WCW Monday Nitro (May 29, 2006)

WCW Monday Nitro

May 29, 2006

Richfield, OH

Richfield Coliseum

 

 

We open the show with a video tribute to our armed forces, past and present as WCW pays tribute to the troops.  Happy Memorial Day...

 

It's Tony Schiavone, Dutch Mantell & Rich Landrum at ringside.  Schiavone explains that Madden had a death in his family (his mother) and was unable to be here tonight so Landrum is filling in for him.

 

It's a big show - Harley Race will be making some kind of announcement.  Jannetty is here to defend the TV title.  There will be a triple threat match for the WCW World Tag Team Titles.  And so much more.

 

Music hits and here comes the WCW "Executive Director" Cyrus to the ring.  He gets on the mic and wants to explain what happened at the Clash of the Champions.  He didn't really lose to Sean Waltman.  It was a ripoff and conspiracy.  More music hits and here comes WCW Owner Eric Bischoff.  He's not smiling.  Cyrus is talking and trying to explain to Eric what happened at the Clash.  Eric grabs the mic from his hands.  "Shut up!"  Eric saw what happened at the Clash.  The Clash was the # 1 show on cable TV this past week - millions of people saw what happened.  Sean Waltman, or X-Pac if you prefer, beat Cyrus and pinned him one-two- three.  Eric has the producers run the footage as we go back to the end of the Waltman-Cyrus match and watch X-Pac pin Cyrus after the "X-Factor".  Cyrus is still trying to explain and make excuses to Bischoff.  Eric tells him to get out of the ring and go to the back.  For now, he's suspended as the "Executive Director"...  Eric will deal with him later. 

 

Cyrus leaves the ring slowly and Eric gets back on the mic.  He has some announcements to make.  At the next WCW PPV, "Bash at the Beach on June 11, 2006, the main event will be a defense of the WCW World Championship.  The champion, whoever it is. will be defending the title against a very special challenger. Eric won't name the challenger yet, but says this person is one of the best in the world and will be here on Nitro next week.

 

But first, the WCW Champion, Sean O'Haire has a different hurdle to clear. Eric enjoyed most of the Clash and one of the best parts was watching two crazy idiots beat the hell out of each other in a Hardcore Match.  So he's decided to reward the two men who put on such an entertaining match by giving them chances to be at the top of the ladder.Tonight, Terry Funk gets a shot at the WCW World Championship and Sean O'Haire.  And next week, on Nitro, the winner of the Funk/O'Haire match will defend the WCW World Championship against Cactus Jack. 

 

Eric smiles that big smile of his and starts to leave the ring, but the sound of "Real American" fills the arena and here comes Hulk Hogan to the ring.  Hogan is totally PO'ed about the Clash of Champions.  Eric & him had a deal and Eric screwed him.  Eric tells Hulk that he did exactly what he promised - he gave Hogan a shot at the WCW World Title at the Clash.  Hogan says it was a set-up and it wasn't supposed to be an elimination match.  Eric just smiles and says that it's not his fault that Hogan got pinned by Harley Race & Sean O'Haire.  "I guess it just wasn't your night, Hulk!"...  Hogan is up in Eric's face and they go eye to eye & nose to nose.  Eric tells Hulk to "back off or else!"  "Or what, bruthuh?  You're gonna pull some of that martial arts crap on me?"  Still, Hogan backs up a bit and starts telling Eric what he wants!

 

Eric just listens and finally snaps!  "I'm so damn sick of this, Hogan!  Let me tell you something!  I own WCW!  I am the boss!  You think you can make all sorts of demands just because you're Hulk Hogan!  This isn't 1993 anymore!  I don't need YOU!  I don't need any one wrestler!  I have a whole company full of wrestlers who are younger, more talented, more exciting, and DO WHAT THEY'RE TOLD!  Hogan!  Screw you!  You had your chance and guess what?  You got beat!  You lost!  You want to whine and cry - fine!  Do it somewhere else because I'm through listening to it!" 

 

Hogan is turning red as he hears this and he grabs Eric by the shirt!  "You aren't nothing Bischoff!  You wouldn't be anything without me!  You hear me?  This company was built on my back.. my repuatation.  Russo tried to screw with me and the company went down as a result!  Don't (bleep) with me, Eric!  Don't you dare (bleep) with me!" 

 

Hogan lets go of Bischoff, who falls to the mat.  Hogan still has the mic. Here is what is going to happen.  He's wrestling for the World Championship TONIGHT!  And he's winning the title!  And Eric is going to make this happen.. or else Hogan is going to crush Bischoff like the worthless little cockroach he is!  Hogan drops down and rolls out of the ring, headed towards the back.  Eric grabs the mic.  "Screw you, Hogan! It won't happen!  Because you're suspended"  Get the hell out of my arena!  You're gone!  You're history! You stupid son of a... "  Hogan comes back into the ring and goes after Eric, but (finally) security comes into the ring and grabs Hogan, keeping him back and pushing him away from Bischoff!  Eric demands that the security lock Hogan up!  Get him the hell out of the arena! 

 

(commercial)

 

We come back and the announcers recap what just happened.  We see footage from during the break as Hogan is handcuffed and led from the arena, being placed in a waiting partol car. 

 

Back to live action as David Penzer is in the ring and makes the introductions for the first match.

 

CHARLIE HAAS versus ETHAN STORM

 

Haas is alone as he comes to the ring and the announcers comment on how it has to be a major adjustment to not see Woman or Miss Jackie at ringside. Storm attacks at the bell with several clubbing blows and a big armdrag.  Haas counters and plants a knee into Storm's stomach before sending him flying with a big suplex.  Anther suplex by Haas for two.  Haas locks up a chinock.  Storm escapes with a jawbreaker and follows up with several kicks to the stomach.  Suplex by Storm for two.  Storm slams Haas and goes up to the top rope.  Haas is quickly up and catches Storm with a punch before delivering a belly-to-back suplex from the top.  Big DDT by Haas and he covers to get the pin.

Winner:  CHARLIE HAAS

 

(commercial)

 

We're backstage and Terri Runnels is with The Elementals, Soce, Tank Abbott, Hugh Morrus, Rico & their newest member, Soce's personal bodyguard, Daniel Puder.  They're all smiles as they talk about their newest member, Daniel Puder and how he took care of their "Goldberg problem" on his first night on the job. 

 

We go to video footage and see Puder attacking Goldberg from behnd after Goldberg went after Soce.  Puder locks up the arm of Goldberg with his keylock and Goldberg quickly goes down and is forced to tap out.  Puder refuses to break and Goldberg is out with a broken wrist. 

 

Lots of hugs and slaps on the back as Soce makes it very clear - you want him, then you have to get through Puder.  Puder talks next and he's so happy to be a part of Team Elemental.  He was a big fan of Soce's music and even a bigger fan of the man himself.  He's had so much fun these past few days and seen things he could only imagine by hanging out with Soce and his teammates. It's nothing personal against Goldberg. But Puder was hired to do a job and he did it.  So what if Goldberg needed surgery on his wrist.  It happens!  And if anyone tries to mess with Soce, they'll get the same treatment.  He'll make them tap.

 

The talk turns to the other members of the Elementals.  Tonight, the WCW Tag Team Champions, Hugh Morrus & Tank Abbott defend their titles in a triple-threat match, while Rico is going after Marty Jannetty and the WCW World TV Title. Soce talks again.  It's very simple.  Tank & Hugh will keep their titles. Rico will become the next WCW TV Champion.  And he and Puder are going to be there to make sure it happens! 

 

Back to David Penzer to introduce the next match.

 

COLT CABANA & LODI versus "WILDFIRE" TOMMY RICH & "DIRTY" DOUG GILBERT

 

Some good tag team action as Rich & Gilbert start off strong by double-teaming Colt in their corner and using quick tags to wear Cabana down.  Colt manages to duck a double-clothesline and nails Rich with a dropkick.  Slam for Gilbert and hot tag to Lodi.  Lodi with punches and neckbreakers for both men and we see Colt re-enter the ring as it all breaks loose. Lodi sends Gilbert to the floor and follows with a suicide cross body through the ropes.  Rich rolls up Cabana, but Colt reverses and holds on to get the pin.

Winners:  COLT CABANA & LODI

 

We cut to the back and see Disco Inferno and Alex Wright.  They're wearing the monkey suits and arguing with WCW official Gary Juster.  Juster is telling them that they have to keep wearing the monkey suits because of the stipulation of the match at the Clash.  Since they lost to Lodi & Cabana, they have to keep wearing the suits until one of them wins a match.  Alex says he's not going out there on national TV dressed like a chimp.  Disco has a match to wrestle next and he's not happy either, but he says he'll do it!  And after he beats Jeff Hardy tonight for the Cruiserweight Championship, WCW can take these monkey suits and shove them straight up their.....

 

(commercial)

 

Here's Penzer...

 

WCW CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
JEFF HARDY (c) versus DISCO INFERNO

 

Disco comes to the ring in the monkey suit and still does his dancing routine, much to the amusement of the fans.  He removes the suit as Jeff Hardy comes into the ring.  Hardy has something in his hand.  He hands Disco a banana. Disco gets mad and stomps around throwing a tantrum.  He charges Hardy and gets drop-toed to the mat.  It's all Hardy as he delivers a dropkick that sends Disco to the floor.  Disco is on the floor and complaining to anyone who will listen.  Hardy slides out of the ring on the far side and does the running across the fan barriers and dives at Disco.  But Disco is waiting and catches Hardy with a big slam on the floor.  Kicks by Disco and he throws Hardy into the ring, covering him for two.  Fists and kicks by Disco as he works over Hardy in the corner. Clothesline by Disco and he's feeling good.  He goes for a backdrop, but Hardy rolls through, landing on his feet and floors Disoc with a dropkick. Another dropkick by Jeff and he gets two.  Disco reverses a whip into the ropes and goes for a backdrop, but Hardy catches him with the Twist of Fate.  Hardy covers and gets the pin.

Winner and still champion:  JEFF HARDY

 

We go backstage now where Terri Runnels is standing by with The Horsemen - Arn Anderson, C.W. Anderson, WCW World Champion Sean O'Haire and Charlie Haas.

Terri congratulates Haas on his victory earlier against Ethan Storm. Haas puts over Storm as a "tough kid", but he's not one of the Horsemen.  They come out each and every week and do what they have to do - and that's win matches.  Just like O'Haire is going to do tonight.  O'Haire talks next. Terry Funk might be old as dirt, but he's a tough and crazy S.O.B. and O'Haire doesn't have any problem defending the title against him tonight.  Terry Funk is an icon and a legend.  So what does that make O'Haire when he beats him.  Simple - "still the champ!"  C.W. talks next and mentions that he's been here for a few weeks now and it's been some strange times for the Horsemen.  They've had some setbacks with the loss of Jackie and Woman, but he's ready to give it everything he has and help get things back on track. 

 

Arn speaks last as Terri asks him about Woman.  She's doing as well as can be expected considering the shape her neck and back is in.  And he blames that totally on Jeff Jarrett.  It wasn't even during a match that Jarrett was involved in - he just blatantly attacked Woman with the guitar and tried to put her out.  And it worked... temporarily.  But she'll be back.  But Jarrett is going to pay in spades for what he did.  By attacking Woman, Jarrett has woken up a sleeping dragon.  If anyone can remember, there was a time that the Horsemen ran over everyone and took no prisoners.  It was always win if you can, lose if you must, but make sure your opponent is hurt and sent to the emergency room.  That's what Arn & The Horsemen are feeling right now.  Jarrett didn't have the guts to come to Nitro tonight, but that's OK.  Eventually, he will end up having to face Arn one on one.  And paybacks are the biggest bitch of all.  He's spoken to Bischoff and at the Bash at the Beach PPV, it's going to be Arn versus Jarrett in a "Last Man Standing" match.  Terri asks how it affects the Horsemen by not having either Jackie or Woman around at ringside.   Arn asks if Terri has been taking her "smart pills" - that's a good question.  It does leave a void and hole in the strategies and plans.  But they've got it under control.  "How?", Terri asks.  "Just be here next week and you'll see for yourself!", Arn says.  The Horsemen walk off.

 

We see Brock Lesnar and Sable in the back - Brock is rubbing Sable's shoulders and helping her warm up.  It's Sable going after April Hunter and the WCW Womens Championship... next!

 

(commercial)

 

Here is Penzer..

 

WCW WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
APRIL HUNTER (c) versus SABLE (with Brock Lesnar)

 

Brock accompanies Sable to the ring. April is upset about that and complains to the referee.  The ref warns Brock to not interfere and he agrees, taking a seat at ringside.  April and Sable lock up and Sable takes the quick advantage by tossing April to the mat by her hair.  Kick by Sable and a slam.  She signals for the "Sable'Bomb", but April reverses it into a big DDT.  Slam by Hunter and she goes up to the top.  Sable is up and April dives off with a sunset flip.  Sable tries to resist, but just can't break free fast enough and April picks up the pin.

Winner and still champion:  APRIL HUNTER

 

Backstage again and we see Luna watching the match on a moniter.  She giggles gleefully as she watches April beat Sable.  Vampiro comes up behind her.  He wants to apologize for walking out on her last Wednesday at the Clash, leaving her to be beaten by Brock and Sable.  He blames it on something he had eaten earlier and claims that he was getting sick. Luna just listens and smiles thoughtfully - its OK.  She understands perfectly.  So Vampiro asks if all is cool between them.  "Sure", Luna says and gives Vampiro a hug.  And grabs him with a wicked testicular claw.  "Ooooww!", Vampiro yelps as Luna has a solid grip on his groin.  Luna shreiks and says that no one crosses her and gets away with it.  Suddenly, from out of nowhere, we see a chair come into the picture and slam across the back of Vampiro's head.  It's Gangrel!  Luna & Gangrel stand over the fallen Vampiro and kick and stomp away at him, laughing and shreiking like a couple of crazy people.  "No one crosses Luna!  No one!"  Gangrel & Luna hug and embrace and share a quick little kiss before fleeing the scene as agents and referees rush in to break up the situation and aid Vampiro.

 

(commercial)

 

We come back and sitting around a big table in the back, playing cards are Kanyon, Diamond Dallas Page, Bam Bam Bigelow, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash & Sean Waltman.  They're just exchanging laughs and banter about X-Pac beating Cyrus at the Clash and telling stories and everyone is having a good time. Hall slams down a Royal Flush and reaches across the table to claim the pot, but in doing so, accidently knocks a beer over which goes all over Bam Bam Bigelow's lap.  Bigelow jumps up from the table and accuses Hall of doing that intentionally.  Hall just shrugs and smiles and says "It was an accident - sorry about that, Chico... or should I say Chico Bigelow". Nash & Waltman crack up at Hall.  Kanyon and DDP aren't smiling and Kanyon wants to know how Hall managed to get a royal flush.  Hall's been winning all night.  Something just isn't right.  Nash steps up and asks if there's a problem.  All six men are up at this point and things are getting tense.  DDP says there ain't no problem that a little physical activity won't solve - why don't they have a match - the Triad versus The Klique - tonight on Nitro!  Hall steps in and says, "Just bring it!"..  All six men are nose to nose until DDP tells the Triad to come on and let's go clear it with Bischoff.  Kanyon tells Nash, Hall & Waltman that "we'll see you in the ring" as the Triad walks off.

 

Back to David Penzer...

 

WCW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH - TRIPLE THREAT RULES

TANK ABBOTT & HUGH MORRUS (with Soce the Elemental Wizard & Daniel Puder)

versus ROMEO & ANTONIO - THE HEARTTHROBS versus "ABOVE AVERAGE" MIKE SANDERS & "ROB CONWAY

 

All three teams get mixed reactions as they come to the ring.  Cheers for the Heart Throbs, boos for Sanders & Conway, and a strong mixture of both for the tag team champions.  The referee has a hard time keeping control as all three team use a lot of quick tags and illegal double-teams to attempt to control the action.  In the end, the strength and power of Abbott & Morrus allows them to hit a big double-slam on Mike Sanders.  Morrus covers and gets the pin.

Winners: THE WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS HUGH MORRUS & TANK ABBOTT (with Soce & Puder)

 

(commercial)

 

The ring is set up and Blackjack Mulligan is in the ring.  It's time for "Blackjack's BBQ". Blackjack tells everyone to go get Mama from the kitchen and make Grandma sit up real close so she doesn't miss anything.  His guest this week asked for this interview time to make a very special announcement.  Here is the former 9-time World Champion, Harley Race.

 

Harley comes down and he's dressed casually in slacks and a sports jacket.  He's got a lot to say here.  Harley talks a little bit about his career and the legacy he's left.  Nine times as the World Champion.  Over 9,000 matches.  Forty years in the ring.  When he came back to wrestling, it was as a "Commissioner".  He never intended to step foot in the ring again as an active wrestler.  But stuff happened and he ended up in the ring on occasion, most notably to beat Hulk Hogan in that retirement match as part of the NWA.  But Race was content to be on the outside looking in for the most part. Again, stuff happened and he ended up winning the WCW World Championship.  Everyone thought he was too old. Hell, he thought he was too old!  But he went out and gave it 100% and surprised the world.  But last Wednesday night, he wrestled in the main event of the Clash of the Champions and lost to Sean O'Haire. Nothing wrong with that.  O'Haire is a great talent and deserved  to win.  But when he went back to the motel that night, Race realized that he was living a fools dream. It's not 1983 anymore or even 2003.  It's time to step aside and let the future have their spot.  He's often criticized others for not knowing when it's time to call it quits, but here he wasdoing the same thing.  So effective immediately, Harley Race is retired from active competition as a professional wrestler. This is not an angle or work, Race says, but it's just reality.  Race thanks the fans for their support over the years and says that love him or hate him, and plenty of people did both, he always gave everything in that ring and outside of it as well.  He loves professional wrestling and that's why he knows it's time to walk away.  As Race prepares to leave the ring, a tearful Mulligan leads the crowd to give the legend a standing ovation.  We see several wrestlers come out on to the rampway, including World Champion O'Haire, Mike Youngblood, Greg Valentine, Colt Cabana, Krazy-K, Jeff Hardy, Marty Jannetty, etc. to join the crowd in honoring this wrestling legend.  O'Haire walks up to Race and gives him a hug and lays the WCW World Championship Belt on Race's shoulder as he raises his arm one more time to thunderous applause from the crowd. 

 

(commercial)

 

We go backstage and see Harley Race and his wife, BJ climbing into a limo out behind the building and driving off.  We watch as the taillights fade in the distance.

 

Back to David Penzer for the next match...

 

WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

MARTY JANNETTY versus RICO (with Soce & Daniel Puder)

 

Rico starts off in control of Jannetty as he uses the martial arts kicks to gain an early advantage.  Jannety starts to fight back and catches Rico with a stiff clothesline, followed by a neckbreaker.  As Jannetty presses his advantage, Soce distracts the referee and we see Daniel Puder level Jannetty with a cheap shot from the outside.  Rico covers for two.  Rico is in control now with a backkick that sends Jannetty reeling to the floor.  Soce stands over Jannetty now, talking junk and throwing slaps at the fallen wrestler.  Jannetty takes a wild swing at Soce who quickly jumps out of the way. Puder, seeing his charge threatened, quickly grabs Jannetty in a front face lock and chokes him down to the floor.  The referee, who had been distracted by Rico, turns around to see Puder choking Jannetty out and calls for the bell.

Winner by DQ:  MARTY JANNETTY

 

Puder tosses the body of Jannetty into the ring and Rico covers, but the referee won't count. The match is over.  Puder tosses the referee to the floor while Soce drops down and counts three.  Soce & Puder declare Rico the winner and the three men celebrate in the ring with lots of hugs and smiles.

 

(commercial)

 

We come back and see Eric Bischoff in his office, sitting on his desk.  There's a knock at the door and it's Cyrus.  Eric wanted to see him.  Eric says that he was watching the segment with Harley Race earlier and he had an idea.  Cyrus let him down at the Clash.  Cyrus starts to apologize again and Eric tells him to be quiet!  Hogan is really getting on Eric's nerves now too and Eric needs to do something about him.  So at the "Bash at the Beach PPV" on June 11th, it's going to be a "Pink Slip Match". It's Hulk Hogan versus Cyrus.  And the loser gets a pink slip.  They're finished forever with WCW.   Cyrus turns kind of pale hearing this. "And what does the winner get?", he asks!"  "The best prize of all", Eric says.  "He gets to keep his job!"

 

Back to David Penzer for the next match..

 

SCOTT HALL, KEVIN NASH & SEAN WALTMAN

versus

DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE, KANYON & BAM BAM BIGELOW - THE TRIAD..

 

A pretty stiff match that starts off slowly with a lot of good wrestling, but picks up the pace as tempers begin to flare.  Nash uses the big boot to choke Page in the corner and then peppers him with elbows.  Kanyon clips the knee of Nash and smashes him with a big legdrop from the second rope.  Waltman levels Kanyon with the enzaguri and slams him into the corner. Waltman sets up for the bronco-buster, but a hard forearm shot by Bigelow puts an end to that.  Bigelow tosses Waltman around for a bit, but walks right into a DDT by Hall.  Hall signals it's time and puts up Bigelow for the "Razors Edge".  It connects and Hall covers for two as DDP breaks it up with a Diamond Cutter from out of nowhere.  Page covers Ha,, but he's not the legal man and the referee won't count.  Nash is in and sends DDP flying over the ropes with a big boot.  He picks up Bigelow for the powerbomb.  SLAM!  He connects and covers.  Kanyon comes off the top rope with a moonsault, but Waltman grabs Nash at the last second and moves him out of the way so that Kanyon crashes hard down on top of Bigelow instead.  Waltman grabs Kanyon and takes him to the floor. Hall goes after Page on the other side of the ring and Nash covers Bigelow to get the pin.

Winners:  KEVIN NASH, SEAN WALTMAN & SCOTT HALL

 

We go backstage and see Terry Funk headed towards the ring. The main event is next!

 

(commerical)

 

WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
SEAN O'HAIRE (c) versus TERRY FUNK

 

Funk is still battered and sore from the match at the Clash and takes a tremendous beating at the hands of O'Haire in the first few minutes of this match as Sean is determined to end it early and put the Hardcore Legend away.  After several two counts, we see Sean getting frustrated as he powerbombs Funk to the mat.  Cover for two as Terry gets a foot on the ropes.  O'Haire tosses Funk into the ropes and sets up for clothesline, but we see Funk duck and catch O'Haire with a big DDT to the mat.  Cover for two by Funk.  Fists by Funk and he's starting to take control as he clips the leg of the bigger O'Haire and repeatedly kicks and stomps at the leg of O'Haire.  Funk moves in close and locks in the world famous Funk Spinnig Toehold.  Schiavone is beside himself at ringside as he screams that this is how Funk won the NWA title from the great Jack Brisco.  O'Haire screams in pain and struggles before finally making the ropes and forcing the break.  Terry suplexes O'Haire and gets another two.  O'Haire reverses a whip into the ropes and levels Funk with a superkick.  O'Haire climbs up to the top quickly and flies with a swanton that connects perfectly.  O'Haire covers Funk and the referee counts three.

Winner and still WCW WORLD CHAMPION:  SEAN O'HAIRE

 

As the referee raises O'Haire's hand in victory, we hear Schiavone thank the fans for watching.  See you again next week on WCW Monday Nitro!

 

THE END!