WWF Monday Night Raw: January 29, 1996

Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler are our hosts as we kick off this week's Monday Night Raw with a rematch from In Your House 4 in October between Diesel and The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith. Diesel elbows and knees Smith in the corner. Smith pulls Diesel out of the ring to post his knee.

Yokozuna comes out to join Jim Cornette at ringside. Smith works on Diesel's knee and puts him in a half-Boston Crab. Diesel rolls to the floor with his "injured" knee where Yokozuna throws him back in. Smith takes the padding off the top turnbuckle. 

He goes to smash Diesel's head into the turnbuckle, but Diesel blocks it and smashes Smith's head into the exposed metal turnbuckle. Diesel then gives him Snake Eyes on the exposed turnbuckle. Diesel goes for the cover, but Cornette is distracting the referee as Yokozuna runs in to leg drop Diesel, but Diesel moves out of the way and Yokozuna hits Smith instead. Diesel pins him for the 1-2-3.

Dok Hendrix tells us about the upcoming In Your House PPV. Bret Hart talks about his Steel Cage match with Diesel. Hendrix then responds to a letter sent to the WWF by Turner Broadcasting. It mentions that they find the Billionaire Ted skits funny, they threaten the WWF to take them off the air or else they will sue them.

Now it's on to Billionaire Ted holding a press conference to tell us he is trying to put the WWF out of business. The reporters mention that he put Nitro on the same time as RAW. The Huckster mentions he has a contract where he can not ever lose. Then they show Eric Bischoff's letter on screen.

It's time for The Bodydonnas vs. The Godwinns. Skip got Tom Prichard as his cousin Zip now Henry O. Godwinn has a new cousin Phineas I. Godwinn as the new tag team The Godwinns, led by Hillbilly Jim. The Donnas double-team Henry, but he gets the tag to Phineas, who delivers the Slop Drop on Skip for the 1-2-3.

We are shown highlights of the Vader-Gorilla Monsoon confrontation that ultimately led Vader to attack and send Monsoon to the hospital. Jim Cornette and his attorney Clarence Mason appear as they believe Vader acted in self-defense and if he is not reinstated, they will sue the WWF.

There is an address to send your get well cards to Monsoon. Vince McMahon introduces to us the new interim WWF President: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. Piper rants and raves and picks up McMahon and spins him around to show us how crazy he really is.

There is a promo for a newcomer who is missing his ear. Jerry Lawler calls him "Mankind." This past weekend on Superstars, Hunter Hearst Helmsley attacked Duke "The Dumpster" Droese after his match with his own garbage can and then gave him the Pedigree onto the can. Helmsley then proceeded to cut off Droese's long hair.

It's time for Shawn Michaels to take on Yokozuna. Yokozuna dominates at the start, but Michaels fires back with right hands and sends Yokozuna out of the ring. Owen Hart comes down to the ring as we go to commercial break. Coming back from the break, Yokozuna misses a corner splash and Michaels hits a moonsault for two.

Yokozuna reveres an Irish whip and sends Michaels flipping over the turnbuckle and out to the floor. Owen begins to kick Michaels on the floor and sends him back first into the ring post. Michaels finally comes back into the ring as Yokozuna puts him in a nerve hold. Michaels fights out of it, but runs into an elbow as we go to another commercial.

Yokozuna misses a leg drop as Michaels comes up punching. He gave him two flying forearms to take Yokozuna off his feet. Michaels climbs to the top rope and jumps off but Yokozuna catches him and he runs Michaels into the corner. Jim Cornette distracts the referee as Yokozuna holds Michaels so Owen can run into the ring and give Michaels a spinning heel kick.

However, Michaels got out of the way and Owen nailed Yokozuna. Michaels hit Yokozuna with Sweet Chin Music and pins him for the 1-2-3. Yokozuna yells at Owen as it looks like there will be a split, but Davey Boy Smith and Jim Cornette run into the ring to try and calm everyone down.

Then they realize Michaels is all by himself so they try and go for a 3-on-1 attack. However, Diesel runs into the ring to even things up as Camp Cornette leaves the ring. Cornette then challenged both Michaels and Diesel (Two Dudes with Attitudes) to a match against Smith and Yokozuna next week on RAW if they got the guts.

Next week on RAW, Bret Hart defends the WWF Championship against The Undertaker in a Royal Rumble rematch. Plus, the Two Dudes with Attitudes take on The British Bulldog and Yokozuna.

WCW Monday Nitro: January 29, 1996

We are live for this week's episode of Monday Nitro as they are from the birthplace of professional football and home of the pro football hall of fame, Canton, Ohio. Our hosts are Eric Bischoff, Bobby Heenan, and Steve McMichael as they hype up the Hulk Hogan-Ric Flair match tonight and the return of The Road Warriors.

The opening match is Hogan vs. Flair. Hogan brings his women led by Woman and his wife Linda as Miss Elizabeth comes to the ring. Heenan mentions that Kevin Greene and his Steelers lost Super Bowl XXX to the Dallas Cowboys yesterday. Bischoff and Mongo of course say that Heenan would not say that if Greene was here.

Another main event caliber match on Nitro only on for a few months as WCW really wants to beat the WWF in Monday Night ratings. Flair gets the early start but Hogan no sells most of his attacks and hits him with right hands until Flair clips him in the knee and Flair works on Hogan's knee.

Flair goes to the top but Hogan gets up and slams Flair off the top. Hogan sends Flair flipping into the corner and knocks him off the ring apron with a clothesline. They go to the floor, where Jimmy Hart kicks Hogan on the floor.

Back in the ring, Flair does his knee breaker and puts Hogan in the Figure Four. Hogan reverses the Figure Four. Hogan reverses a suplex and no-sells Flair's chops. Flair nails Hogan with an elbow and then gives him a back suplex. Flair goes for the cover but Hogan kicks out at two and begins to Hulk Up.

Hogan hits Flair with right hands, the big boot, and the leg drop as Hart is on the apron. Hogan chases him to the floor as Arn Anderson runs into the ring, but Hogan hits him. Hart grabs Liz on the outside as Arn grabs one of her high heel shoes.

He gives it to Flair, who hits Hogan in the eye with the heel and pins him for the 1-2-3 as Flair finally pinned Hogan. Savage comes out to help Hogan, as his eye is bleeding. Savage and Liz try to console Hogan.

This week on WCW Saturday Night, Flair takes on Dean Malenko. Lex Luger squares off against Eddie Guerrero. Plus The Public Enemy and Sting will be on there as well.

At the upcoming SuperBrawl PPV, Flair will take on Savage for the WCW World Title in one Steel Cage match and The Giant will take on Hogan in the other. Other matches include Sting and Lex Luger defending their Tag Team Titles against Harlem Heat, One Man Gang defending the U.S. title against Konnan, and The Public Enemy taking on The Nasty Boys.

The Road Warriors return to WCW as they face the new team The Faces of Fear (Meng and The Barbarian). Talk about WWF 1991 The Road Warriors (Legion of Doom) against Haku and The Barbarian.

Animal and Barbarian start things off and shove each other until Barbarian nails him with a boot. Animal reverses an irish whip into a power slam and then hits a jumping elbow. Now it's time for Hawk vs. Meng. Hawk no-sells Meng's piledriver and Hawk hits him with a power slam and a jumping fist drop as The Faces of Fear leave the ring.

Animal is tagged back in and runs into the knee of The Barbarian on the ring apron. Both men work on Animal's formerly injured back that kept him out of wrestling nearly four years. Animal fights out of a camel clutch from Meng but he is sent to the floor, where Barbarian throws him into the guardrail.

Meng hits Animal with a dropkick and chokes him. Barbarian tags in and powerbombs him for two. Animal clotheslines Barbarian and tags in Hawk, who attacks both men. Animal has Barbarian on his shoulders to setup the Doomsday Device, but Meng knocks Hawk off the top rope.

Hawk runs Meng into the ring post as Barbarian nails Animal with a piledriver. He goes for another piledriver, but Hawk jumps off the top rope and nails Barbarian with a flying clothesline and pins Barbarian for the 1-2-3.

Gene Okerlund is in the ring with Kevin Sullivan and Hugh Morris. Sullivan is mad at Arn Anderson as Arn and Brian Pillman comes to the ring. Sullivan told Arn that Arn gave him his word that he would keep Pillman in line and if he doesn't, there will be consequences for the both of them.

Arn yells at Pillman and takes off his belt looking like he's going to whip him. Then Sullivan and Morris attack both men and Sullivan grabs the belt and starts whipping Pillman. Arn hits Morris with the DDT and shoves Sullivan off of Pillman. As Sullivan and Morris walk away, Arn challenges them to a match next week on Nitro.

Sherri lost Col. Rob Parker to Madusa, who basically had an affair with her and called off the wedding. So Sherri is looking for revenge against Madusa. Gene is in the ring with Sherri as Madusa jumps off the top rope and attacks Sherri as Gene runs out of the ring.

They go to the floor where Madusa sends Sherri into the ring steps and suplexes her on the floor. Back in the ring, Sherri kicks her and legdrops Madusa in the crotch. Sherri goes to the top, but Madusa tries to slam her off the top rope, but Sherri counters that into a small package for the 1-2-3. Madusa attacks her after the match and hits her with a German Suplex.

It's time for the main event with Randy Savage defending his WCW World Heavyweight Championship against The Giant. Savage comes through the crowd to attack Giant as Ric Flair comes out to attack Savage as the referee throws the match out.

The two practically destroy Savage by double-teaming him with Flair hitting Savage with a steel chair. They knew Hulk Hogan was injured and Sting and Lex Luger aren't in the building so they are taking this time to destroy Savage. Giant Chokeslams Savage.

Finally, Hogan came down as he is wearing a bandage on his injured eye and hits The Giant and other members of The Dungeon of Doom with steel chairs to save Savage. Flair and Giant head over to the announce booth where Eric Bischoff and Steve McMichael leave, leaving just Heenan with Flair and Giant.

Flair and The Giant say they will win their respective cage matches at SuperBrawl VI. Flair lets out one last "WOOOOO!" and we are out.

Woman Returns to WCW; Elizabeth Reunites with Macho Man and Hogan; Road Warriors Return to WCW as Animal is Healthy Once Again; Clash Draws Its Highest Rating Ever; WCW Responds to WWF Skits

Woman (Nancy Sullivan wife of Kevin Sullivan) returned to WCW on the January 22, 1996 episode of WCW Monday Nitro in Macho Man Randy Savage's corner as Savage defeated Ric Flair to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Miss Elizabeth reunited with her ex-husband Savage as she was in his and Hulk Hogan's corner the next night at Clash of the Champions as she made her WCW debut.

The Road Warriors reunited at the Clash as Animal is now fully healthy and able to wrestle again. They challenged WCW World Tag Team Champions Sting and Lex Luger.

This episode of the Clash of the Champions drew a 4.5 rating making it the highest rated Clash in the promotion's history and it's one of the most watched wrestling shows ever on WTBS.

In response to the recent Billionaire Ted WWF skits, WCW responded by airing commercial bumpers on its weekend shows featuring former WCW wrestlers that are now current WWF wrestlers The Undertaker (formerly "Mean" Mark Callous), Cactus Jack, and Vader losing matches to established WCW stars with the tagline WCW: Where the Big Boys Play!

ECW Hardcore TV: January 23, 1996

We kick off this week's edition of ECW Hardcore TV with Rob Van Dam making his ECW debut against Axl Rotten. Van Dam used to be "Robbie V" in a brief time in WCW a few years ago. Axl avoids some kicks from Van Dam and stalls a lot to jaw with the fans.

Van Dam reverses an Irish Whip, splits down, does a somersault into an arm drag. Van Dam does some cool things like a back handspring shoulder block and a springboard somersault onto Axl. Van Dam backflips over a backdrop and goes for a spin kick, but misses as Axl gives him a T-Bone Tazplex. Axl then mocks Van Dam with some of Van Dam's Martial Arts poses.

Axl works over Van Dam until going up top but missed a flying splash. Van Dam grabs his leg and does a leg sweep. Van Dam hits him with a flying splash off the top rope but only for two. Axl goes outside as Van Dam somersaults onto him on the floor.

Back in the ring, Van Dam does a spinning heel kick off the top rope and a standing moonsault for two. Van Dam powerslams Axl and then does a killer split-legged moonsault off the top rope for the 1-2-3 in his ECW debut.

There was a highlight package shown of Shane Douglas returning to ECW, Francine being injured at the hands of The Eliminators, Cactus Jack and Mikey Whipwreck becoming ECW World Tag Team Champions and Raven costing Mikey the ECW TV Title, the Taz-911 feud, and Beulah's surprise announcement that she was pregnant with Tommy Dreamer's baby.

There was an announcement of Dreamer teaming with a partner of his choice to take on Cactus and Mikey for the tag team titles the following Saturday at the ECW Arena. It appears to be Beulah telling Tommy that she's loved him since she was 10 years old.

Taz with Bill Alfonso wearing a Dallas Cowboys jersey in Philadelphia, which is a death wish, taking on Hack Myers. Taz dominates with a T-Bone Tazplex, a Head and Arm Tazplex, and a German Tazplex as he put him in the Tazmission, forcing Myers to tap out. Taz then cut a quick promo before leaving.

Sabu takes on Stevie Richards as we join the match in progress with Sabu powerbombing him onto the floor. Sabu missed a somersault onto Richards through a table. The Blue Meanie interferes as Paul E. Dangerously comes out and attacks Meanie. Stevie hits a Steviekick on Sabu but only gets two. Sabu hits the Arabian Facebuster off the top rope for the 1-2-3.

We are shown highlights of The Sandman defending his ECW World Heavyweight Championship against Konnan. The crowd is chasing "Bye Bye Konnan" as he's going to WCW. Joey Styles mocks Steve Austin saying Sandman did not buy this belt referencing Austin being the "Million Dollar Champion" in the WWF.

Both men caned the hell out of each other and both were knocked out. The ref counted 10 as Woman got Sandman up before the count and won the match via knockout.

The show ends with the Pulp Fiction promos with Tommy Dreamer & Beulah, Raven, Stevie Richards, and The Blue Meanie, Taz & Bill Alfonso, The Pit Bulls & Francine, The Eliminators, Dreamer again, and JT Smith.

We close the show out with Shane Douglas interrupting Dreamer's promo as he offers himself to be Dreamer's partner against Cactus Jack and Mikey Whipwreck due to both men's hatred of Cactus. Dreamer accepts and the only stipulation being whoever wins a singles title first the other would get the first title shot.

WCW Clash of the Champions XXXII

We are live from Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas for Clash of the Champions XXXII. We are shown was transpired last night on Nitro where Randy "Macho Man" Savage beat Ric Flair to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Savage seemed upset with Hulk Hogan for celebrating like he won the title. Hogan wants a title shot.

Sting and Lex Luger defeated the Harlem Heat to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship when Luger knocked Booker T out with a roll of quarters. They show us a video of the upcoming matches for the Clash as well as the wedding between Sherri and Col. Rob Parker.

Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan are our hosts and they hype up the situation between Savage and Hogan. Heenan tells us that the surprise that Savage and Hogan are bringing tonight is Miss Elizabeth, who is returning to professional wrestling in nearly four years, as well as Kevin Greene being in their corner as well. He also drops the bombshell that The Road Warriors are reunited and will be here tonight.

Gene Okerlund is shown standing outside the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas for the marriage between Col. Rob Parker and Sherri.

Our opening match is The Nasty Boys and Public Enemy. Both these teams spend most of the time brawling on the floor. Jerry Saggs brings a table into the ring and sets it up in the corner. Saggs tries to throw Rocco Rock through the table, but Rock counters with a bulldog on Saggs through the table. Rock moonsaults Brian Knobbs for two.

Saggs then piledrives Johnny Grunge. The Nastys bring in a table to the ring and look to splash Grunge through it as the referee calls for the bell as both teams were disqualified. Rock moonsaults Knobbs on the table but the table does not break. Saggs comes in and hits both members of PE with pieces of the table. Saggs then throws the table at Grunge who is leaving.

Eric Bischoff is standing in the aisle where he is interviewing Ric Flair, The Giant, and Jimmy Hart. Flair says he does not care about the title loss last night because Randy Savage has to face both he and The Giant in the ring. The Giant then promises to rid the wrestling world of both Savage and Hulk Hogan.

Next up Alex Wright takes on Dean Malenko. They show us highlights of last Saturday on WCW Saturday Night where Malenko put Wright in the Texas Cloverleaf and refused to let go of the hold. There is a rematch where Wright looks like he means business. He puts Malenko in a side headlock takedown, but Malenko puts him in the head scissors where Wright kicks out and they reverse the same procedure.

Wright counters out of a back suplex and into a series of roll ups and near pinfalls. Wright then hits Malenko with a dropkick and a head scissors takedown. Wright tries to imitate Owen Hart by going for the Enziguri, but Malenko ducked it and dropped an elbow on Wright's knee. Malenko then dropkicks Wright's knee and wraps his leg around the ring post.

Malenko puts Wright in a single leg lock as Wright grabs the ropes to break the hold. Wright hits Malenko with an elbow out of the corner and jumps to the middle rope and hits Malenko with a cross body for two. Malenko hits a back suplex and goes to the top rope.

However, Wright dropkicks Malenko and hits Wright with a superplex off the top rope. He gives Malenko a bridging German suplex for two. Wright goes for a moonsault kick off the corner, but Malenko dropkicks him in the knee. Malenko rolls up Wright for the 1-2-3.

It's supposed to be Kevin Sullivan against Disco Inferno, but since Disco is over at the Col. Rob Parker/Sherri wedding, he is not there. Instead, an Elvis impersonator comes out and gives Sullivan a signing telegram telling him Disco won't be there. Sullivan beats up Elvis and gives him the Double Stomp.

Gene Okerlund is in front of the Little White Chapel for the wedding as Bunkhouse Buck and Dick Slater show up. Then we are shown Parker losing money over at the craps table.

Eric Bischoff calls out new WCW World Tag Team Champions Sting and Lex Luger for an interview. Bischoff mentions they won the titles controversially which Luger disagrees and then Bischoff says they are the most dominant tag team if Luger and Sting can stay together.

Now out comes Hawk and Animal as The Road Warriors have reunited and returned to WCW. Animal disagrees with Bischoff as he tells him The Road Warriors are the most dominant tag team which was like four years ago. They immediately want a title match. Sting says sure while Luger does not and names other teams he is giving a title shot to before the Warriors. Hawk then threatens Luger.

We are shown the injured Paul Orndorff sitting on a bench with a neck brace on. He says his career was going well until his career was over at the hands of Brian Pillman and the rest of the Four Horsemen. We are shown Orndorff being attacked by the Horsemen and suffering a career-ending neck injury. He mentions he turned down an offer to join the Horsemen back in the day and threatens them by telling them to watch their backs.

Back to the chapel where Col. Rob Parker finally arrived after gambling. He asks Gene Okerlund if he can borrow $50 for the wedding since he lost all his money gambling. Parker then answers his cell phone as Sherri is asking him where he is. He tells her not to worry and that everything is fine.

It's time for Brian Pillman vs. Eddie Guerrero. Pillman stalls as he is trying to get under Guerrero and the fans' skins and it's working very well. Guerrero shoves Pillman down and he rolls to the floor where he roughs up Tony Schiavone a little bit.

He comes back into the ring where Guerrero puts him in a headlock. Guerrero knocks Pillman down with a shoulder block and then dropkicks him, sending Pillman back to the floor. Pillman then grabs Bobby Heenan's jacket where Heenan yells "What the f--- are you doing?" to Pillman as Pillman is crazy as hell. Heenan regains his composure and apologizes for letting profanity slip live on TV.

Pillman comes back into the ring as he offers his hand to Guerrero, but Guerrero doesn't fall for it and kicks and chops Pillman. He then gives him a tilt-a-whirl back breaker for two. Pillman suckers Guerrero into the corner where he pokes him in the eye and Pillman bites and chokes Guerrero in the corner. He then slaps Guerrero in the face. He gives Guerrero a snap mare and a chinlock.

Guerrero elbows him and runs to the ropes and drops Pillman with a dropkick. Guerrero goes again to the ropes as Pillman lifts him in the air and Guerrero again hits him with a dropkick. Guerrero nails Pillman with a Tornado DDT out of the middle turnbuckle for two. After several near falls, both men run to the ropes and hit each other with simultaneous cross bodies, but Pillman lands on top for Guerrero for the 1-2-3.

Eric Bischoff brings out Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Kevin Greene. Hogan rips Ric Flair and The Giant and asks Greene what he would do. Greene says he will put his pads on and tackle them down like he plans on doing to the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday in Super Bowl XXX. The three then debate which one will take Miss Elizabeth out on the town. No comment from me.

Sting and Lex Luger defend their newly won WCW World Tag Team Championships against The Blue Bloods. Sting starts off with Lord Steven Regal as the two jaw each other. Sting takes it to Regal as he hits him with gorilla press slams as Regal tags in "Earl" Robert Eaton. Sting tags in Luger and Eaton sends Luger to the floor.

Luger backdrops Eaton and floor and nails him with the running forearm smash. He sends Eaton back into the ring as he tags in Regal. Luger does his pectoral taunt and backs Regal into the corner. Regal then thumbs Luger in the eyes and hits him with several European uppercuts. The two double-team Luger as Eaton gives Luger a swinging neckbreaker and Regal hits an elbow drop for two.

Regal then gives him a knee drop to the head again for two. He tags Eaton in and Eaton holds Luger for Regal to get some shots in on him. Eaton hits Luger with a flying knee drop off the top rope, but doesn't go for the cover. Instead, he tags Regal who puts Luger in his Regal Stretch (STF), but Sting runs in to break it up.

Eaton tags in again and again goes to the top and flies to Luger, but Luger catches him and then drops him. The two then hit head-to-head and knock each other out. Luger finally tags in Sting who hits both men with right hands. Regal gives Sting a thumb to the eyes and Luger is sent to the outside.

Eaton goes for a flying double axe handle off the top rope, but misses Sting and accidentally hits Regal. Sting puts Eaton in the Scorpion Death Lock and Eaton gives up as Sting and Luger retain the tag team titles.

Back to the chapel where Sherri arrives as the Harlem Heat don't like the food. Col. Rob Parker tells her about gambling all his money away and that Bunkhouse Buck and Dick Slater lost the key to the trailer as she begins to cry. Eric Bischoff tells us about CompuServe as Jimmy Hart is shown talking to people online.

Bischoff calls out Brian Pillman for an interview. Pillman threatens to say the "7 words you can't say on TV." He then rips Kevin Sullivan and then says he isn't Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, or Sting, he instead is Brian Pillman.

Next up is Mexican Heavyweight Champion Konnan defending his title against Psichosis. Mike Tenay joins Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan at ringside to call the match and inform us about the Cruiserweights. Konnan quickly takes Psichosis to the outside. Konnan hits him with a couple of German Suplexes back in the ring.

The two trade submission holds and Psichosis nails Konnan with a spinning heel kick as Tenay mentions to us that Konnan defeated Jake "The Snake" Roberts in a Hair vs. Hair match in Mexico. Konnan responds with some arm drags, a dropkick to the knee, and a DDT on Psichosis.

Konnan backdrops him over the top rope, but Psichosis stays on the ring apron. He then nails Konnan with a missile dropkick to send Konnan to the floor and then dives on Konnan on the floor. Back in the ring, Konnan has the upper hand and hits Psichosis with a German Superplex off the top rope. Konnan then locks him in a modified standing figure four as Psichosis gives up, giving Konnan the submission win.

We are back at the chapel for the final time as the wedding is about to happen. Gene Okerlund is walking with Sherri and asks her about the phone call she made to Col. Rob Parker earlier, but she doesn't remember calling him. Disco Inferno is dancing as Sherri walking down to the drive-thru window as they are getting married in a drive-thru chapel.

Just before they are about to say "I do", Madusa jumps out of the trailer and attacks Sherri as it looks as if Parker is having an affair with Madusa. Sherri and Madusa are brawling as Parker, the Harlem Heat, and Dick Slater are trying to separate the two women. The wedding is off.

Now it's time for the main event with Michael Buffer in the ring to do the introduction. The Giant and Ric Flair with Jimmy Hart come down first. Now it's time for Hulk Hogan and new WCW World Heavyweight Champion Randy Savage with Kevin Greene in their corner to come to the ring with the same women as they brought last night led by Woman. Only this time, Miss Elizabeth comes out and walks them to the ring.

Flair and Savage start off the match as Flair eggs on Greene on the outside. Greene takes his shirt off and jumps into the ring and goes into his three-point stance as Flair wisely bails from the ring. Finally, the match starts with Flair and Savage.

Flair hits Savage with some chops in the corner before Savage fights back with a backdrop and some clotheslines. Savage then sends Flair into the corner, where he does his flip to the ring apron. There he runs into a boot from Hulk Hogan. Back in the ring, Flair sucks Savage into the corner and chops him.

Savage reverses a hip toss into a backslide for two. After Savage and Hogan both punch Flair, he stumbles into the corner and tags The Giant. Hogan wants to be tagged in so Savage tags him in. Giant shoves Hogan into a corner and does it again.

Hogan side headlocks Giant. Giant throws Hogan into the the ropes and Hogan tries to shoulder block him, but bounces right off. He tries to bodyslam Giant, but can't. Giant slams Hogan and attacks him. Kevin Green and Elizabeth are cheering Hogan on.

Giant gives Hogan a headbutt to the midsection. He gives him a backbreaker and keeps Hogan on his knee. He goes for an elbow off the ropes, but Hogan moves out of the way and Giant misses. Hogan then picks up Giant and bodyslams him.

Hogan goes down and tries to get to Savage. Giant tags in Flair and Flair gives Hogan a standing vertical suplex, but Hogan no sells it and Hulks Up. Hogan gives Flair a backdrop and punches both Flair and The Giant.

Flair pokes Hogan in the eye and throws him into the ropes, where The Giant pulls the ropes down and sends Hogan to the outside as Jimmy Hart was distracting the referee. Giant throws Hogan into the guardrail and back into the ring.

Flair chops Hogan and Hogan no sells. Flair elbows Hogan and Flair goes to the top rope, but Hogan throws him off the top. Hogan tags in Savage as Savage hits Flair with a Flying Double Axe Handle off the top rope.

Hogan clotheslines The Giant to the floor. Savage climbs the top rope and hits Flair with the Flying Elbow Drop as Hart again is on the ring apron distracting the ref. Savage attacks Hart while Flair pulls out the brass knuckles. Flair hits Savage with the brass knuckles and pins him for the 1-2-3.

Zodiac and Brian Pillman rush to the ring, but are taken out by Hogan and Kevin Greene. Hogan is talking with Savage as we are out of time as the show comes to a close.

WCW Monday Nitro: January 22, 1996

We are live from Las Vegas for this week's episode of Monday Nitro, one night before Clash of the Champions also from Las Vegas. Our hosts Eric Bischoff, Bobby Heenan, and Steve McMichael talk about the two championship matches tonight. They mention Savage is injured but will still compete in his World Title match when Konnan randomly appears and talks about his match with Psicosis.

The WCW World Heavyweight Championship match between Savage and the champ Ric Flair kicks off our show surprisingly. Savage comes to the ring with several women including Hulk Hogan's real life wife Linda and Woman, who is returning to WCW. Hogan meets Savage in the aisle way to wish Savage good luck and wants the first title shot when Savage wins.

Flair runs over to Woman to dance with her until she slaps him in the face. Savage attacks Flair with right hands and sends him to the guard rail. Flair comes back with a chop and sends him into the railing. Both come back into the ring where Savage nails him with a clothesline for two. The women head back to the locker room.

Eric Bischoff tells us about the secret weapon The Mega Powers have for the Clash tomorrow night and it's Miss Elizabeth, Savage's ex-wife. He also mentions Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Kevin Greene will be at the Clash tomorrow to watch Hogan and Savage's backs.

Flair elbows Savage and hits him with chops and right hands and throws Savage over the top rope with Jimmy Hart distracting him. Why not let the ref see that Jimmy? Flair can get DQ'd and keep the title. Some manager you are!! Hart kicks Savage on the floor. Flair chops Savage over the guard railing. Savage backdrops Flair on the floor. He then misses a flying double axe handle and crashes into the guardrail as we go to commercial break.

Savage fights back after the break and throws Flair into the corner as Flair does his flip out of the ring and to the floor. Savage throws him into the railing. Back in the ring, Flair begs off Savage but kicks him the gut and Flair falls face first for some reason. Flair goes for a hip toss, but Savage counters that into a backslide for two.

Savage grabs Flair in a side headlock but Flair picks him up and slams Savage's knee onto his for the kneebreaker. Flair then puts Savage in the Figure Four as Flair grabs the ropes. The referee sees this and breaks the hold. Flair pushes the ref who pushes Flair right back.

Flair hits a kneedrop on Savage and then begins to climb the top rope. However, Savage grabs him and throws him off the top. Savage hits Flair with two flying double axe handles off the top as Jimmy Hart distracts the ref on the ring apron.

Arn Anderson runs into the ring with the brass knuckles. Flair holds Savage and Savage moves out of the way and Arn nails Flair with the knuckles by accident. Savage climbs to the top to hit Flair with the Flying Elbow Drop as the bell sounds for some reason. Savage covers Flair for the 1-2-3 to win back the WCW World Heavyweight Championship for the second time.

Gene Okerlund interviews Savage in the ring about his title win. Hogan is also in the ring celebrating as if he won the title himself. Hogan wants the first title shot. Savage says he'll gladly do so when Hogan actually becomes the #1 contender. Hogan says he'll do whatever it takes. Savage says when the match does happen, he wants Hogan to shake his hand after the match after he beats him.

Brian Pillman takes on Dean Malenko next. Pillman carries a cane to the ring with him. Malenko goes with a reverse waist-lock only for Pillman to reverse and hit him with chops and punches. Malenko puts him in a hammerlock. Pillman elbow Malenko and laughs about it. Malenko responds with a dropkick and goes for the Texas Cloverleaf but Pillman rolls to the outside to jaw with the crowd.

Malenko backs Pillman into a corner and Pillman cheapshots Malenko with a right-hand punch. Pillman rubs Malenko's face into the mat and hits him with a vertical suplex for two. Pillman slaps Malenko in the face as Malenko fights back with right hands and a clothesline. Malenko then delivers a brain buster and swinging neckbreaker for two.

Pillman is in the corner begging like Ric Flair, but hits Malenko with a knee and climbs to the second rope and delivers a DDT on Malenko but Pillman doesn't cover him. Pillman delivers a chop but Malenko comes back with a double underhook powerbomb for two. The two are on the outside and Pillman sends Malenko to the guardrail.

Pillman goes for another second rope DDT, but Malenko counters into a gut buster. He then puts Pillman in a leg/ankle submission but Pillman goes to the ropes to break the hold. Malenko hits Pillman, who is on the ring apron, but Malenko's leg gets caught in the ropes and Pillman punches him to knock him down. Pillman pins him for the 1-2-3 even though Malenko's foot was trapped in the ropes in a stupid finish.

This Saturday on WCW Saturday Night, Sting and Lex Luger will be in action. WCW TV Champion Johnny B. Badd takes on Meng. The Harlem Heat take on The American Males and Ric Flair, fresh off losing the WCW World Title to Randy Savage takes on Alex Wright.

They hype up the Sherri/Col. Rob Parker wedding tomorrow at Clash of the Champions. WCW World Tag Team Champions The Harlem Heat defend the titles against Sting and Luger. This is a rematch from last Saturday Night on WCW Sat. Night as Sting and Luger looked to have won the titles as Sting has Booker T locked in the Scorpion Death Lock but Luger threw Stevie Ray over the top rope to get them DQ'd.

Luger starts off with Ray as both trade attacks. Luger hits Ray with the flying forearm for two. Luger knocks Booker off the ring apron. Ray soon gets the tag to Booker and they double-team him, but Luger hits both with a double clothesline.Sting gets the tag and hits both men with Stinger Splashes twice.Sting goes for the Scorpion Death Lock on Ray but Booker hits Sting in the back of the head with a scissors kick for two.

The Harlem Heat double-team Sting for a while. They hit him with a double suplex and go for the Harlem Hangover, but Sting moves out of the way. Sting gets the tag on Luger, but the referee didn't see it so he is sent back to his corner. Jimmy Hart comes down and hands something to Luger.

Both Sting and Booker knock each other out with a double cross body. Sting gets to his feet first and tags in Luger. Luger punches Booker with the object Hart gave him which appear to be a roll of quarters as he knocks Booker out. Luger pins him for the 1-2-3 as Luger and Sting are new WCW World Tag Team Champions.

Coming up after Nitro, there will be a three-hour special highlighting the greatest moments of the first 29 Super Bowls as Super Bowl is this Sunday!!! This should be awesome!! Then after that, Burt Reynolds puts on his football helmet in the movie Semi-Tough.

Hulk Hogan battles the One Man Gang. I'm sure many didn't realize Gang was the U.S. Heavyweight Champion after he beat Kensuke Sasaki after the Starrcade show. This is also a non-title match. Hogan takes it to Gang until Gang gets the upper hand. When he hits Hogan with the 747 Splash, Hogan "Hulks Up" and body slams Gang and hits him with the leg drop for the 1-2-3.

After the match, The Dungeon of Doom and Four Horsemen run into the ring to attack Hogan until Randy Savage runs in to make the save. The Giant runs in to attack Hogan only to be stopped by Zodiac who again says "Noooo!"

Gene Okerlund joins Hogan and Savage in the ring. Hogan and Savage plans on having their World Title match. They also talk about their tag team match tomorrow night and having Miss Elizabeth and Kevin Green in their corner.

WWF Monday Night Raw: January 22, 1996

Sunny opens the show by still playing pool wearing lingerie saying viewer discretion is advised.

We are shown highlights of last night's Royal Rumble where Duke "The Dumpster" Droese defeating Hunter Hearst Helmsley by DQ to enter the Royal Rumble 30th while Helmsley had to enter first. Jeff Jarrett knocked Ahmed Johnson out with a guitar shot to the head off the top rope.

The Smokin' Gunns defeated The Bodydonnas to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship despite Sunny's best attempts to distract the Gunns. Goldust introduced to the world a beautiful and mysterious blonde woman and The 1-2-3 Kid gave Razor Ramon a spinning heel kick from the top rope to help Goldust beat Razor to become the new Intercontinental Champion.

Shawn Michaels made his glorious return to the ring for the first time since collapsing two months ago and superkicked his best friend Diesel over the top rope to win the Royal Rumble for the second year in a row.

In the WWF Championship match, The Undertaker had Bret Hart beat for the title but Diesel pulled the referee out of the ring before he counted three and got Bret DQ'd but Bret retained the title. Bret will defend the title against Diesel in a Steel Cage match at the upcoming In Your House PPV.

Now it's time for RAW as we are live from Stockton, CA with your hosts Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler. We kick off tonight's RAW with newcomer Vader taking on Savio Vega as Vader's manager Jim Cornette gives Vader a long introduction.

Vader beats on Vega in the corner and gives him an avalanche in the corner and then goes up to the second rope for a unique splash that he calls the "Vader Bomb" for the 1-2-3 for an impressive RAW debut. Vader continues to attack Vega after the match as he hits him with another Vader bomb as referees step in and try to stop him.

Vader then goes nuts attacking the refs. He headbutts one twice as Cornette tries to calm him down only to be shoved to the ground. Vader then slaps and powerbombs another ref. Just like last night at the Royal Rumble, WWF President Gorilla Monsoon comes to the ring to confront Vader to try and stop him.

He gets in Vader's face and then calls for the ring announcer who tells us that Vader has been suspended indefinitely. Vader is furious as he gets in Monsoon's face. Cornette pleads with Vader to stop but Vader ignores him as he shoves Monsoon twice. Monsoon responds with chops to Vader.

As Monsoon turns his back and heads to the corner, big mistake as Vader avalanches him in the corner. Gorilla is no midget but Vader certainly towers him. Vader then climbs up to the second turnbuckle and hits Monsoon with the Vader Bomb as Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon come to help Monsoon, but it was too little too late.

We come back from commercial to see what just transpired with Vader attacking and injuring Monsoon. Monsoon was loaded onto a stretcher. Vader is shown backstage in a fit of rage throwing garbage cans and grabbing Cornette by the neck. Vader declares war on everyone in the WWF especially Vince McMahon and the "guy sitting next to him."

Hunter Hearst Helmsley comes to the ring with a beautiful young lady escorting him to the ring. He will take on Razor Ramon. As the match is going on, The 1-2-3 Kid and Ted DiBiase appear on the split screen where they call Razor a "cry baby" and are holding a giant diaper and baby bottle.

Razor attacks Helmsley at the start as he was angry over losing the Intercontinental Title to Goldust last night thanks to The Kid. Helmsley soon gets the upper hand and beats on Razor. Helmsley drops Razor crotch first on the top rope and continues to attack him with punches and clotheslines.

Meanwhile, The Kid comes to the ring with a baby bottle and shoves it in Razor's mouth. Razor becomes angry and gets up and punches Helmsley down and then chases after The Kid to give Helmsley the count out victory. Razor comes back into the ring to punch Helmsley some more and attempts to put him into the Razor's Edge, but Helmsley escapes and runs to the back with his lady friend.

It's time for the final installment of Billionaire Ted's Wrasslin' War Room. Billionaire Ted is sick of stealing every idea from the WWF and wants original ideas. Scheme Gene says he has one but it's too hot for TV and you have to call the hotline.

Dok Hendrix is seen with a band playing as Vince McMahon calls Royal Rumble winner Shawn Michaels to the ring for an interview. Michaels says he checked off winning the Royal Rumble on his list and is now waiting for WrestleMania XII.

Michaels says he wants a piece of Owen Hart after Owen kept taking credit for taking Michaels out. Michaels says it was the nine men in Syracuse that took him out not Owen. Michaels keeps referring to "The Kliq" as his fanbase.

Jim Cornette comes out and says Owen already beat him so he has no reason to face Michaels. Michaels then says he'll do anything to get in the ring with Owen. Cornette then says Owen will wrestle only if Michaels puts his WWF Championship match at WrestleMania XII.

Michaels says he said 'anything' and he means it. He then asks "The Kliq" if he should put his WrestleMania title shot on the line against Owen. After a positive crowd reaction, Michaels says he accepts as Michaels will take on Owen at In Your House with the WrestleMania title shot on the line. Michaels then throws Cornette out of the ring.

It's time for WWF Champion Bret Hart to take on new WWF Intercontinental Champion Goldust with neither title on the line. As Goldust is walking to the ring with Marlena as she is now known as, Goldust and Marlena appear on the split screen for prerecorded comments to tell us his win last night at the Royal Rumble was Oscar worthy and he quotes a movie.

The match starts but we cut to commercials shortly after. After we come back, Goldust has Hart in a hammerlock but Hart uses his momentum to send Goldust to the floor. Then we go to another commercial. We come back to see Goldust work on Hart's arm. Hart fights back and sends Goldust to the floor.

Goldust has had enough and leaves the ring with Marlena. However, Razor Ramon appears and hits Goldust and sends him back into the ring as we go to yet another commercial!! After the break, Hart hits Goldust with a flying clothesline off the top rope. Then he gives him the Side Russian legsweep and then locks Goldust into the Sharpshooter as Goldust gives up giving Hart the win.

After the match, Vince McMahon interviews Hart asking him about his upcoming Steel Cage match with Diesel at In Your House. Hart says he's upset at Diesel for robbing the fans of what was a great match even though Diesel helped you retain the title.

Hart goes on to say he wants to end the feud with Diesel in the cage and is sick of Diesel's constant excuses and whining about the 'establishment' wanted him to be more of a 'corporate' champion and will beat him in the cage. Hart then also says he'll give The Undertaker a rematch any time.

Next week on RAW, Shawn Michaels takes on Yokozuna and Diesel fights The British Bulldog. Also, we will get a report on the condition of WWF President Gorilla Monsoon and Billionaire Ted will hold a press conference to respond to all the recent Billionaire Ted skits.

WWF Royal Rumble

Our hosts for the 1996 Royal Rumble from Fresno, CA are Vince McMahon and Mr. Perfect.

First we have a Free For All match before the PPV between Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Duke "The Dumpster" Droese with the winner entering the Royal Rumble #30 and the loser #1. I'd rather not see who gets #1 or #30 as I want that to be a surprise. Droese tries to go for the Trash Compactor, but Helmsley slips out of it.

Helmsley goes for a back suplex, but Droese reverses and hits a back suplex of his own. Helmsley begs in the corner as the ref tries to get Droese off of him. Helmsley grabs a pair of brass knuckles and hits Droese without the referee seeing him and he pins Droese 1-2-3 and gets the #30 spot in the Royal Rumble.

However, WWF President Gorilla Monsoon comes down and shows the ref what transpired and the ref reverses his decision, giving Droese the win by disqualification and the #30 spot in the Royal Rumble while Helmsley now has to enter the Royal Rumble first. Now it's time for the Royal Rumble PPV.

The opening match of the Royal Rumble is Jeff Jarrett vs. Ahmed Johnson. Johnson was angry at Jarrett for attacking him last month at In Your House and chases after him. Jarrett attacks Johnson, but Johnson no-sells Jarrett's attacks anytime Jarrett mounts any offense.

Johnson hits Jarrett with the Spinebuster and goes up top for a flying splash but misses. Jarrett locks in the Figure Four but Johnson gets out of it. Jarrett has enough as he grabs his guitar and climbs the top rope and smashes the guitar on Johnson's head on his way down to get disqualified.

In the back, The Smokin' Gunns cut a promo about their upcoming title defense against The Bodydonnas. Todd Pettengill interviews "Big Daddy Cool" Diesel.

It's time for the WWF Tag Team Championship match between The Smokin' Gunns and The Bodydonnas with the ever so hot Sunny in their corner. Billy Gunn misses a cross body on Skip that sends him to the floor. The Donnas flip Billy into the ring from the apron. They try to do the same to Bart, but Bart manages to flip them over the top rope and out of the ring. Billy then flips over the top rope onto the Donnas on the floor.

With the Donnas in trouble, Sunny would distract the Gunns with her hotness. Skip runs Billy into Sunny, who was on the ring apron and she was knocked off the apron and onto the floor. Billy goes to check on her but it was a setup as the Donnas attacked him and she was fine.

The Donnas double-team Billy and even hit him with a double flapjack for two. Billy soon gets the tag to Bart and he comes in and attacks both Donnas. The Gunns hit Zip with the Sidewinder, but Sunny has the ref distracted when Bart covers him. Skip nails Bart and covers him but only for two. They try to double suplex Bart, but Billy takes out Zip as Bart rolls Skip in an inside cradle for the 1-2-3 to retain the titles.

It's time for yet another episode of Billionaire Ted's Wrasslin' War Room. The Huckster and the Nacho Man both hate the New Generation. Next they show us a highlight package of the Razor Ramon-Goldust feud where Goldust was constantly flirting and hitting on Razor and Razor beating him up last Monday on RAW.

Goldust is challenging Razor for his Intercontinental Championship and possibly his ass but low and behold, what do I see here? Some really hot looking blonde hair chick wearing a long gold dress walking with Goldust?! I thought he was a ferry or it was all an act! This woman who I can't take my eyes off sits at ringside in a director's chair smoking a cigar.

Goldust fondles himself in front of Razor so Razor throws the toothpick at him. The two lock up and anytime Goldust gets Razor in a hold, he feels Razor up. The two slap each other and Razor slapped him on the butt. Once he sees Goldust enjoys it, he decks Goldust and sends him to the floor.

He chases Goldust on the floor, but he hides behind the hot woman and goes back into the ring, where he blows Razor a kiss. Razor decks him with a clothesline and again sends him to the floor. Goldust again hides behind the woman. Razor picks her up and moves her out of the way only for Goldust to nail him from behind and throws him into the steps.

Back in the ring, Goldust hits him with a bulldog for two. He hit him with a slingshot suplex again for two. The woman blew gold dust in Razor's eyes as Goldust hit him with a swinging neckbreaker and put him in a sleeper hold. Mr. Perfect asks what would Goldust do to him if he put him to sleep. Razor escapes with a kick to the balls of Goldust.

Razor hits Goldust with a chokeslam, fallaway slam, and the top rope back superplex as the woman was on the apron and "twists" her ankle. The referee checks on her as The 1-2-3 Kid ran in from the crowd. He climbed the top rope and nailed Razor with a flying spinning heel kick to the back of Razor's head. Goldust covered him for the 1-2-3 to become the new Intercontinental Champion.

There is a Royal Rumble promo by Shawn Michaels' doctor, Owen Hart, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Jerry "The King" Lawler, Barry Horowitz, Vader with Jim Cornette, and Shawn Michaels himself.

Now it's time for the Royal Rumble as Hunter Hearst Helmsley entered first as he lost the Free For All match earlier to Duke "The Dumpster" Droese. The night continues to get worse for Helmsley as the second entrant is his rival Henry O. Godwinn. Helmsley immediately attacks him but Godwinn soon fights back. He tries to gorilla press slam Helmsley over the top rope, but Helmsley hits him with a thumb to the eye.

The crowd counts down to #3 as "Hail to the Chief" plays as it is Mr. Backlund. I guess the wrestlers will have their entrance themes played on their way out. I like that. Backlund helps Helmsley attack Godwinn. Jerry Lawler enters #4 and the three triple-team Godwinn. The crowd chants "Burger King" which annoys him. Lawler tries to grab the slop bucket, but Godwinn takes it back and chases after the trio and slops Lawler.

Bob Holly and King Mabel enter #5 and #6. #7 was the return of Jake "The Snake" Roberts and the crowd went nuts welcoming back The Snake. Roberts chased everyone out of the ring with his snake. He manages to put it on Lawler, who freaks out and leaves the ring and hides under the ring.

100-year-old Dory Funk Jr. enters #8 and brawls with Backlund in a battle of the old timers. Yokozuna comes in #9 and eliminates Backlund. Both Yokozuna and Mabel avalanche splash Godwinn in the corner and Mabel splashes him again. Roberts tosses out Godwinn.

The 1-2-3 Kid runs to the ring as he's #10 and he's running because Razor Ramon is chasing after him. WWF officials escort Razor to the back. Japanese wrestler Takao Omari is #11 and Savio Vega #12. Vega hits Mabel with a spinning heel kick, allowing Yokozuna to throw Mabel over the top rope to eliminate him. Omari tries to throw Roberts over the top rope, but Roberts hangs on and flips him over the top and onto the floor, eliminating him.

#13 was none other than "The Man They Call Vader", making his WWF debut with Jim Cornette as his manager. Vader beats the crap out of Bob Holly. Vega eliminates Dory Funk as Vader attacks Vega. Doug Gilbert enters at #14 as Vader and Yokozuna go at each other in a battle of extreme heavyweights. Roberts DDTs Vega and tries to do the same to Gilbert, but Vader clotheslines Roberts over the top rope, eliminating him.

Headhunter #1 (who?) comes in at #15. Vader press slams Gilbert over the top rope eliminating him and quickly eliminates Headhunter. His partner Headhunter #2 comes in at #16 and he along with his partner run into the ring only for #1 to be re-eliminated by Vader and Yokozuna quickly eliminates #2.

Owen Hart is #17 as Vader and Yokozuna beat on Vega. Both men avalanche Vega as Vader splashes and Yokozuna leg drops Vega. Vader eliminates Vega as #18 enters and it's none other than...."The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels making his return from near career-ending concussions.

Vader and Yokozuna start fighting much to the dismay of manager of both Jim Cornette. Both try to eliminate each other and Michaels with superhuman strength throws both over the top rope at the same time, eliminating them. Michaels attacks Owen Hart for injuring him and then press slams 1-2-3 Kid out of the ring and eliminating him. We forget, Jerry Lawler is still in the match as he is still under the ring.

Both Vader and Yokozuna are brawling on the floor as Hakushi enters #19. Cornette tries to break them up. Bad idea Jim!! Vader then runs back into the ring and attacks Michaels and gorilla press slams him out of the ring. He then attacks Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Bob Holly and throws them out of the ring. WWF President Gorilla Monsoon, a bunch of WWF officials, and Cornette talk Vader into leaving the ring.

Since Vader was eliminated, his eliminations don't count and everyone returns to the ring as Tatanka enters #20. Michaels beats up Cornette and Owen throws Hakushi out. Aldo Montoya is #21 as Helmsley knees Michaels, who goes out to the floor. He finds Jerry Lawler hiding under the ring and pulls him back into the ring. Michaels then eliminates Lawler as Tatanka eliminates Montoya.

Diesel is #22 and starts beating up everyone and eliminates Tatanka in the process. Diesel and Michaels back into each other and when they turn around, they start fighting. Helmsley and Owen attack both from behind. Kama enters #23 and he attacks Diesel in the corner. Diesel misses a punch and hits Michaels.

The Ringmaster, with Ted DiBiase, comes to the ring at #24. He eliminates Bob Holly with a flying knee as Holly was in there for over 40 minutes. Kama throws Michaels over the top rope, but Michaels does not touch the floor and remains in. Owen has Michaels on the top rope trying to eliminate him.

#25 is Barry Horowitz as Mr. Perfect says if Horowitz wins the Rumble, he will return to the ring. Diesel attacks him. Owen skins the cat on Michaels' attempt of eliminating him. Diesel and Kama are fighting when Helmsley goes over to Diesel. Diesel turns around and throws Helmsley over the top rope, eliminating him after being in the ring for nearly 50 minutes.

Fatu enters #26 as Diesel and Ringmaster are fighting in a corner and Michaels and Owen are trying to eliminate one another. Isaac Yankem DDS enters #27 as Owen backdrops Horowitz over the top rope, eliminating him. Owen then gives Michaels the Enziguri Kick and again knocking him out. Owen tries to eliminate Michaels, but Diesel comes up from behind and throws Owen over the top rope to eliminate him.

Marty Jannetty enters #28 and he and former Rockers partner Michaels brawl in the ring. The British Bulldog enters #29 and goes right after Michaels. Jannetty tries to attack Bulldog, but is backdropped over the top rope and is eliminated.

Ringmaster tries to headbutt Fatu, but it has no effect as he clotheslines Ringmaster over the top rope to eliminate him. Yankem clotheslines Fatu over the top and eliminates him. Droese enters 30th, what a waste of entrant #30.

Michaels and Bulldog are fighting on the floor as neither have been eliminated. Owen Hart returns and helps his brother-in-law attack Michaels before he is sent to the back by security. Bulldog throws Michaels back into the ring and looks to eliminate him as Diesel helps Michaels. Michaels dropkicks Yankem over the top rope to eliminate him. Diesel and Kama throw Droese out and eliminate him.

This leaves just four men in the ring: Michaels, Diesel, Bulldog, and Kama. Bulldog throws Michaels over the top rope, but just like last year, both Michaels' feet don't touch the floor and he skins the cat to get back into the ring. He clotheslines Bulldog over the top rope eliminating him as Diesel eliminates Kama. Just as Diesel turned around, Michaels nailed him with Sweet Chin Music to send his best friend over the top rope to eliminate him.

Michaels wins the Royal Rumble for the second year in a row and will head to WrestleMania XII in the main event for the WWF Championship. Michaels completes his comeback. A frustrated Diesel attacked Bulldog in the aisle and comes back into the ring, but doesn't attack Michaels. Instead, he raises his hand for Michaels to run off the ropes and jump in the air to give him their high five.

It's time for the WWF Championship main event between champion Bret Hart and The Undertaker. Unlike the past Royal Rumbles, the Royal Rumble match itself is not the final match as this year, the WWF Championship match is.

Diesel is still at ringside upset from losing the Royal Rumble and goes after The Undertaker as he is on his way to the ring. Both men brawl as Diesel is still mad at Undertaker being named #1 contender for the World Title as officials break it up. Undertaker is still wearing that protective mask. Hart comes to the ring as Vince McMahon mentions Hart is wrestling in his 43rd WWF PPV.

Undertaker takes it to Hart at the beginning as he throws him into the corner and starts pummeling him. Undertaker lifts Hart into the air by choking him and puts him in the claw hold. Undertaker then does his twisting of the arm and tightrope walks on the top rope and jumps onto the back of his opponent's neck then puts him back into the claw.

Hart boots Undertaker in the corner and hits him with a flying clothesline off the second turnbuckle, sending Undertaker out to the floor. Hart jumps over the ropes and dives onto Undertaker on the floor. Hart tries to jump off the apron, but is caught in mid air and rammed back first into the ring post. Undertaker tries to throw Hart into the steel steps, but Hart reverses it and sends Undertaker into the steps and injuring his knee.

Hart attacks Undertaker's leg. He puts Undertaker in the figure four leg lock. Undertaker reverses it and Hart grabs the ropes to break the hold. Hart continues to attack Undertaker's leg. Hart then elbows Undertaker's knee and puts him in another leglock, only for Undertaker to use his other leg and hit Hart in the face with it to break the hold.

Undertaker throws Hart out of the ring. He throws him into the steel steps and chokes him with some ringside cables. He then throws Hart into the timekeeper's table and then hits him with a steel chair. Where is the disqualification? Well Paul Bearer is distracting the referee allowing Undertaker to do this.

Back in the ring, The Undertaker misses a big boot and Hart again takes his leg out from him. Hart pulls Undertaker's leg to the ring post and wraps his leg against the leg post. He again goes for the Figure Four, but Undertaker gets out of it and drops a leg drop on Hart and then hits him with a clothesline. He hits the Tombstone Piledriver on Hart, but Hart is too close to the ropes as Undertaker's leg gives out on him.

Hart rolls out to the floor. Undertaker grabs Hart to bring him back into the ring, but Hart drops Undertaker throat first on the top rope. Undertaker goes for a backdrop, but Hart gives him a DDT. Undertaker then sits up. Hart gives him the Side Russian Leg Sweep and again Undertaker sits up. Hart then delivers a bulldog and once again Undertaker sits right up.

Hart then gives him the backbreaker and then the fyling elbow drop off the second turnbuckle and Undertaker does not sit up. Hart gives the fans a thumbs down as some were booing him and cheering for Undertaker. He goes for the Sharpshooter, but Undertaker grabs his throat and looks to Chokeslam him, but Hart escapes.

The two collide with simultaneous clotheslines. Hart gets up first and takes the padding off one of the top turnbuckles. Hart then takes Undertaker's protective mask off his face and slams Undertaker face first into the exposed metal turnbuckle and then does it a second time. Hart goes for a cross body, but jumps into the arms of The Undertaker and he gives Hart the Tombstone Piledriver for the 1-2-oh wait!!

Diesel came down to the ring and pulled the referee out of the ring before he was going to count three, getting Bret disqualified but letting him retain the title since the title cannot change hands on a DQ and screwed The Undertaker out of the WWF Title. Undertaker stares down Diesel and Diesel gives him the middle finger and leaves.

WWF President Gorilla Monsoon tells us Hart will defend the WWF Title against Diesel at In Your House 6 next month. Dok Hendrix talks to Shawn Michaels, who says the Kliq and HBK are going to WrestleMania XII. He says he still loves Diesel despite his change of attitude. Monsoon is happy HBK is back.

Undertaker angrily confronts Monsoon and says "it will be a cold day in hell before Diesel wins the WWF Title." Monsoon says the Hart-Diesel title match will be a Steel Cage match. Hendrix talks to Diesel who says he is the best thing going in this company and he does not fear The Undertaker.

The show closes with Vader throwing a fit in the locker room.

Eric Bischoff Responds to WWF's Recent Legal Threats Against WCW; Nitro Destroys Raw in Ratings; Sid Has Neck Injury

Eric Bischoff sends a letter to Vince McMahon and the WWF in response to the WWF's legal threats against WCW. Bischoff is telling McMahon that WCW is looking into counteracting with their own legal action against the WWF.

WCW Monday Nitro recorded its highest head-to-head rating against WWF's Monday Night Raw.

It was reported that Sid Eudy was asked to job to Bob Holly a couple weeks ago and walked out of the WWF. Those reports are not true. The reason Sid did not wrestle after that match was because he suffered a neck injury last month that will keep him out of action the next two months.

Sid was supposed to team with The 1-2-3 Kid to take on The Smokin' Gunns for the WWF Tag Team Championship at the Royal Rumble but Sid is out and they will be replaced by The Bodydonnas.

WWF Royal Rumble Preview

Jeff Jarrett vs. Ahmed Johnson
This feud started last month at In Your House 5 when Jeff Jarrett returned to the WWF after being gone for five months. Jarrett claimed he was on tour and was presented a gold record from Jerry Lawler for his music success. After Ahmed Johnson's match, Jarrett hit Johnson with the record and broke it over his head. Johnson recovered and chased after Jarrett.

WWF World Tag Team Championship match - WWF Tag Team Champions The Smokin' Gunns vs. The Bodydonnas (w/ Sunny)
There is not much to tell about this match. It was supposed to be The Smokin' Gunns defending their titles against Sid and The 1-2-3 Kid, but Sid is out with a neck injury. Recently, Dr. Tom Prichard cut his hair really short and dyed it bleach blonde and became the storyline cousin of Skip known as Zip and the two are known as "The Bodydonnas." They are getting a WWF Tag Team Title match against The Smokin' Gunns.

WWF Intercontinental Championship match - WWF Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon vs. Goldust
This feud started back at In Your House 5 last month when the "bizarre one" Goldust said he was obsessed with Razor Ramon and even had someone give him an envelope which probably had some sort of homosexual innuendos pertaining to them.

Since then, Goldust has done things like blow him kisses and even give him flowers and just saying homosexually sounding things about Razor. He even had a "tattoo" on his chest of a heart with the name "Razor" on it. Razor had enough of Goldust as he attacked him last week on RAW.

WWF World Heavyweight Championship match - WWF Champion Bret Hart vs. The Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer)
The Undertaker was named number one contender to Bret "The Hitman" Hart's WWF Championship last month at In Your House after he defeated King Mabel in a Casket match. It's been five years since The Undertaker won his first and so far only WWF Championship. 

Royal Rumble
The winner of the 30-man, over-the-top-rope Royal Rumble will get a WWF Championship match at WrestleMania XII. Last year's Royal Rumble Shawn Michaels will look to make it back-to-back as he is returning from near-career-ending post-concussion syndrome from the attack he received outside a bar in Syracuse in October and a kick to the back of the head from Owen Hart in November. 

Other notables in this match include Diesel, Owen, Yokozuna, The British Bulldog, the returning Tatanka, The 1-2-3 Kid, Jake "The Snake" Roberts who is making his return to the WWF for the first time in 4 years, and Vader, who is making his WWF debut coming over from WCW.

There will be a match aired on Free For All an hour before the PPV between two random participants in the Royal Rumble. The winner of the match will enter the Royal Rumble #30 and the loser will be #1.

ECW Hardcore TV: January 16, 1996

This is the first event held at the ECW Arena in 1996 is the ECW House Party event. Joey Styles is our host and we are shown a recap of "The Franchise" Shane Douglas returning to ECW to interrupt Stevie Richards' promo.

Styles kicks off the show in the middle of the ring when he is interrupted by Bill Alfonso who bitches at Styles about not giving Taz enough interviews. Styles has enough of Alfonso but Taz runs in corners Styles and threatens him. Here comes 911 and commissioner Tod Gordon as Gordon attacks Alfonso. Taz is about to hit Gordon until 911 steps in. Wrestlers from the back come to the ring to separate the two.

They go at it again until The Eliminators (Saturn and Kronus) come out to attack 911 and hit him with one of the coolest moves ever: Total Elimination"!! The Eliminators continue to beat on 911 when Rey Mysterio Jr. runs in to save 911 (no joke the little Mysterio saves the near 7-ft tall 911) as Mysterio single-handily takes out The Eliminators. Taz comes back out and chokes 911 with his towel as the fans chant for Sabu!

Right off the bat we have an unscheduled, impromptu match between Mysterio and 911 vs. The Eliminators (w/ Jason Knight). It's basically a Handicap match at this point with Mysterio taking on both Eliminators as Taz once again is choking out 911 with his towel as 911 is no factor whatsoever.

Mysterio hit both men with a Moonsault. Mysterio walks the top rope and delivers a simultaneous headscissors and arm drag sending both Eliminators to the floor. He then hits them both with a Moonsault to the floor. Soon The Eliminators double-team Mysterio and even Jason gets in a few shots as well. Taz returns yet again and chokes 911 out with the towel as fans again chant "Sabu!"

911 soon regroups and enters the ring to attack The Eliminators until they hit him again with Total Elimination.  Taz yet again chokes 911 with the towel. Saturn hits Mysterio with a Moonsault and a powerbomb. Both Eliminators throw Mysterio into the ropes but Rey counters with a double DDT.

All four men are in the ring as Mysterio climbs on 911's shoulders and challenges The Eliminators to a chicken fight. Saturn climbs Kronus' shoulders as Mysterio jumps off 911's shoulders and delivers a Hurricanrana to Saturn for the 1-2-3.

The Eliminators attack both men after the match and give Mysterio Total Elimination. The Pit Bulls and their manager Francine run into the ring to attack The Eliminators and Jason. The Pit Bulls took care of The Eliminators while Francine beats up on Jason. Taz is again brawling with 911 in the aisle.

Meanwhile, The Eliminators sneak back into the ring where Francine is beating up Jason. They grab her and hit her with Total Elimination, knocking her out before being chased out by The Pit Bulls. They take Jason and press slam him onto The Eliminators on the floor. Then they tend to Francine, who is getting loaded onto a stretcher and taken out.

Joey Styles recaps the brief career of Shane Douglas in the WWF as Dean Douglas.

Buh Buh Ray Dudley with the members of The Dudley Family (Big Dick, Chubby, Dances With, and Sign Guy Dudley) takes on Jimmy Del Ray. Since Del Ray is left behind by former Heavenly Bodies teammate Tom Prichard, who went to the WWF, Del Ray is accompanied by Mr. Hughes.

Buh Buh stutters as he tries to say his name so Del Ray attacks him to start the match. Buh Buh fights back with a dropkick and mocks Del Ray with his "Gigolo" dance and then does his own dance. Buh Buh tries a Buh Buh bomb, but is distracted by Hughes. Buh Buh would then hit Del Ray with a DDT for the 1-2-3. Buh Buh splashes Hughes off the top rope after the match.

Del Ray and Hughes were in the ring talking to Buh Buh on the microphone. Hughes tells him that he has someone to come out and teach him proper English. Out comes the returning "Franchise" Shane Douglas to teach Buh Buh how to speak proper English to mock his Dean Douglas WWF character. He slaps Buh Buh in the face and tells the crowd The Franchise is back.

There is a very short clipped match of Mikey Whipwreck defending his ECW TV Title against Too Cold Scorpio. Whipwreck, Scorpio, and the referee are all down as Raven enters the ring and gives Whipwreck the DDT as he does not want him in his Flock. Scorpio then delivers "Da Bomb" Moonsault-turned leg drop for the 1-2-3 and wins back the ECW World Television Title.

Joey Styles is next standing in the ring with "Dancing" Stevie Richards, The Blue Meanie, and Beulah McGillicutty. Stevie says he is no longer "Dancing" but now "Studly" and "The King of Swing" after making out with Missy Hyatt a couple weeks before.

Stevie then makes a move and hits on Beulah who pushes him away. He does it again and she again pushes him away telling him not to touch her. Richards then asks her why because she's Raven's girlfriend? She replies "No! I'm pregnant!!" What?!?!

Raven rushes to the ring and calls her an idiot for not using protection, but she tells him why does he care it's not his. Raven then looks at Stevie and attacks him thinking he's the father. She tells him it's not Stevie's as she tries to get Raven off him. She then says "It's Tommy's!" Oh my goodness!! Raven then goes after Beulah only for Tommy Dreamer to run in and attack Raven and save Beulah.

She attacks both Stevie and The Blue Meanie with a baking sheet. Dreamer nails Raven with a cardboard sign, but there is a stop sign underneath it. Dreamer then piledrives Raven onto the stop sign and a blueberry pie. Dreamer and Beulah embrace and leave the ring together.

Dreamer is at a hotel room saying he is now one up on Raven in their feud and walks in to a naked Beulah on the bed.

WWF Monday Night Raw: January 15, 1996

Since it is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, they are showing a tribute to him. Then they show us Sunny sitting on a pool table wearing some sexy lingerie. Vince McMahon says The Undertaker might be the WWF Champion after the Royal Rumble, but first has to deal with Isaac Yankem, DDS tonight.

Goldust will have an interview tonight and he is shown with a Razor Ramon tattoo with a heart. Dok Hendrix tells us Razor is on his way to the building and will go after Goldust if he goes too far. Plus another rendition of "Billionaire Ted's Wrasslin' War Room." Our hosts are McMahon and Jerry Lawler.

The opening match is Owen Hart against Marty Jannetty. They lock up with Jannetty getting the advantage by taking Owen down with arm drags and applied a front face lock. Jannetty knocked Owen down with a clothesline and applied a chin lock. Owen fights back and delivers a belly-to-belly suplex but Jannetty comes back with a flying cross body.

Owen then nails Jannetty with the Enziguri Kick that nearly derailed Jannetty's former Rockers' teammate Shawn Michaels' career. Owen goes for the Sharpshooter but he's kicked away. Owen then hits him with a gutwrench suplex as we go to commercial break.

Jannetty bodyslams Owen and clotheslines him to the floor. Jannetty tries to suplex Owen back into the ring, but Owen counters it into a rollup and uses a bridge for the 1-2-3.

Todd Pettengill is here to tell us about the Royal Rumble. There will be a Free For All match on Sunday an hour before the Royal Rumble PPV to decide the #1 and #30 entry spots in the Royal Rumble match. The winner of the match will get the coveted #30 and final spot while the loser gets the dreaded #1.

He runs down the list of the participants in the 30-man Royal Rumble led by the return of Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Yokozuna, Jake "The Snake" Roberts who is returning to the WWF for the first time in four years, and the WWF debut of Vader.

The rest of the matches at the Royal Rumble are Bret Hart vs. The Undertaker for the WWF Championship, Razor Ramon vs. Goldust for the WWF Intercontinental Championship, The Smoking Gunns vs. The Bodydonnas for the WWF Tag Team Titles, and Ahmed Johnson vs. Jeff Jarrett.

Dok Hendrix tells us Razor is on his way to the building and will destroy Goldust. We are shown Sunny looking so hot wearing lingerie and playing pool and saying she likes it "RAW!"

The "Million Dollar Champion" The Ringmaster (Steve Austin), with his manager Ted DiBiase, makes his WWF TV debut as he takes on jobber Matt Hardy. Ringmaster dominates Hardy by choking him with the top rope. He hits Hardy with his WCW finisher "The Stun Gun" and locks him into DiBiase's finisher the Million Dollar Dream which is Austin's new finisher I guess for the submission victory.

Next we are shown a video highlight package for Shawn Michaels. Dok Hendrix tells us Razor Ramon is close to the arena. The Smoking Gunns quickly squash The Spiders with the Sidewinder.

It's time for the next installment of Billionaire Ted's Wrasslin' War Room. Billionaire Ted wants to know why he can't buy the WWF. One of them men mentions how the WWF has better wrestling and that the Huckster is a has been and the Nacho Man was disloyal.

Vince McMahon is standing in the ring interviewing Goldust. Goldust flirts with Vince by saying some sexually suggestive comments to him. Vince basically asks Goldust if he is gay or is this all an act. Goldust then quotes a movie and says he wants Razor Ramon badly than any other human being alive. McMahon makes a really disgusted face.

Dok Hendrix still tells us Razor is not yet in the building when all of a sudden he rushes right into the building right back Hendrix as he is a wild man looking for Goldust.

It's time for the main event between The Undertaker and Isaac Yankem DDS. The two giants Undertaker and Yankem stare face-to-face. Undertaker goes for the Tombstone rather quickly, but Yankem slides out of it and heads to the floor. Undertaker runs Yankem to the post.

Meanwhile, Jerry Lawler tries to steal the necklace-urn from Paul Bearer, but Undertaker chases Lawler away. Yankem attacks Undertaker from behind and rams him back-first into the steel post. Dok Hendrix appears during the match to tell us Goldust wishes to speak about his match with Bret Hart next week on RAW. Yankem goes for the Tombstone Piledriver, but Undertaker reverses it into his own for the 1-2-3.

Hendrix is with Goldust as Razor Ramon rushes down to attack Goldust. Goldust hits him in the balls and flees. Now we are shown Sunny laying in a bath tub saying she can't believe we have been doing it for an hour and how RAW it has been.

Razor attacks Goldust as Goldust is trying to leave the building. Razor rams Goldust's head into a door as they start to brawl in the snow outside. Razor grabs a shovel and tries to nail Goldust with it, but misses. Goldust escapes into his Cadillac and takes off as Razor throws a garbage can at it.

That's it for this week. Next week, Bret Hart takes on Goldust one night after the Royal Rumble.

WCW Monday Nitro: January 15, 1996

Tonight we are live from Miami, FL with our hosts Eric Bischoff, Bobby Heenan, and Steve McMichael. I still love that my Buffalo Bills beat the crap out of the Miami Dolphins a couple of weeks ago just had to throw that in there. Before you Dolphin fans out there rip me for my team losing to the Steelers, well at least we got there!!! And we've kept you out of four straight Super Bowls.

Randy Savage takes on Lex Luger yet again tonight. Savage is not the WCW World Heavyweight Champion as he beat Ric Flair by DQ on WCW Saturday Night when Arn Anderson hit him with the brass knuckles but Flair retained the title as a result. Flair will defend the title against Sting and Hulk Hogan will take on Meng in the main event.

We get started with the Savage-Luger match. Jimmy Hart does not have come out with Luger as it's explained he's having a meeting with Flair. Eric Bischoff says Savage will have a World Title rematch with Flair next week, but that could change with Sting winning unless Bischoff gives away his own results later tonight.

Savage comes to the ring as Luger quickly exits. Luger takes a steel chair and throws it into the ring. As the referee is getting rid of the chair, Luger rolls back in and quickly hits Savage from behind and throws Savage over the top rope. Luger throws Savage into the ring post and ring steps.

Savage pulls Luger out of the ring and throws him into the guardrail and ring steps. He throws him back into the ring and hits him with a Flying Double Axe Handle off the top rope for a two-count. Savage then chokes Luger as Luger begins to beg off in the corner, but Savage kicks him and again chokes him.

Savage drops Luger throat first onto the top rope and scoop slams him and goes up top for the Flying Elbow Drop. However, Savage missed as Luger got out of the way. Luger puts Savage in the Torture Rack and the referee drops Savage's arm down three times giving Luger his fourth win in a row over Savage. For some reason though, Savage is getting a World Title shot next week and not Luger.

It's time for Arn Anderson and Brian Pillman against Kevin Sullivan and Hugh Morris. However, both the Four Horsemen and Dungeon of Doom are in the ring with Gene Okerlund. Arn and Chris Benoit are dressed for business, Ric Flair is dressed in his robe for his match later, and Brian Pillman is wearing jeans and a Four Horsemen t-shirt. Arn reprimands him for that.

Arn says it's pointless that the Horsemen and Dungeon of Doom are fighting each other. Sullivan agrees with Arn and says he respects Flair and will let him borrow The Giant to team with him at Clash of the Champions to take on Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage.

He also says he respects Arn but does not respect Pillman. Arn says the feeling is mutual and Pillman is jumping up and down saying he fears no one only to be slapped hard by Arn to shut him up.

The Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) is making their WCW debut after coming over from ECW as they will take on The American Males (more like American 'Lames' get it? it's males rearranged). The Males attack PE at the start before PE drag them both to the floor.

Marcus Bagwell jumps off the top rope with a flying cross body on both member of the Public Enemy sending them both out of the ring again. Scotty Riggs gives Grunge a sunset flip for two. Bagwell tags in and again cleans house of the Public Enemy. Bagwell rolls up Grunge but Rock hits Bagwell in the back. Grunge rolls up Bagwell from behind grabbing the tights for the 1-2-3.

It was a lousy debut match for The Public Enemy. They attack Bagwell after the match and place him on top of two tables as Rock somersaults onto Bagwell and the tables as that was cool at least. "ECW!" "ECW!" Speaking of ECW, Eric Bischoff says another ECW star left to go to the WWF and is making his in-ring debut on RAW. That guy also used to be in WCW as well.

Sting takes on Ric Flair for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship with the winner to defend the title against Randy Savage next week on Nitro. Lex Luger does not get the title shot despite beating Savage for the 4th time in a row earlier tonight and Savage failed to win the title from Flair on the recent episode of WCW Saturday Night.

The match features the usual as Sting no-sells chops, gorilla press slams Flair, and Flair does the Flair flip as Sting knocks him off the ring apron with a clothesline to the floor. Sting suplexes Flair into the ring. Flair pokes Sting's eyes and begins to hit him with chops and right hands.

Sting blocks a suplex by Flair and places him on the top turnbuckle and gives him the Superplex off the top. Sting then climbs to the top and gives him a Flying Splash off the top but Flair puts the knees up. After commercials, Sting reverses a back suplex and goes for the Sting Splash but misses.

Flair hits Sting with a knee drop and covers him only for two as Flair has his feet on the ropes. Jimmy Hart distracts the ref as Flair throws Sting over the top rope. Why wouldn't Flair want to get disqualified and then he'd retain the title? Hart kicks Sting outside the ring. Flair chops Sting in the ring and Sting responds by clotheslining him down.

Sting puts Flair in a sleeperhold but Flair reverses it into a back suplex. Flair and Sting trade chops and right hands and Sting goes for a dropkick, but Flair holds onto the ropes. Flair goes for the Figure Four, but Sting counters that into a small package for two. Sting puts him in a backslide for two. Flair throws him outside. Sting sunset flips himself back into the ring and pulls down Flair's trunks.

Sting then gives Flair another press slam. Flair hit Sting with a back elbow and climbs to the top before being thrown off the top by Sting. Flair chops Sting as he doesn't sell it. Sting gives him yet another press slam. Lex Luger comes out and tries to get Jimmy Hart off the apron.

As Sting goes for the Stinger Splash, Luger pulls away the megaphone and accidentally hits Sting in the head with it, knocking him out. Flair puts Sting in the Figure Four and the referee counts Sting's shoulders down for three to retain the title. Luger tries to pull Flair off Sting as both Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage run in to chase both Flair and Luger away.

Gene Okerlund enters the ring to interview, Hogan, Savage, and Sting. Hogan and Savage basically say to Sting "now do you believe us about Luger? We told you so!" Sting still denies that and says he will talk to Luger. Hogan then says he has a problem with Savage getting another title shot next week on Nitro as he deserves it not Savage and mentions how he lost four times in a row to Luger.

WCW Saturday Night this week has Hogan, the WCW World Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat against Sting and Luger, and Jim Belushi?!?!

It's time for the Meng vs. Hogan main event match. Meng and Kevin Sullivan beat up a photographer on their way to the ring. Meng quickly gets the advantage by attacking Hogan at the start. He throws Hogan out of the ring, where Sullivan kicks him. Meng hits him with chops, punches to the neck, chokes, and the nerve hold.

Meng scoop slams Hogan and climbs to the top for the Flying Headbutt, but misses as Hogan gets out of the way. Hogan "Hulks up!" and hits Meng with right hands, the big boot, but as he was going for the leg drop, Sullivan jumps on the apron with the golden spike. Savage runs down and attacks Sullivan. Hogan grabs the spike and hits Meng with it for the 1-2-3.

The announcers talk about what is going on as the show comes to an end.

The Ultimate Warrior-WWF Deal is Dead; Jake Roberts Has Not Responded Yet; WWF Rips WCW for Its Steroid Policy in Latest Skit; Turner Threatens McMahon with a Lawsuit; Sid Disappears from the WWF; Mick Foley's Mankind WWF Vignettes Begin to Air

The Ultimate Warrior returning to the WWF deal is officially dead. He wanted a huge guaranteed contract where Vince McMahon will not give. Jake Roberts has not responded yet nor has Dan Severn. Rick Martel has said he wasn't even contacted.

Vader is coming to the WWF at least for the Royal Rumble, we'll see what else he does. The WWF is bringing back Bam Bam Bigelow and Tatanka for one night only at the Royal Rumble.

WWF's latest episode of Billionaire Ted's Wrasslin' War Room saw Vince McMahon take a shot at WCW for their Steroid Policy or lack thereof. The Huckster and The Nacho Man basically say they don't have to worry about steroid testing because they aren't in the WWF anymore. Ted Turner threatens to sue McMahon and the WWF. "Scheme Gene" is trying to trick people to call his hotline

Sid has disappeared from the WWF. He lost to Bob Holly at a recent house show and hasn't been seen or heard from since as he appears to be upset with his character being told to lose cleanly.

Mick Foley's upcoming WWF character Mankind's vignettes are beginning to be shown on WWF TV.

ECW Hardcore TV: January 9, 1996

At the start of the show, we are shown a highlight video of the awesome Tommy Dreamer-Raven feud as Dreamer takes on Raven on tonight's show as Dreamer is still looking for his first win over Raven in over a year in ECW. All of these matches are from the 12/29/95 Holiday Hell event from Queens, NY.

On 4/8/1995, Raven introduces Beulah McGillicutty to get back at Dreamer from their childhood. Dreamer fought Raven and was about to beat him until Stevie Richards was strangling Beulah outside to get Dreamer to get out of the ring. As he was tending to her, she sprayed him with hairspray and Richards superkicked him. Raven used the Even Flow DDT to beat Dreamer.

Dreamer got revenge on Beulah one week later when he gave her piledriver. In May in Tampa, they show Dreamer and Raven fighting outside as Raven beat him. Then on 6/17/95, Raven broke Dreamer's fingers. On 7/15/95, Dreamer handcuffed Raven to a cage in a crucifix position and nailed him with a steel chair shot.

Then on 10/28/95 at the ECW Arena, Raven crucified Dreamer. At November 2 Remember, Dreamer and Terry Funk defeated Raven and Cactus Jack when Dreamer hit Raven with a piledriver onto a steel chair and Funk pinned Raven. This marked Dreamer's first win over Raven but he still had not pinned him.

We are shown highlights of Cactus Jack helping Mikey Whipwreck defeat 2 Cold Scorpio and win the ECW World Tag Team and World TV Championships as well as offering him a spot in Raven's Nest and that Mikey and Raven both don't want that.

Taz takes on Koji Nakagawa. Nakagawa slaps Taz in the face but that only pisses him off. Taz hits several Tazplexes and makes him tap out to the Tazmission. After the match, Bill Alfonso cut a promo and says no one in Queens and the WWF could beat Taz. Taz says unlike other New Yorkers, he made something of himself. Taz then said Sabu is a pussy and he is hiding backstage.

The Gangstas cut a promo in a stairway about their return to ECW. We are shown highlights of The Eliminators beating The Pitbulls.

Next up is Bruiser Mastino against El Puerto Ricano. Mastino was formerly 'Mantaur' from the WWF. Mastino uses his 400-lb. frame to dominate Ricano but Ricano hits three missile dropkicks but Mastino doesn't go down. After a fourth attempt, Mastino catches him and powerslams him for the win.

After the match, Mastino continues to attack Ricano until 911 comes out and attacks Mastino and chokeslams him. Bill Alfonso comes out and yells at 911 saying the Chokeslam was banned. Tod Gordon ran out to attack Alfonso as Taz pulls him off Fonzie only to confront 911. Mastino attacks 911 but 911 again Chokeslams him. 911 and Taz stare off as wrestlers try to separate the two.

Stevie Richards, the Blue Meanie, and the Dudleys are in the ring. Buh Buh Ray and Big Dick Dudley as Buh Buh dances. The Blue Meanie is upset with this and Richards tells Buh Buh Raven won't be happy with this. Buh Buh says "f*** you and your Blue Meanie" and we cut to commercial.

It's time for what we've all been waiting for Tommy Dreamer vs. Raven with the winner to take on The Sandman for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, replacing Steve Austin who left for the WWF, or so we think.

Before the match, Richards comes out with the Blue Meanie to tell Dreamer that because Dreamer broke his leg the night before in PA, Raven is not here and won't be fighting him. Instead Meanie will fight him but Dreamer says Raven is too big of a pussy to fight him.

Meanie goes after Dreamer, but Dreamer quickly drops him with the DDT for the 1-2-3. Richards then goes after Dreamer, but the same happens and Dreamer quickly nails him with the DDT for the 1-2-3. Dreamer then grabs Beulah and attempts to piledrive her, but Raven showed up and attacked Tommy from behind.

Raven puts Dreamer through a table. Dreamer fights back with DDTs to Raven and Richards. Dreamer and Raven brawl all the way outside onto Queens Boulevard. Both men are bloodied as they return to the arena and back in the ring. The referee gets knocked out by a flying forearm.

Beulah tries to spray Dreamer in the face but he ducked and she sprayed Raven in the face. Richards runs in to check on Raven but Raven gives Stevie the DDT since he can't see. Dreamer nails Raven with the DDT for the 1-2-and a kick out. Dreamer then puts Raven in the Tree of Woe upside down in the corner and begins to punch him in the balls.

Raven pulls the ref in front of him when Dreamer goes for a chair shot as the ref gets knocked down again. Stevie superkicks Dreamer and The Blue Meanie goes up for the Moonsault but misses. Raven still gives Dreamer the DDT onto the steel chair for the 1-2-3 as Dreamer still cannot defeat Raven. Raven will face The Sandman for the ECW World Title later.

Now it's time for ever-popular Pulp Fiction promos led first by Taz and Bill Alfonso, followed by The Gangstas, The Sandman and Woman, 911, JT Smith, Damien Kane and the ever hot Lady Alexander, and finally Stevie Richards and The Blue Meanie only to be interrupted by the returning Shane Douglas, who corrects their grammar.

Douglas is then shown wearing a tuxedo outside in New York marking his surprise return to ECW.

WCW Monday Nitro: January 8, 1996

Tonight we are live from Charleston, S.C. with our hosts Eric Bischoff, Bobby Heenan, and Steve McMichael. They hype up tonight's main event of Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage teaming up to take on Ric Flair and Arn Anderson.

Chris Benoit takes on Alex Wright in the opening match on Nitro with Brian Pillman in Benoit's corner to ensure that the Horsemen don't lose again tonight. Come on Brian put your money where your mouth is and get into the ring with someone. Heck even take out a scrub at least you're wrestling.

Back to the match as Benoit quickly attacks Wright at the start. He throws Wright outside the ring where Pillman kicks him a few times. Well at least he's in the action. Again Wright is tossed to the outside and again Pillman attacks him, choking him with his shirt this time.

Eric Bischoff mentions that the WWF is raising their PPV prices while WCW is sticking with theirs since they were successful in 1995. Also the upcoming Clash of the Champions will be shown for free on TBS. Wright fights back with a heel kick and sends Benoit to the floor. Wright connects with a baseball slide and then hits Benoit with a Flying cross body over the top rope.

Back in the ring, Wright hits Benoit with some uppercuts and a drop kick. He scoop slams him and then puts Benoit in a Boston Crab and turns it into an STF. Pillman distracts Wright who decides to jump over the top rope and dive onto Pillman.

Wright goes to the top for a splash, but Benoit gets his knees up. Both men go for suplexes as they each reverse out of each other's attempt until Benoit hits him with a full nelson suplex for the 1-2-3.

It's time for Eddie Guerrero vs. Lord Steven Regal. Both men start with a ground attack which escalates into Guerrero flipping over the ropes and reversing a wrist lock on Regal, but Guerrero runs into a knee. Eric Bischoff calls the Royal Rumble the Royal "Fumble" and then mentions the Sister Sherri/Col. Rob Parker wedding at the upcoming Clash of the Champions.

Guerrero turns a Butterfly Suplex attempt by Regal into an arm drag. He then hits him with a head scissors and a drop kick and a couple of roll ups. Regal keeps hitting Guerrero with the European uppercut every time Guerrero mounts a comeback. Regal goes for one too many uppercuts as Guerrero ducks one and turns it into a backslide for the 1-2-3.

Gene Okerlund is standing with Sting and Lex Luger. Sting asks Luger why did he hold him back on the floor at Starrcade where he could have possibly beaten both Ric Flair and Randy Savage for the WCW World Title. Luger says he was injured and was hoping Sting could help him up. Luger then suggests that he and Sting team up to go after the WCW World Tag Team Titles.

This week on WCW Saturday Night Savage takes on Flair for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in a return match. Wait! Why on WCW Saturday Night of all things? Do they need Saturday night ratings that bad? Oh well I'll watch.

Sting takes on Diamond Dallas Page and for some reason, Mongo tells us that Sting wins before the match even starts. Page rubs his cigar in Sting's eyes and Sting hits him with a dropkick and sends Page out of the ring. Sting then dives over the ropes and onto Page on the floor.

In the ring, Sting tries to leapfrog Page, but Page's head catches Sting in the nuts, ouch! Page hits Sting with a back suplex and a swinging neck breaker for two. He locks Sting in a chinlock as Page puts his feet on the ropes. Sting fights his way out of it and gives Page the running bulldog.

He hits Page with a dropkick and then a Stinger Splash. He goes for the Scorpion Death Lock but Page gets to the ropes to break the hold. Page then drops Sting neck first onto the ropes. He gives Sting another swinging neckbreaker and goes for a back suplex. But Sting reverses it and puts him the Scorpion Death Lock for the submission win as Page submits.

It's time for the main event as Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage take on Ric Flair and Arn Anderson without fellow Horsemen members Brian Pillman and Chris Benoit. Flair and Savage look to start but Flair doesn't want Savage in the ring, he wants Hogan so Savage tags in Hogan. That's very cool for a heel to want the bigger babyface instead of running from him.

Hogan knocks Flair down with a shoulderblock. Both men trade moves as Flair puts Hogan in a hammerlock and Hogan reverses it into one of his own only for Flair to put him in a front face lock. Hogan then again counters it with another hammerlock.

Flair then chops Hogan in the corner which Hogan no-sells. Flair then pokes him in the eye as Hogan hits Flair with a big boot. He then gives both Flair and Anderson running clotheslines and scoop slams as both men scurry out of the ring.

Back in the ring, Anderson gets the tag and is now in with Hogan. Both men trade arm bars when Hogan tags in Savage, who jumps off the top rope onto Anderson's arm and then puts him back into an arm bar. Savage then sends Arn into the boot of Hogan and Anderson goes to the floor.

Savage climbs to the top and drops a double axe handle on Anderson on the floor. Savage again nails Arn with the double axe handle back in the ring for a two-count. Flair tags in and chops on Savage and hits him with a back elbow. Flair tries to climb the top rope but Savage catches him and slams him off the top.

Savage puts Flair in his own Figure Four while Hogan does the same to Arn. As the referee is trying to break up Hogan and Arn, Arn walks over and gives Savage the DDT. Flair goes for the cover but it's only for two. Flair and Arn then double up and work on Savage.

Flair hits Savage with a back suplex and goes for the cover, but Hogan breaks up the pin. Savage puts Arn in a sleeper hold, but Arn backs him into the corner with Flair and they double-team him. Savage rolls to the floor where Flair throws him into the guardrail.

Flair tries to put Savage in the Figure Four, but Savage rolls him up for a two-count. Flair continues to chop Savage. Arn tags in and continues to beat on Savage and goes for the DDT again, only for Savage to hold onto the top rope. Flair hits Savage but Savage makes the tag to Hogan.

Hogan no-sells a chop and hits Flair with several right hands and a backdrop and a few clotheslines. Hogan clotheslines both Flair and Arn over the top rope. Savage throws Arn back into the ring. Arn reverses an Irish Whip and hits him with the Spinebuster, but Hogan gets right up and no-sells that. He hits Arn with three right hands, the big boot, and the leg drop for the 1-2-3.

Brian Pillman and Chris Benoit are shown fighting at ringside with Kevin Sullivan and Zodiac. The Giant comes into the ring and gives Savage the Chokeslam and then gives one to Hogan. The Giant wants to deliver more punishment to both, but is held back by Zodiac for some reason as he keeps saying "friend."

He must mean to his real life friendship with Hogan as perhaps Zodiac/Ed Leslie will turn babyface and align himself with Hogan. We are out folks!!