WCW Monday Nitro (December 2, 1996)

Original Airdate: December 2, 1996  

From Dayton, Ohio; Your Host is Tony Schiavone with Larry Zbyszko (hour one) and with Mike Tenay, and Bobby Heenan (hour two)

The Steiner Brothers show up right away, all hot and bothered about what Sting did to Rick last week. Rick challenges Sting to a match tonight, and Scott is here to watch his back this time. Well, maybe if Scott were around to do that last week instead of leather hat shopping, this wouldn't have happened in the first place. But then he wouldn't have that shiny leather hat, so really, I get it

Glacier v Hardbody Harrison: Glacier tries showing respect with a bow at the bell, but Harrison attacks, so Glacier takes him into the corner to abuse with strikes, before finishing with a spinkick at 1:01. Well, that was to the point. This aired opposite the Funk/Goon match on RAW, and we'll give the WWF the edge there. DUD

The Amazing French Canadians v Renegade and Joe Gomez: This crowd is so crazy hot, it's scary. Jacques Rougeau starts with Gomez, and Joe manages to stick a dropkick for two during a criss cross, so Carl Ouellet comes in to double-team, and a cheap shot from Robert Parker puts Gomez in trouble. The French Canadians work Joe over, as Tony reminisces about his experience at the first Starrcade. 1983 felt so far back to a kid in 1996, but 2007 sure doesn't feel that far back to an adult now. Getting older is a hell of a thing. Anyway, the referee loses control of the match in short order, and Roseanne Barr the door. Renegade runs wild, and this crowd is so hot that fucking Renegade is getting pops. He runs into a piledriver from Jacques, however, and the Canadians finish up with the Tower of Quebec at 3:16. This aired opposite the Godwinn/'Diesel' match, and I'll give Nitro the edge. ½*

Gene Okerlund brings Arn Anderson out to cut a promo on Hollywood Hulk Hogan on Roddy Piper's behalf. Good thing Arn was there, since that Piper kid can't cut a promo to save his life. This aired opposite the Shawn Michaels emotional-guy promo over on RAW, and Arn was much more interesting here

The Faces of Fear v Scotty Riggs and Robert Gibson: Well, that's an interesting team. They should have called them The Martys, and been done with it. Barbarian starts with Riggs, and pounds him into the corner, as we split screen to a replay of the nWo's end of show attack from last week. Riggs tries a sunset flip, but can't get Barbarian over, so Gibson comes in to aid with a clothesline, but the referee doesn't even bother counting, making it all for nothing. Ha! Tag to Gibson, and he uses his speed to get around Barbarian, but it doesn't really go anywhere. The Martys work Barbarian with quick tags, but Gibson telegraphs a backdrop, and gets pounded. That allows the tag to Meng, but Riggs dives at him with a flying bodypress for two, and the Martys tandem clothesline him for two. They go after Meng with more quick tags in and out, but Riggs eats a chop, and the Faces use their backdrop/powerbomb combo on him for two. Barbarian with a backbreaker for two, and Meng with a piledriver, as the match starts to drag some with the Faces working Riggs over without much direction. Barbarian misses a couple of drops to allow the tag to Gibson, and even this super hot crowd that was going nuts for Renegade doesn't give a shit. And then Barbarian just kills him with a big boot at 7:41 anyway. This was pretty tedious. I'd still give it the edge of the Bradshaw/James match and Karate Fighters bullshit over on RAW. Not exactly a high bar to clear, though. ¾*

We get highlights of a house show match between Kevin Sullivan and Chris Benoit that took place in Baltimore a couple of weeks ago. Kind of weird that they'd do the bathroom brawl spot for a non-televised card. This aired opposite the WWF also showing highlights of live event, and in a rare case, WCW's footage actually looks more professional

Kevin Sullivan v KC Sunshine: Sullivan attacks before the bell, and dumps Sunshine to the outside right away for some abuse with various ringside weapons. Inside, Sullivan keeps stomping the shit out of this guy, before finally putting him out of his misery with a double stomp at 2:01. Just a squash. Afterwards, Okerlund comes out to talk Benoit, though honestly who the fuck can understand a word he says? Between the accent and being out of breath, it's challenging. Sullivan lets him know that he'll dig his own grave with Benoit, and bury himself, Benoit, and Woman in it. Jesus. This aired opposite the start of the tag match main event on RAW, and we'll call it a push. ¼*

WCW Cruiserweight Title Match: Dean Malenko v Billy Kidman: Larry notes that videogames are silly, and he can't respect people who play them. Let's hope he stays out of the locker room during his visits these days. Kidman is dressed like a wannabe Chris Benoit tonight. Feeling out process to start, with Kidman actually managing to dominate. Malenko ends up on the outside, but Dean dodges a plancha, and powerbombs Kidman on the floor. He should have taught lessons. That draws Sonny Onoo out to scout Malenko on behalf of Ultimo Dragon, as Dean takes Billy in to drill with a side suplex. Snapmare sets up a chinlock, and Dean shifts into a crucifix cradle for two. He holds Kidman in a mat-based abdominal stretch for a bit before drilling him with a brainbuster for two, and cross corner whipping him to set up a backelbow. Another corner whip, but Billy blocks the follow-up charge, and he throws a 2^nd rope dropkick. Fisherman’s suplex gets two, and a backslide gets the challenger one. Small package for two, but Malenko reverses for two - reversed back by Kidman for another two. Billy with a dropkick, and he goes upstairs, but Dean superplexes him off. Malenko goes upstairs, but Onoo blinds him with the flash of his camera, and Kidman goes up with a shooting star press - only for Malenko to block by lifting the knees. That sets up the Texas Cloverleaf, and Dean retains at 5:51. The camera flash spot fell flat, but the match was solid otherwise. Certainly much better than the boring tag match headlining RAW. ** ¼

Jeff Jarrett v Big Bubba Rogers: Give them credit, they are pushing that Starrcade main event HARD tonight. And it totally worked, I remember being really excited about the match at the time. Bubba uses power to dominate in the early going, but Jarrett starts strutting, and that manages to get in Bubba's head. Jeff with a DDT, so Jimmy Hart distracts him, and Bubba is able to turn the tide back in his favor. Heenan sounds totally off his game tonight, for whatever reason. More so than usual for his WCW run. Heel miscommunication spot allows Jarrett to send Bubba into the post on the outside, and he hits a flying bodypress for two on the way back in. Figure Four, but Bubba shoves him into the corner to block. He grabs Hart's megaphone, but misses a shot with it, and Jeff schoolboys for one. Bubba goes for the megaphone again, but Jarrett dropkicks it into his face this time, and that's enough for the pin at 4:09. These two didn't really click. ¼*

The Steiner Brothers are back, and Rick is calling Sting out again. This time Sting appears in the rafters, and Rick wants an answer to his challenge for tonight - Sting giving him a firm nod and a small smirk to accept. Reminds me of how John Cena accepted Bray Wyatt's challenge for WrestleMania 36

Outsiders t-shirt ad. I love that ad

Eric Bischoff leads the nWo out to chase the commentary team away, and they take over the booth. Bischoff, Scott Hall, and Kevin Nash should actually be a fun commentary team, I have no problem with this. Eric tries to talk Piper out of the match with Hogan by showing footage of Hulk beating up that 'tub of fat' Vader. Nice

Eddie Guerrero v Squire David Taylor: Taylor tries a sneak attack, but Eddie dodges him. He runs into a pair of uppercuts, however, and Taylor uses a snapmare into a chinlock. "We could use a good Englishman," notes Hall. Eddie tries a backslide for two, but Taylor cuts him off, and uses a pair of headscissor takedowns. Taylor and Alex Wright always had the best version of that. David works a wristlock, but a pop-up backfires when Eddie uses a headscissors of his own. Taylor throws a dropkick to cut him off, but a 2^nd rope bodypress misses, and Eddie dives with a Flying Frogsplash at 2:16. Too short to really go anywhere. *

Lee Marshall calls in with the 1-800-COLLECT Road Report, but the nWo have had enough of the 'velvet tones' of Lee Marshall

Arn Anderson v Jim Powers: Hall and Nash counting nWo shirts in the crowd, while complaining that they don't see enough Outsiders shirts is pretty funny stuff. Arn dumps him to the outside to rub his face into the mats, and then toss into the post right away. Inside, Arn with a bodyslam to set up a kneedrop for two, but Powers uses a bodypress for two during a criss cross, so Anderson goes to the eyes to cut him off. Arn works a hammerlock, as the nWo guys continue to kill it on commentary. They're funny, but they're also getting their angles over, like implying that Sting ("our little Stinger") is nWo. Arn with a DDT at 3:07. Not much here. ¼*

WCW United States Title Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Lord Steven Regal v Chris Benoit: Regal's WCW Television title is not on the line here. Feeling out process to start, and Regal gets busted open hardway in, like, the opening minute. So, of course, we get the wide angle shot for the rest of the match. Hall covers for it nicely by noting that the shot allows them to look for Sting. Benoit with a bodyslam to set up the flying headbutt drop for two, and they fight over a tombstone, with Chris hitting it. Regal rolls to the outside before Benoit can cover, so Chris tries a plancha, but Regal dodges. Inside, Regal hits a butterfly superplex for two, so he tries a cobra clutch, but Benoit counters by dropping him on his head with a German suplex. Bridging dragon suplex finishes at 6:26. Whole lot of nothing before kicking it up a notch in the final minutes. * ¼

Okerlund brings the Horsemen (sans the injured Ric Flair) out, and everyone is mad at Benoit for bringing Yoko into the group

Lex Luger v Rocco Rock: Rock throws a kick to stun Luger at the bell, and he drops him throat-first across the top rope. That allows Johnny Grunge to get in some cheap shots from the floor, and Rocco hits a corner clothesline to rattle Lex. Hall notes that Lex has 'always been a slow starter because it takes a long time for the blood to get to those big muscles.' Bring this dude in to call RAW! Seriously, bring Nash too, it might legitimately be great. Rock keeps working Luger over in dull fashion, before finally walking into a press-slam, and Lex starts making the comeback. Grunge trips Luger up as he runs the ropes, but a heel miscommunication spot allows him to get Rocco in the Torture Rack at 3:57. This felt endless. DUD

Sting v Rick Steiner: Rick unloads on him, but Sting doesn't try blocking or defending himself, just kinda taking it. He drops Steiner with the Scorpion Deathdrop to make him stop, so Scott Steiner comes in to try and intervene, but Sting scares him off with the baseball bat. He then gives the bat to Rick and turns his back to see what'll happen, with Rick trying to take a shot, but Scott stops him. Sting takes that and walks out, giving Steiner the countout win at 1:53. I didn't hear a bell or a ring announcement, but I assume. So Sting walks up the aisle, where the nWo guys are cheering him on, but instead of joining them, he points his bat at them menacingly, before disappearing back into the crowd. Nothing as a match, but interesting as an angle. DUD

BUExperience: This felt like little more than a filler episode, but it was still a lot more lively and watchable than the opposing RAW. And they did a good job of building up the Starrcade main event (even with neither participant in the building), while RAW did a horrible job of building their In Your House main, even though the WWF pay per view is coming up sooner than WCWs.

Monday Night Wars Rating Chart

	12/2/96
Show	RAW	Nitro
Rating	2.3	3.4
Total Wins	17	40
Win Streak		23
Better Show (as of 12/2)	18	37