WCW Underground 2.20

- Underground is LIVE.

- Except not.

- OK, now it is. The opening video plays.

- Lenny Leonard and JML are in the ring. Lenny hypes the crowd up. JML says that under normal circumstances, Underground is a 60-minute show, but tonight if they go longer - that's just part of being live. Well, they haven't been 60 minutes since the first several episodes. Lenny says tonight will have a huge card with six matches. He promises that both the WORLD Champion and the WORLD tag team champions will be in action, fresh off their successful title defenses in Japan. JML says that the United States Championship will be defended tonight, as well, as Davey Richards challenges champion Brent Albright. Lenny announces that the Patriot will square off against Chris Hero, and that Brodie Lee will be in singles action this evening. They then leave the ring so that Bobby Cruise can do intros.

Match #1: Joey Ryan vs. Roderick Strong
Well this certainly isn't a squash. This will be the first singles match in WCW for Joey Ryan, who is one-half of the Hollywood Kings with Brian Kendrick (who is at ringside). Roderick Strong is one-half of the new team, A-List, with Karl Anderson (also at ringside) and managed by Ryan's former tag partner, Austin Aries. Aries has a pretty sweet outfit on tonight, as well, with "A Double" in rhinestones on the back of his jacket. Chain-wrestling to start, with Roddy being out-wrestled numerous times but then overpowering Joey to keep the edge. Roddy powers Joey into the corner and goes for a chop, but Joey quickly ducks and catches Roddy with a roll-up for two. More chain-wrestling, but Roddy overpowers Joey again and then cheapshots him to gain control. From there it's Roddy being Roddy and Joey doing a PHENOMENAL job of selling. Roddy chops the hell out of Joey and hits him with numerous backbreaker variations. The best is always the half-nelson version, but I'm also quite fond of the top-turnbuckle version as well. After ten minutes of being worked over, including one nasty looking Mexican surfboard by Roddy, and the ref being distracted by Aries, Joey finally manages to switch the momentum with one a beautiful looking spear. Kendrick finally knocks Aries off the apron and then gets into a brawl with Anderson on the outside, while Joey takes care of Roddy in the ring. Joey mounts a good comeback, but the ref is distracted by Anderson and Kendrick long enough for Aries to throw powder in Joey's face which lets Roddy nails the SICK KICK~! for the win. Afterward, the Kendrick chases everyone off with a chair.

Result: Roderick Strong wins via pin w/ the Sick Kick
Time: 13:41


- Lenny says this is just the beginning of what's likely to be a very turbulent ride for the Hollywood Kings and A-List. He then introduces Richie Steamboat. Lenny asks if Richie is here to watch Chris Hero take on the Patriot tonight. Richie says that like the phoenix, since his injury he has risen from the ashes. He says like a match, since his match at SuperBrawl - Hero has burnt out. He says tonight there should be no doubt about who the better man in the ring is when it comes to the Patriot vs. Chris Hero, but just in case there might be any problems - Richie Steamboat will be on standby. Decent stuff.

- Commercials.

- Mike Hogewood is in the ring with two chairs. He says tonight will be a special LIVE~! edition of the Event Center. Well then!

The Event Center
The sound goes a little wonky here. And then the stream drops completely. Uhohs. And we're back! Hogewood seems to have stalled, which I appreciate very much. Hogewood says last week he explained the details of the Captain's Challenge Match at the Great American Bash. Hogewood reiterates the whole deal: 8-man team, elimination rules, both teams have a captain, if the captain is eliminated that team loses automatically, winners get to split the $100,000 prize. He then introduces Team Captain #1: Alberto Dos Caras! The crowd is immensely displeased with this, of course. Alberto says that only a man of true class could be a captain. He says that in Mexico, much like in America, he a part of the elite - something none of the fat and ugly Americans in this crowd will ever be. He then takes out several bills from his pocket and offers it to anyone in the crowd that's willing to clean his pool! Hogewood feigns disgust and announces Team Captain #2: THE PATRIOT! The Patriot storms the ring with "Old Glory" and runs Alberto off! Hogewood announces that Alberto and the Patriot will be able to pick their team members. Chris Hero makes his way out and we segue into...


Match #2: Chris Hero vs. The Patriot
Hero tries to get cheapshot the Patriot, but fails miserable and gets rocked with punches. Hero tries to go to the outside, but the Patriot chases him and beats him up out there as well. Hero escapes back into the ring and the Patriot follows, but Hero gets the jump on him. Hero whips the Patriot in the ropes, but the Patriot reverses and then hits a big back-drop on Hero. The Patriot follows up with an atomic drop and Hero goes up and over to the outside again. More brawling around ringside with, really, the Patriot just dominating here. Back into the ring again and it finally ends with Alberto Del Rio running and attacking the Patriot from behind to get the DQ. Alberto and Hero continue the beatdown in the post-match, drawing out Richie Steamboat for the save! Richie goes toe-to-toe with BOTH heels and sends them packing. Alberto grabs a microphone from the commentary table and announces that Chris Hero will be on his team at the Great American Bash. In the ring, via body language and motioning, the Patriot confirms Richie Steamboat has his first member.

Result: The Patriot wins via disqualification because of interference from Alberto Dos Caras
Time: 4:42


- Commercials.

- Lenny Leonard is ecstatic at ringside about the development of the Captain's Challenge Match. Talk segues to the WCW titles being given World-status last weekend after both the WCW Championship and WCW Tag Team Championship were defended in Japan.

- A video of the WCW Tag Team Championship match from Japan is shown. It's just a series of quick clips of the DOOMSDAY-match. Lots of dangerous suplexes and what not, as it looks to have been more of a Japanese-style match than anything. All of the people involved congratulate each other and shake hands afterwards.

Match #3: Jay Hurley/Ric King vs. DOOMSDAY [c] - Non-title Match
Well this is definitely a squash. In fact, they pretty much manhandle the jobbers and nail both of them with the Omega Driver for the quick win.

Result: DOOMSDAY wins via pin w/ the Omega Driver
Time: 3:11


- DOOMSDAY and Jimmy Jacobs head over to the commentary table for an interview. Lenny congratulations them on successfully defending the tag team championship in Japan, elevating the championship to World-status in the process. Jimmy says that returning to Japan was an homecoming truly becoming of the most dominant force in pro wrestling. He says that Taiji Ishimori & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi were valiant competitors, but like so often in life - they were disappointed and found wanting. Lenny steers the talk toward their upcoming match against the Old School Wrecking Crew at the Great American Bash. Jacobs says he heard the words of Adam Pearce last week, about the proverbial clock ticking down. He says that's true - the clock is ticking closer and closer to inevitability. Jimmy says it's not the clock that Adam Pearce thinks it is though. He says it's a clock, that when the bell tolls, will bring about anarchy and destruction for the Old School Wrecking Crew. He says it's a clock that that stands the test of time and powers through the moments with vindictive measure. Jacobs pauses before ending the interview: "How fitting is then, Leonard, that it is of course: a DOOMSDAY clock." This man gets medals, I tell ya.

- Commercials.

- Windham Rotunda is in the ring for an interview with Lenny Leonard. Not a whole of in-ring interviews in WCW, so I predict: SHENANIGANS. Lenny says it's been a couple of weeks since Windham announced that he intended to, quote, "hog-tie Chris Masterson's ass" at the Great American Bash. Windham says he hasn't heard one thing or another from the pretty boy since then. He says that fear is a hell of a thing and it makes a man do some pretty crazy things, like hide in a closet. Oh man, I can totally see where this is going. Windham then says, "Well Chris Masterson - I reckon it's time you came out the closet and fought me like a man!" That's not very PC in 2012, but it's still hilarious. This draws out Chris Masterson. Chris says that he won't stand for being mocked by Windham. He says, "And I get many women on a frequent basis! More than your fat, slobby ass does!" Windham retorts, "So you been lookin' at my ass, huh?" Windham keeps challenging Masterson to get in the ring, but Masterson refuses and eventually stomps off to the back while Windham calls him "yellow-bellied coward."

- Commercials.

- Lenny announces that it's official: Windham Rotunda will take on Chris Masterson at the Great American Bash in a BULL-ROPE MATCH!

Match #4: Brent Albright [c] vs. Davey Richards
Austin Aries is at ringside, but Eddie Edwards is notable by his absence. They engage in some good old fashioned chain-wrestling to start. Davey manages control at first, but then Albright takes over, but then Davey takes it again. They do several back-and-forth moments for the feeling-out process. It devolves into a strikefest, as Albright lays in with the forearms and Davey responds with kicks. More back-and-forth stuff until Aries trips Davey up and Davey gets blindsided from behind by Albright. From there on it's every Brent Albright-match we've seen, which isn't a bad thing mind you. Albright beats on Davey's arm like it's nobody's business, using the usual stuff like kneedrops and hammerlock slams. During the course of the match Aries gets on commentary a few times, one time claiming that he has an ace up his sleeve if Davey starts to gain momentum. HMMM. Davey does end up mounting a comeback after countering a hammerlock slam with a cradle for two. Davey lights Albright up with a series of kicks, but Albright quickly shifts momentum back in his direction with a vicious boot to the arm of Davey, followed up with one hell of a gutwrench suplex. Albright continues working the arm over and, eventually, Eddie Edwards makes his way out. Oh I can totally see where this going. Eddie cheers Davey on and Davey mounts a second comeback, culminating with the Alarm Clock for two. Davey goes for the DR Driver, but his arm is too weak and Albright counters with a half-nelson suplex for an insane near-fall! They trade near-falls but then Davey just DESTROYS Albright with a kick to the head. Davey then nails Albright with the DR Driver, but Aries distracts the referee. Eddie yanks Aries off the apron though. Well I expected Eddie to turn there. BUT WAIT~! Some guy is in the ring and blows RED MIST!~! at Davey Richards! The ref finally pays attention to the match as Albright jackknife cradles Davey for the win!

Result: Brent Albright wins via pin w/ a jackknife cradle
Time: 18:11


- Eddie climbs in the ring and checks on Davey. At the commentary table, Aries takes the mic and introduces his newest acquistion: "The Asiatic Nightmare" NAOMICHI MARUFUJI! Marufuji has half of his face painted with a very complex design that looks pretty scary. Marufuji blows more RED MIST~! for effect.


- Commercials.

- Lenny Leonard talks about what happened prior to the break and about Austin Aries' growing faction.

Match #5: Brodie Lee vs. Caleb Konley
Big boot, Boss Man Slam. That's all, folks!

Result: Brodie Lee wins via pin w/ the Boss Man Slam
Time: 0:16


- Brodie Lee goes over to the commentary table. Just as he starts to talk, the crowd EXPLODES with the single most THUNDEROUS reaction I've heard in WCW ever.  Because THE NECRO BUTCHER returns! Necro, wearing an eye-patch and with a shaved head no less, immediately starts beating the living hell out of Brodie Lee! They brawl off the stage and into the ring, which is an INSANE bump! The crowd is in absolute FRENZY chanting "NECRO! NECRO! NECRO!" After several minutes of some stiff brawling, security, wrestlers, almost the entire world storms the ring to separate the two madmen!

- Commercials.

- After the break, Necro Butcher is at ringside with Lenny Leonard. Lenny starts a question, but Necro yanks the microphone away from him!

"YOU WANT ME TA COME FOR YA BRODIE LEE? YA WANTED IT, YA GOT IT! YA TOOK MY EYE YA SON OF A BITCH! I'M GOIN' TA TAKE YOUR GOD-DAMNED LIFE! I GOIN' TA BRING HELL TO YA, BRODIE LEE! I'M GOIN' TA BRING HELL!"

Epic. Feud of the Year, I predict.


- Commercials.

- Lenny Leonard and JML talk about the crazy stuff before the break. They then talk about Jericho's title defense in Japan over the weekend.

- A video plays, similar to the one earlier, of Chris Jericho vs. Ricky Marvin. Tons of clips of what looks to have been a pretty good match. Jericho wins, of course.

Main Event: Drew Gallows vs. Chris Jericho
CM Punks comes out with Gallows and then hits the commentary table for guest commentary. Unfortunately for these two, following the previous segment means the crowd is almost dead. Gallows overpowers Jericho, so Jericho quickly dropkicks him a few times to even the playing field. It doesn't last for long, though, as Gallows manages to rake the eyes and then takes control off the heel move. Gallows tosses Jericho to the outside and then tosses Jericho into the guardrail a few times. Lenny compares Gallows to a "policeman," or someone who weakens the challenger (in this case, the champ) going into the match with the champ (in this case, the challenger). Gallows beats Jericho up pretty well, dropping Jericho face-first on the ring apron with Snake Eyes. Back in the ring and Gallows slows things down with a rear chinlock, which will do him no favors with the crowd. Jericho through sheer willpower and one hell of a comeback, manages to wake the crowd up with some quick-paced offense. They battle back and forth but then Gallows almost decapitates Jericho with a HUGE boot for two. Gallows slows things down again, but again Jericho fights back with quite the fiery offense. The flying forearm from Jericho draws one hell of a pop from the crowd. Jericho superplexes Gallows for two. Gallows cheapshots Jericho and goes for the powerbomb, but Jericho counters with a rana! Jericho ducks another big boot and NAILS Gallows with the Codebreaker! Jericho follows up with the Lionsault and goes for the pin, but breaks the count at 2. Jericho then lifts Gallows onto his shoulders and DRILLS Gallows with Go 2 Sleep! Jericho gets the victory off of that.

Result: Chris Jericho wins via pin w/ Go 2 Sleep
Time: 15:42


- Chris Jericho and CM Punk have another staredown to end the show, with CM Punk motioning for the belt. The crowd engages in a roaring dueling chants contest - "JERICHO - CM PUNK - JERICHO - CM PUNK" to end the show.