April 2000

A feud I despised when it happened and it doesn’t hold up any better here. Hudson keeps insisting that Vamp put Sting straight to hell. Sting repels down and allows Vamp to attack taking off his harness. They fight for around two minutes until we get the shock ending of parlor tricks from Vamp with a blood substance coming down from the ceiling and soaking Sting. New Blood beats up Sting as the show closes and the puns are too much for me to handle. ½*

I love when the Slam of the Week gets added in. Castrol GTX: Drive Hard. We see Lita getting powerbombed through the table at the hands of the Dudley Boyz. E&C are still faces which I didn’t think lasted this long after Mania. I could have sworn we were already into the flash photography phase by Backlash. Bubba calls Edge a queer on the apron I am pretty sure here. Dudley’s are pretty firmly in control until T&A music hits and out comes Trish scantily clad and on a table. This allows E&C to gain the advantage. D Von is not phased by the distraction and is a house of fire. Bubba hits a big time spear on a diving Edge that gets a good reaction. The 3D seems to …

Hunter and Shane make up to start things off. JR saying pass the barf bag is funny. I also appreciate Shane and HHH’s acting here tearing up. HHH goes through his interview and gets interrupted by Jericho. Jericho insults Steph and that sets up Shane/HHH vs Rock/Jericho tonight. Segment ends with Jericho stealing the title and whacking HHH with it. Rock then gives a promo in the back. It is a classic Rock promo with the crowd in the palm of his hand even though Rock’s style is never my absolute favorite. HHH is up against a handicapped match in a piece of context we miss out on. However, he has found a partner in Chris Benoit. In addition, shane is the guest referee now a…

Unique pairing here with some Team 2000 members we don’t see much of against our junior pricks. Goto and Kanemoto face off right away. The first fall is really all action and at a breakneck pace. I like the mentality of both teams and how similar they are. In parity from the opening stanza, Goto picks up the win on Kanemoto. Saito is still getting after it in this match in 2000 which warms my heart. Second fall is more of the same this time with Takiawa pinning Saito in a nice surprise. Like with these previous junior heavy matches the action is certainly top notch. Third fall is more of the same with the finale resulting in Ohara and Otani in there. In a surprise for me,…

The comedy added a nice new facet to this promotion as Stalker has really extended sequences throughout this match and him and Fuji especially shine. I liked how Crazy Max revamped their double and triple team offense to be more comedic as well including the momentum swing into the lowblow via CIMA. A tag that shows you can have fun within a promotion and still produce good in ring action. ***1/4

It is a shame that Goara doesn’t release this in full. We only get two minutes of action but it results in one of the most important things in Toryumon and Dragon Gate history. The match ends in a 20 minute draw and then Masaaki gets on the mic and wants to join forces with Kanda and Susumu. Kobe is bewildered at this announcement but we have a new faction that is formed backstage and they are an immediate threat to the dominance of Crazy Max. NR

Kidman comes out and gives his promo calling anyone out. Out comes Horace Hogan to defend his uncle’s name. Tony halfway through this match called it Horace’s best match and while it certainly wasn’t spectacular, I have to agree. Kidman misses a big splash and Horace is actually showing some fire by teasing putting Torrie through a table. Just then, Bischoff grabs a chair and hits Horace and then Kidman gives him a bulldog from the ring through a table on the outside. Bischoff counts the cover and Torrie gives the kiss of death. **

These two didn’t have any chemistry at all in this match. Booker has also lost his T. Steiner is doing commentary and you keep waiting for the run in. It finally happens and Awesome is able to hit an Awesome Bomb to pin Booker. After the match, the beatdown continues until every WCW scrub comes out to help including Lash Leroux and Hugh Morrus. *1/2

Why DDP decided to put the title on the line in these conditions, I will never know. Western Union is sponsoring Slamboree, did you know that? If not, you will hear it at least 3 times on commentary in each match. Kimberly comes out as special guest ref because why the hell not. The action is predictably awful with Arquette and Bischoff fumbling around ringside and Kimberly refusing to count any pinfall attempt by Page. Eventually Page kisses Kimberly which I guess knocks her out of commission and we have a double pin with Arquette on Bischoff after spearing him and Jarrett on Page. Mickey Jay comes in and counts the Arquette pin and he is the new world champion. In a com…

It is cute they put Saturn and Tazz in this match since its two of the bigger names they have de-emphasized in 2000 in there with the two people I would argue they have done the best in elevating in Benoit and Jericho. SmackDown is becoming the king of perfectly enjoyable 3-5 minute matches in a WCW Worldwide type of way. After Tazz’s good showing last week he is handily worked over here by the Radicalz. They still give him some slight moments like not tapping in the crossface but those showcases seem to be dwindling. Jericho gets the hot tag and cleans house with Saturn and Tazz brawling on the outside. Benoit and Saturn run into each other and Jericho is able to gain th…

Brother vs brother for the hardcore title in a bit of dissent I didn’t remember these two having. They start right away with the plunder including trash can shots. In a fun spot, Jeff puts the broom between his legs delivering a top rope leg drop. Matt gives a brutal looking moonsault with the trashcan around Jeff. Dual ladders are introduced as Saturn and Hardcore Holly get a closer look. Slingshot legdrop over the ladder by Jeff as Tazz joins us too. Matt does a dive onto pretty much no one on the outside as everyone brawls. Matt Hardy has the pin when Crash runs in and steals the pin becoming the new Hardcore champion. This set up the six way on the PPV well enough. *1…

We get a vignette to start to cement Villano’s tecnico turn. He comes out in big poncho and cowboy hat and the fight is on. We get some neat pairings and brawling throughout all of this. I even enjoy Pierroth in this setting as he is the garbage brawl guy of CMLL. Shocker continues to grow IMO and you are seeing with each match how he could become the guy for the promotion. His sequences vs. Atlantis were easily the best technical wise in this match. First two falls are DQ’s on opposite side and the expression Shocker gives to the crowd after he sees a bloody Pierroth is awesome. How can you cheer someone that does this to my friend? The third fall is more of the same wit…

I really like seeing these guys go out there and having a balls to the wall 10 minute match. Zumbido fits in really well with Scorpio and Bestia and he does his huge dive through the rops and post in the first fall which was a rudo beatdown. Tarzan Boy works much better in this setting too coming in quick spurts when needed. Niebla and Antifaz are also strong bringing the highspots when they make their comeback and everything is hit cleanly. Second fall is rapid fire action and the finish is really definitive. Third fall is quick and dirty with the tecnicos continuing their dominance and Bestia getting tied up for the pinfall. ***1/2

Here come the Back Door Boyz starts the commentary track. I love the Backseat Boyz entrance as they just ooze charisma coming out. BSB cut a promo and the heat is to be expected against them. The match has a basic, non hardcore structure that is pretty fun. Bad Crew is just there but the BSB have enough overly dramatic double team moves to keep things interesting and the heat segment sustainable. Finish was annoying with Danny Rose coming out and turning on Bad Crew along with their manager. BSB are the clear stars within EWF and they should be emphasized more overall. ***

Talk about milking something for all that it is worth, it is 25 minutes into this segment that the match proper begins. Ox Harley and Blaze are two guys I have seen before but were long gone from IWA when I became a regular viewer. Much like the previous month, the action is tough to follow and chaotic but there is no shortage of crazy bumps. I do think this suffered a bit with Harley and Blaze in there even though they both tried including Harley busting out a moonsault. This also was a match used more as a set up for the War Games the following week as a crew of baddies that I am unfamilar with come in and Rollin' Hard and Deliah Star have to come out to help Ian and cr…

It is Puerto Rico wrestling so you know what that means, violence and blood. I am sure some context would help things here so maybe Boricua or Tim Evans can assist but for a parachute into the country after a couple of months, this was interesting to see. I am unsure who the official is here but he mists a team in the waning moments and then counts the fall. Honestly too tough to rank without knowing the context. NR

I’m assuming then that it must’ve been Matlock & Willis who jumped these two teams at the end of last week’s match then? Where do I even begin with this cluster of epic proportions? Fortunately I have no idea who is Eric Matlock and who is Devin Willis (to go along with still being unable to tell Ricky Reyes and Rocky Romero apart) which is probably saving me a thousand words at least with how I write these things up! They work this three way with three men in the ring at once, however because these guys are so inexperienced you’re left with one man literally standing there and doing nothing on several occasions. The inexperience shows in the amount of blown spots…

This was the buffet of wrestling matches. You had stalling from Wagner, chain wrestling, comedy from Porky and brawling and mask ripping. I was ready to have it go really high star rating wise when Felino interferes and the match just halts. The segment that follows is REALLLY long and drawn out and doesn’t really resonate with me at all. There are some cool visuals like Santo coming back with a flurry or people pelting Wagner with garbage but this lost its way big time for me and that is a big shame. ***

Suddenly, BJW throws it hat into the ring to become the most annoying clipped company along with ARSION. This is a neat small spot show arena that they utilize with the weapon shots we see. There certainly was a house show vibe to what we saw here but that was endearing to a degree. NR.

A frighteningly frustrating match that followed the same lines of the GAEA stuff from January. Way too much interference rendering anything that happens in the back half of the match to be meaningless to me. Bloody has potential and I would like to see her mix it up with some of the JWP and AJW ladies. Asuka seems content to just have her thing be the focal point of Jd' which doesn't excite me at all. *3/4

Wolfie D joins Dave Brown at the announcer’s desk for this one, with the winner of the match getting a shot at his Power Pro title. Apparently Randy Hales decided to have another ‘Evening the Odds’ match due to how well received the previous one was. Derrick King is first man in the ring and, after Hales’ comments from last week, he’s due to start against Brandon Baxter. According to Dave though, Brandon has said that he’s not going to be here. A kicking and screaming Baxter is then dragged to ringside and tossed into the ring by two officials. Baxter does all he can to try and apologize, but when he tries to sneak a kick to the mid-section, King is wise to it, grabs…

Another good AJ match although I am still waiting on that 20 minute affair where he really stretches things out. Styles does one botch here jumping up on the top rope but recovers nicely by Taylor taking over immediately. Chris Cruise is on commentary doing a heel commentator gimmick which is unique to hear from him. Overall, a solid tv match that had a weird finish of Jeff G Bailey helping AJ win without him knowing. **1/4

The key to these matches is 1. how absurd is it and 2. if I laugh. This pass both of those tests in droves. The can attracting the metal spot in the middle of this was legit funny as shit and had me marking out just as much as the crowd. The trash can shots were brutal and we even get the "ring" disrupted into the finish. I didn't get the first Tobita match we watched but I was all in on this one as a great break from the serious nature of wrestling. ***

Dr Tom is on commentary with Kevin Kelly here and both put Smothers over as someone who Tazz can’t take lightly, saying how he is unorthodox and can make you look bad in a minute. Tazz clotheslines him over the top rope to the outside where he slams his head into the ring steps. Tracey gets the jump on him when they return to the ring, dropping a forearm across Tazz’s throat and eliciting a decent heel response. Double leg takedown by Tazz who then unloads on his opponent. Northern Lights suplex for a two. Smothers reverses the Irish whip, Tazz ducks the kick and sinks in the ‘Tazzmission’ for the win. Out of Tracey’s WWF enhancement work I’d say the Headbangers tag…

My favorite minis action so far. Everyone was bumping all over the place and doing interesting sequences. This was also one of the rare instances in 2000 where interference worked with the ending fouls being effective and brutal. AAA is being saved by the minis in a lot of ways and this is one of the better matches in the promotion so far this year. ***1/2