WCW Uncensored 1999 Review

Welcome back to the TJRwrestling retro reviews, where we are looking at every WCW Pay-Per-View during the “Monday Night War” era this time with a look at WCW Uncensored 1999.

We are coming off of Superbrawl IX, which was a pretty solid show that had some stand-out moments. Compared to the Souled Out show before it, it felt like a real step up. The surprising thing was that the main event matches delivered where normally they had fallen short up to that point. You can read my complete thoughts on that show and every show we have covered here. We are now moving forward in 1999 and next up is Uncensored, which will feature a rematch between “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan and “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair inside of a cage. Will it live up to the mark that Superbrawl set? Let’s find out!

WCW Uncensored
March 14th, 1999
Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky

The show starts with a package looking at Hogan vs. Flair, but soon we are in the arena and are joined by Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay, and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. Schiavone talks about the cage match a little bit later which will have barbed wire around the top, the cage has no door, and it is a first blood match. Flair is also putting his career on the line.

They send it over to “Mean” Gene Okerlund and he mentions that a lot of the matches on Uncensored are unsanctioned by WCW. He shills the hotline as well before he sends it to the ring for the first match of the night. Before they get there, though, Schiavone cuts him off and they go to a package for Kevin Nash vs. Rey Mysterio Jr. tonight.

WCW Cruiserweight Title Match
Kidman (c) vs. Mikey Whipwreck

Whipwreck was a longtime ECW wrestler but has since come to WCW. This is his debut match for the company. Kidman has been a strong champion thus far and has defended the title at every turn as well as taken the “Billy” out of his name officially.

They lock up and Whipwreck takes Kidman down with a shoulder block. He throws him into the ropes again and grabs the head to hit a Headscissors Takeover. Whipwreck gets some more shots to the head and sends Kidman into the ropes again, but this time he is sent to the outside with a dropkick. Kidman follows him out and throws him into the barricade at ringside. He rolls Whipwreck back into the ring and climbs up top to hit a big splash for two. Kidman charges in, but Whipwreck ducks underneath and sends both men crashing to the floor. He sends Kidman into the barricade and hits some shots to the head. He tries to throw Kidman into the apron, but he reverses it and sends Whipwreck hard into it. Whipwreck recovers and sends Kidman throat-first on the barricade before sending him back into the ring. Whipwreck wraps up the legs and puts Kidman in an Indian Death Lock. Whipwreck works him into the ropes and drops a leg across the back of the head. He gets Kidman into the corner and hits some chops to the chest. He sends Kidman to the other side, but he reverses and takes Whipwreck down with a clothesline. Kidman stomps on him in the corner and sends him into the ropes and tries a facebuster, but Whipwreck reverses it into a Powerbomb for a two count. Kidman gets back to his feet and hits a kick before sending Whipwreck crashing to the floor. Kidman comes out after him with a Springboard Splash and it wipes both men out.

Kidman works him back to the ring, but Whipwreck comes back with a splash off the apron and covers Kidman for two. Whipwreck tries a suplex, but Kidman reverses it into a DDT. Kidman climbs up top, but Whipwreck is there to knock him off and he falls to the floor. Whipwreck comes off the top to the floor, but Kidman moves, and he hits nothing but barricade. Kidman charges in, but Whipwreck backdrops him into the fans. He comes in and tries a splash, but Kidman ducks out of the way and he hits nothing but concrete. Kidman sends him flying back over the railing. He tries a clothesline, but Whipwreck hits a drop toe hold and Kidman hits the stairs. Whipwreck rolls him back into the ring and gets a two. Whipwreck punches Kidman but soon finds himself thrown into the corner. Kidman tries a splash, but Whipwreck dives out of the way. Kidman gets a roll-up and gets a two-count. He is wiped out with a clothesline as both men get back to their feet. Kidman recovers and hits a Spinebuster for a two-count. Whipwreck comes back with a neck breaker and goes to the top, but Kidman is right behind him. Whipwreck shoves him off and hits a Diving Clothesline for a close near fall. Whipwreck tries a suplex, but Kidman reverses and hits a Tiger Driver. Whipwreck comes back and both men climb up top before Whipwreck brings him off with a back suplex. Whipwreck hits another move, but can’t win the match. He tries a Powerbomb, but Kidman reverses it into a Facebuster. He pulls Whipwreck to the corner and hits a Shooting Star Press to win the match and retains the title. The match went 14:57.

Winner and STILL WCW Cruiserweight Champion: Kidman
Match Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Collective Thoughts: Very strong showing from Whipwreck here. It’s not every day that you debut for a company on PPV and get a title shot, so it was a big spot for him. He held himself well and the match had a lot of back and forth which was fast-paced and didn’t slow down much. Kidman winning was the move here, but Whipwreck looked good in defeat.

There is a package showing the feud between Stevie Ray and Vincent who have been at odds for a bit now. Hogan has been telling both guys that they are the leader of NWO Black and White (AKA the B team) and that has led to them having a Harlem Street Fight tonight. The winner will be the de facto leader of the group.

They show the cage being built with a Flair promo narrating it.

Harlem Street Fight
Stevie Ray vs. Vincent

They both come out to the same theme music, which is fun listening to the NWO theme for 3 minutes straight.

Vincent pokes Ray in the chest, but he soon gets pushed down to the mat. Vincent gets some shots into the head before he gets wiped with a kick from Ray to the head. He tosses Vincent down to the mat by the neck and charges in, but Vincent pulls the ropes down and he crashes to the outside. Vincent continues working on him on the outside and tries to throw him into the barricade, but Ray reverses it and sends Vincent in instead. He works on him against the railing before Vincent flys into the crowd. They work through the crowd and are going up the stairs. Vincent takes an ugly bump against some chairs that aren’t being used in an area that is surrounded by caution tape. They probably taped it off just for this match and spot. Ray continues to pound on him through the crowd and they finally get back into the ring. Vincent plays possum and sends Ray over the railing back to ringside. Vincent rolls him into the ring and hits an elbow drop across the back of the head. Vincent comes off the second rope and covers him for two. He comes off the ropes again only this time Ray gets a foot up. Ray beats Vincent in the corner and hits a clothesline after charging in. They have an ugly, ugly spot in the corner before Horace Hogan comes down to the ring. Horace slides the slapjack into the ring and Vincent grabs it, but Ray hits Vincent with his move, also called The Slap Jack to win the match after 6:30.

Winner: Stevie Ray
Match Rating: DUD

Collective Thoughts: The “Street Fight” stipulation was a very loose interpretation for this match. They went into the crowd, but other than that, there wasn’t much going on. Vincent was an awful wrestler and this match just put a magnifying glass on that. This was pretty bad overall.

Jericho is backstage with the internet guys and he says that is going to embarrass Saturn again tonight in a Dog Collar Match. Jericho says that tonight he is going to whip Saturn across the arena and make him embarrassed to be a wrestler.

Kevin Nash (w/Lex Luger & Miss Elizabeth) vs. Rey Mysterio Jr.

Last month, Luger was going to tag with Nash but had an injury, and Scott Hall filled in. They ended up beating Mysterio & Konnan and the stipulation was Mysterio having to take his mask off. Mysterio did pick up a win over Nash on an episode of Nitro, so it doesn’t seem as lopsided.

Mysterio runs in to start the match, but he is met with a Big Boot from Nash. Nash throws him across the ring and he damn near hits the other corner from the hangtime. He tries it again only this time Mysterio hits him with a facebuster. Mysterio hits a leg drop as Nash tries to get up before sending him to the outside with a Spinning Heel Kick. He teases diving to the outside but just does a Baseball Slide which Nash moves away from, and Mysterio flys into the railing. Nash throws him back into the ring and works him with some knees in the corner. He sets Mysterio up on the top rope and hits an elbow to the head that sends Mysterio to the outside. He chokes him with his boot before rolling Mysterio back into the ring. He picks Mysterio up by the neck and hits an atomic drop. He sends Mysterio into the ropes, but he stops and hits Nash with a low blow (right in front of the referee) and dropkicks the knee out from Nash. Nash goes to the corner and is met with a Bronco Buster. Mysterio tries a Moonsault, but Nash catches him. The referee and Nash share some words which allow Mysterio to come off the ropes, but Luger grabs his foot and he falls to the mat. Nash hits him with a Big Boot and a Jackknife Powerbomb to win the match after 6:19.

Winner: Kevin Nash
Match Rating: 2/5 Stars

Collective Thoughts: This match was actually entertaining for how one-sided it felt at times, and that is a testament to how good Rey Mysterio was. He didn’t make the size difference seem so bad and wrestled a lot bigger than he actually was. Picking up a win over Nash on Nitro almost guaranteed his loss here, but he certainly didn’t look bad.

There is a promo from Raven and he talks about his match tonight against Hak and Bam Bam Bigelow tonight. Hak and Bigelow also have a chance to talk about the match.

Handicap Match
Ernest “The Cat” Miller & Sonny Onoo vs. Jerry Flynn

Flynn has his hair cut by Miller and Onoo on Nitro a week ago and that led to this “karate” style match. Also, the overdubbed music going on here is something else.

Flynn quickly gets things started and kicks Miller in the head and hits a chop to the chest. He goes for Onoo, but Miller comes from behind and takes him down to the mat. Flynn hits a kick to Miller and a suplex for a two-count. They change karate moves before Flynn takes him down and hits some stiff punches to the head. Miller and Onoo go to the outside and Flynn comes out after him with a splash. Onoo and Miller recover and take Flynn down to the floor before rolling him back into the ring. Miller parades around the ring before sending Flynn to the outside again where Onoo hits him with some kicks. Flynn gets back in the ring, but is quickly hit by Miller. Miller sends him into the ropes and hits him with a sidekick. Miller and Onoo argue before Onoo tags into the match and covers Flynn, but he kicks out. Flynn grabs Onoo by the leg, but he still gets to the corner to make the tag to Miller. He comes in and lays Flynn out with a kick to the head again. Miller sends him to the outside for a third time before sending him hard into the barricade. Miller grabs a chair, but the referee takes it away from him. Flynn recovers and takes Miller down with a clothesline before rolling him back into the ring. Flynn rolls him up for two, but Miller is quickly back to his feet. Flynn reverses an Irish Whip and Miller flys into Onoo, which the referee calls a legal tag. Flynn just covers him to win after 7:08.

Winner: Jerry Flynn
Match Rating: DUD

Collective Thoughts: Oh boy, this was the worst match on the show thus far. Miller and Flynn had some back and forth, but the only time Onoo was in the match was for a kick and to be pinned. Not much else to say about this match.

There is a package showcasing The Tag Team Title Lumberjack match between Curt Hennig & Barry Windham vs. Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko. These two teams fought last month, in which Hennig & Windham won the titles.

Raven’s Rules Match
Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Hak vs. Raven (w/Chastity)

Hak was The Sandman in ECW and was one of their biggest stars. You could tell that WCW was trying to get their piece of the “hardcore” puzzle and brought in a lot of guys that found success in ECW.

The match starts with all three men beating on each other as soon as Raven gets in the ring. Raven and Bigelow start working on Hak together and smash him into the corner. They are soon going after each other and Bigelow is the last man standing when it’s all said and done. Chastity brings out a cart full of stuff to use in the ring. Hak grabs a garbage can and nails Bigelow, but he is soon taken out by Raven. Raven uses the two trash lids against both guys before Bigelow takes him out with a garbage can. Bigelow breaks an oar over the back of Hak before Raven grabs a mailbox and takes the guys out with it. Raven sends Hak into a garbage can before having a stand-off with Bigelow. Hak grabs an ironing board and lays Raven out with it, but he is soon taken out with a cookie sheet to the head. Bigelow hits Raven with the mailbox before going to the trash can lid again. Raven sends Hak flying to the ironing board and it crumbles underneath of him. Raven hits Bigelow with a drop toe hold that sends him into the garbage can. Hak hits Bigelow with a shot to the head but it’s short-lived and he is sent to the mat again. Raven ripes everyone out with the ironing board and the ring is completely covered with garbage at this point. Raven stacks cans into the corner, but Bigelow sends him into them instead.

Bigelow grabs a box fan and hits Hak over the head with it. Hak comes back with a broom and chokes Bigelow with it, but Raven hits him from behind with the oar. Raven grabs a chair and hits Bigelow with it, but he is soon taken down to the mat again. Hak hits him with a paint tray as he comes down and Bigelow is now in control with the cookie sheet. Bigelow squashes both guys into the corners. Hak puts Raven on the top rope and hits a Frankensteiner, which was impressive. Hak slides a table into the ring, but Bigelow beats him to the punch and sets it up himself. He puts Hak on it and climbs on the second rope, but Hak rolls off. Raven hits Hak from behind and helps Bigelow Powerbomb him through the table. He doesn’t break, but Bigelow comes off the rope with a splash and that does the trick. Bigelow and Raven go at it again while Hak hits them from behind with his Singapore Cane. He hammers Raven with the cane as Chastity grabs some tape on the outside. Bigelow slides more tables into the ring. Raven and Hak send Bigelow through a table as he comes back in. Raven hits The Even Flow DDT on Hak right after, but instead of going for the win, he starts to tape Hak’s hands behind his back. Hak gets destroyed with a chair and this is reminiscent of The Rock vs. Mankind at The Royal Rumble the same year. Bigelow hits Raven with Greetings from Asbury Park, but doesn’t go for the pin. Instead, he sets up a table, but is shot in the face by Chastity with a fire extinguisher. He falls through the table as Chastity gets in the ring and hits Raven with the extinguisher which allows Hak to cover him for the win after 14:29.

Winner: Hak
Match Rating: 2/5 Stars

Collective Thoughts: This was a hard match to rate because it was an absolute mess from the very beginning. The quality of the match wasn’t very good, but it’s hard not to give them some points for destroying each other. Chastity turning on Raven and joining with Hak was the big angle of the match, but at that point, I wanted it to be over. Also, I thought this match went WAY too long.

The announcers are on-camera as they clean up the ring and they run down the matches for the rest of the night. Heenan turns his back for the entire segment which is pretty funny.

Lumberjack WCW Tag Team Title Match
Curt Hennig & Barry Windham (c) vs. Dean Malenko & Chris Benoit

The Lumberjacks for this match will all have belts to whip the guys in the ring with. Windham and Malenko had a moment on Nitro when Malenko was choked with the belt they are going to use tonight, so it makes sense.

Hennig and Benoit are starting the match for their team. Before they can lock up, Arn Anderson makes his way down to the ring to join the lumberjacks. Windham and Hennig jump out of the ring to try and run up the entrance, but the lumberjacks hit them and throw them back in the ring. Hennig slaps Benoit across the face and Benoit answers in kind. Benoit takes him down with a clothesline and sends him to the outside where he gets beat up and sent back in. He quickly makes a tag to Windham he comes in and is put into the corner by Benoit. He slides out of the ring and gets beat up. Benoit sends him into the ropes and hits a back body drop before hitting some chops across the chest. He makes a tag to Malenko, which hits Windham with a kick to the head. He tries to fight back, but Malenko works him into the corner and takes him down to the mat. He tags Benoit back into the match and he takes him down with an elbow. Benoit sends him into the corner, but Windham gets a foot up. He hits Benoit with a DDT and tags Hennig back into the match. Hennig drops his knees on Benoit and sends him to the outside. The lumberjacks do some damage and send him back in. Hennig sends him out again and he is beaten up again. Hennig grabs a rest hold as Benoit gets back in, but Benoit hits a suplex to break it up. Hennig manages to get a tag to Windham, who comes in and takes Benoit down with a clothesline. Windham hits Benoit with a dropkick for a two-count.

He hits Benoit with some shots to the head, but Benoit fights back with some of his own. He comes off the ropes and takes Windham down with a clothesline. Windham crawls to his corner and makes a tag to Hennig, who comes in and starts working on Benoit, but is taken down with a German Suplex from Benoit. He makes a tag to Malenko who comes in and goes after Hennig, while Benoit and Windham go at it. Malenko hits Hennig with The Hennig Plex, but Windham breaks it up. Malenko gets Hennig in The Texas Cloverleaf right after, but Windham breaks it up again. They send Malenko to the outside and everyone beats on him before he is sent back in. Windham hits him with a scoop slam and hits a chop to the chest. Hennig puts his boot on the top rope and Windham sends Malenko’s head into it before hitting him with a Vertical Suplex. Hennig tags back in and puts Malenko in a Sleeper Hold. Hennig works him into the corner and hits some chops to the chest. Windham pounds on Malenko as Hennig distracts the referee and sends him to the outside to be feasted on. Back in the ring, Hennig stands over Malenko and tags Windham back into the match. He hits Malenko with a clothesline and beats on him in the corner. Malenko fights back and both men are down on the mat. Both men make tags and Benoit wipes Hennig out and starts working on Windham as well. He sends Hennig head first into the corner before turning his attention to Windham. They fly to the outside and a brawl breaks out between everyone. Hennig has a belt wrapped around his hand and he hits Malenko and Anderson with it who was up on the apron. Anderson gets back in the ring and hits Hennig with a tire iron. Malenko pulls Windham to the outside as Benoit hits Hennig with The Diving Headbutt and picks up the win after 15:58.

Winner(s) and NEW WCW Tag Team Champions: Dean Malenko & Chris Benoit
Match Rating: 3/5 Stars

Collective Thoughts: I thought this match was solid between guys that know what they were doing. Malenko and Benoit held themselves well here and I was really impressed by Hennig as well. It was cool to see a tag team title match has a little sizzle to it and with the lumberjack stipulation, this match had that. Benoit and Malenko picking up the win make sense and it gives them their first title reigns in a while.

Dog Collar Match
Chris Jericho (w/ Ralphus) vs. Perry Saturn

These two have had matches at the last couple of Pay-Per-Views, and most of the matches have been entertaining. Jericho has beaten Saturn and forced him to wear a dress for his matches. Saturn has gotten a win back and this is the rubber match for the two.

Jericho wants Ralphus to put the collar on instead of him, but he refuses. Jericho kicks Ralphus out of the arena for not listening to him and he gives Jericho a mouthguard before he leaves. Jericho is slow to put the collar on and Saturn gets tired of waiting and hits him with a series of suplexes before putting the collar on Jericho himself. Jericho slides out of the ring and tries to leave, but Saturn pulls him back into the ring. Saturn hits a clothesline and tries to whip him with it, but Jericho quickly gets back to his feet. He sends Jericho into the corner and hits him with the chain across the nose. He kicks Jericho in the head and starts choking him with the chain. Saturn drops Jericho on the ropes before pulling him to the outside and he hits the railing. Saturn works on him on the outside and sends him flying into the railing. Saturn gets him back into the ring and chokes Jericho with it. He sends him into the ropes, but Jericho slides under his legs and hits him with a low blow. Jericho sends Saturn flying over the rope and chokes him with the chain. They get up on the apron where Jericho tries to Powerbomb him over the ropes, but Saturn reverses it with a Hurricanrana that brings both men in. Jericho recovers and chokes Saturn with the chain again. Jericho takes him out with a shot with the chain and covers him with a foot on the chest. Jericho climbs to the top rope, but Saturn pulls him off. Saturn sends Jericho flying all over the ring with the chain and punches him in the corner. Jericho comes back and tries to get The Liontamer on, but Saturn starts to choke Jericho. Jericho gets the move on, but he is also being choked in the process. Jericho drops from being choked and as he gets back up, Saturn hits a Death Valley Driver, but Jericho kicks out. He puts Jericho on the top and tries a Frankensteiner, but Jericho drops him with a Powerbomb. Jericho takes the chain off Saturn and wraps it around himself. Jericho goes up top, but misses a Moonsault. He recovers and hits a Scoop Slam and goes up top again and misses again. Saturn is back up and hits another Death Valley Driver and that is enough to pick up the win after 11:50.

Winner: Perry Saturn
Match Rating: 2/5 Stars

Collective Thoughts: These two worked well together as usual, although the dog collar stipulation limits what you can do in a match. Jericho kicking out of the first DVD was a shock, but he couldn’t answer the call after the second one. This was a nice way to get these two a series of matches where both men come out looking better.

Mikey Whipwreck is backstage with the internet guys who were singing his praises and said he did really well tonight. Whipwreck says that he is proud of the way the match went and even though he lost, he will be back.

WCW Television Title Match
Scott Steiner (w/ Buff Bagwell) (c) vs. Booker T.

These two have been going at it on Nitro recently and have been exchanging the Television Title back and forth. It’s nice to see Booker getting a semi-main event match here and I am sure that it would be the catalyst for him becoming a top star in the company.

Steiner throws the title against the ring as Bagwell gives him a pep talk and the bell sounds. Steiner takes his time to get things started and talks to some fans at ringside instead. They lock up with Steiner working him into the corner before they both break. Steiner hits an elbow to the side of the head and pounds away on Booker against the ropes. Steiner takes him down with a shoulder tackle and does it again as Booker gets up. Booker comes back with a flying forearm and tries a sidekick, but Steiner grabs the ropes and goes to the outside. Bagwell yells at the referee to check Booker’s gloves and as he is, Steiner takes advantage with a clothesline. He hits some shots, but Booker comes back with a boot and some punches of his own. Booker with a sidekick and an Atomic Drop before coming off the ropes with a clothesline. Steiner slides to the outside and Booker comes out after him, but Steiner hits him as he comes back on the other side. Booker hits an Atomic Drop and hits a splash off the top, but Bagwell breaks up the count. Why that wasn’t a DQ is beyond me. Bagwell and Booker go at it on the outside with Bagwell flying into the railing. Steiner takes the opportunity to hit Booker from behind and sends him into the stairs at ringside. Back in the ring, Steiner hits a clothesline and drops the elbow on the chest of Booker.

He works Booker to the bottom rope and starts choking him with his knee. Steiner and the referee have a back and forth as Bagwell hits Booker on the outside with some shots to the head. He gets Booker back into the ring and Steiner presses him over his head and drops him down. That was impressive. Steiner covers him with a knee to the chest and hits a Belly To Belly Suplex for a two-count. Steiner keeps Booker grounded with a chin lock. Booker makes his way back to his feet and hits a sidekick and tries The Harlem Sidekick, but Steiner ducks, and he lands crotch-first on the top rope. Booker gets back in the ring and is met with another Belly To Belly Suplex. Steiner sends him into the ropes, but Booker comes back with a forearm shot. Booker hits a series of kicks that knocks Steiner down to the mat. He sends Steiner to the corner and hits The Axe Kick as he comes back out. He hits Steiner with a flapjack and gets back up with a Spinarooni. Booker almost hits the referee with a Harlem Sidekick, but stops himself and hits Steiner with it this time. He goes up top, but Bagwell knocks him down which allows Steiner to hit a Superplex. Bagwell comes into the ring with a chair and inadvertently hits Steiner with it and Booker takes him out. Booker falls on Steiner and picks up the win and regains the title after 13:30.

Winner and NEW WCW Television Champion: Booker T.
Match Rating: 2.75/5 Stars

Collective Thoughts: This was an entertaining match that never had a dull moment. It took a little bit to get started after all of the Steiner trash-talking, but once they started going at it, it was solid from there. My only complaint about the match is the amount that Bagwell was involved and there wasn’t much done about it. I know DQ finishes are weak and no one really likes them, but this was essentially a handicap match at points. Other than that, a strong showing by both guys.

Michael Buffer is in the ring which means it is time for the main event.

Barbed Wire Steel Cage First Blood WCW World Heavyweight Title Match
“Hollywood” Hulk Hogan (c) vs. “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair

If Flair wins, he will win the title and be named President of WCW for the rest of his life. If Hogan wins, Flair is banned from WCW forever.

Flair takes the mic from Michael Buffer as he gets in the ring and says that he wants to make something clear. He is the president of the company and he tells the referee he doesn’t want him to stop the match for something small. He wants the blood to be flowing for the match to end.

The bell sounds and both men lock up with Hogan shoving Flair away. Flair gets back to his feet and both men circle each other. Hogan comes off the ropes with a shoulder tackle to maintain control. Flair comes back with a thumb to the eye and some stiff chops in the corner. Hogan sends Flair into the corner and hits him with a Back Body Drop and knocks Flair down a couple more times. Hogan hits a Scoop Slam and drops multiple elbows across the chest of Flair. Hogan hits a shot to the head and both men go to the corner and exchange chops across the chest. Hogan throws Flair into the corner and hits a clothesline as Flair comes out and takes the faceplant bump. Hogan puts on The Figure Four Leglock on Flair before Flair crawls over and gets to the ropes. Hogan throws Flair against the cage and pounds on him in the corner. Flair is trying to climb out of the cage, but he is busted open here. Hogan and Flair climb to the top rope and both men exchange chops on the top. Hogan throws him down off the top rope and grabs some of the barbed wire from the top of the cage. He runs it against Flair’s forehead and takes his belt off to start whipping him with it. Hogan continues to pound away even though Flair is trying to fight back. Flair is really bleeding at this point as Hogan runs his head across the cage. Flair takes another faceplant bump, but this match should be over already. Hogan hits The Big Boot and hits Flair with The Legdrop, but he can’t pin Flair. He argues with the referee over the fact that Flair is bleeding, and he has a good case for that.

Flair hits Hogan in the face with something he wrapped around his fist and he sends him into the cage. Hogan is now bleeding too. Flair pounds on Hogan as David Flair and Torrie Wilson walk down to the ring. They cheer Hogan on as Flair starts mouthing off to him. Flair runs Hogan into the cage again and drops an elbow on Hogan and pins him and the referee counts the pin. What is going on here? Flair chops Hogan in the corner, but Hogan is stating to “Hulk” up. Hogan hits The Big Boot and Legdrop again, but the referee is slow to make the count, and Flair gets the shoulder up. Flair hits a suplex on Hogan and gets back to his feet, but Hogan is up as well. Flair begs for him not to hit him and Hogan sends him into the cage on both sides. Hogan sends him another time into the cage as the referee admonishes Hogan for continuing to beat on Flair. There is a ref bump and Flair hits a low blow on Hogan. Arn Anderson comes down to the ring and takes David Flair. Wilson jumps on his back, but he throws her off. Anderson hands Flair a tire iron and he hits Hogan with it. Flair puts Hogan in The Figure Four and Charles Robinson makes a fast count to award Flair the title. I will remind everyone that this was a First Blood match that ended with a pin. It went 14:19.

Winner and NEW WCW Heavyweight Champion: Ric Flair
Match Rating: 2/5 Stars

Collective Thoughts: If anyone wanted to see a snapshot in time where you could say “WCW can’t book main events well”, this would be the perfect match for that. Both of these guys were the biggest stars in the industry at one point in time and while I didn’t hate the match, I hated the rules changing midway through it all. All night long they were pounding on the First Blood stipulation and that pinfalls and submissions didn’t matter. The match ended in a pinfall anyway. I know this is building to a storyline where the referee is in Flair’s pocket, but living in the moment, it was weird to see. I thought the match was fine, but Flair started bleeding about 5 minutes into it, and it just went on from there. This is WCW falling back into the same booking of the main events that drove people away.

After the match, David Flair checks on Hogan in the ring as the show goes off the air.

Overall Show Rating: 4 out of 10

This show went back to the Souled Out formula where a lot of the matches either had no heat or just didn’t come off well. There were some standout matches, but overall, the show was weak. A match like Stevie Ray and Vincent deserves to be on Nitro instead of a Pay-Per-View, and that isn’t a knock to them, just to the booking as a whole. I enjoyed Kidman vs. Mikey Whipwreck and Scott Steiner vs. Booker T, but there were forgettable moments spread throughout the show. The main event match actually upset me watching because of the stipulation of the match being blatantly ignored. I know it is leading to an angle of Charles Robinson being in Flair’s pocket, but watching this as it’s happening, it just comes off as confusing. You could feel the ground falling out from under WCW at this point and it’s just getting started.

What did you think of WCW Uncensored 1999? Loved it? Hated it? Either way, keep the conversation going over @collectiveheel on Twitter, and let me know your thoughts. Take care of yourselves, and most importantly, each other. I will be back soon enough with some more Collective Thoughts.