WCW Nitro, January 23, 2001, was a sign that something was wrong. WCW was a sinking ship by this point. Tony Schiavone reminds viewers that WCW was in the process of being purchased by new owners. History shows this never happened. While this show might seem like a great lesson in the problems within WCW at this time, there is a match that stands out.
Christopher Daniels and Michael Modest were offered an opportunity to wrestle for WCW. Typically, tryouts take place in dark matches before the show. This match took place in the show’s second segment and should be watched by wrestling fans.
WCW Nitro, January 23, 2001
The main story of this show deals with the power struggle between Ric Flair’s group, The Magnificent Seven, and Kevin Nash, “The Cat” Ernest Miller, Diamond Dallas Page, and others. Miller and Flair argue as to the card for tonight’s show. Buff Bagwell will face Kevin Nash in the main event. Lex Luger will go one on one against Diamond Dallas Page. The winner of the bout will be the special referee of the main event. The first match of the show is the one upon which the focus will be placed. What happened on the rest of the card?
Kwee Wee, in the alternate persona of Angry Allan, picked a fight with WCW Security, attempting to impress Ric Flair. Team Canada leader Lance Storm challenged Filthy Animals leader Konnan to a match, citing, “Canada has never lost a war.” Konnan accepted the battle and lost in two minutes by submission after Storm locked in the Canadian Maple Leaf (single-leg crab). Lex Luger defeated DDP by submission in the Torture Rack after Jeff Jarrett struck Page with a guitar.
The Mamalukes took on Shawn Stasiak and Mark Jindrak. The Mamalukes won by DQ after tag champs Chuck Palumbo and Sean O’Haire accidentally shoved the ref. Ernest Miller defeated Shane Douglas in a sub-par No DQ match to retain the commissionership of WCW. Chavo Guerrero and The Wall defeated Hugh Morris (get it?) and Lash Laroux after Guerrero hit Laroux with an inside cradle. In the main event, Nash defeated Bagwell and earned the ability to challenge Scott Steiner for the WCW World Title at Superbrawl.
Who Were the Combatants?
Christopher Daniels is best known for his time in Total Non-Stop Action (TNA) and All Elite Wrestling (AEW). In 1999 and 2001, Daniels was given developmental deals with WWE and WCW. Currently, Daniels is involved in a major storyline in AEW as the interim executive vice president.
Michael Modest may be best remembered by those who watched the documentary Beyond the Mat. This was Modest’s only appearance on a national television show as himself. He wrestled under a mask in a match for TNA. He currently works for the Las Vegas federation Future Stars of Wrestling as a wrestler and trainer.
The Match
The match started very by the books for the first moments. The two combatants slowly build up before getting into the high-flying. Everything is going well until Christopher Daniels makes a mistake. Daniels attempts what might have been an asai moonsault. Daniels’s foot slips as soon as he makes contact and falls, landing on his head. Daniels quickly gets to his feet, but something is off.
Injuries in wrestling are bad. One, especially in a tryout, can hurt one’s ability to wrestle. Management might think someone is injury-prone and refuse to use one to the fullest capability. Daniels favors his left arm. Daniels held the arm to his side before he attempted a diving dropkick to the outside of the ring. He did not have full strength in his arm. This setback did not stop the two from continuing the match. Daniels showed off his ariel abilities while Modest touted a power style not commonly seen out of cruiserweights.
The match was very crisp and exciting while protecting Daniels from further injury. Daniels and Modest give each other time to shine in the ring and show their capabilities. While not named by the commentary team, Modest performed Emerald Flosion while Daniels pulled off his BME (Best Moonsault Ever) and Angel’s Wings finishing maneuvers. This was no longer a wrestling match but two men giving their all for a job.
The Result
The match ended in a no-contest. After Modest performs a crossbody block that propels both wrestlers outside the ring, a familiar siren rings throughout the arena. Scott Steiner runs down to the ring and makes short work of both men. He was not as safe with Daniels as Modest. Schiavone shouts, “He’s taken away their match and may have taken away their careers!” The rest is a mixture of good and bad news.
The good news is that Modest and Daniels both signed contracts in WCW. Despite nearly breaking his neck, Christopher Daniels had time to recuperate before returning to action. The bad news? WCW closed its doors in March 2001. Despite being signed, neither would be featured on WCW television again. After Vince McMahon purchased WCW, neither man was picked up to wrestle for WWE. None of that changes one fact. This match deserves to be watched.
You can watch the show here.
About the Author
Andrew Crowe is not good at writing biographical material. He is an avid mental health advocate. He is a graduate of three schools holding degrees in Computer Science, Human Services, and Human Development. He co-hosts “What Makes a Good Game?” with friend Cosmironic.
Andrew likes some of the worst things in life. He enjoys b-movies, bad licensed video games, and music almost no one enjoys. He streams at least three days a week on Twitch. He is the husband of a talented writer, Corinne, and a father. Both are viewed as his most important titles.
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