WCW Underground 1.10

- A video package recaps the announcement last week that Chris Jericho would be fighting for the WCW Championship on iPPV in December at Starrcade. It also recaps the announcement of the Chris Hero vs. Davey Richards match that will take place tonight, with the winner facing Alberto Dos Caras for the championship next week.

- The standard video opening plays.

- Lenny Leonard and JML do the usual rundown of the show. They say they'll hear from DOOMSDAY tonight, in addition to the continuation of the United States Championship tournament. Chris Jericho will be in action as well as Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team. Leonard then goes into huge promoter mode, talking up the main event and calling it a "battle of the future."

Match #1: Brent Albright vs. Sal Rinauro - 1st Round of the WCW United States Championship Tournament Match
This is a rematch from a couple of weeks ago. The match goes exactly as it did then, with Albright decimating Rinauro. It even ends quicker, with Albright forcing the submission using the Crowbar.

Result: Brent Albright wins via submission w/ The Crowbar
Time: 2:01


- Albright approaches the commentary table for a promo. He says he had to swallow a pretty bitter pill at Halloween Havoc when Hero caught him with the Deathblow, but credit where it's due and on that night Hero managed to get the win. Albright says he's not done with Hero by a longshot, but for right now his eyes are set on the United States championship. He says his fingers are crossed that it ends up him and Hero in the finals.

- A commercial plays for Batman: Arkham City.

- A commercial plays for the iPPV replay of Halloween Havoc. The last chance to view it will be 11/21.

- A video recaps the end of last week's main event, where JML saved the Briscoes from a gang-style beating at the hands of the Three Kings.

- Leonard asks JML just what exactly he was thinking last week. JML says he knows there's been an issue between him and Aries ever since he took Aries' job on commentary and quite frankly, "I hate the bastard." JML says he's drinking buddies with the Briscoes and any time they need help, he's got their back.

Match #2: Chris Jericho vs. Caleb Konley
The end result of this should surprise no one. Jericho actually treats it like an exhibition, giving Konley tips along the way. Interesting stuff, really. Konley manages a few near falls, but the end result remains a Codebreaker and a Lionsault for the Jericho-win. Afterward he lifts Konley up, shakes his hand, and gives him a few more tips. Really good way to put over the "helpful veteran"-role he's playing.

Result: Chris Jericho wins via pin w/ The Lionsault
Time: 4:32


- It's Jericho's turn to a cut a promo. Jericho says that's how veterans should treat the up & comers in the business. He says guys like Caras, a man who has been around for ten years plus, have no respect for the business. He believes the business can only survive if there are stars to keep it alive, but if some guys hog the spotlight and never let go - then much like the WCW of old, wrestling will die in the hands of an egomaniac. He says whether it's the Hulk Hogans, the Triple Hs, or now the Alberto Dos Caras, there will always be people who refuse to let go of the spotlight. And for all of them, there will always be guys like Bret Hart, Steve Austin, and the Rock who are willing to pass the torch. At Starrcade, Jericho intends to knock Caras down a peg and pass the torch himself. Really good stuff from Jericho, as usual.

- A commercial plays hyping Starrcade, focusing on the main event for the WCW Championship.

- A commercial plays for WCWwrestling.com.

- Leonard and JML talk about the United States Championship Tournament so far. They go over the people who have advanced as well as those still yet to compete. They talk about Steve Corino, who's in the next match, and how this could potentially be his turn around.

Match #3: Steve Corino vs. Jay Fury - 1st Round of the WCW United States Championship Tournament Match
Jay Fury is a local talent from the Atlanta-area. Looks like Corino might actually be getting a push! In fact, Corino dominates much of the match. Nice to finally see him doing something other than getting beat. He uses a lot of the old standbys, but the sliding lariat ("The Eternal Dream!" - Lenny Leonard) draws a particularly huge reaction. Fury manages a hot comeback, which gets a good reaction with him being a local and all. They trade some near-falls. Corino goes for a lariat but Fury counters with a quick roll-up to get the out-of-nowhere victory. Wow. Corino completely loses his shit and beats the hell out of Fury. Referees come out and have to cart him off.

Winner: Jay Fury wins via pin w/ a roll-up
Time: 8:43


- Leonard is pretty shocked by what happened. JML says that Corino is a hell of a talent who's hit an unlucky streak and it seems we've seen the proverbial straw that's broken the back. Then James Jacobs comes out with the WCW Tag Team champions, DOOMSDAY, to a rather vociferous reaction. Jacobs says that the mere presence of the undefeated force of nature that is DOOMSDAY is enough to make this crowd stand on its feet. He says in the last couple of weeks he's heard a lot of talk from a lot of teams, but all in all he's quite nonplussed by that idle chatter. One week it's "Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team of 2003," another week it's cheap Koloff-knockoffs wanting a go. James says that he told the world weeks ago that DOOMSDAY fears no team, be it The Cross or Fastball Special. He says if Castagnoli and Ares want a title-match, then next week they will get that title-match. Those words draw quite the reaction from the crowd. Jacobs says that if Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team want a title-match, then the week after next DOOMSDAY will defend against Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team. This brings out Smarmy Guy who says that Jacobs can't guarantee that second title-match since they can't guarantee they'll beat The Cross next week. He says, though, that in two weeks two teams will fight for #1 contendership and the winners will face DOOMSDAY at Starrcade, live on iPPV. Jacobs says that's just fine, because no matter who starts the match - DOOMSDAY ends it. Jacobs was obviously the perfect fit to be the Paul Ellering to DOOMSDAY's Road Warriors.

- Another commercial for Batman: Arkham City.

- Another commercial for the final replay of Halloween Havoc.

Match #4: Drew Adler/Shane Rockwell vs. Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team
This is basically just an extended squash, no different from the old Minnesota Wrecking Crew squashes of the 80s. At the very least, WGTT finally debut a tag finisher, using the old Steiner Bulldog with Haas doing the lifting and Benjamin doing the bulldog on Rockwell.

Result: Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team wins via pin w/ The Steiner Bulldog
Time: 4:32


- WGTT promo-time. Haas says if he has to jump through hoops to get a title-match, then that's ridiculous because there is no tag team on the face of the planet better than them. Benjamin says they're not afraid of "Dumbsday" (crowd boos - likely at the poor attempt of the insult). Haas says they better be in contention for that match, because if they're not - someone's going pay.

- Another commercial for WCWwrestling.com.

- A video package recaps the Necro Butcher vs. CM Punk feud.

- Leonard runs down the major matches for next week's show, which includes two championship matches as both the WCW Championship and the WCW Tag Team Championship will be defended.

Main Event: Chris Hero vs. Davey Richards - Winner Faces Alberto Dos Caras for the WCW Championship Next Week
This is going to be a good one. They engage in some chain-wrestling to start, before devolving into a strikefest. Elbows from Hero, kicks from Richards. Back to the chain-wrestling. They end up outside the ring trading shots. Richards goes for a kick, but Hero ducks and Richards kicks the ring-post. A blind man can see where this is going. Indeed, Hero starts to work the leg over. Back in the ring and Hero goes to town on Richards, using a variety of strikes and wrestling holds on Richards' legs. Richards attempts a few comebacks, but no dice. There's a big spot where Richards the roaring elbow, lifts Hero up for the Alarm Clock and nails the kick but of course his leg is hurt so there's no effect, and then Hero DRILLS him with a roaring elbow. Just a great series of spots. Hero locks in, of all things, a Texas Cloverleaf, but Richards grabs a rope. Hero tries that roaring boot, but Richards counters with a release German suplex. They get into a forearm battle (with expected "Boos" for Hero and "Yays" for Richards). Hero hits a VICIOUS forearm, but Richards quickly retaliates with a vicious kick of his own and both men collapse. They do the ten-count spot and both men are up around eight to start trading big moves. Suplexes, kicks, etc. Hero hits a violent series of strikes, but Richards hits the Alarm Clock finally - using his good leg this time. They trade a series of near-falls when it's announced that there are five minutes remaining. Hero goes for the Deathblow but Richards counters with a roll-up for two. Back and forth action continues as Hero goes for the Deathblow again, but this time Richards battles out of it and PLANTS Hero into the match with the DR Driver to get the pin and the match against Dos Caras next week. Holy hell what a match. Better than Hero vs. Angle by a longshot and up there with Angle vs. Caras.

Result: Davey Richards wins via pin w/ The DR Driver
Time: 28:11


- An exhausted Davey Richards walks over to the commentary table for a promo. He says that the very best of pro wrestling was just shown in that ring and to hell with anyone who doesn't like it. Jericho comes out to applaud him. Richards says next week, he's going to the top of the mountain to dethrone Caras and then he's going to Starrcade to take care of Jericho. Jericho is a little put off by that, but congratulates Richards anyway. The show ends on that note.