Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for December 30, 1996

The show begins with The New World Order outside of the arena. They boast that they are stonger than ever. The Giant says he knows he dropped the ball last night, and that he is still waiting for his World title shot from World War 3. "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan tells The Giant that his win at World War 3 is a bye for them, and that it gives them more time to do what they want, and that even though they may have "stutter-stepped a bit," they're still on their way to the top as they still have all the power. Hulk tells The Giant he dropped the ball once, and that he can't drop it again. Ted DiBiase wants the camera turned off so as not to record any more internal dissent within The New World Order.

The Amazing French Canadians (Jacques Rougeau and Carl Ouellet) beat Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and "Flyboy" Rocco Rock) after Rougeau dodges Public Enemy's double team attack into the table.

The Ultimate Dragon beats Jushin "Thunder" Liger.

Before the next match, Michael Wallstreet shows up and tells Konnan that Big Bubba can't make it tonight, but that Big Bubba is not afraid of him or the leather strap in his hand and that he'll eventually have the chance to prove it to him. Wallstreet effectively substitutes for Big Bubba in this match.

Konnan steals a victory from Michael Wallstreet in a leather strap match by touching all four corners of the ring despite being choked out with the strap after Wallstreet pushes Konnan into the fourth corner. After the match, Wallstreet thinks he has won, but finds out he has not.

"Hollywood" Hulk Hogan shows up with Eric Bischoff. They both boast about Hogan "beating" "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, and insist that Hogan won last night at Starrcade. Hogan says that he lost a lot of respect for Piper just for showing up for one night, taking a beating and leaving. Eric Bischoff considers having a moment of silence for Piper, but then doesn't. Hogan then poses for the crowd. Tony Schiavone and "The Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko know Bischoff and Hogan are lying.

Hugh Morrus beats Kensuki Sasaki by disqualification after Sonny Onoo hits Morrus with the pole of his Japanese flag to absolutely no effect. During the match, Eric Bischoff shows up on commentary with a black clamshell VHS case in his hand (which contains the footage of Hogan vs. Piper at Starrcade), telling Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko that he's got the master tape and that they're not proving anything, and that possession is nine-tenths of the law. Schiavone find out that they do have stills from the match between "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper at Starrcade, and show them after the match.

This Saturday on WCW Saturday Night: Dean Malenko vs. Eddie Guerrero for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship! Masahiro Chono! "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson! Lex Luger! "Lord" Steven Regal vs. Ice Train!

Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) beat The Faces of Fear (Meng and The Barbarian) despite Col. Robert Parker and Jacques Rougeau throws black powder in Stevie Ray's face.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Diamond Dallas Page. He tells Okerlund not to worry about what he is going to do about The New World Order, and says he's going to fix things and move on. Page says he's a bit stubborn, and that sometimes he doesn't get it right away. He says the nWo is too strong, and he knows what he has to do and what's going to happen. Page then refuses to elaborate further.

Pyrotechnics signal the start of the second hour. It is soon announced that "Rowdy" Roddy Piper is in the building tonight.

The encore of Starrcade will be on pay-per-view on January 2, 1997 at 5 PM Eastern, 4 PM Central.

Before the next match, Disco Inferno says he has perfected his leg hold for the last two weeks, and tells him to leave the ring and let him dance before he embarasses him. Glacier puts him in a wrist lock instead, and makes Disco mad.

Glacier beats Disco Inferno.

"The Crippler" Chris Benoit beats Chris Jericho. After the match, "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, Debra McMichael, Benoit, Woman and Steve "Mongo" McMichael. Debra says she was just talking about him, but Woman tells her and Mongo to shut their mouth as they don't have a vote here as they haven't been in the Four Horsemen long enough. As Flair tries to break it up between Benoit and Mongo, Jeff Jarrett shows up and brings up "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson's attack on him at Starrcade. When Woman asks where Anderson is, Flair says he's at the Hyatt with a Miller Lite in his hand that is so cold it would freeze the hand off an Eskimo. Benoit tells Jarrett that he proved himself, and that he can be anything but a Horseman. Debra says Woman is angry because of recent weight gain and says Mongo should be glad she got between him and Benoit. Flair says that the Horsemen are going to do what they do best: staying all night and staying a little longer.

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

Octagoncito and Mascarita Sagrada beat Jerito Estrada and Piratita Morgan after Mascarita Sagrada rolls up Estrada.

Dean Malenko and Rey Mysterio Jr. wrestle to a ten-minute time limit draw.

Lex Luger beats Greg "The Hammer" Valentine with the Torture Rack.

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper shows up. He says he has heard "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff have insisted Hogan have won, and Piper says that this proves that there is indeed life on Mars as he had Hogan in a sleeper the last time he checked. He is glad history reads that he is the icon, and he is proud that he have been "the Braveheart" of professional wrestling. He says that this is his last fight, and jokes that he's getting too old for this. As he says that he is glad to have his match at Starrcade, Bischoff and Hogan show up. Hogan says it's not going down that way, but Piper says history is history. Hogan tells Piper he is a lucky, lucky person, and the only reason that he didn't end his rivalry with Piper for good is that Piper's son told him to take it easy on him. Piper tells Hogan that they can fight right now, and as that is about to happen, Piper is attacked from behind by the rest of the New World Order. Syxx and The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) join in first, followed by The Giant and Scott "Flash" Norton. Hogan brings a steel chair into the ring and smashes it into Piper's leg. Hogan then commands The Giant to choke slam Piper, but Piper refuses. At this point, Nick Patrick shows up in black denim jeans and a New World Order shirt, and Marcus Bagwell and "Sting" can also be seen. Hogan tells The Giant that he dropped the ball again as Piper is put on a stretcher. Hogan tells him that last night was strike one, and not choke slamming Piper was strike two. He then slaps The Giant, saying "three strikes!" The Giant then grabs Hogan by the throat, and The Giant tells everyone to clear the ring as he tells Hogan to give him his World title shot. Hogan says he's sorry and tells The Giant he's got his title shot as he begs for forgiveness, then Hogan sics the rest of the New World Order on Giant. The numbers game eventually works against The Giant, and Hogan smacks The Giant in the back with the World Heavyweight Championship before everyone else in the nWo stomps on The Giant and rips his nWo shirt into pieces. Hogan speaks into the camera, saying he warned The Giant about messing with him before hitting The Giant with the World Heavyweight Championship again. He tells The Giant that the World title is his. The last thing we see is Piper being transported to the hospital in an ambulance.

Raw Deal - Raw recap for December 30, 1996

Bret "The Hit Man" Hart says he doesn't need any excuse to tell "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels what he thinks of him and everything he does. Shawn says that Bret can make all the excuses he wants, because tonight, everyone wil find out what "the role model" has to say when he comes face-to-face with "the World Wrestling Federation's favorite degenerate."

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin attacks "The Real Double J" Jesse James before the first match of the night begins and before James' tag team partner Savio Vega can make his entrance. Vega rushes in and attacks Austin before the beginning of the match. During the match, Bret "The Hit Man" Hart shows up in street clothes after Faarooq sends Jesse James over the ropes and Austin takes Jesse James out from behind with a chop block, and chases "Stone Cold" Steve Austin back into the ring. Bret "The Hit Man" Hart then asks the referee to let him take James' place. He replaces Jesse James during the break.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Faarooq vs. Bret Hart and Savio Vega ends with the rest of the Nation of Domination attacking Bret and Vega as Bret has Faarooq in the Sharpshooter. Ahmed Johnson rushes into the ring with a 2x4 and clears the ring out, making the save for Bret and Vega. Officials keep The Nation and Austin out of the ring, and Ahmed tells Faarooq they don't have to wait until Royal Rumble to fight, and at Royal Rumble, one of them won't make it.

George and Adam are still in the San Antonio Alamodome...

Hunter Hearst Helmsley says that Flash Funk is a great wrestler, but doesn't deserve to be in the same ring with him and facing him for the Intercontinental Championship. When he gets done with Goldust, he plans to show Marlena what a real man is like.

Goldust and Marlena show up in the stands and watch the next match from the cheaper seats in the crowd. Hunter Hearst Helmsley, still backstage, is not happy about this turn of events.

During the next match, Jerry "The King" Lawler calls out Goldust, saying that Hunter Hearst Helmsley is a real man and that Goldust is there just to distract him, and that if he doesn't leave, he'll make him leave. Goldust gets out of his seat and almost walks towards the ring, and Lawler tells the referee that if he doesn't make Goldust leave, he'll get into the crowd and punch Goldust's lights out. As the referee keeps Lawler out of the crowd, Hunter Hearst Helmsley hits Flash Funk with the Intercontinental title behind the referee's back. Hunter Hearst Helmsley retains the WWF Intercontinental CHampionship against Flash Funk. Goldust then slowly goes after Lawler and chases him to the back, and Helmsley is about to attack Goldust from behind when Flash Funk attacks Helmsley and sends him back into the ring, getting the last word with a 450 splash as retaliation for costing him the Intercontinental Championship.

"The Hearbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels leaves everyone guessing as to what will happen when he and Bret "The Hit Man" Hart go face to face, and that nobody gets in his face.

The WWF Holiday Hell tour is heading to San Diego, California; Stockton, California; Los Angeles, California; Fresno, California; San Jose, California; Anaheim, California; Las Vegas, Nevada and El Paso, Texas!

Jim Ross interviews "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels and Bret "The Hit Man" Hart in the ring. Bret says he finds Shawn's attitude disrespectful, saying that he learned nothing from Jose Lothario - especially respect and integrity - and that it lead to Shawn costing him the WWF Championship. He says that Shawn's promise to hold the WWF Championship with the same air and dignity he did was empty, and that he didn't come close. Bret says his son used to wear his merchandise, and calls him "bottom-of-the-barrel" for posing in Playgirl, implying that only gay men buy the magazine. He calls Shawn unworthy of holding the WWF Championship, and says that he is far from a man's man. He tells Shawn he has no class and that he is a disgrace, and says he welcomes the opportunity to step into the ring with him and kick his ass because he can. Shawn counters by saying he's seen Bret on the road and that he is far from a role model. Suddenly, Sycho Sid shows up and gets in the ring. He says he has played the game with both Bret and Shawn and both have lost, yet they're talking about his title. He then says he wants real competition. Suddenly, a gong is heard and the lights flash, and The Undertaker arrives. The Undertaker is then suddenly attacked from behind by Vader, and The Undertaker quickly knocks him down before staring face-to-face with Sycho Sid in the aisle. Vader gets back up and attacks The Undertaker from behind again, and The Undertaker slowly chases him to the bac as officials keep both men separated. In the ring, Shawn pushes the middle rope into Bret's crotch as he leaves the ring, then hits Sycho Sid with a dive over the top rope before the two men brawl in the aisle.

The Honky Tonk Man and Hunter Hearst Helmsley both guest on commentary for the next match.

Jerry "The King" Lawler beats Goldust by count-out after Hunter Hearst Helmsley leaves commentary and tries to walk off with Marlena over his shoulder. Helmsley is stopped by "Wildman" Marc Mero, and Goldust tosses Marlena into Mero before sending Goldust into both Mero and Marlena. Goldust and Helmsley fight near the backstage entrance, and Helmsley also attacks Mero again.