This Day In Wrestling History - April 16

Date: April 16, 2000 (14 years ago)

Feature: In an attempt to make WCW PPVs like an episode of Nitro, WCW presented a 14-match Spring Stampede PPV with no matches longer than ten minutes until the main event. Included was Sting wrestling three times in a U.S. Title tournament, Ric Flair & Lex Luger wrestling twice in a Tag Title tournament, a radio host in a match, and a main event of Jeff Jarrett vs. DDP for the WCW World Title that ended when Kimberly turned on Page and joined Eric Bischoff. The booker at the time was Vince Russo.

Torch Back-Issue: PWTorch Newsletter #599.

Not a VIP member? Find out how to access over 1,000 PWTorch Newsletter back-issues, including the entire Monday Night War, right now by CLICKING HERE - PWTorch.com/GoVIP.

WCW SPRING STAMPEDE RESULTS
April 16, 2000
Chicago, Ill.
Report by Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

The show opened with highlights of last week's Nitro including Russo calling Ric Flair a piece of sh-- with the swearing uncensored... In live footage, Kidman, Torrie, and Vince Russo told Eric Bischoff that Hulk Hogan was out of the hospital. Bischoff looked worried, but Kidman said not to worry because they'd get the white hummer and finish him off... Tony Schiavone, Scott Hudson, and Mark Madden introduced the show from ringside. Schiavone said Russo and Bischoff have instructed the referees to not be quick triggered to DQ wrestlers.

(1) Ric Flair & Lex Luger (w/Elizabeth) beat The Mamalukes (w/Disco Inferno) and The Harris Twins at 6:16. Two men, apparently security members, dragged Disco to the back during the match. At 6:00 Luger put Big Vito in The Torture Rack for the win. Good action.

Okerlund interviewed Mike Awesome who has already dropped his Paul E. imitation interview style and went into a decent rant. Bam Bam Bigelow interrupted and asked, "Where'd you get this jobroni?" Awesome attacked Bigelow as soon as Bigelow turned his back...

(2) Mancow pinned Jimmy Hart at 2:46. Mancow came out with a bunch of friends who wanted to be on TV, and several women. They were billed as part of his entourage. Ugly looking segment and not very entertaining.

Russo chewed out the Harris Twins and Mamalukes for being losers.

(3) Scott Steiner beat Wall by DQ at 3:37. The match didn't have time to develop into much. Just a couple of Steiner suplexes and some punches. (3/4*)

Okerlund interviewed Cat. Bam Bam Bigelow attacked Cat so he could wrestle Awesome instead.

(4) Mike Awesome pinned The Cat at 3:20. (*1/2)

Backstage Russo and Kidman told Bischoff to calm down. Bischoff was a bundle of nerves... Okerlund interviewed Shane Douglas & Buff Bagwell. Douglas said "Space Mountain" was closed down and the New Blood's time is now.

(5) Shane Douglas & Buff Bagwell beat Harlem Heat (w/J. Biggs) at 2:47. Big T and Stevie argued after the match. (3/4*)

Okerlund interviewed Booker who said he has never seen eye-to-eye with Bischoff and all he shares in common with some of the other New Bloods is "opportunity." Madden said he wondered why Booker isn't buying into the New Blood concept because they want to hand him everything on a silver platter and he should appreciate it.

(6) Sting pinned Booker at 6:35. Good match, but too short to tell much of a story. The clean finish was good. (**3/4)

(7) Vampiro pinned Kidman at 8:24. Hogan threw Kidman into the ring and Vampiro got the easy pin. Okay action. Hogan said he was going to get Bischoff next. (**)

Russo left Bischoff in the back alone to get some help. Bischoff was worried about being left alone. Hogan stormed around backstage and said he was going to drag Bischoff around Chicago until he smelled as bad as (Dennis) Rodman. Hogan found Bischoff in the locker room, but just as he backed him into the corner by the mirror (I was waiting for the image of Ultimate Warrior to show up on the mirror), Russo arrived with a bunch of police officers. The officers pulled guns on Hogan. Russo said, "Don't cuff him, shoot him." Bischoff said, "Bite me."

Terry Taylor told Terry Funk to go find Norman Smiley so they could have their hardcore match. Funk walked into the bathroom and yelled for Norman. Norman, who must have never won a game of hide and seek as a child, began screaming in fright from a bathroom stall, revealing his location. The Hardcore Title match began.

(8) Terry Funk pinned Norman Smiley at 8:40. At 7:00 Dustin Rhodes came out to attack Funk, but Funk fended off Dustin with a ladder and then dropped the ladder onto Norman at ringside and scored the pin on the floor. Entertaining brawl. (***)

Russo told Booker backstage he'd forgive him for shaking Sting's hand if he did a favor for him...

(9) Scott Steiner beat Mike Awesome via submission at 3:13. Good, but again too short to develop any gripping drama. (*3/4)

Russo chewed out Dustin Rhodes backstage for costing the New Blood the chance to win all the belts in the Hardcore match. Dustin told Russo to get out of his face.

(10) Sting beat Vampiro at 5:54 with the Scorpion Deathlock. Good action with the exception of a couple instances of miscommunication leading to missed moves. In the end, Vamp came off the top rope and it appeared Sting was supposed to catch him and turn it into the deathlock, but Sting didn't catch him. Sting quickly followed with a deathlock for the win. (**3/4)

(11) Chris Candido (w/Tammy) pinned The Artist to win the Cruiserweight Title at 5:10. A bunch of wrestlers leaped onto others at ringside. In the end, Tammy shoved Artist off the top rope onto a chair leading to the pin. Afterward Paisley and Tammy had a brief scuffle. Another semi-entertaining mess. (**)

Okerlund interviewed Jeff Jarrett who threatened to slap the liver spots off of Okerlund.

(12) Buff Bagwell & Shane Douglas defeated Ric Flair & Lex Luger (w/Elizabeth) when Bagwell pinned Luger at 8:36 to capture the WCW Tag Team Titles. Russo joined in on commentary. As Shane punched Flair in the corner, he yelled, "F--- you, Flair!" loud and clear on PPV. The announcers were speechless for a minute. Buff mistakenly gave Shane the Buff Blockbuster. Russo yanked the ref out of the ring before he could count to three. Brian Adams and Bryan Clark (they wore the same mesh shirts as the Hardys) attacked Luger leading to Russo counting Buff getting the pin. Russo was about to beat Flair with a baseball bat, but the camera cut away. (**1/2)

(13) Scott Steiner beat Sting via submission at 5:38 to capture the U.S. Hvt. Title. At 3:30 Scott was going to suplex Sting off the ropes, but Sting headbutted his way out of it. Sting flattened Scott with two clotheslines. When Sting went for the Stinger Splash, Scott pulled the ref into the path. Vampiro popped up through the mat underneath the ring and grabbed Sting's legs and yanked him underneath the ring. A minute later Vamp shoved Sting up through the mat. Sting was bleeding from the mouth. Scott put on the Steiner Recliner and the ref called for the bell. Solid action. (**3/4)

(14) Jeff Jarrett pinned Dallas Page (w/Kimberly) to capture the WCW Hvt. Title at 14:58. At 1:20 they brawled into the crowd. By 3:00 they were back in the ring. At 7:00 Bischoff began to walk out onto the stage. The announcers wondered if Bischoff wasn't pleased with what he was seeing from Jarrett. When Jarrett was going to yank Page crotch-first into the ringpost, Kimberly came up behind Jarrett and stopped him. Jarrett fended her off, then went back and grabbed Page's legs. Page yanked his legs in and caused Jarrett's face to ram the ringpost. Page made a full-fledged comeback at 9:30. At 10:20 Jarrett nailed Page with the WCW Title belt. Page kicked out of a pin attempt. Page would kick out. Jarrett applied the figure-four. Bischoff made his way all the way to ringside. Page escaped the figure-four. When Jarrett attempted to reapply it, Page small packaged him for a near fall. Page followed with a schoolboy for a two count. At 13:30 Jarrett put Page in a sleeper. Page reversed the sleeper and dropped Jarrett to the mat with Diamond Cutter. Bischoff distracted the ref as Page gave Jarrett the Diamond Cutter. Kimberly entered the ring with the guitar. Kimberly nailed Page with the guitar. Jarrett covered Page for the win. Bischoff and Kimberly hugged in the ring. The other New Blood members came to the ring to celebrate. Bagwell and Douglas held Jarrett on their shoulders. Best match of the night, but nothing close to a match of the year candidate. (***1/4)

We suggest these recent related articles...

WRESTLING PODCAST LOG: Patrick from Tough Enough on Ross & Booker's shows, Austin talks hot topics, Jericho/Mr. Belding, Flair/Madden, Taz, Cabana, more

WRESTLING PODCAST LOG: Heyman talks to Chael Sonnen & Austin, Flair & Steamboat, Cornette to Jim Ross & Roddy Piper, Cabana, Jericho, Taz, more

WRESTLING PODCAST LOG: Jericho talks to Ventura, Cabana to Hawkins, Austin/Barnett, Ross/Danny Davis, Booker/Vickie, Piper/Valentine, Flair, Taz, more