WCW 2001: From the Ashes

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Slamboree
Sunday, Week 2, June 2001
Paradise, Nevada
Attendance: 9,168

--Joey Styles, Jerry Lawler, and Bobby Heenan welcome the fans to the PPV telecast and preview the Slamboree matches, including Rick Steiner challenging Booker T for the world title. (67)

--Booker T is backstage with Mean Gene. Booker hypes his upcoming world title match versus Rick Steiner and warns Scott Steiner to focus on DDP and keep his nose out of his business with his brother. (82)

WCW Cruiserweight Title Match
--Chavo Guerrero Jr def. Shane Helms in 12:30 by pinfall following a chair shot and subsequent Frog Splash. (71) Chavo wins the cruiserweight title for the 3rd time.

--Jeff Jarrett, The Total Package, and Shane Douglas are backstage with Mean Gene. Luger hypes his match against Rob Van Dam and says that he hopes Kevin Nash is watching so he can watch the beating he’ll be missing. (72) Jarrett ends by saying that he wishes Nash was in the building so he could face him in a match. The two pick on Gene’s hair as they walk away. (70) Douglas hypes his match versus Sting and says Sting’s glory days are long gone. (73)

--Sting def. Shane Douglas in 11:03 by submission with the Scorpion Deathlock. (76) During the match, Douglas was distracted by Dustin Rhodes, who the announcers speculate was there because of Douglas’ derogatory comments toward his father.

--Rob Van Dam def. The Total Package in 11:21 by pinfall following the Five Star Splash (75) During the match and with referee Billy Silverman down, Kevin Nash ran in and delivered a Jackknife Powerbomb on Luger. After the match, Nash takes a mic and accepts Jeff Jarrett’s challenge from earlier in the show. (68)

WCW United States Championship Match
--Rey Mysterio Jr def. Ric Flair in 14:01 by a schoolboy rollup and quick count after Flair began arguing and shoving referee Nick Patrick. (79) Rey makes his 2nd defence of the US title. After the match, an irate Flair grabbed a mic and claimed a conspiracy to keep him from winning any WCW titles. (75)

--Jeff Jarrett is seen backstage scampering around looking for a ride to leave the arena when he is intercepted by Kevin Nash, who takes Double J to the ring for the match. (72)

--Kevin Nash def. Jeff Jarrett in 7:26 by pinfall following the Jackknife Powerbomb. (81) Nash and Jarrett have great chemistry and it showed in their performance.

WCW World Tag Team Title Match
--Team Canada def. Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley in 12:11 when Mike Awesome pinned Miller following an Awesome Bomb. (81) Team Canada makes their 3rd defence of the world tag team titles.

--Scott Steiner cuts a backstage promo on DDP, saying that Page will be easily beaten in their upcoming match and that his brother will become the world champion tonight. (80)

--Diamond Dallas Page def. Scott Steiner in 15:39 by pinfall following the Diamond Cutter. (77) Page celebrates by exiting through the crowd. (81)

--A video montage is shown featuring the developing rivalry between Booker T and the Steiner Brothers leading up to the main event. (72)

WCW World Heavyweight Title Match
--Booker T def. Rick Steiner in 17:43 by pinfall after an accidental chair shot by Scott Steiner on his brother. (79) After the match, the Steiner Brothers argue over the ending of the match. (78) Booker makes his 2nd defence of the WCW championship.

Show Rating: 80
PPV Rating: 0.42 (212,981 buys)

[Chas in Cinti]

All face wins (except Chavo?).... man what I'd have given for that when I was young...

[CrossroadsReb]

Lol...that will certainly be the exception. The dirt sheets would have loved that. Thanks for the follow.

[CrossroadsReb]

Thoughts
---The attendance took me by surprise with nearly 10,000 coming out for Slamboree. Those kind of attendance numbers will help me on down the road on the financial side.

---The show put our popularity in the Southwest (WCW’s home region) at 58, one short of the 59 threshold to be considered a ‘Medium’ sized company. Hopefully this can happen before the Great American Bash and I could possibly renegotiate some TV and PPV contracts.

---Storm and Awesome pull out a nice match versus Smiley and Miller with minimal build up. Storm and Awesome could see their profile skyrocket in the next year. They are clearly the best tag team in WCW at the moment. Will anyone be able to challenge them?

---Having only a 90-minute show limits what I do with only one cruiserweight match per week. In an ideal WCW down the road, signing enough quality workers to have a brand split with the cruiserweights assigned to one show would be great. At the least, having a 2 1/2 hour show would be good for now if my broadcaster agreed to it.

---I want things to pick up now that the Great American Bash is up next month. It is imperative I reach Medium size before then.

[CrossroadsReb]

---In addition to Slamboree last night, the WWF held Bad Blood in front of 27,000 fans in Regina, Saskatchewan. The main event saw Stone Cold Steve Austin defeating The Rock to retain the WWF Championship in a 100 rated match. The match is predicted to figure heavily in the end of the year awards.

---Other big matches saw Triple H pin Warrior in a cage match to retain the Intercontinental title and Hollywood Hogan and The Big Show downing Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 3, June 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 1,960

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Alex Wright and Billy Kidman def. Philip Brooks and Austin Aries in 10:04 by pinfall after Kidman’s Shooting Star Splash on Aries. (52)

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Kanyon def. AJ Styles in 11:25 by pinfall following an inverted piledriver. (58)

--Joey Styles, Jerry Lawler, and Bobby Heenan preview the card for Nitro, including a six-man tag main event. (68)

--The Steiner Brothers come down to the ring separately to start the show. Rick Steiner makes it clear to Scott that he cost him the world title to Booker T at Slamboree. Scott listens as his brother berates him and walks out of the ring strangely calm. (82)

--Lance Storm and Mike Awesome are backstage with Mean Gene as they hype their ‘glorious’ world tag team title run and Storm’s singles match in a few minutes. (57)

--Lance Storm w/Mike Awesome def. The Sandman in 9:41 by submission with the Canadian Maple Leaf. (71) After the match, Mike Awesome comes in and delivers an Awesome Bomb on Sandman and the two continue beating him down until Bam Bam Bigelow comes down and drives both from the ring. (61)

--Rob Van Dam comes to the ring for an interview with Mean Gene. Out of nowhere, The Total Package and Ric Flair attack RVD and Luger puts him in The Rack. Kevin Nash sprints from the backstage area to make the save and drive Luger from the ring. (66) Nash takes a mic and says he wants to thank The Total Package for giving him a psychological faceslap. He ends by saying that Luger and Jarrett are in his crosshairs and Slamboree was just the beginning. (80)

--Sean O’Haire def. Big Vito in 8:09 by pinfall following a Seanton Bomb. (60) O’Haire and Vito had great chemistry and it showed in their performance.

--A camera catches a frustrated and angry Scott Steiner destroying everything in sight in the backstage area and threatening backstage personnel. (79)

--Mean Gene is backstage with Chuck Palumbo as they talk about the possible breakup of their tag team. Sean O’Haire enters the picture and says there is no tag team to talk about, telling an irritated Palumbo the tag team was over when he couldn’t get his shoulders up at Big Bang. (63)

--Kevin Nash def. Vampiro in 11:30 by pinfall following the Jackknife Powerbomb. (72) After the match, Nash again takes a mic and challenges The Total Package or any of his buddies to a match at The Great American Bash in singles or tag teams. (84)

--An angry RVD is backstage with Mean Gene as he rages against Flair and The Total Package for their earlier attack. He ends by challenging them to a handicap match later on. (70)

--Rey Mysterio Jr comes to the ring with the US title belt and hypes his five week reign as champion. He says that Ric Flair, or anyone else, will never be able to intimidate him. (60)

--Ric Flair and The Total Package def. Rob Van Dam in 13:49 by pinfall when Jeff Jarrett came down ringside and laid a guitar shot on RVD with Flair and Luger keeping referee Mickey Jay occupied. (81) After the match, Flair takes a mic and says he hasn’t forgotten Van Dam costing him a match last month for the world title. (80)

--Mean Gene is backstage with Sting, Booker T, and Diamond Dallas Page as they hype their six-man tag main event versus The Steiner Brothers and Shane Douglas. (87)

--DDP, Sting, and Booker T drew with The Steiner Brothers and Shane Douglas in 15:57 when referee Nick Patrick ruled a double stoppage after all hell broke loose. (87) During the match, the strain was evident between the Steiners.

Show Rating: 84
TV Rating: 0.11 (670,395 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

Head to Head
Show Rating: Raw 90, Nitro 84

TV Rating: Raw 2.92, Nitro 0.11

Main Event Rating: Raw 96, Nitro 87

Raw Main Event: Chris Jericho def. Chris Benoit and Warrior in a 96 rated match

Post-show
--I get a note saying that Rob Van Dam has changed his wrestling style from 'Brawler' to 'Regular Wrestler'. RVD thinks this will benefit his career.

--No complaints or incidents to report this week.

[CrossroadsReb]

June 19, 2001
From WCW.com

WCW owner Eric Bischoff has announced that the Great American Bash will be held in Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Sports Arena on July 15 and that tickets will be going on sale starting tomorrow.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 4, June 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 1,942

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Alex Wright and Kaz Hayashi def. Philip Brooks and Colt Cabana in 10:54 by pinfall after Wright’s German Suplex on Brooks. (51)

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Mark Jindrak def. Astro Boy in 10:24 by pinfall following the Mark of Excellence. (48)

--Scott Steiner comes to the ring and grabs a mic. He says he knows that he cost his brother the world title at Slamboree and says everything will be good between he and his brother. (84) Steiner hypes his main event match with Sting and then turns his attention to Booker T and intensely states that he will do anything to get the world title back around his waist, including destroying Sting tonight. (75) He ends the promo by challenging Booker T for the world title at the Great American Bash. (85)

--Kanyon def. Hugh Morrus in 8:21 by pinfall following the Kanyon Cutter. (76)

--Kevin Nash comes to the ring for a promo and hypes his upcoming match against Ric Flair when he is interrupted by Flair. The two brawl and are joined by Rob Van Dam and Jeff Jarrett as the chaos spills out all around ringside. (68) A number of backstage personnel have to come out and pull them apart.

--A backstage camera catches Dustin Rhodes and Shane Douglas brawling with The Total Package coming in and helping Douglas beat down Rhodes. (61)

--Chavo Guerrero makes his way to the ring with a mic and says he will be defending his cruiserweight title versus the most deserving Lash Leroux and says he is ready for his match now. (64)

WCW Cruiserweight Title Match
--Chavo Guerrero Jr def. Lash Leroux in 9:34 by pinfall following a Death Valley Driver. (60) After the pin, Chavo angrily rolls out of the ring and back in with a chair when he viciously attacks Leroux and gets a mic and says that will happen to everyone that challenges him for the cruiserweight title. (64) Chavo makes his 1st defence of the cruiserweight title.

--Kevin Nash def. Ric Flair in 10:53 by DQ when The Total Package ran in and attacked Kevin Nash, followed quickly by Jeff Jarrett. (76) The three continue to beat down Nash until Rob Van Dam and Rey Mysterio enter the ring to save Nash. (75)

--Booker T comes down to the ring for a promo with Mean Gene. Scott Steiner then comes out and distracts Booker enough for Rick Steiner to come out of the crowd and sneak attack Booker. (68) Scott ends up driving Booker through the ringside table with a powerbomb. (78) Steiner then takes a mic and reminds Booker and the audience that he will do whatever it takes to get the world title back. (75)

--Jeff Jarrett w/The Total Package def. Konnan in 8:58 by pinfall following a guitar shot and subsequent Stroke on Konnan. (74)

--Diamond Dallas Page comes to the ring for a quick promo with Mean Gene. Page says since Rick Steiner likes to sneak attack people, he challenges Steiner to a match next Monday night on Nitro. (84) He also mentions he will be in Sting’s corner in the main event.

--Scott Steiner w/Rick Steiner def. Sting w/DDP in 11:20 by countout following a Rick Steiner bulldog on Sting on the floor after taking out Page with a chair shot. (83) After the match, Scott places Sting in the Steiner Recliner with Rick beating down DDP as he tries to help Sting. (80) Booker T then hits the ring with a chair and attacks both Steiners. (83) Booker then takes a mic accepts Steiner’s challenge for the world title at the Great American Bash. (81)

Show Rating: 81
TV Rating: 0.11 (672,772 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 91, Nitro 81

TV Rating: Raw 2.91, Nitro 0.11

Main Event Grade: Raw 99, Nitro 83

Raw Main Event: Steve Austin def. The Undertaker by DQ to retain the WWF Championship in a 99 rated match in Montreal, Canada. Also, Hollywood Hogan and Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts def. Kane and Chris Benoit in a 92 rated tag team match

Backstage incidents
---Hugh Morrus was caught smoking, breaking the locker room rules. I choose to give him a stern warning since he’s Hugh Morrus.

---Ric Flair was also caught smoking, breaking the locker room rules. I choose to give him a slap on the wrist since he’s Ric Flair.

---Kevin Nash seems to be manipulating the locker room against Shane Douglas. Hugh Morrus now has simmering tension with Douglas.

[CrossroadsReb]

News from Week 4, June 2001
---Brock Lesnar, who until recently has been working in the WWF’s development territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling, will be joining the main WWF roster shortly. It is expected he will begin work at the next show. Lesnar competed in collegiate wrestling at the University of Minnesota and won the NCAA Division I national championship in March of last year. He is said to have made a seamless transition to professional wrestling.

---It looks like Paul Bearer is set to remain with the WWF after lengthy contract negotiations. It is rumored the contract is worth close to $10,000 per month. I wasn’t interested unless Kane or Taker’s contract was about to expire since he has strong friendships with both. Their contracts aren’t up anytime soon.

[CrossroadsReb]

Mid-year Review
TEW has listed their mid-year awards since we are in the month of July now. The winners so far…

Wrestler of the Year – The Rock, 91 average match rating, 100 rated match vs Steve Austin at Bad Blood

Company of the Year – World Wrestling Federation

Team of the Year – Two Man Power Trip (Austin and Triple H), 91 average rating with a high of 94 versus Eddie Guerrero and Raven on Raw from May

Match of the Year – Steve Austin def. The Rock at Bad Blood in June, 100 rated match

Card of the Year – WWF Judgment Day in May, 92 rated show

Young Wrestler of the Year – Perro Aguayo Jr with an 81 average rating and high of 86 teaming with Cibernetico and Heavy Metal versus Psicosis and Black Family IV in a ladder match

Veteran Wrestler of the Year – Hollywood Hogan, 90 average rating with a high of 99 teaming with Steve Austin versus Undertaker and The Rock on Smackdown from May

Female Wrestler of the Year – Manami Toyota, 67 average rating with a high of 80

Independent Wrestler of the Year – Brazo de Plata with a 68 average rating and high of 83 when teaming with Brazo de Oro and Cibernetico versus Atlantis, Blue Panther and Dr. Wagner Jr at Mala Obsession in May

--Really no surprises here with the WWF dominating in attendance, highest-graded workers, star quality, and highest-rated matches. Manami Toyota could be one to watch for down the road if/when I can get a women's division started, not an eye candy division.

--And just for reference, WCW's highest-rated match was the triple threat match at Big Bang for the world title between Booker, Scott, and Page (88) with our highest-rated show being Big Bang (86). My goal is to string some good shows together by late summer and early fall to get some momentum heading into Halloween Havoc through Starrcade.

[CrossroadsReb]

End of Month Review, June 2001
--A better month financially as we ‘only’ lost $1,155,228 compared to the nearly $2 million loss in May. Again, getting to ‘Medium’ size would be a huge accomplishment, especially if it can be done over the next two shows before the Great American Bash. Getting to the next size would mean more money, obviously. WCW will likely not survive much longer if the current financial trends continue.

--WCW has $1,889,354 on hand. I have to see improvements. As our popularity increases, there should be steady increases in all facets of income, particularly ticket sales and broadcast revenue.

---I will be renegotiating our PPV deals after the Great American Bash. I have no doubt that show will put us over the top to ‘Medium’ size if we are not there already. I will also take a look at our TV deals after the Bash. The ESPN2 deal is one I’m happy with right now and doesn’t expire for another four months.

---Another important aspect of the TV deals at ‘Medium’ size is I could change Nitro to a two-hour show. It is currently 90 minutes in length because of WCW being small size. I could probably convince ESPN2 to go two hours when we go to the next size.

---The WWF remains at 86 popularity throughout America. They are on a massive roll with an almost $4 million haul in June. They have close to $58 million in the bank.

---WCW is sitting at 58 popularity in the Southeast and Southwest with 48’s in the rest of America. The backstage rating is 82 and slowly creeping up. Nash is still causing some trouble but hasn’t committed any major backstage incidents in a few weeks. If he goes on another spree of problems, it could be time to make a major decision. The downside is that he could sue us and that would likely put us in serious financial peril with his $114,000 per month contract if we were found to be in the wrong.

[CrossroadsReb]

FAN PERCEPTIONS
Major Stars
Booker T
Buff Bagwell
Diamond Dallas Page
Goldberg
Jeff Jarrett
Kevin Nash
Rey Mysterio Jr
Ric Flair
Rick Steiner
Rob Van Dam
Scott Steiner
Sean O’Haire
Sting
The Total Package
MOVERS: Rey Mysterio Jr (in)

Stars
Dustin Rhodes
Kanyon
Konnan
Lance Storm
Mike Awesome
Shane Douglas
MOVERS: Rey Mysterio Jr (out)

Well Known
Bam Bam Bigelow
Billy Kidman
Chavo Guerrero Jr
Chuck Palumbo
Ernest Miller
Hugh Morrus
Shane Helms
Shawn Stasiak
Vampiro
MOVERS: Mark Jindrak, Mike Sanders (out)

Recognizable
Alex Wright
Elix Skipper
Jamie Knoble
Kaz Hayashi
Mark Jindrak
Mike Sanders
Norman Smiley
Shannon Moore
Yang
MOVERS: Mark Jindrak, Mike Sanders (in); The Sandman (out)

Unimportant
Air Paris
Big Vito
Chris Harris
Evan Karagias
James Storm
Jason Jett
Johnny Swinger
Johnny the Bull
Kid Romeo
Kwee Wee
Lash Leroux
Reno
The Sandman
MOVERS: The Sandman (in)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Titles Roll Call

WCW World Heavyweight - Booker T, 4X champion, held since March 26, 2001
85 prestige (no change)
#41 in world singles title prestige (+1 in June)

WCW United States - Rey Mysterio, 1X champion, held since May 6, 2001
67 prestige (+1 in June)
#103 in world singles title prestige (+9 in June)

WCW World Tag Team - Team Canada, 1X champion, held since Week 2, June 2001
68 prestige (+1 in June)
#24 in world tag team title prestige (+6 in June)

WCW Cruiserweight - Chavo Guerrero, Jr, 3X champion, held since Week 2, June 2001
41 prestige (no change)
#135 in world singles title prestige (-2 in May)

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by CrossroadsReb

85 prestige (no change)
#41 in world singles title prestige (+1 in June)

Wait, whaaaaa?

Is that a typo maybe? Or does your game actually have 40 singles titles at 85+ prestige.

I know we're playing on different mods and stuff but that's a crazy amount of difference. I think 85 prestige is something like #6 or #7 in the Pipebomb mod universe I'm in.

[CrossroadsReb]

Here is a small sampling of the voluminous number of titles around the world in 2001. I certainly don't think the ECWA Super 8 was ever more prestigious than the WWF Championship. This does include some tag team titles. Perhaps the title prestige has more to do with the performance of the title within the company than its actual comparison against other titles around the world.

[CrossroadsReb]

Most Popular Active Workers in America, End of June 2001
1. The Rock
2. Steve Austin
3. Hollywood Hogan
4. The Undertaker
5. Triple H
6. Booker T
7. Scott Steiner
8. Shawn Michaels
9. Chris Jericho
10. Mick Foley
...
13. Kevin Nash
14. Goldberg
15. Sting
19. Diamond Dallas Page
20. Ric Flair

Most Popular Active Workers in the World, End of June 2001
1. Hollywood Hogan
2. The Rock
3. Steve Austin
4. The Undertaker
5. Kevin Nash
6. Mick Foley
7. Shawn Michaels
8. The Big Show
9. Chris Jericho
10. Triple H
…
14. Diamond Dallas Page
16. Scott Steiner
17. Goldberg
19. Ric Flair

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 1, July 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 1,978

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Vampiro def. AJ Styles in 9:52 by pinfall with a Nail in the Coffin. (57)

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Konnan def. Samoa Joe in 10:27 by pinfall with a 187. (55)

--Joey Styles opens the show by saying their will be an important announcement regarding the naming of WCW’s new permanent commissioner. (73) Jerry Lawler and Bobby Heenan speculate on who it could be and both say they hope it is not Eric Bischoff. (82)

--Eric Bischoff comes down to the ringside to a mixed reaction and announces the permanent WCW Commissioner. Bret Hart comes down to the ring as Bischoff exits. Hart says he is glad to be back in the WCW and calls Booker T to the ring. (68) Bret tells Booker that he will defend his world title tonight versus Ric Flair in the main event and the winner will defend the title in a three-way match at The Great American Bash versus Scott Steiner and Sting as Booker nods. (70) A backstage camera catches Scott fuming at the mention of Sting as Hart says that since Rick Steiner cost Sting an important match on Nitro last week to determine a true #1 contender, he will be also be getting a shot at the world title. (76)

--Sting is seen backstage pounding on Rick Steiner when Scott Steiner comes in and attacks Sting. (83) Diamond Dallas Page and Booker T are then seen chasing Scott and a woozy Rick Steiner away. (85)

--Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman def. Shawn Stasiak and James Storm in 9:49 by pinfall following Bigelow’s Greetings from Asbury Park on Storm. (53) After the match, Lance Storm and Mike Awesome step out with Lance Storm proclaiming the winners are just another wannabe tag team (61).

--Dustin Rhodes runs into Bret Hart backstage and pleads for a match against Shane Douglas at the Great American Bash. Hart says he will think it over. (63)

--Sean O’Haire def. Johnny Swinger in 9:56 by pinfall with a Seanton Bomb. (57) After the match, as O’Haire is going up the aisle, Buff Bagwell comes down and poses for O’Haire, who is not impressed as he continues to the locker rooms. (63)

--Buff Bagwell goes to the ring for a promo with Mean Gene, who tells Buff that O’Haire was clearly not impressed. Buff replies that O’Haire only knows how to grunt and make loud noises and is not a real wrestler. (68)

--Kevin Nash is minding his own business backstage when he is approached by Bret Hart. Hart says he thought it would be a good idea if Nash faced The Total Package at The Great American Bash. Nash tells Bret to make it happen. (70)

--Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley def. Mark Jindrak and Chris Harris in 8:09 by submission following a Norman Conquest on Harris. (55) After the match, Lance Storm and Mike Awesome make their way back out and taunt the tag team division in WCW including Miller and Smiley, saying that they would never hold tag team gold in Team Canada’s tag team division. (64)

--Ric Flair, Jeff Jarrett, and The Total Package are backstage as Flair and Jarrett hype their upcoming matches, including Flair’s world title match versus Booker T. (84) The Total Package says he already dislikes the new WCW commissioner. (74)

--Rob Van Dam drew with Jeff Jarrett in 13:12 following a double DQ when Rey Mysterio and Ric Flair both interfered in the match. (80)

--Booker T cuts a backstage promo with Mean Gene before his world title defense versus Ric Flair. Booker says the only way Flair will win is if his pissants, The Total Package and Jeff Jarrett, get involved but warns he has insurance if he needs it. (83) On the other side of the arena and seemingly safe, Scott Steiner promises to Rick that he will end two careers in one night at the Great American Bash. (85)

WCW World Heavyweight Title Match
--Booker T w/Rob Van Dam def. Ric Flair w/Jeff Jarrett in 17:28 by pinfall following an RVD chairshot on Flair with referee Nick Patrick distracted with Jeff Jarrett and Rey Mysterio, who had come ringside toward the end of the match, on the opposite side of the ring. (84) Booker makes his 4th defence of the world title.

Show Rating: 81
TV Rating: 0.11 (675,095 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 89, Nitro 81

TV Rating: Raw 2.73, Nitro 0.11

Main Event Rating: Raw 95, Nitro 84

Raw Main Event: Triple H def. Eddie Guerrero to retain the Intercontinental title in a 95 rated match. The other main event saw The Big Show and Hollywood Hogan def. Chris Benoit and Kane, also rated a 95.

--As you read in the Nitro open, I've signed Bret Hart, who has a positive backstage influence and can play multiple roles. He will be the on-screen WCW commissioner. He can also be a great road agent and is available to play a colour commentator. The price comes at $15,000 per month. A hefty price but Bret will be a much-needed boost to morale and is instantly credible with fans.

--More importantly, this show put us over the top as we hit the more coveted Medium size. This will give us one more Nitro before The Great American Bash. I look to renegotiate some of the TV contracts.

[CrossroadsReb]

July 3, 2001
From Eric Bischoff, WCW Owner
WCW is pleased to announce new television deals to show Nitro in Mexico on Azteca 7, in the British Isles on E4, on the Sportsnet family of networks throughout Canada, and RTL in Europe beginning August 1. WCW has extended the television contract with J Sports 1 in Japan and pay-per-view coverage on iN DEMAND and Samurai! TV. These new deals with improved time slots will help us continue being a legitimate competitive alternative to ‘sports entertainment’ and shows the wrestling world that WCW is back and here to stay. In addition, after talks with all of WCW’s broadcasters, Nitro will be broadcasting for two hours beginning the Monday night after the Great American Bash.


From the dirt sheets
Pro wrestling insiders said WCW’s broadcasters are pleased with the new focus and direction of World Championship Wrestling and Nitro, which will remain on Monday nights for the near future.

[CrossroadsReb]

--With the move to Medium, WCW is now at 62 prestige and 51 momentum with The Great American Bash only 12 days away. This represents a 16 point gain since the end of June.

--As far as company size, the next goal to attain and truly be able to compete with the WWF is ‘Big’. The requirements are arduous. WCW would have to achieve 77 popularity in at least five mainland American regions, which must include the Southwest and Northwest regions. This is most difficult. I’m estimating at least early 2003. At least.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 2, July 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 2,066

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Kaz Hayashi def. Kevin Steen in 8:49 by pinfall following a Hayashi Drop. (49)

--Booker T comes out to start the show and hypes the upcoming triple threat match at the Great American Bash versus Sting and Scott Steiner. (80) Sting then comes to the ring and tells Booker he respects his abilities and championship reign but Sting will win what he first won at the Great American Bash in 1990. (89) Scott Steiner comes out with a mic and says not only will he win the world title in Los Angeles this weekend but he will dominate the six-man tag match in the main event with his brother and Ric Flair versus Booker, Sting, and Page. (87)

--Shane Helms and AJ Styles def. Chavo Guerrero and Elix Skipper in 10:10 by pinfall following a Helms Vertebreaker on Skipper. (47) After the match, Chavo takes a mic and says that Helms will never win the cruiserweight title, this Sunday or ever. He then berates Skipper for getting pinned as he leaves the ring. (62)

--Bam Bam Bigelow is backstage with The Sandman when Lance Storm and Mike Awesome approach them. Storm says something Bigelow doesn’t like and they start arguing. (55) Awesome challenges Bigelow to a match later in the show. Bam Bam says if he wins then he and Sandman get a tag team title shot at The Great American Bash. (58)

--Diamond Dallas Page is backstage with Mean Gene as he hypes his match versus Rick Steiner this Sunday and as part of the six-man tag match in the main event. (85)

--Bam Bam Bigelow def. Mike Awesome in 11:13 by pinfall following botched interference by Lance Storm with a superkick on Awesome. (73) After the match, The Sandman enters the fray and sets up a table outside the ring. Bigelow then performed a Greetings from Asbury Park on Awesome through the table from the ringside apron. (71) Bigelow and The Sandman will challenge Storm and Awesome for the world tag team titles at The Great American Bash.

--Buff Bagwell runs into Sean O’Haire backstage. He tells O’Haire that he is a good looking specimen but can’t match what Buff does in the ring. As Buff puts his finger in O’Haire’s chest, O’Haire pushes it away and tells Buff to be in Los Angeles on Sunday and they will settle it in the ring. (60)

--WCW Commissioner Bret Hart comes to the ring. He says he doesn’t like the amount of interference and run-ins involving The Total Package and tells Luger that if anyone helps him from the outside on Sunday night, he will be fined and suspended without pay. (70) Hart then hypes the triple threat world title match and the world tag team title match this Sunday night. (66)

--Buff Bagwell def. Hugh Morrus in 8:31 by pinfall following a Buff Blockbuster. (67) After the match, Buff continues to beat down Morrus until Sean O’Haire comes down to run Buff out of the ring. (70)

--Kevin Nash is backstage with Mean Gene as he hypes his match versus Jeff Jarrett later in the show and he also praises Commissioner Bret Hart on putting in the no interference stipulation for his match against The Total Package on Sunday night. (86)

--Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett come to the ring for a promo. Flair hypes his part in the upcoming main event six-man tag match with the Steiner Brothers. (86) Flair then swears vengeance on Rob Van Dam and Rey Mysterio for last Monday night’s world title match interference and says he has been around since The Bash began, and with God as his witness, will break Mysterio’s legs in the Figure Four at The Bash. (92)

--Kevin Nash def. Jeff Jarrett in 10:56 by DQ when The Total Package ran in and attacked Nash. (80) After the match, Luger racks Nash with Jeff Jarrett running around the ring with a mic taunting Nash. (79) After the racking, Luger takes a mic and says he will be discussing some things with Commissioner Bret Hart on next Monday’s Nitro. (73)

--Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, and Sting are seen backstage preparing for their upcoming six-man tag main event. (86)

--Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, and Sting fought to a double stoppage in 16:34 against Scott Steiner, Rick Steiner, and Ric Flair when referee Billy Silverman lost control of the match. (79) As Rick Steiner and Flair flee the ringside area with Page chasing them with a chair, Booker T, Sting, and Scott Steiner have an all-out brawl as the show ends. (82)

Show Rating: 80
TV Rating: 0.23 (763,699 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 86, Nitro 80

TV Rating: Raw 2.72, Nitro 0.23

Main Event Rating: Raw 90, Nitro 79

Raw Main Event: Hollywood Hogan def. Raven in a 90 rated match. In his debut on the WWF roster, Randy Orton lost to Chris Jericho in a 78 rated match.

--There were no backstage shenanigans for the second consecutive show. I'm sure Nash will break that modest streak.

[CrossroadsReb]

Card for The Great American Bash

WCW World Heavyweight Title, Triple Threat Match
Booker T (c) vs Scott Steiner vs Sting

WCW World Tag Team Titles
Team Canada (c) vs Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman

WCW World Cruiserweight Title
Chavo Guerrero Jr (c) vs Shane Helms

Diamond Dallas Page vs Rick Steiner

Rey Mysterio and Rob Van Dam vs Jeff Jarrett and Ric Flair

Kevin Nash vs The Total Package

Buff Bagwell vs Sean O’Haire

Dustin Rhodes vs Shane Douglas

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW The Great American Bash
Sunday, Week 2, July 2001
Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 11,125

--Joey Styles welcomes the PPV audience to The Great American Bash and runs down the card, highlighting the Triple Threat Match for the world title and Ric Flair's obsession with destroying RVD and Rey Mysterio. (71)

--A video montage is shown of Booker T’s title defences since the Big Bang, including his wins over both Steiner brothers. (88)

WCW World Cruiserweight Title Match
--Chavo Guerrero Jr def. Shane Helms in 13:21 by pinfall after hitting Helms with the title belt. (67) After the match, Chavo goes over the top in celebrating his title win. (62) Chavo makes his 2nd defence of the cruiserweight title.

--A video montage is shown of Scott Steiner’s anger and frustration over the last month since his defeat at Slamboree by DDP. (86)

--Sean O’Haire def. Buff Bagwell in 10:13 by pinfall following a Peak of Perfection. (66)

--Diamond Dallas Page is with Mean Gene backstage. Page hypes his winning streak including his Slamboree win over Scott Steiner and promises a victory over Rick Steiner tonight. (88)

WCW World Tag Team Title Match
--Team Canada def. Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman in 10:40 by pinfall following an Awesome Bomb on The Sandman. (77) After the match, Awesome takes Bigelow and powerbombs him through a table that was conveniently located under the ring for retrieval. (73) Team Canada makes their 4th defence of the world tag team titles.

--A set of video clips from Sting’s career, including his first world title at The Great American Bash in 1990 in Baltimore, is shown. (92)

--Shane Douglas def. Dustin Rhodes in 13:22 by pinfall after Douglas nailed Dustin with a cowbell with referee Mickey Jay down. (71)

--A video package of Kevin Nash’s challenges with The Total Package and Jeff Jarrett over the last month is shown with the final words of WCW Commissioner Bret Hart threatening to suspend Luger if there is any outside interference at The Bash. (83)

--Diamond Dallas Page def. Rick Steiner in 15:53 by pinfall with the Diamond Cutter. (80) Page flashes the Diamond Cutter sign as he exits through the LA crowd after the match. (83)

--The Total Package is backstage with Mean Gene. Luger promises that he doesn’t need help beating Kevin Nash tonight and will rack him just like he did on Nitro. (65)

--Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett def. Rey Mysterio Jr and Rob Van Dam in 15:50 by pinfall after Flair’s Figure Four made Rey pass out for the three count. (78) After the match, Flair and Jarrett continue to punish RVD and Mysterio with Flair focusing chair shots on Rey’s knees. (70)

--Kevin Nash def. The Total Package in 10:47 by pinfall following the Jackknife Powerbomb. (67) During the match, Luger was clearly giving a signal for help in the ring but no one came out.

--Backstage, a camera catches Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett with Flair telling anyone who would listen that he said Rey was going to get hurt tonight. (75)

WCW World Heavyweight Title, Triple Threat Match
--Scott Steiner def. Booker T and Sting in 22:45 by pinfall following multiple belly to back suplexes on Booker T with Sting lying outside the ring. (87) Steiner wins the WCW World title for the 2nd time. After the match, with Steiner the only one standing in the ring and taunting Booker and Sting, the lights go out. When they return and as Steiner tries to gather his bearings in the ring, he is speared by a waiting Goldberg. (84)

Show Rating: 86
PPV Rating: 0.43 (219,901 buys)

[CrossroadsReb]

Thoughts
--Scott Steiner goes over and wins the world title over two of his rivals but Goldberg has returned and awaits him. Steiner’s individual ring performances have consistently been between 85 and 92, easily the best on the roster. A quick check shows an 88 average individual ring performance.

--Lance Storm and Mike Awesome are clearly the best regular tag team in WCW. They have a 77 average rating over five matches in the last two months. Who can compete with them?

--Flair keeps most of his promise and injures Rey at The Bash. Flair’s rivalry with Rey and RVD is far from over. Jeff Jarrett looks to be the security blanket with one more in the background looking to regain some momentum.

--The next WCW PPV will be Phoenix Rising in August from, well, Phoenix, Arizona. The Phoenix also symbolizing WCW’s rise from the ashes. It was a rare moment of creativity from me.

The WWF held Vengeance in Boston, Massachusetts, last night with 37,500 in attendance at Fenway Park. The main event saw Stone Cold Steve Austin def. The Undertaker to retain the WWF championship in a 99 rated match. The show itself came in with a 93 with the only other notable match being Chris Jericho submitting Chris Benoit in a 91 rated match.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 3, July 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 2,500

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Shawn Stasiak def. Astro Boy in 9:50 by pinfall with a Perfect Point. (48)

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Billy Kidman def. Austin Aries in 10:15 by pinfall with the Shooting Star Press. (54)

--The announcers start the show by reviewing the events from the end of the Great American Bash with still photos as they hype the return of Goldberg. (72)

--Goldberg comes through the pyro to the ring and hypes his return to WCW. He says he is back for one reason only: to win the Big Gold Belt. He finishes by saying that Scott Steiner is next. (84) Steiner comes out and hypes his world title win in Los Angeles and tells Goldberg he will never sniff the world title as long as it is around his waist. (77) To this, WCW Commissioner Bret Hart comes out and says that Goldberg will not get a title shot tonight but Steiner will defend his world title tonight versus Rob Van Dam in the main event. (83)

--Chavo Guerrero Jr comes out and says he will always be a fighting champion and tells the audience that he will be defending his cruiserweight title against Air Paris and that Shane Helms is probably sitting at home nursing his wounded pride from last night. (67)

WCW Cruiseweight Title Match
--Chavo Guerrero Jr. def. Air Paris in 9:52 by pinfall with a Gory Bomb. (61) After the match, Chavo takes a mic and taunts the entire cruiserweight division saying that no one can beat him after he destroyed Shane Helms at The Bash. (64) Chavo makes his 3rd defence of the cruiserweight title.

--Konnan def. Chris Harris in 9:42 by pinfall with a 187. (53)

--Mark Jindrak def. Jason Jett in 7:51 by pinfall with a Mark of Excellence. (46)

--Kevin Nash is seen backstage stopping random heel undercarders and asking if they’ve seen Jeff Jarrett to which all of them reply they haven’t. (90)

--Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley def. Vampiro and Kanyon in 11:11 by pinfall after Miller’s Feliner on Vampiro. (70) After the match, Smiley goes over the top in celebrating the win as Miller urges him to tamper the enthusiasm. (62)

--The Total Package comes down to the ring with a mic and calls out WCW Commissioner Bret Hart. Luger tells Hart he feels like he is being unfairly singled out. Hart responds that Luger has brought everything on himself with the interference and run-ins. (75) Luger tells Hart that he could easily put him out but he will respect old people before he leaves the ring. (71)

--Sean O’Haire def. Johnny Swinger in 8:42 by pinfall with a Peak of Perfection. (54)

--Ric Flair cuts a backstage promo with Mean Gene. Flair says that it is not about winning the United States title for him but making people like Rey Mysterio and Rob Van Dam respect him. He promises to end the careers of both men. (70) He then hypes his upcoming match versus Dustin Rhodes. (76)

--Ric Flair def. Dustin Rhodes in 11:17 by pinfall following a flash pinfall and interference from Shane Douglas. (81) After the match, Flair and Douglas are seen laughing as they retreat backstage. (79)

--Sting comes to the ring for a promo with Mean Gene. He says that as far as he is concerned, he wasn’t pinned last night so Steiner will eventually have to face the Stinger one-on-one. (85)

WCW World Heavyweight Title Match
--Scott Steiner def. Rob Van Dam in 17:47 by pinfall following a Top Rope Frankensteiner. (88) The match featured fantastic heat and great wrestling. After the match, Goldberg is seen at the top of the ramp mock clapping Steiner for his win. (86) Steiner makes his 1st defence of the WCW World Heavyweight title.

Show Rating: 85
TV Rating: 0.23 (799,274 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Nitro 85, Raw 84

TV Rating: Raw 2.72, Nitro 0.23

Main Event Rating: Nitro 88, Raw 81

Raw Main Event: Triple H def. The Big Show, Raven, and Warrior to retain the Intercontinental title in an 81. The highest rated Raw match saw Chris Jericho submit Steve Blackmon in a match graded at 90

--Again, there are no incidents to speak of backstage. The biggest surprise this week, however, was the total lack of major star power on Raw. Our main event blew away Triple H's Intercontinental title defence. Of course, the all-important TV rating won't see a major shift for several months but shows like this help the company in the short and long run.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 4, July 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 2,809

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Jamie Knoble def. Philip Brooks in 11:28 by pinfall following a Trailer Park Slam. (51)

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Mike Sanders def. John Cena in 9:42 by pinfall with a 3.0. (39)

--Joey Styles welcomes everyone to Nitro and hypes the main event with Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, and Sting taking on The Steiner Brothers and Buff Bagwell. (72)

--Scott Steiner comes out to start the show and hypes his prediction of a long world title reign. (83) Goldberg then comes out and interrupts Steiner, saying that Steiner’s world title reign will be short-lived if he has a say. (76) Rick Steiner comes out and says if Goldberg is looking for a fight, he will give him one with Goldberg telling both Steiners he will fight them any time. (79)

--Before their world tag team title defense, Lance Storm and Mike Awesome come out and hype their world tag team title reign, reminding the audience that not even Diamond Dallas Page and Sting could take the title away from them last month and a more deserving team, The Jung Dragons, will challenge them tonight. (67)

WCW World Tag Team Title Match
--Team Canada def. Jung Dragons in 10:01 by submission with Storm’s Canadian Mapleleaf on Yang. (81) Team Canada makes their 5th defence of the world tag team titles.

--Kanyon def. The Sandman in 10:13 by pinfall following a Fireman’s Carry Neckbreaker. (76) After the match, Kanyon grabs a mic and says that he is the most underutilized wrestler in WCW and demands respect. (70)

--Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett make their way out to the ring. Flair says that little Rey Rey hurt his leg last weekend and can’t defend his title. Rey Mysterio interrupts the promo with a noticeable limp and challenges Flair and Jarrett to a tag team match with a partner of his choice. Rey adds that if his team loses, he will give the winner a US title shot tonight. (77) Flair and Jarrett are elated and accept the challenge until Rey tells them his partner will be Kevin Nash. (80)

--Shane Douglas comes to the ring for a promo in which he taunts Dustin Rhodes, saying that Dustin belongs in the trash bin with his daddy. (68)

--Kevin Nash and Rey Mysterio def. Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett in 13:03 by DQ when The Total Package ran in and attacked Nash after a Jackknife Powerbomb on Flair. (80) After the match, the 3 on 2 beatdown continued until Rob Van Dam came in with a chair and cleared the ring of Flair, Jarrett, and Luger. (73) WCW Commissioner Bret Hart angrily comes to the ring furious at Luger’s interference. Bret takes a mic and tells Luger that he will be wrestling tonight and it will be against Goldberg as Luger fumes. (72)

--Shane Douglas def. Hugh Morrus in 10:19 by pinfall with a Franchiser. (77) Douglas came to the ring in yellow polka-dotted wrestling attire as Jerry Lawler is howling at the ringside table.

--Diamond Dallas Page and Sting make their way to the ring with Booker T. Page and Sting say they still want the world title but are tired of the Johnny Come Latelies like Lance Storm and Mike Awesome who do not respect anyone. They warn the team that they were lucky last month when they met but might be coming for their tag team titles in the future. (86) Booker takes the mic and hypes the upcoming six-man tag team match in the main event. (85)

--Goldberg def. The Total Package in 7:59 by countout when Luger had enough and simply walked out of the ring and up the aisle. (81)

--Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett are seen backstage running as Kevin Nash and a gimpy Rey Mysterio are giving chase to them. Flair and Jarrett then get into a car and quickly leave the arena. (84)

--Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, and Sting def. Buff Bagwell and The Steiner Brothers in 16:48 by pinfall following a Goldberg distraction on both Steiners and Booker T and Sting pinning, respectively, Scott and Rick with quick rollups. (82)

Show Rating: 83
TV Rating: 0.23 (788,244 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 91, Nitro 83

TV Rating: Raw 2.87, Nitro 0.23

Main Event: Steve Austin def. Kurt Angle in a WWF title match graded at 99 while Jacqueline def. Chyna and Ivory for the WWF Women’s title in a 67 rated match

[CrossroadsReb]

Weekly Notes
--Not a bad show. Goldberg vs TTP was not the usual dominant match you might see on a big return but it does help advance the ongoing conflict between Luger and Bret. I wasn’t sure about placing it in the main event because I really didn’t know what to expect from Goldberg coupled with Luger’s 64 Psychology rating.

--In the WWF, Kurt Angle turned babyface at Raw last night from Madison, Wisconsin. The switch of allegiance was designed to both refresh Angle and the top of the card with a whole host of potential new matches and feuds.

--Also, Hollywood Hogan has admitted his new catchphrase that he debuted last night was ‘entirely improvised’ and that he’s surprised that it appears to have gone down so well. Don’t know what it could have been. Maybe “I AM THE ORANGE GOBLIN!!” or “That doesn’t work for me, brother.”

--NWA Wildside saw a major injury to CM Punk as he suffered a fractured larynx in a six-man tag match on Thursday night. Early estimates are that it will sideline Punk for around two months.

--If rumours are to be believed, the next big WWF storyline will center around Hollywood Hogan going head-to-head with The Rock. The feud is said to be the focal point of the promotion for somewhere between six and nine months.

--All Japan has seen a title change with Keiji Mutoh winning the prestigious AJPW Triple Crown championship from Genichiro Tenryu at the Summer Action Series in Osaka, Japan.

--The next Nitro will begin our new broadcasting deals with a few networks. The ratings and viewership should increase with these new deals.

[CrossroadsReb]

End of Month Review, July 2001

--On the financial side, we lost $416,131 and our cash at end is now $1,473,223. All five areas (PPV, Ticket Sales, Broadcast Revenue, Sponsors, and Merchandise Sales) all saw nice increases but not enough to pull a profit for the month.

--August could be the month we finally turn a profit if current trends continue its upward climb. At worst, perhaps a small loss is possible. With the new multiple broadcasting deals in place and attendance numbers increasing, August could be the most pivotal month in the return of WCW to respectability.

--WCW continues the slow climb back into relevance. We are 61 popularity in the Southwest and 60 in the Southeast with 50 in the remaining American regions except Puerto Rico and Hawaii (both at 49). If I can improve by two points each month, I could reach 70 by Starrcade at the end of the year and have huge momentum going into 2002. At that rate, with the race to ‘Big’ size and the requisite 77 in five American regions, it will at least be the last few months of 2002 or early 2003 before I get there. It will only be then that I can truly begin strongly competing with the WWF.

--The backstage rating is 72 and familiar names pop up in a negative way. Kevin Nash has been strangely absent from major backstage incidents.

--I am not a point where I can expand and have another show at the moment. I have to get through 2001 first. I do know the new show will not be called Thunder. On down the road, I will add a permanent women’s division to WCW. Of course, more workers equals more money to be spent with exclusive written contracts. The bank will need to be substantial.

--Speaking of contracts, the next three to seven months will be interesting as some contracts wind down in the WWF. Whether I will be able to afford them will be something for me to keep my eye on. In addition, the Federation is the bigger company and WCW may be seen as too small in the eyes of potential free agents. Vince can surely offer more money so my success rate will not be great when the time comes. I am only the head booker so contract offers can be capped, or outright rejected, by WCW owner Eric Bischoff.

[CrossroadsReb]

ROSTER PERCEPTIONS
Major Stars
Booker T
Buff Bagwell
Diamond Dallas Page
Goldberg
Jeff Jarrett
Kevin Nash
Ric Flair
Rick Steiner
Rob Van Dam
Scott Steiner
Sean O’Haire
Sting
The Total Package
MOVERS: Rey Mysterio (out)

Stars
Dustin Rhodes
Kanyon
Lance Storm
Mike Awesome
Rey Mysterio Jr
Shane Douglas
MOVERS: Rey Mysterio (in); Konnan (out)

Well Known
Bam Bam Bigelow
Billy Kidman
Chavo Guerrero Jr
Chuck Palumbo
Ernest Miller
Hugh Morrus
Konnan
Shane Helms
Vampiro
MOVERS: Konnan (in); Shawn Stasiak (out)

Recognizable
Alex Wright
Jamie Knoble
Kaz Hayashi
Mark Jindrak
Mike Sanders
Norman Smiley
Shannon Moore
Shawn Stasiak
Yang
MOVERS: Shawn Stasiak (in); Elix Skipper (out)

Unimportant
Air Paris
Big Vito
Chris Harris
Elix Skipper
Evan Karagias
James Storm
Jason Jett
Johnny Swinger
Johnny the Bull
Kid Romeo
Kwee Wee
Lash Leroux
Reno
The Sandman
MOVERS: Elix Skipper (in)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Titles Roll Call
WCW World Heavyweight – Scott Steiner, 2X champion, held since Week 2, July 2001
85 prestige (no change)
#40 in world singles prestige (+1 in July)

WCW United States – Rey Mysterio, 1X champion, held since May 6, 2001
67 prestige (no change)
#98 in world singles (+6 in July)

WCW World Tag Team – Team Canada (Lance Storm and Mike Awesome), 1X champion, held since May 6, 2001
68 prestige (no change)
#24 in world tag prestige (no change)

WCW Cruiserweight – Chavo Guerrero Jr, 3X champion, held since Week 2, June 2001
42 prestige (+1 in July)
#135 in world singles prestige (no change)

[CrossroadsReb]

Most Popular Workers in America, End of July 2001
1. The Rock
2. Steve Austin
3. Hulk Hogan
4. The Undertaker
5. Booker T
6. Scott Steiner
7. Triple H
8. Shawn Michaels
9. Chris Jericho
10. Mick Foley
…
11. Kevin Nash
12. Sting
13. Goldberg
18. Diamond Dallas Page
20. Ric Flair


Most Popular Workers in the World, End of July 2001
1. Hulk Hogan
2. The Rock
3. Steve Austin
4. The Undertaker
5. Kevin Nash
6. Mick Foley
7. Shawn Michaels
8. Chris Jericho
9. Triple H
10. The Big Show
…
14. Diamond Dallas Page
16. Scott Steiner
17. Goldberg
19. Ric Flair

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 1, August 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 3,000

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman def. Colt Cabana and Samoa Joe in 9:32 by pinfall following Bigelow’s Greetings from Asbury Park on Cabana. (53)

--Scott Steiner comes to the ring to start the show. Steiner says he will not defend the world title tonight but says to make WCW commissioner Bret Hart happy, he will team with his brother against Booker T and Goldberg. (77) Hart comes out and says that Steiner will also be defending the world title in 13 days at Phoenix Rising. (73)

--Konnan def. James Storm in 8:14 by pinfall with a 187. (54)

--Sting and Diamond Dallas Page are walking backstage when Lance Storm and Mike Awesome enter the picture. Storm proclaims they are the best tag team in the world and he would make Sting or Page tap out in seconds. (81) Sting then challenges Storm to settle it in the ring later as Page and Awesome stare down each other. (84)

--WCW Commissioner Bret Hart comes back out and says that the WCW World Television title will be returning and the winner will be determined by a 15-man battle royal next Monday night and that all eliminations must occur via pinfall or submission. He adds that anyone, including cruiserweights, can participate and challenge for the title. (71) Bret adds that the United States title will also be defended tonight with Jeff Jarrett challenging Rey Mysterio and if is there any interference in the title match on behalf of Double J or Rey, they cannot challenge for any WCW title for the next three months. (78)

--Kevin Nash is seen walking backstage when he is ambushed by Ric Flair, Jeff Jarrett, and The Total Package. The ambush leaves Nash down and out. (72)

--Billy Kidman def. Elix Skipper in 9:10 by pinfall following the Shooting Star Press. (57)

--Dustin Rhodes is walking backstage when he stumbles upon what looks like Jeff Jarrett’s guitar at the scene of the Nash ambush. Rhodes smiles and takes the guitar. (64)

--Jeff Jarrett comes down to the ring and hypes his upcoming US title match versus Rey Mysterio. (72) He promises Commissioner Hart that there will be no interference in the title match on his part and that he will win in the middle of the ring. (70) Rey comes out and tells Double J he can't wait to humble him in the ring. (62) From behind, Ric Flair blindsides Rey and works over his knee while Double J laughs in the ring. (75)

--A backstage camera catches the last few seconds of an attack as Dustin Rhodes nails Shane Douglas over the head with Jeff Jarrett’s guitar. Rhodes is then seen taking Douglas to the ring as the match starts. (74)

--Rob Van Dam def. Shane Douglas in 2:02 by pinfall following the Five Star Splash. (82) After the match, Dustin Rhodes comes out and sets up Douglas in the corner and executes The Kick. (71)

--Mean Gene finds a hobbling and groggy Rey Mysterio Jr backstage, who is not able to put much weight on his leg. He asks Rey if will be able to defend his US title tonight versus Jeff Jarrett. Rey says there is no way he is backing out of his title defence. (68)

--In another part of the arena, a camera catches Rick and Scott Steiner preparing for their main event tag team match versus Booker T and Goldberg. They catch a glimpse of the camera and Scott Steiner screams at the cameraman, telling him to leave or get reclined. (83)

--Sting def. Lance Storm in 12:23 by pinfall with a Scorpion Deathdrop. (82) Near the end of the match, Mike Awesome attempted to interfere and was neutralized by DDP.

WCW United States Title Match
--Jeff Jarrett def. Rey Mysterio Jr by submission following a Single Leg Boston Crab. (84) As Jarrett is going back up the aisle, he is congratulated by Flair and The Total Package. (80) Jarrett wins the United States title for the 4th time.

--Mean Gene is backstage with Booker T and Goldberg. Booker says he proved last week he will be a world champion again by pinning Scott Steiner as Goldberg is seen in the background intensely staring into the camera. (87)

--Booker T and Goldberg drew with The Steiner Brothers in 16:46 when referee Charles Robinson lost control and stopped the match. (79)

Show Rating: 81
TV Rating: 0.38 (892,907 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 92, Nitro 81

TV Rating: Raw 2.86, Nitro 0.38

Main Event: Raw 100, Nitro 79

Raw Main Event: Steve Austin def. Kane to retain the WWF Championship in a 100 rated match, a definite match of the year candidate


Backstage incidents
--Buff Bagwell has gotten a lot of heat with the rest of the locker room after pulling a tasteless rib on everyone backstage. I choose to give him a stern warning and nothing came out of it. This is the first major incident I've had in quite awhile. Buff and Nash are prominent nuisances.

--I pull the plug on Rey’s reign as US champion in favor of Jeff Jarrett in what turned out to be a really good match. Rey continues his battles versus Flair and Jarrett.

--The TV title is returning to WCW with the goal of building up the midcard or to give those who may be lacking momentum a much-needed shot in the arm. Who knows? Maybe down the road some young bucks may see it as a way of climbing up the card

Newsworthy wrestling news this week
--Jose Gonzalez has announced his retirement and that he is looking forward to enjoying the business from a different perspective. It is thought he will be staying in the industry in some capacity, perhaps showing fellow workers how to murder someone in a shower in Puerto Rico and get off scot-free.

--I try to sign Taka Michinoku and Steve Corino but both want short-term deals. I’m not willing to throw exclusive money on them for three months right now. Both would certainly be nice additions.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 2, August 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 3,360

Pre-Show Dark Match
---Big Vito def. Astro Boy in 10:09 by pinfall with a running powerslam. (46)

---Booker T comes down to the ring and starts talking to the crowd when he is interrupted by WCW World champion Scott Steiner. Steiner tells Booker and the crowd that Bret Hart has signed Booker’s death warrant by putting him in the main event for the world title this Sunday at Phoenix Rising. (89) Booker and Steiner continue arguing with Scott saying he will show everyone why he will walk out still the world champion when he stretches Booker in the Steiner Recliner. (87)

---Jamie Knoble def. Evan Karagias in 12:10 by submission with the Trailer Hitch. (55) After the match, Knoble takes a mic and calls Chavo Guerrero Jr out and challenges him to a cruiserweight title match at Phoenix Rising in six days. (39) Chavo comes out and accepts the challenge as he taunts Knoble. (64)

WCW World Television Title Battle Royal
---Kanyon won the battle royal in 19:49 by pinfall with a Flatliner on Konnan. (67) Other finalists included Bam Bam Bigelow and Vampiro. Bigelow got the most eliminations over the course of the match. Kanyon wins the WCW World TV title.

---Sting and Diamond Dallas Page come down to the ring. Sting taunts Lance Storm over last week’s win on Nitro. (85) Page hypes his match versus Mike Awesome in the main event. (87) Page and Sting then challenge Team Canada to a world tag team title match at the PPV. (87) Storm responds by saying they are giving it to a more deserving team in Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley but says that if Page can beat Awesome tonight AND they win a tag team match against a team of their choice at Phoenix Rising, they will give them a world tag team title shot on next Monday’s Nitro because Miller and Smiley won't be a problem. (70)

---Rob Van Dam def. Chris Harris in 9:17 by pinfall following the Five Star Splash. (70) After the match, Kevin Nash comes to the ring with a mic and offers RVD to join him in a six-man tag match at Phoenix Rising with one other wrestler against The Total Package’s choice of partners. RVD accepts. (77)

---Goldberg is backstage with Mean Gene. He hypes his match on Sunday night’s PPV versus Rick Steiner by saying that it is one match closer to regaining the Big Gold Belt. (76)

---Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett def. The Jung Dragons in 11:48 by pinfall following The Stroke by Jarrett on Yang. (76) After the match, Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett stay in the ring for a promo when they are interrupted by Page and Sting. (74) They challenge Flair and Jarrett at Phoenix Rising by saying they want to earn the right to humble Team Canada. (80) Lance Storm comes out and says the deal is on that if Sting and Page beat Flair and Jarrett at Phoenix Rising, they will get a well-earned tag team title shot at next Monday's Nitro. (67)

---Rick Steiner comes to the ring with Mean Gene and says that Goldberg has had his day in the sun and he peaked in 1998. He says that Sunday night shouldn’t be a problem for him. (67)

---Booker T def. The Total Package in 11:00 by DQ when The Steiner Brothers ran in and attacked Booker. (79) Kevin Nash hit the ring with the Steiners retreating and lays out Luger with the Jackknife Powerbomb. (71)

---Diamond Dallas Page def. Mike Awesome in 11:53 by pinfall following the Diamond Cutter. (81) As Page is getting his hand raised, the cameras switch to the backstage area as Booker T is applying the Booker Recliner to an almost out Scott Steiner as the show ends. (79)

Show Rating: 81
TV Rating: 0.38 (893,870 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Nitro 81, Raw 80

TV Rating: Raw 2.73, Nitro 0.38

Main Event: Nitro 81, Raw 78

Raw Main Event: Triple H def. Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts and Animal to retain the WWF Intercontinental title in a 78(?!) rated match. Indeed a precipitous drop from last week's Austin and Kane's 100 match.

--Next up is the Phoenix Rising PPV from Phoenix, Arizona.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Phoenix Rising Card

WCW World Heavyweight Title – Scott Steiner (c) vs Booker T

WCW World Tag Team Titles – Team Canada (c) vs Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley

WCW Cruiserweight Title – Chavo Guerrero Jr (c) vs Jamie Knoble

WCW World Television Title – Kanyon (c) vs Chuck Palumbo

Goldberg vs Rick Steiner

Diamond Dallas Page and Sting vs Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett
If Page and Sting win, they get a world tag team title shot on the next Nitro

Kevin Nash, Rob Van Dam, and ??? vs The Total Package, Buff Bagwell, and Shane Douglas

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Phoenix Rising
Sunday, Week 2, August 2001
Phoenix, Arizona
Attendance: 16,210

---Joey Styles and Jerry Lawler preview the card for the PPV and a split screen is shown of Scott Steiner and Booker T entering America West Arena in advance of their world title match in the main event. (92)

WCW World TV Title Match
---Kanyon def. Chuck Palumbo in 10:13 by pinfall with a Fireman’s Carry Neckbreaker. (70) Kanyon makes his 1st defence of the World TV title.

---Kevin Nash, Rob Van Dam are backstage with Mean Gene as they hype their six-man tag match versus The Total Package, Buff Bagwell, and Shane Douglas. (83) Nash hypes the other partner in the six-man match as Sean O’Haire steps into the picture. (81)

---In another part of the arena, Norman Smiley and Ernest Miller are prepping for their tag team title match against Team Canada with Miller doing some stretching and Smiley practicing the Big Wiggle as Miller shakes his head. (54)

---Kevin Nash, Sean O’Haire, and Rob Van Dam def. The Total Package, Buff Bagwell, and Shane Douglas in 14:26 by pinfall following a Peak of Perfection by O’Haire on Bagwell. (78)

---Goldberg is backstage with Mean Gene and warns Rick Steiner that he is just another bump in the road on the way to reclaiming the world title. (92)

WCW Cruiserweight Title Match
---Chavo Guerrero Jr def. Jamie Knoble in 10:19 by pinfall following the Gory Bomb. (71) Chavo makes his 4th defence of the cruiserweight title. After the match, Chavo proclaims his greatness will see him carry the cruiserweight title into 2002. (63)

---Sting and Diamond Dallas Page are backstage and hype their tag match versus Jeff Jarrett and Ric Flair with the possibility of challenging for the world tag team titles on Monday Nitro. (94)

---Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett def. Diamond Dallas Page and Sting in 17:22 by pinfall following Lance Storm’s interference via a superkick on Page and subsequent pin by Flair. (78) After the match, Page and Sting are beside themselves as Flair and Jarrett celebrate up the ramp and Storm retreats quickly to the backstage. (86)

---Backstage, a camera is running toward The Total Package as he is seen assaulting Kevin Nash. (68)

---Goldberg def. Rick Steiner in 12:57 by pinfall following the Spear and Jackhammer. (76) After the match, Scott Steiner makes his way halfway down to the ring while he and Goldberg argue from a distance with Goldberg inviting him to the ring. (88)

---Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett are backstage with Mean Gene as they taunt Page and Sting on their tag team loss. Flair says he can’t help it if Lance Storm hates Page, along with everyone else. (82) Flair and Jarrett scatter when they see Page and Sting coming down the hallway. (89)

WCW World Tag Team Title Match
---Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley def. Team Canada in 13:57 by pinfall following Sting’s distraction of referee Charles Robinson and DDP’s interference with the Diamond Cutter on Mike Awesome and pin by Smiley as Storm could not make the save in time. (82) Miller and Smiley win the WCW World Tag Team titles for the first time. After the match, Storm and Awesome plead their case to Joey Styles and Jerry Lawler as Miller and Smiley celebrate with the titles. (68)

--A short video montage shows the last several months rivalry between Scott Steiner and Booker T, with the emphasis on Booker’s win at Big Bang and Steiner winning the title at the Great American Bash. (86)

WCW World Heavyweight Title Match
---Scott Steiner def. Booker T in 22:26 by submission following the Steiner Recliner. (87) Steiner makes his 2nd defence of the WCW championship.

Show Rating: 87
PPV Rating: 0.42 (214,774 buys)

[CrossroadsReb]

Backstage incidents
--Lex Luger was identified as a hard drug user in a drug test after the show. I chose to give him a stern warning and Buff and Sting are very happy with that decision.


Thoughts
--The highest rated event or show since WCW came back from the ashes in May, led by a stellar main event and a solid tag team title match.

--Steiner wins clean over Booker T and gives himself some major momentum heading through the dog days of summer 2001. Smiley and Miller win the tag team titles, with a little help from Page and Sting, to become the world tag team champions.

--My fond memories of Memphis Wrestling led me to book the fluke tag team championship win when the jobber team of Robert Reed and Ken Raper defeated The Assassins for the CWA World Tag Team titles in October 1983 on Saturday morning wrestling, with a bit of assistance from the Fabulous Ones, Stan Lane and Steve Keirn. Sure, they only held the titles for two days but a then 9-year-old wrestling fan remembers it vividly.

--My backstage rating has increased to 83% in spite of Kevin Nash’s best efforts to upend everything.

--The next major event I have titled the T2 Cup, a one-night tag team tournament to serve as a tweener for the six weeks between Phoenix Rising and Fall Brawl, which is the last week of September. The Cup tournament will be held the first Wednesday in September, which would correspond with September 5, 2001. I think of it as what the Clash of the Champions was many years ago, only in tag team form.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 3, August 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 4,000

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Johnny Swinger def. Astro Boy in 10:20 by pinfall following a Swing Slam. (45)

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Hugh Morrus def. AJ Styles in 8:46 by pinfall following the No Laughing Matter. (59)

--WCW Commissioner Bret Hart makes his way to the ring as the show begins. He says that on Wednesday, September 5, the WCW will have a one-night tag team tournament here in Las Vegas called the T2 Cup. Hart explains there will be no tag team titles on the line but the winning tag team can challenge for the tag team titles at any time or each winning member can challenge for any singles title in the WCW and the offer is good for six months. (83)

--Goldberg is seen walking backstage preparing to come to the ring. When he arrives, he hypes his win over Rick Steiner at Phoenix Rising when he is interrupted by Scott Steiner. They have a big argument with Goldberg saying that Steiner’s time is coming and that he’ll just punish anyone close to Steiner until Steiner has no choice but to face him. (88)

--Billy Kidman def. Elix Skipper in 8:22 by pinfall following the Shooting Star Press. (62)

--Backstage, Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire are seen talking about their upcoming tag team match with Nash telling O’Haire he will be the equalizer to keep The Total Package out of his business. (83)

WCW World Television Title Match
--Kanyon def. Yang in 8:16 by pinfall following the Kanyon Cutter. (63) Kanyon makes his 2nd defence of the TV title.

--Diamond Dallas is making his way out to the ring when he is blindsided by Ric Flair. Flair is joined by Jeff Jarrett as a massive brawl breaks out when Sting, Lance Storm, Dustin Rhodes, Mike Awesome, and Shane Douglas join the melee, which eventually spills into the crowd. (91)

--Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire def. Shannon Moore and Evan Karagias in 9:47 by pinfall following O’Haire’s Peak of Perfection on Karagias. (72)

--Joey Styles announces that after the brawl a few minutes ago, a match will take place between Ric Flair and Diamond Dallas Page in the main event. (68)

--Rey Mysterio Jr. def. Mike Sanders in 10:06 by pinfall following a Super Hurricarana. (76)

--A camera is backstage with Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley shining the tag team belts. Smiley mentions that the British royals can’t be having a better life than he is right now. Miller mentions that their next goal should be to let these other tag teams kill each other and they will be holding the tag team titles for a long time. (58)

--Rob Van Dam cuts a backstage promo with Mean Gene in which he says Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett have been a constant thorn in a lot of people’s sides and that he likes the look of Double J’s United States title belt. (71)

--Chavo Guerrero unexpectedly comes down to the ring and takes a mic. He says there is really nothing else he can prove since he owns the cruiserweight division and that he could beat ANY wrestler on the WCW roster right now. (72) The sound of a crow fills the arena as Sting comes out ready to wrestle with Chavo saying he was just kidding as the match starts. (81)

--Sting def. Chavo Guerrero Jr in 5:44 by submission with the Scorpion Deathlock. (74) Chavo spent much of the match trying to escape from Sting and delay the match. After the match, Sting calmly walks out of the ring and up the aisle. (78)

--Shane Douglas is seen backstage talking with The Total Package. Douglas says that he has to find a way to get some momentum back in his career. The Total Package says stay with him and he’ll get it back. (62)

--Rob Van Dam def. Vampiro in 13:14 by pinfall with a Five Star Splash. (89) RVD takes a mic after the match and hypes his part in the six-man tag team victory at Phoenix Rising, saying that Luger, Flair, and all of their friends have a target on their back. (74)

--Scott Steiner is seen backstage relaxing in his dressing room with the world title belt and a video of his win over Booker T showing on a television. (81) Rick Steiner enters the room and Scott immediately talks down to Rick, telling him that it looks like he can't take down Goldberg on his own. (83)

--Diamond Dallas Page def. Ric Flair in 15:37 by pinfall following a Diamond Cutter. (83) During the match, a backstage camera briefly shows a scuffle between Sting and Jeff Jarrett with Lance Storm and Mike Awesome joining in and beating down Sting. (86)

Show Rating: 85
TV Rating: 0.38 (916,957 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 87, Nitro 85

TV Rating: Raw 2.64, Nitro 0.38

Main Event: Raw 91, Nitro 83

Raw Main Event: Hollywood Hogan def. Raven in a 91 rated match

--Amazingly, no backstage incidents before the show continues a good trend for me.

--A great match between RVD and Vampiro nets the highest rated match of the dynasty with an 89. I really wasn’t expecting much from it. More of a ‘RVD needs a match’ booking. Perhaps I’ve been overlooking Vampiro a little bit and this gets RVD on the path where I need him to be.

--In the WWF, The Big Show won the Intercontinental Title from Triple H in San Juan, Puerto Rico with 6,400 in attendance. With the win, The Big Show has now held the WWF Championship, co-holder of the WWF Tag Team titles, the Hardcore championship, and now the Intercontinental title. The match rated a 77. The Rock def. Trevor Murdoch in the best match of the night, listed at an 87. I can't explain the Raw rating other than poor placement of the matches and, at least for 2001 WWF, some stinker matches and average graded angles.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 4, August 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 4,245

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman def. AJ Styles and Colt Cabana in 10:58 by pinfall after the Greetings from Asbury Park on Cabana. (55)

--Bret Hart comes to the ring to start the show and hypes the T2 Cup and runs down the rules to the crowd as they are shown on screen for the TV audience:
1. The WCW Competition Committee has named eight tag teams to participate in the T2 Cup;

2. Those teams are:
--WCW World Tag Team Champions Norman Smiley and Ernest Miller
--Team Canada (Lance Storm and Mike Awesome)
--Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman
--Jeff Jarrett and Ric Flair
--Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire
--Rey Mysterio Jr and Rob Van Dam
--Shane Douglas and The Total Package;
--Diamond Dallas Page and Sting

3. All matches will take place next Wednesday night from Las Vegas and will be single elimination;

4. If any match is declared a double disqualification or double countout, both teams will be eliminated;

5. Most importantly, Hart says that the winning tag team will be allowed to challenge for any titles in WCW, either as a tag team or individually in singles, at any time within six months but if a tag team challenge is made, they will forfeit both members’ singles challenges and vice versa;

6. Finally, Hart says the brackets will be released on Thursday morning on WCW.com. (78)

--Booker T cuts a backstage promo with Mean Gene, who presses him about his two most recent losses to Scott Steiner, including the world title match at the Great American Bash. Booker says he has faced adversity and setbacks before and will overcome them like he has throughout his entire career. (88)

--Rey Mysterio Jr def. Shawn Stasiak in 11:31 by pinfall following a Super Hurricarana. (80)

--Scott Steiner comes out for an in-ring promo with Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler. Lawler praises Steiner for his physique and his world title reign. Steiner taunts Goldberg and Booker T as wannabe champions and Diamond Dallas Page and Sting as old men who want to go back to four years ago to relive their glory days. (92) Steiner then says Dustin Rhodes has no business challenging for the world title tonight as he promises to recline him into submission. (89)

WCW World Television Title Match
--Kanyon def. Jason Jett in 8:02 by pinfall following a Flatliner. (74) Kanyon makes his 3rd defence of the World TV title.

--Konnan comes to the ring for a promo with Jerry Lawler as Kanyon exits the ring. Kanyon points to his TV title belt and mouths something to Konnan, who argues with Kanyon, and in turn challenges Kanyon to the TV title next week on Nitro. Konnan tells Lawler that Kanyon will be humbled. (74)

--Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire are backstage with Mean Gene as they hype their upcoming participation in the T2 Cup. (83) Nash zeroes in on The Total Package and tells him that Shane Douglas has made a fatal mistake in looking to him for help. (81)

--Team Canada def. Alex Wright and Chuck Palumbo in 10:32 by pinfall following an Awesome Bomb on Alex Wright. (75) After the match, Norman Smiley comes out with a mic with Miller trying to pull him back, saying that Storm and Awesome have to take a backseat to The Cat and The Wiggle, and the tag belts will be staying around their waists. (67)

--Dustin Rhodes is seen backstage warming up for his world title match versus Scott Steiner in the main event. (61)

--Goldberg def. Vampiro in 12:36 by pinfall following the Spear and Jackhammer. (83) After the match, Scott Steiner comes out and taunts Goldberg, telling to go back to the NFL, where he can sit on the bench and get hurt again. (90)

--Backstage, The Total Package and Shane Douglas are seen talking about the T2 Cup and the plans they have for a specific tag team in the tournament. (68)

--In another part of the arena, Lance Storm and Mike Awesome are tearing up everything in sight as they swear vengeance on Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley. (60)

--Rob Van Dam def. Buff Bagwell in 12:28 by pinfall with a Five Star Splash. (74) After the match, Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett come out to attack RVD but Rey Mysterio comes out to even the odds and they drive Flair and Double J from the ring. (71)

WCW World Heavyweight Title Match
--Scott Steiner def. Dustin Rhodes in 17:33 by pinfall following a Top Rope Frankensteiner. (84) Steiner makes his 3rd defence of the world title. After the match, Steiner takes a mic and proclaims his dominance over WCW. (88)

Show Rating: 85
TV Rating: 0.39 (925,275 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

**I neglected to mention that the WWF championship changed hands last night at SummerSlam in Phoenix, Arizona, as Chris Benoit defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWF Championship in what some wrestling observers are calling a possible Match of the Year candidate. It is the first WWF Championship reign for Benoit. Also, The Rock defeated Chris Jericho in a Ladder Match, rated a 95. The show itself came in at a 93.

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 87, Nitro 85

TV Rating: Raw 2.65, Nitro 0.39

Main Event: Raw 95, Nitro 84

Raw Main Event: The Big Show and William Regal def. Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit in a 95 rated match. For the third show in a row, Chris Jericho def. Randy Orton.

Post-Show Incidents
--Booker T approached me after the show and said that Shawn Stasiak needs to learn how to sell and is not worth pushing until that is addressed.

--Kevin Nash approached me after the show and told me that Alex Wright doesn’t connect with the fans and is a waste of time.

News from Week 4, August 2001
--Well, hell! I get a message from owner Eric Bischoff. It says that WCW will be undergoing a product change, changing to the Classic Sports Entertainment approach. Among other things, the change is due to complete over the next nine months. My popularity growth will also be limited for the duration of the change. The big change will be that TV shows under Classic Sports Entertainment will be 65% matches and 35% angles. It is currently 75/25, which is nice. Attendance levels are very strongly affected by the state of the wrestling industry but the company will be very attractive to sponsors. I was not expecting anything like that at all. That throws everything off now.

--The recently retired Randy Savage was inducted in the TEW Hall of Immortals this week. Savage is a 4-time holder of the WCW World Heavyweight Title, a 2-time holder of the WWF World Heavyweight Title, a former WWF Intercontinental champion, and a WWF King of the Ring winner in 1987.

[CrossroadsReb]

August 30, 2001
From WCW.com
WCW Commissioner Bret Hart has released the tournament bracket for next Wednesday’s night T2 Cup:

Quarterfinals
Match 1: Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley vs Team Canada
Match 2: Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman vs Rey Mysterio Jr and Rob Van Dam
Match 3: Diamond Dallas Page and Sting vs Jeff Jarrett and Ric Flair
Match 4: Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire vs Shane Douglas and The Total Package


Semifinals
Match 5: Winner of Match 1 vs Winner of Match 2
Match 6: Winner of Match 3 vs Winner of Match 4

Finals
Match 7: Winner of Match 1/Match 2 vs Winner of Match 3/Match 4

T2 Cup winners can challenge for the tag team titles or any singles title in WCW at any time.

[CrossroadsReb]

End of Month Review, August 2001

--WCW had a great month on the financial side with an uptick in ticket sales, no doubt the move to 'Medium' size helping with that.

--The backstage rating is currently 83%. Kevin Nash remains the sole extremely negative influence. There are, however, a good number of positive influences that are negating Old Sexy.

Finances
--Our cash on hand shows $1,511,239 with the company finally showing no monthly loss with an increase of $38,016 in August. A small number but the first positive financial signs are beginning to emerge. September could be significant financially with two events, the T2 Cup and Fall Brawl, on the schedule. It will still take a while to get back to my starting point of $5,000,000 that we started with at Big Bang in May. We will finish the year with Halloween Havoc, Mayhem (or a newly named PPV), and Starrcade.

--I am not at a point where I can get a Power Plant type of training facility off the ground due to our financial situation. We are, however, in a better spot in not bleeding money like we were in May, June, and July. It will be at least into 2002 before I seriously entertain the thought

Roster Perceptions
Major Stars
Booker T
Buff Bagwell
Diamond Dallas Page
Goldberg
Jeff Jarrett
Kevin Nash
Ric Flair
Rick Steiner
Rob Van Dam
Scott Steiner
Sean O'Haire
Sting
Movers: The Total Package (out)

Stars
Ernest Miller
Kanyon
Lance Storm
Mike Awesome
Rey Mysterio Jr
Shane Douglas
The Total Package
Movers: Ernest Miller, The Total Package (in); Dustin Rhodes (out)

Well Known
Bam Bam Bigelow
Billy Kidman
Chavo Guerrero Jr
Dustin Rhodes
Hugh Morrus
Konnan
Norman Smiley
Shane Helms
Movers: Dustin Rhodes (in); Chuck Palumbo, Ernest Miller, Vampiro (out)

Recognizable
Alex Wright
Chuck Palumbo
Jamie Knoble
Kaz Hayashi
Mark Jindrak
Mike Sanders
Shannon Moore
Shawn Stasiak
Vampiro
Movers: Chuck Palumbo, Vampiro (in)

Unimportant
Air Paris
Big Vito
Chris Harris
Elix Skipper
Evan Karagias
James Storm
Jason Jett
Johnny Swinger
Johnny the Bull
Kid Romeo
Kwee Wee
Lash Leroux
Reno
The Sandman
Yang
Movers: Yang (in)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Titles Roll Call
WCW World Heavyweight - Scott Steiner, 2X champion, held since Week 2, July 2001
85 prestige (no change)
#35 in world singles prestige (+5 in August)

WCW World Tag Team - Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley, 1X champion, held since Week 2, August 2001
69 prestige (+1 in August)
#15 in world tag prestige (+9 in August)

WCW United States - Jeff Jarrett, 4X champion, held since Week 1, August 2001
67 prestige (no change)
#97 in world singles prestige (+1 in August)

WCW Cruiserweight - Chavo Guerrero Jr, 3X champion, held since Week 2, June 2001
43 prestige (+1 in August)
#134 in world singles prestige (+1 in August)

WCW World Television - Kanyon, 1X champion, held since Week 2, August 2001
27 prestige (+1 in August)
#162 in world singles prestige