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.
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.