I’ve told you all before about how I was actually one of the few that was able to visit the WCW Nitro Grill. The short-lived restaurant was part of the Excalibur hotel in Las Vegas, and yeah, I went there with Mrs. Deal to check it out. Don’t believe me?
Yep, there’s your proof. Zero idea why I felt the need to buy both a regular glass and a SHOT GLASS. That’s baffling to be honest, as I basically have never been a drinker, and even when I have, I haven’t done a single shot in my entire life. Yes, I’m that much of a nerd. A nerd that would drag his wife a pro wrestling restaurant when we were visting Las Vegas for the first time. My memories of the night are scant, and I can’t seem to find any photos of it. I do remember it was a Monday night, with my thinking it would be jam packed and a good time…and there was literally completely empty except for me and Mrs. Deal.
Still, I bet the grand opening was a great time, and lo and behold, WWE has found footage of it recently for us all to enjoy! Not sure who the guys are that are working the vault these days, but they definitely need a raise. Gotta love this clip of a steak being grilled with a WCW logo on one side, and a Nitro Grill char mark on the other. I’m pretty sure those scratchy video effects scream that’s something today’s WWE put in there and was not original, but…
…WCW did love their meat-related humor, so you never quite know. Also, I need that a t-shirt immediately.
Something else I need immediately is that Nitro Grill neon sign. That thing is amazing and I loves me some neon. It really is a coin flip if I’d rather have that sign or…
…this crazy Halloween Havoc pumpkin/demon combo. As I sit here and actually do ponder trying out to find and buy these items, I think I’d go with the Nitro Grill sign as 1) it’s smaller and b) I could have it up year round without the neighbors calling the HOA on me. I mean, unless I hung it up above the garage for all the world to see. Which honestly, I might. Either way, I’m about to go belly up from buying ancient WCW props.
So we get some shots of WCW wrestlers arriving, including Roddy Piper, who stops to take it all in. Then he very graciously shakes the hands of everyone, including the folks working at the front door. Have I ever mentioned how nice Roddy was in real life? Because that guy as an absolute gem. Blessed to have known him (and to have been a guest on his podcast believe it or not!).
Next up we get…these folks, one of which I’m pretty sure is Van Hammer, and another guy I think is Luther Reigns, but I wouldn’t put money on it. Nor will I do any research to check. There’s also an absolute smoke show that hops out as well. Hmmmm. I probably SHOULD do some searches and figure out who she is. You know, just because…well…I have no way to finish that sentence without sounding like a total creep.
Kevin Nash shows up and I’ll just be honest – he walks in like he freaking OWNS the place. Say what you will about the guy, but he had charisma out the wazoo. He also has terrible jokes, like telling us he knows Alex Baldwin. Yep, not Alec, ALEX. Maybe that’s a lost brother I don’t remember. Regardless, Van Hammer’s line about how being at the grand opening was more important than life and death landed better than that.
We get some shots of folks in the restaurant having fun, including this young man that has what appears to be a Nitro Grill polo shirt. Ok, that I do NOT want. Also, what’s the deal with the life preservers all over the walls? I mean, the company was starting to sink at this point but we weren’t full on Titanic quite yet.
Your pal and mine Eric Bischoff appears next, already starting to gray out. Eh, this company would do that to you. Probably could have just dyed it or something.
Going out on a limb and guessing BERLIN had a spare bottle or two. Also, looking at this guest list we are REALLY hit or miss on the star power here.
Curt Hennig shows up and he’s looking mighty dapper in that blue suit. Pretty sure he wore that exact same one on an old episode of Prime Time. I’d go back and research, but I’m still trying to figure out who that girl in the orange dress is.
Steve Borden makes an appearance. Yes, I said Steve Borden, not Sting, because to be honest, if you ain’t gonna put the effort into putting your face paint on, I ain’t gonna put the effort into calling you Sting. Also, did he steal that jacket from Randy Savage? Anyone seen the Macho Man today?
We go to the press conference part of the event, with “Mean Gene” Okerlund as your emcee. I mean, if you’re going to have an event like this, Okerlund is 10000% the dude you want as he’s the shillmeister of all shillmeisters. He introduces us to everyone, and sounds like we’re going to give Eric, Nash, and Sting mic time. I say Sting there because Gene introduced him as such. Eh, whatever. We also learn the Konnan, Ted DiBiase, Kanyon, Glacier, and the Nitro Girls are out in the crowd, as is Roddy Piper. Screw listening to Real Estate Steve, if I am there and they let Roddy Piper loose in Las Vegas, giving him the opportunity to do whatever Roddy Piper might choose to do, I’m hanging with Hot Rod.
Eric goes first, and is greeted with a ton of boos and catcalls. Bischoff shrugs and tells the folks, “If you keep that booing up, I’m gonna have them cut you all off at the bar!” Have I ever mentioned what a great heel character Eric is? He still pretends to be one on his podcast, and people buy it hook, line and sinker. Seriously, how gullible are you folks?
Steve comes up next, and he asks the crowd if they know what a mosh pit is, as he is FEELING IT! Feeling it so much he couldn’t bother to put his face paint on. Have I mentioned that yet? Sorry, it just rubs me the wrong way. Also, he isn’t going to crowd dive as he doesn’t want, and I am just quoting here, “the 18,000 lawsuits that would come with that.” He also tells us that while he hasn’t seen the menu yet, he hopes something has his “name or likeness on it somewhere.” Ok, that was funny, so much so I will call him STING the rest of the way out today.
And not to worry of course, as Sting gets not only a drink named after him…
…but a burger as well. I mean, it’s not as clever as a Goldburger or a DDB (!!), but I think we’d all agree it’s better than that cheesesteak.
Big Sexy, being the WCW World Champ at the time, gets the main event. Nash leads off by consoling the Stinger, noting that the menu does in fact feature a “Sting Lima Bean Casserole.” I kinda want to Google “lima bean casserole” to see if that is a real thing but I dread what a search like that would do to my poor browser. He then serenades us with his best Elvis impersonation belting out “My Way.” Ok, sure, Elvis did that one on his Hawaii shows, but it definitely wouldn’t have been my pick in an attempt to get a residency.
We wrap things up with a bunch of nerds doing nerdy things, and flabby old white men dancing poorly. Watch closely, and there’s a guy that shares my thoughts completely.
COMPLETELY I say. And there’s nothing I could possibly write that would top that. RIP Nitro Grill!