WCW Clash of The Champions VIII: Fall Brawl Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that Dave Meltzer won’t rate 5 Stars! It’s time for WCW Clash of The Champions VIII: Fall Brawl! We have Lex Luger defending his NWA United States Heavyweight Championship against Wildfire Tommy Rich, The Steiners vs The Freebirds, The Road Warriors vs The Samoan Swat Team and Ric Flair and Sting to take on The J-Tex Corporation! What will happen on this night? Let’s find out!

 

The Road Warriors W/ Paul Ellering vs The Samoan Swat-Team W/ Paul E. Dangerously

Attacking The Road Warriors was not a smart idea, The Samoan Swat Team have quite the task on their hands. Animal and Fatu to start, superkick from Fatu. Headbutts from Fatu, powerslam from Animal and a clothesline to Samu. Animal poses and the crowd comes unglued! Hawk and Samu comes in, headbutts from Samu. Hawk reverses a whip and wants a clothesline but Samu powders, Animal clobbers Samu before Hawk nails a massive boot. Scoop slam and fist-drop from Hawk for two, tag to Animal. Standing dropkick by Hawk on Samu, Fatu comes in and locks-up with Animal. Side headlock from Animal, Fatu grabs the hair but Animal lands a shoulder block. Tag to Hawk who chops and pummels Fatu, Fatu eats another clothesline for two.

 

Whip to the corner, Fatu dodges and Hawk spears the ring-post and crumbles to the floor. Samu goes for the kill with big punches to the injured Hawk, atomic drop onto the guardrail. Bearhug from Fatu, Hawk begins clobbering Fatu and makes the tag but Samu distracted the referee. Samu is in there legally now, shoulder thrusts in the corner and a massive shot to the neck. Back-breaker and elbow combination from The Samoans, two for Fatu. Scoop slam, Fatu climbs high but runs into the boot of Hawk. Tag to Samu but Animal tags in, boots to Samu. Elbow to the face, flying shoulder tackle with Fatu making the save. Match breaks down, Samu and Animal are brawling. Fatu is in, Fatu has the phone but Hawk makes the save and clotheslines Samu. Fatu is caught, Doomsday Device and this match is over.

 

Red-hot crowd, no doubt about that for sure. They batter one another in this one, very quick match but the fans don’t care, it’s amazing as you get everything you want from a Road Warriors’ match. Big bumps, massive attacks and it is a lot of fun. However, after the match we have The Samoans turning their backs on Paul E. Dangerously.

 

Winners: The Road Warriors over The Samoan Swat-Team via Doomsday Device!

 

The Cuban Assassin VS The Z-Man

Who is this newcomer who gets caught in the entrance way, The Z-Man? Side headlock from Zenk, arm-drags and dropkicks from Zenk. Assassin sneaks in with a right hand, Irish whip but Assassin ducks his head. Kick by Z-Man, two arm-drags right there. Assassins fights out before getting caught in another arm-drag, sunset flip from Z-Man before Assassin goes for the headbutt and a scoop slam. Middle rope headbutt misses for Assassin, Z-Man whips Assassin to the buckle. Assassin blocks with an elbow, Z-Man ducks a clothesline and applies The Sleeper for the win.

 

If you are not a giant or Roddy Piper, it’s hard to buy a sleeper as a finish. That was a very average match with all things considered, I do not know if the wrestling business will be so kind to Z-Man in the future.

 

Winner: Z-Man over The Cuban Assassin via Sleeper!

 

Sid Vicious W/ Teddy Long vs Ranger Ross

Oh yeah boys and girls, I believe we are going to see a slaughtering tonight. Sid jumps Ross to start the match, Ross is dropped across the guardrail. Spivey is here in the most ridiculous of pants, man resembles Sandman. Ross lands kicks and punches to Sid, Sid drops Ross with a massive DDT. A whirlybird they call it as Sid Powerbombs the shit out of Ross for the win. SID IS GOD!

 

Winner: Sid Vicious over Ranger Ross via Powerbomb!

 

(WCW Tag Team Championship Match) The Fabulous Freebirds © vs The Steiner Brothers W/ Robin Green & Missy Hyatt

The Freebirds were able to capture the championships due to The Midnight Express being flustered without Cornette by their side, Hayes and Garvin are not exactly my ideal premier heel tag team but this is WCW at the time. Scott Steiner is still relatively green, no singlet yet but hopefully, the promise will start to show soon enough.

 

They lock-up, Hayes stalls and stalls. Arm-drags and an O’Connor roll from Scott, Hayes lands a massive left to Scott’s jaw. Diving crossbody but Scott rolls through for two, Scott lands Steinerlines on both Hayes and Garvin. Garvin comes in and takes the same punishment, Garvin pulls the hair and lands corner knees. Mean rights, Scott whips Garvin to the corner and lands a German suplex. That was beautiful, single leg Boston crab from Scott. Tag to Rick, massive Steinerlines to the tag champions. Hayes stalls more before eating a powerslam from Rick, Garvin dives into a powerslam. Ten punches from Rick, Irish whip to the opposite buckle and a massive Steinerline. Hayes clubs his way back in, another clothesline in the corner.

 

Belly to belly suplex from Rick, Rick misses a massive clothesline. Tag to Garvin, Hayes whips Garvin into Rick and a massive DDT with Scott making the save. Hayes knocks down Scott, Rick is dumped to the floor and sent into the guardrail. Hayes lands a clothesline for two, Hayes is throwing a fit. Big punches and a tag to Hayes, kick and knee-lift from Garvin for two. Sleeper and Rick whips off Garvin but Garvin comes back with a bott, DDT is blocked and Rick lands a sling-shot suplex. Hayes cannot stop the count, Scott is running wild with two Frankensteiners and a double clothsline. Irish whip and a powerslam for two, Garvin makes the save. Hayes and Scott remain, Hayes lands a DDT running off the ropes and The Fabulous Freebirds retain their championships. Apparently, we may have had either Robin Green (Woman) or Missy Hyatt tripping up Scott but who did it?

 

Drama in the Steiner house! Anyways, Hayes and Garvin are a lot of sizzle and not a lot of steak but Scott Steiner is buckets of potential and that was clear the second he slapped on two Frankensteiners followed by a clothesline. The match may not have been anything special but there are a number of young stars that this company can rely on in the future from Sting to Sid to The Steiners, it is looking good.

 

Winners: The Fabulous Freebirds over The Steiner Brothers via DDT!

 

Flyin’ Brian Pillman vs Norman The Lunatic W/ Teddy Long

Two new stars but one on a very different path from the other, Pillman is attacked from behind to start the match. Pillman fights back with dropkicks and Air Pillman, Diving crossbody to the floor. Teddy Long distracts Pillman, corner splash from Norman The Lunatic and a middle rope splash too, Pillman somehow survives. Norman runs towards Pillman who is up against the ring-post, massive splash. Norman decides it is time for round two, Pillman dodges the second splash. Missile dropkick from Pillman, scoop slam from Pillman. Back body-drop from Pillman, diving crossbody does not work for Pillman who eats a massive powerslam. Clothesline from Norman for two, Pillman counters the clothesline for a crucifix win!

 

Very exciting match from Pillman, Pillman continues to be a hot prospect and shows off here using a high-flying style that nobody is using in the company at the time. High hopes for Pillman, we will see where things go!

 

Winner: Flyin’ Brian Pillman over Norman via Crucifix Pin!

 

Mike Rotunda vs Dr. Death Steve Williams

Williams charges in, Rotunda is in control before a military press slam. Chop-blocks from Williams before Rotunda decapitates Williams with a massive clothesline. Rotunda dumps Williams to the floor, Williams tries a sunset flip but Rotunda lands big right hands. Williams stills pulls Rotunda down, big knee from Rotunda and an elbow drop for two. Rotunda applies a rear chin-lock, Williams pushes Rotunda to the corner. Thumb to the eye from Rotunda, make it two. Scoop slam, make it two. Rotunda climbs high, Williams grabs Rotunda and yanks him to the mat. Ten punches in the corner from Williams, Rotunda misses a clothesline and sends himself to the floor. Williams wants the stampede, Rotunda holds onto the ropes. The referee kicks Rotunda’s hand and Williams rolls through and picks up the win.

 

Well, this might be my favourite Rotunda match because of how brief it was, I had to watch so many bad Rotunda 15-minute plus matches so that’s why I am happy when it came to this match. Still disappointing that they made Williams a part of The Varsity Club when he was white-hot coming into the territory but at least, we are back on the track.

 

Winner: Dr. Death Steve Williams over Mike Rotunda via Roll-Up!

 

(NWA United States Championship Match) Lex Luger © vs Tommy Wildfire Rich

Did I step into a time-machine? Tommy Rich challenging for a championship in 1989? It’s certainly a surprise and Rich looks a little past his prime here, I am getting a little worried. Luger is frustrated early with Rich using his experience to frustrate the champion. Luger eats right hands from Rich, Irish whip to the corner and a back body-drop. Scoop slam into an ugly arm-drag, Luger gets caught into a side headlock. Luger goes to the ropes, Luger grabs a headlock. Shoulder blocks floors Rich, Luger shows off his impressive physique. Side headlock from Rich, Rich catches Luger again with a big right hand. Arm-drag into an arm-bar, Luger battles his way out and starts waffling Rich with right hands.

 

Luger misses a corner splash, schoolboy and roll-up from Rich for two. Arm-drag again to frustrate Luger, Rich makes a mistake missing a dropkick and Luger capitalizes with a massive powerslam. Forearms across the spine, two for Luger. Luger sends Rich to the apron, shoulder block and slingshot sunset flip for two. Luger misses a clothesline and falls to the floor, Rich lands a big right. Rich could not lift Luger, Luger flattens Rich with a sidewalk slam. Two for Luger, another powerslam and Luger says it is over! Rich blocks the rack but the O’Connor roll does not work. Superplex from Luger, two for Luger. Luger climbs high, Rich dodges the splash. Rich fires up with big rights, back elbow from Rich.

 

Luger is begging for mercy, more right hands from the challenger. Another elbow, Rich goes to the middle rope. Diving fist drop for a close two, Rich whips Luger again. Lou Thesz Press for a close two, Luger had his foot on the ropes. Luger rolls to the floor, Rich hits the ring-post as Luger ducks. Rich applies a sleeper, Luger hot-shots Rich with the rope and Luger steals the win.

 

Rich gave everything he had in this one, even if it was only for one night. Rich showed a lot of fire in this one, Luger is still very over despite his turn to the dark side. I am happy to continue to the push of Luger if he continues to work with people who know what they are doing, Luger is looking good inside of the ring as long as he has someone else leading the dance.

 

Winner: Lex Luger over Tommy Rich via Hot-Shot!

 

Ric Flair & Sting vs The Great Muta & Dick Slater W/ Gary Hart

The most unlikely of partners, Sting and Ric Flair are side by side as there is no Horsemen and Flair is a fully-fledged babyface for the first-time since 1983. Dirty Dick Slater is taking the place of Terry Funk, this is a solid swap as Slater is like Funk-lite in many ways. Sting and Muta to start, they had a fantastic match at the previous PPV. Sting sends Muta to the corner, clean break from The Stinger. Crowd is hot again, boot and side headlock from Muta. Shoulder block and rolls before Sting clotheslines Muta and Slater. Important to note: Funk said he would be there on this night!

 

Lock-up and side headlock from Muta, arm-drag into an arm-bar from Sting. Sting wrenches the arm, Muta backs Sting to the corner. Muta batters Sting before Sting reverses an Irish whip, back body-drop into an arm-bar. Sting drags Muta to Flair’s corner, chops from Flair and right hands. Muta eats chop after chop, Muta tags in Slater. Slater shuffles before they lock-up, Flair and Slater trade chops. Flair wins that war with right hands, Slater is in a bad way. Slater sends Flair to the corner, boots by Slater. Flair flips to the corner, chop to Muta and a diving axe handle to Slater. Muta takes down Flair with a jumping sole butt, plancha to the floor by Muta. Sting dives out on Muta, everyone is on the floor brawling against the guardrail.

 

We reset with Slater and Flair, Flair chops and works the cast of Slater. In comes Sting who begs, diving axe handle and Sting works the arm. Flair and Sting work the arm, Sting lands a suplex for two. Slater drags Sting to the corner, in comes Muta. Muta eats a military press slam, Flair is legal and elbows Muta in the head. Belly to back suplex from Flair, knee-drop from The Nature Boy. Muta rakes the eyes, in comes Slater who chops and elbows Flair. Flair begins fighting back, Irish whip but Flair lowers the head and Slater lands the neck-breaker. Slater is sent into the boots of Muta, thrusts from Muta and a spinning sole butt. Flair is dumped to the floor, Slater goes after the neck of Flair. Right hands from an irate Slater, snap-mare and a flashing elbow from Muta. Neck-hold from Muta, Flair answers back with an inverted atomic drop. Big tag to Sting, Sting clubs away on Slater. Scoop slams on Slater, Muta is knocked down before tagging into the match.

 

Sting presses Muta again, clothesline into the corner. Flair and Slater are brawling on the floor, Sting lands The Stinger Splash on Muta. Scorpion Death-Lock, Gary Hart clocks Sting with a roll of quarters. Sting kicks out at two! Folding powerbomb from Muta for two, Slater is tagged into the match. Rope guillotine from Slater, Slater slams Sting on the floor. Slater wants a piledriver, Sting back-drops Slater down. Flair gets the tag, chops to both Muta and Slater. Everyone is in the ring, Sting dropkicks Muta to the floor. Muta mists Sting, Slater is loosening his cast. Sting is blind on the floor, Slater knocks out the referee and busts Flair open. Sting is trying to see but Sting has been blinded, Muta keeps Sting out of the ring. Terry Funk is here who tries choking the life out of Flair with a plastic bag. Show goes off the air with Flair unconscious receiving medical attention from a doctor!

 

Great tag team match, Flair and Sting work so well together here in this match. Crowd loves them both and Flair looks energized and fired up every time that he is in the ring. This is never a problem for Sting who is a ball of energy, great stuff from Muta and Slater here. Everything works in this one, the shine and the heat segment are good shit, the sympathy is there with the neck injury and the finish where the match descends into chaos only for Funk to keep his promise and almost murder Flair on TV is just the icing on the cake. Great tag team match with a hot finish to boot.

 

Winners: Ric Flair & Sting over Dick Slater & Great Muta via DQ!

 

Clash of The Champions VIII: Fall Brawl is a one match show, there are a lot of squashes on this one, you have Sid squashing Ross, Pillman squashing a relatively new gimmick in Norman The Lunatic and the debut of The Z-Man. Not exactly must-see tv but these matches make the show breeze by, the tag team matches are interesting on this card because we start with a hot one as The Road Warriors destroy The Samoan Swat-Team while the tag team championship match leaves much to be desired as Hayes and Garvin do not have the credibility in my eyes to hold those championships without a Gordy in there with them. Luger against people who can carry him and make him look awesome will always be a treat to me because I cannot help but enjoy the matches that do not expose a wrestler’s flaws. The main event is really good, all four men bring the pain and the angle at the end if gripping albeit perhaps too violent for the censors at TV but I thought it was great, there’s a reason to see Funk have another crack at Flair now instead. Check out the last match, it’s really good! Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!