WCW Underground 2.08

- Previously on WCW Underground: Chris Jericho had a great battle with Mark Briscoe en route to Alberto Dos Caras on the March 31st FOX TV special.

- Standard opening video package.

- Lenny Leonard is at the commentary table by himself. He says history was made last Saturday night as the Necro Butcher won the Bunkhouse Stampede match to become the first ever Bruiser Brody Cup winner. Lenny gets solemn as he discusses the brutal attack on Necro Butcher by Brodie Lee in the post-match ceremony. He says that due to the attack, Necro has been sidelined for an indeterminate amount of time. He also says that Brodie Lee has been suspended from this week's episode of Underground. He's then interrupted by the returning JML (who gets a pretty good reaction). JML says that he's still recuperating from the attack at the hands of Three Kings, but he's good to go for commentary. He says that's not the only thing he's good to go for, because on March 31st he plans on kicking Austin Aries' ass out of WCW. The crowd goes ballistic for that. He says that Aries has been nothing but a little thorn in his side since day one. He says, "Y'know those stories about how old John Michael Layfield used to be a bully? Used to beat people up for the hell of it just 'cause they were smaller than him? Y'know those stories, Lenny? Y'know those stories, Austin? On March 31st, you're goin' ta find out they're absolutely damn true." AWESOME~!

Match #1: The Midnight Guns vs. Derrick Driver/Steve Walters
Lenny quickly puts the Guns over for having strong showings in the Bunkhouse Stampede-match. Not exactly the case, but whatever. Usual tag-match squash. The Guns dominate wholeheartedly, utilizing a lot of their cool offense. They integrate the pendulum swing (by Moxley)/soccer kick to the face (by Black) spot that I love. Black just executes the kick so casually. Another cool spot is the jumping enzuiguri to the face (by Black)/side Russian legsweep (by Moxley). They finish off Driver with a Midnight Special (by Moxley)/double-stomp (by Black) combo. Think the Cop Killa/Ghetto Stomp-combo by Homicide/Low Ki. Lenny calls it "Cyanide & Happiness."

Result: The Midnight Guns win via pin w/ Cyanide & Happiness (Midnight Special [Kryptonite Krunch])/Double-stomp combo)
Time: 5:10


- BRISCOES~! promo time. Love these guys. They start their usual rambling of incoherency, but are actually interrupted by Black and Moxley. Moxley asks why the hell they get TV time to talk when they've done nothing but get their asses handed to them lately. It almost devolves intro a brawl, but referees and officials come out to settle things down. Then the Briscoes yell "MAN UP!" a bunch. LOVE IT!

- Commercials.

- Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards are at the commentary table for a promo. Lenny congratulates Eddie on a successful title defense. Eddie says now that he's put Drew Gallows behind him, he's going to focus on the future and being a defending champion. Lenny brings up Eddie's defense next week against Brent Albright and asks whether Eddie thinks Brent has done anything to deserve it. Eddie responds that he doesn't put though into whether not someone deserves or doesn't deserve a title-shot, he puts thought into knowing how he's going to beat whoever is in front of him. Lenny then asks Davey what his plans for the future are. Davey says he has one goal in sight: the WCW Championship. He says that each match is one more step up the ladder to attaining his goal of kicking whoever the champ is in the face and making them face the lights.

Match 2: Billy Buck vs. Chris Masterson
I think Billy might be an actual new face, here. He's going to job regardless. Masterson beats up with the usual power-moves, including catching Buck in mid-air for the British Bulldog-style power-slam. The Torture Lock (full nelson) forces Buck to tap.

Result: Chris Masterson wins via submission w/ The Torture Lock
Time: 2:30


- And Masterson becomes the first of the new guys to get PROMO~! time. Lenny says Masterson only lasted a little over six minutes in the Stampede match. Masterson says that his time was cut short by a fat slob named Windham Rotunda. He says that people like Windham have been jealous of Masterson is his entire life. Masterson does a lot of flexing, and says people like Windham wish they could have that kind of look. Lenny reminds Masterson that Windham eliminated him from the Stampede. Masterson says that Windham only managed to do it with a cheap shot and that Windham should have been disqualified. Masterson flexes some more before leaving.

- Commercials.

Match #3: Chip Day vs. CM Punk
Super-long squash here, as CM Punk revels in playing the Ric Flair-role here. On two or three occasions he tosses Chip to the outside and Drew beats him up while Punk distracts the ref. After a few fake-pins, Punk ends the squash with the Go 2 Sleep. Dragged unnecessarily, IMO.

Result: CM Punk wins via pin w/ The Go 2 Sleep
Time: 8:41


- Promo from Punk. Lenny says that in all honesty, Punk has been relatively quiet since Starrcade. Punk takes the mic and says all he's been doing is biding his time. He says earlier tonight that Davey Richards claimed he had his sights set on the WCW Championship. Punk asks where the hell does Davey get off thinking that and who the hell has he beaten? Punk says he's a thoroughbred and Davey's a quarter horse. He says when it comes to the big race, guys like Punk and Gallows are crossing the finish line before guys like Davey Richards are making their last turn. He says he doesn't care about Davey's faux-MMA "bullshit," in the end Davey's just another wrestler who kicks pretty hard and does little else. He says the only man who has his sights set on the WCW Championship that matters is CM Punk, because in the end he's the only one who would actually win it. A return to form for Punk~!

- Commercials.

The Event Center
Jim Ross goes through the official results for the Bunkhouse Stampede, show stills where appropriate. He says that Eddie/Drew was a true testament to the fighting spirit of Eddie Edwards. He then talks about the Bunkhouse Stampede and gives a few stats. He says Chris Hero lasted the longest, going 53:31, and "gives" him the "Iron Man Award" of the Stampede. He says Giant Bernard walked away with "Juggernaut Award," given to the man who eliminated the most men in the Stampede (Bernard eliminated 5). He says that Austin Aries earns the dubious "A for Effort Award" for only managing to stay in a mere six seconds. He says that the biggest award goes to the Necro Butcher who, after lasting 34:41, last eliminated CM Punk to become the first ever Bruiser Brody Cup winner. He says this means Necro Butcher can call for a WCW Championship match on any day, at any time, any moment within the year. He then says that unfortunately Necro will not be doing that anytime soon thanks to a devastating beating he received at the hands of former friend Brodie Lee. He repeats the info Lenny gave in the opening. He says next week he'll take a look at the conflict that erupted between DOOMSDAY and Bad Intentions.


- Commercials.

- Alberto Dos Caras is out for a promo. Alberto says that the clock of destiny is ticking down to March 31st. He says on that day, history will be made as he will become a 2x WCW Champion. He says many important things will happen that weekend, but the most important will not be a battle of "superstars," but a battle of hardened pro wrestlers. He says he has no respect for Chris Jericho as a man, but as a wrestler he admits he has been tested. He says on March 31 on FOX, the flukes end and destiny will reward it's favorite son.

Match #4: Anthony Andrews vs. Chris Hero
Hero unleashes a torrent of elbows on Andrews immediately and then quickly nails the Deathblow for the win.

Result: Chris Hero wins via pin w/ The Deathblow
Time: 0:14


- Hero's turn for a promo. Hero says there has been a lot of talking tonight about who deserves a WCW Championship match. Hero says considering he has hasn't been beaten since the first month this company was in business, he's not quite certain how he hasn't gotten a title shot. "Oh wait, that's right. The current champion who says he'll defend against anyone who's a rising star is a hypocrite - that's why." He says he's knocked out everyone who's gotten in his way - from Brent Albright to Davey Richards. He says that if anyone deserves a title shot, it's him. He tells the "suits watching in the back" that they need to get Chris Hero on their radar because if they don't, they might just end up knocked out.

- Commercials.

Main Event: The Briscoes vs. The Cross
JML acknowledges that the Briscoes have been on something of a losing streak since Starrcade. Lenny notes that, conversely, the Cross haven't done anything of note since losing to Fastball Special and that both teams were looking to use this match to turn around their momentum. Claudio starts out with Jay and they do an actual test of strength. Claudio wins at first, but Jay powers back and Claudio knees him in the waste. They trade a few counter-holds and then tag out to their respective partners. Ares and Mark engage in a hot series of counters to initiate a nice round of applause from the crowd. Ares tries to sneak attack Mark but it back-fires, allowing Mark and Jay to work Ares over. This goes on for a bit, but eventually Ares turns the tide when he rakes Mark's eye. Ares tags in Claudio and Mark is YOUR face-in-peril. Mark gets worked over for a good long while, here. The Cross debut a new double-team move, where Claudio slingshots Mark into a spear from Ares. Really cool move, there. Mark gets his knees up when Ares tries a frog splash which leads to the hot tag. Jay comes in and clears house. Ares and Claudio end up outside, so both Briscoes dive onto them. They brawl around ring-side for a good bit before reentering the ring. Ares gets drilled with the double shoulder-tackle, which sends him bouncing to the outside. They also send Claudio across the ring with the biel hip-toss. They go for the Springboard Doomsday Device, but Ares drags Mark off the apron. Claudio nails Jay with the UFO for an insane near-fall. They go for the Blitzkreig, but Mark knocks Ares off the turnbuckle. Jay catches Claudio with a HUGE boot to the face and then lifts Claudio on his shoulders for the Springboard Doomsday Device. However Tyler Black distracts the referee while Moxley yanks Mark off the apron this time. Jay lets Claudio down and goes after Moxley but then gets DRILLED with a huge bicycle kick from Claudio. Ares ascends the turnbuckle, and this time they nail Blitzkreig on Jay for the win.

Result: The Cross win via pin w/ Blitzkreig
Time: 18:24


- JML says that the Guns just made a huge statement here tonight. Lenny says he doubts we've heard the end of this situation. The show ends with the Cross celebrating while Mark checks on Jay.