Match of the Day - Scotty 2 Hotty upsets Dean Malenko again! + Taka Michinoku!

Scotty 2 Hotty vs. Dean Malenko vs. Taka Michinoku - Light Heavyweight title match - WWF Sunday Night Heat (2000)

This little gem occurs just on the heels of Scotty 2 Hotty winning his first title in WWF. Along with the former Light heavyweight champion looking to win back what he had lost almost a week prior on Raw, Taka Michinoku (the first Light Heavyweight champion in WWF), is also thrown in the mix to try to capture the gold once more. Unfortunately for both challengers, Scotty 2 Hotty was not ready to lose the title on this Sunday night C-show, and successfully defends it against his worthy opponents.

After the match though, Dean Malenko, shades of Alberto Del Rio today, 'sends a message' to Scotty by knocking him out with the Light Heavyweight title and locking in the Texas Cloverleaf on the defenseless champion.

Match of the Debut - Mordecai's in-ring debut, PPV debut, and final match!

Mordecai vs. Scotty 2 Hotty - Judgement Day (2004)

With a cross between Gangrel and The Undertaker, Mordecai looked like the second coming. But not even the "higher powers" that this mysterious man in white followed could help him get his foot in the WWE door in 2004.

Turns out the man who believed in cleansing yourself of all sins had a little trouble doing so for himself and ended up getting into a real-life fight outside of the ring - which led the WWE to pull the plug on the Mordecai character by sending him back to OVW. Mordecai was only seen about two times. This match against Scotty 2 Hotty was his first and only official PPV or televised event.

At least he had a pure streak.

The man behind Mordecai would eventually resurface in the WWE as Kevin Thorn, a vampire who wrestled for the ECW Brand. Thorn found better luck with this gimmick, but the vampire warrior never really got over as well as previous vampires like Gangrel (who he was rumored to start a new Brood with). Thorn was eventually released from WWE again in 2007.

Theme results:

Final match: the character named Mordecai.

Match of the Day - Xanta Klaus came to town!

Xanta Klaus vs. Scott Taylor - WWF Superstars (1995)

I couldn't think of a better match than "The Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase's desecration of Santa, Xanta Klaus (Balls Mahoney) taking on Scott Taylor - later known as Scotty 2 Hotty!

If you have yet to witness Xanta Klaus in action, I highly recommend you check out this match! I also posted it on my regular blog, Nostalgia For Tomorrow for my 12 days of NFT Christmas special!

This is proof that Balls Mahoney could actually do more than bash people over the head with steel chairs at some point in his career along with playing Santa's evil brother from the South Pole!

Another fun fact is that my swim coach back in high school also coached and was Scott Garland's (Scott Taylor/Scotty 2 Hotty) gym teacher back in the day. Garland was born and raised in Westbrook, Maine - not too far from where I live.