WCW Monday Nitro, February 12th 2001.
By Bill Johnson of WCW.COM
Just when Ric Flair thought he had all the answers, Kevin Nash changed the questions. Big Sexy raised the stakes in his ongoing feud with the Magnificent Seven. While the CEO threw his power around at the start of the show, Kevin Nash appeared on the Nitro Vision with a list of demands -- holding David Flair hostage for leverage. Ric agreed to all of Nash's stipulations, including one putting Big Kev one-on-one against Big Poppa Pump for the title later at Nitro.
The show started with a Dustin Rhodes vs. Rick Steiner match already in progress, with Dustin in control. Ric Flair, Road Warrior Animal and Mike Sanders came out, with the Nature Boy ordering security to remove Rhodes from the ring. Once the ring cleared, Flair and his men entered just in time for The Cat's music to play. The commissioner, flanked by Ms. Jones, said he reinstated Dustin because he was in charge. Ric booked Miller in a match on the spot against Lance Storm for the commissionership, with Mike Sanders as the special referee.
Backstage, Chavo Guerrero Jr. had words with Ric Flair about the El Níno setup last week. Flair said it wasn't his fault, and promised the cruiserweight champion revenge against Rey Mysterio before SuperBrawl.
WCW Commissionership Match
Lance Storm d. The Cat with Ms. Jones
Sanders and Storm doubled up on The Cat, but Miller fought back and dropped them both to the mat. The commissioner covered his opponent repeatedly, but Sanders, feigning an injury, stayed on the canvas. As Storm spun The Cat around and slapped on the Maple Leaf, Sanders quickly called for the bell, giving Storm the match and the commissionership. Flair and the Magnificent Seven came into the ring, ready to finish the job. Kevin Nash appeared on the screen, holding David Flair hostage for negotiations. After it was all said and done, Big Sexy forced Ric Flair to book The Cat against Lance Storm again for the commissionership at SuperBrawl. Nash also got Ric to agree to a Dustin Rhodes vs. Rick Steiner rematch on Nitro, with the stipulation that if Rhodes won, he'd be reinstated -- and Nash would get a shot at Big Poppa's title in Nitro's main event.
Backstage, Flair told Sanders to find Dustin Rhodes. Mike caught up with Rhodes and told him the plan, but Dustin refused to help Flair get his son out of trouble.
Backstage, Luger and Bagwell told Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire Ric Flair had his eye on them for the "new" WCW.
Yang d. Lash LeRoux
Yang and Lash were fast and furious in this qualifying match for the cruiserweight contenders contest at SuperBrawl. The former Misfit beat on the Jung Dragon, but Yang threw LeRoux outside, dove over the ropes himself and landed on top of the Cajun. After Lash missed a frogsplash, Yang capitalized by connecting with a huge head scissors takeover on LeRoux. Lash hit a sit out powerbomb from a pump handle, and followed up with the Whiplash, but only got a two-count on the pin attempt. After another tremendous exchange, Yang hit a corkscrew moonsault for the hard earned victory.
Backstage, Sanders told Ric Flair he was "negotiating" with Dustin. The Nature Boy told Mike to make any deal Rhodes wanted. When Sanders went back to Dustin and offered him anything he wanted, Rhodes said he wanted a shot at Rick Steiner's U.S. title at the PPV if he won the Nitro match.
Mean Gene Interview: Shawn Stasiak and Mark Jindrak
PerfectShawn told Mean Gene he carried Palumbo to the tag team titles, and he was ready to make an example of his former partner on Nitro.
Backstage, DDP told The Cat Jeff Jarrett and Chris Kanyon were going to feel the bang.
Backstage, Animal held Sanders up against the wall by his neck, but the former commissioner told Ric and his henchman the deal with Rhodes was done.
Dustin Rhodes d. Rick Steiner
Rhodes was all over Steiner as he entered the ring, sending the U.S. champion outside to collect his thoughts. Rick hit a low blow behind the referee's back, taking over on the second-generation star. On the floor, both men used the guardrails and ring posts as weapons, each trying to seriously damage the other. Rick used the ropes for leverage on a front face lock, keeping the Texan on the mat. Dustin got his second wind, but collided with the knocked out referee. The incapacitated ref was unable to count the pin after Rhodes hit a bulldog on the champion. Animal tried to interfere, but The Franchise Shane Douglas stopped him and clocked Rick in the back of the head with his cast. Shane's interference allowed Rhodes to get the 1-2-3. After the bell, Steiner and Animal stomped Shane's unbroken hand in a chair despite Dustin's attempts to make the save.
Billy Kidman d. Primetime Elix Skipper
Skipper attacked Billy from behind while he was greeting the crowd. Billy displayed some excellent skills, but Elix stopped him short with a snap German suplex. Knowing the importance of the match, Elix got vicious and choked Kidman on the ropes, just barely breaking before the referee's five count. The action moved in and out of the ring before Kidman countered Skipper on the turnbuckle and came down off the ropes with a sit out powerbomb. Primetime went for the overdrive, but Billy reversed it and hit the Kid Krusher to advance to the big SuperBrawl match.
Mean Gene Interview: Hugh Morrus
After Gene told Morrus WCW officials booked him a match against The Wall at SuperBrawl, the laughing man said he would leave the PPV with blood on his hands.
While looking for Kevin Nash backstage, Scott Steiner beat up a stagehand.
Backstage, Ric Flair told his wife on the phone he was doing everything he could to save David.
PerfectShawn Stasiak d. Chuck Palumbo
Former partners Palumbo and Stasiak both had something to prove as the two locked horns hard at the bell. The cocky PerfectShawn worked over the tag team champion, mixing highflying techniques with brutal rule breaking tactics. Palumbo fired back against Stasiak, but Shawn used his slight experience edge to his advantage, keeping his opponent down. The Event powered up and met Stasiak move for move, but in the end, PerfectShawn took the cheap win with a handful of tights.
Interview: Diamond Dallas Page
Page told Jeff Jarrett he would feel the bang at SuperBrawl, before turning his attention toward Kanyon. DDP challenged his impersonator to a fight anytime, anywhere. The Chosen One arrived on the stage to distract Dallas as Kanyon ran in from behind. But Page saw Kanyon coming and caught him with an elbow to the face as he charged. As Page went after his arch rival, Jeff Jarrett ran to the ring and blasted Dallas with his six stringer.
Backstage, Scott Steiner found the room where Nash was staying, but Big Sexy had already left and taken David Flair with him.
Disqualification - Big Sexy Kevin Nash d. Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner
Nash entered the ring and threw a punch at David, dropping him to the mat. Ric came to the aisle, pleading with Big Sexy to release his son. Nash delivered the Jackknife to the young Flair before WCW security ran in and pulled David to safety. When the champion came out, Big Sexy went right after Steiner with a vengeance. Outside, as Flair and his men loaded David into a car, the CEO instructed his troops to get Nash. As they ran into the arena, The Cat, Dustin Rhodes and Bryan Clark were waiting. The two sides brawled to the back, once again making the match a fair fight. Nash set the champion for the Jackknife, but Ric Flair ran in, prompting the referee to call for the bell. Big Sexy brought the Nature Boy down with the powerbomb, but Big Poppa immediately caught the back of Nash's knee with a steel pipe shot. Steiner beat his PPV challenger down with the pipe as Nitro went off the air.
Nitro Archives
•February 5th
After his title match was taken away in his last meeting with Shane Douglas, Rick Steiner made sure the gold was on the line when he locked up with Shane again at Nitro. The Franchise used everything he could to his advantage, including his own cast. But in the end, the Dog faced Gremlin walked away with the U.S. championship. And just when we thought we'd seen the last of Rick, Kevin Nash dropped the bombshell that the DFG would be his partner against Big Poppa Pump in the main event. What Nash didn't know, however, was that the old adage "blood is thicker than water" would soon become painfully clear. After securing his brother's win, Rick reunited with Scott and left Nash staring at the ring lights.
•January 29th
After assembling an army of superstars to create the "new" WCW, CEO Ric Flair boasted that he had another major player to bring into the fold. When the time came for Flair to announce his new man, not only did the returning Dustin Rhodes turn down the Nature Boy, but The American Dream reintroduced Flair to an old friend of his -- the Bionic Elbow.
•January 23rd
As the power struggle for control of WCW continued at Nitro, CEO Ric Flair and Commissioner The Cat set up another blockbuster card for the fans. The two went back and forth with stipulation after counter stipulation. But once the dust had settled, Big Sexy Kevin Nash found himself on his way to SuperBrawl for a shot at the world heavyweight title.
•January 15th
As backstage footage aired of WCW's Sin PPV, fans were shocked as Ric Flair showed his allegiance to, not only the returning Road Warrior Animal, but to Big Poppa Pump as well. As Nitro got underway, "the elite" came out with a mock funeral for Goldberg, and announced to the world they were taking over the "new" WCW.
•January 8th
Six days away from WCW Sin, Scott Steiner and Jeff Jarrett -- planning to work together against the mystery opponent -- thought they had everything under control. When Ric Flair got wind of their intentions, however, he not only added the original madman to the match, but also booked Big Poppa in a title match for later on Nitro -- against The Chosen One.
•December 18th
Coming off a huge victory against Sid Vicious at WCW Starrcade, Big Poppa Pump walked into Nitro to find another surprise from the CEO -- a three-way dance for the WCW title booked for WCW Sin on Sunday, Jan. 14. The Nature Boy told Steiner one of his opponents would be determined in a mini tournament during the broadcast, but drove Steiner into a rage, making him wait until the end of the show before revealing his shocking surprise.