[2000-10-23-WCW-Nitro] Scott Steiner vs Mike Awesome

[soup23]

Steiner brings a legit tiger to the ring. Madaja is pretty bad on the outside as she is supposed to trip Awesome early on and whiffs making for an awkward moment. Booker is out on commentary and him and Stevie completely filibuster that. Steiner continues to look strong as even with interference he is still able to muster up a comeback and locks in the Steiner Recliner to win right as we go off the air. They are building Steiner up well if nothing else. *1/4

 

[GSR]

Fucking hell!  Steiner is walking to the ring with a real life tiger!  They’ve got a bunch of handlers there as well, but who in their right mind thought this was a smart idea (and also a good way to spend some money!).  Despite not being a part of this match Booker T makes his way out after Steiner.  ‘Big Poppa Pump’ goes to confront him in the aisle only to get jumped by Awesome who whips him into the guard rail before throwing him back into the ring.  Slingshot splash for a two count.  Big splash off the top and again Steiner kicks out of the cover.  Midajah grabs Awesome’s ankle after the Irish whip is reversed (only just about managing to do so) and the distraction allows Steiner to club him from behind.  She then enters the ring herself and kicks Awesome in the chest, sending him tumbling out over the top rope to the outside.  In full view of the referee I may add!  Midajah is also wearing a seriously high pair of heels which look like they’d be a nightmare to walk in, let alone kick someone with.  ‘Steinerline’ followed by an elbow drop for a near fall.  He dumps Awesome with an overhead throw and then mouths off at Booker rather than follow up on the attack.  The knife edge chops look to be firing Awesome up so Steiner changes tact and hits a belly to belly suplex.  Awesome rolls to the outside and reverses the whip on the floor which sends Steiner crashing into the guard rail for a second time.  Lariat off the top for another near fall and Awesome with a release German suplex on ‘King Suplex’.  As he’s readying himself for the ‘Awesome bomb’, Midajah grabs his leg to prevent him from doing so.  He draws this to the official’s attention, but while he’s distracted by Midajah, Steiner wallops him with the ‘lead’ pipe.  Samoan drop off the middle which, to the surprise of everyone, Awesome kicks out of.  It’s only delaying the inevitable though as he subsequently taps to the ‘recliner’.

Did someone forget that Mike Awesome won the ‘Countdown to Armageddon’ and has a title shot on Nitro?  Well Tony Schiavone certainly never as he mentioned that very fact.  Steiner clearly has to win and look strong going into Halloween Havoc, but out of their 100 plus roster could they not find someone else to face him here rather than Awesome?