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Spring Stampede (2000)
Spring Stampede (2000)
Spring Stampede (2000)
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Spring Stampede (2000)
VHS cover featuring Vampiro, Sting, Scott Steiner, The Wall, Jeff Jarrett and Diamond Dallas Page
PromotionWorld Championship Wrestling
DateApril 16, 2000
CityChicago, Illinois
VenueUnited Center
Attendance12,556
Buy rate115,000[1]
Tagline(s)Stomp Of Approval
The New Blood And The Millionaires' Club In A Savage Shoot-Out For Gold!
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous
Uncensored 		Next →
Slamboree
Spring Stampede chronology
← Previous
1999 		Next →
Final

The 2000 Spring Stampede was the fifth and final Spring Stampede pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Championship Wrestling (WCW). The event took place on April 16, 2000 from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Spring Stampede would be the final wrestling pay-per-view to be held at this venue until Forbidden Door in 2022.

The event was notable due to the creation of a new WCW after Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo rebooted the company by vacating all the championships and refreshing the WCW roster. Many tournaments occurred during the event for the vacated championships. The main event was the tournament final for the vacated WCW World Heavyweight Championship between Diamond Dallas Page and Jeff Jarrett. During the match, Page's wife Kimberly Page turned on her husband, allowing Jarrett to win the title.

The undercard featured tournaments to crown the new World Tag Team and United States Heavyweight Champions. Shane Douglas and Buff Bagwell defeated Ric Flair and The Total Package to win the vacated World Tag Team Championship and Scott Steiner defeated Sting to win the vacated United States Heavyweight Championship. Chris Candido won a Six-Way match for the vacant Cruiserweight Championship and Terry Funk defeated Norman Smiley in a Hardcore match for the vacant Hardcore Championship.

The events of Spring Stampede 2000 would lead to the beginning of an angle, in which the WCW roster was divided into two factions: New Blood and Millionaire's Club. New Blood was the villainous group of young wrestlers and Millionaire's Club was the heroic group of veterans of the industry.

Storylines

[edit]

The event featured wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.[2]

Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
Commentators Tony Schiavone
Scott Hudson
Mark Madden
Interviewer Gene Okerlund
Referees Mickie Jay
Mark Johnson
Nick Patrick
Charles Robinson
Billy Silverman
Ring announcers Michael Buffer
David Penzer

Reception

[edit]

In 2015, Kevin Pantoja of 411Mania gave the event a rating of 3.5 [Bad], stating, "Surprisingly, this is the highest score I’ve given WCW in 2000. Nothing on this show is must see at all, but I managed to see a near three star effort. With the exception of the Mancow/Hart match, everything is at the very least watchable. The fact that there are fourteen matches means that things move by rather quickly, which helps. There was potential here, but everything is so overdone by shenanigans that [it] ends up ruining it."[3]

Results

[edit]
No.ResultsStipulationsTimes
1Ric Flair and The Total Package (with Elizabeth) defeated The Harris Brothers (Ron and Don) and The Mamalukes (Big Vito and Johnny the Bull) (with Disco Inferno)WCW World Tag Team Championship tournament semifinal06:11
2Mancow (with Al Roker Jr., Turd the Bartender, and Freak) defeated Jimmy HartSingles match02:48
3Scott Steiner defeated The Wall by disqualificationWCW United States Heavyweight Championship tournament quarterfinal03:53
4Mike Awesome defeated Bam Bam BigelowWCW United States Heavyweight Championship tournament quarterfinal04:00
5Shane Douglas and Buff Bagwell defeated Harlem Heat 2000 (Stevie Ray and Big T) (with J. Biggs and Kash)WCW World Tag Team Championship tournament semifinal02:41
6Sting defeated BookerWCW United States Heavyweight Championship tournament quarterfinal06:34
7Vampiro defeated Billy Kidman (with Torrie Wilson)WCW United States Heavyweight Championship tournament quarterfinal08:28
8Terry Funk defeated Norman SmileyHardcore match for the vacant WCW Hardcore Championship08:02
9Scott Steiner defeated Mike Awesome by submissionWCW United States Heavyweight Championship tournament semifinal03:14
10Sting defeated Vampiro by submissionWCW United States Heavyweight Championship tournament semifinal05:59
11Chris Candido (with Tammy Lynn Sytch) defeated The Artist Formerly Known as Prince Iaukea (with Paisley), Juventud Guerrera, Shannon Moore (with Shane Helms), Lash LeRoux and Crowbar (with Daffney)Six-Way match for the vacant WCW Cruiserweight Championship05:12
12Shane Douglas and Buff Bagwell (with Vince Russo) defeated Ric Flair and The Total Package (with Elizabeth)Tournament final for the vacant WCW World Tag Team Championship08:29
13Scott Steiner defeated Sting by technical submissionTournament final for the vacant WCW United States Heavyweight Championship05:33
14Jeff Jarrett defeated Diamond Dallas Page (with Kimberly Page)Tournament final for the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Championship15:02

Tournament brackets

[edit]

World Heavyweight Championship Tournament

[edit]
Qualification matches (TV) Semifinals (TV) Final (PPV)
1 Diamond Dallas Page Pin
4 The Total Package 5:00 Sting 9:01
5 Diamond Dallas Page Pin Diamond Dallas Page 15:02
Jeff Jarrett Pin
2 Curt Hennig 8:52
3 Sid Vicious 5:00 Jeff Jarrett Pin
6 Sting CO

World Tag Team Championship Tournament

[edit]
Semifinals (PPV) Final (PPV)
      
1 Ric Flair and The Total Package Pin
4 The Harris Brothers (Ron Harris and Don Harris)
The Mamalukes (Johnny the Bull and Vito) 		6:11
Ric Flair and Total Package 8:29
Shane Douglas and Buff Bagwell Pin
3 Harlem Heat 2000 (Stevie Ray and Big T) 2:41
2 Shane Douglas and Buff Bagwell Pin

United States Heavyweight Championship Tournament

[edit]
Quarterfinals (PPV) Semifinals (PPV) Final (PPV)
         
Scott Steiner DQ
The Wall 3:53
Scott Steiner Sub
Mike Awesome 3:14
Mike Awesome Pin
Ernest Miller 4:00
Scott Steiner Sub
Sting 5:33
Booker T 6:34
Sting Pin
Vampiro 5:59
Sting Sub
Vampiro Pin
Billy Kidman 8:28

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Spring Stampede (2000)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Spring Stampede (2000) was a (PPV) event produced by (WCW), held on April 16, 2000, at the in , , in front of an of 12,556. It marked the fifth and final installment in WCW's Spring Stampede series, serving as the inaugural PPV under a major company reboot orchestrated by booker , which included vacating all championships to facilitate new tournaments for the WCW World Heavyweight, United States Heavyweight, and World Tag Team titles. The event centered on the launch of WCW's "New Blood vs. " storyline, pitting a faction of younger, rebellious wrestlers (the New Blood, positioned as heels) against established veteran stars (). This feud aimed to refresh WCW's declining product amid ratings struggles and internal turmoil, with the New Blood dominating outcomes to symbolize a generational shift. Notable angles included the on-screen "firing" of after he interfered in a match, leading to capturing the Hardcore Championship, and a dramatic by , who turned heel to assist in the main event. Key matches highlighted the tournament formats and faction warfare, with the card featuring 14 matches, including tournament bouts. In the main event, defeated in the WCW World Heavyweight Championship tournament final, aided by Kimberly's interference, to claim the vacant title and solidify the New Blood's momentum. dethroned Sting to win the WCW Heavyweight Championship in a strap match, while and captured the WCW World Tag Team Championship by defeating and in the tournament final. Other results included The Great Muta retaining the WCW World Television Championship against Vader and a celebrity comedy match where bested radio host . Despite mixed reception, the event underscored WCW's turbulent final year before its acquisition by the World Wrestling Federation in March 2001.

Production

Background

In April 2000, (WCW) initiated a major creative reboot under the leadership of and , who returned to the promotion on the April 10 episode of Monday Nitro to overhaul the faltering product. This relaunch introduced the New Blood vs. Millionaire's Club angle, aimed to revitalize storylines amid declining ratings and internal turmoil by declaring a complete reset of the roster dynamics. A key element of the reboot involved vacating the WCW World Heavyweight, United States Heavyweight, World , Cruiserweight, and Hardcore Championships, to clear the slate and allow for fresh competition without established hierarchies. This decision stripped veterans of their belts and set the stage for tournaments to determine new champions, emphasizing a generational shift in the promotion's booking philosophy. The reboot prominently featured the introduction of two opposing factions: the New Blood, a group of younger, anti-establishment wrestlers such as and , positioned against of high-profile veterans including , , and . Spring Stampede, held on April 16, 2000, at the in , , marked the first major event following this overhaul, serving as the platform to crown new titleholders through the announced tournaments.

Promotion and booking

The in , , was selected as the venue for Spring Stampede (2000), marking the fifth and final event in WCW's Spring Stampede series. The choice of this prominent arena aimed to capitalize on the city's large wrestling fanbase and draw a strong live crowd. The event drew an attendance of 12,556 spectators and achieved a buy rate of 0.25, translating to approximately 115,000 purchases, which represented a modest uptick compared to some preceding WCW events amid the promotion's declining popularity in 2000. Booking for the event centered on formats to crown new champions across multiple divisions, following the stripping of all titles during a creative on the April 10, 2000, episode of . This structure allowed WCW to reset its championship landscape, with quarterfinal and semifinal matches distributed across prior episodes of Nitro and to build momentum, while reserving the finals for the to heighten drama and stakes. For instance, the World Heavyweight Championship culminated in a final on the card, as did key stages of the United States Heavyweight and World Tag Team Championship tournaments, emphasizing clashes between established stars and emerging talent. Promotional efforts tied directly into the reboot's New Blood versus Millionaire's Club conflict, featuring vignettes on that highlighted the generational rivalry and title implications to generate buzz for the tournaments. These segments, often recapping beatdowns and alliances formed post-reboot, underscored the New Blood's aggressive push against veteran dominance, positioning Spring Stampede as the decisive battleground. To enhance local appeal in , WCW booked Mancow Muller in a against , leveraging his regional celebrity status for added publicity without extensive national buildup.

Storylines

Faction rivalry

The New Blood faction emerged as a rebellious alliance of younger wrestlers in (WCW) during a dramatic reboot on the April 10, 2000, episode of Monday Nitro, orchestrated by and to revitalize the struggling promotion. This group targeted the established stars they viewed as monopolizing opportunities, with Russo positioning himself as the ideological leader alongside Bischoff, while wrestlers such as , , , and Booker T formed the core membership, embodying an uprising against the old guard. The faction's origins stemmed from WCW's creative desperation, as the company vacated all championships to level the playing field and ignite a generational conflict, drawing inspiration from past stable wars like the New World Order. In opposition, represented the promotion's veteran elite, comprising icons like , Sting, , and , who positioned themselves as the defenders of WCW's legacy and traditions against the upstarts' perceived chaos. These established performers, often portrayed as wealthy and influential, rallied to protect their status, with emerging as the symbolic leader emphasizing loyalty to the company's storied history. The group's formation was a direct response to the New Blood's incursion, highlighting tensions over creative control and spotlight allocation within WCW. Leading into Spring Stampede, the rivalry escalated through intense brawls on Nitro episodes, including a chaotic parking lot confrontation where members of ambushed Russo and his allies, underscoring the personal stakes. Early angles also teased betrayals within the veterans' ranks, such as subtle hints of discontent around Page's wife, , amid mounting pressures from the New Blood's aggressive tactics. These segments, aired in the brief six-day buildup, featured ambushes and verbal confrontations that blurred lines between factions, amplifying the animosity. This factional war framed Spring Stampede as a pivotal "changing of the guard" moment for WCW, pitting the innovative but heelish New Blood against the heroic yet resistant Millionaire's Club in a of versus preservation. The event's structure, with tournaments for the vacated titles, served as the battleground for this theme, symbolizing a potential shift in the promotion's power dynamics despite the veterans' entrenched popularity.

Championship tournaments

The WCW World Heavyweight Championship had been vacated on January 16, 2000, following Bret Hart's withdrawal due to a severe concussion and related injuries sustained from a kick by Goldberg at Starrcade 1999, which ultimately forced his retirement from in-ring competition. This vacancy lingered for months amid WCW's creative turmoil, culminating in the announcement of a single-elimination tournament during the April 10, 2000, episode of Monday Nitro, as part of executive producer Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff's "reboot" of the promotion. The first-round qualifiers highlighted emerging tensions between the newly formed New Blood faction—comprising younger talents like Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner—and the veteran Millionaire's Club, including Sting and Diamond Dallas Page (DDP), with New Blood members frequently interfering to target established stars during promos and brawls leading into the event. In the opening round, DDP advanced by defeating Lex Luger via pinfall after a Diamond Cutter, Jarrett progressed past Booker T with assistance from Vince Russo's ringside interference, Steiner eliminated Sid Vicious following a controversial low blow, and Sting secured a victory over Vampiro using the Scorpion Deathlock, setting up semifinal clashes at the pay-per-view. The tournament similarly stemmed from the title stripping during the April 10 Nitro reboot, with the competition emphasizing factional strife as New Blood teams sought to dismantle Millionaire's Club partnerships. New Blood-aligned teams like and advanced through challenges to veteran pairs in the buildup, fueling storylines of youth overtaking experience and building heat for the PPV semifinals, which included a triangle match featuring the , the Mamalukes, and Team Package ( and ). For the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship tournament, WCW vacated the title held by Jarrett as part of the reboot and assembled an eight-man field announced on the April 10 Nitro, positioning it as a battleground for faction dominance. , a dominant New Blood enforcer known for his aggressive promos and suplex-heavy offense, entered as a heavy favorite after weeks of unchallenged rampages against midcarders, while Sting, returning from a suffered earlier in the year, was positioned as the Millionaire's Club's avenger in the tournament qualifiers, with video packages showing New Blood assaults on injured veterans. The field included , Sting, Booker T, , , , , and (), with buildup focused on New Blood targeting Sting's comeback by isolating him in multi-man brawls on Nitro, underscoring the personal stakes as he aimed to reclaim momentum for the older guard.

Event

Venue and attendance

The in , , served as the venue for Spring Stampede (2000), a multi-purpose arena opened in 1994 that typically accommodates over 20,000 spectators for wrestling events through its configuration of tiered seating sections surrounding a central floor area. For the pay-per-view production, the arena was adapted with a standard setup in the floor center, elevated broadcast commentary booths along one side, and extensive lighting and camera rigs to facilitate live coverage, drawing on its established history of hosting WCW events in the late 1990s. Official attendance for the event was reported as 12,556, reflecting a solid but not capacity crowd for the 20,000-plus seat configuration, with approximately 8,377 paid tickets contributing to the figure amid WCW's fluctuating popularity in 2000. The Chicago audience contributed to a lively atmosphere, particularly energized by local radio personality Erich "Mancow" Muller, whose appearance in a featured match against Jimmy Hart drew enthusiastic cheers and boos reflective of the city's media-savvy crowd dynamics. This regional flavor amplified the event's energy during key segments, enhancing the overall live experience. Spring Stampede (2000) aired live as a event on April 16, 2000, distributed through major U.S. providers such as Viewer's Choice and , reaching an estimated buy rate of 0.25 households in line with WCW's mid-tier PPVs of the era.

Match card and outcomes

The non-tournament matches at Spring Stampede 2000 served to intersperse the championship tournaments, providing pacing through a mix of novelty, hardcore violence, and cruiserweight action to maintain audience engagement amid the bracketed competition. The event opened with a tournament semifinal, followed immediately by the first non-tournament bout as the second match overall. Mancow, a local Chicago radio personality, faced Jimmy Hart in a singles novelty match tied to regional promotion, where Mancow secured victory by pinfall after 2:48. This quick opener added light-hearted local flavor early in the card. After several tournament quarterfinals and semifinals, the eighth match featured Terry Funk defeating Norman Smiley to win the vacant WCW Hardcore Championship in a hardcore stipulation bout lasting 8:02, with Funk pinning Smiley following extensive weapon usage including chairs and trash cans. This mid-card spot delivered intense brawling to contrast the structured tournament progression. The cruiserweight title match occurred as the 11th bout, a suicide six-way elimination for the vacant WCW Cruiserweight Championship involving against , , The Artist (formerly ), , and ; Candido won by pinfall in 5:12 after eliminating the final opponents. Positioned before the tournament finals, it offered fast-paced aerial spots to build momentum toward the event's climax.
Match OrderMatchStipulationResultDuration
2Mancow vs. Singles (novelty)Mancow wins by pinfall2:48
8 vs. Hardcore for vacant wins by pinfall8:02
11 vs. vs. vs. The Artist vs. vs. Six-way elimination for vacant WCW Cruiserweight Championship wins by pinfall5:12

Tournaments

World Heavyweight Championship

The World Heavyweight Championship at Spring Stampede 2000 concluded an eight-man to crown a new champion after the title was vacated due to Bret Hart's real-life rendering him unable to compete. The tournament bracket featured participants aligned with the ongoing New Blood and Millionaire's Club factions, with quarterfinals and semifinals held on the April 10, 2000 episode of .
RoundMatchWinner
Quarterfinal def.
QuarterfinalSting def. (by count-out)Sting
QuarterfinalBooker T def. Booker T
Quarterfinal def.
Semifinal def. Sting
Semifinal def. Booker T
In the tournament final, a no-disqualification match for the vacant , faced . The bout, lasting 14:58, saw intense brawling outside the ring, including Page's attempt at a Diamond Cutter on the entrance ramp and Jarrett's retaliatory guitar shot that was blocked. Key moments included interference from New Blood members and Page's wife, , who initially aided her husband but turned by striking him with Jarrett's guitar, allowing Jarrett to deliver for the pinfall victory. Jarrett was crowned the new WCW World Heavyweight Champion, marking the New Blood stable's first major singles title acquisition in their feud against the Millionaire's Club.

World Tag Team Championship

The WCW World Tag Team Championship was vacated prior to Spring Stampede as part of the ongoing New Blood and Millionaire's Club storyline, leading to a six-team tournament to crown new champions. The bracket featured representatives from both factions, with the New Blood holding a numerical advantage through teams like the Mamalukes, Harlem Heat 2000, the Harris Brothers, and Shane Douglas and Buff Bagwell, while the Millionaire's Club was represented by Team Package (Ric Flair and Lex Luger). Early qualifiers on the April 10 episode of WCW Monday Nitro determined two spots, as the Mamalukes defeated the Jung Dragons and Harlem Heat 2000 defeated 3 Count. The PPV portion began with the first semifinal, a match pitting Team Package against the (Ron and Don Harris) and the Mamalukes (Big Vito and Johnny the Bull). The bout, which lasted 6:11, saw intense brawling among the New Blood teams before Flair applied the Figure-Four leglock on Johnny the Bull, but the submission victory came via Luger's Torture Rack on Big Vito, advancing Team Package. In the second semifinal, Shane Douglas and Buff Bagwell faced Harlem Heat 2000 (Stevie Ray and Big T) in a quick 2:41 encounter dominated by the New Blood duo's aggression. Bagwell secured the pinfall on Big T following a Blockbuster, advancing Douglas and Bagwell while underscoring the faction's momentum in the division. The tournament final saw Douglas and Bagwell defend their New Blood allegiance against Team Package in an 8:29 match filled with interference and veteran tactics from Flair and Luger. With Vince Russo's involvement distracting the referee, Bagwell delivered a final Blockbuster to Luger for the pinfall victory, crowning Douglas and as the new WCW World Tag Team Champions and highlighting the New Blood's dominance in reclaiming the division.
StageMatchWinnerDurationMethod
Semifinal 1 (Triangle)Team Package vs. vs. MamalukesTeam Package6:11Submission (Torture Rack)
Semifinal 2 & vs. 2000 & 2:41Pinfall (Blockbuster)
Final & vs. Team Package & (new champions)8:29Pinfall (Blockbuster)

United States Heavyweight Championship

The United States Heavyweight Championship was vacated prior to Spring Stampede 2000 following the departure of champion , leading to an eight-man held exclusively during the pay-per-view event to crown a new champion. The bracket featured prominent WCW midcard competitors, with matches progressing from quarterfinals to semifinals and culminating in the final, marked by frequent outside interference that influenced outcomes. This tournament structure followed qualifiers contested on earlier episodes of and Thunder.

Quarterfinals

In the first quarterfinal, faced in a match that ended quickly due to a disqualification. At 3:53, delivered a to referee through a table outside the ring, resulting in Steiner's victory by DQ despite the chaotic finish. The second quarterfinal pitted against , with Awesome securing the win via pinfall after his signature Awesome Splash at 4:00; Ernest "The Cat" Miller interfered by attacking Bigelow, allowing Awesome to capitalize. Sting advanced in the third quarterfinal against Booker T via pinfall with the Scorpion Death Drop at 6:34, showcasing Sting's technical prowess in a competitive bout. The longest quarterfinal saw defeat at 8:28 via pinfall, aided by interference from , who attacked Kidman and powerbombed him through the announce table.

Semifinals

The first semifinal featured against , ending in submission at 3:14 when Steiner applied the ; intervened by striking Awesome with a crutch, tipping the scales in Steiner's favor. In the second semifinal, Sting submitted with the Scorpion Deathlock at 5:59, maintaining momentum despite Vampiro's aggressive style and prior alliances.

Final

The tournament final saw Scott Steiner challenge Sting for the vacant title, with Steiner emerging victorious via submission at 5:33 using the Steiner Recliner; Vampiro interfered by pulling Sting under the ring and causing him to blade, leaving Sting bloodied and unable to continue as the referee stopped the match. This win crowned Steiner as the new WCW United States Heavyweight Champion, highlighting the event's theme of factional interference in the New Blood vs. Millionaire's Club reboot era.

Reception

Critical reviews

The initial reception to Spring Stampede 2000 was mixed, with critics noting the innovative tournament format as a bold attempt to refresh WCW's roster amid its ongoing reboot, though many lamented the brevity of matches—often under five minutes—which limited in-ring storytelling. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter praised the event as "probably the best WCW PPV in months," highlighting its energetic pace under the new Bischoff-Russo regime, while the buyrate of 0.25 (approximately 115,000 buys) marked a solid improvement over Uncensored 2000's 0.13 but remained underwhelming compared to prior years' events like Spring Stampede 1999, which drew stronger interest before the promotion's creative turmoil intensified. Fan feedback reflected confusion over the reboot's sudden shifts, contributing to the modest commercial performance despite the packed card of 14 bouts. Retrospective reviews have been largely critical, with a 2015 analysis from 411Mania assigning an overall score of 3.5 out of 10, commending the hardcore match between and for its chaotic entertainment value but decrying pervasive overbooking that undermined several outcomes. Wrestling Recaps echoed this sentiment in 2010, grading the show a C- and faulting excessive interference in tournament matches, such as Hogan's disruptive appearance in the US Title Tournament semifinal between and , which reviewers felt robbed a promising encounter of its potential. The SmarK Rant retrospective highlighted the Vampiro-Kidman match as a standout for its athleticism before the swerve finish, while the hardcore title clash earned praise for its absurd, crowd-pleasing spots, though the event's reliance on run-ins and ref bumps was seen as emblematic of WCW's declining booking quality. Critics consistently panned celebrity crossovers like the vs. "match," viewing it as a needless distraction that prioritized shock over substance, and the unexpected turn on in the main event was dismissed as a telegraphed and superfluous twist that failed to elevate the narrative. Overall, Meltzer described the show as the best WCW PPV in months, acknowledging its ambition but underscoring the execution flaws that hampered long-term appeal.

Legacy and impact

Spring Stampede 2000 played a pivotal role in solidifying the New Blood versus Millionaire's Club feud, which had been introduced just days earlier on WCW Nitro as part of a company reboot led by and . The event's tournament format, which vacated all championships and crowned new titleholders predominantly from the New Blood faction, intensified the narrative of younger talent challenging established veterans, setting the stage for ongoing storylines. This momentum directly influenced subsequent pay-per-view events, most notably in August 2000, where the factional rivalry continued to drive main event bookings before fading by the Bash at the Beach in July. The feud's structure at Spring Stampede emphasized generational conflict, with New Blood members securing key victories that propelled the angle forward amid WCW's creative overhaul. Jeff Jarrett's victory over in the World Heavyweight tournament final marked the beginning of his prominent run as champion, aligning him closely with the New Blood's aggressive tactics and enhancing his role as a manipulative figure in WCW storylines. Similarly, Scott Steiner's submission win over Sting in the United States Heavyweight final reinforced his established monster persona, portraying him as an unstoppable force within the New Blood and tying into his ongoing dominance-oriented character development. As WCW's final Spring Stampede event, held on April 16, 2000, it signaled broader format shifts in the promotion's scheduling, reflecting declining popularity and internal instability that contributed to the company's eventual sale in March 2001. The event's focus on factional resets highlighted WCW's desperate attempts to revitalize interest, but it ultimately underscored the promotion's faltering position in the Monday Night Wars. A notable outcome was Chris Candido's win in the six-way match for the vacant Cruiserweight Championship, which briefly elevated his status in WCW's undercard division; however, its impact proved short-lived as the promotion folded less than a year later, limiting further development of his title reign.

References

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  3. https://www.wwe.com/videos/eric-bischoff-vince-russo-join-forces-to-form-the-new-blood-nitro-april-10-2000
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