WCW Nitro (March 26, 2001) - Night of Champions (Final Episode)

 

Show opens with Vince McMahon, not in Panama City, but at Raw, wherever it is that night. He announces that he's bought WCW, and on it's final broadcast on TNT, he will address the WCW fans, the WCW superstars, as to what WCW's fate is in a special simulcast. He says the fate of WCW is in his hands.

Live from Panama City Beach, FL for the final episode of Nitro, welcomed by Schiavone and Hudson, and speculate as to what Vince may say tonight. Hudson says it's their last show on the Turner Network and they're going out with a bang.

Out comes Flair. He takes offense to Vince's words earlier and he brings up the greats over WCW's history. Someone special to him told him not to go out knowing its the last time that he'll be on TNT or TBS, or go out cry and say he's sorry. He say he's been World Champion 14x for the greatest wrestling company in the world, and repeats the greats, and says they've been equal to other companies in the world, in fact ran neck and neck with Vince. Flair says that in '91, when Vince tried to be an announcer, Vince Sr. was on the board of directors and voted him to be the World Champion. 

He says he's kissed the girls worldwide and made them cry since then, that they were the force, the lived, breathed, sweat and paid the price to be the best, it was never about the boys, it was WWF vs WCW. He says they went out night in and out doing everything to be the best, they're not going anywhere, Vince can't hold them in his hands. He says they bleed and sweat, talks about wrestling an hour, cut himself five times, and how Vince was never in the locker room or on the road. He says his greatest opponent has been Sting, so if they're going out on a high note, he wants Sting tonight. He says its Sting's last chance to be the man. 

Commercial

Macho Man Slim Jim commercial.

Title vs Title Match: Scott Steiner (WCW World Heavyweight Champion) (w/ Midajah) vs Booker T (WCW US Heavyweight Champion)

Steiner is caught with some rights before sending Booker off the ropes, who ducks a clothesline and hits a spin kick for two. Booker shoved into the corner for the chops, rights and boots by Steiner. Booker sent across the ring, Steiner caught with an elbow and a clothesline for two. Steiner sent to the corner for a clothesline, then Booker mounts with rights, only to be hit with a powerbomb for two. Booker tossed out to the floor.

Midajah smacks him in the face and Steiner comes off the apron with an ax handle. Steiner tries to hit him in the head with the pipe but nails the ring post instead then they return to the ring. Booker sent off the ropes into a Steinerline, then an elbow and some pushups. More shots in the corner by Steiner, then catches Booker with the spinning belly to belly for two. Steiner with a surfboard. Booker fights his way out, sends Steiner off the ropes, tries a back drop but gets kneed in the gut. Steiner tries a back suplex but Booker takes him out with a dropkick.

Booker mounts a comeback, counters an Irish whip to set up and connect with the ax kick. Steiner sent off the ropes into a flap jack, then the spinaroonie. Harlem Side Kick connects, then tries the Book End, Steiner counters with a Northern Lights suplex for two. Booker avoids a powerbomb to hit the Book End for the win. (5:13) Surprisingly short but good for what it was.

Commercial

Cut to Vince who's on a couch and on the phone with his lawyer. He gets cheap heat calling Panama City some redneck joint.

3 Count vs Jung Dragons vs Filthy Animals

Winning team challenges for the Cruiserweight Tag Titles later on.

Thankfully one of those matches where one from each team starts the match, instead of just two in the ring. Shannon, Kaz and Kidman will start the match, though everyone runs in to hit moves on each other, with Rey being the last one standing. Rey with a springboard senton to Yang on the floor, then Kaz with a corkscrew moonsault. Crossbody by Evan, then Shannon with a corkscrew from the top, and finally Kidman with a shooting star onto everyone off a springboard.

Rey and Yang back in the ring, Rey with a headscissor, then sent face first off the top turnbuckle. Yang up top hits Yang Time but Kidman saves it. Shannon stops the Kid Krusher to hit the Bottoms Up, but Kaz saves a pin attempt. Shannon set on the top rope and thrown off into a sitout powerbomb for Evan to save. Neckbreaker by Evan on Kaz, then goes up top to hit the 450 splash and Kidman saves it again, then a crossbody to Evan takes them both to the floor. Rey tries a Bronco Buster on Shannon but he gets a knee up to block it. Rey sent off the ropes, sends Shannon to the apron, then pulls him through the ropes. Rey with a leg drop off the top to get the win. (3:42) We're not even a half hour into the show and it feels like things are rushed too much.

Commercial

Back to Vince on the phone talking about some WCW wrestler, and in walks Trish with some champagne. Vince suggests making out instead to really celebrate.

WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Chavo Guerrero, Jr. vs "Sugar" Shane Helms (c) 

Shane is shoved into the corner immediately for boots and rights. Shane with some shots of his own before he's sent across the ring, ducks a clothesline and gets Chavo up for a knee off the face, then a running neckbreaker for two. Chavo sent off the ropes, gets Shane with a boot and clotheslines him to the floor. Back in the ring immediately, back suplex by Chavo, then Shane set on the top rope. Shane blocks a superplex to drop Chavo on his face, before flying off with a sunset flip for two.

Chavo misses a clothesline before sending Shane off the ropes into a clothesline for two. Shane knocked to the apron with a chop, then blocks a suplex back in. Chavo face first in the corner before Shane comes off the top with a crossbody for two. Chavo avoids a scoop slam to deliver a t-bone suplex for two. Shane blocks another suplex , then avoids a slam and a DDT, but caught with a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall. Chavo sent off the ropes, through the legs, sunset flip, Shane drops down for a near fall.

Gutwrench into a backbreaker by Shane. Chavo sent to the corner chest first, avoids the Sugar Smack, then avoids a tilt-a-whirl only to be shoved back in the corner and eat a Sugar Smack. Shane tries the Vertebreaker but Chavo fights out, then Shane avoids the brainbuster to hit the Vertebreaker for the win. (4:39) Another match that should have gotten more time.

Commercial

Booker is... well they say backstage, but they're outside. Anyways, Booker says he has mixed emotions right now, holding two titles at the end of WCW. He says it may be the end of a chapter, but there are many more pages left in the book. He says he'll prove he's the best the business has to offer, and challenges anyone to step up to prove him wrong.

Team Canada come out for their match. Storm wants to be serious for a minute. He says they started their road to the titles last week and the road ends tonight, before calling for the anthem, and it plays into commercial.

Commercial

Back to Vince and Trish who've poured themselves glasses of champagne since we last saw them, and in walks Michael Cole with his frosted tips and mic in hand. Cole says many WCW fans are worried they'll never see their brand of sports entertainment again, and the wrestlers are worried they'll never wrestle again, and he wants Vince's thoughts on this. Vince avoids the questions and threatens Cole with his job, making him leave.

WCW World Tag Team Championships: Team Canada vs Chuck Palumbo & Sean O'Haire (c)

Sean and Storm start the match with some chain wrestling, then Palumbo tags in as Sean takes control. Storm sent off the ropes, tries a crossbody but caught with a fallaway slam. Palumbo with a cheap shot to Awesome allows Storm to hit a superkick. Awesome tags in, Storm with a snapmare, Awesome with a slingshot splash for two. Palumbo sent to the corner, floats over and decks Awesome with rights. Awesome sent across the ring, to the middle rope with a back elbow. Storm back in, chops in the corner until Palumbo catches a dropkick, Storm catapulted into the corner, falling back into a rollup for two, following with a dropkick.

Sean gets the hot tag and in comes Awesome, taking everyone out, catches Awesome with a fireman's slam for two, saved by Storm. Storm and O'Haire are whipped into each other, Storm avoids a clothesline and Awesome hits one on O'Haire, then Storm with a superkick on Palumbo. Palumbo sent off the ropes, ducks a double clothesline, Sean pulls Storm out of the ring, Awesome ducks a clothesline, then tries an Awesome Bomb but Palumbo avoids and hits a Jungle Kick. Seanton Bomb gets the win. (3:21)

Commercial

Shawn Stasiak (w/ Stacy) vs Bam Bam Bigelow

Stacy has to get a tattoo is Bigelow wins.

Pre-Match: Stacy teases everyone with a dance only to deny them, before introducing Stasiak.Stasiak tries to cut a promo but he's immediately interrupted by Bigelow, carrying a case of his tattoo stuff presumably.

Stasiak with a cheap shot right away, Bigelow sent off the ropes, catches a boot and hits a clothesline. Stasiak sent to the corner and avoids a splash, then hits a clothesline. Stasiak up top  misses a crossbody, then a scoop slam by Bigelow. Bigelow up top connects with the headbutt, covers but Stacy's on the apron immediately, then right in the ring. Bigelow tries the Greetings but Stacy saves Stasiak. Knee to the back and hangman's neckbreaker gets Stasiak the win. (1:26) 

Cut immediately back to Vince who's now with Regal, who plugs a Mania shirt. Regal brings up the purchase of WCW and calls it an awful place and wonders if Vince knows what he's doing, but Vince assures him he's fine.

Commercial

Go to footage of DDP from earlier int he day. He quotes Grateful Dead and says it's a strange trip, but loved every second of it. He says he needs to thank all the fans for letting a kid from Jersey Shore become DDP, the guy they said would never make it but did. All it did was prove that if you want it bad enough and are willing to work for it, anything's possible. He says it's not the promoters who decides who's over its the fans, and thanks the WCW fans specifically. He also thanks Kimberly specifically for believing in him living his dream. He says his dream isn't over and it's time to take it to another level.

Video package highlighting the greats who've wrestled for WCW and NWA over the years.

Commercial

Vince is back on the phone just for him to get up and prepare for the simulcast.

WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championships: "Primetime" Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo (c) vs Filthy Animals

Pre-Match: I just need to mention that as this match starts, Schiavone takes offense to Regal's words earlier, saying they had to to do crazy things including "putting Regal's ass over on TV." Schiavone is a gem.

Kidman and Elix start the match. Elix takes Kidman only to be caught with a headscissor. Kidman sent off the ropes, avoids a hip toss, then holds up Elix for a dropkick from Rey. Kidman sent off the ropes, clubbed by Romeo, and a belly to belly from Elix. Romeo tags in, off the top and thrown onto Kidman, before a cheap shot to Rey. Kidman sent to the corner, gets a boot up, then runs into a boot and an alley-oop. Elix back in, Kidman sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, then another, hits a crossbody for two. Elix with a spin kick. Romeo back in, up top and dropkicked midair off a crossbody attempt.

Rey gets the hot tag and in comes Elix. Rey with a springboard senton, then Romeo sent off the ropes into a tornado DDT, cover and Elix saves it. Rey sent off the ropes, popped up onto Romeo's shoulders and headscissors to the floor. Elix in the corner, Rey off Kidman's back with a forearm. Baseball slide to the groin by Kidman and a Bronco Buster by Rey. Romeo returns to clothesline Kidman and knock Rey to the floor. Double-underhook facejan to Kidman and a cover and Rey saves it.

Rey with a powerbomb to Romeo, following with a springboard headbutt, cover and Elix saves it again. Elix with an arm-crossed suplex and a bridge for Kidman to save it. Rey and Romeo go to the floor as Kidman avoids the Play of the Day to hit the Kid Krusher for the win. (4:45) Way too short again, it was good for what it was.

Cut to Sting somewhere in a room full of bats hanging from the ceiling. He says he's back and wouldn't have missed this night for nothing, it's historic. He says he and Flair started it years ago and tonight they'll end it once and for all. As for Sting's future, he says the only thing that's sure about Sting, is nothing's for sure.

Commercial

Vince is walking backstage at Raw with his usual swagger.

Ric Flair vs Sting

Sting is shoved into the corner on a lockup only to easily shove Flair back to the mat. Flair tries two shoulder blocks but he's knocked back down again. Wristlock by Sting until Flair pokes the eyes, taking him to the corner for chops and rights, then Sting with rights and boots, tossing Flair across the ring and following with a dropkick, Flair retreating to the floor to regroup. Back to the ring, another quick exchange, Flair avoids a leap frog and retreats to the corner, before strutting a bit. 

Flair sent off the ropes into a gorilla press slam. Mounted rights in the corner by Sting followed by the Flair flop and a bow from Sting. Low blow by Flair after Sting gets him by the throat, Flair off the ropes with a boot to the ribs. More chops in the corner from Flair, then a snapmare and a knee drop out of the corner. More chops by Flair, then avoids an Irish whip for another snapmare. Flair up top and Sting is up immediately to throw him back to the mat.

Sting with clotheslines, then Flair sent off the ropes, but holds on to avoid a dropkick. Flair gets him int he figure 4, uses the ropes for added leverage. Stings shoulders go down for a pair of two counts, then Sting drags them out of reach of the ropes, managing to reverse the pressure, forcing Flair to let go. Flair with more chops and Sting starts to no-sell. Flair sent to the corner and dropped upside down. Flair set on the top rope for a superplex. Sting gets him in the Deathlock for the win. (7:20) That last bit felt rushed, and it's a shame this was the only match that got any time, but that said, it was simple and fun, and the crowd were totally into it. Good way to go out.

Sting and Flair embrace and shake hands after the match.

Cut suddenly to Raw, Vince has already made his entrance, but I suppose he's not happy with how he was introduced to the ring by Lillian, so they do it all over again. He says that Raw is being broadcast on TNN and TNT for the first time ever, and there's only one way it could have happened. He reminds us he's bought WCW, and his competition, but it's not final. Time Warner can't sell it to anyone else, because they don't know what to do with it, and are pretty much begging Vince to buy it, and though Vince has agreed, and Time Warner has signed the contract, he'll only sign it at WrestleMania, and when Ted Turner walks down the aisle to deliver the contract in front of him.

People wonder how he managed to do it, up against a conglomerate, a billionaire, and he had help along the way, but the truth is he did it all on his own, his effort, his money, so the answer is he became one himself. When Ted walks down the aisle and practically begs him to sign the contract, he says he'll reserve a seat for him and put him in the corner, so he can watch what Vince does to Shane. Some would say he can't do that to his son, but it's about competition, and no one understands that more than he does, you have to grab your competition by the throat and squeeze the life out of it, like he did to WCW, and like he'll do on Sunday. In his corner will be his charming and lovely daughter Steph, his companion Trish, who will wheel down his very own wife, and they'll park her in the other corner to watch what he does to Shane.

Now he wonders what to do with WCW, he could take it and put it on the shelf, he could sit back and watch videos of Hogan doing his ridiculous flexing, he could watch videos of them vowing to bury WWE over and over, and he has a big smile on his face. If they don't put it on the shelf though, he says he can take it and turn it into a huge media conglomerate like WWE is, but if they do, he wonders who should be part of it. So he decides to gauge fan interest on some WCW stars, in the most confusing way possible. He asks them to react when he gives a thumbs up and a thumbs down for each name. Hogan gets boos, even though Hogan's been gone from the company since August; Luger gets boos; Buff Bagwell gets a pretty mixed reaction; Booker T also gets a mixed reaction; Scott Steiner gets a favorable reaction, though some boos; Sting gets a favorable reaction; Goldberg gets a good pop. 

Vince says he had a choice to make and that was come to Cleveland and gloat, or get in his plane, fly to the redneck riviera of Panama City, walk out, and give every WCW star a piece of his mind, assuming they have an airport. He says it's appropriate that their last broadcast is in a beer hall, surrounded by beer-drinking rednecks, and appear to be some in Cleveland. He's come to Cleveland instead of lining every WCW star up, look in their face and fire each and every one of them. He says that's exactly what's going to happen because WCW is going on the shelf, it's going nowhere, it's buried, and will remain buried, just like anyone in the arena or the world who gets in his way. When you attempt to compete with him, including Shane, will be buried.

Vince's music plays to announce Shane's arrival as Vince rants a little more, Vince seems ready to fight, only for Shane to show up on TitanTron in Panama City at Nitro. He says Vince's ego has got the best of him as usual, to the point he wanted to finalize the deal at WrestleMania, had the audacity to have Turner walk down and finalize it himself, and it was the opportunity he was looking for. He says the deal is finalized, and the name on the contract is McMahon, but it reads Shane McMahon, announcing his "purchase" of WCW. He says like WCW kicked Vince's ass in the past it will again, and that's what'll happen at WrestleMania. 

Vince looks on in shock as they plug Rock/Austin vs Kane/Undertaker in the main event of Raw, while Nitro ends with a farewell.