Monday Nitro

Auburn Hills, Michigan
July 18, 2000

As The Cat announced an eight-man tournament to determine a new United States champion, all eight participants jumped at the opportunity to go for the second most important singles title in the business. When Lance Storm made threats throughout the night of turning the belt into the Canadian Heavyweight Title, reality hit home as the man from Calgary... Alberta, Canada wrestled three matches on his way to becoming the new champion.

Show Results

Outside, Big Poppa Pump destroyed Booker T's car with a metal baseball bat as Midajah looked on in horror. His brother Rick said they had to take off before anyone arrived.

Interview: The Cat
The Nitro Girls escorted the WCW commissioner to the ring as he told the Auburn Hills crowd to shut up. The Cat announced a one-night tournament to crown a new U.S. Champion. Scott Steiner saw the commissioner on a backstage monitor and headed to the ring. Big Poppa came in and demanded a title shot for later in the show. Booker T met him in the ring and the fight was on. Rick Steiner joined his brother against Booker T, prompting Stevie Ray to get up from the broadcasting table for the save. As WCW officials finally pulled the brawl apart, The Cat told Poppa that he would fight Goldberg later on Nitro.

Backstage, Buff led his mother Judy Bagwell down the back hallway. Judy was wearing a neck brace as a result of the attack last week by Kanyon.

As Tony, Mark and Stevie Ray talked about the upcoming events on Nitro, Jeff Jarrett came through the crowd from behind and bashed Stevie over the head. Jarrett said that it was just a message for Stevie to send to his brother.

U.S. Title Tournament Match
Mike Awesome d. "Positively" Kanyon
Buff and Judy made their way to the ringside area before the match got underway. Awesome shook Buff's hand before tearing into Positively Kanyon. Kanyon, sporting a new dye job to look even more like DDP, turned things around on Awesome, who Mark Madden now referred to as the "fat chick thriller." Awesome commandeered a table from under the ring and set it up on the outside. As Mike went to the apron however, he was driven through the table by a Kanyon Cutter. DDK taunted Buff and Judy at ringside, before Buff dropped him in the ring with a Blockbuster behind the referee's back. Awesome only got a two-count, but finally scored the pin, advancing in the all-important tournament. After the bell, an overzealous fan through her XXL underwear into the ring, causing a big smile across Awesome's face.

Pamela Paulshock Interview: Lance Storm
After Pamela told Storm that he was cute, he berated her, saying that it was not the dating game. Lance said that after he won the tournament, he would rename the title the Canadian Heavyweight Championship.

Backstage, Buff told his brother John to get Judy out of the building before his match. On the other side of the backstage area, DDK asked Smooth to do him a favor.

U.S. Title Tournament Match
Lance Storm d. Buff Bagwell
Storm told the fans it was their fault that he changed his attitude. He ran down a list of reasons why Canada was better than the USA, before demanding everyone to get on their feet for the Canadian national anthem. After about four notes, Buff had enough, and opened up on Lance to start the bout. When Buff was about to go up for the Blockbuster, Smooth was shown on the big screen telling John Bagwell that his brother was in trouble in the ring and needed his help. Storm rolled through with the crab submission for the win. Buff rolled out of the ring and hobbled to the back to save his mom.

Backstage, as The Cat tried to make a play for one of the Nitro Girls, the familiar sounds of The Jung Dragons filled the air as they arrived for another fight. Stevie Ray jumped in to save the commissioner, but Miller said that they were just his friends playing around. Ray demanded a match against Jeff Jarrett, which The Cat readily agreed to.

From moments earlier, Positively Kanyon pulled Judy Bagwell from her car and Kanyon Cuttered her to the floor. Backstage, Buff and John screamed for help as they knelt over their mother.

Backstage, Big Poppa Pump told Midajah to leave as he waited with a metal pipe for Goldberg to arrive to the building.

U.S. Title Tournament Match
The Great Muta d. Vampiro
Everyone but the referee was covered in paint as Muta prepared to face Vampiro, who was escorted by The Demon and the Insane Clown Posse. Vamp, sporting new paint to resemble the ICP, exchanged martial arts maneuvers with the man from the Orient. Muta finished off Vampiro with a picture perfect moonsault to advance in the tournament. The Demon came in to console, but was kicked to the mat by Vamp, who left with Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J.

Backstage, Scott Steiner attacked Ralphus and Norman Smiley as they entered the arena.

U.S. Title Tournament Match
"The Franchise" Shane Douglas with Torrie Wilson d. Billy Kidman
Douglas asked Kidman to take it easy on him because Torrie Wilson wore him out. Torrie told Billy that she played him for everything he had, then moved on. Kidman charged the ring, but was immediately stopped by The Franchise. Wilson got her two cents in, choking Billy on the second rope as Shane distracted the referee. On the outside, the two used guardrails and ring posts to try and gain the advantage over the other. After being tripped up by Torrie, Kidman was caught in the Pittsburgh Plunge, but kicked out at two and a half. A series of near falls followed until Douglas finally brought Billy down with The Franchiser for the hard fought win.

Outside the arena, Goldberg pulled up, unaware of the danger that waited inside.

Ladder Match
The Jung Dragons d. 3 Count with Tank Abbott
Tank introduced 3 Count to the ring, calling them "the baddest band in rock and roll history." As Evan, Shane and Shannon, along with Tank of course, performed their routine, The Jung Dragons snuck into the ring, trying to get an early climb up the ladder. After a superplex off the ladder and a series of frogsplashes into the ring, Evan helicoptered the ladder, knocking down not only his opponents, but his partner as well. As Karagias went to the top of the ladder, he was tipped over, landing on top of Tank, who had taken his spot on the green square for a victory dance. Yang climbed to the top and grabbed the gold record, winning the Ladder Match for his team.

Backstage, as Goldberg entered the door, he ducked the pipe and tackled Steiner into the wall. WCW Security and wrestlers arrived, pulling the monsters apart.

Backstage, Rick Steiner tried to calm his brother down.

U.S. Title Tournament Match
Mike Awesome d. The Great Muta
Awesome used his power to offset the high flying of the Japanese legend. The battle took to the floor, where Mark Madden was the target of the Muta mist, knocking him out of his seat. Once inside, it was the Career Killer gaining victory over Muta with his patented Awesome Bomb to advance in the tournament.

Backstage, Buff Bagwell put a beating on Smooth for his part in the earlier plan. DDK came to the rescue, jumping Bagwell as Smooth made his escape.

Backstage, Mark Madden approached KeeWee, asking for help getting the green mist out of his shirt. Paisley arrived, needing help with her dress as well.

U.S. Title Tournament Match
Lance Storm d. "The Franchise" Shane Douglas with Torrie Wilson
With only one slot to fill in the final bracketing, Storm and Douglas went tooth and nail, trying to get the upper hand in this title tournament. Shane gained control, staying on top his game, going for several pin attempts. Billy Kidman came to the stage, eating popcorn as he watched on. Finally, Storm caught The Franchise in a half crab and used the ropes for leverage for the submission win. Billy took Torrie by the hair and brought her into the ring, but was stopped by Storm.

Backstage, Rick Steiner talked with Midajah, trying to figure out Big Poppa Pump.

Jeff Jarrett d. Stevie Ray
Ray hit the ring and powered The Chosen One corner to corner, looking for revenge from the attack earlier in the program. Jarrett got his second wind, catching Stevie on his way back into the ring. Rick Steiner came to the apron to distract the referee, allowing Midajah to come off the top with a body press onto Ray. Jarrett applied the Stroke and, three seconds later was declared the winner. Booker T ran in to save his big brother, running Jarrett, Steiner and Midajah to the back.

U.S. Title Tournament Final Match
Lance Storm d. Mike Awesome
Storm again attempted to get the Michigan crowd on their feet for the playing of the Canadian anthem. Awesome came out and told the music man to turn the song off. Lance brought a chair into the ring, looking to use a shortcut en route to the U.S. gold. The referee soon got rid of the chair, and hard technical wrestling became Storm's plan of attack. After two huge clotheslines, Awesome went to the top for a frogsplash, but was met by Storm's knees on impact. After countering a flying DDT, Awesome went to the top again, but again was stopped, brought down hard with a superplex. Lance rolled through with the rolling crab submission to win the United States Title. After the match, two large and in charge women entered the ring to help the "fat chick thriller."

Backstage, The Cat asked Booker if he could enter the champion's dressing room to discuss something.

No Contest - Goldberg vs. Scott Steiner with Midajah
The Cat served as the special referee for the big main event. Booker joined Madden and Schiavone at the announcer's table before things got underway. Steiner clubbed Goldberg down hard, using his massive arms as weapons. The former world champion battled back, showing that he too was a power machine. When Big Poppa went for the Steiner Recliner, The Cat stopped him, but was knocked from the ring for his troubles. Booker got up to help the commissioner, but was taunted into the ring by Steiner. Soon, it was the champion who knocked both men to the canvas just in time for Big Sexy's music to hit the arena. Nash walked to the ring and Jackknife Powerbombed both Steiner and Goldberg and heading to the back.