WCW Worldwide - Saturday, 8/28/99
Trivia Question: What is Ric Flair's middle name? (answer at the end of the report)
- Needless to say, the Gambler (Yes, the Gambler) dominated the mailbag:
- Spike D. Punch writes:
I really do consider the Gambler to be one of my personal faves. He knows his wrestling too - I'll bet he's been a mid-carder somewhere.
- Gery Roif made a Gambler request:
Hey guys, thanks for the World Wide report, I live in Israel and get only Nitros 2 months late( and pay 50$ for PPVs from guys like you) I would like to ask to please if you can scan pictures of low card workers that are barely seen, for example, I always wanted to know how Gambler looked, I was told he is a great veteran, so if you can put a pic of the unknown guys, please do so. Thanks for your reports, they`re the best!
- Actually, Bill does the scans for all of the DDT Digest reports. He actually did put a picture of the Gambler in our last report. We will repost that picture again this week since everyone just can't get enough of the Gambler. Yes, the Gambler. We will call this a DDT Digest Worldwide exclusive. Actually, since DDT Digest is about the only site that covers Worldwide, just about anything would be exclusive. As for the Gambler, I do believe he a Power Plant graduate, who has wrestled a limited about of time. If anyone, know for sure, e-mail Chan. Here is that picture:
- Bill Fluty from Wichita, Kansas, gives his account of last week's show:
Hey, Thanks for filling in for Cubs Fan. An excellent and entertaining WorldWide Report. I had high hopes for the Gambler, yes, the Gambler, winning a match -- until Dusty avowed he should win based on his veteran status. Well, I enjoy WorldWide, for it's the last bastion of jobber matches in WCW. I may be only one of ~7 folks who watch it, but I use it as an example when people tell me to get a life. And, the WorldWide broadcast the week after the PPV is great because we get (usually) a double shot of WorldWide Exclusives. The highlight of the show had to be Mona getting some stick time (no Chastity jokes!), and she showed she needs the experience. A nice touch would have been to have Brandi Alexander do a Pearl Harbor during the interview and see Gene Gene the Useless Machine try and pull them apart. Does your Q&A site still exist (insert shameless plug)? I remember reading a couple of years ago your rendition of the Mulkeys TV win. Great stuff. Welcome back, if only for a little while.
- Thanks for the support. Due to time constraints, we have not updated the Q and A in about a year. We have left it on the web for first time viewers though.
- It would not be a Chan and Charlie report, if I did not ask a question, so if anyone know the name of Mike Von Erich's wife, e-mail Chan. That felt good!
- The program opened up with a clip of Sid Vicious prior to the customary Worldwide intro. Who is that guy anyway?
- Larry Zbyszko and Mike Tenay were then in the booth discussing Road Wild and they showed some stills of the pay-per-view.
- The most impressive was a shot of Gorgeous George's chest in which her head was cut off leaving no doubt as to the intent of the shot.
- I have always claimed that Tenay looked and acted like Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation, and now with the WCW Star trek insignias, it makes the comparison even more tangible.
- Zbyszko attributed orange Hogan's victory to his experience. Has there ever been a Zbyszko segment where he did not attribute anyone's victory to experience?
- Gene Okerlund then interviewed Sid before the commercial.
- Okerlund noted Sid's "undefeated" 62-0 streak and made the natural comparison to Goldberg's "175-0" run.
- Sid denounced the importance of numbers and was very intense. He did a nice false exit and startled Geno upon his return.
- It is fortunate that Gene was the interviewer as in my opinion, Sid is far too old (38) to be playing this role, but next to the ancient Okerlund, it was not as noticeable.
- The entire second segment was also used to push Sid as the monster heel. They showed clips from the 8/16 Nitro of Sid's interrupting matches and eventual conflict with the Hulkster. Even when Hogan arrived the fans were chanting "Goldberg!" Despite the announcers hyping of the Hogan-Sid match, the comparisons to Goldberg were equally prevalent so it appears even the WCW announcers realize that Goldberg is the #1 babyface and the man fans want to see challenge Sid.
- The third segment opened with clips of the Kidman-DDP confrontation.
- Kidman claimed to have watched the Nitro Girls pay-per-view more than Okerlund, who said he had seen it 17 times. God help them.
- Kidman then claimed Kim was the most beautiful Nitro Girl. I realize this was necessary for the angle, but Kim as the favorite Nitro Girl? Over Bill's very own Spice? Talk about taking out the legitimacy in professional wrestling.
- I hope that won't start a feud between Bill and myself since I said his woman was beautiful...
- Actually, Kidman and Paige are friends and it's nice to see Paige attempting to help the talented Kidman's career.
- It was also weird to hear Kidman be referred to as Billy again...
- Before commercial they also aired clips of the nWo black and white's problems on Nitro.
- Scott Norton and Horace attacked Bryan Adams after Adams had challenged Harlem Heat with Vincent as his partner and pushed Norton. I would be offended too if somebody picked Vincent over me...
- They then showed the beginnings of the Bryan Adams-Kiss angle. I find it ironic that they picked the guy named Bryan Adams to run this angle. Does this mean, everything he does, he does it for Kiss...
- The clip was only watchable due to the appearance of the DDT Digest Patron Saint Stevie Ray. He even said "Fruit booties!"
- They then aired an Alex Wright promo to begin the next segment. And we thought this angle was aborted...
- Match One: Lenny Lane (with Lodi) vs. Scott Armstrong (Referee Billy Silverman)
- Lodi's signs included but were not limited to: When Lenny + Lodi Are Around, Somebody is Going Down; We are Ab Solution; 2 B Or Not 2 B Ask Lenny; I Can't Think of Anything Right Now; Feed Your Munchies!; Lenny Works Out Very Hard!
- Commentators Zbyszko and Scott Hudson both took turns reading signs before realizing what they had done. I was disappointed Dusty was not here like last week. I was interested in knowing if he was literate.
- Hudson noted the "brother" relationship of Lenny and Lodi and wondered why Steve Armstrong did not accompany his brother to ringside to counter Lodi. Hudson made no mention of Scott's other brothers B.A. or Road Dogg. I guess he did not want to tarnish their credibility...
- Hudson wondered aloud why Lenny, the reigning cruiserweight champion, did not wear the belt. Hudson always tries to account for taping problems and the like. I actually think he is WCW's best commentator.
- Scott's singlet was monogrammed SA. Wonder if anyone confused him with Steve Austin? Well, his brother Brad tried an Austin ripoff gimmick once and it got him nowhere.
- The finish was nice, particularly had you seen last week's show. First Lodi attempted to interfere and Scott evaded him throwing the heels in to one another. Then, they did a false finish in which Lodi grabbed Scott's leg from the outside while he was attempting a suplex and scored a two-count. This was the exact same finish as last week's Lodi match and it was well done for the false finish. Finally, Scott argued with Lodi and Lenny rolled him up with a schoolboy for the pin. Afterwards, Scott chased the heels into the ring.
- Creative booking and a solid match.
- Match Two: Villano V vs. Disciple (Referee Charles Robinson)
- Hudson put Disciple over in away by mentioning all of his past ring names in succession and seemed legitimately happy to see him. He even noted the irony of Disciple once being called "The Man With No Name."
- Hudson noted Disciple's real name of "E. Harrison Leslie." That would be for Edward, as in Charlie's middle name...
- Disciple is now sporting shorter hair and trimmed beard, but it's still the same old Booty Disciple to me.
- Hudson again noted Villano IV's injury, but again misdated it (eighteen months) and claimed it was at the hands of Raven and Saturn when it was Raven and Kanyon. For proper details, see last week's reports. Still, it was nice of Hudson to put over the injured Villano.
- The finish came smoothly as Disciple hit in succession a high knee to the head, a second rope clothesline and a DDT. Again for the second consecutive wee, Villano V jobbed while selling moves to the neck region while his brother is out with a neck injury. I am probably the only person in the free world who noticed it. Heck, Bill Fluty and I are probably the only people in the free world who watched it both weeks!
- The show concluded with Tenay and Zbyszko recapping the weeks' events.
- Again, I felt it was a strong show and WCW seems like they have some direction with Hogan-Sid which is more than they routinely have. I feel it is almost unfair to give the replays of shows top billing over the younger guys because it makes it look like taped clips of stars are better than their real matches. While to most they probably are, and without the top stars nobody would watch the show, it still seems unfair.
- I just pretended like people watch Worldwide in the first place...
- Until next time, remember we watch Worldwide so you don't have to!
Trivia Answer: Ric Flair's middle name is Morgan.