Spring Stampede ’97

(All screen captures are the property of World Wrestling Entertainment)

Spring Stampede

April 6, 1997

Tupelo Coliseum

Tupelo, Mississippi

News & Notes: Hollywood Hogan was filming a movie. Diamond Dallas Page and Randy Savage are the focus of Spring Stampede. Savage cashed in the title opportunity the nWo won at Uncensored. Randy challenged Prince Iaukea for the TV Title. But DDP interfered and caused a DQ. Savage failed to capture the belt. DDP received a beating for his troubles, but he accomplished his goal. It pissed off Savage. He taunted DDP with Kimberly’s Playboy again. Page countered by calling Liz a tramp and a bimbo.

Meanwhile, the nWo had internal issues. Hogan and Rodman lived it up and partied. Kevin Nash and Syxx took exception to this. They wanted the group to return to their serious and dominant ways. To make matters worse, Scott Hall was missing in action. He no-showed events. (In reality, Hall checked into rehab.) This left Nash as a lone tag team champion. But The Steiners had a title opportunity at Spring Stampede. Nash & Syxx stormed the commentary table on the go-home Nitro. They vented their frustrations with the nWo and WCW. Kevin vowed to take on WCW by himself if he had to.

The narrator lists the matches for this show. He makes western references for each encounter. Clear the streets. Do you feel the rumbling? There’s going to be a showdown. Someone will get branded. There’s a new sheriff in town! It’s the most rootin-tootin PPV of all time! (Okay, I added that last one.) They filled the video with soundbites and wild west music. WCW went all-in on the theme.

Tony Schiavone welcomes everyone to Spring Stampede. Fireworks explode in the old west-themed set. (It looks cool. The fireworks resemble gunfire, ricochets, and explosions. It seems like a gunfight is happening on the set.) Tony then speaks about the matches. He wants to talk about the tag team title match. Nash claimed he would take on WCW by himself because Scott Hall isn’t there. The championship committee told Nash he couldn’t substitute. But Nash has some demands. Lee Marshall will attempt to get more information. Dusty believes there are cracks in the nWo’s armor. Heenan doesn’t think the nWo has a chance.

Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Ultimo Dragon

Notes: They set up this match because Sonny Onoo insulted Mysterio. He called him stunted and small. Tony Schiavone surprisingly came to Rey’s defense. He didn’t agree with Onoo’s assessment. Dragon comes to this bout alone. The commentators wonder where Sonny is. Is he afraid of retaliation by Mysterio? Meanwhile, Tenay joins the commentary. They say there’s a rumor Rey is dating Jennifer Aniston. But none of the announcers believe that. (On a side note, they cut to Lee Marshall backstage. He wants to talk to Kevin Nash. Syxx tells him to get lost.)

The Match: They trade mat holds and takedowns until Dragon throws hard kicks. Ultimo controls the bout with submissions and a spinning rack attack. He then follows with a Liger Bomb and a Tombstone. But Dragon pulls Rey out of a pin and wears him down with sleepers and more kicks. The onslaught continues with suplexes and a bridging deathlock. But Rey counters with his own sleeper hold. Mysterio then does a 619 fake-out and nails some springboard planchas. He also uses more springboard moves until Dragon dropkicks him off the ropes and out of the air. Next, Dragon uses a giant swing and they trade pin attempts. But Ultimo stops Rey’s rally with a super Frankensteiner. Dragon attempts more suplexes, but Rey surprises him with a springboard hurricanrana. It’s enough for the win.

Thoughts: This was a solid technical encounter. I like how they wrestled a more mat-based style. They mixed it up. These two had more high-flying matches in the past. It’s good to provide variety. The crowd was also into it, which helps. They appreciated the action and reacted well to the great finish. I also liked the storytelling. Dragon lost focus without Onoo to guide him. It’s a subtle detail, but the commentators jumped on it.

Winner: Rey Mysterio (14:55)

Lee Marshall tries again to speak with Nash. They promised to speak with Lee. He wants them to hold to their word! Syxx answers the door, but The Steiners interrupt before he can say anything. WCW officials hold them back. Nash claims this is an ambush. Lee says they want to know Nash’s demands. Kevin says he has no problem facing the Steiners alone. But he wants Nick Patrick as the ref. Nash then spits in Scott Steiner’s face and closes the door. Scott loses his cool and shoves the security guards. They tackle him to the floor and mace Scott Steiner in the eyes! Then they handcuff Scott while he screams for Rick to help him. This flusters the commentators. They aren’t ready to call the next match.

Women’s Title Match: Akira Hokuto (c) (w/ Sonny Onoo) vs. Madusa

Notes: WCW did little with the women’s division. Madusa appeared on Nitro and complained about this. She accused Bischoff of ignoring the women. Madusa came to WCW and dropped a belt in the trash. The WWF blackballed her for her actions. But now they’ve done nothing. Hokuto had two title defenses on TV. Then she attacked Madusa during an interview. Now, we get another women’s match on PPV. But the commentators spend most of this bout speaking about the Steiner situation. Tony promises to keep us abreast. (It’s odd he chose that word during a women’s match. I should also point out Luna Vachon made her WCW debut. She already has issues with Madusa. We’ll see if that factors into this bout.)

The Match: Akira throws Madusa around by the hair and they trade punches. Then Hokuto uses a hanging choke and a lifting choke. She chokes her on the ropes and chokes her with her foot. It’s choke city, bitch! But Madusa answers with some slingblades and a handstand headscissors. Akira counters with biting and distracts the ref. This allows Onoo to interfere. He slaps and chokes Madusa. However, Madusa rallies with diving dropkicks and a German suplex. (Hokuto doesn’t kick out. But the ref calls it a two count.) Then Sonny distracts the ref while Madusa attempts a powerbomb. Luna Vachon runs in and kicks Madusa’s leg. It allows Hokuto to roll on top for the pin.

Thoughts: The match had potential. There were some good moments. But it was also sloppy. Plus, the finish was a mess. Their timing was off. It also doesn’t help the commentators barely discussed the bout. I wanted to like this, but there were too many distractions. You can tell WCW cares little about their women’s division.

Winner: Akira Hokuto (5:13)

After the match, they show a replay. It ends with a shot of a fan trying to grope Akira Hokuto. That’s unsurprising and sad. Then Tony promises again to keep us abreast of the Steiner situation. (He had good timing with that comment.)

TV Title Match: Prince Iaukea (c) vs. Lord Steven Regal

Notes: Regal wants to redeem himself after losing to Iaukea. There isn’t much of a build outside the existing storyline. Lord Steven lost a match to Jericho by a fluke roll-up. It caused him to lose his cool. He attacked various wrestlers as they tried stopping his rampage. Regal then instructed Squire David Taylor to face Iaukea. But Taylor lost to him. (On a side note, Schiavone announces the police arrested Scott Steiner. He won’t be in the tag match later.)

The Match: Regal stalls and argues with the fans. Then he trades strikes with Iaukea. They also exchange holds and headlocks until Regal returns to the strikes. Regal sends Prince out of the ring. But Iaukea lands a springboard crossbody. Next, they fight through a test of strength, but Regal pokes the eyes. Steven also blocks an awkward sunset flip and uses more hard uppercuts. This leads to an exchange of chops and punches. Then Regal avoids another crossbody. But Prince catches him in a backdrop. Regal attempts a roll-up next. Prince hooks Steven’s legs and gets a pin.

Thoughts: This was a little more interesting than the previous Prince matches. But that isn’t saying much. Regal did his best to make this good. I like Regal’s hard strikes. Plus, his interactions with the fans were great. It also helps this is a hot crowd. The bout wasn’t great, but it was a passable encounter. However, the post-match antics are far better.

Winner: Prince Iaukea (10:01)

An angry Regal attacks Iaukea. He drops a knee on Prince’s crotch and locks him in the Regal Stretch. He stops long enough to admonish the ref. But Regal places him in the hold a second time. Regal also stomps and kicks Iaukea.

Mean Gene says there’s a new clique in town. It’s not the one they usually speak about. He also has news about a car accident involving WCW stars. Call the hotline for more information! Then Gene welcomes Ric Flair for an interview. Flair predicts the functioning Horsemen will win tonight. Ric also announces he will return on May 1^st. But he says Arn Anderson will have neck surgery on Tuesday. Gene offers his thoughts and prayers for Arn. Then he asks Ric about Roddy Piper. Ric makes an offer to both Piper and NFL star, Kevin Greene (RIP). The Panthers gave Greene permission to wrestle again. Flair invites Piper and Greene to join him to face the nWo. Flair wants them at Slamboree in May. If Hogan accepts, they will work the nWo all night long! Gene asks about Bischoff. Flair says he wants to face Eric once before the end of his career. He’ll even tie his arms and legs together. But he wants Bischoff one-on-one, without the pencil involved. (Flair already had legitimate heat with Eric. It only gets worse. Also, why would Greene accept this invitation after what happened last time?)

The Public Enemy vs. Steve McMichael & Jeff Jarrett (w/ Debra)

Notes: They booked this bout for Uncensored until they put the Horsemen in the main event. Mongo & Jarrett attacked The Public Enemy at that show. Then Mongo challenged them to a match. But The Horsemen still have issues. Mongo & Jarrett lost to The Amazing French Canadians after some miscommunication. McMichael also accused Jarrett & Debra of conspiring against him. He’s getting the short end of the stick! (Oh, my!) Can Mongo & Jarrett coexist for this bout?

The Match: Rocco trades shoves and slaps with Mongo. Rock also avoids McMichael’s shoulder blocks and calls himself smart. But Jarrett decks Rocco and Mongo hands out chop blocks. Then Jeff places Rock in an abdominal stretch. He uses McMichael for leverage until the ref catches them. The Public Enemy sends The Horsemen crashing into each other. But Mongo nails a side slam. This leads to a wild brawl.

Mongo and Rock fight to the set. Steve rams him into a wagon and some steer statues. Meanwhile, Grunge puts Jarrett on a table. Johnny crashes through it when Jeff moves. Everyone returns to the ring and The Public Enemy double-team The Horsemen. Debra stops it by tripping Rocco. Then Jarrett places Grunge in a Figure Four. The ref is distracted by Mongo, so Rock grabs the briefcase. He nails Jarrett with it and Grunge covers for the win.

Thoughts: This match was a mess. The ref didn’t bother enforcing any rules. Was it No DQ? I can’t tell. It would have made more sense if it was. There were parts that were amusing. But the bout fell flat. Plus, I don’t care about the Horsemen storyline. It’s dragging on too long.

Winners: The Public Enemy (10:42)

Gene repeats his rumor about cliques. Mark Madden and Jeff Katz will join him to talk about it. Then Gene welcomes Harlem Heat. It’s time for the promo this show is known for! Gene says the Four Corners Match is important. It’s every man for himself and the winner gets a WCW title match. These men could fight each other. Sherri assures him they have it all figured out. It doesn’t matter. They have a plan. Then Booker tells Gene not to worry about cliques other than them. They take what they want. After they’re done with Luger & Giant, they’re coming for Hulk Hogan nig—WHOA! WHOA! You can’t say that, Booker! (He looks worried about his job after the mistake. Sherri consoles him, but she also laughs.) Gene asks Stevie about the rack and the chokeslam. Stevie asks what about their moves? This isn’t a rumpus room, sucka! It’s time to go to school. They’re coming for the gold! Gene then asks if there will be a party. Sherri says they’ll kick their legs and skirts up in celebration. Booker also calls everyone knuckleheads. (Yeah, knuckleheads! That’s what he meant to say earlier!)

U.S. Title Match: Dean Malenko (c) vs. Chris Benoit (w/ Woman)

Notes: Dean Malenko offered Benoit a shot at his US Title. But the Dungeon won’t leave Chris alone. They attacked him more than once. Dean tried saving Benoit, but it was Flair who got the job done. Also, Malenko is unsure about Guerrero. He doesn’t trust him because of Eddie’s recent actions.

The Match: They trade holds, takedowns, shoulder blocks, and reversals. It’s a stalemate. Then they work through a knucklelock and more holds. This leads to an exchange of hard strikes. But Dean takes Chris to the mat again. Malenko uses a Camel Clutch and a short-arm scissors. Benoit deadlifts Malenko into a slam. Benoit answers with his own submissions. He also gives Dean chops, suplexes, and a neckbreaker.

Then Jacquelyn arrives. She attacks Woman. Next, Jimmy Hart appears. He steals the US belt. This draws out Eddie Guerrero with his arm in a sling. (He hurt his shoulder at Uncensored.) During this chaos, Benoit lands a flying headbutt. Then Benoit and Malenko fight at the apron. But Arn Anderson joins the fray. He attacks Malenko! Kevin Sullivan decides he wants in on the fun too. Arn steps aside and lets Sullivan attack Benoit with a kendo stick. The ref has enough and throws out the match.

Thoughts: This action was crisp, but it was slow. I expected more from these two. It disappointed me. The overbooked finish didn’t help matters. It was confusing. This was supposed to lead to the formation of an anti-Horsemen faction. It would include Malenko & Guerrero. But WCW drops the idea. The confusion was for naught.

Winner: No Contest (17:53)

After the bell, Sullivan & Hart place the US belt on Eddie’s shoulders. They drag him away from the ring, but Eddie doesn’t want to join them. Dusty tells Guerrero to get out of there. Heenan says they’re setting him up. Guerrero has one good arm, so he can’t fight them. Meanwhile, Malenko helps Benoit to his feet. Dean says, “He was not supposed to be here.” But he doesn’t specify who he means.

Tag Team Title Match: Kevin Nash (c) (w/ Syxx & Ted DiBiase) vs. Rick Steiner

Notes: The Steiners were supposed to get their revenge on The Outsiders. But Scott Hall is in rehab. They did the Scott Steiner storyline to turn this into a one-on-one match. They also spoke of Rick’s inner-ear problems because of the car wreck. He’s still dealing with it. Steiner faces a frustrated Kevin Nash. This doesn’t bode well for Rick.

The Match: Nash controls the bout with knees and elbows. Rick answers with Steinerlines and suplexes until Syxx low-bridges him. Syxx then attacks Steiner, but Nick Patrick ignores it. Next, Nash continues with a side slam and choking. DiBiase also attacks Rick. Then Nash nails a Boss Man Attack, a big boot, and a Jackknife. But Rick kicks out! Nash attempts another one and Steiner low-blows him. Rick then lands a flying bulldog. But Nash kicks out!

Rick rallies with more Steinerlines and knocks Syxx off the apron. But this distraction allows Nash to attack. While this happens, Syxx takes forever to cut off the turnbuckle pad. Nash has to stall. Once it’s exposed, Nash gives Rick multiple Snake Eyes on the buckle. Both DiBiase and Nick Patrick think he went too far. Nash doesn’t care, so DiBiase leaves in disgust. Nash then nails another Jackknife. Patrick is reluctant to count until Nash threatens him. Nick leaves in protest after the bell.

Thoughts: It was a squash, but I liked the storytelling. Plus, Rick kicking out of a Jackknife made him look like a fighter. This did everything it needed to do. It’s not a great match. But it didn’t need to be. I enjoyed this.

Winner: Kevin Nash (10:20)

Next, Gene is with Luger & The Giant. They’re targeting Hogan and the heavyweight title of the world. Gene asks The Giant for his thoughts. Giant says it’s Hogan’s plan to pit brother against brother and friend against friend. But he and Lex are friends. They ride and die together. Whoever wins deserves the title shot. The Giant promises to win, even if he has to rip off Harlem Heat’s heads. Then Gene asks Luger about the importance of the title. Lex says The Giant has been to hell and back with the nWo. They’re sick of what’s going on. WCW is there to claim what’s theirs. Hogan is the emblem of the nWo. Everyone knows it. But this is for everything they stand for. They want to put prestige back on the name of WCW. That starts by getting a shot at the title. The intensity level is high, but they are ready! Luger & The Giant then leave. Gene says the first pin or submission wins the Four Corners Match. The winner gets all the spoils.

Four Corners #1 Contender Match: Lex Luger vs. The Giant vs. Booker T vs. Stevie Ray

Notes: They announced this match on Nitro. I’m unsure why two tag teams are competing individually for this shot. I guess they wanted intrigue. Will these partners, friends, and brothers turn on each other for a title opportunity? The winner will face Hogan in the future. They keep saying it’s Hogan’s plan to make them turn on each other. But Hogan didn’t book this bout. WCW suspended Bischoff, so even he didn’t make this. Did they forget their storylines?

The Match: Luger & The Giant take turns press slamming Booker & Stevie. Harlem Heat tries double-teaming them. But Lex & Giant pinball Stevie with punches. Then Harlem Heat regroups and argues. However, they tag Lex & The Giant and make them face off. They fight and Luger cannot slam The Giant. But both men decide to make Harlem Heat fight. Booker & Stevie trade headlocks, hammerlocks, and leapfrogs until Booker tags Lex. He and The Giant fend off Harlem Heat until they double-team them again.

Booker & Stevie use sidekicks and clubbering to control the bout. They cut off Luger’s rally and wear him down with knees, holds, and more sidekicks and ax kicks. Stevie also nails a side slam. Then Harlem Heat attempts a Rocket Launcher. But they miss it. Stevie and The Giant both return. The Giant hits a powerslam and kicks Booker out of the ring. He then signals for the chokeslam, but he changes his mind. The Giant turns and tags Luger! He tells him to put Stevie in The Rack. Luger does it and gets the victory.

Thoughts: This was good fun. I liked the action and storytelling. Plus, I enjoyed the finish. The Giant stepping aside for Luger was a nice touch. The fans popped for the ending. Luger is popular. However, Lex must wait until Nitro #100 to get his title match. That’s in the summer.

Winner: Lex Luger (18:18)

Dusty says The Giant took a big step at manhood and inconism. (Did Rhodes invent a word?) He gave away his shot to Lex Luger. Lex hugs The Giant and celebrates. Heenan thinks it’s either friendship or stupidity.

Then they show a commercial for Slamboree. Heenan, Dusty, and Zbyszko speak about the issues with the nWo. Larry says too many guys are selling their souls. WCW needs a leader. Someone needs to get Hogan.

I’ll get to Savage’s entrance in a moment. Meanwhile, Gene is with DDP. He says there’s no tomorrow. Page says a man has to stand up for what matters. Savage stepped into his world. He found out what matters to him. DDP invites Kimberly to join them. Kim says this is the most important match in Page’s life. DDP will get Savage for what he did to her. She normally wants Page positive. But rage is an important emotion. She’s going to let it ride. Gene says he likes that. Kim isn’t done. She pulls the mic back and says, “His rage is going to even the odds.” DDP makes the Diamond Cutter sign and leaves. Gene sends it to Dave Penzer. But he remembers Buffer is there and corrects himself.

No DQ Match: Diamond Dallas Page (w/ Kimberly) vs. Macho Man Randy Savage (w/ Miss Elizabeth)

Notes: They show footage of Savage and Liz walking backstage. Randy says this will be a walk in the park. He’s going to moider the bum! Then Randy will throw a party with Slim Jims and women! He asks Liz if she has a problem with that. She says no, so Randy promises Slim Jims for everybody! But Randy is lost backstage. He asks which way is the ring. (Is he a member of Spinal Tap?) Meanwhile, Buffer does his introduction. His mic works for half of it. Buffer also has to exit the ring because Page and Savage almost come to blows. Michael finishes, but Savage takes the mic. He tells Dallas it’s his last day on Earth.

The Match: Savage stalls and evades Page until they fight in the aisle. They brawl into the ring and Page nails an atomic drop. Then he attempts a Diamond Cutter, but Randy blocks it. Next, the fight spills into the crowd. Savage rams DDP into a door and grabs a trash can. But Dallas uses it on Savage. When they return to the ring, Savage hides behind Kim. Liz also distracts Page, so Savage attacks. Randy nails a flying axehandle and grabs Buffer’s chair. He uses it until the ref takes it away. This angers Savage.

He gets David Penzer’s chair instead. Penzer hesitates, so Randy slaps and stomps him! However, Page knocks the chair into Savage’s face. Then they trade clotheslines, slams, and stomps, but Savage gains control. He returns to the floor and grabs the ring bell. Randy also gets in more shots on Penzer. (It pisses off Buffer.) Then Kim grabs the bell from Savage. Randy tries the flying elbow anyway, but Page raises his boot.

Dallas then tries another Diamond Cutter. Savage counters with a low-blow. He covers, but Page kicks out. Randy has enough of referee Mark Curtis. He slaps him, gives him a piledriver, and whips Mark with his own belt. Savage follows with a flying elbow on DDP, but there’s no ref. Nash sends Nick Patrick to take over. Savage lifts DDP, but Page reverses into a Diamond Cutter! He covers and Patrick makes a three count without hesitation.

Thoughts: I loved this. It combined intensity and storytelling. The crowd was hot for it. Savage attacking everyone made him look like a maniac. DDP winning made him a star. These two have better matches. But this was a great start to the feud. (Also, kudos to David Penzer for taking that slapping from Savage. I tweeted Penzer about this. He said Savage was a total professional. But no one warned Buffer about the spot. He was pissed.)

Winner: Diamond Dallas Page (15:38)

Before I move on to the aftermath, I want to discuss the backstory. Savage had creative control in his contract. They asked Randy what he wanted to do for this bout. Savage said, “I want to take the Diamond Cutter.” Arn Anderson told Page this was a huge moment for him. DDP agreed. He credits this match with making him into a top-level guy. Later in the year, Page called Savage and left him a message. He thanked Randy for everything he did for him. Savage played the message for his dad. He asked him if he ever heard such a thing from the boys. He hadn’t. When they saw each other again, Savage approached DDP. Randy’s intensity made Page think he was in trouble. But Randy said the message meant everything to him. It’s a heartwarming story.

Nash confronts Nick Patrick. He chokes him while Bischoff and the nWo arrive. Nash checks on Randy while still holding onto Patrick. The fans chant we want Sting. Then Nash gives Nick Patrick a Jackknife! Meanwhile, Savage kicks DDP out of the ring. Randy grabs Kimberly and threatens to slap her. But Bischoff tells him to stop! That’s too much for even him. Savage shoves Bischoff and punches him. The nWo enter the ring and separate both men.

They cut to the commentators because we can’t have too much excitement. They recap what happened. Tony says the nWo is in turmoil. Dusty says there are cracks in the armor. He tells Hogan to call somebody. Heenan dares Hogan to put the group back together. He’s ruined everyone else’s life. Then Tony says goodnight, while fans scream Diesel at Kevin Nash.

The Good:

• The main event was great.

• Rey/Dragon was good.

• The Four Corners Match was fun.

• The storytelling of Nash/Steiner.

The Bad:

• The women’s match was a mess.

• The overbooked finish of Malenko/Benoit.

• Public Enemy/Horsemen wasn’t good.

Performer of the Night:

I’m giving it to DDP. This was his big night. He became a star with that performance. I also want to give an honorable mention to Savage for putting him over. Plus, Penzer deserves a mention for taking that slapping.

Final Thoughts:

This was a solid PPV. Nothing was terrible and the main event was great. There were some good story and character work. Plus, it’s nice to see the nWo vulnerable for once. It’s a shame it doesn’t last. This was a return to form after some disappointing shows.

Thank you for reading. My next review is a return to ECW! We’re looking at their first PPV, Barely Legal. Look for it next Sunday!