Thunder – January 12, 2000
By Scott Keith on 6 June 2015
Thunder
Date: January 12, 2000
Location: Civic Center,
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 3,947
Commentators: Tony
Schiavone, Scott Hudson, Mike Tenay
Schiavone, Scott Hudson, Mike Tenay
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
We’re
officially on Wednesdays now as Thunder goes running away from
Smackdown as fast as it can. It’s the final show before Souled Out,
which isn’t going to wind up meaning anything as the top half of the
card is going to be thrown out the window due to a bunch of injuries.
Let’s get to it.
officially on Wednesdays now as Thunder goes running away from
Smackdown as fast as it can. It’s the final show before Souled Out,
which isn’t going to wind up meaning anything as the top half of the
card is going to be thrown out the window due to a bunch of injuries.
Let’s get to it.
We open with clips from
Nitro this week. The old guys are prominently featured.
Nitro this week. The old guys are prominently featured.
Bret Hart arrives
separately from the NWO.
separately from the NWO.
Vampiro vs. Crowbar
To set the tone for
this show, Tony brings up the Old Age Outlaws and Scott’s immediate
response is “Oh you didn’t know.” Vampiro jumps David Flair
during the entrances and goes after Crowbar early on. David gets
planted with a Rock Bottom on the floor but Crowbar pops back up with
a moonsault to the floor to take both of them down.
this show, Tony brings up the Old Age Outlaws and Scott’s immediate
response is “Oh you didn’t know.” Vampiro jumps David Flair
during the entrances and goes after Crowbar early on. David gets
planted with a Rock Bottom on the floor but Crowbar pops back up with
a moonsault to the floor to take both of them down.
Crowbar hits a
slingshot splash for two but Vampiro plants him with another Rock
Bottom. Some kicks set up a pose but Crowbar plants him with a
German suplex followed by a slingshot legdrop. Back up and Vampiro
gets crotched on top, only to counter a hurricanrana into a superbomb
for the pin. Short but entertaining while it lasted.
slingshot splash for two but Vampiro plants him with another Rock
Bottom. Some kicks set up a pose but Crowbar plants him with a
German suplex followed by a slingshot legdrop. Back up and Vampiro
gets crotched on top, only to counter a hurricanrana into a superbomb
for the pin. Short but entertaining while it lasted.
Vampiro gets beaten
down post match until Arn Anderson comes out to talk to David.
Crowbar goes after Arn and gets laid out.
down post match until Arn Anderson comes out to talk to David.
Crowbar goes after Arn and gets laid out.
Time to run down the
card.
card.
Here’s
Bret Hart with something to say. The crowd has a right to boo him
right now because he’s let them all down. He doesn’t like the way
the NWO takes all those shortcuts so the NWO is out and the pink and
black attack is back. Bret tells the NWO where they can stick it and
here they come to the stage. Nash says Bret hasn’t learned a thing
“since New York” because he’s still too stupid for his own good.
Bret Hart with something to say. The crowd has a right to boo him
right now because he’s let them all down. He doesn’t like the way
the NWO takes all those shortcuts so the NWO is out and the pink and
black attack is back. Bret tells the NWO where they can stick it and
here they come to the stage. Nash says Bret hasn’t learned a thing
“since New York” because he’s still too stupid for his own good.
The crowd may want
heroes, but Bret could have become a god in the NWO. Bret needs to
forget about this Canadian hero bull because hard work doesn’t pay.
That would be one of those shoot comments that isn’t meant to be a
shoot comment. Nash offers Bret a chance to come back to the team
right now, but Bret swears a bit more. He’ll go through the NWO one
by one starting tonight so Nash promises to end Hart’s career. It’s
a nice idea, even though I’m not entirely sure why Bret has had a
change of attitude.
heroes, but Bret could have become a god in the NWO. Bret needs to
forget about this Canadian hero bull because hard work doesn’t pay.
That would be one of those shoot comments that isn’t meant to be a
shoot comment. Nash offers Bret a chance to come back to the team
right now, but Bret swears a bit more. He’ll go through the NWO one
by one starting tonight so Nash promises to end Hart’s career. It’s
a nice idea, even though I’m not entirely sure why Bret has had a
change of attitude.
After a break, Bret is
sitting in a room with a ball bat.
sitting in a room with a ball bat.
The Old Age Outlaws are
watching on a monitor. I guess that passes for interesting now.
watching on a monitor. I guess that passes for interesting now.
Hardcore Title:
Brian Knobbs vs. Norman Smiley
Brian Knobbs vs. Norman Smiley
Norman
is defending and this is taking place outside, but Norman it’s too
cold. He’s finally forced outside and gets jumped by Knobbs, who
nails him with a bunch of weapons. Norman comes back by throwing him
into a wall and they hit each other with trashcans and a metal sheet.
Cue a car to run Norman down, allowing Knobbs to hit him with a
shovel, because RUNNING HIM OVER WITH A CAR isn’t enough, for the pin
and the title, because Brian Knobbs is a better choice to be a
champion than the entertaining Smiley, and doing this four days
before a four way title match makes total sense.
is defending and this is taking place outside, but Norman it’s too
cold. He’s finally forced outside and gets jumped by Knobbs, who
nails him with a bunch of weapons. Norman comes back by throwing him
into a wall and they hit each other with trashcans and a metal sheet.
Cue a car to run Norman down, allowing Knobbs to hit him with a
shovel, because RUNNING HIM OVER WITH A CAR isn’t enough, for the pin
and the title, because Brian Knobbs is a better choice to be a
champion than the entertaining Smiley, and doing this four days
before a four way title match makes total sense.
The NWO kicks Bret’s
door down.
door down.
Here’s
the Revolution with something to say. They’re ready for the big
showdown with the Filthy Animals on Sunday and Shane might even get
in the match himself. Malenko promises to raise the Revolution flag
on Sunday over the bodies of the Filthy Animals. Saturn talks about
spinning wheels and nearly gets into it with Asya until Shane calms
them down and tells Asya not to screw this up.
the Revolution with something to say. They’re ready for the big
showdown with the Filthy Animals on Sunday and Shane might even get
in the match himself. Malenko promises to raise the Revolution flag
on Sunday over the bodies of the Filthy Animals. Saturn talks about
spinning wheels and nearly gets into it with Asya until Shane calms
them down and tells Asya not to screw this up.
The
NWO has Bret and carry him through the back. The Old Age Outlaws are
STILL watching all this. I’m still trying to figure out why this is
supposed to be interesting.
NWO has Bret and carry him through the back. The Old Age Outlaws are
STILL watching all this. I’m still trying to figure out why this is
supposed to be interesting.
Jerry Flynn and Tank
Abbott get arrested for fighting.
Abbott get arrested for fighting.
Madusa vs. Oklahoma
Non-title,
but this is an evening gown match. Oklahoma comes out in a dress and
carrying the Cruiserweight Title, so here’s Miss Hancock to shake her
head at him. Madusa comes up from behind and kicks Oklahoma down
before they whip each other into the steps. He can’t get the
barbecue sauce taped to his leg so he slams Madusa and tries to get
it out again. With that taking way too long, Madusa suplexes him
down and strips his dress off for the win.
but this is an evening gown match. Oklahoma comes out in a dress and
carrying the Cruiserweight Title, so here’s Miss Hancock to shake her
head at him. Madusa comes up from behind and kicks Oklahoma down
before they whip each other into the steps. He can’t get the
barbecue sauce taped to his leg so he slams Madusa and tries to get
it out again. With that taking way too long, Madusa suplexes him
down and strips his dress off for the win.
As if that’s not
enough, Oklahoma gets the bottle loose and nails Madusa, rips off the
top of her dress and pours the sauce over her. This is in no way
symbolic of anything whatsoever.
enough, Oklahoma gets the bottle loose and nails Madusa, rips off the
top of her dress and pours the sauce over her. This is in no way
symbolic of anything whatsoever.
The NWO burns Bret’s
gear.
gear.
Madusa yells a lot, the
producer yells clear, the segment ends.
producer yells clear, the segment ends.
Midnight vs. Booker
T. vs. Stevie Ray
T. vs. Stevie Ray
It’s
an elimination match. Why you ask? I don’t know, but I’m assuming
Oklahoma in a dress pouring barbecue sauce over Madusa’s chest will
explain it. Midnight comes out first but we see Stevie jumping
Booker backstage. Stevie comes out and beats Midnight into the
corner for a knee to the ribs and right hands to the face. A
clothesline and ax kick set up a powerslam as Midnight has had no
offense.
an elimination match. Why you ask? I don’t know, but I’m assuming
Oklahoma in a dress pouring barbecue sauce over Madusa’s chest will
explain it. Midnight comes out first but we see Stevie jumping
Booker backstage. Stevie comes out and beats Midnight into the
corner for a knee to the ribs and right hands to the face. A
clothesline and ax kick set up a powerslam as Midnight has had no
offense.
Cue Booker who punches
Stevie to the floor but Stevie wants a mic. He’s going to leave now
and since this is an elimination match, Booker now has to beat up
Midnight. So after we had the regular man on woman violence, we now
get man on woman violence against the man’s will. Can we please get
rid of Russo so we don’t have to watch his weird fetish stuff
anymore?
Stevie to the floor but Stevie wants a mic. He’s going to leave now
and since this is an elimination match, Booker now has to beat up
Midnight. So after we had the regular man on woman violence, we now
get man on woman violence against the man’s will. Can we please get
rid of Russo so we don’t have to watch his weird fetish stuff
anymore?
Booker grabs a headlock
before putting Midnight down with a few shoulders. He doesn’t want
to follow up though so they stumble around until Midnight scores with
a dropkick. Booker hits the ax kick but Stevie low bridges him to
the floor and blasts him with a slap jack. He throws Booker inside
and tells Midnight to pin him, but Midnight pulls Booker on top of
her to give him the win.
before putting Midnight down with a few shoulders. He doesn’t want
to follow up though so they stumble around until Midnight scores with
a dropkick. Booker hits the ax kick but Stevie low bridges him to
the floor and blasts him with a slap jack. He throws Booker inside
and tells Midnight to pin him, but Midnight pulls Booker on top of
her to give him the win.
Rating:
F.
So we had a man beating up a woman, a man reluctantly fighting a
woman, and then a woman laying down and pulling a man on top of her.
I’m sure Russo and Ferrara loved it because they seem to hate women
in any form and good for them for getting to enjoy themselves for a
few minutes while everyone continues to watch anything else.
F.
So we had a man beating up a woman, a man reluctantly fighting a
woman, and then a woman laying down and pulling a man on top of her.
I’m sure Russo and Ferrara loved it because they seem to hate women
in any form and good for them for getting to enjoy themselves for a
few minutes while everyone continues to watch anything else.
Midnight dropkicks
Stevie post match, but since that might mean a lowly woman got one up
on a MAN, Stevie slap jacks her to put her back in her place.
Stevie post match, but since that might mean a lowly woman got one up
on a MAN, Stevie slap jacks her to put her back in her place.
Jerry Flynn is put in
his cell and Tank Abbott jumps him. Because they’re cell mates.
It’s WACKY!
his cell and Tank Abbott jumps him. Because they’re cell mates.
It’s WACKY!
Kanyon is ready for his
champagne on a pole match. Well of course he is.
champagne on a pole match. Well of course he is.
Nash is going to cut
Bret’s hair.
Bret’s hair.
Funk
sends Zbyszko to find out if Bret has had his head shaved, because he
doesn’t care enough to go find out himself. And that’s the boss
people.
sends Zbyszko to find out if Bret has had his head shaved, because he
doesn’t care enough to go find out himself. And that’s the boss
people.
Chris
Kanyon vs. Bam Bam Bigelow
Kanyon vs. Bam Bam Bigelow
Champagne
bottle on a pole. Kanyon slugs him down as Bigelow gets inside but
Bam Bam nails an elbow to the face. An early climb is countered with
a powerbomb from Kanyon (looked better than you would think) but
Bigelow crotches him to break up a bottle attempt. Bigelow nails a
belly to back and falling headbutt as they’re trying this wrestling
thing for a change. This time it’s Bigelow getting crotched as he
goes up, allowing Kanyon to Russian legsweep him down from the ropes
to put both guys down.
bottle on a pole. Kanyon slugs him down as Bigelow gets inside but
Bam Bam nails an elbow to the face. An early climb is countered with
a powerbomb from Kanyon (looked better than you would think) but
Bigelow crotches him to break up a bottle attempt. Bigelow nails a
belly to back and falling headbutt as they’re trying this wrestling
thing for a change. This time it’s Bigelow getting crotched as he
goes up, allowing Kanyon to Russian legsweep him down from the ropes
to put both guys down.
It’s
Bigelow up first but Kanyon’s girls get on the apron to break up
Greetings From Asbury Park. Your good guy tries to kiss the girl but
Kanyon gets up for a save. Kanyon pulls down the bottle and dives
into a right hand to the head. Bigelow grabs the bottle, throws it
down, and headbutts Kanyon between the legs. Greetings From Asbury
Park ends this.
Bigelow up first but Kanyon’s girls get on the apron to break up
Greetings From Asbury Park. Your good guy tries to kiss the girl but
Kanyon gets up for a save. Kanyon pulls down the bottle and dives
into a right hand to the head. Bigelow grabs the bottle, throws it
down, and headbutts Kanyon between the legs. Greetings From Asbury
Park ends this.
Rating:
D+.
Somehow this is probably the match of the night, even though they
ignored the gimmick of the match. You can almost cringe in advance
whenever a woman is on screen these days though and it has nothing to
do with their performances. Somehow we’ve reached the point where
Vince having Trish bark like a dog is a lot easier to sit through
than what’s going on here.
D+.
Somehow this is probably the match of the night, even though they
ignored the gimmick of the match. You can almost cringe in advance
whenever a woman is on screen these days though and it has nothing to
do with their performances. Somehow we’ve reached the point where
Vince having Trish bark like a dog is a lot easier to sit through
than what’s going on here.
Post match Luger, still
dressed as Sting, comes out and nails Bigelow with a ball bat. Luger
loads up a Scorpion Deathlock (oh I’d pay to see him try that move)
but a crow appears at ringside to screw off Luger and Liz. Bigelow
gets up and yells at Luger, earning him a champagne bottle shot to
the head.
dressed as Sting, comes out and nails Bigelow with a ball bat. Luger
loads up a Scorpion Deathlock (oh I’d pay to see him try that move)
but a crow appears at ringside to screw off Luger and Liz. Bigelow
gets up and yells at Luger, earning him a champagne bottle shot to
the head.
Zbyszko and Orndorff
look for Bret.
look for Bret.
Package on Page vs.
Bagwell, which makes sense, even though they never actually showed
what started the thing.
Bagwell, which makes sense, even though they never actually showed
what started the thing.
Kimberly comes out to
talk about various challenges before Gene gets to the point: why are
she and Page having issues? Apparently Page doesn’t like Kimberly
getting too involved with all the people at work but this isn’t about
Bagwell. Gene: “How are things in the bedroom at home?” I’m
wrapping this up quickly: Kimberly says this is private and doesn’t
refute anything Bagwell has said other than she’s taller than he
says.
talk about various challenges before Gene gets to the point: why are
she and Page having issues? Apparently Page doesn’t like Kimberly
getting too involved with all the people at work but this isn’t about
Bagwell. Gene: “How are things in the bedroom at home?” I’m
wrapping this up quickly: Kimberly says this is private and doesn’t
refute anything Bagwell has said other than she’s taller than he
says.
MY GOODNESS stop
treating the women on these shows like this. Madusa is stripped and
covered in sauce, Midnight is beaten up and blamed for splitting up a
team and now Kimberly is basically called a slut who has been with
every member of the locker room as Gene asks her about her sex life.
This gets more and more ridiculous every day and it’s getting
sickening.
treating the women on these shows like this. Madusa is stripped and
covered in sauce, Midnight is beaten up and blamed for splitting up a
team and now Kimberly is basically called a slut who has been with
every member of the locker room as Gene asks her about her sex life.
This gets more and more ridiculous every day and it’s getting
sickening.
Sid and Benoit are
ready for tonight as well as Sunday.
ready for tonight as well as Sunday.
Sid Vicious/Chris
Benoit vs. Jeff Jarrett/Kevin Nash
Benoit vs. Jeff Jarrett/Kevin Nash
Jeff
promises to take Benoit apart on Sunday but gets cut off by Sid.
It’s a big brawl to start with Benoit taking Nash to the floor as Sid
hammers on Jeff in the corner. Well it’s not like Jeff can look any
worse at this point. A big boot sets up a chokeslam but Nash comes
in off the apron to break it up. Nash and Sid pair off as Jeff and
Benoit fight to the back of the arena. This is firmly in the “it’s
technically a match” category. Benoit comes back for a save but
gets double teamed as the referee tries to keep this straight.
promises to take Benoit apart on Sunday but gets cut off by Sid.
It’s a big brawl to start with Benoit taking Nash to the floor as Sid
hammers on Jeff in the corner. Well it’s not like Jeff can look any
worse at this point. A big boot sets up a chokeslam but Nash comes
in off the apron to break it up. Nash and Sid pair off as Jeff and
Benoit fight to the back of the arena. This is firmly in the “it’s
technically a match” category. Benoit comes back for a save but
gets double teamed as the referee tries to keep this straight.
Jeff
puts on the sleeper and of course gets reversed. He does however mix
things up by jawbreaking his way out instead of using a suplex.
Benoit grabs the ropes to avoid a dropkick and catapults Jeff into
the corner. Nash breaks up the Crossface and everything breaks down
again. They send Benoit to the floor and Nash blasts Sid with the US
Title. Jeff tries the same thing on Benoit but eats a suplex. The
Swan Dive is broken up and Nash shoves Benoit onto the belt, setting
up the Stroke for the pin.
puts on the sleeper and of course gets reversed. He does however mix
things up by jawbreaking his way out instead of using a suplex.
Benoit grabs the ropes to avoid a dropkick and catapults Jeff into
the corner. Nash breaks up the Crossface and everything breaks down
again. They send Benoit to the floor and Nash blasts Sid with the US
Title. Jeff tries the same thing on Benoit but eats a suplex. The
Swan Dive is broken up and Nash shoves Benoit onto the belt, setting
up the Stroke for the pin.
Rating:
D.
Total Attitude Era style main event here with neither team looking
particularly good. I’m still not sure why I’m supposed to care about
Sid vs. Hart on Sunday when they’ve barely interacted or why Nash
being commissioner is going to be interesting (you know he’s going
over Funk) but the wrestling isn’t helping anything.
D.
Total Attitude Era style main event here with neither team looking
particularly good. I’m still not sure why I’m supposed to care about
Sid vs. Hart on Sunday when they’ve barely interacted or why Nash
being commissioner is going to be interesting (you know he’s going
over Funk) but the wrestling isn’t helping anything.
Scott Steiner is out
cold under a table and Bret is gone.
cold under a table and Bret is gone.
Bret,
covered in bruises, walks outside but says he isn’t leaving like
that. Ignore his hair clearly under the back of his hat.
covered in bruises, walks outside but says he isn’t leaving like
that. Ignore his hair clearly under the back of his hat.
It’s
time for our big closing segment with Bret coming to the ring with a
pipe. He wants the NWO out here right now so here are Nash and
Jarrett with ball bats. Remember when people fought with their fists
instead of metal objects? Bret gets beaten down so Anderson (with a
bucket. A bucket?) and Funk (branding iron) come out. Didn’t Funk
say he didn’t care? The old guys clean house but Funk thinks
something is up.
time for our big closing segment with Bret coming to the ring with a
pipe. He wants the NWO out here right now so here are Nash and
Jarrett with ball bats. Remember when people fought with their fists
instead of metal objects? Bret gets beaten down so Anderson (with a
bucket. A bucket?) and Funk (branding iron) come out. Didn’t Funk
say he didn’t care? The old guys clean house but Funk thinks
something is up.
Anderson throws the
bucket of water on Bret, cleaning the bruises off his face. As you
should have seen coming, Bret takes off his shirt and reveals an NWO
shirt (because OF COURSE). Cue the New Age Outlaws (as Tenay calls
them) but they’re quickly taken down. Sid and Benoit come out and
take beatings as well, only to have Funk hit Nash low (because Sid
and Benoit are worthless when compared to a legend like Funk) and go
for the branding iron to end the show.
bucket of water on Bret, cleaning the bruises off his face. As you
should have seen coming, Bret takes off his shirt and reveals an NWO
shirt (because OF COURSE). Cue the New Age Outlaws (as Tenay calls
them) but they’re quickly taken down. Sid and Benoit come out and
take beatings as well, only to have Funk hit Nash low (because Sid
and Benoit are worthless when compared to a legend like Funk) and go
for the branding iron to end the show.
Overall
Rating:
SLRAMYBIBAWRPFBYAAWHNWHTAOGWCAYOPPBYATETGAJAEACDJWMAARATSTCFYHMPDAWSISGYOOAJAWFTDWRSIAYRHMDYRHDTTSOF.
Rating:
SLRAMYBIBAWRPFBYAAWHNWHTAOGWCAYOPPBYATETGAJAEACDJWMAARATSTCFYHMPDAWSISGYOOAJAWFTDWRSIAYRHMDYRHDTTSOF.
For so long Russo and
may you be impaled by a wild rhinoceros, preferably female, because
you are a woman hating neanderthal who has treated a once great
wrestling company as your own personal playground because you aren’t
talented enough to get a job anywhere else and couldn’t do jack
without McMahon, Austin and Rock around to save the company from your
horrible movie plots disguised as wrestling stories. I’m so glad
you’re out of a job and wait for the day when reality sets in and you
realize how much damage you really have done to the sport of
wrestling.
may you be impaled by a wild rhinoceros, preferably female, because
you are a woman hating neanderthal who has treated a once great
wrestling company as your own personal playground because you aren’t
talented enough to get a job anywhere else and couldn’t do jack
without McMahon, Austin and Rock around to save the company from your
horrible movie plots disguised as wrestling stories. I’m so glad
you’re out of a job and wait for the day when reality sets in and you
realize how much damage you really have done to the sport of
wrestling.
Remember to check out my website at kbwrestlingreviews.com and head over to my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6