Impossible as it is to believe, it’s been a QUARTER CENTURY since Vince Russo won the WCW world championship. I suppose it’s actually more impossible to believe that Russo actually won WCW’s top prize at all, but work with me here. In fact, let’s go back and do a deep dive on the match where he made history!
Taking place on September 25, 2000, Nitro opened with a video package detailing the exploits of the challenger, who explained it has been his “lifelong dream to be WCW champion”. Yes, apparently Vince Russo was a lifelong WCW fan! We get footage of Russo warming up before matches, lifting the title on high, and delivering chops and big boots that can best be described as “brutal”. I should note this is accompanied by a voice over for the ages by Jeremy Borash. How on earth had I forgotten Borash’s unrepentant toady phase? He was fantastic in that role!
We then get a promo from the legend himself in his hometown of Long Island, New York. You’d think the people would hate him, but no…he’s actually cheered? I mean, it’s not deafening or anything, but it’s definitely there. Sure, he’s a local, but there’s signs in the crowd actually supporting him as well, which is something I sure as heck didn’t remember.
Right before the main event, we get another Vinny Ru interview, this time with “Mean” Gene Okerlund. And listen bub, he’s all business – the time for talking is OVER! So much so in fact, he’s in full New York Giants gear, complete with shoulder pads and a helmet, one apparently from like 1939 as it doesn’t even sport a face mask. That shows just how tough Russo is!
And here comes the challenger, with fans waving signs in support of him all the way. Apparently this crew couldn’t wait to welcome their boy back home. Also, Russo = Ratin’s. Not sure what a RATIN is, but I’ll take that guy’s word for it!
The defending champion, one Booker of the T’s, gets in the ring and poses to the crowd. That’s a mistake of course, as Russo waylays him with a baseball bat. Hey, it’s a steel cage match, so why on earth WOULDN’T you do that?
With Booker completely incapacitated following the manly display by New York’s hometown boy, Russo jumps outside and heads for the door as it’s escape the cage rules. I should note he would have fairly won this match in like 30 seconds if it weren’t for a bunch of geeks blocking the door!
Undeterred, Russo gets back in the ring and beats on Booker some more. In hindsight, I don’t understand why folks were so upset about Russo challenging for the belt – he’s proving his worth by completely dominating this match!
Realizing that he can’t pin Booker to win the belt but has to escape the cage, Russo goes under the ring and finds a ladder, which he uses to go skyward and attempt to win by going out the top of the structure. At this point, Sting descends from the rafters to block his hard fought victory. Russo then I think falls back to the mat, which of course the cameras miss because, well, WCW.
After being thwarted in his valiant attempt to win, Booker finally takes over. And Russo just keeps getting back to his feet to take whatever Book wants to throw at him. Kick him, slap him, he just keeps coming back for more.
Booker tosses him out of the ring, and starts pummeling him with a barrage of punches. Then we get a commotion outside the cage, as Lex Luger emerges from the crowd and makes his way to ringside. He passes Russo a “lead pipe”, which Russo uses to beat Booker senseless. I think Russo has taken like 90% of the match so far. No wonder folks are chanting his name – Vince is a gosh darned hero!
And Russo is just destroying everyone in his path, be that Booker, the refs, EMTs, you name it. But one of those medical folks turns out to be none other than Ric Flair. Poor Russo – he’s being attacked from every angle by a zillion people not even in this match.
So Flair throws Russo back in the ring and kicks him right in the nature boys. He follows that up with a figure four, but Russo rolls out of it to escape. So not only is Vince a tough guy, he’s one smart cookie who’s scouted how to escape one of the most legendary holds in pro wrestling history!
With a bunch of his cronies having done his dirty work, Booker starts to pick up the scraps. Book kicks him left, he kicks him right, he kicks him every which way, finally celebrating with a spinarooni. I should note that this dance move elicits BOOS from the crowd. New York ain’t gonna turn on their boy!
So Booker heads to the cage door to get the win, but Bill Goldberg’s music hits. This causes Booker to freeze in his tracks for a good thirty seconds. No joke, that’s an animated GIF right there! (Well not really, but if you stare and squint at it for a minute and a half it’s the same effect.)
It all comes to a head as Booker gets into an altercation with Scott Steiner at the door, while Goldberg spears Russo right through the cage. This of course means that Vince Russo has escaped the cage first. And that means that Vince Russo, yes, Vince Russo, is your NEW WCW champion of the world!
Heck, even Booker and Goldberg seem happy about this. Look at them giving each other a high five!
Sadly for the fans, Russo sustained injuries (real ones), and thus had to vacate his championship. So not only did he achieve his lifelong goal of becoming WCW World Champion, he NEVER LOST IT. And if I’ve learned anything from the fans in 2025, there’s only one way to celebrate such an achievement. So chant it with me everyone: “YOU DESERVE IT!” clap clap clapclapclap!!!! “YOU DESERVE IT!” clap clap clapclapclap!!!!