Instead of repeating myself with "real life got in the way" I'll simply say I didn't prepare enough content to keep this consistent this week. 3/5 is an average week and not one I'm very happy with, leading to 2 more posts being put up this weekend, so from today through to Friday you have a post each day! Yaaay! Today we're going back to the beginning of the Monday Night Wars.
This match is from WWE's DVD release “The Best of WCW Nitro” later to become volume 1. The DVD is hosted by one Diamond Dallas Page. This was the first match in Nitro history and comes to us taped from the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jushin “Thunder” Liger is the first wrestler to enter on WCW Nitro and is representing New Japan Pro Wrestling, he's announced as “one of Japan's top wrestlers” and that is hard to argue. “Flyin'” Brian Pillman enters ready for the match and I can't get over the look of the show. That mall is PACKED with people watching, 4 tiers.... I can imagine it being a logistical nightmare to try and arrange for a wrestling show in a mall. I'm overthinking this... I need a break before it starts.
BRIAN
PILLMAN VS. JUSHIN LIGER
WCW Nitro (4th September 1995)
Eric Bischoff, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Steve McMichael are handling commentary for this match.
They lock up to start and Pillman gets control of Liger's arm, Liger quickly rolls out and reverses it, immediately grabbing a side headlock. Pillman elbows out of it but Liger whips him into the corner, hitting him with a rolling heel kick. Liger hits a chop but Pillman reverses the irish whip, Liger stops himself on the top rope and floats over Pillman. Liger runs to the opposite corner and climbs up the ropes for a moonsault for a nearfall. That looked slightly awkward as Pillman just stood there. Liger applies a chinlock on the mat and already I hate McMichael's commentary. He forces Pillman into the corner and knees him in the gut. Hard chop follows by Liger as the referee tells him to get Pillman out of the corner. Liger whips Pillman across the ring but Pillman catches himself and sends Liger across the ring with a flying headscissors! More chops in the corner by Pillman but Liger reverses an irish whip. Liger charges into Pillman's boot and Pillman climbs up top for a sloppy headscissors attempt. Pillman looks frustrated with that but covers anyway, barely getting 2. Pillman isolates Liger's shoulder as the camera pans out to show the Mall of America again and rolls Liger up for 2.
Again Liger shows his invincibility against irish whips as he sends Pillman across the ring, Liger drops down and hits a drop toe hold on Pillman, setting up for his surfboard move. Pillman doesn't give up so Liger wrenches back at his chin too. Liger releases the hold and sends Pillman across the ring, Pillman gets another sloppy headscissors takeover, and Liger's immediately back to his feet, Pillman sent over to top to the outside, Liger follows him with a somersault heel kick off the apron! Liger gets back in the ring waiting for Pillman, and tries to bring him in the ring with a suplex, Pillman blocks it as the fans chant “USA” and a sloppy suplex dumps Liger onto the crash mats. Schiovane talks about the Japanese stars coming to WCW as Pillman flies off the top rope to the outside with a cross body press. Pillman throws Liger back into the ring and climbs back up top. He gave Liger too much time though and Liger knocks the top rope, crotching Pillman. Liger brings Pillman back into the ring with a superplex from the top rope. Liger covers, 1,2 no! Pillman looked out of it there.
Liger climbs to the top rope as McMichael asks how many athletes Heenan is going to underestimate tonight. Pillman catches Liger with a dropkick in mid-air but only gets a nearfall. Pillman brings Liger to his feet and hits him with some hard chops. Pillman finally breaks the curse and sends Liger across the ring but ducks too early. Liger hits him across the back before hitting a powerbomb for another nearfall. Liger puts Pillman up top in the corner and hits a hurricanrana, 1, 2, 2.9. Pillman kicks out. “That's without pads or a helmet, McMichael” - Bobby Heenan. Liger calls for another but Pillman fights him off, hitting a tornado DDT. Pillman gets a nearfall and brings Liger to his feet, Liger switches the waistlock but Pillman rolls him up for the win.
WINNER: “FLYIN” BRIAN PILLMAN
Besides some moves not coming off as they should in the match, the pace and flow were consistent. This was definitely a very good way for Nitro to kick off the Monday Night Wars. The nearfalls got tedious at the end, but at this point in time, they were all from match-ending moves so it does make sense. That's my only gripe, WCW definitely got off on the right foot. – Rating: 5.8/10
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