Small crowd takes in decent Nitro

By CHRIS SCHRAMM -- For SLAM! Wrestling
AUBURN HILLS, MI -- I went to Nitro knowing the full card. I only got one bonus. Well, I should say two.

I got a Jeff Jarrett vs. Stevie Ray match, and I got to see the return of Kevin Nash.

Well, I also can say I did not know what would happen in the United States Heavyweight title tournament. I had a big hunch, though, that I would see Mike Awesome get to the finals if not win it all. He did make the finals, losing to Lance Storm.

The Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan saw a special Tuesday Nitro on Tuesday, July 18.

Well, let me start off by what most people want to know: What you did not see on television. That is easy to answer. NOTHING. Two hours of wrestling? Wow, that is terrible. I remember when Nitro was three hours long.

Back then, we got three hours of wrestling guaranteed, and they even threw in a few dark matches.

They had all those guys not working tonight. They should have used them.

Well, let me say Bill Goldberg left quickly after the incident at the end. Maybe he was hurt? Had to catch a flight?

The crowd was small, but what can you expect? Within a five mile radius we had Pat Benatar, Grease and a Pontiac Silverdome sold-out performance by N-Sync. Well, we know how many people saw WrestleMania III in that arena, I can only guess how many were there tonight.

It is a Detroit crowd. We do not get into the matches that much. We sit and watch. I only had to rise to see when Kevin Nash came out at the end.

Oh, it was good to see them play off Scott Steiner being from the area. Kevin Nash is also a hometown boy so he got a large BOOM. He got the biggest of the night. Insane Clown Posse only got a small cheer. You love them or hate them. I love them.

We can not forget the guy who always gets front row seats for free, Rowdy Hogan. He is Detroit's own staple of wrestling. He is a Hogan look-a-like that the WWF found in the mid 1980s and he has flown to every pay-per-view since.

Some lady behind we said, "Who is that Hogan-looking guy?"

About ten people yelled, "Rowdy Hogan."

The big screen where the wrestlers' enter was closer to the middle of the arena. So they tried to make the crowd look bigger. It did not help. It was the smallest crowd I have seen at The Palace.

The Cat came across well with the crowd. The skit with the Jung Dragons really got a laugh. Mike Awesome really impressed the crowd. He has a great future by overacting (intentional or unintentional).

Lance Storm got great heat. This U.S. title reign can be really great to get his career going well. He has the skills and the microphone skills, and he has a great gimmick. The crowd booed him, chanted "USA USA" and it worked well.

The Great Muta over Vampiro was really shocking to people. The Great Muta has been forgotten here in the States, it seems. They should start him fresh.

Using the Nitro Girls? Oh, what an idea! The new batch is great on the eyes. Too bad Spice was not around. I know Shaggy 2 Dope of the Insane Clown Posse has a thing for her. Good to see them used on camera.

Nitro on television last night was the same as being there live. We got nothing extra. That is wrong and disappointing and WCW needs to fix this problem.

But in the end, I can say that I enjoyed the show because it featured wrestling. It really is easy to please me.