Monday Nitro
Winston-Salem,
North Carolina
January 23, 2001
As the power struggle for control of WCW continued on this week's Nitro, CEO Ric Flair and Commissioner, The Cat set up another blockbuster card for the fans. As the two went back and forth with stipulation after counter stipulation, after the dust settled, it was Big Sexy, Kevin Nash who found himself on his way to SuperBrawl for a shot at the WCW Heavyweight Title.
In a clip from last week, Buff Bagwell, Lex Luger, Jeff Jarrett, and Scott Steiner made fun of Sid Vicious' injury, watching it over and over while breaking chicken wing bones.
Tony Schiavone and Scott Hudson spoke of the sale of WCW, speculating on Ric Flair's intentions as the CEO.
Interview: Ric Flair
The CEO announced Animal as his personal bodyguard, before
berating the fans at ringside. He praised Luger and Bagwell, and
stated that Jarrett and Big Poppa Pump were on their way to the
arena. Flair talked about the time he put into deciding the new
number one contender for the WCW Title, before finally announcing
the big name ... Alex Wright. Alex came to the stage, but as soon
as he opened his mouth, Kevin Nash arrived to break up the
interview. When the German star struck Big Sexy, he was treated
to a Jackknife powerbomb through the stage. Kevin claimed that he
was now the new number one contender, and called The Cat to the
stage to back him up. The commissioner told The Nature Boy that
he had already booked Nash against Steiner for the title at
SuperBrawl. When Flair announced Nash against Buff for Nitro in a
qualifying match for the contender's spot with Luger as the
referee, The Cat upped it once again, booking The Total Package
one on one with DDP, with the winner to ref the match. Big Sexy
ended the interview stating that he was going to drive a stake
through the hearts of Flair and his men.
Backstage, Mike Sanders told Chavo Guerrero, Jr. that Ric Flair thought he was the next big star in WCW.
Backstage, Flair stopped Big Poppa and Jeff Jarrett in the hallway, wanting to tell them about the night's upcoming events.
No Contest - Michael Modest vs.
"The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels
Modest and Daniels were quick as they countered and reversed
each other, bringing the crowd to their feet. The Fallen Angel
missed an attempt from the ropes, giving Modest the opportunity
to take control. The action continued fast and furious, with
Daniels delivering a splash on his opponent to the outside. Back
in the ring, both competitors tried to put the other away as
Modest used a dragon suplex and a handstand huracanrana, while
Daniels flew through the air with a beautiful moonsault. As a
flying body press sent both men to the floor, Scott Steiner
charged the scene, dropping Modest and Daniels hard with suplexes
before snapping their ankles with his lead pipe.
Interview: "Big Poppa
Pump" Scott Steiner with Midajah
Big Poppa told Sid that he was injured not by a freak
accident, but because he came off the ropes and ran into the
massive chest of the world champion. Steiner warned Kevin Nash
that he, just like Sting and Booker T, was going to feel the
wrath of Big Poppa Pump.
Interview: Kwee Wee with
Paisley
"Angry Alan" entered the ring, complaining again to
Ric Flair about not being invited to join his elite group. After
challenging anyone from the back or from the crowd to a fight,
Kwee Wee started a fight with one of the WCW security guards. He
laid out the guard and told Flair to reconsider.
Lance Storm with Team Canada d.
Konnan with The Filthy Animals
Lance Storm challenged Konnan to a match to determine the
winner of the Team Canada/Filthy Animal war. The Animals came out
and Konnan accepted the challenge, getting the fans on his side.
K-Dogg applied a leg submission early, but Storm reversed it,
showing his dominant mat skills. Soon, the Animals and Team
Canada were fighting on the floor as Storm rolled through the
legs of Konnan, slapping on the Canadian Maple Leaf for the win.
Backstage, Luger and Bagwell told Shane Douglas that he was on Ric Flair's list of top prospects for the elite group. Totally Buff told The Franchise that all he had to do was take out the WCW commissioner later in the show.
Mean Gene Interview: General
Rection and Corporal Cajun
Cajun told the General that he would stick by him till the
end. Rection demanded that Cajun hand in his MIA shirt, letting
Lash Leroux know that they needed to go back to who they were,
reintroducing himself as Hugh Morrus.
"The Total Package"
Lex Luger d. Diamond Dallas Page
Page locked on a hammerlock, but The Package was quick to get
to the ropes to break the hold. Luger used a low blow out of the
referee's sight to take over, sending the king of badda bing to
the mat, writhing in pain. Lex worked on the back of DDP,
softening him up for the Torture Rack. As Luger posed in the
center of the ring, Page saw the opportunity to spring from the
corner, getting his second wind. Dallas signaled for the Diamond
Cutter, but inadvertently hit the referee in the process. Jeff
Jarrett came out and clocked Page with the guitar, allowing Luger
to apply the Rack and become the referee for the main event.
Disqualification - Johnny The
Bull and Big Vito d. Mark Jindrak and Sean Stasiak
The Bull and Vito doubled up on The Thrillers, showing that
The Mamalukes hadn't lost a step in the months since teaming up.
Jindrak showed tremendous agility as he sprung off the ropes for
an Asai moonsault on Vito. With all four men in the ring, the
referee struggled to regain control. As Vito and Jindrak both
went for the pin, Chuck Palumbo and Sean O' Haire ran out and up
on the apron, prompting Scott James to call for the
disqualification, giving the match to The Mamalukes.
Backstage, The Thrillers argued amongst themselves. Ric Flair pulled Sanders aside, giving him advice on how to handle the situation.
No DQ Match
The Cat with Ms. Jones d. "The Franchise" Shane Douglas
Douglas told The Cat that he was there to do a job for Ric
Flair - take out the commissioner. Miller came out and claimed
that he was about to take the US Title. Flair appeared on the
Nitro Vision, stating that not only was the title NOT on the
line, but the commissionership WAS on the line in a No DQ match.
Before Ric could even finish talking, The Franchise took The Cat
to the mat as he smashed the microphone across his head. Miller
fought back strong, however, bringing Douglas from corner to
corner, much to the delight of the fans. Sanders ran in, but was
sent to the floor by The Cat. Sean O' Haire was in next, but was
thwarted by Rick Steiner, who knocked Shane in the mouth, lining
him up for the Feliner that took Miller to victory. After the
bout, The Dog Faced Gremlin danced with The Cat and Ms. Jones.
Chavo Guerrero, Jr. and The
Wall d. Hugh Morrus and Lash Leroux
The former General went right after Chavo, as The Wall
flattened Lash with a huge boot to the face. The Cruiserweight
Champion worked on his former teammate Lash, delivering stinging
forearms on the ropes. The two went back and forth as the big men
waited on the apron, cheering their partners on. Morrus couldn't
wait any longer, as he attacked The Wall from the outside, on the
floor. Back in the ring, Chavo secured the pin on Leroux to take
the win for his team.
"Big Sexy" Kevin Nash
d. Buff Bagwell
Luger got on the mic and promised that he would call the
match right down the middle. Buff posed at the bell, but was met
with a knee to the midsection, and driven into the corner for
more. Luger tried to pull Nash away as Bagwell was on the ropes,
but as Big Sexy turned around, Lex backed off. The Package helped
Buff drop Nash across the top rope, swaying the advantage in the
match. After missing two wild swings, Nash caught Bagwell on a
third trip off the ropes, crushing him with a huge side slam. Big
Sexy repeatedly went for the cover, but Luger would count slow,
causing the big man to go after the official. Package kicked
Kevin low and held a chair in front of Nash's face for a Bagwell
dropkick. Buff hit the blockbuster, but as Lex went down to
count, DDP hit the ring, leveling Luger with the Diamond Cutter.
Nash delivered a Jackknife and used Lex's hand to count the
three. After the bout, Big Poppa, KroniK, and Road Warrior Animal
entered the melee as Nitro came to a close.