WCW US Championship Tournament – 1996
– Quarter-Finals
11/25/96; Salisbury, MD; Wicomico Civic Center
Monday Nitro
– Lex Luger fought Arn Anderson to a double count-out when Luger put Anderson in the Torture Rack as both men were brawling on the floor
11/25/96; Salisbury, MD; Wicomico Civic Center
Monday Nitro
– Eddie Guerrero pinned Konnan
12/2/96; Dayton, OH; Hara Arena
Monday Nitro:
– Chris Benoit pinned WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal in a non-title match at 6:26 with the dragon suplex after flipping Regal upside down in the corner; for much of the bout, the camera had a wide shot but no reason was given; after the contest, Gene Okerlund conducted an interview in the aisle with Arn Anderson, Steve McMichael, Debra, and Benoit in which Anderson asked where Woman was, with Benoit saying she was taking care of Horsemen business; moments later, Debra insulted Woman; Anderson then said he would take Benoit at his word
12/9/96; Charlotte, NC; Independence Arena
Monday Nitro:
– Diamond Dallas Page pinned Jeff Jarrett at around the 10:30 mark after WCW Tag Team Champion Scott Hall ran out and, as WCW Tag Team Champion Kevin Nash distracted referee Randy Anderson from the floor, Hall dropped Jarrett with the Outsider’s Edge; Hall & Nash then left ringside with Hall giving the DDP hand sign; after the contest, Gene Okerlund conducted an in-ring interview with Page in which he said he didn’t need the nWo, compared them to a broad that wouldn’t leave him alone, and said no one wanted the US title more than him
– Semi-Finals
12/23/96; Macon, GA; Civic Center
Monday Nitro:
– Eddie Guerrero pinned Chris Benoit at 10:36 after knocking Benoit off the middle turnbuckle with an elbow to the face and then hitting the frog splash, with Guerrero turning 180 degrees in mid-jump; prior to the bout, footage was shown of Benoit beating Guerrero during the 11/18/96 Nitro; during the match, Kevin Sullivan cut an insert promo in which he said Benoit was in his trap, despite “taking his queen” (Woman); moments later, Diamond Dallas Page joined Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyszko on commentary to discuss his potential opponent for the finals at Starrcade
– Finals
– Eddie Guerrero pinned Diamond Dallas Page with the Frog Splash to win the title at 15:21 after Syxx, WCW Tag Team Champions Scott Hall & Kevin Nash came out with Hall dropping DDP with the Outsider’s Edge as Syxx distracted the referee; after the bout, Guerrero fought off all three members of the nWo before he was eventually triple teamed and had the belt stolen by Syxx
