WCW Week of September 25, 2000 - Reaching a New Low

Nitro

We get a hype package for Russo, about his life-long dream to be champion, and what led to him getting the title shot, all narrated by Borash. Oh boy, this is gonna be a long show...

Footage of Borash and Russo arriving in the limo earlier in the day, Borash hyping him up until Russo tells him to shut up. Led in by security.

Live from the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York for this edition of Nitro, and we start with a match right away.

"I Quit" Stick Ball Bat vs Kendo Stick Match: Big Vito vs Johnny "the Bull"

Pre-Match: Vito's sister Maria is sitting front row. Vito and Johnny come out with their respective weapons.

Vito starts wailing away immediately, then he grabs the kendo stick to crack him over the back. Johnny sent of the ropes into a clothesline. Kendo stick upside the head of Johnny. Forearms to the chest in the corner by Vito, then he grabs the kendo stick again but gets caught with a clothesline. Kendo stick over the back and ribs of Vito repeatedly. Boots and rights in the corner, then kendo stick jabbed in the ribs of Vito, then the back of the head, then the back, and back of the head again, followed by a spinning heel kick. They trade stick shots until Vito gets the upperhand with bat shots to the back, then the kendo stick. Low blow by Johnny, then goes out to the apron but gets kicked and hung up on the middle rope, Vito wailing away with the kendo stick. Out comes Reno with a kendo stick to the back of Vito, then sent face first into the ring post. More shots to the back and tossed back in the ring. Vito is hung up in a tree of woe by Reno, then Reno wails away at the ribs with the kendo stick. Maria hops the guard rail and enters the ring to save Vito, and ref calls for the bell. I don't know if Vito quit, or she quit for him, but I guess Johnny wins in 5:06.

Reno just leaves and Vito is freed from the ropes.

More hyping backstage by Borash.

Commercial

Over to commentary to talk about the main event.

Go to footage from the weekend following David in his search of the father. He kicks some guy off a payphone then looks through a phonebook to find a guy's address, then asks the guy how to get there. David leaves.

And now we get Jarrett. Steiner's also there with Midajah and a pipe. Jarrett says tonight's the night the fans have been waiting for, a new WCW Champion will be crowned, and they'll be part of history, hometown boy will make good, and tells them to choke on that. Steiner says it's amazing that he comes out looking as good as he does, genetic perfection, and he gets booed, but they cheer the Giants and the Jets who everyone knows sucks. He takes a shot at a Jets player in the crowd. Then he tells them to kiss his ass, takes credit for making Goldberg quit and running him out of pro wrestling, before introducing Russo as the next champion.

Russo comes out with Borash. Russo says he kissed the floor when he walked into the arena because there's no place like Long Island, they've all done it there, name drops a bunch of people, and he says they don't know how privileged they are to live there because he calls his home Atlanta now. Atlanta has NASCAR, the Georgia Bulldogs, inbreds and cousins making babies with cousins, and John Rocker and basically jacks it to Rocker.Now the question is if he has the spaldings to walk out the champion, and they know he does.

Sting's music hits and he and Booker appear on the NitroVision. Sting's got Booker's back tonight and tells Russo to turn around. Goldberg is seen coming through the crowd.

Commercial

OK I guess there's no follow up to that. Sanders walks into Kronik's locker room, and because Kronik didn't follow Russo's orders on Thunder, they're out of the battle royal. Clark has some kind of plan as Sanders leaves.

Back to the arena, the ring is already full for our next match.

Tag Team Battle Royal for the Vacated WCW World Tag Team Championship: Harris Brothers, Mark Jindrak & Sean O'Haire,  3 Count, MIA, Filthy Animals, Jung Dragons

It's explained that all members of a team have to be thrown over the ropes to be eliminated. I say all because all three members of 3 Counta are in there. Kaz is caught with the H Bomb and eliminated. Someone set up a table at ringside. Shane is hit with the H Bomb, then Jindrak and O'Haire hip toss him over the ropes through the table. Kronik make their way out. They eliminate the Harrises. F5 to Juvie by Adams. Chokeslam into a half nelson slam by Clark to Shannon. Jamie-San caught with a full nelson slam by Adams. Jindrak and O'Haire wait on the apron. Shannon and Jamie are eliminated, then Cpl. Cajun, then Lt. Loco. Security rush down to mace and take Kronik out of the ring in handcuffs. Rey and Juvie caught with a pair of powerslams by Jindrak and O'Haire. Juvie mounts a comeback. Jindrak sent into the corner, Juvie launches off Rey's back, then a Bronco Buster is countered with a low blow by Sean. Torture rack neckbreaker and a Seanton Bomb. Disqo comes through the crowd with the duck, nails Juvie with it and he saves himself from elimination. Konnan chases off Disqo, and the bell rings for some reason. Rey is tossed over but he hangs on. Rey tries to eliminate Jindrak but he hangs on. Rey is dropped on the top rope, then clotheslined by Jindrak from the top to the floor. Jindrak and O'Haire are the champions in 6:26. Yeah, an overbooked shitshow here.

Still to come, the Miss WCW competition.

Gene is backstage with Pamela and the Wack Pack. There's five of them but the only one I recognize is Beetlejuice. Pamela is wearing a fur coat, and Gene hypes the first WCW bikini competition. Wack Pack will be the judges. Gene turns to Hank the Angry Dwarf who justs says he wants to see Pamela naked. Then to Crackhead Bob who... is rather incoherent. Gene turns to High Pitched Eric, who's here to see Pam. Then to Fred the Elephant Boy who is also incoherent. Then Beetlejuice who mentions the ladies and the rest is incoherent. They each keep it brief at least. Nash interrupts with the Thriller and calls this horseshit, calls them freaks, hypes up the Thrillers and calls Beetlejuice Elix before leaving.

ICP come out. J wants to talk about hardcore and says Vamp is nursing a fractured spleen or something at home. He brings up Mad Pondo, the Rude Boy, Deathdealer Tommy Star as hardcore, but just like the 70s, Awesome is dead. He and Shaggy challenge Awesome and "that retard bus of his" to come down for a hardcore handicap match, and it's handicap because the loser leaves in a wheelchair. Awesome comes out in his bus while ICP walk over with a trash can filled with weapons.

Hardcore Match: Insane Clown Posse vs "That '70s Guy" Mike Awesome

Awesome comes out of the bus spraying them with a fire extinguisher, then nails J in the back with it. J hits him in the back with the trash can, then a traffic cone to the ribs. Shaggy with the trash can to the head. Trash can to the lid by Shaggy, then Awesome sent into the hood of the bus. Trash can to the head by J. Shaggy climbs onto the hood and J hoists him up there with him. Jsets up a table as Awesome drops Shaggy on the roof. Awesome tosses J off the hood through the table. Low blow by Shaggy as he fights with Awesome on the roof, then tries to throw Awesome off, but he fights off and delivers an Awesome Bomb onto the roof, and Shaggy drops limp off the roof to the floor. Awesome drops down to cover Shaggy for the win in 2:11. Hey they kept it short at least. That was a nasty landing by Shaggy though.

Awesome celebrates on the hood of the bus and we get a replay of the Awesome Bomb.

Still to come, Miss WCW contest. Up next, Cat and Ms. Jones are out to the ring.

Commercial

David is seen getting lost and frustrated, pulls up to a Chuck E. Cheese for directions with a crowbar. The woman at the register has no idea what he's talking about, then he looks through the ball pit as she tries to get him to leave.

Cat and Ms. Jones come out. He's here to make it easy for Booker to kill Russo tonight. He also hates Madden's fat ass. He says if any of Russo's stooges get near the ring tonight, whether it be big stupid Nash, big dumb Poppa Pump, or that redneck hillbilly, little slapnuts Jarrett, he's gonna fire them all. 

Now out comes Sanders with a bat. Cat calls them the Natural Born Rating Killers. Sanders says Russo has an important match tonight, and he's taken it upon himself to make sure Cat doesn't screw it up like everything else. There's an asshole chant, and Sanders has them repeat it for some reason, twice. He doesn't like the decision Cat made and wants to negotiate, gives him 5 seconds to rethink. Sanders tries to hit him with the bat but Cat blocks it and kicks him. Now Nash comes out with the rest of the Thrillers and they huddle up. 

Thrillers run down to the ring, Cat takes them all on until Sanders nails him in the back with the bat. Reno Rolls the Dice and they keep beating down Cat. Nash claps on.

Up next, the bikini contest.

Commercial

Gene and Pamela are in the ring to host this competition. Wack Pack come out to judge this. He calls Fred the Elephant "Boy" and Madden corrects him, then Gene says it was close enough, so I guess he has commentary in his ear. We have Che, Chaquita, Torrie Wilson, Tygress, Paisley, Leia Meow and Major Guns. Guns is out in an American swimsuit so Duggan comes out to lambast Guns, she tries to talk back and he tells her to shut her mouth. He covers her up in a Canadian flag and takes her to the back. Pamela takes her cot off because she's getting all hot and she's not in a bikini, but the Wack Pack decide she wins. Leia gets her o her knees and it takes forever for Midajah to come out on her cue and make the save, then body slams Leia. Leia kicks her in the back of her knees and they have a catfight. Referees pull them apart.

Tenay is backstage with Steiner, and brings up Midajah getting involved a moment ago. Steiner says she can handle herself and that why she's his favorite freak. Tenay brings up how Goldberg's here despite Steiner claiming to have made him quit, but before Steiner can answer Goldberg attacks from behind. Steiner sent into some equipment cases and lays into him, then security rush in.

Commercial

Oh, this just keeps getting better, Disqo's in the ring now with his duck. He's been asked when he's going to let Rey, Juvie, Konnan and Tygress back into the Animals, but he's not, because they don't have it like that, and tells them kiss his ducks ass if they think otherwise. He's found someone who has it like that, a new partner, and brings out... 

OK so that doesn't happen, because Steiner comes out instead. Disco insults his intelligence so Steiner drops him before tossing him out of the ring. Steiner calls Goldberg a bald-headed bastard, brags about beating his ass at the PPV and calls Goldberg out, and he wastes no time coming out with a mic. As a wise man once said, don't wish for something you sure as hell don't want to come true. He accepts the challenge, under his rules, no interference, and since they have the cage already hanging over the ring, he wants it dropped down. He also wants no ref except to raise his hand after he kills Steiner.

Goldberg rushes into the ring as the cage gets lowered and Steiner leaves, tries to escape through the crowd. Goldberg pulls him back over and Steiner goes face first into the announce table. Goldberg chokes him with some cables, then the cage is low enough to send Steiner face first into the bottom of it.

Caged Heat: Goldberg vs Scott Steiner

In the ring now, Goldberg sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and nails one of his own. Gorilla press into a powerslam by Goldberg. Steiner rolls out to the floor and Goldberg lays into him, then Steiner face first into the cage. Back in the ring, Steiner face first in the corner until Steiner delivers a low blow. Spinning belly to belly by Steiner, then a boot to the side of the head. Goldberg sent off the ropes but knocks down Steiner. There is a referee waiting outside the ring, so I suppose it's escape rules. Steiner sent into the corner comes right out with a clothesline. Steiner goes up top with a flying clothesline, then some push-ups. Goldberg avoids a scoop slam and delivers a butterfly suplex. Steiner sent off ther ropes only to deliver another low blow to Goldberg.

Midajah comes out with a pipe as Steiner hits an exploder suplex. Midajah gets in the cage and hands Steiner the pipe, clotheslining Goldberg with it. Another pipe shot to the ribs. The football guy Steiner insulted earlier blocks the cage door for Steiner, and Goldberg tries to take advantage but Steiner headbutts him. Goldberg sent off the ropes, ducks a pipe shot and nails a spear. Goldberg walks out the door to win in 4:46. Yeah this was really just a nothing match. It was OK but completely unnecessary. 

Goldberg gets a mic and says Russo's next on his way to the back

Jarrett is walking backstage and bumps into Beetlejuice, who calls him slapnuts. Jarrett destroys a guitar over the back of his head. That's still funny as fuck no matter how many times I see it. Jarrett takes offense that he didn't call him Mr. Slapnuts.

Commercial

Pamela is backstage with Booker. He says it won't just be him and Russo, when you add Steiner, Nash and Jarrett, so he's got something up his sleeve, got some back up. Russo can talk about this and that, but he says to save the drama for his mama. He calls Russo a 150lb soaking wet little punk ass, and when he embarrasses Russo in his backyard, he wants him to remember not to hate the player, hate the game.

Gen. Rection vs Jeff Jarrett

Rection is talking to some woman at ringside, which allows Jarrett to attack from behind. Rights in the corner, then Rection sent across the ring, coming out with a pair of lariats and a scoop slam. Rection goes up top and misses an elbow. Jarrett stomps away, then chokes Rection over the middle rope, before coming off the other ropes with a leg drop over the back. Jarrett sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline but gets caught on the next, then Rection with a sitout powerbomb for two.

Jarrett thumbs the eye and get sent into the corner, caught with a powerslam and a cover for two. Lance is out and slips a chair in the ring. Elix tries to use it but Rection catches him. Jarrett caught with a sidewalk slam and Rection goes up top. Duggan comes out and nails him with a 2x4 as Lance keeps the ref distracted. Stroke for the win in 2:22.

Team Canada continue the attack and Jarrett applies the figure 4 on the bad leg of Rection. MIA rush out to make the save only to be easily dispatched. Sting comes out now to make the save, nailing everyone with a bat and clearing the ring. Lance gets a mic and since Sting wants to stick his nose where it doesn't belong, Lance will have to teach him about respect. It's not about the bat, his belt or MIA, he challenges Sting to a match if he has the guts. Sting says it's showtime.

Commercial

Sting vs Lance Storm

Come back to match in progress as Storm catches Sting with a jawbreaker. Lance lays in some boots and rights before choking Sting over the middle rope. Sting sent off the ropes into a dropkick, Storm covers for two. Lance counters an Irish whip with a boot, then goes for a Russian leg sweep but gets tossed off. Sting with some clotheslines, then goes up top only to be crotched. Lance joins him up top and goes for a superplex but Sting fights off and delivers a flying clothesline. Lance avoids the Stinger Splash but Sting knocks him to the floor with a back elbow.

Lance sent into the guard rail, but sends Sting into it with a drop toe hold. Sting into the guard rail now before they return to the ring. Storm with a springboard dropkick,then a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Lance goes up top with a crossbody, but Sting rolls through for two. Sting with a bulldog off the ropes, then the Stinger Splash connects. Sting goes for the Deathlock but Lance counters into the Maple Leaf. Sting just barely makes it to the ropes.

Lance grabs the leg but caught with an enziguri. Lance goes for a scoop slam, Sting tries to counter with the Deathdrop, then Lance tries to counter with a Northern Lights but Sting counters with a regular suplex.Sting avoids a clothesline, then picks up Lance for a scoop slam, turning it into the Deathdrop for the win in 4:21. Way too short, that was a fun match.

David seemingly arrives at the right place with his crowbar.

Commercial

He knocks on the door and an old guy answers. David keeps asking where "he" is and the guy has no idea what he's talking about. David looks through the house and it turns out the house he's looking for is next door. So David goes next door but they're out of town. David will be sitting there waiting for him and the old guy will call the police.

Gene is backstage with Russo, who has football padding on and a helmet. Russo says the talking is done, he has nothing to say, he's in New York, he said he was going to leave with the title and that's exactly what he's going to do. He doesn't care who Booker's back up is, if it's Goldberg, or whatever rabbit he pulls out of his ass. He's in Long Island, the greatest city in the world, and he's here to do one thing, and that's become champion, and dares someone to stop him.

The cage is being lowered once more for the main event.

Caged Heat for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Vince Russo vs Booker T (c)

Pre-Match: Borash joins commentary for this match. Also out come Konnan, Rey, AWOL, Cpl. Cajun, Kwee-Wee, Paisley, and Jung Dragons.

Russo pulls a bat out of nowhere and nails Booker in the back with it, then again and again, then chokes him with it. More bat shots.Russo tries to leave but the earlier mentioned people block his exit, now joined by Awesome and Loco. Russo chokes Booker more and another shot to the back. Shot to the chest with the bat, then another. Russo goes under the ring and pulls out a ladder and slides it in, another bat shot to the back. Russo sets the ladder up and starts to climb and cuts a panel loose from the ceiling. The people on the outside climb the cage to stop his escape, then Sting rappels down from the rafters.

Russo drops back into the ring, then eats a scoop slam. Booker removes his helmet and tosses it away. Right hand drops Russo again. Sting rappels back to the floor. Superkick to Russo, then slaps him. Russo is rolled out to the floor and Russo goes face first into the cage. More rights from Booker. Now all of a sudden Luger comes out from the crowd and slips a pipe in to Russo, who nails Booker over the back as he's arguing with the referee. Russo chokes Booker with the pipe, then nails him in the ribs. Russo puts his helmet back on and takes out the referee with the pipe;. Russo lays into Booker with the pipe some more.

Referees rush into the cage and an EMT to tend to the ref, Russo nails the EMTs with a pipe until one of them grabs hold of Russo, who turns out to be Flair. Right hand to Russo, then he's tossed into the ring. Flair with a low blow and the figure 4.... well kinda because Russo fucks it up. Flair and Booker high five and Flair leaves. Now the Thrillers run out and they go at it with everyone outside the cage, and they all fight to the back. Back in the cage, Booker delivers the ax kick and follows with a spinaroonie. Booker picks him back up and hits the Harlem Side Kick. Booker gets a mic and spouts off his catchphrase.

Booker goes to leave but Goldberg's music hits and out he comes. Now Steiner appears out of nowhere and slams the door into Booker's face, only to get it kicked back in his face. Russo runs around the ring and he's caught by Goldberg, who spears him through the cage wall as Booker's about to walk out, and his head hits the guard rail, he flew a good few feet. No one knows who won but Booker and Goldberg leave happy, and this thing went about 8:34.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Where do I even start here? I can't wrap my head around the shit show that main event was. Interference out the yin yang, Booker was made to look like a complete dumbass with how many times he could have left the cage, not to mention Russo was practically booked like a babyface with how he had to overcome the odds, and even though it leaves on a cliffhanger, we do eventually find out Russo won this fucking thing and became champion. Then there's Luger making a return and aligning with Russo for... reasons, last we saw him he was taken out by Palumbo and Stasiak, plus Liz was involved, so why on Earth would he help Russo at all? Then there's Flair who somehow had the foresight to know that Russo would take out the referee and would require EMTs. The rest of this show wasn't much better, and the one good match with Sting and Lance didn't save it. With a run time of 1:28:13, this show had a total 33:46 of wrestling.

Thunder

Usual recap video of Nitro.

Broadcasting from the First Union Arena in Wilkes-Barre, PA for this edition of Thunder. Stevie Ray is back on commentary this week joined by Tenay and Schiavone. 

Sigh. And we start with Disqo and his duck, wearing a pair of ridiculous looking sunglasses. We also learn that Tenay will be interviewing Russo later to find out who the champion is. Disqo tries to do Konnan's shtick, then he says he's here to drop some new school knowledge, he's got a new partner, someone who's down, cool, got it like that like him. He fires the Filthy Animals, then he tries to introduce the other half of the hip hop sensations that will sweep the nation.

But thank god he's interrupted by Konnan. He makes a small dick joke, then he makes a reference to the Richard Gere gerbil, then implies Disqo fucked his duck. Konnan wants a match with him, but Disqo just wants to bring out his partner, and thinks Konnan won't hit a guy with glasses. And sure enough, Konnan decks him.

Disqo vs Konnan

Konnan stomps away, then Disco sent off the ropes, Konnan leapfrops and hits a facebuster. Disqo knocked out of the ring and says he's gonna have to get violent. Disqo takes control momentarily until he's sent off the ropes, hip tossed and Konnan connects with a basement dropkick. Out of nowhere, Alex Wright runs out, and hangs Konnan up on the top rope. Disqo with the stunner for the win in 1:10.

Wright starts dancing and Disqo celebrates. Filthy Animals come out to chase Disqo and Wright to the back, leaving Konnan in the ring.

Sanders is in a suit backstage as he finds Cat's office, and looks inside to see it's empty. Then he finds Russo's office but he's not there either so he takes a seat. Dillinger walks in and tries to kick him out, but Sanders hands him a paper, apparently Sanders is in charge tonight.

Up next... Oh great, it just gets better, Jarrett is on his way.

Commercial

Sanders is with the Thrillers watching the battle royal from Nitro. Sanders moves on to Norman, who didn't show up or bring his title with him, so as his first big decision, he announces a Hardcore Tournament for next week to crown a new Hardcore Champion. We know that Reno and Johnny will be in it. Then he sends the two of them to take care of something.

Steiner arrives with Midajah. Steiner nearly murders a staff member with his pipe and the guy runs off, and then proceeds to murder the duck. That will never not be funny.

Cut to Rection and AWOL in the locker room. Apparently Loco and Cajun are lost, which confuses Rection because AWOL rides with them, but AWOL rode with Penzer for this show.

Now out comes Jarrett. Replay of the Jarrett, Team Canada, Sting and Rection confrontation from Nitro. Jarrett brings up how Sting grew the spaldings and got into his business, but what made him want to puke is that the fans thought it was heroic. He says Sting has lost it, he has no heart, no desire, he's finished. While Jarrett is going on, Luger comes out through the crowd, and Tenay claims Luger's not part of the active roster anymore. Jarrett calls Sting a ghost who continues to haunt WCW every day.

Jarrett notices Luger and talks about how Luger sat at home collecting paychecks for months until he hopped on the Russo bandwagon. Jarrett invites him to the ring to hear what the peanut gallery has to say, so Luger gets a mic and joins Jarrett. He's waited a while to say this, after sitting at home, watching the likes of Jarrett, not allowed to wrestle, not given time on TV, because of Jarrett and Russo. He had to make a decision on Nitro, but when he left the building it left a bad taste in his mouth, and when he got back to the hotel he was sick to his stomach, and didn't like what he saw in the mirror the next morning. Jarrett wants him to just say he sucked up to the boss and spells it out instead, and Luger says Jarrett's been further up Russo's ass than anyone for the last year and a half. Also Rection comes out. The difference between him and Jarrett though is it disgusts him that Jarrett loves it and is good at it.

Rection joins them in the ring and makes it clear he's not happy with the crap Luger pulled on Nitro, but he and a lot of the guys in the back know what it's like to fight for their job and to want to be back on TV and be part of the company. He says he and the fans forgive him and he doesn't have to explain crap to Jarrett, but the Lugers, Stings have more heart than Jarrett can imagine. Lance comes from behind with a chop block to Rection and Jarrett takes it to Luger. Alright I actually kinda enjoyed that segment, even if the Luger reasoning was wishy-washy. I'm sure there's a swerve in here though.

Still to come, the interview with Russo.

Commercial

Rection and Luger are backstage. They agree to team up against Jarrett and Lance tonight.

Thrillers are still watching the battle royal from Nitro as Johnny and Reno walk in with Leia. Sanders is still sore from when she pinned him, which still doesn't make sense, and says that who she screws on the way up will screw her twice as much on the way down. She's set to be a guest on the Lava Lamp Lounge tonight but Sanders pulls her from the segment and kicks her out. Then Sanders sends Johnny to deal with something else.

Gene is backstage with the Animals, and he's glad they finally got rid of Disqo, says the best part of him ran down his momma's leg years ago. Then he moves onto Juvie's contendership for the Cruiserweight Title and would love to see him and Rey go at it again, and I concur. Juvie also concurs and wants to do a Best of 5 Series and Rey agrees.

WCW Hardcore Championship Mini-Tournament Semifinal Match: Sgt. A-Wall vs Johnny "the Bull"

Pre-Match: So I guess I misunderstood Sanders earlier. The semifinal matches will happen on this show, and the finals will be crowned on Nitro. A-Wall comes out with a table and sets it down at ringside, while Johnny brings out his kendo stick. There's also a wheelbarrow filled with weapons in the aisle, Johnny tossing most of them into the ring.

A-Wall right on the attack as Johnny slides in, then kendo stick shots to the back. A-Wall stomps away, then Johnny is sent into the corner only to get the boots up, then runs into a spinebuster. We also learn that the Luger/Rection vs Jarrett/Storm match has been made a Non-Sanctioned No DQ Match. A-Wall gets the kendo stick and cracks Johnny over the ribs, then the back. Johnny sent off the ropes, ducks a kendo stick shot, boots A-Wall, gets the kendo stick... I don't know what the hell he was trying to do but he tosses the stick over A-Wall and fumbles to grab it again before cracking him over the head, then again, and a third, then repeatedly over the back and body. Gorilla press slam by Johnny before clotheslining A-Wall to the floor. 

Johnny grabs a trash can only to get it booted back in his face. A-Wall puts the can over him then kicks him right in his face, then a second time. A-Wall grabs his table and slides it into the ring, setting it up, then tries to pull Johnny back in over the ropes only to get a trash can to the head. Johnny goes up top but gets caught and chokeslammed through the table for the win 3:16. Also it looks like A-Wall got cut on that trash can shot and quite a bit too. It was a fine match and they kept it short.

Steiner comes out with Midajah and clotheslines A-Wall, then tosses out Johnny. Steiner gets a mic and berates commentary for talking about Goldberg, about how he's a cyborg, indestructible, while Steiner beat his ass at the PPV. Gets in Steiner's face and he says Stevie and Booker don't have the same mother and aren't even brothers. Stevie shoves him and turns his back so Steiner nails him in the back of the head with the pipe and says he'll beat Stevie's ass easier than he beat Booker's. Then he leaves.

Awesome arrives in his bus. 

Commercial

Thrillers are still watching the battle royal. Johnny comes in pissed that he had no back up. Sanders says Nash doesn't need to know about this, because they'll be SOL if he finds out. Then he has Reno go take care of something.

Stevie's getting checked out by a trainer and wants Steiner tonight.

Another edition of the Lava Lamp Lounge. Oh great. Tonight it's the #1 freakazoid, Midajah. He's sure to tread lightly considering Steiner's around and pissed off and gets closer and further as he probes. Midajah tries to get further away as he gets closer. She's noticeably uncomfortable. He says that there are more than 200 bones in the human body and asks if she wants to have one more bone in her body.

Well here I was hoping for Steiner but instead we get Leia. She slaps Midajah, she boots her in the gut, Leia boots back and they try to get into it until Awesome gets between them. Double low blow and he's shoved through his set. Leia tries to break a lamp over her. Snapmare by Midajah then the Recliner until security break this up and drag her off. That was a horrible fight and an even worse segment.

Still to come, the Russo interview.

Commercial

Crowbar arrives and he looks dejected, and he's stopped by Jimmy Hart. He wants to see Daffney but Hart tells him she and Ozzy are off to Australia, then Jimmy leaves.

Gene is backstage with Steiner and Midajah, and he calls Leia a hoochie as he talks about her and Midajah's altercation. Then turns to Steiner and brings up Stevie's words from earlier, and Steiner repeats that they aren't brothers, with one from Poughkeepsie and the other from Harlem and they're both illegitimate, and they don't know who their mothers are. Eventually Steiner acceps Stevie's challenge and he leaves.

Duggan is yelling at some guy backstage for an interview on WCW.com table about how the fans turned their back on him.

Konnan has joined commentary in place of Stevie Ray. Commentary talk about the history between the Steiners and Harlem Heat, plus the non-sanctioned tag match still to come.

WCW World Tag Team Championships: Hacksaw Jim Duggan & Elix Skipper (WCW 100kg & Under Champion) (w/ Major Guns) vs Mark Jindrak & Sean O'Haire (c)

Pre-Match: Duggan has a mic and thinks it's time the fans show them some respect, and he thinks they stink, don't have a clue about honor, dignity, then tells them to stand for once in their miserable lives for their anthem. Duggan begins to sing, but then he decides they don't deserve to hear the anthem and won't give them the satisfaction.

Duggan and Elix attack from behind and attack in the corners. Jindrak and O'Haire whip them into each other and connect with a pair of dropkicks, knocking them out of the ring. Jindrak will stop this properly against Elix. Some quick back and forth to start until Elix is caught with a clothesline. Sean tags in and hip toss Elix from one corner to the other, and Elix nearly drops onto his neck. Elix sent off the ropes, tries a spin kick, gets caught but takes Sean down with a headscissor. Sean misses a roundhouse but connects with a clothesline.

Jindrak tags in, off the ropes and misses a springboard moonsault. Duggan gets the tag, clothesline to Jindrak, right to Sean and another clothesline to Jindrak. Mounted rights then choking Jindrak before applying a rear chinlock. Jindrak fights out, Duggan sent into the corner and Jindrak misses a splash, dropped with a body shot, covers for two. Elix tags in to continue the rear chinlock. Jindrak gets up only to be driven down, then Elix hops to the top rope with a missle dropkick and lands on his feet. Elix gets distracted by Sean and Jindrak rolls him up for two.

Clothesline and an elbow from Elix before tagging in Duggan. Jindrak sent off the ropes into a double back elbow, then an elbow drop, cover and O'Haire breaks it up. Yet another rear chinlock by Duggan. Jindrak fights out then sends Duggan face first in the corner, Jindrak misses a springboard splash and Duggan connects with a scoop slam. Running clothesline and Elix tags in. He goes up top, Guns tries to hit him with the 2x4 but she's stopped by Duggan. She does trip Elix up and he gets crotched. Duggan uses the 2x4 on Jindrak and O'Haire. A-Wall comes out and chokeslams Elix from the top as the ref is dealing with Duggan, who goes after A-Wall and they fight in the aisle. Torture rack neckbreaker and the Seanton bomb to retain in 7:36. Well... I mean it was a good match when Duggan wasn't in there, and that's not to say he wasn't good in the parts he had, he just didn't do a whole lot.

Commercial

Being the break, A-Wall and Duggan continued fighting and Sanders tried to get between them as security pulled them apart. Sanders kicks them out of the arena. Then he bumps into Elix and he's booked himself in a Cruiserweight Title match for next week, and he needs a tune up and he has something for Elix.

Elix Skipper (WCW 100kg & Under Champion) (w/ Major Guns) vs KroniK

Pre-Match: Elix tries to leave but Guns makes sure he can't go anywhere. Then he tries to just lay down.

Kronik decide to just leave, then Elix tries to get them with a springboard crossbody and they fail to catch him entirely. Adams with rights and chops, then gorilla presses Elix back in. Clark sends him into the corner, then hits him with the Meltdown, covers but pulls him off the mat. Clark with a Razor's Edge sends Elix into the arms of Adams for a full nelson slam. High Times for the win in 2 minutes flat.

Still to come, the Russo interview.

Commercial

Jarrett and Lance are talking backstage. Apparently Jarrett has been repeating himself the last 20 minutes and Lance has had enough, while Jarrett insists on the importance of tonight. Jarrett says Luger has no heart just like Sting and he's going to prove it.

Best of 5 Series Match 2: Rey Mysterio Jr.  vs Juventud Guerrera (1 win)

Tygress on commentary.

Some good back and forth until Rey gets a surfboard stretch applied, then a crucifix pin for two. Some more back and forth with Juvie delivering a headscissor, before clotheslining Rey out to the floor. More back and forth as Rey re-enters, Juvie getting monkey flipped and clutching his knee as it hits the ropes. Looks like it might be legitimate as the ref comes out to check on him. Tygress now too. Ref calls the match off in 3:23. Man that sucks. For as simple as those three minutes were it was fun.

Commercial

We get replays of the monkey flip that injured him.

Stevie is seen getting ready.

WCW Hardcore Championship Mini-Tournament Semifinal Match: Crowbar vs Reno

Pre-Match: Crowbar has his ribs heavily taped, still selling being thrown off the balcony by Douglas. Also it's announced that Reno's accompanied by Johnny but he's nowhere to be seen. Another wheelbarrow of weapons in the aisle and Crowbar comes out with a pipe. Crowbar is visibly distracted by his troubles with Daffney.

Reno with a body shot, then a boot and a right. Reno takes a trash lid and cracks Crowbar over the back, then again. Reno gets a kendo stick and nails him over the back, then Crowbar sent off the ropes, ducks a stick shot and connects with a Northern Lights suplex, bridging for two. Stick to the ribs of Reno, and another, back to the ribs in the corner with kicks and rights. Crowbar sent across the ring and caught with overhead throw. Reno with another trash lid lays it on the face of Crowbar and drives his knee into it with a knee drop. 

Reno and Crowbar trade shots and Reno goes face first in the corner, then Crowbar sent into the corner, gets a boot up and throws a trash can into his face. Trash can to the back of Reno, then a scoop slam. Crowbar with a slingshot somersault leg drop and a cover for two. Kendo stick to the ribs of Reno, then the back, then a baseball bat up into the ribs of Reno. Dropkick through the ropes sends Reno into the guard rail, then Crowbar with a splash off the apro. Reno face first off the announce table. Crowbar pulls out a table and we hear that Juvie's knee injury is nothing serious, he'll be alright. Crowbar tries to set up the table but a leg gives out, so Reno is laid on the leaned table, Crowbar back in the ring with a slingshot crossbody through the table. Crowbar doesn't bother to try and win as he grabs a ladder and slides it into the ring. Reno catches him with a t-bone suplex, then covers but it only gets two.

More rights by Reno, then Crowbar sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and connects with a front suplex, covers but it only gets two. Johnny makes his way out now and catapults the ladder into Crowbar's face, Reno rolls the dice for the win in 7:06. Yeah this one went a bit too long and wasn't all that exciting either, a boring chant broke out briefly near the end.

They rip away the rib tape, then hang Crowbar over the ropes with the tape until Mike Awesome comes out for some reason for the save. Awesome wants more.

Up next, the Russo interview. Oh boy...

Commercial

First though, Awesome is talking with Crowbar backstage. Crowbar finally vents about how this thing with Daffney is messing with his head. Awesome is here as the Love Doctor to take care of his chick problems, so they leave to talk.

Go to footage from earlier in the day, where Tenay sat down with Russo, in a neckbrace and the World Title over his shoulder. Tenay gets right to the point and asks who the World Champion is. Russo says there is no question about it, he's the one with the belt, and it was clear that he walked out of the cage first, the rules were clear that the first out of the cage would win. Tenay can't believe what he's hearing as he has Russo repeat himself, and Russo wants to move on.

Once again right to the point, now that he's champion, Tenay asks who's next. He says that even though he's the champion, he's not an athlete, a sports entertainer, and can't do what in the ring what the guys in WCW can do, and those that say he has no business being in the ring might be right. He wanted to prove a point on Nitro, that at any time he can step in the ring with anyone and walk out the champion, and that's what happened. He's done competing in the ring, and his days of getting knocked around and beat up are over, and as far as the title goes, he'll make a decision on the next week's Nitro. Tenay insists on getting an answer now but Russo's having none of it, he's going to make people wait for it.

Tenay moves onto Goldberg now, how Russo's mentioned several times that Goldberg's contract says he can't lay a finger on Russo or he's gone. Russo asks if Tenay has ever been hit like he was in his life, the impact of Goldberg's 350lb frame driving him through a cage. Russo says Goldberg's future is in his hands, and though he could fire him, that might be too easy, and he'll have an announcement concerning thar too on Nitro.

Tenay wants to talk about the surprises that sprung up in that Cage Match, first the man he retired in Ric Flair. Russo has a bit of information he's holding back concerning Flair, and unless Ric wants him to drop the bombshell on Ric and his family he better stay out of Russo's business. Then Tenay brings up Luger as an ally, but Russo denies having known he'd be there, and that lines up with what Luger said earlier on this show, so at least they're consistent. 

Tenay says that while Russo is giving him answers, he's not giving the right ones. Russo asks if he looks like Midajah, or Stacey to Tenay, he's been watching Tenay the last few weeks and to him Tenay gets a bit too big for his britches. He says that Tenay needs to go out and buy wrestling boots, tights, and something to cover up his whole body, because he has a job for Tenay on Nitro, and this time he's got the last word. Russo leaves. Is... is Tenay actually going to have a match next week? Fucking hell. At least this wasn't some shitty "shoot" interview like they tend to be.

Up next, Steiner faces Stevie Ray.

Commercial

First though, the Thrillers celebrate backstage. Sanders is happy.

Gene is backstage with Rection and Luger, the latter of whom just happened to bring his wrestling gear even though he's not on the active roster and this is non-sanctioned. Luger says he has a lot of fences to mend, a lot of ground to make up but he knows he can start tonight, and tells Jarrett to let the butterflies start churning. Then over to Rectiom, who says his war with Storm is far from over, says that Storm is looking at a new beginning, and in a match with no rules there's nothing Lance can do to save himself. Fine little promo.

Commercial

Scott Steiner (w/ Midajah) vs Stevie Ray

Pre-Match: Stevie is still completely out of it after the pipe shot earlier, he comes out almost in a daze, he doesn't even realize his pyro going off.

Stevie is tossed right back out as he enters, then sent into the guard rail. Back in the ring, Stevie sent off the ropes into a clothesline, then an elbow, covers for two. Boots in the corner by Steiner, then choking Stevie. Exploder suplex by Steiner. Backbreaker by Steiner and some push-ups. Fans want Goldberg. Stevie sent into the corner, Steiner caught with an elbow and a clothesline. Steiner sent off the ropes into a pump kick. Scoop slam by Stevie. Midajah goes up top for a crossbody but she's caught. Stevie goes for a powerslam but Steiner nails a low blow. Steiner grabs his pipe and nails Stevie in the back of the head, then the Recliner for the win in 3:12.

Up next, Storm and Jarrett against Luger and Rection.

Commercial

Non-Sanctioned No Disqualification Match: Jeff Jarrett & Lance Storm (WCW Canadian Heavyweight Champion) vs Lex Luger & Gen. Rection 

Pre-Match: Storm wants to be serious for a minute and needs the fans' undivided and respectful attention. He says Team Canada didn't fare well tonight, but it stops now because he's taking care of Luger and Rection. Before that though, he asks the fans to rise for the anthem. Meanwhile commentary try to talk Tenay into getting himself a shot at the World Title if he has to wrestle Monday, which actually made me laugh a bit. The anthem nearly plays in full but Jarrett interrupts before it finishes.

All four start fighting and Jarrett's knocked out of the ring by Luger, Rection with a back body drop and clothesline to Storm. Rection caught with a standing side kick and he's knocked out of the ring. Luger sends Jarrett into the guard rail before they take it to the ring. Luger sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and delivers a gorilla press slam, then a pair of clotheslines, one of his patented three moves as Konnan puts it. A running forearm by Luger.

Luger calls for the Rack already and gets him up briefly until Storm makes the save. Storm is briefly the legal man before tagging in Jarrett, and they lay in the boots in the corner. Luger sent off the ropes, ducks an elbow but caught with the sleeper, Jarrett climbing onto his back, only to be countered with a back suplex. Storem gets the tag and they trade rights, Lance sent off the ropes but catches Luger with a kick to the ribs, then one to the knees. Jarrett back in, to the middle rope with a fist drop. Luger sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and there's a double down with a clothesline.

Rection gets the hot tag and Lance tags in.  Clotheslines to Jarrett and Lance, Jarrett sent over the ropes, Lance sent off the ropes into a snap slam. Rection goes up top and Luger comes in seemingly to hold down Lance, but as I called it earlier, it's a swerve, he rolls Jarrett out of the way of the moonsault. Luger gets him up with the Rack, or at least tries to and he can't hold him up. Luger leaves. Storm applies the Maple Leaf for the win in 4:34.

Lance refuses to let go as Luger is seen heading backstage to end the show.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

It's pretty bad when the best part of this show is Steiner beating up a plastic duck. That's not to say there wasn't anything good, but most of the stuff was just kinda there, or there was something that kept it from being a complete thumbs up. Then there's the pointless swerve with Luger, and Russo officially being named champion, and the prospect of Mike Tenay wrestling because... fucked if I know. With a run time of 1:26:40, this show had a total 32:17 of wrestling.