World Wrestling Federation presents Metal
Date: 5/12/2001
From:
Matches:
1.) Billy Gunn defeated Inferno Kid
2.) Essa Rios defeated Low Ki
3.) Perry Saturn defeated Mike Bell
Steve Blackman defeated Prince Nana
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Kid decides to taunt Gunn early on. Gunn backs Kid into a corner, but Kid delivers a strike to the midsection and right hands in the corner. Gunn shoulder blocks Kid, but counters with a hip toss. Gunn dropkicks Kid leading to Kid to bail to the floor to regroup. Kid gains control in the ring with an axe handle and strikes in the corner. Kid elbows Gunn in the corner and delivers a few strikes. Gunn drives Kid face first down to the mat followed by a right hand. Gunn powerslams Kid and sends Kid chest first into the corner before hitting a neckbreaker. Gunn signals for the One and Only. Gunn hits the move and wins the match. (1/2*. Well, not much to that one.)
2.) Ki kicks Rios on the leg a couple of times causing Rios to back off. Rios gains control with a headlock and shoulder blocks Ki. Rios dropkicks Ki into the corner. Rios continues with strikes in the corner. Rios elbows Ki, but is driven to the mat gut first. Ki nails Rios with a few stiff kicks to the chest. Ki nails Rios with a kick to the head. Ki tries for a cover, but Rios kicks out at two. Ki nails Rios with several stiff kicks to chest and drives Rios down with a brainbuster for a two count. Ki chops Rios several times in the corner. Ki misses a handspring attack in the corner and rolls to the floor. Rios takes Ki out with a somersault dive over the ring post to the floor. Rios tries for a cover, but Ki kicks out at two. Ki kicks Rios followed by a forearm strike. Ki slams Rios and heads to the top rope missing a Phoenix Splash. Rios delivers a tilt a whirl slam and goes to the top hitting the moonsault for the win. (**. It started a bit slow, but they put forth a good effort for the few minutes they were given.)
3.) Kevin Kelly notes that the Radicalz have seemingly crumbled recently. Saturn and Malenko had just teamed last week. So, in a matter of a week it looks like the group is no more with Benoit becoming a babyface recently.
4.) Bell takes Saturn over with an arm drag for the early advantage. Saturn comes off the ropes to shoulder block Bell. Bell hip tosses Saturn, but then messes up an arm drag causing Saturn to nearly land on his head. Saturn is livid and begins to pummel Bell in the corner. Saturn dumps Bell to the floor dangerously. Saturn rams Bell viciously into the ring steps. Saturn puts Bell in the tree of woe and chops Bell upside down. Saturn drives Bell down with a brainbuster for a two count. Saturn controls Bell with a top wrist lock on the mat. Saturn has Bell over his shoulder and drives Bell into the corner gut first. Saturn nails Bell with a superkick and finishes Bell with spinning fisherman suplex for the win. (*1/2. It’s the infamous Saturn/Bell segment. Bell clearly didn’t mean to drop Saturn on his head, but it set Saturn off and Saturn let loose on Bell for a few minutes. I’m honestly surprised that they would still air the match considering Saturn was a bit reckless with the talent.)
5.) Blackman works over Nana quickly delivering strikes in the corner. Blackman misses a running elbow in the corner. Nana runs into a spinebuster. Blackman avoids a strike and kicks Nana a few times followed by a leg sweep. Blackman knocks Nana down with a shoulder block. Blackman chops Nana coming off the ropes and takes the time to do a few pushups. Blackman slams Nana and tries for a middle rope splash, but Nana got his knees up. Nana clotheslines Blackman and tries a one arm pushup, but fails. Blackman dumps Nana over the top to the floor. Blackman chops Nana and drops Nana face first onto the ring steps from the apron. Blackman drops Nana to the mat gut first. Blackman avoids a clothesline to deliver a bicycle kick. Blackman locks in a dragon sleeper and forces Nana to submit. (*. Nana showed some comedy personality and took the butt kicking well.)
Final Thoughts:
I enjoyed the episode as there were some good workers showcased and the independent talent used were guys that I knew of beforehand. I had always thought the Saturn/Bell incident happened later on and not at this point.
Thanks for reading.