Souled Out

The Souled Out logo used for the last edition of the pay-per-view

Souled Out was a professional wrestling pay-per-view promoted by World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in January from 1997 through 2000. The 1997 and 1998 WCW Souled Out PPV events were held on Saturdays, and the 1999 and 2000 shows were held on Sundays.

The event was originally conceived in 1997 as an nWo PPV, but did not generate the revenue that WCW had hoped it would, due to a low buy rate and a lack of ticket revenue from hosting the event in such a small facility. The PPV was also created as an nWo event in order to see if there was enough demand to having two PPVs per month (one as a WCW event and the other as an nWo event). Despite the initial poor review, WCW elected to keep the event on its calendar (as prior to 1997 it did not have a regular January PPV event) and Souled Out became a co-branded WCW/nWo event in 1998. This established a practice WCW used throughout 1998, as all of its pay-per-view events that year were co-branded. The co-branding continued until the following Souled Out, when interim WCW President Ric Flair declared that WCW pay-per-views would no longer carry nWo branding.

The final Souled Out event was held in 2000, and WCW renamed its January PPV WCW Sin for 2001. Since its 2001 purchase of WCW, World Wrestling Entertainment has owned the rights to the Souled Out name, but have not used it for a pay-per-view.

Souled Out dates and venues

1997

Souled Out 1997
Promotional poster featuring The Giant, Hollywood Hogan, Scott Hall, and Kevin Nash
Tagline(s)	The World Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us
Information
Promotion	World Championship Wrestling
Date	January 25, 1997[1]
Attendance	5,120
Venue	Five Seasons Center
City	Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Pay-per-view chronology
Starrcade 1996 Souled Out 1997 SuperBrawl VII
Souled Out chronology
First Souled Out 1997 Souled Out (1998)

The first edition of Souled Out^[2] took place on January 25, 1997 from the Five Seasons Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The pay-per-view was (kayfabe) presented by the nWo and the official title of the event was nWo Souled Out. The event was displayed with an "nWo dictatorship feel," and featured an nWo-themed stage and wrestling ring, a "mystery voice" that called wrestlers "losers" and other insults instead of their ring introductions as well as anti-WCW propaganda. The mystery voice would also say, "loser" if a WCW wrestler appeared to be "hurt". Stable members Eric Bischoff and Ted DiBiase provided play-by-play and analysis. The nWo's official referee, Nick Patrick, officiated all of the matches, and gave slow counts to WCW wrestlers and fast counts to nWo wrestlers. None of the WCW wrestlers had their theme music played, nor did they receive on-screen graphics during their entrances. The event also featured a "Miss nWo" contest. Fan reaction to the event was generally negative.

Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.

• Masahiro Chono (nWo) defeated Chris Jericho (WCW) ^[1] (11:08)
  • Chono pinned Jericho after a Yakuza Kick^[1]
• Big Bubba Rogers (nWo) defeated Hugh Morrus (WCW) (with Jimmy Hart) in a Mexican Death match^[1] (9:03)
• Jeff Jarrett (WCW) defeated Mr. Wallstreet (nWo) ^[1] (9:22)
  • Jarrett pinned Wallstreet after Steve McMichael hit Wallstreet with a Haliburton briefcase.^[1]
• Buff Bagwell (nWo) defeated Scotty Riggs (WCW)^[1] (13:51)
  • Bagwell pinned Riggs after a Buff Blockbuster.
• Scott Norton (nWo) defeated Diamond Dallas Page (WCW) by count-out^[1] (9:39)
  • Norton won the match after Buff Bagwell, Big Bubba Rogers, Vincent, and Mr. Wallstreet came to the ring to try to recruit Page to join the nWo.
  • Page initially accepted, but then hit Norton with a Diamond Cutter and fled the ring, tearing off his nWo t-shirt in the process.
• The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) (WCW) defeated The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) (nWo) to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship.^[1]
  • Rick pinned Hall after a Steiner Bulldog. WCW referee Randy Anderson counted the fall instead of Nick Patrick, who was knocked out during the course of the match.
  • On Nitro two nights later, Eric Bischoff reversed the decision and fired Anderson for his actions. The belts were returned to Hall and Nash as a result.
• Eddie Guerrero (WCW) defeated Syxx (nWo) in a Ladder match to retain the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship and gain possession of the physical title belt (13:48)^[1][2]
  • Guerrero hit Syxx in the head with the title belt after both wrestlers had unhooked it simultaneously; Syxx fell and let go of the belt, giving Guerrero the victory.
  • The nWo had been in physical possession of the belt since it was stolen from Ric Flair in the fall of 1996. After Guerrero won a tournament final at Starrcade for the belt after Flair vacated it, Syxx and The Outsiders beat him up and Syxx stole the belt back.^[3]
• WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hollywood Hogan (nWo) fought The Giant (WCW) to a no-contest^[1] (10:52)
  • The Giant appeared to have won, but nWo referee Nick Patrick refused to make the 3-count. The match soon ended when the entire nWo came out and attacked The Giant.

1998

Souled Out 1998
Tagline(s)	Hell Hath No Fury Like... Who Do You Trust?
Information
Promotion	World Championship Wrestling
Sponsor	Snickers
Date	January 24, 1998
Attendance	5,486
Venue	Hara Arena
City	Dayton, Ohio
Pay-per-view chronology
Starrcade 1997 Souled Out 1998 SuperBrawl VIII
Souled Out chronology
Souled Out (1997) Souled Out 1998 Souled Out (1999)

Souled Out 1998 took place on January 24, 1998 from the Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio and featured a double main event.^[1]

Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.

• Juventud Guerrera, Super Caló, Lizmark, Jr. and Chavo Guerrero, Jr. defeated La Parka, Psychosis, Silver King and El Dandy (9:30)^[1]
  • Guerrero pinned Psychosis after a Tornado DDT.^[1]
• Chris Benoit defeated Raven in a Raven's Rules Match (10:36)^[1]
  • Benoit won when Raven passed out from a Crippler Crossface.^[1]
• Chris Jericho defeated Rey Mysterio, Jr. to win the WCW Cruiserweight Championship (8:28)^[1]
  • Jericho forced Mysterio to submit with the Lion Tamer.^[1]
• Booker T defeated Rick Martel to retain the WCW World Television Championship (10:50)^[1]
  • Booker pinned Martel after a Harlem Hangover.^[1]
• Larry Zbyszko (with Dusty Rhodes) defeated Scott Hall (with Louie Spicolli) by Disqualification (8:09)^[1]
  • Hall was disqualified after Spicolli interfered.^[1]
  • After the match, Rhodes turned on Zbyszko and joined the nWo.^[1]
  • Hall, Spicolli and Rhodes then attacked Zbyszko.
• Ray Traylor and The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) (with Ted DiBiase) defeated The nWo (Konnan, Scott Norton and Buff Bagwell) (with Vincent) (12:20)^[1]
  • Scott pinned Konnan after a Steiner Screwdriver.
• Kevin Nash (with Hollywood Hogan and Eric Bischoff) defeated The Giant (10:47)^[1]
  • Nash pinned Giant after a badly botched Jacknife Powerbomb.^[1]
• Bret Hart defeated Ric Flair (18:06)^[1]
  • Hart forced Flair to submit to the Sharpshooter.^[1]
• Lex Luger defeated Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) (7:07)^[1]
  • Luger forced Savage to submit to the Torture Rack.^[1]

1999

Souled Out 1999
VHS cover featuring Scott Hall and Goldberg
Tagline(s)	Electrifying Action! No Turning Back
Information
Promotion	World Championship Wrestling
Date	January 17, 1999
Attendance	10,833
Venue	Charleston Civic Center
City	Charleston, West Virginia
Pay-per-view chronology
Starrcade 1998 Souled Out 1999 SuperBrawl IX
Souled Out chronology
Souled Out (1998) Souled Out 1999 Souled Out (2000)

Souled Out 1999 took place on January 17, 1999 from the Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, West Virginia.^[1]

Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.

• Chris Benoit defeated Mike Enos (10:34)^[1]
  • Benoit forced Enos to submit with the Crippler Crossface.^[1]
• Norman Smiley defeated Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (15:44)^[1]
  • Smiley forced Guerrero to submit with the Norman Conquest.^[1]
• Fit Finlay defeated Van Hammer (7:54)^[1]
  • Finlay pinned Hammer after a Kneeling Reverse Piledriver.^[1]
• Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Wrath (9:23)^[1]
  • Bigelow pinned Wrath after a Greetings from Asbury Park.^[1]
• Lex Luger defeated Konnan (9:31)^[1]
  • Luger forced Konnan to submit with the Torture Rack.^[1]
• Chris Jericho (with Ralphus) defeated Perry Saturn in a wager match (11:44)^[1]
  • Jericho pinned Saturn with a Small Package.^[1]
  • If Jericho lost, he leaves WCW for 90 days; if Saturn lost, he must wear a dress.
• Billy Kidman defeated Rey Misterio, Jr., Juventud Guerrera and Psychosis in a Fatal Four-Way match to retain the WCW Cruiserweight Championship (14:24)^[1]
  • Kidman pinned Guerrera after a shooting star press.^[1]
• Ric Flair and David Flair (with Arn Anderson) defeated Barry Windham and Curt Hennig (13:56)^[1]
  • David pinned Hennig after Anderson hit Hennig with a tire iron.^[1]
• Goldberg defeated Scott Hall in a Ladder Stun Gun match (17:47)^[1]
  • Goldberg won when he used the stun gun.^[1]
  • The match could only be won by using the stun gun.^[1]
  • During the match, Disco Inferno interfered on behalf of Scott Hall.^[1]

2000

Souled Out 2000
UK VHS cover featuring Kevin Nash, Diamond Dallas Page, and Buff Bagwell
Tagline(s)	Control Is Everything Who Will Be The Soul Survivor?
Information
Promotion	World Championship Wrestling
Date	January 16, 2000
Attendance	14,132
Venue	Firstar Center
City	Cincinnati, Ohio
Pay-per-view chronology
Starrcade 1999 Souled Out 2000 SuperBrawl 2000
Souled Out chronology
Souled Out (1999) Souled Out 2000 Last

Souled Out 2000 took place on January 16, 2000 from the Firstar Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.^[1]

The originally scheduled card was heavily changed, due to the serious injuries of Bret Hart and Jeff Jarrett.^[1] Hart, who was scheduled to wrestle Sid Vicious, suffered a severe concussion at Starrcade, which forced him to vacate the WCW World Heavyweight title, and eventually retire nine months later. Jarrett, who was scheduled to wrestle Chris Benoit in a Triple Threat Theater series (Dungeon Rules, Bunkhouse, Caged Heat), suffered lingering headaches from Benoit's diving headbutt off the top of the steel cage on the January 10 episode of WCW Monday Nitro, which forced him to vacate the WCW United States Heavyweight title. Benoit was instead moved to take Hart's place against Vicious and the Triple Threat Theater series was contested between Billy Kidman and three separate wrestlers.

Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.

• Billy Kidman defeated Dean Malenko (with Shane Douglas) in a Catch-as-Catch Can match (2:36)^[1]
  • Kidman won when Malenko accidentally touched the floor; the match rules stated that a wrestler could win by either pin, submission, or by having his opponent's feet touch the floor.^[1]
  • This was Match 1 of the Triple Threat Theater.^[1]
  • This was also Malenko's last match in WCW.
• Vampiro defeated David Flair (with Daffney) and Crowbar in a Triple Threat match (10:32)^[1]
  • Vampiro pinned Flair after a Nail in the Coffin.^[1]
  • Originally, it was scheduled to be a WCW World Tag Team title match between Flair & Crowbar and Vampiro & a partner of his choosing; when Flair and Crowbar jumped Vampiro during a backstage interview, Vampiro wanted to take them on himself.^[1]
• Big Vito and Johnny the Bull (with Disco Inferno) defeated The Harris Brothers (Ron and Don) (9:33)^[1]
  • Vito pinned Ron after a Clothesline.^[1]
• Oklahoma defeated Madusa (with Spice) to win the WCW Cruiserweight Championship (2:56)^[1]
  • Oklahoma pinned Madusa with a roll-up.^[1]
• Brian Knobs defeated Fit Finlay, Norman Smiley and Meng in a Fatal Four-Way match to retain the WCW Hardcore Championship (6:11)^[1]
  • Knobs pinned Smiley after hitting him with a police shield.^[1]
• Billy Kidman defeated Perry Saturn (with Shane Douglas) in a Bunkhouse match (10:05)^[1]
  • Kidman pinned Saturn after a Bulldog.^[1]
  • This was Match 2 of the Triple Threat Theater.^[1]
  • This was Saturn's last match with WCW.
• Booker T (with Midnight) defeated Stevie Ray by disqualification (6:30)^[1]
  • Stevie Ray was disqualified when Big T made his debut and attacked Booker.
• Tank Abbott defeated Jerry Flynn (1:39)^[1]
  • Abbott knocked Flynn out.^[1]
• Buff Bagwell defeated Diamond Dallas Page in a Last Man Standing match (11:19)^[1]
  • Page couldn't answer the 10-count after missing a Diamond Cutter.^[1]
• The Wall (with Shane Douglas) defeated Billy Kidman in a Caged Heat match (5:03)^[1]
  • Wall pinned Kidman after a chokeslam.^[1]
  • This was Match 3 of the Triple Threat Theater.^[1]
• Kevin Nash defeated Terry Funk in a Hardcore match to become the new WCW Commissioner (7:59)^[1]
  • Nash pinned Funk after a Jacknife Powerbomb onto a steel chair.^[1]
  • Had Funk won, the The nWo would have been disbanded.
• Chris Benoit defeated Sid Vicious (with Arn Anderson as special guest referee) to win the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Championship (14:53)^[1]
  • Benoit forced Vicious to submit with the Crippler Crossface.^[1]
  • Benoit was stripped of the title the next night when it was shown that Sid's leg was under the rope when he tapped (in reality, Benoit had quit WCW to join the WWF).^[1]

See also

• List of WCW pay-per-view events
• World Championship Wrestling
• nWo

References