Slobberknocker Central Monday Night Recap #104 November 10th, 1997 WCW Monday Nitro: Live/Taped: Live. Length: Two Hours+. Location: Memphis, Tennessee. HOUR ONE Hosted By: Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay and Larry Zbyszko. - Eric Bischoff leads the full NWO contingent to the ring: many of them carrying Canadian flags. "Hollywood" Hogan even has flags tucked into his boots. Larry Zbyszko asks if the NWO has bought Canada? Bischoff gets in the ring and says he has two announcements: First he hypes the arrival of a superstar, making it sound a lot like he's talking about Bret Hart. It turns out to be Kevin Nash, though, who is pushed to the ring in a wheelchair by Syxx. Nash then walks into the ring and directs a few comments towards the Giant over the mic. The crowd chants for Sting. Bischoff then comes right out and says it: the newest member of the New World Order is ... Okay, so he doesn't actually say it, but he goes on to lead the NWO in a deliberately poor (some would say piss-poor) rendition of "Oh Canada", which they dedicate to Hart. Remember what Jim Cornette said about Bischoff? Here Bischoff himself repeats what Cornette said, saying he's signed Hart because he likes to hang out with guys who smoke cigars and ride Harleys", and that's he's spending a "billionaire's money ... because I can!" Bischoff calls Hart a "Knockout guy!", to which Hogan responds "He passed the initiation!" (That's right, they're making fun of the fact that Hart nearly broke McMahon's jaw). At the ends he finally says Bret Hart is the latest member of the NWO. Schiavone and Tenay can't believe it, saying Hart is a second generation wrestler, stands for tradition and is a guy who would never quit or give up. After the commercial break they continue on this thread, reiterating that Hart doesn't quit and that he's one of the greatest champions ever. Only Zbyszko questions the reliability of anything Bischoff says. And you wonder why the WWF wanted Hart to lose the title? - Mean Gene hypes the WCW hotline, saying the NWO has "apparently" signed Bret Hart, and that the hotline has all the info regarding Hart's confrontation between he and a "rival promoter". (That's right, WCW will now be making money off of the fact that Hart nearly broke McMahon's jaw). - HARLEM HEAT (w/ Jacquelyn) vs. LORD STEVEN REGAL/SQUIRE DAVID TAYLOR Regal and Taylor scored an upset over the Heat on Saturday and this is the rematch. After just a few minutes of muddled action Taylor pins one of the Heat after a double-underhook suplex. Other than noting that Regal and Taylor have just beaten the seven time World Tag Team Champions, the announcers spend almost all of the match talking about Bret Hart. - Nitro Girls. - DISCO INFERNO vs. CHRIS JERICHO Raven and his Flock are show arriving. Jericho squashes him, making him tap out in the Lion Tamer. After the match Billy Kidman throws a cup of water or pop on Disco. Disco grabs Kidman and lays him out with a Stone Cold Stunner (dubbed the "Chartbuster"). Perry Saturn and Sick Boy close in for the kill, but Disco is saved by Scotty Riggs (sporting an eye patch). They turn on Riggs, but Raven waves them off. Raven then invites Riggs to take a free shot at him. Riggs grabs his own head (such angst!) and wanders off. - BARBARIAN vs. GLACIER Oh yeah ... WCW doesn't do wrestlers with gimmicks. Riiiiiight. Jimmy Hart, a big name in Memphis in years past, comes out to coach the Barbarian on. It didn't work. Glacier knocks Hart off the apron and he doesn't get up until after the match. Glacier wins by catching the Barbarian with a kick as he comes off the top. Meng then runs in and puts Glacier out with the Tongan Death Grip. It's two days later and I'm still waiting for some of the kicks Glacier threw to land. I suppose this was to prove WCW's superiority of their karate guy over the WWF's new karate guy, Steve Blackman. Schiavone has bought Hart's joining the NWO hook, line and sinker, and urges us fans to do the same. He also hypes the hotline again. - They promo the 60 Man Battle Royal, naming about 30 different guys who all have a shot at winning it. I like this match, just because it's so loopy and chaotic. I have the first one on tape, and have seen last year's. It's pretty damn hard to watch, though, until they get down to the last ten guys or so. - Since nothing Raven has said over the last month has made sense, he comes to the ring and explains his position: he was abused as a child, and now all the "freaks, misfits and outcasts" have joined him. It's our fault. He then shows his latest find, which appears to be "Heavy Metal" Van Hammer. Somebody remind me ... wasn't Van Hammer run out of the wrestling business for some reason or another? I only know it's Van Hammer because Schiavone said it looked like him. Why bring up Van Hammer's name if it isn't him? I tell ya, if Raven brings in P.N. News, then I'm outta here! - ALEX WRIGHT (w/ Debra McMichael) vs. YUJI NAGATA (w/ Sonny Onoo) Nagata has little trouble with Wright, making him submit in a stump puller type move. In a moment almost as disturbing as Hart leaving the WWF, Sonny Onoo gives Debra some flowers, hands her some yen and kisses her on the lips (with a dip). She slaps him. Oh, the horror! (okay, so I'm exaggerating. Slightly). HOUR TWO Hosted By: Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. - Hogan and Bischoff come out to announce that Sting has done a movie. Hogan is so p.o.'ed that they want Sting-tonight! The movie will debut at an art house theater film festival in Atlanta. It is called "Why Real Men Commit Crimes". I'm guessing it's about the time Sting and Luger stole that police car. Unless TNT airs it, it will soon disappear off the face of the earth. - CHRIS BENOIT vs. PERRY SATURN Saturn starts off attacking Benoit on the floor. In the ring he suplexes him. Then Benoit takes over and lays in several brutally stiff chops. They move over to another corner and Saturn tucks Benoit up into a pin. They continue to fight, even though the ref is calling for the bell. Schiavone, too busy hyping World War 3, can't figure out why the bell is being rung. Kidman and Sick Boy come in, but Benoit sends them packing. Van Hammer then appears and he and Benoit stare down. Fit Finley runs in and nails Benoit from behind. All of this happens in about three minutes. I've no idea what it all means either. - Nitro Girls. - "Assault on Devils Island" will be show after Nitro tonight. - Mean Gene interviews Ric Flair, who says little of interest (but says it very well nonetheless). - EDDIE GUERRERO vs. REY MYSTERIO, JR. Good match, but well short of what they did at the PPV. That match had nice pacing, emotion, and told a story as it progressed. This one was condensed down into just all the high spots, with Guerrero coming back from an almost continual beating to nail the Frog Splash for the win. Eddie wins back the Cruiserweight Title, which diminishes the impact of their PPV match (if you ask me). Dean Malenko comes out and he and Guerrero give each other the evil eye. - During the break TNT hypes a special behind-the-scenes look at the new "Alien: Resurrection" movie, which will be shown sometime during the November 24th edition of Nitro. - They play another of those Nitro party tapes that have been sent in. Nothing like a dorm full of college-age marks whooping it up. - RANDY SAVAGE (w/ Elizabeth) vs. RAY TRAYLOR Traylor somehow lifts his ponderous bulk up into an enzuguiri kick! He then waffles Savage with a steel chair. Traylor, who I'd guess is about 600 pounds overweight, still moves faster and surer that Lex Luger, and really turned it up a notch in this match. (Which I guess means he turned it up to "one". Zero plus one equals one). Traylor climbs to the top, but Liz grabs his foot, making him fall and crotch himself. From there it's just a formality for Savage to drop an elbow off the top and cover for the pin. Savage drops another elbow. When the ref complains Savage pops him. Liz takes off, then comes back with a can of spraypaint. She sprays "NWO" on his stomach (and has room left over for the "Gettysburg Address"). They later announce that the ref has reversed the decision, giving Traylor the win via DQ. Schiavone spends half the match telling us how awful it is that Bret Hart has joined the NWO. The other half he talks about World War 3. - Nitro Girls. - CURT HENNIG vs. DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE This was one of those matches which wasn't bad, but it didn't do anything for me personally. See, there's just too many stars in WCW, and too many guys who have been pushed to the top. DDP seems like he's "great" just because, well, because they say he's "great". They don't really seem to have a direction for him. Even in his ongoing feud with Randy Savage, Savage has won most of those match. Page hasn't even held a title since the days when Johnny B. Badd was around. With so many wrestlers on the roster it's hard to follow and root for one guy in every match: unless you take a shortcut. For example, a lot of fans say they like the NWO ... or hate the NWO. It doesn't really take into account how good or bad any individual wrestler in the group is, it's just easier to say you "like" or "hate" them all. Same with the cruiserweights, or Four Horsemen. Some fans just stick to the traditional face/heel outlook and cheer the "good guys and boo the "bad guys" (or vice versa). And then there's a lot of fans (like myself) who just pick out certain wrestlers they are interested in, good or bad. The problem with this approach is that it leaves just too many guys left over that we don't like, that we hate, are bored by, or just plain don't give a damn about. DDP, Lex Luger and the Giant right now are all guys I just have a hard time being interested in. This match, which as I said wasn't bad, comes to an end when Hennig whacks DDP in his taped up ribs, drawing the DQ. - RIC FLAIR vs. LEX LUGER I'd swear I saw these two do this exact same match maybe seven or eight years ago! Luger no-sells a lot of stuff early. Flair then focuses on the legs. He applies the Figure Four, but Luger rolls out of it, reaching the ropes. Luger then stages his comeback, setting Flair up for the Torture Rack. Suddenly Curt Hennig runs in for no discernible reason. The ref calls for the bell. Luger nails Hennig, then hoists Flair over his head and tosses him at Curt (as if they were in cahoots). Flair lands on top of Hennig and starts pounding on him. Hennig takes off (running so slow that Flair has to practically walk so as not to catch him too quickly). The two brawl in the aisle as they go to break. Why did Hennig run in? Flair was seconds away from losing the match? - Bischoff and Hogan come out yet again. Hogan challenges Sting to come out. Lo and behold Sting drops from the ceiling and walks to the ring. He points his baseball bat at him, drops it, then starts to take off his gloves and coat. The two meet eye-to-eye in the center of the ring. Suddenly Sting is nailed from behind by the rest of the NWO. Everyone takes turns beating on him. Having seen approximately 100 different Stings, I watch for some to run in. None arrive. Since Sting is the supposed savior of WCW, I look for WCW's top stars to come out to his aid. None arrive. Past altercations have broken out in the ring and often they are stopped by a flood of security officers. None arrive. Sting receives one of the most thorough, brutal beatings in the year-and- a-half history of the NWO. He is stomped and kicked to the mat as Hogan drops THREE Legdrops o' Doom(tm). - Next week: Nothing announced. Comments: The NWO conquest of ego is now complete. I don't think there is a single wrestler in WCW who hasn't been bitch-slapped, punked, walloped, stomped, or generally folded, spindled and mutilated. I'm assuming that this is meant to make Sting look less than invincible, thus adding an element of suspense to his Starrcade match with Hogan. Yet that paranoid little voice in the back of my head whispers "maybe Sting is no longer the savior of WCW ... maybe Bret Hart is?" Funny how Hart's impending arrival and Sting's destruction both take place on the same night. I hope none of you out there are seriously falling for the notion that Hart is joining the NWO. Hart's gonna tell them to "stick it!", and that he's "The Best There Is, The Best There Was and The Best There Will Ever Be" and that he'll kick all their butts. I just hope he doesn't take Jimmy Hart back as his manager. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- WWF RAW is WAR: Live/Taped: Live. Length: Two Hours. Location: Ottawa, Canada. HOUR ONE Hosted By: Jim Ross and Jim Cornette. - For what it's worth, Bret Hart is still part of the RAW opening. (Remember, Jeff Jarrett, Diesel and Razor Ramon were completely removed the day after each of them left). - Degeneration X has a new theme song and video clip, which sounds a little like Salt n' Peppa. It was used the night before at Survivor Series as the promo for the December "In Your House" PPV (which is also called "Degeneration X"). The music now plays whenever DX comes out, and the video is played on the screen. (The WWF may have a revolt on their hands if it replaces "Sexy Boy"). Rick Rude comes out and-after wrangling with the crowd a bit-introduces Shawn Michaels. (The crowd chants "bullsh*t" as Rude says Michaels beat Hart. The WWF actually cranks up the crowd noise, making the chant even more noticeable). Jim Ross admits the Survivor Series match was controversial, and that many think Bret never gave up. He says Hart has now left the WWF. Shawn really starts laying it one thick. The crowd chants "faggot" and "we want Bret!" Shawn, saying someone else took the first shot (Nitro), tells the fans that he beat Bret in his home country with his own hold. Shawn says if people thought he was too much before, that they haven't seen anything yet. Shawn says he slapped the Sharpshooter on Hart, listened to him squeal and give up, then ran his ass "down south with the other dinosaurs". Those guys who aren't dinosaurs "down there" are his friends and that they'll kick Bret's ass someday. He says that unlike Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart and Randy Savage, he has "pure, God given natural talent!" Shawn asks Rude what it is he's trying to say and Rude says Shawn is a guy who won't quit and that he's a fighting champion. Shawn says he also won't beat up on a "52 year old man!" (That's right, Shawn's trashing Bret for the fact that Bret nearly broke McMahon's jaw). Out comes Ken Shamrock. Shamrock accepts Shawn's open challenge of sorts, saying he'll take him on if Shawn is the fighting champion he says he is. Shawn says he already gave Shamrock a wrestling lesson last week (to which Shamrock replies something that had to be bleeped out). Ken runs down each DX member, calling Chyna a "man ... or female ... whatever you want to call yourself!" (which gets a pop from the crowd). Shawn gets his turn back on the mic and speaks for each DX member, saying "this woman" (Chyna) can knock him out anytime she wants. He says this "old man" (Rude) could knock him out as well. The same for Helmsley. Sgt. Slaughter makes his way to the ring. Shawn tells him to say it, not spray it. Slaughter takes the mic away and says Shawn will face Ken Shamrock. Not tonight, but at a later date. Shawn, fearing he means tonight, starts saying he's too worn out to face Shamrock. Slaughter says Michaels won't have to fight tonight ... Helmsley will. HHH says he already has a match scheduled. Slaughter says he'll sit at ringside and make sure Michaels, Chyna and Rude stay out of the match, banning them all from ringside. On the way to the break they show the promo for the Survivor Series replay. All I can say is you really shouldn't comment on the situation until you've seen the match for yourself. Terrible finish or not, it was one of the most brutal and wild matches in recent history. Included in the promo is the line "What made him snap?" and a clip of Hart's post PPV rampage. This is not an endorsement of the PPV, nor am I saying you should get the replay. All I'm saying is make sure you know what actually happened (on the PPV) before making too many comments. A lot of people out there simply didn't see it, and a lot of what's being said is on the Net is based on erroneous info (such as Vince McMahon ringing the bell himself and handing Shawn the belt: neither of which happened). Seeing it won't change what happened, or the aftermath, and we'll probably never know fully what led up to it or happened afterward. One should at least try and learn the closest to what actually happened in terms of the PPV itself, though, and the best way to do that is actually see the PPV for yourself. (Of course the WWF may fiddle with the video, which is further reason why I can't recommend buying the replay). - MARC MERO (w/ Sable) vs. AHMED JOHNSON Mero has little to work with here, so we get about three minutes of punches being thrown. Ahmed then gets Mero in position for the Pearl River Plunge, but Mero slips out and launches a low blow into Ahmed's Posse Pouch. The ref signals the DQ. Mero then laughably tries to hoist Ahmed into the TKO, drops him, tries him again and drops him without successfully performing the move. Fat-assed boxing oddity Butterbean looks on from the front row. Read: setup. - Karate Fighters crap. - Sunny comes out to do the ring announcing duties. Brian Christopher sits in for color commentary. Yes ... it's Light Heavyweight time. - TAKA MICHINOKU vs. "DANGEROUS" DEVON STORM Devon Storm is one severely ugly guy. He looks like a blonde rooster in Power Ranger tights. Taka wins in an okay match. The two blew a few combinations. Christopher finally tries to interfere, but Taka drop-kicks him off the apron, puts Storm down with the Michinoku Driver, then leaps onto Christopher from the ring. The two brawl for a few seconds up the ramp. Taka will now face Aguila next week. There's been a change in the brackets: Jerry Lynn has been pulled from the tournament and will be replaced by Scott Taylor. The winner of that match will face the winner of the Brian Christopher/Flash Flanagan match. Michinoku vs. Christopher seems the obvious final match, which will now take place at the December IYH PPV. They replay a few seconds of Goldust and Marlena's interview on the way to the break. - Goldust comes to the ring for an interview wearing golden pj's, smoking jacket and earrings. His face is painted black with "F" and "U" painted on the cheeks. Cornette says it means "forever unchained", but you and I know what it means. Goldust calls his old man a "fatass", and that he's finally living for himself. Goldust says again that he's found someone new. They show stills of what happened in the "USA vs. Canada" match at the PPV. Goldust says he didn't wrestle because he wasn't cleared to (his broken arm and all). Vader comes to the ring and demands to know why Goldust left him at the PPV. Goldust starts to explain about his arm, but Vader tells him to shut up. Unable to come up with a good answer Vader pops Goldust and powerbombs him. I wonder who Goldust had "found"? I wonder if it's a woman? - TRUTH COMMISSION vs. HEAD BANGERS Who the f#@k cares?! The DOA ride their bikes out to watch the match. The Jackal is now David Koresh, and the TC is his cult. The Jackal babbles on in color commentary during the match. He tries to interfere, gets knocked down, and comes back to babble some more. After who knows how long one of the Head Bangers covers one of the TC and gets the pin. The Interrogator- scratch that: the SEVEN FOOT TALL Interrogator-comes in, which draws the DOA in. Big Brawl ensues. Again, who the f#@k cares?! Truth Commission, Los Boricuas, the Godwinns ... how many real athletes went by the way because the WWF signed these sacks of sh*t? Ross announces that there's a disturbance in the back and they cut to Blackjack Bradshaw yelling for a doctor. Blackjack Windham is down on the ground. HOUR TWO Hosted By: Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler. - I notice on my satellite that the second hour is now officially listed as "WWF War Zone" on the on-screen guide. They kick hour two off with still photos of Steve Austin beating Owen Hart. - It's been some time now ... *KEE-RASH!* Austin gets maybe the loudest reaction of the show: mostly positive, but quite a few boo's mixed in. Michael Cole gets the honor of interviewing him. Instead of dwelling on the fact that he beat Owen, Austin instead points out that even though he just spent the last two months at home drinking beer and watching TV, that he came back and-with a snap of his fingers-won his Intercontinental Title back. Cole asks Austin if he's a marked man and should just paint a bullseye on his forehead? Austin asks if he should paint a bullseye on Cole's ass and kick him around the arena? Rocky Maivia comes out to the stage and says over a house mic that he was the best Intercontinental Champion ever (sounding an awful lot like Elvis for some strange reason). Maivia challenges Austin to future a match. Austin challenges Rocky to get a decent haircut. - Jim Ross tries to get some comments from Steve Blackman, but they are quickly interrupted by Los Boricuas. A scuffle breaks out and Blackman holds his own against the two lesser known Boricuas. Several referees come out to maintain order. - Michael Cole gets comments from Road Dog and "A-Double Crooked Letter". They will face Bradshaw in a handicap "Bunkhouse Match". - ROAD DOG/"BAD ASS" BILLY GUN vs. BLACKJACK BRADSHAW This was great, but woefully short. Bradshaw comes out and starts kicking some serious ass. He starts off throwing powder at Gunn. He then chucks Road Dog to the floor. Gunn is nailed with a trash can. Road Dog is thrown into the steps. Bradshaw nails Billy with a boot, then wallops Road Dog with the trash can's lid. He clotheslines Gunn out of the ring and sends Road Dog over with a big boot. Billy is tossed into the ring steps. Bradshaw kicks apart the timekeeper's podium and smashes it over Gunn's head. A follow up chairshot draws an even bigger roar. The chair is tossed into the ring and Bradshaw sets Gunn up on the ropes. The crowd chants for a "DDT" and they get it, but it's Billy who applies the DDT to Bradshaw. He and Road Dog both cover him and get the three count. Noooo! We want blood! We want blood! Blackjack Windham was apparently one of the guys who refused to wrestle due to the Hart situation. Hard to tell how good this would have been if Windham had actually been there. - They show the second part of the Jeff Jarrett interview (which aired on Live Wire this past weekend). This is where he played the word association game. Part three is next week. - Michael Cole gets an interview with Butterbean. As one might expect, Marc Mero comes out says he is a real boxer. Mero asks who Butterbean has even beaten? He tells him to stop looking at Sable, then says he can beat him in four rounds or less. Some pushing and shoving ensues. This was weaker than the travesty that lead to Lawrence Taylor getting into the ring. Does the WWF really want to bring boxers into this? WCW already has ties to Evander Holyfield, who beat Michael Moorer this past weekend. (Moorer was rumored as the WWF's first choice for something like this). If you've never seen Butterbean, he's bald and about the same size and shape as King Kong Bundy. He fights in "Tough Man" competitions and is the "Super Heavyweight" champion for one of boxing's alphabet soup organizations. - THE UNDERTAKER vs. KAMA It's nice to see that there's at least one WWF superstar which the Canadians still love unconditionally. Before you start getting fond memories about the Undertaker/Papa Shango days, let me tell you that there was no finish to this. Immediately after a shot which sends Kama to the floor the lights go out. The red lights come on and Kane and Paul Bearer take their place at the top of the ramp. Bearer taunts the Undertaker, but the Taker will have none of it. He says he senses there's still good behind the evil mask of Kane and that never, ever, absolutely positively not wrestle his brother. Bearer warns that whatever happens from now on is the Undertaker's fault. Kane raises his arms and signals for the pyrotechnics on the ring posts to go off. The segment ends with the Undertaker looking anguished. - Clips of Shamrock vs. Michaels from last week. - HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY (w/ Degeneration X) vs. KEN SHAMROCK Sgt. Slaughter intercepts Michaels, Chyna and Rude and sends them back to the dressing room. He then prevents Helmsley from taking a quick powder. This match was at the dull end of the good spectrum. Everything just moved too slow. Shamrock did a very nice huracanrana. Helmsley proved he still needs a superior opponent to carry him in a match. Just as Jerry Lawler started giving his take on the Bret Hart situation Helmsley started swearing at Sgt. Slaughter, which was blanked out (thus blocking what Lawler was saying as well). Rude then came to the ring as they went to break. He tries to enter the ring, but Slaughter keeps him back. Chyna runs in and tries to help Helmsley, but Slaughter grabs her around the waist and herds her over next to Rude. Thus occupied, Slaughter misses Shawn Michaels running in. Rude tosses Shawn the Haliburton, which he uses to smash Shamrock on the back. Helmsley covers and the count reaches two when the show runs out of time. I'd say it's safe to assume that HHH got the pin, as Shamrock was completely out. - Next week: More Light Heavyweight action. Comments: Not bad, but there wasn't all that much I cared to see this week. Too many "why's" and "what if's". ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Bottom Line: Survivor Series wasn't that bad a PPV, but I'm still giving it a negative review. The Kane/Mankind and USA/Canada matches were okay, but nothing special. Austin/Owen was good-actually better than I expected-but short (for obvious reasons). Hart Michaels was a tremendous match forever ruined by the finish (though in an odd sense it served to give the match the lasting memory it deserved). If you want my take on the whole Hart situation, check out the main page on my website. To put it bluntly, I support what the WWF did, but definitely not the way they did it. I agree wholeheartedly with the notion that Hart had to have the title taken away from him. His refusal to lose it cleanly backed McMahon into a corner. That still doesn't excuse the solution McMahon came up with, nor did it excuse Hart's attacking McMahon after the show. Wrestling got a real black eye this weekend, and there's more than enough blame to spread around. I don't feel particularly sorry for anyone involved, except for myself as a fan, as well as the other fans understandably and legitimately angered by all of this. Wrestling is and always has been a dirty business. Many of us need to remember that the next time something like this comes up which reveals that fact. Maybe its just a good reminder that some of us take this whole "sport" too damn serious. This week, by the way, marks the end of the second full year of the Recap being written. What a way to celebrate an anniversary. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This Week's Winner: Nitro. How could I give the WWF the win this week? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Slobberknocker Central" and "Monday Night Recap" are copyright 1997 by John Petrie, and all opinions expressed therein are his own, and not those of "Internet Access, Inc". Check the "Slobberknocker Central" main page for info on how to receive the "Recap" free via E-Mail every week. Volume One, Number 104 of the "Monday Night Recap", November 10th, 1997. John Petrie petrie@bji.net Slobberknocker Central http://www.bji.net/pages/petrie/index.html