WCW Uncensored 2002
Intro video for WCW Uncensored 2002. It mostly contains moments from previous WarGames matches, interspersed with moments of the Four Horsemen and Team Flair feud. Plus video highlights of complicated triangle relationship between Shawn Michaels, WCW World Heavyweight Champion Goldberg, and Chris Kanyon. (73)
Mike Tenay and Jerry Lawler are here with us as always.
Show opens with the team of Elix Skipper and Petey Williams making their way to the ring. The commentators mention that this young team has already made an impact, and Petey Williams' finisher is quite impressive. Next, Billy Kidman comes out and waits for his tag team partner for tonight. It's... wait... it's JERRY LYNN! Kidman gives him one of the championship belts.
Match 1, WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship: Billy Kidman and Jerry Lynn vs Elix Skipper and Petey Williams. Highly entertaining match. Jerry Lynn used some cheap tactics to much displeasure of the crowd and Billy Kidman. But it worked. Skipper and Williams tried to isolate Lynn at the end. However, Lynn knocks them down with a double clothesline. Hot tag to Kidman. Sitout powerbomb by Kidman on Williams. 1...2. Elix breaks the pin and immediately gets kicked out of the ring. Petey Williams attacks Lynn from behind and attempts a Canadian Destroyer, but Lynn counters with a Cradle Piledriver. Kidman capitalizes on the opportunity and lands a Shooting Star Press. 1...2...3. (12:13) (69)
Another video clip highlighting Samoa Joe's matches and training, emphasizing how he forces his opponents to submit and dominates in smaller promotions. Samoa Joe is set to join WCW soon. (50)
Rey Mysterio backstage interview. He talks about the WCW United States Championship. Everyone has told him that smaller wrestlers can't achieve success in singles competition, but by winning tonight's tournament, he could change it. He could change the course of his entire career. Kidman and Lynn, who are celebrating nearby, approach him. Rey attempts to take his belt from Lynn, but Jerry refuses to give it up. This leads to a minor argue, but Kidman manages to diffuse the tension. (63)
WarGames Moment: At the Fall Brawl 1997 Curt Hennig betrays the Four Horsemen and joins the nWo. Hennig traps Flair's head in the cage door and threatens to hit unless the Horsemen surrender.
Match 2, #1 Contendership for the WCW World Tag Team Championship: LAX (Homicide and Hernandez) vs Kaz Hayashi and Low Ki. This match quickly descends into chaos, with the referee struggling to maintain order. Hernandez clears the ring, sending both opponents out of it. Homicide follows up with a Tope Con Hilo dive. The fans start cheering for LAX. Kaz Hayashi jumps onto Hernandez, but he catches him and delivers a sitout powerbomb. 1...2. Low Ki breaks the pin. Homicide attacks Low Ki with a crossbody. Hayashi hits a Hayashi Cutter on Homicide. 1...2 - Hernandez breaks the pin and hits Kaz with a Border Toss. 1...2...3. (13:45) (72)
Post match, Hernandez and Homicide don't have a chance to properly celebrate their victory as their opponents return to the ring and assault them with chairs. It appears that the story is far from over. (50)
James Mitchell backstage interview. Mitchell asserts that Rhodes has made the biggest mistake of his life by betraying him. Now, Mark Jindrak is going to beat him down. And if Rhodes manages to survive Jindrak, Mitchell has another surprise coming for him. (58)
Match 3: ‘American Nightmare’ Dustin Rhodes vs Mark Jindrak (w/ Ted DiBiase). Dustin Rhodes launches a rapid attack on Mark Jindrak, and the fight quickly escalates into an all-out brawl. The wrestlers utilize steel steps, barricades, and even the commentary table multiple times. Blood was all over. In the ring Jindrak catches Rhodes with a backbreaker. 1...2. Dustin retaliates and knocks Jindrak down with a series of Bionic Elbows. Bulldog! 1...2... Ted DiBiase climbs onto the apron and distracts Dustin. Rhodes knocks him off the apron. Jindrak rolls him up. 1...2. Both are back on their feet. Mark goes for a clothesline, misses and receives a Blackout. 1...2...3. (11:58) (77)
Post match, James Mitchell comes to the ramp.
"Congratulations, you got past Jindrak. You got lucky. But no one and nothing can surpass this man, this creature. I promised you a big surprise, and it truly is a massive one. The mountain. My creation. Allow me to introduce you to my weapon of mass destruction!"... Some giant man in the mask comes to the arena…
… Mike Tenay remarks that he has never witnessed anything like it before. This monster strides into the ring, and Dustin Rhodes immediately launches a series of punches at him. None of them seem to have any effect! Dustin tries to escape, but the creature catches him and delivers a devastating Black Hole Slam. Mitchell orders the monster to lift Rhodes up. Chokeslam! Mitchell grabs the mic:
"And this is just the beginning, Dustin. The beginning of the end. Your end. Because we are here, and we are here to stay." (62)
CM Punk backstage interview. Winning WCW United States Championship would allow him to prove that CM Punk is a genuine superstar in this organization. It's something worth appreciating and fighting for. Moreover, having the US title around his waist would enable him to be an inspiration to the straight-edge community and make his voice heard. (62)
Match 4: Vampiro and mystery partner vs Christopher Daniels and Shannon Moore. Vampiro's mysterious partner turns out to be none other than... SABU! Vampiro and Sabu waste no time and immediately attack their opponents, swiftly knocking them down with synchronized superkicks. The referee manages to restore order to the match. Sabu and Christopher Daniels square off in the ring, with Sabu setting up a chair and executing an Asai Moonsault. Vampiro takes Moore down with a neckbreaker followed by a big boot. 1...2. Tag to Christopher Daniels. Daniels seizes control and knocks Vampiro off his feet. He smothers Vampiro with the ropes and then sends him crashing down. Best Moonsault Ever! 1...2...NO! Meanwhile, outside the ring, Shannon Moore engages in a brawl with Sabu and strikes him in the head with a chair! Daniels attempts to execute the Angel's Wings, but Vampiro counters with the Nail in the Coffin. 1...2...3. (12:43) (73)
WarGames Moment - At the Great American Bash 1987, Dusty Rhodes' team traps J.J. Dillon in the corner and forces him to surrender.
Backstage, Shawn Michaels arrives at the building. (79)
Match 5, WCW Cruiserweight Championship: AJ Styles vs Jamie Noble. The wrestlers start off at a slow pace. Jamie Noble manages to execute a couple of impressive takedowns before transitioning to an armdrag and a springboard leg drop. 1...2. Styles turns the tables and delivers a vertical suplex into a neckbreaker. 1...2. Styles performs a slingshot hurricanrana, sending Noble crashing onto the ropes. Noble regains his footing and lands a dropkick. 1...2. Styles attempts the Styles Clash, but Jamie Noble blocks it and responds with a stiff leg kick. 1...2. Noble pushes off the ropes and lands a superkick. 1...2. AJ Styles manages to counter with a headscissors takedown. Back on the ropes, Styles leaps for a shot and connects with a dropkick on Noble! 1...2. Noble attempts a jumping Tombstone, but Styles blocks it. Noble ducks a clothesline and positions himself on the apron. He goes for a springboard hurricanrana, but Styles catches him mid-air and executes the Styles Clash. 1...2...3. (15:45) (76)
Shawn Michaels backstage interview. HBK declares that he will judge the match fairly today. Nothing will escape his watchful eye, and if anyone tries to play games, they'll be on the receiving end of Sweet Chin Music. (79)
WarGames Moment - At the Great American Bash 1989, Terry Gordy and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams made the match intensely personal.
Match 6: Ken Shamrock vs Booker T. The match starts off with a more traditional approach, featuring grappling, wrestling, and technical maneuvers. Booker T manages to drive Shamrock onto the ropes and sends him flying out of the ring with a Harlem Sidekick. Inside the ring, Ken counters and executes a German suplex. He follows it up with a backdrop suplex. 1...2. Ken slows down the pace and inflicts punishment on Booker with various takedowns. Booker breaks free and lands a belly-to-belly suplex. 1...2. They engage in a grapple, from which Booker escapes with a jawbreaker. He attempts an Axe Kick, but Shamrock dodges and tries to throw him, only to be caught with a Bookend! 1...2...NO! Shamrock retaliates with a German suplex, followed by another German suplex! 1...2. Shamrock locks Booker T in the Ankle Lock! Booker manages to break free and knocks Ken down with an Axe Kick! 1...2...NO! Booker attempts another Axe Kick, but Ken grabs his leg and applies the Ankle Lock! Booker T tries to reach for the ropes... and he reaches them! Ken Shamrock is furious, waiting for Booker to get up. He attempts a throw, but Booker counters with another Bookend! Booker rises to his feet, performs a Spinaroonie, and lands another Axe Kick for good measure. 1...2...3. (15:03) (75)
WarGames Moment - At WrestleWar 1992, Team Sting consisting of Nikita Koloff, Dustin Rhodes, Barry Windham, and Ricky Steamboat triumphs over the Dangerous Alliance
Match 7, #1 Contendership for WCW United States Championship: Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk. The match starts with a rapid pace as Rey Mysterio takes the lead. However, the tempo gradually slows down, as it's not sustainable to keep the entire match at a high speed. CM Punk kicks Mysterio out of the ring and attempts a quebrada, but misses his target. Mysterio counters with a hurricanrana into the steel barricades! Back in the ring, Rey makes a pin. 1...2. CM Punk executes a slingshot into the corner of the ring. He follows it up with a hard kick to the back of Mysterio's head and a slingshot senton. 1...2. Rey Mysterio regains control with a springboard crossbody. He then lands a dropkick to put Punk on the ropes. Rey attempts the 6-1-9, but Punk evades and counters with his signature double underhook backbreaker! 1...2...NO! Punk attempts Pepsi Plunge, but Mysterio pulls off a hurricanrana. Punk catches him and delivers a sitout powerbomb. 1...2. Punk executes a bulldog. 1...2. He goes for the Anaconda Vice, but Mysterio reverses it into a roll up. 1...2. CM Punk counterattacks and places Rey on the top rope, ready for the Pepsi Plunge, but Mysterio blocks it and executes an armdrag off the top rope. An immediate enziguri sends Punk to the second rope! 6-1-9! Mysterio attempts a springboard splash, but Punk moves out of the way! Punk goes for the Anaconda Vice, but Mysterio counters it into another roll up. 1...2...3. (16:16) (76)
Video highlights the feud between the Four Horsemen and Ric Flair's allies, interspersed with some of the most intense footage of the War Games matches from various years. The match originated in June 1987, and now, nearly 15 years later, we'll see another WarGames! The commentators remind us of the match rules: 10 participants divided into two teams. Two individuals start the match, and every 5 minutes, a new participant joins, giving one team an advantage. The remaining participants enter the match every 2 minutes. The only way to win is to either force an individual or the entire team to surrender.
Match 8, WarGames: Four Horsemen (Steve Corino, CW Anderson, Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli) and ‘The Face of WCW’ Sean O’Haire vs Team Flair (Ric Flair, Chavo Guerrero, Lance Storm, American Dragon and Sting). Ric Flair and Steve Corino kick off the match, adding an immediate intensity to it. Flair eagerly anticipates five minutes of one-on-one time with his archenemy. As expected, Flair takes control and eventually locks in the Figure-Four Leglock on the WCW US Champion. Corino manages to withstand the pressure. Chris Hero then rushes to Corino's aid as the next participant, and together they gain advantage. However, Lance Storm comes to Flair's rescue. Storm floors Corino with a powerful superkick while Hero falls victim to a springboard dropkick. Storm seizes Hero in the Half-Boston Crab...
... Claudio Castagnoli makes an entrance, tipping the scales in his team's favor once again. And he saves his tag team partner. But Flair and Storm won't back down easily. Flair delivers low blows to everyone before putting Corino in the Figure-Four Leglock once more. Hero and Castagnoli intervene to save their leader. American Dragon, Bryan Danielson, enters the fray. Hero and Castagnoli unleash a devastating combo of a Euro uppercut and a Discus elbow on Dragon. Hero executes a piledriver on Dragon. CW Anderson joins the match, wreaking havoc with spinebusters on the opponents. Four Horsemen dominate... until Chavo Guerrero arrives. Hero gets Gory Bomb by Chavo. Frog Splash on Castagnoli! Sean O'Haire joins the match, completely shifting the tide in favor of the heels. Sting storms into the ring!
... Now, all are there. Sting wastes no time and launches a relentless attack on O'Haire, delivering a series of Stinger Splashes. Hero and Castagnoli both fall victim to the Scorpion Deathdrop. Lance Storm and Chris Hero fight on the top of the cage. Chavo Guerrero whips O'Haire and sends him crashing into the cage wall. The wall collapsed, causing Storm to fall from the top of the cage! . While Sting is momentarily distracted by Storm, Corino seizes the opportunity to execute an Old School Expulsion on him. Sting finds himself ensnared in a Figure-Four Leglock attempt by Corino! Flair breaks the hold. DDT on Corino! Lance Storm receives some assistance from outside the ring. Ric Flair applies the Figure-Four Leglock on CW Anderson, who eventually taps out. (25:39) (77)
Video highlights of the Goldberg, Chris Kanyon, and Shawn Michaels storyline.
Match 9, WCW World Heavyweight Championship, Special Guest Referee - Shawn Michael: Goldberg vs Chris Kanyon. The tension between Chris Kanyon and Shawn Michaels is felt immediately, while we are just waiting for the WCW World Heavyweight Champion to show up. HBK tries to frisk Kanyon - he immediately gets annoyed, but is forced to comply. Finally Goldberg shows up and quickly attacks Kanyon, knocking him out of the ring. The wrestlers fight out at ringside for a while. HBK tries to restore order and get them back in the ring but is met with a displeased look from Goldberg, causing him to hold off. Eventually, Goldberg rolls Kanyon back into the ring and unleashes a series of powerful moves. Kanyon manages to loosen the padding at ringpost. Goldberg goes for a Spear, misses and hits the steel post with his shoulder!..
... From this moment Kanyon sees his opportunity and targets Goldberg's shoulder. HBK wants to do something, but his options are limited. He only can stop illegal holds. For example, when Kanyon does a few abdominal stretches and holds onto the ropes. HBK sees and stops it. Kanyon does a submission hold around a steel post. HBK stops it. He and Kanyon argue. Goldberg uses it and comes with a Spear out of nowhere! 1...2...NO! Now Goldberg isn't happy with HBK. He argues about slow count. Kanyon uses it and rolls the champion up. 1...2. Goldberg quickly gets back on his feet... backbreaker! Goldberg follows up with a vertical suplex and a Russian legsweep, finishing with a cross armbar. That was fast series of moves. Kanyon breaks free from the hold. Goldberg comes with a Spear again... Kanyon dodges... HBK eats it! Kanyon immediately hits Goldberg with a Flatliner!...
...Chris Kanyon brings the championship belt and strikes Goldberg in the head! Another Flatliner on the championship belt! It's a lot of offense! Kanyon makes the pin... HBH slowly counts... 1...2...NO! Kanyon can't believe it. HBK sees the belt, picks it up, and begins arguing with Kanyon. Chris definitely claims he didn't use it. They argue more and more. Kanyon pushes HBK... It's too much. HBK is gonna hit Kanyon, but misses and strikes Goldberg, who was barely standing! Kanyon immediately makes the pin. HBK is puzzled, but still counts... 1... 2... 3! Ladies and gentlemen, after 9 months we have the NEW WCW World Heavyweight Champion! (15:25) (83)
Post match, Chris Kanyon takes the championship belt and exits the ring, before Shawn Michaels could get him. He lifts it above his head at the ramp. It’s the biggest victory of his career. It’s his night. Goldberg slowly gets back on his feet. HBK apologies to Goldberg and says he has no choice. We can see fury in the eyes of Goldberg. Chris Kanyon raises the world champion belt over his head once again, and at that moment, the show fades out.
Overall: 81