[RESULTS/OPINION] WCW Monday Nitro/WWF Monday Night RAW (7/29)

(This will be a fairly barebones recap, as I'm doing it on my work computer
which is a real lemon. My computer is sitting in a box at my new home.)

WCW Monday Nitro: Live.

HOUR ONE: Hosted by Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyszko.

 - Clips of the WCW racing car winning the Talladega 500K (which I assume
   isn't THE Talladega 500, but not being a racing fan, I have no idea...
   much less interest.)
 
 - Camcorder footage of Nash and Hall attacking Sting in a parking lot. 
   Luger was with Sting, but was called away by someone telling him he had a
   phone call. This left Sting open for the attack by the Outsiders (who had
   been hiding.) The impression that perhaps Luger was "conveniently" called
   away (and is thus perhaps another N.W.O. recruit) was about as subtle
   as a jackhammer. You can bet it's a red herring.

 - "HACKSAW" JIM DUGGAN vs. MIKE ENOS
   Duggan wins with the taped fist, then does an interview which was pretty
   good (up until the point he refers to Hulk Hogan as a "good technical
   wrestler.")

 - STING/LEX LUGER/RANDY SAVAGE vs. THE HORSEMEN (w/ The Women)
   This started out as an okay match. The crowd was really into it as it
   spilled out of the ring often. I was trying to figure out why WCW was
   using 90% of it's top talent in one match so early in the show, but the
   answer soon became apparent. Jimmy Hart comes to ringside, screaming about
   how the Outsiders are in the back and making trouble. Luger (of course)
   is the first one to listen, and soon he and everyone else leaves to
   investigate.

   Cut to a shot of Arn Anderson lying on the ground. Marcus Bagwell is
   writhing in pain a few feet away as Hall and Nash stand over them
   brandishing aluminum baseball bats. Scotty Riggs exits a trailer (my
   guess being used either as a control facility or dressing rooms) and
   checks out Bagwell. He is nailed with a spotlight and floored as well.
   Next is Rey Misterio who dives off the trailer steps handrail, but is
   caught by Nash, who slams him against the side of the trailer like one
   would throw a javelin. Misterio hits the wall head first and slumps to
   the ground. Hall and Nash then enter a nearby limo as the cavalry arrives.
   Savage leaps on the roof of the car, swinging at it's occupants through
   the sunroof as it speeds off into the night. Savage is not seen again.

   For quite some time we then see Anderson, Bagwell, Riggs and Misterio
   being attented to by their friends and paramedics. Arn is selling some
   kind of shoulder or arm injury. With Bagwell it's a knee or leg. Riggs
   never comes to and is carted off in an ambulance unconscious. Misterio
   is the least hurt, anxiously telling Eddy Guerrero that there were 4
   Outsiders in the limo, not 3. Misterio's mask is removed, but he covers
   his face with his hands as the announcers comment on how Mexican masked
   wrestlers suffer a great loss of honor at the removal of their masks and
   the revealing of their features.

   Woman screams constantly for help (annoying at first, but eventually a
   bit unnerving.) Mongo is hopeless as he yells "how can they come in here
   and do this" over and over. Flair is absolutely convincing, standing over
   his fallen friend looking ashen and twenty years older - at a complete
   loss for words and utterly powerless to do anything. Benoit paces around
   like a caged animal, almost getting into a scuffle with Meng.

   All four men are eventually taken away in ambulances: Woman and Flair
   riding with Arn ("someone call his wife" says Woman.) Sting accompanies
   Bagwell as Schiavone mentions what good friends the two are outside the
   ring. Guerrero tries to go with Misterio, but is convinced by Alex Wright
   to stay and wrestle his match.

HOUR TWO: Hosted by Eric Bischoff and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

 - Bischoff announces that standby matches are being put together. Arn had
   been scheduled to wrestle The Giant. Guerrero was supposed to wrestle
   Misterio for the Cruiserweight belt, The American Males had been scheduled
   to face The Steiners. Bobby Heenan announces that due to his past neck
   injuries that it was too dangerous for him to stick around. He leaves and
   Bischoff anounces the remainder of the show with Schiavone and Zbyszko.

 - THE STEINER BROTHERS vs. HIGH VOLTAGE
   The Steiners quickly win. Rick acts very distracted, constantly looking
   to the back.

 - BIG BUBBA (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. EDDY GUERRERO
   Eddy gets the upset win.

 - New World Order promo. I believe this ran on WCW Saturday Night also.
   Black & white MTV-esque shots of Nash, Hall and Hogan being goons.
   Hogan sports a five o'clock shadow (and as we all know, black clothes +
   facial hair = evil.)

 - THE GIANT (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. GREG "THE HAMMER" VALENTINE
   The Giant wins with the usual chokeslam, then does an interview mocking
   Hogan.

Next week's main event: Not announced.

Comments: The first effort to really put the N.W.O. over as a serious threat
was very well done. Most of the wrestlers (and managers) did very well
(with Misterio and Mongo's weak efforts being the most notable exceptions.)
The announcers were very verbal during all of this, which is why it differed
from the Shawn Michaels collapse (or The Giant's fall off the roof at
Halloween Havoc.) The scenario played out well, but the rest of the show
obviously suffered . The last 20 minutes or so lacked any excitement
whatsoever. Misterio's repeated assertions and the subsequent discussion by
the announcing crew left no doubt that there is a 4th N.W.O. member that we
should see soon, possibly Waltman (the 1-2-3 Kid,) and probably at Hog Wild.

My only question is how Nash and Hall will avoid jail time for their
"assault?"


WWF Monday Night RAW: Taped 7/22.

 - Recap of the introduction of "The Gladiator" Faarooq Asad (Ron Simmons.)
   It should probably be spelled "Farouk Asaad" but the above is how the
   WWF is spelling it: Faarooq Asad.

 - SID vs. JUSTIN "HAWK" BRADSHAW (w/ Uncle Zebekiah)
   Sid gets a tremendous response. He wins by D.Q. Why is he so over?

 - Sunny and Faarooq Asad. They talk, but don't really manage to explain
   why Ron has changed his name, outfit, or even why he's so out of shape.

 - VADER (w/ Jim Cornette) vs. MARC MERO (w/ Sable)
   Vader wins handily as Cornette does color commentary.

 - Another look at Clarence Mason's conference with Gorilla Monsoon about
   getting Crush back into the WWF. They actually mention the illegal firearm
   and controlled substance charges.

 - Vince McMahon interviews Jim Cornette and Jose Lethario. Cornette badmouths
   Lethario - Lethario pops Cornette. No one runs in. Shawn Michaels is
   shown watching on a monitor in the back, and is attacked by Mankind
   (thus preventing his running in to aid Lethario.)

 - Clips of Jerry Lawler's "WWF Superstars" loss to Aldo Montoya.

 - THE BRITISH BULLDOG vs. HENRY O. GODWIN (w/ Hillbilly Jim)
   The Bulldog wins. Owen Hart does color commentary.

 - Clips of weightlifter Mark Henry, who eventually did poorly in the Olympics.

 - THE UNDERTAKER (w/ Paul Bearer) vs. "STONE COLD" STEVE AUSTIN
   Austin wins by countout as the Undertaker leaves the ring to brawl with
   Mankind in the aisle. He then comes back and Tombstone Piledrives Austin.

 - Next week's main event: 11 Man Invitational Battle Royale.

Comments: Average wrestling. Little else except the Mankind attack on
Michaels which made little sense. McMahon barely mentioned it after they
showed it on a replay - even when Mankind showed up to fight the Undertaker.
Possibly meant to help sell the possibility that Vader could win the title
at SummerSlam. I dunno. Overall an odd, flat installment of RAW. 


Bottom line: The N.W.O. storyline continues to dominate. Unfortunately it
looks as if the whole purpose of Hog Wild is to introduce the latest Outsider.
My guess is that bringing Misterio into it is a set up for future matches
between him and Sean Waltman (if he is indeed the latest N.W.O. member.)
They're definitely in better shape with this angle than they were a week ago.


This week's winner: Nitro.


JRP