WCW Bash at the Beach 2000

Who’s the World champion? Does Russo have ANYTHING to say about it? It’s the rematch of the main event from Starrcade ’98! How will Goldberg fare? Can Kronic capture the World tag team titles? Grab your favorite refreshment and dig in some Daytona madness!

Normally, I don’t do topical reflections, but this one stirred a lot of controversy. Also, like my 2000 Nitro reflection, I will be using a different scale than star ratings.

As the show begins, Commissioner the “Cat” Ernest Miller emerges from a limousine and talks with his driver M.I. Smooth--the former Ice Train. Cat wants zero interference in the opening match. That’d be a first for a Russo-booked match. Music plays, and the Jung Dragons confront the Cat. When they “attack,” the much bigger Cat “decimates” them. Kung fu movie fans would sop this up with a biscuit.

As the Filthy Animals make their entrance, Konnan runs down a couple of catchphrases with Disqo in tow wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey. Meanwhile, Guerrera brought the Cruiserweight belt with him despite not being champion.

Match 1 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Lieutenant Loco (champion w/ the Misfits in Action) versus Juventud Guerrera (w/ the Filthy Animals)

For those unaware, Loco was portrayed by Chavo Guerrero, Jr.
WCW officials ejected both the Filthy Animals and MIA from ringside despite Disqo’s being a dweeb.
To piss me off already, Madden corrected Hudson by referring to WCW as “sports entertainment” rather than wrestling.
Loco reversed an Irish whip, leapfrogged Guerrera, and fed him an inverted atomic drop.
When he dealt Guerrera a standard atomic drop, Loco clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor.
Guerrera generated some heel heat with some stalling which Loco mocked.
As they interchanged positions from ring to floor, Guerrera attempted to suplex him back into the ring, but Loco blocked and suplexed him down to the floor.
Loco launched a pescado, tossed Guerrera back into the ring, but ate the top turnbuckle.
After heel Guerrera gave babyface Loco the ten-punch count-along, he reverted to heeldom by playing against the Daytona faithful.
Loco rewarded him with a pair of lariats and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for 2.
While Guerrera gave him a cross corner whip, Loco responded with a flying headscissors.
He powerslammed Guerrera for another 2.
Reversing a cross corner whip, Guerrera came up empty on his follow-through.
Loco charged but ate elbow, and a mid-ring collision occurred.
By countering an O’Connor roll, Loco sent Guerrera between the ropes to the floor.
He mounted the top turnbuckle and connected with a tope. Woohoo!
In a hilarious disguise that fooled NO ONE, the Filthy Animals returned while wearing Halloween masks. Don’t they know this is BatB and not Halloween Havoc?
Back in the ring, the “disguised” Filthy Animals distracted Loco enough so that Guerrera could roll him up for 2.
With Loco on the floor, Guerrera delivered a springboard leg drop. I’m surprised he didn’t pull a Johnny the Bull with that one. You’d think Guerrera was smarter than that since Johnny was STILL IN THE HOSPITAL six days later.
Guerrera made Loco taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like Joe Russell’s burger at Sloppy Joe’s.
Making Loco HIT THE POLE, Guerrera realized he wasn’t in proper camera position for his next move.
Therefore, he slammed Loco, migrated to the adjacent apron, and hit a springboard splash for 2.
Guerrera mounted the top turnbuckle, but Loco caught him.
Regardless, Guerrera overcame the predicament with a sit-out powerbomb for another 2.
He botched a pancake and mimicked the Rock a Juvi Elbow for 2. Get your own gimmick, asshole!
In the meantime, another wrestler appeared at ringside wearing a Clinton mask. Was it Buff Bagwell?
No, the Filthy Animals tried to pull THE SAME TRICK on WCW officials with Halloween masks, but even WCW officials hadn’t completed checked out on their jobs by this point.
Concurrently, Major Gunns bounced down to ringside.

She ripped off her “Bombs Away” t-shirt to distract Guerrera allowing Loco to crotch him on the top turnbuckle.
Attempting to steal the victory, Loco couldn’t because referee Charles Robinson remained distracted by the MIA. D’oh!
Countering a tornado DDT, Guerrera ultimately received an inverted DDT for 2.
Guerrera scored with a Juvi Driver but only got 2 thanks to a foot on the bottom rope.
Flattening Guerrera with a tornado DDT, Loco pinned him at 12:09 to retain.

Summary: Instead of allowing these guys to amaze the Daytona faithful with their talent, Russo overbooked the match with tons of distraction which took away from it. Nevertheless, it’ll probably be the best match on the show.

Backstage, the Cat recites a Chris Tucker line from Rush Hour for the Jung Dragons. Jarrett intervenes to question where Hogan is. Simultaneously, a Viking queen stands next to him in reference to the fat lady singing. Oh, Russo, how you slay me.

Prior to the next match, we revisit Thunder when Vito ambushed Funk who was trying to leave the arena.

Hopefully, this will be short, and Vito won’t pull a Johnny the Bull.
Due to the aforementioned attack, Funk’s unable to compete, so Norman Smiley made his return since late May. That’s an eternity in Russo-booked WCW.
Since Ralphus was still on the payroll, he accompanied Smiley to the ring.
Unfazed, Vito challenged both to a handicap match RIGHT NOW.
Ralphus wore a half-shirt with his name on the front, and “Just say no to” with an arrow pointing downward. HA!
Angry, Vito met him in the aisle and whacked him with a kendo stick.
Smiley, ever the scaredy cat, tried to run away but got nailed with it too.
Brawling to the backstage area, Smiley rammed Vito face-first into some props.
He blasted Vito with an aluminum trash can and broke some plywood across his head.
As Smiley held Vito, Ralphus brained Vito with the trash can repeatedly.
Smiley fed Vito the Big Wiggle as well as a ride into a nearby vehicle.
When he and Smiley climbed atop a crate, Vito rammed him face-first into the hood of what may have been Ralphus’ truck.
An elevator door opened, and Vito assaulted the poor catering guy inside. That ain’t right. The man was just doing his job. I hope Vito left him a good tip.

After Vito smashed him into the elevator walls, Smiley disappeared within the elevator.
Vito chased after a lumbering Ralphus and clobbered him DOWN THERE with a kendo stick. OUCH!
While he obtained an already broken table from under the ring, Vito set it up in the ring, placed Ralphus atop it, mounted the top turnbuckle, and launched a flying splash.
Ralphus got TABLED!
1-2-3.
Vito retained at 5:56.

Speaking of traction, Smiley returns to ringside, but he’ll need to GET OUT THE SPATULA for Ralphus.

Backstage, Goldberg enters the arena with Scott Hall’s contract in his pocket.

“Mean” Gene Okerlund interviews Nash who cuts a solemn promo on Goldberg. He truly misses his best friend. Aw.

ICYMI this was the battle over David Flair. Quite the prize, no?
For those unaware, Hancock was portrayed by Stacy Keibler.
While Hancock wore white, Daffney dressed in gothic black.
Daffney entered the ring, removed her heels, and nailed David in Space Mountain, Jr.
When Daffney removed the veil, she repeatedly rammed Hancock’s head into the mat until David stopped her.
Hancock performed one of the very WORST handspring back elbows ever, shook her money maker, but got yanked down to the mat by the hair.
As Daffney tried to ram Hancock into the cake, David prevented her while referee Slick Johnson restrained Hancock for no apparent reason other than trying to be a letcher.
In retaliation, Hancock slapped the BEJEEZUS out of Johnson and kneed him in his other two (perhaps bald) heads.
She pantsed Johnson to get a rise out of the female contingent of the Daytona faithful, and Daffney embarrassed David likewise. It’s the second time in three years that a Flair has been in the ring in his underwear.

When she shoved David down to the mat, Daffney forcibly sent Hancock face-first into David’s BVDs. Somewhere, Alice In Chains’ Rooster is playing.
David restrained Daffney again, and Hancock threatened to shave her head with an electric razor.
After cooler heads prevailed in the form of Crowbar, David suffered a belly-to-back suplex.
To make matters worse, Crowbar removed his jeans to fit in.
He demolished David with a front suplex and hog-tied David in the corner with his jeans.
Before Daffney could shave David bald, Hancock grabbed the microphone, called for her music, and removed her own wedding gown.
By default, Daffney won at 4:17.

Summary: The match when you take the kiddies to the popcorn stand; otherwise, the Jerry Lawlers of the world may rejoice.

Afterward, in true wrestling fashion, Daffney makes Hancock eat cake. A food fight erupts, and Hancock dumps the rest of the cake on her.

Backstage, the Cat talks to himself, yet the Jung Dragons leer at him in the background.

The broadcast crew stalls for time while cake gets cleaned up. You’d think WCW could afford a cleaning crew, but they would lose a shitload of money in 2000.

Match 4 for the WCW World tag team titles: The Perfect Event (champions) versus Kronic

For those unaware, the Perfect Event consisted of Chuck Palumbo and Shawn Stasiak. Up until June 2000, they were managed by Curt Hennig; hence the name. However, Hennig’s contract expired.
Using momentum, Adams tossed Palumbo over the top rope, gorilla-pressed Stasiak, and vaulted him atop Palumbo.
Tags were exchanged on both sides, Clarke gave Stasiak a cross corner whip, but he ate boot on his follow-through.
As Stasiak mounted the second turnbuckle, he leaped, but Clarke caught and destroyed him with a uranage.
Adams tagged in, and Kronic fed Stasiak a double shoulder block.
When Adams floored Stasiak with a big boot, Palumbo tagged in only to eat a full nelson slam for 2.
Upon getting reversed on an Irish whip, Adams got low-bridged by Palumbo sending him to the floor.
Perfect Event double-teamed Adams on the floor, and Palumbo realigned Adams’ spine with a chair shot.
After he rammed Adams face-first into a different chair, Palumbo tossed him back into the ring.
Stasiak got 2.
While Palumbo tagged in, he mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a flying shoulder block for another 2.
He applied a sleeper while the Daytona faithful chanted “let’s go Kronic.” Either the challengers are over, or the clock turned to 4:20.

Escaping, Adams ate a knee to the midsection.
Stasiak tagged in, dealt Adams a flying back elbow, but couldn’t get 3.
Engulfed in another sleeper, this time by Stasiak, Adams escaped, but a mid-ring collision occurred.
Hot tag Clarke.
In the midst of cleaning house, Clarke stumbled but regained his composure.
Adams disposed of Stasiak, but Palumbo escaped a Meltdown attempt.
Delivering a DDT to Clarke, Palumbo couldn’t capitalize.
Stasiak tagged in and dropkicked each Kronic member consecutively.
From the apron, Stasiak flattened Clarke with a flying clothesline.
He threw Clarke back into the ring and got 2 with Palumbo preventing a save.
Avoiding a double-team, Clarke ate a clothesline.
Perfect Event double-pancaked Clarke, but Adams returned to make the save.
Slinging Palumbo over the top rope, Adams connected with an F5.
Adams tagged in, and Kronic nailed Stasiak with a double boot.
Planting Stasiak with a double chokeslam, Kronic couldn’t win thanks to a save by Palumbo.
Kronic disintegrated Palumbo with a double chokeslam, yet Stasiak ran in with a Lex Flexor.
Sabotaging Stasiak’s plans to get disqualified, Kronic dismantled him with a modified Doomsday Device.
1-2-3.
Kronic won at 13:36.
WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!

Summary: Big men like Adams and Clarke should be using numerous high-impact maneuvers; hence, they utilized them with zeal earning approval from me.

Backstage, Jarrett and his Viking queen badger the Cat again about Hogan. He threatens to “screw his show.” In the interim, the Jung Dragons attack the Cat once more.

For those curious, Kanyon used DDP’s entrance music yet didn’t receive the same pop.
The Daytona faithful LOUDLY showered their hero with a “Book-er-T” chant. Methinks this guy’s OVER.
When Booker T blocked a hip toss, he fed Kanyon a leg lariat which sent Kanyon’s blond wig flying.
Booker T leapfrogged Kanyon and followed with a dropkick.
As he clotheslined Kanyon, Booker T ripped the DDP t-shirt off him and tossed him over the top rope.
Booker T grabbed Kanyon’s book, and a brick fell out of it. HA!
After he leaped from the apron, Booker T dealt Kanyon an axe handle.
He made Kanyon taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Lighthouse at McKenna’s.
While he mounted the top turnbuckle, Booker T scored with a flying clothesline for 2.
Kanyon used momentum (and the trunks) to send Booker T to the floor.
Upon a double reversal, Kanyon sent Booker T reeling into the steel railing.
He rammed Booker T face-first into the steps, set the steps up on the arm, mounted the apron, and whacked them with a steel chair.
Forcing Booker T to straddle the ring post, Kanyon dropkicked him into it. OUCH!
He mounted the second rope and suplexed Booker T back into the ring for 2.
Throwing a chair into the ring, Kanyon squeezed it between the top and second turnbuckle.
With the Daytona faithful chanting “Kanyon sucks,” Booker gave Kanyon a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Booker T rebounded with a powerslam for 2.
Reversing a cross corner whip, Kanyon caught Booker T mid-float-over and hit a sit-out powerbomb for 2.
Kanyon hooked an inverted Boston crab, but Booker T powered out of it for 2.
Flattening Kanyon with a forearm, Booker T gave Kanyon a cross corner whip into the chair.
He rearranged Kanyon’s internal organs with a spinebuster for another 2.
Stealing the chair away from Booker T, referee Billy Silverman didn’t see Kanyon knock Booker T silly with the book.
Since the book no longer contained a brick, Kanyon only got 2.
Kanyon noticed the brick’s disappearance, and Booker T enlightened the Daytona faithful with a spinaroonie.
Decimating Kanyon with another leg lariat, Booker T placed a knee into his midsection.
He nailed Kanyon with an Axe kick, turned his lights out with a Bookend, but only got 2.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Booker T was met by an interfering Jarrett.
If you’re expecting a guitar shot, you just won the WCW lottery.
Kanyon hoists Booker T atop the top turnbuckle, made the Diamond Cutter sign, and connected with a Kanyon Cutter.
1-2-3.
Kanyon won at 10:06.

Summary: Although Kanyon was stealing one of WCW’s own gimmicks, he and Booker T carried themselves well in this match. The book gimmick even helped the match tell a story.

Backstage, Awesome macks on the Viking queen while Pamela Paulshock wants a word. Awesome ignores her until Paulshock cockblocks him. Awesome promises a “trifecta” by beating BPP again. My indicators tell me that’s not the direction the wind is blowing, Mike.

Match 6 for the WCW US title: Big Poppa Pump (champion w/ Midajah) versus Mike Awesome

Before Awesome could enter the ring, BPP leaped from the apron and struck him with a double axe handle. SNEAKY!
He rammed Awesome oblique-first into the steel railing, but Awesome backdropped him into the front row. Budweiser and French fries everywhere!
As BPP returned to his feet, Awesome leaped over the steel railing and tackled him.
They brawled through the Daytona faithful, and Awesome nailed him with a plastic trash can.
When Awesome slammed him on the concrete floor, BPP rebounded by tossing him back to ringside and hammering him with a padded folding chair.
BPP rammed him face-first into the steps and threw him into the ring.
After he fed Awesome a Steinerline, BPP landed an elbow drop for 2. What? No pushups?

BPP gave Awesome a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
While Awesome mounted the top turnbuckle, BPP caught, joined, and belly-to-belly superplexed him for 2. Incredible!
BPP laid in the ten-punch count-along, dealt Awesome a backbreaker, and attempted a vertical suplex.
Blocking it, Awesome countered by hanging BPP out to dry.
Awesome leaped from the apron and scored with an elbow drop to a prone BPP on the floor.
Doubling BPP over with a padded chair, Awesome sent him oblique-first into the steel railing.
He grabbed the bell and scattered BPP’s brains far into the 21st century. Perhaps that’s how Steiner math was created?
Crashing a steel chair into BPP’s back, Awesome rammed BPP back-first into the apron and the steel railing.
He tossed BPP back in the ring and guillotined him with the top rope.
From the apron, Awesome launched a springboard splash for 2.
He mounted the top turnbuckle and scored with a flying clothesline for another 2.
Suddenly, the Cat emerged through the entrance to get a bird’s eye view.

BPP blocked a suplex and hit one of his own.
Hurdling Awesome overhead, BPP secured a belly-to-belly suplex.
The Cat grabbed the microphone and yelled at BPP for attempting to use the Steiner Recliner.
Clobbering the Cat down to the floor, BPP attempted a double underhook bomb.
Awesome blocked and countered it against the only muscle BPP can’t exercise in the gym.
With a spinebuster, Awesome trapped BPP with a somersault rollup but only got 2.
Awesome returned to the top turnbuckle and leveled BPP with a flying splash for another 2.
Blocking a powerbomb, BPP walloped Awesome causing him to obliterate referee Jamie Tucker.
Awesome blasted BPP, and the Cat jumped into the ring.
With Awesome holding BPP, the Cat attempted a thrust kick but caught Awesome instead of BPP.
Speaking of BPP, he destroyed the Cat with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, covered Awesome, and got 2.
BPP hooked a standard belly-to-belly suplex and signaled for the Recliner again.
Once again, the Cat took the microphone and warned him about stripping the title.
BPP applied the Recliner, so the Cat told Tucker to ring the bell around the nine-minute mark.
I may be incorrect, but I believe that’s a title change?
Nope, but it’s a way to get the title off BPP without jobbing him a.k.a. Shawn Michaels disease.

Summary: Despite the screwy finish, these guys have solid chemistry and work well together. I would hope WCW would notice and push both wrestlers.

Following the match, the Cat forcibly grabs the belt away from Midajah and heads backstage. BPP chases after him and clobbers him from behind. Upon returning to the ring, BPP disintegrates Awesome with a head-and-arm suplex.

For those unaware, the Demon was portrayed by Dale Torborg, son of former Chicago White Sox manager Jeff Torborg.
This match occurred in a “graveyard.”
When Asya opened a coffin, it was empty. Those things are expensive and shouldn’t be lying around.
Demon called out for him, and Vampiro leaped from a tree.
As they battled in darkness, Vampiro scored with a kick to the chest.
Asya blasted Vampiro and sent him into an open grave.
After Vampiro pulled him into the grave, he grabbed Asya and took her away.
Demon crawled out of the grave and chased after them.
While Demon caught up to her, Vampiro came out of the water and attacked him.
I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP.
Fighting with Demon in the water, Vampiro rammed him into the embankment.
He grabbed Asya again and headed toward the arena.
Upon getting retrieved out of the water by referee Charles Robinson, Demon sauntered after Vampiro.
With Asya laying down next to a coffin, Demon checked on her only to fall victim to Vampiro’s exit from it and spewing.
Since Demon refused to join him, Vampiro creamed him with a cinder block.
Vampiro placed Demon into the coffin and tossed it into the grave.
Is it over?
Vampiro won, but I ain’t timin’ that shit.

Back at the arena, Okerlund interviews Douglas who guarantees that he will defeat Bagwell.

Enter a contest to become Goldberg’s guest manager. Send your cable or satellite bill NOW!

To begin the match, Bagwell started a “Franchise sucks” chant.
He dropkicked Douglas out of the ring, joined, and rammed him oblique-first into the steel railing.
As he rammed Douglas into the opposite steel railing, Bagwell fell victim to Douglas’ trick knee. Devious!
Douglas guillotined him with the steel railing and removed the mats.
When Douglas attempted to piledrive him on the concrete, Bagwell blocked and backdropped him onto the pulled-up mats.
Back in the ring, Bagwell scored with a swinging neckbreaker sending Douglas back to the floor.
Douglas dragged him to the floor and crotched him on the ring post. That will ruin your weekend!
After Douglas brandished a chair, Bagwell booted him in the midsection to stop him.
Bagwell grabbed the chair, but Douglas punched it right in his not-yet-surgically repaired face.
While they returned to the ring, Douglas fed Bagwell a vicious neck snap.
Abruptly, Torrie Wilson approached ringside, walked up onto the apron, and slapped the BEJEEZUS out of Douglas.
Bagwell rolled up Douglas and got 2.
Dealing Douglas a back elbow, Bagwell clotheslined him.
He delivered a cross body block for another 2.
Reversing a cross corner whip, Douglas ate another back elbow on his follow-through.
Bagwell mounted the second turnbuckle, launched a pumphandle splash, but couldn’t get 3.
Seductively, Wilson climbed into the ring and kissed Bagwell.
Bagwell turned around to pose, and Wilson…wait for it…kicked him in the little Buffster.
In case you’re wondering why that’s not a DQ, Douglas distracted referee Mickey Jay.
Douglas hooked a Pittsburgh Plunge (fisherman’s suplex), but Bagwell kicked out at 2.
Planting Douglas with a DDT, Bagwell only got 2 mainly because everyone in ECW kicked out of that move.
Bagwell mounted the second turnbuckle, but Wilson halted that effort.
Upon tossing Wilson down to the floor, Bagwell got caught with an inverted atomic drop.
Douglas blasted Bagwell with a Franchiser and pinned him at 7:53.

Summary: Since Bagwell was stuck in neutral, it made sense to put Douglas over.

Backstage, Okerlund interviews Jarrett who refers to him as “Jurassic Slapass.” He hints toward having an ally and a plan.

Video airs featuring Jarrett and Hogan, and Jarrett promised “the fat lady will sing.”

Match 9 for the WCW World title: Jeff Jarrett (champion) versus “Hollywood” Hogan

Why is this in the middle of a PPV?
Buffer rambled and rumbled.
When Jarrett’s music played, he did not appear.
Carrying a baseball bat, Vince Russo made his first appearance. If only it was his last.
Apparently, he’s seconding Jarrett. I wonder if Bischoff seconded Hogan.
Hogan grabbed the microphone and cuts a quick promo on Jarrett.
As soon as the bell rang, Jarrett deliberately laid down in the center of the ring.
Russo pointed at Hogan to pin Jarrett.
After he tossed the belt at Hogan, Russo vehemently huffed his way backstage.
Hogan grabbed the microphone again and said: “That’s why this company’s in the damn shape it’s in because of bullshit like this.”
Upon placing his boot atop Jarrett, Hogan won at 1:19.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION?

Immediately following the match, Jarrett gets up and leaves the ring. Obviously, this is a worked shoot, but why? The show hasn’t been terrible and deserves better.

Backstage, Vampiro appears as Hogan walks in the opposite direction. He climbs into the ring and declares “the Demon is dead.” As soon as he mentions his name, the Daytona faithful clamors for Sting. Next, pallbearers bring a coffin to the ring, and Vampiro opens it. Sting emerges, attacks Vampiro, and puts him in the coffin.

Backstage, Okerlund interviews Goldberg who’s “pissed off” and wants to “make Kevin Nash suffer.” Goldberg? A heel?

“There’s only one way for me to do this, and that’s for me to tell it like it is. Three weeks ago, I left WCW, and quite frankly I didn’t know if I was gonna come back. And the reason I didn’t know if I was gonna come back or not is because from day one that I’ve been in WCW I’ve done nothing but deal with the bullshit of the politics behind that curtain.

“The fact of the matter is I’ve got a wife (and) three kids at home. I really don’t need this shit. Let me tell you the reason why I did come back. I came back for everyone of the guys in that locker room that week in, week out bust their ass for WCW. I came back for the Booker Ts. I came back for every single guy in MIA. I came back for the Animals. I came back for Jarrett. I came back for the guys behind that curtain that give a shit about this company.

“And let me tell you who doesn’t give a shit about this company—that goddamn politician Hulk Hogan. Because let me tell you people what happened in this ring tonight. All day long I’m playing politics with Hulk Hogan because Hulk Hogan tonight wants to play his creative control card. And to Hulk Hogan that meant that tonight in the middle of this ring when he knew it was bullshit he beats Jeff Jarrett.

“Hogan got his wish. Hogan got his belt, and he went the hell home. I promise everybody or else I’ll go in the goddamn grave you will never see that piece of shit again. I also sat out there just like you, and I know you paid good money to come here tonight. Nobody’s gonna be ripped off here tonight.

“So Hulk Hogan now has the WCW belt. Let’s refer to that as the Hulk Hogan Memorial belt because from on in, that belt don’t mean shit. There will be a new WCW belt, and as far as I’m concerned, that belt still belongs to the one guy who busts his ass week in and week out in the middle of this ring. You people can love him and hate him but he doesn’t screw anybody back there. That’s Jeff Jarrett.

“Hold on a minute. Jeff Jarrett is still the official WCW champion, but he will defend that title in this ring tonight. He will defend that title against the son of a bitch back there who for 14 years has been busting his ass in WCW and can’t get a goddamn break because of Hulk Hogan. And I’m talking about Booker T.

“Booker T and Jeff Jarrett are the two reasons why I’m in this damn stinkin’ business to begin with. So, tonight, in this ring, for the WCW title, two deserving guys—Jarrett and Booker—will compete for (unintelligible).

“And Hogan, you big, bald son of a bitch, kiss my ass.”

POINT OF ORDER: Despite his ramblings, this was quite the passionate promo from Russo. I firmly believe that everything he said he believed within himself. However, that last insult to Hogan became a shoot. Ending up in court, Russo and WCW escaped a hefty judgment because he neither violated Hogan’s creative control clause nor defamed him. The insults were aimed at the character Hulk Hogan and not specifically Terry Bollea.

In any case, Hogan was essentially fired. While, according to an episode of Dark Side of the Ring, Hogan planned to return at Halloween Havoc “to claim his belt,” neither that plan nor any other ever materialized.

Let’s get back to wrestling, shall we?

Video airs with a determined heel Goldberg eating Hall’s contract and cutting a promo on the Outsiders. Hey! That’s not on the menu at the Varsity.

Match 10: Goldberg versus Kevin Nash

Highlights:

Should Nash win, Scott Hall can return to WCW. If Goldberg wins, it gets torn up.
As Goldberg came to ringside, he placed Hall’s contract on the broadcast table.
Goldberg countered the standing boot to the face with a leg sweep and suplexed him for 2.
When Goldberg flattened Nash with a thrust kick, he told the Daytona faithful off.
Nash rebounded with a chokeslam and got 2.
After both BPP and Midajah approached ringside, Goldberg escaped a hangman’s neckbreaker attempt.
He gave Nash a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
While Nash fed him a mini-sidewalk slam, he got 2.
Goldberg attempted a spear but came up empty.
Upon trying to jackknife-powerbomb Goldberg, Nash got nailed from behind by BPP.
Nash reversed an Irish whip and dealt BPP a big boot.
With BPP prone on the floor, Goldberg speared Nash.
He demolished Nash with a jackhammer and pinned him at 5:27.
As a result, Hall was no longer employed by WCW.

Rating:

Summary: Goldberg as a heel is at the very least intriguing but at the most barely effective.

Following the match, Goldberg gets the contract from BPP and rips it to pieces in front of the fallen Nash.

Backstage, Okerlund interviews Booker T who’s ready for this great opportunity.

Match 11 for the WCW World title: Jeff Jarrett (champion) versus Booker T

Highlights:

Again, Buffer rambled and rumbled.
Booker T leapfrogged Jarrett and followed with a dropkick.
When he reversed an Irish whip, Booker T leveled Jarrett with a leg lariat.
He tossed Jarrett down to the floor, leaped from the apron, and fed him an axe handle.
As the match segued into the Daytona faithful, Booker T reversed an Irish whip sending Jarrett SMACK DAB into a concrete wall.
They returned to ringside, and Jarrett blasted Booker T with a chair.
After Jarrett rammed him face-first into the broadcast table, Booker T landed on Madden. How could he miss him?
Jarrett piledrove him on the broadcast table which did NOT break.
Back in the ring, Jarrett reversed another Irish whip and hooked a sleeper.
Booker T escaped, gave Jarrett a cross corner whip, but ate boot on his follow-through.
While Jarrett reapplied the sleeper, Booker T escaped and applied his own sleeper.
Jarrett countered with a knee crusher and attempted a figure-four leg lock.
Countering with an inside cradle, Booker T got 2.
Jarrett successfully applied a figure-four leg lock, but will Booker T submit?
No, he reversed the hold causing Jarrett to grab the rope.
Booker T placed a knee into the midsection and dealt Jarrett an Axe kick.
Exciting the Daytona faithful with a spinaroonie, Booker T obliterated Jarrett with a spinebuster and got 2.
Booker T attempted another leg lariat, but Jarrett evaded him causing Booker T to crotch himself on the top rope.
Bludgeoning Booker T with a ten-punch count-along, Jarrett whipped him into an unsuspecting referee Billy Silverman.
Jarrett grabbed the belt, tried to nail Booker T, but whiffed.
Grabbing the belt, Booker T clobbered Jarrett.
Woozy, Silverman crawled over but only reached 2.
Jarrett retaliated with a shot to Booker T’s Harlem nuggets.
Wielding a chair, Jarrett wedged it in a corner but ate it himself.
Booker T rolled up Jarrett but only got 2.
Frustrated, Jarrett decimated Silverman with a Stroke. How dastardly!
He kicked a field goal through Booker T’s uprights and seized his guitar from ringside.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Jarrett leaped, but Booker T caught him.
Booker T delivered a Bookend, and referee Slick Johnson slid in to make the count.
1-2-3.
Booker T won at 13:40.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Rating:

Summary: Booker T has become World champion for the first time, first time, first time, oh, wait…

Afterward, the Daytona faithful raises the roof in celebration of the newest World champion. Great moment for a great wrestler.

Conclusion: Despite the worked shoot that overshadowed this PPV, the end goal for Russo was to put the World title on Booker T. After all, he deserved it.

As far as the rest of the show went, this wasn’t crash TV with run-ins galore. More than a few matches eclipsed the ten-minute mark and had worthwhile action.

So what’s my recommendation?

For those that haven’t seen the Russo-Hogan fiasco, you owe it to yourself to check it out; yet you should also check out the rest of the PPV because somehow, someway IT DOESN’T SUCK.

For the WWF pundits out there, no, WCW was no longer on the same scale as the WWF by July 2000. They were a glorified TNA when it had a TV contract.

Buyrate: 0.22

Stay tuned for more WCWA on the way!

Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).

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