[2000-08-02-WCW-Thunder] Lance Storm vs Norman Smiley

[soup23]

We learn that the Canadian rulebook shows that no outside weapons can be used and the match can only end in a submission. Vito is appalled on commentary. Stevie brings up Norman being the champion in mexico and Vito of all people busts out EMLL as the name of the promotion. These two again with 15 minutes in a straight wrestling match would be fun. The finish here was clever with the referee being distracted for a bit with a shot to the eye, Storm using the American flag on Norman’s leg and then locking on the Maple Leaf to escape. Vito makes the save. *

[GSR]

Big Vito is on commentary and he wants the Hardcore title back. He claims to have gotten his hands on the Canadian rulebook through some contacts he’s got, has read it, and assures us that everything is going to be okay. The Canadian national anthem is interrupted by an American flag waving Norman Smiley, yup a Brit waving the US flag! Lance has got his rulebook out again, and according to it, the ‘Saskatchewan Hardcore International Title’ is to be defended with no outside materials coming into play, hand to hand combat only, and the only way to win the title is via submission. Nice opening as they trade and work things around a wristlock. Stevie Ray mentions how Norman was a World champion in Mexico, and Vito namedrops EMLL when Stevie can’t remember the name of the promotion. A series of Guerrero/Malenko pinfall attempts and reversals, before Norman drops his opponent with a back elbow. Smiley teases ‘the Wiggle’ for too long and Lance with a jawbreaker followed by a dropkick. A vertical suplex is blocked and Norman responds with a delayed one of his own. Leglock/kneebar as Storm grabs the ropes for the break. Modified double underhook suplex, he goes for a splash, but Lance gets his knees up. Norman reverses the go behind and now he can finally ‘wiggle’! Lance is backed into a corner and gets a foot up on the charging Smiley. An awful ref bump sees Norman stagger backwards and elbow the official in the chest who then starts clutching at his face. With him ‘not being able to see’, Lance grabs the US flag and hits Norman in the back of the knee with it. Single leg crab and he retains his second title. Storm keeps the submission locked in and Vito jumps in the ring for the save, but Lance flees before he can get his hands on him,

 

I really liked the opening to this with the wrestling and the two could have a heck of a straight up match if given the time. This went less than three and a half minutes though, which I guess is a by-product of one of the participants having to wrestle three times on the one show. The ref bump looked dreadful, but a cool touch with Storm being the one to break his own rules by using the ‘outside materials’ on his way to victory.