WCW: Reboot Funded by Dirty Money | BetheBooker (2024)

Actually there is no TNA, which was a surprise for me.So JJ was injured for almost 14 months and after that I didn't know what to do with him for a couple months more.

Kanyon is actually injured in game, yes.

For Cena I might do some storyline around this story.

With rest of my storylines I was kinda surprised with them as well. Because I wrote them like a year ago. Now I'm finally close to having no further shows written/played, I have some notes with ideas and matches that I was planning... and sometimes I don't know what I wanted to do next, because my notes are somehow crypted and I don’t know what I meant xD

WCW Monday Nitro

Episode #92

Harbor Yard Arena, Harbor Yard Arena

Announcers: Mike Tenay, Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko

Overall: 86

WCW Commissioner Dusty Rhodes opens the show with an important announcement. The next PPV will be devoted entirely to an idea that Dusty came up with a couple years ago. It's going to be a BattleBowl show! Rhodes shows off the BattleBowl ring. "40 people from both brands will be participating. They will be split into 20 teams randomly in a Death Lottery. They will all meet in tag team matches at the PPV. The 20 wrestlers from the winning teams will meet in a Battle Royal at the end of the show to determine the winner of the BattleBowl. He will get that ring as well as a WCW World Heavyweight Championship match at the Great American Bash in June!"... (87)

... The Rock interrupts! He talks about Jeff Jarrett, who made his return last night by interfering in his match, and therefore The Rock demands a rematch against Goldberg. Dusty refuses. "Jarrett's not here. I heard he'll be at RAGE in three days. Rock, I might consider giving you a rematch. After all, the next contender will be with Nitro... But you need to decide which brand you're on. You'll have 7 days to make a decision. You sign an exclusive contract with Nitro, the match is yours." Chavo Guerrero intervenes. He doesn't like it. Chavo wants a title shot for himself and demands an equal opportunity. Dusty gives Chavo a chance to prove himself and sets up a match against The Rock for tonight! (92)

Match 1: Homicide and Low Ki vs Julio Dinero and Colt Cabana. Apparently, Homicide and Low Ki are tag team now. Cabana and Dinero weren't much of a problem for them. The Gringo Killer on Dinero was enough for the win. (6:18, 70)

Post-match, Kaz Hayashi runs in with the chair and attacks the winners. (58)

Chris Hero backstage promo. "The Horsem*n made a mistake when they didn't finish me last night. I'm fine now. And I'm going after every one of them. I'm going to eliminate them one by one." (77)

Match 2: Abyss vs David Young. Abyss defeats a young David Young after the Blackhole Slam. (3:22, 56)

Backstage, Dusty Rhodes talks to Jamie Noble, Ultimo Dragon, Frankie Kazarian and Matt Bentley. Their rematch for WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship is finally set - at the next Nitro. But to avoid a repeat of the interference situation like in the last match, Dusty has made a decision: the match will take place in a steel cage! (57)

Backstage, Gene Okerlund tries to talk to Raven about Sandman, but the door to the locker room is opened by James Mitchell. Mitchell states: Raven has absolutely no fear or concern for Sandman. But Raven isn't here tonight and he won't talk to anyone. (41)

Match 3: Steve Corino, CW Anderson and Claudio Castagnoli vs Chris Hero, Ric Flair and Fit Finlay. Hero targeted Anderson with his revenge, and that blindsided him a bit. The Horsem*n worked more as a team, and Corino pinned Finlay down after a brass knuckle shot. (11:26, 82)

Post-match, Chris Hero cleared the ring.

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Goldberg in-ring promo. "I didn't ask for Jarrett's help. I didn't want it. And I didn't know about it. If The Rock wants a rematch, I'm willing to give it anytime, anywhere." (100)

Match 4: Jamie Noble vs Frankie Kazarian (w/ Stacy Keibler). It was a warm-up before the tag team title match next week. Stacy tried to distract Noble, but Noble was unfazed and captured Kazarian in a Guillotine Choke for the win. (12:33, 78)

Rob Van Dam in-ring promo. "I was close to winning last night. I want another match with Styles." He is interrupted by... Jerry Lynn! Fans cheer him. Lynn wants a US title match himself and challenges RVD to prove it. That's when Rey Mysterio shows up. He reminds us that he himself gave the WCW United States Championship away, not lost it. And would like it back. Samoa Joe, who is still undefeated and did not lose to Styles cleanly at SuperBrawl, makes his claim to the title. Dusty Rhodes shows up and agrees: they all have some rights to the US title shot. So they'll all have a fatal-four way match next week, where the winner gets a WCW US title match at the Spring Stampede in May. And right now, they have a tag team match waiting for them! (72)

Match 5: Rey Mysterio and Jerry Lynn vs Rob Van Dam and Samoa Joe.Rey Mysterio and Jerry Lynn were close to victory. But when Lynn grabbed the RVD for the Cradle Piledriver, Joe's powerful kick to the head literally knocks him out. Joe and Rey go outside the ring, and in the ring, RVD gets Lynn down with a 5 Star Frog Splash. (14:15, 81)

Match 6: The Rock vs Chavo Guerrero. It was noticeable that the styles of the fighters didn't fit together - and the match suffered from that. Chavo desperately clung to victory using cheap tactics, but The Rock came through and was ready to end the match with Rock Bottom for the win... but notices Jeff Jarrett on the ramp! The Rock is distracted, and Chavo rolls him up with his feet on the ropes. 1...2...3. What a victory! (14:19, 80)

Post-match, The Rock runs backstage to find Jarrett, and Chavo Guerrero celebrates his big win.

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WCW RAGE

Episode #13

Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH

Announcers: Joey Styles, Jerry Lawler and Don Callis

Overall: 80

Before the show starts, Don Callis addresses the entire RAGE roster backstage. "Dusty Rhodes thinks he has the best ideas ... One of you should win the BattleBowl and go to the Great American Bash as the #1 contender. It's your business how you'll do it. But the winner MUST be from RAGE! Next week, all of RAGE's Battlebowl participants will have a "practice" battle royal, the winner of which will be able to choose their own tag team partner... By the way, I'll have an idea of my own too. For next week. And it will be a better one than Dusty's..." (38)

RAGE starts off.

Match 1: Yang and Sonjay Dutt vs The Primadonnas (Joey Matthews and Christian York). In a great cruiserweight action, Yang and Dutt got a win over RAGE debutants. (12:47, 52)

'Cowboy' James Storm finally makes his RAGE debut! With a bottle of beer in hand, he entered the arena for an interview with Franchin. "Everybody at this show is all so right. Right attire, right hair, right style... It's all for TV. It's all not real. None of them would last a day in the bars of Nashville." (60)

Match 2: 'The Blueprint' Matt Morgan (w/ Christopher Daniels) vs Jack Evans. Daniels joined the announcers. Matt Morgan gets his first singles match on RAGE and easily deals with Jack Evans after Carbon Footprint and Hellevator. (5:20, 18)

Post-match, Jack Evans is holding his shoulder (it would later turn out that Morgan botched the move and tore Jack's bicep...)

Christopher Daniels watched his bodyguard's victory closely from the commentary position, and took the mic after the match: "At Uncensored, I beated Wright like I promised. I beat everybody. It's about time I step up to the top level by winning at BattleBowl and challenging for WCW World Heavyweight Championship" (74)

John Cena comes out for an in-ring interview. "I'm disappointed that no one on the roster helped me at Uncensored.... But that's what you can expect from a locker room towards young wrestlers. No one is willing to help you here. Everyone is only looking out for themselves. Everyone's trying to set the other up. It doesn't bother me. I came here to make it to the top. I'm a simple guy. I don't have politics behind me, I don't have a lot of connections. And I don't need them. Now I realize that I can only count on myself." (48)

Match 3: The British Invasion (Doug Williams and Nigel McGuinness) vs Jason Cross and Jerrelle Clark. The British Invasion continues their successful run on RAGE. Tonight, they are coming off victories over Cross and Clark. (4:34, 50)

The Rock in-ring promo. "Jeff Jarrett is officially a dead man. I know he's in the building somewhere. And I won't rest until I find him." (71)

Match 4: Hernandez vs Drew Galloway. Hernandez defeats a young Drew Galloway after the Border Toss. (4:38, 43)

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Goldberg makes his way to the ring. "I don't care what brand The Rock is on. I don't care what brand the next contender challenger is from. I'm ready to defend the title anytime, anywhere. Who's next?". Chris Kanyon appears in a neck brace. He brags about his victory at Uncensored and promises that he's going after Goldberg and his title. Goldberg offers a match right away, but Kanyon refuses. "My neck is still injured. But once I'm 100% ready - you can say goodbye to the title." (97)

Match 5, 20-Man Battle Royal: Sting, Shawn Michaels, Sean O'Haire, Mark Jindrak, Paul London, Brian Kendrick, Lance Storm, John Cena, Hugh Morrus, Booker T, Disco Inferno, Shane Helms, Elix Skipper, Crowbar, CM Punk, Christopher Daniels, Chris Kanyon, Billy Kidman, American Dragon and Alex Wright. This match featured everyone who intends to try their luck at WCW BattleBowl. Kanyon almost immediately eliminated himself due to a sore neck, especially since Booker T was targeting him. Booker and Sting clashed and felt out of the ring, eliminating themselvers. In the end, CM Punk wins by eliminating American Dragon. (18:49, 82)

Jeff Jarrett is interviewed from his home in Nashville, "The Rock thought I was going to be on the show tonight? Haha. I'll tell you why I attacked Rock… Let's go back to 2001. One of the first shows of the new WCW. The old guys were gone after the big money. No one was giving the company a chance to survive. I had to pull the company on my back. I had to become the face of WCW. And on one of the first shows - I broke my neck... I did it for all of you! For a year, I was treated for a broken neck. For a year I wasn't here. And after a year, I'm ready to come back... And nobody calls me. No one remembers me. No one was interested in me the year I was injured. And no one was interested in me for the next 6 months while I sat on the couch and watched shows on TV. Then one day I turn on the TV, and what do I see? The Rock! The Rock walked into WCW, thinking he could just waltz his way to the top. Like he did in WWF, because of his licking of Vince's boots, because of his million dollar smile, because of his - oh my gawd - electrifying catchphrases. And he gets it all at once! A fat contract? No problem! WCW World Heavyweight Championship shot right away? Take it! Two authority figures kissing his ass? "Oh, Rock, please sign a contract with me...". Okay! DAMN! I broke my neck for this company, I broke my neck for all of you - and nobody remembered me. He didn't do sh*t for this company or you - and he gets everything. Look... Rocky... You might not remember me from the previous company. You stupid fans might forget about me at all. You know what? That's fine. Because I'll MAKE YOU REMEMBER ME! I'LL MAKE MYSELF MATTER TO YOU! And The Rock... when it's all said and done, you'll remember the name 'Double J' for the rest of your life.” (80)

Don Callis grabs the mic and makes an announcement from the announcers table: "On Monday, The Rock has received a contract offer from Nitro - a WCW World Heavyweight Championship shot if he signs it... I have a counter offer. If The Rock signs an exclusive contract with RAGE - he gets a match with Jeff Jarrett!" (80)

WCW Monday Nitro

Episode #93

Breslin Student Event Center, East Lansing, MI

Announcers: Mike Tenay, Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko

Overall: 83

TONIGHT: The Rock will decide which brand he'll sign an exclusive contract with. (79)

TONIGHT: Rob Van Dam, Samoa Joe, Rey Mysterio and Jerry Lynn will compete in fatal-four way match to determine #1 contender for WCW United States Championship. Also, we'll get a steel cage match for the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship. (58)

Match 1: Homicide and Low Ki vs Shannon Moore and Matt Sydal. Homicide and Low Ki open the show with victory and show themselves as a promising tag team. (8:40, 74)

Post-match, Low Ki grabs the mic and says that when he came to WCW he paired with Kaz Hayashi, because he saw a fighter in him. But he wasn't. Hayashi is like a toothless shark. No killer instinct. No potential. Low Ki is a real fighter. He's a warrior. He's dangerous. And he prefers to have a team with others like him, like Homicide. (61)

Chris Hero backstage interview. He complains that he won the SuperBrawl Classic, but didn't get anything good as a reward. Now he's going to win at BattleBowl and get his shot at the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Chavo Guerrero, who is walking by, laughs outright and brags that he beat The Rock a week ago. Hero challenges him to a match. (80)

Match 2: Raven vs Ricky Reyes. Raven defeats Ricky Reyes after the Raven Effect (4:47, 68).

Post-match, Raven takes the microphone: "So, it's Sandman... I'm so tired of him. Everywhere I showed up, there was Sandman. WCW is my yard. I'm not afraid of Sandman. And I will send him to the dumpster where he belongs." Sandman's music hits - and Raven visibly startles - but no one shows up. The announcers notice that Raven is somewhat worried about Sandman's appearance in WCW after all. (58)

Rob Van Dam in-ring promo. "In my first 'run' in WCW, I immediately became United States Champion and walked away a champion. Last time, just one mistake prevented me from defeating Styles. But tonight, I'm going to win the contender's match - and there won't be any more mistakes." Jerry Lynn responds. Lynn recalls their history together and says he's ready to kick RVD's butt one more time. (71)

Match 3: Steve Corino vs Johnny Swinger. Johnny Swinger tried his best, but a brass knuckle shot left him with no chance at victory. (5:50, 80)

The Rock arrives at the building. (80)

Rey Mysterio backstage interview. He says that last year was tough for him. The road to the WCW United States Championship will resuscitate his career and get him back on top. (61)

Match 4, WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship, Steel Cage Match: Jamie Noble and Ultimo Dragon vs Frankie Kazarian and Matt Bentley. In a grueling and even bloody match, Kazarian takes advantage of Dragon's mistake during a leapfrog and catches him with the Wave of Future. The win and we have the new WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team champions! (13:35, 80)

Samoa Joe backstage promo. He's still undefeated and no one can stop him on his way to the WCW United States Championship. (72)

Match 5: Chris Hero vs Chavo Guerrero. Hero, as always, combined stiff kicks and punches with creative takedowns and suplexes. And Chavo was trying his luck with cheap tactics and sneaky moves. Chavo hits with an eye poke - Hero misses with KO Elbow as a result and gets rolled up for two. Chavo performs Gory Buster. 1...2. Frog Splash attempt - Hero lifts his knees! Chris prepares for Hero's Welcome, but Steve Corino comes out onto the ramp. Hero is distracted - and Chavo runs another Gory Buster, followed by a Frog Splash for the win. (10:49, 76)

WCW US Champion AJ Styles joins the announcers.

Match 6, #1 Contendership for WCW United States Championship: Samoa Joe vs Rob Van Dam vs Rey Mysterio vs Jerry Lynn. The winner will get his shot at Spring Stampede in May. Normally these matches don't have a reputation as exciting, but that's apparently true for the other companies... Because tonight, the wrestlers delivered a match worthy of a PPV. Everyone showed their arsenal, everyone had a chance to win. Lynn knew RVD's style pretty well, so he was able to catch him with the Cradle Piledriver. Rey Mysterio took advantage of that. He knocked Lynn out of the ring and finished RVD off with the West Coast Pop for the win. (15:03, 87)

Post-match, AJ Styles and Rey Mysterio have a little staredown.

The Rock comes out to announce his decision. He starts off by saying that when he signed with WCW, he saw himself on Nitro and with the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. So he wants to sign with... Jeff Jarrett interrupts him by appearing on the titantron. Jarrett taunts Rock, calls him a coward and says that The Rock has always gone where he gets paid more, where he's promised more. He left his fans because he was lured to Hollywood. He left his WWE fans when he was lured to WCW. So the decision to stay on Nitro would make sense. The Rock replies that he will be on Nitro... when he becomes the new WCW World Heavyweight Champion and be able to appear on every show, but in the meantime he's going to RAGE to kick jabroni Jarrett's ass! (82)

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WCW RAGE

Episode #14

American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL

Announcers: Joey Styles, Jerry Lawler and Don Callis

Overall: 82

Before the show even officially begins, Don Callis stands in the ring with a briefcase in hands. He has promised a special announcement that will eclipse Dusty Rhodes' idea with BattleBowl and Lethal Lottery... "There will be a new championship title at RAGE - the North American Championship." Callis pulls out the brand new championship belt.

There will be a 16-Man Tournament. The finals will take place at the Great American Bash. So in June we will crown the first ever WCW North American Champion! (59)

TONIGHT: The Piper's Pit returns! And The Rock will be the guest. He'll talk about his decision to sign an exclusive contract with RAGE. (81)

TONIGHT: Shawn Michaels, Sting and Booker T vs Lance Storm, Elix Skipper and Petey Williams. (67)

Match 1, WCW North American Championship Tournament First Round: Alex Wright vs Crowbar. Both lost their matches at Uncensored, so they meet tonight at RAGE. Alex Wright blocks a DVD from Crowbar and does a German Suplex with a roll-up into a pin to three. (11:10, 71)

John Cena had a taped interview from his home. Jerry Lawler says that his speech about inequality backstage at RAGE caused a stir all over the internet (he doesn't say "marks", but we know...). Jerry asks him what he meant. Cena talks about how it's always been this way: young wrestlers were bullied by the veterans... No one helps them. John comes from a normal family. Not a wrestler's son, not a rich man's son. When you come from that background, you almost have no chance in this business. Young wrestlers have a choice: to lick the ass of the 'locker room leaders' and become the same as them - drinking with the guys after the show, picking on the young and weak, protecting their big egos... or to change the occupation. Cena has worked hard his whole life. He worked hard when he played football. He worked hard as a bodyguard. He's going to work hard in WCW. He doesn't need the respect of the locker room. He will succeed with his hard work even if the entire RAGE locker room is against him. Cina wants to be an example for young wrestlers, showing that you don't have to be 'like everyone else' to succeed in this business. (69)

The British Invasion backstage interview. "We're not participating in the WCW North American Tournament, but foooking clown acrobats like Yang or Dutt are in? Foook this! Everyone is afraid of our tough British technical style." Williams and McGuinness challenge Yang and Dutt to a match for a place in the tournament. (44)

Match 2, WCW North American Championship Tournament First Round: Brian Kendrick vs Elix Skipper. Elix is still the WCW Cruiserweight Champion, but now he wants a bigger and better title. Skipper was doing pretty well. He was overconfident. That's what got him destroyed: Skipper goes for a springboard, but Kendrick knocks him down with a superkick to the legs. Sliced Bread #2 ends the match with Kendrick winning. (13:38, 86)

Post-match, both wrestlers are exhausted. It was a tough match after all. Some man comes through the crowd... he jumps into the ring... wait... He delivers a devastating chair shot to Brian Kendrick. It's MIKE AWESOME! He's back! Awesome knocks out Elix Skipper with the same shot. Paul London, referees and security rush to the ring and Mike leaves the arena through the crowd.

"Cowboy" James Storm comes out to the announcers table again with a bottle of beer. "There are no opponents for me here... But I've decided to enter the tournament for the WCW North American vacant title" (49)

Backstage, Francine asks CM Punk if he's decided on a tag team partner for BattleBowl after winning the battle royal a week ago. Punk says it's funny because if someone else had won, the smartest decision would have been to pick Punk.... But he can't choose himself. There's no second CM Punk. CM Punk says he's not only going to win at BattleBowl, but he's also going to participate tonight in the tournament to become the first WCW North American Champion. "As for a partner - I'll give you an answer by the end of the night." (71)

Match 3: The British Invasion (Doug Williams and Nigel McGuinness) vs Yang and Sonjay Dutt. Yang and Dutt defended their spots in the tournament, but the British Invasion proved stronger. In an even match, Nigel McGuinness knocks out a leaping off the top rope Dutt with a Jawbreaker Lariat for the win. (9:24, 66)

Hugh Morrus cuts a backstage promo to John Cena: "What is that punk thinking? If you don't fit the locker room, you have to look within yourself for a reason. And be more humble, kid." Hugh talks about how he learned the most in wrestling from the older guys in the locker room. And that's how he got respect. Perhaps Cena should try better to fit in. (53)

Match 4, WCW North American Championship Tournament First Round: CM Punk vs Shane Helms. The wrestlers were too mismatched in style, so the match went worse than planned. Punk avoids the Vertabreaker and grabs Helms in the Anakonda Vice for the win. (10:51, 77)

Backstage, Shawn Michaels talks to Sting and Booker T and asks them to put their differences aside in tonight's match. HBK needs a team to be a team. (76)

Match 5, WCW North American Championship Tournament First Round: John Cena vs Christopher Daniels. Hugh Morrus joins the announcers and continues to talk about Cena's disrespect for the locker room. Cena is distracted by Morrus for a moment - and that was enough for Last Rites from Daniels. 'Fallen Angel' makes the three-count pin and advances to the next round. (9:09, 76)

Backstage, WCW World Heavyweight Champion Goldberg meets The Rock. He says he respects his decision. The Rock can expect a rematch at any time. The wrestlers shake hands. (80)

Match 6: Shawn Michaels, Booker T and Sting vs Lance Storm, Elix Skipper and Petey Williams. Somehow Elix Skipper has a second match tonight. Lol. Maybe the head writer was drunk. HBK was trying to calm down Booker T and Sting, while they almost started to brawl again. And he succeeded. But CM Punk pops into the ring and delivers a Devil Lock DDT to Shawn Michaels! Punk escapes, and Storm pins HBK for a three-count. (11:10, 84)

Post match, CM Punk announces that he has picked Lance Storm as his tag team partner for the BattleBowl!

The Piper's Pit:
Roddy Piper returns with the top talk show in professional wrestling. And his first guest is The Rock! The Rock explains his decision to sign an exclusive contract with RAGE: he will definitely get his WCW World Heavyweight Championship match, he will be champion and he will be on Nitro, but right now more than anything he wants to get to Jeff Jarrett. And The Rock demands a match against Jarrett from Callis, as promised...

... He is interrupted by Chris Kanyon. Kanyon is tired of everyone thinking that The Rock is going to be the next WCW World Heavyweight Championship. "I want to remind you, Rocky... I have a guaranteed title shot. And I'll get a title match as soon as I recover from a terrible and career-threatening neck injury..." Rock decides to add to Kanyon's and his neck's misery - and hits Rock Bottom!...

... The Rock poses a little and walks to the ramp, where he is attacked from behind by Jeff Jarrett! GUITAR SHOT! Don Callis intervenes and announces: he promised The Rock a match against Jarrett, and The Rock will get it. Later. But at BattleBowl, there will be a tag team match - Goldberg and The Rock vs Chris Kanyon and Jeff Jarrett. (78)

WCW Monday Nitro

Episode #94

Savvis Center, St. Louis, MO

Announcers: Mike Tenay, Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko

Overall: 85

Chavo Guerrero opens the show with a promo. "All week I've been hearing about The Rock not being on Nitro anymore. What the big deal? I beat The Rock! I beat Hero last week too, if you noticed. Start appreciating the real performers, not the entertainers. I'm staying! That's what matter!" (84)

Match 1: Kaz Hayashi vs Alex Shelley. Kaz hits Hayashi Cutter on Alex Shelley for the easy win. (4:42, 59)

Post-match, Kaz Hayashi asks for a microphone and says (in English for the first time!) that if Low Ki wants to see the killer instinct in him, he'll see it... in a match at Spring Stampede. (51)

Backstage, Matt Sydal lays out his dissapointment with Jamie Noble and Ultimo Dragon over the defeat a week ago (and losing the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team titles). "If I'd been in the team like was planned, it wouldn't have happened." The tension between Dragon and Sydal is palpable. Sydal now wants to try to get back the titles with his new partner... Shannon Moore! Noble and Dragon are unhappy as they want a rematch first. As a result, Sydal and Moore challenge them to a match - the winners will get the titles shot. (51)

Match 2: Tajiri vs Sandman. Sandman returns to WCW and gets a match against another ECW alumni Tajiri. Despite Tajiri's best efforts, he missed his signature Buzzsaw Kick and got caught in a White Russian Legsweep. 1...2...3. (7:53, 51)

Post-match, Raven appears in the arena. "I wasn't expecting you, that's right. We have a long history. But I'm not afraid of you. You made a mistake. Here in WCW there are my rules. It's my world, where you don't belong." Sandman calls Raven to the ring, but he leaves. (51)

Backstage, Dusty Rhodes meets Chavo Guerrero and reminds him that his victory over Hero was not without interference. Chavo wants to prove what kind of "performer" he is? He'll get his chance tonight in a tag team match with Steve Corino against Goldberg and Hero. (72)

Match 3, #1 Contendership for WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship: Jamie Noble and Ultimo Dragon vs Matt Sydal and Shannon Moore. Jamie Noble and Ultimo Dragon were desperate to rehabilitate themselves after last week's loss, but to the surprise of many Matt Sydal and Shannon Moore looked great as a pairing. Noble falls out of the ring and Dragon gets a Rocker Dropper from Moore and a 630 Splash from Sydal. 1...2...3. Great match, by the way. (14:36, 80)

Post-match, WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions Frankie Kazarian and Matt Bentley, accompanied by Stacy Keibler, show up to take a look at their future opponents. (62)

Rey Mysterio backstage interview. He is going to reclaim the US title at Spring Stampede. AJ Styles comes up and says he would be honoured to go up against the "original master" of the cruiserweight style in WCW once again. (61)

Match 4: Dustin Rhodes vs Johnny Swinger. Johnny Swinger was good - and there was clearly a glimpse of his potential - but it wasn't enough to defeat Dustin Rhodes. Rhodes catches Swinger with a Blackout and wins. (6:55, 73)

Post-match, Dustin Rhodes says BattleBowl is his father's genius invention. Dustin will be happy to get the win this Sunday and get another shot at the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. (66)

Match 5: Rey Mysterio vs Rob Van Dam. It was everything we hoped for and more. This match that was expectedly full of beautiful moves and mesmerising high-risk spots. RVD misses with a 5 Star Frog Splash - and gets the Springboard Hurricanrana by Rey Mysterio, followed by a pin. 1...2...3. Important victory for Rey Mysterio! (14:50, 86)

Post-match, Rey doesn't have time to celebrate properly, as he gets Van Dominator with a chair from RVD! Van Dam jumps on the top-rope for the 5 Star Frog Splash... but the appearance of Jerry Lynn changes his plans. (67)

Match 6: Goldberg and Chris Hero vs Steve Corino and Chavo Guerrero. Goldberg and Chris Hero looked good teaming up against Steve Corino and Chavo Guerrero. The match was even, but the scales were tipped by the appearance of CW Anderson, who catches Hero with a Spinebuster on the concrete floor at ringside (CW had removed the mats beforehand). Corino and Goldberg fight to the ringside, and Chavo pins an unconscious Hero back in the ring for the win. (14:44, 89)

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WCW RAGE

Episode #15

Louisville, KY

Announcers: Joey Styles, Jerry Lawler and Don Callis

Overall: 83

Right out of the gate, we're thrown into chaos backstage with officials, refs, and even the cops trying to cool things down. Sean O'Haire, Mike Sanders, and a visibly shaken Don Callis are at the center of it all. As we can figure from all the shouting, O'Haire and Jindrak weren't too happy about being left out of the WCW North American Championship tournament, leading to Jindrak landing a punch on Callis. Talk about drama! As a result, Jindrak was arrested (we don't even get to see it). Don Callis: "You're not in the tournament because the tournament matches will be held at the Spring Stampede among other things... where you were supposed to defend the WCW World Tag Team Championship! Now? As of this second: Mark Jindrak is fired! I don't want to see him at RAGE... ever!" Callis gives Sean O'Haire 30 days to find a new tag team partner for the match at Spring Stampede. If no partner is available, O'Haire will put the belts in Callis' hands - and the titles will be declared vacant. (62)

TONIGHT: The Rock and Goldberg will team up against Christopher Daniels and Matt Morgan ahead of their tag team match at BattleBowl. (67)

Match 1: Jeff Jarrett vs Jason Cross. Jeff Jarrett returns to the ring after a two year hiatus and proves he hasn't lost his skills yet by defeating Jason Cross after the Stroke. (4:05, 63)

Post-match, Jeff Jarrett takes the mic and openly laughs at the idea of a tag team match on PPV. "Goldberg only became the face of WCW because I wasn't there. I was the face of WCW at the very end of the company's old era. I basically saved the company. Without me it would be dead in 1999. And I should have been leading the company going forward since 2001. Goldberg should thank me." Chris Kanyon comes out and agrees with Jeff. Jeff could have been a top in the new WCW if given the chance. Just like Kanyon took his chance and became WCW World Heavyweight Champion and, well, face of the company. BattleBowl, they'll show who you have to bet on. Jarrett and Kanyon shake hands in confirmation of the alliance formed. (84)

Backstage, The British Invasion are pleased with themselves, having won entry into the WCW North American title tournament. Tonight they promise to make themselves the headline news by winning in the first round. (41)

Match 2, WCW North American Championship Tournament First Round: Nigel McGuinness (w/ Doug Williams) vs Hugh Morrus. Nigel McGuinness keeps his word and defeats Hugh Morrus by catching him with the Jawbreaker Lariat. Nigel suffers a hip injury during the match - he needs help to get backstage. (5:49, 75)

'Cowboy' James Storm backstage interview. He reminds us that there are no worthy competitors on RAGE who have survived even one night in the bars of Nashville. And that tonight is his in-ring debut competing in the WCW North American Championship tournament. (42)

Backstage, Hugh Morrus talks to John Cena about the importance of 100% concentration on a match. Not to repeat the situation from last week where Cena got distracted by Morrus and lost the match. "Take this advice, kid, from someone who went through a lot in this ring". Cena replies that he's not going to pretend to listen to this advice for the sake of earning supposed respect from Morrus or any other "locker room guys". He knows what to do. And Morrus better watch himself so he doesn't lose like he did tonight. (42)

Mike Awesome walks through the crowd and enters the RAGE ring. He announces his return to WCW and explains that he wanted to make himself noticed last week. "I'm not going to repeat my mistakes from my first run in WCW. I'm a former ECW champion. I'm one of the most dangerous guys here. What kind of respect did I get last time? Dumb gimmicks? Some clowns as opponents? Fat Chick Thrilla? Really? 70's guy? I hate it! They were giving me some comedy sh*t only in WCW. In WWE I didn't even get a chance. Because I don't conform to "locker room rules"? So I went to Japan. I dominated there. I was an IWGP champion. But even in Japan, I didn't get respect even though I beat all their champions. Look... I won't wait for respect anymore. I will take it myself. And if anyone is against it, they will be in trouble." Mike Awesome announces that he is in the tournament for the vacant WCW North American title! (82)

Match 3, WCW North American Championship Tournament First Round: 'Cowboy' James Storm vs American Dragon. Storm easily discovered that there are in fact worthy opponents on RAGE when Dragon surprised him with a set of technical moves... eventually Storm smashes a bottle over Dragon's head and gets a disqualification. (6:41, 78)

Post-match, Dragon's head is busted open and bleeding badly. He requires medical attention. And James Storm doesn't seem to regret anything.

Backstage, CM Punk and Lance Storm are talking. Punk says he respects Storm, respects his approach to business and that's why he chose him as his partner at BattleBowl. Lance didn't come here to hang out, get drunk and get high. Neither did Punk. If they stick together, one of them will walk away from the BattleBowl with a victory ring on his finger. (76)

Booker T in-ring promo. He's unhappy with being put on a team with Sting over and over again instead of being given a singles spot in the main event. Luckily, this Sunday, he will pick up a victory at BattleBowl and return to WCW World Heavyweight Championship picture. Sting comes out. Sting doesn't like teaming with Booker either. "You've changed, Booker, and I'm not sure for the better...". The wrestlers agree to avoid each other... but Don Callis is here. (By the way, he has a a black eye, thanks to fired Mark Jindrak). He has plans of his own. He wants Sting and Booker T to fight for the WCW Tag Team Championship at the Spring Stampede! "You can avoid each other all you want... or you can team up and have a chance to be champions at the next PPV." Booker T and Sting agree to give it a chance and shake hands. (97)

Christopher Daniels backstage interview. He's not afraid of Goldberg or The Rock. Matt Morgan is much more powerful than Goldberg anyway, and Daniels is more charismatic than The Rock. (55)

Match 4, WCW North American Championship Tournament First Round: Billy Kidman vs Doug Williams. Doug Williams tries to replicate the success of his tag team partner, but Billy Kidman is a tough opponent. Kidman wiggles out of Chaos Theory and performs Back Suplex. Next up is the Shooting Star Press to the delight of the fans and the win. (13:02, 81)

Post-match, Kidman has no time to recover before he is attacked by Mike Awesome with a chair! A powerful chair shot to the head knocks Kidman out. Security guards rush to the ring - and Mike leaves the arena through the crowd.

Shawn Michaels backstage interview. "I don't care who Punk chose to partner with... But he got in my business. Every action has consequences." HBK challenges Punk to a match tonight. (72)

Match 5: Goldberg and The Rock vs Christopher Daniels and 'The Blueprint' Matt Morgan. Even though Matt Morgan was strong and powerful, he and Christopher Daniels couldn't compete with Goldberg and The Rock. Daniels was pinned after a Jackhammer by WCW World Champion. (11:43, 77)

Post-match, Chris Kanyon and Jeff Jarrett attack the winners. Goldberg and The Rock try to fight back, but Jarrett smashes his guitar over Goldberg's head. Next thing you know, Kanyon and Jarrett attack The Rock 2-on-1 and it ends in a beating. (77)

Match 6: Shawn Michaels vs CM Punk. Fans were expecting a decent match, but were slightly disappointed by the absolute mismatch of styles between those two. HBK was closer to victory due his experience. Michaels avoids a Devil Lock DDT and puts Punk down with a suplex. Preparing for Sweet Chin Music... Lance Storm distracts Michaels. That's enough for Punk to roll Shawn up in a pin to three. (15:06, 76)

Post-match, Lance Storm and CM Punk double team Michaels. The announcers notice that the American Dragon is unlikely to help his mentor tonight as he was injured... Storm and Punk take Michaels down with a Maple Leaf/Anakonda Vice combination! Finally Brian Kendrick and Paul London come to the rescue, but serious damage has still been done.

================================================

World Championship Wrestling presents...

The Big Return of...

WCW BATTLEBOWL 2003

It contains the Lethal Lottery.

40 Men will go into random tag teams.

Winners of tag team matches advance where it's every man for himself in a...

Battle Royal!

The winner will get a shot for WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Great American Bash.

PLUS...

Goldberg and The Rock vs Chris Kanyon and Jeff Jarrett.

WCW BattleBowl 2003

Key Arena, Seattle, WA

Announcers: Mike Tenay, Jerry Lawler and Joey Styles

Overall: 81

WCW BattleBowl opens up with a video of previous Lethal Lottery moments from the past. We are shown past winners: Sting, Keiji Mutah, Vader. Then we transition to the current participants. Tonight, 40 WCW wrestlers will have a chance to win a BattleBowl ring and get a WCW World Heavyweight Championship match at Great American Bash. (76)

Match 1: Alex Wright and Doug Williams (w/ Nigel McGuinness) vs American Dragon and 'Cowboy' James Storm. Nigel McGuinness limps with a bandaged leg and crutch, the result of his injury 3 days ago in his match against Hugh Morrus. American Dragon and James Storm are arguing: 3 days ago Storm split Dragon's head open by smashing a bottle over his head. Storm doesn't seem particularly worried about it. He lets Dragon handle the match, and is rather lazy himself, only getting in the ring when necessary. Wright and Williams showed off their full arsenal of technical moves. At the end they pissed off James Storm, who finally entered the match at 100%. Dragon accidentally attacks Storm - and James, without thinking long, smashes a bottle over his head again! That's enough for Doug Williams to make the pin. 1...2..3. (8:48, 71)

Homicide, Samoa Joe and Low Ki backstage interview. Homicide and Joe are paired tonight. They all know each other from the indies. And the three of them together could be an unstoppable force in the final Battle Royal. (62)

Backstage, Ric Flair and Dustin Rhodes talk. Flair: "I've had an eventful past with your father... But that's in the past. Tonight I'm excited to go out with you as a team and win and get to the Battle Royal. WHOOOO!" (80)

Match 2: Ric Flair and Dustin Rhodes vs Homicide and Samoa Joe. Interesting fact: this isn't the first BattleBowl for Dustin Rhodes and Ric Flair. Flair participated in 1996 and Rhodes in the very first one in 1991. Their experience was immediately apparent, though they had a hard time matching the youth and aggressiveness of their opponents. Homicide did the smart thing and tried to get Joe in the ring as often as possible. Flair's experience played a part when he was able to twist out of Joe's takedown attempt and push him out of the ring. While Homicide was figuring out what happened, Rhodes gives him a BlackOut. 1...2...3. (9:22, 82)

Backstage, Rey Mysterio speaks to WCW US Champion AJ Styles. "We have a match in a month, but tonight we're a tag team" (76)

Match 3: Hugh Morrus and John Cena vs Paul London and Christopher Daniels. Morrus and Cena have their fair share of miscommunication, but London and Daniels had problems. Morrus as a veteran tried to tell Cena what to do and when to do it. And Cena, as a man who doesn't care what veterans think of him, didn't really listen. Maybe he should have listened, because Daniels knocks Cena off with Last Rites. Morrus is angry and isn't going to help his tag team partner. London performs Shooting Star Press for the win. (9:29, 72)

In the office, Four Horsem*n participate in a Lethal Lottery draw. Steve Corino is happy with Abyss as his tag team partner. Claudio Castagnoli not so much, because he got... his former partner Chris Hero! Oh, and they also be fighting against fellow Horseman CW Anderson and Chavo Guerrero. (78)

Match 4: Shane Helms and Elix Skipper vs Shawn Michaels and Billy Kidman. The announcers mention the fact that we are probably in for another Helms vs Skipper match for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship in the future. But tonight they are a tag team. And they had their problems as a team, because HBK and Kidman looked incredibly good. The announcers even noticed some elements of the Rockers' style in them. Michaels knocks Skipper out of the ring with the Sweet Chin Music, and Kidman delivers a Shooting Star Press on Helms for the win. (10:18, 79)

Backstage, Sean O'Haire talks to Crowbar. "We're the tag team partners tonight - against Sting and Booker T. If all goes well, I might pick you as the second half of WCW World Tag Team Champions" (61)

Match 5: Kaz Hayashi and Fit Finlay vs Steve Corino and Abyss (w/ James Mitchell). Corino expectedly tried to "control" the monster Abyss - and this tactic brought him success, as Corino avoids a Tombstone from Finlay and sends the veteran straight into a Black Hole Slam of Abyss. 1...2...3. (9:10, 83)

Raven comes out for his next match and awaits his tag team partner. It's... PERRY SATURN!

Match 6: Rob Van Dam and Jerry Lynn vs Raven and Perry Saturn. Saturn returns to WCW after 3 years. RVD and Lynn team up in a very explosive mix. Essentially all four worked more of an individual style, putting on a massive brawl with ECW style spots. In the middle of the match, Sandman runs out and attacks Raven. Raven and Sandman move into the crowd with their brawl. Saturn gets a Cradle Piledriver from Lynn. 1...2...3. (11:58, 75)

Post-match, RVD immediately attacks Jerry Lynn! The winners begin to brawl - and security are forced to separate them. (71)

Sting backstage interview. "I won the very first BattleBowl in 1991. It's been a long time since then. But I'm going to repeat that win 12 years later." (66)

Match 7: Rey Mysterio and AJ Styles vs Jamie Noble and Low Ki. Mysterio and Styles were able to put their differences aside and work as a team. But their opponents were serious: Noble with his arsenal of technical moves and holds and Low Ki with a bunch of stiff kicks. The wrestlers had a great match, but Mysterio and Styles were stronger. Mysterio sent Low Ki out of the ring with a hurricanrana, and Styles converted a takedown attempt from Noble into a Styles Clash. 1...2...3. (11:08, 79)

Match 8: Sting and Booker T vs Sean O'Haire and Crowbar. Booker and Sting are once again forced to perform as a tag team, but they seem to have getting along. Perhaps the looming chance to become tag team champions at the Spring Stampede has something to do with it... O'Haire comes out with two tag team belts and won't even let Crowbar hold one of them. Apparently, you have to earn it... Sting and Booker T really worked well as a team, which can't be said for their opponents, where Sean blatantly pressured Crowbar with authority. It ends with Booker T knocking O'Haire out of the ring with a Harlem Sidekick, and in the ring, Sting puts Crowbar in a Scorpion Deathlock. Crowbar gives up. (9:08, 79)

CM Punk and Lance Storm backstage interview. "We have a good chance because we're not a random team. We have similar goals. And similar enemies." (77)

Match 9: Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli vs CW Anderson and Chavo Guerrero. Hero and Castagnoli team up again, albeit under very different circ*mstances. Chavo Guerrero tried to take on the role of "mastermind" and work with CW to get Claudio to side with them. When that didn't work out, Chavo tried to play on the controversy between Hero and Castagnoli. Claudio and Chris were surprisingly able to remember a few team maneuvers and not remember how much they hated each other. This pissed off Chavo, who got angry at CW Anderson! The tension between them was used by Hero and Castagnoli, conducting a KRS ONE on Chavo. 1...2...3. (12:05, 85)

Match 10: Lance Storm and CM Punk vs Brian Kendrick and Petey Williams. Storm and Punk were expected to work well together, but they still surprised everyone: they looked like they have at least a few years of tag team experience together. Storm tried to influence Petey, but the latter forgot about all relationships outside the ring and fought like a beast. In the end we were treated to an exciting tag team match where one mistake affected the outcome. Petey Williams doesn't listen to Kendrick asking for the tag and decides to finish the match himself with the Canadian Destroyer, but Lance proves to be all too familiar with his style. He sweeps Petey over by his feet and puts him into the Maple Leaf. Kendrick rushes in to help but is stopped by Punk. Petey Williams gives up. (11:04, 82)

Match 11: Goldberg and The Rock vs Chris Kanyon and Jeff Jarrett.The only match tonight that is not part of the Lethal Lottery. Goldberg and Rock grab the lead almost immediately as they seek revenge on their enemies. Rock especially tries to get at Jarrett to the delight of the crowd. From there, the match goes into a routine where each of the wrestlers shows off their arsenal of typical moves pretty early on. Kanyon does a leap off the top rope, but Goldberg catches him with a belly-to-belly suplex. Tag to The Rock, who knocks both opponents off their feet. Jarrett hits the low blow and delivers a Stroke! 1...2...NO! Goldberg hits Jarrett with a Spear! Spear for Kanyon... missed, the ref gets the hit! The Rock knocks Kanyon down and delivers a Rock Bottom. Pin. The ref is down. The Rock goes to wake up the ref - and gets hit with a guitar by Jarrett! Goldberg immediately knocks Jeff out of the ring. In the ring, Kanyon performs a Flatliner on The Rock. The referee comes round. 1...2...3. (12:28, 75)

Post-match, Goldberg returns to the ring and hits Kanyon with a Spear! Jarrett tries to get back into the ring, but one look from Goldberg is enough for Jeff to drop the idea. He picks up Kanyon and helps him back up to the ramp.

Match 12, BattleBowl Final, Battle Royal: Alex Wright, Doug Williams, Ric Flair, Dustin Rhodes, Paul London, Christopher Daniels, Shawn Michaels, Billy Kidman, Steve Corino, Abyss, Sting, Booker T, Rey Mysterio, AJ Styles, Rob Van Dam, Jerry Lynn, Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli, Lance Storm and CM Punk. It's a standard Battle Royal. The winner will get a BattleBowl ring and match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Great American Bash in June. It was a quite chaotic battle royal. So point by point what was worth paying attention to: * Ric Flair and Dustin Rhodes continued to work as a tag team. And were quite good at it.
* Steve Corino and Claudio Castagnoli teamed up against Chris Hero.
* Lance Storm and CM Punk also continued to work together, saving each other from their opponents.
* Alex Wright and Billy Kidman attack Abyss, but Abyss eliminates both of them.
* HBK eliminates Doug Williams.
* Rob Van Dam climbs onto the top rope, he is attacked by Jerry Lynn - the wrestlers both fall out of the ring and continue to brawl all over the arena!
* Castagnoli and Corino come close to eliminating Hero, but he is saved by Flair and Rhodes. They eliminate Castagnoli, Corino manages to stay.
* Chris Hero is hanging on the ropes, CW Anderson attacks him, pulling him down outside the ring over the top rope. Hero is eliminated!
* AJ Styles tries to eliminate Punk, but Rey knocks him out of the ring!
* Paul London jumps on Abyss, who catches him and throws him out of the ring. Sting and Booker T team up to knock Abyss out of the ring!
* That leaves 8 competitors: Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Steve Corino, Sting, Booker T, Rey Mysterio, Lance Storm and CM Punk. One of them will get a BattleBowl ring and a world title match at the Great American Bash!
* Punk and Storm attack HBK, Flair fights Corino. Ric tries to eliminate Corino, but he knocks Flair out of the ring himself!
* Sting climbs up onto the top rope, and Booker T hits a Harlem Sidekick on Corino at this point... but misses and hits the ropes. The ropes shake, Sting loses his balance and falls outside the ring! Stinger is clearly not happy. Booker T apologizes - and that's when Corino eliminates him!
* The Final Five: Shawn Michaels, Steve Corino, Lance Storm, CM Punk and Rey Mysterio.
* Mysterio's Hurricanrana eliminates Punk! Punk is furious. He stays outside the ring.
* Rey Mysterio jumps on Corino with a hurricanrana - he catches him on the shoulders and prepares to send him out of the ring with a powerbomb... but Storm hits him with a dropkick to the back - and they both fall out!
* Only Lance Storm and Shawn Michaels remain!
* After several moves and attempted finishers, the wrestlers clash on the top rope... and fall out of the ring together... but CM Punk manages to "catch" Storm, preventing his feet from touching the floor and leaving him on an apron. Lance Storm returns to the ring and is declared the winner! (19:52, 80)

I was too young to have ever watched or really knew what BattleBowl was but damn that's a cool concept. A night of possible "strange bedfellows."

I like the setup, most notable Rey and AJ teaming up and the Horsem*n stuff with Hero and Claudio.

Lance Storm with the win was quite the shock, especially with the names left in the final 8. I liked the Sting elimination, setting up a future match with Booker probably, and the way Storm won the match with Punk getting the assist.

Big win for Kanyon too. Jarrett has been running through guitars on The Rock like water!!!

Yeah, Lethal Lottery concept is one of my favorites from old WCW days. Totally underrated and unfortunately forgotten.

That's why it was one of the first that I thought of when thinking about bringing fresh air into my PPVs.

Now I try to create some new "big title match" (that would not be a copycat of Elimination Chamber and similar) and improve my World War III (by making it more interesting than standard battle royal, but not copying Royal Rumble).

No luck yet xD

WCW Monday Nitro

Episode #95

Spokane, WA

Announcers: Mike Tenay, Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko

Overall: 84

We start the show from the backstage area, where Steve Corino is in Dusty Rhodes' office. Corino points out that he eliminated the most people in last night's battle royal and also was the last man standing from Nitro brand. Corino demands a WCW World Heavyweight Championship match. Rhodes replies that he'll take that into consideration. (76)

Match 1: Samoa Joe, Homicide and Low Ki vs Kaz Hayashi, Jamie Noble and Ultimo Dragon. Samoa Joe, Homicide and Low Ki continue to stick together after BattleBowl. In a quick match full of spots, Hayashi goes for the Hayashi Cutter on Homicide. Homicide is saved by Low Ki. Low Ki kicks Hayashi out of the ring. Samoa Joe tries to grab Noble in a chokehold, but he suddenly turns it into a Guillotine Choke! Joe is in trouble! Meanwhile, Low Ki whips Ultimo Dragon right into a Gringo Killer from Homicide. 1...2...3. (9:37, 74)

After the ringbell Homicide and Low Ki save Joe from the hold. An enraged Joe attacks Noble and puts him in a chokehold! WCW referees and officials intervene. Tenay points out that Joe doesn't like being made to look "bad".

Video vignette: This man is being actively photographed for fashion magazines. He has a great body and great looks. He cares about it. He's also called "Gorgeous." His name is Bobby Roode, and he will be appearing on Nitro soon. (38)

Backstage, WCW US Champion AJ Styles talks to Rey Mysterio. He's unhappy with beign eliminated by Rey. "We could have made it to the end together." Rey replies that they work well as a team, but it's every man for himself in battle royal. It will also be every man for himself at the Spring Stampede as Rey tries to regain the United States Championship. But they have another tag team match tonight..... (75)

Match 2: Super Crazy and Tajiri vs Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens. Super Crazy and Tajiri have a match against young Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens and pick up a convincing victory after a Buzzsaw Kick from Tajiri and a Moonsault from Crazy. (7:20, 58)

Raven comes out for an in-ring promo. "I think someone in WCW management doesn't like me. Not only am I not getting the chances I deserve - they're inviting all the scum from the past. My past. First Sandman. Now Saturn. Who's next? I'm not going to fight them - not alongside them, not against them. They are my toxic past. My destiny is the WCW World Heavyweight Championship." The Commissioner Dusty Rhodes is here to respond. "You're going to fight who I say and when I say. At the Spring Stampede, you're going to have a street fight against Sandman." Raven: "That's what you think, old man." (76)

Match 3: Perry Saturn vs Mark Copani. Perry Saturn returns on Nitro and shows his class, taking on a young rookie Mark Copani at Rings of Saturn for the win. (3:15, 78)

Post-match, Gene Okerlund comes out for an interview. Saturn buries WWE in his promo. He's happy to be back in WCW. WWE doesn't value real and dangerous fighters. They didn't give him a chance. They prefer to show clown with mops on national TV. Saturn is back where is a real rivalry and real matches. He wants a competition! How does he feel about Raven? Saturn isn't going to dig up the past. He's not in WCW for that, he's in WCW for a real competition, real wins and real titles. But he really... really... really... really didn't like the fact that Raven left him at BattleBowl. Otherwise Saturn would have already been with a WCW World Heavyweight Championship shot at the Great American Bash. (41)

We have footage from WCW BattleBowl. An angry Chavo Guerrero bursts into the Four Horsem*n's locker room. He was counting on Claudio to play along with the Horsem*n and Chavo. Claudio replies that they defeated him fairly, even though he and Hero had a disagreement. Things end with a challenge: tomorrow (on tonight's show) on Nitro, Chavo Guerrero and Claudio Castagnoli will face off in a singles match. (79)

Match 4: Rey Mysterio and AJ Styles vs Air Paris and Ricky Reyes. The tension between the future match participants at the Spring Stampede was evident this time around, but that didn't stop them from picking up the victory after Styles Clash on Paris and Springboard Hurricanrana on Reyes. (8:24, 77)

Chavo Guerrero is not in the best of moods as he makes his way to the ring, "Because of all this internal sh*t between the Horsem*n, I'm not with the BattleBowl ring right now. I'm sick of it. I've beaten The Rock. I've beaten Chris Hero, the winner of the SuperBrawl Classic. I've beaten every single one of your stars. But as I get closer to the pinnacle and the trophies, I get in the way. It's the same glass ceiling that has always been there for talented wrestlers in WCW. And it's getting to me! I demand that Dusty Rhodes come out here and give me what I deserve." Dusty Rhodes appears. He sets up the matches for tonight: Chavo vs Castagnoli, and Corino vs Chris Hero. The winners will fight for the #1 contendership (and shot for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at the Spring Stampede) next week. (87)

Match 5, WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship: Frankie Kazarian and Matt Bentley (w/ Stacy Keibler) vs Matt Sydal and Shannon Moore. Moore has an eye patch over his eye, the result of an injury in his contendership match. That patch gets in his way as he climbs up on the top-rope and misses a high-risk maneuver on Kazarian. Bentley immediately takes him down with a Superkick and pins - Sydal doesn't make it in time to stop - the ref counts to three. Kazarian and Bentley defend the titles again. (8:56, 82)

Backstage, Dusty Rhodes calls Rob Van Dam and Jerry Lynn into the office. Rhodes notes that not only do they have a great shared history in the past, but - given the BattleBowl - in the present as well, so Dusty schedules them for a 1v1 match at the Spring Stampede. (65)

Chris Hero backstage interview. He's tired of the Horsem*n's constant interference in his business. Hero wants to settle it all with them in the ring and is willing to even fight them all at once if needed.

Match 6: Chavo Guerrero vs Claudio Castagnoli. Chavo showed that he is much more experienced than his opponent. Claudio had physical superiority on his side. Chavo dodges a Big Boot and rolls Castagnoli up into a pin, putting his feet on the ropes. 1...2...3. (9:48, 78)

Match 7: Steve Corino vs Chris Hero. Chris Hero finally gets a singles match against Steve Corino. The wrestlers showed all the animosity between them in the ring, but it's a stretch to say that Hero got what he wanted... As soon as he was in control of the match and Corino felt like he was losing - CW Anderson showed up. It doesn't come down to interference, but Hero and the ref are distracted - and Corino hits Hero with a brass knuckle. 1...2...3. (15:48, 87)

Post-match, Anderson and Corino throw some punches to Hero, as the crowd is booing and Nitro ending.

================================================

WCW RAGE

Episode #16

Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI

Announcers: Joey Styles, Jerry Lawler and Don Callis

Overall: 84

Lance Storm, accompanied by Bret Hart, opens the show and brags about his victory, the BattleBowl ring and the fact that he is going to the Great American Bash where he will finally become WCW World Heavyweight Champion. It's serious now! Shawn Michaels interrupts. He points out to how Lance won. The HBK shows video footage: in the match, CM Punk catched Lance during the elimination. But Lance's feet touched the mats outside the ring at least the same time as HBK's if not earlier. But the new WCW referee Jack Doan didn't see it. HBK calls for the decision to be changed. Hart intervenes and says the refs' decisions are final. They always have been. Don Callis grabs the mic from the commentary position, "Jack Doan is a new ref and could have made a mistake. Tonight he will get a chance to correct it because in the main event, Lance Storm and Shawn Michaels will decide of who gets the match at the Great American Bash. Jack Doan will referee the match." (100)

Match 1: Shane Helms vs TJ Perkins. Shane Helms defeats TJ Perkins in great lightweight action. Don Callis announced during the match that Helms will get a rematch for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship at the next RAGE. (8:20, 63)

Backstage, John Cena is angry with Hugh Morrus for not helping him during their tag team match at BattleBowl. Morrus replies that sometimes the young ones need to be taught a lesson. Cena: "Oh yeah? All the locker room and their authority figures can kiss my ass!" He challenged Matt Morgan to a match tonight and doesn't want to see Morrus anywhere near the ring. (58)

Tonight, Mike Awesome starts his participation in WCW North American Championship tournament. Franchin tries to find him for an interview but he's not in the locker room.

Match 2: John Cena vs 'The Blueprint' Matt Morgan (w/ Christopher Daniels). John Cena met a serious opponent in the form of the powerful (but not yet too skilled in the ring) Matt Morgan. Cena was better due to his speed. Christopher Daniels began to interfere in the match and gave Morgan a leverage. Hugh Morrus runs out to help and accidentally knocks Cena down. Daniels attacks Morrus, and Morgan is in the ring laying Cena out with a Hellevator for the win. (5:46, 55)

Post-match, Cena is not happy with Morrus. He pushes him off and goes backstage.

Backstage, Sean O'Haire and Crowbar are talking. Sean doesn't hold a grudge against Crowbar for last night's defeat. But they have a tag team match again tonight. And if they want to defend the WCW World Tag Team Championship at the Spring Stampede together, they'll have to do better tonight. (64)

Match 3: Sean O'Haire and Crowbar vs The Prima Donnas (Christian York and Joey Matthews). O'Haire get a hot tag... and walks out of the ring! Crowbar doesn't understand what's going on. Especially after Sean's reassurances... But Christian York and Joey Matthews seize the moment and run their new finisher, the Snapshot, on Crowbar. The Prima Donnas pick up the huge victory at RAGE! (4:28, 60)

Backstage, WCW World Champion Goldberg wishes Shawn Michaels good luck. "We had a great match at Starrcade. I still want to find out which one of us is better. And this time, we'd make the match to the end without interference." (76)

Match 4, WCW North American Championship Tournament First Round: Mike Awesome vs Paul London. Mike Awesome comes through the crowd again and attacks Paul London from behind, gaining an early advantage in the match. London had a hard time recovering from such an attack. Especially as Awesome used his full arsenal of brutal moves. The announcers were looking surprised, forgetting what Mike's matches in ECW looked like. London tried to retake control and even succeeded, but Awesome catches him during one of his jumps and delivers an Awesome Bomb for the win. (12:49, 76)

Post-match, Mike Awesome further tries to "make an impact" and sends London into the steel steps! Then he - despite the screams and protests of the announcers, especially Joey Styles - begins to dismantle the announcing table... Brian Kendrick runs to the ring with a group of road agents. Awesome eventually leaves the arena through the crowd.

Chris Kanyon backstage promo. He brags about his victory over The Rock. "I'm still the #1 contender, but where's my title match? At the Spring Stampede, a member of Nitro will get the match, at the Great American Bash it will be Storm or HBK. Where am I, where's Kanyon?". (89)

Match 5: Sting and Booker T vs Elix Skipper and Petey Williams. Sting and Booker still try to make it work as a tag team before their chance to become tag team champions at the Spring Stampede. Booker T saves Sting from the Canadian Destroyer with a Harlem Sidekick. Booker knocks Skipper out of the ring and Sting forces Petey to submit to the Scorpion Deathlock. (11:40, 79)

The Rock enters the arena, walks straight to the announcing table and addresses Don Callis directly, "I signed with RAGE on the condition that you give me Jeff Jarrett. Where's my match with him? You got a week to give me that son of a bitch." (87)

Match 6, Title Shot for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Lance Storm (w/ Bret Hart) vs Shawn Michaels. The wrestlers knew each other well. After all, this is their third match after Clash of the Champions and SuperBrawl... CM Punk tries to interfere in the match, but Michaels gets rid of him. The referee is distracted by this - at which point Bret Hart climbs into the ring with a ringbell in his hands! Shawn spots him, sweeps his legs and grabs him in a Sharpshooter! Hart taps out! Lance meanwhile comes back and hits Shawn with a ringbell to the head. Bret takes the bell and gets out of the ring... And Storm makes the pin to three. (19:54, 81)

WCW Monday Nitro

Episode #96

AllState Arena, Chicago, IL

Announcers: Mike Tenay, Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko

Overall: 84

TONIGHT: Chavo Guerrero vs Steve Corino. The winner will fight Goldberg for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Spring Stampede. (67)

Match 1: Jamie Noble vs Shannon Moore. Noble in typical technical style avoids a Rocker Dropper and grabs Moore in a Guillotine Choke for the win. (8:31, 81)

Post-match, Samoa Joe pops into the ring and grabs Noble in his version of the Guillotine Choke! Homicide and Low Ki guard the ring from the ref and officials, giving Joe the opportunity to do as much damage as possible. The commentators call it revenge for last week when Noble was able to make that submission hold on Joe. (79)

Video vignette about soon to be Nitro debut of 'Gorgeous' Bobby Roode. Bobby has the looks of a superstar that he has a huge following. Therefore, his success on Nitro is inevitable. (38)

Stacy Keibler (with WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions Frankie Kazarian and Matt Bentley) in-ring promo. She brags that there is no more competition for her clients on Nitro. WCW Commissioner Dusty Rhodes comes out. He promised an announcement and here it is: he's officially removing the weight limit from the tag team titles. From now on, these are WCW Nitro Tag Team Championship and can be defended against any team. This opens up a whole lot of opportunities for Kazarian and Bentley. A lot of new opponents. Speaking of opportunities: a small tournament will determine the champions' opponents at the Great American Bash. And tonight, Dusty will give a taste of who the champions will now have to face.... A match against Abyss and Mesias! (69)

Match 2: Perry Saturn vs Air Paris. Perry Saturn continues his appearances on Nitro, this time meeting little resistance from Air Paris and finishing the match again with Rings Of Saturn. (8:17, 78)

Post-match, Raven makes his way to the ring. He apologises to Saturn for BattleBowl and blames Sandman for everything. Raven says he's always seen Perry as a good fighter and believes he'll be a success. If it weren't for Sandman... Saturn seems to believe. The announcers doubt Raven's sincerity and call it a manipulation. (60)

Backstage, Ric Flair talks to Dustin Rhodes about the change in status of the tag team titles. They did well as a tag team at BattleBowl. Flair suggests they try one more time in the tag team tournament and fight for the titles. (76)

Chris Hero is in Dusty Rhodes' office blazing with vengeance and demanding matches against the Horsem*n, who constantly attack him as a group. Dusty replies that Corino already has a match tonight. But Rhodes suggests this: Chris Hero will face CW Anderson at the Spring Stampede and if he wins, he'll get a match against Corino at the Great American Bash. Regardless of whether or not Steve will be WCW World Heavyweight Champion by then. Hero agrees (73).

Match 3: Jerry Lynn vs Chris Chetti. Rob Van Dam joins the announcers. He talked about their extensive shared history with Lynn, but noted that Lynn was never as talented as RVD. And got a contract with WCW more out of pity because WCW couldn't sign "one of a kind". As for the match, Jerry Lynn wins after the Cradle Piledriver. (5:02, 63)

Post-match, RVD tries to attack Lynn with a chair, but Jerry really knew his opponent well and was ready for it. Lynn knocks Rob out of the ring. RVD looks surprised. (67)

Video vignette of Rey Mysterio's preparation for the WCW US Championship match. "This is a huge opportunity for me that I can't pass up." (62)

Match 4: Ric Flair and Dustin Rhodes vs Colt Cabana and Julio Dinero. Ric Flair and Dustin Rhodes practice their tag team interactions. Dinero and Cabana made their opponents sweat, but the veterans pulled it off - Flair grabs Dinero in a Figure-Four Leglock for the win. (11:10, 83)

Chavo Guerrero backstage interview. He talks about a huge opportunity for him tonight. He's going to be the #1 contender for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. (64)

Match 5, Non-Title: Frankie Kazarian and Matt Bentley (w/ Stacy Keibler) vs Abyss and Mesias (w/ James Mitchell). The size difference was impressive - and it made the difference when Abyss catches a leaping Bentley and lays him out with the Black Hole Slam for the win. (10:42, 76)

Backstage, Steve Corino talks to the Horsem*n. "Management has had us on the bench for a long time. But tonight I'm going to earn a chance for us - a chance for the Horsem*n to get the WCW World Championship belt" (79)

AJ Styles signs autographs. He is asked about his match with Rey Mysterio. Styles says that he respects Rey. Mysterio was the first to bring the cruiserweight style to the mainstream. He made a way for the guys like AJ. Styles has learnt a lot from Rey. This is going to be a tough match, but Styles is going to defend the US title. (75)

Match 6, #1 Contendership for WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Chavo Guerrero vs Steve Corino. The fans didn't really know who to root for. But other than that, the match was first class. Chavo argued with the fans a lot - and that got in the way when he taunted them for too long before the Frog Splash. Corino dodged - and performed an Old School Expulsion to win the even match. (15:42, 88)

Post-match, Steve Corino shows that he'll be the next WCW World Heavyweight Champion - and that's where the show ends.

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Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, FL

Announcers: Joey Styles, Jerry Lawler and Don Callis

Overall: 80

TONIGHT: We'll see a Cruiserweight Gauntlet with the two remaining having a match against each other the next week. The winner of which will be the next #1 contender for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship.

Match 1, WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Elix Skipper vs Shane Helms. In their previous encounter, Helms was close to victory, but interference from Petey Williams saved the champion from the Vertabreaker. This time, Helms lifts Skipper up again for the Vertabreaker - and once again, Elix tries his best to avoid the horrible move and lands a low blow in front of the ref. Disqualification. Skipper picks up the belt and quickly escapes the ring. I guess it's still not the end. (14:11, 81)

Backstage, Francin interviews The Prima Donnas about their big win last week. "We're the best flying team since the Rockers. And we're tired of being benched. We want recognition, we want titles, and we'll do anything to get noticed on RAGE" (42)

Christopher Daniels backstage promo. He announces his participation in tonight's Cruiserweight Gauntlet. "It might be time to show them all what the true God of cruiserweight wrestling is all about. Most of the competitors just started wrestling yesterday... I've been performing at indy venues when they were still drinking milk from their mothers tit*" (64)

Match 2: Booker T and Sting vs The Prima Donnas (Christian York and Joey Matthews). Despite all the talk York and Matthews couldn't overpower their experienced opponents - Booker T puts Matthews down with an Axe Kick, while York gets a Scorpion Deathlock. (10:46, 80)

Backstage, Nigel McGuinness complains to his tag team partner about a hip injury. So he will be replaced by Doug Williams in the 1/4 finals of the WCW North American Championship tournament. Alex Wright steps up and says he can beat both of them, so he doesn't care who his opponent is. (36)

John Cena answers questions from the visitors of WCW.com. He again talks about how there is an unspoken rule in the locker room - "do as the elders advise". Even if those veterans can't do sh*t in the ring. Even if those older guys can't help the younger guys. Even if you're better than them. Cena isn't going to comply and he doesn't want the locker room 'authorities' prying into his business like Morrus did. John Cena challenges Hugh Morrus to a match! (50)

Match 3, Cruiserweight Gauntlet. We’ve got a lot of famous and not very famous talents here. But the one thing that surprised many was the unexpected return of TAKA Michinoku! It was just him, Christopher Daniels, Sonjay Dutt and a young Jack Evans left at the end. Experienced Daniels blocked one of Evans' moves and knocked him out of the ring. Michinoku suddenly pushes Daniels out of the ring - and the bell sounds! TAKA Michinoku and Sonjay Dutt will determine the #1 contender for the Cruiserweight Championship next week. (12:29, 69)

Backstage, Sean O'Haire talks to some RAGE wrestlers in a locker room. Some try to convince him to pick them as a tag team partner. O'Hair replies that he'll think about it and walks away, shaking his head in frustration... At that moment, he is attacked by Crowbar! Crowbar manages to land a few punches before security intervenes! (61)

Mike Awesome makes his way through the crowd. He walks straight to the announcing table! Awesome says that some nasty words that Styles said a week ago have come to his attention. Awesome reminds him that Joey was the one that made the entire ECW roster hate him when he jumped to WCW. "You were telling them all that I sold out. You called me a disgrace. You were the one that made my family lose all their friends. You were talking about chasing after gold. That I was a Judas. You said it all. Do you think I've forgotten? Do you think I've forgotten, you son of a..." Awesome grabs Joey Styles! Jerry Lawler tries to stand up for his commentary partner and immediately gets a mighty clothesline. Awesome is about to do the Awesome Bomb on Styles through a table... Brian Kendrick runs out and attacks Mike. Awesome grabs Kendrick and throws him into the steel post before leaving the arena through the crowd. (59)

Match 4, WCW North American Championship Tournament Second Round: Alex Wright vs Doug Williams (w/ Nigel McGuinness). Alex Wright and Doug Williams are both masters of technical wrestling, so the match was full of takedowns, interceptions and all sorts of interesting moves. Nigel McGuinness tried to interfere in the match. Wright shoved Doug right into him and performed a German Suplex with a roll up. 1...2...3. Wright advances to the semifinals! (10:49, 78)

Jeff Jarrett enters the ring. "The Rock challenged me...? I don't have to do what His Majesty The Rock wants me to do. I don't have to do what you want me to do. Because no one appreciates it. I've always done what the management wanted me to do. And what did I get in return? They screwed on me the very first minute I got injured. But a deal's a deal. Don Callis promised Rock a match with me... and I promised Callis that I would bring Rock to RAGE. And the plan worked. I will have a match with The Rock and show you all who your favorite star is. After that, all The Rock has to do is go back to Vince or Hollywood with his tail between his legs. But I won't be doing it here or in this sh*thole, I'll do it in a proper arena. At the Great American Bash in June." (77)

Match 5, WCW North American Championship Tournament Second Round: CM Punk vs American Dragon. Many would call the match between CM Punk and American Dragon a "technical dream match".... Both showed us why they are considered WCW's top young talents. But a bottle shot to Dragon's head two weeks earlier from James Storm still was felt. Punk quickly "cracked" the wound - and Dragon started bleeding heavily again. The blood flooded his eyes, which Punk took advantage of, catching Dragon with a Devil Lock DDT for the win. (9:48, 82)

Match 6: Goldberg and The Rock vs Chris Kanyon and Lance Storm (w/ Bret Hart). Goldberg and Rock almost picked up the victory, but Jeff Jarrett showed up and attacked Rock. Rock and Jarrett began brawling outside the ring, leaving Goldberg alone. Storm and Kanyon double-teamed the WCW World Champion - and Lance made the pin! 1...2...3. (12:55, 76)

Post-match, Shawn Michaels appears in the arena. Lance Storm prepares to fight. But HBK has a mic. "Take it easy Lance, I'm not here to get to you... You won like you won. And it made me realize one thing. My problem isn't so much with you, but with the man behind you. Bret Hart. Bret, do you want revenge? You don't want to let go of the past? Why don't you stop using other people and do it yourself? You and me, one on one. Hart vs Michaels. Hitman vs HBK. Let's finish what we started a long time ago." Shawn Michaels challenges Bret Hart - and the show goes off the air! (91)