WCW Monday Nitro Results
January 22, 1996
Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentary: Eric Bischoff, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Steve “Mongo” McMichael
Results by Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com
WCW Nitro kicks off with the legendary Nitro video.
We cut to the commentators and Heenan talks about how Randy Savage has a bad arm and back but he is going after the WCW World Heavyweight title. In comes Konan holding the Mexican World title and he says he will take on Psicosis tomorrow. Eric Bischoff thanks him and Randy Savage’s music hits.
Several men come out first and out comes Randy Savage. He is stopped by Gene Okerlund. Savage asks if there is any doubt that he is going o be steaming hot tonight. Out comes Hulk Hogan. He tells Savage that the first thing he wants to do is wish him good luck. They shake hands and Hogan tells him that when Savage wins the WCW title, he wants the first shot at it. Hogan heads to the back and Savage says to head to the ring.
WCW World Heavyweight Championship – Ric Flair (c) with Jimmy Hart vs. Macho Man Randy Savage
Before the match, Flair goes to the outside of the ring but he is slapped by Woman. Savage hits Flair with right hands on the outside of the ring. The bell rings and we are under way. Flair with a chop to the chest and he throws Savage into the barricade. Flair gets back into the ring and as does Savage. Savage with a clothesline and he goes for the cover but Flair kicks out. Savage throws Flair into the corner and runs towards him but Flair with an elbow to the face. Flair with a chop to the chest. Jimmy Hart gets on the ring apron and distracts the referee. Flair throws Savage to the outside of the ring. Flair distracts the referee and Jimmy Hart kicks Savage on the outside. Flair to the outside and he lands a chop to the chest. Flair throws Savage over the barricade and into the fans. Flair grabs Savage back over the barricade. He goes for a right hand but Savage with a rake to the eyes. Flair runs towards Savage but Savage with a back body drop.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Savage with right hands. He gets Flair in the corner and climbs the second rope. Savage with 10 right hands onto Flair. Savage climbs down and throws Flair into the opposite corner but Flair flips over and falls to the outside of the ring. Savage to the outside and he throws Flair face first into the barricade. Savage throws Flair back into the ring and he hits him with a right hand. Flair with a kick to Savage and Flair with a chop to the chest. Flair lifts Savage up and slams his knee onto his. Flair with the Figure Four Leg Lock and Flair uses the ropes for leverage. The referee doesn’t see it and Flair lets go. Flair puts his arms back on the ropes for leverage but the referee sees him. The referee pulls Flair by the hair and Flair pushes the referee. Flair turns to Savage and hits him with a chop to the chest. Flair with a knee to the face. Flair climbs the top rope but Savage gets to his feet and gorilla press slams Flair. Savage climbs the top rope and he lands a double axe. Savage climbs the top rope and he lands another double axe. Jimmy Hart gets on the ring apron and that distracts the referee. That distracts Savage and Flair with a rake to the eyes. Arn Anderson runs down and gets on the ring apron. Flair grabs Savage and Arn goes to hit Savage with brass knuckles but Savage ducks. Arn accidentally hits Flair and out comes Hogan. He pulls Arn off the ring apron. Savage climbs the top rope and he lands the elbow drop. Savage goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: New WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Macho Man Randy Savage
Hogan gets in the ring after the match and he celebrates with Savage. Out comes Okerlund and Savage tells Hogan that Hogan was celebrating like he won it but it was Savage who won it. Savage says he is the WCW World Heavyweight Champion. He says Hogan is clowning around the ring and not to embarrass himself. He says they are friends, they have been to hell and back 12 times.
Hogan congratulates Savage on winning the title with a little help. He says after the One Man Gang tonight, he would love to have the first shot at the title. Savage tells Hogan that they have been watching each other’s backs for a long time. He says he can’t wait for another life time. He says Hogan has to get himself to the number one spot and he will get him a title shot. Hogan tells Savage to watch his back tonight. He says he will do what it takes to get to the number one spot. Savage tells him that this match has to happen. Savage tells Hogan that if Hogan beats him, he will shake his hand. But if he beats Hogan, it is Hogan that has to shake his hand. Hogan tells him they are on.
Roy’s thoughts: Them having this match was massive. A new World Heavyweight Champion to start Nitro, I can’t remember the last time a World Title match changed hands on the opening match of a show that was not a PPV. I know this was all to eventually have Randy Savage against Hulk Hogan but they really made this all out to be Hogan.
-Commercial Break-
Dean Malenko vs. Flyin’ Brian
The bell rings and we are under way. Brian with a chop to the chest. Brian throws Malenko to the ropes but Malenko with a hip toss followed by a drop kick. He grabs Brian by the legs but Brian rolls to the ropes and to the outside of the ring. Brian gets back in the ring and Brian with a right hand. Brian with a suplex and he grabs Malenko but Malenko with right hands. Malenko with a clothesline followed by a brain buster. Malenko with a swinging neck breaker and he goes for the cover but Brian kicks out. Malenko runs towards Brian but Brian with a knee. Brian with a tornado DDT. He goes for the cover but Brian lets go of the cover. Brian with a chop to the chest. He throws Malenko to the ropes but Malenko with a kick and an underhook suplex. He goes for the cover but Brian kicks out. Brian to the outside and Malenko goes for a baseball slide but Brian moves out of the way. Brian with a right hand and he throws Malenko back into the ring.Brian climbs the top rope but Malenko with a right hand. Malenko climbs the second rope but Brian with a headbutt and down goes Malenko. Brian goes for a tornado DDT but Malenko throws Brian onto the mat. Malenko lifts Brian up and he slams Brian onto his knee. Malenko with a leg lock but Brian reaches the ropes. Brian gets on the ring apron and he hits Malenko with a right hand. Malenko falls to the mat and his leg gets caught in between the bottom and middle rope. Brian goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Flyin’ Brian
Roy’s thoughts: A bit surprised they had Flyin’ Brian win here. I thought they would have him lose and eventually kick him out of the Four Horsemen.
-Commercial Break-
WCW Tag Team Championship match – Harlem Heat (c’s) vs. Sting and Lex Luger
The bell rings and we are under way. Luger and Stevie Ray start the match. Stevie Ray with right hands and he throws Luger to the ropes but Luger with a flying forearm. He goes for the cover but Stevie Ray kicks out. Luger runs to the ropes but Booker T kicks him from behind. Stevie Ray with a side kick to the face. He goes for the cover but Luger kicks out. Booker T is tagged in but Luger with a double clothesline. Sting is tagged in. Sting with right hands. He lands a Stinger’s splash onto both Stevie Ray and Booker T. Sting gets Stevie Ray in the Scorpion Death Lock but Booker T with a jumping kick onto the back of the neck. Booker T gets back on the ring apron and Stevie Ray lands a clothesline onto Sting. He goes for the cover but Sting kicks out. Booker T is tagged in and he lands a side kick to the face. Booker T with an arm bar but Sting gets to his feet. Sting with right hands but Booker T with a kick to the face. Boker T climbs the top rope and lands a bulldog. He goes for the cover but Sting kicks out. Stevie Ray is tagged in and they double team Sting. Stevie Ray with right hands but Sting with right hands. Sting with right hands onto Booker T who is on the ring apron. He turns around but Stevie Ray with a poke to the eyes. In comes Lex Luger but the referee stops him. Stevie Ray goes for the cover but Sting kicks out. Stevie Ray with a bodyslam nd Booker T is tagged in. Booker T with a knee to the face. He goes for the cover but Sting kicks out. Stevie Ray is tagged back in. They pick Sting up and slam him onto the mat. Booker T climbs the top rope and he goes for a senton but Sting moves out of the way. Luger is tagged in and he lands right hands onto Booker T. Stevie Ray gets in the ring but Luger with right hands and he falls to the outside.
Jimmy Hart gets on the ring apron and he gives Luger something. Stevie Ray is on the outside and he throws Sting back into the ring. Sting
to the ropes and a double cross body onto each other. Luger is tagged in. Booker T and Sting fight to the outside and that distracts the referee. Luger hits Stevie Ray with something and Stevie Ray falls to the mat. We see a bunch of silver dollars on the mat. Luger goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winners: New WCW Tag Team Champions, Sting and Lex Luger
Roy’s thoughts: There were a lot of tags that did not happen in this match, from both teams. Luger cheated to in and Sting did not even know, this will be interesting.
-Commercial Break-
United States Champion One Man Gang vs. Hulk Hogan
The bell rings and we are under way. One Man Gang goes for a right hand but Hogan with a right hand. Hogan goes or the big boot but One Man Gang gets on the ring apron. Hogan with a right hand and One Man Gang falls onto the outside of the ring. Hogan to the outside but One Man Gang with a rake to the eyes and right hands. One Man Gang grabs Hogan but Hogan throws One Man Gang into he ng steps. Hogan with right hands. Hogan throws One Man Gang face first into the barricade and back into the ring. Hogan gets in the ring and he hits One Man Gang with a right hand. Hogan bites One Man Gang in the forehead. He throws One Man Gang to the ropes and Hogan with a clothesline. He throws One Man Gang to the ropes but One Man Gang with a right hand. One Man Gang with a bodyslam and he lands a splash. Hogan gets back up to his feet and Hulks up. Hogan with right hands and he throws One Man Gang into the corner. Hogan with a clothesline. He throws One Man Gang to the ropes and Hogan with a big boot but One Man Gang stays on his feet. Hogan with a bodyslam followed by the Leg Drop. Hogan goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Hulk Hogan
Out come the Zodiac and Chris Benoit after the match but Hogan with right hands. Randy Savage runs odwn to the ring. Out come the Dungeon of Doom and the Four Horsemen. The Giant tries to get in the ring but they hold him back. Flyin’ Brian is jumping up and down telling them to attack Hogan and Savage now but Arn tells him not to. They all leave with Hogan and Savage in the ring.
Hogan tells Savage that the One Man Gang was the first step and he will do everything he can to become the number one contender. Hogan says that Miss Elizabeth will be there at Clash of the Champions to guide them. Savage says history will be made at Clash of the Champions. He says The Giant and the Nature Boy are meat. Hogan says with them back together, he feels sorry for The Giant and Ric Flair.
We cut to the announce team and they talk about Clash of the Champions. Heenan says that The Giant and Ric Flair will take on Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan as Nitro goes off the air.
Roy’s thoughts: This could have been the first match of the show with Savage getting the win against Flair for the title as the last match. This was about the promo at the end and again, they are working towards having Randy Savage against Hulk Hogan.
It was a big Nitro show with two title changes and a lot happening. A fun show.