Monday Night War – WCW Jan 8th, 1996

The January 8th, 1996 Monday Night Nitro takes place in Charleston, SC as Eric Bischoff makes reference to that South Carolina is where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. Eric drawing an analogy to their war with the WWF on Monday Nights. The show is called by Bischoff, Steve “Mongo” McMichael and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.

The first match of the night consists of Chris Benoit of the 4 Horsemen taking on Alex Wright. This incarnation of the Horsemen has Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Brian Pillman and Benoit. Pillman and Benoit serve as the young guns that are being brought along by Flair and Anderson. Brian accompanies The Crippler to the ring for his match with Wright.

Result: Chris Benoit def Alex Wright

The second match of the evening features a young Eddie Guerrero taking on Steven Regal. These two give a good 8-minute match. This is some of Eddie’s early work in WCW after coming over from ECW.

Result: Eddie Guerrero def Steven Regal

Sting and Lex Luger have an interview segment with Mean Gene discussing issues between the two wrestlers. There were questions of Lex’s loyalty to Sting after an incident at Starrcade that cost Sting the world title. The gentlemen hash out their issue and agree to tag together at Clash of The Champions. Sting then gets ready for his match against DDP.

This is an interesting time for DDP as he has not reached superstardom yet. At this time, he is honing his craft as the announcers make mention of how he is getting better. Also during the match, they plug an interview with football legend Mike Ditka whom they have been talking about throughout the show. The match is controlled mostly by Page as he is coming into his own as a wrestler. Still not enough for a guy on the level of Sting.

Result: Sting def DDP

We now get to the mega main event. Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage take on Champion Ric Flair and Arn Anderson. With the loom of the other Horsemen showing up Savage and Hogan had their hands full. The match has the Horsemen in control largely beating on Randy and cutting off from the tag. Hulk Hogan eventually gets in and clears shop.

Result: Hogan and Savage def Anderson and Flair

The celebration of the victory was short lived for Hogan and Savage as the Dungeon of Doom and the rest of the Horsemen hit the ring. The Dungeon of Doom attacks Pillman and and Benoit with the exception of the Giant who hits the ring and takes out Hogan and Savage. Flair and Anderson kind of creep away not helping their fellow Horsemen as Hogan and Savage lay wasted in the ring while the show goes off the air.

Keith B. Holt

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