WCW Nitro #9 30th October 1995
Live from the the Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio
Before we get to the usual Nitro opening we of course recap the events of last night’s blockbuster Halloween Havoc event which saw Hulk Hogan retain his championship in the main event against Lex Luger, after the Total Package hesitation on using the title belt as a weapon ultimately cost him the match. Elsewhere the big story was Arn Anderson winning the US Championship by joining up with Brian Pillman and turning on longtime partner Ric Flair. Plus The Radicals victory over Harlem Heat thanks to them using Sherri as a human shield and the other title change which saw Eddie Guerrero defeat DDP after an errant Max Muscle interference. There was plenty more controversy too including Brian Pillman and Randy Savage’s war, The Giant defeating Vader on his debut and The Barbarian returning to help Meng defeat Hawk.
Apocalypse Now
After the video we cut to the usual Nitro opening and announcers Eric Bischoff and Bobby Heenan are about to welcome us to this special 90 minute show when Brian Pillman and new WCW US Champion Arn Anderson storm to the ring! They’re both dressed in jeans and receive a chorus of boos as Bischoff notes they are not scheduled for interview time right now. Pillman however grabs a mic and says: “I’m gonna need all you people to shut the hell up right now because something important is about to happen!” More boos as Pillman continues regardless: “For weeks I’ve been injuring people and sending a message to the so-called big boys of WCW that I am tired of watching you guys come in here and earn massive paychecks while people like me who have been here for years are pushed to the side. And one of those lazy bums called Randy Savagersure learned the hard way last night that messing with the loose cannon will leave you bloodied and beaten, one, two, three! And now I want to introduce my comrade who beat the biggest disappointment of them all Ric Flair last night! Ladie and gentlemen, the new WCW US Champion - Arn Anderson!”
The crowd continues to boo as Arn takes the mic: “For nearly a decade Ric I’ve been your enforcer, I’ve had your back. But now it's my time in the spotlight! You see it's a combination of two things: that battle royale where you wanted me to just give up and Brian Pillman here pointing out how much of a selfish ass you really are! It was never about my career or Barry’s or Tully’s or whoever - it was always about The Nature Boy. So what I did at Halloween Havoc was long overdue and I’m proud to be the United States Champion for the first time in my career. And Ric I hope you see sense and retire because you’re never coming back from the beating we gave you. So Sting, Meng whoever wants to try and take this gold away from me, be my guest because you saw what I did to someone I once considered a friend - imagine what I’d do to an enemy!”
Pillman then grabs the mic: “Now one last thing and this goes out to everyone in World Championship Wrestling. You may have thought that the Four Horsemen were the most dangerous faction to ever set foot in this company but now you’re not looking at the horsemen, you are looking at the Apocalypse!” With that Pillman and Anderson leave through the crowd to more boos. Bischoff and Heenan reflect on what we just heard as its time for our first match to get underway!
WCW Television Championship: Eddie Guerrero © vs Lord Steven Regal
Our opening bout was made last night at Halloween Havoc after Lord Steven Regal who is making his way to the ring first and looking absolutely disgusted with this Ohio audience accepted new TV Champion Eddie Guerrero’s open challenge. The champion comes out next and gets a decent pop, very much still in the white meat babyface era of his career but his exploits have already earned him the respect of the crowd. The bell rings as the two men circle each other and lock up with Regal getting the advantage and hitting Eddie with a side headlock takeover. Guerrero however flips over and locks his Lordship in a seated head scissors before Regal pushes Guerrero off him. As Regal stands up he is nailed with a dropkick and the former tag and TV champion staggers to the outside only to be met with a plancha to the outside from Eddie that wipes him out! Guerrero high fives the fans at ringside as we cut to our first break of the evening.
As we come back Lord Steven Regal is back in control after turning the tide on Eddie and whipping him into the steel steps during the break. Regal has focused on the arm and he’s stomping away at it before locking in an armbar on Eddie. He really wrenches the champ’s arm back but Eddie counters and pins Regal’s shoulders to the mat: one…two…NO! Regal escapes the surprise pin as Guerrero runs to the ropes and springboards off for a cross body but instead gets met with a big knee to the gut. Regal then suplexes Eddie halfway across the ring before locking back onto the arm with some more stomps before executing a hammerlock scoop slam so Eddie crashes down on the arm. Guerrero is screaming in pain as Regal props the arm on the second rope and goes for a running kicks but Eddie uses his free arm to catch the leg! He then gets to his feet and tries to take advantage but Regal responds with a forearm to the face followed up with a stiff European uppercut that almost knocks Eddie out of his boots. Regal covers: one…two…NO!
Guerrero is still alive in this contest! Lord Steven then goes for the Regalplex but Eddie counters and hits his foe with a vertical suplex. Then in the classic Eddie way he rolls through and hits two more to execute the three amigos. He shakes his arm in pain after the move as he covers: one…two…NO! Regal kicks out! Eddie then looks to go to the top rope but he takes too long with the injured arm and Regal grabs him by the arm from the top turnbuckle and arm drags him all the way to the canvas! Lord Steven then grabs Eddie and hits the Regal cutter before covering the champ one…two…three? NO! Somehow Guerrero still manages to kick out. Regal is pissed now and goes for a powerbomb but Eddie counters into a hurricanrana that sends Steven straight into the corner. Eddie then goes for a monkey flip out of the corner but Regal counters, tries a power bomb again but Eddie counters and hits a frankensteiner straight into a pining combo! One…two…three!
Eddie does it, he manages to pin Lord Steven Regal and continue his reign as WCW TV Champion. The challenger rolls to the outside in disbelief that he was caught out like that but as Regal exits the ring DDP and his bodyguard Max Muscle enter the squared circle and Muscle clobbers Eddie from behind! He starts stomping away at Eddie as Dallas watches before Muscle hauls Eddie up, throws him towards DDP who catches the new champ and plants him into the canvas with a Diamond Cutter! DDP grabs the mic and says: “Hey Guerrero you snot-nosed punk! You got lucky last night thanks to my bodyguard here Max Muscle making a dumb decision but pal that ain’t happening again. Because next week Max is gonna make it up to me and bring the TV Championship back to the Diamond Mine! So enjoy your seven days left with the belt because next week the party’s over!” DDP and Muscle leave the fallen Eddie in the ring and Bischoff introduces some unseen footage from Halloween Havoc.
You can’t kill the Macho Man
We cut to some black and white footage of the bloodied Macho Man Randy Savage coming back through the curtain somehow under his own power after his brutal match with Brian Pillman at Halloween Havoc. Savage screams: “Hey cameraman you’re gonna want to hear this!” Savage continues as he stares straight down the barrel of the camera: “Guess what Pillman no matter what you throw at me you cannot kill the Macho Man Randy Savage! I’m going to enter a place, so dark, so disturbing that you’ll wish you were the one with the broken arm Pillman because if you think this is over between me and you, oh yeah, if you think this over when I have blood still running through my veins then you may just be the dumbest man in WCW! So Brian watch your back, look over your shoulder and brace yourself because I’m making it my mission to beat your ass!” Savage then shoves the camera down and walks off as we head to break.
The Giant vs Jim Duggan
As we come back everyone’s favourite patriot ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan is making his way to the ring as the crowd chant ‘USA’ and ‘hooooo’ with the fan favourite. Duggan’s positive demeanour however soon fades because his opponent tonight on Nitro is here - it's the the 7ft plus, 500 pound Giant! The big man made his debut at Halloween Havoc last night and impressively dispatched Vader and now has his sights set on Hacksaw. Giant emotionlessly climbs over the top rope and stares down Duggan as this bout begins. Duggan goes on offence straight away as he tries to shoulder barge Giant a couple of times but the big man simply does not move despite Jim’s efforts. Duggan then adopts the three point stance and charges at Giant but he gets met with a big boot and follows up with a giant leg drop as Bischoff wonders if this could be a shot at Hulk Hogan. That leg drop pretty much crushed Hacksaw but Giant is far from done as he hauls Duggan up and slams him into the canvas. Giant then arrogantly steps on Duggan and walks over him like its nothing as Jim is badly winded by this on the mat. Giant then signals for the chokeslam as Hacksaw eventually staggers to his feet. He grabs Jim by the throat and hauls him up in the air and then turns to all four sides of the arena with Duggan suspended in midair, displaying him like a trophy to the crowd before slamming him into the canvas. Giant then covers: one…two…three!
An easy win for The Giant over a seasoned competitor like Jim Duggan sends an ominous message to the WCW locker room. Giant then grabs Hacksaw and throws him over the top rope like he’s a piece of trash before taking a mic. He speaks: “WCW has never seen anyone like me! I’m seven feet tall, I’m 500 pounds and when I look up and down this company I fear no man! On November 26th its the first ever World War Three match and I’m announcing right now that I am entering this contest. Mark my words there isn’t anyone of my 29 opponents who can throw me over the top rope and Hulk Hogan mark the date December 27th in your calendar because at Starrcade I’m taking the WCW Championship from you!” Giant then leaves the ring after that very direct message to the locker room and Hulk Hogan.
Sonny Onoo makes a promise
We then cut to a video package where the debuting Sonny Onoo steps into frame. The Japanese manager is dressed in a sharp black suit and has a message for the fans of WCW: “World Championship Wrestling is about to witness that the true best wrestlers in the world are not from the United States but the real warriors are from Japan. My name is Sonny Onoo and I am bringing the best wrestlers from the East to take over WCW! The new WCW Women’s division will be dominated by the stars from Japan that I manage and the men of WCW cannot compete with the fierce wrestlers that I have under contract So I am here to put the whole of this company on notice - the Japanese revolution is coming to WCW and there is nothing you can do to stop it!”
Lex Luger speaks
Following this video we cut backstage where Mean Gene is standing by with Lex Luger. Gene commiserates Luger on his loss to Hulk Hogan last night and asks for The Total Package’s thoughts on where it all went wrong for him last night. Luger says: “Well Gene I had a choice last night - when I was holding that WCW Championship belt in my hands. I could take the low road, whack Hulk over the head with the belt and be known as a fraudulent champion or take the high road and well that’s the path I took last night. That path didn’t lead me to the gold but I know by taking the high road I’ll be known as a true champion once again when I get that WCW Championship back. The old Lex Luger would’ve taken that shortcut but I’m proud of myself as I'm sure the fans and my best friend Sting are proud of me for doing the right thing.” Luger looks very regretful despite the ultra babyface promo as he maybe still thinks the low road was the way to go. Okerlund asks what’s next for Lex and Luger replies: “Its real simple Gene - November 26th the first ever World War Three match I’m throwing 29 other men over the top rope of I have to - no matter how big they are - to win that World War Three Match and get my rematch against Hulk Hogan at Starrcade!” Luger then leaves the frame as we cut to break.
Tag Team #1 Contenders Match: Sabu and Mr JL vs Harlem Heat
As we come back the mysterious Sabu and Mr JL are making their way out to the ring fresh off of defeating The Nasty Boys in a falls count anywhere match last week. They have the chance now to go up against new tag champs The Radicals but only if they beat former champs Harlem Heat who make their way out to the ring next. Booker T and Stevie Ray are accompanied by Sherri, who Dean Malenko used as a human shield last night to cunningly win the match for his team. Booker and Stevie looked pissed off and JL is waiting in the ring to start the bout. Booker T is starting for his team and this bout is underway! Booker goes for a lockup to start but JL knows that he doesn’t match up to his opponent’s strength so he grabs Booker’s arm and springs off the ropes looking for an arm drag but Booker just grabs him and slams him down to the mat with authority. JL gets back up quickly but finds himself on the end of some clubbing forearm before Booker whips him into the corner and takes the masked man out with a running boot. He then tags in big brother Stevie and the two whip JL into the ropes, where Sabu blind tags in, but still hit JL with a double backdrop. Stevie goes for a cover on JL but the ref doesn’t count as JL’s not legal! Sabu then comes in for a springboard splash but Ray moves out of the way and Sabu crashes and burns into his own partner. Stevie then goes for a spinebuster but Sabu knocks the big man with a few blows to the head and then counters with a jumping facebuster! Sabu covers: one…two…NO!
Stevie kicks out as Sabu tags JL back in and the two hit a drop toe hold/slingshot leg drop combo to the Heat member. Sherri on the outside urges Stevie on as now JL goes for a moonsault but Stevie counters and rolls out of the way! Ray then grabs his masked foe and plants him a spinebuster and covers: one…two…NO! JL kicks out. Stevie then crawls to the corner and tags in Booker who runs wild on his opponent with a series of clotheslines before nailing him with a Harlem sidekick! JL is then set up for the axe kick but Sabu tries to cut it off only for Stevie to steam in and take out the ECW alumnus with a clothesline. This gives JL time to recover however and duck the kick, and grab Booker and try and nail him with a pile driver but this time Booker counters with a backdrop! Booker then tags in his brother Stevie and the pair hit a double sidewalk slam to JL. Stevie covers: one…two…three? NO! Sabu is in to break up the pin. Sabu then throws Booker to the outside before he and JL then nail Stevie Ray with a double DDT. JL then bends down and Sabu runs and bounces off his back and dives onto Booker T on the outside - except the former tag champ ducks and accidentally nails Sherri! Its like Halloween Havoc all over again for Harlem Heat! Sabu is taken out on the outside and Booker cannot believe it and in a fury goes back into the ring and goes to Harlem sidekick JL but the masked man ducks and Booker nails Stevie by accident! JL capitalises and tosses Booker to the outside and hits a springboard moonsault to Stevie! He covers: one…two…three!
It just gets worse and worse for Harlem Heat. A fuming Booker is checking on Sherri on the outside while Sabu gets back in the ring and has his hand raised alongside his partner. At that moment the music of The Radicals hits and the intense Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit make their way out to the stage. The pair get a mixed reaction as they simply raise their newly won tag belts in the air as Bischoff says we will hear from the champs on Saturday Night to see what they have to say about their actions at Halloween Havoc. Nitro then heads to break as the commentators hype up that we will hear from Hulk Hogan next!
Hulk Hogan addresses the fans
As we come back Mean Gene is standing in the ring and he introduces the WCW Champion Hulk Hogan. The champ comes out to a mostly positive reaction and he poses and grandstands for the fans, looking very pleased with himself after retaining his title last night at Halloween Havoc. Bischoff is of course losing his mind on commentary while Bobby Heenan is just as disgusted as usual with the Hulkster. Okerlund congratulates Hogan on his win last night and asks the champion to reflect on the match. Hogan says: “Well let me tell ya something Mean Gene. The Hulkster was in the fight of his life last night against Lex Luger, and while we may not have seen eye to eye Luger I respect you for doing the right thing last night and not hitting me with the belt. So I know that myself and all the hulkamaniacs out there respect you a little more dude for staying on the straight and narrow and it’ll be my pleasure brother to fight you again for the WCW Championship when the time is right brother.”
Some kind words for Lex there from Hogan but before Gene gets to ask his next question Hulk cuts him off and says: “Now I’ve got something to say to a certain Sonny Onoo who I saw talking trash about the US of A earlier in this show jack. You know Gene that I’ve got the red white and blue flowing through my reigns brother and I don’t stand for people coming to WCW and talking down to this great nation! You talk about the Japanese revolution brother but nobody from any country can claim to have the best wrestlers if they haven’t beaten Hulk Hogan! So Sonny in two weeks on Nitro I’ll take on any of your best Japanese wrestlers and show why they can’t hold a candle to a true American brother!”
Okerlund then has one more question for Hogan - what are his thoughts on the upcoming World War Three match. “Gene I’ve already heard a lot of talk from everyone back there in the locker room that this World War Three match is going to be the biggest WCW has ever seen but I just want every wrestler to know you can go through 29 other men to get to the Hulkster but at Starrcade when the winner has to step into the ring with me for this WCW Championship, the only thing anyone will be saying is whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you!” With that ‘American Made’ plays in the arena and Hogan grandstands and showboats some more with a stern message sent to all involved in the World War Three match.
A Fearsome Challenge
We then cut backstage where The Faces of Fear, Meng and Barbarian, are standing by with Tony Schiavone. Tony asks the fearsome duo about their alliance and Barbarian’s return to WCW. Barbarian replies: “Men like Hawk are weak! They claim to be tough but I’ve come back to WCW because I know real strength when I see it in a man like Meng. So last night I returned to really strike fear into the hearts of the WCW fans and wrestlers - because when you look at me and Meng we are the faces of fear!” Both monsters maniacally laugh until Road Warrior Hawk bursts into frame but already he is surrounded by a gaggle of security guards stopping an all-out war from breaking out. “Hey Barabrain, Meng I fear no man so if you want to get involved in my business then you’ve got a hell of a beating coming to ya! Next week on Nitro its over for you pal!” Barbarian then lunges at Hawk but the security is keeping all three men separate as Tony throws it back to the commentators.
US Championship #1 Contenders Match: Meng vs Sting
The man called Sting makes his way out to the ring next as our main event is about to get underway. The Stinger of course lost his US Championship last night but Arn Anderson never pinned Sting in that three way match with Ric Flair. Sting is in the ring and awaits the arrival of Meng who makes his way down the aisle with the equally impressive Barbarian by his side. Meng gets in the ring and our main event, with a shot at Arn Anderson at World War Three on the line, is underway. The duo lock up and Sting powers Meng into the corner before the ref calls for the break. Sting then calls to the crowd but Meng emerges from the corner like a freight train and decks the Stinger with a big boot which floors the former champion. Meng then mounts Sting and starts pounding away before Sting reverses the momentum and gets on top of Meng. Eventually the duo roll to the outside and start going at it as Bischoff says we have our last commercial break coming up and to stick with the action!
As we return Meng has Sting in a sleeper hold as we see highlights of the break where Meng distracted the referee and The Barbarian battered Sting on the outside and drove him into the steel steps. Meng has got Sting on the ground now in the sleeper but the face painted competitor powers up to his feet and bounces off the corner into a pin on Meng: one…two…NO! The big Tongan kicks out. Sting looks like he’s on the comeback now as he decks Meng with a series of clotheslines before whipping him into the corner and going for a Stinger splash but Meng counters with a chop right to Sting’s throat! The Stinger collapses to his knees coughing which gives Meng a chance to run at him with a big boot to the face that floors his opponent. With Sting on the mat Meng continues to focus on attacking on the throat as he stomps away at Sting while Barbarian looks on impressed at ringside. Bischoff also announces during this match that next week Barbarian will go one on one with Hawk on Nitro as Meng rams Sting into the corner and then chokes him out with his foot. Meng goes for a belly to belly, Sting tries to get out of it with a headbutt but Meng just laughs, headbutts Sting back twice as hard and then delivers the suplex. Meng covers: one…two…NO!
Sting kicks out but the relentless Tongan wastes no time and starts chopping Sting in the throat over and over again! Sting looks to be in deep water here as Meng signals and locks in the Tongan death grip! He has it synched in and Sting is fading here as he falls to his knees. The referee checks Sting’s arm once, it drops, he checks it again, it drops and for the final time Sting’s arm is raised - but there’s still life in the Stinger as the crowd roars in approval! He rises to his feet as Meng tries to synch in the hold harder but Sting starts hammering away at Meng’s skull until he has no choice but to break it! Sting then scoop slams Meng, but the big Tongan gets up only to be whipped into the corner and hit with a Stinger splash! Meng staggers out of the corner and Sting decks him with a lariat before he climbs the ropes! Barbarian looks to be getting involved here and knocks Sting over but LEX LUGER emerges from the back and wipes Barbarian off the apron and encourages his best friend! This gives Meng a chance however to recover and he gets on the second rope and delivers a huge throw to Sting sending him hurtling from the top rope to the canvas! Luger is still cheering his pal on but it's not looking good as Meng looks to lock in the Tongan death grip once more! Sting however counters with a kick to the gut and then small packages Meng! One…two…three!
Sting does it! He beats Meng but the big Tongan is not happy about it and he takes Sting down with a thrust kick! Barbarian then gets back in the ring to join the beatdown but Luger swings back into action to level the odds and goes back and the duos go back and forth. Hawk then emerges from the back armed with a steel chair and he swings wildly and clatters Meng before he and Barbarian start brawling through the crowd, ahead of their encounter next week. The referee finally raises Sting’s hand in the ring and Luger raises his other as the crowd celebrates The Stinger’s victory.
Luger and Sting then hug in the ring and continue to grandstand for the fans but these celebrations are cut short when ARN ANDERSON and BRIAN PILLMAN emerge at the top of the ramp. The newly christened Apocalypse then charge down to ringside and go nose to nose with Sting and Luger before Pillman slaps Luger and an all out brawl breaks out! Sting and Arn Anderson go at it in the ring while Pillman and Luger tumble to the outside and start exchanging shots. Doug Dillenger and the security boys have finally seen enough and a whole hoard of security heads down to ringside to separate the four wrestlers but much to the delight of the crowd all four men start taking down the security and then go back to beating each other! Bischoff screams basically down the mic that WCW Management have confirmed to him that these four will face off in a blockbuster tag title match live next week as extra security comes down to try and calm this situation down! Nitro ends in chaos with the four men being separated as Bischoff hypes up next week.
Card for WCW Nitro #10 November 6th 1995
Live from the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Florida
Main Event: Sting and Lex Luger vs The Apocalypse (Arn Anderson and Brian Pillman)
The Barbarian vs Road Warrior Hawk
WCW TV Championship: Eddie Guerrero © vs Max Muscle
Card for WCW Nitro #11 November 13th 1995
Taped from the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Florida
WCW Championship: Hulk Hogan © vs Sonny Onoo’s handpicked opponent
Card for WCW World War Three November 26th 1995
Live from the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia
30 Man World War Three match for a shot at the WCW Championship at Starrcade: The Giant vs Lex Luger vs Vader vs 27 more competitors to be announced
WCW United States Championship: Arn Anderson © vs Sting
WCW Tag Team Championship: The Radicals (Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko) © vs Sabu and Mr JL
Live from the the Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio
Before we get to the usual Nitro opening we of course recap the events of last night’s blockbuster Halloween Havoc event which saw Hulk Hogan retain his championship in the main event against Lex Luger, after the Total Package hesitation on using the title belt as a weapon ultimately cost him the match. Elsewhere the big story was Arn Anderson winning the US Championship by joining up with Brian Pillman and turning on longtime partner Ric Flair. Plus The Radicals victory over Harlem Heat thanks to them using Sherri as a human shield and the other title change which saw Eddie Guerrero defeat DDP after an errant Max Muscle interference. There was plenty more controversy too including Brian Pillman and Randy Savage’s war, The Giant defeating Vader on his debut and The Barbarian returning to help Meng defeat Hawk.
Apocalypse Now
After the video we cut to the usual Nitro opening and announcers Eric Bischoff and Bobby Heenan are about to welcome us to this special 90 minute show when Brian Pillman and new WCW US Champion Arn Anderson storm to the ring! They’re both dressed in jeans and receive a chorus of boos as Bischoff notes they are not scheduled for interview time right now. Pillman however grabs a mic and says: “I’m gonna need all you people to shut the hell up right now because something important is about to happen!” More boos as Pillman continues regardless: “For weeks I’ve been injuring people and sending a message to the so-called big boys of WCW that I am tired of watching you guys come in here and earn massive paychecks while people like me who have been here for years are pushed to the side. And one of those lazy bums called Randy Savagersure learned the hard way last night that messing with the loose cannon will leave you bloodied and beaten, one, two, three! And now I want to introduce my comrade who beat the biggest disappointment of them all Ric Flair last night! Ladie and gentlemen, the new WCW US Champion - Arn Anderson!”
The crowd continues to boo as Arn takes the mic: “For nearly a decade Ric I’ve been your enforcer, I’ve had your back. But now it's my time in the spotlight! You see it's a combination of two things: that battle royale where you wanted me to just give up and Brian Pillman here pointing out how much of a selfish ass you really are! It was never about my career or Barry’s or Tully’s or whoever - it was always about The Nature Boy. So what I did at Halloween Havoc was long overdue and I’m proud to be the United States Champion for the first time in my career. And Ric I hope you see sense and retire because you’re never coming back from the beating we gave you. So Sting, Meng whoever wants to try and take this gold away from me, be my guest because you saw what I did to someone I once considered a friend - imagine what I’d do to an enemy!”
Pillman then grabs the mic: “Now one last thing and this goes out to everyone in World Championship Wrestling. You may have thought that the Four Horsemen were the most dangerous faction to ever set foot in this company but now you’re not looking at the horsemen, you are looking at the Apocalypse!” With that Pillman and Anderson leave through the crowd to more boos. Bischoff and Heenan reflect on what we just heard as its time for our first match to get underway!
WCW Television Championship: Eddie Guerrero © vs Lord Steven Regal
Our opening bout was made last night at Halloween Havoc after Lord Steven Regal who is making his way to the ring first and looking absolutely disgusted with this Ohio audience accepted new TV Champion Eddie Guerrero’s open challenge. The champion comes out next and gets a decent pop, very much still in the white meat babyface era of his career but his exploits have already earned him the respect of the crowd. The bell rings as the two men circle each other and lock up with Regal getting the advantage and hitting Eddie with a side headlock takeover. Guerrero however flips over and locks his Lordship in a seated head scissors before Regal pushes Guerrero off him. As Regal stands up he is nailed with a dropkick and the former tag and TV champion staggers to the outside only to be met with a plancha to the outside from Eddie that wipes him out! Guerrero high fives the fans at ringside as we cut to our first break of the evening.
As we come back Lord Steven Regal is back in control after turning the tide on Eddie and whipping him into the steel steps during the break. Regal has focused on the arm and he’s stomping away at it before locking in an armbar on Eddie. He really wrenches the champ’s arm back but Eddie counters and pins Regal’s shoulders to the mat: one…two…NO! Regal escapes the surprise pin as Guerrero runs to the ropes and springboards off for a cross body but instead gets met with a big knee to the gut. Regal then suplexes Eddie halfway across the ring before locking back onto the arm with some more stomps before executing a hammerlock scoop slam so Eddie crashes down on the arm. Guerrero is screaming in pain as Regal props the arm on the second rope and goes for a running kicks but Eddie uses his free arm to catch the leg! He then gets to his feet and tries to take advantage but Regal responds with a forearm to the face followed up with a stiff European uppercut that almost knocks Eddie out of his boots. Regal covers: one…two…NO!
Guerrero is still alive in this contest! Lord Steven then goes for the Regalplex but Eddie counters and hits his foe with a vertical suplex. Then in the classic Eddie way he rolls through and hits two more to execute the three amigos. He shakes his arm in pain after the move as he covers: one…two…NO! Regal kicks out! Eddie then looks to go to the top rope but he takes too long with the injured arm and Regal grabs him by the arm from the top turnbuckle and arm drags him all the way to the canvas! Lord Steven then grabs Eddie and hits the Regal cutter before covering the champ one…two…three? NO! Somehow Guerrero still manages to kick out. Regal is pissed now and goes for a powerbomb but Eddie counters into a hurricanrana that sends Steven straight into the corner. Eddie then goes for a monkey flip out of the corner but Regal counters, tries a power bomb again but Eddie counters and hits a frankensteiner straight into a pining combo! One…two…three!
Winner in 11 minutes (including commercials) and still WCW TV Champion, Eddie Guerrero
Eddie does it, he manages to pin Lord Steven Regal and continue his reign as WCW TV Champion. The challenger rolls to the outside in disbelief that he was caught out like that but as Regal exits the ring DDP and his bodyguard Max Muscle enter the squared circle and Muscle clobbers Eddie from behind! He starts stomping away at Eddie as Dallas watches before Muscle hauls Eddie up, throws him towards DDP who catches the new champ and plants him into the canvas with a Diamond Cutter! DDP grabs the mic and says: “Hey Guerrero you snot-nosed punk! You got lucky last night thanks to my bodyguard here Max Muscle making a dumb decision but pal that ain’t happening again. Because next week Max is gonna make it up to me and bring the TV Championship back to the Diamond Mine! So enjoy your seven days left with the belt because next week the party’s over!” DDP and Muscle leave the fallen Eddie in the ring and Bischoff introduces some unseen footage from Halloween Havoc.
You can’t kill the Macho Man
We cut to some black and white footage of the bloodied Macho Man Randy Savage coming back through the curtain somehow under his own power after his brutal match with Brian Pillman at Halloween Havoc. Savage screams: “Hey cameraman you’re gonna want to hear this!” Savage continues as he stares straight down the barrel of the camera: “Guess what Pillman no matter what you throw at me you cannot kill the Macho Man Randy Savage! I’m going to enter a place, so dark, so disturbing that you’ll wish you were the one with the broken arm Pillman because if you think this is over between me and you, oh yeah, if you think this over when I have blood still running through my veins then you may just be the dumbest man in WCW! So Brian watch your back, look over your shoulder and brace yourself because I’m making it my mission to beat your ass!” Savage then shoves the camera down and walks off as we head to break.
The Giant vs Jim Duggan
As we come back everyone’s favourite patriot ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan is making his way to the ring as the crowd chant ‘USA’ and ‘hooooo’ with the fan favourite. Duggan’s positive demeanour however soon fades because his opponent tonight on Nitro is here - it's the the 7ft plus, 500 pound Giant! The big man made his debut at Halloween Havoc last night and impressively dispatched Vader and now has his sights set on Hacksaw. Giant emotionlessly climbs over the top rope and stares down Duggan as this bout begins. Duggan goes on offence straight away as he tries to shoulder barge Giant a couple of times but the big man simply does not move despite Jim’s efforts. Duggan then adopts the three point stance and charges at Giant but he gets met with a big boot and follows up with a giant leg drop as Bischoff wonders if this could be a shot at Hulk Hogan. That leg drop pretty much crushed Hacksaw but Giant is far from done as he hauls Duggan up and slams him into the canvas. Giant then arrogantly steps on Duggan and walks over him like its nothing as Jim is badly winded by this on the mat. Giant then signals for the chokeslam as Hacksaw eventually staggers to his feet. He grabs Jim by the throat and hauls him up in the air and then turns to all four sides of the arena with Duggan suspended in midair, displaying him like a trophy to the crowd before slamming him into the canvas. Giant then covers: one…two…three!
Winner in three minutes, The Giant
An easy win for The Giant over a seasoned competitor like Jim Duggan sends an ominous message to the WCW locker room. Giant then grabs Hacksaw and throws him over the top rope like he’s a piece of trash before taking a mic. He speaks: “WCW has never seen anyone like me! I’m seven feet tall, I’m 500 pounds and when I look up and down this company I fear no man! On November 26th its the first ever World War Three match and I’m announcing right now that I am entering this contest. Mark my words there isn’t anyone of my 29 opponents who can throw me over the top rope and Hulk Hogan mark the date December 27th in your calendar because at Starrcade I’m taking the WCW Championship from you!” Giant then leaves the ring after that very direct message to the locker room and Hulk Hogan.
Sonny Onoo makes a promise
We then cut to a video package where the debuting Sonny Onoo steps into frame. The Japanese manager is dressed in a sharp black suit and has a message for the fans of WCW: “World Championship Wrestling is about to witness that the true best wrestlers in the world are not from the United States but the real warriors are from Japan. My name is Sonny Onoo and I am bringing the best wrestlers from the East to take over WCW! The new WCW Women’s division will be dominated by the stars from Japan that I manage and the men of WCW cannot compete with the fierce wrestlers that I have under contract So I am here to put the whole of this company on notice - the Japanese revolution is coming to WCW and there is nothing you can do to stop it!”
Lex Luger speaks
Following this video we cut backstage where Mean Gene is standing by with Lex Luger. Gene commiserates Luger on his loss to Hulk Hogan last night and asks for The Total Package’s thoughts on where it all went wrong for him last night. Luger says: “Well Gene I had a choice last night - when I was holding that WCW Championship belt in my hands. I could take the low road, whack Hulk over the head with the belt and be known as a fraudulent champion or take the high road and well that’s the path I took last night. That path didn’t lead me to the gold but I know by taking the high road I’ll be known as a true champion once again when I get that WCW Championship back. The old Lex Luger would’ve taken that shortcut but I’m proud of myself as I'm sure the fans and my best friend Sting are proud of me for doing the right thing.” Luger looks very regretful despite the ultra babyface promo as he maybe still thinks the low road was the way to go. Okerlund asks what’s next for Lex and Luger replies: “Its real simple Gene - November 26th the first ever World War Three match I’m throwing 29 other men over the top rope of I have to - no matter how big they are - to win that World War Three Match and get my rematch against Hulk Hogan at Starrcade!” Luger then leaves the frame as we cut to break.
Tag Team #1 Contenders Match: Sabu and Mr JL vs Harlem Heat
As we come back the mysterious Sabu and Mr JL are making their way out to the ring fresh off of defeating The Nasty Boys in a falls count anywhere match last week. They have the chance now to go up against new tag champs The Radicals but only if they beat former champs Harlem Heat who make their way out to the ring next. Booker T and Stevie Ray are accompanied by Sherri, who Dean Malenko used as a human shield last night to cunningly win the match for his team. Booker and Stevie looked pissed off and JL is waiting in the ring to start the bout. Booker T is starting for his team and this bout is underway! Booker goes for a lockup to start but JL knows that he doesn’t match up to his opponent’s strength so he grabs Booker’s arm and springs off the ropes looking for an arm drag but Booker just grabs him and slams him down to the mat with authority. JL gets back up quickly but finds himself on the end of some clubbing forearm before Booker whips him into the corner and takes the masked man out with a running boot. He then tags in big brother Stevie and the two whip JL into the ropes, where Sabu blind tags in, but still hit JL with a double backdrop. Stevie goes for a cover on JL but the ref doesn’t count as JL’s not legal! Sabu then comes in for a springboard splash but Ray moves out of the way and Sabu crashes and burns into his own partner. Stevie then goes for a spinebuster but Sabu knocks the big man with a few blows to the head and then counters with a jumping facebuster! Sabu covers: one…two…NO!
Stevie kicks out as Sabu tags JL back in and the two hit a drop toe hold/slingshot leg drop combo to the Heat member. Sherri on the outside urges Stevie on as now JL goes for a moonsault but Stevie counters and rolls out of the way! Ray then grabs his masked foe and plants him a spinebuster and covers: one…two…NO! JL kicks out. Stevie then crawls to the corner and tags in Booker who runs wild on his opponent with a series of clotheslines before nailing him with a Harlem sidekick! JL is then set up for the axe kick but Sabu tries to cut it off only for Stevie to steam in and take out the ECW alumnus with a clothesline. This gives JL time to recover however and duck the kick, and grab Booker and try and nail him with a pile driver but this time Booker counters with a backdrop! Booker then tags in his brother Stevie and the pair hit a double sidewalk slam to JL. Stevie covers: one…two…three? NO! Sabu is in to break up the pin. Sabu then throws Booker to the outside before he and JL then nail Stevie Ray with a double DDT. JL then bends down and Sabu runs and bounces off his back and dives onto Booker T on the outside - except the former tag champ ducks and accidentally nails Sherri! Its like Halloween Havoc all over again for Harlem Heat! Sabu is taken out on the outside and Booker cannot believe it and in a fury goes back into the ring and goes to Harlem sidekick JL but the masked man ducks and Booker nails Stevie by accident! JL capitalises and tosses Booker to the outside and hits a springboard moonsault to Stevie! He covers: one…two…three!
Winners in eight minutes, Sabu and Mr JL
It just gets worse and worse for Harlem Heat. A fuming Booker is checking on Sherri on the outside while Sabu gets back in the ring and has his hand raised alongside his partner. At that moment the music of The Radicals hits and the intense Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit make their way out to the stage. The pair get a mixed reaction as they simply raise their newly won tag belts in the air as Bischoff says we will hear from the champs on Saturday Night to see what they have to say about their actions at Halloween Havoc. Nitro then heads to break as the commentators hype up that we will hear from Hulk Hogan next!
Hulk Hogan addresses the fans
As we come back Mean Gene is standing in the ring and he introduces the WCW Champion Hulk Hogan. The champ comes out to a mostly positive reaction and he poses and grandstands for the fans, looking very pleased with himself after retaining his title last night at Halloween Havoc. Bischoff is of course losing his mind on commentary while Bobby Heenan is just as disgusted as usual with the Hulkster. Okerlund congratulates Hogan on his win last night and asks the champion to reflect on the match. Hogan says: “Well let me tell ya something Mean Gene. The Hulkster was in the fight of his life last night against Lex Luger, and while we may not have seen eye to eye Luger I respect you for doing the right thing last night and not hitting me with the belt. So I know that myself and all the hulkamaniacs out there respect you a little more dude for staying on the straight and narrow and it’ll be my pleasure brother to fight you again for the WCW Championship when the time is right brother.”
Some kind words for Lex there from Hogan but before Gene gets to ask his next question Hulk cuts him off and says: “Now I’ve got something to say to a certain Sonny Onoo who I saw talking trash about the US of A earlier in this show jack. You know Gene that I’ve got the red white and blue flowing through my reigns brother and I don’t stand for people coming to WCW and talking down to this great nation! You talk about the Japanese revolution brother but nobody from any country can claim to have the best wrestlers if they haven’t beaten Hulk Hogan! So Sonny in two weeks on Nitro I’ll take on any of your best Japanese wrestlers and show why they can’t hold a candle to a true American brother!”
Okerlund then has one more question for Hogan - what are his thoughts on the upcoming World War Three match. “Gene I’ve already heard a lot of talk from everyone back there in the locker room that this World War Three match is going to be the biggest WCW has ever seen but I just want every wrestler to know you can go through 29 other men to get to the Hulkster but at Starrcade when the winner has to step into the ring with me for this WCW Championship, the only thing anyone will be saying is whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you!” With that ‘American Made’ plays in the arena and Hogan grandstands and showboats some more with a stern message sent to all involved in the World War Three match.
A Fearsome Challenge
We then cut backstage where The Faces of Fear, Meng and Barbarian, are standing by with Tony Schiavone. Tony asks the fearsome duo about their alliance and Barbarian’s return to WCW. Barbarian replies: “Men like Hawk are weak! They claim to be tough but I’ve come back to WCW because I know real strength when I see it in a man like Meng. So last night I returned to really strike fear into the hearts of the WCW fans and wrestlers - because when you look at me and Meng we are the faces of fear!” Both monsters maniacally laugh until Road Warrior Hawk bursts into frame but already he is surrounded by a gaggle of security guards stopping an all-out war from breaking out. “Hey Barabrain, Meng I fear no man so if you want to get involved in my business then you’ve got a hell of a beating coming to ya! Next week on Nitro its over for you pal!” Barbarian then lunges at Hawk but the security is keeping all three men separate as Tony throws it back to the commentators.
US Championship #1 Contenders Match: Meng vs Sting
The man called Sting makes his way out to the ring next as our main event is about to get underway. The Stinger of course lost his US Championship last night but Arn Anderson never pinned Sting in that three way match with Ric Flair. Sting is in the ring and awaits the arrival of Meng who makes his way down the aisle with the equally impressive Barbarian by his side. Meng gets in the ring and our main event, with a shot at Arn Anderson at World War Three on the line, is underway. The duo lock up and Sting powers Meng into the corner before the ref calls for the break. Sting then calls to the crowd but Meng emerges from the corner like a freight train and decks the Stinger with a big boot which floors the former champion. Meng then mounts Sting and starts pounding away before Sting reverses the momentum and gets on top of Meng. Eventually the duo roll to the outside and start going at it as Bischoff says we have our last commercial break coming up and to stick with the action!
As we return Meng has Sting in a sleeper hold as we see highlights of the break where Meng distracted the referee and The Barbarian battered Sting on the outside and drove him into the steel steps. Meng has got Sting on the ground now in the sleeper but the face painted competitor powers up to his feet and bounces off the corner into a pin on Meng: one…two…NO! The big Tongan kicks out. Sting looks like he’s on the comeback now as he decks Meng with a series of clotheslines before whipping him into the corner and going for a Stinger splash but Meng counters with a chop right to Sting’s throat! The Stinger collapses to his knees coughing which gives Meng a chance to run at him with a big boot to the face that floors his opponent. With Sting on the mat Meng continues to focus on attacking on the throat as he stomps away at Sting while Barbarian looks on impressed at ringside. Bischoff also announces during this match that next week Barbarian will go one on one with Hawk on Nitro as Meng rams Sting into the corner and then chokes him out with his foot. Meng goes for a belly to belly, Sting tries to get out of it with a headbutt but Meng just laughs, headbutts Sting back twice as hard and then delivers the suplex. Meng covers: one…two…NO!
Sting kicks out but the relentless Tongan wastes no time and starts chopping Sting in the throat over and over again! Sting looks to be in deep water here as Meng signals and locks in the Tongan death grip! He has it synched in and Sting is fading here as he falls to his knees. The referee checks Sting’s arm once, it drops, he checks it again, it drops and for the final time Sting’s arm is raised - but there’s still life in the Stinger as the crowd roars in approval! He rises to his feet as Meng tries to synch in the hold harder but Sting starts hammering away at Meng’s skull until he has no choice but to break it! Sting then scoop slams Meng, but the big Tongan gets up only to be whipped into the corner and hit with a Stinger splash! Meng staggers out of the corner and Sting decks him with a lariat before he climbs the ropes! Barbarian looks to be getting involved here and knocks Sting over but LEX LUGER emerges from the back and wipes Barbarian off the apron and encourages his best friend! This gives Meng a chance however to recover and he gets on the second rope and delivers a huge throw to Sting sending him hurtling from the top rope to the canvas! Luger is still cheering his pal on but it's not looking good as Meng looks to lock in the Tongan death grip once more! Sting however counters with a kick to the gut and then small packages Meng! One…two…three!
Winner in 13 minutes (including commercials) Sting
Sting does it! He beats Meng but the big Tongan is not happy about it and he takes Sting down with a thrust kick! Barbarian then gets back in the ring to join the beatdown but Luger swings back into action to level the odds and goes back and the duos go back and forth. Hawk then emerges from the back armed with a steel chair and he swings wildly and clatters Meng before he and Barbarian start brawling through the crowd, ahead of their encounter next week. The referee finally raises Sting’s hand in the ring and Luger raises his other as the crowd celebrates The Stinger’s victory.
Luger and Sting then hug in the ring and continue to grandstand for the fans but these celebrations are cut short when ARN ANDERSON and BRIAN PILLMAN emerge at the top of the ramp. The newly christened Apocalypse then charge down to ringside and go nose to nose with Sting and Luger before Pillman slaps Luger and an all out brawl breaks out! Sting and Arn Anderson go at it in the ring while Pillman and Luger tumble to the outside and start exchanging shots. Doug Dillenger and the security boys have finally seen enough and a whole hoard of security heads down to ringside to separate the four wrestlers but much to the delight of the crowd all four men start taking down the security and then go back to beating each other! Bischoff screams basically down the mic that WCW Management have confirmed to him that these four will face off in a blockbuster tag title match live next week as extra security comes down to try and calm this situation down! Nitro ends in chaos with the four men being separated as Bischoff hypes up next week.
Card for WCW Nitro #10 November 6th 1995
Live from the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Florida
Main Event: Sting and Lex Luger vs The Apocalypse (Arn Anderson and Brian Pillman)
The Barbarian vs Road Warrior Hawk
WCW TV Championship: Eddie Guerrero © vs Max Muscle
Card for WCW Nitro #11 November 13th 1995
Taped from the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Florida
WCW Championship: Hulk Hogan © vs Sonny Onoo’s handpicked opponent
Card for WCW World War Three November 26th 1995
Live from the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia
30 Man World War Three match for a shot at the WCW Championship at Starrcade: The Giant vs Lex Luger vs Vader vs 27 more competitors to be announced
WCW United States Championship: Arn Anderson © vs Sting
WCW Tag Team Championship: The Radicals (Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko) © vs Sabu and Mr JL