WCW Monday Nitro. September 18th, 1995
Originally posted to Cohost.
The aftermath of the Fall Brawl. The production values have taken another step up from the first two weeks of Nitro. The commentary team have a real desk now, and we're treated to pyrotechnics at the start of the show.
I've only just realised that The Giant is Paul Wight aka The Big Show. I didn't get a proper look at him during the Fall Brawl but he cuts a fun promo here, getting out of the back of an ambulance to talk shit about Hogan and Hulkamania.
Match 1: American Males vs. Harlem Heat
This match opens with the commentators talking about the American Males defeating the Nasty Boys at Fall Brawl the night before but it wasn't part of the PPV so I assume it was part of the pre-show on WCW Main Event.
The American Males are expecting to be fighting the Blue Bloods but Harlem Heat ambush the Blue Bloods before they can get to the ring, put their belts on the line, and face off against the American Males in an unsanctioned title match. I don't like matches that end with interference but starting with it is very fun. Plus this means I get to watch Booker T, and this match is much faster and more fun than the match against Buck & Slater at War Games.
The end comes out of nowhere, with Harlem Heat losing their title. It's a short match but it's really fun.
Interlude
Ric Flair comes out to talk about the Fall Brawl and his upcoming match with Flyin' Brian. It's high energy and Flair is obviously having a good time, reminding us about the interference in his match with Arn Anderson the night before and setting up their ongoing feud.
Match 2: Mr. Wonderful vs. Johnny B. Badd
Seeing so many people who were at Fall Brawl coming out tonight makes me feel like the WCW roster is really small at this point. I don't know if that's true but I'm seeing the same people again and again. I guess that's just the nature of ongoing plots and characters being assigned to specific shows, though.
This match is definitely better than Flyin' Brian/Johnny B Badd the night before. It's nice and quick with a lot of energy and it doesn't outstay its welcome. Based on the promo spot last night and his general image and ring entrance I don't really like Mr. Wonderful but I enjoyed watching him wrestle.
Interlude
A pre-taped segment. Macho Man is bench pressing on the beach and the Task Master attacks him. It's very weird. Then we come back to the live broadcast and Savage is in the ring to talk about Ric Flair, the Task Master, and War Games. He tells Hogan that he's a horrible judge of character and shouldn't have trusted Lex Luger, who he thinks has joined the Dungeon Of Doom along with Sting.
Luger comes to the ring to have it out and it sort of falls apart as Macho Man and Luger start facing off. It goes from fun to a mess and the directors just cut away from it and back to the presenters, which is hilarious.
Then we cut to footage from WCW Main Event showing the Giant running over Hogan's motorcycle, and then the Fall Brawl and the Giant interfering in Hogan's match with the Task Master. I wondered how long it would take for Nitro to take cues from RAW and start showing recaps like this and the answer is Not Very Long.
Match 3: Flyin' Brian vs. Ric Flair
This is easily the best match of the night and better than anything at War Games. Pillman and Flair work really well together and there's some great wrestling on display. There's not much to say other than that it's a lot of fun.
After Flair submits Pillman with a Figure 4 leglock he grabs a mic and calls Arn Anderson out to the ring. Anderson doesn't appear but Flair lays down a challenge for Nitro the following week, and that's basically the end of the episode other than some chatter from the commentary team. The commentary this week was much better and it's clear that Nitro is slowly starting to get its act together and figure out how to make the show work.