AUGUST 11th, 2003
with JIM ROSS and JERRY "THE KING" LAWLER


Eric Bischoff started off Nitro by calling out Adam Copeland. Copeland made his way to the ring and was instantly berated by Bischoff. Bischoff told Copeland that he was the boss, he made the decisions and if he wanted him to be on Nitro last week, he would've scheduled him in a match. Infuriated, Copeland responded by saying that he was screwed out of the WCW Championship at Back In Action and he won't be screwed out of doing what he loves: performing for the fans. He said that he wants Christian Cage in the ring and he wants what is rightfully his, the WCW Title.

Bischoff acknowledged the fact that the crowd was solidly behind Copeland and he caved in. He said that the fans obviously wanted to see Copeland in the ring and he has always been a man that gives the fans what they want. So tonight, Adam Copeland will get his match against Christian Cage. The fans and Copeland celebrated, but they were quickly brought down when Bischoff told them it'd be in a tag team match. The main event will be Adam Copeland teaming with Booker T to face the WCW Champion Christian Cage and Chris Jericho.

As Adam Copeland walked up the ramp to the back, Eric Bischoff informed him of one final thing. Bischoff said that HE would be the special guest referee!
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WCW IN THE PAST - Last week on Nitro - Rhino Gores and pins Matt Hardy in the WCW Tag Team Championship match.
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The opening match on Nitro pitted one half of the WCW Tag Team Champions, Rhino, facing Matt Hardy Version 2.0. Rhino's strength and surprising agility for a man his size allowed him to take control of a good deal of the match. Matt Hardy countered many times, but his offense never lasted long, as Rhino continued to command. Rhino Irish whipped Matt in to the turnbuckle and crossed the ring, setting him up for a Gore. He charged Matt but Matt sidestepped him. As Rhino collpased, Matt Hardy covered him and put his feet on the second rope for leverage to score the three count.
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Backstage, like last week, Billy Kidman and Torrie Wilson entered Eric Bischoff's office. Bischoff looked extremely annoyed to see them, and greeted them simply with a glare. Kidman asked why he and Torrie were left off yet another Nitro. Bischoff says that there just isn't room for everyone and besides, they're doing a good job of getting themselves on TV by constantly storming in to his office. Before Kidman could respond, Bischoff said he had phone calls to make so the couple needed to take their leave. As they walked out, Bischoff yelled for Stacy Keibler to come in to his office.
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Tough Enough 3's Matt Cappotelli and his tag team partner Johnny Jeter were in the ring awaiting their opponents for their Nitro debut. Very aristocratic, dignified music began playing and the team of Andrew Martin and Randy Orton made their way to the ring with Princess Jackie and Dawn Marie at the respective arms. As they entered, the match began.

Orton and Martin quickly took it to the rookies and officially welcomed them to Nitro. Jeter and Cappotelli's speed and innovative moves showcased themselves well and they offered a lot of offense for such a new team. It was a good effort, but not enough when Randy Orton nailed the RKO on Johnny Jeter and covered him for the win. After the match, Orton and Martin left the same way they came in, arm and arm with their ladies.
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Stacy Keibler stood cross-armed in Eric Bischoff's office as he repromanded her. He said that he didn't particularly like Stacy but unfortunately, he had to put up with her due to the fact that she was hired by the WCW Owner. Bischoff told Stacy that she needed to be better in determining the nobodies from the somebodies. People like Billy Kidman and Torrie Wilson were people who didn't need to be wasting his time begging to be on TV and those are the people that Stacy shouldn't let in his office. People like Christian Cage and Chris Jericho were somebodies and should gladly be shown to the office. Stacy rolled her eyes and asked Eric if he was done. He said yes, but before he cold even finish his response, Stacy was already out the office door.
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Backstage, the cameras caught Torrie Wilson and Billy Kidman looking very angry, pacing around. As they were passed by Andrew Martin, Princess Jackie, Dawn Marie and Randy Orton, they glanced at them with annoyed stares as the foursome made their way to the locker rooms. The snotty, Dawn Marie asked Torrie Wilson what she was looking at and before Torrie could respond, Martin and Orton brutally attacked Billy Kidman, shoving him in to nearby lockers. Torrie hovered over her fallen husband as the quartet walked away laughing.
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Elsewhere backstage, Jeff Hardy and Amy Dumas are sitting at a table talking. Jeff told Amy that he misses his brother. He came to the WCW to try to repair what he destroyed when he left the WWE. He told Amy that he gladly would've just given Shannon Moore the Cruiserweight title at Back In Action if it meant that he got his brother back. And he said that last week, he didn't mean to cost Matt the Tag Titles. He doesn't even know why he came down to the ring.

Amy told Jeff that she tried asking Matt why he couldn't just make up with Jeff, but she got no response out of him. Hearing that, Jeff just shook his head and looked towards the ground, obviously very upset.
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The other half of the WCW Tag Team Champions Chris Benoit was set to take on Lance Storm next. The match was as technically sound as anyone would've expected. The beginning of the match featured mulitple counters by both men and a marathon of near falls. Benoit hit Storm with the trio of German suplexes before locking in the Crippler Crossface. Storm made it to the ropes, but Benoit yanked him by his leg off the ropes, sailing him across the ring and crashing him back to the middle. Benoit again locked on the Crossface and Storm couldn't help by tap out giving Benoit the submission victory.
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Back at the table, Jeff Hardy was obviously having a hard time dealing with the situation. Amy told him that everything would work out. She stood up and gave Jeff a hug to console him. As the two friends were hugging, Matt Hardy walked in the room and instantly pulled Jeff off of Amy and shoved him back in to his chair.

Matt told Jeff that if he ever caught him with Amy again, he'd beat the living hell out of him. Matt grabbed Amy by her arm and dragged her out of the room, against her will. She told Matt to stop and think about what he was doing, but Matt just slammed the door as they left.
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Jamie Noble made his way to the ring next, with his girlfriend Nidia, to take on Rob Van Dam for the WCW United States Championship. The match was fairly one-sided, with Van Dam not letting up on Noble. Eventually, RVD hit the Five Star Frog Splash on Noble to pick up the win.

After the match, out of nowhere, Stevie Richards slid in the ring and blasted RVD with a steel chair to the back of the head. He stood over his fallen enemy and yelled that that should've been his title match and he'll show Rob Van Dam yet!
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Apparently in a hotel sauna, Randy Orton, Dawn Marie, Andrew Martin and Princess Jackie were in towels, sipping champagne and celebrating their victory earlier. Martin said that they're two for two and on their way to the top. Orton confirmed that and said that they were unbeatable. Dawn Marie laughed and said that it was nice to bring a High Society to the WCW. The foursome laughed as they continued to relax.
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In the ring, Harvard graduate Christopher Nowinski stood in a red-carpeted ring, with a microphone in hand. He welcomed everyone to the first edition of the Christopher Nowinski Show. He said that his first guest was the breakthrough member of the former Team Angle and will soon be a main event player in the WCW: Charlie Haas! Haas made his way to the ring and began trading pleasantries with Nowinski.

The two superstars swapped compliments with each other and Haas got straight to the point. He told Nowinski that he's been ready to break through for a long time. He was a tag team superstar in the WWE, but now, it's time for his star to finally shine! Nowinski asked how he was going to go about achieving his goal, and Haas responded by issuing an open challenge to anyone in the locker room for next week.

The Hurricane's music played and WCW's own Superhero made his way to the ramp. He accepted the challenge and said that next week, he was going to crush Haas' star and make him his bi-atch! An angry Haas gritted his teeth in anger as the Hurricane exited the stage.
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Backstage, Eddie and Chavo Guerrero were shown having a meeting, though the cameras couldn't pick up what they were saying.
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The Cruiserweight Championship was on the line next. Shannon Moore, not accompanied by Matt Hardy v2.0 this time around, was set to face Brian Kendrick. Kendrick dominated the match and it was his night to win the title. Every move Shannon Moore attempted, Kendrick countered with unorthodox, but successful counters. Kendrick matched Moore's generally unmatchable speed and stunned him without stopping. Kendrick hit the Sliced Bread #2 and covered Moore. The referee began the three count but it was interrupted when Eddie Guerrero appeared out of nowhere and broke up the cover by attacking Kendrick.

Eddie Guerrero laid the boots in to Kendrick as Shannon Moore, the loser by disqualification, made his way to the back with his Cruiserweight Championship in his arms.
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WCW IN THE PAST - Last week on Nitro - Trish Stratus ambushes Lisa Varon backstage.
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The biggest current rivalry in the women's division was about to be settled, as Trish Stratus was about to take on Lisa Varon. Both women went at it as though they were fighting for their lives. Varon screamed at Trish as she was on the offense, and Trish screamed right back at Varon when she was in control of the match. The ladies pulled out all stops and probably some of each others' hair as well. The match ended as Lisa Varon left Trish Stratus leaning against the top rope. Ric Flair climbed on to the ring apron and jumped to the ground, slingshotting Trish's head and throwing her to the mat. Varon made the cover and scored the three count easily.
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Backstage, Eric Bischoff was on the phone, once again with the new owner of WCW. Bischoff thanked the boss for apparent compliments that he was receiving and promised that things could only get better from here. As he hung up the phone, the WCW Women's Champion Gail Kim entered his office. He welcomed Gail and told her that he called her in to his office to tell her that he was simply amazed by her performance at Back In Action and he wants to see more of it.

He said that next week, he was originally going to schedule Gail Kim vs. Miss Molly, but seeing the Trish/Lisa match that just took place, it really made him want to recreate the greatness of the Pay Per View match. So next week, a fatal fourway match would take place with Gail Kim defending her title against Miss Molly, Lisa Varon and Trish Stratus. Gail Kim didn't seem phased by the match as she exited the office.
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"The Fury" Adam Copeland made his way to the ring for the main event. He grabbed a mic and began immediately by saying that he meant what he said. He wanted nothing more than to come out and entertain the fans. He said that Eric Bischoff couldn't phase him by not giving him a title match tonight, and he was glad he put himself in the spot of special referee. He said that makes Eric Bischoff a part of the match and if he gets in his way, he'll show Eric why his name is now "The Fury."

He went on to say that he'll eventually get his shot as his former best friend Christian Cage and the WCW Championship and tonight would just be a warm up.

Booker T, Chris Jericho, Christian Cage and Eric Bischoff made their way to the ring as Nitro went to their final break of the night.
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WCW IN THE PAST - Last week on Nitro - Christian Cage interferes in the main event, costing Booker T his match against Chris Jericho.
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It was finally time for the main event. The WCW World Champion Christian Cage was set to team with Chris Jericho to face "The Fury" Adam Copeland and Booker T with Eric Bischoff as the special guest referee.

The match saw frequent tags between Jericho and Cage as they isolated Booker T, while Copeland stood in his corner, anxiously awaiting his chance to tag in an explode. Eventually, after a vicious double clothesline, both Christian Cage and Booker T made tags and Chris Jericho entered the ring with a fresh and angry Adam Copeland.

Copeland immediately took it to Jericho and scored many near falls, which Bischoff was surprisingly counting at a normal pace, calling the match down the middle. During Copeland's onslaught, Christian Cage attempted to interfere but was cut off by Booker T. The four superstars began a brawl in the ring with Eric Bischoff trying to seperate them. Copeland threw Jericho out of the ring and then jumped over the top rope, landing on Jericho in the process.

In the ring, Booker T suddenly hit the Book End on Christian Cage and went for the cover. Eric Bischoff told Booker that he wasn't the legal man and he turned around and began counting out Jericho and Copeland. Bischoff then glanced back at Cage, seemingly giving him a signal, and Cage rolled up Booker T. Eric Bischoff administered an extremely fast three count and awarded the match to Christian Cage and Chris Jericho. This, only moments are not allowing Booker T to pin Cage due to not being the legal man.

Adam Copeland rolled in the ring as Christian Cage and Eric Bischoff exited. The trio of Bischoff, Cage and Chris Jericho walked up the ramp celebrating, as the show came to a close.
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MATCH RESULTS:
--Matt Hardy d. Rhino by using the secondd rope for leverage.
--Andrew Martin and Randy Orton d. Matt CCappotelli and Johnny Jeter when Orton pinned Jeter after the RKO.
--Chris Benoit d. Lance Storm by submissiion with the Crippler Crossface.
--Rob Van Dam d. Jamie Noble with the Fivve Star Frog Splash to retain the US Title.
--Brian Kendrick d. Shannon Moore by DQ wwhen Eddie Guerrero interfered against Kendrick. Shannon Moore retained the Cruiserweight Title due to the DQ loss.
--Lisa Varon d. Trish Stratus when Ric Fllair interfered against Trish.
--Christian Cage and Chris Jericho d. Adaam Copeland and Booker T when Cage pinned Booker after special guest referee Eric Bischoff made a fast three count even though neither Booker nor Cage were the legal men.