WCW Monday Nitro Review - June 17th, 1996

WCW Monday Nitro 

June 17th, 1996

Richmond, Virginia

WCW World Champion: The Giant (since 4/29/96)

WCW US Champion: Konnan (since 1/29/96)

WCW Tag Team Champions: Sting & Lex Luger (since 1/22/96)

WCW TV Champion: Lex Luger (since 3/6/96)

WCW Cruserweight Champion: Dean Malenko (since 5/18/96) 

Tony Schiavone is joined by Larry Zbysko tonight. They quickly recap everything that happened at the Great American Bash last night, most notably focusing on Kevin Nash and Scott Hall’s attack on Eric Bischoff. They tease showing the whole clip, but cut it before the full thing and say they will show the rest of the horrific attack later.

1) Rick Steiner vs. Stevie Ray 

Short, short match. But typical Steiners and Harlem stuff. Hard hitting power shit. Rick wins with the Steinerline. 

Match rating - *1/2

After the match, Booker T comes down to attack Richard and this brings Scott out to save his brother. Harlem Heat gets the upper hand and Rick seemingly injured his ribs during the attack. 

2) Disco Inferno vs. Joe Gomez 

Not much happening here. Gomez gets the surprise victory after a minute or two with a backslide. 

Match rating - *

Another amazing backstage promo from Ric Flair with all his women. The man just goes nuts and runs down Macho Man. I can’t even recap it all. It’s just vintage Ric by god. WOOOOO!

3) Chris Benoit & Arn Anderson vs. American Males (Scotty Riggs & Buff Bagwell)

Fucking awesome showing for Benoit & Anderson. Five minutes of action and it ruled. Riggs & Bagwell bump around well enough and give a decent fight. Benoit’s eye is swollen and fucked from last night. This was just a blast while it lasted.

Match rating - **3/4

After the match, Mean Gene interviews Benoit & Anderson. Anderson says when business deals go south, someone gets rich and someone TAKES A BATH. The Horsemen are back and as Benoit says, they are about GUTS, GLORY, AND GLAMOUR. 

4) Big Bubba (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. John Tenta 

Have mercy. Here these boys go again. And it’s really and truly not that offensive. They make the most of their time. Just big boys doin’ stuff. Hart gets involved and Tenta drops his ass. He slams Bubba, covers, gets a 1 count before getting up and slamming him again while using the ropes to get the three count. 

Match rating - **

Big Bubba attacks Tenta with a sock full of coins after the match and yeah buddy. Tenta got beat the fuck up. Bubba & Hart head out with the last laugh. Mean Gene approaches them on their way out. Hart says them & Kevin Sullivan are making examples of everyone. Big Bubba says every time he steps in the ring with that fat piece of trash, he kicks his ass FROM KINGDOM COME. Lord have mercy. 

SECOND HOUR INCOMING~~~

Back from commercial, Mean Gene is in the locker room with Macho Man. Macho Man admits he’s not all there, but that there’s no man who can put him down. He faces Flair up next. 

5) Ric Flair (w/ Woman, Debra, & Miss Elizabeth) vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage 

This was a damn mess. In a fun way though. Flair runs from Macho to start and does his whole chicken shit schtick and it’s so damn good. They brawl around ringside and throw food & drink at each other. Macho gets a good control segment in and Flair bumps and sells his ass off. Taking a beating. Eventually Benoit, Anderson, and Mongo come out. A clusterfuck. Mongo hits Macho Man with his briefcase behind the ref’s back and Flair steals the pin. 

Match rating - **1/2

Backstage, Kevin Sullivan says that they say that in the end times,, WARS START. And there’s a war starting with the Horsemen. Sullivan targets Benoit specifically, of course. Giant starts talking and mocks the fact that they consider themselves the ELITE. So weird hearing that and it not being about Omega & The Bucks. Giant says anyone in the dungeon of doom is better than anyone in the Horsemen and he will bring them all down. 

Glacier hype video airs. 

6) Dean Malenko (c) vs. Rey Mysterio - WCW Cruserweight Title Match 

Rematch from last night. Lowkey enjoyed it more than last night because Rey got a little more offense in. Everything is more crisp and explosive. It’s a back and forth TV junior heavyweight spectacular. Rey mounted more offense this time, but still was too flashy and got caught up in a DDT and eats the loss again. Best match on this program.

Match rating - ***1/4

7) The Giant vs. Scott Steiner 

Scott is almost a perfect foe for Giant. He doesn’t give a fuck and tries to power him up and fails. Giant beats him around the ringside area and grabs a chair from underneath the ring after the commercial break. Steiner suplexes Giant and pops the crowd for a two count before getting chokeslammed and taking the L.

Match rating - **

To close the show, Mean Gene announces that Sting, Macho Man, & Lex Luger will be the three men to face The Outsiders at Bash at the Beach on July 7th.