. The crowd is flipping out and they want a DDT, but Jarrett fights back with a swinging neckbreaker and pins Arn with his feet on the ropes as the ref counts three. Huh? This was not a match. Debra stands in front of Jarrett while he’s in the corner to keep the REAL Horsemen off him – specifically Arn Anderson. Flair grabs Debra by the arm and Mongo pushes him back. For some reason, Mongo doesn’t seem to mind that his wife is standing up for this guy. Meanwhile, Arn is tempted to bash Mongo from behind with the briefcase. He thinks better of it though. Once everything settles down, Flair and Jarrett give the crowd STEREO FARGO STRUTS. Arn says the heck with it and walks out on the Horsemen. Tony says that after everything that has happened with the Horsemen over the last ten years, it’s women who could break them apart. Probably the best segment of the night.

WCW Saturday Night! Watch it IF YOU WEEL! 6:05PM eastern! TBS! The Amazing French Canadians, Rey Mysterio, Psychosis, the TV champ Lord Steven Regal, Diamond Dallas Page and many others will all be in action! Don’t miss out! It’s the MUTHASHIP! PAY WINDAHS, CLUBBERIN, AND PLUNDAH, BABY!

• WCW World Television Champion Lord Steven Regal vs. Jim Duggan

This was supposed to be Regal-DDP, but he doesn’t show up. Regal comes out to the ‘Masterpiece Theatre’ theme song for the first time. The old Mid-South hero subs for DDP as the man gets a HUGE pop. Eric Bischoff, Kevin Nash, and Syxx take over the announce table to hopefully explain DDP’s absence. Bischoff announces that DDP has jumped ship over to the nWo and he’s out having dinner with Scott Hall right now working out the details. Meanwhile, Duggan is making trouble for Regal with clotheslines all the time. Bischoff also announces that the first ever Miss nWo will be crowned at Souled Out. Polaroids are okay with Big Kev. Syxx says no fat chicks or heinous broads. Bischoff says Duggan is as thick as a house. Nash translates for the Louisianans: Duggan is as thick as a double-wide. Back to the match, Duggan fights out of a chinlock only to get caught in a full nelson. This is like the worst match to have the new World order talking over. Bischoff tells all the WCW guys that they can no longer become nWo members. They have had their chance and they blew it. Except for Randy Savage, Great Muta, Konnan, Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, Brian Adams, Dusty Rhodes, Scott Steiner. All of those guys can still join up if it works for the nWo. Also, Bischoff tells Randy Savage to stop calling because its over. Get a job somewhere else. Syxx or Bischoff does one TERRIBLE Randy Savage impression. In the ring, out comes the tape and Regal gets KO’ed right as the bell sounds for the time-limit draw. (8:27) I’m assuming they thought ten minutes was up, but WCW never could tell time. Duggan gives up his American flag in favor of a giant WCW flag he conveniently found in the front row. ¾*

• Hugh Morrus vs. Jim Powers (w/Teddy Long)

Tony and Larry Z are back. Hugh Morrus has some different funky bass music. Powers does alright against Morrus, but gets caught for a powerslam to set up NO LAUGHING MATTER. (1:41) Done. ¼*

HOUR NUMBER TWO! Your hosts are Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan, and Mike Tenay.

In case you missed it, they show Arn Anderson exploding on Jeff Jarrett from earlier in the show.

• Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Psychosis

Since we’re watching cruiserweights, Tenay mentions that Jushin Liger won the J-Crown from Ultimo Dragon in Tokyo on the previous Saturday, but did not win the cruiserweight belt because Dragon won that title before the match was signed. Rough start to the second hour as Tony, Bobby, and Mike all talk over each other. Planned or not, it makes you look RETARDED. In the ring, they run off the ropes and Psychosis gets the better of Mysterio with a giant hiptoss to the floor. Psychosis flubs a split legged moonsault on the floor. Back in, he stops a springboard from Mysterio with a dropkick. Flying Spinning Heel Kick gets two. Back to the floor, Psychosis loses his balance up top and tries again. Once he leaps at Mysterio, he moves out of the way causing Psychosis to eat the railing. Mysterio fake dives on Psychosis and then dives for real with a springboard somersault plancha onto Psychosis! Back inside, Mysterio hits a split-legged moonsault for two. Victory roll gets two. Being as tall as he is, Psychosis knees out of a headscissors on the mat and slams Rey for the GUILLOTINE LEG DROP for 1-2-NO! Powerbomb gets two, but then he tries another one and Rey flips out into a sunset flip for 1-2-NO! Rey flips over the top rope to the apron and draws Psychosis in as he tries a dropkick, but fails and hits the ropes. SPRINGBOARD HURRACANRANA from Mysterio gets 1-2-3! (6:44) Great sample of the quality show that Rey and Psychosis were capable of putting on. ***

• Kevin Sullivan (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Tony mentions a clip they wanted to show involving Sullivan and Benoit at Starrcade, but the director shows a clip of the nWo beating up Eddie Guerrero at Starrcade instead. Try again. Sullivan treats Chavo like he’s a nobody jobber OR Joe Gomez. While all this is going on, they show the clip of Sullivan exploding that wooden chair over the back of Benoit’s head. Tree of Woe sets up the DOUBLE STOMP to give Sullivan the win. (2:18) Surely there was somebody else they could have used here. ¼*

Flashback to last week: The new World order beat Roddy Piper up so bad, he started speaking gibberish as he was being carried into an ambulance on a stretcher.

• WCW U.S. Heavyweight Champion Eddie Guerrero vs. Alex Wright

Okay, now they show Eddie Guerrero getting attacked by the Outsiders and Syxx as Eddie gets his title stolen from him. That leads to Tony announcing a ladder match between Syxx and Eddie Guerrero for the US title at Souled Out. Nevertheless, Eddie is the US champion without a belt. Headlock by Eddie to start. He delivers a tilt-a-whirl headscissors, but gets a follow up dropkick swatted away as Wright takes over with necktie headscissors takedowns. They seem to get a little lost on the mat though. Guerrero picks things up with a jumping knee kick and the Hilo gets two. Wright comes back with a clothesline and wears Eddie down on the mat with a chinlock. Meanwhile, Syxx comes out, sets up a big ladder, and stands near the top to show off the US belt around his waist. Of course, that pisses Eddie off and Wright nearly scores the upset win with a rollup. Wright brings the offense and tries to get the win over the flustered Guerrero, but nothing will work. Wright misses a corner charge, but catches Eddie with a spinning heel kick. Northern Lights suplex gets two. Next up, Eddie stops Wright up top for a superplex and then delivers the FROG SPLASH for the 1-2-3. (9:06) A little awkward here and there, but you have to appreciate the effort put in by Alex Wright once Syxx came out. Afterwards, Eddie chases Syxx to the back. **½

It’s time to check in with Lee Marshall for the 1-800-COLLECT Road Report. Gotta make sure that man is doing his job – whatever it is. He’s in New Orleans to hype next week’s Nitro.

• Harlem Heat (w/Sister Sherri) vs. The Amazing French Canadians (w/Col. Robert Parker)

This feud is still going on? The Heat dump out Oulette to give Jacques a double suplex. Once the action normalizes, Jacques telegraphs a backdrop and eats a hook kick from Booker. He misses an elbow drop, but SPINAROONIES up and decks Jacques with the Harlem Sidekick. Col. Parker distracts Booker so Oulette can clothesline the crap out of him. That allows the AFC to take control. They launch Booker into a double hotshot before Jacques gives him a piledriver. Jacques applies the Boston Crab while Oulette delivers the flying legdrop. In comes Stevie Ray to make a save and that allows the AFC’s flagpole to get involved. Oulette hits Jacques by mistake and then he gets taken out by a Harlem Sidekick. HOT TAG TO STEVIE RAY! Heat Bomb on Jacques gets the 1-2-3. (4:07) Alright, so that’s enough of these two teams. Not really all that bad of a way to spend four minutes. Col. Parker says the Heat will pay for their double-teaming ways. NOOOOO! *½

The nWo Souled Out “Back in Black” ad airs. That show comes your way on January 25!

After the break, they show a clip of Sting whispering things to Lex Luger and the Giant after he laid his bat in the center of the ring at Starrcade. We get to see Luger tearing down the Giant with the baseball bat, but not the incredible pop that occurred after the three-count.

• Lex Luger vs. Meng

Seems like a meaningless main event to me. Mostly a punch-kick offense from Meng to start. He hits a Piledriver, but Luger kicks out at two. Before you know it, Luger makes his signature comeback and hoists Meng up in the TORTURE RACK. Oops, down goes the ref. Barbarian runs in and attacks Luger. Next thing you know, Luger powerslams Barbarian and lifts him up in the TORTURE RACK. The ref is now up on his feet and calls for the bell even though it’s clearly not Meng. (4:51) Oh well. Meng and Barbarian are basically the same person anyway. ¾*

There’s ten minutes left, which means it’s time for the nWo! A sad-looking Elizabeth walks out with Eric Bischoff. Hollywood Hogan leads the way to the ring. Bischoff is still trying to convince everyone that Hogan beat Piper at Starrcade. And now he’s saying that Hogan beat the Giant up all by himself too! This continues on until the Giant runs out. The Giant proceeds to tear through the nWo (including Nick Patrick who took a crazy press slam to the floor onto a few guys!) until there’s just Bischoff and Hogan left in the ring. Giant catches Hogan’s punch and powers him down to the mat. The crowd is losing their minds right now. Bischoff pounds on the Giant’s back trying to get him to stop, but that’s just stupid. Giant signals for a chokeslam as he stares down Bischoff, but here comes Hogan with the deadly steel chair to take down the Giant. Now everybody from the new World order joins in to take out the Giant. After he’s knocked out, they hold him up while Bischoff kicks him in the face. As the nWo leaves and takes over the announce table, Sting comes out and heads to the ring with his baseball bat. Bischoff thinks Sting is going to finish off the Giant, but the guy whispers something in the Giant’s ear just like at Starrcade. Once he’s done, Sting points his bat at the nWo and then decides to leave. Hollywood, Nash, and Bischoff are all talking like Sting is in the group. Now they send Vincent to the ring to get Sting’s bat. Vincent kicks at the Giant a little bit to make sure he’s knocked out. Once he gets all confident, the Giant stands up and CHOKESLAMS Vincent straight to hell. The nWo hits the ring, but there’s nothing they can do about a giant man swinging a baseball bat.

Massive “WE WANT STING” chants go up.

Sorry, Giant.