Last week was an interesting turn of events for World Championship Wrestling. Booker T became the number one contender to the WCW United States Championship by defeating Bret Hart, and Rey Mysterio Jr. earned perhaps the biggest upset victory in WCW Nitro history by pinning Kevin Nash. There’s potential for some freshness in the WCW upper card, which is badly needed in order to compete with the white-hot World Wrestling Federation.
As it stands right now, the main angle is between Hogan and Flair, but it’s veering more into a feud between David Flair and Ric Flair. The main development was David turning on his father because of Torrie’s influence to help Hogan retain at Superbrawl. Hogan’s antics continue to be rehashing segments from 1997, and they don’t connect nearly the same as they had done when WCW was at its peak popularity.
WWF is riding huge levels of success while relying on the main attraction of Steve Austin vs. Vince McMahon and/or The Rock. Each week they are doing something new and exciting and that’s been the case for probably over a year at this point. Last weeks episode of Nitro had a couple of exciting moments, as mentioned above, but there hasn’t been something that would lead to “cooler talk”. Hogan/Flair may be a money feud for WCW, but where can they go afterward? I can’t imagine Flair loses the feud to completely kill off his face character. When does Goldberg get to go on the chase? When Sting returns are they going to rehash the Sting vs. NWO? Sting vs. Flair? They need to do something new and exciting, not something repetitive and played out.
Hopefully there’s something developed officially for UnCensored, a pay per view that is promoted as being no rules and essentially a non-sanctioned WCW event. If that were true, it would be a creative way to drag out Hogan’s title run since he wouldn’t be able to lose it based on those stipulations.
Anyway, lets see the latest developments in WCW, shall we?
MARCH 1ST —CHAPEL HILL, NC —DEAN SMITH CENTER
DAVID FLAIR WANTS HIS FATHER TO RETIRE
CONTEXT: David and Torrie are in the limo discussing Ric Flair potential retirement. David plays a few voicemails from his father who is demanding to talk, but David never returned the phone call.
Bob’s Take: David is such a dweeb and there’s nothing cool about him. Wolfpac has to turn on David at some point, right? That’s got to be the point of all of this. Torrie is the only positive to come out of all this nonsense. 0 for 1
SCOTT STEINER & BUFF BAGWELL ISSUE A CHALLENGE.. ARE THEY NEXT?
CONTEXT: After insulting the fans, Steiner reveals that Diamond Dallas Page isn’t at the arena once again. Steiner declares he’s the fans role model and they should want to be like him, but they don’t want to be. Bagwell gets some cheap heat saying they are Duke fane and they are upset with Rick Steiner ruining their night last week. Thus, they challenge Rick Steiner and Goldberg to a tag match where Steiner promises that Goldberg will be proven to be just hype.
Bob’s Take: I don’t see this as a strong main event and it feels like a match better fit for Thunder. Rick Steiner being back is fine, but he’s not a draw. Scott Steiner is a good promo and he’s finding his groove with his heel persona. It’s also not lost on me that Bagwell is making is in-ring return from breaking his neck last year due to Rick’s bulldog. I’d almost rather see a Bagwell vs. Rick Steiner match instead tonight. The promo is solid enough for the main event. 1 for 2
WOLFPAC WANT REY MYSTERIO TO JOIN THE NWO..
CONTEXT: Lex Luger talked about suffering a serious injury that is going to cost him some time in the ring. Despite the injury, they are forgiving Rey Mysterio for the past issues. Nash wants Mysterio to join the NWO and gives him a call. Nash finds out that Mysterio isn’t interested and declines the offer. That rejection surprises Nash.
Bob’s Take: I would have been livid if Mysterio joined the Wolfpac. This segment came across as a lesser version of a somewhat similar segment between DDP and the Outsiders in 1997. Mysterio has one big upset over Nash, but I have a hard time believing that Mysterio will prevail in the feud at the end of it. The crowd popped for the rejection. 2 for 3
MATCH #1: WCW CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION BILLY KIDMAN VS. PSYCHOSIS
FINISH: Kidman hit the Shooting Star Press to pickup the win and retain the title
Bob’s Take: Psychosis is such an under appreciated Cruiserweight. There were a couple of sloppy moments, but it’s an enjoyable match. Kidman’s shooting star press got a major pop and the crowd itched for the move when Kidman climbed to the top rope. That proves that the move is over and is something the audience actively enjoys seeing. They made good use of their time and I’m convinced that Cruiserweight matches should always open the shows. 3 for 4
ARN ANDERSON TRIES TO TALK SENSE INTO DAVID FLAIR, AND FAILS.
CONTEXT: Arn asks David if he’s going to throwaway family because of Torrie. Arn warns David that when the NWO is tired of him that they’ll kick him out. David tells Arn that he’s just jealous and WCW and the Four Horsemen are old and to get over it
Bob’s Take: Arn knows what’s up, and it’s something that I have said before already. Wolfpac will absolutely kick David out to add a layer to the feud with Ric. For some reason I’m visualizing David getting absolutely destroyed and bloodied by the NWO as Torrie stands with Hogan to prove it was all a ploy. David is being presented as a sucker and his inexperience would make the angle believable. 4 for 5
HOLLYWOOD HOGAN TALKS WITH VINCENT
CONTEXT: Hogan tells Vincent that he needs to smack Stevie Ray if Ray gets out of line since Vincent is the leader. Vincent promises to smack Ray with the slapjack if he gets out of hand.
Bob’s Take: I’m honestly surprised that Hogan is wasting his time with the NWO Black & White segments at this point. I figured he’d turn them all against each other and then watch from a distance as they imploded and the group fizzled. 4 for 6
MATCH #2: REY MYSTERIO JR. VS. BAM-BAM BIGELOW
FINISH: Mysterio manages to pickup the win with a victory roll.
Bob’s Take: It’s quite remarkable to see the downfall Bigelow has experienced in WCW. Bigelow came in fresh off the ECW feud with Taz, which was probably his peak in terms of having a buzz. Within about two months of being in WCW they erased all of that with a poor feud with Goldberg and now he’s being used to put over Mysterio as a giant killer. By the looks of this, Bigelow is going to be a midcard guy and basically just another face to fill TV time and not be anything of substance. The only thing that bugs me is that the victories come across as if they are a fluke. 5 for 7
MEAN GENE CHATS WITH REY MYSTERIO, WOLFPAC INTERVENE
CONTEXT: Backstage, Gene caught up with Mysterio and suggests that losing the mask has been a blessing in disguise. Lex Luger enters the scene and asks about Mysterio disrespecting the shirt. Nash comes up from behind and clotheslines Mysterio. Nash lifts Mysterio up by his jeans as if Mysterio is a child and drops Mysterio to the floor before walking off with Luger.
Bob’s Take: Nash finds a way to be dismissive of Mysterio by lifting him up by his belt. 6 for 8
THREE WAY BRAWL BETWEEN RAVEN, HAK AND BAM-BAM BIGELOW
CONTEXT: Backstage, Raven and Bigelow are brawling randomly likely due to the recent question on who is extreme. Hak enters the scene with a kendo stick and takes out the cameraman with a shot, too.
Bob’s Take: I like the wild nature of the filming. Bigelow is going even lower on the card to wrestling in hardcore matches, which is something I recall was a reason he left ECW. I guess he’s getting much more to wreck his body in such matches, though. 7 for 9
WOLFPAC CHAT WITH STEVIE RAY
CONTEXT: Stevie Ray says he’s had enough of Vincent. Nash thinks it is time for Stevie to take Vincent out if given the chance. Nash claims Vincent has been talking trash about Ray. Luger and Disco are stirring the pot, as well.
Bob’s Take: They are dragging out mind games quite a bit, aren’t they? 7 for 10
JERRY FLYNN IS TIRED OF ERNEST MILLER
CONTEXT: Flynn is tired of Miller claiming to be the best martial artists and he’s going to put his skills against Miller’s. Backstage, Scott Norton tells Ernest Miller that Flynn is claiming to be the best and suggests Miller go out to the ring.
Bob’s Take: I don’t care much about the angle at this point. Flynn is getting a push, but I don’t think anyone truly cares. 7 for 11
MATCH #3: THE CAT VS. JERRY FLYNN
FINISH: They collide on stereo roundhouse kicks and they are knocked out. The referee declares the first man up to be the winner. Of course, Miller distracts the referee allowing Sonny Ono to kick Flynn and allow Miller to win the match.
Bob’s Take: Flynn is not a bad worker as his offensive moves are actually enjoyable and look good. I think they were doomed with their placement on the show after a good opening match and Mysterio pulling off another upset win. The finish is kind of dumb, but it protects Flynn if they want to push him further along. 7 for 12
MATCH #4: PERRY SATURN VS. HUGH MORRUS
FINISH: Late in the match, Jimmy Hart distracts the referee to allow Chris Jericho to enter the ring and hit Saturn with a chain. Morrus proceeds to hit the No Laughing Matter to win the match.
Bob’s Take: While I do like Morrus, there’s not much heat into this match. It felt like a filler match and the crowd was quiet for the majority of the action. Saturn is making the most out of the dress angle, but aside from that there wasn’t anything here to keep me invested or entertained. There were a couple of good moves, but the match was overall slow and plodding before the finish. 7 for 13
MATCH #5: CHRIS BENOIT VS. BRET HART
FINISH: Late in the match, WCW Tag Team Champions Curt Hennig & Barry Windham attack Benoit on the floor with Hennig hitting Benoit with the championship. Hart put the Sharpshooter on Benoit, but refused to let go of the hold as Benoit reached the ropes and the referee disqualifies Hart. After the match, Hart shoves the referee and Dean Malenko runs into the ring to make the save attacking Hennig. However, Windham takes his belt off and chokes Malenko.
Bob’s Take: It’s the match that should have been at Superbrawl, but instead we get it for free on Nitro. The action started a little slow, but it absolutely picked up and the crowed became invested in the counters and overall action. Benoit has fantastic intensity and it translates well to get the crowd behind him when he’s making a comeback. The aftermath is fine as it puts a focus on the tag title feud, as well. 8 for 14
HOLLYWOOD HOGAN AND THE NWO RIP ON THE HORSEMEN SOME MORE
CONTEXT: Hogan believes that everyone knows he’s the man and he’s glad that David Flair is the newest member of the Wolfpac. Hogan says he’s not going to beat up Ric Flair anymore and wants Flair to announce his retirement tonight. During the promo, Stevie Ray and Vincent begin to fight until other Wolfpac members pull them apart to end the segment.
Bob’s Take: The promos by Hogan are leaving a lot to be desired. They are coming across rather repetitive and they don’t add much of anything to the feud. I get it, Hogan is the man and Flair isn’t. Give me something more than just the basic, brother. 8 for 15
RIC FLAIR REVEALS PLANS FOR UNCENSORED
CONTEXT: Flair tells Gene that he’s had to hear Arn tell him that Arn wants to beat up David. Ric knows that the Wolfpac managed to get to David. Ric recalls meeting a blonde woman twenty years ago and she’s in Charlotte waiting for daddy to come home. Flair gets to business and reveals that he’s having a cage built, but it’s not any ordinary cage. The cage will not have a door and instead will have barbed wire covering the top. Flair says whomever walks out of the cage will be the WCW World Champion. Flair notes that he’s not challenging Hogan, but rather telling him it’s happening. Flair promises they are going to sweat and pay the price. Tony Schiavone notes there are added stipulations to the match and can only be seen on their website.
Bob’s Take: A great promo by Flair touching base on David being influenced by the sexy blonde and now he’s putting Hogan in a cage, but this time with a barbed wire at the top. Flair’s anger towards Hogan is unmatched and I feel as if Flair could get me fired up for a war. I think after UnCensored they need to pivot away from Flair and Hogan especially if they’re doing a cage with barbed wire. If Flair wins, I’m not entirely sure who would chase after him. If Hogan walks out as the champion, I think it’s time for the Goldberg focus to begin. 9 for 16
MAIN EVENT: WCW TELEVISION CHAMPION SCOTT STEINER & BUFF BAGWELL VS. RICK STEINER & GOLDBERG
FINISH: Rick Steiner pins Bagwell after a top rope bulldog. (Bagwell didn’t have his back to Rick, though).
Bob’s Take: The crowd came across as being electric for the main event, which I think shows that Steiner and Bagwell are getting over as a viable heel duo. Sure, Goldberg is a megastar but there needs to be a decent heel to get the crowd invested and that’s been accomplished by Steiner and Bagwell. Bagwell looked healthy and fully recovered from his neck injury. I’m actually glad to see Bagwell back in action. WCW has plenty of depth and plenty of TV time to use their massive roster. An average main event, but with a hotter crowd reaction than I was expecting. 10 for 17
Not a bad episode of Nitro as the action got a good focus and for the most part it wasn’t too bad. Kidman/Psychosis and Hart/Benoit were both quality matches for TV. They are trying to advance the undercard feuds, but they aren’t connecting with me all that much. Rey/Nash advanced a little bit, but I’m still having a tough time buying into Mysterio as a viable competitor against Nash in the long run.
The idea of a barbed wire steel cage is appealing and it’s a match that Hogan and Flair haven’t had. Sure, they wrestled in a cage match back at Halloween Havoc ’94, but now it is with the dangerous barbed wire. As a kid, I remember being intrigued by the idea of such a match happening involving Hogan and Flair. As I said earlier, this needs to be the end of the feud. Flair can only carry a feud on the microphone for so long before it comes across stale. We’re going on three months of Hogan lacking on the promos to build the matches with Flair.
Goldberg hasn’t had much attention coming out of Superbrawl, and it appears he’s not going to be booked on UnCensored. You’d think there’d be some kind of match between Goldberg and Steiner at the PPV considering their connection on television, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.
Nitro 3/1 TV Rating: 4.3
Thanks for reading.