You know, so few are picking DDP to win that I think I will. Somehow, he’ll sneak out with the title, but not before punking Sting and turning heel. People will love to boo him after his ridiculously out-of-control push. – Greg Oliver – Countdown to Spring Stampede.
Heed the words of the “Goliver” for he speaks the truth.
Diamond Dallas Page’s ceaseless mega push climaxed last night in his first ever world title win in the four-man, Texas Tornado rules bout headlining the Spring Stampede pay-per-view. Page, a close friend of WCW Vice-President Eric Bischoff, bested Hollywood Hogan, Ric Flair and an inexhaustible Sting with an assist from special guest referee – Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage.
Insert collective groans here.
Once the flamboyant ring entrances were concluded Hogan squared off with Flair outside the ring, Sting and DDP on the inside. Sting, whose hiatus from wrestling definitely rejuvenated the exuberance he’s known for, sought to end things early. Flair made the save pulling Sting off DDP.
Paired off again, DDP and Sting brawled in the ringside area. Hogan hit the Leg Drop on Flair. Sting fouled up Hogan’s three count. Flair (the WCW World Heavyweight Champion going into the match) wrapped Hogan in the Figure Four. Hogan muscled out reversing the hold but Diamond Dallas Page grabbed onto Hogan’s legs from outside the ring and stole a page from Bret Hart’s book by putting on a figure four around the steel ring post. The Stinger broke the hold.
WCW trainer Danny Young ran down to ringside as Hollywood Hogan limped around unable to stand or continue the match. Leaning on Young for support, Hogan hobbled up the aisle to the entrance way holding his knee. A concerned Eric Bischoff appeared to assess the situation. Hogan did not return to action.
Sting and Flair duked it out from pillar to post. DDP smartly watched the action from a neutral corner. Sting let out a trademark Stinger yell clotheslining Flair over the top rope to the floor. DDP snuck up on Sting cinching on the Diamond Cutter. The Dark Warrior grabbed the top rope disabling DDP’s finishing move bulldogging him. Sting has his tombstone piledriver countered and was driven into the canvass. Flair cut the three count short. A double sleeper hold ensued as Flair put one on Sting and DDP did the same to Flair. A double jaw-breaker from Sting broke the holds. Sting fought off both men clotheslining them. A Scorpion Death Lock on Flair was broken up by DDP.
In the middle of the ring, Flair put Sting in the Figure Four Leg Lock. Macho Man, who appeared to be impartial thus far, dragged Flair and Sting into the middle of the ring. Climbing to the top rope, Macho dropped his patented Flying Elbow Smash on Flair severing the submission hold. Kicking up his feet and relaxing, Macho reclined in a corner playing to the adoring crowd. DDP stomped on a weakened Sting to make sure he couldn’t interfere then he nailed Flair with a Diamond Cutter for the win.
- The next WWF pay-per-view is Slamboree on May 5th.
WCW Spring Stampede ’99 Results
Blitzkrieg Vs Juvie Guerrera
- It is announced that the winner will get a shot at the Cruiserweight champ on the next Nitro.
- Question: Why do most luchadores look like they raided a Power Rangers’ wardrobe closet? Tacky. Tacky. Tacky.
- Guerrera poleaxes Blitzkrieg with a Juvie-Driver off the top rope.
- Winner: Juvie Guerrera at 11 minutes and 11 seconds.
- Match Rating: 6 / 10.
Hak Vs Bam Bam Bigelow
- WCW does ECW.
- Whatever they are paying these guys it ain’t enough.
- Bam Bam brings a crate of plunder to the ring.
- Bigelow and Hak keep lucrative table manufacturing business across America thriving.
- Hak and Bigelow battle to the Stampede set adjacent to the entrance way. Gee. There just happens to be a table buried under all that hay. Bigelow is positioned on the table. Sandman…I mean…Hak…does a rolling splash off the top of a stage coach prop onto Bam Bam splintering the table. Impressive move for a man that size.
- The durable Hak takes several horrendous bumps including one off a ladder inside the ring onto a table set-up on the floor.
- Chastity runs in with a fire extinguisher. Darn. The blasted thing is somehow jammed. Bigelow sprays her out of the ring with it. Hak does the Singapore Cane – Leg Sweep. Bigelow crushes the life out of Hak by delivering the Greetings From Asbury Park off the top rope and onto a table.
- Winner: Bam Bam Bigelow at 11 minutes and 29 seconds.
- Match Rating: 8 / 10.
Scotty Riggs Vs Mikey Whipwreck
- Introducing ‘Ravishing’ Scotty Riggs. No kidding, folks. Riggs regurgitates each and every Rick Rude styling including gyrating his hips over a fallen Whipwreck. How sad.
- A flying forearm to Whipwreck’s head ends the agony of another recycled gimmick.
- Winner: Scotty Riggs at 6 minutes and 38 seconds.
- Match Rating: 2 / 10.
Konnan Vs Disco Inferno
- Konnan insults Disco’s wardrobe of a cowboy hat, camouflage pants and a glitter shirt. For once K-Dawg has a point even if the constant references to fruit don’t make sense. Disco puts the beat down on Konnan ruling the match. Konnan rallies for the win.
- Winner: Konnan at 9 minutes and 8 seconds.
- Match Rating: 4 / 10.
Kidman (challenger) Vs Rey Mysterio Jr. (champion) (WCW Cruiserweight Title Match)
- G.I. Mysterio is on patrol in his matching camouflage outfit.
- Too much of a good thing. Kidman and Mysterio are starting to repeat themselves and their previous matches.
- Mysterio drills Kidman with a Frankensteiner from the top rope for the 1-2-3.
- Winner: …and still WCW Cruiserweight Champion…Rey Mysterio Jr at 15 minutes and 31 seconds.
- Match Rating: 6 / 10.
Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit Vs Raven, Saturn
- Raven is waaay over with the fans. It’s about bleeding time the former ECW champion caught on. The Benoit and Malenko (The Vanilla Midgets as they are called) – play the heels as Arn Anderson can’t keep his nose out of the match. The “Horsemen suck!” chant runs wild.
- A lesson in what makes for great tag team wrestling.
- Raven Evenflows Malenko on a steel chair. Anderson creeps in placing the chair over Raven’s head. Benoit does his Flying Headbutt from the top rope connecting with Raven’s head and the steel chair. Malenko covers.
- Benoit is bleeding from a cut over his eye and is helped to the back by Anderson and Malenko.
- Winners: Malenko, Benoit at 14 minutes and 10 seconds.
- Match Rating: 8 / 10.
Booker T (challenger) Vs Scott Steiner (challenger) (U.S. Title Match)
- Steiner treads some REALLY dangerous territory arguing and taking swings at the ringside fans. What a grumpy Gus. Lighten up, buddy. The fans get revenge on the abuse heaped upon them by chanting “Steroids! Sterioids!”. Bah. Ha. Ha.
- Steiner’s antics and Booker’s energy get the crowd into this one.
- A hard fought match when Steiner isn’t posing or challenging fans. Booker goes for a suplex. Steiner whacks him in the head with an illegal object on the way down.
- Winner: …and new U.S. Champion…Scott Steiner at 14 minutes and 12 seconds .
- Match Rating: 7.5 / 10.
Kevin Nash Vs Bill Goldberg
- Nash leaps over Goldberg’s Spear. Uh-oh. Goldberg takes out the ref. Luger chair shots Goldberg across the back. Goldberg does a real bad atomic drop on Luger.
- Nash positions Goldberg for the Jack-Knife Powerbomb. Goldberg low-blows Nash and applies a Tongan Death Grip on Nash’s crotch. What the….? Spear. Jackhammer.
- The Kevin Nash move count hits five.
- Winner: Bill Goldberg at 7 minutes and 41 seconds .
- Match Rating: 4 / 10.
Hollywood Hogan (challenger) Vs Sting (challenger) Vs Ric Flair (champion) Vs Diamond Dallas Page (challenger) (WCW World Heavyweight Title – Texas Tornado Match)
- Winner: …and new WCW World Heavyweight Champion…Diamond Dallas Page at 17 minutes and 28 seconds .
- Match Rating: 7 / 10.
- Total Event Time: 2 hours and 50 minutes.
- Overall Event Rating: 7 / 10.