Welcome back to another edition of RAW vs Nitro! Click here to read last week's edition or click here to catch up on all the previous ones. So with that out the way, this is RAW vs Nitro #65. As always, let's start with RAW...
RAW
Marc Mero & Goldust with Sable & Marlena vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley & Jerry Lawler
RAW opens with the follow up to the Helsmley's attempted kidnapping of Marlena two weeks ago. Also, the Honky Tonk Man is on commentary looking for his protege. He provides nothing important to this match. Naturally, Goldust wastes no time getting the match started, rushing the ring and starting a brawl with Helmsley. Mero follows suit and brawls with Lawler, ending with the babyfaces sending the heels packing. Goldust's spends the majority of the match on the apron, rushing into the ring multiple times when Helmsley tags in. Meanwhile, Helmsley quickly flees and tags out whenever Goldust tags in. The babyfaces dominate the match early, foiling every attempt at cheating by Helmsley & Lawler. After the heels finally get some significant offense on Mero, Goldust gets the tag. Lawler tries to tag out, but Helmsley wants nothing to do with Goldust. Goldust runs wild on Lawler until Lawler rakes his eyes. Helmsley steps in the ring to cheap shot Goldust, but Goldust ducks it and causes him to hit Lawler. That allows Goldust to get some shots in on Helmsley until the referee gets Helmsley out of the ring. Eventually, the heels are finally able to get the heat on Mero until Mero hits a headscissor takedown on Helmsley and makes the hot tag to Goldust. Goldust takes the fight right to Helmsley, beating him down in the ring until Helmsley ties himself up in the ropes Andre the Giant-style.
Goldust takes the opportunity to choke Helmsley while he's trapped, causing a disqualification. Mero tries to stop Goldust, causing Goldust to hit him as Helmsley gets free and runs away. This match was fine but went a lot longer than it needed to. The babyfaces controlling the majority of the match was pretty refreshing, but the fact that this went nearly fifteen minutes just to end in a DQ was a buzzkill.
We get a promo from Sycho Sid earlier in the day at the Alamo Dome. Sid says he'll have to be a monster to retain his WWF Championship at the Royal Rumble and that everyone in the dome, including Jose Lothario, Shawn Michaels' friends & family, and all the "Mexicans summoned from Mexico" by Lothario, will know that he is the master and the ruler of the world.
That is followed up by Shawn Michaels live from San Antonio. He says Sid has brought out the monster in him and says he'll be as nasty as Sid wants him to be. He says he'll kick Sid straight in the teeth and that Sid will fall at the Royal Rumble. He says he can be the master and the ruler of the world, but Sid won't be the WWF Champion after Sunday. When asked about the pressure of this match, but Michaels says he always delivers and calls himself the leader of the New Generation.
Rocky Maivia vs The British Bulldog with Clarence Mason
Bret Hart is a guest on commentary for this match, limping down to ringside after getting his ankle Pillmanized by Steve Austin on Superstars the previous night. After Bulldog overpowers Rocky to start the match, Rocky quickly follows up with an arm drag. Rocky continues to control the match with arm drags and takedowns before dropkicking Bulldog out of the ring. Bulldog tries to bail on the match, but Clarence Mason steps in and gets him back in the ring. Shortly after, Owen Hart comes down to the ringside and yells at Bret. Back in the ring, Bulldog takes control of the match as Owen just stares at Bret. Rocky is able to fight back and cause a double-down, allowing Rocky to recover and run wild on Bulldog. Both men fly out of the ring off a Cactus Clothesline. Bulldog throws Rocky into the guard rail, only for Steve Austin to run down and take out his leg with a chop block. Bret tries to get up and help, but Owen stops him as Austin gives Bulldog a Stunner. Owen finally turns around as Austin runs off, with the Harts chasing him to the back. Rocky rolls back into the ring as the referee counts out Bulldog. The match is pretty bland until the finish, nothing really worth talking about.
The Nation of Domination gets interviewed. This gives us a laughably bad continuity error, as we Clarence Mason helping the British Bulldog to the back, only for the very next shot to be him with the Nation in the lockerroom. This was a taped show. Faarooq says the Nation will be united in the Royal Rumble before Crush says he will do whatever it takes against the Undertaker tonight before saying that the Nation will dominate. On that note...
The Undertaker vs Crush with the Nation of Domination
Clearly annoyed by PG-13's awful rapping, the Undertaker rushes the Nation as they make their entrance. Everyone knows the only kind of rap Taker likes is Limp Bizkit. The match gets underway and Taker dominates until he goes for Old School, where the Nation distracts the referee and allows Faarooq to crotch Taker on the top rope. Taker's time on defense is short-lived, as a messy backdrop to the outside gives him control again. Crush regains control after yanking Taker down on the top rope, beating him down before hitting a piledriver. Crush beats down Taker at ringside, which includes an ugly drop across the guard rail before taking the fight back to the ring. Suddenly, Vader appears, peaking out from behind the set.
Crush continues to beat down Taker in the ring, finally hitting an actual move when he hits a backbreaker after about four minutes of nothing. In the one cool spot from this match, Crush goes for a fist drop from the second rope (the most dangerous rope, of course) but Taker does his sit up to avoid it. Taker runs wild on Crush, hitting a jumping clothesline before going for the Tombstone Piledriver. Crush, however, slips out and hits a belly-to-belly suplex. Crush goes for the Heart Punch, but Taker counters and hits a horrible chokeslam. That's the cue for the Nation to run in and cause a DQ, which brings Vader down for a 5-on-1 beat down. PG-13 holds Taker in place as Vader hits two Vader Bombs. Ahmed Johnson waits until after Taker's been destroyed before running down with a 2x4 to make the save. However, the numbers are too much, as Vader holds Johnson in place as Faarooq beats him down with the 2x4 to close the show. By the way, that match sucked hard and the DQ finish made it worse.
Well, that RAW sucked. Nitro's gonna have to completely sh*t the bed to be worse than that.
Nitro
Nitro's opening video is interrupted by the Giant kicking in the nWo's lockerroom door. He yells at Hogan, calling him a pussy in a TV-friendly way for apparently backing out of their title match at Souled Out as security and B-Team members hold him off.
J.L vs Chavo Guerrero Jr.
Nitro's opening match features two of the least interesting cruiserweights on the roster. Not saying that Chavo Guerrero & Jerry Lynn are bad, they just don't have much going on in this company right now. That being said, this match is still pretty good. It's not great and there have been much better cruiserweight matches in this company, but it's still an enjoyable watch. Chavo picks up the win off a moonsault.
Mean Gene interviews Hacksaw Jim Duggan, who comes out from the back waving a WCW flag. He says someone has to do something about the nWo, and that he'll be the one to do it and tells Sting to be a man and join him. Duggan then goes into the ring for his match with Super Calo...which never happens because Sting pops up and gives him a Scorpion Death Drop. Sting leaves before Duggan pretty much no-sells the attack and leaves.
Sgt. Craig Pittman vs Chris Jericho
Because that Jim Duggan-Super Calo match fell apart, WCW has scrambled to give us this match instead. Whatever makes me have to watch fewer Jim Duggan matches, the better. This a very quick match and it's all Jericho. The only offense Pittman really gets is throwing Jericho over the top rope, which doesn't get a DQ because Jericho lands on the apron, allowing Jericho to take advantage of Pittman celebrating and hit a missile dropkick for the three and the win. Jericho then celebrates by sitting on the guard rail and grabbing a child out of the front row.
Harlem Heat with Sister Sherri vs High Voltage
This match is so unimportant that we almost immediately cut away from it to show us the Giant kicking in the nWo's lockerroom door again. The camera stays with the nWo, as they call the Giant stupid for not getting a contract signed for the World Heavyweight Championship match at Souled Out. By the way, the match is still going. It's a pretty standard tag match that ends with Harlem Heat hitting the Heatseeker (an electric chair/missile dropkick combo) on Kenny Kaos for the three and the win. A Harlem Heat match that doesn't have twelve kinds of interference? Is this even real life?
Up at the commentary table, Tony Schiavone reveals that the WCW Championship Committee will be making a ruling concerning the World Heavyweight Championship. He & Zbyszko are interrupted by Eric Bischoff, Ted DiBiase, and Vincent, who take over the commentary table.
Diamond Dallas Page vs Mark Starr
Bischoff & DiBiase heavily imply that DDP is in the nWo, and in the time it took you to read this sentence, the match ended. DDP quickly put Starr away with a Diamond Cutter for the three and the win. After the match, the Outsiders come down to the ring with a nWo t-shirt. Page hugs Nash and puts the nWo t-shirt on. He shakes hands with Hall...only to give him a Diamond Cutter. DDP dumps Nash out of the ring and onto a table at ringside, which Nash grabs and nearly hit multiple people with as he falls to the ground. DDP exits through the crowd, cementing his new role as the people's champion to close out a great segment.
In an announcement paid for by WCW for the nWo, The Outsiders cut promos on the Steiner Brothers. They say that the Steiners are great wrestler, but this will be a fight before saying they'll target Scott Steiner's recently healed back.
Dean Malenko vs Eddie Guerrero
During this match, Tony Schiavone announces that the WCW Championship Committee has determined that Hollywood Hulk Hogan will have to face the Giant...and he'll have to do it tonight. Unsurprisingly, this match is good. It's not very exciting in terms of cruiserweight matches, but it's Malenko and that's not what he's about, so that's not too shocking. Late in the match, Syxx makes an appearance with his ladder again. This time, however, he's out in the crowd instead of on the entrance ramp, so Guerrero's not getting to him anytime soon.
The match really picks up towards the end of the match when both men trade a bunch of roll-ups and pin counters. Guerrero gains the upper hand when he hits a brainbuster and calls for the frog splash, which is when he finally notices Syxx. He goes to the top rope, but the distraction is enough for Malenko to recover and powerbomb Guerrero for the three and the win.
Super Calo vs Konnan with Jimmy Hart
As I mentioned, Super Calo as supposed to face Jim Duggan tonight. But thanks to Sting saving us from that match, we've got him vs Konnan. Also, for some reason, Calo wrestles with a beanie on, which he manages to keep on his head for the entire match. This match is a fun, back and forth match where Super Calo nearly dies a couple of times. There's a moment in this match where Konnan clotheslines Calo, and he flips over and spikes himself. The finish is a strange, as the two mess up a crossbody before Konnan hits a fisherman brainbuster for the three and the win.
Chris Benoit with Woman vs Jeff Jarrett
Before this match, Kevin Sullivan cuts a promo with a chessboard. He says Benoit has affected someone else in his life. He says that next week, they won't be playing chess before slapping the chess pieces away. He says he owns the board, and next week he'll take it back. Zero love for Jarrett in this match, as he gets booed when he struts and earns "Jarrett sucks" chants when he wrestles. Early in the match, Arn Anderson and the McMichaels come down to the ring. The match is back and forth in the beginning until Jarrett gains the upper hand, hitting a Stun Gun and a spinning neckbreaker before calling for the figure four leglock. However, an Arn Anderson distraction allows Benoit to gain the upper hand. The two fight over to the ropes, where Mongo holds Jarrett in place for Benoit to beat down. Mongo tries to hit Jarrett with his briefcase, but Debra stops long enough for Jarrett to swap places with Benoit. When Mongo turns around and swings, Benoit gets hit. Jarrett makes the cover and gets the three for the win. The match was good but the finish was just nutty. The Horsemen argue before walking to the stage to get interviewed by Mean Gene Okerlund.
Benoit takes the mic from Mean Gene, demanding to settle the issues right now. He says the Four Horsemen are supposed to be an elite team and tells Mongo to quit screwing up before turning his attention to Debra. He says Woman is 100% Woman, and he knows because Chris Benoit definitely f*cks, bro. Mongo takes the mic and apologizes for his mistake before throwing shade at Kevin Greene. Benoit asks where Ric Flair is, and Anderson says that Flair didn't want to be a part of any personal business and that Benoit, Woman, Mongo, and Debra need to settle their differences. Mongo & Benoit go face-to-face before Anderson separates them. The McMichaels head to the back as Benoit says the rest of the Horsemen need to hold up their end of the bargain like he has. Benoit & Woman leave as Anderson complains about having to deal with all of this while he has a match tonight.
Scotty Riggs vs Billy Kidman
Jobber Scotty Riggs is still using the American Males music and doing the American Males clap a month and a half after the team broke up. What a nerd. He actually gets booed when he starts doing the clap. Midway through the match, Marcus Bagwell makes his way out from the back and says that Riggs is fat, while he's buff. Riggs wins quickly after that, dodging a 450 splash (which Mike Tenay calls a shooting star press) before hitting a fisherman suplex, which he calls the AmeriPlex for the three and the win. Riggs stares down Bagwell as Bagwell says Riggs can't win because he's buff. If you're wondering where the name Buff Bagwell came from...there you go. He calls himself buff a lot. The camera cuts away as Riggs sprints after Bagwell to show you how important Scotty Riggs is. The match was fine, nothing special.
Lex Luger vs Rick Fuller
Fuller gets more offense than you'd expect against a former world champion like Luger, but in the end, Luger squashes him and locks in the Torture Rack for the submission win. After the match, the Giant comes out from the back. The two stare each other down as the Giant goes to the ring.
Mean Gene interviews the Giant. He says tonight isn't about the nWo vs WCW, it's about Hogan vs himself. He says he wants the World Heavyweight Championship and that won't be a bookend anymore. He says he'll close the chapter on Hulkamania forever tonight.
Arn Anderson vs Rick Steiner with Scott Steiner
This is a pretty decent match that doesn't really matter until the finish. Midway through the match, Mike Tenay receives word that the rest of the Horsemen are having a shouting match backstage. That coincides with Steiner clotheslining Anderson out of the ring. As Anderson yells for his teammates, he decides to dip, causing Rick Steiner to win by countout before he meekly barks. After the match, Mean Gene interviews the Steiners. Scott says the nWo made the mistake of inviting them to compete at Souled Out and thinking he's still hurt. The Nitro theme hits to end the segment, but Scott talks through it, saying he'll drop Kevin Nash on his head and make a believer out of the Outsiders.
Hulk Hogan with Ted DiBiase vs The Giant
The Giant comes out with no entrance music. Before the match actually starts, Hogan grabs a mic and says that no piece of paper can make him wrestle the Giant. That prompts the Giant to reach over the top rope and pull him into the ring. The Giant bodyslams him as the bell rings, starting Hogan's first match on Nitro in almost nine months. Hogan pleads with the Giant, but he's having none of it. The Giant batters Hogan around the ring before throwing him out. Hogan tries to leave, but the Giant brings him back to the ring as the actual show ends. TNT was premiering The New Adventures of Robin Hood this same night, so the rest of this show takes place during the commercial breaks. The Giant continues to beat down Hogan, even no selling a low blow before setting up for the chokeslam. Hogan tries to break free, but to no avail. Eventually, the nWo bails him out and cause a DQ. The Giant fends off the nWo as Hogan escapes to officially end the show.
There's no question, Nitro was better this week. RAW was awful, with the only thing that was even remotely good being the Sid promo. Three matches, zero clean finishes. Nitro was actually pretty good overall, but the bar was so low they could've had 90-minute Jim Powers-Bobby Walker match and it still probably would've been better than that RAW.
RAW: 26
Nitro: 39
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