[2001-01-31-OVW-Christmas Chaos] Kane vs Leviathan

[GSR]

Synn is suffering after her altercation with Lita earlier in the night, although is confident that no man can defeat her ‘Demon of the Deep’, Leviathan, not even ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. Only extended highlights of this are shown, but bar one ugly clothesline (where there may well have been a miscommunication issue), this wasn’t too bad. Leviathan is presented as an equal to the ‘Big Red Machine’, going toe to toe with him, whilst Kane gives him a ton including taking a belly to belly, a spinebuster and a great looking powerslam. After a flying clothesline off the top, Kane signals for the tombstone. He gets Leviathan up, but he slips down Kane’s back and shoves him into referee Robert Brisco knocking him from the ring. Chokeslam by Kane, however there is no one to count the pin. Synn’s attempted interference is thwarted when he sees her coming and grabs her around the throat. Payne & Damien come to her aid and an almighty spear takes Kane off his feet as it’s now four on one. The Hardy Boyz and Lita run off the ‘Disciples of Synn’ and here’s Steve Austin. This is great! Stunner, Kane with a second chokeslam and Leviathan tastes defeat for the first time.

 

You had Brock in the opening match looking like a future WWF star, and you had Leviathan closing out the show looking every bit the same. The presentation of Leviathan was tremendous; he didn’t look overawed or out of place in there (it could easily have passed for being on a WWF card) Kane gave him plenty of offense, sold for him, went up for his power moves and it took a combination of a ‘Stone Cold stunner’ from the biggest star in the industry and a pair of chokeslams to finally put him away. That’s how you make someone look strong in defeat. Yes he may have lost for the first time but due to how he was presented, that’s not what you’ll take from watching this.

[soup23]

Well my hard drive took a big ol crash so most of the stuff I have watched in the next week chronologically over the last month calendar wise are lost but I will do my best. I thought this was a cool big vs big matchup. Leviathan having his undefeated streak being lost to Kane coming in on a one off is weird on the surface but its not like he lost any credibility. Kane is looking pretty spirited in 2001 and I am surprising myself that as I come to the close of the month overall, he is in position to be in my top 100 WOTY. The Leviathan vs AUstin showdown was cool just given the gravity of both men in retrospect and their popularity over the years. **1/2