February 2001

The Radicalz are preparing in their dressing room although there is no sign of Eddy Guerrero. He turns up late and ‘the Crippler’ wonders where he’s been. Eddy tells him to get out of his face, tensions still hot from last night. Saturn plays peacemaker but Eddy is pissed that Benoit, “his brother”, let a title get between them. They’re about to go at it in the locker room when the calming voice of Dean Malenko interjects. He says that whatever happened last night let it stay there as it was every man for himself. Benoit offers Eddy the option of going to the ring and doing what they do best or staying here and kicking the crap out of each other. It looks like cal…

The former Hardcore champion says that after cementing his status as the greatest Hardcore champion of all time he has decided to expand his repertoire of the Raven Effect. Before he does though he would like everyone to take a bit of time and reflect on what their favourite Hardcore moment of his was. As he starts to run down a few of his, he’s interrupted by Y2J. Jericho has some favourite "Raisin" (sic) Hardcore moments of his own, although his consist of things like when Raven received a swirly in a urine filled toilet! There is very little to this, a bit of back and forth and when Jericho looks like he’s about to turn Raven over into the Walls, Ninja Lady runs ou…

Fresh off losing to Lita on Raw last week, Dean Malenko is on it this defending the Light Heavyweight title. That tells you all you need to know about how much they think of that belt. JR notes that is rare to see a Light Heavyweight title defense on Raw, it’s also rare to see Malenko actually carrying the belt as he only seems to have it with him when he’s defending it. Kaientai have a woman with them who they claim is Taka’s girlfriend. This looks like that Vince humour of the young Taka having an older, slightly overweight and not very attractive woman as his girlfriend. The woman does the “Indeed” line rather than Funaki after Taka’s promo. Malenko’s momentum ta…

Mr McMahon, Trish on is arm, is carrying this mop and dirt filled bucket. Regal, who looks like he would rather be anywhere than here right now found himself caught between a rock and a hard place, unsure over to who to help when the Chairman told him to ”do the right thing”. Trish kisses Vince on the lips prior to this get going. When it does the two women continue what they started last night. A couple of hair mares. Trish looks for a bulldog but Steph shoots her off into the corner. DDT for a two. Some horrible looking bulldog come face jam and both ladies are down. Tag to Mr McMahon, but when Steph goes to tag her partner he steps away and goes to collect the …

It goes without saying that Satanico vs the Infernales is going to be a fun feud, but I didn't expect it to be this good. Satanico was amazing in this. He was punked from the outset by Tarzan Boy and proceeded to bleed for his sins while the rudos maimed Black Warrior's leg, We all know Satanico is one of the great sellers and the great performers. Watching him take his beating here, I kept wondering why I hadn't dived into this run sooner. It really was a sublime performance for a Coliseo bout. The Infernales were disqualified for excessive violence and the tide turned. Satanico led a ferocious comeback the likes of which only Satanico can do, and Black Warrior got his r…

Well, I guess Blue Panther vs. Olimpico is officially a thing again. I can get behind that. This was a decent shakedown. Nothing spectacular but Fuerza had his working boots on for a change and I'm enjoying this unexpected Signo run. Signo is one of my favorite luchadors of all-time and I didn't know he had these booking dates in 2001. Not a huge amount of edge to Panther vs. Olimpico at this stage -- not like the first time around -- but it's something to keep an eye on.

Talk about it here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i3FM2jI3lw

A cautious start with both throwing out tentative strikes as they look to find their range. Kandori bulrushes Hotta back into the corner where she unloads with rapid fire punches before dragging her to the mat. Hotta pulls guard but Kandori frees herself pretty quickly and moves to side control. She takes Hotta’s back, although doesn’t have the hooks in, allowing her to easily reverse her position and now she’s in Kandori’s guard. Kandori uses a combination of power and momentum from the bottom to regain top control, as the official then resets them in the middle of the ring as they were close to falling through the ropes. She survives the armbar, but is curled up wi…

Z-Barr is announced as the special guest referee, not only doesn’t that bode well for us getting a clean finish, it also leads to some pretty awful homophobic abuse from the fans towards him. They later start chanting “slit your wrists” and “end your life”, which considering I’m watching this the day after Hana Kimura took her own makes it even more uncomfortable than normal. “Justice Steroid” chant at Pain. Barr is staying impartial for the time being, although he’s so loud and animated he’s diverting attention away from the wresters. Berk with a German suplex for a two. Drop toe hold from which he transitions to a variation of the Mutalock, Justice grabbing the rop…

Nick Berk vs Yoshihiro Tajiri (CZW Destruction in Dover 2/28/01) Zandig in the house! He’s glad to be back in the USA (he’s just been on a tour for Big Japan) and for anyone that doesn’t know informs them that this is his company and he does things his way. The Boss ladies and gentlemen! Zandig sounds like he’s been drinking. He doesn’t think Berk deserves the World title so offers Tajiri a shot at it right now. There’s a condition attached though, that is if he wins he has to guarantee him (Zandig) a crack at the belt. Tajiri nods while some fans in the crowd shout “Indeed!” Considering this is his company, surely Zandig can just take a shot whenever he wants…

From the way it’s being described this sounds like one of the first, if not the first, appearances of the future H8 Club, Gage and Hatred having put their recent differences aside for this match up. Lobo is referred to as ‘the People’s Champion’. What king of people would they be? Some surprisingly decent exchanges between Blade and Gage before the requisite “stand-off”. I don’t think anyone relies on that spot more than Ric Blade. Lobo’s cleaning house in there, actually wrestling for a change, that is until he’s cut off by a Hatred clothesline. It’s pointed out that should either get a pinfall on him it will put them right in line for a shot at his Iron Man title.…

It looks like this show is being held in a nightclub or bar somewhere with a ring set up in the middle of the building. A rematch from the ‘Break on Thru’ event a fortnight ago, and not only has Trent got Z-Barr to keep him company but Zandig too, returning from a tour of Japan. ‘The Boss’ doesn’t know “what the fuck” Reckless Youth is doing in his company as last time he saw him he was off to the big leagues and doesn’t really appreciate him only coming back now because that didn’t work out. If he’s back in CZW he’s going to have to work like he knows Reckless Youth can, and prove it, starting tonight. He won’t be facing Trent Acid though, he’s booking him in a gaunt…

The guy who is reffing looks very much like the chap who goes on to play the Rob Feinburg character. Somehow the Rockin’ Rebel has wangled his way into this. Christ, is it any wonder the crowds here behave the way they do when someone like Rebel’s promo consists of nothing but racial and homophobic slurs? It takes all of thirty seconds before these three leave the ring and start brawling on the outside. The barbed wire gets used as a cheese grater while Rebel and Beater each take bumps onto the metal chairs, Beater getting powerbombed into them. Zandig gets caught with a belly to back on the floor. Beater throws Rebel over an actual bar but then gets whipped into th…

Our second match in the first round of the Cruiserweight tag team title tournament. We actually have brackets now, the winners of this going on to face the winners of A.J. Styles & Air Paris vs Elix Skipper and a mystery partner. Kwee Wee and Sanders are arguing and pointing fingers at one another before this has even got going so it looks like they’re doing the reluctant partners gimmick. Kaz reminds Yang to give the sign for the belts as they step through the curtain. Sanders starts for his team and wants to brawl, which considering he has the size advantage and isn’t known for being a flyer is a smart move. A Kaz armdrags sends him to the outside. He goes for…

Tony Schiavone is extremely optimistic about this match up, in his words “two guys who set the standard for title matches in 2000.” We get a recap of Booker’s pinfall over the World champion on Nitro 48 hours ago. On the back of that pinfall Booker had wanted a title match, which Ric Flair wouldn’t give him, so he decided to take this one-on-one match anyway. A Sandman like entrance from ‘Big Poppa Pump’ here. They make up for that by wasting no time when he does finally get inside. An elbow flush to the jaw sends the champion tumbling to the floor, Booker goes to follow him out but referee Mickey Jay tells him to stay in. He heeds his words, the commentators believ…

Swinger is seconded by his partner from the Cruiserweight tournament, Jason Lee. Mike Tenay incorrectly says that Monday was his WCW debut, quite unlike ‘the Professor’ to get something wrong. Lee is already trying to interfere from ringside. Helms with those lovely Steamboatesque arm drags. He goes up top, but as Swinger grabs the referee Lee pulls down the top rope causing Helms to fall to the mat. Sit-out powerbomb out the corner. It sounds like Chavo Guerrero Jr has been in Swinger and Lee’s ear, trying to get them to take out Helms before they get to Greed. Cobra Clutch Russian legsweep for a near fall. Is that one the Swing Thing? Where’s Joey Styles when I…

We saw Corman last year in Southwest against Samir, now the two are part of the same ‘Over Boys’ stable alongside ‘the Extreme Golfer’ Mike Page. Mini Stuff, who is being carried to the ring on the shoulders of Hotstuff Hernandez, looks like he should be in 3 Count with those fluorescent green pants. Corman has a real unique way of running the ropes the way he jumps into them. Stuff just about hangs onto the headscissors which sends Corman to the outside. Pescado onto him and his ‘Over Boy’ partner. He gets distracted by ‘the Extreme Golfer’ when he’s getting back into the ring and is caught with a legdrop to the back of the head. Stuff spikes Corman with a DDT, but…