Look at that date. March. We’re almost at the end of this project. As a hanger on to the At Odds with Wrestling podcast, I give my thoughts every time there’s a homework assignment. This long homework, more of a term paper, looks at the era of WCW wrestling in between Vince Russo being fired and then re-hired which is most famously known as the night they stripped everyone of their titles. As has been established the entire time, none of this is good. Some matches are better than others. There’s potential here. But poor decisions are made at every turn which result in a horrible show. This is the era of WCW that no one planned to watch. If you’re home you might turn it on, but it was not destination programming. There’s no reason to get into the moves and holds of matches because all of it feels like it’s just there to kill an average of 3 minutes of TV time before the finish. I can only hope that the next long form homework after this is through will be more enjoyable. 

This episode takes place from Fargo, North Dakota. Mike Tenay and Bobby “the Brain” Heenan make the call. 

Sid has arrived at the arena, and he got what he wanted from Terry Taylor. 

The Artist Known as Prince Iaukea (with Paisley) (also he’s the Cruiserweight champion) vs. Chavo Guerrero, Jr. 

Where has Chavo been? This is a new face during this era of WCW that apparently we could have seen just to freshen things up. Chavo could have gotten a good match out of the Artist. We’ll never know though because instead we get our first overbooked moment of the night. Paisley distracts the referee. Way too soon and way too obviously. The Artist gets the title from her, and he hits Chavo with it. The ref sees this and calls for the DQ. Chavo hits a dropkick which knocks the title into the Artist’s chest. The Artist is out meanwhile Chavo is no selling the similar attack to him that was done moments earlier. 

Mean Gene interviews Team Package, and this is actually a fun promo. 

Dustin Rhodes walks. Lot of walking on these shows, just to eat up time. 

Mean Gene interviews Chavo and apparently Chavo has been gone because he went broke? Was there some sort of Cameron Grimes type story with Chavo going broke and then getting money? I don’t care enough to look it up. 

Dustin Rhodes is out to talk. Earlier in the day he attacked Terry Funk at an autograph signing. I want more real world attacks in my wrestling. You hate someone? Go after them in public. Dustin can’t find support to set up a table. He makes with a plan B and then we’re back to live in the arena. Funk attacks Dustin. There are a lot of dangerous looking chairshots here. I believe I counted four. Security comes out, one of them takes the shittiest punch I’ve ever seen and then pops back up quicker than Chavo Guerrero. 

Mean Gene talks to the Harris Brothers and Jeff Jarrett who brings up their “strong bloodline”. That has to be on purpose. The nWo has decided that one of the girls has to go. They fly in on “Air Force Chosen One” which I laughed at. There will be a series of contests tonight to decide who stays and who goes. “We’re all pulling for each and every one of them.” I mean, I think I’ve only ever pulled to one of them, but I don’t keep a record of things like that. 

Sid, Kidman (with Torrie), and Booker all talk. 

3 Count (Hardcore champions) come out to dance. Brian Knobbs brings out the Dog. Knobbs, Dog, and Finlay take on 3 Count. Couldn’t they find matching clothes for the Dog? The no selling super strong Dog. Dog comes off the top and puts Shane through a table for his team to get the pin. Dog looks great here, but to what end? He’s not Rey Mysterio. 

Mean Gene talks to the dubbed La Parka. 

Gene is back in the nWo locker room for a spelling bee. Pamela Paulshock wins for spelling “rat”. 

This is not meant to be crass, but are they just being assholes to pop the boys? This is like hearing about what rock stars do to groupies on buses. Did Pam say she would do anything to get on TV, and they took advantage of that? I don’t know if I should feel bad for her or not. 

Demon vs La Parka. 

Looks alone, this should be a cool match. La Parka’s blue gear blends into the ring mat too well. We get to see the KISS elbow! La Parka gets the win with a corkscrew moonsault and I feel bad for the Demon who is not terrible but is just made to look like a fool every time. 

Nick Patrick wakes up Slick Johnson. It’s ball shaving o’clock! 

The nWo now has a test of strength and Pam beats Gene arm wrestling. Bigger chest muscles. 

Sting promo. Lex and Liz walk. Vampiro walks. Ms Hancock talks to Buff on the KidCam and offers her managerial services but he has to concentrate on his match. 

Lex Luger (with Elizabeth) vs Vampiro. 

Lex bumps for everyone. He’s the most under rated person in this era. Lex plays possum and lures Vampiro in. Brain mentions how jacked Lex is. Vampiro starts to get in some offense which is when Ric Flair comes out. Vampiro fights off both. He is clearly stalling. Finally Liz hits him with a bat. Lex puts Vampiro in the torture rack for the win. Flair and Lex beat up Vampiro and do the spot where they break his arm in the chair. I didn’t even know Vampiro and Hulk Hogan were friends. 

Vampiro is backstage at an ambulance, and Finlay attacks him again. Which goes no where again. 

Mark Johnson vs Mikey Jay. 

So little talent the referees have to wrestle. Nick Patrick gives Mickey Jay a roll of quarters, which he hits Slick with and gets the pin. 

More walking. 

The nWo have a swimsuit contest. The focus is all on tops and no bottoms. As a Billy Gunn aficionado, I call foul. Pam wins this one too. 

Crowbar (with David Flair and Daffney) vs the Wall. 

Hey, the Wall went with the sleeveless look tonight. Wall takes unprotected chair shot number 5 of the evening. The Wall flies off the apron and sends Crowbar through the announce table. The bell rings, why? Count out? DQ? Crowbar gets loaded onto a stretcher. This moment was clearly made to put over the Wall but WCW is at a point where no one cares. No one is invested so big moments like this, that should have been moments, are all but forgotten. 

Mean Gene interviews Sid, Kidman, and Booker – then he’s back to the nWo locker room. Pam wins and it’s a three way tie for last. Ok, but they’re only getting rid of one. So the other three gang up on Pam, why? Because they’re such good friends they don’t want any of them to leave? I guess when you’re on the road with the same girls every week escorting (ahem) men to the ring you get to be tight (ahem) with each other. The other three girls quickly attack Pamela to make her “ugly” thus she loses and the other three can stay. 

Scene of Crowbar in an ambulance. Brain says the announce table weighs thousands of pounds. 

Buff Bagwell vs Ric Flair. 

There’s some mention of Liz using the bat. “I thought it was Mark McGuire.” No, but they probably have the same doctor. This isn’t great, but it’s not awful. Younger talent in with a legend. It’s like the Cope Open. Lex and Liz are out. Liz with the distraction, Lex hits Buff with the belt, Flair makes the pin. They beat up Buff some more and of all people Curt Hennig makes the save. 

More walking. Pam is crying. Buff sees her and offers to comfort her with a “little something to cheer her up”. It’s all in how you use it. 

Harris Brothers and Jeff Jarrett vs. Sid Vicious, Kidman, and Booker. 

4 minutes left in the show. Everyone is in the ring. Booker knocks people out of there. Sid hits a chokeslam and powerbomb. A Harris breaks up the pin. Kidman goes for a missile dropkick but misses and hits Booker. Jarrett then pins Booker. The nWo beats everyone up and Sid takes a chair shot as the show goes off the air. 

This is supposedly a multi million dollar international company that is booked like an independent with the same 20 guys who live within an hour of the VFW hall. Then they get an old WWF talent to wrestle at the big shows once every couple months. There’s nothing wrong with a promotion like that. But it doesn’t deserve two prime time cable shows a week.