WCW Nitro (Week 4, August 2001)
One night removed from The Great American Bash, Tony Schiavonne and Jerry Lawler welcome us to what should be an eventful Nitro.
We start with Jeff Jarrett coming out to complain about the outcome of last night's match. "Even with the world against me and cracked ribs, I still should be champion right now..." He's cut off by the cameras catching the same car that has been after him for two weeks pulling up backstage, cracked back window and all. Jarrett yells "We're not going through this again. If you wanna screw with me, get the hell out here and do it face to face, whoever you are!" With that, the door opens... we get a bit of a dramatic pause and out steps... "The Road Dogg" Jesse James!
The crowd pops huge as he starts walking. Jarrett is losing his shit in the ring as he finally comes through the entrance and makes his way to the arena. Eric Bischoff is quick to follow along with security before he's able to get in the ring. Bischoff does however let him have a mic. He does a little crowd pandering. "The outlaw has arrived in WCW!" He eventually turns his attention to Jarrett, reminding him of their sordid history before telling him of the respect he has for Dusty Rhodes. How it shows when he's in the ring just how much he idolized The Dream. And after watching his old buddy Jeff's actions over the past couple months, he decided it was time to come say hi."
Jarrett speculates that Jesse James idolizes Dusty because they're both out of shape disappointments. He says after the last two weeks, he wants him not just banned from WCW... but arrested. Bischoff gets on the mic and tells Jarrett "As deplorable as you are as a human being... you're right in this instance." He turns to Jesse James. "I'm gonna have to ask security to see you out." The crowd does not approve but security does its job and Jesse taunts Jarrett as he's escorted back to his car and told to leave the building.
With that, Jarrett calls Bischoff in the ring and congratulates him on making a good call. He tells him to make another one. If it wasn't for DDP, he would have made Booker T tap out last night and taken the WCW title. So how about making a one-on-one match so he can conclude his heroic "Cinderella story" the right way. Shane Douglas now comes to the ring and interrupts, telling Bischoff how unfair it was to put him in a Texas Bullrope match with a Rhodes boy, citing favoritism. He wants a rematch, too. Jarrett cuts Douglas off, reminding him of how he left him hanging last week and he's partly responsible for the cracked ribs he's suffering from. The two get into a shouting match before Bischoff cuts them off.
He makes two announcements. The first: In just 6 weeks time, on Sunday, October 14th WCW will return to PPV. And it will be the return... of War Games! 60 men. One match. The winner will earn a shot at the WCW World Heavyweight Title at the 19th annual Starrcade PPV on December 16th. And the second announcement is that Booker T has suffered a slight fracture in his ankle that will put him on the shelf for a few weeks. If Jeff Jarrett wants a title match at that time, he'll have to wins his match tonight. And if Shane Douglas wants his rematch against Dustin Rhodes for the US Title, he'll have to win HIS match tonight. And their opponents... will be each other. Jarrett and Douglas look at each other with determination as we go to break.
Jindrak and Stasiak (w/ Stacy Keibler) vs KroniK
In a bout that had solid in-ring action and average heat, Jindrak gets knocked off the apron and Stacy runs over to check on him. Stasiak finds himself distracted by this scene and it's enough for KroniK to pull him in for a "total meltdown" and get the pin.
Winners: KroniK in 11:34
After the match, Stacy continues to check on Jindrak outside while Stasiak is out cold in the ring.
Lance Storm and Mike Awesome make their way out. Storm hypes Awesome's performance from last night reminding everyone how after Storm was taken out, he survived two tag team legends by himself. He says if there's anyone who should be calling themselves an animal, it's the beast standing next to him. He issues an open challenge on behalf of Awesome and out comes... a returning "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan!
Mike Awesome vs "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan
After the surprise wears off, reality sets in. Awesome makes relatively short work of Duggan and finishes him off with an awesome bomb and a foot on the chest for the pin.
Winner: Mike Awesome in 2:51
Backstage, Gene Okerlund is with "Sugar" Shane Helms. Helms wishes Kidman a speedy recovery and tells Chavo he's not satisfied retaining his title on a draw and he'll do it again any time, any place. He also says that after he's done with him, he wants Konnan.
"Sugar" Shane Helms vs Elix Skipper
In a bout that had solid in-ring action but not much in the way of heat, Shane Helms defeated Elix Skipper by pinfall with a Vertebreaker.
Winner: "Sugar" Shane Helms in 6:45
After the match, Chavo comes out and attacks Helms from behind and Konnan follows. Chavo grapevines Helms' leg and puts him in an ankle lock as Konnan gets a mic, gets on his hands and knees, and gets face-to-face with Helms. "The only reason we aren't finishing your career right now like we did to Rey and Billy... is because we wanna make you suffer more. This was all your fault. Next week, you're gonna be nice and healthy so you can defend that Cruiserweight title against Chavo. After that... it's you and me. And that's when I make you pay for taking my family away from me." He drops the mic, tells Chavo to break the hold and walks out as Helms looks down the aisle seething.
America's Most Wanted vs The Jung Dragons
In an awful match that was completely devoid of heat, America's Most Wanted defeated Jung Dragons when James Allen defeated Kaz Hayashi by pinfall with an 8-Second Ride.
Winners: America's Most Wanted in 7:46
As AMW celebrate their victory, out of nowhere, Buff Bagwell comes out and attacks them both from behind with Midajah behind him directing the attack. He eventually throws them out of the ring and Midajah gets on the mic. She says that last night, she made Lex Luger and Torrie Wilson regret ever thinking they could get one up on her. "But I have to thank Torrie. She exposed a weakness in Buff. A weakness... that will never be exposed again, isn't that right?" Buff shakes his head in agreement. She then explains how The Jung Dragons are a team that have been lost since Kimona's firing. And she sees that as an opportunity for her to show the world what kind of power she wields. She vows to make them champions if they join herself and Buff. They shake her hand and she raises their hand as Buff stands next to them looking... buff.
Johnny Swinger is out for the next match but Kanyon attacks, laying him and continuing the attack until Mike Sanders runs out to chase him off. Kanyon gets on the mic. He says if Sanders' mission was to make him snap, he's done it. He wants to confront Sanders and his mother in the ring next week and he plans to end this rivalry one way or another.
Booker T makes his way out on a crutch, nursing his injured ankle. He'll be on commentary for the main event.
Jeff Jarrett vs Shane Douglas
In a match that had some good action and average heat, Jarrett decides to take some time out of the match to taunt Booker at ringside. As he does this, there's a commotion in the crowd. The camera pans to see "Road Dogg" Jesse James coming through the crowd, holding a ticket in his hand. He comes all the way to the front row and smiles at Jarrett who yells at him while he stands calmly. The referee's count gets to 9 and James points to the ring as Jarrett turns just in time to hear the "10"!
Winner by countout: Shane Douglas in 13:30
Just then, Jesse James jumps the railing and attacks Jarrett for only a couple seconds before security swarms and pulls him away. Jarrett takes the opportunity to get in a few cheap shots as he's taken from the arena. An irate Jarrett walks around the ring and suddenly attacks an injured Booker T as he sits next to Lawler. Jarrett throws Booker in the ring and proceeds to stomp on his injured ankle. As Douglas comes to, he and Jarrett stare each other down before Douglas joins in on the attack! Jarrett goes out to get a chair and as he does, out comes Dustin Rhodes who gets cut off by Shane Douglas and the two brawl to the outside and continue trading punches all the way to the backstage area. This leaves Jarrett with Booker and a group of officials trying to stop him. He steps on the ankle and lifts the chair before Diamond Dallas Page runs out for the, save chasing Jarrett out of the ring.
Page stands in the ring for a second, looking down at Booker and grabs a mic. He takes the chair and sits down in front of a fallen Booker T who is unable to stand. "We had a little talk a few weeks ago about who the real people's champ is, Book. It was all in good fun. But we know I started using that name for a reason. Me and these people have a connection. Just like they do with you now. Last night, I decided proving a point was more important than winning that World title. And it cost me. Normally I'd have their support in a situation like that. Instead... I heard mostly cheers at my misfortune. So I guess it's time to admit. You're the people's champ, Booker." Page stands up and folds the chair he was sitting in back up. "You're the people's champ... Let the people save your ass from now on." Page rolls out of the ring and hands the chair to a confused looking Jeff Jarrett as he walks down the aisle, never looking back. Jarrett gets back in the ring and attacks a fallen Booker again before driving the chair multiple times into his ankle, leaving him laying there being attended to by referees and backstage officials as the show ends.
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Show rating: 51 (Lost popularity in 10 regions)