WCW Bash at the Beach 2003
HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY
Announcers: Mike Tenay, Tony Schiavone, Joey Styles and Jerry Lawler
Overall: 87
We have a video package that is mostly about our main event: triple threat for WCW World Heavyweight Championship. (75)
Match 1, #1 Contendership for WCW Nitro Tag Team Championship: Jamie Noble and Kaz Hayashi vs CW Anderson and Claudio Castagnoli. Jamie Noble, with his technical prowess, and Kaz Hayashi, known for his lightning speed and striking ability, form a dangerous pairing. Wrestling kayfabe purists would be terrified that Noble is a babyface, Hayashi is still heel, but they are a tag team. I don’t believe in black-and-white babyface/heel stuff. Like Vince Russo said: “Sometimes good guys do bad things, sometimes bad guys do good things”. I like it more. In the end, Noble and Anderson, exhausted but determined, trade hard strikes in the center of the ring. Noble takes Anderson down with a dragon screw leg whip. Tiger Driver attempt by Noble, but Anderson fights out of it and shoves Noble into the ropes. Spinebuster attempt by Anderson... Noble counters in mid-air with a DDT! Both men are down. Castagnoli and Hayashi are in the ring. Hayashi with a springboard... Claudio counters with a pop-up European Uppercut in mid-air. Castagnoli grabs Noble... RICOLA BOMB! Castagnoli immediately lifts Noble up... Rolling Euro Uppercut... into devastating Spinebuster by Anderson! 1...2...3. (11:03, 73)
WCW Nitro Tag Team Champions Rob Van Dam and Jerry Lynn just finished watching the match. But now they’re getting ready for their title defense. Brian Kendrick and Paul London walk by. They wish good luck. And vice versa. (74)
Match 2, The Path of Ambition: Rey Mysterio vs Sean O’Haire (w/ Mike Sanders). Rey Mysterio would go over the top with his quickness and aerial maneuvers in order to survive against the big and powerful O'Haire. O'Haire grounded Rey with a running knee. Mysterio dodges a big boot and nails O'Haire with a springboard seated senton, finally taking the big man off his feet. Rey quickly follows up with a springboard moonsault into a pinning combination. 1...2. Rey goes for a high-risk again, but Sanders grabs him by leg, allowing O'Haire to recover and catch Rey with a clothesline. O'Haire goes for a Senton Bomb... Rey rolls out of the way at the last second, causing O'Haire to crash. Rey stays on the attack, hitting the ropes and landing a springboard leg drop across O'Haire’s chest. 1...2...NO! Drop-toe-hold by Rey on the ropes. 6-1-9! He's ready for West Coast Pop... Mike Sanders jumps onto the apron, attempting to grab Rey’s leg again. Rey adjusts in mid-flight, kicking Sanders off the apron and then seamlessly transitioning into a springboard dropkick (although kinda sloppy) that sends O'Haire crashing into the ropes once again. Second 6-1-9! This time with even more impact. Rey wastes no time. He sprints to the top rope and hits a moonsault. 1...2...3. (11:20, 75)
Eddie and Chavo Guerrero backstage interview. Eddie does all the talking about how The Path to Glory is a great opportunity for the Guerrero family. And maybe they’ll have an Eddie vs Chavo final at Slamboree. Chavo tries to say something too, but too bad, Gene Okerlund says that we’re out of time. To the next bout… (58)
Match 3, WCW North American Championship: Billy Kidman vs Doug Williams. I wanted to allow Doug Williams to show his technical ability to the max. He can't have this opportunity much in tag team action. And omg he did! He was basically "British Kurt Angle" here! Doug catches Kidman off guard with a European uppercut. Williams follows up with a snap suplex, holding on and rolling through for a second suplex, then a third, showing his mastery of the suplex game. Chaos Theory attempt... Kidman blocks and hits Doug with a running dropkick. Kidman quickly capitalizes, climbing to the top rope. We have CM Punk on the ramp! Kidman sees it and he's distracted for a moment, but could bring himself back to focus. Shooting Star Press... missed! Doug dodges! Williams wastes no time, pulling Kidman up and delivering a running knee lift, followed by a butterfly suplex. 1...2...NO! Running powerslam by Williams! 1...2...NO! Double underhook suplex by Williams! 1...2...STILL NO! Williams goes for the Chaos Theory... and he also sees CM Punk! They kinda argue, while Punk says that he doesn't want to interfere. But it was enough for Kidman to recover. Kidman flips out of Chaos Theory and lands on his feet behind Williams. Kid Krusher! Kidman climbs to the top rope and doesn't allow for distractions this time... SHOOTING STAR PRESS! 1...2...3. (13:23, 79)
Backstage, Chris Hero meets exhausted Rey Mysterio. Hero congratulates on a great win, feels sorry that Rey isn’t on Nitro anymore and promises to get revenge on Chavo tonight. (77)
Match 4, The Path of Ambition: Chris Hero vs Chavo Guerrero. Some readers are surprised that Chris Hero got a couple of big victories lately. But he's one of the most over superstar at Nitro right now! Especially after winning the WCW SuperBrawl Classic. Still, technically gifted and crafty Chavo Guerrero was a serious opponent for him. Hero’s striking ability and power contrast with Chavo’s technical prowess and lucha libre expertise, resulting in a thrilling match. Chavo did good, until Hero catched him with a devastating cyclone kick to the side of the head. Hero follows up with a series of rapid-fire Kawada kicks to Chavo’s chest, each one echoing through the arena. Chavo, desperate, grabs Hero’s leg and trips him up, quickly applying a figure-four leg lock, hoping to force a submission. Hero struggles in the hold, but he uses his strength to roll over and reverse the pressure, forcing Chavo to release. Chavo goes for a rolling vertical suplex, but Hero counters with a rolling elbow, knocking Chavo senseless. Hero pulls him up and hits again with a spinning elbow smash. 1...2...NO! Chavo barely kicks out. Hero finishes Chavo with a Hero's Welcome. 1...2...3. (14:18, 85)
Backstage, RAGE GM Randy Savage meets Shannon Moore. "Congratulations on your win in Open Cruiserweight Gauntlet, kid, that's huuuuuge! As I know, you don't have a contract with my show. But we can change it right now, what do you say?". Moore: "I don't have a contract with RAGE, because I still have a contract with Nitro. That's why after I win, I'll take the WCW Cruiserweight Championship to Nitro". (69)
Match 5, The Path of Legacy: Ric Flair vs Eddie Guerrero. Both men are known for their in-ring psychology, technical expertise, and ability to tell a story through their matches. And we had a great story of Flair being so resilient against so great opponent. Flair lures Eddie into a test of strength. As soon as Eddie reaches for a lock-up, Flair pokes him in the eye, then follows up with a stiff knife-edge chop that echoes throughout the arena. After a while... first Figure-Four Leglock! Eddie breaks out. Eddie jumps out of vertical suplex and hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Flair takes control again with a well-placed low blow. Series of chops and another Figure-Four Leglock in the center of the ring! After a struggle, Eddie grabs the ropes. Flair tries to cut him off with another chop, but Eddie ducks and counters with a snap suplex. Eddie follows up with his signature Three Amigos—three rolling vertical suplexes, each one delivered with increasing intensity. It's time to finish it... He lifts Flair for a Brainbuster, but Flair counters mid-air and lands on his feet, immediately grabbing Eddie for a quick roll-up. 1...2...NO! It was the last second! Now Eddie hits a low blow and rolls Flair up. 1... Flair looks like he's alive and able to kick out... 2.... Guerrero puts feet on the ropes... 3! Flair kicks out at 3,1, but it's too late. Eddie Guerrero steals the victory. (10:53, 82)
Andrew Martin backstage interview prior to his match vs Shawn Michaels. “It’s not a match for me, it’s a mission. It’s a mission to expose everything that’s wrong with Shawn Michaels and everything he represents. He and his pal hold me back in this other company. That’s why people like Bret Hart, like Lance Storm, like me… you’re trying to hold us back, but you can’t, because we’re too powerful. Bret Hart started this revolution. Tonight, I’m carrying that flag into battle. And I’ll finish what The Hitman started at the Great American Bash”. (54)
Match 6, WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Shannon Moore vs Shane Helms. Considering that the previous Cruiserweight match at PPV was the best on the card, I’m slowly moving this kind of bouts towards the main event. I start to trust these guys more. And they didn’t upset me. Just look at the rating! This is a fast-paced, high-flying cruiserweight showcase by two former friends. Moore attempts a super hurricanrana, but Helms blocks it, holding onto the ropes. Helms then flips Moore over into a powerbomb position and drops him hard with a sit-out powerbomb from the top rope. 1...2...NO! Helms sets Moore up for a Vertabreaker, Moore lands on his feet and counters with a quick enzuigiri. Moore follows up with a whisper in the wind from the top rope, taking Helms down once more. 1...2...NO! Moore is up on the top rope... Moonsault! 1...2...NO! Shannon Moore can't believe it. And he goes to the top rope one more time. Now he leaps off with a corkscrew moonsault... missed! Helms goes for a Vertabreaker again... Moore counters by rolling Helms up in a small package. 1...2. Both quickly get to their feet, and Moore catches Helms with a superkick! Moore climbs the top rope once again... Corkscrew Moonsault! 1...2...3. We have the NEW WCW Cruiserweight Champion. But let's face it, Shane Helms puts up a good fight. And again, cruiserweight division gave me the best match of the show. (13:44, 90)
WCW RAGE Tag Team Champions Sting and Booker T backstage interview. Sting does his typical promo about how it’s a showtime and they're gonna do a great match, but Booker T stops him. It’s not about showtime, it’s not about the good time, it’s about ‘win time’. And he’s gonna win, whatever it takes. (77)
Match 7, WCW Nitro Tag Team Championship: Rob Van Dam and Jerry Lynn vs Frankie Kazarian and Matt Bentley (w/ Stacy Keibler). Of course, there was a lot of high-flying and creative action. Kazarian tags Bentley in, and they look to finish Lynn with a double-team powerbomb, but Lynn counters with a double DDT. Hot tag to RVD. RVD immediately takes out Kazarian with a springboard side kick. He follows up by hitting Bentley with a standing moonsault. 1...2. RVD goes for a 5 Star Frog Splash. Stacy Keibler distracts him long enough for Kazarian to shove him off the top rope to the ringside. Back in the ring, Bentley hits a reverse STO. 1...2. Tag to Kazarian. RVD recovers. Lynn blind tags himself in. RVD hits Kazarian with a springboard kick to the face, knocking Kazarian out of the ring. RVD then follows up with an incredible dive over the top rope, taking out Kazarian on the outside, leaving Bentley alone in the ring with Lynn. Bentley tries to capitalize on the chaos by hitting Lynn with a superkick attempt, but Lynn ducks under and catches Bentley with a Tornado DDT. Cradle Piledriver by Lynn! Rob Van Dam is on the top rope... 5 STAR FROG SPLASH! Lynn makes a pin. 1...2...3. (12:04, 86)
Match 8: Shawn Michaels vs Andrew Martin. This is a heated encounter between the legendary Shawn Michaels and the powerful, ruthless Andrew Martin. There's a lot of bad blood between those two. And we saw it in the match. Michaels ducks under quick big boot attempts and counters with a series of chops. Martin grounds HBK down with a running clothesline. Gorilla Press Slam. 1...2. Powerful backbreaker by Andrew Martin. 1...2. Slam into the turnbuckle and series of vicious shoulder thrusts to Michaels' midsection. HBK recovers and comes back with a flying forearm that staggers Test but doesn’t take him down. HBK ducks from some punch and hits a swinging neckbreaker. 1...2. Powerful kick out by Martin. Test, now furious, gets to his feet and catches HBK with a stiff big boot out of nowhere, nearly taking Michaels' head off. 1...2...NO! Martin lifts HBK for the Pump Handle Slam. HBK fights out with sharp elbows to Test’s head, landing behind him. Sweet Chin Music out of nowhere! 1...2...NO! Andrew Martin kicks out! HBK signals for another Sweet Chin Music... Andrew Martin catches his leg and turns it into a brutal spinebuster. 1...2...NO!...
… Martin, growing more frustrated, rolls out of the ring and grabs a steel chair, looking to end Michaels for good. The referee tries to stop him, but Test shoves him aside. Test swings the chair at HBK, but Michaels ducks under and quickly hits a dropkick to the chair, sending it back into Martin’s face! 1...2...NO! Michaels goes for the Sweet Chin Music again, but Andrew catches the kick and spins Michaels around, immediately lifting him for a running powerslam. Martin drives HBK into the mat and covers. 1...2...NO! Andrew Martin just can't believe it. And he has a heat with the ref now. It's enough for HBK to recover. HBK hits a reverse atomic drop, followed by a short-arm clothesline. Michaels climbs the top rope... Flying Elbow! No pinfall attempts, as HBK goes into the corner. Andrew Martin gets up... and eats Sweet Chin Music! 1...2... and... 3! (13:35, 81)
Match 9, WCW RAGE Tag Team Championship: Sting and Booker T vs Brian Kendrick and Paul London. There was a lot of tension between Sting and Booker T through the match, and it gave Kendrick and London an opening. Booker T was becoming more and more frustrated toward the end. Kendick and London double-teams Sting with a dropkick. Kendrick catches him with a hurricanrana. 1...2. Booker T rushes in to break up. Booker, now showing his frustration, drags Sting to their corner and tags himself in, slapping Sting on the back. Booker T very agressively attacks Kendrick. And... BookEnd! 1...2... London breaks up the pin just in time, saving the match. Booker, seething, drags Kendrick up by the hair and whips him into the ropes. Booker goes for the Axe Kick, but Kendrick ducks under and tags in London, who comes in with a springboard clothesline that catches Booker off guard. Double superkick to Booker T! Running enzuigiri by London, followed up by tornado DDT from Kendrick! 1...2... Sting breaks up. Booker, clearly frustrated and angry, crawls to the corner, and when Sting reaches out for the tag, Booker slaps his hand hard, tagging him in but with clear resentment in his eyes...
... Sting clears the ring. Stinger Splashes to the left and right for both opponents. Scorpion Deathlock on Kendrick in the center! London comes in and breaks the hold with a dropkick to Sting’s head. Sting, now slightly dazed, tags in Booker T. Booker T hits Kendrick with an Axe Kick! 1...2... London breaks it up. Booker kicks London out of the ring and loses his composure, grabs the referee by the shirt, yelling at him to count faster. Sting tries to calm Booker down, but Booker shoves Sting away! Booker T goes after the championship belt! As he's getting ready to strike Kendrick, Sting intervenes, grabbing the belt from Booker’s hands and throwing it out of the ring, refusing to win the match that way. Booker T and Sting argue. London flies off the top rope with a missile dropkick, hitting Booker T squarely in the back, sending him crashing into Sting, who falls out of the ring. Kendrick and London quickly double-team Booker T. Kendrick hits a Sliced Bread #2 on Booker, and London immediately follows up with a 450 Splash off the top rope. 1...2...3. We have the NEW WCW RAGE Tag Team Champions! (12:59, 80)
Post-match, Booker T and Sting argue. Finally Sting offers his hand. Booker T slaps Sting’s hand away. Sting tries to calm down Booker... and Booker T decks Sting with a hard right hand! BookEnd by Booker! Booker T leaves the ring to a lot of boos from the crowd. (73)
Match 10, WCW United States Championship: AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe. AJ Styles is determined to prove he can win fairly. On the other hand, Samoa Joe, the menacing and evil guy, is focused on exploiting any weakness to claim the title, including mental. Remember that the title can change hands by DQ or count-out. It was back-and-forth match with both having chances to win at some moments. Styles hits Joe with a Pele kick out of nowhere. AJ, seeing his opening, hits a combination of kicks to Joe’s legs and midsection, then nails a spinning backfist followed by a lariat that finally takes Joe down. Styles climbs the top rope... 450 Splash! 1...2...NO! AJ pulls Joe to his feet and attempts to lift him for the Styles Clash, but Joe is too heavy and counters with a back body drop. AJ rolls through and comes back at Joe, but Joe catches him with a Samoan Drop out of nowhere. 1...2...NO! Joe grabs AJ by the hair, dragging him to his feet, and delivers a devastating powerslam. 1...2....NO! Joe, fully aware of the match stipulation, decides to play some mind games. He throws AJ to the outside and follows him out, looking to use the environment to his advantage. Joe whips AJ hard into the steel steps, the impact echoing through the arena. Joe smirks as the referee begins his count, knowing that a count-out would win him the title...
... at 6 AJ pulls himself up using the barricade. At 7 AJ stumbles toward the ring, but Joe rolls back out, slamming AJ’s head onto the apron and then throwing him back inside the ring, breaking the count. Joe is sending a clear message that he’s in control. Joe lifts AJ for the Muscle Buster, looking to end it, but AJ wriggles free and counters with a sunset flip, trying to get a quick pin—1… 2… Joe powers out with authority, nearly sending AJ across the ring. oe drags AJ to the corner and climbs to the second rope, preparing for a superplex. Styles fights back and nails a Frankensteiner off the top rope! AJ Styles is exhausted. He sets Joe up for the Styles Clash again, and this time he manages to lift Joe, but his leg gives out, and Joe counters with a back suplex, sending AJ rolling out of the ring. The referee begins the count again, and AJ, determined not to lose by count-out, struggles to his feet. At the count of six, AJ grabs the apron, pulling himself up. Joe, realizing AJ is close to beating the count, slides out of the ring and goes after him.
Joe grabs AJ and throws him with a brutal belly-to-belly suplex over the announce table, sending AJ crashing into the chairs and monitors. The referee is at eight as Joe smirks, confident that AJ won’t make it back in time. But Styles is on his feet! Nine... AJ grabs the ropes, but his legs give up, and he falls back. He jumps back and is ready to get back into the ring... Ten. Too late. We have the NEW WCW US Champion! (15:57, 86)
Post-match, AJ Styles is almost crying. He wasn't pinned, he didn't tap out and to be frankly, he was ready to continue the match... But still. Stipulation is stipulation. It's over. And Samoa Joe grabs the US title belt and leaves the ring.
Match 11, WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Goldberg vs Chris Kanyon vs Lance Storm (w/ Bret Hart). Goldberg was extremely powerful in the beginning. Kanyon and Storm realize they need to work together to neutralize Goldberg. They both start targeting Goldberg’s legs, taking turns hitting him with low kicks and chop blocks, trying to bring him to his knees. They manage to get Goldberg down to one knee, and Kanyon takes advantage by hitting a running bulldog, driving Goldberg’s face into the mat. Storm follows up with a springboard leg drop, and both men cover Goldberg simultaneously. That's where they started to argue. Kanyon hits Storm with a swinging neckbreaker. 1...2. Kanyon hits with a series of suplex variations—a snap suplex, followed by a gutwrench suplex, and finally a Northern Lights suplex with a bridge—Storm kicks out again at two. Kanyon then sets Storm up on the top turnbuckle, signaling for a superplex, but as he climbs up, Storm fights back with stiff punches to Kanyon’s ribs. Just as it looks like Kanyon might lose his balance, Goldberg re-enters the fray, grabbing both men and delivering a tower of doom powerbomb/superplex combination...
... All three men are down. Goldberg is the first to rise. He picks up Kanyon and goes for the Jackhammer, but Kanyon wriggles free and shoves Goldberg into the ropes. Storm catches Goldberg with a superkick to the jaw. Kanyon, sensing an opportunity, quickly covers Goldberg. Storm breaks up the pin after one. After a while, Storm hits Kanyon with a springboard clothesline that sends Chris out of the ring. Lance is back to Goldberg. He starts targeting his knee with repeated knee drops and stomps. Maple Leaf submission! Kanyon breaks it up. Kanyon goes for a Russian leg sweep on Lance, but Storm counters, rolling through into a Maple Leaf! Kanyon struggles in the hold, but Goldberg recovers just in time to break it up with a big boot to Storm’s face, sending him crashing into the turnbuckles. Spear to Storm! Spear to Kanyon! It looks like Goldberg is on his way to retain the title...
... Goldberg lifts Storm up for a Jackhammer. Bret Hart dives in with a chop block to Goldberg’s leg! Goldberg and Bret Hart are in the middle of the ring! Goldberg almost put his hands on Bret, but Storm hits him with a dropkick to the leg. Bret gives Storm a chair. And Lance hits Goldberg in the leg more and more! Maple Leaf submission! Will Goldberg tap out? Goldberg fights with everything he has, trying to reach the ropes. Finally, he powers out, kicks Storm away, but in the process, he rolls out of the ring, his leg clearly damaged. rolls Storm up from behind— 1… 2… Kanyon sets up Storm for the Flatliner, but Storm counters and hits a Fisherman's Buster into the bridge. 1...2...NO! Goldberg is back in the ring. He kicks Storm out of the ring. Spear to Kanyon! Goldberg lifts Kanyon for a Jackhammer, but his leg gives out again, and he collapses to the floor. Kanyon is on the Goldberg. 1...2... Storm breaks up the pin and rolls Kanyon up. 1...2... Goldberg on one leg tries to break it up, but fails... 3! We have the NEW WCW World Heavyweight Champion! (13:53, 88)
Post-match, Goldberg needs medical attention. And we have a big celebration by Lance Storm and Bret Hart. And that’s it, see you tomorrow.
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WCW Path Of Glory Standings
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Prediction Game Results:
henriquesser 9/11 (congrats on second win in the row!)
johnnyboombatz 7/11
dhk1989 6/11
Asaemon 5/11