Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for May 26, 1997

Eric Bischoff starts tonight's show by walking down the aisle and introducing "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan. Hogan says Bischoff is the reason he's in the Bahamas spending Ted Turner's movie and making movies, and says that when it comes to messing with family, nobody is closer to family than Bischoff. He says that Sting is in deep doo-doo for laying his hands on Bischoff. He tells the Sting fans that Sting is scared of The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) and can't keep up with Syxx, then calls Sting out so he can tear him apart. Bischoff says that Sting is nowhere in the building and is scared of Hogan, and Hogan says that his arms are bigger than Sting's entire body. He plans to look through the building himself and slap anybody who remotely looks like Sting as he calls him out again.

Juventud Guerrera, Super Calo and the debuting Hector Garza beat Ciclope, La Parka and the debuting Damien.

Psychosis beats Alex Wright.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Sonny Onoo, who says that Masahiro Chono's nightmare is waiting in the back, and that we will have to wait to see who it is. When Psychosis approaches the entrance ramp, Sonny Onoo tells him he has a deal for him and asks if he is interested. Psychosis says he is, and says he'll see him in the back. Onoo then says Chono willget his tonight, and no sooner does he say this that Madussa shows up and says she'll do anything for a shot at Akira Hokuto. Onoo gives her the shot at The Great America Bash, but if Madusa loses, Madusa's career is over. After being rushed to make an answer by Onoo, Madusa accepts the offer.

We get a look at some footage of Ernest Miller from The Battle of Atlanta, and we learn that Glacier had arranged for Ernest Miller to appear at Slamboree due to their long-time friendship and their connection to the martial arts. We also learn that Miller has experience in other sports.

Wrath beats Mark Starr. Wrath and Mortis continue to attack Starr after the match.

We hear pre-recorded comments from Hugh Morrus, who tells Konnan that it wasn't funny furthering his career at his expense and that we will soon see what kind of a sense of humor Konnan has.

Konnan beats Villano IV with the Tequila Sunrise. During the match, Hugh Morrus shows up, but WCW security stop him from entering the ring. "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Konnan after the match, who says that The Taskmaster, who has taken a brief sabbatical, has lost his touch, especially when it took him a year to take care of Benoit and has Jacqueline doing his work for him. He also tells Hugh Morrus that he is ready to throw down if he shows up during any of his matches.

This Saturday on WCW Saturday Night: Meng! Psychosis! The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner)! The Giant!

Sonny Onoo introduces the man he deems the nightmare of Masahiro Chono: The Great Muta. Unfortunately for Onoo, Muta turns on him by spitting red mist into his face when Onoo finds out that Muta and Chono aren't really fighting and Muta isn't doing what he is asking him to do. It is then revealed that The Great Muta has joined The New World Order.

The Barbarian beats Joe Gomez. "Mean" Gene Okerlund is about to interview Jimmy Hart and The Barbarian when "The Crippler" Chris Benoit and Woman appear, wanting to know where The Taskmaster is. Benoit tells Jimmy Hart that he hopes The Taskmaster finds himself so he can do what he does best to him, and asks Hart what he has to do to get him back in the ring. Hart tells him the road to The Taskmaster lies in The Barbarian. Benoit immediately answers the challenge and gets in the ring, but Hart says they've got seven days to think about this. Nevertheless, the match is on for next week.

The Giant beats Johnny Swinger, Ron Fuller and Jerry Flynn in a 3-on-1 handicap match. "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Lex Luger and The Giant after the match, who have a shot at "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan and Dennis Rodman at Bash at the Beach in July yafter Hogan and Rodman signed an open contract. Luger says he's always been a fan of the NBA, but he's kept an eye on Dennis Rodman to see how he moves and thinks after stepping into WCW's domain and humiliated him. Luger says he and The Giant want the first shot at Hogan and Rodman, and tells Rodman to get ready because he has no idea what he's stepping into. The Giant tells Hogan that he's been hiding, but now he's in the building, he wants him to know well that what comes around, goes around, and The Giant is coming for him.

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

Syxx shows up. He says Nick Patrick from Slamboree doesn't count as he was not reinstated until the following night. He then brags about the beating that he and The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) gave "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair last week before introducing Nash and Hall. Hall says it brings back memories seeing Flair get tossed around "like the dirtbag he is" after they gave him a reality check. Nash says that "Rowdy" Roddy Piper could only make him and "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan go to sleep if they tied them up in recliners and had them watch his next movie. He and Hall then decide to put the tag team titles on the line, and want to defend them against Piper and Flair, joking that maybe they'll put one of their dialysis machines on the line in exchange. He then tells Piper that since he didn't retire like he told his son Colton he would, they will retire him themselves. Hall then declares Nashville, Tennessee to be nWo territory.

The Outsiders (Scott Hall and Kevin Nash) advertise the "nWo 4 Life" shirt, just $20 plus $5.95 shipping and handling.

Kevin Greene guests on commentary for the next match.

Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) beat The Four Horsemen (Jeff Jarrett and Steve "Mongo" McMichael). During the match, Steve "Mongo" McMichael goes for the commentary table when the video screen shows Kevin Greene at the commentary table, which leads to Mongo leaving Jeff Jarrett being left and high and dry as Mongo and Greene brawl their way into the back. Jarrett and Debra McMichael show their disappointment with Mongo after the match.

"Hollywood" Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff show up. Hogan says that the "nWo World Heavyweight Championship" is on the line and The New World Order has Sting cornered, and calls Sting out so he can receive the whupping that he deserves. Bischoff says that Sting isn't here, and that if he was, they would make him worship the ground Hogan spits on. As Hogan says Sting wants to be like him, Sting pops out from the underside of the ring and points his bat at Hogan and Bischoff. Bischoff tells Sting to get down on his knees, and this Sting gets down on his knees, revealing that this Sting is a fake, and when Bischoff asks this Sting if he wishes he was half the man that Hogan is, he shakes his head yes. Bischoff then tells Hogan to make this Sting worship the ground that Hogan spits on in, and as this Sting frovels, the real Sting rappels down to the ring and hits Bischoff with a reverse DDT. The real Sting makes Hogan trip over the fake Sting, and when the fake Sting swings his bat, the real one blocks it and hits him with the reverse DDT, too. Hogan then calls out the rest of the nWo, who appears at the entrance ramp, and Sting stands his ground as the nWo surrounds the ring. When they get in the ring, Sting rappels back up to the rafters as the show ends.

Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for September 9, 1996

Super Calo beats Pat Tanaka in his Nitro debut by reversing a top rope superplex into a pinfall. During the match, an nWo street team with stacks of flyers is seen outside of the arena.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Rick Steiner backstage. Steiner is convinced he had Lex Luger beaten even though their match last week never started, and Lex Luger says he's focused this week in singles competition with him tonight as he's ready for War Games, which is good for him and bad for Rick. Rick Steiner is confused as to what is going on the entire time.

In another announcement paid for by the New World Order, Hall, Nash and The Giant hawk the official New World Order T-shirt, with all proceeds going to "The Ric Flair Retirement Fund."

Before the next match, The Amazing French Canadians (Jacques Rougeau and Carl Ouellet) sing "O Canada," much to the dismay of the crowd. The Nasty Boys (Jerry Sags and Brian Knobbs) cut their rendition of the Canadian national anthem short. Soon after the match begins, the nWo street team is seen handing out flyers to the crowd, which all say "You haven't seen bad...but it's coming!"

The Nasty Boys (Jerry Sags and Brian Knobbs) beat The Amazing French Canadians (Jacques Rougeau and Carl Ouellet) after Knobbs hits Rougeau with the Quebec flag as the latter goes to the top rope. "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews The Nasty Boys after the match, Sags says that Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) and the tag team titles are all they are concerned about right now. Knobbs says that they're in WCW, and they want the tag team titles and they're coming to get them.

Scott "Flash" Norton beats Sgt. Craig "Pitbull" Pittman after Ice Train shows up and throws in the towel in Pittman's stead. Ice Train and Norton stare down after the match.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Lex Luger, "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson and "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair. Flair confronts Luger, asking where Sting is. Luger says Sting is here. Flair then tells The New World Order (Hall, Nash, "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, The Giant) that the show is on next Sunday. Steve "Mongo" McMichael and "The Crippler" Chris Benoit show up, and they are convinced from Sting's absence that they're going to lose. Lex Luger says Sting is in the building. "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson says he's already booked a hospital room in Winston-Salem, as he knows everyone on their team is going to get hurt. He also tells "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan that he should have used battery acid instead of a bat on him, as he came back from a trip to the hospital to confront him the very next week.

Juventud Guerrera beats Joe Gomez. After the match, "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews referee Nick Patrick about the disqualification during last week's match between The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner) and the team of Sting and Lex Luger. Patrick insists Luger intentionally hit him due to a vendetta against him from "all the lies [Okerlund's] been spreading about me" and asks why Luger hasn't been suspended from WCW. Okerlund says that Patrick has been in too many controversial calls for this to be coincidence, but Patrick says that Okerlund is stirring the pot and that the fans are pointing fingers at him, and insists that he is WCW all the way. After the interview, we see that The New World Order (Hall, Nash, "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, The Giant) are posting nWo flyers on cars in the parking lot as it rains outside while Ted DiBiase is talking to someone who is inside the limousine, raising the possibility of a sixth man in the nWo.

This Saturday on WCW Saturday Night: Diamond Dallas Page vs. "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan! Rick Steiner vs. Kurasawa! Lex Luger! Scott "Flash" Norton! "The Crippler" Chris Benoit! The Nasty Boys (Jerry Sags and Brian Knobbs)!

Rick Steiner beats Lex Luger by count-out. During the match, pyrotechnics signal the start of the second hour. Also during the match, referee Nick Patrick motions Luger to the back, telling him that something has happened to Sting out back. We find out that Sting is talking to Ted DiBiase (even though it's obviously a recording), and when Lex Luger asks where Sting is, Sting comes out of the limo in black and white and attacks Luger along with the rest of The New World Order (DiBiase, Hall, Nash, "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan). Luger plays possum as the chauffeur picks Luger up and Luger throws him, but when he does, everyone else flees.

Lex Luger and some of the men from WCW check one of the New World Order limousines, but only find a box with some cans of spray paint.

Rey Mysterio Jr. retains the WCW World Cruiserweight Championship against Billy Kidman.

The Faces of Fear (Meng and The Barbarian) vs. Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and "Flyboy" Rocco Rock) ends with a victory via disqualification for The Faces of Fear after the match goes out of control. During the match, "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews The Four Horsemen ("The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson, "The Crippler" Chris Benoit, Steve "Mongo" McMichael) and Lex Luger. Anderson is shocked with the recent turn of events concerning Sting, considering that Sting has been the only constant in the last ten years. Luger can't even give answers to Anderson, but he wants in on War Games even more and heads out of the building to find answer from Sting. Flair says the confusion is over, and tells The New World Order (Hall, Nash, "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, The Giant, Sting) that they're going to town on Sunday. Anderson says this will be a fight to the death - the nWo's, not theirs. After the match, "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews The Dungeon of Doom (Jimmy Hart, The Taskmaster, Big Bubba, Meng, Barbarian, Hugh MOrrus, Maxx, Konnan). Jimmy Hart is sick of everyone getting in his face concerning The Giant, and says when The Giant turned traitor and joined The New World Order, it was the beginning of the end for him and he just didn't know it yet. Big Bubba still wants to know if Glacier is going to show up and get a piece of him. Konnan is tired of the nWo and their public service announcements, and challenge them to come to the ring right now. The Taskmaster tells "Macho Man" Randy Savage to do them a favor and clear his debt with them by taking out John Tenta if he feels he owes them a debt for helping him to the back last week, and to watch his back at War Games. He also says you can't trust anyone around here, and if Sting will turn, who else will?

We see another paid announcement from The New World Order. They brag about the money they have and the fact that they have the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. DiBiase also has plans for the nWo: time on the WCW's programming as well as an "nWo tag team tournament" with "nWo Tag Team Championships."

John Tenta beats "Macho Man" Randy Savage by count-out after Theodore Long asks "Macho Man" Randy Savage to come to the back, saying that The New World Order are back. Savage joins The Four Horsemen and other WCW wrestlers and search one of the limousines, but once again finds an box of spray paint. Despite all the rain, the WCW wrestlers spray paint "WCW" on the abandoned limo with the yellow spray paint. As Eric Bischoff speaks, The Four Horsemen ("The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson, "The Crippler" Chris Benoit, Steve "Mongo" McMichael) show up. Anderson calls out Hogan for turning his back on WCW and turning Sting against the company and promises to take Sting's head off. Flair tells Hogan that he will not leave town alive after War Games.

Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for July 1, 1996

Before the show begins, Diamond Dallas Page shows up and says that the Lord of the Rings ring has been stolen, and that he wants the arena closed and everyone strip searched until the ring is found.

The Four Horsemen ("The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, Steve "Mongo" McMichael, "The Crippler" Chris Benoit, "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson) are seen in the VIP section along with Debra McMichael, Woman and Miss Elizabeth during the next match. Also, Col. Robert Parker shows up at ringside in Harlem Heat's corner during the match.

Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) retain the WCW World Tag Team Championships against The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner) after Col. Robert Parker hits Rick Steiner off the top rope with his cane to stop a double team attempt.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews The Four Horsemen ("The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, Steve "Mongo" McMichael, "The Crippler" Chris Benoit, "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson) along with Debra McMichael, Woman and Miss Elizabeth in the VIP lounge. We learn that The Four Horsemen will be taking on Joe Gomez, The Renegade and The Rock 'n Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson). Debra says that Mongo is one of the best athletes ever to compete, and hopes that he makes more money in WCW than he ever did in the NFL. Miss Elizabeth says there's plenty of money to go around, and Woman asks Miss Elizabeth to hire a full-time driver. Anderson says what while we may not see the Supreme Court in the VIP lounge, they still run the wrestling world, and for the first time since the mid-1980s, they're at full strength. Benoit calls himself "silent but violent." Mongo says he's happy to be a Horseman, and says that "money makes the monkey dance." Flair, upon hearing that "Macho Man" Randy Savage is in the building and restrained before his match, mocks Savage. and asks him what he's going to do now.

Before the next match, Disco Inferno says he knows everyone wants to see him dance, and asks the crowd if they want to see him dance. As he is about to dance, however, Kurasawa shows up.

Disco Inferno beats Kurasawa after Disco's music plays, a guy in an Elvis Presley jumpsuit shows up and dance, and the disco ball drops down so he can smack a distracted Kurasawa in the back with it while the referee is distracted by the guy in the jumpsuit.

In a pre-recorded message, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan tells Diamond Dallas Page to stop worrying about his Lord of the Ring ring (as the only things he carries are a 2x4 and a roll of tape) and to start worrying about him.

Diamond Dallas Page shakes down a few members of WCW crew before the next match.

Diamond Dallas Page beats Scotty Riggs. After the match, "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Page, and Page dares "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan to tape up his body at Bash At The Beach as he will lay him out with a Diamond Cutter. He also shakes down Okerlund to look for his Lord of the Ring ring, but doesn't find it.

"Macho Man" Randy Savage wrecks the VIP lounge before the next match.

"Macho Man" Randy Savage beats Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, then pyro signals the start of the second hour - which brings the return of a recovered Eric Bischoff to commentary.

Eric Bischoff says he's glad to be back, and thanks the WCW fans for their letters and support. He then tells Diesel (whom he calls "Nash") that he didn't impress anybody and that Sting, Lex Luger and "Macho Man" Randy Savage aren't afraid of him. He tells Diesel that he didn't scare anybody, and he can't wait for him to receive his comeuppance on Sunday night. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan notices Diesel and Razor Ramon showing up with popcorn and soda from the concession stand, and when told to leave, they reveal that they have bought tickets for the show and are left alone.

The Giant retains the WCW World Heavyweight Championship against John Tenta after Tenta fights off both Jimmy Hart and The Taskmaster. After the match, Big Bubba, who shows up just before the ned of the match, shaves half of Tenta's facial hair off. After the match, "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Jimmy Hart, The Taskmaster, The Giant and Big Bubba. Hart says that this is just an example of what will happen to "The Crippler" Chris Benoit and "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson at Bash at the Beach. Big Bubba mocks Tenta, and challenges him to a sock on a pole match, and whoever gets the sock full of nickels will be the first to use it. The Giant tells Tenta that leaving The Dungeon of Doom was his first mistake, and he made him pay for that mistake. He also says that The Four Horsemen are jealous, and that all four of them will leave Bash at the Beach in pieces. The Taskmaster tells Benoit and ANderson that he remembers what happened to him in Baltimore when they fought all over the building, then The Giant tells Benoit that the fire burning in The Taskmaster's soul is something he can't stand the heat of as all four men leave while John Tenta gets back on his feet and heads towards the back.

This Saturday on Saturday Night: The American Males (Marcus Alexander Bagwell and Scotty Riggs) vs. The Rock 'n Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson)! Diamond Dallas Page! Chris Benoit vs. Cobra! Sting, Lex Luger and "Macho Man" Randy Savage in six-man tag action!

We see a video package of Rey Mysterio Jr. The video package is cut short when Diesel and Razor Ramon get a hold of a mike and make fun of Eric Bischoff. Security quickly move into place as Razor Ramon and Diesel are escorted away, and "Macho Man" Randy Savage tries to get a piece of both men. Diamond Dallas, Big Bubba, The Taskmaster, Rick Steiner and Jimmy Hart also show up for the proceedings. Diesel and Razor are escorted out of the building, and after a minute or two, Savage tries to go after them only to be stopped by security.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan...who has just found Diamond Dallas Page's ring in the men's room and will bring it back to DDP if he wants it. DDP shows up and calls Hacksaw a thief, and accuses him of stealing his ring. Hacksaw hands him his ring back, then punches him in the face after he picks it back up.

The Four Horsemen ("The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, Steve "Mongo" McMichael, "The Crippler" Chris Benoit, "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson) beat Joe Gomez, The Renegade and The Rock 'n Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Roberts Gibson) after McMichael tosses the metal briefcase into The Renegade's leg as The Renegade is on the top rope, allowing Ric Flair to make The Reneage tap out to the Figure Four Leg Lock. "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews The Horsemen, and Mongo says that they are his team and that he will do whatever it takes for them to win at any level. Benoit tells The Taskmaster that the voice of experience hasn't spoken to him loud enough, and tells The Giant that the gold is coming back where it belongs. Anderson says that The Horsemen to start taking a body count as they are back in full force and ready to reap the windfall. Flair tells Konnan that he will be the United States champ one more time, and tells The Taskmaster and The Giant they're going to get what's there. Debra McMichaels and Miss Elizabeth don't plan on missing what happens at Bash at the Beach for the world.

The show ends with policemen having to keep Diesel and Razor Ramon out of the building again.