Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for June 2, 1997

The show begins with Scott Hall and Syxx in the ring. Hall says people are calling and writing in saying that they are not seeing enough of the New World Order, and says that they are the reason everyone is in the stands tonight, watching on TNT and why everything is going on. Back at Slamboree, Hall claims the nWo punked Kevin Greene and exposed "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, and says Flair is recuperating in the La Brea tar pits "with the rest of the fossils." Syxx says Flair has lost a step, with Hall likening Flair to a worn-out recording of a person's favorite song. Hall calls Flair out, but he and Syxx get J.J. Dillon instead. Dillon tells Syxx and Hall that he has spoken to Flair, and that Flair is on his way to the show and that there will be a match tonight between Flair and Hall, as Dillon tells Hall he talked himself into a verbal contract. Hall says he'll face Flair at The Great American Bash, but Dillon insists he will be facing him tonight. Hall tells Dillon he can't tell him what to do, and Dillon says that if he doesn't face Flair, the world tag team titles will be vacated. Hall accepts the match, and tells Flair to take the tag team belts if he wants them.

Glacier beats Alex Wright. After the match, James Vandenburg shows up by himself with Glacier's helmet in his hands. Mortis appears out of the crowd from behind Glacier, and Wrath also shows up through the crowd from another side of the arena, and they go to work on Glacier again. Alex Wright wants to join in, and Glacier and Mortis give him the opportunity. Mortis goes for a roundhouse kick when Alex Wright holds Glacier from behind, but Glacier ducks it and Mortis accidentally hits Wright instead. Glacier then makes a comeback and sends Wrath out of the ring before laying Mortis out with a roundhouse kick.

We see pre-recorded comments from Buff Bagwell and Scott Norton, who brag about nWo taking over Japan and beating up Lex Luger and The Giant.

Bff Bagwell beats Joe Gomez.

This Saturday on WCW Saturday Night - with a special start time of 7 PM Eastern, 6 PM Central - Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and "Flyboy" Rocco Rock)! Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray)! Diamond Dallas Page and Kimberly! Hector Garza!

Konnan attacks Hugh Morrus from behind with a broom as he appears for the next match. Despite being advised by a trainer not to go ahead with the match, Hugh Morrus gets in the ring anyway.

Prince Iaukea quickly beats a hurt Hugh Morrus. Konnan is seen at the top of the entrance ramp after the match.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews head of the WCW Executive Committee J.J. Dillon. Dillon announces that "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair has arrived and the main event between Flair and Scott Hall is set. Regardless of what happens tonight or The Great American Bash, whoever wins will be tag team champions, but the committee has looked beyond that and announces that The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner) are the new #1 contenders for the WCW World Tag Team Champions. Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) and Sister Sherri shows up, demanding that they should be the ones with the title shot. Dillon says that if the Steiners win their match tonight, it will cement them as #1 contenders, and he walks out as Sherri tells him that action causes reaction.

Qw see a video package of Diamond Dallas Page for what is being called "Savage/Page II." Page says he lost his first 79 matches and was told he would never be a winner, but nobody knew his work ethic and how bad he wanted it, and they never counted on the Diamond Cutter. He dares anyone to tell him that hard work doesn't pay off and that he'll never be a main eventer. He also says that nobody thought he would beat "Macho Man" Randy Savage, but they were wrong, and he can do it again.

Masahiro Chono and The Great Muta beat The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner) after Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) attack the Steiners, but WCW Executive Committee head J.J. Dillon is there, having seen everything, and says that the match will be up to review. He puts Harlem Heat in a match which they will have to win if they want to stay in the hunt for the tag titles.

Pyrotechnics signal the start of the second hour. Mike Tenay is not on commentary for the second hour tonight.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair. He says the nWo will not leave well enough alone, and says he wants to know if he can beat Scott Hall tonight. He tells Hall he made one mistake that only he knows about: Kevin Nash isn't here, and only Hall and Syxx are in the building. He plans to stomp a pothole in Hall's ass tonight.

Dean Malenko beats Michael Wallstreet with the Texas Cloverleaf. Jeff Jarrett shows up with Debra and tries to interfere in the match by grabbing at Malenko, but Wallstreet does not get the win. Referee Nick Patrick stands between Michael Wallstreet and the ropes to keep Jarrett from interfering further. "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Jarrett after the match. Jarrett says he's been looking for a rematch with Malenko at The Great American Bash for the WCW United States Championship. Malenko gives Jarrett his rematch, and tells him that Slamboree was no fluke before he leaves. Steve "Mongo" McMichael shows up with his steel Halliburton briefcase, and when Mongo tells him to let him know when he heads to the ring again, Jarrett tells him that he's done enough for his career and that he's looking out for number one. Jarrett leaves while Debra stays with Mongo, who says that he needs to get something straight with Jarrett. He then tells Kevin Greene that he revitalized his career and that he owes him half his salary, and that he will see him at The Great American Bash.

Ciclope and Damien beat Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) after Harlem Heat are attacked by The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner).

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

"The Cripller" Chris Benoit beats The Barbarian with the Crippler Crossface. "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Benoit after the match, and Benoit tells Jimmy Hart he would beat The Barian and asks where The Taskmaster is. Hart tells Benoit he was lucky tonight, but things will get tougher for him. He then makes another hoop for Benoit to jump through to get to The Taskmaster: a rematch against Meng at The Great American Bash in a deathmatch, as well as "step number three" at next week's Nitro.

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair beats Scott Hall by disqualification after Syxx interferes and Hall hits Flair in the back of the head with the WCW Cruiserweight Championship. Syxx and Hall continue to attack Flair after the match until Steve "Mongo" McMichael comes to Flair's aid with the steel Halliburton briefcase.

"Macho Man" Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth bring "Mean" Gene Okerlund to the ring against his will to send a message to Diamond Dallas Page. Okerlund is clearly reluctant, and only goes after Savage threatens to drop him like he will Page at The Great American Bash. Savage calls himself the best wrestler that ever lived, past, present or future, and when Okerlund says that Savage has been reading too many of his newspaper clippings and that someone needs to bring him back down to earth, Savage puts his hands on Okerlund. WCW Executive Committee head J.J. Dillon shows up and tells Savage that he doesn't want to see him putting his hands on Okerlund or any WCW announcer again, and that Savage owes Okerlund an apology. Dillon said he had a huge amount of personal and professional respect for Savage at one point, and that he expected better from him, but that respect is lost. He said that Savage would have addressed it like a man, but Savage is not the man that he once had respect for as he now addresses Page from the crowd instead of the ring. This leads Savage to knock Dillon out, and Bischoff runs into the ring to stop Savage from attacking Dillon further along with WCW security. Bischoff tells Savage to relax and think about the money, but Savage goes after Dillon again only to be completely subdued. Bischoff grabs the microphone and tells Dillon that he started all this, then tells Diamond Dallas Page to "snap into this."