WCW Thunder - Wednesday, January 10^th, 2001

• I've got a new e-mail address; jarod@ddtdigest.com. Please send any questions and comments relating to my recap to this address.

• I attended Nitro on Monday and rather then send in an arena report, I figured I'd post my notes here.

• Before the live broadcast, we got one of Jimmy Hart's delightful radio DJ challenges. Jimmy Hart was accompanied by 3 Count. The DJ hit a clothesline, then we got some stalling when Jeff Jarrett came out. 3 Count chased him while Hart hit a low blow on the DJ. The ref followed 3 Count, so while he was gone, the DJ hit a low blow and pinned Hart for like 30 seconds before the ref ran down and counted the pin. Nothing match, but the crowd was into it.

  Nitro itself wasn't too bad, my only complaints was that too much happened backstage and that the rules of the Minnesota Massacre between the Insiders and the NBT wasn't clear to the live audience. To add to the confusion, 2 guys were the Last Man Standing. Go figure..

  Funny story; after Goldberg got beat down by Luger and Buff, Goldberg got up and started towards the back. My friend went over to the guardrail and yelled "Goldberg sucks" right in front of him. He turned and said "F*** you, kid", then flipped him off. My friend flipped him off and said "Yeah, f***, you". Goldberg said "I'd break you" and then spit on him.

  Bear in mind, there were at least 4 young kids in clear view of this.

  To borrow from Russo, do it for the kids, Bill!

• Nothing else to mention for Nitro. Thunder was pretty boring live, but it could come across good on TV, so here goes..

• Opening montage..

• And we are TAPED from the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota!

• The announcers hype the main event, Scott Steiner defending the WCW Title against Sid.
  • We also get the APA... errr.. Kronik vs. Totally Buff.

• Backstage, Shane Douglas hires the NBT to help him out tonight.

• Match 1: Kwee-Wee (w/Paisley) and Big Vito (w/Johnny the Bull) vs. Sean O' Haire and Chuck Palumbo
  • Vito and Chuck start, the tie up and go into a corner.
  • Brawling in the corner.
  • Vito with a hip-toss and a body slam.
  • Tag to Kwee-Wee.
  • Kwee-Wee and Vito whip Palumbo into the ropes and catch him with their elbows.
  • Double elbow drop.
  • Kwee-Wee with a spring board sun-set flip.
  • Tag to Palumbo.
  • Back and forth.
  • Tag to O' Haire.
  • O' Haire hits Vito in the gut followed up with a knee lift.
  • Suplex and a cover for a 2 count.
  • Vito makes a comeback with a sun-set flip.
  • Kwee-Wee comes in to try to help, but the NBT double team Vito meanwhile.
  • Vito tries to make a tag, but Palumbo keeps him down with some kicks.
  • Tag to O' Haire.
  • They trade reversals on a whip and both men leap at each other and hook their arms together.
  • 
  • And both guys are out.
  • Kwee-Wee in with a Thesz press.
  • Kwee-Wee with a DDT on Palumbo, but O' Haire makes the save.
  • Vito beat on O' Haire in the corner.
  • Reno runs down to the ring, attacking Johnny the Bull with the Roll the Dice.
  • Palumbo puts Kwee-Wee down with a Jungle Kick.
  • Palumbo goes for a pin and only gets 2.
  • O' Haire up top for the Seanton Bomb on Kwee-Wee to finish things.
  • Your Winners: Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire via pinfall.
  • Post match, Reno hits Vito with the Roll the Dice.

• Shane Douglas is interviewed by Mean Gene.
  • He says tonight, Mike Sanders has made a match between the MIA and Douglas and his 2 partners.
  • Mark Jindrak and Shawn Stasiak join him and each has some words for Hugh Morrus.

• Meanwhile, Lash LeRoux and A-Wall tell Morrus they aren't allowed to wrestle tonight.
  • Morrus tells them to get their physicals done quickly, so they can wrestle.

• Match 2: Rey Mysterio Jr. and Billy Kidman (w/Tygress and Konnan) vs. Lance Storm and Elix Skipper (w/Mike Awesome and Major Gunns)
  • Konnan goes through the catch phrases of DOOM.
  • Oh, and Duggan is doing color commentary.
  • Skipper and Rey to start.
  • Tie up, Skipper with a side-headlock.
  • St. Stevie works in "Suckas gotta know" and "Prime Time".
  • Rey whips Skipper to the ropes, Skipper takes Rey down with a shoulder block.
  • Rey ducks a spin kick by Skipper.
  • Rey with a springboard head scissor takedown.
  • Tag to Kidman.
  • Rey and Kidman pick Skipper up by his shoulders and slam him down.
  • Kidman covers and gets a 2 count.
  • WTF? Schiavone again says no one has stated the length of the penalty time during the Penalty Box match at Sin.
  • I was farther from the ring than Schiavone was and I heard Lance Storm say 1 minute.
  • Kidman into the ropes, Storm catches him in the back.
  • Kidman stumbles into a belly to belly suplex by Skipper.
  • Skipper covers for 2.
  • Tag to Storm, Kidman takes Storm down with a headscissor takedown.
  • Kidman with a tornado bulldog, then tries to go up top.
  • Skipper catches him and Storm grabs Kidman and hits a superplex.
  • Storm tags Skipper, who goes for a pin.
  • Rey makes the save, Skipper then throws Rey outside.
  • Skipper tags Storm, who tries to whip Kidman into a corner.
  • Kidman reverses and runs in, but Storm moves.
  • Storm with a backbreaker.
  • Tag to Skipper.
  • Awesome tries to interfere, Konnan comes over to keep him out of it.
  • Kidman whips Skipper into the ropes.
  • Kidman lowers his head, Skipper catches him with a sweet DDT.
    
  • Skipper knocks Rey off the apron and goes for a cover, getting 2.
  • Tag to Lance.
  • Kidman rolls up Storm, getting 2.
  • Storm takes down Kidman with a clothesline.
  • Tag to Skipper.
  • Kidman in the corner with some punches on Skipper.
  • Kidman whips Skipper to the far turnbuckle, but Skipper jumps over Kidman when he charges in.
  • Skipper catches Kidman with a dragon suplex for a 2 count!
    
  • It looked really good, too!
  • St. Stevie: "Best move of the night."
  • That it was.
  • Skipper then puts Kidman down for.. oh no..
  • YOU CAN'T POWERBOMB KIDMAN!!!
  • Both guys are down.
  • Both guys make tags, Rey comes in with a spring board crossbody on Storm.
  • Spinning heel kick on Skipper.
  • Rey goes for a springboard moonsault, but Storm catches him.
  • Storm goes a tombstone, but Rey reverese it, forcing Storm to fall backwards.
  • Rey goes to the apron and springboards in with a splash for a 2 count.
  • Skipper with the save.
  • Skipper with a double underhook suplex.
  • Kidman in to help.
  • Kidman and Skipper go back and forth until Kidman goes for a cover. The ref counts 2.
  • Weren't Storm and Rey the legal men?
  • Kidman slams Skipper, Rey with a guillotine legdrop.
  • Storm takes Rey down.
  • Awesome takes out Kidman on the outside.
  • Storm goes for a press-slam, Rey rolls through for a sun-set flip.
  • Storm counters, Rey dropkicks him.
  • Storm in the corner, Rey signals for the Bronco Buster.
  • Rey takes out Skipper outside with a baseball slide, then tries to hit the Bronco Buster on Storm, who counters..
  • 
  • Ouch..
  • Big brawl on the outside, inside Rey goes for a springboard frankensteiner, but Storm counters and locks on the Maple Leaf for the submission win.
  • Your Winner: Lance Storm and Elix Skipper via submission
  • Stevie Ray: "We all know, when he puts that Maple Leaf on, that no one gets out of it."
  • Tony Schiavone: "You're exactly right, nobody has."
  • Alright then..

• Backstage, LeRoux and A-Wall can't find the doctor to get their test done.
  • The NBT take them out.

• Backstage, the MIA are attended to by trainers.
  • LeRoux and A-Wall won't be able to compete tonight.

• Also backstage, Douglas thanks the NBT and asks them to save a bit of Morrus for him.

• Mean Gene interviews Kronik.
  • They are going to take out Luger and Bagwell tonight and they are all about breaking necks and cashing checks.
  • Kronik: Cause they need weed money.

• Hype for Sin.
  • Reno vs. Vito
  • The Cat vs. Mike Sanders for the WCW Commissionership
  • Team Canada vs. The Filthy Animals - Penalty Box match.
  • WCW Cruiserweight Title (and most likely match of the night) - Shane Helms vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr. (Champion)
  • WCW Hardcore Title - Meng vs. Crowbar vs. Terry Funk (Champion)
  • WCW US Title - Shane Douglas vs. Hugh Morrus (Champion)
  • WCW Tag Title - 2 members of the NBT vs. The Insiders (Champions)
  • Goldberg and Sarge vs. Totally Buff - Goldberg's career of threatening and swearing at fans in front of young children is on the line.
  • WCW Title - Sid vs. Jeff Jarrett vs. Mystery Man vs. Scott Steiner (Champion)
    • Wait, according to the graphics, Midajah is the mystery opponent!
      

• Mean Gene interviews Hugh Morrus
  • Gist of this interview: Nash and DDP are his partners tonight.

• Backstage, Sid is attacked by Scott Steiner.

• Match 3: Shane Douglas, Mark Jindrak and Shawn Stasiak vs. WCW US Champion Hugh Morrus and WCW Tag Team Champions Kevin Nash and "Diamond" Dallas Page
  • Big brawl to start.
  • Morrus and the Insiders clear the ring.
  • DDP and Jindrak to start.
  • DDP in control with some clotheslines.
  • DDP goes for a Diamond Cutter right away and gets pushed off.
  • Jindrak tags Stasiak.
  • DDP tags Nash.
  • Knee lifts, big boot, body slam and Nash tags Morrus.
  • Morrus up top with an elbow drops.
  • Stasiak gets control, then tries to tag Shane, who won't take the tag.
  • Stasiak tags Jindrak.
  • Jindrak comes off the top turnbuckle with a clothesline.
  • Now Shane with take the tag.
  • Shane will some punches, then he quickly tags out to Stasiak.
  • Not much to this match.
  • Stasiak tags Jindrak.
  • A couple of near falls, some kicks and punches.
  • Jindrak tags Stasiak.
  • A couple of near falls, some kicks and punches.
  • Stasiak tags Jindrak.
  • A couple of near falls, some kicks and punches.
  • Jindrak tags Stasiak.. you get the point.
  • Shane tags in, pounding on Morrus in the corner.
  • Shane keeps Morrus from tagging out with some stomps and a neck breaker.
  • Big brawl, the NBT come down.
  • Shane goes to hit Morrus with a chain, Morrus catches him with a powerslam for the pin.
  • Your Winner: Hugh Morrus and the Insiders via pinfall

• Backstage, the NBT are interviewed by Mean Gene.
  • Sanders says the NBT will take care of the Insiders at Sin and he also has a bombshell to drop on the Cat at Sin.

• Match 4: Don Harris vs. Meng
  • Your Winner: Meng via pinfall
  • Moving along..

• Promo for Glacier

• The Cat comes out for an interview.
  • Cat says he will beat Sanders at Sin and then rips on some fat guy at ringside.
  • Sanders makes his way to the ramp and says he'll drop the bombshell tonight.
  • He says Ms. Jones was hired to be the Commissioner's assistant.
  • So that means she is his assistant now.
  • So I guess she is also on the line at Sin.

• Match 5: Totally Buff vs. Kronik
  • Totally Buff gets seperate entrances.
  • Long story short: Kronik has the advantage for most of the match.
  • Goldberg runs to the ring.
  • He attempts to spear Buff who moves, resulting in Goldberg spearing Adams instead.
  • Your Winner: Kronik via disqualification

• Match 6: Sid Vicious vs. WCW Champion Scott Steiner (w/Midajah)
  • Steiner in control after the tie-up.
  • In the corner, Steiner chops Sid and punches him.
  • Sid regains control.
  • Steiner rolls outside after a leg drop.
  • Sid holds Steiner's head back and pounds on his chest on the outside.
  • Midajah hits Sid with a pipe.
  • Back inside, Steiner with his spinning belly to belly suplex.
  • Steiner drops an elbow, then some push-ups.
  • Steiner with a reverse chinlock.
  • Steiner goes up top for a double axe-handle, but Sid catches him by the neck and goes for a chokeslam.
  • Steiner kicks Sid low.
  • Steiner kicks and punches Sid in the corner.
  • Steiner whips Sid into the ropes and puts his head down.
  • Sid pounds on Steiner's back and drops him with a DDT.
  • Sid blocks some punches and hits a big boot on Steiner.
  • Sid clothesline Steiner outside and they brawl outside.
  • Back inside, Sid goes for a pin, getting 2.
  • Steiner catches Sid with a jawbreaker.
  • Sid ducks a clothesline and plants Steiner with a chokeslam.
  • Sid goes for a cover and only gets 2.
  • Sid goes for a powerbomb, but a mystery man runs from the crowd and attacks Sid, causing the DQ.
  • Your Winner: Sid Vicious via disqualification
  • Steiner and the mystery man beat on Sid.
  • Sid takes both guys down and unmasks the mystery man as..
    
  • Ric Flair makes his way to the ramp with the real mystery man and we fade..
  • For the record, I left as that match started, so I don't know what happened after the cameras went off.
  • Hey, Sid isn't worth fighting traffic in the parking ramp.

The Good: Storm/Skipper vs. Rey/Kidman was really good.

The Bad: Nothing else really stands out.

The Ugly: I had to watch 2 Harris Boyz matches live.. I'm going to be in therapy for years..