JUNE 3RD — CHARLESTON, SC — NORTH CHARLESTON COLISEUM — TAPED
MATCH #1: WCW TAG TEAM CHAMPION BAM-BAM BIGELOW VS. SCOTTY RIGGS
NOTE: Mike Tenay announces that Bigelow and DDP will defend the WCW Tag Team Championships at the Great American Bash, but since Raven is still in the hospital there isn’t a definite team to challenge them.
FINISH: Bigelow finishes Riggs off with the Greetings From Asbury Park.
Bob’s Take: Bigelow has recently joined the seemingly new top heel group including Flair and DDP. I’m not sure having him on Thunder in a match with another heel is a great idea. Riggs is not a likable character since he’s obsessed with himself. Bigelow is likely put in a spot where the crowd is going to cheer for Bigelow to kick ass. Riggs tried to work as an underdog babyface, but the audience is familiar with him as a heel, and it didn’t connect, at all. It’s a mostly boring bout. 0 for 1
MATCH #2: HUGH MORRUS VS. BILLY KIDMAN
FINISH: Late in the match, Brian Knobbs runs to the ring and attacks Kidman to prevent the Shooting Star Press. Knobbs plants Kidman with a pump handle slam. Knobbs has joined the First Family. Knobbs gives Kidman the Pity City and Morrus hits the No Laughing Matter. Hardcore Hak slides into the ring and makes the save with a kendo stick. Hak ends up hitting Kidman with the kendo stick, as well.
Bob’s Take: I’m a bit stunned that this match is happening on a taped episode of Thunder. When they had an interaction on Nitro the crowd responded very well. The crowd responds well to Kidman’s offense here, as well. A lame finish, but I thought it was a really good match between these two. The crowd popped for a lot of the action and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I think Morrus vs. Kidman on GAB would be an underrated undercard match on PPV. 1 for 2
MATCH #3: BUFF BAGWELL VS. BRIAN ADAMS
FINISH: Late in the match, Vincent tries to hit Bagwell with a chair, but hit Bagwell on accident. There was an accidental three count and the match restarts. Bagwell ends up hitting the Blockbuster and pins Adams.
Bob’s Take: A mostly slow bout and boring offense, but the crowd popped for Bagwell. I’m glad there was a finish and they didn’t settle for the DQ nonsense. 1 for 3
MATCH #4: SCOTT NORTON VS. SILVER KING
FINISH: Norton wins the match following a powerbomb.
Bob’s Take: Basically one-sided, which shouldn’t be a surprise. There wasn’t much to this one. Norton is a badass, though. 1 for 4
MATCH #5: CURT HENNIG VS. WCW CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION REY MYSTERIO JR.
FINISH: Late in the match, Bobby Duncum Jr. comes out and rams Mysterio groin first into the ring post while the referee is distracted. Duncum Jr. enters and punches Mysterio to cause a disqualification. After the match, Kidman and Konnan come out to make the save.
Bob’s Take: Hennig came across a bit more motivated to work a match, and I’m wondering if it was because Mysterio is a smaller opponent and younger. Typically, I feel Hennig tends to coast, but it has a been awhile since Hennig has worked someone with Mysterio’s style. The finish is another lame one because WCW can’t provide clean finishes to matches that have any kind of angle on TV. It’s a decent match, though. 2 for 5
MAIN EVENT: RIC FLAIR VS. CHRIS BENOIT
NOTE: Benoit comes out to Dean Malenko’s music again. It appears that Benoit isn’t going to use his own music that he had used in years prior and will share Malenko’s.
FINISH: Late in the match, DDP pulls the referee out of the ring after a diving headbutt by Benoit. Bam-Bam Bigelow also came to the ring to attack Benoit. Flair is disqualified. Bigelow and DDP hit the Greetings From Asbury and Diamond Cutter combo to leave Benoit laying.
Bob’s Take: This is a big main event for Thunder standards, but I think it is the right place for it to take place. There isn’t a lot of exciting wrestling in terms of big spots, or anything. But, it’s an enjoyable match with Flair’s antics and Benoit doing his best. Flair did his formula style with Benoit, which is to be expected. The interference was not a surprise and I’m numb to the idea of their being any kind of finish to the main event matches on WCW TV. A decent main event for Thunder standards. The combo finisher used by Bigelow and DDP is growing on me. 3 for 6
Obviously it’s a subpar episode of Thunder, but the one thing I tend to enjoy about Thunder and especially taped Thunder episodes is that the show is mostly matches and highlight videos. The format is very similar to what you’d see on Saturday Night, but with a stronger main event most times.
Thunder 6/3 TV Rating: 3.1
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