wrestling / Video Reviews
Leighty’s Retro Review: WCW Monday Nitro 1.13.97
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...-Written: 5.14.26
-Run Time: 1:40:31
-Plugs: Road Warriors, LFG
-Big one this week as they rented out The Superdome for an episode of Nitro. I think this is the first Dome show for either Monday Night program at this point.
-Announce Team: Hour One: Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko
-Live: Superdome, New Orleans, LA
-Our normal opening is cut short as The Giant storms into the nWo locker room. He BURNS Hogan by calling him a “four legged feline.” That was a memorable one and I assume if this wasn’t PG, he would have called Hogan a pussy like HHH did to Austin. I guess the idea is that Hogan is backing out of the World Title defense at Souled Out.
Mr. JL vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr
-Fun fact, both these men went on to win the ECW Championship. The Dome setting looks great. Amazed they got into the building as it was set to host The Super Bowl two weeks later. Different times back then I guess. Chavo with a dropkick that sends JL to the floor. Chavo slings over with a cross-body. We get an ECW chant which I guess counts as a spoiler. Back in the ring Chavo gets a cross-body for two and heads up top. JL knocks him off balance and brings him down with a rana. Chavo was nearly spiked on his head with that one. It gets two. Chavo gets sent into the corner and JL fires off a chop. He lands a kick that drops Chavo. Chavo reverses a whip and hits a Rear View. He fires up the crowd as he heads up and hots a moonsault press for the pin at 4:15.
Winner: Chavo Guerrero Jr. Via pin at 4:15
-This was a fine 4 minute match where they were just throwing out everything they could. I am sure both guys were pumped to work this show. **1/4
-Chavo asks “who’s next?” That sounds catchy!
-Tony and Larry run down Hogan playing mind games with The Giant.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan (w/ WCW Flag) vs. Super Calo
-First, Gene stops Duggan for an interview. Duggan talks about picking up the flag for WCW as he has had enough. Only took eight months! He needs help and tells Sting to be a man and stand for something. So he didn’t learn!
-Sure enough, Sting is out before Calo makes his entrance and spikes Duggan with The Scorpion Death Drop. Larry is right back to saying Sting is nWo. No match, which is a bummer because I wanted to see the crazy pairing of Duggan and Calo.
Sgt. Craig Pittman vs. Chris Jericho
-This is apparently a standby match according to Tony. Jericho hits a spinning heel kick and then a clothesline. Pittman goes to the eyes, but gets run over with a shoulder tackle. Jericho to the apron and comes off with a missile dropkick for the pin at 1:06.
Winner: Chris Jericho via pin at 1:06
-Well, that was brisk as Pittman couldn’t win with Long as a manager and does even worse without him here. Maybe this was 3D Chess as it was a standby match and thus one guy wasn’t really ready. I have put more thought into this match than the time of the match. SQUASH
High Voltage vs. Harlem Heat (w/ Sherri)
-Larry’s proof that Sting is nWo comes down to Duggan being an idiot apparently. Booker starts with Kaos and catches him with a knee to the gut. Back elbow from Booker! They screw up a backdrop, but Booker powers Kaos over to save it. Kaos with a clothesline and gets a slam. Rage slingshots in with a leg drop and we forget the match as Giant storms into the nWo locker room again. This time he calls Hogan a “big monkey.” I kind of want them to continue this as a running joke with him picking a different animal each time. Hogan and Eric mock The Giant and note a contract was never signed. Back to the match as Booker catches Rage with a Harlem Sidekick. Snapmare into a pin for two. Sidewalk slam and Booker heads to the middle rope. He misses a forearm and tag is made to Kaos. He gets a few shots in and hits a butterfly suplex. Everyone in the ring and as the ref puts out Rage, Heat hit a Heat Seeker for the pin at 4:02 to a big pop.
Winners: Harlem Heat via pin at 4:02
-The crowd loved The Heat so they were invested. This was what you would expect as Heat win without being tested too much. *
-The Outsiders want you to buy The Souled Out poster!
-Saturday Night 6:05 PM: Barbarian vs. Arn; Regal in action; Luger vs. Norton!
-Tony announces they are in town for the NATPE convention and that means the WCW Executive Committee is here and will have a meeting to make a decision on Hogan/Giant. Eric and Dibiase are out to take over the announce table. Larry gets in a good line about Eric ending up back to cutting Verne Gagne’s lawn again.
Diamond Dallas Page vs. Mark Starr
-Ted and Eric are celebrating as DDP is apparently nWo after a dinner with Scott Hall last week. Eric notes again that DDP is his neighbor and is one of the family now. Mark Starr working a dome show. Good for him! Shoulder tackle by DDP followed by a DDT. Starr goes to the eyes, but Page reversers a whip and hits The Diamond Cutter for the pin at 52 seconds.
Winner: Diamond Dallas Page via pin at 52 seconds
-This was here to set up the angle that follows. SQUASH
-Hall and Nash are out to celebrate with DDP and give him the nWo colors. Nash celebrates and doesn’t notice DDP drop Hall with a Diamond Cutter to a big pop. Nash charges and DDP low bridges him and Nash wipes out a table on the floor, nearly injuring people in the front row. DDP escapes through the crowd and this was the official start of Page’s face turn and push up the card. I hope they can find someone to get him to the next level. Dig it!
-Hall and Nash nWo promo to hype the Tag Title Match against The Steiners at Souled Out. They are going after Scott’s back and make jokes about Rick’s face. “We know you guys can go, but we’re better.”
Dean Malenko vs. Eddie Guerrero
-Eddie grabs an arm as we get an Eddie chant from the crowd. Nice! Dean escapes and takes Eddie to the mat. He works on the ankle and Eddie uses his other leg to force a break. Oh, Tony and Larry are back on commentary. Lockup and Dean gives a clean break against the ropes. Another lockup and Eddie gets a side headlock that he takes to the mat. Shoulder tackle Eddie, but Dean catches him with a dropkick. Tony tells us they learned Piper was babbling Gaelic a few weeks back. He is then handed a note and the Executive Committee has decided Hogan will face The Giant and it will be later in the show. Eddie with a suplex and a slingshot senton. Dean pulls him to the floor to create space. Another “Eddie” chant! Back in Eddge picks the leg and works a knee bar. “Boring” chant now so Eddie goes for a figure four, but Dean blocks. Eddie stays on it and gets the hold. Dean is able to turn enough and get to the ropes to force a break. Dean rolls to the floor as we kill a little more time. So five minutes in and not much has happened. Dean back in and lands a kick followed by an elbow. Powerbomb, but Eddie escapes. Dean with a head scissors. Eddie counters a monkey flip by landing on his feet. He heads up, but Dean yanks him down. Abdominal stretch and there’s the boring chants again. Oh, Tony lets us know this is Non-Title as I forgot Eddie is US Champion. Syxx has his belt and why we have a Ladder Match at Souled Out. This is the wrong kind of match between these two for a Dome Show I think. Sunset flip from Eddie, but Dean punches him in the face to block. Syxx is here and climbs a ladder to watch the match. Back suplex from Dean gets two. Reverse chinlock, but Dean releases and they start trading strikes in the corner. They go into a pin fall sequence with each man getting two. Eddie with a backslide for two and Dean with a roll-up for two. Clothesline from Dean gets two and he goes back to the cover but again, only two. Eddie climbs the ropes and bounces off into a rana for two. Eddie misses a charge in the corner, but blocks a double axe from the top. They block strikes and Dean ends up hitting a brain buster for two. Eddie with a roll-up for two. He hits his own brainbuster for two. Eddie finally sees Syxx on the ladder and takes his attention away from Dean. Powerbomb by Dean gets the pin at 12:14.
Winner: Dean Malenko via pin at 12:14
-I see why it’s non-title now. This took a long time to get going and the crowd was checked out as a result. Dean kind of ate up Eddie outside of a flurry here and there. Eddie then loses because he couldn’t stayed focus. **1/2
-Pyro for Hour #2!
-Announce Team: Hour Two: Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay, and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
Super Calo vs. Konnan (w/ Jimmy Hart)
-So, with Duggan out, Calo gets Konnan. Their styles will obviously work better, but I was curious to see Duggan/Calo. Konnan controls on the mat to start and gets a two count. Calo with a bridge for a one count. Konnan throws blows in the corner. Cal springs off the ropes to get a Mexican armdrag and another. Shotgun dropkick sends Konnan to the floor. Suicide dive from Calo! Back in the ring Calo drops an elbow and another for a two count. Konnan with a rolling clothesline that took Calo’s head off. Powerbomb and another! Konnan up top, but Calo just shakes off the two powerbombs and runs up to bring Konnan down with a head scissors. Calo bounces off Konnan as this one is starting to fall apart a little. Konnan must sense that as he spikes Cal with The 187 for the pin at 2:58.
Winner: Konnan via pin at 2:58
-It was energetic and the crowd was digging Konnan dropping Calo on his head. *
Chris Benoit (w/ Woman) vs. Jeff Jarrett
-First, Kevin Sullivan has an interview where he destroys a chess board. Man, it’s one of those crappy chess sets where the pieces comes with a checkerboard. They couldn’t get a better one? Maybe the chess side was on the other side and in that case I blame whoever set that up.
-This is a Starrcade rematch and was supposed to happen last week. Tony tells us Hogan/Giant is non-title as the Champ is granted 48 hours notice of a Title Match. Never heard that rule. The crowd lets Jarrett know he sucks and boo his strutting out of the Dome. Funny! The crowd gets distracted as Mongo, Debra, and Arn are heading down to the ring. Jarrett with a snap suplex, but Benoit comes back with a clothesline. Jarrett reverses a whip in the corner and gets a clothesline. He drops his weight across Benoit’s back for a two count. Stun-gun gets two. Swinging neckbreaker, but Arn distracts the ref. Benoit with a right hand and start firing off chops. Mongo wants to use the briefcase, but Debra stops him and Benoit ends up getting hit by mistake. Jarrett covers for the pin at 3:32.
Winner: Jeff Jarrett via pin at 3:32
-Another match that was here to continue an angle. *1/4
-Replay shows Mongo clearly saw Benoit was in place before hitting him with the briefcase. That’s a case where he just has to trust they will be in the right spot or Debra has to nod to him.
-Gene is with Benoit, Woman, Mongo and Debra. Benoit tells Mongo to quit fumbling the ball and how they don’t look like an elite team. Benoit says was picked to be a Horseman by Arn, while Mongo was picked due to a misfortune (Pillman). He then says Woman is 100% woman head to toe with no wax or silicone. Mongo apologizes and Benoit wants to know where Flair is. Arn says Flair doesn’t want any part of personal issues and wants them to resolve this. Benoit tells Mongo to shape up or ship out. Debra loves both of them and gets booed out of the building. Mongo is ready to throw down if Benoit won’t accept his apology. Arn separates them and Benoit calls out the rest of the group again. Probably the best promo from Benoit at this point but this is still uncomfortable to watch.
Billy Kidman vs. Scotty Riggs
-The crowd boos Riggs as he tries to get them to do The American Males clap. That actually sounds like a STD. Riggs misses a clothesline and Kidman gets a dropkick. Armdrag and into an armbar. Riggs sends Kidman to the corner and throws him in the air so he drops on his face. Bagwell is out to watch from the ramp. Kidman off the top but misses a 450. Fisherman’s Suplex finishes for Riggs at 2:20. That was Bagwell’s finisher and it seems Riggs wants people to call that The Ameri-plex. Seriously? No wonder he was left behind by Bagwell.
Winner: Scott Riggs via pin at 2:20
-Kidman looked better than Riggs here. 1/2*
-Lee Marshall is on The Road with 1-800-Collect in Chicago. Weasel jokes and references to Oprah.
-Aaron Neville is in the crowd.
Lex Luger vs. Rick Fuller
-They collide and neither man budges. Another go and Luger gets a hiptoss. Fuller shoves, so Luger shoves back. Fuller hides in the ropes and then decks Luger. He gets a clothesline and drops a leg for a one count. Fuller wraps the arm around the top rope and pulls. Chops from Fuller and they have some SNAP to them. Fuller ducks a clothesline and Luger starts to rally. Clotheslines and the loaded forearm connect. Torture Rack to a big reaction gets the submission at 2:57.
Winner: Lex Luger via pin at 2:57
-Energetic little match. The crowd is just eating up everything Luger is doing. Fuller looked okay here. *1/2
-Luger and The Giant stare each other down as they pass in the aisle. Gene is waiting in the ring for an interview. Giants says this isn’t about nWo or WCW. It’s about him and Hogan. Giant wants it really bad!
Arn Anderson vs. Rick Steiner (w/ Scott Steiner)
-Rick actually makes his entrance on a leash being held back by Scott. Heenan: “He’s on a leash!” I didn’t realize how much longer Arn was wrestling past the Havoc match against Luger. For some reason I had it in my mind that was his last match as I seemingly forgot the run following that match. Rick with a belly-to-belly suplex and he is calling for someone to come down. Tony reads a statement that if Hogan/Giant goes past 10 PM, they will show the match during the commercials of the series premiere of Robin Hood. Now this, I do remember! Back in the ring Arn goes for a DDT, but Rick throws him with another suplex. Arn is still yelling for someone to come out. Tenay says he got word that The Horsemen are locked in the back. Arn gets counted out in frustration at 2:58.
Winner: Rick Steiner via pin at 2:58
-This wasn’t even really a match. DUD
-Gene is in the ring to interview The Steiners. Scott says he’s not hurt and will make a believer out of Hall when he shoves a fist down his throat. He then rants about Nash and basketball as the Nitro theme plays them to a commercial. Heenan: “Nice interview Rick.”
-nWo Souled Out commercial!
Hollywood Hulk Hogan (w/ nWo) vs. The Giant
-This is Hogan’s first Nitro match since April of 96. Was this another case of this being a dark match, but they realized they had a good crowd and Hogan wanted in the Main Event in front of the TV people to show he drew the house? Hogan bails to the floor to stall as we have two minutes of TV time left and Tony mentions Robin Hood again. Hogan cuts a promo about Giant being dumb. I still haven’t heard an opening bell. Hogan tells Giant he used him as a friend and there is nothing that says he has to wrestle him. Giant pulls Hogan into the ring and gets a slam and now, we have a bell. Head-butt by The Giant and he sends Hogan head first into the top buckle. Boot sends Hogan to the floor as trash starts flying into the ring. Hogan says he quits and starts walking to the back, but Giant takes him back to the ring. Credits as we go off the air.
-We are back with Giant throwing chops. I am dumb and actually believed the match was going on the entire time they were showing Robin Hood. I was 15 and wasn’t on the internet yet. Instead, what we are watching was taped and just shown during Robin Hood’s commercial breaks. So, they aren’t really live. Giant stomps Hogan’s hands and we go back to Robin Hood.
-Back as I will say this was the only time I watched the Robin Hood show. Giant with another slam and Hogan begs off. Giant gets a goozle but Hogan kicks him. Giant shakes that off and another goozle. Hogan goes to the eyes, but again nothing as Giant gets a goozle. Here’s the nWo B Team for the DQ at 4:02. Giant dominates them as Hogan bails and we are out of time for real.
Winner: The Giant via DQ at 4:02
-The crowd was hot for all of this, so it worked in that sense. Giant dominated which made him look like a monster. The match was nothing and was here to basically get people to check out Robin Hood. DQ ending could be seen coming from a mile away. 1/4*
-Thanks for reading!
