Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for June 23, 1997

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Diamond Dallas Page and Kimberly at the top of the show. Page says he loves surprises, and tells The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) he can't wait to see the look on their faces when he shows him their surprise. Kimberly says she's made a call to J.J. Dillon and the WCW Executive Committee and has gotten a match between Page and Hall tonight. It is then mentioned by commentary that Kevin Nash is not in the building tonight.

La Parka and Damien beat Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and "Flyboy" Rocco Rock) after La Parka hits Johnny Grunge in the back with a steel chair while the referee is checking on Damien, who has been put through a table by "Flyboy" Rocco Rock with a somersault over the top rope. During the match, it is announced that Eddie Guerrero is back from injury and will be taking on Syxx for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship, and that "The Cat" Ernest Miller will be making his WCW debut in a tag team match with Glacier.

This Saturday on WCW Saturday Night: Scotty Riggs vs. Jeff Jarrett for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship! Bobby Eaton vs. Steven Regal for the WCW World Television Championship! "The Crippler" Chris Benoit! Wrath!

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Eddie Guerrero, who is now back from injury. We find out that Eddie was signed for last week's match against Dean Malenko, but Eddie supposedly sent out his nephew Chavo Guerrero, Jr. to face Malenko instead. Eddie says that he would never do anything like that to his nephew, and says he had not been released medically to wrestle that night and that Chavo offered to take his place. Eddie then brings out Chavo so he can clear the air, but Chavo says he wouldn't exactly say he offered to take Eddie's place. Eddie stops him and gives Chavo another opportunity, and gives Chavo the opportunity to become the Cruiserweight champ by giving him his title shot against Syxx, and tells him that he has gotten it straightened out with WCW Executive Committee head J.J. Dillon. Chavo is hesitant and can't believe what's going on, and Eddie flatly asks if Chavo wants the shot. Chavo says yes, and hesitantly fist bumps with Eddie before they both head to the back.

Chris Jericho beats Alex Wright with the Boston Crab.

The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner) beat Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) to become the #1 contenders for the WCW Tag Team Championships after Rick Steiner sends Booker T into Sister Sherri, knocking her off the apron and into Stevie Ray. "Mean" Gene Okerlund is about to conduct an interview when Buff Bagwell, Vincent and Scott Norton show up. Buff says he has better muscles than Scott Steiner, then introduces the new tag team of himself and Norton known as "Vicious and Delicious." Norton says they don't care and they ain't scared, and tells the competition to watch their careers crumble before their eyes. Okerlund then interviews the Steiners. Rick makes it clear that he and Scott want The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) next week for the WCW World Tag Team Championships. Scott tells The Outsiders there will be a confrontation, as they owe them a title shot.

We see footage of "The Cat" Ernest Miller at a training session.

Hector Garza beats Villano IV.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Lex Luger and The Giant. Luger says that everyone is sickened and disgusted over what happened last week, and that WCW officials have given him and The Giant every assurance that every security measure will be taken while his friends will watch their backs even if they have to get physically involved to ensure that their match against "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan and Dennis Rodman will be done on equal footing. He is taking the low point of last week as incentive for revenge, as he knows that there is nothing in Hogan and that Hogan is a quitter, unlike him and The Giant, who will have their day of reckoning. The Giant says he is the luckiest person of all because he is the only one who will stick a big giant hook in "The Worm" Dennis Rodman. He also wants to see how many times he slaps Hogan and Rodman and to see whose hair dye comes out first. Luger says no words can express how he and The Giant felt last week, and that their talking will be done in the ring at Bash at the Beach.

Pyrotechnics signal the start of the second hour.

Syxx retains the WCW Cruiserweight Championship against Chavo Guerrero, Jr. with the Buzzkiller after Scott Hall hits Chavo with The Outsider's Edge behind the referee's back. Eddie Guerrero, who promises to have Chavo's back, simply stands there as Chavo is taken out, disappointed in Chavo.

Steve "Mongo" McMichael beats Konnan with a Tombstone Piledriver when Konnan is distracted by Hugh Morrus, who shows up with a wooden stick and is blocked from entering the ring by Doug Dellinger and WCW security.

We see a video package of "The Crippler" Chris Benoit and his road to getting another shot at The Taskmaster at Bash at the Beach, where The Taskmaster's career is on the line.

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

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. Piper says he is here tonight to do what he does best: makin' bacon. He says that he has been a little goody two-shoes for his own liking, as he's good when he good and better when he's bad and he likes himself when he is bad, and wherever he goes, hell will follow. Piper goes on to say that "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair did not betray him at Slamboree and sees no reason why he would, but admits Flair does have his quirks. Flair shows up and reiterates his comments from last week, saying that Piper is his friend and will stand by his side, and that his decision to chase Syxx to the back was in both their best interests. Piper believes him, even though he left him to the wolves. Flair tells Piper he's here to help him avoid disaster when all of a sudden "The Crippler" Chris Benoit, Steve "Mongo" McMichael and Debra McMichael show up. After Debra says that Jarrett has "lost his scholarship" and that she has ditched him like last year's fashion (implying that Jarrett is out of The Four Horsemen, which Flair will neither confirm nor deny is his doing), Mongo tells Piper that just because Dennis Rodman isn't here doesn't mean that Piper has to wear a skirt. Piper says he didn't come here for any of this, but Mongo says that his other team didn't win by "letting the likes of [Piper] mess with the team captain." Flair tells Mongo that Piper is a good guy and is going to leave, but Mongo isn't having any of it and says that Piper is looking for a soft spot to put the knife in. Benoit says that Piper has been around for too long and judging by his spine, he is suffering from osteoporosis. Flair decks Mongo and Benoit, and also decks Flair. Piper is focused on Flair when Mongo hits him with the steel Halliburton briefcase and Benoit puts the Crippler Crossface on him. Flair, Mongo and Benoit then attack Piper as Doug Dellinger and WCW security get in the ring.

Glacier and the debuting "The Cat" Ernest Miller beat High Voltage (Rage and Kaos). James Vandenburg, Mortis and Wrath watch from the entrance ramp during the match, then rush the ring before Glacier and Miller stop them. James Vandenberg stops Mortis and Wrath, telling them the time is not right.

We see a video package of The New World Order, "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan and Dennis Rodman.

The limited edition Outsiders pin set is available for $15 plus $5.95 shipping and handling. Only 10,000 sets will be made.

"Macho Man" Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth show up with Scott Hall before the next match, much to the surprise of the commentators. Kimberly leaves, saying she wants to be nowhere near Savage, while Page stands his ground.

Diamond Dallas Page beats Scott Hall by disqualification after "Macho Man" Randy Savage attacks Page from behind. Savage and Hall gang up on Page after the match, then Sting is sen in the crowd pointing his baseball bat towards the ring as he is surrounded by the crowd. Sting then fights through his way through the fans and gets in the ring, and Hall and Savage retreat temporarliy, and when they try to attack Sting, Sting lays them out with his baseball bat as the show ends.