AUGUST 4th, 2003 with JIM ROSS and JERRY "THE KING" LAWLER To open Nitro, Eric Bischoff stood in the ring with the WCW Championship. He called out Christian Cage and told Cage that he is proud to announce him as the brand new WCW World Champion! He said that there hasn't been this deserving of a champion in a long time and he hopes that he wears the belt with pride. Christian Cage responded by telling Bischoff that he will be a fighting champion and he will do justice to the mass history of the World Title. But not tonight. He said that he needs to night off and a smiling Bischoff gladly gave it to him. ========================================== As Eric Bischoff made his way to his office, we were treated to Stacy Keibler standing outside the door. She told Eric that if she's going to be his new assistant, then she's going to need a key to his office. Bischoff snidely replied that he'll get on that right away. ========================================== One night after a harsh TLC match, Chris Benoit and Rhino defended their WCW Tag Team Titles against Matt Hardy v2.0 and the New WCW Cruiserweight Champion Shannon Moore. The matched featured styles of every variety. Moore used his speed to his advantage. Benoit brought the technical knowledge to the match. Rhino's brawling was unmatched by anyone else in the ring. And Matt Hardy's sometimes underhanded tactics got him the advantage more times than not. In the end, as Matt Hardy set up Rhino for the Twist Of Fate, Jeff Hardy appeared out of nowhere. It was enough to distract Matt and when he turned back to Rhino, he was met with a vicious Gore which led to the Benoit and Rhino victory. ========================================== Backstage, Matt Hardy ran in to his brother once again and accused him of costing him the WCW Tag Team Titles. He said that he doesn't care that Jeff's back in the wrestling business, but when he left the WWE, he lost a lot, including a brother. Matt told Jeff that he considered Shannon Moore more of a brother than Jeff ever was and Jeff needed to stay out of his business and out of his life. As Matt walked out of the room, Jeff just looked on blankly. ========================================== WCW IN THE PAST - Last night at Back In Action - Noble accidentally hit Tajiri with a chair, ultimately costing them their tag team match against Jeff Hardy and Shannon Moore. ========================================== With revenge on his mind, Tajiri was scheduled to face Jamie Noble tonight. Noble was accompanied to the ring, as always, by his girlfriend Nidia. The match was very fast paced but in the end, Nidia's constant distraction was enough to cost Tajiri the win, as Noble hit a top rope DDT for the win. ========================================== Backstage, Billy Kidman and Torrie Wilson entered Eric Bischoff's office. Bischoff asked them what they needed and Torrie simply asked if they were booked for tonight's show. Bischoff informed them that they're on TV right now, but unfortunately, that's about all the show they'll be on tonight. Eric ushers them out of his office, hoping they enjoy their stay in WCW. ========================================== Chris Jericho came to the ring next with a microphone in hand. Jericho said that last night was one of the most humiliating nights in his life. He went in to Back In Action as the favorite to walk out with the WCW Title and Booker T beat him. Jericho claimed that not only did Booker cheat, but the referee was conspiring against him as well. He went on to say that tonight, Eric Bischoff has granted him a rematch against Booker T and the result will assuredly be different! ========================================== WCW IN THE PAST - Last night at Back In Action - Eric Bischoff pumped up "The Standard" Andrew Martin for his battle royale match for the United States Championship only to have Martin be the first man thrown from the ring. ========================================== A very angry "Standard" Andrew Martin, accompanied by Princess Jackie made his way to the ring to team with Randy Orton, who was accompanied by Dawn Marie. They were set to do battle with the team of The Hurricane and Rey Mysterio. Hurricane and Mysterio's speed helped them immensely, but in the end, it wasn't enough. Randy Orton eventually hit the RKO on the Hurricane to pick up the victory. ========================================== Backstage, Jeff Hardy was huddled in a corner, looking very depressed. ========================================== "Nature Boy" Ric Flair's music hit and the 16-time World Champion made his way to the ring. He said that he has a legacy to uphold. In the WWE, he managed Triple H and together, they were on top of the world. So the WCW will be no different. He said that he's taken two individuals under his wing, two diamonds in the rough, so to speak, and he will mold them in to future World Champions! He introduced his two proteges, Stevie Richards and Lisa Varon! ========================================== WCW IN THE PAST - Last night at Back In Action - Gail Kim pins Lisa Varon to become the New WCW Women's Champion. ========================================== Stevie Richards and Lisa Varon stood in the ring awaiting their challenge tonight, the two people who beat them in their respective matches last night at Back In Action: the New WCW United States Champion Rob Van Dam and the New WCW Women's Champion Gail Kim. The match was extremely fast paced with frequent tags between partners. In the end, behind the referee's back, Stevie hit the Stevie-T on Gail Kim allowing Victoria to get the easy victory. ========================================== Backstage, "The Fury" Adam Copeland busted in to Eric Bischoff's office. He demanded to know why he wasn't booked in a match on tonight's show. Bischoff told him that he should face reality. Last night at Back In Action, Copeland proved that he was a loser, and he can't have losers screwing up Nitro. Copeland gave Bischoff a death stare from hell and slowly backed out of the room. The expression on Copeland's face gave the impression that he needed to leave, otherwise he was going to murder the President. ========================================== Brian Kendrick faced off with Chavo Guerrero in a high flying Cruiserweight match up. Eventually, Kendrick pulled off the win after nailing Chavo with Sliced Bread #2. After the match, as Kendrick was celebrating on the second rope, Eddie Guerrero snuck up behind him and hit him square in the back with a steel chair. A floored Kendrick was helpless as Los Guerreros stomped the life out of him in the middle of the ring. ========================================== Amy Dumas was shown backstage kneeling down talking to her friend, Jeff Hardy. She told him that she doesn't understand why Matt said the things he said and that she'd talk to him about it later. Jeff seemed to take little consolation in the things she was saying and mostly just stared at her with a blank expression. The solemn moment, however, was broken up as screaming was heard in the distance. The screaming was Lisa Varon, as she was being attacked by Trish Stratus. Trish was yelling at Lisa, telling her that last night, Lisa tried to hurt her, but tonight she won't try to hurt Lisa, she'll succeed. Trish's attack continued until officials could seperate the two. ========================================== WCW IN THE PAST - Last night at Back In Action - Booker T pins Chris Jericho with a Book End to advance to the main event for the WCW Title. ========================================== In the main event tonight, Chris Jericho was dead set on getting revenge on Booker T for defeating him last night at Back In Action. The match was as good as the match last night, with the only difference being Jericho's appearing to be twice as aggresive. During the match, the referee was knocked out by an avalance in the corner by Booker T. As Booker T was setting up Jericho for the Scissors Kick, Christian Cage appeared out of nowhere and nailed Booker with a steel chair. Cage them threw a cup of water on the referee and woke him up just in time for him to make the three count after Jericho nailed Booker with the Lionsault. After the match, Christian Cage and Chris Jericho double teams Booker T, stomping him in to the mat until Adam Copeland ran in with a steel chair, clearing the ring of Jericho and the World Champion! Copeland stood in the ring looking as angry as ever as Nitro came to a close! ========================================== MATCH RESULTS: --Chris Benoit and Rhino d. Mattitude to reetain the WCW Tag Team Titles when Jeff Hardy distracted Matt Hardy allowing Rhino to nail the Gore and get the pin --Jamie Noble d. Tajiri with a top rope DDTT --Randy Orton and Andrew Martin d. The Hurrricane and Rey Mysterio when Orton pinned Hurricane after an RKO --Stevie Richards and Lisa Varon d. Rob Vann Dam and Gail Kim when Lisa pinned Gail after Stevie hit Gail with a Stevie-T --Brian Kendrick d. Chavo Guerrero with Sliiced Bread #2 --Chris Jericho d. Booker T with the Lionsaault after Christian Cage nailed Booker with a steel chair