by Christopher Robin Zimmerman WrestleLine/WrestleManiacs I GET LETTERS: Michael Javornik brings the "you are there," 'cause...he was there: Hi CRZ, I got to see Spring Stempede live last night. Not that it's a good thing... The only reason I went was because RAW/Smackdown! or any WWF PPV sells out in like 20 minutes, and I need my live wrestling fix somehow. It was either WCW or WCPW (Windy City Professional Wrestling). Which one would you pick? Here are some random things that I noticed at the event:
  • The crowd was bigger than I expected. Meltzer said the advance was 5500, but i wouldn't be surprised if they hit 10,000. The lower level was full (except for the seats around the cameras), and the second level was nearly full. The upper deck was blackened out but there was still a fair amount of people. I guess Chicago fans will watch any kind of wrestling.
  • Crowd heat was almost non-existent. I think one of the problems was that the crowd didn't know who to boo and who to cheer. During the pre-game show Russo and Bischoff got a mixed reaction (half/half). Guys like Steiner and Buff also got mixed reactions. Now if the point of this new regime is to get the young guys over, they are doing it wrong. Guess who got the biggest pop and most sustainable heat? You guessed it, Hogan. As a matter of fact the most over guys were Hogan, Nash, Sting, and MANCOW! The New Blood got little to no heat. Nobody knew who Mike Awesome was. Harlem Heat, the Wall, and the Mamalukes got NO reaction. I mean, even VISCERA gets a reaction!
  • After the tag title match, Russo put the bats to Flair, but I think the camera already cut to a Steiner promo.
  • Everytime Elizabeth comes down the aisle, the crew guys put a black carpet on the ramp. Maybe she had an accident once? After she walks down the ramp, they yank to carpet off. Weird.
  • Speaking of having accidents on the ramp, I don't think the cameras caught this, but when Tammy came down she WIPED OUT right onto her fat ass. That got a good pop.
  • Absolutely nothing happened after the show went off the air. No Hogan, No Goldberg, No Hart.
  • Russo and Bischoff are egomaniacs. Thank you for your attention,
    Michael Javornik OKAY, METAPHOR: I'm saying that you can give me the GREATEST loaf of BREAD in the world, but you can't expect me to GO ON TO tell the world that I've just had the best SANDWICH of my life. 'cause there's no MEAT, my man. NO SEGUES NEEDED: Let me tell you how great my car is. I left the keys in it for THE ENTIRE DAY at my work's parking lot and NOBODY wanted to drive it away! I guess my only excuse for being so absent-minded was that today is the American tax day. Not a good day. I owed BIG TIME. It's the dark side of stock options, mark my words. I wouldn't mind so much except that the price of Concentric has been sliced by a third in this past month...of course, when all that money is on paper, it's a lot easier to just keep it out of mind...except during tax season. Which brings me full circle....now WHERE are those keys! QUICK QUOTES: Speaking of dollars and stocks and whatnot...whoa! How ABOUT that crash? AOL 58 3/4 (- 8 1/2), TWX 84 5/8 (- 7 3/4), SPLN 11 5/8 (- 11 1/4). MAN! SportsLine.com is trading at an 18-month low - I hope the WrestleManiacs aren't getting paid in stock options! Come to think of it...WrestleLine's first on the chopping block if SportsLine goes under, right? Yeah, I know - CBS wouldn't DARE let SportsLine go under with the big investment it's made in it. Still....you think CBS cares whether WrestleLine lives or dies? You think *SportsLine* cares whether WrestleLine lives or dies? HELL! You think *I* care? That's right, I'm feelin' fesity! Who wants a piece? (I still harbor the suspicion that when CBS and the WWF make a deal, SportsLine might start getting "suggestions" from their major investor... WCW logo - like it or not - it's out there Hey, how about some still shots of last night's PPV, "courtesy WCW Magazine?" Sure. I'd tell you what I thought of this event, but you'd accuse me of bias or something. Don't worry; we'll pick it up as it comes up tonight... >From three different locales, WCW Security makes sure all the doors are secure. Nobody's getting in that they don't want to get in! It's an invitation-only affair - TONIGHT - ON WCW MONDAY NITRO! Opening, Grrl-less graphic. TV-14-DL (hmm, TV-14?) ratings box and PYRO and close captioned logo welcome you to Rockford, IL and the Metrocenter - it's 17.4.2K, WE ARE LIVE and...what's that playing, "New York, New York?" Well, if 1000 Strings performed it, perhaps... As paper - and then balloons - fall from the ceiling, THREE RIOT SQUAD COPS are out first - then VIC VENOM leads out the NEW BLOOD ORDER (thanks, Heather) - the NEW US champion, the tag champions and the Cruiserweight titleholder (and his girl) are all out. Noticably absent is the new World champ. The leaflets say "New Blood," the balloons are red, the confetti is red..this goes on for a while. The problem with dropping balloons is you end up drowned out by the sound of popping balloons-- Hey, who did YOU think would talk first? Of course...Russo! "Cut the music! You can boo all you want, that doesn't change the fact that I'm BETTER than you! Now *this* is what you call a NEW YORK PARTY! Look at all the gold in this ring! Last night at Spring Stampede, the New Blood came into their own, just like Vince Russo said so. (POP popopopopopopopPOPpopopopop) We've got the new Cruiserweight champion, Chris Candido, and Chris, I told ya there would be Sunny days ahead - look what happened! And last night, they defeated Slick (Dick) and the very SMALL Package - they are our NEW tag team champions, the Franchise - BUFF Bagwell! And what can you say about Big Poppa Pump... the NEW US Champion. Now one thing I wanna mention - last night there is one title that got away from the New Blood - but Terry Funk, that will all change tonight, because you see, Funk, you're not a New Blood, you're not a Millionaire, you're just TOO DAMN OLD, (POPpoppoppopopopPOPpopPOPppopopopopo) and speaking of old, you know, that other small promotion where I used to work - the WWF - there was an OLD, crotchety, old man who used to wear a black cowboy hat, and this old man did everything he could to keep my next guest down, and let me just say right now, JR, you can kiss my ass, because here is the NEW WCW World champion - the Chosen One, JEFF JARRETT!" Quick impressions:
  • Tammy's aged - and not particularly well - she's AWFULLY...umm...curvy? Is that the kind way to put it?
  • Who is this JR guy and where can I watch him? And here he is... "Cut the damn music! Don't you EVER, EVER doubt me again! I said it, I did it, and now you're allllll EATIN' it! You know, Vince, aside from the day my child was born, this is the greatest day in my life! And I just wanna say one thing to that announcer sittin' in State College, Pennsylvania, good ol' JR, you can kiss my ass! And speaking of asses, that brings me to Diamond Dallas Page. Now Page, even though I beat your ass last night, I got a little proposition for ya. Being that the New Blood is all about opportunity, I'm gonna hand you one. Now I must admit, I was a little pissed off when I wasn't asked to be in 'Ready to Rumble.' Granted, the actors weren't even in my league, but it was the point...so I tell you what I'm gonna do - you know that three-tiered cage that you used in the movie? Well, in order for me to embarrass you in front of all your Hollywood friends, at Slamboree, why don't I slap (your nuts) from the bottom of that cage, all the way to the top, because that's where the World title's gonna be hangin'. You want the prize, Page, all you have to do is climb to the top and grab it." Russo: "And, speaking of prizes, let me take out my next guest, because Jeff, with all due respect, this next man may have grabbed the biggest prize of all last night - your friend, and mine - Mister ERIC BISCHOFF!" The theme from "NWO Monday Nitro" plays and out walks Bischoff...with KIMBRRLY, arm in arm. Tony tell us it was one of the craziest turns he'd ever seen. My take: as far as "shock" turns go, last night's Kimberly turn wasn't too bad - *except* for the fact that before she even got in the ring, it was made SOOO OBVIOUS she was going to kabong Page with that guitar. Hell, it was at least as bad as Stephanie's turn! (There, is that "impartial" enough for ya?) As we look at the riot guards one more time, speaking of obvious swerves, I have to wonder when we'll find out if perhaps there are some surprises under those helmets... "Oh, damn, I love all of you! You know I had SO much fun last night seeing Jeff Jarrett defeat Diamond Dallas Page - it was beyond all of my expectations. I told you last week, I made you Page, and I can break you, and that's exactly what I'm going to do but I'm going to do it in a way that, well according to your wife, a way that you were never able to do - I'm gonna make it last a long time, because torturing you is nothing but fun for me - and this beautiful wife of yours is nothing but ice - make that whipped cream on my cake." "Page, honey - buddy - words can't begin to describe how sorry I am for having to hit you with the guitar last night. I mean, it's a really heavy thing to have to blow off what was essentially an eleven year relationship. But from day one, that relationship has been subjugated to the needs - the schedule - and the opportunities of D - D - ME. And you know what? I have stood beside you and in your shadow all those years - all those years - and you made sure that that happened. Haha - You know why? I think I know why - because deep down, you really knew that *I* was really the star! Right? I mean, I have had opportunity after opportunity here. This man has wanted has wanted to give them to me and I've had to say no every single time - why? Because DDP said so. Well, no more - no more, you know what? From last night on, this little girl is gonna pay attention to Kimberly's needs, Kimberly's schedule, and Kimberly's opportunities, and right now...my opportunity is standin' right next to me." "Indeed it is - and before we go I wanna thank Mr. Russo for throwing this big party for all of you and all of us, making sure security, we own this party tonight - Hogan, you're not invited - no more crashing the party, we've got security around the building - you my friend, are not invited. Don't wanna see your big bald head in our neck of the woods anytime in the near future. This is nothing about fun for all of us. Thank you all, thank you very much, thank you all, thank you very much." Anyway, while Bischoff and Russo keep talking, we go backstage to see Page's car arrive at the arena, Paget get out, chat with some security, bust 'em up, then walk up to the ring (walking by Stasiak and Hennig in the process - oops, exposed the business again) and INTO the ring, since the riot squad parts "like the Red Sea" - Page works over the five wrestlers, but he's one and they're five. But now the riot squad enters the ring - WHAT A SWERVE! - why, it's really Flair, Sting and Package under those riot squad helmets! They clear the ring through judicious use of their bashin' batons and then some Metallica plays. And we go to a break. You know, Kimberly isn't much of an actress - but she looks good so it's okay...I guess Sonics/Kings tomorrow! Will the Kings finally win a big one? Prob'ly not Promotional consideration paid for by Slim Jim (no Savage), Geico, Geico (again), Toaster Breaks Pizza from Hot Pockets, and America (ha!) Online Moments Ago, Page beat up some security guys in slo-motion, walked through the riot squad, hit the ring where Bischoff and Russo quickly exited, fell behind five on one, only to have the squad unmask and whack away. In the office, Bischoff berates LeRoux, Bigelow, Morrus, Guerrero, Flynn, and Booker for not helping out - especially Booker. Apparently, he's in charge of this group of wrestlers. "I'm gettin' real tired of you." They've got a very short time to get on his good side. Bischoff dares them to "get it right." They're sent off - also, Russo is dispatched to find Awesome to get him to kick Page's ass. As he leaves, the security outside the arena comes in and quits en masse - apparently, this job isn't as easy as Bischoff said it was going to be, and they don't need the money. Eric gives us a "what else can go wrong?" and then the phone rings - Bischoff picks it up and it's one of those MAGIC phones where we can hear the other end - it's Hulk Hogan, and he's set to kick Bischoff's ass in about five minutes. Your hosts are TONY SCHIAVONE, SCOTT HUDSON and MOBY MARK, THE WHITE WHALE. I heard I was called a "jabrone" on WCW Live last week - is that a step up from "jackass?" Once again, we thank you for your support. Keep the cards and letters coming! Their desk is covered with the red stuff. Tonight, the battleground is Monday Nitro! SHAWN "THE PERFECT ONE" STASIAK v. CURT HENNIG - Stasiak comes out to the Mr. Perfect soundalike theme. Hennig comes out to his generic music. Okay, here's the deal. I'll do play-by-play for this match, but if there's a run-in, THAT'S IT for the night. Bit of a staredown - MISS HANCOCK is out in record time - all right, maybe the SECOND run-in. Stasiak shoves Hennig into the corner. Lockup, armdrag by Hennig. This is a feeling out process! Lockup, hiplock takeover by Hennig. Stasiak frustrated - just a bit. Lockup, knee, right, right, Stasiak whips him into the corner, hiptoss, scoop - and a slam - Hennig rolls outside. Hancock is WRITING! Hennig decides to pull Stasiak outside - chop! Chop! Head to the (no longer covered) barricade - chop - Stasiak falls on the commentary table. Hennig borrows the Mark's water - douses the Mark (why? Don't know - DON'T CARE! GO GO HENNIG), then drops an elbow across Stasiak's back. Back in the ring, Stasiak with a kick, a forearm, into the ropes - Hennig does a cartwheel! But Stasiak clotheslines him. Hudson says "World Wrestling Federation," what's that? All over him with punches, knee, vertical suplex, 1, 2, kickout. Head to the buckle as we look at Hancock again. Off the ropes, gutshot by Hennig, off the ropes with the kneelift. Running lariat takes out Stasiak AND referee "Blind" Charles Robinson. Off the ropes, Hennigplex coming up. But - gosh - there's no ref! JUST LIKE *EVERY* MATCH! Stasiak goes to his kneepad and brings out some knux. Loaded right - KO Hennig - stuffed back in the kneepad - waking up Robinson - Stasiak hits the "Perfect Plant" (nee Meat Grinder) for the pin. (3:47) Stasiak isn't done - he gets to stomping as we cut to Outside, we ride with some policemen - is it an episode of "COPS?" No, it's Hogan getting out of different car as the cops and the cameraman get out of THEIR car - now some cops block Hogan's way. Hands on guns but I beat they're not drawn on THIS show. "I got one thing to say, guys - I'm going in there one way or the other." Now, what's SUPPOSED to happen here is that Hogan is *so intense* that the cops are afraid to do anything BUT let him by, but what REALLY happens is Hogan does a lot of staring, there's an uneasy silence (punctuated by somebody heckling Hogan - heh - "You suck, Hogan!") and then, as if Hogan were a Jedi, the cops say "these aren't the droids we're looking for - move along." Hogan walks in, by all sorts of folk, Tony says something about the Wall but I didn't see it - THEN he says "Get this mic off me" to a stagehand - THEM'S PRODUCTION VALUES!! - now he's walking, he's walking, he's - he's apparently lost and can't find the way to the aisle, as he's walked by the entrance in the middle of the curtain. Whoops! Quick, cut to the crowd! Apparently, this whole time this has been happening, in the ring Stasiak has been working over Hennig. Now we see Hogan's found his way to the aisle - he's in the ring - block, right, Stasiak is out. Hogan tosses him over the top rope to the floor. Crowd chants "Ho Gan!" Quick, to the break! WCW Magazine ad This portion of Nitro is brought to you by George Foreman, his daughter, and MEINEKE! Hogan's still in the ring when we come back - his music's been playing during the entire ad break, apparently, but now he's got THE STICK: "You know something, everybody? I just wanna clear up a couple things right now. You know, standing out here in front of you as a man, I just gotta get something off my chest and clear it up. You know, over this last year, I've had a lot of time to listen to what all the fans have had to say about Hulk Hogan. Oh yeah, man, I've listened to all the fans and all the 'maniacs, and they think this Hulkamania stuff is gonna live forever. And I've also listened to the critics - and I've heard the critics ask the question, well is Hulk Hogan getting older? Well, yeah, Hulk Hogan is getting older, and so is every other damn wrestler in the back too, day by day, and I've also - I've also heard the critics ask the question over and over again, is Hulk Hogan losing a step or two? Well, let me tell you something. Hulk Hogan isn't losing a step, I've only lost half a step. But the one question that I hear, over and over by all the critics, is does Hulk Hogan still have something to offer the wrestling business? And I'm here to tell ya - I'm here to tell ya, you're damn right I do, 'cause I'm here to lead by example. As far as my spot in this business goes, as far as being a lead dog, if there's anybody in the back that wants to come out here right now and take my spot, I'm ready to kick your ass. You know, you can mess with the character of Hulk Hogan, you can mess with the gimmick, you can make me slip on a banana peel for a 1-2-3, or Bischoff and Russo could try to embarrass Hulk Hogan by making a fool out of him, but when Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo pulled what they did at Nitro last week, and what they did at Spring Stampede, they're messing with the man, Terry Bollea. And as far as Terry Bollea is concerned, Bischoff and Russo - when you decided to try to take money out of my pocket, and food out of my kids' mouth, you went way beyond the line, becuase Terry Bollea has more heart than you two, or any other wrestler in the damn back. And as far as I'm concerned, if anybody wants my spot, like I said - they better have it in their blood, they better be a different kind of a breed of wrestler, because I'm here until somebody kicks my ass or runs me off, and that brings me to that snot-nosed punk, Billy Kidman! You know something, Kidman, I've litstened to you cry and whine to Bischoff and Russo and the other promoters that were here and gone, how you wanted the big push, how you weren't gonna leave the hotel room until you knew what they were gonna do with ya out here. Well brother, you make me sick, and I'm starting out on you tonight, brother. If you want my spot, get your ass out here and come and ry to take it - you know something? You called me out last week, Billy Kidman, and now this week, I'm calling your ass out - and make sure - Bischoff and Russo, I hope you're watching. Kidman, get your ass out here 'cause I'll kick right now, get out here!" Backstage, we see Kidman (clad it graffiti'd Hogan shirt) and Torrie on the NitroVision - he tells Hogan that HE should come get HIM. Bischoff stands propped up against the white Hummer in the background. Hogan duly leaves the ring and walks off...and...we take an ad break. Is that really Bischoff or a cardboard cutout? When we come back, Hogan is outside, WALKING! "God damn" just misses the mute - "son of a bitch" doesn't even get a "howdy neighbour" from the censor. GENE O. works tonight! He stands with Jeff Jarrett, who tells him to shut up. Jarrett says he's gonna hang an open contract out for any non-member of the Millionaire Club to get a shot tonight. Then he calls Okerlund "Jurassic slapass." THE WALL v. TERRY FUNK for the Hardcore title - Tony builds up Hogan's first utterance of "Terry Bollea" as the second coming of Christ - ummm, but they said it in that "Best of Thunder" interview a whopping 12 days ago, so how big of a deal IS it, really? Let Us Take You Back to Last Night's "shoot" between Russo and Rhodes where "Goldust" is said lots of times. Funk brings a chair and he's gonna use it. Chair, chair, chair, no effect on the Wall. Right, right, over the ropes goes Funk. Wall follows with the chair. "Shit" DOES get muted. Funk with a shot to the bricks. Now he's got the chair - chair, chair, chair, chair - climbing to the top rope - moonsault? YES! Except...he kinda lands right on his head instead of hitting Wall - then he twitches OLD SCHOOL style, to let you and I know that really, he's okay. That's reassuring, 'cause that looked NASTY. Wall has recovered - gives Funk a boot to the head, then grabs the chair - chair! Chair! Wall puts Funk's head to the commentary table - up on the table - piledriver! And the table doesn't break! All the commentators lose their headsets. Wall with the chair to Funk's throat. Funk ends up pulling away the Mark's headset with his leg - aww, what a shame. Funk into a barricade - now Wall has another guardrail and sandwiching Funk's head between them! Now they're walking over to DJ Ran's position - chair! Funk starts swearing and swinging - but Wall has Funk in one of the Nitro Grrl cages - and repeatedly slams the door (kinda) on his head. Not really, 'cause the space between the bars is bigger than his head, but I appreciate the sentiment. Now, some tables suspciously tip over onto Wall. Funk puts one onto Wall, then stomps on the table, breaking it - referee "Blind" Mickie Jaye puts on the count - 1, 2, 3. (4:58) We cut to There's a knock at the door. It's Adams and Clarke - they tell Russo he's hard to find, then tell him they're ready. When's their title match? Russo tells them that tonight isn't a good night for that title match. Adams says he doesn't give a damn about tonight's problems, "we had a deal!" Russo says he didn't say they'd get their title shot TONIGHT, and they'd best get out of his way. They let him pass...so, like, Clarke's a mute? Meanwhile, we take a look at the open contract on the door - wait - someone's signing it! But...damn! All we see is a hand! Sure, it's a white guy - but that could be practically anybody! WHO signed it? WHO? Maybe we'll find out...after this short ad break Promotional consideration paid for by Toaster Breaks Pizza from hot Pockets (again), Motel 6, the city of Las Vegas, the Super Soaker CPS 2500 & 3000, and Hot Pockets from Hot Porckets! Jeff Jarrett sees the contract and says "you've got to be kidding me, that freakin' Russo has got to be the BIGGEST idiot..." Oh damn, don't tell me RUSSO signed his OWN name to the contract... Gene O. (and the TV-14-DL ratings box) stands backstage with Diamond Dallas Page - he's got a match with Mike Awesome? Whatever. He's a little pissed off after Spring Stampede - it ain't over yet - not by a longshot. Page grabs the camera and speaks into it - he's leaving Awesome laying, then he's coming after Bischoff to rip him a new ass. He hopes Hogan doesn't get to him first, 'cause putting him in the hospital is going to be HIS job. Hey, look! It's BRUCE WIRTZ MACARTHUR! Isn't he a friend o' Flair's? And there's BOB PROBERT! He's a hockey dude! MAMALUKES v. ? - the Mamalukes stand in the ring, but their opponents, the HARRIS BROS, are left laying backstage by BRIAN & BRYAN. Schiavone says that this was supposed to be a #1 Contenders' bout - Adams and Clarke walk by Billy Silverman (who decides to NOT get to the ring) and hit the ring. Adams with a full nelson slam on Vito. Johnny tries his nimble jumping, but lands into a uranage from Clarke. Schiavone tells us that their team name is "Chronic." Has Dr. Dre been alerted? Adams with a fireman's carry into a reverse ...bulldog? I dunno. Clark with the Meltdown. There's a double uranage. And here's one for Johnny as well... "1 - 2 - " double uranage. Johnny tossed outside. Adams has the mic. "Vince Russo! This is just a message to you. We've both worked for you before, and you sure as hell know you don't want us working against you. The bottom line is this, Russo, all these WCW badasses back in the dressing room have all been shakin' like a bunch of (possible drug reference?) since Chronic has shown up. And whoever - anyone - has the horrible luck of havin' to face us in the ring, they will feel chronic pain, they will take a chronic beating, and they will live a chronic nightmare. Russo, keep dragging your feet, and you're gonna find out exactly what I'm talking about." They have music! Some dude says "chronic..." - that's their music. Yup. Clarke says.....nothin'. Oh, RAW started during this bit, yeah. Our commentators wonder aloud what will happen when Hogan finds Kidman - also, who signed the open contract? CLOSE YOUR MOUTH, MARK! COME ON! We're interrupted by the music and appearance of JOBBIN' VAMPIRO, who's got THE STICK: "Hey - I have come to send a message...to my brother in painnnnnnnnnnnnn. Sting! You know NOTHING! about pain. And even what happened last night between us - and only you truly know what happened when I dragged your tired, bored old ass underneath the ring - you still know absolutely nothing...about pain. But ya think you do. Sting - I heard your screams. I drew and tasted and felt your blood. And I smelled...all your fear. But that was last night. And tonight, it's just the beginning. I allowed myself just a little taste, Sting - a sip. 'cause I wanted to save the rest...in three weeks, at Slamboree, I am gonna devour you. I am gonna show you what it's like to walk around with your humanity stripped - just like I have, Sting!" Crowd: "Where's the gong?" "I am gonna drag you to the depths of hell, Sting! Welcome to my nightmare!" But the lights were turned out two sentences ago - Metallica fires up and ...from the rafters, (THIS IS) STING. Of all the stuff Russo recycled...aw, never mind it. Sting's got a bat with him - to the throat, again, choking Vampiro. "Vampiro, you look like somebody just walked over your grave, BOY! Right now I feel like rompin' stompin' graveyard destruc-tion!" Bat to the gut! Bat to the back! GILLOOLY SHOT! "I'm gonna get you a little lesson here, boy. You think I don't know anything about pain?" Headbutt. Bat to the back. "I learned form the best - I learned from guys like Natur Boy Ric Flair!" Gillooly! "Guys like the Total Package!" To the back! Atomic drop! "One thing's for sure is you're gonan grow up real quick around here - BOY. C'mere--" SCORPION DEATH DROP! "WCW runs through MY veins! This is MY turf." Now play that Metallica! Vampiro is as mackerel - for he hath jobbed again. "Moments Ago," one paragraph ago - Sting came down kinda quick, didn't he? Watch Vampiro just STAND there as Sting unhooks his harness. Now watch Vampiro take all the bat shots again - now watch Vampiro eat the Scorpion Death Drop. Wow, this replay really builds up that New Blood! Hulk Hogan is WALKING! Although he stops to pat the back of some children...RIGHT after he says "son of a bitch," heh heh heh. Meanwhile, Jeff Jarrett tells Vince Russo that this was a hell of an idea - "you got me into this crap, you get me out of it." Russo says "I'll go talk to him." WHO? WHO? Must be Tank Abbott. Who else could it be? DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE v. I JOBBED TO TAZZ - somebody in the front row was given a free copy of "Positively Page," as long as he promised to show it to the camera - NOW! Page has a book signing somewhere tomorrow. If you REALLY wanted to know, you should have watched the show, 'cause even *I* have my limits. Page ducks, punches, punches, clothslines, stomps, punches, rights, lefts, "you want some Bischoff? You rat bastard!" Whip into the corner, Awesome leaps to the second turnbuckle and springs off with a back elbow - cover - 2. Off the ropes, splash, 1, 2, no. Into the ropes, hiptoss is countered with a sorta not really Diamond Cutter - 1, 2, no. Page clotheslines, Awesome ducks, and hits a lariat of his own - 1, 2, Page kicks out. Right from Awesome, whip is reversed, caught in a uranage - Page gets 2. Page whips Awesome, but he holds on and collides with Page, who goes through the ropes to the floor. Awesome onto the top rope - springs off with a lariat to the floor! Right, whip into the guard rail - followup splash misses - Page has a chair - WHACK! WHACK! Back into the ring we go, Awesome puts up a boot to the chair to Page - then hits the chair and Page flies through to the outside. CHRIS KANYON hits the ring, Billy Silverman calls for the bell, despite the fact that the commentators just went out of their way to tell us all about the relaxed disqualification rule (oops) - the bell DOESN'T ring, Awesome turns it around and belly-to-belly overhead release suplexes Kanyon across the ring. Awesome says "table!" then goes out for a table. The bell FINALLY rings after Silverman's tried for around thirty seconds (DQ 3:07 - or 2:39, depending) to get somebody to do it. I'll give them credit for not ringing it off the hook like they've BEEN doing, though. Big clothesline for Kanyon to keep him down. Gutshot - but before he powebombs him through the table, the Wolfpac theme starts up - he lets go of Kanyon and he - and we - look towards the entrance, which usually means Nash will sneak up from behind...yep, there he is with a clothesline from the backside. Now HE'S gonna powerbomb AWESOME through the table - yikes! And he had Awesome *parallel* to the table instead of perpendicular - that can't be good. Nash and Page touch fists - I guess Page has finally joined the Wolfpac? Kanyon, Page and Nash walk off as we see several angles of the jackknife through the table. Russo talks to an unseen person about Jarrett... Well, it wasn't Tank Abbott - 'cause he's over HERE - AND HE'S WALKING! See the superstars of WCW LIVE next Monday in Rochester for Nitro, next Tuesday in Syracuse for Thunder, next Wednesday in Glens Falls (not for Saturday Night now?), and tix go on sale Friday for Slamboree in Kansas City, and Nitro in St. Louis! Gene O. stands with Bagwell & Douglas, the new WCW tag team champions - they're New Blood. Bagwell has Package at Slamboree (hmmm, haven't seen THAT one before) and Douglas has Flair at Slamboree - but he wants Luger TONIGHT! Package interrupts the proceedings and says if he wants a match, he can have it - but there's a condition - if Vince Russo interferes before the final bell, the tag team titles go to Team Package. Douglas agrees to this...I wonder if that'll come back to haunt him...nah, probably not. YEAHBABY TANK YEAHBABY ABBOTT YEAHBABY slowly walks to the ring as the Mark goes apoplectic. "Don't even look at me, fatass!" Sign in crowd: "TANK U 4 SHUTTING UP MADDEN" "Bill Goldberg - this is not my first barbecue. I've fought my whole life! And I've seen this song and dance before. I show up - you want a piece of me and you get hurt. Like I said before, Bill - until you grow nuts big enough to fight me, I'm gonna beat up innocent idiots that think you're a hero. You just remember, Bill, I'm gonna get somebody tonight - and this one's on you." The commentators get ready to bolt - Tank walks the other way instead - a photographer is shoved away - a camera is pushed off - the fan holding the Page autobiography? Nah. At this point, a drink ALMOST hits Abbott - oh well, nice try. Hey, Bruce MacArthur? Ayup. Damn, I thought he was gonna piledriver him! Fortunately, before he can do anything with him, Probert decides to jump the rail and grab him - Doug Dillinger and Security prevent anything from happening, though... Meanwhile, Hulk Hogan happens upon Terry Taylor, who promptly stooges off Kidman. Maybe they'll finally meet - right after this short word! RUNKLES! HAAAAAhahahahahahaha Jimmy Barron phones it in with 1-800-CAL-LATT. Next Monday, Nitro hits Rochester! There's, like, NO shows between now and then! NitroGirls.com ad - do they even HAVE Nitro Girls anymore? Jeff Jarrett gives us anxious - Russo tells us that they guy is serious! Or - wait - is it a guy? No, he definitely said "he wants his shot at the WCW title!" Russo says he'll find some way to get him out of this. Jarrett calls him J.J. Dillon! OOOOOH! Is it Hacksaw Jim Duggan? Prob'ly not Hey, did Hogan find Kidman? Is he lost again? TOTAL PACKAGE (with Liz) v. "THE FRANCHISE" SHANE DOUGLAS - as Package comes out to music and lighting (see...oh never mind) commentators speculate that maybe it's someone from another promotion - hey, it's not Chyna, is it? Naah. Douglas comes out to some old Styx, I think. Lockup, to the corner - referee "Blind" Billy Silverman tries to separate these two but doesn't have much luck. Package blocks and punches. Head to the opposite corner, head to the adjacent corner, running his head along the top rope - big gutshot, big right, punch, punch, punch, kick, kick, kick, all right, that's it for me. How many times do you hear them saying "the fans want the disqualification rule relaxed," and do you think to yourself, "hey, wait, I'M a fan! They didn't ask ME!" BUFF IS THE STUFF makes the predictable run-in and gets showered with garbage on his way to the ring. Commentators talk about Bagwell's pyro and music as if Package didn't get any. Golota by Douglas, but they don't DQ for that now. Trash all OVER the place - I guess that's what happens when you drop several cases of crumple-able paper on the crowd at the beginning of the night. There's a guy dressed like Sting in the crowd! But if Russo interferes, it's a tag team title change - why, that must be somebody else then. HE HIT DOUGLAS!! OH MAN, WHAT A SWERVE! Luger with a powerslam - oh, it's just THE MAN. I didn't expect THAT, what with them being tag team partners and all. Silverman calls for the bell (relaxed DQ -3:41) and now VIC VENOM is out to pull Douglas to safety, but not before Team Package gets a few stomps in before he's pulled out. "Screw you, Flair!" Bagwell and Douglas ask Russo where the hell he was - Russo reminds them of the stip - they must have forgotten it... Meanwhile, we look out in a parking garage, where Hulk Hogan is WALKING! The Hummer is at the other end...oh, BULLSHIT. He's gonna get there before the end of this ad break. When we come back, Hogan is punching Kidman - Torrie with a 2x4 from behind - oops, no effect. Hogan has her by the neck, and he's ready to deck her, but Kidman hits him from behind. His flurry is short, as Hogan regains control, runs him into the wall, into a trash dumpster, choking him out. "We don't wrestle anymore in WCW" - well, NO SHIT. We cut to a look over Eric Bischoff's shoulder. Hogan still destroying Kidman. This is how they give people pushes. Hogan dumps Kidman into a dumpster and advances on Bischoff, who quickly steps into the Hummer - but it wouldn't start! Bischoff sprints up and out of the building. Hogan gratuitously swears some more, piles into the Hummer...and runs into the dumpster! And again - and again. And now Hogan drives off, in the direction of Bischoff... Let Us Take You Back to Moments Ago. Ask yourself: was this the kind of payoff for an entire show's worth of Hogan walking around looking for Kidman you wanted to see? Does this seem more palatable because they keep saying "Terry Bollea" over and over? Is Hogan REALLY in the Millionaire's Club if we never see him interacting with ANY of them, save for a scant few seconds with Sting on last week's Nitro? And finally, despite the fact that all of these are rhetorical questions, how many of you will STILL attempt to write me with answers to these questions? Kidman is loaded onto a gurney from the dumpster (how'd they get him onto it from inside the dumpster, by the way?) Torrie acts (ha) (don't ha, come on) (oh, all right) ACTS concerned. JEDOUBLEF JADOUBLEREDOUBLET v. ? for the World Heavyweight championship - the problem with these mysteries...they so SELDOM seem to live up to all the buildup. Hey! You don't think...you don't think it's *Savio Vega*, do ya? Oops, the music gives it away - it's SUPERSTAR SCOTT STEINER (with six - err, three hooches) - the #1 Contender as well as the NEW United States Heavyweight champion. "Is the New Blood disintegrating before our very eyes?" Yeah, A WHOLE WEEK LATER. WOW! Lockup, Stiener muscles him into the corner, kick, kick, kick, kick, right, right, right, right, right, words for referee "Blind" Nick Patrick. Off the ropes, clothesline. Elbowdrop. Press - and drop. Kick, into the opposite corner, Jarrett puts up the boots - stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, Jarrett to the second rope - double axehandle. "Jarrett sux" chant - which isn't muted (thank you). Off the ropes, back elbow. Crossbody off the second rope - for 2. Standing dropkick by Jarrett. Into the corner, Jarrett up - but caught on the shoulder - Steiner rams his ass into the top turnbuckle - now tied to the Tree of Woe, Steiner to the outside and pulling back on his head. Steiner shares a moment with a lucky fan at ringside. Back in the ring - belly-to-belly suplex - for 2. Jarrett's trick knee acts up to turn the tide - off the ropes, sleeper, Steiner turns into it, drops, and HE Golotas Jarrett. Steiner Recliner! Cue the run-in, I think - sure enough, it's BOOKA T. with an axe kick on Steiner (relaxed DQ 3:27) - both men are laid out. Booker says to Jarrett, "You welcome, punk." Hey, give them credit - for once, they don't feel like they need to explain it - like we can actually figure it out for ourselves. And yet, on the other hand...what good does it to for them to talk to us about the relaxed disqualification rule if you STILL have a MAJORITY of the matches end in a DQ? DON'T YOU GET IT??????? Backstage, Hogan has a lead pipe - AND HE'S WALKING! And swinging - oops, took out his "supposed to be out of the frame" lighting source for the second week in a row Jeff Jarrett T shirt ad - still has a lot of NWO in it, doesn't it? Still shots of Spring Stampede make up the plug for the encore presentation - don't buy it. Hey, you thought this show was over? No, no, our main event is backstage, where Hogan has caught up to Bischoff! Lookithimscoot! Why, they're going to make it down the aisle! Bischoff gets beaned right in the head with a crumpled out piece of paper - nice shot, there. Hogan drops his pipe on the way to the ring - Bischoff begs off. Kick by Hogan! Credits are up - and gone - Hogan grabs Bischoff by the neck - but VIC VENOM comes out wih a bat - oh, look, here's BRET CLARKE come out with a chair - Hart in the ring - Hogan lets up on Bischoff just a bit as Hart picks up his chair - he's gonna swing... And they fade to black with a whopping two minutes of overtime in the bank. Does anybody even CARE what he does? I wonder if he continued the swing for people in the arena. You are spared a Thunder report thanks to the NBA. Just as well, it'd probably just be another show of five under five-minute (hell, except for one, under FOUR minute) matches, including three relaxed disqualifications, one ref bump and one bout of "mysterious tables." See you next week! Christopher Robin Zimmerman
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