I won't make any claims to know the man. Matter of fact, my exposure to Solie is rather limited, as I didn't start watching pro wrestling on any sort of regular basis until late 1985. However, I did catch Solie's work as a commentator for the Championship Wrestling from Florida show, which was the primary telecast for the NWA-Florida promotion back in the day. Solie didn't have to shout or scream catchphrases to grab your attention, all he had to do is call the match in a calm and professional manner, explaining the various holds the wrestlers would use and the actual effects on the body, attempting to get the match over as a legitimate sporting contest.
Anyway, I just thought I'd use this pre-show space as an open forum to pay tribute to Solie for the work he has done.
Rest in peace, Gordon Solie.
- Booker kisses his wife (in the front row) before heading into the ring.
- A couple of fans are decked entirely in blue paint from head to waist. That's dedication.
- Booker talks about how people say he's not going to last.
- Booker tells his opposition that they will have to kill him before he relinquishes the world title.
- Booker talks about how WCW brass could no longer ignore the voices of the people.
- Booker makes reference to the aborted Sting match from last week.
- Booker says the people will get what they want to see, that being Booker vs. Sting.
- Jeff Jarrett (with guitar) walks out, and Mark Madden absurdly calls him one of the biggest world champions ever.
- Jarrett says there will be no title match.
- Booker tells Jarrett if he wants to be the man, he's got to beat the player.
- Booker says they can get in on right now, and the two charge each other outside the ring.
- Jarrett grabs a chair, but gets sent into the ring.
- Booker whips Jarrett, who ducks a clothesline but cannot evade the axe kick.
- Booker's knee gimps out, which allows Jarrett to nail him with the chair.
- Jarrett applies the figure-four around the bottom rope.
- The lights go dark, and a masked Sting runs in.
- Jarrett eats a couple punches, a corner whip and a Stinger Splash.
- Sting tosses Jarrett and unmasks.
- Sting tells Vampiro that he'll save the mindgames for later.
- Sting helps up Booker T and accepts the challenge, assuming Booker will be up to it later.
- Jarrett offers to give Sting and Booker a show -- "Slapnuts Theater."
- Jarrett pulls Booker's wife over the rail and nails her in the upper back.
- So, they edit out middle-age women being Kanyon Cut, but they show this?
- Last Wednesday, Kanyon Cuts Judy Bagwell, but we don't see it happen.
- Standard Russo LogicTM dictates a Judy heel turn.
- Judy joins the booth for commentary as Vito walks out.
- Apparently, the match between Buff and Kanyon has been made a "Judy On A Pole Match." * sigh *
- Vito whips Buff, who responds with a shoulderblock.
- Vito comes off the ropes and into a Buff armdrag.
- Buff with a dropkick.
- Buff runs to the ropes and connects with a swinging neckbreaker.
- Vito with a shot as Buff concentrates on something other than the ring.
- Vito hot-shots Buff on the top rope.
- Vito with some offense in the corner.
- Buff gets whipped to the corner.
- Vito charges, Buff floats over and gets some rights in.
- Buff goes outside and intimidates a cameraman.
- Back in, Vito with a Mafia Kick.
- Vito goes up top but Buff trips the rope.
- Buff with a superplex.
- Buff covers for two.
- Buff with some kicks and a double-arm DDT for two.
- Buff goes outside to yell at the cameraman again.
- Back in, Buff tries for a sunset flip, but Vito sits down for three.
- YOUR WINNER: Big Vito via pinfall in 3:08.
- Post-match, Vito celebrates as if he won a marathon.
- Kanyon goes to Cut Pamela, but Gene makes the save flailing his arms like a schoolgirl.
- Gene feels the bang instead.
- Kwee-Wee almost has all the gay out of his system as he comes out to the ring. Almost.
- Kwee-Wee and The Artist brawl on the floor to start.
- Back in, Artist (in jeans and a t-shirt) comes off the top for two.
- Artist slaps Kwee.
- Kwee with a Thesz Press and some rights.
- Kwee with a clothesline.
- Kwee with a whip and a dropkick.
- Kwee almost blows a back bodydrop.
- Kwee with a sunset flip for one.
- Artist with a headbutt to the groin.
- Artist with a snapmare and a hair-pull slam.
- Kwee comes back with the FAIRY PUNCHES OF DOOM!
- Back elbow sends Artist down.
- Kwee with a nice drop toehold.
- Kwee with more punches and some kicks to the corner.
- Artist pulls up a boot on the charge and German suplexes Kwee for two.
- Kwee counters with a backdrop suplex for two.
- Kwee whips Artist into a face-first powerbomb for the win!
- YOUR WINNER: Kwee-Wee via face-first powerbomb in 3:16.
- Post-match, Paisley gives Kwee-Wee the eye.
- Kwee tells the boys in the back not to make him angry.
- The announcers act all surprised by Kwee-Wee's performance (which was actually pretty good, considering he's a Power Planter), but I'm sure plenty of people recognize him as Allan Funk.
- A large Canadian flag is over the ring.
- Storm has changed the Hardcore Title to the Saskaschewan Hardcore International Title.
- Storm runs down hardcore wrestling. THANK YOU!
- Storm offers to change WCW into World Canadian Wrestling.
- Storm talks about Canadians dominating this sport.
- Storm calls for the anthem and gives his stern look.
- Chavo, Jr. and the MIA hit ringside.
- Chavo comes off the top rope with a shoulderblock.
- Chops in the corner.
- Storm reverses a whip but runs into a headscissors.
- Chavo heads onto the apron, but gets necksnapped on the top rope.
- Storm dropkicks Chavo off the apron.
- Storm sends Chavo into the ring as the MIA commandeer the announcing booth.
- Storm dominates in the corner.
- Chavo reverses with his own chops and European uppercuts.
- Chavo with a swank DDT and flapjack.
- Chavo covers for two.
- Chavo with kicks and chops.
- Storm reverses a whip to the corner.
- Chavo goes up top to evade Storm and does a backflip, but lands wrong on his knee.
- Storm tries to capitalize but Chavo rolls him up for two.
- Storm tries for the Canadian MapleLeaf but Chavo sits up and gets a pin attempt for two.
- Chavo with a back suplex attempt, but Storm lands on his feet.
- Chavo tries a frankensteiner but Storm turns it into the Mapleleaf for the win!
- Apparently, Storm gets the cruiserweight title for this victory.
- YOUR WINNER AND NEW CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION: Lance Storm via Canadian Mapleleaf in 3:21.
- Post-match, Kevin Nash comes out, probably to bury Storm.
- Nash grabs a mic, but Storm goes eye-to-eye, or rather, eye-to-chest.
- Storm has words for Nash, who responds with a hip check.
- Nash tosses Storm out of the ring as we go to commercial.
- That last bit was pointless.
- Match was good, though.
- Nash talks about shoots.
- Nash says he's been wrestling for twelve years.
- Nash says for those 12 years he's been professional except for one time, when he wrestled a Canadian guy in Montreal who didn't want to cooperate. We are, of course, forgetting all those times Nash refused to make his opponents look good during his Outsiders tag team stint.
- Nash says he beat his ass the next night in Quebec City.
- Nash talks about how he was a basketball player and how the football players pat each other on the ass.
- Nash then runs over his bouncing career.
- Nash says that the football guys would go into the bars and the bouncers would kick their asses.
- Nash says he is a fighter.
- Nash says that in Vancouver, he can't guarantee to Goldberg that he will be real professional.
- Nash says that when Goldberg charges him, one of his rickety-ass knees will shove Goldberg's nose into his brain.
- Nash tells WCW brass that he won't stop in his quest to get Scott Hall back.
- Scott Steiner (w/ lead pipe) and Midajah walk out.
- Steiner says he doesn't give a damn about Goldberg or Nash.
- Steiner says some naughty words and talks about how he and Nash are from Detroit.
- The two come to blows, and crack security hit the ring.
- Steiner beats down security and makes another charge.
- Jarrett cuts a promo on Sting.
- Sting walks out.
- Jarrett charges Sting with punches.
- Sting reverses a whip and hits a kick, followed by a faceplant off the ropes.
- Jarrett sidesteps a corner charge, but gets clotheslined over the top rope.
- Sting sends Jarrett into the rail.
- And again.
- Sting grabs a chair and jabs Jarrett in the chair.
- They fight up the stage.
- And they fight down the stage, with Sting in charge.
- Back inside, Jarrett crotches Sting with the middle rope as he re-enters.
- Jarrett pulls Sting into the ringpost and makes a wish.
- A chairshot to the left leg finds the mark.
- Jarrett puts the rope-assisted figure-four on.
- Mickey Jay counts to five, and Jarrett breaks.
- Jarrett kicks Sting's leg out of his leg. (© Owen Hart R. I. P.)
- In the corner, Sting blocks a couple of headrams to the post and takes over.
- Sting with a clothesline.
- Jarrett goes for the steel chair, and Mickey tends to him.
- Jarrett with a mule kick and a weak chairshot on Sting.
- Jarrett calls Mickey over for a two-count.
- Sting flips out of a suplex and hits a Scorpion Deathdrop on the chair for the win!
- YOUR WINNER: Sting via Scorpion Deathdrop in 4:38.
- Post-match, Jarrett receives medical attention.
- I must point out the improvement in match finishes tonight, by the way.
- Schiavone offers condolences to the family of Gordon Solie and gives some kind words.
- Madden: "The next su-play will be for you."
- Perfect Event joins the guys at the booth.
- Everyone not named Brian brawls outside.
- Now they go inside, and Vamp/Muta get sent out of the ring.
- It's Clarke and Jindrak.
- Clarke with a kneelift and some chops in the corner.
- Jindrak slides under a clothesline but gets taken down with a suplex.
- Jindrak sends Clarke to the corner but eats a shoulderblock.
- Clarke with a double chop-block.
- According to Perfect Event, Brian Adams is dating Pamela Lee.
- Clarke with a urinage, but Vamp breaks up the pin with a legdrop.
- Tag to Muta.
- Muta with some kicks.
- Muta with a snapmare and an elbowdrop.
- Muta with a neck vice.
- Nice bald spot on Muta, by the way.
- Vamp goes up top and hits a forearm.
- Vamp with a series of kicks.
- Vamp whips Clarke, who makes the comeback.
- But not for long, as Vamp chops away in the corner.
- Double reversal whip into the corner, and the two collide.
- Tag to Adams and Muta.
- Adams with some crushing clotheslines.
- Adams with a full-nelson slam on Muta.
- Adams goes for a press slam on Vamp, but the rookies make the save.
- Muta with a dragonscrew legwhip into a leglock.
- It breaks down some more, and Vamp slams Jindrak.
- Vamp goes up top, and Jindrak counters with a frankensteiner.
- O'Haire follows up with a senton bomb.
- O'Haire covers Vamp, but Adams rolls up Muta at the same time.
- Tie goes to the champs, so...
- YOUR WINNERS: Kronic via pinfall in 5:19.
- Post-match, Kronic and the rookies get into a shouting match, and Kronic responds with belt shots.
- Muta with the EVIL JAPANESE MIST, and the freaks take over.
- Vamp and Muta pose with the belts.
- Oh God. They are going to go through with this.
- Couldn't Douglas and Kidman just... wrestle?
- Franchise rants before the bell.
- Kidman starts off with a flurry, as Madden runs over the history of the Viagra On A Pole Match in a funny bit.
- Douglas with a kneelift.
- Douglas charges Kidman, who backdrops him over the top rope.
- Kidman sends Douglas to the rail.
- Back inside, Kidman hits a bodypress from the top rope for one.
- Kidman whips Douglas, who reverses.
- Torrie trips Kidman, which allows Douglas to hot-shot him on the top rope.
- Douglas kicks Kidman and gives him the rolling necksnap.
- Madden is cracking me up with his Antonio Inoki vs. Muhammed Ali Viagra Match stuff.
- Douglas with a vertical suplex and a Mindbender-type move.
- Douglas with a press-slam.
- Kidman sends Douglas to the corner chest-first and clotheslines him.
- Kidman whips Douglas and goes for a back bodydrop, but Douglas counters with the Pittsburgh Plunge.
- Douglas goes up for the bottle, but goes limp after a Kidman powerbomb.
- Kidman tries for the pills, but gets backdrop suplexed.
- Kidman comes back with a tornado bulldog as Madden brings up the famous Midget Viagra On A Pole match.
- Torrie distracts Mark Johnson as Douglas goes for a backdrop suplex.
- Kidman counters, hits a backslide DDT and goes up top.
- Kidman grabs the Viagra and goes to bean Douglas with it...
- But Douglas hits The Franchiser on the bottle.
- Johnson calls for the bell, and Douglas wins.
- YOUR WINNER: The Franchise in 5:00.
- Post-match, Torrie rubs Kidman's face into the pills.
- Did you know Andre The Giant wrestled one of these matches? Madden said so, so it must be true.
- Decent match, and some funny commentary by Madden, for once. No complaints here.
- Some bad acting leads to an object to the head on Hancock.
- Gunns gives Hancock a shower and brings her into the catering area.
- Gunns with a cake to the face.
- Hancock counters with one as well.
- In the ring, The Wall beats on David Flair.
- Wall brings a table into the ring as the ladies hit ringside.
- Wall sets up a table in the corner, but David hits a lowblow.
- The men go over the top rope.
- You know, when you have The Wall as the best worker in the ring, something is horribly wrong.
- Gunns with some chops in the corner.
- Hancock reverses a whip to the corner, and Gunns goes through the table.
- Hancock with a scoop slam for the win. What is this, 1950?
- YOUR WINNER: Miss Hancock via scoop slam in 2:30.
- Post-match, Hancock strips Gunns of her top as Wall chases her out of the ring.
- Bad, bad match.
- Steiner's heat dropped like a rocket with that heel turn.
- Did you know that Tim Green Is Fat? A guy with a sign said so, it must be true.
- Nash comes out with the jacket, which was probably used on Ric Flair when he was committed a year ago.
- Apparently, the winner is the one to end the match when he gets tired of beating his opponent.
- What kind of stipulation is that? I could go in there, have Nash no-sell one of my punches and I win when I say I'm tired.
- Nash starts off with a side slam and a pin attempt.
- Oh, there's no referee.
- Nash with some kneelifts in the corner.
- Nash frames the elbow! Woo hoo!
- Nash with a bootchoke.
- Midajah interferes, allowing a Steiner ballshot.
- Vince Russo will do an interview on Thunder.
- Steiner whips Nash into a clothesline.
- Steiner does some push-ups.
- Steiner with a boot to the side.
- Nash is selling offense, so he must be a professional, right?
- Steiner throws Nash out of the ring, and Nash is professional enough to look somewhat uncomfortable.
- Steiner sends Nash into the rail.
- Back inside, Steiner with a boot choke in the corner.
- Nash counters a Steiner charge with a boot.
- Schiavone contradicts himself by saying the "seven-foot" Kevin Nash is 6' 11".
- Nash gives the Snake Eyes to Steiner.
- Nash with a chokeslam.
- Midajah gives Nash the absolute worst chairshot I've ever seen in my life.
- Nash responds with a powerbomb for giving such a pussy shot.
- Rick Steiner runs in, but Nash deals with him.
- Nash goes for a powerbomb but Scott makes the save.
- Scott puts the Recliner on, and Rick helps Scott in placing the jacket on Nash.
- Scott checks on Midajah as Rick beats on Nash.
- We fade at ~6:30.
- Midajah took better bumps than Nash and Steiner combined.
- No rating.
- Champ enters last. Thank you!
- Bell rings at ~9:52 P. M. EDT.
- They do the Babyface Handshake to start.
- Your referee is Charles Robinson.
- Booker with a headlock.
- Sting whips Booker, but falls after a shoulderblock.
- Sting with running clotheslines.
- Booker sends Sting to the corner, but eats a boot to the face.
- Another running clothesline.
- Sting tries for the Deathlock, but Booker reaches the ropes.
- Sting concentrates on the leg.
- Sting goes for the Deathlock again, but Booker makes it to the ropes.
- Booker goes outside to stall, and Sting follows.
- Sting sends Booker to the rail.
- Back inside, Sting goes up top for a splash and hits nothing but knee.
- Sting whips Booker, but he counters with a kneelift.
- Booker with the axe kick, and Booker remembers to sell the leg injury. Good job!
- Booker covers for two.
- Sting ducks a clothesline, and the two men collide on bodypresses.
- Sting rolls outside, and a mysterious figure pulls him under the ring.
- Oh, God.
- Robinson tends to Booker.
- Sting gets burped out from under the ring, busted open.
- Sting with a back elbow on Booker.
- And a couple more.
- Sting whips Booker to the corner.
- Booker floats over a Sting charge and rolls him up for two.
- Sting gets two after a DDT.
- Sting whips Booker, who gets in a couple kicks.
- Sting gets out of a suplex and tries the Deathdrop, but Booker counters with the Book-End for the win!
- YOUR WINNER: Booker T. via Book-End in 5:11.
- I'm putting the rating here, because I don't want the ridiculous post-match antics to rub off on the match we just saw.
- Vamp and Muta charge the ring as Demon gets beat on.
- Jeff Jarrett is walking in the crowd as the melee continues.
- The heels stomp on Sting as Jarrett hits the ringside area.
- Jarrett chairs a meeting to Booker.
- The freaks bring Sting to the entryway for some more punishment.
- Meanwhile, a rope has mysteriously lowered exactly in the area where Booker is lying down.
- Jarrett ties Booker's leg on the rope.
- The rope rises, and Booker's leg is hanging.
- Meanwhile, the bad men put Sting in the KISS Coffin, and Demon lights it on fire.
- Jarrett hits one more guitar shot on Booker's leg as we fade...