A list of the greatest moments from WCW Monday Nitro history

Let’s talk about the greatest moments in the history of WCW Monday Nitro. A lot of people look down on WCW in general. When I put up a poll asking what the greatest moment in Nitro history was, many people jokingly said, “When it ended.” But I think that’s unfair. WCW produced some truly great moments over the years. Without Nitro, there wouldn’t have been a Monday Night War, and that era was arguably the hottest period in wrestling history.

Let’s take a look at some of the greatest and most memorable moments from WCW Monday Nitro…

Lex Luger Returns (First Nitro – September 1995)

The debut episode of Nitro kicked off with a bang when Lex Luger made a shocking return to WCW. Just a week or two earlier, he was competing in WWE, so his appearance stunned fans. It set the tone for the unpredictable nature of the Monday Night War. Luger showing up told fans that WCW was a place to watch — “the place to be.”

Lex Luger Wins the WCW Title (August 1997)

On the 100th episode of Nitro — and the first three-hour edition — Lex Luger defeated Hollywood Hogan to become WCW Champion. The crowd reaction was massive, and the locker room poured out to celebrate. While Luger’s reign was short-lived (the title returned to Hogan just a week later), the moment remains one of WCW’s most electric.

Eric Bischoff Joins the NWO (1996)

After initially being attacked by Hall and Nash, fans thought Bischoff was firmly Team WCW. But when he revealed himself as part of the NWO, it shocked everyone. The idea that WCW’s executive producer was aligned with the invaders added huge intrigue and unpredictability to the storyline.

Dennis Rodman Joins the NWO (1997)

At the height of his NBA fame, Dennis Rodman appeared on Nitro alongside Hulk Hogan in Chicago. Rodman joining the NWO gave WCW major mainstream exposure and made the faction feel like pop culture icons. The crowd reaction was insane, and it cemented WCW as the “cool” alternative.

Karl Malone Gives Hogan the Diamond Cutter (1998)

During the build to the Bash at the Beach tag match (Malone & DDP vs. Hogan & Rodman), Malone delivered a Diamond Cutter to Hogan on Nitro. The crowd exploded, and the segment drew tons of mainstream attention, helping the pay-per-view achieve one of WCW’s biggest buy rates ever.

NWO Attacks WCW Stars Backstage (1996)

One of the most famous Nitro moments ever saw the NWO ambushing WCW wrestlers backstage at Disney MGM Studios. Rey Mysterio being thrown like a dart into a trailer remains iconic. The chaotic scene, paired with the commentators’ stunned reactions, made the invasion feel frighteningly real.

Bret Hart Outsmarts Goldberg (March 1999)

In Toronto, Bret Hart challenged Goldberg, only to be “speared” — revealing a steel plate under his jersey. The crowd went wild as Bret stood tall. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much follow-up due to Bret’s real-life issues with WCW and the tragic passing of Owen Hart, but the segment remains a gem.

Chris Jericho’s “1,004 Holds” (1998)

A classic comedic segment saw Jericho reading his endless list of holds — even continuing after the commercial break. It became a breakout moment that showcased Jericho’s charisma and sense of humor, proving he could hang with WCW’s biggest stars.

The Giant Joins the NWO (1996)

Just when fans thought The Giant was coming to WCW’s rescue, he instead choke-slammed several WCW wrestlers and joined the NWO. This twist added to the group’s mystique — nobody was safe from being recruited.

Scott Hall Invades Nitro (May 1996)

Scott Hall’s debut — walking through the crowd and declaring, “You want a war? You got one!” — marked the beginning of the NWO storyline and changed wrestling forever. Fans thought WWE was invading WCW, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.

Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen Reunite (1998)

After a real-life legal battle between Ric Flair and WCW, Flair made an emotional return in South Carolina to reform The Four Horsemen. With tears in his eyes and the crowd roaring, Flair’s return was one of Nitro’s most heartfelt moments. This led to Starrcade 1998 and Flair’s feud with Eric Bischoff, culminating in another emotional victory when Flair defeated Bischoff to “regain control” of WCW.

Owen Hart Tribute Match: Bret Hart vs. Chris Benoit (1999)

In Kansas City’s Kemper Arena — the site of Owen Hart’s tragic accident — Bret Hart faced Chris Benoit in a beautiful, emotional tribute match. It was a pure wrestling classic and a heartfelt memorial to Owen, widely considered one of WCW’s classiest moments.

DDP Turns on the NWO (1997)

After weeks of teasing an alliance, DDP accepted an NWO shirt — only to hit Scott Hall with a Diamond Cutter and toss Kevin Nash over the top rope. The crowd erupted, and it became DDP’s defining moment, cementing him as a WCW main eventer.

Goldberg Defeats Hogan for the WCW Title (July 1998)

In front of over 40,000 fans at the Georgia Dome, Goldberg pinned Hollywood Hogan to win the WCW Championship. Every fan in the arena was on their feet. It was the peak of WCW’s success — a perfect torch-passing moment that solidified Goldberg as a megastar.

Ric Flair vs. Sting (Final Nitro – March 2001)

WCW’s final match fittingly featured two of its greatest icons: Ric Flair and Sting. Despite the company’s decline, this moment was emotional and poetic — the end of an era for WCW and the close of the Monday Night War.