Leighty’s Retro Review: WCW Monday Nitro 5.26.97

-In Memory of Pac! I shared this on X, but will include it here as well. When WWE content left Peacock all that was left was NXT. I started reviewing those and the first show I did was NXT Arrival where Neville won the NXT Championship.

-Also, rest in peace to Dennis Haskins. I grew up on Saved by The Bell and love the show to this day. Mr. Belding was a big part of that. He was wonderful on the show as the comedic relief and foil at times for Zack, but he could also pull off being serious and an authority when needed. Rest easy good sir!

-Also, rest in peace to Rick Achberger (WWE Sign Guy). Rest easy good sir!

-Written: 9.28.26
-Run Time: 1:30:16

-Book Plug: If you like what you are reading, you can find my book reviewing every 1996 WCW and WWF PPV on Amazon right here. I can say I am an international selling author as someone from India and Germany made a recent purchase. That’s pretty cool!

-We are back to two hours as NBC had the rest of the NBA playoff coverage.  Just to continue the bit, Miami beat Chicago 87-80 to avoid a sweep, but were closed out two days later in the Eastern Conference Finals.

-Announce Team: Hour One: Eric Bischoff, Larry Zbyszko, and Mike Tenay
-Nashville, TN

-Eric Bischoff is out first and here’s Hulk Hogan!  It seemed like Hogan always like to be at the shows in Tennessee.  Probably loved being a heel in these towns.  Eric is sporting a Rodman nWo shirt and Hogan has no mustache, but the black painted on beard.  Tony says this is the one year anniversary of Hall showing up on Nitro.  Ehh, one day short as it was May 27th, but it’s Memorial Day and that was Memorial Day so I see what’s he’s doing.  Hogan mentions his kids and then says Eric is close to being his family.  He is pissed at Sting and even notes he is in in “deep, deep doo-doo.”  He then calls Sting fans, “Sting-o-nites.”  That one didn’t stick.  He says Sting is scared of The Outsiders and can’t hang with Syxx.  Hogan wants Sting out here right now, but Eric says he is not here as he is scared.  Hogan says his arms are bigger than Sting’s whole body.  How’s his tan though?  He calls Sting out again and then he poses to as the crowd throws garbage in the ring. Also realized that putting Hogan out there at the start was probably their way to stack the first hour on their return to a two hour show.

Juventud Guerrera, Super Calo, and Hector Garza vs. Ciclope, La Parka, and Damian

-This is the first Lucha Trios Match on Nitro and let’s see how well I can keep up with this one.  Larry needs the tag rules explained to him.  La Parka offers a handshake and Juvie slaps him in the face.  Parka is rather annoyed but Juvie sticks and moves.  Juvie with a spinning kick.  He comes off the top, but Parka catches him and struts before slapping Juvie in the face.  Juvie off the top and sends Parka to the floor with a head scissors.  Ciclope and Calo and they start flying around the ring.  Ciclope with a lariat and sets Calo on the corner.  Calo flops down and gets a head scissors.  He ends up on the apron and comes off the top with another head scissors.  Ciclope ends up on the floor and CALO HITS THE GREATEST SUICIDE DIVE EVER AS HE BOUNCES OFF CICLOPE AND ENDS UP IN THE THIRD ROW.  I yelled out a curse word at that one!  Back in the ring Garza gets a spinning backbreaker on Damian and then a baseball slide.  Moonsault off the send rope to the floor!  Calo misses a dropkick back in the ring.  The heels triple team him, so he bails to the floor.  Juvie in and he gets beaten until he rolls to the floor.  Garza in and dump to the floor.  Calo back in and he runs over Damian.  Garza in with a clothesline.  Ciclope in and misses a splash.  Damian pulls Garza to the floor.  Juvie runs into a powerslam from Parka for two.  Juvie lands on his feet off a suplex.  Damian accidentally hits La Parka.  Juvie takes Damian to the floor with a head scissors off the apron.  Parka slammed off the apron and Juvie heads up top.  He flies off with a somersault plancha.  Sure!  Calo with a sling shot plancha.  Ciclope dives on the pile and then Garza with a twisting dive off the top that gets a standing ovation.  That whole portion was wild!  Ciclope up top but gets caught by Garza with a powerbomb on the way down.  Standing moonsault gets the pin at 6:25.  Wow!

Winners: Juventud Guerrera, Super Calo, and Herctor Garza via pin at 6:25
-This is what we loved to see when they finally let the cruiserweight division go out and tear the house down.  The crowd was going crazy and there were several moments that had me yelling out loud.  This would fit right in with today’s wrestling.  This was great!  ****

Psychosis vs. Alex Wright

-Wright is still rolling with his new cocky heel gimmick.  Larry just things he is young and dumb.  Psychosis goes after the arm, but Wright flips out to reverse.  He works the arm and now, Psychosis flips out.  Wright avoids and gets a leaping side kick.  Nice looking European uppercut followed by a fisherman’s suplex for two.  Not perfect!  Wright show some good aggression as he beats Psychosis down in the corner.  He then dances and the crowd boos him out of the building.  Well, once he shakes his hips you can hear some women in the crowd scream for him.  Wright drops a knee on the apron, but misses a charge.  Psychosis off the ropes with a moonsault press for two.  He drops Wright balls first (kind of) on the top rope and comes off the top with a spinning kick for two.  Wright slides to the floor and lets us know he is smart as he plays to the crowd.  Pyschosis just follows and comes off the top with a corkscrew moonsault that kind of hits Wright and also hits the railing.  That had to suck!  Back in the ring Psychosis hit the Guillotine Leg Drop for the pin at 4:10.

Winner: Psychosis via pin at 4:10
-This was fine though kind of scary with the way Psychosis hit that railing.  Weird to have Wright lose his first match after the heel turn.  **

-Gene is with Sonny Onoo and he won’t give away the surprise he has for Chono.  He catches Psychosis coming up the aisle and asks if he wants to make a deal.  Psychosis is all for it.  Madusa is out and she wants a Title shot.  She kind of stumbles on her words and says she will almost do anything.  Sonny jumps on that and Madusa is having second thoughts.  Sonny says she can have the Title Match at The Great American Bash, but if she loses, her career is over.  She reluctantly agrees.

Wrath (w/ James Vandenberg and Mortis) vs. Mark Starr

-Lockup and Wrath starts pounding on Star in the corner.  He delivers a kick and lands a back elbow to the ribs.  Whip yo the corner and Star gets his feet up to block.  Wrath reverses a whip and hits a spinning backbreaker,  Star us dumped to the floor and Mortis gets in a few shots.  He holds Star for Wrath, who lands two kicks to the ribs as James has the ref.  Wrath up top and hits a flying clothesline.  Pump Kick and Death Penalty finishes at 2:35.

Winner: Wrath via pin at 2:35
-What it should have been.  SQUASH

-Wrath and Mortis beat up Star as we head to a commercial break.

Konan vs. Villano IV

-Villano wants a handshake and Konan knees him in the gut. Clothesline follows and Konan plays to the crowd. Seated dropkick and more playing to the crowd. He throws chops in the corner and then hits a shotgun dropkick. Villano fights back and gets a head scissors. He floats over to get an arm-drag and the crowd boos. He tries to float over in the corner, but Konan hits an Alabama Slam. Hugh Morrus is out to get some revenge on Konan, but gets held back by security. Konan hits The Montezuma’s Revenge and finishes with The Tequila Sunrise for the submission at 3:10.

Winner: Konan via submission at 3:10
-This was as much of a SQUASH as the mast match, but not as entertaining. SQUASH

-Gene joins Konan in the ring and Konan burns any bridges as he takes shots at The Dungeon of Doom.

-Saturday Night 6:05 PM: Meng, Psychosis, The Steiners, and The Giant!

-Sonny Onoo is out to deliver his “nightmare” for Chono: The Great Muta!

Masahiro Chono vs. The Great Muta

-Muta sprays out some green mist and the crowd pops. Chono leaves the ring and starts chasing Sonny. Back in the ring and they just stare at each other which has the crowd booing. Onoo yells at Muta as the announcers are confused about the strange game plan from Muta. We get a lockup so it’s more contact than the Finger Poke of Doom. The headlock is rather light and Chono just slips out as Onoo gets in the ring. Muta sprays mist in Sonny’s and it’s revealed that Muta has been nWo all along. Bell ends this one at 3:00.

No Contest at 3:00
-It’s a match, so DUD, but this was all about the angle. I thought it was cool that Muta had gone nWo.

-We comeback after the Hour Two pyro and it seems a Savage/Macho interview was cut out for some reason.

-Announce Team: Hour Two: Tony Schiavone and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

Barbarian (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. Jim Powers (w/ Teddy Long)

-I assume these two faces off at some point in the WWF. Barbarian controls early and sends Powers to the floor. He runs Powers back first into the post and sends him back into the ring. Powers fires back with chops and Barbarian answers. He snaps Powers over and goes to a choke for a four count. Powers lands an elbow in the corner and gets up a boot to block a charge. High knee from Powers and he comes off the middle ropes but gets caught with a powerslam. Kick of Fear gets the pin at 3:18.

Winner: The Barbarian via pin at 3:18
-Powers got some token offense before taking the loss. Not a SQUASH and not as fan as the last few short matches. 1/2*

-Gene has Chris Benoit and Woman with him. Benoit stops Jimmy Hart as he wants to know why Sullivan has been away. Hart tells Benoit he has go through Barbarian. Benoit is ready to go now, but Hart says it will happen next week.

Handicap Match: The Giant (w/ Lex Luger) vs. Johnny Swinger, Rick Fuller, and Jerry Flynn

-Swinger can’t do anything so tags out. Flynn tries his karate and nothing doing. Fuller has some size, but he’s obviously no match for The Giant. He chops Fuller in the corner, so the other two jump in to save. Giant throws all three of of him. He takes Fuller and Flynn over with a belly-to-back suplex. Swinger jumps in and gets caught with a chokeslam. One for Fuller and one for Swinger as well. Giant gets the pin at 2:14. The crowd was way into all of this.

Winner: The Guant via pin at 2:14
-This was the most entertaining SQUASH of the night. SQUASH

-Gene in the ring to talk with Luger and Giant. They hype a tag match against Hogan and Rodman coming later in the year.

-Lee Marshall is on The Road with 1-800-Collect in Dayton, OH. Weasel jokes!

-Syxx is out wearing his Cruiserweight Championship. He takes shots at Ric Flair. We would eventually get to a PPV match between the two. Syxx calls Flair a “fluff boy.” We see the beating on Flair from last week. You know, the one where nobody cameo out to save Flair. Scott Hall and Kevin Nash are out and have words for Piper and Flair. They challenge them to a Tag Title Match and we would get that match at The Great American Bash.

The Horsemen (Jeff Jarrett and Mongo) (w/ Debra) vs. Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri)

-First we get a commercial where Hall and Nash want us to buy by the nWo 4 Life shirt. Never had that one!

-Jarrett and Booker T start this one. Smart! Well, wait as JJ tags out to Mongo. We get some stalling which means this one is getting some time. Mongo with a side headlock, but Booker shoves off. Mongo runs him over with a shoulder tackle. Another lockup and Booker buries a knee to the ribs and goes after the arm. Mongo with a reversal, so Booker punches him in the face and goes back to a headlock. Booker flips out of a suplex, but eats an elbow. Mongo with a clothesline to pop the crowd. JJ back in as Kevin Green joins Heenan and Tony at the announce table. He calls Mongo a loser and brings up last year’s Great American Bash. Heenan notes Greene looked like a coward, but says it in a terrified way where. Heenan is great at the little things. We cut to away from the match to get more from the announce table. Back to the match as Mongo gets a backdrop and we get Mongo and JJ with a double strut. Sure, it’s Tennessee. Stevie lands a shot from the apron and gets the tag. He runs Mongo over with a shoulder. Heenan being a coward but taking digs at Greene while also noting he is a big fan is great. Booker back in with an ax kick. Tony brings up logic as Greene just teamed with Ric Flair, but is now going after a Horseman. Greene certainly has passion and I always gave him credit as he was 100% invested anytime he was out there. Stevie back in and drops a knee for a two count. He hooks a reverse chinlock so we can go back to the announce position for a few seconds. Stevie with a slam and we go back to Booker. He misses a clothesline and Mongo gets a powerslam. It’s Tennessee so hot tag to JJ (well, kind of hot). He runs wild with dropkicks and clotheslines. All four men in the ring as JJ gets a suplex. No count as the ref is with Mongo. He notices Greene and storms to the announce position. They start trading blows as security rushes in to break them up. Cool! JJ is left alone and that doesn’t go well for him. Big Apple Blast (was that really the name for it?) finishes for the pin at 10:06.

Winner: Harlem Heat via pin at 10:06
-This was fine as JJ was having fun out there. The focus was on Greene/Mongo which makes sense. Heat getting a win also made sense because they should be beating a Horsemen team that continues to have issues. It should be noted that this is the first match to break 10 minutes on Nitro since Eddie vs. Dean on Jan. 13. **

-JJ tells Debra this is the last straw. Not yet, but we are getting there.

-Hulk Hogan is out and has Eric Bischoff with him. They are confident and smiling but Bischoff makes sure to check under the ring after what Sting did last week. Hogan says the nWo Championship is on the line right now and wants Sting to come out to take his beating. Fans pelt the ring with garbage as “Sting” comes up through the ring. The crowd pops at first, but then realizes what’s happening. “Sting” drops to his knees and bows to Hogan. The real Sting drops down from the ceiling and there’s the POP. Eric takes a Scorpion Death Drop and Sting has the bat pointed at Hogan as he turns around. “Sting” eats a Scorpion Death Drop as well. Hogan bails, but the nWo are out as backup. They surround the ring slowly and the crowd is eating up every second of this. The nWo take their time as we wait for Sting to get hooked back up and he takes off back to the rafter as the show closes. The crowd keeps going crazy for all these Hogan/Sting teases and we are still SEVEN MONTHS AWAY FROM THE EVENTUAL MATCH!

-Thanks for reading!

8.0

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

The opener is one of the best matches in Nitro history to this point and showed what the division can be when given time and let loose. The crowd was great all night but it's Tennessee during a hot period. We had our normal run of SQUASHES that were of varying degrees of being entertaining. The Main Event got time, but I think that was so Kevin Greene could cut a promo on commentary. The opener makes this a good show by itself. The crowd only added and we got a hot finish with Sting once again getting the best of the nWo. This show continues to be what my nostalgia loving heart needs after a rough week.