WCW Monday Nitro (1995)
WCW Monday Nitro was a weekly professional wrestling telecast produced by World Championship Wrestling, created by Ted Turner and Eric Bischoff. The show aired Monday nights on TNT, going head-to-head with the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw from September 4, 1995 to March 26, 2001. Production ceased shortly after WCW was purchased by the WWF. The debut of Nitro began the Monday Night Wars, a ratings battle between the WWF and WCW that lasted for almost six years and saw each company resort to cutthroat tactics to try to compete with the competition. In mid-1996, Nitro began to draw better ratings than Raw based on the strength of the nWo storyline, an anarchist wrestling stable that wanted to take over WCW. Nitro continued to beat Raw for 84 consecutive weeks, forcing WWE owner Vince McMahon to change the way he did business. As the nWo storyline grew stagnant, fan interest in the storyline waned, and Raw began to edge out Nitro in the ratings. The turning point for the organizations came during the January 4, 1999 broadcast of Nitro, during which lead commentator Tony Schiavone gave away the results of matches for that night's Raw broadcast. As Raw was taped and Nitro was live, Bischoff believed that knowing the outcome would dissuade viewers from watching the program. Excited by the prospect of seeing perennial WWF underdog Mick Foley win the WWF Championship, a large number of Nitro viewers changed channels to watch Raw, switching back to Nitro after Foley won the title. From that week forward, Raw beat Nitro in the ratings by a significant amount, and WCW was never able to regain the success it once had.
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Episode 1 - Nitro 001
Release Date: 1995-09-04The biggest stars of WCW make history on the debut edition of Monday Nitro. Hulk Hogan defends the World Heavyweight Title against Big Bubba.
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Episode 2 - Nitro 002
Release Date: 1995-09-11On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro Hulk Hogan puts the World Heavyweight Championship on the line against 'The Total Package' Lex Luger.
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Episode 3 - Nitro 003
Release Date: 1995-09-18On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro the fallout from Fall Brawl. Brian Pillman battles Ric Flair in the main event and more.
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Episode 4 - Nitro 004
Release Date: 1995-09-25On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro Macho Man Randy Savage looks to take down Kevin Sullivan. Hulk Hogan has a proposition for The Giant.
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Episode 5 - Nitro 005
Release Date: 1995-10-02On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro Lex Luger puts his career on the line against Randy Savage. Hulk Hogan looks to confront The Giant.
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Episode 6 - Nitro 006
Release Date: 1995-10-09On this episode of Nitro Sting returns to solve the problems between Macho Man and Lex Luger. Ric Flair vs Arn Anderson inside a steel cage.
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Episode 7 - Nitro 007
Release Date: 1995-10-16On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro the unlikely team of Sting and Ric Flair take on Brian Pillman and Arn Anderson in the main event.
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Episode 8 - Nitro 008
Release Date: 1995-10-23On this episode of Nitro Sting and Lex Luger team up to take on Harlem Heat. The Dungeon of Doom introduce their insurance policy.
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Episode 9 - Nitro 009
Release Date: 1995-10-30On this episode of Nitro the shocking events from Halloween Havoc are revealed. Gene Okerlund interviews the reformed Four Horsemen.
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Episode 10 - Nitro 010
Release Date: 1995-11-06On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro the fans get to call the shots in this interactive episode. Sting battles Ric Flair in the main event.
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Episode 11 - Nitro 011
Release Date: 1995-11-13On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro Hulk Hogan steps further into the darkness. Macho Man Randy Savage goes one on one with Meng.
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Episode 12 - Nitro 012
Release Date: 1995-11-20On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro Hulk Hogan meets Sting in a huge main event match up.
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Episode 13 - Nitro 013
Release Date: 1995-11-27On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro the fallout from World War 3! Sting teams with Lex Luger to take on Brain Pillman and Arn Anderson.
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Episode 14 - Nitro 014
Release Date: 1995-12-04'Macho Man' Randy Savage puts the WCW World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Lex Luger. Sting and many more are featured.
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Episode 15 - Nitro 015
Release Date: 1995-12-11This episode of WCW Monday Nitro features a huge tag team main event when Sting teams with Hulk Hogan to face Ric Flair and Arn Anderson.
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Episode 16 - Nitro 016
Release Date: 1995-12-18'Macho Man' Randy Savage battles The Giant in the main event. Ric Flair faces Eddie Guerrero. Madusa makes a shocking announcement.
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Episode 17 - Nitro 017
Release Date: 1995-12-25Long time rivals square off once again when 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair battles WCW World Heavyweight Champion, 'Macho Man' Randy Savage.