The last stop before WCW Bash at the Beach is here. WCW Nitro is live from the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum in Detroit, Michigan!
Joey Styles & Jerry "The King" Lawler welcome us to the show and run down what's already scheduled for tonight as the Pyro goes of and "Party Hard" by Andrew WK plays in WCW Nitro!
We are starting with WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Lance Storm! The champ is on his way to the ring with Dawn Marie and doesn't look happy. He needs to be serious for a minute. Storm is on the mic and starts complaining about BG James constantly getting lucky and that the series of wins James has been getting over Storm have all been flukes. Last week, Buff Bagwell cost Storm the match, Lance had that match won. This week, Storm was told he can have another chance to prove it was a fluke and to find a new partner, so he's found this man. Storm gestures to the entrance and here comes "The King of Old School" Steve Corino. Corino down to the ring, and he grabs a mic. Corino says he hasn't been in WCW long, but he already sees what Storm and others have been complaining about. The company is full of hasbeens and neverwases besides the select few like himself and Lance Storm. Tonight, the top of WCW will prove who they are when the King of Old School and Lance Storm win tonights main event.
That's enough for BG James to come out with Curt Hennig! Hennig on the stick first and calls Storm a heck of a competitor. In-fact, Hennig sees a lot of himself in Storm because Storm is gifted in that ring, some might even say he's close to perfect, which is why it drives him crazy that Lance wastes so much time making excuses because that is what is truly holding him back from being the true best in this business. Hennig then goes to Corino, saying how Corino reminds him of so many guys he's seen come and go. Good skills, but a big mouth. And the big mouth often gets in the way. If Corino think's he's really the "King of Old School" then he'll have to battle a little "Old School Perfection" in Curt Hennig.
James takes his turn and insults Corino & Storm with some fancy Doggisms and jive talking. He says that he has waited to long to blow the opportunity he has in front of him. His legacy in this business has already be written, but now, for the first time, he feels like he's the one holding the pen. Tonight, he partners with Curt Hennig, just like in the past has partnered with greats, but Sunday at Bash at the Beach, its 1-on-1 and The Doggfather will be walking away with the World Heavyweight Championship!
A preview of Bash at the Beach's 6-Man Tag Team Match and the Cruiserweights open the show in typical WCW fashion! Great match back and forth with all guys getting a chance to shine. It takes the crowd a bit to get into it, but they warm up pretty quick thanks to all the action. Match looks like its going 3 Counts way, but Yun Yang is constantly getting involved. This eventually leads to a big brawl on the outside between Yang & Karagias and Hayashi joins in the fray. Seeing his bandmate in trouble, Shane Helms dives off the apron onto all the men taking out the big pile. This leaves Moore & Chavo in the ring, and Chavo takes the opportunity as Moore is distracted by the action to drill the babyfaced Moore from behind. He hoists Moore and drops him with a Brainbuster for the 3.
The crowd is starting to come along. The matches keep being good or better, and now that the crowd seems to be getting more invested, the matches seem that much better because of it. Can't wait to see the 6-Man at BatB on Sunday.
Commercial and we are back a dimmly lit Italian Bistro.
In the Bistro, the FBI of Guido Maritato, Chuck Palumbo & Johnny Stamboli are celebrating Palumbo's win last week over some big plates of spaghetti. They are really leaning into the Italian-isms and accents. There's a loud table off screen that is beginning to agitate Guido, he eventually yells over and tells them to quiet down. As the camera pans over, we see Disqo & Mike Sanders having a candlelit dinner, but the camera continues to pan and reveals the Misfits In Action are also having dinner at another table! They have big pizzas in front of them and are laughing and having a good time. Their tag team titles even have their own seats at the table. Camera cuts back to the FBI who can't believe MIA would invade their favorite restaurant. They all stand up and approach MIA and threaten them. MIA laughs it off and says they can leave, but they'll see them on Sunday. One last thing... FOOD FIGHT! MIA flips the pizzas into the FBI's face and seem to dissappear. The entire restaurant erupts into a big food fight, leaving the FBI covered in Pasta & Pizza. As they sulk, the camera pans back to Disqo & Sanders, who are now hiding under their table. I AM ENTERTAINED!
Quick little cruiserweight showcase here. Kidman starts out in control early, but Romeo gets some stuff in after Skipper gets involved. Its not enough as Kidman fights back and quickly puts Romeo down with the Kid Krusher/Unprettier for the 3-count
I admit, I almost forgot Kidman was on the roster, which is funny as on a roster so lacking in star power, I'd argue he was one of the more established names. Seems this match was to remind me and everyone else Kidman exists.
Backstage in Arn's Office. Arn Anderson has CW Anderson standing next to him behind his desk, as Pete Gas is alone sitting in front. Anderson says Pete Gas was an embarrassment last week. Weeks of Anderson training and that was the best he had to show? Arn says he has a show to run and a company to help manage, and if Pete isn't going to take his training seriously, Arn does not have time to string him along. CW is nodding along. Arn turns to his nephew, he claims CW is an Anderson, so he should have had Gas whipped into shape by now. Arn realizes now, that no matter how much the two of them bounce around his office, nothing beats