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Omar Padilla

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ONE SATURDAY MORNING
Let's go back into the days when WCW was, well, content. And things could have been a lot more successful....w/ one of my favorite Pay-per-views....

WCW Uncensored 1998
March, 1998
Live from Moblie, Alabama

Schiavone, Heenan, Tenay are the hosts

Gotta love the old WCW PPV entrance ways.

WCW Television Title Match-- Booker T (champion) Vs Eddy Guerrero (challenger) w/ Chavo Jr.

Storyline: I don't think a match between these two would need one since both guys are good workers, but this is WCW so you know they wouldn't have one anyway. This was just a match tossed in because Bischoff knew these guys can go. Chavo had just become Uncle Eddy's lackey is the closest thing to a story.

Booker T. comes out and the crowd goes nuts. Push this man now! Or wait a couple of years too late. "Eddy Sux" chant starts up. Eddy stalls and gets some more heat. A charge missed, and Eddy gets backdropped. Sideslam by Booker T. Clothesline and Eddy goes over the top and out. DQ!!! Nevermind. Chavo tells Eddy to get back in. Eddy tries the old Lucha Libre "soy tu amigo, dame la mano" handshake gag. He gets kicked on the head instead. Eddy goes to leave and Booker follows. Back inside and a back elbow by Booker gets a 2 count. Crowd is hot. Big press slam, Booker to the top rope and Eddy catches Booker w/ a dropkick. Superplex hits. A stiff looking boot to the face by Booker. Scissor's kick attempt is blocked by a dropkick to the knee by Eddy. Genius. Eddy works on the left knee. He uses the ropes for leverage on a knee lock. Eddy w/ a botched flying bodypress off the top rope and to the outside. Inside, Eddy hits a gut wrench. Booker w/ a second wind and he hits the Scissor's kick this time. That's followed by a spinebuster. Dropkick attempt off the top rope is missed, but Booker landed on his feet. Both guys on the top rope, Eddy shoved off. Rolls through and he stands up Booker comes off the top w/ a dropkick that hits....cover. 1, 2, 3. (11:07) and STILL Television champion, Booker T.

Post match- Chavo smirks on the outside and gets his ass kicked by Eddy.

Backstage....Lee Marshall and Mark Madden (remember THOSE guys?) interview Scoot Stiener at the WCW.com booth

Juvented Guerrera Vs Konnan

Storyline: Konnan is still nWo and is upset at Juvi for losing his mask the month before at SuperBrawl VIII to Jericho and so on. Konnan is the reason why Juvi is in WCW to begin with and since he is nWo, he doesn't care for Juvi anymore. Or at least that's what the announcer's say.

Believe it or not, Konnan was a draw in Mexico. Here, I guess not. Juvi w/ a spinning heel kick to start. Misses a dropkick, clothesline by Konnan. Konnan starts his "La Raza" crap which makes NO sense, since the announcers keep repeating that he turned his back on the luchadores when he joined the nWo. I might add that when I was last in Mexico, Jake Roberts was the top heel in the Lucha world. And Konnan was the babyface. Roberts was getting so much heat that it'd make HHH seem like he was I.R.S. People were ready to lynch Roberts at any given time. This shit was headline stuff on Mexican news broadcasts and the storyline kept the AAA promotion as hot as the WWF has been in recent years. Especially, since AAA was the only major lucha libre promotion that held cards all over the country. My POINT is that after being heralded in such a huge way by "la raza", Konnan must have gotten that stuck in his head. I'm still pissed at Perro Aguayo for unmasking Konnan to begin with. Ugh. And now Juve hits a springboard off the stairs on the outside. Konnan grabs Juvi inside the ring and applies a "cruceta". Konnan almost kills Juvi w/ a release German Suplex. Konnan stalls between moves.....he was OVER, I tell you. Konnan pulls a "campana" now. Man, smart guy. When Konnan wrestled in Mexico, he would use american moves like The Razor's Edge to get himself over. And now he's in WCW and he uses mexican wrestling holds. Juvi comes back w/ the usual little guy offense and gets dropped again w/ a swinging german suplex. Cradle DDT gets 2. A nonchalant cover by Konnan and het gets rolled over for the 1, 2, 3 (10:09)

Post Match: Konnan kicks Juvi's ass.

Okerlund and Dillon reveal that the Jackknife powerbomb will be reinstated for the Giant Vs Nash match later. So we might see a wrestling move in that match afterall.

WCW Cruiserweight Title- Chris Jericho (champion) Vs Dean Malenko (challenger)

Storyline: It's just about to begin

Jericho was a GREAT heel. Why? Here are some underlying stories to follow, besides the other small things Jericho did....just in THIS match

1- Jericho is a heel, yet he blows kisses and waves to the fans. Then acts surprised when they boo him.

2- Jericho's character is a role model and a jerk which he points out to a fan at ringside...by saying "I'm too good to be his role model" and tearing his sign

3- He's the cruiserweight champ so he refuses to remove HIS title belt, because he's the champion

4- Dean Malenko is the man of 1,000 holds....so Jericho wears tights that read 1,004...proclaiming him the man of 1,004 holds

Then add all the tantrums, cocky pin attempts, screams of pain, smart ass remarks and kick ass wrestling to boot! You can't go wrong. Yes, the match. Malenko gets the better of the first wrestling sequence. Another sequence leads to Jericho screaming while in an armbar. Hammerlock, reversed, fireman's carry take over, and down to an armbar goes Malenko. Back up, hammerlock by Malenko, off the ropes, shoulder and Jericho goes down. Tantrum. You see, I can do that play by play stuff too. Shoves insue. Irish whip, Jericho grabs the top rope, Malenko rolls back, nip up, lays down and Jericho over Malenko and off the ropes. Malenko catches the foot and Jericho hits an enziguiri. Springboard dropkick misses and now Jericho wants to leave. He comes back and Jericho hits a spinebuster. Praying Mantis strut and "Come on baby" cover gets 2. "Shut up fatboy" is directed to a fan..."Jericho sucks" chant. Snap suplex and a Lionsault get 2. Trading shots in the corner, Malenko pounding on Jericho. Back suplex and Jericho follows w/ a running sinton. I'm sorry..."senton". Liontamer is blocked and Malenko w/ some close falls. Malenko straddled on the top rope, back suplex attempt and Malenko lands on top...1, 2, no! Jericho on the apron, floats over on a suplex, Malenko dropkick misses, Liontamer!!! Malenko fights and grabs the ropes. Crowd pops. Malenko propped on the top rope again..ahhh, reverse and a gutbuster off the top by Malenko. Cover...1..2..no! Malenko tries his side leg kick off the ropes, but gets caught....Lionamer again...he taps! (14:39) and STILL Cruiserwight Champion...Chris Jericho.

Post Match: Okerlund walks down the aisle and Jericho begins to speak, but Okerlund walks by him. Okerlund in the ring berates Malenko who says nothing...."You are a bonafied loser....Where does Dean Malenko go from here?"...."Home." And that would be the start of the Jericho/Malenko feud.

Raven is at WCW.com.....

Lex Luger Vs Scott Steiner

Storyline: Stiener had just turned on brother Rick and is now nWo. Luger is upset. I dunno.

The announcers talk about Stiener's new attitude and compare it to that of Jericho and Guerrero. Well, guys, it's called a PUSH. We get some weak brawling to start. Luger suplexes Stiener over the top rope and out. Ouch. Back inside, inverted atomic drop by Luger. Low blow by Stiener....Stiener Recliner is on, but Luger is under the ropes. Scott goes for a chair, but here comes Rick Stiener and Luger nails Scott from behind and gets the 1, 2, 3....(3:49).

Post Match: Stiener takes out Luger and the ref. He charges at Rick, but gets backdropped out of the ring as Scott Norton helps him up.

WCW United States Title- 3 way falls count anywhere hardcore match- Diamond Dallas Page (champion) Vs Chris Benoit (challenger) Vs Raven (challenger)

Storyline: Basically, Benoit and Raven had been at each other's throats for months and the blowoff match to that happened at Souled Out 1998 in January. Then at SuperBrawl VIII in February, Page beat Benoit. I'll go w/ the theory that Page just wanted the rub from good workers and then he would go over. The Flock is at ringside as well.

DDP does NOT look like a bum. Alright, yeah, he does. The crowd chants...something. 3 way lock up goes nowhere. They lock up again and all three guys tumble outside. Page gets sent into the steel steps. Benoit and Raven on the inside now, backelbow by Benoit gets 2. DDP back up and saves Benoit. Headlock by DDP, off the ropes and Raven grabs his leg. baseball slide by Benoit nails Raven and Page follows w/ a plancha on both guys. Neckbreaker for to by Page on Raven. Suplex by Benoit on Raven. Page stopms on Benoit. Benoit attacks Page and then nails Raven with a splash off the top rope, but Page covers instead. All guys outside, the battle up the aisle and Raven gets a trashcan put over him. he gets hit w/ crutches. Now Benoit nails Page w/ the can. Suplex on the ramp. Now Raven and Benoit toss Page into the Uncensored sign on the entrance ramp. Benoit and Raven go at it. For a while. Why don't they cover Page? The guys out. Raven chokes Benoit out and then gets sent through a table. They head back to the ring. Irish whip and Raven gets a drop toehold and lands on a steel chair. DDP is crawling back to the ring...gets there and all three guys go down on jawbreakers. As they all had sleepers applied. Benoit begins his rolling german suplexes and on the third one Page grabs Benoit and all three go down again. The Flock gives Raven a sign that says "use my Sign" and he nails Page. It's actually a Stop sign. Benoit and Raven agree to work together, but now Benoit turns on Raven. Page is laid down on a table and Benoit is going to suplex Raven off the top turnbuckle onto Page. Page gets up and knocks Benoit out of the ring and hits a botched Diamond Cutter through the table on Raven...cover...1..2..3. (17:11) and STILL US Champion....DDP

Post Match: Benoit hands DDP the belt...what? No ass kicking after this match?

The Giant Vs Kevin Nash

Storyline: At Souled Out Nash had accidentally powerbombed The Giant wrong and it resulted in a wicked bump. Eventhough Giant was not hurt , they played it as if he was and now The Giant is back for revenge. The powerbomb had been banned, but it is now reinstated.

Bell rings and nothing happens for 2 minutes. I swear. Clothesline and Nash goes over the top rope and out. Back in and Nash w/ his usual offense. Sleeperhld and Giant hits a lowblow. Nash is bodyslammed and now he is going to get jackknifed, but here's the DQ...(6:37).

Post Match: Brian Adams, Vincent and Konnan all run in to attack The Giant. They all get chokeslammed until Nash breaks a baseball bat over the Giants back. Giant gets back up as the nWo flees.

Okerlund shills the 900 hotline...

Bret "Hitman" Hart Vs Curt Henng (w/ Ravishing Rick Rude)

Storyline: Basically, Bret didn't have one so they just put him against Hennig here. Bret's music was really bad as well.

Collar and elbow tie up is broken up. If you've seen their SummerSlam 1991 match, then you've seen the first 4 minutes of this match. I don't know if either guy just wasn't motivated or what...but they are rehashing everything from that match. There's the headlock sequence...The Coach is replaced by Rick Rude. Bobby Heenan is on commentary. Wow. This is the most boring Hart match I have ever seen. The crowd is dead too. There's the hair tossing across the ring spot. Oh wait, a figure four. Bret won't give up and it's broken. Bret coming back with right hands. Russuin legsweep. Bulldog. Hennig tries a sunset flip and Hart rolls through....sharpshooter..bye bye. (13:21)

Post Match: Rude and Hening kick Bret's ass

WCW World Title- Sting (champion) Vs Scott Hall (challenger) w/ Dusty Rhodes

Storline:Hall had won World War III that past November to get a shot and now he's getting it.

Brian Hildebrand (R.I.P) is the ref. Sting beats the crap out of Hal. Hall works the arm and Sting clotheslines him. Test of strength. Hall goes to the eyes. Irish whip and hip toss is blocked, chokeslam by Hall. Sting w/ right hands, and a dropkick. Dusty grabs Stings foot. Fallaway slam. Some slaps. Both men collide and Sting's head lands on Hall's crotch. Rhodes gets in the ring and and hits The People's Elbow!! Hall covers...1..2...no! Sting Hulks UP and an atomic drop come for Hall. Stinger splash, Scorpion Deathlock. Dusty gets nailed. Hall from behind and Hildebrand gets knocked down. Hall decks Sting w/ some brass knucks. 1..2...no! Outsider's Edge blocked... Scorpion Deathdrop 1..2..3..(8:26) and STILL World Champion...Sting!

Spring Stampede promo....

Cage Match: Hollywood Hogan Vs Randy Savage

Storyline: Back in 1989 these two men mattered. In 1998, well, not as much. Just another match.

Michael Buffer is doing introductions. The lights don't come up completely for a while here. Maybe Sting is getting ready in the rafters to come down later. Hogan pounds on Savage for the first 5 minutes. They begin to whip each other w/ Hogans weight belt. The crowd pops. Hogan misses his legdrop. Then they both proceed to exit the cage. What the hell? I thought Buffer said that the first man out wins? Savage finally rams Hogan into the cage. Savage climbs all the way to the top of the cage and hits a double ax handle. Cover...1..2..no. Now there's pinfalls? WCW and their damn wideshots. Savage back on top again and now "The Disciple" is out to save Hogan. Savage climbs down the cage and Sting comes down from the rafters. All four guys stand around doing nothing....geez. Finally the SWERVE as Savage clothelines Sting and piledrives him. Then leaves the ring. He doesn't side w/ Hogan either......no contest (15:41)

My take: Alright, as always IGNORE the main event and you can't wrong. The first 3 matches and the 3 way US title match were outstanding and Hart/Hennig could have beem. And yeah, almost half of this roster is now in the WWF. Deja Vu?? Probably not....

I've said that if this year, Jericho and/or Benoit don't truly breakthrough....then the WWF has problems.

Hitman!

Omar Padilla
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