ERNEST MILLER VS. THE GREAT MUTA

Before the match, The Filthy Animals are in Ernest Miller's office (he's also the commissioner) they want to be a part of the tag title match tonight so Miller makes them special guest referees outside the ring. Smackdown might call itself the land of opportunity in 2018 but 2000 WCW proved it. The Great Muta enters first, but Miller unbelievably to me, gets the better reaction, although that could be because it's from The WWE Network. Ernest Miller grabs a microphone. He says he'll whip Muta's ass before jumping him with the microphone. Tony Schiovane, Mark Madden, and Scott Hudson are on commentary for this match.

ERNEST MILLER VS. THE GREAT MUTA

WCW New Blood Rising (13^th August 2000)

Ernest Miller continues the assault, backing Muta into the corner and mounts the middle rope for mounted punches. Miller hits a dancing elbow drop to Muta on the mat as commentary put over Ernest Miller pulling double-duty as wrestler and commissioner. Miller takes too much time celebrating and The Great Muta rakes the eyes. Muta kicks Miller then snapmares him over, dropping an elbow of his own. The Great Muta drops Miller to his knees with an arm wrench and rolls through, Miller blocks an armbar so Muta applies pressure in a wristlock. Muta gets the armbar but releases the hold, since it's getting him nowhere. Muta kicks Miller in the corner, choking with the boot. Ernest Miller fights back to his feet and hits Muta with a heel kick from a wristlock. Ernest Miller wrenches again but turns around into a palm thrust by Muta. Muta pulls back on Miller's leg and kicks him into the corner. Tigress starts walking to the ring as Miller gets to his feet. Great Muta sends him across the ring but misses the cartwheel back elbow, but it looked terrible because he didn't go far enough. Great Muta elbows free from a german suplex attempt but Ernest Miller jabs him in the throat. Muta gets knocked out of the ring by a kick and Miller goes after him. Ernest Miller chokes Muta with some cables by ringside and sends him into the guardrail. Muta uses the guardrail to stay on his feet but gets kicked in the jaw and sent back into the ring for a nearfall. The Great Muta starts fighting back when he's on his feet but gets cut off with a jab to the throat. Ernest Miller drops to the splits and uppercuts Muta but Great Muta catches a kick attempt and sends Miller over with a Dragon Screw, Great Muta locks in a kneebar but Miller grabs the ropes. Muta releases just before 5. Great Muta barely hits a rib breaker on Miller but misses the moonsault from the top rope. Tigress has placed a chair on the apron and she climbs to the top rope as Muta blinds Miller with the green mist. Tigress drops from the top rope with a steel chair, dropping Muta. A blind commissioner crawls to cover Muta but Muta kicks out before 3! Ernest Miller blocks some strikes from Muta and knocks him back with a combination of kicks. Muta is sent into the corner, rebounding back into more kicks. Ernest Miller picks up Great Muta to send him back across the ring, hitting him with a jumping spin kick! Ernest Miller covers for the 3.

WINNER: ERNEST “THE CAT” MILLER

This is the sort of match you could hustle to. Namedrop these two to anyone just beginning to be interested in wrestling and start a prediction game claiming not to have seen it. This round there's no way anyone else will get it. As a match though it was terrible and overbooked. I get that Ernest Miller will have needed help to beat Muta but Tigress, a chair and a 1980's Martial Arts training montage? It just felt like a load of stuff thrown together and didn't click. I'm also dropping something for the fact that we didn't see the green mist spot. – WORKRATE: 1.75/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 0.5/5 OVERALL 2.25/10