WCW Monday Nitro #73

       
The show opens up with the closing moments of the IWA World tag team title match at Halloween Hell........


Bam Bam hits a somersault splash, but he can’t get the pin because while lifting Gordy for a bodyslam, he caused Gordys boots to deck the referee. Bigelow gets the ref back up, but turns around into a belly-to-belly from Gordy! Gordy grabs Bigelow....... PILEDRIVER! 1......2.......3! AND NEWWWWW IWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS....... STEVE WILLIAMS AND TERRY GORDY!!!!!












   Jim Ross: "Hello wrestling fans and welcome to  another......."          


Before JR can finish his opening, Rhea Ripley storms to the ring!!



  Rhea Ripley: "I was one second.... one bloody second away from becoming the IWA Womens World champion at Halloween Hell! I kicked Britt Bakets ass all over that ring. Then she pulled her panic card and Awesome Kong cost me the title. So Kong..... your reputation proceeds you. Your a badass! But you stuck your nose in the wrong person's business. And I'm not leaving this ring until I get a piece of you. So get your fat ass out here!!!"   



It doesn't take long for Rhea to get her wish because here comes...... KONG!





The fans pop huge in anticipation of watching these two women go at it and Rhea and Kong do not disappoint as Rhea jumps Kong as soon as she enters the ring. But Kongs no pushover and brings the fight right back to Rhea. Several security members rush to the ring to get these two separated. 




***COMMERCIAL BREAK ***





   Match One: Brian Pillman vs Dean Malenko                 

Pillman catches Malenko with a back elbow out of a hammerlock, so Malenko takes him down with a dropkick. He goes for the TEXAS CLOVERLEAF early, but Pillman slips away to the ropes as Jim Ross and Jesse Ventura discuss the attack that happened to Pillmans partner, Seth Rollins at Halloween Hell.  Back in, Pillman rubs Malenko’s face into the mat and then hits a suplex for two. Malenko comes back with a running corner clothesline and a nice brainbuster. Reverse neckbreaker gets another two. Pillman catches Malenko with a knee off a charge to set up a TORNADO DDT! Pillman thinks he has Malenko beat, but goes to the top instead of covering him. Some chops from Pillman serve to fire up Malenko, who comes back with a tiger bomb for two. On the floor, Pillman sends Malenko into the guardrail to regain control. Back in, Pillman tries another TORNADO DDT and gets shoved off. Malenko delivers the gutbuster and trips up Pillman for a leg grapevine/anklelock submission,  then we hear......





Chris Jericho makes his way to the entrance ramp. Malenko sees him and releases the hold on Pillman. Jericho has Malenko distracted and Pillman rolls Malenko up for 1-2-3!




***COMMERCIAL BREAK ***





   Match Two: Damian Priest  vs Eric Young             

Priest pretty much has his way against Young with his size advantage that eventually leads to Priest hitting The Reckoning for the win. As the replay is shown, Gene Okerlund joins Priest in the ring.....






   Gene Okerlund: "OHHHHH MY! There's alot going on not only in WCW, but the entire IWA. So much intact you may need a directory to keep up. And one of the things that has people buzzing Damian Priest..... is your win over Sammy Guevara at Halloween Hell!"         


But before Priest can answer out comes Sammy Guevara!




  Sammy Guevara: "That's a great question Mean Gene! Damian why don't you tell us why FTR interfered on your behalf and cost me the match at Halloween Hell?"            

  Damian Priest: "Is this what's its come down to Sammy? Making excuses for your short comings? I don't know anything about FTR or the entire Heyman Hustle group. But to be real honest..... I'm getting a little tired of you and everyone else making accusations.  Fact of the matter is I beat you straight up. And if you get in my face once more..... I will do it again!"         




***COMMERCIAL BREAK ***





   Match Three: Sting vs Dutch Mantell for the WCW Heavyweight title              

They trade armbars and Dutch misses a knee, allowing Sting to go back to his own armbar. Dutch rakes the eyes to take over, but Sting slugs back and beats on him in the corner. Dutch rakes the eyes again, but Sting gets a backslide for the pin.


  Gene Okerlund: "How about that win for our WCW Heavyweight champion? Stinger, coming off the heels of a tough title defense against Stan Hansen at Halloween Hell, your focus now must be on Thanksgiving Throwdown and the gauntlet match to see who will go on to face the IWA World champion at Wrestle Kingdom?"




  Sting: "Just thinking about getting in that ring with the very best 10 men in the IWA right now gets my blood pumping Mean Gene! And can you see it? The Stinger wrestling for the IWA World title at The Tokyo Dome in January?.GOOSEBUMPS  I TELL YA! OWWWWWWWWW!"              





***COMMERCIAL BREAK ***






We come back from break and see The Pinnacle making their way into the ring.






  Steve Williams: "Its not very often that a dynasty comes along and rules a sport. You can count them on one hand..... the Chicago Bulls..... The New York Yankees..... The New England Patriots....... and then you have us..... The Pinnacle! Gordy and I have been busting people up our entire careers. And we have all the gold to prove it. The WCW Tag titles...... IWGP  tag titles....... and now the IWA World tag titles! This is your chance people. Your looking at greatness..... soak it in!"     


   MJF: "And what did everyone of those teams you mentioned have? A great leader! The Bulls had Jordan. The Yankees had Jeter. The Patriots had Brady. And the Pinnacle has yours truly! Over 18 months I've held this title. And I've created a legacy that no one will ever match. It was once said  "To Be The Man..... you had to beat the man!" Not only did I beat him..... I ran him out if WCW. Then at Halloween Hell they put me up against "The Best in the World!" And I beat him too. So I guess you can say I'm "The Man..... Who is Best in the World!

And in just a few days I'm going to prove it again on Saturday Nights Main Event when I defeat Jungle Perry..... AGAIN! And after I beat Jungle Jill or whatever his name is this week, he will never recieve another shot at this title. And you know what? After that..... there's nobody left! I've beat them all!"      



The Pinnacle stand proud in the ring and then we hear......






   Jim Ross: "MY GAWD..... ITS EDGE!! EDGE IS HERE! And maybe...... just maybe.... there is someone that MJF hasn't defeated! Bygawd business is about to pick up!"