WCW Pro 1/5/1997

Written by: Bob Colling

World Championship Wrestling presents Pro
Date: 1/5/1997
From: Orlando, FL

Matches:
1.) Michael Wallstreet defeated Brian Kees
2.) WCW Cruiserweight Champion Ultimo Dragon defeated Mark Starr to retain the title
3.) Jerry Lynn defeated Ciclope
4.) Dean Malenko defeated Rey Mysterio Jr.

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Ciclope and Lynn trade arm locks to start the match until Lynn arm drags Ciclope to the floor. Lynn hits a wheelbarrow arm drag and dropkicks Ciclope ton the floor. Ciclope works over Lynn with a strike in the corner and hits a spinning heel kick off the middle rope. Ciclope elbows Lynn over the middle rope and connects with a leg drop over the middle rope for a near fall. Ciclope scoop slams Lynn and goes to the top rope. Ciclope hits a missile dropkick for a two count. Ciclope plants Lynn with a brainbuster for a near fall. Ciclope clotheslines Lynn in the corner to keep control of the match followed by a DDT for a two count. Lynn dropkicks Ciclope into the corner. Lynn backdrops Ciclope and goes to the top rope to hit a crossbody. Lynn misses a dropkick and Ciclope goes to the top attempting a dropkick, but Lynn drops Ciclope to the mat for the victory. (**. Well, this is considered an upset since Lynn hasn’t done much of anything in WCW to this point. Ciclope has had a few appearances, but he’s very low on the list of cruiserweights in WCW. I enjoyed the action they managed to do in a few minutes of action.)

2.) They spend a good portion of the show promoting the fact that the Giant has been kicked out of the NWO since he was coming after Hulk Hogan’s WCW World Championship. Giant had to have known he was going to get attacked for that.

3.) Malenko takes Mysterio down to the mat, but they quickly have a standoff. Mysterio gets control of Malenko on the mat, but Malenko gets up to hit a back suplex for a two count. Mysterio gets a sunset flip, but Malenko sends Rey to the apron. Rey slides back in for a near fall and is rammed into the corner. Rey avoids a chop in the corner and Malenko lifts Rey to the top rope where Rey lands on his feet and takes Malenko out with a moonsault! Malenko holds Rey in the air and manages to plant Rey with a reverse DDT. Malenko tosses Rey with an overhead belly to belly suplex for a two count. Malenko slams Mysterio and locks in a Boston Crab. Mysterio refuses to give in. Malenko controls Mysterio with a surfboard and switches to a cover for a near fall. Malenko works over Mysterio with strikes in the corner. Mysterio counters a slam attempt with a rollup but Malenko rams Rey face first onto the mat. Malenko elbow strikes Rey to the apron. Malenko elbow strikes Rey over the apron a few times to keep control of the contest.

Malenko keeps a sleeper on Mysterio but doesn’t get a submission. Malenko nails Mysterio with a clothesline. Malenko plants Mysterio with a powerbomb for a two count. Malenko drops Rey with a vertical suplex for a near fall. Malenko chokes Mysterio in the corner and delivers a knee drop for a two count. Mysterio fights back with a dropkick and a standing moonsault for a two count. Malenko clotheslines Mysterio in the corner, but misses a second attempt. Mysterio goes to the top and is stopped. Mysterio knocks Malenko off and hits a head scissors. Mysterio gets a rollup for a near fall. Malenko dumps Mysterio to the apron, but Malenko stops Rey on the ropes. Malenko misses a sunset flip and Mysterio nearly wins with a head scissors rollup. Malenko counters a head scissors with a powerbomb and puts his feet on the ropes to win the match! (***1/4. That was a great freaking match to have on Pro. I had a feeling they’d have a quality match, but they were given nearly ten minutes and they delivered a great TV match. What a gem of a match to start Pro in 1997.)

Final Thoughts:
A fantastic show to start 1997. The undercard matches were fine with a solid Lynn/Ciclope match and a stellar main event between Malenko and Mysterio.

Thanks for reading.