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 276
Release Date: 2001-01-01On this special edition of Nitro, Mike Tenay and Tony Schiavone revisit this show's best singles matches from the year 2000.
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Episode 2 - Nitro 277
Release Date: 2001-01-08Scott Steiner battles Jeff Jarrett for the WCW Championship in the main event. Plus, Sid Vicious, Goldberg, and many more in action!
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Episode 3 - Nitro 278
Release Date: 2001-01-15CEO Ric Flair and his allies lay the career of Goldberg to rest. Kevin Nash challenges Scott Steiner for the WCW Title in the main event.
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Episode 4 - Nitro 279
Release Date: 2001-01-23While looking for a worthy contender for the WCW Championship, CEO Ric Flair gets answer from the Wolfpac. Plus, DDP, Lex Luger, and more!
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Episode 5 - Nitro 280
Release Date: 2001-01-29Kevin Nash takes on Lex Luger and Buff Bagwell in a Handicap Match. Plus, Diamond Dallas Page, Jeff Jarrett, and many more!
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Episode 6 - Nitro 281
Release Date: 2001-02-05Ernest Miller and Kevin Nash disrupt CEO Ric Flair's established order. Scott Steiner defends the WCW Championship in a Handicap Match.
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Episode 7 - Nitro 282
Release Date: 2001-02-12CEO Ric Flair's plans are derailed by Kevin Nash. Ernest 'The Cat' Miller must defend his status as WCW Commissioner. Plus, DDP and more!
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Episode 8 - Nitro 283
Release Date: 2001-02-19With Kevin Nash forced into retirement, Ric Flair's regime has a new target. Plus, Rick Steiner, Buff Bagwell, and many more in action!
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Episode 9 - Nitro 284
Release Date: 2001-02-26Diamond Dallas Page brings back a familiar face to further torment Scott Steiner. Plus, Dustin Rhodes, Jeff Jarrett, and more in action!
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Episode 10 - Nitro 285
Release Date: 2001-03-05Dusty Rhodes returns to Nitro to help his son against Ric Flair's regime. Plus, The Steiner Brothers in tag team action, DDP, and much more!
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Episode 11 - Nitro 286
Release Date: 2001-03-12Scott Steiner looks for answers after one of his favorite 'freaks' is attacked. Stacy Keibler returns with a little bundle joy.
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Episode 12 - Nitro 287
Release Date: 2001-03-19A familiar face returns to Nitro to shake things up in WCW. Booker T targets Scott Steiner and his World Title. All this and more action!
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Episode 13 - Nitro 288
Release Date: 2001-03-26After some of the most memorable and endearing moments in wrestling, WCW comes to the end of their journey with the final episode of Nitro.