Goodbye WCW: Bret Hart, Sting, DDP (WCW, 1999)

Hey yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

I saw our Lord, Savior and Personal Redeemer this past Thursday at the Boston Garden as He demonstrated why he is the personification of Love and Mercy. I had my personal qualms with His return to Cleveland to a city that does not deserve a Man of His Magnificence after they showed their true colors as entitled, spoiled and petulant brats. What Bron Bron has shown time and time again is that he truly has an infinite capacity for Love and why I struggled with this decision. Wishing him the best, but at the same time not wishing Cleveland nothing but ill will in terms of sporting ventures, I tuned out of this basketball season. Then my Father told me that LeBron would be returning to Boston for the playoffs. I had never seen the Greatest Athlete of my Lifetime in a playoff game. It was very tempting and praying on it. I realized that LeBron was teaching us the greatest lesson in forgiveness and mercy. He no longer just embodied Love, he embodied Mercy and showed he is True Love manifested in a perfect individual. 

His Mercy Endures Forever.

For those here for just the pro wrestling, that probably made no sense, but in short LeBron James rules and everyone else drools. From a man I have nothing but love for to a man I have nothing but disdain for here is Chris Benoit. I end this WCW viewing project with a slew of Chris Benoit matches from 1999, the last time WCW was truly WCW. Benoit was at worst the second best wrestler in America in 1998-99, where I give DDP a slight edge over him. He finally had put all the pieces together. His brutal mechanical efficiency was now being showcased in strong match layouts and his selling was par excellence. He dragged one last good WCW match out of Ric Flair. In a clash of the two best wrestlers in America, DDP and Benoit put on the best Thunder match in history. That is not saying much, but I don't think anyone has ever thought about it, but now you know! I think his two best matches come later in the year against the World Champion Sting and the Owen Hart Tribute match with Bret Hart.

The Sting match was a discovery through the Pro Wrestling Only Yearbooks and it was tremendous a real hidden gem that no one really talks about. It was an old school championship bout with the upper midcarder pushing the champion to his breaking point, but coming up short due to nefarious tactics. For someone who had never worked heel in his career up until that point, Sting looked great at controlling the match and making it feel dramatic. Between this and the DDP match, Sting had quite the 1999!

The Owen Hart Tribute match, which was a beautiful gesture is of course stained by the Benoit murders, but stands as a great statement of what true pro wrestling is. It is hold and counterhold. It is two combatants trying to execute a strategy to win a contest. It is each opponent reacting to each other, the circumstances around them and moments within the match. In a few weeks, WCW would hand over the reigns to Vince Russo, who obliterate any semblance of pro wrestling of pro wrestling and replacing it with common trash and the wrestling taking a back seat to inane skits. In essence, this match was WCW saying goodbye to pro wrestling and thus a fitting match to end the viewing project.

Goodbye, WCW.     

Diamond Dallas Page vs Chris Benoit - WCW Thunder 5/27/99

Best match in Thunder history? I would hear arguments against, but going through PWO and the Smarkschoice poll I am not seeing anything that was close to this. Benoit and DDP are the best workers in WWF & WCW in 1998-99 (I have never watched ECW from this era). It is such a treat to watch them work and I am going to seek out the Road Wild 99 match. I really don't see how it can any else than good. It is amazing DDP is just as good as a heel as he was as a babyface. He makes Benoit look like a million bucks in this. Having watched a ton of Benoit in 99 now, the commentary team and the wrestlers were clearly working hard to make Benoit feel like a main event babyface. The angle here is that Flair, who is loony tunes, gave DDP/Bam Bam a tag title shot over his Horsemen buddies. This has now transitioned into a youth vs. veteran storyline. Has that ever really worked in America?

These two just make every move seem like the most important thing in the entire world when they are working. Everything is so urgent and heated. I loved Benoit's reversal of the usual discus clothesline with a Crossface. DDP, all shook up, heads for the hills and all of sudden you see Benoit fly into screen and wipe him out. I LOVE THIS MATCH! We are only two minutes into it. DDP always ups his game against Benoit and hits a wicked back elbow to turn the tide. I like how organic it felt like you thought he was going for the Irish Whip, but he stops short with a nasty back elbow. The ring can not handle this fight. Benoit just keeps coming so DDP hits a low blow in the corner and then drops him head first on the top turnbuckle. DDP works a great fucking short heat section. We are taking nasty gutbusters and wicked big boot when he has him hung out on the ropes. Benoit was selling like a champ here. You could really him sucking for air. DDP asks the ref to check for the time and he chokes him with tape. It is official DDP was a Wrestling God in 1999! That's the most awesome thing I have seen in months! Benoit mounts a comeback off a jawbreaker on a sleeper. German with a bridge for 2 and then another one with a bridge. I like the rolling Germans with a bridge after each a lot better! DDP lunges for the ropes on the third one and that trick knee acts up. Love it! DDP hits a nice spinning powerbomb for his nearfall. He signals for the Diamond Cutter, but Benoit gets a backslide. DDP looks for the Cutter again and CROSSFACE! Bam Bam Bigelow runs in for the DQ and Flair attacks Benoit for his insubordination for good measure.

Tack on a finish and this is a contender for best free TV WCW match of the late 90s. Incredibly heated stuff early on that made Benoit look huge loved the early Crossface and crazy dive. DDP worked an outstanding heat segment like the best short one I have seen in months. I loved the Benoit finish stretch. Really, really good shit. Watch this match! ****

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Chris Benoit vs Ric Flair - WCW Thunder 6/3/99

I have been singing the praises of DDP in recent months, but in the back of my head I have known there was one challenger to his "Best in America" throne in this time period and that is Chris Benoit. Where DDP faltered, Benoit managed to pull out a very good match from Flair and showcase him at his best since 1998. The match was set up the week before when Benoit decided to challenge Flair's ruling to give the Triad the tag title shot instead of Benoit & Malenko. Benoit and DDP rocked it last week and after Benoit looked poised to win Bam Bam & Flair put the boots to Benoit. What helps this most is that Benoit is a strong definitive face for heel Flair to play off. Benoit and Flair started off firing chopping each other. Benoit goes with the old standby of applying the figure-4 to Flair and continues to work the leg. Flair uses the eye poke to take advantage, but still sells the leg. Flair leverages Asya outside to interfere on his behalf. Benoit is at his bets here chopping through Flair's offense or rattling off a snap suplex. Flair's big push is the kneecrusher/figure-4 combo. Benoit reverses the pressure. The match, commentary and the arena make Benoit seem like a big deal and a babyface on the rise. Flair goes for the bridge/backslide spot which we have not seen from him in awhile. Benoit hits a clothesline and a diving headbutt. This time Flair's new buddy, DDP saves. Not as much heat as the DDP match and some disjointed moment, but the Benoit push continues. But if a push happens on Thunder, is it really happening? ***1/2

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WCW World Heavyweight Champion Sting vs Chris Benoit - WCW Nitro 9/20/99

Sting doing a kneelift cutoff was more surreal than seeing Sting in a WWE ring. After years upon years of Sting getting cutoff by heels, it was just so strange for him to finally do the kneelift. Then I was just as discombobulated when Sting's kneelift was reversed into a cradle, it was just so wrong. Overall, I loved this match, it felt super dramatic and Sting just has a huge presence in this match. The weird part of this match was that Sting worked the early portion as a babyface. He would hit these big spots and Benoit would have to bail on the outside to catch his breath. They were working this like a Clash of the Titans match for a Mania or a Dome it was really neat. Sting looked great in this match everything had purpose and an energy to it. The crowd reaction was definitely mixed for the Woos. It almost feels like they are doing an interesting evolution of the Sting character. Yes he did something rotten at Fall Brawl, but that is not going to change who he is in the ring, but it changes the crowd response. That would be some high-end booking if that was the plan. Benoit picks an ankle starts to go to work on the legs of the Stinger. Benoit gets in a nice bridging Deathlock, but he goes for the dropkick on the Tree of Woe one too many times and Stiing posts Benoit. AT this point, Sting does his mid-match turn and starts breaking down Benoit with really well-timed elbows and chinlocks. Benoit is just great at the chippy, upper midcarder with thee short bursts of energy, but Sting always has a cutoff. Sting hits a huge front suplex. They are building great drama on every nearfall. I am really blown away how food this is right now. The commentary is really putting over Benoit. Sting goes for out of control top rope splash and eats knees. Sting tries to recover quickly, but ends up eating turnbuckle on the Stinger Splash.  Benoit signals for the heatbutt and he hits it! WOAH! 1-2-NO! Double hot sequence right there! Benoit pours it on with rolling snap suplexes and now the Crossface, but too close to the ropes. Sting is disoriented and desperate shoves Benoit into the ref. Benoit looks powerbomb, but goes piledriver WOW! Count to 1000, but there is no ref and the crowd is counting along for Benoit. Benoit now with rolling Germans and again gets the visual fall, but Luge comes comes in and cracks a bat across his exposed abdominals. Benoit sells this like a champ and Sting retains. Here comes Flair who looks great throwing punches in the corner. DDP here to help heels as Hogan clears the ring. Tony hypes Hogan/Hart/Flair vs Sting/Luger/DDP. You know, as a WCW mark, I would have loved to see where this was going without Russo's interference. It may not be the most inspired or unique booking, but definitely piqued my interest.

I really liked this match and thought both Sting and Benoit looked king-size in this. Sting looked great as King of the Hill, which he has shown flashes of in his career, but this is unique as he is a heel in this match and he plays the finish so well. This was the perfect match for Benoit to be having at this point of his career taking a heel champion to the limit and within a year finally climbing that mountain if this was a normal company. Really strong TV match. ****

BANG!: Diamond Dallas Page, Sting, Goldberg (WCW April 1999)

Hey yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

Apparently, my Dad's favorite rapper, I-G-G-Y got breast implants. Has there ever been a conversation more useless without pics?

Is she invited to Hall of Fame? :p

That is actually a really strong segueway into going back and watching the primary source footage for yourself before you formulate an opinion based on hearsay and superficial observations. Recently, I read a quote from a wrestling column from a "smart" fan that Diamond Dallas Page only won the world championship because he was Eric Bischoff's buddy. To say I got hot is an understatement. I stepped back for a minute or two and realized pro wrestling is not something worth being angry about even if that comment is so off the mark that person should be banned from writing wrestling columns. Before watching a bunch of DDP for my 1998 project, my opinion on DDP was that he was a solid over babyface for WCW and an entertaining Steve Austin podcast guest. He would never sniff something like a Greatest Wrestler Ever of All Time List. I would have said the Savage 1997 feud was his best work, but was not earth-shattering. Remember this is someone I actually watched in real-time as a child! Going back with a mature palette and fresh eyes, I was blown away by Diamond Dallas Page.

Almost every DDP performance just drips with effort. Every move feels like it has a consequence. Every action is urgent and designed to win the match or survive. When he is selling, he is always clawing and scratching from underneath and moving forward. In short, his matches have heat. They have heat because he is invested in his character and invested in the outcome of the match. His character of a die hard, blue collar people's champion that has to try as hard as he can to compete is both relateable and who he is. He was the world's oldest rookie at 35 in 1991. He was not naturally gifted. He had to work for every damn inch. Those are always my favorite athletes, singers, co-workers, and people. The one's who are not naturally gifted, but have to pour forth all this effort to get where they are. Sure they might be rough around the edges, but goddamnit they will not be denied and they will make it to the top. It is the story of relentless optimism, unabashed individualism and an indefatigable resolve to succeed. These are truths that I live by and truths that Diamond Dallas Page embodies.

DDP started at the bottom...

In 1998-99, Diamond Dallas Page was probably the best worker in America, now true this was probably the absolute nadir of wrestling quality in America of what we can see. WWF and WCW were more concerned about eyeballs than quality wrestling and during this time period it was edgy characters, promos and angles that drove the business needle. However, DDP was the one main event act that never stopped caring about his craft in between those ropes. After all on the marquee it still said wrestling and Page was going to give you a fight. It did not matter if it was Hollywood Hogan or Chris Benoit, DDP was going to the deliver the goods making DDP WCW's most crucial worker in terms of utility value. He could have great matches up and down the card and make them all unique. In 1998, he had two incredible matches one with Goldberg and one with Chris Benoit. They are worked totally differently with each being adapted to accentuate the strengths of both wrestlers. DDP versus Benoit is a straight ahead fight for the US Championship with neither man giving an inch. DDP versus Goldberg is a Clash of the Titans spectacle. In 1999, he returned in late March and was rewarded for all his hard work with a World Championship victory at Spring Stampede where he put Hollywood Hogan on the shelf and defeated Flair and Sting to win the title he so richly deserved.

DDP commenced to what DDP does best, having great matches up and down the card. Sure, 1999 Flair and Nash proved to be heavy to carry, but over the course of three Nitros in April of 1999 he put together an incredibly strong body of work. Most wrestlers wished they could have three performances this great in their career never mind three straight weeks.

The first week he tied up the loose end of his last feud that has put him out of action against the New US Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner. The booking for this was flawless they leveraged Scotty's win the night before to present him as the number one contender in addition to nowithstanding feud. The finish saw Kimberly Page get her comeuppance by cracking a chair over Steiner's head, but also it was a cheap finish that foreshadowed Page's heel turn. Within, the match, DDP started the match absolutely on fire and was feeding off that positive momentum. When it came time to sell, he was always looking to create separation or move towards the ropes. The finish stretch was great with Steiner calling back to Superbrawl where he put Page out with an exposed turnbuckle, but Page had an answer in the form of a headbutt to the balls.

The second week, he was pitted against old foe, Goldberg in another great big time match. Every DDP move felt raw and organic like he was responding naturally in how he was bumping and moving. The spots just felt so HUGE! The finish really put him over as a desperate heel willing to do anything to hang onto the title he worked so hard to attain.

The coup d'grace was the Nitro match against Sting. Sting, who in 1998 shit the bed, came back in rare form. He looked fitter and had that crazy Sting energy of the early 90s. DDP, who was the best worker on the roster, channeled all that into one of the best matches of decade in WCW. Every spot felt momentous. The most incredible thing may have been that DDP had crafted an incredible body of work as a babyface the previous two years so as to basically come out fresh as heel, get the crowd 100% behind Sting and work the match flawlessly demonstrates how versatile he was. He was so good at displaying at being frustrated and being overwhelmed by Sting's offense. You can feel his increasing desperation as the match worn on. Then in the finish stretch, DDP shows why he is the best in the world. He works a ton of hot nearfalls with the Stinger, but they never blow their wad prematurely. The crowd heat builds with each one and until finally one where Fargo just EXPLODES! Pro wrestling is like sex, it is always pretty good, but man when you cum together there ain't much better.

NOW HE HERE!

For the first time since 1994, WCW had a world champion that could have great matches up and down the roster. They had a super hot tag team division anchored by the hated Horsemen tag team to support the main event scene. The crusierweight division was good for a couple great matches. It looked like after a year or so losing its way that WCW was on the mend and would be rehabilitated by the end of the summer. Then Slamboree happened and everything went to Hell with the wretched Randy Savage/Kevin Nash debacle that ensued. The less said the better because for one month WCW looked like the WCW of old and why spoil it.

MATCH LISTING:

WCW World Tag Team Champions Rey Mysterio & Kidman vs Raven & Saturn 

 WCW Nitro 4/5/99

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Hollywood Hogan vs 

Diamond Dallas Page vs Goldberg - WCW Nitro 4/5/99

Juventud Guerrera vs Blitzkreig - Spring Stampede 1999 ***3/4

Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko vs Raven & Perry Saturn - Spring Stampede 1999 ***3/4

Kevin Nash vs Goldberg - WCW Spring Stampede 1999

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Hollywood Hogan vs 

Diamond Dallas Page vs Sting - WCW Spring Stampede 1999 ***1/2

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page vs 

Scott Steiner - WCW Nitro 4/12/99 ***3/4

WCW World Tag Team Champions Rey Mysterio & Billy Kidman vs 

Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko - WCW Saturday Night 4/17/99 ***1/2

WCW Crusierweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. vs Blitzkreig vs Psychosis vs Juventud Gurrera  WCW Nitro 4/19/99 ***1/2

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page vs 

Goldberg - WCW Nitro 4/19/99 ***1/2

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page vs 

Sting - WCW Nitro 4/26/99 ****1/2

Gorgeous George vs Lil' Naitch - WCW Slamboree 1999 ***
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WCW World Tag Team Champions Rey Mysterio & Kidman vs Raven & Saturn 

 WCW Nitro 4/5/99

Very entertaining spotfest. I like The Brain taking the mantle of "Stop hitting cool moves and pin the man!" In this case, I was enjoying the cool moves and thought it was a fun carwreck. The Doomsday Crossbody was awesome. I know just saw it recently, but now I can't remember where. I know it was in WCW. Saturn legdrop on a dangling Rey was killer. I thought Kidman's hot tag sequence was good, some really nice dropkicks and a nice forearm. Coming back from the commerical, HOLY SHIT, BELLY TO BELLY OVER THE TOP ROPE TO THE FLOOR! That was crazy. Drop toehold on the chair. Why do people try to powerbomb Kidman? Rey's hot tag is stopped by Raven outstretched foot to his groin. That was awesome. I have a really hard time taking Rey Rey seriously in this get up. He looks like he is 15. Saturn catches Rey into a wicked Death Valley Driver. The ref had gotten bump and the Horsemen take advantage with a diving headbutt to cost them match per what happened last week. Put some heat on their match for Spring Stampede. Fun stuff.

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WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Hollywood Hogan vs 

Diamond Dallas Page vs Goldberg - WCW Nitro 4/5/99

This felt really Modern WWE to me. Just four guys going around hitting their spots aimlessly so I was pretty disappointed. Unlike modern WWE, it is at least four unique characters and thus they were not hitting the same moves. I thought Hogan was the MVP of this spotfest. Yep, that's a sentence I never thought I'd write. He was really active and kept things moving. Flair was good as a sneaky heel and bumper. Goldberg is an awesome force. My main man, DDP, seemed hidden, which is too bad. Goldberg laying out everybody with spears and then hitting the Jackhammer on Hogan was cool. Nash missing his cue not so much. The fans wanted Sting and they get him. I remember the finish to this Nitro and being excited for Savage to return. O what I fool I was. Savage's career ended in 1998, repeat after me, Savage's career ended in 1998, Savage's career ended in 1998, Savage's career ended in 1998.
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Juventud Guerrera vs Blitzkreig - Spring Stampede 1999

Blitzkreig has such a mystique about him. For such a short stint, he made such an inedible mark on me and many others. In the early 2000s, you can barely ever go through a mailbag of some sort with some asking who Blitzkrieg was and where did he go. For me personally, I thought he had one of the coolest costumes and with Juvy and Rey Rey having lost their masks, I gravitated towards him and then poof he was gone. Sometimes, you want to leave the memories alone, but I was very happy with this match. I came away remembering how fucking great Juvy was and I had totally forgotten that. With a bonafide rookie, he was glue that held the match together and was the brains behind the genius highspots. Minor quibbles up front, Blitzkreig clearly was a rookie and you can tell from how he moved in the ring, threw a chop or a kick. Also his mask was clearly bothering him early, but for someone with less than 100 matches under his belt in the opener of a nationally televised PPV, he has balls of steel busting out a springboard, top rope Asai Moonsault. WOW! Still at the end of this was Juvy's match and he just put on an offensive clinic whether it was the violent chops and Brainbuster or breath-taking aerial warfare in the form of an awesome suicide dive or that anti-aircraft dropkick to the flying Blitzkreig. I remember seeing the Skytwister Press and it blew my mind as a child. It still does to this day. I am shocked that the missed Skytwister was not the finish after a Juvy Driver. Blitzkreig gets a nearfall off a weird top rope Frankensteiner to show he is in the league of Juvy, Rey and Kidman. He goes to the well once too often and this time Juvy nails him with a top rope Juvy Driver! HOLY SHIT! What a finish! Awesome aerial spotfest that put Blitzkreig over as a daredevil, but reminded everyone why Juventud was a badass at this point. ***3/4

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Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko vs Raven & Perry Saturn - Spring Stampede 1999

Raven as a babyface is just weird, but the crowd was totally behind Saturn & Raven cheering them throughout and letting the Horsemen know they suck on multiple occasions. My favorite part of the match was its unique structure. They tease a finish stretch in the middle of the match. I really can't recall the last time I have seen that. It is actually a really neat idea. Instead of an endless barrage of nearfalls, you have a hot sequence, but then one wrestler/team slows the pace back down to reset. It is definitely an interesting idea. I loved the continuity of both teams. Raven and Saturn were all about the double teams early to establish themselves as a real team. Saturn whipped Benoit into Malenko on the outside. It was a short babyface shine, but it was fun. I loved the transition with Malenko and AA beating down Raven. Raven was definitely the better choice for FIP than Saturn as we see later. I liked the Horsemen heeling it up using the ref as a great prop to get heat and just some wicked strikes on Raven. Saturn's hot tag is cutoff by a Malenko right. Again, we get some nice double teams like Saturn crossbody on Malenko on Raven's shoulders and Malenko's dropkick into a Benoit German Suplex. Malenko applies his Cloverleaf, but Saturn makes the ropes and AA is besides himself. Saturn hits the Death Valley Driver, but Benoit uses his diving headbutt to break it up. Now we move back into a FIP segment on Saturn, who is total shit at selling and hope spots. Even this lame FIP segment can't kill this crowd as they keep clapping for Saturn. Raven gets the hot tag and he moves pretty well and hits some nice strikes. The drop toehold into the chair takes out Benoit, but Saturn crashes and burns through a table. We are down to Raven and Malenko. Evenflow DDT! AA and Lil Naitch (right at the start of that angle) have a conference and The Enforcer leaves a chair on Raven's head and Benoit hits an unprotected diving headbutt. FUCK! Stuff like that really leaves you shaking your head and Benoit busts himself over. The Horsemen pick up the win after hot sequence. Replace Saturn with someone who was actually worth a shit and this maybe have been an all-time classic. Tony was marking out about the return of tag team wrestling and I can't blame him there is too much great stuff not to enjoy this match. The Horsemen Trio (Anderson was awesome in his role and should have had an extended run as a manager) were great heels and Raven/Saturn had some good double teams. The two hot sequences and interesting match layout is enough to recommend everyone watch this to see how they feel about the layout. ***3/4

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Kevin Nash vs Goldberg - WCW Spring Stampede 1999

What a weirdly laid out match. Nash takes command immediately with his standard, rote corner offense (you know knee lifts and boot choke). Goldberg literally gets zero offense and the crowd is dead. This goes on for half the match and just nothing is happening. Goldberg mounts his comeback and business picks up. I liked Nash going for the big boot and Goldberg ducking and hitting a thrust kick. It was a crazy athletic sequence especially for Nash. Then Nash does a leapfrog. It was not Cena leapfrog, but on the Big Sexy Sliding Scale it was pretty good. Goldberg takes out Luger and Nash to win the match clean as a whistle. 

Who was booking this shit? Goldberg beats the two of your top three heels clean in the ring. Yet, he does not get a title shot at Slamboree. Instead, Nash turns face and gets the title shot at Slamboree. Oh yeah, Kevin Nash was booking. Ugh.

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WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Hollywood Hogan vs 

Diamond Dallas Page vs Sting - WCW Spring Stampede 1999

Another reason ten year old Marty Sleeze preferred WCW to WWF, Gorgeous George. Between her and Torrie Wilson, why would you watch any other TV show? Macho Man, YOU DA MAN!

Why wasn't this Sting around in 1998? If Sting put all the effort he did in 1999 into 1998, he would have had a HUGE run. Sting was just rocking it in this match. From the early outset, where Sting/DDP worked their normal beginning match (teasing the finishes) to the big Sting comeback, he looked like the biggest babyface in wrestling again. Sting and DDP worked some good stuff in and outside of the ring. Hogan and Flair is a fun matchup, but it does not have the heat of the Superbrawl match. Hogan has put in a ton of effort all year and nothing has changed here. Flair clipping the knee and getting the Figure-4 was a great early match finish tease. I liked DDP honing in on the knee and using the figure-4 around the ring post to take Hogan out of the match. I really liked the drama of all that and I think it added a lot to the match. It gave it an interesting plot point and renewed vigor into the finish. Sting and Flair worked their usual match, which I like in short bursts like in this setting. Flair bumping around for Sting was great and then DDP pounces on Sting. DDP/Sting have insane chemistry with each other. I loved the tombstone reversal leading to DDP actually getting it and a nearfall. The spot where DDP was punching Sting and Flair chops Sting on the ropes and Sting gradually no sells gave me chills. Pray to God, that by some miracle we get this Sting at Wrestlemania. Sting just explodes off the ropes and cant be stopped. Finally the crowd wakes the fuck up. DDP interferes and Flair takes command with shots to the testicles. Figure-4 and Savage pulls him to the center of the ring, which seems to indicate they are in cahoots until Savage drops the elbow on Flair, but no one cares about Flair. DDP hooks Flair in the Diamond Cutter and wins his first World Heavyweight Title. DDP definitely earned it and I really enjoyed this match. I thought it was filled throughout with entertaining segments and there was never any dead time. I was actually pretty surprised that crowd was dead for the majority of this. If you switch the finish with Savage screwing over Sting and DDP winning, I think they would have gotten way more heat. DDP definitely deserved the World Championship after going back and watching his late 90s career so hats off to him. Underrated match that really never has a dull moment. ***1/2

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WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page vs Scott Steiner - WCW Nitro 4/12/99

Kimberly swings a chair better than Hogan or Flair. Oh also add Kimberly for the third reason to watch WCW over WWF at this time. Seriously, WCW smokes WWF in the babe department. 

Oh fuck, Piper is back. You know I was really enjoying WCW, but here comes Piper to shit on everything. He is totally unbearable on commentary. Late 90s Roddy Piper maybe the worst wrestler of all time.

I thought this match was actually really good again. DDP is the best worker in America with maybe the exception of Benoit in 1998-99. He is on such a fucking roll. DDP was on fire early with just big move after big move. He was diving off the top rope onto Steiner then a baseball slide and a crossbody to floor. C'mon, WWF, what do you got? Sit down and shut up! Steiner is no slouch in this and is a great heel with the trash talk and general sense of desperation. I rather a heel air on the side of using a low blow one too many time than never at all. Steiner was all about the low blow to set up his offense. You got a mixture of Steiner suplexes and Steiner's arrogance (bicep kiss elbow and choking). I loved how they busted out the Franksteiner from the top rope and when Steiner only gets two he just lunges at the ref from the cover. Now that's how you show frustration. Also the Frankensteiner pretty damn cool. DDP comes back hot with a wicked discus clothesline. Page is feeling it. So it is explained to me that DDP was out in March because Steiner rammed his back into an exposed turnbuckle. So when DDP signals for the Diamond Cutter, Steiner shoves him into the ref and Steiner hits the low blow. Big Poppa Pump has got your hook up and it is a pair of wire cutters to expose the turnbuckle. He rams the back into the turnbuckle to set up for the Steiner Recliner that's pretty smart, but than damn ref is still out. DDP says what is good for the goose is good for the gander and headbutts Steiner in the testicles. Steiner wanders over to the ropes and Kimberly blasts him with a chair to win.

DDP was great in this match on offense everything was crisp and had a sense of urgency. While selling, he was always moving towards the ropes or fighting back. Steiner knew when to trash talk, when to get his ass kick and once he cheated he got vicious. Steiner looked like a very credible. The finish was an incredible feat of booking by the usually inept WCW. Kimberly gets her revenge on Steiner with the chairshot and DDP fought fire with fire with the ballshots. However, at the same time, it is a pretty cheap way to win and foreshadows that DDP will be turning heel pretty much by next week. Excellent way to use Steiner's victory at the previous PPV to set him up with a World Championship. He looked like a very credible heel challenger and still got his comeuppance. DDP wrestled a great match, but at the end of the day still needed his wife. Great piece of booking by WCW and a very entertaining match. ***3/4 

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WCW World Tag Team Champions Rey Mysterio & Billy Kidman vs 

Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko - WCW Saturday Night 4/17/99

When did they move Saturday Night to an actual live arena? I miss that ugly fucking stage. 

I liked this even better than their Nitro match. It really benefited from the Horsemen being full on heels so Benoit and Malenko focused on kicking ass rather than MOVEZ~! and the crowd was really into letting us know that the Horsemen suck. I love Benoit mocking those chants while the chopping the shit out of Kidman in the corner. Rey and Kidman starting the match off hot with planchas was great would have loved to see this get expanded upon, but going right into heat segment given the match length was the right approach. Benoit was great in this combining wicked offense with heel taunting (snot blow, mocking fans, throwing him to the outside). Malenko was serviceable. Good shit using Double A on the outside. Kidman really peppers in his hope spots and there is enough heel bullshit that it comes off organic as he is building his comeback. Hot tag to Rey who looks great and the crowds loves him.  Loved the Latino Frankensteiner (TM Michael Buffer). He calls for a Kidman Shooting Star Press, but Double A robs us of that and Raven and Saturn join the fracas. A really heated, fundamentals-based tag team match that was all action for ten minutes. ***1/2

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WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page vs Goldberg - WCW Nitro 4/19/99

This is right up my alley and I loved it! Until the finish, I thought this was poised to be the best WCW match of the year up until this point (it would have been moot because Sting/DDP was next week). DDP and Goldberg both shove down the ref at the outset. It sets the tone. It is mano y mano. The early power spots are just HUGE! The crowd went nuts for that shoulder tackle. I loved how raw and organic DDP's movements were: the short-arm tackles into a quick headlock, on the takedown immediately with the single leg pick up that actually looked good. I loved how he was bumping and moving. There was a stumble to it that made it feel out of control. The Spear right at the beginning popped me right out of my seat. DDP using a heel tactic by grabbing the tights was nice, but the lack of selling was a bit disappointing. Goldberg's kickout of the belly to belly was so gritty. I loved DDP trying to ground Goldberg only to be thrown around some more.  DDP getting increasingly desperate was awesome. He hurls his body at Goldberg twice with reckless abandon hoping to make some sort of dent in this monster. Goldberg just keeps coming at him. The DDP and Goldberg stareoff in the respective corners was electric. DDP goads Goldberg to come at him and Goldberg eats turbuckles. DIAMOND CUTTER! I am losing my shit! 1-2-NO! WOW! DDP hit Goldberg with his best shot and all he has left is the knuckledusters. Goldberg spears the ref and DDP. DDP clocks him with the foreign object and looks to take out Goldberg like he did Hogan by targetting the leg. Big Sexy looks ridiculous running DDP off and then cradling Goldberg's head. It is so fucking ridiculous that Nash lost to Goldberg at the last PPV, but is getting the Slamboree title shot. DDP creams both with the championship belt. It was a great clash of the titans match, but without a finish just does not have enough juice to get to that next level. Sets the stage perfectly for Sting's title shot against the newly minted heel Diamond Dallas Page next week. ***1/2

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WCW Crusierweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. vs Blitzkreig vs Psychosis vs Juventud Gurrera  WCW Nitro 4/19/99

Weird, this match really did not do much for me. I remember really liking it when it happened live because my favorite luchador, Psychosis finally won the Crusierweight Champion. To me that remains the highlight of the match is that Psychosis finally got the recognition he so richly deserved. Much like my main man, Diamond Dallas Page, it just was not to last and it is too bad. It starts off with the heels teaming up to take out the babyfaces, but when Juventud accidentally legdrops Psychosis the partnership dissolves into a heated confrontation. Now the babyfaces align to send the heels to the floor and WOW us with Stereo Asai Moonsaults. The crowd is definitely hottest for the Rey vs Juventiud match. I am surprised they never really had a signature singles match in WCW. I know they had a real classic in AAA and a strong showcase in ECW, but they never really had that one awesome match in WCW they could have had. The Thunder match in '98 is probably the best match they had, but I would liked them to get some more time. Psicosis nearly takes Rey Rey head off with a dropkick to break up the pinfall. I always like the spot in these multi-man where someone dives on top of a prone opponent after a different opponent hit a finish on him, which we see with Psychosis here. Psychosis really wipes everyone out with a corkscrew to the outside, which was my spot of the match. Psychosis seems more motivated here since 1996. Blitzkrieg decides to throw in some limb work and applies a figure-4 to Psychosis so when Psychosis hits  a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, he can't capitalize. Now we do the big, fun finish run with Rey Rey playing to the crowd with bronco busters, Blitzy hits Skytwister and Juvy gets the Juvy Driver, but the last man standing is Psychosis with his top rope guillotine legdrop. It was a really fun and entertaining spotfest, but I saw it as just that a collection of crowd-pleasing highspots. ***1/2

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WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page vs Sting - WCW Nitro 4/26/99

GOOD GOD! I know this match had a rep as one of the last classics in the history of WCW, but this hangs right up there with pretty much the entirety of the 90s as a great title match. It is easily the best WCW World Championship since Hogan arrived in WCW in 1994. I have been raving about DDP for a while now so I am not surprised at all that he had this in him. He just rules at these Clash of the Titans matches. I will say what is special about this is how it demonstrates how good a heel DDP was. It is easy to overlook this when he was one of the best babyfaces on the roster that in a month he was totally over as a heel and still capable of rocking it in the ring. Sting on the other hand I thought sucked out loud in 1998, but here Sting looked The Franchise again. He pretty much reverted back to the Sting we know and love with all the pep of a kid hopped up on sugar and I mean that in this the nicest way possible. 

Everything in this match just felt huge and it was laid out perfectly to get that Fargo, ND to pop huge. It was a great feedback loop. The wrestlers presented situations that would pop the crowd and the wrestles fed off this energy meaning bigger pops and so on so forth until that absolutely INCREDIBLE EXPLOSION at the end of this match. We start off early with a long and strong babyface shine. DDP is constantly making Sting look great by taking bump, selling his punches and powdering. You really get the sense that DDP is overwhelmed by Sting. DDP is still getting offense in here and there, but he simply can't get anything going, which only makes Sting look stronger with these mini-combeacks. To Sting's credit, he is interacting with the crowd and he is creating movement and energy to send those good vibes out to the Fargo crowd. I love a good finish tease early. It shows both men are looking to win the match and that is at the forefront of both men's mind. Sting's attempt at the Scorpion Deathlock gets a massive pop and DDP sells it perfectly by urgently crawling for the ropes. DDP's Diamond Cutter attempt is met with anxiety from the crowd and a quick push off. I like DDP looking to walk out because he is frustrated and is nervous. It is good heel work. I hate the late 90s arena brawl, but this was fine for what it was and it did not last long. Now, we get into the heat segment, which was just as strong as the shine sequence. Sting looks for the ten punches in the corner, but as he turns to the admonishing ref, DDP nails a low blow. DDP was vicious using point of the elbow liberally to punish Sting's body and his foot to choke Sting. It never got tiresome because Sting was peppering in good hope spots (the webble wobble headbutt to the groin is always over in my house.) to break it up. DDP looks to use the post to work on Sting's legs, but when Sting still have enough strength to kick him into the railing. He understandable freaks out and realizes he needs to end this sooner rather than later. He looks to hit the Diamond Cutter, but Sting hooks the ropes so DDP goes down by himself. Sting hits a top rope Stinger Splash, 1-2-NO! But you can tell he is feeling it! Between this and the SuperBrawl VIII match, DDP was on the cutting edge of workrate with a ton of hot nearfalls. Unlike, in today's product, the nearfalls actually build to crescendo rather than going 2-3 nearfalls too many. I really loved the struggle late in this match. These guys were pulling out all the stops to win this match and you really felt how much each wrestler wanted to win the match whether it was from quick cradles to big bombs like Powerbombs and Piledrivers. Funny enough, I think Sting picked DDP up the for the wrong kind of piledriver, realized it, hit a modified GANSO BOMB~! and then did it again so they could do the awesome WCW tombstone reversal spot. The finishing spot was awesome with Sting holding on with all his might to avoid the Diamond Cutter to only comes out of the corner and hit a Scorpion Deathdrop and THE ROOF BLOWS OFF THE PLACE! 

I loved this match so much just a great Clash of the Titans feel with a huge finish stretch. Both men played their roles to perfection and the crowd responded in turn. I noticed a couple awkward moments from Sting and the arena brawling drag this down from being a perfect match, but definitely right there with Eddie Guerrero vs Rey Mysterio for best WCW match of the last half of the decade. ****1/2 

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Gorgeous George vs Lil' Naitch - WCW Slamboree 1999

I am legitimately shocked this did not make the 1999 yearbook. This is one of my all-time favorite comedy matches and I enjoyed the most perhaps last night. Gorgeous George actually is pretty athletic, coordinated, willing to work a crowd and tried pretty damn hard. If she came along now, given that she would be undersized compared to a Paige or Charlotte, I could see her a very good underdog babyface. She is certainly better than AJ at things like running so I can't see why she would not do well. Charles Robinson is fucking awesome in this role. As Ric Flair's mini-me, telling Gorgeous George he was going to buy her a pack of gum to defeat her because we all know bimbos can't walk and chew gum at the same time was great and then saying he was going to take her Space Mountain was hilarious. Macho Man looked like he was ready to laugh and Gorgeous George sold it so well. The actual match itself is the greatest possible RIc Flair tribute/parody matches in history. The hollering from the wristlocks immediately lets you know where they are going. Robinson/George work more holds in this match than pretty much any wrestlers do now and it is not bad at all. George and Robinson put together a really nice snapmare. Robinson decks Molly Holly and then bodyslams her on the floor. Savage is hilarious letting people know she is hurt. Robinson does the Flair shoving the ref spot. Oh my God, Robinson's strut is so bad it is hilarious. Robinson with lots of choking and we trade chops in the corner. Flair Flip! Lil Naitch ducks the clothesline, up top and slammed down. Flair Flop! The Real Nature Boy sells this huge! Asya grabs a hold of Gorgeous George and works the leg. Now we go to school, awesome kneecrusher and Figure-4. Great selling in the figure-4 by both of them! George reverses  the pressure here come the big guns. Savage slams Robinson and Gorgeous George hits a middle rope elbow. Robinson was hilarious throughout the match and Gorgeous George showed great effort. Awesome comedy match. ***

In WCW's Time of Dying: Hollywood Hogan, Ric Flair, Rey Mysterio (WCW March 1999)

Hey yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

Wrestlemania is this coming Sunday?!?!?!?! It totally snuck up on me this year and can't say I am enthralled. It definitely feels like just another PPV. I loved the Cena/Rusev Fast Lane match and really enjoyed their MSG House Show match about a month ago. At least, there will be one great match.

Sable, eat your heart out!

I was toying with looking at some of the great matches in Wrestlemania history, but instead my own childhood nostalgia has ensnared me. I have become addicted to 1999 WCW, which a lot people write off as a dying promotion that does not need to be revisited. In WCW's time of dying, it produced not only some great matches, but some actually entertaining TV. I am always more predisposed to like WCW because of my childhood and natural affinity for their characters over WWF. I feel that in March & April of 1999, WCW was the more entertaining promotion. Now, it was far from perfect and once again it stems from the lack of a healthy babyface & heel infrastructure, which plagued WCW in 1998, but the direction is a bit clearer. 

A lot of people will point to WCW's demise beginning with the infamous Fingerpoke of Doom where Kevin Nash literally gave Hollywood Hogan the World Heavyweight Championship match by laying down for him to a fingerpoke. However, WCW business remained molten hot during the consequent Ric Flair vs Hollywood Hogan program. Flair vs Hogan had not been done since 1996 and not meaningfully since 1994! That speaks to the depth of the WCW roster that Hogan had that many babyfaces to work to not have to lock up with Flair. Flair was actually very natural opponent for Hogan coming off a red hot return and defeating Eric Bischoff for the Presidency of WCW in a feel-good ending to 1998. With the plan to have Goldberg tie up loose ends with Bigelow & Hall before getting to Nash and to have Big Sexy work Rey Mysterio, Flair became a strong contender for Hollywood. 

However, something strange happened that tended to happen in the 90s to Ric Flair. He began an ill-advised heel turn. In 1994, it was because Hulk Hogan had entered the promotion and in 1990, it was in order to get Sting over. Here where Flair seemed  poised to be WCW's knight in shining armor cutting great promos about tradition and how much pro wrestling means to him. In the ring, he began to morph into the big bumping, cheating Nature Boy. It was as Hogan and Flair were just playing the natural inclinations during the SuperBrawl match. The SuperBrawl match is surprisingly heated for two dinosaurs and is worked as a good hate-filled brawl. However, coming out of the SuperBrawl, they became more committed to the double turn of Hogan and Flair. Flair worked his typical heel against power wrestler match against Goldberg on Nitro, which was very entertaining in a vacuum, but detrimental to the health of the promotion. On the subsequent Nitro, Flair worked as a cowardly heel as Goldberg's tag partner. While Hogan versus Goldberg worked a electric, face vs face Clash of the Titans. Again very entertaining in a vacuum, but detrimental in the long run.

The Death of WCW

 This double turn robbed the fans of a true hero conquering the evil New World Order. In fact, the New World Order would just sputter out in April. Flair & The Horsemen would take the mantle of lead heel group. In addition to robbing the fans of an ending, they also turned one of their most over superstars, which only further disillusioned fans. By Spring Stampede, Ric Flair seemed to have lost all his heat whereas in January of 1999, he was the hottest commodity in WCW.  

At Uncensored, the double turn was complete with Flair winning the World Championship in the usual WCW convoluted fashion with the help of crooked ref Charles Robinson soon to be Lil Naitch. Flair would defend the title against Rey Mysterio on the Spring Break edition of Nitro. Rey Mysterio had lost his mask to Kevin Nash in one of the more controversial moves of Big Sexy's ill-fated booking regime. Mysterio now dressing like a 15 year old had looked credible against Nash and had wins over midcard big men like Bigelow and Norton. On the March 15th Nitro, he defeated Kidman for the Crusierweight title in a great match and probably the third best WCW match of the month. The Crusierweight champion fell short of the Heavyweight Champion due to some outside interference in what was an entertaining match. The next week WCW made their first trek North of the Border for Nitro. 

This led to the famous Bret Hart wears body armor and knocks Goldberg out cold on his own spear. A lot of people think this is classic, great angle. I think it would be too, but Bret Hart quits after the angle and it is never really capitalized on. It just weakens Goldberg, who at that time was their last hot babyface property. The following week Sting would return to a short-term shot in the arm, but that is for the next blog. There has been very little build it seems for Goldberg's big revenge match against Kevin Nash. He steamrolled Scott Hall and Bam Bam Bigelow. While WCW would execute the logical conclusion of getting his win back from Kevin Nash, there has been little build up for a match that was just the main event of their largest show of 1998.

O CANADA! I stand on guard for thee!

On the undercard of this 3/29 Nitro, The Horsemen (Benoit & Malenko) defended their tag titles against Mysterio & Kidman (competitive rivals, but respected peers). It was a brutal display of Benoit's offense as he just ripped into Mysterio and Kidman. Mysterio & Kidman pepper in hope spots, but it is a great offensive demolition by the Horsemen that gives this match of the month honors. However, the recently reunited Raven & Saturn cost The Horsemen the tag titles meaning Mysterio is now a double champion coming out of his feud with Nash. This would set 

In the main event of Nitro 3/29, Hollywood Hogan makes his triumphant return to Canada and Canadians LOVE Hogan. Toronto was the site of the famous Hogan/Rock double turn of Wrestlemania XVIII that basically extended Hogan's career by six months to a year depending how you think about it. The booking seems to indicate Hogan/Flair III is in the cards for Spring Stampede, but it is not clear. All of sudden, my main man, Diamond Dallas Page makes his triumphant return to television. DDP is my choice for best American worker of 1998-99 when business was booming, but in ring quality was at a nadir. DDP combined a strong in-ring work ethic and a working class hero character that made him not only over with the fans, but deliver strong matches in 1998 against Chris Benoit, Bret Hart and Goldberg. However, this Nitro plants the seeds for a DDP heel turn, who had not been seen since being written off with Scott Steiner injuring him in February. DDP made no bones that he was not a Flair ally and did not want Flair to be in his corner, but at the end of the day, DDP still was the one to wrestle the mega-over Hogan. DDP and Hogan put together a fun, heated brawl that saw them wipe out the classic WCW Nitro set with a new set coming in for next week. DDP is WCW's best main event worker and is sorely needed at the top of the cards to maximize the other main eventers. Hogan is no slouch in 1999 and still has plenty of energy. He really never stops moving, but without a DDP his matches can be aimless. DDP provided a framework for Hogan to have his best singles match since his last DDP match in 1998. By the time, Hogan finally the Hulk-Up the Canadian crowd was roaring, the German announcer was exclaiming, "The Hulkster is Pumping Up" and DDP, The Nature Boy and Lil Naitch were reeling.

On the back of three strong TV matches (Crusierweight Title, Tag Title, DDP/Hogan) and otherwise entertaining TV matches, WCW in 1999 March felt like a promotion on the mend. It was definitely not completely rehabilitated and the booking was highly suspect. If March was a transition period to that led to a strong, stable WCW with Hogan, Sting & Goldberg against Flair, DDP & Nash then WCW in 1999 could have been great. It is fine to have a month of murkiness to reassemble the pieces in new ways, but when the year continued to be littered with wrestlers turning like the leaves in the wind, it would ultimately lead to why WCW 1999 is considered a year no one watches. However, April of 1999 sees WCW reap the rewards of March 1999 with a tremendous month of in-ring action until Slamboree 1999 ends the brief renaissance.

Ready to go off in April

Match Lisiting:

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hollywood Hogan vs Ric Flair - Superbrawl IX ***

Bret Hart vs Chris Benoit - WCW Nitro 3/1/99 ***

Ric Flair vs Goldberg - Nitro 3/8/98 ***

WCW Crusierweight Champion Billy Kidman vs Rey Mysterio - Nitro 3/15/99 ***1/2

Hollywood Hogan & Kevin Nash vs. Ric Flair & Goldberg - WCW Nitro 3/15/99

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Rey Mysterio Jr. - WCW Nitro 3/22/99

WCW World Tag Team Champions Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko vs. 

Rey Mysterio & Billy Kidman - WCW Nitro 3/29/99 ***1/2

Hollywood Hogan vs Diamond Dallas Page - WCW Nitro 3/29/99 ***1/2

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hollywood Hogan vs Ric Flair - Superbrawl IX

Hogan played this match really strangely pretty much playing the babyface. The mocking of the "WOOO" I could see construed as "cool" heel or just being an ass. The whole beginning was pretty much all Hollywood. You wanted Flair to make good on his promise that he was going to kick Hogan's ass, but they played the early goings like Hogan/Flair '94 with Hogan winning shoulder blocks and using his size to dominate Flair. Now once they got to the heat segment proper I thought Hogan was rocking it as a heel and really beating Flair up to the point of sympathy, but since Hogan had already won the fans over early the heat segment had weird reverse heat on it. I loved, loved Flair firing up on jelly legs a couple times. Those belt shots by Hogan were fucking vicious. You really felt like you were watching a fight. I really wanted to see Flair punch and chop through that to take control. Flair does eventually take control with low blows, which is fine to fight fire with fire, but seems like the crowd is firmly pro-Hogan. The double juice, the out of control violence and their aura could have taken this to US MOTYC for a very weak year. Instead what we got was five absolutely electric minutes followed by a pretty lame turn from David Flair on his father. I will say Torrie Wilson was hot and I mean double hot. Nash was right "Sable eat your heart out". It was disappointing because how surprising it was that they were working at such a high level even if it was only for about five minutes. It is too bad Uncensored ended up shitty as popular opinion says, but I'll be taking a look at some point. ***

Bret Hart vs Chris Benoit - WCW Nitro 3/1/99

I really liked aspects of the commentary in this match. My favorite part was Tony and Bobby putting over how dangerous and difficult it is to be a pro wrestler. I think commentators should bring this up once a show to remind me us of the risks these men and women take to entertain us. I think it will build more respect and admiration for wrestlers and actually increase the heat for spots that have become passe like taking a bump to outside the ring.

Definitely not as good as the Owen Hart Tribute match, but another great TV bout that just littered WCW around this time. What kept this from reaching all-time great status was Bret's cold performance. I first noticed this reviewing Hart Foundation matches is that Bret can come across as very mechanical and disinterested in the ring. He may be one of the most naturally gifted wrestlers to ever lace up the boots and I think the actual execution of wrestling was too easy for him. I wish he would challenge himself to be a better wrestler by being more engaged. Technically, this was a perfect performance. He performed his spots correct. He laid it out appropriately using heel tactics like eyerakes, choking, testicular violence and the ropes to set up his high impact moves: suplexes, piledriver, the Five Moves of Doom. It is hard to put it all on Hart because Benoit's performance was unusually tepid. The one great thing about Benoit, which is also his downfall is that he makes everybody wrestle his match and drags them out of their comfort zone. He is just an intense, always moving forward, bring the fight to you kinda wrestler that every match tends to have heat just because he is always struggling. I don't know if he was deferring to The Hitman out of reverence, but he basically just played ragdoll to Bret's great offense. You get some good selling here and there, but it was not continuous. I will say once Benoit started roaring back the match started to generate heat. The tease of the Crossface as a reverse out of the Sharpshooter got a huge reaction and was the coolest spot in the match. Benoit's comeback proper generated a good buzz with his usual wicked chops and intense strikes and suplexes. He can not immediately capitalize on the Diving Headbutt. Bret tries to mount a comeback. They both take a nasty spill over the top rope that looked like Bret was inches of landing right on the top of his head. The tag team champions, Curt Hennig & Barry Windham, attack Benoit on the outside and roll him in. Hart applies the Sharpshooter with Benoit in the ropes and won't let go. The ref disqualifies him and the beatdown commences. Malenko comes out and a similar fate awaits him. The crowd is left with their dicks in their hand when Flair does not make the save. It is a very good match that was given a good amount of time to develop, but nothing terribly essential to see. ***

Ric Flair vs Goldberg - Nitro 3/8/98

Classic Ric Flair match that is timeless, but with the interesting wrinkle that Goldberg maybe the ultimate babyface monster. The heat for this match is nuclear with the crowd completely behind Goldberg especially once Flair heels himself. We get all the great Flair trademarks of bouncing off Goldberg and taking the gorilla press slam. Flair goes all in on the cheating with three low blows to keep Goldberg at bay. Flair still has his nasty chops and great punch to vary things. Hell, he busted out a sweet suplex. Goldberg was an awesome presence in this match. I loved his quick reverse of the Figure-4 and how he really rared back on it. Hell, Goldberg even sold the leg pretty well. We get the press slam off the top rope. Goldberg misses on the spear, but it is just delaying the inevitable: SPEAR! NWO B-Team runs in and then Nash and Hogan. Nash had one funny line for every four and Hogan was useless. Poor Tony! A really enjoyable Flair match that was made unique by Goldberg's aura and his explosiveness. Would have loved a full-fledged 15 minute PPV main event between these two. ***

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WCW Crusierweight Champion Billy Kidman vs Rey Mysterio - Nitro 3/15/99

Billy Kidman, intelligent counterwrestler, strikes again! Hell, I loved how committed he was to the Shooting Star Press. Any chance, he got he was climbing those ropes to hit it. Who cares that I missed before. If the bell has not rung, I am trying again. I liked that strategy a lot. It is what brought you to the dance, don't deviate. This is a ball out affair with them flying around hitting each other, but it always feels like they are going for a win. Kidman has some well-timed dropkicks to keep Rey at bay and hit a plancha or a spinebuster when the time is right. It is did get a little move trade-y in the middle. Rey has some impressive highspots, but unlike Juventud he goes have the big bomb offense to really excel in this type of match in my opinion. Juvy has the chops, brainbusters and Juvy Driver that really feel like damage is done. Rey has a breath-taking array of hurricanaranas that are best suited from when he is coming from behind and looking to create space. Basically, Rey is at his best when he can sell and his matches breathe. It is a very fun  and entertaining match, but falls short of the Juvy November 98  match in my opinion. Kidman is not great, but he is definitely better than I remembered. ***1/2

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Hollywood Hogan & Kevin Nash vs. Ric Flair & Goldberg - WCW Nitro 3/15/99

This was way better than I expected. Goldberg should have launched Flair onto Hogan and Nash. I loved that start. Flair was great bumping for Hogan. Hogan clearly wanted to go babyface and Flair was more than willing to oblige by bumping all over the place for him. Flair diving to Goldberg for the tag was hilarious. I wish the booking was better than Hogan as a heel champion then Flair turning heel to win and then DDP turning heel to win. They needed more stability and a babyface on top, methinks. Hogan and Goldberg is fucking awesome. Like book that match for Spring Stampede brutha! Fuck, if only I was in charge of WCW in 1999 and everyone listened to me. WWE wishes they had the talent of that roster now. I loved each one popping up after big move was hit on them. I loved the battle over the Irish Whip. It was some really great shit. Nash and Hogan worked a strong heat segment. I loved Goldberg's reaction to Flair coming into the match by yanking his hair. Flair selling for the Hulk Up never gets old. Lil Naitch is becoming Lil Naitch, awesome! He won't count. SPEAR! As we go off the air...fun stuff. WCW had a brief resurgence it seems in March and April of 1999, but it would not last :(

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WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Rey Mysterio Jr. - WCW Nitro 3/22/99

My first act as booker of any American pro wrestling promotion would be to restore the Spring Break Nitro set up. Then I would run more college campuses.

The Buffer introduction of Mysterio is fucking hilarious if it was not included on this. Here are the highlights: "He gets this chance by the luck of the draw, but we all know he deserves it." is really funny when done in the Buffer voice. The Master of The Latino Frankensteiner killed me. Good shit

Tenay just said Flair swerved Mysterio on the hand shake. Bad shit.

Flair would have been a great Olympic walker. He has the speed walking form down pat.

It is always amusing when a Flair Flop catches an opponent off guard. Rey goes with the celebratory pose not bad. Even Double A is stooging for Rey. Flair lures him to the outside and BOOM steamrolled by Anderson.

Flair gets nasty with chops and punches. Flair Sucks chants and Rey chants! Cool. Rey times a couple nice hope spots. Rey hits the Brie Bella facebuster special. Rey's comeback is not connecting. Top Rope Latino Frankensteiner looks to win it, but AA pulls out the ref for the DQ.

Flair goes into the pool and is headed for the fans splashing them with water. That would have been the coolest Spring Break story EVER!

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WCW World Tag Team Champions Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko vs. 

Rey Mysterio & Billy Kidman - WCW Nitro 3/29/99

So who is more pissed during this match Tony Schiavone or Chris Benoit? Schiavone is spewing venom on commentary and it is uncomfortable. Benoit is lighting muthafuckas up. Benoit usually hits pretty damn hard, but during this match he was really kicking the dogshit out of Kidman. The forearm blow to back of Kidman's head was hard to watch. Pretty much the entirety of the match is a Benoit offense display. He is on the warpath and it actually makes any hope spots look forced and artificial. Like Kidman's spinebuster just existed to get to the next part of the match. Rey's hurricanarana was a bit more organic. Once Benoit and Malenko settle more into a traditional heat segment it at least seems like Kidman and Rey have a chance, which I hope kinda makes sense. Rey & Kidman are still getting their asses kicked, but this time in a way more conducive to setting up a comeback. Rey gets the hot tag and looks to hit a Latino Frankensteiner (TM Michael Buffer) for the win, but Malenko catches him with a powerbomb and goes for the Cloverleaf, but Raven hits a DDT to allow Rey to win the tag belts. Lets recap the match Benoit & Malenko shine, Benoit & Malenko heat segment, Benoit & Malenko poised to win. Damn, did they kick their ass. I am oversimplifying a bit as Kidman & Rey got a few brief spots but this was the Benoit and Malenko show. It was still a damn good spotfest, but I don't think it ranks with some of the other really high end 1999 WCW stuff. ***1/2

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Hollywood Hogan vs Diamond Dallas Page - WCW Nitro 3/29/99

THE HULKSTER IS PUMPING UP! I watched the German TV version of this and when the announcer hit me with that out of nowhere I had to burst out laughing. I would say this is Hollywood Hogan's best match, but he was clearly wrestling face so it feels like it shouldn't count as a Hollywood Hogan match. DDP was on fire at this point and Hogan could still move around surprisingly well. I thought this match peaked early. I thought the beginning was really heated and really felt like Hogan was overcoming Page with his punches. The Toronto crowd of course loved Hogan. I guess turning Page was already in the cards, which is a shame. He is a great heel, but DDP working class hero is such a great character. They go out to the stage to topple over the WCW signs since they are getting a new entrance way the next week, which was a cool visual. I am big fan of belt whipping and loved Hogan whipping DDP only for DDP to punt him in the nuts to get the belt. I actually thought these cooled off from here. Hogan always tried hard in the matches I have watched and this is not different. He was on a mission to prove he could still be the top guy and was just kicking DDP's ass. I think they got their signals crossed on the cross armbreaker, I think Hogan wanted a proper one, but DDP did not know what was going on. Hogan with an inside cradle, that's cool. Overall, I thought they lost a bit of steam down this stretch. I think a DDP heat segment proper would have set up the big comeback better. Hogan ends up taking out Flair, Lil Naitch and DDP all in one fell swoop and the Canadian crowd laps it up. Not on par with some of the great DDP matches of this era, but this pretty damn good. I would be going bonkers if I got something as good as the Tag Title match and this main event back to back on RAW nowadays. ***1/2