This Week In The WCW
This Week In The WCW
I have a bunch of stuff to mention this week not directly related to the
reports.
- As for next week, I will be on vacation. I am currently lining up
guest reporters. However, no matter how I line it up, the 7/13 Sunday
{Pro}, 7/13 Bash at the Beach, and 7/14 Nitro results will not be posted
until the following Sunday. Sorry.
- After that bad news, for those of you in Northern Virginia, I have
some great news! WCW will be having a house show at the Patriot
Center at George Mason University on Friday, 9/26. That's right, no
driving to Baltimore, no driving to Landover, no Metro rides to the D.C.
Armory. Anyway, tickets are not on sale yet and Ticketmaster couldn't tell me
when they would be. I found the information on the official WCW home page. While in the area, WCW will have a house
show in Baltimore, MD the following evening, Saturday, 9/27. And, rest assured,
I will be doing a house show report on the 9/26 show. Bell time for both is 7:30 p.m.
- Please note that there will be no Nitro on Monday, 7/21. That one
week only it will be on Tuesday, 7/22.
- Also, I had someone volunteer to start sending me WCW Worldwide
Results. So, don't be surprised if those start appearing.
- For those of you who might want to tune in, a reader let me know
that Lex Luger will be on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee this Monday.
Check local listings. If anybody sees it, let me know what happens.
Maybe Lex Luger will be Kathie Lee's pick for her revenge on Frank! :-)
- As far as this Super Calo breaking the kid's arm thing, the guy who
sent me the original report sent me this update: "Hey, I just wanted to
give you a little more info on the crowd dive. I guess Bischoff was
yelling at Konnan and I quote from the paper "You have to tell your man
that we CANNOT have him going into the crowd". Then Konnan translated to
Spanish for Super Calo who seemed confused and upset. Bischoff the
walked away disgusted". However, I got e-mails from at least two people
who were there (one who was two seats away) who said the kid was fine.
One said: "Myself and three friends were there and watched Calo do his
dive. Doug D. and security checked everyone over and eventually left w/o
the boy (they obviously obtained his name, etc.). If anyone was hurt it
was reported some other day. The kid looked pleased as hell to meet a
wrestler. Nothing in Chicago papers or media spoke of the mishap. The
adults around him were cheering for the kid." I'm not getting in the
middle of this...just wanted to give both stories.
- Ever wonder how Sting knows when to drop from the ceiling? Spectre sends in this tidbit:
"Just thought I would give you some input on how Sting knows it's time
to drop from the ceiling. Recently I have noticed that there has been a
guy that points to the sky and circles his finger around (kinda like to
"one more time" motion) like a tornado. This has happened on at least
five occasions in the past and counting the one that happened on this
Monday Nitro that would be six.".
- For those of you harassing me about the ending of the top ten lists,
another page has picked them up. If you've got one you've been dying to
submit, check out Ben's
Wrestling Page.
WCW Monday Night Nitro - Monday, 07/07/97
- You know, Robin Hood still sucks. I don't get it. I guess they are expecting to get "crossover" fans from pro wrestling. Well, I can't imagine a pro wrestling fan digging Robin Hood. And, even if you're a Middle Ages buff, I can't imagine you'd like it since it isn't historically accurate. Oh, well, it's still better than Thunder In Paradise.
- Note that I am on vacation starting Sunday the 13th through Monday the 21st. I have lined up guest reporters to cover Bash at the Bash, Nitro, and WCWSN during that time. However, their reports will not be posted until Monday the 21st. Also, remember that there is no Nitro on Monday the 21st. For that one week only, it is on Tuesday the 22nd.
- Show opens with replays of last week's ending. We get to see Curt Hennig coming out and doing...nothing. And we get to see Raven doing...nothing. And, of course, Sting doing...nothing.
- Nice jacket, Mean Gene...just fall out of the driver's seat of a Good Humor truck? Gene introduces Curt Hennig to a mixture of cheers and boos. Curt starts off by insulting the fans and saying how great he is. Gee, I guess Curt's coming in as a heel. Curt wouldn't confirm anything except that he will be involved at Bash at the Beach in some capacity. Ric Flair and a lovely lady rush out to welcome Curt Hennig to the Horsemen. Ric starts throwing fits and Hennig can't help but break character and start laughing. Curt reaffirms he is a free agent as the lovely lady drags him off.
- In a minor upset, Public Enemy def. Harlem Heat when Johnny Grunge pinned Stevie Ray after Sherri shoved Rocco Rock off the top turnbuckle into Stevie Ray.
- There is some guy in the crowd wearing a huge troll head. Wow!
- When I finally get to attend a live Nitro, wait until you see what I'm wearing. And, trust me, I will get on TV with it.
- I don't like Johnny Grunge's new haircut.
- Booker T. looks really different tonight. Looks like he's taken off some weight.
- There's a rainbow head in the crowd.
- Many of you are too young to remember the original Rainbow Head. You'd always see him at pro football games and he tried to parlay his marginal fame into a way to bring his brand of religion to the world. Eventually, we completely wigged out (pun intended) and wound up holding his wife or girlfriend hostage at gunpoint or knifepoint in a standoff with police.
- The crowd's really behind Harlem Heat tonight.
- The finish was set up by Booker T. being distracted because Sherri sent him to chase off Vincent, who came down to interfere.
- Scheme Gene starts off the post-match interview with his usual display of talent, calling Vincent "Virgil" before correcting himself.
- Booker T. said if you can't do it right, you're off the team. Sherri, in the immortal words of Blotto, said "You can't fire me, I quit." And she storms off.
- This angle seems rushed. They didn't really have any buildup to it.
- Video montage of "Crippler" Chris Benoit leading up to the career match with Sullivan at Bash at the Beach.
- Konnan made "Desperado" Joe Gomez submit to the Tequila Sunrise.
- Hmm, the scandal sheets may be in error. They were saying that "Desperado" Joe Gomez, along with Craig Pittman, Billy Kidman, M. Wallstreet, and the Nasty Boys were given a pink slip by WCW. If true, it's definitely a shame in Kidman's case. Wallstreet's also. Mike Rotunda is a great wrestler and I think he hasn't been used correctly by WCW for the last few years.
- By the way, according to an e-mail I got, the angle with Misterio and the broken leg is that he is overdue for knee surgery and he needs to take time to get it done. Plus, his wife just had a baby and it will be an opportunity for him to spend time at home with the baby. Supposedly, the big joke in WCW is the Rey Misterio's newborn was bigger than Kevin Nash's newborn.
- Raven's in the front row again. It kills me when wrestlers "buy a ticket" and show up. The front row seats at any wrestling event are always given out by the promoter.
- Man, I'd give anything to be in one of those Slim Jim commercials where Randy Savage kicks my ass. That would rule.
- Juventud Guerrera and Hector Garza def. Villano IV & V when Guerrera pinned one of the Villanos with a double gainer splash off the top turnbuckle.
- Pretty soon, the Villanos will outnumber the Friday the 13th movies.
- Juventud took a bad spill over the top onto the arena floor. Jeez, I thought I was watching Ciclope.
- Another suicide dive over the top onto the arena floor by Juventud.
- Garza took a bad bump on his corkscrew splash near the end of the match. After the fall, the Villano who was supposed break his fall grabbed him as if he was checking to see if Garza was okay. Garza never did got back into the match, but he seemed okay afterwards.
- These guys came ready to work tonight and really earned their money. This was a great match.
- Scott Hall, Macho Man, and Miss Liz came to the booth. Zbyszko refused to leave. Hall and Savage went on about how lightly they are taking that "mid-card cabron" (Scott Hall being Razor Ramon just for a moment there...that means goat). Hall and Zbyszko almost got into it at the end of the spot but Savage held Hall back.
- I'm going to go out on a limb here. I usually don't make public predictions since my private ones are usually wrong. However, since it's been publicly theorized by the crack WCW announcing team that mystery partner might be Sting, Raven, or Hennig, I think it will be none of those. Who will it be? It's a man who was in the AWA at the same time with Scott Hall and "Diamond" Dallas Page. Nope, not Curt Hennig. It will be Larry Zbyszko.
- At home interviews with Giant and Lex Luger. Both of them real laid back talking about Hogan and Rodman. Interviews like that are a nice change of pace from the usual interview fare.
- Scott "Flash" Norton and Buff Bagwell (Vicious and Delicious) def. Eddie and Jobber Guerrero, Jr. when Buff Bagwell pinned Jobber, Jr. after a Buff Blockbuster delivered while Jobber, Jr. was in a Scott Norton bearhug.
- Eddie and Jobber, Jr. did have nice matching outfits tonight.
- A limo is outside. Someone possibly making an unannounced appearance tonight.
- My girlfriend asked a good question...is that Booker T.'s real mom in the 1-800-COLLECT commercial? It would be really cool if it was.
- In the pre-match commercial, they play Dennis Rodman saying "Lex". They don't show the entire thing with Rodman calling him "Lex Luthor" due to the fact he doesn't even know Luger's name. I've never wanted a match to turn into a shoot so much in my life.
- Wow! Norton suplexed both Guerreros at once! That's only the second time I've ever seen that. The Giant did that to The Power Company a few weeks ago.
- Eddie turned from heel to cowardly heel during the match. He abondoned Jobber, Jr. in the ring and said "It's time to grow up" as he was leaving.
- After Eddie left, Jobber, Jr. made a valiant effort, but he took a tremendous beating.
- Boy, we couldn't see this one coming, could we?
- "Diamond" Dallas Page (dressed as La Parka) pinned Randy "Macho Man" Savage following a Diamond Cutter after Page put his feet up as Savage attempted a flying elbowsmash.
- Oh, no, Glacier's wrestling later.
- Bobby "The Brain" Heenan came out to take his rightful place in the booth but Larry Zbyszko wouldn't leave since he wanted to watch Macho Man wrestle. Hmmm...
- Elizabeth's lookin' mighty fine tonight. Hard to believe she's been in the business well over ten years.
- Savage ripped up someone's Sting poster on the way to the ring. That wasn't very nice. I would assume WCW replaces things like that for the fans when that happens.
- The announcers are saying that if Hogan and Rodman win at Bash at the Beach, it would be the ultimate slap in the face of WCW. How many "ultimate" slaps is WCW going to get in the face? There's been at least two, already...War Games and Uncensored. Say, when is the nWo going to start exercising the right to challenge for any title at any time?
- Before the match, they replayed the chronology of La Parka's feud with Super Calo. I, for one, had no clue that it was DDP in the La Parka outfit until the DiamondCutter was delivered. At that point I knew, and DDP pulled the mask off and then got the three count. Very well done, he even came out to La Parka's music.
- After the pin, Hall was celebrating, assuming Savage had won. Hall had been distracted by going to antagonize Zbyszko, who was still in the announcers' booth.
- Okay, now does anybody want to take issue with me who DDP's mystery partner at Bash at the Beach will be? (Note, I made the earlier prediction about Zbyszko being the mystery partner before this match happened. You'll have to trust me on that.)
- That was a killer ending. I totally marked out.
- DDP then made his exit through the crowd in the stands.
- I guess DDP was supposed to be the person who arrived in the limo.
- Glacier and Ernest Miller def. Psychosis and Silver King via DQ when the loathsome trio of Wrath, Mortis, and Vandenburg interfered.
- Having Glacier come out after the previous match is like getting sour ice cream after a great meal.
- Cut to the back and Eddie and Jobber Guerrero, Jr. are duking it out. Schiavone says they are going to send someone back there. You mean besides the cameraman?
- In a pair of really weird spots after then match, as Glacier and Wrath were duking it out on the floor over on one side, and Miller and Mortis were duking it out on the other, Psychosis did a flying dive onto Miller and Mortis and Silver King did a flying dive onto Glacier and Wrath. I guess Psychosis and Silver King didn't want to be left out.
- Scheme Gene interviews Flair and his lovely lady. Flair's got another Piper mannequin. (What was Okerlund thinking last week asking someone that dumb to ad-lib?) Flair said Piper was a punk, a second rate movie star, and a stiff. You'd think Flair would realize that Piper was standing behind him when the crowd started screaming. Flair sees Piper and runs to the ring. Flair in a suit and Piper in his kilt start mixing it up. Flair gets his pants ripped down to reveal his satin green boxers. Piper gets Flair in a sleeper and Benoit and Mongo rush the ring. Piper holds his own for a while but eventually gets overwhelmed. The crowd goes nuts when Benoit connects with a flying headbutt from the top turnbuckle on Piper. (Benoit is, finally and deservedly so, very over.) We cut to commercial in the middle of the beating and, as the camera is panning back, Schiavone goes, "Who's that in the ring?!" Bleached hair, gotta' be Jarrett or Buddy Landel. Couldn't have been "Playboy" Buddy Rose...the ring would have collapsed. ("Not 371 pounds, 317 pounds!")
- Mike Tenay tries to interview Raven to no avail. Raven's "best friend in the whole, wide world" Stevie Richards jumps in and offers to interview Raven. Richards insults the fans and then asks Raven if he's signed with WCW. Raven smacks Richards down and storms off.
- During Richards' attempted interview, you could hear a couple people yelling "ECW!" loud and clear.
- Steve let me know that after Stevie insulted the fans, you could clearly hear a fan say "F$@# you!" three or four times when the show was seen live. They must have taken it out of the replay.
- The (Ein)Steiner Brothers def. "Crippler" Chris Benoit and Steve "Mongo" McMichael when Rick Steiner pinned Benoit after Kevin Sullivan chaired Benoit.
- Cut to the back and Macho Man's laying waste to Nick Patrick. Patrick's selling a broken arm or shoulder.
- When Sullivan came out, he pushed Jacqueline to the ground as he went for the chair.
- Jeff Jarrett (who was the guy who came out earlier during the Piper mudhole stomp (I could tell by the shirt)), got involved in the fray outside the ring. Ostensibly, he may have been helping the Horsemen, but it may just have been a distraction to allow Sullivan to do the dastardly deed.
- After Sullivan chaired Benoit, he went to stab him with a piece of it in a big way. Benoit was flat on his back and Sullivan was going to bring it straight down with two hands. Rick Stiener stopped him. Then, Rick, always the professional, promptly pinned Benoit.
- On the way back to the locker room, as Sullivan was walking backwards, he accidentally knocked Jacqueline down.
- After I initially posted this report, Tiger Fan wrote me to theorize that none of the bumps with Jacqueline were accidental. He says she is going to manage Harlem Heat.
- Hogan and Bischoff came to the ring so they could get pelted by garbage and sodas and beer. They were soaking wet by the time Hogan was done with his interview.
- Hogan started trash talking about Luger, and Luger and Giant came to the ring.
- Bischoff tried to Pearl Harbor the Giant and Luger racked Bischoff and Hogan bailed out.
- Vincent and Buff Bagwell were the unlucky recipients of chokeslams from the Giant when they attempted to interfere and the Giant no-sold Pearl Harbor attempts from both of them.
- Luger eventually dropped Bischoff and the Giant rolled Bischoff out of the ring.
- The nWo slinked away as the show ended.
- That, my friends, was the best Nitro in a long time. The DDP as La Parka thing alone made it worth watching.
- Scott B. from St. Louis dropped me a line to note that someone on Raw had a sign that said "We miss you, Arn".
- Ben
"BEEF! Beef AND Spice!" J. dropped me a line: "Next Monday (7/14) on USA after Raw is War, WWF is going to air 'WWF: The Way We Were'." This has footage from past WWF matches... including
Diesel/Razor Ramon (Nash/Hall), Luger, Hogan... and other crossovers from one fed to another... may be worthwhile to check out... at least better than Robin."
WCW {Pro} Wrestling - Sunday, 07/06/97
- I, too, have a bunch of stuff to mention this week not directly related to the reports.
- Sometimes you may ask yourself why you tune into the {Pro} report...a review of a less-than-spectacular show. Well, folks, there is a tidbit at the bottom of this week's report to spice things up a bit.
- When Gene-O says "Attention, Hotline fans," that makes me laugh...for reasons you should be able to figure out...and if not, email me and I'll inform ya'.
- Another note: I'm kinda disheartened that Roadblock didn't make it
as a wrestler...it was a decent gimmick and he was entertaining for a
jobber working up to mid-card status. Oh well.
- You may wonder how wrestlers protect themselves in the ring. Here
are two things they do that you may want to look out for:
- The wrestler on the receiving end makes the largest possible amount
of his body hit the mat at the same time. For example, with a bodyslam,
the wrestler makes his feet hit the mat at the same time as his back to
take the shock away from his back.
- When a wrestler is being "choked" on the second rope with another
wrestler on his back, the one being "choked" will put his arms over the
second rope so the rope goes into his chest, not his neck.
- Now to the show.
- Prince Iaukea pinned Billy "Pink Slip" Kidman after a sunset flip.
- Contrary to the high skill level here, it isn't a match to
determine the #1 contender for the cruiserweight belt.
- Direct from Scoops:
- Da' big news is a massive layoff of WCW talent this
past week! Among those on the receiving end of
a
pink slip...Joe Gomez, Billy Kidman, Craig
Pittman,
Ice Train, Mike Rotunda...and The Nasty Boys!!!
- Pretty cool to still use Kidman footage even though he's gone.
- Scott Hudson: This would be a big victory for Kidman over the former
Television Champ if he wins.
- Larry Z.: Both of these guys want their careers to go on.
- Sad.
- Mortis beat Jerry Flynn with the lame Flatliner.
- I wonder if Wrath or Ernest Miller were introduced in WCW when
this match was taped.
- Faces of Fear beat The Power Company after Meng gave "him" a
backdrop into the arms of The Barbarian, who then gave "him" a Power
Bomb.
- "Him" is the guy from The Power Company who doesn't have a
tattoo on his left arm.
- Scott Hudson: "There is no Kevin Sullivan today. He's concentrating on Benoit."
- No, Scott. There is no Kevin Sullivan because: A) This is a cheap
show, and B) Sullivan was probably still on the vacation he took a while
ago.
- Lee Marshall interviewed Bobby "I'm the HOST of Monday Nitro" Heenan
to hype Nitro and the Hotline... for all the Hotline fans.
- Both repeatedly stumbled and stammered over their words. They
were worse than Gene-O in screwing up their lines.
- Glacier beat Hank Myers after a Cryonic kick.
- I guess neither Miller or Wrath were introduced when this {Pro} was taped.
- P.S. Why does this show use the stupid {brackets} around Pro?
- {Public} Enemy {beat} High {Voltage} after {a} Drive-By {by} Rocco
{Rock.}
- Some old guy with arm braces (canes that attach to the wrists)
in the handicapped area (who seems to be there every week) in front of the guard rail got nailed by Johnny
Grunge and his brace was knocked out of his possession. It sure took a
brain surgeon to put the handicapped people in that area. Must have
been the crack WCW security team. Sad.
- Rage was put on the table and he immediately fell through the
table. Sad.
- Note: For the 55 minutes set aside for {Pro} (5:05 to 6:00), there
is 28 minutes of "new" show.
- "'New' Footage" means that it hasn't been televised before, not
that the action is recent.
- "'New' Footage" also does not include: "Promotional condsideration
paid for by the following," "Bash at the Beach" promos, or reviews of
the past Nitro.
- Here's the tidbit you have all been waiting for:
- Rick and Scott Steiner wrestled at Michigan in the early to mid
1980's.
- Rob Rechsteiner lettered in wrestling at the University of
Michigan in 1981, 1983, and 1984.
- Scott Rechsteiner lettered in wrestling at the University of
Michigan in 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1986.
WCW Worldwide - Sunday, 07/06/97
- Buff Bagwell over a jobber (Casey?)
- Worldwide Fact #1 (clip and save): For those of you who don't watch this
show, Worldwide is always a week behind reality.
- Fact #2: Even though nWo is almost 1 year old, Bagwell was the first offical
nWo guy to show up
- Bagwell got a lot of heat from the crowd
- Giant over jobber
- Does Giant get paid per scream?
- Short match, lasted about a minute
- Nitro Highlights- Like I said, a week old, Steiners vs Heat
- Mortis w/James V. over Buddy Lee Parker
- Fact #3: First time we've seen Mortis on the show.
- So far, 3 for 3 in squashes...
- Glacier over Johnny Swinger
- During Glacier's long entrance, Tony S. was talking about security having
to break up Mortis and Glacier in the back.
- Strange but true - About three months ago, Glacier faced a WCW wrestler in
his "debut". The man he faced is now going to be on Bash at the Beach. Guess who...
- Chronic Kick made it 4 for 4 on squashes
- Steiners over Public Enemy w/pre broke table when Rick pinned Grunge
- This was a dark match at the Chicago Nitro I went to. It was the same
exact match.
- Rick Steiner got an early hot tag
- PE took back control, than Rick and Rocko (illegal men) both ending up
fighting up the stairs of the stands
- Eventually, Rocko got the table in to Johnny, then stood and watched as
Rick moved out of the way as Johnny went through the table
- The man who jobbed to Glacier in Glacier's debut who is now going to Bash at the Beach? Ernest Miller...
WCW Saturday Night - Saturday, 07/05/97
- Ernest Miller and Glacier def. Mark Starr and Jerry Flynn when
Ernest Miller pinned Mark Starr after a spinning kick delivered from the
top turnbuckle.
- Oddly enough, Dusty mentioned how glad he was "Hacksaw" Jim
Duggan was going to be on tonight. It's odd seeing as Duggan has
publicly retired. Even though Dusty's comments were recorded in the last
few days, it makes it awfully obvious how old these matches are.
- Wrath and Mortis attempted a run-in after the match. The good
guys held them at bay.
- "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan pinned "Mean" Mike Enos following a running
clothesline.
- Jerry Lynn pinned Johnny Swinger after giving Swinger a DDT as
Swinger was perched on the top turnbuckle.
- Wow! Johnny Swinger got an entrance and his own music played
tonight.
- You know, if they are going to promote Jerry Lynn (Mr. J.L.
without a mask) as a singles wrestler, if I were booking, I'd set
up a feud between him and another masked man culminating in a mask vs.
mask match which Mr. J.L. would lose. Better yet, a series of mask vs.
mask matches at house shows that Mr. J.L. would lose. Shoot, it's got to
be obvious. Mr. J.L. and Jerry Lynn have the same entrance music and
Jerry Lynn even makes the same hand signal on his way to the ring,
albeit with one hand while Mr. J.L. always does it with two.
- "Crippler" Chris Benoit made Rick Fuller submit to the Crippler
Crossface following a flying headbutt from the top turnbuckle.
- There was a little girl in the crowd wearing a tiara. I've
seen boys in the crowd dressed like wrestlers before, but that's the
first girl I've seen dressed as a valet.
- The (Ein)Steiner Brothers def. Damien and La Parka when Scott
Steiner pinned Villano IV following a Steiner DDT from the top rope.
- In a really odd ending, toward the end of the match, Villano
IV came out and stuffed La Parka, who Rick Steiner had tossed from the
ring, under the ring and attempted to take his place. For his efforts,
he got a top rope DDT and got pinned.
- In talking about this coming Monday's Nitro, Eddie and Jobber
Guerrero, Jr. are teaming together to face two members of the nWo. Hmmm,
can anywhere see where this is going? By the way, Misterio's leg is
supposedly broken. Misterio must be on vacation.
- WCW World Television Champion Steven Regal made Psychosis submit to
the Regal Stretch.
- Sonny Ono tried to pay the referee (Mickey J.) off in front of
everyone during the match. Mickey sent Ono back to the locker roon.
- This was a very well-worked match.
- Ultimo Dragon made Lenny Lane submit to the Dragon Sleeper.
- Sonny Ono came out during the match but did not come into
play.
- Lenny Lane looks a lot like Shane Douglas.
- Public Enemy def. Harlem Heat via DQ when Vincent interfered.
- Rocco Rock put his hat on Dave Pinzer before the match and
gave him a kiss.
- After the match, Harlem Heat gave Vincent a beating.
- Lee Marshall interviewed "Nature Boy" Ric Flair. Flair dared Piper
to show up on Nitro this Monday night and shut him up.