WCW Monday Nitro
March 17, 1997
Savannah, GA
Civic Center

The current WCW champs were as follows:
WCW World Champion: Hollywood Hogan (8/10/1996)
WCW U.S. Champion: Dean Malenko (3/16/1997)
WCW World Tag Team Champions: The Outsiders (10/27/1996)
WCW World Television Champion: Prince Iaukea (2/17/1997)
WCW Cruiserweight Champion: Syxx (2/23/1997)
WCW Women’s Champion: Akira Hokuto (12/29/1996)

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

• Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Psychosis
  

Some decent mat stuff to start. Psychosis avoids a Quebrada, but can’t shake loose from a monkey flip. Springboard floatover headscissors sends Psychosis to the floor as Rey runs down the apron and gives Psychosis a headscissors to take him down the aisle. Back in, Psychosis runs Mysterio into the corner, but misses a corner charge and falls back outside. Somersault plancha by Rey! Back in again, Mysterio puts Psychosis away with the SPRINGBOARD HURRACANRANA for the 1-2-3. (3:47) Seems like a missed opportunity to have a better match as its more of a squash, but possibly they want to get Rey some heat back after losing to Iaukea. Who knows. Good while it lasted. **

Gene Okerlund is standing by with Arn Anderson for an interview. After suffering a neck injury at Halloween Havoc that has caused paralysis in his left hand, he’s going to have the neck fusion surgery that has become so common in wrestling. He wanted to wait on the surgery to make sure that Horsemen business was taken care of before he went away. With Ric Flair returning soon, he’s not worried about his crew anymore. I just love how kayfabe Arn Anderson is. He also proves how TOUGH he is saying that just in case he doesn’t wake up from his surgery or if he’s never the same again, he wants to have a clean slate with Kevin Sullivan. Before he leaves, he reminds us that we haven’t seen the last of Arn Anderson.

• Diamond Dallas Page vs. Maxx
  

SUPER EXCITING stills are shown of Randy Savage and Liz attacking DDP and Kimberly from last night’s PPV. DDP comes out looking less JACKED than usual and just PISSED OFF as he meets his ex-bodyguard in the ring who is now a part of the Dungeon of Doom. It isn’t too long before Maxx gets BANGED. (1:34) I’m sure that made DDP feel a little better. ¼*

Gene Okerlund meets DDP who reminds him of the whole terrible situation from last night. DDP calls Savage a dead man walking. And what do you know? There’s a dead man in the stands! Randy Savage tells Page that he needs to get the bass out of his voice when he’s talking about a legend like himself when he is a wrestler with no name. He ponders whether he should wrestle DDP tonight or later. Hmm. DDP doesn’t wait for an answer and goes right after Savage to chase him backstage.

Before the next match begins, Eric Bischoff and the Outsiders stop by to announce to the world that they will put up the WCW world tag belts against a top team tonight like it’s the biggest deal ever. All the top contenders are in the building, but could we see another rematch for EXTREME? You’ll have to tune in and find out.

• Hugh Morrus & Konnan (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Renegade & Joe Gomez
  

The story goes that Jimmy Hart has been getting Morrus and Konnan working like a well-oiled machine. Gomez does something stupid like a running knee smash in the corner and misses! Thus begins a four minute long break down of his knee from the Dungeon. Finally, HOT TAG TO RENEGADE! Then like an idiot, he tags back in Gomez, who eats a Rolling Lariat from Konnan and the NO LAUGHING MATTER from Morrus for the 1-2-3. (5:09) Pedestrian stuff. ¾*

• WCW U.S. Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko vs. Scotty Riggs
  

So Riggs loses a strap match last night to Bagwell, and gets rewarded with a US title shot? Riggs starts off fine, but telegraphs a backdrop for a swinging neckbreaker. To the floor, Malenko drops Riggs on the guardrail. Back inside, we see a rollup sequence. Riggs starts up a quick comeback, but Malenko ends that with a hotshot and a wheelbarrow rollup for the win. (2:31) Sometimes it’s just cooler to not end with the usual finisher. Malenko tells the world that he still wants Syxx and the Cruiserweight belt. Tony calls him greedy, forgetting that the belt was CHEATED off him. ¾*

WCW Saturday Night! Watch it IF YOU WEEL! 6:05PM eastern! TBS! The Steiner brothers and new US champ Dean Malenko will be in action. Plus, you’ll get to see Kevin Sullivan and Jacqueline together! You’ll also get to see the Giant, Lex Luger, and more! Don’t miss out! It’s the MUTHASHIP! PAY WINDAHS, CLUBBERIN, AND PLUNDAH, BABY!

• Lex Luger & The Giant vs. Knuckles Nelson & T. Rantula
  

The entrance graphic still labeled Lex and Giant as the tag champs for whatever reason. Knuckles Nelson and T. Rantula look like jobbers who spend the other six nights of the week in prison. This doesn’t last long as Knuckles take the CHOKESLAM to give Giant and Luger the win even though the crowd really wants to see Luger put the bigger T. Rantula in the TORTURE RACK. (2:49) Oh well. ½*

Over to Gene Okerlund, Giant and Luger thank Sting for finally coming home. What Sting showed us all last night has all of a sudden, for no clear reason, and with no connections in any way, made Luger believe in some strange things now like Santa Claus, leprechauns, the Easter bunny, and the tooth fairy. His words.

Stills are shown of the Glacier-Mortis match and the debut of Wrath who we have no name for as of yet.

• Ultimo Dragon (w/Sonny Oono) vs. Bobby Eaton
  

Since we’re short on time, Dragon quickly finishes him off with the DRAGON HURRACANRANA. (1:17) Poor Bobby. ¼*

Out comes the new World order. They make it short and sweet this week. Hollywood Hogan says that since they have all the bad dudes on their side, the nWo will rule for all eternity. Bischoff suggests to Randy Savage that he would love to see him beat DDP’s tail. Savage is down for it. And for the biggest announcement of the night, the Outsiders are giving the Steiners a tag team titles shot at Spring Stampede. BAM! Somebody in the crowd tosses a cup at Hall’s head. TOO SWEET!

Call the nWo hotline. It’s cheaper than the WCW hotline.

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

• Jeff Jarrett & Steve McMichael (w/Debra) vs. Alex Wright & Mark Starr
  

Stills are shown of the Harlem Heat-Public Enemy match from UnCeNSoReD where Mongo and Jarrett interfered to cost Public Enemy the match. Jarrett and Mongo show off how in sync they are against these two. Mongo takes out Starr’s knee like a good football player to set him up for the FIGURE FOUR. (1:52) Out comes Public Enemy after the fact to get into a short little ringside brawl. Even Debra uses the briefcase on Grunge. Mongo and Jarrett beat them away so they can have a quick interview with Gene Okerlund in peace. Bring it to Spring Stampede, Public Enemy. ½*

On the Road with Lee Marshall: He’s in Duluth, Minnesota where next week’s sold out Monday Nitro will take place! Another awful weasel joke, another great comeback by Bobby Heenan.

• Scott Norton vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.
  

Chavo tries to take out Norton’s knees, but he never gets Norton off his feet. A nasty powerbomb from Norton ends Chavo. (2:33) Poor Chavo. ¾*

In the back or at some other place, Hollywood Hogan and Dennis Rodman talk about amazing it is when Hollywood and the real Hot Rod gets together. Rodman mentions something happening in July.

Hmm, that’s interesting. The entire segment of the Outsiders title defense against Bunkhouse Buck and Mike Enos is completely MISSING from my tape. From other reports, it sounded a bit interesting too.

• Chris Benoit (w/Woman) vs. Billy Kidman
  

Before you can say ‘weight lifting machine’, Kidman submits to the CRIPPLER CROSSFACE. (:53) Is this the debut of the Crippler Crossface? ¼*

Gene Okerlund wants a word with Benoit and Woman. Ric Flair shows up out of nowhere to join the crew. After Kevin Sullivan’s “son” made some comments about his dad being dead to him now, Benoit gives Sullivan some advice saying that he needs to step back and figure his life out. Pot, kettle, black. Now it’s time for the NATCHA BOY. Was Roddy Piper complaining about Ric Flair not being at UnCeNSoReD last night? He was in Savannah with all the finest ladies. Word on the street is, Piper dropped the ball. Whoa. Flair recalls a man who a few weeks back came out on nationwide TV and said he just wanted to go home to his wife and babies. Maybe if Flair had listened to that Roddy Piper, then the Four Horsemen would have won at the PPV last night. When you’re a part of the Horsemen, you don’t play that game. From Flair’s point of view, there’s two choices in life. Go home to your wife and babies, or you can be a part of the Four Horsemen and dance all night. WOOO!

• Rick & Scott Steiner vs. Harlem Heat (w/Sister Sherri)
  

Holy crap Miguel Tampón is on the mic! If he’s in Savannah, that must mean we will see him weekly now! We are moving on up, folks. Scott eats a Hook Kick from Booker, but then delivers a press slam. Tag to Rick, he seems fine by the way. Harlem Heat be clubberin’ on him though. Side slam connects, but Booker misses an elbow to set up a tag to Scott. Overhead suplex on Booker! Rick and Stevie Ray brawl to the floor. This goes on until the nWo attack – even Hollywood Hogan is here – to throw out the match. (3:23) The Outsiders try to reinjure Rick Steiner now that they have offered them up a tag titles shot at Spring Stampede. Lex Luger and the Giant make the save to even the playing field a little bit. Once the nWo scatters in the aisle, Sting descends from the rafters down amongst his WCW brethren and points his bat at Hollywood Hogan while Hollywood stands back looking like he just peed himself. *

AND WE OUT!

Some matches have already been announced for Spring Stampede on April 6!

• MAIN EVENT: Randy Savage vs. Diamond Dallas Page
  
• WCW World Tag Team Champions The Outsiders vs. Rick & Scott Steiner
  
• Steve McMichael & Jeff Jarrett vs. The Public Enemy