WCW Worldwide - Saturday, 8/21/99
Trivia Question: In what year did the most WCW World tag team championship changes in the same year occur? (answer at the end of the report)
- Don't fear. Cubs Fan will be back in several weeks to resume his post, the boys and I (Chan) are just filling in. Matt's away at Oglethorpe in Atlanta but is with us in spirit and pretty soon we will have an email address for him for the first time. Yes, we'll admit it. Matt may be the first student to pick a college to be closer to the WCW headquarters...
- Evidently, Worldwide is in our area. Who knew? It airs on Saturdays at 10 p.m. against Walker: Texas Ranger on CBS. I guess all WCW's shows compete with Walker. On this one, my money's on Chuck. You might say, I would gamble on him (you'll get that one later...)
- Larry Zbyszko and Scott Hudson open the show wearing the new WCW Star Trek insignias.
- Hudson claims to have spent 8 days in a hospital in Sioux Falls due to a belly-to-belly suplex by Rick Steiner.
- The duo discusses Hogan's face turn and shows clips of the 8/9/99 return of the red and yellow Hogan. I believe we should refer to Hogan as either the orange Hogan or the grey Hogan since those are the colors that would be made by the combinations of red+yellow and black+white. The orange Hogan could also refer to his skin tone and the grey could refer to his age as well so it might get confusing.
- Zbyszko refers to Hogan as "the biggest name in two decades."
- This surprises me as Zbyszko himself competed in that time frame and while Hogan certainly is a bigger name it is still difficult ro believe "wrestling's only living legend" would admit that.
- Actually, I believe he uses two decades because Sammartino competed prior to that and since he "retired" Sammartino it only serves to make him look better.
- Then again, he might have just been making a point which related in no way to his own greatness. No. Not Larry Z.
- Clips are shown of the turn with Hogan and his son Nick prior to his return and then the actual six-man tag team match.
- I am hoping they can convince Sting to return to neon colors as well.
- They claim that next week they will have results from Sturgis.
- Okerlund interviews DDP.
- DDP puts over his non-wrestling activities such as his website (www.ddpbang.com) and explains how he was on the cutting edge by having a web site long ago while crediting RichInKC and Brian Bentley.
- They plug the site by saying off the camera he's "Pretty much Paige." This is in reference to his real name. That's Paige Joseph Falkinburg for all you new guys.
- He also discusses his book, "Totally Paige," his appearance in the TBS original picture "First Daughter," and his Union of Diamond Cutters.
- The next segment opens with Scott Hudson putting over the U.S. title history by listing former champions like Goldberg, Sting, Ric Flair, Roddy Piper and Arn Anderson. That would have been great had Arn ever held the U.S. belt.
- Then Zbyszko and Hudson note how David Flair's reign has disgraced the championship.
- Zbyszko makes the comment that, "If you look up pencil-necked geek in the dictionary..."
- Zbyszko could have at least credited Freddie Blassie for that remark. It would be similar to when someone uses Dan Patrick's catch phrases on SportsCenter.
- For the record, if you look up pencil-necked geek in the dictionary, it won't be there.
- Clips are shown of David Flair's confrontation with Saturn, Benoit, Malenko and Douglas.
- Did anyone else find it ironic that when they were setting up this angle, the four were complaining to Dusty Rhodes about Flair running a promotion into the ground. If there's one man who knows about running a promotion into the ground, it's Dusty.
- The most entertaining part of the segment is watching the guys trying to look entranced by Dusty's words of wisdom. If you are going to Dusty Rhodes for advice you have problems but if you can understand him, when he gives the advice you really have problems.
- Clips are then shown of Benoit winning the U.S. belt. I wonder if David Flair just borrows Lodi's own trunks or if he bought some of his own. Either way, I'm pretty sure, David is a Lodi mark.
Hudson and Zbyszko then plug the rest of the show by dropping the names of Prince Iaukea, Kaz Hayashi and the Gambler. Yes, the Gambler. WCW is promoting a show with the Gambler. No, really. The Gambler. I apologize. This just completely amazes me.
- Match One: Johnny Attitude vs. The Gambler. (Referee Johnny Boone)
- Yes, the Gambler. He even entered second, status given to the bigger star.
- Hudson and Dusty Rhodes provide commentary on the arena matches.
- Attitude is now sporting a mohawk and a beard.
- The announcers put over the idea that as the veteran, the Gambler, has a distinct advantage over the superior physique of Attitude. The announcers put over the Gambler. Yes, the Gambler.
- The announcers claim to have never seen Attitude.
- I watch very little of WCW programming, yet I have seen Attitude several times. From what I have seen, the commentators were doing him a favor by not reminding the audience of his past feats.
- Most notably, Attitude impersonated Goldberg and was squashed for his troubles on the 5/25/98 Nitro
- Rhodes spent the early part of the commentary discussing attending the meeting and basically putting over his new role as a figurehead leader of the company. His actual line was, "I went to that meeting when I was doing the deed."
- Insert, your own joke here.
- It is hard to believe that Dusty would attempt to put himself over while someone else was supposed to have the spotlight...
- Attitude played into the psychology of the match by missing a charge and having Gambler capitalize. Yes, the Gambler.
- The commentary continued to center around Dusty, who not only referred to himself in the third person, but as alternately, "The Dream" and "The American Dream."
- The finish came at 3:55 when Attitude used a back press into a hangman's neckbreaker to score the pin. We'll call that the "Attitude Adjustment." We can't shorten it to AA or people will start missing Scott Hall too much.
- After the announcers pushed the Gambler as the veteran throughout the match and hyped him, it made no sense for Johnny Attitude to win. Wait, this is WCW. I should never have used logic.
- It just goes to show you, never bet on the Gambler. Yes, the Gambler.
- Match Two: Lodi (with Lenny Lane) vs. Johnny Swinger. (Referee Randy Anderson)
- As all of you know, the only man who could follow the Gambler (yes, the Gambler) is Johnny Swinger!
- Need I tell you that this would be a main event in any arena in the country!
- Lodi and Lenny actually enter first. Since they are supposed to be brother is Lodi now Lodi Lane?
- They of course, where pink, since David Flair stole Lodi's shiny black pants.
- Lodi has two signs which read, "When Lodi + Lenny Lane Are Around" "Somebody's Going Down!"
- Even though Lodi and Lenny have the homosexual innuendo, they just don't look the part as well as David Flair, who does not even try. I guess natural talent just runs in the Flair line...
- Buddy Colt was referenced by the announcers. Dusty put him over.
- So far, Dusty has had four or five good young wrestlers to promote (give or take one on the Gambler. Yes, the Gambler). Despite this, he has chosen to instead, promote himself and Buddy Colt, both of whom have been retired for the better part of this decade.
- Dusty inadvertently refers to Swinger as "Johnny Springer" and confuses him with Jerry.
- It's not enough for the mainstream media to associate the two, now Dusty has to do it from within.
- The high spots of the match were at 2:43, Lodi got a press slam and a two-count and then followed by going back to the top turnbuckle where Swinger hit the ropes allowing Lodi to crotch himself.
- Dusty highlighted this point by claiming, "That'll make you holler Hiney Ho!" in an attempt to reference the No Limit Soldiers. Hudson, of course corrected him. Personally, I prefer Dusty's version.
- I was just glad they didn't say Lodi enjoyed the move...
- The finish came in 3:32 as Swinger attempted a suplex, Lenny tripped him from the outside, allowing Lodi to score the pin.
- The replay of the finish was not just your run of the mill finish mind you. It was the Tinactin replay. If Bill is not going to sell advertising time, I might as well give some away.
- Dusty again added to the replay by noting that Lane, was "hold out them feetees." Either he was trying to be cute about feet or he was attempting to say feces. With Dusty, either is entirely possible.
- In the commercial break, one of the commercials was for Universal Soldier. In the theaters, Goldberg is actually getting third billing. On television, he is mentioned but not as strongly.
I wouldn't mind seeing the Universal Soldier against the No Limit Soldiers if only because I can see the outcome and it is good!
- Match Three: Villano V vs. Mikey Whipwreck (Referee Johnny Boone)
- You can't beat Villano V in segment five. The fact that I knew this was segment five has me more than a little worried...
- With two great workers like Villano V and Mikey, need I tell you that Rhodes commentary centered around the fact that Mikey's "big-buttedness" disqualified him from cruiserweight competition. At least for the first time, he was discussing one of the wrestlers in the match.
- Hudson noted that Villano IV, who he claims to have been injured "18 months ago," may return in the fall.
- The injury occurred in a tag match against Raven and Kanyon. It actually occurred on the 9/23/98 Nitro which was less than twelve months ago.
- In Hudson's defense, it was nice of him to mention the fallen Villano and frankly, the way things have gone for WCW the past year, it probably does seem like 18 months.
- Villano V was excellent in this match showing several submission including an inverted form of a camel clutch as well as the old-school bow-and-arrow, which Dusty actually called correctly. He also hit a form of the Buff Blockbuster.
- When Hudson remarked that Villano V had been competing for fifteen years, Dusty rebuked him by claiming he could not know it was the same man in the mask and that for all he knew it could be Iron Mike Tenay, or as I like to refer to him the "Father of Gay Luchador Sex!"
- For you new readers, that sign was held at Nitro over a year ago and remains to this day my all-time favorite fan sign!
- The finish came as Villano V climbed the turnbuckles and Mikey hit what Hudson referred to as a "neckbreaker." It was actually Mikey's ECW finisher, known then as the "Whippersnapper."
- Call me insensitive, but I found it incredibly ironic that Villano V would succumb to a "neckbreaker" while his brother is recovering from just that. Hey I'm a guy, I'm supposed to be insensitive...
- Okerlund then interviewed Miss Madness who said nothing in about as many words possible. Reminds me of me...
- The focus of the interview was on her competing in the could-be-formed women's division and that her name is now Mona.
- Mona: "I'm ready for any opponents you can find for me."
- Charlie will be arriving in Atlanta as soon as you give him the okay.
- Match Four: Prince Iaukea vs. Kaz Haysahi (Referee Nick Patrick)
- They note Iaukea's television title reign and how young he was when he won it. They surmise this hurt his career by succeeding too much too soon.
- Hudson equates this with Tommy Rich's World championship reign in "1980." This would be accurate but the reign was in 1981, not 1980, Rich was never intended to be a long-term champion and was "over" before winning the belt. Iaukea was given the belt to make him appear as the new star on the block and not just add to that star.
- I shouldn't nitpick. Hudson did a legitimate job of attempting to explain how Iaukea could go from being a promising young champion to the filler that he is today and for that I give him credit because it is more than the other announcers do.
- Hudson also likened Kaz to a young Muta. Kaz definitely has talent, and I will not argue the claim because again, it validates Hayashi, but at the same time, Muta got over so quickly (admittedly he was pushed harder) it is difficult for me to compare the two.
- Rhodes with the quote of the night on why Hudson should not doubt his expertise: "I've called monster truck races before. C'mon, I know what I'm doing!"
- I know it's hard to tell from my comments, but I LOVE DUSTY RHODES!
- After that Rhodes then pretended that he thought Hudson's "enziguiri" was really "Lou Gehrig." Only Dusty...
- Again, the match was excellent, but too short.
- The finish came at 4:16 when Kaz tried a cross bodyblock off the top and Iaukea caught him and pulled the tights for the three-count.
- This finish was the Castrol finish.
- The final segment returned to the studio with Zbyszko and Hudson recapping the Hogan and Benoit stories.
- I'm naturally sarcastic, but I truly enjoyed this program. The final two matches were excellent and taken with a grain of salt, Dusty is very entertaining. Besides, a show can't go wrong when it has The Gambler. Yes, the Gambler.
- My only complaint: Where was Vincent? Oh, well, you can't have every thing.
- Until next time, remember to read, Chan and Charlie and Matt, because our flatulents don't stink!
Trivia Answer: This year, 1999. When Harlem Heat won the championship at Road Wild, the WCW World Tag Team championship has changed eight times this year. The previous record is seven, which occurred last year.