Week 2 - Fallout from Spring Stampede
WCW Nitro
We get a video package recapping the previous night's Spring Stampede to start the show. Then we have security making sure the entrances to the arena are sealed off, commentary tells us it's an invited guests only party tonight.
We're live from the Metro Center in Rockford, Illinois, as commentary welcome us to the show and we get our opening pyro. Tony Schiavone, Scott Hudson and Mark Madden are on commentary as glitter and streamers fall from the ceiling and the New Blood come out to the ring, lead by police, the arena filling with red balloons now. Jeez they really overdid it on these balloons, the whole ringside area is filled with balloons, and there seems to be an endless stream of ticker tape.
Russo gets a mic and has the music cut off finally, and says the fans can boo all they want, but it doesn't change the fact that he's better than them, and that this is what you call a New York party. He says last night the New Blood came into their own just like he said would happen. Meanwhile there's echoing of fans popping the shit ton of balloons that fell from the ceiling. He runs down the champions, starting with Candido, saying that he told him Sunny days were ahead. Subtle. Then Douglas and Bagwell, who beat Slick Dick and The Very Small Package. Then he goes to Steiner who just stands there and flexes. Russo brings up the Hardcore Title, the one title that eluded them, but that will change tonight. He says Funk isn't New Blood, he's not a millionaire, he's just too damn old. Then he brings up "that other small promotion where he used to work," the WWF, saying there used to be an old, crotchety old man who used to wear a black cowboy hat, and that this man did everything he could to keep Russo's next guest down. Then he throws the "subtlety" out the window and out right tells J.R. to kiss his ass, and introduces Jeff Jarrett. Madden mocks J.R.'s "bah gawd" because we needed that.
Jarrett makes his way out and has his music cut as he enters the ring, and tells the fans never to doubt him again, says he said it, he did it, and now they're all eating it. He says besides the birth of his child, this is the greatest day of his life. He wants to say something to that announcer sitting in State College, Pennsylvania and tells J.R. to kiss his ass too. Then he goes on to DDP, and says even though he beat his ass the night before, he has a proposition for him. He says that since New Blood is about opportunity, he's gonna hand one to DDP. He admits he was pissed off when he wasn't asked to be in Ready to Rumble, even if the actors weren't in his league. He brings up the three-tier cage used in the movie, and says in order to embarrass Page, in front of all his Hollywood friends, he's going to put his title on the line at Slamboree in said cage against DDP.
Russo chimes back in and wants to bring out his next guest, who grabbed the biggest prize of all last night, Eric Bischoff, and out he comes alongside Kimberly. Eric says he had a lot of fun last night, Jarrett beating Page was beyond his expectations. He repeats what he said last week, that he made Page and he can break him, and that's what he's going to do, but in a way that, according to Kimberly, Page was never able to do and make it last a long time, because torturing him is nothing but fun for Bischoff, and Page's beautiful wife is nothing but whipped cream on his cake.
Kimberly takes the mic now, and says that words don't begin to describe how sorry she is for having to hit Page with the guitar last night, a heavy thing to have to blow off, an 11 year relationship. She says that since day one, the relationship has been subjugated to the needs, schedule and opportunities of DD-Me. She says she's stood beside him and in his shadow all those years, and he made sure it happened, because deep down, he really knew that she was really the star. She says she's had opportunity after opportunity, that Eric has wanted to give them to her and she's had to say no every time, because DDP said so. She says from last night on, she's going to pay attention to Kimberly's needs, schedule and opportunities, and now her opportunity is standing right net to her, that being Eric. I mean this whole thing is kinda stupid, but all things considering she actually cut a pretty good promo. Delivery could use a bit of work but still.
Eric takes the mic back, thanking Russo for throwing the party, and Bischoff keeps going until we see a car pull up outside the arena and out comes DDP. A crew member tries to back him off and tell him he's not invited, and tells him to tell Russo and Bischoff that he doesn't give a rat's ass what they say, and clocks him in the face, along with other crew. Bischoff and Russo keep yapping off and Page enters the arena and heads out to the ring, finally interrupting Bischoff. Eric calls for security and the riot guys don't do anything. They enter the ring and turn out to be Flair, Sting and Package, helping Page clear the ring. Sting's music hits as they stare down the New Blood and go to commercial.
Back from break, we get a replay of what just happened. Then we go to the back where Bichoff is with Leroux, Bigelow, Morrus, Chavo, Booker and... Another guy I don't recognize, but anyways he's mad at them for not being out there to help. Booker says he shouldn't need them and this is a joke, but Bischoff pipes back up, saying the glasses Booker is wearing are a joke. Booker takes em off, Bischoff saying he's tired of his attitude and his ego, and says he has a very short period of time to get on Eric's good side and kicks them all out, telling them to get it right. He tells Russo to get Mike Awesome and have him kick Page's ass. In walk the crew members who's asses were kicked by Page coming into the arena, upset since they were told they had an easy gig tonight, that they wouldn't get their asses kicked, then tells Eric to keep the money and leave. The phone sat on the table beeps and it's Hogan calling, and says he'll be kicking Eric's ass in about 5 minutes, much to Eric's chagrin.
Back to the arena who recap what just happened and suggests there's dissension. Then we go to our first match of the night.
Sean "The Perfect One" Stasiak vs Curt Henning
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: It's very weird hearing Stasiak come out to knock off Mr. Perfect music and Henning come out to typical WCW generic music.
Ms. Hancock makes her way down before the action properly starts and then a lock up, Curt shoved into the corner. Another lock up and now an arm drag by Henning. Another lock up and now a hip toss by Henning. Curt goes to lock up but Sean sends I knee to the ribs and rights into the corner, whipping Curt into the opposite and follows with a hip toss and a scoop slam, Henning rolling out of the ring to recover.
Henning yanks Sean out of the ring under the ropes and some chops, sends him into the guard rail, another chop sends Sean onto the announce table before an elbow to the back of the head. Back in the ring, Sean back on the offensive, sends Curt off the ropes, who cartwheels to the side only to be hit with a clothesline. More rights and knees and a suplex, hooks the leg and a near fall. Curt reverses a whip off the ropes, off the ropes into a knee lift, then a forearm and takes out the referee in the process.
Sean reverses a whip off the ropes, but Curt hits the Henning-plex, but the referee can't make the count. Sean pulls some brass knuckles from his boot and clocks Henning, then wakes up the referee, before nailing the Perfect Plant, something like an F5, and gets the win in 3:48. I'm starting to get real tired of these screwy finishes.
Sean stomps away at Henning and... We immediately cut to inside a car... Oh it's a cop car? Why is there a cameraman in the back of a cop car? Anyways it pulls up outside the arena beside a couple other cruisers, and we see cops holding Hogan back. Hogan says he's going in one way or the other. Hogan just stares at them intently and... They just step aside? Um... Alright. Hogan walks in and heads out to the ring and I guess the beatdown on Henning is still going because the bell is being run repeatedly, but we see none of it. Hogan finally comes out and throws Sean out of the ring, then checks on Henning before we go to commercial.
Back from break, Hogan is still in the ring while Henning has left. Hogan says he wants to clear up a couple of things, that he's had a lot of time to listen to the fans in the last year about him, that they think Hulkamania is going to live forever. He says he's also listened to the critics though, about how Hogan's getting older, and Hogan points out that everyone else in the back is getting older too. He also talks about how they say he's losing a step or two, but says he's only lost half a step. He says the one question he hears over and over is if Hogan still has something to offer to the business, and he's here to say he damn sure does, he's here to lead by example. He says as far as his spot in the business goes, if anyone in the back wants to come out and take his spot, he's ready to kick their ass. He says you can mess with the character of Hulk Hogan, the gimmick, make him slip on a banana peel for the 1, 2, 3, or Bischoff and Russo can try and embarrass by making a fool out of him, but when they pulled what they did on Nitro last week and at the PPV, they're messing with Terry Bolea. He says as far as Terry's concerned, when they decided to try and take money out of his pocket, and food from his kids' mouths, they went way beyond the line, because Terry has more heart than the two of them or any wrestler in the back. He says as far as he's concerned, if anyone wants his spot, they better have it in their blood, a different breed of wrestler, because he's staying until someone kicks his ass and runs him off.
This brings him to Kidman, saying he's listened to him whine and cry to Eric and Russo, and the other promoters that have come and gone, how he wanted the big push, how he wasn't going to leave the hotel room until he knew what they were doing with him, and says Kidman makes him sick. He says he's starting with him tonight, and that if he wants his spot, to get his ass out there and try and take it. He says Kidman called him out last week, and this week he's calling his ass out, and hopes Eric and Russo are watching.
Kidman appears on the Tron and says he doesn't come running when Hulk says run, and tells Hogan to come get him back there, and Hogan says he's coming, while Kidman says he's ready, saying this won't be a match, a fight, that he'll kick Hogan's ass all over the place. He keeps talking despite the fact Hogan has already gone backstage and keeps talking crap. We see Bischoff standing behind Kidman, leaned against the white hummer, he keeps talking and we go to commercial.
Back from break, Hogan is in the parking lot looking around for Kidman and keeps calling him a son of a bitch, saying he'll kick his ass, and we cut to Gene who's standing by with Jarrett, who cuts him off before he can even ask a question, telling him to address him as the WCW World Champion, and to save his question for someone who cares. He says he's seen New Blood crying about opportunities tonight, and he's all about that, so he's going to hang an open contract, and the first one who has the balls to sign it and isn't a millionaire gets a title shot tonight. Then he tells Jurassic slap ass Gene to choke on that before walking off.
WCW Hardcore Championship: The Wall vs Terry Funk (c)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Funk is out with chair in hand and we see footage from the night before, when Russo fired Dustin for costing the New Blood the Hardcore Title.
Funk starts with three unprotected chair shots tot he head, but gets kicked in the midsection as he goes for a fourth, dropping the chair in the process, then tossed out of the ring. Wall follows with chair in hand and goes to swing but Funk hits a low blow, then cracks Wall over the back with the chair 4 times. Funk goes up top and nails a moonsault on a standing Wall. Funk twitches while Wall gets back up first and Funk soon follows, only to be nailed with a boot.Wall with the chair now across the back twice, then sends Funk face first off the announce table. They climb on top and Wall nails Funk with a piledriver, tumbling to the floor behind it.
Wall drags Funk to the other side before ramming the chair into Funk's chest, then whips Funk into the guard rail, then again in the ailse. Wall sandwiches Funk between guard rails multiple time before they fight by the entrance. Wall with another chair and cracks Funk across the back. Funk throws in a few motherfuckers that are bleeped out and swings wildly, only to get his head wedged in one of the Nitro girl cages and the door get slammed into his head repeatedly. Then a couple tables suddenly falls from the sky onto Wall, Funk pulls one on top of him and does a double stomp on it. Funk makes the cover and retains the title in 4:59. I mean it was nice to not get a clusterfuck hardcore match like WCW tends to do but... the hell was that about?
And we get zero answers as we cut to Russo almost immediately leaving his office, but Kronik is right there coming in. It seems they were under the impression they'd get a title match for what they did the night before, but Russo doesn't think tonight is a good night to do it with a lot going on. One of them says he doesn't care about what's going on tonight, or about Russo's problems, and says they had a deal, and that Russo better deliver. Russo did say they'd get a title shot but never said it would be tonight and tells them to be patient. They let him leave
We cut to the door to Jarrett's dressing room where the contract is pinned to the door, and a mysterious hand signs it before going to commercial.
Back from break, Jarrett arrives at his locker room and sees the signed contract, calls Russo an idiot as he rips the contract down and heads inside. Then we cut to Gene who's standing by with DDP, and confirms DDP has a match with Awesome tonight. He brushes it off, and says after last night, he's a little pissed off, that Eric somehow got to his wife, and that's it's not over by a long shot. Page grabs the camera and gets real close, talking straight to Bischoff, and tells him for screwing with his personal life, that he's leaving Awesome laying, and then he's coming to tear Eric a new ass, hoping Hogan doesn't put him in the hospital first because that'll be his job, then he walks off.
The Mamalukes have come out to the ring, I guess to face the Harris Brothers, but we see Kronik beating the crap out of them backstage, laying them out. It was supposed to be a #1 contender's match, and Kronik make their way out to the ring to no music or pyro. Mamalukes go right after them, but Vito gets taken out with a full nelson lam. Johnny comes off the top but gets caught with a Uranagi. Vito lifted up into a better F5 than Stasiak's earlier in the night. Johnny nailed with a pump handle powerslam, then High Times on Vito. Vito gets tossed out, then Johnny gets hit with High Times. One of them get a mic while the other tosses Johnny out. He says this was a message to Russo, that they worked for him before, and he knows he doesn't want them working against him. He says all the WCW badasses in the locker room have been shaken like a bunch of sissies at a wienie roast since they've shown up. He says whoever has the horrible luck of having to face them will feel Kronik pain, take a Kronik beating, and live the Kronik nightmare. He says if Russo keeps dragging his feet, he'll find out, he'll find out exactly what he's talking about, then take their leave.
Over to commentary who talk about Hogan, Bischoff and Kidman, then speculate about the contract Jarrett put out. Then Vampiro makes his way out with mic in hand. He says he's come to send a message to his brother in pain, Sting, that he knows nothing about pain, that even what happened the night when he pulled his tired, boring, old ass underneath the ring, he still knows nothing, but he thinks he does. He says he heard Sting's screams, he drew and tasted his blood, and smelled all his fear. He says tonight is just the beginning, that he allowed himself just a little taste the night before, a sip, because he wanted to save the rest. He says at Slamboree, he's going to devour Sting, show him what it's like to walk around with his humanity stripped like himself.
He says he's going to drag Sting to the depths of Hell, and Sting's music plays as the lights go out. Vamp looks around and Sting drops from the sky behind him. Lights come back on and Sting attacks with his bat, asking for a mic as he chokes Vamp in the corner, saying he looks like someone just walked over his grave, that he feels like rompin, stompin graveyard destruction. More bat shots to the back, ribs and leg. He says he's going to teach Vamp a lesson, more bat shots, that he learned from the best, listing of Flair and Total Package, with another bat shot between each and an atomic drop. He says Vamp's going to grow up real quick around there, calling him boy, then nails the Scorpion Deathdrop. Back on the mi, Sting says WCW runs through his veins, that this is his turf, as his music hits and he leaves the ring, then we go to commercial. Ooof, Vamp is not great at cutting promos. I mean the content of the promo isn't bad, it's his delivery. It also didn't help him to get his ass kicked like that, but we'll see where this goes I guess.
Back from break we get a replay from Sting's attack. Then we go to the back where Hogan is still screaming as he goes looking for Kidman. Then we cut to Jarrett and Russo, where Jarrett's pissed about how the open contract blew up in his face, apparently being Russo's idea, telling Vince to get him out of this. Russo insists Jarrett can take "him," Jarrett calls "him" sick and Russo tells him to sit and relax, that he'll go talk to "him."
Mike Awesome vs Diamond Dallas Page
Page immediately goes for a clothesline as Mike slides into the ring but he ducks, but Page connects with rights and a clothesline. More right in the corner, hammering away, whipping Mike toward the opposite but he leaps to the second rope and nails a back elbow for a cover and a 2 count. Mike off the ropes with a standing frog splash, cover and another 2 count. Page sent off the ropes and Mike goes for a hip toss, but Page catches him with a DDT for a cover and a 2 count.
Mike ducks a right hand and drops Page with a clothesline, cover and a near fall. Mike goes to send Page off the ropes but he's pulled back into something like a Rock Bottom for a cover and a near fall. Page goes to send Mike off the ropes but he pulls back and elbows Page, sending him out of the ring, then nails a nice springboard elbow onto Page in the aisle. Page sent into the guard rail, Mike goes for a running splash but hits the rail, now Page lays in with chair shots to the back before going back to the ring.
Mike stumbles to the corner and Page charges with chair in hand, only to get it kicked back in his face, then a right hand to the chair into his face, knocking him out of the ring again. Now Kanyon has suddenly run down to the ring and lays into Mike with rights, only for Mike to nail a German suplex. The referee is calling for the bell but the bell isn't being rung. Mike pulls out a table from under the ring and... Oh the bell is finally rung once? OK I guess Mike wins in 3:07.
Oh there we go, the bell is properly rung as Mike tosses the table into the ring over the ropes. Mike sets the table up and goes to powerbomb Kanyon through it but Nash's music hits. Nash comes in from behind and clobbers Mike in the back, before getting put through the table with a Jackknife. Nash's music hits as he poses in the corner, and DDP and Kanyon celebrate, then the three leave the ring and we get a replay.
We cut to the back where Russo is talking to "him," the cameraman looking in from the doorway, the door blocking "him" from view. Russo tries to tell "him" that Jarrett was kidding around and asks "him" to rethink this, that Jarrett always gets carried away, and has that chip on his shoulder.
Then we see Tank Abbott walking down a hallway and we go to break.
Back from break, Gene is with Douglas and Bagwell. Bagwell cuts off Gene and says they're sick of Flair, Package, etc. trying to show them up, that they're the New Blood, it's a new WCW, and they're the new tag champs. He tells Luger to watch out at Slamboree, I guess he and Bagwell have a match set for the PPV. Shane now says that for 7 years, he's dreamt of getting his paws on Flair's stinkin ass, and tells us he has a match with Shane at the PPV too. He says he should be the happiest man on Earth right now, but he can't sleep at night, that he can't get his mind off of what happened on Thunder last week with Luger. He brings up Flair sticking his nose in and costing him the match, and challenges Luger to a match tonight. Luger appears out of nowhere with Elizabeth by his side and accepts the challenge, but adds a stipulation that if Russo appears before the end bell, then the titles belong to Team Package. Douglas accepts the condition before we go back to the arena.
Out comes Tank much to the fear of Madden, losing his shit that Tank's been allowed back. Tank's got a mic and calls Madden a fat ass, tells him not to even look at him. He talks to Goldberg, saying this isn't his first BBQ, fought his whole life, that he's seen this song and dance before: he shows up, Goldberg wants a piece of him, and he gets hurt. He says until Goldberg grows nuts big enough to fight him, he's going to beat up innocent idiots that think Goldberg's a hero. Madden points out that he doesn't even like Goldberg. Commentary get ready to run as Tank stalks around ringside, and finds Bruce McArthur, one of the owners of the Chicago Blackhawks, sat at ringside and pulls him over the guard rail. He rolls Bruce into the ring but in comes Bob Probert over the rail along with security and gets Tank away before anything happens.
We cut backstage where Hogan is still looking for Kidman and runs into Terry Taylor, who points Hogan in the right direction, then we go to commercial.
Back from break, there's a commercial FOR 1-800-CALL-ATT, then for the Nitro Girls website. Then we see Jarrett and Russo walks in, who tells him "he" still wants that title shot. Russo asks for more time to get him out of this and Jarrett leaves.
The Total Package (w/ Elizabeth) vs "The Franchise" Shane Douglas (WCW World Tag Team Champion)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Luger comes out sans tearaway track suit tonight.
Lock up to start things off and Shane pushed into the corner, then a right by Luger. Shane face first off the opposite corner, then the adjacent, then face raked across the top rope before being dropped with a right. Face first in the corner, more rights and boots, hammering away. Shane whipped to the opposite but gets a boot up, missed a clothesline, lifted for a press slam but slips behind, hitting Luger with a Russian leg sweep, floats over to cover but instead chokes, even using his wrist tape to do it. Luger whipped into the corner but he gets the boot up, then drops Shane with clotheslines and a forearm.
Bagwell out now as his music hits and even does his entrance. Shane nails Luger from behind, sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline but Bagwell grabs his leg. Shane gets elbowed in the face while Luger deals with Bagwell, then nails a low blow before tossing Luger out of the ring. Bagwell goes after Liz and Luger is sent into the guard rail and there's a fan in Sting mask, much like Russo had done the week before, but they crack Shane in the head with a bat, then across the back. The fan hops the guard rail and Shane is sent off the roes into a powerslam, and the fan is revealed to be Flair, and... the bell is called for, I guess ruling in favor of Shane by DQ in 3:52.
Russo wastes no time coming down and pulls Shane out of the ring before any more damage is done, and Bagwell makes his exit, joining them in the aisle. Shane and Bagwell are mad at Russo for taking so long, and he points out to them the stipulation they apparently completely forgot about. Luger and Flair look on.
We see Hogan walking toward the hummer and we go to commercial.
Back from break to fight in progress, as Hogan lays into Kidman in the parking garage. Torrie hits him in the back with a 2x4 and he grabs hold of he and goes to hit her, but Kidman attacks from behind, now laying into Hogan. Hogan back now sends Kidman face first into the wall and lays into him some more before throwing him into a dumpster. Hogan choking Kidman then throws a sign at him. Bischoff is looking on as Hogan beats the crap out of Kidman and tosses him into a giant dumpster. Hogan goes after Bischoff who tries to escape in the hummer but it doesn't start and he runs off. Hogan gets in the hummer and... it starts immediately. Sure alright. Kidman tries to get out and Hogan rams the hummer into the dumpster repeatedly before driving off after Bischoff, and we go to commercial again.
Back from break we get a replay of the fight before the break, and we see Kidman lifted out of the dumpster by paramedics and loaded onto a stretcher.
Back to the arena, it looks like it's time for our main event as Jarrett makes his way out to the ring.
WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Jeff Jarret (c) vs Scott Steiner (WCW United States Heavyweight Champion)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Well they don't spend any time building suspense, because Steiner makes his way out once Jarrett's finished with his entrance, who comes out with a slew of ladies. Well no wonder Jeff wanted out of this.
Lock up and a knee by Steiner, shoving Jarrett into the corner for boots and right hands. Jarrett sent off the ropes into a clothesline and an elbow drop. Jarrett lifted and dropped to the mat with a gorilla press. More boots in the corner, Jeff whipped into the opposite but Jeff gets the boots up and stomps away at Steiner. Double ax handle off the middle rope by Jarrett, Steiner sent off the ropes into a back elbow, Jarrett goes up top into a crossbody, cover and Steiner powers out.
Dropkick by Jarrett, Steiner reverses a whip into the corner and Jarrett tries to leap up and over but Steiner catches him on his shoulder, sending back first in the corner. Steiner slides out and pulls the neck back as Jarrett is hung upside down, then nails a spinning belly to belly slam, cover and a near fall. Steiner goes for a German but Jarrett nails a low blow, sends Steiner off the ropes and goes for a sleeper, but Steiner immediately elbows out and nails a low blow of his own. Steiner gets Jarrett in the Recliner and Jarrett is nearly passed out, but Booker comes in and nails the Scissors Kick on Steiner, giving him the DQ win but not the title in 3:29.
Booker gets in Jarrett's face, calls him a punk and says he's welcome before he leaves the ring and heads to the back. We cut to the back where Hogan is still on a rampage looking for Bischoff with a lead pipe in hand and we go to commercial.
Back from break we see more stills from the PPV with a quick recap of the title wins. Then we go back to Hogan who finds Bischoff and off he runs, Hogan in pursuit. They make their way out to the ring and Bischoff gets cornered. Hogan drops the pipe for some reason and Hogan low blows Bischoff. Hogan gets in his face and out comes Russo, and then Bret Hart with a chair. He gets in the ring as Hogan realized Bret's there. Bret goes to swing and... Wait the show just ends? What the hell was that?
FINAL THOUGHTS
Admittedly I think this show was easier to sit through than the previous Nitro, but still, fucking hell it was a mess. Not a single clean, decisive finish on the whole show, and a cliffhanger ending for the fuck of it. Plus as a final fuck you, with a running time of 1:32:37, with 5 matches, there was only 19:15 of total wrestling, with none of the matches going past 5 minutes, barely even 4 minutes each.
Apparently there was no episode of Thunder this week as far as I can tell. So that's where this post ends.
We get a video package recapping the previous night's Spring Stampede to start the show. Then we have security making sure the entrances to the arena are sealed off, commentary tells us it's an invited guests only party tonight.
We're live from the Metro Center in Rockford, Illinois, as commentary welcome us to the show and we get our opening pyro. Tony Schiavone, Scott Hudson and Mark Madden are on commentary as glitter and streamers fall from the ceiling and the New Blood come out to the ring, lead by police, the arena filling with red balloons now. Jeez they really overdid it on these balloons, the whole ringside area is filled with balloons, and there seems to be an endless stream of ticker tape.
Russo gets a mic and has the music cut off finally, and says the fans can boo all they want, but it doesn't change the fact that he's better than them, and that this is what you call a New York party. He says last night the New Blood came into their own just like he said would happen. Meanwhile there's echoing of fans popping the shit ton of balloons that fell from the ceiling. He runs down the champions, starting with Candido, saying that he told him Sunny days were ahead. Subtle. Then Douglas and Bagwell, who beat Slick Dick and The Very Small Package. Then he goes to Steiner who just stands there and flexes. Russo brings up the Hardcore Title, the one title that eluded them, but that will change tonight. He says Funk isn't New Blood, he's not a millionaire, he's just too damn old. Then he brings up "that other small promotion where he used to work," the WWF, saying there used to be an old, crotchety old man who used to wear a black cowboy hat, and that this man did everything he could to keep Russo's next guest down. Then he throws the "subtlety" out the window and out right tells J.R. to kiss his ass, and introduces Jeff Jarrett. Madden mocks J.R.'s "bah gawd" because we needed that.
Jarrett makes his way out and has his music cut as he enters the ring, and tells the fans never to doubt him again, says he said it, he did it, and now they're all eating it. He says besides the birth of his child, this is the greatest day of his life. He wants to say something to that announcer sitting in State College, Pennsylvania and tells J.R. to kiss his ass too. Then he goes on to DDP, and says even though he beat his ass the night before, he has a proposition for him. He says that since New Blood is about opportunity, he's gonna hand one to DDP. He admits he was pissed off when he wasn't asked to be in Ready to Rumble, even if the actors weren't in his league. He brings up the three-tier cage used in the movie, and says in order to embarrass Page, in front of all his Hollywood friends, he's going to put his title on the line at Slamboree in said cage against DDP.
Russo chimes back in and wants to bring out his next guest, who grabbed the biggest prize of all last night, Eric Bischoff, and out he comes alongside Kimberly. Eric says he had a lot of fun last night, Jarrett beating Page was beyond his expectations. He repeats what he said last week, that he made Page and he can break him, and that's what he's going to do, but in a way that, according to Kimberly, Page was never able to do and make it last a long time, because torturing him is nothing but fun for Bischoff, and Page's beautiful wife is nothing but whipped cream on his cake.
Kimberly takes the mic now, and says that words don't begin to describe how sorry she is for having to hit Page with the guitar last night, a heavy thing to have to blow off, an 11 year relationship. She says that since day one, the relationship has been subjugated to the needs, schedule and opportunities of DD-Me. She says she's stood beside him and in his shadow all those years, and he made sure it happened, because deep down, he really knew that she was really the star. She says she's had opportunity after opportunity, that Eric has wanted to give them to her and she's had to say no every time, because DDP said so. She says from last night on, she's going to pay attention to Kimberly's needs, schedule and opportunities, and now her opportunity is standing right net to her, that being Eric. I mean this whole thing is kinda stupid, but all things considering she actually cut a pretty good promo. Delivery could use a bit of work but still.
Eric takes the mic back, thanking Russo for throwing the party, and Bischoff keeps going until we see a car pull up outside the arena and out comes DDP. A crew member tries to back him off and tell him he's not invited, and tells him to tell Russo and Bischoff that he doesn't give a rat's ass what they say, and clocks him in the face, along with other crew. Bischoff and Russo keep yapping off and Page enters the arena and heads out to the ring, finally interrupting Bischoff. Eric calls for security and the riot guys don't do anything. They enter the ring and turn out to be Flair, Sting and Package, helping Page clear the ring. Sting's music hits as they stare down the New Blood and go to commercial.
Back from break, we get a replay of what just happened. Then we go to the back where Bichoff is with Leroux, Bigelow, Morrus, Chavo, Booker and... Another guy I don't recognize, but anyways he's mad at them for not being out there to help. Booker says he shouldn't need them and this is a joke, but Bischoff pipes back up, saying the glasses Booker is wearing are a joke. Booker takes em off, Bischoff saying he's tired of his attitude and his ego, and says he has a very short period of time to get on Eric's good side and kicks them all out, telling them to get it right. He tells Russo to get Mike Awesome and have him kick Page's ass. In walk the crew members who's asses were kicked by Page coming into the arena, upset since they were told they had an easy gig tonight, that they wouldn't get their asses kicked, then tells Eric to keep the money and leave. The phone sat on the table beeps and it's Hogan calling, and says he'll be kicking Eric's ass in about 5 minutes, much to Eric's chagrin.
Back to the arena who recap what just happened and suggests there's dissension. Then we go to our first match of the night.
Sean "The Perfect One" Stasiak vs Curt Henning
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: It's very weird hearing Stasiak come out to knock off Mr. Perfect music and Henning come out to typical WCW generic music.
Ms. Hancock makes her way down before the action properly starts and then a lock up, Curt shoved into the corner. Another lock up and now an arm drag by Henning. Another lock up and now a hip toss by Henning. Curt goes to lock up but Sean sends I knee to the ribs and rights into the corner, whipping Curt into the opposite and follows with a hip toss and a scoop slam, Henning rolling out of the ring to recover.
Henning yanks Sean out of the ring under the ropes and some chops, sends him into the guard rail, another chop sends Sean onto the announce table before an elbow to the back of the head. Back in the ring, Sean back on the offensive, sends Curt off the ropes, who cartwheels to the side only to be hit with a clothesline. More rights and knees and a suplex, hooks the leg and a near fall. Curt reverses a whip off the ropes, off the ropes into a knee lift, then a forearm and takes out the referee in the process.
Sean reverses a whip off the ropes, but Curt hits the Henning-plex, but the referee can't make the count. Sean pulls some brass knuckles from his boot and clocks Henning, then wakes up the referee, before nailing the Perfect Plant, something like an F5, and gets the win in 3:48. I'm starting to get real tired of these screwy finishes.
Sean stomps away at Henning and... We immediately cut to inside a car... Oh it's a cop car? Why is there a cameraman in the back of a cop car? Anyways it pulls up outside the arena beside a couple other cruisers, and we see cops holding Hogan back. Hogan says he's going in one way or the other. Hogan just stares at them intently and... They just step aside? Um... Alright. Hogan walks in and heads out to the ring and I guess the beatdown on Henning is still going because the bell is being run repeatedly, but we see none of it. Hogan finally comes out and throws Sean out of the ring, then checks on Henning before we go to commercial.
Back from break, Hogan is still in the ring while Henning has left. Hogan says he wants to clear up a couple of things, that he's had a lot of time to listen to the fans in the last year about him, that they think Hulkamania is going to live forever. He says he's also listened to the critics though, about how Hogan's getting older, and Hogan points out that everyone else in the back is getting older too. He also talks about how they say he's losing a step or two, but says he's only lost half a step. He says the one question he hears over and over is if Hogan still has something to offer to the business, and he's here to say he damn sure does, he's here to lead by example. He says as far as his spot in the business goes, if anyone in the back wants to come out and take his spot, he's ready to kick their ass. He says you can mess with the character of Hulk Hogan, the gimmick, make him slip on a banana peel for the 1, 2, 3, or Bischoff and Russo can try and embarrass by making a fool out of him, but when they pulled what they did on Nitro last week and at the PPV, they're messing with Terry Bolea. He says as far as Terry's concerned, when they decided to try and take money out of his pocket, and food from his kids' mouths, they went way beyond the line, because Terry has more heart than the two of them or any wrestler in the back. He says as far as he's concerned, if anyone wants his spot, they better have it in their blood, a different breed of wrestler, because he's staying until someone kicks his ass and runs him off.
This brings him to Kidman, saying he's listened to him whine and cry to Eric and Russo, and the other promoters that have come and gone, how he wanted the big push, how he wasn't going to leave the hotel room until he knew what they were doing with him, and says Kidman makes him sick. He says he's starting with him tonight, and that if he wants his spot, to get his ass out there and try and take it. He says Kidman called him out last week, and this week he's calling his ass out, and hopes Eric and Russo are watching.
Kidman appears on the Tron and says he doesn't come running when Hulk says run, and tells Hogan to come get him back there, and Hogan says he's coming, while Kidman says he's ready, saying this won't be a match, a fight, that he'll kick Hogan's ass all over the place. He keeps talking despite the fact Hogan has already gone backstage and keeps talking crap. We see Bischoff standing behind Kidman, leaned against the white hummer, he keeps talking and we go to commercial.
Back from break, Hogan is in the parking lot looking around for Kidman and keeps calling him a son of a bitch, saying he'll kick his ass, and we cut to Gene who's standing by with Jarrett, who cuts him off before he can even ask a question, telling him to address him as the WCW World Champion, and to save his question for someone who cares. He says he's seen New Blood crying about opportunities tonight, and he's all about that, so he's going to hang an open contract, and the first one who has the balls to sign it and isn't a millionaire gets a title shot tonight. Then he tells Jurassic slap ass Gene to choke on that before walking off.
WCW Hardcore Championship: The Wall vs Terry Funk (c)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Funk is out with chair in hand and we see footage from the night before, when Russo fired Dustin for costing the New Blood the Hardcore Title.
Funk starts with three unprotected chair shots tot he head, but gets kicked in the midsection as he goes for a fourth, dropping the chair in the process, then tossed out of the ring. Wall follows with chair in hand and goes to swing but Funk hits a low blow, then cracks Wall over the back with the chair 4 times. Funk goes up top and nails a moonsault on a standing Wall. Funk twitches while Wall gets back up first and Funk soon follows, only to be nailed with a boot.Wall with the chair now across the back twice, then sends Funk face first off the announce table. They climb on top and Wall nails Funk with a piledriver, tumbling to the floor behind it.
Wall drags Funk to the other side before ramming the chair into Funk's chest, then whips Funk into the guard rail, then again in the ailse. Wall sandwiches Funk between guard rails multiple time before they fight by the entrance. Wall with another chair and cracks Funk across the back. Funk throws in a few motherfuckers that are bleeped out and swings wildly, only to get his head wedged in one of the Nitro girl cages and the door get slammed into his head repeatedly. Then a couple tables suddenly falls from the sky onto Wall, Funk pulls one on top of him and does a double stomp on it. Funk makes the cover and retains the title in 4:59. I mean it was nice to not get a clusterfuck hardcore match like WCW tends to do but... the hell was that about?
And we get zero answers as we cut to Russo almost immediately leaving his office, but Kronik is right there coming in. It seems they were under the impression they'd get a title match for what they did the night before, but Russo doesn't think tonight is a good night to do it with a lot going on. One of them says he doesn't care about what's going on tonight, or about Russo's problems, and says they had a deal, and that Russo better deliver. Russo did say they'd get a title shot but never said it would be tonight and tells them to be patient. They let him leave
We cut to the door to Jarrett's dressing room where the contract is pinned to the door, and a mysterious hand signs it before going to commercial.
Back from break, Jarrett arrives at his locker room and sees the signed contract, calls Russo an idiot as he rips the contract down and heads inside. Then we cut to Gene who's standing by with DDP, and confirms DDP has a match with Awesome tonight. He brushes it off, and says after last night, he's a little pissed off, that Eric somehow got to his wife, and that's it's not over by a long shot. Page grabs the camera and gets real close, talking straight to Bischoff, and tells him for screwing with his personal life, that he's leaving Awesome laying, and then he's coming to tear Eric a new ass, hoping Hogan doesn't put him in the hospital first because that'll be his job, then he walks off.
The Mamalukes have come out to the ring, I guess to face the Harris Brothers, but we see Kronik beating the crap out of them backstage, laying them out. It was supposed to be a #1 contender's match, and Kronik make their way out to the ring to no music or pyro. Mamalukes go right after them, but Vito gets taken out with a full nelson lam. Johnny comes off the top but gets caught with a Uranagi. Vito lifted up into a better F5 than Stasiak's earlier in the night. Johnny nailed with a pump handle powerslam, then High Times on Vito. Vito gets tossed out, then Johnny gets hit with High Times. One of them get a mic while the other tosses Johnny out. He says this was a message to Russo, that they worked for him before, and he knows he doesn't want them working against him. He says all the WCW badasses in the locker room have been shaken like a bunch of sissies at a wienie roast since they've shown up. He says whoever has the horrible luck of having to face them will feel Kronik pain, take a Kronik beating, and live the Kronik nightmare. He says if Russo keeps dragging his feet, he'll find out, he'll find out exactly what he's talking about, then take their leave.
Over to commentary who talk about Hogan, Bischoff and Kidman, then speculate about the contract Jarrett put out. Then Vampiro makes his way out with mic in hand. He says he's come to send a message to his brother in pain, Sting, that he knows nothing about pain, that even what happened the night when he pulled his tired, boring, old ass underneath the ring, he still knows nothing, but he thinks he does. He says he heard Sting's screams, he drew and tasted his blood, and smelled all his fear. He says tonight is just the beginning, that he allowed himself just a little taste the night before, a sip, because he wanted to save the rest. He says at Slamboree, he's going to devour Sting, show him what it's like to walk around with his humanity stripped like himself.
He says he's going to drag Sting to the depths of Hell, and Sting's music plays as the lights go out. Vamp looks around and Sting drops from the sky behind him. Lights come back on and Sting attacks with his bat, asking for a mic as he chokes Vamp in the corner, saying he looks like someone just walked over his grave, that he feels like rompin, stompin graveyard destruction. More bat shots to the back, ribs and leg. He says he's going to teach Vamp a lesson, more bat shots, that he learned from the best, listing of Flair and Total Package, with another bat shot between each and an atomic drop. He says Vamp's going to grow up real quick around there, calling him boy, then nails the Scorpion Deathdrop. Back on the mi, Sting says WCW runs through his veins, that this is his turf, as his music hits and he leaves the ring, then we go to commercial. Ooof, Vamp is not great at cutting promos. I mean the content of the promo isn't bad, it's his delivery. It also didn't help him to get his ass kicked like that, but we'll see where this goes I guess.
Back from break we get a replay from Sting's attack. Then we go to the back where Hogan is still screaming as he goes looking for Kidman. Then we cut to Jarrett and Russo, where Jarrett's pissed about how the open contract blew up in his face, apparently being Russo's idea, telling Vince to get him out of this. Russo insists Jarrett can take "him," Jarrett calls "him" sick and Russo tells him to sit and relax, that he'll go talk to "him."
Mike Awesome vs Diamond Dallas Page
Page immediately goes for a clothesline as Mike slides into the ring but he ducks, but Page connects with rights and a clothesline. More right in the corner, hammering away, whipping Mike toward the opposite but he leaps to the second rope and nails a back elbow for a cover and a 2 count. Mike off the ropes with a standing frog splash, cover and another 2 count. Page sent off the ropes and Mike goes for a hip toss, but Page catches him with a DDT for a cover and a 2 count.
Mike ducks a right hand and drops Page with a clothesline, cover and a near fall. Mike goes to send Page off the ropes but he's pulled back into something like a Rock Bottom for a cover and a near fall. Page goes to send Mike off the ropes but he pulls back and elbows Page, sending him out of the ring, then nails a nice springboard elbow onto Page in the aisle. Page sent into the guard rail, Mike goes for a running splash but hits the rail, now Page lays in with chair shots to the back before going back to the ring.
Mike stumbles to the corner and Page charges with chair in hand, only to get it kicked back in his face, then a right hand to the chair into his face, knocking him out of the ring again. Now Kanyon has suddenly run down to the ring and lays into Mike with rights, only for Mike to nail a German suplex. The referee is calling for the bell but the bell isn't being rung. Mike pulls out a table from under the ring and... Oh the bell is finally rung once? OK I guess Mike wins in 3:07.
Oh there we go, the bell is properly rung as Mike tosses the table into the ring over the ropes. Mike sets the table up and goes to powerbomb Kanyon through it but Nash's music hits. Nash comes in from behind and clobbers Mike in the back, before getting put through the table with a Jackknife. Nash's music hits as he poses in the corner, and DDP and Kanyon celebrate, then the three leave the ring and we get a replay.
We cut to the back where Russo is talking to "him," the cameraman looking in from the doorway, the door blocking "him" from view. Russo tries to tell "him" that Jarrett was kidding around and asks "him" to rethink this, that Jarrett always gets carried away, and has that chip on his shoulder.
Then we see Tank Abbott walking down a hallway and we go to break.
Back from break, Gene is with Douglas and Bagwell. Bagwell cuts off Gene and says they're sick of Flair, Package, etc. trying to show them up, that they're the New Blood, it's a new WCW, and they're the new tag champs. He tells Luger to watch out at Slamboree, I guess he and Bagwell have a match set for the PPV. Shane now says that for 7 years, he's dreamt of getting his paws on Flair's stinkin ass, and tells us he has a match with Shane at the PPV too. He says he should be the happiest man on Earth right now, but he can't sleep at night, that he can't get his mind off of what happened on Thunder last week with Luger. He brings up Flair sticking his nose in and costing him the match, and challenges Luger to a match tonight. Luger appears out of nowhere with Elizabeth by his side and accepts the challenge, but adds a stipulation that if Russo appears before the end bell, then the titles belong to Team Package. Douglas accepts the condition before we go back to the arena.
Out comes Tank much to the fear of Madden, losing his shit that Tank's been allowed back. Tank's got a mic and calls Madden a fat ass, tells him not to even look at him. He talks to Goldberg, saying this isn't his first BBQ, fought his whole life, that he's seen this song and dance before: he shows up, Goldberg wants a piece of him, and he gets hurt. He says until Goldberg grows nuts big enough to fight him, he's going to beat up innocent idiots that think Goldberg's a hero. Madden points out that he doesn't even like Goldberg. Commentary get ready to run as Tank stalks around ringside, and finds Bruce McArthur, one of the owners of the Chicago Blackhawks, sat at ringside and pulls him over the guard rail. He rolls Bruce into the ring but in comes Bob Probert over the rail along with security and gets Tank away before anything happens.
We cut backstage where Hogan is still looking for Kidman and runs into Terry Taylor, who points Hogan in the right direction, then we go to commercial.
Back from break, there's a commercial FOR 1-800-CALL-ATT, then for the Nitro Girls website. Then we see Jarrett and Russo walks in, who tells him "he" still wants that title shot. Russo asks for more time to get him out of this and Jarrett leaves.
The Total Package (w/ Elizabeth) vs "The Franchise" Shane Douglas (WCW World Tag Team Champion)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Luger comes out sans tearaway track suit tonight.
Lock up to start things off and Shane pushed into the corner, then a right by Luger. Shane face first off the opposite corner, then the adjacent, then face raked across the top rope before being dropped with a right. Face first in the corner, more rights and boots, hammering away. Shane whipped to the opposite but gets a boot up, missed a clothesline, lifted for a press slam but slips behind, hitting Luger with a Russian leg sweep, floats over to cover but instead chokes, even using his wrist tape to do it. Luger whipped into the corner but he gets the boot up, then drops Shane with clotheslines and a forearm.
Bagwell out now as his music hits and even does his entrance. Shane nails Luger from behind, sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline but Bagwell grabs his leg. Shane gets elbowed in the face while Luger deals with Bagwell, then nails a low blow before tossing Luger out of the ring. Bagwell goes after Liz and Luger is sent into the guard rail and there's a fan in Sting mask, much like Russo had done the week before, but they crack Shane in the head with a bat, then across the back. The fan hops the guard rail and Shane is sent off the roes into a powerslam, and the fan is revealed to be Flair, and... the bell is called for, I guess ruling in favor of Shane by DQ in 3:52.
Russo wastes no time coming down and pulls Shane out of the ring before any more damage is done, and Bagwell makes his exit, joining them in the aisle. Shane and Bagwell are mad at Russo for taking so long, and he points out to them the stipulation they apparently completely forgot about. Luger and Flair look on.
We see Hogan walking toward the hummer and we go to commercial.
Back from break to fight in progress, as Hogan lays into Kidman in the parking garage. Torrie hits him in the back with a 2x4 and he grabs hold of he and goes to hit her, but Kidman attacks from behind, now laying into Hogan. Hogan back now sends Kidman face first into the wall and lays into him some more before throwing him into a dumpster. Hogan choking Kidman then throws a sign at him. Bischoff is looking on as Hogan beats the crap out of Kidman and tosses him into a giant dumpster. Hogan goes after Bischoff who tries to escape in the hummer but it doesn't start and he runs off. Hogan gets in the hummer and... it starts immediately. Sure alright. Kidman tries to get out and Hogan rams the hummer into the dumpster repeatedly before driving off after Bischoff, and we go to commercial again.
Back from break we get a replay of the fight before the break, and we see Kidman lifted out of the dumpster by paramedics and loaded onto a stretcher.
Back to the arena, it looks like it's time for our main event as Jarrett makes his way out to the ring.
WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Jeff Jarret (c) vs Scott Steiner (WCW United States Heavyweight Champion)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Well they don't spend any time building suspense, because Steiner makes his way out once Jarrett's finished with his entrance, who comes out with a slew of ladies. Well no wonder Jeff wanted out of this.
Lock up and a knee by Steiner, shoving Jarrett into the corner for boots and right hands. Jarrett sent off the ropes into a clothesline and an elbow drop. Jarrett lifted and dropped to the mat with a gorilla press. More boots in the corner, Jeff whipped into the opposite but Jeff gets the boots up and stomps away at Steiner. Double ax handle off the middle rope by Jarrett, Steiner sent off the ropes into a back elbow, Jarrett goes up top into a crossbody, cover and Steiner powers out.
Dropkick by Jarrett, Steiner reverses a whip into the corner and Jarrett tries to leap up and over but Steiner catches him on his shoulder, sending back first in the corner. Steiner slides out and pulls the neck back as Jarrett is hung upside down, then nails a spinning belly to belly slam, cover and a near fall. Steiner goes for a German but Jarrett nails a low blow, sends Steiner off the ropes and goes for a sleeper, but Steiner immediately elbows out and nails a low blow of his own. Steiner gets Jarrett in the Recliner and Jarrett is nearly passed out, but Booker comes in and nails the Scissors Kick on Steiner, giving him the DQ win but not the title in 3:29.
Booker gets in Jarrett's face, calls him a punk and says he's welcome before he leaves the ring and heads to the back. We cut to the back where Hogan is still on a rampage looking for Bischoff with a lead pipe in hand and we go to commercial.
Back from break we see more stills from the PPV with a quick recap of the title wins. Then we go back to Hogan who finds Bischoff and off he runs, Hogan in pursuit. They make their way out to the ring and Bischoff gets cornered. Hogan drops the pipe for some reason and Hogan low blows Bischoff. Hogan gets in his face and out comes Russo, and then Bret Hart with a chair. He gets in the ring as Hogan realized Bret's there. Bret goes to swing and... Wait the show just ends? What the hell was that?
FINAL THOUGHTS
Admittedly I think this show was easier to sit through than the previous Nitro, but still, fucking hell it was a mess. Not a single clean, decisive finish on the whole show, and a cliffhanger ending for the fuck of it. Plus as a final fuck you, with a running time of 1:32:37, with 5 matches, there was only 19:15 of total wrestling, with none of the matches going past 5 minutes, barely even 4 minutes each.
Apparently there was no episode of Thunder this week as far as I can tell. So that's where this post ends.
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