The Lou Thesz Memorial Tournament

- The show opens with a video detailing the history of WCW and the NWA. Lots of great clips are shown from the 80s and 90s, before ending on a somber note with clips from the final Nitro in 2001. The video then explodes with clips derived from the indy scene, Mexico, and Japan over the last decade highlighting wrestlers such as Kurt Angle, Alberto Dos Caras, The Necro Butcher, and CM Punk. It comes to end with stark white text on a black background that reads: "Pro wrestling for the 21st century."

- Cut immediately to ringside and a cameraman runs around the ring catching the vocal crowd. It finally ends on the commentary team of Lenny Leonard and Austin Aries. Lenny Leonard welcomes the fans, calling this one of the biggest events he's ever been to. He says there are some 800 fans in attendance and that Center Stage has been sold out for weeks in anticipation of this event. A graphic pops up with the tournament brackets, which end up as:

CM Punk vs. The Necro Butcher

Steve Corino vs. Alberto Dos Caras

Kurt Angle vs. Adam Pearce

Chris Hero vs. Brent Albright

Lenny then gives his prediction to win: Chris Hero. Austin Aries is pulling for CM Punk. Lenny Leonard thanks the fans again and the camera cuts to the middle of the ring with Bobby Cruise who starts the introductions for the opening match.

Match 1: Brent Albright vs. Chris Hero

Leonard immediately markets the match as the epitome of wrestler vs. striker. Indeed the match plays out with Albright trying to out-wrestle Chris Hero, whereas Hero tries to knock Albright out. Aries plays up just how hard Chris Hero can hit. Albright dominates at first with several take downs, showing off his wrestling prowess. They get into a series of chain=wrestling moves and Hero catches Albright out of nowhere with a stiff elbow shot. Hero takes control of the match, utilizing his strike-based offense and multiple elbows, kicks, etc. In timely fashion, Albright counters a rolling elbow with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Albright mounts the comeback and goes for the Crowbar (Fujiwara armbar) several times, with Hero managing to sneak out each time. Albright counters a big boot with an overhead suplex in an impressive spot. The fans really get behind Albright who goes for the Crowbar again, but Hero fights out of it and DRILLS Albright with a rolling elbow which spins Albright around, leaving him prone for ANOTHER roaring elbow - this time to the back of the head (Austin Aries: "Hero calls that the Deathblow!"). That's enough for Hero to get the pin fall.

Result: Chris Hero wins by pin via the Deathblow
Time: 12:11

- On the stage behind the ring stands Lenny Leonard. Lenny brings out The Necro Buthcer. Necro is wearing a black t-shirt that reads, "Drink. Smoke. Fight." Necro promises to pile the bodies to the sky and gets in the ring. CM Punk comes out next and complains about how it's beneath him to wrestle a "heathen" like Necro. CM Punk threatens to call the police about the hobo in a public area, but then decides to take care of the hobo-problem himself.

Match 2: Necro Butcher vs. CM Punk

No wrestling here. These two just brawl. Punch - kick - punch - kick - repeat. They do it in the ring first, but it - of course - devolves outside. Pretty shortly they end up counted out. The referee's decision doesn't stop the violence, however. Camera's follow Punk and Necro as they brawl into the crowd and then into lobby area. Punk and Necro take turns tossing each other into the wall, but a timely low-blow allows Punk to assume command. Punk tosses Butcher over the bar, sending the lady bartender fleeing. Punk then starts busting bottles over Butcher's head, busting the Butcher open. They brawl downs the starts and out to the sidewalk outside! Before they can get into traffic, security officers, referees, and other wrestlers separate them.

Result: Double count-out
Time: 2:32 (segment lasted closer to ten minutes)

- We cut back to ringside where Lenny Leonard profusely apologizes for the previous match. Austin calls him a wimp, for it. He says Punk gave Butcher exactly what that hobo deserved. Lenny tosses back to Bobby Cruise for introductions for the next match.

Match 3: Kurt Angle vs. Adam Pearce

Angle's pop is EXPLOSIVE. Pearce gets a pretty sizable reaction as well. Lenny calls Pearce a former NWA World Champion. Pearce does his standard, southern heel-schtick. Angle dominates at first, but Pearce uses all the dirty tricks he knows to keep Angle at bay. Eye-rakes and gouges aplenty, here. Angle battles back with the rolling German suplexes. Superplex by Angle only gets two. Pearce resumes control with some dastardly tactics. Leonard mentions that they might be coming close to the 15-minute time-limit. Sure enough, shortly thereafter Bobby Cruise announces there is only a minute left. Angle hits a surprise Angle Slam out of nowhere but it only gets two. A second one, however, draws the three count for the Angle win with only 8 seconds remaining.

Result: Kurt Angle wins via pin with the Angle Slam
Time: 14:52

- Leonard catches Angle before he departs and asks Angle for his thoughts. Angle says that Pearce is indicative of the level of talent he has to face in WCW. He comments on how Pearce is a former NWA World Champion and is no slouch and then compliments Pearce on a hard-fought battle (off-screen, Pearce gives Angle the middle finger). Angle says that the time of fighting guys pretending to be movie villains and men with DayGlo tans is over. Angle leaves and Bobby Cruise does intros for the next match.

Match 4: Alberto Dos Caras vs. Steve Corino

Before the match starts, Alberto Dos Caras takes the mic in the ring and cuts a promo on Corino. Dos Caras insults Corino for never being better than the skinny guy who bled a bunch at the end of ECW. Dos Caras tells Corino that he messed up and this was a revival of WCW, not ECW. Corino shrugs and slaps the 'Mexican Aristocrat.' Match kicks off and they go back and forth with chain-wrestling to start. Lenny Leonard catches the fans up on Corino's history in the business over the last decade. Aries shrugs it off saying that what Corino did yesterday doesn't matter. Dos Caras spends the match working over Corino's left arm. Corino fights back with several vicious lariats but it's not enough to get the pin. Dos Caras catches the arm with a DDT which sets up his Destiny Lock (cross arm-breaker) for the submission win.

Result: Alberto Dos Caras via submission w/ the Destiny Lock
Time: 11:21

- Lenny Leonard brings to the stage one of the more famous tag teams on the indy scene, The Briscoes. Mark and Jay yell incoherently for a minute or so before finishing with a "MAN UP!" When they leave, a young man runs onto the stage and tells Leonard something in his ear. Leonard then dramatically announces something has happened in the locker room.

- In the locker room we see Paul London and El Generico laid out. Leonard rushes into the shot asking some surrounding wrestlers if they knew what happened. One of them points rolls London onto his belly to reveal a spray-painted, red cross on his back.

- A video segment plays hyping the debut of WCW on the Internet.

- Back to ringside where Lenny announces that the scheduled DOOMSDAY vs. Fastball Special match will not be taking place at this time. He says officials are working hard to come up with a replacement later on. A graphic pops up with updated tournament brackets. Aries points out that Dos Caras gets an automatic shot at the finals since Butcher and Punk were counted out. Another young man comes out and says that replacements have been found for Fastball Special. The camera cuts to Cruise in the ring for the intros.

Match 5: Caleb Konley/Sal Rinauro vs. DOOMSDAY

DOOMSDAY, the team of Takeshi Morishima and Bison Smith, come out with face-paint and Road Warriors-inspired attire. Needless to say, they absolutely murder Konley and Rinauro in short fashion. Konley falls victim to an Iron Claw Chokeslam via Smith, while Rinauro gets drilled with a sick Backdrop Driver. They then nail Konley with a combination Backdrop Suplex (by Morishima)/lariat (by Smith). They hit Rinauro with the same move to get the pin.

Result: DOOMSDAY win via pin with the Backdrop Suplex/Lariat combo.
Time: 3:12

- At ringside Lenny Leonard wants to know what happened to Fastball Special. Aries pontificates that it has something to do with the mysterious voicemails that WCW officials had been receiving during the week. Leonard announces a brief intermission.

- INTERMISSION

- Lenny Leonard welcomes the fans back and they show the updated tournament brackets again. Leonard takes the opportunity to hype the upcoming television taping on 9/3. Leonard tosses it over to Cruise, who is in the ring and ready for intros.

Match 6: Kurt Angle vs. Chris Hero

Leonard says the world of wrestling would consider this quite the dream match. Indeed it is as the two put on a clinic. It starts off with tons of chain-wrestling as Hero and Angle go back and forth, trading holds and advantages. Hero switches up his strategy and goes at Angle with a series of strikes. They end up outside of the ring and brawling around ringside. Angle reverses a whip into the guardrail by sending Hero into and over the very same guardrail. Back in the ring and Angle starts to pick apart Hero's ankle. Angle gets a roll-up but Hero counters with a roll-up of his own by pulling the tights. From there Hero takes over, blasting Angle with various strikes (elbows, kicks, etc.). Hero gets several near-falls, but no dice. Angle ducks a running boot and suplexes Hero into the turnbuckles. A moonsault by Angle misses to give Hero another near-fall. Leonard casually mentions the time-limit for this round of matches has been extended to thirty minutes (they're about 18 in). More back and forth action from the two as the action in the ring refuses to let up. Angle hits Hero with an Angle Slam, but doesn't go the pin. Instead Angle drops the straps and goes for the Ankle Lock. Hero counters by kicking Angle off into the turnbuckles. Angle charges with a clothesline, Hero ducks and then goes for the Rolling Elbow. Angle ducks and counters with ANOTHER Angle Slam. Hero gets a foot on the rope to break the pin. Fans start up a "Match of the Year"-chant. Cruise announces five minutes remaining. They trade punches and Hero nails Angle with the rolling elbow, but it only gets two. Hero goes for the Deathblow, but Angle ducks it and nails a THIRD Angle slam for only two. Leonard calls Hero's burst of adrenaline "fighting spirit." Hero roars forward with a Roaring Boot but Angle catches it and locks in the Ankle Lock. Hero tries to roll him up but Angle drops down with a cradle of his own to win.

Result: Kurt Angle wins via pinfall w/ a cradling pin
Time: 28:01

- Kurt Angle, exhausted, offers a handshake to Hero. Hero just spits on him and leaves. Alberto Dos Caras storms the ring from nowhere and attacks Angle, kicking off the main event!

Main Event: Kurt Angle vs. Alberto Dos Caras - WCW Championship Match

Dos Caras wastes no time attacking Angle's arm. Leonard calls Dos Caras a coward but Aries says Dos Caras is brilliant. Leonard comments that there is no time-limit in this match. Dos Caras spends the match picking apart Angle's arm in such a fashion that Bret Hart would be jealous. Angle has momentary comebacks, but Dos Caras always manages to stem them with attacks to the arm. Angle gets a near-fall with the Angle Slam at one point. Dos Caras attempts the Destiny Lock but Angle counters with a cradle similar to what he used on Hero, but it only gets two. Angle fights back and attempts a Sharpshooter, but Dos Caras kicks him off and Angle goes shoulder-first into the ring-post. Like a shark smelling blood, Dos Caras ups the ante on his attack by wrapping Angle's arm around the ring-post several times. Dos Caras drags Angle and does several spots to hurt the arm (slamming the arm on the guardrail, ring apron, etc.). Back in the ring and Dos Caras catches Angle with the Destiny Lock but Angle makes it to the ropes. Angle fights back and hits another Angle Slam but Dos Caras gets a foot on the ropes. Angle goes up for a moonsault but Dos Caras catches him with an enzuiguri. Dos Caras tries a superplex, but Angle slips under him and then hits a run-up-the-turnbuckle German suplex on Dos Caras, but it only gets two. They're about 20 minutes in. Angle goes for the Ankle Lock, but he can't get it tight enough because of the hurt arm. Dos Caras catches Angle with the Destiny Lock again, but Angle rolls him up for two. They battle back and forth with Angle getting the upper-hand, finally. Angle goes for a third Angle Slam, but as he lifts Dos Caras up, Dos Caras twists and flips Angle into the Destiny Lock right in the middle of the ring. Angle tries to reach the ropes but he's too far away. Angle tries to roll Dos Caras up, but Dos Caras rolls over and keeps the hold applied. Inevitably, Angle passes out and Dos Caras win.

Result: Alberto Dos Caras wins via submission w/ the Destiny Lock
Time: 25:24

- Medics take Kurt Angle out of the ring. Alberto spits on Angle as he's taken out. Dory Funk, Jr. comes out and presents Alberto with the WCW Championship. Alberto cuts a promo in Spanish to piss the fans off. Trash fills up the ring. Leonard doesn't like that Dos Caras won, but admits he did it fairly. The show ends with Dos Caras on a turnbuckle, raising the WCW Championship in the air.