[2001-01-10-WCW-Thunder] Billy Kidman & Rey Mysterio Jr vs Lance Storm & Elix Skipper

[GSR]

‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan, who is going to be the special referee in the ‘Canadian Penalty Box’ match is providing some guest commentary tonight and says how he is going to call that match “right down the middle” just like Ric Flair told him too.  K-Dogg is still doing those wretched catchphrases to a modicum of response, although four guys in the front row are enjoying themselves, dancing along to the Filthy Animal’s anthem!  Mike Tenay seems to think ‘Hacksaw’ will find it hard to stay impartial as referee, while Stevie Ray questions about when he turned his back on his country and joined Team Canada, something that Duggan claims was one of the biggest mistakes of his life.  He’s of the opinion that the people have forgiven him, although it’s not like days of old, that’s for sure, when he tries to start a “U-S-A” chant.  Double ‘H-Bomb’ by Kidman and Rey.  Kidman dumps Skipper and then has some words for Lance on the apron who tried to knee him in the back when he hit the ropes.  Storm gets him at the second time of asking, clubbing him in the back of the head.  After ducking the attempted clothesline he lands a headscissors takedown followed by a tornado bulldog.  He heads upstairs for the shooting star, but Skipper swipes his legs out from under him.  Great looking suicideplex by Lance forcing Rey to save his partner.  Mike Awesome involves himself from the floor and gets nailed by K-Dogg for his troubles.  Storm is rolled up for a two count after Kidman floats over on the suplex, but Lance then cuts him off with a clothesline.  Dragon suplex by Skipper.  Kidman counters the powerbomb with a facebuster and he makes the hot tag to Rey.  Springboard crossbody for Storm and a spinning heel kick for Elix.   There’s an uncharacteristic ugly exchange between Lance and Rey after Storm doesn’t quite catch him on the Asai moonsault, although Rey is right back on him with a springboard splash.  Skipper breaks up the cover, dropping an elbow to the back of Rey’s head, and then hits a double armed suplex.  Another awkward exchange in there, this time between Kidman and he.  As Rey sets himself for the bronco buster, all hell breaks out at ringside with everyone, including the women, going at it.  Konnan saves Kidman just in time from an ‘Awesome bomb’ on the floor, while inside Lance counters the springboard rana, reversing it into the ‘Canadian Maple Leaf’.  With no other option Rey is forced to tap, Team Canada taking the momentum into Sunday night.

[soup23]

I don’t know why WCW was fascninated around this time with the four man booth. Another indicator in a failing promotion is the lack of tightness around the announcing. We had the Inferno line about Kidman needing to find a gym on Monday and now we have Duggan out for this match. He talks about how Lance Storm can’t fight at all. To make matters worse, Stevie just starts railing on the referee talking about how incompetnent he is. Again, the gimmick is annoying but Kidman and Rey are two of the best wrestlers in WCW at the moment. Add in Storm and you have an entertaining tv match. There were some shaky moments mainly involving Skipper who just isn’t very good right now but Rey and Storm also have an awkward moment too.  Big brawl around ringside with the Animals and Team Canada. Stevie does at least bring up on commentary about Duggan’s past siding with Team Canada. Finish was cool as Storm catches Rey in the maple leaf for the submission. **3/4