From a management standpoint, you can say that WCW is in disarray. It is fair to state that interest in WCW has plummeted since many of their key superstars were sidelined by injuries or selfishly refuse to return, making themselves part of the problem and not the solution. You can say that years of generating a shoddy product has knocked WCW out of their Big Two status. You’d be right about all those things. Though, no one can deny the fact that like a dazed boxer staggering around the ring throwing jabs into thin air, WCW won’t go down without a fight. In the long run, perseverance and hard work is what might bring back the glory to a company that has such a rich wrestling history.
If WCW’s management and talent approaches every project like they did the Uncensored pay-per-view last night, a triumphant comeback may be months not years away. You know you are pointed in the right direction when even mid-card wrestlers like Brian Knobbs and Crowbar make fans sit up and take notice. Though what Crowbar did – being thrown off a 20 foot scaffold through a stage by The Wall – was an act of stupidity. That goes for what New Jack and Grimes did at Living Dangerously as well. These death-defying bumps have got to stop before someone ends up crippled. Enough is enough. Risking your body to please the fans is one thing. Risking your life is foolish.
Matching the intrigue of the last good WCW pay-per-view – Mayhem – the bookers did present enough surprises during the show to compensate for the mediocre bouts. Uncensored was a throwback to the eighties where WCW didn’t have the big names so they relied on quality storylines to survive.
Shuffling the World Heavyweight Title match to the second last match on the card (behind the Hogan and Flair strap match) may be an indication that WCW has come to their senses and realized that Sid Vicious is not someone you build a federation around. The switch was played out all the way with a stunned Vicious being told in the locker room that he was up next. Jeff Jarrett cut his usual promo in the ring. The company has screwed him. He’s the “chosen one”. Yadda. Yadda. Yadda. All the while a mysterious black limousine sat outside housing Jarrett’s “insurance policy”. Jarrett promised that if he won the WCW World Title that the nWo girls would strip for the crowd. Anyone understanding WCW’s strict policy on its content knew that Jarrett was therefore destined to lose.
Until the Harris Brothers interfered mid-way through the match, Sid dominated. Slammed on the announcer’s table and taking a water bottle to the head and an axe handle from Vicious, Jarrett called in the troops. The Harris Brothers beat Vicious back to the ring allowing Jarrett to catch a breather. With the champ softened up, Jarrett let loose stomping and punching Sid. Jarrett’s sleeper hold brought Vicious to his knees. Drawing on the crowd for support, Vicious raised his arm before it could fall a third time and elbowed his way out of the submission hold. Sensing the tide was about to change, the Harris Brothers attacked again. The plan backfired with Jarrett getting his with the World Title belt by mistake. Vicious got a two count.
Jarrett deliberately elbowed the official in the face so that he could guitar shot Vicious. As Sid and the ref lay out like a light, Jarrett signaled to someone at the entrance way. Out came the nWo referee. The ref was about to slap three for Jarrett when Hulk Hogan pulled the official out of the ring and throttled him. Hogan fought off the Harris Brothers and hit the Leg Drop on Jarrett. Hogan pulled Sid on top of Jarrett. Vicious was granted a three count to retain the WCW World Heavyweight Title. Out of nowhere, Scott Steiner hit Hogan with a guitar from behind. The Harris Brothers put the boots to Hogan. Sid made the save sending the nWo scurrying from the ring.
Ignoring his elaborate ring entrance, Ric Flair immediately began whipping Hogan, jump-starting their strap match. Flair and Hogan went on to deliver an intense strap match that surpassed anyone’s initial expectations. Both Flair and Hogan were covered in blood by the time Hogan rammed the Big Foot into Flair’s face to pick up the win.
WCW’s next pay-per-view is Spring Stampede on April 16th.
WCW Uncensored 2000 Results
- Right before Uncensored’s opening, a crowd shot slipped onto the air showing a fan’s sign that read “I’d rather be at WrestleMania”. How embarrassing. A black limo sits outside containing Jarrett’s insurance policy. It eventually is revealed to be Scott Steiner.
Psychosis (challenger) Vs The Artist (champion) (WCW Cruiserweight Title Match)
- Chris Candido joins the broadcast booth. He wants to be called “Hard Knox” Candido from now on. He complains about his valet (Tammy Stych) not being signed saying she is the best in the business. Paisley and Juvie scuffle outside the ring. Paisley rips off Juvie’s shirt and whips him with it. Psychosis is distracted. The Artist impales the Psycho-One with a second rope, flying DDT.
- Winner: and still Cruiserweight Champion…The Artist at 7 minutes and 20 seconds.
- Match Rating: 6 / 10.
Rave, Lane Vs The Demon, Norman Smiley
- The team of Demon and Smiley are referred to as the “Screaming Demons”.
- Norman comes out of the Demon’s Casket-like prop dressed like a member of Kiss. Too funny. Miss Hancox joins the broadcast team complaining about how Rave and Lane have treated her. Norman wins the match for his team with the Norman Conquest. Lane and Rave run away with Miss Hancox. The Demon and Smiley free her from their clutches. The Demon, Miss Hancox and the referee get Big Wiggle dances lessons from Norman.
- Winners: The Screaming Demons at 3 minutes and 40 seconds.
- Match Rating: 2 / 10.
The Wall Vs Bam Bam Bigelow
- Kick, punch and stomp fest that concludes (for no apparent reason) with Bam Bam slammed though a table on which computer monitors are resting. A nice effect has the monitors sparking and smoking following the slam. Bigelow is hoisted on a stretcher. David Flair and Crowbar punk The Wall. He easily takes them out. Crowbar and The Wall continue their fight on a scaffold-like balcony 20 feet above the stage. The Wall chokeslams Crowbar off the scaffold and through the stage below. The announcers hype the assault throughout the rest of the pay-per-view disturbingly mirroring Owen Hart’s accident at Over The Edge. Mark Madden even suggests that it might be prudent to stop the pay-per-view. The angle is in really bad taste considering Hart’s tragic death is still fresh in people’s minds.
- Winner: Not sure. Since Bigleow can’t continue, we assume The Wall at 3 minutes and 37 seconds.
- Match Rating: 2 / 10.
Three Count (champions) Vs Brian Knobbs (challenger) (Hardcore Title – Gauntlet Match)
- Brain Knobbs turns a corner in his career with this match proving that in spite of his personality, he can be a legitimate singles wrestler. This is the best work he’s done since his Nasty Boys days. Three Count splash Knobbs from the top of a ladder. Knobbs pins Helms at 3:03 by putting a chair over his head and striking it with a broom. Knobbs is victorious over Evan when he powerbombs him over the top rope through a table. A flying body splash with a trash can on Shannon wins Knobbs the Hardcore Title. Three Count is no longer the Hardcore Champions. Ah, everything is right with the world again. Whew!
- Winner: and new Hardcore Champion…Brian Knobbs at 7 minutes and 5 seconds.
- Match Rating: 7 / 10.
Harlem Heat Vs Booker, Kidman
- Booker is way over with the crowd which makes you wonder why he isn’t the United States Champion already. Kidman does a Sunset Flip off the top rope. Booker then executes a Harlem Side-Kick to hand Harlem Heat a loss.
- Winners: Kidman, Booker at 6 minutes and 55 seconds.
- Match Rating: 4 / 10.
Fit Finlay Vs Vampiro
- This one is insane. Things get really out of control as Finlay and Vampiro emerge from a washroom they’ve brawled in. There are so many fans filling the concourse the wrestlers have little room to move and the cameraman keeps getting pushed around. A member of the WCW Event Security is even punched in the face by an out of control fan. Vampiro comes out the winner and celebrates in the crowd. Vampiro is so over, he should get a big push and he is on the receiving end of one later in the show.
- Winner: Vampiro at 8 minutes and 58 seconds .
- Match Rating: 5 / 10.
The Mamalukes (champions) Vs The Harris Brothers (WCW World Tag Team Championship Match)
- Disco, The Bull and Vito take a tag belt to the head. An H Bomb puts the belts around the undeserving waists of the no-talent Harris Brothers. Bad move, WCW. Really bad move.
- Winners: …and new WCW World Tag Team Champions, The Harris Brothers at 8 minutes and 45 seconds.
- Match Rating: 6 / 10.
Dustin Rhodes Vs Terry Funk (Texas Bullrope Match)
- Wicked. Wicked. Wicked. That old veteran Terry Funk sure brings out the best in anyone he is slotted to work with. Some guy in a chicken suit is introduced as Dustin’s brother. Dustin flips out and throws him hard into the steel fence. Half-way through, Funk grabs the mike and tells the ref that the match is now under “I Quit” rules. The ref argues with Funk. What a mistake. Funk says…”You’re full of s–t” and labels him a good one. Funks hits Rhodes in the head so many times with the cowbell that he cries uncle. The submission is discounted by the ref. Rhodes piledrives Funk onto the cowbell to put him away. Kicking effort by Funk and Rhodes.
- Winner: Dustin Rhodes at 8 minutes and 38 seconds.
- Match Rating: 8 / 10.
Sting Vs Lex Luger (Lumberjack Cast Match)
- Just when you’re wondering why all the people that have had their arms broken by The Wrestler Formerly Known As Lex Luger don’t exact revenge on the muscle-bound dolt, they do. They are Sting’s chosen lumberjacks. Harlem Heat, The Harris Brothers and a few others are The Wrestler Formerly Known As Lex Luger’s. Seeing them at ringside, Luger apologizes to the lumberjacks. They don’t buy what he’s selling. A brawl breaks out between the lumberjacks and they disappear up the entrance way….everyone except Vampiro, that is. Ric Flair attempts a run-in with steel chair. Vampiro cuts him off at the pass. Liz uses a bat on Sting. Vampiro takes the bat from her and nails The Wrestler Formerly Known As Lex Luger as he has Sting in the Torture Rack. Sting wins with the Scorpion Death Drop. Vampiro and Sting shake hands. Sting and Vampiro fit well as comrades. Excellent booking on WCW’s part. Sting’s recognition of Vampiro improves his status in the company.
- Winner: Sting at 6 minutes and 57 seconds.
- Match Rating: 5 / 10.
Jeff Jarrett (challenger) Vs Sid Vicious (champion) (WCW World Heavyweight Title Match)
- Winner: …and still WCW World Heavyweight Champion…Sid Vicious at 7 minutes and 34 seconds.
- Match Rating: 6 / 10.
Hulk Hogan Vs Ric Flair (Strap Match)
- Winner: Hulk Hogan at 14 minutes and 10 seconds.
- Match Rating: 8 / 10.
- Total Event Time: 2 hours and 37 minutes
- Overall Event Rating: 7 / 10.
