WCW Underground 2.24

- Opening video.

- Lenny Leonard and JML are at ring-side, as always. Leonard hypes the Great American Bash iPPV in eight days LIVE~! on iPPV. He says that tonight we'll hear from Chris Jericho in response to CM Punk's comments two weeks ago. He also hypes the main event for tonight: Richie Steamboat vs. Chris Hero.

Match #1: Brent Albright [c] w/ Austin Aries vs. Billy Buck - Non-title Match
While Albright does his thing beating up the poor jobber, Lenny and JML really hammer home the Albright/Edwards-rivalry. Lenny goes into great detail about how Albright stole the belt from Edwards thanks to Austin Aries. If you recall, Eddie was being pinned but got his foot on the ropes, only for Austin to knock it off. JML quickly counters that Albright would have beaten Eddie via submission if not for a time-limit expiration, which would be the time where Eddie was locked in the Crowbar and the ref lifted his hand three times, and on the third it dropped but before it hit the mat the time-limit expired. And anyway, Albright folds Buck in half with the half-nelson suplex for the pin.

Result: Brent Albright wins via pin w/ the Half-Nelson Suplex
Time: 4:32


- As you might expect, Austin Aries is ready to conduct an interview on behalf of Brent Albright. He goes into full rant-mode to great effect.

"Pro wrestling fans across the world, you are looking at the 'Wrestling Machine.' Brent Albright takes no quarter and gives none. Last week, the tech nerds in the back showed you that video of Eddie Edwards and Davey Richards training with good old Coach Angle. Jesus, who even cares? You're running around with an alcoholic freak who thinks it's Halloween in July, hey guys - Albright's out here beating up the best competition WCW has to offer. Did you see who I got him a match with this week, Lenny? I'll have you know that Billy Buck is the CMLL Super Mega World Champion and he beat a hire class of wrestler to get that belt than most of the guys working here. And Albright here made short work of him. But really what we should be talking about is how the WCW brass is trying to put the screws to Albright. Albright has been a fair United States Champion. He's defended against all comers! But because Eddie Edwards pitches a fit about something, he not only gets another match, but now Albright has to beat him twice in a row? What's next Lenny, you want to make Albright wear an eye-patch and hop on one leg while he does it? This is an injustice, Lenny! Chris Jericho doesn't half to do it! Those oafs DOOMSDAY? They don't have to do it! But you know what Lenny? It doesn't matter. Eddie wants to use the lawyers and the legalities to try and hoodwink us? Well it won't work! I've always got an ace up my sleeve, and a spade in my pocket."

- Commercials.

- The Hollywood Kings, Joey Ryan and Brian Kendrick are at ring-side. Lenny asks how it felt to get one up on the A-List last week. Brian says it was a great feeling putting Roderick's shoulder to the mat, and the only thing that could be better is doing the same to Karl Anderson in a tag match. Lenny asks if they're challenging the A-List to a match. Joey says they're not just challenging them, they're calling them out to thrown down at the Great American Bash. He says, "Those idiots might think they're on the 'A-List,' but baby, we're the sleazy kings of Hollywood and there ain't no one who rocks the Boulevard like we do!"

Match #2: Kid Mafia vs. Windham Rotunda
This match goes as expected. Windham beats Mafia pretty well using all of this normal stuff: the flying tackle, the Rick Steiner-like powerslam, etc. He even introduces a new move to his repertoire using a variation of a Blue Thunder Bomb. In any event, he puts Mafia away with the Death Valley Driver for the win.

Result: Windham Rotunda wins via pin w/ the Death Valley Driver
Time: 4:32


- Windham approaches the ring-side commentary area for an interview. Just Lenny asks a question, though, Chris Masterson attacks from behind! Masterson then tosses Windham hard into the lighting scaffold on the side of the stage. Masterson takes the bull-rope Windham keeps, and ties it around Windham's neck! Just as he's about to shove Windham off the stage, a flood of security storm the stage - JML included - to stop him.

- Commercials.

- Lenny and JML talk about what happened to Windham before the break. JML says that between the stuff with Necro/Brodie, Jimmy Jacobs last week, and now this, things are really getting out of hand leading in the Great American Bash. They talk about Jimmy Jacobs and show clips of what happened last week. That segues into the next match:

Match #3: Anthony Andrews/Michael Cannon vs. The Old School Wrecking Crew
Naturally, the Crew work their "old-school" style on the jobbers. They really do operate straight out of the 80s, just with a few more modern-style moves thrown in. Some of the stuff they do is great looking though, like the belly-to-back suplex/neckbreaker-combo of theirs. They put Cannon away with the Spiked Piledriver to finish the match.

Result: The Old School Wrecking Crew win via pin w/ the Spiked Piledriver
Time: 3:54


- At the commentary table, Lenny says they should be ashamed of what they did to Jimmy Jacobs last week. Adams cuts a promo, in response.

"Tick, tock Jimmy Jacobs! Tick, tock! You say it's DOOMSDAY for us, well maybe it's DOOMSDAY for you, you little runt! You say we should be ashamed, Lenny Leonard? I say we should be praised. Since there very beginning of WCW, all anyone has ever said was that DOOMSDAY was unstoppable. DOOMSDAY can't be defeated. DOOMSDAY is the unbreakable brick wall of the WCW tag team division. I say we just took good chunk out of that wall, don't you think so? And just like in Berlin, at the Great American Bash, the rest of the wall's coming down too. No one ever gave us a chance, Lenny Leonard. No one ever thought that Steve Corino and I would be the best tag team in pro wrestling today. At the Great American Bash, no one thinks we can win. We're making a career out of proving all of those idiots in the crowd, those idiots in the back, and idiots like you Lenny, we're making a career out of proving you all wrong. You're looking at the next tag team champions. The wall's coming down, Lenny! The wall's coming down!"

- Commercials.

- Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team is at ring-side for an interview. Lenny asks for a response to what the Cross had to say last week. Haas says he heard them, but he's still not scared. He says that he's heard threats from tag teams before, he'll hear threats from tag teams again, but at the end of the day, he and Benjamin are going to put them down like they've done every other time. Benjamin says that if you want a response, to watch the ring.

Match #3: Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team vs. Bo Newsome/Lee Roy
The jobbers barely get any time to manage some offense, but before being put away with what is apparently ANOTHER new finish for WGTT. This time, Haas lifts Roy on his shoulders in the Electric Chair position, and Benjamin flies off the top turnbuckle with a missile dropkick - knocking Roy crashing to the mat to get pinned by Haas.

Result: Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team win via pin w/ an electric chair/missile dropkick-combo
Time: 2:45


- As WGTT leaves, Chris Jericho enters the ring. The crowd is, as has become the norm of late, split 50/50 for him. There are a lot of "Y2J"-chants, but also a lot of "CM PUNK"-chants. Jericho gets a microphone from Bobby Cruise.

"A couple of weeks ago, CM Punk came out here and said some things about him and he said some things about me. But that's fine. That's fine. He claimed, in front of all of you, that I am a 'character.' A 'character,' Punk? What 'character' am I? Am I the 'Defending Champion,' is that my character? I'm pretending to be something I'm not? Well let's talk about 'pretending' CM Punk. Punk, claimed, in front of all of you that he was 'straight-edge.' That's kind of funny, because it's actually something Punk and I both know are not true. I look at you Punk and I see a sad, pathetic man. I see those dark, graying lines beneath your eyes. Just how well are you sleeping, Punk? You know, this is tough life, right, Punk? Wrestlers, I mean, we're up to all hours of the night. Just how well are you sleeping, Punk? Just how well are you getting your rest at night? Because you and I both know exactly what I'm talking about. You want to call me Triple H's bitch, Punk? Huh? Is that right? I'm Triple H's bitch? Punk, you're nothing more than low-life sack of shit. How did it feel taking food off Matt Hardy's table? What kind of man goes to his boss, and gets another man fired for something of so little consequence. You're a stooge Punk. You're nothing more and nothing less. You're so quick to cast judgment on others, so quick to point the finger, well point that damn finger at yourself. At the Great American Bash, I'm putting an end to this Punk. At the Great American Bash, you're not going to be able make me 'Go 2 Sleep,' it's going to be the other way around. And to help, Punk? To help, I'll give you some of those sleeping pills you like so much. How's that for a pipe bomb?"

- Commercials.

The Event Center
This is another week edition of the Event Center, as Mike Hogewood just run downs the card and hypes the stories behind each match. He does announce that the Hollywood Kings vs. A-List has been made official, though. He says next week in a special LIVE~! edition of the Event Center, he'll conduct an interview between CM Punk and Chris Jericho. Well THAT should be exciting, at least.


- Commercials.

Main Event: Chris Hero w/ Alberto Dos Caras vs. Richie Steamboat w/ The Patriot
Lots of drama in this one. Both are members of opposing teams in the upcoming Captain's Challenge Match at the Great American Bash. They start off with a good bit of chain-wrestling, unsurprisingly. What is surprising, is that Richie continuously out-wrestles and out-maneuvers Hero! They end up on the outside trading chops (Steamboat) and forearms (Hero), and when Alberto tries to interfere - the Patriot stops him. Hero blindsides Richie getting back in the ring and uses this to maintain the advantage in the match. At Alberto's advice, Hero takes to working the arm. It's actually some pretty great stuff, particularly with the camerawork, as you get to see Alberto call out a move to a Hero - and then Hero does it. Hero does tons of stuff working the arm, like the double-knees to the arm that Alberto does. Hero gets a few near-falls but Steamboat WON'T GIVE UP~! Steamboat attempts a few comebacks, but nothing comes of them as Hero always ends up going back to the left-arm attack. Hero finally messes up, missing a senton off the second turnbuckle. Steamboat fights back with a series of forearm strikes (from the right arm, of course) and chops. Steamboat gets a few quick cradles for near-falls. Hero catches Steamboat with a big boot, but Steamboat catches Hero with a BEAUTIFUL dropkick. Steamboat tries for the Dragon Suplex, but of course his arm is too hurt to do it. Hero counters with a quick ROARING ELBOW~! and then locks in the DESTINY LOCK~! Steamboat rolls Hero up for two, though. Alberto gets on the ropes, so the Patriot drags him down and they brawl outside. Hero argues with the ref and gets rolled-up, but kicks out at two, but when he does Steamboat carries the momentum into a suicide dive to the outside on Alberto! AWESOME~! Hero goes outside and all four are brawling. Hero and Steamboat end up back in the ring before being counted out, thankfully. They trade forearms and chops to the requisite "BOO!" and "YAY!"-chants. Steamboat ducks another ROARING ELBOW~! and DRILLS Hero with PELE KICK! As he goes for the pin, Tyler Black pops up on the apron to distract the referee. While that happens, Jon Moxley sneaks into the ring and hits the Midnight Special on Steamboat. Hero hooks a leg and gets the pin. Hell of a match, that.

Result: Chris Hero wins via pin w/ the Midnight Special (executed by Jon Moxley)
Time: 18:54


- The Midnight Guns continue their assault on Steamboat, while Hero and Alberto beat up the Patriot. All of a sudden EL GENERICO and PAUL LONDON~! storm the ring with chairs, running off the heels. London grabs a microphone and says that Fastball Special will be the final members of the Patriot's team at the Great American Bash! That moment ends the show.