- Previously on WCW Underground: Eddie Edwards defended the United States Championship against Brent Albright, retaining the title in extremely controversial fashion. For months, seeds of anger and resentment had been brewing in Brent Albright over his lack-of-success and he finally snapped, suplexing a WCW referee.
- Standard opening video package.
- Lenny Leonard and JML are at ring-side. Leonard says tonight's episode is jam-packed as we're going to see the #1 contender Alberto Dos Caras in action, receive an update on Brent Albright and the controversial ending to last week's match, a huge interview with Chris Jericho in this week's Event Center, plus the main event made last week as Chris Hero takes on Windham Rotunda.
Match #1: Drew Adler/Ace Rockwell vs. Three Kings
Joey Ryan and Brian Kendrick, this week, with Austin Aries. Is it really a "this week"-scenario or have we elevated to "as usual" yet? Kendrick and Ryan have better chemistry anyway. I must say in the grand scheme of things, they've been a bit unimpressive since the end of the Briscoes-feud, but then everything seems to be playing backseat to Austin Aries vs. JML. The match is a squash, obviously, and really serves as just a way for Lenny and JML to promote the Aries/JML-match. The Kings win with Regicide (assisted DDT).
Result: Three Kings win via pin w/ Regicide
Time: 4:32
- Aries opts to cut a promo in the ring versus at the commentary table. Interestingly, Kendrick and Ryan leave the ring. Lots of good stuff with body language here as Ryan and Kendrick kind of converse quietly behind Aries before leaving and Aries' double-take when he sees them leaving and then pretending like he knew they were going is just fantastic stuff. Anyway, on to the promo. Aries says that in the 10+ years he's been in pro wrestling, everywhere he's gone he's the man who steals the show. He says whether it was ROH, TNA, or anywhere else on the independent scene, he's been there man whereever he's been. He says when he showed up in WCW he was ready to steal the show in another way: on commentary, and that's exactly what he did. He says in one night on one show he was a better color commentator for pro wrestling than anyone else has been since Jerry Lawler in 1998. He says that after a decade of guys like Lawler losing their touch, Booker T rambling incoherently, and Michael Cole driving a fan-base away, he once again stole the show and became the best commentator in pro wrestling. He says that all changed when an old, bitter, dried up pro wrestler with nothing to do came in and stole his spot from him. He says JML was jealous of Austin Aries from the beginning because Aries was a better wrestler, a better talker, better looking, and, of course, a vegetarian. Aries says that on March 31 he is happy to do the world of wrestling a huge favor and put JML out of the business for good. Aries drops the mic to leave, but JML stops him. JML has a few words of his own. JML says that about eight years ago he was stuck at the bottom of the card where he had been for a decade before that. He says that in pro wrestling the only way you get what you want is to take it and that's exactly what he did, becoming one of the longest reigning WWE champions of the new millennium in the process. He says for years people have bitched and moaned about how he hit too hard in the ring and how he was mean to the new kids. He says for years people have called him the biggest, meanest bully in pro wrestling. He says on March 31 on FOX television in front of a nationwide audience, Austin Aries is going to find out that what everyone has said about JML is absolutely damn true. Amazing segment with heat off the charts.
- Commercials.
- Lenny is by himself now as JML apparently left during the break. It doesn't last though as he's shortly joined by Paul London, sans face-paint but with a Giant Gonzales-style bodysuit - I shit you not - and El Generico. Lenny is baffled by the suit and asks where the face-paint is. The retort is: "The London Warrior is on vacation, Lenwood, destination? Parts Unknown. Tonight it's me and El Generico and we're ready to get our stamps approved, our packages checked, barcodes scanned, and some other cliches of that sort, get it all together and kick some ass! Yeah! You know what, Lenwood? Ole Generico and I, we've been thinking. Which is a dangerous concept in these dark and twisted times. We've been thinking: it's time. Do you know what time it is? [he turns to Generico] Do you know what time it is? Never mind, you don't speak English. [he turns to Lenny] It's time, Lenwood, that we got a title-shot." Started out nutty as usual but kind of dialed back into a normal promo.
Match #2: Derrick Driver/Steven Walters vs. Fastball Special
Another squash. Lenny talks about how Fastball Special are growing in popularity, rising from cult-status to big stars. They win with the Brainbuster/Shooting Star Press-combo.
Result: Fastball Special win via pin w/ The Brainbuster/Shooting Star Press Combo
Time: 4:10
- Out comes the Assistant to the WCW Executive Director. Been a while since we've seen this guy. He says that as a result of his actions last week, Brent Albright has been suspended without pay for two weeks. He says that the Executive Director of WCW will not allow any wrestler to intentionally harm a referee. Lenny asks about the controversial finish. The weasel responds that it is being investigated.
- Commercials.
Match #3: Chip Day vs. Drew Gallows
Big boot, power bomb, end of match.
Result: Drew Gallows wins via pin w/ a power bomb
Time: 0:13
- Post-match promo from Gallows. Lenny asks him about the loss to Edwards at the Stampede. Gallows says a minor setback doesn't stop the train from arriving at it's destination and nothing is going to stop him from beating the hell out of everyone in his path. Short and concise.
- Commercials.
The Event Center
This week Jim Ross shows a special interview with Chris Jericho. The first portion of the video details his early career. It cuts to the interview, which is black and white, every so often. Essentially, it's one of those UFC-style interviews. After talking about the career he talks about Dos Caras. Lots of good stuff here with clips from their previous encounters. "He'll bring his submission-game and he's good at it, but he's not good enough." "Who's he been in the ring with? Really been in there with? I mean, besides me? I've been toe-to-toe with guys like Triple H, Kurt Angle, Steve Austin... Who's he fought?" Some subtle heel-stuff, but over a great video package to build towards the showdown on FOX. Ross promises a similar interview next week with Dos Caras.
- Back to ringside with Lenny. Lenny shows some stills of the brutal assault by Brodie Lee on Necro Butcher from the Bunkhouse Stampede. He says the Necro Butcher is still out indefinitely and there's been a lot of speculation on whether not he'll be able to return. He says on March 31, Brodie Lee will return from suspension on FOX.
- Commercials.
Match #4: Alberto Dos Caras vs. Cru Jones
Just an extended squash, really. Caras takes delight in picking apart the arm of the musclefreak. He's definitely playing the Ric Flair-role here to perfection, almost. He gets the win after a lengthy bit of time using the Destiny Lock (cross armbreaker), which Jones taps to immediately.
Result: Alberto Dos Caras wins via submission w/ The Destiny Lock
Time: 8:12
- Caras heads to the commentary table for a promo. He says the wheel of time is turning and the seconds are ticking down until he takes his rightful place as the WCW Champion. He says so many people live their lives wandering through the doldrums of society without realizing any of the finer things in life simply because they are not of a better class like he is. He says it is people like he that run the world and not people like Lenny or Chris Jericho or Davey Richards. He calls them the dregs of society. He says people like him do not get to the top by being given success. He says that they don't get to the top by working hard. He says it isn't luck or effort that determine greatness - it is only destiny. He says on 3/31 he will retake his gold be it is su destino. Great promo.
- Commercials.
Main Event: Chris Hero vs. Windham Rotunda
This is the first big challenge for Rotunda. Hero actually has a fairly strong record in WCW, winning a couple of bouts against Albright clean and going to a draw with Davey at Starrcade. Additionally he's been in more matches against jobbers than most and then there's the whole Iron Man of the Bunkhouse Stampede-thing. They play out a more old-school style of match versus the quick-chain-wrestling stuff we're used to. Similar to WWE in that regard, I guess. They trade some holds and them some running moves to get the polite applause. Windham starts to overpower Hero with some arm-drags and then a few slams and the crowd goes nuts for it. Windham charges Hero in the corner who gets a boot up and quickly adds in a roaring elbow for good measure. Hero dominates from there with various strikes of his. The big turnaround comes with Hero flying off the turnbuckle with flying forearm smash only to get caught in a powerslam. Rotunda battles back after the 10-count spot with some punches and chops and clotheslines Hero to the outside. Hero reverses a whip into the guardrail and sends Rotunda into it. Hero charges with a boot but Windham counters and drives Hero into the corner-section of the guardrail. Windham then drills Hero with a cannonball in the corner~! Back inside and Windham gets a near-fall. He signals for the Death Valley Driver, but Hero elbows out of it and hits a vicious big boot followed by a Flashkick for a near-fall. Hero goes for another roaring elbow but Windham catches him with an inside cradle for two. Hero hits another big boot and goes for the roaring elbow but Windham catches him and lifts him up for the Death Valley Driver. Chris Masterson comes out though and distracts Windham long enough so that Hero can fight out and finally DRILL Windham with the Deathblow. Windham drops like a bag of bricks and Hero makes the pin. Started slow and escalated into one hell of a hot finish.
Result: Chris Hero wins via pin w/ The Deathblow
Time: 15:09
- Chris Hero celebrates and leaves, which allows Masterson to enter the ring and lock Windham in the Torture Lock. He finally drops the unconscious Rotunda to the mat as the show ends.
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