Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for February 23, 1998

Diamond Dallas Page says there were plenty of highs at SuperBrawl VIII, but the biggest low was Scott Steiner joining the nWo. He says they won't be Scott's "brothers." Booker T says that Scott sold out, and that he has a brother and that blood is thicker than water when the chips are down. "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair says that Scott is a great athlete from a great background with a great background. He says Scott will pay the price for selling out and joining the nWo, and that he will be dogged by his brother Rick Steiner until he gets his hand on him. Bret "The Hit Man" Hart says nobody feels worse about Scott's betrayal of WCW than he does, and says Scott's betrayal of WCW will hurt more people than just him and his brother Rick.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Rick Steiner, who isn't in the mood to talk.

Before the next match, Lex Luger congratulates Sting for bringing the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, then says there's another black cloud thanks to the nWo in the form of Scott Steiner betraying his brother Rick Steiner, whom Luger has gotten to know for over ten years. Luger says that Scott is Rick's brother no more, and if Scott can't be talked to, then he'll have to beat some sense into him. He then calls Scott Steiner out.

Lex Luger vs. Curt Hennig ends when a man with blonde hair and a blonde goatee who is dressed like Scott Steiner attacks Luger. He is then confirmed to be Scott Steiner as he chokes Luger out. Luger fights back and busts Steiner open around his left eye, then Buff Bagwell attacks Luger. Rick Steiner rushes in, attacks Bagwell and confronts his brother Scott, but the rest of the nWo attack Rick from behind. The nWo then gangs up on Rick until Sting rappels down from the rafters and clears the ring. WCW superstars head to the ring to check on Luger and Rick Steiner. Referee Mickey Jay shows up and hands the WCW World Heavyweight Championship to Sting, and everyone applauds Sting as they continue to check on Luger and Rick Steiner.

We see a performance by The Nitro Girls. During the performance, it is announced that the governor of Minnesota has declared Friday, February 27th "Ric Flair Day" in the city of Minneapolis and that "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair will be in Minneapolis that day.

Diamond Dallas Page retains the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship against Van Hammer - now known simply as Hammer - and fights off Raven's Flock (Raven, Saturn, Kidman, Sick Boy, Scotty Riggs, Lodi, Hammer) after the match. "The Crippler" Chris Benoit rushes to the ring and clears the ring not long afterwards.

"Hollywood" Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff come out of a limousine, and Hogan tells someone in the limo to stay in the vehicle. Suddenly, Vincent shows up and whispers into Hogan's ears, and Hogan says "It's on now." Bischoff and Hogan then make their way to the ring, and says enough is enough for everyone in WCW and is not "a disciple of the nWo." Hogan says that Sting's appearance is "another example of what that coward Sting is capable of." He says that Sting has been stung so much it's boring, and blames referee Nick Patrick for his loss last night. Hogan says Sting is not even an issue and "small stuff" at this point, and that he does not even sweat him. Tonight, he will prove that Sting is not the man and the champion, as Scott Hall finally gets his shot at the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, beat Sting for the belt and bring it back to him. He dares Sting to get in his face so he can crucify him. Hogan then blames "Macho Man" Randy Savage for his loss as well, saying that Savage hit him in the back with a ten-pound crowbar. He tells Savage that if he wants to prove he is the man, he can do it in a one-on-one Steel Cage Match at Uncensored. Hogan says he can put an end to Savage once and for all and kick him out of the nWo, and also says that Savage is afraid of him. Savage shows up in the crowd, and tells Hogan he's kicking him out of the nWo and that his nightmare has just started before expressing approval for the steel cage match at Uncensored. Hogan tells Savage that he will bury him at Uncensored, but Savage says that won't happen.

Ultimo Dragon beats Kaz Hayashi with the Dragon Sleeper.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund plugs an interview with an unidentified WCW superstar on the WCW Hotline.

Harold Peacock and Bryan McCarthy of Bryant College in Smithfield, Rhode Island are the winners of this week's Nitro Party Pack. We see some footage of their Nitro Party.

"The Crippler" Chris Benoit trails Raven before the next match, starting the next match early. Benoit whips Raven into a guardrail so hard that it bends under the force.

"The Crippler" Chris Benoit beats Raven by disqualification after Kidman attacks Benoit. Benoit fights off Kidman, Lodi and Sick Boy, but Scotty Riggs nails Benoit from behind. Diamond Dallas Page saves Benoit, but Benoit hits Page not knowing it is him. Nevertheless, Benoit and Page fight Raven's Flock (Raven, Saturn, Kidman, Lodi, Sick Boy, Riggs, Hammer)off. They almost confront each other, but continue to fight off the Flock until they retreat. Pyrotechnics then signal the start of the second hour.

We see another performance by The Nitro Girls.

hris Jericho shows up wearing a silver version of Juventud Guerrera's mask before the next match. Jericho says he is still the Cruiserweight champion, then brags about taking Juventud Guerrera's mask. He almost considers wearing the mask as a tribute to someone else, but can't as his face is the one that people have paid to see. He then asks that WCW change the name of the show to "WCW Monday Jericho." He says he has talked to J.J. Dillon, who - according to Jericho - is 83% sure about changing the name. He then shows the title to the audience, which is usually done by the referee, before the bell rings.

Chris Jericho retains the WCW Cruiserweight Championship against Lenny Lane with the Lion Tamer.

Rick Steiner beats Vincent.

Saturn beats Yuji Nagata with the Rings of Saturn. During the match, it is announced that Rick Martel suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his knee at SuperBrawl VIII and will be sidelined for a while.

Booker T retains the WCW World Television Championship against The Renegade.

Konnan beats Lizmark Jr. with the Tequila Sunrise. During the match, it is announced that Lex Luger will face Scott Steiner at Uncensored. After the match, Konnan makes fun of Juventud Guerrera for losing his mask against Chris Jericho at SuperBrawl VIII, and calls him "Anibal Gonzalez" - part of his real name - before saying he is nothing. Konnan says he gave Guerrera numerous chances to join the nWo, but says Guerrera is now just a foregone conclusion.

Pyrotechnics signal the start of the third hour.

We see a performance by The Nitro Girls at the commentary table.

Vicious and Delicious (Scott Norton and Buff Bagwell) beat High Voltage (Rage and Kaos).

Eddie Guerrero beats Disco Inferno.

We see another performance by The Nitro Girls.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews WCW Executive Committee Chairman J.J. Dillon, who says that he sent Nick Patrick to the ring at SuperBrawl VIII and that the result for "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan vs. Sting at SuperBrawl VIII for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship is an official, binding decision. He then asks Patrick to come to the ring, which he does, and Dillon congratulates him for a job well done at SuperBrawl VIII before telling him he will be officiating the next match. Nick Patrick thanks Dillon for clearing that - and the back pay issue - up, and that there are no hard feelings and that they will get together just fine from now on.

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair beats Brad Armstrong with the Figure Four Leg Lock after Flair misdirects referee Nick Patrick so he can kick Armstrong in the groin.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews The Giant, who shows up for the first time since being dropped on the back of his head and neck at Souled Out with his neck in a brace. The Giant says there is everything a person does, and he knew the risks he was undertaking when he faced Kevin Nash. He still had no idea that Kevin Nash was going to drop him on his neck, and says it still didn't work. He tells Nash that there are consequences for his actions, and every time his neck hurts, he thinks of him. The Giant says he has doctors who say he will never wrestle again, but he has news for them and for Nash: he will wrestle again, and when he gets his hand around his neck, he will feel the ride of his life. All he has to do is say where and when, as he has a bad case of Giant all over his back. He doesn't care if the Jackknife Power Bomb is banned or not, and wants Nash to use it so he can get him 100% and break him down.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Brian Adams. Brian Adams tells Okerlund to shut up as he's the one asking the questions. Adams says he is here to join the most elite force in professional wrestling, which is the nWo, whom he calls "the measuring stick." He then tells Bret "The Hit Man" Hart that if he wanted a piece of him, he wouldn't break a sweat and he wouldn't go off his feet as he's just not good enough. Bret shows up as if almost on cue, unbuttons his shirt on the way to the ring, and tells Adams he doesn't know what kind of beef he has against him before saying they can go at it right here, right now. They do just that, and Bret goes to town before Adams hits him with some powerful slams. When he goes for the elbow drop, however, he misses, and Bret goes at it with him before putting him in the Sharpshooter. He is then attacked from behind by Curt Hennig, and Rick Rude approaches the ring as Bret gets some leverage on Hennig. Crush gets back up and attacks Bret alongside Rick Rude, but "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair comes out from the back and fight off all three men in short order. Flair then welcomes Bret to WCW, and says that in his lifetime, "Hogans, Halls, Nashes, and Hennigs" have always tried to prevail, but today, Hart is the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be. He says half the crowd is waiting for him to sucker punch Bret, but that's not happening, as there are some things that are special enough to "kiss your children and say goodnight to your mom and dad for," such as "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson's sudden retirement and Bret saying that Flair was the man. He shakes his hand, and tells Bret that if he needs help along the way, he'd like to style and profile with him. Hart says he's been sitting on the shelf a little too long, and that he promised to tear the nWo apart brick by brick. He tells Hennig that if he wants to start stuff with him, that's okay with him, and he challenges him to a match at Uncensored so he can finish him once and for all.

"Hollywood" Hulk Hogan shows up with the nWo, and Scott Hall is nowhere to be seen. Bischoff takes the microphone from Michael Buffer, and says he knows what Sting is all about. He says that Hogan has forgiven him and has become bored with him, and says that tonight belongs to Scott Hall, who will take the World title and bring it back to Hogan. Bischoff then calls Sting out and tells him to put the title on the line and give Hall his due, and promises that if he shows up, the entire nWo will leave on "nWo honor." Sting shows up from the back, but stops halfway down the aisle. The nWo clears the ring, but Hogan stays. A man dressed as Sting shows up behind the real Sting, distracting the real Sting and allowing him to be attacked by the nWo. The fake Sting unmasks to reveal himself as Scott Hall, revealing that it was all a set-up to attempt to injure Sting. Hall hits Sting with The Outsider's Edge, and Hall is spray painting "NWO" on Sting's chest when "Macho Man" Randy Savage shows up to fight the nWo only to be quickly surrounded. A mysterious bearded man with a "Hollywood" bandanna around his forehead climbs in the ring, and watches as the nWo continues their carnage and Hogan spray paints "HH" on Savage's chest. The entire nWo clears the ring when Lex Luger shows up with a chair.