WCW Thunder - Monday, Week 2, October 2001

2,600 in attendance at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, NY.

Commentary by Mike Tenay and Jim Ross.

This week on Thunder: Tajiri seeks revenge on Mike Awesome in the main event, the contract is signed for Chris Jericho vs. Mark Henry, a four-way tag team match crowns the new #1 contenders, and the Heenan Family presents a special surprise! All this and more, below the break!

1. Rob Van Dam defeated Hector Garza in 7:54 following a Five Star Frog Splash in a hot opening match. (83)

2. In the ring, Vampiro has a microphone. He says that great evil - and great potential - can lie in the hearts of men. But, when it is tempered by laziness and a lack of ambition, men shrivel up into nothing. Vampiro says that Raven has lost sight of his own purpose, and he's long overdue for a wakeup call. He promises that Raven's sloth will lead to his downfall - one way or another. (75)

3. Backstage, Curt Hennig and Bobby Heenan are talking. Hennig thanks Heenan for all of the help he's given with scouting talent to be Hennig's perfect apprentice. To show his thanks, Hennig says he's called in a little favor an old friend of his owed him. Heenan asks what it is, Hennig says he'll see soon enough. For now, he's got to get ready for his title match. (72)

4. Diamond Dallas Page & Simon Diamond defeated Jung Dragons (Jimmy Yang & Kaz Hayashi) in 6:52 following a (what else?) Diamond Cutter from Page to Hayashi. (73)

5. In their locker room, Carl Ouellet and John Tenta of Team Canada are upset about their exclusion from the #1 contender's match later in the night when Steve Corino walks in. The three exchange greetings, and Corino says that there's someone he'd like them to meet. An old friend of his rode into town, and Corino wants Team Canada to get to know him. Corino calls his friend in, and he introduces himself - Jack Victory! Jack says any friend of Steve's is a friend of his, and says it's a pleasure to finally stand with fellow veterans like Tenta and Carl. The four seem to get along well - but notably absent throughout this whole endeavor is Lance Storm. (63)

6. Steve Austin is out talking about his recent issues with Dwayne Johnson and Scott Steiner, when Steiner himself interrupts! The two go back and forth on the microphone for a while, and both came out looking great. Jimmy Hart's presence as Steiner's manager helped Scott out, further enhancing the clash between the two. (96)

7. Legion del Reyes (Chavo Guerrero & Juventud Guerrera) defeated The Hardyz in 9:34 in a fantastic match. Milano Collection AT was in the crowd for this match alongside his valet Vittoria Valentine, which played into the finish, as Milano jumped the barricade to attack Matt Hardy and allow Chavo Guerrero to pin him with the Gory Bomb. (89).

8. Adam Castle is out for a promo. He says that he was planning on just going through the Hart Foundation one by one, but if Chris Benoit wants to play hero and volunteer for another beating, he's more than happy to provide it. Castle says that at Halloween Havoc, he wants to face Neidhart and Benoit in a tag team match. Simple, right? No jokes, no tricks, just a good old tag match. Castle tells them to think on it, then leaves. (65)

9. Tommy Dreamer is in the streets of New York, looking out at the Hammerstein Ballroom. He says that this building is like a second home for him, and it's here, standing in New York City, that Dreamer wants to finally light the fire under his ass that he's been missing since he came to WCW. He says that he was raised in the land of extreme, and as someone in that position, it's been hell to see the WCW Brass Knuckles championship dragged through the mud like it has been by Kevin Nash and Bam Bam Bigelow. Tommy says that Bam Bam used to be a legend, but he turned his back on everything he stood for when he decided to join Kevin Nash in trying to kill hardcore wrestling. Dreamer says hardcore wrestling will never die - and he's going to prove it by being the next WCW Brass Knuckles champion. (73)

10. WCW World Television Championship: Curt Hennig defeated Fatu to win the WCW World Television championship in 8:30. Fatu held his own against Mr. Perfect, but he was outmatched when Hennig's plan came to fruition - as Scott Hall walked out from the crowd and distracted him! With a Hennig Plex following Hall's distraction, Hennig secured his TV title win. (77)

11. Immediately after Hennig's celebration, the rest of the Heenan family hit the ring and Scott Hall grabs a microphone. He says that in the years he was away from WCW, he learned that there's only one thing that matters: and that's family. Sure, the women and the champagne is nice too, but they aren't gonna have your back like family will. So, when his old friend Curt Hennig came calling and cashed in a favor, Hall was more than happy to stop by. He says that between helping out his good friend and becoming a part of the greatest group in wrestling history, it was a no brainer. And, Hall says, he knows the perfect way to celebrate. Hall starts to stomp on Fatu before picking him up and signaling for the Razor's Edge. Before he can hit the move, Barry Windham hits the ring and takes Hall down with a clothesline! Though Kanyon and Hennig are able to gain the advantage on Windham, the distraction allows Fatu to make a comeback, and they drive the Heenan Family off! (74)

12. Jeremy Borash is live, interviewing Ricky Steamboat. Steamboat says he was shocked to hear what D'Lo Brown had to say last week. He promises that he doesn't have any ulterior motives or anything like that. He's not going to challenge D'Lo Brown, and he's not going to try and become US champ again. Steamboat says that he doesn't want everything that comes with being a champion anymore - he just wants to enjoy his work while he still can. (70).

13. In the medical area, Christian Cage is unable to pass the tests he needed to in order to be cleared for active competition. He's distraught, when Bret Hart comes in to comfort him. Bret tells him not to do anything before he's ready, and that he'll be back soon enough. He pats Christian on the shoulder and turns to leave when Christian stops him. He warns Bret to be careful with Adam Castle. Christian says that Castle has something up his sleeve, but also asks Bret not to let the Harts take things as far as Castle took it. Adam may have injured him, but he and Christian were still like brothers growing up, and he doesn't want anything bad to happen to him. Bret gives a brief nod, and leaves. (74)

14. WCW Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Match: Malenko & Finlay defeated Dream Chasers (TAKA Michinoku & Funaki), The Machines (Super Strong Machine & Human Suplex Machine), and The Light (Big T & Glenn Gilbertti) in 10:06 after Malenko forced Gilbertti to submit to the Cloverleaf. Malenko & Finlay were not originally announced for the match, but commentary explained that they volunteered themselves for the spot when an opening was created. TAKA suffered a strained bicep in this match. (63)

15. Backstage after the match, Ted DiBiase angrily demands to know why Malenko & Finlay entered themselves into the tag match - without his permission. Finlay says that he wasn't aware that they needed "permission" to do anything, and Malenko adds (almost sarcastically), that DiBiase should look at it this way - no matter who wins at Halloween Havoc, the titles stay with the Enterprise, and that's what matters - right? (69)

16. Honky Tonk Man and Jorge Estrada are in a bar celebrating Estrada's new WCW contract. Jorge turns to go and get more drinks - and immediately crashes into Terry Funk, spilling beer all over him. A furious Funk can be seen reaching for a beer bottle off of a table, which Honky notices. He quickly pulls Estrada away and the two flee to Honky Tonk Man's faded pink Cadillac. (63)

17. The contract signing for Chris Jericho vs. Mark Henry take place, with the match being set for Halloween Havoc. The contract signing is surprisingly amiable, with neither man taking shots at the other. Also present are the two commissioners and Hart Foundation patriarch Bret Hart, who reacts with a mixture of frustration and pride when both of the competitors in the title match agree to not let the Hart Foundation get in the way of their match. Henry has nothing but nice things to say about Jericho and says he's looking forward to the match. Jericho, however, congratulates Henry for winning the Blackjack Classic, but tells him that's as far as he's going to get - Jericho is going to stay champion when it's all said and done. He tells Henry it's not really a big deal, though - that trophy probably looks really cool on his shelf. Mark gets visibly pissed at this, signs the contract, and immediately leaves without a word. (91)

18. Dwayne Johnson defeated Vader in 9:16 with a Rock Bottom. The two didn't have great chemistry, and the match suffered as a result. (79).

19. Back in the office, Ric Flair and Eric Bischoff are discussing Fall Brawl with each other. Flair asks Bischoff if he's thought about his WarGames team yet, and Bischoff says that he's put some consideration into it. Ric says that he's planning on being the captain of his own team, and he'd like to extend a bit of an olive branch: he wants Eric to pick opponents for him to face over the next few weeks to help him train. Bischoff smiles, shakes Ric's hand, and emphatically agrees. (87)

20. Tajiri defeated Mike Awesome in a brutal Cane match after 12:16. The match saw an appearance by Jake Roberts, which served to distract Mike Awesome, but the finish came when Keiji Mutoh attacked Awesome, allowing Tajiri to hit the Buzzsaw Kick for the win. (80)