WCW Bunkhouse Stampede

- We kick things off with an intro-video similar to the old Royal Rumble videos. Paul Heyman announces the tag match, with corresponding images flying in, then the United States championship match, and finally the Bunkhouse Stampede. Pretty awesome stuff, really.

- The camera man runs around ringside looking at all the screaming fans before settling on Jim Ross and Lenny Leonard. Leonard says that JML is still recovering from a brutal attack at the hands of Three Kings but he will return next Thursday on Underground with an announcement we'll all want to hear. Ross talks about the historic evening that is in front of us tonight and awarding the first ever Bruiser Brody Cup. Ross explains that the winner of the cup will be granted a guaranteed title-shot at any time of his or her choosing before 1/1/13.

- Cut backstage to Jimmy Jacobs with DOOMSDAY. SHANE HAGADORN~! is doing the interviews tonight. Jacobs says that we are only moments away from the conclusion of the situation that exists between DOOMSDAY and Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team. He says the monsters beside him hold respect for accolades of Haas and Benjamin, but they will have no mercy. He says tonight is the end of the road for WGTT and the end can only mean one thing: DOOMSDAY.

- Ross and Leonard talk about the upcoming tag team match. Ross says he predicted that DOOMSDAY will walk away on the Event Center and he's holding to that prediction. Leonard says that DOOMSDAY are a powerful team, but you have to give experience to WGTT and he thinks WGTT will claim the gold tonight.

- Backstage again as Hagadorn is with Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team. Haas says that almost ten years ago he and Benjamin showed up next to Kurt Angle and started a road to glory. He says the road was filled with pot-holes, speed bumps, and detours and they never got to where they wanted to go. He says that two years ago, Benjamin and Haas found each other again in New York standing across the ring from the greatest tag team they had ever faced. He says on that night, even though we lost, we put the car in top gear and we started back on that road. He says this time there is only one stop in sight before they hit where they want to be. He says that stop is 600+ pounds of brutality called DOOMSDAY. He says that Jacobs says they represent the end, but Jacobs has it all wrong. He says DOOMSDAY represents the beginning of the Era of Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team. Once they determined Haas could talk and Benjamin couldn't, that has made all the difference in the promos from this team. Great stuff.

Match #1: DOOMSDAY [c] vs. Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team - WCW Tag Team Championship Match
This has been one of the longer running rivalries in the company. It started out with an issue building between WGTT and the Bison Smith-version of DOOMSDAY. Bison unfortunately passed and Keith Walker came in to take his role on the DOOMSDAY team with Takeshi Morishima. At Starrcade they had a pretty good showing with DOOMSDAY coming out on top. In either incarnation of the team, DOOMSDAY has been the dominant tag team force in WCW. The Bison Smith-version was getting quite the crowd reaction, which this version hasn't really achieved yet. WGTT are playing the veteran-card trying to attain the greatness they feel that they have yet to truly attain. So that's your back-story. Ross immediately puts over Benjamin training with Brock Lesnar. Benjamin starts off with Walker. They do a test of strength which Walker, of course, wins. Benjamin tags out to Haas, so Walker tags out to Morishima. They do some chain-wrestling, with Morishima constantly overpowering Haas. Benjamin tags in and it's more of the same. Benjamin and Haas huddle up and Walker enters opposite of Haas. Another test of strength, more even-sided this time. Walker ends up winning, but Haas counters with a suplex to a great reaction from the crowd. Ross acknowledges that when it comes to WGTT, they have to focus on counter-wrestling. Haas drops Walker with a drop toe-hold and immediately locks in a reverse chin-lock. Benjamin tags in and they double team Walker with a double suplex. They try a double-clothesline on Walker, but Walker bursts through and then levels them with a clothesline on both men of his own to a HUGE reaction. Morishima and Walker spend a good bit working over Benjamin. They toss Benjamin high in the air at one point and the height he gets is damn impressive. Benjamin ends up clipping Morishima and tags in Haas and by God Morishima is going to be the face-in-peril. Together, Haas and Benjamin MURDER the left leg of Morishima. Tons of great stuff here, ranging from Bret Hart-type moves (Haas locks in a ring-post figure four) to stuff you never see (Haas traps Morishima's leg in the rope and Benjamin hits a running dropkick into it). Morishima sells the leg like crazy, to boot. Great spot comes when Morishima tries a Samoan drop but collapses. Similar to the match with Fastball Special a few weeks back, there are bunch of near-tags but no heel shenanigans to prevent them. Just basic stuff like dragging Morishima back, etc. We hit the 15-minute mark and Ross mentions that all title matches have a 60-minute time limit on iPPV. Great moment where Haas locks in a single-leg crab and Walker isn't near the tag, so he leaves the turnbuckle and gets in front of Morishima and motivates him to grab the ropes. Great, great moment for that one. Haas argues with Walker for that and turns around into the damndest non-JML lariat I've seen in some time! Morishima FINALLY makes the hot tag and the crowd EXPLODES! Walker comes with all kinds of powerslams and clotheslines and big boots. He clotheslines both members to the outside and then backdrops Morishima onto them~! WHOA~! He pulls Benjamin in and nails him with a HUGE chokeslam for two, thanks to Haas. Haas and Walker go at it, but Benjamin attacks from behind. They hit Walker with the Broken Arrow (Benjamin jumps over Haas on Walker) but it only gets two. Haas tries to lift Walker for WGF, but he's too big. Morishima knocks Benjamin off the turnbuckle onto the guardrail. We're over 20 minutes and Leonard mentions that DOOMSDAY has never been in a match this long. Morishima climbs up but Haas crotches him on the turnbuckle. Haas superplexes Morishima into the ring but neither he, nor Morishima is legal according to the referee. Walker tosses Haas outside the ring and follows him. Walker goes after Benjamin, but Benjamin drives him into the guardrail back first. Benjamin then dives out onto Walker to a huge pop! Haas and Benjamin get Walker into the ring and Haas finally lifts Walker onto his shoulder. Benjamin goes for the springboard bulldog, but Morishima catches him out of nowhere with the Scrap Buster (Side Slam)~! Walker gets off Haas and they toss him into the ring-post. Benjamin then gets KILLED with the Omega Driver to give DOOMSDAY the win. WOW. If there has been any doubt about tag team wrestling in America, kill that doubt now. This isn't just the best tag match in WCW history – which is saying something considering we've had WGTT vs. Fastball Special and CM Punk/Drew Gallows vs. Eddie Edwards/Davey Richards in the past month – this is the best match in WCW history. Hyperbole? Maybe, but see it for yourself and tell me you disagree. RUH ROH~! Business picks up because here come Giant Bernard and Karl Anderson of Bad Intentions. Words are exchanged and Takeshi ends up shoving Karl Anderson, which results in a flood of officials rushing in to separate the teams.

Result: DOOMSDAY wins via pin w/ The Omega Driver
Time: 25:10


- Backstage, Hagadorn is with Drew Gallows. Drew says that the world needs to come to terms with the idea that after tonight there will be no more Eddie Edwards. Straight to the point, I guess.

- Leonard and Ross are at ring-side. Ross talks about the previous tag match and how it was one of the best matches he's ever seen. He says he thinks that the situation that erupted between Bad Intentions and DOOMSDAY is far from over. Leonard agrees and segues to talk about Eddie Edwards vs. Drew Gallows. Leonard thinks that the training Eddie Edwards has been doing with Kurt Angle will give him and edge, but not enough of an edge to overcome the sheer power of Drew Gallows. Ross agrees.

- Backstage, Hagadorn is with Eddie Edwards. Eddie says that all of his life and his career people have overlooked him. He says whether it's been size, youth, or even who his tag team partner was, he's been overlooked. He says he's the United States Champion for a reason. He says all the power in the world will not change the outcome of tonight's match. He says he predicts two things will happen tonight: people will change their minds about Eddie Edwards and Drew Gallows will look at the lights.

Match #2: Eddie Edwards [c] vs. Drew Gallows – WCW United States Championship Match
Eddie's first title defense was against CM Punk. Gallows ended up interfering in the match which led to a program between good friends Eddie Edwards and Davey Richards against CM Punk and his “Straight-Edge Soldier” Drew Gallows. They had a tag team match on Underground which was near-perfect. The story here is as great of a wrestler as Eddie is, he's still a small guy compared to the towering and powerful Drew Gallows. They face off in the middle of the ring, which creates one hell of a visual. Gallows goes for the lock-up, but Eddie ducks it and starts kicking away at the legs. Ross acknowledges that Eddie will need to use quick strikes to stay on top in this match. Gallows swings at Eddie, who ducks, and then responsd with more kicks. Gallows takes a powder to the outside to collect his thoughts so Eddie flies out onto him! Eddie rolls him in the ring but Gallows quickly attacks as Eddie enters. Eddie tries to fight him off but gets leveled with a big boot for two. From here on it's all Gallows, who just slow and methodically pounds away at Edwards. Lots of slams and big elbows from Gallows, but not a lot in the way of restholds interestingly. Gallows chokes Eddie out with his boot in the corner. Eddie tries to mount a comeback, but gets cut short with a short clothesline. More power-moves and what not from Gallows. Gallows makes several pin attempts, but Eddie always kicks out. Gallows goes for a superplex, but Eddie knocks him off the turnbuckle and then drops on him with a double-stomp for two. Eddie fires up the crowd and starts kicking away at a kneeling Gallows,before nailing him with a running dropkick for two. Eddie tries for the Die Hard, but Gallows powers out of it and suplexes Eddie himself. Gallows goes for the power bomb but Eddie rolls over him into a sunset flip for two. Gallows goes for another big boot, but Eddie catches the boot and dragon screw leg whips Gallows over right into the Achilles Lock! Gallows powers out of it though. Ross questions whether that will be a viable method to beat Gallows. Eddie places Gallows on the turnbuckle and goes up for a top rope rana. Gallows slips down though and KILLS Eddie with a power bomb but it ONLY GETS TWO~! Gallows argues with the ref and gets cradled for two. Gallows quickly up and charges right into a drop toe-hold and another Achilles Lock from Edwards. Gallows AGAIN powers out and Ross says that Edwards needs to find something else. Gallows is limping to sell the leg, so we'll see if it plays into the finish. 15-minute mark is reached as Gallows nails Edwards with a vicious clothesline. Gallows goes for another power bomb but indeed the leg gives out on him, putting Edwards into position for a HUGE Angle Slam which he then transitions into an UPRIGHT~! Achilles Lock and starts STOMPING Gallows' head in! Gallows taps! Whew! Fun match! Eddie grabs his championship as Ross exclaims that Eddie has overcome all odds here tonight.

Result: Eddie Edwards wins via submission w/ The Achilles Lock
Time: 16:03


- Ross and Leonard announce that is intermission time.

- Intermission. They take this time to air a great, great video package hyping the FOX special on 3/31 which now been named “Jericho vs. Dos Caras 2.” I like it. Next up is another video package for WCW Legacy, which is finally confirmed to be an online onDemand video library that will start up in April. Nice!

- Back at ringside with Ross and Leonard. Ross says the moment has finally arrived for the Bunkhouse Stampede. He says that tonight will set the stage for 2012 and tosses it over to Bobby Cruise. Cruise announces the rules for the match: two men will start and every two minutes another participant will enter. This will continue until all 25 participants have entered the ring. The only way to be eliminated is to be tossed over the ropes and have both feet touch the floor. When only one man is left remaining, that man will be declared the winner and the recipient of the Bruiser Brody Cup, which will allow him a title-shot on any day, at any time, at any moment within the year.

Main Event: The Bunkhouse Stampede Match
Cruise, for great effect, draws influence from THE FINK~! for the first competitor. “The man who drew NUMBER ONE...” Which ends up being El Generico (1)! And number two is.... Claudio Castagnoli (2)! Nice idea to put these two in to start. They've had some great encounters in the past. They lock up and Claudio overpowers Generico to start. They hit some fast-paced offense, with Generico hitting a beautiful dropkick. Generico tries to eliminate Claudio but no dice. More back and forth action. Next up is Richie Steamboat (3 – 2:00). Ross says that Steamboat has more potential to be a huge star than anyone he can think. Steamboat and Castagnoli go at it with Steamboat getting the better of him on each situation. Generico and Steamboat double-team Castagnoli and try to eliminate him, but Castagnoli lands on the apron and slides back in. Brent Albright (4 – 4:00)) is out. Albright beats up on Steamboat while Generico pairs off with Castagnoli. A couple of near-eliminations, but nothing yet. Brian Kendrick (5 – 6:00) is next. Kendrick helps Castagnoli beat up on Generico. Steamboat goes to the top turnbuckle, I guess for a flying crossbody, but Albright quickly knocks him out to eliminate him (Steamboat eliminated (1 – 7:13)). Ross says we'll see more of Steamboat in the future. Tyler Black (6 – 8:00) is out now. Leonard says he thinks Tyler Black has just as much potential as Steamboat does. Generico and Castagnoli are both on the apron trying to eliminate one another, but they end up back inside the ring. Black almost eliminates Albright, but no dice. Ares (7 – 10:00) comes out and helps Castagnoli beat up Generico. Kendrick is just chilling in the corner not messing with anyone, which is smart strategy. Black hits Albright with his Small Package Driver, which is cool. Albright won't be eliminated though. Getting pretty crowded and it's hard to believe any of these guys could win realistically. Chris Hero (8 – 12:00) is out and the crowd responds unfavorably. Hero comes in and starts nailing people with elbows (except Kendrick who continues to relax in the corner). Hero tries to eliminate Generico, but Generico lands on the apron and slides back in. Hero and Castagnoli pair up to face off and the crowd starts the “Kings of Wrestling”-chant, instead they hug and nailed with a dropkick by Generico. Giant Bernard (9 – 14:00) comes out next and he is MASSIVE. I reckon it's house cleaning time, because Bernard almost immediately tosses out El Generico (Generico eliminated (2 – 14:10)). Tyler Black gets in his face, so he gets thrown out (Black eliminated (3 – 14:23)). Ares and Castagnoli try to double-team and Castagnoli press-slams Ares onto Bernard, who just catches Ares and tosses him out (Ares eliminated (4 – 14:50)). Castagnoli is livid and attempts a bicycle kick, which is dodged by Bernard. Bernard then drills Castagnoli with a bicycle kick, which eliminates Castagnoli (Castagnoli eliminated (5 – 15:01)). Bernard turns around to face Kendrick, Albright, and Hero. The latter three motion as if to gang up on him. When Kendrick charges, Hero grabs Albright. So of course Kendrick is alone in his attack and of course Kendrick ends up gone (Kendrick eliminated (6 – 15:52). Should have stayed in the corner! Down from eight to three in less than two minutes! Albright and Hero are ready to double-team Bernard, but guess who ends up coming out next? Karl Anderson (10 – 16:00). Bernard smiles as Hero and Albright. RUH ROH~! Morishima and Walker are out to try and continue the drama from earlier with Anderson! In the ring, Bernard is distracted and that's all Hero and Albright need to flip him over the ropes! (Bernard eliminated (7 – 16:14))! I LOVE IT! AND THEN HERO QUICKLY ELIMINATES ALBRIGHT! (Albright eliminated (8 – 16:16)). Bad Intentions and DOOMSDAY to brawl around the ring. Albright bitches at Hero and leaves. So Hero's all that's left in the ring. Security, etc. FINALLY separate DOOMSDAY and Bad Intentions. Anderson rolls in and gets blitzed with a Flash Kick immediately. Hero beats away on Anderson until Paul London (11 – 18:00) makes his way out. Leonard notes that these two have a little history on the West Coast. Not sure about that, actually. Hero and London go at it in the middle of the ring, while Anderson tries to recover. Newcomer Windham Rotunda (12 – 20:00) it out next. Rotunda immediately tries to eliminate Karl Anderson. Hero goes for the Deathblow, but London back drops him onto the apron and Hero slides back in. Rotunda goes for the Death Valley Driver on Anderson, but Anderson fights out of it and tries to eliminate Rotunda. CM Punk (13 – 22:00) is next up. Great heel reaction for him. Punk tries to help eliminate Rotunda, playing on their WWE-history. London almost gets eliminated, but he skins the cat back in the ring only to get leveld with a vicious roaring elbow from Hero. Rotunda fights off Punk and Anderson, but then gets nailed by Hero. Hero motions for Anderson to help him eliminate Rotunda. They shove Rotunda over the ropes onto the apron and then Hero tosses Anderson over instead (Anderson eliminated (9 – 23:58)). Jay Briscoe (14 – 24:00) is next and he immediately goes after Hero. Punk beats up on London. Rotunda saves London and bangs the heads of Punk and Hero together. Chris Masterson (15 – 26:00) is next. Masterson spends a lot of time flexing, for some reason. Hero tries to eliminate Jay, but isn't successful. London gets back-dropped over the turnbuckle but lands on the ring steps (!). Great spot! Joey Ryan (16 – 28:00) is next and he makes a bee-line for Jay. London helps Jay out and they double-suplex Ryan. They charge Ryan with a double-clothesline but Ryan pulls the ropes down. Jay stops in time but London goes flying to the outside (London eliminated (10 – 28:56)). Lots of near-eliminations going on, but nothing major. Mark Briscoe (17 – 30:00) is next and he and Jay go to work on Ryan. They hit him with all kinds of double-team moves (double shoulderblock, flying hip-toss, etc.) before double-clotheslining him out (Ryan eliminated (11 – 31:29)). Punk almost eliminates Jay, but Mark saves him. Hero almost eliminated by Rotunda and Masterson, but no dice. Masterson and Rotunda end up in a shoving contest. Jon Moxley (18 – 32:00) is next. Rotunda ducks a wild punch from Masterson and then tosses Masterson out (Masterston eliminated (12 – 32:04)). Moxley quickly eliminates the celebrating Rotunda (Rotunda eliminated (13 – 32:09)). Rotunda and Masterson get into a fight on the floor but get separated by referees. Punk and Hero are getting worked over by the Briscoes while Moxley watches on. Moxley pulls Mark off of Hero and tries to eliminate him. Jay makes the save and the Briscoes beat up on Moxley, eventually eliminating him (Moxley eliminated (14 – 33:38)). The Briscoes face off with Hero and Punk and they go at it. The Patriot (19 – 34:00) is next. The Patriot targets Chris Hero and they go at it. Punk low-blows Mark and almost eliminates him, but Jay makes the save. They try to work together to eliminate Punk, but no dice. Some more near-eliminations. The Necro Butcher (20 – 36:00) is out next and the place comes unglued! Necro starts punching anyone who walks near him and before long everyone is out and unconscious on the mat. Huge “NECRO BUTCHER”-chants here. Necro tries to eliminate Punk, but Hero saves him. The Patriot tries to eliminate Jay, but Mark makes the save. They then work together to eliminate the Patriot (Patriot eliminated (15 – 37:41)). Punk and Butcher exchanges punches in the middle of the ring while Hero and the Briscoes watch. Brodie Lee (21 – 38:00) is next and the crowd roars with disapproval. Brodie storms the ring and he and Necro immediately go at it! Other wrestlers try to pull them apart, but they get knocked to the side. The Briscoes pull Brodie away and try to double-clothesline him over, but instead get back-dropped out at the same time for a double-elimination (M. Briscoe & J. Briscoe eliminated (16 & 17 – 39:49))! Brodie and Necro resume their brawl. Davey Richards (22 – 40:00) is next. Ross questions his odds with Hero and Punk in there. Hero and Punk immediately attack him to try and eliminate him, but he fights back with some vicious kicks. Davey nearly eliminates Punk but no dice. Same with Hero. Brodie is pounding away on Necro in the corner. Adam Pearce (23 – 42:00) out next. Pearce helps in trying to eliminate Davey Richards. Brodie tries to eliminate Necro, but no dice. Little dead-time here. Hero and Punk hold Richards while Pearce charges with a clothesline, but Richards yanks Hero and Punk into the line of fire. They all stagger around and Richards eliminates Pearce (Pearce eliminated (18 – 43:51)). Steve Corino (24 – 44:00) is next and he consoles Pearce outside the ring. Richards tries to eliminate Hero, but Punk saves him. Brodie and Necro continue brawling in the ring. Corino enters and tries to help Brodie, but Brodie shoves him off. Punk and Hero double-team Richards in the corner. Necro finally nails Brodie with the Deathdrop and then gets blind-sided by Corino. Corino dumps Necro onto the apron. Corino charges, but Necro pulls the ropes down and Corino tumbles to the outside (Corino eliminated (19 – 45:47)). Richard knocks both Hero and Punk out with kicks. Austin Aries (25 – 46:00) is the last man. Ross says that Aries has the biggest advantage right now. Aries slides in and then immediately gets kicked out by Richards (Aries eliminated (20 – 46:04)). WOW. Hero and Punk square of with Necro and Davey. They brawl a bit and try to eliminate each other. Punk almost has Necro out, but Brodie saves him. Punk argues with Brodie and gets a Boss Man Slam for his efforts. Necro grabs Brodie in a guillotine choke and then drags him over the top-rope to eliminate him (Lee eliminated (21 – 51:24)). Brodie loses his shit at at ring-side.

Final Four: So we're left with Chris Hero, CM Punk, Davey Richards, and Necro Butcher. Hero has been in for near forty minutes, FYI. Hero and Davey square off while Necro and Punk reignite their old hatred. Lots near-eliminations here. Richards and Hero trade tons of strikes and counter-holds with each other. Davey unleashes a fury on Hero in the corner. He charges with the running forearm and then, rather shockingly, Hero back drops Richards out of the ring (Richards eliminated (22 – 58:19)! I did not see that coming, as I had Richards pegged to win! Hero and Punk double-team Necro and toss him over the ropes but he lands on the apron. They charge and Necro drops down, holding the ropes, but they both stop. They go for double sliding dropkicks, but Necro slingshots over them a la Eddie Guerrero of all people! Necro ducks a double-clothesline and starts punching both men. Hero rakes the eyes but receives a big boot to the face from Necro. Necro tries to clothesline Hero out, but Hero pulls the ropes down and Necro ends up on the apron. Necro grabs Hero by the hair, punches him a few times, and finally suplexes Hero out (Hero eliminated (23 – 1:05:31)). Hero lasted 53:31 seconds, for the record. Punk tries to quickly knock Necro down, but Necro nails him with a shoulder to the ribs and then sunset flips in (!). Ross drives home the hatred between these two. They end up face-to-face and then explode into punches with each other. Punk ducks a punch and pokes Necro in the eye. He lifts Necro up for the G2S, but Necro fights out and nails the Deathdrop on Punk! Necro lifts Punk's limp body and tosses it over the ropes but Punk lands on the apron. Punks yanks Necro over the ropes onto the apron by the hair. Punk charges Necro but Necro backdrops him off the apron to the floor below (Punk eliminated 24 – 1:10:41) to win!

Result: The Necro Butcher wins last eliminating CM Punk
Time: 1:10:41

Trophy Ceremony
Necro slumps back into the ring, exhausted. Paul Heyman comes out with a big trophy, of course. Ross gets in the ring for the awarding. He says that was one hell of a performance from Necro Butcher and he's proud to call him the Bruiser Brody Cup winner for 2012. Butcher doesn't get to say much before he's blind-sided by Brodie Lee! Brodie takes the trophy and breaks it over Necro's back. Brodie then drills Necro in the face with a broken piece for good measure, which busts Necro open. Brodie then takes a shard from trophy and starts to gouge Necro in the eye with it! HOLY SHIT! Security and referees storm the ring to separate them. The show ends zooming in on Necro's bloody face.