WCW 2001: From the Ashes

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 1, September 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 4,488

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Big Vito def. David Flair in 9:46 by pinfall following a running powerslam. (34)

Pre-Show Dark Match
--The Sandman def. Kevin Steen in 12:30 by pinfall with a Flapjack. (44)

--Sting and DDP come down to the ring and begin a promo when they are interrupted by Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett, who challenge them to a match in the main event. (85) Lance Storm and Mike Awesome interrupt them and say why not make it a three-way tag main event so everyone can see the world’s greatest tag team. (70)

--Rob Van Dam def. Mike Sanders in 11:06 by pinfall with a Five Star Splash. (72) After the match, RVD hypes his tag team with Rey Mysterio at the T2 Cup. (68)

--Scott Steiner is backstage in his locker room with Rick Steiner. Scott is doing pushups with one hand as Rick is reading through a college football magazine and asking Scott about Michigan football. (75)

--Billy Kidman and Shane Helms def. Chavo Guerrero Jr and Elix Skipper in 9:33 by pinfall following a Shooting Star Press by Kidman on Skipper. (75) After the match, Chavo takes a mic and says he could take on both Kidman and Helms, to which both Kidman and Helms go back to the ring and start beating down Chavo. (64)

--The Total Package and Shane Douglas are backstage with Mean Gene as they hype their quarterfinal match at the T2 versus Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire. Luger says Commissioner Bret Hart purposely did that to get them out of the tournament quickly. (63) Luger goes on to say that O’Haire may not make it to Wednesday after he racks him in their match in a few minutes. (70)

--Sean O’Haire and The Total Package fought to a double stoppage when referee Charles Robinson lost control after Kevin Nash and Shane Douglas hit the ring and all four men were brawling. (71)

--A backstage camera catches Sting being attacked in a four-on-one assault by Storm, Awesome, Flair, and Jarrett. Just as Awesome readies Sting for an Awesome Bomb through a table, DDP comes running in with a baseball bat and fights the attackers off. (76)

--Booker T def. Shawn Stasiak in 12:25 by pinfall with a Harlem Hangover. (77) I get a note from Dusty Rhodes that Booker T kindly used his superior skills to make Stasiak look particularly strong and the match was better as a result. I’ve never had that road agent message before.

--Bret Hart comes down to the ring and takes a mic, hyping the T2 Cup in Las Vegas at the Thomas and Mack Center on Wednesday night. Bret emphasizes that the winners will have their choice of challenging, at any time, for the tag team titles or as individuals challenging for any singles title. (82) As an aside, Bret says that Jeff Jarrett should be defending his United States title and not staying with Ric Flair in tag teams so Double J will defend his belt next Monday on Nitro. (81)

WCW World TV Title Match
--Kanyon def. Konnan in 11:30 by countout when both men were brawling on the floor and Kanyon beat the 10 count. (81) After the match, Konnan is angry outside the ring as Kanyon taunts him inside the ring. (72) Kanyon makes his 4th defense of the TV Title.

--Goldberg comes down to the ring for a promo. He hypes his dominance in WCW since the Great American Bash and guarantees he will be world champion by 2002. (86)

--Team Canada, DDP & Sting, and Jeff Jarrett & Ric Flair fought to a no contest in 19:45 when all six left the ring and brawled up the aisle. (89) Soon, all of the competitors in the T2 Cup came out and began brawling in the ring and around ringside, creating a somewhat chaotic scene as the show ends. (82)

Show Rating: 86
TV Rating: 0.40 (954,388 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Nitro 86, Raw 85

TV Rating: Raw 2.66, Nitro 0.40

Main Event: Raw 91, Nitro 89

Raw Main Event: Two Man Power Trip def. The APA in a cage match to retain the WWF World Tag Team titles in a 91 rated match. In another cage match, The Big Show def. Kane to retain the Intercontinental title in an 83 rated match. Steve Austin had in-ring performance of 100 and was said to be the star of the show.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW T2 Cup Card
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]

WCW T2 Cup
Wednesday, Week 1, September 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 18,776

--The show opens with Tony Schiavone running down the bracket with Joey Styles and Jerry Lawler. (71)

--Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett are backstage with Mean Gene as they hype their match with DDP and Sting, saying that they hope to please Mr. Commissioner Bret Hart with their tag team prowess following Hart’s comments about Double J on Nitro. (86)

T2 Quarterfinal, Match #1
--Rey Mysterio and Rob Van Dam def. Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman in 10:39 by pinfall after RVD’s Five Star Splash on The Sandman. (78) Rey and RVD advance to the semifinals.

--Backstage, the WCW World Tag Team champions, Norman Smiley and Ernest Miller, are seen hyping each other up in preparation for their quarterfinal match versus Team Canada. (54)

T2 Quarterfinal, Match #2
--Team Canada def. Norman Smiley and Ernest Miller in 16:09 with a quick pin when Storm pinned Smiley after his Big Wiggle on Awesome went awry with a Storm Superkick. (83) Team Canada advances to the quarterfinals to face Mysterio and Van Dam. After the match, Storm takes a mic and promises that Team Canada will win the T2 Cup and the world tag team titles will soon be back around their waists. (65)

T2 Cup Quarterfinal, Match #3
--DDP and Sting def. Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett in 12:11 by pinfall after Double J’s accidental chair shot on Flair led to Jarrett receiving the Scorpion Deathdrop. (89)

--Backstage, Rey Mysterio and RVD are interviewed by Mean Gene. Rey and RVD say that Flair and Jarrett got what they deserve while hyping their semifinal match versus Team Canada. (68)

T2 Cup Quarterfinal, Match 4
--Shane Douglas and The Total Package def. Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire in 11:41 by pinfall after Luger hit Nash with a foreign object. (75) After the match, Nash has to get assistance from the ring by O’Haire and some backstage officials. (72) Luger and Douglas advance to the semifinals to face Page and Sting.

T2 Cup Semifinal #1
--Team Canada def. Rey Mysterio Jr and RVD in 17:01 by pinfall with an Awesome Bomb on Rey. (76) Storm and Awesome advance to the finals.

--Before their semifinal match, DDP and Sting cut a backstage promo saying that they will do whatever it takes to win the T2 Cup and get their chance to win WCW gold once again. (100)

T2 Cup Semifinal #2
--DDP and Sting def. The Total Package and Shane Douglas in 10:27 by pinfall following a Page Diamond Cutter on Douglas as he was distracted by Sean O’Haire. (85) Page and Sting advance to the finals to face Team Canada.

--Backstage, Ric Flair is seen bandaged backstage and arguing with Jeff Jarrett after their tag team loss earlier in the show. Flair tells Jarrett to make it right on Nitro. (87)

WCW T2 Cup Finals
--Diamond Dallas Page and Sting def. Team Canada in 16:08 by submission following Sting’s two-minute Scorpion Deathlock on Lance Storm after Page Diamond Cut Awesome on the floor. (85) Page and Sting win the T2 Cup. They may challenge for any tag team title or individually challenge for any singles title.

Show Rating: 87

[CrossroadsReb]

Backstage Incident
--Nick Patrick brought pizza for the entire locker room which made everyone happy.

Thoughts
--This show greatly exceeded my expectations with solid matches across the board and Page and Sting winning the first ever WCW T2 Cup over the best regular tag team in WCW, Team Canada. In three matches, Lance Storm had in-ring performances of 87, 90, and 88. Clearly, he was the star of the show.

--The 89 rated match involving Page/Sting versus Flair/Jarrett ties for the highest rated match since the Big Bang. I’m still looking for that elusive 90 match. Page and Sting are also holding their own as a very formidable tag team.



Press release from Eric Bischoff, WCW Owner
WCW is announcing that Fall Brawl will be held on September 30 from Oakland, California, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Tickets are on sale now.

*It is time to branch out from Las Vegas a bit for Nitros after this Monday night and certainly for PPV’s. In TEW, the Southwest region includes Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. I’ll be varying where I go from week to week from here on out. I will probably hit our former home region for a few shows in November.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, September 10, 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 5,000

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Mike Sanders def. Astro Boy in 9:56 by pinfall with a 3.0. (48)

--Joey Styles hypes the United States title match between Jeff Jarrett and Booker in the main event with RVD and Goldberg facing the Steiner Brothers in a tag match. (70)

--Scott Steiner comes out to the ring for a promo. He said he was told by Bret Hart that he would be in a tag match tonight and wants to know why he isn’t in the main event. (82)

WCW World TV Title Match
--Kanyon def. Lash Leroux in 10:03 by pinfall with a Kanyon Cutter. (70) During the match, Konnan distracted Kanyon to the point where Leroux almost scored a pin. Kanyon makes his 5th defence of the TV title.

--Backstage, Ric Flair, The Total Package, and Team Canada are with Mean Gene as they hype their eight-man tag match versus DDP, Sting, Kevin Nash, and Sean O’Haire. (71)

--Vampiro def. The Sandman in 9:44 by pinfall with a Nail in the Coffin. (63)

--Kevin Nash, Sean O’Haire, DDP, and Sting come to the ring with Page and Sting holding the T2 Cup and warning Mike Awesome and Lance Storm that they are not finished with them. (87) Nash takes the mic and hypes his tag team with Sean O’Haire and their eight-man tag later in the show. (89) Nash invented a new catchphrase that will help him on the mic and will be a go-to line.

--Shane Douglas def. Johnny the Bull in 8:46 by pinfall with the Pittsburgh Plunge. (62)

--Rob Van Dam and Goldberg are seen backstage getting ready for their match with the Steiner Brothers. (78)

--DDP, Kevin Nash, Sean O’Haire, and Sting def. Team Canada, Ric Flair, and The Total Package in 11:36 by pinfall following O’Haire’s Peak of Perfection and pin by Nash on Flair. (82) After the match, O’Haire looked irritated that Nash jumped in to pin Flair.

--Jeff Jarrett comes down to the ring with the US title belt and hypes his match versus Booker T in the main event. Booker interrupts and says he will have WCW gold around his waist after the main event. (87)

--RVD and Goldberg def. The Steiner Brothers in 16:04 by pinfall following a Goldberg Spear and RVD Five Star Splash and pin on Scott Steiner. (87)

--WCW Commissioner Bret Hart comes down to the ring with both Steiners recovering from Goldberg spears. Bret takes a mic and says since Scott Steiner wants to be in the main event, he will defend his title next Monday Nitro against his brother in the main event and if anyone takes a dive, the world title will be stripped from the winner. (83)

WCW United States Title Match
--Booker T def. Jeff Jarrett by DQ when The Total Package interfered and racked Booker T. (85) After the match, Jarrett and Luger continue their attack until Rey Mysterio and Rob Van Dam come down and drive them from the ring. (82) The United States title does not change hands on a disqualification.

Show Rating: 85
TV Rating: 0.40 (958,018 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Nitro 85, Raw 82

TV Rating: Raw 2.65, Nitro 0.40

Main Event: Raw 89, Nitro 82

Raw Main Event: Two Man Power Trip def. The Hardy Boyz to retain the WWF World Tag Team titles in an 89 rated match while Hogan and Benoit def. Eddie and Warrior in a 90 rated match halfway through Raw

--I can’t pinpoint why the Raw show rating was low but the card was basically all 60’s and low 70’s until the last two matches...and it was held in Wyoming. I do see, however, that TNN is listed as against wrestling. Could be a combination of factors. I have quite the uphill climb no matter what.

Backstage Incidents
Dusty Rhodes has taken Mark Jindrak under his wing as a protege.

[CrossroadsReb]

Wednesday, September 12, 2001
Press release from WCW Owner Eric Bischoff, 7:00AM PST

World Championship Wrestling extends our prayers and condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of yesterday’s heinous and horrific terrorist attacks on our country. We stand with all Americans in saying that we will persevere in these coming difficult days and this nation will not be intimidated by anyone. We have been encouraged that we must try to go back to our daily lives as quickly and as normal as possible. Next Monday's show will be our small part in honoring and remembering those affected by yesterday's events. We must never forget September 11.

--Nothing can compare, at least in ‘sports entertainment’, to Vince’s ultra-patriotic speech in Houston for Smackdown on September 12, 2001. There will also be little advancement in storylines on the next Nitro. I will have one more Nitro next week before Fall Brawl in Oakland on the last Sunday of the month.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 3, September 2001
Reno, Nevada
Attendance: 5,553

--Nitro cold opens with all wrestlers on the ramp and down the entranceway to the ring with heels and faces subtly separated by the road agents and referees as the national anthem is performed in the ring.

--Scott Steiner comes to the ring and says Rick is his brother but he will put him in the Steiner Recliner if it means keeping the world title in the main event tonight. (73) Commissioner Bret Hart steps out and reminds Steiner and the audience that if either Steiner lays down for the other, the world title will be stripped of the winner. (83)

WCW World TV Title Match
--Kanyon def. Air Paris in 10:07 by pinfall with a Kanyon Cutter. (65) After the match, Konnan comes out and challenges Kanyon to a title match at Fall Brawl with Kanyon accepting the challenge. (61) Kanyon makes his 6th defence of the TV title.

--Bret Hart comes to the ring and announces the title matches for Fall Brawl in two weeks:
**Because of RVD’s pin on Scott Steiner last week on Nitro, he will face the winner of tonight’s world title match between Scott Steiner and Rick Steiner;

**The United States title will have Jeff Jarrett defending against Booker T with The Total Package ordered to stay backstage;

**The cruiserweight title will have Chavo Guerrero Jr defending against Billy Kidman;

**The World TV title will be Kanyon versus Konnan;

**The World Tag Team titles will have Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley defending against Team Canada. (84)

--Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire come down to the ring for a promo when they are interrupted by The Total Package and Shane Douglas. Luger says he was watching tape from last week and it appeared O’Haire was unhappy with Nash stealing the pin for the win. (78) O’Haire glares at Luger and Douglas as he exits the ring well ahead of Nash. (72)

--Diamond Dallas Page def. Buff Bagwell in 12:13 by pinfall with a Diamond Cutter. (78)

--Chavo Guerrero Jr is backstage with Mean Gene as he hypes his cruiserweight title defense versus Kidman at Fall Brawl. (60)

--Lance Storm and Mike Awesome come down to the ring with Storm wearing American flag tights as he takes a mic. Storm says that they are tired of waiting for Norman Smiley and Ernest Miller and they will be watching ringside tonight as they defend the tag team titles. (68)

WCW World Tag Team Title Match
--Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley def. Evan Karagias and Shannon Moore in 11:05 by pinfall following a Feliner on Karagias. (69) After the match, Storm and Awesome hit the ring with Miller and Smiley holding their own before they are separated by a couple of backstage officials. (66) Miller and Smiley make their 1st defence of the world tag team titles.

--Goldberg is on his way to the ring for a match when he is blindsided by Rick and Scott Steiner. The Steiners beat him down until Rob Van Dam comes down with a chair and chases the Steiners off. (94)

--A clearly irritated Goldberg w/Rob Van Dam def. Shane Douglas in 3:47 by pinfall with a Spear and Jackhammer. (88) For good measure, RVD helps Douglas back to his feet and Goldberg put him back down with another spear.

--Booker T drew with Ric Flair in 15:35 when referee Mickey Jay lost control of the match after it spilled outside the ring. (94) After the match, Dusty sends me a message that Flair debuted a new power spot that showcased his ability to sell well and that his psychology will be helped by being able to use it as a go-to spot in the future.

WCW World Heavyweight Title Match
--Scott Steiner def. Rick Steiner in 17:55 by submission after a Steiner Recliner. (80) Steiner makes his 4th defence of the world title.

Show Rating: 84
TV Rating: 0.40 (947,550 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Nitro 84, Raw 82

TV Rating: Raw 2.58, Nitro 0.40

Main Event: Raw 86, Nitro 80

Raw Main Event: Steve Austin def. Animal by DQ in an 86 rated match

[CrossroadsReb]

Thoughts
--Booker T and The Nature Boy score the highest rated match in WCW since (most likely) Kidman, Juvy, and Rey from Starrcade ‘98. The good ole days.

--Upon further research, the only matches not involving cruiserweights that got even 4 stars from Meltzer and the WON from 1999 to the end on March 26, 2001 was the ladder match between Jarrett and Benoit from Starrcade ‘99, Sting vs Page from Nitro in April 1999 (probably my favorite ever Nitro match), Bret vs Benoit from Nitro in October 1999, Booker vs Bret from Nitro in February 1999 (a huge win in Booker’s singles career), and Scott Steiner vs Goldberg from Fall Brawl in 2000. Bret and/or Benoit were involved in four of the five matches. Five heavyweight matches over 24 months that drew at least four stars and none in 2001.

--And based on that ten-minute research, I’m thinking how in the hell did anyone there think it was a good idea to make David Arquette and Vince Russo world champions, turn Booker into GI Bro, portray Mike Awesome as That 70’s Guy instead of a no-nonsense monster, Judy Bagwell on a forklift, Hugh G Rection, a Viagra on a Pole Match, Anything on a Pole Matches, Flair and Hogan’s First Blood Match that ended in a pinfall, seeing Ed Ferraro without a shirt and in a wrestling ring, and even Jim Duggan turning heel (which would have a big deal in the early to mid 1980’s) and joining Team Canada with no one caring, and finally, the debut of the Radicalz in the Federation in early 2000.

News from the September 2001 PPV wrestling universe
---WWF Unforgiven was held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta in front of 49,926 fans. The APA are the new WWF Tag Team champions after they defeated Two Man Power Trip and Edge and Christian in a three-way tag team match, which was rated 91. The main event saw Chris Benoit retaining the WWF Championship by making Kurt Angle submit in a 91 rated match. The best match of the night saw The Rock and The Undertaker def. The Dudley Boyz in a 96 match.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 4, September 2001
Santa Barbara, California
Attendance: 5,682

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Jamie Knoble def. AJ Styles in 10:04 by pinfall with a Trailer Park Slam. (59)

---Goldberg comes down to the ring to start the show and as he starts his promo, Ric Flair interrupts him and says he got lucky against Shane Douglas last week and would need more than luck to take down the Nature Boy. (90) Goldberg then challenges Flair to a match at Fall Brawl and says after he plants Flair into the mat, he will focus on getting the world title back around his waist. (92) Flair accepts the challenge and then challenges Goldberg to get a partner as he will be teaming with Jeff Jarrett and they’ll have a match tonight. (92)

WCW World TV Title Match
--Kanyon def. Chuck Palumbo in 8:52 by pinfall with a Kanyon Cutter. (72) After the match, Kanyon gets on the mic and taunts Konnan, saying he already challenged him once and failed. (70) Kanyon makes his 7th defence of the TV title.

--Scott Steiner comes down to the ring with the world title draped over his shoulder and mic in hand and starts talking to the crowd. Steiner tells RVD they don’t have to wait until Fall Brawl to fight. RVD comes down in street clothes and the two brawl until they are broken up by a host of backstage personnel. (79) RVD takes a mic and reminds Steiner that he has already pinned him in the middle of the ring and will walk out the world champion this Sunday night. (75)

--Booker T comes to the ring for an in-ring interview with Mean Gene. Booker says all that Jeff Jarrett has are punks like The Total Package who come in and help him when he is in trouble as footage is shown from two weeks ago in his United States title match. He promises to get another piece of WCW gold after Sunday night. (90)

--Goldberg is backstage and runs into Bret Hart. Goldberg tells the commissioner that he sees why RVD gets a chance at the world title at Fall Brawl and not him but warns whoever is champion after Sunday night will feel the Spear and Jackhammer. (85)

--Shane Helms def. Kwee Wee in 9:19 by pinfall with a Vertebreaker. (65) After the match, Chavo Guerrero comes around the ring and takes a mic, taunting Helms and his opponent for Sunday night, Billy Kidman, saying they will never take the cruiserweight title off him. (54) Kidman comes out as Chavo retreats into the crowd continuing to taunts Helms and Kidman on the mic. (58)

--Before their tag team match, Lance Storm says that Team Canada will punish the Jung Dragons and warns Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley that they will feel the suffering on Sunday night. (60)

--Team Canada def. Jung Dragons in 7:10 by submission when Storm applied the Canadian Mapleleaf to Yang. (76) After the match, Storm tells Awesome to get tables under the ring. As Awesome is looking, his body goes limp with half of his body sticking out from under the ringside skirting and Ernest Miller emerging from under the ring with a fire extinguisher. (67). From out of nowhere, Norman Smiley hits the ring and applies the Norman Conquest on Storm, leaving him lying in the ring. (69)

--Rey Mysterio is backstage with Mean Gene as he hypes his Fall Brawl match versus Shane Douglas. (60)

--Diamond Dallas Page def. Shawn Stasiak in 10:18 by pinfall with a Diamond Cutter. (72) Page grabs a mic after the match and says however he chooses to use his chance at either the world title or the world tag team title, be ready to feel the bang! (87)

--Sting is backstage with Mean Gene when Rick Steiner enters the picture. Rick tells Sting he should just stay with Page and challenging for the tag team titles because there’s no way he will get the world title off of his brother. (82) Sting says since Rick has a match he will lose tonight versus RVD, why don’t they go at it on Sunday night as Rick simply nods. (75)

--Dustin Rhodes def. James Storm in 9:17 by pinfall with a Lonestar State of Mind. (62)

--Goldberg is seen backstage as Sting enters the picture as he is getting ready for the tag team main event. (88) Goldberg tells Sting to take care of Rick Steiner on Sunday night and he’ll find a way to get rid of the crazy one. (86)

--Rob Van Dam def. Rick Steiner in 13:01 by pinfall following a Five Star Splash. (82) During the match, Scott Steiner almost cost RVD the match with a distraction but was taken out by Sting.

--Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire come to the ring with Nash taking a mic. He tells O’Haire that he has his back this Sunday night when he takes on The Total Package. O’Haire takes the mic and tells Nash he will do everything to get The Total Package and his crew out of WCW. (70)

--Sting and Goldberg def. Jeff Jarrett and Ric Flair in 17:28 by pinfall following a Scorpion Deathdrop on Jarrett. (82) During the match, Booker T came down, took Double J’s guitar from ringside, and blasted Double J in the head, giving Sting the opportunity.

--As Joey Styles hypes the Fall Brawl card, a backstage camera catches Scott Steiner laying on the hood of a car with Rob Van Dam coming off the top of a ladder onto Steiner as the show goes to black. (88)

Show Rating: 83
TV Rating: 0.39 (848,063 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 88, Nitro 83

TV Rating: Raw 2.33, Nitro 0.39

Main Event: Raw 95, Nitro 82

Raw Main Event: Chris Benoit def. Triple H to retain the WWF Championship in a 95 rated match.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Fall Brawl
Sunday, Week 4, September 2001
Oakland, California
Attendance: 19,596

--Tony Schiavone, Joey Styles, and Jerry Lawler welcome the audience to Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum as they run down the card, hyping the title matches for the night. (72)

--A short video is shown of Scott Steiner’s title reign since the Great American Bash and ends with Rob Van Dam’s pin of Steiner on Nitro and Five Star Splash from the top of a ladder on this past Monday’s Nitro. (81)

WCW Cruiserweight Title Match
--Billy Kidman def. Chavo Guerrero, Jr in 11:47 by pinfall with a Shooting Star Press. (75) Kidman wins the Cruiserweight title for the 4th time. Chavo takes a mic after the match and berates the crowd, dramatically telling them he will be the greatest cruiserweight champion they will ever see in their life. (68)

--Backstage, Mean Gene is with Ric Flair, The Total Package, Shane Douglas, and United States champion Jeff Jarrett. Flair hypes his match versus Goldberg, while the others promise victories in their matches tonight. (87)

--The Total Package def. Sean O’Haire in 9:33 with a quick rollup after Kevin Nash’s botched interference on O’Haire. (60) After the match, O’Haire and Nash have a heated exchange. (74)

WCW World TV Title Match
--Konnan def. Kanyon in 9:47 by pinfall with a 187. (82) After the match, Kanyon tries to convince referee Mickey Jay that Konnan had a handful of tights. (72) Konnan wins the World TV title for the 2nd time.

--Shane Douglas def. Rey Mysterio Jr in 11:51 by pinfall following a Franchiser. (86) After the match, Douglas continues his beatdown of Rey. (79)

--Ric Flair is seen backstage preparing for his match versus Goldberg with Douglas, Luger, and Jarrett psyching him up. (79)

WCW World Tag Team Title Match
--Team Canada def. Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley in 13:35 by pinfall with an Awesome Bomb on Smiley. (79) Team Canada wins the world tag team titles for the second time.

--Goldberg def. Ric Flair in 12:16 by pinfall following the Spear and Jackhammer. (90) After the match, Goldberg says that the world title is next. (84)

--Mean Gene is backstage with Booker T, who says he would have won the US title three weeks ago if it had not been for The Sucka Package and hypes his rematch with Jeff Jarrett. (83)

WCW United States Title Match
--Jeff Jarrett def. Booker T in 16:17 by pinfall following The Stroke. (77) During the match, The Total Package distracted Booker long enough for Double J to get the advantage with a low blow. Jarrett makes his 1st defence of the US title.

--Sting def. Rick Steiner in 11:23 by pinfall with a Scorpion Deathdrop. (79)

--A backstage camera catches Kevin Nash destroying the locker room, blaming himself for botching the Luger/O’Haire match earlier. (84)

WCW World Heavyweight Title Match
--Scott Steiner def. Rob Van Dam in 17:31 by submission with a Top Rope Frankensteiner when RVD was preparing a Five Star Splash and followed by the Steiner Recliner. (86) After the match, Steiner grabs a mic and goes to the top rope with the belt, points to the back, and says that Goldberg’s ass is next. (89)

Show Rating: 86
PPV Rating: 0.33 (168,219 buys)

[CrossroadsReb]

End of Month Review, September 2001

--A great month on the financial side as WCW continues to make big strides in being a true competitive alternative to the powerful WWF. More star power would be great if some big names came up free in the WWF but the huge financial gap between us and the WWF could prove to be the deciding factor.

POPULARITY
Great Lakes 56
Mid Atlantic 56
Mid South 56
Midwest 56
New England 56
Northwest 56
Southeast 64
Southwest 67
Tri State 56
Puerto Rico 53
Hawaii 53

**Safely assuming at least a 2 to 3 point improvement a month, there is a possibility I could reach the next size (Big) by next summer or early fall. This will require me to put on better shows as the 77 threshold in five mainland American regions approaches.


FINANCES
Cash on September 30
$2,052,401

Sept Performance
$541,162

**The T2 Cup certainly helped with the ticket and merchandise sales but it was needed and served a useful purpose as a tweener with Phoenix Rising and Fall Brawl being six weeks apart. In addition, it advanced a few ideas I have before the end of the year at Starrcade. This month's Halloween Havoc PPV will be from Los Angeles.

[CrossroadsReb]

ROSTER PERCEPTIONS

Major Stars
Booker T
Diamond Dallas Page
Goldberg
Jeff Jarrett
Kanyon
Kevin Nash
Lance Storm
Mike Awesome
Ric Flair
Rick Steiner
Rob Van Dam
Scott Steiner
Sting
MOVERS: Kanyon, Lance Storm, Mike Awesome (in); Buff Bagwell, Sean O’Haire (out)

Stars
Buff Bagwell
Rey Mysterio Jr
Sean O’Haire
Shane Douglas
The Total Package
MOVERS: Buff Bagwell, Sean O’Haire (in); Ernest Miller, Kanyon, Mike Awesome (out)

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

Recognizable
Alex Wright
Chavo Guerrero Jr
Chuck Palumbo
Jamie Knoble
Kaz Hayashi
Mark Jindrak
Mike Sanders
Shannon Moore
Shawn Stasiak
Vampiro
MOVERS: Chavo Guerrero Jr (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
Shannon Moore
The Sandman
Yang
MOVERS: none

--Some big changes at the top of the card with Storm and Awesome moving into the top tier as Major Stars. They are the best tag team in WCW and could easily carry the tag team division into 2002 and beyond. They are, however, pretty good in singles. O’Haire moves down a tier but that could very well change between now and the end of the year.

[CrossroadsReb]

MOST POPULAR IN AMERICA, END OF SEPTEMBER 2001
1. The Rock
2. Steve Austin
3. Hulk Hogan
4. The Undertaker
5. Goldberg
6. Scott Steiner
7. Triple H
8. Booker T
9. Chris Jericho
10. Shawn Michaels
…
11. Sting
13. Kevin Nash
15. Ric Flair
17. DDP

MOST POPULAR IN THE WORLD, END OF SEPTEMBER 2001
1. Hulk Hogan
2. The Rock
3. Steve Austin
4. The Undertaker
5. Kevin Nash
6. Mick Foley
7. Chris Jericho
8. Shawn Michaels
9. The Big Show
10. Triple H
…
13. DDP
14. Goldberg
16. Scott Steiner
18. Ric Flair

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Titles Roll Call, End of September 2001
WCW World Heavyweight – Scott Steiner, 2X champion, held since Week 2, July 2001
85 prestige (no change), #33 in world singles prestige (+2 in September)

WCW World Tag Team – Team Canada, 2x champion, held since Week 4, September 2001
68 prestige (-1 in September), #22 in world tag prestige (-7 in September)

WCW United States – Jeff Jarrett, 4x champion, held since Week 1, August 2001
68 prestige (no change), #95 in world singles (+2 in September)

WCW Cruiserweight – Billy Kidman, 4x champion, won Week 4, September 2001
43 prestige (no change), #136 in world singles prestige (-2 in September)

WCW World Television – Konnan, 2x champion, won Week 4, September 2001
28 prestige (+1 in September); #164 in singles title prestige (-2 in September)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 1, October 2001
Fresno, California
Attendance: 5,915

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Jason Jett def. Elix Skipper in 7:59 by pinfall with the Afterburner (44)

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Air Paris def. Austin Aries in 8:38 by pinfall following a moonsault. (35)

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Alex Wright def. Kevin Steen in 9:04 by pinfall following a German suplex. (43)

--Joey Styles, Jerry Lawler, and The Brain open the show by reviewing Fall Brawl and hyping Scott Steiner’s world title defense versus RVD and subsequent calling out of Goldberg post-match. (72)

--Scott Steiner comes down to the ring and hypes his almost three-month reign as WCW world champion before he is interrupted by Goldberg, who makes his way to the ring. The two stand nose to nose in the ring as Commissioner Bret Hart comes down to separate them. (91) Hart says they will both be in the main event as Goldberg will team with the T2 Cup champions, DDP and Sting, with Steiner teaming with the world tag team champions, Team Canada. (88)

WCW World TV Title Match
--Konnan def. Mike Sanders by pinfall in 6:57 following botched interference by Kanyon on Sanders. (65) After the match, Kanyon walks back up the ramp frustrated at himself for botching the finish. (66) Konnan makes his first defence of the TV title.

--Backstage, Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire are seen having an animated discussion with both almost coming to blows. Nash and O’Haire are seen telling the cameraman to find somewhere else to go. (92) Joey Styles wonders aloud if they will even make it through their tag team match tonight. (75)

--Bam Bam Bigelow def. Mark Jindrak in 8:33 by pinfall following Greetings from Asbury Park. (63) Bigelow and Jindrak have great chemistry and it showed in their performance.

--Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire def. Big Vito and Reno in 8:23 by pinfall following a Peak of Perfection by O’Haire on Vito. (70) O’Haire chose to stay in the match the entire time, much to Nash’s dismay.

--Jeff Jarrett comes to the ring with a mic, hyping his victory over Booker T to retain the United States title at Fall Brawl. Double J says he is well on his way to being the greatest US champion ever as the announcers remind the audience of The Total Package’s help in the win against Booker. (76)

--Rey Mysterio Jr. def. Evan Karagias in 7:47 by pinfall following a Super Hurricarana. (79) After the match, Rey takes a mic and apologizes for his loss versus Shane Douglas at Fall Brawl as Douglas is seen backstage watching a monitor and laughing. (74)

--Billy Kidman cuts a backstage promo with Mean Gene as he hypes winning the cruiserweight title in the middle of ring versus Chavo Guerrero. (60)

--Dustin Rhodes def. Shawn Stasiak in 10:18 by pinfall following a swinging vertical suplex he calls the Final Reckoning. (67)

--Mean Gene is backstage with DDP, Sting, and Goldberg as they cut an intense promo on Team Canada and Scott Steiner in advance of their main event match. Goldberg promises a big surprise in the coming days for Steiner while Sting and Page are asked about their T2 Cup challenges and refuse to answer if they’ll use the challenge as a tag team or individually. (100)

--Ric Flair w/Shane Douglas and The Total Package def. The Sandman in 10:18 by submission following the Figure Four Leglock. (78)

--A camera is backstage as Booker T and Jeff Jarrett are in a massive brawl that spills into the parking lot as the violence escalates to the point that several backstage personnel try to break up the fight. (70) After an apparent de-escalation, The Total Package flies in and attacks Booker T, applying The Rack as backstage personnel plead with Luger. (81)

--DDP, Sting, and Goldberg fought to a no contest with Scott Steiner and Team Canada in 15:39 when referee Nick Patrick lost control and stopped the match as bedlam broke loose at the end of the match. (94).

--After the match, with Sting and Goldberg down, Rick Steiner hits the ring as Page gets brutally beaten down four on one. Scott Steiner ends the beatdown by applying the Steiner Recliner to Page while the other three repel Sting and Goldberg. (70) RVD hits the ring with a chair and lands a solid shot on Scott Steiner with everyone scattering when the show ends and the officals tending to Page. (79)

Show Rating: 91
TV Rating: 0.41 (907,687 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Nitro 91, Raw 80

TV Rating: Raw 2.32, Nitro 0.41

Main Event Rating: Nitro 94, Raw 80

Raw Main Event: Big Show def. Kane to retain the WWF Intercontinental title in an 80 rated match; the two preceding matches both scored 99 as Austin def. Brother Devon and The Undertaker and Rock def. Chris Benoit and William Regal

An outstanding show and our highest show rating with our highest rated match since the reboot at Big Bang. We absolutely dominated Raw from a show rating standpoint but will continue to struggle mightily in the TV ratings for a while. There are strong matches with high ratings throughout Raw shows but poor main events can drag a show down.

[CrossroadsReb]

October 3, 2001
Press release from Eric Bischoff

Through rigorous negotiations, World Championship Wrestling announces that starting on November 5, WCW Nitro will be broadcast on the USA Network. We are excited about this new partnership that will give us great coverage throughout the United States. Let it be understood that this change in broadcasting is strictly business and we appreciate ESPN Inc. taking a chance on a fledgling company six months ago. It is our hope that WCW can one day return to the ESPN family of networks.


--With one month left on many of the TV deals, I reupped with Azteca 7 in Mexico, E4 in the British Isles, the Sportsnet channels in Canada, and RTL II in Europe. The major contract, of course, was what I would have in America. Two important networks were very interested in negotiations: USA Network and TNT. Realistically, I don’t think Nitro would have gone back to the Turner group in 2001 if WCW had survived. I agree to a nine-month deal on a highly pro wrestling broadcaster, USA Network. WCW pays nothing per show, and gets 20% of the revenue generated from the deal. Alot to like about this deal.

--The WWF is on an incredible roll as they are at 88 pop across America and are sitting with just over $70 million in the bank.

[Chas in Cinti]

Originally Posted by CrossroadsReb

--The WWF is on an incredible roll as they are at 88 pop across America and are sitting with just over $70 million in the bank.

Who is broadcasting WWF?

[CrossroadsReb]

Raw is on TNN and Smackdown on UPN.

[CrossroadsReb]

Other news from Week 1, October 2001

--The WWF has signed Scott Hall to a two-year deal worth $114,200 per month with creative control and a hiring veto in the contract. For those not familiar with TEW, the hiring veto gives a worker the right to reject any new worker being signed by that company. So in the case of a relationship being a ‘strong dislike’ or ‘hatred’, workers can veto the signing. Hall is the only worker in the Federation with that clause.

--I have signed a nice young prospect, Jay Lethal, and sent him to NWA Wildside. He is green, of course, at 16 years old but could be a future star in the making. I might put Lethal and Flair in a promo together one day, perhaps one in which the young Lethal mimics an aging Flair.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 2, October 2001
Ogden, Utah
Attendance: 6,202

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Astro Boy def. Joey Ryan in 8:02 by pinfall following a Hurricanrana Driver. (36) Ryan was on a one-night appearance.

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Evan Karagias def. Yank in 9:24 by pinfall with the Outrageous Corkscrew. (52)

--Nitro opens with Scott Steiner coming down to the ring when he starts talking to the crowd about how he put DDP out of action last week as the video clip is shown from last Monday. (94) He is interrupted by Goldberg, who eventually challenges Steiner for the world title at Halloween Havoc with Steiner saying that Commissioner Bret Hart is around the arena somewhere and to have him draw up the contract. (97)

--Styles, Heenan, and Lawler hype the potential PPV matchup between Goldberg and Scott Steiner and the title defenses of Konnan and Billy Kidman on the show, along with the main event of RVD and Goldberg taking on Scott Steiner and Ric Flair. (76)

--Vampiro def. Hugh Morrus in 7:47 by pinfall following with the Nail in the Coffin. (67)

--Sting is backstage preparing for his match with Kanyon when he is approached by Mean Gene, who asks about Page’s injuries and his possible return time with the two forming a formidable tag team. Sting says that Page will be fine and Scott Steiner should be concerned when he returns. (70)

--Booker T comes down to the ring and rages against Jeff Jarrett and The Total Package for their recent attacks and challenges Luger to a match at Halloween Havoc. He adds that he will humiliate Double J by taking the United States title off him after he puts down The Total Package. (84) Booker ends the promo hyping his match against Buff Bagwell later in the show. (86)

WCW World TV Title Match
--Konnan def. James Storm in 7:38 by pinfall following a 187. (60) Konnan makes his 2nd defence of the World TV title.

--Lance Storm and Mike Awesome come to the ring and hype their world tag team title reign. Storm says that no team in WCW, including Page and Sting, will be able to take the titles from them and they will be the greatest tag team the company has ever seen. (70)

--Dustin Rhodes def. Big Vito in 10:23 by pinfall following a Lonestar State of Mind. (64)

--Mean Gene is backstage with Chavo Guerrero Jr and questions him about his loss at Fall Brawl to Kidman and what his next steps are. Chavo avoids the question and says he has been treated unfairly by WCW management and wants his dignity back. (50)

--Sting def. Kanyon in 12:49 by pinfall following the Scorpion Deathdrop. (84) During the match, Scott Steiner came ringside with Styles, Lawler, and Heenan and taunted Page and Sting. After the match, Sting tells Steiner that he has big problems dealing with Goldberg and Page...and maybe him in due time. (88)

--The Total Package, Shane Douglas, Jeff Jarrett, and Ric Flair are all backstage talking about their plans for Rey Mysterio, RVD, and Booker T by the end of the year. (65) Luger says that Booker T doesn’t know what he is getting himself into and accepts the challenge for a match at Halloween Havoc. (68)

--Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire come to the ring with Nash taking a mic and saying he heard Lance Storm shooting his mouth off earlier. Nash says that he and O’Haire have had a few bumps in the road but might decide to take the tag team straps off of them soon. (79)

WCW Cruiserweight Title Match
--Billy Kidman def. Kid Romeo in 6:41 by pinfall following the Shooting Star Press. (64) Kidman makes his first defence of the cruiserweight title. As his hand is being raised, a camera catches Chavo Guerrero Jr in a dressing room silently watching. (65)

--Rob Van Dam and Goldberg are seen in another part of the arena getting ready for their main event match versus Scott Steiner and Ric Flair. (72)

--Booker T def. Buff Bagwell in 11:11 by pinfall following a Harlem Hangover. (80) After the match, Jeff Jarrett and The Total Package come out with mics and taunt Booker on his loss to Double J at Fall Brawl and his upcoming loss versus Luger. (83)

--Mean Gene is with Ric Flair and Scott Steiner backstage with Gene asking Steiner about defending his world title at Halloween Havoc. Steiner says that Goldberg is not the same wrestler he was three years ago and promises to sign a world title contract when Commissioner Hart is ready. (85) Flair tells Gene he has big plans for RVD and Rey Mysterio. (88)

--Bret Hart makes his way to the ring with a mic and tells the crowd the contract signing with Goldberg challenging Scott Steiner for the WCW World Championship will be next week on Nitro from Las Vegas, much to crowd’s approval. (79)

--Scott Steiner and Ric Flair fought to a no contest with RVD and Goldberg in 16:24 when referee Nick Patrick lost control and stopped the match. (92) After the match, DDP ran in and attacked Scott Steiner, ending with a Diamond Cutter. (91) Goldberg carried the match in terms of in-ring performance.

Show Rating: 89
TV Rating: 0.40 (882,973 viewers)

[Chas in Cinti]

Glad to see this pop up... I was wondering if it would continue!

[CrossroadsReb]

Originally Posted by Chas in Cinti

Glad to see this pop up... I was wondering if it would continue!

Lots of job-related changes going on right now. Good changes. It will be challenging to find time to do this in the next four to six weeks but plan on keeping this going well into 2002. Thanks for the follow, Chas.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Nitro 89, Raw 82

TV Rating: Raw 2.33, Nitro 0.40

Main Event: Nitro 92, Raw 80

Raw Main Event: Big Show def. Steve Blackman to retain the Intercontinental title in an 80 rated match; the previous match scored a 95 in which Undertaker def. William Regal and Chris Jericho

[CrossroadsReb]

Weekly notes

–Smackdown! saw a potential Match of the Year candidate in a tag team match in which The Rock and Chris Benoit def. Stone Cold Steve Austin and Scott Hall. The match was graded a 100 by TEW’s resident experts.

–A new stable has formed in the WWF, consisting of Scott, The Big Show, and William Regal. The Syndicate will be debuting as soon as this Monday night on Raw.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 3, October 2001
Bakersfield, California
Attendance: 6,405

–WCW Commissioner Bret Hart comes to the ring with a mic and tells the crowd and viewing audience the match with Goldberg challenging WCW Champion Scott Steiner at Halloween Havoc will be made official tonight in the ring. (79) Hart also tells the audience that Goldberg will be facing Ric Flair tonight in the main event. (76)

–Chavo Guerrero Jr def. Yang in 8:15 by pinfall following a Gory Splash. (62) After the match, Chavo angrily gets a chair and works over Yang’s legs before slamming the chair on the mat as he sprints to the backstage area, where he blindsides Kidman, who was talking to Torrie Wilson. (64)

–Booker T, RVD, and Rey Mysterio make their way out to the ring. The three rant about their problems with Jeff Jarrett, Shane Douglas, and The Total Package. They challenge the three to a six-man match later in the show. (80)

–Diamond Dallas Page comes to the ring and tells The Steiner Brothers that he holds them responsible for trying to put him out two weeks ago and challenges Rick Steiner to a match right now. (81) Steiner comes out and accepts the challenge and says he doesn't need help from anyone to beat Page. (71)

–DDP def. Rick Steiner in 10:03 by pinfall following a Diamond Cutter. (83) After the match, Page takes a mic and says that anyone associated with Scott Steiner will feel..the..bang.(84)

–Mean Gene is backstage with Dustin Rhodes, who is growing increasingly frustrated with his lack of direction in WCW. (70)

–Bam Bam Bigelow def. James Storm in 9:31 by pinfall following the Greetings from Asbury Park. (63)

–Lance Storm and Mike Awesome make their way to the ring, where Storm grabs a mic and implores WCW management to find any team that could beat them and not be a fluke like Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley. (65) Storm then says that while WCW is working on that and since they are fighting champions, they will defend their belts against Kaz Hayashi and Jason Jett. (62)

WCW World Tag Team Title Match
–Team Canada def. Kaz Hayashi and Jason Jett in 9:32 when Jett submitted to Storm’s Canadian Mapleleaf. (73) Team Canada makes their 1st defence of the world tag team titles. After the match, Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire appear on the ramp. Nash taunts Team Canada, telling them that he hopes they don’t get too comfortable with the belts. (70)

–A camera is backstage showing Sting shaking DDP’s hand telling him he understands and that he has his back as the announcing crew speculates on what that could mean. (70)

–WCW Commissioner Bret Hart comes to the ring with the Steiner/Goldberg Halloween Havoc contract in hand and both workers following separately and ready to sign at the table in the ring. (78) After Steiner signs, DDP’s music hit as he makes his way to the ring. Page announces that he is using his T2 Cup challenge for Halloween Havoc versus Scott Steiner for the world title as Goldberg flips the table. (100) All three workers stare each other down as Hart walks up the ramp with a stunned look on his face. (86)

–Mean Gene is backstage with Kidman, who rages at Chavo Guerrero for being a spoiled brat thinking he was entitled to the Cruiserweight title. Kidman promises to make life very difficult for Chavo in the next few weeks. (53)

WCW World TV Title Match
–Konnan def. Mark Jindrak in 8:54 by pinfall following the 187. (60) Konnan makes his 4th defence of the TV title. After the match, Konnan takes a mic and taunts Kanyon’s loss to Sting last week. (65)

–Backstage, Goldberg is seen inside Commissioner Hart’s office. Goldberg tells Bret he wants Steiner at Havoc. Hart tells Goldberg that Page was contractually given the right to challenge for any WCW title at any time with his and Sting’s win at the T2 Cup. (85) Goldberg nods and tells Hart that no one on the WCW roster is safe as he slams the door. (80)

–Booker T, Rey Mysterio, and Rob Van Dam fought to a no contest with Double J, Shane Douglas, and The Total Package in 14:42 after referee Billy Silverman lost control of the match. (80) After the match, Goldberg entered the ring and speared Douglas as everyone else quickly left the ring and fought up the ramp. (76)

–Backstage, Mean Gene interviews Ric Flair before his main event match against an angry Goldberg. The Nature Boy tells Gene that Goldberg was/is a second-rate wrestler and could never do the things that he was doing in his thirties. (90)

–Goldberg def. Ric Flair in 8:47 by DQ when Luger, Double J, and a groggy Shane Douglas interfered in the match after Goldberg speared Flair. (86) After the match, they continue their beatdown of Goldberg until Page and Sting appear in the ring with chairs. (85) Page extends a hand to help Goldberg off the mat but is slapped away as Goldberg rolls out of the ring and walks up the ramp as the show ends. (88)

Show Rating: 86
TV Rating: 0.42 (913,354 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 89, Nitro 86

TV Rating: Raw 2.42, Nitro 0.42

Main Event Rating: Raw 90, Nitro 86

Raw Main Event: Hulk Hogan and Perry Saturn def. Kane and Undertaker in a 90 rated match


Weekly News

--The WWF held No Mercy at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, with the main event seeing Stone Cold Steve Austin winning the WWF Championship over Chris Benoit and The Rock. Other matches saw Chris Jericho beat Mick Foley (97) and Chyna successfully defending her WWF Women’s title against The Fabulous Moolah in an I Quit Match.

**The next Nitro will be our last on ESPN2 to finish our contract before we move to the USA Network on a much better deal for the next nine months.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 4, October 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 6,598

–The show opens with Commissioner Bret Hart in the ring with a mic. He tells the audience that DDP had every right to challenge for Scott Steiner’s world title based on the T2 Cup win in September with Sting. (81) Goldberg’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring but is interrupted by DDP before he can speak. Page stands at the top of the ramp and tells Goldberg it is personal with Steiner and he’s willing to lose the right to challenge for the WCW world title over the next six months if he can’t beat Steiner Sunday night in Los Angeles. (87) Goldberg tells Page to care of Steiner and he'll deal with the leftovers. (71)

–The announcing crew hypes the main event tag team match with Goldberg and DDP facing Scott Steiner and Ric Flair. (73) They also hype the six-man tag match with Team Canada and Rick Steiner teaming against RVD, Rey Mysterio, and Sean O’Haire. (72)

–Chavo Guerrero Jr. def Shane Helms in 9:50 by pinfall with a handful of tights. (65) Chavo takes a mic after the match and challenges Kidman for the cruiserweight title Sunday night at Havoc. (68) Kidman comes out, reminding fans of Chavo's last attack, and accepts the challenge with Chavo smiling deviously. (64)

–A backstage camera catches Goldberg spearing Buff Bagwell backstage. (70) After the initial spear, Goldberg looks around and then spears Mark Jindrak. (68)

–In another part of the arena, Booker T and Jeff Jarrett are seen brawling in the backstage area when several backstage personnel try to break them up. (67) Double J is heard saying if Booker wants a title shot at Halloween Havoc, he will get it as the two break loose and brawl more. (76)

WCW World TV Title Match
–Konnan def. Shawn Stasiak in 9:01 by pinfall following a 187. (60) After the match, Kanyon comes out and challenges Konnan for the TV title, which Konnan accepts. (63)

–Scott Steiner comes to the ring with Flair, Shane Douglas, and The Total Package with the Big Gold Belt hanging over his shoulders and hypes his match with DDP at Halloween Havoc. (88) He adds that he doesn’t care if its Goldberg, Page, or whoever, he will be holding the world title through the rest of the year. (86)

–A backstage camera catches the aftermath of Goldberg spearing The Total Package as Shane Douglas comes to his aid, only to be met with a spear. (76)

–RVD, Rey Mysterio, and Sean O’Haire def. Team Canada and Rick Steiner in 15:55 by pinfall after O’Haire’s Seanton Bomb on Lance Storm. (84) Toward the end of the match with referee Nick Patrick occupied outside the ring, Kevin Nash delivered a Jackknife Powerbomb to Storm, leading to O’Haire’s finisher.

–After the match, Nash takes a mic and tells Storm and Awesome good luck in the tag team title match versus RVD and Rey Rey on Sunday night as he and O’Haire challenge Scott Steiner’s buddies, The Total Package and Shane Douglas in another tag team match (82). Nash ends by saying that they will be ringside to humble Team Canada when they need to. (88)

–Booker T def. Shane Douglas in 10:45 by DQ when Jeff Jarrett interfered and delivered a wicked guitar shot to Booker T. (68) Jarrett takes a mic and taunts Booker T, threatening to deliver more guitars to his head at Havoc. (73)

–Backstage, Kwee Wee is seen sprinting past the camera saying Goldberg is trying to spear him. (60) A camera then catches Goldberg spearing a couple of random backstage personnel. (69)

–Team Canada is backstage with Mean Gene as they rage over their loss in the six-man tag match. Lance Storm says that after they beat RVD and Mysterio at Havoc, they will punish Nash and O’Haire for daring to think they can compete with them. (69)

–Joey Styles runs down the card for Halloween Havoc in Los Angeles and hypes the card. (70)

–Mean Gene is in the ring and calls Sting down asks what his next move is after Page’s challenge versus Scott Steiner. Sting tells Page, Steiner, and Goldberg not to sleep on the Stinger. (74) As an aside, Sting says he’s up for a good old-fashioned Havoc match versus The Nature Boy to help him tune up for what’s to come with Steiner and Goldberg. (80) Flair steps out onto the ramp and happily accepts and says whoever wins the 'tune-up' should be in the upper echelon of challengers for the world title. (88)

–Goldberg and DDP fought to a double countout with Scott Steiner and Ric Flair in 15:14. (85) After the match, with all four back in the ring, Goldberg lined up Steiner for a spear but he moved out of the way and nailed Flair instead. (84) Page and Steiner continued to brawl around the ringside as the show ended. (82)

Show Rating: 84
TV Rating: 0.42 (914,432 viewers)

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 89, Nitro 84

TV Rating: Raw 2.41, Nitro 0.42

Main Event Rating: Raw 99, Nitro 85

Raw Main Event: Two Man Power Trip def. Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit in a match graded at 99. The show looked very ordinary until the last two matches. Undertaker def. Warrior in a 92 match in the other match.


Weekly News and Notes
–A kind of lackluster last two weeks on Nitro from a grade standpoint compared to the few previous weeks. Halloween Havoc will need to be a solid 86-90 show going into November if the grades from the August and September events are any indicator. I do get a general game note that professional wrestling is enjoying a nice wave of popularity now. Hopefully, that will increase our ratings and the TV audience as we start our new contract on the USA Network next week.

–After Halloween Havoc and our first two Nitros on the USA Network, we will be heading back to our old home, the Southeast region, for our Week 3 Nitro in Memphis, the Mayhem PPV from Atlanta, and the Week 4 Nitro in New Orleans.

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Halloween Havoc card

WCW World Heavyweight Title
Scott Steiner (c) vs Diamond Dallas Page
**If Page loses, he cannot challenge for the world title for six months.

WCW United States Title
Jeff Jarrett (c) vs Booker T

WCW World Tag Team Titles
Team Canada (c) vs RVD and Rey Mysterio

WCW World Cruiserweight Title
Billy Kidman (c) vs Chavo Guerrero Jr

WCW World TV Title
Konnan (c) vs Kanyon

Sting vs Ric Flair

Shane Douglas and The Total Package vs Sean O’Haire and Kevin Nash

Dustin Rhodes vs Rick Steiner

[CrossroadsReb]

WCW Halloween Havoc
Week 4, October 2001
Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 20,193

–The announcing crew welcomes the PPV audience to Staples Center in Los Angeles and runs down the card, hyping the WCW world title match with the special stipulation that DDP will either win the world title or not be able to challenge for the title over the next six months. (75)

–Mean Gene is backstage with Scott Steiner, who promises the audience that it wouldn’t matter if it was Page or Goldberg, he is leaving LA with the world title. (85) In another part of the Staples Center, Goldberg is seen walking backstage with personnel making sure to stay out of his way. (72)

WCW World TV Title Match
–Konnan def. Kanyon in 10:48 by a flash pinfall when Kanyon began to treat referee Charles Robinson roughly. (71) Konnan makes his 6th defence of the TV title.

–Diamond Dallas Page is backstage in his dressing room when he is approached by Goldberg, who tells Page he planned on winning the world title tonight and he basically has nothing to do except punish people. (83) Goldberg tells Page that if he wins the world title tonight, he will be next. Page stands nose to nose with Goldberg and nods in respect. (87)

–Dustin Rhodes def. Rick Steiner in 9:40 by pinfall following a Lonestar State of Mind. (74)

–RVD and Rey Mysterio are seen backstage preparing for their world tag team title challenge versus Team Canada. (65)

–Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire def. Shane Douglas and The Total Package in 11:20 by pinfall following botched interference by Lance Storm when O’Haire avoided a superkick that hit Luger. (72) After the match, Nash and O’Haire chase Storm up the ramp as Luger and Douglas fume in the ring. (78)

–Backstage, Booker T is with Mean Gene and tells everyone that Jarrett’s reign as US champion will end tonight and warns Jarrett’s friends to stay away from the ring. (89)

WCW World Cruiserweight Title Match
–Billy Kidman def. Chavo Guerrero Jr in 10:06 by pinfall by DQ after Chavo snapped and delivered a series of chair shots to Kidman’s legs, focusing on his knees. (71) Kidman makes his 2nd defence of the cruiserweight title.

–Jeff Jarrett is seen backstage stretching in preparation for his US title match versus Booker T. Out loud, Double J says he has a big surprise for Booker T. (67)

WCW United States Title Match
–Booker T def. Jeff Jarrett by pinfall in 13:25 with a Harlem Hangover. (82) Booker wins the US title for the 2nd time. After the match, Shane Douglas hits the ring with two guitars as he and Jarrett beat down Booker. When Booker gets to his feet, Douglas and Jarrett each hit Booker with a guitar…conchairto style. (70) Jarrett stands over Booker and drops the US title on his back as he takes a mic and taunts Booker. (71)

–A video is shown of Team Canada’s claim to dominance of the WCW tag team division and highlights since first winning the tag team titles at Big Bang. (74)

WCW World Tag Team Title Match
–Team Canada def. RVD and Rey Mysterio in 16:50 by pinfall after Mike Awesome’s Awesome Bomb on Mysterio with RVD and Storm battling outside the ring. (85) After the match, with RVD and Mysterio being pummeled by Storm and Awesome, Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire hit the ring and brawl with Team Canada before driving them from the ring. (82)

–The Nature Boy is backstage with Mean Gene in which he gives a spirited interview on fighting Sting, specifically recalling the last time they fought on the March 26 Nitro when WCW was seemingly finished. Flair says he respects Sting but will do anything to win tonight’s match to see who’s in line for a world title shot. (84)

–Sting def. Ric Flair in 14:45 by pinfall following a Scorpion Deathdrop. (89) During the match, with Shane Douglas and The Total Package coming to distract Sting, they were met with a double spear by Goldberg.

–A hype video is shown of the events leading up to tonight’s world title match between DDP and Scott Steiner, including the numerous times they have fought over the last six months. (70)

WCW World Heavyweight Title Match
–Scott Steiner def. Diamond Dallas Page in 19:16 by pinfall following a series of German suplexes. (85) Steiner makes his 5th defence of the world title. After the match, Goldberg is seen at the top of the ramp as Sting comes to ringside through the crowd with a baseball bat as the show ends with Steiner trapped between them and eventually escaping through the crowd. (86)

Show Rating: 85
PPV Buy Rate: 0.92 with 472,580 buys