Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for June 30, 1997

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, who shows up with two lovely ladies carrying a mannequin dressed like "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. Flair and the two lovely ladies make fun of Piper, then Flair tells Piper that he crossed a line last week by telling Flair how to wrestle a wrestling match. Flair says Piper may be the icon in Hollywood, but he is the icon in the ring and Piper can't hang with him. Flair takes the kilt from the mannequin and says that this is all that is left of Piper, and places it flat on the mat to "lay Piper to red" and have "a moment of silence" for him. Flair then tells Okerlund he's taking him to the party in Las Vegas and then tells the ladies they're going to party all night long.

Chris Jericho - now the WCW Cruiserweight Champion after being Syxx for the title last Saturday night in an Internet-only, audio-only feed of a house show from that night known only as "Saturday Nitro" that was advertised on Nitro for the past few weeks - retains the WCW Cruiserweight Championship against Juventud Guerrera with a top rope Frankensteiner followed by the elevated Boston Crab submission that he debuted last week. "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Jericho after the match, and Jericho says the Cruiserweight title is a WCW title, not an nWo title, and that it is back where it belongs. Syxx shows up, tells Jericho he beat nothing until he returned to his hotel room afterwards. As far as he is concerned, he is still the Cruiserweight Champion and gives him "another shot" at the title by slapping Jericho. Jericho and Syxx brawl during the break, and WCW security have to break them apart. After the break, Alex Wright tells "Mean" Gene Okerlund it's about time someone did an interview with him. Wright says WCW has done nothing but hold him down for the last three-and-a-half years because he's from Germany. Wright says he is a fantastic wrestler with a great look and a great body, and that Lex Luger has nothing on him. The "interview" is cut short by Okerlund before the next match begins with Eddie Guerrero rushing at Dean Malenko from behind as Malenko makes his way to the ring.

Eddie Guerrero beats Dean Malenko. During the match, Chavo Guerrero, Jr. shows up and cheers Eddie on from the apron, distracting Malenko. Eddie runs Malenko into Chavo before hitting the frog splash for the win. Eddie and Chavo leave together.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Rey Mysterio, Jr., who says that he is sick and tired of being pushed around by The Wolfpack (Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Syxx). Rey wants to know if he can beat Kevin Nash and challenges him to a match tonight. Nash shows up, and Rey says he has a bigger heart than Nash. Nash accepts the challenge, saying he'll do an autopsy and see what he's made of. Rey says it's about courage, but Nash tells him he's heard one too many bedtime stories. Nevertheless, Nash accepts.

Eric Bischoff shows up on a motorcycle, and is soon followed by "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan on the way to the ring. Hogan says he's been around and done it all, and says that him and Dennis Rodman beating up Lex Luger and The Giant was one of the greatest days of his life. As a result, he and Rodman have a special party going on tonight, and is letting Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and "Macho Man" Randy Savage have fun with Luger, The Giant and Diamond Dallas Page. He says The New World Order has the momentum, and at Bash at the Beach, he and Rodman will wipe up Luger and The Giant, but for now, it's time to party. He and Bischoff call Rey Mysterio, Jr. "a magician," then Hogan says the nWo is like a pack of wolves before asking if you want to be safe on the verge of greatness or if you want to walk on the fine line of disaster. He then says Rey Mysterio, Jr. is going down in a blaze of flames because Kevin Nash will wipe him out before they have some real fun in the ring later on.

Steven Regal beats Hector Garza with the Regal Stretch to retain the WCW World Television Championship after putting the knees up to block an Asai moonsault.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner). Scott says they're back at the front of the line and are owed a title shot by Eric Bischoff. Rick says they're not leaving until they are given that title match. It isn't long before The New World Order shows up. Hall has a contract in his hands, and says that if the Steiners were in their wrestling gear, they would go at it right now. Hall then says that he and Nash are the reason people are watching, and give the Steiners their title shot. The Steiners sign the contract, and Scott Steiner says they'll see them in the ring. Nash tells him to close their eyes, as they might pass them in the back somewhere. As The Steiners leave, Hall shows Okerlund the contract, saying that the Steiners have unintentionally agreed to a match against Masahiro Chono and The Great Muta before they can have the actual title shot.

Chris Jericho is seen currently holding an interview on wcwwrestling.com.

Psychosis beats Super Calo after Sonny Onoo grabs one of Super Calo's legs and pulls him forward, allowing Psychosis to get the pinfall. Super Calo attacks Psychosis after the match, then La Parka shows up as Onoo directs traffic and smacks a wooden chair into the back of Super Calo. Juventud Guerrera shows up and outsmarts both La Parka and Psychosis.

Pyrotechnics signal the start of the second hour.

The Four Horsemen ("The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, "The Crippler" Chris Benoit", Steve "Mongo" McMichael) beat Mashahiro Chono and Vicious and Delicious (Scott Norton and Buff Bagwell) when Vincent interferes. Vincent gets smacked from behind with the steel Halliburton briefcase for his efforts.

High Voltage (Rage and Kaos) beat Mortis and Wrath when Glacier distracts the referee and Wrath while "The Cat" Ernest Miller kicks Mortis during the Flatliner to allow Rage to get the pinfall. James Vandenberg says that Glacier and Miller will pay dearly for this after the match.

A white limousine has made it to the arena...

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

Raven from Extreme Championship Wrestling is seen sitting in the front row.

Jeff Jarrett beats Konnan with the Figure Four Leg Lock to retain the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship after "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair shows up and distracts Konnan, who spits at Flair. Flair helps Jarrett by grabbing on to Jarrett's hands to give leverage and ensure that the Figure Four is cinched in. "The Crippler" Chris Benoit, Steve "Mongo" McMichael and Debra McMichael join Flair and Jarrett after the match, and it is believed that the "Horsemen probation" is over. "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Jarrett after the match, and Jarrett says that professional jealousy came between him and the Horsemen. He says he and Flair have always seen eye-to-eye, and that he is a Horseman because Flair said so. Flair says that familiarity breeds contempt, and tells Jarrett is a fine athlete, a great young man and a player, but as of this moment, he is no longer a Horseman. Debra tells Jarrett is as welcome in the Horsemen as a skunk at a lawn party, and tells him he stinks. Jarrett then says Flair is just like Benoit and Mongo, and says that all three of them are professionally jealous of him. He tells Flair that he just loaded the gun and put it to his gun, and he'll be the one to pull the trigger and put him out to pasture where he belongs. Jarrett leaves, then Benoit says that Jarrett tried to conform when the Horsemen are non-conformists, and that Jarrett squandered his opportunity.

We look back at what The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) have done to Rey Mysterio, Jr. since the nWo's inception.

Kevin Nash beats Rey Mysterio, Jr., then hits him with another Jackknife Power Bomb and punches out referee Scott Dickinson. Nash puts Rey in a third Jackknife Power Bomb when Konnan suddenly shows up and heads to the ring, as he and Rey Mysterio, Jr. trained together in Mexico. Nash leaves the ring, then Konnan puts Rey in the Tequila Sunrise before leaving. Medical staff tend to Rey, who now has an injured knee.

After the break, Rey Mysterio, Jr. has to be placed on a stretcher, with speculation that either Rey's knee or leg is injured.

Mike Tenay interviews Raven, who is still seated at ringside. Raven says absolutely nothing to Tenay, and denies him an interview.

During The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) and "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. Lex Luger, The Giant and Diamond Dallas Page, "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan shows up and lays out both Luger and The Giant with the WCW World Heavyweight Championship before the rest of the nWo do the rest of the work while DDP is left alone in the ring with Hall, Nash and Savage. Sting shows up in the crowd, but ting then rappels from the ceiling and goes after the nWo, the two Stings looking distinctly different with the former having shorter hair. All of a sudden, Mr. Perfect - real name Curt Hennig - shows up from backstage, and Raven jumps over the guardrail.