My Favorite Wrestling: WCW Saturday Night 9/4/99

The Cat vs. Disciple

Well...there was that opener. Did you actually know Disciple of all people was still appearing on TV this late in '99? I mean, Warrior hadn't even been in WCW for almost a year at this point. Maybe WCW thought there were just too many more match-ups his fans wanted to see. They wanted to send him off properly.

Villano V vs. Lash LeRoux

This was pretty darn fun. Villano got tons of offense including a couple senton variations and an awesome Thesz press off the apron that was much more a running leaping balls to the face. Awesome. I don't care much for Lash, but he gives Villano most of the match before finishing him, so for that I am thankful.

Scotty Riggs vs. Scott Putski

OK, somebody name a WORSE major roster worker in 1999 than Scott Putski. First, I did not realize Putski was still gainfully employed in late 1999; second, I cannot see HOW he was gainfully employed in 1999. He is clearly the worst guy on this entire roster. His punches were totally absurd and even little things like running ropes were totally baffling to him. Who could have been sitting in the back justifying Putski's spot on the roster? It's a shame we didn't get Putski vs. Disciple, since I'm sure this was their last appearances with the company. They could have gone out in a real blaze of glory. And it deprived us of Putski vs. Konnan. Or Putski vs. Stevie Ray.

Brian Knobbs vs. 4x4

OK, I was insanely excited for Knobbs vs. 4x4, and for 90 seconds I was not let down. I actually didn't even realize 4x4 ever wrestled a match. His size is absolutely silly as he's fat, but also lifts, so he has these enormous arms and lats but a really flabby stomach, and he's squeezed into this awesomely goofy spaghetti strap camouflage tank top. The second he sloooowly rolls into the ring Knobbs is ON him and starts stiffing the shit out of him in the corner with some nasty front and back elbows. 4x4 doesn't really know what to do as he is clearly lost and out of his element, and Knobbs nails a nice corner charge. Knobbs bumps around nicely for 4x4 and I am beginning to really enjoy 1999 Brian Knobbs. This ends WAY too soon as Flynn and Morrus of the First Family run in, followed by a hilarious run in by Swoll and Brad Armstrong (seeing 4x4 and Swoll standing on either side of Brad Armstrong and the look of confusion on my girlfriend's face as she walked in the room was awesome. I could not explain very well to her why Swoll and 4x4 were hanging out with Brad Armstrong). Quite the spectacle of a match here.

Texas Outlaws vs. Barry & Kendall Windham

And YES! The Windhams IN ACTION! Seriously, best team of 1999 right here. The more I see of them the more I am convinced. I always thought it was the Texas Hangmen, btw, not Outlaws (assuming this is Mean Mike/Tough Tom under the hoods). Barry and Kendall cut off the ring all through this bitch and this is WRASSLIN right here. Outlaws get a great hope fall with a hooded switcheroo/roll up (which I totally suckered for, seriously. I mean, usually hooded switches lead to wins. I can't think of one that didn't off the top of my head...), and then more big ass boots from Kendall and this is just the best. Kendall and Barry had a contest to see who had a better punch (I think Kendall won), and you could tell they were having a blast just teaming together.

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Indy TV Sampler- Future Stars of Wrestling

Nevada isn't exactly a wrestling hotbed, outside of Wrestlemania IV, the AWA Showboat tapings, and the time Cactus Jack piledrove Sabu on a roulette wheel, I can't think of any other Nevada pro wrestling moments. So I figured I would check out Future Stars of Wrestling.

Episode 5

Paul Isadora v. Crash Test Cody

Crash Test Cody is dressed like a Crash test dummy, which is actually a pretty great gimmick for a big bumping guy. Isadora is listed at 6'10 and is probably legit 6'8ish. He is a pretty basic punch, kick guy, but you can't teach height. I wanted Crash Test Cody to die a little more, he bumps nicely, but he isn't Spike Dudley or Lance Lude.

Jason Partain v. Beast

Both of these guys are pretty big and agile. Beast is a black guy with facpaint who seems to be working some sort of Homicide gimmick, although he might also be in a metal band. Fun five minute match. Partian has a nice spinebuster. It ends with Partain arguing with his manager, Dino Denelli who looked like a sixty year old guy who owns a sandwhich shop. Partain gets bumped into him and rolled up. I was impressed by the apron bump the old guy took. Wouldn't mind seeing both guys again

Commercial for the FSW school, looks like Rico and Mike Modest are the trainers.

Leon Hater and the Hater nation come out and tell the crowd to shut up a bunch of times. Even the cameramen got bored and they just cut them off mid talk.

Franco DeAngelo v. Malachi

DeAngelo has the title belt and is rocking a faux hawk with thinning hair, not a great look. Malachi is a big bald dude with a gnarly beard, who was pretty darn good. Nice suplex, stiff lariat worked the arm. Michael Modest is doing heel commentary and keeps repeating how Malachi should be hitting him with a chair instead of going for pins. Modest is significantly better in the ring then behind a mike. I liked Malachi a fair bit, didn't really see much out of DeAngelo.

No Limits Rumble

This is a battle royal for a shot at their X divisionish champion. Flippy juniors battle royal never made a ton of sense to me, although this was fine stuff. Austin Aries was in this and while he didn't do a ton, he is a guy who consistently entertains me. The first two guys were Vintage Dragon (which I guess means he is working a Tatsumi Fujinami gimmick) and Cedric the Hitman. Both guys I dug Dragon took the biggest bump of the match and Cedric was an entertaining crowbar. Funnybone seemed like the most pushed guy in the match, he had ugly stars tattooed down his spine, but was perfectly OK, sort of a middle class mans Gran Akuma. FInish had Mike Delight, who seems to be working a comedy Mike Modest lackey gimmick, get thrown through the second rope and comeback at the end to eliminate two guys. This would have worked better as a Cibernetico or something, but for a battle royal this was entertaining

Show went down pretty easy, I was a big Modest fan back in the early 2000's, so I wouldn't mind seeing what he looks like now. I could easily see myself checking out future shows

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