Monday Nitro
Rochester, New York
April 24, 2000
When Ready to Rumble producers designed the film's devastating triple-cage, they wanted to make the apparatus as fantastic as possible.
Little did DDP and the Jeff Jarrett realize this killer contraption would invade their real lives...
PLUS: A new World Champion, the possible demise of Hulkamania and WCW.com gets tanked.
Backstage, Vampiro and Sting exchanged blows in the loading dock. Vampiro reigned supreme after whacking the Dark Angel with a steel pipe.
WCW Hardcore Title Match
Terry Funk d. Bam Bam Bigelow
Early in this matchup, the Cat attempted to clobber Bigelow
for the Bammer's interference at Spring Stampede (see match
results). The former Triad member brushed off the Godfather of
Soul, and focused his fury on the Hardcore Legend. A few moments
later, Cat returned with a new game plan and his ol' red shoes.
The Cat delivered a heel kick to Bigelow, allowing a dazed and
battered Funk the win. Post-match, a crew member was instructed
to call Cat's Momma...
Commentators Tony Schiavone, Mark Madden and Scott Hudson revealed that Bret Hart attacked Hulk Hogan last week. Wrestling's most infamous announcing team were unsure of Hart's motives.
Interview: Billy Kidman and
Torrie
Kidman insisted that Hogan was running from WCW's two-time
Cruiserweight and Tag Champion. He challenged the red-and-yellow
to another match.
Backstage, Jeff Jarrett, Kimberly and Eric Bischoff discussed business. When the trio saw Kidman on the monitor, they seemed confused by his actions.
Backstage, Norman Smiley begged for another shot at Terry Funk. Vince Russo told the Screamin' One that he could face Funk in a tag match at Slamboree. Smiley ran off to find a partner.
Interview: Jeff Jarrett,
Kimberly and Eric Bischoff
David Arquette was shown in the audience. Jarrett showed fans
footage of the triple-cage from the movie Ready to Rumble. The
Chosen Champion then boasted about what he'd do to Page at
Slamboree.
Afterwards, Eric and Kimberly called DDP to the ring. When Page arrived, the former Nitro Girl founder served her husband with divorce papers. Page tried to reason with Kimberly, but settled for attacking Bischoff. Jarrett leveled the two-time World Champion with a chairshot, prompting Arquette to enter the ring.
The Ready to Rumble star attacked Bischoff, but was pulled back by Jarrett. Before Double-J could hurt Arquette, Kanyon made the save. Bischoff, Jarrett and Kimberly retreated. Bischoff grabbed the microphone and challenged Arquette to a match later in the evening, but "Mr. Courtney Cox" demanded one special stipulation: If he could beat Bischoff, DDP would get a title match -- in the triple-cage -- later that evening.
Backstage, Kronic cornered Russo and demanded a tag title match. Russo agreed, but demanded the Brian Adams and Brian Clark "do him a favor" first.
Backstage, Sting searched for Vampiro.
Chris Candido and Tammy Sytch
d. The Artist and Paisley
It didn't take long for these two stunning valets to start
rolling and rocking -- but the action in this mixed tag saw all
players delivering attacks. Sytch delivered a suicide splash, The
Artist attempted to suplex Sytch and Paisley suffered a brutal
clothesline from Candido. Taking advantage of her charge's
attack, Sytch made the cover.
Post-match, Sting arrived, dropped Candido like a sack of mulch and challenged Vampiro to a First Blood Match later that evening.
Backstage, Kanyon and DDP pumped up Arquette.
Team Package d. Kronic
Moments into this match, both Miss Hancock and Buff Bagwell came
to the ring separately. During the confusion, Shane Douglas
struck Flair with a bat, and allowed Kronic a chance to bury the
Nature Boy with their High Times finisher (double chokeslam).
Post-match, Kronic pummeled the tag team champions.
Gene Okerlund Interview:
Vampiro
Vampiro accepted Sting's challenge, and nearly suffered a panic
attack.
Backstage, Bischoff chastised Billy Kidman and Mike Awesome for signing their own matches.
Gene Okerlund Interview:
Bischoff, Kimberly, Awesome, Kidman and Torrie
Bischoff announced that Awesome and Kidman would face Hogan as a
team this evening. The WCW Creative Head had another surprise for
Hogan as well: During Hogan's match with Kidman at Slamboree,
Bischoff will be the special guest referee.
Mike Awesome and Kidman with
Torrie d. Hogan
Due to the short notice given to Hogan, the Hulkster was unable
to find a partner in this tag contest. At first, the legend
battered both young athletes with a renewed fervor. Despite
making the challenge earlier in the evening, Kidman watched
Awesome fight the majority of the match. With few exceptions,
Hogan dominated the Heavyweight Luchador.
After over ten minutes of battle, a fresh Kidman struck Hogan with a chair and drew crimson. Awesome and Kidman powerbombed Hogan through a table in the ring.
Backstage, Kevin Nash entered the arena, and saw the in-ring carnage. A second table was forage from under the ring. Hogan was placed atop the wood, and Kidman splashed Hogan through the table. After the three count on Hogan, Nash rushed the ring, but was abruptly stopped by a low blow via Torrie. Awesome then struck with a much lower blow -- a steel chair to Nash's broken ankle.
David Arquette with DDP d. Eric
Bischoff with Jeff Jarrett and Kimberly
After a strong opening from Bischoff, Arquette responded with a
Spear and Elbow Drop. On the outside, DDP, referee Mark Johnson
and DDP were embroiled in their own war. When Double-J made his
way into the ring, an errant chair shot took out Bischoff.
Running to the ring, Kanyon held off Jarrett as Arquette made the
pin.
Sting appeared in the rafters.
Backstage, Arquette was interviewed by Tylene Buck in a bikini. Okerlund tried to interview Bischoff, but was only witness to an argument between WCW's top creative exec and Jarrett.
Interview: Big Poppa Pump and
the Pumpettes
Steiner spoke of his successful social life before addressing his
problems with Booker. Pump then challenged Booker to walk to
ringside. Booker complied.
The former Harlem Heater explained his actions last week, but refused to apologize. When Booker entered the ring, he was distracted by the Pumpettes and suffered a vicious Steinerline. As Nitro went to commercial, these two heavyweights battled on the mat.
Backstage, while Arquette and Kanyon celebrated, DDP prepared for his match.
Backstage, Russo informed Bagwell and Douglas that they would have to face Kronic.
WCW World Tag Team Title Match
Buff Bagwell and Shane Douglas d. Kronic
The Tag Champions arrived in their street clothes, and
immediately felt the dominating power of Kronic. Douglas and
Bagwell managed to isolate Clark, but their efforts only seemed
to anger the monstrous competitor. When Kronic attempted their
High Times finisher on Douglas, Bagwell tossed the official from
the ring. Clark and Adams tossed Franchise from the ring, and
focused their energy on Buff Daddy.
Enter Russo. The bat-swinging writer struck Adams, but almost suffered Clark's pumphandle slam. The Franchise made the save. Douglas, Franchise and Russo battered Kronic, and took a questionable pin.
Backstage, Tank was shown walking toward the ring.
Interview: Tank Abbott
Tank came to the ring, and promised to continue his campaign of
terror. After walking around the ring, the former UFC Fighter
made our own Bob Ryder into his weekly example. After punching
and throwing Ryder into the ring, WCW Live!'s Jeremy Borash
actually tried to make the save with a vicious piggyback. Tank
responded by crushing Borash like a bug. WCW.com's Bill Banks
also suffered several stiff shots when he came to the aid of
Ryder in the ring.
WCW World Title Match: Cage
match
DDP d. Jeff Jarrett with Vince Russo
Page hid atop the cage and struck Jarrett when the Chosen One
attempted to enter the cage. The competitors battled through the
fans and down the walkway.
When both men entered the cage, Page took control for a few minutes, but a low blow from Jarrett shifted the momentum. Outside the ring, Awesome arrived and worked to remove the cage door.
DDP hit the Diamond Cutter, but Awesome ripped off the cage door. But, instead of seeing another New Blood screwjob, fans were treated to a new champion. Kanyon attacked Awesome before the Heavyweight could interfere, and allowed Charles Robinson to count the pin.
Post-match, Arquette, Kanyon and DDP celebrated in the ring.
Vampiro d. Sting
First Blood Match
Fans knew this match would be grueling, but no one expected
Vampiro to truly call upon his powers of darkness. Sting dropped
from the rafters and, after treating Vampiro to a solid beating,
the Dark Angel was drenched in red liquid from the sky. Vampiro
then called in the New Blood. Bischoff and Russo's selection of
new superstars reattached Sting to his repelling wire and hung
the battered warrior over the fans.