Interlude: This Nitro is officially the second Nitro ever as the first one took place on September 4th, 1995 while RAW did not air due to the Westminster Dog Show. The first-ever Nitro did set up a lot of stuff so I'll breeze through the major happenings before heading into Nitro. The show opened with an exhilarating cruiserweight contest against the foreigner Jushin "Thunder" Liger and Flyin' Brian. Hulk fucking Hogan cuts a promo with a bunch of little kids in is Pasta-mania restaurant and hypes up his WCW Worlds Heavyweight Championship defense against Big Bubba Rogers in the main event. Ric Flair takes on Sting for the WCW United States Championship and retains via DQ from Arn Anderson who still has beef with Ric Flair. This match also famously saw the return of Lex Luger to WCW.
Scott Norton beefs with Mongo and Macho Man as we get hype packages for the debuting Sabu and Michael Wallstreet. Luger helps Hogan fight off the Dungeon of Doom only for Hogan to get bitchy and ask why he's taking his spotlight (brother.) Luger wants a title shot and is granted it next week on Nitro. Also, we saw the GOAT, Pepe McMichael
WCW Nitro: Nitro emanates from Miami, Florida here tonight, before it was full of dumbasses and racists. It was just full of cokeheads at this point. Part of the hype for this episode is Hogan defending his World Heavyweight title against Luger and the debuts of Sabu and V.K Wallstreet. The commentary goes over the actions of last week which saw the title match get set and mention that Hogan's team is down a member. Vader is listed as AWOL for War Games this Sunday. After a bit of back and forth, it is time to get into the action!
Sabu vs Alex Wright
The announcers spend a lot of time during intros hyping up Sabu. Mongo even compares him to fullbacks from the NFL, who are known for their toughness and grit. Bobby Heenan brings up that he is banned in 17 countries. I don't know how much truth there is to that but hey, it sounds cool. They say suicide is a great way to describe his wrestling style, big yikes but I understand they are trying to get over the nickname and persona as a mad man. Oh, Alex Wright is here too as we get right into the action.
Not even spending time on a lock-up, Wright whips Sabu down with an arm drag but Sabu gets him right back with a choke transitioning into a springboard back leg drop on a seated Wright. Lots of dives and athletic maneuvers showcasing Sabu's willingness to risk his own body to inflict damage on his opponent. Trying to go for his patented Chair step up sidekick on the outside, Sabu misses as Alex Wright notices and gets out of the way and allows Sabu to crash side first into the metal barricade. Alex Wright begins to mount his first bit of substantial offense on the outside as the announcers put over the pedigree of Wright and how he has just turned 20 but has already toured all over the world. Beautiful dropkick from Wright off the top rope. The elevation was insane.
Wright continues to impress with a backflip off the top rope into a german suplex with a BRIDGE, only for a 2 count. After that Wright gets crotched up top and Sabu does some awkward head scissors off the top for what I thought was the win but I guess it wasn't? Sabu puts the boots to Alex Wright and looks for loot in the form of a table. Picking it up and placing Wright on it on the outside before springboarding from in the ring to the table which caused the ref to call for DQ and Wright gets the win
My Rating: *1/2
Time for a Ric Flair promo after the result of last week's United States Title match. He comes out and talks about how last night was the first time in a long time he had a night on the town without his confidant, Arn Anderson. He says he and Arn were like Montana and Lawrence Taylor. The superstar and the cold-blooded killer. Amid this promo, the man of the night last week, Lex Luger makes his way down to the ring. Flair just hypes up Luger who he refers to as just "Package". He goes down his height, weight, and the measurement of his arms and chest. He says that Package is going to beat Hogan here tonight and that was it, they both leave and the promo is done. Also, I guess during all that somewhere along the way Arn Anderson vs Ric Flair is announced for Fall Brawl this Sunday.
V.K Wallstreet vs Sting (c) WCW United States Title Match
This is a bit odd considering I doubt Wallstreet wins this and it's his debut but ay it is what it is. During Sting's entrance, WCW would begin the infamous tactic of spoiling Raw as it was still taped during this time. They revealed that Shawn beats the big guy. Now I kinda wish I watched RAW before this. It's fine though.
Hot start for Sting out of the gate that puts Wallstreet on the defense early. The crowd is exploding for every little thing Sting does here. A sign of the times. Sting runs the ropes and looks to attack Wallstreet but he's able to sidestep and send Sting crashing to the outside. Announcers put over Sting's jumping ability as he lands a not so safe looking springboard shoulder tackle into the ring onto Wallstreet.
Sting bounces Wallstreet's head off the top turnbuckle a few times before giving V.K the worst looking high knee into the corner I've ever seen. We live in a world where Mandy Rose does a better high knee than Sting. Stinger Splash then up top for a flying crossbody and the win. This man beat Wallstreet with a flying crossbody, not even his finish. Pretty one-sided affair here. Used to put over Sting before his big War Games match.
My Rating: 1/2 Star
Scott Norton vs Randy Savage
Scott Norton's singlet is insane, it protects like nothing on his chest. Titties all out, chest all out. Mans is jacked to the gills. Norton jumps Savage right as he gets in the ring. The bell rings and Norton starts his assault off with a nice lariat. He's playing no games. He says that Mongo McMichael is next.
A couple of clotheslines from Savage drop Norton to the outside. He climbs to the top and crowns Scott with a flying double ax-handle. Norton applies a brutal looking bear hug on Savage before dropping him to the mat. The ref checks on Macho Man as it appears he might be hurt. The announcers say that his back might be injured. Norton smartly puts the boots to the injured back.
Norton gets him goozled as he drags Savage by the neck and onto the ring apron. He transitions it into a top rope hanging DDT. He tries to capitalize on this with a top rope maneuver but Savage can get out of the way and slam Norton to the mat. For the first time a while, Savage can catch his breathe and formulate a plan against the big man. Fiery comeback spot from Savage before it's looking like it's gonna be cut off by Dungeon of Doom. Savage launches Norton into the ropes where he hits Avalanche/The Shark who ends up falling into the ring and trapping Norton's feet. Macho Man climbs to the top and hits the Elbow Drop for the win. Norton is pissed off and gets in the face of Dungeon of Doom.
My Rating: **
Lex Luger vs Hulk Hogan (c) WCW World Heavyweight Title Match
The announcers confirm Savage's injury from the last match and talk about how Hogan might be down another member for Fall Brawl. That weights heavy on Hogan's mind as he heads into another World Title defense. Feeling out process between the two early on before Hogan takes Luger down with a drop toe hold into a half nelson. Big suplex from Hogan but Luger stands right back up and flexes in his face. Hogan looks shook as the crowd erupts. After running the ropes and some elusiveness from Hulk, Luger gets him up for a suplex of his own and Hogan no-sells. He just repeats what Luger did the moment before. They are trying to put over that these two are indestructible.
Luger gets Hogan up in the torture rack. Announcers say that no one has escaped the torture rack. Hogan is fading, ref raises his arm and it falls twice. He barely keeps it up on the third on but Luger thought he had won so he drops Hogan's lifeless body back onto the mat. Luger begins to celebrate before the ref notifies him that he hasn't won. Luger goes for the pin but a kick out from Hogan. Hulk Hogan begins his comeback and hits the boot and legdrop. Right before he can pin Luger, the Dungeon of Doom run out and attack Hogan.
The match is called a disqualification. Sting and Macho Man run out to help Hogan fight them off. Hogan and Luger get in each other's faces and yell. Hogan and Macho Man ask why the Dungeon didn't attack Luger as well. Sting tries to reason with the group and says that this should be the team now that Vader is unavailable. After some arguing between all the men, Luger finally is let into the team..on one condition. If he gets his world title shot that Hogan owes him.
My Rating: 1/2 Star
Overall Rating: *
I think this show was kinda shit besides Sabu/Wright and Norton/Savage. Those two matches were solid for TV matches. I understand the gimmick they are pushing with Sabu but I still wish he got the win there. Putting Wallstreet in there against Sting just to job in his debut was kinda wack but eh. The show built up the PPV decently enough. We got an answer to who Hogan's new partner will be and Flair/Arn was announced which I think should be pretty good. Besides the main event of RAW getting ruined for me, I am excited to see what they have to offer.
Monday Night RAW: This show takes place two weeks after the Summerslam 1995 and the famous Ladder match between Shawn and Razor. Putting on a legendary performance doesn't allow these men any rest though as Shawn Michaels defends that very Intercontinental Championship against Psycho Sid. Razor Ramon on the other hand has to face off against the British Bulldog. This is hyped up as "The New Fall Season" and Vince throws out a bunch of baseball references I couldn't care less about. This particular RAW intro theme and video are not the best, it has some dude just whispering "I like it raw" in my ear. Hard 0/10 on this one.
Razor Ramon vs The British Bulldog
I am dying at the way that Vince asks Lawler a question about Razor attacking Dean Douglas in a video from weeks ago. He asks Lawler his thought and then has the biggest pop ever for Ramon's in-ring fireworks. Absolute gold man. WWF did have this dope video that showed Razor in the ring as British Bulldog entered. At first, I thought it was his titantron and it was a technical glitch but nope. Jim Cornette was accompanying Bulldog at this time and now I suddenly don't like British Bulldog.
They announce British Bulldog vs Bam Bam Bigelow for In Your House, man that is a mouthful of B's. The match starts with the two men exchanging arm locks as Bulldog tries to escape with some elusive flips. Ramon sends Bulldog over the top rope and hypes up the crowd. More work on the shoulder and arm area by Razor Ramon. Big suplex by Bulldog and Lawler believes that should be it. Oh, how the times have changed.
The announcers put over that Razor's back is still hurt from the ladder match as Bulldog goes to work on it with repeated forearms. Big press slam drops Razor onto his back as the show heads to commercial. I am convinced that the Press slam was the most over move in 1995 from this short sample size. Bulldog goes for the power slam but as he makes his way around the ring, Razor holds onto the ropes and uses his momentum to fall atop Bulldog and pin him. Vince gets a little excited and counts 3 even though the count was only 2.
Ramon dumps Bulldog off the top rope and hits him with a spinning...slap. I don't know man, Razor's cool so I'll let it go. A ref bump as Razor after a few minutes of struggling finally hits the Razor's Edge. Ramon crawls to the cover despite the ref being down as Dean Douglas runs to the ring. He does what I think is a flying knee drop from the top. Oh, shit here's 1-2-3 Kid! Douglas easily disposes of him though before he runs away. Bulldog hits the Powerslam and goes for the pin as the groggy ref tries to get to his feet. 1-2-3 Kid is on the top of the rope and hits a splash but the ref sees it and calls for the bell.
My Rating: **
Vince is in the ring with both Razor and 1-2-3 Kid after all the chaos. He mentions 1-2-3 Kid getting Razor disqualified but Kid wonders what about last week when Razor cost him his match. Kid takes offense to Razor's treating of him, he believes that Razor has always treated him like a kid even though they are friends. 1-2-3 Kid goes as far as to challenge Razor to a match next week on Raw. He proclaims that one win wasn't enough to take him seriously but maybe this second time will be enough. Razor in his awful accent calls Vince, "McMeng" and I love it. Razor accepts 1-2-3 Kid's challenge and the match is set for next week.
The Smoking Gunns vs Rad Radford/Brooklyn Brawler
Radford and Brawler start the match off by trying to get the jump on the much more established team. Double team Irish Whip sends Bart Gunn into the ropes but he holds on and slingshots Billy Gunn into the ring with a double clothesline onto the both of them. Then dual dropkicks but the Smoking Gunns. Brooklyn Brawler sends Bart Gunn off the ropes and he hits the knee of Radford who was sitting on the apron. Double back elbow by Brawler and Radford as they are getting way more offense then I thought they would. Bart Gunn is punching Brawler in the corner but flips off into a flying forearm to stop the cut off by Radford. The Smoking Gunns hit the Sidewinder which I had to look up the name to make sure I got it right. The pin and the win for Billy and Bart.
My Rating: *
There's a Goldust vignette which hypes his debut in the company as the character. He mentions a Night of the Living Dead quote and likens it to the nightwalkers of the streets. Wearing black and purple similar to The Undertaker. He says that black and purple only shines darkness while gold only shines a light. Cool little promo here by him, nothing to complain about.
Isaac Yankem D.D.S vs Scott Taylor
Yankem's theme is just teeth drilling and god does it give me PTSD. Thank goodness he would become Kane a few years later because man this is the worst thing I've ever seen. Yankem gets him goozled and hits the chokeslam. He surprisingly does not go for the pin, guess that wasn't his finish yet. Bodyslam into repeated elbow drops by Yankem. Isaac Yankem finishes off Taylor with the D.D.S which is just a DDT but he's a dentist, you get it?
My Rating: 0 Stars
Psycho Sid vs Shawn Michaels (c) Intercontinental Championship Match
If you didn't know who was going over already, they are promoting a Shawn Michaels hat and glasses combo for $25 plus shipping and handling, oh brother. Shawn has a little promo backstage before he makes his entrance. He sees a ladder and shudders in disgust as a callback to the ladder match. Thought that was pretty funny. It's mentioned on commentary that Sid vs Shawn was supposed to be the match at SummerSlam but Gorilla Monsoon chose otherwise and then we got the ladder match.
Sid launches HBK into the corner, in a preemptive maneuver he ducks but Shawn stops and waits for him to rise back to his feet before hitting him with a sunset flip. Sid doesn't allow him to get full rotation however as he escapes and tries to clock Michaels but misses. Flying clothesline and a few punches cause Sid to find refuge on the outside. Sid goes to throw Shawn over the ropes to the outside and taunt but Shawn skins the cat and drops Sid to the outside once more. Sid finally gets some fucking offense in with a spinebuster. The announcers talking about how Shawn has to use his speed to beat Sid like he hasn't gotten almost all the offense already.
Sid begins to work the rib area of Michaels with a few punches a kick in the corner which drops Michaels outside. This has nothing to do with the match but Psycho Sid has to be one of the few dudes to rock the top ramen hair and make it look good right? Psycho Sid did a kip-up out of grounded head scissors and it was the craziest thing I've seen on this show thus far. Sid has HBK goozled and drops him down hard with a chokeslam. Sid signals for the powerbomb but Shawn hits him with a back body drop to a big pop. Shawn goes on a flurry and finishes it off with a trio of superkicks to finally put away Sid. It started one-sided but I thought it became a decent little match as time went on.
My Rating: **1/2
Overall Rating: **
Final Thoughts: RAW beats Nitro by one star. Shawn vs Sid was the best match of both shows but Nitro had better enhancement matches. Overall not the most enjoyable experience with either show but I think WWF did just enough to get the win here for the week. What do you think? Let me know down below. This will be an experience but something I do enjoy and hopefully you guys do too.
No comments:
Post a Comment