We’re back with a new RetroView as our journey through the final years of WCW continues with the WCW Halloween Havoc 1999 pay-per-view.
The show opens with the dying days of the WCW logo, only the second or third pay-per-view with the new logo so far.
This is followed by highlights of the build-up to Hulk Hogan versus Sting for the World Heavyweight Championship finishes off the video.
Tony Schiavone welcomes us to the show.
As always, the Halloween Havoc entrance set is top-notch, with a giant pumpkin and gargoyle hanging above it. Schiavone is joined by Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.
They discuss that Rey Mysterio Jr. and Konnan have been stripped of the Tag Team Titles due to Mysterio’s injury.
They also announce that because of that, a three-team street fight between Harlem Heat, The First Family (Brian Knobbs & Hugh Morrus), and Konnan and Billy Kidman.
WCW Halloween Havoc 1999
WCW Cruiserweight Championship Match
Disco Inferno © vs Lash Leroux
Starting the show with a Disco Inferno title match, only in WCW 1999. Schiavone talks about the inexperience of Leroux, and Disco attacks him before the bell.
This is a very slow-paced match by WCW Cruiserweight standards. Neither guy is built for fast-paced, high-flying action.
Leroux attempts a head scissors takeover from the top turnbuckle but lands awkwardly to finish the move. That, sadly is the high spot as they never really find a rhythm together, before Disco hits the “Last Dance” for the win.
Winner – Disco Inferno
Mike Tenay interviews the Harlem Heat in the locker room about their upcoming title match. Booker T. and Stevie Ray both guarantee Harlem Heat is walking out with the gold.
WCW Halloween Havoc 1999
WCW Tag Team Championship Street Fight
Harlem Heat vs Filthy Animals vs The First Family
Morrus and Knobs come out first, with Jimmy Hart in a gorilla mask leading the way. Heenan as good as ever – “Jimmy told me they were going to be wearing masks tonight, why aren’t they.”
Harlem Heat is next, and they are nine-time tag team champions entering this contest. The third and final team representing the Filthy Animals is Konnan and Kidman.
There are no rules in this one; pins can happen anywhere. It quickly goes to the outside as all hell breaks loose. This is your basic WCW hardcore match, with lots of plunder used throughout.
The participants eventually split up, and Harlem Heat gets the win in the back area. After they make their way back to the ring, Kidman and Konnan pin Hugh Morrus.
Confusion reigns as Kidman and Konnan think they’re champs, but in actuality, Harlem Heat are now ten-time tag champs.
Winners – Harlem Heat
Kimberly Page comes out to cut a promo against Ric Flair. She insults Flair’s manhood, and DDP heels it up as well. All the personal shots and insults lead to Page challenging Flair to a strap match.
WCW Halloween Havoc 1999
Eddie Guerrero vs Perry Saturn
The respective teams of both Guerrero (Filthy Animals) and Saturn (The Revolution) are barred from ringside for this match. Saturn makes his way out, creepy music playing him out.
Guerrero comes out, and Heenan and Schiavone keep talking about the watch Eddie is wearing. Heenan and Guerrero have a brief conversation before Eddie entrusts Heenan with the expensive watch.
Sidenote: Eddie Guerrero would have been a perfect fit in the Heenan Family had he been around WWF during that time frame.
This match quickly finds itself outside the ring, with Guerrero tossing Saturn into the safety rail numerous times.
Once they get back in the ring, Saturn hits an impressive powerbomb bridge pin combination for a near fall.
These two have tons of chemistry together, and it’s easy to tell they’ve worked together a plethora of times. Saturn controls the pace, utilizing various holds to weaken Guerrero’s legs.
Second sidenote: My son sits by me for this one; he’s a huge Eddie Guerrero fan, so he’s instantly rooting for him.
Both trade top turnbuckle moves before Ric Flair randomly runs out with a crowbar in his hand.
Flair attacks Guerrero before Kidman runs out for the save, and the crowbar-wielding Flair immediately takes him out.
Torrie Wilson, who made her way to the ring with Kidman, gets in the ring, and immediately, the blonde bombshell is in Flair’s sights.
Flair plants a kiss on her, which she is delighted by before Flair heads backstage. After going to the back, Flair runs back down and steals Eddie Guerrero’s gold watch.
WCW 1999, everyone…
Winner – Perry Saturn by disqualification
The chaos continues as the camera heads to the back to find Goldberg beating down Sid Vicious. When security pulls Goldberg away, Sid rises with blood trickling down his face.
Before we get to the next match, Buff Bagwell randomly comes out unannounced. Bagwell complains about the new writers in WCW and Jeff Jarrett.
The trash talk brings out Jeff Jarrett’s guitar in hand. These two brawl to ringside, yet another impromptu match.
The brawl eventually brings Lex Luger out, who accidentally hits Bagwell with Jarrett’s guitar, which hilariously doesn’t break.
We cut to the back, where Sid refuses medical treatment as he chases off the doctor trying to help him. The randomness of this segment ends after we get a shot of Eddie Guererro calling Rey Mysterio.
WCW Halloween Havoc 1999
Brad Armstrong vs Berlyn
Alex Wright’s transformation into the gothic Berlyn is one of those swing-and-miss changes.
Not much to the match; Berlyn dominates throughout, but Armstrong gets a couple of close two counts.
Eventually, though, Armstrong gets the surprise victory with a random pin after blocking a reverse neckbreaker. With no time to celebrate, Armstrong is taken out by Berlyn’s bodyguard, the Wall.
Winner – Brad Armstrong
Mike Tenay is joined in the back by Ric Flair, and the Nature Boy talks about spanking DDP’s wife. What a hilariously tacky this feud is.
After Flair’s interview, Chris Benoit and Rick Steiner have a physical battle for the WCW Television Title, with Steiner getting the win.
Mike Tenay gives us an interview with Bret Hart about his current injury and how it will affect his upcoming match with Lex Luger.
WCW Halloween Havoc 1999
Lex Luger w/ Elizabeth vs Bret Hart
It has to be noted Luger’s entrance music at this point is obnoxious as he has seemed to revert back to the narcissist variation of his persona.
Bret receives a hero’s welcome as he limps his way to the ring. Once in the ring, Hart wastes no time and immediately attacks Luger.
Just like most of the earlier matches, this one goes to ringside in rather quickly. Bret controls the early portion, and not even a distraction attempt from Elizabeth prevents him from beating up Luger.
Eventually, Hart’s leg injury becomes a factor as Luger focuses his attack on the injured limb. That injury leads to Hart’s downfall as he ends up submitting to a half-crab by Luger.
Winner – Lex Luger
The next Tenay video is with Goldberg, and they talk about his assault on Sid earlier in the night. Goldberg plans to do it again in their match. Medusa randomly saunters out with the new WCW cologne.
She proceeds to yell at Heenan about having to parade around in her bikini before dumping the cologne on “The Weasel’s” head.
WCW Halloween Havoc 1999
WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match
Sting © vs. Hulk Hogan
WCW trying to turn Sting’s heel just shows how off the rails the promotion was going at this point. Hogan’s music begins to play across the arena, but after multiple minutes, there is still no Hogan.
Finally, the music transitions to Sting’s, and the champion slowly walks to the ring, seemingly confused about Hogan’s absence.
Once again, Hogan’s music starts up, and after a few more minutes, Hogan finally saunters out. However, he’s not in his usual yellow and red; he’s in jeans and a sleeveless shirt with a black bandana.
Much to everyone’s surprise, Hogan lays down and lets Sting cover him. Schiavone is stunned, and a smattering of boos ring out from the crowd.
WCW 1999, ladies and gentlemen…
Winner – Sting
WCW Halloween Havoc 1999
WCW United States Championship Match
Goldberg vs Sid Vicious ©
A stitched-up Sid Vicious comes out first, seething the whole way down to the ring. Goldberg’s music riles up the fans for one of the loudest reactions of the night.
It needs to be noted Goldberg entering with the security guards was a grand entrance. Before Goldberg can get to the ring, he’s attacked from behind by Scott Hall and Kevin Nash.
The Outsiders proceed to lay waste to Goldberg, but Goldberg rises. With his attention turned to Hall and Nash, Goldberg allows Sid to attack him from behind.
This is just an all-out brawl, spending more time outside the ring than in it. When in the ring, Side hits a big boot before putting Goldberg in a camel clutch—pretty cool image seeing a bloody Sid as a pure psycho.
Goldberg eventually powers out of the hold, and he begins to wear down Sid. Sid is a bloody mess by the midpoint of the match, but the big man keeps going.
It gets so bad that the referee steps in and stops the match and gives the victory to Goldberg because Sid can’t continue.
Winner – Goldberg
Rick Steiner comes out and tries to convince Sid to go get medical attention. Sid refuses help before trying to make his way back to the ring.
Steiner and the referee finally convince him to return to the locker room. Once again, a random wrestler’s music hits, and this time it’s Sting.
The champ angrily makes his way to the ring and declares he didn’t come to Las Vegas for a night off but for a fight.
He then makes an open challenge to the dressing room and says he’ll come back out later to see who will answer the challenge.
WCW Halloween Havoc 1999
Strap Match
Diamond Dallas Page vs Ric Flair
DDP, with Kimberly by his side, comes out first. Flair enters in his orange and gold robe. These two are going to be connected at the wrist with the leather strap.
This one, for sure, spills to ringside right away before the two brawl their way up the entrance and into the crowd. The crowd absolutely loves seeing this fight up and down the stairs.
DDP throws up the Diamond Cutter hand sign, and they pop like crazy. After they return ringside, Flair plants a long kiss on Kimberly.
This allows DDP to re-take the advantage. As could be expected, Flair is busted open. Yet another brawl with lots of blood. But it feels different, and they do a great job of making it feel personal.
A patented low blow by Flair swings the momentum in his favor. Midway through the match, DDP finds himself trapped in the figure four.
A low blow from Page to Flair allows DDP to take control before eventually hitting the Diamond Cutter. Referee Charles Robinson makes an awkward three count, and he receives a Diamond Cutter for his error.
Winner – Diamond Dallas Page
After the match, DDP starts choking Flair with the strap, causing David Flair to come out for the save. Kimberly steps in to distract Flair before kicking him in between the legs.
DDP proceeds to hit Flair with a crowbar twice, the second a direct shot below the belt. Page continues to rampage on both Flair, hitting David with two Diamond Cutters and a low blow.
Page and Kimberly finally leave before EMTs bring a gurney out to cart Flair away to an ambulance. But, before Flair can be put in the vehicle, the Filthy Animals attack the Nature Boy. They load Flair into the ambulance and kidnap the former champion.
WCW 1999…
WCW Halloween Havoc 1999
WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match
Sting © vs. Goldberg
It’s time for the impromptu main event for the big gold belt. Sting receives a solid ovation on his way to the ring. He asks who it is going to be, and Goldberg’s music hits. Schiavone cackles in excitement.
Before the match begins, Schiavone mentions that this will not be for the title. A referee is needed as both men pace inside and around the ring.
Charles Robinson, who was in the back area when Flair was just attacked, comes sprinting to the ring. The bell rings, and wouldn’t you know it, these two take their match ringside.
At this point, Schiavone points out, saying its fitting they take the fight to the outside after everything that has taken place. Sting gets an early two count after hitting a dive from the top turnbuckle.
He also hits a random spear on Goldberg, which just fires Goldberg up. A missed spear into the turnbuckle lets Sting hit three Stinger Splashes in a row, but only does it briefly stun Goldberg.
A spear and jackhammer later and, Goldberg is the new WCW World Heavyweight Champion.
Winner – Goldberg
After the match, Sting confronts Charles Robinson before ending the show with a Scorpion Death Drop on the stressed-out referee.
All in all, it was not a bad show, but not great by any means—lots of brawling across the arena and a chaotic sense of direction.
Next time, the look back at the path of WCW’s eventual downfall continues with Mayhem 1999.
