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LIVE from the Township Auditorium
Columbia, South Carolina
Sunday, October 21, 2001
Attendance: 34,250 PPV Buyrate: 1.37
Arn Anderson d. "Showman" Sean Waltman & Cactus Jack to determine the number one contender for the WCW Title in 16:19. Rating: **1/2
An outstanding opening match which saw Anderson and Cactus concentrating their efforts to eliminate Waltman first before going after each other. Anderson receives a WCW Title shot against Justin Credible on Nitro.
Edge d. Takashi Iizuka in 15:39 to win the vacant NWA International Title. Rating: **3/4
This match was a continual tossup with neither man gaining an advantage. Edge finally found an opening and blasted Iizuka with his spear to win the International title.
The Hell-Raisers (Austin & Goldberg) d. The Hell-Raisers (Hawk & Power Warrior) in a Cage Match, the final of a best-of-7 series for the NWA World Tag Team Titles in 1:34:26. Rating: ****1/4
As these two team began tearing into each other, it was a nail biter from beginning to end. Even interference by Sable, Nicole Bass, Scott Steiner and Barry Windham couldn't stop the determined Austin & Goldberg from claiming the NWA World Titles for the third time. Even though the hour time limit ran out, the referee, realizing the scope of the confrontation, allowed it to continue to a finish. But all four men were upset by the interferences.
Rhino d. The Rock in 8:11. Rating: *1/4
Rock had the early advantage in this match, but Rhino fought back and actually caught Rock trying to use the Rock Bottom. He countered with a knee to the midsection, followed by a piledriver for the win.
Legends Match: Gino hernandez d. Chris Adams in 12:12. Rating: 3/4*
The first Legends match of the night saw the match World Class wrestling fans never got to see in the mid-to-late 80's. Both men fought long and hard, each displaying good counter-wrestling abilites. Hernandez found an opening and used a piledriver to end the conflict.
Backstage: Vader gets his hands on Bobby Heenan...again!
A camera crew is dispatched to the back where Bobby Heenan is laying face-down on the floor with Vader standing over him. Vader screams at Heenan, obvious payback for what happened to Vader on Nitro last week. Officials got to heenan and kept Vader at bay.
Legends Match: Paul Orndorff d. Tiger Jeet Singh in 5:23. Rating: - 3/4*
This was a match up of a more current legend against one from the past. Didn't matter as both men showed good wrestling abilities against each other. Orndorff used his patented Piledriver to put away the Saudi grappler.
Legends Match: King Kong Bundy is the lone survivor in a 10-man elimination match in 2:27:01. Rating: - *****
Order of elimination: Dr. Jerry Graham by Ricky Steamboat, Steamboat by "Leaping" Lanny Poffo, Bobo Brazil by hartford Love, Randy Savage by Thunderbolt Patterson, Patterson by The Spoiler, Hartford Love by George "The Animal" Steele, Harley Race by Cowboy Bob Orton, Spoiler by "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Piper by Orton, Steele by King Kong bundy, Bruno Sammartino by Reginald Love, Kurt Von Hess by Cheif Jay Strongbow, S. D. Jones by Poffo, Poffo by Strongbow, Orton by The Mighty Igor, Reginald Love by Strongbow, Moondog Spot by Strongbow, Strongbow by Bundy, Igor by Bundy.
Danny Doring d. Kama in 18:13. Rating: 3/4*
This match was ordered by new Coast-to-Coast owner Genichiro Tenryu after ejecting both from their places in the card's World War 3 match. A good man between the two men, with Doring claiming victory with his Danaconda.
Interview: The new tag champs are upset.
Goldberg and Austin didn't seem very happy for two men that reclaimed their titles after two months of not having them. They were more concerned over the fact that the match was marred by interference by four people who were determined to keep them from the titles. They basically dismissed Steiner and Windham, but were ready to concentrate on the women who "wanted to step into a man's world": Sable and Bass. But before they could detail what they wanted to do to the females of NWA Women's, the former champions, Hawk and Power Warrior, stepped up to them. The new champs thought a fight was about to happen. Hawk told them that they'll worry about their rematch later on. What they were interested in was retribution. Hawk suggested that both Hell-Raisers teams unite for Nitro and fight the four interlopers that messed up what could have been a match for the ages. The new NWA tag champs liked the idea, and they agreed.
Alundra Blayze d. David Flair in 16:18 to retain the NWA World Television Title. Rating: *1/2
Alundra had laid down a challenge for her World TV title, and was surprised when former champion David Flair stepped up to the plate. Flair told her before the match that Blayze knew she shouldn't be wearing the belt to begin with. alundra responded by pouncing on Flair and literally taking him to task the entire match. She captured him in the German suplex to retain her title.
Ric Flair and Raven wrestled to a draw in 20:00. Rating: *1/2
These two men seem to not get enough of pounding on each other. It was Flair's science against Raven's brawling, with neither man getting a clear-cut advantage. Just when it appeared that Flair would win, Raven countered, and vice versa. Though a draw was declared, it appears the tensions between these two are far from settled.
Sting d. Glen Osbourne in 4:14. Rating: 1/2*
Sting decided he wasn't going to play around with Osbourne this time, going headlong into the bigger man and dropping him quickly with a Scorpion Death Drop.
Interview: Vader
Vader told Gene Okerlund that the Giant was afraid of him. First, Vader took Giant's manager, now he was going to take the NWA World Title as well. Okerlund reminded Vader that the sides would be even seeing as how the Giant would also have a chair to use, and Vader didn't seem to care.
Legends Match: Ernie Ladd d. The Sheik in 3:42. Rating: - *****
A quick and uninspired match between two brawlers. The Sheik never got out of the gate and the former Kansas City Chiefs guard took the "Madman from Syria" out with a big boot to the face.
Ernest Miller d. Rico Constantino in 6:13 to win the NWA North American Title. Rating: 1/4*
The Cat made surprisingly short work of Constantino, who issued an open challenge to anyone in the NWA to face him for the North American title. While Rico used counter-wrestling and strength moves, Miller surprised him with his quickness and well-timed martial arts manuevers. Miller took out Rico as he had all his opponents up to the pay-per-view: the Feliner.
Buff Bagwell & Psicosis wrestled The Mamalukes to a draw in 20:00. Rating: 1/2*
Bagwell, still looking for his rematch for the North American Title, did very well with Psicosis as a partner. Their styles blended together perfectly, and was nearly the same as The Mamalukes. Although Tony Marinara tried his best to cheat his team to victory, Bagwell and Psicosis stayed with the two all the way to the closing bell.
Interview: Rob Van Dam
The Florida United States titlist was interviewed by Gene Okerlund prior to his tournament final against Chris jericho. RVD scoffed at Jericho saying he would always beat wrestlers like Jericho, who dreamed of being just like him and never will be. Jericho's current reign as one-half of the U.K. Hammerlock tag team champs (w/Jeff jarrett) meant nothing because it wasn't an American title. RVD swore that he would do what he set out to do all along, and that was to unify the NWA and Florida U.S. titles and become the only United States champion.
Chris Jericho d. Rob Van Dam in 10:27 to win the vacant NWA United States Title. Rating: **1/2
Both men were unwilling to give up to the other as the match went back and forth and fans saw every piece of aerial ability out of the dynamic pair. when they weren't in the air, their ground games were just as solid. Things seemed to be going RVD's way until he missed his Five Star Frog Splash and Jericho quickly landed a Lionsault for the victory and the championship.
Legends Match: Junkyard Dog, Bruiser Brody, Dusty Rhodes & Chavo Guerrero Sr. d. The Great Kabuki, One Man Gang, Dick Slater & Manny Fernandez in 31:19. Rating: - ***1/2
A great 8-man tag match. Contrasting styles between all competitors in a match that saw everything. As the match got out of hand with action in ring and on the floor, Dusty Rhodes scored his Bionic Elbow on Dick Slater to take the win.
The Blue Boy d. Dan Severn in 13:08. Rating: - **
Tough guy Severn had more than the Blue Boy to worry about in this match. There was also Jasmine St. Claire, who made sure to interject herself as many times as possible, including flashing her breasts to the referee to distract him. In the end, however, it was Blue Boy keeping Severn on th emat long enough to deliver a Moonsault for the victory.
Interview: The Giant
Speaking with the Giant, Gene okerlund asked if he knew the condition of Bobby Heenan, whom Vader had attacked earlier in the evening. Giant said he didn't know what Heenan's condition was. He told Vader that it didn't matter what mind game he played. The Chairshot Survival Death match would prove to be the mastadon's downfall, and the Giant promised to walk out as NWA World champion once again.
Justin Credible d. Mr. Perfect in 7:07 to win the vacant World Hardcore Title. Rating: **1/4
Credible had remarked on Nitro last week that he could become a double champion, holding both the WCW Title and the NWA World Hardcore Title. With his opponent for Nitro decided, then it was up to Credible to try and get by Mr. Perfect to secure the second title he boasted about. Credible reached into his bag of tricks, but so did Perfect. He met Justin move for move, hold for hold. The action went to the floor several times. As they made their way up the aisle, Lance Storm appeared in the walkway and tossed a baseball bat to Credible, who used it on Perfect and won his second concurrent championship.
Haku & Dr. Wagner Jr. d. Kash Money in 1:48. Rating: 3/4*
Up until this match, Kash Money had been predicted to possibly take the WCW Tag Team Titles in the upcoming tournament. But Haku & Dr. Wagner Jr. made them look completely clueless as Wagner score a bulldog on EZ Money to win the match.
Yuji Nagata wins the World War 3 battle royal in 46:21. No rating given
Order of elimination: Masato Tanaka by Rick Rude, Manabu nakanishi by Satoshi Kojima, Stevie richards by hawk, Brian Pillman by Luna Vachon, Chris Benoit by Matt Hardy, Kane by Randy Savage, Genichiro Tenryu by Mean Mark Callous, Savage by Manami Toyota, Chris Jericho by Sid Vicious, Justin Credible by Susan Sexton, Ken Shamrock by Rude, Ultimo Dragon by Yokozuna, Cactus jack by Mike Awesome, Callous by Rob Van Dam, Toyota by The Rock, Kurt Angle by RVD, RVD by Vachon, Jeff Jarrett & Steve austin simultaneously by Vicious, Sexton by Booker T, Chris Adams by Power Warrior, Don Frye by Terry Gordy, Bill Goldberg by Owen Hart, Super Crazy by Hart, Hayabusa by Bobby Duncum Jr., Billy Kidman by Hawk, Gordy by Bull Nakano, Rock by Christopher Daniels, Awesome by Rude, Duncum Jr. by Rude, Ric Flair by Hawk, hawk by Jeff Hardy, Hart by Shawn Michaels, Vachon by Kojima, Warrior by Alundra Blayze, Vicious by Rude, Michaels by Nakano, Nakano by Rude, M. Hardy by Kojima, Lance Storm by Booker, Blayze by Kojima, Rude by Daniels, Davey Boy Smith by Nagata, Kojima by Yokozuna, Yokozuna by Nagata, Booker by Sherri Martel, martel by Nagata, J. Hardy by Nagata, Daniels by Nagata.
Vader d. The Giant in 30:36 in a Chairshot Survival Death Match to win the NWA World Title. Rating: *3/4
A horrifying match to watch to very large individuals cracking each other's skulls with steel chairs, as well as other objects found at ringside. Even with harley Race serving as referee, it was something no one would ever forget. Even when Bobby Heenan hobbled to ringside, the match looked grim for Vader. Heenan tossed the ring bell to the Giant twice, but the Giant couldn't score the pin. When the Giant suddenly notice Heenan helping Vader to his feet, then the champion was confused. "The Brain" had sided with Vader! The man who hospitalized him! All of a sudden, the match advantage swung to Vader, and he took the opportunity to blister the champion with a chair, as well as objects tossed to him by his new ally. The Giant had no chance to recover and finally fell to Vader. As the big man celebrated in the ring with Heenan, neither saw Bret Hart slide into the ring behind them. As Heenan turned, Bret caught him with a corkscrew neckbreaker, hurting Heenan's fragile neck. Bret picked up one of the chairs used during the match as Vince McMahon came to ringside!! When Vader turned around, Bret smashed him with the chair. The Hitman then beat on Vader continuously with the chair until the Rocky Mountain monster laid face down on th emat. Bret picked up the NWA World Title belt and tossed it to McMahon, who snatched it up quickly. Hart then grabbed Vader in the Sharpshooter and held onto the hold tightly, despite the referees that came down to try and make him release the hold. McMahon held the NWA World Title belt in the air, laughing as Bret held onto the Sharpshooter while World War 3 left the air.