Here we are yet again to discuss wrestling events from the past. Each and every week without a major wrestling event, the hosts of the At Odds with Wrestling podcast still need something wrestling related to watch in their free time. Joe and Adam alternate weeks, and this is a Joe week which means we’re continuing to view WCW from January to April of 2000, the time in between Vince Russo’s reigns as booker. Chaos, injuries, and maybe an overuse of certain people. Today we watched an episode of the Superstation staple, taking place a mere 8 days before the next pay per view, SuperBrawl. 

The commentary team tonight is Scott Hudson and Bobby “the Brain” Heenan. Over the course of two hours (less minus commercials and even less minus the recaps of Nitro and Thunder) these two made me laugh and made me cringe. Hey, not every one liner is going to be a winner. Overall though they were enjoyable. Not the best duo but also far from the worst. 

Frankie Lancaster vs the Maestro. 

What would you have if you took Gorgeous George and removed all of the charisma and effeminate routines? I guess you get the Maestro. He’s an alright wrestler, but then what is there? Maybe I should blame the bookers. I mean, I enjoyed the Maestro when Peter David was booking him. The match is there. Maestro wins. Symphony celebrates and Scott Hudson gets in the line of the night, “she loves her pianist”. 

Also, the announcers are already speculating that the main event of SuperBrawl could change, so expect some shenanigans on the upcoming Nitro and Thunder, which will also be future homework assignments. 

On the WCW Saturday Night set, Scott Hudson and Brain have some silly interactions. Nothing really worth recapping. A vain attempt to recapture the glory of Prime Time Wrestling. 

The Power Company vs Mark Jindrak and Elix Skipper. 

Cardboard signs! Nothing symbolizes the class of pro wrestling more than cardboard signs. Wasn’t one of the guys in Power Company on the Marty Jannety episode of Dark Side of the Ring? Jindrak comes out like he just got off the basketball court. Power Company have an earlier miscommunication that sets up another one later in the match. Jindrak has a hell of a vertical jump. Elix works maybe 95% of the match for his team. Power Company has a good what I assume would be their finisher if Mark hadn’t broken it up. There’s the other miscommunication and Jindrak gets the hot tag. Elix with a dropkick to pin one Power while Mark comes off the top with a clothesline to hold off the other member of the Company, and the Power Plant graduates get the pin. I’m saving some thoughts until the end of the show. 

Disco Inferno (with the Mamalukes) vs “Bad” Barry Horowitz.

Barry looks good here. My only issue is he’s being booked as a random jobber along with many other wrestlers on the show yet reference is made to his long history in wrestling. He’s either familiar or he’s not.  Barry does pretty well here too. Honestly, it’s his match to win until he gets too cocky and starts to celebrate which is when Disco takes advantage. I would have liked to have seen Barry’s figure four using his arms fully locked in. Disco hits Last Dance for the pin. 

Buzzkill vs Bobby Eaton. 

I don’t know who was the heel and who was the face here. It really doesn’t matter because the match is over quickly when not the Road Dogg hits the Buzzkiller for the pin. Again, I have thoughts on who is on the card and how they’re booked but that is for the end. 

There are recaps of Nitro and Thunder but as we’ve been watching those episodes for homework and already covered them there I’m not bothering to go over them again here. 

Shark Boy vs “Screamin” Norman Smiley. 

Not yet the Steve Austin version of Shark Boy. However he is already charismatic and there always seems to be that one independent wrestler who is doing something different enough to get noticed. Not saying they’re good or bad or should be signed, but there’s always that one that gets a buzz. OC, Warhorse, Blue Kane, just out of recent memory. I’ve most likely made the joke before, but “Hardcore Wiggler” doesn’t sound like a nickname for a wrestler but more a product that would ship in plain brown packaging for your privacy. Shark Boy bites the wiggler. He also gets in a surprising amount of offense. Norman ends up getting the win with the Norman Conquest. 

Evan Karagias (with the rest of 3 Count) vs Adrien Byrd. 

Hey, Byrd has a good build to him. Where the hell did he go? He reminds me of Jonathan Gresham. Byrd looks good until the referee is distracted and Shane hits Byrd with one of 3 Count’s dance circles so Evan can get the pin. 

The Mamalukes (WCW tag team champions, with Disco Inferno) vs Idol and Lane – sometimes called 2XS. 

Disco showing off a can of Surge. I think I still have a couple of the WCW cans somewhere. Remember when Surge came back a year or so ago and we ended up not caring? Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be. Anyways, Scott and Steve Armstrong come out to watch the match. The announcers talk a lot about SuperBrawl, and how hot the nWo girls are – so that should give you an idea of the quality of this match. The Armstrongs pull down the top rope, causing 2XS to fall to the floor. Then they attack Disco and the Mamalukes? I don’t understand this. I must have forgotten the Armstrongs tag team title push. Maybe they didn’t want a hot up and coming tag team like 2XS to eat a pin. 

Villano IV and Villano V vs the Harris Brothers. 

“The Harris Boys aren’t wearing masks.” You know, sometimes the jokes write themselves. Double flapjack which the Brain has never seen before and the Harris Brothers get the pin to win a nothing match. 

Sid Vicious (WCW World champion) vs Al Green. 

3 minutes left in the show, which is one minute for each move. Big kick, chokeslam, power bomb, pin. I feel like WCW was attempting to recreate the aura around Goldberg with Sid. The Harris Brothers come in to attack Sid, and Jeff Jarrett shows up as well. 

This entire show feels like a small southern promotion has a deal with WCW. Once a year when WCW is in the area they allow some of their wrestlers to be on the local groups big show of the year. Showcase some local talent, maybe there’s some older wrestlers who settled in the area and work the territory often. Raise money for some charity because Sid will be there. Why do I keep wanting to use NWA Wildside as an example? Anyways, if this was the local small promotion that gets a big time rub (buy one with the Hardcore Wiggler and save on shipping) then I would think it was a perfectly fine show and a good night out. As the (then) current state of what was once the flagship show of WCW it feels like how far the mighty have fallen. 

I’m sure Nitro and Thunder will be nothing but quality matches and logical stories!