On this date 24 years ago, from the Boardwalk Beach Resorts in Panama City Beach, FL, WCW held its final Monday Nitro on TNT.
In fact, it was the final WCW live event ever produced.
Several days earlier, the World Wrestling Federation, after years of competition throughout the Monday Night Wars, purchased several WCW licenses, 24 contracts, and an incredibly valued tape library.
With WCW entering its final day as an active product, all eyes were on Nitro. And, to me, there was no bigger moment than Booker T vs Scott Steiner: Title for Title to open the in-ring portion of the program.
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Booker T, prior to the year 2000, had a stellar career in WCW. A ten-time WCW World Tag Team Champion with his brother Stevie Ray in Harlem Heat and a six-time WCW Television Champion, Booker's gradual rise to the next level of the company was organic and grassroots. His hard work was impeccable.
However, the first half of the first year of the new millennium was incredibly intriguing. First, Harlem Heat embroiled into a brutal war with one another, thanks to the inclusion of Midnight. Then, at SuperBrawl in February, Big T beat Booker T, subsequently losing the "T" in his name. Although he and Kidman began to form a solid tag team in March, once Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo returned to WCW in April, Booker found himself, again, on the outs.
This time, Booker was forced to return to a persona he portrayed in the beginning of his career. GI Bro stood alongside his comrades in the Misfits In Action to take on the New Blood.
Thankfully, WCW, in particular Vince Russo, came to their senses, and in the middle of the infamous "Bash At The Beach 2000" incident, Booker T defeated Jeff Jarrett to become WCW World Heavyweight Champion on July 9, 2000 in Daytona Beach, FL.
Throughout the remainder of the year, Booker would win the championship two more times. After Mayhem 2000 on November 26, 2000, where he lost the World Heavyweight Title to Scott Steiner in a Caged Heat match, Booker would be out for the next three months following knee surgery. A tough break, especially with the roll he had been on.
After returning on the February 26, 2001 Nitro, saving Diamond Dallas Page and the Cat from the Magnificent Seven, Booker set his eyes on Rick Steiner and procuring the WCW United States Championship. At Greed, WCW's final pay-per-view on March 18, 2001, he would do just that, taking the gold. The next night on Nitro, WCW's world would be forever changed.
Eric Bischoff announced, via phone call, that Fusient Media Ventures would be pulling out of the purchase for WCW. However, at the "season finale" of Nitro on March 26, 2001, it would be a Night Of Champions. And the main event would be Scott Steiner vs Booker T in a title-for-title match, in which the winner would walk out with both the WCW World Heavyweight and WCW United States Championships.
After an uber-intense confrontation following both men signing their contract, the stage was set.
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At Monday Nitro: Night of Champions from PCB, Booker T made history.
Scott Steiner came into this match with a severe injury, and against doctor's orders, competed his heart out. With Midajah by his side, "Big Poppa Pump" fought as valiantly as he could.
But it wasn't enough.
Following a counter to a Steiner power bomb, Booker T landed on his feet, delivered a devastating Book End, and got the three count. With the WWF, WCW's new owners, watching intently, Booker left the final Turner Network program as a double champion.
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To me, professional wrestling was never the same after March 26, 2001. The World Wrestling Federation became THE juggernaut in professional wrestling and never lost its footing. However, I can take solace in the fact that WCW, in spite of its, at times, inept management and corporate structure, the talent worked their tails off until the final bell.
Booker T personified that to a "T", no pun intended. This night solidified him as a bona-fide star. Had he not walked out as both WCW World Heavyweight and United States Champion on this date at the Final Nitro, I'm not sure he'd have the amazing career in WWE that he ultimately had.
However, he did, and he truly became the greatest wrestler that came over from WCW from the "Invasion".
Don't hate the player...hate the game.
Bankie Bruce
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