WWA Stings Glasgow!

...No, not Hulk Hogan, but The man they call Sting was on his way to the World Wrestling Allstars! If the roster for this tour wasn't already big enough, WWA now had without a doubt, a future hall of famer on board, and as it would turn out Sting was to get more then he bargained for!

Location:
Glasgow, Scotland

Arena:
SECC Arena

Date:
6th December 2002

Aired:
7th February 2003 (Australia)
9th February 2003 (USA)

Retribution kicked off with a taped interview with Andrew McManus, and with him Mike Sanders. McManus informed Sanders, that he was the new WWA Commissioner. This was a great move. Mike Sanders is a great choice for a spokesman, as I am pretty sure the guy could talk underwater, and lets not forget the fact that he is one hell of a performer.

Before the matches start for the pay per view, a band marched around the ring playing bagpipes, and then were never seen again. Great way to get the home crowd into an event - "cheap pops", but effective none the less.

Our good friend, Jeremy Borash introduces his co-commentator for the evening, everyone's favourite wrestler, the Disco Inferno! Disco does his dancing routine, then hightails it to the broadcast position.

Borash, doubling as ring announcer, and commentator tonight (the WWA not wanting to make the same mistake they did with Mark Erickson at Eruption) introduces the first match. I was looking forward to this match as I am a huge Shark Boy fan (at least from what I have seen thus far), and I was not to be let down! In true WCW style, the WWA were going to kick the pay per view off with an action packed cruiserweight match. Shark Boy's opponent, Frankie "The Future" Kazarian. I had not seen Kazarian before and was interested. I paid special attention to Kazarian, and I was by no means disappointed! This was a great match, and the crowd appeared to be into the match. Shark Boy would eventually prevail, with his version of the Diamond Dust.

The new WWA Commissioner, Mike Sanders, would now bless us with his appearance. This is without a doubt the best promo that I have seen this year! Sanders runs down the card for the night, and is interrupted by Joe E. Legend (another talent I had not heard of before). Legend claims that he is the best the WWA has to offer (and after seeing him I'm inclined to believe him). He claims to have apparently beaten Buff Bagwell, Sabu, and even Sting, so therefore he should receive the WWA title, or at least a shot at it. From this little part of the interview brings on one of my favourite quotes from the broadcast. Sanders replies:

"(in what could be described as a cry baby's voice) I, I'm Joe E. Legend, I beat the Stinger, I beat Luger, I slept with the Disco Inferno!"

The interview goes back and forth, with eventually it leading to a match later in the night, but more on that in due time. 

Next up we have Spyder vs. Dawg.

You more then likely read that last line, and thought that I had finally gotten to the point of insanity. However it is accurate. This would be the debut match of Nate "Spyder" Webb, and his opponent Konnan, other known as K-Dawg. Webb was the unlucky one to enter first, as he was attacked by Perry Saturn who leaped from the crowd and destroyed the young Canadian with an array of suplexes, and even the return of the 'Rings of Saturn'! What a debut for Saturn! I'm pretty sure Webb thought you could only see the 'Rings of Saturn' with a telescope, but for no extra charge, he is also seeing stars!

Strange enough the match was still to take place. Enter Konnan, who pins the man in record time, according to my count it was 2.5 seconds, which beats the Rock's record of 4 seconds over the Big Bossman. Konnan then joined Borash and Disco at the announce position where Disco and Konnan joked about how the internet would receive that match. Quite possibly the easiest pay check that Konnan has ever received, a 2.5 second match, and a 2 line commentary stint!

Moving on now we go backstage where TEO has found Midajah and asks if he will become his valet, now that Steiner is no longer her man. This is interrupted by Puppet, the midget killer, who wants Midajah as his valet. Things start to escalate out of control and enters "the very own commissioner" (as our good friend Borash would say), Mike Sanders, who exercises his commissioner powers, making Midajah the special guest referee for the midget match later in the night, which Midajah seemed to be rather distressed about. Might I comment on Midajah, she is looking mighty fine, as always - even if she has never refereed before!

Back to the ring and we have a tag match on our hands. Now one would have thought that the WWA would have learnt from tag matches. Obviously not. Now whilst this one was watchable, this segment could have been utilized a whole lot better. Why is Buff Bagwell usually involved in these tag matches? Oh well, I'm not going to join the "Internet Anti-Buff Bagwell Club", I am just calling it as I see it. I will say that this was a reasonable match, compared to some of the others I have seen. The match pitted Buff Bagwell & Johnny Swinger vs. Malice & Norman Smiley. One thing that boggled me however is Malice's shirt. It read "I Hate You". How are you meant to get over as a face, with a shirt like that? Not to worry, lets move on with the pay per view.

*Time Passes*

I felt a bit unfair from what I said about Buff Bagwell, so I went and watched the event again, and paid extra attention to the tag match and the match was reasonably good. Buff did do well in this match, and his partner Johnny Swinger also did well. However I still believe that this segment could of been better utilized. Moving on.

Jeff Jarrett arrives at the arena, playing heel tonight, or so it seems. He is going to face Nathan Jones later in the show and the NWA World Heavyweight Title is going to be on the line. Back to the arena where our good friend Jeremy Borash announces it will be a midget match, much to the delight of the crowd. The Glasgow crowd goes wild!

This was to be the third pay per view meeting for these midgets, and with the score one a piece (Puppet gaining the victory at Revolution, and TEO at Eruption) this would be the rubber match. Somehow Midajah is again thrust in with the midgets, and with her as the referee it adds an extra dimension. Now while I have enjoyed the midget matches on previous pay per view events, I believe that this is starting to get stale. If they wish to continue with the midgets, perhaps they should add another midget to the feud (such as Meatball, or even Bridget the midget). Anyway back to the match, one of the best matches I have seen from these two, better then Eruption, and Midajah did a superb job as referee. However after TEO picked up the victory his celebration was "cut short" (Disco Inferno isn't the only one who can crack midget jokes) by Perry Saturn who pounded the midgets into oblivion and then took Midajah hostage.

Lex Luger is interviewed by Scott D'Amore. Lex claims that whatever he plays (even if it's Chess against his children) he plays to win (Lex you bully you!). Lex claims that instead of it being Showtime (as Sting would have you believe), it's Total Package time. Luger walks off and out of nowhere comes Perry Saturn with his hostage Midajah. Scott D'Amore attempts to get some sought of comment, however it was to no avail, as all Midajah was able to say was "help me". Back to the arena we have the match that I picked as match of the night.

The new WWA Commissioner has more then had his work cut out for him on this event, like no other commissioner before him, and now he must face Joe E. Legend. This match was excellent. I loved this match from the opening bell, right up until the super kick that ended it. The crowd seemed to be really into this match, mostly on the back of Joe E. Legend. Superb match. Nothing I can say will truly give justice to how impressed at this match I was. Sanders picks up the victory and announces that Perry Saturn is now apart of the Sabu & Simon Diamond match later in the show.

It's now NWA Title match time and Jeff Jarrett looks in great shape. Enter Nathan Jones, who will be sadly missed from the WWA, and it remains to seen what the hotshots at Titan Towers have planned for the big man from down under. One thing I thought with this match is that the opening minute or so looked very similar to their match up at Inception in the Seven Deadly Sins tournament (both of these men have been studying their DVD copy by the looks of it). Jeff Jarrett was busted open early in the match, right below the eyes, from what appeared to be a stray shot from Jones. However it would be Jeff Jarrett that would get the last laugh, thanks to his never ending supply of guitars (he is from Music City after all). Jeff Jarrett retains the NWA Title and makes his way back to Nashville, for Total Nonstop Action.

Sabu vs. Simon Diamond vs. Perry Saturn, was just topped by the Sanders vs. Legend match, as match of the night and I can guarantee you that was said without any intention of taking away credit from these three superstars. For a hardcore match, there were very few weapons used, however that being said it was still an excellent performance from the three men. The action went back and forth, with Sabu usually getting the advantage, and there was even a "short appearance" (there I go again) by Puppet and TEO (with Kendo sticks in hand might I add), who obviously had "Retribution" in mind. They wailed away on Perry Saturn and even managed to steal the clothes right off Midajah's back (and who said it's a bad thing being a midget). Perry Saturn covers up his new prize and walks out with Midajah in his arms. Meanwhile in the ring Sabu finishes business with his Arabian Moonsault (Simon Diamond the unfortunate recipient of this move), and walks out the victor in another hellacious WWA battle.

Backstage Sting is interview by Scott D'Amore. Says his character has been built in the last 18 months, and questions whether Luger's character has been built in the last 15 years. Then in true Sting style claims that it's Showtime!

Whilst this was not the best technical match that I have ever seen I thought it was a great match. To see Sting back in action, a Sting that has appeared not to have missed a step, and a more jacked Luger then I have ever seen, made this match great. Throw in the WWA title, and you have a worthy main event. Sting and Luger go back and forth in this competition when Sting appears to have the upper hand Luger pulls the referee in the way of a Stinger Splash. Referee falls to the floor, and out comes one Jeff Jarrett, who takes his guitar and plays it on Sting's head. However this was not enough to beat the man called Sting. Sting recovers, and even delivers a Scorpion Death Drop from a Torture Rack. His momentum was soon stopped, courtesy of another guitar shot from Jeff Jarrett, leaving Lex Luger to become the 4th World Wrestling Allstars Heavyweight Champion.

Top to bottom this was a great event. The best wrestling event I have seen since the WWA's last pay per view spectacular Eruption. However the main downfall that stopped this event from receiving an "A" grade was the length of the show. If the WWA took the time to at least add an extra 30 minutes to this event it could of shone. There were some matches that just seemed unfinished in places. However with that being said, it is definitely worth viewing for anyone who is interested in wrestling. Some great performances from all of the superstars involved and this could be your chance to view Nathan Jones before he debuts in the WWE.