WCW Nitro (Week 3, July 2001)
Live from New Jersey, Tony Shciavonne and Jerry Lawler welcome us to the last Nitro before Clash of the Champions.
4 on 2 Handicap Match: KroniK vs Elix Skipper, Kid Romeo, James Allen and Chris Harris
KroniK faces the two teams they attacked in recent weeks. Skipper and Romeo walk out before ever getting in the ring leaving KroniK to make relatively short work of Allen and Harris.
Winners: KroniK in 3:56
After the match KroniK gets on the mic and tells us that Eric Bischoff has implemented a "no contact" rule between themselves and The Natural Born Thrillers to protect the tag title match. The Thrillers come out and face off with KroniK as KroniK calls them cowards, accusing them of asking Bischoff for protection. As tensions rise, The Harris Brothers come out of the crowd and attack The Thrillers from behind, leaving them beaten down. KroniK laughs and shakes hands with them.
We come back from break and The Rhodes', DDP and Booker T come out. Dustin explains that he was hesitant to accept Dusty as his partner but he knows he's the toughest man he's ever known and this Thursday night, Jarrett's team is gonna have to kill him to win War Games. This brings out Jarrett, Douglas, Jindrak and Stasiak with Stacy Keibler. After Jarrett, Jindrak and Douglas run down the Rhodes' family and tell them they're gonna put the old man out of his misery, Stacy grabs the mic to hype Shawn Stasiak and compare him to the old, out of shape fossil in the ring. Dusty has had enough and makes some vaguely sexual comments toward Stacy before telling her a set of muscles don't make him a real man and he challenges Stasiak to a match tonight. Stacy laughs it off and accepts.
Backstage, Gene Okerlund is with a special guest in Mike Sanders. Sanders discusses Kanyon's threats last week and then holds up a baseball bat and tells Kanyon he's gonna get his payback right in front of Kanyon's hometown crowd in Jersey. Eric Bischoff suddenly comes on screen to tell Sanders he's not cleared to compete and for the sake of Kanyon's protection, Sanders' protection and WCW's protection, he asks him to leave. Sanders looks angry before security comes in and he begrudgingly leaves the arena.
Kanyon vs Johnny Swinger
Kanyon controls the match for the most part until suddenly Mike Sanders' voice comes over the speakers. Kanyon looks over at the big screen to see Sanders standing outside calling for him. "Isn't it great to be performing in your hometown? Not having to stay in a hotel. Not having to rent a car..." As the camera zooms out we see that Sanders is standing on the roof of a car with the baseball bat. Kanyon freaks out as Sanders starts laying into the car, smashing the windows out. The distraction allows Swinger to roll Kanyon up and pick up the win.
Winner: Johnny Swinger in 7:12
Kanyon throws a tantrum and races out to find Sanders gone and his car totaled. Suddenly Sanders runs out from a corner, chasing Kanyon around the car with the bat until security comes out to take Sanders away while he yells with a maniacal grin that he's gonna make Kanyon's life a living hell.
Kimona comes out with The Jung Dragons and she speaks very dramatically about her ordeal last week. She says she's planning legal action against Eric Bischoff. Bischoff comes out and says she's a bad actress but if she is planning legal action, he thinks it's best that she not be at ringside for the upcoming match. The Filthy Animals' music hits and out come Rey Misterio Jr. and Billy Kidman as Kimona throws a fit while Bischoff orders her away from ringside.
Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio vs The Jung Dragons
A good back and forth, fast-paced match ends with Kidman getting the pin on Kaz after a shooting star press.
Winners: The Filthy Animals in 11:00
After the match, The Jung Dragons attack from behind, beating down Kidman and Rey until Shane Helms runs out to help, taking it to both Jung Dragons before accidentally clotheslining Kidman when Yang ducks. Konnan runs out and beats down Helms until Rey pulls him off, telling him to calm down.
Buff Bagwell vs Kwee Wee
Lex Luger and Midajah are at ringside. Midajah gets on commentary to explain that she asked for this match so her star client could teach her B-level talent how it's done. After a referee bump, Midajah tells Luger to hand Bagwell a chair. Luger is reluctant but eventually gets the chair. After some hesitation, he suddenly goes to hit Bagwell with it as he leans over the ropes reaching for it but Kwee Wee rolls him up, incidentally taking him out of harms way. The ref comes to in time to count a 2 before Bagwell hits a blockbuster and gets the 3 count anyway as Midajah screams at Luger.
Winner: Buff Bagwell in 4:45
After the match, Midajah keeps the two of them apart and reminds Luger she controls him. He's either gonna be a team player or he'll be working the undercard for the rest of his career.
Road Warrior Animal vs Johnny the Bull
A relatively quick match that sees Animal win with a powerslam.
Winner: Road Warrior Animal in 4:17
After the match, Reno and Big Vito attack only to be fought off by Animal and Steiner. The distraction allows Lance Storm and Mike Awesome to run in and attack though. Storm brings in two tables and Awesome ends up powerbombing both men through one.
Gene Okerlund is backstage with an irate Chris Kanyon who tells Eric Bischoff as soon as Sanders is healthy, he wants him in the ring.
Dusty Rhodes vs Shawn Stasiak
Stasiak controls most of the match with Dusty getting some good licks in here and there. Eventually Dusty fights back and gets the upperhand with a flurry of offense. Stacy gets on the apron to distract him, unbuttoning and flirting with Dusty as he zones in on her. This allows Stasiak to run after him but he moves and Stasiak knocks Stacy off the apron and Dusty rolls him up for the 1-2-3 before sliding out of the ring and celebrating.
Winner: Dusty Rhodes in 9:16
Jarrett, Douglas and Jindrak rush out but Dusty escapes through the crowd. He works his way around to the top of the ramp where DDP, Booker and Dustin come out to join in on the celebration while Team Jarrett stands in the ring seething as the show goes off the air.