WCW Superbrawl XI - Sunday, February 18, 2001

Unfortunately, absolutely none of the reporters could cover Superbrawl real time, so I taped it and am doing a very abbreviated report. I actually watched most of it via fast-forwarding. So, if you are looking for quick results, keep reading. Otherwise, you may want to check out another site for this particular report.

Sorry about this. If you would like a refund, please see the cashier on the way out.

• Shane Helms won the six-way cruiserweight match. Other combatants were Kaz Hayashi, Yang, Evan Karagias, Jamie Knoble and Shannon Moore.

• Hugh Morrus cleanly pinned The Wall following a No Laughing Matter (moonsault).

• WCW World Tag Team Champions Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire retained their belts by cleanly defeating Shawn Stasiak and Mark Jindrak.

• WCW World Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero Jr. retained his belt by pinning Rey Misterio, Jr. after a chairshot and a brainbuster.

• WCW U.S. Heavyweight Champion Rick Steiner retained his belt by cleanly defaeating Dustin Rhodes.

• Lex Luger and Buff Bagwell defeated Brain Adams in a handicap match. An unconscious Bryan Clarke (attacked pre-match) turned out to be Mike Awesome in disguise, who aided in the damage to Adams.

• The Cat regained the commisionership of WCW by defeating Lance Storm.

• Kanyon defeated Diamond Dallas Page with the help of Jeff Jarrett in an impromptu match.

• Diamond Dallas Page then defeated Jeff Jarrett.

• WCW World Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner defeated Kevin Nash in a loser-leaves-WCW 2-out-of-3-falls falls-count-anywhere match.

Longtime DDT Digest reader Hoazy does us the favor of sending us a real report of the goings on. Take it away, Hoazy...

• Pre-card comment 1...To any confused readers out there, this is a one-time only contribution from me since no one else in the country evidently watched 'Revenge' (oohh, doesn't the name itself make you tremble with anticipation?).  My brief bio is that I've been watching wrestling since about 1984, with most of it as a WWF fan (there are also childhood memories of the early 70's wrestling), but I was never as much an aficionado as Bill or some of the other guys here.  I switched over to WCW during the nWo days and have enjoyed it (mostly) ever since.  DDT Digest's Archive's have been an invaluable source of info to catch up on the cool stuff I missed.  I recommend it highly.
• Pre-card comment 2...Since WCW's ratings have been dropping lately, even though the product seems to have improved, does everyone else fear the big bald guy's return as much as me ("What you gonna do, brother")?
• Since this review is being done from memory, I'm going to miss some of the specifics, but I'll do my best.

• 6 Man tag for Cruiserweight contender spot.
  • Since Animal (another aging fat guy) took out Billy Kidman in the pre-show, his place will be taken by......Shane Helms.  This development didn't sit well with Moore, who was already in the ring when the intro was made.  With any luck, this will signal the end of 3 Count.  As much as they wanted to succeed, I like Helms as a single much better then them as a tag team.  
  • The action is outstanding as they are actually sticking to the rules of an elimination match.  Only two in the ring at a time, when you're pinned, you're gone (although Tony S. said at one point that if a man gets pinned it's over, maybe somebody should explain the matches to him before the show).  
  • Numerous high spots and pins being broken up by partners.  When they all go outside for the inevitable train-wreck of dives to the floor, Jamie Knoble gets the prize for a front flip that looked really dangerous.
  • The first pin is by Yang, who blows about 6 spots in a row.  First he slips on the middle rope when setting up a moon-sault, and falls on his back.  Then he tries some sort of pile driver/reverse/something else combo which went horribly awry.  Finally, they just gave up and Karagious fell on his back and Yang laid on top of him.  The crowd actually booed the finish, it was so bad.  
  • Knoble then quickly finished Yang off with a pile driver.  Moore then pinned Knoble with a top rope Fam-asser (man I hope I spelled that right or Aldo will have me writing it on the blackboard 1000 times).  As Helms was setting up the Vertibreaker on Kaz, Moore turned on him.  He and Kaz teamed up for a while, before Kaz hit him.  
  • Helms & Moore then went at it while Kaz sat perplexed in the corner and watched.  In a weird spot, while Kaz set up a top rope moon-sault on Helms, Moore slid him out of the way and laid in the ring (evidently to trick Kaz, although it was a little messy).  He then rolled out of the way so Kaz hit the ring hard.  
  • While Shannon was setting up Kaz, Shane came up from behind and caught him in the Nightmare On Helms Street (whatever happened to short nicknames?) for the pin.  After a few more moves (I couldn't believe these guys were still standing), he nailed the Vertibreaker for the win.
  • Your winner:  Shane Helms in a really long match (close to 30 minutes). 
    • I'd give that 2 1/2 - 3 Spices easily.  They blew some spots, but it was the most energy I've seen from the Cruiserweights in Eons. 

• Hugh Morris vs. A-Wall
  • I know none of us expect this to be pretty.  However, in a surprising turn of events, it was the best match I've seen from A-Wall since his debut with Berlin.
    • However, that's like saying David Arquette isn't a bad wrestler for a skinny actor.
  • Saving time for everyone, I'll just say that the best spot was on the floor when Morris threw the steps on top of A-Wall.  That was really painful looking.
    • Wow, I sounded a little blood-thirsty there.
  • Pretty good energy from both guys, but in the end, there can be only one....Hugh Morris with the No Laughing Matter for the win.
  • He then does a second for good measure.  
    • I've got to say, I know a lot of purists hate guys like A-Wall because he's so limited as a wrestler.  However, I'll let him slide on matches like these because he dished out, and took, a lot of punishment.  It kind of reminded me of Rick Steiner vs Tank Abbott, which was also an extremely stiff match.  As long as the guy looks like he's giving his all, it's good enough for me.  Besides, if it was 3 hours of high-flying, that would get boring eventually.
  • Your winner:  Hugh Morris

• O'Haire & Palumbo vs. Jindrak & Stasiak for the Tag-Team Title
  • I was really looking forward to this to see how the crowd went.  I'm of the firm belief that O'Haire is one of the future guys for this company (if he can get over).  With no face in the match, we'll see what the crowd thinks.
  • All 4 guys are fighting in the beginning, but it settles to O'Haire vs. Stasiak.  When Jindrak tried to interfere, he hit Stasiak by accident.  Wonder if that will become a pattern?
  • Palumbo tags in and gets the worst of it.  The "heels" keep him from tagging out for most of the match.  The best spot was a nice tilt-a-whirl slam by Jindrak.
  • When Palumbo finally tagged in O'Haire, he took on both the Thrillaz.  After briefly getting an advantage, Jindrak was taken down and O'Haire went up for the Seanton Bomb.  Stasiak rolled him to safety, only to turn into a nasty Jungle Kick from Palumbo, which allowed O'Haire to hit his move for the win.
  • Your winners:  O'Haire & Palumbo
    • I thought this was a good match, but it seems to be setting a precedent of Jindrak and Palumbo being the weak links.  We can only hope that doesn't mean they plan on "swerving" us with an O'Haire/Stasiak pairing.  Stasiak is the only guy in WCW who makes A-Wall seem interesting.

• Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Eddie Chavo Guerrero for the Cruiserweight Title
  • I can't possibly do this match justice without a VCR handy.  If Bill likes my report, I'll fill in the blanks another time.  This match was worth buying PPV for.
    • Although that's coming from someone who went to a friend's to see it on a pirated signal.
  • After numerous close calls and great spots, Rey slips on the middle rope doing a moon-sault (I think we have to name that Yang Disease).  It looked like it could have caused a serious injury to the knees, but the match continued.  Rey did a great Frankensteiner from the apron to the floor and had an advantage. 
  • However, that wiley Chavo got a chair and waffled him.  Then he hit the Brainbuster for the victory.  
  • Your winner:  Chavo Guerrero
    • That was simply outstanding.  It did everything you could ask for in a traditional wrestling match.  The moves were great, it was back and forth constantly, and the heel had to cheat (although only a little) to win in the end.  No run-ins or brain-dead "Hootchies" interfering.  If this is the start of the new Bischoff regime, sign me up!
  • Spices for everyone!

   

• Dustin Rhodes vs. Rick Steiner for the US Title
  • After the last match, this will be like watching paint dry.  I lied when I said Stasiak was the most boring person on WCW's roster, just watch this match and you'll agree.
  • I just can't bring myself to describe this, it's definitely the dog of the night (no pun intended).
  • Finally, Rick puts us out of our misery by using his feet on the ropes to pin Dustin.
  • Afterwards, Dustin gets even by giving Rick The Shattered Dreams.
    • Could someone please explain to me what a running kick to the groin has to do with wrestling?  Even Hogan had a better finisher 
    • Oh crap, I said his name.  Now if I look in the mirror, he'll appear behind me (like Candyman).  If he shows up on Nitro in the next week or two, you'll know who to blame.

     

• Totally Buffed vs. Kronik for a Tag-Title shot
  • The running theme throughout the backstage nonsense has been the disappearance of Brian Clarke.  Adams has been looking for him and threatening not to wrestle.
  • As Luger and Bagwell wait in the ring, Kronik's theme plays and Adams walks out alone.  
  • As he's halfway down the runway, Clarke comes out and they rush toward the stage.  
  • While they're fighting on the floor, the lights never come up.  Clarke is down and Adams is taking on both guys by himself.  Although they have a brief advantage, Adams makes a comeback and seems ready to Full-Nelson slam Bagwell into tomorrow.  
  • Just then, Brian Clarke crawls out from behind the curtain in his street clothes, obviously beaten-up.  The camera comes back to the ring to see the "other" Clarke hit Adams from behind.  He then hit a big German Suplex on Adams.
  • Luger racked Adams, then Buff finished him off.  The mystery Clarke pulled off his wig and mustache to reveal.....Mike Awesome!  What a cool swerve, I never saw it coming (or does that mean I'm just clueless?).  Clarke comes to the ring to save his partner.
  • Your winners: Totally Buffed
    • The wrestling was predictable, but one of the better swerves I've seen in a long time.  Watching it on replay, it was still hard to tell that Awesome wasn't Clarke until he pulled off the mustache.  Really clever.

• Ernest Miller vs. Lance Storm for the Commissioner's Job
  • Can Lance Storm pull The Cat through a decent match?  Let's find out.....
  • Nope.  Well that was easy.
  • Your winner: The Cat via Feliner (after botched interference from Mike Sanders)
    • A quick sorry to you Miller fans, but as a Wrestler, he makes a good Commissioner.

   

• DDP vs. Jeff Jarrett Kanyon
  • It's supposed to be JJ, but Jarrett uses DDP's open challenge to Kanyon to book a match (I guess he does have the stroke) between them first.  While Page is looking up the runway, Kanyon comes out from under the ring and blindsides him.
  • Really classic match, these guys are two of my favorites.  Kanyon does his Fam-asser (there's that word again) onto the steel steps and Page is cut for real on the temple.  Kanyon dominates throughout and hits the Kanyon cutter for 2 1/2.  
    • Am I the only one who misses him running through the building in a blond wig Kanyon-cutting innocent bystanders?
  • The "Innovator Of Offense" hit several big moves, but couldn't pin Page.  Page also hit a Sit-Out Powerbomb, but couldn't finish him.
  • Finally, the ref was 'knocked out' by a weak looking hit, and Jarrett interfered.  He hit The Stroke on Page, which Kanyon followed up with The Flatliner.  
  • Your Winner: Kanyon

• DDP vs. Jeff Jarrett
  • This one wasn't quite as much fun.  It was JJ & DDP trading signature moves & ring spots.  They did the fight through the crowd, the fight on the announcer's table, and the normal in-ring stuff.  The best moment was when Page got thrown into Schiavone.  
  • Kanyon started interfering, but wound up with a guitar to the head for his troubles.  Page took advantage of the gaffe to Diamond Cut JJ for the win.
  • Your Winner: DDP
    • Although I wasn't as enthusiastic about that match, in perspective, it was a solid bout.  At least 1 1/2 Spices (can you tell I'm a little obsessed?).

   

• Big Sexy Kevin Nash vs. Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner for the World Heavyweight Championship
  • I'm giving Kev his nickname back because he's actually been taking this seriously (for him) the last few weeks.
  • Ric Flair comes out to make an announcement and do commentary.  Michael Buffer brings out the champ first.  The champ scares away Buffer and makes his own announcement.  Turns out Nash isn't expected to make it due to the knee injury from Nitro.  Flair has made this a retirement match.  
  • As the ref starts the count out, Wolfpack music starts.  Nash is wheeled by two attractive nurses to the stage with a cast on his left let (under a blanket....hhmmmm)
  • As Steiner taunts him (and turns his back), Nash throws off the blanket to reveal....a magic trick leg, with his real one just fine.  He picks up the belt (Steiner had dropped it in the ring) and waffles the champ.  Nash calmly picks up the mic and says he evidently wasn't as hurt as everyone thought, then instructed the ref to count.
  • Your winner:  Whoa, not so fast partner, this is the WCW, home of Robocop, the Dungeon of Doom, and David Arquette.  Flair announces that he forgot to mention it was a two out of three falls match and instructs the ref to start the next match. 
    • So I guess if Nash wins again, it will go to 3/5, then 5/9, etc...
  • While Nash was dominating in the ring, Page was making his way through the back, but was ambushed by Totally Buffed.
  • Nash sends Steiner outside (that's as bad as trying to powerbomb Kidman).  Midajah awkwardly slides the lead pipe to Steiner, then distracts Nash.  When he turns back, he's met with a nasty pipe shot to the head, and goes down in a heap.  Steiner then tells Flair (who tells the ref) that he also forgot this was falls count anywhere.  Steiner then covers for the pin.
    • I'm not sure what that pipe is made out of, but Steiner tried to get Nash up, and he didn't move.  He then looked around like he wasn't sure what to do.  Either he forgot the bit, or he clocked Kev for real.
  • Finally, back in the ring, Steiner tries to put on the Recliner.  Nash powers out, and tries to pin him.  As he kicks out, Midajah jumps on the ref and begins kicking, punching, and scratching.  When she realizes that it wasn't time for that, she backs out of the ring.  
  • Nash Powerbombs Steiner and goes for the cover.  Once again, Midajah jumps in the ring and kicks, punches, and claws the ref.  
  • Nash then does a sweet side slam and covers again.  This time Flair pulls the ref out and punches him (guess Buff's been showing the CEO how to treat the employees).  Finally, Steiner hits Nash with a chair, knocking him out.  A second ref comes to the ring to count him out as Scotty applies the Recliner again.
  • Your winner: Big Poppa Dump

The Bad:  Didn't love The Cat.  Hope he sticks to being the Commish.  It's much more entertaining.  Dustin Rhodes and Rick Steiner need to go help ECW or something.  There are a lot of good wrestlers going nowhere while they try to shove crap down our throat (sorry for the icky visual).  I know what I want, and it's not them!!!

The Ugly:  That pathetic main event.  If you decide to order the rebroadcast, ask your cable company if you get a discount for turning it off 20 minutes early.  Hopefully they're setting up an Outsider's return (who the Hell is left as a face otherwise?), but that also hinges on Hall staying straight.  I guess Nitro should show the direction they're heading.  

Thanks for reading.