This was actually the new Demon's second appearance, but was broadcast before his two other fights with Bobby Eaton and Rick Cornell, on WCW Thunder show. I also haven't seen this one, since I only saw The Demon's reappearance on Nitro. I must say, despite being diminished into D grade filler, this version of the character presented fairly well in the beginning. By beginning I mean three appearances, since his appearance on Nitro will be a straight up mockery. But his third (in reality, first aired on TV) was pretty fine as well. If only I'd seen at least that at the time, instead of starting with his Nitro appearance, perhaps I wouldn't think that the new Demon was just there to lose and be mocked. But that "reappearance/debut" of the new Demon did already hinted at what's to come very shortly. A comedic character called Norman Smiley stumbles and falls on the Kiss Sarcophagus that's standing in the hallways, triggering it's opening. Inside, The new Demon introduced to WCW viewers
So this is the new Demon's official TV debut, but this is all that has been said after his surprising appearance in the hallways:
Mike Tenay: "Look at this, is that The Demon? It looks like The Demon. That's The Demon. Remember when Kiss was here in Vegas?"
That was all that was said about The Demon character returning to the show after nearly 5 months. Casual mention "hey, isn't it the Demon, remember him" , on a second rated, Thursday spinoff show.
After this TV return, The Demon debuts in ring in a fight with Terry Funk.
The Demon lost with Terry Funk that night, but that's fairly understandable in this instance. I mean, Funk has been around (even if he was reshuffled as well as a D lister), and the new Demon was virtually a rookie. Still, if you introduce a character by making him lose from the start, it kind of sets the tone and direction for the whole thing from the start.
The sarcophagus still hasn't made the appearance during his entrance, and The Demon came out to a darkened hall with red light and fire, and in this instance he looked pretty good. He looks mean and even his mannerism is cool, like the hunched walk, grimacing and twisting. Although some say it’s overacting and can come off as over the top, some say he was well in touch with the character and channeling it 100%
And the tongue of course. Again, despite being reshuffled into beginner's territory and being portrayed by a beginner, this character is just badass. Or at least was until the Nitro appearance few days after (see next chapter)
The commentators make believe it's the same person that was introduced by Kiss, so at the same time making believe like we never knew who was it in the first place. Oh well, let's look at it as recasting a character in a sequel, you don't acknowledge an actor change in the movie.
Mike Tenay (commentator): And here comes The Demon Tony. It was just several months ago, right here in that same arena, that we saw Kiss, as well as the debut of the Demon
Tony Shiavone: In the image of Gene Simmons of Kiss, The Demon comes out to wrestle here on Thunder. I'm gonna tell you something, this is a very creepy look. What an entrance this is, this guy, and we;re looking for good things from him, here on World Championship Wrestling
Mike Hudson: Talk about a great unknown, The Demon, the God of Thunder himself, makes his way onto the ring, one of the spectacular debut he made in this very building last Halloween Havoc (mistake on Hudson's part since it was Monday Nitro) with Kiss, our first look at him in the ring
Mike Tenay: This is going to be his debut in ring, for World Championship Wrestling
Shiavone: We're gonna find out exactly, right from the starting block, exactly what this man is made of
Those words make it pretty clear that this is an official first fight of The Demon then
The fight was pretty evened out and it didn't look like Funk was having an easy time defeating The Demon, so the credit has to be given where it's due - for a beginner to give an old timer Funk a run for his money is something
The Demon lost only because he was caught in a grip (and after a struggle) from which he couldn't stand up. He jumped to his feet right after the bell. So it's not at all as if he was just wiped out like any other D-lister.
Shiavone: You gotta give The Demon some credit, he battled this man
Still, Terry Funk, no offense, but he was just about the least menacing wrestler around. He looks like Cousin Eddie from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. So it is a little anticlimactic to see him win with the demon, but then again, he barely won so that's forgivable.
From Kissonline
Dale Torborg:"They pull me in the room and they said 'you drew the short stick here kid, you got Terry Funk tonight' (...) You're gonna do a job for him tonight and we're gonna beat you up pretty good" (3 Sides of the Coin Podcast)
Also worth noting is that The Demon did not have a name card during his entry. Nowadays I really like the new Demon's first three appearances. I do like the fact that we will see and know his true identity, but I also like the fact that he "quietly" just appeared without any other identity other than The Demon.
Next: Chapter 10: The New Demon Debuts on Nitro - January 31st, 2000