WCW UnCenSorEd 99'

WCW UnCenSorEd 99'

Louisville, Kentucky - March 1999

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this show, "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan is the reigning WCW World Champion, Scott Hall is the United States Champion (but does not defend the title on the show), Scott Steiner holds the TV Title, and Billy Kidman is the Cruiserweight Champion. The Tag Team Championships are held by Curt Hennig and Barry Windham.

COMMENTATORS: Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan, and Mike Tenay

After a mis-placed (?) video promo highlighting the Kevin Nash/Rey Mysterio feud, the Cruiserweight Championship is defended in the opening contest - Mikey Whipwreck of ECW fame making his debut to challenge Billy Kidman. I'm not sure what people made of this match back in 99', but in 2017, its a really fun watch - not the least of which because of how anachronistic (is that the right word?) it is to see Whipwreck essentially brought in just to cement Kidman's reign and show that the former Flock acolyte can hang with ECW's most acclaimed lightweight performer. Whipwreck doesn't hold anything back either, making this much better than just a glorified squash and actually gets both guys over (though I'm not necessarily sure that was WCW's intention). What stands out about Whipreck more than anything is how he brings an element to WCW that the division had not really had before - a "hardcore" cruiserweight who was as reckless with his own safety as he was with his opponent's. Unlike the luchadores, whose high-flying tended to look "pretty," Whipwreck uses the guardrail, the steps, and the floor in nasty attempts to maim his popular opponent. At one point, some fans towards the front halt the match's progression with a chant (I'm not sure it's "boring" - I think its some insider/ECW thing) that gets under his skin and stays there, nearly costing him the match at one point. As a debut, this is one of the best I've seen - the character's intent and purpose is clear, his offense is fresh and devastating, and the division needed a new top heel to counter Kidman - but losing cleanly in your first major outing is a tough stumbling block to get over. Now that Kidman has vanquished this new foil, where does the story go? Booking decisions aside, this was a great match and opener and something I have no problem calling a "should watch." (4/5)

Next up, a promo over one of tonight's special matches, a battle for the right to be the leader of the nWo's B-team (aka nWo Black & White) - Stevie Ray vs. Vincent - in a Harlem Street Fight. I'm just gonna say it: this match is borderline racist beyond the usual "If we have no plans for two black wrestlers, let's pair them or feud them against each other" because the story going into it is that Hogan and Nash were basically goading them into the fight for their own enjoyment - kinda like what slaveowners did a hundred fifty years earlier? Any which way, Stevie Ray firmly establishes himself as the more powerful, more legit athlete here, but Vincent doesn't just roll over, taking a licking but fighting back in short bursts. They make their way into the crowd, a good cover for what would've probably been a pretty lame in-ring bout. They make their way back ringside and Vincent takes control, but his offense consists of nothing but forearms, so, its not long before Stevie Ray is back in control. The crowd is pretty much dead by minute 5, but the match continues, leading to what has to be maybe the worst headbutt/low-blow spot ever executed. I mean, it is an abysmal moment that draws a chorus of boos from the crowd. Horace shows up and tries to help Vincent for some reason (?), but Stevie Ray ends up hitting his lame pedigree knock-off finisher for the win. Not the worst match I've ever seen, but not PPV worthy in any era. Extra half-point for the pre-match promo, which is so stupid its kind of cool. (1.5/5)

Backstage, Chris Jericho cuts a promo about Saturn, the guy he's been feuding with the past few months. Jericho hypes their Dog Collar Match tonight. 

Kevin Nash makes his way down the aisle for the next match - a David vs. Goliath bout against Rey Mysterio Jr., who defeated Nash on Nitro a few weeks prior (Rey also scored a win over Bigelow and Norton too to build him up for this match). Despite disgracing the World Championship in January and taking Rey's mask at SuperBrawl the month prior, Nash is still over big time as a babyface. Mysterio comes out in his camo gear, playing to the crowd, and its not a terrible look for him - but its also not the Rey Mysterio who would go on to make millions for the WWE (and could've done the same for WCW in time). As expected, Nash tosses Rey around early, but Mysterio is able to take the big man off his feet using his springboard attacks. What might be most surprising, though, is that Rey gets booed by a portion of the audience for his efforts (again, it just shows how popular Nash was and how poorly conceived his heel turn was - especially when WCW allowed him to continue his "Wolfpack in the house" schtick instead of having him actually run down the fans the way a heel should). Nash regains control on the outside and puts a beating to Mysterio until Rey is able to strike with a low blow and a dropkick. Mysterio hits the Bronco Buster and attempts a moonsault but Nash catches him. Nash releases him and distracts thr ref to give Luger the opportunity to trip Mysterio up (which, as expected, draws jeers), but when Nash calls for his jacknife, the crowd is back in the nWo's corner. If this same match had happened with an actual heel, I think it would've been perfectly fine - maybe even really good - but this was just poorly designed in its very inception. (2/5)

A video package hypes up tonight's WCW Hardcore Championship threeway between Raven, Hardcore Hak (The Sandman), and Bam Bam Bigelow and then, for some reason, we get a handicap karate match pitting Ernest "The Cat" Miller and Sonny Onoo against Jerry Flynn. I understand that angles being built up on TV should get exposure on PPV, but shouldn't angles on TV be used to expose guys that are actually good at what they do? Flynn may have respectable legit credentials (as did Miller), but as a pro-wrestler, he's noticeably green, very obviously bracing himself for each strike from The Cat and making no attempts to play to the crowd at all. When Flynn gets a hold of Onoo, the audience reaction is nil, just as Miller's gloating is met with nothing. To Flynn's credit, he takes a few stiff bumps, showing that he obviously wanted this to work, but the fundamentals aren't there and Miller himself isn't a polished enough performer to lead a match that goes, for no apparent reason, longer than 5 minutes. There's not much to rave about in this match, but it doesn't get truly terrible until the last 3 seconds - honestly, this finish is one of the most abrupt and deflating and puzzling finishes I've ever witnessed. Maybe they ran over time? Maybe someone backstage just told them to wrap it up as quickly as possible? Whatever the case, if anyone ever offers to watch this match with you, your answer should be a hard pass. (1/5)

Hardcore Hak vs. Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Raven is next. "Hak" is more well-known as ECW's The Sandman, another WCW signing that can be explained away as Bischoff believing that anyone with even half a name was a good signing. Raven is accompanied by Chastity, his sister, another ECW signing that went nowhere (because, honestly, how far can you go with a former adult film star on PG-13 programming?). This match has no semblance of a story - its just sloppy garbage wrestling with weapons flying every which way. Now, I don't mind this sort of action, especially when the guys put as much gusto into their weapon shots as they do here (an "ECW" chant sprouts up briefly), but a little subtlety, a small thread of drama, that's the kind of stuff that separates the best of these slopfests than what this is. Hak busts out a frankensteiner from the top rope, a move I admit to forgetting he had in his arsenal, and then pulls out a table as another slight "ECW" chant starts. BIgelow ends up controlling the plywood, though, and setting up Sandman on it. Sandman crawls off, though, so Raven scoops him up and assists Bigelow with a powerbomb that cracks the table but doesn't break it. Bigelow finishes the job with a splash, but Hak kicks out at two and ends up re-charged, grabbing the Singapore Cane and taking out both his opponents. Chastity, on the outside, grabs some tape while Bigelow slides in another two tables (and a fire extinguisher too). Raven and Sandman team up to send Bigelow into a table, but like so many of the objects in this match, it almost seems like WCW opted for the "real thing" rather than finding equipment that would pop the crowd more by actually breaking apart on impact. Raven handcuffs Sandman and nails him with a series of unprotected chair shots, the kind of spot that is just so brutal to watch in 2017. Bigelow hits a Greetings from Asbury Park on Raven and looks to have the match won but decides to set up another table instead of go for the pin. Bigelow gets on to the top rope to attempt...something? But ends up falling through a table thanks to Chastity's fire extinguisher. Chastity then turns on her brother to help Hak score the victory in, I guess, a swerve? This is better than your average "hardcore" match - especially compared to the more silly ones that the WWE was putting on around this same time - but its not fun enough to make it worth watching. (3/5)

The Tag Titles are on the line next in a lumberjack-with-straps match. The lumberjacks are Norman Smiley, Hugh Morrus, Meng, and a few other Saturday Night regulars (including Kendall Windham, which, as Tenay notes, seems kind of suspicious considering that Barry Windham and Curt Hennig are the ones defending the titles). Benoit and Malenko come out first looking serious (as usual) and when the heels arrive they have a staredown and some jawing before things start up. Hennig and Benoit were the clear all-stars in their last match and are about to tangle when The Enforcer shows up, belt in hand, and takes Chris Adams' lumberjack spot. Windham and Hennig make a run for it, but get whipped back into the ring almost immediately. Windham and Perfect sell big to start things off, really putting over their opponents and the agony of being sent to the outside. I also like the psychology of what they do when they take control, tossing Benoit to the outside to get beaten down (as the babyface Horsemen would otherwise have no reason to "take a powder" or try to escape). The tides turn back and forth and the crowd stays engaged because both sides know exactly what they're supposed to be doing in the ring and delivering - the heels keeping things slow and methodical, the faces hitting big hope spots and crowd-popping signature offense only to get chopped back down and locked into the opposition's corner. The lumberjacks become a bit of an after thought as the match goes on, but just when you're about to forget about their presence, Windham and Hennig use them to their advantage again. Arn Anderson eventually gets involved when Hennig tries to cheat his way to victory (though, using a belt buckle in a Lumberjack Strap Match barely registers at cheating) and we get a feel-good finish to a match that was definitely an improvement on their bout at SuperBrawl but still nothing work seeking out specifically. (3/5)

Chris Jericho vs. Saturn in a Dog Collar Match is next. A handful of very dangerous, very nasty spots and Saturn being decked out in Marilyn Manson-inspired garb help this match stand out. I'm not sure if both guys were fully on board with the gimmick at this point, but you have to give credit where its due because they certainly give their 100% in this match. Jericho's psychology at times is a bit questionable - I never really understood the concept of wrapping yourself in chains and then doing a splash as it would probably hurt the person delivering the move more than the recipient (even if it connected, which it rarely does). Again, I'd say this is an improvement over their SuperBrawl match just based on the context and the stipulation adding something fun to the mix, but I wouldn't call it a career highlight for either guy. (3/5)

The WCW Television Championship is on the line next when Scott Steiner (with Buff Bagwell in tow) defends against Booker T. Steiner tries to use intimidation to control the bout early, but Booker T isn't scared off easily, forcing Poppa Pump to take a powder on the outside. Booker keeps the pressure on  and eventually lands a big crossbody off the top, but interference from Buff Bagwell prevents him from capitalizing. Steiner and Booker head into the stands and Steiner uses a nearby chair to inflict some damage to the babyface. Heels of today could do far worse than watch Steiner's work in this match - everything he does is to draw heat, put sympathy on Booker, and make it clear that, if things were 100% on the level, Booker T would be the clear victor. After a crowd-pleasing press slam, for example, Steiner makes sure to gloat (despite the fact that he's only in control because of underhanded tactics), apply a lazy cover, and then bully the ref for good measure. A good heel should feel justified in their corner-cutting and cheating, but the crowd should feel the opposite and Steiner makes sure that the good/bad divide is clear. Cool spot where Booker T almost scissor kicks the ref, but ends up narrowly bringing his foot over the ref's head. Lazy finish in my book as any time a chair ends up in the ring being used to hit somebody (even inadvertently), there should be a DQ called. The crowd gets what they want, though. Good-not-great match. (3/5)

Main event time - Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan in a doorless, barbwire First Blood Cage Match with the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, the WCW Presidency, and Flair's career on the line. Before the match begins, Flair tells referee Charles Robinson not to call the match until he says so - which doesn't necessarily make sense considering the stipulation is pretty clear cut: the first guy to bleed is the loser. Like at SuperBrawl, there's a sizable portion of the audience that is behind the Hulkster from the start but, because they are busting out entire sequences from their bouts in 94'-95', the reactions only get bigger. By the time Hogan is laying in big punches in the corner, the crowd is counting along and Flair is playing the chickenshit heel trying to escape the cage. Tossed into the cage, Flair is clearly lacerated, but Robinson won't call the match. Instead, the punishment continues with Hogan using the razorwire and his belt to beat down the Nature Boy (all the while, the crowd chants "Hogan"). Flair is a bloody mess and Hogan hits his patented leg drop. He then gets the visible pin for Victory #2. Flair reaches into his trunks and pulls out a pair of brass knucks, though I'm not sure why he went through the trouble of hiding them when, traditionally, all's fair in a cage match. David Flair and Torrie show up, but even their arrival doesn't silence the crowd support for the Hulkster. Flair gets a little bit of a pop for gyrating in Torrie's direction and tries to resume his offense but Hogan hulks up in his old school way, the commentators no longer even trying to hide the fact that he's now become the babyface. Hogan gets Visual Victory #3, but Robinson won't call the match. Flair gets a suplex in, but Hogan hulks up a second time because...well, what else could he do? Robinson takes a bump, but as Hogan tries to revive him, Flair hits the Hulkster with a low blow. Arn Anderson shows up to take out David Flair and then hands Nature Boy with the tire iron (which he uses to knock the Hulkster out). Flair applies the Figure Four and scores the victory and, somewhat surprisingly, the crowd actually pops for it despite Hogan being the fan favorite for the majority of the match. A fairly odd match just because of the overbooking and the way that, on one hand, this had the makings of a double-turn, but on the other hand, the appearance of David Flair (and him getting his comeuppance) pointed at the Horsemen still being the "good guys." In a different context, this would've been okay, but for all the bells, whistles, and bullshit, this match is just too stupid to be considered good. (1/5)


Earning a Kwang Score of 2.39-out-of-5, UnCenSorEd 99' edges out the previous month's SuperBrawl thanks mostly to its opening contest and a handful of good matches from the company's best in-ring talents (Benoit, Hennig, and Mysterio to name names). The Kentucky crowd helps things too, helping make matches like Steiner/Booker and the hardcore triangle match a touch more exciting than they would be with the sound turned off. The main event is yet another example of WCW taking simple concepts and swerving them into atrociousness. Why did this need to be a First Blood match again? Why is there a ref bump? Are we supposed to boo or cheer Arn Anderson and Flair screwing Hogan? Do the commentators even know what story they're trying to tell? Elsewhere, Jerry Flynn and Stevie Ray wrestle while just about anybody else on the roster at the time could've probably used those minutes better. While there are a few moments worth seeing on this show, they pretty much all happen in the first 16 minutes.

FINAL RATING - High Risk Maneuver