Yup. A referee vs. referee match. YAY Attitude era! Yay
Invasion! It's crazy how those money makers and money pits are so
connected. They even get a promo before the match. The referees
between the two companies started arguing in the locker room, then
Nick Patrick started favoring The Alliance in matches, leading to
William Regal telling Earl Hebner to stand up for himself. He
challenges Nick Patrick to a match leading to a referee locker room
brawl and I can't believe I'm typing all of this... Mick Foley is
the special guest referee for this match. Which was announced at the
end of Heat, according to JR on commentary He's joined by Michael
Cole for this match. Nick Patrick enters first, with the rest of the
WCW referees by his side. The WWF referees follow Earl Hebner, who
storms to the ring. Mick Foley backs him off. It looks like the
referees are staying at ringside for the match.
NICK
PATRICK (WCW) VS. EARL HEBNER (WWF)
WWF
Invasion (22nd July 2001)
Nick Patrick gets
in Hebner's face but gets shoved. Patrick slaps Hebner, who backs
into the corner but he kicks Patrick in the gut. Earl Hebner sends
Nick Patrick back into the turnbuckles and stomps a mudhole! Earl
Hebner brings Patrick out of the corner with an alley-oop and I'm
tempted to call his cover a crossbody, but it only gets him 2. Hebner
mounts for punches but Patrick turns it around, Hebner back to the
advantage and he makes his way to his feet. Hebner sends his knee
into Patrick's midsection before Patrick sends him through the ropes
to the floor. He'd be down for 10 minutes in any other match, but he
stays down long enough for Foley to send the WCW referees back to
their corner. Nick Patrick stomps at Hebner as he gets back in the
ring and drags him to his feet. Earl Hebner fights back with rights
and a forearm sends Nick Patrick into the turnbuckle. Earl Hebner
gets a kidney shot and climbs to the middle rope for the 10 punches.
Nick Patrick drops to his knees but is able to get a low blow out of
Foley's vision. He clubs Hebner over the back and a freakin' baseball
slide dropkick sends Hebner out to the floor again. This is why WWF
needed a better juniors division. Earl Hebner would be hitting
moonsaults and shit. The WCW referees attack Earl Hebner on the
floor, bringing over the WWF counterparts. Mick Foley sends the WCW
referees to the back for getting involved in the match and dumps
Hebner back in the ring. Nick Patrick gets in Mick Foley's face,
giving Earl Hebner time to get to his feet. Nick Patrick turns around
into a shoulder tackle, Earl Hebner keeps Patrick down for the 3
count.
WINNER: EARL HEBNER
This match was what it was meant to be. Two referees
throwing themselves at each other and a and a cheating heel getting
their comeuppance to end the feud. As a match, it was every
manager/referee/not wrestler involved in a match you would expect,
but it was short and pretty fun during a period the company could do
no wrong (until hindsight.)– Objectively: it's * territory
Personally I would rate it a 2/5
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