wrestling / TV Reports
Leighty’s Retro Review: WCW Monday Nitro 3.17.97
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...Written: 7.18.26
-Run Time: 1:36:42
-Plug: Last Week on Nitro
-We are one day removed from Uncensored and Sting finally made his choice in epic fashion.
-Announce Team: Hour One: Tony Schiavone and Lary Zbyszko
-Savannah, GA
-We start with the close of Uncensored as the nWo won the 3 Team Main Event and can challenge for any title anytime they want. More to come later in the show on what happened next.
Psychosis vs. Rey Mysterio Jr.
-Rey is coming off a loss at the PPV to Prince Iaukeau. These two had an amazing match at Bash at The Beach 8 months earlier. They grapple to start and Rey gets a crucifix for two. Psychosis with a headlock. Pace picks up a tad as Rey gets a sunset flip for two. We cut backstage to the internet commentary for those speaking Japanese and they nearly show Ultimo Dragon’s face, but he has a had up to block. Weird! Rey sends Psychosis to the floor with a head scissors and then comes off the apron to hit another one. Back in the ring, Psychosis lands a strike and runs Rey upside down into the corner. He charges, but Rey raises up and Psychosis spills to the floor. Flipping dive from Rey to the floor! He sets and SPIKES Psychosis with the West Coast Pop at 3:47. That looked nasty!
Winner: Rey Mysterio Jr via pin at 3:47
-Not much to this one, but the crowd was popping for it. **
-Gene is with Arn Anderson who basically announces he is retired due to his neck injury. Emotional stuff from Arn as he talks about asking his grandma why she was hanging on with her ugly battle with cancer. She wanted to make sure Arn was able to take care of himself and family. He has been hanging on to make sure the Horsemen were in a good spot and also wants a clean slate with Sullivan. He promises he will be back following his surgery.
-Last night the DDP/Savage feud really got going as Savage brought up Kimberly being in Playboy and then she comes out after being spray painted. Savage attacks DDP and Liz helps spray paint Kimberly again. They are off and running and it’s going to be to great to cover.
Maxx vs. Diamond Dallas Page
-DDP is just a bit ticked off and this one should be easy to book. If this was AEW, Max probably gets 8 minutes of a competitive match. I kid! Probably 10! Page lands punches and elbows to start, but gets caught with an elbow to the mouth. DDP fights back with more punches and drops Maxx. Page off the top with a splash, which is different. Maxx goes for a full nelson, but Page with a jaw breaker and then The Diamond Cutter finishes at 1:32.
Winner: Diamond Dallas Page via pin at 1:32
-Exactly what it needed to be and I appreciated that Page seemed to be so emotional he was a little off and unsure what to do. SQUASH
-Gene is with DDP and they make sure to note that Kimberly is DDP’s wife. DDP calls Elizabeth a bimbo and tells Savage he is a dead man walking. He goes to walk off, but Savage is in the crowd with Liz. This feud is great! First thing Savage has really been able to sink his teeth into since the Flair feud. Savage asks Liz if he should give DDP a match right now or later. Page wants it now and rushes into the crowd, but Savage and Liz are gone.
Hugh Morrus and Konan (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. Renegade and Joe Gomez
-Before the bell, Eric Bischoff is out with The Outsiders. They head over to the announce table and Tony is ready to bail, but Larry tells him to stand his ground. Eric says they aren’t here to fight and are here to give an opportunity. The Outsiders will wrestle tonight just for the fans in the building and for the fans at home. Now to the match as Morrus starts clubbing Gomez in the back and then holds Gomez’ leg off the apron so Konan can attack the knee. The Dungeon go after the knee for the rest of the match. Morrus with a heavy clothesline and starts yelling for Hall and Nash. Konan back in and he hooks a half crab. He transitions to a knee bar and we get some cheating to win as Morrus offers a hand for leverage. Morrus in without a tag and he continues to work the knee. Morrus misses an elbow and hot tag to Renegade. He gets to run wild with clotheslines and slams. He makes the mistake of tagging Gomez back in, and he is no shape to do anything. Clothesline and No Laughing Matter finish at 5:06.
Winner: The Dungeon of Doom via pin at 5:06
-Extended SQUASH as Gomez was dominated here. I can’t remember if this was supposed to lead to anything between Gomez and Renegade. I guess we will see. *
WCW United States Heavyweight Champion: Dean Malenko (c) vs. Scotty Riggs
-Malenko beat Eddie the night before for the US Title and Riggs lost to Bagwell in a strap match. So Scotty gets the US Title match here for reasons. Tony covers that Dean got the win by using Syxx’s camera to blast Eddie. Eh, Eddie would understand as got to cheat to win and it was Uncensored. Dean starts this one with a swinging neckbreaker and basement dropkick. Baseball slide sends Scotty to the floor and Dean drops him chest first across the safety railing. Back in the ring, Dean hits a running clothesline in the corner. Riggs avoids a backslide and drops down to get a two count. Dean counters with a roll-up for two and Riggs counters that to another pin attempt for two. Riggs lands an elbow but charges into a stun-gun and Dean gets a roll-up for the pin at 2:30.
Winner and Still WCW United States Heavyweight Champion: Dean Malenko via pin at 2:30
-It was quick and gave Dean a successful defense the night after winning the title. *
-WCW Saturday Night: 6:05 PM: The Steiners, Dean Malenko, Kevin Sullivan and Jackie, The Giant and Lex Luger!
The Giant and Lex Luger vs. T. Rantula and Knuckles Nelson
-I had a Carmen San Diego board game and the villains had names like Bill Ding, and Nosmo King. I feel T. Rantula would fit in with that game. Giant dominates T and does the same to Knuckles. They try to double team, and Giant runs them over. Yes, I will make the joke that I was waiting for rings to fall out of Knuckles when he got run over. Choke slam to Knuckles. Luger in (no tag) and powerslam to T. Giant opts to pin Knuckles and we are done at 2:48. Luger ranks Rantula for good measure.
Winners: Lex Luger and The Giant via pin at 2:48
-Weird ending, but the SQUASH we all expected. SQUASH
-Gene interviews Luger and The Giant. They are happy that Sting is back home and ready to help in the war with the nWo. Luger says Sting showing up last night restored his faith in mankind, WCW, and the fans. I am sure Mick appreciates the shout-out.
-Still photos from the Glacier/Mortis match last night and Wrath made his debut.
Ultimo Dragon (w/ Sonny Onoo) vs. Bobby Eaton
-Lockup and Eaton shoves off. Dragon rolls to the floor to talk to Sonny. Another lockup and Eaton lands a right hand. Dragon ducks a series of moves, but runs into a sweet clothesline. Eaton to the middle ropes, but Dragon brings him down with a rana for the pin at 1:17.
Winner: Ultimo Dragon via pin at 1:17
-What was this? Dragon is great, but poor Bobby can’t even get two minutes? I assume they cut their time. Weird. 3/4*
-Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Liz, Ted Dibiase, Eric Bischoff, Buff Bagwell, Vincent, Scott Norton, Syxx, and The Outsiders are out next. They celebrate winning the three team main event last night and will rule for all eternity. Savage accepts the challenge from “Kimberly’s husband.” The Outsiders announce they will defend their Tag Titles against The Steiners at Spring Stampede. YES! It’s this iconic moment of coolness. A fan fires a drink that bounces off Hall’s head, and he just fixes his hair and looks like the coolest dude that’s every walked the face of the Earth. So awesome! Heck of a throw and Hall’s reaction is amazing.
-Ted, Nash, and Syxx plug the nWo Hotline! I never called that.
-Hour Two Pyro!
-Announce Team: Hour Two: Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay, and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
-Tony announces that Savage vs. DDP has been signed for Spring Stampede and it will be a No DQ Match.
Alex Wright and Mark Starr vs. The Horsemen (Jeff Jarrett and Mongo) (w/ Debra)
-JJ and Wright start and Wright uses his quickness. He hits a dropkick but Mongo decks him from the apron. JJ drops his weight on Alex’s back on the ropes and tags in Mongo. JJ with a drop toe hold and Mongo drops an elbow. Tenay notes JJ and Mongo look in sync tonight. Which one is Justin? Mark Starr in and gets token offense before Mongo takes out the knee. JJ hooks the figure four for the submission at 1:55.
Winners: The Horsemen via submission at 1:55
-Another one! SQUASH
-The Public Enemy are out with a trash can and they brawl with The Horsemen. Debra waffles Grunge with the briefcase to pop the crowd. This all stems to JJ and Mongo getting involved in the PE match last night.
-Gene is with The Horsemen and Debra gets good heat as she brags about being intelligent and beautiful. I appreciate her more as a character watching all these years later. Mongo yells at the crowd for booing Debra and then challenges The PE to a match at Spring Stampede. Debra doesn’t like to spread garbage but Grunge’s girlfriend should be an artist because she draws flies. Nah, that was JJ as WCW Champion in 2000!
-Lee Marshal is On The Road with 1-800-Collect in Duluth, MN. He ties a Bob Dylan references into a weasel joke.
Scott Norton vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr
-Norton throws Chavo across the ring to start and then no sells a dropkick. He runs Chavo over with a clothesline and tells us he is the strongest man on the planet. Chavo tries to use his speed, but Norton continues to no sell everything. Norton catches Chavo trying a cross-body to the floor and then tosses him back into the ring. Chavo dropkicks the knee and gets a chop block, but Norton shakes it off again. Chavo keeps going at the knee and heads up top. He lands a missile dropkick, but nothing as Norton just backs up into the corner. Chavo tries a sunset flip and Norton just punches him to block. Powerbomb finishes with a two handed pin at 2:33.
Winner: Scott Norton via pin at 2:33
-And another one! The crowd was bored by this one compared to the others. SQUASH
-nWo interview video from Hogan and Rodman!
WCW World Tag Team Championship: The Outsiders (w/ Syxx) vs. Bunkhouse Buck and Mike Enos
-The Outsiders sing “Bad Boys,” before the match. Enos has been waiting for this since Hall interrupted his match on May 27, 1996. Tony notes Buck and Enos were scheduled to wrestle Public Enemy, but get this shot. Hall starts with Buck and as normal, we get a toothpick throw to the face. Lockup and Hall works the shoulder. Buck with right hands and sends Hall into the corner. Hall gets a boot up to block and comes off the middle rope with a bulldog for two as Buck gets his foot on the middle rope. Discus punch from Hall lands. Tag to Nash as it seems Enos turned his back on a possible tag. Nash goes through his corner offense and throws Bucks to Enos for the tag. Enos argues he never made the tag, but the ref forces him to enter. Hall back in and this is what we’ve waited nearly a year to see. SOS Slam from Hall. Enos with a clothesline that sends Hall into the corner. Enos reverses a whip and Buck buries a knee to the back from the apron. Hall punches Buck, which lets Enos hit a clothesline. Powerslam gets a two count. Tony was ready to call that the biggest upset in Nitro history. Enos with a sleeper but Hall hits a belly-to-back suplex to break. Buck in first, but Nash gets the tag as well. Nash runs wild and hits Buck with Snake Eyes. Sidewalk Slam to Enos. Big Boot to Buck and then a Jackknife to pop the crowd. Hall with The Outsiders Edge to Enos for the pin at 5:09.
Winners and Still WCW World Tag Team Champions: The Outsiders via pin at 5:09
-Nice to see them defend the Tag Titles on TV and they broke a sweat at least. They have Enos and Buck a little bit before putting them away. Didn’t have much heat though because the crowd didn’t want to cheer Buck or Enos. **
-Back to Uncensored as Roddy Piper cuts a promo wondering why Flair and Anderson weren’t at the show last night when the Horsemen were offered as his partners.
Chris Benoit (w/ Woman) vs. Billy Kidman
-The black dress looks great on Woman! Kidman doesn’t even get an entrance as he was still months away from joining The Flock and getting any kind of traction. Lockup and Benoit hits a belly-to-back suplex and then pounds away in the corner. He buries a knee to the ribs and yells at Kidman. Benoit with chops and then just tosses Kidman in the air so he lands on his face. Crossface finishes at 52 seconds.
Winner: Chris Benoit via submission at 52 seconds
-Kidman was destroyed here. SQUASH
-Gene is in the ring to interview Benoit, but here’s Ric Flair to join the party as well. Benoit puts over Arn and knows he will be back. He then tells Sullivan he will take everything away from him. I sometimes forget just how long this feud ran. The crowd is pumped to see Flair. Ric mentions Piper was calling him out last night, wondering where he was. Flair says he was in Savannah, with all the girls. It seems The Horsemen told Flair that Piper dropped the ball. Flair mocks Piper for wanting to go home to his wife and kids, but he can’t because he’s a Horsemen. Might be why, Piper and his wife lasted. Flair dances to close the promo.
The Steiner Brothers vs. Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri)
-They actually use Michael Buffer for the introductions. Lots of pyro for The Steiners. Funny that 3/4 of the people in this match ended up some version of the nWo. Booker and Scott start and every time I see them in ring, I am reminded they were the US and World Champion the night WCW closed their doors. Heat have their gold gear this week. They have the usual Heat/Steiners match that all four could do in their sleep. Stevie with a powerslam on Rick. Booker back in and he delivers punches to the ribs. Sidewalk slam, but an elbow misses. Scott back in and he runs wild with clotheslines. Release overhead belly-to-belly on Booker. That looked fantastic! Everyone in the ring until Stevie and Rick fight out to the floor. Here’s the nWo and we have a no contest at 3:23.
No Contest at 3:23
-It was going okay until the everyone hits the ring ending with the nWo.
-Hall and Nash beat on Rick on the floor while the rest of the nWo take out The Heat and Scott in the ring. Here comes Luger and The Giant! The crowd is going crazy as we get the big crazy brawl to end the show. Team WCW clears the ring and Sting drops down from the rafters and it’s kind of frightening how fast he came down. Sting points his bat at Hulk Hogan and we get WCW standing tall this week. Hogan: “He’s pointing at me.” Tony: “Well, go get him big guy.” Heck of an ending as you didn’t get WCW standing tall all that often.
-Thanks for reading!
