Jump to content
DVDVR Message Board

WCW PPV Memories/Discussion Thread Part 2: Russo's Revenge


Newb82

Recommended Posts

I remember watching the show sometime around 2001 or 2002 because the local video store had it to rent, and going "wait, was that Stacey Kiebler?" during that close-up (small tv, crappy vhs)

 

It's nice to know she really was a fan before becoming a Nitro girl.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This thread has made me wonder something I've thought about before but not asked - are there any compilations of WCW crusierweight/junior heavyweight (or whatever the title was originally called in the early 90s) matches?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Michael Buffer and his writer really were the worst ever. 

 

The best there is, the best there ever was, the best there ever will... Bret Clarke. 

 

Don't forget Chris Benoit, "Master of the Cripple Crossface". Buffer was phoning it in so bad he was like a pre-millenial Mike Adamle.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Souled Out '99 1/17-From Charleston, SC-President Flair opens the show with a "State of WCW Address".-Hosts are Tony, Bobby, & Tenay-The crew runs down the card, and Tony talks about this being a "night of revenge" for WCW against the nWo. Well the first one of those was Starrcade '97, and we all know how THAT worked out. Tony gets a notice that there's a "disturbance" in the back, and we see Goldberg in his dressing room, down on the floor favoring his knee.-Match 1: Mike Enos VS Chris Benoit-OK, what is with jobbers getting PPV time? Nice pop for Benoit. The nWo symbol has been "X" 'd out of everything. Enos actually manages to beat Benoit down in a corner, then spits on him before mocking the Horseman signal, so Benoit responds with a double snot rocket. There's actually a decent amount of heat for this, mostly thanks to Benoit. Tony takes time to say that the Falcons winning the NFC Championship earlier in the day somehow gives Goldberg momentum just as Enos hits a nice gutwrench into a backbreaker. Enos works the back, and Benoit destroys his chest with stiff chops. The match isn't particularly good because Enos does nothing with his control segments.Benoit comes back with a couple German suplexes, then hits the swandive headbutt. I still get really uncomfortable watching him do that move, and I hope Danielson stops doing it. Benoit gets the Crossface out of nowhere for the submission. Way too much Enos in this match.-Goldberg/Hall hype video.-Match 2: Norman Smiley (w/Pepe's wood chips) VS Chavo Guerrero Jr.-Chavo is FIRED UP over the loss of his wooden horse, and takes it to Norman early. Norman makes a comeback and teases the dance, but doesn't do it, drawing some boos. Norman works on Chavo's midsection, and Heenan can't resist making a "Mrs. Guerrero's chili" joke. Norman works some submissions, and he has some fans in the house, as they pop huge whenever Norman shakes his ass. Norman completely dismantles Chavo, and hits a superplex before finally breaking out the "Big Wiggle" to a big pop.After cutting off a Chavo comeback, Norman gets the Gory Special. Chavo fights out, but gets caught in wheelbarrow position, and Norman does his dance with Chavo in his grasp to a HUGE pop. They go back-and-forth for a bit. Chavo blocks the chicken wing, then Norman blocks the tornado DDT. Norman throws the wood chips into Chavo's face (how is that not a DQ?) and slaps on the chicken wing for the submission. Alright exhibition for Norman, but far too long for what they were going for.-Konnan talks with Mark Madden getting kicked out of the nWo.-Match 3: Wrath VS Bam Bam Bigelow-Slugfest to start, and Wrath catches Bigelow with a bicycle kick, and BBB takes a powder. A pretty middle-of-the-road brawl follows. Neither guy feels like selling anything, and Bigelow uses too many restholds. Heenan suggests to Tony that he shave his head, tattoo it, then grow his hair back. Tenay actually backs this up. There's no heat for this, except for one guy on the hard camera side that REALLY doesn't like Bigelow. Wrath cracks his head on the ring post, and Bam Bam finishes with the Greetings from Asbury Park.-Match 4: Konnan VS Lex Luger-Luger gives Konnan the option of walking away, then says Konnan simply got cut from the nWo, like a player getting cut from a sports team. Konnan jumps Luger to a big reaction. Luger makes a comeback, and focuses on Konnan's back. Konnan makes a comeback, and the crowd pops for everything he does. They pop bigger when Liz (w/boob job) bounces her way out and maces Konnan while he has Luger in the Tequila Sunrise. That leads to the rack for the submission, because elevating guys while they're hot is for idiots or something. Pretty much every Luger late-90's match.-Match 5: Saturn VS Chris Jericho (w/Ralphus) [Loser Wears a Dress]-Big pop for Jericho. Jericho's 80's metal hair is seriously out of control. Scott Dickinson, who is having issues with Saturn, is the ref. Saturn dominates the first couple minutes, so Ralphus models the dress in an attempt to distract him. Jericho makes a comeback without any help, and manages to turn the crowd against him. They go back-and-forth for a while, without much heat. Jericho avoids the DVD. Saturn gets a small package, but Dickinson reverses it and fast-counts Saturn. Decent, but disappointing.-Jericho abuses Dickinson until he makes Saturn put the dress on. Once he does, it's all laughs, smiles, and high-fives between Jericho, Ralphus, & Dickinson.-David Flair talks about tagging with his dad against Windham & Hennig. He's clearly scared to death.-Match 6 for the Cruiserweight Championship: Billy Kidman [c] VS Juventud Guerrera VS Psychosis VS Rey Mysterio Jr. [4 Corners Match]-Rey's entrance starts the same as KENTA's RoH entrance before starting the rap song. Rey & Kidman start. Cute bit as Rey & Kidman collide and knock the wind out of each other, so Juvy & Pyschosis attack them, so in turn Rey & Kidman tag out so those two have to face each other. Psychosis & Juvy have a stalemate and hug before turning to tag, but Kidman & Rey drop down to avoid being tagged. Kidman & Rey then jump and and take out the other two. This turns into a tag match for a moment, until the heels get the faces outside, and fight over who gets to do an Asai moonsault. The faces break that up with sunset bombs off the apron.Back in, the faces hit a Doomsday Device on Juvy, but Psychosis stops the count. Everyone ends up outside again for a moment, then back in Rey hits a springboard seated senton for two. Juvy comes back with the Juvy Driver, but Psychosis hits a guillotine legdrop to break up the pin. The match breaks down, and they officially stop worrying about there being legal men. Psychosis learns YOU CAN'T POWERBOMB KIDMAN, but Rey breaks up the cover and hits Kidman with a wheelbarrow bulldog for two. Juvy joins the fun and gets the faces laying down outside, then directs Psychosis to hit a suicide dive on the prone faces.Psychosis misses a dive and splats on the floor. Kidman blocks the Juvy Driver, and gets some help from Rey to hit an inverted DDT. Rey wipes Psychosis out again with a dive, and Kidman finishes Juvy with the SSP. Pretty much all action with a little bit of psychology sprinkled in. No selling, but it's still a good four-way.-Booker T is with the .COM guys and is disgusted by what happened to Saturn. Jericho interrupts, and ends up agreeing to a match with "Mr. T".-Match 7: Curt Hennig & Barry Windham VS Ric & David Flair (w/Arn Anderson)-H & B stall, then Flair & Hennig have a little back-and-forth on the mic. Hennig tries to get AA kicked out. Flair responds by telling Hennig that unless he wants to go back to the WWF, he better get in the ring. Windham challenges David to start, and it actually happens. David futilely tries a double-leg, and poor Windham actually has to sell that he's upset by it. David counters a headlock with a headscissors, and it's actually WINDHAM that blows the spot. It draws a big pop anyway, and Windham sells it big. David hits a couple chops that Windham sells. Well, Barry is certainly earning his money in this match.Daddy gets in and shows everyone how it's done, pasting both opponents with chops. Windham goes to the eyes and tags Hennig, whose advantage doesn't last long. Hennig makes a comeback, and cheap shots David. Now it's time for Ric to play FIP. Barry hits the superplex, but it's 1999 not 1985, so it only gets two. Aside from a Hennig figure 4, it's mostly punch-kick stuff during the rest of the heat segment on Ric. The heels set up a double suplex on Ric, but David punts Hennig in the nuts to break it up. The match breaks down and Curt punishes David until AA gets in and cracks Hennig with a tire iron. Hennig clearly pulls David on top of him as he falls back, and David gets the pin. OK enough tag formula match, even if the David portions were ridiculous.-The whole nWo comes out to destroy the Horsemen. The handcuff Ric to the ropes and bully David until David goes after Hogan, triggering a beatdown and "EZE" paint job. The crowd chants for Goldberg, then Sting, but no one comes to make the save. Flair's selling of watching his son get killed makes the whole thing.-Another hype video for Goldberg/Hall. This time focusing on a huge nWo beatdown on Goldberg.-Match 8: Scott Hall VS Goldberg [Ladder/Stun Gun Match]-Winner is the first guy to use the stun gun, regardless of who gets it first. Buffer does the intros. Hall claims that Goldberg pissed himself when he found out he had to wrestle Hall tonight, and slipped on his urine, which caused the knee injury, and that Goldberg's career is over. Hall asks to be declared the winner by forfeit when Goldberg's music hits. Really slow first couple minutes. Goldberg has a knee brace on, to make him look more like Austin I guess. Hall dominates for a while, making Goldberg try to do the one thing he can't: sell. Goldberg gets busted open. Hall drops an elbow off the ladder for no particular reason.Goldberg makes a comeback and has the match won, but Disco Inferno interferes and knocks the ladder over before reviving Hall, who gets the taser. Goldberg avoids being tased and superkicks Hall, who drops the taser. Goldberg finds it before Hall can, then tases Disco. Hall begs off, and Goldberg toys with him for a bit before throwing the taser in the air, and spearing Hall when he goes for it. Goldberg follows up with the jackhammer, then tases Hall for the win. Hot finish to a really bad match.-Bigelow immediately attacks Goldberg. Hall (recovering pretty fast from getting tased), tases both of them repeatedly as the show ends.-FINAL THOUGHTS: While a step up from Starrcade, this still wasn't that great. The first three matches go way too long, the wrong guy goes over in Konnan/Lex, and Jericho/Saturn could have been tons better. The cruiserweight four-way is pretty interesting and the Flairs match is good as long as David isn't involved. The nWo beatdown on the Horsemen is actually pretty riveting because of how Flair sells it, and is easily the higlight of the show. The main is shit, especially for a ladder match.-NEXT EVENT: SuperBrawl IX 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

SuperBrawl IX 2/21/99-From Oakland, CA-Hosts are Tony, Bobby, & Tenay-The crew talk about Hogan/Flair, then a little bit about the tag title tournament finals.-A video recaps the tag title tournament.-Mean Gene adds his two cents about the tag title match, then shills the hotline.-Match 1: Disco Inferno VS Booker T-Disco is a member of the Wolfpac, but keeps his theme, only with a howl randomly added to it. Footage from Thunder shows Disco sticking his nose in an argument between Booker & Stevie Ray, and getting choked by Booker for it. Hot crowd to start, and they get on Disco's case. This is a pretty good opener, even with Disco stalling, and the crew picking a bad time talking about how "focused" Disco is when he's spent half the match dancing to that point. Booker controls for a while, until Disco manages to clothesline Booker out over the top to begin his control segment.Disco doesn't keep control for very long, and Booker hits the Scissors Kick. Disco comes right back with an inverted atomic drop, but then jumps right into a spinebuster (called a "sidewalk slam" by Tony and an "axe kick" by Heenan). Disco almost hits the Chartbuster (Stunner), but Booker fights it off, does a spinaroonie, and hits the Harlem Side Kick. Booker goes up top, gets crotched, then shoves Disco down before finishing with the Harlem Hangover which almost crushes Disco's head. OK enough opener, even with the announce team being pretty bad at points.-Match 2: Chris Jericho (w/Ralphus) VS Saturn [Dress Match]-The production crew starts Saturn's music before switching to Jericho. Ralphus has a dress and earrings on. Ref Scott Dickinson joins Jericho's entrance, making his return after a suspension, presumably for what he did during the last Jericho-Saturn match. Heenan speculates on what Saturn and Ralphus are wearing for undergarments, which drives Tony nuts. Jericho gets on the mic and calls Saturn a "cross-eyed, cross-dressing freak" to a pop. Saturn jumps Jericho at the bell, and they go into the crowd seconds in. Jericho manages to take control on the outside, but once they get back inside, Saturn takes over.Saturn catapults Jericho outside then adds a dive before stripping Ralphus, and answering Heenan's question. Jericho takes advantage of the distraction, but goes for the cocky cover, which allows Saturn a chance to recover and bash Jericho's face into the mat. Jericho recovers, and does a missile dropkick from the top to the floor. Whose bright idea was that one? Jericho takes forever going up top, and misses a twisting splash and allows Saturn to make a comeback. Saturn gets GREAT elevation on a frog splash (dare I say it was worthy of five stars?) and calls for the DVD, but Jericho gets a schoolboy and uses the ropes for two.Saturn sticks Jericho's head under the dress for corner punches. Jericho almost gets the Liontamer out of that, but Saturn counters into a rollup for two. Jericho hits a cross-body off the top, but Saturn rolls through and applies the Rings of Saturn, then helpfully positions he and Jericho so Jericho can get his feet on the ropes. Saturn misses a Lionsault, but Jericho hits his. Saturn gets the DVD, but doesn't go for the cover. Dickinson tells Saturn to cover, and Saturn gives him one too before taking a walk. When Dickinson comes to, he calls for the DQ (which is announced as a count out). Good match, dumb finish. IIRC, according to Jericho, keeping the dress was Saturn's idea.-Rey & Konnan talk about their hair VS Rey's mask match against Nash & Luger tonight with the online team.-Video recaps the DDP/BPP feud, focusing on BPP going after Kim, and throwing her from a moving car.-Match 3 for the Cruiserweight Championship: Billy Kidman [c] VS Chavo Guerrero Jr.-This is a result of the two entering the tag title tournament as a team and bowing out quickly. Tony mentions Luger tore a bicep on Thunder and will not be teaming with Nash, who has said he has a replacement partner. Kidman controls the early going. Chavo slaps on a rear chinlock, which immediately draws a small "boring" chant. That goes away when Chavo sends Kidman outside, and hits a dive. Chavo does a facewash in the corner, but Kidman comes back with a cross-body off the top for two. Chavo hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, but Kidman counters a powerbomb attempt with a backdrop. Chavo immediately hits a belly-to-back suplex, but then tries a flying...something off the top, sending himself right into a dropkick.Chavo comes back with a second rope rana for two, and the crowd is DEAD. Kidman comes back with a sky-high for two. Chavo crotches Kidman, and draws some groans with an awkward top rope draping DDT for two. Chavo then learns that YOU CAN'T POWERBOMB KIDMAN, who then promptly finishes with the SSP. The work was good, but they lost the crowd early and never came close to getting them back.-Bam Bam/Goldberg hype video.-Match 4 for the Vacant WCW World Tag Team Championship: Curt Hennig & Barry Windham VS Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko-Because it's the finals of a double-elimination tournament and Hennig/Windham have no loses, Benoit/Malenko have to win twice. Hennig/Windham have the most generic of generic music. Hennig/Windham are not nWo anymore, having been attacked by the nWo previously, as explained by the crew. Anyone remember how that came about? Pretty slow start. Tempers flair between Hennig & Benoit, which doesn't go well for Curt. Windham takes over on Malenko, and again this crowd is SILENT. Benoit gets in with Hennig and tries to wake the crowd up, but fails. After a couple more exchanges, Benoit does bring the crowd out of it momentarily by calling for, then hitting, the swan dive headbutt. Malenko gets a cover off that, but Windham holds the ref, which actually draws some heat.Hennig goes low on Malenko and tags Windham. Malenko plays FIP for a short time. The Horsemen get the advantage on Hennig, and the crowd grows restless as this match won't get out of first gear. Windham hits Benoit with a superplex, but Malenko makes the save. Now it's Benoit's turn to play FIP. The crowd starts clapping for Benoit to make a comeback, then go silent again when he doesn't. Benoit hits a German suplex on Hennig and make the hot tag to Malenko. The crowd FINALLY gets into this as the Horsemen clean house and Malenko twice gets the Cloverleaf on Windham, getting a tap out on the second try to give Benoit & Malenko their first win.During the rest period the Horsemen try to punish Hennig/Windham. Malenko tries to put the Cloverleaf on Windham again, but Windham counters by taking his belt off and choking Malenko out before hitting a short clothesline and continuing to choke Malenko for the pin and the titles. Good finish to a shockingly bad match considering the guys involved. This match was pretty much the definition of not listening to the crowd at all.-Video recaps Hall stopping Benoit from getting a U.S. title match then beating him (with help from Nash) to become the #1 contender, then Piper beating Bret for the title to set up the U.S. title match for later tonight.-Match 5: The Outsiders (w/Lex & Liz) VS Konnan & Rey Mysterio Jr. [Liz's Hair VS Rey's Mask]-Rey starts with Hall, and makes a go of it, dropping a dime and hitting a springboard seated senton. Rey takes a shot at Nash, but then jumps right into a fall-away slam from Hall. Nash gets in and tosses Rey around for fun before giving him back to Hall. Hall goes for the 'Edge, but Rey slides out and tags Konnan, who cleans house before taking a cheap shot from Nash and a big clothesline from Hall. Konnan plays FIP for a bit, then fires up, leading to a double-KO spot with Hall. Rey gets the tag and goes nuts, using Nash as a springboard to take Hall down. Rey does a bronco buster on Hall, but Lex pulls Konnan out and rams him into the steps. Liz distracts the ref, allowing Hall to catch Rey with the 'Edge and put Nash on top for the pin. Good tag formula match that got the crowd back into this show.-Konnan loosens the laces, and Rey takes his mask off. Nash, of course, tells Rey to put it back on before trying to wear it himself.-Match 6 for the Television Championship: Scott Steiner [c] VS DDP-BPP grabs a planted "hooch" from the crowd, and the crew has a collective heart attack when she steps into the ring. BPP then tells Oakland that if they have a woman he wants, he's going to take her. DDP gets the early jump and takes it right to BPP. Buff comes out to try to help, and DDP is able to fight both of them off for a time before the numbers game catches up to him. BPP beats the shit out of DDP, cutting off several comeback attempts in the process. Buff puts a chair on the apron, then circles around the ring to distract the ref and allow BPP to use it. That shockingly does not backfire. As Buff loosens the top two turnbuckle pads BPP goes for the Steiner Recliner, but DDP counters with a low blow.The ref catches Buff loosening the pads and ejects him. BPP poses for the crowd, allowing DDP to make a brief comeback until BPP sends him into the steps. BPP tries to use the chair again then chases Charles Robinson when Lil' Naitch disarms him, allowing DDP to catch him with a clothesline. Back in DDP goes up top, but BPP crotches him and hits a Super Frankensteiner for two. I'm surprised he could still do the move at this point. DDP hits a desperation DDT for two. BPP repeatedly rams DDP's back into the exposed turnbuckles. DDP tries valiantly to fight it off, but BPP gets the Recliner to put DDP out. DDP does a GREAT sell of being KO'd here. Really good match that did a fine job of elevating BPP while keeping DDP strong.-DDP does a stretcher job as the crowd turns on him for some reason, chanting "DDP Sucks!". Reason for DDP's heel turn?-Bam Bam talks about his plan to finally get Goldberg in the ring coming to fruition with Mark Madden.-Match 7 for the United States Championship: Roddy Piper [c] VS Scott Hall (w/Disco Inferno)-Hall takes so long to come out they have to restart the Wolfpac music. They start out hot, but then the crowd dies again once they really get into it. In fairness, they're not given much to react to here. Piper gets the sleeper, but Hall gets help from Disco, then Kevin Nash, allowing Hall to get a schoolboy and use the ropes to win the title.-Piper reluctantly relinquishes the belt, then fights off Hall & Disco before having to take off to avoid a beat down from the Outsiders.-Match 8: Bam Bam Bigelow VS Goldberg-Triple B dominates...for about 30 seconds. Two spears sandwiched around a superkick and the jackhammer finish this one quickly. -Match 9 for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Hollywood Hogan [c] VS Ric Flair-Hogan dominates the early going which completely contradicts the storyline, but, ya' know, it's Hogan. Good heat for this one. Hogan sends Flair outside, then cracks him in the head with a chair. They brawl outside for a while, with Hogan controlling things and busting Flair open. Back in the ring, Hogan goes to work with the weight belt as Flair tries to fire up, but keeps getting shut down. Hogan starts no-selling chops and stares Flair down to a big pop, so Flair goes to the eyes, then goes low to turn the tide.Flair gets the weight belt and goes to work, busting Hogan open. Torrie Wilson comes out to distract, then slap Flair. That ends up meaning nothing as Flair stays on offense. Flair hits a delayed vertical suplex, but Hogan presses him off the cover right onto Lil' Naitch, then drops an elbow on Robinson to keep him down. Hogan gains the advantage and almost finishes with the legd rop, but Flair moves. A masked man (that is CLEARLY David) comes out and uses the STUN GUN OF DOOM on Flair as he has Hogan in the figure 4, and Hogan gets the pin. Dumb finish aside, this was surprisingly good for a Hogan/Flair match in 1999.-Torrie makes out with David an unmasks him before David reveals his nWo shirt. David celebrates with Hogan & Nash as the show ends. Remember, this all somehow leads to a DOUBLE TURN.-FINAL THOUGHTS: This has to be the only show where I've seen a crowd go from completely dead for the bad matches, to live for the good ones. There's some good stuff here, and there's some bad stuff here. What's good is really good (especially BPP/DDP) and what is bad is REALLY bad (esp. the tag title match). Complete mixed bag, but some stuff, like the main being surprisingly good before the dumb finish and swerve (especially considering what's to come) makes this a show worth watching. Just prepare to be bored for long stretches at a time unless you fast-forward through the crap.-NEXT EVENT: Uncensored '99

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Uncensored '99 3/14-From Louisville, KY-Opening video focuses on Hogan/Flair.-Hosts are Tony, Bobby, & Tenay-Tony calls this show the most "mind-boggling" PPV of the year, amongst other things. The crew focus on the Hogan/Flair title VS career, barbed wire cage, first blood match. Got any more stips you want to cram in there guys?-Video recaps the Nash/Rey feud. I didn't know Rey turned down an nWo membership at one point.-Match 1 for the Cruiserweight Championship: Billy Kidman [c] VS Mikey Whipwreck-Whipwreck gets a title shot in his WCW debut. Nice heat for Mikey's entrance. Damn Mikey looks so bush-league on a bigger stage. Mikey is mostly punch-kick offense to start, until he takes Kidman outside and wheelbarrows him onto the guardrail for two. Mikey tries to play cocky heel and despite getting some Pavlovian boos, it's not his forte. Heenan mispronounces "Whipwreck" about fifteen different ways during this match. Mikey figures out, in his first WCW match, that the best way to POWERBOMB KIDMAN is to do it as a counter to a Rocker Dropper. He gets two off that.Kidman sends Mikey outside, and follows up with a dive off the top rope. Kidman counters a slingshot suplex with a DDT and looks to finish, but Mikey shoves him off the top to the floor. Mikey follows with a dive, but eats guardrail. Kidman charges Mikey, and gets backdropped into the crowd. Mikey tries a running somersault over the guardrail, but Kidman moves and Mikey splats on the concrete. Mikey comes back and hits a drop toe hold into the steps on Kidman. They've been outside for far longer than any realistic ten count would give them.Back in, Mikey hits a Russian leg sweep for two. Mikey stops to glare at a section of fans that are sing-songing his name, allowing Kidman to get a schoolboy for two. Mikey goes right back on offense, but walks into a Sky-High for two. Kidman catches Mikey going up top, but Mikey throws him down and hits a flying clothesline for a very close near-fall. Kidman responds with a modified Peidgree for two. Mikey hits a belly-to-back off the top, and Kidman almost spikes himself in the mat bumping off it. Mikey hits an inverted suplex for two, but then tries to powerbomb Kidman...and you can figure out what happens next. Kidman retains. Good opener once they got going, with plenty of heat for it, which doesn't always happen with cruiserweight title matches. Good debut for Mikey, but I'm not sure why you'd debut a guy with a loss in a title match on PPV.-Hype video for Hogan/Flair, focusing on the construction of the cage with a voice over from Flair.-Match 2 for Leadership of the nWo Black & White: Vincent VS Stevie Ray [Harlem Street Fight]-OK, does anyone know exactly what the mkaeup of the nWo actually is at this point? I thought they were all together again after the "Fingerpoke of Doom". It's sad that the awesome original nWo music is now reserved for the jobber crew. Shocking to see Vincent actually in a match. Vincent tries some shit-talk and an eye poke to start, but ends up running right into a bicycle kick. They promptly head outside and into the crowd, right into a section of taped-off empty seats. They get back in the ring and don't do much. Horace runs out and leaves a slap jack on the apron, saying he doesn't care who wins because HE is the leader. Stevie avoids getting hit with the slap jack (the weapon) and finishes with the Slap Jack (the move). Not are terrible as I feared it was going to be.-Match 3: Kevin Nash (w/Lex & Liz) VS Rey Mysterio Jr.-Rey charges right into a big boot, then Nash beals him almost into the lights. Rey comes back with a wheelbarrow DDT, then drops a dime before clipping Nash with a spinning heel kick and sending him outside. Nash catches Rey and sends him into the guardrail, then hits Snake Eyes on the apron. Nash starts beating on Rey, but gets over-confident, allowing Rey to hit a low blow. Rey hits a dropkick to the side of the head for two, then follows up with a Bronco Busters. Nash catches Rey trying a moonsault, but Rey escapes. Luger trips up Rey, allowing Nash to hit a big boot and finish with the jackknife. Pretty good big man VS little man match.-Hype video for the Raven/Hak/Bigelow "Raven's Rules" triangle match.-Match 4: Jerry Flynn VS The Cat & Sonny Onoo-WHO THE FUCK DECIDED TO PUT JERRY FUCKING FLYNN ON A FUCKING PAY-PER-VIEW?! Cat at least has the James Brown music now.  The crew actually try to put Flynn over as an up-and-comer. Cat controls most of the match, with Sonny getting the occaisional cheap shot in. Cat sends Sonny in to finish Flynn off, and Sonny does a bunch of karate poses before simply going for a cover, which gets two. Cat saves Sonny from Flynn, and goes back to dominating the match. Heel miscommunication leads to Flynn pinning Sonny. Cat must have forgotten the finish, because he tries to break up the pin, but Mickie Jay counts it anyway. This went way too long for what they were going for.-Hype video for the tag title match.-Match 5: Bam Bam Bigelow VS Hak VS Raven (w/Chastity) [Raven's Rules Triangle Match]-Hak has the plastic barbed wire wrapped around him. Raven finally has his Silverchair music. Seconds in, Chastity heads to the back, and returns with a bin full of weapons. Why not just bring that out during Raven's entrance? If you like guys hitting each other with whatever they can get their hands on and not doing much else, this match is for you. A box fan gets involved, but Hak & Bam Bam are too afraid to paste each other with it, and the crowd boos their weak shots. Cute bit as Raven grabs a canoe paddle and crotches both opponents with it, then sheaths it like a sword. Hak hits Raven with a Frankensteiner off the second turnbuckle, then gets a table from under the ring, because a garbage match is not complete without a table. This draws a huge "ECW" chant, and the mics in that section of the crowd are cut to drown it out.The table gets set up. Raven hands Hak to Bam Bam for a powerbomb through it, but the table doesn't break, so Bam Bam has to splash Hak through it. Hak gets a hold of his Singapore cane and clips Bigelow in the knee. Chastity tries to save Raven from a cane shot, but Raven, in a rare altruistic act for him, pulls her out of the way and takes the bullet. Bam Bam gets a couple tables from under the ring, and ends up getting whipped through one. Raven hits the Evenflow on Hak, but opts to get some tape from Chastity and tape Hak's hands behind his back instead of getting the pin.Raven & Hak do their Rock/Foley tribute (with the tape breaking and freeing Hak's hands in the process), then Bigelow plants Raven with the Greetings from Absury Park. He opts to set up a table instead of pinning anyone. Bam Bam sprays Chastity with a fire extinguisher, and she dives into the weapons cart to avoid it. Bam Bam goes up top, but Chastity pops out of the cart and sprays Bam Bam with a fire extinguisher, causing him to fall backward through the table. Chastity turns on Raven by spraying him with the fire extinguisher, then drops a headbut on his nuts before Hak crawls on top for the pin. Total yard tard-style match, complete with zero psychology and a turn that makes zero sense given what happened earlier in the match. Put this on an ECW PPV, and way too many people would be talking about how great this match was.-The crew talk about the main event. Bobby turns his back on the other two and pouts about something.-Match 6 for the WCW World Tag Team Championship: Curt Hennig & Barry Windham [c] VS Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko [Lumberjack Strap Match]-The lumberjacks have the straps, not the guys in the match. Arn comes out and orders Chris Adams to leave, taking his strap before he does. The champs take a walk, and the lumberjacks chase them down and whip them until they get back in the ring. The Horsemen control the first couple minutes, but it's mostly the champs getting whipped by the lumberjacks. They finally settle into tag formula, with Benoit as the FIP. This might be the first lumberjack match I've seen where all the lumberjacks jumps the guys involved on an equal basis.Malenko gets in, and hits the PerfectPlex on Hennig, but that only gets two. Malenko gets the Cloverlead on Hennig, but Windham saves, and now it's Malenko's turn to be the FIP. Benoit ends up taking Barry Windham's belt off his pants. He & Windham go outside, and Kendall Windham tries to shield his brothers. Hennig punches AA, who responds by pulling out a tire iron and KO'ing Hennig with it. Benoit & Malenko take care of Windham, and Benoit finishes Hennig with the diving headbutt from 3/4 the way across the ring. Nothing particularly special and still pretty disappointing consider the guys involved, but this was still tons better than the SuperBrawl match. Benoit gets his first title in WCW.-Match 7: Chris Jericho (w/Ralphus) VS Saturn [Dog Collar Match]-Saturn has gone full Marilyn Manson with his look and music. He has bright green contacts in. Jericho volunteers Ralphus to take his place in the match. Ralphus refuses, so Jericho kicks him out from ringside, getting a mouthpiece from Ralphus' pocket first. Jericho stalls...a lot. Saturn finally gets tired of his shit and goes on the attack. Saturn kicks Jericho's ass for about five minutes. He doesn't do anything particularly memorable with his control segment. Jericho finally gets some offense in, and the crowd just DIES as he works Saturn over.Saturn makes his comeback, and the crowd wakes up when he hits the corner punches. Jericho goes for the Liontamer. He gets the move, but in a nifty bit of psychology, Saturn wraps the chain in such a way that as Saturn gets turned into the full hold, the chain goes taut and almost chokes Jericho out. Saturn hits the DVD out of nowhere...for two. Jericho blocks a second rope Frankensteiner, and hits a powerbomb for two. Jericho removes the chain from Saturn and wraps it around himself. Jericho is supposed to miss a moonsault, but Saturn moves late, and Jericho ends up landing on Saturn's back. That's apparently supposed to be the finish, since Jericho takes Saturn down and gets two, then misses a simple splash off the top, and Saturn finishes with the DVD. Another pretty disappointing match. I imagine if Jericho still had something to prove and wasn't on his way out, it would have been a lot better. Them botching the finish doesn't help matters.-Match 8 for the Television Championship: Scott Steiner [c] (w/Buff Bagwell) VS Booker T-Pretty basic match. The first few minutes are Booker T on offense while BPP stalls. Booker hits a cross-body off the top, but Buff pulls him off the cover and goes on the attack, somehow not getting BPP DQ'd in the process. Booker fights him off, but gets nailed from behind by BPP. BPP alternates between working Booker over and jawing with the crowd. Booker makes his comeback. It looks like he's supposed to KO Mickie Jay on accident with the Harlem Side Kick, but he whiffs, and ends up doing it again and connecting with BPP. Booker goes up, but Buff crotches him. BPP holds Booker for a chairshot from Buff, but it backfires, and Booker wins the title, looking SHOCKED that he did it. This was pretty much every Booker/BPP match I've ever seen. Nothing here would make you think this would be a main event feud next year.-Another video on the construction of the cage for the main event.-Match 9 for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Hollywood Hogan [c] VS Ric Flair [Title VS Career, Barbed Wire Cage, First Blood Match]-Buffer handles the intros, and says if Flair wins, he will be WCW PRESIDENT FOR LIFE! If Hogan wins, Flair is BANNED from WCW for life. Just like the last time he lost his career in a cage match against Hogan. Pre-match, Flair calls Robinson over and tells him he wants Robinson to use his discrection, and not stop the match for a little scrape. Flair foreshadows what's to come first by telling someone in the crowd "shut up if you don't like it", then saying "this match goes down the way I want it to".Since the cage has no door on it, it has to be lowered as Robinson and the two wrestlers stand in the ring. Tony does some foreshadowing of his own by talking about how this is Robinson's first big world title match and about how Robinson grew up a big Flair fan. Surprisingly fast-paced start. Hogan dominates for the most part, and Hogan clearly starts wrestling as a face, including calling for cheers from the crowd. Hogan sends Flair into the cage, and focuses on busting his forehead open. Come on, it's FLAIR. He busts himself open during promos! Flair has indeed been opened up and he tries to scale the cage before getting caught and brought back in by Hogan.Hogan pulls some of the (clearly plastic) wire down and rakes it on Flair's wound. Hogan uses the weight belt, then cuts off Flair's comeback attempt. Flair is busted wide open now, and Tony is confused because it's still going. At least this time it's part of an angle and not because no one knows how the match is supposed to end. Hogan gets the big boot, and legdrop and covers, but Robinson won't count, and won't stop the match because of Flair's blood.Flair gets an international object and decks Hogan before sending Hogan into the cage, opening Hogan up. David & Torrie walk out to cheer Hogan on. The crowd, catching on to what's happening, starts chanting for Hogan. Flair drops an elbow for two as Robinson counts, but Hogan presses Flair off, and starts Hulking Up, completing the turns. Hogan hits the big boot and leg drop again, and Robinson is reluctant to count, only getting to one.Flair hits a delayed vertical suplex and celebrates, but Hogan no-sells, and goes back on offense. Robinson stops Hogan from ramming Flair into the cage, and gets bumped. Hogan tries to get Robinson up, and gets a low blow from Flair. Arn runs out and drops David, then shrugs off Torrie. Arn slips the tire iron into the ring, and Flair KO's Hogan. Flair slaps on the figure 4, and Robinson delivers a VERY fast count to give the title to Flair. The work was good, but WHO THE FUCK decided this double-turn was a good idea? I know it's actually consistent with their characters that Flair would have the ref in his back pocket with everything he had on the line, and NEED the ref in his back pocket because Hogan > Flair, but FUCK. Flair deserved a big babyface moment for the hell Hogan put him through over the last couple months, and Hogan sure as hell doesn't deserve to be a babyface at this point. You want Flair as an out-of-his-mind egomaniacal champion/president? Fine, BUT END THE NWO FIRST!-FINAL THOUGHTS: Another weird PPV from WCW, even before the main event. The first three matches are decent ---> good where I wasn't expecting much, then the show turns to crap for a bit with the handicap & hardcore matches. The next two matches are OK, but disappointing, and the TV title match is what you should expect from those two. Hogan & Flair brought their working boots and the crowd was into it, but holy monkey fuck that booking decision is insane.-NEXT EVENT: Spring Stampede '99 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah I don't understand turning Flair heel. You could make the case that the WCW fanbase didn't want to ever boo Flair again once he came back in '93, and they definitely didn't want to boo him post-1996. He reached that 'legend' status where the fans weren't gonna hate him. I don't really have an issue with giving Hogan a final babyface run because the Hollywood character was so done by that point but this wasn't the way to do it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah I don't understand turning Flair heel. You could make the case that the WCW fanbase didn't want to ever boo Flair again once he came back in '93, and they definitely didn't want to boo him post-1996. He reached that 'legend' status where the fans weren't gonna hate him. I don't really have an issue with giving Hogan a final babyface run because the Hollywood character was so done by that point but this wasn't the way to do it.

They were both stale as hell in 99, they both needed to go for a while frankly.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Spring Stampede '99 4/11-From Tacoma, WA-Opening video focuses on the 4 way for the world title, then Nash/Goldberg.-Hosts are Tony, Bobby, & Tenay-Tony & Bobby talk about the top two matches while Tenay makes Tenay faces towards the camera. Tenay finally gets to talk, and says not to forget about Savage being the ref in the title match. OK, how did the world champion, who also runs the company, get himself stuck in a four-way reffed by a man who hates his guts? He's even more inept than Vince was at this time.-Mene Gene does what he always does.-Match 1: Blitzkrieg VS Juventud Guerrera [Winner Gets a Cruiserweight Title Match on Nitro]-Tony & Bobby immediately talk about not watching Thunder because they stayed in Vegas after Nitro was there, then Tony chides Tenay for having to work Thunder and be on "Zybyszko duty". Juvy gets a quick near-fall, and Blitzkrieg complains that Juvy is pulling on his mask. They get that wrestling shit out of the way, and make with the high spots. Juvy hits a pretty spectacular suicide dive over the top. The crowd pops for pretty much everything they do, including Juvy countering a dive off the top to the floor with a dropkick. The crowd gets confused, first chanting "Juvy" then promptly changing to "Juvy sucks" without him doing anything.They go up top, and badly botch what looks like an attempt at a Sliced Bread #2 off the top. Blitzkrieg misses the Sky Twister, but comes back with a victory roll off the second turnbuckle. Blitzkrieg sets Juvy on the second buckle so he can try...something, but Juvy casually turns it into a second rope Juvy Driver whih spikes Blitzkrieg right on his head, and that (thankfully) gets the pin. Pretty good spot monkey opener.-Video previews Hak/Bam Bam. This is a good representation of the "something for everyone" philosophy.-Match 2: Hak (w/Chastity) VS Bam Bam Bigelow [Hardcore Match]-Tenay gets tongue-tied when Tony asks him to talk about Chastity. Bam Bam has the weapons cart this time. Hak meats him in the aisle, and they immediately make their way to the set. Hak pulls a conveniently placed table from underneath a stage coach, puts Bigelow on it, then somersaults off the stage coach and puts Bam Bam through the table. Chastity cleans out the cart and puts all the weapons in the ring. This is the match where Tony tries to make a point about the empty garbage cans not hurting as much as other weapons, and Tenay & Bobby (as well as the guys who wrote the Wrestle Crap "Death of WCW" book) interpreting that to mean Tony thinks trash cans don't hurt at all.Hak makes a table bridge between the ring and the guardrail, then whacks Bam Bam with some weapons. They blow a suplex reversal spot, so Hak rolls outside and pulls a ladder from underneath the ring. Hak puts the ladder on Bam Bam's back, then somersaults off the top onto it, then follows up with a bulldog onto the ladder. Hak pulls out another table, then a section of guardrail. Hak hits Bam Bam with a garbage can, then tells Chastity to put the table bridge (that had fallen) back up, specifically so he can climb the ladder and Bam Bam can tip it over to send him through the table.Bam Bam sets the ladder up in one corner, then the section of guardrail in the opposite corner. He polls the fans, then sends Hak into the ladder. Hak comes back with a crutch and sets the guardrail up against the ropes then puts Bam Bam on it, before missing a guillotine legdrop and crotching himself. Bam Bam cracks Hak with the guardrail as Chastity can't get a fire extinguisher to go off. Bam Bam sprays her out of the ring, but takes a cane shot and the White Russian Leg Sweep on the guardrail. Hak doesn't go for a pin, opting to set up a super Frankensteiner, which Bam Bam counters into the Greetings From Asbury Park through a table for the pin. You know what you're getting here.-Heenan struggles to call the replay, which first shows Bam Bam spraying Chastity in the ass with the fire extinguisher. Tony tries saying "don't try this in your backyard", to which Heenan replys "try it in your living room, it's more fun!", then Tony saying his family does it in his living room all the time.-Match 3: Scotty Riggs VS Mikey Whipwreck-Riggs is no longer a pirate, and is now doing a Narcisisst-style gimmick. The crowd isn't interested in this one, with a couple "boring" chants popping up seconds in. Riggs spends most of his time on offense trying to establish the gimmick, which he simply doesn't have the charisma for. Mikey tries, but can't get the crowd interested in the match. Riggs finishes with a flying forearm, showing that he's not Rick Rude, Lex Luger, OR Tito Santana.-Video previews Disco/Konnan. I actually want to see Disco's version of Konnan's music video now.-Match 4: Konnan VS Disco Inferno-The crew talk about Disco working as a fake luchadore called "La Cucaracha (sp?)" and getting unmasked on Saturday Night. Konnan makes fun of Disco's "Disco Cowboy" outfit and calls him a "straight up strawberry". I'm assuming it's a failed attempt at putting a new homophobic slur into the lexicon. Konnan dominates the first couple minutes, but Disco makes a comeback, and draws some heat whenever he dances, or teases dancing. Disco takes a crotching into the ring post and a whip into the guardrail before going right back on offense.Konnan avoids a flying elbow, and hits a rolling clothesline, followed by the 187 DDT for two. They take turns countering moves, and Konnan hits a Stunner (now called "The Last Dance" by Disco) for the pin. Started out hot and the finishing sequence was alright, but it got a little rough in the middle.-Video preview for Rey/Kidman.-Match 5 for the Cruiserweight Championship: WCW World Tag Team Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. [c] VS WCW World Tag Team Champion Billy Kidman-The crowd isn't into this one nearly as much as the opener. They have a stalemate to start until Kidman backdrops Rey to the floor, then follows with a dive. Kidman drops Rey on the guardrail, then uses the rail to do a slingshot legdrop. After a bit they go back outside, and Rey uses the guardrail to hit a flying headscissors, but Rey cracks into the ring steps on the way down. Back in, Rey hits a Lionsault for two. Kidman counters a rana into a running diving powerbomb for two. Kidman starts focusing on the back, hitting a backbreaker, then a modified slam for two.Kidman hits the Sky High for two. Kidman sets Rey on the floor, and hits a Shooting Star off the apron, right onto Rey's knees. Back in, Kidman slams Rey, but then goes up and flies right into a dropkick for two. The match really slows down as both guys are pretty blown up. Rey hits a bulldog off the top for two. Rey charges into a powerslam for two, and Kidman hits the chinlock as the two try to catch their breath. Rey clotheslines Kidman out over the top, then hits a springboard seated senton. They clearly have no idea how to get the crowd back into this, and are throwing shit against the wall to see if anything sticks.Rey hits a nice snap rana for two. Rey misses a charge and cracks his shoulder into the post, but then counters a Sky Hight into an X-Factor. Kidman comes back with his Pedigree variant and looks to finish with the SSP (which wakes up the crowd), but Rey blocks that. Kidman hits a sunset bomb for two anyway. Rey hits the wheelbarrow bulldog off the top, but only gets two with a lax cover. Kidman comes back with a springboard bulldog for two. Rey hits a standing moonsault for two. He then tries to powerbomb Kidman, which doesn't work out for him. Rey cuts off the SSP, and finally finishes with a top rope rana. This was a surprisingly bad effort from these two. They lost the crowd early, and clearly had zero clue how to get them back. That they both slowed down dramatically as the match went on made it drag really badly.-Video shows Benoit & Malenko defending the tag titles against Raven in a handicap match until Saturn comes out to even the odds. The champs retain by DQ, but then Raven costs them the belts shortly after that. Then, on Thunder, Benoit & Raven have a hardcore match with Malenko & Saturn getting involved.-Match 6: Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko (w/Arn Anderson) VS Raven & Saturn [Raven's Rules]-Raven & Saturn bring a table with them. Crowd is molten for this one. Saturn & Benoit start with some scientific wrestling. Saturn & Raven hit a couple double-teams on Benoit for a couple near-falls. Not sure why they're bothering to tag since it's "Raven's Rules". Malenko teases a cheap shot on Raven, which distracts Raven long enough for Benoit to hit a dropkick that sends Raven outside, where he gets stomped by Malenko & AA. Raven plays FIP, at one point getting a visual fall on Benoit with a small package, but Malenko has Robinson detained.Saturn gets the hot tag and cleans house to a big reaction before walking into a clothesline from Malenko. Malenko tries a superplex, but Raven cuts in, and the faces hit a Doomsday cross-body. Saturn calls for the DVD, but Benoit cuts that up, and the Horsemen hit a dropkick/German suplex combo. Benoit wipes out Raven as Malenko gets the Cloverleaf on Saturn, but Saturn makes it to the ropes. Saturn gets the DVD, but Benoit breaks up the pin with a swandive headbutt at two, then Malenko gets two off that.Now it's Saturn's turn to play FIP. They do a good job at setting Robinson up so that him missing something could either be him being biased towards the Horsemen, or just being a typical shitty referee. Raven gets the hot tag and he cleans house. Saturn slides a chair into the ring, and Raven hits the drop toe hold of death. Saturn misses a dive and goes through the table. Raven hits Malenko with the Evenflow, but Benoit hits a Swandive headbutt onto the chair (that Arn had positioned) onto Raven's head, and that allows Malenko to get the pin. Really strong tag formula match. Well worth checking out if you haven't seen it.-Video shows Ric Flair stripping Scott Hall of the U.S. title and starting a tournament, which is recapped.-Match 7 for the Vacant United States Championship: Scott Steiner VS Television Champion Booker T-BPP, in an ultimate dick move, lets a woman rub his muscles while her boyfriend watches, then tells the BF that his girl will be thinking about BPP when they go home tonight. BPP gets physical with a couple fans, which would probably be a lawsuit if he did it today. Lots of stalling by BPP to start. Every Booker/BPP match they've ever had follows. Booker controls the first couple minutes of actual action until BPP crotches Booker on the top rope to take control. A "STEROIDS!" chant breaks out as BPP works Booker over. The crew ignore it, as they should.BPP gets physical with the ref then blatantly kicks Booker in the nuts, and the crew explain that the ref is too terrified of BPP to DQ him. Booker makes his comeback, but the ref gets bumped. Booker hits most of his signature moves and gets a visual fall at one point, but the ref gets bumped a second time to prevent a pin. Booker goes for the missile dropkick, but BPP falls into the ropes to crotch Booker, then hits a top rope Frankensteiner. BPP uses the ref's hand to count, but still only gets two.BPP gets a foreign object. Booker fights him off, but as Booker tries a suplex, BPP jabs Booker with the object, and that gets the pin and the title for BPP. This actually turned into a hell of a match after the ref bumps, with BPP pulling out all of the heel tricks to get heat.-Rey talks with the internet guys about his match with Kidman and how his being the cruiserweight champ effects their friendship.-Nash/Goldberg hype video.-Match 8: Kevin Nash (w/Lex & Liz) VS Goldberg-The crew talk about Goldberg wanting to use a lottery to start picking his matches and how great Nash is for stepping up to challenge Goldberg. I don't think I was watching Nitro around this time, but for anyone that was, were they seriously teasing a double-turn here, or was it just Nash using his position to get the crew to put him over?Nash overpowers Goldberg to start and uses a series of knees in the corner. Nash works Goldberg over in the corner as everyone in the crowd looks to their left at something off-screen. Liz distracts the ref, allowing Nash to hit a low blow. Nash hits a short-arm clothesline for two, then follows up with a couple Irish Whips and a sidewalk slam for two. Goldberg avoids a big boot and hits a flying elbow. He follows up with a throw, then avoids a couple haymakers before hitting a superkick to the chest.Goldberg tries the spear, but Nash leap frogs it, and Goldberg spears the stupid ref, who is standing behind Nash knowing the spear was coming. Luger interferes with a chairshot, and Nash calls for the Jackknife. Goldberg counters that with a testicular claw, then takes out an interfering Luger, before finishing Nash with the spear and Jackhammer. This was decent enough.-Hype video for the main event.-Match 9 for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Ric Flair [c] VS DDP VS Hollywood Hogan VS Sting [Fatal 4 Way, Guest Referee Randy Savage]-Savage has Gorgeous George with him. No Michael Buffer here. All four men are in the ring at the same time, and it's first pin or submission. Is DDP full-fledged heel yet? He gets a face reaction to his entrance, but doesn't play to or even really acknowledge the crowd until he gets into the ring and does his usual "point to the crowd then do the Diamond Cutter signal" taunt.They pair off at the bell. Sting almost beats DDP twice in about two minutes, first by almost getting the Scorpion, then by getting two with a Stinger Splash and Flair making the save. Flair & Hogan get back in the ring, and Sting/DDP go outside. Hogan no sells some chops, then catches Flair going up top with a slam. Sting gets DDP back inside and gets the Scorpion Death Lock, but Hogan drops the leg on Flair, forcing Sting to release the hold on DDP and break up the pin.Flair gets the figure 4 on Hogan as DDP works Sting over on the outside. Hogan reverses the hold until DDP comes in and breaks that up, before putting Hogan in a ring post figure 4, which ends up taking Hogan out of the match. The crowd shits on the idea that the ring post figure 4 was enough to put Hogan out. Bischoff comes out to essentially get in the way as Doug Dillinger and the head trainer help Hogan to the back.Back to the match, DDP stands by and watches as Sting & Flair go at it. Sting takes care of Flair, but then walks into a big clothesline from DDP for two. DDP controls the ring for a bit. Sting hits DDP with a Stinger Splash, then blocks the Cutter before hitting a bulldog. Sting throws Flair outside then tries a tombstone on DDP, who reverses it, and hits one of his own for two. Flair tosses DDP, but gets immediately hit with a superplex by Sting.They do a "double-sleeper" spot, which Sting breaks up with a jaw breaker. DDP & Flair double team Sting, until he starts no-selling and catches them with a double clothesline. Sting cleans house, including an SDD on DDP for two, which Flair breaks up. Flair gets the figure 4 on Sting, who lasts quite a while. Sting reaches the ropes, but Savage kicks Sting's hand off the ropes, then drags Sting & Flair to the middle before hitting a Savage Elbow on Flair. DDP kicks at Sting's injured leg, then catches Flair with the Diamond Cutter to win his first world title. This was a pretty decent main event, especially once Hogan left. DDP winning his first world title should have been a huge moment, but the crowd gave more of a "WTF?" reaction to it than anything else.-FINAL THOUGHTS: This was an alright show, with some decent matches where you might not be expecting anything and one really bad match (the Cruiserweight title match) that could have been really good. It's a watchable show, which may be too high of a bar for these shows to clear pretty soon.-NEXT EVENT: Slamboree '99 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Spring Stampede was the best wrestling PPV of 99, period. 

 

I'd say it was one of the best wrestling PPV's of 1999 with ECW Living Dangerously, Hardcore Heaven and Anarchy Rulz. Out of those, either Hardcore Heaven or Anarchy Rulz gets my vote as the best show in 1999. I'm sure I bought Uncensored 1999 and Spring Stampede 1999 on VHS in 2002. I still own that copy of Spring Stampede 1999 for Guerrera/Blitzkrieg, Bigelow/Hak, Mysterio/Kidman, Benoit/Malenko vs. Raven/Saturn, Goldberg/Nash and the main event.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Slamboree '99 5/9-From St. Louis, MO-Intro video actually features most of the card.-Hosts are Tony, Bobby, & Iron Mike-The crew talk about Flair/Piper for control of WCW, Sting/Goldberg, and DDP/Nash.-Match 1 for the WCW World Tag Team Championship: Kidman & Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. [c] VS Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko (w/Arn Anderson) VS Raven & Saturn [Triangle Match]-Three men are legal at all time. Kidman & Saturn team up to take out the Horsemen, then Saturn clobbers Kidman and throws him outside. The Horsemen come back and take out Saturn, then hit a dropkick/German suplex on Kidman, forcing Raven to make the save. Whoever told Rey that overalls were a good look for him was dead wrong. Benoit & Kidman team up on Raven, bit then Benoit chops Kidman down and hits the SNOT ROCKET OF DISGUST. Kidman comes back with a Sky High, but misses a splash. Benoit gets the crossface on Kidman, but Raven makes the save. Raven & Saturn hit a suplex/frog splash combo on Benoit, but Rey makes the save.Shortly after, Benoit & Raven are left alone in the ring, and Benoit hits a snap suplex followed by the swandive headbut for two. Benoit & Malenko rule the ring for a while, working on Saturn and keeping anyone else from getting back in. Dean brings Rey in, and the Horsemen hit an ugly double flapjack on him. After lengthy double-teaming, the Horsemen get big heel heat for actually making a tag (and making a show of doing that). Kidman takes Benoit down, but then turns into a kick from Saturn, who then crotches Kidman on the top rope before fucking up a springboard clothesline. Benoit shows Saturn how to do it right.Benoit hits the Triple Germans on Saturn, but Kidman saves. Malenko gets in and is immediately almost pinned by Saturn before he throws Kidman into the lights. The Horsemen continue to rule the roost, and Benoit busts out a Dragon Suplex on Kidman, forcing Rey to make the save. Raven gets in, and hits Three Amigos on Benoit for two. Rey gets in and hits a rana on Saturn, but Benoit saves. The champs take control of the ring. Kidman counters a Malenko powerbomb into a sunset flip for two. Rey hits the Bronco Buster on Raven, then Kidman throws Rey into a second rope rana on Benoit for two. They try it on Saturn, who counters into a powerbomb on Rey. Saturn learns YOU CAN'T POWERBOMB KIDMAN, but Raven saves.Arn gets in and hits a spinebuster on Saturn. Someone in a Sting mask crotches Kidman on the top rope. Raven hits a hanging Evenflow on Kidman while Malenko gets the Cloverleaf on Saturn. Raven gets the pin as the masked man reveals himself to be Kanyon. Good opener, despite some slopiness and the fact that the heat kept coming and going because it was all action bell-to-bell.-A short video profiles DDP.-Match 2: Stevie Ray (w/Vincent & Horace Hogan) VS Konnan-There is again friction between the two nWo factions. I would think that since all the original members are in the Wolfpac, they could tell the black & white job squad to fuck off. Stevie controls the early going, getting some help from Vincent & Horace in the process. They manage to completely botch a CLOTHESLINE. How the fuck does that happen? Konnan makes a comeback and hits a rolling clothesline before they slightly botch a leapfrog. Interference cuts that comeback short until Rey comes out to help, causing Vincent & Horace to wipe each other out. With the ref's attention on the other nWo members, Rey tries a seated senton on Stevie. He gets caught, but Konnan gets a schoolboy for the pin thanks to it. Slick finish to a pretty shitty match.-Video profile for Nash.-DDP (wearing the title belt backward) buries the hatchet with Bam Bam.-Match 3: Brian Knobbs VS Bam Bam Bigelow [Falls Count Anywhere]-The FCA stip (instead of a regular hardcore match) is announced by Tenay during their entrances. Bam Bam stupidly throws a bunch of weapons in the ring before getting in himself, and predictably gets blasted with them by Knobbs. Heenan requests silence for weapon shots, and Tony actually gets mad at Tenay for talking over them. At one point everyone stays silent for a weapon shot, and Tenay claims his mic was cut off. The announce team having fun and messing with each other is a lot more entertaining than this match, which is little more than weapon shots. They eventually go into the crowd to a conveniently-placed merch table.Knobbs goes into the crowd to splash Bigelow through the merch table AND THEY BLOW THE SPOT. Apparently Bam Bam was supposed to move and Knobbs was supposed to put himself through the table, because Bam Bam suplexes Knobbs through the table for the pin.-Video shows the build to Booker T/Rick Steiner, with Rick not being happy about Stevie helping Booker out. Booker doesn't help his case by wearing black & white tights.-Match 4 for the Television Championship: Booker T [c] VS Rick Steiner-Pretty slow first couple minutes, with Rick controlling things. Rick continues to beat the shit out of Booker, and the crowd couldn't care less. Booker makes his comeback, and the crowd still doesn't care. Scott Steiner tries to interfere, which finally wakes up the crowd. Booker fights that off for a bit, but Scott trips Booker, allowing Rick to hit the flying bulldog to win the title, getting a pop for that for some reason. This was pretty shitty too.-Video previews Gorgeous George/Lil' Naitch.-Rick is backstage looking for Scott, and meets Buff (who is now actually a face after all the teases) and tells Buff to be careful in his match with Scott.-Match 5: Charles Robinson (w/Ric Flair & Asya) VS Gorgeous George (w/Randy Savage, Madusa, & Miss Madness)-Miss Madness, for the few here that might not know, is the future Molly Holly. Savage is firmly in his "Macho Pimp" phase. If GG wins, Savage is reinstated. Flair propsitions Madusa & Miss Madness before telling GG he's saving her for Lil' Naitch. Robinson declares his intentions to fuck GG after the match. Savage (getting a big pop just for talking) replies that GG is going to kick Robinson's ass.They start out trading basic arm holds. Robinson does a good Flair impression. Both sides have strategy sessions. Flair hands Robinson a chair. Miss Madness tries to disarm him, so Robinson clobbers her from behind and slams her on the floor. MM is hurt, and Robinson takes advantage of the distraction when GG tries to get back in the ring. Robinson uses some chokes, but then GG no-sells a chop, and hits some of her own. Robinson apes some of Flair's bumping, including the flop.GG misses a charge in the corner, and Flair & Asya pull GG, with Asya twerking GG's knee until Madusa breaks that up with a kick to the back of the head. Robinson works the knee, and locks on the figure 4. GG reverses the hold. Asya distracts the ref, allowing Flair to get involved. Savage cuts him off and slams Robinson, setting up a second rope elbow from GG for the pin. This was pretty fun for what it was, and the participants of the last three matches should be ashamed that they got out-worked by a ref and a valet.-Video preview for BPP/Buff. Buff's BPP impression is fucking awful. BPP's smack talk is a lot better.-Match 6 for the United States Championship: Scott Steiner [c] VS Buff Bagwell-Buff gets the early jump until BPP goes low. BPP works the lower nutsack region before switching up to the neck and back. BPP stops in the middle of his domination to get a chair, but he whiffs on his swing, and Buff knocks the chair into BPP's face to start his comeback. BPP pulls the ref in between himself and Buff, and the ref gets bumped. Buff gets the chair, but Rick comes out. Rick tells Buff to go up top, then waffles Buff across the back with the chair. BPP gets the Recliner for the win. The Steiners officially reunited to beat the shit out of Buff. They barely give time for Rick's heel turn to sink in before moving on. The match was alright. Definitely a step up from matches 2-4.-A short video previews Sting/Goldberg.-Tenay & Heenan pick Goldberg to beat Sting. Tony refuses to make a pick.-Another video highlights the "Triple Main Event", with the most time being spent on Flair going insane and going to the nut house.-Match 7 for the Presidency of WCW: Roddy Piper VS Ric Flair (w/Arn Anderson & Asya)-As if having "Asya" out there isn't embarrassing enough, the crew pick this time to plug "The Ross Report" (which draws an audible "What?!" from Tony) with WCW Magazine editor Ross Greenberg. Ric Flair fires referee Johnny Boone and replaces him with Charles Robinson.Piper opens up with chops, and Flair takes a walk. Piper absorbs a chop and fires back with chops and a flurry of punches, which cause a Flair Flop. Piper continues his dominance until Flair goes low. Flair sends Piper outside and talks to Lil' Naitch as Arn attacks Piper. Flair goes to work, then brings Asya in for a low blow. Piper makes a comeback, even after a poke in the eyes. Piper wins a strike exchange, and stays on the attack until they crack heads. Robinson helps Flair get up first, and Flair quickly gets the figure 4.Piper hangs on, then reverses it. Flair breaks the hold, then sends Piper outside again. Piper fights off AA and tries a sunset flip, and ends up holding Flair's tights for the full moon. Piper gets a couple visual falls with Robinson conveniently distracted by AA. Piper gets the figure 4 and Tony says Flair gives up, but Robinson refuses to call for the bell. AA breaks up the hold, but gets put to sleep by Piper. Piper gets the sleeper on Flair, but stops when Asya delivers a feeble blow to the back. Piper kisses her, then puts her to sleep. Robinson pulls Piper off Asya, then gets decked by Piper. Meanwhile, Flair loads up a foreign object, and he KO's Piper for the pin. This was decent for what it was.-Eric Bischoff comes out and declares Piper the winner. Piper "fires" Flair, and Bischoff tells the truck to cut Flair's mic off, and they do. Not even the crew have any idea as to what this means, although Tony does declare Piper the new president.-Sting/Goldberg hype video.-Match 8: Sting VS Goldberg-Tony is still trying to figure out WTF just happened. Tony tries explaining that even after losing the presidency to Flair, Bischoff is still "politically tied" to WCW. OK then. Goldberg dominates early, and they blow an armdrag spot. Sting makes a comeback and clotheslines Goldberg out over the top, but Goldberg lands on his feet. Sting takes a couple moves, then comes back with a bulldog before switching up to go to work on Goldberg's bad knee.Sting gets a Boston Crab, but Goldberg powers out. They go back-and-forth a little bit, and Goldberg hits a sloppy swinging neckbreaker. Sting dodges a spear, and hits a flying clothesline, followed by two Stinger Splashes. A third Stinger Splash is countered with a spear, then Bret Hart enters, tosses down the ref, then attacks Goldberg with a chair. Not much to this, but the crowd was really into it.-The Steiners rush out to attack both guys.-Another video preview for DDP/Nash.-The crew talk about Bret Hart while waiting for the next match.-Match 9 for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: DDP [c] VS Kevin Nash-Buffer is back, but the production truck barely picks up his announcements. The audio problems are solved in time for Buffer to announce both wrestlers during their entrances.DDP goes for the Cutter right away, but Nash shrugs him off, then knocks him out of the ring with a back elbow. Nash uses his size to take control. DDP manaeges to block snake eyes. DDP pounds on Nash in the corner, then goes low when Nash starts shrugging him off. DDP pulls wire cutters out of his tights and exposes a turnbuckle. He shows the exposed buckle to Nick Patrick, then hits Nash with a microphone for two. DDP tries to follow up, but gets pulled into the exposed buckle. After a nine count, Nash rolls over and gets two.DDP fires back and clotheslines Nash outside. DDP hits a baseball slide, then a Diamond Cutter on the floor. Instead of taking the countout, DDP tries a cover on the floor. DDP gets Nash back inside, and gets a cover with his feet on the ropes, but that only gets two. DDP goes to work on the leg, and goes for the ring post figure 4, but DDP stops to gloat, allowing Nash to pull his legs up and send DDP into the post. Nash makes a comeback, but the crowd is distracted by something in the crowd.Nash hits Snake Eyes onto the exposed turnbuckle, then after a couple moves, hits the Jackknife. Savage gets in and attacks Nash, ostensibly drawing a DQ. Bischoff comes back out with security to kick Savage out from ringside, then, trying to sound like the biggest bad-ass possible, tells Nick Patrick he doesn't care if Ted Turner or Harvey Schiller like it, but he wants this match re-started.The match restarts, and DDP immediately hits a Russian Leg Sweep for two. DDP then rams Nash into the exposed turnbuckle, and hits a clothesline for two. DDP gets a sleeper, but Nash fights out and gets one of his own. DDP counters that into a jawbreaker for two. DDP grabs a chair, but misses, and does the thing the Rock was doing around this time where he'd hit the ropes with the chair, which would then spring back and hit himself in the face. Nash gets two off that and grabs the chair, but DDP goes low for two.DDP gets the chair again, but Nash kicks it back into DDP's face with a big boot, then finishes with the Jackknife to win the title. This was pretty good, especially for a WCW PPV main event. Did they ever explain why Savage was helping DDP?-A Great American Bash promo closes the show.-FINAL THOUGHTS: While there's nothing blowaway awesome on this show, it's still pretty watchable once you get past matches 2-4. The action is decent and the crowd, for the most part, is pretty hot. The power struggle stuff is confusing and a big turnoff, but if you can ignore that, it doesn't taint the show too much.-NEXT EVENT: Great American Bash '99

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As I wasn't watching WCW by this point I really have no idea... were both Piper and Flair heels? Was Bischoff a babyface? Was Bischoff a heel and helping babyface Piper because Pipes was the lesser of two evils? I'm confused.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...