The Nature Boy has done it again. The most successful champion in sports entertainment claimed the WCW World Heavyweight Title for an unprecedented fourteenth time at the annual Uncensored pay-per-view from Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. Like some of Flair’s previous title wins the victory was as shady as standing beside Kevin Nash on a warm summer’s day. Evidently Flair had the official – Charles Robinson – securely in his back pocket.
Though it wasn’t made clear why, Flair and Hogan did orchestrate simple face turns. Flair having the ref short change Hogan and Hogan slyly re-introducing his Hulk-A-Mania stylings of beckoning to the audience and “Hulking-up”.
Before the steel cage – “first blood” match for the WCW World Title began, Flair – the interim WCW Commissioner – read Robinson the riot act. Robinson was to decide a winner whenever an opponent really bled. Scratches and other minor lacerations would not count. Flair told Robinson to use his “own discretion”.
Performing with enthusiasm, Hogan and Flair cranked it on the best WCW pay-per-view in the past two years. The cage lowered and Hogan erupted shrugging Flair off. Cinched in a headlock, Hogan threw Flair off the ropes shoulder-butting him to the canvass. A test of strength didn’t last as The Nature Boy poked the champ in the eye momentarily blinding him. Flair laid in his signature chops. Hogan again slingshot Flair into the ropes back-dropping him. Three powerful clotheslines in succession dropped Flair.
Hogan hoisted Flair up slamming him down hard. Two elbow drops and a chokehold had Flair stumbling. The two squared circle icons traded chops in a corner. Another clothesline took Flair off his feet. Hogan turned to the crowd bringing his hand up to his ear begging their cheers on. The announcers made a point of saying Hogan hadn’t done that in many moons.
Flair still flat on his back, Hogan slapped on Flair’s own finishing move: the Figure Four Leg Lock. Luckily Flair got to the ropes forcing Robinson to break the hold. Flair low-blowed Hogan then punched him in the jaw. Hogan reversed Flair’s attempt to ram him into the steel cage. The Nature Boy’s head connected with the unforgiving steel. Hogan punched and bit the challenger then banked his head off the cage again. Flair tried to scale the cage but Hogan held him by the trunks pulling them down revealing Flair’s bare behind away from the camera.
Hogan yanked down some of the barbed wire surrounding the top of the ring raking it across Flair’s forehead. Flair was visibly bleeding as Hogan whipped him with his belt. Referee Charles Robinson refused to call the match so Hogan threw The Nature Boy into the cage again. The Big Foot. The Leg Drop. The WCW World Heavyweight Champion covered Flair. Indicating that it was a “first blood” match, Robinson signaled that he wasn’t counting pinfalls. The match would continue despite Flair bleeding like a faucet.
Digging into his trunks Flair brought out a pair of brass knuckles. He punched Hogan in the head and bounced him off the cage. Hogan was busted open. Flair’s son David and Torrie Wilson come to ringside to cheer on Hogan. Flair mocked them from inside the cage calling David a “punk”. Flair inexplicably covered Hogan for a two count. It seems Robinson can’t make up his mind on how he wants to call the match.
Flair chops Hogan in a corner. The blows have no effect. Hogan “Hulks-up” shaking as if he’s having an epileptic seizure. Hulk smash! Big boot. Leg drop. Robinson slaps a slow count and the crowd boos. Flair suplexs Hogan but he no-sells it getting back to his feet as quickly as he hit the mat. Flair begs off. Hogan slams Flair twice into the cage. Hogan goes for a third but Robinson steps in his way. Flair shoves Hogan into Robinson.
Arn Anderson beats up David on the outside. Torrie Wilson leaps onto Anderson’s back. He dumps her on the floor. Anderson hands Flair a tire iron. The Nature Boy KO’s Hogan applying the Figure Four. Charles Robinson delivers a lickity-split three count. Flair is champ again and as per the match stipulation, WCW Commissioner “for life”.
- The next WCW pay-per-view is Spring Stampede on April 11th, 1999.
WCW Uncensored ’99 Results
Mickey Whipwreck (challenger) Vs Billy Kidman (champion) (WCW Cruiserweight Title Match)
- A match of the year candidate. Buffalo native and former ECW grappler Whipwreck has a very…very…very…impressive WCW debut.
- Kidman hits the Shooting Star Press for the win.
- Winner: …and still WCW Cruiserweight Champion…Billy Kidman at 14 minutes and 42 seconds.
- Match Rating: 10 / 10.
Vincent Vs Stevie Ray (Harlem Street Fight)
- Whoever comes out on top will be the leader of the nWo Black And White.
- Ray and Vincent battle in the ring and the audience.
- Horace Boulder tosses Vincent the slap-jack at 6:28 saying to the camera “I don’t care who wins. I am the leader!”.
- Ray kicks the slap-jack out of Vincent’s hand and executes the Slap-Jack.
- Winner: Stevie Ray at 6 minutes and 28 seconds.
- Match Rating: 2 / 10.
Kevin Nash Vs Rey Mysterio Jr.
- G.I. Rey is manhandled like a small child.
- Lex Luger trips up Rey while Nash has the official distracted. Nash Jackknifes his way to a victory.
- Winner: Kevin Nash at 5 minutes and 37 seconds.
- Match Rating: 5 / 10.
Jerry Flynn Vs Sonny Ono and The Cat
- Did Thunder switch nights?
- Flynn hurls The Cat into Ono. Ono falls into the ring. Flynn rolls up Ono.
- Winner: Jerry Flynn at 7 minutes and 9 seconds.
- Match Rating: 1 / 10.
Bam Bam Bigelow Vs Hak Vs Raven (Raven Rules – Three Way Match)
- ECW! ECW! ECW! Yeah, baby!
- The best match on the card.
- Oars, electric fans, mail boxes, chairs, tables, garbage cans, cookie sheets and fire extinguishers make for a wickedly wild bout. Match of the year candidate.
- Every time the crowd begins to chant ECW! ECW! the producers turn down the volume to cut their chant off the broadcast.
- Raven Evenflows Hak at 11:45. Chastity hands Raven some electrical tape. Raven ties Hak’s hands behind his back and chair shots him in the head about half a dozen times.
- Bam Bam sneaks up from behind and brings Raven down with the Greetings From Asbury Park. Chastity sprays a fire extinguisher in Bigelow’s face as he climbs to the top rope.
- Chastity turns on Raven spraying him in the face too and head-butting him in the crotch. Hak gets the pinfall. Chastity leaves with Hak.
- Winner: At 14 minutes and 30 seconds, Hak.
- Match Rating: 10 / 10.
Barry Windham and Curt Hennig (champions) Vs Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit (challengers) (WCW World Tag Team Title – Lumberjack Strap Match)
- Lumberjacks surround the ring armed with leather straps. If any wrestler leaves or is thrown out of the ring it’s their job to whip him unmercifully and throw him back in. They do so and often! Koolness.
- Hennig signals to one of the lumberjacks who is Kendall Windham, Barry’s brother. Arn Anderson approaches the ringside area and takes Chris Adams’ place evening the odds.
- Anderson clobbers Hennig with the tire iron. Benoit hits the Swan Dive for the 1-2-3.
- Winners: …and new WCW World Tag Team Champions…Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko at 15 minutes and 57 seconds.
- Match Rating: 8 / 10.
Chris Jericho Vs Saturn (Dog Collar Match)
- Saturn is sporting a new Marilyn Manson-like look complete with a leather bodice, eye-liner, black lipstick and contacts which make his eyes glow yellow. Yikes!
- Stalling, Jericho demands Ralphus put on the dog collar. Ralphus smartly refuses. Jericho sends him to the locker room.
- Jericho kicks out of the Death Valley Driver. Saturn escapes the Lion Tamer by wrapping the chain around Jericho’s throat.
- A second DVD puts out Jericho’s lights.
- Winner: Saturn at 11 minutes and 39 seconds .
- Match Rating: 7 / 10.
Scott Steiner (champion) Vs Booker T. (challenger) (WCW Television Title Match)
- Is it just me or does Scott Steiner look like a younger “Superstar” Billy Graham?
- Buff interferes every chance he gets.
- Steiner holds Booker T. Bagwell swings a chair. Booker ducks and Steiner is knocked for a loop. Booker kicks the chair into Bagwell’s skull. A stunned Booker T. pins Steiner.
- Winner: …and new WCW TV Champion…Booker T .
- Match Rating: 7 / 10.
Ric Flair (challenger) Vs Hollywood Hogan (champion) (WCW World Heavyweight Title – Steel Cage – First Blood Match)
- Winner: …and new WCW World Heavyweight Champion…Ric Flair at 14 minutes and 16 seconds .
- Match Rating: 7 / 10.
- Total Event Time: 2 hours and 40 minutes.
- Overall Event Rating: 8 / 10.
