BringBackMongo2000 posted:

This weeks Nitro was tense! Things are getting hot on the build to Bash at the Beach! Here's the run down!

***

Commissioner Rick Rude stands in the ring to begin WCW Monday Nitro! "Tonight, WCW's World Cup of Wrestling will roll forward. Last week we featured the the singles competition specialists in action, and now we move on to the tag-team round! Men representing wrestling's four strongest nations will bring us one step closer to crowning the first ever World Cup Champion! Tonight, the recently-crowned WCW Tag Team Champions the Thrillseekers will take on Team USA's Marcus Bagwell and Kid Rock! But first, in Nitro's opening bout, Team Japan's Ultimo Dragon and Lucky Tonzura, one half of the Navigators, take on Team Mexico's El Hijo del Santo and Heavy Metal! Ladies, do your best to contain yourselves as these fine young gentlemen show you what their bodies can do in the ring... and try not to be too disappointed with the sweathogs who brought you here tonight."

***

El Hijo del Santo and Heavy Metal vs Ultimo Dragon and Lucky Tonzura World Cup of Wrestling match! Metal and Dragon start off with an athletic display, trading big drop kicks and high-velocity manuevers of the ropes. Metal tries to employ some of his more technician oriented offense after they appear evenly matched, taking Dragon to the mat and working his shoulder and elbow with stomps and wrenches to set up the Heavy Metal Cradle. But Dragon fights back, countering his way off the mat with a headscissors takedown and hitting a running Hurricanrana!

Dragon makes the tag and Tonzura unloads with that stiff Japanese striking style, hitting kicks so harsh that Metal is ragdolling around the ring. He sets him up for the Yakuza Kick, but Metal blocks with a Dragon Screw! Navigator Nii-ban struggles to stand as the tag is made and Santo hits the ring! A flurry of hard-hitting attacks from the Son of the Saint keeps Tonzura on his back, and a big powerbomb sets Santo up for the victory! He climbs the ropes... and delivers the Tope de Cristo! But rather than go for the pin, he locks in the Le de a Caballo! Tonzura squirms as the submission hold torques his frame, and his manager Sonny Oono looks ready to pull his hair out knowing his client could be damaged beyond repair since he won't tap out! He desperatly mimes to Tonzura to tap out... and he complies with his manager's wish, giving Team Mexico the win!

***

The camera cuts to a dingy, secluded room backstage. The lights are low, and it's impossible to make anything out... until Sting walks out of the gloom! He's swinging a baseball bat around in his hands, and instead of his normally colorful makeup and clothing, the paint around his eyes and his jacket and tights are in white and black. He addresses the world:

"The Flawless Diamonds are running amok. The old guard can't stop them. Its time for the new generation to step up. The Nature Boy told me I was the only one who could find WCW's future, the man who could defeat Curt Hennig. I've been wondering why. He said it's because I'm WCW's Icon. I think it's because I've known despair.

I know that feeling when everything you do seems meaningless, that feeling that the forces against you are insurmountable. I think there are a lot of people in the back who are feeling despair right now. You have good reasons. Everyone who's stood up to the Diamonds has been hammered down. A few weeks ago, you saw just how strong Hennig's grip could be when he ended Scotty Riggs career with the snap of his fingers, snuffing out his challenge to their authority. And last week on Nitro, we all heard what the Diamonds plan to do, right out of Raven's twisted mouth. If they have their way, this company WILL die.

The Diamonds are viscous. The Diamonds are brutal. But we MUST resist! We have to resist for every kid who calls one of us his hero! We have to resist for the teenagers who grew up watching us fight and learning what sportsmanship and courage really are. We have to resist for the adults who passed their love of wrestling down through the generations! We have to resist because WCW is our home!

We are at war. This is WCW's call-to-arms. Hold the line against the Diamonds. And remember that you're not alone. Sting is watching."

***

Eddy Guerrero & Rey Misterio, Jr. vs Two Local Jobbers! The two latino stars show off their skills at the expense of the nobody talent. Cruiser Champ Rey puts his highflying on display, torpedoing around the ring and taking down his opponent from multiple angles to make any counter-attack impossible. The First Jobber manages a sneak tag to his partner who blindsides Rey with a punch, but Rey dropkicks his knee and then tags in Eddy, who unloads with suplexes. Once his opponent is firmly battered, its a Frog Splash from Latino Heat leading to a quick pinfall.

Before the new team can celebrate, Hulk Hogan appears on the top of the ramp to steal the spotlight from Eddy and Rey! "I've got a few things to say, Brothers! Since nobody cares about these two Johnny Come Nobodies, or the Babyweight Title, or the I Can't Win By Myself Division, I figured this would be the best time to inject some star power into this show!" Eddy looks like he's about to have an aneurism and Rey is pointing furiously to his title belt after Hogan's insult. "First off, I wanna know why The Hulkster doesn't have a match tonight! Secondly..."

Eddy cuts Hogan off! ""HEY, CABRON! If the ALL-MIGHTY HULK HOGAN is gonna come out here and cry about not having a match, then Latino Heat and the Cruiserweight Champion would be MORE than happy to fix that for you! So why don't you drag your aging rear end down here so one of us can put a fist down your throat!"

Hogan clearly isn't happy with any of that, and looks like he's going to accept the challenge... until Bobby Heenan swoops in with a laugh! "Why am I not surprised Hogan? I tell you to use your brain and that computes to picking fights for no reason? As much as I always hated you, I have to admit that you used to be the golden idol of this industry. Look at you now! Getting goaded by a couple of kids, humiliated at every turn. Pathetic!" Hogan yells at Heenan, saying he's ruining the moment, then leaves in a huff.

***

Ron Simmons and the Nation of Domination are out to gloat over their win at GAB. Simmons says that they defeated Team X-treme because they are ruthless and they don't hesitate to strike when the time is right. "We would never hold back from an opportunity because of a delusional construction of the white man, like 'honor.' That's why tonight, as a reward for his efforts, I've arranged for Nelson X to take on Rick Steiner. Any man who would risk his own future and the world title itself due to something so drat STUPID deserves to be destroyed."

Rick Steiner vs Nelson X (w/ Ron Simmons). Nelson takes the fight to Steiner off the bat, showing no fear before the #1 Contender, and his sheer flurry of offense makes it difficult for Steiner to get out of his starting blocks. However, despite Nelson's efforts the tide turns quickly when Steiner deploys a viscous gutwrench suplex and follows up with a running splash, his much larger frame smothering Nelson. Nelson attempts to fight back with a running big boot out of the corner, but Steiner avoids it and hits a German! Then it up into the fireman's carry, looking for the Steiner Driver! It looks like the match is over... until Simmons belts Steiner right in the jaw with his Brass Knuckles, laying the Dog-Face Gremlin out! The ref calls for the DQ immediately, giving Steiner the win... but it's Ron Simmons, Nelson X and the Nation of Domination standing tall with their fists in the air at we go to commercial.

***

Dusty Rhodes interviews King William Regal backstage. Dusty asks the new champ is he thinks Savage will have learned his lessons from their previous encounter, and if so does that mean he can regain the world title? Regal laughs at Dusty's question. "Learning is irrelevant. At Great American Bash, William the Conqueror proved that he was the better man. We proved that we are a true legend, and the mighty Macho Man is nothing but a faker. And whether he learned to take us seriously or not, he will NEVER defeat us."

***

The Thrillseekers vs Kid Rock and Marcus Bagwell in a World Cup of Wrestling match! Schiavone puts over Rock and Bagwell being at a crossroads in their careers, one losing their tag partner and the other losing their confidence AND the US Title, and how a win here against the Tag Champions for World Cup glory could turn everything around for them! Kid starts the match and fights hard against Storm, avoiding the technician's attempts to grapple him with fancy footwork and his high-impact martial arts kicks. Storm fights back with his own educated feet, looking for a Super Kick which Kid avoids before nailing a running neckbreaker! Cover, 1...2... kick out! Frustrated, Kid tosses Lance into the corner and runs in for the Bronco Buster... but Storm rolls away and the American Badass lands crotch first on the turnbuckle! AND THEN STORM DRAGS HIM OUT AND HITS HIM WITH A GERMAN! 1...2... KICK OUT!

Storm makes the tag to Christian, and they hit a tandem Vertical Suplex... but Kid lands on his feet and jumps to make the flying hot tag to Bagwell! Marcus explodes into the Thrillseekers with a double clotheline to chants of USA! USA! Double Underhook Suplex to Christian keeps him under control and allows the big man to set up an Alabama Slam... but Christian blocks by grabbing Bagwells ankles and then twists him into a roll-up! 1! 2! KICK OUT! Christian and Bagwell square off, trading big chops and a few gut kicks, and Christian comes out ahead with a DDT! He drags Bagwell to his feet... and eats an uppercut! Bagwell stumbles to his corner for the hot tag, and Kid Rock climbs the turnbuckle looking for a crossbody... and Christian Cage delivers a devastating mid-air spear! He drags Kid up by his hair and locks up his arms... turns him over... SHOWSTOPPER! 1...2...3! Team Canada pulls ahead!

***

In J. Brian Warrior's office we find Power Warrior, Hawk Warrior, James Mitchell and Wrath. Mitchell is there to ask about the legal status of Power Warrior's contract since he wrestled a match without his consent last week. The Ultimate Lawyer provides documentation and explains that ""Power Warrior,"" is able to work in WCW without the authority of James Mitchell, because Mitchell's manager's contract was only for the entity Mortis, not the man behind his mask.

Mitchell does not like his answer and demands to know if there's anything he can do to reclaim his client. Warrior replies sarcastically ""I doubt it."" Mitchell glares and says fine, Mortis never did anything but fail him anyway, and he has bigger fish to fry. Warrior wishes him luck handling Muta during the World Cup... he'll need it."

***

Scott Hall vs Hector Guerrero. This may have been the match of Hector Guerrero's career, as he fell on Hall like a rabid dog from the get-go. Hall's favored tactics of retreats to the outside, evasiveness and questionably legal offense were robbed from him by Hector's constant grappling, never allowing Hall to gain and inch of separation. The Elder Guerrero lashed at Hall again and again with viscous elbow shots and knee strikes, targeting his ribs and shoulder... but with their arms almost constantly locked, he couldn't execute any big hit offense to capitalize on his momentum! Hall was locked down, but just wasn't taking enough damage!

Finally, Hector took a chance and went back-to-back, locking Halls arms and looking for the Gory Special... and got it! He hoisted Hall up, stretching his damaged chest, screaming at the Diamond to tap... but using sheer strength and his height advantage Hall reversed the finisher! He reoriented his hands, dragged Hector up... and into crucifix position! HALL HITS THE OUTSIDER'S EDGE! Hector is out, but rather than risk a cover off one attack, Hall decided Guerrero needed punishment for his overly aggressive and humiliating tactics. Showing a vicious side not commonly on display, Scott Hall dismantled Hector with absolutely crushing suplexes, stiff chops which turned his chest red and swollen, and finally that famous second-rope Fallaway Slam and trademark smug shrug. His work complete, Hall dragged Hector back between his thighs and signaled for the second Outsider's Edge, which connected, and a foot on the chest was all the Flawless Diamond Stud deigned to use to secure his pinfall.

But after the match, a familiar voice rises over the loudspeaker. Hall looks around in confusion and nervousness as it speaks. "I've been caged for a long while now. Kept on a leash to make sure I don't hurt scum like you too badly. But tonight, Sting said what I've been waiting to hear, that we're at war with you and your buddies. And when you're at war, Scott, you NEVER hold back. My pack may be dead... but the Lone Wolf is back on the hunt!" Barry Windham appears on the Turnertron!

Suddenly Hall looks a lot less concerned and grabs a mic. ""Is this a joke? You're coming for ME, Barry? Everyone knows that you're nothing but the Horsemen's fall guy. You were the loser who'd they'd send in if DA STINGER and DA NATCHA BOI were up against something they couldn't handle, so they could avoid humiliation by having YOU take the bullet! I'm the Flawless Diamond Stud, the strong right hand of Curt Hennig himself! What the hell kind of threat could you possibly be to me?"

Windham smiles and says ""Well, it's true that I haven't made the best showing of myself in the last year. Maybe my teeth all fell out a long time ago. But then again, when it comes to fangs all a wolf needs... is one." The lights come back up and Windham is standing behind Hall! The video was a pre-recorded diversion!

Windham unloads a viscous lariat from a three-point stance that sends Hall tumbling head over heels all the way to the floor! Tenay says he'd heard rumors that during his time away from WCW in spring Windham had been working on a new finishing move, the Last Fang, and that three-point lariat must have been it! Hall is shaken by the attack and unsteady on his feet as he falls back up the ramp.

***

Raven (w/ Madusa) vs Rocco Rock, Television Championship on the line! Rocco picks up where Johnny left off, and goes after Raven hard with slingshot offense, showing that Flyboy nickname is well earned. Unfortunately, Raven's own ring awareness and a few coached warnings from Madusa allow him to easily avoid most of Rocco's offense, turning his own moves against him and then capitalizing on him by attacking his neck with stomps and elbow drops. Rocco fights to the end, but eventually his own self-inflicted wounds allow Raven to lock on and execute the Evenflow for the 1, 2, 3.

Raven's taunts to crowd are interrupted by Too Cold Scorpio, who appears with Team X-treme at his side! He calls out Madusa for her actions last week. "The only reason I'm not AWA Champion right now is because of you! Even with my injuries from Raven's Rules, I proved I could beat Hennig one-on-one! Sting said earlier tonight that it's time for WCW to fight back against you Diamond scum, and Team X-treme is ready to take up that cause!"

Raven mocks the idea that Hennig needed Madusa's help to beat Scorpio. "If you and your two friends want to be the big heroes that Sting is desperately hoping exist in that cesspool of a locker room, I suggest you come down and prove it." The X-tremes approach the ring... and Kevin Nash appears at the top of the stage! It was a set-up!

"You know, my boss hoped that after Scotty Riggs the rest of the idiot posers in the back would figure out it's not wise to test the Diamonds. Now thanks to Sting everybody thinks they're freakin' GI Joe or something, and despite everything we've done none of you realize you're just marching off a cliff if you take us on. But that's fine, because it means that Big Sexy gets to deliver the message... personally." As Nash finishes his speech Raven and Madusa attack off the distraction, and the Diamonds beat the X-tremes down and leave them laid out!

***

Ric Flair vs Brutus Briefcase! There wasn't all that much to this match in terms of action, mostly just basic brawling and a few good grappling sequences, bag standard Briefcase. Boilerplate, if you will. That being said, Flair got the crowd into it with his usual pinache, strutting and wooing and flopping all over the place for Brutus' bigger attacks. Brutus actually got the Sleeper Hold locked in and Flair really made the move look like it was sucking the life out of him... until he recovered JUST before the third arm drop to a huge pop! Locking in the Figure Four earned Flair the submission victory, which is always nice to see!

After the match, Ric gets on the mic and tells Luger, wherever he is backstage, that it's not too late. Despite attacking him last week, he's still willing to give Luger another chance. Flair knows what it's like when your back's to the wall, how you'll do anything to feel in control, even backstab your friends. "Despite everything you've done Lex, I still want to hear you explain yourself! I want to hear your side of the story! We can fix this, man! WE CAN FIX THE HORSEMEN! Normally I'd ask Dusty to mediate something this important... but since I accidentally trashed Dusty's set the American Dream isn't talking to me right now. That means there's only one forum where we can get this done: The Eric Bischoff Show, next week on Nitro!"

***

The Main Event! "Macho Man"" Randy Savage vs Bam Bam Bigelow! Commentary notes that Bigelow requested this match, as he seems to be looking to re-establish himself after being publicly embarrassed by Bobby Heenan. Bigelow uses his famously deceptive mobility to keep Savage off-balance, striking hard with and then retreating before the Macho Man can effectively hit back. Savage charges, attempting a dropkick to get back on offense, but Bigelow takes the hit and rebounbs off the ropes, grabbing Savage into the Cobra Clutch, then hitting a bulldog off the hold! Savage is wounded, and Bigelow refuses to let up and hits a Somersault Senton!

Things look bleak for Savage as Bigelow goes up top, looking for the Moonsault... but he gets the knees up! Savage struggles back to his fit and unloads on Bigelow, hitting a scoop slam then pulling him back up to throw him into the corner and deliver a high knee! Chops, chops and more chops keep Macho's momentum alive... but Bigelow hits a brutal headbutt! And then a Powerbomb! Bigelow climbs the ropes, and the Beast From The East flies! Diving Splash! 1! 2! KICK OUT! Bigelow is furious and clean lifts the Macho Man all the way onto his shoulder, signaling for Greetings from Ashbury Park! But Savage fights back, slamming his elbow into Bam Bam's ear over and over again, destroying his equilibrium! The big man falls backward... and Savage lands on his feet with his hands locked in! PILEDRIVER! Savage climbs the ropes, points to the roof... FLYING ELBOW! 1! 2!... 3! Savage Wins!

"After the match, Savage is exhausted but still grabs a microphone. "Oh yeah, Regal! You see what I did there with Bam Bam Bigelow? I'm going to do that to you at Bash at the Beach, and reclaim the WCW World Heavyweight Championship! I don't care how much punishment it takes! This time, I know that you're the real threat! And that means I'll be ready for your tricks! IT'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME, 'YOUR MAJESTY!' DIG IT!"

In response, the world champion's music hits and Regal appears on the entrance ramp, belt in hand. "Macho Man...Can I call you Randal? Randal, let Us be clear here: you may have "underestimated," your King last time, but the fact of the matter is you still delivered your best. And unsurprisingly, it was NOT GOOD ENOUGH! You have nothing left to challenge me with! If we had our way, we wouldn't even bother to wrestle you at Bash at the Beach because the outcome is already decided. Sadly, a contract is a contract, but the fact remains that the next time we meet, the result will be the same: We will stand over your broken body, WCW title in hand. And once We do, all your precious ""Extended Family,"" will be mine. They will bow before us, and you will be NOTHING. God. Save. The King!"

Savage motions to Regal to get in the ring after those taunts, and at first Regal makes like he might because of Macho's injured state... but Regal begs off and holds the belt up proudly instead. The two men stare each other down as Nitro comes to a close.

***

Really solid show, the promos were awesome and the major feuds are building nicely! Sting's promo in particular was awesome, the crowd was super into it! I'd give it a B-, only a few of the lower card matches being sub-par dragged it down.

RedGreen Usenet Report posted:

Monday Night Raw came in live from Vancouver, CA, and I've got the results!

Austin calls out Owen, saying it's his drat fault Stone Cold Steve Austin won't be in the main event of In Your House 17! Owen cuts a promo about how he's trying not to be jealous, trying not to take his frustrations out on other people, but since Wrestlemania, he hasn't had an honest one on one chance at Austin, the man who helped steal his WWF Championship. "You don't think I want that title shot? I want it more than I've ever wanted anything in my life! But I just can't bring myself to challenge for MY TITLE-THAT'S RIGHT, MY TITLE!- until I've had my revenge on you, Austin! So yeah, I'll take you on! Next week, on the Independence Day Raw, I'm getting my revenge!"

--

A vignette played on the titantron, where Dave Taylor held a funeral for The Undertaker, with eulogies by:

Godfather: "I've known the Undertaker a long time. A long, long time. I knew him back when I used to practice voodoo. drat, that was a wild time. And I knew him when I was into the whole UFC thing, even fought him a few times. I'm gonna miss that deadman."

Scotty Bollea: "You know, neighbor, I go a long way back with The Undertaker. It was back in 1974 when I took him on in Pancrase in my first real mixed martial arts fight. I made him tap out like a little wuss, but you know what? I saw something in him. I saw that fire that brought him so far in the wWF! And when we were in the locker room backstage, and he asked me, "Scotty Bollea, how can I be immortal like you?", I gave him the only advice I knew. "Neighbor, to be an Immortal like me you have to transcend death! You can't fear death! Make it fear you!" And... And I guess he took that to heart. But fear can only go so far, and death must come for us all eventually. Undertaker faced his death as best he could, and I don't think any of us could do any better."

Vic Venom: "Bro. Bro, I don't wanna cut you off, but I got somethin' to say. The Undertaker... The Undertaker meant a whole goddamned lot to this business. He meant a whole goddamn lot to the WWF, and he gave all he could for this business, and this company. BUT THAT BALD HEADED SON OF A BITCH DEATH JUST HAD TO PLAY HIS CREATIVE CONTROL CARD! BUT THAT DON'T MEAN poo poo, DEATH! YOU KNOW WHY? THE UNDERTAKER LIVES ON, IN ALL OUR HEARTS! AS LONG AS WE ALL BELIEVE, THE UNDERTAKER WILL NEVER TRULY BE DEAD!"

Ultimate Warrior: "I'm not going to rant and rave right now. Destrucity and the seven disciplines have their place, but sometimes a warrior must speak softly and from the heart. A few weeks back, the Undertaker asked for my help. Do you know what that means, to have a man like The Undertaker ask for your help? It means he respects you more than he fears the shame of looking weak. And like a goddamn fool, I said no. I couldn't see the trust he put in me, and I doubted him. More than that, I put my title contendership above his need. I went to that drat title match not even a half hour after he was sprayed with that deadly black mist and put in that casket, and I got screwed over by the goddamn Fucktrain. Is that what the Undertaker's life was worth? Was letting him die worth that title shot? No. And I didn't just let the Undertaker down. I let down myself, I let down the codes and disciplines of the warrior spirit, and I let down each and every one of you. I'm sorry. I'm so... so sorry."

Goldust: "I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die.

Rutger Hauer. Ridley Scott's immortal Blade Runner. Thank you. Thank you."

--

As the titantron turned off, Goldust and Ted DiBiase were in the ring, cackling about last night's events.

"We played the best trick in World Wrestling Federation history! Warrior was on our hook from the second Fucktrain got in that ring at In Your House 16!" "OH GOLDUST, WHAT FOOLS THESE MORTALS BE! AHAHAHAHAAAAAA!"

Piper came out to interject.
"You know, Goldust, you haven't had a single honest title defence since you won that title from my cousin Owen Hart. You've always had a secret plan, an ace in the hole... a trick. Oh boy, do you love to play tricks. Well if you like playin' tricks so bad, why not take on the Hot Rod? I ain't spent a day of my life where I didn't trick someone into something. I even tricked myself into trusting Chris Jericho as a tag team partner! And if that challenge ain't rich enough for your Hollywood blood, I'll sweeten the bargain. I'll put my career on the line! If I lose next week, I'll leave the WWF, never to return! So, Goldy, how bout it? Title vs Career?"

Goldust seemed eager to take the offer, but DiBiase interjected.

"I've got an idea. Next week is Independence Day, the anniversary of the founding of our country. To celebrate the finest part of this great nation, why not have a Hollywood Backlot Brawl? Why, you've already had one before, so this would be... Backlot Brawl 2: This Time It's Personal!"

"Alright, Ted. I'll take your Hollywood freak on in a backlot brawl. Just make sure to get my nameplate all etched out nice, won't you?"

--

Chris Jericho's King Of The Ring celebration, he brings out his guitar and sings an incredibly sarcastic song about how sad he is that Liger's injured. He's interrupted by Mark Henry, who decides to read some verse of his own.
"Your title reign has been a breeze,
But I've been racking up victories.
The Lionheart won't feel quite so hot
When I trade the Pan-Am for an IC title shot.
Defenses, I'll get to 25
Or I'm not the strongest man alive.
Thank you." Chris Jericho's song was hilarious, but Henry's poem just fell flat.

--

Ted DiBiase announces Money In The Bank 2. "You've all seen that Goldust takes on all comers for his title. So I'm thinking of offering a little Christmas in July. The second annual Money In The Bank ladder match will be held at In Your House 17, and this time, the spots won't be decided just by winning a match. All it takes... is a golden ticket." DiBiase then pulls out a golden ticket bearing the words Money In The Bank. "Yes, one of these guarantees you a shot at a title opportunity anyplace, anytime, anyhow you choose. And I will be giving out the first of 6 golden tickets this very night. Just remember... EVERYBODY HAS A PRICE!"

Kane vs Dave Taylor, Kane wins by DQ after Taylor will not stop laying in European uppercuts in the corner while screaming "YOU KILLED THE UNDERTAKER, YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

Ted DiBiase offers Owen Hart a Money In The Bank ticket. Owen declines. "I'm not taking anything your filthy hands have touched."

HHH and Pillman vs Kerrang!, Pillman pins Holly

HHH and Pillman promo. "I'm gonna get in that ladder match, even if I have to beat Hunter's rear end to do it!" "And I'd let you! The Power Trip work together at all costs!"

Taz and Stevie Ray call out Ted DiBiase. "I BEAT ALL YA GUYS, TED! I BEAT CORINO! I BEAT BUNDY! I BEAT YER ECW HIRED GOONS! I BEAT EVERY LAST SON OF A BITCH YOU THREW AT ME, SO COME ON, THROW SOME MORE! IT'S OBVIOUS YOU AIN'T DONE WITH ME YET! WHO THE HELL YA GOT, TED? WHO'S GONNA GET SOME A THAT DIRTY MONEY THIS WEEK?"

Ted DiBiase introduces his odd couple: Terry Funk and Bob Backlund, who argue their way down the ramp.

Terry Funk and Bob Backlund vs Taz and Stevie Ray, Funk pins Ray

Jimmy Hart comes out with Ken Shamrock and Skunkrocker. "Ooh, boy, am I just the luckiest manager in the WWF! I've got 2 up and coming stars, the former tag champ Ken Shamrock and the first ever Pan-American Champion, Skunkrocker! And I defy any manager in this arena to say their guys are better!" Jim Cornette comes out with IRS and Ahmed Johnson. "I'll say it! Ahmed Johnson and IRS are the brains and the brawn of Camp Cornette! Well, Vader's the brawn really, BUT AHMED'S THE SECONDARY BRAWN! YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH BRAWN!"

The Shamrockers/Ahmed and IRS, Shamrock taps out Ahmed. Skunk was out to prove a point tonight, taking it to Ahmed and IRS with high flying moves, while Shamrock wore them out with submissions. Eventually, Shamrock made Ahmed tap out to the Ankle Lock.

Ted DiBiase approaches HBK backstage. "You know a lot about ladder matches, perhaps more than anyone else in the WWF. How does a guaranteed World Wrestling Federation Title match sound to you? Especially if Bret Hart wins his match with Goldust? You could be the ghoul that haunts his dreams, the shadow at his back. You could torment him more than you ever did in the Iron Man Match. So how about it... you interested?" HBK smiles, and takes the ticket. "Yes... Mr. DiBiase."

The Hart Dynasty vs Goldust and Box Office Bossman

Owen and Goldust started out, with Goldust sneaking in closed fist shots while the ref wasn't paying attention. He wore Owen down far enough that he was able to whip him into his corner, where he tagged out to Bossman. Goldust and Bossman proceeded to tag in and out, working over Owen in the corner. When Bossman went for a big stomp, Owen was able to reverse it into a dragon screw and get to Bret for the hot tag! Bret went wild on Bossman, hitting all his moves before locking in the Sharpshooter!

Bossman was in agony as he resisted the hold and crawled into Goldust's corner, where he just barely got the tag in without Bret noticing. Goldust springboarded off the ropes and stomped Bret on the back of the head, forcing him to release the hold! Goldust proceeded to stomp down Bret and work him over as Bossman got back in his corner. Bret started to work up a comeback, but Goldust was able to dodge an atomic drop and whip Bret into the corner. Right then, Bossman started arguing with the referee, taking his attention. Goldust got into position in the opposite corner, warming up for the big Shattered Dreams dropkick to the groin, but just as he ran out of the corner, who was there to grab his leg but Owen Hart! Goldust fell right on his face, and Bret was right there on him! He hit the diving elbow from the corner and tried to lock the Sharpshooter in!

But Goldust was quick, and reversed it into a rollup!

1...2...2.9, Bret reversed it into another rollup!
1...2...2.9, Goldust reversed it into an arm lock!

Bret held on, and made it to the ropes, but Goldust kept it on! The ref started counting 1,2,3,4-Goldust released right before the 5 count! Bret rolled away and tagged Owen in! Owen was out for blood, and laid into Goldust hard with strikes and kicks before going for the K-Driller! He hits it, and goes for the cover!

1...2...The ref is pulled out of the ring by Ted DiBiase! As he argues with the ref, Bossman runs in, whips Owen to the ropes, and goes for the Mr. Slam, but Owen reverses into a reverse huricanrana! He spikes Bossman right on his head! Bossman rolls to the outside, clutching his head, as the ref EJECTS TED DIBIASE FROM RINGSIDE! Goldust has recovered from the K-Driller as the ref returns to the ring, and stares Owen down before tagging in Bossman who is just barely standing in the corner. Owen looks at Bret and tags him in before running the ropes as Bret Hart picks up the staggered Bossman for the HART ATTACK! The Hart Foundation's legendary finisher! Bret high fives Owen before turning over Bossman for the Sharpshooter! Bossman has no choice but to tap out!

As Goldust rants at Bossman after their loss, Bret and Owen celebrate in the ring until Bossman and Goldust run in and begin to beat them down. As Bret and Owen slowly get the advantage, Bob Backlund, Terry Funk, and Fucktrain run down to stack the odds. Finally, Funk piledrives Bret to lay him out.

This was not as good as King of the Ring, but still a solid B-

Shotgun report posted:

Vic and Scotty come out and say that while Skunkrocker might have new management, and a new attitude, there's one thing he doesn't have--THE POWER! Just then, Pomp And Circumstance starts to play, and a very lanky-looking version of Randy Savage starts coming down the ramp.

""OOooooooOOOOoooooh INDEED! I AM THE RANDY MAN STEVIE POFFO! I'M TOO MUCH MEAT TO EAT, TOO MUCH OIL TO BE BOILED! INDEED! AND WHEN I TEAM UP WITH THE SCOTTSTER LATER TONIGHT, YOU WILL KNOW WHY WE ARE THE IMMORTAL POWERS! OOOOH INDEED!

URSUS Squashes a jobber

Skunkrocker and Jimmy Hart cut a promo on Immortal

Skunkrocker/Bradshaw, Skunkrocker goes over

Captain Lou and Hakushi pretape, celebrating Hakushi's receiving a golden ticket. "Oh my god, I'm just so proud that Hakushi has even a shot at a shot at the title! He'll climb that ladder, cash in that title shot, and make his Captain proud!"

Hakushi defeats a jobber

HBK pretape. "The Heartbreak Kid will take this golden ticket all the way to the WWF title!"

HBK squashes a jobber

Jimmy Hart and Ken Shamrock cut a promo about the tag team titles. "We're gonna get our rematch on the Independence Day Raw, and win the tag team titles back!"

Legion Of Violence vs The Immortal Powers(Stevie Poffo and Scotty Bollea), Shamrock wins via submission on Bollea

WWF Online: Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Blog posted:

Penny for my thoughts? No thanks! I'm here to give you the odds, not on the MITB 2 match, but on who will be in it! We already know that Hakushi and Shawn Michaels have gotten their golden tickets, but who will join them?

The Undertaker: He;s dead. 50 to 1 against.
Big Van Vader: Could you imagine this man climbing a ladder? No. 100 to 1.
Mankind: As long as Goldust is the champ, as the winner of the Deadly Games match, he is not allowed to challenge for the belt. Even if he joins, he's got no chance. 40 to 1 against.
Brian Pillman: He's a decorated high flier, I can see him taking his chance. 20 to 1 against.
Goldust: He's the champ, but I could see him wanting an ace in the hole. 10 to 1 against.
Owen Hart: He's young and hungry for revenge, but he's already said he won't take my golden ticket. 150 to 1 against.
Irwin R. Schyster: Him? 200 to 1 against.

quote:

Well, well, well... an event that has no precedent! The ECW Gauntlet for International Incident! Tommy Dreamer takes on Pitbull A, and after beating Pitbull #1 last week, A's grown positively insolent. But Dreamer's capability for eating punishment is infinite. Will he continue or will he fall to a contender more legitimate? Find out tomorrow night on the MSG Network. Hey, you might just get to see me, the quintessential studmuffin, Joel... "The guy your girlfriend's got on speed-dial... because she loves the way I *69 her..." Gertner.

quote:

They don't want you to see this message.

When Injustice becomes Law, Rebellion becomes Duty

Sting is Watching

DICK_Flair@mr.com posted:

Sup marks? I went out to that ECW show, they haven't held a show here in over a month or so. It was pretty rad, although the crowd wasn't as hot as that philly lot.

Show started with Joey Styles in the ring. He announced that ECW's return to the Mid-Atlantic region would start with a special showcase match... and then Perfect Strangers hit and Shane Douglas came down the ramp! His knee was taped up with a pretty thick brace but he was looking a little more mobile than before. He didn't look too happy to be there. Then Enter Sandman hit and here came the Sandman, beer and cane in hand! It was Douglas and the Sandman against Brian Lawler and Lance Diamond. Oddly, Al Snow was already out at ringside sitting in the front row next to the sign guy (whose sign said "HELP ME", guess he had a bad trip from Philly). This is going to be interesting.

Douglas started the match off with Lawler. Shane went right after Lawler, beating him back into the neutral corner with overpowering forearms and uppercuts that showed off his overwhelming power. But Douglas' brawling wasn't quite up to snuff with his injury as Lawler landed a couple of kicks on Shane's bum knee that sent him right to the ground. Lawler worked over his knee in the corner! Lance Diamond climbed into the ring to join in, so Sandman followed and beat his rear end back to his corner. Douglas was able to escape the ring, falling to the concrete outside. Now it was two on one!

Sandman swung his cane on the attack as always but Diamond and Lawler were able to get the advantage, beating him back until Diamond was able to grab the cane mid-swing and opening him up for a superkick from Brian Lawler! Sandman dropped the cane. They worked over the Sandman pretty bad. Diamond went right for the cutter... but Sandman managed to reverse it into a DDT! Holy poo poo! He pushed Diamond out of the ring and gave the smaller Lawler a vertical suplex that left him yelling and writhing on the mat! By this point, Douglas had made his way back into the ring and Sandman went back to his corner, telling him to go get Lawler.

Douglas got his revenge on Lawler, stomping him with his good leg. No way he'd get him up for the Plunge or the belly-to-belly with that knee of his so he sat down and pulled Lawler into the Indian deathlock! Jerry's kid didn't have any choice but to tap out, and fast, and he held onto that thing until the ref pulled him off. Shane Douglas beats Brian Lawler with the Indian deathlock. Maybe showing off that he knows his submissions, too?

Match was all right but it suffered a little because there was no way the two of them could stand up to Sandman and Douglas!

---

Tommy Dreamer was coming out of the locker room (NO PRESS!!!) and got found by Joel Gertner. "Tommy Dreamer, you beat Pitbull #1 last week. Now you're against Pitbull A, whose performance is at a peak! You--"

Dreamer grabbed the mic from Gertner. "It took two of them kicking my rear end last week and they still couldn't beat me. They want to try again, they're more than welcome, because I'm going to win this gauntlet. Hey! Joel!" Gertner took off running, because here were the Pitbulls again!

They threw Dreamer into the concrete wall, into equipment cases, all over the place! Francine choked him out with a chain with Pitbull #1 holding him down, and then Pitbull A got him up on his shoulders and carried him to the ring. They threatened John Finnegan and the match began as Dreamer awoke!

Tommy Dreamer against Pitbull A.

Tommy Dreamer was at a big disadvantage here! Pitbull A held Dreamer down while Pitbull #1 swung the chain. He swung it at Dreamer and you could hear it on his back throughout the arena! Dreamer's back was bleeding like he got worked over with a Singapore cane! Pitbull #1 swung it once more... but Dreamer shifted, knocking Pitbull A off balance and the chain hit Pitbull A right in the head! Oh no!

That gave Dreamer the opening he needed. He grabbed the chain right out of Pitbull #1's hand and whipped him with it, backing him against the ropes. With the chain around his arm he shoved Pitbull #1 right out of the ring with an awful landing, a bruised and bloody mess! He picked up Pitbull A and gave him a modified side Russian leg sweep with the chain, putting him flat on his back. He went for the pin but Pitbull A kicked out at 2!

Dreamer got up and took a little breather to regroup. Pitbull #1 was still dazed. Francine was trying to rouse him and get him back in the ring, but he didn't know where he was. Dreamer knew he had to end this match before the other Pitbull recovered or there was no chance he'd make it through the gauntlet.

Pitbull A was getting up, Dreamer put him in a headlock to keep the advantage with what he had left. The Pitbull just powered out of it and socked him right in the face with an elbow, putting him on the mat and letting him open up with nasty stomps that got the crowd fully behind Dreamer, infuriating Francine. She yelled "End this!" and tossed a steel chair into the ring, prompting the crowd to change over to "She's Hardcore!" She just couldn't win.

Pitbull A picked up the chair and held it over Tommy Dreamer's head... Tommy kicked him in the gut and he stumbled back. He got to his feet and ran at him with a shoulder tackle. He landed it before Pitbull A could swing the chair, pushing him back again! With the crowd going nuts, he came off the ropes with a mighty yell and knocked Pitbull A flat on his back with a flying shoulder tackle, sending the chair flying!

Quickly, Dreamer picked up Pitbull A by the neck, sliding the chair under him. His legs went out from under him and he gave him an inverted DDT right onto the steel chair! Dreamer rolled out and went for the pin as Pitbull #1 was scrambling into the ring to break it up! 1, 2, 3! Tommy Dreamer beat Pitbull A with the DDT onto the steel chair! Francine and Pitbull #1 were furious! Dreamer booked it to the back with the Pitbulls chasing him.

---

Next up was our main event and holy poo poo, Adam Copeland was taking on Kensuke Sasaki!

Adam Copeland charged down the ramp for his entrance. He was ready to go! Sasaki made his way down while Copeland was still posing on the ropes. Sasaki was a dangerous opponent, after all he killed like 5 people in the New Japan Dojo, but Copeland wasn't afraid of him.

Sasaki went right after him with stiff-looking chops and forearms. He backed Copeland into the corner and gave Copeland a vicious knife edge chop that had him reeling! He backed up for another one but Copeland came out swinging with chops and clubs of his own that put Sasaki off balance. He gave him a lariat right to the floor!

But Sasaki wasted no time, grabbing Copeland's leg from the outside and bringing him down. He pulled Copeland out of the ring and threw him into the guardrail. He splashed him, then turned him around and locked the arms around the waist! Copeland tried to pull off the switch but the smaller and more agile Sasaki held on and gave him a Dragon suplex on the concrete! That's gotta hurt! Sasaki quickly threw Copeland back into the ring and went for the pin! 1, 2, Copeland kicked out!

Copeland was still down so Sasaki got on top of him going for a Boston crab. Copeland struggled while Sasaki was trying to get him turned over, Sasaki having some trouble with the tall Adam Copeland who still had some leverage. Copeland was able to wriggle out and kick him into the ropes. Sasaki bounced back going for the knee lift while Copeland was getting up... but Copeland used his athleticism to get to his feet way faster than Sasaki expected and STOPPED HIM INSTANTLY WITH A SPEAR! He's not getting up from that one!

But that wasn't enough for the vicious Adam Copeland as he grabbed two chairs from ringside, which set the crowd off chanting for the Conchairto! He yelled something about how this was a message to Brian Lee, and gave him a killer Conchairto before going for the pin! 1, 2, 3! Adam Copeland beats Kensuke Sasaki with the Spear and Conchairto!

That match was great! Copeland can get it going with anyone and they threw him away? Best match of the night.

Brian Lee came down the ramp with the TV title slung over his shoulder. Adam Copeland was standing tall in the ring after decisively beating Kensuke Sasaki. A medic ran past Lee to check on Sasaki. Copeland grabbed the chair he just destroyed Sasaki with and held it up ready to swing, daring Lee to get in the ring with him.

Lee just stared down Copeland in the ring with the crowd still going nuts after his victory. Lee took the title off his shoulder and held it up high like Copeland's chair, taking a lap around the ring. Copeland was still yelling at him to get in the ring but Lee would have none of it. He just walked backward up the ramp with his title belt in hand.

---

After Copeland left, Paul E. was in the ring. The canvas was covered in a black cloth and a table was set up with two chairs and a contract booklet open with two pens. "Ladies and gentlemen, you are about to witness the signing of the contract for the main event of ECW International Incident -- live this Sunday from the ECW Arena in Philadelphia and available as always on pay-per-view, so, uh, make sure you call your cable or satellite provider! Let's get this thing started. Come on down, Shane."

Perfect Strangers played as Shane Douglas made his way down the ramp and up into the ring to cheers, the ECW World Championship belt around his waist. He snorted at Paul E. and took his seat at one end of the table. The contract was in the middle between the two chairs.

Paul E. called Sasuke down next. The Great Sasuke came down the ramp in a big coat. When he got into the ring, he threw the coat off, revealing his many title belts! He was wearing them on his shoulders, around his waist, he had one around his neck. He set them down on the table, one by one, and then pointed to Shane Douglas' title belt, saying "Mine." Sasuke sat down at the other end of the table. Shane and Sasuke were staring down each other.

Paul E. cleared his throat and slid the contract to Shane, who signed it. Shane slowly slid it across to Sasuke, watching him carefully. Sasuke signed the contract. "Well, we have a main eve--" "Hold on!" Kurt Angle was up at the top of the ramp!

"Paul, you can't just give this guy a shot at my-- uh, your title!" Angle headed to the ring. "I don't know where this Sasookie guy came from, but he hasn't proved a drat thing here in ECW! Why is he getting a title shot and I have to wait until next month, after a gauntlet?"

Kurt Angle flipped the table over at Paul E.! "I think you owe me--" (gently caress you Angle clap clap clapclapclap) "--an explanation!" The title belts went flying but Douglas and Sasuke didn't make a move while Angle advanced on Paul... until Tommy Dreamer came running down the ramp! Masato Tanaka was right behind him! Dreamer got between Angle and Paul E., Tanaka trying to get in on the action as well. Now we had Douglas and Sasuke getting up from their chairs staring each other down while Angle, Dreamer, and Tanaka looked like they wanted to kill each other, neither making a move! And Paul E. Dangerously stuck in the middle of it all!

"Guys, guys... there's plenty of time for this on Sunday..." Paul E. was nervously trying to defuse the situation. "The three of you will all get your hands on each other then. Until then, let's... let's be men here, okay? Just back, back off." The thick tension was finally cut when the groups slowly broke up and went out of the arena, taking separate exits.

Overall this was real solid, got the people in the audience excited for Sunday. Going with (E-)C-(-DUB). Now I've just gotta get some more cash to buy the show, ugh overtime is going to suck.

quote:

hey hey folks i just got back from the show and boy was it a real good one i mena i think i can say without a live it was the best ecw show that i had ever seen if the big two cant beat it then good luck in the future cause the cuture id now with ecw man copeland told it how it was when he spoke his mind at that wwf show and now look at him i mean it was mazing but i'll tell ou all about it tomorrow have a good night ecd edw ecw

Sanguinia posted:

newjack420@mr.com posted:

It's newjack420 and I'm back from the BEST ECW SHOW I HAVE EVER SEEN HOLY poo poo. If you didn't order this on PPV I'm sorry, there's something wrong with you. Hot crowd all night, great matches, I was hosed up for DAYS afterward. Here's the show report.

Pitbull A was already in the ring when I got to my seat, with Francine at ringside. Pitbull #1 was nowhere to be seen though, he must have been beaten up pretty bad at the last show. The show got off to a great start because ENTER SANDMAN came up on the PA. The lights were out... they came on and Sandman was standing out in the crowd! He was holding his cane high and pouring a beer down his throat. He smashed the beer can on his head like always, bleeding and spraying beer everywhere. I love this guy. Five minutes of beer chugging and debauchery later, he had made his way through the crowd and up into the ring.

Sandman kicked the show off by caning the hell out of Pitbull A. The brutish Pitbull A just shook off the cane shots this time though! Sandman came off the ropes with the cane and ate a big boot from Pitbull A. He dropped the cane which Pitbull A broke in half over his knee.

Pitbull A hit Sandman with the scoop slam, Francine cheering him on from ringside. Sandman tried to get to his feet and Pitbull A kicked him right in the head, sending him back down. A fan gave Francine a stop sign and she gave it to Pitbull A. He let Sandman get to his feet and then whacked him right over the head with the stop sign! He stumbled backward and got hit again, sending him to the mat. Pitbull A went for the pin but Sandman kicked out.

Sandman rolled over to the edge of the ring, reaching under it for anything that could help him. Pitbull A grabbed him by the neck, picking him up for a suplex, but Sandman had a ring of barbed wire! He hit Pitbull A with it and raked it over his back, forcing him to let go. Sandman wrapped it around his arm and gave Pitbull A a barbed wire-assisted running bulldog! Sandman turned him over and hooked the leg but Pitbull A kicked out at two.

Sandman was taking a breather by the ropes, unwrapping the barbed wire and throwing it on the mat. Pitbull A charged him but Sandman held the rope down, sending Pitbull A charging himself over and to the concrete! Sandman climbed the turnbuckle. He faced Pitbull A... and hit the Rolling Rock senton on the prone Pitbull! The crowd started chanting E-C-DUB already!

He picked up Pitbull A, giving him a Russian leg sweep on the concrete to go along with it. Then he threw him into the ring and went for the pin... but the Pitbull kicked out again! Exhausted, they exchanged forearm clubs. Pitbull A whipped Sandman into the corner and ran at him. Sandman just barely got out of the way and climbed the turnbuckle, straddling Pitbull A... and pulled off the Heinekenrana! Sandman went for the pin! 1, 2, 3! Sandman beats Pitbull A with the Heinekenrana!

He may not have made it into the gauntlet but at least he got some revenge on Pitbull A. A pretty good match that got us off to a good start.

---

"Hello, Philadelphia. It's me." A voice sounded around the arena as the tron played absolute darkness... until a small light shone on Adam Copeland's face! The crowd popped HUGE for the reveal! "But more importantly, hello Brian Lee. I don't think you know me too well right now, but you will. By the end of tonight, the name of Adam Copeland will be on the mouths of not just Philadelphia but everyone across the country.

"I get it. You're Prime Time, you're the Bulldozer, and I'm just a reject from Up North. You're 6 inches taller than me and a hundred pounds heavier. Who do I think I am challenging you for your TV title? I'll tell you who I am. I'm the future of professional wrestling. These fans? They want to see people like me, not people like you.

"I may not have the power, but I've got the speed and the athleticism to put you on your back and keep you there. All it takes is three seconds. Three seconds to change the face of not just the ECW, but professional wrestling. I win this title tonight, I prove that those who doubted me were wrong and that I do have what it takes to succeed in this business.

"Ten years from now, people are going look back on this match and say, 'there's where it all began. There's where the path to superstardom for Adam Copeland began.' And if you're in my way, Brian Lee, you're going to be nothing but a 7-foot-tall speed bump on that path."

---

Next up was Tommy Dreamer against the always dangerous Masato Tanaka. The winner goes on to face Kurt Angle later tonight for the #1 contendership to the ECW heavyweight championship. First up was Masato Tanaka, all 5'10 and 220 pounds of him, carrying a chair with him into the ring that he dropped in the corner. Tommy Dreamer came down to the ring after him to cheers wearing an ECW International Incident T-shirt (keeping with his general fashion sense).

They didn't even need to lock up, they came out of the gate swinging at each other. Dreamer shoved Tanaka to the ground, Tanaka got right back up in his face and gave him an elbow that busted Dreamer open already! Dreamer went to give him another shove, Tanaka jumped backward, spun, and hit the off-balance Tommy Dreamer with the discus elbow! Dreamer was down on the mat!

Tanaka straddled Dreamer, locking in the sleeper hold! No, not the sleeper hold, he suplexed him while he had him in it! A sleeper suplex! I've never seen that before! Tanaka grabbed the chair, wrecking it on Dreamer's back until the drat thing was bent and wouldn't open anymore. Oh man. And he kept it up by going for the surfboard, too! Only then did Tanaka turn him over, going for the pinfall. 1, 2, Tommy Dreamer kicked out! The crowd was fully behind him, chanting "He's Hardcore!" as Tanaka dropped the elbow.

Masato Tanaka grabbed Dreamer, dragging him over to the corner. He picked him up, carrying him to the middle turnbuckle. He put him in a facelock... yelled "Dangan!"... and then jumped over, doing a somersault over Dreamer and driving his head into Tanaka's shoulder! It's the Diamond Dust! Tanaka goes for the pin again! 1, 2, Dreamer kicked out at 2.9! Tanaka pounded the mat as Dreamer rolled out of the ring to the floor!

Tanaka went out to meet him there but Dreamer had a Singapore cane from under the ring. He struck Tanaka in the head with it but it didn't have much effect on the Dangan. In fact he grabbed it from Dreamer and swung it at him! Dreamer got hit a few times but ducked one of the swings, the cane breaking over the ring post. Dreamer acted fast and delivered a cutter of his own to Tanaka! This was his opening! He grabbed Tanaka, giving him a fallaway slam onto the bare concrete!

Tanaka rolled and got to his feet holding his shoulder. He ran at Dreamer, leaping for the tornado DDT! Both men were sent into the guardrail! It looked nasty and I couldn't tell who got the worse of it. They were both a bloody mess.

It was Dreamer who got to his feet first and threw Tanaka inside. Just like with Pitbull A, he had a steel chair at the ready. He dragged him over to the broken steel chair, got Tanaka up onto his shoulders and threw him down for the Death Valley Driver right onto the chair! He went for the pin... 1, 2, 3! Tommy Dreamer beats Masato Tanaka with the Death Valley Driver onto a steel chair!

"I hate to interrupt..." Paul E. appeared at the top of the ramp! "...but I just wanted to congratulate you on winning the gauntlet, Tommy Dreamer. I didn't think you had it in you! You've beaten the best in ECW... or at least the first five guys to win a reverse battle royal.

"You beat New Jack, you beat the Pitbulls, you beat Masato Tanaka. I won't deny it, Tommy, you really are one tough guy. But the big one is still to come. You've got Angle in..." He looked at his gold watch. "...oh, about an hour. You better go get cleaned up, Tommy, because you're in for one hell of a match." Paul E. laughed and laughed at Dreamer's apparent misfortune as the crowd booed. After the beating he took from Masato Tanaka was there any chance Tommy Dreamer would overcome the odds and beat Kurt Angle, tonight?

---

But before then, Adam Copeland was taking on Brian Lee. Lee came out first looking like a meth-dealing biker gangster. Then Adam Copeland came out to a rousing ovation like only he can.

Adam Copeland started the match off by running at Lee to knock him over. Lee didn't move, just laughing at the relative lightweight. Copeland leaped up instead, hitting a dropkick on Lee that sent him to the ground! Don't see that out of a guy who's almost 6 and a half feet much. Lee went to get up and Copeland hit him with a double foot stomp that put him back down. He got on Lee's back and worked his arm and elbow... but Lee just sat up and Copeland fell off.

Lee kicked Copeland in the back and tried to set up the camel clutch to end the match early... but Copeland was able to wriggle out of it and kicked him right in the face, putting Lee on his back again. He picked Lee up for the Northern Lights suplex and nailed it! Copeland grabbed Lee and put his head between his legs... but before he could get him up for anything he got flapjacked.

Lee went to the top rope, the hell's he going to do from there? Copeland made it to his knees and Lee flew... hitting Copeland with a flying knee drop! Lee picked Copeland up, putting him onto his shoulders for the Death Valley Driver... but Copeland popped off his back and dropkicked him into the ropes!

Copeland jumped to the middle rope and went to hit Lee with a diving axehandle... but Lee caught him by the neck and chokeslammed him! He went for the pin... but Copeland kicked out at 2! Lee was pissed! Copeland rolled out of the ring and dove under it. What was he planning?

The Bulldozer followed him out but Copeland came out of another side! What's he got in his hand? A folding chair covered in barbed wire! Holy poo poo! He ran at Lee, tossing the chair at his head. Lee caught it and Copeland hit it with a spinning heel kick! That looks familiar! Lee went flying and so did the chair! Copeland tossed Lee into the ring.

Copeland sat the barbed wire chair under the totally out of it Brian Lee's head. He grabbed another chair, wrapping that one in barbed wire too. He held it over Lee's head... and swung it for the Barbed Wire Conchairto! He is not getting up from that! He turned Lee over and pinned him square in the middle, 1, 2, 3. Adam Copeland is your new ECW TV champion with a Barbed Wire Conchairto!

A really entertaining match but you could tell it was a little too much for Lee. Still, Copeland's performance made up for that and it was great!

Copeland held up his new title belt! He slid out of the ring, heading over to the guardrail to hold it up with the crowd around him chanting E-C-DUB! "This is for you! And you guys Up North, you know who you are, you can kiss my Rated R rear end! I'm the new television champ and I'm on my way to the top! You guys? On your way to #3!"

---

It was time for the gauntlet finals! It's the battle for #1 contendership, Kurt Angle against Tommy Dreamer. Angle was out first, running to the ring and doing his weird little spinny dance in the ring. I don't think I can publish some of the stuff the crowd was yelling at Angle, but let's just say they *hate* him. Dreamer came down a mess with a black eye, beaten up by his match with Tanaka earlier.

The bell rang and the two of them locked up. Angle put Dreamer in a headlock but Dreamer pushed him into the corner. The fiery Dreamer opened up on Angle with forearms and elbows! He whipped Angle across the ring and went for the splash to keep on him... but Angle slid forward and hit him with a drop toe hold, slamming Dreamer's head into the bottom turnbuckle.

Angle got on top of Dreamer and held him down, grapevining the leg to go for an early ankle lock! Dreamer quickly grabbed the rope and the referee forced the break. Tommy Dreamer, exhausted from his prior match, rolled out of the ring for a breather. Angle hit the ropes, executing a perfect baseball slide right into Dreamer's face that kicked him back against the guardrail.

Angle landed outside and picked Dreamer up, slamming him down onto the guardrail! He wrapped an arm around his waist and did a modified fallaway slam that threw Dreamer into the side of the ring! He's just manhandling him!

Angle picked Dreamer up and rolled him into the ring. Kurt Angle climbed to the top rope. He posed on the turnbuckle as the crowd started chanting for Tommy Dreamer. After a few long seconds, he leaped backwards for the moonsault... but the delay meant Dreamer got his knees up!

With the crowd behind him, Dreamer picked Angle up and hit him with a neckbreaker! He dropped the leg on Angle's neck, too! He picked Angle up onto his shoulders, going for the Death Valley Driver... but Angle wriggled down, hitting Dreamer with European uppercuts that knocked him back. Dreamer swung one at Angle but he missed, letting him lock his arms around his waist and get behind. A powerful German suplex... he rolled through and landed another... then rolled through for the third!

And just to make sure the job was done, he grabbed him by the wrist and pulled off the Olympic Slam! Then and only then did he pick the ankle! Dreamer tried to stop him, but Angle locked in the ankle lock! Dreamer wouldn't tap! He tried to make it to the ropes... he was so close... but Angle dragged him back to the middle of the ring!

He cranked it hard, grapevining the leg... even cranking Dreamer's back... and he finally had to tap out after what seemed like 10 minutes and I don't blame him! Kurt Angle beats Tommy Dreamer by submission with the ankle lock!

That match was great! Action was great, everyone was into it. You'll get there someday, Dreamer.

---

Shane Douglas was in front of the the big ECW International Incident sign. "So you're the Great Sasuke. You've come all the way from Japan just to face me in this arena? I should feel honored. Hey, I just want you to know, it's nothing personal. It's not going to be personal when I ram you through a table, when I hit you with a suplex, when I throw you into the crowd.

"The Franchise doesn't just stand for ECW, I stand for everyone in the ECW locker room and every single fan here in the ECW Arena. You want to come here and challenge me? That's fine, I never back down. But I just hope you know that you're going back to Japan in a loving ambulance! You're not going to be adding this title belt to your little collection.

"Let me talk nice and slow, so you can understand. I've got the greatest title in the world, the only one with the three letters that mean a drat to me: E-C-W. And I will be damned if I'm going to let them go without the biggest fight you've experienced in your entire goddamn career, Sasuke. I don't care what special surprises you've promised tonight. Light heavyweight just means you're easier for me to throw around. And when I get you up on the Eagle's Nest, and I've got you pressed above my head, you're really gonna know just what it means to take the Pittsburgh Plunge."

Shane can really talk and he had the crowd in the palm of his hand, even in just a taped promo. This got everyone super hyped for the main event!

---

The main event of the show was here. The Franchise Shane Douglas taking on the man who's already becoming a legend in Japan, the Great Sasuke. Sasuke came down first, carrying his vast collection of championship belts from around the world. He held them up to a rousing chorus of boos. Then a spotlight hit the ramp, Perfect Strangers hit, and here comes the Franchise! The crowd was singing along as Douglas came down to the ring. The Franchise Player of ECW hit the ring just as the chorus started, proudly holding up the belt and yelling "your rear end is mine!" to Sasuke. This match was going to be something special.

The bell rang and Sasuke and Douglas locked up. The much larger Douglas (who had 4-5 inches and easily 50 pounds on Sasuke) took him down to the mat right away. Sasuke rolled over, kipped up, and before Douglas knew what was going on Sasuke was on top of him! He was working on Douglas' bum knee pretty hard. He grabbed Douglas' arms and legs and stretched him in the surfboard, grapevined the bad leg, it was awful to watch! Thankfully Douglas made his way to the ropes (easy when Sasuke weighed 180 soaking wet) and the referee forced the break.

Douglas was still reeling though and fell back down as soon as he tried getting up. Sasuke quickly ran to the turnbuckle, climbing it and pointing to the sky! He flew across the ring for the flying headbutt! He went for the pin but Douglas kicked out! Sasuke tried again, this time with a bridging Dragon suplex but Douglas kicked out of that, too! The Franchise wouldn't give up! Sasuke pounded the mat in frustration. He straddled Douglas and started pounding on his head and upper body... but that seemed to energize him and give him the kick he needed! He threw the light heavyweight off of him!

Douglas made his way to his feet, Sasuke going for the enzuigiri. Douglas caught his leg and went for a takedown that put Sasuke flat on his back instead! Douglas grabbed the legs and gave him a groin strike that looked pretty low to me. Then Shane picked Sasuke up into the press position! He lifted him up like he's a 180-pound barbell before sending him crashing to the ground with a press slam to the crowd's delight. Douglas went to drop the elbow but was just a little slow as the athletic Sasuke rolled out of the way. Sasuke got up to the middle rope as Douglas got up. Sasuke leaped at Douglas and gave him a diving DDT!

The Franchise was flat on the mat. Sasuke grabbed Douglas' legs and dragged him over to the ring post. He draped Shane's legs over the corner and slammed his bad knee into the ringpost! He tried to lock in the inverted figure four! No way Douglas makes it out if he gets that in! But Douglas was able to kick him into the guardrail but couldn't even get to his feet afterward. Oh, that was close. Douglas rolled out to the other side of the floor as Sasuke climbed back into the ring.

Douglas was leaning against the guardrail putting as much space as he could between him and the Great Sasuke while he tried to get blood flowing into his leg again. But Sasuke had other plans as he cartwheeled through the ring, over the top rope, and crashed into Douglas with a spectacular corkscrew senton! I think that's the Sasuke Special II! They both fell to the ground but Sasuke sprang up first. He got a ladder out from under the ring and set it up inside while Douglas was still down.

Sasuke put the ladder over in the corner near where Douglas was stirring. Sasuke slowly climbed the ladder, clearly the Sasuke Special took something out of him too. Douglas, meanwhile, had gotten up and was pushing the ladder over from outside! Sasuke crashed to the ring and the ladder fell on top of him. Now it was Douglas' turn to take it up a notch as he grabbed a table, setting it up outside. Not only that, but he had a container of lighter fluid he was pouring all over the table!

Sasuke had righted the ladder and set it up so that the steps faced Douglas and the table. He could send him through that thing and end the match! But he was making his way up even slower than before... and Douglas was still trying to get the drat thing lit! Those lighters never work, do they? Douglas finally got the table lit up as Sasuke was making it to the top of the ladder, dazed. Douglas climbed into the ring behind him, obviously messing up whatever Sasuke was planning. Sasuke kicked at Douglas but Douglas stormed up that ladder, trapping him!

Shane Douglas grabbed Sasuke, sort of putting him in a powerbomb position I guess? Sasuke was fighting him... but Shane leaped from the ladder with Sasuke on his neck! He got him pulled over! The table exploded! Shane exploded! Sasuke exploded! Shane Douglas just powerbombed the Great Sasuke 10 feet from a ladder through a flaming table! Oh my God! The crowd went nuts, chanting E-C-DUB while they were down on the ground. Douglas, who didn't take all of it, got up first and threw Sasuke into the ring and fell onto him for the cover. 1, 2, 3! Shane Douglas retains the ECW World Heavyweight Championship with a powerbomb off a ladder through a flaming table! E-C-DUB E-C-DUB E-C-DUB E-C-DUB

Holy poo poo! That was the single best match I've ever seen in ECW! Douglas and Sasuke completely burned the place down! Was it a five-star match? Maybe not, but if Prograps doesn't give it a B I'll send them more hatemail than they know what to do with! And then Angle came walking down the ramp to "join" the celebration! Douglas, who could barely stand, just held up his championship belt a bloody and reddened mess while Angle came toward him, Sasuke still down on the mat from that crazy stunt he did.

Angle climbed into the ring, dancing around Shane Douglas, seemingly unaffected by his match against Tommy Dreamer. This was his idea of a stare-down, I guess. Douglas was just staring at him as he spun around. Angle laughed and backed out of the ring to loud boos, heading back up the ramp to close the show.

---

This show can stand up to anything they've got Up North or Down South and that's with HBK probably making more in a year than the whole roster does. That main event was the best match ECW has ever produced! I hope we get more Great Sasuke! Consistency was the key and overall, this show was an E-C-DU(B-) E-C-DU(B-)E-C-DU(B-)E-C-DU(B-)E-C-DU(B-)

quote:

Results for WCW WorldWide for Week 4 June, 1997.

Kimberly introduces Nick Lovin'

Nick Lovin' defeats Bradley Mahoney

Recap: Diamond Dallas Page and Raven reveal Flawless Diamonds' intentions

Bill Alfonso promo putting over Sabu & Rob Van Dam

Team X-treme (Sabu & Rob Van Dam) defeat State Parole

Christian Cage talks to Nick Lovin' backstage, saying he's a future star.

Brian James introduces James Maritato and "Bad rear end" James Winchester

James x 3 defeat Three Jobbers

Recap: Lex Luger turns on and torture racks Ric Flair!

Power Warrior defeats Prince Iuakea

Luigi Thirty posted:

CaptainYesterday posted:

Does that include Bash at the Beach?

ScottHallFan49 Usenet Report posted:

The Independence Day Raw came from San Fransicso, CA this year, and I was there live!

I won't spend too much time on the dark matches, but there was a fun flag match that I wish had been on TV! It'd have been a real gas.

Scotty Bollea and Stevie Poffo cut a promo saying that The Immortal Powers are bigger than the United States, and headbutt an American flag. Stan Hansen and Skunkrocker run out, incensed that Bollea and Poffo would disrespect America.

A ref ran out and the impromptu match of The Immortal Powers vs Skunkrocker and Stan Hansen began. Throughout the match, Hansen overwhelms both Scotty and Stevie with suplexes, elbow and knee drops, and – of course – lariats and whenever Skunkrocker is tagged in, Bollea always fled to his corner and tagged an unwitting Stevie Poffo in. Near the end of the match, a winded Bollea challenges Hansen to a test of strength and Hansen effortlessly gets Scotty's shoulders to the ringmat. Before the referee could even begin counting, Poffo had already climbed up to the top turnbuckle and with a cry of “OOOOOOOOH INDEED,” dove off it with an elbow drop with intent of breaking the pinfall. Unfortunately for Bollea, Hansen had already moved out of the way and Poffo's elbow crashed into Bollea's chest. Poffo begins profusely apologizing to the unconscious Bollea but is caught by surprise by Skunkrocker and he ends up Stinkbombed ontop of Bollea. Hansen covers both Immortal Powers and the 3 count is elementary.

As Hansen and Skunk celebrate defeating Scotty Bollea and Stevie Poffo, Okada runs down and attacks them. Ted DiBiase cuts a promo on Okada's behalf. "STAN HANSEN, YOU CALL YOURSELF THE MASTER OF THE LARIAT, BUT THE RAINMAKER KNOWS YOU'RE WRONG! HIS RAINMAKER LARIAT... IS ON AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT LEVEL!

--

Dave Taylor confronted Godfather backstage. "Godfather, I know you've put this behind you, but I need you to take up voodoo again. I think it's the only thing we can do to bring back the Undertaker."
"Well... when you put it like that, sure. But just this once."

--

In the ring, Backlund reveals why he signed with Money Inc. "If there's anyone who respects the art and the sport of catch as catch can submission wrestling, it's Mr. Ted DiBiase! I am proud to serve under a man with the technical knowledge and wrestling pedigree of Ted DiBiase, and if anyone says I'm not, I'm gonna put them right in my CROSS! FACE! CHICKEN! WIIIIIIIING!"

Boston Bay Bodyslam Challenge: Mark Henry vs Bob Backlund. Throughout the match, Backlund worked over Henry's left arm with the Crossface Chickenwing and other holds, but Henry was eventually able to power out of the Chickenwing, hoist up Backlund with his right arm, and bodyslam him for the win. This was Henry's 40th win, and his... 13th defense? Guys, I'm not sure Henry can make it to 25 in time for Money In The Bank.

After the match, Henry gets a mic. "Chris Jericho, you can run, and you can hide, but eventually, the World's Strongest Man always wins out! Brian Pillman tried running! He tried hiding! Look where it got him!"
Liger interrupts.
"Henry, I respect your bet with Mr. McMahon. But I'm the #1 contender, and I'm getting a match for the IC Title at Money in the Bank, bet or no bet."
Mr. McMahon interrupts. "Actually, Mister Liger, you're not the #1 contender. That will be decided in a battle royal later tonight, which you will be a part of. Win, and by all means, you'll get a shot at Chris Jericho. But if Mark Henry gets to 25 defenses, he will get a guaranteed IC title opportunity. I made a promise, and I keep my word."

--

British Bulldog cuts a promo on Vader. "Vader, I know neither of us is satisfied with how that match at King Of The Ring ended. You want me, I want you, and we both want a match where we can beat the hell out of each other as hard as we want, until it is proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, which of us is the last man standing!"

Baton Rouge Battle Royal for #1 contendership to the IC title
Includes: Bradshaw, Liger, Vampiro, Doink, Samu, Dave Taylor, Hakushi, Godfather, Fatu, and Tajiri

Dave Taylor and Godfather cleared out Vampiro, Doink, and Tajiri right out of the gate, giving Samu and Fatu the chance to run wild, knocking everyone down, and eliminating Godfather before Taylor low bridged the both of them out. That just left Bradshaw, Hakushi, Liger, and Taylor. Bradshaw and Hakushi worked together to try to eliminate Taylor, but Taylor was able to dodge Hakushi and push him over the top rope before being Clothesline From Helled out of the ring by Bradshaw. Bradshaw then turned his attention to Liger, who dodged the Clothesline From Hell, low bridging Bradshaw. Bradshaw lands on the apron, and Liger dropkicks him in the chest, knocking him to the floor and winning. Jushin Liger is #1 Contender to the IC title.

--

Terry Funk comes out to cut a promo.

"I got myself a golden ticket to Money In The Bank 2, straight from the man himself, ol' Ted DiBiase! But I've got a mind to put it up for grabs. You see, I don't know how long it's been since I got myself a good old fashioned rear end whoopin! So if any of you San Fransisco, Generation X, hippie, granola-eating liberal wimps think you have the gumption to properly whup a man's rear end, come right down and give it your best drat shot!"

Cactus Jack's music hits, and MICK FOLEY RETURNS!

Houston Hardcore Match: Terry Funk vs Cactus Jack, Foley wins. These dudes have fought each other so much they've got hardcore down to a science, and that really showed here, with Foley and Funk dodging and reversing just about everything. Eventually, Foley got the win with a Double Arm DDT.

Ted DiBiase and Goldust come down, and tell Foley that even if ho does have a spot in Money In The Bank 2, there's ne way he can challenge for the WWF Title. It's right there in the contract, they even made a special appearance at his hospital! Cactus replies, "Oh, I've seen that contract, you left it there for me to pore over, and I sure pored over it. But you know what I saw? MANKIND'S NAME! THERE ISN'T A drat WORD OF THAT CONTRACT THAT SAYS CACTUS JACK CAN'T CHALLENGE FOR THE WWF TITLE! SO, MR. HOLLYWOOD, TO BORROW A MOVIE REFERENCE OF MY OWN, I'VE GOT A GOLDEN TICKET! I'VE GOT A GOLDEN SPARKLE IN MY EYE! AND GOLDUST, YOU BETTER START DRINKING, BECAUSE YOU'LL NEED A LOT OF FIZZY LIFTING DRINK TO FLOAT AWAY FROM ME!"

--

Bret Hart came out with a microphone.

"I'm usually a man of few words, preferring to make my sentiments known in the ring. And I did that at King Of The Ring. Now I've got a shot at that big gold title around Goldust's waist. And before he defends it tonight against Roddy Piper, I'd like to say a few words about the way he's gone about his title reign.

As all of you know, I'm a man of values. I value my family's loyalty. I value the dedication it takes to train every day for years and become the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be, and the dedication it takes everyone back there in the locker room to try to surpass that. But more than that, I value respect. And respect is a thing that Goldust sorely lacks. He's shown that he doesn't respect the rules, by taking advantage of cheap cash-ins, crooked referees, and long-term con games to evade proper title defenses. And in doing that, he's shown that he doesn't respect any of you. But most of all, what Goldust does not respect is the lineage of that WWF title. There is an honor to being crowned a champion, an honor that I, my brother, Shawn Michaels, Vader, or any other former WWF World Heavyweight champ could tell you is the most sublime feeling on earth. And Goldust has shown time and again during his title reign that he doesn't respect that title enough to even bother defending it without resorting to piggybacking off the injuries of other competitors.

So when Goldust gets in the ring with me, I'm not going to fall for another cheap trick like Steve Austin tried to pull on me at King Of The Ring. I, fool that I am, thought Steve Austin actually had the moral fiber within himself to offer the slightest courtesy and mean it. I know Goldust doesn't have that within him. I know that he will stop at no lengths to keep that title in the control of Money Inc. And I know that they'll stop at nothing to help him. He doesn't respect legacy. He doesn't respect loyalty. He doesn't respect any of you. So I'll respect them for him. I'll stay within the rules. Because I respect myself, I respect you, and I respect that title enough not to stoop to his level!"

The crowd was wild for this one, almost deafening near the end.

Goldust(c) vs Roddy Piper Hollywood Backlot Brawl
WWF Title vs Career

Began with some in ring brawling, ending when Goldust teased an Atomic Elbow but hit a low blow instead, and ran up the ramp while Roddy was doubled over. Piper was able to catch up with Goldust, and the two brawled to the back, into what appeared to be Piper's Pit. They start hitting each other with the furniture, and Piper gets a coconut shot in. Once the fake walls fall away we could see a projection screen, which started playing different backdrops as what appeared to be stagehands brought in appropriate props.
These included
Western - lariat ropes and sarsaparilla glasses, one of which got broken over Piper's head
They Live alley set - Sunglasses, Piper uses them to block an eye poke
SciFi - toy laser guns, which Piper and Goldust aimed at each other before slowly putting them down, mexican standoff style
Eventually Piper went for the Sleeper, Goldust reversed it into the Curtain Call, 123, Goldust is still your champ.

The entire locker room comes out to give Piper a round of applause as he walks to the back. As he's about to walk through the curtain, he asks for a mic. "You know, I spent a lotta years here in WWF. I been a hero, I been a villain, I've had good times, and I've had bad. But goddamnit, I wouldn't trade a single day in this company for the world. God bless you all."

Our Main Event was Owen vs Austin, and it was a hell of a match!

Owen and Austin started out by feeling the other out, looking for a mistake. Owen feinted right, and when Austin dodged left, Owen caught him, and took him down. On the ground, Owen started working over Austin's legs, until Austin countered a stomp by tripping Owen's leg. After getting up, Austin started going on the offensive on the downed Owen. After a few stomps, he backs off, giving Owen time to get up, only to hit him with a Thesz Press. He then goes back to the stomps, taunting Owen. "YER BIG BROTHER AIN'T HERE TO HOLD YER drat HAND, IS HE, YA LITTLE SUMBITCH?" As Austin keeps pressing the attack, Owen is slowly crawling towards the bottom rope, until he managed to grab it! Using the ropes as leverage, Owen manages to catch Austin on a stomp, and trips him, holding his leg. He goes for the sharpshooter, but Austin quickly manages to escape before it's locked in. The two of them then start trading blows back and forth, neither one getting much of an advantage, until Austin jukes a punch, rakes Owen across the eyes, and goes for a surprise stunner!

1...2... No! Owen kicks out! Austin can't believe it, and starts stomping on him, and goes for another pin!

1...2... No! Owen then grabs Austin, and hits him with a Northern Lights Suplex! Owen climbs up to the top rope, and hits Austin with a diving elbow, hooking the leg for a pin attempt.

1...2...2.9, Austin kicks out! As Austin starts to stand up, dazed, Owen has him scouted hits him with an Enzuigiri! Austin is out of it now! Owen grabs him, attempting to put him into the Dragon Sleeper, but Austin is able to wriggle out of it and apply a sleeper hold! As Owen slumps to the floor, Austin starts to laugh, releases the hold, and goes for a rollup!

1...2... With the last of his strength, Owen reverses it!
1...2...2.9! Austin gets the shoulder up, as Owen quickly transitions into the Sharpshooter!

Austin is still hurting from the stomps from earlier, and agonizes as he crawls to the ropes. But he's able to reach them, and fight back to his feet, kicking Owen away. Owen backs up, hits the ropes, and just as Austin gets to his feet, Owen elbows him over the ropes! Owen hits the ropes yet again, and DIVES TO THE OUTSIDE, CRASHING RIGHT INTO AUSTIN! Owen gets back to his feet quick, and starts taunting the downed Austin. "YOU THINK MY BIG BROTHER COULD DO THAT, HUH? I DON'T NEED ANYONE HOLDING MY HAND, AND THAT'S THE BOTTOM LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE, CAUSE OWEN HART SAID SO!" With that last bit he imitated Austin's taunts, further enraging the Texas Rattlesnake. As Austin regained his footing, Owen set right at him, slamming his head into the ring apron and the barricade before rolling him back into the ring and setting up for a springboard move. Starting on the outside, Owen vaults over the ropes to the inside, lands on the ropes, springboards again, and lands on his feet as Austin rolls out of the way! Austin hits the ropes and goes for the Thesz Press, but Owen ducks under before popping back up as Austin turns around. Austin goes for a Stunner, Owen reverses it into a German, but Austin flips through! Shaking his head and his finger, as if to say "nuh-uh, not this time," Austin goes for another Stunner, but Owen catches his leg on the kick and rolls him up!

1...2...3! Owen has pinned Austin! This match was intense from start to finish, the equal of any In Your House main event! If it was in the Tokyo Dome, I bet Meltzer would have given this *****!

The show on a whole was pretty great, but the Main Event and especially that Bret Promo bring this show up to a B.

WWF Online - Pat Patterson posted:

Now I's heard a lot a youse countin' out Mark Henry, sayin' he can't get to 25 defense in time for the next In Yours House. Well, I ain't count him out yet, an' I's been lookin' through paperwork and makin' absolutely sures all his defense have been counted. I promise youse that.

Shotgun Saturday Night posted:

Texas Tornado Tag Team Title Match: LoV vs Dudleys,Bubba pins Sato
Bubba takes the mic. ""WHO'S NEXT? WHO WANTS A SHOT AT THESE TAG TEAM TITLES?" Jeff and Matt Hardy come out and accept the challenge. A match is scheduled for next week.
Skunk vs a Jobber, Skunk wins
Jimmy Hart talks up his clients
Joanna Loren squashes a jobber This was considered very bad.
Vic Venom, Bollea, and Poffo threaten the Shamrockers
Mark Henry squashes a Jobber
Rocky Maivia defeats Stevie Poffo and Scotty Bollea in a Handicap match
Immortal beats Maivia down as he's celebrating

quote:

To: rec.sport.pro-wrestling

Welcome to my new column, the only column you will ever need to read. You need not be concerned with my identity. All you need to know... is that I rule the stock market, I am the smartest man in this industry, and I know everything there is to know about the past, present, and future of wrestling.

The past is over. The present is <redacted>. The future is the ECW. Since Cyberslam '97, the world's largest hardcore wrestling fan convention and one-of-a-kind supercard is nearly upon us, I am graciously willing to share my knowledge with you, the common person, so that you may be enlightened as to the progress that shall come and that we shall bring to this sport. You may send your e-mailed inquiries to mrdotcom2000@gmail.com. For the best questions, I will do my best to give you my true insights into Extreme Championship Wrestling and into this bold new era... of the Internet.

Skunkrocker posted:

Well I'm done with the game. Lately I haven't felt the same spark I did before. I'll keep watching the thread, but as of right now I'm just done.

Disregard that, I'm just taking a break.

StoneColdSteveBoston posted:

MONDAY NITRO BABY! IT'S ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL BASH AT THE BEACH! HERE'S THE RUNDOWN!

***

Nash and Hall open Monday Nitro with an in-ring promo. They discuss how their boss is not happy with how uppity WCW is getting, and THEY'RE not happy how they're stuck dealing with small fries who want to be heroes. ""After Sting's speech last week, EVERYONE is eager to join his little revolution. Well, congratulations kids, you've officially pissed us off. And as Bash at the Beach, The Outsiders plan on reminding everyone that anyone who thinks Sting has the right idea has nothing but pain in their future.""

His ultimatum issued, Nash announces the official booking of two big matches for Bash at the Beach: a six-man tag between Team X-treme and Nash, Raven and Madusa, and Scott Hall vs Barry Windham!

***

After that chat it's opening bout! Kevin Nash vs Hector Gurrero! Scott Hall joins the commentary desk, and briefly explaining that after the beating he gave Old Man Hector last week Big Sexy wanted to see if he could beat him worse. Guerrero tries to overcome the height advantage by flying into several big dropkicks right off the bat, hoping to knock Nash off his feet. However, Nash's weight advantage proves even worse as he absorbs the impacts and swipes Hector out of the air with a big right hand. Hector shows no fear or discouragement, and ascends the turnbuckle, aiming a flying crossbody... which Nash easily catches and reverses into a sidewalk slam!

Hall comments that dinosaur vanilla midgets,should avoid more manly specimens like Nash and himself, which Ventura supports. Schiavone lambasts Hall and says if he'd had more time to recover from Hall's beating perhaps the Eldest Guerrero would be giving Nash as much trouble as he gave Hall. The Flawless Diamond Stud dances around that by saying they're sending a necessary message to the locker room, just like they will on Sunday. Back in the ring, Nash is mercilessily beating Guerrero in a corner and intimidating the ref to keep from being broken away, then finally grows bored and hoists him up for the Jackknife. Nash lays back on Guerrero like it's a picnic in the park and lets out a big yawn as the referee counts the pinfall.

***

Savage cuts a promo backstage as a greeting to his Extended Family. "To all those loyal to me, you need not worry my friends, for SOON, the WCW Championship will return home, YEAH. Regal's victory will be proven ONCE AND FOR ALL as a simple fluke! And Macho Madness will surge back to the shores of America, riding the waves of a hurricane of exultation! The tide rises at Bash At The Beach! OH YEAH!"

***

Next up, a World Cup of Wrestling Singles Match! Shinya Hashimoto vs Shark! Hashi puts the big man through his paces, showing off that Strong Style with some very stiff striking offense. But Shark absorbs the impact, and shows why he's used to taking stiff Japanese-style attacks in stride when he takes a Sumo stance and tackles The Shogun head on! The two grapple furiously, and Shark wins out on pure strength delivering a brutal double underhook suplex!

Shark sets up for the Shark Bomb, looking to take home the win... but Hashi rolls away and counters into an ankle lock! Shark reaches the ropes, only to take a nasty boot to the temple as he crawls back to his feet! The Shark is helpless as Hashimoto drags him into position... and nails the Kusanagi! 1, 2, 3! Team Japan wins!

***

Backstage, Scott Hall meets up with DDP. Page lets him know that he's gotten word from Rude: the US title defense is officially booked. It will be Diamond Dallas Page vs Glacier at Bash at the Beach! "I'm not sure if this is a good idea Scott. We're trying to circle the wagons here, and the Grand Master wants me to put my belt up against a dangerous freak like Glacier?"

Hall says they can't question the boss, and it's the right call either way. "If Glacier wants to challenge the Diamonds he needs to be put down like anyone else. It doesn't matter whether he's a ninja or a wizard or just a delusional wierdo, he's gotta eat dirt if he messes with us. And when you're a Diamond, what you're in the ring with don't matter. You win no matter what." DDP nods hesitantly and they make their way deeper into the arena to inform Hennig of the news... but as they leave, we catch sight of Barry Windham, stalking them through the hallways. The Lone Wolf is on the hunt!

***

Glacier vs Prince Iaukea! It's a David vs. Goliath match. Iaukea's diminutive stature pales before Glacier's 6'6", 300 lbs frame. Glacier dominated the match, throwing Iaukea around the ring with a series of perfectly executed suplexes. But the chip on the Prince's shoulder wouldn't permit him to go down without a fight, going for a blatant eye rake. Glacier is stunned for a moment and Prince winds up a big Savate Kick... but Glacier catches the foot and Dragon Screws him right out of his boots! With Iaukea nearly unconscious after the viscous whip, Glacier hoisted him up delivered a Cryon Bomb that almost sent the Prince into the ring post. He covers, 1, 2, 3 for the win!

***

The tinny music starts up, and we all know what that means. "Hello, and welcome to the Eric Bischoff Show. I'm your host, Elegant Eric. Joining me, as always, is Kimo and Ekmo. Tonight's topic will be courage under fire. If you want to talk to me or my guests, call 1-900-909-9900 and you'll be on the line. Remember, tonight's topic is..." Suddenly, the phone lines start blinking. "Hold on, Elegant Eric fans! I haven't even introduced my guests! My first guest has shown real courage under fire these past few weeks, let's give a warm welcome to the Total Package, Lex Luger!" Luger makes his way to the ring, grabbing fan's sign and tearing it up on the way. "How are you doing, Lex?" "Well.." "That's fine. We've got another guest tonight, the Nature Boy, Ric Flair!" Flair walks to the ring with a purpose in a tailor-made suit.

Flair takes a chair, and looks Luger square in the eye, and demands the explanation he's owed. Luger gives Flair a sour look. "You really wanna know Naitch? You really can't let it go until you hear it? Fine, here it is, nice and simple: I finally figured out you're the same rotten piece of garbage you've always been! Everyone knows that the Four Horsemen 'legacy,' is to be a stooge who gets Ric Flair fame and fortune, but all these idiots in the crowd and all those idiots in the locker room fell for your line that things were different this time. And I was one of them! I joined your little team because it was 'The Right Thing To Do.' Because you were the big drat hero standing up to Anderson. After I became a Horseman I came out to that classic theme at War Games, put my career on the line to fight at your side, and it was all because I WAS A SUCKER! YOU'RE the one who reaped all the benefits from this, just like you always do! You got my friend Sting back as your doting lackey, you got your revenge on Arn for stabbing you in the back, and you got to be the God drat WORLD CHAMPION, YET AGAIN!"

"What did Lex Luger get, huh Ric? Did I win the tag titles? Did I get a shot at the world championship? Did I even get any RESPECT? When I was the only one who bothered to try and deal with Hogan and Scott Steiner going crazy, you and Sting thought I was the nutcase! When Barry got hurt, it was Lex Luger who took the front lines against the Flawless Diamonds, and what did I get for THAT fight Ric? HUMILIATION! NO MONEY, NO TITLE SHOTS, JUST DEFEAT AFTER DEFEAT BECAUSE RIC FLAIR WAS TOO BUSY BEING WORLD CHAMPION. And I was fine with that, because it was all the RIGHT THING TO DO, and the great Ric Flair had inspired me to fight the good fight! And when you lost your title in the Elimination Chamber, Ric, when you finally had nothing better to do, what happened? You decided to be in my corner when I finally got the shot I deserved, the shot to take down Hennig, become a World Champion again, be a star because I beat the Diamonds once and for all. I earned that chance with blood, sweat and tears, and once I got it, suddenly there was RIC FLAIR to drink up the spotlight! EVEN THEN I was still fooled, but you finally went too far when you stole my tag title shot in the BLT match. That was when my eyes finally opened, when I saw past the lies and all the pieces came together. You're scum, Ric Flair. You're a rat bastard! You've been using me, and using Barry, and using Sting from minute one! And now there are no more Horsemen, because Lex Luger made it that way! And if Lex Luger has anything to say about it, THERE WON'T BE ANY MORE RIC FLAIR! BECAUSE YOU AND ME? AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT A MATCH AT BASH AT THE BEACH!"

Flair was shocked through most of the rant, but once Luger finished he was furious. The rage at the complete perversion of events and dismissal of his struggles and sacrifices and friendship was written on Nature Boy's face... but Elegant Eric just went back to the hard camera. "Anyway, we have some callers! Line one, you're on the Eric Bischoff Show!" "Yeah, I've got some scoops on a bonus match at Bash at the Beach: your face and my rear end." Bischoff hangs up quickly. "Let me tell you something...I think....I think you like butts, sir." Ekmo laughs. "And I don't know if that's a healthy obsession." Bischoff straightens his suit. "Line two, talk to me!" "Hey, why'd you fire me?" Bischoff hangs up quickly. "I keep saying, I didn't fire you! Blame Rick Rude, he runs WCW, not me!" He pulls out a FedEx box and places it on the desk. "You see this? I couldn't have sent you a pink slip - here's the box!" Flair and Luger are glaring bitterly at each other, but he ignores them. "Line one, talk to me!" "Yeah, why don't you get the hell out of the ring and let these-" Bishoff quickly hangs up. "Hey! HEY! This is my ten minutes, and I'm going to use them as I see fit."

Flair finally snaps at that comment. ""OH YEAH? Here's your ten minutes Bischoff!"" He blasts an elbow into Luger's jaw, and the two get at it! Bischoff hides behind Kimo and Ekmo as they escort him out of the ring. Padded chairs and potted plants are used as weapons between the two men, ending with Luger picking up Flair and ramming him into the cheap backdrop, which bounces on the ropes. Luger then places Flair on Bischoff's desk and climbs to a turnbuckle, delivering a splash that breaks the desk into pieces! Luger rolls out of the ring as Eric Bischoff can be heard shouting "My set! My beautiful set!"

***

Another World Cup of Wrestling match! Disco Inferno vs Psicosis! Both men seem as though they have something to prove in this match, Psicosis busting out some of his wilder lucha techniques, flying off the top rope at every opportunity. Disco showed off his educated feet and superior balance and flexibility, dancing around Psicosis' offense with some flashy chin-shaving dodges. Both men seem evenly matched until Psicosis attempts a springboard hurricanrana... and Disco scouts the manuever perfectly and reverses with a powerbomb! Psicosis stumbles to his feet, Disco kicks him in the gut and hits the Chartbuster! Cover, hook the leg, 1, 2, 3! Team USA is finally on the board!

***

The announce team takes a look at the scoreboard following tonight's World Cup of Wrestling matches: Team Canada and Team Mexico have 2 points each, while Team USA and Team Japan have 1 point each. They plug the Captain's matches at Bash at the Beach, Chris Benoit vs. Konnan and Giant vs. Great Muta! They also have an update: After the Eric Bischoff Show tonights Main Event has been altered! It will now be Ric Flair teaming with Randy Savage vs Lex Luger and WCW Champion William Regal!

***

We come back from the break to another World Cup exhibition already set up in the ring, between the two winning tag teams and the captains! Thrillseekers, El Hijo del Santo and Heavy Metal vs Benoit, Muta, Konnan and Giant! Santo and Konnan start, showing off an impressive display of lucha libre! Santo hits some high-flying offensive but Konnan takes the hits and counters the Masked Saint with some crisp suplexes. Evenly matches, the two members of Team Mexico tag out, bring in Benoit and Lance Storm!

The Team Canada members put on a technical clinic, Benoit pushing the young Storm to the limits using sheer experiance and his slightly more brutal style to counter every hold Lance tries and wear him down, but Storm hits a desperation spinning heel kick and knocks Benoit down hard. Storm tags in Christian and the two hit their Captain with stereo dropkicks! The Tag Champs do their title proud, wearing Benoit down in their corner with frequent tags and double team moves... but Heavy Metal gets impatient and slaps Storm on the back, tagging himself in!

Storm is furious and gets in Heavy Metal’s face, and Santo and Christian are soon arguing. While the referee is tries to break up the fracas, Benoit recovers and charges the corner, knocking everyone off the apron! Muta cannot contain himself at this sight and jumps into the ring, screaming about Wild Pegasus! He attacks Benoit relentlessly, not caring about teams, but Giant intervenes and knocks out Muta cold with the WMD! The Thrillseekers recover and try to double-team The Giant, but he grabs the two by the throat and lifts them up, looking for a Double Chokeslam... but they are able to reverse and hit a double tornado DDT! But Konnan strikes back with a double clotheslines! He celebrates... and eats a Tope de Cristo from Santo!

Benoit finally recovers from Muta, and quickly takes Heavy Metal down with knife-edge chops. As he does, Konnan, still woozy from the headbutt, tags himself in, saying he'll handle his protege himself! He picks up Heavy Metal and hits Montezuma’s Revenge! 1...2...3! Konnan picks up the win for the Captains, much to Benoit's distaste!

***

After commercial, the Nation of Domination comes out. Simmons has a message for Rick Steiner: he wants the #1 Contenders shot and he's not leaving until he gets a match with it on the line at BATB. He says he'll do whatever it takes to get Steiner to agree to that... and on queue the Nation takes hostages!

Muhammad and Nelson grab the ring announcer and the timekeeper from ringside, holding them by force! A referee comes out to stop this... and Simmons gives him the Dominator! More refs and security flood the ring, but Simmons orders them to stay back or Muhammad and Nelson will make the hostages regret it. He calls out Steiner once again, and things are tense... until Rick Steiner's music hits.

Steiner asks Simmons what the hell happened to him, he used to be a great man, and world champion, and now he's a thug. "No, not a thug, a terrorist!" Simmons says that he was ground down by the man, and this is the only way anyone gets a drat thing in this world. The Nation will take what it wants by force. "So what will it be, the thing I want... or force?" He sets up the timekeeper for a Dominator... and Rick Steiner agrees to the match! The Nation exits the ring with a look of smug satisfaction, holding onto their hostages as long as possible before making a run for it, security chasing them the whole way."

***

Raven vs Hawk Warrior (w/ Power Warrior), TV Title on the line. There wasn't much too this match, both men were stinking up the place for some reason. There were several nasty botched moves. Thankfully we were saved from further humiliations when the New Blue Bloods appeared to cause a distraction and Raven rolled Hawk up with grabbed tights for the 3. A really disappointing match for a great veteran and a hot young talent.

After the match Alex Wright grabbed a microphone. ""What have you done to deserve the spotlight in the tag division? Save a soul? Allow your relevance to expire ten plus years ago? Doug and I are ten times more talented than the two of you today. Why don't you step aside and let the New Blue Bloods take a bite at the apple?""

Power Warrior gives a mic to Hawk. "Wright, you're barking up the wrong tree. The Hellraisers are regarded as being one of the best tag teams to ever compete in Japan, and we were tag champions there already. You Europeans think you're better than everyone else. Well we're two-time tag champions over in Tokyo, which is two more than the two of you have ever won!""

Williams looks to start something, but Wright pulls him back. The New Blue Bloods retreat up the ramp, pointing at the Hellraisers, while Hawk and Power motion for them to bring it on.

***

Hulk Hogan leads Bobby Heenan and Meng to the ring. Heenan demands to know why Hogan asked them out, noting that if he wants a match with Meng he can forget about it and go back to wallowing in self-pity. Hogan tells Heenan to shut up, brother. "I was thinking all week about what you said, about how I need to use my brain for once. Well jack, the Hulkster's heart is telling him that even looking at Bobby Heenan is enough to make him puke... but his BRAIN is telling him that if the two most bitter enemies in wrestling history can put their differences aside, they can accomplish anything!"

Heenan replies that even considering what Hogan is suggesting is giving him "an ulcer, a migrane and jock itch all at once..." But he knows that Meng needs help if he's going to be World Champion: he needs muscle, experience, and outright deviousness... and Hulk Hogan has those three things in abundance. "As of today, consider Bobby Heenan a Hulkamaniac... brother!"

"Then as of today, consider the millions of screaming Hulkamaniacs across America as your new Heenan Family, dude!" The two shake hands, and Meng nods his approval. Hulk starts his normal play to the crowd schtick, trying to get them to chant HEENAN, HEENAN, HEENAN... BUT THE LOVE FEST IS SUDDENLY BROKEN UP WHEN EDDY GUERRERO AND REY MISTERIO CRAWL OUT FROM UNDER THE RING AND ATTACK!

Eddy hits Meng with the Three Amigos as Rey hurricanrana's Hogan right out of the ring! Eddy grabs a mic "You two old bastards picked the wrong young lions to make your enemies, holmes." Rey adds, "Hogan, you said that we were taking time that was rightfully yours? Rey Misterio knows what time it is. And my watch says your time is over! Thanks to Commisioner Rude, Bash at the Beach will see the team of Rey Misterio and Eddy Guerrero vs the team of Meng and Hulk Hogan!"

Before either man can respond Eddy whips Rey toward them, and he uses the acceleration to springboard to the outside and hit Hogan and Meng with a corkscrew! He hops up like it was nothing, and Eddy fires up the crowd as Rey stands tall over both jacked-up monsters.

***

J+J (Winchester and Brian) vs Booker T and Bobby Eaton. Brian and Bobby started off this match, and Eaton looked good with some early power offense while Brian countered with his shake, rattle and roll punches and some nasty guillotine rope moves. Unfortunately both men spent too long in the ring, and soon the contest broke down into restholds which sucked some of the energy out of the crowd. A double-hot tag to Booker T and Winchester helped save the match, and the two went to town on each other with flashy high-impact moves, body slams and back breakers and snapmares and mule kicks galore.

Booker tried to seal the match by catching Winchester with the Book End... but James #3 countered it into a reverse Russian Leg Sweep sort of move that put the back of Booker's skull hard into the canvas. Booker was stunned and forced to tag in Eaton... who ate a Famouser within seconds of rejoining the match! 1, 2, 3! Jameses win!

***

In the secret lair of the Flawless Diamonds, Curt Hennig tells DDP to step forward and report on the US title match... but the US champ falls forward, bound and gagged! Hennig order the intruder to show himself... but nobody answers. He climbs down from his pulpit and pulls the gag out of DDP's mouth, ordering him to tell him what happened, but DDP can only cough. Hennig inspects the rag... and see it's a T-shirt with Sting's scorpion emblem on it!

A familiar voice seems to come from every direction at once. "My old friend Barry sniffed out your little hiding spot, Hennig. Now I know all your secrets. Your plans, your weaknesses. But you? You don't even know what I am anymore. By the time you see me coming... it'll be too late. Remember, Sting is watching."

Hennig is livid. "So, you want a war, Sting? I ALREADY KILLED YOUR PRECIOUS HORSEMEN! I DROVE YOUR BEST FRIEND LUGER OFF THE EDGE! BUT NOW YOU WANT A WAR WITH THE FLAWLESS DIAMONDS!?"" Hall interrupts his boss's rant, asking him what the hell happened to Page, but Hennig ignores him. "Take a message to Rude. I told him I'd consent to defend my AWA title if he booked the matches with Windham and Scorpio. Now tell him I want my opponent to be Sting. He wants to be an Icon? I'll make him a MARTYR! This little rebellion of his is going to end RIGHT NOW!" Hall leaves immediately as Hennig stands over DDP seething with rage.

***

The Main Event! King William Regal and Lex Luger vs Ric Flair and Randy Savage! We start off with Luger and Flair, but the cocky Lex backs off and immediately tags in Regal, causing Flair to hesitate. Regal does not, and immediately gets the upper hand, tossing Flair into the ropes and layign into him. Flair responds by wrapping his arms around the top rope, using his shoulder to protect his face until the ref counts the break. Regal immediatly renews the attack, but realizes Flair is using the ropes as a five-count shield to inch towards his corner!

Regal quickly tags in Luger, and Flair's temper gets the better of him as he forgets Savage to deliver Luger a running clothesline! Luger responds by quickly tagging Regal back in and rolling out. Flair gives chase... only to recieve a stiff elbow shot from the champ. Regal follows with a bulldog, and a nasty knuckle drop. Regal taunts Savage as he pins Flair. 1! 2! FOOT ON THE ROPE! Regal pulls Flair away and goes for another pin, but this time Savage breaks up the pinfall! The ref herds Savage back to his corner... allowing Luger to roll back in and double-team Flair! Regal makes the tag and Lex drops a leg on Flair, then goes for the pin. 1! 2! Kick Out! Luger argues with the ref, allowing Flair to sweeps Luger's legs out from under him, and lock in the Figure Four!

Luger manages to get the rope break, but Flair makes the hot tag to Savage! One clothesline, two, three, and Luger is down! Savage follows with a double stomp and goes for the pin! 1...2...kick out! He picks up Luger and gives him a sidewalk slame... and Luger covertly rakes the eyes to escape! Luger makes the tag and Regal charges... right into Savage's fist! Savage starts getting hyped up and climbs the top rope for the Flying Elbow! BUT LUGER PULLS REGAL OUT OF THE WAY! Savage lands hard, and Regal makes the tag to Luger. The Nature Boy is ready and waiting, but Lex falls on Savage pounding him into the mat... until he eats a kick to the temple! Savage gets to Flair's hand, and Flair charges to the enemy corner, knocking a dazed Regal over... and Luger is there to catch him in a military press slam! He picks Flair up for the Torture Rack, but Flair begins to fights free! He Irish Whips Luger, looking for another clothesline... and Regal pushes the ref in the way! The ref hits Flair and Luger hits them both!

Savage goes running around the ring for Regal and they start brawling. Meanwhile, Flair is staggered, the ref is out... and Lex Luger hits a low blow! Flair topples over and Luger scrambles for the pin. The ref crawls over, One... two........ three! Savage is in disbelief, and Luger and Regal are your winners!

***

An irrate Savage grabs the ref and starts screaming about the low blow and the slow count while Flair reels in pain, but the ref isn't in the mood after the accidental body blow and tells Savage to get out of the ring. Luger goes to taunt Savage, but Savage responds with a lariat over the top rope! He checks on Flair, and Luger and Regal take advantage by running in and starting a brawl! Then the Diamond's Theme hits, and Hennig comes out, title in hand and Hall and Nash at his side to back up Regal and Luger! The Nature Boy and Macho Man get hounded to the center of the ring, and the five men surround them. Savage and Flair look ready to fight to the finish, standing back-to-back fists up... when suddenly the lights start to dim, and then go out!

After a moment of confusion a spotlight shines on the rafters... and we see Sting! A mechanical apparatus of some sort allows him to rappel down from the top of the arena! The heels are stunned as he pulls out a baseball bat from inside a long black cloak and charges the ring! The weapon and the three good guys working together clears the ring! As the villains retreat, Sting sets his sights on the Flawless Diamond himself, pointing his bat as Hennig clutches the AWA title like a shield. The announce team are going nuts as Nitro goes off the air.

***

This show as an interesting beast. The promos and vinettes, especially Luger's speech and Sting's big rope stunt were absolutely bananas, and the Main Event was easily PPV caliber. But so much of the wrestling was dead on arrival to the fans regardless of the quality of the action. Still, their stars are burning brighter than ever and their storylines are keeping the audience engaged even if they're not into the action. I'd give this episode an overall B, it officially set up almost the whole Bash at the Beach card and all the character stuff was just riveting.

quote:

I have been bombarded with questions since I offered myself to the world on the Internet. This is proof of the ECW worldwide fanbase! Cyberslam '97 will be the greatest event in the history of professional wrestling. In deference to the fan base of both ECW and myself, I have chosen to answer a few of the best questions here. My wisdom will surely enlighten you.

Q: What are your goals?

A: Any man who is involved in business, whether it be of the monetary or the violent type (which, indeed, can often be one and the same), must only have one goal in mind: power. To paraphrase one of my favorite philosophers, you gotta get the money, then you get the power, then you get... the gold. To one with a mind of the caliber of mine, the truth should be self-evident, that all men crave power equally. Thus my primary goal is manifest.

Those that I formerly called my friends understood this, but they do not any longer! I have come to ECW to find those that do understand, but I am not prepared to reveal such information on my findings at this time. Suffice it to say, if you do not follow these truths and take them to heart in this new era, you deserve not the association or guidance of mine. I will proudly lead those who do follow my philosophy to success and also bring success to Extreme Championship Wrestling the likes of which has never been encountered.

Q: What does the future hold for Tommy Dreamer?

A: I have paid much attention to Tommy Dreamer. The fire he possesses, if harnessed properly, would make him one of the biggest stars in this sport. But tied down to his ideals, his friendships, his friendship with the utterly inferior Billy Kidman... my stance on friends such as him has always been clear. You must either dump them... or get rid of them! No, I do not foresee success for Tommy Dreamer in the future. You saw what happened to him at International Incident! It is clear to everyone what happened, he was out-manipulated by a master manipulator in the admirable Paul E. Dangerously and defeated by a one-of-a-kind talent in Kurt Angle. Paul E. Dangerously, now there is a man who embodies everything that I stand for!

Like many before him, Tommy Dreamer will never reach the final apex of the trajectory of superstardom. I cannot deny his popularity among certain, less enlightened segments of the population, but I can deny the possibility of his success in ECW. He will never win a championship in ECW. He will never be as successful as one without morals, integrity, or friendship.

Q: What if my name was Btamdo?

A: I would have to question the wisdom of your parents, who having given you a name like that are most likely among those who would follow Tommy Dreamer. You would do wise to avoid them at any cost.

Remember, send your questions to me at mrdotcom2000@gmail.com. If you are lucky you may be chosen for enlightenment by me, <redacted>.

xXxFrAnChIsE420xXx@mr.com posted:

Yo I went to that ECW show and it was sweet. I was cheering, yelling and getting with it like those TV crowds but man these people tonight wheren't feeling it, wheren't as fun. Still it was a sick night.

"Hello everyone! This is E! C! W!" Joey Styles was in the ring for the start of the show. "And by popular demand after International Incident, today, we're bringing hardcore wrestling right here to Newark! But I don't think you've waited months to see me. Please welcome the ECW World Heavyweight Champion, the one and only, the Franchise: Shane Douglas!"

Shane Douglas, the conquering hero of ECW, slowly made his way down to the ring while Perfect Strangers blared over the PA. He proudly held up his secure championship belt to cheers. "Cut the goddamn music!" It stopped. "I have been the ECW champion for over a year and I am not stopping any time soon! I am the greatest wrestler in this company, in this sport, in the world today! Kurt Angle, you won the gauntlet, get the gently caress out here because I got something to say to you right now!"

Kurt Angle stood at the top of the ramp with Born in the USA blasting. He was holding a videotape in one hand and a microphone in the other, ready to respond. Shane was still screaming, "No no no, cut his drat music too and don't say a word! Angle, you had a shot at me before and you *failed*. We proved your pedigree doesn't mean poo poo in this sport and we proved it in the ring!

"The Franchise has defended his title against contenders from around the world. What've you done in ECW? You beat a broken-down cage fighter from Up North and the New Japan B-team! Only once have you faced someone with the capabilities of the Franchise, someone with the willingness to be as *extreme* as he needs. Only once have you faced Shane Douglas, and you lost just like everyone else."

Shane and Angle had a staredown, ring to stage. Angle broke it by speaking. "Are you done? I liked your speech, it was very... motivational." Angle nodded. "Sounded more like you were motivating yourself to me, but I liked it. You know, when I won... my gold medal..." (boooooooooooooo) "...one of the most important things you could do was scout your opponent and learn from what he does."

He headed down to the ring. "I mentioned that to Paul E., in fact. He said it was a fantastic idea and gave me a box of videotapes... of nothing but your matches here in ECW! And I watched them all. I know more about your fighting style than I do about my own! You may be in for a tougher match than you think, Shane. Oh! Paul E. wanted me to give you something."

Angle handed Shane the videotape. "He wanted to make the playing field... fair. Here are all of my professional wrestling matches, a $29.95 value, on one video cassette. You'll get all the hits! Angle vs. Kidman, Angle vs. Douglas, Angle vs. Shamrock, Angle vs. Sasaki... think that's about it." He snapped from funny to serious as fast as Stone Cold. "I've learned a lot about both you and extreme since our last match. You think it's going to be as 'easy' as before, you're dead wrong."

Joey Styles took over after another pause. "Well, with that we've got to take a break but stay tuned because up next we've got some hardcore action that you're only gonna find in ECW!"

---

Following that we had Super Nova and Mikey Whipwreck coming out. They didn't have their flashly BMPT entrance, no music, no blue lights, hell both of them where just in their slacks. Crowd was chanting "Where's the Meanie!?" at the pair, which Nova hushed when he grabbed a mic.

"Alright settle down... now we ain't going to try to bullshit you with nothing. We know our fans and we know you're too smart to try to pull the wool over their eyes so let's just lay it out... Meanie ain't doing too hot at the moment. He's got some personal demons he has to face at the moment and he's going to be out of action for a while. I know we try to be fun and games most of the time, but tonight we're sending out thoughts and best wishes out to the Me-"

Hello... ladies! Val Venis' music hit and Val and Jenna Jameson came down the ramp, shooing the Power Trip out of the ring. "Nova! Mikey! Didn't you hear what Joey said a few minutes ago? These people paid to see *hardcore* action and you didn't. And me and Jenna, we're the definition of hardcore, baby. So why don't you take your stupid little vaudeville act and move along, I mean, I don't need to spend all my cash on blow... I got enough right here..." and he motions to Jenna (boooooooooooo) "... get out of our ring... before we send the collection agency after you."

The Blue Man Power Trip, or their two remaining members at least, backed out of the ring.

With the ring cleared out, Ricky Banderas came down the ramp and the bell rang with him and Val in the ring!

This match was a slaughter. Val clobbered Banderas, putting him right down to the mat. He picked him up, putting his head between his legs, and nailed the spinout powerbomb! Banderas didn't get any offense in at all with Venis beating him to hell. Val grabbed him into the front facelock and flipped him over for the bridging fisherman suplex for the pin! That took all of two or three minutes.

---

"Joey Styles here with your new ECW Television Champion, the man who some say could be the next great superstar of wrestling and... others... said could be the next Mantaur, Adam Copeland! Adam, now that you're the television champion, what are your plans for the future? What's next for you?"

Joey held the mic to Copeland. "There's only one thing I want more than this world television championship. I want the big prize, the world *heavyweight* championship. I don't care whether I have to go through Shane Douglas, Kurt Angle, or anyone else. I will keep improving and keep winning because that's what I do best. I'm a man on a mission and that mission is to be so dominant here in ECW that Paul E. will have no choice but to give me a shot at that championship. Make it so the fans won't let him give it to anyone else. One shot's all I need to prove myself to the world."

Joey took the mic back. "Well, you're in for a tough one tonight, since Brian Lee invoked his rematch clause earlier today and you're set to take him on again tonight after your victory at International Incident! Let's not forget that last week you nearly took his head off with a Barbed Wire Conchairto! Got any other special surprises in store for him?"

Adam Copeland laughed. "You'll just have to watch and find out."

---

But before that, Billy Kidman was taking on Lance Diamond! Diamond came out first, showered with boos on his way to the ring. The high-flying Kidman came out second, springboarding into the ring and immediately eating a superkick from Diamond as the bell rang that sent him flat on his back.

Kidman quickly kipped up, hitting Diamond with a headscissors takedown that sent him rolling out of the ring! He kept it up by going for a springboard crossbody on Diamond outside... but he caught him and powerbombed Kidman onto the concrete! He tried to get Kidman up onto his shoulders for the Simonizer DDT but Kidman managed to get off his back and dropkick him into the guardrail.

Kidman went back into the ring with Diamond following him. Kidman was too fast for Diamond as he made it up to the top rope, coming off it at Diamond... but Diamond caught him with the flying cutter and Kidman went down! 1, 2, Kidman kicked out! Diamond laid on him with some mat work but the quick Kidman made it out, once again going to the top rope for a missile dropkick that laid out Simon Diamond! One standing shooting star press later and it was over, 1, 2, 3. Billy Kidman beats Simon Diamond with the missile dropkick and standing shooting star press.

Billy Kidman was on his way back up the ramp when the Pitbulls came out of nowhere to descend on Tommy Dreamer's tag partner! He flew at Pitbull #1 to give him a headscissors takedown into Pitbull A but he ended up getting caught and powerbombed. The two Pitbulls worked him over! "Where are you, Dreamer?" Francine yelled.

And just then Dreamer came out of the crowd furiously attacking the Pitbulls! He hit Pitbull A with a DDT onto the concrete and shoved Pitbull #1 into the crowd! Francine called the dogs off. "You're gonna get what's coming, Tommy! Nobody is taking these tag titles from us!" she yelled as she headed up the ramp again. Dreamer helped Kidman, holding his leg, away.

---

And now, it's time for the main event! Brian Lee challenging Adam Copeland to a rematch for the ECW World Television Title! Lee, the challenger, was out first and got booed and hard. Copeland was out second and was loudly cheered by the appreciative ECW crowd proud that their guy finally won his title belt.

Brian Lee came out swinging, forgoing the standard lockup to go right into the "beat the poo poo out of each other" phase of the match. This looked like something out of early '90s Japan! He picked Copeland up, giving him Snake Eyes on the turnbuckle. Lee had new fire tonight! He really wanted that belt back.

Copeland was getting hammered but he still managed to get some distance from Lee with a quick dropkick. He went outside to grab a chair... but Lee rolled out and followed him! He flung Copeland into the guardrail, pushing it back a few inches. Lee grabbed the folding chair and just whiffed taking Copeland's head off with it, the chair slamming against the guardrail with a sickening crash!

Copeland found a fire extinguisher under the ring and he blew it at Lee, making him stagger back. He nailed Lee in the stomach with it, making him double over, letting Copeland get the front facelock, jump up, and nail him with a lifting DDT! (The TV announcers called it the Crescendo.) Adam Copeland climbed onto the apron... He jumped to land a senton but Lee had his knees up! Copeland bounced and ate the guardrail.

Lee got to his feet, throwing Copeland into the ring. He kicked his back and kneeled over him, locking in the arms for the camel clutch! Copeland was stuck in the middle of the ring and he had it locked in! Copeland was in that hold for a long time and Lee started cranking his back even more! But through strength and will he got one of his arms out, powering out of the submission hold! He got to a knee and tossed Lee off his back!

And not just that, he rolled over and grabbed Lee's legs before he knew what hit him! And he was trying to get him into submission hold of his own: the kneeling inverted Sharpshooter! (The TV guys called it the Canadian Coda.) It took all his strength but he got the much larger Lee turned over and locked it in! After the punishment of the previous match, he couldn't take it and he tapped out, clean in the middle of the ring.

No sooner did Adam Copeland submit Brian Lee than Al Snow came out from under the ring! He took the exhausted Copeland by surprise and nailed him with Head, sending him down to the mat! Satisfied, Snow stood over the prone Brian Lee, looking at him carefully.

Snow spoke with Head. He seemed to nod in agreement with whatever it was saying. He picked Lee up, putting his massive body over his shoulder like a corpse. The lights went out... an evil laugh played over the PA... and they came back up again. Copeland was still down in the ring... but Al Snow and Brian Lee had disappeared!

I thought this show was ball kicking awesome! But it's like I said, crowd was lively but not hot as hell and it ruined it a bit, I give it an (E-)C(-D+UB).

Happyman posted:

Living the Dream: ECW officials are said to be impressed with Tommy Dreamer's performance at International Incident. He wrestled against Masato Tanaka and later against Kurt Angle, taking some severe bumps for almost 40 minutes total. Dreamer might be in line for a push in the future.

Chicago Made Poster Usenet Report posted:

Raw came live from Chicago tonight, and I was right there watching!

Before the show, Ted DiBiase got comfortable in the empty seat left by Piper on commentary, and I think he might be there to stay.

As the show opened, Austin was in the ring with a mic. "Last week I victory stolen right outta my drat hands! I was right on the verge of beating that little sumbitch Owen once and for all, and what did he do? He got a bullshit rollup! Now, all you cats know ol' Stone Cold won't stand for that! I want a drat rematch! This time, it'll be rock god drat solid when I win, because I want a 2 Out Of 3 Falls match! No bullshit this time around, there will be a definite winner!"
Austin was on fire tonight, and the crowd really responded.

Pan-Am Title Match: Mark Henry vs IRS, Henry wins. They don't click. As they were wrestling, commentary mused over how long Henry's streak is getting.

HHH and Pillman approach DiBiase about getting spots in Money In The Bank. "Both of you? That gives me an idea. how do you feel about taking on 3 other tag teams for the chance to get that case?" "We'll take 'em just fine, Ted! Just let us at 'em!"

--

Backstage, Dave Taylor and Godfather begin to perform a voodoo resurrection ceremony on the Undertaker, with JR saying we plan to rejoin them later tonight and see how their attempt is going.


The Power Trip (HHH and Pillman) vs The Odd Couple (Funk and Backlund) vs The Trailblazers (Stevie Ray and Nishimura) vs The Headshrinkers (Fatu and Samu).
Winners go on to participate in the Money in the Bank match.

Match starts off with HHH and Stevie Ray, who exchange punches in the middle of the ring. When Stevie looks to be gaining the upper hand in the fist fight, HHH blocks a punch and whips Stevie towards the ropes, where he gets a blind tag from Fatu. Fatu enters the ring, clotheslines both HHH and Stevie to the mat, and works over HHH with some headbutts. HHH stumbles backwards into a corner, earning a brief reprieve from Fatu's onslaught as Funk tags himself in and surprises the Headshrinker with a quick jab to the throat. Funk whips Fatu into the Trailblazers corner and dares Nishimura to tag himself in. Nishimura obliges and as soon as he tags himself in, the match spirals out of control. Backlund enters the ring and rushes Nishimura along with Funk, but a groggy Stevie is not far behind as he comes to Nishimura's aid. The four brawling in the ring becomes six as the Headshrinkers join in the fun. HHH and Pillman look at each other and shrug, going between the ropes to enter the fight but then go back outside the ring thinking better of it. The Trailblazers and the Odd Couple's brawl spills outside the ring and soon into the crowd, as the stressed referee declares Headshrinker Samu and Pillman the legal men in the match. Staying out of the huge brawl proves advantageous to Pillman as he outmanoeuvres the tired Samu and eventually hits Air Pillman for the win.

After the match, Backlund (w/ Funk) calls out Taz. "Your suplexes and that "Taz-mission" won't be worth crap against Mister Bob Backlund and his CROSS FACE CHICKEN WING! I want you in an old fashioned, down home, pure rules wrestling match! No chairshots, no punches to the face, just submission wrestling!"

Taz, backed up by the rest of the Trailblazers, comes out to accept the challenge, "I accept your match. It don't matter what rules you make, when you're in the ring with me, there is no surviving what I'll put you through!" Taz and the Trailblazers turn to leave but Taz pauses for a moment. "It's odd. Backlund explained why he's taking that scumbag's money and that makes sense because he's batshit enough to believe any lie that gets thrown at him... but you haven't said a drat thing, Funk. Why would a man like you even associate yourself with DiBiase?"

Funk just sits by Backlund in silence as Stevie Ray chuckles, "Don't sweat it on this sucka, Taz. When I'm through with him at Money in the Bank 2, he won't be so tightlipped. If he's taking DiBiase's money, then it won't take a whole lot to get this fool to spill his money-grubbing guts." Funk looks taken aback for a moment but his face returns to a stone-cold glare as he takes the mic from Backlund. "Let me tell you, son; when you're lying in the hospital bed and every inch of your body is wracked with pain, just remember that you asked for it."

--

Skunkrocker vs Ahmed Johnson. Scotty Bollea attempts to interfere in the match but is blinded by a Skunk Spray from Skunkrocker. While the ref isn't looking, Bollea mistakes Ahmed for Skunk and headbutts him. As Ahmed recovers from the headbutt, Skunk seizes the opportunity and hits the Stinkbomb for the win. These guys also don't click, and the crowd hated it.

Rocky Maivia confronts Box Office Bossman backstage about interfering in his match at King Of The Ring, challenges him to a match. Bossman accepts, and when Rocky turns away, Bossman whacks him with the Nightstick, knocking him out.

--

Vince McMahon catches Goldust and Ted DiBiase backstage, and dresses them down. "Goldust, you human piece of garbage, in all my years in this company I have never seen anything as absolutely vile as the way you retained that title at King Of The Ring. So you know what? I don't care about any phony injuries, I don't care about your empty threats, I am putting my foot DOWN! At Money In The Bank 2, your entire entourage is BANNED FROM RINGSIDE! If I see so much as a glimpse of any member of your gaggle of cronies, I will come down to the ring myself and strip you of that WWF title! Do I make myself clear?"

Goldust stammers a bit. "I... You... You don't... you can't..."

"OH I DO, I CAN, AND I WILL! I AM SICK AND GOD DAMNED TIRED OF BEING PUSHED AROUND BY THE LIKES OF YOU, BRIAN PILLMAN, AND ANY OTHER CHAMPION WHO TRIES TO WIGGLE OUT OF THEIR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AS A HOLDER OF A WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION CHAMPIONSHIP! YOU JUST TRY ME! JUST TRY ME! AND THAT MEANS YOU TOO, TED! I WILL BE WATCHING YOU LIKE A GODDAMN HAWK AND IF YOU EVEN TRY TO STAND UP FROM YOUR SEAT AT COMMENTARY I WILL END YOUR CONTRACT WITH THIS COMPANY!"

With that, Vince stormed off in a huff.

Then Kazuya Okada came out with Ted DiBiase by his side for a match against Tracy Smothers. Okada is in full control throughout the match with poor Smothers unable to get the momentum on his side. As the match was progressing Stan Hansen took up DiBiase's empty seat on the commentary desk, talking up how much he respects Okada's pure skill which made Okada's attitude and mentoring from Ted DiBiase all that more lamentable. Okada ends the match quickly with the Rainmaker lariat and gets the pinfall victory.

HBK pre-taped promo with Jericho. Michaels and Jericho are lounging around at a beach, HBK talking about not needing to train or prepare for the Money in the Bank ladder match since all of the other participants are a bunch of losers. "I mean come on, Hakushi? What's he ever done? And I've shown you all what I can do to Mick Foley. No matter who joins them, I've got this in the bag."

--

Cactus Jack promo. "You know, when people think of Chicago, they think of the great Chicago fire of 1871! But tonight, when Mrs. Foley's Baby Boy starts a fire in this city, it won't kill up to 300 people, but it'll light this entire arena up! And if anyone knows fire, it's that demon in the back! So come out, Kane, and show me what you've got!"

As DiBiase returned to his commentary desk, Kane came out for his match with Cactus Jack. It's a close match between the two, but the tide turns in Foley's favor when the resurrected Undertaker emerges from under the ring, startling Kane enough for Foley to lock in the Double Arm DDT for the win.

After Goldust has entered for his match, British Bulldog begins to enter, Bret Hart by his side holding a mic. As Bulldog finishes up his entrance, Bret begins to speak.

"Before your match tonight, Goldust, I'd just like to say something. You've been making these veiled threats about your father, but you've never spoken his name out loud. I know why, Goldust. Dusty Rhodes, the American Dream, the Son Of A Plumber himself stood for everything you don't. And the one person he detested more than anyone else in the WWF was Ted DiBiase. Goldust, I just want you to know you're shaming your family every minute you hold that title and stand next to Ted DiBiase."

Goldust responded curtly, dropping the usual Goldust voice.

"Bret. At least my father has something to shame. Your father never did anything worth remembering. When the children of tomorrow open up the history books and turn to Stu Hart, all they'll see is 'The Man Whose Son Lost To Goldust'. Stampede Wrestling was a joke, and now it's a dead joke. And all the Hart Dungeon was ever good for was beating up the clergy. So yeah, I don't care about soiling my father's legacy, because at least my father has a legacy to soil."

Bret slapped Goldust across the face, the smack audible from the back seats, and the reaction audible from all the way up on the upper peninsula as the crowd just exploded. Goldust just smiled, and turned the other cheek.

"Is this what you want, Bret? You want honorable? I can play honorable. You want respectful? I can show all the respect you want. But when we're in that ring, all that matters is this title. This one gold belt. Because that's one more than Stu Hart ever won!"

Bret just went off, lunging at Goldust before the ref was able to get between them and eject Bret from ringside, the enraged Hart spewing invective all the way up the ramp as about 3 or 4 trainers dragged him away. This feud is hot as gently caress, and I can't wait for their match.

Our main event was Goldust vs British Bulldog. Goldust played the weaselly heel here, evading Bulldog's offense and trying to wear him down as Ted DiBiase cheered him on from commentary. Eventually, Jim Cornette emerged from the crowd, and cracked Bulldog on the back with his racket while the ref was dealing with Goldust, allowing Goldust to take advantage and win.

There were some hot, hot promos tonight, and the dual main events were solid, making this a B show. If those two undercard matches had better chemistry, this might have been a B+.

CaptainYesterday posted:

World Championship Wrestling proudly presents Bash at the Beach '97!

FOR THE WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
King William Regal (c) vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage

FOR THE AWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Curt Hennig (c) vs. Sting

FOR THE WCW UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
Diamond Dallas Page (c) vs. Glacier

FORMER HORSEMEN COLLIDE
"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs. "The Total Package" Lex Luger

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS VS. HIGH FLYERS
Hulk Hogan and Meng vs. Eddy Guerrero and WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Misterio, Jr.

WORLD CUP OF WRESTLING - CAPTAIN'S MATCH
The Giant vs. the Great Muta

WORLD CUP OF WRESTLING - CAPTAIN'S MATCH
Chris Benoit vs. Konnan

A CALL TO ARMS
Scott Hall vs. Barry Windham

THE BATTLE OF DETROIT ROOTS
Rick Steiner vs. Ron Simmons

YOUNG GUNS STEP UP
Flawless Diamonds (Kevin Nash, WCW Television Champion Raven, and Madusa) vs. Team X-treme

CALL YOUR CABLE OR SATELLITE PROVIDER TODAY!

Chicago Made Poster posted:

Also, I caught Shotgun.

Shotgun opens backstage with Sato telling Shamrock and Jimmy Hart that he feels like he's holding Shamrock back. Despite their protests, Sato says he needs to train himself to be at the same level as Shamrock but promises that the Legion of Violence will return.

Vic Venom and the Immortal Powers laugh at the news of the Legion of Violence breaking up. Stevie Poffo attempts to challenge Sato to a match but is constantly interuptted by Scotty Bollea. Stevie gives up as Scotty Bollea issues a challenge to Sato.

Sato Shigeki vs Scotty Bollea, Sato pins Bollea

Pretape: Godfather, Dave Taylor and Undertaker celebrate the Undertaker's rebirth

Gene Okerlund interviews Steve Corino before his match. Asks how Corino feels about DiBiase effectly replacing him with Okada. Corino is oblivious to Okerlund's assertions and boasts that he's still the Million Dollar Prospect.

Osamu Nishimura vs Steve Corino, Osamu submits Corino. Corino comes out without DiBiase and looks distressed throughout the match.

Pretape: Mick Foley talks about Money In The Bank 2

Dirty Dutch and the Dudleyz cut a promo about giving the Hardyz a shot at the champs tonight, but not a shot at the titles. The Hardyz are unproven, they don't deserve to take on champs just yet."

Non-Title Dudleyz vs Hardys, Jeff rolls up D-Von

Jeff cuts a promo. "You know what I think, Dirty Dutch? I think that's proof enough! Next week, bring your tables, and the Hardyz will win those tag team titles!"

Owen squashes a jobber

CaptainYesterday posted:

World Championship Wrestling proudly presents Bash at the Beach '97!

FOR THE WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
King William Regal (c) vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage

FOR THE AWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Curt Hennig (c) vs. Sting

FOR THE WCW UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
Diamond Dallas Page (c) vs. Glacier

FORMER HORSEMEN COLLIDE
"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs. "The Total Package" Lex Luger

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS VS. HIGH FLYERS
Hulk Hogan and Meng vs. Eddy Guerrero and WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Misterio, Jr.

WORLD CUP OF WRESTLING - CAPTAIN'S MATCH
The Giant vs. the Great Muta

WORLD CUP OF WRESTLING - CAPTAIN'S MATCH
Chris Benoit vs. Konnan

A CALL TO ARMS
Scott Hall vs. Barry Windham

THE BATTLE OF DETROIT ROOTS
Rick Steiner vs. Ron Simmons

YOUNG GUNS STEP UP
Flawless Diamonds (Kevin Nash, WCW Television Champion Raven, and Madusa) vs. Team X-treme

CALL YOUR CABLE OR SATELLITE PROVIDER TODAY!