The following snippet of the NITRO match recap is brought to you by Ryan Siebel of The Shooters. For the rest of the NITRO recap, please feel free to journey to the Shooters website.
Anyhoo...as I stated on the main page, Sting did a little more than run-in on NITRO. Read away...
Match 9: Ric Flair & The Total Package (w/Liz) vs. Hulk Hogan & Curt Hennig
Oh yeah, Strapmaster Jimmy Hart is down here too. Hulk motions for Flair to bring it on, but Flair declines. Hogan and Flair start. Package wins the early advantage, but Hogan comes back with the valiant eyepoke. Some fan has a large banner with the old-school WWF logo on it. Hogan walks away from Package to hit Flair. Back to Package, and Hennig tags in. Double face punch puts Package down. Hennig chops away in the corner, but Package turns the tide by sticking his boot up during a Hennig corner charge. Tag in to Flair, but Hennig wakes up and lays more chopitude on Flair. Flair gets whipped across the ring where he flips over the top turnbuckle and runs down the apron to get booted by Hogan. Our Hero, Hulk Hogan, hits Flair out on the floor with a chair. Hennig suplexes Flair into the ring from the apron. Flair begs off, but Hennig puts him in the corner for some ten-count punches. Flair uses an atomic drop to break free. Hennig stands and punches with Flair, who retreats to tag in Package. Crowd chants for Hogan, but Package runs at Hennig before Hogan can tag in. Hennig chops away at Package in the corner, and Hogan takes advantage of a woozy Package by punching at him from the apron. Hogan tags in and raps on Package's skull. He puts his head down for a back bodydrop, allowing Package to sneak in a kick and tag in Flair. Flair chops at Hulk in the corner, but Hulk is so furious that the chops have no effect. Hulk comeback is stopped briefly by a lowblow. Flairclimbs to the top turnbuckle. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, RIC?!?! Of course, Hogan tosses him off. Hogan has clotheslines for the heels, but Flair lowblows Hogan down. Package tags in and knocks Hogan from turnbuckle to turnbuckle. Luger stomps Hogan while he's lying on the mat. Flair tags in, punches at Hogan's face, then tags to Package. Double-clothesline spot puts both guys down. Package gets up first to make the tag, but Hogan rolls over and tags to Hennig. Hennig chops away on Flair and has clotheslines for Package. Hogan shows some more fire and backrakes Package while Hennig and Flair tussle in the corner. Elizabeth slips the bat to Package while Hennig puts Flair in the Hennigplex. Package smacks Hennig with the bat then he smacks Jimmy Hart, who was on the apron trying to deal with Elizabeth. Hogan knocks the bat out of Package's hands and gives Flair and Package a double clothesline. He tries to use his weightbelt but Mickey Jay grabs to take it away. Hogan pushes Mickey Jay away into the corner and draws a DQ.
WINNERS: Ric Flair & The Total Package (8:58)
Hogan has big boots for Package and Flair, but Elizabeth clips Hogan in the back of the knee with the bat. Flair whips at Hogan, and the lights cut out. In the shadows we can see Vampiro coming in the ring to go after Flair. Now HERE COMES STING out of the darkness. He goes after Package, flinging him into the ring and giving him a Stinger Splash. Vampiro chases Flair to backstage. Sting gives out a Stinger Whoop as the faces pose and preen in the ring.
Well...not a really bad show. NITRO was somewhat improved, if overbooked. The show still seems lackluster with major players like Bill Goldberg, Bret Hart, Diamond Dallas Page, Scott Steiner, and Buff Bagwell all missing due to injuries and various other reasons. Also conspicuously absent were Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, but both are injured. However...if the first batch had been present, I would not really have cared about the missing Hall and Nash.
One thing that shows promise is the continuing elevation of Vampiro to main event status. Its a big step in the right direction...but only one step in a journey that will likely be a long, painful one.
From September 14th, 1999
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