Spring Stampede 1997: DDP Gets the Win That Changes Everything

Rey Misterio Jr. and Ultimo Dragon give Spring Stampede exactly the opener it needs. Dragon controls the early stretch with kicks and grounded offense, while Rey sells just enough to make every burst of speed feel like an escape rather than a routine sequence. The second half accelerates without losing structure, and both men keep the counters sharp enough that the finish feels earned instead of merely scheduled. CAGEMATCH's current matchguide is 7.74 and the Observer gave it four-and-a-quarter stars. Leighty also called it a fun opener. It is not their greatest match together, but it is comfortably the best pure wrestling on the card.

Akira Hokuto and Madusa work with urgency because WCW gives them almost no time to do anything else. Hokuto's strikes and physicality give the match an edge, while Madusa's offense is strongest when she can answer quickly instead of settling into a longer control segment. Sonny Onoo's involvement creates the expected distraction finish and keeps the champion protected. CAGEMATCH's guide sits a little above five, which feels right. There are enough good exchanges to avoid calling the match bad, but the five-minute runtime prevents the title from feeling important. The bout is less a complete championship match than a promising sample WCW refuses to turn into a full meal.

Prince Iaukea against Lord Steven Regal is technically competent and emotionally thin. Regal supplies almost everything that gives the match shape: rough uppercuts, mat control, heel frustration and enough body language to suggest the title matters. Iaukea is athletic and willing, but his offense rarely creates the kind of reaction a defending champion needs. The ten-minute limit keeps the bout from overstaying its welcome, and the finish protects Iaukea while continuing Regal's pursuit. CAGEMATCH's current guide is just above five, matching the general sense that this is decent television wrestling placed on pay-per-view. Regal makes it watchable. He cannot make it important by himself.

The Public Enemy against Steve McMichael and Jeff Jarrett starts with a workable idea and quickly turns into a mess. Jarrett is the best wrestler involved and tries to provide structure, but McMichael is still too inexperienced to stabilize a wandering brawl, while Public Enemy naturally pull everything toward tables, crowd fighting and production chaos. WCW leans on split-screen coverage because the teams separate, which makes the match harder to follow rather than more exciting. TJR gave it one-and-a-half stars and CAGEMATCH's guide sits barely above three. The upset protects the Horsemen story afterward, but the wrestling itself is sloppy, unfocused and longer than its useful material.

Dean Malenko versus Chris Benoit is the night's most frustrating match because the wrestling is good enough to make the ending feel like vandalism. Both men work with familiar intensity, trading mat control, suplexes and counters that make the United States title feel valuable. The pace is deliberate but never lazy, and Benoit's aggression gives Malenko a believable reason to keep searching for openings. Then Kevin Sullivan, Jacqueline, Arn Anderson and others become part of the ending, producing a disqualification instead of a conclusion. CAGEMATCH's matchguide is 6.54 and the Observer gave it three-and-a-quarter stars. The work earns a strong grade. The finish keeps it from reaching the level their chemistry suggests.

Kevin Nash versus Rick Steiner exists because Scott Hall is absent and WCW needs to turn a scheduled tag-title match into something the audience can still recognize. The storyline solution is that Scott Steiner has been attacked, sprayed and arrested, leaving Rick alone against Nash. That setup is more interesting than the match. Rick gets a short burst of power offense, Nash controls most of the action, and two Jackknife Powerbombs end a bout whose rules never stop feeling strange. TJR rated it one-and-a-half stars, while CAGEMATCH's guide is below three. The nWo dissension around Nick Patrick and Ted DiBiase matters. The wrestling is just scaffolding for that story.

The four-way contender match is uneven but useful. Booker T and Stevie Ray provide the heel structure, while Lex Luger and The Giant enter as allies who know the stipulation may eventually force them against one another. That tension gives the match more story than the standard rotating-pair formula. The middle drags, especially when the match settles into one-on-one stretches, but the crowd is extremely invested in Luger. The best moment comes when The Giant effectively allows Luger to finish Stevie Ray with the Torture Rack, acknowledging that his friend deserves the title shot. CAGEMATCH's guide is 5.68. The wrestling is average. The character beat and crowd lift it.

Diamond Dallas Page versus Randy Savage is the match that makes Spring Stampede historically matter. Savage works with wild, personal aggression, attacking officials and dragging the fight into the kind of chaos that suits his character. Page spends much of the match surviving rather than dominating, which makes the eventual comeback feel larger. Nick Patrick's hesitation adds nWo tension without stealing the finish, and when Page reverses Savage into the Diamond Cutter, the pin feels like an upset instead of a booking formality. CAGEMATCH's matchguide is 7.09 and the Observer gave it three-and-a-quarter stars. The match is strong. The result is bigger: this is the night DDP becomes a real main-event player.