WCW Monday Nitro (January 13, 1997)

Original Airdate: January 13, 1997

From New Orleans, Louisiana; Your Host is Tony Schiavone with Larry Zbyszko (hour one) and with Mike Tenay and Bobby Heenan (hour two). Interestingly, despite how hot the product was, they’ve drawn just over 10,000 to the Superdome

Giant charges into the nWo's dressing room, looking for WCW World Champion Hollywood Hulk Hogan, but he gets removed before he can find him. Apparently, Hogan is trying to get out of the match at Souled Out, and Giant wishes to express his displeasure. Well, that's understandable, but maybe try writing a letter next time. Even if you don't send it, it will make you feel better to get your feelings organized

Chavo Guerrero Jr v JL: The announcers completely ignore the match to talk about the situation with Giant and the nWo backstage. Criss cross goes Chavo's way with a monkey flip, and another one ends in Guerrero using a headscissors takedown. Dropkick knocks JL to the outside for a plancha, but JL dropkicks him off the top rope as he tries another dive, then dives with his own flying bodypress on the floor. Because the crowd is pretty small for the venue, the building is really under lit here, and it's killing the mojo. JL misses a slingshot somersault senton splash on the way back in (not sure why he even tried that in kayfabe, Chavo moved before he even dived), and Guerrero hits a jumping backelbow for two. Chavo goes up, but JL crotches him on the top, and brings him down with a sloppy rana for two. JL unloads in the corner, but an Irish whip gets reversed, and Chavo hip attacks him down. He goes up with a flying moonsault press, and that's three at 4:16. This wasn't bad, but it felt like they couldn't get it properly going. Still better than the super boring tag match that opened RAW, though. **

Gene Okerlund brings Jim Duggan out so Jim can declare his allegiance to WCW, and he wants Sting to 'be a man' and join the fight. And that promptly gets him killed with the Scorpion Deathdrop. This aired opposite the rest of the tag opener on RAW, so we'll give Nitro another point

Chris Jericho v Sgt. Craig Pittman: Jericho dominates him in the early going, as the announcers start talking about a new TNT show called 'the New Adventures of Robin Hood' debuting tonight. Oh, so it's THAT episode. Oh boy. Pittman with a missile dropkick to pick up a quick win at 1:07. This aired opposite Sid cutting a go-home promo for the Rumble over on RAW, and I'd call it a push. ½*

Harlem Heat v High Voltage: Booker T starts with Kenny Kaos, as Larry talks about how Sister Sherri can find ways to 'motivate any man.' Yeah, I remember that interview with Warrior back at the Royal Rumble in '91. They fuck up a simple backdrop spot, and Kaos takes control with a bodyslam. Over to Robbie Rage, but we cut away from the match because Giant is trying to get to Hogan again. He gets blocked again, as the nWo laugh him off, noting that he won't actually get his title shot because he never had a contract for one. Tony rightly notes that they advertised World War 3 as a top contenders match, which is kind of a contract by default. Shh, Tony! You know logic isn't welcome here! Booker misses a 2^nd rope fistdrop that allows the tag back to Kaos, and he manages a butterfly suplex on Booker, so Stevie Ray just comes in and stomps the shit out of him. That triggers a brawl, and the Heat finish Kaos off with an electric chair/missile dropkick combo at 4:05. Great reaction to the finish there. This aired opposite Shawn Michaels looking miserable in a bar somewhere, so advantage WCW. ¼*

Souled Out t-shirt ad

Diamond Dallas Page v Mark Starr: Eric Bischoff, Vincent, and Ted DiBiase take over on commentary for this. I like how self-professed tough guy Zbyszko is so easily run off by an announcer, a career jobber, and a retiree. Fight back! It's not like the Outsiders are out there, you puss. Page dominates a criss cross, and uses a DDT to take control. Snapmare, but Starr goes to the eyes to block, so Page just ends him with the Diamond Cutter at 0:54. Afterwards, the Outsiders come out to officially induct DDP into the nWo, but he drops Scott Hall with the Cutter after putting on the shirt, and then dumps a fuming Kevin Nash out of the ring. Nothing match, great angle - one which Page still talks about to this day, as it went a long way in making him. He instantly comes off so much cooler than a guy like Duggan does by waving the flag around and talking about how important WCW is, blah blah blah. This aired opposite highlights of Shotgun and most of the Bulldog/Maivia match, and we'll give Nitro the point here. DUD

Souled Out ad. I like the added touch of them noting that the ad has been paid for by WCW, and that it gives the Outsiders a chance to cut a promo on the Steiner Brothers to hype up their match at the show. Good, creative use of the format

Eddie Guerrero v Dean Malenko: Eddie's WCW United States title is not on the line. Eddie dominates on the mat to start, as the crowd ignores the match, more concerned with waving at the hard camera. I'm guessing there was a lot of paper for this show? Criss cross is won by Malenko with a leg lariat, and a snapmare leads to a chinlock. He shifts to a bow-and-arrow, but Guerrero reverses, and drops him with a side suplex to set up a slingshot somersault senton splash for two. Dean dumps him to the outside to buy time, but Eddie still manages to take him down into a leglock when he heads back inside. Eddie works a figure four, but Dean makes the ropes, and he bails to the outside to kill the momentum. Dean takes a cheap shot on the way back inside to turn the tide, but Eddie blocks a powerbomb, and a reversal sequence ends in Guerrero using a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two. Tornado DDT, but Dean chucks him across the ring to block, and whips him into the ropes for a knee to the gut. Malenko works an abdominal stretch from there, and he takes it to the mat with a cradle for two. Eddie tries a sunset flip, but Dean blocks, as Syxx shows up in the crowd to sit atop a ladder as a taunt. Dean with a side suplex for two, so he tries pounding Eddie into the corner, but Guerrero returns fire, mounting a comeback. He hooks Dean up in the Gory special then down into a cradle, leading to a pinfall reversal sequence. Dean grabs control with a clothesline for two, so Eddie uses a rana into a cradle for two. Cross corner whip, but Malenko gets to the top rope to block, and another reversal sequence ends in Dean hitting a brainbuster for two. Another one, but Eddie counters with a rollup for two, and his own brainbuster sets up the Flying Frogsplash, but he gets distracted by Syxx. That allows Dean to powerbomb him, and that's a pin at 12:15. What a terrible finish! Like, Syxx has been out there for half the match, miles away from the ring, and Eddie decides to acknowledge him right as he has Dean where he wants him? Stupid. The match itself was okay, though it was pretty dull until the last few minutes. Still better than the awful Undertaker/Crush match that closed RAW, though. ** ¼

Konnan v Super Calo: Reversal sequence at the bell, ending in Konnan hooking a cradle for two. Calo returns fire with a somersault cradle for two, and the referee is just horribly out of position. Mickey Jay was always one of the worst referees in the big leagues. Reversal sequence ends in Konnan taking a spill to the outside, and Calo following with a dive. Back in, Calo uses a pair of elbowdrops for two, but Konnan fights him off with a rolling clothesline. Pair of powerbombs connect, but Konnan takes too long gloating, and gets brought off the middle rope with a headscissors for two. That sequence looked so phony. Calo tries another takedown, but they botch it, and Konnan just DDTs him to end it at 2:58. This was all over the place, and really sloppy at points. ¼*

Kevin Sullivan wants to play some chess. No wonder Woman left him. Guys in chess club never get any girls

Jeff Jarrett v Chris Benoit: Benoit takes him down with a fireman's carry to start, but Jeff keeps coming, and a reversal sequence ends in Jarrett taking him down. They trade waistlocks, and Jeff hits a suplex, as the rest of the Four Horsemen (sans Ric Flair) show up to observe. Irish whip gets reversed, allowing Benoit a clothesline, but Jeff reverses him into the corner, and hits the straddling ropechoke. Hotshot leads to a somersault cradle for two, and a swinging neckbreaker leads to the Figure Four, but Arn Anderson distracts him. Cue Steve McMichael with the briefcase to finish the job, but Debra doesn't want him to do it, and by the time he can get it away from her, he ends up hitting Benoit by accident - Jarrett scoring the pin at 3:27. This was just some quick back-and-forth stuff ahead of the angle. Afterwards, Benoit chews Steve out, and seems like he really wants us to know that Woman is indeed a woman. Not sure that was ever in question, but the fact that Benoit is so defensive about it now makes me wonder. ¾*

Scotty Riggs v Billy Kidman: Riggs immediately comes off like a loser, still rocking the same gear and mannerisms that he had while teaming with Bagwell. Feeling out process to start, and Riggs hits a pop-up flapjack, as Buff Bagwell shows up in the aisle to observe. Kidman throws a dropkick for two, but a flying 450 splash misses, and Riggs hits a bridging fisherman's suplex at 2:20. Too quick to go anywhere, and while seeing a 450 in 1997 was still super innovative, they did a terrible job of working it into the match like it was absolutely no big deal, with all the focus on Bagwell instead. ¼*

Lee Marshall phones in the 1-800-COLLECT Road Report from Chicago

Lex Luger v Rick Fuller: They measure each other a bit to start, until Fuller gets in his face, but then hides in the ropes when Luger comes at him (bro). Fuller with a cheap shot to take control, and he drops Luger into the corner with a turnbuckle smash, then hammers him with chops. Another turnbuckle smash, but Lex ducks a clothesline, and starts making a comeback. Torture Rack finishes at 2:57. I continue to be impressed by how over Luger was during this period. I was a regular viewer, and I don't remember him being such a force, but he gets the biggest pops every week. DUD

Okerlund brings Giant out for an in-ring interview, with Giant crossing paths with an exiting Luger on the way, but without incident. Giant will get his match with Hogan tonight, albeit non-title, per the WCW Championship Committee

Arn Anderson v Rick Steiner: Arn with a fireman's carry takedown to start, drawing a smirk from Rick. Arn doesn't lose focus, and pounds Steiner into the corner, but walks himself into an overhead suplex, and the Enforcer bails. He signals for reinforcements, but none come, and Rick powerslams him for two on the way back into the ring. Backdrop gets two, but Arn blocks another one. DDT, but Rick backdrops his way out of it, and it looks like someone is missing a cue somewhere here, because they're all over the place. Finally, Steiner just clotheslines him over the top, and Arn walks out at 2:59 - frustrated that the Horsemen aren't answering his calls for help. Afterwards, the Steiner Brothers hype up their tag title match with the Outsiders for Souled Out. Nothing to this match. ¼*

Souled Out ad

Hollywood Hulk Hogan v Giant: Hogan's WCW World Title is not on the line. The announcers note that we shouldn't worry if the match runs long because they'll continue to follow it and show us what's going on during the commercial breaks of the debut episode of Robin Hood. Hogan refuses to work the match, so Giant forces him in, and hits a bodyslam. No means no, Giant. He knocks Hogan all around the ring until Hulk bails, but Giant chases him into the aisle, dragging him back in, as the show ends with the announcers desperately pleading with us to stay tuned for Robin Hood. The Network version just segues right into the rest of the match, though on live TV they were showing it during the commercial breaks, which made the match seem much longer than it actually was. I remember really pushing the limits of my bedtime to watch through the commercials (with zero interest in Robin Hood), trying not to fall asleep. So Giant keeps pounding Hogan all around the ring (in what would be some twenty minutes into the bout if it were live, like they're implying), so Hogan tries a low blow, but Giant no-sells. Giant feeds him his bandana, as the break ends, and it's time to go back to Robin Hood. Back with Giant dragging Hogan into the ring again (in what would be a solid half hour into the match), and he goes for the Chokeslam, but the nWo run-in for the DQ at 6:05. Terrible match, which is no way would make you want to pay to see a rematch on PPV. I know people tend to hate the Robin Hood promotional tactic, but I actually thought it was pretty creative. Might not have worked, but points for effort. DUD

BUExperience: This wasn’t a good episode, but at least it had a couple of decent matches in there, as opposed to the boring chore of a show RAW was.

Monday Night Wars Rating Chart

	1/13/97
Show	RAW	Nitro
Rating	2.3	3.4
Total Wins	17	46
Win Streak		29
Better Show (as of 1/13)	21	40