Pro Wrestling Love vol. 2 Best of WCW in 1995-2001 (DDP, Randy Savage, Goldberg)

Editor's Note #1: Chris Benoit will be mentioned throughout this blog. I do not seek to glorify the man Chris Benoit. Chris Benoit was an evil man that murdered his wife and child. Chris Benoit is a part of wrestling history and will be discussed as a part of wrestling history. 

Editor's Note #2: Originally Volume 2 was going to finish the countdown started in Volume 1 of the best matches to take place in the WWF between 1993-97 however I have not found time to rewatch the Mind Games match between Shawn Michaels and Mankind. I will keep putting out content until I feel I can do that classic match justice at which point I will release those final rankings.

Hey Yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

Pro Wrestling Love vol. 2:

The Greatest Matches of WCW in 1995-2001

Objective:  Break up the Greatest Match Ever Project (hosted at gwe.freeforums.project.net) into more manageable chunks to help me build my Top 100 List for the project.

Motivation: Contribute to the discussion around these matches to enrich my own understanding of pro wrestling and give a fresh perspective for old matches and even hopefully discover great pro wrestling matches that have been hidden by the sands of time.

Subject: This second volume of Pro Wrestling Love begins the Top 12 countdown of the best matches to take place in World Championship Wrestling from 1995-2001. The years were selected based on Hulk Hogan’s arrival in July of 1994 completely reimagining the company in his likeness. I would argue that similar reimagining happened when Vince Russo took over the booking in October of 1999, but WCW was so terrible from October of 1999 to end, March of 2001 that is not worth doing a separate blog on that. You can revisit past Pro Wrestling Love Volumes at ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com and eventually at PlaceToBeNation.com. You can check out the full version of these reviews in ProWrestlingOnly.com by going to the forums and finding the folders associated with the date of the match.

I LOVE THEIR '97 RUN!

The Misses: I would say one of the surprises of this countdown was the dearth of highly touted matches from 1996-97 WCW when their vaunted midcard consisting of Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, and Ultimo Dragon among others was firing on all cylinders. The one obvious match makes the list of course (*cough* Eddie vs Rey *cough*), but this is actually a really wide open list. You would think that the biggest company in America for two years with one of the best rosters in history would have been picked apart, dissected and have a canon established. However, besides Eddie vs Rey, can you automatically say what the next match is that would make the list. The combination of the popularity of the company and the popularity of its wrestlers among wrestling critics make for a more interesting column than one would expect.

For instance, Chris Benoit generally considered one of the best wrestlers of 90s does not have any obvious matches to make this list. He will have two that make the list, but I don’t think going into this match that any of the matches were mortal locks.  Two of his more highly touted matches were the brawl against Kevin Sullivan at Great American Bash ’96 and his overwrought ode to progressive rock with Dean Malenko at Hog Wild. I find the GAB match to be more of a fun, plundah brawl than something incredibly amazing, even if Dusty gives a ***** performance on commentary. The Malenko match reminds me of those overly long prog rock songs where the focus is how many notes or time changes they can fit in a song rather than having a strong hook and entertaining the audience. The last major Benoit match I want to bring up is the Booker T Best of Seven Series, which I lived through. This has become very fondly remembered from WCW and really made Booker T a singles star. Booker T has never done much for me as a wrestler and I thought the Final Match was good, but nothing more.

The only two other matches I wanted to bring up that had a bit of reputation going into this countdown involve Ultimo Dragon. As you can imagine as an 8 year old, diehard WCW fan, I was pretty huge fan of masked wrestlers. Psicosis and La Parka were my favorite, but Ultimo Dragon was not far behind. Unfortunately, for the most part, I do not think Ultimo Dragon has aged well. He will have at least one match from Japan that will make my Top 100 of All-Time, but overall I find his matches to be bereft of psychology. He is a phenomenal offensive wrestler. He has a deep arsenal and his execution is stellar. His offense still looks as good in 2018 as it did in 1996. However, in my opinion, offense is only one element of pro wrestling. His constant blowing off of selling and just running through spots without rhyme or reason make his matches ultimately an unfulfilling experience. His two well-regarded matches from this era are the World War III ’96 match against Rey Mysterio and Starrcade ’96 against Dean Malenko. The first match is a glorified squash match and just a total exhibition of Dragon at his offensive best. I have been harsh on this match in this match, but it is entertaining and enjoyable to watch, but there is no struggle. It looks like Dragon is having a training session showing off different moves while Mysterio acts as his tackling dummy rather than a contest with two men vying to win the bout. The second match with Malenko is just pretty boring with no real hook. I do like Ultimo Dragon so I will give him a shoutout and that his best WCW match was against Steven Regal at Slamboree 97 and that would make a Top 20 if I was doing a Top 20. 

I want to end this on a high note and I think the silver lining is that this will be a list that is a nice blend of matches you expect and some that come out of left field.

Lance Storm once used this picture on Twitter to explain to me that Ultimo Dragon deserved to be in the WON HOF. I am not convinced Lance fully understands how pro wrestling works. 

Honorable Mentions:

Scott Steiner vs Goldberg – Fall Brawl 2000

The best match from the Russo era not even Russo interfering with a plastic whiffle ball bat could completely ruin this.

Diamond Dallas Page vs Chris Benoit – Thunder 5/27/99

WCW World Champion Hollywood Hogan vs Diamond Dallas Page – Nitro 10/28/97

DDP was the best, consistent wrestler in WCW from 95 to the End. Yes, Rey and Eddie had higher highs, but they were short spurts compared to DDP would pretty much kicked ass from the beginning to the end of this era. DDP appears on this list more than any other wrestlers. These are two TV matches that have been lost to the sands of time that show DDP at his best wrestling matches that drip with effort. Also shoutout to Hollywood Hogan even as late as 97 he could still be a compelling, energetic pro wrestling. I can understand saying Hogan did not have many “great” matches, but he was NEVER boring and this was his best in the Hollywood character, brutha.

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

Chris Benoit vs Eddie Guerrero – Nitro 10/16/95

In addition to the DDP Thunder match, here are a pair of TV matches from Chris Benoit that rule the school. The first is probably one of the best debut matches in the history of wrestling as Benoit and Eddie have a balls out, hard-hitting sprint and get themselves over immediately. The second is a glimpse into Chris Benoit, WCW main eventer as he takes on the very rare sighting of Heel Sting. This is during that one month heel run before Vince Russo nuked WCW one month later.

WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. vs Dean Malenko – Halloween Havoc ‘96

This match was the last match out. I loved the Malenko/Rey series from 1996 and it is easily Malenko’s best work from his career. The pairing was perfect to get Rey over as a total superstar from jump.

Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko vs Eddy Guerrero & Chris Jericho – Brian Hildebrand Tribute

This match would actually rank in the Top Six if I was just ranking it against the other matches on the list. However, technically, this is not a WCW sanctioned match even though it featured all WCW talent (Brian Hildebrand better known as Mark Curtis was a referee in WCW and this was a tribute show for him in 1998 after he tragically passed from cancer) so I decided against ranking it. It is a terrific match and I will be nominating it for the Greatest Match Ever project. Just a perfect understanding of tag team fundamentals by four of the all-time greats.

I couldnt find an image of Savage's picture perfect elbow from this match which was my Desktop background in late 1997.

  

The Twelfth to Seventh Best Matches of World Championship Wrestling from 1995-2001

#12. Randy “Macho Man” Savage vs Diamond Dallas Page – Spring Stampede 1997

If I was making a favorite matches of all time list, this would be near the top. Two of my all-time favorites just hit out of the park. There are some people prefer the GAB match or Halloween Havoc match, but nothing can top the opening match in this legendary feud. DDP was such a great character. He was the real People’s Champion. A blue collar dude from New Jersey that entered through the crowd because he was one of us. He really gave me those John McClaine Die Hard vibes. Macho Man was on top of his heel game. This was a total revitalization of the Macho Man character. He was completely unhinged at this time. I loved how he roughhoused everyone. He would pick on David Penzer and the refs like it was his job. He was a psychopathic bully. He really goes the extra mile to be despicable especially when he goes after Kimberly. This was a great feud and this opening salvo in the feud made DDP into a superstar. It was a very selfless moment when Savage put DDP over clean in the middle with the Diamond Cutter. I love once Savage comes to that he is so incensed that he grabs Kimberly by the hair and is ready to haul off and punch her right in the face. This is too much even for the New World Order. When Bischoff talks him out of it, he turns and decks Easy E. That’s how you get a new heel over. When he is ready to do something so vile, the other heels think he has gone too far.

Both these men are well-known for pre-match planning, but what is amazing about both men is their matches never feel rehearsed or mechanical. They come across as organic. I think whats really impressive about this match is even though the majority of the match is Savage kicking the ever loving crap out of DDP, it never drags because Savage uses the props at ringside so effectively. He is intimidating Buffer and Kimberly. He is attacking Penzer and a random cameraman. After three strikes, he piledrives the ref to Hell, rips his shirt open and then whips him with his own belt. This is a great showcase of the new Macho Man loose canon character. In parallel this is a great showcase for DDP as the gritty, gutsy common man fighting for his wife’s honor against this despicable psychopath. A perfect match to mint a new main eventer and it was the rebirth of the Macho Man.  

#11. Lord Steven Regal vs Fit Finlay – Uncensored 1996

If you are real quiet, you can actually hear Regal explode at the end of the match. Violent does not do this match justice. Often pro wrestling is simulated violence, but in this match these two willing allow one another to harm and maim. The closest comparison I can make is to those BattlArts matches where Ikeda and Ishikawa would just stiff the hell out of each other. It can be so brutal that it is actually disturbing to watch.

The beginning of this match is a great example of the style of pro wrestling I love as this was just dripping with struggle. They were fighting through each other’s offense. I love WCW in this period because it is so varied and unlike anything WWF would present at this time. They are hitting each other so hard and in every hold that it really feels each is trying to win. It never feels like my turn, your turn because every fucking turn is earned. I think Regal’s dropkick to Finlay’s head is just nasty. The finish is beyond brutal and it looks like it comes straight out of Mick Foley’s Theatre of Pain.  Finlay shatters Regal’s nose with a palm strike and blood comes pouring out like a faucet. That was the premature end to what was supposed to be a 30 minute draw. Let me tell you something brutha, that’s a way more memorable finish than a 30 minute draw. It could have used more of a narrative or character work to elevate it, but goddamn it is a gripping war.  

#10. New World Order (Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, & Syxx) vs 

Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, & Kevin Greene – Slamboree 1997

One of the biggest faults of the New World Order era was the dearth of feel-good matches, but here we finally get one in front of a jacked Charlotte, North Carolina. Ric Flair was making his return after a shoulder injury. When Ric Flair is on like this, he cant help but smile. It is just that contagious energy that you wish you could bottle up and sell. Hall and Syxx are the best scuzzballs ever. They went all in as trying to be the biggest heels of all time. I loved when Syxx, 212 lbs of disrespect, is strutting that Flair chops him mid-strut. This is just Flair on fire. A triumphant Flair performance that nearly matches Starrcarde ’93 in emotion.  Kevin Greene from the brand new Carolina Panthers was the perfect celebrity and gotta love his enthusiasm. This is just crowd-pleasing spot after crowd-pleasing spot. Even the heat segment is abrupt, it is all about cramming in as much feel-good Flair as possible. They do a great job towards the end making you believe the NWO was going to put themselves over again, but it was just a tease. The finish is just the most awesome possible, decisive, crowd-pleasing finish. That is a sentence that was not written enough during the NWO era. This is the ultimate, great feel-good, popcorn, Summer blockbuster match where Ric Flair gets his revenge for one night on the three biggest jackasses in WCW.

#9. WCW World Heavyweight Champion Goldberg vs Diamond Dallas Page 

Halloween Havoc 1998

CLASH OF THE TITANS! There are many great examples of DDP being a ring general in this time period, but there is no better example than this match. Goldberg had incredible aura around him at this time. He really felt like the baddest man on the planet. The Terminator come to life. However, there aren’t many great Goldberg matches around because he was such an anomaly in pro wrestling that it was hard to build a conventional pro wrestling match around a monster babyface that was coupled with the highly toxic WCW political environment. DDP cut through the bullshit came out with a way to have a compelling match with Goldberg that was longer than two minutes and made both men look great.

The World Heavyweight Champion vs People’s Champion, Rookie Phenomenon vs Hard Working Late Bloomer and The Terminator vs Die Hard. Everyone wants to know the answer to who would win John McClane or The Terminator. Goldberg is the super athlete: quick, powerful and impervious to pain. DDP never says die. One has to give. DDP knows he has one shot: Diamond Cutter. He goes for it early and often. I love DDP’s urgency. The best moment is when DDP avoids the spear and Goldberg eats the ringpost. It makes sense the only person that can do real damage to Goldberg is Goldberg. Goldberg shows some range with he is selling. He is stunned but is still moving forward because he is a monster knows no other way. DDP signals for the Diamond Cutter…BOOM! SPEAR! The Las Vegas Crowd and me lose our minds. Goldberg’s shoulder is too messed up for the Jackhammer…BANG! DIAMOND CUTTER! I was screaming “Pin Him, Dallas, Pin him” 15 years after this match happened that’s how damn great this finish run is. Those two moments serve as reminder on why pro wrestling is just the best. What makes this match so special in my opinion is that this match is so uniquely Goldberg and DDP there are no two other wrestlers could replicate this feel of Cyborg vs Blue Collar Hero that is the hallmark of excellent pro wrestling psychology.

#8. WCW World Cruiserweight Champion Chris Jericho vs Eddie Guerrero – Fall Brawl 1997

In late 1997, there were two amazing heels in US pro wrestling, one was Shawn Michaels and the other was Eddie Guerrero. The sadistic, scowling Eddie Guerrero in late ’97 was one mean son of a bitch in the ring, but he also knew the exact right times to be a sniveling, cowardly stooge. He was the consummate heel and he was over like rover. There were huge “Eddie Sucks” chants every PPV and Nitro match from this era. One thing I love about WCW fans compared to WWF is how into the midcard they always were. WWF fans were always obsessed with main event (and still are). For the most part, Jericho was a miss in WCW, his reach more often exceeded his grasp as he was going overly dangerous spots to get himself over and demonstrated a tenuous grasp on psychology which apparently was not taught to him until he joined the WWF.

Very classic pro wrestling layout, but what makes this so incredible is how good Eddie is at all parts of the match. From the outset, he does everything he can to shine up Jericho, bumping and stooging for Jericho. The transition to the heat segment is a snap of the neck across the top rope, but the heat segment features a lot of strong back work including his dad’s Gory Special and some really great Eddie character work. In classic WCW Jericho fashion, there is a very dangerous spot. He is going to powerbomb Eddie off the apron, but drops back with it into a hotshot. They both come down out of control crashing on each other. It was a gnarly spot, but in this case it worked in a kayfabe sense because at this point it was a hotly contested match and Eddie had been in control and Jericho needed something big to re-consolidate his advantage.  After this, they just throw bomb after bomb at each other in a way that feels smart and like two men trying their hardest to win the Cruiserweight Championship. A great example of Eddie’s character work and his range as a heel knowing how to flip the switch between coward and bastard and it always feeling organic.

#7. Bret “Hitman” Hart vs Chris Benoit – Nitro 10/04/99

This match was dedicated to Owen Hart after his death in World Wrestling Federation in May of 1999 and is a tribute to Owen Hart from his brother and from a fellow Albertan. I don’t want to take away from the true intention of the match, but this was also WCW’s goodbye to classic pro wrestling as Vince Russo would take over in a couple weeks and nothing on WCW TV would ever resemble pro wrestling again.

The story of the match to me is Bret keeps chip, chip, chipping away opening up a bigger and bigger lead on Benoit before one last Benoit gasp. There is a beautiful gradualism to this match. Two men paying tribute to someone they love by doing what they love. They start with classic tests of strength and as Benoit looks to assert himself it is Bret that counters with a Russian Legsweep. That is the story of the match is Bret countering Benoit throughout the match picking his spots and accelerating through the holes in Benoit’s offense. Benoit does a great timing his hope spots. Peppering them in early, but as his mistakes accrue and Bret’s offense take his toll they become fewer and further between.  The finish run is a spectacular fireworks display from Benoit that really rallies the KC crowd behind Bret. My favorite part of the match is how the crowd reacts to Bret applying the Sharpshooter. First, people are slowly rising to their feet inquisitive, then there is the steady build of noise and when he finally turns Benoit over there is a great pop. Just a beautiful pro wrestling match and a fitting tribute to Owen.

 Next time, we finish up this countdown. When will Rey Rey make his countdown debut? Will DDP have more matches in the Top Six? What is the surprise pick for the second best match to take place in WCW between 1995-2001? All this and much more in Pro Wrestling Love Vol. 3. 

The Fall of WCW: Scott Steiner, Goldberg, Rey Mysterio ( WCW 1999-2001)

Hey yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

This weekend, an old friend of mine paid a visit to God's Country & The Birthplace of America, Boston, and we got what is left of the old gang here and had a kickass time reliving memories and making new ones. As much as fun as it is to wax nostalgic, it is the just the best to add to our story with new fresh memories and to keep building upon that. It is a bit melodramatic for me to call a pro wrestling promotion, my friend, but in a lot of ways growing up, WCW was my best friend. I will always be able to relive memories and discover new gems, but I have been robbed of making new memories.

I would make memories with her over and over again!

I grew up painfully shy as a child, which will shock most people that know me now. I know what you all are thinking, now we can't get Martin to fucking shut up, but I pretty much did not have friends in elementary school. I was never bullied or anything like that just did not really talk or hang out with people. I was always amazed by these larger than life figures that could seemingly effortlessly could talk to 20,000 people on national TV. They were my friends and every Monday night, I would watch them as they would make me laugh, smile and angry usually all within two or three awesome hours. Because of parental regulations, I grew up a WCW fan because my mother thought the WWF did not treat women well (Dustin Rhodes/Terri Runnels fallout being the end of WWF for a year in my house), but I think I always liked WCW better. There was something endearing about its haphazard nature and still is to this day to me. Unfortunately, the egos and a lack of singular authority began to negatively impact TV and by the summer of 1999, I had to check out. Then I remember reading on wrestleline.com, that Vince Russo was coming to WCW in October of 1999. Russo was a head writer for the WWF at the time and it seemed like a massive coup for WCW to get what was at least part of the driving force of the Attitude Era. How much Russo contributed to WWF and was filtered/reigned in by Vince McMahon I cannot say, but it is safe to say that was not pure Russo. So, I started to watch Nitro again excited at what new changes would be had.

Even as a ten year old, I knew what I was watching was absolutely mortifying. To continue the friend analogy, it is like watching your friend lose his mind or maybe an elderly member of the family show signs of dementia. It was not WCW anymore. It was not even pro wrestling. It was trash. Sure, the voice of my childhood, Tony Schiavone was still there and hey even my favorite, La Parka was getting more television time, but he was made into a Skeletor comedy character, which is one of the more least offensive things done under the Russo watch. There was outright racism towards the Luchadors and Japanese wrestlers like Liger. There was personal insults towards Jim Ross. There was rampant misogyny. The matches were shorter. There was a ton of things happening, but at the same time nothing was happening. The worst part was the Powers That Be angle/character, which openly described pro wrestling as a work, spoke about wrestlers like Benoit being held down  and how certain wrestlers would not do the job. Remember folks, everything you just watched is a work, but THIS RIGHT HERE IS A SHOOT, BRUTHA! That was the Russo matra. I hated it. Before the year was up, I quit watching WCW. WCW quit on Vince Russo too as he was fired by the end of the year and Kevin Sullivan took over as head booker.

In April, WCW planned a major reset with Russo-Bischoff in charge with the idea being that Bischoff would filter Russo and somehow I got suckered into this bullshit. This time I lasted four months and even ordered New Blood Rising! In this regime, we had more racism, more misogyny, more the rest of the card this is a SHOOT! This was hallmarked by the announcers claiming during a triple threat match when Goldberg walked out on the match it was because he was being unprofessional and did not want to do the job. SO now Nash and Steiner had to improvise a finish. After New Blood Rising, I stopped watching WCW again and actually stopped watching wrestling all together in October 2000. This is important because this is why I really hate Vince Russo.

Is Vince Russo directly to blame for the sale of WCW? I don't think so. Would AOL-Time Warner been more amenable to keep WCW around if they had not lost $60 million in a year, probably. Still, Nitro was bringing in a 2.0 rating on Monday Night against direct competition from WWF and that is not horeshit. If the folks after the merger wanted wrestling on their station WCW would still be on TNT, it is that simple. Bischoff had a group together to purchase WCW, but without TV, it would have be useless in his opinion and you can't blame him. Russo contributed to the death of WCW, but ultimately it was the AOL-Time Warner merger that killed WCW dead. Why I especially despise Russo is not because he turned WCW into personal joke or has done seemingly irreparable harm to pro wrestling that WWE still has not recovered from, it is because I missed the death of my friend. I found about the sale of WCW to WWF in March of 2001, a little bit after Wrestlemania X-7 and by then it was too late. I did not get to see the last Monday Nitro live and that deeply upset me. At this point, I have let it go and I am not terribly bitter about it. Hell I have even enjoyed some of TNA and it generally liked their 2005-2007 period. I do not how much Russo influence there was, but it was a fun promotion at times. I am sad to this day that WCW does not exist and will often go back see something so WCW that I just wish it would come back. In this blog, the one of the most WCW things ever was debut a brand new championship, a week before your company is shutting down and of course that match is the best match in 18 months! He did not rob me of making new memories that was AOL-Time Warner. He robbed me of saying good-bye to my childhood friend.

On Riding Space Mountain, we always look for the sliver lining and fuck, even Russo could not manage to have at least a coupled decent matches under his watch. Here are some of the last great bouts from the dying days of World Championship Wrestling.

I will always be a WCW fan first & foremost and look forward to reliving those memories for the rest of my life because Russo, AOL-Time Warner or anyone else will never able to take those away.

Match Listing:

Chris Benoit vs Jeff Jarrett - WCW Starrcade 1999 Vacant US Championship Ladder Match

Violent ladder match sprint with a couple huge spots and a big time feel for the Benoit victory.

Scott Steiner vs Goldberg - WCW Fall Brawl 2000

Russo did his best to try to kill this Clash of the Titans classic, but these two worked their asses off.

Rey Mysterio Jr & Kidman vs Primetime & Kid Romeo 

WCW Greed WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship

The last great WCW match is a well-structured, high octane tag team match featuring my man, Rey Rey!

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner vs Diamond Dallas Page - WCW Greed

Father Time finally caught up to DDP as he just did not have any gas left in the tank to put on one last classic DDP match. Disappointing. 

Chris Benoit vs Jeff Jarrett - WCW Starrcade 1999 Vacant US Championship Ladder Match

Benoit's neck is freaking massive here. Double J's normal size neck looks like a stack of dimes compared to the juiced up Crippler. Benoit and Jarrett put together a really strong and violent ladder match sprint in this one. Benoit unleashes a can of whoop-ass early and hits a superplex to incapacitate JJ long enough to get the ladder. I like a small victory like that in the shine to show how dominate Benoit was early. Jarret is able to recover with a baseball slide into the ladder and then dropping Benoit face first on the ladder opening up a nasty cut on Benoit's face. I liked Jarrett as a heel taking advantage of the situation to take a control. They work some struggle spots with Benoit kept coming at Jarrett, but since Jarrett was a bit fresher he could still control the match. One of the scarier spots was Jarrett was in the Tree of Woe, but in the ladder and tipped over the ladder like you would reverse the pressure on a figure-4. Jarrett could have severely fucked up his knee and the way Benoit's head bounced off the ropes he could have seriously injured, but that's where the freaking massive neck will save your life. The spot of the match would be an all-time great spot if Double J did not hesitate forever and made Benoit look like a fool. That being said it is better to be safe and really focus. He dropkicks the ladder, which goes flying and Benoit takes an awesome bump. It actually came off pretty safe compared to a lot of ladder bumps, but was a sweet visual. Another fun spot is Benoit doing a roll through under the ladder and then dropkicking it into Jarrett's face. Benoit hitting the diving headbutt off the ladder and then grabbing the title does seem excessive, but they needed that climatic spot and it is a good one. The crowd was fucking dead for the beginning of this, but they won them over and Benoit's victory does feel like a big deal by the end. Some really great spots mixed with a strong sense of urgency and struggle makes this a pretty easy call for me to say this is a great, but too spotty to be a true classic. ****

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Scott Steiner vs Goldberg - WCW Fall Brawl 2000

I couldn't believe the angle they ran before this where it was implied Goldberg put Midajah (Steiner's favorite freak) through a table and then I guess he smashed Steiner's face in with a lead pipe. Why the hell is the babyface attacking defenseless women? Fuck Russo! Steiner then puts Goldberg's girlfriend in the Steiner Recliner, but since that's shown on TV that means exposes it as a weak ass chinlock, Awful Russoian, misogynistic  booking aside, I am pretty pumped for this match and so is the Buffalo crowd. The Bills football team hates Steiner and is super pro-Goldberg. Steiner is wearing a face mask and Goldberg has his arm taped up, which is good continuity, but neither one really plays into the match so it is a wash. Steiner stiffs the fuck out of Goldberg and Goldberg know no other way to wrestle so this comes off a gargantuan match. I loved Steiner taking right to Goldberg with some wicked shots only for Goldberg to come out of the corner with a huge Press and then catch and slam. It was amazing watching these two behemoth throw each other around. Steiner puts up the best resistance he possibly can, but his standard power game is not getting it down when Goldberg can outmuscle him. This is exemplified when Steiner hoists him into the Tombstone, but Goldberg reverses into a Oklahoma Slam. However, the one time the pre-existing injuries play into the match is when Goldberg's arm starts to bother him (nice Goddamnit on one of the strikes) and then he misses the spear. Steiner is able to take advantage on the outside and bust him over as his favorite freak, Midajah strolls out with a lead pipe. Steiner throws Goldberg around and hits a couple push-ups. Go Blue! Little shit like Goldberg nasty back elbows to Steiner and Steiner rethinking his suplex to a Belly to Belly was what was making this match great. Midajah hands Steiner the pipe, but SPEAR! Goldberg goes for the Jackhammer and the match goes to Hell because here comes Satan himself. Russo hits Goldberg with an obviously gimmicked bat. They were having a great match why the fuck do we need Russo and fake as fuck weapons. If they presented the fake bat as a real bat and had Goldberg lose right there, I would have no problem it was the bullshit with Goldberg being able to continue. Goldberg powering out of the Steiner Recliner was fucking awesome as he literally threw Steiner half way cross the ring from his shoulders. Midajah and Russo play pinata with Goldberg on the top rope, fuck, they are killing this match. Goldberg looks like he is finally going to kill Russo so Steiner smokes him the pipe and puts in the Recliner. The fake weapons and Russo bullshit really ruined what was otherwise a really good match. I am a sucker for two big men throwing each other around. There were great highspots and plenty of struggle. Goldberg's spear and the Goldberg's powering out of the Recliner were awesome spots. They did not need the overbooking, alas that is the story of Russo booking. Still the best match of the Russo regime.  ****

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Rey Mysterio Jr & Kidman vs Primetime & Kid Romeo 

WCW Greed WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship

It is so WCW to debut a brand new title on their last PPV! I was actually how shocked how much liked this. I have not seen Elix Skipper in forever and I have never seen a Kid Romeo match, but fuck I thought they were a fun little heel duo. I actually think Romeo would have been decent in TNA and maybe he was, but I missed it. WCW Greed felt really TNA-y, maybe it was inevitable if WCW continued we would have gotten the same shit as we did from TNA. Still, I think the weird endearing WCW booking would have carried on in a way TNA has never really captured. Onto the match, but this was actually a really good tag team match and I know tag team wrestling (listen to my podcast, Tag Teams Back Again, with Chief Jay Historian, Kelly Nelson on Place To Be Nation.com)! They did a great shine, worked a solid heat segment with nice hope spots and then had a hot finish stretch that went a bit too long. The shine was some really good shit from Kidman & Mysterio constantly keeping the action moving and keeping the crowd into it. I thought the highlights was Rey Mysterio guillotine leg drop and I love how Kidman holds Primetime there. I hate it as a single move like KENTA used it, but as a tag team move great spot and logical. I loved the hiptoss of Primetime onto Romeo from the stage and then the double dive onto them. Damn, they got me rocking right with them. The heel transition is Romeo hitting Kidman with a blind forearm while he was running the ropes. Love it! Kidman does a great job using stuff like Irish whip/clothesline combo to get early hope spots, but Primetime and Romeo know how to bend the rules. This is a really basic layout that was just modernized with some of the more high-flying moves, but everything was still sensible. The funniest fucking botch ever happens in this match as Primetime whiffs so bad on a forearm he falls down. I was rolling and then a fan gets on his case and he jaws with him, good shit.  Kidman hits a nice spinebuster/powerbomb-y thing from the top and Rey comes in. Holy Shit! Rey looked fucking awesome here. Words don't do it justice watch it. Kidman says two can play that game and he hits a beautiful springboard Shooting Star Press to the floor. WOW! It should have been over sooner rather than later, but it kept going with diminishing returns with lots of nearfalls and weak saves. Rey hitting two powerbombs seems a bit ridiculous to me and I am a powerbomb mark. The actual finish was pretty sweet with Romeo catching Rey Rey on the quebrada attempt and dropping down with the Northern Lights Bomb. Romeo & Primetime dance afterwards! I love this team! Well now I am sad WCW ended because we did not get more Primetime/Romeo goodness. They stuck with the tried and true formula sprinkled in some great spots, solid heel work and Rey Rey is such an elite wrestler that he adds that little sumthin sumthin to matches like this. Probably the best match of WCW's last 18 months. ****

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WCW World Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner vs Diamond Dallas Page - WCW Greed

My main man, DDP, looks to give one last stellar performance on WCW's last ever PPV main event, but it just was not to be. DDP's magic of 1997-1999 has faded and it looks like Father Time has finally caught up to him. He was still one helluva promo as showcased in the pre-match hype video. Where he explains he is the last of the WCW standard-bearers and that no matter how brutal the attacks have been he still has the great equalizer, the Diamond Cutter. He could talk the talk, but he just couldn't walk the walk. The punches did not have the same zip and his step did not have the same pep. I love the Scotty Steiner character at this point as a totally despicable, vile human. I was hoping this would be a great Steiner match to add to his resume. It is too bad they did not turn Steiner earlier in his career. He was actually a pretty good bumper and stooge for babyfaces in addition to being violent. There were still some fun DDP spots early like his excellent flying clothesline, but then we descended into guardrail whips and obviously planted crutches and Paul London as a fan that Scotty Steiner badmouths. I actually liked the finish stretch though as DDP gave it one last burst of the old DDP. After the bearhug and suplexes, DDP had a great string on offense. I really liked the quick knee lift into a DDT. Steiner hit a nasty back elbow at on point. Shit is starting to heat up. Of course, we get some trademark DDP like the floatover DDT. He signals for the Diamond Cutter! BANG! I get why that went with Booker, but damn, the love I have built up for DDP, I really wish he was the last WCW champion and that was the finish. Instead, Rick Fucking Steiner pulls the ref out. I don't think I have ever seen Rick Steiner without his earguards. It is so weird. Anyways, they prolong the inevitable with some fun drama with weapons and submissions moves, but DDP passes out to the Steiner Recliner. Steiner puts out yet another WCW babyface legend. Steiner buries DDP in a Michigan flag! GO BLUE! I wish we were good at enough football when I went there to pull shit like that. It is a decent match, but really not worth seeing it besides for the novel value of being the last WCW PPV main event. Disappointing more than anything for me.

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