WCW Velocity is screaming into the new year! The generic rock music remains, as do our hosts Scott Hudson & Don West on commentary.
CW Anderson starts things off against Mark Jindrak and actually looks great here, matching Jindrak’s athleticism with some stiff right hands and a crisp arm-drag. Anderson isolates Jindrak in the corner and tags in Pete Gas, but the momentum shifts instantly. Gas completely misses a corner splash, allowing Jindrak to tag in Stasiak, who just starts dismantling Gas with heavy stomps. Gas is in desperation mode now; he crawls under Stasiak's legs and scrambles toward his corner. He lunges for the hot tag—but he completely misjudges the distance and misses Anderson's outstretched hand! Gas stumbles blindly back into the center of the ring right into a waiting Shawn Stasiak. Stasiak hooks him, hits the Hangman’s Neckbreaker, and covers for the 1—2—3! Anderson just stands on the apron, staring on in pure annoyance without even trying to break it up.
Dylan's Thoughts: POP picks up a win which is better than losing I guess. Anderson & Gas continue to not work for me, or as a team.
After the match, Anderson steps into the ring and him and Gas seem to be arguing. Someone is clearing their throat on the mic and we hear “Simon has a problem!” Simon Diamond appeared on the ramp, and Scott Hudson and Don West quickly reveal him as Simon Wright. Wright then says, “Simon Says Attack” and CW Anderson jumps Pete Gas with some vicious shots. Anderson ends up tossing Gas into the ropes and planting him with a big Anderson Spinebuster. CW slips out of the ring and walks up to meet Simon Wright as the two exchange a handshake and look back at Gas in disgust who is down in the middle of the ring still.
A standard, competitive encounter here as both men try to establish position in the new year. Swinger uses his size advantage early, trapping Jett in the ropes and working him over with stiff chops. Jett turns the tables with his explosive speed, hitting a beautiful springboard dropkick that sends Swinger crashing to the outside. Swinger slows the pace down back inside with a side headlock and a textbook back breaker for a two-count. Jett fights out of a chinlock, hits a pair of clotheslines, and ducks a clothesline from Swinger. Out of nowhere, Jett hooks Swinger's arms, lifts him high, and plants him with the Crash Landing release powerbomb! That’s it!
Dylan's Thoughts: Jett impresses me every time I see him, but can’t seem to get any real traction going, and might be losing some of his momentum. It feels like he can be doing so much more, but the question must be what that more is.
We are back from Commercial and Kaz Hayashi is in the ring for a match. Out of nowhere, Amos Hersch is in the ring and clobbers Hayashi with a big clothesline to the back. Hersh drags Hayashi to the corner and flattens him with a Deadweight Elbow! Amos tosses Hayashi from the ring and screams at the fans.
This one is a total sprint right out of the gate. Akio tries to jump London early, but London counters with a lightning-fast arm-drag and an enzuigiri that sends Akio reeling. Akio fires back with a brutal spinning heel kick and takes control, choking London against the bottom rope while the referee is distracted. Akio heads to the top rope looking for a big splash, but London gets his knees up! London capitalizes instantly, building up speed and hitting a dropsault that sends Akio flat onto his back. With Akio positioned perfectly, London springs onto the apron, launches himself over the top rope, and connects beautifully with a Slingshot Moonsault for the quick three-count!
Dylan's Thoughts: Not a good night to be a former Jung Dragon. London gets the rare win and he has always seemed to have something special. Maybe 2002 can be a year for London to be showcased more.
The camera is backstage, focused on a door that says “Shane McMahon’s Office” the door opens and Tommy Dreamer walks out, holding a title, he holds it up to the camera. He says thanks to Shane McMahon, WCW is ready to get hardcore, ready to get extreme again, and ready to unleash the Innovator of Violence. The World Hardcore title is back, and Tommy Dreamer will defend it every time he steps into the ring.
This is absolute, unadulterated chaos from the opening bell. Weapons are introduced immediately as Crowbar comes out swinging a steel chair, leveling Chetti before hitting a wild sunset flip off the apron onto Reno on the floor. Inside the ring, Dreamer is cracking Chetti with a trash can lid. Crowbar is looking fantastic in this match, throwing completely caution to the wind with a crazy diving senton off the top turnbuckle into a pile of trash cans on the outside. Reno gets his moments too, hitting a brutal Roll of the Dice on Chetti across a baking sheet, but Dreamer breaks up the pin with a Kendo stick.
The action spills everywhere until a table gets set up in the corner. Crowbar and Chetti take their brawl up the ramp, leaving Dreamer and Reno alone in the ring. Reno charges, but Dreamer counters, kicking him in the gut and hoisting him onto his shoulders. Dreamer drives him straight through the wood with a massive Spicolli Driver through the table! Dreamer hooks the leg, and the referee counts 1—2—3!
Dylan's Thoughts: A choice of a match to bring back the Hardcore belt for sure. Why a 4-way, and why with Reno and Chetti. Who knows. Building a Hardcore division to add more stuff for the lower card is great and maybe a great way for guys like Dreamer, Crowbar, Kwee Wee and Jason Jett to have something to do. But this match was not a slam dunk of a reintroduction for the division at all.