My Take On The Monday Night Wars 08.06.08: Raw vs. Nitro (8.04.97)

Posted by Larry Csonka on 08.06.2008

Fallout from THE SUMMERSLAM sees Bret Hart come to Raw as the WWF Champion, while over on the 100th NITRO Lex Luger derails the n.W.o by winning the WCW World Title!



Introduction:
Welcome back to the latest edition of My Take On! With the addition of WWE 24/7 to my cable system, I have decided to have some fun and do some columns on "The Monday Night Wars." I plan to work this similar to the "My Take on MMA" columns, where it isn't a recap as much as it is an analysis piece. I will provide the ratings of the two shows, my breakdowns of each segment that aired and then give an overall final grade so to speak of the show. At the end I will give the winner a point for the ratings win and a point for the show I thought was the best. The goal is to run through as many of these as I can as they air. I think it will be a fun adventure to embark on. Sit back and relax, as I relive The Monday Night Wars!

For those that have asked, these columns don't have a set schedule. They will appear as a fill in for when another 411 writer needs the day off.

WWE RAW IS WAR (8.04.97)~!:
RATING: 2.7

Match/Segment: Bret Gloats
Final Thoughts: Now this was an important turning point in the WWF right here. HBK cost Taker the Title at THE SUMMERSLAM, allowing Hart to win. This would of course lead to the HIAC match, the formation of DX and eventually the Montreal screw-job. Also at THE SUMMERSLAM, Owen Hart jacked the hell out of Steve Austin with the sit out tombstone, which would begin the myriad of neck problems for Austin. So Bret here puts himself over, and states that since HBK broke his word that he should be suspended from American wrestling as promised. He then puts over Bulldog for retaining the Euro Title, and says Pillman will not wear a dress because Bret is the new sheriff in town. Owen then gets mic time and says he ended Austin's career and made him a cripple. Harsh. He then claims he beat himself because he showed compassion. THE SARGE is brought out as the new commissioner of the WWF, lays down the law making a PPV main event of Bret vs. The Patriot; then Bulldog vs. Shamrock, tells Pillman he WILL wear a dress on Raw or be suspended and then says Owen will get a rematch for the IC Title, when Austin is medically cleared. Austin then walks out like a bad/dumb ass holding the neck brace in his hand, and says he's ready to go right now, calls Owen a piece of trash and the usual Austin stuff and leaves. This was a really good opening segment.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 8.0

Match/Segment: Ken Shamrock pinned Kama Mustafa
Final Thoughts: Before the match Farooq discussed the upcoming PPV match between Savio, himself and Crush. He will be handing out ass whoopings! Before the match can start, THE SARGE is out to banish the rest of the nation to the back. I always dug Kama, starting with the "Supreme Fighting Machine" days. I also dug Shamrock in WWF and thought if he would have stayed he would have gotten a chance to be a main event guy. A disputable point to be sure, but we'll never know. With the Nation gone, Los Bouriquas would sneak out, beat down Kama, allowing Shamrock to get the win. Kama then NO SELLS the finish, pops up and chases after Los Bouriquas. Dumb ass. This was just there.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 5.0

BRAKUS PROMO~!

Match/Segment: Taka Michinoku pinned Brian Christopher
Final Thoughts: While Christopher plays the bigger man role, Taka's style forces Christopher to abandon his mini-heavyweight style and actually, you know, work something resembling a good match. Christopher gains control, but Taka counters a suplex into a roll up for the win, which was Christopher's first singles loss in the WWF. After the match Christopher tosses Taka to the floor. What a bad sport. Good stuff.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 7.75

Match/Segment: Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Vader fought to a Double Count Out
Final Thoughts: Paul bearer cuts a promo to remind Chyna that he is more of a man than she'll ever be. Apparently he didn't see the sex tape. This match was to happen the previous week but never got started. It goes to the floor, Chyna dropkicks Bearer, Vader and HHH brawl, and they get counted out. This was useless.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 4.0

Match/Segment: The Patriot pinned The Sultan
Final Thoughts: The Patriot was never to be long for WWF, but in the short term they booked him smartly, got him over enough to make him a threat to Hart. For a non-major PPV at the time this was an acceptable main event I felt. This was part of the build for him, and my not go with another evil International person. The Sultan of course is RIKISHI under the mask, with The Iron Sheik as his manager. Short but fun match, Patriot dominates and takes the win. Bret, Owen and Bulldog start to walk to the ring, but the SARGE grabs Owen and Bulldog, leaving Bret walking to the ring on his own. Idiot. He and the Patriot brawl and get separated. Fine squash and angle advancement.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 7.0

Match/Segment: SHAWN SPEAKS
Final Thoughts: Shawn looks extra gay in his short golfing shots and penny loafers. Shawn mocks Vince a bit, and then says everyone is dumping the situation in his lap. Shawn says that no one takes responsibility for their actions, and he doesn't care what anyone thinks about him. He called it down the middle, and Vince agrees. When Vince asks if Shawn and Bret were in cahoots, and gets called a dumb son of a bitch. Shawn denies the accusation, and says Bret needs him and that he and Taker never crossed paths until now. THE HEARTBREAK KID LAYS DOWN FOR ABSOLUTELY NO ONE! Great heel turn by Shawn, and then Taker comes out. Shawn bails, and Taker says he is here to take souls and make people rest in peace. Paul is here and promises that Kane is coming. Good stuff to get the wheels in motion for what we all know is coming.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 7.0

Match/Segment: Ahmed Johnson pinned Chainz
Final Thoughts: This sucked. Seriously, this was a horrible match. The redeeming part of this was Los Bouriquas coming out to play with Chainz motorcycle, causing him to lose. DOA is out after the match, and after the Nation salute, the NATION turns on Ahmed and beat him down. I assume this was because he suffered yet another injury. Blah.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 3.0

Match/Segment: The Godwinns defeated The Headbangers
Final Thoughts: Definition – Filler. It wasn't the worst thing I have ever seen, but it was rather boring and the crowd hated it.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 4.0

Match/Segment: Bob Holly defeated Brian Pillman by Count Out
Final Thoughts: THE SARGE told Pillman that he would have to wear the dress until he won a match on Raw. Goldust and Marlena come to ringside to see Pillman act like a lady. They play the match for comedy, Goldust and Marlena mock Pillman with a bra and then he gets counted out, so he has to continue to wear the dress. It was ok and played off of the angle well.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 5.0

Match/Segment: Dude Love pinned Owen Hart
Final Thoughts: Bret is out to do commentary, and THE SARGE is out to keep order. The Dude is replacing Austin since he is NOT medically cleared, both in story and in reality. We get a really good match, Bret, Bulldog and Austin all try to get involved, but Austin gets the last laugh hitting Owen with a SLAMMY and allowing the DUDE to get the win.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 7.0

The Overall:
Best Match/Segment: Bret Gloats 8.0
Worst Match/Segment:: Ahmed Johnson pinned Chainz 3.0
Final Thoughts: WWE came out of Summerslam with the big title change, which would lead to big things (formation of DX, Taker vs. HBK and such) but this edition of Raw seemed "just there" to me. There were some good segments and some good wrestling, but it fell a bit flat to me.

Show Score: 6.0

WCW MONDAY NITRO (8.04.97)~!:
RATING: 4.4

This is the 100th NITRO, and a 3-hour episode.

Match/Segment: Hollywood Hogan Speaks
Final Thoughts: Hogan runs down Luger and promises to keep the title. That's it, rather useless but did hype the main event.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 4.0

Match/Segment: Curt Hennig pinned Mortis
Final Thoughts: This was a fun opening match as Mortis was criminally under rated at the time and Hennig was motivated. Hennig needed the win to get rolling strongly, but Mortis losing really did him no favors.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 6.0

Match/Segment: Jeff Jarrett, and Dean Malenko defeated Hector and Chavo Guerrero Jr
Final Thoughts: This is stemming off of the angle where Eddy cost Malenko the US Title, and the angle where Eddy was making Chavo a man, only to leave him for dead. Hector was signed to the company, mostly doing WCW Saturday Night duty and playing Laser Tron at points. Hector, while not the worker Eddy was still had a lot in the tank and was having fun matches. Chavo was a really fun face during this time, Malenko kicked ass and Jarrett was good as always. Solid match with Malenko and JJ getting the win, heading into their PPV match with the Horsemen (Mongo and Benoit.)
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 6.5

Match/Segment: More with Raven and Stevie
Final Thoughts: Raven is refusing to talk to anyone from WCW again this week, and Stevie has another contract for Raven. Stevie renegotiated the contract for him, and made sure that Raven can follow Stevie into WCW. Raven spits in the face of Stevie and throws down the contract. Stevie then declares that there will be no more abuse as Raven walks away smiling. This was fine stuff, leading to Raven's full debut.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 6.0

Match/Segment: The Giant defeated Lenny Lane, Scott DeMar, and Joey Maggs
Final Thoughts: JUMPIN JOEY MAGGS FOR THE WIN! The Giant kills bitches, drops the strap and chokeslams all three men, covers them and wins. Savage is now out and says that the Madness will be in control at Road Wild. Giant goes after him and that's that. Decent PPV hype, Giant was a monster, a fine segment.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 6.5

Match/Segment: Public Enemy defeated High Voltage
Final Thoughts: High Voltage always had the look, unfortunately that's about it. Some days they looked good and others they looked horrible. They also suffered from start and stop syndrome, as they would make Nitro, get a win, and then disappear; never developing any momentum. Public Enemy was a team I enjoyed, but Johnny Grunge was just lazy at times, while Rocco did all of the work for the team. By the way, this was a shitty High Voltage night. Rocco dives through the table, no one there for him, but High Voltage have miscommunication issues and lose. This was SO bad, slow, awkward and in the end it came off like amateur hour.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 1.0

Match/Segment: World Cruiserweight Champion Alex Wright defeated Scotty Riggs
Final Thoughts: Alex Wright may be a douche bag, but his coming out and dancing with the Nitro girls was hilarious. I then go back to hating him for an atrocious promo he proceeds to cut. We get an ok match, nothing special and nothing to really make you car, but ok work. Nobody bought Riggs because he was dead in the water when Buff went to the n.W.o. Sure the American Males weren't the greatest concept, but he was way more believable in that team than as a singles star. Wright uses the Jericho-like missile dropkick for the win.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 6.0

Match/Segment: Luger Speaks
Final Thoughts: They tried to keep the title all program long, with stuff like this at the top of the hour, which is smart. Luger says he wanted to focus on Road Wild, but now he has the chance tonight, and he is set to go, because this will be the night. He promises to rack Hogan and win the title. This was a fine little promo from Lex, better than the Hogan promo because he had some real emotion in there.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 6.5

CHRIS BENOIT EDITED FROM HISTORY: Chris Benoit defeated Syxx by Disqualification

Match/Segment: Booker T. pinned Vincent
Final Thoughts: Vincent had been pissing ff the Harlem Heat and cost them their tag title shot, so this is for revenge. They will face Vicious and Delicious at the PPV. Vincent sucked, sold poorly and shouldn't have even been out there at this point. It pays to be friends with Hogan. Squash for Booker and they beat down Vincent after the match.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 5.0

Match/Segment: DDP Speaks
Final Thoughts: He is facing Flair later in the show. They discuss the tension with Hennig, and says he busted his ass to get where he is. He respects Flair, and vows to make it to the PPV, no mater what Flair tries. A fine fire filled promo right here.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 6.0

Match/Segment: Wrath pinned The Barbarian
Final Thoughts: This was a big man slugfest 101 right here. It wasn't bad, and Wrath got the win, which was needed for the team as Mortis took the loss earlier in the night. The Barbarian was a gatekeeper of sorts, still winning matches, but there to put over guys that were usually on the way up. Meng is out to run off Wrath after the match.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 6.0

Match/Segment: The Steiner Brothers Make a Blockbuster Announcement
Final Thoughts: The Steiner Brothers bring out Ted Dibiase to the ring with them as their big announcement. Dibiase was dropped by the n.W.o and says sometimes to have to back up and look at the big picture. He grew up in wrestling, his father died in the ring and he wrestled to make him proud. He got caught up in the wrong stuff, but every man pays a price and he made bad choices, but he is making right choices now. He makes stuff right by starting to tear down the n.W.o by taking the tag titles back for WCW. Hall and Nash come out and proclaim to be better than everyone because they have the gold while Nash promises that Dibiase is a dead man for joining with the Steiner Brothers. Good stuff that makes the Steiner's actually look smart and like WCW was staring to figure out how to counteract the n.W.o.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 7.0

Match/Segment: Konnan defeated Psichosis
Final Thoughts: A short and sloppy match that was just a set up for Rey coming to the ring to assure us that he was ok, by attacking Konnan with his crutches. Shit match, good PPV hype.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 5.0

Match/Segment: Glacier and Ernest Miller defeated Damien and Silver King
Final Thoughts: This was slow, sloppy and disjointed. Guys standing around at times, including Miller almost falling off of the top rope doing his finish. This show is going down hill and fast.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 3.0

Match/Segment: Bishoff Speaks
Final Thoughts: Bishoff complains about unfair treatment and calls out JJ Dillon, who comes to the ring. He runs down Dillon for the way he is running the company, and for allowing the Giant to chokeslam him. He threatens to sue, and also runs down Larry Z for getting involved last week. Dillon says Larry Z heard him loud and clear, and then laughs off Bishoff. That was boring and devoid of heat.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 4.0

Match/Segment: Diamond Dallas Page defeated Ric Flair by DQ
Final Thoughts: We get Curt Hennig at ringside during the bout, part to play into the Page feud and partly to tease his joining the Horsemen. That would end badly. He of course distracts DDP, allowing Flair to chop block (15 yards) the knee. The match is very awkward at times, as it appeared as if DDP wasn't working right with Flair to set him for the way he likes to bump (on his side) making for rickety exchanges. I like DDP more than most, but it was obvious that Flair was walking him through things, giving him body parts and repeatedly calling things, which DDP needed as he liked to map shit out like Savage. Hennig would lead to a DQ, DDP would try to fight off both men and does. It takes a hell of a man to make his own save. This was passable, but not really good.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 5.0

Match/Segment: Villano IV and V defeated Hector Garza and Lizmark Jr
Final Thoughts: Young Hector Garza looks like Kaz. After a real down turn on the show the LUCHADORES decide to make me love the show again with a great little LUCHA tag match. Constant action, clean, fast paced and fun high spots. Add the Villano's doing the HEEL SWITCH for the win and this was greatness.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 7.0

Match/Segment: JJ addresses Sting
Final Thoughts: It has been nearly a year since anyone in WCW management has been able to talk to Sting. Most of WCW thought Sting was a traitor, that he was a member of the n.W.o, but he proved that he wasn't and JJ realizes this and that is why he is out there. JJ pleads to Sting that WCW needs him and says he has a contract for him to wrestle. Sting comes from the ceiling at this point, which pleases JJ Dillon. JJ kisses his ass and wants to rebuild the relationship. The contract is to face Curt Hennig, and Sting tears it up and leaves the ring. Mean Gene pleads with Sting but it is all for not. While we all know the lackluster end result, at the time they were crafting the story well and people wanted to see Sting and see him face Hogan.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 7.5

Match/Segment: Lex Luger defeated Hollywood Hogan to win the World Heavyweight Title
Final Thoughts: Hogan comes out solo, but we all know that this won't last long. Tons of great heat for Hogan here, they actually try to GRAPPLE for a bit, which is hilarity and then Hogan rightfully cheats for the advantage. HEEL! Hogan dominates, but constantly shows frustration when Luger kicks out of the boot and the leg drop. Luger fires up, fights off Hall, Nash and Savage. The ref allows it, he racks Hogan and Hogan taps allowing Hogan to win the WCW Title on the 100th Nitro. The Giant, DDP, the Steiner's, Dibiase and pretty much all of WCW enter the ring for the huge celebration. It goes backstage where there is a huge party atmosphere as Luger is soaked with champagne. The Giant has paint remover and tries to restore the WCW to the way it was, erasing the n.W.o. that had stained the title, seemingly forever to this point. The n.W.o. explodes backstage and Hogan says it wasn't supposed to happen and tosses shit around. It's just a shame he loses it right back to Hogan at Road Wild 5-days later, thusly derailing all momentum for Luger and WCW. The other thing is that they were noticeably building to Hogan vs. Sting. I never would have done the 5-day reign, too much of a cock tease. I would have rolled on with Hogan and the n.W.o. fucking everyone until Sting finally gives him his comeuppance. But I would be lying if I said this WASN'T a huge change and a great moment, for the night.
Larry's Enjoyment Index: 9.0

The Overall:
Best Match/Segment: Lex Luger defeated Hollywood Hogan to win the World Heavyweight Title 9.0
Worst Match/Segment:: Public Enemy defeated High Voltage 1.0
Final Thoughts: The 100th episode of Nitro would have been a really good episode I feel if it was only 2-hours. There was so much stuff that felt like filler just to fill up the three hours and a lot of it wasn't needed. If you trim that stuff and focus on what was needed, the episode would have been a lot better. They get an "A" for effort as they tried to make it a monumental show, but they came short in that goal.

Show Score: 6.5