WCW is back in Belton, Texas for the penultimate episode of Nitro before Fall Brawl! Pyro rings out and Andrew WK's "Party Hard" open the show as Joey Styles & Jerry "The King" Lawler call the action!
Lance Storm is on his way to the ring alongside the lovely Dawn Marie and the even lovelier Big Gold Belt! The WCW World Heavyweight Champion has a mic. Storm says last week, he proved, again, to be the best wrestler in the world, defeating Sean O'Haire, just like he proved he was the best wrestler in the world when he defeated BG James, just like he proved he was the best wrestler in the world when he defeated BG James, Curt Hennig and Kanyon, just like he proved to be the best wrestler in the world when he defeated Booker T, and nothing will stop him. After Fall Brawl, when he defeats Booker T, again, and Diamond Dallas Page, Storm thinks maybe its would be time for everyone to drop to their knees and worship him as a wrestling god like he deserves! Tonight, its finally time for everyone else to prove they belong!
Cue DDP's music. DDP comes out and tells Storm that he knows how good Storm is, but Storm forgets just who DDP is. DDP thinks Lance deserves the biggest praise in the world, when he grew a spine last week and realized the real threat at Fall Brawl isnt Booker T, but Diamond Dallas Page. Some people would be mad to be locked in the Canadian Maple Leaf, but DDP wants to thank Lance, because he finally proved he will do whatever it takes to win, and thats why DDP is here to personally invite Lance Storm to join the Foundation.
As Storm seems to think about the idea, Booker T's music hits! The former champ is out and makes his way to the ring. He gets on the mic and says he knew all along that Storm was just another DDP puppet. For a minute, Booker T almost started to respect Lance, but seeing him as just another Foundation crony has reminded Booker just how much of a sucka he is. Storm interjects and says he isn't in the Foundation and never has been, but Booker says he doesn't believe him. DDP simply smiles and says "good luck" to Booker T before leaving the ring. Storm & Booker have a staredown when the music of Buff Bagwell hits, Bagwell is making his way to the ring as Lance Storm slides out and looks to be taking a seat at the ringside area to watch the upcoming match.
Bagwell opened the contest by retreating to the ropes, flexing his biceps and stalling to play to the cameras. Booker remained composed, and once they locked up, he immediately outclassed Bagwel. Booker transitioned from a hammerlock into a side headlock, and when Bagwell tried to push off, Booker hit the ropes and leveled him with a crisp jumping sidekick that sent Buff sprawling to the floor. Bagwell eventually found an opening by raking the eyes during a break in the corner, allowing him to slow the pace with a grinding chinlock. Lance Storm and Dawn Marie, sat motionless at ringside, scouting Booker. Booker quickly proved the difference in class, fighting to his feet and backing Buff into the turnbuckle with a flurry of echoing forearm shivers before snapmaring him into a seated position and nailing a stiff basement dropkick to Buff's back. As Bagwell grew desperate, he lunged for a messy doubleleg takedown, but Booker sprawled perfectly and shoved him aside. Buff scrambled back up only to be met by a thunderous Scissors Kick. Booker waited for a dazed Bagwell to get up, then planted him with a Book End for the victory!
The obvious result is Booker winning here to carry momentum, and it was a fine match that accomplished that. Booker vs. Bagwell was actually the first ever main event of the first Nitro on FX, an interesting call back to show just how much stuff has changed since then.
Back from commercial and Jerry "The King" Lawler is in the ring for another edition of "The King's Court" Lawler welcomes his first guest, Curt Hennig! Hennig makes his way to the ring and grabs a mic. Lawler first praised Hennig for all he has done in the wrestling business. Hennig's name has become synomous with the word "Perfect" and Jerry wants to know, just how much longer Hennig thinks he can live up to that standard. Hennig seems slightly annoyed. He tells Lawler he has plenty left in the tank, and that his years of experience and time in the ring have only made him better. He's sick and tired of people treating this like his ultimate swan song. Maybe its true there's less ahead then there is behind, but Curt Hennig is still the standard bearer of Perfection. Cue Steve Corino's music. Corino makes his way to the ring and has a mic in hand. He starts laughing and says he can't believe his eyes. He thought he was at WCW Nitro, not the WCW Museum being built in Charlotte, because he sees two artifacts in the ring! Corino tells Lawler he needs to go back behind the commentary desk where he belongs and let the real men talk. Lawler doesn't move a muscle. Corino stares him down, when Hennig gets in his face instead. Corino tells Hennig to calm down, Corino actually respects Hennig. In lots of ways, Curt Hennig is the wrestler Steve Corino has tried to be, a master of the fundamentals and a true Old School Pioneer. Corino knows thats what professional wrestling really is about. But there is one thing Corino intends to do different then Hennig, and that's actually win a World Heavyweight title and not just let opportunity pass him by. At Fall Brawl, Corino is going to defeat Hennig and put him in the museum where he belongs now! Corino cheap shots Hennig with the mic and begins laying in right hands. Hennig fights back and Corino turns around and eats a big left hand from Jerry Lawler! Corino is stumbling and turns right into a Hennigplex from Curt Hennig to leave Corino laying as Lawler raised Curt Hennig's arm!
The bell rang and both men locked into a technical exchange, trading tight arm drags and kip-ups that had the Texas crowd leaning in. Kidman gained the first real advantage, catching Chavo mid-leap with a spectacular tilt-a-whirl backbreaker that left the champion gasping. He followed up immediately, scaling the ropes for a crisp Missile Dropkick that sent Chavo retreating toward the floor. Chavo rolled back in and managed to ground the pace, focusing his attack entirely on Kidman’s neck. He snapped off a stiff hanging neckbreaker over the middle rope before punishing Kidman in the corner with a series of echoing European uppercuts. Kidman began to fire back, catching Chavo with a desperation bulldog that shifted the momentum entirely in Kidman's favor. Chavo began frantically screaming at Kaz Hayashi to get involved. Kaz looked hesitant, but finally climbed onto the apron. The delay was costly, as Chavo tried to send Kidman into the ropes with an Irish Whip, Kidman reversed the momentum with sending Chavo across the ring and crashing into Hayashi, knocking him off the apron. A dazed Chavo stumbled backward right into a School Boy roll up from Kidman, and that's enough for the 3!
What a great cruiserweight match! And a surprise seeing Kidman win. More issues are being teased between Kaz & Chavo and now Kidman has a victory over the champion. Crazy stuff.
After the match, Chavo starts arguing with Kaz, and as Kidman begins to celebrate, Chavo lays out Kidman with a shot from his Crusierweight title! Chavo tells Kaz to help him and the two begin laying the boots to Kidman. 3 Count's music hits and Shane Helms & Evan Karagias run out to chase off Los Dragones and rescue Kidman from any further attack!
We have a music video now hyping the career of RVD so far in WCW. Backstage we see D'Lo Brown watching the video as Buff Bagwell walks in holding ice on his neck. Bagwell says he has to admit, he hasn't been his best self lately, and something needs to change. At Fall Brawl, it starts when D'Lo Brown becomes the United States Champion, and The Real Deal Stuff begins its domination over World Championship Wrestling.
Cut to a fancy Italian restaurant. The camera pans out and we see Guido Maritato sitting at a table with Blonde Bombshell, its a date! The two seem to be awkwardly having dinner, while Guido tries to speak Italian to the Italian waiter but the waiter says he can't understand Guido. Guido gets upset and tells Bombshell to drink more wine, which she refuses. Guido is getting frustrated as Bombshell keeps ignoring his terrible pick up lines. The camera cuts away to Johnny Stamboli & Chuck Palumbo at the bar with their Tag Team titles watching on. Guido then says, he doesn't understand why Bombshell agreed to go on a date if she was going to be so cold. But Guido prepared for this. He motions to Stamboli & Palumbo who bring a TV over and put it on the table next to them. Guido says he pulled some favors and got a match booked for Nitro, right now, and if Bombshell doesn't want to enjoy her date, she can watch her friends get destroyed!
The bell rang and Mike Awesome immediately charged across the ring, decapitating Corporal Cajun with a clothesline before ragdolling him into the corner. Awesome hooked him for a massive release German suplex that saw Cajun land high on his shoulders, nearly ending it in the first minute. Kanyon tagged in and continued the assault, but Cajun managed to duck a roundhouse kick and make the tag to General Rection. The MIA utilized quick-tag double axe handles to keep Kanyon grounded, working his left arm to prevent the Flatliner. The tide shifted back when Awesome tagged in, catching a diving Cajun mid-air and dropping him with a sickening running powerslam. Awesome then scaled the turnbuckle, signaling for the finish while Kanyon grabbed Rection for the Flatliner. Rection powered out, thanks to Kanyon's injured arm, and shoved Kanyon hard into the ropes. The impact shook the ring, causing Awesome to lose his balance and get crotched painfully on the top turnbuckle. With Awesome neutralized on the perch, Rection scooped Kanyon up and planted him with a thunderous Sit-Out Doctor Bomb. He hooked the leg deep for the 3!
A fun match and I really didn't know what was going to happen. MIA getting a big victory over two guys like Kanyon & Awesome gives them some real momentum going into Fall Brawl.
Backstage in Arn's Office, Arn hypes that at Fall Brawl, he has booked a special match, a Fall... Brawl! Where wrestlers from WCW will compete in a battle royal with the winner getting a shot at the WCW World Heavyweight Championship!
We are in the ring now with Jerry "The King" Lawler! Lawler is beside himself as he introduces a special WCW Bikini Contest! He brings out the contestants, Joanie Laurer and WCW Women's Champion Stacy Keibler. He gives both women a chance to strut their bikinis. Stacy demands to go first and drops her robe to reveal a one-piece bikini. She's still hot, but not showing a lot. The crowd still cheers as Stacy does her Miss Hancock dance. Lawler then invites Joanie to go. Joanie drops her robe to reveal a TINY bikini. Joanie struts and flexes and the crowd is loving it. Lawler says he doesn't need a vote, he declares Joanie the winner! Stacy throws a tantrum and grabs her WCW Women's title and storms out, as Joanie poses for the fans again.
As the bell rang, Lance Storm and Dawn Marie made their way to ringside, pulling up chairs to observe the action with clinical detachment. BG James and Diamond Dallas Page immediately met in the center of the ring, trading heavy right hands and stiff shoulder blocks. James brought surprising fire to the opening minutes, using his momentum to catch a crisp spinning neckbreaker that rattled the veteran. He followed up with a 10-Punch in the corner, building a head of steam that nearly resulted in an upset after a quick DDT. James went for his Shaky Shaky Knee Drop, but DDP moved out of the way causing James to smash his knee into the mat. DDP quickly jumped on the opportunity, dropping a series of driving elbows onto the injured knee to ground the "Doggfather." Page followed up with a stiff Russian Leg Sweep and a gutbuster, systematically wearing James down. However, BG James found a second wind, hobbling to his feet to catch a charging Page with a desperation boot to the face. James hooked up DDP for a Pumphandle Drop, but DDP’s veteran instincts kicked in. Page slid out the back of the hold, nailing James with a sharp inverted atomic drop. Page took a split second to point directly at Lance Storm. When James swung around to find his opponent, he walked straight into a Diamond Cutter which led to the pinfall for DDP!
A fine match. I'd say Booker vs. Bagwell and Kidman vs. Chavo were actually better, but this was fine too. The right guy won and it did its job. James seems to really have lost direction in the last month, which is a shame, but you can only feature so many people. Maybe its time to put him back in a Tag Team where he seems to belong long term.
After the match, Lance Storm gets in the ring and stares down with Diamond Dallas Page. Page is yelling if Storm is "In" or "Out" and extends his hand. Booker T music hits and he makes his way to the ring and joins the stare down. Storm looks at both of his challengers and then raises the WCW World Heavyweight Championship above his head as Nitro ends.