World Championship Wrestling 2002

PWInsider - WCW News

Word is backstage that there will be major roster changes this week, with several names going, and new ones coming in. Fusient Media requested Eric Bischoff update the image of WCW with new Superstars. Mick Foley is said to have been in contact with Bischoff over the past couple of weeks.

Sting joining the nWo was the best recieved segment of Greed. Bischoff was ecstatic about how the fans reacted, and sees this as a major stepping stone in rebuilding the company. It's most likely Sting will take on Ric Flair at The Big Bang in a Retirement Match, as Flair wants time off due to a family emergency. However, after the Randy Savage/Lance Storm Retirement Match at Greed, it may be a little too soon for it.

Booker T reinjured himself at Greed in the Steel Cage Match. Booker once again tore his tricep, but this time around it wasn't so severe. After assessing the damage, Booker will not require surgery. It's unknown what will become of the WCW World Title.

Mar 18 2002; Monday Nitro

The Monday Nitro intro begins to play as we go live into the Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tony Schiavone and Scott Hudson are at ringside and they welcome us to tonight's program, featuring all your favourite WCW Superstars.

We open up with a remixed version of the nWo's theme, as Hollywood Hogan, Jeff Jarrett, Scott Steiner and Rena Mero make their way to the ring. Garbage is being thrown at them from various sections of the arena, but they just laugh it off. In the ring, Hogan takes the mic and begins insulting the fans and the WCW locker room. He calls them stupid for not realising that even someone as great as Sting could not resist the temptation of the nWo lifestyle. It all comes down to one thing - greed. Hogan says last nights pay-per-view was appropriately titled. Every man has greed inside them. Whether they show it or not is a different matter, but one things for sure. WCW couldn't offer Sting what the nWo could, and that's why he's their newest member. He welcomes Sting to the ring. He comes out to the new nWo theme and without the face paint, just a pair of sunglasses. Sting begins to speak but he's immediately cut of by Ric Flair. The Nature Boy is livid. He calls Sting a piece of crap and a disgusting human being. He betrayed everyone, including himself. He turned his back on WCW and the fans and he won't stand by and watch. Flair says he wants Sting one on one, April 21 at The Big Bang. Hogan interupts, and tells Flair that nobody cares what he has to say. Hogan tells Flair he's a has been, and nobody wants to see him anymore. Flair throws his jacket to the floor, removes his tie and rushes to the ring. However, the nWo greatly out number Flair and stomp away at him until Goldberg and The Outsiders run them off. The nWo are seen laughing on the ramp way as the segment ends.

Lance Storm and Mike Awesome defeated AJ Styles and Kid Romeo.
Storm and Awesome dominate in this first match up, defeating Styles and Romeo with ease. After the match, Storm gets a mic from ringside and begins to talk. He says he ended the career of Randy 'Macho Man' Savage last night, and alongside Mike Awesome, they will continue to end careers, because together they are The Canadian Career Killers.

We see a pre-taped interview with Gene Okerlund and WCW Cruiserweight Champion Shane Helms. Okerlund asks Helms what it's like on the rise in WCW. Helms says he looks forward to his future because he knows it's a good one. The Great Muta and The Jung Dragons walk into view. They talk in Japanese to Helms, as Muta has Psicosis grabbed by the hair, with no expression on his face, covered in a black substance. This leads us to our next match.

Shane Helms defeated Psicosis (Disqualification).
It appears Psicosis has 'joined' The Great Muta's Black Heaven Fantasy. The Cruiserweight Champion is extremely impressive against Psicosis here, until Muta and The Jung Dragons jump in and beat him down. Chris Candido, Helm's Greed opponent, surprisingly runs down and makes the save with a steel chair.

United States Champion Buff Bagwell makes his way to the ring, alongside his new valet Kimberly Page. We are show clips of Page returning at Greed, attacking her husband Diamond Dallas Page and costing him the U.S Title. Bagwell speaks about how funny it is to see DDP suffer, especially at the hands of his wife. Bagwell says he's got everything in the world - the U.S Championship, money, cars, women, and one in particular. Kimberly twirls in the ring as DDP's music interupts them both. DDP hits the ring as Bagwell and Kimberly escape. DDP picks up the mic and calls Bagwell a worm, and says everything he's listed he's going to take away from him. Everything except that 'skank whore' that WAS his wife. The crowd cheer as Kimberly looks shocked at her husband's harsh words. Bagwell yells at Page as we go to a break.

Rick Steiner defeated Bryan Clarke.
A slow and uneventful match. Steiner wins with a Bulldog. Nothing more to say really.

Backstage, Eric Bischoff is sitting in his office watching Nitro unfold. The nWo walk in, and ask that they're all placed in the Gauntlet for the Gold later tonight. Rena Mero begins flirting with Bischoff in an attempt to persuade him to say yes. Bischoff agrees, excluding Sting, and as long as Mero spends the evening with him as his 'assistant' tonight. Mero sits alongside Bischoff to continue watching Nitro and the nWo leave.

A video recaps last night's pay-per-view, Greed.

Steve Corino defeated Rey Mysterio Jnr.
Corino and Mysterio put on a great match. Corino pulls off a great debut with a big win, knocking Mysterio out with a Super Kick.

Gene Okerlund is standing by with Curt Hennig. Okerlund asks how Hennig is feeling after losing in last night's Steel Cage Match and missing out on the WCW Championship. Hennig says it doesn't matter, because tonight he has another chance to take what's rightfully his, and won't fail this time around.

A promotional video airs for The Big Bang, live on pay-per-view on April 21.

Gauntlet for the Gold; Kevin Nash wins to capture the WCW World Championship.
Nash shockingly wins the WCW Title, fighting off the attempts of the nWo to screw him out of it. With help from Scott Hall and Goldberg, Nash is now a 6-time WCW World Champion.

Rowdy Roddy Piper defeated Curt Hennig with a Sleeper Hold.
Scott Steiner defeated Rowdy Roddy Piper after interference from Curt Hennig.
Scott Steiner defeated Scott Hall with the Steiner Recliner.
Scott Steiner defeated Lex Luger with the Steiner Recliner.
Goldberg defeated Scott Steiner with the Jackhammer.
Goldberg defeated Jeff Jarrett when Jarrett ran off into the crowd.
Goldberg defeated Bam Bam Bigelow with the Jackhammer.
Hollywood Hogan defeated Goldberg with the Atomic Leg Drop, after interference from Scott Steiner and Jeff Jarrett.
Kevin Nash defeated Hollywood Hogan after Jeff Jarrett accidentally hit him with a Steel Chair.

Being the only man left standing after a vicious brawl, Sting loomed over Nash with his baseball bat. Ric Flair ran in behind Sting and hit him with a take down and began hitting him with hard right hands. Security pulled Flair off as Sting and the rest of the nWo escaped. Sting clutched his face as Monday Nitro drew to a close.