Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for October 21, 1996

Syxx and "Sting" of The New World Order are seen in the crowd before the first match, and Syxx is carrying a handheld camcorder for some scouting work for the nWo.

Chris Jericho beats Bobby Eaton. Eaton raises Jericho's hand in victory after the match. Tony Schiavone then interviews Jericho, who says it is a coincidence that Syxx is watching because Halloween Havoc is in six days and that he's going to give The New World Order their first loss when Jericho beats Syxx on Sunday night.

We see a video package of Rey Mysterio, Jr.

Dean Malenko beats the debuting Jimmy Graffiti with the Texas Cloverleaf. (Jimmy Graffiti is better known as Jimmy Del Rey of the 1990s incarnation of The Heavenly Bodies from Smoky Mountain Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation.)

This Saturday on WCW Saturday Night: Dean Malenko! Jeff Jarrett! Big Ron Studd! "The Crippler" Chris Benoit! The Faces of Fear (Meng and The Barbarian)! Eddie Guerrero! Another segment from The New World Order featuring The Outsiders (Scott Hall and Kevin Nash)!

Diamond Dallas Page beats Sgt. Craig "Pitbull" Pittman after Theodore Long accidentally distracts referee Nick Patrick as Pittman has the Code Red locked on Page. Patrick tells Long he's the reason Pittman lost the match. When Tony Schiavone interviews Patrick, he says that he would have been better able to pay attention if Long wasn't on the rope and insists that Randy Anderson is the man behind the mask as The New World Order's referee.

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair makes his way to the ring in street clothes, and Randy Anderson helps Flair into the ring. Flair asks Jarrett to do the strut, and he does. Flair has Randy take his jacket off, then Flair does a strut of his own. Jarrett does his strut again, then Flair does his again. Both men stare down, then Anderson stares down Jarrett before shaking his hand and leaving.

Jeff Jarrett beats Big Ron Studd with the Figure Four Leg Lock after putting the seven-foot-tall Studd in a vertical suplex. Tony Schiavone interviews Jarrett after the match, and Jarrett says it's time to put up or shut up and that it's time for WCW to start playing some offense and start being the hunters instead of the hunted. He tells The Giant he's got a big bullseye right on his leg, and says that while The Giant has choke slammed them all, he hasn't choke slammed Jarrett. "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair tells The New World Order that he sat at home last night and talk good about him, and in this business, men don't cry or ask for forgiveness and just keep on keepin' on. He also says that the best wrestlers get so good at what they do in life that they take everything for granted, and tips his hat off to The New World Order for outsmarting the Four Horsemen and played the game dirtier. He tells the nWo they've won for now, but on Sunday, he will be in Jarrett's corner and that he can't wait for the day to share the ring with Jarrett and kick the nWo's ass. As Flair speaks, The Giant is seen in the crowd.

Pyrotechnics signal the start of the second hour.

Lex Luger beats Road Block with the Torture Rack after three attempts. During the match, we see some pre-recorded comments from "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson, who tells Lex Luger that time is running out on him and that Luger will tell him "I quit" at Halloween Havoc.

Lee Marshal calls from Phoenix, Arizona, where next week's Nitro will take place as part of the 1-800-COLLECT Road Report.

Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) barely beats The American Males (Marcus Bagwell and Scotty Riggs) after Booker T hits a Harlem Side Kick on Riggs after Riggs punches Col. Robert Parker. Bagwell tries to break up the pinfall, but he is too late. During the match, Eric Bischoff apologizes to "Macho Man" Randy Savage and his family for showing Savage the video of Miss Elizabeth as he did last week, telling Savage that his intentions were good and that he did not mean to hurt him. Also, The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) are spotted in the crowd, recording the match with a handheld camcorder while wearing Breathe-Right strips to mock Harlem Heat. After the match, it is announced that "Sting" has been spotted in the building.

The Faces of Fear (Meng and The Barbarian) beat The Fantastics (Tommy Rodgers and Bobby Fulton). During the match, Eric Bischoff claims to have video footage of "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan that shows what kind of manipulative person he is, and if "Macho Man" Randy Savage wants to see it, he'll show it to him. It is also announced that "Sting" is indeed in the building and that The New World Order have bought some airtime, but Bischoff says that the New World Order is going to get a surprise.

The New World Order - minus "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan - shows up and jumps the guardrail before the beginning of the next match.

"Sting" almost beats Mr. J.L. with the Scorpion Death Lock...but the real sting shows up in all black clothes and an all-white mask with black lines running down the center of his eyes. Sting puts the faker in a reverse DDT before hitting several elbow drops and a Stinger Splash to the back before putting the faker in a Scorpion Death Lock. The New World Order get in the ring, but Sting sees them coming and the real Sting takes the fake Sting out of the Scorpion Death Lock. The New World Order welcome him to their ranks, saying they could use a man like him and that if he joins them, he will be like family to them. Scott Hall asks Sting what he has to show for carrying the WCW banner for nine years, and tell him that if WCW wants him to "stick it," and that with him, there is no stopping the nWo. Sting takes the microphone, mocks the fake Sting, then tells them that he may or may not be in their price range and that the only sure thing about Sting is that nothing's for sure. He then leaves, putting his future further into question. Before the commercial break, Eric Bischoff finds out that "Macho Man" Randy Savage is in the building and immediately starts looking for him.

"Macho Man" Randy shows up for his match against "The Crippler" Chris Benoit in all-black street clothes. Eric Bischoff shows up and immediately apologizes for showing him the video of Miss Elizabeth last week, and shows him the footage of "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan that he claims to have. We see Hogan on the set of the new 3 Ninjas movie, where The New World Order takes over the set with The Giant as director. We see Hulk Hogan try to get Miss Elizabeth to get Savage to believe that she still loves him. Elizabeth is taken to Hogan's trailer, and Hulk tells Elizabeth she has one more chance to do as he wants. We all find out that The New World Order have a plan to destroy the Macho Man. Savage is stone-faced, and he almost heads back to the back but walks back to Bischoff and says it just occurred to him how fragile friendships and relationship can be, and that he and Bischoff both know how fragile business can be. He says that even marriage is fragile, then he tells Hogan life is also fragile. He walks to the back, and the show is over.

Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for December 25, 1995

Lex Luger beats Scotty Riggs with the Torture Rack.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Sting, who is tired of being asked what his deal is with Lex Luger. Sting insists he is trying to straighten Luger out. As for Ric Flair, he wants one more chance to lock the Scorpion Death Lock on him and never let go. He warns the New Japan Pro Wrestling that they're where the big boys play when they show up at Starrcade, as he's in the team competition between WCW and New Japan.

Sting beats Big Bubba with a reversal into an inside cradle off the top rope.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Lex Luger and Jimmy Hart. Lex Luger says there's no "deal" between him and Sting, as they've been friends for ten long years. He says that he is the uncrowned WCW World Heavyweight Champion, and that this will be true until he wins the title. Sgt. Craig "Pitbull" Pittman shows up, agrees with Lex Luger, then asks Jimmy Hart to manage him as he wants to go where Luger's going. Jimmy Hart asks Pittman to take off shirt. He does, and it becomes apparent that his physique is nowhere near Luger's. Hart makes fun of this face tells him to get a quarter and use it to call another manager who would actually want to manage him.

Dean Malenko beats Mr. J.L. by submission.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair. Jimmy Hart shows up as Flair starts talking, saying that he faces "Macho Man" Randy Savage for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and that he will not be denied. Jimmy Hart apologizes for what happened last week when The Taskmaster interrupted him, then tells Flair that he owes him one as Flair saved him from Savage a few weeks ago. He asks Flair to let him be there when he wins the world title, saying that Flair will be the next WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Ric Flair says "be my guest" and tells him to start putting the party together.

Ric Flair beats "Macho Man" Randy Savage by disqualification after Lex Luger interferes and attacks Savage, who retains the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Sting shows up, but Ric Flair goes after Sting before he can do anything. Sting focuses on Flair while Savage fights Luger and tosses him out as Flair retreats. Sting and Savage finally notice each other and brawl, and the referee has to do his best to keep them from fighting one another.

Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for October 23, 1995

"Macho Man" Randy Savage beats Kurasawa.

After the first match, the arena goes black. We hear from The Master, who says the insurance policy for The Dungeon of Doom (The Taskmaster, The Giant, The Zodiac, The Shark, Kamala) has been delivered from the Himalayas in a 13-foot-tall block of ice: The Yeti. "Mean" Gene interviews The Taskmaster and The Giant, who says that Hulk Hogan dresses in black because he now walks in the shadow of madness and says that there's no goodness left in Hogan. The Giant says he will take the last life of the "red-and-white Bengal Tiger" Hulk Hogan and take the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Hulk Hogan at the entrance ramp. Hulk knows it's the eleventh hour and that he might be boxed in, but he isn't afraid of The Dungeon of Doom (The Taskmaster, The Giant, Kamala, The Shark, The Zodiac, The Yeti). He says that after Halloween Havoc, he just might hang on to the black gloves as everyone knows what a man with black gloves and a black bandanna is capable of. As he takes his neck brace off and throws it down, he says he won't lick his wounds anymore and call his "main man" Tony Carlini at the California Connection and get a big black Harley-Davidson to drag The Giant around with. As for Sting, "Macho Man' Randy Savage and Lex Luger, he tells them all to get in line and decide who's bad enough so he can beat them all one at a time.

This Saturday on WCW Saturday Night: The American Males (Marcus Alexander Bagwell and Scotty Riggs) defend the WCW World Tag Team Championships aganst Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray)! Lex Luger vs. The Shark! Hulk Hogan makes an appearance!

Before the next match, it is revealed that "Das Wunderkind" Alex Wright is on crutches, as he could not get a doctor's release for his injured knee. He is replaced in the match by Mr. J.L. as he watches the match from ringside.

Mr J.L. and Eddie Guerrero beat Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko when "Das Wunderkind" Alex Wright trips up Malenko with one of his crutches while the ref's back is turned. During the match, it is announced that Scott "Flash" Norton is fighting with The Shark backstage, weeks after The Shark inadvertently cost Norton a match. Bunkhouse Buck and "Dirty" Dick Slater try to hold Norton back as The Zodiac tries to keep The Shark at arm's length. After the match, Flyin' Brian rushes out beats up Eddie Guerrero for absolutely no reason, hitting him with a DDT on the concrete floor near the entrance ramp.

Sting and Lex Luger beat Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray). During the match, Sister Sherri is seen looking at Polaroid pictures of herself and Col. Robert Parker. After the match, The Taskmaster and The Giant show up, and The Giant choke slams both Sting and Luger. "Macho Man" Randy Savage shows up to confront The Giant as The Taskmaster runs away, and Hulk Hogan shows up soon after "Macho Man" Randy Savage gets out of the ring so Hulk can confront The Giant himself. Hulk is able to land only two right hands before The Giant lands a clubbing blow, but that only gets Hogan to Hulk up and fight back. The Taskmaster and the rest of the Dungeon of Doom (The Zodiac and The Shark) show up, but Hulk and Savage clean house before a huge rumbling sound can be heard. The block of ice at the entrance ramp breaks, and a giant mummy pops out of it in the final few seconds of the show.

Nitro-Glycerin - Monday Nitro recap for October 9, 1995

It is announced that a restraining order has been issued against The Taskmaster and The Giant, keeping them from entering the building. Sting shows up at the commentary table and says that the tiff between Lex Luger and "Macho Man" Randy Savage needs to change, and says he's going to solve it.

Sting gets a quick win against The Shark with a top rope cross body.

Sabu beats Mr. J.L. with a Camel Clutch after countering a top rope hurricanrana attempt from Mr. J.L. Before the match, future WWE announcer Justin Roberts is clearly caught on camera in the front row. After the match, goes after Mr. J.L. again as if the match never stopped.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Sting and Lex Luger in the ring. Sting calls out "Macho Man" Randy Savage, who shows up. Sting says that The Giant has choke slammed Savage and Hulk Hogan, but Savage wants to know why Luger hasn't suffered the same fate. Sting tells Savage he's paranoid, and says he's jealous because he wants to be WCW World Heavyweight Championship. At Halloween Havoc, Luger faces Meng and Savage faces Kamala. If both Luger and Savage win their respective matches, then both of them should go at it. Luger says Sting is trying to put words in his mouth, causing Sting to question Luger's intentions and tell him he's tired of babysitting him. This causes Luger to tell Savage he'll see him in the ring.

A young man with long, brown hair shows up in a limo and heads to the arena. His name: Chris Benoit.

Disco Inferno dances at the entrance ramp despite not being scheduled for tonight. He is interrupted by Big Bubba's entrance, but keeps dancing while carrying a boombox that plays his entrance theme. He is interrupted again by Road Warrior Hawk's entrance, but Disco Inferno decides it's a good idea to keep dancing. Road Warrior Hawk tries to intimidate him, but Disco Inferno steals a hat off of a kid's head and places it over one of the shoulder spikes of one of Hawk's shoulder pads. Hawk doesn't notice it until he makes it to the ring apron, and Hawk looks back at the entrance ramp to see Disco Inferno pointing and yelling at him. Shortly after the match begins, Disco Inferno gets on the ring apron and dances, and Hawk gets his hands on him, ripping his dress shirt off and beating him up outside of the ring. This causes Big Bubba to beat Road Warrior Hawk by count-out, much to Hawk's chagrin.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Hulk Hogan in the ring. Hulk Hogan shows up without his trademark mustache, and is now wearing all black - tanktop, pants, neck brace, sunglasses, belt, boots and bandanna. The only thing that happens to be its original color is his hair. Jimmy Hart is also wearing all black, and Hulk says he's in all black because the games are over and that it's time to take care of family business and beat The Giant and The Taskmaster at their own game. He calls out The Giant, saying that if he has the guts to come out here, he'll rip the neck brace off and face him. "Mean" Gene tells Hulk that a restraining order has been issued keeping The Taskmaster and The Giant out of the building, but Hulk says the restraining order won't stop The Giant. Hulk says he's in WCW to make Hulkamania grow, and now that the little Hulkamaniacs are redwoods, The Taskmaster wants to cut down the entire forest. He says if The Giant isn't man enough to face him at Halloween Havoc, then they might as well paint graffiti on the Washington Monument. As Hogan continues to speak, the Dungeon of Doom monster truck shows up outside of the arena with the local police trying to stop The Taskmaster, The Giant and The Zodiac. Hulk Hogan doesn't care about the police detail and is more than happy to fight them outside the arena.

Eric Bischoff hears from the local police that Hulk Hogan and The Giant are being kept apart outside of the arena.

Arn Anderson beats Ric Flair when Anderson hits Flair with some tape around his knuckles as Flair goes for the Figure Four Leg Lock. Ric Flair shows up on commentary and rips the headset off of Eric Bischoff's head and challenges Arn Anderson and Flyin' Brian to a match which will become 2-on-1 if he can't find a tag team partner.

Next week: Johnny B. Badd vs. Diamond Dallas Page for the WCW World Television Championship! Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero! "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan vs. Meng!