WCW Thunder

Erie Civic Center, Erie, Pennsylvania
January 12, 2000

With only days until the Souled Out pay-per-view, the nWo seemed to be focused more on their internal problems than the problems that await them four days down the road. Kimberly was put on the hotseat in regards to rumors involving Buff Bagwell. Madusa looked to be ready for a barbecue after her altercation with Oklahoma. And the show-long battle between Bret Hart and the rest of the nWo turned out to be just another one of the dastardly plans formulated by the nWo, which, in the end, sent their battle with the Old Age Outlaws up in flames.

A clip was shown of Kevin Nash, Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner arriving at the arena earlier in the night.

Backstage, Bret Hart arrived at the arena.

Vampiro d. Crowbar with David Flair and Daffney Unger
Vampiro hid on the side of the stage and attacked Crowbar and Flair as they made their way down the aisle. Once in the ring, both men wore each other down with high-flying, punishing moves. Vampiro went to the top rope but Flair caught him with the crowbar as Daffney distracted the referee. Crowbar attempted a huracanrana from the top, but Vampiro turned it into a sit down powerbomb for the win. After the bell, Flair and Vampiro went at it until Daffney cracked Vamp with a lead pipe. Arn Anderson entered the ring and tried to talk sense into Flair, but David just walked away.

Backstage, Bret Hart made his way to the ring with a bat.

Interview: Bret Hart
Hart wore a Calgary Hitmen shirt – not the nWo colors. He said the fans had every right to boo him and said he even made himself sick. Bret said the pink-and-black attack was back, and told the other nWo members to stick it. Nash, Jarrett and Steiner made their way to the stage. Nash said the people want heros, but with the nWo, Hart could be a god. He told The Hitman that the nWo was the only reason the people cared about him at all. Hart challenged the entire nWo to a fight, but Nash said they would give Bret a chance to leave. Hart said no, and Nash said tonight Bret's career would be over.

Backstage, Bret Hart was shown sitting in the locker room with a baseball bat.

WCW Hardcore Title Match
Brian Knobs d. "Screamin" Norman Smiley
Backstage, Norman Smiley refused to go outside for his hardcore match against Brian Knobs. When Smiley went out, Knobs was waiting and attacked. They beat each other outside with trashcans in the alley. Norman took a parking sign over Knobs' back as the fight took to the parking lot. Finally, Knobs laid Smiley out and pinned him on the cold concrete, winning the Hardcore Title.

Backstage, the nWo walked through the back halls with baseball bats. They found Bret's locker room and charged the room, slamming the door behind them.

Backstage, the Old Age Outlaws watched the nWo/Hart situation on the monitor.

Interview: The Revolution
Shane Douglas told The Filthy Animals that on Sunday, it could very well be Douglas himself making his return to the ring as the mystery partner. The Franchise stated that the Animals should know that the entire dressing room is full of back stabbers and the mystery partner could be right there next to them. As Saturn went on with one of his rants, Asya looked on in disbelief. Douglas and Saturn berated her, telling her to know her place.

Backstage, the nWo dragged a beaten Bret Hart down the hallway.

Backstage, the Old Age Outlaws watched the monitor as the nWo beat on Bret Hart. Funk said he deserved it and they would do nothing.

Backstage, as Mean Gene started an interview with Tank Abbott, Jerry Flynn attacked Abbot, bringing the police in to break it up. As the police cuffed Flynn, Tank knocked down a cop and was arrested, as well.

Outside, the nWo burned Bret Hart's wrestling gear as he was held at bay.

Evening Gown Match
Madusa with Spice d. Oklahoma
Miss Handcock from Standards and Practices came out to take notes. Oklahoma and Madusa fought outside the ring. Once inside, Oklahoma took out the BBQ sauce that he had taped to his leg. Madusa hit him low and delivered a suplex. One rip later and Oklahoma was down to his... boxers (thank God!). After the bell, Oklahoma ripped Madusa's dress open and poured BBQ sauce down the front of her.

Interview: Madusa
Madusa told Oklahoma that he was going to get a royal ass whipping and he would get his shot at the Cruiserweight Title at Souled Out.

Backstage, Stevie Ray knocked Booker T out as he made his way to the ring.

Three-Way Match
Booker T d. Midnight and Stevie Ray
Ray pounded on Midnight in the ring, using his size and power to his advantage. Booker charged in, joining the fight. Stevie got himself counted out and the referee said there must be a winner. Ray challenged Booker to finally fight Midnight. Booker and Midnight locked up, and the fight was on. As Booker was thrown from the ring, Stevie Ray hit him with the slapjack. He told Midnight that Booker was beaten and to take the win. Midnight rolled Booker on top, allowing herself to be pinned. Ray came in and slapjacked Midnight.

Backstage, the nWo held Hart as Nash held a pair of scissors, threatening to cut The Hitman's hair.

Jerry Flynn asked for a phone call from his jail cell. The police brought Tank in, placing him in the same cell. A fight broke out and the police came back to break it up again.

Backstage, Chris "Champagne" Kanyon with J. Biggs and his bevy of beauties told Mean Gene that after Kanyon beat Bam Bam Bigelow, Gene could leave Erie with them and party.

Backstage, the nWo appeared to be cutting Bret Hart's hair.

Backstage, Larry Zbyszko and Paul Orndorff searched the back for Bret Hart.

Champagne On A Pole Match
Bam Bam Bigelow d. Chris "Champagne" Kanyon with J. Biggs and his valets
Bigelow charged the ring, but was stopped by Kanyon. Bam Bam went for the champagne first, but was powerbombed off the top rope. Kanyon went up next and was brought down across the turnbuckle as Bigelow ran into the ropes. Kanyon's valets came into the ring to distract the referee and Bigelow, as Kanyon brought in his mysterious championship belt. Bigelow kissed one of the girls, but was hit with the belt. Kanyon retrieved the bottle of champagne, but Bigelow caught him coming off the top. Bam Bam threw the bottle down and delivered a diving headbutt for the win. After the match, The Total Package, dressed like Sting, came in and attacked Bigelow. The lights went down and Sting's music played as a crow appeared on the top rope of the ring. Package looked terrified as he and Elizabeth left the ring area. As the lights went back on, Kanyon smashed the champagne bottle over Bam Bam's head and gave him the Flatliner.

Backstage, Orndorff and Zbyszko found traces of Bret Hart's hair in the hallway.

Interview: Kimbery Page
In a pre-taped interview, Mean Gene asked Kimberly what it was like to be a celebrity couple with DDP. Kim said you get pulled in many different directions. Gene interrupted her, asking if that had something to do with Buff Bagwell. He asked her why she was off TV. She said that Page felt it was better for her to be off for now. Again, Gene brought up Bagwell. When Gene brought up the Little Rock incident, Kim said some things aren't meant to be talked about under the public eye.

Backstage, Scott Steiner held Bret Hart on the ground as Jarrett and Nash prepared for their match.

Interview: Sid Vicious and Chris Benoit
Benoit told Gene that Jeff Jarrett would find out who the better man is at Souled Out in the Triple Theater Match. Vicious, laughing maniacally, said that he would be the new WCW Champion at the PPV.

Jeff Jarrett and Kevin Nash d. Chris Benoit and Sid Vicious
All four men brawled in and out of the ring at the start of the match. Jarrett and Benoit took the fight up the aisle, in front of the Thunder stage. As Nash had the advantage over Sid inside, Benoit came in for the save. With a semblance of order finally in place, Jarrett worked over the back of The Crippler. Benoit fought back with stinging chops and a devastating clothesline. Sid took down both nWo members with a double clothesline of his own. Nash threw the US belt in to Jarrett, but Benoit stopped him before he could use it. The Crippler went to the top rope for the diving headbutt, but Nash pushed him off, sending his head into the U.S. Title belt. The Chosen One delivered The Stroke for the 1-2-3 victory.

Backstage, Big Poppa Pump was knocked out in the dressing room. Nash and Jarrett found Steiner on the floor. They then went looking for Hart.

Bret Hart was shown walking out the back door of the arena. He stopped, saying "I'm not going out like this." He grabbed a metal pipe and went to the ring, calling out the nWo. They made their way to the ring with baseball bats, as a beaten Hart waited.

Backstage, Arn Anderson, carrying a bucket of water, and Terry Funk made their way to the ring as Funk carried a flaming branding iron. Funk and Arn came in, challenging the nWo. Anderson threw the water in Bret's face, revealing the bruises on his face to be makeup. Hart hit Arn with the pipe as Nash caught Funk from behind. The rest of the Outlaws came out, but were stopped by Steiner and Jarrett. Funk and Nash struggled over the flaming branding iron as Thunder went off the air.