This review is dedicated to the memory of John "Earthquake" Tenta. R.I.P.
Perry Saturn vs. Billy Kidman, dark match from before the September 8, 1997 WCW Monday Nitro, Wisconsin Center Arena, Milwaukee, WI.
Historical background: This predates Saturn's first WCW on-screen appearance with Raven on the October 6, 1997 WCW Monday Nitro, Kidman joining what would become known as Raven's Flock a week later, and Saturn's official WCW TV in-ring debut, on the November 1, 1997 WCW Saturday Night.
Saturn starts with a Full Nelson and goes into a Hammerlock. Then a side headlock and a whip off the ropes and Saturn knocks Kidman down with a shoulderblock. Kidman tries a criss cross and Saturn catches him and hits the Double Arm Suplex to a good pop. Saturn stomps Kidman's head, brings Kidman to his feet, and punches him. Saturn whips Kidman into the ropes and Kidman comes off and catches Saturn with a flying headscissors. Kidman hits two dropkicks and clotheslines Saturn over the ropes out to the floor. Crowd is cheering for everything here. Kidman hits a pescado onto Saturn on the floor. Kidman dumps Saturn back in the ring, follows and hits another flying headscissors. Kidman goes for the pin and gets a 2-count. Kidman punches Saturn a couple of times and whips him across but Saturn reverses it into a whip of his own but Kidman brings his knee up into Saturn's face. Kidman punches Saturn a couple of times and climbs up top. He flies off but Saturn catches him with a dropkick. Saturn picks Kidman up and knees him in the head. Saturn whips Kidman toward the ropes but Kidman reverses that. Kidman puts his head down for a back body drop but Saturn catches him with a DDT. It gets 2. Saturn hits an armdrag and turns it into a cross-armbreaker. That gets a 2-count. A couple more reversed whips leads into Saturn getting a reverse rollup for 2. Saturn Superkicks Kidman. Saturn goes up but the top rope legdrop misses. Kidman ducks Saturn's clothesline and hits a lariat of his own. Kidman runs off the ropes and hits an elbow smash. Kidman dropkicks Saturn and hits a Side Suplex. Kidman climbs up and hits the Shooting Star Press...for 2. Kidman hits an Acid Drop. (Note: Kidman actually was using that move before Spike Dudley debuted in ECW, but Spike gave it its name.) It gets 2. Kidman tries the move again but Saturn counters it into a backdrop suplex. Saturn hits Divorce Court (single-arm DDT) and hooks the Rings of Saturn for the submission. Great match with a great crowd. ****
You can watch this match here.
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Earthquake vs. Tank Meloche, dark match from before the taping for the December 30, 2001 WWF Sunday Night Heat, TD Waterhouse Center, Orlando, FL, December 22, 2001.
Historical background: This was a tryout match for Earthquake after he had appeared in the Gimmick Battle Royal earlier in the year at WrestleMania X-7. Tank Meloche was one of Quake's trainees and held the World Heavyweight Title in Quake's short-lived Intense Florida Wrestling promotion before fading from the scene. It was also Tenta's last ever match in the U.S. and his last match as Earthquake, as all matches he had after this were under his real name.
Quake comes out to a very good pop. They face off and Quake does the biceps pose and kicks Meloche in the gut. Quake pounds on Meloche and slams him. Quake comes off the ropes with an elbow for 2. Both guys up and Quake grabs a side headlock. Meloche whips Quake into the ropes and Quake comes back with a shoulderblock but Meloche doesn't move. Meloche kicks Quake in the gut and grabs a side headlock. Quake grabs Tank's hair and walks him back to thr ropes. Whip into the ropes and we get another collision, with Quake not moving this time. Meloche runs into the ropes and comes off with a clothesline and Quake does move this time. Meloche follows with a flying shouldertackle that knocks Quake down. Meloche covers and gets a 2 count. Tank powers Quake into the corner. Tank gives Quake a forearm smash to the chest. Tank gives Quake a cross-corner whip and follows with another forearm smash. Tank chops Quake and gets the "WOO!" reaction. Tank hiptosses Quake out of the corner. Tank is getting some good reactions here. Tank slams Quake and covers for 2. Both guys up, and Tank clotheslines Quake down. Quake gets up, leans back against the ropes and kicks Tank in the gut. Quake whips Tank into the ropes and goes for a clothesline but Tank ducks it. Quake tries again, and Tank runs under it again. Tank comes off with a crossbody that gets 2. Quake rakes Tank's eyes and grabs a side headlock. Into the ropes, and Tank whips Quake across. Quake comes back with a shoulderblock and this time Tank DOES move. Quake comes off the ropes with a DROPKICK! Tank wanders into the corner and Quake follows with a Stinger Splash! Quake forearms Tank in the stomach. Quake tries a cross-corner whip, Tank reverses it, but Quake boots Tank in the face. Quake runs out of the corner and hits the Shark Attack clothesline that was his finisher as The Shark of The Dungeon of Doom in 1995-1996 WCW. It gets 2. Quake tries a big splash but Tank rolls out of the way. Tank hits a Russian Legsweep. Tank hits a Vertical Suplex. It gets 2. Tank goes out to the apron and climbs up to the top turnbuckle but Quake stops him. Quake slams Tank off the top. Quake follows with a legdrop. The crowd is cheering since they know what's next. Quake gives the thumb-across-the-throat signal and starts the tremors, followed by the Earthquake Splash for the pin. Great match, and nice that Quake got to leave on a high note. ****
You can watch this match here.