WCW Nitro
Airdate: August 5th, 1996
Arena/Location: Disney MGM Studios in Orlando, FL
Hour One Commentators: Larry Zbyszko and Tony Schiavone
We start off Nitro with Tony and Larry talking about what happened the week before. Turns out we’re going to have Scott Norton, Meng, Barbarian, and Big Bubba watching over the ringside as security tonight. Personally, I think all they would need is Meng.
Match One: Rock ‘n Roll Express vs. Harlem Heat© w/Col. Parker and Sister Sherri for the WCW World Tag Team Championships
Back and forth matchup here. Gibson looks like he’s going to win it, until Sherri interferes and tries to kiss him, Parker gets the taste knocked out of his mouth, and Stevie Ray hits an Axe Kick on him. Booker T gets the win.
Winners, and STILL WCW World Tag Team Champions: Harlem Heat
**½
Mean Gene interviewing the Nasty Boys. Saggs and Knobbs say they’re friends with Hogan, but don’t do everything he does, and vice versa. Sting and Luger come out, they banter for a few seconds, before going to the back. Hype up for the main event tonight!
We get a video of Glacier. It’s the same one from the week before.
Match Two: Malia Hosaka w/Sonny Onoo vs. Madusa
Decent women’s match. You don’t see that sentence typed out much anymore. Hosaka wins with help from Sonny Onoo.
Winner by pinfall: Malia Hosaka
**¼
There is a limo parked just several feet from the ring. No one has entered or exited it, though Tony theorizes that it’s got something to do with the nWo.
We get a video of what happened a few weeks earlier when Dean cost Benoit a match via countout. Turns out Malenko is helping out Hart so he can get a shot at the Cruiserweight championship. No rematch clause? Regardless, they’ll have a match at Hog Wild!
Match Three: Chris Benoit w/ Elizabeth and Woman vs. Alex Wright
Another relatively decent match. Hart runs out and talks to Woman for a second. Something about her with the Horsemen when she is supposed to be with DoD? I dunno. Malenko makes his way down to ringside. Benoit and Malenko duke it out, and Alex Wright wins?!
Winner by countout: Alex Wright
Another fair match, though I think it would’ve been better with more time and a better ending. At least Malenko/Benoit will be good. **½
Match Four: Lord Steven Regal w/Jeeves vs. Randy Savage
Yet another back and forth contest. As hour two grows closer, we learn that neither Heenan nor Bischoff will be doing commentary for hour two. I guess we’re stuck with Larry and Tony.
Hour Two Commentators: Larry Zbyszko and Tony Schiavone
Shortly after the start of Hour Two, Sting and Luger come out and sit in some vacant seats, presumably nWo’s section. Savage is able to win this bout with a flying elbow drop.
Winner by pinfall: Randy Savaage.
**¼
After the end of the match, Sting and Luger go to the limo parked near ringside. Sting opens up the door and.. Pulls out a bouquet of flowers. They go into the ring, where Mean Gene is interviewing Savage. Savage is going to get a title shot against the winner of the WCW World Heavyweight championship match. Sting says the flowers have a ‘Condolences to the death of WCW’ on it. They’re about four and a half years early for that. Savage punts the bouquet out of the ring. Guess it’s going back to the Power Plant.
Tony and Larry discuss why Eric and Bobby aren’t at ringside. Larry theorizes it’s foul play.
--
The Miz: Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't going to the Superbowl! The Miz's attempt to gain cheap heat from the Green Bay crowd. Three months later...