- As I said, I take a break from my trek thru the
WrestleMania's to do a rant on a tape I picked up this week, "Spring
Stampede 1999," Probably the last GOOD WCW PPV to date. Lets see how it
turns out, shall we? (That places this as originally written in early
June 2000)
- BTW, I use this system: ***** - Excellent **** - Great ***
- Good **- Okay * - Decent DUD - Awful.
- Decent video to open up.
- Live From Tacoma Washington, with a hot crowd.
- Your Hosts are Tony, Bobby, and Mike. Bobby seems drunk.
- Gene hypes the Hotline, and the show.
- Opening Match: Blitzkrieg vs. Juvi: Winner gets a
Cruiserweight title match on Nitro the next night. Remember when that belt
MEANT something? Good pop for Juvi, as he makes his way out. They shake hands
to start, and they trade some wrestling stuff, getting the crowd into it. I
thought Vince Russo says fans hate wrestling? How can our uni-brow leader be
wrong? Both get a few two counts off roll ups, and then both do a kick ass
flying sequence. Juvi comes back with HARD chops, and hits a head scissors. The
crowd is HOT tonight! Blitz takes a page form Muta, and hits a backspring
elbow, and hammers him. Juvi comes back, almost rioting the crowd with joy. I
don't know why they don't hold more shows here. Juvi dives OVER the top
(without touching it) and hits a spear. Back inside, and Juvi hits a hard
suplex for two. Juvi locks on a surfboard, b ut Blitz breaks out, and lands on
top for 2. He chops Juvi VICIOUSLY, and then works a corner sequence you have
to see to appreciate. Juvi ends up on the floor, and Blitz heads up, but Juvi
bails. He heads up again, and dives, but Juvi drop-kicks him, and his head
nearly CRACKS on the floor. That was BRUTAL! They both stay down, and then Juvi
puts him back in. "Juvi Driver" chant. Weird to hear. Blitz reverses
out of a slam, and arm drags him. Juvi bails again, and Blitz hits a moonsault
by springboarding from the top. He tries a powerbomb, and they go into a long
reversal sequence, ending with Juvi reverse bulldoging him. He puts him up top,
and they screw up, allowing Blitz to drop on him. He goes up, and misses a
sky-twister, and tries a Juvi Driver, but gets cradled for two. They go up, and
Blitz hits a victory roll type move for 2. Up again, but Juvi escapes, and Juvi
Drivers him from the top. WHOA! He almost killed him. That gets 3 at 11:11, and
huge pop. **** 1/4, great match!
- Hardcore Match, Bam Bam Bigalow vs. Hak: Hak is the
Sandman, and has Chastity. Highlights of the feud, including the wild 3-man
with Raven that went all over the place. Bam Bam brings a crate of plunder, and
they start in the isle. Vicious garbage can shot by Hak, and they brawl to the
Spring Stampede set (which includes some "old west" props. Hak sets
up a table, and lays Bigalow out on it. He climbs a Stagecoach, and hits a Senton
bomb onto him, breaking the table. During this, Chastity throws Plunder in the
ring. Bam Bam gives him a hard table shot, and beats him back to the ring area.
Luckily they actually brawl back, as opposed to "pulling hair" back.
After a hard shot to the crate, Bam Bam breaks a crutch on him, and controls.
Hak props a table on the ring and guard rail, but Bam Bam goes to work with
weapons, getting the crowd INTO THIS MATCH, as they are all night tonight. He
hits him pretty stiffly too. Hak goes out, and finds a ladder, but AGAIN
Bigalow gets control when he comes back in. He lifts the ladder, but Hak
drop-kicks it on him. He places it on him, and hits another Senton bomb onto
it. If this were 2000 this would be for the Hardcore Belt, but it wasn't made
yet. Hak brings ANOTHER table in the ring, and a guard rail. Hak goes to work,
and climbs the ladder, but Bam Bam tips him off, and he falls thru the table
that was propped up outside. Bam Bam then controls with some great shots on
Hak. Hak comes back, and Russian leg sweeps him to the rail. Ouch. They go up
top, and Bam Bam hits the Greetings From Asbury Park thru a table, and onto a
Fire Extinguisher, for 3 at 11:33. Wow! ****, they WORKED HARD tonight! (This
was actually pretty damn good, but not four-stars level good. That’s just
insanity)
- Scotty Riggs vs. Mikey Whipwreck: Riggs is doing a
Rick Rude/Val Venis shtick, with hip gyrations and all, but tries too hard to
do the gimmick right, looking like an idiot. Lex Luger (in 1993), and Rick Rude
do it best. Crowd doesn't give a crap about Mikey, OR Riggs. Anyway, Mikey
controls early on, and isn't too bad in there, being a house of fire. He has
the advantage for a LONG time, BTW. Mikey dives over the top, and rana's him.
That was sweet, albeit looked uninspired. Riggs then knocks him off, and
Whipwreck viciously hits his head on the rail, so Riggs puts on the boots. He
controls for a while, and tries to pin him with one finger. It gets ONE, BTW.
Loud boring chant ensues, I mean REALLY loud. So how does Scotty respond?
Applies a chinlock. Mikey comes back, with a big drop-kick, and a Russian Leg sweep
for a few 2 counts. He continues to control, with for stuff for 2. Scotty with
a flying forearm for 3, at 7:03. Boring, but it wasn't BAD or anything. ** 1/2.
- Konnan vs. Disco Inferno: This should drag the show
down. This was the famous "Disco invades Konnan's music video" angle.
K-Dogg looks like SUCH an idiot, BTW. Disco has the "Urban Cowboy"
look tonight. Konnan makes fun of Disco's camouflage pants, even though HE too
is wearing camouflage pants. Disco controls early, to great heat. Man crowd is
even into THIS. K-Dogg with a big bulldog, and a drop-kick, then stomps a
mudhole. Disco comes back off a back elbow, but K-Dogg with a flying armdrag.
Another back elbow turns the tide, and he drops the HOT crowd off, by locking a
chinlock. The announcers gets into a dumb ass conversation about Disco
Inferno's dancing and singing ability. Oy Vey. Big neckbreaker gets 2, and he
goes back to the chinlock. Criss cross sequence ends with Konnan hitting a hip
toss, and he controls on the floor. Inferno comes back yet again, and hits a
fist drop for two. He misses an elbow from the 2nd rope, and they trade
punches, leading to the rolling clothesline by Dogg, and a cradle DDT for 2.
That was sweet! Another cool roll up gets two for Konnan, and Disco hits a swinging
neckbreaker for 2. Konnan hits the Last Dance (Stunner) for 3 at 9:17, and a
big pop. Too much resting, but it was pretty good. ** 3/4.
- WCW Cruiserweight title: Rey Mysterio, Jr. vs. Kidman:
This came off a really great match at Nitro, and they were the Tag Team champs
at this point, but were facing for the Cruiser belt anyway. Rey needs his mask
back. Like I said earlier, remember when GOOD matches were happening for this
belt. They start wrestling, and do a bunch of cool flip around spots. Mysterio
hits a head scissors, and show boats to a big pop. Kidman hits one of his own,
and then backdrops him to the floor, HARD. Sweet! Kidman hits a hits cross
body, but then gets shot to the railing. Kidman drops him jaw first to the
rail, and then slingshots off the rail for a leg drop. Kidman dumps him in, and
hooks a chinlock. Luckily, it's short, and they go back to flying around. Rey
dumps him to the floor, and moonsaults him, but Kidman catches him, and they do
a sweet reversal spot on the floor, and Rey bumps on the steps by accident.
Crowd is pretty quiet for whatever reason. AMAZING "ass bomb" spot,
by Rey, and a Lion-sault. Rey tries a rana, but Kidman hits a running
powerbomb, as Bobby won't speak because Tony made fun of him. I think he
genuinely hurt his feelings there. Big powerbomb by Billy for 2. Kidman slides
him out, for a big bump, in a cool spot. He hits a running shooting star press
on the floor, and they re-enter. Kidman plants him, and goes up top, and dives,
but a drop-kick by Rey stops THAT. It gets two. He controls for a bit,
including a MAJOR bulldog from the top for two. Kidman comes back with a
powerslam for two, and he goes to a chinlock. Rey comes back with a clothesline
to the floor, and Summersaults to the floor. Back in, and Mysterio leaps thru
the air, but Billy hits a clothesline, and we go back to a chinlock. Rey nails
a huge rana for 2, and now REY hooks a chinlock. Rey misses a blind charge and
hits post, allowing Kidman to take control, but Rey hits a stuff X-factor. Kidman
with a pedigree, and a Shooting Star Press is coming, but Rey follows up, so
Kidman sunset flips into a powerbombs for two. Whoa. Rey takes him up, and
bulldogs him off the top. I LOVE that spot. He gets a two count off of it. They
trade offense for a bit, and Rey Rey nearly takes his head off with a leg drop.
Moonsault gets two, and Rey tries a powerbomb... BUT you can't powerbomb Kidman
(TM). Another Press attempt stopped by Rey, and he hits a rana off the top for
three, at 15:32. Crowd got excited when the Shooting Star Press was called, but
was pretty quiet for the rest. Still, *** 3/4. *UPDATE!!!!: I re-watched it,
and I have to lower it to ** 3/4, I was way off the first time!* (I
gave it three-stars in the BUExperience)
- Perry Saturn & Raven vs. Chris Benoit & Dean
Malenko: YES! YES! YES! We get highlights of the kick ass feud leading to
this when Nitro... you know.... didn't suck. This SHOULD have been for the Tag
Titles, but Rey and Kidman won them off the Horsemen a little before this, with
help from Raven & Saturn. The faces are Raven/Saturn, and the Horsemen are
the heels, BTW. Loud "Horsemen Sucks" chant to start, as Saturn (w/
DRESS) goes with Benoit. 3/4 guys in here are now rocking the WWF, and they are
about to have the match of the night. (And Raven would join them not long after
this was originally written, actually) The crowd is into this from the
start, and Benoit/Perry wrestle well to start. The Horsemen cheat at will, but
the faces hold them off. Raven with a reverse bulldog for 2, and tags Saturn,
for a front suplex/splash combo. Saturn controls, and tags Raven for a drop toe
hold/elbow drop combo. Man, Benoit is getting his ass kicked. He comes back
though, and the heels cheat yet again. They double team Raven, including a
double "make a wish." Dean-o controls him with some good stuff.
Benoit gets tagged, and Raven cradles him for 3, but the ref. is distracted.
Benoit comes back with a bunch of wicked stuff for two counts. Malenko tagged
in, and more double teaming ensues. Now, RAVEN is really getting his ass
kicked. He comes back with a boot to the face, but can't capitalize. He tags
and Saturn has to fend off THREE men (Benoit, Dean, Arn). His offense pops the
crowd, and with Raven's help they do a sweet cross body combo. Dean with a
tiger suplex, and he locks the cloverleaf, popping the crowd. The action's is
getting to fast too call here! DVD by Saturn, but Benoit breaks it up with a
flying headbutt. Man the heat here is incredible. Backbreaker by Benoit, and he
controls for a bit. Tandem offense by Horsemen, and they taunt Perry, drawing
big heel heat. Boy, they are telling a great story out there. Dean gets a
sleeper, and Raven kicks him in the head in a vicious spot. I mean just NAILED
him. Northern Lights suplex by the Crippler for two. They keep playing up that
Charles Robinson is favoring the Horsemen (because he's Flair's buddy) but he
really isn't. Saturn comes back, and tags, allowing Raven to take it to BOTH
Horsemen, exciting the fans. Raven has a chair, drawing HUGE pops, and he drop
toe holds the Crippler on it. Saturn misses a suicide splash on a table, as Arn
helps Dean move. The heels cheat to win, but the Evenflow connects. Raven
covers, but Benoit hits a flying headbutt on a chair to break it up. Dean
covers and gets 3 at 14:11, and we see Benoit did a good blade job. **** 1/2.
WOW match, with a great story. Without their in ring story telling, it may not
have been as good. (Right, and Goodfellas wouldn’t have been as good if not for Martin
Scorsese’s directing of it)
- WCW United
States title: Scott Steiner vs. Booker T:
This is the finals of a tourney for the title held "WCW style"
according to Ric Flair. On the way to the ring Scott makes fun of the fans, one
by one. That is SO Jerry Lawler, plus it takes up like 10 minutes. But Jerry is
actually kidding around, being funny, while Scott is being pretty cruel. He
gets a little physical slapping some people around. Jerk. Booker is the TV
Champ at this point. They start on the mat, to bore the crowd. Booker should go
over to send the people home happy, after Steiner assaulted them and stuff. But
it's WCW so... Anyway, Booker out wrestles him, and dumps him to the floor.
Scott comes back for a while, using mostly forearm shots, but Booker hits one
of his own to come back. He controls, and dumps Pump again, and then kicks his
ass on the floor. Booker seems like a nice guy in real life, always shaking
everyone's hands and everything. Back inside, and Scott play's the cowardly
heel. Low blow turns the tide, and Scott basically just assaults him without
much effort. He looks bored out there for whatever reason. He should go wrestle
for Lawler, he's so prefect for it. Scott slowly puts some offense in, while
the crowd chants "Steroids!" A few arrogant covers get two, and
Steiner actually chokes the ref. He's such a bully. Long bearhug sequence by
Steiner. Damn it, LET BOOKER CARRY THIS, you posing freak! Finally he does, and
Booker comes out with a DDT. T goes to work, bringing the fans back into it,
and making it interesting. Ref. gets bumped, and Booker nails the axe-kick. He
has him for 3, but the ref. is out cold. Booker helps him up, so Steiner decks
the ref. Booker STILL comes back, but gets crotched on the top, and Steiner
hits a rana (or Frankensteiner). Didn't expect THAT from him, and from the top
rope to boot. It gets two, so Scott pulls a foreign object out, nails him, and
gets 3 at 15:57. Yeah, HE should have gone over. Not Bad, ** 1/4.
- Mark Madden with Rey Rey. Good G-D, Mark is REALLY fat!
- Kevin Nash vs. Goldberg: This is coming off the
Nash beating Goldberg at Starrcade (with help from Disco Inferno, Bam Bam
Bigalow, and Scott Hall.) He has Liz and Luger. Liz has been with Lex for a
while now, hasn't she? Big pop for Goldberg, too. I wonder if it's fun to stand
in all that pyro? Hey, remember when Nash had BLACK hair? He's blonde here, but
as Diesel he was totally black haired. (That seems like such a random thing to note)
Nash kicks the hell out of him to start, which takes a good amount of time.
"Picture framed" elbow connects, and he's literally had him in the
corner for 5 minutes. Crowd gets bored and chants "We want Sting!"
while the announcers speculate Flair will win the Main Event tonight. Sidewalk
slam by Nash gets two, and he continues to lumber with his offense. Bill comes
back with a flying spear, and slam/suplexes him. He goes to work for a bit,
basically sticking and ducking. Crowd is IN LOVE with Bill. Spear attempt leap
frogged by Nash, bumping the ref, so Lex bashes Goldberg with a chair. Nash
LEAP FROGGED. Okay, not a big deal, but he's usually to lazy for THAT! Bill
grabs him down low (ala Stevie Richards), takes out Lex, and spears him to a
big pop. Jackhammer hits, and we're out at 7:44. Nash controlled for WAY too
long in the beginning, but the rest was okay. * 3/4.
- WCW World title: Ric Flair vs. Hollywood Hogan vs.
Diamond Dallas
Page vs. Sting: The ref. is Randy Savage, who is BUILT here, gets a big
pop. This is one fall, not elimination. Good to see the strap on Flair, unfortunately,
Russo already seems to have forgotten that he's due for a title shot at this
years Great American Bash, and Nash gets one instead. I'd like Flair/Jarrett in
a "I wanted to be a Horsemen" feud, NOT Nash. Sting looks a little "less
that excited" to be here. Everyone brawls to start, pairing DDP/Sting,
Hogan/Flair. Hulk and Ric go to the floor, and brawl around, while DDP and
Sting have a good match in the ring. Stinger Splash gets two, as Ric breaks it
up. Man, DDP/Sting was a REALLY promising portion. Flair takes over Sting, and
gets slammed off the top early. Now DDP/Sting take the floor, as Hogan/Flair
get in ring time. Hogan uses his weight belt, and kicks ass on Ric. Flair
cheats to win, but some classic no selling allows Hogan to come back, and pound
Flair. Sting gets the Deathlock on Page, as Hulk hits the leg. Hogan covers
Flair, and Sting breaks it up. Ric works Hogan's knee, and hooks the figure
four. This is getting too fast to call. DDP comes in, joins the fray, going to
work on Hulk's knee. He hooks the Figure Four on the post (REALLY Badly) ala
Bret Hart. Man, that was TERRIBLE. A trainer runs out, and carries Hogan back,
apparently he got hurt. Was it legit? Flair and Sting have a good little
mini-match as Page rests in the corner. He attacks Sting from behind for a two
count, and now *HE* has a match with Sting. Ric tries to get involved, but
keeps getting ejected. Savage is a terrible ref. Finally he tosses DDP, in a
great bump, and faces off with Sting. Sting hits a GREAT superplex, popping the
crowd. It gets two. Triple sleeper spot used, so Sting (at the bottom of the
totem-pole) stunners both. That was cool. Flair and DDP double team Sting,
nearly killing him. But he no sells, and comes back. He goes postal, taking
both out. Cheep shot by Page stops him. Well, I guess it isn't a cheep shot, as
it's every man for himself. Sting with the Scorpion deathdrop, but Flair low
blows him. Figure Four applied, but Savage attacks Flair. He hits the big
elbow, sending the place into a frenzy. Page Diamond Cuts Flair, and gets 3 at
17:27, for his first World Title. At the time it was a HUGE shock, that DDP got
the belt. This did NOT slow down, and there was ALWAYS something going on.
****.
- Slamboree promo. Man did *THAT* show suck.
- Bottom Line: Wow! Not only the last great WCW PPV,
but one of the best PPV's I've seen ... period. Hot crowd, FOUR matches at ****
or more, and NOTHING sucked. I mean, Nash/Goldberg was bad, but short. And the
bad stuff always was decent enough or short enough. Nothing where you go
"agh." This was just a WOW show!
HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!
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