SPORTS-(RASSLIN)
Archive
What the HECK?/Intro- WCW Slamboree 1997
From late 1996 to early 1999, I was heavily into WCW. It seemed like
a "super league" with all of the veterans I knew from back in the day, as
well as some new guys and luchadors. I rarely taped any of the TV shows, since
they were just cliffhangers to hype the upcoming Pay-per-view show. Besides,
Monday Nitro was usually enough entertainment for me that I didn't need to
see the PPV's.
When this event rolled around, I had a friend with one of those illegal black boxes.
As a graduation present, she taped the show and mailed it to me. Most people get their
bachelor's degree and get a car, trip to Cancun or a check. I got a WCW Pay-Per-View.
Hosted by Tony Schiavone, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes,
from Charlotte North Carolina in May 1997. As the show opens, Tony slips
into a Nitro habit and says "let's take you to the ring for our opening bout,
this week on.... Slamboree".
Match 1: WCW Television Championship:
Ultimate Dragon (c)(w/Sonny Oono) vs. Steven Regal
The names deserve an explanation. Dragon was still being billed as
"Ultimate Dragon". I don't think it was until a few months later when
Mike Tenay explained the translation error and he became properly known as
"Ultimo Dragon", the Spanish word for "Final" or "Last". For this match,
Regal had dropped the "Lord" from his ring name and wants to be known as simply
"Steven Regal"....but with the same English blue blood gimmick.
Small story to this match, as Regal had attacked former TV Champ,
Prince Iaukea before his defense against Dragon. Dragon took advantage of
the weakened Prince and was able to win the title, so Regal feels
that he has a claim to the strap.
Mike Tenay is the special
fourth commentator.
Mat sequence to start with both guys working armbars, waistlocks and head scissors.
Dragon hits a drop toehold, then walks over Regal's back for insult. Dragon is whipped
to the corner, where he does a head-stand on the top turnbuckle, then
dropkicks Regal. Dragon works a half-crab, but it's countered by Regal with a head-scissors.
Regal hops up and hits some STIFF kicks. Dragon bails for a bit until Regal suplexes him back in. or
2. They reverse sunset flip attempts with Regal trying to cinch in his Regal Stretch
finisher. Dragon goes for a cross-armbreaker, and Regal counters into a deathlock and
then a bow-an-arrows submission hold. Dragon BITES to break the hold, then delivers
his own STIFF kicks (which Tony infamously calls "front-leg-back-kicks").
Dragon hooks Regal's legs with his shins, then bridges back to pull up on
the Regal's neck. The crowd gets into it and
starts chanting for the heel, Regal. More mat stuff until Dragon dropkicks Regal outside. Sonny Oono
is over to kick. Dragon hops out and argues with Oono about the interference.
Back in, where Dragon performs a cartwheel handspring elbow into the corner, followed
by a top turnbuckle hurracanrana. 2 count for Dragon, who then misses a top-rope
moonsault. Regal goes for a butterfly suplex, countered by Dragon into another
hurracanrana. Dragon nails a springboard moonsault off the middle rope, then dropkicks
Regal out, again. Dragon follows him out and hits his Asai Moonsault off the apron, onto
Regal. Oono tries to kick and Dragon argues with him again. He rolls Regal back in,
but Oono nails Dragon with a kick! Oono throws Dragon in the ring, right into
a reverse front suplex from Regal. Regal Stretch gets the submission victory and
Regal's fourth TV title. Started off as heel vs heel and ended up as
face vs face. Dragon continued as a mild face, while Regal's surprising face appeal
was wiped away after this match.
Match 2: Ladies Grudge Match
Madusa vs. Luna Vachon
Lee Marshall joins the booth for this match....since his gimmick was being the
female wrestler specialist. Luna gets a hairpull and Slap-a-mania 14 erupts.
Luna catapults Madusa under the bottom rope. Luna with a stomach claw and other
choky stuff. Madusa bridges out of a German suplex, hits her version of the Stinger splash
and a flying lariat for 2. Luna comes back with the FLYING HAIRPULL, then misses
a splash from the top corner. Madusa hits a German suplex and bridges to get the pin.
Afterwards, Madusa ascends the top turnbuckle and removes her outer top as
the announcers have a heart attack.
"Mean" Gene Okerlund comes out to plug the WCW Hotline, when "Macho Man" Randy Savage
and the Lovely..check that, this is 1997.. the HOT Elizabeth come out. Macho walks to the ring
and runs down Diamond Dallas Page. Cue the Page run-in, who comes out of the crowd with
a busted crutch and clears the ring.
DDP gets on the house mic and says Macho has is leaving to visit Hogan's
house to "wash his car and kiss his ass". Heenan: "I'd rather wash the car". Macho heads back to
the ring with the original nWo b-team for support (Buff Bagwell, Scott Norton and Vincent).
Norton gets a cheapshot to DDP's bandaged ribs and the beatdown is on. A youthful
Giant (Big Show) runs in to clear the ring and hug DDP. Giant looks about a spry 21 here, compared
to that big lug who shows up on WWE TV nowadays.
Match 3: Rey Mysterio, Jr. vs. Yuji Yasuraoka
Mike Tenay returns to the booth for some actual insight.
Yuji's a WAR import from Japan, dressed up like either a Power Ranger or
a Menudo member, complete with the mullet. Heenan quickly takes to calling him "Yogi".
Yuji kicks Rey's legs and they go into a mat sequence. Rey tries working the knee, but
Yuji counters with a suplex, slam and lots o' stomping. Match reallllly seems to slow
down as Yuji hits some basic offense in amongst an armbar series. Rey gets a hurracanrana
to send Yuji over the top rope. Rey attempts a flying plancha, but referee Marc Curtis
blocks him. Rey backs off...then charges again, leaps OVER Curtis and out onto Yuji with
a somersault plancha! Back in where Rey works a camel clutch (?!), the gets caught
with a kick on a springboard bodypress. Yuji whips him to the corner and does
a climbing back-kick off the ropes. Tenay chimes in about Yuji's tag-team partner in
Japan: "Lance Storm, a longtime tag partner of Lionheart Chris Jericho". Heenan:
Lance Storm? Sounds like a weatherman from Omaha". Meanwhile, Yuji works
a cross arm-breaker into a key-lock. Yuji works the arm and hangs it over the ropes.
Rey whips out a short powerbomb out of nowhere for 2, then follows up with a split-leg
moonsault for another 2. They trade roll-ups and this time Rey hits a full powerbomb.
Yuji with a double-arm DDT and tries again. Rey reverses it into a front suplex for 2.
Yuji comes off the top, but Rey nails him with a dropkick in mid-air. Rey springboards
off the ropes for a hurracanrana and scores the pin. Really dragged for the first 10 minutes or so,
but the last 4-5 minutes were fun.
Match 4: Glacier vs. Mortis (w/James Vandenburg)
When I got this tape, I remember thinking "wow, this will be a Gone & Forgotten
segment...these characters wont last long". This was WCW's infamous
Blood Runs Cold concept, where they tried to emulate the popular Mortal Kombat
franchise of the mid 90's. I think the Mortal Kombat TV series ran right after
Nitro, so they may have been trying a foolish crossover hook. Anyways,
the "story" is that James Vandenburg and his pals have stolen Glacier's
sacred Helmet of Amazing Stuff. Don't laugh..WWF was running with bullshit like
this as their main events (Undertaker and the urn?!). Quick match as Mortis attacks
before the bell. He hops up on the turnbuckle to signal for Wrath to come down.
Glacier gets Mortis in an electric chair backdrops hi before Wrath arrives. Bell sounds
for the DQ as the 3 Evil Guys beat on Glacier. Mortis pulls
Glacier over to the ring steps and does a nasty legdrop-headriver with
Glacier's dome. Eventually, a "fan" runs in and clears the ring with some flying kicks. Tony asks "Brain..is that Ernest Miller?!"
As if we should all know who that is. Miller and Glacier share a man-hug as the booth
fills us in on Ernest "The Cat" Miller. Some karate champ or something.....
Mean Gene is out again to plug the Hotline. "A key member of WCW is ready to hit the
road"! I'm thinking back.... might have been Kevin Sullivan
Match 5: WCW United States Championship:
Dean Malenko (c) vs. Jeff Jarrett (w/ Debra McMichael)
People try to forget that Jarrett was a Horseman, but he was.
BIG "Jarrett sucks" chant throughout. Mat sequence with armbars and drop toeholds.
Malenko starts working on Jarrett's leg, drags him outside and dropkicks the leg
into the guardrail. Back in, Jarrett takes over with a dropkick
and an abdominal stretch. A Malenko belly-to-back suplex gets 2.
Jarrett with a swinging neckbreaker and tries for the figure four. Malenko
reverses it and tries for his Texas Cloverleaf, which Jarrett reverses into
a roll-up for 2. Malenko catapults him under the bottom rope, takes him
outside and whips him to the rail, neck-first. Inside, Jarrett manages
a high cross-body off the top, but Malenko rolls through for a 2 count.
Both guys try sleeperholds, then Jarrett gets a takedown
and hook the figure four. Malenko makes it to the ropes to break.
Both guys bump heads and are knocked out. Jarrett rolls out to ringside
and a concerned Debra is over to check on him until her jealous husband, Steve
"Mongo" McMichael arrives. Mongo hauls Debra away and tosses Jarrett into the ring.
Malenko hits him with a powerbomb, then rapidly works it into
the Texas Cloverleaf to get the submission victory. This was a midcard angle
amongst the Horsemen where Mongo kept feeding Jarrett to the wolves.
Culminated in a US title reign for both and Jarrett's eventual
split from the Horsemen. Jarrett formed a short-lived, unnamed group
around August, with Malenko, Eddie Guererro, Alex Wright and Debra. Rumors were that
they were going to be called the "Apocalypse", but those plans evaporated
when the WWF debuted the "Disciples of the Apocalypse" in early August 1997.
The whole angle was scrapped, then.
Match 6: Death Match:
Chris Benoit (w/Woman) vs. Meng
"Death Match" means no countouts, DQ's or pinfalls...match ends when one
man can't continue. This was a remnant of the
Benoit-Sullivan angle where they kept beating the shit out of each other, while
Benoit stole Sulllivan's wife. Meng was Sullivan's main hitman
from the Dungeon of Doom stable. Benoit gets a huge response from the crowd, and this
is probably when fans started to really dig him. Meng kicks, but Benoit
catches him with a dragonscrew leg-whip! Meng gets a nasty belly-to-belly release
suplex, but Benoit is right back up to deliver a German suplex. Benoit dropkicks
Meng's knees and they brawl outside, chopping the crap out of each other.
Jacquelyn appears in the aisle for about 10 seconds and gets a staredown
from Woman. Meng headbutts Benoit and works a half-crab. Benoit makes it
to the ropes and the ref calls a break?! But, but..DEATH MATCH? Logic in Wrestling!!
Announcers first cover it up by saying the ref did it out of habit..but later
on, Dusty "finds out" that rope breaks are part of the match and still enforced.
Meng with a piledriver, but Benoit hooks the crossface! Meng makes the ropes, then
both guys stand up to chop some more. Benoit stands there, letting Meng chop away
as he hollers for more. Crossface again, but Meng manages to slide outside.
Benoit
flies through the ropes with a plancha! They end up hugging on top
of a turnbuckle, and Benoit hits a German suplex from the second rope.
Benoit goes up for the diving headbutt, but Meng sticks his arm up and catches
him, on the fly, with the Tongan Death Grip! Benoit screams that he won't quit, but
soon passes out. The ref awards the victory to Meng.
Great American Bask promo. DDP, Kimberly and the Steiners at a picnic.
Well, at least it looked like they had fun filming it....
Match 7: Rick & Scott Steiner vs. Hugh Morrus & Konnan (w/Jimmy Hart)
The Dungeon of Doom represents! Hugh and Scotty trade blows until Scotty gets a
belly-to-belly suplex. Rick comes in and avalanches Hugh in the corner. Another
Belly-to-belly, 2 Steinerlines, and one off the top rope clear the ring. The Brothers
are in for their traditional "dog" pose, then decide to beat the crap out of Konnan
for a bit. Hugh takes over with a swinging neckbreaker, then gorilla-presses
Scotty. Konnan tags in for his somersault lariat and a 2 count.
Heels work the arm, but Scotty escapes with another belly-to-belly. Hot tag to Rick
who slams both and hits a top-rope bulldog on Hugh for 2. All four men brawl, pairing up.
Hugh misses a moonsault on Scotty, who then Frankensteiners him. Rick, still the legal man,
rolls back in and covers Hugh for 3. Afterwards, Konnan attacks Hugh and fires Jimmy Hart.
3 people cared.
Match 8: "First-Ever Battle of Superbowl Champions"
Steve "Mongo" McMichael (w/Debra McMichael) vs. Reggie White (w/"Packers Strength Coach")
Don't laugh. This was one of the reasons I originally wanted to see this show.
Being football players, they of course have the Ultimate Shoulderblock Challenge.
Reggie wins and cinches a hammerlock. Then Mongo
draws a line on the mat as it's time for the 3-point stance face-off.
Reggie leaps over....err, Mongo hits him in the knees. They try it again, and this
time Reggie leaps correctly, then clotheslines Mongo out of the ring. Mongo tries
walking away but Gilbert "I am an overrated fat tub of lard who got his ass handed to him
by Mark Schlereth, Brain Habib and Tom Nalen" Brown is there to cut him off.
Gilbert picks up Mongo and carries him back to the ring. Reggie hits an Erik Watts-ish
dropkick. If fact, Reggie's dropkick makes Watts look like Jumpin' Jim Brunzell! Egads,
it's awful. Mongo takes over with and armbar and tries to ham it up for the camera.
He yells "God may have you soul..but I got your ass". That pisses Reggie off, who
begins no-selling. Mongo clips him in the legs, though.
Reggie with a cross-body for 2 and a nerve hold. Mongo tries hamming it up again as
he whimpers "I'll go to church! I'll go to church". More stuff happens...Mongo
tries a figure four (?!), but Reggie kicks him away. Mongo goes upstairs, allowing
Reggie to slam him off the turnbuckle. Reggie-line and an inverted atomic drop!
Reggie suplexes him and hits a soft splash. Debra is up on the apron to distract the ref.
Mongo tries to bring his loaded Haliburton in, but Gilbert "I am an extremely
large man with no neck who was outplayed in the biggest game of the year by smaller,
smarter, more athletic offensive linemen from Denver" Brown intercepts it. Suddenly,
Jeff Jarrett runs down to toss Mongo a second Haliburton. Mongo brains
Reggie with and steals the pin! Oh yeah...can't let Mongo lose his heat!
No way should he lose to the well-known Reggie White whose presence
helped sell this damn show.
Match 9: "Super Main Event..of the Evening" (tm, Michael Buffer)
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Kevin Greene & Ric Flair vs. Kevin Nash, Scott Hall & Syxx
Buffer does his special
announcing gig and the crowd is fired up for this entire match.
This was Flair's big comeback after a
7 month injury. In Charlotte, his adopted hometown. With Kevin Greene, a
guy who had helped the Carolina Panthers to the NFC Championship game about
4 months earlier. Plus Piper, who was spearheading the charge against the nWo
at this time. Syxx and Flair work most of the match and EVERY babyface move
is insanely cheered. It's basically a slow brawl with the nWo guys selling like
mad. Greene and Nash square off, with Greene managing a shoulderblock,
weak clothesline and a slam. Greene turns around and hits a double clothesline
on Hall and Syxx. Hall and Piper go at, with Hall zeroing in on Piper's bad leg.
Hall tries the figure four, but Piper kicks him out and tags Flair.
Flair chops away, then is tossed to the corner for the Flair Flop! Hall with a fallaway
slam, then all 6 men roll outside to brawl. Flair blades and is brought back
in for Syxx's Bronco-buster move, aka the Crotch Wiggle of Faceful of Stuff. Crowd
HATES that and starts chanting "fag-got". Piper and Hall come in and blow a spot.
Ref gets bumped and all 6 are in to brawl again. Hall goes for the Outsider
Edge on Flair, but it's countered into the figure four! Piper runs in and hooks
a sleeper on Nash! Green with a running powerslam on Syxx! But the ref is out!
Exiled referee Nick Patrick slides in and counts the pin on Syxx. All 3 members
of the nWo are out and the place goes nuts! Tony: "this is the Greatest Night in
the History of WCW!!". Heh, but I think this was the first time that the
nWo had been cleanly defeated on TV.
Why'd You Tape This??
Considering that this was right in the middle of the
nWo era, it's ironic that only one match involved the group. WCW had such a huge roster
that they could afford to shuffle things around. As usual, the nWo storyline
was dangled as a huge carrot to bring viewers in, with the other matches as
compliments. But take away the nWo plot and this show is weak. Most of the matches
had no buildup and the one that did featured Reggie White and Mongo McMichael. It's a
fun trip back to WCW's prime, but unless you were into this stuff the first time around,
it's not worth a visit.
Comment about this article: email me or visit the NEW ES Bulletin Boards!. Corrections, feedback and
questions are encouraged.
BACK to Rasslin index
