WCW Monday Nitro (May 19, 1997)

Original Airdate: May 19, 1997

From Asheville, North Carolina; Your Hosts are Tony Schiavone, Larry Zbyszko, and Bobby Heenan

Gene Okerlund brings Ric Flair out to kick things off, high off of his win over the nWo at Slamboree last night. They keep going on and on about how it's the biggest moment in WCW history, as if there were any actual stakes involved. Ric even calls it the 'greatest thrill' of his entire career. Again, there were no stakes. They still have the World title, Tag title, Cruiserweight title, and a whole bunch of other stuff. WCW Cruiserweight Champion Syxx shows up, and he's annoyed at Flair's comments that the Outsiders are a threat, but that he's a joke. So Syxx wants Flair tonight, and Ric basically laughs him off... but he does accept the challenge

 

WCW Television Title Match: Steven Regal v Prince Iaukea: Regal takes him to school in the corner early on, but a cross corner whip ends badly when Iaukea rebounds with a 2^nd rope sunset flip for two. Rollup gets two, and a crucifix is worth two, but Regal blocks a headscissors by dropping the challenger on his face. Regal with an inverted vertical suplex to set up the Regal Stretch at 2:26. This was really short. ¾*

 

Dave Taylor v Masahiro Chono: Mike Tenay joins us on commentary, but I think he's going to be disappointed, because these guys won't give him too many planchas to call. Taylor catches him with a dropkick, and he throws a few uppercuts, but Chono reverses a whip into the ropes, and uses an inverted atomic drop. Chono dumps him to the outside as a taunt, and he drops Dave with a neckbreaker when Taylor comes back in. Piledriver, but Dave counters with a backdrop, and he cross corner whips Chono - only to hit boot on the charge in. That allows Chono to slap on an STF at 2:59. Kind of weird that they booked back to back matches with basically the same submission finisher. I'm not sure if they were having communication issues, or what, but this one was a total mess. Afterwards, Sonny Onoo shows up, and threatens to unveil Chono's 'worst nightmare' next week. DUD

 

WCW Chairman JJ Dillon announces that Nick Patrick is officially reinstated on a probationary basis. Oddly, the pre-taped segment plays twice. Not sure what that was about

 

Scotty Riggs v Michael Wallstreet: I assume Wallstreet sold his nWo t-shirt out of the trunk of his car, because there's no other reason for him not to be wearing one here. Patrick is on duty for this one. Wallstreet with a side suplex to set up a chinlock, but he lets off to argue with Nick, and Riggs hooks a small package for two. Wallstreet fights back with a backelbow to set up a legdrop for two, and it's back to the chinlock. Wallstreet dumps him to the outside so he can have another argument with Patrick, which allows Riggs to recover, and dive with a flying sunset flip at 2:48. Less than three minutes, but Wallstreet is still sweating profusely, don't worry. This was more about establishing Patrick's role than it was about the match. DUD

 

Okerlund brings WCW Motorsports driver Mark Martin out to announce a car giveaway, joined by a pantless Ric Flair. Flair looks like he's on his way to the fridge on a cold winter's night

 

Lee Marshall is in Nashville Tennessee with the 1-800-COLLECT Road Report

 

The Steiner Brothers v Jeff Jarrett and Steve McMichael: Oh no, it's Jarrett. The cackalacky's are gonna start flying. Scott Steiner starts with Jeff, and they trade takedowns. Jeff manages a swinging neckbreaker and a snap suplex, but Scott no-sells, and gives him a press-drop. Jeff begs off, suckering Scott into the corner for a hiptoss, but Steiner blocks. He takes Jeff upstairs for a Samoan drop off the middle rope, but Mongo breaks up the pin at two. Tags all around, and Rick Steiner wins a slugfest, so Steve clips the leg. McMichael with a backelbow, but he gloats, allowing Rick to recover with a suplex. Rick dives with a very sloppy flying bulldog, so Jeff comes in to break up the pin, drawing Scott in - Roseanne Barr the door. Jeff gets hold of the briefcase, but here comes Kevin Greene to steal it away, and he bashes McMichael to allow Rick the pin at 3:35. ½*

 

After the commercial break, McMichael storms into Greene's dressing room (which appears to be a public bathroom), but WCW officials break them up before anything happens

 

Syxx v Ric Flair: Syxx's WCW Cruiserweight title is not on the line. The announcers note that tickets go on sale for Nitro at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this Saturday, and that Mike Tenay will be there signing autographs. Wow, way to hard sell. Syxx blitzes him before the bell, putting Ric down in the corner, and stomping away. Cross corner dropkick misses, however, and Flair sends in the chops. Irish whip gets reversed, however, allowing Syxx a spinkick... and then the Outsiders just come in and attack Flair for the DQ at 1:00. Would it have killed them to have a match? The nWo give Flair a beating, and apparently McMichael and Jarrett have left the building, so he's all alone. Too bad there isn't anyone else on the roster who might be able to do something. Well, you had to know this kind of destruction was coming if the nWo did the job at the pay per view. DUD

 

Eric Bischoff comes out to close the show, and he's been hoping to talk to Sting, but Sting is a big coward, and won't show up. Poor Tony sounds like he's going to cry at anyone badmouthing his Sting. So Eric talks shit for a while, until Sting pops out from a hole in the mat, and puts Bischoff down with the Scorpion Death Drop

 

BUExperience: Super hot crowd, but not much of a show. Give RAW the edge this week.

 

Monday Night Wars Rating Chart

	5/19/97
Show	RAW	Nitro
Rating	3.1	3.6
Total Wins	17	63
Win Streak		46
Better Show (as of 5/19)	33	45