WCW Mayhem 2000

WCW Mayhem 2000

Milwaukee, WI - November 2000

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into tonight's show, Booker T is the World Heavyweight Championship, Lance Storm holds the US Title, the Cruiserweight Champion is Mike Sanders, the WCW World Tag Team Champions are The Perfect Event, and the Hardcore Champion is Crowbar. 

COMMENTATORS: Tony Schiavone, Mark Madden, and Stevie Ray

I summarized the first Mayhem PPV, held in 1999, as "one of the worst wrestling shows I've ever seen" and reading back to my original review jogged some memories as to why:  multiple matches that drew "boring" chants, overbooking left and right (including a horrid Lex Luger heel turn), Ed "Oklahoma" Ferrara on commentary for a match...It all added up to one of the worst cards WCW had ever put on. How would things go a year later? Let's find out... 

This year's show begins with a WCW Cruiserweight Championship match as Mike Sanders defends the gold against Kwee Wee. This is the first Mike Sanders spotlight match on PPV and I stand by my relative praise for the guy. He's not a world class worker, but he carries himself well in the ring, has good facial expressions, and actually seems motivated and excited to be on TV - which is more than one could say for most of the guys that were in the upper midcard and main event scene from 99' on. Kwee Wee is also a bit of an underrated character who had a unique look, solid offense, and could get believably intense when he turned into his alter-ego "Angry Allan." Meng makes a great cameo early on, as does Ric Flair, firmly setting up the babyface/heel dynamic nicely for the many fans who attended this show but probably hadn't been following WCW storylines for months based on the ratings. As I mentioned above, Sanders nor Kwee Wee are dazzling cruisers in the tradition of Rey and Juvi, but the story they tell makes sense and they work with enough intensity to make this a not-too-terrible match. (2/5)


Next up is a triple threat tag match pitting The Jung Dragons against 3 Count against Evan Karagias and Jamie Noble. This match starts off very loose, but soon becomes a more traditional match with actual tags. These guys were sent out to dazzle the crowd with innovative, high-risk maneuvers and they do an outstanding job of it, especially Noble, Helms, Shannon Moore, and the Dragons (wait, is that everybody except Karagias then?). There are some hiccups in this match - including a woeful false finish where referee Scott Armstrong (going as "Scott James" in a wholly unnecessary Russo-rific reference to his brother, "The Road Dogg" Jesse James) - but there are also some really good spots, including a straightjacket suplex, a sick brainbuster, and a series of dives towards the end that deservedly pop the crowd. There's also Leia Meow walking around in a clear plastic top if you're into that sort of thing. This match goes for 11 minutes, but they should've given them a full 15 as it flew by, too many of the better spots were undersold (and didn't register), and the crowd was eating it up by the end and would've gladly watched more. This isn't a must-see match, but its definitely an above-average bout and easily one of the better WCW matches I've seen in weeks. (3/5)

Backstage, Bam Bam Bigelow attacks Mike Awesome. Or so we think. When we cut to the back, Awesome is already laid out and Bigelow is berating him. He then slams a chair near him - not on him - for some reason. AWOL of the MIA runs Bigelow off. I forgot the Bammer was still around at this point. I'd be curious to know if there was ever a thought about bringing him back to the WWE, but I'm also guessing he made a pretty penny when WCW was sold and he got to sit out on his Time Warner contract. 

Back to the ring we go for the rematch nobody wanted - Jimmy Hart vs. Mancow. This was the same level of bad as their first match at Spring Stampede several months earlier. Jimmy Hart has a phony leg injury and Mancow is dressed like a Columbine shooter. His pre-match promo features a knock against Al Gore that gets a huge response - which is somewhat surprising considering Wisconsin went blue during that election (hell, they went blue for Dukakis in 88'!). 3 Count are involved, but all their offense against Mancow is ignored so that Mancow can throw some weak punches at Hart on the ground. I'm guessing WCW had signed Mancow for two matches and the bean counters felt like they had to get something out of their investment or maybe they thought Mancow's appearance would help sell tickets (I sincerely hope it did), because there's really no other reason why this was given time on the show. I was more engaged by the Karate Fighters tournament WWE ran in 96'. (0/5)

Next up, a WCW Hardocre Championship match with the defending champion Crowbar putting up the title against two guys who had lots of kayfabe history with eachother - Big Vito and Reno. Its a bit unfair to knock WCW too much for its super lame, super tame hardcore division - the WWE was doing the exact same thing and kept doing it for two more years on top of this - but this entire genre of wrestling just has not aged well at all. Part of the problem is that the characters involved felt lesser, like guys that were so incapable of actually wrestling good matches in the ring that they had to let them toss each other into plastic furniture and use trash can lids to fill time because without these crutches (and, sometimes, literal crutches), their matches would have been the absolute shit. Again, the same was true in the WWE (how else could a guy like Maven be a 3-time champion of anything?). This match, like pretty much every one of these matches, was just weapon shot after weapon shot in the ring until they went backstage and performed more weapon shots. There was actually a fleeting moment at a PPV not too long before this were Big Vito felt like he was actually getting over, but the never-ending feud with Reno and not being built up as a serious competitor prevented that from ever happening. Remember when Vito had a gimmick where he was a cross-dresser but was quick to point out that he wasn't gay? When do you think that was? 2001? 2002? In TNA? It was in the WWE and it was in 2006 and it led to a 4-month undefeated streak. Reading and contemplating that was way more interesting and fun than watching this match. At least it was under 8 minutes and the finish did seem to serve a storyline purpose. (1/5)

The Filthy Animals' Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman took on Alex Wright and KroNik in a semi-handicap match next. The storyline coming into this bout was that KroNik were hired by Disco Inferno (who was teaming with Wright as The Dancing Fools) to wrestle for their side for 7 minutes and 30 seconds exactly - not a second more - as several pre-match segments made 1000% clear. Of course, this made the ending 1000% predictable too as Mysterio and Kidman managed to last the full 7-and-a-half minutes before KroNik walked out and Alex Wright was left to fend for himself. This match wasn't great, but Mysterio and Kidman could still move around the ring at a great clip, Alex Wright might have finally peaked as a worker by this point, and KroNik seemed (surprisingly) eager to show that they could keep up with their more agile opponents and partner. When KroNik leave, we get a really funny extra minute or so because its not just an immediate squash and Wright's attempts to maintain control are executed perfectly. The finish is never in question and this isn't a great match, but with everyone actually motivated and putting in an effort to over-deliver, it falls near that average range - which, compared to what else WCW was producing at this time, makes it sort of a big deal. Oh, and Tygress is on commentary, and there's some enjoyment to be had in hearing her thwart and divert Madden and Stevie Ray's obnoxious 7th grade jokes. (3/5)

Shane Douglas and Torrie Wilson make their way down the aisle for the next bout - a surprisingly watchable grudge match against Ernest "The Cat" Miller (who is accompanied by former Nitro Girl, Ms. Jones). Douglas and Miller don't bother with restholds, brawling out of the ring early and keeping the intensity up for the remainder of the bout. At one point Miller goes after Mark Madden, which leads to Madden fake choking and coughing every other word. This answered the question I had about whether Mark Madden could be any worse of a commentator than he already was. Sadly, the answer is yes. Yes, he could. Some of his calls sound like he might even be trying to take digs at Joey Styles but I'm not sure if that was intentional. Regardless, the match takes a turn once Torrie and Jones get actively involved. Their physical interaction is cringe-inducing only because it is so clear that neither has been trained to do anything other than look pretty and one is bound to seriously injure themselves or the other by throwing kicks in clunky high heels. Douglas ends up clocking Miller with a chain in what would've been a good finish - but Miller kicks out at two and ends up winning his loaded red slipper. By this point, Douglas was a non-factor, but, then again, he was at least a good enough old school heel that he could get heat from the live crowds and, booked properly, could've probably been built up as a credible upper-midcard guy in 2001. Instead, losing this bout to a kung fu comedy act like Miller, paired with his embarrassing feud with Billy Kidman (the one that brought us the infamous "Viagra on a Pole" Match), further pushed the one-time Franchise of ECW into complete joke territory. In a vacuum, this isn't too bad of a match, though, despite the nonsensical booking. (2.5/5)

After a not good promo from the MIA's General Rection (it really is a bit astonishing that this guy went on to coach other wrestlers when he was an average-at-best talent that got progressively less over as he was given more screen time), Bam Bam Bigelow makes his way down the aisle for his scheduled match with Mike Awesome. Unfortunately, though, Awesome was taken out earlier in the show (?), so Ric Flair brings out his replacement - A-Wall. A-Wall controls most of the match and the Bammer doesn't look like he cares much. This match could've been fun with more weapons and whatnot, but its just two guys clubbing at each other in slow motion mostly. A-Wall goes for a table, but when he tries to set it up, Bigelow reverses his chokeslam attempt into one of the worst Greetings from Asbury Parks ever for the win. After the match, Bigelow can't get up and EMTs have to come down to assist him. I'm not sure what the story is behind this - angle? legit injury? false heart attack alarm? - but the commentators treat it like its legit. A bizarre end to a not very good match. (0.5/5)

There's a commercial for the return of Glacier and the announcers mock it. 

Lance Storm makes his way down the aisle, his ribs taped up, to defend the United States Championship against General Rection. Storm delivers his usual pre-match promo and the Canadian National Anthem is played. (All the while, Bam Bam Bigelow is being wheeled to the back on a stretcher.) General Rection comes out, looks at Bigelow and then makes his way towards the ring...only to get sneak attacked by Bigelow! I have to admit, I was 1,000,000% fooled. As Rection has been incapacitated, Storm is able to take advantage, targeting Rection's knee. There are quality moments in this match - mostly Storm's crisp offense and the strategic involvement of Major Gunns - and you get a 100% clean finish, but half the crowd is visibly bored and the crowd noise has definitely been sweetened. Not a bad match, but no better than average. (2.5/5)

In the back, Mike Sanders tells Doug Dillinger to send home his security crew. The announcers are as confused about this as the viewer is. We then get a commercial for Starrcade 2000. 

Jeff Jarrett makes his way down the aisle and cuts a promo on the crowd, calling them "slapnuts" and whatnot. His opponent tonight is Buff Bagwell. Its kind of refreshing to see Bagwell working a brisker pace and having a sound technical wrestler like Jarrett opposite him. Jarrett and Bagwell don't have Flair/Steamboat chemistry or anything, but the match works because the characters are clearly defined, the dislike between the two feels natural, and both guys do enough "little things" to engage the live audience, fully aware that it is that audience that matters most in the dying days of WCW (because the audience watching on PPV wasn't too big by this point). When Jarrett locks in a sleeper, a portion of the crowd is disinterested, but there's also a noticeable number of fans (audibly female) who rally behind Bagwell from the very start. Jarrett goes to the top, but ends up with a mouthful of boot and Bagwell counters a bunch of Jarrett's next attempts at offense too. Bagwell goes for the Blockbuster, but Jarrett is able to dodge it. A loud "Jarrett Sucks" chant emerges as Bagwell sells the damage to his shoulder. In the corner, though, Bagwell is able to hit a huge tornado DDT for 2. Jarrett inadvertently takes out the referee and then dumps Buff to the outside. Double J slides a chair in, but is prevented from using it by David Flair, who DDTs him on the steel chair to a mild response. Bagwell crawls over and gets 2-and-a-half and then argues with the referee. Bagwell comes off the top rope with a crossbody but only gets 2. He then hits a reverse DDT and the referee counts 1...2...and then just doesn't put his hand down for 3 because Jarrett is late getting his shoulder up. Jarrett slides to the outside and is able to hit Bagwell with a guitar while the ref's back is turned. Jarrett makes the cover and this one is over. If you cut out the meaningless David Flair interference and the botched pinfall attempt late at the match, this is probably a slightly above-average match (at least compared to everything else on this card), but with those elements in there, this is no better than average. (2.5/5)

The WCW World Tag Team Championships are on the line next as The Perfect Event - Chuck Palumbo and Shawn Stasiak - defend the straps against Kevin Nash and Diamond Dallas Page. Mike Sanders joins the commentary team as a show of support for his stable, The Natural Born Thrillers, whose additional members are now serving as WCW Security on the outside of the ring. A very loud "We Want Hall" chant erupts before the match and Madden and Stevie Ray have to ignore it because (I believe) Hall had been officially released by this point. Nash goes for a Jacknife early to no avail. Palumbo and Nash end up tearing into eachother in the corner and there's some actual fire there, Nash hitting some of his signature offense with gusto. A "DDP" chant starts up too, the babyfaces of this match clearly more over than anyone else that has been on the show so far. The Natural Born Thrillers try to get involved, but are cleared out of the ring. Flair then shows up with Dillinger and the rest of the security crew. Flair and Sanders start jawing with Sanders using his Commissioner power (as well as his new status as the manager of The Perfect Event) to stay at ringside while the rest of the stable is taken to the back. In the ring, Page and Stasiak do some wrestling and Page is in control until Palumbo slugs DDP when he hits the ropes. Palumbo comes in and they hit a double slingshot suplex for 2. Page plays the face-in-peril, hits a discus clothesline, but can't string together enough offense to regain control of the match. Stasiak and Palumbo take turns beating down on DDP, keeping him in their corner to prevent him from making the hot tag. Page is eventually able to get over to Nash, but the referee's back is turned so the tag isn't allowed to stand and Palumbo applies a sleeper. Page fights his way out and locks in one of his own before hitting a sidewalk slam for 2. Page is finally able to reach Nash, who comes in and takes out both of the Perfect Event members. Nash lands a Jacknife on Stasiak while Page hits the Diamond Cutter on Palumbo. They're about to get a 3 but referee Billy Silverman is pulled out of the ring by Sanders! Great false finish. Page hits the Cutter on Sanders on the outside and the ref goes back in and makes the count again. That false finish should've been used earlier in the match as Nash's Jacknife powerbomb was maybe "over protected" here with Stasiak having to sell it for a count of 20 at least. The right team won as Nash and Page were over and the live crowd wanted to see it. Not a bad match and I liked the effort out of the vets. (3/5)

Lex Luger makes his way down the aisle looking more swoll than ever before, stone-faced for his match against Goldberg. The commentators try to sell him hard and, had this match happened in 98' or even early 99', I think there would be some intrigue, but this is far from a "dream match" in 2000. Luger just seems like a relic in this setting, like he's aged 10 years in 10 months. I wouldn't necessarily call this a total squash as Luger does get a little bit of offense in, but for the most part, this is all about Goldberg's new winning streak and quest to challenge for the WCW World Champion at the next month's Starrcade. This accomplishes what it needs to, but takes a bit of a bumpy road to get there with an unnecessary ref bump that (I'm guessing) was followed up on Nitro as a way to build a rematch or raise some doubt whether Goldberg should've been disqualified (and, per the stipulation of his kayfabe contract, been fired on the spot). This match wasn't designed to be good and it wasn't. (1/5)

Main event time - WCW World Champion Booker T defending the strap against Scott Steiner in a Cage/Straightjacket Match. Any match where the finish requires one guy to dress another in an item of clothing is going to be behind the 8 ball, so WCW opted to just not make that a requirement - meaning pinfalls could also end the match. So why would anyone even attempt to grab the straightjacket? It makes absolutely no sense and the commentators point it out as soon as Booker and Steiner start going for the thing and (seemingly) forgetting to go for any pinfalls. Its this kind of incredible stupidity on the parts of the bookers and agents (and I'm sticking to my theory that WCW either didn't use agents to layout matches or the agent/booker communication was so minimal that they might as well have not). The match starts off with some good urgency, but this match just doesn't go anywhere and watching Booker try to put Steiner into a straightjacket is anti-drama. Booker does eventually get it onto him and then grabs a steel chair, bashing it over Steiner's skull not once, but twice. It is a ridiculously heelish move followed by Steiner ripping the straightjacket sleeves off his arms (a clear babyface move). Steiner applies the Recliner, but then just essentially lets him lift him up and takes the worst stun gun-type move I've ever seen. Steiner hits a suplex, but Booker T basically no sells it and hits a Bookend (Rock Bottom) for 2. The crowd doesn't pop or seem to care about any of this. Booker hits an axe kick, but can't capitalize. Steiner crawls over to the chair, but Booker is up with a Spinnerooni. Steiner clocks him with the chair and drops him with a Full Nelson slam that looks like it could've broken Booker T's tailbone. Steiner locks in the Recliner and Booker T "passes out" to end this very disappointing and purely booked match. Steiner attacks Booker T after the match, trying to crush Booker's knee. So, Steiner's still a heel even though he did a straight-outta-the-80s Hulk Hogan spot earlier in the match? This was way worse than I expected and I wasn't expected anything great. (1/5)

With a Kwang Score of 1.83-out-of-5, Mayhem only managed to earn a slightly higher score than the previous month's woeful Halloween Havoc, but that is the only (and most faint) praise I could ever give this show. The triangle tag match in the first hour is solid and the Filthy Animals match is saved by its closing stretch - when KroNik leave and we get to see Alex Wright wrestle a handicap match against Mysterio and Juvi - but just about everything else is average at best and often way, way below that. The Mancow segment is garbage. The Bam Bam Bigelow angle is insulting. The whole show is marred by the ever-terrible commentary of Mark Madden. Then, the final two matches completely tank whatever goodwill was earned by the efforts of Nash and Page, who, for the first time in months, look like they're at least having some fun in the ring. Impossible to recommend.

FINAL RATING - DUDleyville