THE MOSS COVERED THREE HANDLED FAMILY CREDENZA

ARTICLE #36
APRIL 29, 2001

WCW’s Forgotten Cruiserweight Classics

During the mid to late 1990s WCW produced many memorable cruiserweight classic matches. While most remember certain ones, other matches kinda got lost in the crowd. Indeed I had forgotten about some of these matches during the past couple years. None of these matches made my top 100 match list, but are all greater than their lack of notoriety might indicate. Consider this the second tier of cruiserweight classics in WCW.

Eddy Guerrero vs Shinjiro Otani (w/Sonny Onoo) Starrcade ‘95

Guerrero applied a headlock but Otani countered with an armbar. Otani used heelish tactics against Guerrero. Otani grabbed Guerrero’s leg but Guerrero scored with an enzuguiri. Guerrero took down Otani and rubbed his boot against Otani’s face. Otani fought back by taking Guerrero down by his leg. Otani went for a Boston crab but Guerrero countered and got the better of Otani on the mat before applying a facelock. Otani monkey flipped Guerrero but missed a clothesline. Guerrero kicked Otani and gave him a huracanrana. Guerrero dropkicked and slammed Otani, then hit his slingshot somersault senton. Guerrero applied a Boston crab and then a half crab on Otani. Guerrero powerbombed Otani for a near fall. He then gave Otani a brainbuster for a near fall. Guerrero gave Otani a running lariat in the corner. He whipped Otani into the corner but missed a corner splash when Otani did a Flair-like flip over the top rope to the apron. Otani then hit a great springboard dropkick that knocked Guerrero out of the ring. Otani followed with a springboard plancha on Guerrero in the aisle. Back in the ring Otani dropkicked Guerrero and choked him in the ropes. Otani repeatedly stomped Guerrero on the apron. Otani applied a sleeper on Guerrero. Guerrero escaped and back suplexed Otani for a near fall. Guerrero attempted a suplex but Otani countered with a quick German suplex for a near fall. Otani hit a springboard swan dive (spin kick) on Guerrero. He slammed Guerrero but Guerrero caught him on the top rope. Guerrero gave Otani a top rope huracanrana for a near fall. Guerrero gave Otani a splash mountain for a heated near fall. After back and forth German suplex counters Otani rolled through and applied a leglock. Otani charged at Guerrero but Guerrero moved and Otani crashed through the ropes and to the floor. Guerrero rammed Otani into the barricade and slammed him in the aisle. Guerrero then hit an inverted springboard plancha of his own. Guerrero tried to suplex Otani out of the ring but Otani countered and suplexed Guerrero into the ring. Otani then hit a great springboard missile dropkick. He attempted a dragon suplex but Guerrero elbowed him. Guerrero gave Otani a huracanrana but Otani rolled through for a near fall. Guerrero held his ground for a near fall but Otani then reversed the pin attempt again and pinned Guerrero at 13:43. Not the best match these two have had, but probably the most innovative WCW match up to that point. Guerrero was his usual great self but Otani stole the show here with his crisp, spectacular springboard spots. Otani also displayed solid heel charisma almost reminiscent of a Koji Kanemoto. An excellent match that was nothing sort of sensational at the time it took place. ****

Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho Fall Brawl ‘96

Benoit won an exchange of slaps at the start. Benoit whipped Jericho hard into the corner and fans popped for his early intensity. Benoit backdropped Jericho and back suplexed him for an early near fall. Benoit gave Jericho a spinebuster of sorts and continued to attack his back by applying a Boston crab. Benoit attempted a powerbomb but Jericho countered with a sunset flip. Benoit missed a clothesline and Jericho spin kicked him. Benoit fought back but Jericho gave him a dragon screw. Benoit missed a clothesline and Jericho gave him a cradle with a bridge for a near fall. Benoit kicked Jericho and tried to whip him into the corner but Jericho reversed the whip and then dropkicked him in the back of the head. Jericho knocked Benoit off the apron to the floor with a sharp top rope dropkick. Jericho then hit an Orihara moonsault from the middle rope inside the ring to the floor on Benoit. Jericho hit a top rope dropkick for a near fall and powerbombed him for another near fall. Jericho ducked a Benoit clothesline and tiger suplexed him for a near fall. Benoit and Jericho exchanged blows including several stiff chops from both men. Jericho gave Benoit a spinning mule kick. He tried to suplex Benoit out of the ring but Benoit landed on the apron and back suplexed Jericho over the top rope to the floor for a pop. Benoit rammed Jericho into the ringpost. Back in the ring Benoit scored with a kneelift and slingshot Jericho onto the top rope. Benoit hit Jericho hard with an elbow and gained a near fall. They had another exchange of chops but Benoit maintained the advantage. Benoit applied an abdominal stretch on Jericho and elbowed his ribs repeatedly. Jericho escaped and armdragged Benoit. Benoit quickly recovered and slammed Jericho. Benoit then hit his top rope headbutt and gained a near fall. Jericho tried to fight back but Benoit held his ground and threw Jericho out of the ring. Benoit rammed Jericho into the side of the ring. Jericho fought back as they returned to the ring and small packaged Benoit for a near fall. Benoit quickly fought back but telegraphed a backdrop and Jericho gave him a backslide for a near fall. Benoit kicked Jericho again, snapmared him and applied a surfboard. Benoit landed more stiff chops in the corner. Jericho whipped him into the opposite corner but ran into a boot. Benoit grabbed Jericho by the legs but Jericho flipped him around and cradled him for a near fall. Benoit attempted a German suplex but Jericho held onto the ropes. After a couple counters Jericho gave Benoit a northern lights suplex for a near fall. Jericho won another exchange of blows but Benoit fought back with a kick. Benoit attempted a tombstone but Jericho countered and gave Benoit a tombstone of his own. Jericho missed a lionsault but landed on his feet and hit a lariat for a near fall. Jericho gave Benoit a top rope huracanrana for a near fall. Jericho jumped to the top rope but Benoit pushed him and crotched him on the top rope. Benoit then gave Jericho a great back superplex and pinned him at 14:38. A real hidden jewel among all the great cruiserweight matches in WCW history. While the second half was great, the match actually lost a bit of momentum late as the first five minutes laid the groundwork for a classic with lots of great moves and stiff work. Benoit showcased his stiffness and razor-sharp execution while Jericho chipped in as many great spots as he could in 15 minutes. Not as dramatic or as hard-hitting as some of their WWF matches, but more spectacular in terms of highspots. Pretty much in the same league as their 12/13/95 J-Cup match. ****

WCW U.S. Title/Ladder Match: Syxx (c) vs Eddy Guerrero NOW Souled Out ‘97

Guerrero attacked Syxx before the bell but Syxx fought back with a spin kick. Syxx landed a kick and some elbows. Guerrero fought back with a European uppercut. He gave Syxx a tilt-a-whirl headscissors and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Guerrero then hit a plancha on Syxx near the aisle. Guerrero whipped Syxx into the corner but ran into a knee. He did catch Syxx on the top rope with a punch and attempted a top rope huracanrana, but Syxx pushed him off. Guerrero backflipped and landed on his feet but Syxx dove off the top rope with a spin kick. Syxx landed a chop and kick in the corner and gave Guerrero a bronco buster. Syxx went for a backdrop but Guerrero flipped over him and dropkicked him out of the ring. Guerrero tried to suplex Syxx back into the ring but Syxx countered and suplexed Guerrero out of the ring to the floor. Syxx then hit a somersault plancha on Guerrero. He then grabbed the ladder in the aisle and hit Guerrero with it backing him into the apron in the process. Syxx propped the ladder against the ropes on the apron but Guerrero grabbed the ladder and catapulted it so one edge of the ladder hit Syxx in the jaw. Guerrero repeatedly hit Syxx in the back with the ladder and propped the ladder against the corner. Guerrero landed a few chops and tried to whip Syxx across the ring but Syxx countered and whipped Guerrero into the ladder. Syxx stomped the ladder onto Guerrero. He threw Guerrero into the air and Guerrero landed knees first on the ladder. Syxx suplexed Guerrero and climbed the ladder to perhaps attempt a splash. Guerrero recovered and climbed the other side of the ladder. Syxx punched Guerrero and knocked him off the ladder to the canvas. Syxx went to splash Guerrero with the ladder but Guerrero dropkicked the ladder into Syxx, who was crotched on the top rope as a result. Guerrero gave Syxx a top rope superplex and climbed the ladder in an attempt to grab the belt. Syxx climbed the other side, won an exchange of blows and, in the spot of the match, dropkicked Guerrero off the ladder causing both men to take a great bump. Syxx and Guerrero slowly recovered and climbed opposite sides of the ladder again. Syxx won another exchange and knocked Guerrero off the ladder but in the process Guerrero bounced off the ropes, into the ladder and knocked Syxx off the ladder and crotch-first onto the top rope. Guerrero climbed the ladder but Syxx grabbed his leg. Guerrero kicked Syxx and gave him a European uppercut. They climbed the ladder again and both grabbed the belt at the same time. However, Guerrero hit Syxx with the belt, took the belt and won the title in 13:51. For those who have been part of the “X-Pac sucks” movement over the last couple years should take a look at this match. Sure he wasn’t perfect, but then-Syxx displayed the sharpness, spots and bump-taking ability that made him a star. Guerrero was his usual solid self, but perhaps didn’t exploit his full strengths because of the type of match. The ladder was used well, and not too excessively, so both men could hit most of their spots without having to worry about the main gimmick. Syxx’s dropkick of Guerrero off the ladder was the highlight for sharpness but his crotch first bump off the ladder to the top rope was also spectacular. Perhaps the one true positive of the legendarily-horrible event. ****

WCW Cruiserweight Title: Eddy Guerrero (c) vs Rey Misterio Jr. World War III ‘97

Guerrero attacked Misterio’s arm but Misterio countered with an armdrag. Guerrero applied a hammerlock but Misterio countered with a snapmare. They had a criss cross exchange ending when Misterio hit a crazy (like, two full turns around Guerrero’s body) tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Misterio applied a headlock but Guerrero countered with a headscissors. Guerrero also hooked Misterio’s arms. Guerrero gave Misterio a brutal released German suplex with Misterio landing right on his head and neck. Guerrero back suplexed Misterio and applied an abdominal stretch. Misterio fought back with a kick but botched an apparent headscissors attempt. Misterio grabbed Guerrero’s arms, jumped to the top rope and hit a flying headscissors that sent Guerrero out of the ring. Misterio faked a tope but Guerrero tripped him. Guerrero missed a slingshot somersault senton but bounced right up. He charged Misterio, Misterio went to backdrop him over the top rope, Guerrero tried to break his fall but landed crotch-first on the top rope. Misterio floated over Guerrero and attempted a sunset flip powerbomb on the floor but Guerrero held his ground. Guerrero then gave Misterio a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on the floor. Misterio caught Guerrero on the top rope and attempted a superplex but Guerrero blocked it. After some struggling, Guerrero turned and gave Misterio a top rope superplex. Guerrero missed a somersault senton and Misterio gave him a huracanrana for a near fall. Guerrero recovered and gave a charging Misterio a hard flapjack slam to the mat. Guerrero attempted a powerbomb but Misterio countered with an armdrag. Misterio then hit a tilt-a-whirl headscissors for a near fall. Guerrero fought back with a dropkick. Guerrero chopped Misterio and gave him a European uppercut. He slingshot Misterio onto the top rope. Guerrero attempted to give Misterio a sunset flip powerbomb to the floor but Misterio countered with a huracanrana in a great spot. Misterio then hit a somersault plancha on Guerrero and gained a near fall with a slingshot moonsault. Guerrero whipped Misterio into the corner and attempted a corner splash but Misterio moved and Guerrero took a spectacular bump onto the top turnbuckle. Misterio attempted a huracanrana but Guerrero countered with a powerbomb. Guerrero applied a Gori special on Misterio and maneuvered him into a pin position for a near fall. Misterio escaped and sunset flipped Guerrero for a near fall of his own. Misterio spin kicked Guerrero and slammed him. Guerrero caught Misterio on the top rope and attempted a powerbomb but Misterio countered but botched what looked like another headscissors of sorts. Guerrero whipped Misterio into the corner but Misterio sprung to the top rope and hit a moonsault bodyblock for a near fall. Misterio hit a springboard legdrop and then hit a dragonrana (top rope somersault, reversed direction into a huracanrana) before such a term was even used for a dramatic near fall. Misterio then attempted to jump to the top rope and hit a huracanrana but Guerrero caught him and gave him a stun gun. Guerrero then hit a frog splash and pinned Misterio at 12:42 to retain the title. Aside from the couple botched spots, which did hurt the match overall, this was a classic match that tends to be overlooked by most. Lots of spectacular spots, and despite the botched spots the execution was very good given the complexity of the spots. Misterio’s dragonrana wasn’t the sharpest, but he did hit it well enough to work and the move was a couple years ahead of its time. What prevented this match from being as great as their Halloween Havoc match was this match had less cohesive pacing. That said, as a collection of spots this was super. A couple people I know actually preferred this match to their more famous match a month earlier. While I don’t agree with that stance, I give them credit for realizing just how great this match was. ****1/4

Billy Kidman (w/the Flock) vs Juventud Guerrera Bash at the Beach ‘98

They had an exchange of elbows and Kidman applied a headlock. They had a criss cross exchange. Guerrera landed a couple chops, flipped off of Kidman’s back and gave him a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Guerrera clotheslined Kidman over the top rope to the floor. On the other side of the ring Lodi dragged Guerrera to the floor and attacked him. Lodi held Guerrera and Kidman hit a tope but Guerrera moved and Kidman landed on Lodi. Guerrera then took out both Kidman and Lodi with a springboard plancha. Back in the ring Guerrera attempted a German suplex but Kidman countered. Kidman picked up Guerrera and gave him a wheelbarrow suplex for a near fall. Kidman threw Guerrera over the top rope to the floor. Kidman then started with a powerbomb and ended up slamming Guerrera jaw first onto the barricade behind him. Kidman jumped off the apron but crashed into the barricade when Guerrera moved. Guerrera backdropped Kidman on the floor and gave him a sunset flip powerbomb off the apron to the floor. Guerrera elbowsmashed Kidman on the floor. Guerrera went for a top rope huracanrana but Kidman gave him a low blow and what amounted to a top rope sitout powerbomb for a near fall. Kidman applied a chinlock on Guerrera. Guerrera landed a chop but Kidman whipped him into the corner. Kidman charged but ran into a boot. Both men missed clotheslines after which Guerrera landed a chop. Kidman went for a slam but Guerrera rolled him up for a near fall. Kidman dropkicked Guerrera but telegraphed a backdrop and Guerrera kicked him. Guerrera charged but Kidman kicked him and Guerrera sailed through the ropes to the floor. Guerrera caught Kidman on the top rope but Kidman held his ground. After a couple counters Guerrera dropped Kidman crotch first onto the top rope and hit a springboard top rope huracanrana for a near fall. Guerrera gave Kidman a northern lights suplex for a near fall but Kidman fought back. Guerrera caught Kidman and gave him a urunage for a near fall. Kidman hit a modified Dudley dog/acid drop for a near fall. Guerrera took down Kidman for a near fall but Kidman bridged up. Kidman went for a German suplex but Guerrera landed on his feet and gave Kidman a Juvi driver for a near fall. Kidman gave Guerrera a spinebuster but missed his sever year itch (shooting star press). Guerrera then hit his 450 splash and pinned Kidman at 9:55. This was just a minute or two too short to earn a **** rating. For the most part this was a hot match with both men hitting most of their signature moves and sequences. Guerrera looked like the super worker he still was in 1998 while Kidman was really emerging as a hot commodity. This match has been largely forgotten because they would go on to have at least two matches more memorable than this one. That said, this match deserves some recognition. ***3/4

WCW Cruiserweight Title: Rey Misterio Jr. (c) vs Psicosis vs Blitzkrieg vs Juventud Guerrera 4/5/99

Psicosis dropped Blitzkrieg with a face front suplex and Juventud got the better of Misterio early. Psicosis and Guerrera whipped their opponents into each other. Psicosis missed a corner splash on Blitzkrieg and crashed shoulder first into the ringpost. Guerrera went to powerbomb Blitzkrieg, and as he lifted him, Misterio came off the top rope with a springboard Thesz press on the elevated Blitzkrieg after which Guerrera gained a near fall. Guerrera backdropped Misterio over the top rope to the floor. Guerrera elevated Blitzkrieg and Psicosis hit him with a top rope dropkick after which Guerrera gained another near fall. Psicosis went to powerbomb Blitzkrieg but Blitzkrieg escaped and Guerrera hit a top rope legdrop on a standing Psicosis. Misterio gained a near fall on Guerrera with a split-legged moonsault. Psicosis got the better of Guerrera with a spin kick. Misterio and Blitzkrieg dropkicked their opponents out of the ring, gave them baseball slide kicks and then hit Asai moonsaults on them. Misterio came off the top rope but Blitzkrieg dropkicked him in mid-air. Blitzkrieg gave Misterio a pair of flip sentons for a near fall. Guerrera gave Blitzkrieg a great springboard missile dropkick that knocked him out of the ring. Misterio gave Guerrera a tilt-a-whirl headscissors that popped the crowd. Misterio gave Guerrera a lionsault for a near fall. Guerrera bulldogged Misterio for a near fall. Misterio went for an inverted suplex/DDT but Guerrera countered with a clothesline. Psicosis top rope splashed Misterio for a near fall. Misterio gave Psicosis a top rope bulldog and a split-legged moonsault for a near fall. Blitzkrieg hit a great springboard dropkick on Guerrera as they cut to a commercial. Guerrera gave Misterio a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Psicosis dropped Blitzkrieg onto the top rope and dropkicked him to the floor. Guerrera hit a springboard plancha on Misterio and Blitzkrieg for a pop and Psicosis hit a great corkscrew plancha on all three opponents. Guerrera came off the top rope with a spinning huracanrana on Psicosis for a near fall. Misterio powerbombed Guerrera for a near fall. Blitzkrieg applied a figure 4 leglock on Psicosis but Misterio then gave Blitzkrieg a top rope springboard legdrop. Psicosis gave Misterio a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but hurt his knee in the process. After a series of counters, Guerrera powerbombed Blitzkrieg after which Misterio gained a near fall. Misterio gave Guerrera a top rope huracanrana for a near fall. Psicosis gained a near fall on Blitzkrieg with a brainbuster. Misterio gave Blitzkrieg a bronco buster and did the same to Psicosis. Guerrera attempted a powerbomb but Misterio countered with a huracanrana. Psicosis gained a near fall on Misterio with la magistral and Blitzkrieg gained a near fall on Psicosis with the same move. Guerrera gave Misterio a stunner by dropping his neck on the top rope. Guerrera knocked Misterio out of the ring with a springboard dropkick but Psicosis then clotheslined Guerrera over the top rope to the floor. Blitzkrieg gave Psicosis a phoenix splash for a near fall. Blitzkrieg went for a powerbomb but Guerrera countered and gave him a Juvi driver for a near fall. Misterio gave Guerrera a huracanrana and they both sailed over the top rope to the floor. Psicosis missed a flying corner splash. Blitzkrieg attempted a superplex but Psicosis countered and dropped him to the canvas. Psicosis then gave Blitzkrieg a top rope legdrop and pinned him to win the title after about 21 minutes of action. Make no mistake- this was little more than a spotfest, but a great spotfest at that. Just tons of action from start to finish with everyone hitting most of their moves with mostly sharp execution. One of the best matches in Monday Nitro history. ****1/4

Next Issue: Full Circle II: Jushin Liger’s Comeback (1995-1996)

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