Thursday 26 May 2022

WCW Starrcade 1993 Review!

 




Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series that would tell you MJF needs to hold out for more money! It’s time for WCW Starrcade 1993, the tenth anniversary of the historic event and it is headlined by Title vs Career as Ric Flair puts his career on the line against Vader for the WCW World Championship. We also have Dustin Rhodes vs Stunning Steve Austin for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship in a two out of three falls match. We have Lord Steven Regal vs Ricky Steamboat for the WCW Television Championship, Hawk & Sting vs The Nasty Boys for the WCW World Tag Team Championships and more! Seeing what Sting is doing and seeing what Austin is doing is almost baffling considering what we were doing at Battle Bowl. No indication that Austin would be challenging for that championship and Sting challenging for the tag team championships again? Where is Animal? Well Animal was collecting an insurance policy for the next few years so again, what was the point of having Hawk without Animal? Whatever, this is Starrcade, this is WCW biggest show so let’s see what they do!

 

2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Bagwell W/ Teddy Long vs Pretty Wonderful


So Roma is no longer a Horseman and is teaming with Paul Orndorff, interesting to see that is where things ended up going for Roma. How quickly it all collapsed, this starts hot with team babyface knocking around Roma and Orndorff. Roma and Orndorff scramble, Roma and Bagwell to start. Roma kicks down Bagwell, Bagwell ducks and lands a flying crossbody for two. Arm-drag into an arm-bar, Scorpio tags in and kicks the arm of Roma. Scorpio and Bagwell work the arm of Roma, hammerlock throw to the buckle. Leg drop on the arm into a short-arm scissors, Roma escapes and tags in Orndorff who gets caught in an arm-drag and arm-bar. Scorpio has his eyes raked, forearm shot from Orndorff. Scorpio lands a hip-toss and flying head-scissors. Roma comes in and is caught with an atomic drop by Bagwell, more arm work. Double drop-downs and leapfrogs before a hip-toss into the splash, arm-bar from Scorpio.

 

Bagwell is in there with Orndorff, Roma distracts Scorpio and lands a diving chop to the back of the head. Roma lands a back-breaker, make it three. Roma poses feeling himself in this moment and lands a massive elbow drop for two. Belly to back suplex for two, Scorpio makes the save. Tag to Roma, butterfly suplex and powerslam. Diving top rope splash misses, Orndorff is tagged in and misses the elbow drop. Hot-tag to Scorpio, right hands all around. Dropkicks all around, Scorpio lands a snap suplex. Scorpio climbs high, Roma holds onto the leg of Scorpio. Bagwell and Roma brawl on the floor, diving fist to the head by Scorpio. Orndorff is rocked, spinning heel kick by Scorpio. The Assassin is on the apron and The Assassin is smacked in the head. The Assassin has something in his mask, Assassin cracks Scorpio with a headbutt as Orndorff lifts up Scorpio in a flapjack position and the new team of Roma and Orndorff go over.

 

Decent tag team match, Orndorff is a lot more watchable in a tag team setting. Orndorff can get the heat and be a constant annoyance while Roma does the heavy lifting in the ring. Roma is much better as a natural heel than a babyface, Roma was woeful in The Horsemen. Scorpio and Bagwell are fine in this match, Scorpio is so talented and would benefit from some actual singles matches and some angles while Bagwell is probably best in a tag team because there’s just not much there in the charisma department.

 

Winners: Pretty Wonderful over Scorpio & Bagwell via Headbutt!

 

Shockmaster vs Awesome Kong


Awesome Kong and King Kong batter Shockmaster, double clothesline and double splash. Oh wait it is King Kong in the ring, the match has started officially. Whip to the buckle, Shockmaster blocks with a boot and clotheslines King Kong. Flying crossbody, scoop slam and it is over. A squash to continue the push of The Shockmaster.

 

Winner: Shockmaster over King Kong via Scoop Slam!

 

(WCW Television Championship Match) Lord Steven Regal © W/ Sir William vs Ricky The Dragon Steamboat


This match baffles me because booking would lead you to believe that this feud was dead and buried before being brought back up at Battle Bowl where they were partners but I am happy to see Steamboat have a match where he can do his thing as I have sorely missed good quality matches on my WCW programming. Big Steamboat chants as Regal refuses to lock-up, Regal is disgusted by the challenger. Steamboat grabs the leg, clean break from the corner. Regal is not happy with how aggressive Steamboat is in this match.

 

Regal continues stalling, lock-up and Regal pushes Steamboat to the ropes. Regal uses the leg to gain advantage, Steamboat reverses the hold. To the ropes, another clean break. Regal gets a shot on the arm of Steamboat, Steamboat shows that there is a weakness there. Steamboat is hesitating, Steamboat is showing that the arm is really hurting. Regal sweeps the leg and steps on the arm, Steamboat looks to wriggle free. Steamboat manages to break free, Regal uses his superior technical wrestling skills to regain control. Steamboat manages to reverse the hold and flip Regal, both men block hip-tosses before Steamboat lands one of his own and covers for two. Criss-cross from both men, sunset flip by Steamboat for one. Regal works the leg, Steamboat is in an awkward position. Steamboat is in serious trouble, Regal applies pressure to the knee. Regal maintains control with elbows, Steamboat is kicking and manages to land an enzuigiri.

 

Scoop slam by Steamboat, Steamboat climbs high. Diving chop from Steamboat, arm-bar from the challenger. Steamboat works the leg as Regal tries to escape the hold, knees to the ribs and arms. Regal pushes Steamboat to the ropes, massive European uppercuts from the champion. Steamboat decides to chop the life out of Regal, they are on the floor. Sir William thinks about an umbrella shot, Steamboat gives chase as Regal is lying in wait and lands a massive dropkick. Steamboat lands a Japanese arm-drag but both men trade pin-fall attempts, Regal wants a butterfly suplex but Steamboat breaks free. Butterfly suplex, they brawl on the floor. Sir William grabs Steamboat, Steamboat escapes and smashes both Regal and William together. Steamboat hot-shots Regal, Steamboat is on the top rope. Diving Crossbody misses as Regal pops up and eats a German suplex but the time limit has expired.

 

Solid but disappointing for two reasons in my mind, the first is why bring back up this feud to have a time-limit draw at your biggest PPV, what could you possibly be saving for and why book the match if you are not going to put someone over? On top of that my other problem is this looked like a draw from the get-go, I thought the arm work was going to go somewhere and was getting excited to see what would be happening going forward but no sadly, we did not go there which makes me sad because I saw the draw coming and it took me out of the overall experience. This was a chance to put this feud to bed yet they did a time-limit draw, struggling to figure that one out.

 

Time-Limit Expired!

 

Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne vs Tex Slazenger & Shanghai Pierce


From challenging for the world championship upon his big return to competing in tags with Maxx Payne, this company is bizarre sometimes. Payne and Shanghai start, very stuff as both men try shoulder blocks before Shanghai runs through Payne. Slazenger and Cactus are in now, Cactus rakes the eyes before Slazenger returns the favour. Slazenger runs into a knee and a kick to the head, Payne is in now. Cactus lands a single arm DDT, Shanghai makes the save but Cactus takes out Shanghai. Double clothesline to Slazenger, Shanghai saves his partner. Headbutts from Cactus, Payne tags into the match. Payne misses a corner splash, Slazenger lands a modified bulldog. Shanghai is in, Payne lands a sunset flip for two. Belly to back suplex from Payne, Cactus receives the tag and headbutts down Shanghai. Slazenger comes in, the match breaks down.

 

Cactus Jack clothesline on Shanghai, Slazenger is pulled to the floor by Cactus. Tag to Payne, Payne back-drops Cactus onto Slazenger. Shanghai clubs Payne, middle rope axe handle misses and Payne has the Fujiwara armbar but Slazenger makes the save. Payne ducks the clothesline and double clotheslines Slazenger and Shanghai. Cactus receives the tag,  Shanghai clotheslines Slazenger by mistake and Cactus lands a Double Arm DDT for the win.

 

Not bad, some hard-hitting shots in there but I am more interested in how Cactus ended up in tag matches with Maxx Payne after feuding with Vader. Is there potential in this wacky team? Yeah sure why not, we can see where things go from here.

 

 

Winners: Team Cactus over Team Slazenger via Double Arm DDT!

 

(WCW United States Championship Two out of Three Falls Match) Dustin Rhodes © vs Stunning Steve Austin W/ Colonel Rob Parker


Dustin Rhodes and Austin had a match at Halloween Havoc which ended in Rhodes escaping with the win over Austin, this was before Austin had found himself under the tutelage of Colonel Rob Parker. Nothing at Battle Bowl or the Clash would lead you to believe that these two would be doing battle for the championship but that’s this company in a nutshell. I feel for Rhodes because the championship was handed to him basically in the tournament for the vacant championship and the big win over Rude to recapture the championship was not even on PPV.

 

Rhodes shoots for the leg of Austin, Austin scrambles to the ropes. Rhodes has the waist-lock, Austin goes to the ropes. Side headlock takedown from Austin, Rhodes counters with a head-scissors. Austin reaches the ropes, shoulder block by Austin. Rhodes sends Austin powdering to the floor, Austin must re-evaluate on the floor.  Austin rakes the eyes and lands a snap-mare but Rhodes rolls through and drives knees into the arm of Austin before Austin makes it to the ropes again. Austin is once more on the floor, side headlock takedown from Rhodes. Austin pulls the hair but Rhodes lands a shoulder block, Austin counters with a boot to the ribs.

 

Austin looks for an Argentine back-breaker but Rhodes counters for a backslide, Austin is out on the floor once more showing frustration at how Rhodes is countering his every move, Rhodes is taken down by Austin and stomped. Elbow across the throat from Austin, Rhodes is brawling with Austin on the floor before Austin is whipped into the guardrail and into the crowd. Austin wants a handshake, Rhodes smacks Austin with a right hand. Side headlock takedown, Austin and Rhodes go to the corner. Austin ignores the clean break and smashes Rhodes in the face, elbow to the head from Austin. Austin kicks and lands knee-drops before grabbing the arm, Rhodes is battling back on his knees. Two big rights to the face, Austin whips Rhodes. Elbow to the face, Austin hurls Rhodes to the floor. Dropkick in the ring by Rhodes, cover for two. Colonel Parker grabs the leg of Rhodes, Austin clubs Rhodes from behind.

 

Belly to back suplex, Austin gets a two count. Rhodes lands elbows before both men bang heads off an Irish whip. Austin misses a clothesline but Austin uses the ropes to avoid a scoop slam falling on Rhodes for two. Snap-mare and Austin climbs high, Austin misses a middle rope knee-drop, Rhodes is firing up big time now. Rhodes lands right after right, Bionic Elbow from Rhodes. Irish whip and flying clothesline, powerslam for two. Parker is on the apron talking mad amounts of trash, Rhodes throws Austin over the top rope into Parker but it is a DQ because Austin was sent flying over the top rope. Austin is up 1:0 thanks to a crucial error from Rhodes.

 

Rhodes drags Austin in the ring, diving chop from Rhodes. Austin is bleeding after being sent into the ring-post during the rest period by an irate champion. Rhodes has Austin in the corner, ten punches in the corner but Austin has a handful of tights and Austin secures the win and wins the championship!

 

That was certainly a different way to go about it, two straight falls for the heel to capture the championship? Not really sure how that makes Rhodes look good in defeat but these two work well together, really digging Austin at this point in his career during this time. I think Rhodes needs a big feud to take him to that next level, the tag matches with Windham were fantastic and Rhodes has been solid on his own but he needs that breakout feud to take him to the next level. Good stuff from two rising stars but the booking is a little perplexing here.

 

Winner: Stunning Steve Austin over Dustin Rhodes via Handful of Tights!

 

(WCW International Championship Match) Ravishing Rick Rude © vs The Boss


Big Bossman is here in WCW but he is now known as The Boss to avoid that little copyright battle, Boss is the next man to battle Rick Rude. This is a little surprising considering if we follow the previous PPV logic, it would have dictated that Rude would have been battling British Bulldog for the championship.

 

Rude and Boss talk trash to one another, Boss backs-up Rude to the corner. Rude is shocked by this display. They lock-up and shove around the ring, Rude is scared in the corner. They continue to lock-up before Rude lands a cheap-shot, Rude continues to smack around Boss. Boss reverses an Irish whip and lands a back body drop, big boot by Boss. Back-breaker and hard Irish whip from The Boss. Big right hand and another hard Irish whip, scoop slam and Rude kicks out at one. Scoop slam on the floor from The Boss, Boss places Rude in the tree of woe against the ropes and pummels Rude with right hands. Massive rights and lefts from The Boss, Rude is trying to get out of the ropes but gets walloped with a right hand for his efforts. Bearhug from The Boss, Rude rakes the eyes or bites the nose, not sure but Boss fires back with massive right hands.

 

Rude is whipped to the buckle, Boss runs into the boot. Rude climbs high but jumps into a right hand and a face-buster, Boss calls for a big move. Rude dodges the leg across the back and Rude is on the apron and lands a slingshot sunset flip and this is over.

 

Biggest PPV of the year and Rude gets the win over The Boss with an apron sunset flip after being whooped for the majority of the match. Interesting for sure, I love Rude but he has a tendency to underperform in his first time clashes with opponents, it happened with Sting, Steamboat and Rhodes. It I no different here, makes me sad because I fell hard for Rude during The Dangerous Alliance angle but the matches with the NJPW talent and his matches since returning from injury are very hit and miss. Knowing that it is nearly 1994, Rude’s time in that ring will be coming to an end through no fault of his own so it is interesting to see Rude’s work during this time but I have been more disappointed as of late.

 

Winner: Rick Rude over The Boss via Apron Sunset Flip!

 

(WCW World Tag Team Championship Match) The Nasty Boys © W/ Missy Hyatt vs Road Warrior Hawk & Sting


Sting is one of the most popular wrestlers in WCW, the crowd comes alive every time Sting is inside of that ring but The Stinger has been wrestling on PPV in tag team matches for the majority of the year. It is quite shocking honestly how long they have kept Sting away from championships or singles feuds. Was it a good idea to break Sting away from Vader? I would say yes, they killed it every time inside of that ring but Sting needed to heal and grow and overcome the monster that is Vader but I thought they would have paid it off but it seems like that is far away from WCW’s plans with Flair taking what I believe should be Sting’s spot.

 

This match starts with a lot of stalling hence my mini-rant about Sting’s position in the company, Knobbs eats an arm-drag before Knobbs starts brawling with The Stinger. Sting meets the buckle hard, Irish whip with Sting ducking and landing a flying lariat. Elbow drop connects and Sags is decked with a clothesline, the babyfaces clean house. Hawk picks up Sting and presses The Stinger onto the champions. Sags and Hawk are in the ring now, dear God it is going to get stiff in that very ring now. Sags tees off on Hawk in the corner, Hawk turns the tide and chops Sags all over. Sags blocks Hawk with a boot and Knobbs comes in, they brutalize Hawk but Hawk explodes out of the corner and lands a massive clothesline. More powdering and stalling, Hawk pummels Sags back in the ring and lands a dropkick.

 

Hawk lands a flying shoulder block and fist-drop, Sting tags into the match and we have a double elbow. Suplex from Sting, Hawk tags in and works the arm. Hammerlock throw to the buckle, tag to Sting. Arm-wrench and arm-bar from The Stinger, Hawk comes in and misses a corner spear with his shoulder hitting the ring-post. Sags cracks Hawk with a chair in the shoulder, Missy slaps the shit out of Hawk. Hawk shakes it off, Knobbs axe handles Hawk to the floor. Tag to Sags, knees to the arm. Cross arm-breaker from Sags, Fujiwara arm-bar from Knobbs. Hawk fights back and Sting manages to receive the tag but Sags had the referee distracted, The Nasty Boys try a double-team but Hawk murders both with lariats. Sting gets the hot-tag, scoop slams and dropkicks galore.

 

Clothesline by Sting, two for Sting. Sags is dumped to the floor, Knobbs is clotheslined to the floor also. Sags and Knobbs are leaving, they have had enough. Sting and Hawk give chase, the champions are thrown back into the ring. Sting tries a diving splash but Knobbs blocks with his knees, scoop slam by Knobbs. Knobbs lands a diving leg drop/senton and squishes Sting, looks like Sting should have moved but didn’t for some reason. Knobbs throws Sting over the top rope, no DQ? Ok, Sags sends Sting into the guardrail. Missy whips Sting but Sting fires up, Sags clotheslines Sting right back down. Abdominal stretch from Sags, Knobbs gives Sags his hand for leverage. Knobbs applies the same hold, Knobbs whips Sting to the buckle. Sting lands a boot and a sunset flip for two, Sags is in and elbows Sting. Sags lands a massive pump-handle slam, Knobbs comes in and applies a camel clutch. Sting breaks out but cannot capitalize, suplex by Knobbs.

 

Two for Knobbs, camel clutch again from Knobbs. Sting escapes, Knobbs maintains control. Abdominal stretch from Knobbs, Sting hip-tosses out of the hold. Sags is in and lands an elbow to the spine, Sags calls for a big move. Clubbing blows against the ropes, tag to Knobbs. Scoop slam from Knobbs, middle rope splash from Knobbs. I think Sting was meant to block as Knobbs repeats the spot and eats a boot to the face, Sags comes in and hobbles to Hawk with a forearm. Knobbs lands a splash, powerslam by Knobbs. Hawk comes in and clotheslines Knobbs to the floor and yanks Sags onto the top rope. Can Sting make the tag? Yes! Hawk is in the ring!

 

Flying shoulder block on Knobbs, clothesline and scoop slam, Sting whips Knobbs to the buckle. Stinger Splash, Scorpion Death-Lock but Missy is on the apron. Missy is kissed by Sting, Knobbs knocks her off the apron and Sting rolls-up Knobbs for two. Knobbs eye-rakes Sting, Sting has Knobbs who is trying to escape. Doomsday Device and Knobbs lands right on his head in brutal fashion, Missy Hyatt comes in and attacks Sting for the DQ.

 

Brutal match, 29 minutes with these 4? You are pushing it WCW, Knobbs seemed to not be on the same page with Sting or Hawk, made for some very clumsy spots. Didn’t need to see Hawk play babyface-in-peril followed by Sting playing babyface-in-peril. The match just went on and on, felt like it would never end. That was really rough viewing, not thrilled with The Nasty Boys as champions. Would have much preferred a year of The Hollywood Blondes but we can’t all be so lucky.

 

Winners: Team Sting over The Nasty Boys via DQ!

 

(WCW World Heavyweight Championship vs Career Match) Vader © W/ Harley Race vs Ric Flair


10 years ago, Ric Flair made himself The Man by defeating Harley Race for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at Starrcade A Flair for The Gold! Ric Flair now places his career on the line against the unstoppable Vader who has decimated Sting, Cactus Jack and British Bulldog while also winning Battle Bowl. Vader looks unstoppable, Vader looks unbeatable and The Nature Boy is coming off a big loss to Rick Rude and an injury at the hands of the champion. Flair is backed into the corner and had almost impossible odds stacked against him but we are in Flair Country ladies and gentlemen and when it comes to delivering in big time situations, there is nobody better than The Nature Boy!

 

Nice touch to begin with Flair looking like he wants to shed a tear to begin with the announcement of his name. Flair and Vader stare one another down, Vader is sizing up the hometown hero. Vader shoves down Flair like it is nothing, Vader shoves down Flair again. Flair powders after being shoved again, Vader is chasing Flair. Vader stops in his tracks, the world champion will not tire himself out in this match. Headbutt and clubbing blows from Vader, Vader starts working the wrist. Slaps from the champion, short-arm clothesline from Vader. Vader grabs the wrist again, Vader screams “You ain’t mad enough”! Perfect stuff from Vader, Flair chops back at Vader but it does not even phase Vader. Flair powders again, Vader poses in the ring dominant so far in this championship match.

 

Vader backs Flair to the corner, rights and lefts from Vader. Stomps all over the head from Vader, Flair has not been able to land any regular attacks. Military press slam from Vader, Flair rolls to the floor looking to survive. Vader drops Flair on the guardrail, Flair is up against the guardrail and Vader misses a big splash. Flair lands a flurry of chops and right hands and sends Vader into the ring-post, Flair has control but Harley Race comes in and batters Flair. Vader is back in control, suplex into the ring from the champion. Clubbing blows again from Vader, Flair is suplexed into the ring again. Rights and lefts from Vader, Vader sends Flair to the buckle hard. Clothesline from Vader, Flair flip to the apron and Flair spills to the ramp and then the floor. Flair can barely stand, this is not looking good for the challenger. Clothesline and headbutts from Vader, Vader repeatedly calls Flair “Chump”.

 

Measured right hands to the head, Flair begins to chop back at Vader. Vader is unphased, Vader is unstoppable. Massive powerslam for two, diving clothesline from Vader. Snap-mare and Vader climbs high, Vader misses a middle rope splash. Flair climbs high, what could this be? Diving chop to the head, chops and Flair climbs high again. A second diving chop, Flair chops and chops. Flair goes up again, diving chop drops Vader. Flair is on fire now, knee-drop to the head. Vader pops up and clotheslines Flair, Vader lands a massive superplex from the middle rope. Elbow drop to the ribs and groin area, Flair is bleeding from the mouth. Flair avoids the splash from Vader, what has The Nature Boy left in the tank? Vader clubs down Flair after attempting a running strike. Vader tosses Flair to the floor, Harley Race stomps all over the face of Flair with his boot.

 

Flair is whipped to the corner, Vader misses his running splash. The second time around Vader does not miss the splash and squishes Flair. Flair is struggling big time, Vader goes back to the arm. Flair thumbs Vader in the eye, rights and lefts from The Nature Boy. Vader is down to a knee, Vader is dropped by Flair’s flurry of strikes. Flair decides it is time to work that leg, knee into the ring-post. Flair takes Ventura’s chair and wallops the leg of Vader, Flair is going to go to the figure four if this continues, Flair is landing chops and right hands to the head of Vader. Right hands to the head of Vader, we are back in the ring. Flair continues to land rights and lefts, Vader has his face bitten by the challenger. Flair drops all his weight on the knee, Flair is strutting and the crowd is going bananas! Flair is going for it, The Figure Four is blocked by Vader.

 

Vader has kicked Flair halfway across the ring, Vader Bomb misses! Flair dodged it, Flair is still in this match. Flair goes for the leg again, Figure Four in the middle of the ring! Harley Race is on the apron, going wild! Harley Race is nearly in the ring, this is ridiculous. Vader makes it to the ropes, Flair’s best shot is not enough to topple the champion. Flair runs into a boot from Vader, elbow drop to the groin and ribs again. Vader is on top now, landing elbows and forearms to the head. Vader Bomb time again, will it connect this time? Vadersault actually! Vader misses the moonsault, Flair covers Vader but Vader kicks out. Harley Race wanted to nail his Diving Headbutt but Flair dodges and Vader takes the headbutt. Flair chops and chops but runs into a big clothesline, Vader turns his back on Flair and Flair rolls-up Vader for the win!

 

Fantastic wrestling match here, shocking that something so good could come from this company in 1993. Flair as the hometown hero is perfect here, Flair puts over the threat of Vader form the get-go. Flair looks shaken as Vader tosses him around, Vader lands splashes and more taking the fight to Flair. Flair rallies and every time it happens, the crowd comes alive. They want so badly Flair to win, Flair tries and tries but Vader is just too strong, just too tough. Flair manages to topple the giant though with repeated attacks, softening up that leg and the crowd believes that must be it but no Vader will not go down to the Figure Four. Flair lives off the energy of the crowd but Vader keeps on clubbing him down, Vader is great in his role here. Top-tier trash talk, just a big nasty bastard who won’t stop beating up our hero. Vader looks to have stopped The Nature Boy in his tracks only for Flair to catch the giant off-guard and by surprise, rolling him up for the unthinkable win. Great story-telling from two men who work so well together. I thought it would be Sting to dethrone Vader but this was worth it, let’s see what Flair can do back on top of the mountain in WCW.

 

Winner: Ric Flair over Vader via Roll-Up!

 

That was WCW’s Starrcade 1993, a mostly bad PPV from WCW it must be said. WCW in 1993 has been a very bad year for the company, injuries and incidents have robbed the company of the likes of Barry Windham and Sid Vicious, the booking has been so hit and miss that it’s hard to see what they were trying to accomplish during this time. It hurts because I was so high on the company in 1992 before they proceeded to do nothing with The Dangerous Alliance angle but 1993 was a shit-show, the Slamboree PPV and Battle Bowl being notoriously awful concepts that were wastes of PPV. So what did WCW do on their big show to end 1993? Pretty Wonderful vs Bagwell & Scorpio is a solid tag team match but screams of what are we doing with these guys? Roma was brought in as a Horsemen in 1993, utterly failed in the role which many would argue he did not deserve so is back tagging while Orndorff for all the fun of the Paula chants has held a quite prominent position on the cards but I am left questioning why, why was Orndorff TV champion and never dropping the championship to Simmons? Why was Orndorff defeating Steamboat when Steamboat has so much more to offer? Bagwell is still a rookie and relatively green while Scorpio is explosive and exciting but here they are, former fluke tag team champions who do not seem to progressing at all, fine match but we need a shake-up honestly. Shockmaster vs King Kong is a squash, they are tring to salvage Shockmaster, an awful gimmick but bless them for trying. Steamboat vs Regal was good wrestling-wise but this is Starrcade, Regal has cheated his way to victory numerous times, why not pay off him losing the championship or if you want to continue his momentum, have him beat Steamboat but no, we have a time-limit draw on our big blow-off show.

 

Cactus Jack teaming with Maxx Payne makes me sad because Cactus turning face was a focal point of the year and with one PPV match with Vader later, Cactus is teaming with Maxx Payne who last time I checked was in a feud with Johnny B. Badd. How did we get here for Cactus? It’s really easy to see why Foley would end up going to ECW before going to the WWF. Austin vs Rhodes was good in part, I like their work together. The two straight falls victory for a heel is a shocker and makes me feel like Rhodes was a failed experiment as US champion. I can’t say they are wrong when the Rhodes vs Rude blow-off iron man match ended in a draw, it’s sad to see when I wanted so badly to see Rhodes vs Windham. The Boss vs Rick Rude was poor, finish summed up a lacklustre performance from both men. The tag team match is atrocious, this is their big plan for The Stinger, arguably the most popular guy in the company and he’s been in tag matches for a number of PPVs, it is more baffling that they signed Hawk with Animal injured. In all honesty, who wants to see one without the other? The main event is fantastic, it would be fondly remembered as a bright spot during this year and I think it deserves the praise, it’s great stuff from Flair and Vader. Only seek this match out, everything else on this card is not worth it. WCW ends the night on a high but 1993 was not a fond year to look back on, join me next time as we tackle WCW in 1994! Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!

Sunday 15 May 2022

WCW Battle Bowl 1993 Review!

 



Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that breaks your heart more than when a wrestler doesn’t answer your DMs! It’s time for WCW Battle Bowl 1993, the dumbest concept match to ever exist inside of WCW. Never has been something I care about, never has been something I can get into. Instead of building upon all the feuds that we have going into the PPV, we throw it all out the window for some random tag matches that lead to a boring battle royal which does not even lead to the winner challenging for the championship at Starrcade because this stupid concept took place at Starrcade! Now it is its own PPV and I hate it even more but let’s get on with this random mess of a card

 

Cactus Jack & Vader vs Charlie Norris & Stevie Ray


Vader and Cactus Jack beat the piss out of one another, Vader decks Harley Race which is bizarre. Race convinces Vader to team with the man he hates, Stevie Ray aka Kane eats an elbow from Cactus. Headbutts from Cactus, Stevie Ray is hurled to the floor. Vader punches the shit out of Stevie Ray, Cactus attacks Vader with an eye rake. Stevie Ray slams Cactus, in comes Norris. Boot and kick to the head by Norris, headbutt by Cactus. Vader tags in, short-arm clothesline. Scoop slam, Vader Bomb and Norris is hurled to the floor. Cactus is on the apron and lands a somersault senton. Vader Hammer, Cactus gets the tag. Leg drop from Cactus, Norris kicks out. Norris fights his way back into the match, Stevie Ray clubs all over Cactus. Clothesline by Stevie Ray, Vader comes in and roughs up Stevie Ray.

 

Cactus gains control, Stevie Ray kicks Cactus off a ducked Irish whip. Norris comes in for a belly to back suplex, big boot by Norris. Vader clubs Norris, Cactus lands his Double Arm DDT on Stevie Ray. Vader comes in and splashes Norris, Vader Powerbombs Norris for the win and Cactus takes out Stevie Ray for the win.

 

Shite match really, we are meant to get excited by Vader and Cactus working together? Well how fun considering they will want to kill one another in about 2 hours time. Match was rough and not in a fun way, Vader falls over for the powerbomb finish. Perfectly sums up this concept of a PPV.

 

Winners: Team Vader over Team Norris via Powerbomb!

 

Johnny B. Badd & Brian Knobbs vs Paul Roma & Erik Watts


I like how Missy Hyatt is dressed, that’s about it for my interest in this match. Badd vs Roma kicks us off, clean break from the babyfaces. Badd and Knobbs are having serious problems, hip-toss battle spot with neither man giving an inch. Knobbs is not happy with his partner, Badd tells Knobbs to shut up. Lock-up and side headlock by Badd, shoulder block and leap-frogs before Badd lands an arm-drag. Badd works the arm with a wristlock, Roma uses a knee and forearm shots to break the hold. Badd and Roma trade drop-downs before Badd lands another arm-drag into the arm-bar. Knobbs receives the tag, right hands and knees by Knobbs. Knobbs whips Roma and lands a massive clothesline, Knobbs continues to talk shit to Badd. Forearm shots from Knobbs, Roma dodges the clothesline and lands an ugly back body drop followed by a scoop slam and a dropkick.

 

Tag to Watts, knee-lift and dropkick from Watts. Badd comes in and trades holds with Watts, lots of wristlocks here. Small package by Watts, jacknife cover from Badd for two. Wristlock from Watts, Roma and Watts trade control on Badd. Irish whip and Watts misses a corner spear, Badd works the arm before tagging in Knobbs. Watts meets the buckle, Knobbs lands a corner clothesline. Watts crumbles to the mat, Watts comes back with two arm-drags. Badd comes in and has his arm worked, Roma gets the tag and Team Roma land a double elbow for two. Powerslam by Roma, Missy Hyatt distracts the referee which allows Knobbs to land an elbow drop on Roma. Side headlock takedown from Badd, Roma comes back with forearms and a side headlock of his own. Knobbs trips Roma, Badd is not happy with this manoeuvre from Knobbs. More jaw-jacking as Knobbs tags into the match, Roma is kicked to the floor.

 

Badd and Missy Hyatt are having words, Roma crawls back into the ring. Knobbs suplexes Roma for two, abdominal stretch from Knobbs. Knobbs tags in Badd, they continue to have words. Side headlock from Badd, shoulder block with both men banging heads. Knobbs tags in and scoop slams Roma, Knobbs says it is over. Middle rope splash does not work as Roma blocks with a boot to the face, Roma has his leg grabbed but counters with an enzuigiri. Watts lands right hands off the hot-tag, clotheslines all around. Scoop slam and elbow drop, Knobbs is bounced off the buckle multiple times. Whip to the opposite buckle is reversed by Knobbs, Watts explodes out with a flying crossbody but Knobbs rolls through with a handful of tights for the win.

 

Why did that match have to go so long? What was the pay-off to the fighting between Knobbs and Badd? Knobbs won the match by himself and Watts looks like a massive geek who was beat while making his comeback. What a load of shite this was to watch.

 

Winners: Team Knobbs over Team Watts via Handful of Tights!

 

The Shockmaster & Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff vs Ricky The Dragon Steamboat & Lord Steven Regal


So after having zero interactions between Regal and Steamboat since Regal won the championship, I am now meant to believe that they still hate one another? Steamboat faced Orndorff the last time on PPV with Orndorff scoring the win while Regal moved onto Bulldog and Badd in terms of challengers, this is so backwards. Orndorff and Steamboat to start, the Paula chants are still going strong but I really have had my share of Mr. Wonderful in WCW and would like someone new near that upper mid-card spot.

 

Shoulder block by Steamboat, Orndorff tries a side-step but Steamboat skins the cat and lands a head-scissors to the floor. They brawl on the floor and Steamboat has his eyes raked, right hands by Mr. Wonderful. Steamboat is thrown back into the ring, a diving axe handle does not work as Steamboat lands a big knee to the face. Steamboat slaps on the reverse chin-lock, side headlock from Steamboat. Orndorff is caught in a side headlock takedown but Orndorff reverses the hold with a handful of tights, Steamboat maintains control. Orndorff gets up and pushes Steamboat to the corner, forearms to the ribs and face. Steamboat leapfrogs Orndorff, atomic drop from Steamboat. Tag to Shockmaster and tag to Regal, Regal panics once he realizes who is in the ring.

 

Regal stalls before locking up and being shoved to the ground, Regal grabs a side headlock. Shockmaster places Regal on the top rope and pats him on the head, Regal is furious. Regal takes the arm, European uppercut but does not even faze Shockmaster. Shockmaster reverses an Irish whip and lands a scoop slam, tag to Orndorff. Shockmaster and Orndorff have words, Paula chants in the arena. Lock-up and Regal grabs a side headlock, hip-toss by Regal for two. Backslide by Orndorff for two, full nelson by Regal. Orndorff reverses the hold and Regal escapes the hold, Steamboat tags into the match. Orndorff catches Steamboat with a stun-gun, knees to the spine from Orndorff. Scoop slam from Orndorff, tag to Shockmaster. Shockmaster helps Steamboat tag in Regal, Shockmaster clotheslines Regal before Regal trips up Shockmaster. Orndorff and Shockmaster have words after Shockmaster eats an elbow from Orndorff, Regal grabs the umbrella but Steamboat grabs the umbrella and wipes out Regal which allows Shockmaster to land the splash.

 

Plodding and dull even with Steamboat in there, every match has partners who hate one another. It’s not interesting if I see it every match, I don’t want to see it every match and the sooner we get past this PPV I will be a happy man because this blows!

 

Winners: Team Orndorff over Team Steamboat via Splash!

 

Awesome Kong & The Equalizer vs Dustin Rhodes & King Kong


Rhodes and Equalizer to start, waist-lock reversals from both men. Hammerlock by Rhodes, elbow by Equalizer and a shoulder block before Rhodes lands a drop toehold. Scoop slam from Equalizer, Equalizer tags in Awesome who eats a number of dropkicks and a schoolboy for two. Eye rake by Awesome, clubbing blows in the corner. Awesome misses an elbow drop, King is tagged in and the two fat bastards might collide but King tags in Rhodes. Rhodes fights back with massive shots to the head of Awesome, eye poke by Awesome. Tag to Equalizer, arm-drag into armbar. Rhodes tags in King who clubs Equalizer, clothesline by King. Equalizer clotheslines down King, clubbing blows in the corner. Headbutt by King, Equalizer goes after the eyes again.

 

King has Equalizer in the corner, Equalizer blocks with his boot and lands a flying shoulder tackle. Leg drop misses for Equalizer, tag to Rhodes and Awesome. Right hands and an elbow to the head for two, sunset flip from Rhodes with Equalizer making the save. The match breaks down, Awesome saves King but Rhodes lands his Running Bulldog for the win. Very meh like the rest of the card, I hate this PPV.

 

Winners: Team Rhodes over Team Equalizer via Running Bulldog!

 

Sting & Jerry Sags vs Ron Simmons & Keith Cole


Who is Keith Cole? Why does he look like Sting without the facepaint? Apparently a tag team guy brought in by Dusty Rhodes part of a twin tag team. Ron Simmons is here after what feels like a lifetime since his championship reign. Simmons roughs up Sags and his arm, Cole comes in and works the arm too. Sags gains the upper hand and headbutts Cole, Missy Hyatt is loving it at ringside. Loud we want Sting chants in the arena, forearms and face rakes from Sags. Whip to the opposite buckle is reversed by Cole, arm-drag into the arm-bar. Simmons and Sting tag into the match, clean break from Simmons. Side headlock and shoulder blocks by Simmons for two, Sting avoids the powerslam and takes down Simmons for two. Shoulder blocks and Simmons backs off, Simmons is a little surprised and annoyed by Sting.

 

Drop toehold into an arm-bar from Simmons, tag to Cole. Arm-drag from Cole, Cole whips Sting. Sting counters for the backslide, two for Sting. Arm-drag and tag to Sags, arm-drag into arm-bar from Cole. Simmons and Sting are back in, flying crossbody for one. Clothesline by Sting, Simmons is furious. Simmons decks Sting, vicious stomps by Simmons. Tag to Cole, arm-bar from Cole. Simmons is not happy about his partner’s technique, face-buster by Simmons. Rope hung guillotine by Simmons, Cole is tagged into the match. Sting lands a back body drop and a scoop slam followed by a clothesline, suplex by Sting. Stinger Splash, Sags had tagged into the match. Diving Elbow Drop for the win. More of the same here, the most interesting part is it seems Simmons is going to turn heel, showing frustration at the efforts of Keith Cole.

 

Winners: Team Sting over Team Simmons via Diving Elbow Drop!

 

Ric Flair & Stunning Steve Austin w/ Colonel Rob Parker vs Maxx Payne & 2 Cold Scorpio


Austin and Flair are having words as we kick things off, Austin waist-locks Payne but cannot move the big man, lock-up and Payne takes down Austin. Austin shoves Payne, it does not work. Flair does not tag Austin as Flair struts, side headlock from Payne. Shoulder block from Payne, make it two. Cover for two, Austin trips Payne and kicks him in the gut. Payne is up, two-handed choke toss from Payne. Scorpio comes in and Austin clubs down Scorpio, right hand from Austin. Scorpio reverses the suplex, leapfrogs and drop-downs before Austin is taken down with a dropkick. Shoulder block by Austin, dropkick by Scorpio and a tag to Flair. Flair and Scorpio trade headlocks and pin-fall attempts, backslide from Scorpio for two.

 

Side headlock by Scorpio, shoulder block takes down Flair. Payne comes in and Flair takes him down, Payne slams Flair off the top rope. Elbow drop misses for Payne, in comes Austin who punches and kicks Payne. Back body drop by Payne, Scorpio is tagged into the match. Flair comes in and chops Scorpio, corner splash by Scorpio. Suplex into a standing moonsault for two, side headlock from Scorpio. Shoulder block but Flair takes a waist-lock, Scorpio counters for an O’Connor roll and a two count. Flair pops up and lands a chop, back body drop from Flair and in comes Austin. Knee to the ribs from Austin, Scorpio lands a victory roll for two. Superkick from Scorpio, Scorpio climbs high but Austin cuts out the legs of Scorpio. Payne is irate, Austin goes to work. Superplex from Austin, back-breaker from Austin. Foot choke from Austin, Flair tags into the match. Irish whip to the buckle, Scorpio hits hard and eats a knee-drop from Flair.

 

Two for Flair, Austin comes in and lands his own knee drops for two. Flair and Austin continue to annoy one another, Flair comes in and chops Scorpio. Delayed vertical suplex from Flair for two, Payne makes the save. Flair talks shit to Payne, tag to Austin. Austin lands a diving elbow drop, Payne makes the save again. Scorpio begins to fire back with big rights, Austin rakes the eyes. Austin is sent into the buckle, Austin lands a knee and an Irish whip but Scorpio ducks and lands a spinning heel kick. Flair and Payne receive tags, Payne tees off on Flair. Whip to the buckle and back body drop, clotheslines by Payne. Flair is sent into the buckle, Payne misses a knee in the corner so Flair goes for The Figure Four and Payne gives up.

 

Austin and Flair’s chemistry with one another makes this interesting, they could really do something between those two because they play off one another really well but apart from that, there’s nothing to really tell you about this match with Payne still being a signing to this company that I don’t really understand as Payne has done little to nothing in this company.

 

Winners: Team Austin over Team Scorpio via Figure Four Leg-Lock!

 

Ravishing Rick Rude & Shanghai Pierce vs Marcus Bagwell & Tex Slazenger


I like how they make a deal of these two fighting one another when the two Kongs fought earlier in the night like it was nothing, Rude looks ridiculously jacked at this time. Bagwell and Rude to start, Rude shoves down Bagwell and poses. Rude clubs down Bagwell, forearm shots and a suplex. Irish whip that Bagwell reverses, drop toehold into an arm-bar. Tag to Slazenger who works the arm with elbows, Rude cannot stop the shots to the arm. Gut shots and right hands to the ribs, the two partners lock eyes as Rude makes the tag. Will they fight? A battle bowl ring is at stake damn it! Rude tags in and says bullshit before being clubbed by Slazenger, elbow by Slazenger. Tag to Bagwell who drops his weight on the arm while applying an arm-bar, Bagwell is shoved to the corner and in comes Shanghai. Snap-mare into a knee drop, elbow to the face and more kicks. Bagwell flips out of the belly to back, hip-toss by Bagwell. Scoop slam and splash for two, arm-drag into an arm-bar.

 

We reset with Bagwell and Rude, shoulder thrusts in the corner by Rude. Knees and kicks to the ribs, Bagwell is down. Reverse chin-lock from Rude, Bagwell tries fighting back but Shanghai comes in and roughs up Bagwell. Bagwell regains control but cannot make the tag to Slazenger as the tag partners won’t fight. Shoulder block by Bagwell, Rude pulls down the ropes as Bagwell runs them and Bagwell is down on the floor. Tag to Rude who lands a front suplex, gut-buster by Rude. Shanghai comes in and roughs up Bagwell, diving knee drop from the middle rope. Rude and Shanghai rough up Bagwell, forearm shots from Rude and a corner choke. Bearhug from Rude, Shanghai distracts the referee so the tag to Slazenger is missed on this occasion. Shanghai comes in and slaps on the reverse chin-lock, Bagwell breaks free before being caught with a boot and a gut-wrench powerbomb for two. Slazenger makes the save and the tag partners exchange words, they shove one another.

 

Slazenger and Shanghai brawling gets one of the biggest pops of the night, could you imagine that? Big fists are flying, clothesline to the corner. Rude blind tags in, Rude steps in and lands a Rude Awakening on Slazenger and it’s over.

 

Another match that is not all that interesting on this card, it builds to that little brawl at the end but it is Shanghai Pierce and Tex Slazenger fighting at the end of the day, who really cares about that? Damn Godwinns

 

Winners: Team Rude over Team Bagwell via Rude Awakening!

 

Hawk & Rip Rogers vs Davey Boy Smith & Booker T


Hawk decks Rogers for annoying him, Booker T stomps on Rogers who is on the mat dead. Bulldog and Hawk to start, this could be an even contest. Nobody gains the advantage from the lock-ups, clean breaks all around. Test of strength, Booker T has a lot of problems with Bulldog not whooping ass. Booker T decides to take charge, Rogers is edging closer to the ring after Hawk’s punch. Booker takes his time, knee and clubbing blows by Booker. Booker and Hawk trade advantage, Booker smacks Rogers who nearly made it to the ring. Bulldog starts a LOD chant which confuses me slightly, were they called The Legion of Doom only in WWF? Booker hot-shots Hawk, Bulldog cheers on Hawk. Booker is up high, diving axe handle.

 

Hawk is battling back with right hands and knees, Booker rakes the eyes and lands a back-breaker. Booker climbs to the middle rope and calls for the finish, Hawk dodges the middle rope elbow drop. Clothesline by Hawk, fist drop and Hawk presses Rogers onto Booker for the win. What an incredible waste of time.

 

Winners: Team Hawk over Team Bulldog via Assisted Crossbody!

 

Battlebowl Match


Everyone who won their tag matches will compete in this battle royal to win a ring, a Royal Rumble like concept executed poorly. Not a whole lot going on here, mostly kicks and punches as the lesser known stars are thrown out of the ring, you would think Cactus would last long in there with Vader but no, that does not go anywhere as Cactus gets clotheslined out relatively early. Things get interesting as we get down to the final four, we have Vader, Sting, Austin and Flair. Vader clubs Sting into the corner, inverted atomic drop by Flair on Austin. Vader pairs off with Flair in the corner, Flair has put his career on the line against Vader at Starrcade. Vader misses a corner splash against Flair, Austin is begging for mercy from Sting. Flair and Race brawl on the ramp, Race lands a headbutt but Flair suplexes Harley Race on the ramp. Vader drops an elbow on the ribs of Flair, Vader decides to do more damage with a splash on the ramp. Sting attacks Vader, big right hands from The Stinger.

 

Austin makes the save, elbowing and knee-dropping Sting. Choke on the ramp from Austin, Vader continues to attack Flair, repeated attacks to the head and ribs by the world champion. Doctors are checking on Flair, Austin mocks Flair while Vader stomps all over Sting. Flair will not be able to continue, Vader and Austin slam Sting into the ring. Austin misses a dive from the top, Sting powerslams Vader. Sting runs wild with big right hands all around, Vader is speared in the ribs. Sting continues to smack around everything in sight before Austin goes low on The Stinger. Sting rolls away but Austin grabs The Stinger, Vader decides it is splash time. Vader Hammer wipes out both men, Vader splashes Sting repeatedly who is down on the mat. Austin slaps Sting who is not moving, Sting manages to sit up and avoid the splash. Austin meets right hand and chops, Sting knocks down Vader.

 

Austin is decked, Vader is decked. Sting collapses, can Sting survive? Austin looks to drop out Sting, Sting will not go over the top. Austin lands a middle rope knee-drop, Vader Bomb is next. It connects, Austin holds Sting in the corner. Vader squishes Austin by mistake, Sting stun-guns Austin onto the ramp and Vader clotheslines Sting onto the ramp. Even though people cannot be eliminated via way of ramp, Austin rolls off the ramp and that counts because rules. Vader and Sting in there now, short-arm clothesline by Vader. Splash by Vader, he has squashed Sting like a billion times by this point. Sting lifts up Vader onto the buckle, kicks and kicks by Sting. Stinger Splash coming, Vader falls out of the way and Sting flies over the top rope. Sting has lost and Vader is your Battle Bowl winner!

 

Will Sting face Vader at Starrcade? Nope because we already know it is going to be Vader vs Flair with Flair’s career on the line so why have Sting in there with Vader, why not do the injury angle at the end of the match. Had Vader get his heat back by crushing Flair, I love Sting and I have complained about how WCW’s most popular wrestler has been sidetracked the last few months arguably for most of the year but you cannot just shoehorn him in here when we are building towards Flair vs Vader. Anyways, 90% of it is just brawling. Having the ring filled with wrestlers to begin with is a concept that has never been as exciting as a rumble, that is simply the facts and the mix of top tier talent and lower card talent doesn’t really come together in these matches. There are so many more interesting wrestlers who could have been involved but weren’t, the match is very boring until those final four. I really like Austin is being pushed within WCW, it seems like the wheels were in motion for something big but I have no idea what Austin is doing at Starrcade and I think that is a major problem with the company in general. I have no idea what Sting is doing, I have no idea what Dustin Rhodes is doing or Rick Rude is doing. All the champions, all the big stars and I haven’t a clue where we are heading towards Starrcade, does that not scream trouble?

 

Winner: Vader!

 

That was WCW’s Battle Bowl 1993 and it was awful, 1993 was an extremely bad year for WCW in terms of booking and plans going to dog-shit. Turning Sid babyface had backfired as Sid was gone, they had lost Barry Windham who was a tremendous heel and looked to be on the cusp of breaking that main-event ceiling that he had flirted with so often as a Horseman and as a top babyface. Stars have come in and big names have returned but still WCW continues to put out a product in 1993 that just cannot help itself but be very average at best. Sting has been mostly pitted in tags kept away from Vader, their series of matches were fantastic but it looks like Sting won’t be toppling the unstoppable giant. Rick Rude has returned, holds a world championship but are there plans to do champion vs champion? Doesn’t seem like it, Rude had been mostly involved with the US Championship for most of the year and Rhodes has not been elevated despite holding the championship. Going into the big PPV, I have no idea where we are heading beyond Flair vs Vader, it seems like a proper mess and then this PPV being the final stop before Starrcade. Let me be clear: I hate this concept, it was horrific to see Starrcade consist of this concept but actually watching it as a standalone PPV like it is some great event you should pay to see before Starrcade has infuriated me more, it’s terrible. It is right up there with the reverse battle royal or The Deadly Games tournament at Survivor Series 98. You piss away all your feuds for the same type of match, I am also not a fan of the Lockdown PPVs because every match is a cage match. So you suffer through 5 to 6 tag matches where the partners hate one another which leads to the finish and the pay-off is a plodding and dull battle royal. No thanks, this is one of the worst PPVs I have had to watch from WCW. Avoid it like the plague, thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!


WCW Clash of The Champions XXV Review!

 



Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet more confusing than an Ultimate Warrior promo! It is time for WCW Clash of The Champions XXV! Championship matches galore, Rick Rude vs Hawk, Johnny B. Badd vs Lord Steven Regal, Paul Orndorff vs Dustin Rhodes, Ric Flair vs Vader. Lots of good match-ups here but zill this Clash deliver? We shall see let’s get it on!

 

(WCW International Heavyweight Championship Match) Ravishing Rick Rude © vs Hawk


The Ravishing One must take on one half of The Road Warriors, shocking to see that we have not seen The Road Warriors team up yet on WCW for the clashes or for PPVs. The match begins with Hawk shoving Rude to the corner. Clean breaks off of a lock-up, Rude poses in front of Hawk. Hawk poses back, Hawk will not be intimidated by the champion. Rude clubs the crap out of Hawk, throat thrusts also. Hawk meets the buckle but Hawk shakes it off and Rude meets the buckle over and over. Irish whip and a back body drop, scoop slam by Hawk. Kicks to the spine, Hawk drills the champion with a suplex. Hawk chops away at Rude, whip to the buckle. Eye rake and back-breaker from Rude, Rude tries a dive but Hawk lands a boot. Hawk drills Rude with right hands and a clothesline to the floor, eye rake by Rude. The referee is counting and we have a count-out, super lame finish and start to the show.

 

Double Count-Out!

 

The Equalizer vs The Shockmaster


Lucky me to have to watch this match, Equalizer jumps Shockmaster. Spear in the corner, chops in the corner. Equalizer chokes Shockmaster with the middle rope, kicks to the gut to rough up Shockmaster. Leg across the back, belly to back suplex for two. Irish whip and both men collide with shoulder blocks, Shockmaster lands a big boot. Whip to the buckle, Irish whip into The Bearhug Slam and it’s over. What a rapid decline for The Equalizer, thankfully this was brief.

 

Winner: The Shockmaster over The Equalizer via Bearhug Slam!

 

(WCW Television Championship Match) Lord Steven Regal © W/ Sir William vs Johnny B. Badd


We have moved on from Regal vs Steamboat to this now, Regal starts this match with a slap to the face. Badd works the arm, side headlock from Badd. Shoulder block into a hip-toss for two, sunset flip for two. Regal is not happy, Regal backs up to the corner. They lock-up, Badd has the wristlock. Side headlock from Badd, Regal is caught in a hammerlock which transitions into the side headlock takedown. Side headlock again, Regal is caught in another takedown. Regal is back on his feet and works the back, Badd flips out and lands an arm-drag into an arm-bar. Side headlock from Badd, big takedown. Shoulder block by Badd but Regal ducks the flying crossbody. Regal is about to take control, European uppercuts from the champion. Regal trips up Badd and shoves his forearms into the face of Badd. Front chancery from Regal, a forearm knocks Badd to the canvas.

 

Regal continues to dish out punishment with forearms to the face, snap-mare into stepping on the face. Regal wants the butterfly suplex and it connects, Badd lands his Left Hook to knock out Regal. Sir William is irate from this, Badd covers but Sir William places the foot on the ropes. Regal rolls up Badd with a handful of tights to win the match.

 

Really not a lot to these matches so far, Regal is mostly in a side headlock for most of the match. Finish is not great for Badd, why would Badd not pin the knocked out man right away? I do appreciate how Regal continues to cheat his way to victory but still no finisher for the TV Champion? How very odd!

 

Winner: Lord Steven Regal over Johnny B. Badd via Handful of Tights!

 

Stunning Steve Austin W/ Colonel Rob Parker vs Flyin’ Brian Pillman


They broke up this duo because they are dumb, Pillman and Austin brawl to begin this match. Pillman wins the exchange before Parker involves himself, this allows Austin to gain control but Pillman sends Austin into the guardrail. In the ring, Pillman chops and lands a head-scissors to Austin, Austin begs for mercy. They are on the ramp, Austin wants a piledriver. Back drop by Pillman, Pillman is on the top rope and he tries a dive but Austin boots Pillman in the face and Pillman is thrown off the ramp into the guardrail. Classic Pillman throat bump right there, Austin comes off the ramp with an elbow to the head. They chop one another, Austin lands more elbows before rolling back into the ring. Austin runs into a slingshot crossbody from Pillman, Austin lands The Stun-Gun but cannot capitalize right away.

 

Austin clamps on a single leg Boston crab while using the ropes for leverage, Parker distracts the referee while Austin uses the ropes. Pillman slaps down Austin, chops from Pillman. Austin sends Pillman to the buckle, Pillman jumps to the middle rope and lands an elbow to the face. Austin wants a piledriver but Pillman lands a hurricanrana for two, Austin is in the corner and eating chops for breakfast. Pillman is elevated to the apron off an Irish whip, slingshot crossbody does not work as Austin counters with a powerslam. Austin slams the face of Pillman into the canvas, Austin misses a knee attack. Pillman plants Austin with a DDT for two, Austin takes down Pillman and climbs high. Pillman dodges the splash, Oklahoma roll for two. Pillman whips Austin, Austin reverses the Irish whip. Pillman avoids the stun-gun by grabbing the ropes, Pillman wants his springboard clothesline but Colonel Rob Parker grabs the feet of Pillman which allows Austin to drive Pillman into the mat for the win.

 

For a big blow-off to a feud between two former tag team partners, this was very tame. Disappointing considering the talent of both men but I am not surprised by this company at this point. How could they break these two up? They were so good together and the tag team division needed depth so why break up one of your most entertaining teams? Makes no sense to me.

 

Winner: Stunning Steve Austin over Brian Pillman via Slam To The Mat!

 

(WCW United States Championship Match) Dustin Rhodes © vs Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff W/ The Assassin


The American Dream is here, Dusty Rhodes is here to support his son and the fans love it, they are eating all of this up. Why is Orndorff continuing to get these opportunities? The man went from TV champion to challenging for the US Championship. Side headlock from Rhodes, Orndorff eats a shoulder block. Scoop slam by Rhodes, make it two. Side headlock takedown, Orndorff pulls Rhodes down by the hair and uses a hammerlock to wrench the arm of Rhodes. Rhodes comes up for the top wristlock counter, leg drop to the arm from Rhodes. Rhodes wrenches the arm and sends Orndorff into the buckle shoulder-first, a standing arm-bar from the champion. Orndorff shakes off Rhodes before Rhodes takes down the challenger by the ankle and drives his knee into the ankle.

 

Orndorff rakes the eyes and stomps all over Rhodes, corner blows from Orndorff. Irish whip to the buckle, Rhodes blocks with a boot. Snap-mare into a reverse chin-lock, Orndorff escapes the hold and kicks Rhodes around the ring. Elbow drop and a reverse chin-lock, Rhodes fights out and lands a backslide for two. Clothesline by Rhodes for two, Rhodes is sent face-first into the buckle. Orndorff smacks Rhodes with his knee, clothesline by Orndorff. Reverse chin-lock again, Rhodes fights out and knocks down Orndorff. Whip to the buckle but Orndorff dodges the running bulldog, Irish whip and Rhodes lands a sunset flip for two. Clothesline from Orndorff who calls for The Piledriver, Rhodes back-drops out of the piledriver. Orndorff is up first and lands a kick to the head, Orndorff is going to fly, diving knee drop misses badly. Rhodes is up, small package for three and it’s over!

 

Well that was flat, Orndorff is a perfectly acceptable wrestler inside of that ring but it’s hard to get sucked into any of his matches. The fans really wanted to see Dusty Rhodes murder The Assassin, that moment comes at the end of the match which is all that really matters to the fans in attendance. The finish sums up most of my feelings to the match, I wasn’t bothered majorly by the small package but it was jus there and I said to myself “Oh ok”.

 

Winner: Dustin Rhodes over Paul Orndorff via Small Package!

 

(WCW World Tag Team Championship Match) The Nasty Boys © W/ Missy Hyatt vs Sting & The British Bulldog


The Nasty Boys take on Sting and Bulldog who had teamed up against Sid and Vader, reasonable to say they could challenge for the championships. Incredible how Bulldog has managed to challenge for so many championship in his short time in WCW, sad to think that not one of them will probably be around his waist during this era. Nasty Boys are destroyed at the beginning of the match, Bulldog is on the ramp and Rude comes out of nowhere and lands The Rude Awakening on the ramp. Road Warrior Hawk comes to check on Bulldog but we could have a serious injury here, Sting is shocked to see what has happened. Sting fights on, double dropkick to The Nasty Boys. Knobbs meets the buckles, Sting climbs high. Diving chop attack, Sags comes in and elbows Knobbs by mistake.

Sags meets the buckle and tumbles to the floor, elbow to Knobbs. Sting continues to check on Davey Boy, Sting lands right hands before Knobbs rakes the eyes. In comes Sags who eats a hip-toss, Sting continues to check on Davey Boy. Boots by Sting and right hands, whip to the buckle. Corner clothesline by Sting, face-buster by Sting. Knobbs pushes Sting off the top rope, Sags knee-drops Sting. Knobbs slams Sting with a massive gut-wrench powerbomb, Sags comes in as Knobbs distracts the referee. Sting is tossed over the top rope to the floor, Knobbs suplexes Sting into the ring. Two for Knobbs, Irish whip into a bearhug from Knobbs. Sting escapes but is cut off, Sting is tossed to the floor and Knobbs chokes Sting with his jacket. Wish-bone split into a reverse chin-lock from Knobbs, Sting falls back and crushes Knobbs. Knobbs tags Sags, sleeper from Sags but Sting reaches into Bulldog. Powerslams by Bulldog and dropkicks too, double face-buster from Bulldog. Double clothesline from Bulldog, double DDT from Bulldog. Bulldog calls in Sting, Sting is military pressed onto Knobbs. Running Powerslam on Knobbs, the referee is with Sting. Sags climbs high and cracks Bulldog with a diving elbow drop to the back of the head and Knobbs covers Bulldog for the win!

 

Decent tag team match between the two, Rude attacks Bulldog which means we could be heading down that road but if Battle Bowl is the next PPV, will that match actually happen on PPV? Maybe or maybe not, good momentum for The Nasty Boys to continue picking up wins but what is happening with Sting? The Franchise of WCW, the most popular wrestler in WCW has been mostly in tag team matches throughout the year, can we put some steam back on The Stinger please?

 

Winners: The Nasty Boys over Sting & British Bulldog via Diving Elbow Drop To The Head!

 

(WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match) Vader © W/ Harley Race vs Ric Flair W/ Fifi


So Ric Flair is able to challenge for the World Championship at the Clash, Flair was on the losing end of his feud with Rick Rude for The International Championship so the logic that Flair would be the next challenger for Vader’s championship is rough at best. So, it cuts to a commercial and Harley Race is locked in the figure four, Vader appears out of nowhere and lands a splash. Vader peppers Flair in the corner, rights and lefts. Short-arm clothesline from the champion, military press slam from Vader. Vader Bomb from the champion, Flair is being roughed up in the corner. Flair chops Vader, chop after chop. Stomps in the corner, right hands to the head of the champion. Flair runs off the ropes and runs into a Vader Hammer, elbow to the groin.

 

Flair is dumped to the floor and Race sends Flair into the guardrail, a cheeky right hand for good measure. Vader tries a splash from the apron, Flair dodges and rolls into the ring. Flair dives off with a chop to the floor, Irish whip to the buckle and a chop from the challenger. Right hands and chops, Vader blocks a running Flair with a boot. Vader misses a middle rope diving elbow drop, Flair tries the Figure Four and applies the hold. Race is behind the referee’s back, Race rakes the eyes of The Nature Boy. Vader has Flair on the apron, suplex into the ring. Vader splashes Flair for two, Vader tries a crossbody but Flair counters with a powerslam. Diving chop attack from Flair, Vader sends Flair to the buckle. Flair flip, Flair runs up the buckle and lands a diving chop again, Irish whip to the buckle and Vader comes out with a clothesline but wipes out the referee.

 

Flair dives off the top turnbuckle, Vader catches The Nature Boy. Vader wants a superplex, Vader drills Flair with the superplex. Amazing looking manoeuvre there, Vader is asking for a referee. Vader is going up top one more time, Vadersault misses. Vader screams out in pain, Flair covers and gets the three but Race says Vader’s foot was on the ropes. It doesn’t matter though as Vader is disqualified for decking the referee, Austin and Col Parker come out and brawl with Flair before we have Dustin Rhodes and other babyfaces make the save.

 

Tight match here, Flair puts over Vader’s massive attacks here and sells the threat of Vader destroying him. Flair lands chop after chop and fights his way into this competitive championship match, crowd wanted the title change so that’s good to see that they are invested in this angle. Kind of shocking though because just last month, we were all in on Cactus Jack but that has been side-tracked to the extreme, looks like there will be no rematch there. Sad for Cactus Jack but soon enough, Cactus would be embarking on his ECW run that would lead to his run as Mankind in the WWF. Shocking how all over the place WCW is at the time, Flair mentions his partner for a tag match will be none other than Sid Vicious who will be gone from the company by December for the stabbing incident with Arn Anderson which is even more frustrating because Sid just came back in 1993 to WCW. Man this company is wild, how come so many people focus on the WWF side of things when WCW was just as chaotic during this era.

 

Winner: Ric Flair over Vader via DQ!

 

Clash of The Champions XXV was not the show I imagined it would be, it had the championship matches littered on the card to make it feel important but the finishes and the booking was tame and lame here. The Road Warriors are yet to team together on a Clash or PPV, I cannot imagine why you would show them off and keep them separate until the other is healthy. Why pull the trigger when you could just wait until they are healthy? Having Hawk compete in singles matches really has no benefit apart from an easy DQ finish every time to keep him protected, The Nasty Boys are picking up momentum here so why not save The Return of The Road Warriors for Starrcade? Shockmaster vs Equalizer was brief not much to say, I guess they are trying to salvage Shockmaster which is good at least they are committed to making him appear like a threat. Johnny B. Badd vs Regal was fine, Regal continues to be a cheating tactician in the ring who easily gets under the skin of the fans, I would like him to establish a finishing hold but a new star being booked well is good and a positive on a show full of negatives. Still not so sure what Vince saw in Johnny B Badd as the gimmick has been around for years at this point and still hasn’t launched into a big feud or memorable match like I thought it would, it’s nearly 94 and Mero is signed in 96 so I imagine there must be some sort of great string of matches coming sooner or later or something that makes me see why Vince wanted him because I can’t understand it at the moment. Pillman vs Austin was tame, should have been more but just didn’t get there. To cut Pillman’s heel run short is disappointing, to cut The Hollywood Blondes as a team is disappointing and I just can’t figure it out.

 

I am happy for Austin to be mixing it up in the main event as Vader’s right hand in a way in Colonel Parker’s stable, I imagine Austin would have been cannon fodder for Sid but that could have helped Austin’s stock, curious to see how Austin’s time in WCW winds down as we edge closer to his departure. Sting and Bulldog vs Nasty Boys was ok still not sure what the plan with Sting or Bulldog is, they haven’t really used Sting to his full potential this year while Bulldog has just been challenging for championships and coming up on the short end so the result here was to be expected by this point. Flair vs Vader was good, with more time I am sure they can have a fantastic match but the booking here continues to hurt this company. Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!



Monday 9 May 2022

WCW Halloween Havoc 1993 Review!

 


Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that just won’t die like Impact! It’s time for WCW Halloween Havoc 1993! Headlined by Vader vs Cactus Jack rightfully so for the WCW World Championship! Jesus must hate me because I also am being treated to a rematch between Rick Rude and Ric Flair for the WCW International Championship. Bagwell & Scorpio are challenging for the tag team championships because The Road Warriors are walking their fishes or something? We also have Stunning Steve Austin vs Dustin Rhodes for the United States Championship and The British Bulldog is challenging Lord Steven Regal for the Television Championship. There are some meaty matches on the card so let’s hope this is somewhat decent.

 

Harlem Heat & The Equalizer vs Ice Train/Charlie Norris/Shockmaster


Equalizer continues to be passed around by the heels of the company, Booker and Ice Train start. Shoulder block by Train, clubbing blows by Booker. Train scoop slams Booker, clothesline from Train. Stevie Ray wants a piece of Ice Train, clubbing blows by Stevie Ray. Train sends Stevie Ray to the buckle, tag to Norris. Diving tomahawk chop to the arm, eye poke by Stevie Ray. Tag to Booker, Booker runs into an arm-drag and a wristlock. Tag to Shockmaster, headbutts and a leg drop to the arm. Norris and Train tag in to work the arm, Train grabs a headlock. Stevie Ray lands a kick from the apron, Booker lands a massive dropkick.

 

Tag to Stevie Ray, double sidewalk slam. Two for Stevie Ray, stomps to the head and neck. Equalizer comes in and headbutts Train, chops against the ropes and a face-rake. Equalizer ducks his head off an Irish whip, face-buster from Train. Norris comes in and grabs a side headlock, shoulder block does not work for Norris. Shockmaster tags in, clubbing blows by Equalizer. Shoulder blocks by Shockmaster, scoop slam and tag to Train. Double elbow to Equalizer, Norris is in the ring. Double chop for two, Harlem Heat make the save. Norris is distracted and Equalizer comes in for the double axe handle, Equalizer lands a clothesline. Tag to Stevie Ray, scoop slam by Stevie Ray.

 

Two for Stevie Ray, double clothesline from Harlem Heat. Booker lands a knee-drop for two, Booker misses a big move and in comes Shockmaster who lands clotheslines and haymakers. Booker is whipped to the ropes into The Bearhug into the spinebuster combination.

 

Thankfully, did not go too long. Not really a fan of Harlem Heat already eating pins considering they were in there with Sid and Vader one PPV before this but I am not really thrilled with WCW’s booking anyways so why not have them lose. Not sure who Equalizer is going to go with next but it’s funny how he is being passed around by everyone. Train and Norris are still a rough watch but this really did breeze by so not as bad as I thought.

 

Winners: Team Shockmaster over Team Equalizer via Bearhug Spinebuster!

 

Paul Orndorff W/ Assassin 1 vs Ricky The Dragon Steamboat


Steamboat is not challenging Regal for the championship, Steamboat was going to face Yoshi Kwan but no we have Orndorff in there with Steamboat. Orndorff attacks Steamboat from behind, back body drop and forearm shots from Mr. Wonderful. Steamboat chops back into the match, Orndorff rams Steamboat into the buckle. Snap-mare into the elbow, Steamboat comes back with an O’Connor roll for two. Clothesline by Orndorff, Steamboat powders. They battle outside the ring as Orndorff lands elbows and right hands, Steamboat lands a chop but Orndorff lands a belly to back suplex for two. Steamboat manages to turn the tide with some nice technical work, arm-bar from The Dragon.

 

Headbutt from Orndorff, drop-downs before Steamboat lands a flying crossbody for two. Steamboat goes after the arm again, Steamboat sends the arm of Orndorff into the ring-post. Orndorff is down with his arm hitting the ring-post time and time again, Orndorff wants a time-out but Steamboat drags Orndorff into the ring. Elbows to the arm over and over, Steamboat is punishing Orndorff in the ring. Chops and more, Orndorff is crawling off the ramp. Orndorff is just being punished, Steamboat is on the apron and arguing with the referee. Orndorff drops Steamboat off the apron, Orndorff pummels Steamboat.

 

Steamboat takes a tumble into the crowd, Orndorff lands a diving elbow to the head for two. Both men collide after a crossbody attempt, Orndorff is sent to the mat. Diving chop from Steamboat, knees to the ribs. Atomic drop sends Orndorff back into the ring, Steamboat climbs high. Diving chop from Steamboat for two, double chop for two. Steamboat ducks his head off an Irish whip, face-buster from Mr. Wonderful. Steamboat blocks the piledriver, Steamboat almost pins Orndorff but Steamboat catapults Orndorff into the buckle. Schoolboy for two, belly to back suplex. Steamboat climbs high, Diving Crossbody but The Assassin distracts the referee, Steamboat is irate. Orndorff takes control, flying shoulder block by Steamboat for two.

 

Steamboat lands another flying shoulder block for two, Steamboat pummels Orndorff on the ropes. Steamboat and the referee are having words, Steamboat shoves the referee out of the way. Orndorff throws Steamboat over the top rope and The Assassin cracks Steamboat with a headbutt and Mr. Wonderful wins by count-out!

 

Is Assassin 1 going to be continuing alongside Mr. Wonderful? I was a little surprised by this finish considering Steamboat had conquered Orndorff for the championship previously and Mr. Wonderful was a substitute for Yoshi Kwan but anyways, the put on a good match here. Orndorff looks quite good in there with Steamboat but everyone could be great in there with Steamboat. Steamboat shows passion and shows a lot of fire in this one, very happy anytime I see Steamboat inside of that ring, surprised that he was not winning this match though. The finish is certainly a downer especially if it is a one time thing with Assassin 1 but I am content to let it play out.

 

Winner: Paul Orndorff over Ricky The Dragon Steamboat via Count-Out!

 

(WCW World Television Championship Match) Lord Steven Regal © W/ Sir William vs The British Bulldog


The aristocrat vs the commoner, Regal from the upper class taking on the working-class hero British Bulldog. Bit of a step down from the main event and the world championship to the television championship, you thought there would be something bigger in store for Bulldog but maybe it was all very reactionary in the way they brought in Bulldog. Regal uses a wristlock only for Bulldog to counter with his own wristlock. Regal and Bulldog continue to trade wristlocks, Bulldog and Regal are showing how good they are inside that squared circle. Shove off with more counters, Regal is perplexed by Bulldog’s style of wrestling. Perhaps Regal has forgotten that Bulldog knows Regal’s style inside and out. Regal gets caught with a monkey flip, Regal snap-mares over and over but Bulldog wriggles free time and time again.

 

Romero special from Bulldog, Sir William distracts Bulldog. Regal goes to work with forearms and headbutts to the ribs, Regal ducks his head off an Irish whip and gets waffled in the face with a kick. Bulldog runs the ropes and eats a knee to the ribs, snap-mare into a somersault senton for two. Rest hold from Regal, uppercuts and knees by Regal. Uppercuts from Regal, knees to the ribs. Sunset flip counter by Bulldog for two, Regal re-assumes control with knees. More rest holds by Regal, Bulldog fights out and lands a clothesline. Whip to the buckle, Regal goes for the knees. Regal stretches Bulldog again with a full-nelson like stretch, Bulldog escapes the hold but Regal maintains control with more stretches. Bulldog drops Regal on the ramp, Regal lands a forearm to the face.

 

More vicious kicks from Regal, two for Regal. Stomps from the champion, Bulldog manages to cover Regal for two, head-scissors from Bulldog. Sixty seconds left, clothesline by Bulldog. Suplex by Bulldog, Regal is trying to run away. Running Powerslam connects and Regal kicks out at two! Piledriver from Bulldog but the time elapses, Regal retains his Television Championship!

 

I cannot believe Bulldog hit The Running Powerslam and Regal kicked out at two, nothing to protect his finish. Bulldog really gave that away like nothing, shocking stuff there. Anyways, this match is alright. Bulldog’s size and issues behind the scene make it that I only enjoy when Bulldog is in that ring with Bret Hart, Owen Hart or Shawn Michaels. Regal does get good heat so if I get to see more of Regal vs Steamboat, this could be some great stuff.

 

Time-Limit Draw!

 

(WCW United States Championship Match) Dustin Rhodes © vs Stunning Steve Austin


Stunning Steve challenges Rhodes for his championship, both men who work every well with one another. Austin slaps Rhodes to begin the match, clean break from Rhodes before Austin runs away from the champion. Austin takes down Rhodes and tries a Boston crab, Rhodes rolls out of the hold. Austin begs for mercy, Austin and Rhodes look for a test of strength. Austin is tentative here, Austin could be psyching out the younger man. Elbow from Austin, right hand to the head. Stomps on the fingers, knee to the head. Austin needed one gap and took it, snap-mare into a cover for two. Scoop slam from the challenger, Rhodes counters with a snap-mare and pummels Austin. Austin escapes a belly to back suplex and applies a headlock.

 

Fist to the head by Austin, another side headlock. Shove off that leads to a drop-down and a dropkick from Rhodes, Austin meets the buckle hard. Austin begs for mercy on the floor, Rhodes is suckered in and kicked hard. Chop from Austin, make it double. Austin misses a corner knee and spills to the floor, shin-breaker and Rhodes works the leg. Austin pulls at the hair of Rhodes, and rakes the eyes to regain control. Austin chokes Rhodes in the corner, snap-mare into a knee-drop. Rhodes blocks being sent into the buckle, Austin tastes the buckle but Austin reverses with a knee and a scoop slam. Austin cannot lift Rhodes and is sent to the buckle but counters with a slingshot knee-drop. Rhodes reverses an Irish whip and back body drops Austin, flying clothesline for two.

 

Rhodes wants the bulldog, whip to the buckle and Austin places Rhodes on the top turnbuckle. Great counter from Stunning Steve, Austin has Rhodes in the tree of woe. Kicks to the ribs from Austin, knee to the head. Rhodes is rallying though, schoolboy for two. Small package for two, Rhodes lands multiple right hands after carrying the stun-gun. Right hand by Rhodes, Austin is on the floor but Austin re-enters the ring and trips up Rhodes, using his feet for leverage and pinning Rhodes. However, the referee says no I saw the feet on the ropes and Rhodes rolls-up Austin for the win but Austin smashes Rhodes in the face with the championship.

 

Good solid stuff from both men here, I enjoy Austin’s heel work. Vicious and to the point, lots of right hands and knees to the head. Austin can also bump around for his opponent and move much more freely than his Stone Cold days for obvious reasons so it is really interesting to see how much Austin could do back in his WCW days. Rhodes does well here, sells well here as always and gets the crowd involved in the match so solid stuff for sure. Finish leaves it open to this feud continuing and I am happy to see where it goes from here, just confused like always with WCW how Rhodes ended up with the championship and there was no PPV to showcase that event happening.

 

Winner: Dustin Rhodes over Stunning Steve Austin via Schoolboy!

 

(WCW World Tag Team Championship Match) Marcus Alexander & 2 Cold Scorpio © W/ Theodore Long vs The Nasty Boys W/ Missy Hyatt

 

So Nasty Boys defeated Roma & Anderson but were then defeated by Bagwell & Scorpio who hadn’t exactly ascended up that tag team ladder or beaten anyone of note. It starts with a double championship shot to the face, I also have no idea why Teddy Long is with these two. Bagwell just kissed Missy Hyatt, poor bastard might have tasted about 80 other men.

 

Saggs and Bagwell to start the match properly, Saggs roughs up Bagwell hard. Knee-drop from Saggs, Knobbs lands a massive elbow drop. Forearm shots to the face, Bagwell lands a double dropkick and Scorpio comes in with a diving crossbody. Double clotheslines and the challengers are on the floor, we reset with Bagwell and Knobbs. Tag to Scorpio, drop toehold and splash. Knobbs lands two forearms, Scorpio goes for a victory roll for two. Knobbs gets caught in an arm-bar, Knobbs escapes and tags in Saggs but Saggs is rocked with a hip-toss and elbow combination by the champions. Arm-bar from Scorpio, tag to Bagwell. Bagwell works that arm, Saggs grabs Bagwell by the face and in comes Knobbs.

 

Knobbs and Saggs land a stun-gun on Bagwell who ends up on the floor, slap from Missy Hyatt. Knobbs lands a big suplex, Saggs comes in and works the lower back with shots. Forearms to the spine over and over, leg drop for two. Knobbs comes in and works the spine, reverse chin-lock from Knobbs. Bagwell meets the buckle sternum first, leg drop to the groin. Saggs is kicking Bagwell around the ring, slaps and spitting from Saggs. Knobbs comes in and applies a bearhug, Saggs is tagged in and lands a clothesline. Two for Saggs, Bagwell makes the tag to Scorpio but Knobbs distracted the referee. Bagwell avoids a corner splash and clotheslines Saggs, can he make the tag?

 

Tag to Scorpio, kicks to Knobbs. Spinning heel kick to Knobbs, dropkicks all around. Spinning heel kick to Saggs, Knobbs meets the buckle. Splash from Scorpio, moonsault for two. Missy Hyatt is on the apron, Teddy Long is fighting with her. Saggs knocks off Teddy Long, Saggs and Hyatt smack heads. 450 Splash on Knobbs but Saggs nails Scorpio with a boot and The Nasty Boys regain the championships!

 

Pretty dull from these two, I miss when I used to watch The Steiners murder The Nasty Boys, Bagwell just isn’t that interesting to me while I would much rather watch Scorpio in the ring by himself. Not sure why they did the title switch on TV, why not build up The Nasty Boys? Whatever, this was ok.

 

Winners: The Nasty Boys over 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Bagwell via Boot to The Head!

 

Sting vs Sid Vicious W/ Colonel Rob Parker


The second time they have fought at Halloween Havoc, let’s hope it is better than the first match. Sid jumps Sting, clubbing blows and a joke before Sting slams Sid and lands a clothesline. Apron clothesline and suplex into the ring, they fight into the crowd. Parker grabs Sting’s foot, Chokeslam from Sid. Sting is thrown into the buckle again and again, stomps in the corner by Sid. Parker chokes Sting behind the referee’s back, sidewalk slam by Sid. Sid slams Sting onto the guardrail, Sting is fighting back but Sid locks in a reverse chin-lock. Sting fights back but is planted with a powerslam, Parker is not happy that Sting continues to kick out.

 

Bearhug from Sid, ear clap from Sting but Sid counters with a boot and an axe handle. Ear claps from Sting, Sting trips Sid and smashes Sid’s head off the canvas. Face-buster from Sting, Stinger Splash times two. Sid drops to the mat, Parker is decked by Sting. Sid tries to get Sting, Parker is grabbing everyone’s leg and Parker grabs the leg of Sid by mistake, Sid is distracted and Sting rolls-up Sid for the win.

 

What a match exclaims Tony Schiavone, it was anything but because this was tame. Not as bad as their match at Halloween Havoc because that finish was so incredibly stupid it cannot be topped but how could Parker not believe that he had the leg of Sting? That’s a tough sell, Parker is looking right at Sid as he pulls his leg over I mean come on are we really meant to by that? This match never left first gear, rough stuff for sure.

 

Winner: Sting over Sid Vicious via O’Connor Roll!

 

(WCW International Championship Match) Ric Flair W/ Fifi vs Ravishing Rick Rude ©


Terry Taylor is the special referee for this very important match, this championship is a world championship billed as just as prestigious as the WCW World Championship. These two had a largely boring match at Fall Brawl, praying that this is more watchable. Rude’s airbrushed tights are a highlight once more, match starts with Rude talking to Fifi. Flair goes after the knee and chops Rude in the corner. Right hands and chops, whip to the opposite buckle. Suplex connects by Flair, Rude kicks out at two. Flair continues chopping at Rude, corner clothesline by Flair. Right hands by Flair, Rude is staggered. Whip to the opposite buckle, Rude blocks with a boot to the face. Rude misses a diving knee-drop and that sets up the knee work.

 

Shin-breaker and Figure Four Leg-Lock in the middle of the ring, Rude is screaming out in pain. Rude escapes but Flair continues destroying the leg, Rude’s knee meets the ring-post. Flair continues elbowing the knee, Rude grabs at the hair in desperation. Flair is kicked to the floor by Rude, shoulder thrust by Flair. Slingshot sunset flip attempt by Flair, Rude counters for two while using the ropes. Flair comes back with chops and a flying crossbody on the floor, Flair dives to the floor with a diving axe handle. Chops against the guardrail, Flair tries another axe handle but Rude counters with a massive punch to the ribs. Rude wants to use the chair but Terry Taylor takes away the chair, reverse chin-lock from Rude.

 

Rude climbs high, diving chop but Rude clutches the knee. Cover for two, camel clutch from Rude. Flair tries fighting back but Rude decks The Nature Boy, Irish whip and Flair flip to the apron. Flair is clotheslined onto the ramp, Rude lands a suplex into the ring. Rude lands another diving chop, two for Rude. Bearhug from Rude, knees from Rude to the ribs. Rude is caught in a sleeper but Flair is backed into the buckle, Rude climbs high again. Flair dodges the attack, Rude Awakening from Flair. Two for Flair, Rude tries a hip-toss off the Irish whip and Flair lands a backslide for two. Vertical suplex by Flair, Rude blocks the splash with his knees.

 

Rude whips Flair into the referee, clothesline by Rude. Terry Taylor checks on the original referee, Flair shoves Rude into Taylor. Rude pulls out the brass knuckles but Flair ducks and lands a belly to back suplex. A camera guy takes the knuckles, why did he touch them? What the fuck is that, brass knuckles to the face of Rude. Taylor was going to count the three but the original referee is back in the ring, the original referee saw Flair use the brass knuckles and this match is over by DQ!

 

Why the fuck did that camera guy touch the brass knuckles? What was he thinking? Rick Rude steals Fifi so Flair wants The Figure Four on the ramp. Anyways, this match was just the Fall Brawl match without the arm work so it’s better because that arm work went nowhere. Rude sells the leg work here, they repeat the brass knuckles spot and the Rude Awakening spot so it really adds nothing new, it just takes things out of the Fall Brawl match. They do not work great together, The Horsemen oddly seem like such a non-factor in WCW in 1993 and Flair’s return has not been that home-run that I thought it would be, hopefully it clicks in 1994.

 

Winner: Rick Rude over Ric Flair via DQ!

 

(WCW World Championship Texas Death Match) Vader © W/ Harley Race vs Cactus Jack


This should be a good one, a Texas Death Match featuring Cactus Jack who will probably take some insane bumps. Cactus wants to kill Vader for breaking his nose, his home, his family and his bag. They brawl on the ramp, Vader starts hitting headbutts and takes off his mask, Vader misses a clothesline and smashes his arm off the ring-post. Cactus uses a chair but Vader clubs down Cactus, Cactus brawls back into the match though. Cactus bites the head of Vader, Cactus uses a camera from a fan to deck Vader. They enter the ring and Cactus charges into a big boot, Vader lands a vicious clothesline. Vader tries to break the nose again in the corner, rights and lefts from Vader.

 

Cactus is clobbered to the apron, Cactus suplexes Vader to the ramp. Vicious looking bump but they are right back up, crazy. Cactus is bleeding, Race tries helping with a chair but Cactus takes down Race and cracks Vader in the face with the chair. Chair across the spine, Cactus lands right hands to the head of Vader. Vader throws Cactus in a grave, we cannot see anything. Vader comes out of the grave, bleeding all over the place. Vicious clothesline by Cactus for three, this is a Texas Death Match so there is a rest period after the painful. Cactus grabs a cactus, Vader is smashed with the cactus. So let me get this straight, you need to earn a pin-fall, there are 30 seconds of rest and then you have ten seconds to get back to your feet so you have forty seconds to get back to your feet.

 

Vader rolls off the ramp and Cactus lands a diving elbow drop for another pin-fall. Vader clubs down Cactus, headbutt staggers Cactus. Cactus is bringing a table into the ring, Vader clubs Cactus in the corner. Rights and lefts from Vader, Cactus reverses an Irish whip and sends Vader into the table. Cactus smacks Vader with the table, Cactus tries an apron sunset flip but it does not work. Vader misses his hip splash though, Vader is suplexed onto the guardrail. Cactus tries a somersault into Vader but Vader kind of doesn’t sell it so they brawl in the crowd. Stun-gun onto the guardrail and we are back ringside, Harley Race has a taser? Ok interesting, Vader and Cactus are back in the ring. Scoop slam, Vader Bomb is on the menu but will it connect? No it is not, it’s the damn Vadersault! Vader gets the pin-fall, Cactus makes the count. We are on the ramp, Race has a chair.

 

Cactus rakes at the face of Vader, Vader falls back full-weight on the ramp. That looked brutal, DDT on a steel chair. Paramedics are checking on Cactus, Cactus survives the count. DDT on the steel chair by Cactus, Race still has the taser. Race electrocutes Cactus in the leg and Vader wins because Vader survived a ten count?

 

There was a lot to like about this match, we kick it off with Cactus opening up Vader. All that torment, all that suffering comes back ten-fold for Vader who has never been beaten like this before, blood is everywhere. Such a fantastic visual, the unstoppable champion looks vulnerable. They smack the dogshit out of one another, stiff shots galore throughout the match. Weapons and big bumps, this is what you want from your Texas Death Match. That ramp bump is ridiculous, disgusting and Cactus suffered a ruptured kidney which I am not surprised by in the slightest. It’s hard-hitting and for a main event, it’s pretty good compared to the drizzling shits that was most of this PPV. The finish wasn’t great, I am not sure how you are meant to make a taser shot look good but shocking someone in the knee to trip them up would probably not be the way I would have went about it. Cactus is right back up and standing tall by the end so yeah super effective there. All in all, a fun championship match for a feud that has been simmering for most of the year. Happy for Cactus to get to shine after having nothing for so long in the company.

 

Winner: Vader!

 

That was WCW’s Halloween Havoc 1993, another bad PPV from WCW. We kick things off with an alright six-man tag, nobody was exposed or made to look dumb on team babyface I consider that a win. Not sure why Harlem Heat are eating pins, they looked like a hot new act and were with Sid a month ago, what changed? Why not push these two? Orndorff vs Steamboat is solid but confusing booking-wise, Steamboat loses by count-out to the man he overcame who is out of the championship picture? Why? Who keeps pushing Orndorff? Who is vouching for this man backstage? I have to know! Regal vs Bulldog is alright, it’s fun to see Bulldog wrestle a technical style but as the match progresses, Bulldog is not lighting the world on fire in there and they are clearly going for the time limit draw which is fine in one sense but I really don’t understand why I am not seeing Regal vs Steamboat II. Rhodes vs Austin is solid also I like Austin a lot and Rhodes can show good babyface fire, the finish is a bit wonky but if it leads to the two battling it out again, I can get behind it because they can work and bump, we just need a bigger reason to get invested.

 

The PPV gets real rough with the tag team championship match, I can accept certain matches being ok on short notice or having green wrestlers in there but this match is just so boring and Bagwell has been around for a few years now. Bagwell is not progressing at the level they need him out, he’s dragging down Scorpio and The Nasty Boys are not gelling with their opponents. When you have The Road Warriors in the company, it’s hard to see why I would care about any other babyface tag team but Bagwell & Scorpio are doing themselves no favours with these matches. Sid Vicious vs Sting is short, unimpactful and the finish is really bad. That match would have been a big part of the reason buy this PPV and it was bad, enough said. The main event lifts things up again, its violent and brutal albeit with a weak finish, they will live to fight another day and I would like to see Cactus push Vader even more. I forgot about Rick Rude vs Flair which tells you what you need to know there. It is just not a very good PPV, these are big matches with big names but the action is so dull. Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!