WCW Monday Nitro #45 - A Game of Chess

Okay, reviewing as I read.

- As I’ve said before, the detail here really makes this easy to imagine and captures WCW at that time perfectly with the opening promo description all to that description of the lighting on the stage. A lot of effort goes in to your shows and it shows immediately.

- Interesting start teasing the financial backer for the nWo, I’m assuming it’ll be Dibiase as the majority of content so far is true to real life. Should be good.

- Malenko/Chavo was a nice opener, I like the fact your matches are summarised it’s a nice change of pace from the copius detail in segments and promos etc…

- Savage’s segment was brilliant, I like the way that the use of the chain last week was deliberate to set up a ‘Sturgis Chain Match’ at Hog Wild (Hodwild as Savage called it in this promo lol) Also the way Madusa was dismissed by Zbyszko at the end of this was funny. Nobody cares what Madusa had to say lol

- I thought Konnan was going over VK Wallstreet, hints being given that he’s having a bigger part in the nWo than maybe he did in real life? Possible co-financial backer with Dibiase? That’d be interesting.

- Never cared about the Dungeon of Doom in real life, I hope Big Bubba is victorious in this mini feud. The 8 man was treated as it should of been, very WCW 1996 to have The Outsiders getting the attention while a match was taking place. Absolutely fine with this.

- The Giant coming for the nWo too, everyone is coming for the nWo!! I sense there’ll be twists and turns and the nWo will expand really soon.

- Psychosis in control here! Always enjoy the aerial attack before the bell, it just makes sense lol why wait for them to get in the ring, take them by surprise! Enjoyed this one, Psychosis was great.

- Yep Scott Norton battering Taylor is fine, Fire and Ice match at Hog Wild by looks of it, that seems to be where it’s heading. I predict Ice Train loses to Regal and is berated by Norton or he’ll accidentally cost Ice Train the match. Let’s see….

- Always liked Bischoff/Brain commentary duo for hour 2, I like their interaction with each other in this, you write the commentators so well I can perfectly imagine them saying what you’ve written in my head which is a sign of a very good writer.

- Haha the Train/Regal match actually had a slightly different ending to what I was expecting! I thought it was great though, it made sense, it was subtle but I wasn’t expecting Norton to be the aggressor afterwards! I thought Ice Train would be pissed and attack Norton! Still really good stuff here, nicely done.

- I enjoyed The Horsemen segment, intrigued to see who Naitch may bring in from his ‘recruitment’. Also looking forward to him/Guerrero for the US title.

- Very well written Outsiders segment and I’m looking forward to this match at Hog Wild. Really liked the caviat with the security being in on Luger and Sting sneak attacking The Outsiders after the nWo’s security was banned. Clever, I like it.

- The tag match was good, surprised The Nasty Boys went over the champions. Harlem Heat/Steiners should be great at Hog Wild. Big Bubba/Nasty Boys is an interesting stable, let’s see what happens here, I see a future 6 man against Dungeon of Doom.

- Main event time and goodness me Ronan Flory is getting buried lol how much longer is he going to be a Horseman before drifting into the obscurity that is the WCW lower card. I like the show ending, not the predictable nWo chaos that we’ve seen, a nice change.


Overall, great episode of Nitro! I like the way every story feels important, even Ice Train/Norton has turned into a really personal feud! Hog Wild is shaping up to be great, looking forward to it.

Going to be coming back to comment on this one; really gonna have to sit back and read this out. But I am very excited; I think reenvisioning this entire NWO era in this great story is bold but it's going to be amazing when the wheels start moving at the high high speeds.