WCW Week of June 19, 2000
Nitro
We get a recap of the big moments from Thunder, plus footage from after the show where Steiner put Russo in the Recliner. Then a pair of limos pull up outside the arena, out stepping Jarrett, Awesome and Cat, the latter carrying a briefcase and on the phone until Jarrett tells him to get off of it. Cart informs Jarrett that Russo is hurt bad thanks to Steiner, and Bischoff's taking care of some big deal in L.A., while Goldberg's still on his way. He tells Jarrett not to worry and he's got everything under control, then they head in, while Cat writes something on a pad. R&B Security run up to Cat and apparently there's something going down in the ring and need his help.
We're live from the Metropark Arena in Billings, Montana, and Horace is sat in the ring wielding a baseball bat as Schiavone welcomes us to the show. Horace has a mic and says he watched a guy last week, who's been nothing but a fly-by-night in the business, come down and destroy a man who helped build the business. He says they stick up for family where he comes from, and Goldberg showed that he's only in it for the money last week, but tonight Horace is in it for family honor and revenge. He isn't leaving the ring until he gets Goldberg and he wants to be next.
Instead out comes Cat as we get the replays of what happened to Hogan last week. Cat says Horace has lot his mind, but Goldberg is too busy for Horace just like he himself is, and they both know Goldberg would kill his ass. He tells Horace he can sit in the ring all night if he wants, but Cat has work to do. He turns his attention to Steiner, and because Steiner hurt his main man Russo, he's laying down the law, says there won't be any outside interference tonight, so if Steiner's not in a match his ass shouldn't be out there, threatening to suspend him for 30 days, fine him, and have him in Cat's dojo cleaning floors if he does for the remainder of his contract.
Speaking of contract, he says he has Scott Hall's contract with him, which of course brings out Nash and Steiner. Nash says that after last week, he and Scott are in a real bad mood, and it looks to him Cat's made himself a dream maker tonight, and suggests Cat grant some of those dreams, specifically giving Horace his match with Goldberg. Cat relents and gives Horace his match. Nash threatens to make this a long night for Cat if he doesn't give in to their orders, and Scott reminds us of what he did to Russo last week. He says he's only just getting started though, and he's been searching the building all day looking for "Bitch-off" but can't find him, and since Cat is sitting in for Russo Steiner wants him tonight. Cat bargains though and gives Steiner Jarrett instead for the World Title.
Now to Nash, who of course wants Hall's contract, and he wants Cat in the ring for the contract. Cat gives in and gives him his match. Nash says Cat's been doing a hell of a job as commissioner, and thanks god he had because after he busts Cat's back tonight, it's all he'll be able to do. Cat escapes through the crowd as Nash's music hits.
Over to commentary who recap what just happened, and remind us of Hogan's upcoming title match at the PPV.
Camera cuts to the production truck and in walks Palumbo and Stasiak, and they have a tape, they want the truck to do exactly what Rick and Tank did to them last week, but we cut briefly to see Rick and Tank watching this go down. They're attacked as they leave the truck into commercial.
Jarrett of course is pissed at Cat as we come back from break, so Cat tosses a referee shirt to Awesome to appease him and they leave. Cat pulls something out of his briefcase and someone from R&B Security tells him the crowd's getting restless and they need a match in the ring. Cat tells the guy to get "those three Spice Girls" saying they need to work, and I guess he was talking about 3 Count, so the guy leaves.
Well 3 Count are already in the ring doing their thing, and then the Jung Dragons rush in, so I guess this is our match.
3 Count (Shane Helms, Shannon Moore & Evan Karagias) vs Jung Dragons (Kaz Hayashi, Yang & Jamie-San)
Well I can't identify any of the Dragons, but two of them take out two of 3 Count on the outside with springboard moonsaults. The other Dragon is stomping the other one from 3 Count down in the corner, Moore is sent off the ropes into a spinning heel kick, then sent off the ropes again but slips through the legs, picks up one of the Dragons on his shoulders, Helms comes in for a Samoan drop/swinging neckbreaker combo. Evan tags in with a missile dropkick, then Hayashi (thanks finally Schiavone) sent off the ropes and drops down. Helms with the tag, up top with a sunset flip for two. Helms with a gutwrench suplex, then Shannon gets the tag. Hayashi double teamed in the corner, then Shannon's whipped toward him but Kaz sidesteps a splash, then a heel kick on Helms. Yang gets the tag and cleans house, mounted punches on Evan but Shannon catches him with a sleeper hold slam, goes for a cover but Jamie breaks it up. Shannon gets tosses out as Evan goes up top with a twisting splash on Yang, covers but Kaz breaks it up. Helms catches Kaz with a superkick, then Jame pulls him out of the ring. Yang slams Shannon onto his back, then he and Kaz go up top, but Shannon crotches them on the top rope. Jame gives chase into the ring but he's taken out by a clothesline from Evan. Wheelbarrow facebuster triple team by 3 Count on Jamie for the win in 3:56. It wasn't a terrible match, confusing at times to follow and keep track of who's who, but it was alright.
The Dragons kicked out and 3 Count start to do their routine, until Lance Storm appears out of nowhere, a springboard dropkick from behind on Helms, superkick on Evan, jawbreaker and dropkick on Shannon knock them all out of the ring. Front flip over the ropes onto Helms and Evan to the outside, then he leaves through the crowd.
David Flair is backstage looking for Daffney, then we see Goldberg entering the arena into commercial.
Tenay is with Horace wondering what he was thinking, what would possess him to call out Goldberg, asking if Horace is crazy. Horace says he's never been more determined or more serious in his life. He says that people call him crazy for calling out Goldberg, but he got put through a table last week, then had to watch his uncle Hulk get carried out of the arena on a stretcher. He says that crazy is the farthest thing from his mind, that Goldberg can come to the ring stomping, snorting, spitting, sweating, flexing his big muscles, it doesn't make a damn to Horace. He tells Goldberg he's not afraid to take a bullet for Hogan, but tonight he's firing the bullets right at Hogan. Then he walks off.
WCW Hardcore Championship: Big Vito (c) vs Johnny the Bull
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Vito makes his way out with a kendo stick and... some other kind of stick, as we see what happened between Vito and Funk the week before, and Vito turning on his partner. Johnny makes his way out with a baseball bat.
Vito immediately nails Johnny in the head with the kendo stick as he climbs the apron and sends him to the floor, then the stick across the back, and again, and a right hand as they get to the aisle way. Johnny into the guard rail and the belt across Johnny's back as they they fight beside the ramp and stage. Johnny reverses a whip into the stands and tries to use a railing, but Vito delivers a boot instead. Johnny into an equipment case as they go to the back, then into another case and then another one. Trash can over the back of Johnny, then face first off a table and a laptop to Johnny's back. Johnny thrown into a stack of chairs.
Fighting into what looks like the storage area, Johnny into more chairs, then Vito leans some drywall and throws Johnny into it. Vito goes for what looks like a bulldog but he's thrown into the conveniently placed metal pipes instead. Vito now into some cans as Johnny grabs some broom hands and breaks it over Vito's back, and they climb onto some scaffolding. Johnny tries to use another broom handle but Vito delivers a low blow, then his impaler DDT off the scaffolding through a table below (already conveniently set up) to retain in 4:15. Aside from the neat finish, this was every WCW hardcore match ever.
The ref checks on Johnny and Vito leaves.
Back to Cat still looking through his briefcase and he finds Hall's contract, and he seems confident in himself. Johnny is now helped out of the storage area, and now Funk comes up offering to help Johnny.
Loco is somewhere else looking for the Misfits and he's attacked by Mysterio, thrown into a metal shutter, then the Artist throws him onto a table, until GI Bro (sigh) appears from a nearby room to scare them off into commercial.
Bro calls a meeting in the locker room after the break and after what just happened to Loco, he says it's time to stop playing games and get serious. He reminds us that Hogan's been put out, Page was run off, Sting's been burned up to hell, Ric Flair bald-headed and retired by his own son, and says it's time for them to get together. Bro has Stash watch Loco's back, Loco watch Cajun's back, Cajun watch Guns' back, and Guns watch Rection's back. He says he's not picking up the pieces anymore and puts Rection in charge, but right now he's got big business. Page's music hits and out comes Kanyon, playing on a tiny monitor in the room and this is exactly what Bro was talking about.
Kanyon comes out still wearing the DDP wig and the parody book and takes the mic from Penzer. He says they love him, they hate him, and they'll never get tired of reading his new book "Positively Kanyon," that it's the kind of book you can't read just once, but two times. As a matter of fact, he says he got up that morning, gave himself the old self-high five, and read his new book again, which has him feeling really positive, so much so that he can't be beat. He puts out an open challenge to anyone in the back feeling froggy and come out to feel the bang.
Well as anticipated here comes Bro and Kanyon's on the attack, sends Joe off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits one of his own. Bro with a series of rights, then counters an Irish whip counter with a knee to the ribs, setting up for the scissors kick. Kanyon sent off the ropes into a flapjack then a spinaroonie, and a Harlem Side Kick. Booker ribs off his camo pants and his Booker T trunks underneath as Kanyon retreats to the back.
David is still looking for Daffney and eventually finds her sitting nearby. He wants to talk, but she has nothing to say to him, slapping him and walking off.
Up next, Horace faces Goldberg.
Horace Hogan vs Goldberg
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We get more replays of what happened to Hogan last week, then we see Nash and Steiner in the back. Steiner seems to want to interfere, Nash points out the no interference rule, but Steiner also points out that they never follow the rules. Nash though is convinced it's better to sit there and follow the rules, and Steiner concedes.
Horace immediately with a boot as Goldberg steps through the ropes and clubs to the back, driving Goldberg into the corner, sends him off the ropes but Goldberg hits a clothesline. Goldberg mounts for vicious rights before tossing Horace to the floor. Kick to the ribs of Horace, then another, before being press slammed ribs first onto the guard rail. Goldberg tries for another clothesline as he turns around but he nails the ring post as Horace ducks it. Horace grabs a chair and nails Goldberg in the back twice, then the gut and the back again. Back in the ring, Goldberg sent off the ropes into a big boot, but he's back up immediately and hits the spear as Horace turns around. Goldberg delivers the jackhammer for the win in 2:38. That was exactly what it should have been.
Crowd is loving this despite Goldberg's heel turn, and Goldberg gets Horace into rear chinlock on Horace, choking him out until he nearly passes out. Goldberg's music hits as he poses off.
It sounds like Nash is slurring his words as the camera cuts back to him and Steiner, is he drunk? He tells Steiner to save his energy for his match later, and Cat is on his way out for their match next with briefcase in hand.
The Cat vs Kevin Nash
If Nash wins, he gets Scott Hall's contract.
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Cat also has a mic in hand as he makes his way out and calls Nash out before he does some dancing, then he cuffs the briefcase to Madden's wrist, with the key to the cuff's around his own neck.
Cat taunts Nash with the key, then shows off his moves before being hit with a clothesline. Knees in the corner by Nash, then the elbows to the side of the head and Cat escapes the ring. He's already calling to the back and he grabs a mic hoping for help but Nash drops him before he can. Nash with more rights, then he tries to use Madden's headset to waive his no interference rule but Nash nails him again. Back in the ring, Cat tries to beg off Nash, luring him into a low blow. Cat with a right and another low blow in the corner, then some side kicks to the chest and ribs and another right, but Nash comes out with a clothesline as Cat wastes time with the crows. Nash with the jackknife and the win in 2:39. It was short thankfully, because this was also every Nash match ever.
Nash takes the key and frees Madden from the cuffs, opens up the case, but instead of a contract it's pictures of Cat inside. Nash makes his way back into the ring with eyes on Cat, but before he does anything Goldberg appears on the big screen, with Nash's "little girlfriend's" contract in hand. He makes a challenge for Bash at the Beach if Nash wants it and has the guts. Nash makes his way to the back as Goldberg eats part of the contract into commercial.
Tenay is with Nash and one of Steiner's girls and he recaps what just happened. Nash says it's ironic since the PPV is on his birthday and has a place in Daytona Beach. He says Goldberg's been watching Terminator too long and too many times, and has to remember that Nash is the only guy who's ever beaten him. He says he has no problem beating Goldberg's ass with Hall's contract on the line, and Scott's 40 min away from Daytona, guarantees they'll have a big party on his birthday.
Up walks Steiner from the side and Tenay brings up his title match tonight. Steiner says that Jarrett is the Chosen One in his own mind, but he's the Genetic Freak, the one with the large arms, and who's to say he's not the Chosen One. He says Jarrett can kiss his ass before he and his girl leave.
WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Lt. Loco (c) (w/ Capt. Rection, Major Stash, Cpl. Cajun & Major Guns) vs Rey Mysterio Jr. (w/ Disco Inferno, Tygress, Konnan & Juventud Guerrera) vs The Artist (w/ Paisley)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Rey is out first with the Animals, Juvie joins commentary as Konnan grabs a mic. He says Rey's got a match with Loco, saying that their crew is not only sackless, but leaderless now that Bro left them, then says Artist will come out and try and wrestle, that he's about as exciting to watch as slow dancing with your sister. Then there's some other weird shit, god knows why Disco is part of this group.
Artist attacks Loco in the aisle right away to start, then tosses him in the ring, Rey off the ropes with a leg drop and a cover for Artist to break up. Artist and Rey argue and trade shots, Rey whipped chest first across the ring, Rey caught in an electric chair position, tries to counter with a hurricanrana but nailed with a sitout powerbomb. Loco up top with the frog splash on Rey and a cover for two. Artist sends Loco off the ropes, ducks a clothesline but back dropped to the floor. Rey sent off the ropes but sends Artist to the outside. Artist tossed back in, Rey holds him up as Loco goes up top but Artist elbows himself free, crotching Loco. Rey with a spinning heel kick on Artist, who retreats to the corner and Rey hits a Bronco Buster. Then he leaps up top to Loco but he get crotched on the top rope. Loco with the tornado DDT on Artist to retain in 2:22.
Loco celebrates as Tygress comes in and holds up Guns, and Paisley nails Tygress instead, now everyone's holding the ladies back as we go to the replays.
David is on his knees apologizing to Daffney in the back and has a bouquet of black roses in his hand, so she forgives and embraces him. They walk off kissing into commercial.
Back to David and Daffney and to a car, tells her to head to the hotel ahead of him, that he forgot something in the arena. So she drives off and he heads back inside. We see Ms. Hancock waiting around the corner and David's two-timing them both, now they embrace and kiss. Oh Daffney didn't leave because now she's watching this go down on a monitor somewhere, that was fast. She breaks down in tears.
WCW World Tag Team Championship: The Perfect Event (c) vs Tank Abbott & Rick Steiner
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We see what happened with the challenges and Scott at the PPV, plus what happened on last week's Thunder before we get to the match.
Tank and Stasiak start the match, Stasiak with clubs to the back as he's driven into the corner, but Tank drives him into the mat. Tank with more boots and a right before Rick tags in. Rick with a right and boots, Stasiak sent off the ropes into a clothesline. Rick covers for two. Belly to belly suplex by Rick, cover but Palumbo breaks it up. Stasiak sent off the ropes but catches Rick with a kick and Palumbo tags in. Rights on Rick, sends him off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, Palumbo tries to leap frog but he's caught and thrown overhead instead. Rick with an elbow, covers for two.
Tank goes to ringside and rips up a fan before chasing off the fan to the back. Rick looks on confused as Palumbo tags in, now Stasiak joins on a double team attack. Rick is whipped into the guard rail, then Palumbo with a boot to the head and Stasiak one to the back. Rick tries to fight back but he's driven back to the floor and tossed back in the ring. Rights on Rick, then he starts to fight back again but he's overpowered, sent off the ropes, catches Palumbo with a kick and a clothesline to Stasiak, then a belly to belly to Palumbo into a cover for two. Stasiak has rolled out and grabs the Lex Flexer at ringside but he's dropped, then Rick with a German suplex on Palumbo. Stasiak slides in the Flexer as Rick goes to the middle rope and he's nailed in the ribs with the Flexer. Double team flapjack to retain in 4:42.
Champions celebrate with their titles as commentary speculate on Tank, and Rick comes to.
We see Demon without face paint with his wife Asya, saying it's "his" fault for her getting attacked. He says he went away for two months for therapy and thought he was gone, but "he" came back again. He doesn't know what he's going to do, but until then he says they can't have a normal life together, but will do anything he can to make it normal for them again and put "him" away for good. She doesn't blame him, she blames "him." He wants her to do him a favor, handing him his gear and wants her to put it somewhere he can't find it, get rid of it, and she agrees to do what she can. He leaves. Is the Demon supposed to be its own entity now?
Vamp is watching this go down somewhere else backstage into commercial.
Vamp comes out and we see a replay of his match with Demon last week, plus what happened on Thunder. Vamp says he came across someone last week he thought had a lot of potential in the Demon. He says he thought it was someone he had something in common with, rock and roll, makeup, fire, and of course mayhem. Now though he hears Demon is going away, and they gotta do this right, he wants to have a little party. He calls out the two people who are closest to him in all the world, Dale "the Demon" Torborg, and his beautiful, lovely, charismatic, force of nature fiance Asya.
So out come Dale and Asya, still coming out to God of Thunder, but Vamp has it cut off, pointing out that that's not the Demon, it's the guy behind the makeup, he's trying to say goodbye to the Demon, and the least they could do is be cordial and respect his wishes. He says it must be tough to let go of something that's such a part of himself, and asks if it makes him feel empty when a part of him just goes away. Then the lights go out with a boom, and Asya has disappeared. Vamp says it looks like more than his Demon has vanished. Lights go out again with a boom and now Vamp has disappeared.
Vamp is in a truck on the big screen and guesses all Dale really needs is himself. Oh he's in a hearse actually as he drives off, and I guess it's implied he has Asya in there, so Dale runs to the back.
Scott is in a hallway getting ready, then we see the Triple Threat walking backstage, Candido's got his arm in a sling. Then we see Buff and Kronic walking backstage for a match up next.
The Franchise, Bam Bam Bigelow & Chris Candido vs Buff Bagwell & Kronic
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We see footage from Thunder when Triple Threat reunited and attacked Buff and a fight broke out with these six. Douglas has a mic and tells the fans to look at true greatness, and says it's about time they serve notice around there that they aren't taking seconds anymore, that they're taking what belongs to them and taking it by force. He says his boys aren't content without some belts around their waists, and are serving notice that Candido and Bigelow are setting their sights on the tag team titles. Then he turns his attention to Buff, challenging him to any match he wants at the PPV, because at the end of the night, he'll know what having his ass franchised will really mean.
Clark and Douglas start this one and there's a loud "Franchise sucks" chant as they lock up, Douglas overpowered and kneed in the ribs, chopped against the ropes, Douglas sent off the ropes and lifted up, but he slips behind with a waist lock, goes for a roll up but Clark holds onto the ropes, only to turn around for a dropkick. Douglas up top only to be thrown off to the mat. Clark with the Uranagi before tagging in Adams. Douglas sent off the ropes into back elbows, then a full nelson slam from Adams, covers for two. Bagwell with the tag but Douglas retreats to his corner in time to tag in Bigelow, who attacks Buff from behind as he's dead set on getting to Douglas. Bigelow stomps and falling headbutts, Buff whipped across the ring for a corner splash. Douglas with the tag now, stomps and choking Buff, raking the eyes over the middle rope, then sends him face first into the corner. Douglas with the Three Amigos, a stalling vertical on the third into a cover for two. Douglas wastes time with Kronic which allows Buff to hit a double arm DDT as he turns around.
Bigelow and Clark get the tag, Adams joins in as Douglas comes in, who's press slammed into Bigelow. Bigelow sent off the ropes, but catches Kronic with the double DDT, then Buff with a Samoan drop. Kronic back up, Bigelow sent off the ropes into a double shoulder tackle. Kronic deliver High Time and Clark makes the cover, while Adams deals with Douglas on the apron which also distracts the ref. Candido comes in and hits Clark with... something, that he no sells, and Candido just leaves as Buff tags in. Kronic head to the back as Buff goes for the Blockbuster but he's countered with an inverted atomic drop. Bigelow misses a corner splash and Buff connects with the Blockbuster on the second try for the win in 6:22. You know aside from that weird spot with Candido and Kronic just leaving the match, this was a decent enough match.
Douglas nails Buff from behind as he's celebrating, dropping Buff throat first on the top rope, then the Pittsburg Plunge. Kronic make their way back out and Douglas escapes with Bigelow.
Up next, we see Jarrett, Awesome and Steiner on their way to the ring for the main event.
Cat makes his way out alongside Awesome, then Jarrett, then Steiner who has himself a mic. He tells Cat that as commissioner he's supposed to make matches as exciting as possible, and he's here to tell Cat he sucks. He says that if he was commissioner, since he's standing next to the most beautiful girl in the ring, he'd have a Panties on a Pole Match, or a Freak on a Leash Match. He's about to suggest his own stipulation, but Jarrett attacks him from behind to start this match.
WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Jeff Jarrett (c) vs Scott Steiner (WCW U.S. Heavyweight Champion)
Special Guest Referee: Mike Awesome. The Cat is on commentary.
Jarrett stomping away, Steiner reverses a whip off the ropes, Jarrett through the legs but caught with an inverted atomic drop. Jarrett sent off the ropes into a tilt-a-whirl side slam. Jarrett sent off the ropes into a clothesline and an elbow drop, plus some push-ups. Jarrett whipped into the corner and tries to go up and over but he's caught and sent back first into the corner, then dropped throat first on the top rope before getting clotheslined to the outside. Jarrett pulls Steiner out, then whips him into thee guard rail. Jarrett with a chair to the throat and chest of Steiner, and Jarrett tosses Steiner's girl into the ring. He turns his attention back to Steiner and she leaps onto Jarrett's back, getting some shots in and Steiner gets him in the ribs with a chair. Jarrett gets tossed into the crowd, water thrown into his face and they continue through the crowd. Jarrett gets tossed back over to ringside and goes face first into the steps.
Back in the ring, Steiner sent off the ropes but hangs on to avoid a dropkick, before catapulting Jarrett into the corner. Steiner with the gorilla press, then goes for a suplex but Jarrett slips out and hits a low blow. Jarrett now stomping away at Steiner, but gets whipped into the corner, only for Steiner to run face first into a boot. Steiner to the middle rope with an ax handle to the back, then to the middle rope again with an ax handle to the head. Jarrett wastes time posing in the corner, off the middle rope again, caught by Steiner but frees himself with a headbutt, followed by a back suplex. Steiner sent off the ropes, ducks a back elbow but runs into a sleeper hold. Steiner fights out, sends Jarrett off the ropes but gets the sleeper hold reapplied. Steiner fights out again, Jarrett off the ropes into a stalling suplex.
Jarrett's shots are blocked, ducks a clothesline, into a powerslam by Steiner into a cover, a fair count by Awesome for two. Jarrett reverses a whip into the corner but Steiner gets a boot up, who follows with his spinning belly to belly into a cover for two and another fair count. Jarrett sent off the ropes, kick to Steiner, tries for the Stroke but he's thrown down and Steiner applies the Recliner. Cat is on the mic calling it an illegal hold and tells Awesome to break the hold by any means necessary, and he tries, needing a chair from Cat to break it up. Jarrett makes the cover but Steiner kicks out. Jarrett and Awesome stomping away now, Steiner sent off the ropes and hits a double clothesline. Exploder suplex on Awesome, and Steiner puts him in the Recliner now. Cat calls for him to break the hold, but Jarrett smashes the guitar over his head to retain in 9:13. Another fairly good match, despite some of the bullshit involved. Also Russo is really bad at this guest referee gimmick, isn't he? These special refs are never unfair until it's needed.
Cat enters the ring with a mic as Jarrett and Awesome leave the ring. Cat vows to kick Steiner's ass but he hits a belly to belly over head as fans throw trash in the ring, and Cat is put in the Recliner. Awesome and Jarrett back in, laid out by Steiner, now Goldberg is in the ring and nails a spear. Nash's music hits, lays out Jarrett and Awesome, but Goldberg escapes just in time as the show goes off the air.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Well there wasn't anything that was overly stupid or utter shit on this show, things made sense for the most part and I didn't find myself getting a headache watching any of this. Not to mention Russo and Bischoff didn't show up once on this show. It wasn't all that good, but it was better than most Nitros I've watched for this series. Got a couple good matches, Lance Storm made his debut, and some things that were a little dumb or unnecessary but it's been worse. With a run time of 1:35:48, there was a total 38:29 of wrestling.
Thunder
We start with a recap of Nitro, then right to the opening video and pyro, broadcasting from the Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman, Montana. Schiavone welcomes us to the show before we see what happened with Tank and Rick on Nitro, which leads us into the first match of the night.
Rick is out first and gets the mic, says Tank's been called out many times, so this is nothing new. He brings up their issues, starting at the Bash when Tank hit him with a chain, last week he laid Tank out with a clothesline to make it even, and on Monday when they had a chance at the tag titles, he left him high and dry for some fan with a sign. He says he wants to end this partnership once and for all tonight.
Rick Steiner vs Tank Abbott
Rick is slammed down and Tank with a heel hold until Rick rolls to the ropes to force a break. Tank driven into the corner then taken down to the mat, Tank rolls into a cross armbreaker, and Tank's feet are under the ropes but Tank won't break and the ref doesn't really care. Consistency! Tank eventually breaks and they start throwing punches until Tank takes him down with a guillotine but Rick fights out, then he's taken back down again into a headlock. Rick rakes the eyes to escape.Tank throws a few shots to the face and knocks down Rick. Tank goes to leave but Rick stumbles back up, he ducks another shot and catches Tank with a side suplex. Rick with a clothesline, then forearm crossface shots. Headlock take down by Rick, then he releases. Rick to the middle rope with a bulldog, covers for three in 3:07. Well... that happened.
Rick leaves to the back, as we go to commentary, and Cat is in charge again tonight, Bischoff and Russo nowhere to be seen. We're also set to hear the debut of 3 Count's new hit single, also bringing up Lance Storm's debut. We get a recap of what happened with Dale and Vamp, and apparently no one's seen Asya. Suddenly Tank leaps over the announce table and yanks a fan over the guard rail and attacks him, security jumps on him immediately for the save. Tank leaves as security take the fan to the back.
Cut outside to a limo arriving and out steps Jarrett, Cat and Awesome. Jarrett wants Cat to make the match for him and Hogan at the PPV, says Hogan already has his title shot if he can drag himself out of the death bed, and let Awesome take care of Steiner, and knows Goldberg will make quick work of Nash. Cat wants to put Awesome against Steiner tonight, says they need ratings tonight. The chauffeur whispers into Cat's ear and Cat loves it, heading into the arena with Jarrett and Awesome in tow before commercial.
We see Palumbo and Stasiak in what I assume is the production area, and says after being tricked by Tank and Rick the last two weeks, they're going to be the ones doing the tricking. Stasiak asks what a particular button does, and he presses it before he gets an answer. Camera cuts to the ring where Penzer is standing and the corner pyro goes off, scaring the crap out of him. Palumbo and Stasiak loved it.
Out comes Jarrett, Cat and Awesome now. Jarrett's got the mic and reminds us he's the Chosen One for the thousandth time, and the best WCW Champion there's ever been. He wonders if it's coincidence that no one's kept him down since his ascent to the top of the heap, that the Slap Nuts t-shirt is the fastest selling t-shirt in WCW history, that Hogan was stretchered out the last time he faced Jarrett. He calls out to Hogan and says he's sent him a get well card every day, because he promised that if Hogan healed up he'd get his title shot at the PPV. He says if Hogan does make it to the PPV he's got a big surprise for him, he's gonna go out and find the biggest, fattest, most disgusting lady he can find and bring her to ringside, and when Hogan feels the stroke and he hears the wonderful sound of the 1-2-3, he's gonna bring that big, fat, disgusting, heffer into the ring and she's gonna straddle him and he's gonna have her sing her big fat ass off.
Awesome takes the mic and says the Career Killer will strike again at the PPV, saying he knows what Steiner's one weakness is, that his back is one tablebomb away from going snap, crackle, pop. He tells him to pump those freakish arms of his because he'll need them to push himself around in a wheelchair for the rest of his miserable life.
Cat takes the mic and says when he gets Hall's contract in his hands, he's got big plans, it belongs to the New Blood, but as for tonight he's got big plans, and he spends about a minute saying how great he is. Best part of this is when he tells someone woman in the crowd that if she doesn't sit her fat ass down he's gonna have security take her out, and then her drink just goes flying and it startles the hell out of Cat. He announces Jarrett and Awesome vs Nash and Steiner for the main event. Awesome and Jarrett leave as Cat dances.
Over to MIA's locker room, where Rection reminds his troops of what Booker said on Nitro, and says their mission tonight is a mixed tag three-way dance, with Loco and Guns representing them. He reminds them of Cat's no interference rule and they must remain disciplined and pumps them up into commercial.
We see Funk and Johnny somewhere backstage, Funk has a trash can and says he needs to be mentally and physically tough, and I guess Funk is training him as he proceeds to hit Johnny over the head with the trash can. He stays upright and Funk hits him again, which knocks him down. A third shot drops him again. Funk with a low blow and he tells Johnny to never leave himself exposed before pulling him back up. He wants Johnny to hit him six or seven times with the can now, and one shot sends Funk reeling, he says that was a home run, major league and Funk has already had enough. They walk off.
We see what happened with the Cruiserweight Title back on Nitro and the post-match antics with the ladies which leads to our next match.
Rey Mysterio Jr. & Tygress (w/ Konnan, Disco Inferno & Juventud Guerrera) vs Lt. Loco (WCW Cruiserweight Champion) & Major Guns (w/ Capt. Rection, Major Stash & Cpl. Cajun) vs The Artist & Paisley
So I guess we're doing two in at a time, and it's not a mixed tag, it seems to be an intergender tag match. Guns is also wearing two different colored heel boots for some reason. Rey starts with Guns. and she starts by slapping him then a low blow. Loco tags in, Rey sent off the ropes, through the legs and caught with a pumphandle suplex. Loco off the ropes into a rolling clothesline and Rey tags in Paisley, Artist wanting nothing to do with this. Loco tags in Tygress and Paisley is hair-mared to the mat several times. Tygress whipped into the corner, Paisley gets her foot up way too early but still gets Paisley in the gut, Tygress elbows Artist, Paisley with a scoop slam. Paisley misses a corner splash and Tygress tags in Rey. Rey knocks Artist off the apron and goes after Paisley, setting her down in the corner for a Bronco Buster but Artist pulls her out in time, then some rights for Rey. Rey sent off the ropes catches Artist with a headscissor. Loco off the top with a crossbody, Artist sent off the ropes into a back drop and a dropkick. Rights in the corner, Paisley jumps on Loco's back as Artist goes to the middle rope for his jumping DDT and pins Loco in 4:02. Well this was just kind of a clusterfuck.
Lance Storm appears out of nowhere again with a springboard dropkick to Rey, then tosses Loco over the ropes to the floor. Lance lays into Artist, sent off the ropes, through the legs with a back elbow, then a dropkick to Artist. Artist sent off the ropes, catches Lance with a kick but walks into a superkick. Artist manages to hit a Samoan drop before some rights in the corner, then whips Artist into the corner to the outside before a springboard splash taking out MIA and the Animals. Lance leaves again through the crowd.
Cut outside and we see the hearse from Nitro, and Dale comes around to see it, looking for Asya but only finds an earring into commercial.
Vamp makes his way out, and he's attacked from behind right away by Dale, whipping Vamp into the guard rail in the aisle, then face first off the ring apron. Fight makes its way into the ring as Dale lays in with rights. Vamp pulls out and dangles another earring as Dale asks where Asya is, then Vamp gets a mic as Dale backs off. He says if anything happens to himself, nobody in the whole world except Vamp knows where she is. Vamp puts his arm around Dale and says he likes him, says Dale's sick, a twisted freak just like him, says Dale has the sickness. He says the big difference between them is Vamp can't turn it off, every stinking subhuman day of his life, says he's sick inside. He says he can't take his makeup off, get away from the pain that makes him do the things he likes to do, and that's why he took Asya away. He says Dale needs to listen to the voices in his head, embrace the Demon, says he can't run away. He offers to make a deal though, Dale will have to do everything that Asya's done in the last two days. Vamp orders him out and out he goes, with Vamp right behind. Oh boy....
Over to Cat's office and Douglas is there to ask a favor. Cat is reluctant because of Douglas' heat with Bischoff, but Douglas wants to help him out with his ratings, and suggests booking a match between Bigelow against Candido and Buff. Cat then immediately suggests that very match and takes credit for it, but Douglas doesn't care. Cat makes it clear Douglas owes him into commercial.
Back to Dale who's being pushed around by Vamp to the outside and to the hearse. Vamp tosses the keys and tells him to drive, not telling him where, and they leave.
Commentary talk and recap what happened, then Tony has a memo from Cat. It starts with how he and Tenay should be more like Heenan, then they skip to the next paragraph, which has new rules for Hardcore Matches. Apparently now the matches have to start backstage and end in the ring. Then we get a replay from Nitro when Vito beat Johnny into our next match.
WCW Hardcore Championship: The Wall vs Big Vito (c)
Somewhere backstage Wall finds and yells at a ref wanting to know where Vito is, who comes from behind with a kendo stick shot to the head to stat this match, but runs into a big boot as he goes for another. Vito face first off an equipment case, but soon sends Wall through a nearby table before mounting for right hands. More shots from Vito until he's thrown onto a table, then Wall with some shots, hitting him with a trash can. Wall with some kind of cart rammed into Vito, then tries to use a chair but he's kicked, Vito with a trash can to the head of Wall. Funk and Johnny are watching this backstage as the match makes its way out beside the stage.Vito into the guard rail, then dragged into the aisle, whipped into the guard rail again, then Wall with a headbutt. Vito face first off the steps, and we see some weapons have already been laid out as Wall grabs a crutch and swing it down into Vito's ribs.
Into the ring now, Vito whipped into the corner but catches Wall with an elbow, then a mafia kick. Vito to the middle rope with an elbow drop. Vito grabs a trash can lid and a baseball bat, laying the lid over Wall's crotch and swings the bat down into it. Vito now pulls out a table from under the ring, sliding it into the ring, setting it up near the corner. Vito with rights, Wall reverses a whip off the ropes and hits a side slam. Wall exits the ring and pulls out a second table, setting it up at ringside next to the apron. Vito has a kendo stick as Wall goes for a chokeslam, and he's cracked over the head with it. Vito back on the attack with rights, sent off the ropes again into a big boot. Wall sets his sights on the table at ringside as he poses in the corner, which allows Vito to nail a low blow, and send Wall through the table in the ring with a running powerbomb for the win in 6:15. I guess with these new rules, these matches are a lot less disorganized than they used to be, so this match wasn't too bad.
Wall is already back up and Vito nails him with the title before heading to the back.
To the back, security knocks on Goldberg's door and he gets pissed, saying he comes out when he's good and ready, grabbing one of them by throat before heading to the ring into commercial.
Replay from Nitro of what Goldberg did to Horace and his challenge to Nash before Goldberg makes his way out with mic in hand. He says he knows he knows Nash isn't there... I guess he means not yet, because he's got a match later... but can imagine Nash can afford a VCR, so suggests he tape what he's about to say and run it back over and over again and see if he can figure out how serious Goldberg is. He says he never liked Nash, his games, manipulation, and cocky ass attitude, but fact is there's only one person he despises more than Nash, that being Scott Hall, calling him a cancer since day one in WCW. He reminds us what happened on the 23rd of December, in Salisbury, Maryland, when he smashed and cut up his arm through the car window, says it took every ounce of professionalism he had not to leave Hall laying in a pool of his own blood, and for his professionalism he got 196 stitches, sit home for five months and watch the monkey boys play their games, manipulating one person after another. He says when and if Hall comes back to WCW, Goldberg's appointed himself his personal judge, jury and executioner. He says ever since he came to WCW he's tried to kill people with kindness, but now he just wants to kill people, and Nash just happens to be the first man on his chopping block.He tells Nash to fear him at Bash at the Beach, before his music hits and he leaves to the back.
Cut to Douglas walking into the locker room, Candido and Bigelow getting ready, and he brags about fooling Cat and mocking him and telling them about the match he got made for tonight. They're pleased with that, but Douglas asks that they leave a tiny morsel for himself at the Bash. Then commercial.
We see Goldberg leave the arena in a limo, then right behind him we see Nash and Steiner arrive. The limo backs itself up as Goldberg looks out the window.
We see what happened with Buff and Douglas' crew in the last week before our next match.
Buff Bagwell vs Bam Bam Bigelow & Chris Candido
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: It looked as though someone was late on Buff's pyro, but we see it was Stasiak and Palumbo screwing around again in production.
Candido starts with Buff in a lock up, and Candido uses his wrist cast to gain an advantage followed by a suplex. Buff sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits a couple of clotheslines and a swinging neckbreaker, then one for Bigelow as he comes in. Candido comes back in after taking a breather at ringside before tagging in Bigelow. Lock up and Buff is shoved into the corner for shots, then Buff with some of his own, Bigelow whipped across the ring and hits a clothesline, then a couple of falling headbutts. Bigelow mocks Buff some which allows him to trip him up, tries to go off the ropes but he's kneed in the back by Candido, and Bigelow hits a Samoan drop, into a cover for two.
Candido back with the tag and a headlock, grounding Buff,he fights back up and out but he's clubbed in the back with the case. Candido choking Buff on the mat, then a boot in the corner before tagging in Bigelow. Candido whipped into Buff for a splash, then Bigelow with one of his own before he goes up top, Candido to the middle rope in the opposite corner and both miss their dives. Buff with rights and clotheslines all around, mounted rights on Bigelow in the corner until Candido cuts him off and drops him on the top rope. Bigelow whipped toward Buff but gets a boot up, who then goes for a Blockbuster, Bigelow ducks and Buff delivers it to Candido instead, covers but Bigelow breaks it up.
Buff sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and Buff hits a double arm DDT, covers, Candido tries to break it up with a splash but Buff moves and he hits Bigelow instead. Clothesline by Buff and a tornado DDT on Bigelow. Bigelow to the middle rope but Douglas comes out and nails Buff in the back with a lead pipe. Bigelow hits him with Greetings from Ashbury Park for the win in 6:01. Another fairly alright match.
Celebrating from Douglas and friends before w ego to the back, and David greets Daffney with a hug as she enters the building, which she doesn't reciprocate and slaps him instead. She tells him that she saw him and Hancock on Nitro and he claims innocence, as she walks off and he follows into commercial.
David has found Daffney sitting on some stairs, David claims what she saw was past footage, then tries to claim it was Jarrett and not him, then tries to blame it on production and insists it wasn't him, that she's the only girl he loves. She falls for it and embraces David.
Footage from Nitro of Booker and Kanyon's fight before Kanyon makes his way out. It also seems that G.I. Bro is officially no more, thank fuck. Kanyon has come to teach the fans how to be positive, and he's gonna do it by reading a whole chapter from his new book, soon to be made into an audio book narrated by Ernest Borgnine, and a major motion picture starring Harvey Keitel. So we get to the reading of Chapter 3: Morons, Idiots and Buffoons. "Page called me again today, I let him go on for 45 minutes on the answering machine before I picked up the phone. He told me he was sick and tired of dealing with Booker T, who he called Buffoon T. 'Bro, bro, bro bro bro,' he said. That was pretty much all Page said the entire conversation, but I knew exactly what he meant. Page was telling me that Buffoon T was stabbing him in the back, Buffoon was doing everything he could to undermine Page and Sting and Ric Flair. Page then said 'Bro, bro' I couldn't believe my ears. Nash and Hall too? What kind of person was Booker T that he would stab all his best friends in the back? What kind of worm was Booker T that he wouldn't meet them face to face and work out the problems they had? After all, isn't that what a real man would do? Then I realized..."
Well Booker interrupts and he's finally got that familiar theme music back as he makes his way out, so we really are done with G.I. Bro. Kanyon tries to attack but Booker lays him out with rights. More in the corner and stomps Kanyon into the corner. Kanyon reverses a whip across the ring but Booker hits a clothesline. Kanyon rakes the eyes and takes the wig off before sending Booker face first in the corner, then the opposite corner. Booker whipped across the ring and gets a boot up, but Kanyon ducks a Harlem Side Kick and nails Booker in the head with his book. Kanyon continues. "Then I realized we were talking about Booker T, the low-life moron who wouldn't know he was walking into a trap if it told him." Kanyon takes out a brick hidden in the book as Page's music hits and Kanyon celebrates what he's done.
Back to David and Daffney leaving the arena and David has Daffney wait in the car again, once again claiming to have forgotten something, though this time he goes to production, demanding to know who was responsible for showing him and Hancock. Palumbo and Stasiak point to the lone production guy with them, so David... shaves some of his hair in retaliation. David leaves as the production guy weeps, and leaves with Daffney into commercial.
Douglas comes in thanking Cat, but Cat is upset, saying Douglas has put his back against the wall and his hands are tied now, because Douglas broke his no interference rule, and now he has to fire Douglas for that. Cat comes up with another idea instead though after some thinking, saying if Douglas can earn some big ratings, and wants Douglas to rip "those two guys apart" pointing to a monitor we can see. Douglas doesn't like what he sees. Cat says Douglas is out of a job he doesn't go out and do a job, as much as Douglas protests.
Back to production where Palumbo and Stasiak are poking fun at the production guy for his new haircut, so he just up and leaves and locks the door behind him.
Back to the ring, 3 Count is out to debut their new hit single. Shannon calls it history in the making, and Evan claims they'll be bigger than the Backstreet Boys or NSYNC could ever dream of. So they actually dance and sing some, and we see several wrestlers in the locker room hating this. We see Tank walking backstage actually bobbing his head to the beat... Oh, are they starting that angle now?
Kronic come out to thankfully put an end to this and there's some botched springboards but 3 Count is eventually cleared out of the ring, which upsets Tank. Clark with a pumphandle powerslam on Shannon. Adam with a full nelson slam on Helms. High Time on Evan. Adams gets a mic and says its way past 420, and it's time for Douglas to pay the pipers. He tells him to come down so he knows what it's like to be smoked by Kronic. Douglas comes out in street clothes scared shitless.
Kronic vs The Franchise
Douglas just tries to leave as the bell is rung, but Buff comes out and tosses him into the ring. Kronic right on the attack, Douglas sent off the ropes, but Douglas lays in some rights. He tries to knock their heads together but they block and drop him with rights. Clark with a Uranagi and Adams with a clothesline. Full nelson slam by Adams. Clark goes to the middle rope as Adams tries to whip Douglas towards him, but it's reverses and Clark nails Adams with a shoulder block. Douglas tries to use this and turn them against each other, and it looks like it almost works, until they clock Douglas when he turns his back. Douglas sent off the ropes into a double shoulder block. High Time on Douglas for the win in 2:09.
Kronic start to leave but then some goofy music starts to play, and we cut to footage of Palumbo and Stasiak making fun of Kronic in the production truck. Kronic see this go down and make their way to the production truck, and Stasiak and Palumbo realize this and try to leave, but of course it's locked into commercial.
The production guy from earlier lead Kronic to the truck and unlock it, and a fight ensues, Kronic laying out the champions.
We catch back up with Vamp and Dale as we see a hearse pull up somewhere. There's an open grave with a casket that Vamp says Asya inside, but when Dale opens it up, no one's there. Vamp nails him with a shovel from behind, and Vamp makes a good point that he couldn't believe Dale actually trusted him. Vamp drags Asya from somewhere and over to Dale, and he tells her to tell him that he'll be waiting for him and his pal when he wakes up. Vamp leaves in the hearse as Asya screams for help.
We see Jarrett and Awesome walking backstage, then Nash and Steiner into commercial, that match next.
We see footage from Nitro of what happened with Steiner and Jarrett before our main event.
Jeff Jarrett (WCW World Heavyweight Champion) & Mike Awesome vs Scott Steiner (WCW U.S. Heavyweight Champion) & Kevin Nash
The Cat on commentary.
Jarrett and Steiner start with a lock up, Jarrett shoved into the corner until he gets in a cheap shot, driving Steiner into the opposite corner and follows with right hands. Steiner reverses a whip and drives Jarrett in the corner for boots and rights. Jarrett sent off the ropes into a tilt-a-whirl side slam, followed by an elbow and some push-ups. Nash gets the tag with rights and elbows in the corner, Jarrett whipped across the ring, tries to go up and over but he's caught, Jarrett manages to slip out and drive Nash chest first into the corner. Jarrett with mounted rights in the corner, then to the middle rope, but he's caught with a chokeslam, Nash covers for two.
Jarrett choked by Nash's boot in the corner until Awesome nails him from the apron, bringing Nash face first into his corner and Awesome tags in, goes up top with a flying clothesline and a running splash on Nash into a cover two. Awesome with rights in the corner, until he's whipped across the ring and hit with a clothesline. Steiner with the tag, Awesome face first in the corner and Steiner with chops, but his whip off the ropes is reverses and Jarrett gets a kick in to the back. Awesome drops him throat first on the top rope, followed by an Alabama slam into a jackknife pin for two. Awesome with more rights, then tags in Jarrett. Stomps to the back and choking over the middle rope, then tries to come off the opposite ropes and drop a leg over Steiner's back but he moves out of the way, only to be pulled throat first across the top rope by Awesome.
Steiner tries to make the tag but he's intercepted by Jarrett who tags in Awesome, and they send Steiner off the ropes, ducks a double clothesline, Nash grabs hold of Awesome and Steiner hits Jarrett with a clothesline. Nash in now, T-bone on Awesome by Steiner, then a press slam on Jarrett. Tiger bomb by Steiner and folds up Jarrett for the win in 4:54. That was... a rather odd finish I must say, but fairly good match.
Steiner puts Jarrett in the Recliner and of course Cat leaves commentary to get in Steiner's face. Nash comes in to lay out Cat, but Awesome takes down Nash and nails Steiner with the US Title. German suplex on Steiner, then sends Steiner into the corner but he gets a boot up, hitting Awesome with his spinning belly to belly. Awesome set down on the top rope but he's cut off by Jarrett, as Awesome goes up top with a frog splash. Jarrett nails Steiner with the US Title again as Cat comes back in and a triple team attack ensues. Nash in with boots and rights all around to clear the ring as Nash's music hits and Cat and crew leave the ring to the back. Goldberg's music hits and out he comes now with Hall's contract, and says they do it on his time before leaving, and we see Nash leave the ring as the show fades out.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Much like Nitro, this show was a lot better than it has been, and I'd argue it had less bad than Nitro did. Fairly good action for the most part, no Bischoff and Russo again which automatically gets this show a thumbs up, and things went pretty much smoothly. That said, with a run time of 1:36:50, this show had a total 26:28 of wrestling.
We get a recap of the big moments from Thunder, plus footage from after the show where Steiner put Russo in the Recliner. Then a pair of limos pull up outside the arena, out stepping Jarrett, Awesome and Cat, the latter carrying a briefcase and on the phone until Jarrett tells him to get off of it. Cart informs Jarrett that Russo is hurt bad thanks to Steiner, and Bischoff's taking care of some big deal in L.A., while Goldberg's still on his way. He tells Jarrett not to worry and he's got everything under control, then they head in, while Cat writes something on a pad. R&B Security run up to Cat and apparently there's something going down in the ring and need his help.
We're live from the Metropark Arena in Billings, Montana, and Horace is sat in the ring wielding a baseball bat as Schiavone welcomes us to the show. Horace has a mic and says he watched a guy last week, who's been nothing but a fly-by-night in the business, come down and destroy a man who helped build the business. He says they stick up for family where he comes from, and Goldberg showed that he's only in it for the money last week, but tonight Horace is in it for family honor and revenge. He isn't leaving the ring until he gets Goldberg and he wants to be next.
Instead out comes Cat as we get the replays of what happened to Hogan last week. Cat says Horace has lot his mind, but Goldberg is too busy for Horace just like he himself is, and they both know Goldberg would kill his ass. He tells Horace he can sit in the ring all night if he wants, but Cat has work to do. He turns his attention to Steiner, and because Steiner hurt his main man Russo, he's laying down the law, says there won't be any outside interference tonight, so if Steiner's not in a match his ass shouldn't be out there, threatening to suspend him for 30 days, fine him, and have him in Cat's dojo cleaning floors if he does for the remainder of his contract.
Speaking of contract, he says he has Scott Hall's contract with him, which of course brings out Nash and Steiner. Nash says that after last week, he and Scott are in a real bad mood, and it looks to him Cat's made himself a dream maker tonight, and suggests Cat grant some of those dreams, specifically giving Horace his match with Goldberg. Cat relents and gives Horace his match. Nash threatens to make this a long night for Cat if he doesn't give in to their orders, and Scott reminds us of what he did to Russo last week. He says he's only just getting started though, and he's been searching the building all day looking for "Bitch-off" but can't find him, and since Cat is sitting in for Russo Steiner wants him tonight. Cat bargains though and gives Steiner Jarrett instead for the World Title.
Now to Nash, who of course wants Hall's contract, and he wants Cat in the ring for the contract. Cat gives in and gives him his match. Nash says Cat's been doing a hell of a job as commissioner, and thanks god he had because after he busts Cat's back tonight, it's all he'll be able to do. Cat escapes through the crowd as Nash's music hits.
Over to commentary who recap what just happened, and remind us of Hogan's upcoming title match at the PPV.
Camera cuts to the production truck and in walks Palumbo and Stasiak, and they have a tape, they want the truck to do exactly what Rick and Tank did to them last week, but we cut briefly to see Rick and Tank watching this go down. They're attacked as they leave the truck into commercial.
Jarrett of course is pissed at Cat as we come back from break, so Cat tosses a referee shirt to Awesome to appease him and they leave. Cat pulls something out of his briefcase and someone from R&B Security tells him the crowd's getting restless and they need a match in the ring. Cat tells the guy to get "those three Spice Girls" saying they need to work, and I guess he was talking about 3 Count, so the guy leaves.
Well 3 Count are already in the ring doing their thing, and then the Jung Dragons rush in, so I guess this is our match.
3 Count (Shane Helms, Shannon Moore & Evan Karagias) vs Jung Dragons (Kaz Hayashi, Yang & Jamie-San)
Well I can't identify any of the Dragons, but two of them take out two of 3 Count on the outside with springboard moonsaults. The other Dragon is stomping the other one from 3 Count down in the corner, Moore is sent off the ropes into a spinning heel kick, then sent off the ropes again but slips through the legs, picks up one of the Dragons on his shoulders, Helms comes in for a Samoan drop/swinging neckbreaker combo. Evan tags in with a missile dropkick, then Hayashi (thanks finally Schiavone) sent off the ropes and drops down. Helms with the tag, up top with a sunset flip for two. Helms with a gutwrench suplex, then Shannon gets the tag. Hayashi double teamed in the corner, then Shannon's whipped toward him but Kaz sidesteps a splash, then a heel kick on Helms. Yang gets the tag and cleans house, mounted punches on Evan but Shannon catches him with a sleeper hold slam, goes for a cover but Jamie breaks it up. Shannon gets tosses out as Evan goes up top with a twisting splash on Yang, covers but Kaz breaks it up. Helms catches Kaz with a superkick, then Jame pulls him out of the ring. Yang slams Shannon onto his back, then he and Kaz go up top, but Shannon crotches them on the top rope. Jame gives chase into the ring but he's taken out by a clothesline from Evan. Wheelbarrow facebuster triple team by 3 Count on Jamie for the win in 3:56. It wasn't a terrible match, confusing at times to follow and keep track of who's who, but it was alright.
The Dragons kicked out and 3 Count start to do their routine, until Lance Storm appears out of nowhere, a springboard dropkick from behind on Helms, superkick on Evan, jawbreaker and dropkick on Shannon knock them all out of the ring. Front flip over the ropes onto Helms and Evan to the outside, then he leaves through the crowd.
David Flair is backstage looking for Daffney, then we see Goldberg entering the arena into commercial.
Tenay is with Horace wondering what he was thinking, what would possess him to call out Goldberg, asking if Horace is crazy. Horace says he's never been more determined or more serious in his life. He says that people call him crazy for calling out Goldberg, but he got put through a table last week, then had to watch his uncle Hulk get carried out of the arena on a stretcher. He says that crazy is the farthest thing from his mind, that Goldberg can come to the ring stomping, snorting, spitting, sweating, flexing his big muscles, it doesn't make a damn to Horace. He tells Goldberg he's not afraid to take a bullet for Hogan, but tonight he's firing the bullets right at Hogan. Then he walks off.
WCW Hardcore Championship: Big Vito (c) vs Johnny the Bull
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Vito makes his way out with a kendo stick and... some other kind of stick, as we see what happened between Vito and Funk the week before, and Vito turning on his partner. Johnny makes his way out with a baseball bat.
Vito immediately nails Johnny in the head with the kendo stick as he climbs the apron and sends him to the floor, then the stick across the back, and again, and a right hand as they get to the aisle way. Johnny into the guard rail and the belt across Johnny's back as they they fight beside the ramp and stage. Johnny reverses a whip into the stands and tries to use a railing, but Vito delivers a boot instead. Johnny into an equipment case as they go to the back, then into another case and then another one. Trash can over the back of Johnny, then face first off a table and a laptop to Johnny's back. Johnny thrown into a stack of chairs.
Fighting into what looks like the storage area, Johnny into more chairs, then Vito leans some drywall and throws Johnny into it. Vito goes for what looks like a bulldog but he's thrown into the conveniently placed metal pipes instead. Vito now into some cans as Johnny grabs some broom hands and breaks it over Vito's back, and they climb onto some scaffolding. Johnny tries to use another broom handle but Vito delivers a low blow, then his impaler DDT off the scaffolding through a table below (already conveniently set up) to retain in 4:15. Aside from the neat finish, this was every WCW hardcore match ever.
The ref checks on Johnny and Vito leaves.
Back to Cat still looking through his briefcase and he finds Hall's contract, and he seems confident in himself. Johnny is now helped out of the storage area, and now Funk comes up offering to help Johnny.
Loco is somewhere else looking for the Misfits and he's attacked by Mysterio, thrown into a metal shutter, then the Artist throws him onto a table, until GI Bro (sigh) appears from a nearby room to scare them off into commercial.
Bro calls a meeting in the locker room after the break and after what just happened to Loco, he says it's time to stop playing games and get serious. He reminds us that Hogan's been put out, Page was run off, Sting's been burned up to hell, Ric Flair bald-headed and retired by his own son, and says it's time for them to get together. Bro has Stash watch Loco's back, Loco watch Cajun's back, Cajun watch Guns' back, and Guns watch Rection's back. He says he's not picking up the pieces anymore and puts Rection in charge, but right now he's got big business. Page's music hits and out comes Kanyon, playing on a tiny monitor in the room and this is exactly what Bro was talking about.
Kanyon comes out still wearing the DDP wig and the parody book and takes the mic from Penzer. He says they love him, they hate him, and they'll never get tired of reading his new book "Positively Kanyon," that it's the kind of book you can't read just once, but two times. As a matter of fact, he says he got up that morning, gave himself the old self-high five, and read his new book again, which has him feeling really positive, so much so that he can't be beat. He puts out an open challenge to anyone in the back feeling froggy and come out to feel the bang.
Well as anticipated here comes Bro and Kanyon's on the attack, sends Joe off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits one of his own. Bro with a series of rights, then counters an Irish whip counter with a knee to the ribs, setting up for the scissors kick. Kanyon sent off the ropes into a flapjack then a spinaroonie, and a Harlem Side Kick. Booker ribs off his camo pants and his Booker T trunks underneath as Kanyon retreats to the back.
David is still looking for Daffney and eventually finds her sitting nearby. He wants to talk, but she has nothing to say to him, slapping him and walking off.
Up next, Horace faces Goldberg.
Horace Hogan vs Goldberg
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We get more replays of what happened to Hogan last week, then we see Nash and Steiner in the back. Steiner seems to want to interfere, Nash points out the no interference rule, but Steiner also points out that they never follow the rules. Nash though is convinced it's better to sit there and follow the rules, and Steiner concedes.
Horace immediately with a boot as Goldberg steps through the ropes and clubs to the back, driving Goldberg into the corner, sends him off the ropes but Goldberg hits a clothesline. Goldberg mounts for vicious rights before tossing Horace to the floor. Kick to the ribs of Horace, then another, before being press slammed ribs first onto the guard rail. Goldberg tries for another clothesline as he turns around but he nails the ring post as Horace ducks it. Horace grabs a chair and nails Goldberg in the back twice, then the gut and the back again. Back in the ring, Goldberg sent off the ropes into a big boot, but he's back up immediately and hits the spear as Horace turns around. Goldberg delivers the jackhammer for the win in 2:38. That was exactly what it should have been.
Crowd is loving this despite Goldberg's heel turn, and Goldberg gets Horace into rear chinlock on Horace, choking him out until he nearly passes out. Goldberg's music hits as he poses off.
It sounds like Nash is slurring his words as the camera cuts back to him and Steiner, is he drunk? He tells Steiner to save his energy for his match later, and Cat is on his way out for their match next with briefcase in hand.
The Cat vs Kevin Nash
If Nash wins, he gets Scott Hall's contract.
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Cat also has a mic in hand as he makes his way out and calls Nash out before he does some dancing, then he cuffs the briefcase to Madden's wrist, with the key to the cuff's around his own neck.
Cat taunts Nash with the key, then shows off his moves before being hit with a clothesline. Knees in the corner by Nash, then the elbows to the side of the head and Cat escapes the ring. He's already calling to the back and he grabs a mic hoping for help but Nash drops him before he can. Nash with more rights, then he tries to use Madden's headset to waive his no interference rule but Nash nails him again. Back in the ring, Cat tries to beg off Nash, luring him into a low blow. Cat with a right and another low blow in the corner, then some side kicks to the chest and ribs and another right, but Nash comes out with a clothesline as Cat wastes time with the crows. Nash with the jackknife and the win in 2:39. It was short thankfully, because this was also every Nash match ever.
Nash takes the key and frees Madden from the cuffs, opens up the case, but instead of a contract it's pictures of Cat inside. Nash makes his way back into the ring with eyes on Cat, but before he does anything Goldberg appears on the big screen, with Nash's "little girlfriend's" contract in hand. He makes a challenge for Bash at the Beach if Nash wants it and has the guts. Nash makes his way to the back as Goldberg eats part of the contract into commercial.
Tenay is with Nash and one of Steiner's girls and he recaps what just happened. Nash says it's ironic since the PPV is on his birthday and has a place in Daytona Beach. He says Goldberg's been watching Terminator too long and too many times, and has to remember that Nash is the only guy who's ever beaten him. He says he has no problem beating Goldberg's ass with Hall's contract on the line, and Scott's 40 min away from Daytona, guarantees they'll have a big party on his birthday.
Up walks Steiner from the side and Tenay brings up his title match tonight. Steiner says that Jarrett is the Chosen One in his own mind, but he's the Genetic Freak, the one with the large arms, and who's to say he's not the Chosen One. He says Jarrett can kiss his ass before he and his girl leave.
WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Lt. Loco (c) (w/ Capt. Rection, Major Stash, Cpl. Cajun & Major Guns) vs Rey Mysterio Jr. (w/ Disco Inferno, Tygress, Konnan & Juventud Guerrera) vs The Artist (w/ Paisley)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Rey is out first with the Animals, Juvie joins commentary as Konnan grabs a mic. He says Rey's got a match with Loco, saying that their crew is not only sackless, but leaderless now that Bro left them, then says Artist will come out and try and wrestle, that he's about as exciting to watch as slow dancing with your sister. Then there's some other weird shit, god knows why Disco is part of this group.
Artist attacks Loco in the aisle right away to start, then tosses him in the ring, Rey off the ropes with a leg drop and a cover for Artist to break up. Artist and Rey argue and trade shots, Rey whipped chest first across the ring, Rey caught in an electric chair position, tries to counter with a hurricanrana but nailed with a sitout powerbomb. Loco up top with the frog splash on Rey and a cover for two. Artist sends Loco off the ropes, ducks a clothesline but back dropped to the floor. Rey sent off the ropes but sends Artist to the outside. Artist tossed back in, Rey holds him up as Loco goes up top but Artist elbows himself free, crotching Loco. Rey with a spinning heel kick on Artist, who retreats to the corner and Rey hits a Bronco Buster. Then he leaps up top to Loco but he get crotched on the top rope. Loco with the tornado DDT on Artist to retain in 2:22.
Loco celebrates as Tygress comes in and holds up Guns, and Paisley nails Tygress instead, now everyone's holding the ladies back as we go to the replays.
David is on his knees apologizing to Daffney in the back and has a bouquet of black roses in his hand, so she forgives and embraces him. They walk off kissing into commercial.
Back to David and Daffney and to a car, tells her to head to the hotel ahead of him, that he forgot something in the arena. So she drives off and he heads back inside. We see Ms. Hancock waiting around the corner and David's two-timing them both, now they embrace and kiss. Oh Daffney didn't leave because now she's watching this go down on a monitor somewhere, that was fast. She breaks down in tears.
WCW World Tag Team Championship: The Perfect Event (c) vs Tank Abbott & Rick Steiner
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We see what happened with the challenges and Scott at the PPV, plus what happened on last week's Thunder before we get to the match.
Tank and Stasiak start the match, Stasiak with clubs to the back as he's driven into the corner, but Tank drives him into the mat. Tank with more boots and a right before Rick tags in. Rick with a right and boots, Stasiak sent off the ropes into a clothesline. Rick covers for two. Belly to belly suplex by Rick, cover but Palumbo breaks it up. Stasiak sent off the ropes but catches Rick with a kick and Palumbo tags in. Rights on Rick, sends him off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, Palumbo tries to leap frog but he's caught and thrown overhead instead. Rick with an elbow, covers for two.
Tank goes to ringside and rips up a fan before chasing off the fan to the back. Rick looks on confused as Palumbo tags in, now Stasiak joins on a double team attack. Rick is whipped into the guard rail, then Palumbo with a boot to the head and Stasiak one to the back. Rick tries to fight back but he's driven back to the floor and tossed back in the ring. Rights on Rick, then he starts to fight back again but he's overpowered, sent off the ropes, catches Palumbo with a kick and a clothesline to Stasiak, then a belly to belly to Palumbo into a cover for two. Stasiak has rolled out and grabs the Lex Flexer at ringside but he's dropped, then Rick with a German suplex on Palumbo. Stasiak slides in the Flexer as Rick goes to the middle rope and he's nailed in the ribs with the Flexer. Double team flapjack to retain in 4:42.
Champions celebrate with their titles as commentary speculate on Tank, and Rick comes to.
We see Demon without face paint with his wife Asya, saying it's "his" fault for her getting attacked. He says he went away for two months for therapy and thought he was gone, but "he" came back again. He doesn't know what he's going to do, but until then he says they can't have a normal life together, but will do anything he can to make it normal for them again and put "him" away for good. She doesn't blame him, she blames "him." He wants her to do him a favor, handing him his gear and wants her to put it somewhere he can't find it, get rid of it, and she agrees to do what she can. He leaves. Is the Demon supposed to be its own entity now?
Vamp is watching this go down somewhere else backstage into commercial.
Vamp comes out and we see a replay of his match with Demon last week, plus what happened on Thunder. Vamp says he came across someone last week he thought had a lot of potential in the Demon. He says he thought it was someone he had something in common with, rock and roll, makeup, fire, and of course mayhem. Now though he hears Demon is going away, and they gotta do this right, he wants to have a little party. He calls out the two people who are closest to him in all the world, Dale "the Demon" Torborg, and his beautiful, lovely, charismatic, force of nature fiance Asya.
So out come Dale and Asya, still coming out to God of Thunder, but Vamp has it cut off, pointing out that that's not the Demon, it's the guy behind the makeup, he's trying to say goodbye to the Demon, and the least they could do is be cordial and respect his wishes. He says it must be tough to let go of something that's such a part of himself, and asks if it makes him feel empty when a part of him just goes away. Then the lights go out with a boom, and Asya has disappeared. Vamp says it looks like more than his Demon has vanished. Lights go out again with a boom and now Vamp has disappeared.
Vamp is in a truck on the big screen and guesses all Dale really needs is himself. Oh he's in a hearse actually as he drives off, and I guess it's implied he has Asya in there, so Dale runs to the back.
Scott is in a hallway getting ready, then we see the Triple Threat walking backstage, Candido's got his arm in a sling. Then we see Buff and Kronic walking backstage for a match up next.
The Franchise, Bam Bam Bigelow & Chris Candido vs Buff Bagwell & Kronic
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We see footage from Thunder when Triple Threat reunited and attacked Buff and a fight broke out with these six. Douglas has a mic and tells the fans to look at true greatness, and says it's about time they serve notice around there that they aren't taking seconds anymore, that they're taking what belongs to them and taking it by force. He says his boys aren't content without some belts around their waists, and are serving notice that Candido and Bigelow are setting their sights on the tag team titles. Then he turns his attention to Buff, challenging him to any match he wants at the PPV, because at the end of the night, he'll know what having his ass franchised will really mean.
Clark and Douglas start this one and there's a loud "Franchise sucks" chant as they lock up, Douglas overpowered and kneed in the ribs, chopped against the ropes, Douglas sent off the ropes and lifted up, but he slips behind with a waist lock, goes for a roll up but Clark holds onto the ropes, only to turn around for a dropkick. Douglas up top only to be thrown off to the mat. Clark with the Uranagi before tagging in Adams. Douglas sent off the ropes into back elbows, then a full nelson slam from Adams, covers for two. Bagwell with the tag but Douglas retreats to his corner in time to tag in Bigelow, who attacks Buff from behind as he's dead set on getting to Douglas. Bigelow stomps and falling headbutts, Buff whipped across the ring for a corner splash. Douglas with the tag now, stomps and choking Buff, raking the eyes over the middle rope, then sends him face first into the corner. Douglas with the Three Amigos, a stalling vertical on the third into a cover for two. Douglas wastes time with Kronic which allows Buff to hit a double arm DDT as he turns around.
Bigelow and Clark get the tag, Adams joins in as Douglas comes in, who's press slammed into Bigelow. Bigelow sent off the ropes, but catches Kronic with the double DDT, then Buff with a Samoan drop. Kronic back up, Bigelow sent off the ropes into a double shoulder tackle. Kronic deliver High Time and Clark makes the cover, while Adams deals with Douglas on the apron which also distracts the ref. Candido comes in and hits Clark with... something, that he no sells, and Candido just leaves as Buff tags in. Kronic head to the back as Buff goes for the Blockbuster but he's countered with an inverted atomic drop. Bigelow misses a corner splash and Buff connects with the Blockbuster on the second try for the win in 6:22. You know aside from that weird spot with Candido and Kronic just leaving the match, this was a decent enough match.
Douglas nails Buff from behind as he's celebrating, dropping Buff throat first on the top rope, then the Pittsburg Plunge. Kronic make their way back out and Douglas escapes with Bigelow.
Up next, we see Jarrett, Awesome and Steiner on their way to the ring for the main event.
Cat makes his way out alongside Awesome, then Jarrett, then Steiner who has himself a mic. He tells Cat that as commissioner he's supposed to make matches as exciting as possible, and he's here to tell Cat he sucks. He says that if he was commissioner, since he's standing next to the most beautiful girl in the ring, he'd have a Panties on a Pole Match, or a Freak on a Leash Match. He's about to suggest his own stipulation, but Jarrett attacks him from behind to start this match.
WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Jeff Jarrett (c) vs Scott Steiner (WCW U.S. Heavyweight Champion)
Special Guest Referee: Mike Awesome. The Cat is on commentary.
Jarrett stomping away, Steiner reverses a whip off the ropes, Jarrett through the legs but caught with an inverted atomic drop. Jarrett sent off the ropes into a tilt-a-whirl side slam. Jarrett sent off the ropes into a clothesline and an elbow drop, plus some push-ups. Jarrett whipped into the corner and tries to go up and over but he's caught and sent back first into the corner, then dropped throat first on the top rope before getting clotheslined to the outside. Jarrett pulls Steiner out, then whips him into thee guard rail. Jarrett with a chair to the throat and chest of Steiner, and Jarrett tosses Steiner's girl into the ring. He turns his attention back to Steiner and she leaps onto Jarrett's back, getting some shots in and Steiner gets him in the ribs with a chair. Jarrett gets tossed into the crowd, water thrown into his face and they continue through the crowd. Jarrett gets tossed back over to ringside and goes face first into the steps.
Back in the ring, Steiner sent off the ropes but hangs on to avoid a dropkick, before catapulting Jarrett into the corner. Steiner with the gorilla press, then goes for a suplex but Jarrett slips out and hits a low blow. Jarrett now stomping away at Steiner, but gets whipped into the corner, only for Steiner to run face first into a boot. Steiner to the middle rope with an ax handle to the back, then to the middle rope again with an ax handle to the head. Jarrett wastes time posing in the corner, off the middle rope again, caught by Steiner but frees himself with a headbutt, followed by a back suplex. Steiner sent off the ropes, ducks a back elbow but runs into a sleeper hold. Steiner fights out, sends Jarrett off the ropes but gets the sleeper hold reapplied. Steiner fights out again, Jarrett off the ropes into a stalling suplex.
Jarrett's shots are blocked, ducks a clothesline, into a powerslam by Steiner into a cover, a fair count by Awesome for two. Jarrett reverses a whip into the corner but Steiner gets a boot up, who follows with his spinning belly to belly into a cover for two and another fair count. Jarrett sent off the ropes, kick to Steiner, tries for the Stroke but he's thrown down and Steiner applies the Recliner. Cat is on the mic calling it an illegal hold and tells Awesome to break the hold by any means necessary, and he tries, needing a chair from Cat to break it up. Jarrett makes the cover but Steiner kicks out. Jarrett and Awesome stomping away now, Steiner sent off the ropes and hits a double clothesline. Exploder suplex on Awesome, and Steiner puts him in the Recliner now. Cat calls for him to break the hold, but Jarrett smashes the guitar over his head to retain in 9:13. Another fairly good match, despite some of the bullshit involved. Also Russo is really bad at this guest referee gimmick, isn't he? These special refs are never unfair until it's needed.
Cat enters the ring with a mic as Jarrett and Awesome leave the ring. Cat vows to kick Steiner's ass but he hits a belly to belly over head as fans throw trash in the ring, and Cat is put in the Recliner. Awesome and Jarrett back in, laid out by Steiner, now Goldberg is in the ring and nails a spear. Nash's music hits, lays out Jarrett and Awesome, but Goldberg escapes just in time as the show goes off the air.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Well there wasn't anything that was overly stupid or utter shit on this show, things made sense for the most part and I didn't find myself getting a headache watching any of this. Not to mention Russo and Bischoff didn't show up once on this show. It wasn't all that good, but it was better than most Nitros I've watched for this series. Got a couple good matches, Lance Storm made his debut, and some things that were a little dumb or unnecessary but it's been worse. With a run time of 1:35:48, there was a total 38:29 of wrestling.
Thunder
We start with a recap of Nitro, then right to the opening video and pyro, broadcasting from the Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman, Montana. Schiavone welcomes us to the show before we see what happened with Tank and Rick on Nitro, which leads us into the first match of the night.
Rick is out first and gets the mic, says Tank's been called out many times, so this is nothing new. He brings up their issues, starting at the Bash when Tank hit him with a chain, last week he laid Tank out with a clothesline to make it even, and on Monday when they had a chance at the tag titles, he left him high and dry for some fan with a sign. He says he wants to end this partnership once and for all tonight.
Rick Steiner vs Tank Abbott
Rick is slammed down and Tank with a heel hold until Rick rolls to the ropes to force a break. Tank driven into the corner then taken down to the mat, Tank rolls into a cross armbreaker, and Tank's feet are under the ropes but Tank won't break and the ref doesn't really care. Consistency! Tank eventually breaks and they start throwing punches until Tank takes him down with a guillotine but Rick fights out, then he's taken back down again into a headlock. Rick rakes the eyes to escape.Tank throws a few shots to the face and knocks down Rick. Tank goes to leave but Rick stumbles back up, he ducks another shot and catches Tank with a side suplex. Rick with a clothesline, then forearm crossface shots. Headlock take down by Rick, then he releases. Rick to the middle rope with a bulldog, covers for three in 3:07. Well... that happened.
Rick leaves to the back, as we go to commentary, and Cat is in charge again tonight, Bischoff and Russo nowhere to be seen. We're also set to hear the debut of 3 Count's new hit single, also bringing up Lance Storm's debut. We get a recap of what happened with Dale and Vamp, and apparently no one's seen Asya. Suddenly Tank leaps over the announce table and yanks a fan over the guard rail and attacks him, security jumps on him immediately for the save. Tank leaves as security take the fan to the back.
Cut outside to a limo arriving and out steps Jarrett, Cat and Awesome. Jarrett wants Cat to make the match for him and Hogan at the PPV, says Hogan already has his title shot if he can drag himself out of the death bed, and let Awesome take care of Steiner, and knows Goldberg will make quick work of Nash. Cat wants to put Awesome against Steiner tonight, says they need ratings tonight. The chauffeur whispers into Cat's ear and Cat loves it, heading into the arena with Jarrett and Awesome in tow before commercial.
We see Palumbo and Stasiak in what I assume is the production area, and says after being tricked by Tank and Rick the last two weeks, they're going to be the ones doing the tricking. Stasiak asks what a particular button does, and he presses it before he gets an answer. Camera cuts to the ring where Penzer is standing and the corner pyro goes off, scaring the crap out of him. Palumbo and Stasiak loved it.
Out comes Jarrett, Cat and Awesome now. Jarrett's got the mic and reminds us he's the Chosen One for the thousandth time, and the best WCW Champion there's ever been. He wonders if it's coincidence that no one's kept him down since his ascent to the top of the heap, that the Slap Nuts t-shirt is the fastest selling t-shirt in WCW history, that Hogan was stretchered out the last time he faced Jarrett. He calls out to Hogan and says he's sent him a get well card every day, because he promised that if Hogan healed up he'd get his title shot at the PPV. He says if Hogan does make it to the PPV he's got a big surprise for him, he's gonna go out and find the biggest, fattest, most disgusting lady he can find and bring her to ringside, and when Hogan feels the stroke and he hears the wonderful sound of the 1-2-3, he's gonna bring that big, fat, disgusting, heffer into the ring and she's gonna straddle him and he's gonna have her sing her big fat ass off.
Awesome takes the mic and says the Career Killer will strike again at the PPV, saying he knows what Steiner's one weakness is, that his back is one tablebomb away from going snap, crackle, pop. He tells him to pump those freakish arms of his because he'll need them to push himself around in a wheelchair for the rest of his miserable life.
Cat takes the mic and says when he gets Hall's contract in his hands, he's got big plans, it belongs to the New Blood, but as for tonight he's got big plans, and he spends about a minute saying how great he is. Best part of this is when he tells someone woman in the crowd that if she doesn't sit her fat ass down he's gonna have security take her out, and then her drink just goes flying and it startles the hell out of Cat. He announces Jarrett and Awesome vs Nash and Steiner for the main event. Awesome and Jarrett leave as Cat dances.
Over to MIA's locker room, where Rection reminds his troops of what Booker said on Nitro, and says their mission tonight is a mixed tag three-way dance, with Loco and Guns representing them. He reminds them of Cat's no interference rule and they must remain disciplined and pumps them up into commercial.
We see Funk and Johnny somewhere backstage, Funk has a trash can and says he needs to be mentally and physically tough, and I guess Funk is training him as he proceeds to hit Johnny over the head with the trash can. He stays upright and Funk hits him again, which knocks him down. A third shot drops him again. Funk with a low blow and he tells Johnny to never leave himself exposed before pulling him back up. He wants Johnny to hit him six or seven times with the can now, and one shot sends Funk reeling, he says that was a home run, major league and Funk has already had enough. They walk off.
We see what happened with the Cruiserweight Title back on Nitro and the post-match antics with the ladies which leads to our next match.
Rey Mysterio Jr. & Tygress (w/ Konnan, Disco Inferno & Juventud Guerrera) vs Lt. Loco (WCW Cruiserweight Champion) & Major Guns (w/ Capt. Rection, Major Stash & Cpl. Cajun) vs The Artist & Paisley
So I guess we're doing two in at a time, and it's not a mixed tag, it seems to be an intergender tag match. Guns is also wearing two different colored heel boots for some reason. Rey starts with Guns. and she starts by slapping him then a low blow. Loco tags in, Rey sent off the ropes, through the legs and caught with a pumphandle suplex. Loco off the ropes into a rolling clothesline and Rey tags in Paisley, Artist wanting nothing to do with this. Loco tags in Tygress and Paisley is hair-mared to the mat several times. Tygress whipped into the corner, Paisley gets her foot up way too early but still gets Paisley in the gut, Tygress elbows Artist, Paisley with a scoop slam. Paisley misses a corner splash and Tygress tags in Rey. Rey knocks Artist off the apron and goes after Paisley, setting her down in the corner for a Bronco Buster but Artist pulls her out in time, then some rights for Rey. Rey sent off the ropes catches Artist with a headscissor. Loco off the top with a crossbody, Artist sent off the ropes into a back drop and a dropkick. Rights in the corner, Paisley jumps on Loco's back as Artist goes to the middle rope for his jumping DDT and pins Loco in 4:02. Well this was just kind of a clusterfuck.
Lance Storm appears out of nowhere again with a springboard dropkick to Rey, then tosses Loco over the ropes to the floor. Lance lays into Artist, sent off the ropes, through the legs with a back elbow, then a dropkick to Artist. Artist sent off the ropes, catches Lance with a kick but walks into a superkick. Artist manages to hit a Samoan drop before some rights in the corner, then whips Artist into the corner to the outside before a springboard splash taking out MIA and the Animals. Lance leaves again through the crowd.
Cut outside and we see the hearse from Nitro, and Dale comes around to see it, looking for Asya but only finds an earring into commercial.
Vamp makes his way out, and he's attacked from behind right away by Dale, whipping Vamp into the guard rail in the aisle, then face first off the ring apron. Fight makes its way into the ring as Dale lays in with rights. Vamp pulls out and dangles another earring as Dale asks where Asya is, then Vamp gets a mic as Dale backs off. He says if anything happens to himself, nobody in the whole world except Vamp knows where she is. Vamp puts his arm around Dale and says he likes him, says Dale's sick, a twisted freak just like him, says Dale has the sickness. He says the big difference between them is Vamp can't turn it off, every stinking subhuman day of his life, says he's sick inside. He says he can't take his makeup off, get away from the pain that makes him do the things he likes to do, and that's why he took Asya away. He says Dale needs to listen to the voices in his head, embrace the Demon, says he can't run away. He offers to make a deal though, Dale will have to do everything that Asya's done in the last two days. Vamp orders him out and out he goes, with Vamp right behind. Oh boy....
Over to Cat's office and Douglas is there to ask a favor. Cat is reluctant because of Douglas' heat with Bischoff, but Douglas wants to help him out with his ratings, and suggests booking a match between Bigelow against Candido and Buff. Cat then immediately suggests that very match and takes credit for it, but Douglas doesn't care. Cat makes it clear Douglas owes him into commercial.
Back to Dale who's being pushed around by Vamp to the outside and to the hearse. Vamp tosses the keys and tells him to drive, not telling him where, and they leave.
Commentary talk and recap what happened, then Tony has a memo from Cat. It starts with how he and Tenay should be more like Heenan, then they skip to the next paragraph, which has new rules for Hardcore Matches. Apparently now the matches have to start backstage and end in the ring. Then we get a replay from Nitro when Vito beat Johnny into our next match.
WCW Hardcore Championship: The Wall vs Big Vito (c)
Somewhere backstage Wall finds and yells at a ref wanting to know where Vito is, who comes from behind with a kendo stick shot to the head to stat this match, but runs into a big boot as he goes for another. Vito face first off an equipment case, but soon sends Wall through a nearby table before mounting for right hands. More shots from Vito until he's thrown onto a table, then Wall with some shots, hitting him with a trash can. Wall with some kind of cart rammed into Vito, then tries to use a chair but he's kicked, Vito with a trash can to the head of Wall. Funk and Johnny are watching this backstage as the match makes its way out beside the stage.Vito into the guard rail, then dragged into the aisle, whipped into the guard rail again, then Wall with a headbutt. Vito face first off the steps, and we see some weapons have already been laid out as Wall grabs a crutch and swing it down into Vito's ribs.
Into the ring now, Vito whipped into the corner but catches Wall with an elbow, then a mafia kick. Vito to the middle rope with an elbow drop. Vito grabs a trash can lid and a baseball bat, laying the lid over Wall's crotch and swings the bat down into it. Vito now pulls out a table from under the ring, sliding it into the ring, setting it up near the corner. Vito with rights, Wall reverses a whip off the ropes and hits a side slam. Wall exits the ring and pulls out a second table, setting it up at ringside next to the apron. Vito has a kendo stick as Wall goes for a chokeslam, and he's cracked over the head with it. Vito back on the attack with rights, sent off the ropes again into a big boot. Wall sets his sights on the table at ringside as he poses in the corner, which allows Vito to nail a low blow, and send Wall through the table in the ring with a running powerbomb for the win in 6:15. I guess with these new rules, these matches are a lot less disorganized than they used to be, so this match wasn't too bad.
Wall is already back up and Vito nails him with the title before heading to the back.
To the back, security knocks on Goldberg's door and he gets pissed, saying he comes out when he's good and ready, grabbing one of them by throat before heading to the ring into commercial.
Replay from Nitro of what Goldberg did to Horace and his challenge to Nash before Goldberg makes his way out with mic in hand. He says he knows he knows Nash isn't there... I guess he means not yet, because he's got a match later... but can imagine Nash can afford a VCR, so suggests he tape what he's about to say and run it back over and over again and see if he can figure out how serious Goldberg is. He says he never liked Nash, his games, manipulation, and cocky ass attitude, but fact is there's only one person he despises more than Nash, that being Scott Hall, calling him a cancer since day one in WCW. He reminds us what happened on the 23rd of December, in Salisbury, Maryland, when he smashed and cut up his arm through the car window, says it took every ounce of professionalism he had not to leave Hall laying in a pool of his own blood, and for his professionalism he got 196 stitches, sit home for five months and watch the monkey boys play their games, manipulating one person after another. He says when and if Hall comes back to WCW, Goldberg's appointed himself his personal judge, jury and executioner. He says ever since he came to WCW he's tried to kill people with kindness, but now he just wants to kill people, and Nash just happens to be the first man on his chopping block.He tells Nash to fear him at Bash at the Beach, before his music hits and he leaves to the back.
Cut to Douglas walking into the locker room, Candido and Bigelow getting ready, and he brags about fooling Cat and mocking him and telling them about the match he got made for tonight. They're pleased with that, but Douglas asks that they leave a tiny morsel for himself at the Bash. Then commercial.
We see Goldberg leave the arena in a limo, then right behind him we see Nash and Steiner arrive. The limo backs itself up as Goldberg looks out the window.
We see what happened with Buff and Douglas' crew in the last week before our next match.
Buff Bagwell vs Bam Bam Bigelow & Chris Candido
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: It looked as though someone was late on Buff's pyro, but we see it was Stasiak and Palumbo screwing around again in production.
Candido starts with Buff in a lock up, and Candido uses his wrist cast to gain an advantage followed by a suplex. Buff sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits a couple of clotheslines and a swinging neckbreaker, then one for Bigelow as he comes in. Candido comes back in after taking a breather at ringside before tagging in Bigelow. Lock up and Buff is shoved into the corner for shots, then Buff with some of his own, Bigelow whipped across the ring and hits a clothesline, then a couple of falling headbutts. Bigelow mocks Buff some which allows him to trip him up, tries to go off the ropes but he's kneed in the back by Candido, and Bigelow hits a Samoan drop, into a cover for two.
Candido back with the tag and a headlock, grounding Buff,he fights back up and out but he's clubbed in the back with the case. Candido choking Buff on the mat, then a boot in the corner before tagging in Bigelow. Candido whipped into Buff for a splash, then Bigelow with one of his own before he goes up top, Candido to the middle rope in the opposite corner and both miss their dives. Buff with rights and clotheslines all around, mounted rights on Bigelow in the corner until Candido cuts him off and drops him on the top rope. Bigelow whipped toward Buff but gets a boot up, who then goes for a Blockbuster, Bigelow ducks and Buff delivers it to Candido instead, covers but Bigelow breaks it up.
Buff sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and Buff hits a double arm DDT, covers, Candido tries to break it up with a splash but Buff moves and he hits Bigelow instead. Clothesline by Buff and a tornado DDT on Bigelow. Bigelow to the middle rope but Douglas comes out and nails Buff in the back with a lead pipe. Bigelow hits him with Greetings from Ashbury Park for the win in 6:01. Another fairly alright match.
Celebrating from Douglas and friends before w ego to the back, and David greets Daffney with a hug as she enters the building, which she doesn't reciprocate and slaps him instead. She tells him that she saw him and Hancock on Nitro and he claims innocence, as she walks off and he follows into commercial.
David has found Daffney sitting on some stairs, David claims what she saw was past footage, then tries to claim it was Jarrett and not him, then tries to blame it on production and insists it wasn't him, that she's the only girl he loves. She falls for it and embraces David.
Footage from Nitro of Booker and Kanyon's fight before Kanyon makes his way out. It also seems that G.I. Bro is officially no more, thank fuck. Kanyon has come to teach the fans how to be positive, and he's gonna do it by reading a whole chapter from his new book, soon to be made into an audio book narrated by Ernest Borgnine, and a major motion picture starring Harvey Keitel. So we get to the reading of Chapter 3: Morons, Idiots and Buffoons. "Page called me again today, I let him go on for 45 minutes on the answering machine before I picked up the phone. He told me he was sick and tired of dealing with Booker T, who he called Buffoon T. 'Bro, bro, bro bro bro,' he said. That was pretty much all Page said the entire conversation, but I knew exactly what he meant. Page was telling me that Buffoon T was stabbing him in the back, Buffoon was doing everything he could to undermine Page and Sting and Ric Flair. Page then said 'Bro, bro' I couldn't believe my ears. Nash and Hall too? What kind of person was Booker T that he would stab all his best friends in the back? What kind of worm was Booker T that he wouldn't meet them face to face and work out the problems they had? After all, isn't that what a real man would do? Then I realized..."
Well Booker interrupts and he's finally got that familiar theme music back as he makes his way out, so we really are done with G.I. Bro. Kanyon tries to attack but Booker lays him out with rights. More in the corner and stomps Kanyon into the corner. Kanyon reverses a whip across the ring but Booker hits a clothesline. Kanyon rakes the eyes and takes the wig off before sending Booker face first in the corner, then the opposite corner. Booker whipped across the ring and gets a boot up, but Kanyon ducks a Harlem Side Kick and nails Booker in the head with his book. Kanyon continues. "Then I realized we were talking about Booker T, the low-life moron who wouldn't know he was walking into a trap if it told him." Kanyon takes out a brick hidden in the book as Page's music hits and Kanyon celebrates what he's done.
Back to David and Daffney leaving the arena and David has Daffney wait in the car again, once again claiming to have forgotten something, though this time he goes to production, demanding to know who was responsible for showing him and Hancock. Palumbo and Stasiak point to the lone production guy with them, so David... shaves some of his hair in retaliation. David leaves as the production guy weeps, and leaves with Daffney into commercial.
Douglas comes in thanking Cat, but Cat is upset, saying Douglas has put his back against the wall and his hands are tied now, because Douglas broke his no interference rule, and now he has to fire Douglas for that. Cat comes up with another idea instead though after some thinking, saying if Douglas can earn some big ratings, and wants Douglas to rip "those two guys apart" pointing to a monitor we can see. Douglas doesn't like what he sees. Cat says Douglas is out of a job he doesn't go out and do a job, as much as Douglas protests.
Back to production where Palumbo and Stasiak are poking fun at the production guy for his new haircut, so he just up and leaves and locks the door behind him.
Back to the ring, 3 Count is out to debut their new hit single. Shannon calls it history in the making, and Evan claims they'll be bigger than the Backstreet Boys or NSYNC could ever dream of. So they actually dance and sing some, and we see several wrestlers in the locker room hating this. We see Tank walking backstage actually bobbing his head to the beat... Oh, are they starting that angle now?
Kronic come out to thankfully put an end to this and there's some botched springboards but 3 Count is eventually cleared out of the ring, which upsets Tank. Clark with a pumphandle powerslam on Shannon. Adam with a full nelson slam on Helms. High Time on Evan. Adams gets a mic and says its way past 420, and it's time for Douglas to pay the pipers. He tells him to come down so he knows what it's like to be smoked by Kronic. Douglas comes out in street clothes scared shitless.
Kronic vs The Franchise
Douglas just tries to leave as the bell is rung, but Buff comes out and tosses him into the ring. Kronic right on the attack, Douglas sent off the ropes, but Douglas lays in some rights. He tries to knock their heads together but they block and drop him with rights. Clark with a Uranagi and Adams with a clothesline. Full nelson slam by Adams. Clark goes to the middle rope as Adams tries to whip Douglas towards him, but it's reverses and Clark nails Adams with a shoulder block. Douglas tries to use this and turn them against each other, and it looks like it almost works, until they clock Douglas when he turns his back. Douglas sent off the ropes into a double shoulder block. High Time on Douglas for the win in 2:09.
Kronic start to leave but then some goofy music starts to play, and we cut to footage of Palumbo and Stasiak making fun of Kronic in the production truck. Kronic see this go down and make their way to the production truck, and Stasiak and Palumbo realize this and try to leave, but of course it's locked into commercial.
The production guy from earlier lead Kronic to the truck and unlock it, and a fight ensues, Kronic laying out the champions.
We catch back up with Vamp and Dale as we see a hearse pull up somewhere. There's an open grave with a casket that Vamp says Asya inside, but when Dale opens it up, no one's there. Vamp nails him with a shovel from behind, and Vamp makes a good point that he couldn't believe Dale actually trusted him. Vamp drags Asya from somewhere and over to Dale, and he tells her to tell him that he'll be waiting for him and his pal when he wakes up. Vamp leaves in the hearse as Asya screams for help.
We see Jarrett and Awesome walking backstage, then Nash and Steiner into commercial, that match next.
We see footage from Nitro of what happened with Steiner and Jarrett before our main event.
Jeff Jarrett (WCW World Heavyweight Champion) & Mike Awesome vs Scott Steiner (WCW U.S. Heavyweight Champion) & Kevin Nash
The Cat on commentary.
Jarrett and Steiner start with a lock up, Jarrett shoved into the corner until he gets in a cheap shot, driving Steiner into the opposite corner and follows with right hands. Steiner reverses a whip and drives Jarrett in the corner for boots and rights. Jarrett sent off the ropes into a tilt-a-whirl side slam, followed by an elbow and some push-ups. Nash gets the tag with rights and elbows in the corner, Jarrett whipped across the ring, tries to go up and over but he's caught, Jarrett manages to slip out and drive Nash chest first into the corner. Jarrett with mounted rights in the corner, then to the middle rope, but he's caught with a chokeslam, Nash covers for two.
Jarrett choked by Nash's boot in the corner until Awesome nails him from the apron, bringing Nash face first into his corner and Awesome tags in, goes up top with a flying clothesline and a running splash on Nash into a cover two. Awesome with rights in the corner, until he's whipped across the ring and hit with a clothesline. Steiner with the tag, Awesome face first in the corner and Steiner with chops, but his whip off the ropes is reverses and Jarrett gets a kick in to the back. Awesome drops him throat first on the top rope, followed by an Alabama slam into a jackknife pin for two. Awesome with more rights, then tags in Jarrett. Stomps to the back and choking over the middle rope, then tries to come off the opposite ropes and drop a leg over Steiner's back but he moves out of the way, only to be pulled throat first across the top rope by Awesome.
Steiner tries to make the tag but he's intercepted by Jarrett who tags in Awesome, and they send Steiner off the ropes, ducks a double clothesline, Nash grabs hold of Awesome and Steiner hits Jarrett with a clothesline. Nash in now, T-bone on Awesome by Steiner, then a press slam on Jarrett. Tiger bomb by Steiner and folds up Jarrett for the win in 4:54. That was... a rather odd finish I must say, but fairly good match.
Steiner puts Jarrett in the Recliner and of course Cat leaves commentary to get in Steiner's face. Nash comes in to lay out Cat, but Awesome takes down Nash and nails Steiner with the US Title. German suplex on Steiner, then sends Steiner into the corner but he gets a boot up, hitting Awesome with his spinning belly to belly. Awesome set down on the top rope but he's cut off by Jarrett, as Awesome goes up top with a frog splash. Jarrett nails Steiner with the US Title again as Cat comes back in and a triple team attack ensues. Nash in with boots and rights all around to clear the ring as Nash's music hits and Cat and crew leave the ring to the back. Goldberg's music hits and out he comes now with Hall's contract, and says they do it on his time before leaving, and we see Nash leave the ring as the show fades out.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Much like Nitro, this show was a lot better than it has been, and I'd argue it had less bad than Nitro did. Fairly good action for the most part, no Bischoff and Russo again which automatically gets this show a thumbs up, and things went pretty much smoothly. That said, with a run time of 1:36:50, this show had a total 26:28 of wrestling.
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