WCW Nitro is fresh off the heels of a massive night in Belton, and the road to Crowd Control is getting intense. Tonight the show is live from the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and the fans are ready for a huge night of action.
The show kicks off with the familiar Party Hard theme and plenty of pyro. Joey Styles welcome us to a packed house as the energy is through the roof.
Jerry "The King" Lawler is in the ring already and welcomes us to another edition of The King's Court. He wants to bring out his guest from last week, Steve Corino. Corino comes out looking like his normal smug self and grabs a microphone. He tells Lawler last week, Corino did him a favor and made him relevant again. All it takes is Corino to be in this ring, and the wrestling world takes notice, so he's ready for Lawler's thank you. Lawler does thank Corino, he thanks him for being a smug self-obsessed crybaby and reminding everyone just what a true arrogant prick looks like. Corino gets in Lawler's face and says that The King has big balls for a guy who normally sits behind a desk. Lawler takes a step back and says Corino is right, Lawler is not prepared to wrestle right now, but he Corino wants to have a good old fashioned fight, maybe Lawler can make an exception. BUT The King says he ran into someone backstage earlier who is ready to wrestle and is willing and able to beat some respect into Corino, right now. Road Warrior Animal!
Animal looks great! It's only been a few months since we technically saw him last, but he looks like he's been resting and hitting the gym. Lawler joins Styles back on commentary and says he can't wait to see someone beat some respect into the supposed "King of Old School." Corino & Animal tie up, and Animal is in command early with his bigger power. Animal tosses Corino around a bit as Corino gets frustrated and hides into the ropes. Animal begins to lose his cool and comes charging in only to get a kick to the knee causing him to eat the turnbuckle. Corino starts laying in forearms and hits to Animal's back, then drags him out of the corner and hits a nice Russian Leg Sweep for a 2 count. Corino slaps in a chinlock and Animal begins to fight out with the crowd on his side. Animal sends Corino into the ropes and nails a big shoulder block. Drops and elbow, and another one, quick 2 for the Road Warrior. Animal is signalling the end and looks like he's lifting Corino for a Powerslam, but Corino rakes the eyes and slips out the back. Old School Explusion!
Nice little match. WCW's done a great job with Corino so far, and he's doing his part to get the fans against him with his mic work. His loss to Hennig seems like ancient forgotten history. Looks like they are maybe setting up Corino & Lawler for a match.
Back from Commercial and the ring is decked out with chairs and a red carpet as WCW Commissioner Arn Anderson stands front and center. He announces its time to sign the contract for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship match at Crowd Control. He brings out Curt Hennig, BG James, Kanyon & WCW World Heavyweight Champion Lance Storm one by one. Storm is accompanied by Dawn Marie as usual. All for men take seats around the table as Arn goes over the stipulations for the match. One pinfall or submission, no disqualifications, winner walks away with the Championship. Storm immediately on the mic and blasts WCW leadership for putting him in such an unfair match, he says he knew that people can't sand the fact that a man like him, who has accomplished so much with so little support, who has been and continues to be the best wrestler on the planet, is being treated with such contempt by the top brass of WCW. He says it doesn't matter though. He's beaten James before, and he can do it again. Time has passed Hennig by, and Kanyon is Betta then a lot of people, but not him. Hennig intervenes and puts down the other competitors. He mentions he has more experience and ring time in his right pinky finger then the rest of them have in their bodies. At Crowd Control, its time for Perfection to reign supreme. Kanyon on the mic now. He asks "Who Betta Than Kanyon?" and says so far in WCW, nobody. Its his time to step up, its his time to bring championship cold to the Foundation. James is last the talk, he respects Hennig, but in the last month, James has been closer to World Heavyweight gold then Hennig has been his entire career. Kanyon is a guy everyone in this business knows, he invents new moves on a nightly basis, but he has yet to prove he's anything more then DDP's lackey. And Storm, well, he's beaten him before, and he will again. At Crowd Control, storm escapes with the WCW World Heavyweight title, James won't let him escape again.
All 4-men look ready to battle as words get heated, but Anderson interjects. He says if a single one of them touches another outside of a sanctioned match, the instigator will be removed from the match at Crowd Control. Anderson turns to Storm and emphasizes "Or stripped of the championship." He tells the four men not to worry though, they wont have to wait to Crowd Control to wrestle because next week is Curt Hennig & BG James vs. Lance Storm & Kanyon in a tag team match!
Quite the team going against MIA tonight. MIA is out with their newest member Torrie Wilson who is now The Blonde Bombshell I guess. She looks fantastic. Match starts hot with Rection taking out Kwee Wee with some big strikes and moves. A quick tag to Cajun and he gets some stuff into. Crowbar manages to get into the ring and actually takes control of Cajun for a while and even sneaks a 2 count after a big Suplex. Cajun fights back and nails a Swinging Neckbreaker to Crowbar for the double down. Hot tags on each side, Rection is in like a house of fire. Big lariat takes Crowbar to the outside leaving Kwee Wee isolated. Rection nails a big side Suplex and tags to Cajun. Rection with Kwee Wee on his shoulders, Cajun off the ropes and MIA hits a Samoan Drop / Swinging Neckbreaker combo. Cajun with the cover for the win!
Fine little match to give MIA some shine and let Lawler fawn over Bombshell's assets.
After the match, MIA is celebrating when the Full Blooded Italians pop up on screen. Guido says MIA should be proud of themeselves, they finally made a friend. But MIA isn't family like the Full Blooded Italians. Palumbo says Torrie will regret humiliating them last week, and when the FBI & MIA are done battling, she'll have to admit she chose the losing side. Guido says that once MIA is beaten, again, Torrie can call him.
We are in Arn's office. Arn is going over several pieces of WCW's history that are set up in his office. He is talking to a random production person about what pieces will be displayed at the new WCW Museum being built. Shawn Stasiak & Stacy Keibler burst in. Stasiak wants to know why he is scheduled to wrestler Booker T tonight, and if Arn has seen Sean O'Haire. Arn mentions that wrestling is what Stasiak is paid to do, and after his actions last week, he might want to be more thankful he's wrestling Booker T and not O'Haire himself. Stasiak wants assurances that O'Haire will be kept front ringside, when Arn says last time he's checked, interfering in matches is supposed to be frowned upon and its becoming far to common these days. Stacy Keibler is in the background looking over the various trinkets, she picks up the old WCW Women's title and smiles. She tells Arn "this is mine" then tells Stasiak it's time to go.
We are back from commercial and Sean O'Haire is seen bursting out Arn's Office screaming for Stasiak. A few random production people scurry away as O'Haire bursts into another door. As it closes behind him, the beeping of a forklift his herd. Disqo & Mike Sanders are driving a forklift and park it in front of the door! O'Haire is stuck inside and starts banging on the door.
Stasiak and Keibler are out first, and Stacy is now wearing the WCW Women's championship around her waist. Booker is out second and the match in underway. Booker dominates at first, but Stacy trips him up at one point allowing Stasiak to start laying in some offense. A Hangman's Neckbreaker actually gets a 2-count for Stasiak. Stacy is at ringside screaming at Joey Styles to acknowledge her as the Women's Champion until Styles finally does. Styles mentions he's received word that Arn Anderson has decided to recognize Stacy's reign. Booker is back in control and hits a big leg lariat at Stasiak coming off the ropes and gets a 2. Stasiak is asking Stacy for help, but she has now removed the Women's title and is staring at his with a huge smile. Stasiak is frantic and abandons asking for help only to turn into a big Book End from Booker T! That's enough to end it.
This was a great match actually. They didn't do anything spectacular, but the in-ring action was solid and Stasiak got more in then you'd expect. Booker looks more dominant, but everything seemed to land well. Stacy becoming the Women's Champion seemed like the largest storyline development, and O'Haire being trapped an unable to interfere was an interesting touch.
Backstage The Foundation are in their locker room. Diamond Dallas Page & Mike Awesome are talking about how they are going to win their tag team match tonight and go onto beat Shane McMahon & Booker T at Crowd Control. Kanyon enters and DDP asks where he've been. He says he has lots of preparation to do and its finally his time to be the top dog of WCW and win the WCW World Heavyweight title. DDP says Kanyon needs to remember what The Foundation is about and keep his eye on the prize. Kanyon says that is exactly what he's doing.
We see Los Dragones backstage. Chavo Guerrero Jr. has his Cruiserweight title and says he can't believe Arn Anderson would try to pit Los Dragones against each other. He asks if Kaz & Yang can believe it, but cuts them off before they can answer. He says he knows Kaz & Yang will do whatever possible to make sure that the right guy walks out Crowd Control as champion. Kaz & Yang laugh and nod. Chavo says "The right guy is me." as Kaz & Yang begin to look confused.
We are now in 3 Counts locker room. Helms says he've been fortunate to have chances to win the World Cruiserweight title and he's come through in the past, and plans to come through again. He tells Evan, last week, he should have won the title, but he got screwed. Helms then mentions Moore has never even had the chance before. Now all three of them have the opportunity to be the champion. Helms says he wishes them the best of luck and may the best man win as the three shake hands.
We cut to Shane McMahon in the halls backstage, he walks up to Booker T who is fresh off his victory to Stasiak. He congratulates Booker and asks him if he's ready for Crowd Control and Mike Awesome. Booker talks about always being ready, and that if anything, its Shane who needs to worry about DDP. He says DDP is who he is for a reason, and a Cage Match is one of the most dangerous matches in wrestling and worries Shane might be in a bit over his head. Shane says he thrives on pressure and is sick of people like DDP thinking they are bigger then the business. Booker T agrees and says he's waited to long to get his own revenge on The Foundation. Booker suggest that maybe its time they start using The Foundation's tactics against them, and McMahon says he couldn't agree more.
RVD has said he wants to continue bringing prestige to the US title, so despite his issues with Buff, has issued an open challenge tonight. Jindrak has answered and the two are in the ring. Jindrak & RVD do some chain wrestling at the beginning and its actually not that terrible. RVD is literally and figuratively holding Jindrak's hand through this. RVD gets the best of the early exchanges, but Jindrak nails him with a huge back suplex to take over. Jindrak nails a big tossing Suplex and gets a 2-count on the champ. Jindrak jumps to the top rope in one hop and is setting up a big move. He leaps off looking for a clothesline, but RVD dodges it and Jindrak eats the mat. RVD in control now with some strikes and a big front powerslam, Split-Legged Moonsault gets a 2. Jindrak scrambling to his feet and RVD takes him out with a big springboard side kick. RVD up top, Five Star Frog Splash is enough for RVD to retain.
That was probably Mark Jindrak's best match ever. The big guy has some serious athleticism, but just doesn't have the experience in the ring yet. RVD carried him to a better then good match and continues to be the most active champion in WCW.
After the match, RVD looks like he's trying to shake Jindrak's hand, but Jindrak brushes him off. Buff Bagwell comes out of nowhere and attacks RVD from behind. He grabs RVD's United States title and bashes the "Whole Dam Show" in the head with it. Bagwell stands holding the title above his head over the fallen Van Dam!
The toss together team of Kidman & Dreamer do not seem like they stand much of a chance here. Kidman starts out with DDP and gets some stuff in. DDP ends up taking over and hits a few moves on Kidman. DDP goes for a Powerbomb, but Kidman counters into a Sit-Out Facebuster. 2 Count for Kidman! DDP scrambles and tags in Awesome. Kidman tags in Dreamer. The former ECW World champions are squaring off and beating the snot out of each other. Dreamer ends up hitting a DDT and gets a 2 count. Dreamer tags in Kidman and the two go for a double clothesline on Awesome, but Awesome busts through and comes back with a big jumping double Clothesline of his own. Awesome sends Dreamer to the outside and turns to Kidman who is attacking. They go back and forth for a little bit, but Awesome's size and power is too much. He snatched Kidman up and drills him with an Awesome Bomb! DDP casually reaches his hand out for a tag, and Awesome obliges. DDP in and slowly lifts up Kidman. Diamond Cutter. Dreamer trying to get into the ring, but Awesome cuts him off. 1-2-3 for DDP!
It was a good match if predictable. WCW is slowly establishing its roster though which is leading to more of these matches feeling higher stakes then they felt even a month ago. That said, the chance of The Foundation losing here was slim. I thought there was a chance Booker & Shane were going to cost them the match, but that didn't happen.
After the match, The Foundation is celebrating in the ring. As they celebrate, Booker T & Shane McMahon storm the ring. DDP shoves Awesome and gets out of dodge, but Awesome is right into the grasp of Booker T. Book End! Booker kicks Awesome out of the ring and follows him as Shane climbs hte top rope. Booker has Awesome on the announce table. Shane McMahon on the top rope and flies driving Awesome through the table with a big Diving Elbow Drop to the outside as DDP watches on in horror from the ramp.