WCW Nitro Debuts on September 4, 1995

The inaugural episode of WCW Nitro premiered on September 4, 1995, at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, attracting around 2,000 fans. This event marked the beginning of a notable era in professional wrestling, as Nitro would go on to surpass WWF Raw in television ratings for over 80 consecutive weeks.

Despite its success, the debut faced several challenges, particularly with the announcing team. Bobby Heenan performed better than in previous shows, while Eric Bischoff struggled with match commentary. Steve McMichael's performance was criticized for being unprepared and lacking the charisma needed for his role. The matches were described as rushed, raising concerns about future episodes, especially with a packed lineup planned for the following week.

While the crowd's enthusiasm was evident and the wrestling quality was deemed good, there were concerns about storytelling, particularly regarding a non-finish in the Sting-Flair match, which could potentially deter viewers from returning.