World Wrestling Federation presents Metal
Date: 8/18/2001
From: Rosemont, IL
Matches:
1.) Chavo Guerrero Jr. defeated Essa Rios
2.) Mike Awesome defeated K-Kwik
3.) Shawn Stasiak & The Hurricane defeated Kaientai (Funaki & Taka Michinoku)
4.) Hardcore Holly defeated Hugh Morrus
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Kevin Kelly and Chris Leary are on commentary. This is Leary’s debut on commentary.
2.) Guerrero throws his shirt at Rios, but Rios kicks it away. Guerrero gets control with a waist lock, but Rios counters. Guerrero fireman carry’s Rios for a near fall and they have a standoff. Rios strikes Guerrero followed by a head scissors. Guerrero monkey flips Rios, but avoids a baseball slide and strikes Rios. Rios spin kicks Guerrero, but Guerrero elbows Rios. Rios dumps Guerrero to the apron where Rios rams Guerrero into the corner. Rios brings Guerrero to the top rope, but backflips off. Guerrero manages to deliver a tilt a whirl backbreaker and stomps Rios on the mat. Guerrero sends Rios chest first into the corner followed by a back suplex for a two count. Guerrero tries for a Gory Special, but Rios breaks free. Guerrero decks Rios with a clothesline. Rios dropkicks Guerrero and delivers a clothesline. Rios kicks Guerrero followed by a backdrop. Guerrero kicks Rios, but Rios strikes Guerrero and springboards off the ropes to powerslam Guerrero for a two count. Rios strikes Guerrero in the corner and sits Guerrero on the top turnbuckle. Guerrero avoids a a hurricanrana by holding the ropes. Guerrero hits a sit out suplex off the middle rope and pins Rios for the win. (*1/2. This was a bit sloppy and they seemed a bit rushed to get their spots in throughout the match. I can already tell that Leary is going to be incredibly annoying on commentary, too. Guerrero winning is the right move since Rios serves little purpose at this point.)
3.) Awesome puts a headlock on Kwik, but Kwik delivers a hip toss for a two count. Kwik strikes Awesome, but Awesome decks Kwik to the mat. Awesome clubs Kwik over the back and forearms Kwik on the lower back. Awesome tries for a German suplex, but settles for a big boot. Awesome heads to the top, but is stopped by Kwik. Awesome shoves Kwik off the middle rope and hits a top rope flying clothesline for a near fall. Awesome splashes Kwik in the corner and chokes Kwik in the corner. Kwik heads to the top rope nailing Awesome with a missile dropkick. Kwik strikes Awesome and head scissors Awesome to the mat followed by a heel kick. Kwik covers for a near fall. Kwik climbs to the top rope, but Awesome stops Kwik and tries for the Awesome Bomb. Kwik counters, but Awesome manages to hit a running Awesome Bomb and wins the match. (*. It’s not often that the crowd roars in excitement for a finishing move on Metal, but there is a noticeable amount of interest in seeing the Awesome Bomb. There’s likely zero reason for Awesome to not be pushed as a force for the Alliance.)
4.) Hurricane and Funaki kickoff the tag match with Hurricane clubbing Funaki over the back. Funaki counters a slam attempt, but can’t get a rollup. Funaki strikes Hurricane and hits a head scissors followed by a dropkick. Hurricane misses a splash in the corner and Funaki hits a bulldog. Stasiak enters and the fans yell “Meat” loudly. Taka tags into the match and has a standoff with Stasiak. Stasiak shoves Taka to the mat and pie faces Taka. Taka eye pokes Stasiak followed by strikes in the corner. Stasiak is taken over with a doubel suplex. Funaki has a chin lock on Stasiak and Taka delivers a dropkick. Hurricane superkicks Funaki after Stasiak avoided a clothesline. Stasiak stomps on Funaki followed by strikes on the mat. Stasiak rams Funaki into the corner. Stasiak clotheslines Funaki followed by a gut wrench slam for a two count. Stasiak slams Funaki and Hurricane comes off the middle rope to deliver a forearm drop. Hurricane delivers a backbreaker to Funaki for a two count. Hurricane slams Funaki and Stasiak misses a top rope splash attempt. Taka and Hurricane get the hot tags with Taka cleaning house with strikes. Taka nails Hurricane with a spinning heel kick. Stasiak is met with a double dropkick. Hurricane shoves Taka off the top rope. Stasiak delivers a reverse DDT and pins Taka for the win. (**. I love this crowd. Chanting Meat is a hilarious thing to do. I wish all Metal crowds were this lively.)
5.) Morrus backs Holly into the corner and delivers shoulder rams. Morrus strikes Holly in the corner. Holly strikes Morrus in the corner and runs into a boot. Holly hip tosses Morrus and delivers a scoop slam. Holly misses an elbow drop. Morrus sends Holly into the corner, but misses a splash. Holly arm drags Morrus out of the corner. Holly keeps arm control until Morrus reaches the ropes. Holly strikes Morrus over the arm, but Morrus backdrops Holly to the floor. Morrus rolls Holly back into the ring and delivers a scoop slam. Holly ducks a clothesline to hit a back suplex and both men are down. Holly forearms Morrus and hits a dropkick. Holly holds Morrus over the top rope and delivers a kick to the lower midsection. Morrus stops Holly with a flapjack. Morrus heads to the top rope hitting an elbow drop for a near fall. Morrus climbs to the top rope missing the No Laughing Matter. Holly hits the Alabama Slam to win the match. (*. I was hoping for something a lot more focused on brawling and a stiff fest. The action wasn’t all that good and a bit underwhelming.)
Final Thoughts:
The crowd made this far more entertaining than the action did and that’s the joy of a Chicago crowd. Not a horrible outing for Metal standards.
Thanks for reading.