Monday Nitro

Cleveland, Ohio
July 24, 2000

No one ever told Booker T that being the WCW Champion was easy. Even though the new champion had proven that he was up for the task, few can argue that the man knocking on his door this past Nitro was one of the most feared around -- and not about to let anyone or anything, be it a family member or bloodshed, get in his way of the WCW Heavyweight Title.

Show Results

Canadian Title vs. Hardcore Title Match
Lance Storm d. Big Vito
The show opened up as the Canadian Heavyweight champion made his way to the ring to greet the Cleveland fans. Storm immediately demanded the crowd rise to their feet for the playing of his national anthem, as a giant Canadian flag lowered down from the ceiling. After the audience booed throughout the song, Lance said that he was disappointed at them for not respecting him, especially since they had no role models of their own. Storm stated that Mike Awesome would see the kind of wrestler he was at New Blood Rising, but on Nitro, he needed a warm up match. Big Vito came to the stage, but Storm said he would wrestle Vito only if both belts were on the line. Never backing down from a challenge, Vito said yes, and the match was on. Hardcore rules were in effect, as evident from the homerun cone shot Storm received in the corner from the hardcore champion. As Vito went to the top rope, Lance met him on the turnbuckle, superplexing him to the canvas for a close two-count. After a series of moves and countermoves, Vito came from the top with a big elbow, followed by a spinning DDT. Storm survived, however, and fought off the stickball bat long enough to roll through with the single leg crab submission, adding the WCW Hardcore Title gold to his waist.

Interview: Booker T
The WCW Champion first told the fans that he would not be where he was without their support. Booker said that come New Blood Rising, he would show Jeff Jarrett why he was wearing the gold. Goldberg came to the ring, confronting the new champion about his attack last week. The former Falcon told Booker that the two of them would be going head to head later in the show. This prompted the commissioner to stroll to the ring and let them both know that Booker's challenger would be determined by the fans via a voting process on WCW.com. When The Cat got mouthy with Goldberg, he was put up against the ropes, but Booker broke it up and a scuffle ensued until WCW Security arrived. Miller told Goldberg that he owed him one for laying his hands on the man in charge.

Billy Kidman joined Tony Schiavone, Scott Hudson and Mark Madden at the announcer's table. Kidman said that it was Torrie Wilson's birthday and for her, he brought a videotape of Wilson and himself engaged in some "extra curricular activities."

Lieutenant Loco and Major Gunns d. David Flair and Ms. Hancock
This match was set up as a result of Gunns' mouth to mouth on David Flair last week. Loco went for a pin early on Flair, but Hancock broke it up, grabbing a handful of hair. Gunns countered by slapping David across the face, keeping her team in control. Soon, it was all four in the ring, with chaos erupting. After Hancock missed a bodypress off the ropes, Gunns rolled her up from behind for the surprise win. After the bell, When Gunns went to revive Loco, Hancock took her by the hair and, with the help of Flair, ripped the tiny shirt from the Major's body.

Backstage, Jeff Jarrett asked The Cat why he was letting the fans decide the challenger. Miller told The Chosen One that if he didn't like it, he could leave. When Jarrett started swinging his guitar, the commissioner told him he could have a title match -- a tag team title match.

Pamela Paulshock Interview: Sting
Sting said that he was going to the main event to take the belt from Booker T. He told the booking committee that whether they liked it or not, he was removing the black hood from his face sometime in the show.

Mike Tenay Interview: Goldberg
Goldberg told Mike Tenay that he was confident that the fans would vote him into the main event. He did state however, that if it was someone else, he would make sure that they wouldn't make it to the ring.

Backstage, someone laid out Brian Clark in the dressing room. It was presumed by the announcers to be Jeff Jarrett, as a broken guitar was left behind at the scene.

WCW Tag Team Title Match
No Contest - Kronic vs. Jeff Jarrett
In what was supposed to be a handicapped match turned into a one-on-one encounter for the tag team titles, as Brian Adams faced off against The Chosen One. Jarrett did everything he could to take down the big man, but was overpowered by Adams. Jeff jabbed the head of the guitar into the throat of Adams, but only got a two-count. Clark ran in and immediately drove Jeff down with the Meltdown. Kronic teased the High Time through the announcer's table, but referee Mark Johnson jumped in the way, stopping the attack. Adams and Clark threw Jarrett to the wayside and put Johnson through the table instead.

Backstage, Vampiro asked the commissioner to let him take care of The Great Muta. When Miller said he could do it himself, Vamp pressed the issue, asking The Cat to be the referee.

Pamela Paulshock Interview: "The Franchise" Shane Douglas and Torrie Wilson
When Pamela asked Torrie about the tape that Kidman brought and Shane told her he wanted the truth, Wilson walked away, upset about the situation.

No Contest - Vampiro with The Demon and ICP vs. The Great Muta
This was a rematch from last week's U.S. Title tournament, as the legend Muta faced off against Vampiro, who brought ICP and The Demon to the party. As the bell rang, Vampiro attacked The Cat and ICP, as a set up reeked throughout the arena. When Miller started to fight back, it was Muta who knocked him back down, joining forces with Vamp and ICP. The four put the boots to The Cat until The Demon broke up the attack. He helped the commissioner to his feet, only to take him down again with the Love Gun. The Cat got some shots in on Shaggy and Violent J as they were leaving the ring.

Pamela Paulshock Interview: Booker T
The WCW Champion said that it didn't matter who the challenger was, T was walking out of the ring with the title.

Goldberg d. Booker T
Booker entered the ring, not knowing who his opponent would be. The Stinger's music blared over the sound system, and everyone had the answer. As Sting walked down the ramp way, Goldberg jumped from the top of the stage and leveled Sting with a standing sidekick. He went to the ring and challenged Booker to get in and fight. Booker accepted and the two started on the floor. Booker was sent into the ringside steps, busting his head wide open. Once inside, with Booker bleeding profusely, referee Mickey Jay checked the wound on the head of the champion, as Stevie Ray threw in the towel for his brother. With the referee's back turned, Goldberg threw the towel back out of the ring. Finally, the commissioner decided to call the match, giving the win to Goldberg, but not the belt. Goldberg attacked some WCW Security guys before leaving the ring.

Backstage, a bloody and battered Booker T told The Cat that he wanted Goldberg back in the ring or he was walking out of the company.

No Contest - Buff Bagwell with Judy Bagwell vs. Positively Kanyon
As Positively Kanyon's music played over and over, DDK was nowhere to be found. Judy Bagwell had some choice words for Kanyon before the Bagwell's started to strut in the ring. The ringside "camera man" set down the TV camera, revealing DDK himself in disguise. Judy got a slap in on Kanyon, before he drove her son into the canvas with the Kanyon Cutter. Chris chased Judy all the way through the backstage area, finally throwing her into the trunk of a car and driving away.

Outside, Buff Bagwell jumped into his car and sped away, off to look for his abducted mother.

Pamela Paulshock Interview: Billy Kidman
Billy mentioned Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson in comparison to the tape that he brought with Torrie and himself.

Mike Awesome d. "The Franchise" Shane Douglas with Torrie Wilson
Awesome came to the ring with three hefty female supporters. Mike and The Franchise locked horns and quickly brought it to the outside area. Torrie jumped on Awesome's back, helping her man gain the advantage in the contest. The powerful Awesome came back and went to the top rope, but was distracted by Wilson long enough for Douglas to use a chain on him. As Shane climbed up on the turnbuckle, Kidman's tape began to run on the Nitro Vision. Awesome took advantage of this distraction, taking the metal weight from Torrie and bringing it down across the head of The Franchise for the win. When Torrie and Shane went after Kidman, who stood on the stage holding a pair of Wilson's panties, Lance Storm charged the ring after Awesome. After a brief scuffle, Awesome sent the Canadian champion on an Awesome Bomb ride across the ring.

Outside, Shane Douglas destroyed a production worker for showing the tape.

Interview: Billy Kidman
Kidman said that he was not stupid and had made copies of the tape for the whole crowd and all the boys in the back. The Jung Dragons and Keewee were shown in the dressing room watching and enjoying the "show."

In the production truck, Shane Douglas said that Kidman would pay for what he just did to Torrie Wilson.

Caged Heat Match
General Rection/Corporal Cajun and Mark Jindrak/Sean O'Haire and The Perfect Event d. Rey Mysterio Jr./Juventud Guerrera
Konnan and Tygress sat down at ringside for commentary. All eight men fought for the right to appear in the tag team match at New Blood Rising. Jindrak and O'Haire were the first team to escape the cage, securing themselves a spot at New Blood Rising. The Perfect Event were next, but after they got out, they bolted the door locked behind them. Konnan pulled out a pair of bolt cutters as Disco opened a trap door on top of the cage. Soon, General Rection and Rey Mysterio were on top with Disco, fighting dangerously close to the edge of the cage. Corporal Cajun and Juvi fought through the cage door, leaving it up to the men on top to decide who would go on to the PPV. Rection teased jumping from the top onto a beaten Juvi, who was placed on a table, but Rey put an end to it, jumping the General from behind. Finally, Rection went down the ladder into the ring, catching Mysterio coming down with a powerbomb. General made it out first to take his team to the New Blood Rising tag team battle.

Backstage, Goldberg threw Stevie Ray through a plate glass window as Ray tried to talk him out of fighting his brother again. Booker helped medical attendants get Stevie into the ambulance.

WCW Title Match
Booker T d. Goldberg
Booker jumped on Goldberg as he walked down the aisle, looking for revenge from the attack moments ago. The champion worked over the monster, but Goldberg punched at the already injured head of Booker. Jeff Jarrett made his presence known, blasting Goldberg with a chair from behind. Bill shook it off and speared The Chosen One, only to turn around into a karate kick from The Cat. Goldberg leveled the commissioner as well, but this gave Booker the time he needed to recoup. After a Harlem sidekick, the WCW Champion retained his title, pinning the former champion to the mat for the 1-2-3. Booker's celebration was short lived, as Goldberg had a spear and Jackhammer for him as Nitro came to an end.