World Wrestling Federation presents Metal
Date: 4/14/2001
From: Boston, MA
Matches:
1.) Dean Malenko & Perry Saturn defeated Low Ki & Alex Arion
2.) Haku defeated Dukes Dalton
3.) K-Kwik defeated Johnny Swinger
4.) Grandmaster Sexay & Steve Blackman defeated Kaientai (Taka Michinoku & Funaki)
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) The opening match is joined in progress, apparently. Saturn clotheslines Ki and decks Arion. Ki responds with a head scissors and a handspring kick into the corner. Arion hits a missile dropkick on Saturn and hip tosses Malenko. Ki tries for a handspring, but Malenko counters with a back suplex. Malenko dumps Ki through the ropes to the floor. Saturn rams Ki into the ring steps back first and press slams Ki back into the ring. Malenko drives Ki down with a vertical suplex for a two count. Malenko sends Ki into the corner and crotches Ki onto the top turnbuckle. Malenko is knocked off the middle rope. Ki hits a top rope crossbody. Saturn tags into the match and prevents a tag. Ki nails Saturn with a kick to the head. Arion gets tagged in and sends Saturn into the ropes to hit a dropkick. Arion is sent into the corner and treis for a crossbody, but is caught. Ki dropkicks Arion onto Saturn. Malenko dumps Ki to the floor. Saturn clotheslines Arion and hits a swinging northern lights suplex for the win. (NR. I’m not sure how much of the match was cutoff, but it’s an enjoyable match with Arion and Ki getting some moments to shine.)
2.) Haku works over Dalton with several strikes to start the match. Haku misses a clothesline, but powerslams Dalton coming off the ropes followed by elbow drops. Haku sends Dalton into the corner and knocks Dalton to the floor. Haku drops Dalton with a chop and stomps Dalton on the floor. Haku rams Dalton back first into the ring post a few times. Haku sends Dalton into the apron and taunts the crowd. Haku returns to the match with Dalton and delivers a few forearm strikes. Dalton kicks Haku and delivers a few strikes to stagger Haku. Haku responds with a flurry of strikes. Haku sends Dalton into the corner and locks in the Tongan Death Grip to win the match. (1/2*. Haku beating people up is enjoyable, but there’s not much to it aside from strikes.)
3.) Swinger shoulder blocks Kwik, but Kwik hip tosses and arm drags Swinger followed by a dropkick to send Swinger to the floor. Kwik drop toe holds Swinger and delivers another arm drag. Kwik keeps arm control on the mat, but Swinger forearms Kwik. Swinger ducks a heel kick, but Kwik delivers a clothesline for a two count. Swinger avoids a strike by sliding through Kwik’s legs and hits Swing Time, which was sit out swinging neckbreaker. Swinger rams Kwik into the corner and delivers a few right hands. Swinger clotheslines Kwik in the corner and delivers a knee drop to the back. Swinger stomps Kwik in the corner several times. Kwik gets to the top rope and missile dropkicks Swinger. Kwik punches Swinger a few times and decks Swinger with a forearm strike. Kwik head scissors Swinger to the mat and hits a flying forearm smash for a two count. Swinger avoids a slam, but Kwik counters a neckbreaker to hit a sit out front suplex for the win. (*. I’m not sure if this was a tryout for Swinger, but if it was I doubt he’d earn himself a job in any fashion here.)
4.) Taka and Sexay kickoff the match with Sexay getting a headlock on Taka. Sexay shoulder blocks Taka and comes off the ropes to kick Taka on the side of the head. Sexay kicks Taka charging into the corner and hits a missile dropkick off the middle rope. Blackman and Funaki tag into the match. Funaki taunts Blackman and is met with a right hand and bails to the floor. Blackman chases Funaki and hits a tilt a whirl slam. Blackman chops Funaki and rams Funaki into the corner. Taka tags in and trades kicks with Blackman, but Blackman wins that battle. Blackman shoulder blocks Taka and does a few more pushups. Funaki kicks Blackman, but is knocked off the apron. Taka takes Blackman out with a slingshot crossbody to the floor. The lights go out during the match, but Blackman hits a clothesline on both men. Sexay cleans house with scoop slams. Sexay plants Funaki with a sit down powerbomb, but Taka makes the save. Sexay hits a double DDT to counter a backdrop attempt managing a two count. Blackman plants Funaki with a front suplex. Sexay leaps off the top to hit the Hip Hop Drop and pins Funaki for the win. (*. I continue to try and figure out what is making Sexay garner such a warm reception from the crowd. I would have thought the Too Cool gimmick had lost some steam by this point, but the crowd continues to respond very well to his antics.) After the match, Steve Blackman actually dances with Sexay.
Final Thoughts:
Low Ki and Alex Arion showcased some fun offense and was the most energetic match of the four on the show. However, it’s another overall boring episode of Metal. It’s kind of bizarre that they only cycle through the same 6-8 guys on these shows considering how inflated their roster is and it’s only going to get even more inflated in the coming months.
Thanks for reading.