Wednesday, February 6, 2019

WCW Sin (January 2001)


So WCW in 2001 was in pretty dire straits. They're about to be sold, they supposed get bought out by one group but then not really, then their TV gets cancelled and finally they get bought by WWF. But apparently, the last few months of TV was actually tolerable compared to what came before. So this month, we'll be looking at the last three WCW PPVs ever conceived - unless you want to count that Super Slow-Down show from Australia last year. And then after that, who knows?




WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero defeated Shane Helms to retain the title. This was a pretty good match, which shouldn't be a surprise because Chavo and the future Hurricane are really good at what they do. It wouldn't complete surprise me if this ended up being the best match on the card considering the dire state of the company.

Reno defeated Big Vito. I didn't hate this match as much as I thought. It was two rather big fellows beating the crap out of each other. Nothing fancy, but it was alright for what it was. Can't complain.

The Jung Dragons (Yun Yang and Kaz Hayashi) defeated Evan Karagias and Jamie Noble in what could be described as a pretty formulaic, but otherwise satisfying cruiserweight tag-team match. If you like them high spots, you got them here and they entertained for the most part.

Ernest Miller defeated Mike Sanders to win the services of Ms. Jones... or something. I guess I should watch the TV to get what's going on. There are run-ins from the Natural Born Thrillers and Kronik to make the match seem less shit than it is, but it was short and harmless. Hey, now there's a concept for you.

Team Canada (Lance Storm, Mike Awesome and Elix Skipper) defeated The Filthy Animals (Konnan, Rey Mysterio, Jr. and Billy Kidman) in a Six-Man Penalty Box match with Jim Duggan as the Special Guest Referee... this was a clusterfuck the likes of which you've never seen before in your whole life... until the next clusterfuck comes along to take the reigns. They lost me early in this one and I'm suddenly longing for the days when Lance Storm and Mike Awesome fought under "Canadian" Rules.

Meng defeated WCW Hardcore champion Terry Funk and Crowbar (with Daffney) in a Triple Threat match to win the title. Meng would then fuck off to WWF as a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble a week or so later, rendering the title worthless. Anyway, this was a hardcore match and it was entertaining enough.

The Natural Born Thrillers (Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo) defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions Kevin Nash and Diamond Dallas Page with an assist from Buff Bagwell to win the titles. This was a thing that happened and let's just leave it at that.

Shane Douglas defeated WCW United States Champion General Rection (c) in a First Blood Chain match to win the title. To anyone who suggests blood makes a match instantly better, here's a perfect counterpoint. This was boring and that's not something I thought I would say about a match of this ilk, but there you go.

Lex Luger and Buff Bagwell defeated Goldberg and DeWayne Bruce in a No Disqualification Tag Team match when a fan maced Goldberg in the face and that allowed Luger to pin him. As per the stipulations of this match, Goldberg is now retired. Way to take one of your biggest stars that people actually want to see off TV; when your show desperately needs reasons for people to keep watching and you kill off one of the biggest draws in your company, there's a problem. The match was a complete joke, by the way.

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner defeated Jeff Jarrett, Sid Vicious and the Mystery Man (revealed to be Road Warrior Animal) in a Four Corners match to retain the title. Match is noteworthy for Sid attempting a top-rope maneuver and breaking his leg in the process in one of the few truly gruesome visuals I've witnessed in wrestling. Beyond that, however, it was lots of stalling, waiting around, nothing happening, and then the reveal of Animal as the mystery man that was teased for some time on WCW television was a surprise... but nothing too revolutionary.

WCW Sin shows a WCW running on fumes. Beyond the opening cruiserweight contest, there was nothing that really appealed to me or kept my interest for very long. I remember watching this show back in the day and remember little about it beyond being Haku's last appearance before jumping ship. Watching it again today, it's an easily forgettable show that did nothing for me and is only remembered for a gruesome injury than anything noteworthy or planned.

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