Live from the Pepsi Arena, Albany, NY
You know the drill.
Opening handicap match: The Yeti (w/"The Taskmaster" Kevin Sullivan) vs. Randy Orton and Marcus Bagwell
LG: "The following handicap match is scheduled for one fall. In the ring at this time, first, from St. Louis, MO, weighing in at 265 lbs., RANDY ORTON! And his partner, from Marietta, GA, weighing in at 240 lbs., MARCUS BAGWELL!"
(The Dungeon of Doom's theme plays)
Crowd cheers.
LG: "And their opponent, being led to the ring by 'The Taskmaster' Kevin Sullivan and representing the Dungeon of Doom, from the wilds of the Himalayas, weighing in at 440 lbs., THE YETI!"
Yeti squashes both guys with Yetibombs and gets the pin at 1:00.
LG: "Here is your winner, THE YETI!"
Kane attacks post-match and the two huge men fight to the back.
We look at the brackets for the first round of the JWL World Tag Team Title Tournament.
("*" means winning team)
The Hardy Boyz
The New Age Outlaws*
Tommy Dreamer and the Sandman*
The Dudley Boys
TBA
Diamond Dallas Page and Christian
The Faces of Fear
The Outsiders
Big Van Vader and Bam Bam Bigelow
T&A
Mikey Whipwreck and Yoshihiro Tajiri
Kurt Angle and Christopher Nowinski
Ric Flair and Arn Anderson
Raven and Stevie Richards
Perry Saturn and Gangrel
Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner
We see clips from the last show of the first two matches in the JWL World Tag Team Tournament, the New Age Outlaws defeating the Hardy Boyz, and Tommy Dreamer and the Sandman beating the Dudley Boys.
JWL World Tag Team Tournament, Round 1
Mikey Whipwreck and "The Japanese Buzzsaw" Yoshihiro Tajiri (w/"The Hardcore Legend" Terry Funk) vs. High Standards (Kurt Angle and Christopher Nowinski, w/Mr. Bob Backlund)
LG: "The following is a first round match in the JWL World Tag Team Title Tournament and is scheduled for one fall."
("I Don't Suck" plays)
LG: "Introducing first, being led to the ring by Mr. Bob Backlund, at a total combined weight of 490 lbs., from Pittsburgh, PA, KURT ANGLE, and from Watertown, MA, CHRISTOPHER NOWINSKI, HIGH STANDARDS!"
Crowd boos, and chants "You suck, you suck."
("Pepper" by the Butthole Surfers plays)
LG: "And their opponents, being led to the ring by 'The Hardcore Legend' Terry Funk and representing The Hardcore Alliance, at a total combined weight of 367 lbs., from Buffalo, NY, MIKEY WHIPWRECK! And from Tokyo, Japan, 'THE JAPANESE BUZZSAW' YOSHIHIRO TAJIRI!"
Crowd cheers.
JR plays up the fact that everyone in this match except for Nowinski has held a tag team title. Angle held the WWE Tag Team Titles once with Chris Benoit. Mikey held the ECW World Tag Team Title three times, twice with Cactus Jack and once with Tajiri. Tajiri also held the WWE Tag Titles with Eddie Guerrero once, and the Big Japan Pro Wrestling Tag Team Titles twice with Ryuji Yamakawa.
Match is filled with lots of great technical wrestling from both sides, with lots of near falls. Backlund and Funk brawl on the outside and to the back. Angle escapes Tajiri's kicks and gets the anklelock for the surprise tapout at 5:30 to advance in the tournament. Crowd boos.
LG: "Here are your winners, advancing in the JWL World Tag Team Title Tournament, KURT ANGLE AND CHRISTOPHER NOWINSKI, HIGH STANDARDS!"
We go to Dusty Rhodes' ranch.
DUSTY: "J DUBBA L! Ah told yew that Ah was bringing mah Dream Team. Well, here are the first two members. I go back a long way wit these boys, and here they are. JERRY SAGS AND BRIAN KNOBBS, THE NASTY BOYS!"
(Sags and Knobbs walk onto the scene.)
KNOBBS: "LISTEN YOU IDIOTS! WE DON'T CARE WHO WINS THAT TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT, BECAUSE WE'RE COMING TO THE JWL AND WE'RE GONNA BEAT THE HELL OUT OF EVERYBODY!"
DUSTY: "That's right, the Dream Team is coming."
Back to the ring.
JWL Women's Title: Molly Holly © vs. EZ Rider
LG: "The following women's match is for the JWL Women's Title and is scheduled for one fall."
("Born to Be Wild" plays)
LG: "Introducing first the challenger, being accompanied to the ring by Harley's Angels members Thug and Charlie Davidson, from Philadelphia, PA, EZ RIDER!"
Crowd boos.
("Revolution" plays)
LG: "And her opponent, representing the Revolution, from Mobile, AL, she is the JWL Women's Champion, MOLLY HOLLY!"
Crowd cheers.
Molly and EZ have a solid, exciting, fast-paced match that goes back and forth. Molly fights back and finishes with the Molly-Go-Round to retain at 5:00.
LG: "Here is your winner and still JWL Women's Champion, MOLLY HOLLY!"
(Commercials)
We look at the brackets for the first round of the JWL World Tag Team Title Tournament.
("*" means winning team)
The Hardy Boyz
The New Age Outlaws*
Tommy Dreamer and the Sandman*
The Dudley Boys
TBA
Diamond Dallas Page and Christian
The Faces of Fear
The Outsiders
Big Van Vader and Bam Bam Bigelow
T&A
Mikey Whipwreck and Yoshihiro Tajiri
Kurt Angle and Christopher Nowinski*
Ric Flair and Arn Anderson
Raven and Stevie Richards
Perry Saturn and Gangrel
Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner
JWL World Tag Team Tournament, Round 1
Big Van Vader and "The Beast from the East" Bam Bam Bigelow vs. T&A (w/Trish Stratus)
LG: "The following is a first round match in the JWL World Tag Team Title Tournament and is scheduled for one fall."
("Time to Rock N Roll" plays)
LG: "Introducing first, being led to the ring by Trish Stratus and representing Stratusfaction Inc., at a total combined weight of 632 lbs., from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Test, and from Boston, MA, Albert, T&A!"
Crowd boos.
("Mastodon" plays)
LG: "And their opponents, representing the Shooters, first from the Rocky Mountains, weighing in at 458 lbs., BIG VAN VADER! And his partner, from Asbury Park, NJ weighing in at 325 lbs., 'THE BEAST FROM THE EAST' BAM BAM BIGELOW!"
Crowd cheers.
JR has clearly been looking forward to this match, as he says "hosses" and "four big bulls" before the bell rings.
It's a total power match, with neither team backing down. However, Bigelow's and Vader's greater experience level becomes the deciding factor, as they take control over the match and never lose it. Bigelow finishes off Test with the Greetings From Asbury Park at 5:30 to advance.
LG: "Here are your winners and advancing in the JWL World Tag Team Title Tournament, the team of BIG VAN VADER AND 'THE BEAST FROM THE EAST' BAM BAM BIGELOW!"
Crowd cheers.
Trish looks upset, realizing that another title has eluded Stratusfaction Inc.'s grasp. She orders Test and Albert back to the lockerroom, looking frustrated and cursing under her breath all the way.
(New Jack and Spike Dudley video package)
Hardcore Tag Team Match: "The Original Gangsta" New Jack and Little Spike Dudley vs. Rene Dupree and Sylvian Grenier.
LG: "The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall. In the ring at this time, first from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, weighing in at 250 lbs., RENE DUPREE! And his partner, from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, weighing in at 235 lbs., SYLVIAN GRENIER!"
AND HERE COMES NEW JACK!
Jack and Spike hit the ring with the plunder to the cheers of the crowd. The usual bloody slaughter, finishing with the Acid Drop and the Flying Guitar Shot for stereo pins at 2:20.
LG: "Here are your winners, the team of 'THE ORIGINAL GANGSTA' NEW JACK AND LITTLE SPIKE DUDLEY!"
(Repeat of Dusty promo)
(Commercials)
Main Event, JWL World Tag Team Title Tournament, Round 1
We look at the brackets for the first round of the JWL World Tag Team Title Tournament.
("*" means winning team)
The Hardy Boyz
The New Age Outlaws*
Tommy Dreamer and the Sandman*
The Dudley Boys
TBA
Diamond Dallas Page and Christian
The Faces of Fear
The Outsiders
Big Van Vader and Bam Bam Bigelow*
T&A
Mikey Whipwreck and Yoshihiro Tajiri
Kurt Angle and Christopher Nowinski*
Ric Flair and Arn Anderson
Raven and Stevie Richards
Perry Saturn and Gangrel
Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner
"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair and "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson (w/"The Horny Little She-Devil" Terri Runnels) vs. Raven and Stevie Richards (w/Tori)
LG: "The following is our main event. It is a first round match in the JWL World Tag Team Title Tournament and is scheduled for one fall."
("Come Out and Play" plays, as Raven, Stevie and Tori climb over the guardrail.)
LG: "Introducing first, being accompanied to the ring by Tori and representing Raven's Nest, at a total combined weight of 464 lbs., from The Bowery, RAVEN and from Philadelphia, PA, STEVIE RICHARDS!"
Crowd boos.
("Also Sprach Zarathustra" plays)
LG: "And their opponents, being accompanied by Terri Runnels and representing The Four Horsemen, at a total combined weight of 500 lbs., from Charlotte, NC, 'THE NATURE BOY' RIC FLAIR and from Minneapolis, MN, 'THE ENFORCER' ARN ANDERSON!"
Flair, Arn and Terri all hold up the four fingers on their way to the ring and soak up the adulation from the crowd for a few minutes. Raven takes the mic from Lillian.
RAVEN: "Finally, I get my chance to go after a title in this company. Rhino was eliminated from the Royal Rumble by that giant-haired savage Meng, depriving the Nest of the JWL World Heavyweight Title. Then Tori was eliminated from the Rumble at SuperBrawl by that giant sideshow freak Chyna, depriving the Nest of the JWL Women's Title. At the last show, my greatest nemeses, Tommy Dreamer and the Sandman, defeated the Dudley Boys to advance in the tag team tournament with their own move. Now, I, along with my flunky, have to face these two geezers to go after what should be rightfully ours. WHAT ABOUT ME? WHAT ABOUT RAVEN? Horsemen, I am issuing a challenge. The only way I'm wrestling you two fossils tonight is if this match is held under 'Raven's Rules,' which means no-DQ, no-countout and falls will count anywhere. The belts will be coming to the Nest. So it is written, so it too shall come to pass. Quote the Raven: Nevermore."
Referee Nick Patrick asks Flair and AA if they agree to Raven's conditions. They do.
JR observes that this is an interesting match, as it is acknowledged leaders and their second bananas against each other.
The two teams have a long, exciting match filled with both wrestling and brawling. To everyone's surprise, Raven and Stevie get the win following a Steviekick that sent Flair staggering into a Raven Effect DDT for the pin at 10:00.
LG: "Here are your winners, advancing in the JWL World Tag Team Title Tournament, the team of RAVEN AND STEVIE RICHARDS!"
End of show.
We look at the brackets for the first round of the JWL World Tag Team Title Tournament.
("*" means winning team)
The Hardy Boyz
The New Age Outlaws*
Tommy Dreamer and the Sandman*
The Dudley Boys
TBA
Diamond Dallas Page and Christian
The Faces of Fear
The Outsiders
Big Van Vader and Bam Bam Bigelow*
T&A
Mikey Whipwreck and Yoshihiro Tajiri
Kurt Angle and Christopher Nowinski*
Ric Flair and Arn Anderson
Raven and Stevie Richards*
Perry Saturn and Gangrel
Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner