[2000-11-15-WCW-Thunder] Lance Storm vs Booker T

[soup23]

This really should have been the main event feud in the Fall. Now, Storm has lost some steam and I can’t even keep track of Major Gunns affiliation anymore. Storm gives a good effort here given the opportunity. He keeps peppering in shots to the leg which sets up the Maple Leaf as a false finish. Also, watch the background after the nearfall dropkick with the chair as people start rushing the guardrail as they bite on the finish. That type of genuine emotion is pretty few and far between at this point in WCW. I thought Booker again looked ok to fine here but certainly not “ace” promotion level worthy and he picks up the win with the Bookend. **1/2

 

[GSR]

Mean Gene thinks that most people are thoroughly sick to their stomachs after what Team Canada did to General Rection and the M.I.A. on Monday night.  Lance Storm says that as, once more, the Canadian National champion he is deserving of a World title shot and if Booker T is half the champion he claims to be he will give him that shot tonight.  Gene gets in a funny aside at Major Gunns after Team Canada leave, calling her a “self-serving bitch” and he can’t believe that he once had the hots for her!

We hear from Booker and he’s sick and tired of being left laying by Scott Steiner.  He says how he’s the WCW World champion but gets no respect and is fed up of people treating Steiner like he’s the best thing since sliced bread.  Lance Storm can have his title shot and goes on to welcome him to hell!

Serious Lance needs everyone’s undivided attention as tonight he plans to bring dignity back to the WCW World Heavyweight championship just like he did the Canadian Heavyweight title, for as good as Booker T is,  he’s not as good as the man from Calgary, Alberta, Canada!  Booker is over big with the crowd here.  He ducks under the Storm clothesline, flying forearm and a clothesline of his own sends Lance over the top rope and to the outside.  Stupidly he gets distracted by Major Gunns though after following him to the floor and Storm hot shots him across the guard rail.  Back inside Lance’s knife edge chops only fire Booker up, but after whipping him into the corner he then runs into a big boot.  Jawbreaker followed by a springboard missile dropkick for a two.  Booker ducks another Lance clothesline and lands an axe kick after a boot to the mid-section.  This crowd is super hot and really behind him.  He misses the Harlem sidekick and Storm with a basement dropkick as he looks to soften him up for the Canadian Maple Leaf.  Lance rolls through on a sunset flip and locks in the single leg crab right in the middle of the ring.  As Stevie Ray plays cheerleader from the commentary desk the champ fights his way to the ropes for the break.  Booker takes to the floor to grab a few additional seconds of recovery but, in a change of fortunes from earlier, when Storm follows him out he’s the one who gets dropped onto the metal railing.  Major Gunns slides a chair into the ring for her man to use, however Booker comes off the top with a dropkick sending it crashing into his own face for the closest of all near falls.  Lance DDTs him onto the chair as Tony Schiavone goes off on referee Mickey Jay for not getting it out of there sooner.   Booker kicks out of the cover and while Schiavone was already to announce a new champion Stevie had no worries, saying how his brother has never been known for having a soft head!  As he comes off the top with a flying lariat, Booker snatches and then plants him with the ‘Book End’ for the win.  He singlehandedly takes care of the rest of Team Canada when they try to jump him post-match, including giving a ‘Book End’ to Major Gunns after she had hit with the Canadian flag, the commentators talking about this being a new Booker T who has been pushed too far.

Booker is finding his groove as World champion and another good TV match from him on the back of the one against Mike Awesome last week.  I also like this new aggressive side to him, something that will need to channel and harness if he is to hang with ‘Big Poppa Pump’.  The ‘Book End’ on Major Gunns showing that he is done taking shit from people and being walked over.  Brilliant crowd here too!