WCW Week of August 28, 2000

Nitro

The opening video package makes it abundantly clear that the band, the NWO is back together. The package is basically a highlight reel of their destruction, at least the more recent version of it. There's a lot of footage of Bret Hart even though he's not even on TV anymore.

A limo arrives and out steps Steiner, Nash, Jarrett and Russo, and they head inside.

We're already getting to a match as we go live to the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico for this edition of Nitro. 

Vampiro (JCW Heavyweight Champion) & Insane Clown Posse vs 3 Count

The Great Muta on commentary.

All three start going at it. 3 Count dance a bit then get knocked down and Carnival clear the ring. 3 Count with springboard take Carnival down. 3 Count dive to the outside onto the Carnival. Vamp is rolled in and Shane and Shannon deliver a double suplex, then triple team wheelbarrow facebuster, cover and ICP break it up. Evan sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, then he and Shane clothesline ICP out of the ring. Vamp sent off the ropes, ducks a double clothesline, then caught with a double suplex. Shannon sent off the ropes by Vamp, through the ropes, ducks a clothesline and turned inside out with another. Nail in the Coffin by Vamp, then gorilla press into a Samoan Drop by Violent J, and a leg drop from the top by Shaggy all onto Shannon for the win in 2:40.

Out comes Tank and the Carnival leave. Tank lays out 3 Count. Carnival come back to attack Tank and 3 Count join in. Out comes Demon  and goes after Carnival, and 3 Count go after him. Muta leaves commentary to get in on this. 3 Count return focus to Tank  and Demon gets misted. Sting runs out with a bat and lays out 3 Count and Carnival. So I guess Tank is supposed to be a babyface now?

Russo, Jarrett, Steiner, Nash and the Thrillers are on their way to the ring.

Commercial

Russo and company make their way out. Russo tells the fans to cheer for them because they're family, the elite group in WCW. He came 11 months ago with a plan and now the band is back together. He said he gave Goldberg the easy way out, all he had to do was sign his release, but since he wants to do it the hard way it's going to get New York ugly. Jarrett gets on the mic and thanks Russo for reminding us he's the Chosen One, and that he always has all the stroke in WCW. He asks if there's anyone in WCW who can stop them, especially Goldberg and with Vinny Ru backing them, says it burns all the fans every day that Nash is back on their team. He turns his attention to Awesome, calling him a big drop of water and a stinking turd, and says Awesome's ass is his at Fall Brawl in a Bunkhouse Brawl. 

Steiner gets the mic and turns his attention to Goldberg. He says it's clear to Goldberg and all the white trash that no one puts their hands on his freaks, so he got his sweet revenge and Goldberg found out payback is a bitch. He says the difference between the two of them is Midajah is good looking but he could shave his ass and walk backwards and look better than Goldberg's girlfriend. He says when he left him beaten down and beaten up last week, Goldberg realized there and then that he's no match for the man with the largest arms in the world, the genetic freak, and will prove it again tonight, next week, and at Fall Brawl too. 

Nash takes the mic now. He says he decided to call himself Big Sexy a couple years back, probably should've called himself the Puppermaster. He says that he sucks the people in every few months so they buy his merch, and now that it's all been bought and off the shelves they get the real Nash, he doesn't give a damn about the fans and never has. He says they can't get him title shots, belts, watch his back, but the other three around him can. He says they can chant for Goldberg, or Booker, but they better get it out of their systems because he's the next World Champion come Buffalo at the PPV. Russo pipes up and says that Nash is wrong, says he won't become champion at Fall Brawl but instead tonight, announcing Nash vs Booker for the title, and to ensure there's no screwjobs, he makes Jarrett the inside referee and Steiner the outside enforcer. 

Speaking of Booker out he comes now. He knows that he speaks for everyone in the arena and tells Russo to shut the hell up. He says everyone in the ring talking this and that and can't back any of it up, especially Nash. He tells them to save the drama for their mama. He sees four nothing happening player haters in the middle of the ring that're looking for a beatdown tonight, and asks Russo which of his boys will get their ass beat. Russo says he's not gonna stand there and go back and forth and since he's from New York he's a gentleman, and tells Russo to come down to the ring. 

Thrillers let him through and Booker starts to walk down but out comes Cat and Ms. Jones before anything happens. Cat claims Russo can't book a match tonight because he's the boss and the people don't wanna see Russo. Russo calls him Dolemite and Cat says he'll Dolemite Russo's ass. He asks Ms. Jones to get his karate suit from his car so he can beat some asses tonight and joins Booker. They enter the ring and Cat repeats he's the boss and wants Russo and his three bitches to get out of town. 

Russo delivers a low blow and the beatdown ensues. Out come the Filthy Animals and they go at it with the Thrillers at ringside but are quickly beaten down. Steiner also nearly botches a gorilla press on Juvie. Russo and company leave. Goldberg appears on the NitroVision digging a grave somewhere. He vows to systematically take out every one of Russo's goons, will drag Russo's New York ass out there, torture him and dump his ass in the grave. If Russo's too stupid to understand, he makes it clear Russo's ass is next. 

Commercial

Replay of what just happened. For some reason Cat is being loaded into an ambulance, that must have been one hell of a nut shot.

Russo is freaking out in his office and tells his crew not to leave his side tonight. Nash leaves to get ready, Steiner leaves to get beautified for a GQ cover, and Jarrett has a delivery to catch to take out Goldberg. Jarrett is also upset that Nash is getting the title shot and implies Russo may regret it before leaving. Phone rings and it's Goldberg, and says he's on his way since Russo wants ratings so bad. Russo buries his face in his arms.

Paisley vs Tygress vs Major Guns

Paisley kicks Guns in the back, and Tygress nails her with a forearm. Jackknife cover by Tygress for the win in 19 seconds.

Or not...? There's a lot of confusion, because the ref calls for the bell and Penzer announces Tygress as the winner, but Schiavone is claiming it was a two count, and Madden rightfully points out with was a three. Not to mention Guns just gets back up like nothing happened and Tygress slaps her. Paisley throws her down and they stomp away then they leave. Oh I guess this actually is over. 

Rey walks into what I presume is the Thrillers' locker room. They call him a little boy and ask where his mommy and daddy are. Then the Animals come in and attack. Oh it's just outside Russo's office. Konnan opens the door and tells him he's got some boys laying down on the job and needs more back up.

Commercial

Jarrett is outside and has a truck full of guitars.

Oh god it's Awesome's next terrible gimmick.

She compliments him on his retro look and brings up Jarrett's challenge for the PPV, and he apparently has a match with Rick Steiner tonight. There's also some retro music faintly playing in the background. He calls her Paula Pamshock and says Jarrett should fight him right now if he wants him so bad. He accepts Jarrett's challenge, and since he needs a warmup for that, he challenges Rick to a Bunkhouse Brawl for tonight. Then he leaves.

There's suddenly a cage around the ring for our next match.

House of Pain Match: Kronic vs The Harris Brothers

Pre-Match: In case you've forgotten the rules, you win this match by handcuffing your opponent, or in this case opponents, to the cage. Madden also explains that the match doesn't end there, the winners get "a modicum of time" to beat down their handcuffed opponents.

They start going at it, one brother is sent face first into the cage by Adams. Clark hammers the other in the corner and they start double teaming Clark before sending him face first into the cage. Adams sent into the cage and a big boot off the rebound. They try to cuff Adams but Clark makes the save. Back suplex by Clark, then to the middle rope for an elbow. One Harris sent face first into the cage, then a full nelson slam by Adams. He's sent into the cage and the bottom of the panel flies open, and the Harris drops to the floor. Adams follows and the other two join in. One Harris attacks a fan in the front row. Security rush down and the ref just calls the match off in 2:29.

We get a pull apart.

Lance and Elix are on their way to the ring.

Commercial

Lance and Elix come out. Lance wants to be serious for a minute and wants to lay out a challenge for MIA. They always come and wanna play war but Lance isn't playing tonight, and he challenges them to what he calls a Prisoner of War Match, where the winning team gets to take a member of the opposing team prisoner. MIA make their way out. Rection says that MIA now stands for Made in America, and just like the Yankees they back down from nothing, and while he accepts the challenge, he also makes it a Tables Match. AWOL makes his way out with a table.

Prisoner of War Tables Match: Lance Storm (WCW Canadian Heavyweight Champion) (w/ WCW 100kg & Under Champion Elix Skipper) vs Sgt. AWOL (w/ Misfits in Action)

Storm sent off the ropes into a spinebuster, then off the ropes again into a back elbow. Things go to the floor and Storm is sent into the guard rail, then AWOL goes for a chokeslam but Storm fights out of it. AWOL's table has been set up, presumably by MIA, parallel to the apron as Storm runs into a big boot. Storm is tossed back in but he tries to suplex AWOL back into the ring. AWOL blocks and tries to suplex Storm out through the table but Elix nails him in the legs with the Canadian flag. Storm with a springboard dropkick sends AWOL off the apron through the table in 1:09.

Storm takes Guns away to the back as MIA check on AWOL.

Pamela is backstage with Sting, and apparently Muta has challenged Sting to a match after what happened earlier, and she wonders if it's another trick from Vamp. He says she fails to realize that Vamp doesn't have a lot of brain cells floating in that twisted mind of his, and he accepts the challenge. He suggest Vamp buy a couple of ringside seats for himself and the clowns he hangs out with, so they get a birds eye view while he tears Muta apart, because it's showtime.

Booker is getting ready in his locker room.

Commercial

Bunkhouse Brawl: Rick Steiner vs Mike Awesome

Pre-Match: Rick gets the mic and says Awesome's got more problems than brains before spouting off his catchphrase. Awesome hasn't completely transitioned to the next awful gimmick yet, and he's thankfully no longer the Fat Chick Thriller, so at least that's something.

Rick gets the jump on him, only to be sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, Awesome tries to leapfrog but he's caught with a slam. Awesome face first in the corner, then sent across the ring but gets a boot up. Awesome with a clothesline off the ropes sends Rick to the outside and he dives over the ropes into Rick. God damn that's always impressive. Rick sent into the guard rail. Awesome pulls out a table and tosses it into the ring. Rick sent into the guard rail again before Awesome returns to the ring to set the table in the corner. Awesome goes for the Awesome Bomb through the table but Jarrett runs out and nails him in the chest with a lead pipe. Rick with a German suplex through the table for the win in 1:53.

Rick leaves.

Up next, Booker defends the World Title.

Commercial

WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Kevin Nash vs Booker T (c)

Jeff Jarrett as special guest referee. Scott Steiner as special enforcer. Vince Russo on commentary.

Pre-Match: They're still advertising Nash vs Booker for the PPV, which begs the question of why this is happening now. Steiner's out with a lead pipe.

Booker yaks with Steiner and it allows Nash to attack from behind. Jarrett kicks Steiner out of the ring. Nash knocks Booker out of the ring and Russo already leaves commentary. Nash with more rights and Booker is sent face first off the apron. Jarrett is counting Nash and Booker out and Russo is beside himself. Jarrett tosses Booker back in himself and now he argues with Russo and sends him back to commentary. He argues with Nash a bit and Booker takes advantage to attack Nash. Russo leaves commentary again and Booker hits a sidewalk slam on Nash, covers, Jarrett with a fair count for two. 

Booker with rights in the corner, then Nash sent across the ring, gets a boot up and turns Booker inside out with a clothesline. Nash covers, fair count for two. Jarrett and Steiner and Nash all argue. Booker with more rights and Nash into the corner again, then Booker is sent off the ropes, Steiner clubs from behind and Nash hits a big boot. Nash covers but Jarrett is busy ejecting Steiner even though he's supposed to be the enforcer. Russo goes after Jarrett and they shove each other.

Nash with a right. Russo calls Jarrett a hornyacker. Nash with his typical offense in the corner. Jarrett ha to pull him off and Nash tells him to suck it. Nash chokes and Jarrett has to pull him off again. Russo's losing it on commentary. Booker sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits a standing side kick. Booker sent off the ropes, ducks a big boot and hits a Harlem Side Kick. Booker counters an Irish whip reveral to set up for the scissor kick and a spinaroonie. Booker goes up top with a missile dropkick. Steiner comes back out but gets knocked off the apron and Booker hits the Book End. Booker covers and Russo hands Jarrett the guitar and nails Booker. They go out of their way to clear the debris and Jarrett starts counting them out. Nash is up and Booker hasn't moved, he pulls down the straps. Jackknife for the win in 7:33. I don't have enough words to describe how bullshit this match was. This thing went seven minutes and we had a dumb swerve purely for the sake of having a swerve. How the fuck did any of this make sense? I'm starting to really understand why Russo is laughed at for being the swerve guy.

Schiavone: "This is one of the worst things to ever happen to the WCW Title, and we've seen some bad things happen to it."

Commercial

Madden the Russo shill. Schiavone pointing out fucking dumb that was and asking why they didn't just hit Booker with bat or something from the start. We're still getting Booker vs Nash at the PPV, now with Booker challenging, so again what was the point of all this?

We get the replays. Then to Russo's office for celebrating. Nash signs some paper and now they have to deal with Goldberg. Nash leaves to go have little Korean or something.

Booker's trying to leave but he's stopped by Rection. Booker wants none of what Rection's saying and says he can't win this war. He's about to walk out the door but Goldberg arrives as soon as he does and he talks Booker into staying.

Douglas and Torrie are in the crowd with a mic. He says that he has to make a statement, says he's not been given his due that he rightfully deserves for taking the stinking sport on his back and single-handedly saving it. He spouts off some facts: Kidman now knows what getting his ass franchised means; he's a big enough man to say he didn't get the job done at New Blood Rising, left Kidman alive, could have snapped his skinny neck and chose not to, but won't make that mistake again. He challenges Kidman to what he calls a Pittsburgh Plunge Scaffold Match for Fall Brawl. He says he's the man and that's a fact, jackass.

Crowbar comes through the crowd and nails Douglas with a trash can lid for... reasons. Right hands by Crowbar and contemplates another lid shot, before deciding to screw it, but it allows Douglas to nail a gut shot and hit him with the lid instead. They in a balcony area so Douglas gorilla presses Crowbar off the balcony through some tables below. Douglas leaves and there's Daffney and the Crowbar lookalike are standing nearby as doctors come out. Douglas attacks some more and shoves Daffney over then he and Torrie leave back through the crowd.

They make their way to the ring. Doulas is back on the mic and officially serves notice, says what just happened was a little bump in the road, a simple warm up. He says he makes his living every Monday night as the number one man in the sport, wrestling fans around the world tune in to see a franchise. He calls out anyone man enough to stand up to him to come down to the ring. Out comes Goldberg and Douglas is scared shitless. Douglas tries to beg him off instead of just leaving. Douglas misses a clothesline and eats a spear and a jackhammer. Goldberg takes the mic and tells Shane that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time even though he's a prick. He gives notice to Russo that he's in the building before leaving.

Commercial

Nash is getting ready to shower and they blur his ass. Booker comes in and attacks, lays him out with the title belt before leaving.

Russo is losing his shit in his office with Steiner by his side. Steiner goes to leave and promises to be back but Russo pleads with him. Steiner threatens to tear a piece off his ass or something when he goes to grab his arm and leaves.

We get an invitation for the Hancock/David wedding in two weeks.

Big Vito vs Jeff Jarrett

Lot of time wasting. Jarrett attacks from behind when Vito plays to the crowd. Jarrett sent off the ropes into a scoop slam and a cover for two. Rights in the corner by Vito, then Jarrett sent across the ring, Vito caught with an elbow and a right. Jarrett sent off the ropes into an inverted atomic drop and another right sends Jarrett out to the floor. Vito gets tripped up and Jarrett mounts for rights on the apron. Jarrett stomping away before Vito's sent off the ropes, misses a clothesline but nails a Mafia Kick. Jarrett sent off the ropes into an overhead hip toss and a leg drop, covers for two. Suplex by Vito before he goes up top with the elbow and a cover but Jarrett kicks out.

Jarrett avoids a scoop slam and tries for a roll up but Vito hangs onto the ropes, catches a kick but he's caught with an enziguri. Jarrett goes for the Stroke but Vito fights out, Jarrett sent into the corner and caught with a back suplex. Vito goes back up top for a flying headbutt, covers again but Jarrett kicks out. Vito goes for that impaler DDT twice, apparently called the Big Vito Special, but Jarrett blocks and hits the Stroke for the win in 3:56. I'm shocked we actually get a no bullshit match on this show, and was a fairly good one too.

Jarrett gets his guitar but doesn't use it.

Commercial

Jarrett heads out to his truck filled with guitars and Awesome pops out from under the pile. Jarrett gets powerslammed onto the pile of guitars and Awesome leaves.

Commentary hype Goldberg vs Steiner at the PPV.

Thrillers make their way out and Sanders has a mic in hand. He says they may be pretty but they're all about business tonight. He says they've been busting their ass the last two years, and will spend the next ten kicking "yours." He says the Animals stuck their nose where it don't belong, especially Disco, so he challenges them to a 10-man elimination tag. 

Ten-Person Elimination Tag Team Match: Reno, Chuck Palumbo, Mark Jindrak, Sean O'Haire & "Above Average" Mike Sanders vs Juventud Guerrera, Disco Inferno, Rey Mysrerio Jr., Konnan & Tygress

Shawn Stasiak on commentary.

Juvie and Chuck start this out. Juvie off the ropes into a clothesline. Juvie sent off the ropes, slips out of a slam, tries for a sunset flip but he's pulled up by the neck, only to catch Chuck with a hurricanrana. Snap suplex by Juvie before he goes up top with a crossbody, but he's caught with a fallaway slam. Torture rack is broken up by Rey, who's then clothesline by O'Haire. Reno tags in and takes on Rey and Juvie in opposite corners. Rey is whipped toward Juvie but slips through his legs, and Juvie counters a powerbomb with a facebuster. Rey with a springboard leg drop from the apron. Rey sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline but caught with a gutwrench suplex. Jindrak tags in and misses a springboard moonsault. Disco tags in, Rey with a drop toe hold and Disco with an elbow. Disco sent off the ropes into a tilt-a-whirl sidewalk slam. Jindrak sent into the corner for an inverted atomic drop and a stunner, setting Jindrak up for a Bronco Buster from Rey as he tags in. He's caught with a belly to belly by Palumbo before he can deliver though. Konnan comes in, sends Palumbo off the ropes, leapfrogs and hits a back kick and a facebuster. O'Haire with a spinning heel kick. Juvie with a springboard dropkick. Exploder suplex by Reno. Disco clotheslines him. Jindrak with a dropkick. 

Things have pretty much broken down as almost everyone fights on the outside save for Sanders, Juvie and Tygress. Juvie dives out onto the Thrillers. The ref counts all of them out, and it's announced that everyone save for Tygress and Sanders have been eliminated via countout. Sanders tries to send her to the back and she slaps and low blows him, then a right, setting him up for a Bronco Buster. Sanders pops back up as she celebrates and she's caught with that Orton backbreaker, or as Madden calls it the 3.0 for the win in 5:26. Alright that's two matches I actually enjoyed on this show so I'll give them some credit.

Sanders celebrates.

Goldberg kicks in the door to Steiner's dressing room, who's in another part of the room and thinks it's Russo. Goldberg nails him with a lead pipe.

Commercial

Russo is walking around backstage paranoid and bumps into Vito, begging for his help and even apologizes. Vito gives him the kiss of death instead.

Commentary recap what's happened to Russo's goons throughout the night, and speak of the devil out comes Russo and Vito. Russo says this is his show, his house and his people. He's not going to run from Goldberg any more and he calls out Goldberg. Goldberg wastes no time making his way out. Vito blocks Goldberg's way and Russo reminds Goldberg that he can't lay a finger on him or he'll fire him. Goldberg barks at him and scares him. Russo tells Vito to "take out this piece of garbage" and Vito does just that nailing Russo in the back with his stick ball bat. Vito stomps away and nails him some more with the bat and Goldberg just sits back and enjoys the show. Vito breaks the bat. Goldberg says that just like Russo said, he tells Vito to take out the garbage and tosses him some keys. Goldberg leaves and Vito grabs hold of Russo, rolling him from the ring and taking him away.

Sting vs The Great Muta

Muta meets Sting in the aisle mid-entrance and they start trading blows. Muta gets the upper hand and drives Sting up the ramp with rights and kicks and eye rakes. Muta misses a roundhouse and eats a clothesline, knocking him down the ramp. Muta's sent into the guard rail and Sting with more rights, then Muta into the guard rail back at ring side. Into another guard rail and a chair to Muta's back, then into yet another guard rail. Sting is caught with a spin kick and Muta takes control again, taking things back up the aisle and the ramp. While this is going on three shadows are seen behind the NitroVision and they rip through the screen, of course it's the Dark Carnival. Some smoke is set off at the top of the ramp and Vamp leaps off with a kendo stick, whaling away at Sting. Sting fights back and Vamp tries to retreat up the entrance set up but he's cut off. He starts climbing again and Sting follows, as does Muta. Vamp with rights and ICP take him behind the screen and start ganging up. So this match just kind of ends like this in about 4:26.

There's about a minute left in the show and we've caught up with Russo and Goldberg. Bret Hart is there too to get in on the fun and says he hates Russo more than anyone, bringing up the Screwjob, gets a kick in. They shake hands. Goldberg hands Bret a shovel to dig the hole deeper but he nails Goldberg in the back instead still sore over Goldberg ending his career. And that's the end of the show.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

I don't even know what more I can say about this show. There were two good matches I enjoyed, and I enjoyed most of the antics with Goldberg, but then you have the bullshit with Booker and Nash, and Bret for some reason still being involved in angles. And there's still about a month or two of Russo bullshit so I've been told. So yay. With a run time of 1:28:42, this show had a total 29:51 of wrestling.

Thunder

Recap of the bullshit with Russo and his crew from Nitro.

Broadcasting from the Tuscon Convention Center in Tuscon, Artizona for this edition of Thunder. Show starts with Team Canada and their captive Major Guns, who comes out waving the Canadian flag. Replay of the POW Match from Nitro. Elix introduces Storm who wants to be serious for a minute. He says we need to face facts, that the fans wish they were Canadian, that it's just a better way of life, and in time they will learn the error of their American ways just like Guns has. He says that since getting a taste of the good life on Monday, she couldn't be happier about being part of Team Canada. Meanwhile she's standing in the background having none of it unbeknownst to Lance. She calls for the playing of her new national anthem, and she drops the flag and tears off her Canadian shirt, wearing an American bra. Lance covers her up in the flag before their opponents make their way out.

Team Canada (w/ Major Guns) vs Kronic

Kronic get the early advantage before Storm is tossed out to the floor, and Adams with a military press tosses Elix out onto him. Elix and Clark start this match properly, Clark with a throat shot before throwing him into the corner for boots and chops, then tosses Elix all the across the ring. Elix low bridges to avoid a clothesline and delivers a dropkick, only to be sent off the ropes, tries for a wheelbarrow but he's slammed onto his back. Adams tags in, Elix sent off the ropes into double forearms. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker by Adams, then Elix is sent off the ropes, tries for a springboard back elbow. Adams catches him and goes for the full nelson slam but Lance hits him with a springboard clothesline as Elix slips out. Double DDT to and a cover for two.

Lance with a series of elbows followed by a suplex, floats over into a cover for two. Elix back in, Adams sent off the ropes, breaks through a double clothesline and hits one of his own. Clark back in, delivers clotheslines, then a pumphandle powerslam to Elix, makes the cover but Lance breaks it up. Adams tosses Lance out. High Time is broken up with a springboard dropkick to the back of Clark, then a jawbreaker to Adams. Lance asks for Guns to give him the flag but she jabs it into his gut instead, walking into a full nelson slam by Adams. High Time to Lance for the win in 4:25. Alright this show actually had a good start.

Kronic celebrate and leave and Guns enters the ring. Elix gets mad at her. Rection runs in and attacks Elix. Scoop slam and Rection goes up top but Lance cuts him off, driving him to the mat with boots and choking him. The rest of MIA run out for the save and Team Canada run to the back.

Limo arrives. Thrillers are there to meet Jarrett, Steiner and Nash. Nash: "Let's go have us some fun, and that's a shoot."

Commercial

As Nash and co. make their way out, we learn from Schiavone that Russo has booked Wargames 2000 in the triple cage, called Russo's Revenge, two teams of four, for the WCW World Title for Nitro. We go to replays of what happened on Nitro with Nash and Booker. Steiner's up first. He tells Goldberg that his personality wanted to call Goldberg every name in the book, but the corporate sponsors want a clean show, so he sticks to low-down SOB, because Goldberg went into his dressing room, grabbed his pipe and hit him straight between the eyes. Tenay explains that Steiner suffered severe eye damage with two fractures, to the optical floor and the medial wall, and Steiner's got bruising under the eyes. He says he got a CAT Scan, went to the orthodontist for a chipped tooth, and the optomologist for a detached retina and they all said he can't wrestle at the PPV. So he told them to take their PhD, MDs,, OBGYN and shove them straight up their ass because Goldberg's not getting off that easily. He says Goldberg will be lucky to make it to the PPV, he's going to prove to Goldberg and the world that he's no match for a genetic freak, and the man with the largest arms in the world is going to put him down, beat him up and beat the crap out of him, calling him a bald-headed... Well he doesn't complete that thought. He also tells the white trash fans to kiss his ass.

Nash takes the mic. He reminds us he became champion for the fifth time on Nitro, but as the match was happening, he couldn't understand why Jarrett called it down the middle. Watching the tape back though, he realized he didn't want to tarnish Nash's victory, he's beaten five guys in World Title bouts and has never dominated anyone like he did Booker. He says he's done a lot of soul searching in the last 48 hours, and realized he didn't win the belt for himself but for the fans. Daffney and Crowbar-lite are front row for some reason. Nash thinks he's sucked people in again, mentions how he's got autograph sessions next weekend and laughs how kids will pay $30 for a Polaroids all because of that title. He says he'll be at the Marriott after the show and says the kids can have a picture with the champ for $50 and the belt. He says they can chant for Goldberg all they want because he's out in the desert somewhere. He says the Thrillers are the future of the business, and since the band's back together and they're running show, they're going to determine whether or not they deserve to be in the show. With Goldberg in the desert, the Cat in the hospital, Booker completely demoralized, he wonders who will stop them? 

Cut to Booker in his locker room toss a chair to the side before he makes his way out. He says he's sick to his stomach listening to Nash spit all that crap, talking about this and that and his newfound friendship, go here and there together, and asks if they also go to the restroom together. He says that Nash isn't the only one with a clique in WCW that can get the job done. He brings out Vito, Awesome, and Filthy Animals, and says that while Nash can run and hide now, his tall string bean ass is all his at the PPV. Before Nash takes over though he has to go through their dead bodies. Booker and co. run down and they start going at it with the Thrillers. Booker and Awesome have run right into the ring to take out Jarrett and Nash. Steiner's just kinda standing there until security rush in to pull them all apart.

Commercial

During the break, Nash sent Terry Taylor away from the go/gorilla position and took over, ripped up the format. He called over Reno and tells him to do them proud, do the right thing. Reno leaves.

Gene is backstage with Rection, who has a challenge after everything that's gone down. He's left the Misfits in the back for this interview to deliver a message personally. He challenges Storm for the US Title at the PPV, and with the country and the world as his witness he will eliminate Storm and his extreme prejudice, and the title will come home to where it belongs, the greatest country in the world. He tells Lance to lock and load because they're about to go through hell before leaving. Alright that was a good promo.

Reminder of the David/Hancock wedding.

Reno vs Mike Awesome

Reno sent off the ropes after getting in some shots, slips around for the waistlock, Awesome counters with one of his own into a German suplex. Rights by Awesome and a leg drop to a cover for one. Awesome off the ropes, sent over the ropes to the apron, hung up by Reno who goes off the ropes but caught with a slingshot shoulder block and a cover for two. Scoop slam by Awesome, then Reno sent into the corner, avoids a splash and gets some shots to the back of the head. Exploder suplex by Reno and more shots to the back of the head. Reno leaves the ring and goes after Daffney's boyfriend, and we're told his name is Ozzy by Schiavone. Awesome attacks from behind but he's sent into the ring post before this returns to the ring. Reno goes up top, goes for a dropkick but caught with a sitout powerbomb. Awesome Bomb for the win in 3:26.

Awesome goes to the back. Reno attacks Ozzy and pulls him over the guard rail to ringside. Daffney throws popcorn at him. Reno leaves.

Commercial

During the break, we see that Jarrett attacked as he was returning backstage, nailing him with several weapons despite officials trying to break it up. 

Earlier in the day, Schiavone did a sitdown interview with Paul Orndorff, who's in charge of the Power Plant. Tony starts by saying it was a no brainer to have Orndorff head the Power Plant, the training facility to bring potential WCW wrestlers to the ring, and knows Orndorff takes great pride in that. Orndorff says he does take pride, says they're his kids, he chose them out of a couple hundred wrestlers. He praises them and talks about how proud he is of them, says they've been thrown into a position so fast but knows all the hard work at the Plant paid off, the conditioning, the mental attitude, everything. 

Tony has him bring us through a day at the Plant. Orndorff admits it's pretty brutal, says he's looking for the best, says he may have 15-20 kids down every few weeks, and tries to get the best athletes that he possibly can. He says he also talks to them a lot, see what's in their minds, see how creative they are and willing to do a thousand squats, pushups, how they react, get them in the ring and see how they do physically and mentally, and at the end of the day, after a break, everyone cleans up and makes it spotless, from toilets, to the floors and sees nothing wrong with that.

Tony says nothing wrong either but brings up the Thrillers, says that while he's respected Orndorff a long time that they don't, mentions the things they've said about him and credit only themselves for their success. Orndorff says Sanders was a nobody before he got a hold of him. Tony brings up how the Thrillers will probably watch this interview and laugh at Orndorff. Orndorff takes credit in giving them all jobs and calls them ungrateful and says it's the problem with today's world, people wanting something for nothing but he's not going to let that happen. He gets heated up and gets insulted about how he's being treated. 

Commercial

We see that while this interview was going out, the Thrillers had come out to the arena holding up cue cards. "Too bad your best match was against Vader." "Natural Born Thrillers = 6; Orndorff = 0" "Clean your own damn toilet from now on!" "Orndorff Equals J.O.B. (Jealous Old Bastard)" "Aren't you dead yet?"

Back to real time as Reno is walking backstage and Steiner's waiting around the corner with a pipe. He's mad that Reno didn't get the job done and win his match like he was told so Steiner lays him out.

Pamela is elsewhere backstage with Booker, who's been booked in a match against Sanders tonight per order of Nash. Booker knows what Nash is trying to do everything he can to get out of his title defense at the PPV, and though Nash knows Sanders can't take him out, he knows Nash is wishing and praying that Booker takes a wrong turn, something pops, but he promises that that won't happen. He says he's going to beat the living crap out of Sanders tonight because that what he personally thinks he deserves, and then he's taking the title from Nash at the PPV.

Out come Jindrak and O'Haire, who pass a note to Penzer that they're getting a tag title shot right now, which brings out the Animals. Then O'Haire makes fun of Juvie and Rey's size, and to make it more fair, he says Disco can join them for the match.

WCW World Tag Team Championship: Mark Jindrak & Sean O'Haire vs Rey Mysterio Jr., Juventud Guerrera (c) & Disco Inferno (w/ Filthy Animals)

Disco and Jindrak start this out with a lock up, then Disco sent off the ropes into a tilt-a-whirl sidewalk slam. Springboard clothesline from the apron by Jindrak. Jindrak sent off the ropes into an inverted atomic drop, then a running bulldog from Disco. Juvie tagged in, Jindrak sent off the ropes, drop toe hold and an elbow combo before Rey tags in, springboatd leg drop to the back of the neck from the apron. Rey with rights and lefts drop Jindrak down in the corner for the Bronco Buster. Rey counters an Irish whip and goes for a springboard but he's caught with a tilt-a-whirl slam. 

Sean in, Rey off the ropes, Sean leapfrogs and he runs into Jindrak, then turns around into a clothesline from Sean. Knee over the chest for a pin attempt for two from Sean. Torture rack into a neckbreaker and a cover from Sean but Disco breaks it up. Rey sent off the ropes, hangs on to avoid a dropkick, Juvie tags in with a springboard heel kick. Springboard dropkick takes down O'Haire, then a wheelbarrow facebuster. Mounted rights in the corner by Juvie and wastes time playing to the crowd, allowing Sean to hit a sitout spinebuster. Jindrak back in, Juvie sent off the ropes, popped up into a powerslam by Sean who knocks Disco and Rey off the apron.

Action spills out to ringside only for the challengers to just toss Juvie from the floor over the ropes back into the ring. Juvie sent into the corner, then back across the ring but Sean misses a splash. Disco low bridges Jindrak who goes over the ropes to the floor. Rey tags in with a springboard senton. Juvie with a slingshot crossbody takes out Jindrak, Disco tags in, he and Rey hit a leg sweep/clothesline combo for a pin but it only gets two.  Sean sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits a roundhouse kick. Rey is knocked off the apron and Sean goes up top  but he's crotched by Juvie, who follows with a Frankensteiner. Rey back in as Disco and Juvie hold up Sean's legs, Rey with a low blow leg drop to retain in 5:38. Another good match on this show.

Animals celebrate.

Nash is with Sanders backstage. Nash doesn't care what he does tonight but wants him to hurt Booker, take him out so he doesn't make it to the PPV. He's unhappy with how the Thrillers are 0-2 tonight, says he can be a hell of an ally but if Sanders screws this up he'll see what a prick Nash is. Sanders leaves. Jarrett walks in and says the two of them and Steiner need to lead by example as he hands Nash a piece of paper, apparently he's booked himself some kind of match tonight. Nash says this could be the end of his career but Jarrett insists he have this match.

Commercial

Sanders is all pumped backstage as Jindrak and O'Haire are recovering from their match. Sanders leaves. Steiner lays Jindrak and O'Haire out from behind with his pipe and leaves.

Sanders comes out for his match and gets a mic to make a couple of points... or not, he just calls Booker out instead. Booker is stonefaced and makes his way out to the ring without his usual entrance and theatrics.

"Above Average" Mike Sanders vs Booker T

Sanders attacks Booker immediately in the corner, then Booker's sent across the ring, gets Sanders with a back elbow and a clothesline. Rights in the corner by Booker and another drops him to the mat. Sanders hit with the scissor kick plus a spinaroonie, then the Harlem Side Kick. Book End for the win in 1:07. Well I wasn't expecting a squash but alright.

Commercial

Booker is walking backstage with a limp.

Nash is in the locker room with Sanders. Nash seems to be happy that Sanders hurt Booker even though he lost the match, but Steiner lays out Sanders too with a pipe.

Jarrett is getting his blood pressure checked because he wants to be a 100% in this career match tonight.

Commentary plug Goldberg vs Steiner for the PPV.

Big Vito vs Chuck Palumbo (w/ Shawn Stasiak)

Palumbo drops Vito immediately with a right hand, then Vito sent off the ropes into a sidewalk slam, then a cover for two. Palumbo sent off the ropes into an overhead hip toss, then a leg drop and a cover for two. Vito with a suplex before going up top with the elbow and a cover for two. Vito back up top and misses the flying headbutt. Superkick by Palumbo and a cover for two. Overhead belly to belly and a cover by Palumbo for two. Stasiak also makes an open challenge for an arm wrestling contest to anyone in the back as he sits at commentary. Palumbo goes up top with a flying shoulder tackle and a cover for two. Vito sent off the ropes, clubbed down to a knee, then suplex is countered by Vito. Vito sent off the ropes, Palumbo tries to pop him up but he's caught with the Big Vito Special for the win in 2:22.

Commercial

Palumbo is panicking backstage after his loss, presumably checking every corner for Steiner and Nash or maybe just a place to hide, but Steiner still finds him and lays him out, though he does give him credit for being smart enough to try and hide.

Jarrett has something like an altar with his guitar and some candles somewhere backstage and praying.

Gen. Rection & Sgt. AWOL (w/ MIA) vs The Harris Brothers

Rection and AWOL try to get the jump but the Harrises get the advantage, and one is caught with a spinebuster by AWOL, only for the other to deliver a big boot. Brother 2 sends AWOL off the ropes , then Brother 1 gets a swinging neckbreaker. AWOL sent off the ropes into a Baldo Bomb by one Brother. Another tag by the Brothers, AWOL sent into the corner but he delivers clotheslines to both Brothers. Rection in with clotheslines, scoop slam on one Brother and the other. Elix comes out with Guns for the distraction. Rection sent off the ropes, AWOL tags himself in but he's knocked off the apron and through a table I guess they set up earlier. Rection with a scoop slam, cover and a save. I guess there was no blind tag. H Bomb is countered with a double bulldog by Rection. Rection goes up top, one Brother distracts the ref so Storm can run out and crack a flag over Rections back. One Brother makes the cover but Rection kicks out. Brothers scare the ref out of the ring and out come Kronic through the crowd. High Time to one Brother while the other is kicked out of the ring. Rection hits the top rope moonsault for the win in 4:01. Way too much stuff going on in this match.

Storm runs back down to take out the knee of Rection with a chop block and the Maple Leaf but AWOL makes the quick save.

Commercial

Leia Meow is with Jung Dragons in the locker room. She says they've been very bad lately and she slaps Jamie-San. She says they need someone to whip their asses into shape and she can help them. She slaps Yang and says they need discipline, and says if they don't listen and lose their matches, they'll be forced to lick her boot. If they do well, she'll lick theirs. Um... alright.

Steiner and Nash knock on Jarrett's door because his match is next. He's still praying. Jarrett comes out and heads to the ring.

Commentary plug an issue of Muscular Development with Goldberg on the cover, and an article on Midajah and more misogyny from Tenay because... again, fucked if I know. Jarrett meanwhile makes his way out and takes the mic. He calls out to his little Slap Nuts out in the crowd and dedicates this match to them, says that Awesome is a bit under the weather and he needed a tune up, a challenge, so he's about to lose his nerve and calls out his opponent.

Jeff Jarrett vs Kwee-Wee (w/ Paisley)

Jarrett attacks from behind and drives KW into the corner with rights and boots. KW sent off the ropes into a back elbow, then off the ropes again for a knee to the gut. KW face first in the corner, sent across the ring, goes up and over and delivers some rights. Jarrett sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and drops KW with a right. Jarrett sent off the ropes, KW drops low and leapfrogs and delivers a hip toss, then a spinning back elbow. KW goes up top and misses a missile dropkick. Jarrett goes to deliver the Stroke but he's distracted as Awesome makes his way out. KW tries to take advantage with a roll up but Jarrett kicks out, then Jarrett delivers a clothesline. Jarrett distracted again and another roll up by KW for two. Enziguri by Jarrett and he goes out to grab a chair. The ref is busy getting rid of Awesome and two more come out to take him away. Jarrett goes for a sunset flip, KW rolls through and into a jackknife cover but only gets two. KW sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits a dropkick, then... I don't know what this was supposed to be, he gets Jarrett up for a powerbomb and then just kinda tosses him aside, then covers for two. Boots by KW and a suplex is countered, then a back suplex countered, and KW is caught with the Stroke to win in 4:01. 

Jarrett takes the mic again and says the Chosen One just had the match of the year, and tells all the Slap Nuts to choke on that.

Commercial

Shawn Stasiak's Arm Wrestling Open Challenge

Stasiak take the mic and reiterates his open challenge, and though due to a knee injury he's unable to give the people a perfect performance like he normally does, but he can still contribute to his team. He can't help that his shredded, throbbing, sexy physique holds more market value than anyone in the company, and whoever has the spaldings to accept his challenge can bring it, because he fears no one.

Out comes Paul Orndorff  to accept the challenge and Stasiak is scared. Ref has to hold Orndorff back and he flexes and goes a bit nuts. Stasiak tries to get out of this and wasts some time before they finally lock hands. Orndorff easily overpowers Stasiak right off the bat though he manages to fight back briefly. Orndorff decides to just sucker punch him rather than win this, then drops Stasiak with his trademark piledriver. Orndorff goes out and gets a chair then back drops Sanders as he comes out, before nailing him in the face with a chair. Then a chair to Reno as he runs out. O'Haire comes out and Orndorff is a little too fast and they nearly botch their spot, O'Haire misses a roundhouse and eats a chair shot too. Then one for Jindrak. Then Palumbo. Another for Reno and another for Palumbo. Orndorff stands tall as the Thrillers regroup.

Limo arrives and out steps Ms. Jones and the Cat.

Commercial

Cat makes his way out with Ms. Jones. He says Nash and friends couldn't put him down for good, says they'll have to kill him before they take over the show. They think they can do what they want so Cat calls out Nash. Nash eventually makes his way out after making Cat wait, along with Steiner and Jarrett. Commentary can't stop gushing over the Wargames Match set for Nitro. They just stand around forever until Cat cuts off their music. Cat claims Russo works for him, and with one segment left, Cat books Nash vs himself tonight. He threatens to use the pipe on Steiner. He calls Jarrett slappy and says he's got a couple nuts Jarrett can slap and tells him to bring it. Jarrett starts to go to the ring and Steiner tries to hold him back but he continues on his way. There's a ref and he calls for the bell so...?

The Cat vs Kevin Nash (w/ Jeff Jarrett & Scott Steiner) ???

Cat takes out Steiner with some kicks, then Jarrett and Nash drops him with a clothesline. Jones is cornered as Nash takes Cat to the corner, and they all triple team him. Jones tries to help and rakes Jarrett's eyes. So he smashes a guitar over her head. Cat is choked by Steiner with the pipe in the corner. Out runs Booker with a baseball bat and nails Jarrett, then Nash and Steiner. The Thrillers run out and go right after Booker. Nash with a low blow to Booker. Stroke to Cat. Nash with another low blow to Booker. Recliner to Cat. So the match is a no contest, I'm not even sure if it was a match.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Well I enjoyed that show a lot more than I do most of these shows. It had a few good matches, Orndorff was great, the show had a few duds, but whatever bad this show had was nothing worse than what they usually put on. With a run time of 1:23:13, this show had a total 25:01 of wrestling, plus whatever that ending segment was.