Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 152: Booker T vs. Scott Steiner (WCW and US Title) (Nitro 3/26/01)

The last chance at a great match on the set. I remember it fondly, on the phone with MFP (My Friend Paul) as I was living in Philly, we watched the final Nitro on the phone together still not believing what we were seeing even though we’d known all weekend what was coming. I have fond memories of this match, feeling they put on a show when they didn’t have to (especially Steiner, who was injured).

Weird feel at the start as this is the final Nitro and it’s on a freaking beach at spring break. This is for both the WCW World Title and the U.S. Championship. Booker gets the small crowd going. Great opening exchanges and back and forth. Steiner is already screaming at people in the crowd, and moving well too. He even takes some bumps. Unnecessary moment where Steiner tries to smash Booker with a pipe a minute in, but I’ll forgive it as it was fleeting. Steiner gains control and he’s got heat from the fans to rest on. He still through a mean belly-to-belly. This is a really tight match that has good pacing, as even when Steiner grabs a hold it’s got some meaning.

Booker keeps coming back, much as Steiner tries to change the tides. Steiner’s taking all the T offense. I pop as this all leads to the Book End, but Steiner reverses it into a perfect Northern Lights Suplex (an old fave of mine) for a near fall. It’s only five minutes in but it feels like we’re near the end of the match. This is as good a heavyweight sprint as you’ll see in WCW. A moment later Booker reverses out of a power bomb and nails the Book End for the clean win. The best five minutes you’ll see in the last year of WCW. 3 and 6/10.