[RESULTS/OPINION] WCW Monday Nitro/WWF Monday Night RAW (8/19) WCW Monday Nitro: Live. - Quick Clash of the Champions recap: * Rey Misterio Jr. defeated. Dean Malenko. * V.K. Wallstreet defeated "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. * Konan defeated The Ultimate Dragon. * Scott "Flash" Norton attacked Icetrain. * Randy "Macho Man" Savage was too injured to wrestle Meng. * Madusa defeated Bull Nakano. * Eddie Guerrero defeated "Diamond" Dallas Page. * The Giant defeated Chris Benoit. * Harlem Heat defeated The Steiners and Sting/Lex Luger. * Ric Flair defeated "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan via DQ. HOUR ONE: Hosted by Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyszko. - V.K. WALLSTREET vs. "HACKSAW" JIM DUGGAN WCW, ever the company to give fans what they want, offer this rematch from the Clash. I know you're anxious to know how it ended, so here goes: Duggan pulls out his roll of tape. Referee Nick Patrick (he of the slowly growing evil facial hair) takes the tape away. Wallstreet grabs the tape from the ref. The ref shrugs his shoulders. Duggan takes the tape from Wallstreet - tapes up his fist - and nails Wallstreet. The cover and pin follow. Schiavone (who earlier in the match tried to convince Zbyszko that Duggan was a smart wrestler) thinks this is suspicious on the part of referee Nick Patrick. Duggan does an interview about the New World Order, but doesn't get to say much before Randy Savage comes out and says that Hacksaw doesn't have to worry - he'll take care of Hulk Hogan soon enough. - CHRIS BENOIT (w/ Woman & Liz) vs. "EARL" ROBERT EATON Clip is shown of Benoit's embarrasing loss to The Giant at the Clash. Benoit moiderlizes Eaton, finishing him off with the headbutt off the top rope. - Recap of the Triangle Match at the Clash where referee Nick Patrick DQ'ed The Steiners due to "interference" from The Outsiders. Mean Gene then interviews Sting and Lex Luger, who say they have a surprise for Ric Flair and Arn Anderson. - DISCO INFERNO vs. SCOTT "FLASH" NORTON Inferno tries to Macarena (and that was nearly the high point of the match.) Inferno is elusive early on, avoiding much of Norton's offense. Norton eventually overpowers Disco, finishing him off with a shoulder breaker and an armbar called the "Flashback." - Recap of the attack on the Icetrain at the Clash, followed by an interview with he and manager Teddy Long. - "LORD" STEVEN REGAL vs. DEAN MALENKO Nice match. Only drawback was a commercial break they took, but it was fairly early before it got good. Regal and Malenko traded holds - each working on specific body parts of the other, reversing locks and pin attempts. Malenko nailed two belly-to-back suplexes, while Regal did a double-underhook "butterfly" suplex. Larry Zbyszko showed his strong points as a color man by analyzing the strengths and flaws in a full nelson that Regal had applied to Malenko. Malenko gets the pin following a flurry of pin attempts by both, rolling Regal up in some kind of tuck or crucifix (tying up one arm, then rolling over him and tying the other arm up with his legs, then rolling his shoulders to the mat.) - Mean Gene interviews The Four Horsemen as the second hour starts. HOUR TWO: Hosted by Eric Bischoff and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. - THE NASTY BOYS vs. THE PUBLIC ENEMY Bischoff mentions how WCW has been defending themselves in the lawsuit brought against them by the WWF. The P.E. bring out a table with them. Halfhearted effort by both teams. P.E. miss (yet again) their stupid double smash through the table (Jerry Saggs moved out of the way.) Brian Nobbs then lands an elbowdrop for the pin (on Grunge I think. One was rolled back into the ring - the other lay on the floor selling the table shot.) Very weak. - "DIAMOND" DALLAS PAGE vs. CHAVO GUERRERO JR. Clips are shown of Eddie Guerrero beating Page at the Clash. Match runs like a squash, with Page firmly in control and Chavo only rarely fighting back. Out of nowhere Chavo hooks Page's arms and backslides him to the mat for the pin. Page freaks out, clobbering Chavo with a Diamond Cutter then yanking off referee Nick Patrick's belt, whipping Guerrero like a dog. Patrick seems powerless to stop him. Referee Randy Anderson runs out and takes the belt away. Patrick then does an interview telling Mean Gene that he did the right thing by waiting for backup. Okerlund essentially calls him a coward, then brings up the fact that Patrick just bought a new $500,000 home. Eric Bischoff calls Patrick a snake, while Bobby Heenan tries to defend him. - AMERICAN MALES vs. HARLEM HEAT (w/ Sherri & Col. Parker) Clips are shown of The Males beating The Heat for the Tag Team titles roughly a year ago on Nitro. They don't fare as well this time around as the Heat win fairly easily. When the ref isn't looking (hey... it's Nick Patrick again) Booker T. pushes Scotty Riggs off the top rope. Stevie Ray catches him and powerslams him for the pin. - RIC FLAIR/ARN ANDERSON (w/ Woman & Liz) vs. STING/LEX LUGER Match never happens. Sting and Luger come out and engage in a lengthy conversation/interview with The Horsemen. They ask to join Flair and Arn in the Wargames match (replacing Benoit and McMichael) vs. The New World Order at Fall Brawl. They cite their experience in such matches. Flair and Arn say they'll leave the decision up to Benoit and McMichael. Benoit says the decision is up to Flair and Anderson. Mongo says it's okay, but adds "if you two pretty boys don't live up to your end of the bargain, what the NWO does to you will seem like a day in the park" when he finishes with them. An okay interview (especially when Arn got on the mic - very intense) but a long way to go to establish something that at least I myself already knew, and that most people probably assumed. All through the second half of the show Bischoff had mentioned that the WCW Committee was in the building finalizing the matches for Fall Brawl on September 15th, and that the main event would be The Horsemen vs. The NWO. Of course the Committee quickly approves this new match (according to Bischoff at the start of the main event.) - NWO promo. This time it's just Hall and Nash with a camcorder in a park in Denver making "Spartacus" jokes. - THE GIANT (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. RANDY "MACHO MAN" SAVAGE No match here either as Savage attacks The Giant with a chair. Referee Randy Anderson takes it away and The Giant throws Savage into the ring. Ref calls for the bell, throwing out the match (they were really short on time at this point.) The Giant tries a chokeslam, but Savage pops a kick to the gut, then gets his hands on another chair. In comes Hugh Morrus, Big Bubba, Meng and the Barbarian to save The Giant. Savage whacks them all with the chair and makes his escape. The Giant goes nuts, leaps over the top rope to the floor and takes off after him. The Brain says "Savage is half way to Newark, New Jersey, running for his life!" Next week's main event: Not announced. Comments: No Hogan, no Outsiders, and a surprise that wasn't. WCW still won't commit to Nick Patrick selling out, meaning you can bet it's about 90% for certain that he won't. They'll just string it along for a few more weeks, then act as if it was never an issue. Bischoff also brought up the notion that there is NO 4th member of the NWO, a possibility seconded by Heenan as being "propaganda" on their part. Hard to tell if it's another attempt to get us all looking towards the Dallas Book Depository, or if it's setting up WCW's failure to sign any more Outsiders and their eventual failure to produce any. Glacier seems to have been shelved, as they've gone back to showing the older promo (where you only catch quick glimpses of him.) In any case, this was a very boring Nitro. WWF Monday Night RAW: Live. - Quick SummerSlam recap: Free For All Countdown Show: * "Stone Cold" Steve Austin defeated Yokozuna. Yokozuna missed his Banzai Drop when the ropes broke. * There was no bikini contest between Sunny, Marlena & Sable: Just shots of them by a pool. SummerSlam 96: * Owen Hart defeated Savio Vega. Clarence Mason came to the ring to root for Hart. Hart knocked out Vega with his cast. Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw came out and attacked Vega after the match. * Smoking Gunns defeated The Bodydonnas, New Rockers & Godwins in the "4 Way Elimination Match." Eliminated in the order listed above. Smoking Gunns retain WWF Tag Team Titles. Sunny accompanied the Smoking Gunns to the ring. * Sycho Sid defeated The British Bulldog. Clarence Mason was at ringside. Jim Cornette came out and the two argued. Sid used a Powerslam for the win. * Goldust defeated "Wildman" Marc Mero. Mero and Sable have new ring attire. Goldust tried to seduce Sable after the match, but Mero stopped him. * Jerry "The King" Lawler defeated Jake "The Snake" Roberts. Lawler wore a Baltimore Ravens jersey to the ring (to annoy the Cleveland crowd.) Lawler tried to pour whiskey down Roberts' throat after the match, but he was chased off by Olympian Mark Henry. * Mankind defeated Undertaker in the "Boilerroom Match." Winner would be the first man to go from the boilerroom to the ring where Paul Bearer waited with the Urn. Undertaker was the first one there, but Paul Bearer refused to give it to him. Mankind got the Urn, then he and Bearer attacked Undertaker. Paul Bearer left with Mankind while the Undertaker is left laying in the ring - only to be carried out by several men dressed in monk's robes. * Shawn Michaels defeated Vader. Shawn was counted out of the ring, but Jim Cornette goaded Michaels into continuing the match. Shawn was later disqualified for using Cornette's tennis racquet on Vader, but Cornette accused Michaels of DQ'ing himself on purpose. President Gorilla Monsoon came to the ring and ordered the match to continue. Vader hit a Vaderbomb, but Shawn kicked out. Shawn nailed a Superkick, but Vader kicked out. Vader eventually went for and missed a Moonsault, allowing Shawn to land one of his own for the pin. - Show starts with stills from SummerSlam recapping Paul Bearer's betrayal. - THE BRITISH BULLDOG vs. OWEN HART Kevin Kelly is our announcer, along with Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler. This is the first match of the tournament to name a new Intercontinental Champion. Here's the brackets: Owen Hart---------\__________ British Bulldog---/ \ \__________ / \ Steve Austin------\__________/ \ Marc Mero---------/ \ \__________ / WINNER: Sid---------------\__________ / Hunter H. Helmsly-/ \ / \__________/ / Savio Vega--------\__________/ Faarooq Asad------/ Jim Cornette is not at ringside. Due to the luck of the draw, brothers- in-law have to square off. Sunny comes to ringside to scout the two. On occasion the signal gets fuzzy and Jim Ross and Kevin Kelly mention that they've been having technical problems all day. Jim Cornette is shown watching the match on a monitor in the back, not wanting to have to go to ringside and choose sides. Anyway, the match itself was pretty good, and could have been excellent had it gone longer. Both guys went all out, with the Bulldog dominating strengthwise. The two spill out of the ring and Owen hits Davy Boy with his spinning leg kick. The Bulldog goes down, crashing by Sunny's feet. Sunny starts screaming about how he's trying to look up her skirt, as Owen slides back into the ring for the countout victory. Sunny grabs a cup of Coke and tosses it at the Bulldog. Out comes Jim Cornette, who gets into a shouting match with Sunny (calling her a "slut.") The crowd starts to chant for the Bulldog, who looks seriously pissed. - Recap of Ahmed Johnson's injury at the hands of Faarooq Asad. - VADER (w/ Jim Cornette) vs. FREDDIE JOE FLOYD Mark Henry is at ringside signing autographs. Vader tries to intimidate him, but Henry just smiles like a guy who's signed a large contract lately. Vader quiuckly and efficiently dismantled the hick Floyd in the ring, finishing him off with a pair of Vaderbombs. Some guy walks by in the crowd with an "RSPW" sign. - Jim Ross interviews Mankind and Paul Bearer. They talk about killing the Undertaker as the lights begin to flicker. Ross says it's the spirit of the Undertaker, while Bearer says it's the power of Mankind. Then the lights go out, Gregorian chanting starts, and a crowd of monks carry out the body of the Undertaker. Bearer says he planned this all along: A wake for the now deceased Undertaker. The monks lay the body on the ground and depart. Bearer says there is no life left in the Undertaker... who sits up. Mankind and Paul Bearer head for safer ground as the Undertaker rises and raises his arms. The pyrotechnics guy apparently misses his cue, so the Undertaker does it again and this time fireworks go off. He enters the ring and vogues as the crowd marks out. - Clip of The Stalker, Barry Windham. Ehhh... - GOLDUST (w/ Marlena) vs. SAVIO VEGA vs. STEVE AUSTIN vs. SID A "Sudden Death" Battle Royale between the last four men from the one held two weeks ago. The winner gets a title shot against Shawn Michaels on Friday, September 6th, at the "Championship Friday" special on the USA network. (Also of note, Shawn is scheduled to defend the title against Mankind two weeks later on the 22nd at the next In Your House.) Sid is eliminated in seconds as all three men team up to throw him out. Back into the ring he comes and chokeslams all three (yes... even Savio.) All three men go after each other - Austin especially not trusting Goldust. Austin is the next to go. Vega throws him over the top on one side of the ring, but he grabs the ropes and pulld himself back in (even though it looks like his feet hit the ground.) Savio quickly throws him out the other side. A few minutes later Goldust dumps Savio out, winning the match and the title shot. - Stridex Pads Present "The Biggest Slam of the Week:" Marc Mero performing a "Shooting Star Press" on Goldust at SummerSlam. - SHAWN MICHAELS vs. YOKOZUNA Before the match, Jim Cornette announces that Yokozuna has returned to his Camp. Clip is shown of Yokozuna busting the ropes in his loss to Steve Austin at SummerSlam. Yokozuna is announced at somewhere around 650 lbs. ("Perhaps as much as 700 lbs." Says Jim Ross) Not as bad a match as I expected, though nothing to write too much about (so I won't) Shawn goes for a Superkick, but Yokozuna catches it, spins him around, picks him up onto his shoulders and falls back on top of him. Yoko then takes forever to get up, missing a legdrop. Shawn then does hit a Superkick, then a splash from the top turnbuckle for the pin. Shawn poses in the ring as we fade to black. (I'm not 100% sure if Yokozuna is back with Cornette, as there was no communication between the two. Cornette did come out and hit Jose Lethario though, distracting Shawn long enough to allow Yokozuna a brief advantage.) - Next week's main event: None mentioned (or I missed it.) Comments: Good, solid RAW. The crowd was hot and lively, filled to brimming with signs, chicks, and a bunch of guys who chanted "HBK... HBK... HBK!" About the only guy who didn't have substantial fan support was Freddie Joe Floyd. The opening match and subsequent shennanigans were hot, with the crowd really into it and the possibility of a Bulldog turn. The Undertaker was over HUGE (possibly laying to rest - no pun - all those rumors of his going away.) Kevin Kelly said little behind the mic, letting Lawler and Ross do what they do best. The absence of McMahon actually helped the show, giving it a new, different feel. This was the "live-est" feeling RAW in a long time. Bottom line: I think the WWF may have managed to wipe the slate somewhat and mix things up. Cornette is everywhere, which may be good or bad depending on where it's all leading. Despite the WWF's best intentions, they have made Shawn look a bit too unbeatable, though with matches already lined up against Goldust and Mankind, and Vader, Austin (and maybe even Bret Hart) looming on the horizon, it's hard to say what could happen. The IC Title picture looks to be a lock for either Asad (holding it until Ahmed Johnson returns) or Steve Austin (who seems to be gaining that level of fan respect previously held by Mr. Perfect and Shawn as a heel.) The Stalker may be D.O.A. unless they downplay the gimmick and Windham can still do it in the ring. The Tag Team scene is still a mess, desperately in need of new blood. My only major gripe with the WWF right now is where's Brian Pillman? WCW continues to plod along. The Nick Patrick angle is second only to the actual NWO storyline, and is a complete waste of time. WCW just wants us to spend weeks guessing about him, then they'll just make it go away. Or else he will turn, in which case whoopty-phukin-doo... another evil referee! With the setup for Fall Brawl, everything in WCW for the next month will be meaningless. Expect to see a lot of Horsemen vs. The Dungeon of Doom. Guys like Duggan, Page and Norton may get a lot of airtime as well, as it seems the top guys (Sting, Luger, Arn and Flair) will keep somewhat lower profiles so as not to detract from their upcoming involvement in the Wargames. (I know that may not make much sense, just go with me on it.) My feeling is that much as the NWO guys are only doled out sparingly, so too will be the WCW guys for awhile. We'll get a lot of interviews, maybe a run in or two - they'll be very visible. I just don't think we'll see them in much other than squashes, tag matches, and maybe an 8-man tuneup match or two. I doubt Flair will be defending the U.S. belt all that much (and is't Luger still the TV champ?) Who knows... they may continue to be on every week... as overexposed as Shawn Michaels. I just get this odd sense that WCW is going to be a very dull place until they get Fall Brawl out of the way. I even have a hard time getting worked up for the Wargames, as I just can't see any of the 7 we know of who is involved giving up. Just based on that alone, one has to wonder if it'll be Nick Patrick (who better to say "I quit!") Logic would seem to dictate that one of the major WCW stars is going to have to bite the bullet and take the fall (but if anyone can screw up an established type of match, it's Hogan.) We know Hogan won't give up. Same for Sting and Luger. Flair, Hall and Nash are maybes. Arn is probably the most likely candidate (which is unfortunate.) Would WCW actually bring in a new Outsider and have them give up in their first appearance? I just don't know. Things like that are only really interesting to speculate upon if they have some promise to them. I just don't see that here (especially given Hogan and Luger's involvement - proven Wargames stiffs.) This week's winner: RAW. JRP