Saturday, August 12, 2017

WCW in Canada


Recently on the "What Happened When?" podcast they talked about the WCW Mayhem 1999 pay-per-view with originated from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  It got me thinking if this was the first time WCW had been to Canada.  It wasn't, but it was one of only a handful of shows that that WCW had ever run in Canada.  I'm referring to WCW from when Turner bought JCP in October 1988 to the end of WCW in 2001.

Their first run through Canada came in 1990 with five house shows, three in June and one in October and November.  All of these shows were in Ontario

In 1997 a show was held in Montreal where Jacques Rougeau wrestled Hulk Hogan in the Main Event.  This is at times billed as a WCW house show, but it is not.  In fact this show was promoted by Rougeau who was in WCW at the time.

WCW's second big run in Canada was in 1999 - 2000 with eight shows.  Now I know what you are thinking, eight shows over two years is not a lot especially if you compare it to the number of shows the WWE has run in Canada.  In 1997 WWE promoted 26 shows in Canada.

However of the eight shows you have two Pay-Per-Views, five television tapings and one house show.  I'm pretty sure WCW ran Canada because of Bret Hart in 1999, for their return in late summer 2000 I'm not sure what motivated it.


June 26, 1990 Niagra Falls, Ontario
The Southern Boys: Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions: Doom: Ron Simmons & Butch Reed in a non-title match
Scott Steiner pinned NWA US Tag Team Champion: "Sweet" Stan Lane
"Flying" Brian Pillman defeated NWA US Tag Team Champion: "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton
Rick Steiner defeated "Dirty" Dutch Mantell
Rick Steiner defeated "Mean" Mark Callous
NWA US Champion: Lex Luger & The Junk Yard Dog defeated NWA World Champion: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair & Barry Windham


June 27, 1990 Toronto, Ontario
"Mean" Mark Callous defeated Nick DeCarlo
"Flying" Brian Pillman defeated "Dirty" Dutch Mantell
The Southern Boys: Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong defeated NWA US Tag Team Champions: The Midnight Express: "Sweet" Stan Lane & "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton in a non title match
The Steiner Brothers: Rick & Scott defeated defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions: Doom: Ron Simmons & Butch Reed by disqualification
The Junk Yard Dog defeated NWA World Television Champion: "Enforcer" Arn Anderson in a non-title match
NWA US Champion: Lex Luger defeated NWA World Champion: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair in a non-title match

June 28, 1990 Brantford, Ontario
"Flying" Brian Pillman defeated "Dirty" Dutch Mantell
NWA US Tag Team Champion: "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton defeated Nick DeCarlo
Scott Steiner pinned NWA US Tag Team Champion: "Sweet" Stan Lane
 NWA World Tag Team Champions: Doom: Ron Simmons & Butch Reed defeated The Southern Boys: Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong
NWA US Champion: Lex Luger & The Junk Yard Dog defeated NWA World Champion: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair & NWA World Television Champion: "Enforcer" Arn Anderson

October 25, 1990 Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario
The Fabulous Freebirds: Michael "P.S." Hayes & Jimmy "Jam" Garvin defeated Ricky Morton & "Wildfire" Tommy Rich  - Rich subbed for Robert Gibson
The Master Blasters: Steele & Blade or Iron defeated Mike Rotunda and Tim Horner
Nick DeCarlo defeated Terry Morgan
Tom Zenk pinned Johnny K-9
The Juicer (Art Barr) defeated Barry Horowitz
"Flying" Brian Pillman defeated The Black Scorpion
NWA US Champion: Lex Luger defeated Sid Vicious

Steele is Kevin Nash, Blade is Al Green, Iron is Cory Pendarvis only lasted a very short time before being replaced by Al Green.

The Black Scorpion could have been portrayed by Al Perez, Randy Culley or Bill Irwin

November 29, 1990 Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario
The Juicer vs. "Nature Boy" Buddy Landell
Mike Rotunda vs. The Candyman Brad Armstrong
Norman vs. The Cuban Assassin
Brian Pillman vs. Bill Irwin
The Southern Boys: Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong defeated Johnny K-9 and Nick DeCarlo
NWA US Tag Team Champion defeated The Nasty Boys: Brian Knobbs & Jerry Saggs in a handi-capped match
NWA World Champion: Sting pinned Sid Vicious

The June tour of these shows definitely got the better talent line-up.  Granted the champions didn't fare to well in their matches.  It seems like these shows were part of an attempted expansion and then going forward they didn't return because of cost cutting measures.  I'm just freelancing here.

March 29, 1999 Air Canada Center, Toronto, Ontario
Monday Nitro
Konnan defeated Vincent
Wrath defeated Kenny Kaos
Rick Steiner pinned Scott Norton
World Television Champion: Booker T pinned Chris Adams
Chris Jericho pinned Jerry Flynn
Buff Bagwell pinned Norman Smiley
Cruiserweight Champion: Rey Mysterio Jr. & Billy Kidman defeated Tag Team Champions: Foure Horsemen: Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko to win the titles
Hulk Hogan pinned DDP


This show featured the famous angle where Bret Hart called out Goldberg and was speared, however, Hart had a metal plate on and Goldberg knocked himself out.  After Hart quit WCW.

March 30, 1999 Kitchener, Ontario
Television taping for WCW Saturday Night and WCW Worldwide.  See below for complete list of this 24 match card

November 21, 1999 Air Canada Center, Toronto, Ontario
Mayhem 99
Semi-Final Tournament Match: Chris Benoit defeated Jeff Jarrett
Evan Karagia with Madusa defeated Cruiserweight Champion: Disco Inferno with Tony Marinara to win the championship
Norman Smiley defeated Hardcore Champion: Brian Knobbs with Jimmy Hart to win the title
The Revolution: Perry Saturn, Dean Malenko, & Asya with Shane Douglas defeated The Filthy Animals: Eddie Guerrero, Billy Kidman, & Torrie Wilson with Konnan
Buff Bagwell defeated Curt hennig in a retirement match
Semi-Final Tournament Match: Bret "Hitman" Hart defeated Sting
Dog Collar Match: Vampiro w/ Jerry Only defeated Berlyn with The Wall
Meng defeated Lex Luger with Miss Elizabeth
US & Television Champion: Scott Hall defeated Booker T
David Flair & Kimberly Page fought to a no contest after Kanyon, DDP, and Arn Anderson ran in after the referee was knocked down
"I Quit" Match: Goldberg defeated Sid Vicious when the referee stopped the match when Vicious passed out in a rear naked choke
Bret "Hitman" Hart defeated Chris Benoit buy submission to win the vacant World Heavyweight Championship


Sadly the main event was marred with interference by Dean Malenko, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, & Goldberg.  Also during the match they cut the back showing them brawling.  The focus should have been on the ring.

February 26, 2000 Winnipeg, Manitoba
House Show
In ring-promo with Bret "Hitman" Hart
Cruiserweight Champion: The Artist Formerly Known As Prince Iaukea defeated Billy Kidman
Ron Harris defeated Mike Rotunda
Hardcore Champion: Brian Knobbs & Fit Finlay defeated The Wall & Norman Smiley
Buff Bagwell defeated Curt Hennig
US Champion: Jeff Jarrett defeated Vampiro
World Champion: Sid Vicious defeated Lex Luger

August 13, 2000 Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, British Columbia
New Blood Rising
Ladder Match: 3 Count: Evan Karagias, Shannon Moore, & Shane Helms w/ Tank Abbott defeated Jung Dragons: Jamie-San, Yang, & Kaz Hayashi
Ernest "The Cat" Miller defeated The Great Muta
Buff Bagwell defeated Kanyon
Tag Team Champions: Kronik: Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke defeated Chuck Palumbo & Shawn Stasiak and Mark Jindrak & Sean O'Haire, and General Rection & Lash Laroux with special guest referee Disco Inferno
Strap Match: Billy Kidman defeated Shane Douglas
Major Gunns defeated Miss Hancock
Sting defeated The Demon


US Champion: Lance Storm defeated Mike Awesome with special guest referee Jacques Rougeau, Bret Hart made an appearance to celebrate with Storm and Rougeau
The Great Muta & Vampiro defeated  Tag Team Champions: Kronik: Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke to win the titles
Kevin Nash defeated Bill Goldberg and Scott Steiner
World Champion: Booker T pinned Jeff Jarrett

August 14, 2000 Skyreach Place, Kelowna, British Columbia
Monday Nitro
Billy Kidman & Big Vito defeated Shane Douglas & Reno
US Champion: Lance Storm defeated Mike Awesome with special guest referee Ernest "The Cat" Miller
World Champion: Booker T wrestled Jeff Jarrett to a no contest
Norman Smiley defeated Hardcore Champion: Carl Oulette to win the championship
Rey Mysterio Jr. & Juventud Guerrera defeated Tag Team Champions: Vampiro & The Great Muta to win the titles
Cruiserweight Champion: Elix Skipper pinned Kwee Wee
Sting defeated The Demon, The Great Muta, & Vampiro

August 15, 2000 Riverside Coliseum, Kamloops, British Columbia
Thunder Aired 8/16
Kronik: Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke defeated Three jobbers in a handicapped match
The Great Muta pinned The Demon
US Champion: Lance Storm, Carl Oulette & Cruiserweight Champion: Elix Skipper defeated Misfits in Action: General Rection, Lash Leroux, & Chavo Guerrero Jr
Ernest "The Cat" Miller defeated US Champion: Lance Storm by disqualification
Gene Okerlund pinned Mark Madden in a streetfight
Big Vito pinned Carl Oulette

Worldwide Aired 8/26
The Harris Twins: Ron & Don defeated Kory Williams & Bryan McNeal
Vampiro defeated Mad Jack
Mark Jindrak, Shawn Stasiak, & Sean O'Haire w/ Chuck Palumbo defeated Jung Dragons: Jamie-San, Yang, & Kaz Hayashi

September 18, 2000 Don Cardillo Arena, Kitchener, Ontario
Monday Nitro
Rey Mysterio Jr. & Tygress defeated Chuck Palumbo, Shawn Stasiak, Sean O'Haire, Mark Jindrak, & Mike Sanders in a handicap elimination match
Shane Douglas & Torrie Wilson defeated Kwee Wee & Paisley
Ernest "The Cat" Miller defeated Disco Inferno
World Champion: Booker T fought Sting to a no contest
Team Canada: Lance Storm, Jim Duggan, & Elix Skipper defeated Misfists in Action: General


Rection, Lash Laroux, & Chavo Guerrero Jr.
Jeff Jarrett & Scott Steiner defeated Kronik: Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke
Hardcore Match: Mike Awesome defeated Vampiro
World Champion: Booker T & Sting defeated Jeff Jarrett & Scott Steiner

The shows in 1999 and 2000 were the best that WCW had to offer at that time, even the house show.  I wonder if they had stayed afloat in 2001 instead of what had happened if they would have returned in 2001.

Results are from The History of WWE website.

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Later Readers!

March 30, 1999 Kitchener, Ontario
WCW Saturday Night Taping
Aired April 3rd
World Television Champion: Booker T pinned Erik Watts
Scotty Riggs beat Al Greene
Kenny Kaos defeated Bobby Duncam Jr.
Chris Adams & Mike Enos defeated Disorderly Conduct: Tough Tom & Mean Mike
Vincent beat Barry Horowitz
Prince Iaukea defeated Lenny Lane
Chris Jericho defeated Kaz Hayashi
Raven & Perry Saturn defeated Silver King & Scott Armstrong
Rick Steiner defeated Fit Finlay by DQ
Meng & Jerry Flynn fought The Barbarian & Hugh Morrus to a double count-out

Aired April 10th
Rick Steiner defeated Fit Finlay
Ernest "The Cat" Miller defeated Norman Smiley
Konnan defeated La Cucaracha (Disco Inferno in mask)
Meng & Jerry Flynn defeated The Barbarian & Hugh Morrus in a falls count anywhere match

Worldwide TV Taping
Aired April 10th
Chavo Guerrero Jr defeated Chip Minton
Scott Norton defeated Jason Anderson

Aired April 17th
Bobby Duncum Jr. defeated Kenny Kaos
Van Hammer pinned Ed Gatsky
Billy Kidman pinned Lash Laroux
Wrath defeated The Disciple

Aired April 24th
Bobby Blaze defeated Johnny Swinger
Barry Darsow defeated Villano IV

Aired May 1st
Sick Boy defeated Super Calo
Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Juventud Guerrera

2 comments:

  1. Another WCW error for sure. When they were riding high they didn't think they needed Canada. But when things started to go bad they tried to tap the market but it was too late. WWE benefited big time from the market which has always been hot for wrestling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It still is. They have some fantastic talent up there and I wish the wrestlers could get into the states to wrestle as easy as American's can get into Canada to wrestle.

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