My Take On The Monday Night Wars 10.21.08: Raw vs. Nitro (9.01.97)

Introduction:
Welcome back to the latest edition of My Take On! With the addition of WWE 24/7 to my cable system, I have decided to have some fun and do some columns on “The Monday Night Wars.” I plan to work this similar to the “My Take on MMA” columns, where it isn’t a recap as much as it is an analysis piece. I will provide the ratings of the two shows, my breakdowns of each segment that aired and then give an overall final grade so to speak of the show. The goal is to run through as many of these as I can as they air. I think it will be a fun adventure to embark on. Sit back and relax, as I relive The Monday Night Wars!

WWE RAW IS WAR (9.01.97)~!: RATING: 0.0 WWE was on a roll creatively as the ratings were starting to rise and the show was very good most weeks. HHH and HBK had just teamed up and laid out the Undertaker, while bringing in the insurance policy Ravishing Rick Rude. But WCW was still in control of the ratings war, and what didn’t help WWE was the fact that they would be preempted two times a year, once for the Dog Show a the other time for the US Tennis Open. For two weeks in a row Raw would not air on Monday’s, and for this week WCW would take advantage. Last week’s Monday Nitro would be, up to this point, the most watched cable wrestling show in history. Could they do it again? They would try with a three-hour celebration of the new season and the career of Arn Anderson. Unfortunately not everyone was there to celebrate Mr. Anderson… Martina Hingis > Raw! Martina defeats Raw again…straight sets.

WCW MONDAY NITRO (9.01.97)~!: RATING: 4.8 This was a three-hour show, kicking off the “new season” of Nitro, and a celebration of Arn Anderson, including clips of the stars saying goodbye to Arn. Match/Segment: A Tribute to Arn Final Thoughts: They show a video package to open the show, praising the career of Arn Anderson. They go through the Horsemen years, his run as tag champion with four different partners, his friendship with Flair and his lock on the TV Title. It was a good package, but one of those things that the WWE Production Team would have done so much better, just because they are that good. They then recap the “My Spot” promo from the week before. The only thing more powerful than what Arn has to say is Flair in the background fighting back the tears as he friend says goodbye. A great segment to kick things off on what was supposed to be a night for Arn. Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 9.0 CHRIS BENOIT HISTORY EDIT: United States Champion Steve McMichael and Chris Benoit defeating Eddy Guerrero and Jeff Jarrett was the match that was to kick off the show. It didn’t. Match/Segment: n.W.o Shenanigans Final Thoughts: Hall, Savage and Liz break into the booth and scare off Fat Tony. They are the fan’s choice as they continually tell WCW to stick it. It is labor day, the workingman’s holiday, which is exactly what the n.W.o is. Savage then promises to take out DDP and Luger later in the show. Yeah, for the most part useless, just Hall running off about how they are the cool heels and shit. They did mention the main event, very nice of them. They also added to the heat with Larry Z, so they did a couple things fine, but I could have done with out it. Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 4.0 Match/Segment: Mortis pinned Silver King Final Thoughts: This match was fun as hell. Kanyon I feel is very underrated as a worker, as for a time the man was just awesome. Silver King is great because he’s Silver King and you’re not. The win got Mortis on track and set up for Vandenburg to call out the Faces of Fear. We get a big brawl to build to the upcoming PPV match. Fun match, PPV build, I love it when a plan comes together. Meng will eat your soul. Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 7.75 I love that the first Arn moment they show is him turning on Dustin Rhodes in 1994. Tremendous. Match/Segment: Yuji Nagata pinned Dean Malenko Final Thoughts: Very good match right here. Nagata and Malenko worked well together, and again Malenko makes almost everything seem effortless. Double J and Debra out would make their way out, cause the distraction, which would see Double J hit the stun gun off ropes, Nagata would cover, Double J grabs the leg and Malenko got screwed. Turn about is fair play as Malenko caused Double J and Eddy to lose the opener that we didn’t get to see. Continuity, it works for me. Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 8.0 Match/Segment: Ultimo Dragon pinned La Parka Final Thoughts: This would be more of the war between Dragon and former manager Sonny Ono. We got a fine match here with everything going well, no mistakes and Dragon getting the clean win. Dragon also got some revenge on Ono after the match, and is heading towards a rematch for the TV Title. Outside of the n.W.o Shenanigans, this has been a really strong show. Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 7.0 Luger, Flair and DDP are the initial members of Team WCW for War Games. Match/Segment: Buff Bagwell pinned Glacier Final Thoughts: We got a very average match, nothing special about it and nothing to remember other than horrible blown high spot off the cross body. Glacier came up short and about blew out Buff’s knee; that had to suck. Vincent gets involved and helps Buff win. Moving on. Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 5.0 Match/Segment: Video Package on Piper Final Thoughts: Basic package chronicling Piper’s return to WCW. It was maybe a minute long, and showed off WCW’s lack of production ability. Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 5.0 Match/Segment: Lizmark Jr. pinned Viallano IV Final Thoughts: Raven appears in the crowd as the match began. Once again this was ok, nothing wrong with it, but it just seemed there and like they were throwing stuff out there to fill the 3-hours. The Viallano’s pulled the switch, but it failed. Tough shit for them huh? Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 6.0 Match/Segment: LEX LUGER SPEAKS Final Thoughts: Luger discusses the drama between he and DDP over the last few weeks. He says what happened was an accident, shit happens and they are even. Luger wants to work together, and says that the n.W.o has been built on lies and that they can’t let it happen to them. He asks for DDP, and like last week when Luger refused to appear, DDP refuses. They tried to play up the unity of WCW and how they had to fight together, and the accidents that took place were being played up by the n.W.o to break them up. We got some decent execution from Luger, who wasn’t exactly a great promo. Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 6.0 Match/Segment: World Television Champion Alex Wright pinned Hugh Morris Final Thoughts: Disco Inferno returns so he and Alex Wright can have a gay dance off. They have a girl fight and Disco leaves, so he’s the woman here. I always liked Hugh Morris, he wasn’t great, but was a very good big man for the most part and could work with about everyone. Wright breaks him down by working the knee, who shows some good aggressiveness. Disco re-appears and gets involved, hitting Morris. Morris tosses him, but eats a spin kick; Wright uses the ropes and retains the title. Not bad really, but nothing special. Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 6.5 Match/Segment: STING VIDEO PACKAGE Final Thoughts: The use the voiceover that played at the Clash as we see the transformation of Sting over the last year. Once again it is the right idea, but WCW’s lackluster production doesn’t make it as good as it could have been. Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 5.0 Match/Segment: Stevie Richards pinned Damien Final Thoughts: Raven attacks Damien in the floor, DDT’s him and rolls him in the ring. Stevie didn’t realize what happened, performs CPR and then pins Damien. Stevie celebrates like he won the world title, tremendous. Raven had defeated Stevie at the Clash, and was playing mind games here. It was fun, especially because I was into the Raven character. Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 5.0 Match/Segment: Ray Traylor speaks, and then Ray Traylor pinned Prince Iaukea Final Thoughts: He used a lot of gimmicks while in WCW, but now he is Ray Traylor, a man. He was big and string with the n.W.o, but was jumped and was not supposed to walk again. He learned that the n.W.o is a bunch of crap. He didn’t get a call or letter form them, just a letter from Bishoff releasing him from the n.W.o. he used it for motivation, and he will take out Bishoff. I like Traylor, I thought he was a good big man, but he is not exactly the guy you they to build as a main baby face, which they tried to do here. The promo was good, the match basically a squash and overall effective. Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 6.0 Match/Segment: The “Horsemen” Ride Again… Final Thoughts: Waltman and Flair, and Konnan as Mongo are out to talk to Mean Gene. Gene refuses to do the interview and leaves. They basically re-do last week’s angle, and now Buff is out playing Hennig. Here is some of the promo: This was something that Bishoff and the n.W.o guys thought would be hilarious, but instead it offended Flair, Arn and a large portion of the locker room. I remember watching this and being PISSED off at it. Not pissed because I wanted to see the Horsemen get revenge, but pissed because not only did I feel that this angle sucked but also pissed because I felt as if they were disrespecting Arn, a guy that has been there for my entire wrestling fandom. And in hindsight the angle really did nothing, Hennig turned on the Horsemen and they were pushed to the back once again instead of being used smartly. And remember, “Larry’s Enjoyment Index.” Fuck this. They actually have a cut in from Bishoff from the Monday Night Wars DVD, saying that he regretted the segment and that he wishes that he never would have done that one, and that he felt bad about it. He and Arn made up and have a current relationship, but he really wishes he could take it back. Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 0.0 Match/Segment: Unannounced Cruiserweight Brawl Final Thoughts: Eddy is out and says he gave Chavo a chance to be a man and he failed. He wants Chavo to step aside so he won’t disgrace the Guerrero family name. Scotty Riggs comes out to join the party and wants a shot. Damien, Kidman, Prince Iaukea, Super Calo, Cyclope, Viallano IV and V and Super Astro all come out to join Chavo Jr. and Jericho, and we then get a battle royal. We get a TON of crazy dives. Ultimo Dragon and Alex Wright fight on the floor as well as this is just an insane brawl. Eddy puts the CW Title on the face of Jericho and frog splashes him, which had to suck. It just ends, but was fun while it lasted. Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 6.0 Match/Segment: HOGAN SPEAKS Final Thoughts: Hogan and Bishoff are out to discuss Sting’s challenge. They say Sting is nothing with out the bat, and that he hasn’t beaten anyone. Hogan calls Sting a “Hollywood wanna be” and that he wants to take him on right now. He even says that the title is on the line. Hogan is either lactating, his deodorant is running or his tan is coming off. It is rather disturbing. JJ Dillon them comes to the ring and gets beat down. Vincent then earns his pay by bringing out some spray paint, while the WCW guys stand backstage with their dicks in their hands, as usual. Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 5.0 Match/Segment: Randy Savage and Scott Hall defeated Diamond Dallas Page and Lex Luger Final Thoughts: DDP and Luger play up their dissention as they argue over who will begin the match. For all of Scott Hall’s issues, the man could sell his ass off, that’s for sure. DDP stays in for a while and doesn’t even think about tagging Luger. Luger finally rushes in and cleans house, but accidentally hits DDP with the loaded forearm. He racks Savage, but Hall covers DDP for the win. Luger is pissed about the loss as Hall and Savage retreat. Larry’s Enjoyment Index: 7.0 The Overall: Best Match/Segment: A Tribute to Arn 9.0 Worst Match/Segment:: The “Horsemen” Ride Again… 0.0 Final Thoughts: This was a case of WCW having a huge advantage by not only having the night to themselves, but they also had a three hour time slot to work with. While there was some good stuff, most of it felt like filler, which was something that happened all too often with the three hour shows. The Arn parody is either loved or hated depending on who you talk to. From a personal enjoyment point of view I HATED it, but from a business point they took the top heels and tried to play off of a beloved figure’s demise and I get that. This was a marathon show for the sake of having a marathon show, and while it didn’t suck, it also isn’t a show you need to track down. Show Score: 6.0

This is the final edition of My Take On The Monday Night Wars. As most know I lost WWE 24/7 when I moved. Since the end of July I have been using the stockpile of backups I had, and this is the last one. It comes at the worst time too because we were about to have DX, the Screw Job, the rise of Stone Cold and the fall of the Heartbreak Kid. Thanks to those of you that checked out the columns and shared kind words, it was very appreciated.