Wednesday 29 November 2017

ECW Barely Legal 1997 Review

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Hello and welcome to a hardcore edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet to be more vomit inducing than promo time with Droz! It’s a new arc, we are going to the land of extreme with ECW’s first pay per view Barely Legal 1997. Many are familiar with the history of the brand so I will offer a brief synopsis to clue those who may not now much in: Paul Heyman formerly Paul E Dangerously came to the company after leaving WCW, became head book and took wrestling a new direction. Heyman wanted wrestling to be like music at the time, Nirvana changed the scene and Heyman wanted ECW to change the wrestling scene. Adult heavy content, more violent matches, sexuality filled segments ECW was cutting edge, ECW was The Attitude Era before WWF found its own. So, ECW needed to keep expanding they had house shows and tv and with Barely Legal, they came to pay per view with big talent names all over the card, the question was could ECW knock it out of the park? Let’s find out!


Opening Promo


Joey Styles stands in the middle of the ring with rabid ECW fans chanting and screaming while Styles welcomes everyone to the show. Styles tries to run down the crowd but here comes The Dudley Boyz with Sign Guy Dudley. Styles will have to wait for another time as The Dudleys are here to do their thing.


(ECW Tag Team Championship Match) The Dudley Boyz © W/ Sign Guy Dudley/Joel Gertner vs The Eliminators


The Dudleys were ECW’s top tag team after Public Enemy had left for greener pastures in WCW, The Dudleys were meant to be one big hillbilly family that featured children from many of Poppa Dudley’s one night stands. There was Snot Dudley, Big Dick Dudley, Spike Dudley and Dances With Dudley to name a few. The most iconic incarnation of the group was D-Von and Bubba Dudley, the two would unite as Bubba turned heel to join forces with D-Von. The Dudleys ruled supreme in ECW and this was when The Dudleys were in their element but faced a great challenge in The Eliminators, Kronus was like no other big man, doing flips like they were nothing while Saturn had the look and the skills to be a big deal in the business by himself.


Sign Guy tries attacking The Eliminators, two seconds in we see Total Elimination on Sign Guy. The Dudleys come into the match, powerbomb and headbutt on Kronus for a two count. Sidewalk slam and splash combination on Saturn, Kronus makes the save. Suplex/crossbody combination on Kronus but Saturn saves his partner. Saturn dropkicks both Dudleys, clotheslines to The Dudleys before a huge slam from Bubba stops Saturn. Kronus avoids 3D for a spinning heel kick, enzuigiris on D-Von. Bubba eats double punches and superkicks, stereo scoop slams and moonsaults. The Dudleys bail to the floor while the fans roar in approval, The Eliminators decimate The Dudleys with a Saturnsault to the floor.


Kronus nails a Space Flying Kronuscault, amazing move for a big man like Kronus. Saturn nails a springboard spinning heel kick on D-Von, Bubba eats a handspring elbow from Kronus. Huge Elbow drop by Saturn on Bubba, D-Von eats two kicks to the back of the head. Saturn nails Bubba with a double jump Saturnsault, Kronus nails D-Von with a 450 Splash. The Eliminators drill Bubba  with kicks, they call for the finish. Total Elimination to Bubba and we have new champions, Gertner eats Total Elimination for running his mouth.


Well, the crowd were eating up everything that happened in the match, this made for a great visual for anyone watching at home you could feel the electricity inside of the building. As for the match itself, it came off as a massive squash, The Dudleys were beaten to a pulp after their initial offensive flurry, The Eliminators mowed them down. So, it was not a great match in any sense but it seemed like the perfect way to start off the show.


Winners: The Eliminators over The Dudley Boyz via Total Elimination!


Hype Package For Sandman


In preparation for the three way dance, Styles brings up one of the competitors being The Sandman. Highlights of Sandman drinking, smoking and beating people with canes pops up on the screen. Good way to introduce the character of The Sandman.


Lance Storm vs Rob Van Dam


Chris Candido is injured, Candido is in a sling having done something to his bicep. Candido rambles about the card before in Candido’s place we have Lance Storm vs Rob Van Dam. Storm had made a name for himself in Japan and in Smokey Mountain Wrestling as part of The Thrillseekers with Chris Jericho. RVD is the man facing Lance Storm, RVD had wrestled in WCW and All Japan before making a name for himself in his battle with Sabu in ECW.


We have you sold out chants for RVD as RVD was aligning himself with Jerry Lawler and the WWF in the lead-up to the pay per view as ECW was being promoted on Raw. Storm grabs a side headlock, some nice mat wrestling before a clothesline from Storm. Forearms to the face, RVD escapes a side headlock for kicks and armdrags. Springboard crossbody for two, RVD throws Storm to the floor. Tope con hilo by RVD, RVD poses proud of his work in the ring. Top rope leg drop for two, Storm reverses an Irish whip for an elbow, RVD is hung on the top rope, dropkick to the floor by Storm. Storm misses a plancha and crashes hard, RVD sends Storm into the guard rail. RVD nails Storm with a guard rail moonsault, RVD whips Storm to the corner and smashes a chair off Storm’s face.


RVD poses some more, running dropkick with the chair hitting Storm in the face. Double underhook front slam by RVD, Five Star Frog Splash for two. RVD has a chair, Storm is cracked in the face. Storm dodges a splash and suplexes RVD onto the chair, RVD misses a spinning heel kick but Storm connects with one of his own. Cartwheel splash, springboard clothesline for two. Roll-through Boston crab by Storm, RVD reaches the ropes. RVD elevates Storm to the apron, Storm is tripped by RVD and RVD nails a slingshot leg drop on Storm who lays across the apron. Storm nails RVD with the chair, sit-out powerbomb for two. Storm is up high, guillotine leg drop by Storm for two. Dropkick by Storm, low blow by RVD.


Storm is placed on the top rope, springboard elbow drop by RVD. Two for RVD, German suplex by Storm for two. Storm has the chair, weak chair shot by Storm. Make it two, RVD nails The Van Damnator and a standing moonsault for the win before shooting all over Storm, the match and ECW.


Not too bad, weak in spots with Storm’s chair shots and a botch or two here making the crowd react negatively. Storm and RVD would improve so much over the course of their stay in ECW. RVD was very reliant on hardcore spots to get over his matches at this point, this match did not have a tonne of those kind of spots which left us with a match that was average.


Winner: RVD over Lance Storm via Standing Moonsault!


(Michinoku Pro Wrestling Six-Man Match) Taka Michinoku/Terry Boy/Dick Togo vs Great Sasuke/Gran Hamada/Masato Yakushiji


No Gran Naniwa due to injury the replacement is the young Yakushiji. We get the streamer treatment Japanese style for the wrestlers of Michinoku Pro. The BWO were known as Kaientai DX in Michinoku Pro, they would make a few WWF appearances most notably at King Of The Ring and Summerslam 1998. The biggest names of this match would be Taka Michinoku who many would known from the WWF being their first ever light heavyweight champion and now a member of Suzukigun. After the WWF, Taka carved up a great career for himself in All Japan as a member of RO&D with Jamal, D’Lo Brown, Bull Buchanan and Taiyo Kea before joining Suzukigun. The other big name is Great Sasuke, star of many great matches in NJPW with the likes of Wild Pegasus and Jushin Liger to name a few. Michinoku Pro’s style was puroresu  mixed with lucha libre so expect lightening quick moves, no tags as wrestlers switch as they please and a tonne of crowd pleasing spots.


Hamada and Michinoku begin, armdrag by Hamada. Dropkick by Hamada, snapmare and a scoop slam, in comes Yakushiji. Slam and a leg drop for two, in comes Sasuke. Kicks floor Michinoku, Michinoku clobbers Sasuke and tags Terry Boy. Elbow and senton by The BWO, Sasuke comes in and eats a spinebuster/camel clutch/lowdropkick by The BWO. Elbows by Togo, senton for two. Yakushiji saves Sasuke, Togo rakes the eyes and tags Michinoku. Scoop slam and tag to Terry Boy, knees to the head of Yakushiji. Stalling suplex by Terry Boy, two for Terry Boy. Togo grabs Yakushiji, flapjack by Togo. Yakushiji counters a flapjack for a hurricanrana and headscissors, Togo slides out before Yakushiji wipes out Michinoku with an armdrag.


Hamada and Terry Boy collide, headbutt by Hamada. Armbar by Hamada, in comes Michinoku. Michinoku nails Terry Boy by mistake, armbar by Hamada. Back suplex and tag to Sasuke, double chop and a sleeper by Sasuke. Terry Boy saves Michinoku, beautiful theatrics from Sasuke and Terry Boy before a crossbody by Sasuke. Yakushiji and Michinoku are in, Terry Boy rakes the eyes of Yakushiji. Terry Boy eats a dropkick and a headscissors, Hamada and Togo go at it in the ring. Dropkick by Togo, Hamada and Michinoku are in the ring, chops by Hamada. Triple beatdown by the babyfaces, Sasuke has a single leg Boston crab by Michinoku, Michinoku counters for an enzuigiri.


Corner forearm by Michinoku, Togo and Terry Boy nail a double bulldog. Low dropkick by Michinoku, The BWO pose on Sasuke. Huge dropkick by Togo, Terry Boy applies a spinning toe hold on Sasuke. Drilling tornado DDT by Terry Boy, Michinoku knocks down Sasuke. Brainbuster by Michinoku on Yakushiji, tag to Terry Boy. Big boot and lariat/springboard knee combination on Yakushiji, scoop slam by Togo. Middle rope somersault senton by Togo, backdrop driver by Terry Boy but Hamada saves. Back drop by Michinoku on Hamada, foot choke by Michinoku. Spike piledriver by Togo and Michinoku, Yakushiji eats a triple powerbomb but Sasuke saves Yakushiji.


Sasuke counters a powerbomb, springboard moonsault onto Terry Boy & Michinoku, Asai moonsault onto Togo. Hamada and Terry Boy remain in the ring, inverted atomic drop by Terry Boy. Springboard plancha by Michinoku onto Hamada, Terry Boy and Yakushiji remain in the ring. Middle rope moonsault by Yakushiji for two, knee and swinging DDT by Terry Boy. Chokeslam into a powerbomb for two, Togo powerslams Hamada for two. Diving tornado DDT by Hamada for two, Irish whip with Togo reversing. Pop-up powerbomb by Togo for two, scoop slam and Togo is on the top rope. Sasuke attacks Togo, Hamada capitalizes. Top rope hurricanrana from the top, Yakushiji climbs to the top rope. Diving hurricanrana by Yakushiji, suicide dive by Yakushiji.


Michinoku belly to belly suplexes Sasuke, missile dropkick to the back of the head. Michinoku Driver but Yakushiji saves the match, Michinoku dives into a dropkick. Springboard moonsault for two, Samurai Powerbomb and Tiger suplex by Sasuke for the win.


All I can say is what a match, the match went for a long time and it was non-stop action from bell to bell. It was fantastic stuff at the end of the day, lots of amazing double team spots and triple team spots mixed with some incredible high-flying action. Nobody looked weak, everyone looked like ungodly stars in the eyes of the fans, the fans ate up everything in the ring. It really was the most fun I had watching wrestling in the past few days. Match of the night so far and hard to beat in my eyes.


Winners: Team Sasuke over Team BWO via Tiger Suplex!


Stevie Richards Promo


Could it be Stevie’s coming out party? A chance to be world heavyweight champion, a chance to belong in ECW hangs in the balance for Stevie Richards. His mentor Raven berated and brutalized Stevie on multiple occasions, Stevie could have the ultimate revenge by beating Raven for his precious world championship. Stevie cuts a black and white promo, showing a fire that had not been seen anywhere in his WWE career. Good stuff.


(ECW Television Championship Match) Shane Douglas © W/ Francine vs Pitbull #2


I must say Francine is one of the most underrated valets in all of wrestling, she was stunning. Now, this has a lot of backstory to it so please listen closely. It began with Francine turning on The Pitbulls to join The Franchise Shane Douglas, it got more heated as Douglas would break Pitbull Gary Wolfe’s neck and it would be worked into the angle with Douglas attacking Gary Wolfe in his halo drawing massive heat from the fans, such heat that Francine and Douglas would be spat on and attacked etc. Gary Wolfe is front row for the match which makes it all the much more heated, Douglas was ECW’s centrepiece in many ways, Douglas carried himself like a star, cut promos like a star and drew heat like nobody else in the company at this point. Pitbull 2 wants revenge and we start off hot, there is an extra stipulation with if Pitbull 2 loses, the masked man who has been harassing Douglas must unmask.


Pitbull 2 back drops and nails a spinning heel kick on Douglas, front chancery from Pitbull 2. Low blow by Douglas, front chancery by Douglas. Side headlock takedown by Pitbull 2, Douglas escapes only to fall into a drop toehold and front chancery. Douglas escapes once more, front chancery by Douglas. Pitbull 2 shrugs off Douglas, Douglas is propped on the top rope. Low blow by Pitbull 2, inverted atomic drop and clothesline by Pitbull 2 for two. Pitbull 2 chokes Douglas in front of Pitbull 1, Francine is almost in tears at Douglas being destroyed. Douglas counters a powerbomb for a hurricanrana, Pitbull 2 nails a clothesline to slow down Douglas.


Douglas counters another powerbomb with a hurricanrana and both spill to the floor, piledriver by Douglas. Make it three, snapmare and dropkick by Douglas. Stalling suplex by Douglas, camel clutch in front of Pitbull 1. Pitbull 2 fires back, two-handed throat toss as Douglas bounces off the corner, inverted atomic drop and a huge lariat. Exploder is blocked by Douglas, Pitbull 2 goes for an ugly powerslam through a table. Douglas meets the guard rail and Pitbull 1 attacks Douglas, the riot quad who protects Douglas have detained Pitbull 1. Pitbull 1 is escorted out of the arena, Pitbull 2 has a section of the guard rail. Pitbull 2 is crotched on the guard rail by Douglas, headbutt to the groin.


Douglas drops the guard rail on Pitbull 2’s back, Pitbull 2 is crotched on the guard rail again and is nailed with a steel chair. Right hands by Douglas, Pitbull 2 shakes it off. Right hands by Pitbull 2, knee by Douglas. Elbow by Douglas, scoop slam as Douglas climbs to the top rope. Pitbull 2 catches Douglas as he dives, Pitbull 2 has Douglas on the top rope. Douglas shoves off Pitbull 2, dropkick by Pitbull 2. Double knockdown in the middle of the ring, shoulder block by Pitbull 2. Powerslam for two, back elbow for two. Dropkick for two, military press slam by Pitbull 2. Francine hands Douglas a chain, Pitbull 2 eats two massive right hands and a piece of table to the head of Pitbull 2. Douglas has a chair, chair to the back for two.


Ringbell to the head for two, more table to the head for two. Douglas has his championship, Pitbull 2 is clocked twice. Douglas pulls out a chain, Pitbull 2 catches Douglas for a pumphandle slam. Pitbull 2 has the chain, Douglas is clocked as is Candido. Douglas no-sells the chain to roll-up Pitbull 2, clothesline by Pitbull 2. Belly to belly suplex by Douglas for the win out of nothing.


Holy fuck was this a bad match, this was the total opposite of the last match. It went on and on with nothing happening for seemingly forever. I have never seen a shit-show such like that for quite some time, there was so much wrong to this match. First, Pitbull 2 should never wrestle by himself, he is the perfect example of someone who should be left in a tag team to hide his flaws, that was brutal. As well as that, there is a great example of why Douglas was not the future of the business, Douglas did nothing to help himself in that match. God bless those fans, they tried their hardest to care but Pitbull 2 was brutal in that ring by himself, everything that Douglas did got no reaction. Douglas killed his own gimmick by no-selling his chain and that finish after being hit with bells/chairs/ brass knuckles, it was a belly to belly that finished Pitbull 2 clean in the middle. No fucking thanks ECW, do not do wrestling and stick to what you know!


Winner: Shane Douglas over Pitbull 2 via Belly to Belly Suplex!


Rick Rude/Raven/Taz


Rick Rude attacks Shane Douglas, Primetime Brian Lee turns on Douglas to side with Rude, great pop for Rude and crazy to see him so fired up in the ring. Raven cuts a promo on Terry Funk, Funk was like Raven’s father. Raven hates Funk and wants to end Funk’s career. Taz talks about his match with Sabu, Taz hates Sabu and talks tough. It is alright, Taz was not exactly the super killer at this stage of his career, the gimmick was not super over just yet.


(Grudge Match Of The Century) Taz vs Sabu


Taz broke his neck, Taz came back pissed off like a motherfucker. Nobody was safe, Taz hated Sabu for abandoning him and abandoning ECW.  Sabu chose bookings with New Japan over ECW (Could you really blame him?) and as a result, Heyman fired Sabu. However, Sabu came back and all during that time, Taz had talked trash about Sabu. The moment came at November to Remember 1996 when Sabu finally returned and now the two do battle on the biggest stage possible for ECW: Live on their very first pay per view.


The two slap one another before a clothesline by Taz, Sabu runs back into the ring and almost falls into a tazmission. Sabu escapes but Taz has a hammerlock, Taz looks for a Tazplex but Sabu blocks it, Taz wins the war with a heel hook. Sabu reaches the ropes, Taz talks trash to Sabu. Sabu tries to take the leg, Taz uses huge forearms across the face of Sabu, huge bodyscissors from Taz. Taz is paint-brushing Sabu, Sabu is bleeding after Taz’s forearms. Taz poses for all in attendance, Sabu rolls outside to compose himself. Low dropkick by Sabu, springboard leg drop. Taz powders, baseball slide by Sabu. Sabu has a chair, Taz is in the crowd, triple jump splash into the crowd.


They brawl through the crowd, the camera stays on Alfonso in the ring for a majority of the brawling. Sabu misses a splash, Taz clotheslines Sabu back ringside. Drop toehold with punches from Taz, both men trading blows on their knees. Sabu wins the war before a single leg takedown from Taz, Taz paintbrushes Sabu. Sabu fights back but Taz outwrestles Sabu for the cross armbreaker. Sabu reaches the ropes, enzuigiri and a springboard Arabian facebuster. Right hand by Sabu, chair to the face of Taz. Double Jump splash by Sabu, Taz dodges the second splash for a flapjack onto the chair.


Two for Taz, lariat from Taz. Two again, spinebuster from Taz. Sabu pulls Taz to the floor, triple jump springboard misses by Sabu. Belly to belly suplex by Taz, Sabu spills out to the crowd. Taz has a table setup between the guard rail and ring apron, Sabu takes out Taz from behind. Taz ends up on the table, Sabu jumps at Taz but Taz counters a DDT and Sabu falls through the table. Fist fight on the floor, Taz ends up in control. Sabu kicks away Taz, top rope hurricanrana for two. Top rope leg drop by Sabu, Taz rolls to the floor to recover. Taz has a cobra clutch into a head and arm Tazplex, another Taz plex but Sabu nails an exploder suplex.


Sabu mocks Taz, Taz is up. Sabu locks in the Tazmission, Taz counters for a massive back suplex. Exploder suplex from Taz, Tazmission. Taz wins with his signature manoeuvre, the grudge match comes to a somewhat disappointing end. Sabu is still alive after the Tazmission, Taz grabs the mic to tell Sabu that it was a great match. After the match, Sabu and RVD fuck up Taz with Bill Alfonso turning on Taz too to join RVD and Sabu.


Yeah, the serious of flat finishes continues, the Douglas match deserved to end flat as the match was garbage but this was ridiculous. This was your grudge match, this was a big match you built your pay per view around and I would say it did not deliver. It was sloppy in parts, it was slow with a lot of throwing fists which is nice to see for a grudge match but there was too much of that kind of stuff going on in this match. It is great for the character of Taz to continue to be an absolute killing machine but a lot of this was terrible. Also, Alfonso turns on Taz and joins the two but didn’t bother his arse helping Sabu win the match? What a shit manager, I would not want Alfonso in my corner.


Winner: Taz over Sabu via Tazmission!


(Three Way Dance Match) Stevie Richards vs The Sandman vs Terry Funk (Winner To Face Raven For The ECW Championship)


Three men who are all vying to face Raven for the championship, Stevie Richards who had been constantly mocked and abused by his mentor Raven. You have The Sandman who lost his wife and son to the brainwashing cult that was Raven’s nest and you have Terry Funk, a man who helped put ECW on the map looking to win the championship from a man that sees him as the epitome of his horrible childhood, everything wrong with the rest of the world. Every man has a reason to win, every man wants to win.


Sandman bowls over Richards, Sandman and Funk chop Richards in the corner. Richards fires back at both, everyone is chopping one another. Lots of chops, Funk has Sandman in the spinning toehold, Richards clotheslines Funk. Sandman and Richards elbow Funk, assisted leg drop for two. Sandman back suplexes Richards, neckbreaker by Funk on Richards. Make it four, Richards kicks out at two. Sandman has a ladder, Funk eats it to the head. Sandman suplexes the ladder onto Richards, DDT by Sandman on Richards. The ladder is in the corner, Sandman and Funk battle on the ladder.


Funk moonsaults onto Richards, Sandman dives off the top rope with the ladder onto Richards. Richards is slammed onto the ladder, two for Sandman. Stevie nails a Steviekick on Sandman for two, Richards whips Sandman into the ladder for two. Sandman and Richards are on the ladder, Funk tips over the ladder. Funk does an airplane spin with the ladder, Sandman and Richards are wiped out. Sandman and Funk fight by the ladder, Richards climbs to the top rope and see-saws the ladder into Funk and Sandman’s faces. Stevie calls for the end, Steviekick to Sandman for two. Steviekick to Funk for two, Sandman hurls Richards to the floor, the ladder is dropped on Richards.


Sandman planchas at Richards, Funk and Richards remain in the ring. Suplex by Funk, Sandman has a trash can. Funk and Sandman suplex Richards on the trash can for two, Funk and Sandman spike piledrive Richards. Richards has a ladder place on top of him, slingshot leg drop by Sandman for two. Powerbomb and Richards is gone from the match, another flat one there with the crowd reacting negative to the whole thing.


Sandman batters Funk, Funk sends Sandman to the floor. Sandman pulls out barbed wire, Funk whips Sandman with the barbed wire. Sandman nails Funk with a trash can, Sandman raps himself in the barbed wire and charges Funk. Clotheslines, top rope leg drop for two. Richards is on the apron, Sandman attacks Richards, Funk places a trash can on Sandman’s head. Steviekick and a Moonsault by Funk ends this match, Funk faces Raven.


Winner: Terry Funk over Everyone Else via Moonsault!


(ECW World Heavyweight Championship Match) Raven © vs Terry Funk


Raven sprints out to attack Funk, Raven nails his signature leg drop on the chair. Chair to the head of Funk, Funk is a bloody mess. Raven stomps Funk over and over, the doctor is here with the crowd thinking Tommy Dreamer will step in for Funk. Funk continues, right hands by Raven. Raven drops Funk through a table with a plancha, Reggie Bennett attacks Funk and Raven gets on the mic to insult Dreamer. Dreamer taunts Raven, Big Dick Dudley attacks Dreamer. Raven DDTs the referee, Dreamer low blows Big Dick and Big Dick crashes through the tables. Dreamer DDTs Raven, Funk covers for two. Funk inside cradles Raven for the win, Funk wins the championship.


A beautiful moment in the company’s history for Funk, one of the veterans who always was making new stars to win the championship on their first pay per view. The three way dance was alright, it suffered from the main issue plaguing the show and that was timing. There was not a lot going on, Sandman was AWOL for most of the match and you have these spot that meant nothing. Richards elimination was just meh, they were hitting him with impressive looking moves but it was the least impressive that killed him off. Sandman cannot wrestle and Funk was Funk. The main event was rushed due to time constraints and half of it was Dreamer and interference. The bell ringing too soon killed the magic a bit for me too. However, they made it through and it was successful enough to warrant more pay per views.


Winner: Terry Funk over Raven via Small Package!



That was ECW’s Barely Legal 1997, their very first pay per view and a difficult one to rate at that! The major issue for me was timing, a lot of the matches went far too long which led to your talent which would admit themselves their flaws, having their flaws exposed. Storm and RVD was just not very good, Douglas vs Pitbull 2 was shockingly bad, Pitbull 2 should never ever wrestle in a singles match unless it is 5 minutes long, that match was torture. Taz and Sabu had moments but it went on and on as did the three way dance. I understand you want to fill the time and the slot but give me something, not matches that drag. I did love the Michinoku Pro match, everyone looked amazing and they popped the crowd more times than anyone else on the card, it really was chaotic fun but the rest of the show left me with much to be desired. Not a bad first effort but nostalgia carries this one. Thanks for reading and remember: There’s always another night!



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Thursday 23 November 2017

WCW Greed 2001 Review

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Hello and welcome to another spoiler-free edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that continues to place itself in the main event scene when they are nearly 50! Honestly, didn’t that Survivor Series finish remind you of this company? Yes, that’s right it is WCW time, the journey is over as I will finish watching WCW: From NWO Until The End with WCW’s Greed 2001! With the end of this arc on the blog, I intend to go to the land of extreme and view every ECW pay per view from beginning to end. So, sit back and relax as we look at a company that was dead but did not know it just yet, it is a sad night in the company’s history but all good things must come to an end and with that in mind, here is WCW’s final pay per view ever.


Opening Promo


I am still standing, DDP’s words to Scott Steiner. DDP is the last hero in the company, no Goldberg, No Sting, No Kevin Nash. They have all fallen, it is almost over but DDP stands in Steiner’s way. Decent stuff compared to the crap they usually fed us over the years.


Jason Jett vs Kwee Wee


Jason Jett has been here for a week…. Ok, Jett is formerly EZ Money of ECW, Kwee Wee is back from the edge of the universe as Kwee Wee has not be seen for months. Jett is knocked to the floor by Kwee Wee, Jett fights back with a superkick and dive to the floor. Lovely camera work which shows a largely empty arena, slingshot leg drop by Jett for two. Camel clutch by Jett, Jett grabs a hold before elbowing Kwee Wee for two. Flying forearm by Kwee Wee, Jett elevates Kwee Wee to the apron but Kwee Wee yanks Jett by the hair to the floor.


Kwee Wee misses an ugly dive, Jett nails a lovely DDT using the ropes for balance. Clothesline and standing moonsault by Jett for two, Jett is elevated to the floor by Kwee Wee. Kwee Wee chokes Jett with the camera cable, Kwee Wee wants a pin on the floor? Jett is tossed into the guard rail, slam by Kwee Wee. Jett fires up before a Lou Thesz Press by Kwee Wee for two. Jett is rammed head first off the mat, sleeper into a slam by Kwee Wee for two. Suplex for two, Kwee Wee stomps all over Jett. Jett is placed on the top rope and we see Jett recreate his famous powerbomb reversed into a hurricanrana spot from Kid Kash. Kwee Wee gets a two of course, huge facejam by Kwee Wee for two.


Piledriver screams Kwee Wee, Jett lows blows Kwee Wee. The fucking babyface low blows Kwee Wee, handspring elbow with a kip-up, Jett tries for crash landing but Kwee Wee escapes for a sunset flip for two. Northern lights suplex by Kwee Wee for two, Kwee Wee and Jett bang heads. Jett asks the crowd to be quiet and plays possum, is this a fucking house show? Did that really happen on pay per view? Kwee Wee is on the top rope missing an elbow, Jett calls for The Crash Landing and wins the match.


Not bad, Jett seemed to have something to him if only he could slow down and sell a bit more, Jett showed off a lot of impressive moves at times. The low blow was bizarre though, you are a babyface like what are you thinking? Also, that lying down spot was very jokey and corny, how did Jett get away with that kind of spot? Nonetheless, I was entertained despite the erratic wrestling and selling by Jett, there seemed to be a bit to Jason Jett.


Winner: Jason Jett over Kwee Wee via Crash Landing!


(WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship Match) Kid Romeo & Elix Skipper vs Rey Mysterio & Billy Kidman


No Tygress? Bollocks to this company! This was not what I had in mind when I said let’s make the best of Mysterio and Kidman, they should be kicking ass for the tag team titles not the cruiserweight titles. Anyways Romeo comes out of nowhere to be in this match, Romeo and Kidman begin the match. Slingshot headscissors by Kidman, alley oop bomb by Romeo. Skipper gets the tag, splash for two. Hurricanrana and dropkick by Skipper, Skipper eats a knee and a guillotine leg drop from Mysterio. Skipper forearms Mysterio, hurricanrana by Mysterio. Skipper is sent tumbling to the floor, Kidman nails a baseball slide. All four men brawl on the stage, Skipper is hiptossed into Romeo. The Filthy Animals dive onto Skipper & Romeo.


Romeo attacks Kidman from the apron, Skipper knocks Kidman to the floor which leads to an assault from Romeo. Tag to Romeo, huge clothesline by Romeo which leaves Kidman down.  Chops by Kidman and a huge clothesline, wheelbarrow into a bulldog by Romeo who smacks Mysterio off the apron.  Reverse chinlock by Romeo, Romeo takes down Kidman with a front suplex. Skipper comes in, Skipper chokes Kidman on the middle rope. Romeo attacks Kidman using the ropes, Skipper nails a huge forearm to Kidman. Skipper has Kidman on the top rope, Kidman counters for a sit-out spinebuster. Mysterio gets the tag, springboard crossbody. Tornado DDT, Mysterio sends Skipper to the floor.


Back suplex by Kidman, senton on Romeo by Mysterio. Suicide dive onto Skipper, Romeo dives onto Mysterio and Kidman dives onto everyone with a shooting star press. Mysterio is crotched, sunset flip powerbomb by Mysterio for two. Skipper has Mysterio in a full-nelson, Kidman saves Mysterio. Reverse suplex to Romeo, Skipper saves Romeo. Kidman is sent to the floor, tiger suplex/leg drop combination on Mysterio but Kidman saves once again. Bulldog by Kidman on Romeo, powerbomb/splash combination for two. Bronco buster by Mysterio on Skipper, Mysterio sentons Romeo. Skipper and Kidman tumble to the floor, Romeo catches Mysterio off a springboard moonsault for The Last Kiss.


Emerald Flowsion = pure beauty. Those championships are ugly and when the company was rebranding, it was not the smartest idea for new championships to be introduced. Mysterio seem super motivated for this as did Kidman, those two had so much potential it was ridiculous. I would enjoy Mysterio and Kidman chasing for the championships so the finish made sense to me but we would never see a conclusion on pay per view.


Winners: Kid Romeo & Elix Skipper over The Filthy Animals via Emerald Flowsion!


Bam Bam Bigelow vs Shawn Stasiak W/ Stacy


So, Stacy finally returns after her pregnancy angle which was never truly paid off thank God as nobody gave a damn. You know what else nobody gave a damn about? Shawn The Star Stasiak, mecca of manhood. Call him what you will, there is not enough hot women in the world to make Stasiak interesting or entertaining in the ring. Best part of Stacy and Stasiak is that The Rock had a segment on Smackdown with these two where Rock basically hit all over Stacy and Stacy wanted The Rock. Bigelow looks like shit wearing a sleeveless shirt instead of his regular gear.


Stasiak smacks Bigelow twice with right hands, Bigelow has Stasiak in the corner before Stasiak grabs a headlock. Right hand by Bigelow, Stasiak rolls to the floor. Stacy comforts Stasiak, Stasiak continues to stall while Bigelow gets frustrated. Lock-up, Stasiak cheap shots Bigelow multiple times, stomps in the corner. Bigelow takes control, back body drop and corner clothesline. Stasiak dropkicked to the floor, Bigelow gives chase to Stasiak.


Jawbreaker on the floor and Bigelow meets the steel steps, crossbody and pose by Stasiak. Bigelow fights back but Stasiak low blows Bam Bam, right hands in the corner. Bigelow is choked with the top rope, Bigelow snapmares Stasiak. Bigelow is on the top rope, Diving Headbutt for two. Stacy is on the apron, Stacy distracts Bieglow. Stacy throws Stasiak hairspray and Stasiak nails a neckbreaker for the win.


Hairspray finish is appropriate for a failed Rick Rude gimmick, Stasiak might be one of the most boring wrestlers inside of the ring, nothing could save this match with a boring Stasiak and a Bigelow who is phoning it in for the money. Crowd was silent not only for the finish but the whole match too. DUD!


Winner: Shawn Stasiak over Bam Bam Bigelow via Neckbreaker!


Team Canada vs Hugh Morrus/Konnan


Awesome chopped off the mullet, it is a truly sad day. Awesome and Storm should have stayed in ECW with the way their careers turned out in WCW as they face Konnan and Hugh Morrus. Morrus sprints to the ring to battle Storm, Konnan comes in to batter Storm. Awesome and Morrus start the match officially, clothesline by Awesome. Tag to Storm, chops by Storm. Morrus no-sells Sting style, eye poke by Storm. Morrus nails a powerslam for two, Storm jawbreakers Morrus and tags Awesome. Big boot and leg drop for two, corner splash by Awesome. Konnan argues with the referee, Storm and Awesome nail a double clothesline. Front chancery from Storm, Morrus escapes and bangs heads with Storm.


Tag to Konnan, right hands and rolling clotheslines all around, Storm is saved from a K-Factor by a clothesline from Awesome. Tag to Awesome, splash for two. Tag to Storm, foot choke and choke from Awesome. Morrus is with the referee, Konnan fights back smacking Storm’s head off the top turnbuckle. Storm elbows Konnan down for two, tag to Awesome. Storm puts the boots to Konnan on the floor, small package by Konnan but Awesome mows down Konnan with a clothesline. Knees by Storm, right hands by Konnan but another knee floors Konnan.


Diving clothesline by Awesome, tag to Storm. Dropkick for two, leg drop by Storm for two. Awesome distracts the referee to block Morrus’ tag, Awesome piledrivers Konnan with Morrus making the save. Scoop slam by Storm, Storm misses a diving elbow. Double knockdown, tag to Morrus. Right hands, spinning heel kick for two, corner splash. Storm Superkicks Morrus, Awesome Splash but Konnan saves his partner. Morrus German suplexes Awesome, Morrus is too slow for no laughing matter as Awesome nails The Awesome Bomb for the win.


I think Storm was tied to Morrus for the majority of his WCW career, it is crazy how many times these two faced one another on pay per view. Anyways, best use of the two at this point, Storm being a cowardly heel hiding behind the big bully of Awesome. They might have had something to them but of course, WCW would be gone soon and this match meant absolutely nothing. Morrus has never done anything for me inside that ring while Konnan I have always compared to Road Dogg, a great talker but nothing special in the ring, he just sells well in a tag match setting.


Winners: Team Canada over Morrus & Konnan via Awesome Bomb!


(WCW Cruiserweight Championship Match) Sugar Shane Helms vs Chavo Guerrero ©


Shane Helms broke away from Three Count, being the best out of the three man group. It is all about the vertebreaker which is Helms’ devastating finish and the name of his theme song which he dances to with his Sugarbabes. This has been a few months in the making, this is a big test for Mr. Helms. They lock-up, side headlock by Chavo. Chavo holds on tight, using the hair to control Helms. Snapmares from both men, some nice mat wrestling which ends in a stalemate. Lock-up, side headlock by Helms. Huge clothesline by Chavo, stomps in the corner by the champion.


Helms avoids a back suplex for a gutwrench suplex, diving fist drop for two. Chavo blocks nightmare on helms street, exploder suplex by Chavo for two. Foot choke and facewash by Chavo, STF by Chavo. Helms struggles as Chavo changes holds to frustrate the challenger, Helms grabs a headlock before Chavo nails a back suplex for two. Jacknife cover by Chavo, Helms escapes and eats a DDT for two. Dropkick in the corner by Chavo, pumphandle suplex for two. Chavo sends Helms to the floor, Helms drops Chavo off the apron. Helms is dropkicked by Chavo, Chavo dives off the top rope to the floor with a crossbody.


Helms escapes a suplex for his knee facebuster, neckbreaker by Helms. Two for Helms, Helms elevates Chavo to the apron, huge superkick by Helms. Chavo ducks a superkick in the ring, sit-out reverse DDT by Chavo for two. Helms blocks the tornado DDT, Nightmare on Helms Street with Chavo getting a foot on the ropes for two. Helms whips Chavo to the floor, huge crossbody to the floor by Helms. Another crossbody for two, scoop slam but Chavo crotches Helms off the top rope. Chavo places Helms on the top rope, Chavo attempts a vertebreaker but Helms counters for The Vertebreaker, we have a new champion.


For all the building and fan support that Helms built up in his work with Three Count, I must say that this was one disappointing match for Helms to become champion. I thought it was very dull at point, no real intensity or passion to the whole thing, felt like a normal match. What I did like was the finish, Chavo was meant to be a cocky piece of crap so trying the vertebreaker makes sense for his character. Anyways, I found this disappointing for the amount of build-up that went into Helms chasing the championship.


Winner: Shane Helms over Chavo Guerrero via Vertebreaker!


(WCW Tag Team Championship Match) Totally Buffed vs Chuck Palumbo & Sean O Haire ©


Totally Buffed became number one contenders by beating Kronik with help from Mike Awesome at Superbrawl, the gimmick had a decent amount of heat to it with two big jacked up morons talking down to everyone while also retiring Goldberg. There was potential there, there was also potential when The Natural Born Thrillers split up and the best two members stayed together to form a decent tag team.


Luger and Bagwell caught a long-winded promo, it goes for far too long. Something seems off here, the champions run into the ring with Bagwell taking one punch and staying down before Luger clotheslines Bagwell by mistake. Superkicks for Bagwell and Luger, we have two Swanton Bombs and this match is over. Bagwell and Luger stay down in the middle of the ring, they do not move and it becomes clear that the two were being punished and decided to be unprofessional little bitches who did not want to job to the young talent. In fairness, Luger has become much nicer over the years as evident in his shoot interviews while Bagwell is still a bitter piece of shit but this was a disgrace. Shame on those two for making a mockery of the business that made them rich.


Winners: Sean O Haire & Chuck Palumbo over Totally Buffed via Swanton Bomb!


Kanyon vs The Cat W/ Smooth/Ms.Jones


Kanyon had beaten DDP at the last pay per view and now must face one of the other top babyfaces in the company, that being The Cat of all people. I love The Cat for his dancing and his hilarious promos but as a top babyface due to the stretching of your roster come on it’s ridiculous. Anyways, Kanyon has attacked what is near and dear to The Cat as Kanyon nailed Ms. Jones with a Kanyon Cutter. The Cat wants revenge, Kanyon takes an ass whooping in the beginning, huge electric chair drop by The Cat. Kanyon is powerbombed by The Cat, kicks and Kanyon is tossed to the floor. Kanyon meets the guard rail, hotshot by Kanyon to cut off The Cat.


Diving clothesline by Kanyon for two, suplex with slingshot elbow drop for two. Rocker dropper by Kanyon for two, back suplex by The Cat to escape the sleeper. Right hands by The Cat, neckbreaker by Kanyon to end Cat’s momentum. Kanyon is crotched on the top rope, superplex by The Cat for two. Sunset flip does not work for Kanyon, right hand and elbow drop by The Cat. Gut kick and uppercut, huge roundhouse for two. Low blow by Kanyon, Kanyon uses the ropes for leverage, referee does not count the pin.


The Cat is up, Kanyon reverses a piledriver for a Boston crab, The Cat reaches the ropes. The Cat reverses an Irish whip, massive Feliner but Kanyon places his foot on the ropes. Kanyon hurls The Cat to the floor, The Cat re-enters the ring but Kanyon nails The Cat with his cast. Kanyon knocks out the referee, Ms. Jones is in the ring. The Cat grabs Kanyon, Ms. Jones nails The Cat by mistake. Kanyon has Ms. Jones, Ms. Jones kicks Kanyon, Feliner and The Cat wins.


Typical Cat match, nothing new and nothing different from the first time I laid eyes on The Cat. Feel for Kanyon, a fantastic performer that always seemed to be close to a push or something of note but it never ever came to be, there was no reason for Kanyon to lose to The Cat, The Cat was never going to rise above lower card comedy style matches.


Winner: The Cat over Kanyon via Feliner!


(WCW United States Championship Match) Booker T vs Rick Steiner ©


Booker is back after dropping the world championship to Scott Steiner at Mayhem, Rick Steiner picked up the championship from Shane Douglas which was disappointing because Douglas was just beginning to really click with everyone in WCW. Steiner and Booker were fighting as Steiner does not respect Booker, Steiner plays a douchebag quite well but let’s hope the match has a bit of intensity to it considering Steiner bored the hell out of me in his match with Dustin Rhodes at Superbrawl.


Steiner wants no part of Booker, Steiner has the referee check Booker before cheap shotting the challenger, Booker is tossed into the crowd. Right hands by Steiner, Booker has his face raked by the champion. Steiner talks trash to Booker, clothesline for two. Eye rake from Steiner, tigerbomb by Steiner. Reverse chinlock by Steiner, surfboard stretch by Steiner. Booker nails an Angle Slam before Steiner scores big with a belly to belly suplex, Booker does a sunset flip out of the corner for two, huge clothesline in retaliation by Steiner. Reverse chinlock, Steiner uses the ropes for leverage.


Booker fires up, elbows to the mid-section. Flying forearm by Booker, spinebuster which looks like shite. Scissors Kick by Booker, flapjack with a Spinaroonie. Booker nails the referee by mistake, German suplex by Steiner. Speaking of Douglas, Douglas knocks Steiner with the cast, Book-End by Booker and we have a new champion.


Well, could that have been the start of a face-run for Douglas in WCW? That would have been entertaining to see, this match was not entertaining to see though. Steiner did absolutely the bare minimum in the match, taking a lot of the offence with rest holds and clotheslines, Booker did his best to make it seem important but it was trash.


Winner: Booker T over Rick Steiner via Book-End!


(Tag Team Kiss My Ass Match) Dusty & Dustin Rhodes vs Ric Flair & Jeff Jarrett


Considering Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair are in this match, I can safely say that Jarrett is in the perfect spot in this match as a mere afterthought, this makes me tremendously happy. Also, we have Dustin Rhodes in this match as himself which means Dustin will be an afterthought as he should be, a great worker but as himself, Dustin is not the kind of wrestler you pay to see in the ring. Flair says he will not wrestle, do not know why Flair said that and Animal is at ringside doing fuck all, Animal has now been sent to the back.. What was the point of Animal in The Magnificent Seven?


Dustin and Jarrett start, right hand by Dustin. Make it two, uppercut and ten punches in the corner. Jarrett meets the ringpost groin first, Jarrett blocks a top rope dive from Dustin. In comes Flair, chops galore from Flair. Eye poke, Flair punches Dustin down. Dustin holds onto the ropes form an Irish whip, Dusty is in the ring with Flair. The place explodes, this is what people wanted to see. Shoulder block by Dusty, chops by Dusty. Elbows for Jarrett and Flair, right hands and Bionic Elbow. Tag to Dustin, Jarrett knees Dustin from the apron. Dustin suplexes Flair, Jarrett eats an inverted atomic drop. Dusty is with the referee, Flair low blows Dustin. Jarrett works the leg of Dustin, stomps to the head.


Jarrett has the sleeper on Dustin, shinbreaker and Jarrett works the leg some more. Flair tags in, Dustin tries small packages and backslides for two, Flair tags Jarrett. Figure Four by Jarrett, Dustin reverses the hold but Jarrett reaches the ropes. Back suplex by Dustin, Dusty is in the match. Right hands and elbows to Flair and Jarrett, double punches to both. Bionic Elbow on Flair, Jarrett saves the match, Dusty clotheslines Flair and Jarrett. Dustin is the legal man, Jarrett low blows Dusty, Flair low blows Dustin. Flair and Jarrett try figure fours but both Rhodes kick off Jarrett & Flair, Dustin rolls-up Flair and Jarrett kisses Dusty’s ass.


It is a sad day when the most over people in the match had their heyday almost fifteen years prior to this match. It says a lot about the popularity of those in the match and the shape the company had been in for a long time. Dusty Rhodes with his fat ass hanging out got a bigger reaction than 90% of the in-ring talent and matches. Crowd only cared for Dusty and Flair and that did not last too long, it was just a whole wave of nostalgia as everyone in attendance felt like there were teenagers again.


Winners: The Rhodes over The Magnificent Seven via Roll-Up!


(WCW World Championship Match) Scott Steiner © W/ Midajah vs DDP (Falls Count Anywhere Match)


Steiner had run through everyone, Nash, Sting, Goldberg and Booker T to name a few. DDP stood up to battle the unstable and unstoppable monster that was Scott Steiner. DDP starts hot with neckrbreakers, atomic drops and right hands. Steiner knocks DDP to the apron early, Steiner jaw-jacks with fans and walks into a diving clothesline from DDP. Steiner whips DDP into the guard rail and nails a clothesline, Steiner jaw-jacks more with fans. DDP hotshots Steiner using the top rope but Steiner comes back strong sending DDP into the guard rail and into the crowd.


We get to see Steiner steal a crutch from a DDP fan and batter DDP with said crutch, Steiner has a table. DDP’s fan throws the other crutch to DDP, Steiner is on the table and DDP drops an elbow through the table for a two. Steiner smacks around a plant who was actually Paul London, that was cool. DDP and Steiner enter the ring, Midajah distracts DDP which leads to a clothesline and elbow drop from Steiner.


Steiner is bleeding, forearms to the back of DDP. DDP mounts a comeback before an exploder suplex from Steiner for two. Bearhug by Steiner, DDP smacks his way out before a huge belly to belly suplex from Steiner for two. Stomps by Steiner, foot choke from the champion. DDP comes back to life, right hands before a boot and belly to belly suplex from Steiner. Surfboard stretch by Steiner, clubbing blows to DDP’s back. DDP nails a DDT out of nowhere, discuss lariat from DDP. Steiner is rammed off the turnbuckle, Steiner uses the ropes for leverage off a pin, DDP kicks out at one.


 DDT by DDP, Steiner blocks the diamond cutter with a low blow and DDT. Diamond Cutter but Rick Steiner pulls out the referee, DDP planchas onto Rick Steiner. DDP has the referee back in the ring, Scott is sent into Rick. Roll-up by DDP for two, Steiner cracks DDP with the championship. DDP kicks out at two, DDP is bleeding everywhere. Boston crab by Steiner, DDP reaches the ropes. Steiner Recliner, DDP reaches the ropes. Midajah distracts the referee, Steiner batters DDP with a lead pipe. Another Steiner Recliner and DDP is out.


Solid main event, overbooked towards the end. I mean we had belt shots, lead pipes and Rick constantly whooping DDP but the action beforehand was solid. DDP showed a lot of heart, rallied quite well when he needed to and showed the fire that had people believe in DDP. I also like the story told of Steiner being an unstoppable monster, I would have liked a conclusion to that story but sadly, we would never see one but as a final pay per view match to end on, yes this was good compared to a lot of what I had to sit through doing this series, I did enjoy this match and with that comes an end to this arc on this website.


How do you condense four years of pay per views into one final conclusion? Well, I am just going to take a look at where WCW went wrong in my eyes and how they could have bounced back when the WWF was kicking their ass big time. The first thing that led to WCW’s implosion was the older stars not moving aside for younger talent, there was nowhere for the likes of Raven, Jericho, Guerrero, Mysterio, Kidman, Benoit, Booker T, Saturn to go when it came to moving up the card. Hogan had such a strangehold on that position along with Savage/Piper/Luger etc. Those stars all had value but 1998 should not have been the year of Hogan vs Savage/Hogan vs Warrior/Hogan vs Jay Leno or Hogan vs Karl Malone. Sting should have been kicking ass as the opt babyface, Goldberg and Bret Hart should have been kicking ass at the top of the card, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash should have been established over Savage and Hogan but none of it happened and this leads to problem number two.


Roster quality and lack of credibility: WCW’s roster in 1997 and 1998 was incredible from top to bottom, it is ridiculous how far it fell come 1999. The older stars left and grew stale so you had unproven young guns floundering instead of flourishing when the company needed them the most. 2000 was the worst year with The Natural Born Thrillers/MIA/Jung Dragons/Three Count always seeming to be scattered all over the card while David Flair was wrestling for God knows what reason and you had the returns of stars who were past their prime and had little value to the company like Bigelow/Brian Knobbs/Rick Steiner/Jim Duggan like why were these people brought back? Because you fired so many youngsters because they could not hack it in your eyes but you never gave them the chance.


Finally: There is the question of terrible management decisions. From Bischoff to Sullivan to Russo to Ferrera, there was no shortages of piss poor decisions. Sting’s title win over Hogan was executed horribly which some people feel was the moment WCW peaked, Goldberg’s streak ended by taser, Russo’s car-crash style of booking that had swerves, gimmick matches, nonsensical finishes and dwindling pay per view numbers. Jarrett on top as champion, 26 championship changes in one year, turning Goldberg heel and not capitalizing on Scott Steiner’s rise until it was too late. Making everyone seem lame in comparison to The NWO, not having a clear end goal for the angle of The NWO, letting everyone join The NWO.



So, there were many reasons for WCW’s decline during The Attitude Era, I have named a few like poor management, not building for the future, falling into old habits and relying too much on stars of the past. It was a journey to finish this arc, I saw what made WCW a great alternative and its rise from number two to number one, those shows in 1997 and 1998 may not have been stellar pay per views but there was always something with The NWO or a great cruiserweight match or something special with Benoit or Raven or The Outsiders. I also seen the lowest of lows like pay per views featuring Mike Enos and Jerry Flynn because nobody else was available, DDP being swerved for like three pay per views in a row, Russo’s nightmarish booking which had pay per views featuring 12 matches with 11 ending with interference. It was amazing and saddening all at the same time but that’s wrestling and looking back on everything, I am sure glad that I decided to do this arc. That was WCW’s Greed 2001, a show that was awful at points like WCW throughout the years but still had one or two moments that were positive, I recommend it only if you are a big fan of WCW. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it and remember: There’s always another night!


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Tuesday 21 November 2017

WCW Superbrawl 2001 Review

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Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that lacks more star power than TNA! WCW is dying but it just won’t die, it is time for WCW’s Superbrawl 2001! Headlined by Kevin Nash vs Scott Steiner for the world championship, we also have DDP vs Kanyon in a match that has been months in the making and we see some other returns to WCW like Dustin Rhodes and Rick Steiner. No Animal? We are deciding the commissioner again? Damn this company, let’s just get this show on the road!


(Six-Man Cruiserweight Elimination Match) Evan Karagias vs Jamie Noble vs Kaz Hayashi vs Yang vs Shannon Moore vs Shane Helms


No, fuck you WCW you are freaking kidding me? It’s another match I have seen for every pay per view for the last 6 or 7 months! How dare they put on this match, these six motherfuckers have had the same type of match for months on end, I refuse to review this match as it is an insult to everyone watching the company at this time. How did they think they could get away with this? They have chemistry, I would never deny that but even I have a limit. I have no desire to see these wrestle anymore, this might be one of the longest running feuds in wrestling as these losers fought back to back more times than any other wrestlers in existence. I understand the intention, you want to make the cruiserweights mean something like they did back in the years of 1996 to 1998 but making me watch the same match with the same spots does nothing for my interest as a viewer.


What I will say is the match is fun, a lot of big bumps and oohs and awws rain down from the crowd but it is nothing we have not seen a million times by this point. The big knock on the match for me is the rapid eliminations back to back, I have barely time to react when so many wrestlers are kicked out, it does not help the flow of the match and I think it could be built better if there was time and we were given time to breathe in between the madness.


Winner: Shane Helms over Kaz Hayashi via Vertebreaker!


Hugh Morrus vs The Wall


Finally, thank God the MIA is no more. General Rection was a moronic name, the gimmick did not warrant a push for the united states championship, Rection should have never beaten Lance Storm but its one of many mistakes this company would make during its lifespan. The Wall jumps Morrus in the ring, huge shoulder block. Huge chest chops by The Wall, Morrus sends The Wall into a guard rail. Morrus kicks steel steps into The Wall’s head. Morrus slaps and smacks The Wall, Morrus takes his time to deliver a huge elbow drop, huge slaps from Morrus. The Wall boots Morrus for two, huge punches by The Wall. Morrus eats headbutts, The Wall misses a massive leg drop. Morrus rallies but a spinebuster ends that, two for The Wall.


Morrus hotshots The Wall, two for Morrus. The Wall kicks out and bites Morrus? Not sure due to camera angle, The Wall stomps Morrus. Flapjack by Morrus, so much laying down in this match. The Wall kicks Morrus over and over, The Wall tries a powerbomb but Morrus back drops The Wall for two. They trade blows on their knees, German suplex by Morrus. No Laughing Matter and it’s over.


It was trash, I have never ever seen the appeal of Morrus and The Wall simply could not work without smoke and mirrors to cover up his weaknesses, neither man looked like they were interested in this match, they phoned it in for a match that should have been heated but was simply not interesting enough for anybody to care. DUD!


Winner: Hugh Morrus over The Wall via No Laughing Matter!


(WCW Tag Team Championship Match) Chuck Palumbo & Sean O Haire © vs Shawn Stasiak & Mark Jindrak


Sweet Jesus they have broken up and are now feuding against one another, it seems like Sanders is gone too which sucks. As for these four, I do not see much in any of them by this point. They start off brawling, Palumbo eats a huge clothesline. Stasiak clotheslines O Haire twice, Jindrak is in the ring. O Haire nails a stungun, tag to Palumbo. Jindrak takes a pounding from O Haire, tag to Palumbo who pins for two. Sleeper by Palumbo, Palumbo takes down Jindrak with a weird armbar. Right hand by Palumbo, catapult into Stasiak. Stasiak saves Jindrak, huge clothesline by Jindrak. Double team by the challengers, Stasiak and Jindrak continue to beat up Palumbo.


Palumbo fires back at Stasiak before a clothesline and bulldog from Stasiak. Clothesline by Jindrak for two, tag to Stasiak. Palumbo is sent into the corner hard, Stasiak chokes the life out of Palumbo. Small package by Palumbo for two, Stasiak clotheslines Palumbo. Tag to Jindrak who uses a sleeper and the ropes, the referee catches Jindrak. Palumbo fights back before a huge knee from Jindrak. Stasiak tags in and works the arm of Palumbo, Palumbo counters for another small package but Stasiak kicks out at two.


Tilt-a-whirl-sideslam by Jindrak for two, tag to Stasiak. Right hand by Stasiak, Stasiak climbs to the top rope and misses a splash, Palumbo nails Stasiak with a jawbreaker. Tag to O Haire, O Haire runs wild with lariats and throat thrusts, Stasiak clotheslines O Haire but Palumbo makes the save. O Haire superkicks Stasiak and floors Jindrak, Stasiak eats a Superkick from Palumbo. Swanton Bomb and O Haire picks up the win for his team.


They did the best they could with the circumstances but I was super bored during this match. I had seen these men fight side by side for months by this point, they were developing but it was a very slow process. Stasiak was nothing like his father unfortunately and Jindrak looked like a headless chicken running around that ring but that’s what WCW had by this point, many wrestlers who were fresh out of the powerplant who had no business being so highly represented on the card.


Winners: O Haire & Palumbo over Stasiak & Jindrak via Swanton Bomb!


(WCW Cruiserweight Championship Match) Rey Mysterio vs Chavo Guerrero ©


Two veterans of the division, these two should be tearing up this ring given their history. Chavo had left MIA while Mysterio was mostly tagging with Kidman being wasted really as neither were near the tag team championships. Mysterio and Chavo start off hot, lots of acrobatics before Chavo gutbusters Mysterio and hangs Mysterio across the top rope. Two for Chavo, chops by Chavo. Clothesline, hard Irish whip by the champion. Chavo places Mysterio on the top rope, Mysterio pushes off Chavo but Chavo crotchres Mysterio and hangs in the tree of woe. Chavo misses as Mysterio pulls himself up, roll-up for two. Clothesline by Chavo for two, Gory Special from Chavo but Mysterio counters with an armdrag.


Mysterio runs into a Gory Buster though, Chavo only gets a two count. Chavo hurls Mysterio to the floor, Mysterio tastes the guard rail. Chavo is caught in the ring for a backbreaker, Mysterio tries a springboard but Chavo nails a dropkick for the counter. Knees across the throat by Chavo, STF from Chavo. Mysterio fights out, spinning wheel kick. Mysterio is spilled out to the floor by Chavo, Mysterio is dropped across the guard rail. Chavo mocks Mysterio by placing an old Mysterio mask on the man he is beating up in the ring. Back suplex by Chavo for two, reverse chinlock by Chavo. Scoop slam by Chavo, Mysterio crotches Chavo, the mask is placed on Chavo. Top rope hurricanrana by Mysterio for two, headscissors by Mysterio.


Chavo is out on the floor, Chavo grabs his championship. Mysterio nails a huge hilo, springboard senton by Mysterio. Mysterio misses a moonsault as he botches, Chavo covers quick for two. Chops by Chavo, Mysterio clotheslines Chavo to the floor off an Irish whip. Chavo has a chair, Mysterio is hotshotted onto the ropes, Chavo has the chair once more. Chavo wedges the chair between the ropes, Mysterio elevates Chavo to the apron. Mysterio hurricanranas Chavo to the floor, Mysterio knocks Chavo down and nails his springboard splash for two. Mysterio nails a tornado DDT, bronco buster by Mysterio.


Mysterio points to the chair, Chavo rolls out to the floor. Chavo has another chair, the referee takes Mysterio’s chair. Mysterio grabs Chavo but eats a steel chair to the head, Chavo nails a slingshot hilo and a huge Brainbuster for the end of the match, Chavo retains his championship.


Not the match I thought it would be, Chavo and Mysterio can be great, they can be fantastic with one another but this was not the match. Mysterio had a lot of sloppy moments in this match, surprising for somebody who is top notch and incredibly smooth in the ring. Perhaps a bad night, perhaps Mysterio did not care anymore but this was a let down like everything this company has done for the majority of its run.


Winner: Chavo Guerrero over Rey Mysterio via Brainbuster!


(WCW United States Championship Match) Rick Steiner vs Dustin Rhodes


Rick Steiner and Dustin Rhodes are back in WCW, they took the championship off of Shane Douglas, I have no idea why. I just watched Douglas’ hard work pay off as he won the championship and now you are telling me that it is held by Rick Steiner? Anyways, Dustin is battling Flair’s Magnificent Seven stable. Rhodes attacks Steiner who enters the ring second, huge rights and lefts by Rhodes. DDT by Rhodes for two, leaping clothesline and Steiner rolls to the floor. Right hands by Rhodes, Rhodes misses a flying forearm. Steiner bangs Rhodes off the announce table for two in the ring, Steiner clothesline for two.


Knees by Steiner, belly to belly suplex by Steiner for two. Reverse chinlock by Steiner, back suplex by Rhodes to counter but Steiner avoids an elbow drop. Single leg Boston crab by Steiner, Steiner continues to kick Rhodes while he is down. Reverse chinlock by Steiner, jawbreaker by Rhodes. Rhodes counters a powerslam for a clothesline, right hands by Rhodes. Rhodes slams Steiner into the mat, inverted atomic drop and clothesline by Rhodes for two. Bulldog by Rhodes, Steiner is bounced off the announce table and guard rail. Rhodes has a chair but the referee takes the chair, Steiner undoes a top turnbuckle. Rhodes ten punches on Steiner, Steiner flapjacks Rhodes on the exposed turnbuckle, feet on the ropes and Steiner steals the win.


Rick Steiner has the build and the personality to pull off the heel role but after the match Steiner is cutting a promo with catchphrases, having a good time which is weird. The match was solid but there was nothing special or unique about it, this stripped-back approach may have been nice on another show but there is nothing that could make this match standout on a show like this, we are an hour and a half in, I just want this to end but my prayers will not be answered.


Winner: Rick Steiner over Dustin Rhodes via Exposed Turnbuckle!


Totally Buffed vs Kronik


Ah fuck my luck, here we have Bagwell and Luger taking on Kronik. In theory, Bagwell and Luger should be the most hated men in the company due to their hand in getting Goldberg fired but the fan reaction is not what the company had hoped for, Luger and Bagwell attack Adams as Clark was missing before the match. Clark appears only to be cracked with a steel chair, Clark is out-cold on the floor. Blatant low blow by Bagwell on Adams, Luger back suplexes Adams. Double back elbow by Totally Buffed, Adams is thrown to the floor. Luger wallops Adams in the spine with forearms, Luger has a camel clutch on Adams. Luger tries to drop his weight on Adams, Adams blocks with his kness.


Powerslam on Luger, clothesline to Bagwell. Atomic drop for Bagwell, right hands for Totally Buffed. Bagwell is thrown onto Luger, the double team takes down Adams before Adams comes back with a clothesline. Luger clotheslines Adams, Adams back suplexes Luger. Bagwell jumps into a full-nelson before Clark attacks Adams but hold on, it is Mike Awesome. Luger has Adams in The Torture Rack, Blockbuster by Bagwell. Totally Buffed win the match and our the new number one contender’s to the tag team championships.


That was quite clever from WCW, I am impressed by the thought that went into this match. Awesome had the tan and is the same size as Clark, I had not a clue I genuinely thought it was a heel turn, a swerve for no reason but no, they actually got me, I am in shock. Fair play, I am not going to take the piss out of a match that fooled me hook, line and sinker.


Winners: Totally Buffed over Kronik via Blockbuster!


The Cat W/ Ms. Jones vs Lance Storm


Lance Storm is commissioner, it is not like we have seen enough bullshit involving the commissioner position with Mike Sanders and The Cat. Storm won the commissionership and here we are with The Cat fighting for the position that he continues to lose on a weekly basis. Seriously though, are we really rehashing the same angle we did with the less talented Sanders? Are you telling me that The Cat is one of the top babyfaces in the company? How far thy company has fallen, Storm and The Cat lock-up with Storm outwrestling The Cat. Armdrags by The Cat, nice drop toehold and a huge kick from The Cat. Storm is stalling on the floor, The Cat is pulled out to the floor and The Cat tastes the guard rail.


The Cat nails Storm with a bottle of water, Storm is choked with a camera cable. Storm ties up The Cat in the ropes, wrenching at The Cat’s knee. Storm knees The Cat’s leg, ankle lock from Storm. The Cat reaches the ropes, Ms. Jones looks super concerned for The Cat. Storm smashes the leg with kicks but The Cat fires up with karate chops before a dropkick from Storm ends that shenanigans. Storm slaps The Cat, The Cat takes down Storm before an eye rake, Storm scores with a scoop slam. Storm gets caught on the top rope, The Cat yanks Storm off the top rope. Storm sends The Cat’s foot into the ringpost three times. The Cat counters a sunset flip for a punch and elbow drop, uppercut, Feliner is blocked for a Maple Leaf, The Cat reaches the ropes. Jawbreaker by The Cat, enzuigiri.


Mike Sanders is here, Ms. Jones whacks Sanders down like a bitch. Storm is distracted by Ms. Jones, walking right into The Feliner which leads to The Cat winning the match, winning the commissionership AGAIN, having the same match that The Cat has with everyone in that ring. Best part is watching Ms. Jones dance around the ring.


They kept it short, I have no problem with keeping a match with The Cat in it a short match that I do not have to sit through. A waste of Storm but they ruined Storm when Storm was demolished by Awesome in Canada, stopping his momentum dead when Storm could have been so much more in the company. As for this match, it was as best as you could hope for from The Cat.


Winner: The Cat over Lance Storm via Feliner!


DDP VS Kanyon


Jarrett was meant to face DDP, Jarrett chickened out as DDP said that he would fight Kanyon anywhere and at anytime. Jarrett has laid the trap, Kanyon is back to fight DDP. Nice bit of continuity here with DDP moving on from his feud with The Insiders to fight his former best friend who cost him an ambulance match against Mike Awesome back in the days of The New Blood. Unfortunately, Kanyon did not have his DDP copycat gimmick anymore due to being injured and being off tv. Kanyon hides under the ring and attacks DDP, it does not work as DDP dismantles Kanyon with clotheslines and right hands until Kanyon low blows DDP with no disqualification I might add. DDP meets the guard rail, Kanyon rocker droppers DDP onto the steel steps.


DDP is busted open, huge suplex by Kanyon for two. Kanyon stomps his former friend, DDP escapes a sleeper but eats a neckbreaker for two. DDP sunset flips Kanyon but a right hand ends that, DDP nails a clothesline on Kanyon. Rights and lefts before a discuss lariat by DDP, uranage slam by DDP for two. Kanyon catches DDP for a sit-out Alabama Slam for two. Kanyon eats a knee, huge sit-out powerbomb for two by DDP. DDP calls for a diamond cutter, Kanyon low lows and Kanyon Cutters DDP for two. Kanyon calls for Jarrett, Kanyon is sent into Jarrett, DDP rolls-up Kanyon for two. Jarrett nails The Stroke on DDP, Flatliner by Kanyon for the win.


Solid match, Kanyon emerging victorious over DDP. My problem with the match is that these two could showcase so much more in the ring, they had the feud from their time in The Jersey Triad, they had the storyline of Kanyon turning on DDP but its all secondary to Jarrett vs DDP, the only interesting part of the feud is the curtain jerker, the side-show to the main event and that quite frankly, sucks.


Winner: Kanyon over DDP via Flatliner!


DDP vs Jeff Jarrett


Jarrett looks to pick up the scraps, DDP is sent into the crowd before turning the tide on Jarrett, DDP DDTs Jarrett on the table before Jarrett uses a chair to take control of the match. DDP is stomped hard, Jarrett taunts on the turnbuckle. DDP nails his discuss lariat out of nowhere, jawbreaker and clothesline by Jarrett. Sleeper by Jarrett, DDP does not die and brings the fight to Jarrett. Sleeper by DDP, huge DDT to knock down Jarrett.


Right hands and clothesline by DDP, Jarrett is bounced off the turnbuckle. Back suplex by DDP for two, belly to belly suplex by DDP for two. Kanyon returns from ringside to pull out DDP, Jarrett waffles DDP with a chair to the head as Kanyon distracts the referee. DDP kicks out at two from the chair shot, Jarrett has his guitar, DDP walks over to Kanyon. Jarrett cracks Kanyon by mistake, DDP covers Jarrett for a Diamond Cutter and the win.


Bleh, surprised Jarrett went down to the diamond cutter, his name has not been the main event for quite some time now, you would think it was time for another championship run. Anyways, it was every finish you would see from Double J, either the guitar leads to Jarrett’s win or Jarrett’s downfall. There is nothing new here, these two have faced one another dozens of time without any real magic. Let’s just rebrand the company already.


Winner: DDP over Jeff Jarrett via Diamond Cutter!


(WCW World Championship Match) Scott Steiner © W/ Midajah vs Kevin Nash


Having done the JOB for The Insiders thanks to a tonne of interference, Kevin Nash is back in the title picture in WCW. To give you an idea of how great this company was at this point, you have Flair and Steiner talking shit for about eight minutes before we get to see Kevin Nash. We have an extra stipulation as Flair states that the loser of the match has to leave WCW forever. Nash was attacked by Steiner on Nitro with a lead pipe, Nash is wheeled to the ring by two lovely women. Nash’s leg is in a cast, Nash looks at Steiner. Steiner turns his back showing that it is all a ruse, Nash can walk and is here to kick some ass. Nash smashes Steiner with the championship and pins Steiner, Flair freaks out at ringside. Did they really just kill their big monster heel in five seconds? ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!!!


Flair announces it as two out of three falls, DDP is attacked by Totally Buffed. Corner clotheslines by Nash, two for Nash. Steiner is knocked to the floor, a bloody mess. Midajah trips over attacking Nash, Steiner wallops Nash with a lead pipe. Flair says falls count anywhere as Steiner cannot life dead weight Nash into the ring, Nash is now a bloody mess. Right hands by Steiner, belly to belly by Steiner for two. Clotheslines and elbow drop for two, backbreaker and an t-bone suplex for two. Nash ducks a brass knuckles shot to nail a sidewalk slam, Flair hands Steiner a chair. Nash is nailed, Nash survives a Steiner Recliner.


Right hands by Nash, chokeslam by Nash. Midajah jumps the referee for no reason, snake eyes and big boot by Nash. Nash undoes his straps, Jacknife Powerbomb and Midajah eats a sidewalk slam but Flair pulls out the referee and decks Lil Naitch. Nash has Flair, low blow by Steiner who no-sells the powerbomb. Steiner has a chair thanks to Flair, another chair shot and a new referee to see The Steiner Recliner. Nash is out of WCW, Steiner is still WCW Champion.


What a crock of glorious shit, I mean first you have Nash getting one last fuck you over the company by pinning Steiner, the very man built up as a crazy maniac who mows down everyone in five seconds after one chair shot. Of course, Nash takes like three chair shots, Flair and Midajah hitting him and the more I think about it, wasn’t this like the bullshit I sat through with Jarrett? Fuck you Nash, put over Steiner like a monster. You were leaving, do what had to be done and do the right thing. It was nonsensical, overbooked and a complete mess, terrible main event and pay per view.


Winner: Scott Steiner over Kevin Nash via Steiner Recliner!


That was WCW’s Superbrawl 2001 or as I will refer to it as now WCW’s “Put us out of our misery” on pay per view. Let me be clear, there were absolutely no positives in this show, not one thing I could point to and go that was great or even that it was very good. You have cruiserweights who have wrestled a billion times, you cannot expect anyone to watch that match and care, it’s at least 4 pay per views straight where we have seen that match. The tag team scene is in a horrible way with green and generic wrestlers finding their feet in the ring on a national platform, I feel for them but they were not ready. Wrestlers being wasted like Storm and nonsense matches featuring Jarrett and Nash. Terrible show but they had one more left, thanks for reading and remember: There’s always another night!



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