WCW Monday Nitro
March 24, 1997
Duluth, MN
Convention 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.

They show Larry “The Axe” Hennig in the audience.

• WCW U.S. Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko vs. Konnan
  

Malenko has an unexplained band-aid over his left eyebrow. Konnan tries to be all technical while Malenko remains aggressive with stomps and such. Cruiserweight champ Syxx interrupts on the split-screen. He makes it sound like he and Eddie are in co-hoots. Back to the match, Konnan unloads with a powerbomb for two. La Magistral gets two. Konnan heads up, but flies down into the TEXAS CLOVERLEAF to give Malenko the win. (3:29) Not bad. *½

Over to Gene Okerlund, Malenko says he’s going to get to the bottom of why whenever he sees Eddie Guerrero, Syxx isn’t too far away. Right now though, he has his attention turned to Chris Benoit, as they will be meeting at Spring Stampede.

We see ACTUAL FOOTAGE of Mortis and Wrath (still unnamed) beating up Glacier at UnCeNSoReD.

• Mortis (w/James Vandenberg) vs. Jerry Flynn
  

Some nice kicks traded to start. Mortis turns his back on Flynn and pays for it with more kicks. Then Flynn runs into a boot in the corner. Mortis delivers a Rocker Dropper out of the corner for two. Vandenberg gets involved and chokes on Flynn a little bit. Another try at the Rocker Dropper and Flynn counters with a powerbomb! HERE COMES FLYNN! Oh, but there’s a low blow to the balls and another superkick. Before the FLATLINER was Edge’s Downward Spiral, it was a Super Samoan Drop. That’s enough to put Flynn away for the 1-2-3. (4:55) The crowd seemed totally into Mortis here. According to Tony, Mortis is a FORCE. *½

• Juventud Guerrera vs. La Parka
  

Well, dang. Would you look at La Parka. He’s all decked out in his sombrero and golden monkey skull belt. Shoving match to start. Juvi satellites around La Parka and lands on his feet only to answer with a spinning back kick. La Parka backdrops Guerrera to the apron and struts away. He doesn’t realize Juvi landed on his feet. Look out! Flying bodypress by Juvi, but he’s caught. La Parka proceeds to strut with Juvi in his arms towards the other corner. He puts Juvi on the top turnbuckle and gives him a good slap before he has a seizure as he walks away. Here comes Juvi with a flying headscissors. That sends La Parka out to the floor only to be taken out with a springboard dive by Guerrera. Crazy! Back in, a springboard dropkick gets two. Double-jump moonsault by La Parka that pretty much missed Juvi all together gets two. Guerrera charges into a backbreaker rack on La Parka’s shoulders, but he just throws him down and nails him good with a spinning heel kick. To the floor, La Parka hits Juvi with a great tope suicida! They fight over a suplex on the apron, which goes nowhere. Juvi shoulder butts La Parka back and wipes him out with a springboard somersault kick. Guerrera wants a top-rope hurracanrana, but La Parka blocks the move and pulls Juvi back up for a powerbomb! CORKSCREW SENTON gets the 1-2-3! (4:19) I think the only wrestler I’ve ever seen La Parka beat in WCW was Juventud Guerrera. Anyways, that was a lot of action packed into a little over four minutes and the botches were down to a minimum. What more can you ask from our luchadore friends? **½

We see a video recap of the Steiners-Outsiders feud from the past three months. That sets up a Steiner brothers interview with Gene Okerlund. All we need to know is, they are ready for their tag titles match with those jerks who call themselves the Outsiders.

• Public Enemy vs. High Voltage
  

Public Enemy do in fact bring a table with them to ringside. High Voltage attacks early, but fails and gets cleared out to the floor. Once things calm down, Rocco and Rage start us off. Kaos causes a distraction, allowing Rage to take Rocco down with a back suplex. Kaos tags in and delivers a tilt-a-whirl side slam. DANG! Tag to Rage, he tries a standing moonsault and misses. HOT TAG TO GRUNGE! Rage gets tossed out near the table. Meanwhile, Kaos takes the QUEBECER CRASH. The crowd is chanting for the “table”, so Rage gets splashed through the table. YAY! Now Jeff Jarrett and Debra storm down to ringside and while the ref is paying attention to Rocco and Rage, JJ cracks Grunge over the back of the head with the Haliburton. Then Jarrett puts Kaos on top of Grunge for the 1-2-3. (3:46) What a big huge colossal upset! Mongo heads down in street clothes to ask why he wasn’t consulted for this activity? *

Gene Okerlund is standing by with Lex Luger and the Giant. Giant says he doesn’t want to have to fight his good buddy Lex Luger at Spring Stampede in the four corners match, but he will in order to get a WCW world title shot. Luger is not too concerned. He’s still way too happy about Sting showing his true colors. He does tell Hogan to either pick the Chokeslam or the Torture Rack, because as far as Lex is concerned, those are his only two choices.

• Psychosis vs. Super Calo
  

During the entrances, Sonny Oono cuts a split-screen promo making fun of Rey Mysterio calling him the only wrestler he has to bend down to speak to. His man Ultimo Dragon will be facing Rey at Spring Stampede in their PPV rubber match. Rey won at Hog Wild and Dragon won at World War 3. Onto the match at hand, lots of kicks traded back and forth to start. Calo walks up the ropes and then comes back at Psychosis with an armdrag to take him to the floor. Psychosis ducks a slide through the ropes. Back in, Psychosis drops Calo on the top rope and gives him a springboard spinning heel kick. Crucifix by Calo, followed by front dropkick to send Psychosis to the floor. Calo runs down the apron and gives Psychosis a somersault headscissors to take Psychosis clear up the aisle! Over by the apron, Calo delivers his signature slingshot senton to the floor. Back inside the ring, Calo flies down into a spinning heel kick. That stuns Calo long enough for a GUILLOTINE LEGDROP by Psychosis for the 1-2-3. (3:25) Again, another short match with loads of action. I feel like La Parka-Juvi was just a little better though. **

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

We get an ‘in case you missed the first hour’ recap to kick off the HOTTEST hour of wrestling in the history of our sport!

• Chris Benoit vs. Hugh Morrus (w/Jimmy Hart)
  

To be so cold physically, this crowd is HOT tonight. Once Benoit stops chopping, Morrus gives off a press slam and follows up with an avalanche in the corner. Benoit comes back with a dragon screw leg whip and a nasty release German suplex. He goes for the SWANDIVE HEADBUTT, but Konnan comes from the back and shoves him off. That sets up Benoit nicely for the NO LAUGHING MATTER to give Morrus the win. (1:53) Pretty much his biggest win ever. Morrus and Konnan attack Benoit and here comes Kevin Sullivan to join the fray. Dean Malenko tries to make the save out of his respect for Benoit, but ends up failing. Here comes the NATCHA BOY to kick everyone in that crew in the balls to send the Dungeon packing. That’s the first little bit of action we’ve seen Ric Flair have since last September. ¾*

• Harlem Heat (w/Sister Sherri) vs. The Faces of Fear
  

The FACES OF FEAR ARE HERE! YES! This is a rematch from Saturday Night. Anyone know WHY Harlem Heat are considered top contenders to the world title to be involved in that four corners match at Spring Stampede? Barbarian and Booker start us off. Booker leaps in Barbarian’s arms and takes a hotshot thanks to Meng. Back in, Booker elbows Barbarian away from a back superplex and drills him with a crossbody out of the corner for two. Stevie Ray comes in and does Stevie Ray things while the crowd chants “WE WANT BOOKER.” Holy crap. He gets owned for a bit until Booker catches Barbarian with a knee from the apron and Stevie Ray drops Barb with a big boot. Tag to Booker, he hits the Ax Kick. He tries the Harlem Sidekick, but Barbarian moves and Booker gets crotched only to have Meng run over and clothesline him back into the ring. STEREO FLYING HEADBUTTS from the FOF! Cover by Meng, 1-2-NO! Now Booker plays face in peril while the Faces of Fear take turns delivering side slams and backbreakers. It’s really all pretty fun stuff. In a weird moment, Sherri distracts the ref while Stevie Ray comes in and breaks up an ab stretch. When the ref turns back around, he doesn’t make Stevie Ray leave. Apparently, they all look alike to ref Mickey Jay. Who knew he was a possible racist? After Stevie Ray beats down Meng, he tags Booker for a Rocket Launcher for two. I love that they are bringing that move back. It makes so much sense for them to do that move. Harlem Sidekick scores another nearfall. Booker telegraphs a backdrop and gets drilled with a Sitout Powerbomb by Meng for 1-2-NO! Stevie Ray and Barbarian head out to the floor to brawl. Inside the ring, Sherri pushes Booker out of the way of a corner charge from Meng only for her to somehow take the brunt of the impact. That knocks her all the way to the floor. Booker gives Meng another kick to the head and schoolboys him up with a handful of tights for the 1-2-3! (9:28) Boy, that’s the longest Nitro match in weeks! As they celebrate, they take a loopy Sister Sherri to the back. It’s probably not the first time. Good match! You can always count on the Faces of Fear for a fun hard-fought encounter. Hulk Hogan, Harlem Heat is coming for you, nigga. **½

Gene Okerlund brings out Ric Flair and Chris Benoit for an interview. Benoit sends out the usual threats to Kevin Sullivan and tells Dean Malenko that his respect is not something he wants to lose. Flair says pretty much the same thing he did last week.

• Madusa vs. Malia Hosaka
  

They need to get Madusa geared up for Hokuto at the PPV. Hosaka kicks Madusa around out of the corner and slaps on a Boston crab. Madusa powers out into a rollup sequence. Hey, I see a tramp stamp! This match is just falling apart. I’ll just skip ahead to the finish. BRIDGING GERMAN SUPLEX gets the win for Madusa. (2:47) Let’s just move on. ½*

On the Road with Lee Marshall: He’s in Roanoke, Virginia to hype next week’s Monday Nitro. Another awful weasel joke, another great comeback by Bobby Heenan.

• Jim Duggan vs. The Renegade
  

Duggan is back! I never realized he ever left. As long as people like chanting USA, Duggan will be over. He teases using his crotch tape before the bell, but throws it out to the fans instead. It’s a new day! HOOOO! Heenan makes fun of Tony thinking a roll of tape is some sort of souvenir. Renegade resorts to almost heel tactics to work over Duggan. Looks like Renegade is trying to work heel now that he has split from Joe Gomez. I mean, big whoop. Eventually, Renegade hits the Handspring Splash in the corner, but Duggan NO-SELLS and pulls out another roll of crotch tape. HOOOO! Down goes Renegade. Cover, 1-2-3. (3:44) Heenan finds Duggan’s “plan” less than brilliant. Duggan tells the camera that he can beat up Hogan, tough guy. ¼*

And now it’s time for a special video look at Sting destroying the nWo at UnCeNSoReD.

• Rick & Scott Steiner vs. The Amazing French Canadians (w/Col. Robert Parker)
  

The AFC try the Canadian national anthem, but stop when they realize that they are terrible. Oulette and Scott start us off. Pumphandle Slam on Oulette brings in Rougeau, who then with Oulette gets wiped out by Rick with a double Steinerline. On the floor, Oulette catches Scott coming off the apron and sends him into the guardrail. Back in, the AFC hit some double-team moves before Oulette eats a boot as he comes off the middle rope. HOT TAG TO RICK! The match breaks down as Parker grabs hold of Scott’s leg from the floor. That allows Oulette to knock Scott through the ropes. Meanwhile, Rougeau gives Rick a piledriver! Col. Parker tries to whack Scott with the AFC’s flagpole, but misses and takes a forearm to the face. On the inside, the AFC deliver the QUEBECER CRASH to Rick! Scott brings the flagpole with him into the ring, which keeps the ref from counting the pin. The AFC try to KO Rick with Parker’s boot, but that backfires and Oulette gets pinned to give the Steiners the win. (4:00) Complicated ending, that’s for sure. ¾*

• WCW World Television Champion Prince Iaukea vs. Randy Savage (w/the New World Order)
  

No Michael Buffer this week. Perhaps even he couldn’t make the name Iaukea sound awesome. So even though the nWo can get a title match at any time they want after UnCeNSoReD, they first choose going after the TV title instead of the US title? We’ve got Elizabeth, Kevin Nash, Syxx, Eric Bischoff, Nick Patrick, Ted DiBiase, and Vincent all accompanying Randy Savage to the ring to wrestle freakin’ Prince Iaukea. Scott Hall couldn’t make it to the show. In 1997, the reason would be a whole bunch of snow. In 1998, the reason would be booze. Iaukea actually gets in more offense than you might expect. Of course, for him to even be in the ring with Randy Savage just says how cool Randy must be. Iaukea comes off the top and Savage just ducks the flying bodypress. Savage goes to work and hits the MACHO ELBOW for 1-2-NO! He lifts Iaukea up as DDP (wearing a Minnesota Gophers t-shirt!) makes his way through the crowd down to ringside. He plows through the nWo and gets his hands on Randy Savage, but it’s only a matter of time before the numbers game takes over. (3:16) Nash gives both Page and then Iaukea JACKKNIFE POWERBOMBS just because he can. Savage and Nash hold up DDP so Eric Bischoff can kick him in the head. He’s a karate expert, ya know! No Sting this week. Iaukea and DDP get spray painted as we go off the air. ½*

AND WE OUT!

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

• MAIN EVENT: Randy Savage vs. Diamond Dallas Page
  
• Lex Luger vs. The Giant vs. Booker T vs. Stevie Ray – Winner gets a WCW world title shot
  
• WCW U.S. Champion Dean Malenko vs. Chris Benoit
  
• WCW World Tag Team Champions The Outsiders vs. Rick & Scott Steiner
  
• WCW Womens Champion Akira Hokuto vs. Madusa
  
• Steve McMichael & Jeff Jarrett vs. The Public Enemy
  
• Rey Mysterio vs. Ultimo Dragon