[2001-01-27-WWF-Metal] Essa Rios vs Scoot Andrews

[GSR]

Scoot tries to shoot Essa off to break the side headlock but he’s got that cinched in tight. Back suplex attempt instead and Rios flips over landing on his feet. Some sort of modified Thesz press (which is exactly how Kevin Kelly described it). Scoot sidesteps a flying Essa who ends up going ass over tit into the turnbuckles. A lovely dropkick by Andrews. Essa reverses the whip to the corner but Scoot vaults over the top rope and onto the apron. He turns to the crowd, pointing at his head thinking he’s outsmarted his opponent when Essa dropkicks him in the back and he goes flying into the ringside barricade. Awesome running flip dive over the ring post to the floor. Scoot counters the headscissors, dumping Rios face first to the mat for a two. Backdrop and Essa only just tucks his head at the last moment to avoid landing flat bang on it. Fallaway slam by Scoot. Irish whip, Essa with a handspring into the ropes and a backflip over Andrews. Spinning heel kick followed by a powerslam. He heads upstairs and hits a gorgeous moonsault for the win.

 

Rios is such a graceful flyer, but that’s pretty much all he’s still got going for him (and that he’s a good looking chap with nice hair). Another situation similar to the Kwik/Morgan match, where the non-contracted guy is better than the contracted one, only they just don’t have all the flash.