WCW Thunder - Monday, Week 2, August 2001

 

16,466 in attendance at the Bank of Kentucky Center.

Another episode of Thunder, hot off the presses! A wrestling-heavy episode this week, there's a lot of action in store. Catch it after the break!

1. The show opens to the sound of Paul Wight's music, and him and Ted DiBiase head to the ring! DiBiase says that a lot of people around the company have been talking about being overlooked recently - you have no further to look than Paul Wight to see the real injustice! He says that someone like Steve Austin has no right to complain about not getting opportunities when he has been his own worst enemy at every single turn, and a guy like Dwayne Johnson complaining about someone else trying to take his spot when all he's ever done is take opportunities he didn't earn is laughable. If anyone knows what can succeed in professional wrestling, it's Ted DiBiase, and he knows that Paul Wight is long overdue for a WCW title shot. So, he's laying down the law - if Wight doesn't get a title shot tonight, he will raise hell! (84)

2. WCW World Television Championship: Steve Corino outlasted BG James, Jim Duggan, Jimmy Yang, Joe Legend, Mr. Aguila, Norman Smiley, TAKA Michinoku, Tiger Mask III, and Tommy Dreamer to win a battle royal for the vacant Television championship after 9:54. The final four consisted of Corino, Dreamer, Aguila, and Legend, with Dreamer being the final elimination. (77)

2. Backstage, Kevin Nash and Bam Bam Bigelow are together. Nash says he's not worried about tonight's tag match against Terry Funk and Mick Foley, because he called in a favor with his old friend Bam Bam here, and the match is as good as won. Bam Bam said that he's sick of having to be some hardcore guy just because he kicks too much ass, and he's ready to make that Brass Knuckles title a legitimate championship. (68)

3. WCW US Tourney Round 1: Curt Hennig defeated Mark Henry in 6:20 after interference from Bobby Heenan to advance to the second round, where he'll face either Tajiri or Jimmy Valiant. (77)

4. WCW US Tourney Round 1: D'Lo Brown defeated Shane Helms in 6:38 with the Lo Down to advance in the tournament. He will meet either Ron Simmons or Hector Garza in the second round. (72)

5. Juventud Guerrera says that he can't focus on the gauntlet tonight to crown the number one contender for the cruiserweight championship because of Chavo Guerrero's injury. Juvi promises that he'll take revenge on Taz for hurting his friend, no matter what he has to do. (68)

6. Kevin Nash & Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Terry Funk & Mick Foley in 7:20 after interference from Gannosuke allowed Nash to hit Foley with the Jackknife Powerbomb. (77)

7. WCW US Tourney Round 1: Tajiri defeated Jimmy Valiant in 1:12 with a Buzzsaw Kick to advance in the tournament. He will face Curt Hennig in the second round. (68)

8. Backstage, the cameraman walks past wreckage and rushes to catch Eric Bischoff held in the air against a wall by Paul Wight, with Ted DiBiase right nearby. DiBiase tells Eric that if he doesn't give Wight his title match, things could get much worse. Bischoff hurriedly makes the match official. (69)

9. The #1 Contender's gauntlet for the Cruiserweight Championship started with Super Delfin and Juventud Guerrera as the first two participants. After 1:41 of fast-paced action, Guerrera would eliminate Delfin with the Juvi Driver. (74)

Next out would be Matt Hardy, who immediately leapt into battle with Juventud. After another 3:05 of high flying combat, Matt Hardy upset Juventud Guerrera with a Diving Leg Drop, advancing to the next match. (75)

This one saw Sabu join the fray, who immediately tried to take advantage of Hardy's fatigue and kept the pace high throughout the whole encounter. Eventually, Hardy would take Sabu out in 3:21 with the Twist of Fate. (74)

The next and final entrant into the gauntlet was Chris Benoit, who worked great with Hardy here. In a much longer (but just as intense) 10:28 match, Matt Hardy pulled off the victory when he dodged a diving headbutt, giving him enough of an opening to hit another Diving Leg Drop and make the cover. (81)

10. WCW US Tourney Round 1: Hector Garza defeated Ron Simmons in 5:38 with a School Boy Rollup, with the referee also missing Garza's legs on the ropes. Ron's partner Vader was at ringside, and he seemed disappointed at the ending of the match. Garza will face D'Lo Brown in the next round. (71)

11. Christian & Castle defeated the Dudley Boyz in 8:18 after Christian hit D-Von with a Tornado DDT. (81)

12. Lance Storm is in the ring talking about the events of The Great American Bash - namely, Vampiro returning and interrupting what was a great match between him and Kanyon. Storm says that if Vampiro is looking for a fight, well - he's not gonna get one. There's more to being a world champion than fighting, and Storm says he's not going to give an opportunity to anyone who thinks they can take one. It takes respect to wrestle a champion, Storm says. Immediately, Sting's music hits, and he comes down to the ring! He says he always knew Storm was a coward. As Sting would know best, when someone hits you while your back is turned, you don't run away, you fight back! Sting says he respects Lance's wrestling ability, but if he thinks that Vampiro's going to back down, he's got another thing coming. As a matter of fact, Sting says, he is that other thing - he wants his title back, and he wants it now! Then, Kanyon's music hits! He says that Sting can't jump the line. Since he and Lance were screwed out of their match, it would only be fair if Kanyon got a rematch so he can win the championship without anyone to screw things up. Kanyon says if it wasn't for Vampiro, his master plan would have come together perfectly. As if on cue, Vampiro arrives! He enters the ring and stares down each man. He says that the blood of Sting is on Kanyon's hands, the blood of Steve Corino is on Lance's hands (which prompts confusion from Storm), and the blood of countless men is on Sting's hands. Vampiro says he will gladly cleanse them of their sins through a baptism in blood, at the end of which he will stand tall with that golden idol, the WCW International Heavyweight championship. Vampiro looks up, and sprays a mist of blood into the air! (87)

 

13. WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Chris Jericho defeated Paul Wight in 10:31 to retain the WCW World Heavyweight championship with the Lionsault. After the match, Paul Wight chokeslammed Jericho through the announcer's table at Ted DiBiase's command. (90)