WWE Presents: The Very Best of WCW Nitro

-This is bound to be a good bit of nostalgia, even if I haven't seen a lot of this stuff, since I didn't really start watching WCW until about 1996, and really stopped paying attention when Vince Russo started booking in late 1999.

-This reminds me of the day Vince McMahon bought WCW. I was at my friend Emery's sister Kelly's house with Emery, and we were on different computers. I go to WWF.Com, and the first thing I see is "WWF BUYS WCW". I say "holy shit!", and tell Emo to go to WWF.Com. He does, and the first thing he says is..."holy shit!". He calls up our friend Derrick, tell him to go to WWF.Com, and the first thing he says is...you guessed it, "holy shit!". Good times.

-DVD is hosted by DDP.

-Since it was still known as the World Wrestling Federation during the Nitro years, any reference to WWE has been changed to WWF. Why? Because I felt like it.

-Disc One:

 -DDP opens by stating that he believes that WCW had the better wrestling product than the WWF in the early 90's, but they lacked in a few areas, including innovation. He goes over WWF launching Raw in 1993, then Eric Bischoff getting the opportunity to launch Nitro in September of 1995. Bischoff recognized that he needed to build an audience, and one way to do that was a big defection from the WWF.

-9/4/95: Jushin Thunder Liger VS "Flyin" Brian Pillman

 -This is the first match from the first Nitro, held in the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. Good, fast-paced action early on. Liger applies a surfboard, which the crowd pops for, as that move hadn't been overused yet. Pillman misses a dive at Liger and goes over the top, and Liger nails a somersault off the apron. "USA" chant for Pillman, who counters a suplex attempt to send Liger outside, then follows up with a dive off the top, onto Liger, prompting this call from Mongo: "That's it kid! Give it to him the way he likes it!"

-Pillman counters a Liger dive with a dropkick for two. Liger comes back with a powerbomb for two. Liger gets a hurricarana from the top for two. Pillman gets a tornado DDT for two. Pillman counters a German suplex with a rollup for the pin. Show of sportsmanship afterward. Good start to Nitro, as this style of match wasn't seen much in the United States at this time.

-9/4/95: WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Hulk Hogan [c] (w/Jimmy Hart) VS Big Bubba Rogers

 -Big Bubba is the former Big Bossman, and we have our second dead wrestler already. Bubba takes an awkward fall off a shoulderblock. Hulk always looked weird clean shaven. Mongo calls Hogan a "technician". Awesome. Bubba gets a big backbreaker. Cute spot as Bubba charges into a boot, doesn't fall, and rather than punch him, Hogan just pushes him over. Bubba makes the mistake of going after Jimmy Hart, and Hogan shows how good a sportsman he is by choking Bubba with Jimmy's jacket as Hart distracts the referee. Bischoff & Mongo play Hogan up big, talking about how Bubba is fighting for his life. Bubba misses a charge. Hogan runs into the Bossman Slam for two...and you can figure out what happened after that. Hogan retains. The Dungeon of Doom runs out to attack Hogan, but the returning Lex Luger makes the save.

-After a break, Luger tells Hogan he came back because he's tired of playing with kids, and wants to play with the big boys in WCW. Luger says it doesn't matter when, or how long it takes, Luger will take the WCW title from Hogan. Hogan agrees to defend against Luger next week on Nitro, before shoving him, and acting surprised when Luger shoved back. Kind of dumb to not show Luger's actual returning moment, him walking out during Sting's match that night.

-I'll say this for WCW, even if they did it for stupid reasons (holding the first Nitro in the MoA because Hogan was opening his Pastamania store, holding PPVs at the Sturgis biker rally because Bischoff likes motorcycles), and it cost them a lot of money (no paid attendance for the Sturgis PPVs and the Bash at the Beach shows held on a beach), they were able to come up with unique atmospheres.

-1/8/96: WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair & Arn Anderson VS Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage

 -THE MEGAPOWERS REUNITE! Hogan no-sells a Flair chop, so Flair pokes him in the eye. Hogan cleans house anyway. The Horsemen manage to get Savage in trouble. Flair does the Savage point before going up top, so Savage responds by slamming him down, then locking in a figure 4. Hogan locks a figure 4 on Arn as well. Arn DDTs Savage as the ref clears the ring, and Flair throws him over the top. Arn works Savage over as we go to commercial.

-Back from the break, and AA has Savage in the dreadd abdominal stretch. Savage is face-in-peril, and even though he makes a good fight of it, cannot make the tag to Hogan. Savage blocks a DDT from Arn by holding the top rove, and Flair sends him into Hogan for the tag. Flair chops Hogan and flexes, but Hogan no-sells the chop again and takes over. AA gets the spinebuster, and Hogan doesn't even let Arn get the two count before finishing with the usual. The rest of the Horsemen (Benoit, Pillman) and the Dungeon of Doom rush out (Giant, Sullivan, Zodiac), and attack everyone. Giant lays out both Hogan and Savage with chokeslams. Good TV main event.

-DDP notes that WCW was not about to put established stars like Hogan, Flair, and Sting on the backburner, and that they put "returning hero" Lex Luger in the thick of things right after he came back from the WWF.

-2/5/96: WCW World Tag Team Championship: Sting & Lex Luger VS The Road Warriors

 -One thing WCW generally did well was the Sting/Luger dynamic, with Sting being the straight-laced one, and Luger willing to do whatever was neccessary to do what was best for himself. Animal overpowers Sting early on. After tags are made, Luger gets a piledriver on Hawk and poses, but Hawk no-sells it, and takes Luger down. Luger tags Sting, who quickly gets a Stinger Splash and goes for the Scorpion Deathlock, but Animal saves. Animal gets tagged in, and Luger pulls the top rope down so Animal falls out of the ring. Sting is not amused, but still tags Luger who works on Animal. The video gets wonky as Luger drops a series of elbows before tagging in Sting. Bischoff explains that the power in the building went out momentarily. The match breaks down, and Jimmy Hart runs out. Luger nails Animal in the back with Jimmy's megaphone, and gets the pin to retain. Luger is thrilled, Sting is unsure. Match was ok, but a good illustration of that Sting/Luger dynamic which played a part in WCW for the majority of the time between Luger's return, and Sting running off to become Crow Sting one year later.

-4/29/96: Parking Lot Brawl: The Belfast Bruiser (Finlay) VS Lord Steven Regal

 -Finlay pounds on Regal to start, but ends up missing a kick, putting his own leg through a car window. Finlay gets a piece of concrete to nail Regal with. Regal ends up rubbing Finlay's nose on it, but takes a hit with it anyway. Finlay pulls a bumper off a pickup truck to nail Regal. Like all of their matches, it is these two just beating the shit out of each other. Regal smashes Finlay's head into a car window, which explodes on impact. Finlay wants a tombstone on the concrete, but Regal blocks it. Regal tries a piledriver on a car, but Finlay counters with a backdrop onto the hood. Regal ends up getting the piledriver anyway for the pin. This was pretty unique, and much better than some other parking/backlot brawls, as they brought the intensity and weren't afraid to really lay the shots in.

-5/20/96: Eddie Guerrero VS Ric Flair (w/Woman & Elizabeth)

 -Flair takes time to taunt Randy Savage about Elizabeth being with him. Eddie outwrestles Flair early on. Eddie gets PISSED after taking a couple chops and wears Flair out. Flair gets upset after Eddie lands a series of punches, so Eddie bails to the outside and does the Nature Boy strut to further piss Flair off. Big "Eddie" chant as Flair takes a flop off a couple Eddie chops.

-Back from a commercial break, and Flair has a rear chinlock on Eddie. Eddie fights out, and gets a sunset flip (by pulling the tights) for two. Eddie keeps taking the fight to Flair, and almost gets the pin with a small package. Eddie gets a Figure 4, but can't get Flair to submit. Eddie makes the mistake of diving off the ring apron at Flair, and ends up crashing into the guardrail. Flair adds a suplex on the outside for good measure. Flair gets a big delayed vertical suplex for two. Eddie gets several near-falls, and actually hits the frog splash, but Eddie's knee is hurt. Flair locks in the figure 4 and gets some assistance from Woman to get the pin. Excellent match, as Flair gave Eddie a lot and made him look like a future star, but then the next week happened, and the direction of the company changed.

-What happened the next week, you ask? This...

-5/27/96: Mike Enos (w/Rob Parker) VS Steve Doll

 -Yes, the match that changed WCW forever was between these two. Match is joined in progress as Enos works Doll over, when some guy comes from the crowd and grabs a microphone, then the match suddenly stops.

-That guy...is Scott Hall, and he gives the promo that starts the "Hostile Takeover" of WCW, which would in turn lead to...the NEW NEW NEW NEW WORLD ORDER. Hall uses the same put-on accent, has the toothpick and the curl in the middle of his hair, but it not named.

-6/10/96: Bobby Heenan freaks out, because Randy Savage wants to get his hands on "The Brain". Heenan suddenly looks behind Bischoff, and bails. Scott Hall is what's behind Bischoff, and Hall's "big surprise" that he promised the week before enters as well: Kevin Nash. Nash is pissed about Bischoff talking smack about the WWF, and says Nitro is about as interesting as "Marge Schott reading excerpts from Mein Kompf". Hall & Nash want to know where all the old wrestlers are to fight them. Bischoff says he'll try to get Hall & Nash their fight if they want to show up at the Great American Bash.

-DDP goes notes that WCW had a big advantage when Bischoff started to offer guaranteed contracts, and that has the nWo angle started, momentum started to shift down south to WCW. DDP says that WCW was not only attracting big names, but developing new stars as well.

-6/24/96: Triangle Match for the WCW World Tag Team Championship: Sting & Lex Luger [c] VS Harlem Heat VS The Steiner Brothers

 -Booker T is on a cell phone during Harlem Heat's entrance. Luger and Sting have matching facepaint, in preperation for the big 6 man tag at Bash at the Beach. Booker starts with Scott Steiner. Both members of Harlem Heat work Rick over for a bit before Rick takes Stevie Ray down with a German suplex. Scott comes in, takes Stevie over, and tags in Sting. Stevie has Sting in some trouble as we head to commercial.

-Back from break, and Sting has Stevie in a sleeper until Stevie counters with a jawbreaker, then adds a powerslam for two. They work in the "wrestler falls down on another wrestlers nuts" spot, with Stevie being the recipient. Stevie tags Booker as Sting tags Luger. Luger powerslams Booker...and here come Hall & Nash, brandishing baseball bats. Security piles into the ring as Booker pins Luger in the midst of the chaos to win the titles, showing that Harlem Heat doesn't care about the impending Hostile Takeover. Security stands their ground as Hall & Nash back away. Match was less about the tag titles then selling the upcoming PPV, and providing another shocking moment.

-7/8/96: Lex Luger VS Big Bubba Rogers (w/Jimmy Hart)

 -Match is JIP with bother Luger and Bubba down. Jimmy throws something in the ring, but Lex gets it and KO's Bubba. That means nothing as The Outsiders attack Luger, and their third man, Hulk Hogan saunters to the ring. Nash hits a big Jackknife powerbomb on Luger, and Hogan adds some insulting slaps for the fun of it. Hogan offers his hand to Big Bubba, but then walks away, allowing The Outsiders to jump Bubba too.

-They call Gene Okerlund into the ring, and the first thing Hogan says is that he wishes he had done this two years ago, and the nWo will rule professional wrestling. Hogan rambles on about being bigger than wrestling as fans throw garbage into the ring. The Steiners, the Faces of Fear, and Arn Anderson surround the ring as the show closes.

-DDP chimes in about how the nWo made Nitro as big as it was at the time.

-7/29/96: Sting, Lex Luger, & Randy Savage VS Ric Flair, Chris Benoit, & Steve McMichael

 -Match is JIP with Flair chopping Sting. Jimmy Hart runs out begging for help and a cameraman as The Outsiders are in the back. Jimmy loses his mind as Luger slam Flair, and as Luger finally agrees to go help, we cut to the back with AA and Marcus Bagwell are down. Scotty Riggs sees his tag partner and tries to attack, but gets nailed. Rey Mysterio dives at Nash...and gets lawn darted into the side of the production truck, in one of the more famous Nitro moments. Savage is the first man on the scene, and dives on top of the nWo limo as they drive off. Mass chaos ensues, as Rey tells Eddie that there were four men in the nWo, not just the three known members. A firetruck rolls in as several members of the WCW lockerroom attend to the wounded. Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbysko have no idea how to react.

-8/12/96: Eric Bischoff & Bobby Heenan are wondering where the nWo are, as they have apparently accepted a match with Lex Luger & Sting. The Outsiders emerge from the crowd. Sting's music hits, but only Luger comes out.

-8/12/96: Lex Luger & Sting VS The Outsiders

 -Luger fights with the Outsiders, and Sting rushes out to even the odds. The Outsiders stall, then finally rush the ring, but get dropped off the apron. The match spills to the Outside, where The Outsiders get a brief advantage until the match goes back inside the ring. Nash nails a big boot on Sting and tosses him out over the top, but Nick Patrick does not call for the DQ. Sting comes back with a Stinger Splash on Nash, but Nick Patrick not-so-subtly pulls Hall out of the way, and Sting crashes into the turnbuckle. Members of the WCW lockerroom rush out, and The Outsiders bail.

-8/26/96: Sting & Lex Luger VS Chris Benoit & Steve McMichael (w/Woman)

 -Match is JIP with Sting giving Benoit a bulldog. Sting tries to lock in the Scorpion Deathlock, but Mongo saves. Luger is down outside the ring, and taking his sweet time getting back up. Hulk Hogan comes out to bate Mongo into an ambush from The Outsiders. The Outsiders lay both Sting & Benoit out, and it's spraypaint jobs for everyone. AA & Flair run out. Hogan sprays Flair in the face, then sprays a stripe in the middle of Flair's hair. HUGE heet for the whole deal, and garbage comes flying in. After they're done posing in the ring, the nWo walk over to the announce booth and take that over too.

-9/9/96: Lex Luger VS Rick Steiner

 -Match is JIP with Luger hitting a big powerslam on Rick. Since this match was JIP, you can guess what happens. Nick Patrick comes out from the back, and motions for Luger to follow him. Randy Anderson counts Luger out. Cut to the parking lot, where we hear Sting talking to Ted DiBiase from inside the nWo limo (a GREAT touch that I didn't remember at all). Luger comes out to look for Sting, only to be attacked by what we would know later as the nWo Sting and the rest of the group. The announce team is in dispair, as it looks like the Franchise of WCW has turned to the dark side.

-DDP talks about how communicating with the audience is as important as getting your hand raised, and goes into how Sting got more popular when he went Crow Sting and stopped talking. DDP poses a trvia question: who was the only top WCW star that did not join the nWo?

-9/16/96: Eric Bischoff, Mike Tenay, & Bobby Heenan talk about the debut of Glacier that just happened. Eric mentions that the nWo has issued a long list of demands, but as he goes over this, the real Sting walks out to the ring. Sting talks about (with his back to the hard camera) what happened the previous week, and the doubt everyone had about him. Sting is pissed because when he went to Luger, whom he had given the benfit of the doubt countless times, but Luger would not give it to him. Sting says he'll stand by anyone who stands by him, but anyone who doubted him can "stick it". Sting says he considers himself a "free agent", and that he'll pop up from time to time, when we least expect it.

-11/18/96: Eric Bischoff is in the ring, and thanks everyone for joining them tonight. He wants to apologize for what Hulk Hogan made him do earlier tonight, and that WCW will do everything they can to get Roddy Piper to sign for a match with Hogan. Bagpipe music hits, and Bischoff gets noticeably skittish. Piper talks about how crazy he is, and is pissed because someone is calling him a coward. Piper calls Bischoff a liar, and questions him about Bischoff's supposed visit to Piper's ranch. Just as Piper is about really call BS on Bischoff, the nWo rushes in to hold Piper back. Hogan enters and gives Bischoff a hug, and they reveal that Eric is a member of the nWo now. Piper challenges Hogan to a match at Starrcade, which lead to Piper being the dumbest babyface in wrestling, as he had full control of the contract for the match...and made it non-title.

-12/30/96: Rey Mysterio Jr. VS Dean Malenko

 -Some mat wrestling to start as the announce team basks in the afterglow of Starrcade and the defeat of Hogan by Piper...even though Hogan is still WCW Champion. Rey fights out of an STF, and while in an arm wringer jumps to the top and hits a dropkick. Malenko hits a double underhook suplex. The crowd is DEAD for this match. Malenko tosses Rey overhead into the corner. Rey tries to land on his feet, but slips and crotches himself. Rey tries a hurricarana, but Malenko snaps off a VICIOUS powerbomb for two. Rey gets a couple rollups for near falls. Mysterio dives to the outside and hits a seated senton on Malenko. A lot of sloppiness here. Malenko counters a springboard hurricarana with a Boston Crab, but Rey rolls out, and they do a series of two counts and reversals. Rey hits a hurricarana off the top, and the ten minute time limit expires. Rey wants five more minutes, but none are forthcoming. Have no idea why this match is on the set, as it's sloppy, with a dead crowd, and no finish, especially with the Cruiserweight title change from the Summer was right there.

-Disc Two:

 -DDP talks about WCW winning the "Monday Night War" in 1997 & 1998, and the intrigue over who would be the next WCW star to join the nWo. DDP puts his Diamond Cutter over as the most devestating finishing move in wrestling by the end of 1996, and notes that the nWo tried to recruit him, but he wasn't interested...

-1/13/97: Diamond Dallas Page VS Mark Starr

 -Ted DiBiase and Eric Bischoff are on commentary, declaring DDP a member of the nWo after he supposedly met with Scott Hall at a seafood restaurant. They keep DDP's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" ripoff, but dub over...whatever Starr's music was. After Starr blocks a hiptoss, DDP decides to spike him with a DDT instead. DDP reverses a whip, sending Starr into the ropes, and DDP catches him on the rebound with the Diamond Cutter for the quick win, but that is not why this is on the DVD.

-The Outsiders come out to officially welcome DDP into the nWo. DDP dons the nWo shirt, shakes, Scott Hall's hand...and gives him a Diamond Cutter! DDP backdrops Nash over the top, then bails through the crowd. This was DDP's big face turn, and he was over huge as a result of this, his newfound "working man" personna, and the Diamond Cutter being put over as instant death.

-3/3/97: Mean Gene interviews Eric Bischoff, who, as a member of the nWo AND WCW's Executive Vice President, both issues a challenge that Lex Luger wanted to issue to the nWo, and accepts it at the same time: the championships the nWo holds VS "WCW's Future". After he does this, Dr. Harvey Schiller, the President of Turner Sports, suspends Bischoff for all the crap that he's pulled since being revealed as an nWo member.

-3/17/97: Harlem Heat (w/Sister Sherri) VS The Steiner Brothers

 -Match is JIP, and just as the announce team note that the Steiners have a shot at The Outsiders at Spring Stampede, the nWo rushes out to ambush both teams, particularly working over Rick Steiner and his injured ear drum. Luger & The Giant (who has joined and left the nWo for the first time already) run out to help clean house. There's a pyro blast above the ring, and MUTHFUCKIN STING quickly repels down to the ring, and points his baseball bat at Hogan. Crowd goes nuts for Sting, and this wouldn't be the last time. Hogan's "he's pointing at me!" freakout is great.

-DDP brings up the Nitro Girls & the Nitro Parties. He says the nWo was a big part of why WCW was getting big ratings, but the cruiserweights were another big reason.

-4/21/97: WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Syxx [c] (w/Kevin Nash) VS Rey Mysterio Jr.

 -After some mat wrestling, Syxx tries to intimidate Rey, and takes up taking a big slap to the face. Syxx comes back by tossing Rey in the air, and slamming him down, then follows up with a Bronco Buster. Syxx applies an abdominal stretch, Rey reverses, and as Nash distracts the ref, Syxx throws Rey over the top. Nash wants to take a shot at Rey, who wisely scoots away and gets into the ring. Syxx tries to toss Rey in the air and catch him with a powerbomb, but Rey counters with a hurricarana---> rollup for a close two count. Rey takes Syxx out, but with the ref's back turned, Nash nails Rey with a big boot and a jackknife, allowing Syxx to lock in the Buzzkiller (Crossface Chickenwing) for the ref stoppage. J.J. Dillon and security come out to get Nash & Syxx away from the ring, and Rey is stretchered out. JJ tries to lay the law down to Nash & Syxx, and gets "bite me"s in response. Not a great showcase for the cruiserweights, this works better as a showing of JJ Dillon returning to WCW, and helping them in their war against the nWo.

-8/4/97: WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Hollywood Hulk Hogan [c] VS Lex Luger

 -This match is taking place on the 100th Nitro and despite the fact that Luger has a World title match at the next PPV the following Sunday. Hogan controls the early going with his very basic offense. Heenan gives Hogan credit for inventing following your opponent in the corner off an Irish Whip and hitting them with a clothesline. Hogan tries to smash Luger's head into the turnbuckle, but Luger counters and smashes Hogan repeatedly, in a spot that needs to make its return. Hogan nails Luger as Randy Anderson pulls Luger off him, then poses as we go to break.

-Back from break, Hogan pounds away, and gets a suplex for two. Hogan gets a belly-to-back (which Tony calls belly-to-belly) suplex for two. Hogan actually lays in some stiff chops. Hogan gets a bodyslam and legdrop...for two. Hogan tries a second legdrop, but misses. Luger fires up as The Outsiders and Randy Savage trie to interfere, but Luger takes all three out. Luger drops Hogan with the steel forearm, and locks him in the Human Torture Rack for the win and the title! The babyfaces rush out to celebrate. Luger would lose the title back to Hogan at the PPV, however.

-DDP talks about what it feels like to win a world title, and how when he sees anyone win a world title, it takes him back to Ric Flair beating Harley Race at Starrcade '83. DDP notes that times had changed, and the late 90's were a time for rebellion.

-9/1/97: Mene Gene is out to interview the 4 Horsemen one week after Arn Anderson's retirement speech...but gets Syxx (as Flair) and Konnan (as Mongo) instead. Syxx calls out Curt Hennig, and Buff Bagwell is out to play him. They call out AA, and Kevin Nash (in a fat suit, neck brace, and carrying a cooler) enters. This is a pretty well known segment, as the nWo shits all over Arn's truly heartfelt speech from the week before, which pissed a lot of people off, in part because the Horsemen never got their revenge on the nWo, and in fact Curt Hennig would join the nWo at Fall Brawl just a couple weeks later. Bischoff himself wrote in his book that he regrets doing it.

-9/29/97: Buff Bagwell (w/Vincent) VS Diamond Dallas Page

 -Bagwell takes DDP down with an armdrag, and poses. DDP takes a bit more punishment before firing back with punches and clotheslines. Buff goes outside, and DDP follows him out by slingshotting himself over the top onto Buff. Buff fakes a knee injury, and hits DDP with a clothesline from behind. "DDP" chant as Buff pounds away. DDP fights back, and signals for the Diamond Cutter, but ends up taking a low blow as Vincent distracts the ref. After Buff gets a near-fall, he argues with the ref, allowing DDP to get a schoolboy for two. After the ref gets bumped, Vincent tries to interfere, but DDP gives him an awkward looking Diamond Cutter, and another one for Buff gets the win. Decent TV match. DDP was over as hell here.

-10/27/97: Diamond Dallas Page VS WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hollywood Hulk Hogan

 -Match is JIP. DDP has his ribs taped, which would become a trademark for him. Hogan pounds away and gets two. Hogan gets a suplex and drops an elbow, but can't hold DDP down for the pin. DDP fights back, and has Hogan on the ropes, until a fake Sting runs out. DDP cuts him off and hits a Diamond Cutter, and Randy Anderson calls for the bell. Hogan whips DDP with a belt, and a bunch of nWo members come out to destroy DDP. The crowd explodes as the real Sting walks through the crowd. Stings lays Vincent out with the Scorpion Deathdrop, and takes out the rest of the group with relative ease. Hogan abandons Scott Hall and Curt Hennig, who are quickly nailed with Scorpion Deathdrops.

-2/2/98: Randy Savage (w/Elizabeth) VS Sting

 -Sting comes from the ceiling a looooooooong way down into the crowd. Savage attacks Sting, who no-sells, causing Savage to bail and call for Sting to follow. Sting abliges, and pounds Savage on the outside. After some work in the ring, they go back outside, and Sting sends Savage into the guardrail. Sting tries a Stinger Splash, but Savage nails Sting with Liz's purse. Savage undoes one of the turnbuckle pads. Sting no-sells a piledriver. Sting hits a Stinger Splash in one corner, but when he tries it again, Sting hits the exposed steel beam in the corner. Savage Elbow looks to finish, but Hollywood Hogan, not wanting Savage to be the one who beats Sting, pulls Savage off the cover, and the ref calls for the DQ. Lex Luger comes out to attack Savage (with no warning or help from Hogan). Scott Hall tries to help Hogan attack Sting, but Sting fights him off, and Hogan bails. This was pretty good for the time it was given. Sting's entrance was something else.

-3/30/98: WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Chris Jericho [c] VS Marty Jannetty

 -Match is JIP as Jericho wins with the Liontamer. Chris Jericho gets his list of 1,004 holds, about 1/2 of which are armbar. They go to break, and as they come back and intro the 2nd hour, Jericho is still reading. Prince Iaukea finally comes out to get Jericho out of the ring. Mike Tenay pretending to care about Jericho's list, if only to annoy Tony, was the funniest part of the bit.

-DDP goes over Goldberg's rise to stardum in 1998, which leads to...

-7/6/98: WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Hollywood Hulk Hogan [c] VS WCW United States Champion Goldberg

 -Crowd is JACKED for this. Monster "Goldberg" chant at the opening bell. Goldberg overpowers Hogan early on with a side headlock and by winning a test of strength. Hogan takes his weight belt off and tries to wear Goldberg out, but Goldberg snatches it, and tosses it out of the ring. Hogan gets his basic offense in, and after taking Goldberg to the outside, cracks him across the back with a chair twice, but Charles Robinson does not call for the DQ. Hogan gets the Legdrop of Doom, and Curt Hennig is out to celebrate, but DDP and Karl Malone are right behind him. Goldberg kicks out of the legdrop as Malone drops Hennig with a Diamond Cutter. Spear and Jackhammer win the title for Goldberg. Big moment, but WCW pissed away a lot of money by not having this match on PPV. IMO, they should have built for Starrcade. Have Hogan do his celebrity matches and other BS while Goldberg plows through the nWo, finally getting to Hogan.

-7/20/98: WCW World Tag Team Championship: Sting & Kevin Nash [c] VS Scott Hall & The Giant

 -This is nWo Hollywood VS nWo Wolfpac. Hall taunts Nash, then immediately tags the Giant. After the Giant lands some kicks on Nash, the champions clean house and tags are made on both sides. Sting drops Hall and does haphazard crotch chops as the show goes to break.

-Back from break, Hall spits in Sting's face, and tags Giant again. HUGE "Giant Sucks!" chant. Giant misses a charge in the corner, allowing Sting to land some kicks and a Stinger Splash. Second Stinger Splash is countered with a big boot. Sting tries a cross body on Giant...and simply bounces off. Cool spot. Hall is tagged in, and locks in the always exciting abdominal stretch. Tags are made by both teams again, and Nash is on fire, sending the Giant out, then dominating Hall. Nash has Hall set for the Jackknife, but Giant saves. Sting gives Giant a low blow and a bulldog. Nash tags Sting, who has Hall set up for the Scorpion Deathlock, but Bret Hart runs into the ring to distract Sting. Sting tosses Bret as the match breaksdown, and Hall catches the distraced Sting with the Outsider's Edge for the pin and the titles. The match was good, not particularly memorable, but good. What is memorable is the crowd, who reacted like they were watching a ***** classic WrestleMania main event.

-8/3/98: WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chris Jericho VS Rey Mysterio Jr.

 -Jericho is in the middle of his run where he would collect souveniers from his defeated opponents. Jericho jumps Rey as soon as he sets foot in the ring. Big "Jericho Sucks!" chant. Jericho tosses Rey into the air, but gets caught with a hurricarana. Rey follows that up with a seated senton to the outside. Jericho begs off, but it doesn't work. Rey drops a leg as Tony gets excited about Jay Leno wrestling at the upcoming PPV.

-Back from a break, Jericho catches Rey in the air, gorilla presses him, then drops him into a shoulderbreaker. Jericho hits a springboard dropkick to send both to the outside. Rey reverses a suplex, and hits a backflip splash for two. Jericho applies a version of a stump puller and lays back with it, a move I've never seen before. Jericho gets cocky and charges into a headscissors, then a hot shot. Rey gets a springboard split-legged moonsault for two. Jericho catches Rey trying to slide under his legs, and whips him back with a release German suplex for two. Jericho tries the springboard dropkick again, but Rey sees it coming, and Jericho falls outside. Rey ranas Jericho off the apron back into the ring, but Jericho comes back with a double-underhook backbreaker. Rey hits an X-Factor. Rey wants the West Coast Pop, but Jericho pulls the ref in the way. Jericho tries the Lion Tamer, but Rey counters into a rollup, and Dean Malenko (guest ref for Jericho's PPV match with Juventud Guerrera) slides in and counts the pin. Jericho pitches a hissy fit and nails David Penzer for the hell of it. Match was OK, but there were probably a good 50 cruiserweight matches on Nitro better than this.

-9/14/98: WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Juventud Guerrera [c] VS Kidman

 -Kidman and the rest of the Flock walked away from him earlier in the night. Kidman has no music, but gets a good reaction. Juvy gets the corner 10 count punches early. Missile dropkick forces Kidman to bail. Kidman counters a leapfrog with a powerslam for two. Juvy comes back, and a crossbody sends both he and Kidman out over the top.

-After a break, Juvy gets a rollup for two. Kidman comes back with a slingshot legdrop and a sky high for two. Wheelbarrow suplex gets two. Kidman keeps working Juvy over, but cannot put him away. Juvy fights back with a release German suplex for two. Juvy gets a flying rana for two. Kidman counters the Juvy Driver with an inverted suplex for two. Crowd explodes as Kidman sets up for the Shooting Star Press, but Juvy cuts him off. Juvy tries another flying rana, but Kidman counters with a powerbomb, and Shooting Star Press gets the pin and the title for Kidman to a HUGE explosion. Match was OK, but the heat suddenly got big at the end.

-DDP previews the return of the 4 Horsemen.

-9/14/98: This is the big, emotional return of the 4 Horsemen, specifically Ric Flair, who is coming back after going to his son's wrestling tournament rather than a Thunder taping, and then being subsequently sued by Eric Bischoff. This is probably the only time you will see Chris Benoit on a WWE release for a long, long time. This is simply a great segment with crowd reactions generally reserved for the biggest matches. Of course, WCW being WCW and their apparent quest to piss on Flair's legacy, kept the Horsemen a great distance behind the nWo in the pecking order, and Flair himself would turn a bunch of times in the next 2+ years, as his character went from legendary wrestler to crazy old man (who admittedly had his moments) fairly quickly.

-10/26/98: WCW United States Championship: Bret Hart [c] VS Diamond Dallas Page

 -They start out exchanging holds until Bret makes with the brawling, but he makes the mistake of walking away from DDP, and gets nailed. Bret manages to turn the tide. Bret keeps pounding away, but stops to argue a two count, allowing DDP to fight back. DDP gets a flapjack for two. Bret comes back with a superplex for two. Bret keeps the pressure on, but DDP gets an armbar takedown. Pages bashes Bret's head into the turnbuckle, and Bret's back kick to the nuts gets both DDP and the ref. Bret gets something out of his tights to KO DDP and makes sure the ref is OK. Bret misses his wild swing, and DDP hits the Diamond Cutter for the pin and the title. Bret shows his displeasure by nailing DDP, then the ref, then trying to break DDP's leg with a chair before locking in the Sharpshooter. Way to show your displeasure with how the WWF was handling your character before you left, Bret.

-12/28/98: For Control of WCW: Ric Flair VS Eric Bischoff

 -Bischoff tries to bail, but Mongo, Malenko, & Benoit drag him to the ring over the commercial break.

-Back from break, Flair immediately drops knee on Eric's nutsack. Flair chops away, and lands another low blow. Lil' Naitch, Charles Robinson does not call for the DQ, but Flair throws him down anyway. The nWo jobber squad try to interfere, but are cut off by the Horsemen. Some better members of the nWo join in the fun, and attack the Horsemen. Giant walks out, and headbuts Flair. Giant signals for the chokeslam as Arn Anderson rushes down, joined by Randy Savage, with Gorgeous George and in an nWo shirt. Savage quickly turns on the Giant, and Flair locks in the Figure 4 for the submission. Booker T, DDP, Konnan, Tony Schiavone, Larry Zbysko, and Dusty Rhodes join the celebration. The fun and games would end two months later, when Flair and Hogan did a double turn at SuperBrawl, and Flair would become the power hungry President of WCW for a few months, until it got to the point where no one knew who was running WCW (much like real life).

-Disc Three:

 -DDP notes that as rosey as 1997 & 98 were, 1999 was a bad year for WCW. On the first Nitro of the year, it was supposed to be a huge Kevin Nash VS Hollywood Hogan showdown, but things didn't quite work out that way...

-1/4/99: WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Kevin Nash [c] VS Hollywood Hogan

 -Nash brings Scott Hall (donning an nWo Wolfpac shirt) with him, showing that Hall's interference during the Nash/Goldberg main event at Starrcade was with Nash's consent. Hogan has Scott Steiner in his corner. Hogan calls Nash a "spoon". I have no idea what kind of insult that is supposed to be. Nash tears his t-shirt to mock Hogan. Nash shoves Hogan into a corner, and Hogan responds with...a fingerpoke. Nash drops like he's been shot, and Hogan covers for the pin and the title. The members of the now-unified nWo celebrate until Goldberg makes his way back to arena after being arrested earlier in the evening. Goldberg plows through everyone, and has Hogan set up for the jackhammer as Lex Luger comes out to stand guard, and then Luger nails Goldberg, leading to a big beatdown and nWo paint job. This was one of the moments that kept momentum in the WWF's corner. Not only did Goldberg lose for no apparent reason, they promised a rematch at this Nitro, and delivered...that. It soon became readily apparent that only the old guard would be in the main events, and WCW's angles became more non-sensical than usual.

-3/29/99: Bret Hart is out to bitch about his spot in WCW, and calls out Goldberg. Goldberg promptly hits Bret with a big spear, but Bret has a plate underneath his hockey jersey, so Goldberg is the one who gets KO'd. Bret quits WCW at the end of the segment.

-4/26/99: WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Diamond Dallas Page [c] VS Sting

 -DDP turned heel in his obsessive quest to become WCW Champion, and sidelined Hogan (now a face) with a ringpost Figure 4 during the last PPV main event, in the match where DDP won the title for the first time. Crowd is molten for this match. Sting wins a strike exchange and DDP takes a break. Sting continues to dominate, hitting a Stinger Splash and almost locking in the Scorpion Deathlock. DDP finally gets some offense in, but Sting counters a Diamond Cutter attempt by tossing DDP out of the ring, and DDP takes a walk. Sting, of course, catches DDP and beats the shit out of him in the aiselway, as the ref decides not to count either man out. Back in the ring, Sting tries the corner punches, but takes a low blow to turn the tide.

-DDP lays in some kicks, but Sting ducks a clothesline and drops DDP, before falling over and headbutting DDP in the nuts. DDP keeps the pressure on, but can't put Sting away. DDP wants the ringpost Figure 4, but Sting kicks him off. Sting blocks a Diamond Cutter by holding the top rope, signaling a Sting comeback. Sting gets a top rope splash for a close near-fall. The match goes back-and-forth. Sting hits a front-facing tombstone for two. They fight over the regular version, and Sting gets that for two. DDP counters a hiptoss with a DDT for two. DDP counters a backslide attempt with a low blow. Sting blocks the Diamond Cutter by holding the top rope again, and this time counters into the Scorpion Deathdrop for the pin and the title. Awesome match, and possibly the best that ever aired on Nitro. Of course, WCW being WCW, DDP would regain the title later that night in a Fatal 4 Way.

-DDP says even though he lost the tite, he feels that was his best match ever. He brings up regaining the title later that night, and goes over what winning the world title means.

-6/21/99: Juventud Guerrera VS Eddie Guerrero

 -This is Eddie's return to the ring after his car crash on New Year's Eve. Eddie looks like a tool with his ponytail. Eddie is not interested in being nice because it's his return, and he slaps Juvy across the face. Eddie controls the early going, but Juvy breaks out the Kidman powerbomb counter to turn the tide. Eddie comes back, and locks in a sleeper as we go to break.

-Back from break, Eddie has Juvy locked in an abdominal stretch. Eddie releases the hold, and Juvy gets a nice rollup for two. Eddie gets a brainbuster for two. A little bit of awkwardness as they seem to not know what to do for a moment. Juvy gets a wheelbarrow bulldog and headscissors takedown. Juvy hits a missile dropkick, then when Eddie rolls outside, follows up with a suicide dive. Eddie blocks the Juvy driver, hits a neckbreaker, and the frog splash for the pin. Match started out really good, but they lost their pace towards the end.

-8/9/99: Sting, Goldberg, & WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan VS Kevin Nash, Sid, & Rick Steiner

 -Hogan brings back his "American Made" theme and the red & yellow. Tony reacts like Jesus just resurrected. Hogan completely dominates Steiner, and cuts off an interfering Nash. Hogan does some posing before tagging in Goldberg, while Steiner tags Nash. Goldberg flattens Nash as the building comes unglued. Sid gets some shots in on Goldberg before Goldberg comes back, and tags in Sting. Sting batters all three opponents, before trying a splash and getting Sid's knees. Sid tags in Nash, who hits a sideslam. The ref gets bumped. Sting hits a series of Stinger Splashes before taking a chairshot from Steiner. Steiner takes a spear from Goldberg. Sid chairs down Goldberg and Sting. Hogan wipes Sid out, then gives Nash a chairshot as he goes for the Jackknife on Sting, who then locks in the Scorpion Deathlock for the win. Match was pretty decent, but the ridiculously hot crowd elevated everything.

-8/16/99: Gene Okerlund brings Kidman out to talk about how awesome Kidman is, the Filthy Animals, and Kidman's favorite Nitro Girl. Kidman says Kimberly is his favorite, which brings out a pissed DDP. DDP attacks Kidman, which leads too...

-Diamond Dallas Page VS Kidman

 -DDP continues to pound the shit out of Kidman, and in a historic moment, DDP POWERBOMBS KIDMAN! DDP looks to have the match won, but pulls Kidman up at two. DDP gets a big spinebuster, and pulls Kidman up at two again. DDP tries a TKO, but Kidman rolls him up for the pin. DDP isn't happy, giving the ref a Diamond Cutter. Kidman jumps on DDP's back, but ends up getting spun into a Diamond Cutter. DDP ties Kidman in the Tree of Woe and whips him with a belt, until Kimberly comes out to take him away.

-12/20/99: WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Goldberg VS Bret Hart

 -Title was vacated by Bret after a Montreal Screwjob imitation at Starrcade saw him retain the title against Goldberg. Jeff Jarrett is shown watching on a backstage monitor as the announcers speculate on what the big thing the "Powers That Be" have planned tonight. Watching Bret takes bumps in this match is scary and sad, as he had suffered (unbeknownst to him) what would end up being his career-ending concussion the night before, and Bret continuing to wrestle without being checked out would lead to Bret's stroke. Goldberg completely dominates the first few minutes. Bret fights back by working on Goldberg's leg. The ref is bumped, and Bret kicks Goldberg in the nuts before locking in a Figure 4. The Outsiders rush out with baseball bats, and they attack Goldberg before handing a bat to Bret. Piper covers up Goldberg as the ref comes to...and counts three. This somehow means Bret is the champion. Jeff Jarrett runs out to give Piper El Kabong with his trusty guitar. Jarrett spraypaints nWo on Piper and Goldberg, signalling the formation of nWo 2000, which draws a huge pop from the crowd in Baltimore.

-1/24/00: WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Sid VS Kevin Nash

 -The title is vacant after Bret gave it up, and Benoit won the title, only to jump to the WWF the next night. Nash is WCW Commissioner at this point. Their matches in 1995 weren't any good, and this isn't any better, with the exception of the crowd being hotter. The ref gets bumped. Jarrett tries to interfere as Sid tries to use the (banned) powerbomb. Sid nails Nash with the guitar, and pretends to be the one hit. The announcers put this over as a brilliant move...even though Nash is the one covered in the guitar debris. Sid gets the win and the title.

-DDP talks about Eric Bischoff being sent home in the fall of 1999 and Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara being brought in, and how it wasn't a good fit for WCW.

-4/10/00: A lot of the roster members are around the ring, as Russo has called a meeting. Weird to see Meng in casual business atire. Jeff Jarrett puts Vince Russo as the man who turned the WWF around, and has changed WCW forever. Jarrett is pissed because he was "The Chosen One" to be WCW champion, but the master plan was derailed by "Good Ol' Boys" who couldn't compete. Russo bitches because he couldn't do what he wanted to do when he came to WCW, and was told that WCW was going in a "new direction" that sucked. Russo rants that the old egos are gone, and it's time for the young members of the WCW to seize their opportunity. This is interrupted by a returning Eric Bischoff. They tease dissention, but then hug, which is funny given how Bischoff REALLY did not want to work with him at all. Bischoff calls all the older wrestlers, including Hulk Hogan "mistakes". Sid, Luger, Sting & DDP go out to the stage to offer some rebuttals. Bischoff & Russo vacate all the titles to start a new era for WCW.

-4/24/00: Cage Match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Jeff Jarrett [c] (w/Vince Russo) VS Diamond Dallas Page

 -Hey! Rochester, NY makes it on a DVD! DDP jumps Jarrett before they get into the cage, and so they brawl outside for the first few minutes. The announcers note that Kim served DDP with divorce papers earlier in the show. DDP controls the first couple minutes of the match, but JJ fights back, and slams DDP in the cage before stomping away. DDP signals for the Diamond Cutter, and the camera misses how JJ counters it, as Mike Awesome runs out to man the door. DDP counters a bodyslam into a Diamond Cutter. Mike Awesome tries to stop the 3 count, but Kanyon cuts him off, allowing the ref to finish the count and give DDP his 3rd World title. DDP celebrates in the crowd. Not much here, aside from the title change.

-7/18/00: Tank Abbot provides an introduction for 3 Count. Shane looks like an idiot with beads in his hair. 3 Count brings a ladder out with them, as they have signed to face the Jung (Young) Dragons in a ladder match at New Blood Rising. As 3 Count performs, their gold record hangs above the ring. Jamie-San (Jamie Noble) tries to grab it. 3 Count cuts him off, leading to...

-Ladder Match for the Gold Record: 3 Count VS The Jung Dragons

 -The teams trade dives off the top, until Evan Karaigas does the Terry Funk bit with the ladder, swinging it around to hit everyone. Karaigas climbs, but Jamie stops him for a second, and Yang & Hayashi push the ladder over, sending Karaigas out over the top. Jamie climbs and snatches the ladder to win the gold record. Match looks to be on here because of the idea sounds better than what was actually there.

-8/7/00: WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Booker T [c] VS WCW United States/Cruiserweight/Hardcore Champion Lance Storm

 -Storm is coming off winning three titles in three weeks, and making them all Canadian. WCW actually did the logical thing and had Storm challenge for the World title. Mike Awesome, #1 contender for the U.S. title, is providing guest commentary. Beef sandwiches are delivered for Heidi, Awesome's fat chick of choice. Storm controls the early going, but makes the mistake of slapping Booker in the face, and he responds with a big suplex. Booker blocks a superkick, hits the Axe Kick, and SPINAROONI leads to a leaping side kick for two. Storm leaps into a powerslam for two. Storm counters a German suplex into (with some struggle), the Canadian Maple Leaf single leg crab. Booker makes it to the ropes. Storm hits a superkick, but charges into a spinebuster for two. Booker hits the Book End to retain. Match was OK, but Booker was never in any serious trouble. Jeff Jarrett, #1 contender for the world title, attacks Booker after the bell. Jarrett then goes after Storm, tries to give him El Kabong, but ends up KO'ing Heidi. Awesome chases Jarrett into the ring, and he runs into a Book End.

-9/4/00: WCW World Heavyweight Championship War Games 2000 "Russo's Revenge": Kevin Nash [c] VS Jeff Jarrett VS Sting VS Scott Steiner VS Kronik VS Vince Russo (w/The Harris Twins) VS Booker T VS Goldberg

 -Match is fought with a new wrestler entering every two minutes. Whomever leaves the cage with the title belt is the champion. It starts out hanging at the top of the 3rd cage. Sting & Jarrett start it off. Jeremy Borash is on commentary, something I don't remember, but I wasn't watching much WCW at this point. Sting dominates Jarrett early on, until Steiner enters to make it 2-on-1. Both members of Kronik enter as Steiner makes it up to the second cage. Kronik lays out Jarrett, then follow Steiner into the second cage to attack him. Russo enters in a New Jersey Devils' jersey and a hockey helmet. The Harris' climb outside the first cage and get into the second cage to brawl with Kronik. Sting gets a Stinger Splash and Scorpion Deathlock on Russo. Scott Steiner is nowhere to be found, and Nash enters the fray. Steiner is back down in the first cage. Nash goes to him, and Sting hits both with a Stinger Splash. Sting misses a second, and Nash lays him out with a chokeslam. Nash almost chokeslams Russo, but Steiner and Jarrett talk him out of it. Nash almost chokeslams them too, but Booker T enters to lay out the heels.

-The Harris' and Kronik brawl through the crowd. Booker lays Russo out with an axe kick, but Nash drops Booker with a big boot after the spinarooni. There are apparently supposed to be teams in this, and Nash doesn't hit his "teammates". Goldberg enters last to plow through everyone he can find, until Russo hits him with a baseball bat. Booker goes up to the second cage. Goldberg is handcuffed to the ropes. Sting & Steiner go up to the second cage, followed by Jarrett. Nash waits by the door on the bottom as Booker T grabs the belt. Booker fights with Jarrett & Steiner. Sting is handcuffed in the second cage. Booker is dropped with El Kabong by Jarrett. Steiner drops the belt into the ring, and Russo grabs it. The Cat interferes to go after Russo, but Nash drops him with a jackknife. Nash poses with the belt, prompting Goldberg to break his handcuffs and drop Nash & Russo.

-Goldberg has the match won, but Bret Hart comes from the crowd to slam the cage door in Goldberg's face. Nash gets a hold of the title belt, and leaves the cage with his team to retain.

-3/26/01: Vince McMahon opens the last Nitro by announcing his purchase of WCW, and gives his infamous "the fate of WCW is in my hands" promo.

-3/26/01: Sting VS Ric Flair

 -This is the final match of WCW. The two run through their old spots and a very cliff notes version of their matches throughout the lengthy rivalry. Awkward moment as Sting no-sells a chop, tries to whip Flair, who simply stops to punch Sting in the gut before going up top to get slammed down. Flair gets the Figure 4, but Sting reverses the hold. Sting no-sells some chops, hits a superplex, and Scorpion Deathlock finishes. Sting gives Flair a hug, and the two shake hands.

-DDP talks about how the wrestlers had heard the rumblings, but they didn't believe it was true until Shane McMahon showed up in Panama City. DDP says he's ready for Volume 2 of the Best of Nitro.
-All in all, a decent represenation of what Nitro was. As DDP says in his closing, you can't condense 6 years into one presenation. There's a lot of stuff missing, especially from the cruiserweights. Still, this is an OK walk down memory lane, especially the early nWo stuff.