WCW/ECW Souled Out 2002
January 27, 2002
Compaq Center
Houston, TX
Scott Hudson: “Welcome everyone we are live at the Compaq Center in Houston, Texas! I’m here with Mike Tenay and tonight, it is the return of Souled Out, the first Pay-Per-View event of the new year! We are going to kick things off with Diamond Dallas Page against William Regal!”
Diamond Dallas Page (w/Torrie Wilson) vs. William Regal
Regal gets the side headlock, but DDP fights out with punches to the ribs. DDP gets some big punches and sends Regal off the ropes, but Regal ducks a clothesline, but gets a second one! Quick cover, 1…2…Regal kicks out. Knee to the midsection from DDP, and then he follows up with a neckbreaker. Another cover, 1…2…Regal kicks out again and retreats to the outside. Regal at first uses this timeout to recover, but then stalks
Torrie. Page heads to the outside to stop him, but Regal uses Torrie as a shield…before getting a cheap shot! Regal then sends DDP into the post before rolling back into the ring and arrogantly waving to the crowd! Torrie helps DDP back in, and Regal immediately catches him with a knee to the side of the head.
Regal hits a headbutt to the midsection, then runs and again knees Page in the head. Regal covers, with a forearm on Page’s face for good measure, 1…2…DDP kicks out. Another cover from Regal, 1…2…but another kickout from DDP. Regal stomps away on DDP, but DDP makes his way back up with big punches! Regal counters with a European uppercut, but DDP fires back again and knocks Regal down! Regal, craftily trips up DDP when down though, causing DDP to fall face first into the canvas. Regal hits DDP in the back of the neck with forearm shots, then goes for the
Regal Stretch, but DDP gets the ropes. Regal gets a vertical suplex on DDP. 1…2…but another kickout from DDP frustrates Regal.
Regal stomps away at DDP in the corner, but DDP again fires back with punches and this time chops. DDP sends Regal into the corner and gets a discus clothesline! Boot to the midsection, sitout powerbomb from DDP! 1…2…Regal just gets the shoulder up. DDP hooks Regal up and plants him with a DDT! Cover, 1…2…Regal kicks out again! Belly to belly suplex by DDP.
DDP calls for the Diamond Cutter, but Regal gets a dangerously low kick and DDP crumples to the canvas. As the referee checks on Page, Regal goes into his tights and grabs
brass knuckles!
Torrie gets on the apron to try to bring it to the referee’s attention, and while that doesn’t work it gets Page’s attention and he blocks the punch, then kicks Regal’s hand, knocking the brass knuckles out of his hand! Page whips Regal into the corner…and when Regal stumbles out..
Diamond Cutter is countered as Regal shoves Page off! Torrie is still on the apron as Regal hooks DDP up for the
Arm Trap Neckbreaker…only Torrie’s distraction allows for
DDP to counter into the Diamond Cutter! 1…2…3!
Winner: Diamond Dallas Page via pinfall in 10:01
Scott Hudson: “Diamond Dallas Page has still got it. To this day, he can hit that Diamond Cutter out of nowhere!”
Mike Tenay: “Indeed Scott. It looked like Page may have been playing a little possum all match. He took a lot of punishment, but was ready for Regal when Regal least expected it!”
Scott Hudson: “Later tonight, Booker T will take on Curt Hennig. Here is Jeremy Borash with Booker!”
Jeremy Borash: “It’s later on tonight, Curt Hennig against the man with me right now, Booker T.”
Booker T: “That’s right Borash. My whole career, yeah, I represented Harlem. But this is where I started. This is where Booker T started. This is Houston, Texas SUCKA!”
:Booker T gets a huge hometown pop:
Booker T: “That’s right. And tonight, we gonna get back on track. Curt Hennig, you went out there last month, and from my perspective, you spit on the WCW World Title! That’s a title I’ve spent my whole life trying to win. I’ve won it before, and I’m going to take you out on my path to win it again. But you want to come at me because you got your ass beat by Steve Austin? Well, sucka, you ain’t nothin but a punk, you understand? So what I’m saying is right now Borash, tonight, in my zone, in my house, let’s see if you really are “perfect”. Now can you dig it?”
***
Joey Styles: “Ladies and Gentlemen I’m Joey Styles here to bring you the extreme side of Souled Out! The issues between Raven and Billy Kidman go back to their WCW days in the late 90s, when Kidman was a part of Raven’s Flock. Now, years later, Raven wants Kidman back in the fold, and Kidman will have none of it! It’s Raven’s Rules, which means it’s no rules!”
Raven’s Rules
Billy Kidman vs. Raven (w/ Mikey Whipwreck and Shannon Moore)
Kidman dives right at Raven and punches and kicks him in the corner. Kidman comes off the ropes and Raven misses the clothesline, and Kidman hits a flying headscissors! Kidman doesn’t even stop to take a breathe as he’s all over Raven with stomps and kicks. Raven retreats to the outside. Kidman leaps off the apron at him, but
Shannon Moore pushes Raven aside and takes the hit! Raven grabs a chair and slides back into the ring as
Mikey Whipwreck punches away at Kidman, but Kidman sends him into the railing.
Raven smacks Kidman in the back with the chair as soon as he re-enters the ring! Raven opens the chair and places it in the middle of the ring and sends Kidman off the ropes,
drop toe hold into the chair! Cover, 1…2…Kidman kicks out!
Stasiak has come out here to check on Whipwreck and Moore.
Raven puts the chair on the back of Kidman’s head and hits a legdrop! Raven props Kidman on the top rope and goes for a superplex, but Kidman counters and drops Raven face first into the canvas!
Kidman goes for the Shooting Star Press, but Raven grabs the chair and throws it up in the air, and Kidman crashes right into it! Cover from Raven, 1…2…Kidman just kicks out. Raven sets up Kidman for the
Evenflow, but Kidman counters with a Northern Lights Suplex! 1…2…Raven kicks out. Kidman comes off the ropes, but
Stasiak trips him and Kidman falls face first onto the mat. Raven poses to the crowd and sets Kidman up for a Powerbomb, but Kidman counters into a face buster!
Kidman then springboards off the top rope with a Shooting Star Press to the outside, taking out Stasiak, Whipwreck and Moore all at once! Kidman comes back in, but
Raven immediately plants him with the
Evenflow DDT on the chair! 1…2…3!
Winner: Raven via pinfall in 6:54
Joey Styles: “I know I’m supposed to be impartial, but that’s a damn shame. Of course Raven is going to win when Kidman has to deal with three other guys! Anyway, I’m sending this back to Scott and Mike.”
***
Scott Hudson: “Thank you Joey. We heard from him earlier. Coming up next, it’s Booker T and Curt Hennig!”
Booker T vs. Curt Hennig (w/ Alexis Laree)
Booker’s full of energy tonight as he and Hennig lock-up and jockey for position into the corner. We get a clean break. Booker gets the early advantage with a side headlock. Hennig sends Booker off the ropes, but Booker sends him flying with a shoulder tackle! Hammerlock from Booker, but Hennig breaks out with an elbow to the face. Hard chop from Hennig. And another one. Hennig goes for an Irish whip, but Booker counters and Hennig hits the turnbuckles hard. Booker T catches a stumbling Hennig with a hip toss! Hennig rolls to the outside looking to completely slow the pace to a crawl. Hennig jaws with some fans, so Booker grabs him by the hair and tries to bring Hennig back in the hard way.
Alexis Laree holds down Booker’s foot though, and this allows Hennig to thumb Booker in the eye.
Hennig hammers away on Booker, then stomps away when he’s down on the canvas. Big chops from Hennig. Hennig gets some straight jabs, but Booker fires back with punches of his own and Hennig hightails it to the outside again! Booker immediately chases him and sends him back into the ring and continues the attack. Hennig gets a knee to the midsection, then goes back to hammering away. Shoulder block knocks down Booker. Hennig hits the ropes but Booker is back on his feet. Leapfrog from Booker! Booker then catches Hennig with a flying forearm! Chops from Booker! He then climbs up the corner and punches away at Hennig. 1…2…3…4…5…6..but Hennig escapes by hanging Booker across the top rope throat first! Atomic drop from Hennig. Snapmare from Hennig, followed by a forward somersault cutter. Hennig with a cover, 1…2…Booker kicks out. Knee to the face downs Booker again.
Hennig sends Booker into the corner and knocks him right down with a clothesline as Booker came out of it. More stomps, then Hennig sends Booker off the ropes and catches him in a sleeper! Booker quickly drops down, but Hennig holds onto the hold. Hennig turns it completely into a headlock on the canvas, and even gets his feet on the ropes to huge boos. Booker tries to fight out, but Hennig puts his feet on the ropes again to stop him. Referee picks up Booker’s arm twice and it drops…but Booker shows life on the third try! Booker gets to a vertical base and elbows his way out. Booker comes off the ropes and catches Hennig with a standing sidekick!
Booker kicks Hennig and he comes off the ropes for the Scissors Kick, but Alexis Laree trips Booker to stop him. Booker turns his attention to Laree but Hennig uses this to attack Booker.
Hennig sets Booker up and piledrives him right in the center of the ring! 1…2…Booker just kicks out! Hennig hooks Booker’s leg…and gets the
Hennig-Plex! 1…2…Booker T kicks out again and this time Hennig is shocked! Hennig goes for an Irish whip, but Booker counters and
Alexis Laree accidentally trips up Hennig! She didn’t realize what she did! Hennig stumbles right into
the Bookend! 1…2…3!
Winner: Booker T via pinfall in 12:13
Scott Hudson: “Booker T proves tonight that he’s on his game with a huge victory over Curt Hennig, thanks to an unintentional assist from Alexis Laree!”
Mike Tenay: “I think many thought that the veteran experience of Curt Hennig would overcome Booker T here, but that was not the case.”
***
Scott Hudson: “Next up we have a Four-Way Elimination match for the WCW World Tag Team Championship. The Dudley Boyz have taken out all comers since WCW and ECW were reborn. This time, they’ll have to take out three at once.”
WCW World Tag Team Championship: Four Way Elimination
The Dudley Boyz © (w/Stacy Keibler) vs. Kronik vs. The Faces of Fear vs. Chuck Palumbo and Sean O’Haire
Palumbo starts with Bryan Adams. They lock up, and Adams gets the advantage right away with a kick. He punches away at Palumbo in the corner. Palumbo reverses an Irish Whip and sends Adams back into his own corner, then hits a superkick as he stumbles out. Palumbo punches away at Adams but D-Von manages to tag himself in. D-Von continues to pummel Adams, but when D-Von sends him off the ropes Clarke makes a blind tag. D-Von hits Adams with a spinning back elbow, then Clarke levels him with a huge big boot.
Stacy Keibler gets on the apron and Clarke gets distracted by her…assets, and D-Von tags in Bubba Ray…and
Clarke gets planted with 3D! Bubba with the cover, 1…2…3!
The Dudley Boyz eliminate Kronik when Bubba Ray pinned Bryan Clarke in 1:46
O’Haire and Palumbo come in and attack both Dudley Boyz, but as Bubba bails the ring he tags in Barbarian. Barbarian shoulder tackles Palumbo. Barbarian presses O’Haire over his head, but Palumbo recovers and kicks him. O’Haire and Palumbo double suplex Barbarian. Meng comes in, and Palumbo and O’Haire try a double headbutt on him to no effect! Meng headbutts both men, knocking them down! Meng goes for the
Tongan Death Grip on Palumbo, but the Dudleyz attack him from behind, knocking him out of the ring. D-Von sends the Barbarian off the ropes, and the Dudleyz
plant him with 3D! 1…2…3!
The Dudley Boyz eliminate The Faces of Fear when Bubba Ray pinned The Barbarian in 3:37
Bubba calls for
3D again, but O’Haire takes out Bubba Ray with a clothesline and Palumbo rolls D-Von up, 1…2…kickout! Bubba plants Palumbo with a slam and then drops an elbow. Bubba picks Palumbo back up and gets a jab, then another one, then a third knocks Palumbo down. Suplex from Bubba, 1…2…O’Haire comes in and breaks the count. Bubba takes a shot at O’Haire, and Palumbo knocks Bubba down with a clothesline. Palumbo tags in O’Haire. O’Haire punches away at Bubba, but Bubba gets a Bubba Bomb! Bubba tags in D-Von. D-Von hits some punches and an elbow. D-Von sends O’Haire into the corner and he hits the turnbuckles front first. D-Von tags in Bubba, and they get the
reverse 3D neckbreaker! Bubba Ray covers, 1…2…Palumbo just makes the save!
O-Haire surprises Bubba with a knee to the face and makes the tag to Palumbo! Palumbo takes out Bubba with a clothesline, then knocks D-Von off the apron! Samoan drop! Palumbo tags in O’Haire, who comes off the top rope with the
Sean-ton Bomb! Cover, 1…2…3!
No wait, Stacy Keibler put Bubba Ray’s foot on the bottom rope and points it out! O’Haire and Palumbo are celebrating, and the referee tries to get their attention. The Dudleyz nail Palumbo and O’Haire from behind, knocking Palumbo out of the ring. D-Von sends O’Haire off the ropes,
Dudley Death Drop! 1…2…3!
Winners: The Dudley Boyz when Bubba pinned O’Haire in 8:50
Bubba Ray Dudley grabs a microphone…
Bubba Ray Dudley: “What did we tell you stupid people? We’ve been saying week in and week out that we’re the best damn tag team in the history of professional wrestling and once again we proved it tonight! We just beat three, not one, but THREE of the so called best tag teams in the world in one night! And we’ll kick whoever’s ass is left to kick until everyone realizes that the Dudley Boyz own tag team wrestling! Tell ‘em D-Von!”
D-Von: “O’Haire, Palumbo, Kronik, Faces of Fear, Public Enemy, all of you! You all broke the sacred commandments! Number one, thou shall not steal! Number two. Thou shall not kill. And Number three, the most important one and if anyone else back there dares to break it so help me God! Number three. Thou shall not mess with the….”
“OOOOOOOOO WHAT A RUSH!”
Scott Hudson: “What?!”
Mike Tenay: “Oh my God! Is this really happening? Is it the LOD?!”
The crowd roars as the Legion of Doom, Road Warrior Hawk and Road Warrior Animal, make their way down to the ring! Bubba Ray’s jaw drops, but he and D-Von look ready to right. As soon as the LOD hit the ring though the Dudleyz run for their lives, leaving Stacy Keibler in the ring!
Road Warrior Animal (to Stacy): “You tell your boys we’re gonna break all three commandments! We’re going to mess with the Dudley Boyz, and we’re gonna steal those belts and kill em’ if he have to! Tell her Hawk!”
Road Warrior Hawk (to Stacy): “I got one thing to say! OOOOOOO WHAT A RUSH!”
Stacy runs from the ring as the LOD pose to a huge ovation!
Scott Hudson: “I had no idea the LOD, the legendary Road Warriors were in the building!”
Mike Tenay: “The Road Warriors may be the only team with a more diverse Tag Team title history than the Dudleyz!”
***
Scott Hudson: “Unbelievable. And Mike, the roller coaster isn’t even remotely over yet. Coming up next, it’s no DQ and perhaps the battle to end all battles, it’s Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H!”
Mike Tenay: “There is a huge history between these men. Both men are actually in their second run in WCW. Steve Austin, many forgot, before his massive WWF run, did everything in WCW there was to do other than win the World Title. He was WCW World Tag Team Champion. WCW World Television Champion. WCW United States Champion. Now Triple H didn’t have the same success, but he too had a run in WCW. Both men really clashed in the WWF. To be clear, Triple H has mostly had Steve Austin’s number despite Austin’s run in the WWF. Here are some examples. WWF No Mercy 1999, it was Triple H who was victorious over Austin in Triple H’s first ever Pay-Per-View defense of the WWF World Title. They went to a brutal no contest at the 2000 Survivor Series. Triple H then did get the better of Austin again at WWF No Way Out 2001 just last year. Triple H also masterminded the plot where Austin got hit by a car. Steve Austin may have led the Alliance and may have added a WCW World Championship reign to his vaunted resume, but a big victory over Triple H is still eluding him. This match could be the one that ends it all between them.”
Scott Hudson: “I can’t help but agree Mike. Triple H must know that in order to be the man here in WCW, he needs to take out Steve Austin. I’m sure Austin feels the same exact way about Triple H. We’re about to find out who’s truly the better man!”
No Disqualification
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Triple H
Austin and HHH go right at each other, trading right hands! Austin wins the slugfest and sends HHH off the ropes, then knocks him down with an elbow. More punches from Austin. Austin gets HHH into the corner and stomps a mudhole in HHH! He sends HHH into the corner and knocks HHH down with a clothesline! Austin sends HHH off the ropes, but HHH holds on as Austin goes for a kick. Austin fires more punches though and sends HHH off the ropes again, but this time HHH catches the Thesz Press attempt and stun guns Austin across the top rope! HHH now fires away, but Austin fires back and one big shot sends HHH flying over the top rope onto the floor! Austin punches away at HHH, then wraps some electrical wiring around his throat! Austin just ignores the five count of the referee, but HHH escapes by hitting Austin with a low blow, then slamming him into the steps! HHH goes under the ring and brings out a
sledgehammer, looking to end this early, but Austin ducks and HHH slams it over the ringpost!
Austin rolls back in and HHH follows, and HHH gets a kick.
Pedigree time, no, Austin backdrops HHH! Austin sends HHH off the ropes, but Austin misses the clothesline, and HHH gets a high knee! Austin counters an Irish whip and spinebusters HHH in the middle of the ring! Austin heads to the second rope,
but he comes down right on HHH’s foot as HHH counters! Swinging neckbreaker from HHH. HHH smartly continues to attack the neck, kneeing Austin hard in the back of the head. HHH drags Austin to the wishbone position at the ringpost and slams his knee on the post! He does it again! HHH then takes a chair and smashes it across Austin’s knee! HHH grabs both of Austin’s legs, but Austin pulls them in and HHH smacks the ringpost! HHH is dazed on the outside, but Austin is now struggling to get back to his feet.
Austin hops around the ring as HHH slides back in. Austin gets some punches in on HHH, but HHH kicks him right in the knee. HHH then locks in an
Indian Deathlock! Austin refuses to submit. HHH then turns it into a
Figure Four! Austin still refuses to submit…and manages to turn around on his stomach and now the pressure is on HHH! Both men roll to the ropes. Austin is still hoping around, but catches HHH with the Thesz Press! Austin punches away at HHH! Austin comes off the ropes, but the knee gives out and HHH quickly gets a facebuster. HHH cockily heads to the second rope, but when he comes down
Austin catches him with the Stone Cold Stunner! 1…2…HHH just kicks out! HHH rolls to the outside and is clearly dazed, and Austin comes out right after him. Austin knocks HHH down, then suplexes him onto the rampway! Austin then drags HHH closer to the ring, then catapults HHH into the ringpost! HHH is busted wide open as a result!
HHH crawls around the ring and Austin is right on him, but HHH comes out of nowhere and whacks Austin with the ring bell! Now both men are busted wide open! HHH rolls Austin into the ring and takes a chair with him. HHH gets Austin in the gut with the chair, then slams it across his back! HHH is too tired to continue as he stumbles back into the corner. As Austin slowly gets back to his feet, HHH goes for the homerun shot, but Austin ducks. Austin knocks HHH down with a hard shot and grabs the chair. Huge shot to the back by Austin. Austin then takes the edge of the chair and slams it over and over in HHH’s sternum! Surprisingly, the crowd is firmly behind Austin as he looks to end Triple H, but HHH gets a desperation low blow, and both men are left motionless on the blood-stained canvas.
HHH is the first to move as he slides to the outside. HHH goes under the ring to grab a table of all things.
He brings it into the ring and sets it up, then climbs on top of it with Austin. HHH sets Austin up for a Pedigree, but Austin backdrops HHH off the table, over the top rope and onto the floor! That might have been a fifteen foot drop! Austin sets the table up in the corner, then drags HHH back into the ring. HHH finds another
low blow, then hits the Pedigree! 1…2…Austin just kicks out! HHH grabs the steel chair, but now it’s Austin who gets the low blow! Austin then surprises everyone by locking in the
Million Dollar Dream! HHH quickly counters by back suplexing Austin onto the steel chair! HHH makes a cover with one hand, 1…2….Austin just gets the shoulder up! As both men get back to their feet, they each try to grab the chair. Austin wins the battle for the chair and just lays HHH out with it! Austin goes to the outside and brings the steel steps into the ring, but HHH has slid out of the ring as well. Unbeknownst to Austin HHH has grabbed the sledgehammer. Austin goes to get HHH, and
HHH hits him right in the stomach with the sledgehammer!
HHH slides Austin back in and makes the cover, 1…2…Austin just kicks out again! HHH takes the sledgehammer and winds it up, but Austin gets a kick and
hits another Stone Cold Stunner! 1…2…HHH just gets the shoulder up! Austin sees the sledgehammer and he gets a crazy look in his eyes. Austin now waits for HHH to get to his feet, but HHH ducks the sledgehammer shot! A third low blow from HHH, and then HHH hits a DDT onto the ring steps Austin brought in! HHH slowly picks up Austin and sets him up, but it’s
not a Pedigree, but a piledriver! HHH makes the cover, 1…2…and again Austin just gets the shoulder up! As Austin gets back to his feet, he manages to punch HHH, and in his weakened state that’s all it takes to knock HHH down. Austin, still limping around, takes the steel chair and wallops HHH over the head again! Cover, 1…2…HHH still isn’t done and just kicks out!
HHH crawls to the corner and Austin tries to stomp a mudhole in him, but the leg damage slows him down.
Austin gets HHH to a standing position and props him on the top rope. Austin sets him up, superplex off the top! Austin slowly gets a hand on HHH for the cover, 1…2…HHH with the last sliver of life within him just gets the shoulder up! Austin, enraged, takes HHH by the hair and throws him through the propped up table in the corner! Austin bangs his leg, trying to get blood going in it as he’s still struggling to get around. Austin slowly picks HHH up and gets a kick to the midsection…
Stunner….no, HHH sends him off the ropes and
whacks him right in the face with the sledgehammer! HHH takes Austin onto the top of the steel steps that are in the ring and sets him up…
Pedigree on the steel steps! 1…2…3!
Triple H has survived and beaten
Stone Cold!
Winner: Triple H via pinfall in 30:23
As Triple H struggles to get to his feet and gets his hand raised, fans boo. Stone Cold gets to his feet and drills Triple H with a Stunner, and the fans go wild for that! Both men struggle to even get out of the ring and to the back after the carnage we just witnessed!
Scott Hudson: “Mike Tenay I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like that in my entire life.”
Mike Tenay: “I don’t even know what to say Scott. It wouldn’t surprise me if we didn’t see either man compete for a while after that one!”
Scott Hudson: “We’re going to send it to Joey Styles for the next few matches, we’ll be back for the WCW World Championship Match.”
***
Joey Styles: “Thank you gentlemen, I’m still in shock quite frankly from what we just saw with Triple H and Stone Cold Steve Austin. I don’t think humans are supposed to lose that much blood. And this is the ECW guy saying this! Anyway, Jerry Lynn, for the second month in a row, has a chance to take home gold as he faces off with the new WCW Cruiserweight Champion, Taka Michinoku.”
WCW Cruiserweight Championship
Taka Michinoku © vs. Jerry Lynn
Taka gets a knee then a side headlock, but Lynn sends him off the ropes. Leapfrog from Lynn, then a flying head scissors! Taka ends up on the outside and Lynn takes him out with a baseball slide! Lynn flies over the top rope with a dive onto Taka! Taka tries to get back into the ring, but Lynn comes over the top rope again and catches Taka in a guillotine on the second rope with a leg drop! Taka fires some punches and sends Lynn onto the ropes, then does his own leapfrog, but he clutches as his leg as he lands. Referee checks on him, and
Yang and Kaz Hayashi run down! Hayashi gets the referee’s attention as he checks on Taka, and
Yang hits Lynn with the Cruiserweight title! Yang tosses Lynn to the outside, then Taka reveals he was faking and catches Lynn with a springboard plancha to the outside!
Taka rolls Lynn back in and as Lynn gets back to his feet, Taka gets a missile dropkick to the back of the head! Cover, 1…2…Lynn kicks out. Taka stomps away at Lynn, then throws him to the outside. Taka gets the referee’s attention as
Yang and Kaz attack Lynn! But here’s
AJ Styles!
Styles runs into the ring and right past Taka, and hits a somersault dive onto Kaz and Yang! Lynn rolls back in and Taka’s clearly annoyed, but he stomps back on Lynn. Taka picks Lynn up for the
Michinoku Driver, but Lynn slides behind Taka. Kick from Lynn…
Cradle Piledriver! 1…2…3!
Winner: Jerry Lynn via pinfall in 5:51 (New Champion)
Jerry Lynn and AJ Styles come together into the ring and shake hands as Taka and Michinoku Pro are clearly upset at Taka’s reign ending after six nights!
Joey Styles: “About time we had some justice around here! Jerry Lynn has always been an amazing all around wrestler and if AJ Styles sticks with him he’s going to learn a lot in this business! Coming up next, yes, it’s another WCW title, the United States Championship, but heavy ECW representation here. We have the champion, Tazz, who choked out the current WCW World Champion Kurt Angle back in New York City in December to win the title. Rob Van Dam, in my opinion the greatest wrestler anywhere to never be world champion. There’s Tajiri, who’s been a thorn in Tazz’s side ever since the whole situation with Torrie Wilson and William Regal broke down. Lastly, there’s Christian, who tried to get in the good graces of ECW owner Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley not too long ago. Now, his involvement is because he got a victory, a tainted one, but a victory nonetheless over Triple H. Van Dam got in this match by beating Christian. Obviously a lot going on here. It’s one fall to a finish, let’s get to the ring!”
WCW United States Championship – One Fall
Tazz © vs. Christian vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Tajiri
Tazz immediately punches away at Tajiri as Rob Van Dam fires forearms at Christian! Tajiri fires back with some kicks at Tazz, but Tazz catches one and throws Tajiri with a capture belly to belly suplex! RVD whips Christian into the corner and monkey flips him out of it! Christian and Tajiri roll to the outside, and Tazz and RVD are left standing race to face. RVD does his taunt right in Tazz’s face, and gets blasted for it as a result! Tazz punches away at RVD. Tazz kicks away at RVD in the corner, then whips him across to the other side. RVD leaps over the charging Tazz and gets a side kick. RVD whips Tazz off the ropes, but when he goes for a leapfrog Tazz holds onto the ropes. RVD runs at Tazz, but Tazz backdrops him over the top rope…and RVD ends up taking out Christian! Tajiri comes from behind Tazz with a vicious kick to the back of the head! Covers, 1…2…Tazz kicks out.
RVD and Christian brawl on the outside as Tajiri continues to punch and kick Tazz. One kick sends Tazz to the apron, and Tajiri kicks him in the face to knock him off. RVD and Tazz end up brawling as Tajiri goes to the apron, and Tajiri takes them both out with a springboard Asai Moonsault! Christian grabs RVD and tosses him back into the ring. Christian chokes RVD on the ropes, then snapmares him over and transitions into a chinlock. RVD fights out and sends Christian off the ropes and goes for the backdrop, but Christian puts on the brakes and DDT’s RVD. Christian follows up with a neckbreaker. Cover, 1…2…RVD kicks out. Tajiri slides in and decides to work with Christian. They send RVD off the ropes and hit a double back elbow, but then Tajiri nails Christian from behind. Tajiri handsprings off the ropes and hits Christian with an elbow, but then RVD pops up and hits Tajiri with a spinning heel kick! Cover by RVD on Tajiri, 1…2…Christian just breaks it up.
Christian stomps away at RVD, but Tazz grabs a waistlock and suplexes Christian over his head, with Christian flipping all the way over and landing on his face! Tajiri kicks Tazz in the face, but Tazz fights right back with an angry man clothesline! Tazz locks Tajiri into the
Tazzmission! Tajiri tries to fight it and tries a back kick for a low blow, but it doesn’t hit and Tazz keeps the hold on! Tazz then turns it into a Tazmission Tazplex! RVD’s up top as well, and hits Tajiri with the
Five Star Frog Splash! Tazz then locks RVD in the
Tazmission! RVD slips his arm out, breaking the hold, but Tazz throws RVD to the ropes and clotheslines him over. Tazz shouts something at RVD, and Christian comes in with a low blow!
Christian plants Tazz with the Unprettier! Cover, 1…2…3! Christian has won the title and pinned the champion in doing so!
Winner: Christian when he pinned Tazz in 12:15 (New Champion)
Christian grabs the title runs up the ramp with it as RVD, Tazz and Tajiri look at him, clearly all frustrated. Christian raises the title above his head at the top of the ramp!
Joey Styles: “I have to admit, I wasn’t sure Christian could hang with these veterans of extreme, but he has and he’s won the US Championship as well. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Van Dam, Tazz and Tajiri turn their focus to the ECW World Championship. Speaking of which, in my opinion the most anticipated match on this card to me quite frankly. It’s the Battle of the Beasts. We have this rookie monster in Brock Lesnar who beat Rob Van Dam for the vacant ECW World Heavyweight Championship at Starrcade last month. And he will take on perhaps the biggest mainstream wrestling star ECW that ever stepped into an ECW ring. This is a man who’s main evented a Wrestlemania! And this is someone who may physically be able to match up with Lesnar. When Bam Bam Bigelow says he’s going to put you through the ring that’s not a figure of speech. This is something he actually did if you go back to ECW Living Dangerously 1998! Hell he pressed the 285 pound Lesnar over his head and tosses him to the outside like he was nothing! It’s Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Brock Lesnar and it’s happening now!”
ECW World Championship
Brock Lesnar © vs. Bam Bam Bigelow (w/ Luna Vachon)
Lesnar seemingly shows some fear as he’s reluctant to lock-up with Bigelow, and Bigelow’s not here to wait, yelling “Come on big man!” They finally do lock-up and Lesnar shoves Bigelow down, then jogs in place to add insult to injury. Bigelow and Lesnar lock-up again, but this time Bigelow pushes Lesnar all the way into the corner, then tosses him out with one hand across the ring! That’s a 285 pounder! Lesnar’s clearly never been thrown like that before and he’s shocked as Bam Bam mocks him by jogging in place, then doing a cartwheel! Lesnar charges at Bigelow and gets him into the corner, hitting shoulder thrusts! Lesnar backs up to charge at Bigelow again but this time eats a huge clothesline! Bigelow then military presses Lesnar over his head…but Lesnar quickly escapes and lands on his feet, and bails to the outside. Bam Bam pounds his chest in the ring as Lesnar doesn’t seem to know what to do!
Lesnar slowly gets back onto the apron, but Bigelow again doesn’t wait and sends Lesnar flying off the apron into the barricade! Bigelow grabs a steel chair and smashes it over Lesnar’s back! Bigelow with a second violent chair shot to Lesnar’s back! Lesnar tries to back away, so Bigelow throws the chair at Lesnar but it misses and ricochets off the ring post. Bigelow grabs a table and slides it into the ring, but he doesn’t realize he missed Lesnar and Lesnar wallops him over the head with the steel chair! Lesnar then runs Bigelow right into the ring post, then wallops Bigelow over the head with one of the hardest chairshots you’ll ever see!
Joey Styles: “Oh my god!”
Lesnar rolls a bloodied Bam Bam Bigelow back into the ring, then sets the table up into the corner. Lesnar sets Bigelow up for a German suplex through that table, but Bigelow elbows his way out. Bigelow catches Lesnar with a dropkick! Bigelow then sets Lesnar up…and he plants him with a powerbomb in the center of the ring! Lesnar actually gets right back up, but Bigelow headbutts Lesnar, sets him up and powerbombs him again!
This time Lesnar stays down and Bigelow heads to the top rope, and he squashes Lesnar with a side moonsault! 1…2…Lesnar just gets his shoulder up! Bigelow picks Lesnar up for
Greetings for Asbury Park,
but Lesnar slides behind him…and German suplexes Bigelow through the table in the corner! Lesnar unleashes a huge roar, and it looks like he’s going to finish Bigelow off…but
Luna Vachon jumps on Lesnar’s back! For Luna it’s like trying to ride the bull, and Lesnar counters and
has Luna on his back…and he plants her with the F5!
Joey Styles: “Oh my god oh my god…I can’t believe he just did that. I know Luna made herself a target by jumping onto Brock’s back but…oh god I hope she’s okay. Here’s Bigelow with a chair...”
Bigelow slams the chair over Lesnar’s head! Bigelow picks Lesnar up, and then we see
Paul Heyman on the rampway making a gesture for someone to come out.
Joey Styles: “Who the hell is that…wait, I think that’s the teammate. I think that’s Lesnar’s college teammate Shelton Benjamin I think it is?!”
Bigelow goes for
Greetings From Asbury Park again, but
Benjamin grabs Lesnar’s foot and helps him escape. Bigelow punches Benjamin and Benjamin goes flying into the barricade, and Lesnar gets Bigelow on his shoulders! Bigelow slides back, then military presses Lesnar over his head, but Lesnar escapes ands land son his feet…and again gets Bigelow on his shoulders.
F5 connects! 1…2…3!
Winner: Brock Lesnar via pinfall in 14:54 (Retains)
Lesnar grabs the ECW World Championship and meets Shelton Benjamin and Paul Heyman at the top of the ramp. Luna, showing her toughness, tries to get on her feet on her own, and Bam Bam looks pissed off, but disappointed too.
Joey Styles: “Wow, I mean I don’t agree with the tactics of Brock Lesnar, and really Paul Heyman if anyone should be objective, but he did show he is one tough son of a bitch tonight in beating Bam Bam Bigelow tonight. I’m going to send it back to Scott Hudson and Mike Tenay for the WCW World Championship Match, good night everyone.”
***
Scott Hudson: “Thank you Joey. There’s one match left tonight. Kurt Angle, the WCW World Champion meets perhaps his biggest challenge literally against The Giant. Let’s send it to Michael Buffer!”
Michael Buffer: “It is now time for the Souled Out 2002 main event of the evening. And now ladies and gentlemen; two of the most unique superstars in professional wrestling today are about to face each other in this ring for the Heavyweight Championship of the World!”
“ Are You Ready?”
“ Houston, Texas... Are….You….REEEEEEEEADY?!”
“For the thousands in attendance, and the millions watching around the world, ladies and gentlemen…”
“ LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLLLLLLLLLLLLLLE!”
The classic Giant rock theme plays…and out The Giant comes out to the ring.
Michael Buffer: “Making his entrance to the ring, he is the most imposing, physical specimen in not only the history of professional wrestling, but in all professional sports. Standing a towering 7 feet, 2 inches tall, weighing in at 500 pounds. He is from Tampa, Florida. Tonight, he looks to capture his third WCW World Heavyweight Championship, and his fourth World Championship overall. Ladies and gentlemen, this is The GIIIIIANT!”
“Medal” plays as WCW World Champion Kurt Angle makes his way to the ring!
Michael Buffer: “His opponent, wearing our nations colors of red, white, and blue. He stands at 6 feet tall, and weighs in tonight at 234 pounds. He is the 1996 Summer Olympics Gold Medal Winner in the Heavyweight, Freestyle category and is considered to be the greatest pound for pound wrestler in any style in the world. From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Tonight he looks to slay the imposing Giant. He is the current reigning and defending WCW Heavyweight Champion of the world…Kuuuuuuuuuuuurt ANGLE!”
WCW World Championship
Kurt Angle © vs. The Giant
Angle immediately dives for the leg, trying to take the Giant down, but the Giant shoves him off with one arm. Angle goes for the waistlock, but Giant grabs Angle’s arm and armdrags him over. Giant has a side headlock hon Angle, but Angle scissors Giant’s head and breaks free. Angle gets a side headlock but the Giant lifts him up and gets a big side suplex! Giant props Kurt up in the corner and gets a huge slap that could be heard around the arena! Giant goes for another one, but Angle catches his hand to block. Giant doesn’t seem to care as he tosses Angle across the ring. Huge punch to the back by The Giant. Vertical suplex from the Giant with a cover, 1…2…Angle just kicks out. Angle fires some punches, but as he comes off the ropes Giant catches him with a huge side slam. Another cover, 1…2…Angle kicks out again. Massive headbutt from the Giant. Angle retreats to the corner and the Giant goes for an avalanche, but Angle moves out of the way, then his a German suplex on the 500 pounder! Angle quickly goes for the cover, but the Giant is out at one, with authority!
Angle quickly locks in a headlock, and while the Giant falls to one knee, he counters by snapmaring Angle over. Giant runs at Angle, but Angle ducks and the Giant falls over the top rope and to the floor. Angle heads to the apron and his an axhandle smash to the Giant, then starts punching him up the rampway. The Giant stops Angle with a knee to the midsection, then whips him into the wall panels at the top of the stage. The Giant then lifts Angle up and slams him on the steel ramp! The Giant approaches the announce position at the top of the rampway and
Scott Hudson and
Mike Tenay get out of there in a hurry. The Giant grabs Angle by the throat and gets him up…as
Test comes from the entrance, runs over the referee and Big Boots the Giant! Both Angle and Giant fly off the stage and crash into tables and equipment six or seven feet below! Shane McMahon runs out and orders Test to get out of here as Test raises his arms! Both Angle and the Giant are motionless!
Angle starts to move first, as he crawls back to the ring, clearly unable to get to his feet. But then the Giant emerges from the wreckage and he’s furious! The Giant stalks Angle back to the ring, and Angle backs off in a corner. The Giant grabs Angle by the throat, but Angle counters the chokeslam by landing on his feet and getting an
Angle Slam! Cover, but we still don’t have a referee and the Giant powers out quickly anyway. Angle jumps at the Giant, but he’s caught, and the Giant flattens him with the Final Cut! A referee runs down as The Giant looks to finish Angle off and he again grabs him by the throat.
Chokeslam! Cover, Angle just, and I mean just gets his shoulder (and not even the rest of the arm) up! The Giant seems unfazed. He sets Angle up for the powerbomb we saw on Nitro…but when Angle’s up he
tightens his legs around the Giant’s head, and suddenly Angle has a
triangle choke on the Giant! The Giant tries to get Angle off, but slowly the Giant falls to one knee, and then completely on his side. After being in the hold an entire minute,
The Giant passes out, and
Angle is declared the winner!
Winner: Kurt Angle via submission in 14:26 (Retains)
Kurt Angle celebrates. The Giant comes to, and realizes he messed up and shakes his head with disappointment.
Scott Hudson: “I don’t know how he did, but Kurt Angle has overcome the Giant and is still WCW World Champion!”
::END SHOW::
Quick Results
Diamond Dallas Page pinned William Regal
Raven’s Rules
Raven pinned Billy Kidman
Booker T pinned Curt Hennig
WCW World Tag Team Championship – Four Way Elimination
The Dudley Boyz defeated Sean O’Haire and Chuck Palumbo, The Faces of Fear and Kronik (Retains)
The Legion of Doom made their WCW Return
No Disqualification
Triple H pinned Stone Cold Steve Austin
WCW Cruiserweight Championship
Jerry Lynn pinned Taka Michinoku (New Champion)
WCW United States Championship – One Fall
Christian defeated Tazz, Rob Van Dam and Tajiri when he pinned Tazz (New Champion)
ECW World Championship
Brock Lesnar pinned Bam Bam Bigelow (Retains)
WCW World Championship
Kurt Angle made The Giant pass out (Retains)
Champions
WCW World Champion
Kurt Angle (Defeated Ric Flair on 12-31-01)
ECW World Champion
Brock Lesnar (Defeated Rob Van Dam on 12-30-01)
WCW United States Champion
Christian (Defeated Tazz on 1-27-02)
WCW World Tag Team Champions
The Dudley Boyz (Defeated The Hardy Boyz on 10-26-01)
WCW Cruiserweight Champion
Jerry Lynn (Defeated Taka Michinoku on 1-27-02)
Roster Updates
The Legion of Doom – The legendary team has returned to WCW for perhaps one last run
Shelton Benjamin – Brock Lesnar’s NCAA and OVW tag team partner
