WCW Starrcade

- The show starts with a video package, detailing the history of JCP, NWA, and WCW. Old footage is intermixed with new footage, comparing stars of yesterday to today. DOOMSDAY to Road Warriors, Dos Caras to Flair, Necro Butcher to Bruiser Brody, Three Kings to the Freebirds, etc. Pretty great video, all things considered.

- Lenny Leonard and Jim Ross are on commentary tonight, since JML will be in action. Ross runs down the huge card and really hypes the main event in true Jim Ross-style. They then toss it backstage to SHANE HAGADORN~! who is standing with Chris Jericho. Hagadorn asks Jericho what his expectations for this evening are, and Jericho says that tonight it all comes together and the beginning of tomorrow starts here.

Match #1: Chris Hero vs. Davey Richards
Ross quickly hammers home the point that if this is the opener, then the card is obviously stacked. Leonard runs down the bulletpoints of the rivalry that has grown between both men and mentions that Eddie Edwards has beaten both to get a shot at being United States champion this evening. In one should no doubt surprise you, they chain-wrestle to start. Davey outwrestles Hero, easily, but Hero manages to sneak to the outside to stall. Back in and they engage in some more chain-wrestling, which Hero gets the the advantage on thanks to a well-placed eyerake. Hero blasts Davey with a few elbow-shots, but Richards returns the favor with a few stiff kicks. The action picks up as they start countering everything they can throw at each other from suplexes to strikes, but the big move comes when Davey tosses Hero up for the Alarm Clock and Hero DRILLS Davey with an elbow coming down, and then a roaring elbow for good measure. From that point, Hero takes control~! Hero slows it down using a cravate. Richards manages a comeback, but Hero stops it with a big boot followed by a senton and another cravate. Hero starts working in all the big strikes for near-falls. Davey attempts another comeback, but Hero almost kills him with a belly-to-back suplex to the outside. Hero comes outside and goes for a roaring elbow, with Davey blocks and then hits Hero with a vicious kick to the head. Davey rolls in and then flies out onto Hero with a huge suicide dive! The crowd starts to ramp up as Davey gets he near-fall. Davey goes for the DR Driver, but Hero counters with a roll-up. They trade a series of near-falls which ends with Hero blitzing Davey with a Flash Kick. Hero goes for the Deathblow, but Davey counters with a backslide for two. They trade big moves from here – roaring boots and Alarm Clocks, for example. Davey tries for DR Driver again but Hero and goes for a roaring elbow which Davey counters with a standing Kimura~! Hero grabs the ropes but Davey won't let go, and as the ref tries to separate them Hero knees Davey in the balls. Hero follows up with a roaring elbow that only gets two. Hero goes for the Deathblow again but Davey counters with the DR Driver for... A time-limit draw. That was an insanely hectic 15-minutes. Hell of a way to start the show! Davey wants five more minutes, but Hero scampers off.

Result: Time-limit draw
Time: 15:00


- Ross and Leonard debate whether or not this issue between the two is over and both agree it isn't. They toss backstage to Shane Hagadorn who is with The Cross. They cut a promo in German.

Match #2: The Cross vs. Fastball Special – Tables Match
Well Paul London is out in full Ultimate Warrior-attire, so there's that. Tassles, face paint, chest paint, etc. Crowd is chanting “London Warrior~!” for good measure. So this match came about because the Cross (Claudio Castagnoli and Ares) wanted to make a big debut and did so by beating up Fastball Special (El Generico and Paul London) backstage at the very first iPPV. Since then, the Cross have put Generico through a table two times. Ipso facto, on your blowoff show you have a table match. The rules are you win by putting both members of a team through a table. It's Australian tag rules, to boot, which means no tags necessary. They quickly engage in fisticuffs, with London and Ares spilling to the outside while Generico and Claudio go it on the inside. Generico gets sent into the ropes and Claudio tosses him into the air for Swiss Death, but Generico counters with a rana to a HUGE pop. Outside, London hits a big jumping DDT onto the concrete. London pulls a table out, sets it up, and puts Ares on it. London gets on the apron for a moonsault, but Claudio gives him a big boot that sends him flying past the table into the guardrail. TABLE SPOT TEASES~! They do some more brawling stuff and the Cross manages to incapicate Generico when Ares knocks Generico off the turnbuckle to the outside. They set a table up in the corner and Claudio whips London into it. Ares charges with a spear but London leapfrogs him. Ares stops in time, but London ducks a bicycle kick by Claudio and Claudio nails Ares sending Ares through the table. Ross quickly points out that this doesn't count against the Cross, since London nor Generico put Ares through the table. Ares is out of it though, as far as being conscious is concerned. London hits Claudio with a dropkick and then the big Warrior Splash~! He and Generico set up a table in the ring and place Claudio on it. Generico flies off the top turnbuckle with a big splash that puts Claudio through the table. So now they only need to put Ares through one to win. London sets up a table outside and tries to superplex Ares through it, but Ares fights him off. Ares punches away at London and London falls down, but not through the table. Generico jumps up to the turnbuckle, though, and ranas Ares back into the ring in a huge, breathtaking spot. Claudio sets up a table outside and tries to power bomb London through it, but Generico makes the save. Claudio and Generico battle up onto the stage and Claudio manages to give Generico the UFO~! on the stage~! Big “HOLY SHIT”-chant for that. The Cross work London over and Claudio goes for a power bomb through the table again. London slides down the back though and back drops Ares into Claudio, which prevents Ares going through the table. London slides into the ring, but the Cross quickly catch him and pound away on him. They bring another table into the ring and set it up. They place London onto it, but Generico comes flying off the stage into the ring with a big cross-body~! They all start brawling again and London gets placed on the turnbuckle by Claudio. Claudio goes up for a big superplex, but Generico makes the save – knocking Claudio off the turnbuckle and through the table outside. Ares tries to escape a beating, but he gets drilled with a Yakuza kick by Generico. Ares ends up on the table and London flies off the turnbuckle with the Shooting Star Press onto Ares, putting him through the table to give Fastball Special the win. Post-match, Fastball Special celebrates briefly before heading to the back. The Cross are helped to the back by referees.

Result: Fastball Special win via putting Ares through a table
Time: 16:11


- Ross and Leonard are at ringside with the Three Kings (Austin Aries, Brian Kendrick, and Joey Ryan). Aries says tonight you're going to see many things, but nothing will be more spectacular than when that big, dumb, Republican redneck bows before his greatness.

- Meanwhile, BACKSTAGE~! Hagadorn asks JML for a response. JML says he's had enough of talking and his response will come in the form of a major ass-kicking in a few moments.

Match #3: The Briscoes/JML vs. The Three Kings
This match is also rooted in the very first show. Austin Aries started out as color commentator, but was dropped in favor of JML which didn't sit well with Aries. Aries formed the Three Kings in response, and beat up the Briscoes – who JML had admitted was his favorite team in WCW. The Kings function as a Freebirds-like team, where any two members of the three can work at any given time. Because of this, problems would be caused with the third man out always interfering on behalf of his partners. The problems continued to escalate until JML finally intervened himself, with the end result finally being this match. JML wants to start with Aries, but naturally Aries won't tag in. So Kendrick starts out and Jay begs for the tag and gets it. Jay and Kendrick trade a bunch of moves with Jay continuously getting the upperhand. Ryan comes in and Jay and Mark work him over for a bit. Mark gets caught on the wrong side of town and, wouldn't you know it, he'll be YOUR face-in-peril~! He's actually getting pretty good at it (though Generico is still the king). The heels take turns beating Mark up, focusing on his leg. This goes on for a good bit of time, before some heel miscommunication has Ryan and Kendrick colliding into each other long enough for Mark to make the big tag to JML. JML cleans house, of course, but Aries refuses to get in the ring. JML tosses Ryan and Kendrick outside, which allows both Briscoes to dive out onto them. Aries tries to sneak attack JML but JML gives him a few stiff forearms to the back, just like the old days. Aries ducks a boot and drills JML in the face with a dropkick that sends JML tumbling outside. Aries charges for a dive, but instead just steps through the ropes and kicks JML in the face – massive heel heat for that. Jay drags Aries in and, with Mark, hits the big double tackle. Jay then nails Aries with the Jay Driller for two thanks to Ryan who breaks it up. Jay and Ryan brawl outside and Mark hits Aries with the Cutthroat Driver for two, thanks to Kendrick. Kendrick gets tossed outside and Jay comes back in and Aries gets nailed with the Springboard Doomsday Device which gets broken up as well, thanks to both Kendrick AND Ryan. JML tags back in as the Briscoes brawl to the outside. The Kings beat down both Briscoes and toss Jay outside. Mark gets drilled with Regicide and Ryan covers him for the pin, but Aries breaks it up because he wants to do it to JML. They bring JML in the ring and he fights back against all three. The other two Briscoes come back and get Ryan and Kendrick out of the ring. Aries stumbles around and gets MURDERIZED with a lariat from JML, which allows JML to score the pin. In the post-match, JML and the Briscoes celebrate with beer. They pour it over Aries, spray it in the ring, etc. They finally depart.

Result: The Briscoes/JML win via pin w/ a lariat
Time: 13:11


- Shane Hagadorn is BACKSTAGE~! with CM Punk and Drew Gallows. Punk says tonight he'll find himself staring into the eyes of an animal, and how fitting that the animal shall be wearing a leash. He says that animal is sick and depraved, on it's last legs, and stricken with rabies. He says like the boy in Old Yeller, tonight he's going to do the humanitarian thing – and put Necro Butcher down.

- Ross and Leonard talk about the immense hatred that exists between CM Punk and Necro Butcher. A video recap plays, which is the same one that was seen on TV last night.

- Shane Hagadorn is now with Necro Butcher and Brodie Lee. Butcher says that all things come to an end. Happiness, pain, life, and tonight: CM Punk. He says for six months he's been chained to CM Punk, for six months he's been chained to his hatred, and tonight he'll be chained literally. He says tonight is the night that will define his career. He says he will emerge through a baptism of blood and when it's over, as the cold steel swings in the wind and blood drips to the mat and sweat stings the wounds on his forehead, when it's over, there will be on the Necro Butcher and the pain of an eternity. Let's just put this out there. Somewhere along the road here Necro became a better promo than CM Punk somehow.

Match #4: Necro Butcher/Brodie Lee vs. Drew Gallows/CM Punk – Double Dog-Collared Tag Team Match
This has probably been the feud of the year, if we're being honest. It started on the first PPV and continued to escalate with violence since. It began as a simple straight-edge vs. not straight-edge feud, and became so much more as Punk pushed himself as a wrestler and Necro as a garbage wrestler. It's been hell of a feud between the matches and promos, to say the least. At Halloween Havoc, Necro had Punk beat but Punk brought out the debuting Drew Gallows. Necro responded by bringing in Brodie Lee. This is going to fullfil the violence quota for the evening, FYI. Necro is chained to Punk, Brodie to Gallows. The only way to win is via pin or submission in the ring. So of course they start by brawling outside of it. They brawl into the crowd on opposite sides of the arena, emphasizing that this is going to be a pain in the dick to call. Punk and Necro end up in the concession stand area before long, slamming each other onto tables and into walls. On the other side of the building, Brodie and Gallows are brawling outside of the bathroom. Gallows bodyslams Brodie on the concrete and drops a leg across his chest. Meanwhile, Necro is continuously body slamming Punk on the concrete. On the otherside, Gallows breaks a beer bottle over Brodie's face. “What the damn hell was that for?!” Two guesses on who said that. Necro and Punk are brawling down the steps to the entry way. Necro goes for a piledriver, but Punk back drops him. Punk takes the opportunity to whip Necro with the chain. Smart thinking, there. Punk then suplexes Necro on the concrete. Gallows and Brodie are now at the concession stand. Brodie is bleeding pretty well. Gallows charges with a clothesline but Brodie back drops him over the bar. Brodie drags Gallows onto the bar itself, and then brakes a stool over Gallows' back. Punk comes back into the scene and attacks Brodie from behind. Brodie and Punk trade punches, before Necro mauls Punk from behind. Necro and Punk disappear as Brodie drills Gallows with a chair. Necro and Punk are brawling into the crowd and are on the steps. Butcher bodyslams Punk onto some fans! Holy man what a bad idea! Butcher pulls Punk down to ringside and then clotheslines him back into the ringside area. Butcher drags Punk to the timekeeper, grabs the bell, and blasts Punk in the face with it. That'll bring the blood, I bet. Gallows and Brodie are making their way through the crowd behind the commentary/producer position. Gallows takes a big boot from Brodie that sends Gallows over the rail in front of commentary and down about four or five feet. In the ring a bloodied Punk and Necro start trading punches with their fists wrapped in chain. Both men are bleeding profusely, as they say. They end up knocking each other out. Brodie pulls Gallows to ringside and yanks the chain, pulling Gallows into a Boss Man Slam on the concrete. In the ring Necro finally rolls over onto Punk but only gets two. Brodie gets in the ring and goes for a big boot on Punk, but Punk ducks and he nails Necro. Punk kicks Brodie in the balls and goes for the G2S, but he pulls Brodie too far away from Gallows, so Brodie falls off his back. Ross says that might have saved Brodie. Gallows comes in and power bombs Brodie and Punk covers, but Necro makes the save. Gallows and Punk then work Necro over, but Brodie takes Gallows out with a clothesline to the outside. Punk goes for the G2S, but Necro slides down and hits Punk with the Deathdrop to finally get the big pin on CM Punk except Punk kicks out at two. Necro argues with the ref and the distraction is long enough for Punk to get it together, lift Necro up, and nail Necro with the G2S. Punk celebrates before covering and as he goes for the pin, he gets cradled by Necro for two. Necro balls up the chain and drills Punk with it and then nails Punk with the Deathdrop again, this time getting the big win he'd been searching for. After the match, he shoves Punk out of the ring and celebrates with Brodie with the fans going crazy for him.

Result: Necro Butcher/Brodie Lee win via pin w/ The Deathdrop
Time: 15:38


- You know what guys? Intermission time.

- A commercial plays for WCW Legacy, whatever that is.

- Back from intermission. Ross says the first half of the show settled a lot of unfinished business and that the rest of the show will focus on championships. He says the first match will declare the first United States champion of this new era. That segues into a video that hypes the United States championship, using all kinds of awesome, older footage.

Match #5: Brent Albright vs. Eddie Edwards – Finals of the WCW United States Championship Tournament
Brent Albright got an easy road here, whereas Edwards went through several tough battles – particularly against partner Davey Richards and rival Chris Hero. Ross says both men are true competitors who respect the sport. Handshake to start and then some of that good ole chain-wrestling! Albright, being bigger than Edwards, continuously overpowers Edwards. Ross plays up Albright's NWA-background. Edwards never really manages any momentum, as Albright quickly gets to work on his arm – softening it up for the Crowbar. Edwards finally manages to start up a comeback, relying on strikes, but he gets caught with a vicious belly-to-belly suplex. Albright continues working the arm over, using various arm-submissions. This goes on for a long time, even drawing some boring chants at one point. Edwards fights out again with some strikes, zoning in on the leg in particular. He goes for a roundhouse kick, but Albright ducks in and DRILLS Edwards with a half-nelson suplex for two. Fed up with working the arm, apparently, Albright starts hammering Edwards with suplexes and slams. He goes for the Crowbar, but Edwards quickly rolls through and manages a roll up out of nowhere for two. Edwards then unloads with a series of strikes on Albright and blitzes Albright with a flying knee strike. Edwards catches Albright in the Achilles Lock, but Albright fights out of it. Albright goes for a lariat, but Edwards counters with a crucifix roll up for two. Albright pounds a way on Edwards and puts him on the turnbuckle, before bringing him back to the canvas with a big, BIG belly-to-belly superplex. It only gets two. Albright gets into it with the ref big time, and the distraction allows Edwards to catch Albright with the Achilles Lock again. Albright somehow manages to get the Crowbar on Edwards while being the Achilles Lock, which is incredibly impressive. Edwards rolls out again, and again manages to roll into a pinning combination on Albright for two. Albright ducks a clothesline, but Edwards flips out of the half-nelson and goes for the Die Hard, but Albright rolls out and nails the half-nelson again for two. Albright goes nutso and tries for the Crowbar again, but Edwards rolls though and somehow locks in the Achilles Lock again right in the middle of the ring, and really cranks it on which causes Albright to finally tap. In the post-match, confetti falls as Edwards is presented with the belt. He gives a pretty emotional performance, raising it on all four corners before finally heading to the back.

Result: Eddie Edwards win via submission w/ The Achilles Lock
Time: 17:02


- Ross talks about guys like Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair holding the United States championship and puts Edwards and Albright in their league. Leonard gets a little bit somber as he talks about losing Bison Smith. They then play the tribute video from Underground.

Match #6: DOOMSDAY w/ James Jacobs vs. Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team – For the vacant WCW Tag Team Championship
DOOMSDAY were just beginning their big reign when Bison Smith passed. Keith Walker has stepped in to replace his former NOAH tag partner. They played this up on TV as a battle of honor and respect, almost turning WGTT face in the process. Morishima and Haas start off and do some big man stuff, slamming into each other and challenging the other to run the ropes and slamming into each other again. Benjamin tags in and faces off against Walker. They do a few shoulder-tackles, but then Walker catches Benjamin with a HUGE press slam! Haas and Walker face off and trade a few suplexes. Walker and Morishima pound away on Haas for a good bit, then Haas tags in Benjamin. Morishima and Benjamin face off, but Morishima overpowers Benjamin with a few big slams. Walker back in and he and Morishima miscalculate a tag move, which allows Benjamin to kick Morishima in the face and hit Walker with Pay Dirt! He gets two before Morishima makes the save, but that's just enough to let Walker end up as your face-in-peril. WGTT spend a good bit of time working Walker over. They don't pick a specific body part, instead just focusing on pounding away against Walker. Walker finally hits a huge, flying double clothesline and makes the hot tag to Morishima. Morishima comes in and just DOMINATES. Big chops, slams, and suplexes for Haas and Benjamin. It breaks down in Hotlanta, as both teams start hitting each other with big moves for near-falls. The big break finally comes when Walker gets dropped outside with a double backdrop. Haas lifts Morishima up and they nail Morishima with WGF. It only gets two thanks to Walker. Haas ends up tossed outside and then Benjamin gets MURDERIZED with a lariat/backdrop driver combo (“OMEGA DRIVER!” - Lenny Leonard) to give DOOMSDAY the big win and the championship. For the post-match, both teams shake hands and congratulate each other.

Result: DOOMSDAY wins via pin w/ The Omega Driver
Time: 13:29


- Ross talks about that match being a testament to Bison Smith and what he brought to pro wrestling. They they talk about the big main event, a match that's been building for quite some time. Ross says we're going to see a hell of a main event here tonight.

Main Event: Alberto Dos Caras [c] vs. Chris Jericho – WCW Championship Match 
So this was originally scheduled to be Kurt Angle vs. Alberto Dos Caras, but someone's drinking problems changed all that. Instead we have Jericho fighting Caras for the championship and the honor of all the young guns. Ross says that this match will really harken back to the days of Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair. They trade some holds to start. Caras ends with the advantage as Ross pushes his amateur background. They trade some more holds with Jericho getting the advantage, this time with Leonard playing up Jericho's time in the Dungeon. It picks up and Jericho nails Caras with a spinning heel kick. Jericho quickly goes for the Lionsault, but Caras rolls out and Jericho lands on his feet rather impressively. Jericho follows him out and gives him several chops around ringside. Jericho tries to whip Caras in the guardrail, but Caras counters and Jericho ends up shoulder-first in the ring post. You can guess what that means. Caras takes the opportunity to slam Jericho's arm on the apron, the guard rail, and the ring post for good measure. Back in the ring and Caras starts dropping a few knees on the arm of Jericho (it's the left arm, in case you're wondering). Caras follows that up with a few arm-wringers. Jericho tries to fight back, Caras hits an arm-drag and follows with an arm-bar. Ross says that when this match is over, Jericho – win or lose – will have very little use for his left arm. Jericho fights out and hits a belly-to-back suplex for two. Jericho charges the ropes and runs into a big dropkick from Caras. Caras drops a few more knees on the arm, acting like he's Bret Hart or something. Caras places the arm on the bottom rope and jumps on it, like Hart used to do with the leg. Caras locks in another arm-bar, softening the arm. Caras hits Jericho with a series of arm-drags and goes for an arm-bar, but when he does Jericho rolls him up for two. Caras immediately unloads on Jericho's arm with a bunch of boots. Caras puts Jericho on the turnbuckle and superplexes him back to the ring. That only gets two. Jericho tries to mount a comeback, but Caras rakes the eyes to stop it. Caras follows up with the big armbreaker using the double-knees for two. Caras transitions to the Destiny Lock, but Jericho quickly scrambles for the ropes. Caras breaks and argues with the ref and continues the assault. Caras pushes Jericho outside the ring and then follows him. Caras continues to work the arm on the outside, slamming it on the apron a few times. Caras tries for a piledriver on the concrete, but Jericho backdrops him on the concrete. Jericho slides in the ring and then flies to the outside with a suicide dive onto Caras. Both men barely make it in before the end of the 20-count. Caras lights Jericho up with a series of chops, but each one only further motivates Jericho. Caras finally hits him with a big enzuiguri and knocks Jericho out, but it only gets two. Caras then locks on the Destiny Lock, but Jericho quickly grabs his other hand to keep Caras from fully locking in the hold. Jericho powers Caras up and drops him with a power bomb to break the hold. They do the long, drawn out 10-count to build the crowd up. They get up and trade chops but Jericho goes nuts and starts unloading on Caras. Jericho hits Caras with a flying forearm for two. Jericho goes up and nails a missile dropkick for two. Jericho goes for the Codebreaker, but Caras counters with a jackknife cradle for two. They then trade near-falls. Jericho goes for the Codebreaker again, but Caras counters with the Destiny Lock out of nowhere. Jericho rolls him over and somehow counters with the Liontamer off all moves!! The crowd starts going nuts as the action continues to pick up. Caras reaches the rope to break the hold. Caras gets up and Jericho nails him with an enzuiguri. Jericho goes for a Lionsault again but Caras rolls away and Jericho hits nothing but canvas. Caras covers for two. Caras signals for the Destiny Lock again but Jericho fights out of it, ducks a clothesline, and finally hits the Codebreaker on Caras. It only gets two. Jericho slams Caras in the ring and signals for the Lionsault. He springs on the middle rope, but Caras quickly catches him with a VICIOUS German suplex for two. Caras then locks in the Destiny Lock but Jericho fights out of it with a cradle for two. They trade off waistlocks for a German suplex multiple times before Caras finally rolls up Jericho and holds the tight for 2.999999999999~! Ross mentions that Caras has won many matches that way. Caras argues with the referee and then turns around into a big boot to the face and then a Codebreaker. Jericho follows up with a Lionsault for the big win and the superbig pop! I mean the crowd just EXPLODES! In the post-match, Caras rolls out of the ring as Jericho is presented with the big gold belt. Eddie Edwards and Davey Richards join the ring and celebrate with Jericho.

Result: Chris Jericho wins via pin w/ The Lionsault
Time: 22:47


- Ross and Leonard thank the fans for tuning and encourage fans to check out WCWwrestling.com for all the latest information. That ends the show.