A new generation.....a new attitude?

Nobby_McDonald · March 2, 2020

Preview for WWF Raw is War: Week 1, March 1998

Steve Austin vs. Mankind

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The Undertaker & Kane vs. Ric Flair & Arn Anderson

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Dean Malenko vs. Owen Hart

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Steve Blackman vs. Ron Harris

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Marty Jannetty vs. Jeff Jarrett

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Faarooq & Bradshaw vs. The New Age Outlaws

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Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 1, March 1998

Sting vs. Randy Savage

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WCW Tag Team Championship Match

The Forgotten © vs. Diamond Dallas Page & Chris Benoit

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The Patriot vs. VK Wallstreet

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Bill Goldberg vs. Disco Inferno

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WCW Cruiserweight Championship: #1 Contenders Match

Psychosis vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.

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Konnan vs. Curt Hennig

to4sty · August 22, 2020

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Week 1, March 1998

Coleman Coliseum (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

ATT: 15,000

TV: 29.34

Announce Team: Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan and Mike Tenay

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.....we are just 24 hours removed from a monumental SuperBrawl event and we are opening up this evening (as we often do) with the Titans of Wrestling.....kinda.....I think.....

.....actually, we’re opening with three FORMER Titans of Wrestling, as fresh off the heels of their actions (and seemingly new found alliance) last night, the Totally Awesome Trinity are making their way out side by side.....with Shawn Michaels and JPL.....

.....the commentators can’t quite fathom the new union, but as Shawn Michaels (battle scars from last night still evident on his stitched up head) grabs a microphone, maybe he’ll shed some light on the matter.....

.....Michaels tells the crowd that he hates to be the bearer of bad news, but following his victory last night their little golden boy Sting is living on borrowed time.....

”.....and maybe.....MAYBE, you dubbya see dubbya redneck hillbillies will start to realise, that when Shawn Michaels tells you something is going to happen, you’d better believe it’s going to happen jack.....”

.....Shawn tells the crowd that the landscape is about to change dramatically around here.....because with his victory last night, he is the brand spanking, shiny and new number one contender to that piece of crap he’s christened the ‘Big Tin Belt’.....which means that in about three weeks time, he’ll be the WCW Champion and whether they like it, or they DON’T like it, it’s not going to change the fact.....

”.....I told you I was going to defeat the Macho Man (Oh Yeah!) and that’s exactly what I did.....I told you I was going to destroy the Titans of Wrestling (Brother) and that’s exactly what I did (when I took their very backbone away from them) so when I tell you that you’re looking at the next WCW Champion right here, you’re looking at the next WCW Champion right here.....you know it, I know it, JPL knows it, Sting knows it.....and the Totally Awesome Trinity ‘Totally’ know it too.....which is why they’re standing by MY side right now.....NOT Randy Savage’s.....”

.....Michaels passes the microphone to JPL, but he’s definitely in a less jovial mood than his friend, stating that while Shawn WILL be the next WCW Champion (there’s no doubt about that) Levesque SHOULD be standing here with the United States Championship around his waist.....but because of the Rock sticking his nose in JPL’s match last night, Eddie Guerrero still holds the gold.....

”.....well Rock, I’m done playing with you.....no more laughs, no more jokes, no more Jipple the Goddamn Nipple.....Uncensored.....three weeks time.....I’m going to beat the living crap outta you, live and in living colour in front of your ‘people’ and there isn’t a damn thing that you or anybody else can do about it.....”

.....Levesque continues ranting for a few moments (getting increasingly worked up with every new threat of violence) before Shawn finally takes the microphone off him, telling him to calm down before he gives himself an aneurism.....

.....Levesque continues to seethe in the background, as Shawn addresses the elephant in the room.....the question that’s gone unanswered.....why?.....

”.....why, after months of fighting, would we align ourselves with these three gentlemen right here.....why, after watching us try and dismantle the Titans of Wrestling week in and week out, would these three gentlemen align themselves with us.....actually, that ones pretty self explanatory.....after all, who WOULDN'T want to hitch their cart to the Shawn Michaels bandwagon.....why, when myself and JPL have made our feelings about WCW and ALL its wrestlers clear, why would we choose to take ANY dubbya see dubbya member under our wing, let alone three?.....I mean, I COULD tell you.....but maybe they should tell you why themselves.....after all, unlike Randy Savage, we TOTALLY want to give them their time to shine.....”

.....Shawn laughs at that as he hands the microphone to Adam Copeland, who graciously accepts it, saying that it’s Totally Cool to be actually allowed to talk.....

.....Copeland says that he, Christian and Big Ray-Ray have spent the last six months making the Titans of Wrestling relevant around here.....

”.....and what have we got to show for it? Totally nothing.....Six months surrounded by Randy “Macho D!ck” Savage and the Totally Lame Warrior and we cant even get a match at SuperBrawl? Christian, that totally sucks.....”

“.....totally sucks.....the Titans gave us nothing.....”

“.....except Big Ray-Ray.....”

“.....they totally gave us Big Ray-Ray.....”

“.....we love you Big Ray-Ray.....”

“.....we totally do.....”

“.....but other than Big Ray-Ray, we got nothing.....we don’t even have the Hulkster anymore ‘brother’ and Hulk Totally Ruled.....”

.....Shawn can’t help but interrupt there, telling the Trinity that Hogan is about a decade past his prime, but he’ll forgive their foolish ways seeing how they’re young, dumb and full of......potential.....

”.....potential that WE’RE going to polish.....potential that WE’RE going to shine.....and potential that WE’RE going to shove straight down your dubbya see dubbya throats.....because we ain’t your daddy’s wrestlers.....we ain’t the ‘good old boys’.....we’ve CERTAINLY got attitude, but we sure as sh!t ain’t the New Generation.....we’re the de-generation.....the degeneration of good taste.....the degeneration of standards and practices.....and come Uncensored, when I kick Crow Boy’s head off his shoulders, the degeneration of this whole goddamn company.....and if you don’t like it, well.....Christian can tell you what to do about it.....”

“.....you can Totally Suck It.....”

.....totally suck it indeed.....the landscape has most certainly changed.....but I don’t think people are going to like it......

.....let’s play a recap package from last night, before we go to our first match of the evening.....

Rating: A*

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.....and our first match is between two gentlemen that had very different fortunes last night.....it’s Konnan (who was victorious in his match against the First Family) facing Curt Hennig (who was NOT victorious in his match against The Rock) and it was a surprisingly heated affair.....

.....maybe it was the fact that Konnan was looking to pick up a big singles victory after his part in the eight-man match last night, or maybe it was just the fact that Curt Hennig was looking to pick up a victory period.....either way, both of these men clearly wanted the win and they fought hard to try and accomplish it.....

.....it was always going to be a big ask for Konnan to pick up the duke here.....while he may be a household name in Mexico, here in America he has only recently started gaining traction and as such is (significantly) lower on the totem pole than Curt.....he put up one hell of a fight though, with Curt having to dig deep into his bag of tricks, catching Konnan with a sly low blow while the official was attempting to separate the two men.....one Hennig-Plex later and this one is all over, but while he may not have picked up the victory tonight, Konnan should be on a lot more people’s radar now with that display.....

Winner: Curt Hennig
Rating: B

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.....Curt may have picked up the victory, it he’s far from happy (and in fact appears to be a little embarrassed) at quite how close Konnan came to picking up the victory in that one, so he looks to make even more of a statement AFTER the match has concluded.....

.....the official raises his arm but Hennig bats him away, before turning to his defeated opponent and proceeding to stomp the crap out of him.....Tony Schiavone cites poor showmanship from Hennig but The Brain isn’t buying it, telling his broadcast colleges that this is exactly what makes Curt Hennig so good, the fact that even victory isn’t good enough for him.....

”.....don’t forget Tony, I managed this man.....and when he lost (or wasn’t happy with the win) he would punish himself for days.....I mean, AFTER he’d punished his opponent obviously.....”

.....and punish is exactly what Curt does here, repeatedly putting the boots to Konnan as the official frantically calls for the bell.....

.....like that’s ever done anything.....

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.....this man can do something though.....because fresh off joining forces with Konnan last night, Jeff Hardy again comes to the man’s aid, rushing down the ring and sliding into the ring.....

.....Hennig turns his attention to the new arrival, looking to continue unleashing those frustrations on Jeff Hardy.....unfortunately for him, Jeff Hardy is fresh as a daisy and after a brief scuffle is able to send Hennig bailing to the outside.....

.....Hennig quickly bails up the ramp (offering threats of violence towards Hardy) as young Jeff helps Konnan back to his feet and we go to commercial.....

.....but not until we see a brief shot of a black limousine pulling up outside the building.....

.....who could possibly be inside that then?.....

Rating: B+

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.....I’ll tell you who’s inside.....The Titans of Wrestling.....guess how I know.....because as the crowd are being bored senseless by a match between eh, let’s say Joey Maggs and Johnny Attitude, they make their way out with Russo leading the way (microphone in hand, screaming at the pair of jobbers to get out of the ring) and make their way down the aisle.....

.....Maggs and Johnny come to a standstill, a little bit unsure what to do with themselves (“we’re shooting bro”) as the Titans enter the ring, but the four men barely pay them any attention at all.....instead, Vince Russo goes right into a tirade about Shawn Michaels.....

.....he says that while the Titans might not be the most popular guys around here, at least they respect the company bro.....they’re in WCW and WCW is better because of it, just like that WCW Title would be better around the waist of a member of the Titans of Wrestling.....

”.....instead, you’ve got that jacked up punk Shawn Michaels going for the gold, and bro.....he don’t even want the damn thing.....Randy Savage WANT’S the WCW Title.....Randy Savage WANT’S to represent WCW.....and bro, one way or another he’s going to get it.....”

.....Russo says that he’s not going to try and book Macho in a world title match tonight (because that jack-off Eric Bischoff would only veto it) but he IS going to book the Macho Man in a match.....and if it can’t be for the WCW Title, it CAN be against the WCW Champion.....

”.....and Sting.....sorry bro, but when the Macho Man pins your shoulders to the mat, one, two, three later tonight, Bischoff will HAVE to grant him a shot at the title.....”

.....Savage snatches the microphone from Russo, telling Sting that he’s going to slap the paint of his face later.....

”.....but Stinger, Stinger, Stinger, you only get a little bit.....you only get a little bit because a little bit of the Madness is all it will take.....Shawn Michaels, you’re gonna get it all, yeah, you dig.....and what’s left, what’s left is going alllllllll the way over to the snakes you’ve got at your side.....”

.....Macho says that he plucked those two punks Copeland and Cage out of the gutter and he made them stars.....made them SOMEONES.....made them Titans.....and how do they repay him? By walking around kissing Hollywood Hogan’s butt before going right ahead and biting the hand that feeds them.....

”.....Shawn Michaels, you think you’re clever yeah, think you’re the man with a plan.....well your plan just went right out from under you.....you wanna take the Trinity, you can have ‘em yeah.....you think that taking those three punks is gonna put a dent in the Titans of Wrestling? You’re really, really, really mistaken, yeah.....take those three, because I went one better brother, yeah.....keep the kids, we got the man.....”

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.....hoo boy.....not just a man.....a giant.....THE Giant.....as all seven foot plus makes its way out from the back and down the aisle.....

.....and he’s wearing a Titans of Wrestling shirt to boot.....

.....the big man steps over the top rope, where he walks straight over to Joey Maggs and Johnny Attitude.....he wraps a hand around the throat of each man, drags them to the middle of the ring and hits a double choke slam, driving both men into the canvas simultaneously, before kicking the two enhancement stars out of the ring.....

.....Macho Man has a big smile on his face at the sight of that, offering the Giant that old Mega Powers handshake, before telling the crowd that as far as Shawn Michaels goes, he can talk about the degeneration of WCW all he wants, but this right here, these men right here, these are the Titans of WCW.....and the Titans of WCW are going to take out Shawn Michaels, take out JPL.....take the WCW Title.....and then finally, squash the Traitorous Trio too.....

”.....Ohhhhh Yeahhhhh!.....”

Rating: A*

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WCW Cruiserweight: #1 Contenders Match

.....we air a brief promo package following that, highlighting James Vandenberg’s (eventually successful) quest to claim ownership of the Cruiserweight Title (including a brief shot of current Champion, Hayabusa’s victory over Juventud Guerrera last night) before we go down to ringside, where we are apparently about to decide Hayabusa’s NEXT challenger.....

.....it’s Psychosis taking on Chavo Guerrero and the number one contendership is on the line.....

.....the match (from an in ring perspective) was very good.....Psychosis is a near ten year decade, while Chavo Guerrero (while not as experienced) is part of the Guerrero family.....and the Guerrero family has DECADES of experience to share.....

.....speaking of the Guerrero family.....EDDIE Guerrero has been the United States Champion around here for close to eight months, so the pressure is on Chavo here to bring some more gold into the fold.....Cruiserweight Gold.....but first there’s the small matter of winning this match right here.....

.....he’s going the right way about it too, in fact (after a hard fought battle) it looks like it IS going to be Chavo Guerrero advancing to face Hayabusa at Uncensored.....

.....at least until Chavo freezes (and then panics) at the sound of the undefeated rookie, Bill Goldberg’s music starting to play, as the Turnertron flickers to life (and the crowd explodes) as the man himself comes bursting out of a locker room in the back.....

.....he doesn’t interfere per say, but as (a severely distracted )Chavo checks his exit options, Psychosis capitalises on the distraction, driving Chavo to the mat with a big belly to back suplex.....with Chavo down, Psychosis Climbs the top rope.....steadies himself.....and then finishes Chavo off once and for all with a top rope guillotine leg drop, giving him not only the win, but the #1 contender spot too.....

Winner: Psychosis
Rating: C+

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.....and with the win in the bag Psychosis is outta there.....

.....probably a good idea too, because (as we see on the Turnertron) a p!ssed off Bill Goldberg is still making his way through the back.....

.....Goldberg made his return last night and has his sights set firmly on Eddie Guerrero.....last night a number of backstage personnel tried to halt his journey to the ring.....that didn’t go well for them.....tonight Goldberg turns a corner and walks straight into Alex Wright dancing obliviously in the halls.....

.....Goldberg doesn’t even break stride as he grabs Wright by the scruff of the neck and hurls him violently into the wall, before continuing his walk which finally culminates in Bill walking out onto the stage to a thunderous ovation.....

.....Chavo is just about coming around following his defeat a few moments ago and slowly starts getting back to his feet as Goldberg marches down the aisle and into the ring.....

.....and again (much like last night) he gets Speared right out of his boots.....

.....Goldberg snaps at the nearby camera, telling the audience at home in no uncertain terms that Eddie Guerrero is next.....unfortunately (as the announcers inform us) Eddie Guerrero is not here this evening to answer that challenge, a fact which Tony Schiavone is rather convenient given the return of Bill Goldberg last night.....

”.....and fans, one has got to assume that Eddie Guerrero is doing everything he can to stay as far away from Bill Goldberg as possible, even if that means that it’s his nephew Chavo that has to pay the price.....”

.....Tony may have a point there.....I mean, you’d have to be an absolute idiot to confront this raging rookie right about now.....

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.....wait, did someone call for an idiot?.....because here one comes.....

....I don’t know if Disco got the memo, but he’s here.....and he’s marching right down the aisle, where he grabs a microphone and climbs into the ring.....

”.....see I know your game ‘Bill’ (if that IS your real name) you heard that Eric Bischoff was announcing the entrants into the WCW Television Title Tournament tonight, and you want to get your name down on the list.....that’s why you blindsided my good personal friend Alex Wright, to take his spot.....well I got news for you William.....if I want to GUARANTEE my place in that tournament, then defeating the myth that is Bill Goldberg is a good a place as any, so put on your dancing shoes and put up you’re dukes, because that little streak of yours is about to hit a hot streak of Disco Fever baby.....”

.....wait.....is.....is Disco actually challenging Bill Goldberg to a match?.....

.....I guess he is, because we have an official.....

.....ring the bell.....

Rating: B+

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.....and you can go ahead and ring that bell again about 45 seconds later.....

.....Bill Goldberg hasn’t had a match here in WCW in well over a month.....he’s p!ssed off.....and the Disco Inferno has a big mouth.....

.....Spear.....Jackhammer.....

.....62-0.....

.....Eddie Guerrero might be in big, big trouble.....

Winner: Bill Goldberg
Rating: B

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.....from there we go to a brief segment over at the WCWwrestling.com desk, where the new #1 Contender to the Cruiserweight Title (Psychosis) is with Mark Madden.....

.....the pair have a translator sitting with them as Madden looks to catch a few words with the man who will be facing Hayabusa some day soon and it seems to be going quite well.....at least until Brian Lawler rocks up into shot.....

.....Psychosis shoots to his feet but Lawler tells him to sit down before he takes someone’s eye out with those horns of his.....

”.....look at you Madden, is this what WCW has come to? Translators?.....we’ve got a Japanese Champion, a Mexican #1 contender.....the LAST #1 contender was Mexican too.....this is America Mark Madden, you wanna hold that belt then you’d better talk American, not Spanglish.....look at this idiot, he doesn’t even know what I’m saying.....”

.....Lawler girls some insults at Psychosis (in the politest way possible) but it really does look as though the Mexican Star has no idea what Lawler is saying.....

”.....see.....nothing.....and this guy might be our new champion? Not on my watch Madden, not on my watch.....let me just say goodbye to this idiot and then you can interview a REAL star.....ME!.....”

.....Lawler turns to Psychosis, but I did mention that there was a translator sat RIGHT there didn’t I?.....

.....turns out that the whole time Lawler was talking smack about Psycho, that translator was whispering right into his ear, because as Lawler goes to open his big mouth, Psychosis punches him right in the jaw.....

.....Lawler hits the deck as Psychosis stands up (shouts something in Spanish) and walks off, leaving Brian clutching at his jaw and staring blankly at the translator, who finally does his job.....he says that Psychosis wishes him good luck in running that big mouth.....

.....with a broken jaw.....

.....let’s go over to Mean Gene.....

Rating: C+

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.....who’s standing by with the public face of the Championship Committee, Eric Bischoff.....

.....Bischoff says that (as promised last night) he’s here to announce the participants in the one night tournament to crown a new television champion, set to happen this coming Thursday on Thunder.....

.....Mean Gene says that we have seen a number of potential candidates here tonight, including the two gentlemen in our previous match, Disco Inferno and the FORMER TV Champion (who was never actually defeated for that title) Bill Goldberg.....

”.....so Eric, why don’t you go ahead and give us the names of the participants.....”

“.....Gene, first things first, we won’t be seeing Disco Inferno competing in this Television Title tournament, nor will we be seeing Bill Goldberg.....

.....obviously (given the fact that he just lost in less than a minute) Disco Inferno isn’t QUITE up to the standard that the Championship Committee are looking for, while as for Bill Goldberg, he’s going to have other things to concentrate on Gene.....”

.....other things? Well hold on a minute there Eric, Gene’s not going to let that one slip by.....what other things exactly are we talking about?.....

”.....what we’re talking about Gene, is the fact that Bill Goldberg is currently 62 matches undefeated.....never mind that, Bill Goldberg is undefeated period, he’s NEVER lost a match Gene.....ever.....

.....now the way myself and the championship committee see it, should Bill Goldberg wish to enter this Television Title tournament we would absolutely offer him a spot no questions asked.....

.....but.....

.....I think Mr. Goldberg has made his intentions crystal clear and with his win/loss record how it is, I can comfortably say right here and right now......Bill Goldberg is the current number one contender to the WCW United States Championship and he WILL face Eddie Guerrero for that championship at the upcoming Uncensored event.....”

.....Gene likes the sound of that and evidently so does Bischoff, who has a little smile on his face as he tells Eddie Guerrero that while (for seven months now) he has slipped and squirmed, lied cheated and stolen his way through title match after title match, he may find it a little difficult to weasel his way past Bill Goldberg with the US Title in tact.....

”.....but as I say Gene, that’s a match that’s scheduled for Uncensored.....you’re here for the participants in Thursdays tournament and after much deliberation Eric can finally reveal those names.....we will see Konnan (based off his performance tonight) Lord Steven Regal (based on previous TV Title pedigree) Jeff Hardy, Curt Hennig, Diamond Dallas Page, Buff Bagwell, Lance Storm.....and The Patriot.....all competing live on TBS this Thursday night to crown a new WCW Television Championship.....”

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.....Bischoff has barely gotten those words out of his mouth, before he’s interrupted by the arrival of two of the gentlemen he’s just announced.....Lord Steven Regal and Lance Storm.....

.....interestingly enough BOTH of these two competitors are former Television Champions, with Lance Storm actually being the man to put an end to his (now) good friend Steven Regal’s last reign, before the formation of the Sovereignty.....

.....Storm says that while it’s a pleasant surprise that an American like Bischoff would actually see that two non-american’s like himself and his lordship should be included in this tournament, he actually has a suggestion of his own to make.....

.....Bischoff isn’t amused by the interruption, but he is willing to hear this “suggestion” out.....and as Storm leans over and whispers something in his ear, he actually looks surprised at what he’s hearing.....

.....Bischoff stares at Storm for a moment, before asking him if he’s sure about that.....Storm confirms that he is, so Bischoff tells him to have it his way, before telling Gene that he has one small amendment to make.....

”.....and while I don’t necessarily approve of Mr. Storms ethos OR the things that he has to say about America, this IS the USA and our forefathers fought with everything they had to ensure that he had the right to say them.....that being said, Lance Storm is unquestionably an exceptional competitor inside that ring, but an exceptional competitor that we WONT be seeing in action this Thursday, because he has offered his spot in the TV Title tournament up......to Chris Benoit.....”

.....Bischoff says that Mr. Storm has informed him that Chris Benoit is deserving of a shot at proving that singles Championship gold here in WCW is within his grasp and Eric for one wholeheartedly agrees with him, before saying that Chris Benoit is apparently high on everyone’s list right now, as Diamond Dallas Page has ALSO requested that Mr. Benoit receive a title shot.....

”.....a TAG TEAM title shot here tonight.....a rematch for the titles that those two gentlemen lost at Souled Out.....”

.....Storm goes wide eyed at that.....I think he was believing that he was doing something here to sway Chris Benoit’s favour in his and the Sovereignty’s direction.....maybe it did, maybe it didn’t.....but come Thursday night, should everything go their way, either DDP or Chris Benoit could go from holding zero titles, to potentially holding two.....

.....one half of the WCW Tag Team Titles.....and the WCW Television Title.....

.....let’s go down to ringside.....

Rating: A

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.....where (hold on to your hats folks) it’s going to be The Patriot facing off against The First Family’s VK Wallstreet.....

.....The Patriot was on the winning end of his match at last nights SuperBrawl event, while VK Wallstreet was not.....

.....The Patriot has just been announced as a participant in the WCW Television Title tournament, while VK Wallstreet has not.....

.....The Patriot won this match with the Uncle Slam......while VK Wallstreet did not.....

.....that’s quite enough of that.....

Winner: The Patriot
Rating: B

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.....we let the Patriot have his moment to celebrate.....we don’t watch it mind.....instead we show some still images of Rowdy Roddy Piper’s victory over Buff Bagwell from last night and when we’re done with that we go back down to the arena, where Mean Gene is standing in the middle of the ring.....

.....he says that last night, the Hot Rod overcame the Hot Bod, when Rowdy Roddy Piper defeated the Titans of Wrestling’s Buff Bagwell.....

”.....but tonight, Hot Rod you’ve requested this time, so without further ado please join me in welcoming.....Rowdy Roddy Piper.....”

.....Piper gets a great reception (befitting an icon) as he makes his way out, joining Mean Gene in the ring where Gene asks him just what it is on his mind.....

.....Roddy says that asking him what’s on his mind with a live microphone in his hand is tantamount to putting a fire out with gasoline.....things are likely to get a little bit heated.....BUT, with that being said, he DID request this time and he DOES have something to say.....

”.....and that something, is Thank You.....”

.....Roddy says that he’s not one for all the sentimental mumbo jumbo.....he’s not one for kissing babies and shaking hands (in fact, he’d be more likely to poke you in the eye than to shake you by the hand) but thank you to each and every fan of World Championship Wrestling.....thank you to each and every fan of Roddy Piper.....and thank you to each and every fan of professional wrestling, for letting a one legged man know that even at 43 years of age, when you’re good, when you’re bad you’re better and when you’re Rowdy Roddy Piper.....you’re the best.....

.....Piper says that unfortunately however, the fact that his IS a 43 year old, one legged man, there comes a time when you have to look in the mirror and ask yourself.....when is it time to stop.....

”.....and I gotta tell you, if I had my way I’d be doing this crazy career for another 43 years.....I’ve been doing this for over twenty five years, more than half my life, and whether you booed me or whether you cheered me, I’ve loved every single second of it and I’d give my other good leg to do it all over again.....”

.....Piper says that he HAD to come back last night.....he HAD to do it one more time and it HAD to be against Buff Bagwell, because he knew he had one more good ass kicking in him and that was it.....

.....Roddy says to play those bagpipes one more time, play them as he walks all the way to the back.....because unlike at Satarrcade, he CAN walk out and he can walk out on his own terms.....which can mean only one thing.....

.....it’s time to hang up the kilt.....

”.....so while I started this with thank you, I’m ending this with goodbye.....”

.....Gene wishes Roddy all the best as an emotional looking Hot Rod bids a fond farewell to his fans.....

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..... if he doesn’t get the chance to make that lone walk to the back after all.....because the Titans of Wrestling’s theme begins to play, and Buff Bagwell and (the newest member of the Titans) The Giant make their way out from the back.....

.....the two men are really hamming it up as they walk toward the ring, with Buff even wiping away a few imaginary tears, before they climb through those ropes and flank Piper.....

.....Giant plucks the microphone from the hands of a terrified looking Mean Gene, before handing it to Buff, as Bagwell lets out an obnoxious laugh.....he tells Roddy that finally.....FINALLY he made a sensible decision around here.....

”.....because let’s face it, the whole world saw Buff Daddy humiliate, embarrass....and honestly, barely break a sweat on this beautiful body doing it, when I took you out at Starrcade.....last night, last night was nothing but a fluke.....everyone knows that Buff was only one Blockbuster away from doing it all again after I had you doing the Scottish Jig all over that ring.....”

.....Buff says that retirement is Piper’s best option.....after all, the only thing he ever did of any note was nearly fifteen years ago and if he sticks around, the only thing he’s going to be remembered for, is being Buffs Bagpipe Blowing Bitch....

.....Oh, Piper doesn’t like that.....

.....not one little bit.....

.....unfortunately Bagwell isn’t here alone, so as Piper dives at the smirking Titan member, the NEWEST Titan member catches him with one big hand around his throat, hoists him high in the air and then Chokeslam’s him right to the canvas.....

.....Tony Schiavone is disgusted at the display, stating that all Roddy Piper wanted to do was address these great WCW fans one last time and then leave with his head held high.....instead, he’s currently getting the tar kicked out of him on the mat.....

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.....fortunately help is at hand, in the form of everybody’s favourite pair of jiggling pecs, Lex Luger.....

.....Luger comes rushing out from the back with a steel chair in hand, which he crashes across the back of the Giant, before turning and running straight through Bagwell with a clothesline.....

.....obviously The Total Package and The Giant have had their fair share of issues in the past.....former friends, now bitter enemies so despite the fact that Lex has had other (international) issues to deal with as of late, it’s perhaps little wonder that Luger saw fit to interject himself into this one.....

.....Giant is a big man, but that initial chair shot rattled him.....so much so that he’s already wobbly when Luger (repeatedly) charges at him, nailing with with running forearm shots that finally cause the big man to stumble through the middle rope and down to the floor where Bagwell is waiting.....

.....The Total Package helps Piper back to his feet as Bagwell coaxes The Giant back up the ramp and away from the ring.....

.....looks like Roddy Piper didn’t get to go out on his own terms after all.....

.....let’s wait and see how long this “retirement” lasts shall we.....

Rating: A*

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.....in the meantime let’s head to the back, where (since Mean Gene is out in the arena) Larry Zbyszko has the task of conducting an interview with the men who will be challenging the Forgotten up next, the FORMER tag team champions, Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Benoit.....although as Zbyszko points out, the pair have hardly been getting along as of late.....

”.....and now it would seem like the promise of championship glory hangs over your heads like the Sword of Damocles, because while you both have the opportunity to wear gold this evening by working together, this Thursday night (thanks to Lance Storm’s advocation) you potentially have the opportunity to capture SINGLES gold.....although you may well have to face each other to do so.....”

.....god damn Zbyszko, it’s usually Mean Gene out here stirring the sh!t but you’re certainly doing a good job in his absence.....

.....Page says that Thursday is Thursday and they’ll worry about that then.....this is Monday Nitro, and on Monday Nitro DDP and Chris Benoit are going to do what they should have done at Souled Out.....

”.....and that’s hit those two big, bad Forgotten boys with a big, bad, BANG right in the middle of the ring to take home those WCW Tag Team Titles.....yeah, me and Chris we’ve had one or two, shall we say ‘disagreement’s’ as of late, but Chris, I told you that once we’d given that Sovereignty Scum a red, white and blue boot in the ass that me and you would go and get back our belts......well last night, the Sovereignty felt the bang.....which is why tonight, I PERSONALLY requested this match.....you wanted to get the gold, let’s get the gold.....”

.....Benoit doesn’t look overly impressed by Page’s words, telling Dallas that talk is cheap but sometimes, actions can say more than words ever can.....

”.....and it sounds to me, like you think you’re doing ME some kind of favour by agreeing to this match tonight.....I’ll take this match.....I’ll team with you.....and we WILL beat the Forgotten.....but I’ve made it clear in recent weeks that I want to make a name for myself as a SINGLES champion.....and I’ve been out here wrestling week in and week out, proving that I deserve a shot at singles gold.....YOU agreed to this match tonight because it benefitted YOU.....YOU agreed to this match tonight, because when I get Bam Bam Bigelow or Big Van Vader on that mat, and I make them submit to the Crossface, YOU become one half of the WCW Tag Team Champions.....but Thursday, come Thunder (thanks to a member of that so called Sovereignty “Scum”) there’s every chance that YOU will have to face ME.....and we may well be tag team champions at the time.....but when the dust settles, it’s going to be ME walking out of Thunder as the WCW Television Champion.....’partner’.....”

.....the two men share an intense stare down, before Zbyszko (rather awkwardly) tells them that their match is about to begin.....finally the two men break eye contact, but not before Benoit tells Dallas to ”maybe leave the little woman in the back this time” as they walk off in the direction of the arena.....

.....our WCW Tag Team Championship Match is up next.....

Rating: B+

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.....so here we are.....two months after Chris Benoit and Diamond Dallas Page lost the WCW Tag Team Titles to The Forgotten we have our rematch.....a rematch that you would have assumed would have occurred a little bit sooner.....or at LEAST on Pay Per View..... it then, Diamond Dallas Page has apparently had better things to do, and the former champions relationship has been a bit tense to say the least.....

.....Chris Benoit suggested that DDP leave “the little woman” in the back for this one (which he did incidentally) with the little woman in question being Kimberly Page.....for what it’s worth, that wasn’t a throwaway comment.....Kimberly was (inadvertently) at least somewhat responsible for The Forgotten capturing the Championships in the first place, with Dallas Page being so distracted by Kevin Sullivan’s stalking of his wife at ringside that Chris Benoit found himself facing two very large men singlehandedly.....

.....a big ask for anyone.....

.....surprisingly the former champions co-existed well in this (initially anyway) using their superior speed to hit and move around the dominant champions.....there was a little bit of miscommunication (in which DDP was too preoccupied with getting the crowd to chant his name to notice that Benoit was looking for the tag) which resulted in Chris Benoit getting blindsided by Bam Bam Bigelow, as The Forgotten took control of the match.....

.....they really worked Benoit over too, concentrating the majority of their offence on the rib area of the Canadian, crushing the life out of him with big body attacks, clubbing blows and splashes.....the champions tagged in regularly too.....they’re both big men, but Sullivan on the outside made sure that neither of his charges spent too long in the ring at any one time.....

.....Benoit probably COULD have tagged out on a number of occasions, but again miscommunication was the key.....twice Benoit made it over to his corner.....and twice Page wasn’t there.....one time because he was busy arguing with Sullivan on the outside and once because Sully dragged Page off the apron just before Benoit could make the tag.....

.....eventually Benoit IS able to tag out, and the inevitably four way brawl breaks out but again Kevin Sullivan involves himself in the action.....because with Bigelow and Page drawing the attention of the official their way, Sully climbs into the ring and cracks Benoit in the small of the back with one of those tag team championship belts, before nailing him a second time, this time driving the gold into the midsection of Benoit.....

.....The Forgotten have spent most of the match working over the midsection of Benoit, so when Vader plucks him off the mat, picks him up high in the air, and drives him straight back down to the canvas, Chris Benoit is simply unable to kick out before the three.....

Winner(s): ....and Still WCW Tag Team Champions.....The Forgotten
Rating: A

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/G9blWo1.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
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.....DDP didn’t even realise the match was over until he heard the bell ring (so distracted was he by his war with Bigelow) but he at least has the decency to go back into the ring to check on his partner as the Forgotten are handed their Championships.....

.....he helps Benoit back to his feet, but it’s clear that Benoit is in a lot of pain with that brutalised rib cage.....Page attempts to offer Benoit some words of encouragement, but the Crippler isn’t listening, instead he angrily shoves Page away, out and out blaming him for the loss (telling him that he wasn’t there at least three times during the match) before openly questioning whether Dallas did it deliberately, looking to weaken one of his (potential) Thunder opponents.....

.....Page doesn’t take kindly to those accusations.....and in his defence, he clearly never deliberately left his partner high and dry.....but that’s not how Benoit sees it.....and as a shoving match breaks out between the two men, The Forgotten (all three of them) hit the ring to deliver a little post match beating.....

.....Dallas gets tossed to the outside by Sullivan, leaving Sully and Bigelow topi. Benoit to the mat (one man on the arms, one man on the legs) leaving him wide open for Vader to deliver even MORE damage to those ribs, with a fully exposed huge splash.....

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.....they were about to do it again too, until Lance Storm came running out from the back and tossed Dallas Page into the ring, distracting The Forgotten enough that he’s able to reach under the bottom rope to pull an utterly destroyed Chris Benoit to safety.....

.....The Forgotten consider giving Dallas Page a beat down too (ya know, because he’s there) but they’ve lost interest now (catering is open) so they don’t even bother, instead choosing to pose with their championships high in the air, as Lance Storm helps a clearly hurt Chris Benoit to the back.....

.....that doesn’t bode well for Thursday.....

Rating: A

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.....but never mind Thursday just yet.....we still have the small matter of our main event to get through.....and before THAT we go to the back, where Shawn Michaels and JPL are with the Totally Awesome Trinity.....

.....we’ve seen this newfound group put a lot of their past differences behind them in recent weeks, but you’d have been hard pushed to convince anyone that these five men would be co-existing if you’d asked anyone a month back.....two months back.....after all, JPL has been at war with the Titans of Wrestling for the last five months, even going so far as to bring his close friend (reluctantly) into the company.....co-existing they are though.....in fact, Michaels and Levesque appear to have taken the two youngsters (Copeland and Cage) under their wings as protégés of sorts.....but whether they are just pawn’s in Shawn Michaels masterplan is anyone’s guess.....

.....for now though, it’s all about Mr. Wrestling capturing the Big Gold Belt.....and with Sting (the WCW Champion) in action next, you’d Shawn’s attention is firmly fixed on that match.....it’s not though, he’s too busy goofing around in the back with his new found friends.....

.....at least until Copeland suggests that this would be the perfect place to make a totally awesome statement.....

”.....I mean, you’ve got Sting.....you’ve got that total d!ck Randy Savage.....”

“.....Buff will totally be there.....”

“.....Christians right, Buff will totally be there.....Warrior?.....”

“.....I dunno.....Warrior’s taking Parts Unknown to a totally new level recently.....when did he even last speak? Has he EVER spoken to you?.....”

“.....he did.....until.....you know, the thing with the tassels.....and the face paint.....and the.....the rocket ship.....that didn’t go down well.....”

“.....that totally didn’t go down well.....I forgot about that.....”

“.....really?.....”

“.....oh god no, no one could forget about ‘that’.....”

.....Copeland slaps a laughing Christian in the chest as Shawn Michaels cocks an eyebrow, ”rocket ship?” but Christian just assures him that he really doesn’t want to know.....

.....Cage says that Warrior may or may not be there, but the newest Titan (The Giant) is DEFINITELY going to be there.....Macho will be wanting him to prove his worth tonight.....

”.....and he’s a totally big dude.....”

.....Shawn is hardly intimidated, telling the Trinity that Sid Vicious was a ‘big dude’ too, and Shawn still kicked his head off his shoulders.....

”.....I got news for ya boys.....Ol’ Mr. Wrestling here, he made a career outta taking out guys twice his size for the past ten years.....because when it comes to stepping between those ropes, there isn’t a man alive that can do what I can do.....when it comes to going out there and putting on a show, I’m fifteen feet tall and standing on the shoulders of giants.....

.....if you two want to get to the tippy top of this business then you gotta watch and you gotta learn.....forget about saying prayers.....forget about the vitamins.....if you want to get to the very pinnacle of this sport, then you go out there and you give them a performance like nobody else.....and then, when they finally realise that you’re the real deal.....that you’re ‘it’.....when they FINALLY realise that it’s YOUR name that’s putting the money in their pockets.....when they come crawling to you on their hands and knees.....

.....that’s when you tell them to Suck It.....

.....because on THAT day.....that’s the day that they realise that everything that happens from here on out is on YOUR terms.....and THAT my little friends, THAT.....is totally awesome.....”

.....Levesque walks over to the Trinity (clearly in a much better mood than he was earlier) draping an arm over the shoulders of Ray Traylor as he tells them that if tonight’s the night that The Giant has to prove himself to Savage, then maybe they should show the Nacho Man that it’s time for his generation to hobble to one side.....1998 is all about Generation X (”and you obviously Big Ray-Ray, you get a pass”) this is all about Generation X taking whatever the hell they want.....this is about Generation X taking the realms of good taste.....decency.....decorum.....and telling ALL of them....

”.....every single one of them.....Sting.....Savage.....The Rock.....Bischoff, Russo, Standards and Practices.....Ted frigging Turner himself.....we’re not here to play your game OR play by your rules.....we’re not corporate, we’re not advertiser friendly, we’re damn sure not PG.....we’re lewd, crude (and I for one look damn good nude) and if WCW doesn’t like it.....

.....they can Suck It.....”

Rating: A*

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.....which brings us to our main event, which (while it does feature the WCW Champion) is most certainly NOT for the WCW Championship.....

.....I’m sure if Vince Russo COULD have made this match for Sting’s title then he would have done.....unfortunately Mr. Russo is not the face of the WCW Championship Committee (that would be Eric Bischoff) not to mention the fact that Randy Savage lost the number one contenders match to Shawn Michaels last night, so booking him in a championship match here would have been kind of asinine even by WCW’s standards.....although as Russo pointed out earlier, should Randy Savage be able to defeat Sting here tonight, that would have to put him in good stead to get a title opportunity somewhere down the line.....

.....he’s really stacking the deck as well.....because despite Copeland and Cage’s scepticism, The Warrior does indeed accompany the Macho Man to the ring.....he’s a lot more animated than he has been in recent months too, pacing around on the outside instead of mounting the stoic figure he has been portraying since his turn to the dark side, a fact which the announcers chalk up to the fact that not only did he LOSE last night, but the fact that Totally Awesome Trinity had a hand in it too.....

.....not that Sting cares.....his confidence must be sky high right now after defeating not only the biggest names, but the biggest competitors period in recent months.....Hollywood Hogan at Starrcade.....The Giant at Souled Out.....The Warrior last night.....if you’ve got to face a star on the level of Randy Savage, coming into the match with those victories on your resume has got to be a real boost.....

.....and it was.....

.....Sting was on fire for this one.....

.....the WCW Champion may be clad in black and white.....the blonde crew cut might be gone.....the colourful face paint replaced by a more macabre shade of white and black.....but this was like watching the Sting of old.....this was the Sting that defeated Ric Flair at the 1990 Great American Bash.....this was the Sting that toppled Big Van Vader.....that lead a Squadron against the Dangerous Alliance.....in short, this was WCW.....this WAS Sting.....

.....we had the shouts to the crowd.....the military presses.....we had the “Owwwwww” and the beating of the chest.....

.....unfortunately we also had the compulsory “Sting misses the Stinger Splash” spot too.....

.....which is how the Macho Man took control of the match.....

.....this was a hell of a match to be fair.....Macho sold like a star when he needed to, but when he went on the offence he lived up to his name.....Savage.....there were chokes, eye gouges, punches and ax handles.....he even tossed Sting to the floor for the Warrior to run through him with a clothesline on the outside.....

.....as I said though, Sting is riding a wave of confidence here, so he slowly begins to fire back, finding himself embroiled in a brawl on the outside that culminates in the WCW Champion reversing an Irish whip attempt to send Macho colliding into the Warrior, before Sting rolls Savage back into the ring, signalling for the Scorpion Deathlock.....

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.....which (much as Copeland and Cage DID predict) brings Buff Bagwell and The Giant our from the back.....

.....considering the fact that Russo put a lot of emphasis on the magnitude of a Randy Savage victory here, it would be pretty dumb to go and get disqualified for outside interference, so (with the Warrior flat on his back and in no position to run interference) Buff Bagwell opts to act as a distraction for the official, while The Giant pulls himself up onto the apron......

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....not that he gets far.....because fresh off a promo which promised a much less PG approach, we are joined by Shawn Michaels and his band of Degenerates.....

.....Levesque pounces on his old foe the Warrior, who WAS in the process of getting back to his feet, grabbing him by the hair and driving him into the steel steps.....

.....Bagwell doesn’t fare much better either, so distracted by DOING the distraction, he doesn’t notice the new arrivals, nor does he probably remember much of what happened afterwards.....because he gets his head kicked off with some Sweet Chin Music by Shawn Michaels.....

.....as the Totally Awesome Trinity grab hold of The Giant as one, yanking him off the apron by the back of his tights and leaving him to crash down onto the concrete floor below, where Traylor nails him with repeated nightstick shots that actually KEEP the big man down.....

.....and then the five men enter the ring.....

.....Sting and Savage are instantly surrounded and (as Michaels smirks at both men) he gives the order to attack and attack they do, flying at both men and giving the official little choice but to throw this one out.....

Winner: No Contest
Rating: A

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.....and the hits keep on coming, as the assault continues long after the bell has sounded to signal the end of the match.....

.....Sting and Savage do try to fight back (which is an odd sight in itself, as WCW and the Titans of Wrestling unite) but the odds are NOT in their favour at all.....the Trinity combine to deliver a little bit of payback to Randy Savage, while Levesque holds Sting in place for Shawn Michaels to lay into him with a series of right hands.....

.....Michaels barks orders at his new found entourage, sending Traylor to the outside to collect some steel chairs while the assault in the ring continues.....

.....The Enforcer complies and climbs through the ropes, doing a full circle of the ring to nail Warrior, Bagwell and The Giant with that nightstick a few more times, then picks up two chairs which he takes back into the squared circle with him.....

.....he walks over to Michaels, steel chair in each hand, but Shawn tells him that the chairs aren’t for him.....they’re for Copeland and Cage.....

.....Michaels tells the young pair that it’s time to show the world (and Randy Savage) that they are Titans no more.....they’re not Randy Savage’s stooges.....they’re not Titans, they’re not WCW.....they’re anti-establishment.....they’re renegades.....they’re.....degenerates.....

.....whatever they are, Copeland and Cage are apparently comfortable with it......because they take those steel chairs without hesitation.....and as Traylor holds Savage in position, they rear back and swing.....crushing the Macho Man’s skull with a Con-Chair-To.....

.....remarkably (given their history) this is a step too far for our WCW Champion, as Sting manages to break free of Levesque to (belatedly) come to Randy Savages aid.....he fires off with chops, right hands, back hands and back elbow strikes, rocking Copeland, Cage and Traylor.....Levesque takes a shot to the jaw that puts him on his back, as Sting shows everyone not only why he’s the WCW Champion, but why he is WCW period as he proceeds to begin to clear house.....

.....then he turns around.....

.....right into some Sweet Chin Music.....

.....Sting finally goes down, as Levesque and the Totally Awesome Trinity regroup to join Michaels in standing over the fallen Champion.....Copeland hands Shawn that Big Gold Belt, which he holds high in the air with a smirk as these five gentlemen celebrate what Tony Schiavone calls “sickening actions”.....

.....Tony is not happy to see Shawn Michaels holding onto that WCW Title, and (as Warrior, Bagwell and The Giant begin to stir) even goes as far as to root for the Titans, urging the trio on the outside to go and “kick their butts”.....

.....those nightstick shots have taken their toll on the three Titans though.....and they’re so slow to get back to their feet that it looks like we’re not about to see these five degenerates get their comeuppance before the show closes, with the closing credits flashing up on the screen.....

.....goodnight fans.....we’re out of time.....

”.....IF YA SMELLLLLLLLLLLL.......WHAT THE ROCK.....IS......COOKING.....”

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.....and the boo’s echoing through the arena disappear as the crowd erupts.....

.....as The Rock walks out from the back, pausing at the top of the entrance to point directly at JPL, before beginning his march right towards the ring.....

.....while The Giant pulls himself up onto the apron.....

.....as does Bagwell.....

.....and The Warrior.....

.....as an excited Tony Schiavone frantically tells us that.....

”.....we’re out of time fans, but the tape machines are rolling.....

.....we’ll see you this Thursday on TBS.....for WCW Thunder.....”

Rating: A*

Final Rating: A

ElectricX · August 23, 2020

Another great show!

crackerjack · August 27, 2020

Woah! Wasn't sure if I'd ever see this project again! Welcome back!

MisterRomanini · September 19, 2020

HOLY ****! Can't believe I've lost this comeback (almost a month later lol)

to4sty · October 31, 2020

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Week 1, March 1998

Worcester Centrum (Worcester, Massachusetts)

ATT: 13,334

TV: 38.16

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.....it’s Monday night.....Raw is War.....and we truly are on the march to Wrestlemania.....because it IS March.....which means that the biggest show of the year is a mere four weeks away and we all know that the chairman of the board is NOT happy about the main event that he has scheduled, where is chosen champion.....his CORPORATE Champion.....the WWF Champion Brian Pillman, has to put the gold on the line against not ONE opponent, but two.....because at Wrestlemania, it’s Brian Pillman vs. Bret “The Hitman” Hart.....vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin.....in the first ever three way Wrestlemania main event.....

.....in fact, Vince McMahon is SO unhappy about this match, that he specifically ordered Ric Flair and Arn Anderson to take Steve Austin out of commission last week.....OR ELSE.....

.....that ”or else” might be about to be revealed, because as we open the show, the chairman is making his way out and he has both Ric Flair and Arn Anderson (the WWF Tag Team Champions) with him, as well as the maniacal Mankind.....

.....although someone who’s NOT with him, is the WWF Champion Brian Pillman.....in fact, The Corporate Cannon hasn’t actually been seen since he stormed off in a temper tantrum last week.....

.....Vince tells the crowd to quiet down a little bit (which they don’t) before informing them that he needs to address a number of issues.....a few “in house” problems.....

”.....so if you inbred hicks could keep it down a minute, we can get to it.....”

.....Vince says that clearly Brian Pillman isn’t here this evening, and he isn’t here for one important reason.....Ric Flair, Arn Anderson and yes, even Mankind, they let the Corporate Champion down.....

”.....you see, there was ONE thing that we wanted done.....just one.....and that was make sure that Stone Cold Steve Austin (crowd pops) did NOT make it to that Wrestlemania main event.....ONE THING.....”

.....Vince says that Ric Flair didn’t have to win last week.....frankly that was the least of McMahon’s concerns.....but between the three of them, Steve Austin should be sitting in a hospital bed right now, but because of their failure, he’s sitting right there backstage lacing up his black boots.....

.....Flair stops McMahon right there, telling him that first of all, Ric Flair never failed at anything a day in his life.....

”.....just by waking up in the morning, opening my eyes and realising that I’m the Nature Boy (Woooooooo) Ric Flair, I’m already winning.....the Rolex on my wrist, the women on my arms and the gold around my waist.....I’ve had more success in the time it takes me to put on my $6000 custom suit, than any of these idiots in the crowd have had in their entire miserable lives.....yeah, I’m talking about you fat boy, sit down before you have a heart attack.....”

.....Flair says that the ONLY reason that Steve Austin is still walking around breathing the same air as Ric Flair, is because of the Undertaker and Kane.....

”.....ah hell son, I’d say that the only reason Steve Austin is still walking around breathing the same air as Ric Flair, is because Steve Austin is allowing Ric Flair’s old ass to breathe.....”

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.....that’ll be the Rattlesnake.....he’s not making his way out though, because the Titantron does its thing and flickers to life, showing a camera man (from the camera’s perspective obviously) being dragged across a room, as Steve Austin walks behind what looks suspiciously like Vince McMahons desk, sits back, puts his feet up and tells Mr. McMahon that he’s a stupid son of a bitch.....

”.....you go out there saying Ric Flair didn’t do this, Arn Anderson didn’t do that, Mankind didn’t do squat.....hell son, if you thought those three sorry sons of bitches were going to do a damn thing to Steve Austin then you’re even stupider than you look.....and you look pretty stupid.....”

.....McMahon isn’t happy about the interruption and he’s even less happy that Austin is in his office, telling him to get his damn dirty boots off his desk.....

”.....oh I’ll get my little boots off your desk, Vince.....why don’t you come back here and I’ll take em off your desk right now and use them to stomp a mud hole in your ass.....”

.....Austin shuffles around some papers on the desk, before picking up what looks to be a match listing for the evening, before saying that he’s going to make his real easy for Vince.....since he wants his stooges to take him out so badly.....

”.....and since Mankind done pissed me off last week, I got your main event right here.....”

.....Austin grabs a pen and writes “Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Mankind” in big letters across the top of the sheet.....

”.....Vince, imma say it slow, so that even your sorry ass can understand it.....you’re looking at the next World Wrestling Federation Champion son.....ain’t Brian Pillman going to stop me, ain’t Bret Hart going to stop me, ain’t none of those three jackasses standing behind you going to stop me.....but what I’m fixing to do in the meantime, is take out the trash and ain’t no bigger piece of trash going that that sorry sack of crap in a mask right there.....”

.....Austin says that in about an hour and a half he’s going to be wiping Mankind’s face off the bottom of his boot, but while he’s here, he may as well find something for the senior citizens to do too.....

.....Stone Cold looks down the sheet in front of him, venomously crossing SOMETHING out, before writing over the top of it “Jackass Ric Flair & Old Man River Arn Anderson vs. The Undertaker & Kane”, holding up the sheet of paper and telling Vince McMahon that he just made his show better with a swipe of the pen.....

”.....just like I’m going to make the whole damn company better at Wrestlemania, when I Stun Bret Hart, Stun Brian Pillman, and walk out the brand new WWF Champion.....and that’s the bottom line.....because Stone Cold said so.....”

Rating: A*

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.....apparently Stone Cold has booked the WWF Tag Team Champions in a match.....while I’m sure Vince McMahon will probably over ride that tag team match, he’s not over riding this one.....

.....”this one” being Bradshaw and Faarooq facing off against The Road Dogg and Billy Gunn (with Sunny in their corner) the New Age Outlaws.....

.....Faarooq and Bradshaw have been on a bit of a roll as of late, including picking up a victory over the Nation of Domination at No Way Out (a victory that actually cost Scorpio his place in the Nation) while Gunn and James on the other hand have been on a roll of their own.....a roll of constantly demanding a shot at the Tag Team Titles.....a challenge was made last week by the Outlaws, Al Snow & Chris Candido AND Dustin Rhodes and Marc Mero, for the current champions (Flair and Arn) to put the gold on the line at Wrestlemania, against all three teams in a fatal four way match.....that challenge hasn’t actually been answered yet, but a win here would surely set the Outlaws in good standing for a future opportunity.....

.....it wasn’t going to be an easy victory though.....Bradshaw and Faarooq are two big, powerful (and angry) men, who have a clash with the Nation of Domination to contend with at Wrestlemania.....

.....which is maybe why the Nation interfered here, with D’Lo Brown and Mark Henry causing enough of a distraction that Billy Gunn was able to drop Bradshaw with the Famouser to pick up a cheap victory.....

Winner(s): The New Age Outlaws
Rating: B

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.....from there we go to the back (to a decisively ‘Stone Cold Free’ office) where Mr. McMahon is still in a foul mood.....Flair and Arn are scoffing at the fact that Steve Austin thinks he can book the matches around here, stating that they obviously aren’t going bow down to whatever the Rattlesnake says......they aren’t going to be facing Kane and The Undertaker tonight, just like Mankind isn’t going to be facing Austin.....right?.....because between those idiots trying to book themselves into a four way tag title match at Mania, and then Austin tonight, that sounds like a lot of people telling Vincent Kennedy McMahon how to do his job.....

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.....oh look.....it’s four of those “idiots” trying to book themselves into a tag title match at Mania.....as Al Snow, Chris Candido, Dustin Rhodes and Marc Mero (with Terri) come bursting into the room, each team jostling for position to be the team in front.....

.....the two teams (along with Flair and Anderson) begin shouting over each other as they try to argue their cases for (and against) making that four way match happen.....

.....until Vince McMahon finally slams his hands down on the desk.....

”.....ENOUGH!!.....ENOUGH, THATS IT!!.....”

.....Vince tells Flair and Arn that they’re right.....he HAS had enough of people dictating their matches around here, just like he’s had enough of THEM telling him which matches he should book.....

”.....so this is what is going to happen.....at Wrestlemania (since you let me down last week) it WILL be Ric Flair and Arn Anderson, defending the WWF Tag Team Titles.....against the New Age Outlaws.....

.....and Dustin Rhodes and Marc Mero.....

.....AND (sigh)......Al Snow and Chris Candido.....in a Fatal Four Way Match.....”

.....Flair and Anderson aren’t happy about that, loudly protesting until Vince tells them to be quiet because he isn’t finished.....because yes, he’s going to book that match.....but it’s not coming without a cost..... cause while the team that wins will become the WWF Tag Team Champions, the team that takes the loss (in this one fall to a finish match) that team will have to disband.....

”.....and as for tonight (and quite frankly, just because clearly some people need reminding exactly who the boss is around here) that match with the Undertaker and Kane......WILL be taking place.....”

.....Vince says that they can consider that further punishment for their failure last week, just like Mankind WILL be facing Steve Austin.....and as further incentive, should Steve Austin win that match, then at Wrestlemania it will be Mankind, going one on one with the Big Red Monster.....Kane.....

.....Snow finds that hilarious, but McMahon tells him to shut up, saying that since the New Age Outlaws competed this evening, both Snow & Candido and Rhodes & Mero will be in action next week.....

”.....now all of you, get out.....while I try and work out where the hell my WWF Champion is.....”

Rating: A

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/1tBOrDQ.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/FusafzU.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/Uw6OsYW.jpg">
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.....we leave Vince dialling a number on the phone (clearly trying to get hold of the elusive Brian Pillman) and head over to Dok Hendrix, who’s standing by with the Nation of Domination.....

.....Dok says that the Nation have a busy night upcoming at Wrestlemania, with Stevie Ray Challenging his brother Booker T for the WWF European Championship, while Ahmed, Kama, D’Lo and Henry have an eight man match booked against Faarooq, Bradshaw, Scorpio and Nelson.....the night could go very well.....or very, very badly.....

.....Stevie Ray cuts Dok off, telling him that first things first.....

”.....Booker T ain’t my Brother sucka.....THESE are my brothers right here.....Booker, he’s just some Fruit Booty that’s got something I want.....and when I want something, I TAKE it.....by any means necessary, you dig that Dok Hendrix?.....”

.....Ahmed agrees, telling Hendrix that there IS no “bad night” for the Nation.....Stevie will be bringing the gold home, while the rest of the Nation crush their three former members (AND that fat Texan Bradshaw) under their boots like the bugs that they are.....

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.....looks like those bugs are here.....and Faarooq and Bradshaw clearly aren’t happy about the Nation costing them their match earlier, as they join Scorpio and Nelson in a little backstage attack.....

.....the Nation SHOULD have the advantage given their superior numbers, but when you factor in that they were unprepared for the assault, Nelson is the size of two men (maybe three) and the fact that Nelson crushes D,Lo against the wall with his opening blow, it’s actually pretty even as the two sides brawl all over the backstage set.....

.....send in security, we have a match to get down to.....

Rating: B+

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.....a match which will see Marty Jannetty face off against former WWF European Champion, Jeff Jarrett.....

.....I’d like to say that this match was filled with hard fought, back and forth competitive action, but in reality (while Marty did have SOME offence) it was Double J that took the majority of the match.....

.....Marty hasn’t done a great deal of anything (other than a few high profile matches with Shawn Michaels) since his return from rehab.....he DOES have a job though.....and that job is to DO the job.....counting the lights here tonight after Jarrett drove his skull into the mat with a Facebuster for the one, two, three.....

Winner: Jeff Jarrett
Rating: B-

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.....but the fun doesn’t stop there, as Rich Steiner makes his way out from the back, with a pair of scissors in his hand.....

.....last week Jeff Jarrett vowed to give Sean Waltman a makeover for costing him the European Championship (seeing how Waltman had nothing Jarrett deemed worth taking) and managed to clip a few locks of hair from the head of the Wolfpac man.....tonight it looks as though they’re planning on giving Marty Jannetty the same treatment.....

.....but not until they’ve had a little fun with him.....

.....Jarrett and Steiner join forces to beat and stomp on the former Rocker (as DiBiase cackles on in the background) with Rich finally driving him hard into the canvas with a Death Valley Driver.....

.....Steiner sits Marty up into a seated position and grabs a handful of hair, as Deebs passes Double J the scissors.....after looking (and dressing) exactly the same for the last ten years, it would appear as though Mr. Jannetty is about to have a haircut.....

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.....or not.....

.....looks like Marty’s eighties style will live to see another day, because before Jarrett can snip, the wolves howl as Scott Hall and Sean Waltman come rushing out from the back.....

.....the red and black duo quickly send the Million Dollar Duo bailing from the ring and to the back, before Waltman pulls off that neckbrace that he’s been wearing ever since the Corporation beat him down a few weeks back.....clearly he feels like he doesn’t need it anymore.....

.....let’s go to commercial.....

Rating: B+

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.....and when we return, Scott Hall and Sean Waltman are STILL in the ring.....except now they have microphones in hand.....

.....Waltman briefly mocks Double J, telling him that while the Million Dollar Corporation thought they were taking out the runt in the litter, Jeff Jarrett is about to find out that this Wolf is going to come back to bite him in the ass.....

.....Hall takes the microphone next, telling the crowd that last week Kevin Nash was barred from the building.....

”.....but this week, the Big Bad Wolf is back.....and since Little Scotty Steiner hasn’t answered the challenge yet, it looks like the Big Mang is gonna have to make that call himself.....”

.....with that, Hall and Waltman do the double armed point towards the Titantron, which flickers to life, to reveal a sweet ass ride pulling into the parking lot.....a sweet ass ride with a licence plate that reads “BIG SXY”.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/q4lIIrS.jpg">

.....with this fine figure of a man sat behind the wheel.....

.....Nash waves through the windshield with a goofy grin on his face, before opening up that door and swinging one long leg out.....

.....only for that door to get violently slammed again, crashing it straight into Big Sexy’s knee.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/8wIyKBM.jpg">

.....and as Nash cries out in pain, Big Poppa Pump slams the door into that long leg two more times, before turning to the camera to tell Scott Hall and Sean Waltman that he don’t need a pair of little b!tches like them calling him out.....

”.....AND IF KEVIN NASH HAS ANYTHING TO SAY TO ME, HE CAN SAY IT TO ME HIMSELF.....ONCE HES DONE CRYING LIKE A LITTLE GIRL THAT IS.....”

.....with that, Scotty slams that door one more time into the knee of Nash, before walking out of shot briefly and returning with that lead pipe in hand.....

”.....NOW THE WAY I SEE IT, I COULD TAKE OUT KEVIN NASH RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW WITH ONE SWING OF THIS PIPE.....BUT I’M NOT GONNA DO THAT.....BECAUSE IF I DO THAT, THEN I WONT BE ABLE TO KICK HIS ASS AT WRESTLEMANIA.....SEE KEVIN, YOU CAN CONSIDER THIS AN OFFICIAL CHALLENGE.....FACE TO FACE, MAN TO MAN.....BECAUSE I’M ALL MAN.....MORE MAN THAN YOU’LL EVER BE.....AND AT WRESTLEMANIA, YOU’LL FIND OUT WHY THE CALL ME THE GENETIC FREAK.....AND YOU, YOU’LL JUST BE A SEVEN FOOT STAIN ON THE MAT.....”

.....with that, Scotty finally walks out of shot.....

.....briefly.....

.....before walking back into shot for a third time, when he uses that lead pipe to smash each and every window on that sweet ass ride (along with putting a few dents in the body) before finally tossing that pipe on the floor beside Nash, telling him that he’ll see him it Wrestlemania.....

”.....THAT’S IF YOU CAN STILL WALK.....”

.....so much for Kevin Nash’s grand entrance.....let’s go back to ringside.....

Rating: A

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.....where Hall and Waltman have clearly headed to the back to check on the condition of Kevin Nash.....because it’s time for our next match and it involves a man that made his debut just last week, Steve Blackman vs. one half of the Harris Twins, Ron Harris.....

.....I know, I know.....barn burner right? To be fair this match wasn’t put here to win any match of the year accolades, it was put here to give Steve Blackman a victory on his debut, without (since Steve-O is an actual no-one) killing the overness of anyone that actually mattered.....

.....and idea when we actually last saw either Harris Boy? No me neither.....needless to say that Steve Blackman won, taking Harris’ head off with a wicked looking Bicycle Kick.....

Winner: Steve Blackman
Rating: C-

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.....last week Savio Vega attacked Steve Blackman, clearly jealous that the debuting gentleman was getting more attention than Savio had gotten in months.....maybe years.....

.....that attack didn’t go so well.....in fact, it ended up with Savio getting his ass kicked, followed by a martial arts display from Blackman.....clearly Vega learned a little something from that, because his time he waited for Blackman to start his little stick show, before cracking him in the back with a chair when he was too engaged in his display to notice the Puerto Rican entering the ring.....

.....Blackman goes down, but Savio hits him a few more times just to make sure he STAYS down, before standing over the newcomer with his arms raised, throwing out cheesy looking karate chops, as we head backstage.....

.....ok, maybe this isn’t the hottest angle in the world.....but we’ve all gotta start somewhere right.....

Rating: C

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....we head over to Michael Cole now, who’s in the locker room of the Hart Foundation ahead of Owen Hart’s upcoming match with Chris Jericho’s Wrestlemania opponent Dean Malenko.....

.....Jericho might be putting his WWF Intercontinental Championship on the line against Malenko, but Malenko, he’s putting it ALL on the line.....because he says that if he can’t beat Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania, then he’s done.....finished.....no more Dean Malenko, he’s going home.....

.....a fact which Jericho finds hilarious......

“.....because let’s be real Michelangelo, Bore-Us would be doing EVERYONE a favour if he just went back home to his boring wife.....kissed his boring kids.....petted his boring dog.....waved at the boring mailman.....sat on his boring couch.....put on his boring pants.....took out his bor.....”

“.....is this going somewhere?.....”

“.....yes this is going somewhere Cole.....and don’t ever, eeeeeeeeeeever interrupt me again.....”

.....Jericho says that once Wrestlemania is over, no one will ever have to be bored to death by Bore-Us again, and you’ll be able to thank Chris Jericho for that (Paragon of Virtue, Your Hero and Mine, etc, etc) but tonight, after claiming that he came to test himself against the best Light-Heavyweight competitors in the world, Dean Malenko gets to step in there with the ORIGINAL Light-Heavyweight competitor.....

.....Jericho says that Owen Hart originated Light-Heavyweight wrestling in Canada.....he perfected it in Stampede and then took it to Japan (“where they copied it”) took it to Mexico (“where they stole it”) bought it here to the WWF (“where they couldn’t do it”) and tonight, Dean Malenko has the privilege of competing in his penultimate match.....

.....against Owen Hart.....

.....Owen stands there beaming as Jericho embellishes the truth, before confirming all the lies that Jericho just spurned as though the tales were gospel, before apologising to Jericho.....

”.....because I AM the original Light-Heavyweight.....and while I’ve packed about 30lbs of pure muscle on since my Light-Heavyweight peak (erm, no.....no you haven’t Owen) I’m still a Light-Heavyweight at heart.....and Chris, I’m sorry......but Dean Malenko might not even make it to Wrestlemania.....”

.....Owen and Jericho exchange a laugh, before Michael Cole goes on to question the Hitman.....he says that in recent weeks it would seem like Vince McMahon is doing everything possible to ensure that Steve Austin doesn’t make it to Wrestlemania, but he doesn’t seem too concerned about Bret Hart being in the match.....in fact, it would seem as though McMahon has completely forgotten about The Hitman.....

”.....I shouldn’t be surprised by that Michael Cole......Vince McMahon has been trying to forget about Bret Hart for the past two years.....ever since he watched me get screwed out of the WWF Title at Wrestlemania XII.....

.....well that’s fine by me.....if Vince McMahon wants to spend the next four weeks worrying about Steve Austin and massaging Brian Pillman’s fragile ego, I got no problem in that.....just like I’ll have no problem walking into Wrestlemania XIV and proving to the world exactly why they call me the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be.....when I become the WWF Champion for the FOURTH time.....”

Rating: A

<img style="max-width:15%;
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"src="https://i.imgur.com/Biiyb21.jpg">

.....never let it be said that either Chris Jericho or Owen Hart let a little thing like the truth get in the way of a good story.....because no matter how much they want you to believe it, Owen Hart is most certainly NOT the original Light-Heavyweight wrestler.....

.....what he IS though, is a very, very good all round performer.....yes, he has elements of your stereotypical Light-Heavyweight (he’s quick, agile.....he’s certainly not afraid to utilise the top rope) but he also has elements of submission wrestling.....technical wrestling.....he can talk.....in fact, there’s not a lot that he CAN’T do.....although granted (with the exception of being decent on the mic) Owen’s opponent tonight pretty much ticks all those boxes too.....

.....obviously from an in-ring standpoint, this match was excellent.....Malenko has been desperate to prove himself as of late, but he hasn’t been doing a very good job of it, loosing more matches than he’s won, with even his last major victory (over Rey Mysterio) coming off the back of interference from our Intercontinental Champion.....he lost to Jarrett, has lost to Jericho, lost to Test, lost singles matches, tag team encounters, Title matches.....he’s lost a lot.....

.....he was doing well here, certainly holding his own against the former multi-time title holder Owen Hart.....but as the match progresses (and Chris Jericho makes his way out from the back) it looks like he could be set to pick up another defeat right here.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....at least until Rey Mysterio comes rushing out from the back to make sure that Jericho stays far away from the action in the ring.....

.....speaking of the action in the ring, Owen Hart is momentarily distracted by the fact that Chris Jericho is no longer able to give him a helping hand.....so much so that Malenko has time to plan his attack.....to as Owen goes for a kick, Dean catches the leg, before anticipating the enzuguri that usually follows, ducking that too.....

.....and as Hart lands flat on his back (with his foot still in Malenko’s hands) the Man of 1000 Holds wraps his legs up and turns him over into the Texas Cloverleaf.....and with Mysterio preventing Chris Jericho from doing anything about it, Owen Hart has little option but to tap out.....

.....and that’s a HUGE victory for Dean Malenko.....

Winner: Dean Malenko
Rating: B+

<img style="max-width:15%;
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"src="https://i.imgur.com/vN0BOgM.jpg">

.....Malenko rolls out of the ring and joins Mysterio in the aisle, where the two men celebrate as Chris Jericho throws a monumental hissy hit in the ring.....Owen isn’t much happier either, snatching up a microphone to tell the crowd that he didn’t tap out.....Malenko cheated.....he was just banging the mat to try and get himself closer to the ropes.....he was about to power out of the hold.....etc, etc, etc.....

.....no ones buying that, but Owen isn’t done.....he tells Mysterio that this is all his fault.....

”.....I’ve never been so disrespected in all my life.....don’t you know who I am? I’m Owen Hart.....I’m the reason that ALL you so called Light-Heavyweights have a career.....you know what, I’m GLAD Chris Jericho took the division away from you all.....you don’t deserve it.....you don’t deserve to walk through the door that I opened for you.....”

.....man, Owen is really going all in on this “Originator of the Light-Heavyweight Division” nonsense huh.....it IS utter nonsense too, but Chris Jericho has obviously convinced Owen that it’s fact and Hart isn’t happy that these new breed of Light-Heavyweight isn’t giving him the respect he obviously believes he deserves.....

”.....well enough is enough.....Dean Malenko you little punk, my personal protégé Chris Jericho will end your miserable little career at Wrestlemania, but Rey Mysterio, you’re all mine you little Mexican Jumping Bean.....”

.....I guess that’s a challenge.....a Wrestlemania challenge none the less.....and since Rey is still in the aisle way, he accepts the match there and then.....

.....challenge levied.....challenge accepted.....

.....Wrestlemania Match made.....

.....let’s go to the back.....

Rating: B+

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.....where the Undertaker, Kane and Paul Bearer are in the bowels of the building.....I would say that they are deep in conversation, but in reality Kane isn’t much of a talker and Taker has plenty to say.....

.....he says that tonight he was hoping to unleash the fires of hell upon the false deity Raven tonight.....Raven wants to see the true dark side of the deadman.....well the Undertaker would happily show him.....he would “come” to Raven.....if Raven stopped hiding for one second.....

”.....and you brother.....oh the horrors you will inflict upon Mankind.....Mankind who cost you the WWF Championship.....Mankind, who’s own actions will cost him his very soul.....I don’t have Raven tonight.....you don’t have Mankind.....WE have Ric Flair and Arn Anderson.....THEY will pay the price for the sins of the others.....”

.....Paul Bearer says that Raven can only hide for so long.....sooner or later he’s going to have to come down from his nest, until then leave it to Paul Bearer.....he says that should Steve Austin defeat Mankind tonight (which Bearer thinks he will) then Kane will get his chance at cold blooded revenge.....Paul Bearer will make sure that match happens at Wrestlemania.....as for Raven, Paul Bearer is going to speak to Vince McMahon.....to see if he can’t get ANOTHER match booked for Wrestlemania.....The Deadman vs. The Dead Man......The Undertaker.....vs. Raven.....

”.....for now, all you two need to worry about is Arn Anderson and Ric Flair.....leave Raven and Mankind to me.....”

.....Kane and the Undertaker nod, before walking away and leaving Paul Bearer deep down there in the dark bowels of the building.....clearly he’s planning on speaking to Mr. McMahon, but perhaps hanging around in dark rooms isn’t the best idea.....because unbeknown to Bearer, two figures walk out of the gloom behind him.....

.....standing ominously behind the oblivious manager.....

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.....that can’t bode well for Mr. Bearer.....

.....let’s go down to ringside.....

Rating: A

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.....where it’s time for tag team action.....and tag team action featuring out tag team champions none the less.....but rest assured, with a fatal four way title defence looming at Wrestlemania, Vince McMahon has assured that this particular encounter is a non-title affair.....not that either The Undertaker or Kane are particularly bothered about the tag team titles right now, they have other things on their minds.....

.....things like Raven.....things like Mankind.....

.....both of these brothers of destruction have their sights (and their wrath) set on people other than Flair and Anderson.....but that’s not to say they’re not going to take their frustrations out on whomever is put in front of them.....if this truly was some form of punishment for the fact that the tag team champions failed to take Steve Austin out last week then consider them punished.....

.....because The Deadman and the Big Red Monster beat the snot out of them.....

.....Anderson and Flair were able to isolate the Undertaker for a while.....they even worked over a limb (the leg to be precise) but it was never going to be enough, as the brothers soon overcame the onslaught to continue their assault.....

”.....Deadman.....HEY DEADMAN!.....COME TO ME.....COME TO ME.....FOR I CAN SET YOU FREE.....”

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.....until the sounds of Raven’s voice echoes through the building.....and the camera’s find him (again) high up in in the arena.....arms outstretched.....with Jake Roberts standing behind Paul Bearer with his arm around his throat.....

.....that sight alone is enough to make the brothers abandon their match, climbing out of the ring and over the barricade, making their way through the crowd as Raven continues to speak.....

.....and the official counts them out.....

Winner(s): Ric Flair & Arn Anderson (via Count-Out)
Rating: B+

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.....Anderson and Flair get a reprieve as the brothers of destruction abandon them to head off through the stands.....they’ve got a long walk ahead of them though.....fortunately Raven has plenty to say to keep them entertained on their journey.....

.....he tells the Undertaker that this is exactly what he’s trying to save him from.....this banal normality.....this humanity.....this.....family.....

”.....family that is destined to be the downfall of the so-called deadman.....family that has taken a phenom and diluted him down into just another man.....Undertaker, true forces of darkness are not bound by blood.....nor are they concerned by the suffering of lesser beings and make no mistake, this IS a lesser being.....

.....no longer the phenom.....no longer that monster under the bed.....no longer a threat.....no longer the WWF Champion.....but you could be.....I can make you all that you should be.....

.....come to me.....”

.....the Undertaker is coming (as is Kane) but they have a way to go yet.....they continue their hurried climb through the crowd as they rush to Paul Bearer’s aid.....and they SHOULD rush.....after all, we’ve all seen what Raven is capable of.....just as a certain one eyed priest.....

”.....Undertaker, you were once the dark shadow that cast itself over the entire WWF.....you walked through the door and put the entire company on notice.....Warrior’s, Savage’s and Maniac’s all felt your cold grip on their throats.....heh, you even vanquished The Snake.....then what happened? You embraced the masses.....that was mistake number one.....

.....and then, baby brother came home.....and you embraced that sibling bond like a child desperate for the warm embrace of family.....mistake number two.....

.....I know the truth is still inside you.....I know that the dark blanket still cloaks your soul.....I know (just like The Snake knew) that no one truly realises the depths of their depravity until they try and swim to the surface.....the darkness is still inside you.....there is no escape from it.....everyone speaks about the speed of light, but the light can never outrace the dark.....because no matter how fast that light travels, the darkness has always got there first.....

.....YOU were once that darkness.....YOU were once the abyss that all men stared upon with fear and wonder.....YOU once mattered.....

.....now you’re just weak.....

.....now you’re bathed in the light of humanity.....

.....now you make me sick.....

.....I can make you whole.....

.....I have the key.....

.....come to me.....

.....for I can set you free.....

.....Quote the Raven.....

.....Nevermore.....”

.....Raven turns to Jake and gives him a subtle nod, which The Snake answers with a sick smile.....he releases his grip on the throat of Paul Bearer, but he doesn’t release Paul Bearer himself.....instead he grabs him by that jet black hair and spins him round.....

.....and then drives his skull right into the concrete with a DDT.....before the two men back out of shot, leaving Bearer there (unconscious) as a message to the Deadman.....

.....Kane and The Undertaker finally arrive, but it’s too little and it’s definitely too late.....Raven and Jake are long gone.....and if the Deadman was p!ssed before, he has the fires of hell burning in his eyes right now.....

.....I hope Raven knows what he’s doing.....

.....let’s go to commercial.....

Rating: A*

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.....and when we return it’s to a shot in the back, where Paul Bearer is being tended to by medical personnel.....

.....he’s not had a good time of it as of late either.....our resident mortician has first had his ankle shattered by Brian Pillman and now had his skull driven into the concrete with a DDT from Jake Roberts.....and as the Undertaker paces the room, even the usually emotionless Kane is uncharacteristically animated, picking up poor defenceless inanimate objects and hurling them around the room.....

.....the Undertaker grabs the cameraman and looks directly into the lens as he declares that Raven has just unleashed a hell that he’s not ready for.....he says that Raven wants him to come to him, he’s going to come for him....but Raven won’t like what happens when he finds him.....because Raven will NOT Rest in Peace.....but he WILL be torn to pieces.....and then fed.....to the hounds of hell.....

.....Kane is still punishing the furniture when he suddenly stops and cocks his head at the sound of Mankind’s music playing out in the arena.....The Undertaker hears it too.....and releases his brother with just one word.....

.....go.....

.....and go he does.....marching straight out of the room.....

.....hopefully he doesn’t ruin our main event.....

Rating: B+

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.....which is happening right now.....

.....Vince McMahon is determined to keep Steve Austin as far away from that Wrestlemania main event as possible, and if Ric Flair wasn’t going to be up to the job last week then Mankind had better get it done this week.....

.....although quite how much of a punishment having to fight Kane would be for the deranged Mankind is anyone’s guess.....after all, I don’t think this particular incarnation of Mick Foley feels either pain OR fear.....facing Kane probably feels like a reward to him.....

.....this match was good.....not good in a Ric Flair/Ricky Steamboat way, but good in a “the crowd is red hot/two guys beating the living sh!t out of each other” kind of way.....the two began trading blows from the minute the bell sounded and they never slowed down until it ended.....

.....in the ring, out the ring, on the floor, in the aisle, the official had a hard time not throwing this one out on a number of occasions.....Austin hit the ring post, Mankind got tossed into the steps, Austin got backdropped on the outside, while Mankind felt the sting of the floor too, trying for an elbow drop off the apron which Austin moved out of the way of, leaving Mankind to hit nothing but concrete.....

.....this battle might have raged on forever.....

.....:::::!!!!!PYRO ERUPTS!!!!!:::::.....

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.....had Kane not made an appearance.....

.....McMahon warned Mankind that should he fail to defeat Steve Austin here, that he would be facing Kane (one on one) at Wrestlemania.....it doesn’t looks like the Big Red Monster has any intention of waiting for Wrestlemania though, as he comes marching out right now.....

.....to be fair, I don’t think Mankind cares about facing the Big Red Monster one little bit.....Mankind is a special kind of crazy, the special kind of crazy that doesn’t think twice about going toe to toe with a seven foot demon straight from the firey pits of hell.....and it looks like he’s about to abandon this match to turn his attention towards Kane.....

.....except Austin turned his attention (and his body) back to him.....spinning his opponent around before kicking him in the gut and dropping him with a Stone Cold Stunner for the one, the two and the three.....

Winner: Steve Austin
Rating: A

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.....Austin picks up the victory, so he has little interest in Mankind now, kicking the Corporate Sell-Out to the outside so that he can commence his celebrations.....

.....to his credit (since he HAS just received a Stunner) Mankind drags himself back to his feet and staggers over towards the oncoming Big Red Machine, as he and Kane break out into a brawl that sees them eventually disappear to the back.....

.....Austin was sat on the top turnbuckle throughout that, watching the two lunatics beat the crazy out of each other, but now that they’ve gone he begins his usual beer bash victory toast....

.....he motions for beer after beer (which gets miraculously tossed into the ring) as he goes to each of the four corners of the ring in turn, toasting the fans, before going to the middle of the ring to continue downing beer.....

.....finally a crew member has to climb into the ring with what looks to be a small cooler full of Steveweisers.....he waits for Austin to turn around.....

.....then absolutely nails him in the back of the head with the cooler.....

.....Austin goes down (hard) as beer and ice flys everywhere, with the commentators questioning just what in the hell this overzealous staff member is playing at.....

.....the the “staff member” in question finally removes his WWF branded hat.....as the camera zooms in for a good look at his face.....

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.....into the face of the wild eyed, wild haired WWF Champion.....Brian a Pillman.....

.....Pillman cackles at the sight of a downed Steve Austin, before telling the camera that (“nice guys finish last.....do unto others before they can do unto you.....and my own personal favourite on the playlist, if you want something done right.....do it yourself”) before heading outside to collect a steel chair.....

.....I think we all know what Brian Pillman is capable of with a steel chair in his hand.....ask Paul Bearer.....Kane.....ask the Undertaker.....but if you didn’t know, you do now....because Pillman absolutely unloads blows across the back of Steve Austin.....

.....Austin is done.....Pillman is not.....

.....with Wrestlemania right around the corner, now is perhaps a good time to remember the only other time that these two gentlemen met in singles action.....it was at LAST years Wrestlemania.....

.....know what else happened at last years Wrestlemania?.....Brian Pillman slid a steel chair over the ankle of Steve Austin and Pillmanized the sh!t out of his ankle.....

.....know what happens tonight?.....

.....Brian Pillman slides a steel chair over the ankle of Steve Austin and Pillmanizes the sh!t out of his ankle.....

.....Pillman sets the chair up and climbs up to the middle rope, where he lets out a manic cackle.....flips Steve Austin the bird.....and then leaps off, coming down full force on that steel chair.....

.....Austin writhes in agony on the mat, but with the damage done Pillman is looking to humiliate The Rattlesnake.....he picks up one of the beers from that (now) discarded cooler.....cracks open a cold one.....and tips it all over the Royal Rumble winner, as Jim Ross calls him no good son of a b!tch.....

.....I guess if you want a job doing right then you really DO have to do it yourself.....

.....Brian Pillman certainly did it here.....

.....we’ll see you next week.....

Rating: A*

Final Rating: A

to4sty · October 31, 2020

Woah! Wasn't sure if I'd ever see this project again! Welcome back!

HOLY ****! Can't believe I've lost this comeback (almost a month later lol)

Thanks folks.....as you can see this is still going.....although it’s going to be crawling at a snails pace to the finish line. We have a month to get through before I close the doors on this project once and for all, but I’ll get there

to4sty · January 2, 2021

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Week 1, March 1998

Portland Memorial Coliseum (Portland, Oregon)

ATT: 12,900

TV: 28.52

Announce Team: Tony Schiavone, Dusty Rhodes and Larry Zbyszko

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.....tonight’s show starts off by picking up right where we left off on Monday, because after Tony Schiavone promised us that the tape machines were rolling, the “after Nitro went off the air” graphic in the corner of the ring tells us that he was right.....

.....this past Monday we ran out of time, just as The Rock made his timely entrance, marching down the aisle (with his eyes firmly set on JPL) just as the Warrior, Buff Bagwell and The Giant came to their senses, climbing up onto the apron as they do......

.....Sting was down.....Randy Savage was down.....and Shawn Michaels and his Band of Degenerates were standing tall, holding the WCW Championship high in the air.....unfortunately their moment was about to get ruined, because Rocky’s confident walk breaks into a quick run, as he charges the last few feet and slides under the bottom rope into the ring.....

.....he’s met by Copeland and Cage (who are now strangers the the Peoples Champ, having faced him and Rikishi a few weeks back) but while the Totally Awesome Twosome briefly had the advantage, Rocky finally manages to toss them to one side, where The Warrior and Buff Bagwell grab hold of them through the ropes and drag them to the outside to brawl.....

.....Traylor comes next, swinging that nightstick as he does.....Rocky ducks that shot though, before clotheslining The Enforcer over the top rope and straight to the outside.....

....so the Rock turns.....

.....and walks straight into a Sweet Chin Music.....

.....or at least he WOULD have done......

.....had The Giant not caught Shawn Michaels foot in one of his huge paws, then launched backwards halfway across the ring.....

.....the Warrior has a rare burst of energy on the outside as he runs through Copeland and Cage on the floor with a double clothesline, small retribution for costing him the WCW Title at SuperBrawl.....

.....The Rock finally gets his hands on the man he’s here for, laying the smack down on JPL with a series of right handed blows, the final of which (a huge open handed slap) sends Levesque toppling over the ropes and down to the floor.....

.....that just leaves Shawn Michaels as the lone man in the ring.....truly the wrong place to be right now, because Sting is back to his feet and Rocky is ready to fight while the Giant (once he’s checked on the condition of Randy Savage, who’s still selling the Con-Chair-To on the mat) pulls himself up to his full size and stares menacingly towards the most hated man in WCW.....

.....who does the smart thing and bails.....

.....Michaels quickly heads up the aisle, where he’s joined by Levesque and the Totally Awesome Trinity as they back away from the ring, not happy that their moment has been spoiled.....

.....back inside the ring, the odd mix of faces and heels watch them go, with The Rock picking up the dropped WCW Championship, staring at it for a moment before handing it to its rightful owner.....

.....Monday Nitro might have ended with Shawn Michaels holding the Big Gold Belt high in the air, but as Monday NIGHT finished, it was Shawn Michaels running away with his tail tucked between his legs, and the TRUE Champion holding that Big Gold Belt high.....

.....we should probably get Thunder underway right?.....

Rating: A

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.....which is exactly what we do.....with public face of the WCW Championship Committee, Eric Bischoff.....

.....and why are we starting the show with a representative from the Championship Committee? Why, because this whole night is centred around the Television Championship of course.....

.....Bischoff opens by welcoming everyone to the show, and declaring his excitement at the upcoming one night tournament, before running through the competitors one more time.....he says that one of those men will truly have to EARN the honour of becoming the next WCW Television Champion.....and they’re going to earn it.....tonight.....

”.....and to make sure that the sanctity of this Championship remains in tact, the Championship Committee have put certain actions into place, to ensure that nothing.....and NO ONE overshadows the importance of this evening.....”

.....Bischoff says that the Television Championship was once one of the most respected and sought after titles in WCW, as well as being the cornerstone to WCW Programming for years.....tonight they will restore it to its former glory, WITHOUT any distractions like we witnessed at the end of Nitro.....

”.....so to that end, with the exception of Buff Bagwell, the Titans of Wrestling will NOT be permitted to enter the building this evening.....the WCW Champion Sting.....will NOT be permitted to enter the building this evening.....the People’s Champion the Rock.....sorry Rocky, I know this is “your” show, but you will NOT permitted to enter the building this evening either.....

.....and Shawn Michaels.....the man that hates anything and everything WCW.....since you hate it around here so much, I’m sure you won’t mind taking the night off.....because you, your little lackey JPL.....those other three degenerates you’re going around with now.....all five of you jackasses, you’re not permitted to enter the building this evening either.....”

.....Eric says that as for the matches themselves, the WCW Television Championship matches historically came with a ten minute time limit.....well things change, times change.....and rules change too.....competition is hotter than ever, with more prime time tv exposure than ever before.....which is why each match in this tournament, and all other Television Title matches going forward, will now have a fifteen-minute time limit.....

”.....so with that being said, let’s officially get this tournament underway with our first opening round match.....”

Rating: B

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WCW Television Championship: First Round Match

.....and that opening round match sees The Patriot face off against Chris Benoit, in what COULD have been a continuation of the ‘USA vs. The World’ feud that the Patriot has been a part of recently......Chris Benoit however, despite being a Canadian (and being actively recruited by both sides) never actually actively participated in the rivalry, preferring to concentrate on gaining championship glory for himself.....

.....it was the Sovereignty that granted him THIS opportunity though.....after Lance Storm chose to forfeit his spot in this tournament to ensure that Chris Benoit got the recognition that Storm feels he deserves.....

.....that was good of him.....

.....in hindsight he may have been better served to keep the spot himself, because after his gruelling match (and subsequent brutal post match attack) with the Forgotten on Monday, Chris Benoit’s ribs are heavily taped here tonight, with the man himself clearly in considerable pain......

.....both of these men are fan favourites, although Benoit’s recent association with Lance Storm means that in terms of crowd support, these American fans do slightly favour the Patriot, who focuses a good section of his offence on the obviously weakened midsection of Benoit.....

.....Patriot’s go to move is the Uncle Slam.....a move which which impacts the back (and by proxy, the midsection) of his opponent, so its a good game plan regardless of the current injury to Benoit.....somehow though, as he lifts his opponent to finish him, Benoit is able to wriggle free and hook the arm of his opponent, landing on the mat where he locks in the Crippler Crossface.....

.....The Patriot scratches and claws at the mat with his free arm, desperately trying to reach the ropes.....but ribs be damned Benoit synchs back on the move, eventually giving the man in the red, white and blue little option but to tap out.....

Winner: Chris Benoit
Rating: B

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.....we go to commercial to the sight of a visibly hurt Chris Benoit walking to the back and when we return we go straight back to the ring, where Mike Tenay welcomes his guest for the evening, the WCW United States Champion, Eddie Guerrero.....

”.....and Mr. Guerrero, since you specifically requested this time, why don’t you tell us all what’s on your mind.....”

.....Eddie shakes his head and tells Tenay that that’s ONE thing that’s on his mind.....

”.....the fact that I had to ASK for this time esè.....I’m Eddie Guerrero holmes.....the WCW United States Champion.....THE champion.....the man with the hottest streak in all of wrestling, and I has to ask?.....the Papi of Perfection has to ASK to be on tv?.....eight months, STILL the champion esè.....and I have to ASK?.....”

.....Eddie says that this whole night is a joke.....a whole show revolving around the Television Title? Where’s his show esè? Where’s the Eddie Guerrero United States Champion appreciation night?.....Eddie says that he (and HIS title) are the two hottest commodities in WCW right now, the longest reigning champion in the company, the man who’s defended his title against anyone and everyone.....

”.....this is Thunder.....this is the Rock’s show esè? No, no, no, no.....this is Eddie Guerrero’s company.....everyone else just works in it holmes.....”

“.....actually Mr. Guerrero, if you want to get technical you actually HAVEN'T defended that title against anyone and everyone.....although you’ll go one step closer at Uncensored.....when you have to step into the ring.....with Bill Goldberg.....and after your actions as of late to Mr. Goldberg, I for one don’t fancy your chances.....”

.....Eddie scoffs at that, saying that Bill Goldberg doesn’t want any part of Eddie Guerrero.....Eddie says that he’s put Goldberg down (and out) more times than Goldberg can count.....

”.....which granted, isn’t saying much.....he’s so stupid that if he has to count any higher than ten then he has to take his boots off to do it holmes.....”

.....Tenay tells Eddie that actually, he thinks Bill Goldberg counts just fine.....in fact, the last time he checked, he’d already counted all the way up to 62.....

”.....that’s 62 matches.....62 victories.....and zero defeats.....”

.....it was all the talk around “the streak” that got Eddie Guerrero all riled up about Bill Goldberg in the first place.....so it’s no surprise that the mention of it here sets him off again.....he says that ANYONE can pick up 62 wins when all they’re wrestling is losers.....Eddie says that he had 62 wins in one week when he was wrestling back in Mexico.....

”.....until he beats an Eddie Guerrero, he hasn’t beat no one esè.....and Mike Tenay, he CAN’T beat me.....”

.....cue the music.....

.....and the chant......

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.....as the Turnertron flickers to life and we see Bill Goldberg burst out of a locker room in the back, with a look of fury on his face.....

.....oh Eddie Guerrero really doesn’t like that.....

.....he screams for security to intercept the man who is now walking through the halls, telling them (rather hypocritically) that they need to preserve the integrity of the evening.....his is all about the Television Championship damnit, not Bill Goldberg.....

.....Doug Dillinger’s crack team DO try to talk Goldberg out of whatever he has planned.....but they don’t have much luck.....mainly because Bill Goldberg lays each and every one of them out with right hands, bouncing the odd one off the hallway walls as he continues his journey, finally entering the arena where he sprints down the aisle.....

.....into an empty ring.....

.....well, empty of Eddie Guerrero anyway (Mike Tenay is still there) because our United States Champion has bailed like his life depended on it (which it may have done) and disappeared into the crowd, leaving a frustrated Goldberg to furiously snatch the microphone from Mike Tenay.....

”.....EDDIE GUERRERO.....NO MORE RUNNING.....NO MORE HIDING.....AT UNCENSORED......YOURE NEXT!.....”

.....oh dear.....I would not want to be in Eddie Guerrero’s shoes come Uncensored.....

.....let’s have a match.....

Rating: A

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WCW Television Championship: First Round Match

.....and it’s another TV tournament match, this time with Konnan facing off against Lord Steven Regal.....

.....these two men couldn’t be anymore opposite if they tried.....you’ve got Konnan, who’s ditched the colourful superhero-esq inspired costumes for a more hip-hop attitude, and then you’ve got the British Nobleman, Lord Steven Regal.....a man who probably things rap is that thing you do to gifts at Christmas.....quite the conflict of styles.....

.....if there’s one thing that Steven Regal has been reliable for these past few months though, it’s putting on great matches with just about everyone.....he and Lance Storm even pulled a near five star classic off against The Road Warriors of all people a few weeks back.....so with that being said, this was a solid match.....Regal is known for his mat based approach, but he can brawl with the best of them when the need arises, so he was able to go toe to toe with Konnan here.....

.....while we’re on the subject of Konnan, he had a great showing against Curt Hennig this past Monday Night.....such a great showing in fact, that even in losing that outing he still made the cut to enter this tournament.....

.....he put on a hell of a showing here too.....

.....unfortunately for Konnan, the fact that it took me some time to get around to pushing him means that he’s still a good few places below the likes of Curt Hennig (and Steven Regal) on the totem pole.....so while I’m sure his stock will rise, he didn't get the result he was looking for tonight.....much like on Monday he found himself coming up short, but much like on Monday it took more out of Regal than he would have liked, with His Lordship resorting to using his feet on the ropes for leverage to book his place in the semi-finals later tonight.....

Winner: Lord Steven Regal
Rating: B

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/DJEyYKG.jpg">

.....from there we head backstage, where the man who’s set to FACE Steven Regal in the semi-finals (Chris Benoit) is currently in the trainers room getting his ribs re-taped.....and he doesn’t look in the best of shape.....

.....he doesn’t look impressed either, mainly by the entrance of his “friend” and occasional tag team partner, Diamond Dallas Page.....

.....Page tells Benoit to settle down, he’s just here to see how he’s doing.....because despite what’s gone on between them recently and despite the fact that they were unsuccessful in re-capturing the tag team titles on Monday, he still wants nothing but the best for Benoit.....both professionally (in his career) and personally (in his choice in friends) which is why Page has been trying to steer Benoit away from the Sovereignty.....

”.....the best for me? Really?.....did you want ‘the best for me’ on Monday when you left me high and dry in our match? You couldn’t have ‘steered’ yourself over to the corner to be there when I was looking for the tag?.....was that ‘wanting the best for me’?.....”

.....Page holds his hands up to that one, saying that he wasn’t where he needed to be, when he needed to be there.....but in his defence, he WAS dealing with Kevin Sullivan on the outside for most of the match.....

.....Benoit isn’t buying that though, even going as far as to hint that DDP maybe left him high and dry in an attempt to make sure that he came into this evening at less than 100%.....after all, should Dallas make it to the finals, the way Benoit see’s it, it’s going to be the Crippler that he has to face.....

”.....because believe me when I say.....whether I’m 100%.....90%.....50%.....or 5%.....it doesn’t matter.....if I have to walk into that match with an entirely crushed rib-cage, nothing is going to stop me from walking out with that Television Title around my waist.....

.....the way I see it, I’ve got Steven Regal next and I’ve got no problem with Regal.....despite your “warnings”, Steven Regal and the Sovereignty have treated me with nothing but respect.....but the fact of the matter is that if I have to beat him to get to the finals, then that’s what I’ll do.....

.....and if I have to beat YOU in the finals......you know what, I got no problem with that at all.....so you go worry about your matches.....I’ll worry about mine.....and if you need directions to the ring beforehand then let me know.....

.....after all.....just recently you've got a habit of not being where you’re supposed to be, when you’re supposed to be there.....”

.....Dallas just shakes his head, telling Benoit that he’s been spending too much time hanging around with Lance Storm.....it’s made his view of the world as skewed as Lance’s.....

”.....come back and see me after the Blue Bloods or the Amazing French Canadians have interfered in your match with Regal and tell me how much the Sovereignty respect you then.....

.....you know what Chris, I hope you do win.....not because your ribs are hurting, not because you’re at less than 100%.....but because you’re my friend.....and it would be an honour to face YOU for the Television Title.....hopefully you see past all this Sovereignty crap and realise that soon.....good luck out there.....”

.....how touching.....

.....let’s go down to ringside.....

Rating: B+

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/WH2bm4L.jpg">

WCW Television Championship: First Round Match

.....which is our next opening round match in our Television Title Tournament.....and this one actually already has some heat to it, stemming from Jeff Hardy coming to the aid of Konnan on Monday Night, halting a Curt Hennig assault in the process.....

.....for what it’s worth, OUTSIDE of the ring these two actually have a pretty good relationship, with Curt choosing to take Jeff under his wing as a protege.....he’s an active teacher too, passing on tips before the show on how to better perform as a babyface (Jeff’s predominant role) INSIDE the ring though, these two have about as heated a match as any television bout is going to be.....

.....it was Curt Hennig’s frustrations at how long it took him to put Konnan away on Monday that lead to his choosing to assault his opponent after the match (regardless of the fact that he was victorious) well, if he was frustrated at how long it took him to take out Konnan on Monday, he was even MORE frustrated here, because Jeff Hardy fought like his life depended on it, kicking out of everything Curt could throw at him and giving back just as good as he got.....

.....the time limit crept closer and closer in this one, with neither man looking likely to be defeated.....and as we reached the ten second mark (and David Penzer counted down) the two men were trading blows in the middle of the ring, before tackling each other and tumbling through the ropes as the time limit expired.....

Winner: Time Limit Draw (No Contest)
Rating: B+

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.....and the two men continued to battle it out on the outside as the bell rings to signal the end of the match.....Curt Hennig is p!ssed, not only at the fact that he’s been eliminated from the TV Title tournament, but at the fact that he’s been eliminated at the hands of some upstart like young Jeff Hardy, attempting to whip Jeff into the safety rail on the floor.....Hardy leaps clean over the barrier though, landing in the front row.....and as Curt charges at him, he catches Hennig by the head and drops down, snapping his neck against the cold steel barricade, then uses the rail to perform an almost springboard senton on the floor.....

.....security finally makes it way out to separate the two men, as the commentary team point out that the winner of our NEXT match finds themselves in a very envious position.....because since neither Jeff Hardy OR Curt Hennig were victorious in their match, then BOTH men are eliminated from the competition.....which means that either Buff Bagwell or Diamond Dallas Page will advance straight to the finals with just one victory here.....

.....I bet Chris Benoit’s ribs are a little bit envious of THAT fact.....

Rating: B+

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/AAhTSYz.jpg">

.....before we get to that next match though, we head up to the commentary table, where Tony Schiavone tells us that the WCW Champion Sting arrived in this building early this morning (before being asked to leave courtesy of Eric Bischoff’s mandate) and Mike Tenay was able to get a few (pre-taped) words.....

.....although he did have to go “on location” to get them.....

.....that location being high up in the rafters of the building.....

.....Tenay looks petrified.....absolutely petrified in fact as he clings onto one of the structures, wearing full safety gear as Sting sits calmly opposite him.....he looks down (wayyyyyyy down) at the floor below and stumbles over his words a little bit as he asks Sting the obvious question.....

.....why are we up here?.....

.....the WCW Champion says that it’s simple.....we’re up here to remind Sting of what he’s doing, but more importantly, why he’s been doing it.....

”.....I mean, you look highly uncomfortable Mike.....and I can’t say that I blame you for that, but I just wanted you to get a small glimpse of MY view of WCW these last six months.....that, and I wanted to get one LAST view for myself.....”

.....Tenay is a little confused by that, asking Sting exactly what he means by that.....surely he’s not going anywhere, he has a title defence against Shawn Michaels upcoming at Uncensored to contend with and the LAST thing anyone wants right now, is Shawn Michaels capturing the WCW Championship.....

.....Sting smiles at that.....telling Mike Tenay that there is no way that Shawn Michaels is getting his grubby little hands on the WCW Title.....

”.....see Mike, when I first came up to these rafters, it was an escape.....an escape from the betrayals.....from the Titans of Wrestling.....from friends stabbing me in the back.....away from the fact, that for all intent and purposes, I could never again compete for THIS Championship.....

.....then I stopped escaping.....I started watching.....instead of focusing on the bad, I looked at the good.....the people fighting for WCW.....people like Lex Luger.....Diamond Dallas Page.....Chris Benoit.....

.....I saw the people CHOOSING to come to WCW.....great new talent like Jeff Hardy.....like The Rock.....Rikishi.....

.....and then I saw Shawn Michaels.....

.....or rather I HEARD him.....”

.....Sting says that he looked at Hollywood Hogan and the Titans of Wrestling with a strong hold on the WCW Title.....he heard Shawn Michaels running down the company that he’d carried on his back for years.....and he knew.....it was time to stop hiding in the shadows.....it was time to act.....and that’s exactly what he did.....

.....he won the Mayhem match.....he defeated Hollywood Hogan at Starrcade.....and he bought the WCW Title back to where it belongs and he’s damn proud of that.....

”.....see Shawn Michaels, he likes to joke.....likes to call me Mr. WCW as though it’s some kind of an insult.....well Mike, it’s not an insult to me.....I’ve given blood, sweat and tears for this company.....and in a world of people jumping from here “up north” and people from “up north” jumping “down south”, I have never, from the day I stepped foot in this company.....NEVER been tempted to be anything BUT Mr. WCW.....and I’ll continue to be Mr. WCW until the day I retire.....”

.....which is why we are in the rafters today.....because Sting says that (no matter WHAT Shawn Michaels does) he will NOT drive him back into the rafters.....

”.....been there.....done that.....and Shawn, for as much as you continue to run your mouth, you ask yourself this.....how’s it going to feel?.....

.....how’s it going to feel at Uncensored.....when this “second rate” Champion of this “second rate” company is making you scream like the little prima donna that you are as you’re trapped in the Scorpio Deathlock.....to retain the big GOLD belt.....THE belt.....the WCW Heavyweight Championship of the World.....

.....you can call me what you like, you can call World Championship Wrestling, it’s wrestlers and it’s all it’s great fans whatever you like.....but at the end of the day, just like Hollywood Hogan, just like The Giant and just like the Warrior, when that bell rings at the end of the night you’re going to see ME.....you’re going to see ‘Mr. WCW’ standing over you with this world title still around my waist.....and Shawn.....if you DON’T like it.....well, YOU can suck it pal.....because it’s Showtime.....”

Rating: A

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/aQrP0BT.jpg">

WCW Television Championship: First Round Match

.....it’s time for our next opening round match, and unlike our previous matches there’s no Semi-Finals for these two competitors to concern themselves with.....because with Jeff Hardy and Curt Hennig going to a time limit draw, that means that either Diamond Dallas Page or Buff Bagwell can book themselves a shot in the tournament finals with just one victory here.....

.....Bagwell is a man alone here.....a position he’s not found himself in too many times since joining the Titans of Wrestling.....but with the rest of the Titans banned from the building, if he wants to pick up his first (singles) championship then he’s going to have to do it the hard way.....by winning without ANY help.....

.....it’s not going to be easy either.....he’s up against a former champion in DDP.....former WCW Tag Team Champion.....former WCW United States Champion.....a man that’s faced (and almost defeated) Hollywood Hogan for the WCW Championship.....and yes, a former WCW TV Champion too.....

.....this isn’t the first time they’ve met either.....Page and Bagwell have faced off on a number of occasions, so know each other very well.....although Bagwell has picked a few new tricks up along the way, mainly how to cheat.....which is why he’s able to catch Dallas with an (unseen by the official) low blow, before climbing up to the second rope to look for the BlockBuster.....

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/OvbHblE.jpg">

.....which is about the point that Lex Luger comes walking out from the back.....

.....The Total Package came to the aid of Rowdy Roddy Piper this past Monday Night, after Bagwell (and The Giant) assaulted the Hot Rod during what appeared to be his retirement speech.....

.....and apparently Lex is still hot about it.....

.....Bagwell (still perched on that second rope) turns to trade barbs with Luger (rather unoriginally calling him Lex Loser) but he should probably have paid more attention to his opponent.....because with Bagwell’s attention away from the match, Dallas pulls himself up and stumbles over to the corner, where he nails Buff.....grabs him by the head.....

.....and flattens him with a Diamond Cutter from right there off the second rope.....

.....and three seconds later, Diamond Dallas Page is headed straight to the finals of the WCW Title Tournament.....

Winner: Diamond Dallas Page
Rating: B+

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/OvbHblE.jpg">

.....Luger climbs into the ring (microphone in hand) and congratulates Dallas, wishing him good luck in the finals later, before standing over the still groggy Buff Bagwell.....

.....Bagwell rolls onto his back and finally realises that not only has he just lost, but he’s looking up at the sight of (a pec flexing) Lex Luger.....

.....Buff tries to roll and scramble backwards, but Lex just smiles and holds a hand up, telling Buff not to worry.....

”.....because unlike you and your coward friends in the Titans of Wrestling, I don’t NEED to kick a man when he’s down.....so you can either lay there on your back and listen, or you can be a man, stand up.....and look me in the eye like a man while I say what I’m out here to say.....”

.....Bagwell does neither.....instead, what he does is scramble backwards, under the bottom rope and out of the ring, stumbling up the aisle way as he retreats.....

.....Luger says that he figured as much.....but that’s ok, because with this microphone, Bagwell can still hear him all the way over there.....

.....he tells Buff that he’s out here to make a challenge.....a challenge for Uncensored.....because since Bagwell and the Giant like beating up on people so bad, he’s going to give them someone to beat up on.....

”.....two someone’s actually.....because while Roddy Piper is home right now licking his wounds, and while he WAS out on Monday to announce his retirement.....the Hot Rod tells me that he has ONE more match in him.....and I couldn’t be more honoured than I was when he asked me to be a part of it.....”

.....Luger tells Bagwell to get his partner.....grab that slobbering mess of a man called The Giant.....and at Uncensored, let’s see if they've got the guts to fight a fair fight.....two vs. two.....Lex Luger and Rowdy Roddy Piper against Buff Bagwell and The Giant.....

”.....because if Roddy Piper is going out, he’s going out on his own terms.....and he’s going to slap you around like the little punk that you are on his way out of the door.....”

.....there you are then.....challenge levied, but not yet accepted.....I’m sure it will be though.....

.....let’s have another match.....

Rating: B+

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/N9nIuAu.jpg">

.....not a match in the television title tournament though.....Jeff Hardy and Curt Hennig’s double elimination means that there’s a spot on the card for another match, so we get this.....Rikishi Fatu, looking to slap some sense(?) respect(?) into his Samoan Brethren from the Lumana’i, when he faces the big man LA Smooth.....

.....obviously Smooth isn’t out alone though.....he has the (equally big) Ekmo and Kimo by his side, as well as (the biggest man) Kokina with him.....those are some big odds to overcome.....

.....Rikishi does TRY to talk some sense into Smooth, but it doesn’t get him anywhere.....Smooth just pie-faces his opponent, who (in turn) smacks him straight in the mouth.....

.....and so begins a mercifully short(ish) match that is basically a brawl from start to finish.....

.....I say ‘mercifully’ like this was a terrible match.....it wasn’t at all.....it’s just that while Rikishi is somewhat of a household name (stemming from his decade plus in the business, with stints in both WCW and the WWF) LA Smooth most certainly is not.....he’s at least decent in the ring though, so the match (brawl) is at least entertaining.....

.....in the end though, it was the (MUCH) bigger name that picked up the victory, as despite the Lumana’i attempting to interfere on a number of occasions, Rikishi was able to finish off Smooth with a Rikishi Driver for the one, two, three.....

Winner: Rikishi Fatu
Rating: C

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/n21UiQS.jpg">

.....of course there’s still the small....or rather, the large matter of the rest of The Lumana’i.....all of which now enter the ring to surround Rikishi as LA Smooth slowly gets back to his feet.....

.....Kokina tells his one time tag team partner that he should have just stepped to one side and let the future of Samoa....the Lumana’i, do what they needed to do.....instead, he’s stuck his nose in their business and while he might have won tonight, he ain’t gonna be walking out of this arena like no winner.....

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/rlXf3rD.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/iAQ78sG.jpg">

.....fortunately for Big ‘Kish help is at hand.....help in the form of the Samoan SWAT Team, two men that the Lumana’i took out of commission a few weeks back.....

.....Gary Hart promised last week that Fatu and Samu would be making their return and that proves to be true here, as the two Samoan Savages (depicting the exact stereotype that the Lumana’i are looking to dispel) come rushing down the aisle and into the ring, where they instantly go to work in brawling with Ekmo and Kimo.....

.....that leaves Rikishi to throw down with Kokina, trading blows with he mammoth man as the SST finally drive Ekmo, Kimo and finally (the still groggy) Smooth from the ring.....

.....Kokina looks to be getting the better of Rikishi, but the SST soon join the assault and between the three of them they finally knock the massive man off his feet, leaving Kokina to roll under the bottom rope and join the rest of the Lumana’i on the outside.....

.....Kokina decides that this fight can wait for another day, ordering his men to head to the back, leaving Rikishi to welcome back the SST.....

.....this might not be the most exciting feud in WCW history, but it looks as though it’s set to continue regardless.....

.....let’s head to the back.....

Rating: C+

<img style="max-width:15%;
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"src="https://i.imgur.com/GbMfOPD.jpg">

.....where (fresh from his visit to the trainers room) Chris Benoit is stretching out those damaged ribs ahead of his upcoming semi-final match.....his semi-final match with the gentleman who enters the room now (along with Lance Storm) Lord Steven Regal.....

.....there’s no ulterior motive here though.....no sneak attack, no attempting to soften up the opponent.....Storm and Regal are simply here to offer a gentlemanly good luck before the match.....

.....Regal tells Benoit that while he would much rather be competing against a fully fit Chris Benoit, he gives his word as a gentleman and a scholar that there will be no underhanded tactics displayed in their match.....

”.....myself and Mr. Storm have far to much respect for you lad.....and I think I can safely say (for all of us) that there is always a position available in Her Majesty’s Sovereignty for an upstanding competitor such as yourself.....so from one gentleman to another, good luck.....and may the best man win.....”

.....Regal offers Benoit his hand (which Benoit accepts) before politely nodding at Storm and making his way out of the room, presumably down to ringside.....

.....Storm looks down at Benoit’s ribs and shakes his head, citing that it’s a damn shame that this had to happen like this.....

”.....and he can deny it all he likes, but it’s clear that your American ‘friend’ Diamond Dallas Page did little to prevent this situation from happening.....in fact, you could almost be secured for thinking that he PLANNED it this way.....that he was deliberately out of position, leading to your current predicament.....but that’s not for me to say.....I am sure you can draw your own conclusion as to his intentions.....”

.....Storm tells Benoit that despite his current condition, Lance Storm believes in Chris Benoit.....that’s why he gave up his spot in his tournament, so that a fellow Canadian could get the opportunity that he so richly deserves.....

”.....and with all due respect, should Lord Steven defeat you tonight and go on to capture the Television Title, the Sovereignty wins.....but.....if Chris Benoit goes out there tonight, defeats His Lordship.....defeats Dallas Page.....wins the Television Title.....and THEN makes the decision that we have all been waiting for.....then the Sovereignty REALLY wins.....

.....good luck Chris.....from ALL of us.....”

Rating: B+

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WCW Television Championship: Semi-Final Match

.....and that match IS next.....it’s (a very banged up) Chris Benoit taking on Lord Steven Regal, and evening if Benoit wasn’t disadvantaged by coming into this match at much less than 100%, Regal also has somewhat of a psychological advantage.....because Lord Steven Regal actually defeated Chris Benoit just a few weeks back on Monday Nitro.....

.....now, while Regal competed far more fairly than one would expect, the finish was marred somewhat by outside interference.....mainly the unintentional distraction that Benoit received at the hands of his friend (and occasional partner) Diamond Dallas Page.....DDP isn’t out here for this one though.....

.....and surprisingly, neither were any members of the Sovereignty.....

.....this match was as clean as clean could be and (unsurprisingly considering the contestants) was very, very good.....both these men are about as fundamentally sound as two wrestlers can be, and while Benoit was hampered by his bad ribs this was still a technical masterclass.....

.....speaking of those bad ribs, Regal gave his word to fight cleanly (which he did) but it would have been pretty stupid of him NOT to focus his attack on the obvious weak spot of Benoit, particularly when his Regal Stretch is going to do just that.....stretch those ribs.....so there was a good amount of work focusing on the midsection of Benoit.....in the end though, Benoit was determined to prove himself here, finally managing to catch the arm on one of Regal’s (numerous) European Uppercut attempts and transitioning it into a Crippler Crossface, leaving his Lordship little choice but to concede the match, as a badly battered Chris Benoit advances to the finals of the Tournament.....

Winner: Chris Benoit
Rating: A

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/h0Ujs4a.jpg">

.....the bell sounds, as the official raises the hand of Benoit (which clearly tweaks those ribs as Benoit quickly snatches his arm away) and the rest of the Sovereignty joins Steven Regal in the ring.....

.....Benoit offers a hand to his opponent, helping Regal too his feet (despite the pain it causes him) as Lance Storm, The Amazing French Canadians and The Blue Bloods surround the two competitors.....

.....back on his feet Benoit goes to release his grip on Regal, but Regal won’t let go, pulling the Crippler close to him in a tense moment.....eventually though Regal congratulates the victor on a match well fought, telling him to give ”that American oaf Diamond Dallas Page” the same thrashing that Regal himself just received.....

.....the rest of the Sovereignty gather around Benoit, offering congratulations and words of encouragement of their own, as we head backstage ahead of the final match of the evening.....

Rating: B+

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.....where Mike Tenay is standing by with the man who will officiate the final match in the Television Title Tournament (Mark Curtis) and Curtis his holding on to the Championship Belt that will be competed for next.....

.....it’s a bit odd to see an official interviewed, but this is more of a PSA than a promo, with Mike Tenay telling us that Eric Bischoff was scheduled to be presenting the winner of this next match with the Television Title, however, the public face of the WCW Championship Committee is currently unaccounted for.....

.....basically, no one can find him.....

.....so in other words, Mr. Curtis here will be transporting the championship belt to the ring, as well has having the honour of presenting the new champion with his prize.....

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.....Tenay is about to wrap this up and send us back down to ringside, when he’s interrupted by a loud crash.....as Jeff Hardy and Curt Hennig come flying into shot.....

.....security may have managed to separate these two men earlier in the evening, but it looks as though they’ve found each other once again.....they’re punching and kicking, scratching and clawing and generally trying to inflict serious damage on each other as they brawl about in the backstage area.....

.....Mark Curtis quickly leaves the area (he’s got a title match to officiate) as Tenay frantically calls for security, which finally arrives to attempt to separate Hardy and Hennig for the second time this evening.....

.....it’s a bit chaotic back here.....

.....let’s go down to ringside for our main event.....

Rating: B

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WCW Television Championship: Final Match

.....this has been a longgggg night for Chris Benoit.....and it’s about to get a little bit longer.....because mere minutes after he’s finished competing in his second gruelling match of the evening it’s time for his third.....against a relatively fresh Diamond Dallas Page.....I say relatively because while Page HAS wrestled once before this evening, it WAS only once.....and he didn’t come into the night already injured either.....

.....the Sovereignty are still at ringside, but they’re not there for long.....and it’s not the official that sends them to the back.....it’s Chris Benoit.....he tells Storm that he doesn’t want any distractions, interference.....or ANYTHING that could taint a victory here.....when he wins, he wants to know it’s at his own efforts and if Storm is as confident in Benoit’s abilities as he claims, then he’ll honour his wishes.....

.....and so he does.....

.....that just leaves Page and Benoit.....former partners.....former tag team champions.....former friends?.....former, former, former, but tonight isn’t about former.....it’s about future.....future television champion.....and both men want that gold.....

.....the in ring action in this wasn’t quite at the same standard as Benoit’s previous encounter with Regal, but then DDP hasn’t ever claimed to be the worker that Steven Regal is.....it was very good though.....

.....the story of the match seemed to centre around Dallas wanting to win the match, win the championship, but not do any more damage to Benoit’s ribs than absolutely necessary, with the announcers debunking Lance Storm’s claim that Dallas was the kind of competitor to have intentionality allowed his friend to suffer in order to gain the advantage here tonight.....

.....he DOES have the advantage though (a fact which the announcers don’t deny) what with the fact that Page is fully fit and has also wrestled one match less than his opponent.....that’s not to say that Benoit is going to go down easy.....he’s the very definition of a never say die babyface here, mounting comeback after comeback....unfortunately all DDP has to do to thwart each comeback attempt is to nail Benoit with a simple knee to the midsection.....

.....Benoit does keep trying though.....

.....so much so that he even manages to transition a Diamond Cutter attempt into a Crippler Crossface, which WOULD have won the match any other time.....unfortunately he had locked the hold in too close to the ropes, with Dallas being able to reach out and force the break.....

.....and the two men get back to their feet.....

.....and Benoit walks right into a Diamond Cutter.....

.....and THAT (despite a valiant effort on the night) is too much for Benoit, as the official counts the one....the two.....and the three.....

Winner: .....and New WCW Television Champion.....Diamond Dallas Page
Rating: A

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.....the bell sounds and (in the absence of Eric Bischoff) Mark Curtis hands Diamond Dallas Page the Television Title, as the new champion celebrates his victory.....

.....Benoit slowly comes to his senses, and Page (much as Benoit did with Regal earlier) helps his opponent to his feet, before offering his hand in respect.....

.....Benoit looks devastated at the loss, hesitating to take the hand, before finally accepting.....but as the two men shake Benoit points at the title with his free hand, telling Page that this isn’t over.....he won’t always be hurt.....and that the next time they face off for THAT championship, it’s coming home with the Crippler.....

.....and just then, the Turnertron flickers into life.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/uR0ugeC.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
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.....to reveal Shawn Michaels and his band of degenerates somewhere in the backstage area of the arena.....oh, and a very uncomfortable looking Eric Bischoff too, who’s clamped firmly in place with JPL’s arm over his shoulders.....

.....Shawn gives the camera a wave (along with his ever present cocky smile) telling us that while he knows they’re not supposed to be here tonight, unfortunately that doesn’t work for him brother.....

”.....see, I hate to break it to you Easy-E, but Shawn Michaels has never been one for following the rules.....WE have never been one for following the rules, and quite frankly the thought of a little nobody like you thinking he can tell ME what I can and can’t do.....Eric, that’s just insulting.....”

.....Shawn give Bischoff a ‘friendly’ slap on the cheek, telling him that it’s ok, he’ll learn (just like all of WCW will learn) that Shawn Michaels.....JPL.....the Totally Awesome Trinity.....

”.....we don’t take orders from you.....Ted Turner.....any of his corporate suits up in Turner Land.....Vince Russo, or anybody else.....we do what we want to do, when we want to do it.....and if you don’t like it, well.....you can just Suck It can’t you.....

.....boys, old Eric here, he’s looking a little bit under the weather.....why don’t you get him a seat.....”

.....and with that, JPL gives Bischoff a hard shove, sending him straight towards Copeland and Cage.....

.....who each have a steel chair in hand.....

.....which they use to absolutely destroy Bischoff with a huge Con-Chair-To.....

.....Eric collapses to the floor (giving a little spasm for effect) as Michaels and JPL laugh it up, telling Copeland and Cage that their Con-Chair-To was “totally awesome”, before Shawn turns to the camera again, saying that while he doesn’t think Easy-E will be at Nitro.....

”.....we will be.....know why? Because we can.....so Sting.....Savage.....Russo.....even you Rocky.....we’ll see you Monday boys.....”

.....with that the five men step over the body of Eric Bischoff and walk off, as Schiavone signs off for the evening, calling Michaels and his men a bunch of no good degenerates.....

.....we’ll see you Monday too.....

Rating: A+

Final Rating: A

lmnoq · January 7, 2021

thought you might find this funny<a class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image" href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2021_01/wcw.jpg.66e2fa7f135fb2d97103114253f73cc1.jpg" data-fileid="3776" data-fileext="jpg" rel=""><img data-fileid="3776" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt="wcw.jpg.66e2fa7f135fb2d97103114253f73cc1.jpg" data-src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2021_01/wcw.jpg.66e2fa7f135fb2d97103114253f73cc1.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></a>

to4sty · November 3, 2021

ECW Week 1, March

<img style="max-width:60%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/KHIBBqF.jpg">

Week 1, March 1998

Highlights from ECW Living Dangerously 1998

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.....ladies and gentlemen, we’ve left February in the rear view mirror and as we head on into March things are going to get a little more extreme.....a little more perilous.....a little more.....dangerous.....because this is ECW.....and here tonight, in the ECW arena.....we are.....Living Dangerously.....

.....Joey Styles is live in front of this capacity crowd, as he welcomes the raucous ECW fans to the 1998 edition of Living Dangerously.....

.....he briefly runs down the show, including the announcement that tonight we will get to see the match that we DIDN’T get to see last month, as The Sandman puts the ECW Championship on the line against the Hardcore Legend himself, Terry Funk.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....a statement that doesn’t sit well with this gentleman.....as Justin Credible cuts Styles off, matching to the ring with the Sandman’s Singapore Cane in one hand.....and a sheet of paper in the other.....

.....obviously Joey isn’t particularly happy at this interruption, asking what the young upstart is doing here.....

”.....didn’t you do enough last week?.....”

.....”last week” being when Credible (and the Philadelphia State Athletic Commissioner Buford T. Pinkerton) interrupted Terry Funk’s challenge to The Sandman, stating that he couldn’t in good conscious allow a man of Terry Funk’s advanced age to compete twice in one evening.....

”.....well Justin, I hate to break it to you, but Terry Funk will only be competing ONCE this evening.....but it will be for the ECW Championship.....”

“.....actually Joey.....no he won’t.....”

.....Credible says that what he has in his hand supersedes any crappy little contract that Terry Funk has for this evening.....because this piece of paper in his hand is a signed mandate from Buford T. Pinkerton.....and on this piece of paper, it states that if Extreme Championship Wrestling wish to run this Living Dangerously event here tonight.....in Philly.....then they will abide by the Committees wishes.....

.....and (after being Piledriven by the Hardcore Legend) Buford has declared that it will be Justin Credible challenging The Sandman this evening (not Terry Funk) and ECW will finally have a champion to be proud of.....

”.....and that’s not just the greatest.....that’s not just the best.....that’s Justin Credible.....YOUR next ECW Champion.....”

“.....hold on.....hold on.....hold on one goddamn minute.....”

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/3vGKhiH.jpg">

.....hold on indeed.....because after being interrupted once already by Justin Credible, it seems like we have another participant in this opening segment.....Paul E. Dangerously.....

.....Dangerously marches down to the ring and climbs through the ropes, snatching the paper out of Credible’s hand as he tells him that he thinks he might have forgotten where he is.....

”.....because this isn’t Titan Towers.....this isn’t the Turner Offices.....this isn’t the WWF or WC f#@king W.....THIS is Extreme Championship Wrestling.....this is ECW, and (as Mr. Pinkerton found out last month) we don’t bow down to ANYBODY.....”

.....Paul E. says that this piece of paper (tearing it in half) isn’t worth a god damn thing here, and if Buford T. Pinkerton wants to come down to the goddamn ECW arena and tell THESE fans that Living Dangerously has been cancelled, then he’d better bring the riot gear.....because he won’t be getting out alive.....

”.....so let me guarantee you something right here, right now.....Terry Funk WILL be competing tonight against the Sandman for the ECW Title.....and so will you.....you see, we have a little tradition around here.....we have a certain match type that we pioneered.....it’s called the Three Way Dance.....

.....so since Terry Funk already has a title opportunity, and since YOU want a shot at the title too, I’m going to give you one.....not because Buford T. Pinkerton said so, but because quite frankly, I want to watch you get your skinny little, buck toothed bald ass kicked.....and Sandman.....Terry Funk.....they’re going to do it.....so f#@k you.....and f#@k Buford T. Pinkerton too.....Joey Styles, here’s your main event.....Justin Credible vs. The Sandman......vs. Terry Funk.....for the ECW Championship.....in a three way dance.....”

.....and that match will be happening.....tonight.....

.....although you won’t actually see it.....

.....at least not for about another three weeks anyway.....

.....sorry about that.....

Rating: B+

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.....instead, you get to watch Tracy Smothers face off against Steve Corino.....

.....you’re welcome.....

.....Smothers (as you’d perhaps expect) was accompanied to the ring for this one by the rest of the FBI, and while he’s always got a somewhat cocky manner, he’s REALLY confident here.....

.....maybe because he’s a near sixteen year veteran, while Steve Corino is a mere three years into his fledgling career.....

.....unfortunately for Smothers, this didn’t go quite as easily as he was expecting.....Corino might be young and (mildly) inexperienced, but he’s not intimidated by either his opponent, nor his team mates on the outside, twisting Guido inside out with a running lariet on the outside, as well as driving the Big Don into the guard rail with a knee to the small of the back.....

.....damn, the FBI could use a hand here.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/78kyKyt.jpg">

.....cue this gentleman.....former made man (and current wannabe re-made man) JT. Smith.....

.....Smith has made it clear that he wants the Big Don Tommy Rich to re-initiate him back into the Family, but thus far the hapless Smith hasn’t made the best of impressions, often ending up COSTING the FBI matches as opposed to helping them win.....

.....he cost the FBI the match here too.....

.....he comes rushing into the ring with a steel chair which he swings wildly at Corino.....unfortunately Corino ducks and it’s Smothers that eats the steel.....

.....Corino quickly disposes of JT, tossing him over the top rope, then (as Smothers slowly gets back to his feet) he snatches his opponent and drives his skull to the mat with an Implanter DDT for the one, the two and the three.....

Winner: Steve Corino
Rating: D

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....Corino quickly gets out dodge as Rich and Guido dive into the ring, but it’s not him they’re looking for, it’s Smith.....

.....Smith has also headed into the ring, looking to make amends with (or at least apologise to) Tracy Smothers.....Smothers doesn’t want to hear it though.....and neither does the rest of the FBI.....

.....the Big Don walks over to Smith and shoves him in the chest, telling him that he needs to stay out of the FBI’s matches, because there ain’t no way that a Mook like him is EVER going to be welcomed into the Family.....

”.....but I tell ya what.....I tell ya what, since you’re too much of a schmuck to take my advice.....and since you keep costing the Family money, tonight.....Little Guido, he’s gonna make sure you’re sleeping with the fishes capiche?.....”

.....with that, the Big Don walks over to Smith, planting a kiss on each of his cheeks....which Smith instantly freaks out about.....

.....Joey Styles on commentary tells us that JT. Smith has just been marked with the Kiss of Death, it’s no wonder he’s not happy about it.....

.....looks like we’re going to be seeing Little Guido carry out the hit when he faces JT. Smith next.....

.....or rather next WEEK if you’re watching this on Hardcore TV.....

.....what? You wanted to see it sooner? Then you should have bought a ticket to Living Dangerously you cheap b@stard.....

Rating: D+

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....instead, what you DO get are some promo’s cut in post production.....promo’s for a match that’s actually already happened, as we head to the back where the FBI are discussing Guido’s upcoming match.....

.....it’s nothing groundbreaking, in fact it’s pretty much a rehash of the promo we’ve just seen, with the Big Don telling Smith that they’ve been looking out back and they’ve finally found the concrete shoes they were looking for.....and they’re going to be a perfect fit for the hapless Mr. Smith.....

.....Smothers (who’s since recovered from his defeat) stands behind a snarling Little Guido, alternating between rubbing the smaller mans shoulders and biting his thumb at the camera.....they’re a charming bunch the Full Bloodied Italians.....

.....on the flip side of that we go to another backstage shot, where Smith is in the washroom of the ECW arena, frantically trying to wash the Kiss of Death off his face in a basin.....

.....honestly JT, I don’t think that’s how it works.....

.....Smith tells the screen (and the FBI) that it doesn’t have to be like this.....they can drop the hit.....hell, they can GIVE him a hit to carry out.....he’ll prove to them that he’s Made Man material.....that he’s not just some klutz.....some bad luck charm.....sure, he’s had a few mishaps.....made a few mistakes.....

”.....but that’s all behind me now.....all that bad luck, it’s gone Big Don.....you gotta believe me.....you gotta.....it’s all good for JT. Smith from here on in.....no more mistakes, no more accidents.....”

.....with that Smith turns.....and slips on a puddle of water that’s spilled from the washbasin, losing his footing and banging his head off the basin itself.....

.....no more accidents indeed.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/x1n4JrL.jpg">

.....from there we switch to ANOTHER shot.....and another pre (or rather post) taped segment, this time with Steve Corino.....

.....Corino, while clearly happy with his victory, isn’t happy about HOW he achieved his victory.....not because he’s trying to be a rah-rah babyface, but because he says that this is everything that’s wrong with this business today.....

”.....fans would rather cheer a moron like JT. Smith.....applaud failure.....these fans would cheer louder for a fat drunk hitting someone with a Kendo Stick (like THAT takes any talent) than they would watching someone perform the perfect Bridging German Suplex.....fans have lost that Old School mentality.....technique.....skill.....talent.....now they’d rather watch a bar fight.....

.....well you won’t be watching any bar fights with Steve Corino.....because I’m bringing Old-School back.....and if you don’t like it.....I’ll wrestle you, come change my mind.....”

.....speaking of wrestling.....

Rating: C-

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.....this was NOT a wrestling match.....

.....this was a very angry 911 looking to gain a measure of revenge on Shane Douglas’ insurance policy.....the absolutely mammoth Hellraiser.....

.....The Hellraiser made his ECW debut at last months House Party event and he made an instant impression, helping Douglas retain his Television Championship, before doing the unthinkable.....

.....Chokeslamming Beulah straight through a wooden table.....

.....911 has always been the problem solver here in ECW.....someone’s running their mouth, call 911.....match sucks, call 911.....just wanna see some bum chokeslammed, call 911.....well, The Hellraiser might be the biggest problem that 911 has ever had to solve.....and Shane Douglas is out there too just to make that problem even bigger.....

.....this match was horrible.....most 911 matches are horrible in fairness, but this was especially bad.....luckily it was short.....911 got his licks in to start the match but nothing seemed to phase the newcomer, who eventually began to dominate the match.....

.....911 did rally back eventually as these two huge men began to brawl their way to the finish.....a finish that saw Shane Douglas clock 911 in the back of the head with a steel chain loaded punch to the back of the head.....

.....the big man doesn’t go down, but he does stagger forward, walking straight into the open hand of the Hellraiser, who picks him up and Chokeslam’s him to the mat, handing 911 a rare pinfall loss.....

Winner: The Hellraiser
Rating: D-

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.....not satisfied with that, Douglas tells Hellraiser to do it again.....and do it properly this time.....

”.....do it like you did that little b!tch Beulah.....”

.....happy to oblige (or happy to take orders at least) Hellraiser climbs to the outside and picks up a wooden table (conveniently) located under the ring.....he slides the wood under the bottom rope and then gives 911 a few stomps in between setting the table up.....then he picks up the big man.....

.....and Chokeslams him straight through the wood.....

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.....which is when Tommy Dreamer’s music hits (Man in a Box.....f#@k you copyright laws) and the man himself walks out from the back.....

.....very calmly actually, considering what happened to Beulah.....

.....he doesn’t rush to the ring to meet a two on one onslaught.....he doesn’t do his best to fight the overwhelming odds.....no, he’s going to wait for that.....

.....wait until Shane Douglas accepts a match that is.....

.....Douglas scoffs at that, telling Dreamer that for one, he’s already beat his ass.....and his woman’s too......and for two, Douglas already has a match tonight.....

”.....and I don’t even know who it’s against.....see the brass back there, they want to punish me for what my Hellraiser did to Beulah last week.....apparently Chokeslamming women through tables is frowned upon all of a sudden.....but one thing they HAVE told me, is that my opponent isn’t YOU.....”

.....Dreamer says that he’s not looking for a title match, he just wants a fight.....and since Tommy knows that Douglas is only going to hide behind Hellraiser anyway, why don’t they make it a tag team match.....

”.....because after what that big son of a b!tch did to Beulah, I’m gonna tear his head off too.....”

.....Douglas isn’t going for it though.....and why should he, he has a title defence to worry about.....but, out of curiosity (since they already took out 911) who’s his partner?

.....Tommy just smiles and points to the back.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/oUdDGeT.jpg">

.....as the rookie Chris Chetti makes his way out.....

.....and Douglas is in hysterics.....

.....he asks Dreamer if this is the best that he can do? A rookie that Shane beat recently anyway? This is the best he has to face off against them?.....

”.....you know what Tommy, what the hell.....you’re on.....Hellraiser could beat both you bums on his own, I won’t even have to break a sweat.....you want a match, you got a match.....bring your dumb asses down here so that Hellraiser can Chokeslamming you like he did your old lady.....”

.....another impromptu match that’s happening next? You know what that means.....we’ll see this match happen NEXT week.....right here on Hardcore TV.....

Rating: C

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....which brings us to our main event.....and in reality it’s a pretty big one.....

.....Rob Van Dam and Taz have been circling each other on and off for a few months now (although Taz has certainly been the more vocal of the two, challenging Van Dam a number of times) and tonight is the night they finally cross paths.....

.....Van Dam has only been here since January, but already he gives all of his bouts that “big match” feel with his arrogance alone and (with Bill Alfonso and his f#@king annoying whistle at ringside) these fans are ready to see Taz tear the cocky RVD apart.....

.....Alfonso will be hoping that his current client has more luck than his previous one, because Sabu has been on the shelf with a broken neck for the best part of a year now following his last meeting with the Human Suplex Machine, which is exactly why Fonzie is dead set on Van Dam picking up the win here.....

.....these two men had a hell of a match too.....

.....Rob Van Dam is perhaps the most flexible son of a b!tch in wrestling today, so when Taz tosses him with those numerous suplex variations, RVD sells them all like a superstar, regularly getting folded up like an accordion.....likewise, Taz actually sells for his opponent (which is a rarity in itself) taking Van Dam’s unique offence, including getting dropped on the safety rail for Van Dam to deliver that spinning leg drop from the apron.....

.....back in the ring the two men nail each other with chairs, strikes, kicks, suplexes and punches, with neither competitor gaining a prolonged period of offence.....even Fonzie gets in on the action, getting his lights punched out by Taz.....

.....then Taz locks on the Kata-Ha-Jime.....and with RVD refusing to tap out, it looks li,e we could get another broken neck here.....

.....until the lights go out.....

.....and then come back on.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/Xdedctc.jpg">

.....to reveal the Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal Maniac that is Sabu standing right there in the middle of the ring.....

.....the crowd pops for that.....and so they should.....it’s been over twelve months since Sabu was seen inside an ECW ring, but he’s here now.....and he cracks a steel chair over the head of the man who put him on the shelf.....

.....that releases the choke that Taz had on Van Dam and also leaves the Human Suplex Machine open to an out and out assault from Sabu.....

.....Alfonso blows his whistle furiously, encouraging Van Dam back to his feet as the two men go about putting the boots to Taz, before finally they put him down for good with a moonsault through a table from Sabu, followed by a Five Star Frog Splash from RVD.....who makes the cockiest cover known to man for the one, two, three.....

Winner: Rob Van Dam
Rating: B

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.....Sabu has a lot of pent up aggression to get out of his system though.....so it’s perhaps no surprise that he’s not happy with just costing Taz a victory.....

.....Rob Van Dam IS happy to just celebrate his victory though.....standing there posing as Sabu continues to put the boots to the Human Suplex Machine, until he finally decides to join in.....

.....Fonzie climbs into the ring with a chair and (as Sabu holds the man in place) he holds in in front of he face of Taz, which RVD in turn kicks straight into the skull.....

.....that’s still not enough for Sabu though.....and he opens up the chair just enough to slide it over the head of Taz, before climbing up to the top rope.....

.....Fonzie hands Sabu a second chair (as Van Dam ensures Taz remains on the mat) and Sabu leaps, landing straight on the head (and in turn, the chair) with the Arabian Facebuster, which should realistically here be called the Arabian Neckbreaker.....because Taz looks to be in serious trouble.....

.....Styles has an “Oh My God” moment as he ponders whether that chair that was placed over the head of Taz has indeed broken the neck of the Human Suplex Machine, before condemning the trio of Bill Alfonso, Sabu.....and Rob Van Dam.....as the trio pose over the fallen body of Taz.....

.....we’ll see you next week for more action from Living Dangerously 1998, right here on Hardcore TV.....

Rating: B

Final Rating: C+

TheAwesomeZero101 · November 4, 2021

Good to see another show. Excited for the end of this amazing dynasty!

to4sty · November 4, 2021

Good to see another show. Excited for the end of this amazing dynasty!

Thank you! The end is nearly in sight too, we are about to wrap this up

to4sty · November 4, 2021

The Monday Night Wars: Week 2, March 1998

Preview for WWF Raw is War: Week 2, March 1998

The Undertaker vs. Bret Hart
Comments:

Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Jarrett
Comments:

Al Snow & Chris Candido vs. The Nation of Domination (D’Lo & Henry)
Comments:

Dean Malenko vs. Test
Comments:

Headbangers vs. Dustin Rhodes & Marc Mero
Comments:

Billy Kidman vs. Owen Hart
Comments:

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 2, March 1998

The Rock vs. Shawn Michaels
Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match
Diamond Dallas Page © vs. Lord Steven Regal
Comments:

Psychosis vs. Brian Lawler
Comments:

Mike Awesome & Gideon Cain vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage
Comments:

The Patriot vs. Alex Wright
Comments:

Bill Goldberg vs. Ray Traylor
Comments:

Satyr24 · November 5, 2021

Preview for WWF Raw is War: Week 2, March 1998

The Undertaker vs. Bret Hart

Comments:

Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Jarrett

Comments:

Al Snow & Chris Candido vs. The Nation of Domination (D’Lo & Henry)

Comments:

Dean Malenko vs. Test

Comments:

Headbangers vs.Dustin Rhodes & Marc Mero

Comments:

Billy Kidman vs. Owen Hart

Comments:

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 2, March 1998

The Rock vs. Shawn Michaels

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Diamond Dallas Page © vs. Lord Steven Regal

Comments:

Psychosis vs. Brian Lawler

Comments:

Mike Awesome & Gideon Cain vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage

Comments:

The Patriot vs. Alex Wright

Comments:

Bill Goldberg vs. Ray Traylor

Comments:

to4sty · November 6, 2021

<img style="max-width:60%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/BC8Hy9X.jpg">

Week 2, March 1998

Worcester Centrum (Worcester, Massachusetts)

ATT: 13,334

TV: 38.16

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....the road to Wrestlemania continues and as Raw is War comes on the air, it looks like the WWF Champion is planning on travelling there in style.....because a long black limousine pulls up to the building and Brian Pillman climbs out.....

.....he’s not alone either.....the chairman of the board Vince McMahon climbs out right beside him, as do the WWF Tag Team Champions Ric Flair and Arn Anderson.....the gang’s all here.....

.....well.....MOST of the gang.....apparently Mankind isn’t a limousine kinda guy, because he’s not there at all.....

.....the four men look very pleased with themselves (particularly Brian Pillman) and laugh and joke between each other as they walk towards the arena.....

.....and the opening credits of the show begin to roll.....its time to officially get Raw underway.....

Rating: B

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....and when we return, we come back to four different men.....because Bret Hart’s screeching guitar theme signals the arrival of the Hart Foundation, as Bret, Owen, Chris Jericho and Test make their way down the aisle.....

.....judging by the demeanour of Vince McMahon (and Brian Pillman) the owner of the WWF is in a particularly jovial mood this evening following The Corporate Cannon’s assault of Stone Cold Steve Austin.....but then Brian Pillman wasn’t the only one to benefit from The Rattlesnake getting put on the shelf, as it also reduces Bret Hart’s Wrestlemania opponents by a third as well.....and The Hitman looks just as pleased at this revelation.....

.....Bret takes a microphone, telling the crowd that things are finally getting a little bit fairer around here.....because after risking it all at No Way Out (and taking a hell of a beating in the process) The Hitman is FINALLY going to get his Wrestlemania WWF Championship rematch.....

”.....and thanks to Brian Pillman weaselling his way out here last week and snapping Steve Austin’s ankle in two, it’s going to be me and Pillman.....one on one (as it should be) for the World Wrestling Federation Championship.....and Pillman, you’re going to find out that while you spent the last few weeks worrying about Austin, while Vince McMahon spent the last few months worrying about Steve Austin walking away with the gold, you forget that it’s because of US that you have that title in the first place.....and it’ll be because of ME that you lose it.....”

.....Bret says that Brian Pillman might be the best when it comes to stabbing people in the back.....Vince McMahon might be the best when it comes to screwing people over.....but when it comes to wrestling.....when it comes to stepping between these ropes.....Bret Hart IS the best.....the best there is.....the best there was......the best there ever will be.....

.....Bret hands the microphone over there to a man who’s never short of something to say.....the WWF Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho and Jericho says that while the Hitman will be walking out of Wrestlemania as the WWF Champion, the Jericho-olics in the crowd (”and I know there’s a lot of you”) don’t need to worry, because the Paragon of Virtue (your hero and mine) Chris Jericho will ALSO be walking out of Wrestlemania with his gold still around his sexy waist.....

”.....because not only am I going to retain my Intercontinental Championship, not only am I going to end Bore-Us Malenko’s career.....I’m going to do it for my friend and mentor, the ORIGINAL light-heavyweight.....Owen Hart.....”

.....Owen thanks Jericho, telling him that while he was most definitely the first (and innovator) of the light-heavyweight division, he couldn’t have asked for a better man than Chris Jericho to end it.....

.....Owen says that while most wrestlers will cling to their little safety nets, only the best of the best (like himself and Chris Jericho) can really reach for that brass ring.....but being the proud, hard working Canadians that they are, they threw “divisions” away.....they’re not “Light-Heavyweights”.....when they step between these ropes and do what Canadians do best.....wrestle.....they’re 350lb Super Heavyweights.....

”.....and some little Mexican Midget like Rey Mysterio has been riding my coat tails for too long.....Mysterio, at Wrestlemania, my good personal friend Chris Jericho is going to end the career of Dean Malenko.....and me, I’m going to rip that mask off your ugly mug and show the whole world that you’re nothing more than all flash and no substance.....”

.....the crowd boo’s at that.....they’ve developed quite the soft spot for everybody’s favourite underdog story, leading to Chris Jericho (being the gobby little shite that he is) ranting about about showing a little bit of respect for Owen Hart, calling him a trailblazer, before demanding that one of those little guys comes out here right now.....much to the surprise of Owen, who did t look like he was expecting to compete here.....

”.....send one out.....any one.....Owen will wipe the mat with them right now.....”

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.....which DOES bring out someone who could be classed as a light-heavyweight I guess.....although probably not quite the opponent Chris Jericho was thinking of.....the World Wrestling Federation Champion, Brian Pillman......

.....he’s not alone either.....he has the chairman of the board with him.....the WWF Title around his waist.....and a microphone in one hand as he uses the other to wave at the Hitman.....

”.....hiya Bretty Boy.....did you miss me? I sure missed you.....missed, but didn’t forget about like you seem to think......

.....see I was just a little busy eliminating a problem.....a Rattlesnake shaped problem, because it would seem around here that if you want something done, you need to do it yourself.....and you can thank me if you want to Hitman, because now, instead of having to worry about two opponents at Wrestlemania, you only have to worry about one.....

.....unfortunately.....that one is me.....”

.....Pillman says that the time for heroes is over and the New Generation is past its prime.....THIS is a new generation.....a new age.....the Age of Attitude.....the Age of Anarchy.....Heavy is the Head, but the Crowned Prince of Chaos is here to lead us all to the promised land.....

”.....and YOU Bret Hart.....you’re about to find out that YOUR trip isn’t going to be quite such a easy ride.....tell ‘em why Vinnie Mac.....”

.....Vince tells ’em why.....because tonight, Bret Hart will be going one on one with the Undertaker.....

.....that’s why.....

Rating: A*

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.....well, Owen Hart (or rather, Chris Jericho) wanted a light-heavyweight opponent “right now”.....he got one.....not just ANY light-heavyweight either, but a former light-heavyweight champion in Billy Kidman.....

.....Kidman hasn’t been showcased quite as much in recent months since Chris Jericho killed off his division, but he probably should be.....while he’s not likely to carry that Winged Eagle (or even Intercontinental gold) any time soon, the European Championship is definitely an option.....just ask Matt Hardy.....

.....with that being said, this match was very good.....and while Owen Hart claims to be THE light-heavyweight trailblazer (he’s not.....clearly) he certainly struggles to keep up with young Kidman here, who uses his smaller size, speed and agility to his advantage.....obviously Owen is no slouch in there, but he can’t keep up with a fired up Billy Kidman.....

.....which is probably why he cheats.....drawing the attention of the official on one hand while poking his opponent right in the eye with the other.....

.....Owen gets a little more braggadocios once he’s in control, but even that is fleeting, leading to Kidman mounting a good old babyface comeback, punctuated with a Shooting Star Press from the top rope.....

.....unfortunately Owen had already moved.....so as Kidman crashes to the mat, Hart quickly wraps up the legs, turns him over, locks on the Sharpshooter......and just like that, this one is over.....

Winner: Owen Hart
Rating: B

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.....we leave Owen celebrating in the ring and head to the parking lot, where Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner and his Number One Freak Sable are just pulling up into shot.....

.....Scotty brings the car to a stop, pulling his huge frame out and walking around to the passenger side, opening the door for Sable like the gentleman that he is.....he helps his valet out of the seat, talking smack about going hunting for wolves tonight.....but it’ll have to be the runts of the litter, because he took care of the big bad wolf last week.....

.....and then Sable let’s out an almighty scream.....

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.....as Big Sexy Kevin Nash crashes a lead pipe across the huge back of Steiner.....

.....last week we saw Scott Steiner assault his Wrestlemania opponent here in the back, looks like this week we are getting a receipt from Big Sexy, because Nash goes to town on Steiner, nailing him over and over with that lead pipe, before dragging him over to the car door.....

.....Nash is still visibly limping from his beat down last week, but he’s not about to let that stop him.....he doesn’t go for the leg though, instead he shoves Steiner’s arm inside the vehicle, then slams that door shut right on the hand of Big Poppa Pump.....

.....finally security (and medical personnel) show up, ushering Nash away and tending to Scotty, but as Big Sexy is escorted from the venue, he makes sure to wish Steiner good luck in locking on that Steiner Recliner at Wrestlemania with only one arm.....

.....that’s if these two even make it to Wrestlemania.....

.....they might kill each other first.....

Rating: A

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.....from the parking lot we go back inside the arena.....or rather UNDER the arena.....as we go to Dok Hendrix who is currently down in the boiler room area of the building.....why you ask? Because that’s where Mankind is currently sitting (cross legged on the floor) and Dok is here to get a few words from the man.....

.....Dok says that Mankind was conspicuous by his absence as Mr. McMahon and the rest of his Corporate Champions pulled up to the arena earlier this evening.....why was that?.....

”.....why was that?.....why WAS that Dok?.....maybe it was because (just like you said) it was the Corporate Champions arriving.....and while I do have this particularly snazzy shirt and tie combination, a man like me is never going to be one that ‘corporate’ are going to want to show off now am I.....I’m neither corporate nor champion.....maybe it was that.....maybe it’s just that Uncle Vince doesn’t feel comfortable sharing a ride with me.....not many people are comfortable around me Dok.....you look particularly uncomfortable right now for example.....”

.....Dok does look rather unnerved by his current situation, but he doesn’t reply, instead continuing to let Mankind speak.....

”.....when you look and act as I do Dok, it kinda makes people a little uneasy.....I see the way people look at me.....hear the things they say about me.....maybe it’s better to isolate yourself instead of being shunned.....maybe then you can make yourself believe that you’re alone by choice, not necessity.....maybe it’s that.....

.....or maybe.....maybe I just like it down here.....”

.....Dok decides to switch topics, stating that regardless of why he didn’t arrive with the rest of his friends(?) earlier, it IS the company that he keeps that has lead to the match that he now has scheduled for Wrestlemania.....because after costing the Undertaker the WWF Championship at the Royal Rumble.....and then Kane the WWF Championship at No Way Out.....at Wrestlemania, HE will be in action.....against the Big Red Monster himself.....and Kane is NOT a happy monster right now.....

.....Mankind ponders that for a moment, before telling Dok that Monsters rarely are.....happiness is a gift reserved only for the normals.....the accepted.....not the monsters.....

”.....will beating me to a bloody pulp make Kane happy?.....will getting beaten to a bloody pulp by Kane, all for Uncle Vince’s approval make ME happy?.....probably not.....but for those people out there.....those people that cheered as I plunged to the mat at Badd Blood.....those people that thanked me for my sacrifices by conveniently putting MY suffering and MY pain out of their minds as I laid for months in a hospital bed.....THOSE people.....THEY will be happy.....

.....and so long as THEY are happy, Uncle Vince is happy.....because THEY put money in his pocket.....and money makes HIM happy.....money makes me accepted.....maybe that will make me happy.....maybe monsters CAN be happy.....

.....then again.....maybe not.....I guess we’ll find out though.....”

.....I guess we will.....because Wrestlemania is only a few weeks away.....

.....poor Mankind.....

Rating: A

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.....we go back up to ringside from there, where it’s time for tag team action, as The Headbangers face off against one of the teams that will be competing for the WWF Tag Team Championships at Wrestlemania, Dustin Rhodes and Marc Mero.....

.....while no one particularly WANTS to lose a match, whether Rhodes and Mero win or lose here is kind of redundant.....lose, and they STILL have a title opportunity coming up in a few weeks time.....win, well.....at least they have some momentum going into that match I suppose.....

.....Wrestlemania will be a very different kettle of fish though.....win at Wrestlemania and these two men will become the tag team champions of the world.....but should one of these two men lose the match.....should it be either Dustin Rhodes or Marc Mero that takes the fall or submits at Wrestlemania, then their team will be forced to disband.....

.....big risk.....bigger reward.....

.....of course Wrestlemania is still a few weeks away.....tonight is tonight, and tonight they won, with Rhodes finishing off Thrasher with a running bulldog for the one, two, three.....

Winner(s): Dustin Rhodes & Marc Mero
Rating: B

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.....backstage we go, where a flustered Michael Cole (thanks to Sunny hanging off his arm like the little flirt that she is) is standing by with the New Age Outlaws, Billy Gunn and The Road Dogg.....

.....Cole finally remembers why he’s here, telling the Outlaws that Rhodes and Mero looked very impressive in victory a moment ago, while Al Snow and Chris Candido are set to be in action later this evening.....so with Wrestlemania only 20 days away, are Gunn and James at all concerned that their days as a team could well be numbered?.....

.....Road Dogg laughs at that, saying the only things numbered around here are Arn Anderson’s liver spots.....

”.....’cept he stopped counting them when he hit 20, because he run out of fingers and toes.....

.....see there’s only one number around here that counts Michael Cole, and that’s the number three.....three weeks until Wrestlemania rolls around.....one, two, three teams for the Outlaws to smoke like Cheech and Chong.....a one, two, three count to win the match.....and the New Age Outlaws becoming your THREE time WWF Tag Team Champions of the World.....and if three is one too many, then Billy got TWO words for ya, don’tcha Bad Ass.....”

.....Billy does have two words.....he’s not ready to spill them just yet though.....first he tells Cole that they’ve been waiting months for this shot.....he says that the Lizard King Ric Flair and his little sidekick took the shot that should have been theirs to begin with, and then Vince McMahon lumbered him with a lame ass like Al Snow last month.....well THIS month the band is back together, and at Wrestlemania they’re going to be playing ALL their greatest hits.....

.....Road Dogg says that despite their recent identity crisis, Dustin Rhodes and Marc Mero spent the best part of twelve months doing each other’s make up and losing matches.....Pinky and the LameBrain (or Al Snow and Chris Candido to you and me) spend more time talking to a mannequin head than they do in the real world, ”and let’s face it, we’ve already beat them more times than they can count.....although in Al Snow’s case that isn’t very high.....so let’s say we’ve beat them more times than Billy’s had hot women”.....and then there’s the champs themselves.....The Nature Boy ”who hasn’t been a boy in about seventy years” and The Enforcer ”or rather the re-enforcer.....like the way he re-enforced those geriatric hips”.....

.....Road Dogg tells Cole that whichever way you look at it, there’s only one obvious winner here.....the real question, is which team are they going to disband to do it.....because one way or another, the New Age Outlaws are walking out of Wrestlemania as your three time tag team champions.....while the loosing team.....well, tell ‘em what they can do Billy.....

.....”Suck It!”.....

Rating: A

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.....we air a quick recap video, highlighting the history between Chris Jericho and Dean Malenko (as well as recapping the stipulation for their Wrestlemania match) before we head back down to ringside for a match that’s particularly important for the Man of 1000 Holds.....not like “career on the line” important, but important non the less, because Test already has one victory over Dean Malenko, and Test also happens to be a close personal friend of Chris Jericho.....

.....that being said, this WAS a different Dean Malenko than Test faced previously.....a more determined Dean Malenko.....who (in fairness) is still fighting an uphill battle against a much bigger opponent.....

.....fight he does though, and while Test does dominate a good portion of the middle of the match, he’s clearly struggling to put Malenko away.....so much so that he severely overshot a running big boot attempt (which Malenko ducks) leading to the big Canadian’s leg getting caught over the top rope.....a mistake that Malenko pounces on, catching hold of the ankle and wrapping the knee around the cable.....

.....from there Malenko turns the entire focus of his attack on the leg of his opponent, before trying to lock on the Clover Leaf.....

.....Test has enough left to kick his opponent away though, leaving Malenko to collide into the official, sending the referee crashing to the mat.....

.....and then Chris Jericho comes running out from the back.....

.....Jericho hops up onto the apron and begins hurling orders at Test, telling his bodyguard to get Malenko to his feet.....which he does in all fairness, even on one leg, clutching the arms of Malenko behind him while Jericho climbs into the ring, Intercontinental Title in hand.....

.....he throws some insults Malenko’s way, then arrogantly slaps his Wrestlemania opponent in the face, before backing up and charging at Malenko, Title in hand.....

.....and yes Malenko moves.....

.....and yes Test gets nailed in the face with the gold.....

.....and yes.....ok, I’ll stop that.....

.....Test hits the mat, while Malenko grabs Jericho by the scruff of the neck and tosses him over the top rope to the floor, just as the official comes back around.....and with his opponent down and out, all Malenko has to do is make the cover, picking up the one, the two and the three.....and (as I mentioned earlier) a very important victory.....

Winner: Dean Malenko
Rating: B+

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.....as Jericho checks on Test (half heartedly admittedly, because he looks quite annoyed that his bodyguard lost, regardless of the fact that it was actually his fault) as Malenko backs up the aisle with his arms raised in victory, as WE head backstage.....

.....where Dok Hendrix is standing by with Rey Mysterio, who (Dok states) must be very pleased at seeing his friend pick up that victory.....

”.....but Rey, I’ve gotta ask.....do you think Dean Malenko is going to walk out of Wrestlemania as the new WWF Intercontinental Champion? Or do you think that Dean Malenko is going to walk out of Wrestlemania as a retired competitor?.....”

.....Mysterio doesn’t even have to think about it.....he says that he KNOWS that Dean Malenko has what it takes to defeat Chris Jericho, the only thing holding him back.....was himself.....a lack of faith in his own ability, but now, looking at that display, Dean Malenko knows how good he is.....and as far as Rey is concerned, that man there will FINALLY shut the mouth of Chris Jericho once and for all at Wrestlemania.....and walk out your brand new Intercontinental Champion.....

”.....just like I’m going to shut Owen Harts mouth up too.....”

.....Rey says that Owen might think himself a trailblazer, but as far as Rey is concerned that’s a slap in the face of all the lucha stars that came before him.....Rey says that Owen Hart might be a lot of things.....he’s a great wrestler.....a great high flyer.....a hell of a cheater.....but he’s not trailblazed anything.....and at Wrestlemania, Rey Mysterio is going to prove that.....

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.....then he gets jumped from behind by a pink and black blur.....as Owen Hart nails him in he back of the head.....

.....Rey goes down and does a tremendous sell job as Owen puts the boots to him, before Hart drags him back to his feet and whips him halfway across the room into a pile of lighting rigging.....

.....Owen tells Rey that he’s a disrespectful punk, saying that lucha only exists because of him (really Owen?) before giving Mysterio another kick for good measure, before walking off with a ”woooooo, trailblazer”.....

.....someone is clearly believing their own hype.....let’s hope that doesn’t come back to bite him in his pink and black ass.....

Rating: A

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.....well, THAT interview segment didn’t go very well now did it.....maybe we’ll have better luck with this one, as Michael Cole is standing by in our second interview area with Scorpio, Nelson, Faarooq and Bradshaw.....

.....Cole says that with Wrestlemania right around the corner, these four men have a date booked with the Nation of Domination, a group that (with the exception of Bradshaw) they were all once a part of.....so the question is, is that a help.....or a hinderance?.....

.....Faarooq cuts Cole off there, saying that first of all, he wasn’t a PART of the Nation.....he WAS the Nation.....the Leader, the Founder.....THE Nation.....but he ain’t that guy anymore.....he says that it was his call to kick Nelson to the curb and Nelson came back to bite him in the ass, but he picked Nelson to join the group too.....just like he picked Scorpio.....because he recognises real.....

”.....these men here, they REAL.....just like this man Bradshaw is real.....Ahmed Johnson, he spent years trying to fight the power, now he IS the power.....problem with that is the Nation ain’t the power they used to be.....”

.....Scorpio agrees, saying that the Nation ain’t even the Nation anymore.....in fact, with the exception of Kama, ain’t a single man a Nation original.....he says that Ahmed Johnson walked in, preaching that every Nation man was equal, it was quick to turn Scorpio out of the ranks when he’d outlived his usefulness.....well that’s too bad for them, because at Wrestlemania, Scorpio is gonna show Ahmed Johnson just what he’s good for.....when he whips his ass.....

.....Cole tries to get word from Nelson, but a scowl from the big man let’s him know that Nelson ain’t here to speak.....instead Cole moves to Bradshaw, the only man in the upcoming Wrestlemania match never to have been a part of the Nation.....and Bradshaw has plenty to say.....

.....he says that he doesn’t give a damn about who was, is or will be in the Nation, nor does he care about leadership, dictatorship, or any other kind of ship.....

”.....because the only ship that matters now, is the Titanic.....because what you’re looking at here is a god damn iceberg, and at Wrestlemania, we’re about to sink the unsinkable.....sink the Nation.....and there ain’t a damn thing any of them can do about it but head for the lifeboats.....

.....of course, Wrestlemania is still a few weeks away....whaddya say we go say hello to the Nation tonight boys?.....”

.....funnily enough the Nation are in action next.....

.....wait, where are these guys going?.....

Rating: B+

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.....tag team action now, as the aforementioned Nation of Domination (in the form of D’Lo Brown and Mark Henry) face off against another team that will be competing for the tag team titles (and therefore another team who’s last match as a unit might be) at Wrestlemania, Al Snow and Chris Candido.....

.....at one time, Chris Candido would have been thankful for the opportunity to have his team with Al Snow disbanded.....slowly but surely though Al has SOMEHOW turned grumpy old Skip around, to the point that when Al himself offered to disband the team several months back, it was Candido that said no.....hopefully a decision that pays off sooner rather than later.....because while CandidSnow have won the tag team titles previously, they only managed to hold on to them for 24 hours before losing them straight back to the New Age Outlaws.....

.....still.....that’s longer than the Nation have held them.....

.....Snow and Candido would be a good scalp for D’Lo and Henry.....still relatively new to the WWF, a victory over former champions (and a team who have been THE main face team for the past year) would certainly propel them up the ranks.....maybe that’s why they bought Kama and Ahmed Johnson out with them, to help them along the way.....

.....only problem there, was the arrival of the four men we’ve just seen interviewed.....because Scorpio, Nelson, Faarooq and Bradshaw all make their way out.....and after the Nation cost Bradshaw (and Faarooq) a victory last week, the big Texan looks to even the odds tonight.....because as the official watches Scorpio and Nelson head for Ahmed and Kama, Bradshaw hits the ring and turns D’Lo inside out with a Clothesline from Hell.....

.....Al Snow waits for the official to turn around and delivers a (frankly unnecessary) Snow Plow to the already decimated Brown, before earning his team a one, two, three, pinfall victory.....

Winner(s): Al Snow & Chris Candido
Rating: B+

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.....revenge is served as far as Bradshaw and Faarooq are concerned, but the fight is far from over, as these eight men (well, seven briefly until D’Lo gets back into the mix) go at it in a brawl that spreads across the whole ringside area.....

.....Al Snow looks like HE wants to join in the fun too, but Chris Candido spoils that party, telling his partner to head to the back.....after all, they don’t want any injuries hampering them at Wrestlemania.....

.....the Nation and Former (plus Bradshaw) Nation don’t seem too worried about the prospect of injury though, as they continue to assault each other until security makes their way out to try and separate the two sides.....

.....good luck with that one.....those are eight angry men.....

.....while they ARE trying though, we head back to the back and back to Dok Hendrix.....

Rating: B+

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....who’s standing by with the Million Dollar Corporation, ahead of our next match.....and while Jeff Jarrett is set to tangle with Matt Hardy, it seems to be Sean Waltman of the Wolfpac that Double J is more interested in at the moment.....

.....Dok questions DiBiase about that, stating that Jarrett would be better served in attempting to recapture the European Title, rather than focusing on the Wolfpac (and more recently, cutting hair) but Deebs disagrees.....

”.....you see, when we want the European Title back Dok Hendrix, we will just TAKE the European Title back.....what you’re seeing now, is what’s known in the business world as a show of force.....every once in a while some little mom and pop business will open its doors, thinking that it can compete with the global conglomerates.....the Wolfpac are as mom and pop as you can get and we’re about to flex our muscles, flash our (vast) cash.....and crush them under the heel of our corporate boots.....”

.....Jarrett says that Sean Waltman is the reason he doesn’t have the European Title around his waist right now, and since that little rat faced punk doesn’t have anything to offer, one way or another he’s going to strip what little dignity that Waltman has.....because Jarrett IS going to give him a makeover one way or another.....

.....speaking of the Wolfpac, Dok says that Rich Steiner’s brother Scott has issues of his own with one Kevin Nash.....and while we have seen a Steiner Brother reunion recently, are we any closer to seeing Scott Steiner as a fully bought in member of the Million Dollar Corporation?.....

.....Rich says that the offer (and the money) is there on the table.....all Scotty has to do is pick it up.....

”.....my brother has always been a stubborn son of a bitch Dok Hendrix, but he ain’t stoopid.....he knows that we’re better together.....and by now he knows that beating Kevin Nash with only one hand ain’t gonna be easy.....well like I know Dok (because I’m Rich....and you’re not) EVERYTHING is easier when you have money.....and everything is easier when you have the backing of the Million Dollar Corporation.....”

.....that may well be true.....let’s find out shall we.....because a member of the Million Dollar Corporation is in action next.....

Rating: B+

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/gctJUIV.jpg">

.....and that member is Jeff Jarrett.....and he DOES make his way out with both Ted DiBiase AND Rich Steiner by his side.....

.....Double J is a former European Champion, but then so is his opponent.....although in all honesty, Matt Hardy hasn’t done a great deal around here as of late.....he’s certainly not had the exposure that say his brother has been receiving down in WCW.....

.....there’s no real reason for that.....Matt is over(especially with the ladies) and he can work.....perhaps his mic work would be the only thing holding him back slightly, but even those skills aren’t atrocious.....all Hardy really needs is a good win and a decent programme and he’d be right back in the title picture.....

.....maybe that good win will come tonight.....

.....unfortunately it didn’t.....and that’s partly down to the backing of the Million Dollar Corporation, who (as if to emphasise Rich Steiner’s earlier point) interject themselves at numerous points throughout the match anytime Hardy tries to mount a comeback, until finally Jarrett picks up the victory after driving Harry’s face into the mat with that Facebuster he has been utilising as of late for the one, two, three.....

Winner: Jeff Jarrett
Rating: B+

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....not happy with just picking up the victory here though, Double J is looking to make a point at Matt Harry’s expense, as he and Steiner go to work putting the boots to Hardy, as DiBiase climbs into the ring too, with an expensive looking bag in his hand.....

.....a bag which (we quickly find out) contains a pair of scissors and a set of hair clippers.....

.....looks like Hardy is about to get a makeover.....

.....Steiner holds Hardy up (with his hands behind his back) as Deebs passes the equipment to Jarrett, who holds up a long stand of Matt’s hair, scissors poised, ready to cut.....

.....and then the Wolves howl.....

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/aJx3DWx.jpg">

.....as Scott Hall and Sean Waltman come rushing out from the back, again spoiling Jeff Jarrett attempted barber work, as they have on a number of occasions now.....

.....the duo hit the ring and instantly begin brawling (and winning) with Jarrett and Steiner, quickly driving the Million Dollar Pair from the ring back up the aisle, where the two men hurl insults at the Wolfpac from the entrance way.....

.....Waltman grabs a microphone, hurling a few insults of his own, before finally getting straight to the point.....

.....he holds up Jarrett’s barber kit, telling him that he’s finally found a good use for these things, telling Double J that is he’s so desperate to go around cutting peoples hair, why don’t they make this interesting.....

”.....you said I’ve got nothing to offer? I’ve got plenty to offer.....so does Scott.....and so do you.....”

.....Jarrett looks a bit confused by that, but Waltman quickly clarifies what he wants.....he wants a match.....a tag team match.....Hall and Waltman vs. Jarrett and Steiner.....at Wrestlemania.....in a hair vs. hair match.....

”.....you win, me and Scott, we’ll sit there and let you shave our heads bald.....but if WE win, then you can kiss goodbye to that long blonde mane of yours.....because we’ll be shaving it off.....what do you say?.....”

.....that’s a tough choice for Jarrett, who’s particularly attached to his hair.....but after a few well timed insults from Hall and Waltman, he finally accepts.....telling the Wolfpac that come Wrestlemania, he’s going to personally shave off every last grease soaked, stringy strand of hair off their heads.....

.....maybe he will.....maybe he won’t.....but one way or another, someone’s getting a haircut on the grandest stage of all.....

Rating: A*

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....all of which brings us nicely to our main event.....and it’s two men that know each other very well.....so much so in fact that Bret Hart and The Undertaker actually first met during the Deadman’s debut match back at the 1990 Survivor Series.....granted that was a multi man encounter, not a singles match, but still, it shows how much history these two competitors have.....

.....THIS particular encounter I guess is pretty much put in place to simply soften up Brian Pillman’s Wrestlemania opponent, emphasised by the fact that our WWF Champion actually makes his way out to join us on commentary for this one, which may or may not be a good idea considering the fact that (while the Undertaker is currently focused on Raven) the Deadman still has unfinished scores to settle with the Loose Cannon too.....

.....the match itself (as you would expect) was excellent.....much like Sting and Ric Flair had “their” match, Bret Hart and The Undertaker have theirs too.....theirs involves Bret going for the leg and working the bigger man down to the mat, where that strength and size advantage means squat.....

.....at least until The Deadman begins to mount his comeback.....

.....then it means quite a lot.....

.....Pillman cackles and cheers on the man he defeated to become the World Wrestling Federation Champion, telling the Undertaker to “break his neck” as he wraps a hand around the throat of the Hitman.....

.....and then the Deadman drives Bret into the mat with a huge Chokeslam.....

.....this one could very well be over.....

”.....Undertaker.....UNDERTAKER!.....Come to me.....for I can set you free.....”

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/XqtVImh.jpg">

.....ugh, this guy again.....

.....Raven has been calling out the Deadman for weeks now.....calling him out, challenging him, inviting him.....only for him to run every time the Undertaker actually heads in his direction.....although you’ve got to assume that as far as Raven is concerned, it’s more a case of mind games rather than fear.....

.....again, the self proclaimed Deity of the Damned is situated high up in the arena.....and while the Undertaker wants to rip his head off, he may as well win a match first.....he tells Raven to be patient, he’ll be with him in about three seconds.....

”.....I don’t think so Deadman.....maybe this will change your mind.....”

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/36M8SYR.jpg">

.....”this” being the Titantron flickering to life, to reveal Jake Roberts at an undisclosed location.....a dark undisclosed location.....and he looks hard at work.....

.....Raven tells The Undertaker that everything he does, he does for him.....he does to make him stronger.....the Undertaker has become a diluted family friendly phenom, no longer a member of the dark side, choosing the up side instead.....selling out his demons for the almighty dollar.....trading misery and suffering for children’s foam tombstones and t-shirts.....

”.....maybe we need to remind you where The Undertaker was born.....”

.....with that the Titantron shot pans out to show that Jakes undisclosed location is actually a graveyard.....and Jake is hard at work digging away at what looks to be two graves.....

.....that stops the Deadman in his tracks.....because he clearly recognises those two graves too, as a look of fury crosses over his face, leading the commentary team to speculate that these are actually the graves of The Undertaker’s parents......

”.....maybe we need to scorch the earth.....”

......job well done Jake pauses for a minute to wipe the sweat from his brow, before turning at the camera with a sick smile on his face, pulling up two canisters of what looks to be gasoline, pouring it all over both of the open graves.....

.....Jake reaches into his pocket and pulls out a lighter which he flicks to life, still smirking as he mutters “ashes to ashes”.....and tosses the lighter into the graves.....

”.....maybe it’s time for you to rise.....reborn.....like a phoenix from the ashes.....”

.....there’s a “whoosh” as the flames erupt from the two open flames, and the Undertaker lets out a loud “NO!” as the fire grows, decimating the entire grave area so much that eventually The Snake has to back away from the heat.....

”.....maybe it’s time to come to me.....because I CAN set you free.....Quote the Raven.....Nevermore.....”

.....Raven has done a lot of sick things during his tenure here in the WWF.....but this one might be up there at the top of the list.....he’s moved on from crucifying and blinding priests and gone ahead and completely desecrated a grave.....TWO graves in fact.....

.....that’s too much for the Deadman to take, who completely ignores the Hitman and climbs over the top rope and into the crowd, heading in the direction of Raven who is slowly backing out of sight.....

.....we do have a match happening here though.....

.....but we’ve lost a competitor.....

.....so the official does the only thing he can.....

.....he counts out The Undertaker and awards the match to Bret Hart.....

.....not the result that Brian Pillman was looking for I’m sure.....

Winner: Bret Hart (via Count-Out)
Rating: A

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/hn7GJqh.jpg">

.....well as we found out last week, Brian Pillman is a big advocate of “if you want something doing, do it yourself”.....which is why (since The Undertaker only did half a job) he slides into the ring here, pouncing on the still half beaten Bret Hart and hammering him with blows.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/Biiyb21.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/fJw1L2S.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/N7eA2AJ.jpg">
<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/Bn2VdRx.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
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"src="https://i.imgur.com/HDRIAj2.jpg">

.....which brings (first) The Hart Foundation running out from the back, followed quickly by Flair, Anderson and Mankind.....

.....THEN we have a big old brawl.....

.....Bret finally gets back to his feet and begins slugging it out with Brian Pillman, as the other six men go at it on the outside.....

.....then the Titantron flickers into life, with the sound of a horn blaring somewhere in the parking lot.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/UENhPQI.jpg">

.....as a huge monster truck with “Austin 3:16” on the side and a Stone Cold Skull on the front comes tearing into shot.....

.....completely crushing Vince McMahon’s limousine that’s still parked out back.....

.....the brawling inside the arena barely pauses for breath as the Titantron switches back to a view from the ring area, visualising the war that’s going on between the two sides, focusing mainly on the fight between The Loose Cannon and The Hitman.....

.....then the glass shatters.....

.....and the crowd erupts.....

.....as Stone Cold Steve Austin comes marching out from the back, steel chair in hand.....

.....now, had these two warring factions put their differences to one side for a moment, they probably could have eliminated their Rattlesnake problem before it even began.....as it was they were too busy fighting amongst themselves, leading a poised Austin to actually look quite disappointed as he tosses his unused steel chair to one side, before charging down the aisle.....

.....it’s chaos here in the building, Flair and Anderson are brawling with Owen and Jericho, Test and Mankind are pummelling each other right beside them.....and then right there in the middle of the ring, Austin, Pillman and Hart explode.....

.....Rick Rude questions how Austin is even walking here tonight (let alone fighting) after having his ankle Pillmanized last week, but JR comments that if he knows Austin (and he does) he’s walking and fighting out of pure spite and stubbornness.....

”.....because say what you will about Steve Austin.....he’s crass, he’s brash, but he’s also the toughest s.o.b in the WWF and that goes without saying.....”

.....he may well be too.....putting Bret Hart on the mat with a backdrop, before running the ropes with Pillman, levelling the WWF Champion with a Thez Press and unloading with fists of fire as security finally comes rushing out from the back to try and regain some order here.....

.....good luck with that.....

.....because as JR let’s us know that we’re out of time and signs us off, these men might still be fighting in seven days time.....

.....hopefully not though.....

.....we’ll see you next week folks.....

Rating: A*

Final Rating: A

to4sty · November 10, 2021

<img style="max-width:60%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/hzf7tIZ.jpg">

Week 2, March 1998

Coleman Coliseum (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

ATT: 15,000

TV: 29.34

Announce Team: Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan and Mike Tenay

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/XjyLvuu.jpg">

.....it’s Monday Night and we are fresh off of a jam packed episode of WCW Thunder, that SHOULD have been all about the crowning of a brand new Television Champion.....instead (sorry DDP) it ended up being all about Shawn Michaels and his band of degenerates.....just like it always is.....

.....the show opens up with a replay of the heinous assault that Eric Bischoff received at the hands of Michaels and his cronies, culminating in a vicious Con-Chair-To from Adam Copeland and Christian Cage, before we open up straight to the middle of the ring, where Vince Russo stands alone.....

.....he says that tonight, he stands here not as a member of the Titans of Wrestling.....he’s out here as a member of World Championship Wrestling.....he’s out here as a member of the management team for WCW......but most importantly (and despite the fact that they often don’t see eye to eye) he’s out here for Eric Bischoff.....

.....Russo says that he and Bischoff have butted heads in the back just as often as these WCW superstars butt heads in this ring, but Shawn Michaels and his little group of degenerates took things way too far this past Thursday.....

”.....Shawn, I know you’re used to stamping your little feet up north and getting whatever you want, but guess what Bro, THIS Vince ain’t about to let your prima donna attitude slide.....

.....you come out here bro, week after week, running down WCW.....well I got news for you.....tonight, WCW’s gonna get their chance to shut your mouth once and for all.....”

.....Russo says that as far as he’s concerned, come one come all.....you want a shot at Shawn Michaels?.....JPL?.....Copeland? Cage? Traylor?.....come on down and stake your claim.....

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.....and come they do.....in fact, it looks like three quarters of the WCW roster makes its way out, lead by the franchise himself, Mr. WCW.....the World Heavyweight Champion.....Sting.....

.....Sting marches his way down the aisle, followed by friend and foe alike.....Lex Luger, Sid, Jeff Hardy.....DDP is there, The Patriot, Mike Awesome and Gideon Cain.....The Forgotten make their way out.....the First Family.....Rikishi, Jim Duggan, Juventud Guerrera, you name them, they’re probably out there.....in fact, the only people NOT to make their way out (conveniently enough) are the Titans of Wrestling themselves.....

.....Russo looks on with a smile, saying that while he knows he’s not the most popular guy back there in the locker room, it still warms his New York heart to see so many people willing to stand up and fight for World Championship Wrestling.....

”.....so here’s what we’re gonna do.....since we don’t want to stroke Shawn Michaels ego any more than we have to, and make this whole night about him and his little band of degenerates, what we’re gonna do is mix it up a little bro.....”

.....Russo says that tonight (after surveying the mass of humanity in front of him) it’s going to be the two men that swung those chairs (Adam Copeland and Christian Cage) facing off against Mike Awesome and Gideon Cain.....AND.....just to make it interesting.....the winner of that match will go on to face The Forgotten at Uncensored, for the WCW Tag Team Titles.....JPL, he’s going to be in action on Thursday night’s Thunder.....and as for Ray Traylor, he can just take the week off.....

”.....but Shawn.....don’t worry bro, I know how you just love being the center of attention, so tonight, that spotlights going to be firmly on you.....because you’re going to be right there in the main event.....I just need to pick an opponent for you.....”

”.....hold on there Vince-lite.....because I got some bad news jack.....”

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/w52KdTn.jpg">

.....wouldn’t you know it, it’s Shawn Michaels and his band of merry degenerates.....

.....I mean, not live in the arena or anything, that would be pretty stupid considering how unpopular they are.....no, instead they’re live on the Turnertron from the back.....and FROM the back, Shawn Michaels tells us that whatever proposed match Vince Russo has planned, it ain’t gonna happen.....

”.....see Vinnie-Ru, the way I see it, there ain’t no one standing out there that it’s worth lacing up my boots for.....well, maybe to kick Mr. WCW there, the Stinger, right in the mouth.....but since I’m gonna be doing that anyway at Uncensored, why bother.....”

.....Shawn says that no.....Copeland and Cage, they’ll happily take their match against those two musclebound morons Awesome and Cain, but Shawn, he’s gonna take the night off.....

”.....because as far as those opponents right there go.....that doesn’t work for me.....brother.....”

.....Russo tells Shawn that he misunderstands.....see, Sting is most certainly not going to be facing Michaels tonight.....because he’s going to be facing Jean Paul Levesque on Thunder.....

”.....and as for who you’re going to be facing tonight.....it’s not going to be one of these men out here.....”

.....and then some familiar sounding music begins to play.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/UaYCJ5J.jpg">

.....as the Turnertron switches to a split screen, as Bill Goldberg comes bursting out of his locker room with a snarl, marching through the halls of the building.....

.....and Shawn Michaels isn’t happy about that one bit.....

.....in fact, he actually looks terrified.....

.....Shawn stumbles over his words for a minute (as we watch Goldberg continue his journey through the arena) telling Russo that he’s not facing a rookie nobody like Bill Goldberg.....and Ray Traylor is NOT going to take the night off, because The Enforcer is going to take care of this problem right now (as Copeland and Cage shove a somewhat reluctant looking Traylor out of the room) so Russo had better some up with a plan B, C, D and E.....

.....it looks like the Goldberg plan has indeed gone out of the window too.....because Traylor and Goldberg have just come face to face in the back and are currently brawling their way towards the arena.....

.....guess it’s time for plan B after all.....

”.....!!!IF YA SMELLLLLLLLLLLLLL......WHAT THE ROCK.....IS COOKING!!!.....”

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/H5AU4wf.jpg">

.....as The Great One himself comes marching out from the back, microphone in hand.....

.....Rocky comes to a halt at the entrance way, telling Russo not to worry, because while Thunder might be The Rock’s show, The Rock is still here tonight to electrify Monday Nitro as only he can.....

”.....so Shawn Michaels, The Rock says this.....come Uncensored, the Rock is gonna lay an uncensored, Triple X rated titty twister on Jipple the hairy left nipple.....but TONIGHT....
tonight your candy ass is gonna go one on one with the great one and it doesn’t matter if YOU don’t like it.....if Jipple doesn’t like it.....if Hanson one and two there don’t like it.....hell it doesn’t even matter if the millions (and millions) of the Rocks fans like it.....ah who’s the Rock kidding, of course the Rocks fans are gonna like it.....in fact they’re gonna LOVE it, when the Rock takes this big boot, shines it up real nice, turns it sideways.....and shoves it straight up your candy ass!.....”

.....challenge made.....

.....and Rocky barely has chance to finish his sentence before Shawn Michaels (surprisingly) accepts.....a fact which the announcers team find rather suspicious.....

.....regardless, the match is set and it’s set for later this evening, as Vince Russo informs us that Bill Goldberg and Ray Traylor have finally been separated, before informing us all that since those two men want to fight so much (and since he’s looking to make Shawn Michaels associates suffer) they can fight right now, inside this ring.....

.....so clear the ringside area.....

.....because we have a match about to start.....

Rating: A*

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/i8r2pQi.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/wYulN53.jpg">

.....and that match is a continuation of the brawl that erupted moments ago in the back, as Ray Traylor (who’s apparently NOT having the night off) goes one on one with the undefeated rookie monster Bill Goldberg, who’s 62-0 win/loss record has propelled him all the way to the top of the number one contendership ladder for the United States Championship.....an opportunity that he’ll be granted at Uncensored, as he faces off against Eddie Guerrero.....the longest reigning current champion in all of WCW today.....

.....but that’s then.....now there’s just the small matter of a main event eventer by the name of Ray Traylor to contend with.....and yes, in 1998 the former Big Boss Man is very much a part of the main event scene, thanks in no small part to his allegiance with Adam Copeland and Christian Cage, because (as Shawn Michaels and JPL obviously realised) the Totally Awesome Trinity have been one of the hottest acts in WCW for quite some time now.....

.....Traylor is a big man too.....they don’t call him the enforcer for nothing.....so Goldberg most certainly has his work cut out for him here, but he’s going to have to get used to facing off against main event calibre stars if he has any aspirations at capturing that US Title, because Eddie Guerrero has lied, cheated and stolen his way straight to the top of the card and is (without question) even higher up the food chain than Mr. Traylor here.....

.....luckily for our undefeated rookie, he has two things that no one else here in WCW does.....

.....a Spear.....

.....and a Jackhammer.....

.....and after a sloppy brawl he uses both, before picking up the biggest win of his career, as Ray Traylor counts the lights for the one, two, three.....

.....63-0.....

.....Eddie Guerrero, are you watching?.....

Winner: Bill Goldberg
Rating: B

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/cIXJq4P.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/cfcuN2G.jpg">

.....oh.....apparently he is.....because we cut backstage to a shot of our United States Champion standing in front of a monitor along with his nephew Chavo Guerrero Jr.....

.....the monitor shows Bill Goldberg celebrating his (huge) victory.....and in all honesty, Eddie Guerrero does NOT look comfortable at the sight.....

.....he runs his hands through his (greasy) hair, letting out an exasperated sigh as he tells Chavo that he was sure that Ray Traylor was going to take Goldberg out esè.....

”.....he’s supposed to be awesome holmes.....THAT wasn’t awesome.....Chavito, go take care of this esè.....”

“.....ME?.....what am I supposed to do?!?.....”

.....Eddie tells (a very reluctant) Chavo that he’s supposed to go and do what Guerrero’s do.....before picking up a steel chair and handing it to his nephew.....

”.....he’s probably tired after that gruelling match.....why don’t you go and offer him a chair esè.....”

.....Chavo doesn’t look convinced, but it doesn’t look like Eddie is taking no for an answer, as he ushers Chavo unceremoniously out of the room, before turning his attention back towards the monitor as we go back out to the ring.....

Rating: B+

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/gLOR7w6.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/Kyhn73g.jpg">

.....where it’s time for the barnburner of a match that is The Patriot facing off against Alex Wright.....

.....exciting right?.....

.....don’t scoff, it wasn’t a bad match to be fair.....

.....granted it was obviously placed as a quick win for The Patriot.....after all, the USA original has been smack bang in the middle of a feud with The Sovereignty that’s actually taken up quite a lot of screen time as of late, while Alex Wright.....well.....he has BEEN on television at least recently.....

.....the winner is gonna be pretty cut and dry here huh.....

.....actually no.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/52C2DXy.jpg">

.....because with The Patriot fully in control, Lance Storm makes his way out with a microphone in hand.....

.....Storm starts running down the Red, White and Blue clad star briefly, before breaking out into a passionate rendition of “Oh Canada” which distracts the Patriot just long enough that Alex Wright is able to creep up behind his opponent and (remarkably) roll him up for a surprise one, two and three.....

.....your winner.....Alex Wright?.....

Winner: Alex Wright
Rating: B

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/gLOR7w6.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/52C2DXy.jpg">

.....Alex Wright skedaddles quickly out of the ring and back up the aisle, dancing (if you can call it that) in celebration as he goes, while Storm looks on with a smug smirk on his face.....

.....Lance is about to leave too, but the voice of the Patriot (who’s grabbed a microphone of his own) is enough to stop our Canadian Hero in his tracks, as the American Original tells Storm that he has a challenge for him.....

”.....a challenge for Uncensored.....because since you Sovereignty punks don’t seem to want to fight by the rules, let’s throw the rules outta the window.....no pinfalls, no submissions.....hell, take the match and I’ll even throw in no disqualifications too.....just you and me.....with Old Glory on one side of the ring, and that Red and White Maple Leaf you call a flag on the other side of the ring.....let’s have us a good old fashioned flag match.....”

.....a flag match? Well jeepers that sounds fun.....ah what the hell, it’s Russo booking this after all.....

.....Storm tells Patriot that he’s already beat him once.....he beat him in a WRESTLING match, because Lance Storm (much like his compatriots in the Sovereignty) is a WRESTLER.....

”.....I don’t get involved in common brawls, that’s more often than not something that we in Canada leave to you inbred Americans.....but if it will finally shut your mouth, then I accept your challenge.....

.....under ONE condition.....

.....and that’s that when I win.....and when I hold this majestic Maple Leaf high in the air.....YOU Mr. USA Original.....YOU have to salute MY flag.....as the Canadian National Anthem plays.....only THEN will I accept your challenge.....”

.....Patriot considers that for about a fifth of a second, before telling Storm that he accepts.....in fact, not only does he accept, but he’s upping his stakes too.....The Patriot says that he WILL salute that Maple Leaf IF he loses......

.....but.....

.....WHEN he wins, it’s Lance Storm that has to salute a flag.....

”.....and that’s MY flag.....OUR flag.....the greatest flag in the world today, Old Glory herself.....”

.....Storm accepts.....and I guess that means we have a match set for Uncensored.....

.....well there we go......let’s take a break shall we?.....

Rating: B

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/dICBV2c.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/78a2W3O.jpg">

.....oh.....no.....hang on.....not yet.....

.....first we’re gonna go backstage quickly, where Mean Gene is shuffling down a hallway after the figure of Eddie Guerrero.....

.....Gene finally catches up with our slippery United States Champion, before asking him just what in the hell he thinks he’s doing.....

”.....first you and Chavo Guerrero attack Bill Goldberg backstage with steel chairs, separating his shoulder.....THEN you assault him with steel chairs again when he returned, costing him the Television Title in the process.....and NOW you’ve sent your nephew out there with a steel chair in hand again, presumably to weaken up your Uncensored opponent.....Eddie Guerrero is there now low that you won’t sink to?.....”

.....Eddie scoffs at this, telling Gene that this is professional wrestling holmes.....this ain’t the ballet.....

”.....what, does Big Bad Bill need an armed guard to escort him around the building? Ten armed guards?.....he can’t take a little bit of friendly competition?.....”

.....Eddie says that if Bill Goldberg can’t look after himself backstage, then how does he ever think he’s gong to be able to hang with the Papi of Perfection at Uncensored esè.....

.....Eddie carries on walking, with Gene hot on his tail, as the two finally come to a section of the hallway with a big plate glass window, where Mean Gene finally halts Guerrero in his tracks again.....he begins to question Eddies integrity (to which Eddie scoffs) but he’s soon cut off, as he lets out a loud ”My God” and quickly steps back.....

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.....just as Chavo Guerrero comes flying through that plate glass window like Marty Jannetty at a Barbers Shop.....

.....Chavo lands at the feet of his uncle, surrounded by (gimmicked) glass, as the hulking frame of Bill Goldberg snarls what through what remains of the (now destroyed) window.....where he snarls a simple warning to Eddie.....

”.....at Uncensored.....You’re Next!.....”

.....let’s take that commercial break now shall we.....while the medical staff set about picking glass out of the carcass of Chavo Guerrero Jr.....

Rating: A

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....and when we come back it’s to a shot of the rest of the Titans of Wrestling arriving.....you know, the same Titans of Wrestling that we’re conveniently missing when Vince Russo was handing out matches earlier this evening.....

.....they pull up in a long black limousine, as the huge frame of The Giant pulls himself out of the vehicle, along with Buff Bagwell yapping excitedly behind him like a little puppy dog, as the two men (well mainly Buff) talk about what they’re going to do to Lex Luger and Roddy Piper at Uncensored.....

.....a few seconds behind them comes The (stoic and silent) Warrior, with Randy Savage bringing up the rear.....

.....Macho Man is talking to thin air (as he often does) saying that they’ve timed it just right, yeah.....

”.....Russo did the thing, now it’s time for us to finish the thing yeah.....the time is right if you know what I mean, time for the Mega, Mega, Mega, Ultimate Maniacs to do the deed, dig it?.....”

.....DO you dig it?.....yeah me neither, I have no idea what he’s going on about.....maybe we’ll find out after this next match.....

Rating: B+

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/pmtBgnZ.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
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.....a match which just so happens to feature two former Titans of Wrestling (and current degenerates) Adam Copeland and Christian Cage.....and for once (thanks to Bill Goldberg spearing Ray Traylor in half earlier this evening) this usually Totally Awesome Three are simply a Totally Awesome Two, because the Enforcer is nowhere to be seen.....

.....they probably could have used his presence too.....because Awesome and Cain are two big, big men.....of course, not as big as the two men waiting for the winners of this match, because as decreed by Vince Russo earlier (in the absence of Eric Bischoff) the team that picks up the victory here will go on to Uncensored to face The Forgotten, for the WCW Tag Team Titles.....

.....this was a good match too.....Mike Awesome has been calling himself the best big man in the business for a reason, while (under the tutelage of Bobby Eaton) Gideon Cain has been coming on in leaps and bounds.....add that to the fact that Copeland and Cage are both over like rover (and pretty adept themselves when it comes to in ring performances) and you obviously had the makings for a decent bout.....

.....Awesome and Cain used their size and strength advantage to dominate the opening segment.....Copeland and Cage used every trick in the book to isolate the less experienced Gideon Cain in the middle.....and the ending was one long free for all.....

.....with added special guests.....

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.....because as Cage and Cain hold the officials attention, Copeland snatches up a steel chair, looking for a little one man Con-Chair-to action on Mike Awesome.....and that’s when Randy Savage and The Warrior come walking out from the back.....

.....the distraction is enough to cause Copeland to hesitate using the chair.....which in turn sees him get blindsided by a Mike Awesome kick to the gut, which is followed up by a massive Awesome Bomb.....and three seconds later, Mike Awesome and Gideon Cain are heading to Uncensored, while Adam Copeland and Christian Cage are heading into uncertainty.....

Winner(s): Mike Awesome & Gideon Cain
Rating: A

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.....or maybe not quite so uncertain.....because with Copeland still down, Savage and Warrior surround the lone Christian Cage.....and the Macho Man has a microphone.....

”.....if it ain’t the little funny man, yeah.....not so funny now is it, looks like the jokes on you, yeah.....”

.....Macho tells Christian that it looks like he’s all alone.....no Copeland, no Enforcer (“and no sign of your new friends Shawn Michaels and JPL, because they want nooooo part of the Macho Man and the Warrior Man, dig it”).....

.....the usually stoic Warrior steps a little closer to the visibly nervous Cage, as Savage tells him not to worry, they’re not here to take him out.....yet.....

”.....see we could.....we could really, really, really, really hurt you, a real, real lot right now, yeah.....but I think we won’t.....I think we WILL, just not now.....”

.....Macho says that Christian has two weeks.....thirteen days to be precise.....to wake up his partner, look in the mirror, and realise what a mistake they made when they chose to side with Shawn Michaels over the Titans of Wrestling.....

”.....you wanna run around like a bunch of degenerates, that’s fine yeah.....because at Uncensored, the man with a plan Vince Russo has just booked a match.....it ain’t a title match, but it might be your last match.....because it’s going to be you and you against me and he, Copeland and Cage against the Warrior Man and the Macho Man, and we’re gonna take you out for good....oh yeahhh”.....

.....message signed, sealed and delivered.....we have another match set for Uncensored and as Savage and the Warrior leave, Christian has the unenviable task of letting his partner know what’s in store for them in just thirteen days time.....

.....once he wakes him up obviously.....

.....speaking of Uncensored, let’s show a promo package for it shall we.....

Rating: A

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.....mainly because it gives us chance to clear he ring of the Totally Awesome Two, so that this gentleman can make his way out.....Mr. Brian Lawler esq.....

.....ok, a slightly grand title for him, but he IS descended from royalty after all.....

.....anyway, I’ll keep this short and sweet.....Psychosis is the current number one contender to the WCW Cruiserweight Title.....Lawler wants to be the the number one contender to the WCW Cruiserweight Title.....so he demands that Psycho comes out and faces him like a man, put the shot on the line, gets his ass kicked, and then all will be right with the world.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....well.....Psychosis does come out.....and I think he accepts, it’s difficult to say since he doesn’t actually speak a great deal of English.....he does wave an official out from the back though so it looks like we’re having a match.....and since Eric Bischoff is currently out of commission (and I don’t think Vince Russo cares either way) I guess it’s to decide who will go on to face Hayabusa at Uncensored.....

.....ring the bell.....

Rating: C+

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/AUZCTGZ.jpg">

.....ok, let’s get this one underway shall we.....Brian Lawler has been lurking around in the background of the Cruiserweight Division since he arrived here in WCW, but while he’s been quite vocal about vying for the prize he’s been rather reluctant to cross paths with our current champion Hayabusa.....although that might have something to do with the company that he keeps.....because where Hayabusa goes, James Vandenberg goes.....and where that somewhat sinister minister goes, Jinsei Shinzaki and Mortis aren’t far behind.....

.....it looks like Lawler has decided to suck it up though, because should he win here (since Psicosis has apparently acquiesced to putting his shot on the line) he’s going to be facing Vandenberg’s fearless daredevil at Uncensored.....that’s still only an “if” though.....because Psicosis is no slouch himself.....

.....the match itself was decent.....Psicosis isn’t the most aerodynamic of our Cruiserweights, but compared to Brian Lawler he’s certainly the more high risk of the two.....although interestingly enough this match may come down to one move.....a move both men utilise.....the top rope leg drop, and who’s going to hit it first.....

.....well.....

.....neither man.....

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.....because before the match could reach a natural conclusion, it was interrupted by this little band of deviants.....

.....Vandenberg leads his men to the ring and before either Psicosis or Lawler realise they have arrived they are jumped by the trio of Mortis, Shinzaki and Hayabusa.....

.....throw this one out folks, we have a no contest on our hands.....

Winner: No Contest
Rating: C

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/8El8DGj.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
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.....but we’re not done there.....because not satisfied with just ENDING the match, Vandenberg’s villains then proceed to beat both Lawler and Psicosis into the mat, until BOTH men are left down and out in a brutal assault.....

.....the announcers question the logic here, with Schiavone deciding that this is merely a case of Hayabusa trying to dictate who he will face at Uncensored, with apparently Psychosis being the chosen opponent, since he already had the shot anyway.....

.....turns out Schiavone is right.....

.....and wrong.....

.....because Vandenberg grabs a microphone, telling the fallen challengers that there was really little need for this match to take place.....

”.....because my followers of the dark have little concern for structure and hierarchy.....they have little concern for ‘labels’ such as #1 contender.....just as my Hayabusa has little concern for who he faces at Uncensored.....”

.....Vandenberg tells Lawler that is he wanted his shot, all he had to do was ask.....ask and he shall deliver.....and since Psicosis is apparently so willing to forego HIS chance at the Cruiserweight Championship, then he won’t mind if Hayabusa alters the terms a little bit.....

.....Lawler and Psicosis start to stir (briefly.....because the unholy trio quickly stomp them back into the mat) but Vandenberg continues, telling the pair that Hayabusa rejects this so called #1 contenders match.....instead he will face both Brian Lawler AND Psicosis at Uncensored.....he’ll put the Cruiserweight Championship on the line.....

”.....and may god have mercy on your souls.....because there will be none from us.....”

Rating: C+

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/GrS5Ika.jpg">

.....from that rather unsettling scene we head backstage, where Mean Gene is standing by with a young man by the name of Jeff Hardy.....

.....Gene says that this past week on Thunder, Jeff Hardy went to a time limit draw with one Curt Hennig, which saw BOTH men eliminated from the (then vacant) WCW Television Title tournament.....

”.....which worked out well for one Diamond Dallas Page, however not so well for you two gentlemen.....which begs the question young man, where does Jeff Hardy go from here.....”

.....Jeff has never been one for promo’s, which is why this is kept short.....but not so sweet.....

.....short because Jeff tells Gene that one little setback isn’t about to put him down.....yeah DDP is the current Television Champion, but titles are there to be defended.....won.....and more importantly, lost.....Jeff says that he’s already tasted Championship glory here in World Championship Wrestling, becoming the inaugural Cruiserweight Champion.....

”.....but I’m not stopping there Gene.....so maybe I didn’t win the Television Title on Thunder.....but Diamond Dallas Page, I know you’ll be a fighting champion, so I’m officially putting my name on the line for a shot at your belt.....”

.....see, short.....

.....and the not so sweet?.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....the not so sweet is Curt Hennig flying into shot and nailing Hardy from behind with a shot to the back of the head.....

.....these two men may have come to stalemate on Thunder, but their time limit draw didn’t stop their action, continuing their brawl in the back.....

.....they were separated on Thursday night, but it looks like Hennig has neither forgiven nor forgotten as he lays into Jeff Hardy, who (taken completely by surprise) is soon beaten down to the ground.....

.....Curt gives Jeff one final kick for good measure, before telling Gene that regardless of Hardy’s bravado, there’s only one man that’s next in line for a shot at that TV title.....

”.....and you’re looking at him.....”

Rating: A

<img style="max-width:15%;
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"src="https://i.imgur.com/vrbhnV1.jpg">

.....speaking of the Television Title, it’s actually Steven Regal who’s next in line for a shot at the gold, as DDP’s ongoing feud with the Sovereignty continues.....

.....Regal is a former (multi-time) Television Champion, however he WAS unsuccessful in his efforts to capture the gold on Thursday, thanks in fact to a defeat at the hands of a man that the Sovereignty continues to court, Chris Benoit.....

.....perhaps Regal will have more luck tonight.....although when you consider the fact that tonight Regal is facing Page.....who beat Benoit.....who beat Regal.....then maybe not.....

.....for what it’s worth, Steven Regal has been one of the most consistent (and best performing) workers on the card.....in fact, the Sovereignty in general have been putting on some of the best performances week in and week out.....this match was no exception.....

.....given the self imposed time limits of fifteen minutes which surround the Television Title, you’re going to be hard pushed to see any five star classics here, but this match is as close as you’re going to get.....

.....remarkably it was a clean affair too.....the rest of the Sovereignty did make their way out towards the end, but they had a special guest with them (a man that Lance Storm has been courting for some time now) in Chris Benoit.....

.....whether it was Benoit’s influence of not, the rest of the Sovereignty did NOT get involved in this one.....as much as Regal would have perhaps liked them too.....because with around 90 seconds of the fifteen minute time limit remaining, Page was able to drop his opponent with a Diamond Cutter for the one, two, three, and to retain the gold.....

Winner: ....and Still WCW Television Champion.....Diamond Dallas Page
Rating: B+

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....okay.....the Sovereignty didn’t get involved in that match.....okay.....Diamond Dallas Page is STILL the Television Champion.....but right now, he’s completely surrounded, as all six Sovereignty men AND Chris Benoit enter the ring.....

.....Page doesn’t look particularly thrilled about the prospect of facing seven men alone, but he doesn’t look like he’s going to back down either.....I don’t like those odds.....

.....luckily for him, the odds don’t matter.....

.....Benoit holds up his hand (and a microphone) telling Page that there won’t be any funny business here (Lance Storm has given him his word) Benoit just wants to talk.....

.....Page scoffs at that, saying that he doesn’t trust this ”Sovereignty SCUM” as far as he can throw them.....a statement that Lance Storm takes offence too, but says that he should have expected from an American like Page.....

.....Benoit isn’t best pleased either, telling Dallas that the Sovereignty has been nothing but honest to him and the Sovereignty has fought fairly and squarely.....

”.....in fact, after you left me in the lurch against the Forgotten right here on Nitro, I trust them a hell of a lot more than I trust you at the minute.....”

.....which brings us to why Benoit is here.....he says that while DDP did manage to defeat the Canadian Crippler to become the TV Champion, Benoit was nowhere near at 100%.....but he will be......

”.....by UnCensored.....

.....so why don’t we put that title on the line one more time.....Diamond Dallas Page versus Chris Benoit.....just me and you.....you leave the little woman at home, I’ll leave the Sovereignty in the back and we see just WHO.....the better man is.....”

.....Benoit holds out a hand (which Page reluctantly accepts) telling his (apparent) UnCensored opponent that there will be no funny business from the Sovereignty, he gives Dallas his word as a man and a Canadian, that just like on Thunder, this will be simply Chris Benoit vs. Diamond Dallas Page, for the WCW Television Title.....

”.....except this time, I’ll be 100%.....and this time.....it’ll be ME walking out.....with that TV Title belt.....”

.....Dallas doesn’t look convinced at Benoit’s claim of a fair match, telling him that he’s been hanging out with Lance Storm and the rest of the Sovereignty for too long now.....but if Benoit gives his word as a man that there won’t be any outside interference, then Dallas will give him the benefit of the doubt.....

.....Jacques Rougeau comes over like the goofy jackass that he is, getting right up in Pages face, telling him that if Benoit says there will be no interference then there will be no interference.....

.....and Dallas drops the Amazing French Canadian right to the mat with a Diamond Cutter.....

.....quick as a flash DDP drops to the mat too, rolling quickly to the outside and retreating up the aisle, microphone still in hand....

.....Page tells Benoit again that he’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.....

”.....but Chris, you can take it from me.....any of those Sovereignty SCUM stick their nose in that match, they’re going to Feel.....the.....BANG!.....”

Rating: A*

<img style="max-width:15%;
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.....from there we go to the back, where Shawn Michaels and JPL are actually trying to calm down the Totally Awesome Trinity.....because Copeland and Cage are NOT happy about the events from earlier this evening.....

.....in fact, the Totally Awesome Two’s usual happy go lucky nature is nowhere to be seen.....they’re shouting, they’re banging, they’re slamming.....there’s not a “dude” or an “awesome” or a “totally” anywhere to be heard.....all there is to be heard are threats of violence towards Randy Savage and The Warrior.....and Shawn Michaels? He absolutely loves it.....

.....instead of trying to calm down his cohorts, Michaels and JPL seem to be fanning the flames of discontent, agreeing with Copeland and Cage that Savage and the Warrior have gone too far now.....

”.....which is why you two need to finish the job once and for all at UnCensored.....you need to put those two dinosaurs from a bygone age BACK into extinction.....”

.....JPL says that UnCensored is going to be their night.....a night for degenerates.....a night where C&C take out two so called Titans.....a night where Shawn Michaels takes that Big Tin Belt, wipes the make up OFF it and wipes his ass WITH it.....

”.....and the night, where I take that loud mouth people’s chump The Rock.....and show the world that he ain’t no rock.....he’s just a Crock.....a Crock of Shi.....”

.....Ray Traylor might have gotten folded in half earlier by Bill Goldberg, but he still has the wherewithal here to keep Standards and Practices happy.....clamping a hand over JPL’s mouth before he can finish that profanity......

.....Shawn chuckles that that, telling Traylor that it’s okay.....because he’s going to take care of the Rock himself right now.....

”.....and you totally awesome three.....you know what to do.....so let’s do this.....”

Rating: A*

<img style="max-width:15%;
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"src="https://i.imgur.com/XaRFzNT.jpg">

.....okay.....it’s main event time.....and WHAT a main event.....as Shawn Michaels and The Rock go one on one for the first time ever, in what is arguably a Pay Per View caliber main event.....

.....trust WCW to give it away for free right?.....

.....in their defence, while this WAS a PPV caliber main event on paper, in practice the two men left enough intrigue in the contest to guarantee that people would come back to buy the rematch, should one be forthcoming.....

.....that’s not to say this wasn’t a great match.....in fact far from it, it was very good.....in fact, the Rock looked completely at home in there with the former World Champion (and current number one contender) leading the announcers to question exactly WHY Shawn Michaels was quite so quick to accept the match.....

.....unfortunately (or rather perhaps, predictably) the answer to that question soon becomes clearer.....because as Rocky stalks the man set to face Sting at Uncensored (clearly looking to connect with the Rock Bottom) JPL appears from nowhere behind him, sliding under the bottom rope and dropping HIS Uncensored opponent with a Low Blow that draws the disqualification.....

Winner: The Rock (via Disqualification)
Rating: A

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/H5AU4wf.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
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"src="https://i.imgur.com/TrIA3dp.jpg">
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.....and with Rocky doubled over in pain, he’s in prime position for JPL to drive his skull into the mat with a devastating Pedigree.....and once The Rock is prone on the canvas, that’s when Michaels and Levesque begin putting he boots to the People’s Champ.....

.....as the Totally Awesome Trinity come running out from the back.....

.....and the announcers declare this whole match a set-up.....

.....they might be right too.....because not only do the Trinity come out, the Trinity come out armed.....Copeland and Cage with a steel chair a piece, while Traylor has that ever present Nightstick.....

.....and when I say set up, I don’t mean because they came armed to assault The Rock.....

.....I mean set up because they came armed to stop anyone STOPPING the assault that Michaels and Levesque laid down on JPL’s Uncensored opponent....

.....because yes, while Michaels and his Den of Degenerates are pretty much universally hated, Rocky is not.....so one by one the locker room empty’s to make the save, while one by one they get held at bay by a weapon wielding Trinity member.....

.....Michaels and Levesque continue putting the boots to Rocky, before Shawn holds Maivia in place, so that Levesque can unload with fist after fist to the skull of the Great One, telling Rocky to “make a joke now funny man, go ahead and make me laugh” as he takes a chair from Cage.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/fQ6nEEh.jpg">

.....unfortunately that DOES leave a gap in the defences.....because that just leave Copeland and Traylor to hold the line, as the WCW Champion himself repels down from the roof of the arena......baseball bat in hand.....

.....he quickly gets onto the ring too (right where Cage would have been holding the fort) and swings wildly as Michaels, Levesque and co quickly bolt from the ring (away from the sea of wrestlers still on the ramp) and into the crowd.....

.....the WCW Champion helps the People’s Champion back to his feet.....before slowly turning and pointing that baseball bat ominously towards Levesque.....Vince Russo said earlier tonight that JPL would be in action this coming Thursday night on Thunder.....well by the look on the Stingers face, I think we know who his opponent is going to be.....

.....the Man called Sting.....

.....we’ll see you Thursday folks.....

Rating: A*

Final Rating:

to4sty · November 10, 2021

From Thunder to the Extreme: Week 2, March 1998

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Preview for WCW Thunder: Week 2, March 1998

Sting vs. JPL

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Bill Goldberg & Jeff Hardy vs. Eddie Guerrero & Curt Hennig

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WCW Television Championship Match

Diamond Dallas Page © vs. Jacques Rougeau

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Mike Awesome & Gideon Cain vs. Disorderly Conduct

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The Patriot vs. Alex Wright

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Rikishi vs. Ray Traylor

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"src="https://i.imgur.com/9CadHVo.jpg">

Preview for ECW Hardcore TV: Week 2, March 1998

Matches From ECW Living Dangerously 1998

ECW Tag Team Championship Match

The Eliminators © vs. The Brood

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Val Venis vs. Stevie Richards

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Shane Douglas & The Hellraiser vs. Tommy Dreamer & Chris Chetti

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TheAwesomeZero101 · November 13, 2021

From Thunder to the Extreme: Week 2, March 1998

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Preview for WCW Thunder: Week 2, March 1998

Sting vs. JPL
Comments: Easy DQ win for Sting as the band of degenerates beat him up.

Bill Goldberg & Jeff Hardy vs. Eddie Guerrero & Curt Hennig
Comments: Guerrero and Hennig cannot coexist after their feud. There can only be one perfect wrestler.

WCW Television Championship Match
Diamond Dallas Page © vs. Jacques Rougeau
Comments: He's not losing before Uncensored.

Mike Awesome & Gideon Cain vs. Disorderly Conduct
Comments: They ain't losing before Uncensored.

The Patriot vs. Alex Wright
Comments: Patriot needs some momentum going into his PPV match but rooting for the German man for a hell of a victory.

Rikishi vs. Ray Traylor
Comments: Ray Ray is a main eventer. Rikishi ain't.

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Preview for ECW Hardcore TV: Week 2, March 1998

Matches From ECW Living Dangerously 1998

ECW Tag Team Championship Match
The Eliminators © vs. The Brood
Comments: Close call but the Brood are new and I'm assuming more popular due to Daniel's run in the Fed.

Val Venis vs. Stevie Richards
Comments: Venis is going to plow through the BWO. Also are they the BWO in this universe?

Shane Douglas & The Hellraiser vs. Tommy Dreamer & Chris Chetti
Comments: Douglas, Jarrett and Triple H are the holy trinity of overpushed heels.

Predications

MisterRomanini · November 15, 2021

Preview for WCW Thunder: Week 2, March 1998

Sting vs. JPL

Comments:

Bill Goldberg & Jeff Hardy vs. Eddie Guerrero & Curt Hennig

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Diamond Dallas Page © vs. Jacques Rougeau

Comments:

Mike Awesome & Gideon Cain vs. Disorderly Conduct

Comments:

The Patriot vs. Alex Wright

Comments:

Rikishi vs. Ray Traylor

Comments:

Matches From ECW Living Dangerously 1998

ECW Tag Team Championship Match

Comments:

Val Venis vs. Stevie Richards

Comments:

Shane Douglas & The Hellraiser vs. Tommy Dreamer & Chris Chetti

Comments:

to4sty · November 16, 2021

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Week 2, March 1998

Portland Memorial Coliseum (Portland, Oregon)

ATT: 12,900

TV: 28.52

Announce Team: Tony Schiavone, Dusty Rhodes and Larry Zbyszko

.....ladies and gentlemen, it’s Thursday night, we are live and in living colour on TBS, it’s time for WCW Thunder......and you know what that means......

”.....!!!IF YA SMELLLLLLLLLLLLLL......WHAT THE ROCK.....IS COOKING!!!.....”

.....it means it time for the great one himself to make his presence known, right here on the show that he has very much claimed as his own.....and the crowd absolutely erupts as the music hits and a figure emerges onto the entrance way......

.....except those cheers soon turn to jeers.....

.....because that figure that emerged from the back is quickly followed by four more in succession.....

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....as a laughing Jean Paul Levesque makes his way out from the back, with Shawn Michaels and the Totally Awesome Trinity close behind......

.....the group makes its way to the ring where they address the jeering crowd, before Michaels takes the microphone to eat everyone know that despite what people may think.....this is NOT The Rocks show.....

”.....because for all you slack jawed idiots in the crowd, all the second rate ‘rasslers in the back that couldn’t even carry my jockstrap, let alone carry each other to a good match.....to little Rocky.....the Macho Man (Oh Yeahhh).....Vince lite.....to Ted Turner and Eric Bischoff (hey, how’s the head Easy E? We’re real sorry about that).....and to Mr. WCW himself, The Stinger.....

.....this isn’t the Rocks show.....it’s not TBS’s show.....hell, it’s not even WCW’s show.....because here’s some news for you jack.....every show that I’m on.....is the Shawn Michaels show.....that’s why you can call me Mr. Wrestling.....”

.....JPL takes the microphone, telling the crowd that’s it’s pretty evident by now where the real ‘big boys’ in WCW are (as he and the rest of these degenerates - apart from Big Ray-Ray - make some rather rude gestures towards their crotches that I’m sure won’t impress standards and practices) and that on Monday night, the Rock got just a little taste of what’s in store for him in just ten days time at Uncensored.....

”.....because Rocky.....you walk around here raising your eyebrow, making your little jokes and everyone laughs along with the funny man.....well I’m not laughing.....I’m just p!ssed off.....and at Uncensored, just like I did on Monday night.....I’m gonna kick.....your..............”

”.....!!!IF YA SMELLLLLLLLLLLLLL......WHAT THE ROCK.....IS COOKING!!!.....”

.....hold that thought.....

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.....because as JPL is rudely interrupted, this time the crowd DOES erupt.....as the great one himself finally makes an appearance on HIS show.....

”.....woah, woah, woah, woah, woah, woah, woah, WOAH.....hold on there a minute Jipple.....The Rock will get to you in a minute, he will, don’t worry.....but first of all, the Rock has a question to ask.....because Shawn Michaels, everybody around the world, every single one of the millions (and millions) of the Rocks fans knows exactly what the Rock is cooking.....but right now, there must be a haze in the air.....and it’s not just from the Rock’s custom pyro.....or maybe it is.....hey monkeys in the back, hit that button one more time for the great one.....”

.....ask and you shall receive.....as those monkeys in the back do indeed hit the button one more time, as a barrage of pyro erupts in the arena.....the crowd pops (hey it’s pyro, pyro is exciting) and Rocky stands there for a minute surrounded by that mist, rather over exaggerating as he sniffs at the air.....

”.....no, no.....it’s not that.....Shawn Michaels, there’s a haze in the air and it’s definitely not from the Rocks pyro.....so the question we have.....the one thing we all wanna know.....from Michael Buffer, to Dusty Rhodes, to Mexico’s greatest import El Dandy.....the question we allllllllll have......

.....is can we smell what Shawn Michaels been smoking?.....”

.....Rocky says the Shawn MUST be riding ‘high’ if he thinks for one second that Thunder is his show.....Rocky says that Thunder is, was and always will be the Rock’s show.....and since it IS the Rocks show.....and since JPL was promised a match right here tonight, let the Rock introduce his opponent.....

.....the WCW Champion.....Sting!.....

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.....the music of our World Champion begins to play through the arena, and the band of degenerates in the ring (as well as the majority of the crowd) turn their heads skywards as they look for the arrival of the Stinger.....but Rocky tells them to look right up the aisle.....

.....Sting told Mike Tenay a few weeks back that the Titans of Wrestling forced him into the rafters once before, but Shawn Michaels was never going to do that.....and true to his word, the Icon walks right out from the back with that Big Gold belt around his waist.....and baseball bat in hand.....

.....Levesque isn’t overly impressed, telling Rocky (and Sting) that unfortunately for them, Vince Russo and the rest of the Titans of Wrestling don’t work Thursdays.....and Eric Bischoff is still sleeping off a Con-Chair-To.....which means there ain’t no one around here to make the matches.....

.....so no.....that’s not his opponent.....

.....Shawn Michaels has other plans it would seem though, as he whispers into JPL’s ear (gesturing towards all five men in the ring, as well as doing the universal ‘belt’ motion towards his waist) before accepting the match on JPL’s behalf......

.....he tells Sting that his very own ‘hunter’ is going to leave him laying in the middle of that ring tonight.....

”.....and we’ll be right there at ringside to watch it.....and Rocky.....you feel free to come down here too.....take a load off, put your feet up.....because Copeland and Cage, they’ve always got a spare steel chair or two lying around.....if you know what I mean.....”

.....Rocky does know what he means.....as does Sting.....who tells the laughing degenerates that as far as tonight goes, they can bring the chairs.....he’ll bring the bat.....because in the main event.....just like it will be at Uncensored......

”.....it’s showtime!.....”

.....it’s showtime indeed.....and speaking of showtime, let’s get the show under way.....because our first match is going to happen right now.....

Rating: A*

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.....and while it’s not quite on the level of the JPL/Rock match that we have lined up for Uncensored.....it IS a member of Shawn Michaels clique (yes I’m spelling it correctly.....we wouldn’t want a cease and desist letter from Titan now would we) against a member of the Anoa’i family.....as Big Ray-Ray, Ray Traylor faces off against Rikishi.....

.....the match was what it was.....two big men hammering away on each other for about ten minutes.....there is a good chance that Big ‘Kish might have come away with the victory too.....coming close on a number of occasions.....in the end though it wasn’t to be, as the Lumana’i made their way out from the back, distracting Rikishi just long enough for him to fall victim to the Enforcer (Boss Man) Slam for the three count.....

Winner: Ray Traylor
Rating: B+

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.....well Big Ray-Ray has his win, so there’s no need for him to stick about.....he heads to the back to presumably join the rest of his running buddies ahead of tonight’s main event.....but that does leave Rikishi all alone.....

.....with his family.....

.....which in normal circumstances would be a good thing.....but as Ekmo, Kima and Smooth hit the ring to start putting the boots to their elder, this obviously isn’t normal circumstances.....

.....it takes Kokina a little longer than his brethren to get into the ring, but he’s barking orders at his tribe throughout, before finally telling them to drag Rikishi into the corner.....looks like he’s gonna go for that Samoan Splash.....

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.....fortunately (much like last week) help is at hand in the form of the returning Samoan SWAT Team.....who (after taking a savage beating of their own at the hands of the Lumana’i) are hungry for revenge too.....

.....remarkably (despite having the numbers advantage) the Lumana’i quickly bail, leaving Samu and Fatu to tend to their fallen uso.....which is when Kokina grabs a mic.....

.....he tells Rikishi and the SST that they might have bailed now.....but only because when they step in that ring, it’s gonna be official and in the books.....because his Lumana’i trio are officially challenging the three men in the ring to a match.....

”.....you three savages.....you three relics.....you three embarrassments to the bloodline.....you three things of the past against my three visions of the future of Samoa.....yesterday vs. tomorrow.....past vs. future.....my future....my Lumana’i.....so Kishi.....you pick the bones out of those two idiots noses and we’ll see you real soon boys.....”

.....ah Thunder.....the show where storylines that no one cares about are born and live.....will the challenge be accepted? Do you care? You should! We’re really trying to establish some new stars here dammit!.....

.....anyway, on with the show.....

Rating: B

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.....from there we head to the back, where Adam Copeland and Christian Cage are congratulating their Totally Awesome team mate on his victory, when Mike Tenay makes his way over, microphone in hand.....

.....he stops the festivities in their tracks as he asks Copeland and Cage about their upcoming match at Uncensored with their former Titan team mates, Randy Savage and The Warrior.....

”.....and while it pains me to admit it (given the Titans of Wrestling’s history around here) these two men might be your toughest opponents yet.....”

“.....SHUT UP MIKE TENAY!.....”

.....clearly Adam Copeland does not agree with that statement.....telling Mike Tenay that he’s totally ruining Big Ray-Ray’s victory buzz.....

”.....don’t you ruin Big Ray-Ray’s moment Tenay!....stop being a total buzzkill.....”

.....Tenay apologises (although he doesn’t look to be sure exactly what he’s apologising for) before reiterating his point.....he says that yes, C&C have beaten some of the biggest tag teams in the business.....but this is The Warrior and Randy Savage.....former World Heavyweight Champions in their own right.....future hall of fame contenders and quite frankly, living legends in the business.....this isn’t like facing the Public Enemy or the Pitbulls.....

.....Christian asks Tenay how much he’s being paid to promote the two old guys so much (”....Mean Gene should totally get you on the hotline Mike Tenay.....you TOTALLY know how to shill.....SHUT UP MIKE TENAY!.....”) before saying that Warrior and Savage have no idea what’s in store for them.....

”.....hey Adam.....have they ever faced us?.....”

“.....they totally haven’t.....”

“.....Big Ray-Ray.....how many Tag Team Titles have they won?.....”

“.....(silence).....”

“.....that’s right, totally none.....and what kind of match is it going to be at Uncensored Tenay?.....”

“.....well, a tag team match obviously.....”

“.....SHUT UP MIKE TENAY!.....”

.....Christian says that the best tag team in the world today (”totally us”) is going to be in TAG TEAM action.....against two guys that haven’t even won a tag team title between them.....they’re totally gonna kick their butts.....

”.....and if they were here right now, we’d kick their butts all over the arena.....but everyone knows that the precious Titans don’t work Thursdays.....it’s jello night at the retirement centre.....”

.....Copeland adds that the two geriatrics would totally never have the guts to face the Totally Awesome Two back here.....there are too many chairs around for one.....before shoving Mike Tenay to one side and heading off, singing a victory song to Ray-Ray as they go.....

.....let’s go back down to ringside.....

Rating: A

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.....where we actually have a rematch from Nitro......

.....The Patriot and Alex Wright clashed recently, with Das Wunderkind picking up what some considered to be an upset victory (following a distraction from Lance Storm).....tonight there is no Lance Storm.....no distraction.....and as such The Patriot was able to avenge his defeat with a victory of his own, finishing off Wright with the Uncle Slam.....

Winner: The Patriot
Rating: C+

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.....Mike Tenay joins The Patriot in the ring, where the two briefly discuss Patriots upcoming Flag Match with Lance Storm at Uncensored......

.....I won’t bore you with the details (old Del isn’t much of a talker) but our Red, White and Blue hero says that he’s sick to his back teeth of hearing about Canada this, UK that, Sovereignty this, United Nations that.....

”.....the only Nation that matters a damn, is the greatest nation in the world.....the good old US of A.....and Lance Storm, at Uncensored it’s not going to be Oh Canada.....and God ain’t saving you OR the Queen.....and I can tell you right now that the only flag that’s going to be flying high.....is Old Glory herself.....”

.....really?.....we’ll see I guess.....in about ten days from now.....

Rating: C+

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.....we come back from commercial to find that Mike Tenay has stuck around, as he brings out his special guest.....

”.....the man that will be teaming with Rowdy Roddy Piper at Uncensored, in what may prove to be the Hot Rod’s final match.....facing the Titans of Wrestling’s Buff Bagwell and Giant......ladies and gentlemen please join me in welcoming, the Total Package.....Lex Luger!.....”

.....Lex gets a good ovation too.....say what you will about his wrestling ability, the boy is over.....he climbs into the ring and jiggles his pecs for the ladies (and I'm sure a few of the men) in the crowd, before joining Tenay in the middle.....

.....the two men discuss the upcoming match.....Tenay asks about Pipers condition (which Lex says won’t be a problem come Uncensored) as well as Lugers ongoing rivalry with both Buff Bagwell and his former friend The Giant.....

.....Lex says that he’s be happy to fight either man right now.....but everyone knows the Titans think themselves too important to work Thursdays (man we’re really driving that point home tonight) and while he’d be more that willing to wait until Monday.....

”.....but apparently Mike, little Buff and the big bad Giant, they’ve told their good buddy Vince Russo, that they don’t want none of the Total Package until Uncensored.....but.....and this is the good part Mike Tenay.....they’ll happily fight anyone else on the roster to make up for it......so Buff.....this Monday night, live on Nitro.....have I got an opponent for you.....”

.....quite who that opponent is going to be, we’re going to have to wait to find out.....because despite Tenay’s questioning he’s not giving the name up.....he DOES however say, that the beating that Buff gets on Nitro, will be NOTHING compared to what’s going to happen.....when Rowdy Roddy Piper is unleashed.....and Uncensored.....ten days folks.....

Rating: A

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.....next up we have tag team action.....and it’s a barn burner.....because it’s Mike Awesome and Gideon Cain, facing off against the menacing sounding duo consisting of Mean Mark and Tough Tom (scary!) Disorderly Conduct.....

.....or to put it in layman’s terms, a Saturday morning squash match in which Awesome and Cain completely dominated, before finishing off Tough Tom with an East of Eden/Awesome Splash combination.....and they barely broke a sweat doing it.....

Winner(s): Mike Awesome and Gideon Cain
Rating: C+

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.....Missy Hyatt joins her men in the ring with a microphone.....Awesome and Cain have come on leaps and bounds over the past year since they began teaming (both in terms of ability and overness) but their mic ability still isn’t their strong point.....hence Missy.....

.....Missy says that her men have been dominating the tag team division for months now.....facing everyone from the very top to the very bottom, even defeating the former tag team champions Copeland and Cage on Nitro.....

”.....and I think it’s time that my boys get what’s coming to them.....so Kevin Sullivan.....if you can hear this you creepy little man, tell your smelly, sweaty tag team champions, that they have something that Mike Awesome and Gideon Cain want.....those shiny tag team belts.....”

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.....ask and you shall receive.....because The Forgotten do indeed make their way out.....and yes, they do bring those shiny tag team belts with them.....

.....Sullivan tells Missy, that for a little lady (and he uses that term loosely) she sure has a big mouth.....and it’s a big mouth that’s going to get her men in trouble.....because the Forgotten never back down from a fight and The Forgotten will accept the challenge.....

”......but take a good long look at your pretty boys now woman.....because when Vader and Bam Bam are done with them.....they ain’t gonna be pretty anymore.....although darlin’, they’ll still be prettier than you.....”

.....oh man, Missy didn’t like that at all.....in fact she didn’t like it that much that she slapped the taste right out of the taskmasters mouth, who in turn snatches her right by the hair.....

.....then it all gets a bit messy.....

.....because Awesome smacks Sullivan right upside the head (causing him to let go of his grip on Missy) then Bammers hits Awesome, Cain lays one on Vader, etc, etc.....so much so that the crack WCW security team has to make its way out from the back en mass to try and keep the chaos at bay.....

.....let’s have a commercial break shall we while we sort all this mess out.....

Rating: A

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.....and when we come back we are greeted to the arrival of Lance Storm and Lord Steven Regal, along with the rest of the Sovereignty.....although there is one rather glaringly obvious absentee.....Chris Benoit.....but then (as the announce team point out) he’s not an actual OFFICIAL member of the group.....more of an acquaintance at this point.....

.....the group spend a few minutes running down America (as the are prone to do) before Lance Storm discusses his upcoming Flag Match with the Patriot at Uncensored.....it’s your basic hype video, just with the added bonus of some subtle Great American Bashing.....

.....from there Jacques Rougeau surprisingly takes the microphone (I know, I know) to call out Diamond Dallas Page.....he says that on Monday Night, DDP took advantage of the well known Canadian good sportsmanship, dropping him with a Diamond Cutter in the middle of the ring like the cowardly American he is.....

”.....well Page.....my good, close personal friend Chris Benoit might have you at Uncensored.....but that’s then, this is now, and now what I want you to do, is march down that aisle and fight me like a man, face to face.....that’s if you’re not too scared back there.....”

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.....obviously Page isn’t one to turn down a challenge.....making his way out with his lovely wife Kimberly on his arm, the Television Title around his waist.....and a microphone in hand.....

.....he tells Jacques that he’ll go one better.....he’ll face him in the ring right now.....and if the rest of those Sovereignty Scumbags heads to the back, he’ll even put the Television Title on the line too.....

.....Storm isn’t overly happy about that, telling Rougeau that it’s supposed to be Chris Benoit bringing the gold home to Canada, but Jacques tells him not to worry.....because when he beats Page, he’ll give Benoit the shot at Uncensored still.....and they can have an all Canadian showdown for the television title.....

.....that appeases Lance.....which means he (and the rest of the Sovereignty) head to the back.....and we have an unscheduled title match happening right now.....

Rating: A

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.....so it’s Diamond Dallas Page facing off against the Mountie.....what a barnburner his one is going to be.....incidentally, the last time Jacques Rougeau held a major singles title, it was when he defeated Bret Hart back in 1992, when Diamond Dallas Page was still basically little more than a manager.....

.....how the tides have turned.....

.....come on, everyone knows that Rougeau wasn’t winning here.....it was a decent enough match don’t get me wrong, but the result was never in question.....

.....Diamond Cutter in the middle of the ring.....one, two, three.....Page retains.....

Winner: ....and Still WCW Television Champion.....Diamond Dallas Page
Rating: B

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.....the Sovereignty were men of their word (shockingly) staying in the back for the duration of the match.....they’re back out now though.....and as Dallas raises his title in victory they circle the ring in what looks to be rather menacing fashion.....

.....Mr. Page could be in some trouble here.....

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.....or not.....

.....because before the Sovereignty can even think about entering the ring (let alone assaulting DDP) Chris Benoit walks out from the back and comes to a halt at the top of the entrance way.....

.....Lance Storm clocks his arrival.....and as Benoit shakes his head (with the camera picking up the sound of him telling Storm that he wants Dallas at 100% at Uncensored) Storm calls off the troops.....who walk back up the aisle and join Benoit at the top of the stage.....

.....looks like Page vs. Benoit II is still on the books for the Pay Per View.....

.....yay.....

Rating: B+

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.....next up we are told that we are going to see Jeff Hardy take on Eddie Guerrero.....in what WOULD have been a great match.....but in typical WCW bait and switch style, the match never actually happens.....

.....sure it looks like it’s going to happen.....we have the entrances and everything.....but as the two men face off on opposite sides of the ring, the image of Curt Hennig storming the ring puts a stop to all that before the official can even ring the bell.....

.....Hennig and Hardy have had their problems as of late, and those problems continue here.....you’d think Eddie would be upset at having his match interrupted, but to be fair he doesn’t seem overly concerned.....instead he seizes the opportunity to deliver a beating of his own, joining forces with his former nemesis, as the two men put the boots to a downed Jeff Hardy.....

.....fortunately help is at hand.....

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.....as the undefeated monster Goldberg comes rushing down the aisle.....

.....I’d like to say he finally gets his hands on Eddie Guerrero, but honestly, our United States Champion bails the second he sees Goldberg steaming down the aisle.....

.....Hennig isn’t far behind either.....diving through the ropes to safety before Goldberg can land a blow and retreating quickly up the aisle alongside Guerrero.....

.....but that’s not the end of the action.....

.....because as Hardy is helped to his feet by his rescuer, he grabs a microphone to cut a rare fired up promo.....

.....he says that he came here tonight to fight.....he still wants a fight.....and he’ll fight two guys if he has to.....and since Goldberg is here too (and clearly spoiling for some action) why don’t they have a little tag team match.....

”.....RIGHT NOW!.....”

.....honestly, I don’t think Eddie is overly keen to get in the ring with a p!ssed off Goldberg.....but Hennig is so eager to tangle with Jeff Hardy again that he agrees for the both of them.....

.....match on.....

Rating: A

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/rqfXlN8.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
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.....so here we go.....it’s Bill Goldberg and Jeff Hardy facing off against Curt Hennig and Eddie Guerrero.....could we FINALLY see the former Television Champion get his hands on the current United States Champion, the man that put him on the shelf AND cost him the title he never lost in the ring?.....

.....well, short answer.....no.....

.....in fact Eddie Guerrero when no where near that ring anytime Goldberg was the legal man.....

.....fortunately for him, Hennig was able to isolate Jeff Hardy.....meaning that Guerrero did at least see SOME ring time.....

.....the two men did a good job at softening young Hardy up ahead of Hennig’s scheduled one on one match with him at Uncensored too.....so much so that the announce team began questioning whether Goldbergs first official loss could come in a match that he didn’t actually get pinned in.....

.....man that would have been typical WCW right?....

.....fortunately we weren’t stupid enough to do that.....and as soon as Hardy made the (very) hot tag, Guerrero made a hasty retreat once more, leaving his partner high and dry.....

.....which meant three things.....

Spear
Jackhammer
64-0

.....maybe you’ll have better luck at Uncensored Curt.....

Winner(s): Jeff Hardy and Goldberg
Rating: A

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/TScNvz2.jpg">

.....from there we have a brief cutscene ahead of our scheduled main event.....it’s the old classic “a black limousine is pulling up in the parking lot” bit.....

.....who could be inside?!?.....

.....I’m sure we’ll find out.....

.....let’s go to our main event.....

Rating: N/A

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/rudumzm.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/TFVQgbO.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/TrIA3dp.jpg">

.....and it’s a biggie.....it’s our World Heavyweight Champion Sting, clashing horns with that arrogant degenerate JPL.....

.....and neither man comes out alone.....

.....because while Shawn Michaels and the Totally Awesome Trinity make their way out with Levesque, Sting has the most electrifying man in all of sports entertainment by his side.....The Rock.....

.....JPL didn’t seem very enthusiastic about accepting this match earlier.....and it’s easy to see why.....the Stinger is really fired up and clearly relishing taking out some of his Shawn Michaels frustrations out on his rivals best friend.....and he does just that, battering JPL from pillar to post.....

.....speaking of friends, they come in handy.....because with Levesque firmly on the back foot, it’s Sting’s LEFT foot that The Enforcer grabs hold of during a running the ropes sequence, allowing JPL to finally take control of the match.....

.....not for too long though.....Sting is REALLY on fire.....and he soon rally’s back on the home stretch, crushing Levesque in the corner with a Stinger Splash, before turning him over and cinching in the Scorpion Deathlock.....

.....which is when Michaels and Company storm the ring, jumping the WCW Champion and drawing the disqualification.....

Winner: Sting (via Disqualification)
Rating: A

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/nIAz8RC.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/PifOkmV.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/rudumzm.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/H5AU4wf.jpg">
<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/DJt4Wpa.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/aNE9X2Q.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/w52KdTn.jpg">

.....and you know what that means! It’s beat down time!.....

.....the most hated band of degenerates pounce on the WCW champion and begin putting the boots to him, only for the Rock to slide into the ring to try and make the save.....

.....and he really does try.....he’s whaling on Michaels and Levesque with rights and lefts, levels Cage with a Samoan Drop.....Spinebuster to Copeland and then drops down (pulling the top rope with him) as the Enforcer charges, sending Big Ray-Ray tumbling to the outside in one of his trademark over the top rope falls.....

.....try as he might though, with the Stinger down that’s still a five on one disadvantage.....and soon the numbers overwhelm him, as WCW’s most hated faction begin to dominate two of its most popular stars.....

.....the group splits up.....JPL and The Enforcer working over Rocky, while Michaels, Copeland and Cage work on beating the paint off the face of the WCW champion until both men are truly spent.....

.....Michaels isn’t happy with that though, sending the Totally Awesome Two to the outside to collect a few chairs.....and you know what that means.....

.....Traylor holds Sting in place as Copeland and Cage position themselves (each with a chair in hand) on either side of him, as Michaels trash talks, before slapping his Uncensored opponent across the face and telling C&C to ”.....do it.....”

.....remember that limo?.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/qQQiQxd.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/2EPs81y.jpg">

.....it turns out the Titans DO work Thursdays occasionally.....because Randy Savage and The Warrior come rushing out from the back and they do not look happy.....

.....yes they are scumbags.....yes they are heels.....and yes they spent the best part of 18 months running havoc through WCW.....but by god do they get the hero’s welcome here as they hit the ring like the Macho Man and Warrior of old.....

.....the fly for Shawn Michaels and crew (even Warrior is back to his former energetic best) and keep the five men at bay long enough for Sting and Rocky to get back into the game.....and then remarkably it’s WCW and The Titans of Wrestling fighting side by side to drive away the anti-WCW stable.....

.....Michaels, Levesque and the Trinity have finally had enough, making a hasty retreat up the aisle.....as Sting, Rocky, Savage and Warrior stand united in the ring.....

.....an uneasy alliance.....

.....but an alliance none the less.....

.....we’ll see you Monday folks.....

Rating: A*

Final Rating: A

to4sty · November 16, 2021

Rikishi vs. Ray Traylor
Comments: Ray Ray is a main eventer. Rikishi ain't.

Big Ray-Ray is so over it’s ridiculous…..and he can thank his totally awesome team mates for that, because he does very little in ring work now to be fair.

ECW Tag Team Championship Match
The Eliminators © vs. The Brood
Comments: Close call but the Brood are new and I'm assuming more popular due to Daniel's run in the Fed.

Yeah, while Daniels was way down the card in the WWF, compared to the rest of ECW he’s more over than pretty much all of the roster…..including the current Champion

Val Venis vs. Stevie Richards
Comments: Venis is going to plow through the BWO. Also are they the BWO in this universe?

Unfortunately not…..no nWo means no bWo. They’re just three goofs who happen to wear blue

Shane Douglas & The Hellraiser vs. Tommy Dreamer & Chris Chetti
Comments: Douglas, Jarrett and Triple H are the holy trinity of overpushed heels.

Don’t go giving me ideas, that’s a hell of a stable Just imagine the carnage…..throw Sunny in as their valet too and nobody is safe.

to4sty · November 18, 2021

<img style="max-width:60%;

"src="https://i.imgur.com/KHIBBqF.jpg">

Week 2, March 1998

Highlights from ECW Living Dangerously 1998

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/OODEH1M.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/oUdDGeT.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
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"src="https://i.imgur.com/J7gkV9Z.jpg">

.....the show opens tonight, not with introductions or promos or anything of that kin.....instead it starts right inside the ring, as Tommy Dreamer looks to gain a measure of revenge on the two men responsible for hospitalising Beulah, as he takes on Shane Douglas and the enormous Hellraiser.....

.....on paper Tommy’s partner is an odd choice.....a relatively unknown rookie with more losses under his belt than wins, including a loss to Shane Douglas himself.....however, Joey Styles remarks that this is perhaps the exact reason Dreamer chose him.....

.....he suggests that while Chris Chetti has shown remarkable upside (even gaining that rarest of things recently, the respect of Taz in defeat) Shane Douglas surely sees him as a weak link.....and since there was no chance Douglas was accepting a fair fight with a p!ssed off Tommy Dreamer, he was happy to accept an UNFAIR fight.....while Tommy, he just wants to get his hands on Douglas and Hellraiser, and doesn’t care how badly he gets hurt in the process.....

.....which is lucky.....

.....because he gets hurt pretty bad.....

.....this match is a match of two styles.....Dreamer and Chetti have a more “wrestling” based match, while Dreamer and Hellraiser just beat the holy sh!t out of each other, all over the arena and high up into the balcony areas.....both men are busted open by the time they arrive, and for one horrible second it looks as though Hellraiser is going to Chokeslam Tommy from high up in the building, straight down to the floor.....

.....he wraps his hand around the throat of his opponent and positions him over the edge.....Tommy though, he just kicks the man square in the balls, before letting out a loud ”E.C f#@king W” and tossing the man over the edge and down to the floor below, sending him through a stack of tables in the process.....

.....he makes his way back to the ring, where he grabs two steel chairs (handing one to Chetti) as the two men circle a terrified looking Douglas.....

.....who then smiles.....

.....and raises three fingers.....

.....as Chetti crushes the chair over the top of Tommy Dreamers head.....

.....Chetti tosses the chair to the mat as Douglas drags Tommy back to his feet, before delivering a belly to belly on the steel for the one, two, three......

Winner(s): Shane Douglas and Hellraiser
Rating: C+

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/OODEH1M.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/cfzE8Lw.jpg"> <img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/J7gkV9Z.jpg"> <img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/oUdDGeT.jpg">

.....so there it is.....Shane Douglas had been teasing the reformation of the Triple Threat for weeks now and it looks like that tease has finally come to fruition as Chris Chetti joins Douglas in beating the crap out of Tommy.....a fact that Joey Styles is appalled by.....

”.....as Chris Chetti, a man with unlimited potential, just sold all that potential down the river to Shane Douglas for a cheap buck.....”

.....Hellraiser took a hell of a fall earlier, but this is ECW dammit.....so he’s back on his feet now and joins his two partners in the ring.....the three men briefly stomp the snot out of Tommy, before Chetti finally pulls him to his feet and holds him in place, as Douglas wraps a chain around his fist and nails Dreamer right between the eyes.....

.....Tommy is basically done, but the Triple Threat aren’t, as Shane sends his young protege to the outside, telling Chetti to go fetch a table ”so we can do him like we did his old lady”.....

.....and that’s exactly what they do.....Chetti sets up the table, Hellraiser Chokeslams Tommy straight through it.....and the Triple Threat stand tall (three fingers raised) as Shane Douglas cackles on, leaving Joey Styles to muse that.....

”.....Shane Douglas, I don’t know who you’re defending that TV Title against later.....but I for one hope they kick your ass.....”

.....let’s go to some promos.....

Rating: B+

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/cf64mRq.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/jYEyr2I.jpg">
<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/aRJz2us.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
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"src="https://i.imgur.com/Oj11tW9.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/3BLNboC.jpg">

.....promos that open up with the Dudley Boys.....ALL of the Dudley Boys.....including D-Von.....which looks to scare the ever loving p!ss out of Chubby, Sign Guy and Dances with, all of whom somewhat cower in the background as D-Von begins a rant.....

”.....because after trying and trying to make this band of brothers something befitting Big Daddy Dudleys name, finally something is paying off.....because while for these three fat f#@ks here, the best part of Daddy Dudley’s seed dribbled down their momma’s thighs, Buh-Buh and Big Dick.....they’re finally starting to think like Dudleys.....”

.....D-Von says that Balls Mahoney and Axl Rotten, they’re about to find out one fundamental fact when they meet in that ring.....

”.....thou shall not f#@k with the Dudleys.....come on my brothers.....”

.....with that D-Von jovially slaps both Buh-Buh and Big Dick on the chest (before slapping Chubby Dudley less jovially around the back of the head) before walking off, with Buh-Buh and Big Dick following semi reluctantly behind him.....

.....Chubby, Sign Guy and Dances with watch their brothers leave (as Buh-Buh looks on apologetically) before the trio discuss what to do next.....with Sign Guy having the final “word”, holding up a sign with four words written on it.....

”.....call the little guy.....”

.....who’s the little guy? Who knows.....for now let’s go over to everybody’s favourite moron.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/78kyKyt.jpg">

.....JT. Smith.....who’s pacing the locker room like a man with a lot of his mind.....

.....he said that he’s been coming out here week in and week out, trying to do right by the family.....and all it’s gotten him is the kiss of death from the Don (and a match with Little Guido which is coming up next week) well enough is enough.....

”.....because whether the Don likes it or not, I am a made man.....I’m not a joke.....I’m not a jinx.....I’m the man the family needs.....so if I have to fight my good, close, personal friend Little Guido to prove that, then what’s what I’ll do.....

.....but when I do that.....when I beat my main man Guido, Don, I want the hit called off!.....I want the hit called off and I want my Made Man status back.....because I’m about to prove that I’m not a problem, I’m a problem solver.....and the family needs me.....”

.....now all fired up, JT takes a step back and slams door the door right in the camera mans face.....except he does it with such force that it swings right back open and smacks him right between the eyes.....

.....yeah.....you’re definitely not jinxed JT.....

.....let’s get back to more action from Living Dangerously.....

Rating: C

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/bXRiTjz.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/PA87uyB.jpg">

.....where it’s time for Val Venis to take on Stevie Richards.....and as always, the crowd is VERY happy to see the arrival of Miss Jenna Jameson in the arena.....

.....Val matches down the ring with his favourite co-star on his arm, grabbing a microphone to let his feelings known.....because.....

”.....hello, ladies.....

.....you know, the Big Valboski is here at Living Dangerously.....and I can’t think of a better place to announce my latest movie.....because it’s closely inspired by a man who’s always living dangerously.....James Bond himself.....and just like in Tomorrow Never Dies.....the Big Valboski is locked....cocked....loaded....and ALWAYS packing heat.....and while Bond is a Double-O Seven, the Big Valboski is a Double XL (if you know what I mean).....he’s always surrounded by Pussy Galore.....and he ALWAYS has a Licence.....to thrill.....

.....because while Tomorrow Never Dies for Bond.....when Val Venis and Jenna Jameson get in front of those cameras.....Tomorrow Always Comes.....and Comes.....and Comes again......”

.....Jenna riles up those red blooded men in the crowd, before finally saying to send out Stevie and the Super-Virgins.....so that her man can make this short.....and sweet.....

”.....because judging by those tight little pants of yours.....Stevie honey.....SHORT is something you know a lot about.....”

.....Jenna wiggles her little finger at the entrance way (implying that Stevie is less than blessed in the trouser department) taunting the trio as they make their way out.....

.....let’s go to the match.....

Rating: C+

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/bXRiTjz.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/Eh85fRt.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/5GAMQF1.jpg">

.....outside of his gimmick, Val Venis is probably more suited to a ‘sports entertainment’ style company than an ECW type company.....but we’ve all got to start somewhere right.....granted the fact that he has Jenna Jameson at ringside certainly helps, but still.....this isn’t your typical (arena wide brawl) ECW type affair.....

.....it’s actually a decent enough match to be fair.....Val is still pretty green, but capable enough.....while outside of the comedy character, Stevie is a pretty decent worker too.....it definitely benefited from the dog and pony show that having Jenna, Nova and Meanie at ringside provided.....

.....both outside men interfered at times, but Jenna dropped them both (at separate occasions) with her signature move (the nut shot) and she was there for the finish too.....

.....Stevie tuned up the band and let loose with that Stevie Kick.....Val catches the foot though, and with Dancing Stevie turning into Hopping Stevie, Jenna climbs into the ring and punches him square in the exposed balls.....

.....Stevie goes down.....Val goes up.....and one Money Shot later, this one is all over.....

Winner: Val Venis
Rating: C

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/UgQUgF7.jpg">

.....we go to a pre-recorded segment with Taz now, fresh off his loss to Rob Van Dam, the return of Sabu, and the subsequent beat down that went along with it.....

.....he’s sat in a dark room, tatty black towel over his head, and what small part of his face that we can see looks to be pretty ticked off.....

.....he says that RVD and Bill Alfonso were already dead men walking BEFORE they conspired to bring back Sabu (which we saw on last weeks show) but now.....now they ain’t dead men walking anymore.....

”.....because believe me when I say, there are much worse things than death.....and I’m going to make sure that both of you jackasses get to experience every single one of them.....and Sabu.....you made one very serious mistake brother.....you left me breathing.....Rob Van Dam, Bill Alfonso.....they’re gonna know pain.....but you.....you’re going to have to face me sometime soon.....and when you do, you’re going to be begging me to put you out of your misery.....you and me Sabu.....one more time.....beat me if you can.....survive.....if I let you.....”

Rating: B

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/EWneHkq.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/rIGo2e7.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/iTMRWwj.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/99SvmLX.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/C53EtsH.jpg">

.....it’s back to more action from Living Dangerously now.....and it’s title action.....tag team title actually, as the Eliminators put the ECW Tag Team Titles on the line (titles that they have held for nearly nine months now) against a relatively new team to ECW.....The Vampire Warrior and The Fallen Angel (along with Luna).....

.....Perry Saturn and John Kronus had a huge boost in name value after getting an opportunity to perform live on a WWF Pay Per View last year, and while The Vampire Warrior is still somewhat of an unknown, Christopher Daniels stint as a member of Raven’s Flock (not to mention his brief spell as WWF Light Heavyweight Champion) means that even as a midcarder by the big two’s standards, he’s a massive name here.....

.....he’s also a decent worker too.....as is Perry Saturn.....so the ECW crowd really got a twofer here.....with Daniels and Saturn wrestling in the ring, while Kronus and Vampy brawled (and bled) all over the ECW arena.....

.....the Eliminators certainly have the experience edge, being that they are the established team.....and that team work is evident numerous times, particularly when they nearly broke Vampy in half with a Total Elimination.....they would have got the win too.....had Luna not dived into the ring to level Saturn with a low blow from behind, tossing him out of the ring (yes, she’s a bad M’Fer) as Daniels leaps to the second and then the top turnbuckle, crashing down onto the back of Kronus as he makes the cover with a triple jump moonsault.....

.....that breaks up the pin fall.....

.....Luna slides a chair into the middle of the ring.....

.....Daniels drags Kronus back to his feet.....

.....Angels Wings right to the steel chair.....

.....and one, two, three seconds later.....

.....the Eliminators seven month title reign is over.....

Winner(s): .....and [New] ECW Tag Team Champions.....The Brood.....
Rating: B-

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/H32LWER.jpg">

.....there’s no fancy angle to close out the show this evening, we simply go over to Paul Heyman’s parents basement (or Studio ECW if you will) where (with an ECW banner hiding Mrs. Heyman folding laundry) Joey Styles talks briefly about the title change we just saw, stating that.....

”.....for seven long months, The Eliminators were THE team to beat around here in ECW.....but they were also the team that NOBODY could beat.....until one team did.....The Brood.....and god have mercy on the souls that get sold trying to beat Satan’s own pairing of The Vampire Warrior.....and The Fallen Angel.....”

.....Styles then quickly runs over the matches still to come from Living Dangerously.....including next weeks offering of JT. Smith vs. Little Guido, and (”.....that sick son of a.....”) Shane Douglas defending the ECW Television Title against an as yet unnamed opponent (an unnamed opponent that Joey for one, hopes kicks Shane Douglas’ ass).....and then of course there’s more tag team action.....as D-Von and Buh-Buh of the Dudley Boys, take on the pairing of Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney.....

.....and speaking of the Dudley Boys.....

<img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/6EzRBSD.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/3BLNboC.jpg"><img style="max-width:15%;
"src="https://i.imgur.com/Oj11tW9.jpg">

.....we cut to a shot of three of those Boys in some fast food diners parking lot.....

.....how do we know it’s a fast food diner? Well the mountain of empty packaging surrounding Chubby’s feet for one.....

.....the trio is huddled around a pay phone (frantically looking over their shoulders every few seconds) as Sign Guy feeds coins into the device.....

.....the three whisper indistinctly amongst themselves as the line rings, until finally Dances with shushes his brothers into silence.....

”.....yeah....hey, it’s us.....US!.....yeah, I know you said never to call.....but have you been watching?.....I don’t like it.....I think we.....no.....no he doesn’t know about you.....look, he’s going over the edge.....how do you fancy a trip to Philly?.....no, not all expenses paid, Chubby just spent everything we had on burgers.....why? Because D-Von is outta control.....he’s everywhere, he’s probably listening to this call right now.....oh god, he probably IS listening to this call right now.....just come.....the family needs you.....”

.....the family needs you indeed.....needs who I hear you ask? Well, we could have asked the Dudleys, but the moment Dances with slams the receiver down, the three men make a hasty getaway.....

.....I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.....

.....maybe next week.....

.....we’re out of time.....

Rating: C

Final Rating: C+

to4sty · November 19, 2021

The Monday Night Wars: Week 3, March 1998

Preview for WWF Raw is War: Week 3, March 1998

Steve Austin vs. Chris Jericho vs. Ric Flair
Comments:

Kane vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts
Comments:

Special Match from the ECW Arena
Mikey Whipwreck vs. Raven
Comments:

WWF European Championship Match
Booker T © vs. Kenny Kaos
Comments:

Scorpio vs. D-Lo Brown
Comments:

Mankind vs. Test
Comments:

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 3, March 1998
Spring Break

Sting, The Rock, Randy Savage & The Warrior vs. Shawn Michaels, JPL, Adam Copeland & Christian Cage
Comments:

Sid Vicious vs. Buff Bagwell
Comments:

Brian Lawler & Psicosis vs. Alex Wright & Disco Inferno
Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match
Diamond Dallas Page © vs. Hugh Morris
Comments:

Bill Goldberg vs. Road Warrior Hawk
Comments:

Konnan vs. Curt Hennig
Comments:

Blodyxe · November 25, 2021

Oh snap, I remember reading this diary on my commute! One half of me is happy to find it again, and other half is embarrassed to drop out of it for so long. I have a lot of catching up to do

Steve Austin vs. Chris Jericho vs. Ric Flair

Comments: I'm completely oblivious to what is happening here, but YOLO

Kane vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts

Comments:

Special Match from the ECW Arena

Mikey Whipwreck vs. Raven

Comments:

WWF European Championship Match

Comments:

Scorpio vs. D-Lo Brown

Comments:

Mankind vs. Test

Comments:

Sting, The Rock, Randy Savage & The Warrior vs. Shawn Michaels, JPL, Adam Copeland & Christian Cage

Comments: STACKED

Sid Vicious vs. Buff Bagwell

Comments:

Brian Lawler & Psicosis vs. Alex Wright & Disco Inferno

Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match

Comments:

Bill Goldberg vs. Road Warrior Hawk

Comments:

Konnan vs. Curt Hennig

Comments:

TheAwesomeZero101 · November 26, 2021

The Monday Night Wars: Week 3, March 1998

Quote:

Preview for WWF Raw is War: Week 3, March 1998

Steve Austin vs. Chris Jericho vs. Ric Flair

Comments: Austin can't lose before Mania.

Kane vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts

Comments: I'm thinking Mankind interference in this match.

Special Match from the ECW Arena

Mikey Whipwreck vs. Raven

Comments: Wonder how this match will work. No chance the Deity of the Damned loses before Mania.

WWF European Championship Match

Comments: Booker all the way.

Scorpio vs. D-Lo Brown

Comments: Scorpio is messing with the Real Deal now.

Mankind vs. Test

Comments: Mankind gets momentum before Mania against Kane.

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 3, March 1998

Spring Break

Sting, The Rock, Randy Savage & The Warrior vs. Shawn Michaels, JPL, Adam Copeland & Christian Cage

Sign In

A new generation.....a new attitude?

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