Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Every Televised Blitzkrieg Match

Nitro
February 8, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Rey Mysterio, Jr. (w/ Konnan)

The cool part of this matchup was that it created a situation where Rey’s opponent was a step a head of him instead of the other way around. Rey then grounded Blitzkrieg and worked on top once he blocked a dive to the floor. Blitzkrieg was never able to make it truly competitive again, and Rey ended up with a (guess what???) hurricanrana. This was a fun debut for Blitzkrieg, and it was interesting to see Rey in a unique situation. (**3/4)

 

Thunder
February 25, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Juventud Guerrera

This was structured similarly to the Rey match. Blitzkrieg got to look good for a bit, but it was basically never competitive again after Juice cut him off. Given that, it went a little too long. There was still some fun stuff mixed in at least before Juice won with the Juvi Driver. (**1/2)

 

Saturday Night
March 6, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Kaz Hayashi

Sadly, this was quite underwhelming. Hayashi took almost the entire match, and he did not do anything of real note while in control. Blitzkrieg’s comeback felt sort of out of nowhere and not made to feel significant in any way. Blitzkrieg tried to save the match towards the end with some wacky flips and whatnot, but the match ended on a double countout to kill any chance of the match being salvaged. (**)

 

Saturday Night
March 20, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Super Calo

It is becoming clear that there is one structure for Blitzkrieg matches: his opponent dominates him the great majority of the time until he does some flippy shit at the end. The only difference this time was that Blitzkrieg actually got to win at the end (with a Phoenix Splash). Unfortunately, Calo did not do all that well on top here, and the match was not compelling as a result. (**)

 

Thunder
March 25, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Billy Kidman

We finally got to see Blitzkrieg in a bit of a longer match, and the result was not great! Kidman worked on top and seemed completely uncomfortable with doing just that. There was no rhythm or flow to the action, and the comeback spots were timed seemingly at random (a flaw I am seeing with a lot of Blitzkrieg so far). This was not encouraging. Kidman ended up winning with the SSP. (**)

 

Thunder
April 8, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Super Calo

Hey, here is a match that I really enjoyed without reservation. A lot of the issues with Blitzkrieg’s matches so far have had to do with the work on top by his opponents and the timing of his comebacks (if he actually gets them). Both of those issues were greatly improved upon in this outing. Calo was on point while working over Blitzkrieg, and Blitzkrieg’s comebacks felt much more organic. They could have built to the finish better, but the rest of the match was good enough for that not to be a huge issue. Blitkrieg won with the Phoenix Splash. (***)

 

Spring Stampede
April 11, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Juventud Guerrera

The winner of this match gets a WCW Cruiserweight Championship match.

This was just both guys throwing bombs (of the highspots variety) at each other all match long, and it was a delight to watch as a result. Some of it was sloppy as shit for sure. Given the context of the match they were going for though, it is much more forgivable. I also liked how they saved the biggest move for last: a super Juvi Driver (that obviously gave Juice the win). This was good fun, and a fine way to kick off a PPV. (***1/4)

 

Nitro
April 19, 1999

Rey Mysterio, Jr.(c) vs. Blitzkrieg vs. Psychosis vs. Juventud Guerrera [WCW Cruiserweight Championship]

This was complete nuttiness. It was twenty minutes of all four guys doing as many spots as possible with basically no rhyme or reason to it at all. I loved it! There was sloppiness for sure, and they could have built to the finish (Psychosis winning the title after a guillotine legdrop on Blitz) better, but this was just so much fun. I highly recommend that everyone seek this match out. (***3/4)

 

Saturday Night
May 8, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Psychosis

This was a simple match that I enjoyed all the way through. It was timed much better than a lot of earlier Blitzkrieg, and you really see the value of that while watching someone like Blitzkrieg. The spectacular action is always cool to see, but it’s the timing that makes it “work.” Just like the four-way these two participated in, it ended when Psychosis gave Blitzkrieg a guillotine legdrop. (***)

 

Worldwide
June 8, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Kaz Hayashi

They traded movez for five minutes before going home. It was easy enough to watch, but it did not add up to much. Kaz won with a Togo senton. (**1/4)

 

Thunder
July 1, 1999

Rey Mysterio, Jr.(c) (w/ Konnan, Swoll, & Brad Armstrong) vs. Blitzkrieg [WCW Cruiserweight Championship]

This was solid and easy to watch, but they did not do a good job of creating drama or building to the finish. They basically each got a chance to control the match, and then Rey won with a super hurricanrana. Their first match was slightly better. (**1/2)

 

Saturday Night
July 17, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Eddie Guerrero

It just took a minute of action for this match to illustrate just how much better Eddie is than every other opponent Blitzkrieg had faced so far (yes, even Rey). The way he carried himself and controlled Blitzkrieg was just so natural, and you could see how much of a star he could have been even then. What a waste. Anyway, the match was structured decently with Eddie getting control early, Blitzkrieg coming back with everything in his arsenal, and then Eddie calmly putting him away with a brainbuster and then the frogsplash. (***1/4)

 

Nitro
August 30, 1999

Blitzkrieg & La Parka vs. Rey Mysterio, Jr. & Eddie Guerrero

This was short and sweet tag match with non-stop action (and great shtick from La Parka). This did not mean much, but a match like this can be fun when they hold nothing back. They probably could have had great matches with a bit more time (and if this was not just fodder for Filthy Animals’ feud with Vampiro and ICP). Eddie and Rey won clean. (***)

 

Worldwide
August 31, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Billy Kidman

This was sloppy, short, and accomplished virtually nothing. Kidman won by reversing a powerbomb into an X-Factor. You cannot powerbomb Billy Kidman. (3/4*)

 

Nitro
September 6, 1999

Blitzkrieg, Juventud Guerrera, & Psychosis vs. Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, Jr., & Chavo Guerrero

Despite the completely unnecessary double-heat in this one, this was plenty of fun with enough chaos towards the end to make up for the meaningless heat sections. Eddie won clean after a frog splash. (***)

 

Thunder
September 9, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Van Hammer

A cynical person would understandably look at this match as a case of WCW pushing a large dude with little talent over a smaller dude with way more talent. However, this match really over-delivers.

The big-man/little-man dynamic is one of the easiest stories to get over in wrestling, and this match was not the exception. Van Hammer does a bunch of power stuff, and Blitzkrieg throws everything in his arsenal at Hammer to try to keep it competitive. If you can get past what seems like some obvious crowd-enhancing sound (you hear reactions, but everyone is sitting on their hands), I think you will enjoy this a great deal. Hammer obviously ended up winning (cobra clutch slam). (***)

 

Worldwide
September 14, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Juventud Guerrera

Like the other Worldwide matches reviewed here, they did not get enough time to do much. Juice won cleanly with the Juvi Driver. This was inoffensive but pointless. (*3/4)

 

Nitro
September 20, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Evan Karagias

The winner here gets a WCW Cruiserweight Championship match.

This felt like it was designed to be a Karagias showcase. He got most of the big spots, and Blitzkrieg even started to heel it up at one point for no reason whatsoever (except to make Karagias seem better). As a result, this was really not much. Karagias had some decent spots, but he did not compare to Blitzkrieg. (**1/4)

Sid Viscous showed up after the match and destroyed both of them. Sid “pinned” Blitzkrieg and then cut a promo! “Halloween Havoc, the scariest night in the world!” WCW was fantastic!

 

Saturday Night
October 2, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Dean Malenko

Malenko took most of this match with Blitzkrieg barely getting anything in before Malenko finished in five minutes with the Cloverleaf. In the short period of time that they got, they proved to have great chemistry together. Malenko was an excellent base for people like Blitzkrieg. They could have produced something a little bit more special with a few more minutes, but this was solid enough. (**3/4)

 

Thunder
October 7, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Dean Malenko

Despite getting close to twice the amount of the time as their first televised match, they largely stuck to the same story. Dean took the great majority of the match again. Blitzkrieg got proportionally the same amount of offense, but Malenko was able to fend that off and finish him with the Cloverleaf. If anything, the extra time here was a detriment because they never made it seem believable that Blitzkrieg could win. Still, it was fun to watch and well-performed. (**3/4)

 

Thunder
October 21, 1999

Blitzkrieg & Kaz Hayashi vs. Silver King & Juventud Guerrera

I remember watching this a few years and being baffled that this seemingly random match had the heat of the hottest feud possible. Then a friend pointed out that the noise was clearly canned (you can see people barely reacting to any of it). The match is still good though even with the distracting fake noise. Blitzkrieg and Hayashi mostly dominate the match, but it is done in a compelling manner. Silver King and Juice make for great babyfaces in peril, as they bust out a ton of stuff. Their comeback in the final minutes feels very earned. It ended when Juice gave Hayashi the Juvi Driver. Watch this match for sure. (***1/2)

 

Saturday Night
October 23, 1999

Blitzkrieg vs. Rey Mysterio (w/ Billy Kidman & Konnan)

This match was interesting because Blitzkrieg was on top the whole time. He proved to be fully capable of doing the job well, and it makes for one more regret regarding how short his career ended up being (this was his last televised match in fact). He had so much natural talent and proved capable of excelling in a number of roles. Anyway, Mysterio came back of course and won with a Frankensteiner. The win felt out of nowhere because I never expect a hurricanrana to win a match no matter how many Mysterio/WCW matches I go back and watch. Good stuff. (***)