This Week In The WCW
This Week In The WCW
WCW Monday Night Nitro - Monday, 04/07/97
- In a dark match, Toshie Vematsu became the first ever WCW Women's Cruiserweight Champion. Given the fact that this was a dark match, and the announcers went the entire Nitro without even mentioning it, methinks the belt is not going to be very prestigious. My money is on that it is part of a deal with the New Japan promotion that Bischoff cut on his recent visit to Japan, and the belt will probably reside there. The same thing happened with the WWF men's light heavyweight title in the late '80s. It was only defended over in Japan and never mentioned in the States. Eventually, the WWF just wrote it off and it's become one of the eight "J-Crown" belts.
- Replay of last night's Spring Stampede ending. I just noticed Vincent had a can of spray paint he never got to use. Almost makes
you think this stuff isn't planned ahead of time. ;-)
- "The Laughing Man" Hugh Morrus and Konan def. "Das Blunderpinned" Alex Wright and Psychosis when Morrus pinned Wright after a "No Laughing Matter".
- You know, it's unfortunate Psychosis has been made a jobber boy. He can really work.
- Schiavone announced tonight's main event will be Scott Steiner against the Giant. Yeah, right, that will end in a pinfall.
- Film clip of DDP entering the arena earlier in the evening. Black eye, bandaged up, and saying "It's not over between me and Savage".
- Bad positioning at the end of the match. Psychosis was standing outside the ring as Morrus was setting up for the finish. He just stood there and watched instead of attempting to make the save. He should have at least acted hurt.
- After the pinfall, Psychosis more or less jumped into Konan's arms so Konan could give him a 187 and get a three count of his own. It was pretty lame.
- Ray Misterio, Jr. def. "Lord" Steven Regal via DQ when Regal refused to break a Regal Stretch even though Misterio had reached the ropes.
- Man, Regal can draw heat as easily as Debra McMichael.
- Cut to the back and Hogan, Bischoff, DiBiase and Vincent have arrived. Hogan says he is drawing the line tonight. He says anyone who doesn't want to tow it can swim with the fishes. Shoot, even I'm not scared of him.
- Regal really has to start laying off the the fish and chips and the pints of ale.
- Iaukea came in to make the save on Misterio after the match and get put in the Regal Stretch for his trouble. Iaukea's in trouble given he has to defend the TV title in the second hour.
- Another limo arrives containing the rest of the nWo (except Scott Hall). Savage is on crutches with his leg in a cast.
- "Crippler" Chris Benoit pinned Ice Train following a DDT after Ice Train and Teddy Long had an unanticipated skull session.
- Before the match, the crowd was already chanting "We want Sting!" I think WCW shills in the crowd are starting these chants.
- Cut to the back. The nWo is having problems. Savage and Bischoff are not getting along and Hogan and Nash are not getting along.
- I may be reading too much into this, but I'm guessing Benoit's winning this match with a DDT was a salute to Arn Anderson who is going in for neck surgery tomorrow. If so, that's pretty cool.
- Kevin Sullivan (& Jacqueline) pinned Hector Guerrero following the Tree of Woe and a Reverse Heimlich.
- Hector came to a dead stop on his way to the ring and turned around to shake a little boy's hand.
- Nice ponytail, Kevin. Makes you look ten years younger. You'd be better off fifty pounds lighter.
- When Jacqueline was beating up Hector, her jock...whoops, I mean her panties, were sticking out in the back.
- nWo time! No Nick Patrick tonight as well as no Scott Hall. They're all in the ring and DiBisase says there going to settle everything here and now. Hogan says the word's out that Nash has a problem with Hogan being in Chicago last week. Hogan wants to get it out in the open now! Nash has no problem with Rodman, but he DOES have a problem with the fact that he and Syxx sat in a hotel room on Easter Sunday. Hogan sarcastically promises that Nash can go on the nWo Easter Hunt next year. Hogan wants to know where Hall is. Nash says Scott Hall is nWo for life. Hogan says that "the way you (Nash) are looking at me, we've got to do this thing right now" and Hogan started to take off his jewelry. Nash said he gave his word then and it's still good now, nWo for life. They all gave the high sign. However, Macho still has a problem with Bischoff. Hogan tells Macho that if he and Nash can bury the hatchet, Bischoff and Macho should stop acting like a couple of goofs. Macho says he and Bischoff are on probation with one another. Supposedly, everything is all right in nWo land once again.
- Okerlund introduced Ric Flair as 13-time WCW Heavyweight Champion of the World. Okerlund, you jerk!! Only a couple of his world championships were WCW. Anyway, Flair came to the ring. Whoops, Flair referred to Wallstreet as Rotundo when talking about the nWo. Flair introduced Piper and Piper came out. Crowd chanting "Rowdy, Rowdy, Rowdy!" Flair said Kevin Greene is going to wrestle alongside them and Kevin Greene suddently appears. Greene says he's going to watch their backs and the three start dancing around like The Three Stooges.
- You know, this is amazing. The angle of Kevin Greene hating Ric Flair and the Horsemen is just being completely forgotten as if it never existed. That's lame.
- "The Man of 1,000 Holds" Dean Malenko pinned "Lionheart" Chris Jericho after a kick in the nose to retain the WCW U.S. Heavyweight Title.
- It was an interesting finish. Jericho was grabbing his face as if he was legitimately hurt. The referee waved Malenko off because Jericho was hurt. Malenko leaned down to see if Jericho was okay. I was duped and thought it was real. Then Malenko kicked Jericho in the face and pinned him and walked out. Then I was convinced it was all a work until I got an e-mail from someone the following day who was at the arena who said it was a legitimate injury and Jericho was, in fact and unfortunately, bleeding all over the place. Tough break for Jericho but it does show what incredible professionals these guys are. Great work by Malenko giving a believable finish and great work by Jericho covering up the blood from the TV audience.
- In the second biggest upset thus far this year, High Voltage cleanly defeated Public Enemy when Rage pinned Rocco Rock after a belly-to-belly suplex.
- Crowd started chanting "Table, table!" Ask you shall receive.
- Immediately preceding the pinfall, Grunge attempted to table Kaos from the top turnbuckle on the arena floor. Kaos rolled out and Grunge took the table shot. Rocco was looking on in disbelief when Rage grabbed him and suplexed him for the win.
- After the match, Okerlund interviewed Public Enemy and they challenged High Voltage to a Philadelphia Street Fight next Monday live in their hometown. They said they are going to get "Extreme!!" Look's like someone's going to be wearing a toilet
seat.
- Harlem Heat def. Jeff Jarrett and Steve "Mongo" McMichael when Booker T. pinned Jeff Jarrett after a Harlem Side Kick.
- Oh, my! Two little girls in the crowd dressed up like Debra! Those kids should be put into foster care.
- Jarrett initially came to the ring with Debra and without Mongo. He wrestled 95% of the match alone.
- Harlem Heat had Jarrett beat early in the match and kept pulling him up.
- Heenan: "They pound on this Horseman any longer, he's going to the glue factory!"
- Mongo showed up late after Jarrett had taken a thorough beating and slowly made his way to the ring. Jarrett tagged Mongo in. Mongo cleaned house and then tagged an exhausted Jarrett in. Mongo then pushed Jarrett right into the Harlem Side Kick.
- In a confusing post-match confrontation between Jarrett and Mongo, nothing was resolved. Nothing that I could figure out, anyway. They must have watched the film of Piper and Flair last week for inspiration.
- In an quick match, Ultimate Dragon pinned Prince Iaukea following a couple of kicks to became the new WCW World Television Champion.
- Iaukea came to the ring with taped ribs due to the earlier beating from Regal.
- Iaukea got a few good moves in, but could not effectively fight due to the earlier injury. Even without the injury, he wouldn't have standed a chance against Ultimate Dragon. It was over before it began.
- Gee, what a surprise. The match between Giant and Scott Steiner never happened. Giant was already in the ring and as Scott Steiner was coming to the ring, Konan and Hugh Morrus jumped Scott. Giant no-sold a couple chair shots from Morrus and chased Konan and Morrus back to the dressing room. Scott and Giant then shook hands and went back to the dressing room together.
- Giant's trunks rode up during the battle and his butt cheeks were sticking out. Yuck!
- As Scott and Giant went back, the crowd starting booing really loud. The WCW sound engineers quickly drowned it out but not before everyone at home heard it load and clear.
- "Diamond" Dallas Page came out unannounced and ripped off his bandages and called Savage out. Savage came out on his crutches and Hogan stopped him and said he'd handle it as the rest of the nWo stood in the entranceway. Sting suddenly descended from the ceiling and pulled out two bats and tossed one to Page. The two of them stood in the ring and show ended with the nWo wondering what to do.
- Enough of this angle. Do something, Sting!!!
WCW Spring Stampede '96 - Sunday,
04/06/97
- Hall is a no-show. The WCW Championship Committee was said Nash may not substitute and must defend alone. The announcers say Kevin Nash has some demands which we will found out later.
- Ray Misterio, Jr. pinned Ultimate Dragon with a head scissors into a hurricarana.
- The Ultimate Dragon showed up without Sonny Ono.
- The announcers said Ric Flair will have a shocking statement later.
- After a running Liger Bomb and Tombstone Piledriver, Dragon could have pinned Misterio halfway through the match, but Dragon pulled him up.
- Cut to the back for interview with Nash, and Syxx slams the door in Lee Marshall's face. Hmm, I bet Lee wishes he was at a Nitro party instead.
- Bobby said high risk moves can "turn around and bite you in the mask".
- Another try at the interview. Nash says he wants Nick Patrick as a referee. Scott Steiner runs in and tries to get to Nash. Nash spits on Steiner. As the officials try to hold him back, Scott nails one of the officials. Doug Dillinger then maces Scott Steiner and they handcuff him. Scott Hall's absence is making this angle get lamer and lamer. You know, I paid $30 for this, and the main event is bad enough as it is. I didn't pay $30 for a Nick Patrick screw job.
- Akira Hokuto pinned Madusa to retain the WCW World Women's Heavyweight Championship after Luna Vachon came in and clipped Madusa's leg as Madusa was attempting to powerbomb Hokuto and Hokuto fell on top of her.
- Madusa very nearly pinned Hokuto earlier and the bell actually rang since it looked like the referee had counted to three. I'm curious if these mistaken bell rings are a work or the guy who rings the bell doesn't know how the match is supposed to end.
- Prince Iaukea pinned "Lord" Steven Regal with a hurricarana to retain the WCW World Television Championship.
- A VERY healthy "Regal sucks!" chant from the crowd. He kept going out to taunt them. He really knows how to work the crowd.
- Announcers said that Scott Steiner had been arrested for hitting a police officer. Rick Steiner will now face Kevin Nash one-on-one for the tag team titles with Nick Patrick as the referee. Gee, I wonder how this is going to end. Man, I really wish I had that $30 back now.
- After the match, Regal clocked Iaukea with the belt and put him in the Regal Stretch. A very costly victory, indeed.
- Mean Gene advertising his stupid hotline. That's offensive during a pay-per-view.
- Okerlund interviewed Flair who said he has the doctor's release and will be back May 1st. He also said Kevin Greene got his release to wrestle from the Panthers and would be wrestling with the Horsemen on May 18th and they were going to take on the nWo (Flair said they are going to bleed).
- Umm, doesn't Kevin Greene have a grudge against the Horsemen? Must be my imagination.
- Public Enemy def. Steve "Mongo" McMichael and Jeff Jarrett when Grunge pinned Jarrett after Rocco Rock nailed Jarrett with the Haliburton.
- Terrible workrate for the first half of this match.
- Debra was talking trash to Rocco Rock and you could clearly hear him say, "Oh, you bitch!" twice.
- Grunge tried to table Jarrett but Jarrett moved and Grunge took the table shot.
- Jeff Jarrett does have a great dropkick.
- Another live ad for Mean Gene's crappy hotline. He claims that another 'clique' besides the nWo is forming in WCW.
- Okerlund then interviewed Harlem Heat and Sister Sherri. Stevie Ray had a great quote: "You think we come here for Romper Room, sucker? When we go to school, the principal checks out!"
- "The Man of 1,000 Holds" Dean Malenko def. "Crippler" Chris Benoit via DQ to retain the WCW U.S. Heavyweight Championship.
- During the match, Benoit gave Malenko two reverse knife edges they must have heard in Alabama!
- Benoit got out of a short-arm scissor on the mat by rolling over and standing with Malenko sitting on ONE of his arms.
- Complete chaos broke loose at the end. Jacqueline came out and started beating the HELL out of Woman. Jimmy Hart came out to steal the belt. As he went back down the aisle, Eddie Guerrero, with his arm in a sling, confronted him. Meanwhile, Arn Anderson goes to ringside and clocks Malenko. Then Sullivan comes in with a kendo stick and tells Anderson to step aside. Sullivan goes in and clocks Benoit with the stick. Then Sullivan, Jacqueline, and Hart dragged Guerrero, who had the U.S. belt across his shoulder, seemingly against his will back to the locker room.
- After everything calmed down, both Malenko and Benoit said to each other, "He was not supposed to be here". It was not resolved who "he" was.
- Kevin Nash pinned Rick Steiner after pulverizing him to retain the WCW World Tag Team Championship.
- Patrick screwed up a number of three counts in Nash's favor during the match.
- Syxx and DiBiase removed a turnbuckle cover in full view of Nick Patrick and Nash gave Steiner two "Snake Eyes" on the exposed metal joint.
- After the two Snake Eyes, DiBiase said to Nash "That's enough!" and Nash said "I'll say when it's enough!". Nash gave Steiner another one on the exposed joint and DiBiase walked out.
- Nash gave Steiner a fourth Snake Eyes on the exposed turnbuckle and then a jackknife. Patrick refused to make the count and Nash forced him to do it. Nick Patrick then stormed out on Nash leaving Nash and Syxx in the ring.
- "The Total Package" Lex Luger racked Stevie Ray to win the Four Corners match and get a shot at Hollywood Hogan. Immediately beforehand, the Giant had Stevie Ray set up for the chokeslam, but then Giant tagged Luger in so Luger could get the win.
- The Giant recently got married. Either he can't get the ring off or he's not allowed to by Mrs. Giant as he was wearing it during the match but had it all taped up.
- As the match started, Booker T. had this to say to someone in the crowd: "Shut your stinkin' mouth!"
- Booker T. got angry with Stevie Ray early in the match for not handling the Giant effectively. Stevie Ray then tagged Luger in to face the Giant.
- Luger then tried to slam Giant unsuccessfully and they tagged both members the Heat in. They wrestled for about thirty seconds and Booker T. tagged Luger in.
- For the rest of the match, it was always one of the Heat facing either Giant or Luger. The big draw of this match never really happened.
- "Diamond" Dallas Page pinned Randy "Macho Man" Savage following a diamond cutter.
- Michael Buffer did the introductions for this match. Man, I want Michael Buffer's job.
- You know, even to us smart marks, Kimberly has been playing up the spray painting as if it was a shoot rather than a work. I will admit she is doing a great job of making it seem real. She seems genuinely angry.
- Into the stands they went early on. Page got two serious head shots in on Macho Man with a metal garbage can. Then a choke with a microphone cord. Savage then later used Kimberly as a shield and a battering ram. When Macho then dropped Page across the metal barrier, one fan encouraged Page with "Snap into his ass! C'mon!"
- Savage gave Page a couple chair shots. To get one of the chairs, he had to slap ring announcer David Pinzer and then he kicked him in the head.
- Savage grabbed the ring bell. (He must think he's fighting Ricky Steamboat.) Kimberly grabbed it away before Savage could use
it.
- Page attempted a Diamond Cutter and Savage reversed it to a backlside and a back kick to the crotch.
- Then, Savage slapped referee Mark Curtis, punched him, and piledrived him (it is a no DQ match). He then threw the
referee out of the ring. He hit the elbowsmash but no referee was there to count it. Nick Patrick ran to the ring. Hmm, can anybody see what's coming?
- Page then out of nowhere hit Savage with a diamond cutter and Patrick counted the pinfall! Nash came in and grabbed Patrick and the nWo
(sans Hogan) came to the ring. After checking to make sure Macho was okay, Nash jackknifed Patrick.
- Savage then grabbed Kimberly and went to hit her. Bischoff tried to stop Savage and Savage slapped Bischoff down. Chaos began to ensue and the pay-per-view ended.
WCW {Pro} Wrestling - Sunday, 04/06/97
- Steve "Mongo" McMichael pinned "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton following a side salto suplex.
- High Voltage def. The Southern Posse when Rage pinned the hairy one after a Voltmeter.
- Chris Cruise was talking about this week's Enquirer article about how hot Jennifer Aniston (star of TV's Friends) is for Ray Misterio, Jr. Chris said Ray showed Jennifer his face. Lucky her!
- They the Kevin Nash monologue from the end of Nitro. This time, they bleeped when he said "I'm pissed off!"
- "Taskmaster" Kevin Sullivan (and Jacqueline) pinned Chavo Guerrero, Jr. after the Tree of Woe and a Reverse Heimlich.
- "Das Wunderkid" Alex Wright pinned Doc Dean with a German Suplex and a bridge.
- "Crippler" Chris Benoit pinned Jim "Juice" Powers after a flying headbutt.
- Jim Powers did the always-popular nine heads to the turnbuckle and then running Benoit across the ring to the opposite turnbuckle for the tenth.
WCW Saturday Night - Saturday, 04/05/97
WCW Saturday Night was only an hour long due to a baseball game
- Ray Misterio, Jr. pinned Chavo Guerrero, Jr. with a Hurricarana from the top turnbuckle.
- After the match, Ray looked into the camera and said "I love what I do for a living!"
- Hard to believe that just eight months ago, Chavo Guerrero, Jr. scored a clean pinfall victory over "Diamond" Dallas Page.
- In discussing tomorrow's tag team title match, the announcers were saying Kevin Nash may fight alone.
- "Diamond" Dallas Page pinned Scott Armstrong following a diamond cutter delivered from a reverse airplane spin.
- Arn Anderson had a segment. He said it was definitely not Sullivan who attacked him, but there was a woman involved. The segment was taped before his neck surgery, which was Wednesday.
- Booker T. pinned Rick Fuller following a Harlem Hangover.
- Prince Iaukea pinned "Squire" Dave Taylor with a flying cross body block from the top turnbuckle in a non-title match.
- Public Enemy def. La Parka and Villano IV when Rocco Rock pinned La Parka following a drive-by.
- For good measure, Grunge tabled Villano IV after the match.
- "The Total Package" Lex Luger racked T. Rantula in less than a minute.