March 2001

Handheld that is filmed deep in the crowd. The audience pops for the first Rey and Sabu interactions. Sabu with a springboard leg lariat, however he misses the Arabian moonsault and Rey lands one of his own. Rey’s picked up something from his time in WCW as he’s in the face of the referee complaining that was only a two count. Sabu launches Rey skywards, as he comes down he catches him with a stunner/cutter, something that I can’t remember seeing out of him before. He picks him up for a powerbomb but Rey counters with a headscissors, taking him over the top to the outside. Flip dive by Rey. Inside Nicho starts ripping at Santo’s mask. Sabu loses his balance on the…

The Dew is back out managing the Briscoes as he sets about turning them into the best tag team in CZW. Justice is looking better than usual in the opening goings, including a nice single arm throw. Mark’s interference stops the initial advantage the faces had gained although I’m at a loss why the ref isn’t even attempting to get him out of there. There’s never any consistency when it comes to the officials in this company which always bothers me, as evidenced only moments later when Jay spits at Berk on the apron, Berk is wanting in to retaliate and of course he’s being kept from interfering. Either just let it be a free for all or enforce the rules consistently. Jay…

Jimmy Washington is out with Natasha for an interview segment. He proclaims that as of tonight Pastor Jim is dead before going on to introduce his guests, Nick Gage and the Dew, along with the Briscoe Brothers. Gage is using the same music that Cornette used for that quality Leviathan music video in OVW last year. The Dew claims that he’s going to mould the Briscoe’s into the best tag team in CZW, just like he did with the Backseat Boyz. When the former Pastor talks about Gage’s less than stellar record against Lobo (who he calls “Captain Caveman”) he takes exception to being spoken to like that and gives him a brainbuster. The Briscoes hold back Natasha, they then l…

Trent is accompanied to the ring by “Z-Barr the Superstar”. It looks like the odds are going to be stacked against Blade tonight, Zandig having given Acid and Barr permission to replace original referee Brian Logan with H.C. Loc. Someone forgot to bring out the ladder, only remembering to do so when he fans start chanting for it. The match starts like every Ric Blade match, although he does bust out a cool leg scissors cradle which I’ve not seen previously. Barr tries to say something but gets drowned out by the “shut the fuck up!” chants. Suppose it’s better than them yelling at him to slit his wrists like at the last show. He and Trent threaten to leave for a seco…

After the previous match has finished Berk fights the Briscoes to the dressing room, Justice staying in the ring and leaving his partner to it. He gets on the mic and tells Zandig to bring his title to the ring and come and get his ass kicked. ‘The Boss’ is out. And getting his ass kicked he is until snatching Justice and pressing him over head. “Who’s the fucking man?” Tommy Dreamer is in the ring behind them, Zandig appearing to shit himself when he turns around and sees him, as he drops Pain who falls on top of him. This segues into Dreamer vs Zandig, Justice clearly not that bothered by the title if he’s happy to let Dreamer take his place. The match immedi…

For anyone who‘s unaware, Page reminds the fans that last week he whipped Spike Dudley’s ass while Madman Pondo whipped the Sandman’s. After defeating Spike he’s now calling himself “the Giant Killer Killer”. Punk is out to what would go on to become more well known as El Generico’s theme music. He’s got Colt Cabana in his corner and is already firmly entrenched as an IWA favourite by the ovation he gets. Page is stalling big time at the onset. The action at first is pretty rough when it’s Punk in charge. ‘Mean’ Mitch catches him on the running crossbody and slams him to the mat. He sees someone in the front row with a light tube and asks him to give it him, only f…

No Sandman on this show and just look at the difference it’s made to the attendance compared with last week’s show. CM Punk in the corner of Cabana. ‘Sellout’ Smothers knows Colt’s good because he saw him against Jerry Lynn, but tonight he’s going to give him the wrestling lesson of his life. By and large it’s pretty much the same promo he cuts prior to every match. Tracey is up to his old tricks complaining of closed fists, hair pulling and the grabbing of his trunks. He gets the better of a shoulder tackle then holds the ropes open wondering if Cabana wants to “get the fuck out of here and go back to Chicago?” Scoop powerslam , springboard sunset flip, flying cros…

The JCW has mostly underwhelmed me so far, but I'm pretty curious about this combination. Montoya and Youth jump Guido, and Montoya waits in the aisle for Low Ki... who enters from the side and takes him out. Ki does most of the work early, before getting caught by the heels and becoming the face in peril. Montoya and Youth work nicely together as a team. Ki gets the upper hand back at points but doesn't look for a tag. I smell a turn. Ki finally makes the tag... and Guido gives him the Tomikaze, allowing Montoya and Youth to get the pin. The heat segment (which is almost the entire match) is good, but there's not much here to make a strong recommendation.

The face trio rush to the ring, quickly overpowering an already in trouble Kliq who’re out to ringside looking to regroup. Jason Sensation is up on the apron distracting Cade and Shooter sneaks up on him from behind. Lance no sells Dragon’s chops, switches places and dishes out a couple of his own before clotheslining him out of his shoes. Dragon escapes the Abs press slam and unloads with kicks to the chest but ends up getting hotshotted across the top rope. Abs whips him into the corner however pauses before rushing in and a Dragon drop toe hold sends him crashing into the turnbuckle. Spanky and Abs are a bit off on a couple of things as we then get our first look …

Just like last week, today’s episode of MCW TV again features matches that were taped at the big ‘Showdown at the Nuthouse’ event. No Victoria with ‘Who’s Your Daddy’ here. A proper collar & elbow tie up, Regal trying various little tricks as he tries to get the upper hand. After backing Bradley into the corner he forearms him across the chest on the break. They work things around a wristlock, Regal looking to wrestle his way out of the hold. After Bradley keeps hold following the monkey flip and hammerlocks it behind his back, Regal is forced to fire off a few elbows instead. Some big uppercuts, Regal having to ramp things up a notch or two when he realises tha…

Talk about it here.

Dave Brown has the day off, so standing in for him is Jonathan Coachman. ‘The Coach’ makes it clear that the only reason he is here is because Vince McMahon sent him as Memphis Power Pro Wrestling is very important to them. That’s a pretty funny statement considering this is the final week of developmental talent in Power Pro. Lance Cade has been doing a Magnum T.A. gimmick over recent weeks, beating job guys in a matter of seconds with the belly to belly suplex. Coachman claims that they’re talking about Cade in the WWF locker rooms. Bo Dupp jumps Lance from behind as he makes his entrance, slamming his head into the ring apron and then throwing him in the ring …

We get some lame skit involving Rodrageous that’s based on the Wizard of Oz and that makes zero sense with a building supposed to have fallen on Spanky. Is Rodrageous supposed to be on Acid or something? This was crap. Spanky and Jason Sensation are out to speak with ‘the Coach’, Sensation dressed up as Rodrageous complete with drawn on outlandish sideburns. Spanky thinks that it’s a beautiful day for the Kliq as he’s getting a title shot and the chance to add another belt to his collection. Chicks dig belts and he digs chicks! Thanks for letting us know Spanky. While Rodney may not respect him, he respects Rodney and asks that there be no foul play tonight. …

Jonathan Coachman says that the Haas brothers are two guys that they’re very excited about (in the WWF) and within four to six months thinks the people will be seeing them on big time television. Corey is giving them the Kurt Angle and Rock comparisons, in the sense of wrestlers who appeared first here in the studio but went onto become big stars in the WWF. Double team slingshot shoulderblock on Shooter. Dragon with a blind tag and the Kliq catch Russ with a double suplex. Huge running forearm smash in the corner. A seated Russ is repeatedly kicked in the back then the chest by Dragon. Butterfly suplex by Shooter. Dragon telegraphs the backdrop and gets launched c…

From the debut Millennium Pro Wrestling event. Joe comes out swinging a cane, Red avoids the shot and snatches him with a head and arm suplex. He then picks up that cane, blasts Joe with it before suplexing him on to it. Headscissors over the top rope to the floor by Red! Back inside Joe reverses the Irish whip, a clothesline turning Red inside out. Spinebuster onto a metal sign, Red kicking out of the cover on two. Joe hangs him upside down in the Tree of Woe and then places a chair in front of his face which he dropkicks. As he searches for a table under the ring one of the commentators is wanting the referee to count him out, having to be reminded that this is a…

This is the same Jason Lee who recently debuted in WCW, teaming with Johnny Swinger in the Cruiserweight tag team title tournament. The opening few minutes is all very basic stuff worked around a side-headlock, Orton always returning to that hold. Lee backs him into the corner and fires off some shots on the break. Orton blocks having his head rammed into the turnbuckles then does the same to Lee. Just like in last week’s TV we cut away mid-match so that they can plug some local house show. Lee gets clotheslined to the outside and makes out as if he’s had enough as he sets off towards the dressing room. He doesn’t get too far, Orton on his case and throwing him back…

Jimmy Rave is described as not only one of the brightest up and coming talents in Wildside but the wrestling world itself. Rave gets fed up of Coleman ducking out the way of the initial lock up so opens up on him with some punches instead. The action is fast and furious, Coleman taking to the floor to hopefully slow the challenger down some. Jeremy Borash on commentary with Dan ‘the Dragon’ Wilson. Nice leg trip by Coleman, but he then misses the elbow drop and in turn Rave misses the legdrop. Rave avoids a near disaster on the backdrop, tucking his head in the nick of time. Coleman sits Rave upstairs on the top turnbuckle. The two trade shots, Rave getting the bet…

This was a standard trios match but it was made exponentially better due to the presence of Blue Panther. One doubt I always had about Panther was his ability to be an effective trios worker but he's completely blown those doubts away during this 00-01 run of his. He's not just been effective. He's been special. Silver King was having a whale of a time being his partner in crime and was amped up himself. Sometimes all it takes is a couple of good performances to liven up a trios match and that's what Panther and Silver King gave us here. This was the set-up for Parka/Panther match a few days later. Sure wish we had that match.

So much talent in this match but it was a complete sideshow. I think it broke some kind of record for most dick jokes in a lucha libre match. I can imagine a 2001 tape trader being excited about this match on paper and flabbergasted by the footage. But it shouldn't come as a surprise with Parka involved. His comedy is like a giant, gaping black hole for Monterrey match quality. And it sucks everything in. Even the great workers.

Still no sign of the new owners as those reserved seats remain unoccupied. Booker T is out and says that it feels real good to be back in WCW. He came here tonight for one reason and one reason only, saying how he was concentrating too much on Scott Steiner and forgot about all the other “Player Haters”. As a result of what happened last week he’s making an open challenge to any of the Magnificent Seven and is staying in the ring until someone brings their ass out to get whupped. It looks like Scott Steiner is answering, however he’s only the mouthpiece. Before he’s able to introduce who his opponent will be, DDP’s music plays and he makes an appearance in the crowd…

Disqo is seen limbering up in the dressing room for his upcoming match with Kanyon when he’s approached by M.I. Smooth who wants him to step aside. He finds that funny and tells Smooth to keep the limo warm and he can give him a ride back to the hotel when he’s done. His words having no effect, Smooth then KO’s Disqo with one punch. The acting here wasn’t of the highest quality. Kanyon basically thinks Smooth stooged on him to the Cat so they’re feuding now. Imagine going from a feud with Page to one with Smooth in under a month? Kanyon enters first waiting for his opponent. Disqo’s music starts playing, much to Tony Schiavone’s surprise after they saw him get …

Midajah got attacked in the dressing room earlier in the show, Scott Steiner has pointed fingers towards the Magnificent Seven thinking no-one else could’ve got to her so there is friction in the camp. Scott is out after Rick, he says come Greed “Diamond Dallas White Trash” will join the likes of Goldberg, Kevin Nash etc. and wishes him “good luck” in surviving his brother. We return from a commercial break and interesting to see that Scott hasn’t stuck around at ringside preferring to return to the back. Discus lariat followed by a spinning uranage in the opening seconds. Page clotheslines Rick to the outside and lands a pescado. On returning to the ring he goes…

Rumours abound that the new owners are going to be in attendance tonight, security surrounding three reserved seats where they’re expected to be sitting. The first semi-final in the Cruiserweight tag team title tournament. Fast paced start with Skipper & Romeo jumping the Dragons. Skipper’s Matrix move is cool, but it’s daft the way the other wrestlers wait for him to get back up, Shane Helms had the right idea on Thunder. Kaz with a springboard kick to the back of Kid’s head. ‘Primetime’ pulls his partner to the outside to avoid Yang Time, Yang though then off the top with a high plancha to the floor. Twisting dive by Kaz. Back inside Skipper jumps up out the w…

Lance has noticed that the further they get from the Canadian border, the lower the I.Q. of the crowd. With how far South they are tonight he believes there is every probability he has a higher I.Q. than the entire front row combined! You would think by now he would be use to the Canadian national anthem being cut-off midway through. Not so. Vito claims that they’re going to take them back to the neighbourhood and do things “Italian style” so that they’ll never talk bad about the United States again. Vito with a Cactus clothesline taking himself and Lance to the floor, joining Johnny and Awesome who are already going at it on the other side. Awesome ducks a Vito clo…

Helms’s has got himself some new snazzy pants. Tony Schiavone says there is a rumour going around in the back that Chavo Guerrero Jr went to Ric Flair and asked him to book Shane Helms to death in the lead up to the PPV. On the contrary, Chavo has got the shows in the run up to the event off. As Karagias drives the Cadillac, as they say, Helms explodes out the corner and rains down punches. Sit-out powerbomb after catching Evan on the leapfrog. Gut wrench suplex followed by a fist drop off the middle. Karagias escapes the fireman’s carry and presses Helms overhead before dropping him into a spinebuster. Top rope quebrada misses. The Vertebreaker is countered, Kara…