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WCW Nitro By Chad Dupree
WCW Monday
Nitro
March 26, 2K1
Panama City, FL - Panama City Beach
Tonight WCW delivers the Night Of Champions and it should
be a show to remember. Sit back, relax, and prepare to
mark out as one of the most surreal nights in wrestling
history unfolds.
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Our show begins with a shot of Vince McMahon standing on
the set of Raw Is War and gloating about how he's
"bought the competition." He goes on to say
that tonight, in a special simulcast, the fate of WCW
will be revealed because it is now in his hands.
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Opening Interview: Ric Flair comes out and asks the crowd
if he heard Vince McMahon say he was going to hold WCW in
the palm of his hands. He then says he doesn't think so,
and goes on to put WCW over as the "best wrestling
organization in the world." Flair mentions that
Vince McMahon, Sr. was on the Board Of Directors and
voted for him (Flair) to be World champion. He asks Vince
when the last time he was wrestled for an hour, cut
himself five times, and bled all over the place and says
he wasn't there. Flair then says tonight they're going to
go out on a high note and that he wants to wrestle Sting
tonight.
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Match #1: Title vs. Title - Scott Steiner (w/
Midajah) vs. Booker T
Booker tries to grapple, but gets an elbow in the face.
Steinerline misses, and Booker T gets the Harlem Side
Kick for 2. Steiner works Booker over in the corner but
eats an elbow. Clotheslines gets 2 for Booker. 10- count
punch, but Steiner powerbombs his way free and gets 2.
Steiner sends Booker to the outside and Midajah slaps
him. Steiner comes out and works him over. Back in,
Steinerline and elbow drop gets 1 before Steiner starts
doing pushups. Belly to belly suplex gets 2. Booker
fights back from a surfboard, but Steiner knees him in
the back. Booker avoids the back suplex and nails Steiner
with a dropkick. Booker nails the Ghetto Blaster and then
executes a flapjack. Harlem Side Kick connects and Booker
goes for the Book End, but Steiner reverses into a
Northern Lights suplex for 2. Steiner goes for a
powerbomb, but Booker flips out and nails the Book End to
capture the WCW World Heavyweight title. ***
After the match, Booker T celebrates, holding up both
titles for all the crowd to see.
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Back in Cleveland, Vince McMahon is on the phone with his
attorney and makes light of WCW's location, saying its
appropriate for them to be in the panhandle of Florida
because of all the rednecks.
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Match #2 - Three Count vs. The Jung Dragon vs.
Kidman/Rey Misterio Jr.
The winning team faces Skipper and Romeo for the
Cruiserweight tag titles later tonight. Kidman, Shannon
Moore, and Kaz Hayashi start the match. Kidman goes after
Moore, but ends hitting Kaz. Kaz takes Moore down with a
flying head scissors. Kidman takes Kaz down with a rana.
Moore gets 2 from a sunset flip on Kidman before Kaz
breaks it up. Evan Karagias comes in and nails a face
buster on Kaz. Yang comes in and hits a release German
suplex on Karagias, but takes a springboard dropkick from
Rey. Rey nails a somersault senton onto Kaz on the
outside, followed up by Kaz hitting a running slingshot
plancha onto Rey. Karagias nails a springboard plancha,
and Moore comes off the top with a Sky Twister plancha.
That leaves Kidman in the ring and he joins the fray by
nailing the Kidmankaze onto everyone. Back in the ring,
Rey takes Yang down with a flying head scissors. Yang
drops Rey face-first onto the turnbuckle and nails Yang
Time, but Kidman makes the save. Moore comes in and hits
the Bottoms Up on Kidman, but Kaz makes the save.
Double-team Iconoslam by the Dragons gets 2 on Moore.
Kidman and Yang fight on the outside. Back in, Karagias
nails a reverse neckbreaker and hits the 450 splash on
Kaz but only gets 2. Rey goes for the Ruff Ryder on
Moore, but gets a boot in the groin. He battles back and
Moore ends up on the ring apron. He tries to ram a
shoulder into Rey's midsection, but Rey hangs him up on
the second rope and hits the springboard guillotine
legdrop to pick up the win. ***1/2
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Back in Cleveland again, and Trish Stratus joins Vince
for a celebration toast. Vince has a better idea and
decides to jump Trish for a little somethin' somethin'.
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Match #3: Cruiserweight Title - Chavo Guerrero
Jr. vs. Shane Helms
They lock up and Chavo takes Helms to the corner. They
trade punches until Helms picks Chavo up in a fireman's
carry and spins him around into a face buster. Reverse
neckbreaker follows up, and Helms gets 2. Helms gets
clotheslined to the outside, but Chavo throws him right
back in. Chavo hits a back suplex and then sets Helms up
on the top rope. Superplex is reversed and Helms hits a
flying sunset flip for 2. Chavo comes back with a
clothesline and gets 2. Chavo chops Helms and goes out on
the apron. Chavo tries to suplex him back in, but Helms
rams his face into the turnbuckle and nails a flying
cross body for 2. Chavo regains control with a T-Bone
suplex and gets 2. Vertical suplex is blocked and a great
series of reversals leads to Chavo getting a Northern
Lights suplex for 2. Helms sits down after a sunset flip
attempt by Chavo and gets 2. Helms executes the Quebrada
but misses the Sugar Smack. Another series of counters
ends with Chavo going into the turnbuckles and Helms hits
the Sugar Smack this time. Chavo escapes from the
Vertebreaker and goes for the brainbuster, but Helms
reverses and this time hits the Vertebreaker to pick up
the win. ***3/4
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Backstage, Booker T says tonight may be the end of a
chapter but that there are many more pages left in the
book. He says he will go on to prove that he's the best
this business has to offer and that he will prove that to
anyone who steps up. "Don't hate the playa, hate the
game!"
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Back in Cleveland, Michael Cole asks for Vince's reaction
to how WCW fans and wrestlers are concerned about the
future. McMahon asks Cole how he feels about his job
security and then tell him to get out. Trish says she
loves when Vince is forceful, and Vince likes that.
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Match #4: World Tag Team Titles - Sean
O'Haire/Chuck Palumbo vs. Team Canada
O'Haire starts off against Storm. Counter-wrestling
sequence to start, but O'Haire takes Storm down. Tag to
Palumbo. Palumbo comes in with some right hands. He sends
Storm to the ropes and Storm comes back with a cross body
but Palumbo turns into a blockbuster suplex. Palumbo goes
after Awesome, and gets a superkick from Storm for his
trouble. Tag to Awesome, who comes in with a slingshot
splash for 2. Palumbo avoids a clothesline in the corner
and whips Awesome across the ring. Awesome scales the
ropes and comes back at Palumbo with a reverse flying
elbow. Awesome lures O'Haire into the ring and tags in
Storm. Palumbo catches Storm with a right and slingshots
him into the turnbuckles. He cradles Storm up sunset
flip-style and gets 2. O'Haire and Awesome tag in.
O'Haire batles both Canadians and then catches Awesome
with the fireman's carry into the sidewalk slam. All four
men battle in the ring, but Awesome clothesline O'Haire
down and Palumbo takes another superkick from Storm.
Double-team clothesline misses and O'Haire trips up
Storm, but Awesome gets Palumbo in position for the
Awesome Bomb. Palumbo escapes and nails the Jungle Kick,
setting Awesome up for the Seanton Bomb. O'Haire gets the
pin and they retain the titles. **1/2
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Match #5 - Sean Stasiak (w/ Stacy) vs. Bam Bam
Bigelow
Bigelow comes to the ring with a tattoo kit and threatens
to waffle Stasiak. The referee holds him back and Stasiak
uses the opportunity to go after Bigelow. Right hands to
start. Bigelow comes back with a clothesline. Avalanche
in the corner misses and Stasiak clotheslines Bigelow
down. He goes up top for a flying cross body but no one's
home. Bigelow slams Stasiak down and goes up for the
flying headbutt. Stacy distracts the referee, so Bigelow
gets no count. Bigelow gets up to see what's going on,
allowing Stasiak to get up. Bigelow ducks a clothesline
and goes for the Greetings From Asbury Park, but Stacy
holds onto Stasiak's boots and he escapes, knees Bigelow
in the back and hits the reverse neckbreaker for the win.
DUD
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Back in Cleveland, William Regal shows off his
Wrestlemania jersey. Vince asks what Regal wants and
Regal asks Vince if he's sure he wants to buy WCW. Regal
says it's in awful place and he wouldn't want McMahon to
lower himself. McMahon thanks Regal and says he's on the
case.
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Earlier today, DDP quotes the Grateful Dead and says,
"What a long, strange trip it's been." He says
he wouldn't trade it for anything and thanks the fans
around the world for letting Page Joseph Falkenberg
become Diamond Dallas Page. He goes on to say that it's
the fans who decides who's over and thanks the WCW fans
and his wife, Kimberly, for believing in him and helping
him live his dream. DDP says the dream isn't over, it's
just time to take it to another level.
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We next see a very nicely done video package showcasing
many of WCW's World champions from the past 50 years or
so. Great nostalgia factor here.
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Back in Cleveland, Vince says "it's just about that
time." He grabs his jacket and leaves the dressing
room.
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Match #6: Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles - Elix
Skipper/Kid Romeo vs. Kidman/Rey Misterio Jr.
Skipper jumps Kidman to start and works him over in the
corner. Kidman comes back with a flying head scissors.
Kidman traps Skipper as he's going for a body scissors
and Rey comes in with a springboard dropkick. Skipper
comes back with a belly to belly suplex and tags in
Romeo. A Skipper-assisted senton finds the mark on
Kidman. Romeo nails Rey, bringing him in so Skipper and
Romeo can double-team Kidman. Overhead powerbomb by Romeo
on Kidman. Skipper is tagged in, but Kidman catches him
off the ropes with a cross body for 2. Skipper bridges up
out of the pin and hits a leg lariat on Kidman. Tag to
Romeo. Romeo comes off the top but gets a dropkick in the
stomach. Rey and Skipper come in for their teams. Rey
comes in with a springboard standing senton. He nails
Skipper with a tornado DDT and gets 2 before Skipper
makes the save. Double-team on Rey backfires and he takes
Romeo over the top with a rana. Kidman goes after
Skipper. Rey comes back in and hits a flying forearm in
the corner, using Kidman for a springboard. They follow
up with the baseball slide/Ruff Ryder combo. Romeo comes
in and takes both men out. Double underhook piledriver
gets 2 for Romeo before Rey makes the save. Rey
powerbombs Romeo and nails springboard headbutt for 2.
Skipper gets 2 on Rey with an Ocean Cyclone suplex. All
four men brawl in the ring. Skipper goes for the Play Of
The Day on Kidman, but Kidman reverses into the Kid
Krusher and gets the win. New Cruiserweight tag champs!
***1/2
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Backstage, Sting cuts a promo and says he wouldn't miss
this night for anything. He says he and Flair started it,
and tonight they get to end it. Sting says the only thing
for sure about him is that nothing is for sure.
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Back in Cleveland, Vince McMahon struts down the hall as
he prepares to make his announcement.
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Match #7 - Ric Flair vs. Sting
They lock up and Sting throws Flair off. Shoulder block
takes Flair down twice. Sting goes to the knucklelock,
but Flair pokes him in the eyes and--whoooo!--works him
over in the corner. Sting fires back and takes Flair out
of the corner. He follows up with a dropkick and Flair
rolls outside. Back in, Flair gets a side headlock. Sting
pushes him off, but this time Sting goes down to the
shoulder block. Flair runs the ropes and Sting goes for a
leapfrog, but Flair drops to his knees and begs off.
Sting smiles and so does Flair as he struts across the
ring. Flair with a boot to the stomach, but Sting catches
him coming off the ropes with a gorilla press slam.
10-punch count in the corner follows up, and Flair drops
to the mat face-first. Flair gets up and chops Sting, but
Sting grabs him by the throat. Flair drops to his knee
and hits the low blow. Flair kicks Sting in the ribs and
takes him to the corner for some--whooooo!--chops. Snap
mare out of the corner, and Flair follows up with a knee
drop. Sting tries to mount a comeback, but Flair stops
him short. He takes Sting down and heads up top, but
Sting throws him across the ring! Series of clotheslines
takes Flair down, but he misses a dropkick and now we go
to school! Flair locks the figure-four leglock on Sting,
but Sting fights the pain. Flair grabs the ropes and gets
2 as Sting goes down. Another 2 count, but Sting's back
up. Sting finally reverses the hold, bu Flair rolls free.
Sting no-sells the chops and forearms. He takes Flair to
the corner, whips him across, and Flair goes upside-down
in the corner. Sting puts him on the top rope and nails a
superplex. Scorpion deathlock is on! Flair submits! ****
After the match, Sting helps Flair up and they hug. Flair
drops down and offers Sting his hand. Sting takes it and
they hug again. This is a great moment for both fans old
and new.
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We cut to Vince McMahon and it's time for the simulcast.
Vince struts into the ring like a rooster and asks for
the microphone. Vince says the broadcast is being seen on
TNN and...TNN? Oops. He meant TNT. He says there's only
one way that could happen. He then says that they all
know he's acquired WCW. He says it isn't exactly final
and will only make the deal official when Ted Turner
himself walks down the aisle at Wrestlemania and delivers
the contract to him.
Vince talks about how he was up against a media
conglomerate and a billionaire and says that some would
say he had some help from certain WWF superstars, but
that the truth is he did it all on his own. It was his
effort and money. Vince says there was only one way to
beat a billionaire and that was to become one himself. He
says that when Turner delivers the contract, he'll give
Ted a seat at ringside because he wants Ted to watch what
he does to Shane. The crowd boos, but Vince says no one
understands what it takes to be a competitor like he
does. He says you have to grab the competition by the
throat, just like he did WCW, and that's what he'll do to
Shane on Sunday.
Vince says he'd like some input from the crowd on what he
should do with WCW. He says he can put it on the shelf,
and watch videotapes of Hogan posing, listen to the
announcers talking about how they're going to bury the
WWF, and he'd get a lot of pleasure from that. Vince uses
the "He who laughs last, laughs best"
euphamism, but says he's not laughing, only smiling.
Vince then says they could instead turn WCW into a huge
media conglomerate themselves. Vince asks for the crowd's
help with their reactions.
Hulk Hogan. Crowd boos.
Lex Luger. Crowd boos.
Buff Bagwell. Mixed reaction.
Booker T. Mixed reaction.
Big Poppa Pump. Crowd cheers.
Vince says he doesn't know if they've helped him and the
crowd starts chanting for Goldberg. Vince says there are
a few others.
Sting. Mixed reaction.
Goldberg. Crowd cheers.
Vince says he had a choice tonight, and that was to
either gloat or he could have gone down to Panama City
and given every WCW superstar a piece of his mind, which
he wanted to do. He then asks how appropriate is it that
WCW's last show is in a beer hall with a bunch of
rednecks. Vince then says he's opted to come before the
crowd in Cleveland instead of walking into WCW's ring,
lining them up around the ring and saying, "YOU'RE
FIRED!" He then says that's exactly what's going to
happen because he is burying WCW, just like anyone else
that gets in his way, including his son, Shane.
The crowd starts to chant "Asshole!" at Vince,
but he tells them to cut it out, saying he owns WCW and
the WWF, and they WILL treat him with respect.
"No Chance In Hell" starts up again and it
looks like Shane will walk out on Raw, but NO! Shane's on
Nitro! This is the "Holy Shit" moment of the
year, people!
Shane McMahon with Nitro chyron!
Shane gets on the microphone in Panama and says,
"Surprise, Dad!" He says Vince's ego has gotten
the best of him as usual. Shane talks about Vince's
audacity, asking Ted to appear at Wrestlemania to sign
the deal. Shane says the deal is finalized, and the name
on the contract is...Shane McMahon! Shame McMahon has
bought WCW! Vince can't believe it. Shane says just like
WCW did in the past, WCW will kick his ass again. And
that will also happen when he takes on Vince this Sunday
at Wrestlemania. And that's our show.
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What a moment. It's been a long time since I have
seriously marked out, but that segment did it for me. I
knew it was going to happen one way or another, but I
still marked out. WCW lives on. A few months ago, I
couldn't have cared less, but now I'm thrilled about it.
Goodbye from WCW Nitro's final broadcast on TNT, but I'll
see you when WCW makes its debut...on TNN.
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