WCW Thunder 
Memphis, Tennessee
January 3, 2001

After taking a holiday break, WCW started off the new year with a bang, going full speed ahead toward WCW Sin, only 11 days away. With everyone still in the dark as to who the mystery man is, it was a shock when a masked man arrived at Thunder and interfered in the main event... adding real intrigue until he revealed himself to be WCW champion Scott Steiner.

Team Canada headed outside to meet Mike Awesome, who showed his teammates his new bus, painted white with the Canadian Maple Leaf on the side.

Interview: Ric Flair
The Nature Boy reviewed the matches already announced for WCW Sin, before turning his attention to WCW champion Scott Steiner. Flair said he was going to make sure Steiner towed the line. Jeff Jarrett came to the ring; he demanded to know who the mystery opponent was in the three-way dance at the PPV. Ric told Jeff, not only was he in the Thunder main event against Sid Vicious, but if he lost the match later in the show, he would also lose his slot at WCW Sin to Vicious. Sid came to the ring much to the crowd's delight, as Jarrett back peddled up the ramp.

Backstage, Flair asked Mike Sanders why Kevin Nash and DDP weren't in Memphis. The commissioner said he gave them the night off. In their dressing room, the Thrillers made fun of Page and Nash confirming they did indeed mess with the tag team champions' travel itinerary.

Mean Gene Interview: Crowbar and Daffney
Crowbar told Terry Funk he created a monster that he would have to deal with at WCW Sin. He also warned Meng not to stand in his way later in the show.

Sugar Shane Helms d. Jaime Knoble
Helms tore into Knoble from the start, ready for his shot at the cruiserweight title at the pay-per-view. Jaime turned a submission hold into a backslide near fall, but Sugar stayed strong, connecting with a "Memphis fistdrop" from the second rope. Knoble fought back with a brief flurry, but in the end, Helms delivered the "Nightmare on Helms Street" for the win. After the bout, Evan Karagias ran in, but Shannon Moore made the save. As Shane got to his feet, Chavo Guerrero Jr. snuck in and dropped Sugar with the cruiserweight belt.

Backstage, Elix Skipper taunted Konnan into a trap, where Team Canada stomped the Mexican star to the ground.

Mean Gene Interview: The Cat with Ms. Jones
Miller said he was going to go through Reno and then come after Mike Sanders and his commissioner's job.

Backstage, Jeff Jarrett found The Harris Brothers knocked out cold, with "SID" written on the mirror as a calling card.

Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo d. Sgt. A-WALL and Cpl. Cajun
Sanders told General Rection he had to go to the back, as Jindrak, O'Haire, Palumbo and Stasiak beat on Cpl. Cajun and Sgt. A-WALL. After the referee got some semblance of order, The Event and the master of the Seanton stayed in the ring to compete. The MIA gained control, keeping Palumbo in their corner, as O'Haire repeatedly tried to get into the ring. As Cajun was kicked to the outside, Stasiak and Jindrak stomped a mudhole in the corporal, before sending him back into the ring where he fell victim to the Seanton Bomb. Rection arrived to help his guys after the bell, followed by Chavo, who also helped his former faction. Shane Douglas jumped the General with a chain.

Mean Gene Interview: The Franchise Shane Douglas
The Franchise said he was still out for revenge, after the General took his lady away. Rection jumped on Douglas, prompting WCW security to break up the fight.

Outside, as Primetime Elix Skipper grooved on the new bus, Hacksaw came up from the back, throwing him to the ground. Duggan repeatedly ran Elix into the side of the bus, saying he never walked away from a fight.

Backstage, The Filthy Animals told Konnan they would get "F.A." Justice on Team Canada.

Backstage, Vito and Johnny The Bull met up with The Cat, who asked the Mamalukes if he could have a piece of Reno later in the show.

Mean Gene Interview: Buff Bagwell and Lex Luger
Totally Buff: Buff and Lex made fun of Goldberg and his book again, saying he misspelled words when he signed it. Buff said he wasn't worried about his match later on Thunder against Sarge.

Backstage, Mike Awesome said he wanted Duggan in a match for what he did to Primetime.

Backstage, The Animals prepared to put their plan into action.

Backstage, Ric Flair approached the Thrillers, telling them no one was allowed ringside for The Cat vs. Reno match. The Nature Boy told Jindrak he had a match on Thunder, but wouldn't tell him who his opponent was.

Mean Gene Interview: Sid Vicious
The master and ruler of the world told Scott Steiner he was going to defeat Jarrett, and come after the champion and the belt that was rightfully his.

Meng with Paisley d. Crowbar with Daffney
Crowbar went up right away, retrieving the chair from atop the pole. The former hardcore champion drove the Tongan beast into the ringside guardrail, but landed hard on Meng's knees when he came down with a big splash. Daffney and Paisley tussled outside, distracting Crowbar, and allowing Meng to take over. After he was launched onto a chair Meng set up on the top turnbuckle, Crowbar fell to the Tongan Death Grip, sending Meng to challenge Terry Funk at the PPV.

Backstage, Ric Flair was shown talking with Lex Luger and Buff Bagwell.

Goldberg d. Mark Jindrak
Mark Jindrak headed outside after finding out his opponent was Goldberg. Jindrak leaped off the top rope with a big bodypress, but Goldberg caught him and drove him to the canvas with a big powerslam. The phenom delivered the spear and the patented Jackhammer for another impressive win.

Mean Gene Interview: The Chosen One Jeff Jarrett
Jarrett said even though his plan had changed, he was counting on the mystery man to make the decision as to who would be in the three-way dance at WCW Sin.

Backstage, Lex Luger and Buff Bagwell were seen paying KroniK.

The Cat with Ms. Jones d. Reno
Miller told Reno he should go backstage because Mike Sanders was the guy he wanted to fight. But when The Cat turned his back, Reno attacked, getting the match underway. The Thriller beat on the former commissioner, using his power to stay on top of his opponent. Miller fought back, however, and was able to connect with The Feliner for the 1-2-3.

Backstage, The Cat and Ms. Jones walked into the CEO's dressing room.

Mike Awesome with Team Canada d. Hacksaw Jim Duggan
Storm and Awesome berated Duggan, before Hacksaw came to the ring to chants of "USA." Jim overpowered Awesome on the fist exchange, but Skipper helped turn the tide by distracting Duggan, allowing the Canadian Career Killer to attack. Hacksaw knocked Team Canada from the apron, but Awesome jumped from behind again and got the frogsplash win. The Filthy Animals ran in after the match, telling the Canadians to look on the big screen, which showed the Team Canada bus covered in graffiti.

Outside, Mean Gene caught up with Team Canada, who challenged The Filthy Animals to a match at WCW Sin.

Backstage, someone took the mystery mask and straightjacket off a table.

Disqualification - Sarge DeWayne Bruce d. Buff Bagwell
Sarge took Bagwell to the mat, screaming at him to get up and fight. Bruce followed him outside, where he continued to drill him. Things swayed Buff's way back in the ring, but the cocky Bagwell couldn't put the Power Plant instructor away for a three-count. After using a double armed DDT, Buff waved Luger down to the ring, who arrived with a chair in hand. Goldberg tried to come out to help, but KroniK stopped him. Adams and Clark them beat Goldberg down and locked him in a dumpster, which was driven outside the building. In the ring, Luger placed Bruce's arm in a chair and stomped down, trying to break his arm.

Backstage, Sarge told EMTs he heard a bone crack when Luger stomped down on the chair.

Outside, as the Thrillers were leaving the building, Kevin Nash and Dallas Page jumped out of a limo and attacked with crowbars.

No Contest - Sid Vicious vs. The Chosen One Jeff Jarrett
Jarrett tried to walk away at the bell, but Sid chased him up the ramp, bringing him ringside, where he introduced The Chosen One to the steel guardrail. Jeff used everything he could on Sid, including a sleeper hold, which brought the big man to his knees. The master broke free and signaled for the chokeslam, but the mystery man stopped him when he ran in and put his boots to Vicious. The masked man removed his mask to reveal he was Scott Steiner, who, along with Jarrett, destroyed Sid as Thunder went off the air.