Tape 071 (SLP)
WCW Nitro 6/24/96
Time: 2:00
VQ: VG/EX
--Footage shown from Great American Bash of Kevin Nash powerbombing Eric Bischoff off the stage.
1. Public Enemy vs. The Blue Bloods
2. Kevin Sullivan vs. Kent Ahee
3. Dean Malenko vs. Bobby Walker (WCW Cruiserweight Title)
4. Eddie Guerrero vs. The Barbarian
5. Arn Anderson/Chris Benoit vs. The Rock 'N' Roll Express
6. Alex Wright vs. Dallas Page
7. Randy Savage vs. V.K. Wallstreet
8. Harlem Heat vs. Lex Luger/Sting vs. Rick/Scott Steiner (WCW Tag Team Titles) (clipped)
--Security floods the ring to prevent Scott Hall/Kevin Nash from interfering in this match.
Opinion: Great show despite match quality being very average. This show marked the really big build of the Hostile Takeover/N.W.O. angle with a lot of nice touches that made it seem important. Both faces and heels support Sting/Luger/Savage which never happened before. The paranoid fear of Bobby Heenan along with the defiance of Tony Shiavone made for some strong commentary to set up the angle. My favorite aspect is that security guards had their fingers placed on the triggers of their holstered guns to reinforce the seriousess of the Hostile Takeover.
WCW Nitro 7/1/96
Time: 2:00
VQ: VG/EX
1. Harlem Heat vs. Rick/Scott Steiner (clipped)
2. Kurasawa (Manabu Nakanishi) vs. Disco Inferno
3. Dallas Page vs. Scotty Riggs
4. Randy Savage vs. Greg Valentine
5. The Giant vs. John Tenta (WCW World Title)
6. Ric Flair/Arn Andersson/Chris Benoit/Steve McMichael vs. The Rock 'N' Roll Express/Joe Gomez/The Renegade
--Lockerroom empties as Scott Hall/Kevin Nash approach the announce booth as security maintains order.
Opinion: The great buildup to Bash At The Beach continues with a very hot angle to end the show. It was apparent that WCW was onto something big here when Hall & Nash received a HUGE response from the crowd for doing basically nothing.
WCW Nitro 7/8/96
Time: 2:00
VQ: VG/EX
--First Nitro after Hulk Hogan's heel turn, joining The Outsiders in forming the N.W.O.
1. Dean Malenko vs. Rey Mysterio Jr. (WCW Cruiserweight Title) (clipped)
2. The Blue Bloods vs. Hugh Morrus/Big Bubba Rogers
3. Eddie Guerrero vs. Psychosis ***1/2
--Psychosis' Nitro debut.
4. Rick/Scott Steiner vs. The Nasty Boys
5. Ric Flair vs. Jim Powers (WCW U.S. Title)
6. Chris Benoit vs. Craig Pittman
7. Sting vs. Arn Anderson (clipped)
--In an impassioned interview, Sting tells Hulk Hogan to "stick it."
--Outsiders comment on Hulk Hogan joining them.
Opinion: This show had a feeling like the calm before the storm. The show was dedicated to all of the wrestlers commenting on the Hogan heel turn. On an aside, this show had some of the best in-ring wrestling offered so far on Nitro. Rey vs. Malenko was excellent, although unfortunately interrupted in the middle by commercial. Psychosis vs. Guerrero was great too.
