Monday Nitro #206
Date: September 20,
1999
Location:
Firstar Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Attendance: 11,634
Commentators: Tony
Schiavone, Bobby Heenan
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
The question in WCW is
now “how bad can it get”. After last week's mess, the main event
makes me feel like pounding my head in with a hammer, but the midcard
scene only makes me want to carve hieroglyphics into my stomach with
a branding iron. Russo can't get here soon enough, and I'm sure
that's going to be followed with a “what the heck was I thinking”.
Let's get to it.
We open with a recap of
last week's show and the theory that Sting has been having a master
plan for the last three years.
Juventud
Guerrera/Psychosis vs. Kidman/Rey Mysterio Jr.
Kidman
dropkicks Psychosis down to start but Juvy offers a distraction to
let the masked man take over. Juvy doesn't like cheating and comes
in legally with a headscissors before some double stomping has Kidman
in even more trouble. Kidman flips out of a German (apparently you
can't suplex him either. Unless you're Lenny Lane) and tags in Rey,
setting up a Doomsday Device with Mysterio hitting a springboard
seated senton instead of a clothesline.
A Lionsault from Rey
gets two but Juvy grabs a quick suplex to take over again. Psychosis
comes back in for half of a double top rope guillotine legdrop (that
was awesome) for two with Kidman making the save. Rey makes a quick
tag so Kidman can hit a top rope cross body to take down both guys as
everything breaks down. Psychosis, not being Lenny Lane, can't
powerbomb Kidman but Juvy shoves Kidman into a dropkick for the pin
by Psychosis in a big surprise.
Rating:
C+.
Take four talented guys and let them fly around the ring for five
minutes to open the show. That's standard, common sense booking and
it's something that is going to work every time. Well, except when
it ends with Sid powerbombing or chokeslamming all of them to
continue a stupid angle but at least they're trying.
Cue
Eddie and Konnan for a beatdown with Kidman going for Psychosis'
mask. So the Animals are heels? It's not really clear most of the
time. Chavo Guerrero Jr. comes out for the save and argues with
Eddie, but Psychosis starts ranting in Spanish. Chavo says that was
a challenge to Kidman for a mask vs. hair match next week but
Psychosis doesn't seem to agree. Since everyone in this company has
match making powers, it's on for next week.
Quick video on Sid vs.
Goldberg.
Brian Knobbs vs.
Goldberg
This
is actually fallout from Goldberg beating up Jerry Flynn last week.
Goldberg knocks him to the floor to start so Knobbs hits him with
five straight chair shots. As usual, the referee doesn't seem to
mind. Goldberg blocks a ram into the post and hits a big boot back
inside. Jimmy Hart comes in and gives Knobbs the megaphone for a
cheap shot, but it's the spear and Jackhammer for the easy pin.
Video on the
Revolution.
Clip of Benoit vs.
Malenko from last week.
Here's
Flair for a chat. He wants Sting out here right now because he's
free at last. From Bischoff I presume? Benoit comes out instead and
says the two of them have unfinished business, so after he wins the
title tonight, Flair can have Sting. Despite already having a
guaranteed title shot tonight, Benoit challenges Sting. Flair
ignores this and yells about Sting as Benoit talks about it being his
time after all of Flair's lies. Ric runs off, looking for Sting. As
usual, the young guys mean nothing on this show.
Nitro Girls video.
Nitro Girls
competition. Still waiting on Stacy.
WCW World Title:
Sting vs. Chris Benoit
Benoit's
TV Title isn't on the line and all references to the champ will be
about Sting. The Revolution isn't out here so it's one on one.
During the entrances, Tony announces Sting/Luger/Page vs.
Hogan/Hart/Flair for next week. Good to see Benoit getting this shot
in the first hour instead of the main event where the World Title
should be. Feeling out process to start with Benoit missing an
enziguri and getting dropkicked outside.
Back
in and a clothesline sends Benoit outside again as they seem to have
a lot of time for this match. Another dropkick puts Chris down on
the floor for the third time in two minutes. He seems to be more
frustrated than outmatched so far. Benoit scores with a dragon screw
leg whip and dropkick to the knee. Sting is already a million miles
ahead of Sid by actually selling the injury. A bridging Indian
deathlock with Benoit's hands around the face have Sting in even more
trouble but Benoit has to let it go.
The champ gets caught
in the Tree of Woe for a baseball slide dropkick but the second one
misses, crotching the Canadian against the post. There's an atomic
drop from Sting as the knee is fine far too fast. Sting totally
botches what looked to be an attempt at a reverse Tree of Woe, nearly
dropping Benoit on his head in the process.
More atomic drops have
Benoit in trouble so he clotheslines Sting down. That earns him a
chinlock for a bit and a knee to the ribs to stop his comeback
attempt. A reverse suplex drops Benoit again and it's back to the
chinlock. Back up again and Sting avoids a dropkick but gets small
packaged out of nowhere for two.
Sting's
top rope splash hits knees and Benoit has an opening. The Stinger
Splash misses as well and Benoit nails the Swan Dive for a close two.
The Crossface goes on but Sting is right next to the ropes. Benoit
puts on a sleeper instead but the counter takes out the referee. A
piledriver has Sting in even more trouble but there's no referee to
count the cover. Benoit's German suplex gets the same result until
Luger runs in with a bat shot to the ribs for the pin to retain
Sting's title.
Rating:
C+.
This actually wasn't as good as you would think it would be. Sting
didn't really sell much until the end, but it was nowhere near a
squash. Benoit looked like a decent challenge to Sting but he
clearly wasn't a real threat to win the title. The interesting thing
here though was Sting's offense. Other than some atomic drops after
Benoit crotched himself, which is more intelligence than anything
else, there was nothing here that would make you think Sting was a
heel. Is it any shock that the fans aren't booing him?
Flair comes in to punch
Lex down and earns him a Diamond Cutter from an invading Page. Hogan
comes in for the save as Benoit is totally forgotten.
Berlyn video.
Berlyn vs. Scott
Armstrong
Armstrong
gets run over to start and Berlyn poses on the ropes. He spits on
Armstrong and drapes him over the top rope, knocking him out to the
floor. The bodyguard doesn't get to fire off a right hand so Berlyn
hits a European uppercut back inside. The match just keeps going for
no apparent reason until the bodyguard gets in a cheap shot, setting
up the neckbreaker for the pin on Armstrong.
Rating:
D.
I'll give them points for trying to push someone new but that Duggan
match has just crippled Berlyn right out of the gate. Well that and
the bad vignettes, bad interpreter, bad look that doesn't at all hide
the fact that he's Alex Wright, bad matches, bad finishing move,
bodyguard who already outshines him, the simplicity of the evil
foreigner gimmick and no one caring about him. Other than all that,
the guy is great.
Earlier
today, Vampiro and the Clowns argued over which one should get the
Cruiserweight Title shot but it's eventually Shaggy getting the shot.
You know, the guy who pinned the champ last week. I apologize for
making you think about that again. Gay jokes abound to make it even
worse.
We see Flair getting
beaten up last week.
Here's
Diamond Dallas Page to rip on Pete Rose for cheap heat. I'd much
rather watch Rose's WWF appearances as they're actually entertaining,
but cheap heat is better than no heat. Anyway, he's facing Flair in
the main event tonight and is going to retire Ric because Flair won't
retire like he should have years ago.
Clip of Saturn vs.
Guerrero from last week.
Evan Karagias vs.
Blitzkrieg
So
why did we see Saturn vs. Guerrero just now? The winner gets a
Cruiserweight Title shot on Thursday. They fight over wrist control
to start until Evan hits an uncharacteristic press slam. A more
likely dropkick sends Blitzkrieg to the floor for a big dive as Tony
and Bobby talk about the West Hollywood Blonds, dropping that name
for the first time. Back in and Blitzkrieg hides behind the referee
for a distraction, allowing him to elbow Evan in the face. A big
flip dive misses though and a top rope cross body gets two for Evan.
Cue Sid as Evan hits a spinning top rope splash for the pin and the
title shot.
Rating:
C.
This is actually a better step as they're at least letting the
matches end before they get to the Sid interference. That really
isn't too much to ask in theory, but for WCW it comes off like a
miracle. Not much to see here due to time, but at least they're
pushing Evan as the next challenger.
Sid beats them both up
and challenges Goldberg for Halloween Havoc, as long as Goldberg
doesn't touch him first. Well at least there's a focus now.
Revolution video.
Perry Saturn vs.
Eddie Guerrero
Saturn
knocks Eddie into the ropes to start so he comes back with a
hurricanrana and tilt-a-whirl backbreaker to put Saturn down. The
Revolution pulls Eddie outside for a beating and we take an early
break. Of course that somehow doesn't end the match via
disqualification but why would that happen? Back with Guerrero
armdragging out of a chinlock and nailing a sweet springboard tornado
DDT. That was just awesome looking.
Eddie walks the top
rope into a hurricanrana to take Saturn down again but Perry pops
back up with a belly to belly. A huge top rope elbow drop gets two
for Saturn and it's Death Valley Driver time. Eddie rolls into a
victory roll for two, perhaps because Saturn took time to signal for
his finisher move. Saturn loads up a superplex but gets
hurricanranaed down, only to avoid the Frog Splash. Eddie ducks a
charge and sends him outside to trigger a huge brawl with the
Animals. In the melee, Shane nails Eddie with a chain which Saturn
sees and doesn't like. After a staredown with Shane, Saturn covers
for the pin.
Rating:
B-.
This is your token good match of the week but it still doesn't seem
to be leading anywhere. I'm hoping this leads to the end of Douglas
in the group as he just doesn't fit with the idea. If nothing else,
he just showed up one day and was suddenly part of a team who was
tired of being held down by WCW after being with the company for all
of a week.
Here's
Hogan to ignore his history with Flair (as in history dating back
about six months at this point) and say how much he and Hart care
about him as they head into the six man tag. I mean, Flair is
totally cool with Hogan after the NWO kidnapped him into a field and
beat the living tar out of him or broke up the Flair family? This is
just a hard sell for the six man.
Recap of Shaggy pinning
Lane in the tag match last week.
Insane Clown Posse
music video. YOU WILL CARE ABOUT THEM!
Cruiserweight Title:
Shaggy 2 Dope vs. Lenny Lane
A
quick ICP chant breaks out which I'm sure is enough to validate this
horrible idea. Tony Mamaluke runs in again but gets punched in the
jaw by Lodi, allowing security to handcuff him. As he's being taken
away, Tony shouts about his brother coming soon. Back to the comedy
match, Lenny jumps into the referee's arms but gets dropped on his
back, allowing Shaggy to slam him down for two.
The guillotine legdrop
misses and a gutwrench sitout powerbomb gets two for the champ.
Lenny does the slow, crawling cover so Shaggy comes out of the corner
with a bad looking running Liger Bomb for two more. Lodi trips
Shaggy to the floor (not a DQ of course. The more interesting
question is what does it actually take to get a DQ in this company?)
but Shaggy knocks him onto J. and Vampiro, which somehow knocks him
out, allowing Lenny to get the pin.
Rating:
D-.
And that's IT. Just stop with the stupid Clown matches and get them
out of this company so we can see some real wrestlers for a change.
I can't believe I'm saying this but Lenny and Lodi deserve better
than this. I really shouldn't be nervous that someone is going to
get maimed because a Clown is trying to drop a top rope legdrop and
has no idea what he's doing and no one should have to take the move.
Bad match and the ending made no sense.
Here's
Rick Steiner to brag about how awesome his brother and Sid both are.
This brings out a HUGE Scott Steiner to brag about how he's been
chasing Wilt Chamberlain's record. Apparently he just found out that
the NWO is done, meaning someone who seems to be a top heel hasn't
been paying attention in four months. Speaking of those months, he
doesn't tell us where he's been, nor has WCW told us anything about
his whereabouts. He wants to fight Hogan, which could be such a
disaster that it's one of the most entertaining messes in history.
Kanyon vs. Booker T.
Feeling
out process to start with Booker nailing an early dropkick to take
over. Kanyon bails to the floor, nearly falls over laughing at
Stevie's intimidating face, and rolls back inside. Mr. T. scores
with his usual stuff and knocks Kanyon back outside, only to be sent
into the barricade for his efforts. A suplex brings Booker back in
and a middle rope Fameasser gets two. We continue stealing popular
WWF moves with a Rock Bottom to Kanyon (not yet named the Book End)
and the usual kicks, followed by the missile dropkick to pin Kanyon.
Rating:
C-.
This was fine with both guys getting to show off in a short match. I
mean, it's not like they could have given any more time to this
because we needed to hear from the old guys all night instead. As
usual, the talented guys give us a reprieve from the boring nature of
the old guard, but this didn't have the time to get anywhere.
Ric Flair vs.
Diamond Dallas Page
Flair
jumps him in the aisle and the fight starts fast. They head into the
crowd with Page trying to stagger away but eating more right hands to
the jaw. Page finally gets inside and nails Flair in the ribs to
take over. The backdrop sends Flair onto his shoulder as always and
sets up a pelvic thrust elbow, which is totally not like the Rock's
big move whatsoever. We hit the chinlock for some very loud spot
calling before they slug it out. A lot blow sets up the Figure Four
but Sting comes in to break it up, only to miss that big elbow. Some
things never change. Sting gets put in the Figure Four but Luger
comes in with the bat for the DQ.
Rating:
D.
You know, some people might want to see the World Title match closing
the show instead of this mess but we can't have Benoit closing the
show. This was angle advancement instead of a match to set up the
six man next week. Page is nothing at this point and it's getting
more and more clear every week.
Hogan
comes in and takes a bat shot to the knee so Flair dives on top of
Hogan to protect him. If Flair has ever done something more out of
character, I've never seen it.
Overall
Rating: C.
The wrestling was significantly better this week but it was still
nothing great. That being said, you can still see that the younger
guys and the harder workers are locked in one part of the roster
while the rest of the company is firmly in the other half. Benoit's
title shot was little more than a plot device to set up the next
week's main event, which is just another six man tag. The lack of
continuity with the stories is frustrating, but at least we're
finally getting somewhere with Sid vs. Goldberg. It won't be any
good, but at least Sid isn't destroying my soul anymore.
Remember to check out my website at kbwrestlingreviews.com and head over to my Amazon author page with wrestling books for under $4 at:
http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6
Wrestlemania 31: book it -- Hulk Hogan vs. Paul SR
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