WWE Network Special: WCW Nitro Top 10 Report

WWE Network Special: WCW Nitro: Top 10

-Nitro week continues on the Network with this special being hosted by DDP. I have to mention that seeing the opening (which is fantastic) with the Nitro music took me back to my high school days. Makes me realize we are probably never getting a time like that in the pro-wrestling world again.

-Again as mention the host for this half hour look at Nitro is Diamond Dallas Page. The curious part to me is will this countdown gloss over anything Hogan related and if so that is a crock of shit. Well, Hogan is the first one to pop up once DDP starts discussing Nitro so my fears seem relieved. DDP does mention in his opening that it is true that WWE ended up winning the War. Guess we had to get that out of the way.

10. Randy Savage vs. La Parka
-Awesome start to the countdown as this seemed like a normal Savage (n.W.o) squash until La Parka blocks the flying elbow, hits a diamond cutter, and takes off the mask to a thunderous pop to reveal it is DDP. Just another moment in a bunch of them that helped turn DDP into a Main Event guy in WCW.

9. Nitro: March 17, 1997
-This is the night after Uncensored when the n.W.o won the 3 team match to get all kinds of perks. We are joined in progress as the n.W.o. gets chased off by Harlem Heat, Luger, and The Giant. Then as things settle, Sting drops down from the rafters and the crowd goes bat shit crazy. He stares down the n.W.o and points his bat at Hogan to really start the drive towards Starrcade (still 9 months away….think about that). This is also memorable for Hogan screaming “he’s pointing at me.”

8. Nitro: July 29, 1996
-Oh man, this is criminally low here as this is the infamous backstage ass kicking from Disney MGM. Jimmy Hart sprints to the ring to stop a 6 Man tag and get everyone to the back where apparently The Outsiders are taking guys out. The cameras head to the back and we see Arn Anderson and Bagwell lying on the ground while Hall and Nash stand over them with ball bats. Scotty Riggs shows up and gets blasted in the face and then in one of the greatest bumps in the history of the business, Rey Mysterio leaps off a railing and gets caught by Nash, who casually launches him like a dart into the side of a trailer. Just Awesome! The fact there was little lighting just made this all the more realistic and gritty feeling. Savage, a fucking maniac, jumps on the limo and takes a ride as it pulls off with Hall and Nash inside. The aftermath sees heels and faces in WCW tending to the wounded and there are claims of Mysterio screaming about 4 guys. They don’t show all the aftermath, but find the full episode on the Network as it is amazing.

-We head back to DDP and he talks about Karl Malone.

7. Nitro: June 29, 1998
-Hogan and Bischoff cut a promo on DDP and Malone to hype the tag match. They camera cuts to the parking lot and a tractor trailer pulls up to the arena where the n.W.o is waiting, but they bail. DDP and Malone get out of the trauk carrying steel chairs and they head towards the ring. What’s great is that Hogan and Bischoff continue their promo not even noticing and Hogan even throws in a dig at Steve Austin as he says he can’t stand “stone cold cowards.” Fantastic! Bischoff apologies for Rodman not being there as he is making a movie, and by the time he finishes Malone and DDP hit the ring. Hogan throws Bischoff into Page, and cowers in the corner. He offers a handshake to Malone, and that doesn’t do any good. Hogan decides he wants to take on Malone and we get a tie-up. Malone connects with a slam to a great pop and then sticks Hogan with a pair of clothesline. Hogan bails to the floor and that ends that. It has been said before but Hogan did go out of his way to sell more for Malone and Leno than he did for Sting at Starrcade which is kind of sad.

6. Nitro: March 29, 1999
-We get Bret Hart (wearing a Calgary Hitmen jersey) cutting a promo in front of a raucous Toronto crowd, and yes this is that moment. Bret says he came to WCW to earn a reputation and not lose one and he wants to prove he can execute anyone he wants, at anytime he wants. He calls out William Goldberg (HA!) and then pulls off his jersey to reveal a Leafs jersey to only get the crowd more jacked. He tells Goldberg this is hockey country and to take off the football helmet and come face him. Goldberg heads down with what sounds like piped in Goldberg chants because they mysteriously stop all of a sudden and I really didn’t see any mouth’s moving. Anyway Goldberg spears the piss out of Bret to many boos from the crowd, but Goldberg is the one that is out cold. Both men are down and people are shocked until Bret moves first and he rolls over Goldberg, makes a cover and counts three. Bret then takes off the jersey to show he was wearing an iron plate to counter the spear. He tells Eric Bischoff and WCW that he quits. The crowd was molten for this and sadly this may the thing Bret is most remembered for during his WCW run (especially since the Owen tribute match has been erased from history).

5. Nitro: March 30, 1998
-Hell Yeah! Jericho standing in the ring reading the list of 1004 holds that he knows. He says Malenko only knows 60 holds, but he knows 1004 and will go over all of them know. This is the shit that made Jericho a star and started the running joke of “arm-bar.” We go to a break and come back with Jericho still going though his list even though Prince Iaukea is heading out for his match. Prince tells Jericho that he was trained by Malenko’s father and chases Jericho out of the ring. Jericho starts yelling for his holds as the spreadsheet was torn in half. He complains that he still has 200 more to go through. I miss this Jericho!

-Back to DDP as he talks about the n.W.o recruiting him and he had to make a choice. To this day he knows he made the right choice.

4. Nitro: Jan 13, 1997
-DDP finishes off some jobber with a Diamond Cutter (sadly he is given generic rock music instead of his normal theme) and then Hall and Nash head down to bring him into the group. Bischoff and Dibiase are on commentary as they must have chased off the WCW crew. Page gives Nash a hug and accepts the n.W.o shirt and then drops Hall with the Diamond Cutter. Nash then gets sent to the floor and DDP heads into the crowd to celebrate with the fans and rip off the n.W.o. shirt. Another great moment in the character arc of DDP and that again helped him become one of the most over stars in the company.

3. Nitro: May 27, 1996 (my 15th birthday)
-Every wrestling fan should know what this moment is just by the date alone. A case could be made for this being #1 and I wouldn’t argue against it. The Mauler and Steve Doll are having a match, but the real story is Scott Hall (not named then) walking in from the crowd and demanding a microphone as he heads into the ring.

“You people, you know who I am. But, you don’t know why I’m here. Where is Billionaire Ted? Where is the Nacho Man? That punk can’t even get in the building. Me, I go wherever I want, whenever I want. And where, oh where is Scheme Gene? Cause I got a scoop for you. When that Ken doll look a like, when that weather man wannabe comes out here later tonight, I have a challenge for him, Billionaire Ted, for the Nacho Man, and anyone else in WCW. Hey, you want to go to war? You want a war? You’re going to get one.”

I still get chills every time I see this moment as it has been seared in my brain. “You want a war?” may be the single most prophetic quote during the Monday Night battles.

2. Nitro: Sept 4, 1995
-The debut episode of Nitro as it truly signaled in a new era for pro-wrestling. There was great fear that running against RAW would split the audience, but as we would find out it did the complete opposite and led to an era of greatness and popularity we may never see again. The episode took place in the Mall of American in Minneapolis and made for a great visual that was completely different from what we saw on RAW. Of course the biggest moment was Luger debuting after just being on WWF TV. Yeah, that is one way to start a new show with a bang.

-Back to DDP and he leads into the #1 moment and of course it is the Georgia Dome show where Goldberg steamrolled Hogan.

1. Nitro: July 6, 1998
-A day away from being the 2 anniversary of the Hogan heel turn. The Dome is packed with over 40,000 people and they are jacked to the gills as Goldberg spears Hogan and hits the jackhammer to win the WCW Title. The crowd goes bonkers with the three count and it was crazy seeing Hogan get steamrolled in such a manner. He knew the Goldberg train was coming so might as well just take one for the team. Again a case can definitely be made for this having the #1 spot as well.

-That ends the show and as with any countdown there will be some complaining, but for what it was this was a great trip down memory lane. I will say I liked that they let the moments talk for themselves and showed them without talking heads like they do on Countdown.

-For those fans like me and a lot who read this site, this will take all of us back to a time when it wasn’t looked down on by the popular crowd to be a fan and when wrestlers were biggest stars on TV. I sure do miss those days, but thankfully The Network is here to give us the fix we need. Join me tomorrow as we count down Top 10 Eric Bischoff moments as Nitro week continues.