WCW is fresh off of Fall Brawl and a night full of new champions, and tonight, LIVE from Augusta, Maine, its the Night of Champions as four championship rematch clauses have been enacted for a night of golden opportunities! Cue "Party Hard" by Andrew WK, here's Joey Styles & Jerry "The King" Lawler to welcome us to Nitro!
The Foundation opens Nitro, making there way down to the ring, Mike Awesome and Kanyon are joined by the new WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Diamond Dallas Page and the newest member of the group, and new WCW World Cruiserweight Champion, Billy Kidman!
Diamond Dallas Page is all smiles as he takes a microphone to address the crowd.
"You all thought this was about spilled milk. You all thought The Foundation was about bruised egos and guys crying and moaning that they deserve more. Its not! Its about this right here, the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, back, around the King of Badda Bing's waist for a 4th time where it belongs. Shane McMahon, Booker T, Lance Storm, you fans, you all thought that DDP didn't have it anymore, well I stand before you as YOUR champion, as WCW's champion, as the Champion of the World! BANG!
And I stand in this ring, surrounded by the best-of-the-best in this business. Kanyon, my best friend, the Innovator of Offense, a man whose acumen in this ring is only eclipsed by his loyalty. Mike Awesome, the big man, the career killer, the blueprint of what a professional wrestler is. And, the newest member of The Foundation. The Foundation of the Cruiserweight division for years, Billy Kidman, stands in this ring YOUR WCW World Cruiserweight champion. The four of us are The Foundation. We are the cornerstones! We are the bedrock under your feet! We are the steel beams of your soul. We are WCW! We are undeniable, and there is NOTHING anyone can do about it!"
DDP hands the microphone to Kidman who looks like he's about to address the crowd when Lance Storm's music blares through the arena and here comes the former champion. Storm stands at the base of the ramp alongside Dawn Marie and stops, grabbing a microphone to address The Foundation. Storm says he respects the Foundation for who they are and what they do, but they've crossed him now by stealing his WCW World Heavyweight Championship, and tonight, he's taking it back.
Before anyone else can speak, the music of Booker T takes its turn on the PA, and here comes Booker! Booker says he should have known better, he should have known that the Foundation was going to be up to games and cheating and somehow screw him out of his WCW World Heavyweight championship again. So now it looks like another Sucka has put his name on the ass kicking list, so Billy Kidman, we can do this now, or we can do this later, but Booker T will lay you down with a Book End one way or another!
And that's enough for Shane McMahon to make his way onto the stage alongside booker. Shane has a microphone of his own. He says The Foundation has done what they've always done. Allowed their ego and arrogance blind themselves from trusting in their own talents to get things done. So congratulations to DDP on his WCW World Heavyweight championship win, he'll need to prove it wasn't a fluke and defeat Lance Storm tonight to keep that gold. And before Lance Storm or DDP think they have it easy, Shane has the forunate pleasure of letting them know, whoever wins, will face Sean O'Haire at Halloween Havoc and defend the World Heavyweight title against the Psycho Killer! Here comes O'Haire onto the stage to look menacing! Its working. Shane says, he'd love to set everyone lose and let them all beat the hell out of each other. But they have a busy night and 4 Championship matches, so everyone needs to get to the back, except Billy Kidman, because the WCW World Cruiserweight Championship match, is next!
As soon as the bell rings, both men go for a lockup, but Chavo quickly transitions into a hammerlock. Kidman counters with a snapmare, but Chavo holds on, showing the technical veteran savvy he’s known for. The two trade fast pin attempts, neither gaining a clear advantage until Kidman catches Chavo with a dropkick that sends the challenger to the floor. Chavo throws a quick tantrum on the outside, before walking up the ringsteps and stepping through the ropes. Back in the ring, Chavo slows the pace, grounding Kidman with a series of European uppercuts and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a two count. Kidman fights back with a flurry of strikes and a running bulldog. He heads to the top rope, but Chavo crotches him and delivers a huge superplex. Chavo senses victory and signals for a Brainbuster. Just as he hoists Kidman up, Kaz Hayashi slides out from under the ring and grabs Chavo’s ankle! Chavo stumbles, releasing Kidman, and turning to yell at Hayashi. As he turns back, Kidman is waiting and plants him with a Kid Krusher. 1, 2, 3!
Good little match from two of the best cruiserweights in the business. The heel vs. heel dynamic was interesting and the crowd seemed confused who to cheer for. Hayashi being involved in the finish was a choice I didn't see coming. Curiouse where the divison goes from here.
We cut backstage where Scott Hudson is with the WCW United States Champion, Rob Van Dam! Hudson asks RVD what's next for him and the US title. RVD says he said from day one he would defend this title against all comers, win, and prove he's the Whole Dam Show while doing it, and so far, RVD has done what RVD has said he'll do. As RVD is doing his signature thumb pointing, Lance Storm & Dawn Marie come stamping through the interview area and Storm bumps into RVD, knocking the United States title to the ground. RVD looks momentarily angry, picks up the belt, and says "That's cool." before walking off.
This was a standard tag team brawl that saw the FBI using their power advantage early on. Stamboli and Palumbo cut the ring in half, isolating Corporal Cajun and punishing him with frequent tags and heavy strikes. Rection finally got the hot tag and cleared house, dropping Stamboli with a massive powerslam. The finish came when Palumbo went for a Super Kick, but Rection ducked and Palumbo accidentally nailed Stamboli square in the jaw. As Palumbo looked on in shock, Cajun took him out with a diving crossbody to the outside. Rection capitalized, climbing the ropes and crushing Stamboli with a No Laughing Matther moonsault for the win!
I think we are done with MIA and FBI after this, and thank god for that. While nothing between the teams has been outright bad, it just never captured my attention outside of when Torrie first became Blonde Bombshell. And the matches were all just okay. Interested to see what can happen with the Tag Team division now, away from this feud.
We are backstage with BG James. He cuts a quick promo saying he needs to find his spot and if there isn't one for him, he needs to carve out his own.
The bell rings and Swinger tries to jump James, but BG sees it coming and nails him with a series of jabs. Swinger manages to get a momentary advantage with a thumb to the eye and a swinging neckbreaker, but James kicks out at one. James quickly regains control with a leaping back elbow and a Shaky Shaky Knee Drop. Swinger grabsh is face and slowly makes it to his feet, where James hooks him up and delivers the Pumphandle Drop, and that is all she wrote.
A glorified squash for James. James made me a bit of a believer in his series of matches with Storm, but it looks like he's moving backdown the card where he probably belongs as a gatekeeper to the main event. Maybe the right partner exists to put him in the Tag divison where he can thrive.
Backstage, we have D'Lo Brown & Buff Bagwell in their locker room. D'Lo is pissed at losing to RVD at Fall Brawl. Bagwell tells him he needs to relax, and that they two of them need to get some wins together and the championships and money will follow. Brown tells Bagwell he didn't come to WCW to lose or be someone's lackey, so he better have a plan, or he better get ready to recognize.
Booker T is backstage. He cuts a promo saying he's sick and tired of all these cry babies getting in his way and keeping the World Heavyweight title from him. The Foundation has been on notice, and will continue to be on notice. He's handled business before, and he isn't going to stop now. Booker isn't here to complain, you want to get in Booker's business? You become Booker's business. So Billy Kidman. "I'm coming for you Sucka!"
We are back in the arena with Stacy Keibler & Shawn Stasiak making their entrance. Stacy is screaming and kicking as Stasiak carries her to the ring, shouting she has a rematch and to get his title back. Stacy just keeps screaming as Stasiak puts her in the ring.
Joanie makes her way out of the ring as Stacy cowers in the corner. The referee rings the bell and Joanie goes to lock up with Stacy, but she just remains trembling in the corner. Joanie backs off and goes to talk to the referee, when Stacy explodes out of the corner and starts clubbing on the back of Joanie. Joanie turns around no selling it, and Stacy looks terrified again. Joanie grabs Stacy by the hair, then sets her up for a Powerbomb. Up-and-down! 1-2-3! Joanie retains.
Was this a match? I don't really know. I dont rate segments, and this felt like a segment. But there was bells and a 3 count, so its a match I guess? A technically bad match, but its about all a match between Stacy Keibler and anyone can be, and it was fine for that.
Joanie celebrates in the ring, as Stasiak scoops up Stacy and walks to the back. As Joanie celebrates, someone slides into the ring and blasts the champion with a steel chair to the back! IT'S JAZZ! Jazz lays another couple shots to Joanie's back in the ring, as we see Steve Corino at ringside applauding and smiling. Corino slides into the ring and Jazz stands over Joanie Laurer as Corino grabs her right hand and raises it.
The bell rings and Storm immediately goes for the takedown, but DDP keeps a wide base. They lock up and Storm quickly transitions behind, floating over into a tight side headlock takedown. DDP powers to his feet and sends Storm off the ropes, leveling the former champion with a shoulder block. Storm is right back up, showing his technical acumen by catching a DDP kick and spinning him into a Canadian Maple Leaf. Page is freaking out and quickly scrambles to the ropes to force the break.
Storm stays on the offensive, hitting a snap suplex and following up with stiff European uppercuts. He whips Page across the ring, but DDP explodes out of the turnbuckle with a desperation clothesline. Page feels the momentum shifting, hitting a series of left hands before planting Storm with a massive gutwrench gutbuster for a close two and a half count.
Both men stagger up and trade heavy blows in the center of the ring. Storm gets the better of it, hitting a dropkick that staggers DDP back into the corner. Sensing the end, Storm follows him in and hoists him to the top rope and looks to be setting up a Superplex! Up top, DDP fights back, and slips down onto the middle rope. He grabs Storm and nails a HUGE Sit-Out Powerbomb from the second rope leaving both men in a crumpled heap!
As they rise at the count of eight, Storm catches DDP with a spinning heel kick and winds up for the superkick. Suddenly, RVD’s music blares through the arena. Storm freezes, and turns to the stage, but nobody appears. Storm brushes it off and turns back to DDP right into a Diamond Cutter! DDP drapes his arm over Storm, and gets the pinfall!
Great match from two of the best in WCW. Lance Storm's normal is great, so I guess maybe this match was just okay? The two had a fantastic match, with only the heel vs. heel dynamic throwing the crowd a little bit. RVD's involvement in the finish also seemed to maybe confuse some in attendance as he technically helped DDP win, but it was a call back to Storm disrespecting him.
After the match, Booker T runs out and goes after Kidman at ringside. As Kidman scurries away and into the ring, Booker follows, only to run into a 2-on-1 attack from DDP & Kidman! Sean O'Haire is here! The Psycho Killer runs to the ring and joins Booker T in fighting with Kidman & DDP as Storm slides out of the ring to be checked on by Dawn Marie. Mike Awesome & Kanyon come out of nowhere to tilt the odds back into The Foundation's favour, they overwhelm Booker & O'Haire when the music of the Misfits In Action hit! Rection & Cajun come like bats out of hell and the ring has erupted into an all out brawl!
RVD's music hits again, and he is standing on the stage! He waves at storm, the shines his United States title before doing his "R-V-D" thumb point as the brawl in the ring continues on!