Raw vs Nitro "Reliving The War": Episode 17 - Jan 8th 1996

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Its time to visit 8.1.1996 and take a look at monday night's wrestling shows. The 2nd WWF Monday Night Raw and WCW Nitro broadcasts of 1996 feature names like Ric Flair, Jeff Jarrett, Hulk Hogan, Eddie Guerrero, Goldust and many more. Both the WWF and WCW are going head to head, it's Raw vs Nitro for TV ratings supremacy!
The January 8th edition of WWF Raw features the debut of Steve Austin. Austin came into the WWF as "The Ringmaster", the latest addition to The Million Dollar corporation. Austin would go on to become a key player in the Monday Night Wars, so this broadcast of Raw is quite noteworthy. Also on the WWF side, we see another Billionaire Ted skit while Shawn Michaels reveals his status for the 1996 Royal Rumble.
On Nitro, a huge tag team main event is booked featuring The Mega Powers taking on The Horsemen. Sting is also in action against Diamond Dallas Page, and Eddie Guerrero tries to steal the show once again against Lord Steven Regal.
Topic and matches:
00:00 - Jeff Jarrett vs Hakushi
04:04 - Alex Wright vs Chris Benoit
06:29 - Ahmed Johnson in a squash match
07:32 - Steve Regal in action
10:03 - Promos on Raw and Nitro
12:16 - DDP vs Sting, Goldust vs Aldo Montoya
15:33 - Raw and Nitro Main Events
22:48 - Final Scores
- Much More!
#WCWNitro #Raw #Wrestling

[@WrestlingBios]

Botched again - date at the start should say Jan 8th. Andre The Giant facepalm.

[@jeffdew7110]

You get a pass! Great job as alway

[@roderictelford5765]

You're videos are top notch quality. The concept is original amongst so many other wrestling channels. We really appreciate you. Keep the good work.

[@thomascrowley9122]

You're only human

[@trevordavis5053]

We knew what you meant!

[@jonathonlyons4417]

Keep in mind that for the people like me, who had limited access to PPV and only got the shows because a friend taped them for me, I appreciated the main event replay on RAW. That said the Mega Powers always get my point. Even with Hogan's worsening no selling, I was Mega Powers, baby. Randy Savage is the absolute pro

[@monsterthrash]

As a kid who could never convince their parents to order a PPV, getting a PPV match on TV was amazing. Let alone a Bret Hart title match.

[@Mark_733]

A landmark Raw without anybody realising it. And now it begins.

[@ZaidKhan-dc4wo]

I saw what you did there

[@CurlyFromTheSwirly]

​@@ZaidKhan-dc4wo What? What did he say? I don't understand. 😂 (j/k)

[@KEWLV1C]

Much like how Eric Bischoff used to look forward to Tuesday’s to see the ratings, I look forward to Thursday’s to see a new edition of Reliving the War!

[@kyle7053]

I would straight up scrub the house top to bottom, do dishes, laundry, etc to get a ppv cause that's when you couldn't use the black box anymore lol so they were like 45 dollars. Now they're like 70 aren't they??

[@CurlyFromTheSwirly]

​@@kyle7053 When were you watching? I used to know people who had free per views. 😂

[@SBandy]

"Steve Austin's debut is quite important to the Monday Night War" Hell of an understatement!

[@marinosa1819]

"Give me a little time." Lol You take as much time as you need brother this is awesome what you're doing and thank you 👍👏

[@CrimpJuice02]

I want to reiterate the thank you. I literally look forward to this every week.

[@robattewell6087]

Take all the time you need, reliving the war is brilliant, the memories that come flooding back are awesome

[@KurtisElgood]

Still working my way through these I love them!

[@ickbar]

At the moment, this really reinforces what Eddie said himself. 'They lost their backbone, when we left.'

[@aspectra]

The midcard was integral to the success of WCW Nitro. At the time, very few WWF diehards would argue that WCW didn't have the better undercard. Eddie, Benoit, Booker, Malenko, Mysterio, Jericho, etc. They were admired by fans on both sides, and when some of them got to the WWF during the wars, it was exciting as hell, because we long wondered what the matches would be like with WWF talent, and we finally got to see it.

[@Bertaut]

When people talk about the best wrestler never to be WWE champ, they tend to focus on the usual suspects - Perfect, Piper, Rude, Hall, Dynamite, Roberts, Steamboat, Owen Hart etc, all of whom are legitimate choices, but I would absolutely include Regal in that list. I don't think I've ever seen in him in anything less than a three-star match and his promo work was exceptional. Insanely talented guy.

[@kingoftheswing38]

I agree he a real wrestler.

[@kevinpayton2664]

Regal certainly deserves to be mentioned.

[@ZaidKhan-dc4wo]

Bro He can bring the better out of a normal wrestlers too look how he made the way for wwe in the modern era by giving us gem wrestlers like Seth Rollins , Jon Moxley ,Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch.

[@toddzombie8777]

I read your comment as if those were 4 wrestlers: Perfect Piper Rude Hall Dynamite Roberts Steamboat Owen Hart

[@nikeneon3188]

They actually wanted make him champion in 08 (when he was RAW evil manager), but he was suspended for Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy.

[@abdulhammouda4884]

Cannot stress enough how good this series is. Litterally reliving those things weekly is class and if this goes and goes its a series I'll rewatxh

[@johndemler838]

Hey man, I love what this show has become. It is clear you care very much about the product you are putting out. Im a fairly new fan, but i have binged a ton of your videos, new and old. Keep up the great work 👍

[@WrestlingBios]

Thanks John! Always surprises me to hear people binge these videos, it's a pass-time thats turned into something people really seem to enjoy so complete win-win! Thanks again and hope you enjoy :)

[@mitchellima4736]

@Turd Ferguson I second this question. He obviously watched in the 90s but I'm wondering when he actually started watching.

[@connorstork9197]

How the heck are there 4 dislikes? This series is my life now 😂

[@jeffjackson9679]

Bischoff: "Hey, Hulk, you think you can just sell for ONE move, in your match with Flair and AA?" Hogan: "DOESN'T WORK FOR ME BROTHER!"

[@sillyrascal3382]

Ahhhh.....sure, just the chokeslam. Oh, they can't do that move? Well have the Giant come to the ring for whatever reason.

[@ii9714]

Don't forget Hogan sold out the Tokyo skydomme brother

[@MisterGravelrama]

I enjoyed your comments about Regal. As a young person when this was happening I was not a fan. In fact I often found him annoying & wanted him to lose, but turns out I was actually being worked on another level. Appreciating wrestling psychology vs. high spots is an interesting dynamic. I know many of us always say the "good old days" were better & while I try to watch from time to time, I just can't get into the current product. Thank you for making these videos for us to not only relive the good times, but also to reiterate the fact that the "good old days" truly were great.

[@hoodclassic_nl5382]

Well two years later, did you eventually get into the current product?

[@MisterGravelrama]

@@hoodclassic_nl5382 I like this question as the answer is ever evolving and could be different at any time. Currently, I am enjoying watching AEW, particularly because of MJF. While WWE can still put on some good matches in the ring, I don't care for the story telling (minus the Bloodline angle, that was well done). Something about the free, mostly unscripted, raw (unintentional pun) bits that we get from AEW are more appealing to me than overproduced, forced acting. None-the-less, nothing holds a candle to these days that this channels recaps in my opinion. Still, the wrestling/sports entertainment business is always changing, adapting, and evolving, and I respect anyone's reasons for finding joy watching on any platform presently or from the past.

[@CaptnMasm]

I legit wait for these uploads. This was such a great idea for a series!!! I love re living the story week to week, really brings back memories...Can't wait to get to the episodes of RAW that I'm actually in attendance! Cheers!

[@danielhudson5424]

Any Hint's Where You'll be Standing/Seated When The Episodes on Reliving The Monday Night War by Wrestling Bio's come on That Have You Attendance?

[@CaptnMasm]

@@danielhudson5424 I don't remember the date off the top of my head, but its the first RAW at Madison Square Garden, when Austin stunned McMahon for the first time. I can be seen at the start of the show when Austin comes out through the Audience, and I can be seen for a good few seconds before Hunter comes out for his match with Cactus Jack

[@danielhudson5424]

@@CaptnMasm Thanks & You Was At Those Great Shows You Lucky Person-I'm From England & I'm A Fan & I Had WWF/WWE Merchandise Like The Hasbro WWF Ring With WWF Championship Belt & Toy Wrestlers Along With WCW Toy Wrestlers Each Came With Belt (Bought By Parents & Aunty & Uncle When I Was a Kid), Bedsheets, Posters, etc. I Bought The Magazines, T-Shirts, DVD's, Video Games When I Became a Fully Grown Adult But Todays WWE is Mostly shitty Writing (Except For Nxt) Compared To The Golden Age & Attitude & Ruthless Aggression Era's.

[@olbloodngut4039]

I remember Austin's debut like it was yesterday. Another great video from Wrestling Bios.

[@xthe_nojx5820]

Be he either Steven or William, Lord Regal is your favorite wrestler's Favorite Wrestler.

[@jamesbounds]

I'm glad Austin didn't keep the ringmaster gimmick for too long.

[@herpderp7264]

Ted went to WCW not long after the NWO formed so it kind of had to end. I was watching the Kane session on Austin's Broken Skull podcast last night and Austin said he hated the ring master gimmick and wanted to do his own thing.

[@ii9714]

@@herpderp7264 Lucky Vince agreed

[@AIMalek]

It was a pretty good starting gimmick though. I don't think the stone cold gimmick would've worked if it was introduced right at his debut

[@BadLamprey]

It's kind of bananas how much I look forward to this every week.

[@herpderp7264]

Same. I watch both the Nitro and Raw before the Wrestling Bio weekly review comes out so i know exactly what he is talking about.

[@NaZtRdAmUs]

Steven Regal V Eddie Guerrero now thats a match I would always pay to watch.

[@igorivanov299]

Definitely. There's no higher echelon of professional wrestling than those two.

[@igorivanov299]

@Sky Blaze21 Regal is the cup of tea of wrestling. The most deserving to never win the big one. They don't make 'em like Regal anymore.

[@heidisierra1250]

I fell asleep listening to Wrestling Bios on autoplay and spent the next day at work listening to him on my Bluetooth earbuds--i am starting to speak with an Irish brogue now 😂😂😋😋

[@craigusselman546]

Cool idea to relive those crazy days..this is better than the dull WWE of 2020,

[@HPKazan]

Johnson’s weird move on the jobber looks like a turbo-charged Uranage, a judo throw made popular by Hiroshi Hase. except he grabs the guy by the neck with both hands instead of one hand around neck, and the other around waist. And it seems he was trying to launch him on the moon. Alright, enough nerding out on moves.

[@randomnerd3402]

Dang, I'd love to see you analyze wrestling matches.

[@HPKazan]

RandomNerd RightHere LOL !

[@paulsletten8985]

Hey. Hey...its always time to talk about pro wrestling moves. Always!

[@HPKazan]

Paul Sletten My favorite part of wrestling

[@randomnerd3402]

@@HPKazan You'd probably have a good time analyzing Mike Awesome's innovative moves, he was always innovative during his time. Very underrated wrestler unfortunately.

[@themaxx2195]

My favourite time of the week. Thanks again WB.

[@ReaverPrime]

Steve Regal was the quintessential example of the concept of Television champion. The showcase champion that got to show off his talent week in and week out. Guys like him are why I miss the Television championship concept. People were enamored when Cena used the concept with US championship. Defending the belt every week against a different opponent. That is the very essence of what the Television championship was. Folk like seeing gold on the line. Even if its gold the brass doesn't see as important. Regal, Arn, and Booker in WCW, Van Dam in ECW, and now Cody in AEW. They all solidified what a showcase match with a Television championship can bring to the table.

[@wizardwaluigi8623]

Wow that billionare ted segment literally predicted the exact guys who switched over; Razor/Scott Hall and Diesal/Kevin Nash

[@jeremiahhardin4453]

We all appreciate the time and effort you put into these videos. We love them.

[@stephenmcshane546]

I remember watching steve austins debut and this promo

[@stephenmcshane546]

@Seth Kaplan yeah that ring master guy just disappeared. What? Vanished, What? Into thin air, What? You can't see him, What? I ain't talking about John cena son, What? I'm talking about stone cold steve austin, What? The toughest, What? Badest, What? Son of a bitch, What? And that's the bottom line cause stone cold said so...

[@thomascrowley9122]

OH HELL YEAH

[@stephenmcshane546]

@Turd Ferguson don't What me son I'm liable to open up a can of woop ass on ya

[@joeymarchant3241]

This series is brilliant for someone like me born in 97 who grew up watching wrestling just after the wars era and attitude era Thank you for all your effort!

[@Fitand50Formula]

I’ve been enjoying how you see the stories developing in the ring and how they build them prematch. I stop watching wrestling a long time ago but find myself watching again looking for the stories being told in the ring seeing if wrestlers remember during the match that their knee was supposed to be injured. How they sell or no sell their opponents.

[@case112738]

You have the best historical wrestling channel. Hands down. Keep doing what you do, I look forward to every video.

[@MrOvlov02]

these always give me flashback. thanks

[@thegeordiearchitect]

Great video, amazing content with so much care as usual. Thanks!

[@anthonyversace9548]

The amount of work you put in is incredible. Thank you

[@kakamesh]

This is becoming my favourite KZbin segment. Watching this makes me relive this time when i watched wrestling. WCW opening/cruiser weight was stacked. This is before the NWO. I'm not expecting raw to win anything until the attitude era is in full swing (late 97?)...if i remember correctly when i was watching it, nitro going 3 hours instead of 2 was the turning point for me...it wasn't the same after that. Only now do i realise what a golden era this was for wrestling. WCW may have lost in the end but it really changed wrestling for the better. It really does feel like we need another war.. wwe is so boring now...

[@richardshepherd6551]

Best channel on KZbin. Will be checking out the site for sure

[@davidferon1478]

These episodes makes my Thursday

[@ZjTwams]

I'd just like to point out the attention to detail in the intro alone - note how when the intro track gets to the "Move to the music" bit, the clip shown is of guys playing air guitar on chairs XD Noticing this on episode 17 of this phenomenal series only makes me love this guy more. He deserves awards for this work!

[@BaneClandestine]

These are such a memory lane trip. I was 3 three days away from 14th birthday when this Raw aired. I always watched the Raw live as I lived with my Mum, and I used to watch Nitro on the weekends when I went to visit my Dad.

[@tythegolfer6279]

Best part of the week. Cheers mate like always!

[@modernpoet3997]

I really look forward to this every week.

[@robertrinehartjr9090]

I'm a crack head when it comes time to watch ur bio's...I don't watch it anymore but was a die hard fan during this era....great fu*king shows

[@powerhavengaming2854]

So great man! You have the best Wrestling Channel on KZbin! I loooooove your videos!! I was too young to really appreciate the monday night wars back then. Thanks so much for your excellent videos.

[@bigpasty1582]

Favorite part of my week now!

[@askashik]

This is a highlight of my week! Man, I miss the Monday Night Wars. Keep up the awesome work, and keep these coming for as long as you want, I will watch these until you stop. Awesome job as always Wresling Bios!

[@pablowoods1848]

Good gawd a mighty, thats the music for Wrestling Bios!

[@gen-x-dad]

This is my favourite thing on you tube, so jazzed when a new episode is posted

[@kingprune]

Aw yeah highlight of our Thursday! Keep it up you beautiful beautiful man

[@donaldsalkovick396]

Even though you're a WCW guy haha i am glad i found this series, i started with episode one last week and I look forward to watching every one. I can appreciate the time and effort you have in making them (although the watching the shows part sounds more like pleasure than work )

[@shawnthomas6160]

To the person or persons responsible for wrestling bios thank u so much for all the videos to put out on all topics. Giving me a chance to relive the best part of my childhood growing up. Thank u. Now if I can find a way to relive mighty morphin power Rangers, we be on...

[@MS-it9vv]

Love this series and look forward to it each week. Keep going! 🙂

[@ErikN1982]

More than anything else i enjoy about watching through all of this, is the sudden "OH YEAH I REMEMBER THAT GUY!" i get at least once a video. So many wrestlers that i thought were great got very short runs, eventually turned into jobbers, and then vanished. Meanwhile guys who sucked were around forever and got constant titles and big events just because they were big fat guys or because they were friends with someone backstage. Especially in the WWF. Although watching this it seems just as common in WCW, but with bigger names who used to be big or would go on to be big somewhere else. Hakushi, The Portugese Man o War, HOG and PIG. Belfast Brusier, Boston Brawler. I Always wanted to see more of the Japanese guys especially, but they never stayed long.

[@actaylor86]

Thank you for showing your site. I literally had no idea you had one. Definitely checking that out. Got to support you however I can.

[@diesel101raw]

Dude it's really cool u have a Website. U are 1 of the BEST Wrestling Channels on KZbin right now

[@randomnerd3402]

Just what I needed.

[@JerBuster77]

This Ringmaster guy is never gonna make it big.

[@TheShockninja]

I agree. I think his career is going to go stone cold at this rate.

[@TheShockninja]

Yeah really. xD

[@irieite9666]

He certainly won't be a megastar like Jeff Grettler.

[@delanoarts3703]

Also I wanted to thank you nothing brings me back to a young adult and thinking about how much the world has changed like watching the ultimate ratings fight of the 90s I really appreciate your work even if I disagree with a few things you are still awesome

[@samuelmedina9984]

I love how you blend it both Monday nitro and Monday night raw entrance music together that was cool

[@philwebb8049]

I really appreciate the amount of work you put into the whole Channel content - Well done buddy 🖒

[@E_l_l_i_e]

Your website is as awesome as your channel. I especially like the search option, where you can filter the videos according to your wrestler or topic of preference. Perfect for binge watching your materials. Great job!

[@wormX666]

Thank you for your stellar work as always. I would really like to see you dip your toes into international wrestling stars in the future if you have the time and patience. Jinsei Shinzaki and Masato Tanaka would be great to cover since they both wrestle and are still very very good at what they do. Thanks for everything you do on this stellar channel

[@blade8989]

Always looking forward to these vids!

[@jayparker9225]

My god!. How far you come already you take all the time you need we ant going anywhere and it looks so exciting!!. I dint post enough but i hato say how grate this channel is!!. 💪💪

[@chrisharper8158]

Great work! great episode! Digging the MNW stuff on your page as well.

[@laggerftv]

The absolute best intro song ever for a vid, this mix is absolute 🔥

[@justinrad5073]

Plz keep making these 🙏❤️

[@PJErvin]

I really enjoy these.

[@NextGenesis88]

Awesome website, I am going to favorite it now.

[@heathmichaels885]

these vids are great, I was watching at the time

[@PrimevalDemon]

Duuuuuuuude your website is beautiful, your dedication and devotion is truly impressive. So inspiring. It can't be easy, so thorough too! I'm late and Binge watching these post wrestlemania 39 (currently April 7th Friday 4:20 AM 2023) but even though unlikely to be seen I want to say thank you for your passion. I absolutely am looking to participate in your patreon soon! Take care.

[@sparks4270]

Really enjoy this, takes me back.More fans should subscribe. Quality, factual... Keep it up.

[@sparks4270]

Wish Hogan sold just a bit..

[@seanabbins5481]

I love this series; keep up the good work please. I will respectfully disagree on one of your calls here (I normally agree with you.) You give the point to the debut of the Ringmaster because of the "historic" importance of Steve Austin in the Monday Night Wars, but if you are watching this in January 1996 you do not know about that historic importance. You are not seeing "Stone Cold" Steve Austin; you are seeing the Ringmaster, quite a lame gimmick for a guy who had a pretty good career up to this point. Meanwhile, the Sting/Lugar thing was unique. I have been watching wrestling a long time, and this was the first time we had seen a heel and a babyface as friends without either of them turning for a prolonged period. This made for a lot of interesting storylines and it was very creative. I would say it was historic, because one thing that separated the Monday Night War era from the earlier era was that heels and babyfaces were being redefined and there were more "tweeners." There was also realism that hadn't existed before. The stringent separation of heels and babyfaces was becoming more nuanced and it made wrestling a lot better than it had been. This angle with Lugar was the first step in that direction and it was compelling at the time because it was so different. There was nothing compelling about the Ringmaster, which is why it was scrapped in short order.

[@scotty2hottie626]

love me some regal , he's a technical old school badass. Love how you mentioned his facial expressions. good stuff usual.

[@KIrvin_The_Scholar]

I really hope you continue this show beyond the Monday Night Wars & eventually get into Thunder vs Smackdown, Raw vs Smackdown, Monthly WCW vs WWE PPV comparisons & eventually the Wednesday night wars with NXT vs AEW. Keep up the excellent work my friend.

[@maksteel5593]

Nice reserch dude you put in the work all pro my dude good job

[@guacamole9199]

I've yet to check out the website, but pretty sure I'm going to have to, as it sounds awesome all well put together. Also by the sounds of it, the site is only going to get better. Really enjoy the content you make and appreciate the effort you must put it, cheers. 10 points 👍

[@chindub6563]

I literally look forward to this series all week n have watched every episode amazing work much love from south Carolina bro n I look forward to seeing next week bro

[@aaronbyrne1444]

Keep it up brother. Excellent stuff. You made me found an appreciation of 123 Kid

[@4foot2]

Great episode

[@tdtv2167]

Maaan I know I’m late but this channel is awesome fr

[@emperortrevornorton3119]

Regal vs Eddie that was WCW Gold both looked strong in it. I am glad you put this up

[@jasonwohlers8527]

What I find is hilarious is while Vince was mocking Hogan and Savage, you know he would've welcomed one or both back with open arms

[@oldironsides4107]

Had the honor of whipping and nailing all of them with batteries. Dropped them all clipping the ankle bone or wrist. I can’t think of a wrestler I didn’t nail with batteries in the 90s. During walkouts and walkouts.

[@mr.rodgers3745]

Thank you. Lovevthese

[@freshparkfilms]

Dude your killing it!

[@igorivanov299]

*you're

[@billdenny9599]

22:38 ECW fan giving Mikey Whipwreak some WWF PPV time with a sign. I use to love spoting ECW signs in the crowd on WWF and WCW television. Wrestling Bios should do an entire episode on cool or funny fan made signs lol it was such a big part of seeing live shows in the 90's. Everytime we went to a live show for either we spent weeks deciding what our signs would say.

[@fishstix6976]

Please!!

[@abcvsxyz9646]

I like this idea. Its a segment thats gonna last for a good while. Smart stuff, kudos

[@rauladdams5709]

I've had a heartbreaking, adrenaline fueled, interfamilial mess of a day. Terrible doesn't even begin to cover it. I needed this video. Thank you. ❤

[@brucewhite360]

Greatest Wrestling chanel of all time!

[@iceventura2047]

Awesome memories from the golden era of wrestling entertainment 👍

[@dougwalker9286]

Always love when the heel uses the rope with the abdominal stretch.

[@johnnymccloud3917]

Love the Series 🥰 as an one man i Love all these old memories. Gz from germanY

[@bcal8118]

Favorite time of the week

[@UncleMus93]

Spit my beer out when you said " Yall wanna see a squash match?"

[@justinbrutcher1579]

WCW did that a lot too. They would advertise a match next week whether it was one of their ppv or Nitro that was the exact same or just slightly different then the main event you were seeing that night. They might as well say "We're going to show you the same thing again next week!"

[@mrowley7300]

Take your time on the site man, no need to rush

[@RichJT87]

The screenshots of hogan you get always make him look like such an arse. I love it.

[@wulver810]

I just got to 11 Aug 1997... damn if that won't be one of the best match ups in reliving the war. It's like the birth of the best days of wrestling.

[@Jiren261]

Raw Post mania 97 is great

[@justaguy2365]

Great stuff!!! I remember never really being impressed with Hulk through the 90's.

[@maxxxmodelz4061]

These reviews of what is arguably the most important era of Pro Wrestling are great! I'd just like to say that having lived through the wrestling eras since the late 70s, it's hard to overstate how important Hulk Hogan was to the industry. I know that in these later years before his iconic heel turn, Hogan was extremely boring and obviously just going through the motions for a payday, but at the time, Hulk was still extremely over. It's easy to look back on it now and see it for what it really was, but when it was happening, there was still something about Hogan that popped the crowds every time. And his heel turn came at absolutely the perfect moment because his shine was just starting to fade then. That heel turn changed the industry as much as his face turn back in the early 80s when he won the title for "America" against the Iron Sheik.

[@benkernow280]

I feel your pain about deciding between main events and taotally agree with your decision. The matches for war next week look great. I am wishing I had access to wow back in the day.

[@bigbaddawg101]

I watch these videos in preparation to hop back in the ring with a local company. It helps me get my mojo back.

[@BringBackSOAD]

Boooooooooooooooo