Steiner wins WCW World Title
By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM!
Wrestling
Scott Steiner proudly displays the WCW World Heavyweight Title he won at Mayhem 2000.
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You know things are really hitting a new low when a troubled promotion
begins ripping on and poking fun at its own material. Aware that they are
becoming the subject of ridicule, World Championship Wrestling has decided
to turning the tables on their critics. It's The old 'if you can't beat them,
join them' mentality. WCW's stance is that they know full well that their
product is shoddy. It's intentional. Hint. Hint. Nudge. Nudge. Wink. Wink.
Case in point, commentator Mark Madden cuts up a Glacier promo shown on
last night's Mayhem pay-per-view. "What are we thinking doing that crap
again?," he says.
I, myself, couldn't agree more -- though WCW's transparent spin control is
only going to exacerbate their problems. The solution is for WCW to
seriously revamp their product from top to bottom not wasting time and
effort into concocting feeble manipulations. There is reason why 53 per
cent of the SLAM! Wrestling readers who voted in our "What match are you
looking forward to at WCW Mayhem?" poll chose "Not interested". That, in
itself, is a serious indictment on the management and creative forces
behind WCW. They are boring people to tears and decimating their fan base.
It has to end before WCW hits the point of no return.
Kevin Nash and DDP are the new WCW World Tag Team champions.
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WCW did however interject some mild interest into their beleaguered
promotion at the insanely over-booked Mayhem pay-per-view from the U.S.
Cellular Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Scott "Big Poppa Pump" Steiner won his
first ever WCW World Heavyweight Title defeating Booker T. in their "Asylum
- Caged Heat" match. The seemingly unstoppable Steiner absorbed every
high-impact move Booker had in his arsenal and then some. A missile drop
kick. A Bookend. An axe-kick. Nothing could hold Big Poppa Pump's shoulders
down for the three count. A frustrated Booker even took to wrapping Steiner
up in a straight-jacket (which was hanging from the roof of the cage and
could legally be used as a weapon) and beating the stuffing out of him with
a steel chair. The self-described "genetic freak" got back to his feet,
ripped the jacket in half and clotheslined Booker to the mat.
Booker countered Steiner's Recliner finishing move by lifting him up on his
shoulders and guillotining him on the top rope. That and a top rope Bookend
gained the champ only a two count. Three clotheslines and an axe-kick later
saw Steiner still mobile as he crawled, gaining possession of the steel
chair Booker had used on him.
Steiner cracked Booker in the head with it,
gave him a full-nelson powerbomb then put on the Recliner again (
Video Clip: 1.8 MB). Booker
passed out, handing Steiner the win and the WCW World Heavyweight Title. Not
satisfied with the victory alone, Steiner beat Booker with the steel chair
as the broadcast left the air waves.
The next WCW pay-per-view is Starrcade on December 17th.
WCW Mayhem 2000 Results
In cheesy segments, Booker is greeted by "fans" swarming him for
autographs as he enters the U.S. Cellular Arena and Ric Flair addresses the
crowd promising them a great show. That's how bad things are for WCW. They
need to wheel legend Ric Flair out to publicly show his support for the
company.
Mike Sanders (champion) Vs Kwee Wee (challenger) (WCW Cruiserweight
Championship Match)
The Thrillers come out to back up Sanders. Paisley fetches Meng from
the back and sicks him on The Thrillers. Ric Flair, Doug Dillinger and WCW
security force everybody away from the ring. Sanders wins with the
Three-Point-O.
Winner: ...and still WCW Cruiserweight Champion...Mike Sanders at 7
minutes and 6 seconds.
Match Rating: 4 / 10.
Ric Flair announces that barring managers, no one will be allowed at
ringside this evening. The Boogie Knights hire Kronik to assist them in
their tag title match. The Boogies only have enough cash though to hire
Kronik for seven and a half minutes. Evan
Karagias and Jaime Knoble discover while cutting their promo that Karagias
used to date Knoble's sister. Knoble is ticked at Karagias for not treating
his sister right. Oh, brother.
Three Count Vs The Jung Dragons Vs Knoble, Karagias
Best match of the evening as each team wrestles hard showcasing some
darn fine moves. Three Count (or is it Two Count?) uses a double-team, 3-D
like move to put the competition away.
Winners: Three Count at 10 minutes and 50 seconds.
Match Rating: 7.5 / 10.
Bigleow punks Mike Awesome in the backstage area. A-Wall saves That
70's Guy but the damage has been done. Awesome won't be able to wrestle
tonight.
Mancow Vs Jimmy Hart
No, Sue from Survivor didn't show. Mancow wears a Boys Bands Suck
T-Shirt. Coolness. Jimmy Hart is wearing a cast. He says he can't wrestle
tonight. Mancow replies..."You're like Al Gore. You don't know when to say
goodbye. I'm gonna kick you in your hanging chad." Mancow's pals from his
radio show attempt to put the hurt on Jimmy. Three Count does the rescue
thing. Mancow rips off Hart's cast and busts him in the head for the pinfall.
Winner: Mancow at 1 minute and 18 seconds.
Match Rating: 0 / 10.
Lance Storm and Bigelow are plotting backstage.
Big Vito (challenger) Vs Reno (challenger) Vs Crowbar (champion) (WCW
Hardcore Heavyweight Title Match)
Crutches, bats, trash cans, chairs are all used in very unimaginative
ways. Reno and Vito brawl to the backstage area. Reno powerslams Vito
through a table. Reno's sister, Marie, puts herself between Vito and Reno.
Crowbar (who received some anonymous flowers at the start of the show)
chair-shots Reno from behind to retain the belt.
Winner: ...and still WCW Hardcore Champion...Crowbar at 7 minutes
and 48 seconds.
Match Rating: 2 / 10.
Once again backstage, Buff Bagwell smashes one of Jarrett's guitars.
DDP and Nash babble in their dressing room about something or other. The
Cat says he will leave for 30 days if Douglas beats him. Mean Gene hits on
Miss Jones.
The Filthy Animals -- Billy Kidman & Rey Mysterio Jr. Vs The Boogie Knights
An injured Disco goes on and on about WOW Magazine at the announcer's
desk. Kronik tags with Wright until 6 minutes and 18 seconds when they
decide...time's up! The Boogie Knights had a minute and twelve seconds
left. They should ask for a refund. With Kronik gone, The Animals make
short work of Wright.
Winners: ...The Filthy
Animals at 7 minutes and 46 seconds.
Match Rating: 2 / 10.
Shane Douglas Vs The Cat
To start the match, The Cat chokes out Mark Madden. Well done, Ernest.
Next time do it for real. Miss Jones slips Miller his red dancing shoes as
Wilson throws Douglas his chain. The throw is way out of bounds and The Cat
karate kicks Douglas in the kisser.
Winner: The Cat at 7 minutes and 55 seconds.
Match Rating: 6 / 10.
Bam Bam Bigelow Vs A-Wall
A-Wall is chosen by Flair to replace Awesome. A-Wall brings in his
table near the conclusion of the bout. Triple B hits The Greetings From
Asbury Park and A-Wall is done. All of a sudden, Triple B falls face down
as if hurt. Stevie Ray even checks on Bammer. EMTs arrive to wheel out
Triple B.
Winner: Bam Bam Bigelow at 5 minutes and 38 seconds.
Match Rating: 2 / 10.
Lance Storm (champion) Vs General Rection (challenger) (WCW U.S.
Heavyweight Title Match)
BBB is still being carted off as Rection makes his entrance. Playing
possum, Bam Bam gets off the stretcher and attacks Rection. He hurls him
into the ring stairs. This is the deal BBB and Storm struck earlier. Major
Gunns foils Rection's first attempt at No Laughing Matter. The second finds
its mark.
Winner: ...and new WCW United States Heavyweight Champion...General
Rection at 6 minutes and 12 seconds.
Match Rating: 6 / 10.
Sanders tells Dillinger he can send his crack security staff home.
Jeff Jarrett Vs Buff Bagwell
David Flair interferes, DDTing Jarrett on a steel chair. Buff gets a
two count. Jarrett counters the Blockbuster by rolling through for a two
count. Jeff Jarrett pulls out another guitar from under the ring. As Buff
sticks his head out between the ropes, Jarrett tees-off on him. Jarrett
pins Buff.
Winner: Jeff Jarrett at 11 minutes and 12 seconds.
Match Rating: 7 / 10.
DDP, Kevin Nash (challengers) Vs The Perfect Event (champions) (WCW
World Tag Team Title Match)
Mike Sanders and the new security teams comes out. Of course, it is
The Natural Born Thrillers. The fans shout...We want Hall! Flair, Dillinger
and WCW security removes the interlopes. They can't hustle Sanders to the
back because he has made himself an official manager and has a nifty card
to prove it. DDP Diamond Cutters Sanders on the floor. Nash does the Jack
Knife Powerbomb as DDP hits The Diamond Cutter at the same time on The
Perfect Event. Nash and DDP walk away with the gold.
Winners: ...and new WCW World Tag Team Champions...Kevin Nash and
DDP at 14 minutes and 49 seconds.
Match Rating: 4 / 10.
Lex Luger Vs Goldberg
Longer than I thought it would be with Luger putting some power moves
on Goldie though he doesn't sell some of them. Luger pulls the ref in front
of Goldberg's Spear. They both are skewered. Goldberg Jackhammers Luger.
Another ref slides in to count three.
Winner: Goldberg at 5 minutes and 50 seconds.
Match Rating: 3 / 10.
Booker T. (champion) Vs Scott Steiner (champion) (WCW World
Heavyweight Title, Caged Heat Match)
Winner: ...and new WCW World Heavyweight Champion...Scott Steiner at
13 minutes and 17 seconds.
Match Rating: 7 / 10.
Total Event Time: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Overall Event Rating: 3 / 10.
