WCW SuperBrawl VII

Hosted by Tony Schiavone, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes

Will this be the San Francisco treat? Or will this show give you tremors? Read on!

From Alcatraz, Piper,” residing” there for a week, exits his cell and leaves the prison. In a crazed state, Piper screams at Hogan from the bow of the boat returning him to San Francisco. I fear for the main event.

Prior to the first match, we revisit Starrcade when Syxx stole the US title belt. We then revisit Nitro from 2/10 when Syxx stole the Cruiserweight belt. On the 2/17 edition of Nitro, Syxx attempted to steal the US title belt, but Eddie thwarted his effort while losing by countout.

Match 1 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Dean Malenko (champion) versus Syxx

As expected, Malenko hit the ring and ambushed Syxx. An emotional Malenko was a good Malenko.
He then delivered a spinning heel kick and got 2 only because he picked Syxx up.
After a delayed vertical suplex, Malenko got another 2.
He then gave Syxx a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
When Syxx charged, Malenko gave him a powerslam but couldn’t get 3.
Syxx then reversed a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through. In fact, he tied himself to the Tree of Woe. Where’s Sullivan when you need him?
As Malenko attempted the Texas Cloverleaf, Syxx raked the eyes to escape.
Malenko then hit a cross body block sending both wrestlers over the top rope to the floor.
Upon grabbing the Cruiserweight title belt, Malenko ducked a kick from Syxx and nailed him.
Back in the ring, Syxx hit a spin kick and followed with a series of kicks in the corner.
Next, he gave Malenko the Bronco Buster and a leg drop for 2.
He then applied a sleeper, but Malenko used momentum to send Syxx face-first into the top turnbuckle.
When he applied another sleeper, Malenko countered with a belly-to-back suplex for 2.
Shortly after, Syxx mounted the second turnbuckle and delivered an elbow smash to Malenko who was draped across the apron.
He then delivered a vertical suplex, mounted the top turnbuckle, and hit a guillotine leg drop for 2.
As Sleeper #3 was applied by Syxx, the San Francisco faithful chanted “1-2-3 sucks.”
Malenko then hooked his own sleeper, but Syxx shot him into the ropes only for both wrestlers to knock heads. Here was the look on each wrestler’s face afterward.

Nonetheless, when Syxx remounted the top turnbuckle, Malenko crotched him.
He then joined and delivered a belly-to-back superplex, but neither wrestler could recover quickly.
After Syxx grabbed the belt, Eddie ran to the ring and had a tug-o-war with Syxx.
Malenko then grabbed Syxx, but when Eddie lost his grip, the rebound caused Syxx to HAMMER Malenko with the belt.
Malenko was OUT COLD.
1-2-3.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

In the locker room, “Mean” Gene Okerlund shills the WCW hotline and interviews DDP. He then informs DDP that he will face Bagwell later tonight. I hope DDP has his stuff together.

Partido 2 (lucha libre): Juventud Guerrera, Super Calo, y Ciclope contra Konnan, La Parka, y Villano IV

“Iron” Mike Tenay joined the broadcast table for this match. He is not to be confused with “Iron” Mike Sharpe.

After Ciclope and Villano IV wrestled to a stalemate, they tagged in Guerrera and Konnan respectively.
Konnan then gave Guerrera a somersault clothesline but fell prey to a flying headscissors.
From the apron, Guerrera gave Konnan a springboard dropkick but received a German suplex by Konnan.
After Konnan nailed Calo, he powerbombed Ciclope.
La Parka tagged in, baited Calo to come up empty in the corner, and hit a leg lariat.
When he made a second attempt, La Parka came up empty.

Upon leaping to the top turnbuckle, Calo gave La Parka a flying headscissors.
La Parka then hit a clothesline, but Calo used La Parka’s momentum to send him between the ropes to the floor.
Next, Calo delivered a baseball slide followed by a senton on the floor.
After ramming La Parka face-first into the apron, Calo attempted a springboard dropkick, but La Parka evaded him causing Calo to SPLAT on the floor.

La Parka then grabbed a chair from under the ring, put Calo on the chair, and hit a tope onto him. Cool!
Ciclope tagged in, vaulted Villano IV to the apron, but ate a forearm.
When Ciclope dropkicked Villano IV to the floor, he tried a springboard dive but missed EVERYTHING.

Back in the ring, Villano IV gave Ciclope a vertical suplex for only 2 due to Guerrera’s save.
Meanwhile, backstage, Stevie Ray was chilling out at the wcwwrestling.com table.
Guerrera came in and dropkicked Villano IV.
Upon mounting the top turnbuckle, Guerrera hit a 450 splash for 2.
Villano IV then delivered a German suplex, but Guerrera landed on his feet.
As Guerrera hit a crescent kick, he gave Villano IV a cross corner whip into the rudo corner but came up empty.
La Parka then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a corkscrew plancha on Guerrera for 2.
When La Parka placed Guerrera on the top turnbuckle, Guerrera blocked and crotched him on the top rope.
With La Parka seated on the top rope, Guerrera gave him a huracanrana for only 2 thanks to a save by Konnan.
Konnan and Villano IV then gave Guerrera the Doomsday Device. Hmmm…where are the Road Warriors these days?
Afterward, Konnan tossed Guerrera like a rag doll all the way down to the floor.
Villano IV and Konnan then reversed cross corner whips sending Calo and Ciclope into one another.
As they hooked Calo and Ciclope into a star, La Parka secured Guerrera in a bow-and-arrow in the middle of it. While unique, the San Francisco faithful didn’t respond to it.
Los technicos then delivered a triple dropkick sending the rudos to the floor.
Upon coming off the ropes, they hit a triple tope suicida onto the rudos. Wow!
Back in the ring, Guerrera hooked a victory roll for 2 on Konnan.
However, Konnan came back with a sit-out powerbomb.
1-2-3.
Los rudos ganan.

Summary: Confusing finish because even the announcers couldn’t tell if Guerrera kicked out. This was eons better than the WWF’s futile attempt last month, and I look forward to more lucha libre on Nitro.

Match 3 for the WCW World TV title: Prince Iaukea (champion) versus Rey Mysterio, Jr.

Can the rookie successfully defend his title?
After a dropkick, Mysterio backdropped Iaukea to the apron.
Upon returning to the ring, Iaukea delivered a superkick for 2.
Iaukea then followed Mysterio outside the ring and rammed him face-first into the apron.
Next, he leaped to the top turnbuckle and hit a tope to Mysterio on the floor.
Back in the ring, Iaukea hit a leg drop for 2.
After a pair of suplexes, Iaukea got another 2.
He then military-pressed Mysterio and delivered a backbreaker.
Upon mounting the top turnbuckle, Iaukea leaped but ate a dropkick in mid-air. Great camera work on that shot.
Mysterio then used a flying headscissors to take Iaukea over the top rope to the floor.
With Iaukea on the floor, Mysterio gave him a baseball slide followed by a senton through the ropes to the floor. Wow!
After a cross-corner whip, Iaukea vaulted Mysterio to the apron.
Mysterio then hit a double springboard moonsault for 2.
As Mysterio shoved Iaukea into the corner, he delivered a spinning heel kick.
He then hit a second springboard moonsault for another 2.
When Mysterio mounted the top turnbuckle, Iaukea joined and gave him a super Samoan drop.
Suddenly, Lord Steven Regal came to ringside as Iaukea missed a dropkick.
Mysterio again mounted the top turnbuckle and hit an awkward flying headscissors. Rookie mistake by Iaukea there for sure.

While Mysterio set up for another springboard move, Regal spilled him onto the floor. OUCH!
Back in the ring, Iaukea pinned Mysterio.

Summary: Despite the aerial maneuvers of Mysterio and the awesome super Samoan drop, this match drew crickets during and boos afterward.

After the match, Iaukea can’t accept the win, but Mysterio acts sportsmanlike and raises Iaukea’s arm.

Back in the locker room, Okerlund again shills the hotline and interviews Giant.

As the San Francisco faithful chanted his name, DDP hit a swinging neckbreaker.
When Bagwell sought refuge outside the ring, DDP leaped from the apron and gave him a double axe handle.
Upon ramming Bagwell face-first into the apron, Bagwell came back by guillotining DDP using the top rope.
Next, he mounted the second turnbuckle and hit a tornado DDT.
After a back elbow, Bagwell got 2.
DDP came back with an inside cradle for 2.
As he rolled up Bagwell for 2, Bagwell came back with a clothesline.
He then got into a shoving match with referee Scott Dickinson and lost.
While Dickinson berated Bagwell, DDP reversed an Irish whip and delivered a discus clothesline.
DDP then gave Bagwell an inverted atomic drop followed by a sit-out powerbomb for 2.
After giving Bagwell a cross corner whip, DDP ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
Bagwell then attempted to pin DDP with his feet on the ropes but only got 2.
As Bagwell gave DDP a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
DDP then rolled him up for 2.
When Bagwell attempted the ten-punch count-along, DDP countered with Snake Eyes.
DDP then signaled for the Diamond Cutter, but Bagwell countered with a backslide for 2.
Afterward, Bagwell delivered a fisherman’s suplex but released the hold after a 1-count.
He then insisted that Dickinson count DDP out rather than pin him. Dude, the death match is later in the show.

As Bagwell attempted a hangman’s neckbreaker, DDP hit the Diamond Cutter to a MONSTER reaction.
Abruptly, the nWo hit the ring causing a disqualification of Bagwell.

Schiavone then announces the winner of the Sony Playstation Giveaway as Keith Phillips of Ogden, UT.

Match 5 for the WCW US title: Eddie Guerrero (champion) versus “Lionheart” Chris Jericho

After Eddie hit a flying back elbow, he delivered a belly-to-back suplex for 2.
Jericho then delivered his own belly-to-back suplex but only got a 1-count.
Next, he hooked an abdominal stretch, but Eddie countered with a test-of-strength.
Jericho then delivered a Northern Lights suplex for 2.
Following that, he hooked a backslide for another 2.
As he gave Eddie a delayed vertical suplex, he couldn’t get 3.
He then delivered a powerbomb and secured an early version of the LionTamer.
After a clothesline, Jericho got 2.
He then hooked his own version of the Torture Rack which was 1000% better than Nash’s from Nitro.
Upon dropping to his knees, Jericho got 2.
As Eddie reversed a cross corner whip, Jericho leaped to the top turnbuckle but missed a cross body block.
Eddie then hit a lariat followed by a powerbomb for 2.
Afterward, he delivered a brainbuster, mounted the top turnbuckle, but when Jericho got up, Eddie flipped down to the mat.
Jericho then gave Eddie a release German suplex and a belly-to-belly suplex for 2 as Eddie made the ropes.
When Jericho crotched Eddie on the top rope, he delivered a springboard dropkick sending Eddie to the floor.
He then leaped to the second turnbuckle and hit a splash on the floor.
Back in the ring, Jericho mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but Eddie caught him with an inverted atomic drop.
Eddie then hooked a backslide but only got 2.
After a leap frog by Eddie, both wrestlers missed kicks.
As they collided mid-ring, Jericho hooked a powerslam for 2.
Eddie then countered a vertical suplex with a rollup for 2.
Upon superkicking Eddie, Jericho hooked la magistral cradle for 2.
Jericho then gave Eddie a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow.
While Eddie mounted the second turnbuckle, Jericho countered a tornado DDT with a Northern Lights suplex for another 2.
Eddie then hooked a sunset flip.
1-2-3.
Eddie retained.

Summary: Without any backstory, the San Francisco faithful went out for popcorn. While each wrestler has a great repertoire, their chemistry together is lacking.

After the match, each wrestler shows respect for the other. Great sportsmanship!

Match 6 (triangle): Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri) versus Faces of Fear versus Public Enemy

Rocco sported a new look—completely BALD!

At the onset, Barbarian gave Rocco a cross corner whip and followed with a powerslam for 2.
Stevie Ray tagged in and gave Rocco a gorilla press slam for another 2.
As Grunge tagged in, he got double-teamed by Harlem Heat.
Booker T tagged in and gave Grunge a scissors kick for 2.
When Stevie Ray tagged in, he clotheslined Grunge.
Booker T tagged in and gave Grunge a sidewalk slam.
After he missed an elbow drop, Booker T entertained the San Francisco faithful with a spinaroonie and followed with a Harlem sidekick.
Grunge then whipped Booker T into the corner but came up empty on his follow-through.
As Booker T came nearby Faces of Fear’s corner, Barbarian nailed him.
Meng tagged in and gave Booker T a dropkick for only 2 thanks to a save by Stevie Ray.
When Barbarian tagged in, he placed Booker T atop the top turnbuckle and delivered a top rope overhead belly-to-belly suplex for 2.
After Booker T got 2 on a rollup, Barbarian clotheslined him resulting in a 360° sell. Woohoo!
Meng tagged in and gave Booker T a piledriver for only 2 as Grunge made the save.
As Barbarian slammed Booker T, Faces of Fear mounted opposite second turnbuckles and hit stereo diving head butts.
Faces of Fear then gave Booker T their back drop/powerbomb combo but didn’t receive a count thanks to Stevie Ray.
When Barbarian gave Booker T a Mafia kick sending him over the top rope to the floor, Stevie Ray nailed him from behind.
Meng then disposed of Stevie Ray as Rocco mounted the top turnbuckle.
As he leaped, Barbarian caught him, but Grunge mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a cross body block putting all three wrestlers down on the mat.
Rocco then covered Barbarian.
1-2-3.
Public Enemy won.

Summary: That was an unexpected upset. While the other teams showcased their arsenals, Public Enemy stole a victory.

If Jarrett wins, he becomes a Horseman.
Mongo reversed a cross-corner whip, caught a floating Jarrett, and delivered a powerslam.
Next, he gave Jarrett a pair of three-point stance tackles.
As Debra distracted Mongo, Jarrett nailed him from behind.

Jarrett then hooked a rope-assisted abdominal stretch, but Mongo hip-tossed Jarrett to escape.
After giving Jarrett a gorilla press slam, Mongo clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor.
Debra then wiped down Jarrett with a towel until Mongo swiped the towel and choked him with it.
After whipping Jarrett into the steel railing, Mongo guillotined Jarrett using it.
Back in the ring, Jarrett face-planted Mongo and followed with a running guillotine.
Upon clotheslining Mongo, Jarrett got 2.
He then hooked a sleeper, but Mongo reversed it.
Jarrett then countered with a belly-to-back suplex.
Mongo got up first and got 2.
As Mongo delivered a sidewalk slam, he only got a 1-count due to overconfidence.
He then reversed an Irish whip and gave Jarrett a Bossman slam for 2.
Jarrett came back with a slam, mounted the top turnbuckle, hit a cross body block, and got 2.
During Mongo’s kick-out, Jarrett accidentally rammed heads with referee Scott Dickinson.
That allowed Debra to toss the Haliburton into the ring.
As Jarrett retrieved it, he ANNIHILATED Mongo into the middle of 2002.
Mongo was OUT COLD.
1-2-3.
Jarrett won and became a Horseman.

Match 8 (San Francisco Death): Chris Benoit (w/ Woman) versus Kevin Sullivan (w/ Jacqueline & Jimmy Hart)

Woman and Jacqueline were strapped together.
Right off the bat, Jacqueline and Woman fought as Benoit and Sullivan tore into one another.
After the women took turns with the strap, Sullivan gave Benoit a back drop.
Benoit came back with a slam, mounted the top turnbuckle, but got caught and slammed down to the mat.
When Sullivan gave Benoit a gutwrench suplex, the fight between Jacqueline and Woman spilled back into the ring.
Woman then whipped Jacqueline repeatedly with the strap.
As Sullivan got between them, Woman crotched him with the strap. I bet Sullivan’s voice was as high as Steve Perry’s.

When Benoit got between the women, Jacqueline whipped him.
With Woman no longer attached to the strap, Sullivan choked Benoit with it and hanged him over the top rope.
To add insult to injury, Jacqueline punted him down near Burlingame.
While Woman attacked Sullivan, Jacqueline nailed Benoit.
The women then took the strap and clotheslined the men.
As the women whipped one another, Sullivan tossed Benoit outside the ring.
Sullivan then joined and made Benoit taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the O’ Charlie sandwich at the Fly Bar.
Next, he gave Benoit a second helping. Waiter, could you please give the toothless Canadian a Foghorn Leghorn as well?

Benoit then returned the favor. Also, waiter, please give the bookerman a Book ‘em Danno.

While Benoit and Sullivan fought among the San Francisco faithful, Woman and Jacqueline scrapped in the ring.
As Benoit and Sullivan went backstage, Sullivan rammed him into an adjacent wall.
He then slammed him on an equipment vehicle and tossed a garbage can at Benoit.
When Benoit rammed Sullivan into the wall, Benoit tossed the same garbage can at him.
Sullivan and Benoit then returned to ringside, and Sullivan made Benoit taste the steel railing again. Waiter, an order of the funky chicken please?

Back in the ring, Sullivan tied Benoit to the Tree of Woe and nailed him in the midsection.
He then hit the double stomp, but Woman whipped him as he made the cover.
After Benoit delivered a piledriver, he pulled a table from under the ring.
Upon setting it up in the ring, Benoit placed Sullivan atop it.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle as Jacqueline floored Woman.
When Jacqueline covered Sullivan, Benoit splashed both of them.
Meanwhile, the table did not break. OUCH!
Benoit then pinned Sullivan.

Summary: Take the usual crazy brawl between Benoit and Sullivan, add another crazy brawl between their valets, and you whip the San Francisco faithful into a frenzy.

After the match, Arn Anderson shakes his head. Suddenly, Paul Orndorff, Terry Taylor, and “Stagger” Lee Marshall enter the ring to check on Benoit, Sullivan, and Jacqueline. EMTs then place all three combatants on stretchers. As they are wheeled backstage, Sullivan and an unconscious Jacqueline share an ambulance. Woman then joins Benoit in a separate ambulance.

Match 9 for the WCW World tag team titles (handicap): The Outsiders (champions w/ Syxx) versus Giant

Giant came to the ring alone without music.
After Hall put a couple of knees into his midsection, Giant nailed him with a back elbow.
Shortly after, Giant slammed Hall.
Nash tagged in, gave Giant a cross corner whip, and followed with a corner clothesline.
As Giant reversed another cross corner whip, he gave Nash his own corner clothesline.
Hall came in but received a clothesline as well.
Next, Giant dropkicked Nash OUT OF THE RING! Impressive!
He then joined and rammed Nash back-first into the ring post.
Upon re-entry, Giant hit an elbow drop for 2.
While Hall distracted referee Mark Curtis, Syxx mounted the top turnbuckle and nailed Giant with the Cruiserweight title belt.
Hall then mounted the second turnbuckle and delivered a bulldog for 2.
As the San Francisco faithful chanted “Lu-ger,” Nash gave Giant a standing boot choke in the corner.
He then distracted Curtis so that Hall could clothesline Giant from the apron. SNEAKY!
Again, Nash pulled a distraction so that Hall could give Giant a leg drop from the apron.
He then gave Giant a Hall-assisted running guillotine.
As Giant continued to lie across the second rope, Syxx tried to spin-kick him but missed.
After another running guillotine by Nash to Giant, Hall tagged in and tried to nail Giant in the corner but kept getting shoved away.
Giant then clotheslined an incoming Nash and gave Hall a big boot.
As Syxx mounted the top turnbuckle, he leaped but Giant caught and tossed him at Nash.
Hall then took the Cruiserweight title belt and WALLOPED Giant in the back.
Amazingly, Nash then gave Giant a jackknife powerbomb. Holy deadlift champions, Batman!
While both Giant and Nash were down on the mat, Lex Luger tried to come to ringside, but Eric Bischoff halted him.
Or so he thought as Luger manhandled him down to the concrete floor.
Luger then stood in the babyface corner…and got the “hot” tag.
While cleaning house, Luger clotheslined Syxx over the top rope to the floor.
He then applied the Torture Rack, and Nash submitted.
However, Giant, being the legal combatant, grabbed and chokeslammed Hall for a legitimate fall.
1-2-3.
WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!

Summary: While I’ll add a * for that powerbomb, the shenanigans used by the babyface team scream another miscarriage of justice tomorrow night. Stay tuned! According to Meltzer, Syxx separated his shoulder upon getting nailed by Luger.

Match 8 for the WCW World title: “Hollywood” Hogan (champion w/ the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase & Vincent) versus “Rowdy” Roddy Piper

Where’s Michael Buffer? I guess he wasn’t able to rumble in ‘Frisco for the show.
Hogan came out first. THAT’S NOT TRADITION!
Meanwhile, Piper came out still wearing the grimy clothes from Alcatraz.
When Hogan tried to walk out on the match, Piper caught him from behind.
Piper then tossed him in the ring and hit him somewhere near Monterey.

Upon removing his dirty shirt, Piper choked Hogan with it.
Next, he bit Hogan until the champion exited the ring.
Piper then grabbed and made Hogan taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Abe Froman sausage sandwich at Hogwash.

After making Hogan HIT THE POLE, Piper nailed Hogan with a chair.
Back in the ring, Hogan retaliated with a low blow, but Piper no-sold it.
Suddenly, Michael Wallstreet ran to the ring, got up on the apron, but got nailed by Piper.
Vincent tried the same routine but got the same result.
After an eye poke, Piper rang Hogan’s bell.
Hogan then dragged Piper out of the ring and rammed him hip-first into the apron.
On the other hand, Piper no-sold it and brawled with Hogan on the floor. Selling? What’s that?
As Piper sauntered after Hogan in the ring, he crotched Hogan using the top rope.
Abruptly, “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Sting came to ringside.
When Savage made his way toward the ring, Sting stopped him. Shortly after, Sting returned backstage while Savage came to the ring.
As the San Francisco faithful chanted “We Want Sting,” Hogan rammed Piper back-first into the ring post.
He then rammed Piper’s left leg into it.
In the ring, Hogan reversed an Irish whip and hooked a bear hug.
What? A wrestling hold? NO WAY!
While the San Francisco faithful chanted “Pip-er,” Hogan took Piper down to the mat for 2.
After Piper rang Hogan’s bell to escape, Hogan missed an elbow drop.
Upon giving Piper another low blow, Hogan attempted a slam, but Piper countered with a sleeper.
Right in front of Savage, Curtis checked on Hogan, and Hogan was OUT COLD.

WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
Behind referee Mark Curtis’ back, Savage pulled Hogan’s leg under the bottom rope after the fact.
Savage then gave Hogan some brass knux, and Hogan CLOBBERED Piper.
1-2-3.
Hogan retained.

After the match, Savage helps Hogan to his feet and nails Piper. WE HAVE A HEEL TURN! He then takes spray paint from DiBiase and writes on Piper’s chest. In the meantime, Hogan dispatches Curtis from the ring. Next, Savage mounts the top turnbuckle and hits the big elbow. Hogan then follows with a pair of leg drops. Again, Savage mounts the top turnbuckle and hits a second followed by a third elbow. Hogan then counts a pin for Savage while stroking his ego to the camera.

Conclusion: This was the first instance of Hogan’s creative control was used to “get his win back.” While the hype for the main event exceeded its execution, the nWo storyline continued with a huge addition. As far as the rest of the show is concerned, unless you’re a big fan of Sean Waltman or the Sullivan/Benoit feud, I’d skip this show.