We all wish you were in Washington DC! The nation’s capital has been a hotbed of action this year, and what better way to celebrate the end of this year with some WCW action as we present Starrcade: Glory!
Following a very nice opening video set to “Wish You Were Here” which featured images of legendary stars of wrestling mixed with current stars, the show begins with some heated X Division action as Rey Mysterio Jr. looks to get revenge on the man who cost him not only the X Division Championship but also his vision for a few months, Yoshihiro Tajiri. Tajiri is a great competitor in his own right, but Mysterio was out for blood. Tajiri tried to use mist again, but Rey got out of it’s path, leading to him utilizing a spinning dropkick to the face while Tajiri was tied up in the ropes, before a springboard legdrop finished the match. Mysterio made the “belt motion” around his waist after the match, he is coming for Lance Storm!
Back in the interview area, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair is in fine form as he tells Jeremy Borash that he can’t wait to party after he rips the mask off of Mr. Wrestling 3’s face.
In a bout that seemed to go all over the arena, Da Baldies took on Fratelli in a hardcore match. The teams used anything on one another that wasn’t nailed down, but in the end, despite Mike Sanders’s attempts to insert himself into the mix, Reno was able to get the victory over DeVito with the Roll The Dice onto the concrete floor.
Up in the skybox, Simm Snuka and Sonny Siaki are talking about how they are a pair of “Aces” in a deck of jokers. Siaki is in the Glory match tonight, and once he has The Glory, they will keep being on easy street.
Next, the squared circle is the stage for a bitter battle between brothers as the Steiner Brothers explode in a Dog Chain match. They are tied together at the wrists by a piece of chain, and it rips into their backs when each one uses it on the other. In the end, the two end up touching all four corners at the same time, and Nick Patrick rules the match a draw! The two look like they might want to fight more, but cooler heads prevail and “Big Poppa Pump” looks upon his older brother with a respect that we haven’t seen him show in some time, and the two share a manly, brotherly hug! The fans applaud the Steiner Brothers as they leave the ring together, looking like a new day has dawned for the team.
In the interview area, “JB” asks Kronik for thoughts on Bryan Clark being in the Stairway to Glory match later tonight. They have agreed that Clark will use The Glory to put the World Tag Team championships back around their waists. Back out in the ring, a battle between two young studs occurs with some dire stipulations. Air Paris had attacked AJ Styles repeatedly over the past month, saying that Styles had forgotten about him, but on this night AJ will not forget the man who took him to the limit. But the Spiral Tap puts Paris away, sending him out of WCW and out of AJ’s life.
Chris Harris and James Storm come to the ring and bring out the managers who have been courting the team; Madusa, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, Harley Race, Midajah, Jimmy Hart, and Stacy Kiebler all plead their case, but in the end, Storm tells them “Sorry about yer’ damn luck,” as America’s Most Wanted have agreed that they don’t need anybody watching over their career but themselves!
We take a quick look at the Skybox, where Simm Snuka is watching the show by himself with a huge tray of exquisite sushi in front of him. A knock comes to the door, but when he sees it is his legendary father Jimmy Snuka wanting to talk to him, Simm slams the door in his face and locks it, pressing a button and telling security to haul this washed up old man away from him!
The Stairway to Glory match is a car crash of epic proportions, as each man wants to get the briefcase down from the ceiling. Inside the briefcase is a guaranteed championship match at any place, any time, so the stakes are high for the six participants. Everyone has their big moment in the bout, but in the end one man is left standing on top of the ladder – and Kanyon takes home the prize known as The Glory! Syndrome tells him backstage that he has brought great pride to Dark Eden, but Kanyon pays him little mind, hugging tightly the case that is in his hands.
The WCW Worldwide! Panel join us briefly, talking about what we’ve seen tonight. Bobby Heenan stops by the Panel to make jokes about the guys around the room, but Dusty Rhodes comes in behind him and drops “The Brain” with a Bionic Elbow! He ushers a dizzy Heenan out of the room, and we head back to the action.
“The Nature Boy” Ric Flair comes to the ring wearing an extravagant robe, with a big pyro display at his back! The commentary team talks about how Ric Flair IS Starrcade, and Arn says there is no way it can be his last! But Mr. Wrestling 3 is a vicious competitor, and no matter what tactic Flair uses, MW3 has an answer for it. “The Nature Boy” plays all his hits, but Mr. Wrestling weathers all of it before locking in Flair’s own favorite figure four leglock… and Flair taps out! Ric had to tap out, he must retire from World Championship Wrestling! Everyone is in shock! Arn leaves the broadcast booth as Tully Blanchard and David Flair come to the ring to be with Flair. Ric has tears in his eyes as his friends and family lead the fans in a “Thank you Flair!” chant as he walks behind the curtain.
The WCW World Tag Team championship is on the line next, but fans are still buzzing after what we had just witnessed. Taking on the Tri-State Threat of Shane Douglas and Bam Bam Bigelow, Chuck Palumbo and Sean O’Haire defend the championships successfully, with Palumbo finally putting his feud with “The Franchise” to rest here.
Mr. Wrestling 3 graces the ring with his presence again, this time alongside The Problem Solvers. They gloat about ridding WCW of Ric Flair, saying that this is only the beginning. But their words draw the attention of David Flair, who rushes the ring with a crowbar! He swings it wildly, using the weapon to chase the Problem Solvers out of the ring before whacking Mr. Wrestling in the knee with it! As the masked man kneels in pain, David grabs him and pulls off his mask!
Tenay and Hudson can’t believe it, it was Steve Corino! Flair looks like he is ready to take his head off along with the mask, but Simon is able to take Corino and pull him out of harm’s way, escaping from the rabid David.
The battle between Dark Eden and the former Flock raged on tonight as Vampiro and Rellik took on Raven and Saturn. The brawl was intense, but Syndrome leads to the end of the match when he grabs Saturn and drills his face into the mat with a spinning facebuster, drawing a disqualification for his team. He urges Dark Eden to assault Raven and Saturn, but as Raven is being held for a free hit from Kidman, he looks at Billy, telling him that he healed his pain once before… Kidman hits Rellik instead! He, Saturn, and Raven clear Syndrome, Vampiro, and Rellik out of the ring, Kidman embracing Raven’s welcoming arms!
We head down to Mike Tenay and Scott Hudson, who start talking about Gauntlet for the Gold, when someone can be seen jumping the barricade from behind them and entering the ring…
WHAT?! THAT’S… THAT’S….
SCOTT HALL?!
Hall has his own microphone, and he says last time he did that, he was here to start a war. This time, he’s here for a bigger goal – his own redemption. He tells fans that he was part of a tight group of friends for a few years, or so he thought they were his friends, but all they did was use him and abuse him. He says he probably don’t deserve it, but he knows he’s messed up time and time again and wants fans to give him one more chance, and he won’t waste it. Out from behind the curtain comes Jeff Jarrett though, cutting Hall off and telling him that he thought this was Starrcade, not some after school special about our feelings. He tells Hall that he’s right, this greased up slapnut doesn’t deserve another chance to embarrass himself on public television, so he better hit the bricks before “The Chosen One” makes him crap those bricks! Scott wiggles his fingers at Jarrett, telling him to come get some, but Jeff heads back up the ramp instead, saying he’s got a title to win tonight.
We go next to a video package, sitting down with some of the participants in the Gauntlet for the Gold tonight, as they all talk about wanting to win the WCW World Heavyweight championship tonight. Goldberg, Jeff Jarrett, Lex Luger, Buff Bagwell, Booker T, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Dustin Rhodes, and Sting all give their thoughts here. Everyone wants their name etched in the history books, everyone wants that glory for themselves, but only one can have it at Starrcade: Glory!
Before the match begins, WCW Owner/Operator Eric Bischoff enters the ring to greet the fans. He thanks everyone for helping to keep WCW going by buying the pay-per-view editions of Nitro over the past months, but says it is time to go into a new phase of the company, by returning to cable television. Not only return to cable television, but returning to Monday nights! WCW Monday Nitro is back on the air beginning January 1st, 2002, on their new home…… USA Network! He leads fans in a chant of “USA! USA! USA!” before saying that it’s time to crown a new champion, and he can’t wait to see who it is! Also before we get started, Arn Anderson sneaks back down to the commentary booth, saying that while he is still in shock about what happened with Ric Flair, he has a job as an announcer tonight and he is going to fulfill that duty by calling the Gauntlet for the Gold.
After David Penzer lists off the rules of the match (participants enter at timed intervals; elimination is caused by being thrown over the top rope, until the final two when it is only won via pinfall or submission), the two men who drew the first numbers for the Gauntlet are Curt Hennig and “The Cat” Ernest Miller. They have a somewhat respectful two minute period until Big Bill enters the ring. Bill is an angry man, and he takes his anger out on both of them, but doesn’t garner any eliminations until Lance Storm joins the match. Buff Bagwell enters the bout, but during his second wind, “The Cat” gets attacked from outside by Mike Awesome! After he is left lying with an Awesome Bomb, Storm gathers him up and tosses him out to score the first elimination. Dustin Rhodes is next in, and “The Prodigal Son” ducks a rush by Bill and sends him to the floor as Randy Savage makes his way to the ring. Konnan hits the ring full of arriba la raza. Hennig’s night ends courtesy of Storm and a big superkick that sent him out over the top. Billy Kidman joins the fray with a missile dropkick on Storm. Jeff Jarrett is in, and he smashes a guitar over the head of Rhodes to take him out. Just then, some unfamiliar music starts playing, this must be our mystery entrant! Is it Scott Hall? Is it Vader? No, it is…
We know who that is for sure! Tenay calls her one of the most influential women in the history of professional wrestling, she’s not just a continent anymore, she’s in WCW to change the game! They don’t really have a name prepared for her (by design), just calling her “a game changer” as she eliminates Konnan! “The Total Package” enters next, and the ring is starting to fill up. The fans come to life big time as the next man out is Goldberg! “Da Man” hits the ring and he quickly eliminates Bagwell, Kidman, Lex, and Jarrett before getting pulled aside by the game changer. He doesn’t look like he plans to fight her, but she cracks him with a forearm! After that, the gloves are off, and he hits her with a spear! He tosses her out of the ring, easily getting another elimination. Booker T and Sting are the final entrants, and after Savage is dumped out by Sting, our final four comes down to Storm, Sting, Booker, and Goldberg. There are no friends or allies when the World’s championship is at stake, and Sting falls victim to a scissor kick and is eliminated by Booker. Storm is sent flying by a gorilla press from Goldberg, and the final two go nose to nose! Fans don’t know which of the two to cheer for, as both trade blows and big moves back and forth. Booker nearly picks up the win with an axe kick, but Goldberg barely kicks out! But Booker doesn’t look like he’s going to kick out of the Spear and Jackhammer combination, when Charles Robinson gets pulled out of the ring, breaking the count! Goldberg is confused, and the camera whips around to show…
…
…
WHAT?!
Goldberg leaves the ring and begins to chase – I can’t believe I’m even writing this – Shane McMahon around the ring, but by the time Shane enters the ring and starts trying to flee Goldberg’s wrath, Booker has the World title, and he hits Goldberg in the back of the head with it! Shane escapes, and Booker T goes up top to hit the Harlem Hangover! He drives the championship into Goldberg’s face yet again, making the cover – and we have a new WCW World Heavyweight champion! Thanks to… Shane McMahon?! He enters the ring and holds Booker’s arm up in victory, and on the way out they shove Eric Bischoff aside. The show goes off the air with the two celebrating at the top of the aisle, with Tenay saying that we have to find out what is happening here on January 1st on Monday Nitro!
- Vito said after his match that he felt a hardcore based match did not suit him very well, he does better with indiscript brawls.
- Scott Steiner was unhappy at the draw, but was allowed to be kept strong. He then turned face to join with his brother, it was a complete success.
- The face turn of America’s Most Wanted went pretty well, as fans aren’t sure of them as faces yet.
- I did not realize I hadn’t used Harley Race on screen until this show. His “Legend” gimmick rates as Average.
- Ric Flair was furious at losing to Mr. Wrestling 3, which is understandable given the two’s places in the wrestling world for sure, but was told that he was to do the right thing.
- Tully Blanchard returns to WCW with a Legend gimmick, which he is Very Good at portraying.
- Billy Kidman also turns face by rejoining with Raven, which was a complete success.
- Scott Hall debuts with the gimmick of Inspiration (Cool), which fans felt came off as Above Average.
- “Chyna” (who was given no name on-screen, only being referred to as “The Game Changer”) debuts with an Equality Fighter gimmick, which came off as Average. The fans weren’t happy to see her, only having wanted to see male competitors.
- Goldberg was unhappy with the plans for Gauntlet for the Gold, but he was told to just do the match. Booker T’s heel turn was a complete success.
- Goldberg garnered the most eliminations in the Gauntlet, while Lance Storm was in the match for the longest.
- Shane McMahon debuts! His Cocky Youth gimmick is Above Average, as it should be.
- Getting better at gimmick: Simm Snuka, Scott Hall, Curt Hennig, Lance Storm, Tully Blanchard, Sting
- After the show, Ric Flair was told that he is awesome and Goldberg and Scott Steiner were complimented for their performances. Flair was pleased, Steiner was very happy, and Goldberg seemed pleased.
- Ratings: PPV (0.16), TV (1.34)
Predictions:
Asaemon: 5
Crackerjack: 6
DGenerationMC: 5
DHK1989: 6
RKOwnage: 6
So we go to the tiebreaker, which is the time for the Gauntlet for the Gold. The time on the bout was 36:28, meaning with a guess of 35:00, Crackerjack wins Starrcade
’s Glory! Hope everyone enjoyed the show with all the twists, turns, and shocks in it! Now for a few comments that I had not taken time to reply to yet.
Before we get to Starcade, I love holiday gimmick shows - great job making them feel authentic.
Thanks! I was pretty happy with how they turned out.
As a Tri-State resident myself, I can't go against them.
Same! I always hope to have something for Douglas to do, because PA gotta represent.
I'm sure Flair is in deep time decline, transition him to a manager or something. MW3 will have his day to unmask. Flair is in time decline, but only by five years. But there will be a post to show what happened here and why Flair had to lose this one, no matter how furious he was. And while Ric did not get the mask removed, a Flair definitely pulled that mask, but it was David!
You're crazy, but I don't think you're crazy enough to have Paris go over.
Crazy enough to bring in Scott Hall, Chyna, and Shane McMahon, but definitely not crazy enough to put over Air Paris here!
