World Championship Wrestling: The Rebirth

[Halfway House]

(This is going to be a shorter show as I'm testing the format and seeing how I'm going to be posting these. Quite a bit of work has been put into this, though. Expect better work next episode)

February 2nd

THE WAIT - IS - OVER!

Monday Nitro
Venue: Hard Rock Casino Las Vegas, Nevada

Tony Schiavone: "They thought we were dead, they thought they had won but as long as my heart beats, WCW isn't going anywhere and we will FOREVER remain the place where the big boys play! Hello ladies and gentleman my name is Tony Schiavone and tonight I'm here with my broadcast partners Mike Tenay and Scott Hudson and though I've said this many times, TONIGHT will be the greatest night in the history of WCW! After nearly a year off the air we are back and Monday Nitro is coming to you LIVE from the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada! Like the phoenix, we've risen from the ashes and as part of our relaunch, all championships have been vacated. Over the course of the next month, we will see world travelled talents step inside of that squared circle and prove why they deserve championship opportunities when we return to Pay-Per-View next month with WCW Rebirth! Without any more delays, lets get right into the action!"

Opening segment: Hulk Hogan announces that he now owns WCW

It wouldn't take long for the statuesque male donned in black and white to make his way to the ringside area as the NWO theme filled the arena. The last time Hogan was seen, the majority of the crowd couldn't stand him - was he here to do things the right way or was he here to help his friends get over? These were serious questions for sure and perhaps... we'd start to get those answers tonight. "Let me tell you somethin' dudes... we are LIVE from the city that never sleeps, Las Vegas! You all know that the Hulkster's gonna' be in the casino's later tonight hangin' and bangin' with these white trash ring rats in this city and when the Hulkster's done with that, Jack, he's comin' for your wife to put her down for the one, two, three. Ten months ago they said we were done, brother, but just like when I body slammed Andre in the Silverdome the Hulkster's still got some life in these old bones and he's ready to drop the leg on the professional wrestling industry. I couldn't let the WCW name die, I couldn't let this company go to the McMahon's, I did everything I could to keep WCW on the air." The crowd, for whatever reason felt that Hogan was doing this for them, but that may not have been the case. "I didn't do it for you sorry jabroni's, I did it for the Hulkster and you're just along for the ride. I did this to line my pockets and make myself even more famous than I already am, but most importantly, I did this so that bend Vince McMahon over and shove a big boot right up that horse's ass. Now without further ado, lets start this night off with some four way cruiserweight action."

First Match: Kidman vs Rey Mysterio Jr vs Chavo Guerrero Jr vs Low Ki

Important Notes - this match is the debut of Low Ki, who has the potential to grow into a tremendous competitor.

Results: To the surprise of many, after a hard fought victory, Low Ki was able to win in 10:30 after hitting Billy Kidman with a double foot stomp from the top rope!

Backstage Segment: The Reunion heard 'round the world...

Nothing spectacular here, the members of 3 count run into one another and announce that 2002 marks the year of 3 count. To end the segment, they debut a new song "Unattainable love" which was dedicated to Britney Spears, who refused to return any of their phone calls, e-mails or AIM messages.

Match Two: Shawn Stasiak vs Ernest "The Cat" Miller

Results: Ernest Miller picks up the win in 0:50 seconds with a spinning kick. We're not entirely sure what that was, but, Shawn needs to get it together...

Match Three: O'Haire/Palumbo vs KroniK

Results: In 12:50, Sean O'Haire pinned Bryan Clark following a Widowmaker.

Backstage Segment: Welcome to the Whole F'N Show!

This segment began with Vampiro making his way into the locker room. Off camera, a chair was thrown that would have connected with the face of Vampiro. When the camera panned in the direction of the individual who threw the chair, fans would have seen the debuting Rob Van Dam. Why Vampiro of all people to target though? We actually got the answer because RVD took the time to cut a promo while facing the camera. (Bullet points for promo: RVD basically talked up the closure of ECW and how it left many extreme individuals without a home. This changed, however, when Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff and Randy Savage called him and offered a contract to the man now known as Mr. Monday Night. As long as Van Dam is on the WCW roster, nobody is safe.)

Match Four: Lance Storm vs Chris Jericho

Important Facts: After leaving WCW years ago when he felt that he wasn't being used properly, the one and only Chris Jericho makes his return tonight!

Results: This match actually lasted an entire twenty-five minutes and was full of back and forth competition but in the end, Chris Jericho was able to get the submission victory with a Liontamer. For Jericho's sake, we have to hope that his renewed faith in WCW was worth it.

Main Event: Kevin Nash and Scott Hall vs Sting and Diamond Dallas Page

Results: This match lasted twenty minutes and in typical WCW fashion, seemed over-booked. Scott Hall managed to blind the senior official by throwing some white powder (hey yo) in his eyes. This allowed Nash to hit DDP with a low blow before following up with a Jacknife Powerbomb to get the three count. With this victory, Nash could very well be in line for a World Title opportunity at WCW Rebirth.

After the Main Event

Understandably, Sting and DDP were not happy with the outcome of this match, which prompted the two babyface superstars to begin brawling with Hall and Nash. This Brawl went on for several minutes before Sting and DDP were able to get the upper hand of the situation. That didn't last long, however. Three masked individuals managed to jump over the guard rail and hit the squared circle before taking out our heroes, going so far as to leave them lying in pools of their own blood. When the three men removed their masks, it was revealed to be Chris Kanyon, Crowbar and a young newcomer who simply went by 'Tomko'. Something was off, though - these men never attacked Nash and Hall during this invasion. That left one major question to be answered: Were these three men put up to this, or were they acting of their own accord?

Booker's comments: I know you probably expected to see Goldberg, Flair and others on this episode but I don't want to give everything away all at once. Given Tomko's inexperience at the time, I decided to pair him with Kanyon and Crowbar because of his intimidating appearance and in hopes that two seasoned vets can teach the youngster a thing or two. There's still plenty of surprises which we haven't seen yet and you'll get a few more on the next edition of Nitro, which will be in at some point later today. Typing this show up has been fun and using TEW to do this makes it even more cool. I hope you enjoy it!​

 

[Kiffy Lube]

Low Ki and The Cat pickin' up some victories, nice. A lot of it seemed like some older WCW rehash to be fair. Of course, this is the beginnin' and we all know what other superstars you got comin' in the comin' weeks and months that will really shake everythin' up. Hopefully, Kanyon endin' the show means he in line a big push, he had some great matches with Mike Awesome in 2000 that get overshadowed by all the nonsensical bookin' that year had.

 

[Halfway House]

Low Ki and The Cat pickin' up some victories, nice. A lot of it seemed like some older WCW rehash to be fair. Of course, this is the beginnin' and we all know what other superstars you got comin' in the comin' weeks and months that will really shake everythin' up. Hopefully, Kanyon endin' the show means he in line a big push, he had some great matches with Mike Awesome in 2000 that get overshadowed by all the nonsensical bookin' that year had.

Yeah, I want it to have a feeling of familiarity, but not be TOO familiar so it's gonna' take some time to get the formula perfected. Here's hoping that EP 2 turns out really good.

 

[Hidden Blaze]

Loved it, surely getting it right off the bat with the greatest night in WCW line. I always will pop for it. Fun matches, looks like the future is bright for WCW, Brother.

 

[Halfway House]

WCW Monday Nitro

Venue: Madison Square Garden

"Hello ladies and gentleman and welcome to another exciting action-packed episode of WCW Monday Nitro. My name is Tony Schiavone and I'm here alongside my broadcast partners "The Professor" Mike Tenay and Scott Hudson. Last week saw the return of WCW after a ten month hiatus and it was revealed that the collective of Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff and Randy Savage have purchased the company. In the last match of the evening we had Sting and Diamond Dallas page take on the Outsiders in a tag team contest. Now, we all saw Nash and Hall cheat to get the win but what we need to be discussing is the brutal attack that came after the match. Sting and DDP were laid out by three masked men who revealed themselves to be Kanyon, Crowbar and Tomko. We still don't know why this happened but I just got word from the back that Kanyon asked for a live microphone to open the show so I guess we're about to get our answer."

Opening Segment: Kanyon, Tomko and Crowbar have some things to address.

Kanyon: "Every where I go this week, I've been asked the same questions... Why, Chris? Why did you attack Sting and DDP? When they announced that WCW was coming back from the dead the world was so happy. You'd get to see all of your heroes like Sting, DDP, Goldberg and Ric Flar... what about Kanyon? I am one of the best in-ring talents that this company has produced and time and time again, I've been overlooked for people who aren't fit to lace my boots. I've found two of the best workers that I could find: Crowbar and Tomko and together, we're known as the Coalition. We're going to tear this place apart. You don't want to pay attention to me? That's fine, but we're going to make you pay attention to us..."

Segment Two: A young up-and-comer asks for an opportunity

This segment begins in Eric Bischoff's office where the former head of the NWO is looking through paperwork when suddenly there's a knock at the door. When Eric opens the door, he's surprised to find a behemoth standing in the doorway. Six foot three inches tall and every bit of two hundred and sixty pounds, BROCK LESNAR stares down at Bischoff before introducing himself, calling himself the future of WCW and then asking for a singles opportunity tonight. Confused at first, Eric eventually relents and informs Brock that later tonight, he will be facing Reno in his debut match. Eric suggests that Lesnar leaves to change into his ring gear because that match will begin right after this commercial break.

Match One: Reno vs Brock Lesnar

Results: This is a fairly quick contest and Reno isn't able to get much offense in. The match ends in four minutes and five (4:05) seconds via F-5. The winner is the debuting Brock Lesnar!

Match Two: Rey Mysterio Jr and Chavo Guerrero Jr vs Shannon Moore and Shane Helms of 3-Count

Results: Lots of fun cruiserweight action in this one. Rey Mysterio finally gets the win in fifteen (15:00) minutes after connecting with a springboard hurricanrana.

*A graphic is shown on the screen hyping Kanyon vs Diamond Dallas Page for later on tonight. It's made clear that Sting will be in DDP's corner before we head to commercial break*

Segment Three: Mystery attack

When we return from commercial break, we find Sting laid out backstage while many of the backstage employees look on. Nobody is quite sure of who did this, but it's very evident that Sting isn't going to be able to appear in the corner of DDP in tonight's main event.

Match Three: Rob Van Dam vs Vampiro

Results: Per usual, Van Dam is able to kick it into another gear in a way that many of his opponents can't. We see lots of his usual moves such as the Five Star Frog Splash and the Rolling Thunder, but Van Dam puts Vampiro away around the twenty (20:00) minute mark with a Van Terminator. The United States Championship could very well be in this competitor's future.

Post Match Segment: After the bell rang, the theme song of RVD would have begun to play. This was quickly cut off, however, as the lights began to flicker in the arena with the sounds of ravens playing over the PA system.

Match Four: Ernest Miller's Open Challenge

Results: The person to answer the challenge was a local talent (portrayed by Sonjay Dutt). This was a quick contest, ending at the two (2:00) minute mark after a spinning kick. Ernest Miller is your winner!

*We see a vignette hyping the upcoming debut of CM Punk before going to commercial break*

Segment Four: Backstage promo

In this promo, we see two debuting superstars known by Ron Killings and Rodney Mack. The two appear to be a tag team making their way into the company. They make mention of how the 'system' has oppressed their people but soon, people are going to have to learn to accept that Killings and Mack are here and they're going to be your NEXT WCW Tag Team Champions.

Match Five: Lex Luger vs Sean O'Haire

Results: The story here is that O'Haire is one of the talents that WCW wants to build around for their future. This is a pretty standard back and forth brawling match that lasts about twelve (12:00) minutes before O'Haire finally picks up the victory with a Widowmaker. Post match, O'Haire hops on the mic and vows to wipe WCW clean of these antiquated fossils like Lex Luger.

Main Event: Diamond Dallas Page vs Kanyon

Results: As expected, Tomko and Corbar would have gotten involved in this match quite a few times before the senior official finally ejected them from ringside. This worried Kanyon, but it wouldn't stop him from giving his all. It looked like DDP was going to get the win until an attempted clothesline attempt on Kanyon mistakenly connected with the senior official. A debuting BATISTA appeared from under the ring and connected with a sit-out powerbomb on DDP. In twenty two (22:00) minutes, Kanyon defeated DDP via Flatliner.

Post Match: Having had enough of the antics on display by the Coalition, Randy Savage would make an appearance for the first time since the launch of WCW. It is announced that next week, Sting will face Kanyon one-on-one in a steel cage match to ensure that their will be no interference. To make sure that there's no issues with the referee as well, Randy Savage himself will be the special guest referee for the match and the winner of this contest will be the first competitor added to the World Heavyweight Championship match at WCW Rebirth next month.​

 

[Hidden Blaze]

Very very solid show. I love what I'm seeing, and looking forward to see what happens on the next show. Surely with that Main event for next week.

 

[Kiffy Lube]

God damn, we now got some serious direction goin' here. Lesnar and Batista makin' very impactful debuts. Also, interested in this Truth/Mack pairin', I always kind of liked Mack.

Hyped for Kanyon/Sting on the next Nitro as well.