- First off, I want to thank BH182 for clarifying the title of the theme song used by Air Paris and A. J. Styles. It's by a band called Primer 55 and the song is called Loose. As I mentioned, the song is featured as background music in Dave Mirra's Freestyle BMX for the Sega Dreamcast.
- Speaking of which, do the brass in WCW have a screw loose or something? I am, of course, referring to the boneheaded decision to let Chris Ford (Crowbar) go last week. The move was defined as a "cost-cutting measure" according to the Wrestling Observer, but how can it be described that when someone like Animal remains on the roster?
As much as I want to believe that WCW is building towards tomorrow, it's crackhead decisions like the one described above that make me think otherwise at times. Best wishes to Mr. Ford in the future, and I hope he finds the growth and respect he deserves in the WWF, should they seek his services.
- On a brighter note, Charlie of the esteemed "DDT Digest Triple Threat" of Chan, Charlie and Matt will be in attendance for tonight's show.
- We begin with Jeff Jarrett walking to the ring with a mic in hand.
- As Jarrett showboats, Dustin Rhodes is seen measuring him up.
- Rhodes attacks and dumps Jarrett out of the ring with a clothesline.
- There is no referee, so I'm guessing this isn't an official match.
- Back inside, Jarrett takes over but Dustin comes back with an atomic drop and a clothesline.
- Ten punches in the corner.
- Some axehandles lead to the Shattered Dreams.
- Dustin plays to the crowd, and an invisible force keeps Jarrett from escaping the turnbuckle.
- Kneelift to the balls, and I guess the move is called the "DustBuster" now.
- Dustin says Jarrett is going to kiss his father's pimply, white ass.
- On a backstage security camera, the Magnificent Seven come out of a limo. Buff Bagwell has a camcorder in hand, so I'm assuming this will come into play later.
- The camcorder from last segment is set up in the heel locker room. In his "documentary," Ric Flair puts over his Magnificent Seven before talking about himself. Apparently, Ric wants the new owners to see why Ric Flair has survived. As Scott Steiner talks about his victims, the feed cuts out periodically. Jeff Jarrett walks in and complains about his crew not helping him out. As Ric Flair and Scott Steiner talk strategy (with Ric telling Scott that they can kill two birds with one stone), Midajah is seen in the background.
- We go to Tony Schiavone and Scott Hudson. They talk about Dustin Rhodes attacking Jeff Jarrett in the prior segment. We are then taken of clips of Kanyon overturning M. I. Smooth's limo on Thunder. Oh yeah, Tony Schiavone points us to security guards and three empty seats for the "new owners of WCW."
- We then go to highlights from Round One in the Cruiserweight Tag Team Title Tournament.
- We go backstage (after about four attempts by Schiavone to call for one), and Midajah is knocked out cold.
- Match #1: Cruiserweight Tag Team Tournament Match — Jung Dragons vs. "Primetime" Elix Skipper and Kid Romeo
- The Dragons make their way out.
- Skipper and Romeo get their own entrances.
- The heels jump the Dragons to start.
- The Dragons make the comeback, sending Elix out of the ring.
- Yang with his somersault kick and enziguri on Romeo in the corner.
- Yang goes up top, but Elix pulls Romeo out, so Yang bodypresses on Romeo outside.
- Kaz with a moonsault to the floor.
- Back inside, Kaz with some kneelifts on Romeo.
- Off a whip, Kaz runs into a blown somersault bodypress by Elix.
- Romeo with a short-arm clothesline.
- Tag to Elix.
- Kaz targets the leg with kicks, but Elix counters with a double-underhook suplex.
- Romeo gets tagged and is bodyscissored onto a splash for two.
- After a dropkick, Romeo tags to Elix.
- Off the ropes, Kaz gets a kick to the face.
- Kaz tries for the desperation tag, but Kid Romeo cuts him off.
- Kaz takes out Romeo and tags Yang.
- Yang's a house of fire as he takes out both heels.
- Romeo jumps Yang from behind during the ten punches.
- The heels combine on a sit-out powerbomb/neckbreaker for two.
- Elix tries a sunset flip but Kaz flips out and gets a stiff kick for two.
- Romeo with The Last Kiss for two.
- Yang with a Michinoku Driver (called as such by Hudson) for two.
- Elix and Yang knock each other outside.
- Series of reversals leads to a "back leg front kick" by Kaz.
- Kaz dives onto Elix and gets belly-to-bellied on the carpet.
- Yang goes up but misses Yangtime (corkscrew moonsault splash).
- Elix comes in and hits the Play of the Day (aka Overdrive) for the win.
- YOUR WINNERS: "Primetime" Elix Skipper and Kid Romeo via Play of the Day in 5:04.
- Skipper and Romeo advance to the finals at WCW Greed.
- Didn't revolutionize anything, but decent enough.
- We view some clips of Knoxville, TN, the site of tonight's show.
- On the docu-cam, Scott Steiner questions the team about what happened. Scott wants to look at the tape, since the camera was rolling when the attack happened.
- Match #2: Lance Storm and "Canadian Killer" Mike Awesome vs. The Mamalukes
- The Canadian contingent make their way to ringside.
- Lance starts his program with the usual.
- Lance notes that the more south we are from Canada, the lower the IQ.
- In fact, Storm claims he is smarter than everyone in the front row combined.
- We play the Anthem.
- Their opponents — the Mamalukes? Well I guess they made up a while back, but whatever.
- Big Vito cuts a promo and the two rush the ring.
- The Italians send the Canadians out of the ring and follow suit.
- Johnny whips Awesome into a Big Vito clothesline, but it misses.
- Awesome's clothesline hits, however.
- In the ring, the Canucks lariat Johnny.
- After a missed corner charge, Awesome and Vito are tagged in.
- Awesome splashes Vito in the corner.
- Awesome whips Vito, who gets in some punches, another whip and a side slam.
- Tag to Johnny. Double-team standing sidebuster.
- As Billy Silverman is distracted, Storm gets in a missile dropkick on Vito.
- Johnny is STILL arguing with the ref as Awesome applies the running Awesomebomb.
- The pinfall is academic. Johnny tries to save but is three seconds too late and gets cut off anyway.
- YOUR WINNERS: Team Canada via running Awesomebomb in 2:43.
- Awesomebomb and Canadian Mapleleaf follow on Johnny, and Konnan and Hugh Morrus make the save.
1/4
- Stacy Keibler walks out with a baby carriage.
- Hoo boy...
- Stacy tells the ring techs to be careful with the carriage.
- Stacy says she's not a bad girl anymore, and it's all because of the fans.
- Stacy then goes into an unconvincing spiel about her baby is the most important thing in her life.
- Stacy wants to introduce to everyone "her newest baby..."
- The faux-Exodus brings out Shawn Stasiak.
- Shawn and Stacy make goo-goo talk at the baby as the crowd chants "Meat."
- Shawn tells the crowd to shut up.
- Shawn says only a man like him can have a woman like her.
- Stacy says to hit the music and she dances as Shawn tries to act bad.
- Shawn and Stacy carry their "baby," which happens to be pictures of Shawn Stasiak.
- The crowd rightly boos this crap.
- Shawn tosses pictures into the crowd.
- Oh yeah, Shawn's now "Shawn The Star Stasiak."
- Shawn makes fun of the crowd, and some generic rock plays...
- Bam Bam Bigelow comes out.
- Bigelow compares himself to the crowd and says he's gonna take care of Stasiak.
- Bigelow dumps Stasiak out of the ring and challenges Stasiak to a match at Greed.
- Well at least it went somewhere in the end, but the Shawn/Stacy segment blew chunks. Stacy Keibler is a worse actor than Liv Tyler.
- We see footage on the docu-cam from earlier. Everyone leaves, leaving Midajah with Buff Bagwell alone. Unfortunately, the battery needed a change. So, Buff turns the camera so that it faces the wall and we hear Midajah scream. Go fig. Back to real-time, Scott Steiner says the footage showed him nothing.
- Tony Schiavone says that the "new owners" have not arrived yet.
- Match #3: Booker T vs. ?????
- Last week, Booker T got the crap beat out of him by four guys backstage.
- Booker says it feels good to be back in WCW.
- Basic gist — Booker issues an open challenge.
- The World Champ answers.
- Scott Steiner says Booker will face someone from his team.
- "Theme from DDP" plays, and DDP comes out from the crowd.
- DDP Buzzwords used: "I don't think so, super-geek."
- Booker asks Steiner if it will be him or DDP.
- Scott says he takes tonight off.
- Scott says DDP will face his brother.
- Scott says if DDP interferes in Booker's match, the title shot at Greed is forfeited.
- Booker asks who he is facing, and Lex Luger jumps him from behind.
- Luger with the usual, including a powerslam off the ropes.
- No referee in the ring, by the way.
- Luger puts Booker in the Torture Rack, and Mickey Jay runs in and calls for the bell.
- Apparently, the bell was to START the match. Riiiight.
- Anyway, Booker comes off the ropes with the flying forearm.
- Luger whips Booker to the corner but charges into boot.
- Booker with a kick to the mush.
- Booker side slams Luger for two.
- Booker charges at Luger and gets dumped from the ring.
- Booker gets a chop on Luger and tries a whip to the rail, but it gets reversed.
- Luger shoves Booker into another rail, and the match goes downhill from here, as Luger does his usual stuff without any enthusiasm or crowd heat.
- *Yaaaaaawn*
- Sorry for the lack of detail, but if Luger can't be bothered to put forth an effort in this match, then neither can I.
- Luger sends Booker to the corner, but Booker floats over the charge and gets two on a roll-up.
- Booker blocks a suplex and hits his own.
- Luger hunches over for about ten seconds as Booker gets the axe kick.
- Harlem Sidekick and Book-end finishes it.
- YOUR WINNER: Booker T via Book-end.
- Post-match, Rick Steiner runs in but gets a Ghetto Blaster (Fameasser, Rocker Dropper, Bottoms Up, etc.) by Booker.
- A chairshot ends Booker's momentum.
- Steiner hits the Death Valley Driver, and The Cat makes the save.
- Cat obliterates Rick and Luger, but Kanyon runs in and hits the Flatliner.
- Three-on-two beatdown follow.
- Flatliner on the safety mat.
- As we hear DDP's music, we see Luger is busted open on his nose.
- DDP charges to the ring with a chair and then checks on his friends.
- We see a replay of what just happened.
- Match #4: Evan Karagias vs. "Sugar" Shane Helms
- Last Wednesday, Two-Count advanced to the semifinals of the cruiserweight tag tournament.
- Evan will be facing his former tag team partner, Shane Helms.
- I'm guessing that with WCW hyping his entrance video and the Nitro Girls, Shane is in line for some sort of a push.
- Helms works on the arm, but Evan shrugs him off.
- Helms with a fireman's carry takeover, but Evan picks him up and carries him to the corner for some punches.
- Evan showboats and Helms comes back with a Thesz Press.
- Helms comes off the ropes and powerbombs Evan off a leapfrog for two.
- Helms with a suplex.
- Helms goes to the middle rope and gets a fistdrop for two.
- Evan blocks a TKO ("Marvelous" Marc Mero's fireman's carry into a Diamond Cutter) and gets in a gorilla-press spinebuster for two.
- Evan slams Helms and tries a Lionsault but misses.
- Evan counters the Vertebreaker but Helms gets a forward roll for two.
- Evan with an elbow for two.
- Evan hits a snap suplex.
- Evan comes off the ropes with a legdrop, brother.
- Evan targets the midsection, then gives him a front slam.
- Evan goes up top but Helms cuts him off.
- TKO on the knee is blown by Evan.
- Helms gets in a swinging neckbreaker.
- Helms whips Evan to the corner and hits the Sugar Smack for two when Evan's leg makes the ropes.
- Evan regains control and chokes out Helms.
- Evan with a DDT.
- Evan goes up top and hits the Outrageous Corkscrew (not called by the announcers) for two.
- Helms whips Evan, and after a couple of counters, we get the Nightmare on Helms Street.
- Vertebreaker gets three.
- YOUR WINNER: "Sugar" Shane Helms via Vertebreaker in 6:00.
- Post-match, Chavo runs in and lays out the winner with the brainbuster.
1/4
- Riki Rachtman speaks. I tune him out.
- The security camera backstage picks up M. I. Smooth KO'ing Disqo with one punch because he wants the match with Kanyon tonight. Man, Disqo's career has went down the shitter since the Konnan feud from '99.
- The announcers go over the "Kiss My Ass" stipulation in the Rhodes vs. Flair/Jarrett match.
- Last Week, the Rhodes clan speaks in the locker room. Dusty says that Ric Flair will kiss his "pimply, white ass". Flair and Jarrett rebutt.
- Another Spring Break-Out segment. * sigh *
- Match #5: Kanyon vs. M. I. Smooth
- Speaking of careers on the downturn... Kanyon goes from a feud with DDP to a feud with The Cat and now with M. I. frickin' Smooth.
- We hear Disqo's music, and the Ice Train is limping to the ring.
- Scott Hudson puts over Smooth's one-punch KO. Hey, Ron Garvin knocked people out with one punch, but that didn't make him a feared wrestler.
- Kanyon destroys Smooth as he enters.
- Billy Silverman is waving the match off outside the ring.
- Smooth wants more, so Kanyon gives it to him.
- Kanyon goes to exit the ring, but sees Smooth get up, so he re-enters the ring and pounds the dickens out of him.
- Kanyon leaves the ring, but Smooth won't stay down.
- Smooth stays on his feet for two Kanyon punches, but drops after a third.
- Kanyon lifts Smooth up, and the latter fights to stay on his feet.
- Kanyon goes outside, grabs a chair and whacks his opponent twice.
- Considering that the match was called out minutes ago, shouldn't the referees have come out by now to prevent further damage?
- Smooth crawls on all fours, and Kanyon gets a third chairshot.
- Smooth gets up and walks into a fourth shot.
- Smooth STILL wants more. Kanyon doesn't though.
- Sorry, Jarod.
- You know, if WCW wants us to care about M. I. Smooth's act of courage and endurance, they have to get us to care about M. I. Smooth first.
- No rating due to the non-match.
- Match #6: WCW United States Champion Rick Steiner (w/ WCW World Champion Scott Steiner) vs. Diamond Dallas Page
- Schiavone says that we still don't know who attacked Midajah.
- Rick's brother walks out for some reason.
- Scott gets a mic and runs down Page.
- Scott says DDP had to use Hooked on Phonics to get into high school.
- Scott makes some DDP-White Trash jokes.
- Zzzz...
- Scott wishes DDP luck, then we go to commercial.
- DDP gets the pyro effect as he comes out.
- DDP rushes the ring and hits a discus lariat.
- DDP with a urinage off the ropes for two.
- DDP clotheslines Rick out of the ring.
- DDP with a slingshot bodypress.
- DDP shoves Rick into the rail.
- DDP sends Rick into the ring and goes up top.
- Rick yanks the rope, crotching DDP.
- Rick controls with the usual.
- Flying forearm off the ropes gets two.
- More punching.
- Rick sends DDP outside.
- Rick sends DDP into the rail.
- DDP reverses a whip to the rail, but Rick no-sells and gets a Steinerline in.
- Back inside, DDP does the Bret Hart turnbuckle bump and gets suplexed for two.
- Boot choke in the corner.
- DDP tries a comeback, and actually ducks a boot after a corner charge.
- DDP pulls Rick's legs around the ringpost.
- Rick blocks the Diamond Cutter, and puts his feet on the ropes for two.
- As Rick hits the SBOD, Schiavone sends Hudson backstage for a major development.
- Rick gives the Diamond Cutter signal.
- Rick whips DDP into the ropes but charges into the turnbuckle.
- DDP rolls Rick up for two and gets met with a Steinerline afterward.
- DVD is blocked, and DDP tries a urinage but turns it into the Diamond Cutter.
- Animal runs in to earn his pay for the night and ends up blowing his sit-out powerbomb.
- Folks, I want to remind you that Crowbar was cut so WCW could pay guys like Animal and M. I. Smooth.
- YOUR WINNER: Diamond Dallas Page via DQ in 5:57.
- Diamond Cutter on Animal, and EVERYONE runs in.
- Meanwhile, Hudson points out that The Cat and Booker T are seriously hurt and on stretchers.
- A Magnificent Seven beatdown follows on DDP until security pulls everyone off.
- DDP gets to his feet, but Scott Steiner runs out with a pipe.
- As Scott puts on the Recliner, Rick kicks away.
- We then fade.
- I can't mince words here, tonight's show sucked ass. The cruiserweight matches were okay, but that's about it. Booker and DDP tried their damnedest to bring Lex Luger and Rick Steiner to a watchable level, respectively, but let's face it, it's Lex Luger and Rick Steiner. Team Canada was wasted tonight in a nothing match with the Mamalukes, the latter of which had no clips showing their reformation. The Shawn Stasiak/Stacy Keibler pairing was out of nowhere, and the acting was truly horrible. Thankfully, Bam Bam Bigelow gets something to do out of this, but the outcome isn't in doubt because Stasiak is getting a push and Bigelow has been jobbing for the last several months. As for the M. I. Smooth thing, they tried, but we weren't given a reason to care about him before, so why should we now?
In addition, two major storyline developments were introduced but completely forgotten about before the main event. The first was finding out who beat up Midajah and the second was meeting the "new owners" for WCW.
I could understand the former because of the build-up factor, but in return the announcers stressed that there was dissension in the Magnificent Seven because Scott Steiner implicated one of his teammates in the beating. Yet, everyone showed solidarity in DDP's beatdown. More inconsistency, as Scott should have been in EVERYONE'S face, friend or foe.
However, what was inexcusable was Schiavone teasing new owners arriving, but the matter was forgotten about much like an Abe "Knuckleball" Schwartz segment from Monday Night RAW back in the day. WCW continues to lose trust from the fans every time they don't deliver in a storyline, and tonight is no exception.
I apologize for the negative tone, but that's two weeks now that WCW didn't deliver the goods. With the Fusient deal in limbo, WCW needs to get its head out of its ass and deliver, and tonight didn't do that.
Duke of Aldo,
There isn't really much to report on.
Yes, as you stated in your report the show reeked of sucktitude. The
coliseum was more full than it looked until the Thunder tapings due to the
late hour. And a most heinous rain storm going on outside certainly did not
make travel in the ever-confusing downtown area of Knoxville any more
bearable than 5 hours of live wrestling.
A little local bit of info for you. The coliseum in which WCW events are
held in Knoxville is obviously arranged much different than the current,
modern arenas most events are held in. The coliseum is actually minor league
hockey arena. Thus, the lack of stadium seating... why you saw a concrete
wall behind 10 rows of fans, then the upper deck. Thompson-Boling Arena is
the other venue of choice in town for wrestling. It is the basketball arena
for the University of Tennessee and has an official seating capacity of
24,535. The Civic Coliseum has a seating capacity of 6,400. In the current
state of WCW, the Civic Coliseum was an obvious choice to avoid television
embarassment.
An awesome dark match was held to start the show. Kid Kash vs. someone who
is slipping from memory at this moment. Sorry... I'm sure it's on a sheet
somewhere. Kid "Rock" Kash blew one spot, but that certainly did not ruin
the match for myself or anyone else in the arena. It lasted about 10 minutes
and was packed full of high spots. Great WCW debut from the Johnson City, TN
native.
And I'm sure you were wondering about my sign, "I Farted." Much like the
June 7 Thunder, it was taken by WCW security. Only this time, the culprit
was Doug "F'n" Dillenger. He didn't say a word. He walked over, reached in
front of my seat and took the sign... without even reading it. I guess he
didn't have to. I did notice that half of my sign was aired, so maybe it was
edited out. I did my damndest to hide it throughout the show, only holding
it up when the wrestlers entered the ring... and getting a few chuckles out
of the wrestlers for it certainly made it all worth while. I knew I had a
winning sign when I almost broke Lance Storm's classic stare while in the
ring. The only downfall to having my sign taken up is that I didn't get to
use it to mark out for Charles Palumbo. The back read, "Palumbo Rules!"
There was a bit of a war going on with the signs. During the cruiserweight
match, I was marking out big-time with my sign when Matt saw it. He was
sitting in the section across from me, turned his "We Want El Dandy" sign
that I creatively painted for him to reveal "Who Farted?" This got the
attention not only to our entire sections, but to two young lads in the
section in between us who had a dry erase board. In turn they wrote, "No, We
Farted!" Needless to say, the entire floor abrupted in laughter as we all
tried to claim a fart.
It was probably a good thing the sign was taken up. My girlfriend arrived
about 10 minutes later and would have disowned me if she had seen it. I'm
glad I didn't write, "She farted!" Stephanie did seem to receive some female
fans due to her "I'm here because of him --->" sign.
I guess that's all.
