WCW Monday Nitro Results
September 4, 1995
Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Commentary: Eric Bischoff, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Steve “Mongo” McMichael
Results by Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com
The WCW Monday Nitro video leads us into the show and we hear the voice of Eric Bischoff saying:
“From the land of 10,000 lakes, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Mall of America, the only building big enough to hold the debut edition of WCW Monday Nitro!”
We cut to ring side and see Eric Bischoff alongside the late Steve McMichael. In comes Bobby Heenan who welcomes McMichael to WCW and the three of them share a moment with Heenan being his usual heel self.
Roy’s Thoughts: I loved the WCW Nitro intro video and looking back, I can see how this was a big time show in the making. The unique look, a new show with familiar faces. Let’s kick off the Monday Night Wars!
Our first match in Nitro history is Jushin “Thunder” Liger of New Japan Pro Wrestling against Flyin’ Brian.
Jushin “Thunder” Liger vs. Flyin’ Brian
The bell rings and we are under way in our first ever WCW Nitro match!
Liger begins by throwing Pillman into the corner and landing a cartwheel kick! Pillman gets out of the corner as Liger climbs the top rope and lands a moon sault. He goes for the cover but Pillman kicks out. Liger throws Pillman back into the corner but Pillman pushes himself up, holding on to the top rope, he wraps his feet around Liger’s head and spins him down onto the mat.
Pillman climbs the second rope and lands a hurricanrana, taking Liger down. Pillman goes for the cover but Liger kicks out. Pillman to the ropes but Liger with a drop toe hold followed by a Mexican surf board. Liger releases it into a reverse chin lock and he lets go of the hold. Pillman to the ropes but another head scissor take down. Pillman runs to the ropes but Liger throws him to the outside and Liger lands a spinning cartwheel off the ring apron to the outside of the ring.
Liger gets back into the ring and Pillman on the ring apron. Liger grabs Pillman but Pillman throws him to the outside. Pillman with a cross body off the top rope! Pillman throws Liger back into the ring and Pilan climbs the top rope but Liger trips him up. Liger on the top rope and Liger lands a super plex. He goes for the cover but Pillman kicks out. Liger climbs the top rope and he jumps off but Pillman with a drop kick. He goes for the cover but Liger kicks out.
Pillman throws Liger to the ropes but Liger lands a powerbomb. He goes for the cover but Pillman kicks out. Liger places Pillman on the top rope and he lands a frankensteiner! He goes for the cover but Pillman kicks out. Liger places Pillman on the top rope but Pillman with a right hand and he lands a tornado DDT. Pillman goes for the cover but Liger kicks out. Pillman grabs Liger but Liger spins around behind Pillman, grabbing him by the waist. Liger goes for a waist lock take down but Pillman rolls him through for the cover and gets the pin!
Winner: Brian Pillman
Both men shake hands after the match.
Roy’s thoughts: Not a bad match to kick off the new show. The commentary team tried to really explain some of the moves for the newer wrestling viewers and I think they did a good job. At one point, they called it “The WCW”, which I thought was funny. One thing I will say which I thought WCW did very well are the ring apron camera angles. The WWF was not doing it at the time and I enjoyed it when WCW did them.
We see surfer Sting who cuts a promo on Ric Flair!
We cut to commercial and back from commercial, we see the late great Hulk Hogan in between a sea of fans. In front of them is Eric Bischoff who mentions that Hogan is in front of PastaMania. Hogan is signing autographs and Hogan cuts a promo, talking about how he is putting the World title on the line tonight.
Roy’s thoughts: Hulk Hogan really knew how to cut a promo and get the people going. I forgot PastaMania was a thing at one point too.
We cut to Ric Flair walking down to the ring, wearing a brownish-orange robe. His opponent is the flashy, surfer Sting!
Both men are in the ring with Sting’s song still playing but it cuts to someone walking down wearing a white dress shirt and black pants. Bischoff says “what in the hell is he doing here?” and it’s Lex Luger! Bischoff is asking to get the camera off of him as the bell rings.
Ric Flair vs. Sting
Both men look at Luger with the fans chanting “Luger” and everyone looking at him. JJ Dillon points to the back and in the ring, the match is under way. Flair in yellow tights and Sting in pink tights. A loud iconic “Wooo” scream from Sting and both men lock up. Flair with a head lock as Sting throws him to the ropes and Flair with a shoulder tackle. Flair back to the ropes but Sting with a gorilla press slam. Another gorilla press by Sting followed by the iconic scream. Sting with a hip toss followed by a drop kick and Flair rolls to the outside of the ring.
Flair circles the ring and gets back in. Flair with a rake to the eyes followed by chops to the chest. A right hand by Flair followed by a chop but Sting smiles. Sting throws Flair to the ropes and another gorilla press slam. Sting to the ropes, Flair with a crossbody but Sting catches him and both men fall to the outside of the ring.
Another chop to the chest by Flair and a rake to the eyes. Flair runs towards Sting but Sting catches him, lifts him up and throws him through the ropes and into the ring. Flair begs for mercy but Sting throws him into the turnbuckle. Sting goes for the Stinger’s splash in the corner but Flair moves out of the way. Flair takes a moment but Sting with a bulldog. Flair back up as Sting runs towards him but Flair with an elbow to the face.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Flair on the top rope but Sting with a right hand. Sting grabs Flair and throws him down onto the mat! Flair is thrown to the ropes and Sting with another gorilla press. He goes for the cover but Flair kicks out.
We see Arn Anderson walking down to the ring. Sting on the top rope, he goes for a splash but Flair moves out of the way. Flair with a vertical suplex and Sting gets right back up. Sting with two clotheslines. He throws Flair to the corner but Flair flips over onto the ring apron and Sting hits him with a clothesline. Sting gets Flair in the corner and Sting hits him with ten right hands. Sting with a hip toss and he places Flair on the top rope. He grabs Flair but Flair with a rake to the eyes.
Sting climbs the second rope and both men exchange right hands, Flair pushes him down. Flair gets down onto the mat, he throws Sting to the ropes, both men go for hip tosses but Flair with a head lock take down which is reversed into leg scissors by Sting. Flair gets out of it and Sting places him on the top rope. Sting with a superplex! Sting looks at Arn who is on the outside but Flair with a chop to the leg from behind. Flair with the Figure Four Leg Lock and Flair uses the ropes for leverage. Flair is not letting go as the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Sting
In comes Arn Anderson and Flair goes for a right hand but Arn with a right hand onto Flair. Both men fight to the outside with Arn hitting Flair with right hands. JJ Dillon and referees come out and break it up.
Roy’s thoughts: I’m not sure if this match should not have kicked off the show. Two of the biggest names in the company. A lot of gorilla press slams from Sting but I can’t say much, Sting is my favorite WCW wrestler of all time. Also, I always liked the sound of the WCW ring. It’s small differences but when someone hits the mat, you hear it more. For new viewers, they didn’t really explain why Arn Anderson was there too.
We cut to ringside and it’s Scott Norton! He gets in Bobby Heenan’s face and he begins yelling at Bischoff. He tells him that he signed his contract. In comes Mongo and they argue but in comes the Macho Man Randy Savage! He challenges Norton to a match and Savage challenges him to the match now!
Roy’s thoughts: Crazy to think that we just saw five people in this segment at ringside and three of them are no longer with us.
A video package hyping up Sabu airs.
-Commercial Break-
“Mean” Gene Okerlund is in the ring! And he congratulates a fan on winning the Harley Davidson Sweepstakes. Back to Bischoff, he hypes up WCW Saturday Night and announces it will be Johnny B Badd against “Dirty” Dick Slater and Sting teaming up with Macho Man vs. The Blue Bloods. A special update on WCW Fall Brawl War Games!
We cut to a video of Mr. Wallstreet, also known as IRS from WWF. He mentions how people are talking about the “New Generation” but says the New Generation is nothing more than the Few Generation and that is why he is in WCW.
Roy’s thoughts: A nice dig at WWF with the New Generation stuff. But it has to be said, Mr. Wallstreet did not do too much in WCW.
At ring side, out comes Big Bubba Rogers for his match!
WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Hulk Hogan (c) with Jimmy Hart vs. Big Bubba Rogers
The bell rings and we are under way. Both men lock up but Hogan pushes Bubba Rogers in the corner and Hogan flexes his muscles. A headlock by Bubba Rogers and Hogan throws him to the ropes. A shoulder tackle by Hogan and the fans chant “Hogan”. Bubba Rogers to his feet and a test of strength but Bubba Rogers with a kick followed by a forearm to the face. Bubba Rogers with a splash in the corner. Bubba Rogers goes to slam Hogan face first into the turnbuckle but Hogan blocks it and Hogan slams Bubba Rogers into the turnbuckle. Hogan moves the referee out of the way and Bubba Rogers with a poke to the eyes. Bubba Rogers lifts Hogan up and he lands a modified back breaker.
Hogan back up and Bubba Rogers with a right hand. Bubba Rogers runs towards Hogan but Hogan with a boot to the face and another boot to the face. Bubba Rogers begins to lose his balance and Hogan pushes him down. Hogan with right hands but the referee breaks it up. Bubba Rogers with a right hand and he gets Hogan leaning onto the second rope. Bubba Rogers with a running leg to the back of Hogan. Jimmy Hart at ringside but Bubba Rogers gets in Hart’s face and Bubba Rogers takes Hart’s jacket off. Hogan to the outside and he hits Bubba Rogers with right hands and throws him back into the ring. Jimmy Hart gets on the ring apron and distracts the referee. Hogan wraps the jacket around Bubba’s face and he begins hitting him with right hands. The referee turns around and Hogan with a running clothesline. Hogan with a right hand followed by a body slam. Hogan with an elbow and a kick to the face.
Hogan with right hands but Bubba Rogers with a right hand. Knees by Bubba Rogers followed by a body slam. Hogan gets back to his feet and Bubba Rogers with a headbutt. Hogan in the corner, Bubba Rogers goes for a splash but Hogan moves out of the way. Right hands by Hogan and Hogan runs to the ropes but Bubba Rogers with a side slam. He goes for the cover but Hogan kicks out. Bubba Rogers with right hands but Hogan is Hulking up! Hogan gets to his feet and he continues to Hulk up. Bubba Rogers with a right hand but Hogan points his finger at Bubba Rogers. He throws him to the ropes and Hogan with a big boot followed by the legendary leg drop! He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Still WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Hulk Hogan
Jimmy Hart gets in the ring with Hogan’s music playing and both men celebrate. Out run The Dungeon of Doom to the ring and out comes Lex Luger. He helps Hogan attack the Dungeon of Doom. Hogan and Luger with their backs to each other and they turn around. Both men are face to face and in come Sting and the Macho Man Randy Savage. Hogan and Luger are yelling at each other as Sting and Randy Savage try to calm them down.
Roy’s thoughts: A World Heavyweight Championship match in the main event of the first show with the Champion Hulk Hogan was a big way for them to end the show. The match itself wasn’t great but this was Hogan and it got the fans going. Lex Luger showing up was a big deal. It might not seem like it now, especially for new viewers but this was massive.
-Commercial Break-
An ad for Fall Brawl: War Games airs.
Back from commercial, Gene Okerlund is in the ring and Hogan begins asking Luger what he is doing in his backyard. Luger tells him that he is there for one reason and one reason only. People say that Hogan is the number one wrestler, he wears the WCW belt and that makes Hogan the only World Heavyweight Champion. Luger says he is there to take the belt from him. Luger tells him he has been down the same road as him, he has beaten the same people he has beaten. He is sick and tired of playing around with kids, he is there to get it on with the big boys. He doesn’t care if it’s next month, next year or five years from now, he will get his shot.
Hogan grabs the World Heavyweight Championship and he tells Luger that he is the Champion and it will stay that way for a decade and a day. He knows where Luger has been, he has been playing games, he knows when he started and how long he has been at it. But when he comes to WCW and gets in his face, there are thousands of Hulkimaniac’s who will stand with him. As great as Luger is, Luger does not have to prove anything to him. He doesn’t have to wait for next week or next month. If he shakes his hand, he will put the title on the line next week in Miami!
Both men push each other as Sting and Randy Savage break it up. Okerlund takes us off the air.
Roy’s thoughts: They ended the first WCW Nitro with their Champion, two of their biggest stars in Sting and Randy Savage, with their newest signing Lex Luger. And they announced that it will be Hulk Hogan against Lex Luger for the World title on the next Nitro in Miami. That is must watch!