WCW Monday Night Nitro - Episode 290
Monday Week 2 May
Richmond Arena - Virginia (3,703)

Announce Team

Booker T Opens the Show and talks Sting and Steiner

Booker T opens up the show tonight, talking about his historic win at the Last Nitro on TNT. Booker says he is now close to medically being fit and should be back in top shape ready for his double title defence at WCW Big Bang. He then goes on to talk about tonight's stipulation and how it would be an historic moment to battle the Icon, Sting twice in one night. Booker finishes up by promising to come home with both titles and go down in history alongside the names of Sting, Flair, Hogan.

Dirt Sheet: Booker T Invents New Catchphrase

Shane Douglas vs Alex Wright

In the opening match of the night, the crowd were heavily into the match and warmed up nicely for the rest of the nights entertainment. It is Shane Douglas who shines in this match, with Wright merely along for the ride, keeping up with the Franchise. Another of the matches set up by Eric Bischoff to evaluate the roster and both men seem to have performed well

Winner: Shane Douglas
Time: 11:58

Backstage we see Ric Flair getting warmed up as Jeff Jarrett enters the room. Jarrett says he is there to help Flair prepare for WCW Big Bang. Both men then start in a collar and elbow tie up with both resetting after a fet seconds each time. Flair then tells Jarrett to hit him with Dusty's patented elbow, its at this point the camera cuts to a commotion in the men's locker room.

The Camera is now in the men's Locker room as Buff Bagwell is stood over the lifeless body of Lex Luger, calling for medics. As the medicst begin to tend to Luger, Bagwell storms off, shoulding, i’ll get the b****** who did this to you. Tony Schiavone: This has been going on for months, We still don't have any idea who is behind these attacks. Stevie Ray: The Magnificent 7 are just sitting ducks, They are being picked off one by one.

DDP Appears on the big screen in a prerecorded promo. DDP talks about how he hasn't yet made his mark in 2001, that its 5 months in and the Diamond in WCW’s crown hasn't yet made a moment to remember. DDP promises to be at WCW Big Bang and promises that the Diamond Cutter will be back in business.

Ernest Miller vs Reno

In a match that is almost carried by the performance of Ernest Miller, these two men battle it out in another of C.E.O Bischoff's planned evaluation matches. Its without doubt that Miller will be credited for pulling this match through as Reno had the crowd flat and performed poorly when it was his time to shine. In the end it's The Cat who picks up the deserved Victory with a Flatliner for the finnish.

Dirt Sheet: Ernest Miller Carries The Match, Reno pulls in a 14 performance.

Winner: Ernest Miller
Time: 6:50

Before the next match starts, WCW President Ric Flair, still in his work out attire, appears on the stage to make an announcement. Flair announces that at Big Bang, it will be Chavo Guerrero once again challenging for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship. However the former Cruiserweight Tag Team Champion holders of the Filthy Animals, Kid Romeo and Elix Skipper will battle it out in a tag match. The winners will join the Cruiserweight Championship match, to make it a 4 way.

Elix Skipper and Kid Romeo vs Filthy Animals Mysterio and Kidman once again shine in this match, keeping the action fast and the crowd interested in the match. With both teams having the opportunity of gaining gold around their waist, its Rey Mysterio who manages to hit a devastating Frankensteiner on Skipper to pick up the victory and cement his and Kidman's place in the Fatal 4 Way.

Dirt Sheet: Mysterio and Kidman Perform well, Kid Romeo Disappoints

Winner: Rey Mysterio Jr
Time: 7:36

After going looking for the culprit of the attack on Luger, Jeff Jarrett now stumbled on the beaten down body of Bagwell in the stairwell of the Arena. While Bagwell is being loaded onto a stretcher, Jarrett tells him that he's off to talk to Flair as this can't go on much longer.

As we come back from a commercial break, Stacy Keibler and Shawn Stasiak are in the ring. Keibler gets on the Microphone and calls Bam Bam Bigelow a coward. A coward for laying his hands on her last week and a coward for being too scared to accept the challenge of Stasiak to a match tonight. On commentary Tony Schiavone informs us that Bigelow isn't in the area tonight. Stacy continues to run down Bigelow and says that if he is half the man he is supposed to be, he should come to the ring right now and accept Stasiaks challenge. She then tells the crowd that if he doesn't come out in the next 30 seconds, they are going to leave the ring and Stasiak will be the Man… the Mecca in everyone's eyes. Stacy lays the microphone on the ground and counts down from 30, with the live crowd. She then looks at Stasiak, they both smile, laugh and exit the ring together. Tony Schiavone: What a load of garbage from those two. They came out here knowing that Bam Bam wasn't at the arena tonight. Scott Hudson: Its once again a showing of humiliation for Bam Bam and again Stacy is showing who wears the trousers in WCW.

Backstage Kanyon is being interviewed by Jeremy Borash. Kanyon tells Boarash that he is sick of having to deal with both The Cat and M.I. Smooth. Kanyon says that he has asked WCW President for a favour and Flair happily accepted. Kanyon says that at Big Bang, he will have a loser leaves town match with either The Cat or Smooth. He says the decision on who faces him is with them and the person not competing will be banned from ringside. Borash then tries to press Kanyon on the happenings within the Magnificent 7, and about the attacks, as he is a close friend to the group. Kanyon shuts him down and tells him to go ask WCW President Ric Flair is he is that interested. Kanyon then shoves the microphone to the chest of Borash and walks off.

Mike Awesome vs Chuck Palumbo

Continuing the rivalry that has been going on for some weeks, one half of Team Canada and one half of the Natural Born Thrillers take on each other to help settle the score. Both partners also accompany their teammates to the ring and stay out of the match, letting Awesome and Palumbo fight it out. Both men are an even match for each other and help raise the story of the feud between both teams. In the end it's Awesome who gets the upper hand and manages to win after a quick roll up on Palumbo.

Winner: Mike Awesome
Time: 7:38

Backstage Dusty Rhodes is talking to a WCW Official when Dusting walks up and hugs his father. Dustin apologises for last week and says he did all he could to help his father from having to come out of retirement one more time. Dusty tells him not to worry, that Flair would have got his revenge somehow, that win lose or draw, at some point he would have to face him 1 on 1. Dusty asks his son to do him just one favour, to which Dustin nods. Dusty asks if he will come to the ring with him at WCW Big Bang, in case Flair has any plans up his sleeve. Dustin agrees and both men hug, before the camera cuts to Mysterio and Kidman.

Backstage Kidman and Mysterio are celebrating their win tonight, after getting added to the Cruiserweight Championship Fatal 4 Way. as both men are packing their bags to leave the area, Rey asks Kidman to forget the friendship for that one night. Rey says that he wants them to fight it out if they have to, take nothing personal and may the best man win. Kidman tells him that they are brothers and not friends, and that what ever happens at WCW Big Bang, they will come out the other side still Brothers.

Rick Steiner vs Lash Leroux

In this match, Rick Steiner puts on a great showing of strength, toughness and skill as he takes Lash to school. Steiner plays around with Lash for some time, with Lash barely getting any chose to mount an offence. Although he manages to get in a few strikes, it Steiner who wins and dominates the match. During the match Steiner injured with Retrousse Nose.

Winner: Rick Steiner
Time: 6:28

Backstage WCW President Ric Flair is waiting in his office as there is a knock on the door. After calling the person in, Flair greets WCW US and World Champ Booker T with a hand shake. Flair tells him that he's called booker to his office to discuss the future of both Championships. Flair states that they are not classed as Unified and they will be known as individual belts, clearing up any confusion from the last episode of Nitro on the Turner Networks. Flair then informs booker that if he however retains both Titles at WCW Big Bang, he will Unify the titles and name Booker the first WCW Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion. Booker Stands up and tells mr Flair that he intends to cement his legacy at Big Bang and go down is history as the greatest champion in WCW History. Flair interjects and reminds him that he is a 16 time world champion and that Booker has a long way to go before he fills those Shoes. Both men have an awkward tension between them as Booker tells Flair that he will start the Legacy in 13 days.

Sting vs Scott Steiner

In tonight's main event, the chance of changing the landscape of WCW Big Bang is on the line. With sting offering the stipulation of giving Steiner his US Title shot if he loses, in return for being added to the World Title match if he wins. Booker T replaces his brother on commentary for the match as he watches to see who and how he will defend his titles in 13 night. Sting performs well in the match, heating up the crowd and carrying the match at times. The offence between them both is equal and the match cannot be called at any point. The end only comes after Sting manages to lock in the Scorpion Deathlock, which after what seems like a long time, gets Steiner to tap out. Dirt Sheet: Steiner off his game

Winner: Sting
Time: 14:28
Show Rating

WWF = 37.01 vs WCW = 5.02