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DON'T CROSS THE BOSS

RAW opened with a shot of Mr. McMahon, Stone Cold, Debra, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Stephanie McMahon entering the arena. Stephanie, wearing a neckbrace, was seated in a wheelchair being pushed by her husband. All wore stoic expressions and were approached by Michael Cole, curious to hear from Mr. McMahon. It was common knowledge that the Chairman had been furious ever since the tables had been turned on the Coalition the week before by both The Rock and the duo of Chyna and Trish Stratus, as well. An eerily calm McMahon confirmed to Cole that there would be retribution this week. McMahon reported that Chyna's powerbomb on his daughter the week before had caused her a "significant" neck injury. Vince described Chyna as "unnatural." He said she would put her Women's Championship on the line again this week. It wouldn't be just any Women's Championship match; it would be a degrading, humiliating spectacle. It would be a mud match. And Chyna could count on no one for support this week, because her challenger would be her closest ally: Trish Stratus! JR wondered if the Chyna/Trish alliance could survive a mud match. McMahon then moved on to the male banes of his existence: The Rock and Kane. McMahon said there would be no sing-alongs this week. There would be no more discussion of mercy killings. The Rock and Kane had asked for it, and this week they would get it. McMahon instructed the production truck to switch to a view of the ceiling of the arena, from which a steel cage was seen suspended! Tonight, there would be no escape for Kane or The Rock, because they would be confined within the four walls of the steel cage in a tag team match against none other than the Toughest SOB in the World Wrestling Federation and the Cerebral Assassin: Stone Cold and Triple H of the Coalition! Austin and Helmsley's facial expressions in response seemed to indicate that this was as much news to them as it was to the rest of America. Satisfied, McMahon repeated, "This week, RAW is retribution."

Following the commercial break, HHH and Stone Cold could be seen questioning McMahon about his booking decision. McMahon gave his right hand men a peptalk, assuring them that Rock and Kane would finish the night having been beaten into a substance with the consistency of guacamole. Nearby, Grand Masta Sexay made the unwise decision to crack a joke to partner Scotty 2 Hotty about Stephanie's ridiculous neckbrace. Triple H and Mr. McMahon overheard and angrily approached Too Cool. HHH ordered Sexay to repeat what he'd said. An apologetic GMS confirmed that he had poked a little harmless fun at the Chairman's daughter and the Game's wife. McMahon told the Grand Masta that he had picked the wrong week to cross the boss. "Grand Masta Sexay? You're fired!" McMahon declared, as only he could. Too Cool were in disbelief. Later, an assortment of solemn Superstars joined Scotty in bidding Sexay farewell. The latter left the arena with his bags packed, facing a future filled with uncertainty.

At the beginning of the WarZone later on, Shawn Michaels headed to the ring. The Heartbreak Kid observed that the arena was positively abuzz with chatter about the upcoming Steel Cage main event. Michaels said that, as the Icon, the Showstoppa, and the Main Event, he had extensive experience with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Triple H, The Rock, Kane, and Steel Cages. Ergo, he had a great deal of insight to offer where the upcoming tag team match was concerned. Michaels predicted that it wouldn't come down to the Tombstone. It wouldn't come down to the Rock Bottom. It would come down to the Pedigree, and the Stone Cold Stunner. The house lights then went down briefly; when they returned, "Rollin'" began to play and The Undertaker rode down to ringside! HBK did not greet the American Badass warmly and instead stood in the corner of the ring uncomfortably awaiting an explanation. The Undertaker told Michaels he had some insight of his own. Before Undertaker could proceed, Michaels took The Undertaker back to Bad Blood 1997. "Cages have tons of significance for the Brothers of Destruction, don't they, Taker?" Michaels, beyond smug, asked. Undertaker said he had simply come out to place his money on Kane and The Rock tonight, but said that Shawn Michaels had done him the favor of reminding him that they -- the two of them -- had unfinished business. "There's going to come a day when you and me are going to settle up," Undertaker said. "And who knows? That day may come sooner rather than later." Taker turned his back on HBK and left. Michaels looked as though he would've liked nothing more than for the canvas to swallow him up where he stood.

This week's RAW was set to feature the return of that time-honored tradition, the bikini contest. With Jerry "The King" Lawler now an employee of Shane McMahon's World Championship Wrestling, hosting duties were assumed by another enthusiast of the female form, Howard Finkel. The scheduled competitors were Debra (and her puppies) and Molly Holly. Both women came to the ring and prepared to show off the goods. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, however, put a crimp in the works. He walked to ringside and questioned his wife. This was a private matter, so Austin omitted to use a microphone. However, WWF cameras did pick up Austin asking Debra where she had packed his kneepads. "Where's your head at, woman?" he vented. Austin wasn't necessarily upset by the notion of his wife exposing herself on national TV; he was simply taking issue with what he perceived to be her negligence in regards to "domestic duties." The Rattlesnake dragged Debra backstage. While the Austins tended to their luggage issues, Finkel awarded the contest to an appreciative Molly Holly via forfeit. Molly appeased the crowd by removing her robe and taking a leisurely victory lap around the ring. Minutes later, backstage, Molly quenched her thirst with a glass of water. Haku walked up and winked at Molly, having enjoyed the view earlier. Molly's disapproving cousins Crash and Hardcore Holly then walked up, took notice of Haku's apparent interest, and insisted that Molly promptly cover herself up.

Later, backstage, Mr. McMahon found a perspiring Paul Bearer pacing. McMahon asked Bearer what was wrong, and Paul explained that he just wanted it all to be over -- for Kane to be taken care of. Vince assured Paul that he had nothing to worry about. However, after Vince walked off, Bearer shook his head, picked up his suitcase, and walked out of the arena at a brisk pace. His anxiety was obvious. The question is just what Kane's father's next move might be.

With a giant vat of brown goo in place on stage, the Mud Match for the Women's Championship was set to begin. Women's Champion Chyna and challenger Trish Stratus appeared as ordered. Prior to the match, the friends exchanged a handshake. Things got underway, and what followed was more slipping and sliding than catch-as-catch-can action. Both women quickly ended up covered in mud. Trish came thisclose to winning the championship with a roll-up, but Chyna rolled through on the attempt and scored the pin herself. Trish was disappointed, but not enough to drive a permanent wedge between her and the Ninth Wonder of the World (as Mr. McMahon had, perhaps, hoped). Dirty and wet, Chyna and Trish embraced following the match. Backstage, Stephanie threw a tantrum, leaping out of her wheelchair, pouting and, in effect, exposing her hypochondriasis...

Main event time finally arrived and Stone Cold and Triple H made their entrances. Kane was next. Finally, The Rock came back to Washington, DC. The crowd had been made to wait all night for a glimpse of the Great One, so they nearly blew the roof of the joint when he finally showed himself. Both Rock and Kane seemed eager to get their hands on Austin and Helmsley within the confines of a Steel Cage. The match could end only by pinfall, submission, or escape from the cage by both members of a team. As soon as the cage door was locked, Stone Cold and HHH immediately began climbing the cage looking to escape, but Rock and Kane immediately put the kibosh on that. Austin & Rock and HHH & Kane paired off on opposite sides of the ring and brawled. Earl Hebner had little hope of maintaining any semblance of order; these two teams were simply going at it. After Rock hit Austin with a Samoan Drop, the Brahma Bull began climbing the cage. Austin got up and also began to climb in pursuit of The Rock. Austin pulled on Rock's leg, and Rock came crashing down to the mat. Kane then shook the side of the cage, causing Austin to plummet as well. When Kane turned back around, Triple H was waiting with a kick to the midsection. He tried applying the Pedigree, but Kane took HHH off his feet and dropped a leg for a two count. With Rock still hurting, HHH and Austin were able to concentrate on double-teaming Kane; they sent the Big Red Machine into the side of the cage. HHH connected with an ambitious Spinebuster. Austin dropped Kane on the top rope with a Stun Gun. Kane kicked out at two. Helmsley sent Kane into the ropes but Kane reversed the whip and took HHH down with a Big Boot. Rock moved to avoid an elbow smash from Austin. Rock battled back with a series of punches; he laid the smack down and Austin then walked right into a Rock Bottom! Rock was slow to make the cover and Austin kicked out at two. A minute or two later, Austin sent Rock into the ropes and then kicked him low. Austin hit Rock with a Stunner! Kane, however, broke up the pin attempt. Triple H took Kane out at the knees from behind. Austin hit a series of mounted punches on Rock. Rock was finally able to shove Austin off and when both men were back on their feet, Rock drilled Austin with a DDT. Rock got a two count. Triple H and Kane, meanwhile, both began climbing the cage and exchanged kicks and punches on their way up. Rock ducked an Austin clothesline. Austin responded by giving Rock the finger. Rock had no time for games and hit Austin with a Spinebuster. When Austin stood back up, Rock hit a second Rock Bottom. He then removed his Elbow Pad and tossed it over the top of the cage. Triple H, from up above, saw that his partner was in a bad way but Kane kept him busy, grabbing the back of his head and grating his forehead onto the steel in front of him. Rock connected with the People's Elbow in the ring. Hebner was in position, and sure enough, Rock scored the pin! Rock and Kane had won on "RAW is Retribution!" Furious, HHH shoved Kane off the side of the cage back into the ring. HHH climbed back down into the ring and helped Austin up. With Kane down, Rock faced a potential two-on-one assault. The cage began to rise, and Shawn Michaels walked to ringside. It looked as though a three-on-one challenge was about to face Rock. As Austin and HHH lunged at the Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment and HBK slid into the ring, The Undertaker appeared at the entrance. He began walking to the ring. "The American Badass is here, and the Coalition may just have hell to pay!" JR cried as RAW concluded.

REEKING OF SNEAKINESS

In a match ordered by Mick Foley, representative of the Board of Directors, last week, a Rabid Wolverine battled with a Man Beast. The problems between Chris Benoit and Rhyno had been brewing for weeks as an off-shoot of the conflict over the Tag Team Championship between reigning titleholders Edge & Christian and Benoit & Chris Jericho (The Kings of the World). Rhyno is an impressive in-ring specimen, but Benoit's technical acumen compensated for his cost in size. Regardless, although Benoit was able to ware down Rhyno with suplexes and knife-edge chops, Rhyno used his raw strength to manhandle Benoit, even pressslamming him out of the ring onto the outside at one point. Rhyno sent Benoit hard into the ringsteps on the outside. Back in the ring, Rhyno charged for a Gore but fell to a drop toe hold. Benoit quickly tried locking on the Sharpshooter but Rhyno powered out. Benoit stomped away at Rhyno. He dropped him in the middle of the ring with a snap suplex and then went up top for the diving headbutt. Christian hit the ring and went to shove Benoit off the turnbuckle. Christian instead was met with a headbutt and crashed down onto the cement. Benoit took to the air, but Edge had also appeared by now and pulled Rhyno to safety; Benoit was not able to connect with his high-risk maneuver. Benoit slowly got up and Rhyno prepared for a Gore. Again, Benoit moved and Rhyno ended up colliding hard with the steel ringpost. Edge hopped onto the apron but ate a dropkick from Benoit that sent him down onto the ringside barrier, taking him out of commission. Benoit turned back to Rhyno. He tried locking in the Crippler Crossface but Rhyno blocked it and countered with a Sidewalk Slam. Moments later, the third time was the charm; the Gore was executed without incident. Rhyno scored what some would consider the upset victory over the established Canadian Crippler, who had taken quite the beating.

A few minutes later, the mutual admiration society that is Team REC gave each other props backstage. Chris Jericho broke up the discussion by declaring that each of the three men were all bigger assclowns than the others. Jericho said that no one did to a King of the World what Team REC had done to Chris Benoit. He wanted a match with Edge or Christian later on on RAW! E and C, though, had a hard time deciding which of them would face Y2J. Our Paragon of Virtue decided to make it easier for the champions by announcing that he'd wrestle them both, in a handicap match! Jericho walked away leaving his interlocutors speechless, which is a rarity in and of itself.

The handicap match would take place during the WarZone. Jericho held his own in the early going, countering E&C's double-team offensives and splitting his time between them equally: a springboard dropkick for Christian here and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for Edge there. Edge and Christian, however, had the numbers on their side. Edge took Jericho off his feet with a Missile Dropkick, and Christian then followed up with an inverted DDT. E&C signaled to the crowd that it was over as they hit Jericho with the Double Impaler. To their shock and horror, however, Jericho kicked out at 2.9! Edge tried a succession of simple vertical presses to try and secure a pinfall, but Jericho was making a comeback, feeding off of the support of the crowd. Edge was taken for a ride with Jericho's trademark bulldog. Edge rolled to the outside to regain his wits. Christian charged at Jericho but ate a boot to the midsection. Jericho, a house afire, hit the old Triple Powerbomb. Following the last powerbomb, Jericho began turning Christian for the Walls of Jericho! Christian resisted, but Y2J was finally able to lock Christian in with no escape! Just when it appeared as though Jericho would beat the odds and force the submission out of Christian, Edge came in out of nowhere and blasted Jericho in the back of the head with a chairshot. Tim White called for the bell. Edge & Christian proceeded to punk Jericho with stomps and chokes. Christian held Jericho while Edge slapped Jericho across the face. Finally, the shameless champions set Y2J up for the heinous Double Conchairto, but Chris Benoit sprinted -- limping -- from the back, entered the ring, and cleared out Jericho's attackers! JR pointed out that Rhyno and Edge & Christian alike had won the evening's battles, but the war itself was far from finished!

A DIFFERENT APPROACH

Last week, he was triumphant in antagonizing William Regal and Terri Runnels; this week, Goldust picked up a win in the ring against Test. JR reported that Test had told him he was certain he could turn things around and overcome his recent losing streak this week on RAW, but it simply wasn't meant to be. Goldust scored the clean pin with the big man from north of the border with the Curtain Call. Immediately afterward, the ominous music of the Commissioner and Intercontinental Champion brought William Regal to the ramp along with his Press Secretary, Terri. Terri informed her ex-husband that following the events of the previous week, Regal had experienced an "epiphysis." "An epiphany," Regal said, correcting Terri. He explained that it finally struck him that he wasn't dealing with a tradition sort of problem in Goldust; rather, he was dealing with "a nutter." Goldust smiled, and observed that madness is in the eye of the beholder. Regal nodded. "And the beholder, in this particular instance, just happens to be me, which doesn't bode well for you, now, does it?" Regal said that as Commissioner, the welfare of the WWF Superstars was his responsibility. As a result, he wouldn't be fulfilling his sworn duty if he didn't do everything in his power to see to it that no one's safety was threatened. Regal said he simply wasn't convinced that Goldust wasn't a danger to himself or others. JR didn't like where this was going. Regal announced that Goldust was to report to RAW next week where, backstage, he would meet with a company-appointed clinician who would evaluate Goldust's mental competence! Regal and Terri clearly believed they had found a surefire way to wash their hands of their mutual adversary. Regal told Goldust that if it made him feel any better, the whole thing would be a mere formality, "because you are, in all honesty, a stark, raving lunatic." Regal's music again played, and as viewers were faced with the sight of the man in a banana suit at mid-ring, they had to wonder: would Goldust inevitably fall victim to Regal's clever planning?

PASSING THE BUCK

Michael Cole spoke with Raven in the back, asking the Noxious Nonconformist just when he was planning on claiming his Hardcore Title shot at the Big Red Machine. Before Raven could respond, Eddie Guerrero appeared, raising his hand and telling Cole he knew the answer. "Isn't it obvious, man?" Latino Heat asked. Eddie said Raven was scared out of his mind; he didn't have the cajones to face Kane, and certainly not in a Hardcore match, of all things. Raven told Eddie he would have requested the match with Kane that evening on RAW, but there was something else he had to take care of first; something more pressing. Raven proceeded to send Eddie down to the floor with a right hand! Eddie was stunned, and checked his lip for blood. "What was that, ese?!" Eddie asked, pulling himself up. Raven said he hoped it would begin to make up for the cheap shot the European Champion had taken on him the week before. Eddie claimed that he wanted nothing more than to wrestle Raven immediately if not sooner, but said he was, above all, a selfless man. He had a good friend who had an old score to settle with Raven, and considering that Raven had made an open offer for a match, Eddie planned to do the gentlemanly thing and defer to his friend: Perry Saturn. Raven and Cole both were confused. Cole thought Raven and Saturn's problems were ancient history. Eddie ordered Cole to stay out of it. It would be Saturn vs. Raven later on.

Saturn and Raven do, indeed, know each other well. Saturn was well-versed in Raven's weaknesses, which allowed for him to mount an effective offense with the usual sidekicks and T-bone suplexes. But when Saturn telegraphed a splash, Raven was able to avoid the move. Raven sent Saturn back down to the mat with a spinning falling clothesline, and finished him up soon after with the Raven Effect DDT! Once Raven had disappeared backstage, Latino Heat came to the ring to question Saturn about his loss. Saturn was not eager to listen to Eddie's haranguing; after all, Latino Heat had set up the match in the first place. Saturn conveyed this sentiment to Eddie with a muted but resounding shove. Saturn left the ring; Eddie did not appreciate his fellow Radical turning his back.

CLOSURE

If there is any surefire way for the Dudley Boyz to settle a score, it's a Tables Match. Bubba Ray and D-Von were looking to shake off the obnoxious Right to Censor for good this week when they faced Steven Richards and Val Venis, managed by Ivory, in just such a match. Richards and Venis knew how much experience the Dudleyz had in sending their opponents crashing through furniture, and so they worked along with Ivory to avoid contact with tables here. Mike Chiota tried his best but was unable to prevent Ivory from interfering continually in the match. Bubba Ray and D-Von, eager to reach a finish, asked Chiota to let her involve herself if she so chose. It was a close call for D-Von when Richards and Venis set him up for a double crucifix bomb through one of the tables, but Bubba was able to make the save in time. Later, D-Von and Bubba clotheslined Venis and Richards respectively to the outside in unison. Ivory again climbed into the ring, screeching at both Dudleys. Bubba paused, turned to D-Von, and yelled, "Get the table!" D-Von fetched a table from the other side of the ring and set it up next to Bubba. Bubba grabbed the stunned Ivory and powerbombed her right through said table. Chiota shrugged; this was good enough for him, and he called for the bell, awarding the Dudleyz the match! Bubba Ray and D-Von weren't finished just yet. Post-match, Richards and Venis were fortunate enough to receive the same treatment as had Ivory. Venis took a powerbomb through a second table, and Richards was 3Ded through a third! JR suspected that the Right to Censor would be bothering those damn Dudleyz again anytime soon!

BROKEN RECORD

When "The One" Billy Gunn and "The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman wandered into the APA's office for a round or two of poker, they were surprised to find Faarooq alone -- and reduced to playing solitaire. Blackman inquired as to Bradshaw's whereabouts, and Faarooq replied with considerable annoyance that his tag team partner was off meeting with his book publisher in New York. New York City. Gunn then asked Faarooq and Blackman if they realized how long Bradshaw had been a part of the World Wrestling Federation. Seven years, Faarooq nodded. "Almost as long as I have," Gunn noted. Then, reflecting on the upcoming King of the Ring, "The One" asked Faarooq and Blackman if he'd ever told them about the his road to KOTR glory in 1999. Faarooq and Blackman clearly had heard Gunn's telling of the story before and tried to make themselves comfortable for what promised to be a long and very dull evening of Billy Gunn tales.

Match Results

(1) Rhyno d. Chris Benoit (78%)

(2) Tables Match: The Dudley Boyz d. Steven Richards & Val Venis (w/Ivory) (82%)

(3) Bikini Contest: Molly Holly d. Debra via forfeit (64%)

(4) Goldust d. Test (75%)

(5) Handicap Match: Chris Jericho d. WWF Tag Team Champions Edge & Christian via disqualification (77%)

(6) Mud Match - WWF Women's Championship: Chyna © d. Trish Stratus (66%)

(7) Raven d. Perry Saturn (76%)

(8) The Rock & Kane d. WWF Champion Stone Cold & Triple H (80%)

Overall: 79% (-2)

Hoping you stick with this one!

On the Smackdown! side, I'm interested in where you might go with Lesnar/Angle-Haas Benjamin. Also liking the idea of a Sean O'Haire push; not so hot on the same for Cena, but I will live.

On RAW, I am all for Booker T not being buried by Triple H. Also glad that you're keeping the Booker/Goldust alliance alive. Steiner/Trish interaction makes perfect sense to me. Dropping Rico from 3MW's act is a good idea, I think.

RUNNING LATE

In the days leading up to this week's Nitro, WCW.com had promised an interview with World and US Heavyweight Champion Booker T on the topic of his upcoming World Title defense against Goldberg at Clash of the Champions. When the show finally arrived on Monday night, Joey Styles explained to viewers that Booker T's flight to Atlantic City had been delayed but that the champ was planning to reach the building as soon as possible. Meanwhile, a feature bout pitting Goldberg against Kanyon had been set; the week before, Goldberg hampered Kanyon's attempt to lay out Booker T with the World Title belt. But Kanyon had also proven on that program that catching Da Man in the highly effective Flatliner was not an impossibility. Kanyon, in other words, had the opportunity to take his career to the next level by besting the #1 Contendor. When main event time arrived, Goldberg showed he had no intention of giving Kanyon an inch. Goldberg was a brick wall early on, refusing to budge when Kanyon hit him with right hands and clotheslines, and dropping Kanyon with ease with shoulderblocks and a big hiptoss. After Goldberg dropped Kanyon on his back with a powerful Double Underhook suplex, he planned to follow up with a Spear. Goldberg charged, but Kanyon met him with a Superkick! Kanyon had something to prove as he lifted Goldberg onto his shoulder and dropped him with a modified Dominator. Kanyon went for the cover, and almost scored a two count. Kanyon then went for a suplex, but Goldberg blocked the effort and and executed a brain buster of his own. When Kanyon stood, he was rocked by a Spear. The Jackhammer followed, as well as the pin.

Goldberg then discovered that, just as he was determined to return to the top spot in World Championship Wrestling, Ric Flair's primary objective was to reattain the prestige on which he has always thrived -- at the expense of the Goldbergs and Booker Ts of WCW. Flair ran in and hit the victorious Goldberg from behind with a double ax handle blow. The move had no effect on Goldberg, who turned around and shoved the Nature Boy to the mat. The window of opportunity had presented itself, though, for Kanyon to catch Goldberg again in the Flatliner. Flair and Kanyon then continued the assault, stomping at Goldberg and showing no signs of letting up. Ric Flair's on-again, off-again protege Shawn "The Star" Stasiak joined his mentor and Kanyon in the beatdown. "They've proven their point!" exclaimed a disgusted Mike Tenay, imploring them to stop. Finally, the tardy Booker T arrived and, chair in hand, ran both attackers off. Booker then checked on Goldberg, who had lost consciousness. How would Da Man ultimately react to the attack? Booker T had returned the favor Goldberg had done him last week. But was the relief provided by the Playa too little, too late?

HERO WORSHIP

It was the slap heard around the world, and this week WCW viewers had the opportunity to take a second look at it; the WCW FreezFrame replayed highlights of the confrontation between Kurt Angle and Sting the week before on Nitro that culminated with Angle slapping the Stinger across the face, and the latter slapping back! Subsequently, a huge match between Sting and Angle was set for Clash of the Champions. Sting had a prior commitment on Monday night, but Kurt Angle did appear this week to discuss the pending encounter. Angle immediately launched into another diatribe on Sting, mentioning the slap and blasting him for his lack of respect for him -- an Olympic Gold Medalist and an exemplary role model for millions and millions of fans across the globe. Angle claimed that Sting had made a career of riding on the coattails of others, such as Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan. Angle said there was no room for such parasitic behavior in the New WCW. He compared Sting to excrement that had been tracked into the soles of a shoe. Mentioning the crow imagery often associated with the Franchise, Angle said he is actually more of an albatross -- a burden that is weighing the company and the industry down. "I've done more for this business in a year and half than you've contributed in your whole career!" he alleged. At long last, Angle's tirade was broken in on by Lash Leroux, of all people. He had last been seen prior to the Night of Champions in March. Leroux, dressed in street clothes, walked to the ring from the back wearing a grave expression. Angle shook his head. When the Ragin' Cajun stepped into the ring, Angle asked, "And just who the hell are you?" Leroux introduced himself and offered Angle a handshake. Angle quickly rebuffed the offer and instead demanded to know what made Leroux think he could interrupt Angle in the disrespectful manner he had. Lash said that respect was precisely what he wished to discuss with Angle. Leroux said he had listened to every word Angle had said about Sting in the back and couldn't believe it. Leroux had to be honest: Angle was way out of line. Lash stated that he actually entered the business because of Sting and that he wasn't the only one, either. Sting had inspired an entire, new generation of wrestlers to enter the sport and aspire to achieve the kind of success Sting has enjoyed. Leroux talked about the sacrifices Sting had made for the sake of World Championship Wrestling, and told Angle he could stand to learn a lot from the man. Leroux didn't want to step on any toes, but he said he couldn't remain in the back and listen to Angle's blatant untruths without speaking up. Angle paused. "Well, kid," he finally said. "I've got to admit it. You've given me new perspective. An entirely new perspective. I appreciate it. I really do. And, on second thought, I do want to shake your hand. It would be an honor." Angle extended his hand. Leroux considered his options. Finally, he gave Angle the benefit of the doubt. Angle and Leroux shook hands. As soon as the grip was broken, though, Angle grabbed Leroux in a belly to belly suplex. He Angle Slammed Lash, and then put on the Ankle Lock. Lash immediately tapped and vocalized the pain, but Angle refused to release the hold. Officials arrived on the scene to break things up, but Angle would only let go of Leroux's ankle when he was good and ready. Angle grabbed the microphone one more time and pointed out that what he had done to "little carrottop" he would visit tenfold on Sting at the Clash. Later, the announcers received word from medics that Leroux's ankle had been broken during the scuffle. "Kurt Angle's hatred, jealousy of Sting has now reached dangerous and irrational levels," Styles solemnly opined.

A REUNION, OF SORTS...

Diamond Dallas Page was back live on Nitro this week, and his primary objective seemed to be to respond to the charges leveled against him the week before by "Undeniable" Mike Sanders. Sanders had strongly implied that Page had only his superior networking skills to thank for the success he'd found in WCW. Page said that Sanders was entitled to his opinion but that he couldn't be farther from the truth. Page didn't want to sound like a self-promoter, but ran down the lengthy list of dues he had paid, contradicting Sanders's assertions of the week before. DDP then laid out the bottom line; the naked truth. If the Radicalz hadn't jumped ship at the beginning of Y2K, there never would have been any Natural Born Thrillers. Having completed his strong retort, DDP confirmed that he was, indeed, "jacked" and wanted to settle up with Sanders then and there. He called him out for a match. His music having begun, Mike Sanders appeared a few seconds later -- on crutches. Page asked the obvious question: "What the hell happened to you?" Sanders prefaced his response by claiming that Page's rant had been nothing more than the ramblings of a midcarder who was past his prime and never really very good to begin with. In other words, he wanted nothing more than to accept DDP's challenge and "take his (DDP's) spot" as he had threatned to do last week. However, the problem was that he had been stung by a "massive Portuguese manowar" on one of Atlantic City's beaches that afternoon; WCW management simply wouldn't allow him to wrestle in such a condition. Sanders could offer DDP the next best thing: an opponent to stand in for him. Page told Sanders to bring it on -- whoever and whatever; they'll Feel... the... Bang! Sanders said he didn't have to look far for his stand-in. In fact, his substitute of choice happens to hail straight from Jersey, like DDP, and also happens to know Page very well. Without further ado, Bam Bam Bigelow appeared at Sanders's side! Page's former partner and foe alike looked eager to battle with DDP once more, and DDP looked up to the (considerable) challenge, too. Bigelow powerwalked to the ring. Page slid to the outside and went after Bam Bam with right hands. Bigelow ultimately grabbed Page in a bear hug and drove him into the back of the ringpost hard. He sent Page into the ring and then entered himself, allowing the match finally to begin officially.

Bigelow seemed fresh after his hiatus. He dropped Page in the middle of the ring with a slam, weakened him with an elbow drop, and then inflicted further harm with a diving head butt right to the groin. Bigelow dropped Page with a stuff piledriver. He then went up top, and the announcers were quick to remind viewers of Bigelow's impressive agility. Sanders verbalized his support for the Beast From the East at ringside. Page surprised Bigelow by making it to his feet before Bam Bam could come off the top rope. Bigelow had his back turned, and so Page grabbed him from the top turnbuckle in a Reverse Neckbreaker. Next, Page showed deceptive strength by executing his side belly to belly suplex on the big man. When Bigelow started to stand, Page positioned himself to hit him with a Diamond Cutter. Sanders, however, suddenly seemed impervious to the pain of his alleged jellyfish sting, and popped up on the ring apron! Page went over to him and hiptossed him into the ring. Diamond Cutter! Sanders was taken out. Bigelow was back up, though, and picked up Page for a Bigelow Driver (formerly known as Greetings From Asbury Park). Page slipped off of Bigelow's shoulder and transitioned seamlessly into a Diamond Cutter. 1--2--3! He got him! Page celebrated in the stands with the crowd as he threw up the Diamond Cutter sign. Had he dispelled the myth that he was no more than a backstage politician? Sanders is certainly not shy, so we're sure to find out, either way.

CHASING THE CHOSEN ONE

"The Chosen One" Jeff Jarrett kicked off Nitro this week by heading to the ring and writing off Rob Van Dam's victory over Psicosis last week as a stroke of luck. This week, RVD had Juventud Guerrera to contend with, and Jarrett said that "lightning doesn't strike twice, Slapnuts," addressing Van Dam. RVD arrived for the match and, after a staredown with Jarrett, Juvi entered and the match got underway. Jarrett was right about one thing: Juvi is no slouch. The roller-coaster of an opening match spanned twelve minutes and was full of near-falls on both sides. The tide turned for the last time when RVD blocked an attempted 450 Splash with his knees. RVD dragged Juvi to the middle of the ring, flattened him with a standing senton, and then connected with the 5-Star Frogsplash to pick up the convincing win! Jarrett could be seen cursing from his vantage point at ringside. Jarrett came into the ring and took aim at RVD from behind with the guitar. RVD moved just in time, and the guitar smashed to bits on the turnbuckle. When Jarrett turned around, he was met by a stiff sidekick from Van Dam and found himself laid out in the ring! It was safe to say that Mr. Thursday Night had now proven himself worthy of a match with The Chosen One at the Clash.

SECOND THOUGHTS?

"Mean" Gene Okerlund returned to WCW this week in order to reveal the results of the intense voting on WCW.com. Which WCW Hottie would grace the cover of the first "New" WCW Magazine? The favorites were rivals Stacy Keibler and Torrie Wilson, both of whom Okerlund brought out to the ring. Stacy was accompanied as always by Big Poppa Pump. Okerlund confirmed that it had been a close race, and gave both women and their fellow competitors Dawn Marie and Lita their props. The actual results of the voting? Stacy Keibler had won. Stacy and Steiner immediately began celebrating, rubbing the victory in Torrie's face. Okerlund finally interjected that Stacy and Scott hadn't let him finish. Stacy Keibler had won; she'd won as many votes as Torrie Wilson. It was a tie! Stacy and Torrie would be sharing the cover of WCW Magazine, and we would see highlights from the photo shoot next week on Nitro. Torrie was perfectly happy with the news, but the Power Couple did not appear to feel the same way. Torrie left the ring to interact with fans at ringside on her way to the back, but Big Poppa Pump grabbed a mic and stopped her. He said enough was enough. He was certain that WCW had rigged the online voting. He also demanded to know who Torrie was bringing to the Clash to face him in the previously agreed-upon match. Torrie replied that she hated spoiling surprises; Big Poppa Pump would just have to wait and see. Angered, the Genetic Freak said that if Torrie wanted to play that game, it really didn't matter; he would cripple whoever she brought to the pay-per-view, period! Despite his claims, though, the Big Bad Booty Daddy seemed apprehensive about who Torrie might have enlisted as his opponent.

A NEW THREAT

WCW fans were eager to hear an explanation from Lance Storm, Justin Credible, and Dawn Marie in regards to their having set up Mike Awesome for a beating last week. Just what was their agenda? Scott Hudson grilled them backstage. Dawn Marie pointed out to Hudson that he was looking at the most underrated, effective tag team in the business. For viewers unfamiliar with Extreme Championship Wrestling, Hudson briefly mentioned the history of the Impact Playaz. Dawn admitted that, from the minute she arrived in WCW, it was her intention to put the Playaz back together -- stronger than ever. Lance Storm discussed what it meant to excel in this sport, claiming that for him, there was no other option than to do just that. That is exactly why Mike Awesome had to be cut loose. He admitted that NC-17 had managed to hold onto the tag team titles that should rightfully be Storm's for quite some time. But with the Impact Playaz reunited, that would soon change. Justin Credible then chimed in. "That, my friends, is incredible." Hudson asked Credible about his other tag team partner, X-Pac, who is sidelined with an injury. Dawn interjected that it was obvious to anyone with two eyes and a semi-functional brain that X-Pac's only use for Justin was to use him him as a crutch for winning singles matches. Awesome and X-Pac were both dead weight, and they're also both now ancient history and don't bear discussion. Besides, actions speak louder than words, anyway. She christened this the "dawning of a new era" for the tag team division in WCW. Tenay had to wonder what Mike Awesome and X-Pac made of all of this.

Later, World Tag Team Champions NC-17 were in non-title action. Their new motto is "Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow," and this week the opposition was provided by youngsters Michael Shane and Scoot Andrews, both of whom were looking to impress WCW agents and pick up an upset victory. However, Palumbo and O'Haire continued to be in top form. Palumbo even debuted a new finishing maneuer -- the Upchuck (a reverse powerbomb) leading to Shane eating the pinfall. When Dawn Marie stated earlier than actions spoke louder than words, she meant it; as NC-17 made their way to the back post-match, they were ambushed by Storm and Credible as Dawn looked on. Storm drilled Palumbo with a superkick, knocking him down; at the same time, Credible cracked O'Haire's forehead open with a stiff Kendo Stick shot. Officials arrived on the scene, reprimanding Storm and Credible for their actions. "It looks to me like the Impact Playaz have just issued a challange to the World Tag Team Champions!" Styles observed.

POPULARITY CONTEST

The slow build in tension between The Hardy Boyz and WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions Kidman and Rey Mysterio had, until this week, been confined to in-ring incidents. This week, the developing strain spilled into a new domain entirely. Out in the parking lot, Kidman and Mysterio were seen on-camera being mobbed, as usual, by a large group of female fans eager for autographs and an up close and personal glimpse of the champions. When Matt and Jeff arrived in the lot with Lita, a large chunk of those admiring female fans flocked over to the Hardyz, fawning over them instead. Kidman and Mysterio were clearly irked by the Hardys' venturing into their territory, and the two teams had words once more. The dynamic continues to be one of oil and water, and it's all leading to the Triple Threat match for the gold at the Clash.

THE WRONG ANSWER

The Bull was set to return to action this week on Nitro, but he was seen during the program approaching his scheduled opponent Hugh Morrus backstage and telling Morrus that he had an offer to make. The Bull proceeded to offer Morrus a wad of cash to throw the match and eat a pin. Morrus asked for a minute to think about it, and immediately answered, "no." The Bull counted out the cash, assuring Morrus that it was legit. Morrus could not, however, be bought. He planned to go forward with the match. As he walked away, The Bull attacked from behind with a nearby 2x4, cracking Morrus over the skull with it and knocking him unconscious. The cowardly, dangerous Bull then walked off, having avoided stepping into the ring with Morrus by hook and crook.

IN ONE WEEK

Prior to the main event Styles, Tenay, and Lawler were informed by the production truck that WCW Owner Shane McMahon had conveyed to them that a major announcement would be made on the following week's Nitro. With no indication of what the announcement might pertain to, speculation ran wild!

Announced Clash of the Champions Card .::. 17 Days Away!

• World Heavyweight Title: Booker T © vs. Goldberg

• Sting vs. Kurt Angle

• Torrie's Choice: Big Poppa Pump (w/Stacy Keibler) vs. ??? (w/Torrie Wilson)

•"The Chosen One" Jeff Jarrett vs. Rob Van Dam

• WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles: Rey Mysterio & Billy Kidman © vs. The Hardy Boyz (w/Lita) vs. Kai En Tai

Match Results and Overall Ratings

Rob Van Dam d. Juventud Guerrera

Non-Title: World Tag Team Champions NC-17 d. Michael Shane & Scoot Andrews

Diamond Dallas Page d. Bam Bam Bigelow (w/Mike Sanders)

Goldberg d. Kanyon

-Jericho over Maven; Brock over Buff, leading to Jericho vs. Brock, which is the obvious money match to go with at the moment.

-Murdoch wins the three way. I see him and Cade as central to VWW's tag division.

-Rios & Yang over Kidd & Colon as Yang gets his win back.

-I think Saturn'll go over Moore as a loss by Saturn here would likely hurt him. Then again, Moore probably has the greater upside of the two at this point.

Kanyan and Piper should be good!

THE POLITICS OF DESTRUCTION

Following RAW's opening video and a look back at the previous week's Coalition clashes, a recorded statement from WWF Commissioner William Regal aired. Regal was introduced by Terri Runnels, who labeled herself the Commissioner's "press secretary." Regal, in his efforts to tighten the reins on the World Wrestling Federation, announced that there would be no more 24/7 Hardcore Championship opportunities. "All title matches have to go through me, don't they?" he asked, rhetorically and grumpily. JR admitted that the reform made sense, given that the Big Show and Raven had battled each other in an "unthinkably violent clash" at Backlash for a shot at said title. He wondered, however, how much Coalition rival and Hardcore Champion Kane would benefit from the change in policy given Regal's close affiliation with Mr. McMahon's group.

All of this served as a preface to the opening bout, which saw Kane face Hardcore Holly (with Molly). In a move that clearly demonstrated the renewal of their on-again, off-again bond, The Undertaker stood in Kane's corner during the match. Holly had scored an important victory the week before over Test, and he rarely shies away from a fight. But Kane, having fallen victim to cowardly Coalition attacks the week before and suffering further emotional scars as a result of his own father's participation in the "mercy killing" attempted on him by that Coalition, had some aggression to release this week. None of Holly's usually-formidable offense seemed to make a dent in the Big Red Machine's armor. As Kane took Holly off his feet with a clothesline from the top rope, cameras spied Raven keeping a close eye on the match on a monitor in the back. The self-proclaimed Noxious Nonconformist had yet to claim his shot at the Hardcore Title, but a future crack at the gold was clearly on his mind. Meanwhile, back in the ring, Hardcore Holly slipped out of an attemped slam by Kane. When Kane turned around to face Holly, Holly went for a high-elevation dropkick, but was swatted away by the monster with ease. Holly got back on his feet, but his perseverance was for naught. Kane hit him with a massive chokeslam, and if that weren't enough, finished the job with a Tombstone. It was over.

While Molly and referee Jack Doan assessed Holly's condition, Undertaker entered the ring, apparently pleased by what he'd seen from his brother. Undertaker gestured for a microphone, and Lillian Garcia was quick to oblige. The American Badass observed that something seemed to have gotten under his little brother's skin. But he added that that made two of them. He said that nothing Triple H did surprised him; he'd known for a long time that he, like his father-in-law, was the lowest form of life on the face of the earth. He said he had had his ups and downs with Paul Bearer over the years, but never did he imagine that Paul could actively condone the destruction of his own son. He mused that "the thing about destruction is, it's-- it's first come, first served. Triple H? Paul? The fact of the matter is that you won't be able to destroy Kane -- or myself -- if we end up destroying you first. And, as it happens, that's exactly what we intend to do." An extreme close-up of the Taker reinforced his serious tone. Kane's only comment came in the form of the usual ignition of the ringposts. "The Brothers of Destruction have spoken!" JR exclaimed. Wasting no time in responding to Taker's effective challenge, Triple H hit the ring with his closest ally Shawn Michaels. The Game and HBK were dispatched by the brothers as quickly as they'd appeared. Triple H, embarrassed and uncomfortable, was tempted to give the run-in another go, but he was held back by Michaels, and by newly-arrived wife Stephanie and co-conspirator Paul Bearer. "The Coalition has awoken a couple of giants, folks, and there is no telling how this one is going to end. Who will be able to destroy whom, here?!" JR wondered.

Back from the break, Raven was seen taking a second look at the Kane-Holly match in the back. European Champion Latino Heat happened by at this point, unbeknowsnst to Raven. Standing behind Raven, Eddie grinned as he recognized an opportunity to pick up a moral (if cheap) victory over the man with whom he'd sparred the week before. Raven, focused entirely on the replay of the match, didn't even know what had hit him when Eddie clocked him with the European Championship, knocking him out. "There's something else for you to cry about," Eddie nodded at his fallen foe, hinting once again at his lack of sympathy for the Superstar who has always been so woefully misunderstood...

OPEN MIC

In the compound of the Coalition backstage, Debra enjoyed some quality time with her husband and WWF Champion Stone Cold. They were interrupted by the arrival of Mr. McMahon, who told Austin he couldn't wait for the top of the program, when they would head to the ring for the "big surprise." Austin agreed that it would be a night to remember; he was sure that The Rock was glued to the set wherever he was, licking his wounds. Debra was completely out of the loop and asked what all of this was about. Stone Cold shrugged her off, explaining that it was "business." The Rattlesnake and the Chairman then left to fine tune their agenda, leaving Debra all alone.

At the conclusion of the show, Austin and McMahon came to the ring together. VKM was thoughtful enough to update viewers on the condition of his daughter, Stephanie. He explained that she was traumatized by Chyna's brutality, but was recuperating with a cup of herbal tea. As America breathed a collective sigh of relief, McMahon said it was time to proceed with the big surprise -- a surprise intended first and foremost for The Rock. Austin affectionately compared The Great One to the little engine that could. "That piece of trash tries and tries and tries, all by his little lonesome, and every time, he gets his ass whipped by Stone Cold -- and by Mr. McMahon, of course." Stone Cold said that more than anything else, it brought a smile to his face. Vince noted that Rock had to be smarting following last week's unfortunate series of events. Wouldn't it be nice if they could try to cheer him up? If they could extend the proverbial olive branch? Stone Cold agreed that it would be a heckuva nice thing to do. He reflected on the fact that Rock was such a musical person, always coming up with little ditties and sing-a-longs. Perhaps Stone Cold and Mr. McMahon could send him out a dedication tonight. They could do a little duet. McMahon loved the idea, and asked the crowd what they thought. Austin and McMahon were bombarded by heavy jeering. McMahon cringed. "A modicum of respect would be appreciated," he said. Austin thought McMahon was being too charitable. "Each and every one of you can kiss my ass. Now, shut your mouths so Mr. McMahon and I can sing our damn song." The disgusting duo proceeded to belt out a sarcastic tune deriding The Rock and suggesting that his fleeting time in the sun had now passed. The singing was nearly drowned out by the intense boos of the crowd. "What must The Rock think of all of this?" JR asked. We didn't have to wait as long as we might have to find out. Rock's music hit with minutes to go on RAW. Despite being hindered by a slight limp, the Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment hit the ring and sent both crooners into retreat to the corner of the ring! After a brief pause, McMahon charged at Rock but got a Spinebuster. He rolled to the outside. Austin moved to kick Rock as a setup for the stunner but Rock caught Austin's boot and then laid the smack down. Austin bailed out of the ring. Rock symbolized his resurgence by standing on the turnbuckle and posing for the People. Austin and McMahon had been right about one thing: the evening did end in a big suprise, after all!

CANADIAN CONFLICT

The WWF Rewind recapped Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho's triumphs last week over their rivals from Team REC. Benoit and Jericho then made their way to the ring for their match. Jericho took the opportunity to welcome everyone to "RAW is Jericho." He then looked over at his tag team partner, and tacked on the delayed, "... and Benoit. Kinda." Jericho declared that the clock was ticking for "Team Reek." Y2J then had the monkeys in the production truck reair once more the footage of Benoit delivering the trio of German Suplexes to the Man Beast a week before. Benoit finally had a chance to speak and told Rhyno that if he thought that was something, he'd get a real kick out of the Crossface. Y2J then cut off the Rabid Wolverine in order to address their scheduled opponents for the evening: Radicalz Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn, both of whom Benoit and Jericho know all too well. Jericho reminisced about having forced Saturn into a dress years ago. He also claimed to have beaten Dean Malenko more times than Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley had spread her legs. This time, Benoit cut Jericho off, asking if they could simply get on with it and get Saturn and Malenko to tapping. Jericho only reluctantly gave up the mic. Malenko and Saturn charged to the ring and attacked before the bell. JR finally had a chance to get a word in edgewise and noted that WWF.com had promised all day long that Edge & Christian would have an apology for Benoit and Jericho this week based on the eye-opening beatings E&C received seven days prior. JR was suspicious of the planned apology, but Heyman was certain that Edge and Christian's statement would "reek of sincerity... and awesomeness." The finish of the physical match itself came when Jericho caught Stinko Malenko attempting a dropkick and locked him up in the Walls of Jericho, securing the submission.

Following the victory, Y2J and the Crippler were greeted on the TitanTron by Edge and Christian. They ranked Jericho and Benoit's victory an eight on the coolosity scale. Jericho demanded that the Brothers Assclown get to the point. Edge and Christian said that what happened on RAW the week before led them to see the error of their ways. Benoit and Jericho are a threat to their goldage, they acknowledged. They were a legit tag team force. If The Undertaker and Kane were the Brothers of Destruction, Benoit and Jericho were the "Scions of Sucktitude." Jericho corrected E&C, asserting that he and Benoit were, instead, the "Kings of the World" and that it was time for Edge and Christian to put their tag titles on the line once more in a return match. Edge and Christian did agree that they were the fightingest champions in WWF history. But they said the rematch would "never, eeeeeeever" happen, mocking Y2J directly. Benoit said he had a clear picture of the future as well, and involved a lot of tapping being done by the two of them. Edge and Christian hastily informed the gods of the Titantron that the interview was over, and that was that.

Following the break, Benoit prepared to hit the showers backstage but was blindsided on his way to the locker room by Rhyno once more. He had clearly been unleashed by E&C on Benoit yet again. Rhyno dominated Benoit momentarily, but after having had time to react, Benoit took the fight right back to the Man Beast. It took no fewer than a dozen assorted Superstars and officials to break the two men up. During the next segment, Representative of the Board of Directors Mick Foley called in and shared with JR and Heyman that he'd had enough; next week, it would be the Rabid Wolverine vs. the Man Beast for the first time ever, live on RAW!

Elsewhere backstage, Latino Heat approached his fellow Radicalz and, while wiping an offending smudge off of his European Championship, commiserated with them over their loss. He noted that if he'd been in their corner, things might have ended differently. Saturn and Malenko took offense to the suggestion that they need Eddie in order to be successful. They walked off, and Eddie rolled his eyes and looked at the camera man for answers. "What'd I say?" he shrugged.

A TASTE OF HER OWN MEDICINE

Being the daughter of the Chairman of the World Wrestling Federation has its perks, and one of them is the ability to book oneself to challenge for the WWF Women's Championship based purely on whim. That's exactly what Stephanie arranged this week; she'd stated on last week's program that if Chyna did not appear in order to defend her gold, she would suffer appropriate disciplinary actions. The Ninth Wonder of the World did show up, and she had her game face on. Her scarred back and neck beginning to heal, Chyna mounted an aggressive offense early against megalomaniacal Steph, who was in way over her head. Chyna nailed her with hard forearms and a DDT. She whipped Steph into the turnbuckle and squashed her with the handspring elbow smash. Stephanie was in a bad way and rolled to the outside. Chyna waited patiently for Stephanie to return. It soon became apparent that a master plan was at work; the TitanTron video and offensive music of Right to Censor began to play, and the announcers and crowd anticipated an appearance by Stephanie's ally Ivory. Chyna focused her attention on the entrance, assuming that Ivory would be making her way to the ring. This allowed Stephanie to scratch Lillian right across the face and toss her out of her usual chair. SMH then picked up the chair to bring into the ring. Halfway there, however, Trish Stratus hit the ringside area from the crowd and blasted Steph in the face with the chair with her superkick (the Chick Kick)! Steph was knocked completely senseless. Trish rolled Steph back into the ring. With Ivory nowhere to be seen, Chyna turned her attentions to Stephanie and dropped her with a powerbomb and pinning combination. 1-2-3. She retained! Trish celebrated Chyna's victory with her. Stephanie's plan had backfired; the use of the RTC entrance was supposed to have been sufficient enough to allow Steph to use the chair and pick up the win and the title, but things hadn't gone her way. Mr. McMahon and Ivory came to ringside to comfort her, but she was inconsolable. "There's going to be hell to pay!" her father could be heard screaming...

ACT I, SCENE II

Michael Cole looked in on the APA in their office as they played a few hands of 5-card draw prior to Bradshaw's scheduled non-title encounter with Intercontinental Champion William Regal. Bradshaw predicted that the Commissioner wouldn't be getting much business done after he ate the inevitable Clothesline From Hell. Cole asked Faarooq for his thoughts. Faarooq looked Cole over with a scowl. "Makes no damn difference to me," Faarooq said, before anteing up for the next round. Bradshaw smiled, and explained that his partner was in a touchy mood because it hasn't been his luckiest night of poker...

Press secretary Terri joined Regal at ringside for his match later on. JR observed that the duo did not seem eager to discuss their encounter with Goldust the previous week on RAW. Regal found himself rather outpowered by the big Texan, who slammed and suplexed the IC Champion with ease. Terri proved instrumental in turning the tide later on. She tried tripping Bradshaw, grabbing his leg from down below. While Bradshaw worked to shake her off, Regal positioned himself and was ready with a series of uppercuts when Bradshaw turned back around. Just as Regal inflicted further damage with a couple of knee strikes, production assistants appeared on stage, setting up a red carpet and a director's chair. Once those items were in place, Goldust appeared and took his seat in the director's chair, waving to both Regal and ex-wife Terri, whose eyes were now focused on him. Regal remained distracted for the rest of the match. He thus fell victim to a Big Boot from Bradshaw, who then wasted no time in delivering the Clothesline From Hell. It was over; Bradshaw picked up the win! Goldust smiled from his chair while Regal and Terri looked on with disdain. "That's a wrap!" Goldust shouted.

A TIME FOR TABLES

Right to Censor was out en masse this week when Val Venis faced Test. While Goodfather, Buchanan, and Ivory flanked the ring, Steven Richards joined JR and Paul Heyman on commentary. Richards accused JR of downplaying the significance of his and Venis's Fatal Four-way victory the week before. JR retorted that the victory meant little because it was tainted, to say the least. Richards blasted JR for condoning the morally repugnant conduct of the Dudley Boyz. Test had his hands full in the ring, having to keep up with the technically gifted Val Venis while simultaneously keeping an eye on the other Censors at ringside. Ultimately, Test ended up with another loss on his record. Venis actually defeated him legitimately: after grounding Test with a Fisherman Suplex, Venis went up top and connected with the Money Shot.

Richards decided to deliver another speech post-match, reveling in the fact that "the good guys" had picked up another win. The tide was turning, Richards suggested; Americans have had it with the filth, and they're finally coming around to the truth. As if to beg to differ, the Dudleyz hit the ring and tossed Godfather, Buchanan, Venis, and Richards out of the ring in that order while the outraged Ivory looked on. Bubba Ray got his hands on a mic and countered that what the American people want is tables. Specifically, what they want is the RTC's puritanical asses put through tables. "Testify!" D-Von enthusiastically concurred. Bubba Ray said he and his brother were sick of the back and forth and was pretty sure that the fans felt the same way. It was time to settle it once and for all, and as far as they were concerned, the best way to do so would be in a Tables Match -- next week, live on RAW! Richards was too overcome to muster up a protest, and so the match was as good as set!

EIGHT YEARS

RAW was hosted live at WWF New York this week by both "The One" Billy Gunn and "The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman. JR and Heyman checked in with the guest hosts during the program. In passing, Gunn asked his co-host if he knew of the anniversary that had just been marked. Blackman was completely clueless. Somewhat annoyed, Gunn told Blackman that he'd recently celebrated eight years on the road with the World Wrestling Federation. "That's a helluva long time," Gunn added. Blackman, looking past Gunn's almost confrontational tone, agreed and offered his congratulations. The One then excused himself, noting that he had "hundreds" of autographs to sign.

Match Results and Overall Ratings

Non-Title: Hardcore Champion Kane (w/The Undertaker) d. Hardcore Holly (w/Molly Holly) (66%)

Val Venis (w/Right to Censor) d. Test (76%)

Women's Championship: Chyna © d. Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley (66%)

Kings of the World d. Radicalz Dean Malenko & Perry Saturn (81%)

Non-Title: Bradshaw d. Intercontinental Champion William Regal (w/Terri) (74%)

~Overall: 81% (unchanged)

KEEPING AN EYE ON THE PRIZE

The self-proclaimed "Innovator," Kanyon, was even more pleased with himself than usual this week on Nitro. He came to the ring early on during the broadcast and boasted about the chairshot that took out World/US Champion Booker T last week during the program. Tonight, WCW matchmakers had arranged for Kanyon to team with "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair against scheduled Clash of the Champions opponents Booker T and Goldberg. Kanyon said he would take Booker T out once more. In fact, he would do it over and over again until he received the respect he deserved. "Who's betta than Kanyon?!" he asked. Kanyon was displeased by the crowd's response. Before Kanyon knew it, Ric Flair was on his way to the ring. There, Flair blasted Kanyon for wasting his time with The Question when they had a tag team main event scheduled for later on. Flair reminded Kanyon that you don't become a living legend in the sport by playing games. "And I don't play games, pal." Kanyon clarified that he was completely serious about knocking Booker T and Goldberg off their high horses. Flair was glad. The Nature Boy then took advantage of another opportunity to remind Goldberg and Booker T that this was "his" company and "his" sport and that he would remain the measuring stick in WCW as long as he wanted to. Flair then methodically planted seeds of suspicion in both of his opponents' minds by observing that neither of them could trust the other in the least. Kanyon nodded along in satisfied agreement...

Later, the Wheelin', Dealin' Son of a Gun relaxed backstage in a hot tub along with an assortment of local beauties. He was approached by Shawn Stasiak, who admitted to Flair that he had dropped the ball against Goldberg the week before. Flair was frank about being disappointed in the so-called "Star." Stasiak gushed over his unconditional respect for Flair, hoping he'd be granted a second chance to prove himself as a worthy protege. Flair kept Stasiak hanging.

In the main event, Flair and Kanyon met #1 Contendor Goldberg and World and United States Champion Booker T. Much to the consternation of Flair and Kanyon, Goldberg and Booker seemed to be a cohesive unit; after all, last week, Goldberg had intervened when Flair and Kanyon perpetrated a double team on the champion. Styles praised Booker and Goldberg for their fluid teamwork and ability to place thoughts of their upcoming pay-per-view encounter on the backburner. It was a close call eight minutes into the bout when Flair snuck in and hit a low blow on Goldberg, leading Da Man to fall to Kanyon's Flatliner! Kanyon went for the cover, but Booker broke up the pin attempt. Kanyon and Flair were able to take turns wearing down Goldberg, both of them focusing on the knees while doing so. Finally, Goldberg hot-tagged Booker, who sidekicked Flair out of the ring and took Kanyon out with the BookEnd. The Playa then scored the clean pinfall on Kanyon! Booker stood tall only momentarily as Kanyon re-entered the ring with the World Title belt and took aim at Booker from behind. Goldberg, however, was quick enough to foil the attempt. He grabbed the belt from Kanyon and sent him flying with a terrifying Yakuza kick. Goldberg had the World Title in hand as he turned to Booker T. In a tense moment, Goldberg slowly handed the uncomfortable Booker T the gold. Goldberg had had a brush with the championship he once held. The Clash title match had gained even greater significance as a result!

THE DIE IS CAST

Kurt Angle, as hard as it might be to imagine, had something to say on Nitro. Live and in the ring, the Olympic Hero told the Trenton crowd that he had to address the events surrounding his match with Ultimo Dragon the week before. On commentary, Styles and Tenay wondered if Angle might actually express remorse for having perpetrated that sneak attack on Sting. On the contrary, Angle actually blasted The Franchise for involving himself in Angle's business with the Dragon, accusing Sting of feeling threatened by Angle's arrival in WCW. Sting was trying to overshadow him, he angrily declared. Styles interjected that Sting had actually prevented an irrational Angle from snapping Ultimo Dragon's ankle; that was his only motive last week. Angle laughably claimed that he liked to face his opponents face-to-face, on equal footing. The hypocritical gold medalist demanded Sting's presence. Sting momentarily responded to the call and stood across from Angle in the ring! The crowd was solidly behind the Stinger; Angle was disgusted. Attempting to put the veteran in his place, Angle slapped Sting across the face! Sting may be an honorable man, but this was one instance in which turning the other cheek simply wasn't called for; Sting paintbrushed Angle right back! Angle was absolutely astounded and stumbled into the corner. Sting flexed and moved toward Angle. Angle quickly rolled out of the ring. "What the hell was that?" Angle asked in regards to Sting's reciprocated slap. Sting gestured for Angle to return to the ring. Kurt nodded and said they would be settling this -- but on his terms. He wanted a match with Sting at Clash of the Champions. Angle hinted the prospect was intimidating to Sting. Sting was handed a mic by David Penzer. He seemed to weigh his options for a moment, and finally deadpanned: "Well, Kurt. Kurt, you-- You twisted my arm. Clash of the Champions? You and me? I guess-- I guess it's Showtime!" Angle looked to be both eager and apprehensive. Regardless, the historic encounter had been set!

BIG BAD BOOTY, INDEED

If Big Poppa Pump was suffering any ring rust during his return to the ring this past week on Nitro, he did an excellent job of concealing the fact. Accompanied by Stacy Keibler, Scott Steiner faced Disqo and virtually dominated the match. When Disqo showed off his latest (horribly outdated) dance moves, Steiner responded with a stiff forearm shot. Steiner's subsequent offense included an impressive press slam and an overhead belly to belly suplex. Ultimately, The Genetic Freak hooked on the devastating Steiner Recliner, and Disqo submitted almost immediately.

Stacy posed with Steiner after the match. Steiner, flexing, yelled into the camera for Torrie Wilson's chosen mystery opponent to "bring it on" at Clash of the Champions. Torrie continued to play mindgames with the Power Couple, running into the ring and pantsing the Big Bad Booty Daddy! She quickly slid back out of the ring while Steiner and Stacy huffed and puffed in their anger. Back at the top of the ramp, Torrie spoke into a microphone. "Now that I've got your attention, I thought I'd let you know -- officially -- that I accept your challenge. I've made my choice and, Big Poppa Pump? You won't believe what you've gotten yourself into at the Clash of the Champions." Styles then confirmed that, next week on Nitro, the results of the WCW.com Hottie poll that sparked all of Torrie's problems with the Power Couple will be revealed!

PROVING GROUND

Backstage, Scott Hudson interviewed Jeff Jarrett, who was flanked by Juventud Guerrera and Psicosis. Hudson sought insight from Jarrett into his recruitment of Guerrera and Psicosis as a sort of hit squad whose target had been Rob Van Dam the previous week. Jarrett not that RVD was looking for a match with him. He then ran down his -- the Chosen One's -- impressive credentials, contrasting them with the "amateur" achievements of Mr. Thursday Night. Jarrett said Van Dam was now in the big leagues, and furthermore, that he was looking to tangle with one of the "biggest names in WCW." Jarrett asserted that a shot at him was a shot Van Dam had to earn. Jarrett needed to know if Van Dam was more than just an "above average tumbler." To be convinced, RVD would have to go through Psicosis and Juventud.

By the end of the evening, RVD had won half the battle. He took on Psicosis in an exciting singles match. Jarrett watched at ringside as both men used aerial tactics, technical approaches, and martial arts-oriented offensives to wear each other down. Psicosis pleased Jarrett when he took RVD down with a Frankensteiner from the top turnbuckle. Psicosis followed up with an attempt at his Guillotine Legdrop from the top. RVD rolled out of the way at the last second. When a bruised Psicosis stood, RVD was waiting for him with a spinning heel kick. He then finished the luchadore off with a Rolling Thunder splash and Five Star Frogsplash! A frustrated Jarrett contemplated hitting the ring to brawl with Van Dam, and Van Dam seemed open to the notion. However, Jarrett ultimately decided to beg off. "Not so fast, Slapnuts," he said. "Next week, you've got to go two for two. It's you and Juvi one on one, and I have every confidence that the Juice is callin' your bluff." Or so The Chosen One certainly hoped...

DEEP IMPACT

Early in the evening, Lance Storm arrived at the arena and promised Scott Hudson that his recent issues with his tag team partner would be resolved on Nitro. Later, Storm came to the ring and, explaining that he had to be serious for just a moment, asked Mike Awesome to join him. Once Awesome had arrived at mid-ring, Storm recapped their accomplishments together as Team Canada. He noted, though, that since the Season Premiere a few weeks ago, they'd been faced with disappointment after disappointment. Storm said he wanted to turn things around. Awesome nodded; he wanted the same thing. "I'm glad you understand," Storm said. Suddenly, Justin Credible slid into the ring with his old Kendo Stick and blasted Awesome from behind! Awesome turned around and fought back against Credible, but Storm revealed his true agenda by joining Credible in the attack against The Career Killer! Appearing extremely satisfied, Dawn Marie sashayed to the ring. Credible held Awesome back while Storm delivered a Superkick that landed square on Awesome's jaw. Styles couldn't believe his eyes; they'd seen the reformation of one of the most dynamic tag teams in the history of Extreme Championship Wrestling, live on Nitro! After kicking the unconscious Awesome out of the ring Storm, Credible, and Dawn struck a familiar pose, and Dawn Marie's recent machinations all began to make sense. What did this impressive group have planned for WCW?!

REALITY CHECK

This week's WCW FreezFrame took us back to last week, when Diamond Dallas Page finally shut "Undeniable" Mike Sanders up with a Diamond Cutter. As the announcers mentioned in passing that Page was out of the country this week, Sanders headed to ringside, and he wasn't wearing his usual cocky grin. He first took the announcers to task for "airing their little replay" and then stepped into the ring with mic in hand. Sanders blasted all of the fans who laughed and applauded in response to DDP's cowardly actions the week before. Sanders talked about the dues he has paid as a graduate "summa cum laude" of the Powerplant. The Professor, Mike Tenay, commented that he had no clue such a distinction existed at the Powerplant. Sanders proceeded to state that, in contrast, Page had paid no such dues. Tenay again made a passing remark, clarifying that Page, too, had gone through the 'Plant. Sanders said nothing had been more disheartening for him as a starving, aching student of the game than to have to watch Diamond Dallas Page rise to the top of World Championship Wrestling because of politics and connections. Sanders called the rant his "Reality Check" for the misguided audience. DDP has no talent, he spat. He simply knows how to work a room, and that was the only reason he's enjoyed the success he has. On the NitroVision, Sanders showed pictures of Page rubbing elbows with Karl Malone, Jay Leno, Eric Bischoff, Muhammad Ali, and Chevy Chase. "There's your talent!" Sanders yelled. He then told the fans who paid to come and see Page at Nitro that he had better things to do: he had to shill the piece of garbage he called a book on equally-trashy European talk shows. He said the book wasn't Positively Page; it was Positively Pathetic. Sanders concluded by denouncing Page as a fraud -- a fraud for whom the gullible fans had fallen hook, like, and sinker. According to Sanders, Page did nothing truly to earn his spot, and therefore, he (Sanders) was going to take it! Styles and Tenay wondered if Sanders would have made such comments if Page had actually been in the arena. Lawler, of course, sympathized with Sanders and praised him for the Reality Check.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

In a preview of the upcoming Triple Threat tag match at the Clash for the Cruiserweight straps, Kidman, Jeff Hardy (w/Lita), and TAKA Michinoku each represented their respective teams this week in a singles 3-way. Not only are all three men talented lightweight stars, they also have little regard for their own well-being. That meant that this was a match full of jaw-dropping, high-energy action. Hardy threw himself over the top rope onto both of his opponents with a flying body press. Not to be outdone, TAKA did the same to both Hardy and Kidman minutes later with an Asai Moonsault. Finally, Kidman risked life and limb with a Shooting Star to the outside which took its toll on all three men. Later, back inside, TAKA attempted a Michionoku Driver on Jeff, but Hardy has had his fair share of matches with the Kai En Tai member and maneuvered his way out of the potentially match-ending spike. He softened TAKA up with a jawbreaker, and then went up top. Swanton Bomb! Jeff covered. 1---2--- and, no! Kidman pulled Hardy off and sent him outside with a leg lariat! Kidman then hit a quick standing moonsault on TAKA, and took the pinfall himself! Rey Mysterio came out to congratulate his co-champion on the victory. Matt Hardy also made his way down in order to check on his brother. After conversing, the Hardys and Lita confronted Kidman about the opportunistic manner in which he picked up the victory. Kidman and Rey appeared to defend Kidman's actions. Despite the mutual respect both of these teams claim to have for one another, trouble continues to bubble beneath the surface.

NO RESPECT

Former WCW Tag Team and Hardcore Champion The Bull is back in World Championship Wrestling after a brief hiatus and spoke to Scott Hudson on Nitro about his return. The Bull proclaimed that his future is as bright as his grandmother's cannolis are sweet. When Hudson alluded to The Bull's rumored ties to organized crime, The Bull took great offense, citing his membership in the upstanding Order of the Sons of Italy in America. Bull blasted Hudson for his comments, which he said amounted to defamation. Hudson issued a sincere mea culpa and the interview concluded...

Announced Clash of the Champions Card

• World Heavyweight Title: Booker T © vs. Goldberg

• Sting vs. Kurt Angle

• Torrie's Choice: Scott Steiner (w/Stacy Keibler) vs. ??? (w/Torrie Wilson)

• WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles: Rey Mysterio & Billy Kidman © vs. The Hardy Boyz (w/Lita) vs. Kai En Tai

Match Results and Overall Ratings

Big Poppa Pump (w/Stacy ) d. Disqo (67%)

Triple Threat: Kidman d. Jeff Hardy (w/Lita) and TAKA (79%)

Rob Van Dam d. Psicosis (w/Jeff Jarrett) (76%)

Booker T & Goldberg d. Chris Kanyon & Ric Flair (84%)

[show Overall = 79% (down 3%)]

Monday, 4/30/01

Frederick, MD

Hosted by Jim Ross & Paul Heyman

GOING IT ALONE

It was an "electrifying" beginning to RAW this week as we opened up with the entrance of a stern-looking Rock. The Great One entered as the crowd chanted his name. Once the denizens of Frederick, MD regained their wits, Rock confirmed the news: Stone Cold had beaten The Rock and The Undertaker at Backlash to retain the World Wrestling Federation Championship. Rock instructed the jabronie in the production truck to roll the footage, and highlights of the previous evening's main event were shown on the TitanTron. Rock narrated the key developments in the match: Undertaker's incredible body press to the outside of the ring, various near-falls that were broken up by third men during the match, the finishing sequence which saw Rock come thisclose to regaining the WWF Championship, and the attempted interference by HBK and Mr. McMahon. Rock clarified that he was not standing in the People's Ring in order to whine. The Rock didn't come to RAW to whine; The Rock came to RAW to layeth the smacketh down! The Rock added that he wasn't going to assign blame for what happened last night; after all, he should have known that Stone Cold's sugar daddy, Vince McMahon, would involve himself in the match. Rock observed that the Chairman of the WWF seemed to be battling a mid-life crisis. It didn't take a rocket scientist to know that Vincent Kennedy McMahon's life now revolved around Just For Men, Rogaine, and little blue pills. Vince had regrets. He'd spent his entire life in a suit and tie when what he truly wanted to be was a WWF Superstar. Rock said Vince had lived vicariously through Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, and now, Stone Cold Steve Austin. Rock said he liked to make wishes come true. He loved to make people smile. Tonight, he would give Vince McMahon what he wanted. He would give him that second chance to be what he always wanted to be: he was calling him out for a match on RAW! Rock urged McMahon not to be bashful. As a matter of fact, he wouldn't take no for an answer. Rock said there would be no trip down Jabronie Drive to the Smackdown Hotel tonight; rather, he was taking Mr. McMahon straight to the brand spanking new Candyass Coral on Roodypoo Road! "If ya smellalalalalalalll--- what the Rock--- is cookin'." Rock stood in the middle of the ring, perhaps awaiting a response from the Chairman. He received a response, but it came not from McMahon or from any other Coalition member; rather, it came from The Undertaker! The American Badass appeared on his bike on the entrance, revved it up, and rode to ringside. Rock paced, and demanded to know what in the blue hell The Undertaker could possibly have wanted. Undertaker, gentleman that he is, first complemented Rock on his performance the night before. Rock said he had the feeling The Undertaker hadn't interrupted The Great One for the simple reason of shooting the breeze, and Undertaker admitted that it was true. Undertaker talked about the manipulations and ambushes they'd both been subject to since WrestleMania courtesy of The Coalition. "Know your role, and cut to the chase," Rock said. Undertaker stated that he thought it was unwise -- if brave -- of The Rock to decide to take on McMahon's Coalition all by himself. Last night, after all, proved just that. Undertaker reminded Rock that he had just as much beef with McMahon, Austin, and Michaels as Rock had. The Rock sarcastically wondered when it was that he had appealed to The Undertaker for his assistance. Taker retorted that his was a limited time offer. Rock instructed his interlocutor to turn around, fire up his "cheap-ass iron pony" and ride off into the sunset. Responding to Rock's insults, Undertaker stated that Rock would receive a free pass on this particular occasion. "Next time you choose you try so hard to be cute at my expense, I might just be libel to get offended," Taker said before leaving. Rock watched the American Badass ride off. JR and Paul Heyman were left to wonder if it would really happen: Would Vince McMahon accept The Rock's challenge? Would it be Rock vs. McMahon live on RAW?!

Throughout the evening, Michael Cole attempted to get a comment out of The Coalition but all evening long, the group was behind closed doors in its luxury suite backstage. When the climax of the WarZone arrived, Rock returned to the ring and again dared the Chairman to face him. Half a minute later, "No Chance" brought Mr. McMahon out into the arena! McMahon, donning his traditional wrestling gear, proceeded to let The Rock know that he was completely and totally out of line. Indeed, it would have been well within the realm of possibility for him to have Commissioner Regal send The Rock home for his shenanigans. The only complication, Vince claimed, was that, as was common knowledge, he was endowed with enormous grapefruits and thus would inevitably accept Rock's challenge! McMahon claimed that whatever injustice Rock endured the night before had been prompted by his own actions. "To paraphrase myself," McMahon smuggly continued, "Vince McMahon didn't screw The Rock. The Rock screwed The Rock." The crowd chanted "asshole" at VKM. Rock told Vince that if he was now finished shovelling an enormous, steaming pile of monkey crap, the Millions -- and Millions -- of Rock's fans were ready for this "sumbitch" to go down. McMahon gulped, and then said he'd had just about enough of Rock's egregious vulgarities. He swaggered to the ring. Rock immediately took McMahon down with a series of right hands. McMahon then took a clothesline. Rock whipped McMahon into the corner and stomped away at him. McMahon tried stumbling to the opposite side of the ring, but Rock grabbed him and dropped him with the People's DDT! Rock played to the crowd. McMahon tried desperately to roll to the outside, but Rock picked him up and laid the smack down with four punches. McMahon collapsed on the ropes. Rock grabbed him and Irish Whipped him. Rock Bottom! The elbowpad came off and he began running the ropes for the People's Elbow. Before he could connect, Shawn Michaels had appeared and pulled McMahon from the ring! Stone Cold, chair in hand, snuck into the ring while Rock was distracted by HBK and McMahon. Rock turned around and took a direct hit from the chair. Earl Hebner called for the bell and received a Stunner from the Rattlesnake. Rock wasn't done for just yet and, amazingly, he began to stand. Austin hit him with a second chairshot. HBK and McMahon returned to the ring and joined in the stomping. JR reminded viewers that there was no hope for The Rock -- he'd explicitly rejected The Undertaker's offer of backup! The final insult came when McMahon covered Rock with a vertical press, and HBK counted the three for him! Austin and Michaels raised McMahon's hands in victory. McMahon wore a nefarious grin; Rock had made his dream come true. RAW concluded with JR's apt observation: "The reign of terror continues in the World Wrestling Federation!"

FAMILY MATTERS

When Triple H promised Kane that he would become the subject of a "mercy killing" at Backlash, no one imagined that The Big Red Machine's own father Paul Bearer would assist The Cerebral Assassin in administering the euthenasia. JR brought Paul Bearer to the ring at the start of the WarZone for an explanation. Bearer was unapologetic when JR pointed out to him that he had turned his back on his own son in front of the whole world. Bearer claimed that for three long decades, Kane had been nothing but a cross to bear. He has made sacrifice after sacrifice for his troubled son. He said he tried his best, but there comes a point where enough is enough. Kane is a sociopath, Paul explained. JR challenged Bearer, noting that he was more than willing to try and use Kane to destroy his brother, The Undertaker, a few short years ago. Bearer admitted that Triple H and The Coalition could offer him one thing no one else could: financial security. He said it wasn't his business why Triple H had it in for his son. He said he knows very well that it is a father's job to protect his child, but claimed that there is nothing left of Kane to protect. "Kane is a freak of nature," he said. "The greatest gift I could give my son is a mercy killing, JR. He was an accident; he wasn't supposed to happen." Paul went on to declare that he owed no one any further explanation. But the lights then dimmed and a red haze descended over the arena. The usual explosion brought Kane out to the ramp! Kane stalked to the ring. JR wisely bailed while Paul Bearer froze. Kane stepped into the and ring and fire shot out of the ringposts in sync with Kane's gesture. Bearer clasped his hands and begged his son for forgiveness. Kane briefly considered the prospect, but quickly hauled off a right hand. As he picked up his father for a chokeslam, Triple H slid into the ring, sledgehammer in hand, and blindsided Kane with a brutal shot to the head. Bearer stumbled to the corner to recover while Triple H continued to bludgeon The Big Red Machine. The sounds of an engine reving were then heard for the second time that evening, and The Undertaker drove to the ring! As Undertaker slid into the ring, The Game and Paul Bearer made their escape. The American Badass then tended to his fallen brother. "Blood is thicker than water, at least in some cases!" JR declared.

STRIKING BACK

Edge and Christian retained their Tag Team Championship at Backlash thanks to the intervention of the third member of the Team REC contingent: the Man Beast. His Gore on Chris Benoit cost Benoit and Chris Jericho the match. This week on RAW, E&C showed Rhyno off in singles competition against the [superheavyweight] Lightheavyweight Champion Crash, accompanied to the ring by his lovely cousin, Molly. Crash, as usual, oozed confidence heading into the match, but it took very little time for Rhyno to decimate Crash with an awesome Gore. Edge and Christian -- whose fashion sense continued to deteriorate -- gave Rhyno a round of applause following the contest. But retribution soon followed, as Chris Benoit appeared out of nowhere, charging at Rhyno in the ring! The Rapid Wolverine ducked Rhyno's attempt at a Clothesline and dropped him with three rolling German Suplexes! Benoit, having made his point, slipped out of the ring before Edge or Christian could get at him! Rhyno was enraged as he favored the back of his neck.

Later on, Edge and Christian prepared to face the APA in non-title action, but first demanded from Commissioner William Regal that the unruly Canadian Crippler be ejected from the building. Regal, not one of Benoit's most ardent fans, was quick to oblige. Faarooq and Bradshaw had little interest in bearing witness to E&C's shenanigans and dominated much of their physical tag team contest. That said, Christian did turn some heads when he slipped out of Faarooq's attempt at a Dominator and then went for the Unprettier, which Faarooq in turn countered. Minutes later, Edge ducked a Bradshaw big boot and speared the big Texan! Just as he signaled for the Downward Spiral, though, Team REC received their second unexpected visit of the night, this one from Y2J! Jericho entered the ring by taking Edge off his feet with a springboard dropkick. Referee Jack Doan called for the bell. Christian then entered the ring and lunged at Jericho, but Jericho backdropped him over the top rope! Jericho was Mr. Intensity as he pumped up the fans and stared down the humiliated tag champs on the outside. Jericho's actions as well as Benoit's signalled that the two men were nowhere close to abandoning their quest to wrest the gold from their compatriots!

THE SEQUEL BEGINS

Commissioner Regal not only brought the Intercontinental Championship with him to the ring this week on RAW, but the beautiful -- and lethal -- Terri Runnels as well. Terri joined JR and Paul Heyman for commentary and, while Regal awaited the entrance of his opponent, he and Terri exchanged nauseating starry-eyed glances. As "The One" Billy Gunn made his way to the ring for the non-title bout, Terri credited Regal with having run Goldust out of the World Wrestling Federation before anyone had even had the chance to notice he'd returned. JR questioned why Terri was so eager to nip her ex-husband's return in the bud. Terri noted that JR knew very well that the marriage had been disastrous. Meanwhile, Regal and Gunn locked up. Gunn, a former IC Champion himself, seemed to realize that a win over the reigning titleholder would go a long way in securing a shot at the gold, but Regal seemed to stay one step ahead of The One here. When Gunn tried rallying the fans, he appeared frustrated by their lack of enthusiasm. After taking Regal down with a high elevation flying elbow, Gunn went for the One and Only cobra clutch slam, but Regal wrestled his way out of it and managed to execute the Union Jack neckbreaker for the pin.

Post-match, Terri brought the Intercontinental Title back into the ring and replaced it around her hero's waist. Business picked up when Goldust then appeared on the TitanTron! Goldust sat in his director's chair and applauded the duo for their "surprise ending" the night before. But he called Backlash "the opening act," adding that it was part of a much larger sequel. It was a sequel of which Goldust was the star. The story would continue, he said. "And by the time the credits roll, you will never forget the name-- Goldust!" Goldust's message concluded, and Regal and Terri exchanged looks of extreme dread...

BECAUSE SHE CAN

The WWF Rewind gave viewers a second look at Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and Ivory's cheap victory over Trish Stratus and WWF Women's Champion Chyna at Backlash. Steph then came out to the ramp and was immediately greeted by the not-so-affectionate chanting of the crowd. Stephanie stated that no one could rain on her parade; she noted that she'd "beaten the odds" and overcome the Ninth Wonder of the World at Backlash. JR characterized the statements as revisionist history. Stephanie said she enjoyed the rush of the victory, but said she wanted more. She wanted to feel the way she did when she had gold around her waist. She realized that she simply couldn't rest until she'd beaten Chyna for her second WWF Women's Championship. Next week live on RAW, she would fulfill that vow. The daughter of the Chairman added that if Chyna failed to make the match, she would be stripped of the championship. "And another thing!" she screached, addressing the crowd. "I may be a slut, but I'm damn sure the richest slut any of you will ever see. So, go-- to-- Hell." Stephanie swaggered back up the ramp.

A STOLEN VICTORY

Tag team competition continues to heat up in the World Wrestling Federation, and this week, four of the top tandems in the world squared off in a Fatal 4-Way. The match pitted The Dudleyz, Too Cool, Saturn & Malenko of the Radicalz, and Venis & Richards (w/Ivory) of the RTC against each other. Before things got underway, the RTC members threw dirty looks in the general direction of Bubba Ray and D-Von, reflecting their frustration with their loss the night before. As a matter of fact, the outcome of the competitive 4-way on RAW indicated that Steven Richards's group wasn't prepared to give up its crusade just yet. With Bubba Ray and Val Venis as the legal men, Ivory hopped up on the apron and launched into a rant at Bubba Ray over his toxic immorality. Bubba moved to confront the loud-mouthed Censor, allowing Val to creep up behind with a schoolboy that led to the victory. The RTC members seemed quite pleased with their win, which marked the start of Round 2 in the apparently-ongoing Dudleyz-RTC war.

A BIT OF ADVICE

As promised all day long on WWF.com, JR updated viewers on The Big Show's condition live on RAW. Having taken a devastating plunge through a table from the top of the entrance ramp at Backlash, Show was taken to a Baltimore hospital and was diagnosed with a concussion serious enough to put him on the shelf for "a substantial period of time." We then went to Michael Cole in the back with the now-top Hardcore Contendor in the World Wrestling Federation, Raven. Cole asked Raven for his feelings on the horrific accident of the evening before. Raven pointed out that the corporate machine that is the WWF had "coopted" hardcore and made it revolve around chiuauas, sock puppets, and other such cute "gimmicks." Raven said that "his" hardcore was something else entirely, and as a matter of course, he refused to exist within Vince McMahon's consumer-driven constructs. Cole asked if this was Raven's way of admitting that he felt no remorse over causing the Big Show what could turn out to be an extremely serious injury. Raven took issue with Cole's outrage, reminding him that six days prior to Backlash on RAW, he had made it abuntantly clear that he was prepared to employ any means necessary in order to win his match. Raven blasted Cole and others like him for their hypocrisy, and refused to be "condemned" for his "nonconformism." It was then that Eddie Guerrero appeared with his European Championship. He seemed perplexed. "What the hell are you talking about, Ese?" he asked. Raven told Guerrero he was simply attempting to explain his position. Latino Heat pulled Raven aside and clued him in on a little something: "No one cares about you and your childhood and all of your other problems, man. You gotta get over it, already, bro." Raven retorted that what he was attempting to convey was simply beyond Guerrero's limited power of comprehension. Eddie took offense to this, and gave Raven a shove. The unapologetic nonconformist shoved back, and a full-on brawl ensued!

LACK OF LUCK

Test came to RAW looking to rebound from a disappointing loss at Backlash; his opposition came in the form of veteran Hardcore Holly, who appeared alongside cousin Molly. Holly offered no sympathy to his opponent, instead pounding away at him early on with stiff kicks and punches. Holly even clotheslined the bigger man over the top rope. Holly's penchant for brawling emerged on the outside as he sent Test into the ringside barrier and followed up quickly with a dropkick. Back in the ring, Test came back with a sidewalk slam and backbreaker. Minutes later, Test tried hooking Holly into a Northern Lights Suplex but Holly countered with a knee to the midsection. Test fell to all fours, and Holly seized his opportunity, executing an Oklahoma Roll and picking up the pinfall! JR admitted that the loss had to be considered "another disappointment for young Test."

A CORONATION LOOMS

The WWF made it official on RAW: the Federation's next pay-per-view would fall on in June (on the 24th), meaning only one thing: it would be the King of the Ring! JR announced that qualifying matches for the annual tournament would kick off in mid-May.

1 -- In the HeAT main event, WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Crash Holly (w/Molly Holly) def. Dean Malenko via pinfall to retain the title. Ross recounts that it was on the March 13th edition of HeAT that Crash beat Malenko to capture his title. Malenko appeared confident that he could regain the gold here. Malenko tried locking on the Texas Cloverleaf fairly early, but the Superheavyweight managed to hang onto the ropes and avoid the move. Malenko took Crash off his feet with a leg lariat and then set up for a Superplex. Holly countered with a Tornado DDT for the two count. He then came up short on a dropkick. Malenko seized his opportunity and double underhook powerbombed Crash, then immediately locked on the Cloverleaf. Molly was able to rally her cousin, who again reached the ropes. Malenko remained on the offensive, drilling Crash with a Brainbuster. Again, only two. Malenko took issue with the speed of referee Tim White's count; this allowed Crash to set up for a Bulldog, which he executed, leading to the pinfall!

-Jim Ross and Paul Heyman kicked off the pay-per-view. Ross predicted that the key to the main event would be whether or not The Rock and The Undertaker could focus on Stone Cold, or whether the Coalition had succeeded in creating overwhelming problems for Rock and Taker...

2 -- WWF Tag Team Champions Edge & Christian def. Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit via pinfall to retain the titles. Before things got underway, Edge and Christian stalled, insisting that referee Tim Kordaris conduct a thorough inspection of Benoit and Jericho for international objects and regulation gear. Edge and Christian took advantage of the opening to attack their opponents, and the match began. Once order was restored, Edge and Jericho started out. Edge dominated until Jericho caught Edge as he attempted a leapfrog and Jericho powerbombed him down. Jericho remained on the offensive until Edge blocked the Lionsault by raising his knees. Edge tagged in Christian, who immediately went off the top to score a two count. After hitting a head scissors, Christian copied Jericho's cocky pin and flex for another two count. Christian continued his heelish offense until Jericho caught him with a back elbow and then the springboard dropkick. Christian got up but was knocked down by a right hand. Edge ran in to prevent the tag but Jericho threw him over the top rope. Edge and Christian were both on the outside when Y2J finally made the tag to Benoit, who immediately executed a tope to the outside, taking out E and C. Back inside, Christian tagged in Edge, but Benoit was still fresh and worked Edge over with such staples as a Snap Suplex, Hooking Clothesline, and chops in the corner. When Benoit went for a German Suplex, Edge clung to the top rope and used a back kick to hit the Rabid Wolverine with a low blow. Edge planted Benoit with a DDT, then went up top and nailed a Missile Dropkick. As Benoit tried to stand, Edge stalked him from behind and hit him with the Edge-O-Matic for a two count. Edge dropped two elbows on Benoit but missed the attempted third. Christian came in but Benoit avoided him and the former inadvertently knocked Edge out of the ring. Jericho came in and he and Benoit set up Christian for a double superplex, which they pulled off. Edge slid back into the ring with a couple of chairs and tried setting up for a Conchairto on Benoit; Jericho came from behind, turned Edge around, and hit him with his Enziguri. Edge crashed to the mat. Kordaris sent Jericho back outside. Benoit caught Edge in the Sharpshooter, but Christian was able to come in and break up the hold. Jericho came in, clotheslined Christian over the top rope, and followed up with a springboard plancha to the outside. Benoit suplexed Edge at mid-ring and went up for the headbutt, but Edge moved and Benoit collided hard with the canvas. Edge dragged himself to the corner and distracted Kordaris by complaining to him about Jericho's brawling with Christian on the outside. Meanwhile, Rhyno hit the ring and Gored an unsuspecting Benoit! Rhyno made his escape, and then Edge turned back to Benoit. He quickly put on the Edgecution and pinned Benoit! Jericho checked on Benoit, who was favoring his ribs, while Rhyno "suddenly" appeared to congratulate E&C.

-Backstage, Kevin Kelly interviewed Eddie Guerrero, who had news which would impact his upcoming match with Test. Guerrero shook his head and revealed that the negligent airline had misdirected his suitcase, which contained his European Championship. He feared he would not be able to put the belt on the line against Test. Guerrero's "helpful" comrades Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko then appeared and told Latino Heat that they had found his European Title in the locker room; it was all a false alarm! His plans foiled by his clueless teammates, Eddie feigned relief.

3 -- WWF European Champion Eddie Guerrero def. Test via pinfall to retain the title. Guerrero offered Test a handshake before the match. Test pondered his next move, and went through with the handshake, squeezing Eddie's hand hard. Latino Heat yelled out in pain and retreated to the corner as Test and the crowd laughed. Eddie then moved to initiate a collar and elbow tie up, but kicked Test before the lockup. Eddie worked over Test with European Uppercuts and even a series of Suplexes on the bigger man. Latino Heat did his typical boot scrape, and then the slingshot senton. He covered for a two count. With Test back on his feet, Eddie ran the ropes but Test intercepted him with a Gutwrench Bomb for his first near-fall. Test picked up Eddie for a Snake Eyes but Eddie slipped out and dropkicked Test from behind into the turnbuckle. He draped Test by the neck over the top rope and then leapt to the outside, pulling Test's head down while doing so. Guerrero strutted on the outside while Test sold a throat injury inside. Back in the ring, the competitors tied up again. Eddie used his quickness to get behind Test. He attempted an ambitious German Suplex, but Test ended up reaching around, lifting Eddie up and to the side, and executing a Belly to Back. Test sent Eddie into the ropes and took him down with the Big Boot. Another two count. Test signaled to the crowd, indicating that he was planning on his Pumphandle Slam. He set Eddie up, but the agile Guerrero rolled through with a somersault and caught Test in an unexpected head scissors. Eddie went up top for a crossbody, but Test caught him and slammed him for another two. Test then decided to take to the air himself; he went up for the diving elbow. Guerrero picked himself up, though, and crotched Test on the top turnbuckle. Latino Heat was able to pull off a Superplex. Following a quick taunt, Guerrero pulled off the Frogsplash and scored the pinfall. Guerrero strutted with his European Championship after the victory.

-Michael Cole had a word with Triple H backstage. Hunter reiterated his main talking point from RAW: the match against Kane tonight would constitute a mercy killing.

4 -- Raven def. The Big Show in a Hardcore Match via pinfall to earn a shot at Kane's Hardcore Championship. Big Show entered first, but was attacked from behind on the ramp by Raven, who smashed a large oar on the back of Show's head; Boston is, after all, a harbor town. JR reminded viewers that, before being Chokeslammed through the Spanish announce table on RAW, Raven made a point of stating that he was amoral and would have no problem going to extremes to defeat the Big Show. Raven choked Big Show on the ramp with the handle of the oar. The tide turned when Show's size prevented Raven from being able to legsweep him onto the guardrail. Show elbowed Raven and then delivered a sidewalk slam then and there on the ramp. Now at ringside, Big Show obtained a chain from under the ring and wrapped it around his fist before delivering a hideous right hand to Raven's face. Raven sold it as if he'd suffered broken bones. Show then press slammed his opponent into the ring. He threw a trash can into the ring before entering himself. Big Show telegraphed an elbow drop and was slow to get up. Raven caught his breath and was able to pick up the trash can. Show sat up, and Raven placed the trash can atop Show's head and kicked it. Show collapsed on the mat, allowing Raven to do more damage, this time hitting a baseball slide dropkick with the trash can position on the big man's head. Raven obtained the chain, removed the trash can from Show's head, and wrapped the chain around Big Show's throat. Raven simply tugged on the chain, choking Big Show. JR termed this "sadistic." Raven tried setting the kneeling Big Show up for a modified Raven Effect DDT, but Big Show used his brute strength to take Raven off his feet. Raven got up and went at Show; Show promptly clotheslined Raven out of the ring. Raven retreated up the ramp and Show gave chase. Back on the entrance, Show chopped Raven off his feet. He signalled for the Chokeslam, but a Raven drop toehold brought Show to his knees once again. The lethargic Show slowly stood, but Raven was waiting with a thrust kick. Show tried desperately to maintain his balance, but his positioning was too precarious, and he plummeted from the stage through a conveniently-placed table below! Announcers and crowd alike were stunned. "My God!" cried JR. "The foundation of the Baltimore Arena is shaking!" Raven appeared a bit surprised as well. Both he and Mike Chioda headed down to the wreckage. Chioda was concerned for Show's condition, but Raven simply covered his opponent with a vertical press and ordered Chioda to count to three. Raven returned to the top of the ramp, standing tall while medics and officials tended to the Big Show, whose condition was very much uncertain.

-A video package documenting Goldust's past aired, perhaps giving newer viewers a primer on the character. Highlights included moments from the feuds with Roddy Piper, Brian Pillman, The Meros, and Val Venis; various title victories; and the Artist Formerly Known as Goldust era.

5 -- WWF Intercontinental Champion William Regal def. Goldust via pinfall to retain the title. Regal came out first. Goldust then made his return in full regalia. When Goldust arrived in the ring, he hit one of his trademark, controversial poses; Regal proceeded to complain to referee Jack Doan. A collar and elbow tie up began the match. Goldust backed Regal into the corner. Regal hit an uppercut, but Goldust reciprocated with one of his own, stunning the Commish. Goldust took Regal off his feet with an elbow right to the forehead. Goldust wore Regal down with an inverted atomic drop and a bulldog and scored a near-fall. Regal bailed to the outside to stall. Goldust chased Regal, who rolled back into the ring. When Goldust reentered, Regal was waiting for him with a knee strike. Regal got a one count. He proceeded with a neck breaker and double underhook suplex for another nearfall. Goldust blocked a series of right hands and hit Regal with a side slam. Two count. Goldust sent Regal into the ropes and met him with a Clothesline. Goldust set up for a Curtain Call, but Regal countered with another neck breaker. Regal followed up with a Butterfly Suplex and floatover, but Goldust again kicked out. Regal whipped Goldust into the corner. Regal moved to work Goldust over, but Goldust kicked Regal in the gut. After a couple more Goldust uppercuts, Regal staggered and inadvertently knocked Doan down. Goldust bounced off the ropes and nailed Regal with the old Butt Bump, sending Regal back into the corner. Regal was vulnerable, and so Goldust tied Regal's legs up in the ropes in preparation for Shattered Dreams! Goldust backed into the opposite corner to get a running start. The crowd eagerly anticipated the move, while Regal's facial expression conveyed an appropriate sense of horrific dread. Suddenly, though, Terri crept into the corner behind Goldust and hit him with a low blow of her own from behind! Terri slithered out of the ring. Regal disentangled himself and revived Doan. He then went over to the compromised Goldust, picked him up, and dropped him with the Union Jack Neckbreaker. Doan counted the fall. Post-match, Terri handed Regal the Intercontinental Championship. She then laughed in her unconscious ex-husband's face. Terri left with Regal, who had no objection...

-An ambulance was shown leaving the arena, taking Big Show to the nearest hospital for treatment.

-Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and Ivory made their way to the ring. There, Stephanie repeated what she had expressed on RAW: there would be no tag team match because of Chyna's "unfortunate accident." Steph insisted that she was as disappointed as (if not moreso than) the fans. The crowd chanted "slut." Ivory took the mic and scolded the crowd, noting that that sort of behavior is precisely what the RTC is attempting to correct. Stephanie reflected that, as the daughter of one of the most powerful business moguls in the world, she had been "misunderstood" all her life and was used to it. She then suggested to Ivory that they go "grab a cup of coffee," alluding to Chyna's "accident." The heels cackled. Trish Stratus's music then began. Trish came to the ramp looking especially easy on the eyes. She said it seemed Stephanie and Ivory were suffering from a serious misconception. "It's takes a lot more than a pot of coffee to prevent the Ninth Wonder of the World from kicking ass and taking names." Immediately, Chyna's entrance began and she and Trish powerwalked to the ring. Steph and Ivory were terrified. Chyna's neck and back were bandaged where she suffered burns on RAW.

6 -- Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley & Ivory def. Trish Stratus and WWF Women's Champion Chyna via pinfall. Stephanie quickly sacrificed Ivory, shoving her into Chyna as soon as Chyna hit the ring. Steph retreated to her corner. Chyna took Ivory down with a clothesline and powerslam. She dropped an elbow and went for a quick cover, getting the two count. Chyna dared Stephanie to tag in. Back on her feet, Ivory threw some punches but they were blocked. Chyna sent Ivory into the ropes and caught her with a kick and DDT. Chyna tagged Trish in. Trish went for a kick; Ivory caught Trish's boot. Trish countered back with an Enziguri. Ivory crawled her corner and tagged in Stephanie, who was not eager to enter the ring. Trish encouraged the fans to continue their "slut" chants. Stephanie attacked from behind, yanking on Trish's hair. Tim White ultimately had to pull Stephanie off at Trish. Stephanie and Trish had a staredown. Trish then charged and took down SMH with a Thesz Press, following up with several mounted punches. Stephanie laid weeping in the middle of the ring. Trish pointed at Chyna and the crowd popped as the latter was finally tagged in. When Steph saw Chyna approaching, she desperately tried to make it Ivory for the tag, but Chyna grabbed Stephanie by the legs and dragged her back to mid-ring. Chyna picked up Stephanie and dropped her with a nice backbreaker. Chyna went for the pin but Ivory broke it up. Chyna turned her attention to Ivory, whipping her into the corner and climbing up onto the middle rope for a series of ten punches. Stephanie rolled to the outside and proceeded to locate her husband's trusty sledgehammer under the ring! Chyna, in the meantime, dumped Ivory on the outside. Referee White checked on Ivory. Stephanie then snuck into the ring and blasted Chyna on the back of her head with the weapon! Steph tossed the weapon back to the outside. Trish tried alerting White to what had happened, but when he saw legal competitor Steph making the pin on Chyna, he counted 1, 2, 3. Stephanie celebrated as if she'd won the WWF Championship. She then returned to the prone Chyna and began removing her bandages. Trish came in for the save, but Ivory, getting back in the ring, nailed Trish with a side kick, taking her down. Steph and Ivory kicked at Chyna's wounds until officials pulled the she-devils off.

-JR and Paul Heyman digested the evening's action so far. JR observed that the good guys were having a rough go of it.

7 -- The Dudley Boyz def. Steven Richards & Val Venis via pinfall. The action started when the Dudleys, who entered second, promptly dumped both of their opponents out of the ring. Richards called on the Dudleys to be disqualified, but the match proceeded. D-Von started out against Venis and enjoyed an early advantage, getting a two count after his hangman's neckbreaker. Venis turned the tide with a knee strike to D-Von's face. After a Russian Leg Sweep and knee drop, Val tagged in Richards. Richards stomped away on D-Von and mockingly implored him to "testify." Richards nailed some closed-fist punches and then his sitout facebuster for a nearfall. Richards sent D-Von into the ropes; D-Von ducked a clothesline and slammed Richards. D-Von went to make the tag but Richards got to him just in time to prevent it. Richards tagged Venis back in; Val immediately executed a Fisherman Suplex. D-Von kicked out at two. Val locked D-Von in an abdominal stretch. Bubba rallied the crowd, and D-Von powered out, clotheslining Venis over the top rope and knocking down Richards when he ran into the ring, as well! D-Von made the hot tag, and the Dudleys once more cleaned house. Bubba outpowered Venis as the action continued. Venis regained control with a surprise back elbow. He stomped away on Bubba. Val attempted to force Bubba to submit to a leglock, but Bubba refused. Venis dropped another knee and got a two count. He then tagged in Richards. Richards snapmared Bubba and choked him. When Bubba got back to a vertical base, Richards attempted the Steven Kick! Bubba caught the boot, though, and swept Richards off his feet. Bubba picked Steven up by the hair and powerbombed him. Venis ran in but was backdropped out of the ring. Bubba hit a series of punches and then an elbow right to Richards's forehead in tribute to Dusty Rhodes. Bubba yelled for D-Von to get the tables, which is exactly what D-Von did. Moments later, D-Von hoisted Richards up in the air and Bubba was waiting, completing his end of the 3D as he drove Richard's head through the table; referee Jim Cordaris was feeling charitable and did not dq the Dudleys for the use of said object. Bubba picked up the three count and the crowd popped.

-In the back, Kevin Kelly interviewed The Rock. Kelly asked Rock how unbelievable it was that Mr. McMahon and Stone Cold were on the same page. After mocking Kelly, Rock admitted that it was a jaw-dropper. He said things change. But what would always remain the same was that he was the most electrifying man in Sports-Entertainment. Tonight he would regain his WWF Championship in front of the millions and millions of his fans. He would also take Stone Cold's "sugar daddy" Mr. McMahon, turn him sideways, and stick him straight up Austin's candyass. Kelly then asked about The Undertaker. Rock didn't want to hear excuses for Undertaker's actions on RAW. He simply said that The Great One always repays his debts.

8 -- Triple H def. WWF Hardcore Champion Kane in a non-title match via pinfall. Following entrances, The Game and Kane came face-to-face in the ring. HHH shoved Kane, who pushed back, sending Hunter to the canvas. Triple H got up but was sent into the ropes by Kane, who delivered an early big boot. Triple H, frustrated, rolled to the outside. Kane climbed over the top rope and went after his opponent. Triple H showed no hesitation in grabbing a chair and blasting Kane with it. Kane staggered backward. Triple H went to smash Kane again with a running start, but Kane caught him with a boot, and so the chair crashed right into the Cerebral Assassin's face. Kane threw Triple H over the guardrail and the two men exchanged blows in the crowd. Triple H elbowed Kane in the stomach and clotheslined him back over the guardrail. Triple H then grabbed the ringsteps. Kane took a drop toe hold from Triple H, landing on his face on the steps. HHH tossed Kane back into the ring. Once back inside himself, HHH dropped a knee right on the face of the Big Red Machine. He went for a pin but Kane powered out. HHH was disturbed by the vigor with which Kane did so, and therefore stayed on the offensive. As Kane got to his feet, Triple H performed his Harley Race knee lift. Kane tried maintaining a vertical base; HHH bounced off the ropes and hit Kane with a neckbreaker. HHH executed a series of mounted punches. Triple H then stood on one of the top turnbuckles and talked trash to the crowd, again launching into his ranting about Kane being a freak. Just as HHH turned back to his opponent, Kane sat up! HHH's eyes widened. He whipped Kane into the ropes but Kane didn't budge when the Game tried to clothesline him. Three HHH right hands were rejected, and Kane picked up HHH in a Sidewalk Slam. He scored a two-count. Kane picked Triple H up and knocked him over several times with uppercuts. Kane sent Triple H into the turnbuckle and he collapsed in the middle of the ring. Kane then went up top and flew threw the air with a clothesline that connected with its target! Another nearfall for Kane. Kane decided then that it was time for retribution, and he clotheslined Triple H over the top rope. After joining Trips outside, Kane sent HHH headfirst into the ringsteps. Standing on the steps, Kane catapulted HHH into the steel turnbuckle post! Triple H lay prone on the outside. Kane removed the protective mat from the ringside area, exposing the bare concrete. Kane seemed to indicate that something big was to follow. Mike Chioda tried reasoning with Kane. Kane, in no mood for discussion, shoved the ref away. Kane picked up Triple H and set him up for a hellacious Tombstone on the outside. Triple H was able to roll through and escape. He took Kane off his feet by grabbing the back of Kane's legs. Triple H then brought the ringsteps down on Kane's skull. While Kane was rendered motionless, HHH caught his breath. HHH again sent Kane back into the ring. The Game covered for a two count. HHH sent the limp Kane into the ropes and locked on the Sleeper. Kane escaped the move at the count of 8 by reaching his arm around and lifting up HHH in a Tilt-a-Whirl Slam. Both men were down on the mat but managed to stand up before the count of ten. Triple H was able to hit Kane first with a kick to the midsection. He went for the Pedigree but Kane backdropped him. When Triple H stood, Kane was waiting for him with a chokehold. Triple H pulled off a desperation jawbreaker to put the kibosh on a possible chokeslam. Triple H punched Kane. He took the monster off his feet with a double leg takedown, and put on a Figure Four! Chioda asked Kane if he wanted to submit. The camera then panned to the entrance, where Paul Bearer had appeared! Bearer walked to ringside carrying his urn. JR noted that Triple H's threats of a "mercy killing" of Kane seemed to have brought the latter's father back to the World Wrestling Federation. Bearer stood at ringside. Kane reached the ropes and Triple H was compelled to break the submission. Triple H measured Kane as the latter picked himself up. HHH attempted a Spinebuster, but Kane grabbed him in another chokehold. Triple H fought back desperately, but Kane drilled him with a Chokeslam! Before going for the cover, Kane noticed his father at ringside. Paul Bearer applauded Kane's efforts. He stood on the apron. Kane approached his father, surprised by his presence. Just when Kane got close enough, Bearer lifted the urn and drilled it straight into Kane's face! Kane stumbled backward in shock and collapsed on the mat. Bearer stepped off the apron. Triple H regained his wits. When Kane stood, trying to comprehend what had happened, HHH was waiting for him. A kick to the gut preceded a successful Pedigree. Triple H pinned Kane! Paul Bearer appeared satisfied. He returned to the ring apron and handed Triple H the urn. Triple H brought Kane to a sitting position in the corner and drove the heavy, unforgiving object into his skull a number of times. "This isn't a mercy killing!" JR cried. "This is a massacre, dammit!" Triple H left Kane in a pathetic heap. Bearer remained for a minute or two, looking down at his son with shame and revulsion.

-A brief video recapping the formation of The Coalition and the trouble they've caused The Rock and The Undertaker aired.

9 -- World Wrestling Federation Champion "Stone Cold" Steve Austin def. The Rock and The Undertaker in a Triple Threat match to retain the title when he pinned The Rock. Rock entered first, followed by The Undertaker. They stood at opposite ends of the ring as Stone Cold's music began. Once in the ring, Austin rubbed the WWF Championship in both opponents' faces. Rock and Undertaker responded by hitting Austin with simultaneous punches. Austin then bounced back and forth between Rock and Undertaker as they took turns hitting him with right hands. In the corner, Rock hit Austin with his mudhole stomps. Tired of watching, Undertaker walked over, moved Rock aside, and went after Austin with vicious punches. Rock took exception to Undertaker's interruption and the two exchanged words. Austin, meanwhile, pulled himself up. He clotheslined Rock down and then kicked and punched at Undertaker. Austin charged at Undertaker but ate a big boot. Undertaker picked up Austin and slammed him, following up with a running legdrop. Undertaker went for the cover but Rock factored back in at this time and broke up the pin. Austin rolled to the outside while Undertaker and Rock went nose to nose. They exchanged punches. Undertaker bounced off the ropes; Rock ducked a clothesline and executed his fluid DDT. Rock covered Undertaker but Austin pulled Rock off from the outside. Rock and Austin exchanged blows down below. Undertaker, meanwhile, looked to the crowd and then got extreme, hurling himself over the top rope onto both of his stunned opponents with a body press! All three men were down. Austin pulled himself up and returned to the ring to avoid his opponents. Undertaker then climbed back into the squared circle. Austin met him with a Thesz Press and mounted punches, followed then by some stiff kicks. Austin covered for a two count. Austin flipped off the crowd and spat on The Undertaker. Austin went to the middle rope for his diving elbow. Undertaker moved to avoid the move! Undertaker took Austin off his feet with a punch. It was then time to go Old School, as he walked the ropes and dropped an axe handle blow on Austin! Undertaker covered Stone Cold, but Rock was back. He pulled Taker off of Austin and proceeded to cover Austin himself! Undertaker returned Rock's favor by pulling him off. Face-to-face, Undertaker lunged at Rock; Rock ducked and pulled off an impressive Samoan Drop. Two count. When Undertaker regained a vertical base, Rock was waiting to Lay the Smack Down with four punches. Rock turned around, where Austin was waiting with a Spinebuster. With Rock down, Austin turned his attention to the American Bad Ass, stomping him a few times. He dropped a couple of elbows on Undertaker's knees. He was softening him up before locking on a half crab. Undertaker refused to submit. When he was standing again, Austin kicked away at Undertaker, forcing him on the outside. Rock returned, drilling Austin with a DDT. Rock then worked to put on the Sharpshooter! Austin, well-acquainted with the move, positioned himself so as to foil the attempt. With both men standing, Austin sent Rock into the ropes and back body dropped him. Austin lifted Rock's legs and stomped him in the gut a couple of times. When he tried continuing, through, Rock grabbed Austin's legs and forced him off his feet. Rock stomped away at Austin, and then looked to the crowd. They knew what this meant. Rock peeled off his elbowpad and threw it into the stands. As he ran the ropes, though, Shawn Michaels made his way to ringside. The Coalition member tripped The Rock from ringside before Rock could hit the WWF Champion with the Rock Bottom! Rock was flat on his face. The heelish Michaels grinned and shrugged, but Undertaker was standing right behind him! HBK turned around and Undertaker grabbed him by the throat. There was nothing Michaels could do; he took a Chokeslam! HBK was out cold. Austin went to the outside and Pearl Harbored Undertaker. They brawled around ringside. Rock stood in the ring and again connected with the crowd, hinting that he was ready to wrap this up. This prompted Mr. McMahon to strut to ringside. Michaels remained unconscious and Taker and Stone Cold continued their brawl. McMahon entered the ring before Rock could join the fray on the outside. McMahon, overconfident, moved to hit Rock with a right hand, but Rock immediately caught the Chairman with Rock Bottom! He then ran the ropes once more, and-- People's Elbow! As is his habit, Vince sold the move as if he'd been electrocuted. He rolled to the outside. Undertaker hit Stone Cold with a big boot on the outside. Undertaker returned to the ring. Rock attempted a Rock Bottom on Undertaker, but Taker countered with a reverse Russian Legsweep. Undertaker signalled for a tombstone. The Rattlesnake hit the ring, though, and, using the WWF Championship as a battering ram, sent Undertaker back over the top rope. Austin proceeded to attempt a cover on Rock; Rock slid his foot under the bottom rope. Austin bickered with Earl Hebner. Rock pulled himself in the corner. Austin then turned back to him. He kicked Austin in the stomach. He turned around, grabbing Rock's head for a Stunned, but Rock shoved him away! Austin charged at Rock and took a Spinebuster. Austin got up and walked right into Rock, who was positioned for a Rock Bottom! Austin, not unprepared, dropped Rock with a Stunner as a counter! He went for the cover; Undertaker dropped an elbow on Austin to break it up. Austin was rocked by a high-elevation Undertaker DDT. Undertaker picked Rock up. Rock began fighting back with punches. Undertaker bounced off the ropes for a clothesline on Rock, but Rock floated over-- Rock Bottom! Before going for the pin, Rock played to the crowd, which was going crazy. Austin reappeared, though, and executed one more Stunner. He went for the pin on Rock, and got it!

Michaels and McMahon limped into the ring to celebrate with Stone Cold. Rock and Undertaker were down and out outside. The PPV concluded with JR observing that The Coalition continued to hold all of the cards. Austin, McMahon, The Game, HBK, and Stephanie -- is there any way they can be stopped?!

Match Results and Overall Ratings

Lightheavyweight Championship: Crash © (w/Molly) def. Dean Malenko (74%)

Tag Team Championship: Edge & Christian © def. Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit (91%)

European Championship: Eddie Guerrero © def. Test (74%)

Hardcore Match: Raven def. The Big Show (69%)

Intercontinental Championship: William Regal © def. Goldust (83%)

Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley & Ivory def. Chyna & Trish Stratus (66%)

The Dudley Boyz def. Steven Richards & Val Venis (76%)

Triple H def. WWF Hardcore Champion Kane (85%)

WWF Championship Triple Threat: Stone Cold © def. The Rock and The Undertaker (87%)

[show Overall = 79%]

Hosted by Joey Styles, Mike Tenay, and Jerry Lawler

Poughkeepsie, NY

April 26, 2001

A FLAIR FOR THE DRAMATIC

Nitro was red hot from the get-go this week as the program opened with Goldberg facing Shawn "The Star" Stasiak in singles competition. The match had been signed as a result of Stasiak's involvement the previous week in the Goldberg-Ric Flair #1 Contendorship Match. Stasiak's interference at the behest of the Nature Boy had been completely unsuccessful, but Goldberg wanted the second generation star one-on-one nevertheless. Stasiak taunted Goldberg as they came face to face in the ring. Jerry "The King" Lawler wondered on commentary if Stasiak had a death wish when he slapped Goldberg in the center of the ring. Goldberg paused, took a deep breath, and shoved Stasiak to the mat with authority! Stasiak picked himself up but was immediately Speared and soon Jackhammered. It was over in a flash! As the crowd chanted for Goldberg in the aftermath of the destruction, Joey Styles observed that Da Man has never looked stronger as his Clash of the Champions World Title shot looms.

Following the commercial break, Thus Spake Zarathustra brought the beet-red Ric Flair powerwalking to the ring. Upon arriving at mid-ring, Flair noted on the mic that he wasn't scheduled for an interview. After all, he said, this is a "new era" in World Championship Wrestling. He said everyone was supposed to forget Ric Flair. They were supposed to forget Ric Flair and buy into Bill Goldberg and Booker T. Before continuing, Flair took time out to blast a fan he referred to as "Fat Boy" for jeering at him. Flair acknowledged that it is Goldberg, not he, who is going to the Clash to challenge Booker T for the World Heavyweight Title, but Flair said none of that matters. He declared himself a legend, and said he has lived and continues to live a lifestyle that neither Goldberg nor Booker T to could ever dream of living. He said he had women, money, and the knowledge that he is the greatest wrestler the sport of professional wrestling has ever known. "Whoo!" he said. He had nothing to prove, he argued, and went on to say that a fluke loss to the marketing department's golden boy meant nothing. He reminded Goldberg, Shane McMahon, and all of the other politicians in the back that he is the Dirtiest Player in the Game and that he is an indestructible institution. Flair threw off his Armani jacket and claimed that if it weren't for him, there would be no WCW for Shane McMahon to have as his play toy and to pay the bills for Goldberg and Booker T. The furious rant was then interrupted by the music and pyro of World and US Heavyweight Champion Booker T! Booker, wearing his new "Don't Hate the Playa" tee-shirt, stepped onto the ramp with his title belts. The Champ established first and foremost that he respected Ric Flair. He knew that it was the Ric Flairs, Arn Andersons, Terry Funks, and Harley Races of the world who built the sport and the company. But he said that if there was one thing he learned growing up on 110th Street in Harlem, it was that talk is cheap. Flair interjected that "everything" is cheap on 110th St. in Harlem. Booker warned Flair that the respect he had for the Nature Boy would only get him so far. Booker T said he wasn't in WCW to ride on anybody's coattails, saying he was prepared to shed blood, sweat, and tears night in and night out. He said Ric Flair had a score to settle with him, and he had a score to settle with Ric Flair. "We ain't gonna settle it by havin' a chat," Booker noted. Flair told Booker that it would be a fatal mistake to step out of his league. Booker replied that he's not simply asking -- he's demanding a match with Ric Flair on Nitro! Flair told Booker that if he wanted to go to school, he'd be happy to oblige. "I suggest you get ready for the fight of your life, my friend. Whoo!" nodded Flair. "It's on, Sucka," Booker said. "It's on tonight."

And so it came to pass that Booker locked up with one of his wrestling idols in the non-title main event. Early on, the competitors engaged in a battle of knife-edged chops. Ring general Flair isolated Booker in the corner with an abdominal stretch, yanking on the ropes for leverage. When Nick Patrick noticed Flair bending the rules, he ordered that the hold be broken. When Booker approached Flair again to tie up, Flair went to the eye poke. He sent Booker down with a right hand, and then tossed the Playa over the top rope. Flair then went to work on the outside, weakening him with a suplex. Flair then tried sending Booker into the ringside barrier. Booker reversed, however, and send Flair into the guardrail. Flair then fled from the champion; when Booker caught up with the Nature Boy, the latter pleaded with Booker to resist the urge to take a shot at him. Booker looked to the crowd for approval and took Flair down despite his begging! Booker then sent Flair back into the ring. Flair lunged at Booker, who caught Flair and drove his head into the turnbuckle ten times with the crowd counting along as dictated by tradition. Flair flopped face first onto the mat. Booker sent Naitch into the ropes; Spinebuster! He went for the cover but Slick Ric slid his foot under the bottom rope before the three count. Booker refused to give Flair an inch. He brought him to his feet, kneed him in the midsection, and hit the Scissors Kick. As usual, this was followed by the Spineroonie! Booker looked to connect with the Harlem Sidekick, but Flair wisely dropped to the mat in order to avoid the move. Flair took Booker off his feet with a legsweep. Flair hit three of his nasty-looking kneedrops and got a two-count. Sending Booker into the ropes, he then applied the Sleeper. Booker became drowsy, but rallied the fans behind him; he eventually broke the hold with a neckbreaker! Booker went for a belly to back suplex and pinning combination, but somehow Flair powered out. When both men were back on their feet, Flair bounced off the ropes and attempted a right hand, but Booker hit a high elevation back bodydrop! Flair got up and took a second backdrop. Booker sent Flair into the ropes once more, and finally hit that Sidekick. He then gave the fans the signal, and went up top -- Missile Dropkick time! Flair was in perfect position and it looked as though Booker was on his way to the pay window. Just as Booker prepared to come off the top turnbuckle, Kanyon appeared at the ringside area with a chair; he took aim from the ring apron and nailed Booker T on the back! Kanyon and Booker, as you'll recall, have had problems for weeks. Booker collapsed into the ring as Nick Patrick called for the bell, awarding Booker the match via DQ. There was nothing Patrick could do, however, to prevent Kanyon and Flair from proceeding to work over the World/US Champion, taking turns stomping away at him. Finally, relief came in the form of the #1 Contender! Goldberg hit the ring; Kanyon took a Spear while Flair made an escape in record time. Flair and Kanyon made themselves scarce while Goldberg helped the badly-beaten Booker T to his feet. Booker propped himself up in the corner. As he went eye-to-eye with Goldberg, the man he would be facing at the Clash, Joey Styles informed us that we were out of time!

JOKE'S OVER

Shane McMahon has claimed that WCW is home to the world's greatest wrestling talent, and the match on Nitro between master technicians Kurt Angle and Ultimo Dragon could certainly be used to back up Shane's claims. This chain-wrestling encounter evinced the fact that, while he may be one obnoxious guy, Kurt Angle is also an amazing athlete. One particular high point came when the Dragon executed a beautiful Asai Moonsault from the ring onto Angle on the outside. Indeed, it seemed at times as though Angle had underestimated his seasoned, well-traveled opponent. In one instance, Angle went for his patented Angle Slam only to find the move countered with the Dragon Sleeper! Angle only narrowly escaped that devastating submission by squatting down and reaching blindly for the ropes, which he was fortunate enough to find. Dragon stayed on top of Angle with stiff kicks, and even attempted his Tiger Suplex. Angle avoided the move with a standing switch, following up with a Belly to Belly suplex. Angle quickly tried applying the Ankle Lock, but Dragon rolled through on the attempt. Once he returned to a vertical base, he connected with a dropkick! After more catch-as-catch-can action, Angle dropped Dragon on the back of his neck with a textbook German Suplex. From there, he nailed a successful Angle Slam, and locked on the Ankle Lock. This time, Dragon could find no escape, and he tapped out. Despite the superior athletic quality of the match, Angle showed anything but sportsman-like behavior afterward; despite the submission and referee Charles Robinson's repeated calls for the bell, Angle refused to break his submission hold on Dragon! Mike Tenay rightly noted that Angle could easily end up snapping the Dragon's ankle and putting him on the shelf for months. One man who has had more than his fill of Angle's narcissistic, disrespectful conduct is Sting, and The Franchise did rush to the ring to accost Angle when officials and agents found no success in trying to convince him to break the Ankle Lock. When Angle spotted Sting sprinting to the ring, Angle "made like a banana and split," as The King put it. Angle backed off with a look of disgust in his eyes. Sting, shaking his head, turned to the Dragon to assess his co-worker's condition. But things didn't draw to a close there. The jealous, ill-tempered Angle slid back into the ring while Sting was otherwise occupied, and put Sting in the Ankle Lock from behind! Sting appeared to be in agonizing pain, but did not go so far as to tap. In the end, it took the cooperative effort of agents Arn Anderson, Terry Taylor, and Fit Finlay and referee Charles Robinson to force Angle off of the Stinger and to the back. Said Styles: "It's official. Kurt Angle has now taken this too damn far."

THE JUICE IS LOOSE

"The Chosen One" Jeff Jarrett had something to say on Nitro, and the speculation was that the former WCW Champion would address the challenge issued last week by Rob Van Dam. In the ring, Jarrett asserted that it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why Shane McMahon had pushed so hard for RVD to sign with WCW: he wanted to run The Chosen One out of the company. Jarrett said he wasn't going anywhere; "This is my world," he told RVD. He acknowledged the challenge Van Dam issued last week, and Jarrett announced that he was ready to respond. Unlike RVD, however, he wasn't afraid to conduct his business face-to-face; he called WCW's newest acquisition out to the ring to set the time and place for their match. RVD, now being called "Mr. Thursday Night" by some, answered Jarrett's call. Jarrett continued to taunt the nonchalant Van Dam as he walked down the aisle. "Let's get this done," Jarrett said. Rob struck his pose in the ring and then went nose-to-nose with Jarrett. "You want a match?" Jarrett asked. "Anytime, anyplace," replied RVD. Jarrett told RVD there was something he had to learn if he expected to survive in WCW. "Don't piss me off!" Suddenly, Juventud Guerrera and Psicosis were at ringside. Both men hopped onto the ring apron and each mounted a turnbuckle. When RVD turned around and became aware of the intrusion, Juvi and Psicosis took to the air with a double dropkick that took RVD off his feet. Van Dam picked himself up, prepared to fight, but Jarrett was waiting for him and shattered his trusty guitar right over RVD's skull. Jarrett once again grabbed the mic. "Newsflash, Rob: You're not the only 'high-flying daredevil' in the locker room. Now you know." Jarrett left, quite satisfied, with his luchadore associates in tow.

A SLAP IN THE FACE

It was a welcome return when Torrie Wilson appeared last week on Nitro, and this week, Torrie was set to discuss her career plans for the New WCW. Torrie told the fans she was thrilled to be back; as far as she was concerned, the sky was the limit in terms of what was to come. Torrie was unable to elaborate, because sirens began and Big Poppa Pump and Stacy Keibler made their way down from the entrance; they didn't look happy. As they stepped into the ring, Torrie maintained her sense of humor, noting that they must be upset about the results so far in the WCW.com magazine cover voting; after all, Torrie was beating Stacy -- by a very wide margin. Stacy abruptly grabbed Torrie's mic. "Do we look amused to you?" Stacy asked. Torrie shrugged. Steiner grabbed the mic and let Torrie know that "when you insult Big Poppa Pump's freak, you insult the Big Bad Booty Daddy himself." Steiner then grabbed an unsuspecting Torrie; he restrained her while Stacy hauled off and delivered a vicious slap to her foe. Steiner dropped Torrie to the floor, and the so-called Power Couple left the ring together. Torrie was still in shock and tried pulling herself together. Big Poppa Pump turned back with one final thing to add. "The bad news for everybody in the back is that Big Poppa Pump is thisclose to getting his medical clearance," he said. Stacy continued. "You picked this fight, Torrie, and now we're going to give you the chance to finish it. You choose anyone -- anyone you want, and bring them to the Clash of the Champions. Your guy vs. my guy. I know how it'll end. Do you?" Scotty and Stacy continued their walk to the back. Scorned, Torrie seemed somewhat intrigued by Stacy's proposal...

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

When we last saw "Undeniable" Mike Sanders, he was caught up in a pull-apart brawl with Diamond Dallas Page in the middle of the crowd. Sanders reappeared this week. As he walked down the aisle, Sanders reacted with disgust when a fan in the front row was able to reach out and touch him. Sanders demanded a towel from a production assistant and wiped off the fan's germs. Chatty guy that he is, Sanders could not resist the urge to make a few remarks before his scheduled match. Sanders noted that, as former Commissioner, he has connections in the back, and had his "homeboys" in the production truck air footage of Diamond Dallas Page's remarks the week before. Page had promised to make Sanders feel the bang on Nitro. Sanders called Page's bluff, stating that the sad fact was that Page simply could not deliver anymore. "And another thing," Sanders said. Alas, before he could enlighten us, Hugh Morrus made his entrance shaking his head. Morrus entered the ring and swiped Sanders's mic. "Do you ever shut--the hell--up?" asked the big guy. Sanders frowned and then threw a right hand which was blocked. Morrus knocked Sanders down with a shot of his own and the match began. Sanders found himself being tossed around mercilessly by The Laughing Man. Still, he had the physical reserves to kick out following a Gorilla Press Slam. Later, Sanders charged at Morrus, who countered with a powerslam. Morrus went up top; it was time for the No Laughing Matter! Morrus pulled off the impressive Moonsault, but Sanders had been playing possum. Morrus connected with nothing but canvas. Morrus slowly got to his feet and Sanders immediately went for the Sunset Flip. Sanders pinned Hugh, but only with a handful of tights. While Morrus tried to shake off his disorientation, David Penzer announced Sanders as the winner of the match. Sanders then took Penzer to task, asserting that Penzer's proclamation was lifeless and lacking in enthusiasm. Penzer tried announcing Sanders as the victor a second time. If Sanders hadn't been so busy whining he might have noticed Diamond Dallas Page sliding into the ring behind him. Page psyched up the crowd and then, finally making good on last week's promise, drilled Sanders with the Diamond Cutter! Page may be one of WCW's more senior Stars, but Sanders showed this week that, in a lot of ways, he's still a rookie and could learn a lesson or two from DDP...

A TANGLED WEB

Viewers got a chance to get to know WCW Tag Team Champions NC-17, Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo, a bit better as a WCW crew spent a day on the road with the partners. The up close and personal look at O'Haire and Palumbo revealed that they're determined to show the world -- and the locker room -- that they're no fluke. Just as they made it through the brutal Powerplant, they'll continue to meet every challenge they face head on. Palumbo challenges the claim some veterans have made about their (NC-17) having been handed their success without having had to pay dues. O'Haire added: "I'm not here to do chinlocks and armdrags. I'm here to kick ass. Just ask Team Canada," he winked.

Back in the arena, Dawn Marie cornered Justin Credible outside the locker room, noting that she hadn't had the chance to catch up with him since starting with WCW weeks earlier. Dawn went on casually to note that Justin's partner, X-Pac, seems to have worked out a great gig for himself, what with Justin's entire focus seemingly on supporting X-Pac's career with no concern being shown for his own. "I'm gonna be honest," Dawn told Justin. "I think it's a shame. A real shame." Dawn walked off, and Justin appeared to have been given some food for thought...

Scott Hudson had the chance to interview Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman in the back. Mysterio and Kidman, we learned, will defend the straps against The Hardy Boyz and Kai En Tai at Clash of the Champions in a Triple Jeopardy Match. Rey said he was looking forward to the match; Matt, Jeff, TAKA, and Funaki are, after all, four of the top-ranked cruiserweights in the world. Hudson then mentioned to Kidman that it's not quite as simple a story as that; we've seen tensions develop between the champions and the Hardyz in recent weeks. Kidman objected to the claim, instead arguing that their recent problems with Matt and Jeff have been based on nothing more than misunderstandings, and that no one is holding any grudges. "I know I speak for Rey when I say that we have nothing but respect for the Hardyz. End of story."

Following weeks of hiatus, Team Canada's Lance Storm and Mike Awesome, who have been competing in singles matches, reunited this week and they were faced with no small challenge; their opponents were The Hardy Boyz (w/Lita). Storm and Awesome had a size advantage, but this, of course, is not an obstacle with which Matt and Jeff are unfamiliar. But even though Matt and Jeff worked hard to compensate with their agility and mobility, The Career Killer took advantage of several opportunities to exploit the brothers' inferior size. Storm liked what he saw, and it seemed as though Team Canada was back on track, coming off weeks of questionable performance (particularly from Awesome). Several minutes in on the outside, for instance, Awesome dropped Matt face-first onto the ringsteps. When Lita tended to Matt, Awesome mocked her. Later, after a miscalculation, Jeff missed a Swanton Bomb intended for Awesome in the ring. The big man set up for the Awesome Bomb, and paused in order to trashtalk Lita some more. This gave Jeff the opportunity to execute an inside cradle, and Awesome was unable to escape. The Hardyz picked up the win! Team Xtreme celebrated. Meanwhile, Storm was on the outside and looked on at the stunned Awesome with disappointment. Dawn Marie then appeared once more. She approached Storm, and WCW cameras eavesdropped. "He dropped the ball again!" she told Lance, pointing at his partner. "What are you gonna do about it?" Dawn asked, before exiting again. Storm seemed torn as Awesome tried apologizing for yet another screw-up...

Announced Clash of the Champions Card

• World Heavyweight Title: Booker T © vs. Goldberg
• Torrie's Choice: Scott Steiner (w/Stacy Keibler) vs. ??? (w/Torrie Wilson)
• WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles: Rey Mysterio & Billy Kidman © vs. The Hardy Boyz (w/Lita) vs. Kai En Tai

Hosted by Jim Ross & Paul Heyman

Long Island, NY

Monday, 4/23/01

FOLEY IS GOOD

The show-opening video on RAW recapped the confusion that reigned last week when The Rock battled The Undertaker with the winner set to receive a shot at World Wrestling Federation Champion "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at Backlash. A no-contest resulted after Stone Cold interjected himself into the action, and as RAW went off the air, no opponent for Austin had been determined, and no resolution was in sight. Following the usual opening montage, No Chance brought Mr. McMahon to the ring. The Chairman of the WWF stated (insinscerely) that it was a shame that no decision had been made in regards to The Rock and The Undertaker the previous week. He added that he thought it was "damned unprofessional" of The People's Champion and The American Badass to go after Stone Cold as they had done at the end of the match in question. McMahon proceeded to introduce his "friend and associate" "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who made his way to the ring scowling at the fans with the WWF Championship slung over his shoulder. When Coalition members McMahon and Austin shook hands, JR repeated once more just how surreal it was to see the two on the same page, let alone closely allied. The Rattlesnake observed to McMahon that it looked like, given the way events had unfolded, he'd have the night off at Backlash in six days. JR then realized that it had been the Coalition's plan all along to cause the Rock-Undertaker match to end in a no-decision! Austin and McMahon shared a good laugh. Austin pointed out to McMahon that the people still didn't seem to get it. McMahon agreed; no one seemed to realize that they had absolute control of the World Wrestling Federation. It was then that things came to a crashing halt -- with the music of Mick Foley! Long Island's own Foley stepped out onto the ramp, making his first appearance on RAW since before WrestleMania. Austin and McMahon couldn't believe their eyes, and Foley confirmed that he's a lot like genital herpes: there's no getting rid of him! McMahon wanted none of Foley's antics, and demanded an explanation for his presence. Foley reminded McMahon and Austin that he continues to maintain a close friendship with Vince's estranged wife Linda. It was as a result of that relationship that he got a call from the WWF Board of Directors the previous week. It seemed that the Board had some serious concerns about the job William Regal was doing as Commissioner. In particular, they felt Regal wasn't representing the interests of the Board. For that reason, they'd decided to appoint a Special Representative to oversee the course of affairs in the WWF, and after brief deliberations, they'd settled upon him. Foley admitted that he'd promised his wife and kids that he'd distance himself from the business, but when he considered just how much he'd always enjoyed royally pissing Mr. McMahon off, he decided he couldn't resist. Foley then turned his attention to Stone Cold, taking him to task for selling out at WrestleMania. Foley said the fact of the matter was that Austin was scared to death of The Rock and of The Undertaker, and Foley said he had reason to be. Austin threatened to tighten Foley's "little necktie" for him and make him wish he was back in Hell in a Cell. Foley asked Austin to let him finish -- he hadn't even gotten to break the news yet! "What news? What the hell are you talking about, you crazy sonova--" McMahon began, after gulping in typical fashion. Foley reminded Austin and McMahon that they were six days away from Backlash and had yet to announce a main event! Foley said they couldn't have that; the Board has asked him to throw something together, quick. Foley said it was no easy task. He'd considered several options. A Rock-Undertaker return match, perhaps? Maybe even a special battle royal or one night tournament to determine a new number one contendor. But then Foley realized that he had to be a man of action -- he had to be assertive. Why bend over backwards to determine the top contendor when it's obvious that there are two top contendors? The answer is obvious: Stone Cold vs. The Rock vs. The Undertaker for the WWF Championship in a Triple Threat Match at Backlash! Austin and McMahon's fury rendered them both speechless. They weren't the only ones upset by the news; their Coalition cohorts Triple H and wife Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley appeared at the entrance. Stephanie asked Mick who the hell he thought he was. The Game told Foley he was out of line, reminding him that he (HHH) "retired his (Foley's) ass" well over a year ago. Foley shook his head and told Hunter he was clearly projecting. He'd seen Triple H's outburst last week. "Big Red Machine kinda ticked you off last week, didn't he?" the Special Representative asked. Foley said he was nothing if not sympathetic; he wanted to give Triple H the chance to get the revenge he so deserved. Therefore, it was time to add one more match to Backlash: Triple H one on one with Kane! Foley had managed to drop the jaws of Mr. McMahon, Stone Cold, The Cerebral Assassin, and Stephanie alike! JR noted that RAW had gotten off to a stunning start, and that it was now official: Backlash would be huge. After the commercial break, we learned of one more development: the main event on RAW would see Kane & The Undertaker, the Brothers of Destruction, take on the Coalition's Stone Cold & Triple H in tag team competition!

Later in the show, having had some time to cool down, Triple H returned to the ring to address the issue of his scheduled match with Kane Sunday night at Backlash. When the fans began taunting The Game, he angrily reminded them that his recent problems with The Big Red Machine all came about because Kane couldn't get a simple job done; he couldn't do what Triple H has done more times than he can count: defeat The Rock. But HHH said that as much as Kane disgusts him, what he feels more than anything else for the man is pity. Kane is a freak, explained The Cerebral Assassin. Triple H revealed a little known fact about himself, saying that he is compassionate. It is out of that compassion that he plans, at Backlash to put Kane "out of his misery." "This is a mercy killing," he said. JR didn't like the sound of this at all. Triple H noted that WrestleMania saw the rise of the most powerful alliance in Sports-Entertainment history: The Coalition. Backlash, he claimed, will leave no doubt that it is not with Mick Foley or Linda McMahon or anyone else that the power lies: it is with The Coalition. Kane will no longer walk through hell, fire, and brimstone, because once he has finished with Kane on Sunday night, Kane will be stuck in hell permanently, because he (The Game) is "that damn good."

Kane and The Undertaker reunited for the evening's tag team main event, and The Brothers of Destruction each seemed intensly focused on their Backlash futures. Stone Cold and Triple H proved themselves equally determined; they brought Coalition associate Shawn Michaels to the ring with them as their manager for the evening. The match got underway after an intense staredown, and Michaels quickly demonstrated his efficacy as Austin and HHH's corner man. He tripped Kane, took cheap shots at both of the brothers, and even distracted the American Badass by kicking his bike over! The Big Red Machine and Taker never lost sight of their in-ring opposition, however; Triple H even took a Kane Chokeslam at the eight-minute mark! HBK promptly hopped up on the apron to prevent a pinfall, but finally got what was coming to him as he ate a double boot to the face from both Brothers of Destruction! Michaels was down for the count. The ruthless Rattlesnake then took matters into his own hands as he brought a chair into the ring. Earl Hebner would have none of that and accosted Stone Cold. Austin proceeded to use a piece of familiar sign language and then tossed Hebner over the top rope! The Undertaker walked right into an Austin chair shot; it was a direct hit, and blood soon started flowing from Taker's forehead. Meanwhile, The Cerebral Assassin measured Kane with the Sledgehammer, and JR exclaimed that the Coalition had the upper hand, to say the least. But then the music began, and The Rock stepped out onto the stage! Rock sprinted to the ring. He ducked a Triple H Sledgehammer shot and backdropped HHH out of the ring. Austin charged at his archrival, and received a Rock Bottom for his troubles! Austin rolled out of the ring. Undertaker was now back on his feet, but the profusion of blood that resulted from the chairshot had blinded him! When Rock inadvertently bumped into the vulnerable American Badass, Undertaker naturally assumed that the Brahma Bull was actually Austin or Helmsley and so he delivered a blind Chokeslam! Kane looked on in shock from the outside, allowing Triple H to turn Kane around, kick him in the gut, and Pedigree him on the cement. Undertaker finally wiped his eyes and realized what had happened as he stood over a fallen Rock. Michaels regained consciousness outside and led Stone Cold and The Game up the ramp, with absolute carnage having been left in an around the ring. Triple H was clearly pleased by Kane's condition, and Austin wore a wide-eyed grin as The Undertaker stood looking down at the incapacitated Rock in frustration. "What does this mean for Sunday night?" JR cried. "How can The Rock and The Undertaker possibly focus on Stone Cold and the WWF Title now? Is Triple H right? Does The Coalition hold all the cards? Dammit!" Austin, HHH, and HBK stood with raised arms at the entrance. With that, RAW concluded.

THREE ARE BETTER THAN TWO

Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit make quite the odd couple, and this was demonstrated most effectively when Michael Cole spoke to the duo backstage on RAW. It seemed that Edge & Christian had accepted their compatriots' challenge for a tag team title match at Backlash. When Cole asked the no-nonsense Rabid Wolverine for his thoughts on the pending match, Y2J stepped in and suggested that Benoit let him do the talking. Benoit shrugged as Jericho blasted Edge and Christian, suggesting that they were nothing more than bad Chris Jericho clones. When Cole reminded Jericho that he and Benoit were opponents as recently as the Royal Rumble and No Way Out, Jericho, who as usual referred to Cole as "Mitchell," stated that Benoit happened to be his "closest pal, bosom buddy, and mejor amigo." Cole then turned to Benoit, who admitted with a totally straight face that he is a Jerichoholic. He said there is only one thing Edge & Christian had to know. "Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho are for real," he said.

After a commercial break, Benoit and Jericho had a Backlash warm-up match against Right to Censor's Goodfather and Bull Buchanan. Pre-match, Goodfather took the mic. Instead of inviting everybody to come aboard the Ho Train, Goodfather instead claimed that Chris Jericho was walking, talking proof that free speech is a terrible thing. Goodfather's rant was interrupted by the Y2J countdown, and the "bosom buddies" made their way to the ring. Despite the early advantage of the RTC power men, Benoit and Jericho rallied. Legal man Benoit forced Buchanan to tap to the Crippler Crossface, while Jericho prevented Goodfather from breaking up the submission by catching him in the Walls of Jericho! After the match, just as Jericho stepped out of the ring, Edge and Christian blindsided him with an attack! Meanwhile, Benoit prepared to make the save from the ring when E&C's muscle, Rhyno, sprinted to the ring and Gored the Crippler, prompting the refrain of "Gore! Gore! Gore!" from Paul Heyman on commentary. Edge and Christian then headed up the ramp wearing self-satisfied smiles with their tag team titles and Rhyno at their side. Jericho and Benoit may be on the same page headed into Backlash, but would that be enough to make them victorious?

DANGEROUS LIASON

After the video package promising Goldust's return to the World Wrestling Federation aired once more, Intercontinental Champion William Regal took on Hardcore Holly (w/Molly Holly) in a Survivor Series/Armageddon rematch. The Commissioner's championship was not on the line as he prepared for his Backlash defense against Goldust. Tough as nails, the veteran Holly made this less than a walk in Hyde Park for Regal. Heyman defended Regal, stating that Mick Foley's sudden reappearance and remarks about Regal were likely causing him justifiable distraction. Holly came close to putting away Regal on multiple occasions with cousin Molly looking on anxiously at ringside. Ultimately, however, Regal slapped on a quick Double Underhook Powerbomb and, using the ropes for leverage, pinned Holly. While Molly offered her angry cousin consolation, Regal made a hasty exit.

Minutes later, Regal was surprised when Terri Runnels approached him backstage. Terri congratulated the Commissioner on his victory. A suspicious Regal asked Terri what exactly it was that she wanted. Terri revealed that she needs help. Regal wondered why Terri was turning to him rather than her most recent clients, The Radicalz. Terri noted that they were busy with Test. Terri placed her hand on Regal's bare back and said she thinks they can scratch each other's backs. Terri then looked down. "Is that a crumpet in your tights, or do you agree?" The wide-eyed IC Champ promptly showed Terri into his office...

COFFEE BREAK

Backstage in catering, WWF Women's Champion Chyna and Trish Stratus talked strategy as both women looked forward to their Backlash tag match against Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and RTC's Ivory. An elated Trish won a round of Rocks, Paper, Scissors in order to determine which of the women would have the privilege of getting their hands on Stephanie first! The jovial atmosphere then turned dark as Steph appeared, turned Trish around, and slapped the taste out of her mouth! The Ninth Wonder of the World moved to make the save, but then her nemesis Ivory appeared out of nowhere and, in a shocking moment, emptied a carafe of boiling-hot coffee on Chyna! Chyna screamed. Trish ran to her side. Stephanie turned to Ivory with a grin. "Oh, no," remarked the daughter of the Chairman. "Accidents do happen," she continued, shaking her head. Stephanie and Ivory left, allegedly to "get help," while Trish tried in vain to offer her partner comfort. A 'Moments Ago' replay following the commercial break established for certain that Chyna's neck and back had been seared by the piping-hot liquid. And given Stephanie's influence, she and her accomplice were likely to get off scot-free. JR shook his head, admitting that from where he sat, there was no way Chyna would be able to compete on Sunday night. As Trish and other concerned Superstars looked on, Paramedics treated Chyna, who appeared to be in excruciating pain.

THE (LATINO) HEAT IS ON

Last week, a "generous" Commissioner Regal promised Test a return match with Eddie Guerrero for the European Championship at Backlash -- IF he could defeat Eddie's fellow Radicalz, Malenko & Saturn, in a handicap match on RAW! Test faced an uphill struggle as Malenko and Saturn pulled out all the stops to ensure that Latino Heat would have nothing to worry about in six days. Malenko and Saturn double-teamed Test for virtually the entire match. Test put up a valiant effort. At one point, he took down both opponents with a Double Clothesline. Saturn attempted his Twisting Fisherman Suplex a few minutes later but Test countered with a Neckbreaker. When Malenko tried tying Test up in the Texas Cloverleaf, the former Motley Crue bodyguard used his superior leg strength to foil The Iceman's plans. Saturn then decided that unorthodox methods would be necessary to eliminate the big man, and he ejected Lillian Garcia from her chair, which he proceed to grab. In the ring, Malenko sent Test into the ropes, but Test reversed the Irish Whip, and Saturn accidentally blasted his own partner with the chair! While Earl Hebner and Tim White ran to ringside to reprimand Saturn, Test dropped Malenko with a thunderous Pumphandle Slam and Mike Chioda counted the pin! Test was headed to Backlash, intent on regaining the European strap! The victory celebration was cut short when Eddie Guerrero hit the ring and caught his scheduled challenger by surprise with the Three Amigos. The reigning champion finished Test off with the Frogsplash and stood tall as the apologetic Saturn and Malenko offered him praise.

CENSOR THIS

The awful, jarring music of Right to Censor brought Steven Richards and Val Venis to the ring during the WarZone. As they made their entrance, clips of the RTC's recent attacks on the Dudleys aired on a split-screen. Once in the ring, Richards addressed recent questions about the RTC's motives by stating that they would not rest until the Dudleys had been taken off of WWF television for good! Venis added that Bubba Ray and D-Von were the very embodiment of the gratuitous, harmful violence running rampant in the World Wrestling Federation. Richards said the RTC simply could not stand by while the Dudleys continued actively to contribute to the corruption of values that was causing the rapid decay of American society. As always, Richards suggested that the fans not only listen but also support the RTC's efforts, "because it is for your own good!" Steven's rant was mercifully brought to a close by the recognizable sound of a crash and the Dudleys' theme song! Bubba Ray and D-Von ran down to the ring with a table. They didn't appear to want to debate the intricacies of contemporary values with Richards and Venis, and instead began brawling with the prudes. "Fearless leader" that he is, Richards bailed to the outside while Bubba Ray and D-Von sent Val crashing through the table with a 3D that was rather well-received by the crowd. Would the Dudleys silence the puritanical RTC for good on Sunday, or would the latter make good on their promise to rid the World Wrestling Federation of the brothers' "cancerous" influence?

WHY WAIT?

How do you defeat a man who is over 7 feet tall and 500 pounds? How do you defeat such a man in a match where anything and everything goes, from chairs and tables to thumbtacks, barbed wire, and heavy machinery? That's exactly what Michael Cole sought to ask Raven during an in-ring interview on RAW is WAR. The enigmatic Raven stated that no one understood the nuances of the hardcore match as he did. The hardcore match hinged, he claimed, on the willingness of the participants involved and specifically upon their willingness to inflict inconceivable pain on other human beings. Raven claimed that his greatest asset was amorality; he completely lacked a conscience, and that, he said, was extremely unfortunate for the Big Show. As Raven rambled with his back to the entrance and TitanTron, Show took a leisurely stroll down to the ring. He climbed the ring-steps. Raven finally noticed the largest athlete in professional sports, but when he charged at the former WWF Champion, he was met with a headbutt that sent him crashing to the canvas. Big Show then hurled Raven over the top rope with ease. On the outside, Big Show lifted Raven up and chokeslammed him straight through (what else?) the Spanish announce table. Show grabbed a mic and addressed the [unconscious] Raven. "I got news for ya, bro," he said. "I'm not big on morality, either." Show's theme began and he walked to the back. Raven lay completely motionless atop the wreckage of the table. The road to the number one contendorship to Kane's Hardcore Championship may end up taking an ultra-violent turn at Backlash!

Hosted by Joey Styles, Mike Tenay, and Jerry Lawler

Norfolk, VA

April 19, 2001

Flair vs. Goldberg.

An extreme arrival.

A hottie returns.

TO BE THE MAN...

It was what Joey Styles termed a "WCW Dream Match": Goldberg vs. "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair with a World Title shot at Booker T hanging in the balance, and it was set to go down LIVE on Nitro this week. There was a great deal of anticipation headed into the encounter between the two iconic figures. Both had much to prove. Could Goldberg defeat Flair, arguably the measuring stick for success in World Championship Wrestling? And does Flair still have what it takes to be considered one of the top players in the game? An extra added layer of intrigue was factored into the equation when Ric Flair was seen initiating some sort of closed-door meeting in his dressing room. With whom was Flair conducting business, and what implications would this have on his high-stakes match with Da Man?

Goldberg was focused on one thing and one thing only: besting Flair and proceeding to the Clash of the Champions to challenge Booker T. The match itself unfolded in epic fashion; Goldberg had the power advantage and manhandled Flair with ease. The Dirtiest Player in the Game, though, brought with him all of the most devastating tricks of the trade. Flair methodically exploited any weaknesses Goldberg left open, focusing specifically on Goldberg's right knee. As Mike Tenay observed, Flair was softening up his opponent for the Figure Four. When Flair telegraphed a knee drop, though, Goldberg rallied. He sent Flair into the turnbuckle, leading to the inevitable Flair Flop. It was then that light was shed on Flair's earlier meeting; Shawn "The Star" Stasiak hit the ring, clearly having been enlisted to assist Flair in taking Goldberg out. The plan quickly fizzled, as an unstoppable Goldberg speared Stasiak right out of his boots; Stasiak would cease to be an issue. Flair, in the meantime, had had time to catch his breath and after a well-timed kick to the back of Goldberg's knee, Flair was able to lock on the patented Figure Four at last! Goldberg was less than 100% physically by this time, and it was evident that fighting through the excrutiating pain of Flair's well-practiced submission was no easy task. However, the former Atlanta Falcon finally used his power to turn the pressure of the hold! Flair was now straining under the Figure Four. Having found himself in similar predicaments in his storied past, though, he made it to the ropes. It wasn't long before Flair had returned his attention to Goldberg's throbbing knee. After sending Goldberg down with a series of chops that echoed throughout the arena, Flair went up top. Flair was looking to connect with a double axe handle, but Goldberg returned to his feet in time to hurl The Nature Boy across the squared circle with an overhead slam. As Goldberg then got himself into position, the crowd errupted. Sure enough, The Millennium Man connected with the Spear and followed up with little song and dance with the earth-shattering Jackhammer! 1---2---3! Goldberg was headed to the Clash with the World Heavyweight Championship in his sights, and he'd gone through one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of the business along the way! As Goldberg celebrated the impressive victory at mid-ring, Booker T appeared at the entrance with his title belt. Booker removed his sunglasses and directed his gaze at the ring. Once Goldberg had noticed the champion at the end of the ramp, Booker conveyed his respect and sportsmanship by joining in the applause for the number one contendor. With Booker T and Goldberg faced with each other -- with their futures -- Nitro drew to a dramatic close.

SHOWTIME!

When the unmistakable music of Sting filled the Norfolk Scope, live attendees and viewers alike got on their feet and paid attention; what would The Franchise have to say about his confrontation with Kurt Angle the previous week? But as "Sting" made his way to the ring, it soon became apparent that something wasn't right. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that the "Sting" who was making his way to ringside was none other than Kurt Angle donning a wig and the Stinger's signature face paint! The Olympic Gold Medalist proceeded with a bad Sting immitation. "Sting" claimed to have come to the realization that he was old news and that Kurt Angle -- the "embodiment of intensity, integrity, and intelligence" -- was the future of World Championship Wrestling. As Joey Styles noted on commentary, Angle's efforts were fruitless -- the fans saw right through him and, booing loudly, they let him know it. Angle continued rambling until the black lighting of Sting's entrance again descended over the arena. Seek and Destroy began again and a figure dressed in black appeared at the entrance. Angle's jaw dropped, and the real Sting sprinted to the ring. Angle pounded away on Sting as he hit the ring, but Sting quickly recovered, hulking up and flexing his muscles, and sending Angle crashing over the top rope following a shot with the baseball bat. Angle crawled up the ramp in retreat as Sting crowed for the fans at mid-ring. It looked as though the Olympic Hero has bitten off more than he can chew!

WHATEVA IT TAKES

"The Innovator of Offense" Kanyon is determined to knock World and United States Champion Booker T down a peg or two. Or maybe he's just jealous. Last week, he managed to pick up an important victory over a man he knows extremely well -- Diamond Dallas Page -- thanks in large part to "Undeniable" Mike Sanders, who has carried a vendetta against Page since the Season Premiere just a few weeks ago. As a result of all of this, a big tag team match was signed, sealed, and delivered on Nitro as Booker T and DDP joined forces to take on Kanyon and The Undeniable One. First, however, Scott Hudson spoke to Booker T and DDP backstage. The former commented first on the scheduled Flair vs. Goldberg match, as he expressed his hope that the best man would win. Booker said he looked forward to facing Goldberg or Flair with his World Title on the line. He added that he is looking equally forward to giving Kanyon another beating! He reminded Kanyon not to hate the playa but to hate the game, and then turned the mic over to his tag team partner. Page acknowledged that Sanders had managed to get to him last week by costing him his match with Kanyon. But he then said that the only thing that was undeniable on Nitro was that Mr. Sanders would "feel -- the -- bang!"

Despite the determination of Booker and Page, Kanyon and Mike Sanders would stop at nothing to get the better of their foes. The reigning World & US Champion and the former Three Time, Three Time, Three Time, Three Time World Champion had matters firmly in hand early on, taking out their frustrations on Kanyon and Sanders and making frequent tags to keep a fresh man in the ring. It wasn't long, though, before Kanyon and the one-time Commissioner resorted to less-than-honorable tactics in order to turn the tide. While Sanders distracted Mickey Jay, for instance, legal man Kanyon applied a blatant choke to Booker T. DDP tried to intervene, but as dictated by Murphy's Law, Jay prevented Page from involving himself. Moments later, Sanders hopped off the ring apron and snuck around to his opponents' corner. Sanders grabbed a chair and whacked Page across the back! The chairshot wasn't enough to take Page out, although it did make him plenty angry. DDP turned around and, realizing just how much he'd ticked DDP off, Sanders turned tail and fled through the crowd! Page would have none of this and gave chase. In the meantime, Kanyon grabbed a couple of international objects of his own, swiping both the World and US titles from David Penzer and heading into the ring to clock the belts' owner. Booker T was prepared for the attack, though, ducking the attempted belt-shot and lifting Kanyon up with a powerful spinebuster. The title belts flew out of Kanyon's hands. Booker remained on the offensive, but to his credit, Kanyon was able to kick out following the Scissors Kick. In the meantime, security tried separating Page and Sanders in the crowd. The brawl was so crazy that even Mickey Jay's attention was divided. A crafty Kanyon was well aware of this fact, and was able to once again pick up one of Booker's title belts. He played possum in the corner with his back to Booker T. Booker walked over to Kanyon and was met with a nasty shot to the forehead by Kanyon with the World Heavyweight Championship. Booker fell to the mat. With Page and Sanders finally separated, Jay turned his undivided attention back to the match as Kanyon lifted up his unconscious opponent and dropped him with the Flatliner. He proceeded to score the shocking (and undeserving) upset victory! In a celebratory mood, Kanyon yelled to the camera that no one is "betta" than he is. Like him or not, the Innovator of Offense had picked up an eye-opening win on Nitro.

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

When Scott Hudson accosted "The Chosen One" Jeff Jarrett backstage on Nitro asking Jarrett to explain his assault on Rob Van Dam (the hottest free agent in Sports Entertainment) the week before, a smug Jarrett told Hudson (who he referred to, of course, as "Slapnuts") that he had already run RVD out of WCW. Jarrett said he was confident that Van Dam had gotten the message and had booked himself a one-way ticket for the safer bet -- the WWF. Jarrett claimed that his quick disposal of Van Dam should serve as a warning to Jarrett's fellow WCW Stars: don't piss him off!

Turns out Jarrett had spoken too soon! Prior to the main event, WCW owner Shane McMahon came to the ring for his big announcement (see below). Shane reiterated that it is his commitment to bring the world's top talent to WCW. He admitted that he's been through several tough negotiations since he got his hands on WCW, but he added that he always closes his deals -- as his father Vince well knows! Without further ado, Shane said, it was time to introduce the newest WCW Star. None other than Rob Van Dam then made his entrance! After hitting his typical pose at mid-ring, RVD shook Shane O'Mac's hand and admitted that Jeff Jarrett had helped him make up his mind. As a matter of fact, it was last week that RVD realized that nothing would give him greater pleasure than to kick The Chosen One's ass -- and send him "back to 1995 where be belongs!" Van Dam laid out an open challenge to Jarrett for the following week, promising that it would be "extreme." Indeed, RVD's arrival guarantees that WCW itself will be getting rather extreme in the weeks and months to come!

ALPHA FEMALE

Nitro began with the sounds Here Comes the Money, which brought the energetic Owner of WCW, Shane McMahon, to the ring. Shane began by promising a major announcement a bit later on in the show (see above). But his reason for appearing in the ring at that time was to tell WCW fans that they would have a say in the way he conducted his business (in contrast to the philosophy of his father). Shane encouraged viewers to log onto WCW.com to place their vote: which of the "Hotties" of WCW should grace the cover of the first WCW Magazine of the New Era? Should it be Stacy, Lita, or Dawn? Just as Shane suggested that viewers stay tuned to what promised to be another action-packed edition of Nitro, the sirens began and "Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner and his new "freak" Stacy Keibler headed to ringside. In the ring, bad-tempered Steiner got into his boss's face and noted that Shane's little contest on WCW.com would be a waste of time; no one in WCW was hotter, he said, than Stacy Keibler. Stacy reminded Shane that he was looking at his two most dynamic WCW Stars. Stacy suggested he save everyone the time and energy and simply go ahead and put Stacy on the cover of the WCW Magazine in question. Shane hesitated; he's a democratic kind of guy, he noted. Steiner once again angrily ranted at Shane. A stirring new theme song then brought Torrie Wilson down to the ring and back to WCW! Scotty and Stacy looked on in shock while Torrie bounced down the entrance in a bathrobe. "Long time no see," Torrie beamed at Stacy from the ramp. Stacy asked what the hell Torrie wanted. Torrie stated that she was back, and furthermore, that she wanted to throw her name in the hat -- she thought it was only right that she should be part of the WCW.com voting, as well! Big Poppa Pump and Miss Keibler threw a fit when Shane agreed that this was a good idea. Torrie wasn't finished getting under the Power Couple's skin, however. She decided to give fans a little preview of what they might see on the cover of WCW Magazine. Removing her robe, she revealed the goods, concealed only by a bikini of minimal size. The look of disgust on Stacy's face suggested that there is bound to be tension in the Hotties' locker room in the immediate future...

CRUISERWEIGHT CHAOS

The world-renowned cruiserweight ranks of WCW grew deeper -- and more contentious -- still this week as Juventud Guerrera and Psicosis made their returns to the division to team with Kai En Tai's TAKA and Funaki. The eight-man tag pitted that international team against Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio and Matt and Jeff, the Hardy Boyz, accompanied as always by Lita. But the dynamics of the match weren't quite so simple: tensions have slowly been developing between Kidman & Mysterio and two of Shane McMahon's most notable WWF steals, the Hardys. Just last week, the well-intentioned Kidman & Mysterio caused a DQ loss to Matt and Jeff when they tried to prevent Kai En Tai from employing cheap tactics in the #1 Contendorship Tag Match. All of that said, Rey, Billy, Matt, and Jeff had apparently worked out their differences and were up to the task of taking on four of their fellow top high-flyers. As expected, the match was jam-packed with state of the art action; it was truly hard to keep up. The champions and the Hardyz worked so well together that, at one point, Jeff used Kidman as a springboard to execute a stunning suicide dive over the top rope onto all four of their opponents on the outside! Minutes later, though, an ill-timed dropkick from Matt intended for TAKA actually connected with Kidman! While Rey questioned Matt's intentions, TAKA capitalized with a Michinoku Driver on Kidman and scored the pin!

DASTARDLY DAWN

On the heels of last week's Mike Awesome-Sean O'Haire contest, those combatants' respective partners tied up this week; it was Lance Storm of Team Canada vs. Chuck Palumbo of NC-17. While Sean O'Haire was in Palumbo's corner for the match, Mike Awesome was nowhere to be seen, leading Styles, Tenay, and Lawler to speculate that the dissension within Team Canada continued. Even without his cohort at ringside, Storm had more success this week than Awesome had last week, but what Storm accomplished he did not accomplish on his own. After several minutes of action, Storm sent Palumbo to the mat with his Springboard Dropkick. He then inexplicably complained to referee Billy Silverman while pointing at Sean O'Haire, suggesting (falsely) that O'Haire had attempted interference. In the meantime, Palumbo slowly got to his feet. Dawn Marie had crept to ringside. She snuck up onto the ring apron behind an unsuspecting Palumbo and absolutely drilled him with a low blow! Dawn made her way back up the ramp and stood at the entrance while Storm turned back to Palumbo, who was hurting badly. Storm brought Palumbo back to a vertical base, sent him into the ropes, and met him with a leg lariat. He then locked on the Canadian Maple Leaf, and it was over -- Palumbo submitted! Post-match, O'Haire tended to his partner, while Storm and Dawn locked eyes once more from opposite ends of the arena. "The Career Killer" Mike Awesome , meanwhile, remained MIA.

THREE FOR THREE

Disco fever returned to Nitro this week as Disqo challenged X-Pac, who had been successful for the past two consecutive weeks in singles competition since his return to WCW. It should be noted that X-Pac had Justin Credible at his side once again. X-Factor's strength in numbers did not deter Disqo, however, and he unloaded all the usual elements of his arsenal on X-Pac, scoring near-falls with a Swinging Neckbreaker, a Stuff Piledriver, and The Village People's Elbow. When X-Pac sent Disqo outside with a Spinning Heel Kick, however, Credible stepped in and dropped Disqo on the cement with one of his Inverted DDTs. X-Pac climbed to the outside and returned Disqo to the ring. It was Bronco Buster time. After that, X-Pac easily applied the X-Factor face jam and picked up yet another win. X-Pac has found success since jumping ship to WCW -- and it all seems to be thanks to Justin Credible...

Hosted by Jim Ross & Paul Heyman

Greensboro, NC

Monday, 4/16/01

IN SEARCH OF REVENGE

RAW hit the ground running this week from Greensboro as JR and Paul Heyman confirmed that the main event of the program would see The Rock take on The Undertaker to determine which of the two men would have the opportunity to challenge "Stone Cold" Steve Austin for the WWF Championship at Backlash in thirteen days! Certainly, the events of the previous two weeks had established that both The Brahma Bull and The Phenom wanted badly to get their hands on The Texas Rattlesnake, who had climbed into bed, so to speak, with Vince McMahon and The Coalition of Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley.

Stone Cold made an appearance live on RAW as hour number two's WarZone kicked off. Carrying the Federation Championship on his shoulder, Austin explained to his disappointed former fans why neither The Rock nor The Undertaker had what it took to regain the title from him. Austin spoke with disgust about the wear and tear his body had taken in previous years for the benefit of the fans; he claimed they'd given him nothing in return. He stated plainly that he'd aligned himself with Mr. McMahon and his associates for the simple reason that it was "good business." Austin soon learned that he had gone too far, though, as the music of The Rock brought The Great One out to the ramp! Rock asked Austin to repeat why he'd hooked up with Mr. McMahon. When an annoyed Austin tried answering, Rock stopped him. "It doesn't matter why you decided to become Vince McMahon's bitch," Rock interjected! Austin was visibly rattled by Rock's assertion. But The People's Champ was only just getting started, and Rock went even further in suggesting that there was something wrong -- something perverse -- about Stone Cold's relationship with the Chairman of the World Wrestling Federation! Austin now paced restlessly around the ring. Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon then made their presence felt as they power-walked right by The Rock on the entrance ramp and made a bee-line to Stone Cold in the ring. The Coalition members had appeared in order to help the WWF Champion resist the urge to take on The Rock. The Rock agreed to leave the trio of candy-asses to their own devices, but not before vowing to go through The Undertaker -- and anyone else -- in order to get to Backlash for his shot at retribution and the championship belt! JR observed that he had never seen a more determined Rock -- or a more anxious Austin!

Later, two of the greatest superstars in the history of Sports Entertainment went head to head with the highest of stakes as The Rock faced off against The Undertaker. Although the two men clearly shared a mutual respect, they both had their eyes focused on the prize -- the chance to secure a match with Stone Cold. Their physical match was highlighted by an impressive Samoan Drop by The Rock, a stroll along the top rope old school style by The Undertaker, and even a brief brawl up the ramp. Who would make it to Backlash? Who would Stone Cold have to fend off? No one was more eager to determine the answer to that question than Austin himself, who came out to the ramp for a better view of the action mid-match. After stomping a trademark mudhole in The Dead Man in the corner, Rock looked across the arena at Austin and gestured for the champ to "bring it." Austin was still fuming as a result of Rock's earlier insinuations, and had a hard time preventing himself from charging the ring in order to take The Rock up on his offer. In the meantime, The Undertaker regained the upper hand. Rock charged in desperation at The Phenom only to be back body-dropped right outside the ring! Temptation overcame The Rattlesnake, who sprinted down to ringside and attacked his prone archrival! The Undertaker, however, did not appreciate the unsolicited help. Taker proceeded to climb to the outside, grab Austin from behind, and deliver a heinous chokeslam right onto the exposed cement! Rock regained his breath. After exchanging glances, The Rock and The Undertaker put aside their differences and directed their efforts at their shared enemy. They both laid a beating on the cowardly Stone Cold, to the delight of the Greensboro crowd. Earl Hebner called for the bell and declared the match a no contest. But what did this mean? Who was going to Backlash? Rock? Undertaker? Neither? "My God!" exclaimed JR. "Has Austin outsmarted us all?" RAW drew to a close with an entirely new set of questions raised!

BIG RED PROBLEM

It was a battle of former DX associates when Triple H locked horns with "The One" Billy Gunn on RAW. Realizing the opportunity before him, Gunn took an assertive approach to his match with The Game, but Triple H had his former buddy well-scouted. Indeed, HHH had Gunn set up for the devastating Pedigree when The Cerebral Assassin's more recent past caught up with him; Kane hit the ring and unleashed hell on Hunter! The previous week, Triple H had made the mistake of perpetrating a vicious attack on The Big Red Machine in response to Kane's loss to The Rock -- a loss which came as unfortunate news to Triple H's Coalition. Kane delivered Triple H a crystal clear receipt for that attack this week in Greensboro; as he Chokeslammed HHH in the center of the ring, referee Tim White called for the bell, disqualifying Gunn as a result of Kane's interference. Despite having gained a tally in the "Win" column, Triple H was out cold. Kane stood tall in the center of the ring as the segment drew to a close with the familiar, awesome sight of pyro marking the four corners of the ring.

Later on, having regained consciousness backstage, an irate Helmsley made it known to wife Stephanie, best friend HBK, and father-in-law Mr. McMahon that he wanted something done about the dastardly Kane. The Heartbreak Kid volunteered to have a chat with Commissioner Regal...

FOILED AGAIN

The calculating Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley had put a lot of thought into the scheduled WrestleMania rematch between Chyna and Ivory scheduled for the evening. WWF cameras spied Steph encountering nemesis Trish Stratus backstage. Power-mad Stephanie observed that Trish had grown quite chummy with the Women's Champion in recent weeks. Stephanie suspected that if she were to refrain from taking certain steps, Trish would prevent Ivory from having a fair shot against the Ninth Wonder of the World! Therefore, Stephanie used the power vested in her to ban Trish from ringside during the aforementioned match!

As it turned out, Chyna needed little help in disposing of challenger and RTC member Ivory during the former's title defense later in the evening. Hypocritical Stephanie even attempted interference in the bout as she stepped up her vendetta against the former girlfriend of her husband Triple H. When Stephanie stormed to ringside and popped up on the apron, though, she found herself on the receiving end of a well-deserved and authoritative right hand from Chyna! Steph was sent crashing to the floor. Ivory tried capitalizing, but only scored a two-count with her schoolboy pin attempt. A minute or two later, Chyna powerbombed Ivory in the center of the ring and scored the victory. Trish, by then legally free to do so, headed down to the ring to celebrate with the victorious champ!

THROWING DOWN THE GAUNTLET

Edge and Christian's arrogance continued to know no bounds; when the Tag Team Champions arrived backstage alongside their ever-present muscle Rhyno this week, they happened to encounter Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit backstage. E&C quickly demonstrated their lack of respect for Y2J and the Rabid Wolverine when they observed in conversation with each other that their fellow WWF Canadian Superstars were making it quite a challenge to represent their mother country well these days; after all, Benoit had tapped out at WrestleMania, and Jericho had just dropped the Intercontinental Championship. Benoit and Jericho exchanged glances as Edge and Christian sauntered off...

Proving that they do have the talent to back up their self-aggrandizing claims, Edge & Christian later defeated a reunited Head Cheese (Al Snow & "The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman) in a non-title contest. The victors soon learned the hard way, though, that they'd offended the wrong men earlier in the evening. During their post-match celebration, Edge and Christian found themselves dumped out of the ring by their energized compatriots, Benoit and Jericho! Benoit and Jericho stared down Edge and Christian, who were now in retreat. Indeed, the champs were apparently so intimidated by Benoit and Jericho that they signaled for back-up; Rhyno soon entered the arena and shielded the brothers as they backpedaled behind the curtail. If E&C had fired the first shot, Benoit and Jericho had returned fire! Following the commercial break, JR announced that Jericho and Benoit had issued a challenge to Edge & Christian -- for a title match at Backlash!

CONFISCATION

In other tag team action, The Dudley Boyz clashed with Radicalz Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn. Bubba Ray and D-Von put on a strong showing here, sending Malenko and Saturn into more than one retreat during the course of the match. But the brothers Dudley remain the current targets of the vigilante Right to Censor group. Just as D-Von was carrying out Bubba Ray's instruction to get the table, Steven Richards and disciple Val Venis stalked to ringside and tore the table away from D-Von! A distracted Bubba Ray then fell pray to Saturn's Death Valley Driver. The DVD was enough to secure Saturn the pin! The RTC has taken its crusade against the hardcore Dudleys to another level...

TEST PREP

There was a new addition to the usual set of furnishings in Commissioner William Regal's office this week on RAW: the Intercontinental Championship, which Regal displayed prominently on his desk. As Regal enjoyed the view, Eddie Guerrero knocked politely on the Commish's. Turning on the typical charm, Latino Heat quizzed Regal on who, exactly, he'll be defending his European Championship against at Backlash. Regal told Eddie he knew very well that he didn't want to have tie up with Test yet again, but, Regal pointed out, Test has to be considered a strong contender to the championship. "I'm a reasonable man," Regal assured Eddie. He pronounced that Test will get the shot at Eddie at the pay-per-view -- if and only if he's able to defeat Eddie's fellow Radicalz Malenko & Saturn in a Handicap Match next week! The despicable Eddie seemed to like the sound of that a great deal. "You're the best!" he told the IC champ before excusing himself.

SAY IT AIN'T SO

When Terri Runnels appeared backstage at RAW, she appeared to be a woman very much flustered. Her reasons were soon revealed as she tracked down Mr. McMahon himself and pleaded with the Chairman: "Tell me it's all a joke. Tell me that he's not really coming back." By "he," Terri was referring to her ex-husband, Goldust. Mr. McMahon was apologetic, but confirmed to Terri that Goldust is indeed on his way back to the World Wrestling Federation. As a matter of fact, McMahon revealed, as a former Intercontinental Champion, Goldust will be getting a shot at William Regal at Backlash! An extremely uncomfortable Terri declared unequivocally that the WWF simply isn't big enough for both her and her ex-husband. The question is, just what is the former Marlena prepared to do about it?

Backlash Update

Prior to the feature bout on RAW, JR and Paul Heyman confirmed the following matches for the Backlash pay-per-view:

• WWF Championship: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. ???. Austin will presumably defend against The Rock or The Undertaker. Which man will it be?!
• Intercontinental Championship: William Regal © vs. Goldust. As confirmed by Mr. McMahon, Goldust returns on pay-per-view!
• Tag Team Championship: Edge & Christian © vs. Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho... pending acceptance of the challenge issued by Benoit & Jericho.
• The Dudley Boyz vs. Val Venis & Steven Richards.
• Chyna & Trish Stratus vs. Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley & Ivory.
• Hardcore Match: The Big Show vs. Raven. The two men who faced Kane for the Hardcore Championship at WrestleMania get extreme with a shot at Kane on the line!

Hosted by Joey Styles, Mike Tenay, and Jerry Lawler

Huntsville, AL

April 12, 2001

SETTING THE DATE

The second edition of the new WCW Nitro kicked off with an appearance by the Owner of World Championship Wrestling himself as Shane McMahon shuffled his way to the ring with an exciting announcement: WCW would be making its return to pay-per-view on May 27th with the Clash of the Champions! Shane then went one step further; after bringing World Heavyweight Champion Booker T and Da Man, Goldberg, to the ring, it was revealed that, as a result of last week's Fatal 4-Way #1 Contendorship bout, Booker would put the most prestigious championship in the world on the line against former champion Goldberg on 5/27 on PPV!

WCW icons Goldberg and Booker shook hands in response to the bombshell, but an interruption was inevitable; "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair styled and profiled down the aisle and made his presence felt in Huntsville! Naitch confidently observed that Goldberg never defeated him in order to get his shot, and had therefore proven nothing. Goldberg's responding body language seemed to suggest that he was equal to the task. Shane O'Mac tried cutting Flair off by pointing out that the #1 Contendorship had already been determined, but then Goldberg interjected that it didn't matter to him; as a matter of fact, he would put the shot at Booker T on the line the following week in a singles match with Flair! Flair almost seemed upset by the prospect of squaring off with Goldberg in the squared circle...

At the closing of the show, WCW cameras followed Goldberg as he prepared to leave the arena. Just as he attempted to enter his rental car, Flair appeared out of nowhere, blindsiding the Millennium Man with an attack aimed at softening him up for next week! Had the dirtiest player in the game done enough damage to compromise Goldberg headed into their singles encounter in seven days? Only time would tell!

TARGETTING A FRANCHISE

It was one of the most anticipated moments of the evening when Scott Hudson sat down with Sting backstage to discuss Sting's big loss the previous week in the #1 Contendorship Fatal 4-Way Match. Just as Hudson asked Sting what the loss meant for his future in the new WCW, an uninvited Kurt Angle burst into the studio and staged an Olympic-sized fuss, whining that no one had taken time out to ask him how he felt about last week's main event match. This, Angle felt, was especially outrageous given the fact that Sting was past his prime and irrelevant, and that Angle himself would be The Franchise of the new World Championship Wrestling. The Stinger didn't take kindly to Angle's insults; Hudson backed away when Angle and Sting got into each other's faces. When a shoving match errupted, officials and security flooded the studio and attempted to keep the men separated. By this time, however, it was too late: a bitter rivalry had been born!

UNDENIABLE REVENGE

In the feature bout of the evening, Kanyon took on former friend and foe alike Diamond Dallas Page; Kanyon was on a mission to prove himself worthy of another shot at Booker T and the US Championship; the week before, Kanyon had lost to The Playa as a result of a disqualification. DDP didn't make Kanyon's task easy for him, though, and the former tag team champions had a barn-burner of a match. It was at about the eight-minute mark when "Undeniable" Mike Sanders stalked to ringside and began distracting Page! The week before, Sanders's big mouth had gotten him into trouble with DDP. Sanders had turned down Page's offer for a match, but he showed up this week to play mindgames with the former People's Champ. While Sanders made mocking gestures at the preoccupied Page, Innovator of Offense Kanyon came from behind with a schoolboy roll-up and secured what might be considered the upset victory! Page didn't spend long sulking post-match, instead electing to chase Sanders backstage! Kanyon, meanwhile, signaled for a championship belt -- most likely, for Booker T's US Championship belt!

WELCOMING COMMITTEE

For the second week in a row, Rob Van Dam took in all of the action on Nitro live at ringside. Earlier in the week, RVD had even been seen doing the same thing on the WWF's RAW broadcast! Scott Hudson was looking for answers this week, and when he questioned the face of the defunct ECW brand, Van Dam revealed that he was the hottest free agent in Sports Entertainment! RVD claimed he was simply enjoying the show. Business then picked up, however; "The Chosen One" Jeff Jarrett made an unscheduled appearance. Guitar in hand, he made a beeline for RVD and Hudson at ringside and introduced himself to Van Dam as "the welcoming committee." Jarrett wanted to make RVD's choice between WCW and the WWF a lot easier, and he proceeded to shatter his trusty guitar over Van Dam's skull! As WCW officials dragged the unruly Jarrett to the back, medics tended to the fallen RVD, and we were left to wonder whether, indeed, Jarrett had just made Van Dam's choice for him!

A STREAK CONTINUES

Team Canada emerged from Nitro's Season Premiere last week disappointed, having lost once more to World Tag Team Champions Sean O'Haire & Chuck Palumbo, who are now making a statement by calling themselves "NC-17." This week on Nitro, Mike Awesome squared off with Sean O'Haire in singles competition; Lance Storm and Chuck Palumbo were at ringside supporting their respective tag team partners. Storm had read Awesome the riot act the week before for his carelessness in losing the pinfall to O'Haire and this week Storm was again eager for Awesome to hold up his end in the ring. The bitter war between the two teams got even more interesting when a knockout identified by Joey Styles as Dawn Marie appeared at the entrance to watch the proceedings! Why was she there, and what is her business in WCW? Styles was quick to fill viewers in on her history with Lance Storm, but no further explanation for her presence was apparent. While she looked on, O'Haire planted Awesome with a scoop slam in the center of the ring and followed up with the Seanton Bomb to pick up another win! While Palumbo congratulated his partner, an irrate Storm gave Awesome an angry mouthful for the second straight week! NC-17 continue to top the tag team ranks in World Championship Wrestling!

BIG POPPA PUMP IS HER HOOKUP

Shawn "The Star" Stasiak came to Huntsville hoping to patch things up with estranged girlfriend Stacy Keibler. Calling her out to the ring, Shawn explained to Stacy that his loss to Disqo the week before had been a fluke thing and asked her to reconsider her decision to walk away from him. Unmoved, Stacy told Shawn that actions speak louder than words. On cue, the sirens of "Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner blasted throughout the arena, and the Genetic Freak and former World Heavyweight Champion came to the ring and promptly shared a sloppy kiss with Miss Keibler! The alliance between Steiner and Stacy had very clearly been cemented. Beside himself, the dejected Stasiak sulked to the back. The Big Bad Booty Daddy and Stacy then proceeded to proclaim themselves WCW's new power couple! What did these two have in store for World Championship Wrestling? Given Steiner's ruthless track record, whatever it is can't be good!

A SIMPLE MISUNDERSTANDING

TAKA and Funaki of Kai En Tai had a chance at a second shot at Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio when they took on Matt and Jeff Hardy (w/Lita) in a #1 Contendors Match live on Nitro. The action was so chaotic that referee Charles Robinson ended up being knocked unconscious by a stray thrust kick of TAKA's! Kai En Tai quickly capitalized on the referee's incapacitated state and brought a chair into the ring to gain the upper hand on the Hardyz! Kai En Tai's plans went awry, though, when Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio hit the ring to foil TAKA and Funaki's cheap attack. The week before, Matt and Jeff had saved Kidman and Mysterio from a similar assault. Problems arose, though, when Robinson came to and, upon seeing Kidman and Mysterio taking on TAKA and Funaki in the middle of the ring, promptly disqualified the Hardyz, dashing their hopes of securing a shot at Kidman & Mysterio! While TAKA and Funaki celebrated their victory, an argument broke out between Matt & Jeff and the well-meaning Kidman & Mysterio!

MESSING WITH THE X-FACTOR

History repeated itself this week on Nitro as X-Pac picked up another big win with the help of his tag team partner Justin Credible. This week, X-Pac bested another debuting international star in Super Crazy. At ringside, Credible tripped up Super Crazy, allowing X-Pac to take down his opponent with a Spinning Heel Kick. He then followed up with the Bronco Buster and X-Factor facejam for the pinfall. Things then got a little more puzzling as cameras revealed Dawn Marie once more taking in the action from the entrance ramp. Dawn looked on with curiousity as X-Pac and Justin Credible cockily rubbed Super Crazy's loss in his face...

Scheduled for Next Week

*Ric Flair vs. Goldberg for the shot at World Champion Booker T at the Clash of the Champions

Hosted by Jim Ross & Paul Heyman

Boston, MA

Monday, 4/9/01

WHERE THE POWER LIES

RAW is WAR kicked off with an appearance by "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, who revealed that, by joining up with the McMahon/Austin/Helmsley alliance, he had gone "where the power lies." Michaels reminded viewers that he would always be "the Icon, the Showstoppa, and the Main Event." World Wrestling Federation Champion "Stone Cold" Steve Austin then made his way to the ring and, in a surreal moment, buried the hatchet with formal rival Michaels. As Michaels and Austin agreed that nothing could threaten the position of what they called "The Coalition," the unmistakable entrance music of The Rock began! The Brahma Bull had not come to RAW this week for a sing-along or any other form of game-playing, for that matter. Rather, he ran down HBK's Roody Poo Candyass, and even suggested that he'd like to step into the ring with the retired Triple Crown Champion (and, more specifically, that he'd like to take each of HBK's championships, turn them sumbitches sideways, and stick them up his candyass). Rock then turned his attention to Stone Cold, stating that he fully intended on regaining the Federation Championship. Rock plainly stated that it didn't matter if Stone Cold brought the entire McMahon family with him; he had an extended trip to the Smackdown Hotel booked in his not-so-distant future. After Austin smuggly let The Rock (whom he referred to as "son") know that there would be no return match, the arena went dark and the chime soon struck as The Undertaker appeared at the top of the entrance ramp, ten or so feet behind The Rock. The Phenom established that he, too, would not react to the formation of The Coalition passively; indeed, he wanted a shot at Austin and the Championship as well! Furthermore, when The Undertaker did finally get his hands on Stone Cold, he (Austin) would rest in peace! Austin didn't like the sound of this at all; HBK then spoke up, saying that neither The Rock nor The Undertaker would be getting Stone Cold in the ring for the title. Austin then added that that was the bottom line, because "we said so." As JR observed, this was a new -- and extremely unpleasant -- Stone Cold. It seemed to JR that the alliance among members of The Coalition was based on their shared desire to retain their top spots in the World Wrestling Federation at all costs.

Minutes later, backstage, WWF Chairman Mr. McMahon looked for assurances from Commissioner William Regal that he wouldn't attempt to book Stone Cold against either The Rock or The Undertaker as they had requested moments ago. Regal did note that he would have to come up with a main event for the BACKLASH pay-per-view on April 28th; McMahon didn't like the sound of this one bit. Regal then told Mr. Mahon not to worry. If The Rock and The Undertaker wanted shots at Stone Cold, they would have to prove themselves worthy tonight in two "Special Qualifying Matches." McMahon was intrigued by the concept, and Regal promised the Chairman that the matches would be "very bloody special," indeed. Viewers took this foreshadowing to be rather ominous.

And ominous, it was. The beginning of the WAR ZONE brought out The Rock for his Special Qualifying Match, and in what was literally an explosive moment, his opponent was revealed to be The Big Red Machine himself, Kane! Although The Great One was initially taken aback by the identity of his opponent, he didn't hesitate to take the fight to the reigning Hardcore Champion early on. The Rock asserted himself as soon as Kane hit the ring with punches and stomps, even isolating his opponent in the corner and slapping him across the face! Business picked up a bit when Triple H made his way to ringside alongside wife Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley; they joined JR and Paul Heyman on commentary for the match. Triple H made the bold prediction that Kane would shut "Rocky" up in the middle of the ring with a clean pin following a Tombstone. Indeed, Kane was proving why, exactly, he was the Hardcore Champion; he dropped The Rock right onto the unforgiving ringside barrier, and then blasted him on the forehead with the steel ringsteps. Back in the ring, Kane weakened The Rock further with a Sidewalk Slam, and then set up for the Chokeslam! Just before he took Rock off his feet, Rock gave Kane a swift kick below the belt as an equalizer, and then hit the Rock Bottom! The Rock's fans chanted his name as he removed his elbowpad, tossed it into the crowd, and ran the ropes in preparation for the People's Elbow. Triple H would have none of this, however, and he stood up on the apron; Rock promptly knocked him down! Kane, as has happened so often in the past, sat up, though, and got to his feet before Rock could finish him off. Kane hit The Rock with a powerful Big Boot, and then scooped him in in preparation for the Tombstone. Rock wasn't finished yet, though, as he slipped out while flung over the big man's shoulder! Kane turned around and found himself on the receiving end of yet another Rock Bottom! The People's Champ picked up where he had left off, running the ropes, and hitting a flawless People's Elbow to secure the pinfall! Rock had won the "Special Qualifying Match!" Rock triumphantly headed up the ramp, knowing that he had accomplished the task laid out by Commissioner Regal. While Stephanie tended to Triple H, Kane exited the ring. Triple H refused to allow Kane to head to the back without explaining his failure to put The Rock away during their match. Kane firmly gestured for The Game to back off. Kane proceeded to the back, but the Cerebral Assasin then marked Kane as an enemy of the Coalition by blasting him on the back with a steel chair! Kane remained upright after the first shot and turned back to Triple H, who promptly followed up his initial shot with several more to Kane's head, finally taking the monster off his feet. Cameras picked up Helmsley referring to Kane as "a piece of crap." He then proceeded in disgust to the back with his wife. JR couldn't imagine that the cowardly, brutal attack on Kane would go unanswered...

Later on, Stone Cold and Mr. McMahon panicked as they tried to determine how Commissioner Regal was going to respond to The Rock's victory over Kane. Regal, however, was locked away behind closed doors in intensive meetings -- presumably over the main event at BACKLASH!

The evening climaxed with The Undertaker's entrance for his Qualifying Match. His opponent was revealed in a dramatic moment to be the spectacular Big Show! Show took the fight to the Phenom; the two haases went over the top rope and battled at ringside. The Undertaker found himself at a rare size disadvantage -- one that Big Show was quick to exploit. In the ring, Show squashed Taker in the corner with a big splash. The Undertaker collapsed in the center of the ring. Show raised his arms in a show of self-congratulation, but with his back turned, The Undertaker sat straight up in typical fashion! The Big Show quickly went into position for a Chokeslam in order to cut The Dead Man off at the pass, but The Undertaker blocked Show's grip and put the Big Show in a chokehold of his own! This was enough to bring Federation Champion "Stone Cold" Steve Austin to ringside with a chair. He hopped up onto the apron but soon ate an authoritative big boot from the man who hails from Death Valley. The Undertaker turned back to the Big Show just as the Big Show attempted a double axe handle blow; Undertaker kicked his opponent in the gut and finally executed a Chokeslam! Earl Hebner counted the academic 1-2-3; the Undertaker had prevailed!

As RAW went off the air with The Undertaker standing tall, a stunned Stone Cold came to, now with Mr. McMahon and Shawn Michaels at his side, and Ross and Heyman wondered what Rock and Undertaker's victories meant for Backlash!

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONER

Y2J arrived at RAW confident that he could once more defeat William Regal with his (Jericho's) Intercontinental Championship on the line. But his commissionership had a plan this week. Having done a great deal of careful scouting work, Regal was able to roll up Jericho with a handful of tights at an opportune moment, catapulting him to his first ever Intercontinental Championship! Far from sufferring a crisis of conscience as a result the tainted victory, Regal celebrated the win with enthusiasm as JR remarked that Jericho had been dealt an unfortunate hand.

THE VIEW FROM THE FRONT ROW

It was another twist right out of left field when WWF cameras spied Rob Van Dam seated in the front row during RAW! The sighting was newsworthy enough in and of itself, but even more fascinating given the fact that Van Dam had also been spotted the week before on WCW's Nitro broadcast in much the same way! What did this mean? Is Van Dam simply enjoying the show(s)? Only time will tell!

THE SETUP

Ever-sexy diva Trish Stratus was all kinds of hot as she prepared for her scheduled Bikini Contest with Terri. What she didn't realize was that Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and her Right To Censor ally Ivory were lying in wait and would perpetrate another vicious attack as Trish made her entrance. Chyna again hit the ring for the save, prompting Stephanie to order Chyna to defend the Women's Championship next week against former champion Ivory live on RAW!

CITY SLICKERS

World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions Edge and Christian (along with Rhyno) blessed the crowd at WWF New York in Times Square with their presence as they hosted RAW live from the heart of Manhattan. When questioned by JR about taking a second week off from in-ring competition, E&C were quick to note that they'd run through all of the competition the Federation had to offer, and therefore deserved to be sipping Sour Apple Martinis on the company's dime in the Big Apple...

TESTING 1-2-3

European Champion Eddie Guerrero and his Radicalz cohorts Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko have made fast enemies of Test and Too Cool, resulting in an action-packed 6-man tag this week on RAW. Former "UK" Champ Test pushed Latino Heat to the limit, and was able to score the pin -- and a little revenge -- following a Pumphandle Slam.

CENSORED IN 3D

The Right to Censor continued its latest crusade against new targets The Dudley Boyz. Bubba Ray and D-Von locked horns with RTC leader Steven Richards and disciple Val Venis in an action-packed tag match. Just when it looked as though Richards would find himself on the receiving end of the deadly 3D, RTC members Goodfather & Bull Buchanan threw around their weight and assisted Richards and Venis in stealing the victory!

NEVERMORE

Raven has been a loner ever since his arrival in the World Wrestling Federation. He certainly hasn't hit it off with the APA's Bradshaw & Faarooq. Last week, the former Federation Tag Team Champions took exception to Raven literally dropping in on them during his Hardcore Title match with Kane. This week, Bradshaw and Raven battled in a Hardcore Match that took them all over the arena. Raven deftly avoided a Clothesline From Hell on the entrance ramp, and used the Raven Effect DDT to pick up the win.

YOU'LL NEVER FORGET THE NAME

WWF viewers and superstars alike were taken aback when a video featuring the unmistakable voice of Goldust announced the return of one of the most controversial superstars in Sports-Entertainment history! What will his impending return mean for RAW? Only time will tell!

ON A ROLL

The Rabid Wolverine continues to enjoy regular success in the World Wrestling Federation; Chris Benoit defeated the savage Haku in a stiff one-on-one encounter on RAW.

Scheduled for Next Week

*Chyna vs. Ivory for the Women's Championship

Monday, July 13th, 1999

9:29am

Dottie's Diner

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Kevin Nash was right where I thought he'd be: sitting at the counter next to the Disco Inferno. I had learned quickly that Nash had a great appreciation for Disco's willingness to laugh at his (Kevin's) jokes, no matter how puerile. Nash was shoveling a fork-full of hashbrowns dripping with tabasco sauce into his mouth as I took a seat on the stool to his left. Nash spoke while chewing. "Yo," he said.

"Tell me about the wink," I said.

"The what?" Kevin asked.

"The spot you did with Mona last night," I replied.

"Oh. That. Just a little somethin' somethin' I came up with. I do that, you know. I come up with a lot of my own shit." Nash stabbed a sausage patty with his fork and prepared to devour it whole.

"Not anymore, you don't," I smiled.

Nash brought the fork to a halt before it reached his mouth. He looked at me, then over at Disco. They both laughed.

"Chill, bra," he said. "You don't have to mark your territory."

"It's not your job to be creative," I said while a surly waitress poured me a cup of coffee. "All you have to do is what the script tells you to. It's better that way."

"I winked at the chick who wears the evening gown," Nash recounted. "What's the big fuckin' deal?"

"You're not the booker anymore," I said. "Just keep it in mind."

Monday, July 13th, 1999

3:02pm

Miami Arena

Miami, FL

The early afternoon had been filled with meetings. Mike Tenay, the first recruit to my booking team, had a lot to say about the Cruiserweight division, and I tried to take in all of his thoughts. I then sat down with a dozen or so undercarders to inform them that I would be sending them back to the minor leagues. And Arn Anderson brought me up to speed on the WWF's developmental exodus, naming a few key players who might be worth a look. Once all of that had been taken care of, I was able to take a quick break. Nitro was rapidly drawing near, but I felt relatively good about it. I had my general direction for the Clash of the Champions mapped out, and that simplified the writing of TVs.

You might imagine my disappointment, then, when Amanda Cutler stopped me in the hall with her hands on her hips. I had given her my first draft of the evening's show half an hour earlier. She had rapidly grown extremely comfortable in her new role. "You went over-budget with your time. Way over-budget," she said.

"How bad?" I asked.

"You need to cut three segments."

"Three?" I asked. "I thought it was a tight show."

"You thought wrong," she said. Arguing would get me nowhere; I had to start trimming.

It took another thirty minutes, but I was able to file things down; my revision met with my executive producer's approval. "Sorry," she said, not completely sincerely.

"I'm okay with cutting the Jericho/Guerrero and Triad promos," I said. "They're going to be visible elsewhere on the show. Nixing the Kidman bit, I'm not happy about. Any rub he got from going over Hennig? Gone."

"You can follow up on Thunder," she shrugged.

"Not the same thing," I responded.

"Not to change the subject, but what about the Flair situation? Have you taken care of that? Are you going to meet with him?"

"No," I said.

"I thought you said you were going to deal with it," Amanda said.

"I am. I've booked myself on tomorrow night's WCW Live," I explained. "It's the internet radio show. On the website."

Amanda raised an eyebrow. She knew I was playing politics. Playing dirty, at that.

Sneak Peek: WCW Monday Nitro

World Champion Kevin Nash vs. Diamond Dallas Page - Non-Title Match. Both men are coming off big wins at the Bash at the Beach. Nash will be looking to cement his position here as the dominant force in the promotion, while Page has a chance to make a case for himself as top contender to the championship.

Chris Benoit & Perry Saturn vs. Kanyon & Bam Bam Bigelow. The war between the silent, violent warriors and The Triad will continue in what promises to be a physical encounter.

Also scheduled: Goldberg, Ric Flair, Team Madness, new US Champion Chris Jericho, and new Television Champion Disco Inferno.

Season Premiere

Hosted by Joey Styles, Mike Tenay, and Jerry Lawler

Oklahoma City, OK

April 5, 2001

THE END OF THE BEGINNING

The "Season Premiere" of Nitro on UPN began in a fitting fashion -- with the music and entrance of the imcomparable "Nature Boy" Ric Flair! Flair kicked off the new era in World Championship Wrestling by stating that WCW had decades of heritage under its belt, and that WCW Owner Shane McMahon would not be able to "reinvent the wheel." Flair went on to suggest that he, himself, still had plenty of fire left in him, and even suggested that it was only a matter of time before he became a 16-time World Champion! Flair's provocative statements brought the World and United States Heavyweight Champion Booker T to the ramp! Booker let Flair know that talk of becoming champion again was premature. He said he was prepared to meet any challenger for either or both of his titles, anytime and anywhere. Booker wrapped up by urging Flair not to hate the playa, but rather to hate the game!

In a backstage interview with Scott Hudson early in the evening, Shane McMahon subtly suggested that he may well have lured more than one surprising name from his father's company into the new WCW. Later, Shane came to the ring to usher in the "new season" of World Championship Wrestling, and had a blockbuster main event to announce; it would be a Fatal Fourway match between four top superstars to earn the distinction of Number One contender to Booker T's World Title! Building suspense and speculation, Shane-o-Mac refused to reveal the identities of these top competitors until the match itself later on in the program. Shane also revealed that Chris Kanyon would be challenging Booker T with the US Heavyweight Title on the line later on, as well.

Before the feature bout, it was announced that Shane McMahon would be back on next week's program with "big news" about WCW's return to pay-per-view. A great deal of anticipation had built toward the evening's main event. Indeed, backstage, viewers saw multiple stretched limos pulling up to the arena throughout the course of the evening, hinting that the entrants in the 4-way main event would indeed be the kinds of "headliners" to whom Shane had alluded on RAW earlier in the week. After an exciting pyrotechnic display, "The Nature Boy" came out as the first entrant in the Number One contender Match! Clearly, he was determined to become champion again. Next out was a man who proved that he clearly remains "The Franchise" -- Sting! Sting and Flair, perennial rivals who had faced off on the Night of Champions a week and a half earlier, had a face-to-face staredown in the ring. They, along with the live crowd and viewers watching at home, were rendered absolutely speechless when the next man to walk through the curtain was Olympic Gold Medalist and known WWF Superstar, Kurt Angle! The biggest WWF defection of them all had been revealed. Before Angle could make one of his familiar proclamations, however, the entrance music of the fourth top contender began to play, and Goldberg stepped onto the ramp, soon to be engulfed by the usual, impressive display of fireworks. The expressions on the faces of Goldberg's opponents conveyed that all three men took Da Man seriously.

The match itself was an epic struggle with high stakes and far-reaching implications. All four men fought tooth and nail, and the first encounters between Angle and WCW mainstays Sting, Flair, and Goldberg were all historic in nature. Things got even more interesting when WCW cameras spied ECW brand name Rob Van Dam seated in the front row! Van Dam appeared relaxed as he took in the main event action along with the fans, puzzling Styles, Tenay, and Lawler. Booker T, meanwhile, kept track of the match on a monitor in the back. Goldberg escaped an attempted Scorpion Death Drop by Sting by simply powering The Franchise over his shoulder and slamming him in the center of the ring. Angle broke up the subsequent pin attempt. Minutes later, while Angle and Goldberg traded blows on the outside, The Nature Boy seized his opening and locked Sting in the Figure Four Leglock! Sting, having been tied up in the hold dozens of times in the past, reversed the pressure and had Flair close to tapping before the 15-time World Champion reached the ropes. Flair bailed to the outside to cool his jets, but was met with an assault from Kurt Angle. Angle went so far as to execute the patented Angle Slam out on the cement! Tenay worried about Flair's back, which has a history of serious injury. Meanwhile, Goldberg climbed into the ring. Sting charged, but Goldberg intercepted him with a Spear that shook the ring! The fans were on their feet as Goldberg set up for the Jackhammer! With Angle occupied on the outside torturing Flair with an Anklelock, Goldberg followed through with the Jackhammer without incident and scored the pinfall! Goldberg had become the Number One contender! With Goldberg celebrating in the middle of the ring, Angle finally realized what had gone on and, releasing Flair, threw a tantrum on the outside. Booker T watched Goldberg's celebration from the back as he faced the prospect of a World Title defense against one of the most dominant forces in the history of the sport!

THE EASY WAY OUT

Chris Kanyon reeked of confidence when he made his entrance to challenge Booker T for the United States Heavyweight Title. Before the match, Kanyon tried quizzing the crowd with the usual question: "Who's betta than Kanyon?" Booker T then entered to lead the crowd in responding to Kanyon with "Everybody!" Kanyon dared Booker to enter the ring, and the match began. Kanyon's aggressive offense suggested that he has big plans for his future in the new WCW. Surprising Booker T with a Superkick, a Swinging Fisherman Suplex, and a Super Russian Legsweep, Kanyon racked up a number of near-falls. When Booker T kicked out of a Samoan Drop, a frustrated Kanyon vented by stomping away unceasingly on the champion. Kanyon received a warning from referee Charles Robinson, but the New Jersey native had snapped; he bailed to the outside, brought a chair into the ring, and proceeded to whack Booker T hard on the forehead. Robinson called for the disqualification. Agents Dave Finlay, Arn Anderson, and Johnny Ace hit the ring to isolate Kanyon from Booker T. Later, backstage, Shane McMahon promised that Booker T and Kanyon would meet again.

OUT WITH THE SUPERSTAR, IN WITH BIG POPPA PUMP?

Shawn "The Star" Stasiak returned to Nitro with Stacy on his arm, as always. He took on WCW staple Disqo in singles competition, and apparently, Stasiak had underestimated the Disco-dancing fool. Just minutes into the match, Disqo caught Stasiak unawares with a kick to the midsection, knocking the wind out of the second-generation "Star" and providing an opening for an impressive Jumping Piledriver that led to the pin. While Disqo celebrated a successful return to WCW, Stacy looked down at her man with disappointment.

Later, backstage, "Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner was seen finalizing his new WCW contract with Shane McMahon! When Stacy happened by, Steiner expressed an interest in the former Miss Hancock, and suggested that once she became his freak, she would never go back. When Steiner told Stacy his limo was waiting in the lot, she was unable to resist, and left the building with the former World Champ!

GENERATION GAP

The Season Premiere was filled with appearances by WCW veterans, and so the arrival of Diamond Dallas Page live on Nitro was par for the course. Page thanked WCW's loyal viewers for making the move along with so many longtime WCW talents, and promised that the best was yet to come, regardless of whether Eric "Scum" Bischoff or Shane, the son of Vince "Scum" McMahon, was in charge! Business picked up when Mike Sanders interrupted DDP's address. Sanders, who christened himself "Undeniable" Mike Sanders, told Page that it was the dawning of a new day, and hence time for Page to step aside. After all, Sanders argued, DDP was never even very good in his prime. Page suggested an impromptu match, but Sanders backed off, saying he didn't trust Page not to use his political pull to hold him (Sanders) down! Page promised that the day would soon come when the "Undeniable" one would feel the bang!

THE UNCHOSEN ONE

In what must have come as a surprise to few, "The Chosen One" Jeff Jarrett was in a bad mood at Nitro. When Jarrett came down to the ring for his match with Hugh Morrus, Jarrett demanded a microphone and cried conspiracy over the fact that he had been omitted from the Number One contendership main event. He argued that Shane McMahon was trying to run him out of WCW, but stated that he wasn't going anywhere. Morrus, coming off perhaps the most successful year of his career, shut Jarrett up with a right hand, starting the match. Jarrett took a great deal of punishment from the agile big man, including a Gorilla Press and a high-elevation splash in the middle of the ring. Jarrett was barely able to hang in, and indeed, was only able to turn the tide with a low blow out of the view of Nick Patrick. After the great equalizer, Jarrett was able to apply The Stroke with ease, and he captured a (tainted) victory.

WCW GETS XTREME

The ever-popular WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions and WCW regulars Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio, Jr. came to Oklahoma City to defend their titles! Testifying to the prestige of the new Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship, the seasoned duo of TAKA Michinoku and Funaki (Kai En Tai) made the jump from the World Wrestling Federation in order to take a crack at the gold. Kidman and Mysterio were up to the challenge, however, and despite strong opposition from TAKA and Funaki, Rey pulled out a victory with a Hurricanrana on Michinoku from the top rope while Kidman looked on with approval. As Kidman and Mysterio held their titles high post-match, TAKA and Funaki exposed themselves as sore losers, attacking the unsuspecting champs! A second cruiserweight duo imported from up North then made their shocking debuts when The Hardy Boyz, accompanied by Lita, hit the ring to make the save! Matt and Jeff quickly dispatched Kai En Tai, helped Mysterio and Kidman to their feet, and exchanged handshakes with them in a show of mutual respect. Joey Styles was quick to point out that one of the top tag teams in the World Wrestling Federation had chosen to became part of World Championship Wrestling!

TROUBLE NORTH OF THE BORDER?

It was a return match from the Night of Champions as Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire put the World Tag Team Titles on the line against Team Canada's Lance Storm and Mike Awesome. Upon entering the ring, Storm asked if he could be serious for a moment, and then characterized the reign of Palumbo and O'Haire as "a fluke" -- and one that would come to an end live on the Season Premiere. Indeed, Team Canada was aggressive in its efforts to regain the tag straps, but Mike Tenay noted that Palumbo and O'Haire had gained a great deal of confidence in recent weeks; the confidence translated well in the ring. The finish of the match came when Mike Awesome stood in the center of the squared circle and, instead of attending to business at hand, took time out to exchange insults with a fan seated in the front row. Awesome was so distracted that he left himself wide open for a perfect Jungle Kick from Palumbo. The legal man at this point was Sean O'Haire, who immediately went up top with a beautiful Seanton Bomb to secure the pinfall on the power man of Team Canada. While Palumbo and O'Haire left with their coveted belts, Storm blasted the Career Killer for his carelessness!

X MARKS THE SPOT

There was little doubt by the end of Nitro: WCW was the number one destination in Sports-Entertainment for Cruiserweights, and nothing demonstrated this more powerfully than the returns of two former Cruiserweight Champions in the legendary Ultimo Dragon and Kliq/nWo/D-X alum X-Pac, who brought X-Factor associate Justin Credible with him both to WCW and to ringside for his match with the Dragon. With reigning Cruiserweight Champion Gregory "Shane" Helms out of action, both X-Pac and Ultimo Dragon realized their encounter would be seen as key in the eyes of WCW management. It was a high-energy encounter between two of the best lightweights in the industry, but ultimately X-Pac revealed that he lacks the honor embodied by the Dragon; when Dragon caught X-Pac in the potent Dragon Sleeper, Justin Credible hit the apron, leaving Dragon no choice but to break the hold and send Credible back where he belonged with an Enziguri Kick. When Dragon turned around, though, X-Pac was waiting with his X-Factor face jam. The move led him to victory as it had done so many times in the past. X-Pac was headed to the pay window, but at a price.

Sunday, July 11th, 1999

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Hosted by Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay, & Bobby Heenan

-A brief video recapping the Nash/Sting/Savage/Sid situation airs.

-The show began with a high-energy pyro display, during which the Nitro Girls, clad in beachwear, appeared and did a dance. The pay-per-view set had a beachside theme, with a sandy area set up off to the side adorned with such props as an umbrella, a surfboard, a cooler, and a shovel and pale. While this was going on, the announcers kicked off the show.

Schiavone: Fort Lauderdale, Florida has battened down the hatches, because World Championship Wrestling is here, and it is the Bash at the Beach! The moment has arrived after weeks and weeks of anticipation, and Bobby Heenan, what a spectacular event this should be.

Heenan: Can you imagine what is going to happen tonight, Schiavone? When Nash, Sting, Savage, and Sid step into that ring in a tag team match with the World Heavyweight Title on the line? This thing could get out of hand. Savage is a lunatic, Sting and Nash can barely stand each other, and then there’s the x-factor -- the World Title. This is going to be big. You heard it here first.

Schiavone: Message received loud and clear, Brain, and Mike Tenay, “The Professor,” good to have you with us. So many questions, so much on the line here tonight.

Tenay: Well, Tony, we’ve heard from Kevin Nash that he is prepared to do anything to hold onto that prestigious World Heavyweight Championship title, and I think he will have to pull out all the stops to leave Fort Lauderdale and make it to Miami for Nitro as the World Champion. And then there’s Goldberg. We learned last Monday on Nitro in Atlanta that Da Man would be here tonight on pay-per-view, and that he has some kind of statement to make about his future. What could that be?

Schiavone: That’s a very good question, and we will presumably learn the answer a little later on this evening. A new United States Champion will be crowned. The World Tag Team Titles will be on the line. Ric Flair is here. What about the driver of the hummer? It has certainly shaped up to be a big night in World Championship Wrestling; right now, it’s time to kick things off with our opening bout!

1- Eight-Man Elimination Tag Team Match: Konnan & World Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio, Jr. & Billy Kidman & Swoll vs. The West Texas Rednecks (Curt Hennig & Barry Windham & Bobby Duncum, Jr. & Kendall Windham).

Referee: Billy Silverman

The faces entered, and Konnan did his usual mic routine upon reaching the ring. The Rednecks then came out, and the announcers quickly recapped the history behind this match, noting that Hennig did make good on his promise to run Master P out of World Championship Wrestling.

Kidman and Duncum tied up to begin the match, and we were reminded of the role that Hennig’s fellow Rednecks played in helping to secure him a victory over Kidman six days earlier on Nitro. Kidman’s quickness in the opening moments of the match surprised Duncum; Kidman ducked under and slid through Duncum’s legs after Duncum attempted a clothesline. Kidman then hit a leapfrop and dropkicked Duncum’s back before Duncum had time to turn around. Duncum gathered his composure in the corner, and then charged in at Kidman and was able to apply the side headlock. He snapmared him, and with Kidman in a seated position on the mat, Duncum hit some stiff kicks to Kidman’s back. Duncum sent Kidman into the ropes and hit a big powerslam. He dragged Kidman by the boot over to the Rednecks’ corner and tagged in Barry Windham, who immediately dropped a knee on Kidman’s face. Windham sent Kidman into the turnbuckle front first, and caught Kidman on the rebound with a backdrop suplex for the two count. Windham stomped Kidman a few times. While Kidman worked to get to his feet afterward, Windham measured him and moved in for a right hand, but Kidman took the much larger veteran down with a drop toe hold. Kidman hit the springboard legdrop, and then made the tag to Konnan. Konnan sent Windham into the ropes and connected with the back elbow. It was then time for the rolling clothesline, and then a Northern Lights suplex for a two count. After the pin attempt, Windham was able to regain a vertical base and he and Konnan had a staredown. Konnan played to the crowd and Windham responded by giving the crowd the international symbol for “up yours.” Konnan charged at Windham, who was able to get a boot up to Konnan’s midsection. Windham suplexed Konnan and got a two count. Windham got Konnan back to his feet in the middle of the ring and appeared to be setting up for a clothesline off the ropes, but Konnan caught Windham as he charged in and took him down with an inverted atomic drop. Konnan backed up near the Rednecks’ corner, perhaps setting up for the baseball slide dropkick onto Windham, but Hennig went after Konnan by reaching out and tugging on the bandana that Konnan has tied around his head. Konnan jawed with Hennig, and this gave the winded Windham the chance to stumble over to Konnan and get him in a schoolboy roll-up and score the first pin and elimination! Konnan was furious, but Silverman ordered him out of the ring and to the back. While Konnan wished his teammates well, the satisfied Windham tagged in Hennig; Swoll was in next for Team Hip-Hop. Swoll hiptossed Hennig early on, catching the former US Champ off-guard. Hennig moved toward Swoll with more caution, but received another hip toss for his trouble! Hennig consulted Silverman, accusing Swoll of pulling his hair. Silverman wasn't biting, and while Hennig was busy bickering, the big Swoll grabbed Hennig, carried him over his shoulder, and slammed him in the center of the ring for a two count. Hennig was now angry; he faked Swoll out, challenging him to a test of strength but kicking him in the gut before the tie-up. Swoll had the wind knocked out of him. Hennig backed Swoll into the corner and hit several chops. Swoll stumbled to the center of the ring; Hennig charged at him and hit his high knee lift, knocking Swoll to the mat. Swoll sat up; this proved to be a mistake, as Hennig sprinted from the corner and went over Swoll’s head with the neck snap. Hennig was extremely pleased with himself and slowly covered Swoll, who powered out with authority. Swoll got to his feet; Hennig went for a kick but Swoll caught Hennig by the boot and took him off his feet. Swoll allowed Hennig to stand; Hennig, disoriented, took some swings at Swoll and they were blocked. Hennig stumbled back to his home corner and tagged in Kendall. Kendall charged at Swoll, who knocked him down with a punch. Kendall got up and was again taken down. Kendall was on his knees; Swoll came toward him, and Kendall was able to grab the back of Swoll’s legs and take him off his feet. Kendall went for a pinning combination and got another two count. Kendall got up and dropped a fist on Swoll. Kendall grabbed Swoll by the head, bringing him to his feet. Swoll tried to shake off his disorientation. Kendall set up for the traditional Windham finisher, the Running Bulldog, but Swoll had the presence of mind to counter with what turned into a Side Saltow; he was even able to get a two count out of this. Swoll tried making the tag to Rey, but Kendall was able to put the kibosh on that. He dropped Swoll’s jaw on his (Kendall’s) knee, and then dragged him over to the Rednecks’ corner. Kendall indicated to the crowd that “it’s over!” and Bobby Duncum extended his foot out onto the turnbuckle. Kendall drove Swoll’s head into the boot, and the announcers noticed that there was some kind of spur on Duncum’s boot. Whatever it was did the trick, and Swoll was in no condition to counteract the Running Bulldog this time; the move secured Kendall the second elimination in the match! Swoll rolled to the outside while the two smaller, remaining members of the face team prepared for an uphill struggle against the four heels. Kendall gestured for Rey to enter the ring, and Rey obliged, leaping over the rope, charging at Kendall, bouncing off the nearby rope, and hitting his own Bulldog on the stunned younger Windham brother. Rey rallied the crowd, and Schiavone noted that it would appear to be a mistake to count Rey and Kidman out! With Kendall prone on the mat, Rey leapt over him and went off the ropes with a beautiful Asai Moonsault for the two count. Getting to their feet, Kendall grabbed Rey in a desperation wristlock, but Rey flipped out of it and again headed for the ropes, catapulting himself into a Thesz Press onto Kendall. Kendall had no escape from the pin attempt, and Rey scored the 1-2-3! The Rednecks reacted with horror as Kendall, barely conscious, rolled outside. Rey and Kidman looked for the crowd’s approval and got it. Rey tagged in Kidman as Barry came in for the Rednecks. Kidman and Barry locked up, and Barry backed Kidman into the corner. Barry drove a knee into Kidman’s midsection and sent Kidman slumping in the corner following a forearm shot. Barry then picked Kidman up and set him up on the top rope for a Suplerplex, which he hit. Kidman kicked out at two after a Windham cover, however. Barry then methodically prepared for a Russian Legsweep, but Kidman comes out of nowhere with the small package on Barry! Barry was caught so off-guard that he was unable to kick out, and was eliminated! He initially refused to leave the ring in outrage but was finally firmly sent away by Silverman. Before Kidman and Rey had the chance to celebrate the evening of the odds, Duncum entered the ring and Pearl Harbored Kidman, going immediately for the pin and getting a two. Duncum tried picking Kidman up for a side slam, but Kidman blocked it by putting his foot down firmly. Duncum lunged at Kidman, who had the presence of mind to grab Duncum’s arm and take him down with a modified DDT. Duncum tried getting up again but was sent for a ride with a Kidman headscissors. Kidman then pleased the crowd by making the tag to Rey. Rey exploded off the top rope with a dropkick on Duncum for the near-fall. Once they were face to face again, Duncum hit Rey with a stiff open-palm thrust, rendering Rey groggy. He whipped Rey into the corner and charged in with an attempted splash. Rey moved to avoid it. Duncum lay prone in the corner. Hennig entered, but was sent down to the floor by a diving forearm shot from Rey. This gave Rey the chance to go for the Bronco Buster on Duncum. That incapacitated Duncum, so Rey went up top, perhaps to prepare for a super hurricanrana. Hennig, having recovered outside, was able to shove Rey off the top rope. Duncum picked Rey up, gave him a big boot after an Irish Whip, and then slammed him following an airplane spin for the three count! Kidman wasted no time mourning the loss of his last remaining partner, however, and he charged at Duncum, who sent Kidman down with a right hand. Duncum connected with a big legdrop. He told the crowd that Kidman was finished, and positioned for a powerbomb. As usual, Kidman countered the attempt with a face jam, and eliminated Duncum! Once Duncum had been removed from the ring, Hennig and Kidman went face to face in recognition of the fact that this was a return showdown from Nitro, of sorts. Hennig caught Kidman in an arm drag and twist, and then tried throwing Kidman over the top rope. Kidman hung on, though, and landed on the apron. Hennig tried finishing the job, but was backdropped to the outside instead. Kidman then shot himself over the top rope onto Hennig, and both men found themselves down on the outside in agony. They were both able to stand around the same time, and Hennig hit Kidman first with a double ax handle. He rolled Kidman back inside. When he returned to the ring, Hennig covered Kidman with a bridge but got a two count. Hennig weakened Kidman considerably further with a stuff piledriver. Finally, it was time for the Hennigplex, but just before Curt was able to put on the move, Kidman came out of nowhere with a jawbreaker! Once again, both men were down. Kidman broke the ten-count at nine, and dragged Hennig over to the corner. He signaled for the Shooting Star Press and headed up top. He executed the spectacular move, but Hennig rolls out of the way, and nobody was home when Kidman hit the mat! Kidman sold the botch as though he had broken a couple of ribs. Hennig, running on empty, exploited this by dropping an elbow right across Kidman’s chest. He tried for a pin, but amazingly only got to 2.9. Hennig sent Kidman into the ropes, and Kidman came up with a second wind, hit the Sunset Flip, and pinned Hennig!

Post-match, Kidman’s team mates returned to the ring to celebrate the victory. Konnan covered the face of the unconscious Hennig with a cowboy hat...

WINNER: Team Kidman at 16:39

STAR RATING: *1/2

- In the back, “Mean” Gene Okerlund was with “The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart and Hugh Morrus.

Okerlund: We are just getting started live in Fort Lauderdale, and I’m joined at this time by the brains behind the First Family, Jimmy Hart, and one of his more menacing charges, Hugh Morrus. Tonight, it’s a Hardcore Match: it’ll be Morrus vs. Hardcore Hak, who has quite the bone to pick.

Hart: Hak has a bone to pick? Mean Gene, the world was watching when Chastity had the audacity to reject Hugh Morrus live on national television.

Okerlund: Perhaps that was because Chastity is already spoken for, Hart -- she and Hak are involved!

Morrus: Gene, the bottom line is that I don’t take rejection well, because, frankly, I’m just not rejected very often. As a matter of fact, a lot of places, people know me as “Mojo.” “Mojo Morrus.”

Hart: That’s right. And tonight, Chastity’s going to come to understand why it was a mistake to laugh in the fact of Mojo’s advances, because Hak is going to take the beating of his life. It’s going to be hardcore, Gene.

2- World Television Title Match: Disco Inferno vs. Rick Steiner ©

Referee: Scott Dickinson

Before the match, Disco Inferno stropped Rick Steiner and generously gave him the opportunity to hand over the title and walk away. After Steiner responded by decking Disco, Dickinson had the bell rung for the start of the match.

Steiner went on the offensive early on, pounding away on Disco’s back. Steiner slammed him in the center of the ring and dropped an elbow across his throat. Disco tried countering an attempted hiptoss, but Rick delivered a stiff Steinerline to take Disco down. Disco floated over on an attempted suplex only to end up eating a knuckle sandwich. There was virtually no hope for Disco at this point. Steiner seemed to show no interest in ending the match, however; he was perfectly happy to inflict more punishment. Indeed, he walked over to a corner and began tearing off a turnbuckle pad, exposing the steel. Dickinson tried to intervene, but backed off when Steiner shoved him away. Disco slowly got to his feet on the other side of the ring. Rick returned to him and kicked Disco in the soler plexus. He prepared to whip Disco into the exposed turnbuckle, but Disco worked up a second wind and reversed the whip! Steiner’s back ended up colliding with the unforgiving steel! Overcome by the pain, Steiner was unable to avoid Disco’s kick to his stomach which, as usual, served as the prelude to the Chartbuster. In what might be considered a fluke, Disco Inferno picked up the win and his third World Television Title!

WINNER: Disco Inferno at 5:52

STAR RATING: *1/4

- In the parking lot, busybody The Cat was on the lookout for the elusive Hummer and its driver...

3- World Tag Team Title Match: Chris Benoit & Perry Saturn vs. Diamond Dallas Page & Bam Bam Bigelow ©

Referee: Mickey Jay

After weeks of build-up, the two teams finally met. We were forced to wait for Benoit and Page’s highly-anticipated lock-up, however; Benoit started out against Bigelow, who enjoyed his size advantage after an early burst of Benoit’s typical energetic offense. Saturn took on Bigelow next, with the action spilling to the outside. Bam Bam attempted a splash on Saturn against the guardrail, but Saturn moved. With Bigelow prone and spread out uncomfortably atop the guardrail, Saturn quickly went up to the ring apron and dropped an insane elbow on Bam Bam on the outside, earning this month’s paycheck. This exchange took both men out of commission for a large chunk of the match. Minutes later, Benoit and Page were finally face-to-face in the ring. After exchanging slaps, they ended up in the corner exchanging chops. Benoit wanted to go for a German Suplex, but Page slipped out and delivered his variation of the Belly-to-Belly. When Benoit slowly stood, Page attempted his insulting Crossface, but Benoit easily countered it and sent Page back into the corner with a high elevation dropkick. Page stumbled out of the corner and Benoit measured him. Although it seemed he might attempt another German Suplex, what he ended up doing was taking a page out of DDP’s book and attempting a Diamond Cutter, furthering the feud over finishers between the two. Benoit executed the modified Diamond Cutter but, spent, was slow to go for the pin. He finally went for the cover, and just as it seemed he would get the three and earn himself and Saturn the World Tag Team Titles, Benoit was pulled off of Page by Kanyon, who had snuck to ringside! Benoit instinctively ran the ropes and took Kanyon out with an authoritative baseball slide dropkick. Page, however, had had time to regain his bearings. Benoit returned to the ring and headed over to Page to resume his offense, but Page was ready with a desperation Diamond Cutter that allowed him to secure the pin!

Post-match, the complete Triad stumbled up the ramp with their tag team championship while Saturn, barely in one piece, helped Benoit to his feet. Schiavone declared that Benoit and Saturn had been robbed.

WINNERS: Page & Bigelow at 10:14

STAR RATING: ***

- Buff Bagwell was being interviewed by Mark Madden at the WCW.com booth in the back...

4- United States Heavyweight Title Match: 10-Man Over The Top Rope Battle Royal

Referees: Nick Patrick and Charles Robinson

Dean Malenko came to the ring as the first entrant in the match. There would be four initial entrants with an additional competitor added every minute until all ten competitors had entered. Entrant two was the monster, Meng. Malenko and Meng stared each other down from opposite corners, with Tenay noting that any match-up between the two would constitute a clash in styles. Next up, the Crusaders Against Tyranny, Chris Jericho & Eddie Guerrero, came to the ring in concert. Instead of focusing on what was supposed to be the start of the match, they grabbed a microphone and demanded to know the identity of the mystery entrant immediately. Stinko Malenko and Meng seized the opportunity to catch the Crusaders off-guard and attacked, officially signaling the start of the match.

Guerrero & Malenko and Meng & a petrified Jericho paired up in the opening minutes. Entrant number five was Steven Regal. Regal, Jericho, and Guerrero proceeded to work together to try and dump Meng to no avail. While The Cat came in as entrant six, Meng recovered from the three-on-one and regained his composure so that when Jericho came at him with a charge, Meng was able to lock on the painful Tongan Death Grip! Jericho smartly maneuvered himself to the center of the ring so that he could not be eliminated. When Eddie Guerrero mocked The Cat’s leopard print tights, Cat charged at him with a series of standing side kicks. Kanyon returned to the ring as entrant number seven. Kanyon, prematurely boastful, immediately found himself on the receiving end of Meng’s Kick of Fear. Malenko worked over Guerrero, preparing to catapult him toward the turnbuckle and, with any luck, over the top rope, but Jericho came to his fellow Crusader’s rescue and threw Deano Machino out of the ring by his hair. Dean Malenko was the first man eliminated. Booker T then entered the match. Regal worked over Meng, but Cat came out of nowhere with a thrust kick that sent Regal over the top rope. Steven Regal was the second man eliminated. The Cat got a little too overconfident, however, as Meng immediately turned around and simply powered Cat out of the ring. The Cat was the third man eliminated. While Booker T jockeyed for position with Eddie Guerrero in the corner, his brother Stevie Ray came out as entrant nine. Booker, Guerrero, Jericho, Kanyon, Meng, and Stevie Ray battled it out amongst each other for the remainder of the next period until the tenth man sprinted to the ring and was recognizable almost immediately -- Raven was the mystery entrant! While the other competitors all paused to react, Raven wasted little time, pounding away immediately on Booker T. After taking Booker off his feet with a dropkick to Booker’s knee, Raven looked into the camera and posed. He had an Egyptian Ankh symbol painted over one eye, and Schiavone feared that Raven had only grown more bizarre since the last time we saw him. Kanyon approached Raven to welcome his on-again/off-again friend and rival Raven back, and Raven responded by delivering an Evenflo DDT. He then brought Kanyon to his feet and tossed him over the top rope. Kanyon was the fourth man eliminated. Meng clubbed away at Stevie Ray in the corner, and although they haven’t seen eye to eye in WCW in quite some time, Booker T went over to provide his brother some relief. Indeed, working in concert, the former Harlem Heat was able collectively to backdrop Meng to the outside. Meng was the fifth man eliminated. Stevie Ray embraced his brother -- and then grabbed him by the arm and tried to eliminate him! Booker had none of that and broke out a Harlem Sidekick seemingly from nowhere to eliminate Stevie Ray. Stevie Ray was the sixth man eliminated. Eddie, meanwhile, worked away on Raven and tried for a snap suplex. Raven blocked it and hit another Evenflo DDT. Raven raised his arms, looking for the crowd to recognize his strong showing in the match. Jericho came out of nowhere with a Springboard dropkick, though, that sent Raven backwards over the top rope. Raven was the seventh man eliminated. Booker T, Eddie Guerrero, and Chris Jericho remained. Eddie limped over to Booker T a threw a dropkick that missed Booker. Booker backdropped Eddie over the top rope, but Eddie fell to the apron and held out, squirming back into the ring. He whipped Booker into the corner, and just as he was looking to try and throw Booker out, Chris Jericho came over and Pearl Harbored Eddie, who fell over the top and to the outside! Eddie Guerrero was the eighth man eliminated. On the outside, Eddie fumed at Jericho’s betrayal. The officials didn’t give him long to react, though, as he was escorted to the back. Jericho had turned his focus sharply to Booker T. Booker hit an impressive leapfrog and tried for a sidekick but was crotched. Jericho wisely tried shoving Booker to the outside, but Booker was sure to throw his weight back into the ring. Jericho charged at Booker with a clothesline, but Booker countered with an exploder spinebuster. Both men were spent by this point. Chris Jericho went up to the top rope. Booker T cut him off at the pass. Jericho realized he was in a precarious position, and was able to lock on a desperate headscissors that ultimately sent Booker T crashing to the outside! Booker T was the final man eliminated. Jericho won the Battle Royal, and the US Heavyweight Title!

As Jericho relished his title victory, he looked around for partner Eddie Guerrero and appeared confused as to why Eddie would possibly want to miss out on the celebration.

WINNER: Chris Jericho at 15:42

STAR RATING: *1/2

- Okerlund was in the back with Ric Flair.

Okerlund: A fierce Battle Royal for the US Heavyweight Championship, and I’m joined now by the President of World Championship Wrestling, Ric Flair.

Flair: That’s right, Mean Gene, and you know, Chris Jericho got what he wanted. He got the US Heavyweight Title. Now perhaps he will leave me the hell alone. And like I’ve said, Mean Gene, I get things done, and I was the one who negotiated Raven’s return to WCW. I want all of the people speculating about the kind of power I may or may not have to recognize that I have the authority to bring people into the fold, and to get them out of it, as well.

Okerlund: Speaking of removing people from the fold, you have a vested interested in seeing “Big Sexy” Kevin Nash drop the coveted World Heavyweight Title tonight, even if it is to one of two men you despise: “The Macho Man” Randy Savage, and big Sid Vicious.

Flair: There is no doubt about it: Kevin Nash has a problem on his hands, and it’s going to take a miracle for him to solve it. And I couldn’t be happier about it.

Okerlund: And what about the issue of Goldberg?

Flair: What about it?

Okerlund: Monday night live on Nitro, he made an eventful return, and we’re told he’s here in Fort Lauderdale tonight.

Flair: Well, there’s only one thing that needs to be said about Goldberg, Mean Gene. There is pecking order in this company -- my company-- and it would behoove everyone in the locker room -- up to and including Goldberg -- to recognize that. Now, the Nature Boy has a couple of coeds waiting for him in the skybox, and if I’m not mistaken, it’s time for the Hot Rod to cut Buff Bagwell down to size. Life is good, Mean Gene. Wooo!

5- Buff Bagwell vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper

Referee: Scott Dickinson

The match was put over as the biggest, most important of Buff’s career. In the opening minutes, Piper used an eyepoke to secure the advantage, and he employed basic kicks and knee drops to work over Bagwell. Piper was trying to perform some kind of submission with Bagwell’s leg, but Bagwell was able to catch Piper in a small package for the near-fall. Bagwell sent Piper into the ropes and hit a back elbow. He further weakened Piper with a belly to back suplex and a snapmare and fist drop. Back on their feet, Buff blocked several Piper punches. Piper bounced off the ropes but was sent down with a shoulderblock. Piper countered a charge in the corner with a boot. He went up top to try an ax handle blow, but Bagwell grabbed him and tossed him to the mat with a sloppy Flairesque overhead slam. Bagwell worked the crowd but Piper then tripped Bagwell. He used several closed-fist punches on Bagwell. He sent Bagwell into the ropes and caught him in his trademark sleeper! It did not look good for Bagwell. The crowd rallied behind him, and finally Bagwell hulked up and slammed Piper over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Bagwell hit the Kobashi DDT and signaled for the signature Blockbuster. Torrie Wilson came down to the ring, however, and stood on the apron to distract Bagwell. Torrie and Bagwell argued with each other while Piper recovered and came at Bagwell from behind. Just in time, however, Bagwell turned back to his opponent, foiled the sneak attack, and dropped the Rowdy one with a reverse neckbreaker. A frustrated Torrie could only look on while Buff ascended to the top turnbuckle and executed a perfect Blockbuster to secure the pinfall!

As Bagwell’s hand was raised in momentous victory, he looked at Torrie and shrugged; her sour expression conveyed that she was annoyed by Bagwell’s victory.

WINNER: Buff Bagwell at 9:03

STAR RATING: *3/4

- Backstage, Chris Jericho, carrying his US Title, was looking for Eddie Guerrero. He entered a closed-door locker room to find Lodi “loosening Lenny’s joints.” Jericho, disturbed, closed the door and continued his search for his partner. After a moment, Eddie appeared.

Jericho: Eddie! Where’ve you been, pal?

Guerrero: I’ve been thinkin’, Gringo. You stabbed me in the back, man.

Jericho: What? You mean in the battle royal? Are you kidding?

Guerrero: Do I look like I’m kidding?

Jericho: Eddie, that was business! I did what I had to do. It was for the cause. You know?

Guerrero: The cause?

Jericho: The US Heavyweight Title is now in my hands -- our hands. JoJo Dillon and WCW would like nothing more than for my victory to divide the two of us. I mean, we’ve been causing the company a lot of headaches. The last thing they want is to see us succeed. Ask any of the Jerichoholics out there, and they'll tell you the same thing.

Guerrero: So I’m supposed to be okay with you throwing me out of the ring earlier tonight?

Jericho: We’ve got to stick together, Eduardo. We’ve got to. Now, are we square, or not?

Guerrero considered his answer and left without saying anything...

- Back in the arena, Goldberg’s music hit! Da Man did us usual, pyro-heavy entrance. Finally, he stood at mid-ring with a mic and waited for the crowd to calm down before speaking.

Goldberg: Monday night, I came back. I came back for good. There are a lot of people who aren’t going to be too happy about it, but I am here to stay, and nothing and nobody is going to run me out of WCW. Monday night, I was asked to make sure that a match between Randy Savage and Sting played out fairly. I was asked to maintain control, and so when I speared Sid Vicious when he hit the ring, I was doing a job I’d been asked to do. Sid didn’t like it when I speared his ass, and Randy Savage didn’t like it when I let him know that he couldn’t cut corners in a match I was officiating. I think it’s safe to say that Savage and Sid don’t like me very much, and you know what? That’s just as well, because I don’t like them either. In this business, I’ve learned that you’ve got to know who your enemies are, and now I know for damn sure that Randy Savage and Sid Vicious--? They’re my enemies. But that makes things simple, because my policy for enemies is pretty basic, and it comes down to two words: No. Mercy. That means one thing, and one thing only. Randy Savage? You’re next!

6- Hardcore Match: “Mojo” Morrus (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Hardcore Hak (w/Chastity)

Referee: Billy Silverman

In the ring after the entrances, Morrus made eyes at Chastity, and received an immediate shot to the head with the kendo stick by Hak in response. Hak brought Morrus back to his feet and tried to send the big man down with a clothesline; Morrus maintained a vertical base and picked up Hak for a sudden slam. Morrus whipped Hak into the ropes and met him with a knee lift. Morrus then threw Hak over the top rope. Morrus grabbed the kendo stick and jumped off the ring steps onto Hak on the outside, clubbing him on the head. He prepared to whip Hak into the steps, but Hak was able to reverse it, and Morrus’s back collided hard with the steps. Hart looked ready to interfere at this point, but a menacing glance from Hak convinced him that restraint would be the wiser choice. Hak grabbed a chair and went after Morrus with it. Morrus avoided the shot, grabbed his manager’s megaphone, and whacked Hak in the back of the head with it. The competitors punched and kicked their way up the ramp; Morrus stopped at one point and executed a hanging vertical suplex, with Hak landing hard on the steel floor. The men reached the entrance, where they employed the beach-themed set's props in their offense; Hak placed a metal sand pail over Morrus’s head and sent him into the scaffolding. He then climbed up a lifeguard tower and dropped an elbow onto Morrus down below. Hak slowly stood up and prepared for a splash, but Morrus was somehow able to block the move by raising his knees. Hak was now incapacitated and Hart urged Morrus to his feet. Hart was getting too involved at this point for Chastity’s liking, and she blasted Jimmy with a stiff slap, knocking his sunglasses off, and then aimed and shot her trusty fire extinguisher at him, pleasing the crowd. Morrus, in the meantime, slowly rose and lifted the limp Hak to his feet. Morrus grabbed a surfboard that was part of the set and brought it with him to the ring along with Hak. Morrus took Hak down with a right hand back in the middle of the ring and then draped the surfboard across Hak’s body. He went up top, clearly setting up for the No Laughing Matter. Hak rolled out of the way with the surfboard at the last minute, and Morrus connected only with canvas after his moonsault. Morrus slowly stood, but was met with a shot to the head by Hak with the surfboard, which broke in two. Out of nowhere, Hak was able to execute his Heinekenrana. As he played to the crowd before attempting a pin, Raven appeared at the entrance! Hak looked confused as Raven headed to the ring. Raven entered the ring. Hak questioned him about his presence, and Raven kicked Hak and knocked him out with the Evenflo atop half of the broken surfboard. Raven rolled Morrus atop Hak, and Morrus scored the pin!

Morrus limped up the ramp to tend to his fallen manager. Back in the ring, Hak was out cold, and a furious Chastity ranted and raved at her returning “brother” Raven in response to his unexplained actions.

WINNER: Mojo Morrus at 10:47

STAR RATING: **3/4

- Gene Okerlund was with the ladies of Team Madness in the back. Mona and Gorgeous George looked on while Madusa fielded questions.

Okerlund: A violent hardcore match here live on pay-per-view, ladies and gentleman, and I’m joined at this time by representatives of Randy Savage’s Team Madness. Madusa, your thoughts on tonight main event tag team match in which, I might add, the Heavyweight Championship of the World, will be at stake.

Madusa: Isn’t it obvious, Gene? Randy Savage and Sid Vicious trust each other implicitly. Meanwhile, Kevin Nash and Sting have stabbed each other in the back so many times that they’ve lost count. United Team Madness will conquer; divided Sting and Nash will fall.

Okerlund: Are you predicting a World Title change here tonight, then?

Madusa: Team Madness is walking out with the gold. Watch and see.

7- Psicosis vs. Chavo Guerrero

Referee: Mickey Jay

What was to some the “popcorn match” of the evening was a solid, albeit short, cruiserweight showcase. Chavo, the top contender to Rey Mysterio’s Cruiserweight Title, put on a strong showing in the opening minutes, going after Psicosis with a headscissors, a cross-body block, and a bulldog. Psicosis turned the tables when he dropped Chavo out of the ring and then ran the ropes and executed a suicide dive between the middle and top ropes onto Chavo outside. Both competitors slowly got up outside, and Chavo threw a standing dropkick that sent Psicosis into the steel guardrail hard. Chavo sent Psicosis back into the ring. Chavo went up to the top rope. Psicosis intercepted him. Chavo attempted his Tornado DDT, but Psicosis held onto the rope and was able to plant Chavo face first on the canvas. Psicosis dropped Chavo on the back of his neck with a Tiger Suplex. Psicosis then signaled that he would be taking to the air. He went up top and flew across the ring with his Guillotine Legdrop, but nobody was home when he landed. Having moved, Chavo took advantage of Psicosis’s dazed state and put him away with a Mahistral Cradle.

After the match, Rey Mysterio came to the ring to congratulate Chavo on his hard-fought victory. As they shook hands, Schiavone announced that it would be Rey vs. Chavo for the title on August 15th at the Clash of the Champions in Denver.

WINNER: Chavo Guerrero at 9:11

STAR RATING: ***3/4

- An advertisement for the Clash of the Champions aired.

8- World Heavyweight Title Match: “Macho Man” Randy Savage & Sid Vicious (w/Gorgeous George, Madusa, & Mona) vs. “Big Sexy” Kevin Nash © and Sting

Referee: Nick Patrick

Michael Buffer handled ring introductions and managed not to botch anyone’s name this month.

When partners Sting and Nash came face to face in the ring before the opening bell, they appeared civil. The announcers speculated that, realizing what was at stake, the two men had gotten together and resolved their recent differences.

The match began with Savage and Sting. Sting rejected an attempted shoulderblock by Savage, flexed his muscles, and knocked Savage down. A fuming Savage then received comfort from Sid and the girls in the corner. Savage faked a test-of-strength setup and went to Sting’s eyes. He then took Sting off his feet with a clothesline, and stomped away at him in the corner. Savage began choking Sting and received a stern warning from Patrick. Savage kept Sting in the corner; Sid held Sting back while Savage punched him. Schiavone noted that Savage was showing absolutely no mercy in his quest to become World Heavyweight Champion. Savage tagged in Sid. Sid sent Sting into the turnbuckle hard, and then picked him up and tossed him over the top rope. Madusa, George, and Mona were on Sting like a pack of hyenas, kicking him on the cement. Nash tried getting Nick Patrick to do something, but Nash’s discourse with Patrick caused the senior official to be oblivious to the beating taking place outside. Finally, Nash hopped off the apron and provided Sting relief. Patrick ordered Nash back to his corner. Sting slid into the ring and immediately received boots from Sid. Sid picked up Sting and carried him across the ring. Just as he prepared to slam Sting, Sting slipped out of Sid’s grasp and drove Sid’s head into the turnbuckle ten times with the crowd chanting along. Sting followed up with a dropkick that sent Sid slumping into the corner. Savage came in to try and cut off Sting’s comeback, but Sting clotheslined Savage to the outside. Sting headed over to Nash to make the tag. Sid grabbed Sting’s boot to prevent the switch, but Sting was able to slip into the corner and make the hot tag, nonetheless! Nash rocked Sid against the ropes with a couple of right hands. Savage hopped back on the apron but was sent outside yet again by a big boot. Nash raised his fist with the Wolfpac symbol, earning himself a pop for cleaning house. Sid pulled himself to his feet, and the two big men exchanged horrible punches. Sid kicked Nash in the midsection and then clotheslined him from behind, sending him to the canvas. Sid telegraphed a pathetic legdrop which Nash was able to avoid. Nash measured Sid as he began to get up. It looked as though Nash was planning on a knee left, but Madusa tried tripping him from outside. While Nash was distracted exchanging words with Madusa and friends, Sid set up for and nailed a big boot of his own and got the two count; Tenay put it over as a serious near-fall. Back on his feet, Nash blocked a Sid punch and tried picking Sid up for the Snake Eyes. Nash’s back gave out, however, and Sid clumsily fell on top of Nash for another two count. Nash reversed an Irish Whip and elbowed Sid against the turnbuckle. Nash made the tag to Sting which was, as Schiavone observed, a good move at this point in the match. Sting ducked a Sid clothesline and chopped him into the corner. He then whipped Sid into the opposite corner, and hit two Stinger Splashes! Sting then headed up to the top rope and tried a flying clothesline at the groggy Sid. Sid caught Sting with a weak chokeslam, though, incapacitating him. The girls, in the meantime, were back to exchanging insults with Nash. Sid got a two count on Sting. Savage threatened David Penzer outside and grabbed Nash’s World Title belt. Sid tagged in Savage. Savage charged at Sting with the title belt, but Nash came in, took the title away from Savage, and took Savage down with a right hand. Tenay drove home that if Savage had been able to score the pin on Sting, he would have won Nash’s title. Patrick angrily sent Nash back to his corner and returned the belt to Penzer. Schiavone noted that the stakes in the match were too high for Patrick to justify throwing it out at this stage. Sting whipped Savage into the ropes and back body dropped him. Riling up the crowd, Sting then hit a high elevation elbow drop, and tagged Nash back in. Nash picked up Savage and gave him Snake Eyes in the corner. He got a two count. The frustration began to show on Nash’s face. Nash picked up Savage and executed his Sidewalk Slam. Another two count. Nash, losing his patience, took a moment to cool out. In the meantime, Savage rolled to the outside. Nash left the ring to chase Savage. Nash winked at Mona, who reacted awkwardly. When Nash came face-to-face with Savage, Savage pulled Gorgeous George in front of him to dodge a Nash attack. Nash moved George out of the way, but Savage cheapshotted him. Savage sent Nash headfirst into the ringpost. Nash tried to collect himself, leaning on the guardrail. Savage, meanwhile, climbed all the way up to the top turnbuckle. Heenan put over the fact that the man was insane and had no regard for his body and certainly not for his opponents’. Savage flew off the top turnbuckle with a double ax handle blow onto the champion down below. Sid was amused by this while Sting stood by, helpless. Savage sent Nash back into the ring. With Nash down on the mat, Savage pulled his legs apart and kicked Nash in the groin. Savage signaled for the world title and pointed to the turnbuckle once more. En route, he nailed Sting with a right hand. Patrick prevented Sting from retaliating. Up top, Savage prepped for the Elbowsmash, and Schiavone reminded viewers that the move had been reinstated on Nitro after having been banned for causing several collapsed lungs. Heenan predicted that if Savage connected with the move, he would become the new World Heavyweight Champion. Savage hit the Elbowsmash! 1---2--- and Sting came in and broke up the pin at the last minute! Tenay said Sting had just prevented Kevin Nash’s title reign from coming to an end; Heenan countered that rather than protecting Nash, Sting was simply ensuring that his own chances of becoming champion were not ruined. Savage was incensed by Sting’s interference, and yelled at Nick Patrick. Nash proceeded to roll Savage up for a 2.9. Savage was lethargic, so Nash was able to tag in Sting. Sting sent Savage into the corner and hit a Stinger Splash. Sid came in, and Sting provided a moment for the highlight reel by powerslamming the big man! He howled for the crowd. Sid had rolled to the outside, and so the path was clear for Sting to finish Savage off. Sting grabbed Savage by the legs and successfully locked on the Scorpion Death Lock! The crowd and announcers went wild -- Savage was in the center of the ring with no escape and Sting had the move locked on perfectly! As we all awaited the tapout, Nash entered the ring unexplained and delivered a vicious boot to Sting’s face as he kept Savage in the submission move! Sting fell over, unconscious, breaking the hold. The announcers couldn’t believe what they’d just seen, and trash from the fans began to litter the ring. Nash dragged Sting over to the corner. Nash stepped back outside the ring and officially tagged himself in by slapping Sting’s back. Patrick, never having encountered such a scenario, counted the tag as perfectly legal. George, Madusa, and Mona could do nothing but look on as Nash picked up Savage and Jacknifed him. A disgusted Schiavone counted along with Patrick for the pin. 1, 2, 3, and Kevin Nash retained the World Heavyweight Title.

Nash caught his breath as Patrick raised his arm and returned to him the World Title belt. Schiavone declared that Nash had screwed Sting out of the World Title. Sid and the female members of Team Madness tended to Savage on the outside. Sting, meanwhile, shook off his disorientation and stepped into the ring, much of his facepaint having rubbed off during the match. Nash stood in the middle of the ring with his title belt. Sting grabbed Nash by the arm and turned him around so they were face-to-face. Sting awaited answers while Nash looked on in silence. What on earth would happen tomorrow, live on Nitro?

WINNER: Kevin Nash at 17:21

STAR RATING: *1/2

Hosted by Jim Ross and Paul Heyman

Ft Worth, Texas

April 2, 2001

COLD DAY IN HELL

JR described the alliance of WWF Chairman Vince McMahon and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin as something he "never thought remotely possible," and yet when RAW kicked off live on Monday Night, Vince McMahon quickly demonstrated that what once seemed inconceivable was now a reality. Mr. McMahon conceded that his son Shane had control of WCW, but argued that by putting aside his differences with the Texas Rattlesnake and joining forces, he had once again positioned himself as the most powerful figure in all of Sports-Entertainment. McMahon then brought out the new World Wrestling Federation Champion -- the new and not-so-improved Stone Cold. In discussing his shameless actions of the night before, Austin argued that he was the very architect of the Attitude era in the World Wrestling Federation and that, somewhere along the way, The Rock had forgotten that he truly had Stone Cold to thank for his success. In short, it seemed, Austin was jealous! Stone Cold made it clear that he didn't care what the people thought of his despicable union with his former arch-rival Mr. McMahon. To top it off, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley then joined Austin and McMahon at mid-ring and welcomed Austin to the "family," toasting with imported beer.

Later in the program, viewers learned that new friends and associates Stone Cold and Triple H had issued an open challenge to foes The Rock and The Undertaker for a tag team match at the top of the show. This was not an opportunity the People's Champ or the Phenom were likely to pass up. The star-studded tag team match, in which The Rock got his hands on Stone Cold after a long, 24-hour wait, featured a failed attempt at interference by Mr. Mahon, who found himself on the receiving end of a thunderous Rock Bottom for his troubles. Later, Triple H took his trademark sledgehammer to the skull of The Rock, but when he went for the pinfall, the Great One was somehow, some way able to get his foot on the bottom rope! Later, after having given a Stunner to The Undertaker, Austin removed his own knee brace and clocked The Rock in the skull with the unforgiving international object, busting the former champion wide open. While a bloodied Rock was slumped in the corner, the crowd was stunned by the unscheduled appearance of "The Heartbreak Kid" himself, Shawn Michaels, at the entrance! Michaels power-walked to the ring with purpose, and fans couldn't wait for HBK to give Stone Cold what was coming to him. Austin looked on, frozen, while Michaels hit the ring and tuned up the band for Sweet Chin Music. The real shock came when Michaels took his patented superkick not to Stone Cold, but square on the jaw of The Rock, instead! Referee Earl Hebner disqualified Austin and Triple H, and he was then promptly kicked out of the ring by the returning Mr. McMahon. With both The Rock and The Undertaker down and out on the outside, Stone Cold, Triple H, HBK, Mr. McMahon, and Stephanie celebrated with raised arms in the ring. "Good God!" JR exclaimed. "What the hell does all of this mean?" WrestleMania 17 and RAW had witnessed the genesis of what could very well be the most powerful union in the history of the World Wrestling Federation.

HERE COMES THE MONEY!

Fresh off a thrilling victory over his father at WrestleMania, Shane-o-Mac dropped in on RAW with yet another blockbuster announcement. Explaining that he was not the only one who had faith in the stars of WCW, Shane revealed that UPN was dropping the WWF's own SmackDown! program in favor of airing WCW Nitro weekly on Thursday nights at 8/7 CST -- effective immediately! Shane was tight-lipped on the topic of just what, exactly, he had in store for the "Season Premiere" of Nitro in three days, but he was able to share that the reigning WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Booker T, would be at Nitro on Thursday! Booker would apparently be joined by "other headliners, legends, and future world champions" alike. A new day had dawned in Sports-Entertainment.

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONER

Y2J was in celebratory mode coming off of a successful Intercontinental Championship defense at WrestleMania against WWF Commissioner William Regal. RAW is JERICHO was cut short, however, by an appearance by the Commish who, proving himself to be rather a sore loser, demanded a return match with Jericho for the following week on RAW!

A WOLVERINE'S REVENGE

Despite a loss to Kurt Angle the night before, Chris Benoit didn't miss a beat when he faced The Goodfather on RAW in singles competition. The RTC member was clearly in over his head with the Rabid Wolverine, who secured a convincing victory with the nasty Crippler Crossface. As you might've guessed, Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle was in the mood to gloat over his Mania victory, and he did just that following Benoit's match. Benoit had little patience for Angle's games, however, and in a bit of retribution, folded Angle in half with a series of three stiff German Suplexes!

TABLES, LADDERS, CHAIRS, AND FALLOUT

Fans around the world were mesmerized at WrestleMania by a spectacular TLC match between The Dudley Boys, Edge & Christian, and The Hardy Boyz. One faction that will not be casting any votes for the TLC encounter as a Match of the Year candidate would be The Right to Censor. Led by Steven Richards, the RTC came to the ring and denounced the TLC match for the WWF Tag Team Championship as "an uncontrolled display of heinous violence." Richards called for the TLC match to be banned permanently by WWF officials! This prompted an appearance by The Dudley Boys and The Hardy Boys, who put up a unified front in taking exception to the over-the-top remarks of the RTC. After Richards called for the Dudleys and Hardyz to admit to the destructive nature of TLC, a pier-6 brawl broke out and, to the crowd's delight, the Dudleys and Hardyz sent the RTC into a retreat!

Meanwhile, WWF camera crews accompanied new World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions Edge and Christian to a local spa, where they rewarded themselves with a day of relaxation. E&C were shadowed, of course, by their new muscle, Rhyno.

HANDING DOWN A PUNISHMENT

As was perhaps inevitable, Mr. McMahon was furious with WWF Diva Trish Stratus for having stood up to him the night before during his Street Fight with son Shane. When Vince encountered Trish hanging out back stage with her new buddy -- and Vince's estranged wife -- Linda, Vince made a spur-of-the-moment decision to book rookie Trish in a match against seasoned veteran Ivory of the RTC! The task was daunting, but Trish refused to back down. Much to the surprise of Ivory, scrappy Trish put up a hell of a fight, and was even able to counter former Women's Champion Ivory's attempt at a Samoan Driver. After Trish leveled Ivory with a Superkick, none other than Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley came to ringside and provided a distraction, allowing Ivory to come to her feet and drill Trish with a reverse neckbreaker to score the pin. In further payback for Trish's betrayal of Mr. McMahon the night before, Stephanie enlisted Ivory's help in humiliating Trish. Ivory restrained Trish, allowing Stephanie to deliver a vicious slap across the face. The brutality only came to a stop when Women's Champion Chyna -- a fan of neither Ivory nor Stephanie -- hit the ring to provide some relief to Trish.

HE'LL CRY IF HE WANTS TO

Backstage, Raven expressed to Commissioner Regal his extreme displeasure over the fact that Kane had captured Raven's Hardcore Title the night before without even having to pin him! Regal understood Raven's frustration, and in response, booked him in a Hardcore Title Match against the Big Red Machine live on RAW! Although the match began at ringside, it quickly spilled up the ramp and into the backstage area, with Kane putting on a strong showing as champion. The action was so wild that it ended up right in the middle of the APA's office! Raven, on the offensive, had the audacity to interrupt Faarooq and Bradshaw's poker game and received a Clothesline from Hell by Bradshaw as a result. Following that, it was elementary for Kane, who pinned Raven after a Chokeslam through the poker table.

EUROTRASH

The brand new European Champion was in action on RAW, and he had fellow Radicalz Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn -- both of whom had been instrumental in his victory the night before -- at his side. His challenger was Scotty 2 Hotty of Too Cool. Scotty seemed determined to have a taste of single's gold and he came close on more than one occasion. When Malenko and Saturn hopped up on the apron to take the pressure off of Latino Heat, Scotty responded quickly with a sidekick that sent the troublesome Radicalz back to the outside. Eddie was lying in wait by this time, though, and after nailing a trio of snap suplexes, he went up top for the Frog Splash and successfully connected with his finisher for the pin. Saturn and Malenko joined Eddie in the ring to lay a beatdown on Scotty, but it wasn't long before Scotty's partner Grand Masta Sexay and Eddie's rival Test (who knew all too well what it was like to be outnumbered by Radicalz) hit the ring to even the odds!

MORE THAN HE COULD CHEW

Crash Holly -- the Super Heavyweight who happens to be the WWF Light Heavyweight Champion -- was back this week (with lovely cousin Molly at his side), and he wanted some competition. What Crash may not have bargained for when he issued his open challenge was that the man who would answer it would turn out to be none other than the 500-pound Big Show! Crash put up a valiant, momentary struggle against the largest athlete in Sports-Entertainment, but it only took one, devastating Show Stopper for the lights to go out on brave Crash.

GET READY FOR A BACKLASH!

JR confirmed that the WWF's next pay-per-view extravaganza would fall on Sunday, April 28th; Backlash would emanate from Chicago, Illinois and promised to shape up to be another can't-miss World Wrestling Federation event...

Match Results

The Rock & The Undertaker d. Stone Cold & Triple H via disqualification

Kane d. Raven in a Hardcore Match to retain the WWF Hardcore Title

The Big Show d. Crash Holly

Ivory d. Trish Stratus

Eddie Guerrero d. Scotty 2 Hotty to retain the WWF European Championship

Chris Benoit d. The Goodfather

Spring and Summer 2000: Rumors abound that executives at AOL/Time-Warner are eager to unload the money pit that had become World Championship Wrestling.

October 2000: Vince McMahon's WWFE becomes the top contendor to purchase World Championship Wrestling.

November 2000: Due to a "last minute snag with Viacom," WWFE drops out of the bidding for the dying WCW brand. Former Turner Vice-President Eric Bischoff emerges as a new potential buyer.

January 2001: The purchase of World Championship Wrestling by Eric Bischoff and Fusient Media Ventures is announced.

March 2001: After Time-Warner abruptly cancels WCW programming on its TNT and TBS cable networks, Fusient Media backs out on its plans to buy the promotion. Vince McMahon acquires the WCW brand and tape library at an embarassingly low price.

The contracts of 24 middle and lower tier WCW workers are picked up; Mike Awesome, Hugh Morrus, Lance Storm, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Shawn Stasiak, Johnny the Bull, Shane Helms, Shannon Moore, Evan Karagias, Chuck Palumbo, Sean O'Haire, Mike Sanders, Mark Jindrak, Elix Skipper, Alan Funk, Lash LeRoux, The Wall, Kaz Hayashi, Jamie Knoble, Yang, Stacy Keibler, Reno, Kid Romeo, and Jason Jett are all expected to be a part of the new WWFE-run WCW.

26 March 2001: Now in the hands of WWFE, WCW holds its final Monday Nitro broadcast live on TNT. Meanwhile, the WWF holds its "go-home" edition of RAW six days prior to WrestleMania 17 in Houston, Texas. Vince McMahon addresses the purchase of WCW in a historic live simulcast on both programs. The WWF's Vince vs. Shane father/son storyline is furthered when Shane McMahon appears at Club la Vela on Nitro to announce that he outbid his father at the last minute and now owns the WCW brand.

WWFE management's plan is to run both the WWF and WCW brands separate and distinct promotions, ideally building toward cross-branded dream matches down the line. One of WWFE's most significant challenges concerns the use of high-priced former WCW headliners, all of whom have the option of sitting at home and collecting on their fat, guaranteed Time-Warner deals. There is no guarantee that any of these men will be interested in accepting reduced WWFE buyouts. Furthermore, many of these individuals are known locker room cancers who actively contributed to the downfall of the Turner-run WCW.

All of this takes place amidst a backdrop that also features the ongoing demise of Paul Heyman's financially-challenged Extreme Championship Wrestling. ECW stars -- including Heyman himself -- begin making their way onto WWF programming and into long-term WWF contracts.

Friday, March 30th, 2001

Greetings from under the black Resistol hat. It's been one helluva week from where I sit. The internet is certainly abuzz about Sunday night's WrestleMania and WWFE's acquisition of World Championship Wrestling. Some of what has been written has basis in reality; much of it does not. I'll do my best this week to clear up what I can.

WrestleMania will continue as planned. I imagine that the Texas Rattlesnake and the People's Champion will tell nothing short of an epic story in their World Wrestling Federation Championship match. The build-up to their scheduled encounter has unfolded in a riveting fashion, and a lot of credit for that must go to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock, two of the most gifted performers I've ever had the privilege to watch. Top to bottom, Sunday night's card is as solid a WrestleMania lineup as I've ever seen, and I expect nothing less than the biggest blockbuster event of the year.

There is a great deal of excitement within WWFE over the purchasing of the WCW brand. Contrary to what has been written elsewhere, we fully intend to create a viable, dynamic, and distinct product with WCW. I can confirm that WWFE CEO Linda McMahon has held high-level meetings with Viacom executives all week long, and we should have exciting news to report on WWFE's programming on UPN very soon.

As has been reported on this website, WWFE has acquired the services of 24 former WCW performers, all of whom have reported to Ohio Valley Wresting for evaluation and, in many cases, seasoning. I expect several additional talents to join our WCW lineup in the near future. In particular, it has been my pleasure to hold meetings with several big names whose identities I cannot reveal at this time for pesky legal reasons. I will say that while several dirt sheets have alleged "irreconcilable differences" between myself and Jeff Jarrett, there have been talks between Mr. Jarrett, among others, and WWFE officials since the "Night of Champions." WCW loyalists who are expecting a "Titanization" of the promotion after its relaunch might be in for a surprise.

No recent contact has been made with Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, or Kevin Nash.

There are a number of free agents who could contribute a great deal as part of either the WWF or WCW brands. Rob Van Dam is a name that is mentioned regularly backstage at our live events. I would also hesitate to make the assertion that "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock's return to the world of mixed martial arts will be an indefinite one.

It is good to see The Big Show back on RAW and SmackDown! broadcasts after having spent several months getting a bit of tune-up with Jim Cornette down in Ohio Valley. As long as Show continues to drop excess weight and focus on improving his all-around game, I would venture a guess that this hoss of a man has a brilliant future on our roster.

Those expecting a mat classic out of Edge & Christian, The Dudleys, and the Hardy Boyz and their TLC match at WrestleMania will be disappointed. That said, I expect this spectacle will have fans talking -- for years.

I am working hard to adjust to my new broadcast colleague Paul Heyman on RAW. Paul and I have a long history together, but we are both professionals doing a job to the best of our abilities.

There will be no stopping Brock Lesnar or Shelton Benjamin when they ultimately receive their call-ups from OVW. I hope to see them both make the move to one of our main rosters next year.

We should have an announcement to make on the barbecue sauce front by the end of the month.

With less than 48 hours until perhaps the most highly-anticipated WrestleMania in history, I feel the need to wrap up. I truly believe there will be a great deal of enjoyment to be gotten out of Sunday's extravaganza, and it will be an honor to call the action at ringside.

Until next time,

J.R.

Friday, July 10th, 1999

9:12am

Office of Tom Quinn, Vice-President of World Championship Wrestling

Atlanta, Georgia

Friday morning, I was upbeat. I had meetings scheduled with Arn Anderson and my top candidate to replace Craig Leathers, Amanda Cutler. In addition, I planned to put together the first draft of my script for Bash at the Beach. As I began my day by browsing the dirt sheets online, Jamie entered my office. I smiled. "How'd you like Thunder?"

"No time for chit-chat now," Jamie said. "Siegel's on the phone."

This was a surprise. I hadn't spoken to Brad since early in the week; he had been complimentary about the bump in Nitro's ratings. I picked up the phone. "Mr. Siegel," I said.

"Tom," said Brad. "Listen, I just read through my assistant's notes on last night's show and noticed that Sting worked Thunder for the second week in a row."

"That's right," I said. I should have known that this would come up.

"Enlighten me," he said. "We're over budget. Now isn't the best time to be coughing up extra pay-offs to top-tier talents."

"I agree," I said. "But, to be frank, sir, the only way we're going to start bringing in money again is if we sell pay-per-views, and I can't sell pay-per-views on our television if my main-eventers aren't available to me." As I've mentioned before, Steve Borden's contract stipulates that he is under no obligation to work Thunder -- ever. If I want to use him, Steve first has to agree to do the show, and we then have to compensate him for working the extra date. "I'm cutting costs where I can," I continued. "Craig Leathers was pulling in six figures. His replacement's price tag won't even be half of that."

Siegel paused. "All right," he said. "I suppose it's a matter of waiting to see what kind of buyrate the Bash does. Last month we did a .43; I'm looking for something significantly higher."

"So am I," I responded.

"We'll talk next week," he said, and hung up.

The call was a powerful reminder that I was under a microscope in a big way.

Half an hour later, I met with Arn Anderson in the conference room.

"So," he smiled. "Am I the next guy on the hitlist? Am I about to get the Kevin Sullivan treatment?" he asked.

"Not quite," I said. "Actually, I wanted to meet with you because I have a lot of respect for you, because of your work as a performer and your work backstage. The thing that struck me the most the first time I was back in the locker room was the level of tension between the guys. Sullivan didn't exactly promote a cooperative, productive atmosphere. But I think you can."

"You want me to take his spot?" he asked.

"There are a lot of guys I'm looking at as potential agents, but you're the one with the most knowledge of the business and also the one who commands the most respect. There's a lot of work to be done, but I think if anyone can oversee it, it's you," I replied.

Arn clasped his hands. He seemed troubled. "I love this business," he said. "And I want to see this company succeed. But this is a serious commitment. A lot of stress, and a lot of time on the road."

"Right. Essentially, I'm asking you to do what Jim Ross does for Vince," I nodded.

"I've got to talk to my wife," he said. "There are some personal issues involved."

"I understand that. I don't want you rushing to any decisions. So, take however much time you need. No pressure."

To Arn, this was a choice between career and family and for him, it would not be an easy one to make.

Friday, July 10th, 1999

Noon

Fort Lauderdale International Airport

This was one of those odd occasions on which WCW and WWF talent and personnel overlapped in their travel. WCW guys were heading into Fort Lauderdale; WWFers were headed out. It was the biggest WWF name of all who noticed Ric Flair waiting for his car service near baggage claim.

"Ric," said Vince McMahon, approaching Flair with a big grin.

"Vince!" Ric said. "How ya doin'? I just saw Briscoe and Hayes a couple of minutes ago."

"Yep," answered Vince. "Everyone's passing through."

"Vince, I felt real good about our last conversation," stated Ric.

"So did I. I assume that means things haven't changed for you despite their replacing Eric with the kid," Vince reasoned.

"No, it's more of the same. January 1st, baby. You know what I mean?" Ric asked.

"I'd love to build you up for Mania," Vince said.

"There's nothin' wrong with that plan," Ric smiled.

Scott Hudson looked on from baggage claim...

Friday, July 10th, 1999

1:43pm

SAGE Bistro

Decateur, Georgia

An expense account is a beautiful thing.

Amanda Cutler couldn't have weighed more that 110 pounds. She had a Jeanine Garofalo kind of thing going with her look -- dark clothes, thick-rimmed glasses. She spoke like her, too.

"Listen," she told me. "I'm not passionate about rassling, but the hours and travel -- that's what I want. I watched the shows this week. They need some serious help, and I would guess that's why we're here today. You want a product that looks good? A product that speaks to a wider audience? I can give you that."

"Consider me interested," I said.

***

Friday WCW Newswire

Sting appeared on The Late Late Show with Conan O'Brien on Thursday night to promote Sunday's BASH AT THE BEACH pay-per-view. Aside from briefly discussing the PPV, Sting mentioned his being a born-again Christian, and the fact that his religious views sometimes conflict with what surrounds him in WCW...

Kevin Sullivan and Dusty Rhodes both have been removed from effective positions of power within WCW. For the moment, Sullivan has been reassigned to the Powerplant to work with prospects on their promos, while Rhodes is working as a talent scout in the southeast. Sources indicate that management's hope is to transition in road agents and booking team members with "fresher" perspectives on the product...

WCW has hired former MTV producer Amanda Cutler to replace departing Craig Leathers as executive producer. Cutler will be backstage at the BASH. WCW's production values and overall approach are expected to be completely revamped over the next several months...

WCW is conscious of the fact that, despite being booked as a heel, Curt Hennig is actually being received enthusiastically by crowds in his "country" role. Expect a new direction for the Rednecks following the pay-per-view...

Dallas Page was a guest on Thursday's WCW Live internet show and lobbied for greater on-air use of his wife, Kimberly...

A number of undercard wrestlers will likely be assigned to Bill Behrens's "Atlanta Championship Wrestling" territory next week...

-A video package highlighting Sting and Kevin Nash's tension following the Sting-Savage match on Nitro is shown.

-The Thunder opener airs.

-Mike Tenay and Larry Zbyszko kick off the program.

Tenay: A storm is raging in Macon, Georgia! Good evening, everyone; Mike Tenay along with "The Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko for two solid hours of WCW Thunder as we enter the final stretch on the road to the Bash at the Beach, and what a pay-per-view event that will be Sunday evening live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We will have a full preview of the Bash tonight on this program, Legend, and the superstars are here; the World Heavyweight Champion Kevin Nash is in the building. His scheduled tag team partner for the Bash, Sting, is scheduled to be here, as are their opponents "The Macho Man" Randy Savage and Sid Vicious, plus "Diamond" Dallas Page, Chris Benoit & Perry Saturn, Booker T, Chris Jericho & Eddie Guerrero. and Buff Bagwell; it's a full house tonight.

Zbysko: Well, you know, the anticipation is building in the back -- it's palpable. There's a lot on the line this Sunday for a lot of people.

Tenay: There certainly is, and we will dissect all of it here tonight. On that note, it's time for our opening bout!

(1) Silver King, El Dandy, & Villanos IV and V vs. Konnan, Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman, & Swoll.

Tenay hypes this as a warm-up match for Konnan and his team as they prepare to take on the West Texas Rednecks at the Bash in a battle of Hip Hop vs. Country. Pre-match, Konnan does his obligatory "viva la raza" bit.

Kidman starts out against El Dandy as they try to outquick each other with their cruiserweight styles. Tenay recaps the loss Kidman suffered to Curt Hennig at Nitro thanks to the interference of the Rednecks. After Kidman takes Dandy down with the Rydeen bomb, Silver King is tagged in and Tenay warns us not to be fooled by his stocky physique. Indeed, the King knocks Kidman down with a dropkick and Konnan is tagged in. Konnan ducks a superkick then nails the somersault and clothesline. He goes for his backkick, but Silver King grabs the ropes and tags Villano V in. Konnan tries for the backkick again, and connects, following up with the usual face jam. Villano IV then switches with Villano V without making a tag, and referee Scott Dickinson is oblivious. Villano IV enjoys a momentary advantage, but when he charges at Konnan at one point, Konnan moves out of the way in time to grab Villano IV and toss him over the top rope. Konnan tags in Rey, who immediately goes for the tope onto Villano IV on the outside. Rey Rey hops back in the ring and plays to the crowd while El Villano's tag team partners offer him encouragement. Villano IV slides back into the ring, executes a drop toehold on the charging Rey, and then drops a high elevation elbow on Mysterio's back. Villano IV whips Rey into the ropes and charges at him, but Rey slides out of the corner at the last minute; Villano IV collides with the turnbuckle. Rey then charges in with the Bronco Buster, garnering himself a pop. Villanos IV and V once more do an illegal switch, but it's too late to do much good; Rey tags fresh man Swoll in; he catches Villano V with a backbreaker and then follows up with a powerful pumphandle slam to secure the pinfall.

WINNERS: Team Hip-Hop at ~8:00

STAR RATING: *3/4. This match was meant to spotlight the babyface team. Swoll is not ready to be working matches on national television...

The rappers have a brief celebration post-match, but it is interrupted by a run-in from West Texas Rednecks Curt Hennig, Bobby Duncum, and Barry & Kendall Windham. A wild brawl between all eight men ensues in preparation for Sunday's tag team match...

-Backstage, Scott Hudson finds Kevin Nash entering his dressing room with the World Heavyweight Title.

Hudson: Kevin Nash, a minute of your time, if you don't mind. We are just three days away from the Bash at the Beach and the tag team match in which you've got to defend your World Heavyweight Title. I don't think it would be an inaccuracy to state that you and your scheduled partner, Sting, have some problems.

Nash: No, Scott, that's not inaccurate. Monday night proved to me that Sting and I do have what you might call some fundamental communication problems between us, and that's not something I want to deal with when I step into the ring against Randy Savage and Sid Vicious with my World Title belt on the line. What I need is a resolution, and Scott, there's no time like the present.

Hudson: What does you mean by that, champ?

Nash: I know that Sting is scheduled to be here in Macon tonight, and I think that the perfect place for him and me to straighten things out will be in the center of the ring for all the world to see on Thunder.

Hudson: You want a face-to-face meeting with Sting in the ring tonight?

Nash: Bingo. You and me, Sting. Tonight.

(Commercial break).

-Backstage once more, Scott Hudson finds The Cat practicing his kicks.

Hudson: Back on Thunder, fans, and obviously, we've caught The Cat at a bad time.

Cat: You sure have, Hudson. Does it look to you like I have time for chatter?

Hudson: You're clearly preparing for that 10-man Battle Royal for the United States Heavyweight Title scheduled for the Bash at the Beach, but if you'll recall, you made a vow on Nitro to tap into your industry sources, your connections, and find out who this unknown tenth participant in that match will be. You said you'd share your findings on Thunder, so I think you can guess what my question for you might be.

Cat: I can figure it out, all right, but Scott Hudson, there's something you need to know. I talk when I'm good and ready to talk, and right now, I jes' ain't ready to talk. I will expose Ric Flair's secret tenth entrant into my Battle Royal as soon as I feel like it. You got that?

Hudson: If you say so, Cat, sure. But let's talk about the Battle Royal itself. You have yet to hold a major title in World Championship Wrestling, and so Sunday is arguably a very big night for you.

Cat: The Cat's time has finally arrived, baby. Did you know it's the Year of the Cat, Scott Hudson?

Hudson: I did not know that, Cat. As a matter of fact, I was under the distinct impression that it's the Year of the Rabbit.

Cat: Well, you're wrong, boy. Sunday night will be my night, and after that, I'm gonna celebrate, live on Monday Nitro. You'll see. You'll all see.

(2) Scotty "The Body" Riggs vs. Booker T.

Riggs's narcissist gimmick is stepped up here, as Tenay puts over his new nickname and Riggs admires himself in his mirror during his entrance. Booker then makes his way to the ring, signaling for the US Heavyweight Title as he looks forward to Sunday's Battle Royal in which he is a participant.

The match gets underway as Tenay and Zbyszko speculate as to who the tenth man in the match will be, reminding viewers that Flair explained on Nitro that he couldn't make the announcement because "negotiations were still underway." Booker controls the pace in the early going here, with Riggs a step behind, falling to a back elbow, a big clothesline, and a belly to back suplex. Riggs has scouted, Booker, however, and ducks to the canvas to avoid a Harlem Sidekick. This is the opening Riggs needs to soften Booker up with some kicks. He whips Booker into the ropes and executes a big back bodydrop. Riggs then goes off the second rope with an elbow drop. Riggs locks in an armbar and is forced to break the hold after a count by the referee. With Booker down on the mat, Riggs, overly pleased with himself, poses for the disapproving crowd. By the time he goes back to Booker, Booker has worked up enough steam to hoist Riggs up for a big spinebuster. With Riggs down, Booker returns to his feet following the Spineroonie. Riggs wobbles to his feet, allowing Booker to connect with the Scissors Kick. Booker raises the roof along with the crowd, sends Riggs to the mat once more with a successful Harlem Sidekick, and finishes him off by going up top with the old Harlem Hangover, leading to the pinfall.

WINNER: Booker T at ~6:30

STAR RATING: **

The victory is put over by the announcers as an impressive showing going into the Bash. Booker does his talking-into-the-camera bit post-match, hyping up Sunday's Battle Royal...

(Commercial break).

-A brief video package highlighting the rivalry that has developed between Chris Benoit and Diamond Dallas Page within the context of the battle between Saturn/Benoit and The Triad for the World Tag Team Titles is shown.

(3) Jerry Flynn & The Barbarian (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Chris Benoit & Perry Saturn

As Benoit and Saturn enter, Tenay explains the significance of Page having put Saturn in the Crossface during the 6-man tag team match days earlier on Nitro, noting the unspoken rule among wrestlers that individuals' signature moves simply shouldn't be stolen or emulated by other wrestlers, much less by rivals.

While Flynn and the Barbarian are no pushovers, Benoit and Saturn are highly motivated as they prepare to challenge for the World Tag Team Titles on pay-per-view. Flynn starts out against Benoit, who is the perfect person to counter the Lightningfoot's kickboxing-based offense. Benoit keeps Flynn either grounded or isolated by vicious chops in the corner. Hart does distract Benoit at one point, giving Flynn the chance to kick Benoit in the back of the head and tag in the veteran Barbarian. Barbarian goes for the Kick of Fear soon after the tag in, but Benoit is quick on his feet and uses a legsweep to send Barbarian down to the mat. At this point, we go to a splitscreen revealing that Triad members DDP, Kanyon, and Bam Bam Bigelow are backstage, but instead of scouting their upcoming opponents, are spending their time enjoying poker night in the locker room! Back in the ring, Benoit tags in Saturn, who superkicks Barbarian as he stumbles to his feet. Saturn then uses the T-Bone suplex on his larger opponent for a two count. Barbarian tags Flynn in. Saturn ducks a clothesline and gets Flynn up for the Death Valley Driver, but Flynn squirms out and immediately sends Saturn staggering against the ropes with an uppercut. Flynn whips Saturn into the ropes and goes for a sidekick, but Saturn ducks and then hits a Northern Lights Suplex for another two. Barbarian taunts Saturn, provoking an attack from him. This sets up for a double team by Barbarian and Flynn in the corner while Hart distracts Charles Robinson. Barbarian is tagged in and stuffs Saturn down onto the mat with a nasty looking piledriver. However, Saturn is able to kick out after two. Saturn puts Barbarian in another suplex and then makes the hot tag to Benoit, who sends Barbarian to the mat momentarily with an enziguri and then knocks Flynn off the apron. Benoit returns to the Barbarian, puts on the trifecta of rolling German suplexes, and then goes for the swandive headbutt from the top followed by the Crippler Crossface. There's nothing Hart or Flynn can do at this point, and the Barbarian taps. Benoit and Saturn secure the pre-Bash victory!

WINNER: Benoit & Saturn at ~8:30

STAR RATING: *3/4. No match in which Barbarian and Flynn participate may rise above **.

(Commercial break).

-The Triad's poker game continues backstage, and Scott Hudson enters their locker room.

Hudson: Thunder in Macon continues, fans, and I have made my way to the Triad locker room area, and excuse me, gentlemen, but I've got to ask: isn't it a bit odd that you opted to participate in a poker game rather than take advantage of the opportunity to take a look at Chris Benoit and Perry Saturn in action, given that your tag team titles will be on the line against them in a matter of days?

Bigelow: We've seen all we need to see from Benoit and Saturn

Kanyon: That's right. And, you know, Hudson, I was just tellin' the boys: I happen to see a lot of gold in the Triad's future. Bigelow and Page leaving Fort Lauderdale with the tag titles, and I, myself, am leaving with the US Heavyweight title. That's a fact.

Page: I don't need to watch any more of "The Canadian Crybaby" Chris Benoit and his freak of nature tag team partner to know that they just don't have it. And by the way, Hudson: tell your buddies at the broadcast booth that from now on, "Diamond" Dallas Page has a new nickname.

Hudson: A new nickname?

Page: You saw Nitro on Monday. From now on, you can call me "The Master of the Crippler Crossface."

Page laughs maniacally.

Kanyon: Bada-bing.

Bigelow: Bada-boom.

Page: Bada-bang!

Page stares intensely at Hudson, who looks uncomfortably back at the camera...

(4) Lenny (w/Lodi) vs. Hugh Morrus (w/Jimmy Hart)

Lenny and Lodi are all smiles as they head to the ring together. Morrus enters carrying and displaying a recent, racy centerfold of Chastity from WCW Magazine, and the announcers note how inappropriate Morrus's recent overtures to Chastity have been. They also point out that no one seems more aware of that than Hak, who interrupted Morrus's match with the Disco Inferno on Nitro. We're reminded that the Morrus-Hak encounter set to take place at the Bash will be called under Hardcore Rules, meaning quite simply that there are no rules...

Morrus dominates here, scoopslamming Lenny early on and further punishing him with a legdrop, brainbuster, and side salto suplex. Indeed, he makes a pin attempt after a press slam, but pulls Lenny's shoulders up purposely after the two count! Tenay and Zbyzsko agree that he is sending Hak a message. Morrus picks up Lenny and squashes him with a Samoan Drop. We see Hak stalking to the ring as Morrus climbs up to the top rope for the No Laughing Matter. Hak shoves Hart to the floor and, while Billy Silverman is checking on Lenny, Hak nails Morrus on the top rope with the Kendo Stick and Morrus crashes down to the mat. Hak leaves through the crowd. A groggy Lenny gets to his feet, struggles to pull Morrus to a semi-vertical base, and is able to slap on a modified version of his reverse Russian Legsweep, "Over the Rainbow." Lenny scores the upset!

WINNER: Lenny at ~5:00

STAR RATING: *

Lenny and Lodi celebrate immediately following the pin, but Morrus gets to his feet, gives Lenny and Lodi double coconuts, and tosses them both over the top rope. Hart tries to calm the fuming Morrus down, and Tenay points out that Morrus, Hart, and the rest of the First Family brought the plague that is Hak upon themselves when they played mind games with Chastity on Nitro...

(Commercial break).

-Backstage, the cameras follow the enraged Hugh Morrus with Jimmy Hart as he returns through the curtain to the backstage area.

Morrus: I'm telling you, Jimmy; when I get Hak one on one, I--

Hart: Hugh, look out~!

Hak appears with his Kendo Stick and again attacks Hugh Morrus. After recovering from the initial shock, Morrus begins to fight back. Zbyzsko notes that we might as well call this the start to the competitors' scheduled match for the Bash...

-Back in the arena, "Disco Fever" begins and the Disco Inferno makes his way to the ring -- wearing Rick Steiner's trademarked headgear and dog collar, and barking ala the Dogfaced Gremlin. Once he reaches the ring, he crawls around the ring on all fours as Steiner has been known to do in the past. He is then handed a mic by David Penzer.

Disco: All right. All right, guys. We're playing charades, here. Who am I? Huh? Who does this remind you of?

Disco goes through his imitation once more. He then waits for the crowd to respond.

Disco: That's right! That's right. It's your World Television Champion, Rick Steiner. It's an embarrassment, isn't it? It's a real joke.

Disco removes the headgear and dog collar in disgust.

Disco: A sham of a mockery; a mockery of a sham. But I have taken the initiative and I lobbied for a title shot against Steiner at the Bash at the Beach, and I was successful. I've got my shot, my chance to become a 3-time TV champion on Sunday night, and I promise you right here, right now that I will bring the pride back to the title.

We see an agitated Rick Steiner making his way to the ring. He slides into the ring, and Disco backs into the corner.

Disco: Rick! Hey, it's Rick Steiner, everybody! The World Television Champion! My worthy opponent for Sunday night at the Bash at the Beach. It's a pleasure to see you, Rick, as always.

Disco, trying to put out the fire, extends his hand. Rick thinks for a moment, and then reaches down, picks up the discarded, studded dog collar and decks Disco with it. He hits him a few more times with the collar, and Disco is clearly out cold. The grouchy Steiner then poses with the TV Title belt on the top rope. Tenay observes that Disco faces an uphill struggle at the Bash...

(Commercial break).

-Back from break, we go to the announcers.

Tenay: Still lots more to come on Thunder this week as we gear up for the Bash at the Beach. Sid Vicious and "The Macho Man" Randy Savage are here. Plus, will Sting agree to Kevin Nash's request? Will he come down to the ring later on to work out his issues with his scheduled tag team partner for Sunday night? Keep in mind that, by order of the President of World Championship Wrestling, Ric Flair, the World Heavyweight Title will be on the line Sunday night. If it is Sting who scores the pinfall or submission, he will walk away with the gold. The same obviously goes for Savage and Sid as well, Larry.

Zbyzsko: Well, I mean, it's no wonder that Nash wants to have this face-to-face with Sting tonight. He's got a monumental challenge to overcome at the Bash at the Beach, and he needs as few complications as possible going into it.

Tenay: That's exactly right, and fans, I've-- I've just been informed by our executive producer that we have "Rowdy" Roddy Piper on the phones. Apparently the Hot Rod has called in, and let's see if he can hear us. Roddy?

Piper: Yeah, Tenay; I can hear you.

Tenay: I take it you are calling in from your ranch in Portland.

Piper: That's right. I'm relaxing in the hot tub with a gin and tonic, enjoying the spoils of my career. You know, life is good.

Zbyzsko: Hot Rod, it's Larry Zbyzsko here, and I hope you don't mind my saying that you don't seem too concerned about Buff Bagwell and your match on Sunday night at the Bash...

Piper: It's like I said Monday night in Hotlanta, Larry. Bagwell's conned management, he's conned the fans; he's peaked. He has no future in this sport -- in my sport -- and I am going to write the final chapter on Buffy at the pay-per-view.

Tenay: But what about the provocative comments Buff Bagwell made towards you Monday on Nitro, when he questioned your habit of wearing that traditional kilt, and when he joked about your age. It looked to me as though--

Piper: He can shoot off at the mouth all he wants, Tenay! The reality of the situation is that this guy is a flash in the pan, and there's no one more qualified to expose him than me. But, you know, Marcus has another problem to take care of tonight on Thunder. I spoke with my compatriot from the United Kingdom a bit earlier, and I can tell you that Bagwell's got a fight ahead of him tonight.

Tenay: You're referring to his scheduled match with Fit Finlay for a little later on.

Piper: That's right. Buff one on one with the Belfast Bruiser. You seen that finishing move of Finlay's?

Tenay: The Tombstone Piledriver?

Piper: That wouldn't do Buff's bum neck any favors, now, would it?

Tenay: No. No, I suppose it wouldn't.

Piper: Exactly. The way I see it, Bagwell's downfall begins tonight, and comes to a conclusion Sunday night in Fort Lauderdale.

(5) "Slightly Chilled" Steve Armstrong vs. Diamond Dallas Page

Armstrong once again channels "Stone Cold" Steve Austin during his entrance, and Tenay explains that he is now going around the locker room insisting on being referred to as "Slightly Chilled." On the topic of nicknames, Tenay and Zbyzsko refuse to appease Page by calling him "The Master of the Crippler Crossface."

As Armstrong and Page grapple in the opening minutes of the match, the announcers suggest that the Triad's disinterest in taking Benoit and Saturn seriously may come back to haunt them on Sunday. Armstrong gets in a bit of offense after ducking one of Page's discus clotheslines. With Page isolated in the corner, Armstrong stomps a mudhole in him. He then climbs the turnbuckle to raise his arms in celebration. This allows Page to get back to his feet; he slips under Armstrong and powerbombs him from his position on the second rope. Page uses the ropes for leverage in a pinning combination, but Armstrong kicks out before three. Page sends Armstrong into the ropes and delivers a sidewalk slam. He then picks Armstrong up and drops him with the old Pancake. Armstrong again kicks out. Page hits a couple of right hands and has Armstrong staggering on the ropes. Page charges in, but Armstrong drops him to the outside! Armstrong then joins Page outside, but before he can inflict any damage, Page drives his elbow into Armstrong's mid-section and sends him head first into the ring steps. Page rolls Armstrong back into the ring. There, he whips Armstrong into the ropes. Armstrong blocks a punch; Page quickly gets into position, however, and takes Armstrong out with the Diamond Cutter! Instead of going for the pin, however, he locks on his version of the Crippler Crossface! Armstrong is out cold, and Mickey Jay awards Page the match after a ten count.

WINNER: Diamond Dallas Page at ~7:00

STAR RATING: **1/2

Page mugs for the camera, and Tenay states that he cannot wait for Chris Benoit to get his hands on Page -- and potentially the World Tag Team Titles -- on Sunday.

(Commercial break).

-Scott Hudson is in the middle of the ring.

Hudson: The countdown continues here on Thunder, and at this time, I ask you all to join me in welcoming two men who will be a part of Sunday's 10-man Battle Royal to determine a new United States Champion. They are, first, the inspirational leader to Jerichoholics across the globe, Chris Jericho, and second, a man who has already been US Heavyweight Champion, Eddie Guerrero!

Jericho's music brings the heels to the ring. Once they are in place, Hudson continues.

Hudson: Chris Jericho, thanks for speaking with us tonight; your thoughts on Sunday's Battle Royal.

Jericho: Well, first of all, Huddleston, Eddie and I want to acknowledge the fans for their incredible support. We never imagined that the Crusade Against Tyranny would take off quite the way it has.

Guerrero: Isn't it incredible, bro? The people really want to see Eddie Guerrero and Chris Jericho get what they deserve.

Jericho: Not necessarily in that order, of course.

Guerrero and Jericho exchange suspicious looks.

Hudson: You two may be co-crusaders in this general struggle of yours, but at the Bash at the Beach, you'll be competing against each other for the US Championship, along with eight other men.

Jericho: JoJo Dillon put you up to this, didn't he? He told you to drive a wedge between us.

Hudson: He did no such thing. It's a valid point to make.

Guerrero: Well, then, here's a valid answer, essa. Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero aren't looking to fight each other during the Battle Royal; they're looking to help each other. Isn't that right, Chris?

Jericho: You are absolutely right, Eduardo, and that is the end of that. You see, the real pressing matter here tonight is who Ric Flair's tenth competitor is. You might not have been able to get any answers out of him, Hutton, but the Crusaders Against Tyranny are going to produce results for all of their supporters watching at home. So, Kitty -- come out, come out wherever you are!

Guerrero: Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty...

Jericho: Come on, Cat! I'm losing my patience. It's time for you to play your hand. Now, now, now!

As Jericho stomps around the ring, The Cat's music begins. He heads to the ring in disbelief. Once in the ring, he speaks.

Cat: Somebody call my mama. You didn't just address The Cat in front of all these rednecks like I think you did, did you?

Jericho: I won't be intimidated, Cat! You know who the tenth man is? Spill! Right now!

Guerrero: We don't have a lot of patience, Senor Gato...

Cat: All right, ya'll. I'll tell you what I know, but only because I feel like it. I heard from Barry Horowitz, who heard from Sister Sherri Martel, who heard from Greg "The Hammer" Valentine that the tenth man competing for the US Title at the Bash at the Beach will be -- The Disciple! That's right. Brutus Beefcake -- the Booty Man, himself.

Guerrero and Jericho exchange looks of shock.

Hudson: Wait a second, Cat. Ed Leslie doesn't work here anymore. He's not even wrestling anymore. Cat, I don't know it it was Sister Sherri or The Hammer or Abdullah the Butcher, but somewhere along the way, you were given some bad information. The tenth man is not going to be The Booty Man.

Jericho: You mean, you've been stringing us along all night?

Guerrero: That's just not right, man.

Cat: Well, don't blame me, ya'll. Blame Horowitz.

Guerrero and Jericho don't seem to have any interest in that suggestion, and instead attack The Cat. Hudson bails from the ring.

Booker T, Dean Malenko, Steven Regal, Meng, Stevie Ray, and Kanyon all hit the ring and join in the pier-6 brawl in preparation for Sunday's match. Referees and officials hit the ring and try to restore order as we go to commercial.

(Commercial break).

-Scott Hudson is now in the back.

Hudson: All right, folks, order has been restored out in the arena, and I can also report that a spokesman from Ric Flair's office has called in and confirmed that The Disciple will not be a part of the US Title Battle Royal at Bash at the Beach. In future, we hope The Cat will be able to connect with better sources when in search of a scoop. With that out of the way, though, it's time to bring in a man who is preparing for a big match on Sunday's pay-per-view. Chavo Guerrero, Jr., you are the #1 Contender to Rey Mysterio, Jr.'s World Cruiserweight Title, but on Sunday night, you lock up with another top luchadore in WCW, Psicosis.

Guerrero: I sure do, Scott, and as the name implies, Psicosis tends to get a little crazy at times, and I guess he's not real happy about the fact that it was I who captured the number one contendership and the shot at Rey-Rey. He's coming to the Bash at the Beach to beat me. But I think everyone knows that I've been known to get a little crazy myself, and if that's what I have to do to beat Psicosis on Sunday night, I'll do it.

(6) Kenny Kaos vs. Sid Vicious (w/Randy Savage, Gorgeous George, Madusa, & "Miss Madness," Mona)

The remaining member of High Voltage heads to the ring and is put over by Tenay as a former tag team champion with Rick Steiner. Forboding music then brings Sid to the ring with the rest of Team Madness. Kaos stares down the intimidating faction before him before the start of the match.

As the bell rings, Kaos immediately throws a dropkick at Sid, but Sid swats it off. Kaos gets back to his feet and goes after Sid with kicks and punches that have no effect. Kaos bounces off the ropes and appears to be going for a shoulderblock, but Sid catches him with a chokeslam. He follows up with what is now being called the Mile High Powerbomb, covers Kaos with his boot, and scores the victory.

WINNER: Sid at ~1:30

STAR RATING: n/a

Post-match, Savage and the ladies enter the ring. While the women force Kaos to the outside by kicking at him, Savage acquires a microphone.

-Savage addresses the crowd and the camera.

Savage: Kevin Nash, I hope you were watching, brother, because you've got one of those Mile High Powerbombs in your future -- in your not-so-distant future; oh, yeah. Anyone who's had the guts or stupidity to approach the Macho Man since Monday night has asked me one thing: everyone wants to know how I feel about the fact that aside from myself, Sting and malicious Sid Vicious have the chance to capture the World Heavyweight Title Sunday night at the Bash. And I will say this: I made it clear when I came back a couple of months ago that I had my eye on the prize -- I want to be the World Heavyweight Champion, and when I want something, I take it; you better believe it. But I've also been pretty straight-forward over the past couple of weeks in demonstrating that my primary objective right now is to cut Kevin Nash down to size. So would it make me happiest to fly off the top turnbuckle, collapse Kevin Nash's lung, and win the belt? You're damn right it would, brother. But you won't see me complain if Sid, here, brings the belt home to Team Madness, either. In other words, it's simple: Sid Vicious and the Macho Man are going into the Bash at the Beach as a cohesive unit, and there's nothin' Kevin Nash can do about it. But Kevin Nash isn't the only one who should be worried. Sting, you've crossed the Macho Man one too many times. You can consider yourself on the hitlist. But wait; there's more. Yeah, I'm talking about you. I'm talking about you, Bill Goldberg. I haven't forgotten what you did on Monday Nitro. Sid hasn't forgotten, and the fact of the matter is that you are way out of your league, brother. I've got friends, Bill. I've got a dark side you can't even begin to imagine, and if you give me one more excuse to show it, I will.

(Commercial break).

-A video package airs, running down the problems that have developed between Roddy Piper and Buff Bagwell, stemming back to their initial alliance sealed several weeks ago.

(7) Fit Finlay vs. Buff Bagwell

Once Buff reaches the ring following his entrance, he poses a bit as his music continues, and the ruthless Finlay attacks before the bell. This gives him the upper hand for several minutes. Finlay applies his typical, punishing offense. He applies a side headlock and quickly grounds Bagwell. Finlay stomps on Bagwell, then drops a couple of elbows. Next up: a scoopslam, and a couple of stiff kicks to Buff's back. Bagwell reverses an Irish Whip and then hits a scoop slam of his own. Finlay rolls to the outside. Bagwell gives chase, but Finlay catches him with a boot to the gut. Finlay drops Buff on the throat on the guardrail. He then puts Bagwell back in the ring, draping his head over the ring apron and then dropping an elbow on his throat. Finlay executives the rolling fireman's carry slam and gets a two count. Finlay goes for a vertical suplex; Bagwell blocks it and comes out of nowhere with a reverse neckbreaker. Finlay kicks out of a pin attempt at two. Finlay counters an attempted belly to back suplex with a back flip; Bagwell turns around straight into some stiff Finlay uppercuts. Bagwell is whipped into the corner; Finlay charges in but receives a big boot. Bagwell sets up for the Blockbuster on the top rope, but Finlay manages to crotch him there. Finlay goes up top and looks to be planning a superplex, but Bagwell is able to shove Finlay to the mat. Bagwell plays to the crowd and comes off the top with a double ax handle blow. Bagwell gets another two count. Bagwell sets up a Butterfly Suplex, but Finlay drops him with a rough DDT and rolls on top for the two count. Finlay softens Bagwell up with a short clothesline, and then signals for the Tombstone Piledriver. Finlay has Bagwell in position for the move, but Bagwell wriggles back to a vertical base and throws a sudden dropkick. He goes up top and, this time, connects with the Blockbuster for the pre-PPV win!

WINNER: Bagwell at ~8:30

STAR RATING: **3/4

-Backstage, Kevin Nash exits his dressing room...

(Commercial break).

-We go to a shot of Scott Hudson in the production truck.

Hudson: Time now on Thunder to take a final look at the card for Sunday's Bash at the Beach. The start time is 8:00 eastern time, 5:00 on the west coast. Call your cable company or satellite provider now, folks. The US Heavyweight Title will be decided in a 10-man over-the-top rope Battle Royal. Participants include Booker T, The Cat, Chris Jericho, Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerrero, Kanyon, Meng, Steven Regal, Stevie Ray, and a tenth competitor with whom negotiations are evidently still underway. For the World Tag Team Titles, it'll be the Canadian Crippler, Chris Benoit, alongside Perry Saturn challenging the champions, Diamond Dallas Page and the Beast from the East, Bam Bam Bigelow. That one has been building for weeks. The World Television Champion Rick Steiner defends his title against the Disco Inferno. Will Disco make it out of Fort Lauderdale in one piece? It'll be cruiserweight war when Chavo Guerrero, Jr. locks horns with Psicosis. 8-man elimination tag team action will pit Konnan, Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman, and Swoll against the country boys, the West Texas Rednecks led by Curt Hennig. In a hardcore match sanctioned by Ric Flair himself, Hardcore Hak faces Hugh Morrus, and you've got to wonder what roles Chastity and "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart will play in that one. Get ready for New School vs. Old School as Buff Bagwell collides with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. And, finally, tag team main event where the winner walks away with the big one, the World Heavyweight Title: Sting and Nash against Savage and Sid. Will Sting and Nash be able to co-exist? We know Goldberg is planning to be at the Bash. It goes without saying that he'll make an impact -- what will that impact be? Will Randy Savage bring the driver of the hummer to the Bash? There is no way of knowing what wl go down, and--

Suddenly, Torrie Wilson walks into the production truck.

Hudson: Well, this is an unexpected surprise. Torrie Wilson is here; Torrie, I think you may've taken a wrong turn somewhere.

Torrie: No, Scott; I'm exactly where I want to be. First, I want to update everyone on the condition of my boyfriend, David Flair.

Hudson: You do?

Torrie: David has received so many cards and letters asking about his recovery, and it truly means a lot. He's persevering -- he's fighting.

Hudson: Well, that's-- that's great.

Torrie: Isn't it? The other reason I'm here is to make a prediction. I predict that Roddy Piper is going to wipe the floor with Buff Bagwell.

Hudson: You made your dislike for Buff clear backstage on Monday night.

Torrie: The man is a pig, and I can promise you that I will be cheering Hot Rod on at the Bash at the Beach.

As Torrie shoves her assets into the camera, we return to the arena for our feature segment.

-Wolfpac music begins, and World Champ Kevin Nash walks to the ring. There, he speaks.

Nash: Macon, G-A. Big Sexy in -- the -- house. In case you hadn't heard, there's this pay-per-view on Sunday night. At this pay-per-view, I'm defending the World Heavyweight Title in a tag team match against three others guys -- including my own tag team partner, Sting. Randy Savage wants to end my career and Sid Vicious wants to help Randy Savage do it. But what about Sting? What is it that Sting wants? Last week, I admitted that I made a mistake when I accused Sting of being the guy responsible for crashing into me with a hummer. I was wrong, and I've owned up to it. Three days ago on Nitro, I saw a situation getting out of control. I saw Sid and Savage work together to take out Bill Goldberg, and I saw that Sting was going to be next. But instead of sitting back and watching, I came to the ring and I got rid of Savage. I thought I was doing Sting a favor, but I think anyone who saw the end of the show knows that he didn't agree with me. But, hey; it's okay that we disagreed then. It's okay for us to disagree now. But it won't be okay for Sting and Big Sexy to disagree when they step into the ring as tag team partners in 72 hours at the Bash at the Beach. Sting, we've run together in the past. Hell, we ran together with Savage as part of the Wolfpac. We've got to find a way to make this partnership work again, for one night only. So, I'm calling you out. How bout it, Sting? What's your answer, bro?

Nash waits. After several seconds, Sting's music hits, and he makes his entrance. In the ring, he stands at all corners and howls for the crowd. He then goes face-to-face with Nash at mid-ring.

Sting: Big Sexy wanted a confrontation with the Stinger, huh? (Nash nods). Well, you know what, Kevin? Since we're out here baring our souls, I might as well tell you that I -- don't -- like you. (Pause for crowd reaction). The good news is, I like Randy Savage and Sid Vicious even less. Bad news is, this isn't your typical tag team match at the Bash, now, is it?

Nash: No. It's not.

Sting: There's no incentive for us to win. There's incentive for me to win. And, hey; I think it's about time for the Stinger to be World Heavyweight Champion again. What about you guys?

The crowd responds.

Nash: I was trying to help you out on Monday night, Sting.

Sting: Kev, I might believe ya if this had happened eight weeks ago, but I've since learned that Kevin Nash is out to protect one man and one man only, and that's Kevin Nash. When you accused me of driving that hummer, you made it crystal clear that you don't like me, and that you don't trust me. But it's okay. It's okay, because the feeling -- is -- mutual.

Nash: It's like that, huh?

Sting: Yeah. It's like that. I will be your partner on Sunday night, Big Sexy. You can be sure of that. And you can also be sure that my objective -- my only objective -- is to win the WCW World Heavyweight Title. Come Sunday night, it's showtime, baby!

Sting's music hits once more. World champion Nash looks on as Sting soaks up the approval of the crowd as the dynamic between the men grows more complex just days before the big event. Tenay and Zbyzsko give the PPV one more hard sell, and we're out of time, with Nash and Sting face to face in the ring!

Tuesday, July 6th, 1999

7:59am

Apartment of Tom Quinn

Atlanta, Georgia

Hopping around my bedroom, I struggled to land my left leg in its intended slot in my trousers as I used my right shoulder to prop the phone receiver up to my ear. “Well, I really appreciate your flying in and putting in an appearance. I know it wasn’t easy,” I said.

“Like I said yesterday, I’m not sure what I’m going to want to be doing with myself two, three months down the line, but I’ll be in touch,” replied Bret Hart.

“Sounds good. Thanks again,” I said, and we hung up.

The Thursday before, I had had Jamie make three phone calls for me as I tried to throw together some big draws for the Georgia Dome Nitro. First, she set up a meeting with Bret Hart. Then, she coordinated with Goldberg. Finally, she tried to set something up with Hulk Hogan.

Thursday, July 1st, 1999

1:32pm

Office of Tom Quinn, Vice-President of World Championship Wrestling

Atlanta, Georgia

I had had a productive conversation with Bret. I expressed my condolences and extended an open invitation for him to be flied into Atlanta to make a non-kayfabe statement. He wasn’t enthusiastic about the idea initially; he didn’t think he’d be able to hold it together the way he would want to. I assured him that there was no pressure for him to do this, or anything else, but finally he agreed to come in. The overwhelming feeling I got after our conversations over the next few days was that his heart wasn’t in a full-time return to the company in the immediate future. But I was confident that he’d be interested in coming back at some stage, and felt that we’d established a respectful rapport.

Goldberg was in town on Thursday, and Jamie set up a face-to-face meeting. In the minutes leading up to Goldberg’s arrival, however, she took me aside and issued a warning: Goldberg and Eric Bischoff had been butting heads for at least the last month of Bischoff’s tenure. Goldberg had known full well that then-head booker Kevin Nash was out to build around and protect himself and that, given the political climate backstage, Goldberg was in a position to be buried badly. In addition to being at a creative impasse with the company, Goldberg was also interested in renegotiating his contract for the second time at an increased rate. I was certainly willing and able to address his booking concerns, but as far as his contract went, we were already far overbudget for the fiscal year, and so adding to Goldberg’s already-hefty pricetag was not something I was eager to do. I wasn’t sure how I was going to put this to the man. He eventually arrived, and we introduced ourselves. I mentioned to him that my goal for the company over the next several months was to rebuild, and that I saw him as an integral part of WCW’s future success. I told him I had an idea for him for Nitro, and that although it would be a month or so before he would be cleared to compete in full matches, I wanted to bring him back into storylines effective immediately. He appeared suspicious and asked who was overseeing creative. I let him know that Kevin Nash was now exclusively an on-air talent, and that I was in charge of all television writing. I pitched him my idea for Nitro and my more long-term thoughts on his character, and he told me he’d be willing to go forward. He then said there was one matter that did have to be resolved.

“My agent, Barry Bloom, is going to be in touch,” he said.

“I imagine this is about your contract,” I nodded.

“There are some adjustments I’d like to see made,” he indicated.

“I’d be happy to speak to Mr. Bloom -- or to you -- about that,” I said.

Goldberg decided to proceed. “I need an additional $50,000 per month if I’m going to stick with this,” he stated. “Given my marketability and what I’ve drawn for the company in the past, I don’t think it’s unreasonable.”

“It’s not,” I said. “In a vacuum, at least.”

“What do you mean by that?” Goldberg asked.

“I’m sure you’re aware of the fact that the company has been losing money. Lots of it. Now, that’s a result of a variety of things that we don’t need to go into here, but the bottom line is that we need to be cutting costs right now rather than adding to them.”

“WCW’s budget isn’t my problem,” Goldberg said, stroking his goatee.

“You’re absolutely right. But, at the same time, we have a binding contract with you, and you have no legal grounds upon which to demand a renegotiation. Your downside guarantee is locked in at 225,000 per month until 2001,” I replied.

“That doesn’t work for me,” he said.

”I understand where you’re coming from, and I don’t want to be uncooperative, here. So, I’ll make you an offer,” I said.

“I’m listening,” Goldberg nodded.

“When you’re back at 100% and we get everything in place where storyline is concerned, you’re going to be one of our top two or three guys, without a doubt. We’ll be building around you. I know you can make us money, and I’m going to give you the incentive to do so. If we are able to turn things around by Starrcade, I’d be very open to renegotiating early.”

Goldberg thought it over for a moment. “I can live with that,” he said. “For now. A lot is going to depend on whether I’m happy creatively.”

“That makes sense. Thanks for coming in, Bill.”

And that was that. I felt good about the meeting; if nothing else, I’d put out a fire.

The news Jamie delivered following Goldberg’s departure was not so good. “Hogan isn’t interested in doing Nitro, or in talking right now,” she said.

“He can make that decision?” I asked.

“His contract is full of out-clauses and booking control. He’s busy shooting Thunder in Paradise: Terror in the Surf,” she explained.

“He thinks he can get away with murder, doesn’t he?” I said, in disbelief. Jamie nodded. I then came to a command decision. “Call the legal department. Have them start going over Bollea’s contract inch by inch. I need to know what our options are.”

Thursday had been a big day, and so was the following Monday. I was pleased with Nitro, considering the circumstances, and I felt that I had started to implement several positive changes backstage. But now that I had axed Craig Leathers and sent Kevin Sullivan home, I had to find people of my own to replace them.

Tuesday, July 6th, 1999

9:15am

Starbucks #2249

Atlanta, Georgia

Jamie was quick to remind me of this when we met for coffee later that morning. “You didn’t seem impressed by the production resumes I gave you yesterday,” she noted.

“I don’t know,” I said. “Bringing in any of those people would be like firing Jim Duggan and The Barbarian and hiring Kamala and The Warlord to fill their spots. You know what I mean?”

“What are you looking for in an executive producer?” she asked.

“I want someone who knows what they’re doing, first of all. Someone who isn’t going to fight me when I make a decision. Someone who is young and interested in putting out an appealing, relevant product,” I said.

Jamie thought it over, and then flipped through the folder she had in front of her. She pulled a resume and handed it to me. I read the name at the top. “Amanda Cutler,” I said. “A woman?”

“Take a look at her experience,” Jamie said.

“Graduated USC and has been with MTV Live Events for two and a half years,” I noted.

“You want fresh and dynamic? This could be it,” Jamie suggested. I tended to agree. “I’m not sure I can help you with your road agent problem, though.”

“I’ve been giving that a lot of thought,” I said. “I’ve already made some decisions.”

“Oh, yeah?” she asked.

“Sullivan and Rhodes are out. Kevin’s at the Powerplant for the time-being, and I figure Dusty can work as a talent scout. Anything that’ll keep him occupied and away from the arenas, ya know?”

Jamie nodded. “That doesn’t leave you with much.”

“I’d like to keep Paul Orndorff around,” I said. “And Bobby Eaton has already proven himself reliable. I had a chance to talk to Barry Horowitz last week, and I really like him. I think he could help us out in a backstage capacity. Same goes for Darsow.”

“You need a head guy to coordinate,” she said.

“I know,” I said. “And I’ve got someone in mind.”

***

Ratings Report

RAW dropped five tenths of a point to garner a 6.3 rating on Monday, while Nitro gained some growned, going up .2 to a 3.3. Raw peaked with a 6.6 during Q8 and the overrun featuring Rock vs. HHH. WCW garnered its highest viewership of the evening during the main event (4.3) and the Bret Hart promo (4.2). The placement of the Hart appearance up against the opening of RAW was seen by people backstage at both shows as an aggressive move on WCW’s part.

WCW Newsline

-Bret Hart was said to be emotional backstage before and after his segment on Nitro this past week. He is not slated to be back in any capacity for at least a few months.

-Randy Savage was reportedly upset to learn of WCW’s plans to send Gorgeous George on a photo shoot in Miami next week that also includes Torrie Wilson and Chastity. Savage apparently doesn’t like the idea of WCW using Gorgeous George outside his storyline...

-Kevin Nash appeared on the Mancow radio show yesterday morning to promote Sunday’s Bash at the Beach and criticized Goldberg for taking an excessive amount of time off to rehab his injury...

-There had been plans under Eric Bischoff to make an attempt at cost-cutting by releasing some “expendable older names,” but those plans are now on hold as new management evaluates the promotion...

-According to multiple sources, Tank Abbot will not be asked back anytime soon, if at all.

-Hugh Morrus has agreed to cut his hair and is said to be committed to losing some weight as WCW transitions him into a new gimmick and a more serious push.

-WCW Saturday Night taping results from the Georgia Dome:

(1) Dean Malenko made “The Gentleman” Chris Adams submit to the Texas Cloverleaf.

(2) Villanos IV and V & Kaz Hayashi beat Ciclope & Damien & El Dandy.

(3) Brian Adams squashed Scott Armstrong.

(4) Chavo Guerrero, Jr. beat Prince Iaukea via pinfall with the Tornado DDT.

(5) Rick Steiner pinned “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan.

WWF Newsline

-Despite his weekend motorcycle accident, Vince McMahon will be able to compete at the 7/25 Fully Loaded PPV...

-Quick Raw Results

The Hardy Boyz def. World Tag Team Champs The Acolytes to win the belts

The Godfather def. Gangrel

Test def. Joey Abs via DQ

Hardcore Champ Al Snow def. European Champ D’Lo Brown in a Non-Title Match

Road Dogg nc. Val Venis

Intercontinental Champ Jeff Jarrett def. Chaz

Billy Gunn def. Meat

Kane def. The Big Show & Hardcore Holly in a Handicap Match.

The Rock def. Triple H in a Steel Cage Match.

Konnan def. Barry Horowitz via submission with the Tequila Sunrise.

Fit Finlay & Dave Taylor (w/Steven Regal) def. Disorderly Conduct when Finlay pinned Tough Tom following a Tombstone Piledriver.

Meng def. Mike Enos with the Tongan Death Grip.

Scotty Riggs def. Prince Iaukea with a Full Nelson Slam.

Lenny & Lodi def. Damian & Ciclope when Lenny hit Ciclope with a Reverse Russian Legsweep, referred to by Hudson as “Over the Rainbow”).

Norman Smiley def. Villano IV (w/Villano V) with the Norman Conquest.

Booker T def. Barry Darsow via pinfall following the Missile Dropkick.

Monday, July 5th, 1999

2:00pm

Georgia Dome

Atlanta, Georgia

I was sitting in my makeshift office backstage at the Georgia Dome looking at the resumes Jamie had pulled together for the beginnings of our search for a new executive producer. The prospects didn’t look so hot; Lamar Pulver had worked in roller derby for fifteen years, and the other “top” candidate, Rick Levinson, was a former AWA employee. How many years had it been since the AWA had done TV? In short, the search was not off to a promising start.

As I let out a sigh, I noticed the stumpy Kevin Sullivan walk by my door. I exhaled. It was time. “Kevin,” I said, successfully grabbing his attention.

He peeked his head inside. “What’s up?” he said.

“I spoke to Bagwell,” I said. “He’s agreed to pay a fine for showing up late last Thursday, and he’s promised that it won’t happen again.”

“Oh,” Sullivan said.

“Is there a reason you didn’t tell tip me off on Bagwell in your Friday morning notes?” I asked.

“I guess it slipped my mind,” Sullivan said. “Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?”

“Yeah,” I said. “I had travel cancel your ticket to Fort Lauderdale.”

“You don’t want me at the pay-per-view?” he asked. “Do you have some pre-tapes set up that you need me to handle?”

“No,” I replied. “No pretapes. I’m taking you off the road, Kevin. I e-mailed Wayne at the Powerplant and told him you’ll be helping him out there starting next week.”

”You’re sending me to the Plant because I forgot to mention Bagwell to you?” he asked, incredulous.

“I’m making some changes,” I said.

Sullivan nodded, trying to maintain his composure, and left. That had not been fun. I stepped outside for some air, and bumped right into Craig Leathers as I walked down the hallway. There was no time like the present.

“Craig,” I said. “Got a minute?”

“Well,” he said, “not really. I’ve got some editing to do.”

“I just need a minute,” I said. “That slip-up on Thunder was unfortunate.”

“Slip-up?”

“Rey. The plancha,” I said.

“Right,” Leathers coughed. “These things happen.”

“They happen,” I agreed, “but they shouldn’t. We’re getting killed right now, and we can’t afford to be making technical mistakes. Craig, we’re going to try some new things with production.”

“I’ve been here for years. I get that you’re new and want to shake things up, but I’m not the problem, here,” he said.

“I recognize that you’ve been with the company for a while, now, but we’ve made the decision to bring in someone new. We’re hoping to have someone in place by Sunday,” I said.

“Unbelievable,” Leathers said, stiffening his jaw and walking off.

I wasn’t making myself any new friends. I continued on, and eventually reached the parking lot. As I was exiting the building, Kevin Nash happened to be entering.

“Hey,” he said.

“How ya doin’, Kevin?” I asked.

“To be honest, I’m confused,” he said. “I saw the booking sheet. I’d kinda assumed I’d be getting promo time tonight.”

“You’ve got a few minutes with Okerlund in the back,” I pointed out.

“The bit with Sid? That’s not the kind of thing I need. I need a good ten to fifteen minutes in the ring without a script.”

“Well, we’re happy with the breakdown as it stands,” I said.

“Are you taking the fuckin’ belt off me, man?” he asked.

“I’m not trying to kill your heat, Kevin,” I replied, noncommittally. “And I’m sure you weren’t trying to kill anyone’s heat when you no-sold on Thunder.”

“You’re not gonna last long here if you don’t choose your battles,” Nash said, making sure to bump into me while walking off.

I had a headache.

Hour #1

-The show opens with a shot of a black limo pulling into the parking lot.

-The normal show opening is shown.

-Live in the arena, a slightly more impressive pyro display than is usual goes off, and the announcers kick off the program.

Schiavone: World Championship Wrestling has come home! Six days away from the summer tradition, the Bash at the Beach, we are live at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, and what an evening we have ahead of us, Mike Tenay!

Tenay: Tony, we are in the heartland of WCW and as we begin the final countdown to Sunday’s Bash, we’re also buckling down for an explosive edition of Nitro, and Bobby Heenan, I’m extremely curious to know who it is that just pulled into the arena in that black limousine.

Heenan: Well, Tenay, we’ve been hearing since last week that there would be some shocking faces here tonight, and my man in the back, Woody, has stumbled onto some huge leads. Massive leads, Schiavone.

Schiavone: I’m sure he has, Brain, and fans, in addition, tonight -- are you ready for this? One on one as we prepare for Sunday’s pay-per-view, it will be Sting taking on “The Macho Man” Randy Savage in our main event. You better believe we’re going to batten down the hatches for that one. Plus, we learned at WCW Thunder last Thursday in Monroe, Louisiana that Ric Flair had news about this Sunday’s monumental tag team main event -- news that would dramatically alter the face of the Bash at the Beach. That news will be revealed tonight. Anything could happen here, tonight, on Nitro, and we’re ready to kick things off with a bang!

(1) The Triad vs. Chris Benoit, Perry Saturn, & Booker T

The heels enter to DDP’s music. Booker’s entrance follows, and finally, his partners enter together to Benoit’s music. Page and Benoit have a bit of a stare down before the match gets underway, and the announcers recap the feud-within-a-feud that has developed between them. Kanyon and Booker start things off. After an exchange of offense between the two men, Kanyon takes time out to yell at the chanting fans, allowing Booker to level Kanyon with a Harlem Sidekick. Taken down a peg, Kanyon tags in Bigelow. At one point, Booker catches Bam Bam’s boot after an attempted kick, but Bam Bam is able to come up with an Enziguri to take Booker down. He punishes Booker with a slam and a legdrop. A minute or so later, Bam Bam charges at Booker, who counters with a desperation spinebuster on the big man. Booker makes the tag to Saturn, who starts things off with a splash on Bigelow and a near-fall. Soon, Saturn goes for an ambitious T-Bone suplex on Bam Bam, but Bigelow is too pick, and ends up picking Saturn up and dropping him on the throat on the top rope. Bigelow tags in DDP, who stomps away at Saturn and then gets a two count after a belly-to-belly. Saturn ducks a clothesline a minute later and comes up with a dropkick. He whips Page into the corner and hits a series of high and low kicks. Finally, Page walks right into the standing side kick, and Saturn makes the tag to Benoit! Benoit comes at Page, who immediately bails to the outside. Kanyon and Bigelow join Page in attacking Benoit down by the ring steps. Booker and Saturn then rush over to even the sides. Page whips Benoit hard into the steel guardrail, and we go to break with the match in progress.

(Commercial break.)

Nick Patrick has been able to restore order during the break, and Page has Benoit in a painful-looking chinlock in the ring. Back up on their feet, Page whips Benoit into the corner but Benoit turns the tables and soon hits several of his brutal knife-edge chops on Page. Page comes at Benoit with a clothesline, but Benoit ducks and hits and belly to back. Benoit gets the two count. Benoit goes off the ropes but Page trips him with a drop toe hold. Page drops an elbow on the back of Benoit, and then makes the tag to Bigelow. Bigelow plants Benoit with a slam and then flattens him with a splash. Benoit, ever the fighter, kicks out at two. Bigelow sets Benoit up for a vertical suplex, but Benoit struggles out of the attempted move, gets momentum off the ropes, and takes Bigelow off his feet with a hooked clothesline. Booker gets the tag, sends Bigelow into the ropes, and hits the double forearm shot. He then plays to the crowd. He moves toward Bigelow, who surprises Booker with an overhead suplex. Bigelow tags in Kanyon, who sits atop Booker’s shoulders as he tries to get to his feet, and then drives Booker’s head back down onto the mat. Kanyon rolls Booker over and gets the two count. Kanyon sends Booker into the ropes, but Booker kicks Kanyon in the midsection and nails the scissors kick. He sets up for the Harlem Sidekick, but Kanyon has scouted the move and avoids it; Booker ends up crotching himself on the top rope. As Booker is seated on the mat, Kanyon hits a vicious kick right to the jaw. With both men then on their feet half a minute later, Kanyon sets up for the Flatliner, but Booker locks on a cobra clutch out of nowhere and is able to hit a cobra clutch slam. Booker takes advantage of the opportunity to tag in Benoit, who grabs Kanyon from behind before Kanyon can tag out. Benoit hits three rolling German suplexes. Frustrated, DDP goes to the outside to get a chair and Saturn, aware of this, foils the attempt and brawls with him in the aisle. Booker and Bigelow get into it at the same time. Meanwhile, Benoit continues to wear down Kanyon, hitting a snap suplex. He climbs up top, preparing for the headbutt, but then notices that, in the aisle, the crazed Page has put Saturn in his own version of the Crippler Crossface! The announcers note that Page is clearly playing mindgames with Benoit. Benoit climbs down from the top rope and yells at Page from the ring. This allows Kanyon, still in pain, to crawl over, grab Benoit by the tights from behind, and get the three count after a school-boy roll-up!

After Patrick raises his arm in victory, Kanyon bails to the outside and joins Page and Bigelow as they back up the aisle, smiling over their win with their tag team titles. Booker and the recovering Saturn join the furious Benoit in the ring to take stock of what happened. Schiavone notes that Benoit will have his shot at revenge this Sunday at the Bash at the Beach alongside Saturn...

WINNERS: The Triad at ~15:00

STAR RATING: **1/2. Strong opener.

-Changing gears, we take a dramatic look at what went down between Kevin Nash and Randy Savage on last week’s show, and then how both men responded on Thunder.

-After the video package has been shown, we go to “Mean” Gene Okerlund at mid-ring.

Okerlund: We are live at the Georgia Dome, ladies and gentlemen, and boy -- there is tension between “The Macho Man” Randy Savage and the World Heavyweight Champion, “Big Sexy” Kevin Nash, to say the least. At the Bash at the Beach, it will be Savage and his associate, Sid Vicious, taking on the team of Nash and Sting, who, of course, we saw in action this past Thursday on Thunder. We anxiously await word from the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair on that big announcement, the big news that he has in store for those four men, but in addition to all of that, we’ve got Savage and Sting going one-on-one here tonight in Atlanta. With that in mind, folks, please welcome my guest at this time, “The Macho Man” Randy Savage!

Savage heads to the ring flanked by Gorgeous George, Madusa, and Miss Madness. Savage is looking determined as ever, and stares long and hard into the camera when he arrives in the ring.

Okerlund: A big week ahead of you, sir. Your thoughts as you prepare for Sting tonight, and Sting and Kevin Nash on Sunday.

Savage: My thoughts? You want my thoughts, Gene? My thoughts are that Kevin Nash and Sting about to find out why the Madness is lethal; oh, yeah. I know that Sting saw what I did to Kevin Nash last week in this ring, and Sting, I want you to realize that as far as I’m concerned, you deserve the same treatment from the Macho Man. I came here tonight to take care of you, Sting, and I’m going to the Bash at the Beach in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday to take care of you, Kevin Nash. That concussion I gave you last week? The massive laceration on your forehead? Consider that a preview, brother. But it’s time to get some settled, right here and right now. The fact of the matter is that Randy Savage possesses the most dangerous finishing maneuver in pro wrestling today.

Okerlund: The top rope elbow? You mean the move that has been banned by the President of World Championship Wrestling, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair.

Savage: That’s exactly what I’m talking about, Okerlund. Ric Flair, it’s no secret that you don’t like me, and it’s no secret that I can’t stand the sight of you, either, brother. You took away the elbowdrop because I what it did to your little stooge, Charles Robinson, but now, the circumstances have changed, brother. I’ve got Kevin Nash in my sights, and I have absolutely no intention of holding back. So I want you to come out here and settle this thing, once and for all.

Savage waits and gets a response -- in the form of the unmistakable music of Arn Anderson! Double A heads to the ring, and Savage is not exactly thrilled to see him. Anderson reaches the ring and stands opposite Savage with Okerlund between them.

Okerlund: This is an unexpected appearance, Arn Anderson.

Anderson: Mean Gene, Ric Flair is a very busy man. He’s got a lot on his mind in the back, and he’s asked me to come out and address Randy Savage’s concerns.

Savage: Don’t jerk me around, Anderson. That would be a real mistake; oh, yeah.

Anderson: Relax, Randy. I’m not out here to jerk you around. But I do want to refresh your memory: that elbow drop of yours? Last time you used it, you collapsed a man’s lung.

Savage: I haven’t forgotten, brother.

Anderson: Reinstating the elbow drop would be an unbelievably reckless and irresponsible thing to do, Randy. For Ric Flair to approve the move would be for him to put your opponents’ health -- your opponents’ lives -- in jeopardy. Do you realize that?

Savage: What are you tryin’ to tell me?

Anderson: I’m telling you that Ric Flair has reached a decision about the elbow drop, Savage. He’s decided -- he’s decided that Kevin Nash and Sting can go straight to hell, and that the elbow drop is not only legal again, it’s encouraged!

A sadistic smile comes over the face of Savage as Okerlund reacts in disgust.

Okerlund: Wait just a minute, Arn Anderson. You’re saying that Ric Flair knows the risks involved in okaying the use of the flying elbow smash, and he’s going ahead and approving the move, anyway? I don’t believe it!

Anderson: Believe it, Gene. And if you don’t like it, that’s tough.

Suddenly, the camera pans to the aisle; JJ Dillon is on his way to the ring! The crowd in the ring is confused.

Okerlund: James J. Dillon, the chairman of the Executive Committee, has arrived, and JJ, what could possibly bring you out here unannounced like this?

Savage grabs the mic before JJ can answer.

Savage: You son-of-a...! If you try to screw with me, brother, I--

Dillon: Randy, I’m not out here to screw with you, but there is something you, Ric Flair, and everyone else backstage, in this arena, and watching at home should know. First of all, I want to make it clear that the Executive Committee does not support Ric Flair’s decision to reinstate the elbow drop. Furthermore, we were horrified by what happened last week after Kevin Nash’s match with David Flair. The carnage that took place in this ring was unacceptable, and Randy Savage, it was orchestrated first and foremost by you.

Savage: Are you gonna try to suspend me, brother? Is that what this is?

Dillon: A lot of fans are expecting to see a main event involving you here tonight, and in six days at the Bash at the Beach. So it wouldn’t be right to suspend you, Savage, but it is my responsibility to see to it that when you and Sting go one on one tonight, that we don’t witness a repeat of what happened last Monday night. And so, with that in mind, I’ve brought in a special guest referee for this evening’s main event.

Savage and Anderson both look less than thrilled.

Okerlund: A special guest referee?

Dillon: A very special referee, Gene. A man who undoubtedly has the integrity, impartiality, and stature to ensure that Sting vs. Savage will be a clean match. A man who the fans can count on.

Okerlund: Well, don’t keep us in suspense, JJ! Who’s going to call this match tonight?

Dillon: It’s a man we haven’t seen in a while. A man who feels right at home here in the Georgia Dome. Gene, I’m talking about the man. I’m talking about Goldberg!

Okerlund’s eyes widen. A furious Savage kicks the ropes in his anger. Anderson folds his arms.

Dillon: Needless to say, Mr. Savage, if you try to get away with anything here tonight, I’ve got a feeling Goldberg will have something to say -- or better yet, something to do about it.

Okerlund: Savage vs. Sting with Goldberg as the special guest referee at the Georgia Dome. Ladies and gentlemen, it doesn’t get any bigger than that! We’re only just getting started live on Monday Nitro!

(Commercial break.)

-We come back to a shot backstage of Chastity (wearing a skirt of negligible length) having a drink at a water fountain. Jimmy Hart walks up with the First Family (Hugh Morrus, The Barbarian, and Jerry Flynn) in tow. Chastity is startled when she turns around and sees them.

Chastity: It’s not polite to stare.

Jimmy Hart: You’ll have to excuse the boys, Chastity. They’re just enjoying the view.

Chastity: Well, they’d better take a good look, because this is as close as they’re gonna get.

Hart: You know, Hugh Morrus, in particular, has got a really voracious appetite.

Hugh Morrus licks his lips.

Chastity (holding her own): Yeah. He could stand to lose a few pounds, couldn’t he?

Chastity backs away, repulsed by the First Family...

-We go back to the announcers.

Schiavone: An eventful edition of WCW Monday Nitro continues live from the Georgia Dome, and we just saw the First Family making eyes at Chastity backstage -- I can’t imagine that Hak is going to be overly enthusiastic about that, but Bobby Heenan, we are still reeling from the announcement by JJ Dillon: Sting vs. Randy Savage tonight, with Goldberg as the special guest referee!

Heenan: ‘Da man is back tonight, Schiavone. Sting, Savage, and Goldberg together in one ring; we could be looking at chaos tonight.

Tenay: But Bobby, Tony; I’ve got to wonder if it is the special guest referee, Goldberg, who is sitting in that black limousine out back, or if it’s someone else entirely. The internet has been abuzz all weekend with speculation about who could show up here tonight as we count down to the Bash at the Beach.

Schiavone: Indeed it has, Mike, and obviously, we are watching that very closely. Plus, a major decision announced by “Double A” Arn Anderson on behalf of the President, Ric Flair -- that crippling Flying Elbow Drop patented by the “Macho Man” Randy Savage has been reinstated. And on top of that, we have yet to hear the big news Flair has about Sunday’s tag team main event between Sting & Nash and Savage & Sid. Right now, it’s time to go back to the ring...

(2) Scott Norton (w/Stevie Ray) vs. Meng

As Stevie Ray leads Norton to the ring, the announcers put over the fact that Stevie Ray, as leader of what’s left of the nWo Black & White, is trying to “revitalize” the group. This is not a pretty match, with Norton and Meng exchanging blows and no-selling many of them. The formidable Norton gets a bit overzealous and is unable to get the monster Meng up for a slam. Meng sends Norton down soon after with a big boot. Stevie Ray decides it’s time to intervene, and gets up on the apron to hit Meng with his trusty slapjack. Meng ducks, however, and Stevie ends up decking the already-groggy Norton! Norton very slowly gets to his feet afterward, but Meng is waiting for him and slaps on the devastating Tongan Death Grip, scoring the pin on Norton thanks, in large part, to Stevie Ray!

After the match, Norton and Stevie Ray exchange angry words...

WINNER: Meng at ~4:00

STAR RATING: DUD. Truly horrific.

(Commercial break.)

-Backstage, Buff Bagwell finds suitably dressed Torrie Wilson pacing in a hallway.

Bagwell: Torrie. Wow; you know, I’m surprised to see you here tonight.

Torrie (annoyed): Why is that?

Bagwell: Well, I mean, everybody knows that your boyfriend’s laid up. He got his ass kicked last week.

Torrie: I’m here to do a photoshoot for WCW.com. And I plan to be at the Bash at the Beach on Sunday, too.

Bagwell: Oh, yeah?

Torrie: Yeah. I can’t wait to see what happens to Kevin Nash. But you shouldn’t be worrying about me -- you should be worried about your match with Roddy Piper.

Bagwell: Thanks for the advice, Torrie. I appreciate it.

Bagwell winks at Torrie before walking off.

(3) Hugh Morrus (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Disco Inferno

Morrus cuts short Disco’s pre-match dance by attacking him, and controls the bout in the early going. The announcers take the time to promote both men’s matches for Sunday at the Bash. A minute or two in, Morrus has Disco set up for a scoop slam, but Disco is able to wiggle his way into a small package for the two count. Morrus fires back with a stiff clothesline, a vertical suplex, and a press slam. Morrus hits a reverse neckbreaker and gets a two count. Disco then blocks another clothesline attempt and hits Hugh with a back elbow. He follows up with a swinging neckbreaker and a forearm drop for the top for another near-fall. Morrus catches Disco as he attempts a crossbody block; Morrus tosses Disco across the ring with an overhead slam. Disco stumbles out of the corner, and Morrus throws a dropkick, impressive given his size. Disco collapses in the middle of the ring, and Morrus goes up top for the No Laughing Matter! Just as he is about to hit the move, however, Hak runs in from the crowd and takes a vicious swing at Morrus’s back on the top rope with the kendo stick. Morrus falls into the ring. As Hak continues the assault, Billy Silverman opts the throw the match out.

Disco rolls out of the ring, and then First Family members Barbarian and Jerry Flynn hit the ring to attack Hak. Hak has clearly taken exception to the Family’s targeting of Chastity in order to get to him as he and Morrus prepare for a singles match at Sunday’s PPV. Hak succumbs to the three-on-one attack in the middle of the ring with Jimmy Hart directing traffic. Schiavone notes that this must all have been part of Hart’s master plan.

WINNER: No Contest at ~6:30

STAR RATING: 1/2*. Really not much to this.

-Out back, the door to the limo opens, and out steps Bret “The Hitman” Hart! Schiavone nearly has a heart attack as we cut to commercial.

(Commercial break.)

-Backstage, Gene Okerlund is with Disco Inferno.

Okerlund: You’ve requested a moment of microphone time, Disco Inferno. What is it that you need so badly to get off your chest? Don’t you realize that we’re all on pins and needles after seeing Bret “The Hitman” Hart step out of that limousine?

Disco: Well, the Excellence of Execution is just going to have to wait, Eugene. We are six days away from the epic battle that is to come at the Bash at the Beach.

Okerlund: You mean, the big tag team main event?

Disco: I’m not talking about the tag team match! I’m talking about my match -- the Disco Inferno one on one with the World Television Champion, Rick Steiner. Haven’t you seen it on the marquee?

Okerlund: You’ll have to forgive me; I seem to have missed that.

Disco: Well, you stand corrected. I just hope everyone absorbed the fact that the 350 pound wrecking ball, Hugh Morrus, couldn’t even beat me. The Dog Faced Gremlin obviously doesn’t have a prayer.

Okerlund: You’re right on one count; Hugh Morrus did not defeat you tonight, but there were extenuating circumstances involved--

Disco: Shut up, Gene! What? Are you on Jimmy Hart’s payroll, or something? Making excuses for Morrus? He couldn’t defeat me tonight, and Steiner will have the same problem at the Bash. You are looking at your next World Television Champion.

Hour #2

-Back in the arena, we go from an underwhelming Disco Inferno promo to a big moment as the music of Bret “The Hitman” Hart begins! The Hitman takes a relatively slow walk to the ring in his street clothes, taking in and appreciating the respectful ovation from the crowd. The announcers note that we have not seen Bret since before the tragic death of his brother Owen. Once he reaches the ring, Bret takes a few more seconds to absorb the touching pop he’s received. Finally, he begins speaking.

Hart: Thank you. Thank you. That means more than you know. I have to admit that I didn’t plan on being here tonight at the Georgia Dome. But I got a call from the office, and they extended me an invitation. They said it was up to me. That if I wanted it, I could come here tonight, stand in this ring, and have an open forum. And I thought about it. I wasn’t sure about it. As a matter of fact, it would have been a lot easier for me to say no -- for me to stay right where I was. To stay quiet. But in the end, I decided that I owed it to myself, I owed it to all of you, and I owed it to my brother to show up here tonight. You see, I’ve only known one other person in my lifetime that loved wrestling more than I do, and that’s my brother, Owen. Growing up, we had our ups and downs. Just ask our brothers and sisters -- and we’ve got plenty of them. We had our clashes because, when you come right down to it, we’re a lot alike. But despite the fact that we shared a passion for what we do and that we grow up together in the dungeon, there were plenty of things that set us apart, too. I only wish I could be half the man that Owen was -- the be the kind of husband, father, brother, and friend that he was. It goes without saying that his death was senseless and horrifying, but I didn’t come out here tonight to get into all of that. I came here to celebrate Owen’s life, to tell all of his fans how much their support meant to him. That said, when I walked into this arena tonight, something felt different. This business has coursed through my veins all my life, and throughout my whole career, every time I walked into an arena, whether it was back home in Stampede Wrestling or in Madison Square Garden, I felt this adrenaline rush -- this sense of excitement and purpose. I experienced that feeling every night I spend in the business, until now. I didn’t feel it tonight, and I’m not sure if I’ll ever feel it again. I don’t know where I’m going to be in six months. I don’t know what the future holds for me anymore, but regardless, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you to the fans, and thank you to Owen.

(Commercial break.)

(4) Brad Armstrong vs. Eddie Guerrero (w/Chris Jericho)

Jericho joined the announcers for commentary during the match and put over the Crusade Against Tyranny. He continued to hype up himself as the leader of the effort rather than framing himself and Eddie as equals. Armstrong and Guerrero put on somewhat of a technical clinic; Tenay notes that Brad Armstrong is more determined than ever to put an end to the famed Armstrong Curse. Indeed, at 2:00, after hitting a couple of Japanese Armdrags, he executes a Falcon Arrow for the two count. Jericho writes off the near-fall as a fluke. Eddie regains control by countering a suplex attempt and dropping Armstrong by the midsection on the top rope. Eddie then kicks away heelishly at Armstrong, and slaps him around for a moment. Eddie ties Armstrong up in a painful abdominal stretch. Armstrong mounts a comeback after avoiding a dropkick; he comes out of nowhere with a frankensteiner, and then goes up top. Eddie, ring general that he is, is able to shake the top rope and crotch Armstrong on the top turnbuckle. Eddie then hits a superplex and follows up with the Frog Splash for the pin and win.

WINNER: Guerrero at ~8:00

STAR RATING: **1/2. No serious flaws, but no superlatives to make it stand out, either.

Chris Jericho joins Eddie in the ring; they celebrate as though Eddie has accomplished a monumental feat. Jericho secures a couple of mics from David Penzer.

Jericho: Ladies and gents, let’s give a round of applause to Señor Eddie Guerrero! The Armstrong curse remains in tact. Do you see all the Jerichoholics in this crowd tonight, Eddie? They love me. They really, really love me.

Guerrero: I know it, bro. They do. But, I gotta tell you, I don’t think the people realize what you and I are up against in WCW.

Jericho: You mean, you don’t think they know that the conspiracy runs all the way to the very top of the Time-Warner corporate ladder?

Guerrero: The executives -- they fear us, man. We’re not the chosen ones, the golden boys. So anything we want, we have to grab by the cajones and take.

Jericho: You’re right, Eddie. The Crusade Against Tyranny must continue, and so being the bad mama jama that I am, I am going to demand the presence of the President of WCW at this time. Ric Flair, we’ve waited long enough to be booked in the battle royal for the US Heavyweight Title at the Bash at the Beach. We want satisfaction. We want it now!

Momentarily, Ric Flair’s music begins and the Nature Boy walks down the aisle. Once in the ring, Flair takes a minute to look over Jericho and Guerrero and then addresses them.

Flair: First of all, Eddie, congratulations on your victory. The two of you are on a roll, aren’t you? But there’s something else I’ve noticed, too. I’ve noticed that you guys are developing a habit of calling me out here for no good reason.

Jericho: Oh, we’ve got good reason this time, Mr. Flair. The world heard what you had to say last Thursday on Thunder -- you want the next US Heavyweight Champion to be worthy of holding the title, and so naturally, my associate and I are operating under the assumption that we will be included in Sunday night’s monumental battle royal. But it’s time for you to make the official confirmation.

Flair: You want the official confirmation? Fine. Here’s the official confirmation. Sunday night, in the battle royal for the vacant United States Heavyweight Championship, Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero will participate as entrants -- with eight other men.

Guerrero: And who are they, Mr. President? Who are the Ayatollah of Rock ‘n Rolla and myself going to toss out of this ring on Sunday night?

Flair: You want to know who else is involved? All right; fine. I’ll let you know who you’re up against. First: the baddest sucka ever to compete in World Championship Wrestling; I’m talking about...

Jericho (interrupting): Tooker B?! Tooker B is going to be part of my battle royal?

Flair: That’s right, Jericho, and for all we know, he could walk out of Fort Lauderdale with the US Heavyweight Title. But there’s more where that came from. Also competing in the battle royal will be Booker T’s brother, and the leader of the nWo Black & White, Stevie Ray!

Guerrero: Mr. Fruity Booty?

Flair: It’s “Fruit Booty,” Guerrero, and yes, he will be in the battle royal. Here’s another one you’ll like, Jericho: Dean Malenko will be part of the match.

Jericho: What? What did Stinko Malenko do to qualify?

Flair: Malenko’s in, Jericho, whether you like it or not. And so is the Innovator of Offense himself, Kanyon!

Guerrero: Well, you know what, Mr. Flair? Eddie Guerrero is most definitely better than Kanyon!

Flair: That’s funny, Eddie; I don’t remember asking. But let’s stay focused, here. Another entrant in the battle royal: the man whose hands, feet, and lips are all registered as lethal weapons -- The Cat!

Jericho: I could beat Ernest Miller with two hands tied behind my back! One hand, at the very least!

Flair: I’ll bet you could. And then there’s the master of the Regal Stretch, Steven bloody Regal himself. And how to you guys feel about The Monster? What about Meng?

Jericho and Guerrero look horrified.

Flair: You crusaders have got a lot to look forward to, don’t you?

Guerrero: Wait a second. You only named seven others guys.

Jericho: Yeah! Who’s the tenth, Flair? Don’t hold out on us!

Flair: Oh, that’s right; the tenth. Well, unfortunately, there are still some negotiations taking place, still some paperwork to push through, and so I am unable to reveal the tenth contender for the US Heavyweight Title at this time. I regret that; I really do.

Jericho: But this isn’t far! You were supposed to name all ten!

Guerrero: Ted Turner put you up to this, didn’t he?

Flair: You’re both starting to bore me. Go away. That’s it; goodbye.

Jericho and Guerrero, annoyed, begin to make their retreat.

Flair: Besides, it’s time to switch gears. Now that we’ve got the battle royal business taken care of, it’s time to settle the not-so-small matter of the tag team main event at the Bash at the Beach. That’s right; ever since word leaked out at the end of last week’s Thunder that the Nature Boy had another surprise in store for Kevin Nash, my people have fielded nonstop phone calls and emails demanding to know what evil plans have I have up my sleeve for the World Heavyweight Champion. The fact of the matter is that I do have an announcement to make about Sunday’s pay-per-view, but it’s a decision I’ve made as a professional, purely and simply. You see, I looked at the final card for the Bash at the Beach and, to me, it looked pretty good. We’ve got heavyweight matches, cruiserweight matches, hardcore matches, tag team matches, title matches, big names -- we’ve got the works. We’ve got everything. Everything except a World Heavyweight Title defense. I know what all of you linear thinkers out there are saying in your heads. You’re saying, “there can’t be a World Title match, because the World Champion is involved in a tag team match.” But as any of my former opponents can attest to, the Nature Boy is the most creative problem solver in the business, and so I sat down to put my critical thinking skills to use. It didn’t take long for me to realize that the World Heavyweight Title could be defended -- in the big, marquee main event tag team match. (Pause for reaction). That’s right. Because I’ve decided that the winner of that tag team match on Sunday -- the man who scores the pinfall or submission -- will walk out of the arena that night carrying the WCW World Heavyweight Title. Kevin Nash, your title will be on the line, against your opponents Randy Savage with his lethal Flying Elbow Drop and Sid Vicious with his mile high powerbomb, and even against your own tag team partner Sting with the Scorpion Deathlock. You’d better say your prayers, my friend, because it will take nothing short of an act of God for you to leave the Bash at the Beach with my World Title belt. Whoo!

Flair remains in the ring momentarily, extremely satisfied, while the announcers put over his bombshell.

(Commercial break).

-We see a shot of Goldberg’s dressing room door in the back as camera crews hope to catch a glimpse of him.

-Elsewhere, Mean Gene is with Kevin Nash.

Okerlund: Ladies and gentlemen, I am backstage with Kevin Nash, the Heavyweight Champion of the World, and Big Sexy, what is your reaction to Ric Flair’s stunning announcement regarding the Bash at the Beach?

Nash: It’s not that complicated, Mean Gene. Flair is pulling out all the stops to get the World Heavyweight Title off from around my waste, and that’s exactly what he’s going to have to do if he wants to see me lose this belt. He can put me up against the entire locker room, and that won’t change the fact that I’m going do whatever it takes to remain World Heavyweight Champion.

Okerlund: But let’s not gloss over the fact that you’ll be in the ring with the unstable Randy Savage, the gargantuan Sid Vicious, and the Franchise, Sting on Sunday night--

Okerlund’s statement is interrupted when Sid steps into the frame. He smiles at Nash, and then looks at the World Heavyweight Title.

Nash: There something you want, big man?

Sid: I don’t know, Kev. I just can’t help but notice that gold just isn’t your color. We’ll have to do something about that.

Sid laughs maniacally while Nash clutches his title belt.

(5) Blitzkrieg vs. Psicosis

As both wrestlers enter, the announcers recap the problems Chavo has had with both Psicosis and Hector Garza since securing the number one contendorship to the Cruiserweight Title, and hype the Psicosis-Chavo match that was added to the Bash late last week. Psicosis and the rookie Blitzkrieg have an entertaining spotfest to bring the crowd back up after a lengthy non-wrestling segment. Blitz surprises Psicosis early on with his unique style of acrobatic offense; he makes pin attempts following a senton splash, a sunset flip, and a leaping implant DDT. Psicosis regains control after playing possum and causing Blitzkrieg to miss a moonsault. At this point, Chavo Guerrero comes out to the entrance to scout the match. Psicosis downs Blitzkrieg with a tilt-a-whirl slam and then ties him up in a surfboard. After breaking the hold, Psicosis sets Blitzkrieg up with an Irish Whip but Blitz reverses and throws a sudden dropkick that sends Psicosis through the ropes to the floor; Blitzkrieg follows up with a stunning pescado! They battle outside the ring for several seconds. Blitzkrieg attempts a superkick but Psicosis avoids it, and Blitz ends up hurting his ankle on the steel guardrail. Psicosis, not to be outdone, heads up to the ring apron and performs a running suicide dive that connects just as Blitzkrieg is getting to his feet again. Chavo appears impressed. After regaining some strength, Psicosis tosses Blitzkrieg back in the ring and quickly punishes him with a baseball slide dropkick once he, himself, is back inside. Psicosis sets Blitzkrieg up for a German Suplex but Blitzkrieg rolls through into a pinning combination and gets two! Psicosis retaliates with a back kick. Psicosis plants Blitzkrieg with a German Suplex, and then goes up top and connects with the Guillotine Legdrop for the pin and win.

Following the match, Chavo applauds Psicosis’s impressive display from the ramp, and the two men stare down...

WINNER: Psicosis at ~7:00

STAR RATING: **3/4. Engaging action.

-Backstage, Curt Hennig chats with the West Texas Rednecks as he awaits his match.

Hennig: But seriously, guys; is it even legal for Billy Kidman to be wrestling? He isn’t 18 yet, is he?

The Rednecks laugh.

Duncum: It’s not his age you should be worried about, buddy; it’s his height. He’s so short, I’m not even sure you’ll be able to reach down to put him in the Hennigplex!

More laughing.

Barry Windham (sarcastic): Now, wait, ya’ll. Maybe we shouldn’t joke. The guy is a former Cruiserweight Champion.

Hennig: That’s a good point, Windham. It’ll take me at least two minutes to pin him.

All four men chuckle once more...

(Commercial break.)

-Backstage, Mean Gene is with The Cat.

Okerlund: All right, Cat. We’ve been told you have an announcement to make about WCW Thunder in three days as we count down to the Bash at the Beach.

Cat: Yeah, that’s right, old man. As you know, I am the greatest, and I have been included in Sunday’s battle royal for the US Heavyweight Title.

Okerlund: That’s right. I daresay someone has called your mama.

Cat shoots a look at Okerlund.

Cat: You just shut up and listen. I don’t agree with Chris Jericho or Eddie Guerrero on a lot of things, but I’m with then on this “tenth man” that Ric Flair was talking about earlier. There shouldn’t be any mysteries involved in this US Title match at the Bash at the Beach. Now, everybody knows that I’ve got connections in the back -- lots of them. And so Thursday night, backstage at Thunder, I intend to call in a few favors and find out who this mystery entrant in the battle royal is. He’ll be exposed for all the world to see, one way or another. Now get that camera out of my face before I whup somebody.

(6) Curt Hennig vs. Billy Kidman

“Good Old Boys,” the West Texas Rednecks original, brings out the confident Curt Hennig; the announcers are quick to point out that he could go on to regret his presumption of victory. Kidman enters, clearly intending to put up a fight. In the ring, Hennig spits his trademark gum out in Kidman’s face; the two men tie up, and Hennig uses his size advantage to shove Kidman onto his back. Kidman gets back to his feet quickly and hits a forearm shot that sends Hennig staggering against the ropes. Kidman with the Irish whip; it’s reversed by Hennig, who sends Kidman twisting through the air down to the mat with a stiff clothesline. Hennig whips Kidman into the ropes where he uses chops and then a blatant choke to wear him down. Hennig takes Kidman off his feet with a double leg sweep. He hits a simple knee drop, and covers for two. Hennig is incensed that Kidman has dared kick out, and goes for a sloppy elbow drop that Kidman avoids. Kidman mounts an offensive with a dropkick, a legdrop, and a clothesline from the second rope. Kidman gets a 1.5 count. Hennig bails to the outside to stall. Kidman gives chase, but runs right into a clothesline. Hennig hits some stiff kicks on the outside and throws Kidman back in the ring. Hennig easily hits a hanging vertical suplex and uses the ropes for leverage in a pin attempt that only gets to two. Hennig argues with Nick Patrick. He sends Kidman into the ropes and hits him with an ugly knee lift. Hennig then makes the all-too-common mistake of attempting to powerbomb Kidman; Kidman comes out with his usual facejam counter! Kidman rallies the crowd and goes off the top rope with an elbow right to Hennig’s groin. Hennig does a good job of selling the injury. Kidman gets a two count. Hennig pulls himself to a seated position in the corner; Kidman comes at him, and Hennig grabs Kidman by the tights and pulls him face first onto the turnbuckle. This allows Kidman to get to his feet and drop Kidman on the back of his neck with a belly to back suplex. Hennig ties Kidman up in an uncomfortable-looking armbar, but Kidman hulks up with the help of the crowd and fires away at Hennig with some right hands. He then grabs the back of Hennig’s head and takes him down with a Jerichoesque bulldog for the two count. Hennig staggers to his feet but Kidman stays on the offensive with a snapmere and short elbow drop. Kidman signals for the Shooting Star Press. The Windhams then stalk to ringside. While Barry distracts Nick Patrick, Kendall grabs a chair and waffles Kidman on the back with it as Kidman tries setting himself up on the top rope. Kidman goes crashing down to the mat. Hennig slowly recovers, drops a knee on Kidman, and then picks him up and executes the Hennigplex to secure the victory.

The Windhams join Hennig in the ring and begin cheapshotting Kidman. Bobby Duncum, Jr. comes in and takes part in the beatdown as well. Finally Konnan, Rey Mysterio Jr., and Swoll run in and the two factions brawl.

WINNER: Hennig at ~9:30

STAR RATING: ***. The interference was uninspired and it would have been nice to see Kidman go over, but this was solid build-up to an otherwise unappealing PPV match and featured credible wrestling.

(Commercial break.)

-Thunder highlight: Ric Flair books Piper vs. Bagwell for the Bash.

-“Rowdy” Roddy Piper makes his way to the ring in full regalia. He grabs a mic as he steps into the ring and then addresses the crowd.

Piper: I gotta tell ya; it’s good to be in Atlanta. It’s good to be in Atlanta even though it’s been a terrible year for the Braves. (Pauses for cheap heat.) And the Falcons. (Pauses for more cheap heat.) And the Hawks. (Pauses once more.) Was it something I said? On second thought, I don’t give a damn if you people want to boo me out of the building, because I’m not going anywhere until I’m good and ready! Last week, my old friend Ric Flair decided to give me an early Christmas present, and boy, do I ever owe him. He’s given me a one on one match at the Bash at the Beach. It’s a match against that kid -- you know, the one who’s been buggin’ me for the past few weeks? The one I can’t wait to get my hands on? Only problem is, I-- I seem to have forgotten his name. (The crowd begins chanting). Oh! Oh, that’s right! It’s Buff Bagwell. Now I remember. Buff Bagwell. He’s the guy I reached out to a couple of weeks ago. The guy I challenged to pick up the ball and run with it. He’s one of those young guys who’s convinced himself that he’s been “held back.” So I told him -- I told him that if he could prove himself, that I’d support him. I was fully prepared to bestow on him the benefits of my decades of rich experience in this business, but what did Buff Bagwell do? He dropped the ball. He showed me that he’s nothin’ more than dumbells and diet supplements. You see, Buff, what you’ve got to realize is that it’s not because you’re “the stuff” that you’ve got a job. You’ve got a job because people like me, people like Ric Flair, made this business. We gave you a future. We gave Chris Benoit and Booker T futures. We gave all of the oily, clean-shaven punks in the back a future. What I should say is that we gave you the potential for a future. But each and every single one of you is treading water, and there is no worse offender than you, Buff Bagwell. It takes more than a strut and a pair of hot sunglasses to make a legend in this business. I paid my dues. I damn near worked myself to death in dank, half-filled bars in Portland. I bled, I sweat, I cried; hell, I gave up my hips to make a career for myself. You say Rick Steiner broke your neck? You say you’ve made a miraculous comeback? You say you’re the future? I say you’re full of [censored]. I say you’re nothing but pretty packaging, Buff, and at the Bash at the Beach, your con is up. I’m going to expose you for the--

Piper is interrupted by the sounds of “Buff Daddy,” and Bagwell makes his way to the top of the ramp! Buff allows his initial pop to fade and then speaks.

Bagwell: Wow. Wow, Hot Rod. You really don’t like me, do you?

Piper: I’ll tell you what, Buff; I like you even less now than I did two minutes ago.

Bagwell: Then it’s just as well that I’m not here to make friends, isn’t it? (Pauses for cheers.) I could take this time to ask you about your history in this sport. I could take this time to talk about what you tried to pull on myself and the Ice Man, Dean Malenko, last week during our match with Public Enemy. But I’m not going to focus on those things. I’ve got another topic to cover. I’ve got a burning question to ask. It’s a question that wrestling fans the world over have been pondering for years and years and years. The question, oh Rowdy one, is why it is that you seem to get off on wearing a skirt.

Piper’s changing expression testifies to his fury; he throws off his leather jacket and begins talking incoherent trash to Bagwell.

Bagwell: Calm down, Piper. Don’t give yourself a coronary. Would you like me to send someone down to the ring with your oxygen tank?

Piper: You’re a regular funny man tonight, Bagwell! I don’t think you’re gonna like it when I slap that grin off your face for good. You’re not gonna like it at all.

Bagwell: Roddy, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Your time in the sun is over. Your days of usefulness have come and gone. I know it, and all these people know it. (Pause for cheers). I don’t want a spot in the main event handed to me; I’m all about paying dues, and I know I’ve got a lot of dues to pay before I’ll have the luxury of comparing myself to legends in this sport. But I do know that it’s going to happen, and that you’re not going to stop it. That’s a point I’m going to make to you very, very clearly at the Bash at the Beach in six days on pay-per-view, and there’s nothing you can do about it, because I’m Buff, and I’m the Stuff!

Bagwell’s music hits and he plays to the crowd while Piper vents his anger by knocking over chairs and monitors down by the ring.

-A graphic hyping the upcoming main event is shown.

(Commercial break.)

-A promo running down the final card for the Bash at the Beach airs.

World Heavyweight Title Match

Sting & Kevin Nash © vs. Randy Savage & Sid (w/Team Madness)

The wrestler who scores the pin or submission wins/retains the World Heavyweight Title.

World Tag Team Title Match

Chris Benoit & Perry Saturn vs. Diamond Dallas Page & Bam Bam Bigelow © (w/Kanyon)

Roddy Piper vs. Buff Bagwell

Ten Man Battle Royal: US Heavyweight Title Match

Participants: Booker T, The Cat, Chris Jericho, Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerrero, Kanyon, Meng, Steven Regal, Stevie Ray, and a tenth man to be named

Eight-Man Tag Team Elimination Match

West Texas Rednecks vs. Konnan & Rey Mysterio, Jr. & Billy Kidman & Swoll

World Television Title Match

Disco Inferno vs. Rick Steiner ©

Hardcore Match

Hugh Morrus (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Hardcore Hak (w/Chastity)

Chavo Guerrero, Jr. vs. Psicosis

Friday, July 2nd, 1999

10:27am

Office of Tom Quinn, Vice-President of World Championship Wrestling

Atlanta, Georgia

Friday morning, I was pissed. I don’t mean to suggest that I was completely dissatisfied with the way things were going: I felt that the upcoming Nitro had the potential to be an exciting show, certainly in comparison to the one we’d put on the week before. And I believed that some of the additions we made to the Bash were going to be of help to the show.

But several things happened at Thunder that made it a rude awakening for me: this was a company riddled with problems from top to bottom. There were three major incidents that had me fuming the day after:

1. The production team had made one of their infamous screw-ups. It was bad enough that our basic production values were so inferior to those of the WWF, but that pointless mistakes were made constantly was upsetting, and extremely detrimental to the company. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the missed Rey Mysterio plancha spot on the monitor backstage. The crew had been made aware that this was something they absolutely could not afford to miss, and -- they went and missed it. The blame, however, did not lie with the camera man, or even with all of the guys in the truck. The party at fault was Craig Leathers, the company’s executive producer who had, incidentally, been part of Bischoff’s inner circle and was notorious for being, well, a bad producer. I realized after the show on Thursday that I was going to have to make my first executive decision, and find a suitable replacement for Leathers.

2. Buff Bagwell showed up late for the show. But that was only the beginning. I might never have known about this if it hadn’t been for agent and utility worker “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton, who mentioned it to me in passing. He said he assumed that Kevin Sullivan had told me about Buff, and then I clarified that, in fact, I hadn’t been filled in. Eaton explained that Bagwell was an hour and a half late to the Civic Center, and that he’d kept Jerry Flynn and Paul Orndorff (the road agent assigned to their match) waiting. As my head agent, it was one of Sullivan’s responsibilities to report this kind of information to me. After Eaton had told me about Bagwell, I realized that Sullivan had absolutely no respect for me, and certainly no desire to see me succeed, and that the changes I needed to make to my agent structure and to my booking team had to be instituted sooner than I thought.

3. Kevin Nash was blatantly no-selling in his match. Granted, it would have been counterproductive to allow Stevie Ray and Brian Adams of all people a considerable amount of offense against the World Champion, but Nash had a storyline to get across, and he worked contrary to that goal. The only way to address that problem would be to confront it head on.

In other words, Nitro was going to be interesting on a number of levels, on-screen and off.

***

Friday WCW Newswire

-Among the names who will not be returning on Monday’s Nitro is Scott Hall, who remains enrolled in out-patient rehab. There is absolutely no interest in bringing him back until he sorts out his personal issues -- if, indeed, he does.

-Kevin Nash was telling wrestlers backstage at Thunder that management would be “insane” to take the World Heavyweight Title off of him anytime soon...

-There is said to be serious heat on Craig Leathers for the botched shot during the cruiserweight tag team match on Thunder.

-Thunder did a 3.1 composite rating, down .2 points from last week. There is an awareness within WCW that these numbers are not good, especially given the fact that the WWF will be launching Smackdown! on UPN’s Thursday night schedule next month. Beginning next week, WCW will be taping Thunder weekly on Tuesday, and the hope is that the big names who will have worked Nitro the day before will be willing to stay on the road for an extra day to work the Thunder tapings. Matches for WCW Saturday Night will now be done at Nitro in order to cut costs.

-A number of pending deals and promotions planned under the Bischoff regime have been scrapped. A big money offer presented by Bischoff to free agent Shane Douglas has been pulled from the table. Additionally, Dennis Rodman will no longer be working the August pay-per-view. Tentative plans had him booked to face Randy Savage at the event...

-On a related note, the “Road Wild” concept has been ditched. WCW will be bringing back the Clash of the Champions in August, now as a pay-per-view rather than a TBS telecast.

-Despite the firing angle on Thunder, Asya remains under contract although there are no plans to return her to TV in the immediate future. David Flair is also being kept off of television indefinitely, with the storyline justification being the beating Flair took from Kevin Nash during the Nitro match.

-Steve Armstrong is working a tongue-in-cheek “Stone Cold” Steve Austin knock-off gimmick. It is expected that several of WCW’s undercard workers will be repackaged and revamped over the next few weeks.

-The Nitro Girls were apparently upset about not being used on-air on Nitro. They were used to entertain the crowd exclusively during commercial breaks. With Nitro back at two hours rather than three, the belief is that there is no need to slow the momentum of the show with filler.

-The show opens with a dramatic vignette of the bloody attack on World Champion Kevin Nash at the hands of Randy Savage, Sid, Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, and Arn Anderson, and of Sting’s dramatic arrival to save the day, from Nitro.

-The Thunder opener is shown.

-After a quick pyro display and welcome from Tenay, Wolfpac music begins and Kevin Nash makes his way into the arena with the World Heavyweight Title draped over his shoulder -- and sporting a bandage on his forehead. In the ring, he squeezes every last drop out of his initial pop, and then speaks.

Kevin: Monroe, Louisiana. Big Sexy in the hizouse. (Pause for pop). Monday night, I took David Flair to school. And when I was done, I got jumped. When I woke up an hour later at Cook County General, they told me that Randy Savage had bashed me in the skull ten times with my fifty pound World Heavyweight Title belt. They gave me thirty stitches, and I stood up and walked out. Mach, you gave me a concussion. You brought Sid Vicious back to WCW for the sole purpose fo taking me out. And you had me slammed into with a humvee. But guess what? I’m still here, I’m still the champion, and I’m not going anywhere, anytime soon. (Pause for pop). On July 11th at the Bash of the Beach in Ft. Lauderdale, I’m going to do to you what you can’t seem to do to me: I’m going to beat you in the middle of the ring, and prove once again that you just don’t have it. But there’s another piece of business that I came here tonight to take care of, and it doesn’t involve the Macho Man. It doesn’t involve Sid Vicious. The man I want to address right now is you, Sting. (Pause for pop). Back in Chi-town on Monday, when I got back to my hotel room at 3am and watched the tape of the show, I saw what happened in that ring after I passed out. I saw Sting come into the United Center and clean house. Sting, you’ve been the man before. You’ve had the gold around your waist, and you know that when you’re the champion, you can’t trust anybody. And everyone knows that a couple of weeks ago, I looked you in the eyes and I accused you of being the son of a bitch who tried to crush me with that hummer. (Pause). I didn’t trust you then, and I’m not going to apologize for it. But at the Bash at the Beach in ten days, it’s you and me on the same side of the ring against Savage and Sid, and I won’t have a choice but to trust you then. And I’m gonna ask you to take a leap of faith and believe in me. The doctors in Chicago told me that the damage had been done. They told me they didn’t want me wrestling at the Bash, or at any time before the Bash, either. They said it was too much of a risk. But you know what I say to that? I say [censored] it. (Pause). I have something to prove, Sting. We have something to prove. I’m talking about at the Bash at the Beach, and I’m talking tonight, too, right here in Monroe. (Pause for cheap pop). I’m asking you to walk down that aisle and stand in my corner tonight, and I want Randy Savage and Sid -- whatever he’s calling himself this week -- to watch what we do -- to taste a little preview of the Bash, concussion and stiches be damned. So, Sting, I’m asking you to show up. And Ric Flair? I’m telling you to send down the best team that you have to offer. And as good as they’ll be, as good as Savage and Sid are, in the end it’s not gonna matter because Big Sexy? Big Sexy is just -- too -- sweet.

Nash leaves the ring having made his challenge.

-We go to Mike and Larry at the announce position.

Mike: Kevin Nash has issued a huge tag team challenge for tonight, and there’s no telling how it’s going to pan out, Living Legend.

Larry: My question is, who’s Ric Flair going to send down to the ring? I mean, given what Kevin Nash did to Flair’s own son on Monday night, the Nature Boy is going to be out for revenge, and if there’s anyone in the back who knows how to dish it out, it’s the President. And what about Sting? Will Sting take that leap of faith that Nash is asking him to take? Is he prepared to trust Kevin Nash even though Nash hasn’t been willing to trust him? I just don’t know.

Mike: Well, Larry Zbysko, what we do know is that we’ve got a huge, live edition of Thunder ahead of us: we’ve been promised a resolution to the US Heavyweight Title situation; that championship has been in limbo ever since Scott Steiner was put on the shelf with a back injury earlier this Spring. We have no idea what the president of WCW, Ric Flair, has in store where that is concerned. We also had a big, cruiserweight tag team match signed backstage on Monday night: it’ll be the team of Psicosis and Hector Garza up against the Cruiserweight Champ Rey Mysterio, Jr. and the man who has earned the right to challenge for that title, Chavo Guerrero, Jr. We will hear from the ruthless “Macho Man” Randy Savage tonight, the Triad is here, and up next, the so-called “Crusade Against Tyranny” continues as Chris Jericho appears in singles competition. Stay with us!

(Commercial break.)

-Nitro Highlight (6/28): Chris Jericho & Eddie Guerrero join forces.

(1) Norman Smiley vs. Chris Jericho (w/Eddie Guerrero).

Norman Smiley makes an energetic entrance and is followed by Chris Jericho, accompanied by Eddie Guerrero. In discussing the Jericho/Guerrero alliance, Tenay makes note of the history between the two men. Smiley and Jericho mesh in such a way that they’re able to put on a more technically-based match than we’ve been exposed to recently on TV. This is ultimately, however, a Jericho formula match: the Springboard Dropkick, Lionsault, and Cocky Pin are all broken out fairly early on. At one point, Jericho drapes Smiley’s head over the bottom rope facing the crowd, and while Jericho distracts Billy Silverman, Eddie delivers a couple of slaps to Norman. Zbyzsko rightly wonders how this constitutes a “Crusade Against Tyranny.” Smiley is able to gain the upper hand for a few sustained minutes, hitting a textbook vertical suplex, and then humiliating Jericho with the Big Wiggle! Jericho comes back, however, hitting Smiley with a back elbow after an Irish Whip. He then executes his Modified Bulldog. Smiley escapes a pin attempt. Moments later, he is able to try and lock on the Norman Conquest, but Jericho reverses it with an inverted suplex. Minutes later, Jericho successfully locks on the Liontamer out of a Powerbomb.

WINNER: Chris Jericho at ~7:00

STAR RATING: *3/4 – Solid, but not long enough to qualify as anything better than average. As valuable a hand as Smiley as, I can’t imagine that Jericho re-signed for this...

-Post-match, Guerrero enters the ring and kicks Smiley a few times before sending him to the outside. Meanwhile, Jericho grabs a mic and speaks while catching his breath.

Chris: Clearly, Christeria is running wild in -- wherever the hell we are.

Eddie is handed a mic by David Penzer.

Eddie: Chris, man, I just wanted to join these people in applauding your performance here tonight. That was amazing.

Chris: Thank you, Gringo. Muchas gracias. Norman was a worthy opponent, while he lasted. I think it’s becoming quite clear that the Crusade Against Tyranny is unstoppable with yours truly and you, my friend, at the helm. And with that in mind, we’ve got some questions to ask here tonight. To be more precise, we demand some answers here tonight.

Eddie: That’s right, because all you people know that, pound for pound, Eddie Guerrero and Chris Jericho are the greatest atheletes in the locker room.

Chris: And it’s about time we got some accolades. WCW has worked hard to make you all forget, but JoJo Dillon, that evil, corrupt head of the executive committee, saw to it that I was unfairly ejected from the US Heavyweight Title tournament earlier this year.

Eddie: Not only were you forced out of the tournament, Chris, but I wasn’t even included. Granted, I was in traction at the time, but no one even did me the courtesy of offering me a spot.

Chris: It’s a travesty, and it will not stand. We’ve been waiting long enough; it’s time for Ric Flair to lay his cards on the table. If he doesn’t owe it to me, at the very least, he owes it to the Jerichoholics.

Eddie: And to my abuela. Grandma’s very upset.

Chris: That’s right. Chavo says she’s broken out with shingles again. So, Ric Flair, I demand that you come out and share with the world your plans for the vacant United States championship.

As the Crusaders await Ric Flair’s entrance, Tenay observes that calling out Flair may have been a risky move on their part. Momentarily, Flair’s all-too-recognizable theme plays, and he makes his way to the ring with Asya. In the squared circle, he stares down Jericho and Guerrero for a moment, and then speaks.

Ric: Did I hear correctly? Did the two of you just call me out on my show, in my ring, on my microphones?

Jericho and Guerrero exchange glances.

Chris (backing down): We’re just eager to hear what you have to say, Mr. President.

Ric: Well, in that case, I’ll let you in on my plans for the US Heavyweight Title. This is a championship that has been held by some of the biggest names in this sport: Sting, Bret Hart, Steve Austin, Rick Rude, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, Roddy Piper, Goldberg, and, last but not least, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair.

Eddie: And me, too, Mr. Flair.

Ric: That’s right, Eddie. We wouldn’t want to forget about that. The bottom line is that this is a prestigious belt, and we need to crown a new champion. But I’m not a very patient person. I’m not going to sit through another tournament. I want results, and I want them fast. So we’re going to resolve this thing in one night.

Chris: Wait a second, Ric. Does this mean you’re going to hand pick a new champion? Because if you are, I--

Ric: I’m not going to hand-pick a champion, Jericho. And who told you to call me “Ric?” No. We’re going to get the most qualified competitors, we’re gonna put them in the ring, and one man is going to emerge the United States Heavyweight Champion. At the Bash at the Beach, we’re going to have a 10-man, over the top rope Battle Royal; the winner will be crowned US Champion on the spot.

Eddie and Chris are extremely interested in this.

Eddie: The ten most qualified candidates? That includes us, right? I mean, it has to.

Flair pauses before answering.

Ric: That’s for me to know, and you to find out -- Monday night on Nitro, when the list of 10 participants is revealed live at the Georgie Dome in Atlanta.

Chris: May I take this opportunity to compliment you on your decisiveness, Mr. Flair? You are, without a doubt, the most assertive, diplomatic President in the very history of World Championship Wrestling. You make me proud to be a part of this company.

Ric: That’s all very touching, Jericho. Now why don’t you take your new friend and get out of my ring so I can get to the other items on my agenda?

Chris: Of course, sir; of course. And we’ll see you on Monday night!

Jericho and Guerrero smile obsequiously and then make their way to the back. Flair, getting down to business, removes his jacket and looks into the camera.

Ric: Now. Let’s start at the top. Kevin Nash, I’ve never liked you. I don’t like it that you’re wearing the WCW World Heavyweight Title. But on Monday night, you crossed a line. You’ve done the impossible: you’ve made me throw my support behind Randy Savage. I support him tonight, and I’ll support him and Sid Vicious against you and Sting at the Bash at the Beach. You have no idea the kind of trouble you’ve asked for, Nash, and your personal hell is going to start right here, tonight on Thunder. I know just who I want to face you and Sting in tonight’s main event, and these men have the means and motive and I’m giving them the opportunity to obliterate you both. I am not a man you want to cross. That goes for you, too, Marcus Bagwell. Roddy Piper was the best man at my wedding, and that means that if you disrespect him, you disrespect me, and that’s just what you did on Nitro. You want it? You got it. At the Bash at the Beach, it’s going to be the Hot Rod against Buff Bagwell, and Bagwell, I’m tellin’ you now that you don’t have a prayer. I am the Nature Boy Ric Flair, and I am a man of action. I’m not done yet. (Flair turns to Asya). Asya. The most terrifying woman in wrestling today. Monday night, you dropped the ball.

Asya nods, as if to admit to it and apologize.

Ric: I am the president of World Championship Wrestling. I can’t have the people I surround myself with making mistakes.

Asya shakes her head, again agreeing.

Ric: Are you going to mess up, Asya? Ever again?

Asya shakes her head, making a promise.

Ric: You’re guaranteeing that you won’t be a problem for me?

Asya nods.

Ric: Well, guess what? Your guarantee doesn’t mean a thing to me. I’ve got to see to it that you won’t drop the ball again. It’s my responsiblity, and so, here goes. Asya: You’re fired!

Asya is stunned. She tries pleading her case.

Ric: Get out before I throw you out. And I’m going to do each and every person in the back a favor right now and say that with me, it’s one strike and you’re out. Asya is casuality number one. There’s no telling who’s next.

A heated Flair shoves the camera man out of the way as security escorts Asya up the ramp.

(Commercial break.)

-Backstage, the cameras follow the angry president. He spots Hardcore Hak enjoying a cold one and a smoke alongside Chastity in a corner, and he stops to approach them.

Ric: What is this?

Hak (blowing smoke in Flair’s face): What does it look like?

Ric: I’ve got a newsflash for you. This isn’t one of those bingo halls you’re so used to. This isn’t the bush league or barbed wire city. This is WCW.

Hak: What’s your point?

Ric: My point is that if you don’t loose the beer, the cigarettes, the whole routine -- you’re gone. You got it?

Flair walks away and Hak & Chastity look at each other, almost amused.

-We go back to the announce position, where Tenay and Zbyszko are in a state of shock.

Mike: Larry Zbyszko, I’m not even sure where to start.

Larry: Don’t look at me, Tenay!

Mike: Ric Flair is on edge, and he has put the entire WCW locker room on notice. Who knows what’s going to happen next?

(2) Jerry Flynn (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Buff Bagwell.

Flynn has made his entrance during the break. As Bagwell enters, Tenay stresses that the just-booked match between Bagwell and Piper at the Bash at the Beach will be their first in-ring meeting. Bagwell appears enthusiastic about the news, but his distraction gives Flynn a bit of an advantage in the early going, as he uses some of his kicks to surprise Bagwell. Bagwell comes back with a series of clotheslines and a Belly to Belly suplex. At 4:00, Jimmy Hart jumps onto the ring apon with the megaphone; Buff decks him, sending him down to the floor to the crowd’s delight. This presents an opening for Flynn, however, who grounds Bagwell with a series of submission holds. Bagwell takes advantage of an Irish Whip by going into a Thesz Press, taking Flynn down. He then hits a scoop slam and an inverted atomic drop, allowing him to nail the Blockbuster for the win.

WINNER: Buff Bagwell at ~6:00

STAR RATING: * – Flynn continues to show no improvement in his chain wrestling, and he seems to be less charismatic than ever, as hard as that is to grasp. Pairing him with Jimmy Hart has not done the trick. This was a showcase for Bagwell...

-Nitro Highlight (6/28): Rey Mysterio, Jr. saves Chavo Guerrero, Jr. from a Psicosis/Garza double-team following the 4-way bout. Still to come: Rey & Chavo vs. Psicosis & Garza!

(Commercial break.)

-Scott Hudson is with Billy Kidman in the backstage interview area.

Scott: Welcome back, everybody, as a wild night on Thunder continues. Billy Kidman, in ten days at the Bash at the Beach, you’re set to be a part of that big 8-man elimination tag team match pitting the West Texas Rednecks against the coalition that includes yourself, Konnan, Rey Mysterio, and the big man, Swoll, but you can’t look too far ahead, as you’ve got the veteran Curt Hennig in singles competition on Nitro from the Georgia Dome.

Billy: That’s right, Scott, and I understand Curt feels he’s going to be able to “squash me like a cockroach” when we go one on one. Sounds to me like Curt’s made the mistake of interpreting the label “cruiserweight” as some kind of shortcoming. Correction, Curt: the only thing my being a cruiserweight means is that I’ve got that many more ways to come at you, and I’m going to use them. You think our match on Nitro’s going to be some kind of walk in the park? An easy win? We’ll see about that, Curt, because as far as I’m concerned, the Shooting Star Press would be the perfect ending to our little meeting.

Scott: Kidman and Hennig, one-on-one on Nitro!

-Back in the arena, Disco Fever begins playing, and the Disco Inferno makes his way the ring -- unscheduled. Once there, he speaks.

Disco Inferno: Folks, the bad news is, I didn’t come out here tonight to dance. (Waits for sounds of disappointment from the crowd). I know, I know -- it’s what you all paid to see. And I will make it up to you. That’s a promise. The reason I’m out here is that I’ve got a bone to pick with the World Television Champion, Rick Steiner. You see, I’ve been piling up victory after victory all year long, and on Monday night, I figured I’d paid enough dues: I’d earned myself another shot at the title I’ve held not one, but two times in the past -- the title held by the Dog-Faced Gremlin himself, Rick Steiner. Well, based on my encounter with Mr. Steiner backstage in Chicago, I can tell you two things: one, he’s earned the “Dog-Faced” moniker. Two, he hasn’t earned that TV Title. Monday night, he brushed me aside -- literally. But tonight, I will be heard, and I’m not going to leave this ring until Steiner shows himself and grants me a shot at that belt.

Disco makes himself comfortable, taking a seat on one of the top turnbuckles. The crowd grows restless while Disco waits, checking his imaginary watch and whistling. Finally, Rick Steiner powerwalks to the ring with the Television Title. Disco meets him in the center of the ring.

Disco: Rick, I knew you’d come. So, what do you say? Are you going to be man enough? Do you have the guts to put that title on the line against the Disco Inferno?

Steiner waits a moment, and then out of nowhere kicks him in the gut. He then delivers a crucifix-style powerbomb, taking Disco out. Tenay notes that this is uncalled for.

Steiner picks up the mic.

Rick: You want a shot? You got it.

Steiner takes his belt and stalks back up the ramp, with Disco laid out in the ring.

(Commercial break.)

-Highlight: Steiner attacks Disco moments ago. Tenay announces that Rick Steiner vs. Disco Inferno for the TV Title has been added to the card for Bash at the Beach.

(3) Steve Armstrong vs. Hugh Morrus (w/Jimmy Hart)

Armstrong enters with a new look: black trunks and a shaved head. Zbyszko remarks on the resemblance to “Stone Cold” Steve Austin without naming names. Armstrong goes on the offensive early, but Morrus’s size and strength advantage is simply too much. The announcers use the match to speculate on Flair’s hand-picked opponents for Nash & Sting, and on whether Sting will even show up tonight. Morrus ties Armstrong in a Tree of Woe in the corner at one point and flattens him with a high-velocity splash. Morrus also employs a short leg drop, a press slam, and a hanging vertical suplex before finishing Armstrong off with the No Laughing Matter.

WINNER: Hugh Morrus at ~3:00

STAR RATING: n/a – Essentially a squash.

-Up next: “The Macho Man” Randy Savage comments on the heinous attack he led on the World Champion Kevin Nash this past Monday on Nitro.

(Commercial break.)

-Tenay explains that Randy Savage prepared a statement at his home earlier in the day.

Savage is seated at his home with Gorgeous George standing behind him.

Randy: Everyone’s been asking the Macho Man a whole lot of questions since Monday night, and so I figure this is the best place to answer them. This is the best place because there’s one man I want to hear this more than anyone, and that’s you, Kevin Nash. When I was out for a year rehabbing my shattered leg, people seemed to forget. They forgot that I was a World Champion. They forgot that I’ve sold out arenas all across the world. They forgot about all of the Macho Man’s epic matches. And you, Kevin Nash: you forgot all of that, and you forgot that without me, there would have been no Wolfpac, and without the Wolfpac, you never would have won the World Heavyweight Title in the first place. When I was going through ten hours of physical therapy a day, I never heard from you. When I was working out in the ring after the doctors said I’d never return, I never heard from you. You never even called to ask me how I was doing, Kevin Nash, and that was very, very insulting. But everybody knows now that I’m back. I have a long list of things on my to-do list, and the first is to remind you and all of the other ungrateful people out there who forgot about the Macho Man Randy Savage that I am the most dangerous, unpredictable force in this sport. I want that World Heavyweight Title. I want my rightful place at the top of WCW, and I will topple you to get what I want; oh, yeah. By the time it’s all said and done, people are going to remember who I am and what I’ve done and what I’m capable of doing in the future. They’ve already banned by finishing move, the top rope elbow, because they say I’ve collapsed too many lungs since I’ve been back. What happened on Monday night, when I took you out in that ring -- that shouldn’t have come as a surprise to anyone. That I have a friend who was willing to take a kamikaze run at your limousine in a humvee shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. There’s no stopping me, Kevin Nash. There’s no controlling me. When I came back, I said that the Madness was here to stay, and I meant it. I’m unleashing a kind of Madness that no one in this business has ever seen before, and at the Bash at the Beach, I’m going to make what happened on Nitro and what happened that that hummer look like child’s play. You made the mistake of forgetting the Macho Man, Nash, and now you’re going to pay for it with your career.

The spot ends with an extreme close-up of Savage.

-Scott Hudson, almost silenced by Savage’s words, is backstage with the newly formed faction of Steven Regal, Fit Finlay, and David Taylor.

Scott: On that note, ladies and gentlemen, I’m here with three men who apparently formed an alliance last week here on this program, and of course, none of them are strangers to each other. Steven Regal, you just made your return to WCW after a bit of a hiatus, and--

Steven: Hold on just a minute, Sunshine. I’ve got a question for you. What the bloody hell was Randy Savage on about just now?

Scott: To be honest, I’m not exactly sure. He seemed determined, to say the least. But let’s return to the subject at hand. Last week, these two men, Finlay and Taylor, came up short in tag team competition with Chris Benoit and Perry Saturn. That’s nothing to be ashamed about, but after the match, you showed up, Steven Regal, and exchanged words with Mr. Finlay and Mr. Taylor. Clue us in.

Steven: WCW is a horrible place to work, Scott Hudson, but I need the bleeding money, don’t I? And so do Finlay and Taylor. The problem in, no one in the back is particularly interested in doing those of us who aren’t from this damnable country any favors.

Scott: So, you’re contending that you and your brethren from the United Kingdom have to stick together.

Steven: That’s exactly what I’m saying. And don’t make a habit of interrupting me.

Scott: Steven Regal back in action, next!

(Commercial break.)

(4) Evan Karagias vs. Steven Regal (w/Fit Finlay and Dave Taylor)

Tenay remarks during Karagias’s entrance that he had his own problems with Ric Flair last week on Thunder. Finlay and Taylor accompany Regal to the ring waving union jacks. During the match itself, Regal keeps the usually more arial Karagias fairly grounded. Finlay and Taylor argue with fans at ringside. Regal appears to have his weight under control, at least for the time-being. Karagias gets a two count following a flying body press. Back on their feet, Regal takes the advantage with an eye poke, and takes down Karagias, putting him in a modified figure four. After the hold is broken, Regal kicks Karagias to the outside. While Regal bickers with Nick Patrick, Finlay hits his impressive rolling fireman’s carry slam on Karagias. He then rolls him back to the inside, where Regal executes a Mahistral Cradle but only gets the two. Regal sends Karagias into the ropes, but Evan escapes an attempt at a Sleeper Hold and sends Regal down with a dropkick. Evan rallies the crowd and attempts a Sunset Flip on Regal, but Regal maintains a base and ends up slapping on the Regal Stretch, leading to the submission.

WINNER: Steven Regal at ~8:00

STAR RATING: ** – Regal is in good shape and brought Karagias up a step or two.

-Back to Tenay and Zbyzsko.

Mike: We’ve got our cruiserweight tag team match coming up next, Living Legend, but it’s time to take a minute and discuss the big -- huge -- Nitro we’ve got lined up in just four days from the Georgia Dome.

Larry: Well, we’ll be just six days away from the Bash at the Beach, so you know right away that it’s going to be a big one.

Mike: Not only that, but WCW will be on its home turf, which usually means that it’s going to be a blockbuster. We already know that Ric Flair is going to name the ten participants he’s selected to compete for the US Heavyweight Title at the Bash at the Beach. We know that Curt Hennig will go one on one with Billy Kidman. We can also confirm that, in response to recent problems between the men involved, a huge 6-man tag team match has been signed: it’ll be the Triad of Diamond Dallas Page, Kanyon, and Bam Bam Bigelow -- the tag team champions -- taking on the formidable team of the “Canadian Crippler” Chris Benoit, Booker T, and Perry Saturn.

Larry: That one could get out of control.

Mike: I’d expect nothing less. We’re also expecting Kevin Nash, Sting, “The Macho Man” Randy Savage, and Sid Vicious to be in the building as all four of those men prepare for the main event at the Bash at the Beach. And, finally, I have it on good authority that more than one big name will be making appearances at the Georgia Dome following extended absences from WCW.

Larry: Big names? Well, don’t leave us hanging like that, Tenay. Who are we talking about, here?!

Mike: I can’t reveal any further details at this time, Larry, but I’m going to go out on a limb and declare that Monday’s upcoming Nitro is one that you cannot miss!

(Commercial break.)

-Out back, the cameras spy Ric Flair finishing up a phone call.

Ric: Oh, I’m going to get it done. That’s a guarantee.

When Ric hangs up, he is approached by Jimmy Hart.

Jimmy: May I have a word, Ric?

Ric: I’m a busy man, Hart.

Jimmy: Of course you are. I’ve just got to ask you if you saw Hugh Morrus out there earlier against Steve Armstrong.

Ric: Sure. I saw.

Jimmy: Morrus made mincemeat out of Armstrong. He’s in line for an opportunity, already.

Ric (the gears in his head turning): You’re looking for an opportunity for the big man?

Jimmy: That’s right.

Ric: I’m always happy to give a deserving guy an opportunity. I’d like to see Hugh Morrus in action at the Bash at the Beach -- in a Hardcore Match. Against Hardcore Hak.

Jimmy: A hardcore match between Morrus and Hak?!

Ric: That’s right. And you tell your guy not to hold back -- the sky’s the limit.

Jimmy: Sky’s the limit. Got it, Ric. And thanks!

(5) Psicosis & Hector Garza vs. Chavo Guerrero, Jr. & Rey Mysterio, Jr. (w/Konnan)

Chavo and Rey are given separate entrances. Konnan takes advantage of the opportunity to do his “bout it, bout it and rowdy, rowdy” routine before the bell. Guerrero and Mysterio appear to be on the same page, and Tenay puts over the fact that theirs is a team that was brought together by mutual respect. Garza and Guerrero start with a series of fast-paced offensive maneuvers and counters. Garza and Psicosis make quick tags and are able to wear down Guerrero. Psicosis gets a nearfall after a slingshot somersault splash. Moments later, Psicosis prepares for a headscissors from the top rope, but Chavo holds on to the top rope; Psicosis crashes to the mat. Chavo with a high elevation flying body press for two. Chavo hits a series of his uppercuts and then a brainbuster. With Psicosis down, Chavo takes the time to dropkick Garza off the apron, and then finally tags in Rey to the crowd’s delight. Mysterio comes in with a dropkick on Psicosis, and then goes up top and hits his Thesz Press for a two count. Rey charges at Psicosis in the corner, but Psicosis gets a boot up and tags in the fresh man. Garza has a considerable size advantage on Rey Rey and uses it. Garza and Psicosis seize several opportunities for double teams on Rey while Mickey Jay keeps Chavo in the corner. Garza plans Rey with a big superplex, and then tags in Psicosis again. Psicosis punishes Rey with a backbreaker, and then goes up for the Guillotine Legdrop. He telegraphs, however; Rey avoids the move and while Psicosis smarts from the missed move, Chavo is tagged back in. Chavo is a house afire against Psicosis. Garza runs in but is backdropped out by Chavo. Rey, regaining his energy, takes Garza down for good on the outside with a plancha, but the cameraman only picked up the second half of the high-risk money move. Bummer. Meanwhile, Chavo plans Psicosis with a Northern Lights Suplex and gets the win!

WINNERS: Rey & Chavo at ~11:00

STAR RATING: **1/2 – The action was good and the Rey/Chavo dynamic seems to be developing further. The missed shot of Rey’s plancha was unfortunate, though.

Post-match, Konnan and Rey re-enter the ring to celebrate with Chavo. Chavo climbs to the outside and takes the Cruiserweight title from the timekeeper. Rey and Konnan look on in confusion. Chavo steps back into the ring holding the title. He admires it for a moment, and then hands Rey his belt, acknowledging his partner and future opponent by raising his hand.

(Commercial break.)

-A new promo for Bash at the Beach is shown, with new matches added:

• Sting & Kevin Nash vs. Randy Savage & Sid (w/Team Madness)
• Just Added: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper vs. Buff Bagwell
• Just Added: United States Heavyweight Title Match: 10-Man Battle Royal. Participants to be revealed on Nitro.
• World Tag Team Title Match: Chris Benoit & Perry Saturn vs. Diamond Dallas Page & Bam Bam Bigelow © (w/Kanyon)
• Just Added: Television Title Match: Rick Steiner © vs. Disco Inferno
• Just Added: Hardcore Match: Hardcore Hak (w/Chastity) vs. Hugh Morrus (w/Jimmy Hart)
• Eight-Man Tag Team Elimination Match West Texas Rednecks vs. No Limit Soldiers

-Back live, Tenay adds that Chavo vs. Psicosis has also been placed on the Bash card, as of the commercial break.

-Three familiar words (“Self high five”) blast over the sound system, and the “Jersey Boys” Triad of Diamond Dallas Page, Kanyon, and Bam Bam Bigelow head to the ring with the World Tag Team titles. Tenay promotes both the tag team title match scheduled for the Bash, and the 6-man that has been signed for Nitro. Page has a mic in the ring.

DDP: Cut -- my -- music. (Disgusted). You know, I don’t think much of the reception that you people just gave myself, Kanyon, and Bam Bam Bigelow. Take a good look, people. We are World Champions, and we didn’t have to come here tonight. It is your privilege to be seeing the Triad here tonight. But it seems to me that the fans aren’t the only ones without a clue, Kanyon.

Kanyon (playing along): Oh, yeah? Who are we talkin’ about here, DDP?

DDP: We’re talkin’ about about that overrated, underachieving punk, “The Canadian Crybaby,” Chris Benoit. Benoit, I know you’ve been running around with your sidekick -- with that freak, Perry Saturn, telling anyone who’ll listen that you’re just itching to put Diamond Dallas Page in that Crippler Crossface. More than the World Tag Team titles, you want to get me to tap out -- to quit. You even tried it on Monday night, and what happened? Nothing happened. I didn’t tap, and I will never tap. You will never force me to quit, and you will never get your hands on the World Tag Team Titles.

Kanyon interrupts.

Kanyon (again, playing along): Wait, wait, wait, DDP. I see what you’re sayin’, and Bam Bam sees what you’re sayin’, but Chris Benoit? He’s slow, you know? He’s got a really thick skull, and I’m just not sure he’s gonna take any of this in. I don’t know what to say.

DDP: You know what, Kanyon? You’re right. It’s not gonna work, trying to tell Chris Benoit how things are. I’m gonna have to go one step further. I’m gonna have to show him. So, hey -- I’m talking to you, you idiots in the truck. Roll the footage.

The announcers wonder what this is about while the Triad waits for the footage to roll. From Superbrawl VIII in 1998: Diamond Dallas Page pins Chris Benoit following the Diamond Cutter to retain the US Heavyweight Title.

Back live, Page and his cohorts look on wearing smug expressions.

DDP: Does that help, Benoit? Are we clear now? I own you. Forget your Crippler Crossface. It’s happened before and it’ll happen again. Monday Nitro, Bash at the Beach -- Benoit, you will feel -- the -- bang!

Page’s music begins again and he and the rest of the Triad make their way to the back, verbally clashing with the fans en route.

-Tenay and Zbyzsko react.

Mike: Larry Zbyzsko, all I can say is that Diamond Dallas Page suddenly has a very selective memory. Chris Benoit defeated DDP just three days ago on Nitro!

Larry: Well, Mike that’s true, but at the same time, Page has got a point: he hasn’t submitted to Chris Benoit. Now, obviously, he’s trying to play mindgames with Benoit going into the Bash at the Beach and Nitro, but the pressure’s on the Canadian Cripper and his partner, Saturn, to produce results.

Mike: It certainly is, and fans, our main event is just minutes away. Will Sting take the leap of faith and join Kevin Nash? And who does Ric Flair have up his sleeve? Who will face the World Heavyweight Champ and the Franchise? We’ll find out, next!

(Commercial break.)

-A brief pyro display indicates that it’s main event time. Tenay indicates that they’ve just been informed that Ric Flair has a “huge” announcement concerning Bash at the Beach to be divulged on Nitro; apparently, it’s going to rock the foundation of the main event tag team match at the pay-per-view.

-A short pause follows as we wait to discover who Flair has chosen to face Nash and Sting. Finally, nWo music starts, and the team of Stevie Ray & Brian Adams, still carrying the Black & White banner, make their way to the ring. Once there, Stevie Ray takes the mic.

Stevie Ray: That’s right. Ric Flair knows there’s only one force in the back powerful enough to take out Kevin Nash and Sting, and it’s the nWo Black & White. Brian Adams and Stevie Ray don’t want to wait any longer; send those Fruit Booties out here so we can get this thing done!

Stevie Ray poses and the announces point out that Stevie may have been employing hyperbole by suggesting that the depleted nWo Black & White is the most powerful force in the promotion...

Wolfpac music brings out World Champ Nash. He stops at ringside to wait for Sting’s entrance. The house lights go down. After a dramatic ten second delay, Seek and Destroy plays, and Sting appears at the entrance! He’s answered the call! Sting takes his walk to ringside, where he and Nash come face to face. After a brief staredown, they both enter the ring and are attacked by the heels, signifying the start of the match.

(6) Stevie Ray & Brian Adams vs. Sting & World Heavyweight Champion Kevin Nash

The heels beat down the faces, and Tenay points out that the news that Ric Flair has a bombshell to drop on Nash on Monday’s Nitro could have him distracted from the task at hand. Sting and Nash rally against Stevie and Adams, however, and clear the ring to bring an end to the Black & White’s illegal attack. The crowd approves of Sting & Nash, but they continue to show no great affection for each other as partners. Nick Patrick is finally able to secure some semblance of order, and we begin with Sting and Adams as the legal men. Adams sucker punches Sting as it appears he’s going to set up for a test of strength. The advantage allows Adams to hit several chops in the corner on Sting. He then drives his shoulder into Sting’s midsection several times. Adams slams Sting as though he’s a sack of potatoes, and then hits a big press slam. Sting is in a bad way. Stevie Ray is tagged in, sends Sting into the ropes, and nails the big boot. Stevie continues his attack with an overhead slam, a sloppy double underhook suplex, and several boots to the back. Stevie Ray gets in former comrade Nash’s face. Stevie sends Sting into the ropes, but Sting gets good elevation on a leap frog and hits a stunned Stevie with a series of punches, taking him into the corner. Sting hits several chops, clotheslines Stevie out of the ring, and then howls to the crowd’s delight. Adams comforts Stevie Ray on the outside while Sting makes the tag to the big man. Stevie climbs back in the ring and tags Adams in. Nash and Adams lock up with a collar and elbow, and Tenay notes that Nash is coming off a concussion and some considerable blood loss from Nitro -- there’s some question as to whether he’ll be able to hold up in the ring. Nash and Adams’s exchange of offense is not a pretty sight and features shoddy Irish whips, botched back elbows, and big boots lacking in impressive height. Adams hits a horrible dropkick (he’d clearly been practicing it as an addition to his repertoire) that sends Nash to his knees. Adams then stands above Nash and delivers several punches to the side of his head. Tenay notes that Adams is exploiting the head injuries suffered by Nash three days earlier. Adams grabs Nash by the back of the head and drags him over to the nearest corner, where he slams his head into the middle turnbuckle. Nash blocks a second attempt, however, and slowly gets to his feet! Adams works to curb the comeback, but his punches are blocked. Nash nails a couple of right hands of his own, but Adams regains the upper hand with a desperation headbutt right to Nash’s afflicted area. Adams tags Stevie back in, and Stevie sends Nash back to the mat with a big boot. Sting helps the crowd in rallying behind Nash. Nash no-sells a series of Stevie Ray punches. Getting a second wind, Nash gets Stevie Ray up in a shaky side saltow suplex. He then whips Stevie into the ropes and takes him down with a Big Boot of his own. Sting is tagged in, and he sends Stevie into the corner with one of his big dropkicks. Sting then whips Stevie Ray into the opposite corner, and goes for the Stinger Splash! He hits not one but two of them. He looks to be setting up for the Scorpion Deathlock, but Adams comes in from behind with the Pearl Harbor to put the kibosh on that. Sting sells the move long enough for Stevie to get back to his feet and send Sting staggering with a couple of right hands. Stevie is able to execute what might be described as a poor belly to back suplex, and then stumbles over to Adams to make the tag. Adams hits a splash of his own onto Sting in the corner. He then sets up for a powerbomb, mocking Nash in the process. Adams is too cocky, however, and is backdropped by Sting before he can make good on the powerbomb! Sting rebounds and even gets the big man up in a tentative scoop slam. He then tags Nash back in. Nash measures Adams in the corner and sqaushes him a couple of times as is his custom. Stevie Ray is making noise in the corner, and so Nash decks him. Adams tries seizing the opening to punch Nash, but Nash blocks the punches and sends Adams down with a couple of his own. Nash hits a reverse DDT (Scorpion Deathdrop) in homage to Sting, and then executes a scary looking Jacknife on Adams. Stevie stumbles in to try and make the save, but Sting cuts him off, and Nash scores the pin!

WINNERS: Sting & Nash at 13:00

STAR RATING: 1/2* – The half a star is for (lackluster) star-power. The match itself was simply a neverending series of badly botched (and potentially dangerous) moves. Given the involvement of Nash, Stevie Ray, and Adams, of course, that comes as no great surprise.

The heels try to recover on the outside. Meanwhile, Nick Patrick raises the hands of the faces. Tenay puts over the victory as an impressive one. Nash extends his hand for Sting to shake, and as we wonder if the Stinger will accept, we run out of time! Tenay finishes with one last hard-sell for Nitro at the Georgia Dome.