World Wrestling Federation presents Metal
Date: 7/21/2001
From: Providence, RI
Matches:
1.) Chavo Guerrero Jr. defeated Essa Rios
2.) Justin Credible defeated K-Kwik
3.) Taka Michinoku defeated Gregory Helms
4.) Billy Gunn defeated Hugh Morrus
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Kevin Kelly notes that Michael Hayes is not on commentary due to Terry Gordy passing away recently and Hayes is mourning his friend.
2.) Guerrero controls Rios with a headlock and a hammerlock for a moment. Guerrero snapmares Rios, but Rios hits a bridging suplex for a near fall. Rios head scissors Guerrero and follows up with an arm drag. Guerrero dumps Rios to the apron, but Rios rams Guerrero into the corner and leaps off the top, but Guerrero dropkicks Rios in midair. Guerrero rams Rios into the corner and continues with chops. Guerrero boot scrapes Rios in the corner and sits Rios on the middle rope to deliver a dropkick to the chest. Guerrero covers for a two count. Guerrero strikes Rios in the corner a few times, but Rios fights back with right hands. Rios sends Guerrero into the corner, but Guerrero avoids offense until Rios backdrops and dropkicks Guerrero. Rios delivers a weak clothesline and springboards off the ropes to hit a powerslam for a two count. Rios misses a top rope moonsault, but landed on his feet. Guerrero messes up a powerbomb, but takes Rios down to keep a pin and wins the match. (*1/2. I really thought this could have been a hidden gem, but that was not the case. The action was a bit sloppy and the pacing didn’t seem to go very well.)
3.) Chris Leary is introduced as a new commentator for the WWF promoting InVasion. I’m almost certain his career in the WWF is over quickly.
4.) Credible shoulder blocks Kwik and runs the ropes, but Kwik head scissors Credible to the mat. Kwik continues with a leaping forearm smash and works over Credible in the corner with right hands. Kwik decks Credible with another strike out of the corner. Credible is sent upside down into the corner and goes to the apron where Kwik knocks Credible to the floor. Kwik rolls Credible into the ring and kicks Credible. Credible drives Kwik to the mat face first. Credible drives Kwik into the corner and delivers several jabs. Credible eye rakes Kwik to maintain the advantage. Credible elbows Kwik coming off the ropes for a two count. Credible keeps control on the mat with a sleeper. Kwik elbows Credible to break free and runs into a swinging side slam by Credible. Credible misses a superkick and Kwik delivers a clothesline. Kwik blocks a strike to deck Credible to the mat followed by right hands. Kwik hits a flatliner, but Credible powers out at two. Kwik connects with a heel kick, but Credible kicks out at two. Credible misses a clothesline, but nails Kwik with a superkick to pickup the win. (*. Losing to Justin Credible is probably not a good sign for your future in the WWF. Credible is probably near the bottom of relevance even in the Alliance stable let alone all of WWF. They have stripped everything from Credible that made him interesting or entertaining in ECW. He’s just a guy in bad trunks now.)
5.) Taka hammers away on Helms after being slapped. Taka and Helms trade chops in the middle of the ring. Taka eye pokes Helms followed by a strike and a drop toe hold. Taka dropkicks a kneeling Helms and plays to the crowd. Helms goes to the floor and clotheslines Funaki. Taka shoulder rams Helms on the apron and tries for a suplex. Taka settles for a couple of kicks, but Helms drops Taka over his knee face first followed by a neckbreaker for a two count. Helms controls Taka with a wrist lock and a side Russian leg sweep. Taka fights back with strikes, but Helms delivers a reverse DDT over his knee for a two count. Helms plants Taka with a vertical suplex. Helms controls Taka with a wrist lock, but Taka delivers a right hand to stagger Helms. Taka fights free with right hands and hits a spinning heel kick. Taka strikes Helms to the mat several times. Taka kicks Helms in the corner and avoids a superkick to nail Helms with a superkick for a near fall. Taka signals for the Michinoku Driver. Helms counters and hits a neckbreaker/elbow drop combo. Funaki is chased into the ring where Taka hits the Michinoku Driver to pickup the win. (**. The finish didn’t make much sense for the flow of the match. Taka continues to be great especially in a singles role. Helms had finally found a groove in WCW when it closed down and is capable of having great matches when given the chance. They worked a good match here for the time given, but a better finish could have been used here.)
6.) Morrus and Gunn lockup in the middle of the ring with Morrus coming off the ropes to deliver a shoulder block. Morrus sends Gunn into the ropes, but misses a clothesline and Gunn dropkicks Morrus followed by an arm drag. Gunn keeps arm control on the mat. Morrus forearms free to stagger Gunn. Gunn hits a side Russian leg sweep for a two count. Gunn sends Morrus into the ropes, but Morrus tosses Gunn over the top to the floor. Morrus slowly follows to the floor and stomps Gunn followed by an overhand strike. Morrus rolls Gunn back into the ring and slowly returns to the ring. Gunn fights out of the corner, but Morrus sends Gunn into the corner and hits a powerslam for a two count. Morrus stomps Gunn on the mat to maintain control of the match. Morrus punches Gunn on the mat several times. Gunn plants Morrus with the Fame-Asser. Gunn misses a clothesline and they collide on stereo clothesline attempts. Gunn jabs Morrus several times, but Morrus hits a swinging neckbreaker. Morrus heads to the top rope missing an elbow drop. Gunn tries for the One and Only, but Morrus counters with a suplex. Morrus climbs to the top rope and misses the No Laughing Matter. Gunn hits the One and Only to pickup the win. After the match, Morrus attacks Gunn hitting a flapjack. (*. Morrus came across sluggish and slow during the match. I tend to enjoy Morrus in-ring, so this was a bit disappointing.)
Final Thoughts:
Metal will benefit from the WCW/ECW Invasion as the matches will actually mean something for the promotional war standpoint. However, this week was mostly disappointing and the effort by the likes of Morrus left a lot to be desired.
Thanks for reading.