Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for October 27, 1997

Eric Bischoff and "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan show up to start the show. He says that Piper is gone and struggling for breath in the hospital, and that he is still the man, the icon and god. He says the nWo-ites are on an ultimate high, and challenges anyone in WCW, even if they're up in the rafters or out in the crowd. He then says nobody can beat his superhuman strengths, and that he and Bischoff will rule the New World Order and the wrestling world for eternity because they're just too sweet. Bischoff tells Hogan he should be sitting back and enjoying the moment, and that tomorrow night, Hogan will be taking over TNT with the premiere of Assault On Devil's Island. Hogan says he and Bischoff thrive on the hunt, and now that they're destroyed the wrestling world, Hogan will etch his name on Hollywood Boulevard for forever and a day with his new movie, as he and the nWo are here for life.

It is announced that "The Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko is not on commentary tonight (and has been replaced by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan), but he is in the building right now despite his attack at the hands of the nWo last night and that we will hear from him.

Rey Mysterio Jr. retains the WCW Cruiserweight Championship against Dean Malenko after reversing the Texas Cloverleaf into a roll-up. It is announced that the encore of Halloween Havoc will air on pay-per-view tomorrow night. During the match, Raven and his men (Raven, Perry Saturn, Billy Kidman and the unknown man, who is finally identified as "Sick Boy") are seen walking down to the front row.

Mike Tenay makes another report on lucha libre and the Mexican luchadores. Fans rely on publications to stay informed, as television programming for lucha libre is limited. Most of the merchandise is masks, action figures and toy wrestling rings, and masks are like T-shirts when showing whom one's favorite luchador is. Family is also very important, as being the son of a popular luchador leads to great expectations as well as demands. Ray Mendoza, father of Villano IV and V, asks that his children finish school before they learn how to wrestle so they can put their heart into the craft. We also see footage of El Hijo Del Santo talking about his father's funeral and about how Mexico came together during that trying time, and we also learn that even in death, El Santo was buried with his mask around his face and his identity still concealed. Next week's report will be on the high-risk maneuvers and their importance and influence on lucha libre.

We see a performance from The Nitro Girls, who are all in Halloween costumes.

Glacier beats La Parka after sending La Parka face-first into his own chair.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Diamond Dallas Page, who takes the interview to the ring. He says he knows "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan was the one who dressed up as Sting and whacked him in the ribs with the baseball bat, as Hogan knew he had the match won and that Savage gets "banged" every time they square off. He says Hogan is an icon, but he's not a god, and if Hogan wants some of him, then he accepts his challenge, saying it's time to whack Hogan with something after being whacked with the World title, crutches and even a baseball bat.

This Saturday on WCW Saturday Night: Rey Mysterio Jr.! Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray)! "The Canadian Crippler" Chris Benoit! Lex Luger! The Giant!

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews "The Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko in the ring. Zbyszko says he did what he set out to do, and that Scott Hall couldn't handle the pressure and took it out on him. He is sick of Hall, and pulls out "a first-class ticket to Larryland" out of his pocket in the form of a contract for a match, telling him that if he wants a match with him, he's got it, and that he will wrestle him anytime, anywhere. As he calls Hall out, Hall shows up with Syxx. Hall says everyone has seen what Zbyszko has to offer in the wrestling ring, and that it's not much. He says Zbyszko isn't even in the same calibur as The Wolfpack (Kevin Nash, Hall, Syxx). After giving a shout-out to Kevin Nash, who is still recuperating at home, Hall tells Zbyszko he could come to the ring right now and give him a ticket in coach "down here" and that Zbyszko couldn't even beat Eric Bischoff in a match. We see the footage of Hall, Syxx and Bischoff's attack on Zbyszko at Halloween Havoc, then Zbyszko continues to call out Hall, telling Hall to get in the ring as Hall mocks him. Hall then announces that "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan will show up later on and take care of business, then he and Syxx prepare to leave. Zbyszko says if he wants the match, he's got it, and all he has to do is sign the contract. Zbyszko then tells Hall he will haunt him.

Lex Luger beats Stevie Ray with the Torture Rack.

Raven, Billy Kidman, Stevie Richards and Perry Saturn are seen in the front row.

We get another message from Raven. "We all need a haven, a sanctuary, a place to hide, a place to escape. A place to dream and hope. A place where the darkness won't be so frightening. So it is written. So it shall come to pass. But for some, the darkness is a relentless enemy that cannot be eluded, and once the darkness senses your fear, once it senses your pain, it is never far behind. I can empathize with these people. I can understand their futility. I can forgive their hopelessness. I can feel their pain. Quoth the Raven, nevermore."

Pyrotechnics signal the start of the second hour.

Eddie Guerrero beats CHris Jericho after landing on his feet during an accidental vertical suplex over the top rope and Jericho hurts his right shoulder again. Before the match, it is announced on commentary that Jericho's right shoulder is not in the best of shape as he landed on it during a hurricanrana on Gedo at Halloween Havoc.

"The Canadian Crippler" Chris Benoit beats The Belfast Bruiser, who hasn't been seen since last year and now goes by the name Fit Finlay.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair. He says that if people thought they missed him, imagine sitting at home watching "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan and Curt Hennig parading around in his robe. He came close last night, but tonight is another night, and if he sees Hennig, Hennig is a dead man. He also predicts that Hogan will take the Diamond Cutter, then announces he will have the privilege of walking the aisle against "Macho Man" Randy Savage. He tells Savage to stay out of his life, and he has crossed the line and they both know each other well. Tonight, he will end Savage's reign with Slim Jim in one night and give Miss Elizabeth a ride on Space Mountain in the next.

BBefore the next match, Raven gets in the ring with Stevie Richards, Billy Kidman, Perry Saturn and Sick Boy. Stevie Richards announces that it is a well-documented fact that Raven refuses to sign a contract with WCW, and the only way he will wrestle is if referee Nick Patrick makes the match a no-disqualification match. Raven takes the microphone, then says there is no reason for him and Scotty Riggs to fight as Riggs hasn't won a match in six months. He says there was once the potential for a great athlete, but there is now demons and he can feel his pain. He asks Riggs to come with him, and he'll set him free. Riggs refuses, but Raven gives him one more chance. Riggs tells him to stick it, and Raven tells him he's made his choice.

Raven vs. Scotty Riggs ends in injury. During the match, Raven sends eye-first into a steel chair folded into the seated position eye-first. When Billy Kidman confronts Raven, Raven tosses him out of the ring and heads back to his seat, and it is mentioned on commentary that there is potential that Scotty Riggs might not wrestle ever again.

We see another performance by The Nitro Girls.

Diamond Dallas Page beats "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan by disqualification after a man dressed as Sting rushes into the ring to attack Page only to eat a Diamond Cutter. Hogan then whips Page with his belt, then calls out the rest of the nWo to gang up on Page. The fake Sting is helped to the back, then the real Sting runs through the crowd and into the ring. After Sting lays Vincent out with the Scorpion Death Drop, Sting fights off the rest of the nWo.

Pyrotechnics signal the start of the third hour.

Bill Goldberg vs. Disco Inferno for the WCW World Television Championship ends in a no-contest. Before the match can begin, Alex Wright attacks Goldberg, but Goldberg lays him out. Disco Inferno gets the Jackhammer, then Steve "Mongo" McMichael rushes into the ring only to get tackled. Security have to keep Mongo and Goldberg separated. Disco Inferno retains the WCW World Television Championship.

Eric Bischoff and "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan show up again, and this time they are not in a good mood. Bischoff says Sting can't dance like the sign he has in his hands says, and that he can't get in the ring with Hogan, who has had it. Hogan says he is the man, and now that they and "Macho Man" Randy Savage, they don't have to worry about Diamond Dallas Page and Sting, saying Page isn't in his league and that he saw the fear in Sting's eyes. He says he'll flush Sting out of the ring and kick his butt over there. He then plugs the premiere of his brand-new movie Assault On Devil's Island tomorrow night, and if Sting wants to get his hands on him, all he has to do is show up in Las Vegas and he'll call his bluff and sign the contract for the match. Hogan says his new movie will body slam Hollywood, and if Sting wants a piece of him, he'll sign his name on the contract in blood, as when Sting finally goes down, it will be for life.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner) and Ted DiBiase. Scott says it's been a tough year for them, and that it was tough to regain the tag titles. He thanks the officials at WCW, and thanks the WCW for their support. He also thanks the nWo and the nWo fans for coming up with "Wolfpack Rules" as it was fun to beat the nWo on their own rules. DiBiase says nobody is happier for the Steiners than him, especially when they put their trust him when the trust was questionable and that he was allowed to prove his trustworthiness, and says that they have overcome tremendous adversity as the nWo did everything they could to see this wouldn't happen - they lie, cheated, stole and avoided them like the plague - but The Steiner Brothers beat them at their own game. He then issues an open challenge to any who wants to take the tag titles from them, but when they get in the ring with The Steiners, they're in the dog pound as the bark is loud but the bite is even worse.

The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner) retain the WCW World Tag Team Championships against Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and "Flyboy" Rocco Rock).

Booker T beats Curt Hennig by disqualification after Miss Elizabeth distracts the referee to allow "Macho Man" Randy Savage to hit the top rope elbow drop on Booker T. When the ref turns around, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair rushes into the ring to go after Savage.

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair beats "Macho Man" Randy Savage by disqualification after Curt Hennig tries to interfere. As Flair fights Hennig, Savage takes the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship, which Hennig has brought into the ring, and hits Flair from behind with it. Hennig and Savage attack Flair after the match.