Monday Nitro

Richmond, Virginia
December 18, 2000

Coming off a huge victory against Sid Vicious at WCW Starrcade, Big Poppa Pump walked into Nitro to find another surprise from the CEO -- a three-way dance for the WCW title booked for WCW Sin on Sunday, Jan. 14. The Nature Boy told Steiner one of his opponents would be determined in a mini tournament during the broadcast, but drove Steiner into a rage, making him wait until the end of the show before revealing his shocking surprise. 

The show opened with an announcement from CEO Ric Flair. The Nature Boy booked Buff Bagwell against Goldberg and Scott Steiner in a world title match against someone to be revealed later in the show. 

WCW Cruiserweight Title Contention Match
Sugar Shane Helms d. Shannon Moore
This match was made by promoters to determine the number one contender for the cruiserweight title, as both won the rights for the match last night at WCW Starrcade. After a fast paced exchange with several near falls, Sugar Shane threw Moore over the top rope to the floor. Helms turned Moore's high-risk maneuver attempt into a huge powerslam off the second rope. The singing duo went back and forth again, trading high impact moves, until Shane landed a swanton sunset flip for a close two-count. In the end, Sugar scored the win to gain the cruiserweight shot. As Helms helped Moore to his feet, Chavo Guerrero Jr. attacked the two, slamming them to the mat. The tag team fought back, however, sending the loco champion outside. 

Backstage, General Rection told Cpl. Cajun what they just saw was proof Chavo was no good. 

Interview: Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner with Midajah
Big Poppa came out to tell the CEO he was taking his job too seriously. Steiner ran down Flair's champion reigns, before turning his verbal attack towards DDP. The Nature Boy arrived, congratulating the champion on a hard fought win at the PPV. Ric announced Steiner would defend his gold against two men in a three-way dance at the next pay-per-view, WCW Sin on Sunday, Jan. 14. One of the opponents would be determined in a preliminary four-man tournament later in the show. The other was a mystery man, who Flair promised to reveal sometime during the Nitro broadcast. 

Jimmy Hart challenged DJs from around the world to come and take him on in the ring. 

Mean Gene Interview: Buff Bagwell and Lex Luger
Buff made fun of Goldberg's book, saying he and Lex were putting together a team called "Totally Buff." Scott Steiner stormed the set, telling Luger and Bagwell to find out who the mystery man was. 

WCW Hardcore Title Match
Terry Funk d. Meng
Funk came on the Nitro Vision to challenge Meng, who had accompanied Kwee-Wee and Paisley to the ring. The Tongan monster charged to the back, where he was met head on by the new hardcore champion. Funk pulled out the handcuffs from the PPV, but Meng locked Terry's hands in them instead. They fought through the backstage production area, making their way into the arena. The challenger pulled a table from under the ring, slamming Terry in the head with a trashcan before sliding the wooden fixture under the ropes. Funk moved out of the way, sending Meng crashing through the table, but the beast from the islands was still able to clamp on the Tongan Death Grip. Crowbar came in and leveled Meng with a pipe wrench, leading Terry to the win. After the bout, Crowbar challenged Funk to a rematch at WCW Sin. 

Backstage, Scott Steiner charged Jeff Jarrett, demanding he help find out who the mystery man was. 

Mean Gene Interview: Big Vito
Vito told his brother he was disappointed and ready to take his frustrations out on the Natural Born Thrillers. 

Backstage, Crowbar told Mike Awesome the '70s gimmick almost killed his career, and advised Mike to drop it as well. 

WCW Championship Contenders Match
Lance Storm with Major Gunns d. Rey Mysterio Jr. with Tygress
Storm came out all business, telling the Richmond crowd the only WCW title that eluded him was the heavyweight crown, and he was ready to change that. Rey came out on fire, but Storm extinguished The Filthy Animal quickly, working over Mysterio's injured ribs. Rey caught Lance in the corner with a highflying takedown, sending the Canadian to the outside, a perfect spot for a Mysterio dive over the top rope. Back on the inside, Storm regained the advantage, and was able to clamp on the single leg crab for the submission win. 

WCW Championship Contenders Match
The Chosen One Jeff Jarrett d. That '70s Guy Mike Awesome
Awesome got on the mic, telling the ladies there was enough "vitamin A" to go around for all of them. Mike said there was a little Career Killer left in him and called out his opponent, who turned out to be Jeff Jarrett. Awesome used his tremendous power to take the former world champion off his feet. The Chosen One brought That '70s Guy outside, but Awesome battered Jeff on the floor. Awesome pounded Jarrett on the announcers' table, ready to deliver the Awesome Bomb until Jeff connected with a low blow. The momentum shifted back and forth, with referee Charles Robinson getting poked in the eye. Awesome attempted to use the guitar Jarrett brought in, but Robinson took it away, allowing The Chosen One to commandeer another six stringer from under the ring. Jeff slammed the guitar over Mike's head and rolled back into the ring to cover and move onto the finals. 

Backstage, Jarrett told Steiner the only reason he lied to him about being in the tournament was to protect Big Poppa at the PPV. 

Backstage, Norman Smiley did the happy dance as he found out Glacier was coming back. 

Mean Gene Interview: The Franchise Shane Douglas
Shane challenged The MIA to a match at Thunder against The Franchise and his hired hands, KroniK. 

Backstage, Ric Flair spoke on his cell phone, telling someone to wait for his cue before bringing the mystery man to the building. 

Backstage, Mike Awesome threw a fit in the catering area when some of the guys made fun of his '70s gimmick. 

The Cat with Ms. Jones d. Alex Wright
The Cat came out and made fun of Wright's dancing. He charged the ring and was all over Das Wunderkind, much to the delight of the Richmond crowd. Alex sent Miller to the floor, where the fight continued at the feet of the ringside fans. Ms. Jones threw a kick at Wright, setting Miller to do the same, returning the bout to the squared circle. Wright worked over The Cat's shoulder, but the former commissioner struggled back, driving a front kick into The Boogie Knight's chest for the hard fought victory. 

Outside, the Natural Born Thrillers arrived in a black limousine. 

Backstage, Scott Steiner destroyed Evan Karagias, Elix Skipper and the Jung Dragons. 

Interview: Natural Born Thrillers
The commissioner berated the Virginians, before claiming the Thrillers were heroes for their children to look up to, and the objects of every woman's desire. Just as Sanders was about to appoint his men as the number one contenders for the tag team titles, Ric Flair came to the stage, telling Mike he didn't have the power to make matches on a whim. The Nature Boy booked a battle royal for Thunder, with the winners facing the InSiders. 

Disqualification - Goldberg d. Buff Bagwell
Goldberg chased Buff outside, where Lex Luger, crouching at ringside with a steel chair, struck him in the midsection. Totally Buff put the boots to the monster until Sarge ran in for the save. Goldberg got to his feet and, along with his mentor, sent Package and Buff Daddy running to the back. 

WCW Championship Contenders Final
The Chosen One Jeff Jarrett d. Lance Storm
Jarrett and Storm put on a display of fine technical wrestling at the start, before both resorted to illegal tactics. Jarrett countered a reversal by getting to the ropes. Storm went to the turnbuckle, but Jeff stopped him and superplexed from the top, taking the wind out of both competitors. Lance clamped on the single leg crab, but Jarrett quickly got to the ropes, able to get to his feet and deliver The Stroke for the win. Scott Steiner came out and warned Flair he was going backstage to find him. As Big Poppa searched backstage for the CEO, Flair lured the champion down a long hallway, where a man in a straightjacket emerged, brawling with Steiner as Nitro came to an end.