[2000-08-13-WCW-New Blood Rising] 3 Count vs Jung Dragons (Ladder)

[soup23]

Tank leads us in a new 3 Count song which was funny. This match puts the pressure on TLC to deliver as it is a fun spotfest for sure. Tons of neat spots with the ladders and all six men look like a beacon in the doldrums of 2000 WCW. The stuff with Tank on one hand is funny but he is the focal point and that is unfortunate. The rules were also a little wonky as you had to retrieve two items so Noble gains the first but it falls into Tank’s hands. 3 Count is then able to grab the contract and win the match. Tank flees with both. *** (6.1)

[AstroBoy]

They worked really hard to make an impact here and engineer tons of fun unique spots. Some of them come off a bit contrived and lacking in actual impact though. Ultimately it means little because the booking is pretty dumb but Three Count gets a cheap win and they are at least a fun heat-getting act to showcase in ways like this.

 

**3/4

[GSR]

3 Count are accompanied by Tank Abbott, although the act seems more about him now and they’re pushed to the background, dancing behind while he sings. Double ladder match where above the ring are a gold record and also a recording contract; 3 Count are to collect their gold record, while the Dragons the recording contract (in order to prevent 3 Count from ever recording another album apparently!). Helms and Noble work really well together in the opening exchanges. After a back elbow by Helms, he signals to Shannon and they sprint off up the aisle to collect the ladders. The Dragons are in hot pursuit; Yang whips Moore into the guardrail with authority and then brings the first ladder back to the ring with him. It’s propped up in the corner and Yang backdrops Shannon into it. He bridges the ladder across the middle ropes, sits Moore on the top turnbuckle, and as he’s looking to superplex him whilst stood on the ladder, Shane swipes a leg and Yang crotches himself on one of the rungs. 3 Count stacks the Dragons up on the horizontal ladder, and an assisted splash by Shannon onto all three. Helms makes a first attempt to try and retrieve the gold record, but he’s met on the ladder by Kaz. Karagias and Yang get underneath their opposition, sitting them on their shoulders, and stereo springboard ‘Doomsday Devices’ by Moore and Jamie-san. Huge crossbody off the top of the ladder to the arena floor by Noble. The Dragons take a great series of bumps off the ladder as they try to grab the recording contract, with Helms’ leaping swinging neckbreaker on Jamie, and Karagias’ delayed vertical suplex on Kaz being the highlights. Evan with a scoop powerslam to Kaz onto the ladder as they all continue to put their bodies on the line. Double team teeter totter/Russian leg sweep spot on Noble. Asai moonsault to the floor by Yang is only just caught by the camera. Jamie with a top rope rana on Shannon, and Kaz and Yang come off the ladders with a pair of splashes onto him. Noble collects the gold record, but as he’s descending the ladder, 3 Count dropkick it, he falls and Tank snatches it from him. Kaz and Yang uses the ladders as weapons, and Jamie with a legdrop off the top to Karagias as he’s sandwiched between one of them. Sit out powerbomb off the ladder on Moore. As Helms and Kaz climb separate ladders, Tank enters the ring and pushes both of them over. He then orders Karagias to retrieve the recording contract, which he does, and 3 Count come out on top. Evan passes the contract to Tank while he climbs down, but Tank leaves on his own with both that and the gold record while 3 Count are left alone in the ring.

 

Whatever the rules were, they weren’t what Tony Schiavone explained at the start of the match that’s for sure! I said at the onset that the 3 Count/Tank Abbott act seems more about Tank than 3 Count, and I’m even more convinced that’s the case after watching the match. Tank was way too animated, up on the apron as opposed to the floor, and distracting from the in ring action. The huge plus about him doing a runner with the record and contract is that this should be the end for the group. All six worked ridiculously hard here, and although it’s almost wrong to single anyone out, special props especially to Jamie Noble and Shane Helms. Was it contrived at times? Yeah, but it was still a very fun match, and every one of them should be commended for their efforts and bringing some new and innovative stuff to the ‘ladder match’ gimmick.