Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for May 5, 1997

Tonight's episode is one hour long due to the NBA Playoffs.

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair and Kevin Greene are at the commentary table, which has a black nWo banner with the words "Tradition bites!" behind it. As Piper is about to speak, commentary notices it and Piper tears it off. The three of them are in the ring after the show's intro, and more nWo papers with the words "Tradition bites! nWo 4 Lyfe" on them fall from the sky. "Tradition bites" banners surround the arena where the Nitro banners should be. Piper says he has reading the papers falling from the top of the arena last week, and tells Flair that he will not leave him. Referring to Kevin Nash demanding 75% of the gate, Piper says he wants no money. James J. Dillon shows up, and tells Piper that there are people here that are playing mind games. He knows that the "75% of the gate" demand got to Piper, and tells him that Eric Bischoff made some sweet deals for the New World Order that he can't do a thing about because they are all legal. Piper will get 25% of the gate, and if he doesn't show up for the match, he will be in breach of contract and will let WCW down. Dillon asks Piper to come with his head on straight, but Piper says his head has never been on straight and that he and his friends are lions. Flair tells Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Syxx that he doesn't know much about Hall and Nash, but insists that Syxx is his, and at Slamboree, a man with no regrets who has performed at 120% his whole career will promise that when one drives out of Charlotte, North Carolina, there will not be a pothole in the road.

The Dungeon of Doom (Konnan and Hugh Morrus) bring out a table of their own before their match with Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and "Flyboy" Rocco Rock).

The Dungeon of Doom (Konnan and Hugh Morrus) beat Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and "Flyboy" Rocco Rock) after Morrus puts Rocco Rock through a table that Konnan is lying on top of. A trainer has to tend to Johnny Grunge during the match.

Syxx shows up with The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) before the next match, and also fights in an nWo T-shirt and blue jeans. Hall and Nash distract the ref before the next match so that Syxx can get a cheap shot in, and Rey Mysterio, Jr. fights off all three men only for the referee to be distracted as Hall hits Rey with The Outsider's Edge before Syxx beats Rey Mysterio, Jr. with the Buzzkiller. James J. Dillon shows up with security and Nick Patrick, who is now wearing a white WCW Monday Nitro shirt, and Eric Bischoff and the New World Order soon follow. After Dillon tells Syxx to release the hold or the decision will be reversed, Bischoff tells Dillon to back off, saying that Dillon has "no stroke." Syxx tells Dillon that if he thinks he can pull "the same crap he did with McMahon, he's got another thing coming," while Nash yells to him that he has had enough of him in New York, and tells him not to get in his face because he's got one coming.

Lee Marshall calls from Baltimore, Maryland - the site of next week's Nitro - for the 1-800-COLLECT Road Report.

"Hollywood" Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff show up. Bischoff shows up with an nWo shirt saying "Bite me..." on it. With The Wolfpack (Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Syxx) taking care of "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair and Kevin Greene, Hogan says that he's been "making money and buying land." He says it's hard to be himself when he tunes in to Nitro and sees everyone wanting a piece of him, and since he's here, he wants a piece of the big dog and calls out Sting. Sting doesn't show, and Hogan says "Once a god, always a god."

The Taskmaster puts a very quick end to "Lord" Steven Regal vs. Meng, after Regal goes after The Taskmaster and Meng puts a nerve hold on Regal. Jacqueline, Jimmy Hart and The Taskmaster have to pull Meng off of Regal. Even after he is let go, Regal continues to fight but Meng puts him in the hold again. It is announced before the break that next week's show will air at 7 PM Eastern, 6 PM Central.

We get a video package detailing the feud between Diamond Dallas Page and "Macho Man" Randy Savage.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Diamond Dallas Page and Kimberly. Page says that before he was a wrestler, he grew up in the nightclub business, and from the Jersey shore to Fort Myers, Florida, he's been in more barfights than he can remember. At Spring Stampede, however, he was in a fight like he had never been before, and he calls it a defining moment, saying that either you define the moment or the moment defines you and that he defined "Macho Man" Randy Savage. Kimberly says that Savage claims she is obsessed with him just to get at DDP and that Savage has a one-track mind and the traffic is very light. Suddenly, Savage and Miss Elizabeth make their presence known in the crowd, saying Kimberly is a liar and that everyone wants him. He tells Kimberly to stop calling and writing him, and Page tells Savage he has two words for him: Diamond Cutter. Savage says it's too bad he's hurt, as he would come down there and kick his ass. Page dares him to come down to the entrance so they can go, but Savage and Elizabeth leave.

Jeff Jarrett beats Alex Wright with the Figure Four Leg Lock after Debra McMichael distracts the referee as well as Alex Wright, who dances towards her just to get her mad.

Glacier quickly beats Lizmark, Jr. with a Cryonic Kick in the latter's WCW debut after Lizmark backflips off the top rope. James Vandenberg and Mortis run in and attack Glacier after the match, and the big masked man shows up to do some more damage. Glacier almost lays out Mortis, but Mortis gets back up and whips Glacier into the big man. Mortis hits the Flatliner on Glacier before whacking Glacier in the kidneys with his jester-like staff. James Vandenberg is seen still carrying Glacier's helmet as trainers get Glacier to the back.

Lex Luger is supposed to team with The Giant for the next match, but Lex Luger is injured and The Giant comes out alone. The Giant grabs a microphone that he does have a partner for tonight, however: Diamond Dallas Page. Page and Kimberly show up, but they see "Macho Man" Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth. Page grabs one of Savage's crutches and tries to swing at him as Savage uses Elizabeth as a shield, but it's all a set-up as Hogan attacks Page from behind and the rest of The New World Order attack Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) and The Giant. "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Kevin Greene show up, and while Flair has Syxx in the Figure Four Leg Lock, Greene and Piper take a beating. Hogan and Savage take over the commentary table, announcing that the nWo has everything under control and that Savage's leg feels a whole lot better while they mock the WCW Superstars in the ring.