WCW Thunder, January 1, 2001 (First Show of the New Year)

As previously mentioned, there were no Nitros for Christmas and New Year's, replaced with "Best of" shows, and while the Thunder following Christmas was the same, Thunder would see a new episode the first week of the new year. This is 11 days away from the Sin PPV.

Storm, Elix and Guns are talking backstage. Storm says things are moving and they go outside, where Awesome has renovated his bug for Team Canada.

Broadcasting from the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, TN for this edition of Thunder, with Tenay, Schiavone and Stevie Ray doing commentary. Flair is out to start the show and continues to tout WCW as the best promotion in the world before making some announcements. He reminds us that Goldberg and Sarge will face Buff and Luger at Sin, with Goldberg's streak on the line. Plus, Steiner defends the World Title against Jarrett and The Mystery Man, someone he promises is a big time player in the business. He also says there's something he might have overlooked, but he'll get to that later. Flair says Steiner was suspended for two weeks for running wild on the previous Nitro, reiterates that Steiner is the World Champion and with that title comes responsibility, and he has to learn to live by the rules. He hopes Steiner is a little more under control when he returns to Nitro on Monday.  He says Sin is about to be the biggest PPVs in the history of the business, and hopes the world tunes in to see WCW at its best.

Of course, here's Jarrett now. He's tired of hearing about Steiner going berserk about the Mystery Man, tired of listening to him rant about the Mystery Man, while everyone's forgotten about him and he wants to know who the Mystery Man is too. Jarrett threatens to hit him with a guitar if he doesn't tell him their identity. As punishment for threatening him, Flair is putting Jarrett in the main event, and he has to win to keep his title shot at Sin.

Flair brings out Sid as his opponent for tonight and mentions again how he overlooked something, a great wrestler at the wrong time, and pulls up some footage from Starrcade. Sid has Steiner pinned clearly for a three count while the ref is down, so Sid will take Jarrett's spot if he can beat him tonight. He says if Jarrett tries to weasel his way out of the match, he's out. Sid gets the mic to parrot Flair, and that while Jarrett sits at home whining and crying about not being at Sin, he wants Jarrett to remember "it be that way sometimes". That took way too long to get to the point.

Commercial

Cut segments

- Insiders were given the night off by Sanders, but Flair doesn't buy it

- Sanders confirms as such and makes Reno vs Johnny the Bull for later

- Crowbar swears revenge on Funk in what's apparently an impassioned promo

Shane Helms vs Jamie Noble

Noble attacked from behind posing to the fans, Helms takes him to the corner for rapid rights, before sending him off the ropes into a back elbow. Noble avoids a suplex, kicked in the chest before back dropping Helms to the floor. Noble misses a baseball slide but gets Helms with a headscissor into the guard rail. Back in the ring, Noble up top with a flying clothesline for two. Back suplex by Noble for two. Noble sent off the ropes and tossed through the ropes to the floor on the rebound, then a flip dive over the ropes. Back in the ring, Shane with a gutwrench suplex from the middle rope, then a snapmare and a series of running leg drops for two. 

Helms with a double underhook-style ab stretch, Noble counters with a backslide for two, then dropped with a right from Helms. Another snapmare by Helms before going to the middle rope with a fist drop gets two. Noble sent off the ropes, tries a sunset flip by Helms decks him. Noble rolls him up on the second attempt, Helms rolls through, Noble gets him with a Northern Lights suplex but only gets two. Helms blocks a second one, then hits the Vertebreaker. Nightmare on Helms Street gets the win. (7:09) Show is finally starting to pick up.

Out comes Karagias to hit a hangman's neckbreaker on Helms. Now Shannon's hear to even things up with a sleeper slam on Evan. Noble gets Shannon with a tombstone. Helms gets Noble with another Nightmare on Helms Street. Chavo nails Helms with the Cruiserweight Title as he runs out, standing tall.

Commercial

Replay of Konnan beating Elix on the last Thunder. Elix confronts him backstage and baits him around the corner to be attacked by Awesome.

Cut segments

- Cat wants to be commissioner again

- Harris Twins get laid out

Misfits in Action (w/ WCW US Heavyweight Champion Gen. Rection) vs Chuck Palumbo & Sean O'Haire (w/ Natural Born Thrillers)

MIA are attacked from behind as the match starts, Thrillers taking early control. Cajun is getting double teamed, caught with a double slingshot suplex. Palumb stays in as the legal man, with Sean getting in some cheap shots. Cajun sent off the ropes but gets Chuck with a springboard bulldog, then some mounted rights. A-Wall tags in, Palumbo sent off the ropes into a big boot, then a back suplex, cover and Sean breaks it up. A-Wall bites Palumbo then Cajun is back in. Clubs to the back before Palumbo is sent off the ropes into a powerslam for two, then another for two.

A-Wall back in with boots in the corner, then Cajun in again. Palumbo sent off the ropes into a spinning back elbow for two. Cajun sent off the ropes, low bridged by Sean and dropkicked to the floor. Stasiak and Jindrak pounce on him while the ref is distracted, Cajun dropped ribs first on the guard rail. Sean meanwhile off the middle rope into a spinebuster by A-Wall. Sean tossed out to the floor and A-Wall is tossed out. Cajun tossed back in for a Seanton Bomb for the win. (4:45) Kind of a mess.

Sean continues to attack after the match, then Rection gets triple teamed at ringside. Now Chavo is here for some reason to help MIA. Franchise is here too to attack Rection with his chain until Chavo chase them off with a chair.

Commercials

Cut segments

- Franchise says he'll challenge for the US Title in a Chain on a Pole Match at Sin, then Rection attacks

- Duggan attacks Skipper on the bus

Konnan is pissed for getting suckered in while talking to the Animals backstage. Tygress says they need to regroup and Rey says they'll get them back.

Cut segments

- Cat tells Vito and Johnny he wants to take out Reno tonight

- Buff doesn't understand Sarge's issues with him, and he must be talented if he can turn someone like Goldberg into a star. Luger says Goldberg can't spell.

- Highlight video of Sarge running the Power Plant

- Storm gets Awesome a match with Duggan

Rey comes back to the Animals with a bag and a plan of some kind

Cut segments

- Flair gives Cat a match with Reno instead of Johnny. He also gives Jindrak a match against a mystery opponent

- Sid is ready for Jarrett

Chair on a Pole Match: Crowbar (w/ Daffney) vs Meng (w/ Paisley)

Pre-Match: I can't even put into words how dumb this is, considering how the ringside area always has about a dozen chairs sitting around. Who thought this was a good idea? Why not just do a hardcore match? Anyways, Crowbar still has his golden wrench. We're reminded Crowbar screwed Meng out of the Hardcore Title on the last Nitro, and Meng cost him a match with Bigelow the following Thunder, which somehow sets this up even though a chair was never involved.

Crowbar shoved in the corner off a lockup, Meng with rights and headbutts, then sent to the corner, tries to float over but Meng sends him to the corner. Crowbar hangs him on the top rope, then hits a slingshot splash, followed by rights. Crowbar goes for the chair but he's cut off by Meng, then sent face first off the turnbuckle. Meng rakes the eyes, then some headbutts. Meng goes for the chair and Crowbar cuts him off. Boots  and chops by Crowbar, then chops by Meng until he rakes the eyes, Crowbar sent off the ropes but gets Meng with a DDT. Hangman's neckbreaker by Crowbar.

Crowbar takes the chair down, but he's caught by Meng with an electric chair drop. Meng grabs the chair but gets rolled up for two. Crowbar gets the chair kicked into his face, then Meng gets it dropkicked into his face at ringside, Crowbar following with a crossbody. Meng sent into the guard rail, then Crowbar grabs a second chair to choke Meng. Meng gets the knees up to block a Vader Bomb off the guard rail, then follows with throat shots and a side kick. Crowbar with a drop toe hold into the ring steps.

Paisley and Daffney fight over the chair now. Paisley goes to use the chair on her but Crowbar takes it away. Meng with a Samoan drop and some more throat shots. Meng sets a chair up on top of the turnbuckles, but gets a jawbreaker and some clotheslines that have no effect. Inverted DDT by Crowbar, then some rights as he doesn't go for a cover. Crowbar charges only to be launched up, and he's supposed to land face first on that chair but completely misses it. Tongan Deathgrip gets the pinfall win. (6:37) Once again your challenger is taking a loss going into his title match, even if it's for an irrelevant title. It was fine with an unnecessarily stupid stipulation.

Commercial

Jarrett is pacing backstage.

Cut segment

Flair meets and shakes hands with Luger and Bagwell, nothing is heard

Career-Threatening Streak Match: Mark Jindrak vs Goldberg (33-0)

Goldberg wasting no time with a boot, elbow and right, before dumping Jindrak over the ropes to the floor. Jindrak tries a springboard crossbody but he's caught midair with a powerslam. Spear and a jackhammer gets the win. (1:20) (34-0)

Goldberg gets a mic and says the clock is ticking, 11 days, after he beats Buff and Luger's asses they can wipe their names off the roster, because they're both next.

Commercial

Cut segments

- Jarrett calls out the Mystery Man since he can choose who he faces at Sin

- Luger and Bagwell talk to Kronik

The Cat (w/ Ms. Jones) vs Reno 

Pre-Match: We get a replay of Cat beating Wright on the last Nitro. Cat gets a mic and says he wants Sanders, and gives Reno a chance to leave before Cat calls his mama. 

Reno attacks from behind when Cat turns his back, then chokes him in the corner. Reno sent off the ropes into a series of kicks, and a spinning back kick sends Reno to the floor. Reno ducks a roundhouse from Ms. Jones and allows Cat to attack from behind, returning it to the ring. Reno catches him with a kick and sends Cat off the ropes into a takedown. Cat fights back with body shots, then Reno with rights in the corner. Reno tries a t-bone suplex but Cat counters with a small package for two. 

Reno with a clothesline and a knee drop, then more rights, sends Cat off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, misses one of his own, Reno tries a sunset flip but Cat decks him, followed by an elbow drop. Uppercut by Cat sends Reno, who comes back with a thumb to the eye. Reno sent face first into the corner, then the Feliner gets the win. (2:56) 

Reno is tossed to the floor so Cat can do his dancing. Cat gets a mic again says he's coming after Sanders now, and will eat his ass like a pot of collard greens. 

Commercial

Cat is walking backstage with Ms. Jones into Flair's office.

Mike Awesome (w/ Team Canada) vs "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan

Pre-Match: Awesome is now being called the "Canadian Killer." Lance, as always, wants to be serious for a minute. He told Duggan to walk away, but like a typical American he acted without thinking instead. He says Duggan sealed his fate when he attacked Elix, and tonight he faces Awesome. He says Awesome is bigger, stronger and a hell of a lot younger than Duggan, and now it's too late to walk away. Awesome gets the mic and says they're a country, Team Canada, and Duggan is nothing but a weak old man. He says he's called the Canadian Career Killer for a reason, and Duggan's gonna find out why. Awesome calls for everyone to stand for the anthem, which is of course interrupted.

They call for the bell mid-entrance for Duggan for some reason. Exchange of blows, Duggan takes control with rights and lefts, Awesome sent off the ropes into a clothesline, sends him to the floor to regroup. Elix baits Duggan into a tug of war with his 2x4 allowing Awesome to attack from behind, Duggan sent off the ropes into a clothesline, then chokes him over the middle rope. Storm continues the choke behind the ref's back. More exchange of blows until Awesome clubs him over the back. Awesome face first in the corner until he delivers a low blow, followed by a DDT for two.

Awesome calls for the Awesome Bomb but Duggan counters with a back drop, then a running clothesline in the corner. Storm and Elix knocked off the apron, then nearly knocks Guns off the apron, allows Awesome to attack from behind. Awesome up top hits the frog splash for the win. (3:43)

Team Canada attack until Filthy Animals run out for the save. Konnan gets the mic, and their bus shows on the big screen having been graffitied.

Commercial

Replay of what just happened.

Okerlund is outside with Team Canada outside the bus. Awesome says he spent all day painting the bus and he's pissed it's been messed up. Okerlund says they should call the cops, but Storm says they don't let others fight their battles, and they want the Animals at Sin.

Cut segment

- Mystery Man's gear is shown backstage

Buff Bagwell vs Sarge Dewayne Bruce

Bruce wastes time posing so Sarge clotheslines him, then mounts with rights. Back suplex by Sarge, then some yelling at Buff to get him up. Butterfly suplex by Sarge gets two and Buff retreats to the floor. Sarge goes right after him and sends him ribs first into the guard rail, before returning to the ring. Buff with a double sledge to the back, followed by stomps and choking Sarge against the mat. Buff sent off the ropes, blocks a hip toss and hits a spinning neckbreaker for two.

More choking by Buff, then Sarge face first in the corner. Sarge sent off the ropes into a back elbow, then Buff struts and flips off the fans, before covering for two. Rear chinlock by Buff. Sarge fights out but gets his eyes raked, then Buff with a scoop slam. Sarge gets the knees up on a splash attempt, then some rights as he starts fighting back, gets Buff with a hip toss, scoop slam and a dropkick. Mounted rights in the corner by Sarge but he's caught with an inverted atomic drop.

Buff with a double-arm DDT, before calling Luger down, with chair in hand. Goldberg is seen leaving his locker room to save but he's ambushed by Kronik and a lead pipe. Goldberg is thrown into an equipment case loaded onto a forklift and they drive it out of the arena. Buff back in the ring takes the chair and the ref calls for the DQ before he uses it. (5:06) A decent enough match before the finish.

Chair to the head of Sarge, while Luger tosses the ref to the floor. Luger wedges Sarge's wrist in the chair and take turns stomping on it. Referees come out to save as Buff continues to attack with the chair. 

Commercial

Sarge is getting checked by EMTs backstage. 

Jarrett comes out for the main event gets a mic. He knows the Mystery Man is listening in the back. He says one of two scenarios happens: either he proves he's the chosen one and has all the stroke, defeats Sid, and marches into the PPV at Sin; or a miracle takes place, the Chosen One slips on a banana peel, Sid gets a quick three count, beats him and marches into Sin. He says it's the Mystery Man's call, then calls Sid's jacked up box of slapnuts out. 

There's a limo waiting outside and the Thrillers are about to enter, but the Insiders popout to lay them out.

Commercial

Jeff Jarrett vs Sid Vicious 

Jarrett's World Title shot at Sin is on the line.

Jarrett immediately decides he wants nothing to do with this but Sid goes right after him, sending Jarrett back down the ramp to ringside and into the guard rail. Jarrett dropped onto the guard rail before taking it to the ring. Jarrett pounces with vicious boots to the chest, then chokes him over the middle rope, before launching off the ropes with a leg across the back and neck. Rights by Jarrett before sending Sid off the ropes into a dropkick for two. Jarrett up top with a crossbody for two.

Sid sent off the ropes into a sleeper as Jarrett mounts his back and brings Sid to his knees. Sid is fading and the ref drops the arm twice, Sid coming back to life on the third try. Sid fights his way out, then sends Jarrett off the ropes into a clothesline. Jarrett sent off the ropes again into a big boot. Sid signals for the chokeslam but Jarrett thumbs the eye. Jarrett comes off the ropes but he's caught. Sid tries for a powerbomb, but the Mystery Man runs out to attack Sid for the DQ. (4:03)

Jarrett is cheering him on, despite the fact that he just lost the match. Jarrett gets a chair and nails Sid in the ribs, while the Mystery Man delivers stomps, Jarrett tossing the ref out to the floor. Mystery Man suplexes Sid and unmasks, and it turns out it's Steiner under there, obviously not the real Mystery Man. While all this is going on, commentary are wondering who's advancing to Sin, even though Jarrett clearly should be DQ'd.