Fall Brawl 1999

- September 12th 1999, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Attendance: 7,491
Buyrate: 0.29 (Found online)

- In a break from tradition there's no War Games tonight. (After 98's maybe that's a good thing)

Opening video is about Hogan/Sting/Luger, there's a 'you can trust me not him' thing going on.

ICP/Vampiro Vs. Filthy Animals (Eddie/Rey/Kidman)
 Rey looks like a mini Eminem tonight. Shaggy 2 Dope falls forward when Kidman picks him up like a wheelbarrow then finally gets it right so Rey can hit a guillotine leg drop. Violent J overpowers Rey but Rey soon busts out the bronco buster. Violent J uses ref as a shield then DDTs Kidman who is being isolated, I can hear Scott Keith blowing a gasket as Kidman is actually powerbombed. Heenan says Rey has a history of knee problems, and this was 1999! Crowd are pumped for Eddie who pummels Vampiro with elbows. Shaggy 2 Dope, should replace 2 with is a, guillotine leg drops Eddie's forehead. Vampiro and S2D hit a double team on Eddy that is either botched or ridiculous but going by who's in I'll place £100 on botched, Eddie missile dropkicks Vampiro and Kidman hits a Shooting Star Press for the 3 count. In a sorry bit of foreshadowing Rey Mysterio injured his knee in the match. **1/2 - I do like tag matches and the crowd weren't silent which is a plus for me. Can't got higher than **1/2 due to some sloppiness, WCW did give them time to work a proper match though why time was given to a match w/ Vampiro/ICP is beyond me. 

Cruiserweight Title - Lenny (w/ Lodi) (c) Vs. Kaz Hayashi
 Waist Lock which plays up to Lenny's effeminate character. Lodi holds a sign saying 'Shameless Plug' so I dig it. Lenny is sent ringside then a twisting plancha takes out both Lenny and Lodi. Back in Kaz avoids multiple elbow drops until Lenny goes all Hollywood with some rakes. Lenny gets 2 off a gutwrench powerbomb and soon Lodi is attacking at ringside. They trade 2 counts. Kaz hits a Liger Bomb but Lodi puts Lenny's foot on the ropes to break the pin. Lenny wins with what is now known as the Skull Crushing Finale. *** - Surprisingly decent match, they didn't do much to link the moves but I'm feeling generous, had a good amount of nearfalls. 

Gene chats to Sting who says he and Luger have problems and he better not interfere tonight and he has no problem with Hogan.

No DQ - The Revolution (Malenko/Douglas) Vs. First Family (Morrus/Knobs) w/ Jimmy Hart
 It's up to Dean Malenko to save this match. Revolution double team Morrus. Douglas uses the ring steps as he is Extreeeeemmmee!!! Knobs throws an unknown object at Douglas, stick that in the mystery files along with the driver of the white hummer.They do tags even though in a No DQ match I don't know why they bother. Knobs takes advantage after Jimmy causes a distraction as Revolution have been on top 90/10 in this match. Dean comes in but is soon tripped and Morrus hits a moonsault for the 3 count. *1/2 - No DQ match which didn't make use of the stip. I have issues with Revolution losing and even more of one with Dean being the jobber. 

TV Title - Rick Steiner (c) Vs. Perry Saturn
 Rick's theme is a Welcome To The Jungle rip off, Perry is in the Revolution. Tony reveals Buff Bagwell isn't here yet for his match later in the night. Perry hits a nice slingshot 180' leg drop, a release german gets him 2. Rick takes control after a low blow but it isn't exactly stellar stuff, he removes a mat at ringside and DDTs Saturn, that should be a KO spot, I assume Cena ordered this PPV and thought hmmmm I'll remember that if I'm ever at SummerSlam, the announcers should make a deal out of a man being DDTd on concrete but the wrestlers, announcers nor fans care. The match is nearing extended squash territory, Rick applies the laziest submission I have ever seen if he was anymore lethargic applying the boston crab he'd be napping. Saturn fires back with a DVD (Death Valley Driver he didn't hit him with a DVD Player) for a 2 count, announcers are surprised Rick kicked out but even though it's Perrys finisher Rick has barely taken any damage in this match, same logic for Lesnar sitting up at SummerSlam 2014. Bulldog off the top gets Rick the 3 count as Revolution go 0-2 on the night. *1/2 - Boring match which Rick dominated and who wants to watch any Rick Steiner 1-on-1 match? Benoit if you have a match i'd leave the arena son.

Berlyn (w/ The Wall) Vs. Jim Duggan (Replacing Bagwell)
 Bagwell's plane is late or something though who'd get a flight on the day of the show? Jim Duggan replaces Bagwell and the match is the Brian Kobs (pits). Hacksaw basically no sells Berlyn and dominates him and one point Duggan even shoots or they just do a terrible 'wrestling' sequence intentionally. In the audience is a Jushin Liger mask but I don't know if it's a fan or Jushin trying to get back on a US PPV. Wall clotheslines Duggan on the exposed concrete and the ref decides that is A-Ok. Berlyn wins via an ugly neckbreaker. Bagwell appears post match but Hacksaw ain't happy, Buff just didn't want to do the job would be my best guess. 1/2 - Truly awful - 2 chinlocks, 1 awful wrestling sequence, umpteen no sells and 6 USA chants = 1/2 a *. I assume Duggan took some tips from Paul Roma before the match. (Roma was asked to put Alex Wright over but took it upon himself to dominate the match and be a right Richard I can't remember what event it was though also Berlyn just so happens to be .... Alex Wright)

WCW Tag Titles - Harlem Heat Vs. West Texas Rednecks (w/ Curt Henning) (c)
 Three things - West Texas are Barry and Kendall Windham and they no longer have 'Rap Is Crap' theme amd Harlem aren't in matching attire!  Match has basic offense and as much as I appreciate tag psychology it just isn't very interesting here as Stevie is being isolated. Booker in and a sideslam gets 2 on Kendall. Numbers game comes into play as Henning attacks Booker. Axe Kick to Kendall's back. The ref stops Stevie Ray at ringside who's going to help his brother but if he'd just turn around he'd see Henning beating on Booker, is Nick Patrick back in charge? Barry hits a superplex but Stevie breaks the pin. Ref didn't see Stevie tag in allowing Windhams to double team Booker. There's been so many chinlocks applied that I assume all the 'talent' got together pre-show and decided to go for the record. Booker ends it with a missile dropkick on Kendall as Harlem Heat claim their 9th Tag Team Championships. *1/2 - Another boring match, Harlem only recently dropped the belts so why that happened in the first place is beyond me bar adding another title reign to their resume, like HHH-Vince-Unforgiven 1999, this PPV has really gone down since the Cruiserweight Title.

US Title - Sid Vicious Vs. Chris Benoit (c)
 Sid is unbeaten and Benoit is in Revolution, so the question is not will Benoit win it's can he carry Sid tonight actually I hope Benoit has left the are.... no here he is. Benoit goes for the leg after a slow start and Sid does hold it which is more than I was expecting to be fair. 'Holy Christmas' - Tony Schiavone after Benoit dropkicks the steps into Sid's legs. Back in Sid effortlessly catches Benoit, *sigh*. Sid counters a crucifix with a samoan drop or an arkansas drop if you prefer. Cobra Clutch slam gets Sid a 2 count. Crossface is applied but Sid takes the michael and stands up. Benoit misses a diving headbutt and a Powerbomb gets the 3 count as Sid is the new US Champion. *1/2 - Benoit tried what with the psychology and all but Sid wasn't up for much selling, may of been better for Benoit fans if they'd gone with the band-aid/plaster method.

Goldberg Vs. DDP
 We need Goldberg and Page to reach their Halloween Havoc 1998 match level here to help get this PPV back on track. Ref checks Page and finds a chain and some quarters. Page is sent ringside a couple of times then Page is retrieved by Goldberg from the crowd. Page uses what look like brass knuckles after a shot to the ref. 'Goldberg' chant. Page hits another brass knuckles shot then what I assume is his version of the Peoples Elbow, chinlock applied. He's Berging Up, even uses the Big Boot as I imagine security are holding Hogan back backstage. I'm still awaiting Triad interference and will say Kanyon gets in the ring before Bam Bam. Page does his version of Rocks floatover, Goldberg counters a Spear hitting a double underhook suplex for 2. Hey I was right Kanyon did reach the ring first, whoop-whoop! Kanyon hits Goldberg with a trash can lid allowing Page to get 2 off a .... Rock Bottom, this is truly getting ridiculous and i'd of found it hilarious if Rock used a Diamond Cutter at Unforgiven but alas he didn't. Page distracts the ref as Triad interfere but in true WCW fashion he is facing into the ring. Spear and Jackhammer finish Page as Goldberg wins. ** - The run of *1/2 ends *pops party poppers* Boosted as crowd weren't dead. Their match at Halloween Havoc 1998 though got **** from me, the PPV is reviewed elsewhere on this site.

WCW Title - Hogan (c) Vs. Sting 
 The angle was a conspiracy angle, there was a hummer aspect but I don't think it was resolved. Sting is introduced by Michael Buffer as an all round great guy, Bret Hart comes out as Buffer says it is only to pass on his personal offer and for the best man to win, I bet Bret got a bigger PPV cheque than most. There's a slight 'Hogan' chant, slight as in about 3 people. Nothing happens until the renowned technical greats trade hammerlocks and go to the mat. Hogan looks like a mock version of his 80s self. Sting no sells a suplex. Face Paint update - Sting's forehead is exposed. Hogan chokes Sting with a cable ringside. In ring now as Sting hits two Stinger Splashes but misses a third. DDP's here for some reason and hits a poor Diamond Cutter on Hogan but it only gets 2 so Diamond Cutter to the referee. Buffer started saying'and the winner is ....' Hart, Lex Luger and Sid Vicious do run-ins. Sting hits Hogan with a bat that Luger brought in and applies Scorpion Deathlock for the win via stoppage as Sting turns heel and wins his 9th World Title. * - Pretty awful, their Starrcade match is Flair/Steamboat in comparison. 

15 / 45 - Ouch that is bad, i'll get to my issues with booking soon but firstly the opening two matches claimed 5.5 of the 15 stars this PPV ended with so when two matches make a third of your score on a 9 match show there's problems with the event. The rest of the card (matches 3-9) ranged from poor - awful, the last PPV pre- Russo but instead of new beginnings it got worse but that's another story for another time.

 The Revolution going 0-3 really irritated me and I don't like two of them, I get building Sid but either have him bypass the US Title or get a caretaker champion as Benoit deserved better than that, Malenko/Douglas had absolutely no reason to do the job for the First Family of all people and Saturn didn't put up much of a fight against Rick.

 The difference between this and WWF is obvious as FIVE of the people involved in the main event had been headliners for years and weren't giving anything new, if anything they were stinking up the joint (Bret/Hogan/Sting/Lex/Sid) Page to be fair had only really blown up in 1997 but even he was about 60 at this point, I use authors right to exaggerate, where as WWF's Unforgiven had 5 people in the main event who were either relatively new to the main event scene (Rock/HHH/Big Show/Kane) or were still relevant and over (Mankind) and the red hot Stone Cold got involved. 

 Thumbs down for Fall Brawl 1999.