[1997-03-24-WCW-Nitro] Randy Savage vs Prince Iaukea

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

The story here is that because of the Uncensored win, the NWO can now challenge for a WCW title anytime they want, so Savage decided to challenge for Prince Iaukea's TV title. The NWO surrounds the ring for this one. Savage pulls Iaukea up after the big elbow, and DDP comes through the crowd and starts fighting off the NWO by himself before Nash catches him and the NWO lays him out while Savage directs traffic. Hogan wasn't here, and I think in some ways it was good for Savage to get a segment with him as the centerpiece of something. Bischoff practices his kicks on DDP as the crowd screams for Sting.

[soup23]

Savage vs. Iaukea looks so weird on paper. Savage kills the poor guy until DDP bravely takes on all the NWO. The number games catches up to him and this feud continues to escalate.

[Zenjo]

I always hate these matches where you have a main eventer fighting for a lower tier title that is beneath them. It will pretty much always end in a DQ and do nothing for the credibility of the title or the champion.

[Kevin Ridge]

So Savage challenges for TV title but doesn't seem to care about winning it when he lets up on Iaukea? DDP charges the ring but the NWO numbers are way too strong for that. Bischoff even gets a kick in of his neighbor.

[El-P]

The Iaukea push has been a disaster for the TV belt. And they jobbed Regal AND Rey to this guy who had no charisma and not much talent at all. Anyway. Savage finally gets to shine without Hogan taking over the spotlight. Uncle Eric throwing a kick to DDP was so obnoxious. Hall isn't there either. I wonder if this is where he began to have issues with alcohol.

[Loss]

Hall was in his first rehab stint at this point, yes.

[PeteF3]

Basically a nothing match, though I remain surprised they didn't just put the TV belt on Savage for the hell of it. Iaukea has some physical gifts but has no presence or charisma, and it seems like there were plenty of better options for the underdog champion role. DDP saves the title but gets beaten down, still an island unto himself at this point. Iaukea gets the standard "NWO" spraypaint treatment while Page gets a big "0" from Savage.