WCW Spring Stampede 1999 - 11/04/1999
Blitzkrieg vs. Juventud Guerrera
Woah. What a hot opener. Blitzkrieg is one of the few guys that gets kind words in this era and I certainly see why. Juventud Guerrera was the better of the two imo but Blitzkrieg offered some great spots and counters too. This was a great counterfest with some great spots and a sick finish with the Juvy Driver off the top. ***1/2
WCW World Cruiserweight Title Match: Rey Mysterio Jr. (c) vs. Kidman
Somewhat disappointing. A little too long and dry. Rey Mysterio still had some spectacular spots and worked off Kidman well enough. This needed a bit more meat to it. **3/4
Perry Saturn & Raven vs. The Four Horsemen (Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko) (w/Arn Anderson)
I like how this was given a lot of time because its four relative too guys in the midcard. There was a lot of time for them to do their thing. This was an action packed, even match with some great double team action. I couldn't tell who was the face and heel team but they opted for Saturn to be the FIP with Raven just staying as Raven. It was an interesting route. I think they meshed the modern southern tag style with the hardcore action nicely, too. ***1/2
WCW United States Heavyweight Title Tournament Final Match (vacant): Booker T vs. Scott Steiner
A fine match and a good win for Scott Steiner but this was in a period where neither wrestlers was in a good run of form. **1/4
Kevin Nash (w/Lex Luger & Miss Elizabeth) vs. Goldberg
It's the rematch! And it couldn't feel any more cold. The crowd was more hot for the Horsemen v Saturn/Raven match. The match was lamely laid out with Nash working over Goldberg for most of it with Luger running interference. Goldberg's selling was really solid, even selling a corner bump but you want him running wild on offence, which he'd eventually do in the peak of the bout. The ref bump wasn't needed and the interference was much to hide anyway but we got Nash doing a leapfrog so that's something. The result was predictable. Goldberg scored the win and gets his win back. I wish he didn't lose at Starrcade though. **1/2
WCW World Heavyweight Title Four Way Match (Special Referee: Randy Savage): Ric Flair (c) vs. Diamond Dallas Page vs. Sting vs. Hollywood Hogan
I love how messy this was. Other than the pairings being made, this was very unstructured which made it impossible to predict. Hogan got taken out via a Figure Four by Flair in the ring and then by one around the post by DDP, taking him out of the match entirely. Sting look really motivated in his return. His wild stretch when he was working against both DDP and Flair was amazing. More of this please. What I'd like less of is nonsense like Savage hitting Flair with the elbow. If the reason is Flair not letting go of the Figure Four then why didn't Savage attack Flair and the hit the elbow instead of dragging Flair and Sting in the middle while they were still in it and doing it? What is worse that Flair no selling it so DDP could hit the Diamond Cutter to win the WCW Title. Now that's an odd finish. Good for DDP though. ***1/4
WCW Nitro - 12/04/1999
Opening Segment w/DDP and Scott Steiner
Weird cold start to the show. They have a big history together with Steiner throwing Kimberly out of a car a few weeks ago. Plus Steiner is the US Champion which means he is the #1 contender, should Steiner choose to take that option on so it makes sense that Steiner attacks DDP but it's done in recap form, showing clips from Spring Stampede backstage after the show ended.
Sting and DDP address Spring Stampede 1999
Two pretty good sets of promos. DDP got some boos from the crowd after he stated that he’s not going to face Sting on the show, rather Steiner due to his actions. Sting cut a rather impassioned promo, saying that WCW is his house and he is their loyal guy. I want to say that the words “franchise” were used but I can’t confirm.
New music packages
I see their attempt to freshen up their product but it's not the WWF, that’s for sure. I love Bret Hart’s gimmick of being a whiner with a point. It’s what he’s best at, plus it’s channelling real frustrations of his. However he quit and that’ll never be paid off. Scott Steiner’s wasn’t great but it was okay still.
WCW World Cruiserweight Title Match: Rey Mysterio Jr. (c) vs. Juventud Guerrera / Horseman attacks
I thought this was looking to be pretty great. It’s a standard style of match that you expect out of these two but their execution of their normal spots is amazing. Juvy hit an awesome looking plancha that caused Rey to splat on the outside. The match ends after Benoit and Malenko interfere. Raven and Saturn comedown but no Kidman! Gah. ***
Kendo Stick Match: Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Hugh Morrus / Who Is The King Of Hardcore?
I thought the Hak/Morrus segment before the match was genius. Hak is saying that he is the King Of Hardcore and hits Morrus in the head with a Kendo Stick, saying that’s how he’ll beat Bigelow. Morrus takes the Kendo Stick and hits someone else with it, laughing. Absurd, but brilliant. The match was pretty terrible though. Just garage wrestling without much joy. Morrus took some big jumps into tables at least. *
Macho Man & Ric Flair Promo
Mr President Ric Flair is pissed that Macho Man cost him the WCW World title last night and wanted to hold up the title as a result before Savage, along with Gorgeous George, interrupted him and said that’s not happening. A match is made between Savage's girl and Flair’s girl (Charles Roinson lol) and if Gorgeous George wins, Savage is reinstated. Alright segment. The “Flair’s girl” line is gold. Flair’s loon in power gimmick is pretty underwhelming though. Why can’t he be a classic figure head like he originally was? That’s a true WCW vibe that I like to see (although I like the heel Horseman, too). The segment ends with Sting coming out and challenging Flair to a match tonight. No reason is given other than “old times sake”. The crowd is hot for the announcement at least.
El Dandy & La Parka vs. The Master Blasters (Master Blaster Blade & Master Blaster Iron) (w/Jimmy Hart) / Nash promo
Um. Why is El Dandy with La Parka other than being from the same country? The LWO is done thanks to WCW not liking good things so there the pairing is odd, although it sounds great. The Master Blasters 2.0 are two huge men in stockings…. I can’t take that seriously. I just wanted to see El Dandy punch them in the face and move on but Kevin Nash came down to ruin everything. El Dandy is on Nitro and I have to see more of this dope. Nash addresses last week’s talks with Flair and reeals that he’s now the #1 Contender (despite losing last night to Golderg) at Slambore. Nash wants DDP after he injured Hogan. Great. That’s not the match that happens by the way.
Kidman vs. Psychosis
A short-ish Cruiserweight match. Nothing much to look at although it gets praised by Dave and other reviews. **
WCW World Television Title Match: Booker T (c) vs. Rick Steiner
This makes sense. Booker T lost to Scott Steiner so the next step is to defeat his brother to get his heat back. The match itself was alright. Rick had lost it by this point but rather than being poor, it was just uneventful from his point of view. Booker T ran through his spots and they went to inish. Steive Ray runs down to help his brother win. Harlem Heat are getting back together.
Scott Steiner Promo
Steiner cuts one of his usual promos aiming it at DDP saying that he’s much, much bigger (in more ways than one) and DDP stands no chance against him.
Goldberg Promo & Kenny Kaos vs. Goldberg
I’m not too sure that Goldberg should be doing promos but he's actually not too bad at them. He speaks well and with Mean Gene next to him, it works enough. He calls out Bret Hart after their famous angle in Canada with the steel plate spear and says he’s waiting for Bret's return. He congratulates DDP on his title win but states his intention to challenge him. Everyone is after DDP! Kenny Kaos is a roid guy who is insane, so there is a lot of fun to have while watching him. At one point in the match, he tries a springboard shoulder tackle, which ails. Goldberg pulls out some insane shit on his own, channeling Volk Han with a rolling knee bar into a banana split. That ruled. **1/4
Sting vs. Ric Flair
Man, Sting really pushed the “Old Times” thing tonight. And honestly, I didn’t care for their matches in those times although this is more condensed which makes it easier to sit through without getting bored or annoyed somewhat. Ric Flair goes through his routine which Sting no-sells like he would (and should at this stage of Flair's career. So this did nothing or me. Sting looked great as a star though. He is destined to be the next WCW Champion after DDP. **1/2
WCW World Heavyweight Title Match: Diamond Dallas Page (w/Kimberly) (c) vs. Scott Steiner
Ah fuck. Roddy Piper is here. He was so insufferable on commentary. I just wanted to punch him in the face. So annoying. The match wasn't great. Exhausting might be a right word to use. I felt tired after watching this. I liked certain things like Steiner taking DDP down to the mat and just slapping him and manipulating DDP by just his neck. But other than that, I wasn't a big fan of this. DDP won and got his revenge though. Cool result. Onto DDP vs Sting. **1/2
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