GSR

From the debut Millennium Pro Wrestling event. Joe comes out swinging a cane, Red avoids the shot and snatches him with a head and arm suplex. He then picks up that cane, blasts Joe with it before suplexing him on to it. Headscissors over the top rope to the floor by Red! Back inside Joe reverses the Irish whip, a clothesline turning Red inside out. Spinebuster onto a metal sign, Red kicking out of the cover on two. Joe hangs him upside down in the Tree of Woe and then places a chair in front of his face which he dropkicks. As he searches for a table under the ring one of the commentators is wanting the referee to count him out, having to be reminded that this is a Hardcore match and there are no count outs here! After Joe sets it up, Red blocks being suplexed from the ring through it, countering with a sunset flip powerbomb to the floor. I think Joe was supposed to go through the table but Red’s heels actually go through it first. The two are jumped by Prodigy and the Silver Tiger, however they fare terribly; Joe nailing Tiger with an enzuigiri at ringside while Red powerbombs Prodigy into the turnbuckles, a very early version of the Buckle bomb. Red hurls a chair into Joe then collects a second table, struggling to find one at first, which he positions in the ring. Prodigy tries his luck again but receives similar treatment this time out too. After taking care of him, Red rushes at Joe who catches him with a release over head belly to belly through the second table for the win. Red is a deceptively agile guy and probably a bit before his time with things like Buckle bombs in his arsenal. Fairly short match but always something different seeing Joe against his trainer and in this Hardcore environment.

We get some lame skit involving Rodrageous that’s based on the Wizard of Oz and that makes zero sense with a building supposed to have fallen on Spanky. Is Rodrageous supposed to be on Acid or something? This was crap. Spanky and Jason Sensation are out to speak with ‘the Coach’, Sensation dressed up as Rodrageous complete with drawn on outlandish sideburns. Spanky thinks that it’s a beautiful day for the Kliq as he’s getting a title shot and the chance to add another belt to his collection. Chicks dig belts and he digs chicks! Thanks for letting us know Spanky. While Rodney may not respect him, he respects Rodney and asks that there be no foul play tonight. Sensation, as Rodrageous, responds, saying how he hasn’t got a hope in hell and might as well just hand the belt over to you (Spanky). The belt that this is for is Rodrageous’ Power Pro Television title. Jason shoots silly string at Rodney, distracting him and allowing Spanky to have the opening momentum. Rodney catches him on the middle rope moonsault bodyblock and then clotheslines him over the top rope to the outside. Sensation is distracting the champion again from the floor and when he leans through the ropes to grab him, Spanky rushes around ringside to nail him. Jason gets some shots in but these are real feeble looking. Suicide dive by Spanky! Slingshot elbow drop back inside. Asai moonsault for a two count. Outside in headscissors. It’s one hot move after another. Rodney ducks a shot and hits a bad looking float over DDT. Spinning heel kick. We get a soft ref bump, Rodney setting Spanky for a powerbomb but Spanky driving him backwards into the official. Shooter Schultz is out to help his fellow Kliqite, double teaming the champion until telegraphing the double backdrop. Spinning neckbreaker takes care of Shooter. Great flying tornado DDT off the top by Spanky, but there’s no-one home on the big splash though when Rodney rolls out the way. Jason Sensation is in the ring trying to interfere and failing miserably. Rodney counters Sliced Bread #2 with a back suplex then connects on the High Society to retain the gold. Spanky crammed a ton in here, however the match was decent at best, hindered by the efforts of a green looking Rodrageous and, when it comes to involving themselves in things, an even greener manager. 2001 is a year of transition; ECW has already bitten the dust, WCW is done by the end of the month and for all intents and purposes this is the end of Power Pro Wrestling. Memphis Championship Wrestling lasts a touch longer, although that too doesn’t make it out of the year. We will hopefully get HWA to fill the gap but it’s going to be interesting to see how the land lies come the end of 2001.

Jonathan Coachman says that the Haas brothers are two guys that they’re very excited about (in the WWF) and within four to six months thinks the people will be seeing them on big time television. Corey is giving them the Kurt Angle and Rock comparisons, in the sense of wrestlers who appeared first here in the studio but went onto become big stars in the WWF. Double team slingshot shoulderblock on Shooter. Dragon with a blind tag and the Kliq catch Russ with a double suplex. Huge running forearm smash in the corner. A seated Russ is repeatedly kicked in the back then the chest by Dragon. Butterfly suplex by Shooter. Dragon telegraphs the backdrop and gets launched courtesy of a Russ belly to belly. As it looks like Russ is about to tag his brother, Shooter is in illegally, nailing Charlie on the apron. The ref is doing his best to retain some sort of order but struggling. The Kliq have Russ up for another double suplex, Charlie shoves the official aside and dropkicks Shooter in the back, Russ then floats over and rolls up Dragon for the win. Good work but on the short side. My comments from last week remain, about how can guys like Dragon and Schultz truly develop working such short tag team matches every week (fortunately we’ve seen Dragon in ECWA recently so know how great he already is). It’s one thing for the Haas brothers who’re clearly being groomed to be a team on the main roster it’s another matter altogether for the Kliq.

Dave Brown has the day off, so standing in for him is Jonathan Coachman. ‘The Coach’ makes it clear that the only reason he is here is because Vince McMahon sent him as Memphis Power Pro Wrestling is very important to them. That’s a pretty funny statement considering this is the final week of developmental talent in Power Pro. Lance Cade has been doing a Magnum T.A. gimmick over recent weeks, beating job guys in a matter of seconds with the belly to belly suplex. Coachman claims that they’re talking about Cade in the WWF locker rooms. Bo Dupp jumps Lance from behind as he makes his entrance, slamming his head into the ring apron and then throwing him in the ring to his partner. Well so much for this being Cade’s “toughest opponent to date”, catching Jack with the belly to belly in no time at all. Corey tries to get a quick word with him after the win but Lance brushes past him, not stopping and ignoring his request.

A strange start to this, to the point I thought the ring announcer had had an absolute howler and spoilt that Low Ki’s mystery partner was going to be Little Guido. Basically he introduces Don Montoya along with his partner “the Sicilian Shooter, Little Guido Maritato”, only no Guido with Montoya, rather Reckless Youth. Montoya goes on to say how he’s not impressed with who his partner is, the shape they’re in etc. and at this point out comes Guido. Guido takes umbrage with how he’s being spoken to, tells them to go to hell and as he’s about to leave they jump him. Ki’s music begins, the Don ducks out to the floor to wait for him, only for Ki to surprise him from the opposite direction. As the action settles down Guido stays in the corner, so it looks like he’s named himself as the mystery partner. In kayfabe terms though that means what happened to the “original” mystery partner as surely Ki was going to take on two men by himself? Ki looks great early. The heel team do a few comedy spot such as Reckless coming in to break up a pin attempt, Ki seeing him coming, moving out the way and Reckless elbow dropping Montoya. Drop toe hold/powerdrive elbow combination. Ki avoids the splash in the corner but gets nailed by a Reckless clothesline from the apron as the opposition take over. A pair of rolling sentons. Gutbuster by Reckless. They get the heat on Ki as I realise Guido hasn’t even took his T-shirt off yet. The ref misses the tag and as he tries to get Guido back out Reckless and Don switch places, much to the annoyance of one fan who’s right up at the ring letting him know what just happened. Ki counters the Samoan drop with a sunset flip. Don is about to drop all his weight down on him when Ki moves out the way. He locks in a Butterfly stretch but Reckless is in to break that up with a shotgun dropkick. A unique take on the Texas Cloverleaf by him, it’s almost half-Texas Cloverleaf/half-Sharpshooter. Montoya runs into a big boot as Ki starts to fire back with some forearms. Tidal Crush, however he still can’t make the tag. Reckless with a reverse DDT. Dragon screw leg whip, he then extends that leg out so that Montoya can drop a headbutt to it. Ki ducks the double clothesline and comes back with a double Koppu kick. Hot tag to Guido who rather than going hell for leather on the opposition like he makes out he’s going to, ends up fist bumping them instead. Kiss of Death on Ki and Reckless and Montoya make the cover together. Reckless “pays off” Guido post-match, the latter shocked that Low Ki was stupid enough to fall for what they pulled. Ki is being helped to the dressing room when he rushes back to the ring, the other three hightailing it out of there. Guido challenges him to a “one on one match anytime he wants,” Ki replying that he’s got a deal for next month, he though then back tracks, undecided as to whether he’ll take it but he’ll let him know. Another non-showing from an ex-ECW guy, this on the back of Tommy Dreamer’s “efforts” in CZW from the War at Station 44 show which was held on the same day. No-one looked bad here, although admittedly Guido did little, however due to the finish not something I would suggest someone taking time out to watch.

No Sandman on this show and just look at the difference it’s made to the attendance compared with last week’s show. CM Punk in the corner of Cabana. ‘Sellout’ Smothers knows Colt’s good because he saw him against Jerry Lynn, but tonight he’s going to give him the wrestling lesson of his life. By and large it’s pretty much the same promo he cuts prior to every match. Tracey is up to his old tricks complaining of closed fists, hair pulling and the grabbing of his trunks. He gets the better of a shoulder tackle then holds the ropes open wondering if Cabana wants to “get the fuck out of here and go back to Chicago?” Scoop powerslam , springboard sunset flip, flying crossbody, each picks Colt up a flurry of two counts in quick succession. Smothers takes to the outside, after the Cabana pescado Punk then throws him back in, not giving him any time to grab a breather. Crossbody off the top, Tracey using his momentum to roll through on it before dropping Colt with a clothesline. Smothers throws him to the floor and then whips him into the chairs. It is the IWA after all so why not? Back inside Tracey sits on the rear chinlock, grounding Colt and putting his own legs over the ropes for additional leverage. Punk tries to notify the referee as to what’s going on, eventually catching Smothers in the act. As he turns to have words with Punk, Cabana schoolboys him for a near fall. Flatliner by Tracey. He measures the DDT but Colt is able to kick out of the cover. From here the match goes back and forth, neither able to put the other away. Colt with a tornado suplex, the pattern continuing as Tracey kicks out after the frog splash. He’s back up top only to miss his target on the switch moonsault. Smothers then with some sort of slam and he gets the three. He has some post-match words, putting Punk and Cabana over huge, saying how he has to be on his game when he faces the likes of them, and how they’re going to be the stars of tomorrow. How spot on you were Tracey. Decent match, although I had high expectations going in, which for me it never reached. Am I getting tired of the Smothers routine or was this just an average night? Guess I’ll know next time out.

For anyone who‘s unaware, Page reminds the fans that last week he whipped Spike Dudley’s ass while Madman Pondo whipped the Sandman’s. After defeating Spike he’s now calling himself “the Giant Killer Killer”. Punk is out to what would go on to become more well known as El Generico’s theme music. He’s got Colt Cabana in his corner and is already firmly entrenched as an IWA favourite by the ovation he gets. Page is stalling big time at the onset. The action at first is pretty rough when it’s Punk in charge. ‘Mean’ Mitch catches him on the running crossbody and slams him to the mat. He sees someone in the front row with a light tube and asks him to give it him, only for it to “accidentally” slip out of his hand. When he asks for a second one he “accidentally” drops that too. The fan realises what’s going on when he wants him to pass him a third, giving him the finger instead. That was funny. Like Punk is taking light tube shots! After being pushed one time too many the ref gives Page a shove back, right into a Punk right hand. Russian legsweep. Outside in springboard moonsault for a two count. Page counters the piledriver with a backdrop before mocking the “Go Punk Go!” chants. He whips him chest first into the corner and then splashes him up against it. Punk blocks the superplex by firing off punches and hits a sunset flip powerbomb off the top. The whip to the corner is reversed and again Page splashes Punk against the turnbuckles. One Vader bomb later Punk is put down for the three. Punk sells the ribs as Colt checks on him, the girls screaming for him. I imagine these two do alright on the merch front when it comes to selling Polaroid’s as they know how to play the game. Fine for a ten minute match and while I’m generally not a fan of Page (I probably say that every time out!) there was nothing wrong here and he put on an entertaining showing.

Devlin, Banks, Joe Coffey, Ligero, Sid Scala for starters have all been named. Sounds like there's going to be more coming out tomorrow.

After the previous match has finished Berk fights the Briscoes to the dressing room, Justice staying in the ring and leaving his partner to it. He gets on the mic and tells Zandig to bring his title to the ring and come and get his ass kicked. ‘The Boss’ is out. And getting his ass kicked he is until snatching Justice and pressing him over head. “Who’s the fucking man?” Tommy Dreamer is in the ring behind them, Zandig appearing to shit himself when he turns around and sees him, as he drops Pain who falls on top of him. This segues into Dreamer vs Zandig, Justice clearly not that bothered by the title if he’s happy to let Dreamer take his place. The match immediately goes to the floor via a Dreamer Cactus clothesline, they then go on one of those ECW ‘brawls’ around the building which consists mainly of walking and not much else. Zandig gets busted open after being slammed into the side of the building, although Dreamer is clearly half-assing it here. Back inside Zandig actually hits a Falcon Arrow, however as he climbs the turnbuckles spends more time yelling “C-Z-Fucking-W” and ends up being hung upside down in the Tree of Woe Justice places a chair in front of his face which Dreamer dropkicks. Zandig frees himself from the Death Valley Driver so Justice puts him through a table with a backdrop driver. The table folds up on Zandig as Dreamer’s music starts playing. And that looks like that was it! After Dreamer and Justice leave a bloodied Zandig slaps around Towel Boy. He lets everyone know that it’s his company, fuck the fans and fuck Tommy Dreamer, this isn’t over! I hope Tommy Dreamer was worth the money!

The Dew is back out managing the Briscoes as he sets about turning them into the best tag team in CZW. Justice is looking better than usual in the opening goings, including a nice single arm throw. Mark’s interference stops the initial advantage the faces had gained although I’m at a loss why the ref isn’t even attempting to get him out of there. There’s never any consistency when it comes to the officials in this company which always bothers me, as evidenced only moments later when Jay spits at Berk on the apron, Berk is wanting in to retaliate and of course he’s being kept from interfering. Either just let it be a free for all or enforce the rules consistently. Jay and Justice take it in turns to avoid Asai moonsaults in a cute spot. Pain ducks the enzuigiri, keeps hold of the leg and slaps on an STF, Mark with a shotgun dropkick for the save. That brings Berk in as all four men go at it. The Briscoes end up getting clotheslined out to the floor, although Berk takes two attempts to get Mark out of there. What follows is an all-timer on the botch highlight scale, Justice going for a springboard flip dive to the floor. He was in the corner and was meant to jump from the apron to the top rope, spring to the top rope on a second side of the ring and then springboard to the floor with the flip dive, however he slips on the second springboard going ass over tit, hitting the back of his head on the apron and coming down hard on the concrete. You can hear an audible intake of air and people exclaiming “shit!” He’s not moving and the match is carrying on regardless, no-one making a dash from the dressing room to check on him. Not too long later he does get to his feet much to everyone’s relief. We get a close up shot of his forehead which is all red and bruised from that fall. The action returns to the ring where the Dew hooks Berk’s ankle from ringside allowing the Briscoes to take over. A real sweet double arm drag where they keep hold of the arm and transition it to a double Rock Bottom. They’re still playing to the crowd after moves too much for my liking. Mark floats over on the Northern Lights suplex and lands a second one. Double neckbreaker and Justice is in for the save. Berk escapes the chinlock, gets Jay on his shoulders and sits out the Fireman’s carry slam. The Dew goes after Justice, which was just a clever diversion for Mark to switch places with Jay when the ref’s back was turned. It may not have been that smart after all, as Justice kills the Dew with a chair shot. German suplex by Mark. Berk counters the huracanrana and is able to make the hot tag. All four men are in there until Jay gets dumped outside. Mark looks for a top rope Frankensteiner on Berk, but Justice gets underneath to powerbomb him. Either he loses him or Mark slips, so they quickly have to improvise before he hits it. Frog splash by Berk and the Briscoes are going to be needing some more advice from the Dew as they go down here. Berk fights the Briscoes to the dressing room, Justice staying in the ring and leaving his partner to it... What is it with CZW and botches? On another night that could’ve ended in disaster for Pain. The best stuff here was when the Briscoes were controlling things and when they were getting the heat on Berk. I also liked the switcheroo they pulled, smartly done. Still crazy to think how young and inexperienced they are here going against these two and they are the best thing in the match.

Jimmy Washington is out with Natasha for an interview segment. He proclaims that as of tonight Pastor Jim is dead before going on to introduce his guests, Nick Gage and the Dew, along with the Briscoe Brothers. Gage is using the same music that Cornette used for that quality Leviathan music video in OVW last year. The Dew claims that he’s going to mould the Briscoe’s into the best tag team in CZW, just like he did with the Backseat Boyz. When the former Pastor talks about Gage’s less than stellar record against Lobo (who he calls “Captain Caveman”) he takes exception to being spoken to like that and gives him a brainbuster. The Briscoes hold back Natasha, they then lay her out and Gage comes off the top onto her with a frog splash. Captain Caveman, sorry Lobo, out to the rescue. Lobo’s save is great and fiery, then after Gage regroups on the floor, sending the Briscoes to the back in the process letting them know he’s got this, they go into chain wrestling mode. Gage complains of a hair pull, played purely for laughs seeing he’s as bald as a coot. Head and suplex by Lobo. Gage ducks under the arm and hits a belly to back for a two count. He tosses Lobo out to the floor and this is more like it, slamming his head into the side of a truck that is parked up inside the building. A fan holds up a metal chair which he runs him into. A bit of a walk before Lobo reverses the whip into the lockers. He then throws a garbage can at him and swing a chair like he’s swinging a baseball bat. They return to the ring where Lobo telegraphs the backdrop and Gage catches him with a sunset flip. We’re back to wrestling mode, almost like the brawling was an aberration or an interlude. Roaring elbow by Gage. The Dew is in the ring and goes to powder Lobo, however he ducks out the way and the powder blinds Gage who was holding him. Lobo with a quick roll up and he retains the Iron Man title. Post-match the Dew tries to apologise, Gage encouraging the crowds “fuck him up” chants. It was just a tease, he and the Dew hugging it out. Strange match with the brawling in between two bouts of wrestling.

Trent is accompanied to the ring by “Z-Barr the Superstar”. It looks like the odds are going to be stacked against Blade tonight, Zandig having given Acid and Barr permission to replace original referee Brian Logan with H.C. Loc. Someone forgot to bring out the ladder, only remembering to do so when he fans start chanting for it. The match starts like every Ric Blade match, although he does bust out a cool leg scissors cradle which I’ve not seen previously. Barr tries to say something but gets drowned out by the “shut the fuck up!” chants. Suppose it’s better than them yelling at him to slit his wrists like at the last show. He and Trent threaten to leave for a second time, actually going back through the curtain this. There has been so much stalling already. After Blade makes some jokes about them and Zandig (have a guess) they return. Another choreographed looking fight sequence, ending when Blade floors Trent with a spin kick. Loc and Barr check on him and they act as though he’s seriously injured, having to be helped out of there. When Blade turns his back on them Trent jumps inside and superkicks him. Trent cartwheels out of the headscissors, as he celebrates Blade snatches and gives him the Drug Bomb. Blade brings the ladder into the ring but ends up getting backdropped into it. Apron DDT by Trent. Release front suplex onto a bunch of chairs on the floor. A superkick catches Trent on the reverse crossbody, Blade then locking him upside down in some wacky submission which he turns into an Air Raid Crash. Acid avoids the switch springboard 450. He places the ladder over Blade’s face and comes off the middle onto it with a corkscrew legdrop. Blue Thunder Driver onto the ladder. Blade blocks the Acid Bomb to the floor and hits an inverted suplex back into the ring. He sets up a ladder bridged between two chairs on the outside and lays Trent across it. In typical Ric Blade style he then overshoots the running swanton from the ring, landing back and tailbone first on the concrete and barely grazing Trent. Z-Barr is pretty amusing here, questioning why Loc is letting all this go and wondering what they’re paying him for. Blade is walking real gingerly when he gets to his feet. Slingshot DDT onto a chair. Barr is on the apron “distracting” Loc, Blade counting the cover himself and getting the visual pin. He places a chair over the standing Trent’s head and rattles that with a handspring kick. Loc is double slow making his count here, checking both shoulders are down, delaying etc. Four storey moonsault. Blade brings a table into the ring, puts Trent on it and then places an opened out chair over his head and another over his legs. Whatever crazy idea he had planned we’ll never know, Loc falling into the ropes after he’d climbed the turnbuckles causing him to crotch himself Trent is up and hits an Acid Bomb onto the table. It should’ve been through it but the table didn’t break. Reverse splash off the top puts him through it at the second time of asking and Loc quickly counts the three. Post-match Blade welcomes Loc to CZW with a chair shot, this after they’d done a bit of dancing themselves. Pretty much went exactly how you would expect a match between these two to go; the choreographed opening, little in the way of psychology, some innovative spots, plenty of furniture using and arranging, some slop, Blade hurting himself. At least the stuff with Loc was kept to a minimum and only really played a part at the finish and wasn’t a feature all the way through.

Handheld that is filmed deep in the crowd. The audience pops for the first Rey and Sabu interactions. Sabu with a springboard leg lariat, however he misses the Arabian moonsault and Rey lands one of his own. Rey’s picked up something from his time in WCW as he’s in the face of the referee complaining that was only a two count. Sabu launches Rey skywards, as he comes down he catches him with a stunner/cutter, something that I can’t remember seeing out of him before. He picks him up for a powerbomb but Rey counters with a headscissors, taking him over the top to the outside. Flip dive by Rey. Inside Nicho starts ripping at Santo’s mask. Sabu loses his balance on the triple jump plancha, the crowd laugh as he has to reset, although nails it second time around. Awesome leaping rana by Rey to Nicho, then a second off the elevated rampway down to the floor. With how far away the camera is you are losing the wrestlers at time. Sabu with another cutter. Air Sabu to Rey, when he tries it to Santo, Santo steps out the way and he crashes into the corner. Nicho is backdropped out onto the apron, Santo forearming him across the face and sending him flying into the guard rail. Barmy suicide dive by Santo. Rey sets up a table at ringside, but Sabu crotches him upstairs and hits a perfect top rope rana. He baseball slides him onto that table which he puts him through with a legdrop off the top. As the ref checks on them both, Nicho kicks Santo between the legs and covers him for the win. Some of the crowd pelt them with bottles as they celebrate their cheap victory. I remember reading in the Observer how the WCW Luchadores would often sneak back down to Mexico to wrestle on their off nights, here is such an example. With WCW down to one show a week at this point with the exception of when there was a PPV, can you blame him? According to cagematch this was the first ever meeting between Sabu and Rey (the only other would be at the second One Night Stand) and the two were really good together, although there was an obvious styles clash when it came to Santo and he. A unique and interesting match-up.

Kevin Kelly is backstage waiting outside ‘the Great One’s’ dressing room hoping to catch a word with him. Rikishi makes sure that Haku knows what their orders are for this evening. He says how he ran down Steve Austin with a car and tonight he’s going to run his ass right into his wife’s face. I didn’t watch where it happened, but Mr McMahon has appointed Debra McMichael as the Rock’s manager. Kelly grabs that word, the Rock saying how ever since No Way Out it had been a clear road to Wrestlemania, now there is a roadblock in that road and her name is Debra. While he personally doesn’t have a problem with her, he has never had a manager before, has never needed one and now only weeks away from the biggest match of his career, the biggest match in the industry, he has had one forced upon him by Mr McMahon. There is nothing he can do but accept that but asks Debra if she can accept the fact that he’s going to whip her husband’s candy ass! Debra is trailing some way behind the Rock, it looking like neither is overly happy with Mr McMahon’s appointment. The Islanders open out strong here. Rikishi misses a legdrop but any potential comeback is cut-off by Haku clubbing Rock in the back of the head as he hits the ropes. You have to wonder what Debra can offer anyone in a managerial role, she really is useless. The Rock sends Haku clattering into Rikishi, who falls from the apron to the floor. After grabbing himself a chair he’s in the ring, however Rock gets in first and nabs it away. Rock cracks Haku over the head with the chair, who no sells the shot, much to Rock’s disbelief. A big headbutt and Haku is back in control. Drop toe hold/legdrop to the small of the back combination. Samoan drop. The Rock runs into a Haku thrust kick, every time it looking like he’s starting to build some momentum he gets stopped in his tracks. He’s whipped from post to post, Rikishi about to back dat ass up when Rock explodes out the corner with a desperation clothesline. He’s got himself a second wind as he fights against both. DDT to Rikishi. A clothesline for Haku, a spinebuster for Rikishi and finally a Rock Bottom on Haku gives him the win. Rock celebrates his win, but as he turns around he turns into a Rikishi thrust kick. Rikishi then drags him over to the corner and gives him a Bonzai Drop. Debra, who has brought nothing to the match, now does so in the shape of some terrible acting. She’s cowering in the corner, Haku holding her in position as Rikishi gestures for the Stink face. Michael Cole and Tazz are pleading for some help, which comes in the shape of Steve Austin, out to an electric response, clearing the ring and coming to the aid of his wife.

The winner of this match will become the new Commissioner of the World Wrestling Federation. William Regal vows to listen to each and every one of these fine people when he becomes Commissioner so proclaims “lets begin the Regal regime!”. Al Snow is accompanied by his “campaign committee”, two midgets, Vito the Finger and Frankie Knuckles. One of them is Teo who we saw in IWA-MS last year and is also part of the Halfpint Brawlers troupe. I don’t recognise the other guy but he has a glorious mullet whomever he is. Snow is limping, his shoulder all taped up after being assaulted by the Big Show in a Hardcore match. Regal with some knee strikes. He sits Snow upstairs and joins him up there, looking for a superplex. Vito and Frankie each grab one of Snow’s legs, weighing him down to prevent it and Al fires off a shot sending Regal crashing to the mat. Flying crossbody for a two count. An accidental clash of heads sees both men go down. The midgets are on the apron trying to rally the fans to get behind Snow, Teo especially working really hard. Regal knees Teo in the back who then falls to the floor. As Al sticks his head through the ropes to check on his buddy, Regal clubs him. Hangman’s Noose neckbreaker and William Regal is the new WWF Commissioner. He gives the mulleted midget a post-match suplex, Tazz finding that every bit as hysterical as when he kneed Teo moment earlier. Nothing much here, although I suppose it served its purpose of getting Regal the Commissionership position, a position he should excel in.

I don’t think Dynamite it the tallest guy as it is, but Orton looks like a giant next to him, something that I haven’t really noticed in the OVW footage we’ve seen so far. The commentators claim he’s 6’7” although that’s an exaggeration. Huge press slam. Dynamite tries to fire back, Orton though just absorbs his blows before reversing the whip to the corner. He runs into a back elbow, however Dynamite takes too long as he climbs the turnbuckles, Randy swiping his legs out from under him. A superplex, just like his dad, and this is over already. I initially thought this TV was dated 3/17 based purely on an advertisement for a Tuesday 3/20 house show, however after going through the whole episode as opposed to only the matches, heard Bert Prentice referencing a show “next Saturday, March 10” meaning this is from March 3 (hence why it’s been posted slightly out of order). A squash. Interesting to see Orton use the superplex here as he’s been using a full nelson slam as his finisher in OVW. The only time he used the superplex there was against Robbie D at Christmas Chaos and it wasn’t the finish that night.

The commentators, one of whom is named Tom Foolery, call these two of the “hottest stars” today and say how both are rumoured to be signing soon with the WWF. The action here is joined in progress. Dinsmore with a reverse crossbody for a two count. Flash low blows his way out of the sleeper as he then looks to take advantage. A nice neckbreaker, although he wastes time making the cover, spending a few seconds arguing with the fans first. Springboard corkscrew legdrop. It’s mentioned on comms that these two are meeting again tonight live at the Fairgrounds, so we’re probably not getting a decisive finish here. Just as Dinsmore escapes the chinlock we cut away from the match so that they can plug some local shows. It looks like the ref screws up, counting three when Dinsmore gets his shoulder up. Both grab a bunch of near falls. Dinsmore rolls through on the sunset flip attempt and looks for a Boston crab. He can’t turn Flash over so slingshots him into the corner. Another series of reversals and near falls, which were actually quite sloppy, the ten minute time limit expiring in the process. The crowd wants five more minutes, Flash tells them that he’s got nothing more to prove but if Dinsmore wants five more minutes he can get them next Saturday (aka tonight) at the Fairgrounds. It’s like OVW, only in a different venue and without Jim Cornette screaming down your ear! I was surprised how rough some of the reversals were towards the end of this seeing how these are two of the better OVW workers, while the match too was pretty dull.

Chris Benoit vs Perry Saturn (WWF Smackdown 3/8/01) Chris Benoit enters the dressing room to see the Radicalz deep in discussion. Thinking that they’re talking about him he tells them to carry on, don’t let him stop them. He continues to niggle away at Eddy, turns his back on him and says if he wants to take a shot at him “go ahead”. Eddy tries to but is held back by Saturn and Malenko. ‘The Crippler’ lets them know he’s going to the ring right now and they can settle their issues one at a time. He knows he can do it, so why don’t they try to prove him wrong. Michael Cole explains that during the break they learned that Benoit had challenged the Radicalz to individual one on one matches, meaning that tonight he’s going to run the gauntlet. Tazz isn’t sure if he agrees with Benoit’s decision but does admire his guts. Saturn is first for the Radicalz and looks jacked. Vicious chops by ‘the Crippler’. Saturn snatches an arm and throws Benoit overhead. Awesome looking belly to back. Someone has been watching their WCW tapes, Saturn hitting a shoddy Play of the Day. He sits Benoit upstairs, gestures to his team mates at the top of the stage and lands a big suicideplex. Benoit avoids the flying elbow and starts his comeback. Dragon screw followed by a snap suplex. A belly to back suplex of his own. The diving headbutt connects but it’s only a two count to the shock of everyone, myself included. Terri grabs ‘the Crippler’s’ ankle from the floor, he pulls her up to the apron, however as Saturn charges them he steps out the way and Saturn runs into her. Crossface and Saturn taps in a shade under four minutes. Chris Benoit vs Dean Malenko (WWF Smackdown 3/8/01) Tazz has taken to calling Michael Cole “Coleslaw”. Dean Malenko is second up for the Radicalz, the commentary duo trying to sell this and make it seem a bigger challenge than it is by saying how a worn down Benoit now has to face the Light Heavyweight champion. The Light Heavyweight champion who jobbed to Lita only a few weeks ago. Malenko ducks an enzuigiri and drops an elbow to ‘the Wolverine’s’ back. Saturn is up on the apron enabling Malenko to low blow his opponent. The German suplex is botched, it looks like Malenko may have jumped before Benoit was ready. Inverted suplex by ‘the Crippler’. Malenko goes for a sunset flip, Benoit sits down on him, hooks the legs and he’s gone in less than ninety seconds. Your WWF Light Heavyweight champion there! Chris Benoit vs Eddy Guerrero (WWF Smackdown 3/8/01) Eddy and Benoit haven’t taken their eyes off each other, Michael Cole of the opinion that Eddy thought it would never get this far. Saturn blindsides ‘the Crippler’ with a lariat, he and Malenko then put the boots in before hitting a combination backbreaker/top rope kneedrop. Benoit is laid out and Eddy is rubbing his hands with glee as the bell rings to start the final match in the gauntlet. Brainbuster, frog splash, Eddy wins, simples. Tazz closes by saying how it looks like Eddy proved Benoit wrong after all. I’ve not been watching all the WWF stuff but is Benoit supposed to be the face in this feud or is it a case of hoping the crowd turn him as he battles the odds? I’m really enjoying Eddy as an all round performer at the moment.

A rematch from Monday night, the new tag team champs defending against the former champions. The Dudleys are wasting little time, wanting their gold back. Early Poetry in Motion on Bubba which Matt follows with a clothesline takedown. Bubba ducks his shot and dumps him on the back of his head. Jeff hooks D-Von’s ankle from the floor allowing the champions to take over. Matt chokes him across the second rope and then has some words with the referee allowing Jeff to drop a leg across his neck. D-Von flattens Jeff with a stiff clothesline as he comes off the middle but it happened too close to the Hardy’s corner, Jeff tagging Matt who is able to prevent D-Von doing similar. Nice gut wrench suplex. The Twist of Fate is countered with a backdrop and D-Von finally is able to make that tag. Bubba dispatches Jeff over the top rope and then hot shots Matt. Doomsday Device on Jeff! Matt breaks the cover with a middle rope legdrop. As Jeff grabs hold of the referee, Lita with a great looking leaping rana to Bubba who only just gets a shoulder up on the cover. D-Von steps out the way of the Whisper in the Wind and they hit 3-D. As it look like the Dudleys are about to regain the straps, at the count of two referee Mike Chioda is pulled out the ring by Christian who is still trying to get some retribution for the Dudley putting Edge out of action. D-Von makes a beeline for Christian, flooring him, but Bubba is distracted by what’s going on outside and gets caught with a neckbreaker. Matt places the legal Jeff on top and the brothers retain. Bubba grabs Christian by the hair, pulling him into the ring where after the Wazzup headbutt he gets superbombed through a table.

Steiner says that DDP comes out saying how he’s going to out-think him, but week after week all he does is run from him because he fears the physical phenomenon that he is. His path of destruction will continue at Greed where Page will join the likes of Sting, Goldberg, Kevin Nash and Sid Vicious and where he will solidify his position as the greatest World champion of all time. On Nitro he finally found DDP amongst all the white trash and was about to take him out when the Cat stuck his nose in his business. As a result he’s going to use him as a warm up before he gets to Page and tells him to get his ass out here. The Cat tells ‘Big Poppa Dump’ that he was on his way home, but because he wants him, he’s going to get him later tonight, although he won’t be coming alone. DDP’s music plays and he’s in the upper deck among the fans. He tells Steiner that it’s got to be killing him that he’s still standing and he’s going to haunt him until Greed. Rick Steiner tries to sneak up from behind on Page, but he’s trailed by Hugh Morrus. The two then double team Rick as Page says over and over about getting in Scotty’s mind. Mike Tenay’s sources backstage inform him that Steiner has promised to put Cat in the Recliner and won’t be letting go until he injures him. We get some exclusive footage of what happened when Nitro went off the air and what Steiner was alluding to in his earlier promo, the Cat coming to DDP’s rescue, nailing ‘Big Poppa Pump’ with a chair to save Page from the beating he was taking. Steiner jumps Cat the moment he climbs up onto the apron, not even waiting for him to get in the ring. With Nash no longer around to use it, it looks like Steiner has adopted Snake Eyes as his own, Cat though sides down his back and unloads with some of those dodgy karate kicks. Steiner responds to the punches in the corner with an inverted atomic drop followed by a belly to belly. He tells referee Scott Armstrong that he doesn’t want to pin him yet, wanting to injure and hurt him first. That’s evident by the way he throws him to the outside, whips him into the railing and attacks him with a chair. Cat tries to fight back but his blows aren’t having much effect. Steiner runs into an elbow and is then floored by a thrust kick. This daft dancing that the Cat does prior to moves looks so ludicrous. Double thrust to the throat, some more kicks and he’s got the champ rocking. Not for long as he’s caught with a release overhead suplex. Enzuigiri by the Cat and here, predictably, comes Rick Steiner and the run ins. Cat thwarts Rick but gets dumped by another Steiner suplex. Booker T is out gunning for Rick, while in the ring Scott has the Cat trapped in the Recliner. True to his word he’s not breaking it. DDP hits the ring, the Magnificent Seven aren’t far behind and we go off the air as Scotty has Page helpless in the Recliner.

The one thing Lance Storm hates more than Americans is wannabe Americans. Konnan enters through the crowd, jumping Storm during the playing of the Canadian national anthem. A knee to the mid-section stops K-Dawg’s initial onslaught as Lance then tosses him to the floor where he slams his head into a steel chair. Mike Tenay says that Konnan is in the process of releasing a Hip Hop album in the U.S. as he looks to try and achieve the same level of mainstream success here as he has in Mexico. Like in the previous match Storm is going after Konnan’s lower back. Tony Schiavone talks about the new ownership and it already sounds like they’re setting the stage for the eventual return of Bill Goldberg and Kevin Nash. I did wonder how they would get around that but reckon they would’ve just bought them back, saying that it happened under the old regime, this is a new WCW and we’re starting a fresh. Lance jumps into Konnan’s raised boot as he comes off the top, the same spot that was done in the Stasiak/Smiley match. That turns the match around and a face jam puts Storm down. Tequila Sunrise submission when we cut to an extended shot of the crowd. That’s always the sign of some screw up or botch when it happens on one of the taped shows. We cut back and things have already moved on. Storm counters a second face jam with a double leg take down, into the Canadian Maple Leaf and K-Dawg taps. Mike Awesome is out to give Team Canada the advantage, Hugh Morrus, now selling his knee, providing some back up for Konnan. Challenges are thrown down and a tag match is set for Greed.

Lex Luger is out and says that at times it’s tough living up to being the only ‘Total Package’ in all sports. To be fair he’s looking physically great and not as old as he has been. Christ, he’s back to talking about him and his partner, Buff the Stuff, eliminating Bill Goldberg from WCW forever. Despite all his successes, all the hundreds of victories he’s had, when you’re a perfectionist like him it’s those rare losses that really bother you. He segues into his loss to Chuck Palumbo “last Wednesday” (it was actually two Wednesday’s ago), still addled that he was beaten by a rookie. Knowing that Sean O’Haire is at home nursing a sore leg, he challenges Palumbo to face him again, confident that even if they were to wrestle 1,000 more times, Palumbo would never get another victory over him. Palumbo answers the challenge by running to the ring, much to Luger’s surprise it seems. I hope we’re going to get a better performance from Lex tonight. Great dropkick by Palumbo that rocks ‘the Package’. Single arm DDT and Luger only just gets a shoulder up. Lex with a jawbreaker and he’s already going after the lower back, throwing forearm after forearm there in preparation for the Torture Rack. Luger lets everyone know that “now we’re going to school!”. He tosses Chuck to the outside where he whips him into the railings. Spotting the camera on him he gives everyone a smile and a double bicep pose. Back inside Palumbo with an inside cradle, the move he defeated ‘the Package’ with a fortnight ago, this time though Luger had it scouted and kicks out. Running forearm. No mention of the steel plate surprisingly. Scoop powerslam and Lex is signalling for the Rack. He gets Palumbo up but can’t hold him there, Chuck wriggling free and rolls him up for the three, Luger’s losing streak in singles matches continuing. Tony Schiavone thinks this is an even bigger win than the last one because Palumbo was answering a challenge here. We return from a commercial to break to find an irate Luger overturning furniture and throwing a fit in the back.

Set up as a result of what took place earlier in the show where Rick tried to jump DDP from behind, but Hugh Morrus was watching Page’s back and got to ‘the DFG’ before he could get any licks in. To say I’m not looking forward to this one would be putting it mildly! This hasn’t even started and Steiner is stalling on the outside. When he does eventually get into the ring he uses referee Scott Armstrong as a shield. He shoves him into Hugh, kicking Morrus between the legs in the kerfuffle. Rear chinlock. Yawn. Hugh escapes with a jawbreaker but Steiner puts the stop to any potential fightback with one punch. Steiner seems to be going after the knee, unlike with the American Dragon where it was a joy to watch him target Low Ki’s leg in the Super 8 Final, this is anything of the sort. My god, this is so dull. Decent selling of the leg at least from Hugh. Steiner leaves the ring to get in the face of some ringside fans. He returns to...another rear chinlock. Apparently no-one has a bigger heart than the inspirational leader of the locker room! I take everything back about Morrus’ selling of the leg, he’s blown it all off in his comeback. As if things couldn’t get any worse we have a run in. Lance Storm is on the apron although is stopped from interfering by Armstrong. It was all part of the plan as from the other side of the building comes Mike Awesome who clocks Hugh as he’s climbing the turnbuckles for a moonsault. Steiner Driver and this one’s over. Like on Monday, Konnan comes to Hugh’s rescue saving from the post-match Team Canada attack. A Worse Match of the Year contender.

Helms with the big entrance again. It’s the Nitro Girls who are doing the dancing for him, I had no idea they were still around this late. Maybe it’s just a generic name they’re using though as opposed to being the original troupe. He’s out for a bit of revenge after what happened on Monday and that shows right away with the Thesz press and piston like punches from the mount. Skipper takes to the floor to try and get some refuge, Helms following him out and throwing him over the guardrail into the front row. Hip toss back over the other way. Froggy crossbody off the safety railing. They return to the ring where Helms picks up a near fall after a gut wrench suplex. Fist drop from the middle, this time they’re too close to the ropes though as Skipper gets a foot over them. Elix grabs the arm and hits an inverted suplex, dumping Helms across the top rope. He’s now the one on the outside looking for a breather, holding those hurt ribs. He should know he’s not getting one, Skipper with that corkscrew pescado he does. Back inside Elix is using the ropes, not how you would expect mind, just choking Helms across them. Double arm suplex. Short arm clothesline before reverting to putting the boots in. Missile dropkick. Helms blocks the butterfly suplex and counters with a modified Northern Lights. Skipper with a German, I think by now we’ve seen every suplex variation in his arsenal. He misses the running splash in the corner and Helms connects on the Sugar Smack. Frog splash for a near fall. Elix matrixes under a clothesline, but as he’s stuck in that position, Helms grabs him around the neck and hits the Nightmare. The Vertebreaker follows, folding Skipper up for the three. Kid Romeo jumps Helms post-match, Mike Tenay questioning if he’s maybe doing Chavo Guerrero Jr’s bidding. Rey Mysterio Jr & Billy Kidman run their rivals in the Cruiserweight tag team tournament out of there, Tenay saying how this is part of the WCW unity where the locker room are watching out for each other. Simple booking here with Helms getting a portion of revenge over one of the men who cost him the match on Nitro. I haven’t checked the listings to see, but ideally he should beat Romeo on one of the shows next week before the big title match at Greed. This was wrestled differently than I expected as they limited the flying, almost as if Skipper was doing some of the hard graft for Chavo while Helms was out for payback. I don’t think they pushed that aspect hard enough though. Good TV match.

Stasiak is bringing his own 8x10s out with him which he is signing and handing to the fans. He’s been on a roll recently, having defeated both members of the Mamalukes, so is getting a push of some description. Schiavone informs us that he no longer wishes to be known as ‘PerfectShawn’ rather ‘the Mecca of Manhood’. I don’t know which is worse. Smiley wants to fight and has no interest in a signed 8x10, kicking them out of Stasiak’s hands. As he goes to pick them up Smiley catches him with a sunset flip for a two count. Stasiak runs away from him but Norman makes the mistake of putting his head through the ropes and gets slugged. It’s all kicks and punches from Stasiak. Smiley with a tip up, he looks for the Norman Conquest submission however can’t lock is fingers togeter. Stasiak holds on to the ropes to avoid the Smiley dropkick and sets about working over his lower back. A bit of a slapfest. ‘The Mecca’ comes off the top into a raised boot before an accidental clash of heads. The old comedy spot of a dazed Smiley headbutting the already fallen Stasiak in the crotch when he goes down. Norman is up first and dancing. A drop toe hold sends Stasiak into the ropes and Smiley is behind him for the Wiggle. Stasiak reverses the whip to the corner and lands a bulldog out of it. Swinging neckbreaker, although despite winning his previous matches with that he chooses not to go for a cover here, instead planting Smiley with a chokeslam for the win. Guess to show that he doesn’t need to be over reliant on one move. To show there are no hard feelings he leaves Norman a signed 8x10. When they split up the Jindrak & Stasiak team the powers that be thought Shawn Stasiak had more upside than Mark Jindrak?