The SmarK Rant for WCW Monday Nitro–11.20.95

The SmarK Rant for WCW Monday Nitro – 11.20.95

LIVE once again, from somewhere not mentioned.

Your hosts are Eric Bischoff, Bobby Heenan & Mongo

Scott Norton v. The Shark

The epic feud continues! Shark attacks in the aisle and goes to a bearhug in the ring, which turns into a belly to belly. Shark’s gear was just so hideous at this point that I have no idea how anyone was supposed to take him seriously. Shark with an Avalanche and he pounds away, but Norton no-sells and hits a standing powerslam for the pin at 1:45. ½*

Jimmy Hart tries to drive a wedge between Hogan and his friends, pointing out that Hulk invited Randy Savage to do Baywatch with him, not Sting. But I thought Hogan was DARK now and didn’t care about Sting anyway? This storyline is so confusing.

Eddie Guerrero v. Brian Pillman

They advertised Flair, but he’s far too big a star to bother with Eddie, so he’s letting Pillman handle the dirty work instead tonight. Notable moment here, as Eric points out that “the other guys” are showing a commercial right now, so we should stay here. That’s pretty genius. Eddie slugs away to start and goes up, but misses a dropkick and Pillman takes over with some biting and cheapshots. Eddie with a rollup for two, and he comes back with chops, but Pillman backdrops him for two. Suplex gets two. Powerslam gets two. Finally he spits on Eddie to get him fired up, and puts Eddie on the floor. Pillman follows with a dive, but lands on the railing and Eddie follows with a crazy dive halfway up the aisle. Back in, Eddie hits a brainbuster and goes up, but Pillman brings him down. Eddie fights him off, however, and the frog splash finishes at 6:27. **1/4

Last week, Lex Luger injures Randy Savage’s arm, which was a cover for a legitimate triceps tear on his part. However, the storyline was then that Savage was faking the injury to dupe the Dungeon of Doom, even though it was a real injury that figured into the finish of the PPV match with Luger! That Hogan storyline was such a trainwreck.

Hawk v. Big Bubba Rogers

Bubba attacks and gets backdropped, but Hawk slugs him down in the corner while Eric infers that someone from the WWF is going to jump ship and win World War III on Sunday. I know Adam Bomb was trying desperately to jump at this point, for one. Hawk walks into a spinebuster for two and Bubba chokes him out on the ropes. Hawk comes back and goes up with a clothesline that misses, and Bubba tapes up his fist, only to have Jim Duggan trip him up so that Hawk can pin him at 3:58. The explanation is that Bubba hit himself in the head on the way down. Who is he, Cody from Big Brother? DUD

Hulk Hogan v. Sting

Even by 1995 standards this is a pretty huge match to give away on free TV. Dark Phoenix Hogan comes out of the crowd to show that he can attack from behind if he wants. Sting attacks and slugs away, but Hogan gets the corner clothesline and the crowd boos the ever-loving fuck out of him. Sting fights back with a pair of dropkicks to put Hulk on the floor, but Sting misses his splash and hits the railing. Hulk adds a suplex on the floor. Back in, Sting gets a bodypress for two, but Hulk takes him down and starts working on the arm. We get a laughable cross armbreaker and they trade headlocks on the mat before Hogan goes to a bearhug and the Axe Bomber for two. This crowd is not loving Hogan. Backdrop suplex gets two, but Sting comes back and now he goes to work on Hogan’s leg before going to the Scorpion Deathlock. Hogan makes the ropes and Hulks up, but misses the legdrop and Sting gets another Scorpion. And then the Dungeon hits the ring for the DQ at 9:34. Very interesting how easily Hogan slipped into the heel role here and how accepting the fans were of it. **1/2

Next week: No idea, but World War III will see a new champion crowned!