Hour Two Commentators: Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan
Mean Gene out to interview Ric Flair. Flair is out in a suit. It apperas Flair also got a haircut, as well. Flair tells us that Kevin Nash isn't there. He hypes up the match tonight.
Match Five: Michael Wallstreet vs. Dean Malenko(c) for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship
Wallstreet and Patrick jaw for a decent portion of the match.
In a weird ending, Jarrett is out and trips up Malenko. Patrick counts a three.. but it's actually two. Malenko puts a Cloverleaf on Wallstreet, but Nick Patrick was in the way. Weird.
Winner, and STILL WCW United States Champion: Dean Malenko
*1/4
Jarrett and Debra talk to Mean Gene. Jarrett wants a rematch for the US Title, and Dean Malenko accepts. Mongo is out and complains about Jarrett and how things he's been doing with Debra. Mongo then cuts a promo on Kevin Greene. Oh boy.
Match Six: Ciclope and Damien vs. Harlem Heat w/Sister Sherri
This plays out like Steiners/nWo earlier, with the Steiners hitting Booker T with a chair. Ciclope and Damien win.
Winners by pinfall: Ciclope and Damien
*
Lee Marshall is in Boston Massachusetts shilling Nitro from the Fleet Center.
Match Seven: Barbarian w/Jimmy Hart vs. Chris Benoit
Back and forth contest that sees Barbarian hit everything from a piledriver to that insane top rope belly to belly suplex. Of course, this doesn't stop Benoit as he wins with a Crippler Crossface after a headbutt.
Winner by submission: Chris Benoit
Postmatch, Benoit tells Hart that he did what he was asked to do. Hart tells Benoit he must face Meng AGAIN in a Death Match at Great American Bash. Uh.. right.
*1/2
Main Event: Scott Hall w/Syxx vs. Ric Flair
They fight four a good ten or so minutes, but a well placed shot with the belt to Ric Flair causes for the bell.
Winner by DQ: Ric Flair
Syxx and Hall beat up on Flair for a few minutes before Mongo runs out to help Flair. Hall and Syxx run off though.
**1/4
The nWo music starts up and Savage has Gene by the throat and demands to be interviewed. Savage calls himself the greatest wrestler ever. When Mean Gene disagrees, Savage physically threatens Gene again. James J Dillon is out now. Dillon and Savage argue for a few minutes, before Savage finally beats up Dillon. Bischoff and WCW Security is out and Bischoff tries to stop Savage. Eventually they hold Savage down on the ground. Bischoff grabs a mic and blames Dillon for what Savage did. The show ends with Bischoff telling DDP to 'snap into this.'
Overall, I'd say this was a slightly above average Nitro. There were a few good matches, and while there were some squashes, some matches did get plenty of time to develop. Not to mention they pushed more of the feuds going into Great American Bash. 5.5/10
TV Rating: 3.3
Other Nitro Notes:
1. Tony hypes up a 6/28/97 'Saturday' Nitro, which was a big house show that was broadcasted on the Internet. Assuming I can 'find' the entirety of the event, I might review that as well.
2. I'm surprised by how much they have been hyping up the debut on the 6/30 Nitro. I thought they'd forget it by now.
3. I should note that last week marked the final time Woman appeared on Nitro. She disappeared, with really no kayfabe reason, and was never mentioned again.
4. Also, I'm planning on doing the next PPV watchfest the 11th, at 10:00 AM CDT
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Hell, I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know..
My WCW watchthrough topic: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/57994703