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Leighty’s Retro Review: WCW Monday Nitro 3.24.97
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...-Written: 7.25.26
-Run Time: 1:42:26
-Plug: Last Week on Nitro
-Announce Team: Hour One: Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko
-Duluth, MN
-We start with last week as DDP chases Savage and Liz into the crowd because he wants a match right now.
-Show opening! Pyro! Larry The AX Hennig is in the crowd. Wonder what his son is doing?
WCW United States Heavyweight Championship: Dean Malenko (c) vs. Konan
-Konan is a former US Champion and hasn’t held the title since losing to Ric Flair last summer. That match is remembered for Woman kicking Konan right in the balls in impressive fashion. As Dusty noted, “she kicked him looooow.” Dean has a bandage over his eye as I assume he got cut somewhere. Konan goes to the ground and hooks a leg. This crowd is buzzing which is wonderful to hear. They pop like crazy as Dean gets a slam and goes to the leg himself. Tony and Larry spend the opening minutes talking about Savage going for the TV Title tonight and how the nWo just wants to collect Championships. Basically ring chasing…like Lebron! We get an insert promo from Syxx. The crowd is so loud you can barely hear what Syxx is saying. Konan with a powerbomb for two. I love this crowd! Every move is getting a pop. Konan with a roll-up for two. Slam from Konan and he heads up top. He kind of misses but I think it was on purpose as they got to The Texas Cloverleaf and Konan gives up at 3:33.
Winner and Still WCW United States Heavyweight Champion: Dean Malenko via submission at 3:33
-It was fine for a 3 minute match with the crowd making it more enjoyable. **
-Mean Gene is with Dean and he accuses Eddie of working with Syxx. That’s later though as his focus is on Chris Benoit. They meet at Spring Stampede.
-We go back to Uncensored as Wrath debuts to help Mortis against Glacier.
Wrath (w/ James Vandenberg) vs. Jerry Flynn
-It’s more of WCW MMA as we have a Pit Fighter against a Kick Boxer. Mortis gets arm control and lands kicks to the ribs. Shoulder tackles from Mortis but runs into a hop toss. Flynn lands a spinning back kick for two. Mortis back him into the corner and lands a mule kick. More kicks to the ribs in the corner followed by right hands. Mortis plays to the crowd and I don’t blame him as they are even popping for Jerry Flynn’s offense. Flynn with a spinning heel kick but runs into a side kick in the corner. Mortis drops an elbow and then a knee to the head. Mortis with his own spinning heel kick. He grabs Mortis by the throat and brings him to the forner. Mortis comes off the ropes with a Fame-asser. That gets two! Mortis pulls the ref away so Vandenberg can get involved and he calls us at home scumbags. Man went from calling people scumbags to doing a bump of cocaine. Flynn brings Mortis off the top with a powerbomb and hits a running lariat. Another one, but a third misses and Mortis hits a mule kick to the balls. Standing side kick and a Samoan Drop off the middle ropes gets the pin at 4:58. Tony notes the move is called The Flatliner, and that name didn’t last long as it moved to a different move.
Winner: Mortis via pin at 4:58
-I enjoyed this more than the opener. Both guys seemed to be enjoying the crowd reactions. You could argue Mortis needed a more dominant win, but I assume he wanted Flynn to get in some of his stuff. **1/4
La Parka vs. Juventud Guerrera
-They shove each other to start and Juvie slaps La Parka in the face. Juvie with a spinning back kick. Parka sends Juvie to the apron and does the strut. Juvie off the top, but gets caught and Parka struts some more as the crowd goes crazy. Juvie sends Parka to the floor and springs off the top with a dive as the crowd erupts. Someone needs to take their show to Duluth. Back in the ring Juvie gets a springboard missile dropkick for two. Parka blocks a charge in the corner and hits a clothesline. Parka heads up springs to the top and kind of hits a moonsault. Parka with a back breaker and then hits a spinning heel kick. Now Parka gets to fly with a suicide dive. Juvie blocks a suplex back into the ring and springs again with a cannonball. They fight up top and Juvie tries a rana, but Parka blocks and hits a powerbomb. Nice! Parka heads back up and comes off with a corkscrew moonsault for the pin at 4:20.
Winner: La Parka via pin at 4:20
-All action and the crowd enjoyed it. **3/4
-Recap of the history between The Steiners and The Outsiders. They meet (sure) at Spring Stampede.
-Gene is with The Steiners who are out for revenge! Tony noted earlier that Hall is absent and I am sure that won’t mean anything as we get closer to the PPV.
-Saturday Night: 6:05 PM: Harlem Heat, The Steiners, DDP, Dean Malenko talks, The Giant and Luger talk as well!
High Voltage vs. The Public Enemy
-HV attack before the bell and all four men brawl in the ring. HV get sent into each other. Double backdrops to Rage. Double clothesline sends Kaos to the floor. We settle into a standard tag match and Rage gets a belly to back suplex on Rock. Have I mentioned yet, how great this crowd is? Kaos in and hits a tilt-a-whirl powerslam for two as Grunge makes the save. Rage back in and gets a slam and goes for a standing moonsault but Rock moves. Tag on both ends and Grungs runs wild as Larry rages against unnecessary moves. Rage gets pitched to the floor. Kaos takes a slam and we get the assisted Senton. The crowd wants the table and you can tell PE is having a ball out there. Rage gets put on the table and Rock flips over the ropes with a Senton to drive him through. As this is happening, Jarrett is out and hits Grunge with the briefcase and Kaso covers for the pin at 3:44.
Winners: High Voltage via pin at 3:44
-Crowd was great and they at least kept it short. HV seemed excited as they were making their entrance and I can see why. They were getting the win. *1/2
-Mongo is not happy with JJ and Debra as he thinks he is being set up.
-Gene is with Lex Luger and The Giant. They have a Four Corners match against Harlem Heat to determine a #1 contender for Hogan’s Title. Giant and Luger note that may have to fight each other. Really weird match to book and they don’t even say when the winner will get a shot at Hogan.
Super Calo vs. Psychosis
-Psychosis with chops and then a spinning heel kick. We get an inset promo from Sonny Onoo, who says Rey is too small and dumb to beat Dragon at Spring Stampede. Calo sends Psychosis to the floor and then something gets wonky on the floor. Back in the ring, Psychosis gets a slam and then drops Calo balls first on the top rope. He gets stuck there, so Psychosis comes off the top with another spinning heel kick. Calo ducks a clothesline and gets a crucifix for two. Dropkick sends Psychosis to the floor. Calo off the apron with a head scissors and then a slam. He slings out with a senton on the floor. They are cramming as much as they can into the time given. Calo off the top, but Psychosis catches him on the way down with a spinning kick. Slam and Guillotine Leg Drop finish at 3:25.
Winner: Psychosis via pin at 3:25
-For whatever reason the crowd was kind of subdued for this one. Especially compared to how they’ve been for this show. *1/2
-Hour Two Pyro!
-Announce Team: Hour Two: Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay, and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
Hugh Morrus (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. Chris Benoit (w/ Woman)
-Apparently these shows were edited to take out Benoit matches at various points, but the source I am using has kept them intact. Horsemen vs. Dungeon continues! Benoit is aggressive and fires off chops and slaps. Hugh responds with a Gorilla Press Slam. He hits a running splash in the corner. Benoit back with a leg drag and avoids a second splash. German Suplex from Benoit and he heads up top. Hart grabs the ref and Konan knocks Benoit off the top, No Laughing Matter gives Morrus the win at 2:00. Our second upset of the night.
Winner: Hugh Morrus via pin at 2:00
-Not much here as it was more about what happened after the match. *
-Konan, Sullivan and Morrus beat the brakes off Benoit. Malenko is out to save, but he gets attacked. Ric Flair is out and get physical for the first time in six months. He decks Hart and beats up the rest of The Dungeon by himself as the crowd goes crazy. Where were Mongo and Jarrett? Flair has to keep Benoit from attacking Malenko.
-Hulk Hogan wants us to buy The Hollywood Hogan shirt. You know the one!
The Faces of Fear vs. Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri)
-Tony tells us this is a return match from Saturday Night as Luger and Giant got involved and there was no winner. Booker gets caught by Barbarian and gets dropped throat first on the top rope as Meng provides extra leverage. Back in the ring Booker fights from the top rope and comes off with a cross-body for two. Stevie in and he slams Barbarian and drops a leg. The crowd entertains themselves with a chant and I swear it sounds like “Let’s Go Goldberg.” Someone help me out with that. Could also be “Let’s Go Gophers,” as Minnesota was in The Final Four days after this show. They would would to eventual Champion, Kentucky. Oh the match! Meng has been in control of Booker for a bit and falls back on a slam attempt for two. Meng with forearms to the back and brings Barbarian back into the match. Sidewalk slam gets two. Now we get a Harlem Heat chant which is one you don’t here often. Heenan: “These people will chant for anything that sounds warm.” Meng with an abdominal stretch, so Sherri grabs the ref and Stevie rushes in. He breaks the hold and just takes Booker’s place. Tag back to Booker and we get a Rocket Launcher for two. Harlem Sidekick gets two as Barbarian makes the save. Booker gets too early on a backdrop and Meng hits a sit-out powerbomb for two cool. This is what this match needed to be! Just two teams trading bombs! Hard clothesline from Meng to Stevie in the corner. Sherri gets bumped in the corner because of course she does. That lets Booker get a roll-up on Meng for the pin at 8:30.
Winners: Harlem Heat via pin at 8:30
-The last 90 seconds were fun, but not much before that. The crowd eventually got into it. Heat needed a more dominant win as they are about to be in a #1 Contender’s Match for The World Title. **
-Gene is with Ric Flair and Chris Benoit. They blame The Dungeon for attacking Arn in the hotel after announcing his career may finished. Flair cuts a fired up Flair promo about Piper as they are the legacy for this sport. He wants Piper to act like a Horsemen and not wine about needing to be home with his family. Again, maybe Flair should have listened to Piper.
Malia Hosaka vs. Alundra Blayze
-They remembered they had a Women’s Division a few weeks ago, so they are actually giving them ring time. Hosaka with a kick from the corner, but misses a clothesline. Madusa throws kick in the corner, but Hosaka creates space and gets a dropkick. USA chant from the crowd and it’s a LOUD one. Hosaka with a Boston Crab. Madusa powers out and they trade pin attempts. Malia with a kick to the back and hooks a chinlock. Madusa powers out and starts throwing Hosaka around the ring by the hair. Suplex, but Hosaka rolls out. She lands a forearm to the mouth and gets a sloppy roll-up that I think was supposed to be a crucifix. Hosaka misses a strike and Madusa hits a German Suplex for the pin at 2:43.
Winner: Madusa via pin at 2:43
-This was a match and the crowd was into it at least. *
-Lee Marshall is On The Road with 1-800-Collect in Roanoke, VA. Weasel jokes are made!
Renegade vs. “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan
-Weird match here! Loud USA chant and then Duggan and Renegade shake hands. Duggan throws his roll of tape into the crowd because he respects Renegade. Duggan with a clean break in the corner and Renegade seems annoyed. He works the arm of Duggan, which gets reversed. Renegade is ready to throw a right hand and Duggan questions what he is doing. Duggan turns his back and Renegade hits a clothesline from behind that didn’t look very good. Duggan starts no selling and fires away with right hands. Hip-toss followed by Duggan hammering away with right hands. Front facelock from Duggan and he lands clubbing blows to the back. These is pretty rough as they stumble out of the corner and end up with Renegade getting a side headlock. Renegade with the handspring elbow in the corner. Duggan loads up the first as he has a second roll of tape and the punch ends the night for Renegade at 3:50.
Winner: Jim Duggan via pin at 3:50
-Not good. Trying Renegade as heel seemed worthwhile, but this wasn’t the way to do it. 1/2*
-Recap of Sting finally picking a side and going after Hulk Hogan.
-Spring Stampede commercial featuring The Horsemen on horses. I am sure they had a blast filming that.
The Amazing French Canadians (w/ Colonel Parker) vs. The Steiner Brothers
-The AFC try to sing The Canadian Anthem, but the crowd drowns then out, so they give up. Carl starts with Scott and Carl pounds away with forearms to the back. He sets too early on a backdrop and Scott gets a butterfly powerbomb. The AFC get sent into each other. Scott and Carl fight on the floor and Scott gets sent back first into the railing. The AFC use their tandem offense back in the ring as Jacques slams Carl onto Scott. Double team stun gun! Slam by Carl! He heads to the middle rope, but Scott gets a boot up to block. Tag to Rick and he runs wild as the crowd barks. Gophers cheering for Wolverines! Parker hits Scott from the floor and takes a swing with his flag, but misses. Cannonball on Rick, but the ref won’t count as he is getting Scott out of the ring. Jacques tries to hit Rick with a boot, but hits Carl and The Steiners get the cover and pin at 4:00.
Winners: The Steiner Brothers via pin at 4:00
-Really bad match as Scott didn’t look full healthy. These teams are capable of more, so this was disappointing. *
WCW World Television Title: Prince Iaukea vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage (w/ Liz, Syxx, Vincent, Dibiase, Nash, Bischoff, and Nick Patrick)
-Nash hits the Klique sign and yells, “right back at you HBK.” WrestleMania XIII was the night before and Shawn flashed the sign at the camera when he entered before the Taker/Sid match. Watching this back in the day I was really pumped thinking Randy Savage was about to be TV Champion. Bischoff Sucks chant from the crowd. This match is a result of Uncensored as the nWo won the right to challenge for any title whenever they want. This is Savage’s first match since October. He sets too early on a backdrop and Prince hits a kick to the chest. Springboard cross-body gets two. Double chop as Savage is giving the kid some shine. Prince up top, but Savage avoids. He drops Prince throat first on the top rope and follows with a slam. The crowd chants for DDP as Savage heads up top. Flying Elbow hits, but Savage pulls him up at two. DDP rushes from the ring in a Minnesota shirt. He attacks the nWo, but the numbers are too strong. The match is thrown out at 3:17.
No Contest at 3:17
-Savage gave the kid a flurry before the non finish. 1/2*
-The crowd chants for Sting as Nash drills Page with a powerbomb. Savage off the top with a flying elbow. They hold DDP up so Bischoff can deliver a kick. The crowd continues to chant for Sting, but not tonight. nWo letters tagged on The Prince and in a nice call back, Savage paints a 0 on Page’s back. I get that reference!
-Thanks for reading!
