RAW
- Savio Vega vs Steve Austin-King of the Ring Second Round Match-Austin goes right after Vega as soon as he gets in the ring, beating him down until Vega recovers and takes the fight to Austin. Vega hits a step-up enziguri for a near fall before Austin rolls out of the ring. Austin takes the opportunity to yank Vega down and ram his knee into the ring post. Back in the ring, Austin takes out Vega's knee with a chop block before dropping an elbow on the knee. Austin continues to work over the leg before he knocks Vega out of the ring. However, Vega gains the upper hand by yanking Austin down to the mat and ramming Austin's knee into the ring post twice. Back in the ring, Vega targets Austin's knee until Austin throws Vega into the corner face first. Austin goes for a bodyslam, but collapses under Vega and almost gets pinned before Vega hits a crossbody for a near fall. Vega hits a knee breaker for a near fall before body slamming Austin, but gets his running splash blocked by Austin's knees. Austin controls the match until Vega dodges a body guillotine. The two trade blows before Vega floors Austin with a chop. Vega hits the Caribbean Kick and makes the cover, but Austin gets his foot on the rope to break the pinfall. Vega tries to beat on Austin some more, but Austin quickly drops Vega with a jawbreaker for the win. And thus, the Stone Cold Stunner was born. This was a good match, Vega & Austin had good chemistry together. It's a shame Vega never got farther up the card in his career. He was a solid worker that could put on some pretty good matches.
- The Undertaker cuts a promo on Mankind. He says Mankind will pay for his sins at King of the Ring.
- Marc Mero with Sable vs Owen Hart with Jim Cornette-King of the Ring Second Round Match Up-Steve Austin decides to stick around for this match and takes a seat at commentary, saying he feels sorry for whoever he faces in the semi-finals of the King of the Ring. The two lock up before Mero forces Hart into the corner, after which Hart complains that Mero was going after his cast-covered wrist. Vince McMahon makes note that if Hart uses that cast as a weapon, he will be DQ'd...Then don't let him compete with a broken wrist? I mean, if he has to wear a cast, then maybe don't let him compete with it? And doesn't fighting through a serious injury just make the guy seem like a valiant wrestler...like a babyface instead of a heel like Hart is? Just a thought. The two exchange holds before Mero flips out of a hammerlock and hip tosses Hart, who complains about his wrist again. The two trade holds again before Mero hits an arm drag and a drop toe hold into a front facelock. Hart responds with a monkey flip before Mero hits a back elbow. Mero follows up with a back body drop & a body slam before going to the top rope. Mero goes for a diving sunset flip, but Hart moves out of the way. Hart takes control, hitting a spinning heel kick for a near fall followed by a backbreaker for another near fall. Hart controls the match until Mero reverses a Boston Crab into a pinfall, but only gets two. The two trade holds before Hart hits a fisherman's suplex for a near fall. Hart body slams Mero before going for a top rope splash, but Mero blocks it with his knees. Mero runs wild, hitting a back body drop and a knee strike, but Hart halts the momentum by raking the eyes. Hart goes for a back suplex, but Mero lands on his feet and rolls up Hart for the win. Pretty good match. After the match, Hart shoves Mero out of the ring before hitting Mero with his cast in the back of the head.
- Jim Ross interviews the British Bulldog and Diana Smith in the ring. Bulldog says he's got all the confidence in the world and says Michaels messed with "his most valuable possession"...his wife. I'm pretty sure it's not OK to call your wife "your possession", but alright. Because of that, Bulldog says he's going to take Michaels' most valuable possession from him...the WWF Championship. Ross tells Bulldog that Michaels is here tonight, but Bulldog says he doesn't give, and this is actually what he said, a "frog's fat ass" and says that if Michaels had any guts, he come out right now...so he does. The two brawl before referees, officials, and other wrestlers try to break up the fight.
- Aldo Montoya's in the ring for his match with Hunter Hearst Helmsley when Jerry Lawler leaves the commentary to talk to him. He says everybody's wondering what's going to happen when he faces the Ultimate Warrior at King of the Ring and says he's going to show them. Lawler then hits Montoya in the face with the microphone before beating down Montoya and piledriving him. Suddenly, Jake Roberts comes down to the ring, but Lawler leaves the ring and goes back to commentary. Lawler says that's what he's going to do the Warrior at King of the Ring.
- We get to see the contract signing for Brian Pillman from WWF Headquarters.Fun fact, Pillman was the first wrestler to sign a guaranteed contract. So in the last fourth months, Brian Pillman has been in ECW and was setting up a potential feud with Shane Douglas, but it never came to be. Also, on a much sadder note, Pillman got into a car accident in April after falling asleep at the wheel, hitting a tree trunk, and flipping his car. He was in a coma for a week along with having a shattered ankle. The accident would force him to change his high flying in ring style he became well known for. He says the what's happened in the last eight weeks have changed the future of his life, going from questioning if he was going to live to signing with the WWF. He thanks the WWF management, calling them his extended family now.
- Goldust with Marlena vs Jake Roberts-Goldust leaves the ring as soon as the bell rings. Referee Harvey Wippleman starts to count Goldust out, so Goldust slides in the ring and slides back out. Wippleman counts faster, so Goldust gets in the ring, only to leave again and walk up the ramp. Goldust continues to enter & leave the ring, with one fan giving him an assuring pat on the back.That's nice. At this time we get a picture-in-picture of the interview Roberts did on WWF Action Zone, where he says he hopes he can help the new WWF superstars not fall down the same path he did. Goldust gets back in the ring and offers a handshake, but Roberts is having none of it. Roberts starts with a wristlock before Goldust reverses it and rubs Roberts' ass. Roberts responds by grabbing his bag with Revelations the Snake in it, causing Goldust to flee the ring. Goldust gets back in the ring, where Roberts does a sh*tty hip toss over to Revelations, which causes Goldust to leave the ring again. That's like the fourth time Goldust has left the ring. It's not entertaining. Goldust knocks Roberts out of the ring before yanking Roberts into the ring post. Goldust opts for a countout victory before leaving the ring again to ram Roberts into the ring post against. Also, Jerry Lawler spoils the ending of Mission Impossible during this match. That's a dick move, Lawler. Back in the ring, Goldust tries to kiss Roberts, but Roberts knocks him off of him before hitting an inverted atomic drop. Roberts stomps Goldust before calling for the DDT. Robers goes for it, but Goldust blocks it and back body drops Roberts. Goldust throws Roberts into the corner before the commercial break. We come back to Goldust locking in a heel hook. Goldust breaks it, only for Roberts to strike Goldust down and hit a short-arm clothesline. After that, Marlena hands Goldust some literal gold dust, which Goldust proceeds to throw in Roberts' face while Marlena distracts the referee and makes the cover for the win. However, after Wippleman sees the gold on Roberts' face, he reverses the decision, giving the win to Roberts. This was fairly sh*t. I like both these guys, but this was just tedious. After the match, Goldust toys with Roberts, who can't see because of the gold in his face. Jesus, how is this guy always getting blinded? He needs to start wrestling in some Horace Grant goggles.
Goldust continues to mess with Roberts until Roberts grabs him and DDTs him.
- We close the show with Mr. Perfect interviewing Jim Cornette on who the special guest referee at King of the Ring. Cornette reveals the guest referee will be...Mr. Perfect! Does this mean we'll see the return of the referee pajamas from WrestleMania X?We can only hope.
But first! A quick recap of the Great American Bash, which happened the day before this Nitro.
- The Steiner Brothers defeated Fire & Ice after Scott Steiner hit an ugly Frankensteiner on Scott Norton
- Konnan retained the United States Championship against El Gato, pinning him with a jackknife. Man, how dead is the US Championship on Konnan. He's never on Nitro and his matches just kind of happen in the middle of the show
- Diamond Dallas Page defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell with the Diamond Cutter
- Dean Malenko defeated Rey Mysterio Jr. to retain the Cruiserweight Championship. Malenko pinned Mysterio after countering a hurricanrana with a powerbomb with his feet on the ropes.
- John Tenta defeated Big Bubba. After the match, Tenta cuts off part of Bubba's beard.
- Chris Benoit defeated Kevin Sullivan in a Falls Count Anywhere match after superplexing Sullivan off a table propped up on the top rope. After the match, Benoit continued to beat down Sullivan until Arn Anderson ran down and threw him off...so he could beat down Sullivan. Anderson & Benoit stomp away at Sullivan until the rest of the Dungeon of Doom run down.
- Sting defeated Lord Steven Regal by submission with the Scorpion Death Lock.
- In the match between the team of Ric Flair & Anderson and the team of Steve McMichael & Kevin Greene with Randy Savage in their corner, Debra McMichael & Greene's wife Tara chased off Woman & Miss Elizabeth. However, towards the end of the match, Debra returned with Woman & Elizabeth in an evening gown and a briefcase. Mongo opens it, containing lots of money and a Four Horsemen t-shirt. Mongo takes the briefcase as Greene asks for a tag. Instead of making the tag, Mongo smacks Greene with the briefcase, allowing Flair to make the cover and get the win. The Horsemen, along with their newest member beat down Greene & Randy Savage. And thus begins the tenure of arguably the worst member of the Four Horsemen...and Paul Roma was in the Four Horsemen, so that's saying something.
- Eric Bischoff brought out Scott Hall & Kevin Nash like he said he would. Bischoff tells them they will get the fight they want at Bash at the Beach. He asks them point blank if they work for the WWF, and they say no. Hall asks who the three guys him, Nash, and their mystery partner will face. Bischoff says he'll them tomorrow on Nitro, but they are having none of it. Hall punches Bischoff before Nash powerbombs him off the stage through a table.
- The Giant defended the WCW World Heavyweight Championship against Lex Luger. Luger was able to get the Giant up for the Torture Rack but collapsed under his weight. The Giant picked Luger up and chokeslammed him to retain the title.
Nitro
- Stevie Ray vs Rick Steiner-Just like how their tag partners kicked off the show, the other half of the Steiner Brothers Rick Steiner faces off with the other half of Harlem Heat Stevie Ray. Stevie takes the fight right Steiner. Stevie controls the match until Steiner hits a belly-to-belly suplex. Steiner follows up with a back elbow and a diving bulldog for a near fall. Stevie responds with a powerslam before going for a second rope splash. Steiner avoids and clotheslines Stevie for the win. After the match, Booker T runs down and attacks Steiner. Stevie powerbombs Steiner as Booker goes to the top rope for the Harlem Hangover. However, Scott Steiner runs down to save his brother, taking a double fist drop from Booker.
- Disco Inferno vs Joe Gomez-Joe Gomez looks like Fabio.That is all. Disco starts off with an arm drag and a hip toss, which Gomez responds to with an atomic drop. Gomez follows up with an arm drag, a hip toss, and a dropkick before Disco rolls out of the ring. Gomez follows him out and gets him back in the ring, where Gomez hits another dropkick, but misses a crossbody sending him into the ropes. Disco beats down on Gomez before Gomez throws him around the ring and punches him down. Disco hits a swinging neckbreaker, but dances instead of pinning Gomez. Disco finally makes the lazy cover, but Gomez rolls him up for the win. Disco doesn't care because is hair is fine and he can still dance. This was lame and uneventful.
- Mean Gene interviews Ric Flair with Woman, Miss Elizabeth, and Debra McMichael. Debra says she did what she did for the money. Flair says a bunch of stuff. I know Flair's one of the greatest promos of all time, but half the time he makes absolutely zero sense. Flair finally starts to talk about Randy Savage, but either the sound goes out or he says it so quietly you can't hear it.
- Arn Anderson & Chris Benoit vs The American Males-Anderson & Riggs start, but Anderson quickly knocks Bagwell off the ring apron. Riggs knocks Anderson out of the ring, so Bagwell clocks him and throws him back in the ring to get rolled up by Riggs for a near fall. Anderson & Riggs go back and forth before Anderson goes for a piledriver, but Riggs powers out and dropkicks Anderson for a near fall. Bagwell tags in for a double axe handle before Benoit tags in. Benoit gives Bagwell some stiff chops before Bagwell hits an enziguri. Benoit blocks a dropkick and goes for a powerbomb, but Bagwell turns it into an arm drag before hitting a hip toss. Benoit blocks a splash with his knees and tags in Anderson, who almost gets pinned with a backslide after being dropkicked by Riggs. Bagwell follows up with a fisherman's suplex, but Benoit breaks up the fall. Benoit tags in and beats down Bagwell in the corner before hitting a back suplex. Benoit goes to the top rope for a diving headbutt, but Riggs breaks up the fall. Riggs tags in for a double dropkick, but Anderson breaks up the fall. Benoit suplexes Riggs into the ropes and makes the cover for the win. This was really good, a lot of good wrestling and was always fast paced. After the match, Mean Gene interviews the Horsemen. Anderson says what happened last night with the Horsemen shocked the world and says McMichael made the right choice. Anderson says his deal with Sullivan went south but there's only room for the Four Horsemen at the top. Benoit says Sullivan's goal to split up the Horsemen failed.
- Big Bubba with Jimmy Hart vs John Tenta-Bubba tries to attack Tenta before the match, but Tenta turns the tables and back body drops Bubba. Tenta follows up with a very impressive dropkick that sends Bubba out of the ring. Back in the ring, Bubba yanks Tenta down and barely pulls Tenta into the ring post balls first and screams "Once a man, always a man!" into the camera. I'm not sure why. Bubba hits a body guillotine before clocking and locking in a super-lazy camel clutch.
Bubba continues to control the match until Tenta starts punching him and hits two corner splashes. The referee checks on Bubba, giving Hart the opportunity to smack Tenta in the back with his megaphone. However, it has no effect, on Tenta, who gives Hart an atomic drop before hitting a powerslam on Bubba. Tenta hits one more powerslam before pinning Bubba with his feet on the ropes. You know, like a babyface. This was lame. After the match, Tenta goes after Hart until Bubba clocks him with a sock full of coins. Bubba smacks Tenta right in the face with the coins. Like he deliberately aims for his face. That's not cool. After the sock-beating, Mean Gene interviews Hart & Bubba. Hart says Bubba made an example of Tenta for turning his back on the Dungeon of Doom. I'm pretty sure the Dungeon of Doom turned on Tenta but alright.
Not pulling him back at all. - In the locker room, Mean Gene interviews the reinstated Macho Man Randy Savage. Savage says he's going to take his time with Flair tonight and says nobody can keep him down.
- Randy Savage vs Ric Flair with Woman, Miss Elizabeth, and Debra McMichael-During his entrance, Savage chases Bobby Heenan all the way down to the ring before chasing him off again.Before the match, Flair takes the mic and says every man must endure the agony & pain of defeat, but Savage is enduring the agony of defeat & divorce. Savage takes his own mic and says he's going to kick Flair's ass. Savage goes after Flair and attacks him outside the ring. He gets Flair in the ring, where Savage hits a back body and a clothesline before clotheslining Flair out of the ring before the commercial break. We come back to Flair throwing Savage out of the ring. Flair lets Elizabeth slap Savage before throwing him into the crowd. However, Savage takes the fight right back to Flair and throws him into his VIP section, shoving food in his face before pouring champagne on him. Savage takes the fight back to the ring and beats on Flair. Savage controls the match until Flair dodges a double axe handle on the outside, sending Savage into the guard rail before the commercial break. We come back to Flair chopping Savage to little effect. Flair catches him with a back elbow before going to the rope. Savage charges at him, causing Flair to hurt himself when he jumps off. The two trade blows before Savage hits a back body drop and hits a diving double axe handle. While the referee is distracted, Flair pulls something out of his boot and locks Savage with it, but only gets two. Savage shoves Flair into the referee sending him to the outside so Savage can low blow Flair. Savage connects with the diving elbow drop but goes back for another one. The women on the outside try to stop him, but Savage connects again. Chris Benoit runs down but eats a piledriver for his troubles. Arn Anderson runs down, but Savage tosses him out. Mongo runs down and smacks Savage with a briefcase, allowing Flair to pick up the win. Mongo puts on a Four Horsemen t-shirt before joining the other Horsemen in beating down Savage.
- Mean Gene interviews The Giant, Kevin Sullivan, and Jimmy Hart. Hart tels Sullivan he couldn't trust the Horsemen before Sullivan says that war has begun between the Horsemen & the Dungeon of Doom. The Giant says the Horsemen aren't elite because they don't have the WCW World Heavyweight Champion on their side and any member of the Dungeon of Doom is better than any member of the Four Horse-I'm sorry, I can't even finish typing that.
- GLACIER VIGNETTE!
Blood Has Run Cold For: 8 Episodes
- Before his match, Mean Gene interviews Rey Mysterio Jr. Mysterio says he doesn't like Malenko cheating, but he's going to show him what he's made of tonight.
- Dean Malenko (c) vs Rey Mysterio Jr.-WCW Cruiserweight Championship-The two lock up before Mysterio locks in a heel hook, which Malenko breaks quickly with a rope break. Malenko tries to monkey flip Mysterio, but Mysterio lands on his feet. The two go back and forth before Mysterio hits a springboard moonsault. Mysterio dodges a springboard crossbody and cradles Malenko for a near fall. More back & forth action before Malenko clotheslines Mysterio. Malenko follows up with a backbreaker, holding Mysterio across his knee in the process. Malenko controls the match until Mysterio reverses an Irish whip outside the ring, sending Malenko into the guard rail. Mysterio goes back in the ring and hits a diving hurricanrana before getting sunset flip for a near fall back in the ring. Mysterio gets a near fall off a tilt-a-whirl roll up before causing Malenko to collapse under his weight for another near fall. Malenko blocks a wheelbarrow before hitting an inverted DDT for the win. Pretty good match.
- Scott Steiner vs The Giant with Jimmy Hart-Steiner tries for a German suplex right off the bat, but the Giant is too heavy. Steiner is able to get the Giant up for a body slam but collapses under Giant's weight. The Giant beats down Steiner, targeting is ribs that were injured earlier in the night. The Giant controls the match before he grabs a wooden chair from under the ring. However, Steiner shoots the ropes into the Giant's junk when he tries to get back in the ring and chop blocks him. Steiner goes for a sleeper, but the Giant breaks it by ramming Steiner into the corner. However, Steiner is able to hit a huge overhead suplex to a big pop. Steiner makes the cover but only gets two. Steiner takes the fight to the Giant before grabbing the wooden chair. Hart tries to take it from him, but Steiner shoves him off. Steiner hits the Giant, but the chair breaks across his back and has no effect on him. Despite the obvious DQ, the match continues and the Giant hits the chokeslam for the win. This was fairly enjoyable.
- We close the show with Mean Gene announcing who will face Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and their mystery partner at the Bash at the Beach. Mean Gene reveals it will be Lex Luger, Randy Savage, and Sting.
And that's about it. Overall, I'd say RAW was better. It was a pretty quality show for most of it with two good matches to kick it off. Nitro had good matches too, but the problem is you have to get through sock beatings and a Joe Gomez match to get to them. Point to RAW.
RAW: 16
Nitro: 21
That's it for this edition of RAW vs Nitro. Stay tuned for the next one!
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