411 Video Review: Souled Out 2000

Live from Cincinnati, OH. Your hosts are Tony, Brain and Tenay.

Here’s the deal with this show-

The night after Starrcade, Bret, the Outsiders and Jeff Jarrett reformed the nWo. Their mission was to beat up Goldberg I believe while Jarrett was feuding with Benoit. They were also making life hell for Commissioner Funk. Problems immedately happened when Goldberg the genius punched a limousine and would be out till April. Sid was then inserted into the equation and it was basically nWo v. Funk, Jarrett and Sid. The big main events were-

WCW Title- Bret Hart v. Sid

US Title in a Triple Theatre Match- Jarrett v. Benoit

The TT match was gonna be three different stipulation matches between Benoit and Double J designed to steal the show. A programme involving Jarrett hating legends was also done and the week before Souled Out, Jarrett wrestled George “Animal” Steele, Tito Santana and “Superfly” Snuka. Bret Hart despite having a concussion thanks to Goldberg was working through it.

Then tragedy struck the weekend of Souled Out-

Doctors said Bret was in no condition to wrestle cause of his concussion so he’s gone. You still got Benoit and Jarrett right? Wrong. WCW was stupid enough to put Jarrett in three matches where he’d have to carry three out of shape legends in matches. They did this the week before the PPV as well. Well because of this- Jarrett had a concussion and his wife wouldn’t wrestle. So now WCW was without their two top champions THE WEEKEND OF THE SHOW. WCW contacted Flair, Hogan and Savage but they all said no. Vince Russo’s idea was to put the title on Tank Abbott. Not surprisingly Vince Russo was let go. WCW decided to put Kevin Sullivan as head booker and Nash, Ed Ferrerra, Terry Taylor, Bill Banks and JJ Dillion were on the booking committee as well. Dean Malenko, Eddy Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Perry Saturn, Shane Douglas, Rey Misterio, Konnan and Kidman were all really upset. Most were upset that Vince hadn’t been given a fair chance while Benoit was upset cause of his personal problems with Kevin Sullivan. To smooth things over WCW decided to do what you’re about to read. More in the bottom line.

Due to concussions to Bret and Jarrett they will not be in action and Sid takes on Benoit for the title. WE get footage of the injuries. Fucking Goldberg.

During the pre-game show the Revolution attacked Konnan so the 6-man tag is off. WCW runs down the card.

Also on this pre-game show Crowbar and David Flair attacked Vamp during the pre-show so its now a three-way. Mamalukes v. Harrises has been added.

Kidman v. Dean Malenko in a catch as catch can match

This is Dean’s last ever WCW match. Lockup- Dean pushes him back. Lockup- Dean gets headlock and takes him down. Dean takes him down again but Kidman comes back. Dean works on the arm. Dean toys with him and kicks him. Kidman misses dropkick but Kidman comes back an hammers away. Dean forgetting the rules rolls out. *1/2 Everyone stands around confused. What a last match for Dean.

We get clips from Thunder with Vamp beating Crowbar and someone screws up AGAIN dso we have extended crowd shots.

We finally cut to a video package of Crowbar, Daffney, Vamprio and David Flair. Somehow this involves the nWo and AA.

Scott Hudson is with Vampiro. Masa Chono shows up. WTF??

Mean Gene is with David Flair, Crowbar and Daffney.

Vampiro v. David Flair v. Crowbar in a three-way dance

David tries to use the crowbar but Vampiro takes both of them out. Vamp throws Flair out and beats on Crowbar. Crowbar gets a bridge suplex for two. Monkeyflip by Crowbar on Vamp but he lands on his feet. Vamp takes out Flair and does a suicide dive onto Crowbar. Flair does some wussy chops which Vamp no-sells. Vamp takes Crowbar out as the announcers talk about Ric Flair. Vamp chops David and even woooos. Vamp throws David Flair out and baseball slides both. Crowbar does a somsersault dive onto David and Vamp. Crowbar drops Vamp on ring apron and does a splash from the apron. David chops Vamp who shrugs it off and kicks his ass. Crowbar does a German Suplex on Vampiro and a slingshot guillotine legdrop for two. Vamp gets a vicious superplex- David saves. David and Crowbar beat on Vamp. Crowbar slams Flair onto Vamp for two. Suplex to Vamp-2. They badly botch some spot where Vamp was supposed to reverse a powerbomb and hit an X-Factor. Vamp beats on both and gets a urinage for two. Crowbar and Flair come back and Crowbar hits a top-rope splash. David gets a figure four with the wooo! Flair and Crowbar start to argue over who should win. Belly to back suplex by David and then kisses Daffney. Vamp rolls him up for two. Crowbar attacks but gets powerbombed. Vamp goes after Daff but David shows up and runs into Daffney. Nail in the Coffin wins it. **

Buff is here. Mean Gene is with the Mamalukes, Disco and Tony Marinara. Marinara leaves soon after and the Mamalukes yell at Disco.

The Harris Boys v. The Mamalukes

Harrises kick ass to start but Johnny the Bull comes back. Harrises bail. Vito takes down Harris and gets a headlock. Vito works him over and the Mamalukes kick ass. Harrises cheat making Johnny face-in-peril. Ron Harris ballshots Johnny in front of the ref and immediately claims he hit him elsewhere. Funny stuff. Johnny continues to get beat on as the crowd starts a loud boring chant. I don’t blame them. Disco Inferno interferes and somehow the Mamalukes win. Whatever. DUD

Madusa’s breasts and Spice talk backstage.

Oklahoma v. Madusa (w/Spice) for the WCW Cruiserweight Title

The joke was dead by this point. Oklahoma cuts a pre-match promo basically ripping off Jeff Jarrett. He makes fun of Madusa’s breasts redeeming it.

Madusa kicks his ass. Oklahoma gets some hair-mares but Madusa chops away and falls into his balls. Top-rope dropkick. Oklahoma blocks a dropkick and gets a DDT. Oklahoma goes to hit Spice with the BY GAWD SCALDED DAWG GOVERNMENT MULE BBQ SAUCE OF DEATH but Asya shows up and they kick his ass. Back in- Oklahoma gets a fluke rollup for the win. Horrible. -* Post-match the women and Asya poor the BY GAWD SCALDED DAWG GOVERNMENT MULE BBQ SAUCE OF DEATH into Oklahoma’s pants. O the hilarity.

Mean Gene is with Knobbs.

Brian Knobbs v. Fit Finlay v. Meng v. Norman Smiley in a four way dance for the WCW Hardcore Title

Meng fights off Finlay and Knobbs and Norman nails Meng with a garbage can which Meng no-sells. Norman uses a nightstick to beat on people. Basic hardcore madness. Norman and Finlay go into the crowd. More hardcore madness and Norm and Knobbs end up in the ring. Smiley goes for the Big Wiggle but gets nailed with police shield for the Knobbs win. Ѕ*

Kidman v. Perry Saturn in a bunkhouse match

Saturn kicks his ass. Kidman comes back with a near fall but gets crotched on rope. Saturn drops him on the outside for two. Back in- Saturn works him over. Kidman reverses suplex and gets a rollup for two. Saturn continues kicking his ass and gets some near falls. He even rips off his shirt and just continues to kill him. Saturn goes for a table but Kidman dives out after him. Kidman comes back with flying headscissors but runs into a clothesline. Flying elbow-2. Kidman gets a sunset flip for two. Saturn continues to just to kill him. The double feature replays are really annoying. Kidman of course blocks a powerbomb but Saturn does it again for two. Moonsault misses and Kidman gets a jumping bulldog. Powerbomb-2. Saturn suplexes himj out and Kidman goes through a table. That was sick. Kidman comes back and backdrops Saturn from the top rope. Kidman blocks a powerbomb and rams into the mat and that gets the pin?????????????? Insanely boring. *1/2

The announcers hype some matches. Stevie Ray hangs out with some homeboys people. This doesn’t look like Harlem at all. Embarrassingly bad. Mean Gene talks to Stevie Ray.

Booker T (w/Midnight) v. Stevie Ray

HARLEM HEAT EXPLODES! Booker cuts a promo pre-match. 110th Street is pretty scary- I’ll give him that. Booker sends Midnight to the back. Tony says the match is gonna get pretty ugly. Slugfest- Booker wins. Side kick and Stevie bails. Brawl on the outside and Booker comes in and gets a near fall. Blind charge eats elbow and Stevie gets a clothesline. Booker does the Rikishi sell. Stevie works him over. Brawl on the outside- Booker gets whipped into guard rail but comes back and kicks his ass. Stevie gets a powerslam for two. Chinlock by Stevie. Snapmare, elbow-2. Chinlock. ‘Back to doing what they do best’- Tenay. Booker reverses slapjack with backdrop. Booker gets some kicks and the Axe Kick. Spinaroonie and he gets the Bookend. AHMED JOHNSON???????????? Ahmed Johnson runs in for the DQ. A very fat Ahmed Johnson. Ahmed and Stevie beat on Booker and Midnight runs out. Ahmed does an ugly Pearl River Plunge and Stevie botches the slapjack. Crowd chants ‘Ahmed’. Stevie Ray offically names Ahmed ‘Big T’. Big T calls Booker a big fish. Good lord this was horrible. DUD

Mean Gene is with Sid. Didn’t understand a word.

Tank Abbott v. Jerry Lynn

We get a video package of this feud. Abbott kicks his ass. Lynn gets a cross-arm breaker. Abbott shrugs it off and punches Flynn out. The punches misses by a mile. DUD

Video package of DDP-Buff. It’s a shoot!

Diamond Dallas Page v. Buff Bagwell in a last man standing match

They taunt each other and start slugging it out. Brawl on the outside. Bagwell gets whipped into rail and they brawl into the crowd and in the penalty box. Back on the outside- Page gets whipped into rail and rammed into rail. In the ring DDP gets a neckbreaker. Bagwell blocks Diamond Cutter and gets neckbreaker. DDP comes back, stomps away and gets a clothesline. Cactus clothesline by DDP. They brawl up the entranceway and by wcw.com. They both nail each other with monitors. Keyboard gets used and Bagwell lays DDP out on table and climbs up the wcw.com wall and drops an elbow. They brawl back to the ring and Buff gets a ballshot and hammers and stomps away. Buff dances and flexes but DDP comes back and kicks hias ass. Balls meet turnbuckle. DDP’s back is bloody. Crows chants ‘D-D-P’. DDP misses blind charge and Buff gets a splash. They continue to slug it out. Buff gets a DDT. Both out. Belly to belly by Buff and he works him over. DDP up at nine. Buff beats him with a riot baton. DDP gets a Diamond Cutter as Kimberly comes out. Buff gets up first and wins the match. Intense match but too slow *** Buff jaws with Kimberly and DDP nails him with the baton. DDP leaves with Kim but looks unhappy.

The announcers discuss.

Kidman v. ??? in a Caged Heat Match

The mystery opponent is……Shane Douglas??? No wait- Shane just comes out to announce the mystery opponent. Shane cuts a boring promo that goes on forever and ever and bores everyone. The mystery opponent is…….THE WALL?????????? No one cares.

A caged heat match is basically a Hell in a Cell match. Kidman outsmarts him and uses a chair. Wall punches him in the face. Kidman continues to use his speed to not get killed. Wall gives him a shitkicking. Crowd is dead. Kidman comes back with a top-rope powerbomb for two. Wall gets a Samoan Drop but Kidman gets a suplex for two. Kidman blocks chokeslam with hurricarana. Cool spot. Kidman comes off the top and gets chokeslammed. Ѕ*

Video package of Nash-Funk.

Kevin Nash v. Terry Funk in a hardcore match- if Nash wins he becomes commissioner, if Funk wins nWo disband.

Kevin Nash kills him. Nash chairs him and Funk gets muted. Nash powerbombs him

through the announce table. HOLY SHIT! Funk blades.

Nash: Hey Funk. You know what- you got a lot of heart old man. You jut aint got no damn common sense. If you pull back in here you can keep your commisionership. If you pull back in here you can keep it. I’ll let you keep it if you can climb in the ring old man. (Funk climbs in) I’m a lying son of a bitch.

Nash beats the shit out of him. The match is now being shown from a wide angle cause of the blood. On the outside Nash kills him more. Funk throws chairs into the ring. Nash chairs him. Funk comes back with chairshots and a DDT for two. Nash chairs him in the head twice as Funk keeps fighting back and getting chairs. Nash soon powerbombs him on three chairs. Crowd goes crazy. Fun slaughter. **

Backstage- Benoit and Sid get ready. Scott Hudson is with Arn Anderson. Arn is saddened by Funk’s loss.

Chris Benoit v. Sid Vicious for the vacant WCW Title

Arn Anderson is special guest ref. Michael Buffer does intros. I wonder what Benoit was thinking going into this match. AA does an awesome little segment with both.

Sid overpowers him. The locker room empties as the wrestlers come out to watch. Sid clotheslines him out and press slams him. Sid just kills him on a suplex. Benoit dropkicks his knee and works on the knee. Brawl on the outside- Benoit kicks steps onto the knee. Benoit does it again and they continue to brawl on the outside. Figure four by Benoit. Sid turns it over. Benoit comes back and dropkicks his head. Benoit continues to work on the knee and gets a dragon screw for two. Benoit chops away. Snap suplex by Benoit for two. We get more shots of the wrestlers. Slugfest- Benoit goes to knee. Deathlock by Benoit and he works on the knee. Benoit throws him out. Back in- Sid starts to come back but Benoit dropkicks his knee. Benoit gets a German suplex but Sid blocks another one. Powerslam-2. Benoit gets an anklelock- Sid makes ropes. Another German by Benoit and he hits the diving headbutt for two. Sid kicks out WITH AUTHORITY. Awesome chokeslam by Sid- Benoit’s foot is under the bottom rope. Benoit hooks the Crossface and Sid taps immediately. Benoit wins the WCW Title. **1/4 In his last ever WCW match- Benoit won the title.

Mean Gene is with Benoit. I’m surprised Benoit didn’t quit right then and there. Benoit congratulates Sid and gives his victory speech. Double A shows up and congratulates him. Kevin Nash shows up and threatens Benoit. Maybe that’s why he quit. Announcers wrap it up. Tony calls Benoit ‘the future of WCW’.

The Bottom Line- The next night the shit really hit the fan. Benoit (despite being WCW champ), Dean, Perry, Eddy and Shane all got releases from the company from Bill Busch in a supremely stupid and idiotic move on Busch’s part. Kidman stayed with the promises of a big push which basically ended up him being a human pinball for Hogan. Hulk Hogan, Sting, Luger and Ric Flair were all brought back in between now and the end of Superbrawl to try to end the ratings slaughter but Kevin Sullivan’s booking style failed miserably. Jarrett came back soon after but just had a main event level push that died. He even declined the WCW Title cause he didn’t want to be the lowest drawing champion ever. That honour went to Sid who was involved in a dead end feud with Nash and the Harrises that ended up with the title being vacated seemingly every week. Also- Al Greene played a Dog and Tank Abbott feuded with Big Al. Everyone tuned to RAW. To finally stop the bleeding WCW brought in Eric and Vince. While in the WWF- Eddy, Perry, Benoit and Dean were all brought in and just to rub it in were initially given big pushes and main event level feuds. Benoit wrestled Rock and Triple H in his first month while over people like Norman Smiley and Vampiro were getting buried.

Only in WCW, only in WCW.

Show sucks but is a very interesting show to check out.

Mildly Mild Recommendation