Tremendous Tirades: WCW Monday Nitro Debut (9.04.95)

Posted by Larry Csonka on 03.19.2008

Continuing with the debut trend, we now look at the launch of WCW Monday Nitro.

The First Monday Nitro
Date: September 4th, 1995
Location: The Mall of America in Minnesota
Announcers: Eric Bishoff, Bobby Heenan and Steve “MONGO” McMichael and his Dog


-Bishoff, Mongo, Mongo's Dog and Heenan welcome us to the show and argue a bit. Heenan gives Mongo some fake respect, and we head to the first match!

“FLYIN” Brian Pillman vs. Jushin “THUNDER” Liger

Lock up and some quick counters by Liger. Headlock by Liger, to the corner and a cartwheel kick to Pillman. Chops by Liger, Irish whip and a float over and then moonsault by Liger for 2. Back to the headlock he goes, back to the corner and chops by Liger. Irish whip and Pillman with a head scissors to Liger. Chops by Pillman, Irish whip and a boot by Pillman. They blow a RANA spot and Pillman covers for 2. Liger wanted no part of that RANA for some reason. Seated abdominal stretch by Pillman, rolls Liger and gets 2, Off the ropes and a drop toehold by Liger, and into the surfboard goes Liger. Liger now works into a reverse chin lock with the legs still locked, and Pillman escapes. Off the ropes and a head scissors by Pillman. Off the ropes, misses and flies to the floor. Liger gets a senton off the apron and rolls back in. Liger tries to suplex Pillman back in, but Pillman suplexes him to the floor. Pillman up top and gets a huge cross body to the floor! Liger rolled back in and Pillman up top…Liger crotches him and goes up top. SUPERPLEX by Liger gets 2. Liger up top now, cross body attempt eats a dropkick by Pillman and he covers for 2! Chops by Pillman, off the ropes and Liger gets a right and POWERBOMB for 2! Liger sets Pillman up top, follows and gets a top rope RANA for 2! Pillman set up top, fights back and gets a tornado DDT for 2. Liger tries a German, but Pillman counters into a roll up for the win.

Winner: Brian Pillman @ 6:55 via pin

A good opening match. They had a couple spots that were off, and it was below what they have done previously due to lack of time and some off spots, but a good opener nonetheless.
Rating: **¾

-Sting cuts a short promo, declaring he will defeat Flair.

-We get Heenan talking about the war and says that is was great competition, and great for the boys and the fans. Everyone worked hard and it all was a great time.

-Earlier they caught up with Hulk Hogan at PASTAMANIA~! Yeah baby! PASTAMANIA is running wild! HULK-A-ROOS~! Dear God this is so bad it is great!

-Lex Luger comes strolling out to the ring and Bishoff goes wild demanding that they get the camera off of him. The crowd is electric for Luger.

US Title Match: Sting © vs. Ric Flair

Lock up and to the corner they go, and a break. They WOO and YELL back and forth and lock up again. Off the ropes, a shoulder block by Flair, counters and a press slam by Sting! Off the ropes and another press slam by Sting! Flair is rocked and then gets hip tossed and dropkicked by Sting. Flair to the floor for a powder. Flair back in, knuckle lock and an eye poke by Flair. Chops by Flair in the corner, rights and then Sting fires up and no sells Flair! FLEX~! Off the ropes and a press slam by Sting. Boot by Flair, off the ropes and Flair with a cross body takes he and Sting to the floor. Chops by Flair, eye poke and then Sting press slams Flair back into the ring. Flair begs off, Irish whip and the STINGER SPLASH misses, but Sting gets the face jam on Flair. STINGER SPLASH countered by a back elbow.

We get a commercial cut with Arn Anderson discussing the first show, and the importance of the Lex Luger debut. Everyone was kept in the dark he says.

We’re back with Flair chopping down Sting. Flair up top, Sting up and tosses Flair off, as usual. Off the ropes and another press slam by Sting for 2. Arn Anderson walks down to ringside and we then see Sting miss a top rope splash. Stalling suplex by Flair connects, but Sting NO SELLS! Clotheslines by Sting. Irish whip and Flair corner flip and Sting clotheslines him on the apron. Corner mounted shots by Sting, and then a hip toss by Sting. Flair set up top, Sting up as well and they fight. Sting tossed off, and Flair takes Sting down, but Sting bridges up and gets a backslide for 2. Flair set up top, Sting follows and gets a SUPERPLEX! Arm distracts Sting, and Flair chop blocks him. Figure four try and Flair has it. Sting fights to turn it, Flair has the ropes and won’t let go. Arn is in the ring and that’s a DQ.

Arn drops the coat and they brawl! Arn is all over Flair and they brawl up the entrance. Arn goes back to the ring and gets his coat while staring down Sting.

Winner: Sting @ 9:30 via DQ

It was repetitive, but a fine match overall since it was Sting vs. Flair. Hot crowd and they played into the Fall brawl match with Arn vs. Flair.
Rating: **

-Scott Norton is now here and shoving Bishoff around. He and Mongo stand off and look to brawl but Randy Savage is out and breaks it up. Savage challenges Norton for next week. Norton wants to do it now and Savage hits the ring. He crowd is hot for this.

-We get a video for Sabu!

-Mean Gene is in the ring and hypes the show, while Bishoff then hypes WCW Saturday Night.

-We get a video package for the soon to debut Michael Wallstreet. He looks a lot like that IRS guy. He mentions that the “IRS” will be watching out for him.


WCW World Title Match: Hulk Hogan © w/Jimmy Hart vs. Big Bubba Rogers

Savage and Norton was just signed for next week. Lock up and Hulk overpowers him. A headlock by Rogers, off the ropes and they collide and no one has the advantage. Test of strength now, boot by Rogers and rights follow. Irish whip, and a corner splash by Rogers. Chops by Rogers, and then tries to slam Hulk to the corner, but he stops that and slams Rogers into the turnbuckle. Rights by Hulk, but an eye poke by Rogers. A side back breaker by Rogers and then thrusts to the face and throat of Hulk. Rogers in control, but eats a bog boot on the charge. Another boot by Hulk and Rogers is down. Rights by Hulk and the ref pulls him off. He gets mad and tries to hit the ref, which allows Rogers to get a right and then the charging leg drop on the ropes to Hulk. Slides out and grabs Hart, Hulk out and stops that and they brawl on the floor. Hulk grabs Hart’s jacket as the ref is distracted and chokes Rogers out. Corner mounted shots by Hulk, a corner clothesline now connects. Rights by Hulk, eye rake and then more rights. A slam by Hulk and then elbow drops and a face rake. More rights by Hulk, but Rogers fights back. Knees to Hulk in the corner, a slam by Rogers and then head butts by Rogers. To the corner, Rogers misses the corner splash. Rights by Hulk, but he walks into the Bossman slam and that only gets 2. HULK UP. YOU~! Rights to Rogers, off the ropes and the bog boot and leg drop, and that is all.

Winner: Hulk Hogan @ 7:10 via pin

Your usual Hogan vs. Monster match. It was fine, the crowd liked it and Rogers was more of a worker than most give credit.
Rating: *¾

-Hogan celebrates as the Dungeon of Doom hits the ring! He fights them off and LUGER is here! He helps run them off and he and Hulk stand tall, back into each other and look to fight. They talk shit back and forth and Sting is now out to calm things, as is Savage.

-Mean Gene talks about how important Hogan being on Nitro was to attract the non-hardcore wrestling fan.

-Mean Gene hits the ring as the crowd is hot for Luger. Hulk asks what Luger is doing here, and Luger says that he is here because people say Hulk is #1 and has the WCW belt. That make shim the ONLY world champion, and Luger wants the belt. Luger says to let him finish. He has been where he has been and beaten the same people. He is here to battle the big boys and wants his shot. Hulk says this is the WCW title and he is the champ. Hulk says he played games, but he gives Luger his due, but when you come to WCW and get into Hogan’s face, you have to face the Hulkamaniacs as well. Hogan says he doesn’t have to wait, just shake his hand and he will defend the title NEXT week on Nitro. They shake and the match is made. They shove and Sting and Savage keep them apart.

-Bishoff, Heenan and Mongo wrap up the show hyping the debut of Sabu, Wallstreet, Savage vs. Norton and the WCW Title match.

The 411: I know that it was nearly two-years later, but the contrast in debut shows was amazing. While WWF at the time was just content on putting on “a show,” in my opinion, with short matches and the like, WCW tried to hit a homerun, and they did. Great cruiserweight opener, two title matches, introducing new characters and the big debut of Luger, leading to a title match made this a must see show at the time. A good show to go back and watch and of course, a MUST HAVE for historical purposes.

Final Score:  8.0   [ Very Good ]