WCW Monday Nitro (December 9, 1996)

Original Airdate: December 9, 1996

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

Roddy Piper kicks us off, coming out to the ring to cut a promo on WCW World Champion Hollywood Hulk Hogan, and boy does the crowd love him. He's really rambling and all over the place, but Piper is just so likeable that it works. Though he's still pissed about the boxing match with Mr. T at WrestleMania 2, apparently, since he dedicates significant promo time to talking about it. Some guy has an 'nWo country' sign, so Piper cracks a funny joke about how every time he's seen the nWo they're all sitting around, all dressed in leather, drinking champagne...not one woman around, so we know where that guy is coming from. Anyway, Piper wants Hogan, but he doesn't want to wait for Starrcade. He wants him tonight. This aired opposite the bullshit Sid/HHH match on RAW, and this was more interesting

Michael Wallstreet v Mike Enos: Hey, remember in 1992 when these guys were pretty big stars, and no one would have cared about this match even then? Well, here it is, four years later! They feel each other out a bit, with Enos taking control as Ted DiBiase shows up at ringside. Enos hits a legdrop and a powerslam, and he figures DiBiase must be out to offer him a spot in the nWo, but before he can find out, Wallstreet jumps him with the Stock Market Crash at 1:35. Afterwards, Ted hands Wallstreet a piece of paper (likely an nWo contract), but we don't learn any other details at this point. This aired opposite the Goldust/Gunn match on RAW, and I'll give the WWF a slight edge. DUD

Over the weekend on WCW Saturday Night, Woman revealed that she's cheating on Kevin Sullivan with Chris Benoit, because women (and Woman) have rights, or something. This aired opposite the finish of the Goldust/Gunn match. Call it a slight win for Nitro, if only because it felt gritty and real compared to the cartoonish WWF

Hugh Morrus v Renegade: Renegade seems like such a doofus here, still doing his lame Ultimate Warrior rip-off mannerisms, but without the face paint, and looking flabbier than ever. Hugh works a headlock to start, but Renegade counters to a hammerlock, so Hugh throws elbows to escape. Renegade tries a backdrop, but he telegraphs it, so Morrus throws a disastrous spin heel kick. He was lucky the camera mostly missed that one. Morrus gets distracted by Joe Gomez's lustrous locks, allowing Renegade a small package for two, but Hugh quickly cuts him off. Bearhug, but Renegade reverses, and the crowd is just over this shit already. Renegade with a powerslam for two, and people in the crowd are literally laughing at the poor guy as he makes his comeback. And then Morrus drops him with a laughable side suplex, before finishing with the No Laughing Matter at 3:01. This was bad. Like, real bad, Tommy. This aired opposite the Karate Fighters tournament recap, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I give the edge to RAW with that one. I mean, at least it didn't dip into negative stars. –¼*

Kevin Sullivan comes out to bitch at Tony for 'playing the ratings game' by showing that video from Woman earlier. Not really sure what his beef is with Tony, but I dug the passion here. Sullivan is so polarizing. Like, he was either involved in the goofiest of goofy shit, or his angles were more grounded in realism than anyone elses

Sting music video

Gene Okerlund brings Kevin Greene out to talk a little wrestling/look like Nic Cage

WCW Cruiserweight Title Match: Dean Malenko v Jimmy Graffiti: I still can't quite wrap my mind around this gimmick for the old Gigolo. Feeling out process to start, and Jimmy wins a slugfest, but Dean dodges a superkick. Sonny Onoo observes from ringside as Jimmy hits a chincrusher, but Dean throws knees to fight him off, so Jimmy headbutts him in the belly. Graffiti with a side suplex for two, and a gutwrench suplex for two. He really overshot that last one. Looked like he was trying to put a little mustard on it, but it got away from him a bit. Dean returns fire with a Saito suplex for two, so Graffiti tries a charge, but misses. That allows Malenko to throw a leg lariat, and Jimmy ends up on the outside. Baseball slide, but Graffiti dodges, and he clotheslines Dean on the floor before dropping him across the guardrail. Graffiti goes upstairs on the way back in, but Dean meets him at the top with a superplex. Criss cross goes Graffiti's way with a superkick for two, and a powerbomb connects. Somersault cradle gets two, so Dean bridges it into a powerbomb for two. Rollup gets two, so Graffiti uses a hotshot to turn the tide back, but Malenko counters a suplex with a cradle at 9:30. Took a little time to get into gear, but it turned into a hell of a match by the end. This aired opposite a Bret Hart interview on RAW, in which Bret said basically nothing. So, point Nitro. ** ½

Okerlund brings Sonny Onoo out to perpetuate some stereotypes, ending in Gene chiding him for holding an American flag. Because he "shouldn't be holding that." Wow, okay, racist much, Gene?

The Nasty Boys v The Faces of Fear: Big brawl to start, which means we get the pleasure of watching on the tiny little split screens for a while. Dust settles on Brian Knobbs and Barbarian, with Knobbs taking control as WCW World Tag Team Champions The Outsiders show up to watch. Tag to Jerry Sags for a slam on Barbarian, as the Outsiders steal the show by just standing there. Like, seriously, they're more interesting than anything going on in the ring, and they're not even doing anything! Barbarian gets hold of a chair on the outside to turn the tide on Sags, and Meng beats him with it into the aisle, as this match just staggers on. Inside, Barbarian dives with a flying headbutt drop, but Sags rolls out of the way, and makes the hot tag - Roseanne Barr the door. Knobbs dives with a 2^nd rope clothesline on Barbarian to set up a 2^nd rope splash, but the referee is distracted with Sags and Meng brawling, so there's no count. That allows Jimmy Hart to come in with the megaphone (including a rare dive off the top from him), but he ends up nailing Barbarian, and Knobbs violently dumps him out of the ring. That allows Barbarian to sneak up with the megaphone, and he knocks Brian out for the pin at 5:21. Serves him right for how carelessly he tossed Hart out of the ring there. I didn't dig this at all, and the Undertaker/Mankind match on RAW was better. ¼*

Okerlund brings hometown boy Ric Flair out for an interview, and I don't think Gene ever enjoyed his job as much as when interviewing Flair on Nitro. He just always looks so damn happy. Anyway, Flair wants Piper to come back out so he can put him over a bit. Well, he's already done it for everyone else on the roster, why not? Ric sums up their history, and gives Piper some advice for dealing with Hogan. This was actually a really good promo, with both guys obviously naturally charismatic dudes, and it got over beyond the scope of the actual words spoken

Chris Jericho v Bobby Eaton: They get into a criss cross right away, with Eaton dominating him down, and Bobby goes upstairs for a nice flying kneedrop for two. He got some hang time on that one. Jericho returns fire with a powerslam and a spin heel kick, then uses a vertical suplex to set up the Lionsault for two. He tries another springboard, but Eaton counters him with an electric chair this time, but the Alabama Jam misses. That allows Chris a superkick to set up a missile dropkick at 2:35. Had mojo, but way too short. ** ¼

Gene brings the Steiner Brothers out to talk about Sting, but they don't really have much to say. Like, I get wanting to check the angle a bit, but what's the point of booking promo time if there's nothing to advance or add?

Lex Luger music video

Arn Anderson v Sgt. Craig Pittman: Pittman tries to take him down early, but Arn manages to maintain a vertical base. They trade wristlocks, and Pittman beats him into the corner, but Arn sweeps the leg there, and bashes it into the post from the outside. Arn with a snapmare to set up a dive, but Pittman slams him off the top, and slaps on the Code Red. Anderson is in the ropes to save himself, and he bails to the outside, where Steve McMichael helps with a cheap shot, and Arn drops Pittman with a DDT at 4:56. Total nothing match. Afterwards, Gene comes out to chat about the Benoit/Woman/Sullivan situation, and McMichael honestly should have been taking notes here, because he ended up living this angle down the line. ¼*

Lee Marshall calls in from Pensacola Florida with the 1-800-COLLECT Road Report. To my dying day I will believe Lee was actually in those towns meeting with random Nitro fans each week. Don't you take that away from me

WCW United States Title Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Jeff Jarrett v Diamond Dallas Page: A young Charlotte Flair is visible in the crowd during DDP's entrance here, though the announcers make no note of it. They size each other up a bit to start, each trying to gain a psychological edge. Jeff manages to gain control on the corner, but DDP reverses a cross corner whip, and he hits a side suplex. Tilt-a-whirl slam gets two, so Jeff tries a chincrusher to buy time, and he adds a leg-feed enzuigiri to turn the tide. Jarrett with a swinging neckbreaker, and he successfully manages a cross corner whip this time. Straddling ropechoke also connects, but Page fights back with a sunset flip for two, leaving Jarrett scrambling to cut him off with a clothesline for two. Slingshot suplex sets up a 2^nd rope fistdrop (complete with adequate flailing), and Jeff hooks a somersault cradle for two. Bodyslam, but Page counters with a small package for two, and he throws jabs. Jeff cuts him off again with a facebuster for two, and he tries to put it away with a sleeper, and now it's Page's turn to flail. Seriously, cool it, Dallas. DDP escapes the hold with a clothesline, and both guys are left looking up at the lights. Page makes his comeback as they get to their feet, and he hits a flying clothesline for two, but misses a charge to go sailing over the top. That draws the Outsiders out, and Kevin Nash distracts the referee while Scott Hall hits Jarrett with the Outsiders Edge. Page then crawls back inside to make the cover at 11:42. Afterwards, Okerlund comes out to ask what's the deal, is DDP nWo, or not. Page keeps claiming innocence, and flat out tells them to stop messing in his life. This angle continues to be interesting, and the slow burn is working for it. * ¾

Roddy Piper is back again, and he wants Hogan, and he ain't leaving until he gets Hogan. He does realize he has a contract to face Hogan in twenty days, right? Patience is a virtue, Roddy. So this draws Eric Bischoff out, and the fans use him as a trashcan in large numbers. Eventually he'd learn to slot himself early on in the show, before people were ready to toss their junk. He talks shit, so Piper beats him down in Hogan's place, but here comes the nWo! And then here comes Kevin Greene to chase them off, since football, bitches

BUExperience: A pretty decent episode, as they continue to deliver a very focused build for the Starrcade main event. The rest of that card is getting next to nothing, but they’re pushing the big main event hard, and it paid off well for them, plus made interesting television.

Monday Night Wars Rating Chart

	12/9/96
Show	RAW	Nitro
Rating	2.3	3.3
Total Wins	17	41
Win Streak		24
Better Show (as of 12/9)	18	38