HURRICANE HELMS: 2001 - The Foundation | HQ Deep Dive Series
From time to time here on Hardway HQ, we like to have some fun. Fun for us means doing a deep dive on a particular obscure topic or an underrated talent that never truly got the flowers they’ve so richly deserved.
Of course, once you go into a deep dive, you have to do a lot of research. So, for the first time ever, I am kickstarting the HQ DEEP DIVE SERIES. I will be going year-by-year on a particular character and really showing the evolution from the character’s beginnings to where it ended up throughout the years.
This is the first of a multi-part series here on the site, and I’m starting it off with one of my all-time favorite performers in WWE history. He is one of the most popular, yet vastly underrated characters from the Ruthless Aggression era. Not only that, he was arguably the best junior heavyweight in the promotion for the entire 2000s.
Here on the HQ DEEP DIVE SERIES, we begin with the WWE’s resident superhero…THE HURRICANE.
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Jim Ross has frequently stated that all sports entertainers, no matter where they are on a WWE televised product, need to “maximize their minutes” and make the most of the opportunity given to them, no matter how short.
The Hurricane has done that each and every time out.
Born and bred in North Carolina, Shane Helms initially got some early buzz as a part of the cult independent promotion OMEGA - The Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts. Founded by Matt and Jeff Hardy and co-funded by Thomas Simpson, OMEGA established a plethora of future superstars in the wrestling business, including both Hardys, Shannon Moore, CW Anderson, Christian York, Joey Matthews, Joey Abs of the Mean Street Posse, and a young Caprice Coleman.
Mr. Helms was no different. In a legendary moment, which was detailed in the Hardys’ 2003 book Exist 2 Inspire, Helms and his partner Mike Maverick - the Serial Thrillaz - defeated the brothers on January 29, 1999 for the OMEGA Tag Team Titles when, after a miscommunication via a steel chair, Helms pinned Jeff following a Superfly Splash from the top of Maverick’s shoulders while perched on the top rope. That tag team super finisher is simply known as the Falling Star Bomb.
By December of ‘99, Helms joined World Championship Wrestling and instantly became a prominent performer on television, forming the boy band 3-Count alongside his OMEGA comrade Moore and former WCW Cruiserweight Champion Evan Karagias. Within two months, the despised trio became tri-holders of the WCW Hardcore Championship, defeating Brian Knobbs on the February 28, 2000 edition of Nitro.
Throughout the Summer of 2000, 3-Count became linked with the Jung Dragons (Kaz Hayashi, Yang, Jamie “Jamie-San” Knoble), culminating in a fantastic Double Ladder match at New Blood Rising on August 13, 2000. Five months later, at the final Starrcade on December 17, all six men outdid themselves. In a triple threat tag team ladder match, with a shot at the WCW Cruiserweight Championship on the line, Helms & Moore defeated Hayashi & Yang and Karagias & Noble (both men were excommunicated from their respective factions) when they simultaneously pulled the contract down hanging above the ring.
The next night on Nitro, Helms and Moore duked it out for the right to be the sole #1 contender. After a fast-paced fight, Helms countered a backslide into a VERTEBREAKER for the win!
It was the beginning of the rise of “Sugar” Shane in so many ways.
Helms began to morph as a persona, switching from his cargo gear to trunks. He then created an elaborate entrance, bringing his own “Sugar Babies” to dance to his own custom rap song, VERTEBREAKER. Then, he began displaying more of his own unique offense to his matches, causing WCW commentator Scott Hudson to dub him “the Sensation of Innovation”.
After losing his initial chance at the Cruiserweight Title against Chavo Guerrero, Jr at Sin on January 14, Helms then rebounded with winning a six-way elimination at SuperBrawl Revenge in February to gain the #1 contendership once again. Finally, “Sugar” Shane did not miss at Greed on March 18, 2001, as he pinned Chavo in the middle with the Vertebreaker to finally be at top of the Cruiserweight mountain!
Eight days later, WCW ran its final Nitro at the Boardwalk Beach Resort in Panama City Beach, FL, as it was sold to the World Wrestling Federation. On that night, Helms retained the gold in a fun match with Chavo and ended the AOL Time Warner version of WCW as the final Cruiserweight Champion.
Thankfully, Helms was one of the contracts picked up by the WWF during the purchase of the assets, and was able to continue his career as a part of the Alliance.
On the July 5, 2001 SmackDown, in a WCW sanctioned match, the newly rechristened Gregory (there was already a Shane, plus Gregory was his actual first name) Helms lost his Cruiserweight gold to Billy Kidman. Within a few weeks, he slightly adjusted his ring name to Hurricane Helms, but he was primarily performing on Jakked and Sunday Night Heat in losing efforts. It was a rough start to his new home.
The winds of change began to be felt on the August 13, 2001 edition of Raw.
Stone Cold Steve Austin, paranoid and full of anger, browbeat the WCW/ECW Alliance in the ring at the opening of the show, wanting better performances from them and wanting their loyalty in full, culminating in Tazz taking a belt-whipping from Stone Cold in front of everyone.
The WWF Champion, now in his personal locker room, was trying to wind down and settle into watching the remainder of the program. Then, there was a knock at the door. In walked Helms, instantly snacking on a carrot off Stone Cold’s vegetable platter.
After a few moments of awkward conversation, Stone Cold looked at Hurricane’s right bicep and noticed a tattoo. It was the Green Lantern logo. Debra, Stone Cold’s then-wife, began chuckling at the goofiness of it, but both Austin and Helms were dead serious. Once Helms explained the greatness of the Lantern to the champ, Austin then compared the Lantern to Kurt Angle. The young Cruiserweight immediately responded that Angle was no superhero. Austin then fired up Helms to make a name for himself and to go after the Olympic Gold Medalist.
Helms confronted Angle and subsequently knocked the cup of milk out of his hand WITH AUTHORITY. Kurt did not take too kindly to that, and proceeded to have Hurricane FLY…by bealing him onto a table, knocking him senseless.
Although things didn’t necessarily work out on the 13th, Helms had other plans. BIGGER visions were on his agenda.
Prior to his European Championship match against Matt Hardy on the August 27 Raw, Michael Cole interviewed Helms in the Alliance locker room. When Cole asked if he truly believed in superheroes, Helms put him in his place, explaining what the Green Lantern did in encounters with supervillains and came out on top. He then uttered a closing line that would become synonymous with him over the next few years:
“STAND BACK…THERE’S A HURRICANE COMING THROUGH!”
After the commercial break, Matt Hardy, accompanied by his girlfriend Lita, made his way to the ring to prepare to defend his goal. Suddenly, the catchphrase we heard a few minutes prior blasted through the PA system, and out walked Hurricane Helms…as a superhero!
While Matt and Lita looked on befuddled and humored by the reveal, the Hurricane walked down to the ring, full of confidence and bravado. Black face paint with gold and green trim, a black sleeveless bodysuit with an H on his chest, and completed with a green cape, the Alliance’s new resident crimefighter took the scene, preparing to take back the pride and joy of Europe towards the Alliance’s camp.
Just as Matt was about to win the match, Ivory, a defector to the Alliance several weeks back, took a tire iron to the knee of Lita, laying her out. Hardy went to check on his girlfriend and then, while the referee was checking on an wounded Hurricane, Ivory leveled him in the ribs with the same weapon of destruction. Hurricane stumbled to his feet and, like a wind ripping through a town, delivered a picture perfect Nightmare on Helms Street, now known as the Eye of the Hurricane, and got the three count!
In his first battle as a superhero, the Hurricane became the WWF European Champion!
Firmly building his foundation, the Hurricane quickly erased doubt about being a “comedy character”. If he was not defending the European Championship, he was tag teaming with fellow Alliance member Lance Storm. In back-to-back pay-per-views, Unforgiven and No Mercy respectively, “Citizen” Storm and Hurricane, although impressive as a tandem, lost in losing efforts in an opportunity to gain either the WWF or WCW Tag Team Championships.
Also, the Hurricane got himself a sidekick! After the Unforgiven pay-per-view, Hurricane told Lance Storm that he could see Molly Holly as the perfect sidekick. During a match on the September 27 SmackDown between Molly and Ivory, Molly was knocked unconscious, which left Ivory to get the three-count and an easy victory. While Molly was being checked on by a trainer, the ever virtuous Hurricane carried her from the ring to the backstage area and into the side-car of his beautiful Hurri-Cycle! The Alliance’s superhero then drove off.
Spike Dudley, Molly’s boyfriend, was none too happy about that. The following Raw, Spike challenged the Hurricane for his European Title. With help from the monstrous Mike Awesome, Hurricane picked up the win. After the match, Hurricane ran off to his Hurri-Cycle and called for his sidekick. Out came MIGHTY MOLLY. “Holy Double Cross, Hurricane!” The duo rode off into the night, preparing to vanquish evil. Spike was crushed.
Sadly, the Hurricane lost his European Championship to Bradshaw of the APA on the October 22, 2001 Raw. One week after the Hurricane and Molly tore down the APA’s office with his Hurri-Cycle, Faarooq and Bradshaw were looking for receipts. First, the guns-for-hire stole the Hurri-Cycle. Then, in what many could say was a destruction, Bradshaw decimated the superhero with a Clothesline From Hell to win the match and the title.
The loss started a rough month for the Hurricane. First, thanks to mild-mannered reporter Gregory Helms’ interview with NEW European Champion Christian, the Hurricane found himself on the losing end of his obligatory rematch on the November 5 Raw.
Then, on the news uncovered by the same mild-mannered reporter on the November 15 SmackDown, the Hurricane entered the Immunity Battle Royal at Survivor Series three days later, in which the winner of the match would have his job saved had either the WWF or the Alliance lost in the main event of the show. Sadly, the APA had not completely forgiven the superhero about their office being destroyed, and, as the Hurricane went to fly, tossed him over the top rope.
Finally, thanks to Kurt Angle being the mole within the Alliance, the WWF won the main event, subsequently ending WCW and ECW as companies. Once the Alliance went out of business, that meant the Hurricane was no longer employed.
Many fans thought that everyone’s favorite superhero was gone for good, forever sent back to his home planet, never to return.
Weeks after Survivor Series 2001, the World Wrestling Federation started to settle into a new landscape, which included the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair being the new co-owner of the WWF and Chris Jericho becoming the first ever Undisputed WWF Champion.
No one knew for sure if any of the Alliance members would ever be seen again. The surviving members that were holding WWF title belts (European Champion Christian, Hardcore Champion Rob Van Dam, Tag Team Champions the Dudley Boyz with Stacy Keibler) or Test, the winner of the Immunity Battle Royal, were seen immediately on television the next night. William Regal, the former WWF and Alliance Commissioner, saved his job by becoming the inaugural member of the Vince McMahon “Kiss My Ass Club”. Booker T aligned himself with Mr. McMahon at Vengeance on December 9, helping Y2J unify the WWF and WCW World Titles, as alluded to earlier. Even Lance Storm found himself an opportunity to fight for a job in early December.
Every other Alliance representative’s status was up in the air. Lucky for us, the Hurricane was primed to once again make an impact on land, in short order…
Following Tajiri’s successful Cruiserweight Title defense against Crash, the former Hardcore Champion laid out the “Japanese Buzzsaw” and began to threaten the vulnerable Torrie Wilson, Tajiri’s manager and girlfriend. Just as the dastardly Crash prepared to do his worst, the lights went out and a familiar phrase hit the PA system:
“STAND BACK…THERE’S A HURRICANE COMING THROUGH!”
From the ashes of defeat rose a superhero preparing to save the day. The lights came back on and there was the Hurricane, standing on the top rope! Crash turned around and was caught with a vicious flying cross body block. After checking to see if Torrie was OK, the Hurricane delivered a devastating Eye of the Hurricane to the deranged Holly cousin. Then, within a blink-of-an-eye, the Hurricane dashed away, leaving Torrie in complete shock and full of gratitude.
All was right within the world of sports entertainment. The Hurricane had returned, and his eyes were set on delivering justice to the evil-doers of the World Wrestling Federation.
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This has been Part 1 of the HQ DEEP DIVE SERIES. Next week, we will dive into 2002 - when the Hurricane began to come into his own.
Until next time, same Hurri-Time, same Hurri-Channel!
Bankie Bruce
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