10 Wrestling PPV Matches Allocated Far Too Little Time
5. Scott Steiner Vs. Mike Awesome - WCW Spring Stampede 2000
Match Length: 03:14
Why it was too short: Vince Russo had just been reinstated as WCW booker around this time - and his criminal fingerprints were all over Spring Stampede 2000.
That explains why the ultra-talented pairing of Scott Steiner and Mike Awesome were allocated just 03:14 with which to work this United States title tournament match. It represented an awe-inspiring clash of styles - Steiner with his amateur prowess and Awesome with his devastating aerial arsenal had the potential to wrestle the sort of sleeper classic Russo had absolutely zero interest in booking.
Accordingly, it was cut short after just over three minutes thanks to Russo's second favourite trope - the run-in!* - which saw Kevin Nash smash Awesome with a crutch (how apropos). In typically brainless WCW fashion, Steiner wasn't even disqualified.
It was white-hot while it lasted. Steiner was an absolute tour de force back then, taking Awesome down and screaming intensely in his face as he stiffly battered his neck with elbow strikes. Awesome for his part snatched the advantage with his remarkably fluid slingshot shoulder block and springboard back elbow.
An early round tournament match by design should be kept reasonably short, to preserve the lustre of the final and to work within time constraints.
But it shouldn't be a mind-melting waste of talent - that's for damn sure, bro!
*His first will be revealed a little later on...