WCW Sin

Sin
Sin
	Promotional poster featuringSting,Scott Steiner,Goldberg,andDiamond Dallas Page
Promotion	World Championship Wrestling
Date	January 14, 2001
City	Indianapolis, Indiana
Venue	Conseco Fieldhouse
Attendance	6,617
Pay-per-view chronology
←Previous; Starrcade	Next→; SuperBrawl Revenge

Sinwas aprofessional wrestling pay-per-view(PPV)eventproduced byWorld Championship Wrestling(WCW). It took place on January 14, 2001, from theConseco FieldhouseinIndianapolis, Indiana.^[1]Sin replaced WCW's January PPV event,Souled Out,which was held from 1997 to 2000.

The main event was for theWCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipbetweenScott Steiner,Sid Vicious,Jeff Jarrett,and a mystery man that turned out to beAnimalin aFour Corners match.The WCW champion heading into Sin was Scott Steiner, who retained the title after pinningSid Vicious,who had fractured his leg after attempting an aerial attack.^[2]The main match on the undercard was between Totally Buff (Lex LugerandBuff Bagwell) andGoldbergandDeWayne Bruce,in a match where if Goldberg lost, he would be (kayfabe) forced to leave WCW. Totally Buff won the match when Lex Luger pinned Goldberg after aBuff Blockbusterfrom Bagwell with Goldberg on Luger's shoulders. As a result, Goldberg was forced to leave WCW.^[3]The rights to WCW Sin have belonged to theWorld Wrestling Federation(WWF; now WWE) since March 2001.

In 2014, all WCW pay-per-views were made available on theWWE Network.

Storylines[edit]

The event featured wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds andstorylines.Wrestlers portrayedvillains,heroes,orless distinguishable charactersin the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.^[4]

The mainfeudheading into Sin, was betweenScott SteinerandSid Vicious.This feud began in November, when Vicious made his return toWCWafter a 5-month absence.^[5]The feud began the weeks prior toStarrcade,when Vicious was announced as the number one contender for Steiner'sWCW World Heavyweight Championship.In the main event at Starrcade, Steiner would retain his WCW World title against Vicious.^[6]However, Vicious managed to earn another championship match against Steiner at Sin, in a Four Corners match pitting himself against Steiner,Jeff Jarrett,and a mystery fourth man. On the edition of January 10 ofThunderVicious defeated Steiner by disqualification, in a match contested for the WCW World title, thus Steiner retaining.^[7]

The secondary feud heading in to Sin, was betweenGoldbergand the team of Totally Buff (Lex LugerandBuff Bagwell), and was intertwined with a feud between Goldberg andVince Russo,who was no longer working for the company at this point. On the September 25, 2000 edition ofNitro,Goldberg inadvertently allowed Russo to become WCW World Heavyweight Champion when he speared Russo through a steel cage during his match with then-championBooker T.Russo, as punishment, issued an ultimatum to Goldberg. In order to keep his job with WCW, he would have to duplicate his legendary undefeated streak from when he first joined the company back in 1997. If he was able to do so he would receive a shot at the world title, but any loss would result in his immediate termination. AtMayhemin November 2000, Goldberg faced and defeated Luger with his Jackhammer finisher despite Luger shoving the referee into the path of a Goldberg spear to try and get him disqualified. The two men had a rematch atStarrcadein December, where Goldberg won again despite interference from Bagwell on Luger’s behalf.^[8]Bagwell then attacked Goldberg postmatch, turning on the fans and joining up with the villainous Luger with whom he had just recently been feuding. Shortly after forming the team, Totally Buff made another effort to force Goldberg into retirement.DeWayne Bruce,a lower-card wrestler who became one of the trainers at WCW’s Power Plant wrestling school, stepped up to assist his student Goldberg and both sides agreed to a tag team match at Sin.^[9]

Event[edit]

Other on-screen personnel
Role:	Name:
Commentators	Tony Schiavone
Commentators	Scott Hudson
Interviewers	Gene Okerlund
Interviewers	Mike Tenay
Referees	Mark Johnson
	Scott James
	Jamie Dugger
	Charles Robinson
	Billy Silverman
	Mickie Jay
	Jim Duggan
Ring announcers	Michael Buffer(Main event)
Ring announcers	David Penzer

The first match that aired was betweenChavo Guerrero Jr.andShane Helmsfor theWCW Cruiserweight Championship.^[10]^[11]A back and forth match between the two, as Helms would try to execute the "Nightmare on Helms Street" on Guerrero, while Guerrero would try to execute hisbrainbuster.After two consecutive reversals, Guerrero would successfully execute the brainbuster on Helms then covering him for the successful pinfall, thus retaining the WCW Cruiserweight Championship.^[10]^[12]^[13]

A video aired from earlier in the day, whereMike Tenayasked then-WCW CEO,Ric Flair,who was getting out of his limo, on who the "mystery opponent" is in the four corners match later in the event. Flair responded by saying the identity of the "mystery opponent" had to be kept confidential and "will rock Scott Steiner's world".^[11]^[12]ThenGene OkerlundinterviewedThe Mamalukes,followed by Reno and Big Vito discussing their match and how everything would be "finished once and for all".^[13]The second match was betweenRenoandBig Vito.The match began in a brawl, leading to Big Vito in control. Reno attempted to hit his "Roll the Dice" on Vito, but was countered, leading to a successful second attempt where then after, Reno covered Big Vito for the victory.^[10]^[12]^[13]

The third match was acruiserweight tag team matchbetweenThe Jung DragonsandJamie KnoblewithEvan Karagias.^[11]^[12]The match started out fast with chops and Irish whips from both teams.^[13]However the Jung Dragons took control of the match, until the climax of the match, where Karagias gave Yang ahangman's neckbreaker.^[13]After Knoble delivered apiledriverto Kaz, Yang unsuccessfully attempted a corkscrew moonsault on Knoble, but ended up pinning Knoble with aninside cradlefor the win.^[14]After the match, Knoble and Karagias assault the Jung Dragons.^[12]^[15]

The fourth match was betweenErnest Millerand WCW CommissionerMike Sanders,in a match where theWCW CommissionershipandMs. Jones'managing serviceswere on the line.^[10]^[12]^[13]Both Miller and Sanders gained control in the course of the match.^[10]^[13]In the climax, the Thrillers came to interfere on Sanders behalf, but as they came to the ring,KroniKcame after them interfering on Miller's behalf.^[10]^[13]Miller then performed aFelineron Sanders followed by the pin, winning the match, Ms. Jones, and the WCW Commissioner job title.^[10]^[12]^[13]

Backstage,Goldbergand then-WCW CEORic Flairwatched Totally Buffed's arrival followed by "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviewingJeff Jarrett.^[11]^[12]The fifth match then got underway betweenTeam Canada(Lance Storm,Mike AwesomeandElix Skipper) defeatingThe Filthy Animals(Konnan,Rey Mysterio Jr.andBilly Kidman) withJim DugganasSpecial Guest Refereein a Penalty Box match, where if one broke a rule they were sent into the Penalty Box for one minute.^[12]The match started off with Rey Misterio Jr. in control as Elix Skipper and Mike Awesome were sent into the Penalty Box after breaking the rules of the match.^[10]^[12]^[13]Midway though the match, Awesome and Lance Storm were sent into the penalty box after performing a double-team move.^[10]^[13]But then after, Team Canada was in control of the match after Misterio and Kidman were sent into the Penalty Box, after Duggan thought they were about to perform alow blowon Awesome.^[12]After Konnan, Awesome, and Skipper were sent into the Penalty box, Storm applied theMaple Leafon Kidman forcing him to submit, thus winning for Team Canada.^[10]^[12]^[13]

The sixth match was betweenMeng,Crowbarand WCW Hardcore ChampionTerry Funkin aTriple Threat matchfor theWCW Hardcore Championship.^[10]^[12]^[13]The match started out with Crowbar hitting Funk with asteel chair,and then dragging him backstage, where Meng joined the two men in the brawl using a variety of weapons.^[13]In the climax of the match, Crowbar applied afigure four leglockon Funk which was broken up by Meng who was then attacked by Funk and Meng with steel chairs.^[10]^[13]Meng thensuperkickeda chair into Crowbar's face followed by making Funk submit to theTongan Death Gripto win the WCW Hardcore Championship.^[10]^[13]^[14]

The seventh match was contested betweenSean O'Haire,Chuck Palumboand The Insiders (Kevin NashandDiamond Dallas Page) in aWCW World Tag Team Championshipmatch, with the stipulation of the Insiders able to make substitutions.^[11]^[14]The match began with then-WCW CEO Ric Flair sendingThe Natural Born Thrillersbackstage, banning substitutions in the match, upsetting Palumbo and O' Haire.^[14]In the climax of the match, Shawn Stasiak interfered, keeping DDP busy on the outside. Buff Bagwell and Lex Luger then interfered in the match by hitting Nash with awrench,leading to O'Haire hitting aSeanton Bombon Nash and covering him for the win and the WCW World Tag Team Championship.^[10]^[12]^[13]

The eight match was betweenShane DouglasandGeneral Rectionin aFirst Blood Chain matchfor theWCW United States Heavyweight Championship.^[10]^[12]^[13]The match began with Rection in control, as he and Douglas attempted to retrieve the chain.^[12]Afterwards, Douglasworkedon the legs of Rection for a period of time until Rection recovered and gained control.^[10]^[13]In a turn of events, Rection was pushed off a ladder by Douglas, which knocked down the referee, and he pulled out a chain from his boots and attacked Rection with it. As the referee recovered, Rection began to bleed and was seen by the referee who called for the bell, declaring Shane Douglas the winner and new WCW United States Champion.^[10]^[13]^[16]

The ninth match, and the main match on the undercard, was between Totally Buff (Lex LugerandBuff Bagwell) andGoldbergwithDeWayne Brucein aNo Disqualification tag-team match,where if Goldberg lost, he would be (kayfabe) forced to leave WCW.^[10]^[12]^[13]The match started out with Goldberg against Bagwell, where Goldberg had full control of the match.^[12]Bruce was then tagged in by Goldberg where he gained an early advantage over Bagwell for a short time, but was then double teamed by Totally Buffed.^[10]^[13]Goldberg was then tagged in, where Bagwell gained the upper-hand. Luger then exited the ring and walked up to a fan, who asked for Goldberg's autograph earlier in the event. This distracted and lured Goldberg near the fan, who sprayed mace into Goldberg's eyes.^[10]^[13]Luger then lifted Goldberg on his shoulders and Bagwell hit a Super Blockbuster. Luger covered him for the victory, thus ending Goldberg's undefeated streak of thirty-five victories and forcing him to leave WCW.^[10]^[12]^[13]^[17]

The main event was betweenSid Vicious,Jeff Jarrett,Scott Steiner,and a "mystery opponent" for theWCW World Heavyweight Championshipin a Four Corners match.^[10]^[12]^[13]The match began with only three competitors, without the mystery opponent.^[10]^[13]Vicious gained the advantage over Jarrett and Steiner in the start of the match, but was then double-teamed by Jarrett and Steiner. As Vicious was making a comeback, he attempted a jumping big boot from the second turnbuckle; he suffered a compound fracture of his lower left leg upon landing on the ring mat and collapsed to the ground, unable to move.^[18]The footage of the injury was edited out of the WWE Network version of the event. Towards the end of the match, then-WCW CEO Flair announced the arrival of the "mystery opponent", who came out wearing a mask, hiding his identity.^[12]He entered the ring delivering a couple of kicks to Vicious. Steiner then covered Vicious for the victory, thus successfully retaining the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.^[10]^[12]^[13]After the match ended, the "mystery man" unmasked and revealed himself to beRoad Warrior Animal,making his return to WCW after leaving with his longtime tag team partnerRoad Warrior Hawkin 1996.^[14]

Aftermath[edit]

Because of the injury to Sid Vicious, the broadcast ended early shortly after Road Warrior Animal was revealed as the mystery man and a crucial angle was not shown until the following night’s edition ofNitro.After the main event, Ric Flair celebrated the events of the night with the other participants in the main event, along with Totally Buff and the Natural Born Thrillers, and revealed that every single one of the events in their matches were part of a conspiracy. OnNitro,Flair revealed an alliance involving himself, Bagwell, Luger, Jarrett, and Steiner. The group immediately began feuding with The Insiders and Rick Steiner, only to have Rick join the group when he betrayed Kevin Nash.

Almost immediately after winning the WCW Hardcore Championship, Meng left WCW after being with the company for six years. He would make an unexpected appearance at theRoyal Rumblea week later, thus returning to the WWF under his former ring name Haku.

Sin would be the final WCW pay-per-view to be held outside of the southern United States. Starting in February 2001, all WCW events were held in the southern states only until it was sold toWWEin March 2001.

Reception[edit]

In 2007, Arnold Furious of 411Mania gave the event a rating of 4.5 [Poor], stating, "The undercard has so much hard work in it. Two great cruiserweight matches in the first half and a solid hardcore match. Basically everyone who had the chance to move up the card tried really hard. Then the main event guys strolled out there and dogged it in matches riddled with stupid booking. Sid broke his leg, Goldberg is out of WCW forever. Earlier on Steiner had taken out most of the WCW’s babyfaces. There’s really only Nash and DDP left and they just jobbed to a couple of rookie midcarders. The direction of the company was once again embarrassing. Way to go Eric Bischoff. Turn that company around! It’s all pretty depressing. Luckily enough WCW died two months later and now no one has to watch it. Yay!"^[19]