World Championship Wrestling presents Saturday Night
Date: 1/8/20000
From: Rock Hill, SC
Matches:
1.) Curt Hennig defeated David Sierra
2.) Lash LeRoux defeated Al Green
3.) Kid Romeo defeated Mike Sanders
4.) Dean Malenko & Perry Saturn defeated Villano IV & Villano V
5.) La Parka defeated Adrian Byrd
6.) The Mamalukes (Big Vito & Johnny The Bull) defeated Disorderly Conduct (Mean Mike & Tough Tom)
7.) Booker T defeated Chris Williams
8.) Disco Inferno defeated Scott Armstrong
9,) WCW Tag Team Champions David Flair & Crowbar defeated Dave Taylor & Lord Steven Regal to retain the titles
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Hennig and Sierra lockup, but they break off as neither man get a clear advantage. Hennig gets wrist control, but Sierra quickly gets to the ropes to break it. They shove each other, but Hennig gets control with a waist lock until Sierra decks Hennig with a back elbow. Hennig puts a side headlock on Sierra and delivers a shoulder block. Hennig does a cartwheel, but is met with a forearm strike. Sierra works over Hennig in the corner, but Hennig fights back with chops and strikes. Hennig rams Sierra into the corner and delivers a strike to drop Sierra to the mat. Sierra fights back with right hands to stagger Hennig. Hennig nails Sierra with a strike to the midsection and a running knee lift followed by a stomp to the face. Sierra tries for a backdrop, but Hennig hits the Hennig Plex to win the match. (1/2*. As basic as it can get. This is a bit weird since Hennig is a heel and last I checked, Sierra was a heel, too.)
2.) Green attacks before the bell working over LeRoux with strikes and press slams LeRoux over the top to the floor. Green follows and sends LeRoux into the guard railing back first. LeRoux tries to return to the ring, but Green keeps control with a gut wrench slam for a two count. LeRoux fights back with a few strikes, but is cutoff quickly. Green keeps a half Boston Crab on LeRoux, but doesn’t get a submission. Green clubs LeRoux over the back, but LeRoux almost wins with a sunset flip. Green nails LeRoux with a clothesline to maintain the advantage. Green forearms LeRoux in the corner and chokes LeRoux briefly. Green splashes LeRoux in the corner followed by elbow strikes. LeRoux kicks Green in the corner, but Green responds with a powerslam for a two count. LeRoux elbows free from a waist lock and trips Green. LeRoux hits a missile dropkick for a two count. LeRoux backdrops Green and hits a side Russian leg sweep for a two count. LeRoux gets another two count following a suplex. They cut away from LeRoux trying the Whiplash as Green gets a two count. Green drives LeRoux to the mat with a vertical suplex, but misses a leg drop. LeRoux forearms Green followed by several jabs, but misses a clothesline. LeRoux dropkicks Green and hits the Whiplash for the win. (**. I enjoyed that far more than I ever expected. It may be the best Al Green match I’ve ever seen.)
3.) Romeo wants to do a test of strength, but Sanders laughs at Romeo. Eventually, they lockup for the test of strength. Sanders monkey flips Romeo and keeps Romeo on the mat. Romeo gets a rollup for a two count. Romeo drop toe holds Sanders and delivers a few chops in the corner. Romeo head scissors Sanders through the ropes to the floor. Romeo dives off the top to crossbody Sanders on the floor. Romeo rolls Sanders into the ring and covers for a two count. Romeo sends Sanders into the corner to deliver a knee lift a couple of times. Sanders responds with chops and a swinging side slam to counter a head scissors attempt. Sanders moonsaults off the apron to take Romeo out on the floor! Sanders tries for a cover, but Romeo kicks out at two. Sanders kicks Romeo on the chest and delivers a knee drop for a two count. Sanders puts a cobra clutch on Romeo, but lets go to deliver an elbow and knee lift. Romeo counters a powerbomb with a DDT. Sanders misses a clothesline and is met with a kick to the head by Romeo. Romeo nails Sanders with a clothesline and a sit out spinebuster for a near fall. Romeo heads to the top rope hitting a head scissors and hits the Romeo Recliner for the win. (**1/2. I’ve never known Sanders to be much of an in-ring guy, but seeing Sanders hit a moonsault off the apron was quite the visual. Romeo came across great and would be a fantastic addition to a revamped Cruiserweight division. This was a good TV match.)
4.) Shane Douglas cuts a promo in the ring, which his first sentence is censored. Douglas says that the Revolution has taken WCW by storm. Douglas notes that Hogan cupping his ear use to be cool, but they’ve changed that. Douglas says they are going to stomp the Filthy Animals at Souled Out because they have a mystery partner.
5.) Malenko and IV kickoff the tag match. Malenko drop toe holds IV to the mat, and keeps wrist control. Malenko decks IV with a short arm clothesline. V shoulder rams Malenko from the apron and enters to hip toss Malenko. V knocks Saturn over the top to the floor, but Malenko gains control from behind with a knee lift. Malenko boot scrapes V on the mat and Saturn hits a slingshot splash from the apron. Saturn punches V in the corner several times followed by knee strikes. Malenko returns to the match and V is met with a double elbow strike. Malenko covers for a two count. Malenko elbows V followed by a vertical suplex for a near fall as IV made the save. Saturn forearms V in the corner and hits a side suplex. Saturn decks IV off the apron and crotches V onto the top turnbuckle. V shoves Saturn off the ropes and hits a crossbody. Malenko and IV get the hot tag with all four men brawling in the ring. IV clotheslines Saturn in the corner. Villano’s deliver strikes in the corner, but Douglas decks V with a chain and that allows Malenko to lock in the Texas Cloverleaf to win the match. (*. Not much to this one. I was hoping this could have been a hidden gem, but it was mostly a basic match with a cheap finish.)
6.) Parka takes some time to play to the crowd. Byrd shoulder blocks Parka followed by a clothesline and arm drag. Byrd dropkicks Parka through the ropes to the floor. Parka comically lands on his back. Parka stomps Byrd on the apron and delivers an overhand strike. Parka struts a bit, but runs into a big boot in the corner. Byrd boots Parka a second time, but Parka nails Byrd with a clothesline for a two count. Byrd elbows Parka away, but Parka powerslams Byrd for a two count. Parka heads to the top rope hitting a missile dropkick for a two count. Parka continues to dance for the crowd. Parka slams Byrd and heads to the top again. Byrd blocks a splash by getting his foot up and punches Parka in the corner. Byrd sunset flips Parka for a near fall. Byrd misses a splash in the corner. Parka shoulder rams Byrd from the apron and hits a corkscrew dive off the top to win the match. (1/2*. Byrd isn’t good at all. Parka winning is always a good thing.)
7.) A video package highlighting the Artist conducting a recording session is shown. The Artist is formerly known as Prince Iaukea. A woman, Paisley, tells the producers that the Artist must not be rushed.
8.) Outside, Disco Inferno is forced to collect money from a store by Big Vito and Tony Marinara. Inferno gives the cashier a Rolex watch and gets the money so that he doesn’t get beat up. The Mamalukes argue with Inferno before getting in the car.
9.) Vito and Tom kickoff the tag match with Vito delivering several strikes for the early advantage. Vito stomps Tom on the mat and taunts the crowd. Vito forearm strikes Tom in the corner a few times. Tom fights back with a flurry of strikes, but a savant kick stops his momentum. Mamalukes double team Tom with a double forearm strike. Bull works over Tom in the corner, but misses a splash in the corner. Tom chokes Bull over the ropes and holds Bull to allow Mike to deliver a strike from the top. Mike plants Bull with a spinebuster to keep control. Conduct drops Bull over the top rope. Bull press slams Mike to the mat. Bull taunts the fans for a few moments. Vito elbows Mike and hits a swinging neckbreaker. Mike sunset flips Vito for a two count, but Vito responds with a clothesline. Vito scoop slams Mike and Bull tags into the match. Bull misses a twisting leg drop off the top rope. Vito tags into the match and Tom get the hot tag. Tom backdrops Vito followed by a clothesline. Tom drives Vito down with a side slam. Disorderly Conduct hits a neckbreaker/top rope axe handle combo on Vito for a two count. All four men are in the ring brawling. Mamalukes hit stereo clothesline and continue to work over Conduct. Tom is sent over the top to the floor as Tony distracts the referee. Vito hits a twisting DDT for the win. (*1/2. I don’t hate the Mamalukes. The action was decent here, but I wish Disorderly Conduct had better offense to come across as a better threat to Mamalukes.)
10.) Chris Williams would go on to be better known as Chris Harris of TNA fame.
11.) Booker gets wrist control on Williams, but Williams reaches the ropes quickly. Booker gets a hammerlock, but Williams fights free with strikes. Booker shoulder blocks Williams and delivers a spin kick. Booker hammers away on Williams in the corner with strikes. Booker avoids Williams in the corner and hits the Book End. Williams bails to the floor and Midnight rolls Williams back into the ring. Williams eye pokes Booker to gain the advantage. Williams stomps on Booker a few times. Williams atomic drops Booker followed by a dropkick for a two count. Williams keeps a sleeper on Booker for several moments. Booker kicks Williams and comes off the ropes to hit a scissors kick. Booker plants Williams with a spinebuster for the win. (1/2*. There’s not much to this at all. Booker winning with a spinebuster is a bit surprising as I’ve never seen a basic move be used as the finisher for Booker in this manner.)
12.) Inferno slaps Armstrong at the start, but Armstrong decks Inferno and hits a hip toss coming off the ropes. Armstrong arm drags Inferno and keeps wrist control. Inferno backs Armstrong into a corner, but Armstrong comes back with a facebuster for a two count. Inferno dumps Armstrong to the floor where the Mamalukes cheap shot Inferno. Inferno atomic drops Armstrong followed by a side Russian leg sweep for a near fall. Inferno sends Armstrong into the corner. Inferno stomps Armstrong on the mat to maintain control of the contest. Inferno pummels Armstrong with right hands on the mat. Armstrong comes off the ropes and is met with an elbow strike. Inferno stomps Armstrong in the corner several times. Inferno chokes Armstrong in the corner. Inferno scoop slams Armstrong and misses a forearm drop. Armstrong decks Inferno with right hands followed by a dropkick. Armstrong backdrops Inferno coming of the ropes. Armstrong punches Bull off the apron, but Inferno gets brass knuckles. Armstrong avoids a strike, but Inferno comes off the ropes and decks Armstrong over the back with the knuckles to pickup the win. (*. I understand the angle that Inferno is a goof and needs help from the mafia to win matches, but it doesn’t work for me. Vito and Bull don’t come across as badass mafia guys, but rather goons. Actually, maybe they are all suppose to be goons. Regardless, this wasn’t very good.)
13.) Taylor strikes Flair and delivers a few uppercuts. Taylor overhand strikes in the corner. Taylor takes Flair over with a vertical suplex and Flair bails to the floor to regroup. Taylor nails Crowbar over the back. Taylor uppercuts Flair several more times and eye rakes Flair in the middle of the ring. Crowbar and Regal tag into the match. Regal keeps wrist control, but Crowbar counters. Regal regains control, but Crowbar headbutts free and tosses Regal over the top to the floor. Crowbar baseball slides Regal into the railing and rams Regal chest first into the railing. Crowbar runs off the apron to hit a splash on the floor. Crowbar is double teamed until Flair comes over and is pummeled by Regal and Taylor, as well. Regal uppercuts Flair on the floor and Flair is double teamed on the floor. Crowbar sends the heels into the railing, and actually sends Flair upside down into the railing. Flair rolls Crowbar into the ring where Crowbar dropkicks Regal followed by strikes in the corner. Regal sends Crowbar into the corner. Regal delivers a neckbreaker for a two count as Flair makes the save. Taylor plants Crowbar with a pump handle slam. Crowbar sends Taylor into the corner followed by a back suplex. Taylor tags in Regal and the challengers double team Crowbar. Regal knee strikes Crowbar followed by an uppercut. Regal stops Crowbar with a jawbreaker and misses a clothesline. Crowbar nails Regal with a leaping elbow strike. Regal is double teamed on the mat. Flair knee drops Regal on the back. Crowbar returns to slams Regal and goes to the apron to hit a slingshot somersault leg drop for a two count. Crowbar heads to the top rope, but Regal crotches Crowbar. Regal hits a top rope double under hook suplex on Crowbar. Taylor and Flair tag in with Taylor uppercuts Flair. Taylor uppercuts Flair and Crowbar is backdropped to the floor. Taylor hits a butterfly suplex on Flair, but there’s no referee. Crowbar nails Taylor over the back with a lead pipe. Flair covers Taylor and wins the match. (**. A decent match with Crowbar doing most of the work, which is ideal to limit Flair. Regal and Taylor are a good team and with WCW kind of depleted in the tag division they could be used in a bigger way to help the division.)
Final Thoughts:
An average show for Saturday Night standards. There were a couple of solid matches, but nothing too memorable. It’s fun to see young talent in WCW get a decent amount of time to showcase their abilities.
Thanks for reading.