Its the last Nitro before WCW Crowd Control this Sunday, but that's then and this is now, its Wednesday night, its time to "Party Hard" with Andrew WK! The Pyro, Joey Styles & Jerry "The King Lawler" all open Nitro live from Portland, Oregon!
We start out the show with Shawn Stasiak and WCW Women's Champion Stacy Keibler coming to the ring. Keibler has a mic and announces she'll have her first title defense tonight. She tries to claim she's not ready, but WCW management told her if she's going to call herself champion, she needs to start actually wrestling. Stasiak is on the mic and starts to lay into Sean O'Haire. He says while Stacy has been the definition of a Champion and while he has been the "Mecca of Manhood" he is sick and tired of a thing that looks and acts like O'Haire walking around WCW like he's something, because he's nothing!
That's enough for O'Haire to come out, and he has a microphone himself and stops at the top of the ramp. He says he isn't much for talking. He lets his actions speak louder then words. But earlier tonight, WCW Management approached him with a match for WCW Crowd Control, and a... legal... way for O'Haire to get his hands on Stasiak, again. But 1-on-1, they've already proven O'Haire is the better man, so now its time to shut up Stasiak and the fake champion Stacy Keibler. O'Haire may be a psycho, but he doesn't want to hurt Stacy, but he knows someone who can. This person will not only be Sean O'Haire's tag team partner for a special Intergender Tag Match at Crowd Control, but this person will be the first challenger for Stacy Keibler's WCW Women's Championship, right now! And this person is... The "9th Wonder of the World" Joanie Laurer!
And out comes the former Chyna onto a WCW stage alongside Sean O'Haire! O'Haire & Laurer make their way to the ring together as Stasiak & Stacy scatter. The referee insists Stacy stay in the ring for her match which is NOW!
Keibler is super hesitant to do anything with Laurer and just runs around the ring trying to avoid her. She even leaves he ring and tries to hide behind Stasiak, but Laurer follows her and shoves Stasiak out of the way! Stacy falls and crawls up the steps into the ring. Laurer follows her in and finally gets her in her grasps! She lifts up Stacy above her head when Stasiak comes back into the ring and catches Stacy as Laurer drops her. The referee in in Stasiak's face telling him to leave, but he is keeping Laurer away from Stacy. O'Haire in the ring now and he takes Stasiak out with a big clothesline. Stacy scambers out of the ring as the referee has called for the bell and signalled a no contest!
Not so much a match as an angle. Chyna in WCW definitely gives them some more star power, and having Stacy escape with the title seems like smart long term booking.
After the match, Stacy runs up the ramp after grabbing her title. Stasiak is in the ring, slowly getting up from the big O'Haire clothesline. He stands up face-to-face with O'Haire who just laughs and points behind Stasiak. Stasiak turns right into Laurer, who kicks him in the gut, sets him up and then nails him with a big Powerbomb! O'Haire & Laurer celebrate together as Stacy & Stasiak lick their wounds.
We cut to BG James in a pre-recorded video package. The package is an interview spliced together with some footage and old photos of James talking about his legacy and career and what winning the WCW World Heavyweight title at Crowd Control would mean to him.
Bit of a random match here, Styles hypes it saying the WCW roster is full of talent and these are two guys who just need the right moment or string of victories to really breakout. Match is fine but forgetable. Crowbar gets in some good offense and a couple big moves, with a springboard legdrop getting him a long 2-count. I forget how athletic Crowbar is! Dreamer ends up putting away the chaotic Crowbar after nailing a DDT and following it with a Spicolli Driver for the win.
Dreamer really has been an afterthought so far with WCW. He's along with a guy like Kidman as someone who I thought would be doing more. Crowbar continues his efforts as the hardest working midcard jobber in the business. He looks good in every outing and I feel WCW really needs to give him a chance to do more.
Another video package for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship match, this one focusing on Kanyon. He is in full Foundation form putting down everything WCW that isnt them, but a small glimpse of something comes through of Kanyon feeling its finally time he steps to the front of the pack.
Adam Pearce is in the ring as Jerry Lawler's music hits and he rises from the commentary position. Looks like Styles is calling it solo. Lawler & Pearce lock up an Pearce gets the early wrestling advantage and even takes The King over with a side headlock! The crowd gets behind Lawler who fights back and takes control with some left hands. Pearce gets a big back body drop and is dazed. He turns into a Piledriver and that's all Lawler needs!
Fine little warmup for Lawler and a chance for him to get some reps in before his match with Corino at Crowd Control.
As Lawler celebrates, Steve Corino's music hits. He walks out with a microphone onto the ramp and announced the debut edition of "Corino's Court" where he asks the hard questions. First question for Lawler, what qualifies you to be king? Lawler doesn't have amic and just stares up the ramp at Corino. Second question, was Lawler's butt always that big or is that from sitting at commentary? Third question, what do you call speed dating in Memphis? Corino will answer that, a family reunion. Final question, will Lawler address him as "King" when he beats his ass at Crowd Control? Lawler finally grabs a mic and tells Corino he's heard just about enough. Lawler has made a career on commentery talking about wrestling, he's made a living in that ring, winning titles and entertaining fans, but at Crowd Control, he's getting into that ring to beat Corino for one reason, and one reason only, he can!
Video package #3, this one focusing on Curt Hennig ahead of the World Heavyweight title match. Hennig talks about being the perfect competitor, but he doesn't just call himself perfect, everyone else did. He earned that name through years of training and spilling blood and sweat in the squared circle. At Crowd Control, he won't be known as "Simply Perfect" he'll be known as the NEW WCW World Heavyweight Champion!
Lawler is back on commentary alongside Styles. Styles hypes up London getting his first WCW victory last week in his tag team match with O'Haire. London & Chavo start out really great with some awesome chain wrestling, with London seemingly taking the veteran by surprise. So much so that a flash school boy from London gets a 2-count that sends Chavo to the outside to regroup. As Chavo contemplates how a rookie almost just beat him, London hits a huge flipping dive over the top rope onto Chavo! The crowd loved that. London lifts up Chavo and tosses him into the ring, and London is heading up top. Chavo is slow to stand and London hits a beautiful Diving Crossbody for another 2 count! Chavo is wheeling. London sets up Chavo and hits the Dropsault move he's been doing and heads up top again, Chavo kicks the referee into the ropes and London is down! Chavo up now and nails London with a HUGE Superplex with both men coming off the top rope. Chavo lifts up London and drops him with a Brainbuster, 1-2-KICKOUT by the challenger! Chavo can't believe it. He lifts up London again and nails another Brainbuster! 1-2-3!
Well, I think I'm sold on Paul London. He's looked good so far in his short appearances, but looked like a star tonight thanks to Chavo. Chavo underestimating the rookie with his worries on the ladder match at Crowd Conrol was a nice little story.
After the match, Chavo goes to continue the attack on London, but 3 Count run out to make the save. As they do, the Jung Dragons appear out of nowhere and begin attacking the trio! Hayashi & Yang are wielding chairs and laying the beat down to 3 Count. They leave 3 Count down on the outside as they slide into the ring alongside Chavo. Chavo stands and raises the Cruiserweight title above his head as Kaz & Yang stand on either side. Kaz sneaking a glimpse at the title as we head to commercial.
Video package for the champion now as WCW World Heavyweight Champion Lance Storm addresses Crowd Control. He knows he's been called boring and not entertaining. He isn't the most charismatic guy on the roster. But he is the best wrestler in this wrestling promotion and has the gold to prove it. At Crowd Control, he'll prove it again.
Backstage, Buff Bagwell is in a dark room holding a steel pipe. He talks about how he's really begun to love this Extreme way of life. He was wrong thinking it was below him. Because it is him. Buff Bagwell IS Extreme. At WCW Crowd Control, he's going to utilize all his strength, all his agility, and anything not bolted down to ensure he walks out WCW United States Champion!
The big 6-man main event his here! All six men are brawling from the jump. RVD is getting huge height on his kicks and the crowd is unglued for every Rolling Thunder attempt. The MIA and FBI are neutralizing each other on the floor. In the chaos, Guido distracts the ref while Bagwell slides out and grabs that steel pipe he was cutting promos with earlier. RVD goes for the Five Star Frog Splash, but Bagwell rolls out of the way. As RVD staggers up, Bagwell cracks him across the ribs with the pipe! He tosses the pipe out, hits the Buff Blockbuster, and the ref counts the 3!
A fine main event for Nitro. Bagwell gets a much needed big win, and the FBI benfit too. RVD is so hot right now, one loss like this isn't hurting him, and he really got to shine here as always anyway.
We are back after the final break with Diamond Dallas Page & Mike Awesome in the ring. DDP has a mic and talks about how he is going to destroy Shane McMahon at Madison Square Garden this Sunday, and that there will be no escape. At at Crowd Control, Awesome will do what he proved he can do last week, and take out Booker for good.
That's all Booker & Shane McMahon need to hear as they storm the ring. A big brawl breaks out between all four men. As Shane McMahon & Booker get the upper hand, Shane calls for them to "Lower it!" just then, a steel cage begins to descend from the rafters with McMahon & DDP in the ring brawling. Booker is fighting Awesome on the outside and getting the upper hand as Awesome seems distracted trying to get into the ring to help DDP. The cage lowers further as Kanyon runs out and goes to slide into the ring, but Booker T takes him out too! The Cage fully drops and Shane & DDP begin brawling inside as Nitro fades off the air!