- Mel (no relation to DDT Digest's Mel, by the way) chimes in with:
Two words for the improvement of match finishes:
Johnny Ace.
WCW was FINALLY smart enough to seek out a neutral booker for their match finishes, rather than let the usual crew and Russo run rampant on the card with their wretched logic about who should win what how. In two weeks on the job, Ace is already starting to bring some MUCH-needed stability to the completion of matches.
Hell, if they keep this up, WCW may just decide on a decent identity for itself and make some headway. Of course, having said that -- look for Nash to put himself over Kronic and the rest of the tag division en route to a feud with Lance Storm, in which a DQ win involving every member of the locker room being thrown over the top rope makes Big Creaky our first simultaneous four-time, four-time, four-time world champeen.
- Ty W. asks:
Now that we've seen it the question arises. Who gives a better chair shot, Midajah or Hulk Hogan? Ask yourself Brutha!!!!
- Russell T. closes us out with:
I was wondering how often does WCW change its title belts (not champions but the hardware) I've noticed on several different occasions, especially with the US Title, that the color of the metal parts, the color of the trim, and what is displayed on the belt changes. If you look back I've seen the US Title have dark gold metal w/ white trim and a blue earth, silver metal featuring an eagle and black trim, etc etc etc. I'm curious as to why they do this. Do they have trouble with people "borrowing" title belts in the back or do they just lose them?
- A mud pit is near the entryway. * sigh *
- Already in the ring: The Jung Dragons.
- As the heels walk out, we see a ladder on an entryway.
- Tank Abbott walks out, just in case we didn't think overbooking would kick in so soon.
- Abbott decides to take a seat at the announcing booth.
- Jamisan and Vamp start us off.
- Vamp with an arm grab and a kick to the chest.
- Vamp with a release powerbomb.
- Vamp clotheslines Jamisan out of the ring.
- Vamp goes outside, but Jamisan evades and hits a baseball slide.
- Yang beats up on Vamp outside.
- Jamisan hits a somersault from the top on the two.
- Kaz brings the ladder into the ring.
- Yung sets up Vamp as Kaz goes to the top of the ladder.
- Kaz comes up short on the dive.
- Demon gorilla presses Yang out of the ring.
- Tag to Muta.
- Muta whips Kaz to the corner but misses the handspring elbow.
- Kaz with a heel kick from the middle rope.
- Kaz hits a dropkick.
- Kaz gets whipped to the ropes but comes off with a sunset flip for two.
- Tag to Yang.
- Muta with a dragonscrew legwhip and a leglock.
- It's a big schmozz, with the heels cleaning house.
- Yang with a somersault kick on Muta in the corner.
- Muta counters with the GREEN MIST OF DEATH!
- Muta goes up top and hits the moonsault for the win.
- YOUR WINNERS: Vampiro, Great Muta and The Demon via Muta's moonsault in 4:04.
- Post-match, Sting makes a Special Guest Appearance and beats on the heels with his bat.
- Sting says he came to Nitro looking for a fight.
- Sting addresses Goldberg as we fade...
- I am refreshingly pleased that Tank Abbott didn't get involved. But, these "Special Guest Announcer" bits really kill the flow of the match by forcing the viewer to concentrate on something other than the match on hand.
- The sirens bring out Scott Steiner.
- Steiner tells Sting that he's in the wrong place at the wrong time.
- Steiner says some naughty words, then nails Sting in the abdomen with his pipe.
- They go in the ring, and Steiner shows us his Mark McGwire impersonation.
- Steiner cusses out some fans at ringside.
- We head to commercial. Time of segment: barely three minutes.
- Cat says he's going to take control of the show right now.
- Cat says if Goldberg or Nash screw up tonight's show, he won't send them home, because someone might pay them.
- Cat offers a trip to jail, instead.
- Cat addresses "Big Poppa Dump."
- Cat plans to book a Pipe On A Pole match in reference to Steiner carrying his weapon around.
- The participants: Steiner and Sting.
- Cat tells the people in the back to hit his music.
- However, Lance Storm's music comes out, and the triple-champion appears.
- Storm asks Cat to book him into a match he deserves -- the match Canadian fans want to see and American fans are afraid of.
- Storm wants a match with Booker T so he can become a grand-slam champion.
- Cat tells Storm's Canadian fans to kiss his American ass.
- Cat offers his American fans to choose if they want to see Storm vs. Booker.
- The crowd boos, and Cat retorts by saying he wants to see Booker kick his ass.
- The crowd cheers, and the match is booked.
- Kidman talks about how mean he was to Torrie Wilson.
- Kidman calls tonight "Torrie Wilson Appreciation Night" as a way for him to apologize.
- The two Brians make their way out.
- Their opponents: Jindrak and O'Haire.
- It's a brawl to start, with the champs taking control.
- Adams runs into O'Haire's boot in the corner.
- O'Haire goes up top but Adams dodges.
- O'Haire with a standing side kick.
- Adams dumps O'Haire as Chuck Palumbo walks to ringside.
- Clarke hits a dive from the ring to his opponents outside.
- Apparently, Perfect Event is at the announcing booth. * sigh *
- Jindrak covers Clarke for two.
- Tag to O'Haire.
- O'Haire bodyscissors his partner and then splashes on Clarke for two.
- Tag to Adams.
- Adams cleans house then gives a full-nelson slam to O'Haire.
- Double shoulderblock takes down Jindrak.
- Kronic with High Times for two when O'Haire saves.
- Adams dumps O'Haire and follows him outside.
- Clarke hits the Meltdown on Jindrak for two when O'Haire saves.
- Outside, Adams is laid out.
- Jindrak and O'Haire with a double-suplex.
- O'Haire goes up top and hits the Sean-ton Bomb (named by Schiavone) for two.
- O'Haire mounts Clarke on the top turnbuckle, but Adams axehandles him from behind.
- Adams carries O'Haire as Clarke goes for the kill...
- But Palumbo nails Clarke with the Lex Flexor for the DQ.
- YOUR WINNERS: Kronic via DQ in 4:19.
- Post-match, the heels (including Jindrak and O'Haire) beat down Kronic.
- The Filthy Animals hit the ring for a gigantic beatdown on Kronic.
- The Misfits In Action then hit the ring to even the sides.
- The Animals steal the tag team titles as we fade.
- I guess Johnny Ace was taking a break there.
- Backstage, Douglas and Torrie bitch about Kidman's antics.
- Kanyon walks in and says he's got a mixed tag with Torrie but she shoves him off.
- Kanyon then recruits Pamela Paulshock.
- I guess this is a mixed tag.
- Will Pamela wrestle as bad as she speaks?
- Buff starts off with some elbows and a swinging neckbreaker off the ropes on Kanyon.
- Buff poses.
- Kanyon calls for a tag, but Pamela does the Strike Force job from WrestleMania V.
- For you newer fans, I am referencing a match between the Brainbusters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard) versus Strike Force (Tito Santana and Rick Martel). Tito accidentally collided with Martel coming off the ropes, which led to Martel walking off the apron and eventually leaving Santana for the wolves when a tag was desperately needed.
- Kanyon with a neckbreaker for two.
- Kanyon works over Buff some more then eyes Judy.
- Judy gives him the California salute.
- Kanyon dumps Buff from the ring with a clothesline.
- Kanyon nails Judy on the side of the neck.
- Kanyon forcibly tags Pamela, who slaps him in response.
- Kanyon drags Pamela by the hair into the ring.
- Oh, Lord. Mean Gene does a run-in.
- Gene kicks Kanyon with his "finishing maneuver," the Greco-Roman kick to the nuts.
- Buff with the Blockbuster for the win.
- YOUR WINNERS: Buff and Judy Bagwell via Buff's Blockbuster in 2:40.
- Post-match, Gene consoles Pamela.
- Congrats, Kanyon! You just put a flabby, over the hill announcer over!
- Russo says there will be a time where he will explain his actions at Bash At The Beach, but can't do so now.
- On the subject of leaving the WWF: Russo thought the WWF peaked during his tenure and sees WCW as a great challenge.
- Russo wanted to help the new talent in WCW break the politics.
- Russo talks about an establishment in WCW that didn't want the youth to break through.
- Russo says those individuals holding the younger guys down have been eliminated for the most part.
- Russo talks about taking the ratings from 2.8 to 3.4 in three months. Of course, the 3.4 was a very temporary state, but that's just details.
- Russo talks about how the WWF referred to their competition as an ATM Machine.
- Russo says that in ten months, WCW is at the place they need to be.
- Russo says he was willing to do whatever he had to do to help the company.
- Russo uses the above line to justify his camera presence.
- Russo says he's shooting with Schiavone. * sigh *
- Russo talks about Starrcade '00 at the Nassau Coliseum, his backyard.
- Russo talks about bringing John Rocker in to beat his ass. Whatever.
- Russo says that the new guys have the opportunity now.
- Schiavone references the three-way match between Goldberg, Nash and Steiner.
- Russo says it isn't about "me" anymore. We're assuming Russo never made mention to John Rocker two minutes ago.
- Russo says that what happens in the ring during the three-way match will be what's best for this company.
- And this interview proved...?
- Sting attacks Steiner at ringside and shoves him into the rail.
- Sting chairs a meeting with Steiner.
- Sting hurls Steiner into the rail.
- They go inside, with Sting scaling the turnbuckle.
- Sting with a flying clothesline.
- Sting goes up top but Steiner counters the axehandle with an overhead release suplex.
- Steiner with a boot to the midsection.
- Steiner whips Sting into a clothesline for two.
- Uhh, isn't the point to grab the pipe?
- Steiner pounds on Sting some more.
- Steiner with a kneelift.
- Steiner with a T-bone suplex.
- Steiner graces us with some push-ups. Gunnery Sgt. Hartman would have been proud.
- Sting makes a comeback but splashes Mark Johnson.
- Sting faceplants Scott as Rick makes his way out.
- Stinger Splash in the corner on Scott.
- And another on Rick, who managed to grab the pipe.
- Rick tosses the pipe to Scott, and the bell rings.
- YOUR WINNER: Scott Steiner in 3:36.
- Post-match, Scott does a pipe-assisted Recliner but Nash makes the save.
- Security breaks up the fight.
- Schiavone: "If you only see one PPV, it better be Sunday's! [New Blood Rising]" So much for Starrcade being important.
- Mark Madden has the gall to call the Steiners the greatest tag team ever along with the Outsiders. We are, of course, assuming that Harlem Heat, the Midnight Express, the Rock 'N' Roll Express, or the Arn/Tully tandem never existed.
- Oh, Awesome's chick is named Heidi.
- Storm has a mic.
- Storm reads off the names of some Canadian greats.
- Storm says it's not his fault that he will be the first Grand Slam champion.
- Storm says it's not his fault that he's that damn good. Where have I heard that before?
- Booker T's music interrupts the Canadian National Anthem.
- Storm and Booker get into a shouting match before the bell.
- Schiavone did an interview with Booker that will air on this week's Thunder.
- Lock-up, Booker gets whipped to the ropes but he hits a shoulderblock.
- We see some guy bring some sandwiches to ringside. Why?
- Booker hits a nice forearm as Storm comes off the ropes.
- Awesome is bitching about some donuts for Heidi at the booth. * sigh *
- They fight over a backslide, and Storm hits a dropkick on Booker's bad leg.
- Booker goes outside to regroup as we pan to the announcing booth, where there is a stack of ham sandwiches.
- Hey, production. There's a F*****G WORLD TITLE MATCH GOING ON IN THE RING.
- Storm hits a plancha from the top rope on Booker outside.
- Back inside, Storm hits Booker in the corner.
- Booker counters a suplex into one of his own.
- Booker comes off the ropes and Storm tries the Canadian Maple Leaf but Booker escapes.
- They trade reversals, and Booker comes back with a kneelift.
- Booker comes off the ropes with an axekick.
- Madden pisses me off more with his Spinerooni call.
- Booker with the Harlem Sidekick for two.
- Storm gets sidekicked to the corner and nails Booker with a boot as he charges.
- Storm goes up top for a bodypress but Booker counters with a powerslam.
- They trade go-behinds, and Storm rolls through into the Mapleleaf!
- Booker's trying to fight the hold.
- Booker reaches the ropes after about a minute of pain.
- Booker elbows Storm but runs into a sidekick.
- Storm charges into the 110th Street Slam for two.
- Booker goes up top and hits the missile dropkick... for two!
- Booker goes for the Book-End but Storm knees his way out.
- Booker reverses an Irish Whip into the Book-End and the win!
- YOUR WINNER: Booker T via Book-End in 5:35.
- Post-match, Jarrett nails Booker from behind.
- Jarrett nails Mickey Jay and heads to the turnbuckle.
- Jarrett takes the Canadian flag and beats on Booker with it.
- Storm nails Jarrett with a forearm.
- They fight towards the booth and Jarrett accidentally nails Heidi with the guitar when Storm ducks. YES!
- Awesome chases Jarrett into the ring, and Booker offers vengeance with the Book-End.
- A few comments about what we just saw:
- For the record, that is how you start the 9:00pm hour.
- One complaint, though. The world title is supposed to be the highest prize in the promotion and should be able to get over on its own. By putting Mike Awesome and his cow of the week at ringside, then focusing on getting sandwiches for his woman, it makes the world title look meaningless, as WCW is basically saying "Hell with the match" by forcing the viewer to turn his/her attention away from what goes on in the ring.
- This, by the way, is why I hate the "Guest Announcer" bits so much.
- Other than this minor glitch, however, this was the best free television match I've seen in WCW in a long while.
- And for those who think Booker T is not over, watch the match again. Loud, constant crowd heat throughout the match, especially when Booker was fighting out of the Canadian Maple Leaf.
- In my opinion, WCW made the right choice for their new champion. Kudos to Lance Storm for busting ass, as well.
- I guess a rating would help, wouldn't it?
- Kidman apologizes for everything he ever did.
- Kidman says he should have never shown the sex tape.
- Madden compares this segment to an Air Supply song. Heh.
- Kidman says Torrie still means the world to him despite her being with The Franchise.
- Douglas and Torrie rant in the back.
- Kidman calls Torrie out to have a party.
- Torrie walks out, smiling.
- Kidman holds the ropes for his ex-girlfriend.
- Kidman asks Torrie to remember the good times they shared.
- Kidman talks about Torrie's baby pictures.
- Kidman brings up Torrie's sweet sixteen party.
- Kidman wants to air another tape, and IT ISN'T A SEX TAPE, says Kidman. Really.
- Kidman asks to roll the footage, and it's a birthday party of Torrie when she was REALLY BIG. Torrie's wolfing down the cake and punch like there's no tomorrow.
- HAH! That was great!
- I should also point out the April 17, 1992 date stamp on the film. Nice touch there.
- Kidman talks about Torrie's high school photograph, and leaflets fall from the ceiling. The picture is of Torrie The Fat Girl with glasses.
- Douglas tries to attack Kidman from behind, but Kidman counters and decks Douglas.
- Torrie grabs the champagne bottle but Kidman decks her before she can use it.
- Reno (TAFKA Rick Cornell) runs in and chokes Kidman out.
- Reno holds Kidman as Franchise takes his belt off and lashes away.
- Funny segment.
- The Animals go to escape in their car, so they open the steel door...
- And are greeted by Kronic.
- Kronic beats on the car with the sledgehammer.
- Disco Inferno hands the tag titles over to the champs, and Kronic pays him back with High Times.
- Gunns shoves Tygress into the mud pit.
- Gunns dives in and chokes out Tygress.
- Miss Hancock enters the fray and helps Tygress out.
- The heels drown Gunns in the mud and kick her around.
- Mark Madden with an injury update for Major Gunns: "She's fine and she'll be back on her knees in no time." Nice.
- Awesome charges the ring and gets stomped for his troubles.
- Awesome gets whipped to the ropes.
- Awesome ducks a clothesline and hits a suplex.
- Awesome splashes Jarrett in the corner.
- Awesome with a legdrop for two.
- Jarrett reverses a whip and elbows Awesome out of the ring.
- Into the rail goes Awesome.
- Jarrett with a chair shot.
- Jarrett runs Awesome to the other rail.
- Now, it's Jarrett's turn to crash into steel.
- Awesome with a chairshot.
- Awesome pulls a table from underneath the ring, but Jarrett jabs him with a chair.
- Awesome continues to set up the table.
- Awesome jabs Jarrett with a chair as an ECW chant erupts. Awesome responds with a "Huh?"
- Jarrett crotches Awesome with the ropes as the latter tries to enter.
- Back inside, Jarrett showboats on the turnbuckle.
- Awesome gets whipped to the corner, but hits a middle-rope back elbow.
- Awesome goes up top but Jarrett cuts him off.
- Lance Storm and his Canadian flag stand on the entryway.
- Awesome knocks Jarrett off and hits a flying clothesline.
- Awesome with a standing spinebuster for two when Jarrett reaches the ropes.
- Awesome gets whipped to the ropes but he gets a desperation clothesline in.
- Storm hits the apron and talks to Charles Robinson.
- Jarrett pulls an object from his tights and nails Awesome.
- Robinson counts the pin... for two.
- Awesome goes for the running powerbomb on the table but Storm hops on the apron.
- Awesome forearms Storm onto the table, but gets caught in the Stroke for the Jarrett victory.
- YOUR WINNER: Jeff Jarrett via Stroke in 5:41.
- The Steiners grace us with their presence again.
- Rick does some uninspired mic work.
- Scott then says to Sting and Nash that he'll stick his boot so far up their asses that they'll floss with his shoelaces.
- Sting and Nash walk out.
- I guess this is a tag match.
- The heels get whipped to the ropes and kicked out of the ring.
- Stalllllllllllllll.
- Nash and Rick are in the ring.
- Nash with the kneelifts and punches in the corner.
- Nash with an elbow.
- And another. Frame it, damn you!
- Rick ducks a clothesline off the ropes and hits a Steinerline.
- Cover gets two.
- Rick pounds on Nash, who whips him in response.
- Nash clotheslines Rick in the corner.
- Tag to Sting.
- Nash slams Rick and Sting follows with a bodysplash for two.
- Sting decks Rick and hammers Scott on the apron.
- Sting with some more offense but Rick rakes the eyes.
- Tag to Scott.
- Scott with a clothesline for two.
- Scott kicks away on Sting.
- Scott bullies Billy Silverman, allowing Rick to punish Sting in the corner.
- They put Sting in the Tree of Woe.
- Rick chokes out Sting until Nash makes the save.
- Tag to Rick.
- Rick hits the first wrestling move of the match, a belly-to-belly suplex for two.
- Tag to Scott.
- Scott whips Sting into a bearhug.
- Just when you thought this couldn't be any more boring...
- Rick interferes, allowing Sting to break out of the hold.
- Sting comes off the ropes into a hot-shot attempt, but tags in Nash at the last minute.
- Nash cleans house and goes for the powerbomb, but Scott makes the save.
- Tag to Sting.
- Sting hits a Splash on Scott in the corner but misses the second attempt.
- Outside the ring, Nash powerbombs Rick on the table.
- Steiner goes for the Recliner but Goldberg runs in and beats on him.
- Sting covers for three.
- YOUR WINNERS: Sting and Kevin Nash via pinfall in 6:41.
- Post-match, Goldberg delivers a side kick to Sting.
- Nash and Scott run into the ring and it's a three-way (NOT IN THAT MANNER YOU FILTHY PIG!) until we fade...
- Been there, done that. Yawn.