WCW Underground 2.18

- Opening video.

- Lenny Leonard and JML are the hosts, per the norm. Lenny hypes the main event with Eddie Edwards taking on CM Punk. JML talks about the Event Center and how he's excited to hear from Jay Briscoe. They're interrupted by Austin Aries, Roderick Strong, and Karl Anderson in the ring. Aries has a mic. Aries says that what happened to Joey Ryan and Brian Kendrick is only the beginning. He says at SuperBrawl he took Brent Albright to the next level and he's going to do the same with these guys. He introduces both men and calls them the "A-List." Aries brings out their opponents for the opening contest.

Match #1: The A-List vs. Michael Cannon/Lee Roy
Well, this should be fun. Strong starts out and he uses a ton of backbreakers and chops. Moreso than he had been recently in ROH, I might add. Anderson takes over and, again, it's basically just a display of what he brings to the table. Anderson has the best spinebuster in the business today, it's worth noting. They show off some double-teams, as well, including a sweet double backbreaker. They finish with the aided-Sick Kick they used on Kendrick and Ryan, which Aries joins the commentary team to call the "Killshot," and it gets the victory.

Result: The A-List win via pin w/ The Killshot (aided-Sick Kick)
Time: 4:11


- The A-List depart as Lenny ruminates over the potential for all involved in that group. Before he can continue he's interrupted by the Midnight Guns. Moxley does the talking, as usual, and it's good stuff. He says that people have been tweeting him about the horrible things he's done and then follows with, "Well the joke's on them Lenny because I don't have a Twitter account." He says the world is starting to take notice of the very clear, very present danger of the Midnight Guns. Moxley says that this is no game and if you get in their way, you'll be faced with a permanent midnight via some cyanide and little happiness.

- Commercials.

- Lenny talks about being disgusted by the Midnight Guns before being interrupted by Chris Hero, which I guess is the theme this week. Hero complains that Jericho cheated at SuperBrawl and wants another shot. Lenny reminds Hero that Hero was the one asked that the match not be stopped. Hero pie-faces Lenny and storms into the ring.

Match #2: Chris Hero vs. Sal Rinauro
I don't like Rinauro's odds. Indeed, this is a squash of the highest order and it's quite brutal. Sal leans in for the lock-up to start and Hero just slaps the taste out of his mouth. That's how it goes for the rest of the match as Hero unloads his anger on Rinauro with a series of brutal shots. JML mentions that Hero deserves another shot and attributes his losing to Jericho fighting dirty and nerves. Hero finally ends the massacre with not one, but two Deathblows to Sal Rinauro.

Result: Chris Hero wins via pin w/ The Deathblow
Time: 4:01


- Hero isn't content with the win and continues his assault. This draws out Richie Steamboat who ARM DRAGS~! [SHADES of Ricky Steamboat!] Hero around the ring a few times. Hero escapes after the third one. Richie approaches the commentary position for an interview. Lenny wants to know why Richie came out. Richie said he's sick and tired of bullies like Chris Hero taking their frustrations out on everyone else. He says Hero fought a good fight at SuperBrawl but couldn't get it done and now he's trying to beat up anyone who's in his way because of it. Richie promises he'll be watching Hero from here on out and if he steps out of line again, he's got a Dragon Suplex with his name on it. Not bad, not great.

- Commercials.

- Alberto Dos Caras comes out for a promo. He says that what happened in the main event last week was a hate crime~! He says people chant and cheer for the Patriot because of their inherent bigotry and inability to process that being American doesn't make them better than him. Alberto goes into full Ric Flair mode, here, taking each article of clothing off and giving the price tag on each one. Coat - $600, watch - $900, sunglasses - Lenny's mortgage payment~! He says that the spirit of America is wasted on Americans and that he can't wait until 2020 when Mexicans run the country.

Match #3: The Cross vs. Isaiah Rain/Steven Styles
The Cross are a pretty good team for where they're at, but they've not hit that upper-echelon yet. They had a really good program with the Fastball Special but then they kind of muddled about up until their current program with WGTT. I'd like to see them get involved in more serious action with DOOMSDAY aside from their one-note confrontations in the past. I realize I'm not recapping this match much, because really, what do you expect from the match? They do the usual in beating up one guy, then they beat up the other guy, Claudio uses the IRON BOOT~! and they finish off the other jobber with Blitzkreig.

Result: The Cross win via pin w/ Blitzkreig
Time: 4:32


- The Cross get interview time for their efforts. Claudio does most of the talking, for a change. He says that they've crushed WGTT under their heels like the ants they are. He says that pro wrestling is meant for a greater kind of man, and Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas do not meet those qualities. He says that when Shelton Benjamin lay in the remnants of the table he was powerbombed through at SuperBrawl, he was reminded of an image from childhood when he knocked a kid off the slide at a playground. He says the kid lay on the ground, crying for his mother and begging for relief. He laughs and says, "It never came and neither will relief come for you Shelton Benjamin, or you Charlie Haas."

- Commercials.

- Chris Masterson comes out for an interview. Lenny questions Chris' tactics in recent weeks, using the brass knuckles to get wins. Chris says he doesn't know what Lenny's talking about. Lenny says that at SuperBrawl he hit Windham Rotunda with a pair of brass knuckles to secure the victory. Chris says that's a lie plain and simple. He says what happened was that he knocked Windham on hit fat ass and he couldn't get up, plain and simple. Lenny says, "You don't really expect anyone to believe that?" Chris says he doesn't care who believes it. He says if people want Windham to be more athletic in the ring, then he needs to put down the nachos and work out a little.

Match #4: Caleb Konley vs. Chris Masterson
Basic squash match, here. Chris overpowers Caleb easily and ultimately forces the submission via the Torture Lock.

Result: Chris Masterson wins via submission w/ The Torture Lock
Time: 3:56


- Chris poses in the ring long enough to get chased out by Windham Rotunda, complete with bull-rope! Rotunda swings the bull-rope in the ring as Chris runs off. Windham then goes to the commentary table for a very spirited promo:

Well don't that just beat all, Lenny Leonard? You see Chris Masterson loves to talk a big game about how athletic he is and how I'm a fat slob. The real deal is this: Chris Masterson is a bitch and I'm the man who's going to beat his ass when the time comes! You see this shiner I got, Lenny? This didn't come from some prissy boy's knuckles, no sir! He can tell you all day long that he didn't have any brass knuckles on his fingers when he knocked my lights out, but those dainty little hands of his didn't do this. Well guess what Chris Masterson? Turns out old Windham Rotunda, son of the Tax Man (~!!), is on a roll! Didn't anybody tell you? Just last week I pinned a former WCW Champion! And now I'm cashing in my chips, Pretty Boy! I've got the ultimate equalizer - I call this bull-rope Betty, you see, and at the Great American Bash I'm going to hog tie your ass and drag you through the streets of Atlanta. Hell, we might even stop off at the Pink Pony! Although, come to think of it, you probably wouldn't be interested would you?

Fantastic stuff!

- Commercials.

The Event Center
Mike Hogewood starts by talking about the upcoming live edition of Underground. He promises it'll be a huge event with tons of great matches that we haven't seen in WCW before, including this one that was just signed: Chris Hero vs. The Patriot! He says in the weeks to come he'll have more matches to announce. He then talks about Jay Briscoe's injury at the hands of the Midnight Guns. He replays the video of the attack. Then he plays a video of Jay Briscoe walking around his house with a halo on. Hogewood says that they asked Jay to sit down and talk, but ultimately Jay refused. Mark, however, had a few things to say. Mark says that he hates watching his brother walk around doing nothing and all he wants to do is kick some ass. Hogewood says Mark will be in singles competition next week and that hopefully someday down the road the Briscoes can reunite again.


- Commercials.

- Chris Jericho comes out for guest commentary.

Main Event: Eddie Edwards vs. CM Punk
This should be fun. Lenny brings to mind their previous encounter, which ended in a DQ thanks to Drew Gallows. JML makes the announcement that Eddie Edwards has officially requested his championship rematch, but it's hit some type of snag with the Executive Director. How ominous. Chain-wrestling to start, with Eddie actually getting the upper-hand. Jericho notes that Eddie has become such a great performer under the tutelage of Kurt Angle. Lenny asks if Jericho will grant Eddie a match, and Jericho replies as long as he earns it. Eddie continues doing his thing, but Punk eventually pokes the eye to take control. JML calls that a veteran tactic, but Jericho laughs and says anybody can poke the eye. Punk spends the match working over the lower back of Eddie, which Lenny calls uncharacteristic. Punk does tons of stuff you don't see often, like an abdominal stretch (complete with using the rope for the advantage). Of course, they end up outside. Punk rams Eddie back-first into the guardrail and the ring-post before turning to the ring. Eddie finally mounts a comeback by countering a bearhug (from behind) with the back-pack Stunner! The action goes back and forth from here with them exchanging all of their major moves for near-falls. Eddie's missile dropkick is a thing of beauty, I tell you. A great spot happens with Punk beautiful countering the Angle Slam with a sunset flip for a near-fall. But then Eddie kicks Punk's face off~! Eddie tries for the Achilles Lock, but Punk kicks out of it and then nails Eddie with a Backstabber, which I don't think I've ever seen Punk do. And then Punk follows up with a LIONTAMER~! OH MAN. Eddie taps out quickly thereafter!

Result: CM Punk wins via submission w/ The Liontamer (upright Boston Crab)
Time: 16:52


- The message behind the finish is not lost on Jericho, as he stands up from the commentary table and slams his headset down. Punk and Jericho glare at each other, with Punk smirking, as the show ends.