WCW Monday Nitro Review – WarGames 2000: 09.04.00

As we heard many times on Raw this past week, it is WarGames season as well as Blood & Guts season. Insert William Regal saying the catchphrase here if you’d like. While the modern day WWE and NXT WarGames are fine or horrible, depending on how you feel about things, a lot of us still equate WarGames with WCW. WCW brought us WarGames and had some of its best matches in the double cage as well as a few stinkers.

I thought I’d look back on one of them today. A good one? Heavens, no. I watch things that aired on Monday nights for this place. We’re going to Monday Nitro, to WCW in 2000, and to Russo’s Revenge. What if we call it WarGames but we do it in the cage from the cinematic classic “Ready to Rumble” instead? And what if we center it around Vince Russo?

The episode is under two hours as a whole which is shorter than all the Raws I sit through. Hey, let’s watch this episode of Monday Nitro to really get us in the WarGames mood. Well, in some kind of mood.

After the WCW logo zooms in to warn us, a video package runs through what we’re into tonight – Russo’s Revenge, the triple cage, two teams of four men, and of course the World Heavyweight Title on the line. How is the title on the line in a four-on-four match, you ask? Don’t worry about that. We’ll explain it as we go.

Earlier today, the WCW crew put together the triple cage. I need Vault to bring us the extended footage.

Arrivals! It’s like Raw! Vince Russo, Scott Steiner, Kevin Nash and Jeff Jarrett are here. We’re in Dallas, Texas. I don’t remember this opening video at all, but I also have rightfully blocked most of 2000 WCW out of my brain because I value my mental health.

WCW World Tag Team Titles: The Dark Carnival (Insane Clown Posse) vs WCW World Tag Tearm Chapions Filthy Animals (Juventud Guerrera & Rey Mysterio with Tygress, Konnan and Disqo)

We’ve decided to go with the Dark Carnival chyron for ICP tonight though they’re the only two members of the Dark Carnival present. Konnan calls ICP two cranberries before the bell rings and ICP attack. Tony Schiavone asks who has the stroke to give ICP a tag title shot which is a fair question, but this is Nitro baby. Konnan and Disqo join commentary because Mark Madden isn’t enough.

Rey and Juvy work over ICP early, diving over them to the outside. This is maskless, devil-horned Rey who looks like six-year-old Dominik. We are 13 days away from Fall Brawl, notes a giant graphic that takes up half the screen. Tygress forearms Shaggy 2 Dope which leads to Rey doing the Bronco Buster. Violent J knocks Juvy to the outside. They double-team Rey Rey as referee Charles Robinson is just ignoring all tag rules. Violent J presses Rey twice which is impressive, though Juvy leaps in with a dropkick to stop the second one. Juvy holds J and Rey drops a leg right to J’s insane clown crotch. Rey gets the pin.

Rey Mysterio pins Violent J, The Filthy Animals defeat ICP to retain their tag titles. Well, it was quick. It wasn’t particularly good, but I did appreciate Violent J doing the body presses. Apologies to my search history for me having to figure out which insane clown was which.

Pamela Paulshock has found Team Canada. Lance Storm says that they won Major Gunns as a prisoner of war for Canada, so she’s having to train. She’s running a treadmill of course because yes, the hot blonde running on a treadmill is a necessary thing.

Meanwhile, The Cat, Miss Jones and Booker T are getting in a limo. Tony says they are getting ready for tonight’s match. Are they not there? Are they leaving? I’d be leaving too.

The cage is lowering as we go to break. What could be happening? Could be anything! Could be nothing at all! Come back after this commercial and we’ll find out!

At Fall Brawl, Kevin Nash faces Booker T for the World Heavyweight Title.

The triple cage has lowered and here comes Vince Russo along with the Natural Born Thrillers. Vince heads into the cage. It is three cages, a large cage with a smaller cage with an even smaller cage on top. The WCW World Title hangs over the top cage, the middle cage is a weapons cage and then there’s the bottom cage. You have to use a ladder to get up. Russo is making a bunch of football jokes while wearing a hockey jersey. Sports!

Russo tells us there are things we know and things we don’t know. You have to get the title, climb back down and walk out the door. The one who walks out will be champion. He gives us insider talk and calls his team – Russo, Jarrett, Steiner, Nash – the babyface team and they’ll face the heel team – The Cat, Booker T, Goldberg, and Sting. Tony argues that there are no teams but he’s thinking too hard. Russo says that Cat has no power tonight so all four of Cat’s team have to win qualifying matches to get into the match. If Goldberg wins his qualifying match, he’ll waive the non-physicality clause he has against Goldberg. Well, at least they aren’t overcomplicating things.

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Kevin Nash comes out and walks through the many Natural Born Thrillers to join Russo. Nash ask Russo what he is smoking, saying that he only defends his belt when he says so as we see Nash’s belt hanging above the right. “I’m not some fighting champion, I have to defend it once a month.” Roman Reigns is laughing somewhere at the 30-day rule. Russo tells Nash that he can’t tell him what he’s going to do because he’s the boss. Nash reminds Russo that “out here, I’m your daddy” and chokes Russo in the corner before the lightning strikes and Sting pops up through the ring mat with a microphone. Sure, why not. Russo pushes Nash into Sting and tells him to kick his ass, Nash responds with middle fingers and leaves. Sting promises to qualify and become World Heavyweight Champion because it’s showtime, folks.

Russo gives Sting the “up yours” motion when he thinks Sting isn’t looking then go scurrying up the ladder into the second cage. Sting chases and Russo runs. Scott Steiner and Jeff Jarrett join us to climb after, Sting and Steiner battle on the second cage as Russo climbs to the third and the Natural Born Thrillers battle Cat and Booker T (who appeared in the battle) in the ring. Sting climbs up after Russo who runs back down. As Russo leaves, “Theme from Goldberg” plays and Goldberg walks out, Russo running off the ramp and behind the curtain. Goldberg leaves, running back to find Bischoff. That was a lot.

This portion of Nitro is brought to you by Western Union – the fastest way to send money worldwide!

Vince Russo is in his office with an angry Steiner and Jarrett. Jarrett tells Russo that it is his problem.

Tony Schiavone, Jeremy Borash and Mark Madden join us from ringside. Borash lost a bet with Russo about the ratings and had his head shaved by the Nitro Girls. Boy, at least we won’t be talking about ratings in 2025, right? Scott Hudson left earlier today as his wife went into labor. Borash and Madden are wearing sunglasses, very necessary in an arena.

The Harris Brothers have joined us. Aren’t we lucky. They have shot some home footage and are demanding it is played, saying we’ll be minus a few announcers if they don’t. I dare them to not play it. We go to it, with the Harris Brothers outside a bar. Kronik are in and they attack, breaking pool sticks and glasses over their heads. The horror.

The Franchise and Torrie Wilson are in Russo’s office. Franchise wants Goldberg tonight, but then Franchise brings in the Natural Born Thrillers. Torrie tells them to leave and that Douglas can do this on his own. Franchise thinks he can and the match is set. Russo tells the Thrillers to watch his back.

WarGames Qualifying Match: Sting vs Vampiro & The Great Muta

Sting vs Muta was once an exciting idea. Sting vs Vampiro… well, we got a lot of that, and it sucked. I personally sat in the arena at Bash at the Beach 2000 and had to watch the graveyard match on a screen so maybe I’m just bitter. Tony tells us to log into tntbull.com and join us for “Bull” after Nitro. Hey, we’re watching some bull now. No, that site doesn’t lead anywhere interesting in 2025. Vampiro has the JCW World Title with him and is in full Juggalo mode while Muta is basically NWO Muta. Sting fights both men off for a while until Vampiro dives onto him from the top rope. We have no explanation if Muta and Vampiro take Sting’s place if they win. Muta tries to mist Sting but hits Vampiro instead. Stinger Splash, Scorpion Deathdrop and Sting pins Vampiro. ICP come out to get between Muta and Vampiro who are arguing.

Sting pins Vampiro to qualify for WarGames. This was not good, but it was short.

We’re back to the Team Canada workout. The very sweaty Major Gunns is doing an arm workout now. “But I don’t want to be Canadian!”

Stevie Ray is in Russo’s office now. He threatens to take Stevie’s Thunder gig away if Stevie doesn’t go out and wrestle his match tonight, telling Stevie he could be champion tonight. So now we assume that the winners could be in the cage match if they defeat the guys trying to qualify against them. We’re learning stuff.

Nash, Jarrett and Steiner are talking backstage. Jarrett pledges teamwork and tells Nash to get over it. Nash says maybe he’ll play for the other team tonight.

WarGames Qualifying Match: Stevie Ray vs Booker T

Stevie has a mic and tells us he had a funny feeling in his gut about Russo. He tells us Russo is tearing his contract up if he doesn’t wrestle his brother tonight. Stevie says they’re doing it for the fans, not for Russo. Booker has a mic of his own and tells Stevie he has one thing to say to Russo: don’t hate the player, hate the game. Stevie attacks Booker and rosses him to the outside. Booker fights out of a hold and takes Stevie down with a flying arm and then cuts his brother down with the ax kick before giving us a Spinaroonie. Stevie catches Booker and tries for a Flapjack, Booker muscles out and tries for the Bookend. Booker catches him a second time and this time gets the Bookend, advancing to WarGames. Stevie tells Booker to keep his guard up and gives him a hug.

Booker T pins Stevie Ray to advance to WarGames. Hey, this wasn’t bad for a four-minute sprint.

Kronik are here in the tightest shirts ever. They find the Jung Dragons who do some stereotypical accents before Kronik chokeslam Jamie through a table.

Back from break, 3 Count are in the ring on their circles. They’re interrupted by Kronik (Kronic for purposes of the chyron) and take all three down with the High Time chokeslam. After obliterating Kronik, Brian Adams calls out the Harris Brothers. Why do you hate us?

Jeff Jarrett bree-woos out instead, calling them “Mary Jane blunt nuts.” He tells them they aren’t getting the Harris Boys tonight, but he does have a use for them tonight.

WarGames Qualifying Match: The Cat (with Miss Jones) vs Kronik (Brian Adams and Bryan Clark)

Jones has a neck brace due to Jarrett kabonking her with a guitar on Thunder. Jarrett joins commentary and says women belong in the kitchen. Cat tells Kronik they’re on the same page and they should beat the hell out of Jarrett. Clark goes after and Cat rolls up Adams, being the smartest man in the building. It doesn’t work though. Jarrett goes for Miss Jones, Cat goes for the save. Kronik beat up Cat as Jarrett stalks Jones with the guitar. They hit High Times and Adams pins Cat.

Kronik defeat The Cat to advance to WarGames. Well, it wasn’t boring.

Vince celebrates The Cat being out, but Steiner tells him he is a dumb son of a bitch. Scott Steiner hasn’t lied yet as Tony tells us Vince has realized that Kronik are in the match. Russo made the match and has been making the rules as he goes tonight, so he is naturally very upset by the consequences of his actions.

Goldberg is warming up. This is a good spot to mention that Asuka has won a title in every year of her WWE contract.

WarGames Qualifying Match: Goldberg vs The Franchise (with Torrie Wilson)

Madden calls Torrie “the hottest bimbo” because he is the worst. If you ever think watching Divas eras matches with Jerry Lawler on commentary is rough, the “Mark Madden commentating ANYTHING” challenge is even harder. Torrie tells the crowd that they make her sick and she wants to get out of this hellhole. Franchise says that Goldberg started something he can’t finish. The Goldberg chants are there but not nearly at the level they used to be. They are louder for him than anyone else but Sting so far though.

They brawl outside and Goldberg throws Douglas into the rail. Goldberg punches at Shane but hits the ring post instead because he’s a big dummy. Asuka would never. Franchise works over Goldberg’s arm on the steel steps. This is where i notice they’ve just taped over the hole that Sting came out of earlier which doesn’t seem safe but feels very WCW. Goldberg muscles Douglas up and down as the Natural Born Thrillers come out to attack. Goldberg fights them all off and hits Reno with his own move, reminding me that Reno had a move (the dice roll). Franchise goes after Goldberg with a chain-wrapped fist but takes a spear instead. Jackhammer and pin.

Goldberg pins The Franchise to advance to WarGames. Well, the crowd were into it. Goldberg was impressive fighting off the Thrillers.

Russo is questioning how he gets into these things in his office. Well, you see you created the match, created all the rules, and then set up ways for the rules to come against you.

Commentary take us to the Castrol GTX replay with Goldberg taking down Douglas and the Thrillers.

Russo finds Nash backstage and apologizes. He needs Nash, please. Nash has an agenda to walk out with his strap and make sure Russo doesn’t walk out. At least we won’t have any swerves, right?

It’s the final training for Major Gunns, now swimming in a pool. It seems very easy to become a Canadian, perhaps I’ll try. Misfits in Action are watching from afar as Lance Storm tosses Pamela Paulshock into the pool. MIA toss Storm and Elix Skipper into the pool and now we’re all fighting.

Vince Russo has collected all 584 of the Natural Born Thrillers. He puts Vito in a gauntlet match against the Thrillers.

A wet Pamela Poundshock is backstage with Arn Anderson, having gotten from the pool to the interview area in three minutes. Arn tells her how hot she looks then questions why David Flair would even want to get married but he promises to be at the wedding next week. He’ll even bring Ric Flair with him. Arn is probably just happy he’s not having to be in a triple decker cage.

Big Vito vs The Natural Born Thrillers (Mark Jindrak, Sean O’Haire, Reno, Chuck Palumbo, Johnny the Bull, and Mike Sanders)

Sanders makes homeless jokes, Vito returns with mama jokes, Sanders says some stuff, Vito makes gay jokes, Sanders makes fat jokes, and Sanders says Vito will have to run the Thrillers gauntlet against “all five of us.” There are six men.

The Thrillers – the six of them -run in and Vito goes at them with his stick. He can’t keep the advantage long as they beat him down. Madden floats the idea of a six-man title and somewhere Tony Khan has a smile on his face. The Thrillers win and beat down Vito afterwards with the stick as Tony questions who could stop this. Nobody tries to help.

Natural Born Thrillers defeat Big Vito. It happened.

Our WarGames teams are getting ready backstage.

Pamela is with Sting, Booker and Kronik. Book tells Russo that they’re coming for him tonight. Kronik laugh about Cat being out and the two of them being in together, saying they’re sticking together. Sting says Russo isn’t getting out of this mess.

WarGames 2000 for the WCW World Heavyweight Title: WCW World Heavyweight Champion Kevin Nash, Vince Russo, Scott Steiner and Jeff Jarrett vs Goldberg, Kronik, Sting, and Booker T

Tony explains that the men come in at two-minute intervals and the match can end at any time. Jeff Jarrett is our first man out; Sting is the second. Well, it would be an easy win if one of these two won now before the others came out. Sting and Jarrett battle outside. Sting tosses Jarrett into a ladder as the timer counts down for our third man.

Big Poppa Pump is next and Sting is at a disadvantage. Scott is wearing a face mask. Sting tries to climb into the second cage, but they hit him with the ladder, Sting falling crotch-first onto the ropes. Steiner presses Sting and Jarrett brings in the big orange ladder. If WCW did ladder sponsorships, it would probably be the Surge Ladder. Steiner and Jarrett work over Sting as commentary questions why they don’t go for the title.

Out fourth entrants are both members of Kronik as Steiner goes into the second cage. Steiner grabs some bolt cutters and cuts the lock off of the second cage’s door – as Kronik beat down Jarrett below. Kronik join and work down Steiner. For height purposes, the second cage is roughly the same height as the video screen.

Number five brings out Vince Russo in a hockey helmet and joined by the Harris Brothers. Kronik beat Steiner with a kendo stick as the Harris Brothers climb into the second cage to go for them while Sting beats Jarrett on the bottom cage. Sting has caught Russo in the bottom cage and takes him down with a Stinger Splash then hooks on the Scorpion Deathlock.

Big Kev is out sixth. I’m having a hard time picturing Kev climbing up to the next cage or having any desire to do it, but he did say his plan is to wait at the door for the man that comes down with the title. Sting misses a splash and Nash chokeslams him. He threatens one on Russo, but Steiner talks him out of it. The Harris Brothers and Kronik are on the arena floor now for reasons which means we’re back to an empty middle cage. Kev is going after Steiner now as we have entrant seven.

Booker T goes for Jarrett and Steiner as Nash walks around the outside of the ring. Russo takes a kick of his own before Nash runs in and boots down Booker. The fans chant for Goldberg as Jarrett sets up the ladder again. As the clock counts down, they’re all beating down Sting and Booker.

Goldberg is last but not least, Nash running out of the ring as Goldberg attacks. He clotheslines Jarrett and Steiner. Russo cracks a baseball bat over Goldberg’s back as Booker climbs to the second cage. Nash is at the doorway, ready to take the belt from whoever comes down with it. Goldberg is handcuffed to the ropes as Steiner works up to the second cage as does Sting. Jarrett’s found his way up too and Russo is in pursuit. Booker climbs to the top cage, and we get the overhead shot as he grabs the title, now having to come back down with it. He drops the belt as Jarrett punches at him. Booker smacks Steiner down and climbs down to the second cage with the belt. Sting is handcuffed to the second cage, something we completely missed in this production. Jarrett handcuffs Booker to the cage as Steiner drops the belt down to Russo.

Ernest Miller runs out and kicks Russo, grabbing the title. This doesn’t end well for Cat as Nash powerbombs him. Nash picks up the belt and smiles as Goldberg snaps the cuffs, kicking every man he can. He smacks Russo down and picks up the belt. Goldberg walks to the door and Bret Hart slams a door in Goldberg’s face. Of course he does. We know how Bret feels. Jarrett tosses the belt to Russo who is stopped by Nash… who hugs him. Russo hands the belt to Nash and Nash walks out.

Kevin Nash wins the WarGames match to retain the WCW World Heavyweight Title. My god, we’ve been swerved again. As Tony says, “another Russo swerve.” Fans, we’ll see you on Thunder!

Well, when Tony tells us it’s “another Russo swerve,” that tells us we have a lot of Russo swerves. They become ineffective after a while, but we all know the Russo eras. The WarGames match itself was decent. We’ve had worse on Nitro. No, it wasn’t classic WarGames and yes, you probably go in watching now and expect Russo shenanigans. The match was never boring though. The production was a bit off – hey, Sting is suddenly handcuffed, sorry we missed that – but it was entertaining enough in that it wasn’t bad.

The show as a whole was the typical run of Russo car crash booking with something happening constantly but without anybody to tell Russo that he doesn’t need to be in every segment. I’d recommend giving the cage match a watch just as a spectacle if you haven’t seen it before, but you’re not missing anything if you skip the rest of the show.