Riggs keeps pulling out the big moves to keep Buff down, but it isn’t working, and then out of no where, Buff hits the debut of the Blockbuster, which is a fantastic finisher. OK, this match has actually really started picking up. It’s like kicking out at two after taking a shot-gun blast to the chest. A fucking DDT is devastating, and shouldn’t be used as a transitional move, let alone a TORNADO DDT. At one point we see Riggs do a Tornado DDT from the top rope, and he doesn’t even make a pin attempt. Although to be fair, I think Scotty improved when he joined The Flock. Plus, neither Scotty nor Buff were known for their work ability. This match isn’t much to talk about, really, a lot of down time with submission spots. He was entertaining as hell, and still very original with a lot of the things he did. Plus, for as much of an ass as he is in real life, he was so damn good with his character. When he was in his prime, I was 13-15, and at that age, man, there were few things cooler. I don’t think you’re gonna find a guy my age that isn’t a mark for Buff. Wallstreet eats the briefcase and the pin at 9:22 | *1/2 Not a terrible match, but it’s not on the quality level of the first two. Soon after, after a lot of begging from Deborah, Mongo clocks Wallstreet with the briefcase, then threatens to hit Patrick if he doesn’t make the 3 count. One actually makes me laugh out loud when Jeff has Wallstreet in the Figure 4, and Patrick literally drags VK to the ropes. Jeff is controlling most of it, but keeps having his momentum cut off when Nick Patrick helps out Wallstreet. Now, everyone can agree that Jeff’s attire during these years was the stupidest of all time, right? As for the match, not much to talk about. Like he showed up to the arena and they didn’t have a shirt for him, so he went outside to some bootleg vendor or what have you. The thing I remember most about Wallstreet’s nWo membership is he more than often didn’t wear an nWo shirt, but a cheap shirt that had ‘WCW” on it, with a circle and a line through it. Ray keeps Hugh down for a count of 10 after hitting him with a motorcycle at 9:03 | **3/4
WCW NWO SOULED OUT 1997 PLUS
I mean, nothing amazing, but a hell of a lot better than I thought it was gonna be, plus that finish was pretty damn funny. Now, once again, I gotta say that was another solid match. He can’t answer the 10 count, and Ray gets the win. They battle to the outside where Hugh attempts a moonsault off the stairs but misses, but it gives Ray a chance to fire up a motorcycle and literally run Hugh the fuck over. Once again it isn’t for long, as Hugh returns the favor, and adds a No Laughing Matter to boot.
WCW NWO SOULED OUT 1997 FULL
Ray is about to get a Stinger-esq-splash, but Ray gets a fist full of chain and puts him down. He isn’t able to hold on to that momentum for long, as Hugh goes back to putting him down with clotheslines and such. Ray is getting his ass handed to him for a minute until he slugs Hugh in the junk twice in a row, which for some reason I found really funny. They don’t tell us what kinda match this is until we’re already in the middle of it. Hugh Morrus vs Ray Traylor – Last Man Standing Match Masa wins with a boot to Chris’ head and the pin at 11:08 | ***1/4 Something I would actually advise you cats to fire up the network and check out. This was a really hard-hitting, solid match. Soon after, Chris is trying to put him down with a second top-rope drop kick, but Masa catches him, and knocks him from the top through the table, dragging him back in to deliver a kick to the head and pin. Masa sets up a table outside, and tries to suplex Chris from the inside through it, to no avail though. Chono is like a brick wall, with Chris constantly trying to cut him down. They’re working a pretty stuff, competitive match here, something a lot better than I expected. Jericho will work a few come-back moves, only for Masa to cut him down. Masa controls the beginning of the match with a few “let’s have a fair fight” moments that keeps suckering Chris in. Ted DiBiase & Bischoff are your announcers, and I always thought they were a fantastic duo. However, it adds to the original & interesting atmosphere that is Souled Out. The arena of choice for this PPV always weirded me out, because it looked more like a place where high-schoolers would play basketball or something. Apparently it was literally around 2 degrees outside. The show definitely opens up in an interesting way, with the nWo being led by police escort while they ride on the back of garage-trucks.