Monday Nitro

New Orleans, Louisiana
February 26, 2001

As WCW rolled into New Orleans for another edition of Monday Nitro, Parti Gras was in full effect. The Magnificent Seven were in attendance, but were greeted with a big surprise as Booker T returned to the organization with one thing in mind - gaining revenge against Big Poppa Pump.

The show started with Doug Dellinger questioning Lex Luger, Buff Bagwell, Lance Storm, and Mike Awesome after medical personnel took KroniK away after a vicious attack. Ric Flair arrived and took his men away from the scene.

Backstage, Big Poppa Pump jumped two security guards when they couldn't tell the champion the whereabouts of DDP. Page arrived in the arena and called Steiner out. Big Poppa went out and challenged DDP to come from the crowd and fight in the ring. Page told Scott that one of the men that Poppa Pump put out of wrestling was fine and there in the building.

Tony Schiavone and Scott Hudson announced the bracketing for the Cruiserweight Tag Team Tournament.

Cruiserweight Tag Team Tournament Match
Rey Mysterio, Jr. and Billy Kidman d. Johnny Swinger and Jason Lee
Lee and Swinger jumped on The Filthy Animals as they entered the ring, gaining the initial advantage of the match. The new team of Lee and Swinger worked over Rey, Jr. in their corner, keeping the high flyer grounded. Johnny delivered a swinging sit out neckbreaker, but only got a two-count on the pin attempt. Rey made the hot tag with Kidman, who exploded into the ring, taking both of his opponents to the mat. Mysterio hit the BroncoBuster on Lee, followed up with a double clothesline on both Swinger and Lee on the outside. Kidman dazzled the crowd with the Shooting Star Press from the top turnbuckle to the floor. Rey landed a leg drop from the top onto Lee, setting Billy up for the Kid Krusher and the win.

Interview: The Cat
The Cat told Kanyon that he was a marked man after putting Ms. Jones out with the Kanyon Cutter last week. Miller said because of his goal to destroy Kanyon, he had to step down as WCW commissioner. The CEO came to the ring and let The Cat know that he quit just in time, because he was going to be fired anyway. Flair challenged Miller to a fight, sucker punching the former commissioner. Cat was resilient, however, blasting Ric with an explosion of karate moves, sending the man in charge into the arms of WCW security. An irate Flair got the mic and told Miller that he would face Rick Steiner later in the show.

Backstage, Konnan said that the wrestlers in the back were all united and ready to take down the Magnificent Seven.

Non-Title Match
Mike Awesome and Lance Storm d. Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire
Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo challenged Team Canada to the ring for an impromptu match. Awesome and Storm answered the call, and the match was on. The Canadians went toe to toe with the tag team champions, but Palumbo and O'Haire used their power to stay strong. Awesome and Storm doubled on Palumbo as the referee continued to get an overzealous Sean O'Haire back to his corner. As Lex Luger's music and video played in the arena, Kanyon snuck up behind O'Haire, bringing him down with a Cutter on the floor. Team Canada, with a two on one advantage, soon got the win in the non-title contest. As Storm and Awesome walked away after the bell, Konnan ran out and jumped them in the aisle. O'Haire challenged Kanyon to a singles match for later on Nitro.

Backstage, Ric Flair told Kanyon to deliver another Cutter to the champion.

Interview: Diamond Dallas Page
In an interview from earlier in the day, Diamond Dallas Page told Big Poppa Pump that although he may have temporarily put some of the WCW superstars out of action, DDP was still standing and ready for the champion at Greed.

Non-Title Match
The Cat d. Rick Steiner
The Cat and The Dog Faced Gremlin met in the aisle, not wanting to wait for the ring to get it on. Once inside, Steiner dominated over Miller, using some of his suplexes to rock the three-time karate champion. Cat fought out of a face lock, but was worn down with a series of knees to the head, courtesy of the US Champion. Miller used his martial arts to throw Steiner off his balance, but referee Scott James took the Feliner to the head as Rick ducked out of the way. After Hugh Morrus prevented interference from Totally Buff, the laughing man used his leg brace on Steiner's head, setting Miller to hit the Feliner for the win. After the match, the Magnificent Seven came out, beating down Cat, Morrus, and Page until Booker T returned, sending them all scurrying from the ring. Booker challenged Poppa Pump and Totally Buff to a six-man tag against himself, DDP, and Miller right then. Ric Flair came out and approved the bout.

Diamond Dallas Page & The Cat & Booker T d. "Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner & Lex Luger & Buff Bagwell
Page, Cat, and Booker were all over Flair's men, as the Nature Boy joined the announcers at the ringside table. Booker T made the tag with DDP, but went right after Big Poppa, wanting a piece of the man who took him out of the ring for two months. The champion slowed things down by hanging The Cat upside down in his corner, allowing Totally Buff to attack their helpless opponent. Out on the floor, Scott Steiner nailed Miller in the head with a steel chair, before Buff threw him back into the ring. DDP finally got the tag into the match, tearing into all three of his opponents. Buff and Dallas both hit the mat hard on a double clothesline; with Page making the tag first, bringing Booker back in. Steiner leveled Page and Cat with a chair on the outside before heading in against the former champion, Booker. Soon all six men were brawling inside and out, with Booker gaining the pin on the world champion after the axe kick.

Backstage, as Scott Steiner tore up the hallway, Page, Cat, and Booker celebrated in their dressing room.

Backstage, Dustin Rhodes said that he was going to be Jeff Jarrett's daddy, warning Ric Flair not to interfere in the match as the special referee.

Shane Helms d. Shannon Moore with Evan Karagias
Helms and Moore displayed their speed and agility as the former partners tangled in a special grudge match. Evan Karagias pulled "Sugar" Shane from the ring behind the referee's back, dropping him chin first on the steel guardrail. Helms regained control with the "sugar smack," and went to the floor after Evan. After a series of counters and reversals, Shane delivered the Vertabreaker for the win. Chavo Guerrero ran in and annihilated Helms after the match, as Moore and Karagias held the helpless Cruiserweight.

Sean O'Haire d. Chris Kanyon
O'Haire came in just like Kanyon did earlier on, through the crowd and from behind, throwing himself at his opponent with a bodypress that sent both over the top rope to the outside. Kanyon showed why he was called the innovator of offense as he unleashed a barrage of moves on the tag team champion. Kanyon missed a big splash off the top turnbuckle, allowing the massive O'Haire to power back and eventually land with the Seanton Bomb for the victory.

Special Referee - Ric Flair
Jeff Jarrett d. Dustin Rhodes
Jarrett got on the mic and mimicked Dusty Rhodes once again. When Dustin came in, however, The Chosen One was silenced fast, as the big Texan jumped all over the man who disrespected his father. Flair pulled Jarrett out of the corner as he was using a closed fist, trying to show impartiality. Rhodes hit a superplex from the top, but the CEO counted super slow on the pin attempt. Jarrett used a steel chair and the guardrail to punish Dustin on the floor, as Flair seemed to ignore the blatant rule breaking. With both men on the canvas, The Nature Boy started a count, but they somehow got to their feet and locked horns again. Frustrated with the illegal tactics, Rhodes bulldogged Flair and Jarrett, and set Ric up for a field goal kick in the corner. Dustin set Jarrett as well, but the CEO caught the Texan low, allowing The Chosen One to apply The Stroke for the 1-2-3. DDP, The Cat, and Booker T entered the ring with chairs as Nitro came to a close.