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Leighty’s Retro Review: WCW Monday Nitro 3.31.97
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...-Written: 7.30.26
-Run Time: 1:41:15
-Plugs: Last Week on Nitro
-This is the go home show for Spring Stampede.
-Announce Team: Hour One: Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko
-Roanoke Civic Center, Roanoke, VA
-The nWo arrives without Hogan, Bischoff, or Hall. The later has been missing for a few weeks now.
The Giant and Lex Luger vs. Rick Fuller and Road Block
-The Giant starts with Fuller and shoves him back into the corner. Heavy chop to the chest and a whip to the opposite corner for a running clothesline. Tony is still hyping The Four Corners Match as The Main Event for Sunday. Luger in and he catches Fuller with a belly-to-back suplex. Clothesline from Luger. Fuller goes to the eyes and brings in Road Block. He hits a nice looking splash in the corner and drops an elbow. Luger chant from the crowd. Luger ducks a clothesline and hits the loaded forearm. Luger makes the mistake of going after Fuller on the apron. That gives Block an opening to hit a clothesline. Block buries a knee to the gut and hits another clothesline. Leg Drop gets two. Fuller back in and he beats on Luger in the corner with chops. Block back in and gets a slam. He misses an elbow from the second rope. Hot tag to The Giant. Well, this one is over! Giant with a big boot to the face of Block and a kick to the face of Fuller as well. Full Block tries a double clothesline, but Giant runs them both over. Choke Slam to Block and Fuller gets put in The Rack. The ref counts the pin for The Giant at 5:10.
Winners: Lex Luger and The Giant via pin at 5:10
-Hot crowd and a better match than you would think. One one hand, you could make the case that Luger and Giant should have steamrolled these two with the PPV on Sunday. On the other, it was a solid 5 minute match and was over the second The Giant got the tag. **1/4
-Harlem Heat hit the ring and we have a brawl to the commercial break.
-Back with Gene interviewing Harlem Heat and Sister Sherri. Stevie insults Giant by calling him a long, tall, drink of water. Unless Booker says infamous at the PPV on Sunday, that insult by Stevie is going to be remembered forever.
WCW Women’s Crusierweight Championship Tournament: 1st Round: Meiko Satomura vs. Toshie Uematsu
-I have no recollection of WCW having a Women’s Cruiserweight Division. I researched online and the belt looks familiar. This tournament features four women so you just need two wins to become The Champion. The whole idea was apparently a joint venture by WCW and GAEA Japan. For those wondering, the weight limit for the division is 130 lbs. Meiko would go on to a legendary career and just retired a few years ago. She even popped up in the WWE with the Mae Young Classic and in both NXT UK and NXT. Uematsu with a shotgun as the bell sounds to pop the crowd. Meiko works the arm and starts throwing kicks in the corner. She has a smile on her face as she continues to go after the arm. Meiko with a running forearm in the corner. Scoop slam and she heads up top. Frog Splash, but Uematsu gets the knees up to block. She nearly breaks her neck trying to run up Meiko in the corner and land a back flip. She repeats as I am not sure what she is trying to do. She knocks Meiko off the top rope with a slap and then hits a Swan Dive Splash for the pin at 2:22.
Winner: Toshie Uematsu via pin at 2:22
-This was different and the crowd wasn’t sure what to make of it. I still am not sure what happened with the corner spot. The Swan Dive Splash looked nice. 1/2*
Psychosis vs. Villano IV
-You have to love WCW as we open this show with BIG MAN TAG WRESTLING, Japanese female cruiserweights and now Lucha. Villano works the arm and switches to a side headlock. Psychosis counters, but VIllano counters that with an arm-drag. Tenay gives us the history of the Villano name and I appreciate it. Always good to learn! Psychosis with a running lariat as he is tired of the arm-drags. He puts Villano balls first on the top rope and comes off the top with a flip kick. Villano bails to the floor, so Pyschosis follows off the top with a corkscrew cross-body. Back up top, but Villano catches him on the way down with a Rock Bottom. Sunset flip from Villano gets two. We cut backstage as Nash is questioning Norton and Wallstreet. We have issues in the nWo it seems. Wallstreet walks off as he questions “who needs this?” Back to the match and Villano misses a moonsault. Superkick from Psychosis and he hits the Guillotine Leg Drop for the pin at 4:32.
Winner: Psychosis via pin at 4:32
-This was fine even if the crowd didn’t care. **
-Gene is the ring and brings out Ric Flair. Before he can get really going, Roddy Piper is out. They have been taking shots at each other for the last few weeks. Piper makes a joke about Flair’s girlfriends calling his bed, “The Dead Sea.” That makes Tony laugh. Flair appreciates that Piper’s Hollywood ass could humble them with his presence tonight. Flair mentions The Nasty Boys being turfed from the promotion in 93 and I have no clue what he is talking about. They bond over their history together and agreed to stand side by side. This was leading somewhere and produced a wonderful match at Bash at The Beach. Flair offers a woman to Piper to close the segment. Umm, okay.
-Last week DDP interrupted the Savage/Prince TV Title Match. Page ended up getting tagged and so did Prince Iaukeau.
WCW World Television Title: Prince Iaukea vs. La Parka
-Last week La Parka got the win with The Laparkinator and I missed the call. Just wanted to note it here because as mentioned, that may be the only time he wins a match with it in WCW. La Parka rushes at the belly, but misses in the corner. He does hit a spinning heel kick and fires off a loud chop. Parka sent to the corner, but runs to the top and goes to back flip over The Prince, but he is late getting there and La Parka lands on him. That could have been ended up being worse. La Parka keeps things moving and gets a powerslam. Springboard moonsault from the middle ropes gets two. La Parka misses a charge in the corner and hurts his shoulder. Prince springs off the middle ropes with a cross-body. He fires away with chops, but Parka sends him into the security railing. The Chairman gets a chair and that gets the crowd going. He runs Prince into the steps and puts him in the chair. Parka heads back into the rope and hits a suicide dive to the seated Prince. Back in the ring, Parka with a kick to the chest, but walks into a superkick. Prince with a chop and he heads up top. Parka moves away from the dive in an early version of what Samoa Joe would develop. Back to the floor where La Parka baseball slides the chair into The Prince. Shouldn’t that be a DQ? The bell rings for some reason. La Parka goes Sabu and jumps from the chair, to the top rope and onto The Prince. It seems the bell was an accident as we keep going. Back in the ring, Prince hits a superkick and heads up top. Parka grabs his chair, but Prince comes off with a cross-body for the pin at 4:27.
Winner and Still WCW World Television Champion: Prince Iaukea
-Weird match as La Parka was walking The Prince through that one. We have a La Parka fan in the comments and could probably give us more information on what happened here. **
-Saturday Night: 6:05 PM: Rey Mysterio, Lex Luger, DDP, Public Enemy and Prince Iaukea!
-Gene is with William Regal, who faces Prince Iaukea on Sunday. He is going to turn The Prince into a vegetable who will being sipping his food through a straw.
William Regal vs. Chris Jericho
-Tony notes that Jericho has been on the edge of superstardom. I wonder if he ever gets there? Regal stalls to start because even if he only gets two minutes, it’s a must. Jericho works the arm, but Regal counters into a drop toe hold. Jericho with a hammerlock and Regal counters. Elbow from Jericho followed by a lariat. A spinning heel kick sends Regal to the floor. Springboard dropkick to the apron. He brings Regal back in with a suplex. Lion-Sault gets a two count. Regale shoes off from the corner as the crowd is distracted by something. Regal misses a forearm and Jericho hits a superkick. He gets a roll-up for the upset at 2:29.
Winner: Chris Jericho via pin at 2:29
-Very short and Regal, who has a Title Match on the PPV, takes the loss. Not much they could do here. *
-Regal attacks after the match and puts Jericho in The Regal Stretch. Renegade down to save, but things better of it and backs away. Joe Gomez comes out and Regal beats him up. Here’s Kidman, and there goes Kidman as Regal throws him to the floor. Regal looked like a boss there as he just wrecked people rushing the ring.
-Hour Two Pyro!
-Announce Team: Hour Two: Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay, and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
WCW Women’s Championship: Akira Hokuto (c) (w/ Sonny Onoo) vs. Debbie Combs
-Combs made her debut in the 70s and had a run in the WWF against Moolah. She also worked in the AWA and NWA. Hokuto attacks from behind and pulls Debbie around the ring by her hair. She chokes with her boot on the ropes. To the other side for Moree choking. Sonny chokes Debbie on the ropes as well. Shocked WCW Standards and Practices allows that. Combs with a suplex for two. The crowd is turning on this match. Debbie with a cross-body for two. Hokuto with a kick to the gut and a German Suplex into the bridge gets the pin at 2:29.
Winner and Still WCW Women’s World Champion: Akira Hokuto via pin at 2:29
-Just kind of BLAH. The crowd wasn’t into it and they didn’t give then any time. *
-Gene is with Madusa, who gets attacked by Akira. Sonny notes he does’t get involved in women’s business. Madusa rallies and officials and other women in the division are out to separate them. Now this got the crowd into something involving the women.
-Video package on Sting!
-Last week Jeff Jarrett cost The Public Enemy in their match against High Voltage. Mongo is not happy with his wife or JJ.
The Horsemen (Jeff Jarrett and Mongo) (w/ Debra) vs. The Amazing French Canadians (w/ Colonel Parker)
-Tony just noted they will have a show in Pittsburgh at The Palumbo Center. Yeah, WCW were blocked from having a shot at The Civic Arena, so they had to settle for the much smaller Palumbo Center. I watched plenty of high school basketball playoff games in the Palumbo Center. Speaking of Pittsburgh, Heenan makes a reference to Mr. Rogers and I feel anytime the great Fred Rogers is mentioned, it should be noted. Mongo with a dropkick to pop the crowd. Jarrett in and The AFC use their tandem offense. Jarrett back with a dropkick to Carl and then makes the tag to Mongo. He runs over both members of The AFC with a clothesline. He dives at the knees of Carl and gets a backdrop on Jacques. The Public Enemy are out and attack Jarrett before getting the briefcase from Debra. Colonel steals the briefcase while Mongo continues to fight by himself in he ring. Mongo gets blasted by Jacques with the briefcase and Carl gets the pin at 3:00.
Winners: The Amazing French Canadians via pin at 3:00
-I understand what they were doing as The Horsemen cost PE in their match with High Voltage last week. PE gets revenge this week, but it’s kind of blah to hype a Tag Match by having both teams lose to lesser teams heading into the match. 1/4*
-Gene is in the ring and apparently Debra broke two nails thanks to The PE. She also takes shots at PE for having bad breath and lice. Mongo rages as he is tired of getting hit with the briefcase and accuses Jarrett. JJ says he is the one holding The Horsemen together. The saga continues!
-Lee Marshall is on The Road with 1-800-Collect in Huntsville, AL. Weasel jokes are make!
Hugh Morrus (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. Chris Benoit (w/ Woman)
-Rematch from last wee where Morrus got the upset win thanks to help from The Dungeon. Morrus jumps Benoit as he tries to get into the ring. Benoit fires back with chops and gets a snap suplex. He sends Morrus head first into the corner and fires away with more chops. Morrus responds and the cameraman gets knocked back from one of the shots in a cool visual. Powerslam from Morrus! He heads up, but Benoit is on his feet so he doesn’t get far. Benoit with a German Suplex into a bridge for the pin at 1:35.
Winner: Chris Benoit via pin at 1:35
-Benoit gets the win back. This was just here for that and to set up what follows. *
-Konan and Sullivan hit the wring and Benoit gets his teeth kicked in again. Jackie is here and shoves Woman down and then comes off the top with a splash to Benoit. She goes up top again, but Woman shakes her off balance. She slaps Jimmy in the face and here’s Flair to pop the crowd. Arn Anderson is out as well, but he can’t do anything physical. Again, where are Mongo and Jarrett? With that said Flair is handling this by himself with nut shots and chops. The crowd is going crazy for all of this. Sullivan stares Arn down, but Arn lets him walk by.
-Gene is in the ring with Arn, Flair, Benoit, and Woman. Benoit feels sorry for Sullivan and says he has been wronged. He is the victim, but also the perpetrator. He shoots as he asks whose life Kevin is going to try to destroy after this. He notes the sun is setting on Sullivan’s career and it’s the dawn of a new generation. He then turns his attention to Dean Malenko as they face off on Sunday for The US Title. Flair woos and doesn’t get to say much as this was mainly about Benoit. Tony picks up Benoit’s “not a victory for The Horsemen, but a victory for me.” Line. Yes, there were some plans for this and then it didn’t happen.
-Last week the nWo beat the tar out of DDP. And spray paint a 0 on his back.
Lance Ringo vs. Diamond Dallas Page
-Ringo (Sick Boy apparently) has Kimberly’s Playboy magazine that Savage and Liz first introduced. Well, he is going to SMASHED here. Heenan notes he read the magazine for 10-12 hours and didn’t get anything out of it. Lance is still looking at the magazine as the bell rings and Page just laughs. He then slaps Ringo in the face and drives elbows in the corner. Reverse atomic drop followed by a belly-to-back suplex. Ringo actually drums up some offense as he snaps DDP’s head off the top rope. He springs back in with a missile dropkick and then mocks DDP. Page reverses a whip and gets a fireman’s carry into the Diamond Cutter for the pin at 1:57. Marc Mero would take that move and call it The TKO in WWF.
Winner: Diamond Dallas Page via pin at 1:57
-Not a SQUASH as Ringo got a few moves in and showed some personality. WCW must have been impressed enough to bring him back with a character. *
-Gene is in the ring with DDP and he hypes the match on Sunday. Randy Savage interrupts from the crowd and has Liz with him. Liz smiling makes me happy! Loud “Macho Sucks,” chant which is kind of cool to hear. Savage has finally learned DDP’s name thanks to Liz. Savage wants to know if DDP is a gemologist or something. Savage doesn’t care if Kimberly comes to Spring Stampede or not as we will all see if DDP has any family jewels at all. TELL EM MACH! DDP then does his Savage impression and tells Savage to bring his “bimbo” and since he is bringing the lady, he can bring the Tramp. These two are great against each other.
The Steiner Brothers vs. High Voltage
-They are still hyping The Outsiders defending against The Steiners for Sunday even though it’s been a bit since we’ve seen Hall. Tenay actually says High Voltage reminds people of The Steiners from 10 years ago. Oh Mike, you are better than that sir. Kaos gets thrown all over the ring and eats a bunch of clotheslines. Rick follows him to the floor, so Rage comes off the apron and then sends Rick into the post. They are going after the ear as Rick has been having issues since the car crash and attacks by The Outsiders. Rage with a sling shot guillotine leg drop to the back of the head. Kaos back in with a swinging neckbreaker for two. Rage back in and springs for a Senton, but misses by a lot. Tag to Scott and he starts firing of suplexes and breaks OUT THE STEINER SCREWDRIVER on Rage for the pin at 3:30. That move is still breathtaking.
Winners: The Steiner Brothers via pin at 3:30
-The Steiner Screwdriver is worth a star by itself. *1/2
-Nash and Syxx take over the announce table and Nash looks pissed. Heenan is hilarious as he struggles to get over the desk. Nash isn’t sure what’s happening with the nWo right now. He says Hall is taking care of business more important than wrestling right now. He tells the rest of the nWo in Chicago with Rodman they need to get focused. You don’t want him pissed off and he will be there on Sunday and will fight alone if needed. He then takes shots at the midgets in the back as they only breath because he allows it. “As long as I have breath in my lungs, I will fight WCW by myself.” Where was this leading or was this just Nash airing out his frustrations? Super intense and it showed that when needed Nash could be a scary dude.
-Thanks for reading!
