Nitro-Glycerin - Tuesday Nitro recap for July 22, 1997

The show starts with a performance from The Nitro Girls.

Eric Bischoff and "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan show up and sit in the center of the ring. Bischoff says that Hogan kicking Lex Luger like a bag of dirt reminded him of the saying that the more things change, the more they stay the same as Hogan is still king of the hill. Hogan says only the names have changed to protect the ones he's already beaten, and says most of the guys in the back are there because of him. He says that in the 1990s, he is the man to set the pace for professional wrestling. He says that Konnan will put the icing on the cake for the New World Order and that Rodman is a great athlete, but he is still the man. To him, Lex Luger is just another man who wants what he has who can't lace his boots or live his life. As the #1 guy, he's used to people shooting bullets at him, but he's bulletproof as he is genuine. He tells Luger he's a lot smarter than him, and he wants him one-on-one in the ring so he can break his Torture Rack and break him in half. He accepts Luger's challenge, and tells Luger to kickstart himself for Sturgis, South Dakota as "the nWo World Heavyweight Championship" is on the line at Road Wild and he's ready to break him in half.

Konnan quickly beats Tsubasa with the Tequila Sunrise.

The Ultimate Dragon beats Steven Regal to win the WCW World Television Championship!

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, who says that tonight is the night the wrestling world has awaited. He announces that The Four Horsemen have made a selection, and introduces the newest fourth Horseman: Syxx? Flair and Okerlund can't believe it, and Flair tells Syxx he's at the wrong place at the wrong time. Syxx says there is no fourth Horseman coming out tonight, and tells Flair that the Horsemen are a thing of the past. Flair tells Syxx he's walking away, then pushes Okerlund out of the way and punches Syxx in the face. "The Crippler" Chris Benoit shows up, and Syxx says they wouldn't be doing this if The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) were here. Benoit asks "Why don't we just find out?"

We see another performance from The Nitro Girls.

This Saturday on WCW Saturday Night: "The Crippler" Chris Benoit! Jeff Jarrett! Meng! Curt Hennig! The New World Order may be making an appearance!

The Giant beats The Great Muta by disqualification when Muta spits green mist into The Giant's eyes. After the bell rings, Vincent and "Macho Man" Randy Savage rush in and attack The Giant, but The Giant still manages to overpower all three men despite being blinded. Lex Luger checks on The Giant, but almost gets choke slammed until Luger is able to tell him who he is.

Dean Malenko beats Steve "Mongo" McMichael after Jarrett distracts Mongo and Debra McMichael distracts the referee. "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Malenko after the match, but Jarrett and Debra butt in. Police officers and security have to keep Mongo away from them as Jarrett says that the Four Horsemen are jealous of him and that he needs somebody to watch his back as much as Malenko needs somebody to watch his. Malenko tells Jarrett that he needs nobody and is a man who stands by himself, but at the same time, he knows there is strength in numbers. Debra says she knows talent when she sees it, and if he joins them, they'll go straight to the top as long as he watches their backs. Jarrett says that Malenko has joined him, as everybody wants to be around a winner, but Malenko tells Jarrett he'll give him his answer when he's good and ready.

Eddie Guerrero beats Hector Guerrero. After the match, Dean Malenko shows up and attacks Eddie in revenge for taking the United States title from him before putting him in the Texas Cloverleaf. Hector tells him to let his nephew go, but Dean tells him to get out of the ring. Hector punches Malenko a few times, then tends to Eddie only for Eddie to push him into Malenko, who then starts attacking Hector.

We see another performance by The Nitro Girls, and pyrotechnics signal the start of the second hour.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews head of the WCW Executive Committee, James J. Dillon. Stevie Richards suddenly shows up as he says there is a huge announcement. Richards says there is another: he has signed a contract with World Championship Wrestling. This is confirmed by Dillon, who asks where Raven is. Richards says that Raven is in the front row as he has bought him a ticket. The three of them meet with Raven, and Dillon hands him his contract, which has everything Raven wanted. Raven asks "Everything I wanted?" Richards tells him he did the contract negotiations, and that in the contract, Raven is making almost as much money as Richards is and that he also has a full-size rental car "with a cassette deck for those long trips." Raven then talks about human existence, tears up the contract and punches Richards again.

Lex Luger beats Scott Norton by disqualification after attempted interference from Buff Bagwell and Vincent. Vincent is placed in the Torture Rack, and Bagwell is tossed into Norton. Lex Luger then grabs a microphone, but "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan shows up and decides to make Luger special and have him in the ring his way before calling him "a Hollywood wanna-be." He tells Luger he is nothing and that he is in big trouble.

Konnan meets with The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall). He is about to tell them what happened to Syxx when they notice that a cameraman is around.

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

Mortis and Wrath beat Psychosis and La Parka. During the match, it is announced that The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) have accepted the challenge of "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair and "The Crippler" Chris Benoit for later tonight. We then see Flair talking with Curt Hennig backstage, and we find out that Hennig was supposed to walk out from backstage earlier, not Syxx. After the match, La Parka smashes a wooden chair into the back of Mortis only to get hit with a big boot from Wrath.

Buff Bagwell beats Booker T after Booker T elbows the referee in the face and Scott Norton distracts Booker T. After the match, Bagwell tosses the referee out of the ring as he, Norton and Vincent continue to attack Booker.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Rey Mysterio, Jr., who is currently on crutches. Rey is rehabbing his injury but has no idea how long it will take, but he knows it is helping him. As he talks about how he loves the sport of professional wrestling and how he knows injuries come with the territory, Konnan shows up and and kicks Rey's crutches away while saying he is part of the nWo, whom he now considers family. La Parka, Villano IV, Villano V and Psychosis show up. Rey says that Konnan knows nothing about family, but Konnan says nWo is the only family he needs and tells the four of them that they had better have a good gameplan as The Wolfpack (Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Syxx) has his back. Rey tells Konnan he will pay.

Curt Hennig quickly beats Michael Wallstreet in his WCW singles match debut as Diamond Dallas Page makes his way to the ring from the crowd, and Page and Hennig brawl until Page hits Hennig with the Diamond Cutter. Officials and security then have to keep Page from Hennig.

We see another performance by The Nitro Girls.

The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) retain the WCW World Tag Team Championships against "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair and "The Crippler" Chris Benoit as Flair once again focuses squarely on Syxx. Stev "Mongo" McMichael pulls Syxx off of Flair as Syxx has Flair in the Buzzkiller, then The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner) show up on the entrance ramp as The Outsiders dare them to come to the ring.