Bash at the Beach ’99

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

Bash at the Beach

July 11, 1999

National Car Rental Center

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

News & Notes: Here’s a rundown of the extra news for this show. After The Great American Bash, Flair appointed Piper as his Vice President. Meanwhile, Eddie Guerrero recovered from his accident. He came back and attacked the former LWO members for ditching their shirts. Eddie even accused them of stealing his wallet. He made Dillinger unmask them to find the culprit. Then Steven Regal rejoined the company to help Finlay and Taylor. Later, Sable attended an episode of Nitro, and WCW acknowledged her. (She left the WWF and sued them for harassment.) Also, Bret Hart appeared and thanked the fans for their support. In other news, WCW invited Megadeth to perform their song “Crush ‘Em.” It will soon become Goldberg’s new theme. Finally, Sting got revenge on Rick Steiner. He leaped out of a Hummer and jumped Rick before moving on to another feud.

Before we begin, I have one last storyline to discuss. I mentioned the Lenny Lane and Lodi angle in a previous review. WCW took things to another level. The backstage segments turned into not-so-subtle innuendos about their sexuality. Think of this as a precursor to the Billy and Chuck saga. During my research, I found an interesting theory about this. Someone said it was a shot at Chris Jericho because he signed with the WWF. Jericho and Lane worked together on WCW TV, and there was a slight resemblance between them. So this person accused WCW of mocking Jericho. I don’t buy it.

The show begins with another lazy video package. They play generic rock music over clips of Nash and Sting’s troubles with Team Madness. The footage speeds up to a dizzying pace as the promo ends.

Tony says this show will separate the men from the boys. Then the camera focuses on the announce table. We see Tony and Bobby. Tenay is out on assignment at the junkyard. Tony says it is bright today in Florida. Heenan responds it’s the only thing bright in Florida, besides him. With that said, Tony explains the rules of the main event. Any man can score the pin and become the WCW champion. Also, Tony mentions the Junkyard Invitational. They will get an update from Tenay in a moment.

First, they go to Mean Gene at the entrance. He promises action and breaking news. Gene spotted some surprising faces backstage. Call the hotline to find out who it was! He says it will have repercussions around the wrestling world.

Next, they send it to Tenay at the junkyard. Mike says his spies tipped him off about the location. (Mike has spies!?) So Tenay traveled there to give the fans a look at the ring of automobiles. Also, Tenay says this is an unsanctioned match. Flair banned hardcore fighting from the arenas. The wrestlers must navigate the yard and escape the fence to win.

Afterward, we get the entrances for the opening contest. Onoo leads The Cat to the ring. The commentators say Cat and Disco appealed to the board of directors. They took exception to a stipulation. It said the loser couldn’t dance during their matches. WCW changed their minds when the wrestlers complained. Once Miller threatens the fans again, he demands another dance competition with Disco. Both men dance. (They forgot to dub Miller’s theme during this segment.) When Disco has his turn, The Cat attacks him.

The Cat (w/ Sonny Onoo) vs. Disco Inferno

Storyline: Miller got his fight with Norton on Nitro. The Cat won with his ruby slippers of death. Then WCW held a dance competition between The Cat and Disco Inferno. When the crowd favored Disco, The Cat attacked him. It led to a match, but Cat’s old rival, Jerry Flynn, interrupted it. Flynn requested a kickboxing contest with Miller. It ended in DQ because Cat ignored the ref’s warnings. Afterward, WCW announced they would redo Cat vs. Disco at the PPV. However, Gene said the loser cannot dance during their matches anymore. So Disco and Cat protested the stipulation until they dropped it. Later, Cat and Disco cost each other victories and traded attacks.

The Match: The Cat regroups when Disco gets the advantage. But when he returns, Disco scores clotheslines and atomic drops. So Miller uses a throat thrust, choking, and interference by Sonny Onoo. Next, they scuffle at the guardrail, and Cat nails a low blow. The cheap shots and choking continue until Disco rallies. He does a sunset flip, bites Miller’s hand, and throws elbows. Plus, Disco lands a Russian Leg Sweep. However, The Cat keeps hitting sidekicks. When Disco takes control again, Onoo distracts the ref. It allows Miller to don the red shoe only for Disco to steal it! Disco whacks The Cat with the slipper, but Onoo occupies the ref long enough for Cat to kick out. Because of this, Disco gives Onoo the Last Dance. It opens the door for Miller’s red shoe kick of death and a victory.

Thoughts: This was basic and repetitive. They looked lost at times. When they didn’t know what to do, they reused spots. Only the finish was interesting, but even that wasn’t great. It wasn’t a good way to open the show.

Winner: The Cat (8:07)

After the bell, Onoo gives Miller his cape, and Cat does his James Brown shtick. He dances around Disco, who is still on the mat. Then they show a replay. You can see Miller used the wrong foot for his kick. It wasn’t the one with the shoe on it.

Next, Mark Madden interviews Judge Mills Lane at the internet booth. Mills will referee the boxing contest between Piper and Bagwell. Mark thinks it will be crazier than Holyfield vs. Tyson. He also asks Lane how he will maintain order. Mills promises to give them leeway, but he won’t take their crap. With that said, Mark asks if Mills likes Piper. Lane says he doesn’t dislike anyone, but he won’t put up with their crap!

WCW follows this with a recap of Van Hammer’s strange month. He scored a tainted victory over Disco Inferno. Then Ric Flair halted a hardcore fight between Hammer and Morrus. The distraction allowed Hammer to put Morrus through a table. Later, Hammer approached Flair and Piper. He wanted a title shot because of his string of victories. They offered him a chance at Rick Steiner’s TV belt.

This leads to Rick Steiner’s entrance. Rick claims he and Scott do whatever they want. No one can do anything about it. If you don’t like it, he will stick it where the sun doesn’t shine. Also, if you don’t like him, bite him!

TV Title Match: Rick Steiner (c) vs. Van Hammer

Storyline: Van Hammer continued his winning ways. He earned victories over Disco Inferno, Lodi, and Al Green. Hammer also faced Morrus in a Hardcore fight, but Flair stopped it. (I’ll explain before the Junkyard Invitational.) Because of his streak, Hammer requested a title shot. Flair offered him a chance at Rick Steiner’s TV belt. Later, Rick Steiner jumped Van Hammer after a match. Rick beat him up, but he claimed he didn’t care about Van.

The Match: Rick backs Hammer into a corner, but Van sends Rick outside. Then Hammer drags him into the ring and hits a suplex. So Steiner answers with strikes, eye rakes, and choking. After this, Rick takes him outside again. He rams Van into the rail and pulls up the mat for a DDT on the concrete! A cover follows, but the ref reminds Rick it isn’t falls count anywhere. Rick shoves the official before sending Van into the steps. However, Hammer throws a low blow and corner clotheslines. It doesn’t last. Steiner rebounds with more strikes and biting before tossing him to the floor. This backfires because Hammer grabs a chair and decks Rick. With Rick dazed, Van scores a flying clothesline. Plus, he attempts a powerslam. Rick blocks by biting Van and nails another low blow. This gives Rick the opening for a Steiner Bulldog to end it.

Thoughts: This suffered from the same issue as the first bout. They ran out of ideas and repeated spots. Then the referee ignored the cheating. Even the commentators pointed this out. Also, the fans couldn’t care less. They sounded restless during this contest.

Winner: Rick Steiner (3:05)

Before the next encounter, they go back to Tenay at the junkyard. He stands beside the referee for the invitational. The ref holds a trophy for the winner. (Why do they have an official award for an unsanctioned contest?) Mike claims it is impossible to tell the fans who is in this fight. But Mike spotted Jimmy Hart walking around in a helmet. He also says it will be unlike anything these wrestlers did in the past. The person who escapes wins the contest. They will declare them the hardcore champion. (They don’t have a belt yet, so it isn’t an official title.)

Afterward, we get the entrances for the US Title bout. David Flair arrives with a large entourage. The commentators lose their train of thought when they see Torrie Wilson. Once they recover, they discuss Dean Malenko. He won’t give you a laugh or a joke, but he will kick your tail. Also, Tony says Dean deserves the US belt, but he must overcome a lot. However, Tony is glad Charles Robinson isn’t the referee. Next, Ric gives his son advice while Tony calls David unimpressive.

U.S. Title Match: David Flair (c) (w/ Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Charles Robinson, Torrie, & Asya) vs. Dean Malenko

Storyline: Once Flair and Piper joined forces, Malenko tried to sway Arn Anderson to his side. It didn’t work. Arn chose Flair and helped Ric and Piper beat up Dean. Because of this, Malenko aided Buff Bagwell in his struggle against the Flair regime. So Flair and Piper pitted them against the Jersey Triad and Savage & Sid. Meanwhile, Ric continued asking people to lie down for David. If they refused, David used a taser on them. To make matters worse, Ric awarded the vacant U.S. Title to his son when Scott Steiner suffered an injury. Malenko had enough. He demanded a fight with Flair, but Ric said he had back problems and couldn’t commit. So Flair offered Dean a chance at David’s US gold instead. Flair even promised Mean Gene a night with Asya if David wins!

The Match: Dean scores knockdowns and takedowns while telling Ric his son has nothing. David almost rallies with a waistlock, but Malenko brings him to the mat again. When Dean insults David one more time, David shoves him. So Dean takes him to the corner and stomps a mudhole in him. Afterward, Dean nails clotheslines and a suplex before putting David in the Cloverleaf. Before David can tap, Arn attacks the ref and Robinson steals his shirt! Also, Asya tries to interfere, but Dean kicks her and locks her in the Cloverleaf. This allows Ric to clock Dean with the belt. He then drapes David over him and Charles counts the pinfall.

Thoughts: I get the storyline they’re doing. This mocks promoters who push their untalented offspring, but it doesn’t make this interesting. (Are they taking a shot at Vince for putting Shane McMahon in matches and storylines? Unlike David, Shane is good.) Tony buried David on commentary the entire match. What is their endgame? This won’t help David. The fans hated this bout. They didn’t boo because David was a heel. The crowd rejected it because he was awful. Also, this tarnishes the US championship.

Winner: David Flair (3:05)

Tony agrees with me. He calls this a blemish on the US Title. While Tony commiserates, David celebrates with Torrie Wilson. Plus, Arn stomps on Dean Malenko in the aisle. Heenan sarcastically says, “What a match!”

Next, they recap the Rap vs. Country feud. We see the entire Hennig/Master P scene from The Bash. Afterward, they show Hennig crashing a birthday party for Master P’s son. Curt gave him a cowboy hat as a gift, but Master P’s son stomped on it. They also smashed the cake over Curt’s head. The segment ends with the full video for “I Hate Rap.”

This leads to the entrances. The No Limit Soldiers have Chase Tatum and a bodyguard named 4×4 with them. Tony says 4×4 will stand outside, but Heenan says 4×4 is the outside! Once they reach the ring, Konnan does his catchphrases and Rey says, “Hoody hoo!” Meanwhile, Tony discusses Swoll’s inexperience. He says Brad Rheingans trained him.

Elimination Match: The No Limit Soldiers (Konnan, Rey Mysterio Jr., Swoll, & B.A.) (w/ Chase Tatum & 4×4) vs. The West Texas Rednecks (Curt Hennig, Bobby Duncum Jr., & Barry and Kendall Windham)

Storyline: Hennig, Duncum, and Barry Windham added Barry’s brother Kendall to their group. This completed the West Texas Rednecks. Then they continued invading the DJ booth and performed their song live. Country stations also played it until WCW told them to cease and desist. (I know the stations didn’t get permission, but WCW needs the exposure and promotion.) Master P’s No Limit Soldiers answered the Rednecks’ growing numbers. They recruited Brad B.A. Armstrong and a rising WCW talent named Chase Tatum. This led to wild brawls, interference, and cowbell attacks between the teams. The Rednecks even cost Konnan and Rey a chance at the tag titles.

The Match: The Soldiers take the early advantage. Rey does springboard moves while Swoll throws clotheslines. Konnan also scores his float-over bulldog. Then Swoll pins Duncum after Rey’s springboard leg drop. Chase and 4×4 prevent him from returning while Armstrong enters the ring. After some back and forth, Hennig eliminates Brad with a Hennig Plex. The Soldiers answer by kicking Kendall into a roll-up for three. Later, Konnan hits rolling clotheslines and escapes a sleeper. But Konnan and Chase scuffle with Barry outside. The ref counts both men out. This leaves Swoll and Rey against Hennig. Hennig tries to regroup, and Barry interferes, but 4×4 and Chase stop them. Swoll pulls Curt into the ring and nails a palm thrust to the chest. (It’s his finisher.) With Curt down, Rey tags and does a flying splash off Swoll’s shoulders for the win.

Thoughts: The finish was a cool visual, but everything else was simple and dull. Swoll only did clotheslines and strikes. That’s probably for the best, but it isn’t interesting. The only positive is the fans reacted well to parts of it. I would rather see Rey defend the Cruiserweight Title instead of this.

Winners: The No Limit Soldiers (15:35)

As the soldiers celebrate, they show a replay. Heenan calls it a victory for Master P and his—bad bad men. (What was he going to say before the pause!?) Then Tony and Bobby discuss the remaining card. The Junkyard Invitational is next. Heenan says they aren’t fighting in a bakery. He also compares it to fights between his family members, but he stumbles over his words. Tony stops Heenan before he says anything crazy.

This leads to a recap of what led to the invitational. Ric Flair banned hardcore matches from the arenas. So Hak called out every tough man in WCW. He invited them to have a brawl in a junkyard. Hak mentions Bigelow and Raven. Neither man is in this contest. After issuing the challenge, Hak caned himself in the head.

Participants: Fit Finlay, Ciclope, Jerry Flynn, Johnny Grunge, Hardcore Hak, Horace Hogan, Brian Knobs, Hugh Morrus, La Parka, Steven Regal, Rocco Rock, Silver King, Dave Taylor, & Mikey Whipwreck.

Junkyard Invitational

Storyline: Kidman, Finlay, and Hak had ongoing issues with the First Family. There were multiple chair and cane attacks. Even the luchadores enjoyed the hardcore fun. Later, Hammer and Morrus had their ill-fated match. Flair interrupted it and declared an end to hardcore fighting. Ric banned the division from WCW arenas. So Hak called Flair out for a fight, but Ric ignored him. Since they couldn’t compete in the arena, Hak invited the division to meet him in a junkyard for a brawl. Jimmy Hart liked the idea. He recruited everyone he met backstage to join the melee. Some joined for money. Others agreed for revenge.

The Match: A helicopter gives us overhead views. Tony spots the Public Enemy, which shocks him. (They are back after their disastrous WWF run.) Everyone fights on the cars. Jerry Flynn hits one with a wire, but sparks fly before he touches it. Then they use trash cans, bumpers, and a tailpipe as weapons. Hak rallies everyone to get Knobs, but Brian dives onto them. Next, we see La Parka brought his chair. Elsewhere, Knobs uses a tire, which Heenan calls a giant doughnut. Also, Finlay wields a trash can lid like Captain America. Meanwhile, Rocco Rock is the first to attempt an escape. Horace stops him. After more strikes with car parts, Hak closes Finlay in a trunk. Someone uses a forklift to put the car in the smasher, but Fit breaks free. He then kicks over a burning barrel to block the way and climbs the fence.

Thoughts: This was stupid and impossible to follow. It caused legitimate injuries. Plus, it must have cost WCW more money than it was worth. To make things worse, the live crowd had to view everything on the big screens. If it was hard for us to follow the action, think about how it looked to them. (On a side note, I noticed Kidman avoided this nonsense. He was part of the build for two months, but he didn’t participate in this mess.)

Winner: Fit Finlay (13:51)

Finlay looks into the junkyard and declares his opponents weren’t so tough. Tony points out a wall of fire trapped them inside. (He couldn’t let Fit have his moment.) Then Tony calls Finlay the unofficial Hardcore Junkyard Champion.

Afterward, they recap the tag title feud. The Jersey Triad jumped Benoit and Saturn. But Benoit, Saturn, and Malenko scored revenge with Buff Bagwell. It was an eight-man tag. Benoit’s team put DDP, Kanyon, Flair, and Piper in Figure Fours. Plus, Bagwell pinned Flair after a Blockbuster! As a result, Flair booked Benoit and Saturn against the Triad.

During the entrances, DDP grabs a mic. He berates the fans for turning on him and ends the promo with his new catchphrase. DDP says, “Bada-bing, bada-boom, and bada-BANG!” This leads to Benoit and Saturn’s arrival. Tony sings Saturn’s praises. He mentions Saturn wrestled through a torn ACL, but he doesn’t say it was in ECW. Also, when the match begins, the three members of the Triad tag into the contest. It becomes a handicap fight.

Handicap Match for the Tag Team Titles: The Jersey Triad (c) vs. Chris Benoit & Saturn

Storyline: Benoit and Saturn attempted to save Malenko from Flair’s wrath, but the Triad jumped them. It led to Flair, Piper, and the Triad vs. Benoit, Saturn, Malenko, and Bagwell in an eight-man tag. Benoit’s team won. Afterward, the Jersey Triad unleashed their anger on Booker T, Konnan, and Rey. So Benoit and Saturn tried to thwart them. Because of this, Flair booked this title match for the PPV. Flair even put them in singles matches. DDP wrestled Saturn and Benoit faced Kanyon. We also saw a non-title six-man contest. The Triad fought Benoit, Saturn, and Malenko. Benoit and Saturn kept getting the best of them, so the Triad took them out with Diamond Cutters.

The Match: Benoit and Saturn control things until the Triad regroups. After fending off Kanyon’s rally, Benoit and Saturn score suplexes and clotheslines. Then they target Kanyon’s leg. So the Triad lures them into a trap. This allows for DDP’s diving clothesline. Plus, Bigelow does falling headbutts and chinlocks. Next, Saturn rallies and lands a super belly-to-belly before tagging Benoit. But Kanyon’s cheap shot stops Benoit. The Triad uses more ref distractions while Kanyon nails a sit-out Alabama Slam. Also, Bigelow and Page do facelocks and headbutts. This continues until Bigelow misses a moonsault. Saturn cleans house with suplexes and kicks. It causes a wild brawl and a ref bump. Benoit and Saturn perform stereo flying attacks, and Saturn tries a DVD. So Kanyon throws powder. It hits both Saturn and DDP, which causes confusion. DDP attacks the wrong man, but they manage an assisted Diamond Cutter for the win.

Thoughts: It was a solid bout, but they lost the crowd. The fans cared more about a beach ball than the action. When the security guard took the ball, they called him an asshole. But the wrestlers almost regained their attention with the closing moments. It didn’t succeed. The finish was too busy. It was hard to follow. This was decent, but a little disappointing.

Winners: The Jersey Triad (23:16)

Afterward, they recap the Piper/Bagwell feud. They will fight in a boxing match. Judge Mills Lane heard a lot of crap and trash talking from Piper. But he saw a lot of crazy fights and cases in his time. If they want to get it on, he will meet them on Sunday in Florida.

Then Michael Buffer introduces the contest. He says it is under Marquess of Queensberry Rules. (Will a lady in a powdered wig and frilly dress sit at ringside?) Buffer also claims Mills Lane is the only one with the guts to officiate this bout. Once Mills Lane arrives, we get Piper and Buff’s entrances. Buff says Flair and Piper always double team him, so Buff got his own corner person. It’s his mom, Judy Bagwell. She wears an airbrushed t-shirt with their faces on it. As she approaches the ring, Judy trips on a camera cable, so Heenan mocks her. However, none of this fazes Ric Flair. He offers Buff a chance to back out and apologize to the boys. Buff reminds Flair he pinned him, so Flair shuts up and lets Mills explain the rules.

Boxing Match: Buff Bagwell (w/ Judy Bagwell) vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper (w/ Ric Flair)

Storyline: When Flair and Piper jumped Malenko, Buff came to the rescue. This led to the aforementioned eight-man encounter. Buff pinned Flair with a Blockbuster after Malenko attacked Ric. But Piper called Bagwell a liar when he bragged about beating Flair. The Flair regime made Buff face them in a handicap bout. Despite Malenko’s help, Flair and Piper won with brass knuckles. Flair and Piper also screwed Buff and Dean when they attempted to win the tag, TV, and US titles. Later, Piper challenged Buff to a boxing fight. And JJ Dillon added Mills Lane as the referee.

The Match: In round one, they exchange jabs and flurries of punches. Buff dazes Roddy, but Piper knocks Bagwell down. Bagwell claims Piper tripped him. Then Roddy throws a headbutt after the round ends. During the break, Judy uses a dry sponge on Buff’s head while Flair sprays something on Piper’s gloves. The substance gives Roddy the advantage in round two. He blinds Bagwell, who tries to fight through it. Piper knocks him down again, but Bagwell rises. Once he regains his sight, Buff floors Piper as the bell rings. While they rest, Buff tells Mills to check Piper’s gloves. However, Flair wiped them clean. Next, Piper jumps Buff before the round begins. So Judy bites Roddy’s ear and puts a bucket on his head! Flair tries to intervene, but Buff punches him. This allows Buff to do a Blockbuster and Lane counts the pin.

Thoughts: Did they say this could end with a pinfall? Wasn’t this under boxing rules? I looked up the Marquess of Queensberry rules. They clearly state wrestling holds are illegal. WCW never remembers their stipulations. It makes them look stupid. This was an uninteresting worked boxing contest, which never looks good. With that said, Judy Bagwell’s antics amused me. It wasn’t a total loss, but it was still bad.

Winner: Buff Bagwell (6:36)

Judy chases Flair around the ring, so Heenan says she wants a date. Bobby also claims they cheated Piper. Tony says, “So what?” It angers Heenan. Afterward, they show a replay, and Heenan forgets Mills’ name.

Next, they recap the main event feud. Savage claimed he pinned Nash at The Bash. He even recreated the moment with his ladies. Meanwhile, Nash called out Sid for a fight, only to receive a beating from Team Madness. Sting saved him, but Nash didn’t trust Sting. He thought Sting drove the Hummer because Team Madness put doubts in Kevin’s mind. Later, Nash got a match with David Flair. He offered to put the belt on the line if David also offered Torrie Wilson as a prize. Flair’s interference backfired and Nash won. When it was over, Nash grabbed Gorgeous George and left with her and Torrie. It drove Savage crazy.

Buffer introduces Nash vs. Savage. He says it’s the first time a world championship is on the line in a tag contest. Anyone can score the pin and win the gold. Tony calls it unique and volatile. This leads to Savage and Nash’s entrances. Savage gets in Kevin’s face before he enters the ring. Once he does, Nash exchanges stares and words with Sting. As this happens, Randy sends George outside, but she moves beside Nash! It gives the camera a chance to show her black eye.

Tag Team Match for the WCW Title: Randy Savage & Sid Vicious (w/ Gorgeous George, Madusa, & Miss Madness) vs. Kevin Nash (c) & Sting

Storyline: Team Madness claimed none of them drove the Hummer. To mess with Nash’s head, they made him think either Scott Hall or Sting did it. Team Madness even used a fake Sting in a Hummer to sow doubt. Sting helped Nash, but Kevin didn’t trust him. Then WCW booked this tag match. Kevin agreed to put his title on the line. Anyone could score the pin and become champ. Nash wanted to see if Sting would betray him for the gold. Meanwhile, Nash and Savage played mind games. Sid swiped Kevin’s belt, so Nash stole Gorgeous George and Torrie. It infuriated Savage. He and Sid attacked everyone and demanded Nash return George. So Nash led Savage on a chase around town to get her back. George swore nothing happened, despite Nash’s insinuations. But Savage got rough with her. (He also slapped Torrie for laughing. You know the clip.)

The Match: Savage offers Sting a handshake to no avail, but he also notices George. When Savage chases her, Sting attacks. So Savage tags Sid. They trade strikes and clotheslines until Sid misses a corner splash. But Savage and Sid take control. They capitalize on a referee distraction and interference by the ladies. Sid and Savage swap without tagging and use a Camel Clutch and choking. This lasts until Sting scores a dropkick and tags Nash. He takes Savage to the corner for his usual offense and a side slam. Afterward, Sting returns and the fight spills outside.

There, Sting falls victim to more attacks by the ladies. It allows Sid to grab chinlocks. Once Sting escapes, he collapses on Sid’s crotch. This enables another Nash tag. He nails a big boot and side slam on Sid, but Savage stops a Jackknife. It draws the ladies into the ring only to receive a double noggin knocker and Stinger Splash. When Sting tries another, he hits both Savage and Nash! In the chaos, Sid takes Sting outside while Nash recovers. Kevin tries a Jackknife on Savage, so George gives Nash a low blow! It opens the door for Sid’s slam and Randy’s flying elbow. Savage covers for the win.

Thoughts: This wasn’t great, but it wasn’t as bad as some people say. I heard Nash did little in this bout. However, he was in there more than I expected. Since he dropped the belt, he probably had injuries. It would explain why they did a tag contest instead of a one-on-one fight. So I won’t fault Nash for his involvement in this. WCW should have put the championship on someone healthier, but that doesn’t happen. Take a wild guess how Savage’s title reign unfolds. If you guessed he loses it to You Know Who the following night, you are correct! No wonder Savage hated Hogan for years.

Winner: Randy Savage (New Champion) (13:20)

Savage celebrates with Team Madness as Tony expresses his shock. Gorgeous George tricked Nash! She stood his corner before throwing the punch heard around the wrestling world. Then Savage lifts George onto his shoulder and she raises the belt. Meanwhile, Sting disappeared into the void or something.

The Good:

• The tag title match was decent, despite the crowd.

The Bad:

• The main event was disappointing.

• David Flair/Malenko was awful.

• The Junkyard Match was a dangerous blunder.

• WCW forgot their stipulations again.

Observations:

• Someone cursed the US Title! They vacated it because of injury twice in a few months.

• I like Rey Mysterio, but the Cruiserweight Title is stagnant around his waist. Either have him defend it or give it to someone else.

• Did WCW intend to put Buff Bagwell in The Revolution? They are planting the seeds for the group, and they involved Bagwell in the storylines.

• WCW sure loves the word crap. Everyone says it!

Performer of the Night:

I will give it to everyone in the tag title bout. They were the one highlight of this abysmal show. Once again, Benoit and Saturn are my performers of the night. That’s three PPVs in a row.

Final Thoughts:

This show was a disaster. They filled it with poor booking decisions and lackluster performances. Plus, there was a dangerous and expensive spectacle. Even the one match that showed promise couldn’t keep the fans’ attention. The Junkyard Invitational killed what little heat the audience had. I can usually find positive things in these bad events, but I struggled with this. It’s a contender for WCW’s worst PPV.

Thank you for reading. My next review is ECW’s Heat Wave ’99. Look for it next Sunday!