WCW Monday Nitro

WCW Monday Nitro was a professional wrestling program that aired on TNT Monday nights from September 4th, 1995 to March 26 2001.

1995

September 4

[Recent ex-WWF talent Lex Luger shows up at the beginning of the Sting/Ric Flair matchup.]

Eric Bischoff: [notices Lex] Oooh, what in the hell is he doing here?! Get the camera off of him!

Steve "Mongo" McMichael: What is this?

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan: Wait a minute. He's got a right to be here, this is a public mall.

Eric: Get him out of here!

Steve: Somebody call the security guards!

Eric: [as the crowd starts chanting "Luger! Luger!"] What?! Get the security and get him out of here!

Bobby: What's he doing wrong? What is he doing wrong?

Steve: This is just unabashed arrogance.

Eric: We have a major problem here.

Bobby: We have a situation starting here. A big one.

Eric: I want to know what he's doing here.

Bobby: Well don't ask me! Get on the headsets to the truck, ask somebody.

December 18

[Madusa makes her way to the announce booth at the start of the show.]

Madusa: All right. Can it everyone! [to Mongo] You too bad dog! I am Madusa, always have been Madusa and always will be Madusa. This is the WWF Women's Championship belt.

Eric: Whoa... Whoa! Wait a minute. [sees Madusa pick up a trash can and dump the belt in it] What? Look...that indeed it is!

Steve: [as Madusa does the act] Not in the trash can!

Madusa: And that's what I think of the WWF Women's Championship belt. This is the WCW, I am now in the WCW and they used to call me Alundra Blayze. But not anymore because this is where the big boys play and now this is where the big girls play! [dumps mic in the trash can as well]

Eric: Holy smokes! Madusa, the WWF Women's Championship and the belt right here on Nitro. The belt in the trash can and I tell you what, I'm in shock! Wow!

Steve: Oh she got covered, she just got sucked up on that one in Connecticut, didn't she?

Eric: I'll tell you what...

Bobby: What a doll.

1996

May 27

Tony Schiavone: Welcome back live to the first hour of this edition of WCW Monday Nitro on TNT! Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko. And we are taking a look at the Mauler completely maul his opponent Steve Doll.

Larry Zbyszko: Well you know, Steve Doll's trying to get an offensive going.

Tony: [notices the crowd suddenly standing up for a large man who just came in through the audience] Wait a minute! What the hell is going on here?

Larry: But the Mauler, well he just got reversed right there. The Mauler runs him down.

Tony: That's not what I'm talking about.

Larry: What are you talking about?!

[The man, Scott Hall, leaps over the railing]

Tony: Look here.

Larry: Well, what the hell?

Scott Hall: Get me a mic!

Larry: What's with this?

Tony: We need security out here. I have no idea, wait a minute! I can't believe what we're seeing.

Hall: [climbing into the ring] Hey, you people, you know who I am, but you don't know why I'm here. Where is Billionaire Ted? Where is the Nacho Man? That punk can't even get in the building. Me, I go wherever I want, whenever I want. And where, oh where is Scheme Gene? 'Cause I've got a scoop for you. When that Ken-doll lookalike, when that weatherman wannabe comes out here later tonight, I got a challenge for him, for Billionaire Ted, for the Nacho Man and for anybody else in uh...WCW, huh-huh-huh. Hey, you want to go to war? You want a war? You're gonna get one! [leaves]

Tony: Fans, what about the match? I don't know what to say. Randy Anderson's coming-- Randy. Randy, what's going on here? What about the match, Randy? What's going on? The match. Fans, we've gotta go to a break.

Larry: The match left!

Tony: I have no idea what to say. Stay with us. Geez.

---

Scott Hall: Hey, lookie here.

Eric Bischoff: You wanted to say some-

Hall: [as Eric talks] Ken doll, you got such a big mouth and we, we are sick of it.

Eric: What do you mean? Who's we?

Hall: You know who. This is where the "big boys play"? What a joke! I tell you what, you go tell Billionaire Ted, you tell him, "Get three of his very very best." Maybe the Nacho Man! "Oooooooh....No." Hey, maybe he can get the Stinger! Ooooh, I'm so scared. You go get anybody you want because we...

Eric: Who do you mean "We"?

Hall: We are taking over. You wanna go to war? You wanna war? You got one. Only, only let's do it right. In the ring where it matters. Not in no microphones. Not in no newspapers or dirtsheets. Let's do it in the ring where it matters. If uh, if Billionaire Ted and his big boys, if they got any, uh guts...

Eric: You're stepping over the line.

Hall: Because we are coming down here and like it or not,

Eric: Not.

Hall: We are taking over. [throws his toothpick at Eric.]

Eric: [calmly] You're outta here.

Hall: If you say so!

Eric: You're outta here. [visibly shaken, looks at Heenan, then recomposes] I don't know what to say. We'll see you next week.

June 3

[Scott Hall appears again at the announce booth]

Scott Hall: Just relax chico. Yo, Ken Doll, I had such a good time last week that I came back for more.

Eric: Look there's no reason...

Scott Hall: Look, look, look, relax man, relax. You started it. You want to go to war? You got a war. You started it, we gonna finish it.

Eric: What do you mean "We"? You come up with this We stuff.

Scott Hall: You know who man. You know who. Did Daddy Warbucks? Did he get his money yet?

Eric: [sees Sting come out] Wait a minute, Stinger. Not here, not now. Don't even dignify it man.

Sting: You came out here last week and said some real horrible things about WCW. Some real horrible things about the Hulkster, about the Macho Man, about the Stinger. Somewhere along the way, you got lost because do you have any idea where you are? You're in the jungle baby! This is WCW! That's right! Hold on! And every week you come out here and you say you want three of the best.

Scott Hall: That's right man, three of the best.

Sting: You want three of the best, I don't see two of you. All I see is you and me. So why don't we just do this one on one right here, right now!

Scott Hall: Yo, yo, you wanna fight man? You wanna fight? You got one. Only, no one tells me what to do and chico, nobody tells me when to do it. [throws his toothpick at Sting. Sting responds by slapping Hall] Ok, ok tough guy. I got a little, no, I got big surprise for you next week.

June 10

[Scott Hall shows up again]

Eric: Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I don't want any trouble from you. I don't want any trouble with you here, now, but I don't have to point out. You came out here last week. Where is it, the big surprise? I mean I heard a lot of talk but where's the walk? [Hall points behind Eric] What? Where is he?

[Kevin Nash, formerly known as Diesel in the WWF, appears from behind and grabs the mike]

Kevin Nash: You've been sitting out here for six months running your mouth. This is where the big boys play, huh? Look at the adjective, play [sic]. We ain't here to play! Now, he [referring to Hall] said last week that he was going to bring somebody out here. I'm here. You still don't have your three people and do you know why? Because nobody wants to face us. This show's about as interesting as Marge Schott reading excerpts from Mein Kampf.

Eric: No trouble tonight, man. Speak your piece and...

Nash: Yeah, no trouble cause you know, I'll kick your teeth down your throat. Where are these three guys? You know you couldn't get a paleontologist to get these fossils cleared? You ain't got enough guys off a dialysis machine to get a team? Yeah, where's Hogan? Where's Hogan? Out doing another episode of Blunder in Paradise? Where's the Macho Man huh? Doing some Slim Jim commercial? Hey, we're here! You wanna say something?

Eric: Look, I don't have the authority right here right now. You want a fight? Fight isn't within me. You want to face three guys? Tomorrow morning at 9:00, I'm going to be in Atlanta. I'll be in the offices of WCW. I'll try and get you your fight and do you know what? Live this Sunday in Baltimore, Great American Bash, you guys want to show up? You want a fight? You show up and I'll see if I can get you your fight.

Nash: I don't know about you but they love us in Baltimore.

Scott Hall: Hey big man, I say me and you, we be at the Bash. Maybe these punks want a fight.

Nash: Yeah, bring what you got! The measuring stick just changed around here buddy. You're looking at it. [Tosses Bischoff around before he and Hall leave]

July 8

Mean Gene Okerlund: Sting, a very somber mood tonight. I can't believe it. I can feel it, you can feel it. These people continue to make our lives very very tenuous. They did it again tonight right in the middle of your match with Arn Anderson. But lets go back to last night. What's your sense of what's happened at the Bash at the Beach?

Sting: I am not at all surprised. What happened last night, I'm not surprised about coming from the two outsiders. But I will say I'm very very surprised at you Hulk Hogan. But I should've known. I should've known that when you were traveling to every town in that big fat limo. I should've known because you didn't want to travel with the Macho Man, the Total Package and the Stinger. Uhn-uhn, you were too busy making big movies and coming in for a little cameo appearance! You were too busy walking on the dark side! I should've known when you referred to the Macho Man, the Total Package and me as "three little dogs" waiting for a chance to wrestle the great Hulk Hogan. I should've known when I looked into your eyes. Do you know something, I made a mistake. But you made a bigger mistake because last night, you wiped out and trashed every single little kid, every single person that was a part of your life, that patterned their life after you! You told them to believe in the man upstairs! You told them to say their prayers and to take their vitamins! You told them to believe in themselves and you know something? It's a good thing you told them to believe in themselves because they sure as heck can't believe in you!

Mean Gene: By the way--

Sting: [grabs mike] And last but not least, to put the cherry on the top, all those little kids, you told them to stick it! No, you stick it Hulk! YOU STICK IT!

Mean Gene: That is very strong. By the way, as fate would have it, these two men and their partner last night. Lex Luger got knocked out early by the action so the two of you had to go at it against the Outsiders. But Macho Man Randy Savage, you were very close with Hulk Hogan as I was. You were part of the Mega Powers. And if anybody got it stuck up, stuck up, well, stuck to him, you really got it stuck to you.

Randy Savage: I got a message for Hollywood Hogan. What I want to tell you and what I want to do to you, I can't say here on television especially at Disney. But you take the worst thing you can think about and you multiply it by the number nine million and then you multiply it by infinity and beyond, it would be just like one grain of sand in the Sahara desert brother. Because, it's really really scary. What I'm thinking and going to do to you, yeah!

July 15

Mean Gene: Hulk Hogan, Outsiders, you have led us down the primrose path!

Hulk Hogan: Well you know something Gene-o, I wish I would've done this two years ago brother because the New World Order is taking over professional wrestling. Hulk Hogan is bigger than the sport of professional wrestling. And with the Outsiders, the new blood, the foundation of the New World Order, we shall rule the wrestling world Mean Gene!

Mean Gene: What about the children? You know about the thousands and thousands of telephone calls that came into WCW. Every man, woman and child on the face of the earth is totally disgusted with you Hulk Hogan, including myself!

Hulk Hogan: We all know about the training, the prayers and the vitamins brother and like I said, these people out here, after I led their children down the right path had the gall to boo Hulk Hogan one more time. You fans can stick it brother!

Mean Gene: Wait a minute, I think Sting and Eric Bischoff brought it up earlier on. I think Sting said it best earlier on when he retorted "Hulk Hogan, you can stick it!"

Hulk Hogan: Well you know something brother, as far as people like Sting go, ten years ago when I shook his hand in Venice Beach, he was a skinny little bodybuilder. And when he laid his eyes on Hulk Hogan, he was shaking in his boots. I heard all the crying from the so called Macho Man. For three years, he blamed his divorce, the fact that he couldn't rise to the occasion on Hulk Hogan brother. And over and over and over and over again this past week, I've heard WCW blame Hulk Hogan for their problems. The only problem is I'm the greatest wrestler in the world, I made professional wrestling, I will always be bigger than wrestling and with these two friends of mine, the New World Order shall rule the wrestling world!

Eric: This conceited jerk!

Mean Gene: You call these guys friends? You know about this man's background and this man's background, this nWo, Where is it going to go? Who's going to be a part of it? I think that's the question we're all asking ourselves and I'm going to ask you.

Hulk Hogan: Well these are the renegades brother! These are the men that when I open the door brother, they had the guts enough to walk through it. These are the guys that are going to set the trend for the nineties. They will lead Hulk Hogan and professional wrestling to its destiny. But these guys are just the foundation. The thing that everybody, the people out there don't realize is as I build my empire, will there be more outsiders that I bring in? Or will it be people that are so close to Ted Turner, maybe Eric Bischoff's friends. Who knows man? Maybe the guys that are in the locker room right now. There's always been a double loyalty man. In this business, they've been loyal to the promoters who have paid their bills and they've also been loyal to Hulk Hogan. Because they know where Hulk Hogan goes, that's where professional wrestling goes.

Mean Gene: You have to vent all of this on these people, the peers of this business. How about the kids that have looked up to you for years and years and now it comes down to this? And this is a pretty good example of the way your life is going to go Hulk Hogan.

Hulk Hogan: Well you know dude, I laid it out straight for all those kids, brother. They didn't want to follow the path, so I'm done with them! But as far as I'm concerned, I'm not going to mess with that skinny little Macho Man or that crybaby Sting. I'm going right to the top of the ladder, brother! And at Hog Wild, brother, on August the 10th, if the Giant has got guts enough, I'm going to dismantle the whole Ted Turner organization in one night. We're going to take the WCW belt, make it the New World Order belt and we shall reign supreme from that day forward. And as far as I'm concerned brother, if Ted Turner has any boys in the back that have any guts at all, come on out right now! We'll beat up the whole WCW right now, and what are they gonna do?!!

September 16

[Sting comes down to the ring with a microphone]

Sting: [with his back turned to the main camera] I want a chance to explain something that happened last Monday night on Nitro. Last Monday night, I was on an airplane flying from L.A. to Atlanta. When I got to Atlanta, I tuned in the TV to Nitro and I thought I was watching a rerun. It was a very convincing film. Often imitated but never duplicated though and what else did I see? I saw people, I saw wrestlers, I saw commentators and I saw best friends, doubt the Stinger. That's right, doubt the Stinger. So, I heard Lex Luger say "I know where Sting lives, I know where he works out, I'm gonna go get him!" So I said to myself, "I'll just go into seclusion. I'll wait and see what happens on Saturday Night." And I tuned in Saturday Night and what did I see? I saw more of the same, more doubt. Which brings me to Fall Brawl. I knew I had to get to Fall Brawl to get face to face with the Total Package to let him know that it wasn't me and what I got out of that was, "No, Sting. I DON'T BELIEVE YOU STING!" Well, all I've got to say is, I have been mediator, I have been babysitter, I've given him the benefit of the doubt about a thousand times in the last twelve months! I have carried the WCW banner and I have given my blood, my sweat and my tears for WCW! So for all of those fans out there and all of those wrestlers and people who've never doubted the Stinger, I'll stand by you if you stand by me. But, for all of the people, all of the commentators, all of the wrestlers and all of the best friends who did doubt me, you can stick it! From now on, I consider myself a free agent. But that doesn't mean you won't see the Stinger. From time to time, I'm going to pop in when you least expect it.

November 18

[The show opens with the Outsiders in the ring with chairs having laid out the Nasty Boys and High Voltage. They go down to ringside where Tony and Larry are standing.]

Larry: Not again. Not again with this!

Tony: What's the problem here?

Kevin Nash: Does this work? Nice to see you dressed up this week, Larry! [to Tony] Hey, I don't see you laughing today huh?

Scott Hall: Funny guy, huh?

Nash: I was so funny last week right? Funny like a clown right? Were you laughing at me? I ain't so funny tonight am I? You see, we can put this on any time we want. I can be funny, I can be deadly and so can this man! Hey, let me ask you a question.

Hall: You got the bad neck, right?

Nash: You got the bad neck, right? Do you want to pick up your kids, huh?

Tony: [to Larry who's not standing up for Tony] Do you want to step in here?

Larry: Hey, you're the one that laughed at them. They let me know what I think.

Nash: You talk about a triangle match, right? There's two of the combatants laid out right now.

Hall: You know, what I want to know is I've been hearing my whole career how scary the Faces of Fear are. They say, everybody says that Meng and the Barbarian are the two toughest guys in the business. Well you tell those two islanders, come on out here and we'll slap that coconut breath out of you. Tell them to come on down. You can't have a Pay Per View in WCW without inviting the nWo.

---

Larry: You can't be upset by what happened. These guys are thugs, they're paid by Dibiase and you're okay. So relax about it, don't be all upset.

Tony: Yeah well, I don't need to be pushed around. I'm not a wrestler. You're a wrestler. So why didn't you step in front for me? How long have we been friends?

Larry: You're okay and I'm not Clint Eastwood.

Tony: Well I can only say this and I'm going to apologize to everybody because I've never done this before at all. But I don't need to be pushed around. I've got five children. I've got a wife. I've got a great job. I'll tell you what, big mouth! Why don't you go ahead? Why don't you go ahead and step in front of me? Why don't you handle the broadcast? Why don't you try play-by-play?

Larry: Don't get upset!

Tony: I don't need guys who are seven feet tall coming out here! [takes off his headset and walks away]

Larry: I don't need guys seven feet tall either coming out here!

---

[Eric Bischoff is dismissing Roddy Piper's claim that he leads the NWO, which suddenly comes out and restrains Piper. Hulk Hogan embraces Bischoff, who later shakes Ted DiBiase]

Hulk Hogan: Now that everybody realizes who everybody's working for... I mean, my God, this guy right here is the foundation of the WCW. Now he works for the NWO!

1997

February 10

[Randy Anderson appears with his family to appeal to Eric Bischoff about hiring him back after the events of Souled Out]

Eric Bischoff: Kids come on up here. It's all right Randy. It's all right, kids, could you do me a favor. Would you please tell your daddy... that he's still fired? [NWO laughs] Would you do that for me?

Montana Anderson: Please, Mr Bischoff!

Bischoff: Montana please, tell your daddy he's fired, get on with his life.

Kevin Nash: [mocks] Do it for little Tiny Tim!

Syxx: God bless us everyone!

---

[Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko review the Piper/Hogan match footage at Starrcade 1996 that Eric Bischoff confiscated and was somehow played, but when the tape suddenly stops as if it was taken off playback, just as Randy Anderson was about to count off Hogan as submitting to Piper...]

Tony Schiavone: What's going on here?

Zbyszko: Well that wasn't nothing...

Schiavone: We did not get this - [talks to production crew on the headset] what happened? Can anybody tell me what happened? The tape stopped? The tape broke?

Zbyszko: Well what happened was -

Schiavone: Someone's getting the tape in the production truck.

Zbyszko: Who's in the truck?

Schiavone: We're trying to find out fans, I apologize. I'm just talking to Craig Leathers, Keith Mitchell, in our video production truck. Someone apparently went and you hear the tape queueing up. You saw right there, I mean the hand was going up and it was gonna be the end of Hollywood Hulk Hogan with the sleeper. We all witnessed what happened, Eric Bischoff went into the video truck and grabbed the tape.

Zbyszko: Well, anyway, the world saw what happened, we knew about it, now the missing footage had been recovered and what happened-

[Eric Bischoff confronts the announcers with the tape]

Eric Bischoff: Don't you ever, don't you EVER, EVER, pull a stunt like that again. You or anybody else in this organization [puts down mic and starts tearing out the tape] ever, ever again. [leaves]

Schiavone: We'll take a break.

Zbyszko: He could beat up a tape, that's impressive!

February 17

[Eric Bischoff is fuming mad at Jimmy Jett passing Randy Anderson brass knuckles during his match with Nick Patrick]

Eric Bischoff: What do you think you're doing?!? You knocked him out! What is this? What is that? You know better than that! You know better than that! You used to be a referee!

Jimmy Jett: Hey he won the match-

Bischoff: You used to be a referee!! You are nothing! [to Anderson] And YOU. I saw it! Let me, let me tell you what you won. Now, you just won a permanent vacation and you are fired! Fired! Spell it, F-I-R-E-D! Leave the building now! Now! You're fired!

Jett: It's not fair

Bischoff: It's not fair! Take those with you!

August 25

[the Four Horsemen come out and Arn Anderson has something to say to Mean Gene]

Arn Anderson: Well, Gene, all I can tell ya', to get a response like this makes what I got to say tonight mean that much more. Ya' see, I'm a realist. As everybody knows, I've got average size and speed and average ability, but I've parlayed that into what I would call a very successful career. And I did that on sheer will alone. But another reality is four months ago they took four vertebrae out of my neck. Consequently, I'm left with a hand, my left hand, too weak to hold a glass, too weak to button a button.

But I thought in my mind, I knew in my mind I could overcome that too, through sheer will. And I was doing just like that. I think I've come back a long way. But the other day I had something happen in the gym that was like a cold slap in the face of reality. A guy about your size, Gene, came up and he slapped me on the back and he said, 'Double A, where ya' been? We hadn't seen you on TV.' And just that slap sent a jolt through me and I dropped the water I was drinkin' and just for a second my system shut down. And it became crystal clear as I watched the few little drops of water draining out of that bottle the symbolism that was involved. It was like someone had turned an hourglass over and the sand was runnin' out on the career of Arn Anderson.

Now the fact of the matter is not only do I put myself in a suicide situation by trying to wrestle again, I endanger these two men's careers [referring to Chris Benoit and Curt Hennig] and I respect them too much for that. And rather than being anything other than the Enforcer in my best friend's eyes, I'd rather walk away. And for all of you people out there that have ever bought a ticket to see Arn Anderson wrestle, [crowd cheers] whether ya' love me or you hated me, you know that when that bell rang you got all I had that night. Whether I won, whether I lost, I gave you everything I had. And you knew that. And when you did this to me [makes four finger salute] that was your acknowledgement.

Well, the fact is I got nothing left to give. And I want you to remember me as I was, not as I am. But being the man that I am, my last act formally as a Horseman, I got one last challenge and that's to you, Curt Hennig. And don't misunderstand me. It's not for a fight. You got something special. I've seen you in this ring. Your skills, your maturity, your commitment to excellence make you something special. And what my challenge is to you, Curt, is stand beside my best friend, Ric Flair, and lead these two men back to the glory and the prominence that the Four Horsemen once had. And I'm going to tell you what your prize is. It's not a spot in the Horsemen. This is worth a lot more than that to me. I'm going to give you the only thing I got left. Not a spot. I'll give you MY spot.

September 1

[the NWO comes out spoofing the Four Horsemen, with Kevin Nash as Arn Anderson, Syxx as Ric Flair, Konnan as Steve "Mongo" McMichael, and Buff Bagwell as Curt Hennig]

Kevin Nash: I take care of Horsemen business. Before I go any further: Let me all of the Horsemen out here know one thing: Guys, the beer is on ice. You know something, it's pretty ironic that on Labour Day WCW would decide to honor me cause anybody that's followed my career knows one thing: You were always wondering when I was gonna go into labour.

You know I sat back that day and I watched that highlight tape of my career and I said to myself: You know: I'm a guy of average size, average speed, average quickness, average looks, average intelligence, average carpentry skills - but you know what? I parlayed that into a wrestling career that I might say so myself was quite excellent. But you know something? Four months ago, I had a neck injury. Subsequently, I lost the feeling in my hand, my left hand. The significance of that: That's the hand I open beer with. But you know something? I willed myself back from that injury. I got to the gym - I didn't do anything there, I walked around - but I got to the gym. And you know what? I started a comeback.

But about a week ago, I went to the neighborhood bar, I bellied up against the bar like only I can and a fat broad - that's right, a fat broad - came up and smacked me in the back. That sent a chill down me... same fat broads that've been following the Horsemen for 20 years. But as I looked at that longneck laying on that cheap industrial grey carpentry, I said to myself: How ironic. That wasn't so much the fact that I was out three dollars and 75 cents, what it was to me was sand tickin' down through the hourglass - and everybody knows, so are the days of our lives. [Syxx imitates Ric Flair crying] You know one thing you can say, when Arn Anderson was comin' to town - besides the fact that I left a lot of unpaid bar tabs - was Arn Anderson was comin' to town. And you knew if I was on the card, how I was gonna give you 100 per cent - no matter how drunk, how hung over I was. I was gonna give you all ahead. And back in those days before the nWo, you eight people that bought those tickets, got one heck of a show. But you know what? As I come out here tonight, I ask you people: Don't remember how I used to be. Remember me how I look right now. [to Konnan] Good, Mongo!

Tony Schiavone: [as Nash talks to Konnan] We've reached the lowest point ever on this program. We have.

Nash:[to Buff Bagwell] So Curt, that puts me and you and I got a challenge for you. Wait a second, I don't wanna fight you, cause I ain't want one in 20 years. What I got for you is a challenge, because as much as I wanna be a Horseman, I know if I come out here right now, I'd not only put him in danger, I would put my best friend in danger and I can't do that. So what I'm doing tonight is I got a challenge you and I ain't got much to offer you, cause the beer is spoken for. But what I do got is I got a spot. A spot with the Four Horsemen. Not just a spot, not a liver spot, not a 'Spot' like your dog Spot. No, not just any spot – but myyyyy spot. So I need to know right now: Do you accept it? My spot - not their spot, liver spot, not dog Spot, anybody's spot, MY spot to become a Four Horseman. Not my spot, anybody's spot, dog Spot, liver spot, MY spot.

Buff Bagwell: As much as I wanna say, I'm a double-A fan, as much as I wanna say I like to be a Four Horseman, it's hard to say 'cause I don't like you and I don't like the Four Horsemen. But I tell you what... it would be an honor. [shakes hand with Nash and raises four fingers]

Tony Schiavone: [as the four NWO members make the Four Horsemen sign and reveal they are wearing NWO shirts with Four Horsemen parody images] And it's been a total joke now.

Bobby Heenan: Not funny anymore.

Schiavone: No it's not.

Heenan: Not when you know Arn Anderson like we do.

Schiavone: I asked about security. I do understand security, they have had their hands full this entire time with holding Ric Flair, Curt Hennig, Mongo, all the Horsemen back.

Mike Tenay: Maybe the most pathetic display of all by the nWo.

Schiavone: Let me say this too. You nWo fans, look at this one long because, and I do have a hand of some of these television programs during the weekend because you're never going to see this again. Ever.

September 15

[The show opens with footage of Ric Flair after being stitched up in a hospital as a result of last night's Fall Brawl when Curt Hennig slammed the cage door in his head]

Tony Schiavone: [very shaken up] Fans, uh... Nitro, as you can see, is on the air. Before I go into this card, I need to say something that I've really never said before. You know, 13 years ago, I got into this business because of Ric Flair. I was a minor league baseball announcer in this same city. He went to bat for me for the promoters and I became a wrestling announcer and when I look back on what has happened to me, I credit Ric Flair. And you have seen Ric Flair and what hap.......I can't do this show. I'm sorry. [takes off his headset and leaves]

September 22

Mean Gene Okerlund: That's very impressive, a gentleman the stature of Hugh Morrus, and you absolutely got in there and manhandled him tonight. [Bill Goldberg just walks away] Sir, I've got to get a little bit more than that. Gentleman's just walking away from me.

Larry Zbyszko: Is he a mute?

Mean Gene: I can't believe that. Tony, I haven't seen anything like that. Very impressive. But who is this guy Goldberg?

November 10

[The NWO appears in the ring with Canadian flags and having brought back Kevin Nash...]

Eric Bischoff: ...And now the announcement I know I have been waiting to make, 'cause I have been working on this for a long time, the newest addition of the NWO, and Bret Hart, because you were such a... [punches the air] knockout kind of a guy! [everybody laughs, knowing its a reference to Bret punching Vince McMahon after the Montreal Screwjob]

Hulk Hogan: He passed the initiation!

Bischoff: We have a special, special [pulls out paper from his jacket] gift for you. Liz, can you come around here? [passes out paper to NWO members] All right let's do it. On three, one, two - this is for you, Bret - three [the NWO sings O Canada]

November 17

Rick Rude: Oh what a difference a day makes. Twenty-four little hours. You know and we all have our 15 minutes of fame and I'd like to take a couple of my 15 minutes to talk about the rights and the wrongs in the world of professional wrestling. What's wrong in the world of professional wrestling is Shawn Michaels claiming to be World Champion when he never beat Bret Hart. What's wrong with the world of professional wrestling is for Vince McMahon to instruct the referee to ring the bell in order to rob Bret Hart of his title. But on the other hand, what's right in the world of professional wrestling is for Bret Hart to abandon the Titanic and swim to the refuge of the nWo. What's right with the world of professional wrestling is nWo's course to destruct WCW. What's right with the world of professional wrestling is for the nWo to beat the living shit out of the man called Sting. Now the only thing wrong with that entire situation is that I didn't have the chance to participate. Sting second verse is gonna be same as the first. A little bit rowdier and a whole lot worse, because this time Sting, I will partake.

December 22

[Hulk is in the middle of another promo when a WCW event staffer delivers him a silver gift box]

Hulk Hogan: The NWO is just too sweet. Oh, oh my God! [sees Bret Hart arrive in a limousine with women and a male waiter accompanying him] You're right. It's only one guy. The newest member of the NWO, Bret Hitman Hart. I knew it had to be him, boss. Thank you Bret. [opens box and suddenly pulls up a fake severed head of himself; screams in horror] Oh my God! [points to Bret thinking he delivered the head]

Mike Tenay: Looks like a message has been delivered to Hollywood Hulk Hogan and the NWO, Mr Rude.

Rick Rude: What is this?

Bobby Heenan: What is going on now?

Rude: Is Bret Hart trying to say he wants a piece of the NWO?

Tenay: [sees spotlight focused on Sting] Look at that, it's Sting! He's arrived on the scene.

Heenan: He's on top of the NWO sign, at the top of the building here in Macon.

Rude: [as Sting ziplines to the ring] Take him out Hollywood, take him out!

Tenay: [Hogan scampers out of the ring] Sting is on his way to the ring. We'll see you Sunday at Starrcade!

1998

May 11

[Eric Bischoff shoots on DX's recent assaults]

Eric Bischoff: As I look through the crowd tonight, I wonder what you must be thinking and I wonder what Vince McMahon is thinking. You know because for the last couple of weeks he's been sending his little wannabes around demanding to talk to moi. The only problem with that is, he only sends them where he knows I'm not going to be. That's okay because I've got a little solution. Sean Waltman, you want an apology from me? You actually show up at our offices on a Monday afternoon when I think even you Sean are smart enough to figure out I probably wouldn't be there. As far as the apology goes - bite me! I apologize to no one.

But I've got a better idea because, Sean, I know you're just a little puppet and you do what Vince McMahon tells you to do, so Vince McMahon, this is for you. I'm coming to your backyard this Sunday. That's right, in Worcester, Massachussetts we've got a little PPV thing going on and I've got a hell of an idea. You want me? I'm gonna be in your back yard. Consider this an open invitation, Vince McMahon. You show up at Slamboree, it will be me and you McMahon, in the ring. How about it, Vinnie? But I want to warn you people right now, if you think Vince McMahon has got the guts to show up, don't buy this PPV because I guarantee you he is not man enough to step into this ring with me. But I'll be there Vinnie Mac, I'll be waiting for you. And I'm going to knock you out. See you there.

July 6

[The NWO meet somebody who's just arrived and Hogan earlier hinted as somebody Goldberg must defeat first to face him in the main event - Scott Hall]

Hulk Hogan: [as they walk to the arena] You're toast.

Scott Hall: Can't have a party without me, baby.

Hogan: That's right brother.

Eric Bischoff: [to Hall] God, we missed you!

Hall: I gotta heat things up.

Bischoff: Oh and you know how!

Hall: I gotta heat things up.

Hogan: I like it.

Curt Hennig: How you feeling?

Hall: Too sweet.

Hogan: Got the party goods, we got the goods for the party, let's go!

---

Tony Schiavone: The fans stand, showing their signs, and we are walking with Goldberg, and security from Goldberg's own locker room area following with him all the way to the ring, as you look live back in the locker room area. Surrounding Goldberg, some of Atlanta's finest, Doug Dillinger as well with WCW security, and here they come.

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan: What's going through his mind right now? I've never been in that situation, going for a world championship, let alone with that list of victories this man has, in his backyard, hometown in front of everybody he played for, played with. What an evening, what drama right now.

Tony: Long walk for Goldberg, but it's been a long wait since he arrived in the Georgia Dome earlier in the day. So what's another long walk for Goldberg? They're almost down here now.

[Goldberg now walks alone]

Bobby: Well, Hogan may be taking a long walk too. A real long walk back to the dressing room empty-handed.

Tony: But could the unblemished mark, the incredible series of wins by Goldberg come to a crashing end here tonight?

Bobby: And you know, Tony, if Hogan is to defeat this man, you know what the nWo's gonna be like then with Hogan and Eric Bischoff in charge.

Tony: [as Goldberg reaches the entrance] And there he is.

Mike Tenay: And here comes the eruption.

Bobby: Bigger than before.

Tony: This is his moment.

[Goldberg stands on the ramp as the pyrotechnics envelope him for twenty seconds. When they subside, he walks to the ring surrounded by the security from before]

Bobby: It's a long way down.

Tony: There you look at Goldberg, and think about what Goldberg represents. A virtual unknown in this sport who walked into WCW, and he represents every wrestler who wanted just to walk in here and become the World Champ. That's what he represents as he makes his way to the ring.

Bobby: He looks ready! Do it for me! Do it for the fans! Get rid of Hogan! And what's Hogan's mentality gonna be at Bash at the Beach if he's not heavyweight champion of the world along with Rodman?

---

Bobby: Look at Goldberg! He's ready!

Tony: He's poised... [Goldberg spears Hulk Hogan] Hogan goes down!

Bobby: Okay, there's part one! Now finish him off! Finish him off!

Tony: [Goldberg signals for the Jackhammer] He's calling for it!

Bobby: This is it! This is it! [Goldberg sets Hogan up for the Jackhammer] Your career's on the line here! Do it! Do it! This place'll erupt when he picks him up.

Tony: [Goldberg lifts Hogan in a suplex] He's got him up! [...and slams Hogan to the mat] Oh Hell Yeah!

Tony and Bobby: [counting with the referee] One...

Tony: [continues] ...two...THREE!!!

Bobby: OH, THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! We got a new heavyweight champion of the world! The first undefeated man in the history of this sport to ever win the World Championship, and have a record of 107, 108...who cares?! There's zero on the other side! We've got a new champion! Listen to this! [pauses to acknowledge the cheering crowd and "Goldberg" chants] Wow.

Mike: Thirty-one-year-old Bill Goldberg, less than ten months in the sport, is on top of the wrestling world.

Tony: [off a shirt] "Who's next?"

Bobby: Who cares?

Tony: "Who cares" is right. The hero has come through, lades and gentlemen, you have witnessed professional wrestling history on many levels. A man who is undeniably the toughest we have seen in decades, a man who undeniably will lead pro wrestling into the next millennium, stands in the Georgia Dome in front of more than 39,000 fans.

Bobby: Tony, there's a new sheriff in town.

Tony: When we go to Bash at the Beach, Goldberg will be the world champ. Its only six days away.

Bobby: We still got Thunder, Wednesday.

Tony: With the new world champion. Well, there's nothing more that this announce crew can add to what you've been a witness here tonight. It's been a night for the ages, it's been a night that we will never forget because on Monday, July 6th, 1998, Goldberg captured the gold. Goldberg, went to 108 and 0, and in less than one year, the phenomenon that is Bill Goldberg, at age 31, is the heavyweight champion of the world, and they're not going anywhere...

Bobby: No.

Tony: They're still standing, chanting his name, paying homage to their hero.

Mike: Let the celebration begin!

Tony: For Iron Mike Tenay and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan...

Bobby: Thank you!!

Tony: ...and Larry Zsbysko, and Mean Gene, and everybody in pro wrestling... Goodnight, America!!

Mike: Goldberg's the champ! Let's go!

August 17

[Hollywood Hogan is in the middle of a promo calling out DDP for "somebody from his past." Jim Hellwig, aka Warrior comes in and enters the ring]

Warrior: Talk to me, Warriors!!! [at top rope] Feel the real power, Hogan!!

Hollywood Hogan: [shaken by his appearance] I thought you were dead!

Warrior: Who holds the absolute power now, Hollywood Hogan? Unleash that raising voice, Warriors! ['Warrior!" chants] Seems as if no formal introduction is gonna be necessary! Actually, it even seems as if there are those who anticipated my arrival! [disgusted at Hogan offering his NWO shirt as if inviting him to join] What is that smell? You might want to use it to clean up the mess you just made all over yourself! You need to open your eyes and ears, take control of the limited ability you have to understand the words I am about to say. For years, I have watched while this industry, with you as it's figurehead, has tried to create what is simply un-re-cre-at-able. I have heard, listened to all the innuendos and speculation that something ULTIMATE or WARRIOR may soon reappear. Welcome to the reappearance!
Those things, Hogan, which are irreplaceable, whether they be people, places, or things, are never forgotten. You are witnessing that - RIGHT NOW! History tells us, Hogan... [“Hogan sucks”-Chants] Let's talk about something he doesn't know! History tells us, Hogan, that a man's legacy is build from the premise that within his life the moments lived, once lived, become a piece of his history. Somehow, you have conveniently, even eloquently, misplaced pieces of your history.
In the one time, epochal battle between us, Hogan, you were the quintessential influence of what was good, great, and heroic. But different than you may remember, and albeit you may have beaten myths, legends, giants, and other great men, you never - never - beat a warrior. AND, certainly, not THE ULTIMATE ONE! As a victor of that one-time battle, I defeated what was, until then, undefeatable. I conquered what was then unconquerable. I dominated what was, until then, indomitable. On that day, you were great. I was ULTIMATE!
Let me introduce myself, to those two fools that stand behind you. Let's see, this - dude [points to the Disciple] - must be your barber. And [to Eric Bischoff] who are you, little man? Who are you?

Eric Bischoff: You know who I am. My name is Eric Bischoff, I run this company and who invited you?

Warrior: [laughs] Different than you want to make people believe, I never received an invitation, I showed up on my own accord, and let me tell you, Mr. Eric Bischoff, if you stick your nose in my business, you only, very quickly, prepare for your own demise. Furthermore, when I get done with my business here, I'm going to be sending you a bill. I suggest you pay it. I have waited patiently. The WARRIORS have waited all too patiently.
Now - NOW - the virtue of justice unties my hands so that I can continue to fulfill a destiny set in motion upon that memorable day years ago - a destiny at the next level - a destiny beckoning the next Super Hero. There really is no sadder sight than when a grown man fears the challenges in his life so much that he rationalises adolescent behaviour to the point where he carries out heinous and self-indulgent actions - YOUR evilness, the evilness you embody and portray, is intolerable.
I am the one that has the power to destroy you. It's source, Hogan, the truth, is inexhaustible. I come here, not to beat you up tonight, Hogan - beating you means nothing anymore. Everybody already has. No no no no no no no, that's too easy. Because you felt guilty for being who you were. Your mind became weak and Hulkamania became boring. I come here, Hogan, to tell you next week I intend to launch a revolution not even YOU can control. I ask you to find the courage - check it out - next week, same Warrior time, same Warrior place, same Warrior channel.

September 14

Arn Anderson: Can you smell it, JJ? Take a breath. Can you smell it? When 15,000 people blow the roof off a place, that's what a pop smells like. Take a bow. What you said to me is what all those people have been saying to me for a year and a half, and only a true friend would say that. They said "Arn Anderson, stand up and be a man, like you've always been!" And I couldn't hear those words, 'cause something was in the way and I'm gonna start at the beginning, because you have to start at the beginning because tonight IS a new beginning for the Four Horsemen.

Now when I was a kid, like all kids, people asked you "what do you wanna be when you grow up?" There was no grey area for me, I always knew I wanted to be a wrestler. And when that finally happened for me, it was the proudest day of my life. And in 1986, I started coming to these towns, just like Greenville, South Carolina, as a Horseman. And my life changed forever, and the doors it opened for me, I had never dreamed of. And wrestling the greatest wrestlers in the world in a town like this and all across this country showed me who I was. And every day that I woke up since then I tried to uphold the standards that we, you and I and the rest of us set for ourselves.

And about a year and a half ago, I laid down on an operating table and when I woke up, Arn Anderson the wrestler was dead, and I thought to myself how could I be a Horseman if I couldn't be a wrestler. Well, the fact is I couldn't in my mind...

Crowd: We Want Flair!

Arn: Trust me, everybody's gonna get what they want tonight, Bischoff. Eric Bischoff.

So when I thought I could no longer be a Horsemen, Chris Benoit came to me first and he said "this can all happen." And with that prelude, I would like to bring the other three Horsemen out right now. Steve "Mongo" McMichael, come on down. [Steve McMichael enters the ring, as do the other Horsemen when called] Chris Benoit, come on down. Dean Malenko, come on down.

Now, before we go any further. Chris Benoit, you got this thing rolling, and I'm gonna go on record as saying, if there's a finer wrestler in all the land than you, I don't know who it is. Your intensity, the first time I saw you wrestle, made you something special. You are something special in my eyes, you knew what it meant to be a Horsemen. You will carry that tradition way past the year 2000.

Mongo McMichael, you're hard-headed, lotta times you're hard to be around, but the fact is in my eyes, you're all man. You're certainly All-Pro, and when this is all said and done, if I've got anything to say about it, you will mean to this sport what you've meant to the sport of pro football.

Now Dean Malenko. I've been out here yakking for the last ten years about what it meant to be a Horseman: work ethic, respect for the business, respect for each other, respect for the people that came before us. And while I was yakking the last year, and the last couple of months, you were out there fighting the fights for the Horsemen. You exemplify what a Horseman has always meant: overachievement. Being the very best you could be, each and every day of your life, whether you were sick, or hurt, or whatever the case may be, and it makes me proud, now I'm gonna say one more time. I've said that you didn't get it; well, I didn't get it, because if there was ever a Horseman it makes me a little misty-eyed and real proud to call on this day the finest thing you can be in this sport of professional wrestling, that's a Horseman.

Ladies and gentlemen, through the year 2000, we're gonna do exactly what all of you across this nation have asked: "Arn Anderson, bring back the Horsemen!" But I feel it fair to tell ya, I'm not gonna be responsible for what happens next. 'Cause we don't wear white hats, we're not nice guys, and I can tell you this: heads are gonna roll! So, I've said it: Be careful what you wish for, because now you have it!

Ah, what a goof! What a goof! You know, I get accused of gettin' racked in the head a few times and having a little touch of Alzheimer's. My God! I almost forgot the fourth Horseman! Ric Flair, get on down here!

---

Ric Flair: Thank you, thank you very much. I'm almost embarrassed by the response, but when I see this, I know that the twenty - five years that I've spent trying to make you happy every night of your life was worth every damn minute of it. Now, somebody told me that the Horsemen were having a party tonight in Greenville! Could that be true that the most elite group that Eric Bischoff said was dead, is alive and well? Bischoff, this might be my only shot, and I gotta tell ya, I'm gonna make it my best. Is this what you call a great moment in TV? It's wrong, because this is REAL! This is not bought and paid for! It's a REAL - LIFE - SITUATION! Just like the night in Columbia, South Carolina, when you looked at me - tears in my eyes - and said 'God, that's good TV' - it was real! Arn Anderson passed the torch - it was real, dammit! You think Sting was crying in the dressing room like I was on TV if it wasn't real? This guy, my best friend, is one of the greatest performers who ever lived, and YOU - you squashed him, in one night. Then you get on the phone and tell me, "Disband the Horsemen. They're dead. Disband the Four Horsemen." You know what? I looked at myself in the mirror the next day and I saw a pathetic figure that gave up and quit! And for that, I owe you, the wrestling fans, I owe these guys an apology. Because it won't happen again! [Bischoff appears at the entrance way]

Eric Bischoff: You're history! This is my TV!!

Flair: Bischoff, whatever you think... You're an overbearing asshole! That's right! You're an obnoxious, you're an obnoxious, overbearing ass! Abuse of power! You! Abuse of power! Cut me off! Come on! It's called abuse of power!

Bischoff: You'll never ever wrestle on my television again!

Flair: You suck! You... I hate your guts. I hate your guts.

Bischoff: [as he walks away] This is my house! You're history!

Flair: You are a liar, you're a cheat, you're a scam, you are a no-good son of a bitch.

Bischoff: You're history!

Flair: Fire me! I'm already fired! Fire me! I'm already fired!

December 14

[Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen just fought off the NWO, and he's still livid over Eric Bischoff kissing his wife the week before]

Ric Flair: BISCHOFF!!! For 25 years, for whatever I have been, good and bad, I've been a man, you son of a bitch! And good or bad, I can walk in the door of my house and know that those kids, and that wife forgave me for everything I ever did wrong because they depended on me to live day in and day out! You, you start out, you come in here, you promise me the world and then you take my career, you try to shitcan that, that didn't work, because [to the fans] they, right here, 40,000 strong, wouldn't let you do it!

Bobby Heenan: It's the most intense I've ever seen him.

Flair: Then, you put your lawyers on me and you know what, you damn near broke me, but I would like to the wire, I fought you every step of the way. I gave in, I came back, not 'coz of you, but because my little boy, ten years old, walked up to me and said, "Dad, why don't you just beat the hell out of Bischoff and get back in the world?" He didn't understand politics, he didn't understand lawyers, but he understands that every day of his life, his dad said two things to him: Never quit. Promise me for as long as I am alive, you will never quit - and last Thursday night, you stepped over the line AND I ALMOST QUIT! I almost couldn't live it, you put your hands on my children, you kissed my wife, you no-good rotten bastard! What do you think my kids felt when they went to school, embarrassed? No. Shocked? No. You stepped over the line. You took something...

[Eric Bischoff appears at the entranceway]

Eric Bischoff: [mock sadness] Oh, Ric, I feel so bad.. [sees Flair running up to him; to security] STOP HIM STOP HIM!!! [security restrains Flair] Come on, come on! Come and get me, come and get me be careful with him, he's got a bad heart! He's got a bad heart! [as the officers cuff him] Arrest him! Arrest him, so I can fire him!!

1999

January 4

Tony Schiavone: If you're even thinking about changing the channel to our competition, fans, do not. Because we understand that Mick Foley, who wrestled here one time as Cactus Jack, is going to win their World Title. [sarcastically] That's gonna put some butts in the seats.

---

Tony: Fans, I want to reiterate something I talked about before the commercial break. If you're thinking about changing channels to our competition, we want to let you know that unlike us, they've got their show in the can, their show's been taped. Later tonight, Mick Foley, who once wrestled here as Cactus Jack, is gonna win their World Title. I mean, that's gonna be their World Champion. Ha ha!

---

Tony: Fans, as you know, it's getting close to the 11:00 hour. We're gonna stay right here, we're gonna follow all the action as long as it takes, so stay with us. These are not taped matches. This is happening live, this is Nitro. [Bell rings] The bell sounds, Billy Silverman making the call. No matter what happens, we're staying with you here tonight.

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan: Even if it goes on all night, we're gonna be here.

Tony: That's what we're all about.

Bobby: We're live!

...

Tony: Listen to the fans! Look at Hogan's reaction!

Bobby: Over 40,000+! This is better than a playoff game!

Tony: Hell, this is what pro wrestling, what World Championship Wrestling is all about!

---

Tony: [on Hogan] He's been in so many big matches.

Bobby: Boy, he has.

[Hogan fakes a punch, then lightly pokes Kevin Nash, who drops to the mat. Hogan covers him.]

Tony: [as Silverman counts] What was that about? What's going on here? [Silverman counts to three. Hogan, Nash, Hall, and Scott Steiner celebrate in the ring] What just happened here?

Bobby: This stinks.

Michael Buffer: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner and new Heavyweight Champion of the world, from nWo Hollywood, Hulk Hogan!

Eric Bischoff: [having been silent all night] It is unbelievable! The new World Heavyweight Champion, Hollywood Hulk Hogan!

October 11

Tony Schiavone: Before we start with tonight's action, Brain, there's something we both, but particularly you, have to say about our longtime friend Gorilla Monsoon.

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan: Gorilla will be sadly missed. He was one big, tough man, he was a decent honest man, and we're all going to miss him very much. And you know the pearly gates in heaven?

Tony: Yeah.

Bobby: It's now gonna be called the Gorilla position. Goodbye, my friend.

2000

February 7

[Scott Steiner, his women, and the NWO are in the ring]

Scott Steiner: Now last week, I was watching TV and I watched a 53-year-old man come down here who wears more loose skin than a Shar-Pei puppy come out here saying he's still "The Man." I see Ric Flair No.2, the Nature Boy come out here, who's been the butt-end of all the jokes, 'cause he's supposed to be the limousine-riding, jet-flying son of a gun, but I'm saying one time, you shoulda take a cab, and used to that money to fix that scrooked yellow teeth! So I asked myself, "if WCW was going to hire the Nature Boy No.2, why wouldn't they hire the Nature Boy, the original Nature Boy, Buddy Rogers?" Now I know that Buddy Rogers is dead - God rest his soul - but Ric Flair, your career is dead! And I know as he lays six feet under, he's still styling and profiling, 'cause when you used your little brain and stole his name, there's one thing you couldn't steal, and that was his class. So when you walked down that aisle last week, I know I wasn't alone, 'cause the people at home, all they did was grab their remote, change the channel to WWF and watch Stone Cold, a person you and your old friends got fired from here 'cause you're a jealous, old bastard. So Ric Flair, remember this, in this wrestling business, there's never been a bigger ass-kissing, butt-sucking bastard in this business, but also in life, you're the biggest ass-kiss, back-stabbing, butt-sucking bastard and you belong where you're at, in WCW, because WCW sucks... and so do you! Me? I'm just gonna stand here in the NWO for life!

April 10

[Jeff Jarrett reveals Vince Russo as the Powers That Be]

Vince Russo: You know, after giving six years of my life to the World Wrestling Federation I came to WCW with one thing in mind - and that was to beat Vince McMahon at his own game! And you know what? Within a matter of weeks, the new blood in WCW was not only getting back in the game, they were changing the game! And that's when the good ol' boy network kicked in - afraid of change, and more importantly afraid of their jobs - the political BS took place in the back to bring Vince Russo down. And you stayin' at home know who you are 'cause you're watching me now. And then one day I'm told that there's gonna be a change in direction - a change that I knew SUCKED! And you know what? I wasn't the only one who knew - Benoit knew - Guerrero knew - Saturn knew - Malenko knew - Douglas knew - and they left! They're gone! Scott Steiner - he knew it, and they suspended his ass! Well you know what? That's all over now. It's done. And Vince Russo is back in charge again. And I wanna turn around now and I wanna say something to everybody in this ring. It is OVER. The old boys management is over. The inflated egos in the back, afraid to lose their spot - it is over. It is the dawning of a new day - it is your opportunity - seize that opportunity!

[Eric Bischoff appears]

Eric Bischoff: Are you done yet? Let me tell you something. This man - Vince Russo and I - have more in common than anybody knows. But the big thing is the fact that we were both screwed by the same... good ol' boys network. Vince is right - those days are over. But it's okay! I don't even mind. And you know why I don't mind? Because it's giving me a hell of an opportunity to think about all the great things I did in WCW, but it's also given me an opportunity to realize the mistakes I've made... mistakes like Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Sting, Diamond Dallas Page, and oh yeah, oh yeah... let's not forget Sid "Wished he was" Vicious. But you know what the biggest mistake I've ever made? I mean this is the real big one. Hulk Hogan. I'm sorry - I really am sorry.

Everybody told me he would screw me - he would use me - they said, do not look into that red and yellow light because you will be blinded. Well, I was blinded, but tonight I've got 20/20 vision - I'm seeing real clearly for the first time in a long time, and right now I want to apologize to everybody in this ring - The New Blood - and I want you guys to know that if there's anything I can do for Vince Russo that will help you, I am there for him - I am there for you, because it is a whole new WCW. And where are they? Where are they, where is Diamond Dallas Page? Where is Sting? Where are they?

Russo: I think they're hiding in the back with the old tail between their legs.

July 15

[Tony Schiavone and Mark Madden talk about the Billy Kidman/Torrie Wilson sex tape on Nitro and the subsequent segment between Torrie and Shane Douglas on Thunder.]

Tony Schiavone: ... that fueled the fire for this "Viagra on a Pole" Match.

Mark Madden: I'll tell you... I'll tell you what, you can't come out of here limping in a match like this. You gotta get it up right away and keep it up.

August 14

Vince Russo: [Standing in the ring with Tank Abbott at the start of the show] You know, it seems like deja vu all over again. I stood in this very ring one month ago, and I made history. I made an example out of somebody... and you all know who that is, because that piece of shit hasn't been around since! Well tonight, I'm gonna make an example on live TV out of another piece of shit, Goldberg! You don't screw with me and the fact is I came out here tonight to fire Bill Goldberg's ass on national TV! Yeah, cheer for him you asshole Canadians! Well you know what? Brad Siegel wouldn't let me fire Goldberg because the fans love Goldberg! Well I say screw the fans and I say screw Bill Goldberg! And Goldberg, since I could not fire your ass, well I'm going to have your ass kicked right here tonight and he's right here Bill. Remember what happened at the Phillips arena Bill? Well we all know that was bullshit! So I say Bill, you bring it out here and lets call it in the ring. Do it Tank! You know, let me explain something to you assholes! You see, Bill Goldberg, Bill Goldberg believes in his own little mind that if this world were real, then he could take everybody! He could kick everybody's ass! He could kick your ass Tank! You know Bill, you think you're Superman, you think you're invincible, you think I can't beat you huh? Well I'll tell you what, I've got the kryptonite to stick up your ass tonight pal! What do I got to do? Do I got to beg you to come out here chickenshit?! What's the matter Bill? You don't want to come out here? You don't know the script? You don't know the storyline? Tank will call your ass!

September 11

[Big Poppa Pump is interviewed by Mean Gene]

Scott Steiner: That's right Mean Gene, I don't lay down for nobody and whether I leave here the world champion tonight, it don't matter because it's not going to change my focus on getting even with Goldberg for fracturing my face at Fall Brawl. Goldberg! I'm getting even for you fracturing my face and I'm gonna prove to you that I'm the man with the largest arms in the world! I'm the genetic freak and size does matter! And that statement, Mean Gene, comes true whether I'm in the ring or out of the ring. See where all my freaks are horizontal, they understand size, they appreciate size and size does matter and they know that they don't have to wait for the Earth to rotate on a 47-degree axis so the stars can touch the sky and create an equinox so they see the Big Dipper. No no no, all they gotta do is call the Big Poppa, cause I'm the man with the big dipper and satisfaction's coming when I go behind and do the bump n' grind and it's only a matter of time before they call me the big bad booty daddy! So Goldberg, realize this. I only care about two things in this world: my freaks and my peaks and I'll beat your ass down at Fall Brawl and I'm about to put you in the Steiner Recliner and I'm gonna whisper in your ear, 'Size does matter, bitch!'

2001

March 19

[Booker T calls out Big Poppa Pump and Ric Flair]

Booker T: Yo Steiner, Flair. I told you I was gonna talk to the man and that man is Eric Bischoff, so shut up and listen.

Eric Bischoff: [by phone patch] Thank you Booker. For those of you in the arena and all of you watching around the country this evening, I would very much would have chosen to be there tonight in person as I could be but given everything that's going on tonight, that's just not possible. Many of you may know that for the past six months I've been working with a group of people whose goal was - and is - to acquire World Championship Wrestling and to grow it once again to becoming a competitive, dominant wrestling organization worldwide.

But recently, we've hit a couple of roadblocks that may be in fact brick walls, and while it is still in my power, I want to do something befitting what could be very well the last night of wrestling on the Turner networks. Given the fact that that wrestling has been such an important part of Turner's history for the past 29 years, I've been thinking over the weekend on what I could do to provide an exciting program that this historic event should be. To that end, I want to make an announcement now that next Monday night in Panama City is indeed going to be a "Night of Champions." By that, I mean every championship will be up for grabs, starting with the World Cruiserweight Championship, the Cruiserweight Tag Team Championships, the World Tag Team championship, the US title, and the World Heavyweight will also be up for grabs next Monday night at Panama City. And Scott Steiner, Booker T, I want you to, to be aware now that your match is going to be a "Title Vs Title" match. The contracts are prepared, a WCW representative is standing by to make sure that the contracts are executed. Read them carefully, sign them, be prepared to defend your titles next Monday night. And also given the historic nature of this occasion and my relationship with this company for nearly ten years, I wanna personally extend an open invitation to any former - and I mean any former - World Heavyweight champion in WCW to join us in Panama City, and don't be afraid to bring your boots with you.

Lastly, Ric Flair, you and I have had a very rocky relationship over the past ten years and while I have a tremendous amount of respect for you and what you've done in wrestling history and what you've done for WCW for so long now, I want to make sure that in your case, a promise made is a promise kept - and Ric Flair, it is in your best interest this evening - to kiss Dusty Rhodes' ass. [Flair is flustered] That being said, I'll see you all in Panama City next Monday night, The Night of Champions, thank you.

March 26

[After the WCW opening logo, Vince McMahon appears]

Vince McMahon: Imagine that. Me, Vince McMahon. Imagine that, here I am, on WCW television. How can that happen? Well, there's only one way. You see that it was just a matter of time before I, Vince McMahon, bought my competition. That's right, I own WCW, so therefore in its final broadcast tonight on TNT, I have the opportunity to address [hands gesturing to camera] you the WCW fans. I have an opportunity to address, you the WCW superstars. What is the fate of WCW? Well tonight, in this special simulcast, you will all find out, because the fate - [cups hands] the very fate of WCW is in my hands.

---

[Ric Flair comes down to the ring]

Ric Flair: Did I - Did I - WOOOOO! Did I happen to hear Vince McMahon say he was goin' to hold WCW in the palms of his hands? Is that what he said? Does that mean that YOU are gonna hold Jack Brisco, Dory Funk, Harley Race, the Road Warriors, Sting, Luger, the Steiners, Bagwell, Ric Flair, Steamboat, does that mean you're gonna hold us all in the palm of your hands? To coin a phrase, I don't think so! You know, at twelve o'clock today, someone very special to me said, "Do not go onto that show tonight knowin' it's the last time that you'll ever be on TNT or TBS" - knowing it's the last time, she said to me, "Don't go out there and cry - don't go out there and say you're sorry" because I'm not - I've been fourteen times the World Champion - in my eyes, one of the greatest, you got it! The greatest wrestling organization in the world - WCW!

We... I'm talkin' about the Stings, the Lugers, the Steiners, the Road Warriors - I'm talkin' about my best friend, Arn Anderson and the Four Horsemen - we have been on a par, and we have been equal to any wrestling organization in the world - as a matter of fact, we have run neck and neck with you, Vince McMahon, for years - for YEARS - and just for trivia, Vince McMahon, do you know that in 1981, when you were trying to become an announcer, your dad was on the board of directors and voted for ME to be the world champion - WOOOO! How 'bout that? And ever since that day, I have been a limousine-ridin', jet-flyin', kiss-stealin', wheelin-dealin', son of a gun, that along with the whole WCW dammit all, have kissed the girls worldwide, and made 'em cry! 'Cause ya see, we were every bit the force, we were WCW - we lived, we breathed, we sweat, we paid the price to be the best - never been about the boys - it's always been WWF vs. the WCW in the office - the boys that have gone out there, night in and night out, doing everything they could to be the very best at what they chose to do in their life - those boys are here tonight - we are!

We're not going anywhere, you can't hold us in your hands and predict our life! We're WCW! We've bled and we've sweat - when was the last time you wrestled for an hour, cut yourself five times, bled for 45 minutes... when were you there? You weren't! You weren't! You were never in the dressing room, on the road 40 days and 40 nights, bleedin', sweatin', goin' to the next town, you weren't there, you can't hold people's lives in your hands. We're the greatest wrestling company of all time - I wanna say it again - you can't control us or our future, and in closing, let me say this - in all my years in this sport, my greatest opponent with this company has been Sting - so tonight, if we're going out, if we're going out on a high note, Stinger, the Nature Boy wants you right here, because - that's right - that's right - ya hear it, Sting? Sting, my greatest opponent - Sting, it's your last chance - your last chance to be... [crowd chants Sting] Sting, Sting, Sting, Sting, Sting, Sting - Sting! To be - the man, you've gotta beat the man, and Sting... I'M. THE. MAN. WOOOOOO!

---

[after a segment where Vince McMahon admonishes Michael Cole over his questions about WCW wrestlers' job security and his own job security, then toasting with Trish Stratus]

Tony Schiavone: How do we all feel?

Scott Hudson: How do we all feel about our own job security?

Schiavone: Where does WCW go from here? What's in the cards? What's going to, what's going to happen, tonight on this telecast?

Hudson: What is gonna happen?

Schiavone: Is this it? I mean this is... Fans, we're reacting and we could only react to what you see as well, we don't know.

Hudson: Mr McMahon has said there's gonna be a simulcast tonight. What's he gonna say? When's he gonna say it?

Schiavone: [as the WCW World Tag Team Championship match begins] The wrestlers, the fans are concerned. The people who worked for WCW are concerned, who have sweat, bled for this company for years, we are all very concerned about the future of WCW, about the future of, well, right there our brand of wrestling.

---

[In a prerecorded video, DDP reflects on his WCW journey]

Diamond Dallas Page: In the words of the Grateful Dead, what a long strange trip it's been, but I gotta tell you, I've loved every second of it, wouldn't trade it for nothing. And tonight, on this historic eve, I thought I needed to thank all the wrestling fans from around the world, for letting a kid from the Jersey Shore, Page Joseph Falkenberg, become Diamond Dallas Page. The guy they said would never make it but did. And that proves only one thing, if you want it bad enough and you're willing to work for it, anything's possible. It's not the promoters who decide who's over, it's the fans, so not just to thanks the fans in general, I want to specially thank, the WCW wrestling fans and my wife, Kimberly, for believing in me, and helping me live my dream. Is that dream over? I don't think so, I think now it's time to take it to another level. [to camera] Thank you.

---

[as the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship match begins, Tony Schiavone goes a bit off-script upon learning of William Regal talking to Vince McMahon over his purchase of WCW]

Tony Schiavone: I don't want to sit here, and as a person who's been on Monday Nitro for many years, it hits you to hear anything that he once said... Mr McMahon, it's his money, he can do whatever he wants, I don't know what he's gonna do tonight, but let me say this: to sit here and listen to their Commissioner, rip WCW?

Scott Hudson: Yes.

Schiavone: Come on. I mean, we've had to do some crazy things, Steve Regal, including putting your ass over on TV!

---

[calling the match between Sting and Ric Flair]

Tony Schiavone: [sees Sting Superplex Flair] Yes, he got it down. What's Sting gonna do now? [Scorpion Deathlock] Scorpion Deathlock!! He's got it on!

Scott Hudson: Center of the ring!

Schiavone: [Flair quits] It's over! It's over!! It's Sting! Sting wins! Sting defeats Ric Flair here on the final telecast of WCW Monday Nitro on TNT. And look at that, my god that he's gonna help him up. And the embrace, it's what we're all about.

Hudson: Sting knows that Ric Flair made him at that Clash of the Champions. That's ultimate respect.

Schiavone: It really is.

Hudson: For two men, I have to say, that have huge fans of, they may be continue to be fans of professional wrestling. Thank you Steve Borden, thank you Ric Flair, for everything you've meant to this sport.

Schiavone: It's an emotional rollercoaster for all of us fans. The uncertainty of our jobs, our future of what we love, what we breathe, and what we live. We don't just work for WCW, we lived WCW, and I know Flair is thinking that the fans would agree.