S01E01 September 4, 1995
Nitro 001 The biggest stars of World Championship Wrestling are on hand to make history on the debut edition of WCW Monday Nitro from the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota. World Heavyweight Champion, Hulk...
WCW Monday Nitro
Overview
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.
Episodes
S01E02 September 11, 1995
Nitro 002 Hulk Hogan puts the World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Lex Luger. The high-flying Sabu makes his WCW debut against Alex Wright. Sting defends the United States Championship against V.K. Wallstreet. "Macho...
S01E03 September 18, 1995
Nitro 003 The Giant has some strong words for Hulk Hogan. Harlem Heat puts the Tag Team Championship on the line against the American Males. Paul Orndorff takes on Johnny B. Badd. Plus, see footage...
S01E04 September 25, 1995
Nitro 004 On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro Macho Man Randy Savage looks to take down the leader of the Dungeon of Doom, Kevin Sullivan. Hulk Hogan has a proposition for The Giant concerning...
S01E05 October 2, 1995
Nitro 005 Lex Luger puts his World Heavyweight Championship opportunity and his career on the line against "Macho Man" Randy Savage. World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan looks to confront The Giant. Eddie Guerrero goes one...
S01E06 October 9, 1995
Nitro 006 Sting returns to defend the United States Championship and solve the problems between "Macho Man" Randy Savage and Lex Luger. Mean Gene Okerlund interviews World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan. Ric Flair battles Arn...
S01E07 October 16, 1995
Nitro 007 The team of Sting & 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair take on Brian Pillman & Arn Anderson in the main event.
S01E08 October 23, 1995
Nitro 008 On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro the Dungeon of Doom introduce their insurance policy for Halloween Havoc in the form of the frightening Yeti! Macho Man Randy Savage goes one on one...
S01E09 October 30, 1995
Nitro 009 On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro the shocking events from Halloween Havoc are revealed. Mean Gene Okerlund interviews the reformed Four Horsemen. Lex Luger teams with new ally, Meng, to take on...
S01E10 Nitro 010
World Champion, The Giant, is in action against Cobra; Sting battles 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair.
S01E11 Nitro 011
On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro armed with a sword, Hulk Hogan steps further into the darkness to challenge the Dungeon of Doom. Macho Man Randy Savage goes one on one with Meng. Johnny...
S01E12 Nitro 012
On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro Hulk Hogan meets Sting in a huge main event match up. Mean Gene Okerlund interviews Jimmy Hart and Kevin Sullivan. Scott Norton takes on the Shark. Eddie Guerrero...
S01E13 Nitro 013
Sting teams with Lex Luger to take on Brian Pillman & Arn Anderson in the main event. Hulk Hogan goes up against Hugh Morris. Johnny B. Badd takes on Diamond Dallas Page in a rematch...
S01E14 Nitro 014
"Macho Man" Randy Savage puts the WCW World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Lex Luger. The WCW executive committee levies heavy sanctions against Hulk Hogan, The Giant, and Ric Flair. Harlem Heat battles The...
S01E15 Nitro 015
Sting teams with Hulk Hogan to face Ric Flair & Arn Anderson. WCW World Heavyweight Champion "Macho Man" Randy Savage discusses his future and his upcoming match against The Giant. "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan faces Lex...
S01E16 Nitro 016
Hulk Hogan continues his quest to rid WCW of the Dungeon of Doom. "Macho Man" Randy Savage battles The Giant in the main event. Ric Flair goes one-on-one with Eddie Guerrero. Sting faces Earl Robert...
S01E17 Nitro 017
On this special holiday episode of WCW Monday Nitro long time rivals face off once again when 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair battles WCW World Heavyweight Champion, 'Macho Man' Randy Savage. Dean Malenko goes one on...
