WCW 2001

[PokerGod11]

Name of PPV: Spring Stampede

To Face Booker T for WCW Title: Jeff Jarrett

To face Booker T for US Title: Kanyon

Tag Team Contenders: Road Warriors

Cruiserweight Contender: Lash Leroux

Cruiserweight Tag Contenders: Yung Dragons (Kaz Hayashi & Yang)

Special Attraction Matches: Chad Collyer and Shelton Benjamin vs. Nick Dinsmore and Rob Conway (Screw the North Match)

Barry Windham vs. Mark Jindrak

[Guest HardcoreIcon87]

WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match (Pick Person to Face Booker T)

Diamond Dallas Page

Jeff Jarrett

Ric Flair

Scott Steiner

Sting

United States Championship (Pick Person to Face Booker T)

Buff Bagwell

Chris Kanyon

Hugh Morris

Konnan

Rick Steiner

Tag Team Championship (Pick team to Face O’Haire & Palumbo)

Crowbar & David Flair

KroniK (Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke)

Mamalukes (Big Vito & Johnny The Bull)

Team Canada (Lance Storm & Mike Awesome)

The Road Warriors (Road Warrior’s Animal & Hawk)

Cruiserweight Championship (Pick Person to Face Shane Helms)

Cash

Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Jamie Knoble

Lash Leroux

Shannon Moore

Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship (Pick Team to Face Misterio & Kidman)

Air Raid (Air Paris & AJ Styles)

Full Blooded Italians (Guido Maritato & Tony Mamaluke)

Juventud Guerrera & Psicosis

Team Canada (Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo)

Yung Dragons (Kaz Hayashi & Yang)

Special Attraction Match (Pick Two)

Backseat Boyz (Johnny Kashmere & Trent Acid) vs. Haas Brothers (Charlie & Russ Haas)

Bam Bam Bigelow vs. The Wall

Barry Windham vs. Mark Jindrak

Blitzkrieg vs. Super Crazy

Chad Collyer and Shelton Benjamin vs. Nick Dinsmore and Rob Conway (Screw the North Match)

Disco Inferno vs. Lex Luger

Ultimo Dragon vs. Yoshiro Tajiri

[AntPaulseno]

Here is the Interactive Voting for the WCW PPV, to be held on Sunday, April 15, 2001.

Voting for WCW PPV:

Name of PPV: Spring Stampede

WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match (Pick Person to Face Booker T)

Diamond Dallas Page

Jeff Jarrett

Ric Flair

Scott Steiner

Sting

United States Championship (Pick Person to Face Booker T)

Buff Bagwell

Chris Kanyon

Hugh Morris

Konnan

Rick Steiner

Tag Team Championship (Pick team to Face O’Haire & Palumbo)

Crowbar & David Flair

KroniK (Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke)

Mamalukes (Big Vito & Johnny The Bull)

Team Canada (Lance Storm & Mike Awesome)

The Road Warriors (Road Warrior’s Animal & Hawk)

Cruiserweight Championship (Pick Person to Face Shane Helms)

Cash

Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Jamie Knoble

Lash Leroux

Shannon Moore

Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship (Pick Team to Face Misterio & Kidman)

Air Raid (Air Paris & AJ Styles)

Full Blooded Italians (Guido Maritato & Tony Mamaluke)

Juventud Guerrera & Psicosis

Team Canada (Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo)

Yung Dragons (Kaz Hayashi & Yang)

Special Attraction Match (Pick Two)

Backseat Boyz (Johnny Kashmere & Trent Acid) vs. Haas Brothers (Charlie & Russ Haas)

Bam Bam Bigelow vs. The Wall

Barry Windham vs. Mark Jindrak

Blitzkrieg vs. Super Crazy

Chad Collyer and Shelton Benjamin vs. Nick Dinsmore and Rob Conway (Screw the North Match)

Disco Inferno vs. Lex Luger

Ultimo Dragon vs. Yoshiro Tajiri

[Guest Pizza Boy]

Here is the Interactive Voting for the WCW PPV, to be held on Sunday, April 15, 2001.

Voting for WCW PPV:

Name of PPV: Spring Stampede

WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match (Pick Person to Face Booker T)

Diamond Dallas Page

Jeff Jarrett

Ric Flair

Scott Steiner

Sting

United States Championship (Pick Person to Face Booker T)

Buff Bagwell

Chris Kanyon

Hugh Morris

Konnan

Rick Steiner

Tag Team Championship (Pick team to Face O’Haire & Palumbo)

Crowbar & David Flair

KroniK (Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke)

Mamalukes (Big Vito & Johnny The Bull)

Team Canada (Lance Storm & Mike Awesome)

The Road Warriors (Road Warrior’s Animal & Hawk)

Cruiserweight Championship (Pick Person to Face Shane Helms)

Cash

Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Jamie Knoble

Lash Leroux

Shannon Moore

Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship (Pick Team to Face Misterio & Kidman)

Air Raid (Air Paris & AJ Styles)

Full Blooded Italians (Guido Maritato & Tony Mamaluke)

Juventud Guerrera & Psicosis

Team Canada (Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo)

Yung Dragons (Kaz Hayashi & Yang)

Special Attraction Match (Pick Two)

Backseat Boyz (Johnny Kashmere & Trent Acid) vs. Haas Brothers (Charlie & Russ Haas)

Bam Bam Bigelow vs. The Wall

Barry Windham vs. Mark Jindrak

Blitzkrieg vs. Super Crazy

Chad Collyer and Shelton Benjamin vs. Nick Dinsmore and Rob Conway (Screw the North Match)

Disco Inferno vs. Lex Luger

Ultimo Dragon vs. Yoshiro Tajiri

[The Future]

ame of PPV: Spring Stampede_________ (Fill in Ballot)

WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match (Pick Person to Face Booker T)

Diamond Dallas Page

Jeff Jarrett

Ric Flair

Scott Steiner

Sting

United States Championship (Pick Person to Face Booker T)

Buff Bagwell

Chris Kanyon

Hugh Morris

Konnan

Rick Steiner

Tag Team Championship (Pick team to Face O’Haire & Palumbo)

Crowbar & David Flair

KroniK (Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke)

Mamalukes (Big Vito & Johnny The Bull)

Team Canada (Lance Storm & Mike Awesome)

The Road Warriors (Road Warrior’s Animal & Hawk)

Cruiserweight Championship (Pick Person to Face Shane Helms)

Cash

Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Jamie Knoble

Lash Leroux

Shannon Moore

Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship (Pick Team to Face Misterio & Kidman)

Air Raid (Air Paris & AJ Styles)

Full Blooded Italians (Guido Maritato & Tony Mamaluke)

Juventud Guerrera & Psicosis

Team Canada (Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo)

Yung Dragons (Kaz Hayashi & Yang)

Special Attraction Match (Pick Two)

Backseat Boyz (Johnny Kashmere & Trent Acid) vs. Haas Brothers (Charlie & Russ Haas)

Bam Bam Bigelow vs. The Wall

Barry Windham vs. Mark Jindrak

Blitzkrieg vs. Super Crazy

Chad Collyer and Shelton Benjamin vs. Nick Dinsmore and Rob Conway (Screw the North Match)

Disco Inferno vs. Lex Luger

Ultimo Dragon vs. Yoshiro Tajiri

[Szumi]

WCW to Return with Spring Stampede!

World Championship Wrestling is back, and they're looking to prove they're better than ever! WCW, fresh off of a short hiatus after their Night of Champions on March 26, will return to Pay Per View on April 22, 2001 with Spring Stampede! Spring Stampede has been an all fan interaction event, where the fans get to vote on the matches. You, the fans, have decided on this:

WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Booker T © vs. Jeff Jarrett

WCW United States Championship: Booker T © vs. Chris Kanyon

WCW Tag Team Championship: Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire © vs. Team Canada's Lance Storm and Mike Awesome vs. The Road Warriors

WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Shane Helms © vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship: Filthy Animals' Billy Kidman and Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Air Raid

Battle from the Far East: Ultimo Dragon vs. Yoshihiro Tajiri

Cruiserweight Extravaganza: Blitzkrieg vs. Super Crazy

Edited October 31, 2005 by Szumi

[Guest EmulaNOAH]

Cool idea letting the fans decide the card. I know it exists now, but that would of been golden in 2001, when wrestling was on the end of it's boom.

Predictions

WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Booker T © vs. Jeff Jarrett

WCW United States Championship: Booker T © vs. Chris Kanyon

WCW Tag Team Championship: Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire © vs. Team Canada's Lance Storm and Mike Awesome vs. The Road Warriors

WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Shane Helms © vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship: Filthy Animals' Billy Kidman and Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Air Raid

Battle from the Far East: Ultimo Dragon vs. Yoshiro Tajiri

Cruiserweight Extravaganza: Blitzkrieg vs. Super Crazy

Logic for picks.

- No need for Booker T to lose both belts, but he needs to drop one. Jarrett helps Kanyon win the US belt, but Kanyon fails in helping Jarrett win the World Title.

- Palumbo and O'Haire need to win. Roadwarriors winning doesnt help out O"Haire and Palumbo. Having Team Canada in there is a good idea, to throw off the fan of what the outcome might be.

- Helms wins as he continues to have Chavo's number.

- Upset city as Air Raid instantly make a name for themselves by beating two established Cruiserweights!

- Dragon v Tajiri = Puro Jr. Classic, Dragon is the vet, and Tajiri doesn't need to win the debut, because you can put over other things about his character.

- LUCHA LIBRE! I like the fact that you have different styles of wrestling on the card. Blitzkrieg was getting old back then, and Crazy is the most know "luchadore" in the US, without a big time job. Crazy wins here, and wins a contract.

[Szumi]

World Championship Wrestling Present’s Spring Stampede

Phillips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia

April 22, 2001

A video montage plays of various major moments of WCW. It shows clips as well of battles from the NWA between Ric Flair and Sting. The various champions of WCW are shown, with Booker T getting most of the spotlight of the champions. The video fades away with a shot of Booker T celebrating from Night of the Champions with both the World and US Title. The video fades then into a new WCW logo, and then a huge display of pyro goes off to celebrate the return of WCW! We then go straight to our trio of announcers; Mike Tenay, Scott Hudson, and Tony Schiavone.

Mike Tenay: Hello everybody and welcome to Spring Stampede! I’m ‘The Professor’ Mike Tenay, alongside me is Scott Hudson and Tony Schiavone, and gentleman, what a night we’re looking at here in the return of World Championship Wrestling!

Tony Schiavone: That’s right Professor, it will be a spectacular night for World Championship Wrestling. WCW is back and better than ever, after we prove to everyone that we will not die, and we will not be sold off to the man with the highest amount of money. WCW is about entertaining you the fans, and that is what we’re going to do tonight!

Scott Hudson: That’s right Tony because for Spring Stampede, you, the fans, all decided on the matches. You picked opponents for all the Title Matches, and you picked two special attraction matches!

Tenay: And we’re going to get the first of those two special matches right now. A former wrestler here in WCW, Blitzkrieg, will face off against a former Extreme Championship Wrestling Television Champion, the Insane Luchadore, Super Crazy!

Match One

Blitzkrieg vs. Super Crazy

Cruiserweight Extravaganza

Blitzkrieg is out first, who just sprints down to the ring in a black and silver mask, and his old attire from WCW. Blitzkrieg gets little reaction from the fans, as he isn’t remembered all that well. Out next is Super Crazy, who some fans recognize as the Insane Luchadore from ECW. Crazy slaps hands with some fans as he makes his way down the entrance ramp, trying to get the crowd into him. Crazy gets into the ring, stands on the first and second ropes, and yells out to the crowd to get some cheers. He gets a little bit of cheers from the crowd, which satisfies Crazy. The bell rings, and we’re off after a quick handshake of respect from the two men.

The two cruiserweight stars circle each other, and then engaging in a tie-up. Crazy shoves Blitzkrieg down to the canvas, who nips ups, charges Super Crazy, locks his legs around Crazy’s neck, does two full revolutions of a tilt-a-whirl, only to get drilled with a sick tilt-a-whirl backbreaker from Super Crazy! Crazy stands right next to Blitzkrieg, moonsaults, and connects with a moonsault head butt to Blitzkrieg’s chest! Super Crazy stays on top for a cover, but Blitzkrieg is out before the three. Crazy gets Blitzkrieg to his feet quickly, whips him into the ropes, leap frogs over Blitzkrieg, drops to the canvas to let Blitzkrieg go over top of him after Blitzkrieg charges off the opposite ropes, hip tosses Blitzkrieg as he charges again, only for Blitzkrieg to land on his feet. Arms still entangled, Blitzkrieg back flips over Super Crazy, grabbing his head on the way down, and pulling it into a diving reverse DDT! Blitzkrieg goes into a cover, Super Crazy reverses that into an inside cradle at two, Blitzkrieg reverses the inside cradle at two with a form of a rollup, only for Super Crazy to reverse Blitzkrieg’s pin attempt with a rollup of his own at two, which ends up with Blitzkrieg using his leg strength to shove Super Crazy off him before three. Both men nip up to their feet at the same time, and we have ourselves a good ole fashion stand-off.

Super Crazy charges Blitzkrieg right away, who dives under and in between Crazy’s legs. Crazy turns around looking for Blitzkrieg, only to get a dropkick to the face, with Blitzkrieg doing a back flip after the dropkick, landing directly on his feet. Crazy is up to his feet quickly, and charges Blitzkrieg again. Blitzkrieg ducks an oncoming clothesline, runs off the ropes and charges back at Super Crazy, and hits a swinging hurricanrana on Super Crazy, with the impact sending Super Crazy bouncing through the first and second ropes to the outside of the ring! Crazy is down on the ground outside the ring, but starts making an attempt to get to his feet as Blitzkrieg gets out onto the ring apron. Super Crazy gets up to his feet just in time to see Blitzkrieg springboard off the third rope and perform and hit Super Crazy with a Sky Twister Press! Both men smack off the padded ground, but the crowd gives them a nice “Holy Shit” chant. Both men briefly take some time to recover, and both men make their way to their feet slowly at about the same time. The two men slug it out at the bottom of the entrance ramp, exchanging right hands. Super Crazy starts to get the upper hand, and soon enough, he whips Blitzkrieg into the side of the ring. As Blitzkrieg stands motionless on the side of ring, Super Crazy charges towards him, headstands right in front of Blitzkrieg, locks his legs around Blitzkrieg’s neck, and delivers a crushing modified hurricanrana, with Blitzkrieg’s head smacking off of the padded mats at ring side. Blitzkrieg is now down on the mats, motionless. Super Crazy takes this opportunity to pull off the biggest spot of the match yet. Crazy stands right to the side of Blitzkrieg and nails a moonsault to Blitzkrieg. Super Crazy then makes jumps up onto the apron, and delivers a second moonsault to Blitzkrieg. Most fans know another moonsault is coming, and Super Crazy doesn’t disappoint them. Crazy stands on top of the apron again, springboards off the third rope, and connects with a third moonsault to Blitzkrieg! More “Holy Shit” chants erupt from the crowd after the spotty sequence of moonsaults from Super Crazy. Super Crazy soaks in the crowd’s positive reaction, and then rolls Blitzkrieg back into the ring, with Super Crazy getting into the ring as well.

Blitzkrieg is still motionless, now in the ring though, and Super Crazy takes this opportunity to go into a cover. It looks over, as Blitzkrieg is motionless from Super Crazy’s Trifecta Moonsault.

One!

Two!

Three!

No! No three! Blitzkrieg gets a shoulder up just before the three count is finished! Super Crazy can’t believe it, and neither can the fans. Super Crazy is determined to finish the match however, and drags Blitzkrieg towards the corner, so that he is in perfect position for the Trifecta Moonsault. Crazy signals for it, and lets the crowd know what is coming. Super Crazy stands on the first turnbuckle, and delivers the first of three moonsaults to Blitzkrieg. Super Crazy taunts the crowd again to get them pumped up, and then stands on the second turnbuckle for the second moonsault. Super Crazy taunts the crowd again, and he wastes too much time doing so, as Blitzkrieg is able to get to his feet, run at Crazy, jump up and wrap his legs around Crazy’s neck, and connects with a reverse hurricanrana! The crowd is on their feet cheering after that spot, and rightfully so as the spot was amazing to watch. Blitzkrieg, drained with energy, uses what little energy he has left to make a cover on Super Crazy:

One!

Two!

Kick Out! Super Crazy kicks out at about two and a half! The crowd bought that as the ending, and they are stunned after Crazy’s, pun intended, crazy kick out. Both men are drained from this spotty match-up, and they have to take their time getting up to their feet. When they do, both men exchange right hands, slowing the pace down for a change. Blitzkrieg this time starts getting the advantage in the brawl, and knocks Super Crazy down after a clothesline. Blitzkrieg, seeing this opportunity to possibly end the match, climbs up to the top turnbuckle. By the time Blitzkrieg does indeed get to the third and final turnbuckle, Super Crazy is on his feet. Crazy makes his way over to Blitzkrieg, and hits a right hand to the gut of Blitzkrieg. This gives Super Crazy the time to climb up to the third turnbuckle with Blitzkrieg as well, which he indeed does. Both men now on the top turnbuckle, they exchange right hands once again. The brawling somehow leads to both men standing with one foot on the turnbuckle, the other on the top rope next to them, both men facing each other, one side facing the ring, the other side facing the crowd. The two men continue to duke it out, until Blitzkrieg scores with a forearm to the nose. Blitzkrieg gets a quick advantage, and tries to toss Super Crazy to the outside of the ring. Super Crazy in desperation throws a head butt to the Blitzkrieg’s face, connecting with the head butt, saving himself from a lot of pain. Blitzkrieg stumbles, and Super Crazy is able to shove Blitzkrieg off the top rope, sending him crashing to the ring canvas. Blitzkrieg, his back on the canvas, lands in a perfect position so that Super Crazy can jump off the top rope and connect with a Moonsault! Super Crazy stays on top for the cover:

One!

Two!

Three!

Tenay: Super Crazy wins it! The Insane Luchadore from ECW wins this opening contest against Blitzkrieg!

Hudson: Let’s make no mistake about it though, both guys gave it everything they had, and entertained us all with some phenomenal aerial skills in this match.

Schiavone: Oh yes, they most certainly did! But folks, if you thought that was the best action you’d see all night, think again because we have more cruiserweight action coming up! We will see the return of Ultimo Dragon in WCW as he faces off against Yoshihiro Tajiri, another alumnus of ECW. But coming up next, the Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship will be defended; it’s The Filthy Animals, Billy Kidman & Rey Misterio Jr., taking on the young cruiserweight team of Air Raid, Air Paris and AJ Styles!

Winner: Super Crazy at 9:26 (72, 54, 90)

Match Two

Air Raid (Air Paris & AJ Styles) vs. Filthy Animals (Billy Kidman & Rey Misterio Jr.) (w/ Torrie Wilson & Tygress) ©

WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship

The young Air Raid team is out first, who get a small reaction from the crowd. The two men look a little nervous being in such a big match on PPV this early in their careers, but they try and get some positive fan reaction, slapping hands with fans at ringside. As Air Raid gets into the ring, the music of the Filthy Animals’ hits, and Billy Kidman and Rey Misterio make their way down to the ring, Torrie Wilson hand and hand with Kidman, Tygress at Misterio’s side. The fans are loving the Animals, giving them the loudest reaction of the night (although it doesn’t say much considering the other entrances were Blitzkrieg and Super Crazy, two relatively unknowns of WCW). The duo slap hands with the fans all around ringside, and then make their way into the ring. They taunt the crowd, and get an even louder reaction then before. Finally, all the announcing by David Penzer is finished, the bell rings, the Titles are raised, and the match starts.

It’s a four way scramble to start things off, with all four men going out at it. Paris brawls with Misterio, and Styles with Kidman. The Filthy Animals are easily the superior brawlers in this cruiserweight contest, and knock each man into the corner, where they rise up to the second turnbuckle, and simultaneously connect with 10 punches to the face of their opponents, the crowd counting each punch. Misterio and Kidman keep up the synchronized moves, this time back flipping off the second turnbuckle and landing on their feet, and then whipping their opponents right into each other! The crowd laughs a bit at the rookie team colliding heads. Paris staggers back to the ropes, only to get a clothesline from Misterio, sending Paris over the top rope to the outside. Kidman continues to give right hands to Styles, as Misterio runs off the ropes opposite of where Paris is on the outside, runs back towards the ropes near Paris, and does a running no-handed corkscrew press to Paris! Both men crash to the ground below, as AJ Styles blocks one of Kidman’s punches, fires off a couple of forearms to Kidman’s face, sees the two men on the outside, runs off the ropes nearest to him and charges towards where the two cruiserweights are on the outside, and AJ Styles dives over the top rope and connects with a flipping senton onto both Air Paris and Rey Misterio Jr.! All three men are down on the outside now, and as they start to make their way to their feet, Kidman stands at the ropes by all three men. All three men make it to their feet, and Kidman jumps up onto the ropes, springboards off the third rope, and connects with a shooting star press onto all three men, knocking everyone over!

All four men slowly get to their feet, with the Filthy Animals up first. Misterio and Kidman simultaneously hit hurricanranas to Paris and Styles, and then roll Styles into the ring, leaving Paris on the outside. Kidman rolls into the ring as well, Misterio goes to his corner on the other side of the ring, and the match gains some order for the first time. With Kidman and Styles both in the ring now and on their feet, the two cruiserweights go into a tie-up, only for Styles to get a knee into Kidman’s gut, and connect with a jawbreaker to Kidman. Kidman goes down to the canvas, Styles runs off the ropes and back towards Kidman, jumps into the air, and does a running in the air knee drop. Styles stays on top of Kidman for a cover, but only gets a two. From there, Styles gets Kidman up to his feet, and hooks him up in a front facelock. Styles goes for a vertical suplex, but Kidman is able to tie his feet around Styles’ leg, blocking the suplex attempt. Kidman fights back, nailing a knee into the abdomen of Styles, locking in his own front facelock on Styles. Kidman lifts Styles up into the air, and drops him for the suplex, only for Styles to land on his feet and drop Kidman with a hangman’s neck breaker. Styles goes for a cover, but Kidman is out before three again. Styles quickly gets Kidman to his feet, and in an effort to get the crowd going in the match again, gives Kidman a quick forearm to the face, runs and springboards off the second rope, and back flips off the rope. Styles was supposed to land over Kidman, but he didn’t jump far enough, so Kidman saves Styles and himself from pain by catching Styles on his shoulder as Styles is about to land on top of Kidman. With Styles on his shoulder, Kidman goes for a running shoulder breaker, but Styles slides down Kidman’s back, landing behind him. Styles quickly locks a waistlock in on Kidman then, and drops Kidman with a sick German suplex with a bridge. The referee sees the bridge and makes the pin count, but Misterio comes into the ring and breaks the count with a kick to the face of Styles. Both men in the ring are down briefly, but Styles is able to get up to his feet before Kidman, preventing an attempt for Kidman to tag out to Misterio. Styles pulls Kidman to his feet, lands a kick to the midsection, locks in another front facelock, jumps up and springboards of the second rope, and turns the move into a tornado DDT to Kidman! Styles strikes a quick pose for the crowd after hearing their approval of the move, trying to continue getting a positive reaction from the Atlanta crowd. Styles finally puts his focus back to the match, and hops up to the third turnbuckle quick, trying to launch one more aerial assault on Kidman before putting him away. Styles yells out ‘SSP’ to the crowd, with some of the fans being able to make out he is calling for a Shooting Styles/Star Press. Styles leaps through the air in one swift, fluent motion, actually timing the rotation and distance correctly, but he still only find canvas as Kidman is able to roll out of the way! Air Paris, who had recovered a while ago from the hurricanrana on the outside, charges into the ring from his corner at Kidman to try and stop a tag from being made, but one swift roll from Kidman is all that is needed to get to his corner and make the hot tag to Misterio!

Little Rey-Rey wastes no time in going on the offensive, as he jumps up and springboards off the third rope from the apron, and nails Paris with a missile dropkick! Misterio rolls to his feet on impact after hitting the move, and connects with a dropkick to AJ Styles, who had gotten to his feet. Misterio takes on both members of Air Raid now, hitting dropkick after dropkick and clothesline after clothesline to Paris and Styles, trying to keep on the offensive by himself as Kidman recovers in the corner. Misterio continues to take it to both members of Air Raid, but Paris is eventually able to clip the knee of Misterio after he landed a dropkick to the face of Styles. Both members of Air Raid hit a sledge to the back of Misterio, and set him up for the Air Raid Crash. Before they can pull off the move though, Kidman gets back into the ring and attacks Pairs and Styles. He knocks Styles down with a right hand, clotheslines Paris over the top rope to the outside of the ring, and then connects with the Kid Krusher to Styles! Kidman sees Misterio up on his feet on the apron calling for the end, and Kidman makes sure Paris won’t be able to get back into the ring, as Kidman leaps in between the second and third ropes with a suicide dive, smacking Paris right in the chest. As said, Misterio is on the apron calling for the end as Styles slowly starts getting up to his feet. When Styles is almost to his feet, Misterio jumps into the air, springboards off the third rope, and connects with a hurricanrana, going right into a pin (West Coast Pop) on Styles.

One!

Two!

Three!

Schiavone: Filthy Animals win!

Hudson: Rey Misterio Jr. is able to pick up the win for his team after hitting his West Coast Pop onto AJ Styles, meaning the Filthy Animals retain the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship.

Tenay: The Filthy Animals are definitely a force to be reckoned with in not just the cruiserweight tag team division, but all of WCW’s tag team division, and they certainly showed us why here tonight as they pick up the win over Air Raid.

Hudson: You’re completely right there Professor, I couldn’t agree more. But ladies and gentleman, business is going to keep picking up because next, our double champion, Booker T, will defend one of his two titles, the United States Championship, against Chris Kanyon!

Winners: Filthy Animals to retain at 10:08 (76, 63, 89)

Match Three

Booker T © vs. Chris Kanyon

WCW United States Championship

Chris Kanyon is out first, getting his usual heel heat from the crowd. Kanyon acts like he is going to slap hands with the fans but pulls his hands away at the last second, leading to Kanyon insulting the fans. As Kanyon gets onto the stairs, he yells out ‘Who Betta Than Kanyon?’, to which the crowd replies ‘Everybody!’. Kanyon makes a motion to say ‘F You’, drawing him more heel heat. Finally, the music of Booker T hits, sending the crowd into a frenzy as the reigning World and United States Champion makes his way down the ramp. Booker does his usual routine, doing his main taunt on the entrance way while his pyro goes off, and then again in the ring. Booker taunts some more for the crowd as the fans continue to cheer him on, but his taunts are cut short as the match abruptly begins as Kanyon attacks Booker T from behind with a running clothesline to the back of Booker T’s head! Referee Nick Patrick quickly orders for the bell to be rung, and he grabs the belts and hands them to a stage hand. As Patrick is doing so, Kanyon removes something from his hand and tosses it to the outside; brass knuckles! Kanyon hit Booker with brass knucks!

Booker T drops like a ton of bricks from the clothesline, and Kanyon quickly goes to work on Booker T, laying into Booker with repeated stomps to the back of Booker’s head. Kanyon doesn’t stomp with the stomps, going on for almost a full minute! Referee Charles Robinson finally makes Kanyon stop the assault, forcing Kanyon to back away. Kanyon does so, only to quickly charge back at Booker T and hit a knee drop to the back of Booker T’s head. Kanyon still doesn’t waste any time, rolling Booker outside of the ring to the floor, with Kanyon joining him as well on the outside. From there, Kanyon whips Booker into the steel ring steps, with Booker going shoulder first into the steps. Kanyon still doesn’t stop the assault at all, as he quickly grabs Booker to his feet, slams Booker’s face off the steps, and then whipping Booker into the steel barricade, Booker’s back this time meeting the steel. Kanyon still doesn’t stop, as he starts laying into Booker with closed-fisted punches to the unprotected skull of Booker. Kanyon keeps attacking Booker with the closed-fisted punches to the forehead, not stopping until Booker T collapses to the floor from the assault. Booker collapses, landing on his stomach, and when Kanyon drags him to his feet, blood is flowing from Booker’s forehead. As the camera catches the blood of Booker, we get a split screen, one showing the wrestling, the other backstage watching Jeff Jarrett watching the match. He is smiling, saying to himself that his plan is working. With Booker T now bleeding from the head, Kanyon tires to end the attack with more final blow, as he drills Booker T with a Flatliner on the outside! Kanyon rolls Booker T into the ring quickly, and makes a cover:

One!

Two!

Three!

NO! Booker T got a shoulder up at about two and ninety-nine hundredths! Nick Patrick’s hand had to be maybe two to four centimeters away from the canvas! The camera again goes to a split screen, each screen showing the disbelief on Kanyon’s and Jarrett’s face. Kanyon quickly goes into another cover then after the disbelief fades away, but Booker T kicks out again! Kanyon is off of Booker quickly, and then back on top of him with another cover, this time hooking both of Booker’s legs, only for Booker to get a shoulder up for the third time! Again, Kanyon can’t believe it, and neither can Jarrett who is screaming ‘he can’t believe that trash didn’t lose’ as we go to another split screen. The furious Kanyon finally realizes that Booker won’t be pinned just yet, and he gets the bleeding Booker T to his feet. Kanyon tosses another closed-fisted right hand at Booker, which connects, and then sets him up for another Flatliner. Kanyon goes for the Flatliner, but Booker, in all kinds of desperation, nails Kanyon with a kick down low! Kanyon staggers backwards, and Booker T uses what remaining energy he has left to hit Kanyon with the Book End! Both men are down, and Patrick starts a ten count. Patrick would get up to nine before both men are back on their feet, ready to go again.

The two men slowly start exchanging right hands, as Booker T is practically exhausted from the cheap beating he took from Kanyon. Kanyon gets a thumb to the eye of Booker to gain the upper hand, and starts tossing more and more right hands at Booker’s head, going for that open wound. As Booker T is on the verge of collapsing from the assault, he is able to get his left arm up and block Kanyon’s punch, firing off his own right hand in return. Booker starts making a comeback, firing off right hand after right hand, finally sending Kanyon down to the canvas then after a Harlem Sidekick! Booker goes into a cover, but Kanyon gets a shoulder up at two. Kanyon makes it up to his feet on his own, and charges Booker T. Booker sidesteps Kanyon, letting Kanyon run chest first into the corner. Booker keeps on the offensive, hitting a quick back suplex on Kanyon. Booker T calls for the end, signaling for the Harlem Axe Kick. Booker bounces off the ropes, goes for the Axe Kick, but Kanyon evades it. Kanyon lands a quick kick in the gut, sets Booker up for the Flatliner, but Booker fights it off, nailing an elbow to the side of the head. Kanyon back offs, and charges Booker with a clothesline. Booker ducks the clothesline, and out of nowhere, hits Kanyon with the Book End! Booker makes a cover:

One!

Two!

Three!

Schiavone: Do you believe in miracles! Booker T fights the odds, and wins!

Tenay: You got that right Tony, as Booker T, before the match even started, got punched in the back of the head from Chris Kanyon and a pair of brass knuckles. From there, Booker was completely assaulted by Kanyon, and bloodied from those assaults.

Hudson: But Booker T fought back, hitting two Book End’s to Kanyon, and getting the win to retain his United States Championship. But the question is, does Booker T have enough gas left in him to go out and beat Jeff Jarrett to retain his WCW World Heavyweight Championship in the main event?

Schiavone: If I know Booker T, he’ll be able to get the job done, as long as Jeff Jarrett fights by the rules!

Tenay: Which you can’t expect to happen with it being Jeff Jarrett. But now, we have to turn our attention back to the ring because ladies and gentleman, up next, you will witness the return of Ultimo Dragon, as he goes one on one against another Japanese star Yoshihiro Tajiri!

Winner: Booker T to retain at 8:56 (87, 84, 90)

Match Five

Ultimo Dragon vs. Yoshihiro Tajiri

Battle from the Far East

Yoshiro Tajiri comes out to the ring first to his style of Japanese music, sporting black karate pants and belt, with a Japanese flag on the left side of his pants, ‘Tajiri’ on the right side. Tajiri wastes no time getting into the ring, knowing not many people in attendance will know of him. Next, the somewhat familiar music of Ultimo Dragon hits, and Ultimo walks down the WCW ramp once again, getting a respectable amount of cheers from the crowd. Many know that Ultimo has been through a lot, having painful elbow surgery, with the doctors even botching the surgery. Ultimo considered retiring, but after checking with another doctor, he was told he was good to go after some rest and physical therapy. Ultimo gets into the ring, sporting his silver mask and chest piece, silver tights, and black boots. With the two men in the ring, the match begins.

The two Japanese warriors shake hands as a sign of respect to start off, before engaging in a collar and elbow tie-up. They jockey for position, and Ultimo makes the first move, sliding behind Tajiri and locking in a hammerlock. Tajiri tries to fire off elbows to the side of Ultimo’s face with his free arm, but Ultimo flicks his head off to the side, each time avoiding Tajiri’s elbow. Tajiri tries to counter into his own hammerlock, but again, to no avail. Dragon finally releases the hold, shoving Tajiri into the ropes. Dragon leap frogs a charging Tajiri, and then hits the canvas as Tajiri charges again at him after bouncing off the other ropes. Tajiri charges again at Ultimo after bouncing off the ropes, only to receive a quick hip toss from Ultimo. Tajiri is up quickly and charges again, only to receive five Japanese arm drags. Ultimo goes for an early cover after the fifth Japanese arm drag, but it’s only a two count. Both men are back on their feet almost instantly, with Tajiri firing off a stiff kick to the left hamstring of Ultimo. Tajiri lands another kick, and then another, only for Ultimo to block the next kick, and land a vicious open palm slap to Tajiri’s chest. A battle of open palm slaps begins, with each man delivering one after another, trying to hit harder than his foe each time. Ultimo starts to get the advantage, only for Tajiri to quickly end that battle by landing a dropkick to Ultimo’s chest, knocking him back into the turnbuckles. From there, Tajiri fires off a round of kicks to Ultimo, going for any part of Ultimo’s body that isn’t covered up. The referee forces Tajiri to back out of the corner, which Tajiri eventually obliges to. Ultimo walks out of the corner, and we’re back to page one again.

The two tie-up again, with Tajiri this time sliding in a hammerlock on Ultimo. Dragon counters into a waistlock, but Tajiri is back with another hammerlock. Dragon reverses into his own hammerlock, Tajiri countering into a hammerlock, Dragon countering back into a waistlock, and then sliding down Tajiri’s body to his feet, pulling Tajiri’s feet out from under him, sending him crashing to the canvas chest first. Dragon quickly locks in a modified armbar, but Tajiri backward somersaults, with the momentum breaking the hold. Tajiri lands on his knees from the reverse somersault, and his position is great for Ultimo Dragon, who quickly charges at Tajiri and plants him with a shining wizard! Dragon with a roll up afterwards, but Tajiri is able to shove Ultimo off him before the three count. An angry Tajiri gets to his feet and charges Ultimo, only for Ultimo to jump high off his feet, plant himself on Tajiri’s shoulders, and execute an amazing snap hurricanrana, with Dragon going back in between Tajiri’s legs, right into a cover… but Tajiri is able to again shove Dragon off before the three count. Once again, Tajiri gets to his feet and storms Dragon. This time Dragon simply sidesteps Tajiri, who runs right into the corner chest first. Tajiri stumbles backwards, and gets dropkicked right into the small of the back by Dragon, with the force of impact sending Tajiri crashing through the second and third rope to the outside of the ring. Tajiri is knocked down from the fall, and he his starts getting to his feet, Dragon runs off the opposite ropes of Tajiri, charges back towards Tajiri, slides, and drills Tajiri with a baseball slide. Tajiri is knocked backwards, and Dragon slides to the apron from the move. Dragon quickly is up to his feet, springboards off the second rope, and performs a beautiful Asai Moonsault to the standing Tajiri, knocking both men down on the outside!

The crowd voices their approval of the Asai Moonsault, and Dragon tries to keep their cheers going, as he pulls Tajiri up to his feet and goes to whip him into the steel steps. This doesn’t happen however, as Tajiri is able to muster out some energy and reverse the whip, sending Dragon crashing (right) shoulder first into the steps. The steps rattle, but no harm done to them, only Ultimo. Tajiri takes a moment to catch his breath, needing to recover from the beat down he received earlier in the match at the hands of Ultimo. Refreshed, Tajiri makes his way over to Ultimo, plants a few kicks to the side of Dragon’s upper ribcage, and then whips Ultimo into the side of the ring, Dragon’s lower back slamming into the ring. Dragon’s chest sticking out, open to attack, is quickly assaulted with a barrage of knife edge chops from Tajiri, as well as a few right hands, and then lastly, a spinning heel kick. Dragon’s chest a bit redder, is shoved into the ring by Tajiri. Dragon is down chest first, leaving him open to stomps from Tajiri in the upper back and back of the head.

Tajiri continues to work over Dragon with stomps, until deciding to drag Ultimo to his feet. Tajiri locked in a front facelock, and connected with a snap suplex to Dragon. Tajiri spins his body over and picks Dragon up again, and hits a second snap suplex. Tajiri repeats the process, hitting a third snap suplex. Tajiri does the process again and hits a snap suplex, and then the fifth time, drops Ultimo right on his head with a brainbuster! Tajiri floats over into a cover, but Ultimo pops his right shoulder off the canvas right before the three. Tajiri decides to keep Ultimo grounded this time, applying an armbar to the previously injured arm of Ultimo. Tajiri wrenches down on the hold, causing Ultimo to scream in agony, by he won’t quit. Ultimo tries to get to the ropes nearest him, but Tajiri is able to pull himself and Ultimo further away from the ropes. Dragon tries to get to the ropes again, but it is to no avail, Tajiri lands a kick square in the forehead to keep Dragon down. As all hope is start to get lost for Dragon, he pulls a page out of Tajiri’s book from earlier in the match, doing a backwards somersault to try and use the momentum to break the hold. Dragon starts to somersault, but Tajiri grapevines Dragon’s leg nearest to Tajiri, catching Dragon’s shoulders down in an incredible but awkward pinning position, but Dragon simply does a sit up to break the pin. Tajiri though still has the armbar locked in, and now has Dragon’s leg grapevined, preventing Ultimo from going anywhere. But then, in a great display of athleticism, Ultimo cartwheels over Tajiri with one hand and leg, followed by a reverse sideways somersault to break the armbar and grapevine! Dragon quickly nips up to his feet, charges Tajiri, wraps his legs around Tajiri’s neck and tilt-a-whirls around Tajiri’s body for a head scissors, but Tajiri reverses the move right into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker! The back of Ultimo’s neck snaps right off of Tajiri’s knee, and Ultimo is quick to grasp his neck in pain. Tajiri, quick to see the pain, foregoes a pin attempt, and drops a knee to the back of Ultimo’s neck. Tajiri continues this new strategy, dropping his knee onto the back of Ultimo’s next another five times, before finally going a cover, only getting a two count on the cover. Tajiri is starting to get furious at his inability to put Ultimo Dragon away, calls for the end of the match, lining up Ultimo Dragon for his Kick of Death as Ultimo struggles to get to his knees. Ultimo finally does and Tajiri swings his right leg at Ultimo’s head. Tajiri is about to make contact, but Ultimo leans his upper body backwards, pulling off an insane matrix style move as Tajiri’s leg hits nothing but air where Dragon’s face was a mere moments ago. Dragon lifts his upper body up, and Tajiri takes a swing again, but Dragon places his arms back behind his head on the ground, and using his arm strength and a push off from the canvas with his arms, flips his legs backwards over his body, with Tajiri’s leg find nothing but air again. Ultimo nips up again charges Tajiri, ducks a clothesline, jumps up, wraps his arms around the arm Tajiri just use to attempt to clothesline Ultimo with and his legs around Tajiri’s other arm, and then falling backwards into a crucifix pin, but Tajiri shoves Dragon off him right before the three count. Angered at the fact that Ultimo is starting to gain momentum, Tajiri blindly charges at Ultimo, who easily sidesteps Tajiri while wrapping his arms at Tajiri’s waist and turns it into a waistlock, and then crushes Tajiri with a German Suplex. Ultimo bridges the move into a pin fall, but Tajiri lifts his shoulder up right before the three count again.

Both men are slower to get up to their feet, the punishment they have taken starting to take control of their stamina. Ultimo is up first, and drags Tajiri to his feet the rest of the way. Dragon delivers forearms to the face of Tajiri, whips him into the ropes, flips Tajiri with a back body drop, but Tajiri lands on his feet, grabs Ultimo’s neck, and plants him down with a neck breaker onto the already hurt neck of Ultimo. Tajiri floats into a cover:

One!

Two!

Three-

Kick Out by Ultimo Dragon! Ultimo is able to get a shoulder up just barely, but he quickly grabs at his neck again after he kicks out of the pin. Tajiri again calls for the end, sizing Dragon up for the Kick of Death. Dragon slowly gets to his knees, but as Tajiri tries to plant a kick to Ultimo’s head, Ultimo dives at Tajiri, his head crashing into the stomach of Tajiri. Tajiri bends over and gasps for air, giving Ultimo the opportunity to wrap his arm around the front of Tajiri’s head, flip backwards, and plants Tajiri with the Asai DDT! Dragon falls into a cover:

One!

Two!

Three!

Tenay: What a win for Ultimo Dragon! Ultimo Dragon, a man who has been through so much lately, making a huge comeback from a serious arm injury that could have ended his career. But no, Ultimo fought back, and made his way back to WCW right here at Spring Stampede!

Hudson: What a win it was for Ultimo, Professor, but both these men gave it everything they had, and just put on a wrestling clinic here in this match up. Remember ladies and gentleman at home, you can only find this kind of wrestling action right here in World Championship Wrestling!

Schiavone: And to find out more about WCW and when we will make our return to television, go and visit WCW.com, where you can learn about all of your favorite World Championship Wrestling superstars!

Winner: Ultimo Dragon at 17:19 (71, 72, 91)

As the camera continues to focus on the three man announce team, we hear a huge “WOOO!” play over the PA, and the music of the legendary Ric Flair hits, with the ‘Nature Boy’ himself strutting out on the entrance stage, dressed in a pink dress shirt and black slacks, the fans screaming for Flair. Many members of the crowd are bowing down to Flair, other are yelling out “WOOO”, and others are just chanting “Flair” over and over again. Flair has an eye-to-eye grin on his face, soaking in all the love the Atlanta crowd is giving him in Phillips Arena. Flair walks down the ramp, slapping hands with as many fans as he can. Flair then circles the ring on the outside, slapping hands with all the fans in the front row sections around the ring. Flair finally gets into the ring, and immediately starts doing the ever famous Flair strut. Flair is strutting and yelling out “WOOO” like there is no tomorrow, as the fans are still cheering him on. Flair finally stops, take a nice deep breath, and grabs a microphone from a stage hand. Flair brings the mic up to his mouth to speak, but is incapable of doing so as the crowd are still cheering him on. After some effort from Flair, the crowd is able to calm themselves, giving Flair the brief opportunity to speak.

Ric Flair: WOOO!

Flair cracks a smile right away after yelling out his signature phrase, and the crowd once again erupts into cheers. Flair breaks into a laugh from the crowd’s reactions. The man is truly having the time of his life at there in front of the fans.

Flair: Atlanta, Georgia, you are all witnessing the return of World Championship Wrestling; WOOO!

The cheap pop(s) once again earn more cheers for Flair, and another “Flair” chant breaks out. It dies rather quickly though once they see Flair bring the mic to his mouth once again to speak.

Flair: Now, I don’t know if all you fans here in Atlanta heard the rumors about WCW, so let the Nature Boy fill you in. You see, World Championship Wrestling was once upon a time, a part of the National Wrestling Alliance. The promotion that had legends like Ric Flair, Sting, Arn Anderson, Magnum T.A., Harley Race, Lou Thesz, Ricky Steamboat, Buddy Rogers, and Dusty Rhodes. The legends are of this industry came from the NWA. But anyways, WCW evolved from NWA after Jim Crockett Promotions was bought by Ted Turner. WCW finally once to the top of the wrestling industry, and remained on top of it for over a year, but then, WCW fell. WCW fell down hard and fast, almost to the point of extinction. You all probably heard those rumors, Ted Turner was selling World Championship Wrestling. Billionaire Ted didn’t want to waste his money on a product like WCW anymore. Ted realized what WCW had become. He realized that guys like Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Roddy Piper, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Vince Russo, and so many other guys who played politics in the back were killing WCW. And that is what they did. Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Randy Savage, Roddy Piper, guys like you killed WCW. Men who cared only about themselves, wanting more money and more title shots, men who held down others, men who should have been caring about the well being of this company, but instead, cared only about themselves.

Flair takes a pause, letting his words soak into the minds of the audience.

Flair: So naturally, Turner wanted out. Word got around, and it looked like WCW was dying. Everyone wanted WCW. WCW was a company full of tradition and once full of prestige. Hell, even Vincent Kennedy McMahon wanted World Championship Wrestling. Yes, that is right, Vince McMahon tried to buy World Championship Wrestling.

Again, Flair pauses to let his words soak into the minds of the audience.

Flair: But WCW was not sold to the devil. And you know why? Because you can’t buy tradition! You, Vince McMahon, cannot but the tradition and the legacy that goes with World Championship Wrestling! WOOO! No one who never truly cared about this company could. So guys like Hogan couldn’t. Nash and Hall couldn’t buy this tradition. The real men of this company could though. The guys who helped build World Championship Wrestling. Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Sting, Ricky Steamboat, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Rey Misterio Jr., Eddie Guerrero, Booker T… men who care about the legacy and the tradition of WCW. You hear me, you can’t buy this company’s legacy, damn it!

The crowd is silent as Flair pauses again, tears almost coming to his eyes.

Flair: But you know what? WCW will not die! We are going to keep fighting, and one day, WCW will once again be the number one promotion in the world! But this time, we’re going to stay at number one! Because there is not going to be any backstage politics! You’re going to see the best wrestlers wrestle! You’re going to see Booker T, Jeff Jarrett, Shane Helms, Sean O’Haire, Chuck Palumbo, Rey Misterio Jr., Billy Kidman… the true stars of today aren’t going to be held down anymore! So ever-

Ric Flair is interrupted by the sirens of Scott Steiner’s music, and Big Poppa Pump makes his way out to the ring, Midajah and Rick Steiner with him. The two men look pissed off and make their way down to the ring. The trio gets into the ring, with Midajah getting Steiner a microphone.

Scott Steiner: Ric Flair… The Nature Boy… The Legend of WCW… You make me sick! How can you come out here and preach greatness about WCW. How can you go on and on about how WCW is going to change, and the stars of today aren’t going to be held down? How can you act like these fans give a damn what you say?

The last question draws some huge heat for Steiner, Scott doesn’t acknowledge the boo’s he is receiving however, as he just continues to glare at Flair, his medieval-style plate hanging on his head.

Steiner: Flair, you’re despicable! You turned you’re back on me, on my brother, and all my freaks! You have turned your back on your real friends for these assholes in front of you!

More huge heat is drawn towards Steiner after the last remark being nothing but a pure attack at the fans.

Flair: Scott Steiner, WOOO! Big Poppa Pump, WOOO! Will you please, WOOO, shut the, WOOO, hell up! Scott Steiner, you can preach that I turned my back on you all you want, but in reality brother, I saw the light, WOOO! I saw that these people cared about Ric Flair! These people care about the Nature Boy! They respect what I have done, the blood I have spilled, the tears I have shed, the titles I have won; they respect everything I have ever done! And that Scott Steiner, is more that can be said from you. When did you respect what I have done Scott? I think you fail to realize this Scott, but I am a 16, WOOO, 16, WOOO, 16, WOOO, 16 time World Heavyweight Champion, WOOO! I am a legend of this sport, and I have accomplished more than anyone will ever be able to accomplish in this sport. I am Ric, WOOO, Flair, WOOO!

Steiner: You think I give a damn about what you’ve done in this sport? I don’t give two shits how many titles you won! I don’t give a damn if you won every championship there is to be won in this world Ric Flair because what it all comes down to is this: you’re washed up. You’re a has-been, Ric. You can’t compete with me, you can’t compete with Rick. You may be a legend Ric, you may be an icon of the NWA, but Ric, this isn’t the 1980’s; this is 2001! I am the best thing around now, not you! You need to realize you’re place isn’t in the wrestling ring anymore. But if you can’t realize it yourself, we’re just going to have to do it ourselves!

Flair looks confused for a split second, only to get hammered by a Scott Steiner right hand! Flair crumples like a ton of bricks, and the two Steiner Brothers lay into Ric Flair with stomps to the back and back of the head of Flair. The stomping grows stale, and the two men pull Flair to his feet. Rick Steiner bounces off the ropes and charges towards Flair, and he decks him with a Steinerline! Flair again falls like a ton of bricks, but this fall maybe being a legitimate fall as Rick’s aim was a bit off on the Steinerline, and Flair’s nose got hammered by Rick’s forearm. The Steiners and Midajah laugh at the fallen Flair, and then Scott goes over to Flair, gets him to his knees, and yells for the Steiner Recliner. As Steiner is just about to clamp the Recliner on, the lights go out in the arena. There is a few moments of pandemonium, with the announce team wondering what is going on, and the fans yelling.

When they come back on, Sting is in the ring with a baseball bat! The fans are screaming for Sting, and the Steiner Brothers notice something is up when they hear the loud screams of the fans. Rick Steiner turns around to see if something is behind him, and he gets planted with a baseball bat to the stomach, and then a shot to the back! Rick goes down, and Scott charges Sting, dropping Flair from the Recliner. Scott tosses out a clothesline, which Sting ducks, but before Steiner can turn around to face Sting, he gets hit in the back with the baseball bat! Steiner bends over in pain, and Sting arches Steiner’s back and neck backwards, and drops him with the Scorpion Death Drop! Rick Steiner charges Sting this time, now up from the shots with the baseball bat. As Rick charges Sting, Midajah is able to roll herself and Scott to the outside of the ring to safety. Rick is about to blindside Sting, but it is Ric Flair making the save for Sting, hitting Rick Steiner with a right hand! Steiner staggers sideways, and Flair whips him hard into the corner of the ring. Steiner bounces off the turnbuckles, and Sting charges him quickly and lands a Stinger Splash! Rick groggily walks forward from the Stinger Splash, and gets sent over the top rope from a Ric Flair clothesline! Midajah and Scott help Rick to his feet, and the heel trio walks off to the backstage, yelling for revenge at Sting and Flair, as the veterans in the ring embrace and celebrate with the fans.

Schiavone: Ric Flair and Sting! The two NWA Legends have aligned themselves with each other once again!

Tenay: You all saw it at the Night of Champions Nitro broadcast where Flair and Sting embraced in the middle of the ring to end the show. Well, I guess these two have put their past behind them and becomes allies here in WCW.

Hudson: Yeah, they me be united, but the actions that were displayed by Scott and Rick Steiner just now were despicable. There was no need to attack Flair in a 2 on 1 situation where Flair had done no wrong. The man was speaking his mind, and pouring out his heart to all the WCW fans. The man should be congratulated for doing so, not sneak attacked!

Schiavone: Well folks, we have to keep moving along because coming up next, it is going to be the Tag Team Titles Match, Turmoil style! The Road Warriors face off against Team Canada, and the winner will move on to face the reigning Tag Champions Sean O’Haire and Chuck Palumbo right after that. So if Team Canada or the Road Warriors are going to win the Tag Titles here, they’re going to have to save as much energy as possible because they have to beat not one, but two teams back to back! It’s up next, so let’s see how it plays out!

Angle Rating: 89%

Match Five

Road Warriors vs. Team Canada vs. Sean O’Haire & Chuck Palumbo ©

WCW Tag Team Championship

The words “Ooohhh What a RUSH” hits the PA, and the Road Warriors music plays after that, and we get the return of Animal and Hawk as the Road Warriors come out onto the stage, equipped with the LOD shoulder spikes, and trademark face paint. The Road Warriors slap hands with all the fans, and get the crowd pumped up for the Tag Title match up. The Road Warriors get into the ring, and the cheers for the Road Warriors turn into boo’s as Team Canada’s music hits and out walks ‘The Canadian Maple Leaf’ Lance Storm and ‘The Canadian Killer’ Mike Awesome. The two men ignore the fans, Storm just waving the Canadian Flag as the two men walk down the ramp. The two men get into the ring, and a brawl immediately erupts between Team Canada and the Road Warriors!

Animal and Storm exchange right hands in the middle of the ring, while Awesome and Hawk do battle in the corner. It is a total slugfest, with Animal getting the advantage over Storm and Awesome getting the advantage over Hawk. Awesome delivers punches and knees into Hawk in the corner, as the Road Warrior tried to cover up. Referee Mickey Jay quickly makes his way over into the corner to break the two men up as Animal continues to beat on Storm with right hands in the middle of the ring. Storm is finally sent down to the canvas after a clothesline from Animal, but Animal gets no time to pounce on Storm, as he is blindsided by a Mike Awesome lariat to the side of the head! Animal goes down to the canvas hard, and Awesome delivers stiff stomps to the side of Animal’s head. Lance Storm tries to make it a double team on Animal, but Referee Jay, who already got Hawk into this corner, forces Storm to go to his. The damage is already done though, as Awesome is able to start an isolation of Animal. Awesome continues to drill Animal with stiff stomps to the side of the head, but finally stops after Animal is able to roll away from him. Awesome picks up on his stiffness, and pulls Animal to his feet. Awesome hits Animal with a right hand, followed by another right hand, and then another. Animal is whipped off the ropes, and then takes a back body drop from Awesome, as Animal barely gets enough rotation on the back body drop, just barely landing on his back. Awesome drops a quick elbow, and stays on top for a pin, but it is an easy kick out for Animal. Awesome tries to keep his energy, getting Animal to his feet quickly, and making a tag to Storm. Lance Storm comes into the ring, and Awesome holds Animal, letting Storm get in an open kick to the kidneys of Animal. Animal bends over in pain, giving Storm the opportunity to execute a spinning neckbreaker. The spinning neckbreaker by Storm takes Animal down to the canvas, where Storm goes for a cover, getting a two count on Animal. Storm wastes no time after the kick out however, as he drives a knee right into the side of Animal’s face. Storm covers again, but only gets a two count. Frustrated, Storm tags out to Awesome.

Awesome makes his way into the ring, delivers a stomp to Animal to keep him grounded, and then a nails Animal with a leg drop across the throat. Awesome goes for a cover, but he can only get a two count. Awesome keeps the pressure on Animal however, as he quickly gets Animal to his feet, locks in a front facelock, and then hits a vertical suplex to Animal. Awesome makes another cover, but again can only get a two count. Awesome’s face shows his frustration, and he yells at the referee for slow counts. Storm makes comments on the ring apron that Mickie Jay needs to stop screwing over Canada and make a fair 3 count. Awesome gets into the face of Jay, who won’t tale any of Awesome’s threats. Realizing his threats are failing, Awesome turns his attention back to Animal, who has slowly started getting up to his feet. Awesome brings both hands together, only to slam them down onto Animal’s back in a double sledge. Awesome then sets up Animal for an Awesome Bomb, and calls for the ending. Awesome’s time to taunt the crowd gives Animal the split second he needs to back body drop Awesome over him, sending Awesome crashing to the canvas, and Animal the break he needed to make a tag into Hawk!

Hawk and Storm both charge into the ring as the tag is made. Storm charges Hawk, and gets knocked down by a Hawk clothesline. Storm goes down again from a Hawk right hand, and then Awesome goes down with a Hawk clothesline as he charges Hawk. Team Canada continue to take bumps all over the ring; Storm taking a clothesline, Awesome a clothesline, Storm a forearm, and Awesome a massive back body drop! Team Canada is reeling, and continues to as Storm takes a spinebuster from Hawk! Hawk is up quickly and has his attention shifted to Awesome right away, who is charging right at Hawk. Hawk has just enough reaction to time to reverse any offensive plans of Awesome as Hawk plants Awesome with a powerslam! Hawk has a cover, but Lance Storm breaks up the count with a diving head butt to Hawk! With this, Animal comes back into the ring, making a beeline for Storm. He decks Storm with a right hand, making Storm retreat into the corner. This does nothing but good for Animal, who can work over Storm in the corner with right hands. In the center of the ring, Awesome and Hawk both get up to their feet and start slugging it out. The two men exchange hands, but Awesome gets the upper hand after landing an elbow to the throat, while Animal is able to clothesline Storm over the top rope to the outside. Awesome, using the elbow to the throat to his advantage, sets Hawk up for the Awesome Bomb. Awesome’s position leaves him wide open to an Animal attack however, leaving Awesome to take a vicious clothesline from Animal! Awesome goes down, and Animal tells Hawk it is time to fly. Hawk goes to the corner of the ring and climbs up to the top rope as Animal hoists Awesome up onto his shoulders. Both men yell out ‘Doomsday Device’, and that is exactly what Mike Awesome gets; the Doomsday Device! Awesome smacks off the canvas, and Hawk dives on top of him for a cover:

One!

Two!

Three!

Team Canada is eliminated at 7:17

Referee Mickey Jay quickly rolls Mike Awesome to the outside of the ring as the music of our Tag Champs, Sean O’Haire and Chuck Palumbo, hits the PA. The two young wrestlers sprint down into the ring and take it right to the Road Warriors, tossing their Tag belts aside as soon as they get into the ring. The two tag champs hope to try and outwork the semi-tired Road Warriors as O’Haire brawls with Animal, Palumbo with Hawk. As the four men do battle in the ring, Team Canada regroup on the outside, but instead of going back to the back, they stay at ringside. Palumbo and Hawk’s battle makes it way into the corner, while O’Haire and Animal continue to fight in the middle of the ring. Palumbo ends up tackling Hawk, sending both men through the second and third ropes to the outside right by Mike Awesome and Lance Storm. Storm backs off, as Awesome gets right in the face of both men. Palumbo and Hawk both attack Awesome, and a three way brawl erupts between them, leaving Jay to go to the outside of the ring and try and break things up. As he does that, Lance Storm grabs one of the fallen Tag belts, and makes his way into the ring. Storm hits O’Haire in the back quickly with one of the title belts, and then plasters Animal right in the face with the title belt! Storm quickly slides out of the ring as Mickey Jay breaks the three men up. Storm is able to goad Hawk to chase after Team Canada however, which he does. Hawk chases both men up the entrance way to the backstage, clearing them from the ring area. But by the time Hawk turns around to see what is happening in the ring, Sean O’Haire has already gotten to his feet and ascended to the top turnbuckle. O’Haire dives off the top, and lands the Seanton Bomb right onto Animal, while Palumbo dives on top for the cover:

One!

Two!

Three!

Schiavone: That is not right! Not right at all!

Hudson: I definitely agree with you Tony Schiavone on that one. Team Canada lost to the Road Warriors fair and square, there was no need for them to get involved and just screw over Animal and Hawk! This face-off between the Road Warriors and Palumbo & O’Haire could have been a great one, but now we won’t find out as Lance Storm had to hit Animal in the head with a Title belt and then distract Hawk long enough for O’Haire to hit the Seanton Bomb on Animal to get the victory.

Tenay: Now make no mistake about it, Palumbo and O’Haire did not ask, nor did they want the help of Team Canada in this fight. They wanted to win fair and square and on their own, but Team Canada just wouldn’t let that happen.

Schiavone: One day those damn Canadian bastards will get what’s coming to them! One day!

Tenay: I think you should calm down a bit Tony, they will get their payback one day, don’t you worry. But now, we need to focus our attention to a rivalry that has been going on since January of 2001; Shane Helms and Chavo Guerrero Jr. These two men fought at Sin with Chavo coming out on top, but Shane Helms got the better of Chavo at Greed and Night of Champions, winning and retaining the Cruiserweight Title. Tonight, they will meet up again to see just who the better cruiserweight is. That match… is next!

Winners: Sean O’Haire & Chuck Palumbo to retain at 9:09 (76, 73, 79)

{Part II is below}

Edited November 6, 2005 by Szumi

[Szumi]

Match Six

Chavo Guerrero Jr. vs. Shane Helms ©

WCW Cruiserweight Championship

Some Latino music plays, sparking the entrance of Chavo Guerrero Jr. Chavo is booed by the crowd upon making his entrance on the stage, only for Chavo to make motions for them to keep jeering him. Of course the fans do, not realizing Chavo could care less of their opinion. Chavo gets into the ring after making his way down the ramp and cocking off to a few fans at ringside, when some pop music plays, and ‘Sugar’ Shane Helms comes out onto the stage, Cruiserweight Championship on his waist, Sugar Babies dancing along behind him, the fans cheering him on. Helms struts on down the aisle, dancing with his “Sugar Babies” all the while. As Helms gets to the ring, he sends the Sugar Babies back to the back, and they dance their way up the entrance ramp and to the backstage. Helms gets into the ring and strikes a quick pose for the crowd, only to get blindsided by Chavo!

Chavo sneak attacks Helms by hitting a forearm into the back of Helm’s neck, knocking Helms face first right into the turnbuckle. Chavo continues to attack Helms from behind, ramming Helms face first into the top turnbuckle repeatedly. The face smashing of Helms’ face and the turnbuckle grows tiresome for Chavo, as he drops Helms with a back suplex. Chavo goes for a quick pin right away, but it is an easy kick out for Helms. Chavo refuses to give Helms any quick recovery time, as he pounces right on top of Helms and starts pummeling away at Helms with right hands to the face. Referee Scott Dickenson starts a five count to force Chavo off of Helms, with Chavo obliging to the count at four. From there, Chavo hits a sequence of ground attack maneuvers, hitting Helms with a leg drop, elbow drop, knee drop, and running senton in quick succession. Chavo pins Helms after the sequence, but only gets a two count. Chavo glares at Dickenson, complaining of a slow count. Nevertheless, Chavo keeps on the offensive, picking up and driving Helms’ right leg into the canvas, trying to hurt Helms’ knee. Chavo repeats this move another three times, and then does it two times to Helms’ left leg. Chavo continues to wear Helms down after finishing up that quick sequence, sticking his foot on the lower back of Helms and pulling Helm’s arms backwards, locking in a surfboard stretch on Shane Helms. The stretch causes Shane to shriek in pain, but with Shane right by the ropes, he places his right leg on the bottom rope, forcing Chavo to break the hold. Chavo releases the hold quickly, and decides to throw in a cheap shot at Helms; getting a quick toe kick to the eye Helms. Shane rolls to the outside of the ring to catch a break, holding his right eye in pain from Chavo’s toe kick. With Shane not watching what Chavo is doing, Chavo takes the opportunity to dive through the second and third ropes to the outside, and ram his own body into Helms’ body with a suicide dive!

Both men fall to the ground on the padded mats, and rest there briefly after the spot. Chavo finally gets up to his feet after the suicide dive, kicks Shane in the chest, and then drags him to his feet. Chavo lights Shane up with a few quick knife edge chops, and then whips Shane into the steel barricade, with Shane’s back smacking off of the steel. Chavo keeps the pressure on Shane still, whipping him into the ring this time, with Shane’s back smacking off the side of the ring, with Chavo following up with a running spinning wheel kick, knocking Helms in the face and Chavo landing on the ring apron. Helms staggers forward from the kick, and when he turns around, he is met by Chavo Guerrero jumping off the ring apron and catching Helms with a swinging hurricanrana! Helms’ bounces off the ground, and the crowd applaud the nice spot from Chavo. Chavo isn’t finished yet though on the outside, as he pulls Helms to his feet, and whips Helms right into the ring post! Helms’ face and chest smashes off the steel post, with Chavo laughing at the fallen body of Shane Helms. Finally, Chavo rolls Shane back into the ring, where he covers him for a two count. Chavo gets into the face of Dickenson, trying to threaten him to count faster. Not wanting to get into a physical war over the situation with Dickenson, Chavo drops down to the canvas and covers Helms again, but only for another two count. Chavo’s face is filled with evil as he glares at Dickenson, upset at the “slow” count. Chavo gets up and he’s right into Dickenson’s face again, this time backing him all the way into the corner. Chavo threatens Dickenson repeatedly, but as Chavo is focusing his attention to Dickenson, Helms has gotten to his feet. Helms, seeing an opportunity for some offense, runs and charges Chavo, planting him with a dropkick into the back, knocking Chavo into the corner and into Dickenson, taking him out of commission! Chavo staggers backwards from the referee bump, and Shane Helms quickly nails Chavo with a Vertebreaker!

Chavo is out like a light from the Vertebreaker, and Helms makes a cover, but only the fans count the three, as Dickenson is down from Chavo knocking into him. Shane’s face shows his frustration, incredibly unhappy and upset that the match isn’t over after the Vertebreaker because he dropkicked Chavo into the referee. Helms rests briefly, and then gets to his feet as Chavo does the same. Both men up on their feet now, and the two cruiserweights start duking it out, tossing right hands at each other. Chavo soon goes down low with a quick kick to the mid-section as Helms starts getting an advantage. Helms is whipped into the ropes by Chavo, only for Helms to hit a tilt-a-whirl head scissors onto Chavo! Chavo bounces off the canvas and rolls out of the ring to get away from the fired-up Shane Helms. Going to the outside won’t protect Chavo, as Shane runs and jumps over the top rope and performs a no-handed plancha to the outside right onto Chavo! Shane nips right up to his feet after the plancha, and pulls Chavo right to his feet. Shane spears Chavo into the steel barricade, and lays into him with right hands to the forehead. Chavo does his best to cover up, but Shane keeps on hitting Chavo. Finally, Shane backs off, only to charge right back at Chavo and hit a jumping knee right into the face of Chavo! Chavo falls forward down to the ground, as the crowd cheers Helms on. Shane runs towards Chavo again and hits a flipping senton right onto the back of Chavo! Shane rolls right to his feet from the senton, and then connects with a clothesline to Chavo as soon as he got to his feet. Shane finally gets the match back into the ring as he rolls Chavo into the ring. From there, Shane climbs up to the top turnbuckle, preparing to launch an aerial attack on Chavo. Shane comes off the top rope with a double axe handle, but Chavo nails a kick down low to Shane while in mid-air! Shane lands on his feet holding himself, only for Chavo to slip behind Shane and nails him with a Gory Bomb right as Scott Dickenson starts to come too. Chavo quickly makes a pin cover, and Dickenson makes the count:

One!

Two!

Kick Out! Helms kicks out! The crowd is cheering hard for Helms after he surprisingly kicks out of the Gory Bomb, and Chavo can’t believe he didn’t win the match and the title after the Gory Bomb either. Chavo runs his hands over his face, still completely shocked at the resiliency of Shane Helms. After a brief rest period for both men (Chavo throwing a temp tantrum), they are back on their feet, ready to do battle again. The two men go back to page one, going into a tie-up. The two men fight for position, trying to over power the other, but to no avail. They break the tie-up after nothing happens from it. Instead of going into another tie-up, Chavo charges Shane quickly, trying to catch him off guard. It doesn’t however, as Shane quickly takes Chavo down with a drop toe hold. Chavo smacks off the canvas, but gets up quickly and charges Helms again, only to receive a back body drop from Helms! Chavo charges again, but is knocked down by a clothesline. The same thing happens again, but Chavo is taken down by a dropkick instead of a clothesline. Chavo gets to his feet a lot slower this time, groggy from the assault on him by Shane. Shane Helms quickly tries to end the match, locking Chavo in for the Vertebreaker. Chavo is able to reverse it into a Vertebreaker of his own though by flinging his body weight backwards, flipping Helms backwards, with Chavo landing on his feet, with Helms now already set to be hit with a Vertebreaker. Chavo is just about to nail Helms with a Vertebreaker, but Helms reverses by doing the exact same thing Chavo did; throwing his weight backwards, causing him and Chavo to flip backwards, with Helms landing in the position to give Chavo a Vertebreaker! This time, this is no reversing, and Helms plants Chavo with the Vertebreaker! Chavo makes a cover:

One!

Two!

Three!

Schiavone: What a match! “Sugar” Shane Helms refused to quit against Chavo Guerrero Jr., and hit the Vertebreaker for the victory after both men gave it their all.

Hudson: You’re right Tony, both men came out to wrestle here tonight, but Shane Helms over came the odds. He fought back from all of Chavo’s dirty little tricks, and reversed Chavo’s Vertebreaker attempt after Chavo did the same thing to him in an amazing display of wrestling!

Tenay: Ladies and gentleman, you all just witnessed a phenomenal match up from these two individuals, and in my eyes, has beat out all their other matches. Their matches at Sin, Greed, and Night of Champions all were great matches, but this one truly takes the cake.

Winner: Shane Helms to retain at 15:19 (81, 63, 99)

As the announcing trio continues to hype Shane Helms and the Cruiserweight Title match, the music of Eric Bischoff plays! ‘Easy E’ walks out onto the stage, receiving a mixed reaction from the fans. Bischoff goes no further than the stage, as he tries to quite the crowd, microphone in hand.

Eric Bischoff: Take a good look at this face Atlanta because it is the face who saved World Championship Wrestling!

Again, more mixture of boos and cheers for Eric Bischoff. They like the fact that WCW is still alive, but dislike his cockiness and arrogance of stating it is all because of him.

Bischoff: Now, I know in the past, I have not been the greatest guy to many of the wrestlers backstage, the announcers here at ringside, the staff of WCW, the product of WCW as a whole, and to you, the fans. And for that, I apologize.

Still, a mixture of boos and cheers from the crowd. They like the fact that Bischoff can admit him basically being a complete and total asshole and apologizing for it, but dislike the bad memories that show up in their minds because of him screwing around with other people’s lives.

Bischoff: That was the Eric Bischoff of old, and this is the Eric Bischoff of new! I am still one cocky bastard, and I am still an arrogant son of a bitch, but that doesn’t mean I am going to screw over everyone in WCW this time around! I realize that I am a major reason why WCW almost went bankrupt and was sold to the biggest egotistical, steroid abusing, no good son of a bitch named Vince McMahon! I admit to that!

A huge amount of cheers erupt at the shoot comments at Vince McMahon, and a huge “Vince Sucks” chant breaks out. Bischoff cracks a smile and urges the fans to keep shouting the chant. The fans do keep shouting the chant, but finally, the chant dies down and Bischoff speaks again.

Bischoff: I realized that I am nothing without WCW. WCW is the company that made me famous! WCW is the company that made me a household name! WCW is the company that I took to greatness! WCW… is my home! And this time, I’m not going to just let anyone enter my house! I’m not going to let just anyone do what they want, take what they want, steal what they want, in my house! Guys like Dusty Rhodes, guys like Roddy Piper, guys like Sid Vicious, Randy Savage, Shane Douglas, Vince Russo, anyone! WCW isn’t some random community lot anymore that anyone can step onto, oh no! WCW is my home damn it, and I’m going to control my own home!

More cheers for Bischoff, as he is starting to sound more and more like a good boss who has the best interest of his company on his mind.

Bischoff: So everyone all around the world, if you’re a WCW fan, listen up. World Championship Wrestling is not dying any time soon! World Championship Wrestling is back, and we’re better than ever! Because long gone are the days of backstage politics! Long gone are the days of men weaseling their way into championship matches! Long gone are the days of the young guys getting held down by the old veterans! This is the NEW World Championship Wrestling! The company that is going to put on the best wrestling matches all around the world! The company that is going to entertain you, the fans! The company that is going to once again become the number one promotion in the world!

More cheers from the fans as Bischoff continues to fire them up with his statements about a new WCW.

Bischoff: And Vince McMahon, I watched your little Monday Night RAW on TNN in the past month, and I have heard the shots you threw at WCW. I heard you criticize and insult me on live television. You claim how you were going to buy World Championship Wrestling, but you decided to let the lame duck live and watch it fail to survive and succeed in the pond. Well Vince, WCW is no longer a lame duck! Because Vince, the next time you see this face, it will be on your old television network, USA! Because ladies and gentleman, it is official, Monday Night Nitro will once again be on TV! Tune in at 8 PM Eastern Standard Time on the USA Network, the FORMER home of Monday Night RAW, starting Monday, May 7! Vince, see ya on USA!

And with that, Eric Bischoff drops the microphone to the ground, and walks off backstage as his music plays, the fans erupting into cheers.

Schiavone: Oh My God! Are you kidding me!? Monday Night Nitro will return to live television starting Monday, May 7, on the USA Network!

Tenay: You better believe ladies and gentleman! Monday Night Nitro, the greatest wrestling show ever, will be airing on the USA Network! Vince McMahon, WCW will not die, and the television network that didn’t want you anymore knows we’re not going to die too!

Hudson: Professor, Tony, I’m speechless. I have no idea what to say right now, with the exception of you can see World Championship Wrestling on the USA Network starting Monday, May 7, from 8 to 10 PM, Eastern Standard Time!

Tenay: Well Scott, Tony, as much as I would just love to sit here and continue to talk about the bombshell Eric Bischoff just dropped on us, it is time for your main event! Jeff Jarrett challenges Booker T for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship!

Angle Rating: 87%

Main Event

Booker T © vs. Jeff Jarrett

WCW World Heavyweight Championship

Jeff Jarrett’s music hits first, and the “Chosen One” comes out onto the stage, wielding his guitar while the crowd boos at him. Jarrett raises his arms up into the air while pyro goes off for him, only to draw more boos from the crowd. Jarrett then struts down the ramp and into the ring, where he does his little strut and raises his arms up in the air again, drawing more jeers from the crowd. The crowd explodes into a one loud cheer though as the music of Booker T hits! Booker comes out with his forehead bandaged from the assault he received earlier in the night from Kanyon, some dried blood still on his face. The double champion does his signature taunt on the stage while his pyro goes off, and then walks down the ramp, staring Jarrett down all the while. Booker gets into the ring, gets right into Jarrett’s face, and raises the World Heavyweight Championship belt in the air, telling Jarrett who the champion is. As the two men look ready to go out at, Senior Referee Randy Anderson breaks the two apart as David Penzer comes into the ring for the introductions.

David Penzer: The following contest is the main event! This match up is scheduled for one fall, and is for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship! First, the challenger; from Nashville, Tennessee, weighing in at 230 pounds, Jeff Jarrett! And now, the champion; from Harlem, New York, weighing in at 250 pounds, Booker T!

The bell rings as Penzer leaves the ring, and this match is on! Booker and Jarrett slowly circle each other to start the match, letting the crowd continue to chant for Booker T. The two slowly engage into a crisp collar and elbow tie-up. The two jockey for position, and Jarrett makes the first move of the match, locking in a hammerlock. Jarrett wrenches on the lock, but Booker T uses his free arm to snapmare Jarrett over him! Jarrett is up quickly and charges Booker, only for Booker to knock Jarrett down with a forearm! Jarrett again quickly gets to his feet, but Booker is right on Jarrett with right hands. Booker fires off right hand after right hand, not stopping until Jarrett is knocked all the way back into the corner. Booker nails a couple kicks into the midsection of Jarrett, and ascends to the second ropes, and starts punching Jarrett in the head, the fans counting the punches. Booker gets up to nine, and then instead of hitting him again, he hops down onto the canvas, does a 360 degree spin, and then decks Jarrett with a hard right into the jaw, that sends Jarrett up and over the top rope to the outside of the ring! The crowd continues to chant Booker on, and he tells them to make some more noise before getting out onto the apron. Jarrett makes his way to his feet, only to get nailed with a double axe handle off the apron by Booker! Booker stomps down on Jarrett right away, not wanting to give him anytime to rest or recover. Booker finally gets Jarrett to his feet after the stomping grows stale, and lifts him up for a back suplex. Instead of dropping Jarrett on his back on the ground, he drops Jarrett spread eagle onto the steel barricade! Jarrett sells the pain to his private region, only to get knocked into the crowd by a Booker T clothesline!

The fans in the first few rows stand to their feet and are backed away from the action by security, giving Booker some more space to beat on Jarrett. Booker slams Jarrett’s head off one of the chairs, rams him into the barricade back first, and then gets him to his feet only to knock him back down with a right hand! Jarrett tries to crawl away from Booker, crawling deeper into the crowd. Booker stomps on Jarrett’s upper back, and pulls him to his feet by his hair. Booker tosses another right hand to Jarrett, and Jarrett stagers backwards deeper into the crowd. Booker continues to toss right hands at Jarrett, bringing the two men deeper and deeper into the crowd. The two finally get to the end of the first section of fans, and arrive at some stairs to go to the next level of the Phillips Arena. Booker whips Jarrett into the wall by the stairs, and then whips Jarrett into the rail on the steps! Again Jarrett tries to flee, climbing up the steps, into the next section of fans! Booker still isn’t finished assault Jarrett, as he knocks Jarrett in the face with another right hand, and this time Jarrett almost brakes out into a run to get away from Booker. The process still continues of Booker punching Jarrett and Jarrett fleeing, with the two men soon getting in the halls of the Phillips Arena!

Booker knocks Jarrett down with another right hand, as the fans that were getting merchandise or food start to surround the two combatants. Security makes some of the fans break away, giving the two wrestlers some space to perform and go in another direction. The space security just made is soon occupied though, as Jarrett is whipped through the space and into a concrete wall! Booker then rams Jarrett’s face off of the merchandise counter next to the wall, and grabs one of the Jeff Jarrett T-shirts and chokes Jarrett with it! Booker released the choke after Anderson forces him to (who I guess must have forgot what a count out is). Jarrett has had enough, and runs away from Booker, rushing down to the nearest entrance to the ring. Jarrett gets into where the fans are, and tries to run down to the ring, but he is cut off by the fans, giving time for Booker T to catch up and nail Jarrett with a forearm to the back of the head! The unplanned spot goes over well with the crowd, and Booker and Jarrett continue to make their way down to the ring now, as Booker drags Jarrett down to the ring. The two men finally get down to the lower level of fans, where Booker gives Jarrett a suplex on the concrete floor! Booker stops to fire the crowd up even more, and slap hands with some of them as Jarrett gets to his feet. Booker returns his focus to Jarrett, but he does it a little too late as Jarrett nails Booker with a low blow!

The desperation move by Jarrett works, and Jarrett is able to toss Booker back over the steel barricade and into the ringside area. Jarrett hops over the barricade as the boos him on, only for Jarrett to give them the taunt signifying “Up Yours”. Jarrett kicks Booker hard in the ribs as he attempted to get to his feet, and then another stiff kick to the ribs! Jarrett taunts, leading to the crowd booing him more. Jarrett tell them to shut up, but when they don’t, Jarrett just gets Booker to his feet instead. Looking to hurt the crowd’s champion, Jarrett whips Booker hard right into the steel barricade, letting Booker’s back ram into the steel. Jarrett looks to do even more damage though, as he rips off the bandage covering Booker’s wound on his forehead, and nails a stiff punch into the wound! Jarrett delivers three more right hands to the wound of Booker, and then whips Booker into the ring post! Booker’s face smashes off the ring post, and the wound has been re-opened! Jarrett laughs at the fallen Booker T, spotting the blood dripping onto the ground. The fans spot the blood too, and immediately start to boo Jarrett more than before. Jarrett shrugs off the crowd’s jeers, and picks Booker up to his feet. Jarrett tosses a right hand, and then whips Booker into the stairs! Booker goes knees first into the stairs, almost knocking the stairs completely over with the force of impact! Jarrett laughs more at Booker T, calling him despicable as well, only to continue the assault on him by ramming his head into the steel stairs! Randy Anderson has seen enough of this assault on Booker T, and orders Jarrett to take it into the ring. Jarrett does, rolling Booker in under the bottom rope, and then climbing up the steps and into the ring.

Booker is laid out on his stomach from the assault, and Jarrett hits a knee drop to the back of the head of Booker, followed by a swift kick to the side of Booker’s face. Jarrett makes a cocky pin fall, placing his foot on Jarrett’s chest, but Booker gets a shoulder up at two. Jarrett looks stunned that he didn’t get the three, so he quickly drops into a pin, but Booker gets his shoulder up again. Jarrett looks stunned again, so he quickly makes a cover again, this time hooking a leg, but again Booker gets a shoulder up. Jarrett can’t believe it, and makes another cover, hooking both legs, but Booker shoves Jarrett off of him! Jarrett stands up and can’t believe the resiliency of Booker. Trying to make sure Booker can’t make a comeback; Jarrett kicks Booker in the chest and pulls him to his feet. Jarrett connects with a right hand, and whips Booker off the ropes. Jarrett goes for a clothesline, but Booker ducks it, and hits a Harlem Sidekick to Jarrett as Jarrett turns around! Both men are down, and Anderson starts a ten count. Anderson gets to six, but Booker drapes an arm over Jarrett for a cover, but Jarrett lifts a shoulder up just before the three count. Both men slowly get up to their feet, and exchange punches slowly. The punches start being tossed at a faster and faster rate, each one connecting to the other man’s face. Booker is finally able to duck a punch and go behind Jarrett. When Jarrett turns around, Booker quickly sets him up for the Book End! Jarrett is able to shove Booker off of him, and then hits a diving chop block to the knee of Booker T! Booker crumples to the ground, and the crowd boos Jarrett on for the cheap tactics.

Jarrett starts to work over Booker’s knee after the chop block, lifting up Booker’s leg and kicking the back of Booker’s kneecap. Jarrett repeats this process another six times, trying to soften Booker up for the Figure Four. Jarrett finally gets Booker to his feet, only to hit another kick to the back of Booker’s knee. Booker almost falls in pain, but Jarrett catches him and pulls him to his feet right away. Jarrett picks Booker up for what seems to be a back suplex, but Jarrett turns it into a knee breaker to Booker! Booker falls to the canvas, holding his knee in pain. The crowd is now silent as they watch their champion get destroyed by Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett kicks Booker in the side of the knee, and then drags him over to the corner. Jarrett gets Booker spread eagle right by the ring post, and Jarrett slides out of the ring, and grabs Booker’s legs. The crowd knows what is coming, and Jarrett pulls Booker right into ring post, slamming his balls right into the steel ring post! Jarrett doesn’t stop there though, as he pushes Booker back a bit, and grabs Booker’s already injured leg, and drives Booker’s knee into the ring post! Jarrett still doesn’t stop, as rams Booker’s knee into the post another four times! Booker looks to be on the verge of tears from the agonizing pain he is in from the attack on his knee. Jarrett finally gets into the ring, the crowd now chanting “Asshole” at him. Jarrett drags Booker into the middle of the ring, and makes a cover, hooking Booker’s uninjured leg, making it damn near impossible for Booker to kick out.

One!

Two!

Kick Out! Booker T somehow fought through the pain his knee is feeling and used his leg muscles to kick out of the pin! As soon as Jarrett is off Booker, Booker is clutching his knee, yelling in pain. Jarrett refuses to give Booker time to rest though, as he drags him over to the ropes. Jarrett places Booker’s injured leg on the middle rope, and Jarrett stands on the bottom rope. Jarrett starts bouncing up and down on the bottom rope, and then jumps off the rope, bringing his whole weight down onto Booker’s already injured knee! Jarrett does it again, and continues to do it another five times! Jarrett motions for the Figure Four, and he drags Booker into the middle of the ring. Jarrett sets the Figure Four up perfectly, and Booker can’t do anything about it; the Figure Four Leg Lock is locked in! Booker screams in pain, and flails his arms, trying to escape. It is no use, as Jarrett pulls back on the hold, keeping Booker grounded. Booker’s shoulders fall to the mat, and Anderson makes the cover, but Booker sits up before three. Jarrett pulls back even more on the move as Booker yells in pain, and soon enough, his shoulders fall to the canvas. Anderson makes the count, but Booker gets his shoulder up. The process continues, as Booker tries to itch his way to the rope or reverse the Figure Four, but falls to the mat in pain, resulting in a near fall. The hold has been locked in for almost three minutes now, the crowd having been cheering on Booker throughout the whole time. Booker finally is able to rally behind the crowd, and he starts using his arm muscles to slide himself across the ring towards the ropes. When Booker starts getting close to the ropes, Jarrett pulls back as far as he can on the hold, and Booker’s shoulders fall to the canvas again, but Booker just sits up right away, glaring in anger at Jarrett. In one swift moment then, Booker just arches his back backwards and stretches as far as he can to grab the ropes, and his fingers just barely clutch around the bottom rope! Booker holds onto that bottom rope for dear sweet life, as Anderson quickly starts a five count for Jarrett to break the Figure Four. Jarrett quickly lets go of the hold, only to clasp his hands around Booker’s ankles, flinging him off the ropes. Booker lands parrell next to the ropes, and Jarrett quick tries to lock the hold in again. This time though, Booker is ready, and when Jarrett is spinning around Booker’s leg, Booker shoves Jarrett off of him, sending Jarrett through the second and third ropes to the outside!

The crowd is on their feet chanting “Booker T” now, as Jarrett fumes that Booker didn’t submit. Booker uses the ropes to get to his feet, and Jarrett slides into the ring, ready to pounce on Booker, only to see Booker T is standing on his feet! The two have an intense stare down, going nose-to-nose, talking trash, only for Booker to level Jarrett with a right hand! Jarrett falls to the ground, and as Booker hobbles over to Jarrett to pick him up, Jarrett hits a thumb to the eye! Booker bends over, clutching his eye. Jarrett quickly stands up, sets Booker up for the Stroke, and nails it! Wait, no! He didn’t! Booker shoves Jarrett into the ropes at the last second! Jarrett bounces off the ropes and charges Booker again, but Booker counters any offensive maneuvers by Jarrett by planting Jarrett with the 100th Street Slam! Jarrett smacks off the canvas, and the impact and momentum of the move sends him through the ropes to the outside! Jarrett is up quickly, and he grabs his guitar! Jarrett gets into the ring quickly, and kicks Booker in the mid-section quickly. Jarrett swings the guitar at Booker’s head, but Booker rams his elbow into Jarrett’s gut! Jarrett drops the guitar and keels over, and Booker quickly goes off the ropes and nails Jarrett with the Axe Kick! Booker hits the Axe Kick! Booker gets to his feet, and he pulls Jarrett to his feet as well. The crowd is on their feet screaming for Booker, and Booker gives them what they want; the Book End to Jarrett! Cover:

One!

Two!

Three!

Schiavone: Booker T! Booker T! Booker T! Booker wins it! Oh my God I can’t believe it! Booker T retains the World Heavyweight Championship!

Tenay: Booker T has beaten the odds tonight. He retained his United States Championship against Kanyon after Kanyon assaulted him with brass knuckles as the match started, and then had his head busted open from Kanyon. But still, he fought back. He pinned Kanyon with the Book End, and then came into the main event already tired and beaten against Jeff Jarrett. After having his wound busted open worse than before by Jeff Jarrett later on in their match, and having his knee just destroyed by Jarrett, the fact that Booker T fought through the Figure Four and fought back to beat Jarrett shows why Booker T is our US and World Heavyweight Champion.

Hudson: Booker T showed us tonight why he is the true franchise player of World Championship Wrestling. He beat not one, but two men, and fought through a lot of pain to get the win.

Schiavone: Well ladies and gentleman, that is all the time we have for tonight. I hope you all enjoyed the show, I know I did. You can visit WCW.com to find out more about this amazing Pay Per View, see pictures, everything! Also, remember ladies and gentleman, Monday, May 7, 8 PM Eastern Standard Time, Monday Night Nitro returns on the USA Network! I’m Tony Schiavone, and for Scott Hudson and Mike Tenay, so long everybody!

Before the shows ends, we get one last look at the bloodied and battered Booker T, holding both his United States and World Heavyweight Championship belts high into sky. Booker T turns around, and a guitar is busted over his head! Jeff Jarrett hit Booker T with the guitar! The show then ends with Jeff Jarrett standing over the bloodied Booker T, holding both titles.

Winner: Booker T to retain at 22:37 (86, 88, 84)

Overall Show Rating: 82%

Edited November 6, 2005 by Szumi

[Hewey]

Blitzkrieg vs. Super Crazy was a great choice to start off the show. Glad to see Crazy win and I think he'll have a bright future in WCW. I'd definitely like to see him and Tajiri feud again. Great choice for opener, Even though the crowd was dead for it, This is the kind of match WCW would throw out to open up a PPV.

I knew Air Raid would get the shot at the titles, I was hoping the FBI would get the shot though. Glad to see you not pushing Air Raid too quickly by making them lose this match up. I would like to see Rey and Kidman tear it up with the Full Blooded Italians though. I didn't like this match being positioned after the hot cruiserweight opener, I would have put a few other matches/segments after the opener and then put this hot match later on.

Good idea by having the US title match early. Gives Booker a chance to rest up before his match with Jarrett. I'm glad to see Booker win. It would make him look bad losing here and then retaining against Jarrett. Kanyon got some credibility by coming close to beating Booker and now you can just have a tournament for the US title. I knew this match would be good, But 90 MQ? Damn!

Another great Cruiserweight battle. These matches have been insanely good tonight judging by the match qualities, And even though I'd hate to see a card full of ****+ matches, I gotta admit, This kind of thing would put WCW over as having the best talent. All though, I hope you just don't book matches for the sake of it getting high numbers. I was surprised to see Tajiri losing, But this is Ultimo's big come back and all.

The Flair/Sting/Steiners segment was well done. I enjoyed Flair's speech alot. I can't wait to see what will happen with these guys next. I think a tag match between Sting/Flair versus the Steiner's is bound to happen soon. Hopefully Flair doesn't swerve Sting.

It was obvious Sean O’Haire & Chuck Palumbo were retaining. But I'm glad they did. Storm/Awesome don't need the titles and the Road Warriors are way past their prime. Of course, I would have liked to see Palumbo and O'Haire go over Road Warriors cleanly to really establish them as a elite tag team.

I wish Chavo would have won the title, But it makes sense for Helms to have retained since he hasn't been champion for too long. Your Cruiserweight division is really awesome, Probably the best since '96-'98. Hopefully, Chavo will stick around the Cruiserweight scene, Though, He'd make a great contender for the US title. (Y)

The Eric Bischoff speech was also good. Though, I thought Flair's was a bit better. I'm glad Nitro will be on USA, As that's the ultimate slap in the face to Vinnie Mac.

You should have gotten Michael Buffer to the ring intros for the main events. Booker T winning was obvious, But Jarrett wouldn't make a good champion in my opinion. I'm glad Booker retained, But a feud between him and Jarrett doesn't sound good to me. It had been done before, I just wouldn't want to see Booker face Jarrett again. I think you need to build someone new up to face Booker.

Great show and a great new beginning for WCW. Can't wait to see what you'll have in store next. (Y)

[Szumi]

News and Notes for Spring Stampede:

~WCW got a .95 buy rate for Spring Stampede, getting beaten out by the buy out for WWF Backlash, who got a 1.61 buy rate. The Spring Stampede show was attended by 11,462 people, and overall, WCW is said to be happy with the show.

~Eric Bischoff, Ric Flair, and Steve Borden all were very high on the performance put on in all the cruiserweight matches, and look forward to giving them some more air time in the future. Of all the matches, they considered Ultimo Dragon versus Yoshihiro Tajiri to be the best, and are looking at giving Ultimo a push in the cruiserweight division in the future. The trio also was very satisfied with the work of Shane Helms, who they plan on giving a lengthy Cruiserweight Title reign.

~Booker T received very loud ovations from the crowd in both the US and World Title matches. He is considered by the three owners the top star of WCW, and are looking to give him a long World Title reign. They do plan on having Booker T drop the United States Championship soon though, as they want to have Booker only focused on a fued with Jeff Jarrett. Bischoff, Flair, and Borden all were impressed with the match between the two men and plan on having them both main event the upcoming PPV, Slamboree. Slamboree will be held at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sunday May 27.

~The announcement of Monday Nitro appearing on the USA Network is indeed true. Bischoff and USA Network inked a deal hours before Spring Stampede began. The original segment was going to be filled by Diamond Dallas Page being interviewed by ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund, but the decision was made to announce the USA deal before the internet fans could find out about the deal. Inside sources from the WWF said Vince McMahon was furious about the WCW/USA agreement, and Spring Stampede in general, as many shots were thrown at him, especially by Ric Flair. The three owners wanted to let Vince McMahon and the world know that WCW was not going anywhere, which they did very well. The owners plan on trying to showcase a bit a bit of their cruiserweight division, Booker T, Sean O’Haire & Chuck Palumbo, and the Flair & Sting/Steiner Brothers feud. The owners were very happy with how that angle went down, and Flair and Sting are both excited about partaking in the feud itself. The focus for the first Nitro will be to plant the seeds of a new WCW, but still focusing on the current, older stars. They want to focus a bit more of their tag division, as well as their midcard, as the only singles midcarder who wrestled on the show was Chris Kanyon. All the other matches were either cruiserweight, tag team, or main event matches.

~WCW veterans such as Kevin Nash, Goldberg, Hulk Hogan, among others have all been talked to about returning to WCW. At this point, Nash has currently re-injured his knee, and is out of action for the foreseeable future. Bischoff is high on bringin back his friend Hulk Hogan, but Flair and Borden only want to see Hogan put the new stars over, which they have a hard time seeing Hogan do. Goldberg, on the other hand, is a different case. It is not known if he has a signed contract with WCW or not. No word was ever given if he signed the new WCW contract, stayed on the AOL-Time Warner contract, or if he became a free agent. The World Wrestling Federation and Vince McMahon haven spoken to Goldberg about signing a contract with the WWF, so it seems he may be a free agent.

~Also, many sources have heard Eric Bischoff claiming to have signed two WWF contracted wrestlers at Spring Stampede. Bischoff claimed that these two men’s contracts were coming to an end at end of May, and Bischoff secretly agreed to a deal with the two men back in the beginning of April. Bischoff has not released the names of the two contracted superstars, but Bischoff, Flair, and Borden are all very excited and shocked about the signing of these two superstars. One star will indeed be a wrestler, the other, will be used in a managerial role, probably for the other star. This signing could be a huge blow for the WWF depending on who the superstar is, but it is not known at this time who has signed on with WCW. It certainly appears that there is indeed another war brewing between World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation. Only time can tell though if it is even more brutal than the last war between the two.

[Szumi]

Monday Nitro Preview- May 7, 2001

The date is May 7, 2001. The time is 8 PM Eastern Standard Time. The place is the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. The event is Monday Nitro on the USA Network! Monday Nitro will return to live television Monday, May 7, only on the USA Network! The last time Monday Nitro was on television, March 26, you saw the show end with Ric Flair and Sting embrace and celebrate. The two legends of WCW who played a large role in building WCW all throughout Nitro’s time on TNT, ended Nitro on TNT. Now, Nitro is on USA, and you can count on Ric Flair and Sting being in attendance tonight! At Spring Stampede, Ric Flair was attacked by Scott and Rick Steiner, only to be saved by Sting. Tonight, Ric Flair and Sting will be at the arena, and you can count on Flair addressing the Steiner Brothers!

Not only that, but the first Nitro on USA is going to have an action packed main event as Booker T will defend his World Heavyweight Championship against the three time World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page! Booker T is coming off of a successful Spring Stampede, where, despite taking major beatings in two matches, retained his United States Championship against Chris Kanyon, and then his World Heavyweight Championship against Jeff Jarrett. Booker T was bloodied in both matches, but overcame the odds to win both. Although Booker retained his World Heavyweight Championship against Jarrett, it was Jarrett who got the last laugh, knocking Booker T out cold with a guitar shot to the head! Booker T will have time to address Jeff Jarrett among other things, and Jeff Jarrett will be in the house at Monday Nitro, so you can expect to see more problems between Booker T and Jeff Jarrett on the first Monday Nitro on USA!

At Spring Stampede, the Tag Team Champions, Chuck Palumbo and Sean O’Haire defend their Tag Team Championship against the Road Warriors and Team Canada in a ‘double jeopardy’ style match. Team Canada and the Road Warriors fought first, with the Road Warriors coming out on top when Hawk pinned Mike Awesome after a Doomsday Device. This brought the match down to Palumbo & O’Haire versus the Road Warriors. Before the match could develop into much of anything however, Team Canada got involved in the match. Lance Storm hit Animal in the face with the Tag Team Title belt while Mike Awesome had referee Mickey Jay distracted. Chuck Palumbo and Sean O’Haire have decided to give the Road Warriors a rematch for the Tag Team Championship tonight on Monday Nitro since they did not get a fair shot at Spring Stampede. The question is though, will Team Canada get involved in the match again, or will they learn to keep their nose out of business that does not concern them?

Also, Shane Helms, coming off of an impressive victory over Chavo Guerrero Jr. at Spring Stampede to retain his Cruiserweight Championship, will put his Cruiserweight Championship on the line against the ‘Japanese Buzzsaw’ Yoshihiro Tajiri! This match will be action packed; you won’t want to miss it! Not only that, but Buff Bagwell goes one on one with Hugh Morris, and the Mamalukes take on the team known as Insane Incorporated! You can watch all of this and much, much more on Monday, May 7, at 8 PM Eastern Standard Time, only on the USA Network!

Matches:

Booker T © vs. DDP: World Heavyweight Championship

Shane Helms © vs. Yoshihiro Tajiri: Cruiserweight Championship

Chuck Palumbo & Sean O'Haire vs. Road Warriors: Tag Team Championship

Buff Bagwell vs. Hugh Morris

Insane Incorporated (David Flair & Crowbar) vs. Mamalukes

[Szumi]

World Championship Wrestling Present’s Monday Nitro

Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky

May 7, 2001

The first edition of Monday Nitro on the USA Network starts off with the old Monday Nitro entrance video, as well as its old theme music. The video goes right into a large graphic that says “Spring Stampede, April 21, 2001, the return of WCW”. The graphic fades away, and it goes into still photos of the endings off all the matches, with the exception of the World Title match. That shows various still photos of the match, like various photos of Booker T and Jarrett fighting through the crowd, Jarrett smashing Booker’s knee into the ring post, Booker’s bloodied face, the Figure Four Leg Lock Jarrett had on Booker, Booker hitting the 110th Street Slam, the Axe Kick, Book End, and Jarrett’s guitar shot as Spring Stampede came to a close. The last still photo was the last image we all saw at Spring Stampede; Jeff Jarrett posing with the both the US and World Title over the fallen and bloodied Booker T. The images fade to dark, and the camera look around a dark Rupp Arena. From there, the lights all go on and the pyro all goes off simultaneously to star Monday Nitro!

Mike Tenay: Hello everybody and welcome to Monday Nitro! I am one of your hosts, “The Professor” Mike Tenay, alongside me is “The Mouth of WCW” Tony Schiavone, and Scott Hudson! You are tuning into the first ever Monday Nitro on the USA Network, and ladies and gentleman, if you have never heard of World Championship Wrestling before and what we’re all about, you will know by the end of tonight!

Tony Schiavone: You are right Professor! Tonight, you will see the fall out of the greatest Pay Per View in all of wrestling this year, Spring Stampede! Not only that, you will see Booker T defend his WCW World Heavyweight against a three time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Diamond Dallas Page!

Hudson: Not only will you see that in the main event Tony, but you will see the ‘Sugar’ Shane Helms defend his Cruiserweight Champion against the ‘Japanese Buzzsaw’ Yoshihiro Tajiri! You will see one of the greatest tag teams in the history of wrestling, the Road Warriors, challenge Sean O’Haire and Chuck Palumbo for the Tag Team Championship! You will see ‘The Man With All The Stuff’ Buff Bagwell go up against Hugh Morris! You will see it all hear tonight ladies and gentleman! This is World Championship Wrestling! This is Monday Nitro!

Match One

Shane Helms © vs. Yoshihiro Tajiri

WCW Cruiserweight Title

Shane Helms is out with his ‘Sugar Babies’ to start the first match of the evening, his little groupies dancing around him as Helms struts down to the ring. Helms gets into the ring, dismisses the Sugar Babies, and raises his title into the air, drawing a huge pop from the crowd. As Helms taunts for the crowd, some Japanese music plays, prompting the entrance of Yoshihiro Tajiri. Tajiri sprints down to the ring in the same attire he wore at Spring Stampede, and quickly makes a beeline for Helms, starting the match off. Tajiri lights into Helms with stiff kicks into the back of the legs. The kicks send Helms to the outside, where Tajiri pops out the first spot of Nitro on USA, hitting a springboard plancha off the second rope to Helms! Tajiri would work over Helms briefly on the outside, damn near killing Helms with a brainbuster on the outside! The brainbuster really gives Tajiri an early advantage, as he is able to work over Helms in the ring then as well. Tajiri has no true focus as to what he is working over on Helms’ body, as he repeatedly lights into Helms with kicks to all over Helms’ body, and working any body part Tajiri sees fit, all the while entertaining the crowd with various cruiserweight moves, like head scissors, hurricanrana’s, and springboard attacks off the ropes. Helms would fight back though, countering a spinning hurricanrana into a sit-out powerbomb that would earn Helms a two count. With the crowd behind him, Helms would fight back, starting to overtake Tajiri while the two men exchanged punches. Helms would continue to fight back, getting a toe kick to the mid-section of Tajiri, and then a vertical suplex. Helms would hit a spree of suplexes, hitting another vertical, then a fisherman, snap, and finally a northern lights with a bridge to earn a very near fall. One hurricanrana for Helms then would be all Helms needed to then set-up and nail Tajiri with the Vertebreaker for the three count to retain his Cruiserweight Championship.

Schiavone: What a way to start off Nitro! Shane Helms, the reigning WCW Cruiserweight Champion once again defends his title as he beats Yoshihiro Tajiri with that dangerous Vertebreaker.

Hudson: That Vertebreaker is rapidly becoming one of those finishers that you count on to get the pin fall victory once you hit it. Tajiri suffers the same fate that Chavo Guerrero Jr. suffered at Spring Stampede; defeat by the Vertebreaker.

Tenay: Ladies and gentleman, I have just found out that coming up next, the two true legends of WCW, Ric Flair and Sting, are going to be in the ring! Don’t go away, you’re not going to want to miss it!

Winner: Shane Helms to retain at 7:17 (73, 67, 97)

*Commercial Break*

When we come back, “Space Mountain” plays over the PA system throughout the Rupp Arena, and out walks the legendary Ric Flair and Sting! Flair is dressed up in a expensive suit, while Sting has his face paint on, a black Sting T-Shirt, black tights, and a black trench coat. The two legends walk down the ring, slapping hands with all the fans around them. The crowd is cheering for the two men all the while, proving why they are the number one and two faces in the company in terms of overness. The two men finally get into the ring, where both men let out their version of a ‘Wooo’. Flair then grabs a microphone from a stagehand and prepares to speak. Before he can however, the crowd starts chanting “You’re a Legend” at the two men, making Flair burst into an ear-to-ear grin, and showing thanks to the crowd for their kind chants.

Ric Flair: WOOO!

The crowd burst into more cheers after the signature Wooo from Flair. Some of the fans can be seen bowing down to both men, while Sting and Flair exchange grins from the crowd’s actions. Sting quickly grabs the microphone from Flair.

Sting: WOOO!

Again, the crowd bursts into cheers from the Wooo, this time however, Sting’s version. The two legends stand in the ring, grinning, waiting for the crowd to quiet down. They finally do, and Flair begins to speak.

Flair: I’m going to get right to the point here ladies and gentleman. I’m not going to be like past wrestlers of WCW who would waste up a half hour of the show, sugarcoating every little thing, and boring you all to death, isn’t that right Hulk Hogan!? Isn’t that right Kevin Nash!? WOOO!

Half the crowd bursts into cheers from the shots at Hogan and Nash, the others laugh at the comments.

Flair: At Spring Stampede, the Nature Boy came out to this ring, and he addressed the fans. The Nature Boy spoke from his heart about this company, and how things are going to change. But before I could finish what I wanted to say, I was interrupted… by the Steiner Brothers! Scott Steiner! Rick Steiner! You two little punks came out, insulted me, my legacy, and then you attacked me! You gave me a cheap shot and beat me down like a bunch of cowards! Scott Steiner, Rick Steiner, get your asses out here right now! The Stinger and I want a piece of you two little punks right here, right now!

The fans once again burst into cheers, wanting to see a match between Flair & Sting and the Steiner Brothers. Scott Steiner’s music plays soon after Flair makes the challenge, and Scott, Rick, and Midajah walk out onto the stage. Steiner has a microphone in hand, and he leads the other two down to the middle of the entrance ramp. They go no further though, as Scott stops, and brings the microphone to his mouth to speak.

Scott Steiner: You two washed up losers want a piece of the Big Bad Booty Daddy and the Dog Faced Gremlin? Flair, you need to realize who you are dealing with. The Steiner Brothers are the best damn tag team EVER in professional wrestling! We are the best thing going in WCW, and you two… are a bunch of has been’s who fail to realize it is time to hang up their boots. This is World Championship Wrestling Ric, not Wheel Chair Wrestling. You two have to realize that you don’t stand a chance against the two of us. If you were to wrestle us, we’d make you our bitches!

Flair: Scott Steiner, if Stinger and I are just a bunch of washed up veterans of the sport, then why not prove it to the world? Prove the world that Ric Flair and Sting need to retire Scott! Beat our asses into submission! Fight us!

S. Steiner Ric, I really don’t think that Rick and I beating both of your asses will do anything for us. You two getting killed by the Genetic Freak and my brother doesn’t help us out at all. So your answer... is no.

Flair: Come on Scott! Fight me! Fight me! Fight me! Right here Scott, right now! Two on two, the Steiner Brothers versus Ric Flair and Sting! Prove the world that Ric Flair and Sting need to retire! Fight us!

S. Steiner: You just don’t get it now do you Ric? Ric, Sting, you two ain’t got sh*t on me and Rick. You can talk Ric, but when it comes times to wrestle, you and Sting can’t back your words up. If you wrestled us, you’re backs would be broken, your face bruised and bloodied, your legs snapped in half; your whole body would be mangled! It is not worth Big Poppa Pump’s time. It is not worth the Dog Faced Gremlin’s time. You can try and piss me off all you want Ric, but at the end of the day, you’re not going to get Ric Flair and Sting versus the Steiner Brothers.

The crowd boo at the response of Scott Steiner, and the Steiner Brothers and Midajah start to back up the ramp to the backstage area while Flair mouths off at the Steiner’s, but everyone stops dead in their tracks as the music of Eric Bischoff hits! The President of WCW walks out onto the top of the stage, a microphone in hand.

Bischoff: I think you all may have forgotten something here; this is Monday Nitro, and I am in charge!

Slight boos from the crowd toward Bischoff. Bischoff still is a little too arrogant for the fans’ liking.

Bischoff: On Monday Nitro, it is not what Ric Flair says goes. It is not what Scott Steiner says goes. It is what Eric Bischoff says that matters!

The crowd boos Bischoff a bit more, not happy with his arrogance. Bischoff doesn’t seem to acknowledge the boos, as he just keeps looking down at both teams, pausing briefly.

Bischoff: Ric Flair… you and Sting want to wrestle the Steiner Brothers tonight. Scott Steiner… you think having Rick and yourself facing these two men would be a waste of time. That is all great to hear, but personally… I could care less! Your actions at Spring Stampede were unacceptable, and for that, their will be consequences. I am reasonable man though Scott. You declined the challenge Flair issued for a match tonight. What you did not do, however, was decline a challenge for a match at Slamboree! So ladies and gentleman, mark the date down, May 27… for the first time ever, Ric Flair and Sting will face off with the Steiner Brothers!

The crowd erupts into cheers at the bombshell dropped by Bischoff. Bischoff simply drops the microphone and walks backstage as his music plays. The Steiner Brothers yell about the unfairness of the booking by Bischoff, while Flair and Sting yell taunts to the Steiner Brothers, happy about their match for Slamboree.

Schiavone: Oh my God, I can’t believe it! The Steiner Brothers versus Ric Flair & Sting at Slamboree!

Hudson: What a shocker here by Eric Bischoff on the first ever Monday Nitro on USA! At Slamboree, arguably the greatest tag team ever in professional wrestling’s history will team up to face off two of the greatest professional wrestlers this industry has ever seen! The Steiner Brothers versus Ric Flair and Sting… oh my goodness will that match be a dandy!

Tenay: I couldn’t agree with you more Tony and Scott Hudson. Ric Flair will be out for revenge when these two teams face off at Slamboree, in a battle of pride. Both teams don’t want to lose this at all. A loss for the Steiner Brothers will set them back in WCW quite a bit as they try to prove their dominance of WCW. A loss of Ric Flair and Sting may just show WCW that these two legends don’t have what it takes in the ring anymore. It will be one great match for Slamboree, and if you ask me, is worth the price of the show alone! But ladies and gentleman, don’t go away because there is more action on Monday Nitro coming up next, right here on the USA Network!

Angle Rating: 81% (Challenge by Flair & Sting)

Angle Rating: 76% (Bischoff booking Steiner’s vs. Flair & Sting)

*Commercial Break*

Match Two

Insane Incorporated (w/Daffney) vs. Mamalukes

Tag Team Match

When we come back from commercial, David Flair and Crowbar, now known as Insane Incorporated, are standing in the ring, trying to act psycho with Daffney. The music of the Mamalukes play, and out walks Big Vito and Johnny The Bull, receiving jeers from the crowd. The two men just simply walk down to the ring, get into the ring, and start attack Insane Incorporated right away. Vito punches the hell our of Crowbar, and Johnny The Bull attacks David Flair. The match is a total squash, as the Mamalukes just beat down Insane Incorporated the whole entire match. Johnny The Bull and Big Vito hit simultaneous Implant DDT’s to Flair and Crowbar, with both men making the covers to get the easy victory. After the match, the Mamalukes give both men another Implant DDT, and walk off to the backstage, yelling into the camera that they wanted the Tag Team Championship all the while.

Tenay: The Mamalukes return to World Championship Wrestling by just destroying the team of David Flair and Crowbar.

Hudson: The Mamalukes are indeed back, and with a whole new level of intensity. They just destroyed Flair and Crowbar with ease! Flair and Crowbar didn’t get any offense in that entire match!

Schiavone: Big Vito and Johnny The Bull show why they are former Tag Team Champions, but Professor, Scott, I am pretty sure you heard what the Mamalukes were saying after the match, correct? They want a shot at the Tag Team Championship!

Tenay: Yes, I heard them Tony, but just because they want those titles does not mean they will just get them. The Mamalukes may be one great team, but they are going to have do more than that to get a shot at the coveted Tag Team Titles. And speaking of the Tag Team Titles, let us show you a video of what all went down in the Tag Team Championship match at Spring Stampede with Team Canada, the Road Warriors, and Sean O’Haire & Chuck Palumbo!

Winners: The Mamalukes at 1:33 (63, 64, 79)

Hawk goes to the corner of the ring and climbs up to the top rope as Animal hoists Awesome up onto his shoulders. Both men yell out ‘Doomsday Device’, and that is exactly what Mike Awesome gets; the Doomsday Device! Awesome smacks off the canvas, and Hawk dives on top of him for a cover:

One!

Two!

Three!

Team Canada is eliminated at 7:17

Referee Mickey Jay quickly rolls Mike Awesome to the outside of the ring as the music of our Tag Champs, Sean O’Haire and Chuck Palumbo, hits the PA. The two young wrestlers sprint down into the ring and take it right to the Road Warriors, tossing their Tag belts aside as soon as they get into the ring. The two tag champs hope to try and outwork the semi-tired Road Warriors as O’Haire brawls with Animal, Palumbo with Hawk. As the four men do battle in the ring, Team Canada regroup on the outside, but instead of going back to the back, they stay at ringside. Palumbo and Hawk’s battle makes it way into the corner, while O’Haire and Animal continue to fight in the middle of the ring. Palumbo ends up tackling Hawk, sending both men through the second and third ropes to the outside right by Mike Awesome and Lance Storm. Storm backs off, as Awesome gets right in the face of both men. Palumbo and Hawk both attack Awesome, and a three way brawl erupts between them, leaving Jay to go to the outside of the ring and try and break things up. As he does that, Lance Storm grabs one of the fallen Tag belts, and makes his way into the ring. Storm hits O’Haire in the back quickly with one of the title belts, and then plasters Animal right in the face with the title belt! Storm quickly slides out of the ring as Mickey Jay breaks the three men up. Storm is able to goad Hawk to chase after Team Canada however, which he does. Hawk chases both men up the entrance way to the backstage, clearing them from the ring area. But by the time Hawk turns around to see what is happening in the ring, Sean O’Haire has already gotten to his feet and ascended to the top turnbuckle. O’Haire dives off the top, and lands the Seanton Bomb right onto Animal, while Palumbo dives on top for the cover:

One!

Two!

Three!

[Hewey]

Pretty good Nitro. I was glad to see DDP go against Booker, And I'm actually hoping that the title match at the PPV will be DDP Vs. Jarrett Vs. Booker T. I think that'll be better than Booker/Jarrett again. Plus, DDP doesn't really have anyone to face right now. Sting/Flair Vs. Steiner Brothers should be a good match as well. Their segment was great. I was hoping O'Haire and Palumbo would go over Road Warriors cleanly, But atleast we'll get a Team Canada/Road Warriors feud. Lets just hope the right team goes over. Mamalukes versus Palumbo and O'Haire should be some great stuff though. Nice to see you using pieces of crap like Morrus and Bagwell too. But I would have fired them and kept Alex Wright. (Y)

[Szumi]

Monday Nitro Preview- May 14, 2001

Last week saw the first ever Monday Nitro on the USA Network, and was a great show! This week however, will be an even better show than the last! Last week, Booker T defended his World Heavyweight Championship against Diamond Dallas Page, only for the match to end up as a disqualification win for Jeff Jarrett, who broke a guitar over Booker T’s head during the match. Jarrett would assault Booker T, leaving him in a pool of his own blood as Nitro came to end. This week, Jeff Jarrett will be in the house, as will Booker T as he will defend his United States Championship this week against Buff Bagwell! The war between Booker T and Jeff Jarrett is sure to continue this week, and you’re not going to want to miss it as Booker T has demanded mic time so he can confront Jeff Jarrett and answer his challenge for Slamboree.

Speaking of Slamboree, last week it was made official; Ric Flair and Sting will team up to take on the Steiner Brothers! All four men will be in the arena tonight, and Ric Flair and Sting will be interviewed by the one and only Mean Gene Okerlund! When Ric Flair speaks, only controversy will come up, this time should be no different!

The Tag Team Championship scene has been a mess ever since the re-birth of World Championship Wrestling. Team Canada’s Lance Storm and Mike Awesome tied in the voting with the Road Warriors for who would get a title shot at Chuck Palumbo and Sean O’Haire. The two teams faced off at Spring Stampede, with the winner facing off against Palumbo & O’Haire right afterwards. The Road Warriors won the match fair and square after Hawk pinned Mike Awesome with a Doomsday Device. The match was supossed to be the Road Warriors against Palumbo and O’Haire, but Team Canada interfered, screwing the Road Warriors over, giving the Tag Champions the cheap win. Last week on Nitro, Palumbo & O’Haire gave the Road Warriors another chance at the Tag Titles, but Team Canada screwed the Road Warriors over again! This week, Eric Bischoff has made sure everything is resolved as Chuck Palumbo & Sean O’Haire defend the Tag Titles agsint Team Canada and the Road Warriors in a rematch from Spring Stampede. This time though, the match will be one fall to a finish, in hopes that there won’t be any outside interference from Team Canada. However, the team now Palumbo and O’Haire will have to worry about is the Mamalukes. After decimating Insane Incorporated last week, the Mamalukes made it known they wanted a shot at the Tag Titles. Will they continue the interfering streak in Tag Title matches, or will we finally have a clean match? Tune in to find out!

Last week, Shane Helms kicked off Monday Nitro, successfully defending his Cruiserweight Championship against Yoshihiro Tajiri. This week, ‘Sugar’ Shane Helms will be in action as he takes on Lash Leroux in a non-title match! Will Shane Helms continue his winning ways? There is only one way to find out, and that is by tuning in to Nitro!

Also, Konnan will go one on one with Bam Bam Bigelow, the Mamalukes face off with Air Raid, and Rey Misterio Jr. takes on Yang! All of this, and much, much more on Mondya Nitro! Tune in at 8 PM Eastern Standard Time, only on the USA Network!

Matches:

Booker T © vs. Buff Bagwell: United States Championship Match

Chuck Palumbo & Sean O’Haire © vs. Team Canada vs. Road Warriors: Tag Team Championship Match

Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Konnan

Lash Leroux vs. Shane Helms

Air Raid vs. Mamalukes

Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Yang

[Szumi]

World Championship Wrestling Present’s Monday Nitro

Barton Coliseum, Little Rock, Arkansas

May 14, 2001

Before any opening videos or themes play, before any opening commentary or pyro can be heard, the cameras all around the arena look at the ring, where an angry Booker T is standing in the ring, a microphone in hand, a bandage over his forehead. Booker T has both of his titles over a shoulder, dressed in a black dress shirt and tan slacks.

Booker T: Jeff Jarrett! I am sick of all this sneak attack bulls***! Every show of ‘dis here new World Championship Wrestling you’ve broke a guitar over my head, beaten muh ass down, and made me bleed muh own blood! Jeff, I am sick of yo’ tactics; face me like a man! You want a shot at the Dubya See Dubya World Heavyweight Championship at Slamboree? Well Jeff, sucka’s got ta’ know that if ya’ want a shot at this belt, then bring yo’ punk ass out here right now!

The crowd is silent, glued to what is going on in front of them. Silence is all throughout the Barton Coliseum, as the crowd and Booker T wait for Jarrett to come out, but Jarrett never shows.

Booker T: Jarrett, bring yo’ ass out here! Can’t you fight me face to face like a real man!? Sucka, if you want a shot at my World Title, you just can’t keep attacking me from behind and expect to beat me for the World Title. If you want to face at Slamboree, then sucka, grow a set and come out here!

The crowd remains silent, hoping maybe this time Jarrett will come out. After a long pause, Jeff Jarrett comes out to the ring, his music playing throughout the arena. Jarrett walks out onto the stage in jeans and a Jeff Jarrett T-Shirt, his guitar slung over his shoulder. The crowd automatically boo’s him, but Jarrett doesn’t bother to acknowledge the fans. He just walks down the ramp, guitar still slung over his shoulder, staring Booker T down. Jarrett gets into the ring, and pulls a microphone out of his jeans pocket.

Jeff Jarrett: Booker T, you talk about not hating the playa, but hating the game… that is exactly what you’re not doing. Booker, you the WCW World Heavyweight and United States Champion, a lot of the boys want to be you, but everyone wants to beat you. It just so happens I am in the front of the line on the list to beat you, to knock you off your throne. If you can’t handle the heat of being a double champion Booker, then get out of the kitchen.

Jarrett pauses, and two stare each other down. The crowd still remains silent, watching with great interest at what is unfolding in the ring. Finally, Booker T brings the microphone to his mouth to speak.

Booker T: Jeff Jarrett, my whole life, I have had a whole hell of a lot of heat on me. I lived in the ghettos of Harlem, New York; I wasn’t born son of Jerry Jarrett, a silver spoon in my mouth. I have had to work my ass off to get where I’ve gotten to. I’m not gonna’ just walk away, Jeff. If you want a shot at this World Title belt, then sucka, yo’ punk ass is going down at Slamboree!

The crowd erupts into an enormous amount of cheers at the prospect of the Booker T/Jeff Jarrett match for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Booker T: At Slamboree, I am going to walk down that ramp as a double champion, and I am going to leave Slamboree still the reigning World Heavyweight and United States Champion! Now can you dig that… SUCKA!!!

Jarrett: Are you Booker T? Are you going to walk in and walk out of Slamboree the World and US Champion? Booker, you’re damn sure not going to walk out of Slamboree a double champion because I will beat you 1-2-3 to win the World Heavyweight Championship. I promise you that Booker. But the real question is, are you going to walk into Slamboree a double champion?

Booker T: What are you trying to say sucka?

Jarrett: Well Booker, if you knew how to read, you would know tonight you defend United States Championship against Buff Bagwell. If I were you, you better be ready for the match because you never know who is going to show up…

Booker T: In other words, yo’ punk ass is gonna’ try and screw me out of my United States Championship.

Jarrett: Oh no Booker, I am going to!

There is a split instant of silence and confusion, only for Jarrett to end that with a sucker punch to the jaw of Booker T! Booker staggers backwards, and Jarrett pounces on Booker, spearing him to the mat. Jarrett starts laying into Booker with right hands to the face, trying to hurt Booker any way. Jarrett continues to lay into Booker with the right hands, but finally stops when he sees his guitar. Jarrett gets off of Booker T, and grabs the guitar, a sadistic smile over his face. Jarrett lines Booker T up, waiting to break the guitar over Booker’s head as Booker staggers to his feet. Booker is up to his feet, and Jarrett swings the guitar, connecting with air, as Booker T ducks the guitar shot! Booker runs under the guitar and Jarrett, and waits for Jarrett to turn around. Jarrett does so, and Booker lays into Jarrett with multiple right hands, and knocks him down with a clothesline! The crowd is cheering for Booker T, wanting to see Booker take it to Jarrett. Booker knocks Jarrett down with another clothesline as Jarrett gets to his feet, and then waits for Jarrett to get to his feet again. When Jarrett does, he gets nailed with a Harlem Side Kick! Jarrett falls to the canvas, and Booker hits his fist off of his chest, fired up. Booker thinks of what to do next to Jarrett, only for Booker to spot the guitar dropped by Jarrett. Booker cracks a huge grin, and picks the fallen guitar up. Booker T waits for Jarrett to get up to his feet, but as he does so, Buff Bagwell runs down to the ring! Jarrett gets up to his feet, and just as he is about to get a guitar shot to the head, Bagwell pulls Jarrett out of the ring! The crowd erupt into boo’s, pissed at the fact that Booker couldn’t break the guitar over Jarrett’s head. Bagwell and Jarrett slowly walk backwards up the ramp, keeping their eye on Booker T, who throws the guitar at them, and raises both his World Heavyweight and United States Title belts into the air. Jarrett grabs the guitar on the ramp, and the two heels walk to the backstage, leaving Booker T to celebrate in the ring as the camera’s cut to the announcing team.

Mike Tenay: Hello everybody and welcome to Monday Nitro! I am Mike Tenay, Tony Schiavone and Scott Hudson are also here in the commentary booth tonight, and gentleman, what a way that was to start Monday Nitro!

Tony Schiavone: What a way to start Monday Nitro indeed! Booker T, who has had a guitar broken over his head by Jeff Jarrett at Spring Stampede and Nitro last week, has had enough with Jeff Jarrett’s cheap and dirty ways. Booker T called him out, and the match is now finally on for Slamboree; Booker T versus Jeff Jarrett for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship! These two men hate each other, and this is the best way to settle their hatred; a match for the World Heavyweight Championship!

Scott Hudson: I myself, am completely excited for this match. Booker T has dominated WCW lately, beating every opponent thrown in his way. Jeff Jarrett however, has completely dominated Booker T lately, busting Booker T open twice now in just as many shows. This match will definitely be worth the price of the show alone!

Schiavone: Don’t forget ladies and gentleman, Slamboree is only 13 days away! Slamboree is already looking like it is going to be a great event, as we already have Booker T versus Jeff Jarrett for the World Heavyweight Championship, and, for the first time ever, Ric Flair & Sting take on the Steiner Brothers! Slamboree will come to you live from the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and tickets are still up for grabs for this amazing Pay Per View! Two matches announced so far, many more still to come for Slamboree!

Tenay: Slamboree will definitely be a great Pay Per View Tony, but the focus now is about tonight. We are going to have a great show for you here tonight as you will see Booker T defend his United States Championship in the main event against Buff Bagwell! You will also see the Tag Team Titles up for grabs yet again, as the champions Chuck Palumbo & Sean O’Haire will defend against both Team Canada and the Road Warriors in an effort to solve this on going conflict between the three teams.

Hudson: These three teams are yet to have a fair match as Team Canada has prevented that from happening at Spring Stampede when it was all three teams fighting for the Tag Titles, and then again last week as it was the Road Warriors challenging Palumbo and O’Haire for the Tag Titles. This week, we can only hope that everything will be resolved without outside interference, but that is likely to happen.

Schiavone: And for those who don’t know why is because of the Mamalukes. The Mamalukes last week declared they want a Tag Team Title shot against Palumbo and O’Haire, and if the Mamalukes say they want something, chances are, they’ll get it!

Tenay: We will also see Konnan versus Bam Bam Bigelow, and also, Rey Misterio Jr. versus Yang! That match is coming up next, right after these commercial breaks! Don’t go away!

Angle Rating: 85%

*Commercial Break*

Match One

Rey Misterio Jr. (w/Billy Kidman, Torrie Wilson, & Tygress) vs. Yang (w/Kaz Hayashi & Leia Meow)

Singles Match

The Yung Dragons are already in the ring when we come back from commercial break, waiting for Misterio to come out. The rap theme music of the Filthy Animals hits, and Misterio Jr. jumps out onto the stage, Kidman, Wilson, and Tygress along with him. The quadruplet walks down the ring, but when they get to the bottom of the ramp. They are met with dual plancha’s from Kaz Hayashi and Yang! All 6 people fall to the ground, as the spot gets a nice pop from the crowd. The match itself is stalled longer, as the four actual wrestlers start brawling on the outside of the ring, Misterio brawling with Yang, Kidman with Hayashi. Kidman gets the upper hand on Hayashi, causing him to retreat, while Misterio gets the upper hand on Yang, who flees into the ring. Misterio dives under the bottom rope and into the ring as well, but gets a stomp to the head from Yang as the match officially starts.

Yang keeps working over Misterio, stomping on him more as Misterio fights to get to his feet. Misterio would eventually grab a hold of the ropes for safety, giving him a break from Yang, and the opportunity to get to his feet. With both men on their feet, the match becomes a typical cruiserweight match, each man going aerial spot for aerial spot, hitting various forms of head scissors and hurricanrana’s, as well as having their partners get involved in the match, whether that may tripping their partner’s opponent up, or preventing a pin. The match finally gets out of hand after Misterio hits Yang with a springboard hurricanrana from the apron to the third rope to Yang. Misterio goes for a cover, leading Hayashi to charge into the ring and kick Misterio in the chest. Wanting to help his partner, Kidman storms into the ring and attacks Hayashi, knocking him down with a clothesline. A four way brawl erupts from there, leaving Referee Charles Robinson to throw the match out. The bell rings, but that doesn’t stop the Filthy Animals or the Yung Dragons from fighting each other. The four men continue to brawl in the ring, with the Filthy Animals soon getting the upper hand once again after hit simultaneous hurricanrana’s to Yang and Hayashi. The two Yung Dragons are back up to their feet quickly, only to both take a dropkick from a Filthy Animal, sending them through the second third ropes to the outside of the ring. Leia Meow rushes over to the Dragons, who recuperate on the outside. Misterio refuses to let them however, as he dives over the top rope, performing a flipping senton, taking down all three of the Yung Dragons! The three men (and one woman) all slowly get up to their feet as Kidman climbs up to the third turnbuckle. The four finally get up to their feet, only to all be sent back down again as Kidman comes off the top turnbuckle with a shooting star press to all four of them! Seeing only more chaos out of this, Head of Security Doug Dillinger comes out with a horde of security. Security quickly separates the Yung Dragons and the Filthy Animals, preventing them from doing any more damage to each other.

Schiavone: There is chaos everywhere throughout this ringside area! Billy Kidman and Kay Hayashi both got involved in the match up between Rey Misterio Jr. and Yang, and continued to fight after the match after Charles Robinson threw this match out!

Hudson: When you have two teams with a bitter history like the Filthy Animals and the Yung Dragons, you have to expect things like this to happen. The Yung Dragons wanted to get a shot at the Filthy Animals for the Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship at Spring Stampede, but Air Raid got the shot instead, who will be in action soon against the Mamalukes might I add.

Tenay: And the Yung Dragons have been wanting a piece of the Filthy Animals ever since. These two teams are bound to have more contests in the future, so this is a story you will want to watch! But ladies and gentleman, there is still a lot more to come here tonight on Monday Nitro! Air Raid will take on the vicious Mamalukes, Bam Bam Bigelow takes on Konnan, Shane Helms fights Lash Leroux in a non-title match, and Booker T defends the United States Championship against Buff Bagwell!

Winner: No Contest at 4:18 (80, 61, 99)

We then cut backstage to the inside of the locker room of Shane Helms. Helms is sitting down on a chair, putting kick pads on, his Sugar Babies all around him. Helms is receiving a shoulder massage from one of them, but Helms’ massage is interrupted by the entrance of Shannon Moore in his locker room. Helms quickly sits up out of his chair and hugs his friend.

Shane Helms: Shannon man, great to see you!

Shannon Moore: Hey bro, it is great to see you two.

Helms: So um, Shannon, what can I do for you?

Moore: Yeah, about that… look bro, we’ve been through a lot together, right? I mean, through all of the great days with 3 Count and such.

Helms: Ha ha, yeah, 3 Count sure was fun.

A big smile erupts on Shannon’s face; he had been hoping Shane would say that.

Moore: Well Shane, I have been wanting to ask you this for a while now.. I think we should get 3 Count back together! You and me bro, we can team up again and take the tag team division by storm, and we can recruit a third guy! It’d be the best thing to happen to us! What do you say pal?

The smile that Shane Helms had on his face is abruptly changes into a look of bewilderment.

Helms: You, you… are you serious Shannon?

Moore: I know, I was at a loss for words when I thought of this idea; it’s that great of an idea! I bet you’re thinking ‘why didn’t I think of this?’ right now, but Shane, it doesn’t matter who thought of it. All that matters is that 3 Count is getting back together!

Helms: Shannon, Shannon, Shannon, hold up a minute buddy. You’re my good friend and all buddy, but, you got to be on something if you think I am just going to drop what I have going here to don the 3 Count clothes and live the 3 Count life style. I am the Cruiserweight Champion! I have been unstoppable the past two months; why would I want to just to throw away my very successful single’s career to team up with you? I’m sorry bro, but I’m not re-starting 3 Count. Me and all my Sugar Babies got something better going than 3 Count.

Shannon Moore looks hurt by Shane Helms’ reply. His face quickly turns into anger.

Moore: Oh I see how it is Shane, you think I’m a joke! Shane Helms is too good to associate with Shannon Moore! Well you know what Shane? I don’t need you! I am going to show the world that Shannon Moore is better than you, and 3 Count is better than you and your Sugar Babies! I’ll show you!

Moore turns around and bolts out of the room, slamming Helms’ door in the process. Helms looks a bit confused at Moore’s total 180, but just shrugs it off and sits back down.

Helms: Now which one of you Sugar Babies wants to massage Shane Helms?

Helms laughs, and Nitro cuts to commercial.

Angle Rating: 67%

Match Two

Air Raid vs. Mamalukes

Tag Match

The young Air Raid are in the ring, waiting for the Mamalukes. The music of the Mamalukes plays, and Big Vito and Johnny The Bull march right down to the ring, ignoring the fans and their jeers directed towards the Mamalukes. Vito and Johnny get into the ring and right away attack AJ Styles and Air Paris, looking to end this match quick. Big Vito nails Paris with right hands, and Johnny The Bull does the same to Styles. The match is short, as the Mamalukes beat the hell out of Air Raid with stiff punches, almost knocking them out cold from their brutal attack. The Mamalukes could easily make a cover to win the match, but instead drag AJ Styles up to his feet. The two men give Styles a double Implant DDT, and Air Paris would get the same dose of pain next. Vito makes the cover on Paris, and Referee Mickey Jay makes the easy three count. Afterwards, the Mamalukes drag Styles and Paris both up to their feet. The Mamalukes first scoop Paris up off the ground, only to slam him down to the canvas with a double spinebuster. Styles get the same fate as well, as they destroy him with the double spinebuster. The Mamalukes take one last look at the carnage they left in the ring, and then look into the camera, and shout ‘O’Haire, Palumbo, we want a shot at the Tag Titles!’. The Mamalukes give one last glare into the camera, and then walk off.

Schiavone: My God, the Mamalukes are on fire here in WCW! They just totally manhandled Air Raid here, defeating them with ease in under two minutes! They completely destroyed Air Raid in that match!

Hudson: Yeah, and what was left of them got destroyed by the Mamalukes after the match with that hellacious double team spinebuster.

Tenay: And again, for the second week in a row, the Mamalukes make it known they want a shot at the WCW Tag Team Titles. If I were Chuck Palumbo and Sean O’Haire, I would watch my back everywhere I go because the Mamalukes are men on a mission.

Schiavone: Well it looks like Air Raid has now been helped to the backstage, so Nitro is going to continue on as Shane Helms will go one on one with Lash Leroux!

Hudson: Earlier on in the night, we saw Shannon Moore go into Shane Helms’ locker room and attempt to get Helms to reform 3 Count with him. That never happened however, as Shane Helms turned Moore’s offer down, resulting and Shannon flipping out on his friend.

Tenay: The last words Shannon said, well, more or less yelled, was that he would show Shane. You have to wonder if an angry Shannon Moore will play a part in this match tonight. It looks like we’re about to find out though because that match is now!

Winners: The Mamalukes at 1:33 (74, 58, 91)

Match Three

Lash Leroux vs. Shane Helms

Non-Title Singles Match

The music of Lash Leroux hits, and Leroux struts out onto the stage, dancing all the while. Leroux moonwalks down the aisle, trying to get some cheers from the crowd for his efforts. The fans give Lash some cheers when he does the moonwalk again, this time in the ring, but their cheers get really loud as the music of Shane Helms hits! Helms comes out onto the stage, his Sugar Babies by his side. Shane points at Lash, and does his own moonwalk down the entrance ramp, getting a huge pop from the crowd. Helms finally gets into the ring, and raises his Cruiserweight Title high into the sky, getting another pop from the crowd. After letting the cheers die down, Helms hands his title belt to Referee Billy Silverman, who hands it to a stage hand. The bell is then rung, and the match is under way.

Brief chain wrestling to start the match, going hold for hold, which leads into several near falls for each man after a takedown by Leroux into a cover, which lead to a series of reversals into pins. The two men end up on their feet in a stand off, the crowd applauding their efforts so far. The match slows down, as Leroux ends up working over Helms in a mat-based style of offense after hitting Helms with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker when Helms tried a head scissors. Lash’s focus is on Shane’s back, as he applies various stretches and holds to the back of Shane Helms, trying to earn himself a submission victory to shoot him up the ranks in the Cruiserweight division. The crowd starts to get behind Helms however, leading to a Helms comeback. Helms gets on the offensive after getting his knees up on a Leroux Moonsault attempt, firing off multiple right hands and then a clothesline to Lash. Helms keeps going on the offensive, hitting a couple of snap suplexes, and then a northern lights suplex with a bridge for a close fall. Helms keeps the fans into the match, ascending to the top turnbuckle, and then coming off with a missile dropkick! As the fans cheer and cheer for their Cruiserweight Champion, Shannon Moore rushes down to the ring. Shane is oblivious to Shannon making his way down the entrance ramp, picking Lash up for the Vertebreaker. Shane barely gets Lash up for the Vertebreaker when he is attacked by Moore with a clothesline to the back of the head! Shane falls to the ground as does Lash, who falls on top of Shane. Shannon pulls Lash to his feet by the hair, and tosses him over the top rope to the outside. Shannon briefly stomps at the head of Helms, only to pull him up to his feet soon enough. Shannon gives Shane a quick toe kick to the mid-section, and in a complete and total mockery of Shane Helms, hits Shane with the Vertebreaker! Shannon yells in rage at the fallen Shane Helms, yelling this is only the beginning. Shannon then leaves the ring, only after spitting into the face of Shane Helms.

Schiavone: My God, Shannon Moore is despicable! He just assaulted his best friend because he didn’t want to join 3 Count! Shane Helms wanted to keep his Cruiserweight Title, a title he has dreamed about winning since he was a child! How can Shannon Moore be upset at Shane for that? Shannon would have done the same thing Shane did if the roles were switched!

Hudson: Because the roles aren’t switched Tony. Shannon Moore is a young kid who just wants success. Shane Helms was a meal ticket for his success, but Helms wasn’t having it. Shannon feels betrayed by Shane’s rejection, so he feels he has to prove he is just as good as Shane, if not better than him now.

Tenay: Well attacking him from behind isn’t the way of going about it! Nonetheless, Shannon Moore did, and this looks like it is going to be the start of a bitter rivalry!

Tenay pauses, letting it be known the conversation about Shannon Moore and Shane Helms is over.

Tenay: There is still a whole lot more action to be watched here tonight ladies and gentleman! Still to come, Booker T against Buff Bagwell for the United States Championship, the 3-Way Tag Team Title Match, Konnan takes on Bam Bam Bigelow; that match is next after these commercial breaks! You won’t want to miss it!

Winner: Shane Helms by DQ at 6:16 (74, 65, 84)

*Commercial Break*

Match Four

Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Konnan

Singles Match

The music of Bam Bam Bigelow hits, and the Beast from the East walks out to a mixed reaction. Bam Bam just walks down to the ring, not really acknowledging the fans much. Bam Bam gets into ring, just wanting to kick some ass. The fans get on their feet and start cheering soon though, as Konnan’s music hits! Konnan comes out onto the stage, wearing a flannel shirt over a Konnan T-Shirt, sweat pants that reveal his boxers, and a bandana that covers his mouth. Konnan walks down the ramp, nodding his head at the crowd, who continue to cheer him on. K-Dawg gets into the ring, and starts to take his bandana off, but is blindsided by Bam Bam with a lariat to the back of the head!

Bam Bam uses his cheap tactic to beat the hell out of Konnan to start the match, hitting Konnan down to the canvas with forearms and then stomps to the upper back. The match continues on, with Bigelow still working over Konnan, the crowd quickly falling asleep. Bigelow has now climbed up to the top turnbuckles, Konnan down on the canvas. Bigelow comes off the top rope with his flying head butt, but he only gets canvas as K-Dawg rolls out of the way. Bigelow staggers up to his feet after recuperating from the missed head butt, but when he does get to his feet, he is hit with the K-Factor from Konnan, and that is enough for the surprise victory! Konnan quickly rolls out of the ring after the victory, happy to escape with the win. Bam Bam however, sits up, furious that he just lost. He starts yelling, and then storms off to the backstage.

Winner: Konnan at 4:08 (68, 63, 74)

The cameras follow Bigelow, who now storms to the backstage. The cameras come to a halt as Bigelow walks right into Diamond Dallas Page!

Diamond Dallas Page: Whoa, Bam Bam, you just lost in less than five minutes to Konnan! What the hell happened to you?

Bigelow becomes irate at Page’s cheek, and Bam Bam spears DDP to the ground! Bigelow starts nailing DDP with right hands, irate at being made fun of. Bigelow quickly gets off of DDP though, only to whip him into the concrete wall! Bigelow isn’t done yet though, as he pulls Page over towards him and plants him with the Greetings From Asbury Park! Bigelow then stands over the fallen Diamond Dallas Page.

Bam Bam Bigelow: Don’t EVER make fun of me Page! You hear me!? Never make fun of me!

Bigelow gives Page a quick kick into the ribs and walks off, leaving medics to come to the aid of Page.

Schiavone: What in the hell has gotten into Bam Bam Bigelow!?

Hudson: Bigelow is a loose cannon. Diamond Dallas Page, an old running mate of Bigelow’s, made a cheek comment about Bam Bam’s surprising loss to Konnan, and Bigelow just flipped out on him!

Tenay: Bigelow’s actions were definitely uncalled for, and I am sure hoping DDP is alright, he really took a beating from Bigelow. We’re going to have to take a commercial break very quickly ladies and gentleman, but coming up next, Chuck Palumbo and Sean O’Haire defend the WCW Tag Team Titles against Team Canada and the Road Warriors! You won’t want to miss this match up!

Angle Rating: 70%

*Commercial Break*

Match Five

Chuck Palumbo & Sean O’Haire © vs. Road Warriors vs. Team Canada

WCW Tag Team Championship Match

Team Canada is already in the ring as we return from commercial break, and the music of the Road Warriors fills the arena. Animal and Hawk come out onto the stage, spot Team Canada in the ring, look at each other quick, toss their shoulder pads away, and sprint down the ramp and into the ring, starting to brawl with their rivals right away. While the two teams brawl, the music of the Tag Team Champions hit, and Palumbo and O’Haire walk out onto the stage, and laugh at the two teams destroy each other, making it easier for Palumbo and O’Haire to beat them once they get down to the ring. The champs march down into the ramp and get into the ring, but by the time Palumbo and O’Haire are in the ring, Team Canada and the Road Warriors have made it to the outside! Palumbo and O’Haire look at each other briefly, nod at each other, and smile. Palumbo climbs up to the top turnbuckle, and he takes all four men out with a cross body block! The crowd pop for the spot by Palumbo, and as all five men on the outside start getting to their feet, Sean O’Haire climbs up to the top turnbuckle. The five men are up on their feet, and O’Haire comes off the top with a Seanton Bomb to the outside, taking all five men down and out! A brief ‘Holy Shit’ chant can be heard slightly. All six men soon start to get to their feet, and all crawl back into the ring. Once back in the ring, Nick Patrick regains orders, sending the Road Warriors, Chuck Palumbo, and Mike Awesome to their corners, leaving Lance Storm and Sean O’Haire your legal men.

The match is nothing special, as each team gets their own shine period on another team, but another team breaks up the pin falls. Team Canada worked over Sean O’Haire first, but O’Haire tagged out to Animal later on, and the Road Warriors worked over Lance Storm. Finally, Palumbo and O’Haire worked over Hawk. Soon enough, all six men end up in the ring brawling with another. Awesome works over Hawk in one corner, Animal over Palumbo in the opposite corner, and O’Haire over Storm in the middle of the ring, who are the two legal men as well. The 6 men continue to brawl, with Awesome and Hawk, and Palumbo and Animal making their way out of the ring, leaving O’Haire and Storm in the ring together. O’Haire lays into Storm with right hands, trying to beat Lance down the old fashion way. O’Haire whips Lance off the ropes, and goes for a back body drop, but Lance lands on his feet behind Sean, and wraps him in a waist lock. O’Haire runs into ropes, Lance behind him, the waist lock still on. The two roll backwards across the ring, and Lance ends up on top of O’Haire for a pin, but O’Haire shoves Lance off before the three count! O’Haire is up quickly, and he charges Lance. Lance ducks a clothesline, and tries a crucifix pin on O’Haire, but O’Haire won’t budge! Sean smiles to the crowd, and squashes Lance with a Samoan drop! Lance is down in the ring, and Sean climbs up to the top turnbuckle, while the other four men continue to brawl around the ringside area, oblivious the events in the ring. O’Haire gives a quick, cocky pose, and then comes off the top with the Seanton Bomb to Lance, makes the cover, and gets the win for the title retention!

The bell rings, and the four men on the outside look to the inside of the ring, seeing O’Haire raising his arms in victory. Hawk and Awesome quickly continue brawling, while Animal lets Palumbo into the ring to celebrate his team’s win. Animal sees Awesome and Hawk still fighting, so he goes and joins on the brawl, attacking Awesome. The Road Warriors double team Awesome briefly, but Lance Storm, now recovered from the Seanton Bomb, goes to the outside and helps his tag partner. The Road Warriors and Team Canada continue to brawl, making their way up the entrance ramp and out of sight, while the Tag Team Champions celebrate their win. Palumbo and O’Haire are about to leave the ring, but all of a sudden; WHACK! Chuck Palumbo and Sean O’Haire both get hit in the back of the head with steel chairs… by the Mamalukes! Big Vito and Johnny The Bull came out from the crowd with steel chairs and hit the Tag Team Champions! The champs’ falls to the ground from the chair shots, and the Mamalukes lay into the champs with stomps to the back of the head. The Mamalukes grow tired of their stomping, so Johnny The Bull grabs one of the fallen Tag Title belts while Vito pulls Palumbo to his feet. Vito holds Palumbo, and Johnny clocks Palumbo right in the face with the Tag Title belt! Chuck Palumbo falls to the canvas, blood already starting to come from his forehead. Johnny quickly places the Tag Title belt on the canvas next, while Vito pulls Sean O’Haire to his feet. O’Haire has no energy left to fight off Vito, and O’Haire gets drilled with an Implant DDT onto the Tag Title belt! The Mamalukes raise their arms in triumph, and yell into the camera ‘We want the Tag Titles!’ before walking off, the crowd jeering them.

Hudson: Chuck Palumbo and Sean O’Haire retain the Tag Team Titles, but after the beating they just took from the Mamalukes, they certainly can’t feel like winners right now.

Schiavone: Of course they don’t feel like winners Scott Hudson. They were hit in the head with steel chairs, stomped on, and then had their face crushed by a Tag Title belt! Would you feel like a winner?

Hudson: Of course not. What the Mamalukes did was uncalled for.

Tenay: Nevertheless though, the Mamalukes make a statement here tonight. They are letting all of WCW know that they want a shot at Palumbo and O’Haire for the Tag Team Championship!

Schiavone: And knowing how angry Palumbo and O’Haire are now, the Mamalukes will probably get themselves a match against the Tag Team Champions!

Tenay: They probably will, but ladies and gentleman, coming up next, Mean Gene Okerlund will interview the legends Ric Flair and Sting!

Schiavone: And still to come; Booker T defends his United States Championship against Buff Bagwell!

Tenay: You aren’t going to want to miss the rest of this action packed Nitro; don’t turn that channel!

Winners: Chuck Palumbo and Sean O’Haire to retain at 10:56 (78, 78, 79)

Angle Rating: 64%

*Commercial Break*

When we come back, ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund is standing by with ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair and ‘The Stinger’ Sting!

Gene Okerlund: Welcome back to Monday Nitro ladies and gentleman. Right now, I am backstage with the two living legends of this company; ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair and Sting!

Ric Flair: WOOO!

Sting: WOOO!

Okerlund: Ric, Sting, last week on Monday Nitro, it was made official; you two will fight the Steiner Brothers at Slamboree. That match is coming up soon, as we are only 13 days away from Slamboree. What are your thoughts on this huge match?

Flair: MEAN GENE, WOOO! My God is it good to see you, WOOO! The Natcha’ Boy is in the house! You want me to talk about the Steiner Brothers! Well here ya’ go: Rick and Scott, you two are a bunch of punks! At Spring Stampede, you interrupted the Natcha’ Boy on my time! My time! You attacked me like a bunch of cowards, and if it wasn’t for this man right here, the Stinger, I’d probably be in a hospital right now! Scott, you want me and the Stinger out of WCW? Well Scott, we ARE World Championship Wrestling! If it wasn’t for me and the Stinger, there would be no WCW! You wouldn’t be here! The legends like Ric Flair, Sting, Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson, Larry Zbysko, Harley Race, Buddy Rogers, Les Thatcher… we paved the way for you, WOOO! If it wasn’t for the stylin’, profilen’ jet flyin’, limousine ridin’, wheelin’ n’ steelin, kiss stealin’, son of a gun… you’d both be back in Michigan working at the nearest fast food restaurant! At Slamboree, Scott Steiner, Rick Steiner, you are going to see that these two legends still have what it takes to get the job done in the ring. These two dinosaurs right here, we’re going to get out of our wheel chairs, use a cane to help us into the ring, take our fake teeth out… and beat your asses! WOOO! At Slamboree, Steiner’s, it will be…

Sting: SHOWTIME!!! OOOOOW!

Flair: WOOO!

The two legends start walking away, but before they get far, they are hit from behind by the Steiner Brothers! Rick and Scott hit lariat’s to the back of the head of both Flair and Sting, sending them down to the concrete floor. The Steiner’s start stomping the hell out of Flair and Sting, and don’t stop until Doug Dillinger and security guards break it up. The Steiner’s back off the fallen legends, laughing at what they did.

Scott Steiner: We’ll see you two dinosaurs at Slamboree!

Okerlund: Guys in the commentary booth, back to you… what a bunch of cowards!

Schiavone: A bunch of cowards is right Mean Gene! The Steiner Brothers attacked Flair and Sting from behind… they’re despicable!

Hudson: Things are really heating up between these two teams. Slamboree is only 13 days away, and I guarantee Ric Flair and Sting can’t hardly wait for Slamboree to come so they can kick the crap out of the Steiner Brothers!

Tenay: I have to agree with you a hundred percent there Scott Hudson. But now, we turn from a battle a pride, to a battle of titles. You can hear his music playing now, Buff Bagwell is making his entrance… it is time for the United States Title match!

Main Event

Booker T © vs. Buff Bagwell

United States Championship Match

Buff Bagwell is already making his way down the entrance ramp as the camera’s cut to him. Buff flexes his muscles for the crowd, resulting in the crowd booing him louder than they were before. Buff motions up yours to them, and he walks the rest of the way down the ramp and gets into the ring. Buff tosses his ridiculous top hat into the crowd, and flexes his muscle again. The jeers of the crowd turn into a huge ovation of cheers, as the music of Booker T hits! Booker T comes out onto the stage, his World Heavyweight Title slung over his right shoulder, his United States Title around his waist. Booker does his signature taunt on the stage, his pyro shooting off behind him. The double champion walks down the aisle, slapping hands with a lot of the fans around him. Booker gets into the ring, and does his signature taunt again, getting another pop from the crowd. Booker T turns around and faces Buff, who was just about to sneak attack Booker. Buff stops right away, throwing his arms up in innocence, and then backing away from Booker. Booker hands his World Heavyweight Title and United States Title to Randy Anderson, who hands it to a stage hand while David Penzer does introductions. The introductions end fairly quickly, and the bell rings to start this match up.

The two men slowly circle each other to start the match. Booker goes for a tie-up with Buff, but Bagwell sidesteps Booker, backing away from him and laughing at Booker all the while. Booker goes for another tie-up, but Bagwell sidesteps him again, refusing to start the match yet. Booker acts like he is going to go for a tie-up, so Bagwell sidesteps, but Booker does as well, leaving the two face to face. Booker levels Bagwell with a right hand, knocking him back into the ropes. Booker lays into Buff with more right hands, trying to make quick work of Buff. Booker sends Buff off the opposite ropes and back at him, and hits a back body drop to Buff. Bagwell is up quickly, but gets sent down to the canvas again with a clothesline. Buff gets up quickly again, and again is sent down to the canvas, this time with a dropkick from Booker. Booker follows up with a knee drop, and makes a quick cover, but Bagwell makes an easy kick out right before a two. Bagwell gets up to his feet, and the two prepare to go at it again. Bagwell charges Booker, who sidesteps him. Buff keeps charging, and ends up going chest first into the turnbuckles in the corner of the ring. Bagwell staggers backwards into the middle of the ring, and gets dropped with a neck breaker. Booker makes another cover, but only gets a two count. Book gets up, and waits for Bagwell to get to his feet. Buff does, so Booker charges, looking for a clothesline, but Bagwell plays dirty, getting a thumb to the eye in on Booker. Booker clutches his eye in pain, giving the ‘Man With All The Stuff’ the time to completely level Booker with a vicious clothesline. Bagwell starts to go to work on Booker T as we head to our final…

*Commercial Break*

When we come back, Bagwell has Booker T sitting on the canvas, a chin lock applied by Buff. Bagwell wrenches Booker’s beck backwards, thrusting his knee into Booker’s back for more pressure on the chin lock. As things start to look like the beginning of the end for Booker T, the crowd starts rallying behind their champion, clapping their hands together, trying to get the reigning World and United States Champion back in this match. Booker’s arms had started to collapse; all of Booker just fading away. The fans’ clapping starts to get to Booker however, as his arms slowly start to rise up. Booker opens his eyes and raises his arms up and down, motioning for the crowd to clap more and louder than before. Bagwell yells for the crowd to shut up, but his shouts aren’t heard as all of the Carton Coliseum is on their feet, clapping for Booker T. Booker starts making his way to his feet, but Bagwell tries to fight it, continuing to wrench Booker’s neck backwards. Booker fights it off though, firing off a few elbows to the side of Bagwell’s chest. Booker sidesteps his body then, and in one swift movement, nails Bagwell with a back suplex!

Both men are down on the canvas, and the crowd starts clapping more and more for Booker T. Anderson starts a ten count, but both men make it back up to their feet by seven. Now on their feet, the two combatants trade right hands, starting off with slow punches, but each punch being delivered at a faster rate of change. The two men soon are firing off both lefts and rights to each other, trying to beat the other into submission. Booker T starts getting the advantage, his punches being thrown harder and faster than Bagwell’s. Buff counters in desperation though, raking the eyes of Booker. Bagwell goes for a quick clothesline, but Booker ducks it, and when Bagwell turns around, he gets drilled with the Harlem Side Kick! Booker makes a cover, but Bagwell kick out just before the count of three! Booker runs his hand over his face in frustration, wishing he could have gotten the win right then and there. Booker gets to his feet, looks around the arena, and then points to the top turnbuckle! Booker makes his way over to the corner of the ring, and climbs up to the top turnbuckle! Bagwell slowly starts getting to his feet, and when on his feet, Booker comes off the top with a missile dropkick, but Bagwell pulls Anderson in the path of Booker, and Booker inadvertently hits Anderson with the missile dropkick!

With Anderson now down, Bagwell charges Booker quickly, trying to beat the hell out of Booker. Booker ducks a Bagwell clothesline, and when Bagwell turns around, Booker plants him with the Book End! Booker T gets on top for a cover, but the only three count made is that from the fans, as Anderson is out from the dropkick. Booker gets to his feet, upset that the match isn’t over because Bagwell had to throw Anderson in front of him to take the missile dropkick. Bagwell slowly starts getting to his feet soon, and Booker yells out for the Axe Kick. Booker runs off the ropes, but when he gets to the ropes, he is tripped and his face smashes off the canvas… by Jeff Jarrett! Jarrett ran down the ramp and tripped Booker up, preventing Booker from hitting the Axe Kick to Bagwell. Jarrett slides in his guitar into the ring, and then gets into the ring himself as Booker gets to his feet. Jarrett is up to his feet in the ring before Booker, and nails Booker in the forehead with a few right hands. Booker staggers back into the ropes, and Jarrett picks up the fallen guitar as Bagwell hits Booker with a couple of right hands. Bagwell holds Booker, waiting for Jarrett to smash the guitar over Booker T’s head. Jarrett is just about to swing, but Booker smashes his leg upwards, the result being his calf smashing into the balls of Bagwell! Buff bowls over, and Jarrett swings, missing both Booker T and Bagwell by inches. Jarrett turns around, and Booker connects with the Harlem Side Kick, knocking Jarrett down and the guitar over the top rope and to the outside!

Both heels are down, and Booker runs across the ring and bounces off the ropes as the two heels get to their feet. Booker comes back towards Bagwell and Jarrett and knocks them both down with a flying double clothesline! Booker T does a reverse somersault to his knees, and gives the crowd another thing to cheer for; the Spinaroonie! Booker gets to his feet after the wicked cool Spinaroonie, and knocks both heels down with another clothesline as they get to their feet. The Booker Man waits for the two to get to their feet again, but Jarrett is up to his feet first. Book hits a toe kick to the mid-section causing Jarrett to keel over, and Booker T connects with the Axe Kick to Jarrett! Jeff Jarrett rolls out of the ring under the bottom rope, trying to escape Booker. Bagwell is up to his feet next, and Booker T fires off a few right hands to him. Bagwell staggers backwards, and Booker goes for the Book End! Bagwell fights it off though, hitting a few elbows to the side of Booker’s head. Booker backs off from the elbows, but Booker fights back and hits a quick knee to the mid-section of Buff. Buff keels over, and Booker goes for an Axe Kick. Bagwell is able to dodge the Axe Kick, and pushes Booker into the ropes in desperation. Booker T runs into the ropes face first, and when he gets to the ropes, his face is crushed with a guitar shot! The guitar busts right over the head of Booker T, and Booker falls to the canvas, possibly unconscious from the guitar shot. Bagwell falls onto Booker T in a cover, just as Anderson comes to:

One!

Two!

Three!

Schiavone: That is not right! Booker T had this match won on multiple occasions but he got screwed over by Jeff Jarrett!

Hudson: Booker T loses his United States Championship all because of Jeff Jarrett! That man is doing everything in his power to screw up the life of Booker T!

Schiavone: I hope that bastard gets what’s coming to him! Jeff Jarrett, Booker T is going to get his revenge at Slamboree!

Tenay: Booker T had this match won numerous times; he hit Bagwell with the Book End, was about to hit him with the Axe Kick, and again hit Bagwell with the Book End! Three times he had Buff beat! Three times!

Schiavone: But again, Booker T gets screwed by Jeff Jarrett and that damn guitar of his!

Tenay: I’m sorry ladies and gentleman but this is all the time we have for tonight. I hope you all enjoyed Monday Nitro, and I hope you all tune in to Monday Nitro next week, as we will only be six days away from Slamboree! I’m Mike Tenay, for Tony Schiavone and Scott Hudson, so long everybody!

Schiavone: …Someone has to stop Jeff Jarrett…

The last shot of the night is both Buff Bagwell and Jeff Jarrett standing over the unconscious Booker T. Bagwell is raising the United States Championship, and Jarrett raises the World Heavyweight Championship.

Winner: Buff Bagwell to win United States Championship at 13:11 (82, 85, 77)

*End of Show*

Show Rating: 75%

Nitro Rating: 5.28

RAW Rating: 7.18

[Hewey]

Good Nitro. Things are definitely getting interesting now. I didn't like seeing Buff Bagwell getting the US title, But, The guy was in WCW for a long time so it's overdue I guess. All though, I think Kanyon would have been a better choice to face Booker after his strong performance at Spring Stampede. Booker/Jarrett is turning into a strong feud after Jarrett cost Booker his title. I don't see Jarrett winning the title though. Mamalukes versus Palumbo and O'Haire should be a great match. Sting/Flair/Steiners is building up well, But I hope Sting and Flair get the upper hand in the feud soon. DDP/Bigelow doesn't really have me all that interested, I just think there's someone better who could face DDP. Hopefully DDP won't have to job to Bigelow. I hope you push Konnan too. Maybe a feud with Bagwell? Keep up the good work man (Y)

Also, I don't remember reading it, But did you fire Mark Jindrak or send him to development?

[JStarr]

lol, america