Monday Nitro

Irvine, California
October  30, 2000

One night after Mike Sanders won the right to run WCW, rumors ran rampant about a new CEO in the company. When Sanders came out and started to run down the new big wig, he found out who was going to be really calling the shots - the new CEO, The Nature Boy Ric Flair. 

A white limousine sat outside the arena as the show got underway. 

WCW World Tag Team Title Match
Mark Jindrak and Sean O'Haire d. Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio, Jr. with Tygress
Konnan sat in with the announcers for color as Mysterio started out against Mark Jindrak, using his quickness and high flying to take his much bigger opponent off his feet. Kidman and O'Haire tagged in, with Kidman keeping control for the Animals. The champions soon turned the tide, bringing the smaller Kidman and Mysterio to the mat with their raw power and strength. Jindrak and O'Haire continued to punish Rey and Billy with strong double team maneuvers, trying to retain the gold in this important title contest. The filthy challengers made a brief comeback, but The Boogie Knights came to ringside to distract The Animals, setting the champions up for a win. 

Backstage, Scott Steiner put the new commissioner against the wall by his throat, demanding a world title match against Booker T for later on Nitro. Nash agreed that Sanders' new job was not going to be easy. 

WCW Hardcore Title Match
Reno d. Kwee Wee
Kwee Wee was furious at Reno for his attack on Paisley last week, and ordered the Hardcore Champion to the ring. The two met in the aisle and the plunder immediately started to fly, with broomsticks, ring steps, and trashcan lids being the offering of the night. Reno delivered a slingshot, sending Kwee Wee into the corner and into a trashcan between the ropes. The eccentric wardrobe designer fought back and pounded the champion with several of the items around the ring. As they brawled up the aisle and to the stage, The Natural Born Thrillers came out and mauled Kwee Wee, with the tag team champions throwing the challenger over the top rope into the ring with a double hiptoss. Reno applied the "Roll the Dice" and took the victory. 

Mean Gene Interview: General Rection
Rection called the rest of The MIA to the ring before going on with the interview. He peeled the Canadian sticker off of the US Title, bringing it back to America. Mean Gene started to applaud, and got the entire crowd to join in a standing ovation for the new champion. The dressing room emptied as the boys came from the back to offer their congratulations to Rection, with Bill Goldberg taking the mic. He told his friend Hugh that he would always be appreciated and joked about Rection being the first man to lose in Goldberg's first winning streak. Lance Storm appeared on the big screen, challenging Rection to a rematch. The General said that he was a step ahead and already had a contract signed for the Mayhem PPV. 

M.I.Smooth d. David Flair
Flair came to the ring with an envelope containing the results of the DNA test. He read it aloud, realizing that Buff was not the father after all. M.I.Smooth came down the aisle and said that even though he originally presented David with the videotape of Buff and Stacey, he never stated that Bagwell was the father. M. I. Smooth entered the ring to fight, but Flair said no, turning away to leave. The slick limo driver attacked from behind and punished the confused David, getting the pinfall win. 

Backstage, Jimmy Hart challenged DJs from around the world to come to Nitro and wrestle him. 

Interview: The Boogie Knights
DISQO said that they were told to come to the ring by Commissioner Mike Sanders for a special surprise. Wondering what the surprise was, his question was soon answered as Goldberg's music played and the big man arrived, throwing them from the ring. 

Interview: Bill Goldberg
The former world champion said that after last night, Kronik definitely knew who he was and what he was about. He promised that he would break his record, telling the boys in the back that they were all next. 

Interview: "Above Average" Mike Sanders
The new commissioner gloated about becoming the new man in charge. His first order of business was to make the world title match between Booker T and Mike Awesome a three way dance, adding Scott Steiner to the mix. He said this new CEO that everyone was talking about would be doing nothing but getting his coffee and taking orders from him. At that moment, The Nature Boy's music hit the sound system, bringing the crowd to their feet. Ric Flair said that as of last Friday in Atlanta, Georgia, he was the new CEO of WCW. He went on to inform Sanders that he would wrestle The Cat in a rematch later in the show. 

Interview: Ric Flair
The Nature Boy said that he was going to take the company back to the top. He stated that he told Lex Luger to watch his son's back at Halloween Havoc and apologized to Buff for Luger going above and beyond his job. Jeff Jarrett arrived, wondering what Flair was doing out of retirement. Ric said that he was retired but, like it or not, he was Jarrett's boss and The Chosen One could do nothing about it. 

Lex Luger d. Buff Bagwell
Luger said that he was back on the active roster, thanks to his deal with Ric Flair at Halloween Havoc. The Total Package called Bill Goldberg out, claiming that he was next for the monster. Buff Bagwell came to the stage, letting Lex know that the two of them could go right there on Nitro. Bagwell said he had a referee with him and wanted to do it right then. Seconds later, the match was on, with Bagwell all over The Total Package. Luger pulled referee Mark Johnson in front of a Blockbuster attempt, knocking the ref to the canvas. Lex used a chair on Buff outside, slid him back in, and got a submission win with the Torture Rack. Luger took the mic and told Goldberg that he was next. 

Pamela Paulshock Interview: The Perfect Event and Kevin Nash
Coach Nash said that Stasiak and The Thrillers spent the week together, and were finally on the same page. Stasiak said that he was sorry for not being in the game. 

Kronik d. The Perfect Event
Stasiak and Palumbo worked well together against Brian Adams, sending the big man staggering around the ring. Bryan Clark tagged into the ring and took over, sending Stasiak to the floor. Nash told Shawn to walk it off, but Stasiak took it literally and walked to the back, leaving his partner high and dry against Kronik. Palumbo went up for the High Time and was soundly defeated by the former tag team champs. 

Backstage, Kevin Nash and The Thrillers went off to look for Shawn Stasiak. Sanders passed them in the hallway, upset that Nash wasn't going to be there for his match. 

Pamela Paulshock Interview: Booker T
Booker said that he welcomed Scott Steiner into the title match, stating that he would emerge victorious. 

The Cat d. "Above Average" Mike Sanders
The Cat talked smack on Mark Madden, before tearing into Mike Sanders. Miller ripped off the commissioner's shirt and laid in some heavy chops. As the action spilled to the outside, Sanders was blasted in the face by a ringside beverage, courtesy of the three-time karate champion. The Cat gave Sanders a karate lesson and defeated the commissioner in the center of the ring. Shane Douglas appeared on the big screen with Ms. Jones. She slapped him across the face, but Douglas gave her a backbreaker over his knee, prompting Miller to run to the back. 

Backstage, The Cat swore revenge against Shane Douglas for injuring Ms. Jones. 

Pamela Paulshock Interview: Mike Awesome
Mike Awesome told Scott Steiner that he and Booker would take Big Poppa out, leading to Awesome taking home the gold. 

WCW World Title Match
Three Way Dance
Booker T d. "Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner with Midajah and "That 70's Guy" Mike Awesome
Scott Steiner told Booker T that he was going to take him out just like he has every time they have met. Big Poppa jumped on the WCW Champion as soon as he entered the ring. With Awesome conspicuous by his absence, a rematch from Halloween Havoc ensued, with both men still on ten from the previous night. Awesome finally made it to the ring, sending Steiner to the outside before attacking the champion. Big Poppa slid back in and attempted to pin both men, but only got a two-count each time. Awesome connected with a dropkick from the top on Steiner, and returned to the air with a frogsplash on Big Poppa Pump. Booker laid in an axe kick and a spinarooni, but was leveled by a huge clothesline by Awesome. Scott brought Awesome from the top with a big Samoan drop, taking control of the match as Mike and Booker were sprawled on the mat. As Big Poppa went for the Steiner Recliner, Booker kicked him in the face, knocking him to the outside. The champion fell on top of Awesome for the pin and retained his title. Steiner destroyed the WCW security team as he stormed to the back. Booker told Big poppa to come back out and fight, but Steiner declined as Nitro faded to black.