1996 Monday Night Nitro Results

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WCW @ Atlanta, GA - Omni - January 1, 1996
Monday Nitro - featured the announcement that Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Scotty Riggs would face Arn Anderson & Brian Pillman and Lex Luger would face Cobra on WCW Saturday Night; included Gene Okerlund conducting an interview in the aisle with the Giant & Jimmy Hart regarding Hulk Hogan, during which footage was shown of Hogan assaulting the Giant with a chair during the Dec. 18 Nitro; featured the announcement that the Clash of the Chamipions would be held Jan. 23 in Las Vegas, NV:
Randy Savage pinned Arn Anderson at 6:55 after hitting Anderson with Anderson's own foreign object as referee Randy Anderson was knocked down and then putting the weapon back in Anderson's trunks; during the bout, Eric Bischoff announced that WWF Tag Team Champions the Smoking Gunns won the Raw Bowl during the previously taped Monday Night Raw airing in opposition; after the bout, Brian Pillman and Chris Benoit came out to dispute the call and tend to Anderson
Lord Steven Regal (w/ Jeeves) pinned Chris Benoit at 5:42 after Benoit missed a plancha to the floor and Regal rolled him back in the ring for the win; prior to the bout, Bischoff again said the Gunns had won the WWF's Raw Bowl on Monday Night Raw; during the bout, Hank Aaron was shown in attendance; after the contest, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Benoit, Pillman, and Anderson in which Pillman dressed down Benoit and Anderson for losing their matches days after Ric Flair won the WCW World Title; moments later, Anderson told Pillman he was starting fights the Horsemen didn't need to be fighting; Kevin Sullivan, the Zodiac, the Giant, and Jimmy Hart then appeared in the aisle, with the Giant and Hart holding the others back from fighting the Horsemen
Sting & Lex Luger defeated the Super Assassins (the Warlord & Barbarian) (w/ Col. Rob Parker) at 5:52 when Sting put Barbarian in the Scorpion Deathlock as Luger put the Warlord in the Torture Rack; during the bout, Bobby Heenan alluded that Parker would propose to Sister Sherri the coming weekend on WCW Saturday Night
Hulk Hogan defeated WCW World Champion Ric Flair via disqualification at 7:55 when Hogan knocked down an interfering Arn Anderson and pulled Anderson's foreign object out of his own trunks, moments after Hogan knocked an interfering Jimmy Hart off the apron; after the bout, the Giant appeared as Hogan had Flair, Anderson, Chris Benoit, and Brian Pillman begging off; as the Giant attempted to assault the Giant with a stool, Randy Savage came out, grabbed the stool away, and helped clear the ring; moments later, Zodiac kept the Giant from going back to the ring - despite Sullivan's orders - by saying "Friend" and "Hurt" toward Hogan and Savage; after the commercial break, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Hogan and Savage in which Hogan challenged Flair & Anderson for a tag team match the following week and Savage alluded to having a secret weapon in their arsenol; Hogan was booed during the segment
WCW @ Charleston, SC - January 8, 1996
Monday Nitro - featured Gene Okerlund conducting an interview in the aisle with Sting and Lex Luger in which Sting questioned Luger's actions at Starrcade that cost him the triangle match, with Luger asking Sting to be his tag team partner at the Clash of the Champions so he could prove he was on Sting's side, with Sting agreeing; prior to the interview, Okerlund alluded to the WWF hiring new talent that is almost old enough for Social Security:
Chris Benoit (w/ Brian Pillman) pinned Alex Wright with a punch to the face and the dragon suplex at 6:40; during the bout, Eric Bischoff made note of the WWF raising their pay-per-view prices from $24.95 to $29.95
Eddie Guerrero pinned Lord Steven Regal (w/ Jeeves) with a backslide at 8:08; during the bout, Bischoff referred to the WWF's Royal Rumble as the "Royal Fumble;" after the bout, Regal attacked Guerrero until Guerrero slid to the floor
Sting defeated Diamond Dallas Page via submission with the Scorpion Deathlock at 6:20 after avoiding a back suplex attempt; prior to the bout, it was announced WCW Saturday Night the following weekend would include the second part of an interview with Mike Ditka and WCW World Champion Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage
Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage defeated WCW World Champion Ric Flair & Arn Anderson at around the 15-minute mark when Hogan pinned Anderson with the boot to the face and legdrop; immediately after the fall, Chris Benoit, Brian Pillman, Kevin Sullivan, and the Zoadiac came ringside and brawled against each other while the Giant climbed in the ring and hit chokeslams on both Hogan and Savage; moments later, Zodiac climbed in the ring and held the Giant off from inflicting more punishment; during the bout, it was announced Savage would face Lex Luger and Hogan would face Meng the following week in Miami
WCW @ Miami, FL - Knight Center - January 15, 1996
Monday Nitro - featured Gene Okerlund conducting an impromptu in-ring interview with the Four Horsemen - WCW World Champion Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Brian Pillman, & Chris Benoit and the Dungeon of Doom - Kevin Sullivan, the Giant, Zodiac, WCW US Champion the One Man Gang, Hugh Morrus, and Jimmy Hart in which Anderson said the scheduled match with he and Pillman vs. Sullivan & Morrus was off and the war between the Horsemen and the Dungeon of Doom could not be won so it wouldn't happen; Sullivan then said he respected Flair so much that he would let Flair team with the Giant at the Clash of the Champions but had no respect for Pillman; moments later, Pillman mouthed off, with Anderson then slapping him across the face; included the announcement that Sting & Lex Luger would face WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat on WCW Saturday Night and that the show would include a special interview with Jim Belushi:
Lex Luger defeated Randy Savage via KO with the Torture Rack at 5:10 after avoiding the flying elbowsmash; prior to the bout, it was announced Savage would receive a title shot the following week against the winner of the WCW World Title match later in the show; several fans chanted "Luger" during the contest
Public Enemy defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Scotty Riggs at 3:28 when Johnny Grunge pinned Bagwell with a roll up after Rocco Rock hit Bagwell in the back behind the referee's back; after the contest, Rock hit a somersault splash off the top to the floor onto Bagwell and through two wooden tables stacked ontop of each other (Public Enemy's surprise debut)
WCW World Champion Ric Flair (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Sting with the figure-4 at around the 12-minute mark when, after Lex Luger came out to pull Hart off the apron, Sting knocked himself out while hitting a Stinger Splash in the corner and hitting his head on Hart's megaphone as Luger and Hart were near the corner; during the bout, it was announced Sting & Lex Luger would face WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat the following week; after the contest, Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage appeared and cleared Flair, Hart, and Luger from ringside; moments later, Hogan and Savage told Sting that Luger was continuing to cost him matches, with Sting going backstage to find Luger; moments later, Hogan cut a promo on he and Savage facing Flair & the Giant at the Clash and then took issue with Savage getting a title shot ahead of him, considering Savage lost his match to Luger and that Hogan was healthy while Savage wasn't
Hulk Hogan pinned Meng (w/ Kevin Sullivan) at 4:41 after hitting him with his own spike after Randy Savage came out to counter the interference of Sullivan
WCW @ Las Vegas, NV - Caesar's Palace - January 22, 1996
Monday Nitro - featured a segment where Mexican Heavyweight Champion Konnan interrupted the opening comments at the commentary table to cut a promo on his title defense the following night at the Clash of the Champions against Psychosis (Konnan's surprise return after a 5-year absence); included the announcement that Sting & Lex Luger would be in tag team action, WCW TV Champion Johnny B. Badd would face Meng, Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Scotty Riggs would face Harlem Heat, and WCW World Champion Ric Flair would face Alex Wright on WCW Saturday Night:
Randy Savage pinned WCW World Champion Ric Flair (w/ Jimmy Hart) to win the title at 8:35 with the flying elbowsmash after Arn Anderson appeared and accidentally hit the champion with a pair of brass knuckles, with Hulk Hogan then appearing, pulling Anderson off the apron, and fighting with him as Savage scored the pin; prior to the bout, Gene Okerlund conducted an interview with Savage in the aisle in which Hogan interrupted and said if Savage won the title then he wanted the first shot; during the ring entrances, it was announced Elizabeth and Kevin Greene would be in Hogan & Savage's corner the following night at the Clash of the Champions; during the match, it was announced the Road Warriors would return to WCW by also appearing at the Clash; prior to the contest, Savage was escorted to the ring by several women, including Woman, Linda Bollea, Debra McMichael, and others; early in the bout, Flair attempted to dance with Woman at ringside until she slapped him across the face; of the women in Savage's corner, only Woman was referred to by name; after the contest, Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Savage and Hogan in which Hogan again challenged Savage to a title shot; Savage said that would have to be decided by WCW President Nick Bockwinkel but then said he wanted the match at Caesar's Palace; Hogan was booed during the segment (Woman's surprise return after a 5-year absence) (Macho Madness: The Ultimate Randy Savage Collection)
Brian Pillman pinned Dean Malenko at 6:20 after Malenko's leg became entangled in the ring ropes ([ http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000GG4XWY/thhiofww-20 Brian Pillman: Loose Cannon])
Sting & Lex Luger defeated WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat to win the titles at 9:33 when Luger pinned Booker T after Jimmy Hart appeared during the final moments and gave Luger a roll of silver dollars, who then hit Booker with it behind the back of referee Nick Patrick
Hulk Hogan pinned WCW US Champion the One Man Gang in a non-title match with the legdrop at 3:03; after the bout, Hogan and WCW World Champion Randy Savage fought off Chris Benoit, the Zodiac, Arn Anderson, and the Gang as the remainder of the Horsemen and Dungeon of Doom surrounded the ring and held back the Giant; moments later, Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Hogan and Savage regarding a possible title match between the two and having Kevin Greene and Elizabeth in their corner the following night
WCW @ Canton, OH - Civic Center - January 29, 1996
Monday Nitro - featured the announcement that Dean Malenko would face Ric Flair, Lex Luger would face Eddie Guerrero, and Kevin Sullivan, Sting, and the Public Enemy would be in action on WCW Saturday Night; included Gene Okerlund conducting an in-ring interview with Kevin Sullivan, with Hugh Morrus, in which Sullivan mentioned Arn Anderson, with Anderson and Brian Pillman then appearing; Sullivan then said he and Anderson made a pact and he wanted to make sure Anderson kept his end of the bargain by keeping Pillman in line; Anderson then began to discipline Pillman until Sullivan and Morrus jumped Anderson from behind, with Sullivan then whipping Pillman across the back; Anderson eventually dropped Morrus with the DDT inside the ring and then shoved Sullivan away from Pillman on the floor; Okerlund then interviewed Anderson, with Anderson saying the Horsemen police themselves and then demanded a match with Sullivan and Morrus; Pillman then told Anderson he got them into the mess and he would get them out:
Ric Flair (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Hulk Hogan (w/ Elizabeth) at around the 13-minute mark after hitting Hogan in the eye with one of Elizabeth's high heel shoes, stolen by Hart and Arn Anderson, who appeared ringside during the final moments of the contest; prior to the bout, Hogan was escorted to the ring by Woman, Debra McMichael, and Linda Bollea, though only Woman was referred to by name; after the bout, WCW World Champion Randy Savage came out to tend to Hogan, along with Elizabeth
The Road Warriors defeated Meng & the Barbarian at 9:06 when Road Warrior Hawk pinned the Barbarian with a clothesline off the top as Barbarian attempted a piledriver on Road Warrior Animal (the Road Warriors' return match after a 6-year absence)
Sister Sherri pinned Madusa at 1:48 by reversing a bodyslam off the top into a cradle; prior to the bout, Okerlund attempted an in-ring interview with Sherri regarding Madusa ruining her wedding at the Clash of the Champions until Madusa attacked Sherri from behind; after the contest, Madusa knocked Sherri out with a back suplex and continued to assault her until referees forced her away; during the attack, Eric Bischoff said Madusa could have stayed in the WWF and been successful in the men's division (Madusa's in-ring return after a 4-year absence)
The Giant defeated WCW World Champion Randy Savage via disqualification at the 28-second mark when Savage came out of the crowd and attacked the challenger from behind with the title belt before putting him in a sleeper; prior to the bout, Woman, Linda Bollea, Debra McMichael, and Elizabeth appeared and waved for Savage to come out of the entranceway, with Savage then jumping the Giant from behind; after the contest, Ric Flair came ringside and assaulted Savage around ringside and knocked out the referee; Flair and the Giant then took turns double teaming Savage with the Giant dropping Savage with the chokeslam; moments later, Giant attempted the move a second time until Hulk Hogan, his eye heavily bandaged, knocked the Giant to the floor with a steel chair before fending Hugh Morrus, Meng, WCW US Champion the One Man Gang, Kevin Sullivan, and Jimmy Hart from the ring; Flair, Giant, and Jimmy Hart then appeared at the commentary table with Flair and Giant cutting a promo on their upcoming steel cage matches with Hogan and Savage at SuperBrawl; the show ended with Bischoff and Steve McMichael leaving the broadcast table while Flair put on the headset and Hogan and a referee helped Savage backstage
WCW @ Lakeland, FL - Jenkins Arena - February 5, 1996
Monday Nitro - featured the announcement that WCW World Champion Randy Savage would face Chris Benoit, VK Wallstreet would face Sgt. Craig Pittman, and Brian Pillman & Arn Anderson, the Giant, WCW Tag Team Champions Sting & Lex Luger would be in action on WCW Saturday Night:
WCW World Champion Randy Savage (w/ Elizabeth & Woman) defeated Chris Benoit via disqualification at 8:17 when Woman began choking Savage from behind on the floor after Ric Flair appeared and grabbed Elizabeth, distracting Savage; after the bout, Arn Anderson appeared and helped double team the champion until Hulk Hogan made the save with a steel chair; as Savage was helped backstage, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Hogan, with Elizabeth, regarding the assault on Savage; as Hogan's back was turned, Flair returned to the ring and repeatedly punched Hogan in his bad eye; the Giant and Zodiac then came out, with the Giant hitting Hogan with the chair until Zodiac pulled him away; Savage then returned and cleared the ring with the chair; Savage then told Okerlund that what he would do to Flair at SuperBrawl couldn't be said on TV and then questioned Elizabeth as to why she didn't warn Hogan before he was blindsided, with Okerlund saying she tried to
Brian Pillman & Arn Anderson defeated Kevin Sullivan & Hugh Morrus (w/ Jimmy Hart) via disqualification at 7:17 when, after Morrus hit the moonsault on Pillman, Morrus held Pillman down as Sullivan whipped him with a leather strap; during the bout, it was announced Pillman would face Sullivan in a strap match at SuperBrawl in which the loser would be the man to tell the other he respects him; late in the contest, Anderson and Sullivan battled near the entranceway, with someone behind the curtain breaking a broom over Anderson's back
Ric Flair (w/ Woman) defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell via submission with the figure-4 at 7:01; prior to the bout, Paul Orndorff appeared at the commentary table and implied he was the man behind the curtain that broke a broom over Arn Anderson's back in the previous match; during the contest, it was announced WCW World Champion Randy Savage was taking Hulk Hogan to the hospital and would be on his way back to the arena; it was also announced that WCW US Champion Konnan would face the One Man Gang, WCW Tag Team Champions Sting & Lex Luger would face Harlem Heat, the Nasty Boys would face Public Enemy in a streetfight, and WCW TV Champion Johnny B. Badd would face Diamond Dallas Page with both the title and Page's money at stake at SuperBrawl; after the contest, Flair punched the referee and kept the hold applied until Savage ran out and chased Flair backstage
WCW Tag Team Champions Sting & Lex Luger defeated the Road Warriors at 8:37 when Luger pinned Road Warrior Animal after hitting him in the back with a steel container brought to the ring late in the match by Jimmy Hart; during the bout, the building temporarily lost power, with Eric Bischoff implying the WWF was behind it; after the bout, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with the Road Warriors in which Road Warrior Hawk demanded a shot against the winners of the Sting & Luger vs. Harlem Heat match at SuperBrawl and wanted the match at the pay-per-view
WCW @ Tampa, FL - Florida State Fair - February 12, 1996
Monday Nitro - featured an opening segment featuring still photos from the Kevin Sullivan / Brian Pillman, Randy Savage / Ric Flair, and Hulk Hogan / Giant matches the previous night at SuperBrawl VI; included Gene Okerlund interviewing racecar driver Steve Grissom about the WCW car; featured Okerlund interviewing the new WCW World Champion Ric Flair, with Woman & Miss Elizabeth, about his title win the night before and his title defense the following week against Randy Savage with Elizabeth explaining why she turned on Savage at SuperBrawl:
Randy Savage pinned Hugh Morrus at 4:50 after hitting two flying elbowsmashes; prior to the bout, it was announced Savage would get a rematch against WCW World Champion Ric Flair the following week on Nitro; during the match, it was announced the "Baywatch" episode taped last July during Bash at the Beach, which featured Hulk Hogan, Savage, Flair, and Kevin Sullivan would be airing soon; after the bout, Savage went up to drop a third elbow but Morrus rolled out to the floor, with Savage then grabbing the mic and saying the referee was right - he didn't want Morrus, he wanted Flair
Loch Ness (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Scotty Riggs at around 1:15 with an elbow drop
WCW US Champion and Mexican Champion Konnan pinned Devan Storm at 5:19 by reversing a hurricanrana off the top into a powerbomb and roll over; during the bout, New York Yankees' owner George Steinbrenner was shown in the audience (Storm's debut)
Arn Anderson (w/ Woman) pinned Hulk Hogan at 9:15 after hitting Hogan in the eye with Miss Elizabeth's high heel shoe after Woman threw powder into Hogan's face; Ric Flair & Elizabeth came ringside at around the 6:30 mark; after the match, Randy Savage came out and helped Hogan clear the ring of Flair and Anderson; moments later, Flair grabbed Eric Bischoff's headset, put it on himself, and said Hogan had his "ass kicked again" and bragged about having the belt, with Anderson then saying he beat Hogan once and he could do it again; Hogan then ran to the broadcast table, scaring the heels backstage, stole away Bobby Heenan's headset and challenged them to come back out; Okerlund then interviewed Hogan and Savage about Anderson's challenge for a rematch the following week, with Hogan accepting and about Savage's title match the following week against Flair
WCW @ Salisbury, MD - Wicomico Civic Center - February 19, 1996 (4,700; 3,800 paid)
Monday Nitro:
Arn Anderson defeated Hulk Hogan via disqualification
Loch Ness defeated Alex Wright
Fit Finlay defeated Brad Armstrong
WCW World Champion Ric Flair defeated Randy Savage
WCW @ Knoxville, TN - Civic Coliseum - February 26, 1996
Monday Nitro:
WCW Tag Team Champion Sting defeated Big Bubba
WCW Tag Team Champion Lex Luger defeated the Renegade
The Road Warriors defeated Harlem Heat
Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, & the Booty Man defeated WCW World Champion Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, & Kevin Sullivan
WCW @ Winston-Salem, NC - Lawrence Joel Memorial Coliseum - March 11, 1996
Monday Nitro:
The Giant defeated Jim Duggan
The Road Warriors defeated Rick & Scott Steiner (the Steiners' surprise return after a more than 3-year absence)
WCW TV Champion Lex Luger pinned Alex Wright
Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, & the Booty Man defeated WCW World Champion Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, & Kevin Sullivan in a lumberjack strap match
WCW @ Chattanooga, TN - UTC Arena - March 18, 1996
Monday Nitro - featured Tony Schiavone conducting an interview at the entrance stage with Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage regarding their match later in the show and teaming up in the Doomsday cage match at Uncensored; during the segment, Hogan was loudly booed; included the announcement of the following matches for the following week's WCW Saturday Night: the Road Warriors vs. Public Enemy, WCW Tag Team Champion Sting vs. Bobby Eaton, Eddie Guerrero vs. Alex Wright, and WCW World Champion Ric Flair vs. Sgt. Craig Pittman:
WCW TV Champion & WCW Tag Team Champion Lex Luger defeated Loch Ness via count-out at the 13-second mark; the broadcast opened with the Giant, with Jimmy Hart, attacking Loch Ness in the aisle and claiming to be the one true giant in WCW; moments later, Luger made his entrance for the match; after the bout, Luger approached the broadcast table and bragged about getting the shortest win in WCW history and cut a promo on Hulk Hogan
Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Public Enemy in a stand-by match at 7:02 when Rick pinned Johnny Grunge following the bulldog off the top double team after Rocco Rock crashed through a table on the floor; during the bout, Eric Bischoff announced Dennis Rodman had just been suspended by the NBA for six games and don't be surprised to see him lock up with Hogan; it was also announced that a 1992 Olympian would soon be on his way to WCW
The Booty Man pinned Arn Anderson (w/ Woman) at 5:43 with a running knee to the head as Anderson went to get back inside the ring; prior to the bout, it was announced if Booty defeated Diamond Dallas Page at Uncensored then Page would be gone from wrestling; late in the match, Kimberly appeared ringside to cheer on the Booty Man
The Road Warriors defeated the Nasty Boys
Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage fought WCW World Champion Ric Flair & Kevin Sullivan to a double count-out in a Texas Tornado match
WCW @ Huntsville, AL - Von Braun Civic Center - March 25, 1996 (3,300 paid)
Monday Nitro:
Randy Savage pinned the Belfast Bruiser at 5:05
WCW US Champion Konnan pinned JL at 6:19
The Booty Man pinned Disco Inferno at 1:14
WCW Tag Team Champions Sting & WCW TV Champion Lex Luger defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Scotty Riggs at 6:20
WCW World Champion Ric Flair fought the Giant to a no contest at 8:56
WCW @ Cleveland, OH - Convocation Center - April 1, 1996 (7,000; 3,831 paid)
Monday Nitro - included the announcement that WCW TV & Tag Team Champion Lex Luger would face the Giant, Randy Savage would face Scott Norton, and WCW World Champion Ric Flair would face the Booty Man the coming weekend on WCW Saturday Night and that the first drawing for Slamboree's Lethal Lottery would also take place; featured a closing segment in which Bobby Heenan admitted his claim earlier in the show that he was retiring was an April Fools Joke:
The Giant (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated WCW Tag Team Champion Sting via disqualification in an impromptu match at around the 3-minute mark when WCW TV & Tag Team Champion Lex Luger ran out and helped Sting hold the Giant off after Giant was knocked to the floor; the match started just before the show went live and it was announced that Hart had paid off Harlem Heat to step aside from their scheduled match against Sting & the Giant, subbing for Luger, in a tag team title match; after the contest, footage was shown of Hart giving the Heat an enveope as they made their way out to the ring before the show went live
Rick & Scott Steiner defeated the Road Warriors and the Nasty Boys (sub. for the Public Enemy) at around the 15-minute mark when Scott pinned an interfering Johnny Grunge, who slid in the ring dressed as Brian Knobbs after Rocco Rock laid out Knobbs on the floor
Hulk Hogan & the Booty Man (w/ Kimberly) defeated Kevin Sullivan & Arn Anderson (w/ Elizabeth & Woman) at 7:43 when Hogan pinned Sullivan after hitting him with Woman's high heel, stolen by Kimberly; during the bout, Bobby Heenan announced he was retiring from professional wrestling and this would be his final appearance on Monday Nitro; after the contest, the Booty Man saved Kimberly from Elizabeth and Woman on the floor; moments later, Kimberly kissed the Booty Man on the lips for his help; as Hogan and Kimberly went backstage, Booty Man was attacked from behind and briefly double teamed until Hogan ran back out to make the save; Gene Okerlund then conducted an in-ring interview with Hogan, Booty, & Kimberly in which Booty said Hogan should be his partner the following week because he had something up his sleeve
WCW World Champion Ric Flair (w/ Elizabeth & Woman) pinned WCW TV & Tag Team Champion Lex Luger with a roll up and putting both feet on the top rope for leverage at 10:57 after Woman took a cup of coffee from a ringside fan and threw it in Luger's face as Luger had Flair in the Torture Rack and Elizabeth distracted referee Nick Patrick; during Flair's ring entrance, he stopped by to see Debra McMichael, who sat ringside for the show; during the match, it was announced Nitro would be preempted the following week but would return April 15; after the bout, WCW Tag Team Champion Sting came out to check on Luger
WCW @ Albany, GA - Civic Center - April 22, 1996
Monday Nitro - featured Gene Okerlund, flanked by two women - Emily and Cherry, announcing Hugh Morrus & Meng vs. the Barbarian & Bobby Walker, Stevie Ray & Big Bubba vs. Scott Norton & Ice Train, WCW World Champion Ric Flair & Randy Savage vs. Arn Anderson & Eddie Guerrero, Alex Wright & Disco Inferno vs. Dick Slater & Bobby Eaton, Lord Steven Regal & the Belfast Bruiser vs. V.K. Wallstreeet & Jim Duggan in Battlebowl matches to take place at Slamboree; included Okerlund interviewing WCW official Rob Garner, with Randy Savage then appearing and Garner telling Savage his recent actions were unacceptable; Savage replied he would do what he wanted when he wanted and he would be Flair's tag team partner from hell at Slamboree; Garner then suggested Savage seek professional help, with Savage eventually walking off after threatening to slap Garner; featured the announcement Lord Steven Regal would face the Belfast Bruiser, Chris Benoit would face Alex Wright, and WCW Tag Team Champions Sting & WCW TV Champion Lex Luger would face Harlem Heat on WCW Saturday Night:
Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Scotty Riggs defeated Public Enemy via disqualification at 7:23 when both Johnny Grunge & Rocco Rock threw Bagwell over the top; prior to the bout, Eric Bischoff gave away the results of that night's WWF Monday Night Raw by saying the "RuPaul impersonator" Goldust beat Savio Vega to regain the IC title, Mankind beat Aldo Montoya, and Vader beat Fatu; during the match, Bischoff said Bagwell would soon be staring in a movie before wishing Brian Pillman a speedy recovery after his recent car wreck; it was announced the following week's show would have a special 7 p.m. start time due to the NBA playoffs; after the contest, Rock and Grunge put Riggs through a table on the floor
Chris Benoit pinned Eddie Guerrero at around 7:30 by blocking a sunset flip out of the corner and grabbing the middle rope for leverage
Jim Duggan pinned Meng at 6:00 after hitting him with a taped fist; during the match, Bischoff again ran down the results of that night's Monday Night Raw
WCW Tag Team Champions - Sting & WCW TV Champion Lex Luger defeated WCW World Champion Ric Flair (w/ Elizabeth & Woman) & the Giant (w/ Jimmy Hart) via disqualification at 7:25 when Flair threw hot coffee - handed to him by Woman - in the Giant's face when Sting moved out of the way; all three championships were at stake in the match; during his entrance, Flair stopped by Debra McMichael, sitting ringside, and kissed her hand; moments later, Randy Savage ran from the back towards Flair until security handcuffed Savage and dragged him backstage; during the match, Bischoff said the Giant had been invited to try out for the Detroit Lions and Sting would face the Giant at Slamboree; after the bout, Flair begged forgiveness before rolling out of the ring; moments later, Okerlund interviewed the Giant and Hart in the ring, with the Giant challenging Flair to a title match the following week; Flair, from the commentary table, said the Giant would apologize to Flair the next week or he would kick his big ass, with the Giant then chasing Flair backstage
WCW @ Albany, GA - Civic Center - April 22, 1996
Monday Nitro - 4/29/96 - began at 7 p.m. due to the NBA playoffs; featured Gene Okerlund conducting an interview with WCW World Champion Ric Flair, with Elizabeth & Woman, about his title defense later in the show against the Giant in which Elizabeth and Woman said Flair was more of a man than the Giant:
WCW Tag Team Champions - Sting & WCW TV Champion Lex Luger defeated Harlem Heat at around 10:45 when Sting pinned Booker T with a roll up after the challengers became distracted by Jimmy Hart, who came ringside late in the contest and tried to throw a white towel into the ring to cost Harlem Heat the match
Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Scott Norton & Ice Train at 3:25 when Rick pinned Train with a clothesline
Lord Steven Regal pinned the Belfast Bruiser at 6:13 in a parking lot brawl following a piledriver onto the hood of a car; the match was contested in a blocked-off area of the parking lot with several hundred fans watching
The Giant (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned WCW World Champion Ric Flair (w/ Elizabeth and Woman) to win the title at 5:49 with the chokeslam after putting a choke on Flair as the challenger was caught in the figure-4; prior to the bout, Flair confronted Debra McMichael who sat ringside for the show; Randy Savage's name plate was still shown on the title belt, with the commentary team saying Flair kept it there as a message to Savage; after the match, Okerlund interviewed the new champion, with Hart, in the ring as Flair was helped backstage, with the Giant saying the belt belonged to him since Halloween Havoc and challenged Hulk Hogan, Sting, and Savage to face him for the title; as the show went off the air, it was announced the previously scheduled match between Sting and the Giant at Slamboree would now be a title match (The Rise and Fall of WCW)
WCW @ Daytona Beach, FL - Ocean Center - May 6, 1996
Monday Nitro - aired live at 7 p.m. due to the NBA schedule on TNT; featured a graphic noting the recent death of Ray Stevens and that donations could be made in his memory to the Cauliflower Alley Club; included Gene Okerlund conducting an interview with Ric Flair, Elizabeth, & Woman in which Flair commented on them spending Randy Savage's money, that he would get revenge on WCW World Champion the Giant when the time was right, and noted Steve McMichael's wife was in the audience; moments later, Flair sent a glass of champagne to Debra McMichael, a few feet away, with Debra then pouring it out onto the floor; featured a vignette promoting the debut of Glacier:
Hugh Morrus defeated Randy Savage via disqualification at around the 5-minute mark after Savage used his ring jacket to hang Morrus over the top rope; moments later, Savage hit the flying elbowsmash on Morrus; the referee then shoved Savage and raised Morrus's hand in victory, with Savage then slapping the referee and throwing Morrus to the floor; referee Nick Patrick then ran out, with Patrick trying to prevent Savage from a further assault but Savage hit the flying elbowsmash on the initial referee anyway; several more referees then arrived ringside flanked by half a dozen armed law enforcement officers; the referee was then tended to in the ring while Savage was escorted backstage
Dean Malenko pinned Jushin Liger (w/ Sonny Onoo) at around the 8:50 mark with a double underhook into a sit-down powerbomb; prior to the bout, it was noted Shinjiro Ohtani was the new WCW Cruiserweight Champion, would debut on WCW TV with the title during the weekend of May 18, and would defend the belt as part of Slamboree; during the bout, it was announced Randy Savage had been ejected from the building by police; moments later, Ric Flair, wearing a tuxedo, Elizabeth, & Woman appeared and took their seat at the Horsemen's VIP table near the entrance stage
WCW Tag Team Champion Sting pinned Lord Steven Regal (w/ Jeeves) at 6:13 when Sting reversed a butterfly suplex into a backdrop and bridge; Regal had tape above his eye and around his right thigh following the parking lot brawl shown the previous week against Fit Finlay; during the bout, it was noted WCW TV Champion & WCW Tag Team Champion Lex Luger still had not arrived to the arena for his match against WCW World Champion the Giant and that Finlay, who Regal was to team with at Slamboree, was out injured and would be replaced by Dave Taylor
WCW World Champion the Giant (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Jim Duggan (sub. for WCW TV Champion & WCW Tag Team Champion Lex Luger, who had not arrived to the arena) at 3:16 with the chokeslam as Duggan attempted to tape his fist; after the bout, Giant hit the move a second time; after the bout, Cobra, David Sierra, and Alex Wright attempted to make the save but all sustained chokeslams; Ric Flair then came out and smashed a chair over the champion but the Giant was unaffected by it; moments later, Sting ran out, attacked Giant's leg, and eventually knocked him to the mat with a double axe handle off the top; after Flair left ringside, Sting put Giant in the Scorpion Deathlock only for Hart to hit Sting with the megaphone; Luger then ran out with his bag and cleared the ring; moments later, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Sting & Luger, with Sting questioning where Luger was since all the chaos was his doing for not being in the building for his match; Luger then asked Sting if he had ever missed a flight in all his years of wrestling, with the show then coming to a close
WCW @ Nashville, TN - Municipal Auditorium - May 13, 1996 (5,700; 2,942 paid)
Monday Nitro:
Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Public Enemy
Chris Benoit defeated Dave Taylor
Ric Flair defeated VK Wallstreet
WCW World Champion the Giant fought WCW TV & Tag Team Champion Lex Luger to a double count-out
WCW @ Monroe, LA - Civic Center - May 20, 1996 (4,000; 3,029 paid)
Monday Nitro - 90-minute episode; Eric Bischoff & Bobby Heenan provided sole commentary for the first hour, without Steve McMichael; included footage from the previous night at Slamboree of McMichael introducing Kevin Greene as his tag team partner to face Ric Flair & Arn Anderson; moments later, Bischoff said the match would take place at the Great American Bash in Baltimore; it was noted Randy Savage had been banned from the building; featured Gene Okerlund conducting an interview outside the arena with Savage, blocked from entering by police, in which Okerlund said WCW officials were meeting regarding Savage's future; moments later, Savage attempted to push his way into the building but he was held off by security; included a vignette promoting the debut of Glacier; featured an ad promoting the WCW Power Plant:
Rick & Scott Steiner fought Scott Norton & Ice Train to a double count-out at 5:27 when all four men began brawling on the floor
Ric Flair (w/ Elizabeth & Woman) pinned Eddie Guerrero at 19:43 with the figure-4 as Flair held onto Woman from the floor for leverage; after the bout, Gene Okerlund conducted an interview with Flair, Elizabeth, & Woman at their VIP table about Randy Savage and the challenge of Steve McMichael & Kevin Greene; after the commercial break, Flair joined the commentary team with food and champagne from his table; Flair then provided guest commentary for the remainder of the show
WCW Tag Team Champions Sting & WCW TV Champion Lex Luger defeated Meng & the Barbarian at 10:52 when Luger pinned Barbarian after Sting hit a splash off the top; after the match, Eric Bischoff announced Randy Savage was at the building
Diamond Dallas Page pinned Brad Armstrong at 7:47 with the Diamond Cutter; during the bout, it was noted the show would expand to 2 hours beginning the following week; after the contest, Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with DDP regarding his Battlebowl win at Slamboree; Page then cut a promo on WCW World Champion the Giant, who he would challenge at the Great American Bash; moments later, Okerlund cut him off, saying WCW officials reviewed footage of how he won the match and have decided that his win would stand but he would not get a title match at the Bash; Okerlund then said WCW TV Champion & WCW Tag Team Champion Lex Luger would challenge the Giant instead
WCW World Champion the Giant (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Arn Anderson (w/ Kevin Sullivan) at 3:38 with the chokeslam; prior to the bout, Sullivan told Hart at ringside that he was only there to make sure Anderson got a fair shot; after the bout, as the show ended, Bobby Heenan walked off with items left at the broadcast area from Flair's VIP table
WCW @ Macon, GA - Coliseum - May 27, 1996 (4,309; 1,811 paid)
Monday Nitro - the first 2-hour episode; featured Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyzsko on commentary for the 1st hour; included a vignette of Steve McMichael & Kevin Greene in training for their match against Ric Flair & Arn Anderson at the Great American Bash; featured a video package highlighting Randy Savage's explosive behavior over the past few months following the announcement he had been suspended indefinately from appearing on WCW events; included Gene Okerlund interviewing the Shark backstage in which he said he had been thrown out of the Dungeon of Doom but would get his revenge by taking the Giant's WCW World Title and going after Jimmy Hart; featured a Hulk Hogan video package showing Hogan's appearanced with George Foreman, Shaq, Dennis Rodman, Kevin Greene, and Sugar Ray Leonard as well as appearing on "Baywatch;" included Eric Bischoff & Bobby Heenan on commentary for the 2nd hour in which Bischoff said he wasn't going to dignify the "interruption" earlier in the show (Scott Hall's debut) by discussing it; featured a vignette promoting the debut of Glacier:
Ric Flair & Arn Anderson (w/ Woman & Elizabeth) defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Scotty Riggs at 12:59 when Flair pinned Bagwell after Bagwell sustained a gouged eye from Woman and DDT from Anderson; after the bout, Gene Okerlund interviewed the winners at their VIP lounge in the aisle regarding the challenge of Steve McMichael & Kevin Greene at the Great American Bash, with Anderson saying he didn't respect anyone that had to wear pads and Flair alleged Debra McMichael was his
The Mauler (w/ Col. Rob Parker) fought Steve Doll to a no contest at around the 5-minute mark when Scott Hall appeared in the crowd, jumped the rail, grabbed a mic and cut an in-ring promo on "Billionaire Ted," "the Nacho Man," and "Scheme Gene" before saying he had a challenge for "that Ken Doll lookalike" (Eric Bischoff) and then said "You want to go to war? You want a war? You're gonna get one;" moments later, Hall left ringside (the Mauler's debut)
Diamond Dallas Page pinned Sgt. Craig Pittman (w/ Teddy Long) at 3:01 with the Diamond Cutter as Pittman checked on Long after DDP grabbed his manager
WCW World Champion the Giant (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned the Shark with the chokeslam at 4:01 after the challenger went after Hart on the ring apron; after the bout, Big Bubba came out, cut the Shark's hair, and shaved half his head as he was knocked out
WCW TV & Tag Team Champion Lex Luger defeated Maxx at 5:45 via submission with the Torture Rack; during the bout, it was announced Chris Benoit would face Kevin Sullivan at the Great American Bash in a falls count anywhere match; after the bout, Okerlund interviewed Luger in the ring about his title shot against the Giant at the Bash and showed footage from 2 weeks earlier of the Giant hitting a chokeslam on Luger through a table set up at ringside, with Luger saying he wanted every big man WCW had as a warmup to facing the Giant
Bobby Walker pinned Brad Armstrong at 4:26 with a shoulderblock off the top; after the bout, the two men shook hands
Lord Steven Regal (w/ Geeves) pinned Alex Wright at 10:18 with a roll over and bridge after blocking a monkey flip out of the corner; after the bout, Okerlund interviewed Regal in the ring, with Regal saying his dad would be proud he just beat "Junior Adolf," said WCW's world champion had escaped from the circus, and warned people from other organizations of declaring war when Regal is in the company; he then issued a challenge to Sting in hopes of getting some attention within WCW
WCW Tag Team Champion Sting fought Scott Steiner to a double disqualification at 10:16 when Rick Steiner and WCW TV & Tag Team Champion Lex Luger, who came ringside at the 7-minute mark, began fighting on the floor leading all four men to start an in-ring brawl; after the bout, the American Males, Steve Doll, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Bobby Walker, and several others came out to pull the men apart; moments later, Scott Hall confronted Bischoff at the commentary table, made a challenge for 3 of WCW's best, said he wasn't coming alone, and if WCW wanted a war they would get one but it would be in the ring - not on the microphone or in the newspapers and dirtsheets
WCW @ Asheville, NC - Civic Center - June 3, 1996 (4,500; 3,518 paid)
Monday Nitro - featured Gene Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with WCW Tag Team Champions Sting & WCW TV Champion Lex Luger regarding their title defense later in the show against Rick & Scott Steiner and their respective matches at the Great American Bash; moments later, the Steiners interrupted with Luger and Scott briefly getting into a shoving match; included a video package recapping the Chris Benoit vs. Kevin Sullivan feud dating back to April; featured a vignette promoting the debut of Glacier; included a music video tribute to Hulk Hogan set to his theme music; featured the announcement that a new pay-per-view, Hog Wild, would be held in Sturgis, SD in August and that Hogan would be part of the show; included a video package highlighting the training of Steve McMichael & Kevin Greene, narrated by Lee Marshal, before their match with Ric Flair & Arn Anderson at the Great American Bash; during the segment, after McMichael spotted Greene eating a Slim Jim, they decided to ask Randy Savage if he would coach them for their match; featured a closing segment in which Bobby Heenan offered Randy Savage his Madden trophy in exchange for not going through with the match at the Bash; moments later, Scott Hall interrupted and confronted Eric Bischoff at the commentary table; WCW Tag Team Champion Sting then appeared and questioned why Hall was wanting three of WCW's best when he came out alone; Hall then said Sting would get a fight if he wanted one but it would be on his terms; Hall then threw his toothpick at Sting, with Sting then slapping him in return; after police arrived at the table, Hall said he would have a "big" surprise the following week:
John Tenta defeated Big Bubba (w/ Jimmy Hart) via count-out at 1:10 when Bubba left the ring after Tenta grabbed Bubba's own pair of scissors; prior to the bout, footage was shown of Bubba cutting Shark's hair the previous week; before the match, Gene Okerlund conducted an interview in the aisle with the Shark, who said he wasn't shaving the other half of his hair off as a reminder of what Bubba did to him; Shark then said he wasn't a fish or an Avalanche but was John Tenta and that he would shave the head of WCW World Champion the Giant; during the match, Tony Schiavone made mention of an ad in USA Today for the show that had both Johnny B. Badd and Vader in the ad; Schiavone then said they wouldn't be appearing during the show and were no longer playing with the big boys
Meng & the Barbarian defeated High Voltage at 3:24 when Meng pinned Rukkus with a kick to the face following a double diving headbutt (High Voltage's TV debut)
Sgt. Craig Pittman (w/ Teddy Long) defeated Disco Inferno via submission at 1:50 when Disco gave up as Pittman attempted to apply the Code Red; after the match, Disco motioned to the camera that he gave up so that he could still dance
Lord Steven Regal pinned Jim Duggan at 4:27 with a roll up after Duggan knocked an interfering Bobby Eaton out with a taped fist, moments after an interfering Dave Taylor stole away Duggan's 2x4; prior to the match, Regal was escorted to the ring by Jeeves; after the contest, Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Regal in which Regal commented on his upcoming match with WCW Tag Team Champion Sting at the Great American Bash
Kevin Sullivan (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Prince Iaukea at 1:22 with the double stomp; after the bout, Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Sullivan & Hart regarding Sullivan's upcoming match with Chris Benoit at the Great American Bash, during which Sullivan said there were two wars going on in WCW - one the legal department would handle and the other was against Hulkamania; Sullivan then addressed Arn Anderson and reminded him that he warned him about Brian Pillman, as footage from his match with Pillman at SuperBrawl VI was shown, and said Benoit was a serpent
Ric Flair & Arn Anderson (w/ Elizabeth & Woman) defeated Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson at 18:59 when Flair pinned Gibson after Woman raked Gibson's eye behind the referee's back and Anderson dropped Gibson with the DDT; on their way to the ring, Flair wore a Kevin Greene jersey while Anderson wore a Steve McMichael jersey; during the contest, Eric Bischoff made mention of the coming weekend's Ilio DiPaolo tribute in Buffalo, with proceeds going to the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund; later in the match, Bischoff said that Randy Savage would be part of the show but would not wrestle on TV or on pay-per-view until further notice; moments later, Bobby Heenan left the broadcast table, walked to ringside, and whispered something to Elizabeth & Woman before taking a seat at the Horsemen's VIP section; after the contest, Okerlund conducted an interview with the winners at the VIP section, during which Heenan said he promised himself he would never manage again but then opened a Halliburton to show his 1988 trophy won by coaching John Madden's team; Heenan then said he would coach Flair & Anderson at the Great American Bash (Morton & Gibson's return after a 3-year absence)
WCW World Champion the Giant (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Ice Train at the 29-second mark with the chokeslam after Train became distracted by Hart on the floor; prior to the bout, it was announced Train & Scott Norton would face Rick & Scott Steiner at the Great American Bash, with the added stipulation that there must be a winner; after the contest, Norton came out to check on Train and called out the Giant for attacking him as he did; moments later, the Giant hit two chokeslams on Norton; moments later, referees and preliminary wrestlers tended to Norton and Train; Okerlund then conducted an interview in the aisle with the Giant in which he questioned why highlight packages of Hulk Hogan were being shown and then cut a promo on facing WCW TV & Tag Team Champion Lex Luger at the Great American Bash
Scott Norton pinned Hugh Morrus at 1:50 after throwing Morrus off as he attempted the moonsault and then hitting two forearms to the face; Norton had yet to get to his feet following the Giant's chokeslam and was still being attended to by the trainer when Morrus came out to start the match
WCW Tag Team Champions Sting & WCW TV Champion Lex Luger fought Rick & Scott Steiner to a no contest at around the 11-minute mark when WCW World Champion the Giant, with Jimmy Hart, interfered, hit a chokeslam on Rick on the floor, caused Scott to fall over the top, and then brawled with Luger; during the match, Randy Savage called into the commentary team to accept Steve McMichael & Kevin Greene's offer to be their coach at the Great American Bash; after the contest, Scott, Sting, & Luger triple teamed the Giant with Luger knocking the Giant over the top to the floor
WCW @ Wheeling, WV - Civic Center - June 10, 1996 (3,500)
Monday Nitro - featured a closing segment where Scott Hall confronted Eric Bischoff at the commentary table, with Kevin Nash then appearing beside Hall and issuing a challenge to WCW's best (Nash's surprise return after a 3-year absence):
Scott Steiner pinned Booker T with an overhead belly to belly suplex at 5:54 after avoiding a splash off the top
Diamond Dallas Page pinned Jim Powers at 4:04 with the Diamond Cutter
Sting defeated Meng via submission with the Scorpion Deathlock at 3:09
Jim Duggan pinned Dave Taylor at 2:25
WCW World Champion the Giant pinned Scott Norton at 1:42 after hitting the chokeslam on the floor
Lord Steven Regal defeated Billy Kidman via submission at the 57-second mark
Public Enemy defeated the Nasty Boys via disqualification at 11:30
WCW Tag Team Champions Sting & WCW TV Champion Lex Luger (sub. for Joe Gomez & the Renegade) fought Ric Flair & Arn Anderson to a no contest at 18:34 when the Giant interfered
WCW @ Richmond, VA - Coliseum - June 17, 1996 (5,638)
Monday Nitro - featured still photos recapping Rick & Scott Steiner vs. Ice Train & Scott Norton, John Tenta vs. Big Bubba, and WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko vs. Rey Mysterio Jr. held the previous night at the Great American Bash; included a video package recapping Eric Bischoff interviewing Scott Hall & Kevin Nash the previous night at the Bash, with Hall & Nash admitting they don't work for the WWF before Bischoff was attacked; the powerbomb incident was not shown; featured Gene Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Ric Flair, Woman, Elizabeth, & Debra McMichael regarding Debra & Steve McMichael joining the Horsemen the previous night and Flair facing Randy Savage later in the show; included Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Randy Savage regarding his match later in the night against Flair; Tony Schiavone provided guest commentary for the second hour, subbing for an injured Bischoff, alongside Bobby Heenan; featured Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with WCW World Champion the Giant, Kevin Sullivan, his face heavily bruised, & Jimmy Hart regarding the Horsemen; included a vignette promoting the debut of Glacier; featured still photos of Nash sending Bischoff off the stage with a powerbomb the previous night at the Bash, Flair & Arn Anderson vs. Steve McMichael & Kevin Greene, and Chris Benoit vs. Sullivan; included a closing segment in which Okerlund, in the aisle, said the six top WCW stars, based on win-loss records, were Hulk Hogan, the Giant, Ric Flair, Lex Luger, Sting, and Randy Savage; a random drawing chose Sting, Luger, & Savage to face Hall, Nash, & their mystery partner at the Bash at the Beach:
Rick Steiner pinned Stevie Ray at 2:16 with a Steinerline after avoiding a move off the turnbuckle; after the bout, Booker T attacked and double teamed Steiner; moments later, Scott Steiner attempted to make the save but was injured as well
Joe Gomez pinned Disco Inferno at 3:34 with a crucifix as Disco made a lazy cover; during the bout, Tony Schiavone announced that Hulk Hogan called WCW the night before to ask for his name to be thrown into the hat to potentially face Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, & their mystery partner at Bash at the Beach (Gomez' in-ring debut)
Arn Anderson & Chris Benoit defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Scotty Riggs at 5:48 when Benoit pinned Riggs after dropping him chest-first across the top rope, with Anderson holding Riggs' foot during the cover; Benoit's face was heavily bruised as a result of the previous night's falls count anywhere match against Kevin Sullivan; after the contest, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Anderson & Benoit regarding Sullivan
John Tenta pinned Big Bubba (w/ Jimmy Hart) at 4:42 with his feet on the ropes for leverage following two consecutive powerslams after knocking an interfering Hart to the floor; after the match, Tenta chased Hart until Bubba assaulted him with a loaded sock; moments later, Bubba poured coins out of the sock onto Tenta; Gene Okerlund conducted an interview in the aisle after the match with Bubba & Hart in which Hart said he and Kevin Sullivan were making sure all those that turn their backs on the Dungean of Doom pay for it
Ric Flair (w/ Elizabeth, Woman, & Debra McMichael) pinned Randy Savage at 12:46 after Steve McMichael interfered and hit Savage over the back and over the head with his Halliburton; prior to the bout, Savage chased Bobby Heenan around the ring before Heenan joined the commentary team for the remainder of the show; moments later, Flair came out with a Kevin Greene t-shirt to gloat on his win at the Great American Bash; moments later, Flair grabbed the mic and made fun of Savage's divorce, with Savage then taking a mic and saying he would kick Flair's ass; late in the bout, Savage fought off an interfering Chris Benoit and Arn Anderson until he was attacked from behind by McMichael; after the match, all four Horsemen attacked Savage
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko pinned Rey Mysterio Jr. at 8:42 with a reverse DDT; prior to the bout, Gene Okerlund interviewed Mysterio in the aisle regarding his match the previous night against Malenko
WCW World Champion the Giant (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Scott Steiner with the chokeslam at around the 10-minute mark immediately after Steiner broke a wooden chair over the Giant in clear view of referee Nick Patrick; the challenger's ribs were taped due to him being injured following the opening match
WCW @ Charlotte, NC - Independence Arena - June 24, 1996 (6,000; 4,238 paid)
Monday Nitro - included footage of Scott Hall & Kevin Nash attacking Eric Bischoff at the Great American Bash; featured Gene Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Randy Savage, WCW Tag Team Champions Sting & WCW TV Champion Lex Luger regarding their match at Bash at the Beach against Hall, Nash, & their mystery partner; all three had their faces painted like Sting; after Savage left, Sting reviewed footage of him slapping Hall three weeks before; moments later, Rick & Scott Steiner appeared and said they would watch Sting & Luger's backs but they still had a title shot later in the show; Harlem Heat then appeared and said they still owed Sting & Luger payback for taking the tag team titles in Las Vegas; included vignettes promoting the debut of Glacier; featured ads for the Slamboree and Great American Bash 96 home videos; included the announcement that Bobby Eaton would face John Tenta the coming weekend on WCW Saturday Night and that Rey Mysterio Jr. would be in action and that Randy Savage, WCW Tag Team Champions Sting & WCW TV Champion Lex Luger would compete in a 6-man tag team match; featured Tony Schiavone on guest commentary for the second hour, subbing for an injured Eric Bischoff; included Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Ric Flair, Woman, Elizabeth, and Debra McMichael in which Flair bragged about the Horsemen being under security watch backstage, preventing Randy Savage and Kevin Greene from getting to them; moments later, Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, and Steve McMichael walked in to celebrate their victory and Flair cut a promo on WCW US Champion Konnan; featured Okerlund conducting an interview in the aisle with Greene in which they reviewed footage from the Great American Bash of McMichael hitting him with the Halliburton; moments later, Greene said he would be thinking of McMichael while he was training for the NFL season, he would get some revenge after the season, and that he and the Carolina Panthers were going to surprise some people:
Public Enemy defeated Lord Steven Regal & Dave Taylor (w/ Bobby Eaton) at 5:49 when Johnny Grunge pinned Taylor after hitting him with his hand cast behind the back of referee Nick Patrick; prior to the bout, Regal & Taylor were escorted to the ring by Jeeves; during their entrance, an insert promo by the Public Enemy in which they challenged the Nasty Boys to a double dog collar match; Public Enemy brought a dog collar chain to the ring with them for the contest and played the babyfaces in the match
Kip Abee defeated Kevin Sullivan (w/ Jimmy Hart) via disqualification at around the 2-minute mark after Sullivan assaulted Abee through the crowd and through the hallway, where security prevented him from fighting in the women's bathroom; during the bout, it was announced Sullivan & WCW World Champion the Giant would face Chris Benoit & Arn Anderson at Bash at the Beach, with the added stipulation that if the Horsemen won then a member of the group would receive a world title shot the following night; after the contest, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Sullivan & Hart regarding the upcoming tag team match, during which the fans chanted "We want Flair;" moments later, Sullivan said the fans wanted Flair to get a rematch with the Giant but it wouldn't happen
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko pinned Bobby Walker at 4:39 with a northern lights suplex after dropkicking Walker into the Disco Inferno, who was dancing on the turnbuckle, knocking Disco to the floor; during the bout, it was announced Malenko would face Disco at Bash at the Beach; late in the match, Disco came out to celebrate his record selling one million copies and going gold and had his music played as he climbed in the ring to dance; after the contest, Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Malenko and Disco in which they had words
Eddie Guerrero pinned the Barbarian at 5:37 when Barbarian failed a superplex and Guerrero fell on top for the win; following the match, Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Guerrero in which they reviewed footage of Guerrero losing to WCW US Champion Konnan at Uncensored; moments later, Guerrero said he wanted a rematch for the title; Guerrero, who it was mentioned had just returned from a tour of Japan, said he wished his name was on the list to face Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, & their mystery partner at Bash at the Beach
Arn Anderson & Chris Benoit (w/ Steve McMichael) defeated Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson at around the 9-minute mark when Benoit pinned Gibson after McMichael hit Gibson with the Halliburton behind the referee's back; Morton & Gibson came out without music; Anderson & Benoit were cheered while Morton & Gibson were booed;during the match, it was announced McMichael would face Joe Gomez at Bash at the Beach; after the bout, Gomez attempted to make the save but was beaten down as well; moments later, Randy Savage and Kevin Greene ran out to clear the ring
Diamond Dallas Page pinned Alex Wright with a back elbow and the Diamond Cutter at 4:12; Page's Lord of the Ring was on the line in the match; during the contest, it was announced Ric Flair would challenge WCW US Champion Konnan at Bash at the Beach and Jim Duggan would challenge Page in a taped fist match; after the bout, Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with DDP regarding his facing Duggan, during which Page argued he was being held down by having to face Duggan in Duggan's own match
Randy Savage (w/ Kevin Greene) pinned VK Wallstreet with the flying elbowsmash at 4:37; Savage's face was painted like that of Sting for the match
Harlem Heat defeated WCW Tag Team Champions Sting & Lex Luger and Rick & Scott Steiner to win the titles at around the 10-minute mark when Booker pinned Luger with a roll up after Luger dropped Booker from the Torture Rack after Scott Hall & Kevin Nash, armed with baseball bats, came out of the crowd, prompting Sting, Luger, the Steiners, and several armed security guards to hold them off from the ring; on their way to the ring, Harlem Heat were shown talking to someone on a cell phone; prior to the bout, it was announced Bruno Sammartino would be a guest referee when WCW makes a tour of the Northeast the coming weekend; Luger's face was painted like Sting's for the match
WCW @ Landover, MD - USAir Arena - July 1, 1996 (7,000; 4,000 paid)
Monday Nitro - featured Diamond Dallas Page interrupting the opening of the broadcast in which he said his Lord of the Ring ring had been stolen and he wanted everyone in attendance strip searched until it was found; included footage from the previous week of Scott Hall & Kevin Nash coming through the crowd during the WCW Tag Team Title match, with police eventually filling the ring to end the broadcast; Tony Schiavone then announced there was a rumor Hall & Nash would appear later in the show; Larry Zbyzsko then said "There will be a new world order this Sunday in professional wrestling;" featured Gene Okerlund conducting an interview in the aisle with the Horsemen regarding their match later in the show, during which footage was shown of the Horsemen's recent attack on Joe Gomez, the Renegade, Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson; included a vignette promoting the debut of Glacier; featured the return of Eric Bischoff for the second hour, following his injury at the Great American Bash; following Bischoff's comments at the commentary table, Hall & Nash were shown coming through the crowd with popcorn and drinks before taking ringside seats; Doug Dillinger initially tried to eject them from the building until they showed him the tickets they bought for the show:
WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat defeated Rick & Scott Steiner at 10:49 when Booker T pinned Rick after Col. Rob Parker, who appeared ringside mid-way through the contest, caused Rick to crotch himself on the top rope and them hit him in the back of the head with a cane; prior to the contest, Booker T was shown talking on a cell phone while making his way to the ring; during the bout, Ric Flair, Chris Benoit, Arn Anderson, Steve McMichael, Elizabeth, Woman, and Debra McMichael were shown sitting at a table in the aisle (Parker's debut with Harlem Heat)
Disco Inferno pinned Kurasawa at 3:46 when, after referee Randy Anderson and Kurasawa were distracted by a man dancing in the aisle while wearing an Elvis jumpsuit, Disco had his disco ball lowered and then threw it into Kurasawa's back
Diamond Dallas Page pinned Scotty Riggs at 5:41 with the Diamond Cutter after avoiding a bodyslam; prior to the bout, DDP was shown shaking down a stagehand on his way to the ring, looking for his missing Lord of the Ring ring; Jim Duggan cut an insert promo before the bout regarding his upcoming taped fist match with DDP at Bash at the Beach; after the match, Gene Okerlund conducted an interview in the aisle with DDP regarding his match with Duggan and Page's missing ring
Randy Savage pinned Greg Valentine with the flying elbowsmash at 5:19; Valentine used the Hollywood Blondes' theme song; Savage came to the ring wearing Sting's face paint and swated at items at the Horsemen's vacant table in the aisle before the bout (Valentine's return after a 4-year absence)
WCW World Champion the Giant (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned John Tenta at 6:38 with the chokeslam after attacking him from behind as Tenta went after an interfering Kevin Sullivan; after the bout, Big Bubba, who appeared ringside during the final moments of the match, shaved half of Tenta's beard; moments later, Okerlund conducted an interview in the aisle with Hart, Giant, Sullivan, & Bubba regarding Bubba's upcoming match at Bash at the Beach against Tenta in a silver dollars on a pole match and Giant & Sullivan facing Arn Anderson & Chris Benoit in a No DQ match
Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, & Steve McMichael defeated the Renegade, Joe Gomez, Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson at 11:51
WCW @ Orlando, FL - Disney / MGM Studios outdoor venue - July 8, 1996 (600; all freebies)
Monday Nitro - featured still photos from the previous night's matches of Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Psychosis and WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko vs. Disco Inferno at Bash at the Beach; included Gene Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with the Nasty Boys and Rick & Scott Steiner regarding their upcoming match, with the winners getting a WCW Tag Team Title match at Hog Wild; featured vignettes promoting the debut of Glacier; included the announcement that WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat would face Public Enemy on WCW Saturday Night and that Randy Savage would be in action as well as the Horsemen in a 6-man tag team match and the Dungean of Doom in an 8-man tag team match; included Okerlund conducting an interview in the aisle with Jimmy Hart, Kevin Sullivan, and WCW World Champion the Giant regarding Hulk Hogan joining Scott Hall & Kevin Nash the previous night at Bash at the Beach, during which Sullivan said Hogan destroyed Hulkamania himself; during the segment, still photos were shown of Giant & Sullivan's match the previous night against Chris Benoit & Arn Anderson; featured still photos of Lex Luger being taken backstage on a stretcher the previous night at Bash at the Beach; included Okerlund conducting an interview near their limo with Kevin Nash & Scott Hall regarding Hogan joining them the night before; featured a closing segment with still photos from the main event of Bash at the Beach detailing Hogan turning on WCW:
Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko to win the title at around the 12:30 mark by reversing a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker into a hurricanrana and cover (Rey Mysterio: 619, Rey Mysterio: Biggest Little Man)
Lord Steven Regal & Dave Taylor (w/ Bobby Eaton) defeated Big Bubba & Hugh Morrus (w/ Jimmy Hart) at 3:11 when Taylor pinned Morrus following a double back suplex after John Tenta appeared and began brawling at ringside with Bubba; prior to the bout, Regal, Taylor, & Eaton were escorted to the ring by Jeeves; Bubba & Morrus were cheered by chants of "USA" during the match; early in the contest, still photos were shown of Bubba's match at Bash at the Beach against Tenta
Eddie Guerrero pinned Psychosis with a superplex and the frog splash at 8:34; during the contest, WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. cut a backstage promo on his reaction to Hulk Hogan joining Scott Hall & Kevin Nash the previous night; it was mentioned during the match that Hulk Hogan would appear the following week and that Psychosis would challenge Mysterio on WCW Saturday Night
Rick & Scott Steiner defeated the Nasty Boys at 6:09 when Scott pinned Jerry Saggs after Col. Rob Parker accidentally hit Saggs behind the referee's back as Sister Sherri distracted the referee from the apron; pre-match stipulations stated the winners would earn a tag team title shot at Hog Wild; after the contest, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with the Nasty Boys in which they said they didn't condone what Hulk Hogan did but at the same time couldn't blame him for it because the New World Order does what they want when they want to do it, just like the Nastys
WCW US Champion Ric Flair (w/ Woman, Elizabeth, & Debra McMichael) defeated Jim Powers via submission with the figure-4 at 5:40 as Flair held onto Woman outside the ring for added leverage; before the match, Eric Bischoff mentioned he was at a last-minute meeting which is why he couldn't call The Main Event the previous night as scheduled; following the ring entrances, still photos were shown from Flair's US title win the previous night over Konnan; after the contest, Okerlund conducted an interview in the aisle with Arn Anderson, Steve McMichael, Flair, Woman, Elizabeth, & Debra McMichael, during which the men commented on Hogan joining the New World Order
Chris Benoit defeated Sgt. Craig Pittman (w/ Teddy Long) (sub. for an injured Lex Luger) at 2:43 when Long threw in the towel as Pittman was caught in the Crippler Crossface; Benoit's face was bruised as a result of his match the previous night at Bash at the Beach
Sting defeated Arn Anderson via submission with the Scorpion Deathlock at 12:18 after holding onto the ropes to block the DDT; mid-way through the bout, a black limo was shown arriving near the ringside area with Scott Hall & Kevin Nash coming out of the limo moments later and approaching the ring; security eventually blocked their path, with Randy Savage then coming out and, alongside Sting and Anderson, daring Hall & Nash to enter the ring; after the contest, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Sting and Savage, with Sting saying Hulk Hogan dashed the hopes and dreams of all the kids that looked up to him and told Hogan to stick it; moments later, Savage said it was scary what he had on his mind to do to Hogan
WCW @ Orlando, FL - Disney / MGM Studios outdoor venue - July 15, 1996 (450; all freebies)
Monday Nitro - it was noted during the show that Sting, WCW US Champion Ric Flair, Randy Savage, and WCW World Champion the Giant were not at the arena and some were competing overseas in Japan; featured footage of Hulk Hogan joining Scott Hall & Kevin Nash at Bash at the Beach against Team WCW; included Gene Okerlund conducting an interview with Kevin Sullivan, Jimmy Hart, & Big Bubba regarding Hogan turning on WCW; as they talked, Scott Norton & Ice Train, who just lost the opening match, walked past and argued amongst themselves; moments later, Meng & the Barbarian appeared as Hart cut a promo on putting out the Four Horsemen, Bubba said he would hurt WCW TV Champion Lex Luger later in the show, and Sullivan said he would get revenge on Chris Benoit; featured vignettes promoting the debut of Glacier; included Okerlund conducting an interview with Norton & Train in which Norton said Train was costing the team wins, with Teddy Long then interrupting and saying they were a great team and didn't want to see them break up; Norton replied by shoving Long to the ground; featured Okerlund conducting an interview with Kevin Green regarding the recent actions of Hogan, during which Green said he didn't want to wait until after training camp to go after Steve McMichael; included a vignette on WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr.; featured Okerlund conducting an interview with Green in which he said he had to catch a plane back to training camp and wanted McMichael but would now have to wait until after the NFL season; included Hall & Nash appearing at the stage to cover up the WCW letters with "NWO" as the crowd chanted "Diesel;" featured Okerlund conducting an interview with Steve & Debra McMichael, with Steve holding his dog and saying Green was a coward for leaving the arena as soon as he got there; Debra then talked about Steve's numerous NFL records and said Green had none:
Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Scott Norton & Ice Train at 10:43 when Rick pinned Train following a belly to back suplex after Train accidentally hit a splash on Norton; mid-way through the bout, Teddy Long appeared ringside
Dean Malenko defeated Billy Kidman via submission with the Texas Cloverleaf at 5:15 following a double underhook into a powerbomb; during Malenko's entrance, Jimmy Hart appeared and was shown speaking with Malenko until Malenko sent him backstage; it was noted before the match that Malenko would face Chris Benoit at Hog Wild
WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri) defeated Dick Slater & Mike Enos at 7:40 when Booker T pinned Slater with a roll up and grabbing the tights for leverage after Sherri kissed Slater behind the referee's back; Col. Rob Parker walked with both teams during their entrance
Madusa pinned Malia Hosaka at 4:07 with a German suplex into a bridge; during the bout, it was noted Madusa would face Bull Nakano at Hog Wild with the winner getting to destroy the other's motorcycle
Meng (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Arn Anderson at 10:58 with a kick to the face after the Barbarian, who appeared ringside mid-way through the bout, hit a clothesline from behind on the apron behind the referee's back; during the bout, there was a brief chant of "Hogan;" Scott Hall & Kevin Nash were shown watching the match from the stage
Eddie Guerrero defeated Chris Benoit via count-out at 9:38 after Dean Malenko ran out and rammed Benoit's head into the ringpost as the referee tended to Guerrero on the floor; prior to the bout, it was noted Guerrero would challenge WCW US Champion Ric Flair at Hog Wild; during the match, Hall & Nash were shown to no longer be at the top of the stage, where they covered up the WCW letters earlier in the show
WCW TV Champion Lex Luger fought Big Bubba (w/ Jimmy Hart) to a no contest at 11:30 when Kevin Nash & Scott Hall interfered and double teamed Luger as Hulk Hogan came in the ring; prior to the bout, it was shown that the "NWO" letters which Hall & Nash used to cover the WCW letters on the stage had been removed; during the match, a limo was shown near ringside, with Hall & Nash standing beside it; after the bout, Nash dropped Luger with the powerbomb; after Luger was knocked to the floor, Hogan helped Bubba to his feet and shook his hand, with Hall & Nash then jumping Bubba and throwing him to the floor as well; moments later, Gene Okerlund entered the ring as the crowd chanted "Diesel," with Hogan then saying he wish he would have done this two years earlier, he was bigger than wrestling, and that the nWo would rule wrestling; Hogan then said he led all the kids on the right path but they booed him anyway, that he remembered when Sting was a skinny kid in Venice Beach, and that Randy Savage blamed his divorce on Hogan; he then said he made wrestling as the ring became filled with trash; Hogan continued by saying he wasn't going to waste time with Sting or Savage because he wanted WCW World Champion the Giant at Hog Wild and would take the title; he finished by challenging anyone from the back to come out to face them, with Rick & Scott Steiner, Meng & Barbarian, and Arn Anderson the surrounding the ring as the show ended
WCW @ Orlando, FL - Disney / MGM Studios - July 22, 1996 (450; all freebies)
Monday Nitro:
David Taylor defeated Scott Norton via disqualification
Konnan defeated VK Wallstreet
Jim Powers, Joe Gomez, Renegade, & Alex Wright defeated Kevin Sullivan, the Leprechaun, Hugh Morrus, & the Barbarian via disqualification when WCW World Champion the Giant interfered, with the Giant then accepting Hulk Hogan's challenge from last week for Hog Wild; most of the match was not shown on TV after Kevin Nash & Scott Hall invaded the control room and forced the production crew to move the cameras off the ring
Diamond Dallas Page defeated Prince Iaukea
Dean Malenko defeated Chavo Guerrero Jr.
Meng defeated Ice Train via disqualification when Scott Norton interfered
Eddie Guerrero defeated Psychosis
Sting, Randy Savage, & WCW TV Champion Lex Luger defeated Chris Benoit, Arn Anderson, & Steve McMichael at 6:41
WCW @ Orlando, FL - Disney / MGM Studios - July 29, 1996 (450; all freebies)
Monday Nitro - featured footage of Greg Sacks winning the Talladega 500k over the weekend while driving the WCW car; included from WCW Saturday Night of Scott Hall & Kevin Nash waiting for Sting & WCW TV Champion Lex Luger outside the arena in Cincinnati on 7/24; after Luger was called away for a phone call, Hall & Nash jumped Sting in the parking lot; included the announcement that Randy Savage would face Chris Benoit, WCW World Champion the Giant would face Brian Knobbs, and WCW US Champion Ric Flair would face Chavo Guerrero Jr. the coming weekend on WCW Saturday Night; featured a vignette promoting the debut of Glacier; Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyzsko joined Eric Bischoff on commentary for the second hour after Bobby Heenan walked out of the show following the backstage attack by Scott Hall & Kevin Nash; included a nWo vignette in which Hulk Hogan said Ted Turner wouldn't be able to fix WCW after the nWo gets done with it; moments later, Hall & Nash said Sting & Luger had gotten soft and Hogan said he would take the WCW World Title at Hog Wild; Bischoff left the commentary team before the last match to check on the condition of the injured wrestlers:
Jim Duggan pinned Mike Enos at 7:30 after hitting him with a taped fist; during the bout, Tony Schiavone questioned whether WCW US Champion Ric Flair had joined the New World Order because he wasn't at the previous week's show; after the contest, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Duggan regarding Hulk Hogan in which Duggan said the first words his oldest daughter said were Hulkster and that he didn't want to wrestle Hogan, he wanted to beat him up
Sting, Randy Savage, & WCW TV Champion Lex Luger fought WCW US Champion Ric Flair, Chris Benoit, & Steve McMichael (w/ Elizabeth, Woman, & Debra McMichael) to a double count-out at 13:23 when all the participants went backstage after Jimmy Hart came ringside and said Scott Hall & Kevin Nash were backstage; during the bout, it was announced Benoit would face Dean Malenko at Hog Wild and that Sting & Luger would face Hall & Nash; late in the match, a cameraman showed Hall & Nash, holding a baseball bat, standing over Arn Anderson and Marcus Alexander Bagwell; moments later, Scotty Riggs came out of a trailer and was laid out as well; WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. then leapt from the trailer onto Nash but Nash caught him in mid-air and threw him head-first into the trailer; moments later, Savage jumped on the Outsiders' limo as they drove off; after the commercial break, ambulances arrived as Sting, Luger, Alex Wright, the Horsemen, Hart, and Eddie Guerrero tended to the injured; during the segment, Mysterio said that there were four attackers; Mysterio was unmasked after he was placed on the stretcher but covered his face with his hands; Wright left with Mysterio, telling Guerrero to stay for his match; moments later, Meng confronted Benoit with Benoit and McMichael telling Meng now wasn't the time; following the commercial break, Eric Bischoff & Bobby Heenan joined the broadcast team for the second hour, with Heenan quickly saying he wasn't going to do the show because he already had a history of neck problems and WCW couldn't guarantee his safety; as most of the activity was outside of the crowd's view, chants of "boring" were heard as the remainder of those injured were placed on stretchers; Bagwell and Anderson shared an ambulance, with Flair, Woman, and Sting riding in the same ambulance
Rick & Scott Steiner defeated High Voltage (sub. for Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Scotty Riggs) at 4:46 when Scott pinned Rage following a modified tombstone; prior to the segment, WCW TV Champion Lex Luger was shown backstage tending to Scotty Riggs as Riggs was put into an ambulance; during the contest, Rick stood on the floor while not the legal man and watched the backstage area to make sure he wasn't attacked from behind until Scott eventually got him focused on the match
Eddie Guerrero pinned Big Bubba (w/ Jimmy Hart) (sub. for WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr.) at 10:47 with a sunset flip into the ring as Bubba attempted to use Hart's megaphone as a weapon; during the match, Bischoff said WCW had been contacted by a national news agency about the backstage incident earlier in the show
WCW World Champion the Giant (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Greg Valentine (sub. for Arn Anderson) after hitting a chokeslam as Valentine stood on the middle turnbuckle and then following with a second chokeslam at 1:42
WCW @ Orlando, FL - MGM Studios - August 5, 1996 (450; sell out; all freebies)
Monday Nitro:
WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat defeated the Rock 'n' Roll Express
Malia Osaka defeated Madusa
Alex Wright defeated Chris Benoit via count-out
Randy Savage pinned Lord Steven Regal with the flying elbowsmash at 6:12; late in the bout, Sting & Lex Luger came out and sat ringside as protection from the nWo; after the bout, Sting & Luger found a wreath inside the nWo's limo which said "Condolences;" moments later, Gene Okerlund interviewed Savage in the ring about Hulk Hogan in which he said he wanted whatever the Giant left behind; moments later, Savage took the wreath from Sting & Luger and destroyed it; the limo then left the area
The Booty Man defeated WCW US Champion Ric Flair via disqualification
WCW World Champion the Giant defeated Sgt. Craig Pittman
Sting & WCW TV Champion Lex Luger defeated the Nasty Boys
WCW @ Casper, WY - Events Center - August 12, 1996 (6,408; 4,220 paid)
Monday Nitro - featured Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyzsko on commentary for the first hour and Eric Bischoff & Bobby Heenan on for the second hour; included an opening segment showing stills from the Sting / Lex Luger vs. Outsiders match from Hog Wild; featured the announcement that WCW US Champion Ric Flair would face WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan at the Clash of the Champions Thursday in Denver; included Sting & Luger coming out to ringside and issuing a challenge then and there for the nWo to face them but the nWo never appeared; featured a vignette promoting the debut of Glacier; included a backstage promo from WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, & Scott Hall responding to the challenge of Sting & Luger in which they said they would face them later in the show, during which Hogan made mention of there being a fourth and fifth member and said the WCW fans would abandon Sting & Luger after they lose again; featured the announcement that the Four Horsemen would compete in an 8-man tag team match and the Giant would also be in action during the upcoming WCW Saturday Night; included still photos from Rick & Scott Steiner / Harlem Heat tag team title match from Hog Wild after which it was announced the two would battle in a rematch during the second hour of the show; featured footage of Madusa destroying Bull Nakano's motorcycle at Hog Wild; included still photos from the Hulk Hogan / Giant world title match at Hog Wild along with footage of the nWo attacking the Booty Man after the match and Hogan spraypainting "NWO" across the world title belt; featured Okerlund interviewing Hogan in the aisle with Hogan saying he didn't attack Ric Flair earlier in the show because he wanted there to be no excuses after he beats Flair at the Clash of the Champions; included footage from two week's earlier after Arn Anderson was attacked by the nWo backstage:
The Barbarian, Meng, Hugh Morrus, & Kevin Sullivan (w/ Jimmy Hart & Big Bubba) defeated Mike Enos, Dick Slater, & High Voltage at 2:40 when Meng pinned Rage with a kick to the face after he missed a reverse crossbody off the top; after the bout, Rough & Ready attacked their own tag team partners before leaving the ring
Diamond Dallas Page pinned the Renegade at 5:45 by reversing a suplex attempt into the Diamond Cutter; during the bout, it was announced DDP would be part of Thursday's Clash of the Champions
Mexican Heavyweight Champion Konnan pinned Jim Powers at 3:21 with both feet on the ropes for leverage after kicking Powers as he ran into the corner; during the bout, it was announced Konnan would be part of the Clash of the Champions; after the match, Gene Okerlund interviewed Konnan in the ring about his recent breaking of the rules with Konnan saying he was supporting WCW against the nWo
Chris Benoit (w/ Woman & Miss Elizabeth) pinned Ron Studd at 3:31 with a superplex; after the bout, Okerlund interviewed Benoit in the ring about him facing the Giant at Clash of the Champions as well as his match at Hog Wild Saturday against Dean Malenko (Studd's TV debut)
Rick & Scott Steiner defeated WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri & Col. Parker) via disqualification at 8:57 when Rick ran Parker into the ring, with Parker tripping over Booker T as Booker had Scott covered; moments prior to the finish, Sherri swept Scott's foot out as he attempted to suplex Booker into the ring, with Booker falling on top and Sherri grabbing Scott's foot for leverage from outside the ring; after the bout, the champions argued with Parker for costing them the match until Sherri stepped in-between
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned the Ultimo Dragon (w/ Sonny Ono) at 4:34 by reversing a powerbomb attempt into a sunset flip; prior to the match, still photos were shown from their match Saturday at Hog Wild
WCW US Champion Ric Flair (w/ Woman & Miss Elizabeth) pinned Randy Savage at 11:43 after WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan came out and hit Savage in the back and over the head with a chair as Savage attempted to hit a piledriver on Flair outside the ring; prior to the match, still photos were shown from Flair's match against Eddie Guerrero Saturday at Hog Wild; after the bout, the commentators discussed Hogan not touching Flair
Sting & Lex Luger fought Kevin Nash & Scott Hall to a no contest at around 3:40 when WCW US Champion Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, and Steve McMichael rushed the ring after the Outsiders began getting away with things that should have gotten them disqualified and it appeared referee Nick Patrick pulled Hall out of the corner as Sting attempted a Stinger Splash, with the Outsiders and Patrick quickly leaving the ring; after the match, Okerlund interviewed the Horsemen at the entrance stage with Flair saying he didn't like Sting or Luger but would play ball with them because they're WCW and the Horsemen were ready for whomever the nWo had in their group
WCW @ Huntsville, AL - Von Braun Civic Center - August 19, 1996 (5,850; 3,760 paid)
Monday Nitro:
Jim Duggan defeated Vk Wallstreet
Chris Benoit (w/ Woman & Elizabeth) pinned Bobby Eaton with a lariat and the diving headbutt at 4:03
Scott Norton defeated Disco Inferno
Dean Malenko defeated Lord Steven Regal
The Nasty Boys defeated Public Enemy
Chavo Guerrero Jr. defeated Diamond Dallas Page
WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Scotty Riggs
The Giant fought Randy Savage to a no contest
WCW @ Lakeland, FL - Manatee Civic Center - August 26, 1996 (1,384; sell out)
Monday Nitro:
Juventud Guerrera defeated Billy Kidman at 3:40 (Guerrera's surprise debut)
Kevin Sullivan & Big Bubba defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Jim Powers at 4:20
Chavo Guerrero Jr. defeated Mike Enos at 4:35
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated JL at 14:04
The Giant defeated Jim Duggan at 4:34
Ric Flair & Arn Anderson defeated Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson at 4:28
Chris Jericho fought Alex Wright to a no contest at 4:52 when, after Wright hit his head against the ringside barrier while jumping to the floor, Jericho told the referee he didn't want to win via count-out, thus giving up his easy victory; after the bout, Gene Okerlund interviewed Jericho at ringside with Jericho saying he didn't come to WCW to take easy wins and that men like himself and Wright would stand up to Hulk Hogan and the nWo (Jericho's debut) (Before they Were Superstars 2)
Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Bobby Easton & Dave Taylor at 3:29
Sting & Lex Luger fought Chris Benoit & Steve McMichael to a no contest at 5:42 when the nWo interfered
WCW @ Chattanooga, TN - UTC Arena - September 2, 1996 (5,893; 5,180 paid)
Monday Nitro:
Diamond Dallas Page defeated Alex Wright
WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat defeated Greg Valentine & Buddy Valentino at 4:17 when Booker T pinned Valentino with the Harlem Hangover; Ted Dibiase appeared in the crowd during the opening moments of the match and took a ringside seat (the debut of referee Mark Curtis)
Chris Jericho defeated Dean Malenko
The Giant defeated Brad Armstrong
Randy Savage defeated Ron Studd
Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Sting & Lex Luger via disqualification
WCW US Champion Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, & Steve McMichael defeated Kevin Sullivan, Big Bubba, the Barbarian, & Meng
WCW @ Columbus, GA - Civic Center - September 9, 1996 (6,000)
Monday Nitro - featured clips from the previous week of the Giant joining the New World Order; included Gene Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Rick Steiner regarding his rematch later in the show against Lex Luger; moments later, Luger walked in and the two talked about the controversial decision the previous week, with Luger noting he would be part of Wargames the coming weekend; featured an ad promoting the nWo T-shirt, with Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and the Giant; included footage from WCW Pro during the weekend of Glacier's debut; featured Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Luger, WCW US Champion Ric Flair, & Arn Anderson regarding their participation Sunday in Wargames, during which Flair repeatedly questioned Luger about where Sting was; moments later, Steve McMichael & Chris Benoit walked in, with McMichael saying Flair & Anderson couldn't trust Sting & Luger and the fact Sting wasn't around proved that; Anderson then said he's got himself a hospital room booked in Winston-Salem because he expects to get hurt and the nWo should expect the same; included footage from the Clash of the Champions of Diamond Dallas Page attacking Eddie Guerrero and Chavo Guerrero Jr. beating Page weeks earlier on Nitro, during which it was announced Page would face Chavo at Fall Brawl; featured footage from outside the arena of WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan, the Giant, Scott Hall & Kevin Nash putting fliers on cars in the rain; nearby, Ted Dibiase was shown speaking to someone in a black limo; included the announcement that WCW Saturday Night would feature Diamond Dallas Page vs. Jim Duggan, Rick Steiner vs. Kurasawa, plus Lex Luger, Scott Norton, Chris Benoit, and the Nasty Boys would be in action; featured an extended look at the previous week's episode regarding the nWo, alongside exclusive footage of Kevin Sullivan, the Barbarian, & Meng helping Randy Savage backstage after Savage was attacked by the nWo; included a nWo vignette with Hogan, Dibiase, Hall & Nash regarding Wargames, during which Dibiase said the nWo gets their own segment, their own tag team tournament, and it would be on WCW's tab if they won Wargames; featured closing footage of the 'Sting' attack on Luger earlier in the show:
Super Calo pinned Pat Tanaka at 2:26 when Tanaka failed an attempt at a suplex off the top, with Calo falling on top for the win; Tanaka used what would later be Bill Goldberg's theme music; Mike Tenay provided guest commentary for the bout alongside Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyszko; prior to the bout, it was announced Calo would challenge WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. at Fall Brawl; during the contest, cameras outside the arena showed teenagers wearing nWo T-shirts and carrying what appeared to be boxes of flyers (Calo's debut)
The Nasty Boys defeated Jacques Rougeau & Carl Oulette at 3:26 when Jerry Saggs pinned Oulette after Brian Knobbs hit Oulette in the head with the Quebec flag behind the referee's back; prior to the bout, it was noted Randy Savage would face the Giant and the Nastys would challenge WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat at Fall Brawl; during the match, the teens shown outside the arena earlier in the show were shown distributing nWo fliers in the crowd; after the contest, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with the Nastys, during which Okerlund referred to their opponents as 'the Rougeau Brothers,' about their title match at Fall Brawl against Harlem Heat; during the interview, they said they didn't care what the nWo was doing because they were focused on the tag team titles (Rougeau & Oulette's debut)
Scott Norton defeated Sgt. Craig Pittman (w/ Teddy Long) in a hold vs. hold submission match at 2:59; during the bout, it was noted Norton would face Ice Train in a submission match at Fall Brawl; late in the bout, as Norton had Pittman in the armbar, Train came out and threw in the towel for his own safety; after the contest, Norton faced off with Train before leaving the ring
Juventud Guerrera pinned Joe Gomez at 2:13 with the hero con plancha; Mike Tenay provided guest commentary for the bout alongside Schiavone & Zbyszko; prior to the bout, it was noted an injured Psychosis would not be able to face Mexican Heavyweight Champion Konnan at Fall Brawl and Guerrera would compete in his place; after the bout, Okerlund conducted an interview with Nick Patrick in the aisle about his controversial call the previous week during the Rick & Scott Steiner vs. Sting & Lex Luger match, with Patrick saying Luger struck him on purpose and should be suspended for chasing him out of the arena the previous week; Patrick then told Okerlund that if he kept pushing his buttons then he would see him in court
Rick Steiner defeated Lex Luger via count-out at 6:57 when referee Nick Patrick came ringside and urged Luger to come outside; moments later, Sting's voice was heard inside the black limo speaking with Ted Dibiase; Luger then came out and asked Dibiase where Sting was, with a man appearing to be Sting then coming out of the limo and kicking Sting, with the other New World Order members helping in ganging up on Luger; eventually, Luger fought off the limo chauffer, with the nWo leaving the area; after the commercial break, Luger, alongside Scott Norton, Brian Knobbs, Jacques Rougeau, Carl Oulette, and others searched one of the limos outside the arena after the other limo was said to have driven away
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned Billy Kidman at 1:40 with a somersault senton onto a standing Kidman
The Barbarian & Meng (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated the Public Enemy at 10:41 when Meng pinned Grunge with the Tongan Death Grip; Braun the Lephrachaun briefly appeared ringside during the match; during the bout, Okerlund conducted a backstage interview with Flair, Anderson, and Luger, with Chris Benoit and Steve McMichael in the background, regarding Sting turning his back on them to join the nWo; late in the bout, the Barbarian crashed through a table on the floor after missing a headbutt onto Grunge, with Public Enemy hitting the FlyBy moments later in the ring on Meng through a table; after the contest, Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Hart, Meng, Barbarian, Sullivan, Mexican Heavyweight Champion Konnan, Big Bubba, Hugh Morrus, and Maxx regarding the Giant joining the nWo, during which Bubba called out Glacier
John Tenta defeated Randy Savage via count-out at around the 2-minute mark when, after Savage twice hit the flying elbowsmash, Teddy Long ran out and told Savage that the nWo had returned to the arena; Tenta used what would later be Chris Jericho's theme music for the bout; during the match, Eric Bischoff clarified Meng was not associated with any other wrestling organization after Bobby Heenan accidentally called him 'Haku' during the previous contest; after the bout, Long showed Savage the nWo limo in the parking lot, with WCW US Champion Ric Flair, WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr., Arn Anderson, Brian Knobbs, Chris Benoit, Kevin Sullivan, Rick Steiner, Mexican Heavyweight Champion Konnan, Public Enemy, Meng & Barbarian, Jimmy Hart, and more digging through the limo, finding yellow spraypaint and spraypainting the limo; moments later, the Four Horsemen joined the commentary team, with Anderson mentioning the original Horsemen and saying they taught Hogan out it was done and saying they would take Sting's head if he's the nWo's fourth man in Wargames; Flair then ranted on Hogan and the nWo, saying Hogan wouldn't leave Winston-Salem alive
WCW @ Asheville, NC - Civic Center - September 16, 1996 (5,000; 2,800 paid)
Monday Nitro - featured still photos from the previous night's Wargames, post-match attack on Randy Savage, and Hulk Hogan spraypainting Elizabeth; moments later, Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyszko discussed the fake Sting and noted the real Sting was in Japan the previous week; included footage from earlier in the night of nWo fliers being passed out as fans came into the arena; included an ad promoting the nWo T-shirt; featured Mike Tenay conducting a backstage interview with Chris Benoit & Steve McMichael, alongside Debra McMichael, regarding their match later in the night against Sting & Lex Luger and the fact Sting & Luger dropped the ball in Wargames; included a vignette detailing the training and experience of Glacier; featured footage of Sean Waltman sitting ringside, during which it was noted he was known as the 1-2-3 Kid in the WWF and was no longer with the company; included the announcement Jacques Rougeau & Carl Oulette, Jim Powers, WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr., Kevin Sullivan & Mexican Heavyweight Champion Konnan would be in action as part of WCW Saturday Night; featured Mike Tenay conducting an interview in the aisle with Savage in which they reviewed still photos from his match with the Giant at Fall Brawl and discussed Savage's match at Halloween Havoc with WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan; moments later, cameras outside the arena saw Hogan, the fake Sting, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and Ted Dibiase celebrating the Wargames win beside their limo; included an in-ring segment in which Sting walked out, took the mic, and discussed the WCW wrestlers doubting him after the events of the previous week; Sting then said he had given Luger the benefit of the doubt a dozen times in the past year, he had given his blood, sweat, and tears to WCW, and said he would continue to stand by the wrestlers and fans that never doubted him; he then told those that did doubt him to stick it, that he was now a free agent, but that he would continue to appear when they least expected it; Sting then left the ring and slapped fans' hands as he went backstage; featured an ad for the Four Horsemen T-shirt:
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned Juventud Guerrera at around the 9-minute mark with a hurricanrana off the top; during the bout, Tony Schiavone said it would be revealed in the coming weeks as to what the nWo's demands would be coming off their win at Wargames; late in the bout, footage was shown outside the arena of nWo fans with signs and fliers; Mike Tenay provided guest commentary for the bout
Diamond Dallas Page defeated Ice Train (w/ Teddy Long) at 4:41; during the bout, it was noted Randy Savage would challenge WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan at Halloween Havoc; at the finish of the bout, footage was shown of nWo fans blocking the WCW merchandise table in the arena; upon replay, it was shown that Page grabbed Long's white towel and threw it in the ring himself behind referee Nick Patrick's back as Train had him caught in a full nelson; moments later, it was shown that the nWo fans were now selling nWo merchandise
Mexican Heavyweight Champion Konnan (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Super Calo with a sit-down crucifix powerbomb at 6:44; Mike Tenay provided guest commentary for the match; after the bout, Tenay conducted a ringside interview with Sean Waltman about why he was in attendance; Waltman was not referred to by name
Brad Armstrong pinned Hugh Morrus at 3:56 with a crucifix as Morrus made a lazy cover after hitting the moonsault
Scott Norton defeated Randy Savage via disqualification at 6:35 when, as the two were fighting on the floor, Savage repeatedly struck Norton over the head with a steel chair; during the bout, it was noted several top WCW stars would be overseas the following week as part of a Japan tour; after the bout, referee Nick Patrick came ringside, with Savage punching him in the face
Glacier pinned Big Bubba at 2:41 with a spinning side kick to the face; the entirety of the bout took place under Glacier's blue entrance lighting (Glacier's Nitro debut)
WCW US Champion Ric Flair & Arn Anderson (w/ Woman) defeated Chris Jericho & Marcus Alexander Bagwell at 10:10 when Flair pinned Bagwell with the figure-4 and holding onto Woman for added leverage, moments after Bagwell sustained an eye rake from Woman and DDT from Anderson; prior to the bout, a backstage camera showed Elizabeth too scared to go ringside after the events of Fall Brawl; following the ring entrances, Sean Waltman was shown pushing a button in the crowd, with then thousands of nWo fliers dropping from the ceiling; moments later, the commentary team noted Waltman had revealed himself as the sixth member of the nWo; during the contest, Eric Bischoff said the nWo earned their own show as per their demands before Wargames; Anderson had a bandage above his eye as a result of Wargames; mid-way through the match, the nWo and Waltman were shown outside listening to the audio of Sting they used to trick everyone the previous week
Lex Luger defeated Chris Benoit & Steve McMichael (w/ Debra McMichael) via disqualification in a handicap match at 5:59 when WCW US Champion Ric Flair & Arn Anderson ran out as Luger had Benoit in the Torture Rack; the bout was scheduled as Sting & Luger vs. Benoit & McMichael but Sting did not appear; it was noted during the contest that Luger, Sting, Flair, Dean Malenko, Rick & Scott Steiner, Hugh Morrus, Eddie Guerrero, WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal, Chris Benoit, and Anderson would be among those scheduled to be in Japan the following Monday; after the contest, Flair, Anderson, McMichael, & Benoit attacked Luger; moments later, the nWo sent word that their newest member would be referred to as Syxx; the nWo was then shown in their limo talking about the fact that Randy Savage would be the only top WCW wrestler who would be at Nitro the next week
WCW @ Cleveland, OH - Convocation Center - September 23, 1996 (4,308)
Monday Nitro:
Kevin Sullivan & Konnan defeated Juventud Guerrera & Brad Armstrong
Chris Jericho defeated Mike Enos
Glacier defeated Pat Tanaka
Public Enemy defeated WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat to win the titles
Greg Valentine defeated Randy Savage via disqualification
Syxx defeated Jim Duggan (Sean Waltman's in-ring debut)
nWo Sting defeated Bo LaDue
Scott Hall & Kevin Nash defeated High Voltage
WCW @ ? - September 30, 1996
Monday Nitro - featured an opening statement by Eric Bischoff at the announce table in which he made note of WCW's lengthy history, insulted the nWo, said his only regret was hiring Hulk Hogan, and said the nWo's actions would not be tolerated any more and would stop; included Mike Tenay conducting a backstage interview with Chris Benoit, Steve McMichael, and Debra in which McMichael said he was there to support the 4 Horsement and to be ready if the nWo tried to attack someone, with Benoit then cutting a promo on his match later in the night against Rick Steiner; featurd a nWo paid advertisement - now paid by WCW - from the Cleveland Mariott with Hulk Hogan and his son Nick, Fake Sting, Kyle Petty, the Giant, Scott Hall & Kevin Nash, Syxx, and Ted Dibiase in which they welcomed the WCW stars back from Japan and Nash said Debra McMichael wanted him; included footage of Randy Savage assaulting referee Mark Curtis and Nick Patrick two days earlier during WCW Saturday Night, with Tenay then introducing Savage for an interview in the aisle but Savage never appeared; featured a nWo segment from the Mariott in which the Nasty Boys joined the party with the rest of the nWo and Jerry Saggs did an Eric Bischoff impression with his ass; included the announcement of the following matches for the following weekend's WCW Saturday Night: the Rock 'n' Roll Express vs. Chris Benoit & Steve McMichael, Harlem Heat vs. WCW Tag Team Champions Public Enemy, and Jim Powers vs. Disco Inferno; featured Tenay conducting a backstage interview with Arn Anderson, Woman, and Elizabeth in which Anderson and Woman confronted Elizabeth about not being on the same page and her seemingly still having feelings for Randy Savage; included Schiavone introducing the WCW motorsports car which had been renamed the Sting car, as a peace offering following what happened between Sting and WCW at Fall Brawl; featured a segment of the nWo at the Mariott in which Kyle Petty talked about driving the new nWo car and Hogan cut a promo on facing Randy Savage at Halloween Havoc; included a closing segment of the nWo at the Mariott in which Elizabeth was shown sitting on the couch inbetween the Giant and Hogan, with Hogan offering Elizabeth a movie career; moments later, Elizabeth walked out of the hotel room and down the hall, just as Randy Savage ran down the hall and confronted her about why she was there:
WCW Tag Team Champions Public Enemy defeated Juventud Guerrera & El Technico (Billy Kidman) at 2:05 when Rocco Rock pinned Technico following a Drive By from the top rope (not turnbuckle); after the bout, the champions put Technico through a table and celebrated in the crowd
Alex Wright pinned Dean Malenko at 8:33 with an Oklahoma side roll after avoiding a crossbody off the top; Malenko came to the ring in possession of Rey Mysterio Jr.'s mask which he stole two days earlier during WCW Saturday Night
Eddie Guerrero pinned Jim Powers (w/ Teddy Long) at 6:25 with a German suplex into a bridge; prior to the bout, it was announced Guerrero would face Diamond Dallas Page at Halloween Havoc for the Battlebowl ring; 1996 Greco-Roman super heavyweight Olympian silver medalist Matt Ghaffari was shown sitting ringside during the match; Nick Patrick was the referee for the bout and wore a neckbrace following the assault he took from Savage two days earlier; after the bout, Long argued with Patrick for several moments that Powers had his shoulder up before the 3-count
Hugh Morrus pinned Brad Armstrong at 4:15 after two moonsaults; prior to the bout, it was announced Lex Luger would face Arn Anderson at Halloween Havoc; after the match, Anderson and Woman were shown talking with Elizabeth backstage in which they told her to get her head in the game
Arn Anderson (w/ Woman) pinned Chris Jericho at 5:33 with the DDT after avoiding a springboard moonsault; prior to the match, an angry Bischoff left the commentary team to find the nWo at their hotel, with Tony Schiavone taking his spot; Elizabeth was shown watching the match from backstage until she got up and walked off; after the commercial break, Elizabeth was shown walking out the arena with her bags
Lex Luger defeated Michael Wallstreet via submission with the Torture Rack at 7:22
Meng & the Barbarian (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated the Rock 'n' Roll Express at 12:03 when the Barbarian pinned Robert Gibson with a kick to the back of the head; after the bout, WCW Tag Team Champions Public Enemy attempted to make the save but were beaten down as well, with Meng splashing Johnny Grunge's already injured left knee
Chris Benoit (w/ Steve McMichael & Debra) pinned Rick Steiner at 4:24 after McMichael hit Steiner in the back with his Halliburton as Steiner attempted a belly to belly off the top, with Benoit falling on top for the win; after the bout, it was announced Benoit & McMichael would face Meng & the Barbarian at Halloween Havoc
WCW @ Savannah, GA - Civic Center - October 7, 1996 (4,300)
Monday Nitro:
WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri & Col. Rob Parker) defeated Public Enemy in a non-title match when Booker T pinned Johnny Grunge following a kneedrop off the top as a steel chair was laid across Grunge's bad knee, moments after Parker crotched Rocco Rock on the top and caused him to fall through a table set up at ringside; prior to the bout, footage was shown of the Heat regaining the titles two days earlier on WCW Saturday Night; mid-way through the bout, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Ted Dibiase, Vincent, & Syxx appeared in the crowd, with Hall, Nash & Dibiase cutting a promo on facing Heat at Halloween Havoc before disappearing
Diamond Dallas Page defeated Jim Powers
Meng & the Barbarian defeated High Voltage
Glacier defeated Mike Winner
Jeff Jarrett defeated Hugh Morrus via submission with the figure-4
Arn Anderson (w/ Woman) pinned the Renegade at 7:07 with the DDT after clubbing Renegade in the back of the head as he attempted a second springboard elbow in the corner; after the bout, Anderson hung Renegade upside down in the corner and continued to assault him until Lex Luger came out and scared Anderson to the floor
Lex Luger defeated Dave Taylor via submission with the Torture Rack at 2:36; during the bout, Luger cut an insert promo on wanting to regain the WCW TV Title from Lord Steven Regal as well as his upcoming match at Halloween Havoc against Arn Anderson; after the bout, Anderson jumped Luger from behind in the aisle with a steel chair and assaulted him until he was sent backstage by referees
Rick Steiner (w/ Scott Steiner) defeated Chris Benoit (w/ Steve McMichael & Debra) at around the 10:30 mark when Rick stole away McMichael's Halliburton as he attempted to hit Scott with it and then hit both McMichael and Benoit with the weapon; during the bout, it was announced Rick would soon be teaming with the Great Muta, instead of his injured brother, in a New Japan tag team tournament
WCW US Champion Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage
WCW @ Memphis, TN - Mid-South Coliseum - October 14, 1996 (6,930; 5,650 paid)
Monday Nitro - featured a closing segment in which the entire nWo came out, with Elizabeth, and Hulk Hogan cut an in-ring pomo about facing Randy Savage at Halloween Havoc; moments later, the Nasty Boys came out in nWo attire and slapped hands with Hogan before they were both beaten down by the nWo, after Hogan said they couldn't wear the colors until Hogan said they could; moments later, the backs of the Nasty Boys were spraypainted as Hogan said the same would happen to Savage and that Elizabeth dreamed about Hogan night and day before Savage's marriage fell apart; the nWo then took over the commentary table, with Hall & Nash cutting a promo on Harlem Heat before a clip was shown of Savage earlier in the show listening to Elizabeth saying she still loved him:
Dean Malenko pinned Scott Armstrong with a three-quarter nelson
Jim Duggan defeated Michael Wallstreet
Hugh Morrus pinned Jim Powers
Lex Luger defeated Greg Valentine via submission with the Torture Rack
Eddie Guerrero defeated the Cheetah Kid
Jeff Jarrett pinned Big Bubba (w/ Jimmy Hart) after dropkicking Hart's megaphone into Bubba's face as Bubba attempted to use it as a weapon; after the bout, Tony Schiavone interviewed Jarrett in the aisle and announced Jarrett's wish to face the Giant at Halloween Havoc, taking the place of Ric Flair, had been granted; Jarrett then said he would make the nWo respect Flair, WCW, and himself
WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri & Col. Parker) fought Meng & the Barbarian to a no contest in a non-title match at 7:18 when the match stopped when both teams confronted Scott Hall & Kevin Nash after Hall & Nash came through the crowd; within the opening minute of the bout, Chris Benoit, Steve McMichael & Debra came out and briefly watched Meng & the Barbarian; after the bout, Hall & Nash walked back up through the crowd
WCW @ Mankato, MN - Civic Center - October 21, 1996 (4,034)
Monday Nitro - included an opening clip from last week's show of Randy Savage reacting to Elizabeth confessing she still loved him, with Savage then leaving the arena in his limo; featured a video package of WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr.; included the announcement Scott Hall & Kevin Nash would compete in a tag team match during the nWo portion of WCW Saturday Night the following weekend; featured a recap of WCW US Champion Ric Flair being attacked by the nWo two weeks ago and Jeff Jarrett challenging the Giant, taking Flair's spot, a week ago; included a longer recap of the previous week's clip of Elizabeth sitting on her porch swing confessing to Savage that she still loved him, with Savage then walking out of the arena and into his limo:
Chris Jericho pinned Bobby Eaton at 7:05 with a missile dropkick; prior to the bout, Syxx & the fake Sting were shown underneath a nWo banner in the crowd and Syxx videotaping the match; it was announced during the contest that Syxx would face Chris Jericho at Halloween Havoc; after the bout, Tony Schiavone interviewed Jericho at ringside about his upcoming bout at the pay-per-view
Dean Malenko defeated Jimmy Graffitti at 6:38 via submission with the Texas Cloverleaf after avoiding a missile dropkick; prior to the bout, Malenko came to the ring with Rey Mysterio Jr.'s mask (Graffitti's debut)
Diamond Dallas Page pinned Sgt. Craig Pittman (w/ Teddy Long) at 2:54 with the Diamond Cutter; after the bout, Long argued with referee Nick Patrick since he didn't notice DDP submitted while his back was turned; moments later, Schiavone interviewed Patrick at ringside about the match and the rumor he was the masked nWo referee on WCW Saturday Night, with Patrick denying he was
Jeff Jarrett defeated Ron Studd via submission with the figure-4 at 1:28; prior to the bout, Ric Flair came out to the ring, invited Jarrett to strut, and then did the same before shaking Jarrett's hand and returning backstage; after the bout, Schiavone interviewed Jarrett at ringside about his match at Halloween Havoc against the Giant and said he was targetting Giant's leg, with Flair then returning and saying he would be in Jarrett's corner at Havoc after his operation; the Giant was shown in the crowd watching on during the segment
Lex Luger defeated Roadblock via submission with the Torture Rack at 3:47 after trying three times to put him in the hold; during the bout, Arn Anderson cut an insert promo about his match with Luger at Havoc (Roadblock's debut)
WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri & Col. Parker) defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Scotty Riggs in a non-title match at 9:33 when Stevie Ray pinned Riggs following a side kick from Booker after Riggs knocked Parker off the ring apron; prior to the bout, Eric Bischoff congratulated the Atlanta Braves for their win over the New York Yankees during the World Series, with Bischoff then saying "We kinda make that a habit around here, don't we? Big win over New York;" during the bout, Scott Hall & Kevin Nash were shown in the crowd videotaping the match
Meng & the Barbarian (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers at 5:18 when the Barbarian pinned Rogers after Meng kicked Rogers in the head as Barbarian had Rogers held in the air after catching him from a crossbody off the top
nWo Sting fought JL to a no contest at around 1:40 when the real Sting, in a black trench coat and white fact paint, came out, attaked the fake Sting and put him in the Scorpion Deathlock before the nWo (save Hulk Hogan), who came ringside through the crowd before the bout got in the ring; after the bout, Ted Dibiase and Kevin Nash invited Sting to join the group, with Sting saying he may or may not be in their price range but "the only thing sure about Sting is nothing's for sure," with Sting then leaving ringside (Sting's first appearance in a month)
Chris Benoit fought Randy Savage to a no contest when Savage came out in all black street clothes and was interviewed by Eric Bischoff in the aisle, with Bischoff showing Savage footage of WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan, the Giant, and Elizabeth on the set of Hogan's "3 Ninjas" movie, with Hogan forcing Elizabeth to tell Savage she loved him and yelling at her to cooperate and not embarass him; Hogan "fired" director Sean McNamara during the clip and replaced him with the Giant, and made himself the producer; during the segment, Elizabeth said Hogan ruined her life twice; Bischoff said he wanted Savage to see the footage to prove Elizabeth was legit; after the footage, Savage said he realized friendships, relationships, and marriage were fragile before saying "But Hulk Hogan, life is fragile;" Savage then turned around and walked backstage as the show came to a close
WCW @ Phoenix, AZ - America West Arena - October 28, 1996 (6,300; 3,175 paid)
Monday Nitro:
WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal defeated Juventud Guerrera
Diamond Dallas Page defeated Mike Enos
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko defeated Jim Powers
Jeff Jarrett defeated Ricky Morton
High Voltage defeated the Amazing French Canadians via disqualification when the Nasty Boys interfered
Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Jimmy Graffiti
Chris Benoit defeated Eddie Guerrero
Booker T defeated Lex Luger via count-out
WCW @ Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena - November 4, 1996 (7,568)
Monday Nitro - featured an opening show of Sting standing in the rafters and the Giant & Ted Dibiase in the crowd looking up at Sting; moments later, Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyszko showed off the WCW Women's Title belt, which would be awarded to the winner of a tournament that would begin later in the show; it was announced Eric Bischoff was not on hand as he was in Portland, OR trying to strike a deal with Roddy Piper to face WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan; included an ad for the WCW Monday Nitro T-shirt staring Meng & the Barbarian, with subtitles; featured the announcement WCW Saturday Night would feature Jim Duggan vs. Lord Steven Regal, Harlem Heat vs. Jacques Rougeau & Carl Oulette, and Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko; included an ad for the nWo T-shirt staring the Giant, WCW Tag Team Champions Scott Hall & Kevin Nash; featured footage from the previous week of the Giant, in the crowd, cutting a promo on Jeff Jarrett; included Mike Tenay conducting an interview in the aisle with Jarrett, Chris Benoit, Woman, Steve McMichael, and Debra McMichael, during which Benoit & McMichael took exception to Jarrett considering himself a Horseman; after the other Horsemen went backstage, Jarrett told Tenay that WCW needed leadership as Sting was spotted in the crowd; moments later, Jarrett said Sting fumbled the ball at Fall Brawl but Jarrett, Ric Flair, or Piper could get the job done against the nWo; featured a segment in which Bischoff called in to the commentary team to report there had been a snag in negotiations between Piper and WCW but he would meet up with Piper the following Tuesday in Toronto to continue discussions; included, in full, Piper's appearance at Halloween Havoc; featured a closing segment in which Hogan, Dibiase, Giant, and Vincent came out, with Hogan showing a clip from his new movie, 'Santa with Muscles;' Hogan then noted the upcoming Cable ACE Awards, the fact Ted Turner would be sitting front row, and that Hogan and the nWo were still waiting on their invitations; Hogan then said he was deserved an award and would crash the award show; Hogan then said Piper was too scared to face him and then posed for the fans:
Marcus Alexander Bagwell (w/ Scotty Riggs) pinned Brad Armstrong at 7:57 when Bagwell landed on top as both men attempted a crossbody at the same time; during the bout, Sting, in the rafters, and the Giant and Ted Dibiase, in the crowd, were shown going backstage
Diamond Dallas Page pinned Ice Train (w/ Teddy Long) at 6:35 with the Diamond Cutter; prior to the bout, footage was shown from the previous week in which WCW Tag Team Champions Kevin Nash & Scott Hall celebrated Page's victory; early in the match, Nash & Hall appeared in the crowd; referee Nick Patrick wore a neckbrace for the contest; late in the bout, Hall & Nash assaulted Train in the ring with their title belts as Page and Patrick were on the floor; moments later, Train got up and traunted Hall & Nash, now in the aisle, until he sustained the Diamond Cutter
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko pinned Scotty Riggs (w/ Marcus Alexander Bagwell) at 3:23 with an Oklahoma side roll after Riggs was knocked off the top to the floor and Bagwell rolled his partner back inside the ring; prior to the bout, it was announced Malenko would defend against Psychosis at World War 3; during the contest, Syxx appeared in the crowd accompanied by several fans carrying nWo signs; after the match, Bagwell and Riggs had words over the loss
Chris Benoit (w/ Woman) pinned Hector Guerrero at around the 12-minute mark with a roll up and putting his feet on the ropes for leverage after Woman prevented Guerrero from getting a pin with a rolling cradle; during the bout, Kevin Sullivan & Jimmy Hart cut an insert promo on Sullivan's upcoming match with Benoit Nov. 23 in Baltimore; after the contest, the Giant, in possession of the WCW US Title, was shown in the crowd
WCW Women's Championship Tournament: Madusa pinned CMLL Women's Champion Reina Jubuki (a masked Akira Hokuto) in a non-title match at 3:14 with a reversal into the German suplex and bridge; referee Nick Patrick wore a neckbrace for the match; during the contest, Zero & Sonny Onoo appeared ringside
Chris Jericho pinned Michael Wallstreet with an inside cradle at 6:47; after the bout, Mike Tenay conducted an interview in the aisle with Nick Patrick and his attorney until Jericho interrupted, said Patrick wasn't injured, and was working for the nWo; moments later, Teddy Long came out and argued that Patrick let Ice Train lose earlier after the nWo's interference; Ted Dibiase and Vincent were then shown watching in the crowd
Lex Luger pinned Booker T (w/ Sister Sherri) at around the 8-minute mark with a forearm to the back of the head and roll up after Booker became distracted by Col. Rob Parker at ringside; during the bout, Luger cut an insert promo in which he asked Sting to talk to him about what's going on
WCW @ St. Petersburg, FL - Bayfront Center - November 11, 1996
Monday Nitro - in the background during the intro segment, security tended to a fan in the crowd who was waving a package in his hand, apparently trying to get the attention of Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyzsko; the commentary team did not notice the fan; featured footage from the previous week of Mike Tenay conducting an interview with Jeff Jarrett, with Chris Benoit and Steve McMichael stepping in when Jarrett claimed to be a Horseman; after Benoit & McMichael left and Jarrett continued his rant on WCW needing a leader to face the New World Order, Sting was shown in the crowd; included a segment where the same fan, Ken McDade, from the opening segment jumped the rail and gave the commentary team the package before he was ejected by security; a note the fan left with the commentary team said the video was a hit in Europe in 1992; featured footage of Ric Flair going through rehabilitation in Birmingham, AL with Dr. James Andrews; included Gene Okerlund conducting an interview in the aisle with Diamond Dallas Page regarding his being recruited by the New World Order; moments later, WCW Tag Team Champions Scott Hall & Kevin Nash appeared, with Page being offended that he would become the eigth member of the group; Nash replied they couldn't come to him earlier because Eric Bischoff lives two doors down from Page; featured the announcement that Jim Duggan, Chris Benoit, Hugh Morrus, Jacques Rougeau & Carl Oulette, WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko, and WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal would be part of WCW Saturday Night; included a segment where several men wearing nWo t-shirts and carrying pickett signs led Hall, Nash, & Syxx to the ring, with Hall saying he, Nash, and WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan would be heading to the West Coast Saturday for the Cable Ace Awards; Nash then said while the nWo already had a segment on WCW Saturday Night, they had plans to take Nitro in a few weeks; featured a segment with Ted Dibiase, with Vincent, in the crowd calling for Sting, who didn't appear, and thanked Sting for laying out Jeff Jarrett earlier in the show and offered him an nWo t-shirt; included Roddy Piper's "I'm Your Man" music video, released in 1992 in Europe, in which Piper was shown training as his and Hulk Hogan's name appeared on a marquee; featured a closing in-ring segment with WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan, the Giant, with the WCW US title, Dibiase, Vincent, the Giant, and Elizabeth, dressed as an elf, in which Hogan said he would wipe the mat with Piper and that Piper doesn't want any of Hogan; Hogan then posed until the show went off the air:
Jeff Jarrett defeated Chris Benoit (w/ Woman) via disqualification at around the 9-minute mark when Sting interfered and dropped Jarrett with a reverse DDT after Benoit sustained a suplex to the floor; prior to the bout, Kevin Sullivan & Jimmy Hart cut an insert promo on Sullivan facing Benoit in Baltimore the day before World War 3; during the match, it was announced Jarrett would face the Giant at World War 3
WCW Women's Championship Tournament Quarter Finals: GAEA All Asia Athlete Women's Champion Zero (w/ Sonny Onoo) pinned Malia Hosaka with a modified powerbomb at 1:43
Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned Ciclope at 5:58 with the hurricanrana into a roll up after a hurricanrana off the top to the floor; J-Crown Champion the Ultimo Dragon and Sonny Onoo were at ringside for the duration of the contest; WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko appeared at the entranceway mid-way through the match to watch, with Psychosis coming out behind Malenko moments later; it was announced during the match that Malenko would face Psychosis at World War 3 (Ciclope's debut)
Lex Luger defeated Scott Norton via submission with the Torture Rack at around the 8-minute mark after avoiding a shoulderblock off the top; prior to the bout, it was announced Norton had just returned from co-winning New Japan Pro Wrestling's annual tag team tournament; during the contest, Arn Anderson cut an insert promo on facing Luger Nov. 23 in Baltimore; moments later, Sting was shown in the crowd; following the commercial break, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Luger in which Luger said he couldn't carry the WCW banner alone and needed Sting
Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri) fought Jacques Rougeau & Carl Oulette (w/ Col. Rob Parker) to a no contest when both Sherri and Parker interfered at 3:10; prior to the match, footage was shown of Sherri hitting Parker the previous weekend on WCW Saturday Night; during the contest, footage was shown of the Nasty Boys trying to get into the arena but were held off by security and Doug Dillinger; moments later, they were shown speaking with Ed Leslie outside the arena
Mexican Heavyweight Champion Konnan defeated Chris Jericho via disqualification at 5:18 when Konnan dropkicked Jericho into referee Nick Patrick; during the bout, a hockey card of Ted Irvine, Jericho's father, was shown on a split screen; Patrick barely nudged as a result of the collision but immediately called for the bell
Miguel Perez Jr. pinned Juventud Guerrera at 3:55 with a modified victory roll after avoiding the 450 splash (Perez' debut)
Meng & the Barbarian (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Scotty Riggs at 3:34 when Barbarian pinned Riggs after Meng kicked Riggs in the face, moments after Bagwell tripped Barbarian from the floor; during the bout, Eric Bischoff said he had met with Roddy Piper and his management team but it was hard to get any answers out of them but the video tape provided by the fan earlier in the show would hopefully answer some questions; after the contest, Hart grabbed the mic and argued why the Nasty Boys were facing WCW Tag Team Champions Kevin Nash & Scott Hall at World War 3 and then said Meng & the Barbarian should be in the match as well
WCW @ Florence, SC - Civic Center - November 18, 1996
Monday Nitro - the show opened 5 minutes early as WCW Tag Team Champions Scott Hall & Kevin Nash laid out the Nasty Boys, High Voltage, and Ciclope & Galaxy with steel chairs; moments later, Hall & Nash confronted Tony Schiavone at ringside about comments he made towards them the previous week; Hall & Nash then cut a promo on facing Meng & the Barbarian at World War III as part of their triangle match; moments later, they went backstage and were jumped by Meng & the Barbarian as Jimmy Hart cheered on his men; the two teams brawled in the backstage area and out of the arena as the show went to commercial break; after the commercial break, Schiavone walked out of the show after having his well being threatened by the nWo; featured a vignette of J Crown Champion Ultimo Dragon, with highlights from WCW and Japan, as Mike Tenay discussed his recently winning the eight title belts in Japan; included the announcement that Meng & the Barbarian vs. Ciclope & Galaxy, WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal vs. WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko, Jeff Jarrett vs. Mike Enos, Arn Anderson vs. Bunkhouse Buck would take place on WCW Saturday Night, Chris Jericho and Kevin Sullivan would also be in action, and the show would also feature a nWo match; featured a close up of a fan in the crowd, wearing a nWo T-shirt and holding a Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper WWF LNJ action figure, as the commentary team discussed the possibility of a Hogan vs. Piper match in WCW; included footage from the previous weekend's WCW Saturday Night in which Chris Jericho, alongside Teddy Long, confronted Nick Patrick, in a neckbrace, and his lawyer, during which Jericho challenged Patrick to a match at World War III with one arm tied behind his back; featured WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan, alongside Ted Dibiase, Virgil, and Elizabeth, confronting Eric Bischoff at the commentary table and forcing Bischoff to admit that Hogan was a better wrestler, actor, and was richer than Roddy Piper; after Bischoff reluctantly agreed to say everything Hogan wanted, the nWo members returned backstage; included Okerlund conducting an interview in the aisle with Diamond Dallas Page about rejecting the nWo's offer to join them as their eighth member; moments later, Giant, with the WCW US title, Syxx, Hall, & Nash came out; Nash eventually told Page, quoting '2001: A Space Odyssey,' "It's going to be something very beautiful happen tonight, very beautiful;" featured a closing in-ring segment in which Bischoff apologized for what Hogan made him say earlier in the show and that he was doing everything he could to get Piper to sign to face Hogan; moments later, Piper appeared and said he had never heard so many lies from people that weren't him; Piper then said his first child was born in Charlotte and he was happy to be back in the Carolinas, then saying he was being chased by the cops at the same time the highway from Charlotte to Columbia, S.C. was being built; Piper then quoted LL Cool J, "You slap Roddy Piper and you didn't get a hassle" - then pointing at Bischoff - "you're a liar;" Piper then asked Bischoff details about his supposed trip to Oregon to see Piper, then said "Listen, you piece of shit" before the entire nWo came out to the ring and Hogan hugged Bischoff; Nash, Giant, Hall, Syxx, and Vincent held Piper as Hogan said Bischoff was working with the nWo and that no one knew Piper's name before he wrestled Hogan; police swarmed the ring as Piper repeatedly spat at Hogan and had to be held back by the other nWo members; the nWo eventually left the ring, leaving Piper in the ring with a dozen cops; Piper then took the mic and said he would be at World War III with a contract "in my teeth":
La Parka pinned Juventud Guerrera at 9:22 with a corkscrew off the top onto a standing Guerrera; Mike Tenay substituted for Tony Schiavone mid-way through the match, alongside Larry Zbyszko; during the contest, it was noted Harlem Heat would face Jacques Rougeau & Carl Oulette at the pay-per-view (La Parka's debut)
J Crown Champion the Ultimo Dragon (w/ Sonny Onoo) defeated WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko via disqualification at 4:02 when Malenko sent Dragon over the top rope with a backdrop, moments after Malenko knocked an interfering Onoo into the ring; during the bout, Rey Mysterio Jr. cut an insert promo in which he said he wanted another shot at Malenko; during the bout, it was noted Malenko would face Psychosis and Dragon would face Mysterio at World War III
Jacques Rougeau & Carl Oulette (w/ Col. Rob Parker) defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Scotty Riggs at 5:24 when Jacques pinned Bagwell after Riggs accidentally caused Bagwell and Jacques to butt heads, with Oulette then putting his partner on Bagwell behind the referee's back; prior to the bout, it was noted Sister Sherri would get 5 minutes in the ring with Parker if Harlem Heat beat Rougeau & Oulette at World War III; after the contest, Bagwell argued with Riggs for the loss
Lex Luger defeated Hugh Morrus via submission with the Torture Rack at 4:22; during the bout, Arn Anderson cut an insert promo on Luger regarding their upcoming match Saturday in Baltimore; it was also noted during the match that Chris Benoit would face Kevin Sullivan in Baltimore in a rematch of their Great American Bash falls count anywhere contest and that Ric Flair would make an appearance; after the bout, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Luger regarding his recent winning streak and participating in World War III, during which Okerlund said Luger was the odds-on favorite; moments later, Sting came out of the crowd with a baseball bat and shoved Luger with it before handing the bat over to Luger and leaving the ring
Chris Jericho pinned Johnny Grunge with the missile dropkick at 5:21 after Grunge crashed through a table set up in the ring; during the bout, Eric Bischoff noted Jericho would soon be on a tour of Japan; Nick Patrick was shown watching on during the contest from the aisle; after the match, Gene Okerlund conducted an interview with Jericho in the aisle about his upcoming match with Patrick; moments later, Teddy Long came out and apologized for getting Jericho into the match with his arm tied behind his back, with Jericho saying Long didn't do anything wrong and it was the only way he could get Patrick to agree to the match
Jeff Jarrett defeated Bobby Eaton via submission with the figure-4 at 2:17; during the final moments of the bout, Ric Flair, his arm in a sling, came out to the ring; moments later, Flair strutted in the ring with Jarrett; Gene Okerlund then conducted an interview in the ring with Jarrett & Flair regarding Jarrett facing the Giant at World War III and Sting attacking Jarrett the previous week; Flair then said Jarrett was in the Horsemen because Flair said so; Sting was shown watching on during the segment
Big Bubba (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Jim Powers at 3:55 with the sidewalk slam
Chris Benoit (w/ Woman) pinned Eddie Guerrero at around the 12-minute mark with a roll over out of a hurricanrana into a roll up; during the bout, Kevin Sullivan cut an insert promo regarding his upcoming match with Benoit in Baltimore
WCW @ Salisbury, MD - Wicomico Civic Center - November 25, 1996 (3,278)
Monday Nitro:
WCW US Championship Tournament Quarter Finals: Lex Luger fought Arn Anderson to a double count-out when Luger put Anderson in the Torture Rack as both men were brawling on the floor
Diamond Dallas Page pinned Disco Inferno with the Diamond Cutter at 2:15 after avoiding a clothesline; after the bout, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Page regarding his history with WCW Tag Team Champions Scott Hall & Kevin Nash, the fact Eric Bischoff is his neighbor, and the nWo's attempts to recruit him
WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal defeated Tony Pena via submission with the Regal Stretch
WCW US Championship Tournament Quarter Finals: Eddie Guerrero pinned Konnan
Big Bubba pinned Rick Steiner after Sting interfered and dropped Steiner with the Scorpion Death Drop
Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned Psychosis by reversing a Splash Mountain off the top into a hurricanrana
Jeff Jarrett defeated Alex Wright via submission with the figure-4
Meng & the Barbarian fought Harlem Heat to a no contest when the nWo interfered
WCW @ Dayton, OH - Hara Arena - December 2, 1996 (3,800)
Monday Nitro - featured an opening segment in which Rick & Scott Steiner interrupted Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyzsko, with Scott saying he considered Sting a friend but he would make sure Sting didn't lay out his brother as he did the previous week; Rick then challenged Sting to face him later in the night; included footage from the previous week of Sting attacking Steiner after Steiner said he couldn't trust him; members of the Cincinnati Bengals and Dayton Ice Bandits were shown in attendance; featured Gene Okerlund conducting an interview in the aisle with Arn Anderson regarding Roddy Piper's involvement at Starrcade against WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan, during which it was announced Piper would be on Nitro the following week in Charlotte; included the announcement that Arn Anderson, WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal, Meng & the Barbarian, Rick Steiner, Bunkhouse Buck, Jeff Jarrett, Chris Jericho, and Kevin Sullivan would be in action the coming weekend on WCW Saturday Night; featured footage from the Nov. 23 Baltimore Arena falls count anywhere match between Chris Benoit and Sullivan, during which Benoit was attacked in the bathroom by Meng & the Barbarian, Konnan, Big Bubba, and Hugh Morrus; moments later, after the fight returned to the ring, Woman came out and jumped on Sullivan until members of the Dungeon of Doom held her back as Benoit was assaulted; included an in-ring segment in which Rick Steiner, with Scott Steiner, called out Sting, with Sting then appearing in the rafters as Rick challenged him to a fight; moments later, Sting nodded in agreement to the match; featured a segment in which Eric Bischoff, Syxx, Vincent, WCW Tag Team Champions Kevin Nash & Scott Hall came out and ran off the commentary team, with Bischoff, Hall & Nash taking their spots at the commentary table for the remainder of the show; moments later, Bischoff said he was trying to save Piper from Hogan and then showed footage of Hogan dominating Vader, Flair being attacked backstage, and Hogan spraypainting Randy Savage:
Glacier pinned Hardbody Harrison at 1:02 with a spin kick to the head
Jacques Rougeau & Carl Ouelette (w/ Col. Rob Parker) defeated Joe Gomez & the Renegade at 3:16 when Oulette pinned Renegade following the Tower of Quebec after Rougeau dropped Renegade with a piledriver; during the bout, it was announced that Starrcade tickets were to have gone on sale the previous Friday but did not due to a technical glitch; they would go on sale the coming Friday
Meng & the Barbarian defeated Robert Gibson & Scotty Riggs at 7:41 when Barbarian pinned Riggs with a boot to the face as Gibson attempted to fight off both opponents; during the bout, footage was shown of the New World Order attacking Meng & Barbarian and Harlem Heat the previous week, followed by the announcement that Meng & Barbarian would face WCW Tag Team Champions Kevin Nash & Scott Hall at Starrcade; after the bout, Riggs made the save and repeatedly hit Meng with a steel chair
Kevin Sullivan pinned an unknown at 2:01 following the Tree of Woe and double stomp; after the bout, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Sullivan regarding his ongoing feud with Chris Benoit
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko defeated Billy Kidman via submission with the Texas Cloverleaf at 5:50; prior to the bout, it was announced J-Crown Champion the Ultimo Dragon would challenge Malenko at Starrcade; during the match, Sonny Onoo appeared ringside and took photos of Malenko, at one point temporarily blinding Malenko with the flash
Jeff Jarrett pinned Big Bubba (w/ Jimmy Hart) at 4:09 after dropkicking Hart's megaphone into Bubba's face as Bubba attempted to use it as a weapon
Eddie Guerrero pinned Dave Taylor at 2:16 with the frog splash; during the bout, footage was shown of Guerrero defeating Konnan the previous week in the WCW US Title tournament; Eric Bischoff, WCW Tag Team Champions Kevin Nash & Scott Hall provided guest commentary for the match and the remaining matches on the show; during the match, Bischoff said WCW could have their tournament to determine a new US champion only if the winner defended against the Giant
Arn Anderson pinned Jim Powers (w/ Teddy Long) with the DDT at 3:08
WCW US Championship Tournament Quarter Finals: Chris Benoit pinned WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal in a non-title match at 6:26 with the dragon suplex after flipping Regal upside down in the corner; for much of the bout, the camera had a wide shot but no reason was given; after the contest, Gene Okerlund conducted an interview in the aisle with Arn Anderson, Steve McMichael, Debra, and Benoit in which Anderson asked where Woman was, with Benoit saying she was taking care of Horsemen business; moments later, Debra insulted Woman; Anderson then said he would take Benoit at his word
Lex Luger defeated Rocco Rock (w/ Johnny Grunge) via submission with the Torture Rack at 3:56 after Rock collided with Grunge on the apron when Luger moved out of the way; after the bout, Luger knocked Grunge out of the ring to the floor
Sting fought Rick Steiner (w/ Scott Steiner) to a no contest at around the one minute mark when Sting took his baseball bat and shoved Rick in the chest with it, then dropping the bat and turning around; when Rick went to hit Sting with the weapon, Scott stepped in his way; moments later, Sting took the bat, approached Bischoff, Hall & Nash at the commentary table, and pointed it at them before eventually leaving through the crowd
WCW @ Charlotte, NC - Independence Arena - December 9, 1996
Monday Nitro - featured an opening segment in which Roddy Piper came out, wearing a Carolina Panthers T-shirt, spoke about living at the Tukasegee Days Inn in Charlotte and said he was happy to be home; Piper then noted his hip was fine after the recent attack on him by the New World Order and referenced his WrestleMania 2 boxing match with Mr. T, saying he was asked to take a dive for the actor; Piper responded by saying he wouldn't take a dive then and wouldn't now; he continued by implying the nWo was gay before challenging WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan to a fight then and there; included clips from WCW Saturday Night of Chris Benoit & Woman's video message to Kevin Sullivan, during which Benoit said his bishop takes Sullivan's queen in their game of chess; moments later, Sullivan, watching on, appeared dazed; it was then noted Benoit & Woman were on WCW's tour of Germany; featured a music video on Sting to the tune of Bonnie Tyler's "I Need a Hero;" included Gene Okerlund conducting an interview in the aisle with Kevin Greene, with Greene saying he would be back during the off-season to go after Steve McMichael and discussed the Panthers making the NFL playoffs; Greene then said the nWo was a bunch of crap and then cut a promo on Hogan; featured an ad for the Outsiders T-shirt; included the announcement that Jim Duggan, the Renegade, Joe Gomez, Diamond Dallas Page, Jeff Jarrett, and Ice Train would be in action on WCW Saturday Night and WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal would face Hugh Morrus; featured clips from the Nasty Boys vs. Meng & Barbarian vs. WCW Tag Team Champions Scott Hall & Kevin Nash match at World War 3 to promote the Nastys vs. Meng & Barbarian match later in the show; included Okerlund conducting an interview in the aisle with Ric Flair, during which Flair asked Piper to come out; after Piper appeared, Flair noted Piper came to Charlotte in 1981 and now lives beside the founder of Nike in Oregon; Flair said he fumbled the ball in 1994 to Hogan and made the mistake of walking away, then said Piper had the full support of the Horsemen and Charlotte in his match with Hogan; Piper responded by saying his match with Hogan was his last shot and he didn't want anybody's help to beat Hogan; featured footage of the clashes between Sting and Rick Steiner in recent weeks; included Okerlund conducting an interview in the aisle with Rick & Scott Steiner regarding Sting, with Scott saying he saw a glimpse of the old Sting the previous week and emphasized that they and Lex Luger were standing behind WCW; featured an ad for the Public Enemy hockey jersey; included a vignette on Luger, after which it was announced Luger would face the Giant:
Michael Wallstreet pinned Mike Enos at 1:36 with the Samoan drop after Enos became distracted by Ted Dibiase at ringside, moments after Dibiase appeared ringside with papers in hand; after the bout, Dibiase gave Wallstreet the papers before the two men went backstage
Hugh Morrus pinned the Renegade (w/ Joe Gomez) with the moonsault at 3:01; after the bout, Morrus attempted the move a second time but Gomez pulled the Renegade out of the ring; after the bout, Kevin Sullivan confronted Tony Schiavone at ringside about re-airing the video sent to him from Chris Benoit & Woman and said Schiavone was just out to get ratings at the expense of Sullivan's own personal life
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko pinned Jimmy Graffiti at 8:09 with a cradle as Graffiti had Malenko up for a delayed suplex; during the bout, Sonny Onoo appeared ringside to taunt Malenko; after the match, Gene Okerlund conducted a ringside interview with Onoo about his distracting Malenko during the contest and Malenko's match with the Ultimo Dragon at Starrcade
Meng & the Barbarian (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated the Nasty Boys at 5:19 when Barbarian pinned Brian Knobbs after hitting him with Hart's megaphone behind the referee's back after Knobbs threw Hart onto Meng on the floor; during the bout, WCW Tag Team Champions Scott Hall & Kevin Nash briefly appeared at the entrance stage to watch; late in the bout, Meng hit Jerry Saggs with a chair on the floor in plain view of the referee
Chris Jericho pinned Bobby Eaton at 2:35 with a missile dropkick; during the bout, Jericho cut an insert promo in which he praised WCW in its battle with the nWo
Arn Anderson (w/ Steve McMichael & Debra McMichael) pinned Sgt. Craig Pittman with the DDT at around the 3:30 mark after Steve hit Pittman with his haliburton on the floor, behind the referee's back; during Pittman's entrance, it was noted he and Teddy Long had parted ways; early in the bout, Kevin Sullivan cut an insert promo in which he said he blamed Anderson for what had happened between he and Woman and would face Anderson the following week to get revenge; it was noted during the contest that more video footage from Chris Benoit & Woman would air the coming weekend on WCW Saturday Night; after the contest, Okerlund conducted an interview in the aisle with Anderson and the McMichaels about Woman's absence, with Debra then saying Nancy was a tramp; Anderson then told Benoit to come home and that he had a bone to pick with Woman
WCW US Championship Tournament Quarter-Finals: Diamond Dallas Page pinned Jeff Jarrett at around the 10:30 mark after WCW Tag Team Champion Scott Hall ran out and, as WCW Tag Team Champion Kevin Nash distracted referee Randy Anderson from the floor, Hall dropped Jarrett with the Outsider's Edge; Hall & Nash then left ringside with Hall giving the DDP hand sign; after the contest, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Page in which he said he didn't need the nWo, compared them to a broad that wouldn't leave him alone, and said no one wanted the US title more than him
Rick Steiner fought Scott Norton to a no contest; during Steiner's entrance, before he appeared, Roddy Piper came out instead, sat in a chair in the ring, and cut an in-ring promo calling out WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan; moments later, Hogan's music began to play but only Eric Bischoff appeared, with Bischoff taking the mic and saying he tried to keep Piper out of WCW for his own good and that Hogan would squash him like a grape; Bischoff then went to leave but Piper punched him in the side of the face and assaulted him until Ted Dibiase, WCW Tag Team Champions Scott Hall & Kevin Nash ran ringside; Piper took the chair to hold them off, with Kevin Greene then running out and helping Piper fend off the nWo as the show ended
WCW @ Pensacola, FL - Civic Center - December 16, 1996 (announced as a sell out)
Monday Nitro - featured an opening segment in which Eric Bischoff & Ted Dibiase, with Vincent, approached the broadcast booth and took over commentary duties from Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyzsko; moments later, Bischoff reviewed footage of Roddy Piper challenging WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan to a fight the previous week, with Bischoff then appearing and being pelted with objects from the crowd as he approached the ring; included footage from three weeks earlier of Big Bubba defeating Rick Steiner after Sting attacked Steiner, followed by the announcement Steiner would face Sting later in the show; featured the announcement that Jeff Jarrett, Diamond Dallas Page, Scott Norton, Lex Luger, Eddie Guerrero, and Michael Wallstreet would be part of WCW Saturday Night and that WCW Tag Team Champions Scott Hall & Kevin Nash would compete in a handicap match; included footage from the previous week of Ric Flair giving Piper his support, with Piper saying he would beat Hogan but he would beat Hogan without outside help; featured footage from the previous week of Piper attacking Bischoff after Bischoff called Piper a gimp, with Piper and Kevin Greene then holding off the nWo with a steel chair; included Okerlund conducting an interview in the aisle with Flair, Arn Anderson, Steve McMichael, and Debra regarding Anderson's match later in the night against Kevin Sullivan and Chris Benoit & Woman being in Germany; during the segment, Debra alleged that Benoit had hit on her but she doesn't go for boys; Flair then said Piper would beat Hogan at Starrcade and that he was on his way to Greene's home for a Carolina Panthers victory party; featured a segment to open the second hour in which Bischoff & Dibiase gave up their commentary roles to Schiavone, Bobby Heenan, & Mike Tenay; included Syxx conducting an interview in the aisle with WCW Tag Team Champions Kevin Nash & Scott Hall in which they challenged Meng & the Barbarian to a match later in the show, in addition to their scheduled match at Starrcade; featured a video package on Sting's recent actions; included footage of Benoit & Woman drinking wine in Germany, during which both spoke to the camera asking Sullivan what it's like coming home to an empty house; featured an in-ring segment where Hogan, alongside the Giant, Dibiase, Vincent, and Elizabeth, in which Hogan said he started his career in Pensacola and then challenged Piper to come out and fight him then and there; when Piper didn't show, Hogan claimed he ran out the back door as soon as he saw Hogan coming through the front door; Hogan then said he would add Piper to the list of broken down former challengers like Flair and Randy Savage:
WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal defeated Psychosis via submission with the Regal Stretch at 11:08 after reversing an attempted victory roll and throwing the challenger face-first to the mat
Big Bubba pinned Chavo Guerrero Jr. at 2:53 with the sidewalk slam
Chris Jericho defeated Masahiro Chono via disqualification at 5:49 when Chono continued to assault Jericho after Jericho became entangled upside down in the ring ropes; prior to the bout, Gene Okerlund conducted an interview in the aisle with Chono and Sonny Onoo in which Onoo said he had been working with Chono to negotiate a contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling; moments later, Chono unzipped his jacket to reveal an nWo short underneath; Chono then roughed up Onoo and continued on to the ring
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko pinned David Sammartino at 2:57 with a full nelson into a cover
Ice Train (w/ Teddy Long) defeated Jerry Flynn via submission with an ankle lock at 3:25
Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned Bobby Eaton at 4:57 following a hurricanrana off the middle turnbuckle; during the bout, it was announced Mysterio would face Jushin Liger at Starrcade
Kevin Sullivan (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Arn Anderson at 3:52 after hitting him with a wooden chair as Anderson attempted the DDT on an interfering Hart, moments after fighting off an interfering Hugh Morrus and Konnan; late in the bout, Konnan, Morrus, and Big Bubba appeared ringside after referee Mark Curtis was knocked out; after the bout, Steve McMichael came out to tend to Anderson and clear the ring
Sting fought Rick Steiner (w/ Scott Steiner) to a no contest; before Sting was able to make it through the crowd, the nWo Sting came into the ring with a baseball bat; after the real Sting appeared with a bat, the two Stings turned their backs on the Steiners as the Steiners were in possession of the weapons; at that point, the real Sting dropped the nWo Sting with a reverse DDT and then left through the crowd
Meng & the Barbarian (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated WCW Tag Team Champions Scott Hall & Kevin Nash via disqualification in a non-title match at around the 1-minute mark when Big Bubba ran out and dropped Meng with the sidewalk slam; moments later, Kevin Sullivan, Konnan, the Giant, Buff Bagwell, Vincent, Michael Wallstreet, WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal, Psychosis, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Jerry Flynn, Masahiro Chono, Ice Train, Scott Norton, Arn Anderson, Steve McMichael, Rey Mysterio Jr., and David Sammartino joined in on the brawl; during the fight, Norton joined the nWo as well; moments later, Sting came out from backstage and fought off several WCW stars but only after they threw the first punch; moments later, Sting left ringside
WCW @ Macon, GA - Civic Center - December 23, 1996 (4,900)
Monday Nitro:
WCW US Championship Tournament Semi-Finals: Eddie Guerrero pinned Chris Benoit
Lex Luger defeated Tombstone
Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Mr. JL
Glacier defeated Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker
The Amazing French Canadians defeated Public Enemy via disqualification
Big Bubba defeated Konnan via disqualification
WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal fought WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko to a 10-minute time-limit draw; only the TV title was at stake
Rick Steiner fought Jeff Jarrett to a no contest
WCW @ Knoxville, TN - Civic Coliseum - December 30, 1996
Monday Nitro:
The Amazing French Canadians defeated Public Enemy
J Crown Champion the Ultimo Dragon (w/ Sonny Onoo) pinned Jushin Liger
Konnan defeated Michael Wallstreet in a four corners strap match
Hugh Morrus defeated Kensuki Sasaki via disqualification
Harlem Heat defeated Meng & the Barbarian
Glacier defeated Disco Inferno
Chris Benoit defeated Chris Jericho
Octagoncito & Mascarita Sagrada defeated Jerrito Estrada & Piratita Morgan
Dean Malenko fought Rey Mysterio Jr. to a draw
Lex Luger defeated Greg Valentine