SHOW REVIEW: SEPTEMBER 2001
September 15, 2001: WCW Velocity Review
POSTED BY DYLAN DRAMA | SEPTEMBER 16, 2001

The second ever Velocity aired Saturday night, and we have the results here at TEWNews.com!

The generic rock them opens the show and we get pyro as Scott Hudson & Don West welcome us back to Velocity from Columbus, Ohio!

Match 1: Norman Smiley & Willy Fraizer vs. Disqo & Mike Sanders

The match was exactly what you’d expect when you put Norman Smiley and Disqo in the same ring. Things started with a "dance-off" that had Mike Sanders looking embarrassed on the apron while Smiley and Disqo traded hip swivels. Once the wrestling actually started, Smiley took control with his technical prowess, but Fraizer struggled to keep the momentum going when he tagged in. The comedy continued as Smiley nearly locked in the Big Wiggle on Sanders, but Disqo made the save. The finish came when Sanders distracted the ref, allowing Disqo to deliver a blatant low blow to Fraizer. Disqo then spiked Fraizer with the Last Dance Stunner to pick up the shady win.

Winner: Disqo & Mike Sanders
Rating: 4.9 / 10

Actually expected a bit more from the men involved. While Disqo & Sanders are not the best workers in the world, I just thought there was enough charisma here to bring us a bit more. Fraizer & Smiley are an interesting team we've had a few looks at, but I'm still not sure just how good or bad Fraizer is.

Backstage Kanyon cuts a promo hyping the main event match between him and BG James. Kanyon does his normal "Who's Betta" schtick, and claims like James, Kanyon is trying to climb back up the ladder in WCW.

Match 2: Sean O'Haire vs. Vic Capri

Rest In Peace local talent! Match starts with Capri jumping O'Haire right away with a flurry of strikes that don't even stagger the Psycho Killer. Capri off the ropes, eats big jumping roundhouse kick! Death Spiral. 3 Count.

Winner: Sean O'Haire
Rating: 5.2 / 10

A nice squash. O'Haire looked crisp in his two moves, and Capri sold them like death. Just better the fine, which is what you want out a 1-minute squash.

Match 3: Fish Bones (La Parka & Shark Boy) vs. Primetime Players (Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo)

This was a bizarre clash of styles from the bell. Shark Boy started things off by confusing Kid Romeo with a series of quick arm drags followed by a sharp headbutt, or is it a fin-butt? He even managed to bite Romeo's hand to escape a move in the corner, which brought La Parka in to celebrate with a signature strut. The Primetime Players eventually took over, with Elix Skipper grounding La Parka with some stiff martial arts kicks and a textbook belly-to-back suplex. The heat didn't last long though, as Shark Boy decided to run in and bite Skippers backside causing him to tag out to Romeo and scamper to the outside. Shark Boy took advantage, diving out with a crossbody to the floor on Skipper, leaving La Parka to catch a dazed Romeo with a Spinning Heel Kick for the victory!

Winner: Fish Bones
Rating: 3.8 / 10

This one really let me down. Not really sure what wasn't clicking, but these guys just were not. Fish Bones is a fun idea, like Smiley & Fraizer or Anderson & Gas, but like those teams, it just doesn't seem to have legs.

Backstage with BG James. James cuts a promo on Kanyon for the main event, and says his own path towards the top begins again, tonight!

Match 4: BG James vs. Kanyon w/Mike Awesome

This was a back-and-forth slugfest that felt way too big for a Saturday night B-show. Kanyon worked a focused attack on James’ neck early, hitting a stiff swinging neckbreaker and snapping off some sharp European uppercuts in the corner. James fired back with his signature juke and jive punches and a high-impact DDT that almost ended it right then and there. The drama peaked when James went for a running crossbody, but Kanyon ducked, causing James to collide head-first with the referee. With the official down, James managed to plant Kanyon with a huge Pumphandle Drop, but there was nobody to count the fall. Mike Awesome didn't miss his cue, he slid into the ring and decimated James with a brutal Awesome Bomb. Kanyon crawled over, draped an arm across James, and the groggy referee counted but James kicked out at 2! Kanyon is livid, but quickly grabs James who is stumbling to his feet and planted him with a Flatliner! Thats enough this time as Kanyon gets the 3!

Winner: Kanyon
Rating: 7.7 / 10

Am I a BG James fan? How did this happen. He's really blown expectations out of the water in WCW so far with his feud with Storm and matches like this. The Foundation gets the win here, which is fine I guess, but I have to admit seeing James continue to stake his claim to be a bigger time player is something I'm on board for.

Overall Show Ratings: 7.5 / 10
DYLAN'S FINAL THOUGHTS: This is basically what I think Velocity is and should be. There were highlight videos of Nitro and ongoing storylines sprinkled throughout the hour, but I didnt include them all here. Good for people who can't watch Nitro or to catch up. Meanwhile the matches here are a few matches for guys not ready for Nitro or with a proper spot yet, a super short squash for O'Haire which could have been a Nitro match, and a very competitive main event. I was not planning on watching Velocity every week, but I think I might have too now.