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WCW Thunder 2/7/2001
I'm probably going to regret the cardio for this. I feel like WCW is on a clear "Put everything into Nitro, who gives a fuck about Thunder" offensive.
Shane Helms vs Kaz Hayashi
The tracking is pretty rough on this, so we'll see how it goes. This is a qualifying match for a 6 man, 4 corners match at Superbrawl, with the winner getting a title shot. Shannon Moore is already qualified. This video and my current task of digitizing old home videos just reminds how much VCRs sucked. And how time and hard drive space consuming converting a year's worth of shows is. Shane appears to hurt his leg early on. It doesn't stop him from doing his frog splash cross body. Kaz does Taker's apron leg drop. I'm sure this match is fine, but it's like watching it on a scrambled PPV channel. I remember watching Survivor Series 1994 that way and being so bummed when Bret lost. Chavo comes out to ringside. Shane lets Chavo distract him and Kaz wins with a German suplex. He moves on to the 6 man match.
TO THE BACK. Norman tells Glacier to show up a little earlier this time. Palumbo and O'Haire enter the locker room and beat up Glacier.
The Magnificent 7 come to the ramp. Scott talks about all the injuries he's caused and how he and his brother are united. Rick says they are the BEST IN THE WORLD! Punk steals from Rick Steiner. Shameless. Nash's music hits, but the face team are up in the crowd.
Lex tells Crush "You're not even in mine league". Insiders want the Steiners tonight. Scott wants it, but Flair won't allow it. Instead we'll get Insiders vs Jarrett/Rick. I'm sad "Big Poppa SCUM" wasn't used. Big Poppa Chump is still pretty DDP, though. And not nearly as bad as Cat saying "Big Poppa Dump" 6 times a show. Cat will have an opponent picked by Lance Storm. You wouldn't know that Cat and Lance were feuding since Cat is involved with all of Flair's stuff while Lance is having random mid card matches. Lex vs Crush will also happen tonight.
TO THE BACK. Ric pumps Scotty up.
Norman Smiley vs Sean O'Haire
O'Haire is now wearing long tights. He should go back to the trunks. These tights make him look shorter and have small legs.
For years I thought the "full arm drag and twist" was a "full arm dragon twist". It still sounds way cooler. Arm drags! Smiley slam! Norman looks for Glacier instead of keeping on offense and it costs him the match. Mark Jindrak comes out after the match. Stasiak comes from the other side and attacks. O'Haire made a come back on both of them. Kind of. He botched a springboard move, which leads to a great gif to cover it up.
Chuck finally makes his way out. He sure took his sweet ass time. Champs stand tall.
TO THE BACK. Ric shoots the shit with Animal. Mike Sanders comes in with Ric's dry cleaning. Flair apologizes for losing his temper with Mike on Nitro. He books Mike vs Konnan.
The Cat vs Elix Skipper
I'm surprised Lance didn't book himself going in line with the "give away every PPV match two weeks early" thinking that permeated Nitro. You know what would have made more sense? The Cat vs Team Canada. All of them. "The Cat's back is up against a wall, literally." There is no wall in a ring unless The Wall is wrestling. Monsoon's spirit inhabited Tony for a second. Cat and Prime Time actually have more of an issue than Cat and Lance. Elix and has been hitting on Ms. Jones for weeks. Cat wins with the Feliner in a competitive match. I'd bet this match will probably be longer and more competitive than the PPV match with Lance. Withe bald head, Cat kind of looks like a brown Engineer. Lance comes out and Mike Awesome ambushes Cat from behind. SWERVE!
TO THE BACK. Gene is with Totally Buffed. The Wall is doing curls. Chavo tells him to take out Rey Jr. Laughing can be heard in the back ground. Kwee Wee again challenges developmental guys. He picks the smallest guy instead of Chris Harris or Daffney's ex boyfriend. Ric Flair tells Steiner to stay focused.
Lex Luger vs Brian Adams
1994 Superstars represent! Crush wins with a full nelson slam. Buff attacks after the match and Wrath makes the save.
Rey Mysterio Jr vs The Wall
Wall did a one armed press slam. I mean, I've done that to a 4 year old, too. No biggie. Rey jumps on Wall's back and Wall slams him back in the corner. The weigh and size difference between these two is more than the difference between Hugh and Torrie, but it killed Torrie. Lame. Wall tried a top rope leg drop, but missed. Rey makes his come back and gets rid of Chavo. Hugh comes out and takes out Wall. Rey hits a moonsault after Hugh and gets the win. You'd think this was the biggest upset of all time. But Rey was a giant killer for a year and beat guys like Nash. Wall is just Chavo's bodyguard.
Kwee Wee vs Johnny Dodson
Kwee Wee attacked a fan and pinned him. Then the guy from the back comes out. Imagine Elix Skipper, but half as big. Kwee Wee beats him up and pins him with a piledriver.
Mike Sanders vs Konnan
Konnan wins. Fuck this show.
TO THE BACK. Gene is with the Harris Brothers. Don now has a manager's license. Ron challenges everyone in WCW, because he's just like butter: He's on a roll. Ric is trying to convince Scott to stay out of the main event. Insiders and Rick/Jeff head to the ring.
The Insiders vs Rick Steiner/Jeff Jarrett
I really hope Kanyon shows up in this match. This was not interesting at all. It's almost hilarious how little WCW is bothering with Thunder right now. No one but the cruisers give the slightest of fucks. Jackknife pins Rick. A stand off happens, but we're outta time! This show sucked.