Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for May 25, 1998

The show starts with a performance by The Nitro Girls.

Raven heads to the ring with his riot squad. He calls out the Flock, and says Mortis has attempted to humiliate and embarrass him with his repeated sneak attacks. Raven says that as the path grows brighter, it also grows darker, and he will be his guide through agony's bleak path, the nightmare in his dreams that causes him to wake up in sweaty and in tears, crying for his mother's love at 3 AM. Raven then talks about Saturn, saying they have been friends since childhood and says he drove him to school when he was too poor, was there to console him when Sheila broke his heart in 11th grade, and saved him from Hammer last week. He tells Saturn his friendship means everything to him and will do everything to have him stand him beside him, even if it means firing the Flock. He fires Kidman, Lodi and Horace, then hits Lodi with an Evenflow DDT when Lodi is trying to figure out what's going on. Raven then begs for Saturn to come back, but Saturn does not show up.

We hear prerecorded comments from Glacier, who says that even before his WCW debut, there was a lot of fanfare and hype because he was that good. After he started wrestling, he got the greatest entrance and exit the wrestling world had ever seen because he was that good. He also brought the Cryonic Kick with him, which he insists he created, and says that sooner or later, he knew there would be plenty of imitators. He then mentions Saturn, who says that his kick is better than Glacier's, and says that Saturn is not even a professional due to how he carries himself. He tells Saturn that if he thinks his kick his better, and that if he thinks he can steal what is his, he can destroy it, too. He challenges Saturn anywhere, anytime, and they will see who is best. He is now out not just to defeat him, but to destroy him.

We see another performance by The Nitro Girls.

Fit Finley retains the WCW World Television Championship against Mike Enos. During the match, it is announced that Booker T and "The Crippler" Chris Benoit will face each other in a best-of-seven series, with the winner getting a chance at the WCW World Television Championship at The Great American Bash. The first match in this series will take place tonight.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund plugs the WCW Hotline with a report from Mike Tenay of the story behind the story between Bret "The Hit Man" Hart and "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan.

Saturn beats Glacier. Raven shows up during the match and walks down the aisle, but Hammer shows up and attacks Raven from behind. Hammer then distracts Glacier from the apron, and even though Glacier hits Hammer with a Cryonic Kick, the distraction allows Saturn to hit Glacier with the Death Valley Driver for the win. Raven then hits Hammer with an Evenflow DDT after the match, then Saturn notices Raven before walking off. Raven yells "What about me?", getting Saturn's attention for a few seconds, but Saturn turns and walks away.

This week's Thunder - taking place on Wednesday this week - will be in Nashville, Tennessee.

The black-and-white nWo, now known as nWo Hollywood, shows up. The Giant, Brian Adams and Vincent head to the ring. The Giant then says Kevin Nash came out with a pipe and tried to save Sting last week, and while that was all well and good, he's a yellow-bellied coward. If he leaves Konnan and "Macho Man" Randy Savage in the back and shows up in the ring alone, The Giant will kick his butt all over the building right now. He tells Kevin Nash he is "the original big sexy," and that if he has any guts, he'll get in the ring with him. He also says that his concussion is just an excuse to hide as he is scared of him. Kevin Nash shows up alone, and tells The Giant that if he wants some of him, then there's nothing he'd like better tonight than to take care of "three of ["Hollywood" Hulk] Hogan's fluffboys." Adams and Vincent are immediately decked, but they get back up and they gang up on Nash along with The Giant. Konnan shows up with Lex Luger, of all people, as does Curt Hennig and "Macho Man" Randy Savage. Lex Luger clears the ring of nWo Hollywood members with a steel chair. Konnan tells Nash that it's okay, but the nWo Wolfpac members aren't so sure of it. Konnan takes off his red-and-black nWo shirt, then hands it to Nash, who hands it to Luger. After some thought, Luger puts it on, becoming the newest member of the Wolfpac.

Pyrotechnics signal the start of the second hour.

Before the next match, Chris Jericho is seen heading to the ring carrying a poster board over his head with an arrow pointing at him at the bottom, and above it reads the words "Conspiracy Victim."

Chris Jericho quickly beats El Dandy with the Lion Tamer. After the match, Chris Jericho pulls out a clipboard, and calls out WCW Executive Committee Chairman J.J. Dillon to listen to what he has to say about what he calls a conspiracy theory to take the Cruiserweight title from him. As Dillon heads to the ring, Jericho insults him, but he changes his tune when Dillon shows up. On the clipboard is a list of the 15 participants in the Cruiserweight Battle Royal at Slamboree, and Jericho states that Dean Malenko was nowhere on the list. He wants to know how he lost the belt to someone who was not even in the Cruiserweight Battle Royal, and demands he be reinstated as the WCW Cruiserweight Championship. Dillon mentions that Jericho was relishing his advantage against the #1 contender that night, but Jericho says he was not prepared for it because Malenko was not one of his opponents. Dillon tells Jericho that unless he can come up with a precedent for this where the decision was reversed, the decision is final and Dean Malenko will remain the WCW Cruiserweight Championship. As Dillon leaves the ring, Jericho throws a temper tantrum, calls Dillon an idiot, and accuses Dillon of being the leader of a conspiracy theory against him, then quickly changes his tune and chases after Dillon.

Konnan beats La Parka with the Tequila Sunrise.

We see another performance by The Nitro Girls, this time at the commentary table.

We see home video footage from Mortis. Mortis says that on February 12th, Raven hit him with an Evenflow DDT on a metal rampway and took him out. He was taken to the ER, and that was the night Mortis died...but he survived. At Slamboree, he hit him with "the chairshot heard 'round the world," and that night, Kanyon - the man behind the mask - was reborn. He tells Raven it's not over, as he's gotten to him and the Flock as a fan, an usher, a food vendor and a cop, and he will get to him again and again and again and he will never see him coming. He claims he can get to Raven anytime, anywhere as anyone, then turns the camera off.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. Piper says he is dribbling through more bull than the Indiana Pacers, and he has heard what "Macho Man" Randy Savage had to say. Piper tells Savage he has a serious problem, and he has to be his tag team partner. After stating that the best thing about having Savage as a partner is that you never have a bad hair day, he says he can fix the growl in Savage's voice with a colon cleanse. Piper implies it will not be rosy teaming with Savage at The Great American Bash as Savage show up with Miss Elizabeth, and Piper asks Savage what his major malfunction is. Savage tells Piper he has no idea where he is coming from, and thinks he is mentally disabled. Savage says he and Piper have had problems since Slamboree, which Savage claims Piper has not apologized for, even though he admits he would not have accepted the apology, anyway. Now that they're partners at The Great American Bash, he tells him to put him or shut up. Piper reminds Savage he reversed the decision from that match with Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, but Savage tells Piper if he's going to be his tag team partner, then that is cool with him. Piper then says they might as well agree to be a tag team. All of a sudden, Bret shows up and calls Savage "pathetic," then tells Piper to come clean and explained what happened, saying this is all too much for him and that Piper told him that Savage would "fall for the whole thing, hook, line and sinker," and that Savage is totally nuts because he fell for everything. Hart then claims that Piper told him it wouldn't even matter if he reversed the decision, and that nobody cared as everybody saw him win. He tells Piper that they were just having a little fun, and says he knows the respect he has for him and his family. He says he appreciates all the things and good turns he did for him at Slamboree, and that if he needs a favor, he can come back and check on him, as he owes him one. This riles Savage up, who wants to fight Piper before leaving as Piper denies that everything Bret said did not take place and that he did nobody any favors. Savage tosses a steel chair into the ring, and Piper catches it while saying "All right! Let's fight!" Piper sits in the chair and tells Savage he'll be his psychiatrist, and tells Savage he didn't do anything and that they have to be tag team partners. Piper tells Savage he knows he is tough and knows he can handle it, and he makes a deal with him: they will be a tag team at The Great American Bash, and after the pay-per-view, if he still wants a piece of him, he's got it. Savage grabs a steel chair as he tries to leave while Miss Elizabeth tries to reason with Savage, and Piper tells him they need to get the job done and do it right, and if he still wants to fight him, he can give it a shot. Savage agrees to these terms, then puts his steel chair down and leaves.

Juventud Guerrera beats Kidman.

We see another performance by The Nitro Girls.

Julie Shera of Dearborn, Michigan is this week's Nitro Party Pack winner. We see footage of her Nitro Party. It is also announced that Rick Steiner has undergone shoulder surgery and will be out for several months.

Before the next match, Chavo Guerrero Jr. has completely snapped, being happy-go-lucky while leaping up and down and wanting to take part in tonight's match. Chavo dares Eddie to hit him when Eddie considers slapping him, then Chavo starts an "Eddie" chant. Eddie gives him the match and leaves the ring while Chavo leaps up and down again. As Ultimo Dragon heads to the ring, Chavo insists on neatly folding the "Eddie Guerrero Is My Favorite Wrestler" shirt before handing it to Eddie, who snatches it off the apron.

Chavo Guerrero Jr. beats Ultimo Dragon. During the match, Eddie Guerrero grabs the leg of Chavo, allowing him to escape the Dragon Sleeper. After the match, Chavo Guerrero allows Eddie into the ring, and Chavo wants to fight not only Eddie, but other people at ringside. Eddie tries to hit him again, but Chavo dares him and Eddie can't bring himself to do it. "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Eddie and Chavo, and Eddie is considering sending Chavo to a psychiatrist, as even Okerlund believes that Chavo has lost it. WCW Executive Committee Chairman J.J. Dillon shows up and makes Eddie vs. Chavo official for The Great American Bash, much to Eddie's dismay. Chavo not only dares Eddie to hit him as he runs to the back, but he also dares Okerlund to hit him at least once.

Pyrotechnics signal the start of the third hour.

Dean Malenko retains the WCW Cruiserweight Championship against Lenny Lane with the Texas Cloverleaf. Before the match, Lenny Lane comes out with his new ab polish called "Ab Solution."

Before the next match, Johnny Attitude mimics and mocks Goldberg on his way to the ring.

Goldberg retains the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship against Johnny Attitude.

"The Crippler" Chris Benoit beats Booker T with the Crippler Crossface to lead their best-of-seven series 1-0. Fit Finley watches the match from the stage near the end of the match.

Lex Luger and Sting beat The Giant and "Sting." After the match, the nWo Wolfpac shows up and celebrates with Luger. Konnan then hands a shirt to Nash, and Sting is about to leave when Nash offers Sting an opportunity to join the Wolfpac. Sting gets in the ring, and after some hesitation, Sting takes the shirt when Luger tosses it to him. The show ends before Sting puts the shirt on, leaving everyone in suspense.