WCW Spring Stampede 1994 Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that tears the house down more than a Young Bucks vs Lucha Bros match! It’s time for WCW Spring Stampede 1994! We have big matches like Stunning Steve Austin defending his US Championship against The Great Muta? The Boss takes on Vader as Vader looks for revenge following the main event of Superbrawl! Lord Steven Regal defends against Brian Pillman and Ric Flair to defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Ricky Steamboat! With Flair at the helm, WCW looks to turn things around, Superbrawl was rough but maybe things will change now! Let’s find out!

 

Johnny B. Badd vs Diamond Dallas Page

DDP is coming to the ring with Kimberly so this is their first PPV appearance together which is a nice to see, Kimberly Page was beautiful. DDP jumps Badd to begin the match, right hands but the clothesline misses. O’Connor roll from Badd for two, clothesline to the floor. Badd works the arm, DDP pulls the hair to take control. Arm-wrench into a suplex for two, Badd turns away and works the hammerlock into a full-nelson like pin. DDP elbows his way out and lands a shoulder block, Badd kicks off DDP and lands an arm-drag. DDP elbows Badd and lands a huge belly to back suplex, DDP walks around like he is the man. DDP lands a massive gut-wrench, two for DDP. Reverse chin-lock, Badd escapes and lands a belly to back suplex. Shots to the ribs, inverted atomic drop and back body drop. Head-scissors, Left Hook from Badd. Plancha to the floor from Badd, diving sunset flip for the win from Badd!

 

This was quite brief, Badd is starting to look like a threat and someone credible inside of that ring, it’s nice to see considering I have seen him do nothing special since his debut. DDP will improve with time but was serviceable here. Solid opening match, good start to the show.

 

Winner: Johnny B. Badd over DDP via Diving Sunset Flip!

 

(WCW World Television Championship Match) Lord Steven Regal © W/ Sir William vs Flyin’ Brian Pillman

The time-limit draw king, the king of stalling taking on Brian Pillman who has picked up wins over Steve Austin but finds himself challenging for the TV championship. Pillman jumps Regal, kicks to the injured knee and right hands to the head. Regal tries a tackle but Pillman is too quick and pummels Regal who begs for mercy, slap from Pillman. Regal is bounced off the canvas, Japanese arm-drag from Pillman and Regal powders. Regal is bounced off the guardrail arm-first, the champion might be in dire straits. Hammerlock from Pillman, Regal is sent into the ring-post. Great arm work and babyface fire from Pillman so far, Regal is selling his ass off too.

 

Chops from Pillman, Regal rakes his eyes. European uppercuts and Regal takes the arm, Regal catches Pillman with an over-the-shoulder throw for two. Regal starts smacking the spine, Pillman elbows back at the champion. Argentine back-breaker from Regal, Pillman kicks off the buckle and lands a small package for two. Regal grabs the leg and applies the STF, uppercuts from Regal. Pillman blocks an uppercut but Regal counters Pillman’s counter, variation of the Romero special from Regal. Right hands from Pillman, Regal smashes the back of Pillman. Powerbomb attempt countered into a hurricanrana from Pillman, two for the challenger. Pillman runs into a rolling fireman’s carry for two, the Regal works the stretch again on the canvas. Are we heading toward time-limit territory? I feel it coming and I am getting scared for sure, surely not again though?

 

Bow & arrow from Regal, Pillman escapes the hold and lands big right hands. Regal comes back with a grab of the leg, takedown and Regal looks for the single leg Boston crab. Indian death-lock from Regal back into another stretch, Pillman fights out and lands a massive chop. Regal rolls-up Pillman for two, Regal goes back into the hold on the mat. Pillman fights out, right hands and headbutts all around. Regal has control, more beat-down work from Regal. Pillman lands a desperation dropkick, chop from Pillman. Regal stops a hurricanrana, Pillman twists off Regal. Enzuigiri from Pillman, could this be the challenger’s chance?

 

Regal avoids the monkey flip with a shove, Regal misses a knee-drop. Sir William checks the time, Regal dives off the middle rope into a dropkick from Pillman. Pillman rallies the crowd, chops from Pillman and a back body drop. Regal is chopped again, ten punches in the corner. Irish whip reversed by Regal, Regal is tripped up and both men tumble to the floor off of a diving crossbody. Pillman cannot pin Regal in time as the time-limit expires!

 

It started well for sure, Regal was bumping all around for Pillman and I was intrigued but then it went back to a formula I am far too familiar with at this point with Regal wasting time with lengthy rest-holds before the drama ramps up for the last 2 minutes. Very disappointing because if we are to invest in Pillman, we need a big win while Regal’s television champion reign has to end soon, there has to be a pay-off so please I am begging you WCW do not mess this up!

 

Time-Limit Expires!

 

(WCW Tag Team Championship Chicago Street Fight Match) The Nasty Boys © vs Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne

These two teams had a great little match the last time around and I was stunned, I only liked Cactus but Payne has grown on me after that match. This is Falls Count Anywhere so that should make this very interesting, brawling galore which should play to everyone’s strengths. It starts on the ramp with weapons, Knobbs wipes out Cactus with a shovel or broom while in the ring, Payne uranages Sags. Cactus waffles Knobbs with the pool stick, Cactus clothesline to the floor. Sags batters Payne with a chair on the floor, Knobbs hits the guardrail hard before Sags waffles Cactus with a chair-shot. Cactus has the chair, Sags goes down hard. Knobbs saves his partner but Payne is here, the challengers are beating down the champions. Knobbs clotheslines Cactus into the ring, Sags attacks Cactus in the ring. Payne and Knobbs are fighting up the ramp, headbutt from Payne.

 

Payne and Knobbs battle to the souvenir stands, tables are being thrown. Cactus is biting Sags at ringside, Knobbs smashes a trash can on the head of Payne. Sags smashes Cactus with a chair in the crowd, we have a split-screen feature which is making this difficult to call, Cactus cracks Sags with a chair. Payne slams Knobbs through the souvenir table, Payne shoves the Nasty Boy t-shirt down the throat of Knobbs, Payne looks for the win but gets two. The Nasty Boys now have a table, Payne kicks out of a pin at two. Cactus has Sags on the ramp, what will happen now? Neck-breaker on the ramp, Cactus suplexes the table onto the legs of Sags. Knobbs comes out of nowhere and waffles Cactus with a shovel, Payne cracks Knobbs with the shovel. Low blow by Knobbs, Sags wanted a piledriver on the table but the table breaks messing up the spot so Cactus is shoved off the ramp and cracks his head off the floor. Sags has a shovel and waffles Cactus in the head, it’s over!

 

That was brutal, holy shit why would Cactus do that over a blown spot? Cactus has taken a number of bumps that have made me think that was stupid but did he really just ask Sags to shove him off the ramp only to get waffled in the face with a shovel? Insane it’s a great brawl but those two bumps are absolutely ridiculous I cannot believe what I just saw. Great tag match with a very violent end, perhaps too much.

 

Winners: The Nasty Boys over Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne via Shovel to the Head!

 

(WCW United States Heavyweight Championship Match) Stunning Steve Austin © W/ Colonel Rob Parker vs The Great Muta

Living off that 1989 run I see, Muta is here to battle for the championship and Muta was on top of the world in NJPW during this era so I cannot see this ending with Austin picking up the win over the bigger star in Muta, this could easily be a draw.

 

Austin is cautious with Muta throwing kicks, Muta grabs a full-nelson but Austin is quick to the ropes. Austin and Muta trade wristlocks, side headlock from Muta. Austin is in the ropes again, we reset. Austin trips up Muta and stomps all over Muta, side headlock from the champion. Drop-downs and leapfrogs before Muta has the abdominal stretch. Muta takes the back, Austin tries to escape. Roll-up from Muta for two, side headlock takedown from the challenger. Seems like we could be going draw territory, side headlock takedown again from Muta. Shoulder block and dropkick by Muta, side headlock takedown again. They continue to mat wrestle with Muta out-performing Austin. Really slow stuff here, not much to get the fans excited for which is criminal considering who is in the ring. Muta tries some sort of full-nelson pin hold but Austin rolls out of the way.

 

Austin manages to send Muta to the floor, Muta is focused on Parker so Austin axe handles Muta and sends Muta into the guardrail. Abdominal stretch from Austin, Austin uses the ropes for leverage. Muta hip-tosses out of the hold, Austin is chopped and chopped. Austin hangs onto the ropes to avoid a dropkick, middle rope elbow drop from Austin for two. Austin chokes Muta on the bottom rope, Parker gets in a punch while Austin deals with the referee. Muta blocks the buckle, Austin meets the buckle. Spinning sole butt from Muta, back body drop from Muta. Suplex by Muta, Parker is freaking out at ringside. Muta lands a dropkick, Austin avoids the diving missile dropkick from the challenger.

 

Austin applies a rolling cradle looking for a toe-hold, it doesn’t come together. Not sure what it was meant to be, Stun-Gun from Muta! Handspring elbow by Muta, frankensteiner from Muta. Parker is smacked off the apron, Muta back-drops Austin to the floor and we have a DQ. Muta planchas onto both and that’s it!

 

What a shame, it was dull from start until the last minute with Muta working that style where you know the draw is coming from a mile away, why bring him in? Why not have Pillman fight Austin? Why? Pointless, a waste of both men and their talents!

 

Winner: Stunning Steve Austin over Great Muta via DQ!

 

(WCW International World Championship Match) Ravishing Rick Rude © vs Sting

The championship billed as equal to the world championship is defended as the two men who have been feuding for months finally lock up inside of the ring. Rick Rude has a habit of having shitty matches with first time singles match opponents so hopefully, Rude breaks that streak against Sting. Harley Race comes out and says Vader will face the winner, Rude watches on as Sting sends Race to the floor and after that, Sting back-drops Rude to a monster reaction. Rude is clotheslined to the floor, Sting is in pursuit. Suplex on the floor, Rude is screaming out in pain.

 

Rude begs for mercy, right hands from Sting. Sting rakes the back in the ring, front chancery from the challenger. Sting lands a scoop slam and a massive elbow drop, Rude grabs onto the referee showing his confusion. Sting gets a two, Sting slaps on the front chancery again. Both men giving one another wedgies basically now with Sting returning the favour as Rude tried it first, Rude works the ribs with massive rib shots. Rude steps on the toes of Sting, Rude is down to his knees with this front chancery spot going on and on. Very odd to see Sting in control like this, we going to pick up the pace soon? Rude crotches Sting on the top rope and clothesline Sting to the floor, Sting is rammed into the ring apron and the ramp. Rude works the ribs with forearms and a belly to back suplex.

 

Rude poses with the fans being pissed, camel clutch from Rude. Sting tries firing up but Rude drops his weight on Sting and flexes, Sting gets caught again in the hold. Victory roll counters by both men before Rude cracks Sting with forearms, Sting kicks Rude but Rude keeps coming. Sleeper from Rude, Sting survives the hold. Right hands by Rude, Sting is shaking off the attacks though. Rude tries running away, atomic drop and inverted atomic drops. Clothesline with Rude’s ass hanging out, back-drop from Sting. Rude is whipped into the referee and we have a Stinger Splash! Scorpion Death-Lock! Sting tries waking the referee at the same time, Harley Race is here and back-dropped into the ring. Vader is here too, these two feuding again? My heart! Vader is knocked to the floor with Race, Rude chop-blocks Sting. Vader has a chair, Rude wants the Rude Awakening. Lots of standing around, what is going on? Rude Awakening is missed as Race cracks Rude in the back of the head. Sting covers for the win!

 

What was going on between Vader and Race at the end? I would say it upset the flow but I would be lying, I cannot fathom how Sting is not a world champion honestly how he was shoved to the side for Flair and Hogan which I will experience very soon will confuse me because he gets the biggest of reactions and is beloved by all. Rude has been one of my favourites since coming over to WCW but his matches have been hit and miss but I will point out my love for The Dangerous Alliance here and his match with Ricky Steamboat at Beach Blast which was one of the best matches I have seen in quite some time so there’s a bit of a love/hate thing going on with Rude and me but I loved the gimmick, loved his faction and I am sorry about how his career ended.

 

Winner: Sting over Rick Rude via Chair to The Head!

 

(Bunkhouse Rules Match) Dustin Rhodes vs Bunkhouse Buck W/ Colonel Rob Parker

Haven’t really been given too much insight into this angle, Rhodes is sliding down the card following his disappointing reign as United States Champion, I am not sure what the purpose of the Stud Stable is at this point because they are not the dominant faction in WCW. This match starts hot with Rhodes diving over the top rope and landing a flying lariat, slaps and right hands. Flying lariat from Rhodes, suplex into the ring for two. Rhodes knocks Buck to the floor, Buck looks out of it. Both men slugging it out with Rhodes winning the exchange, Bionic Elbow on the floor and a lovely elbow to the groin.

 

Right hands from Rhodes, Buck misses a clothesline but Rhodes misses a flying crossbody. Rhodes holds his knee on the floor, Parker chokes Rhodes on the floor. Buck has a 2X4 and cracks Rhodes across the spine, a vicious shot right to the head. Rhodes gets colour, Buck lands a clothesline and Rhodes takes the inside-out bump on the ramp. Buck chokes Rhodes with his suspenders, scoop slam by Buck. Stomp right to the head from Buck, again and again. Buck slams the leg of Rhodes off the ring apron, the leg is smashed off the ring-post. Rhodes kicks away at Buck, Rhodes throws powder into the eyes of Buck. Buck takes off his belt and whips Rhodes in the face with the belt, it sounds horrific.

 

Buck continues to destroy Rhodes, Buck is making quite the name for himself in my eyes. Rhodes fights back from his knees but Buck lands an eye-rake, kick to the groin from Buck. Buck kicks Rhodes right in the groin, boot in the head. Buck misses a boot as Rhodes dodges, Rhodes kicks Buck hard in the back who is on the buckle laid out. Bionic Elbow to the chin, Rhodes took off his belt. Around his fist goes the belt, the belt smacks off the face of Buck who is bleeding now. Rhodes clocks Buck over and over, Rhodes takes off his boot and goes to the middle rope. Boot to the head from Rhodes, Buck has his shirt stripped away and Rhodes goes crazy with the belt. Bionic Elbow and Rhodes clotheslines Buck to the floor.

 

Atomic drop by Rhodes, Bionic Elbows in the corner to Buck but there is something in the glove of Buck, whip to the buckle. Corner clothesline and Corner Bulldog from Rhodes, Parker distracts Rhodes. Suplex into the ring from Rhodes, Buck is recovering though. Rhodes whips Parker with his belt, Parker is tossed to the floor. Roll-up for two from Buck, Rhodes tees off and destroys Buck with rights and lefts. A right hand decks Buck, two for Rhodes. Irish whip reversed by Buck, Rhodes kicks away Buck. Parker hands Buck a foreign object as the referee argues with Parker, one right hand later and Buck wins this match.

 

Great match, loved the brawling between the two. Rhodes and Bucks bring an intensity to this match where they just beat the shit out of one another. The blood is beautiful, the whipping with the belts is tremendous and I really enjoyed this one. Lots of great visuals throughout this match, just a lot of fun. Great way to establish Buck with a win, looking forward to the future matches between these two, if it is good as this match, I will be raving once again.

 

Winner: Bunkhouse Buck over Dustin Rhodes via Brass Knuckles!

 

The Boss vs Vader W/ Harley Race

The Boss cost Vader the opportunity to become WCW World Heavyweight Championship, Boss has added nothing to WCW since joining in my opinion but the high-profile matches continue for The Boss. We start on the ramp, Vader bulldozes Race as Boss avoids the splash, Boss lands uppercut after uppercut before a clothesline into the ring. Gut shots from Boss, big boot staggers Vader. Right hand sends Vader to the ramp, Vader out-guns Boss. Short-arm clothesline from Vader, Vader dives over the top rope for a splash but Boss blocks with his knees. Boss clotheslines Vader to the floor, Vader is sent into the guardrail and into the crowd. Right hands by The Boss, corner splash connects with Boss winding up for another big right hand.

 

Scoop slam from Boss, right hands and clubbing blows from Vader. Boss lands an eye poke but Vader continues kicking back, low kick and headbutt from Boss. Vader back-drops Boss to the floor in a worrying spot, Boss saved his own life I believe there by grabbing the ropes. Race lands two shots behind the referee’s back, Vader’s eye is all fucked up and bleeding. Suplex into the ring, Vader tees-off in the corner but Boss comes back with rights of his own. Vader has a side headlock but Boss lands a belly to back suplex. Boss lands a massive clothesline, Vader lands a boot and a clothesline of his own.

 

Vader is on the middle rope, too slow as Boss slams Vader down in an ugly looking spot. Boss looks for a superplex? Holy shit, they are going for a few big spots in here. Middle rope DDT for two! Boss lands a diving shoulder block, Boss climbs high again. Powerslam counter by Vader, Vader Bomb connects and Boss somehow kicks out! Vader decides it is time for The Vadersault and this is over!

 

What a match, was not expecting this to be as fun as this but these two big bastards took some of the nastiest bumps I have seen in a while and they gave it to one another here. From the middle rope DDT to the Vader Bomb to the powerslams and suplexes to the final Vadersault. These two men destroy one another in epic fashion, there is blood and a swollen eye for Vader. Exactly what you would want from two animals destroying one another, these two last matches have been a lot of fun.

 

Winner: Vader over The Boss via Vadersault!

 

(WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match) Ric Flair © vs Ricky The Dragon Steamboat

So this is a little strange for obvious reasons, I do not know where Ricky Steamboat was during most of 1993, they had Steamboat lose his partner in Douglas so Steamboat had to work against Regal and Orndorff, unfairly being left out of the big matches in my opinion because Steamboat had so much to offer so to relegate Steamboat to not being on PPV was wild to me. I am curious as to why these two are facing one another other than Flair wants to work against a man who he knows he will have a classic with. It’s been a wild since I have seen the trilogy but I am sure this will be just as good.

 

We kick off with Flair tripping Steamboat, Steamboat wriggles free. Side headlock into a hammerlock by Flair, Steamboat continues to wriggle free before a clean break. Lock-up and side headlock takedown by Flair but Steamboat head-scissors his way out so Flair has to bridge out, Flair respects Steamboat who is going hold for hold as anticipated. Lock-up and side headlock from Steamboat, shoulder block rocks Flair. Takedown from Steamboat, Flair scrambles but is taken down with a side headlock. Shoves and slaps with Steamboat winning that exchange, drop-downs and leapfrogs before Steamboat military presses Flair. Beautiful head-scissors, make it double. Dropkick by Steamboat and a dropkick sends Flair to the floor.

 

Flair and Steamboat are in the middle of the ring, Flair grabs the hair but Steamboat comes up time and time again. They are trading chops, another slap from Steamboat. Side headlock takedown from Steamboat, shoulder block and side headlock again from Steamboat. More shoulder blocks and side headlocks, Flair shoves Steamboat to the corner. Chop before Steamboat lands a hip-toss, head-scissors and a side headlock takedown once more. Shoulder blocks and Steamboat skins the cat and rolls-up Flair for two. Back into the side headlock takedown, Flair goes low with a knee and chops the challenger. Flair lands a shoulder block but Steamboat drops Flair with a toe-hold into a front chancery.

 

Flair is back-dropped by Steamboat, Steamboat misses a dropkick. Closed fist to the face by Flair, chops in the corner. Snap-mare into the knee-drop, another snap-mare into the knee-drop. 4 cover attempts by Flair but Steamboat continues to kick out much to Flair’s frustration! They chop one another, Flair in control. Steamboat chops down Flair, Flair begs for mercy. Right hands and chops, Irish whip but Flair ducks and lands a flying crossbody with both men crashing to the floor. Flair is back-dropped on the floor after a failed piledriver, Steamboat is whipped into the guardrail by the champion. Flair flip to the apron and Steamboat chops Flair to the floor, Steamboat lands a diving chop to the head.

 

Flair begs for mercy, ten punches and chops in the corner. Cover for two, Flair sends Steamboat to the floor. Slingshot sunset flip is countered with a right hand by Flair, knee-drop is blocked by The Dragon. Figure four leg-lock by Steamboat, Steamboat pulls Flair to the middle of the ring. Eye-poke by Flair to survive, they trade pin-fall attempts. Flair begs for mercy again, chops from Flair. Steamboat is weathering that storm, massive chops and right hands. Irish whip and double chop, Flair is on the apron. Steamboat looks for a suplex, Flair blocks with both men on the ramp. Steamboat chops Flair into the ring, corner chops. Flair flip to the floor, Steamboat misses a chop from the apron as Flair blocks with his feet.

 

Steamboat chops down Flair, Steamboat lands his Diving Crossbody for two. Flair kicks out, Steamboat misses a chop and eats a clothesline from The Nature Boy. Snap-mare, Flair is climbing high. Steamboat catches Flair and yanks him to the mat. Steamboat misses a diving top rope splash, clutching his knees. Flair is going to go to work, figure four is blocked though by Steamboat. Flair kicks Steamboat in the face to apply the hold, Figure Four Leg-Lock from the champion! Steamboat makes it to the ropes, Flair knees the leg hard. Snap-mare, Flair looks for it again. Small package counter for two, Steamboat has the backslide for another close two. Chops by The Dragon, Steamboat places Flair on the top rope. Superplex off the top rope, massive manoeuvre from the challenger.

 

O’Connor roll from Steamboat for a close two, Flair misses a belly to back suplex. Chicken-wing hold from Steamboat, it’s been forever since we have seen this hold! Steamboat drops down tiger-suplex style and the referee begins to count, we have a controversial decision here as we are not sure who has won the championship. Both men have their shoulders down so Flair retains the championship due to that fact.

 

Fantastic match between the two as usual, these two killed it on this night. It is not their classics from 1989 but it’s still leagues better than a lot of things you would have seen during this era. Steamboat and Flair work in all their classic stuff, it’s drawn out and dramatic. Flair is in a familiar role working the heel style and going back to his old tactics while Steamboat is one of the greatest babyfaces of all-time with Steamboat showing all that fire that I love, these guys kick all sorts of ass in this match. Crowd is with them all the way, so happy to see Steamboat be allowed to do what he does best again in WCW, Steamboat should always be hovering around the main event and having classics because The Dragon can still go. Great match, good controversial finish that leaves us open to a rematch between the two, probably won’t be revisited with Hogan coming in but I am glad I got to see these two tear it up inside the ring again.

 

Winner: Ric Flair over Ricky Steamboat via Referee’s Decision!

 

That was WCW’s Spring Stampede 1994, a good and bad PPV from WCW. Let me be clear in saying this might be the best PPV I have seen in about a year or longer from this company. 1993 was abysmal for WCW PPV wise but the mistakes of the previous year are being corrected and I am all for it so far. We kick things off simple enough with Badd vs DDP, Badd is getting over finally and showing promise, that is good to see. The TV Championship match had a hot start but it faded as time went on, you could see the draw coming and it’s such a regular occurrence with Regal that it just has no impact on me anymore. I have seen it more than once, I have seen matches go down to the last 30 seconds. I would like to see Regal drop the championship now so we can see something different. The Chicago Street Fight is a great brawl, four men beating the crap out of each other and the finish is sickening, I have turned a corner on Payne & Cactus Jack, I am shocked how much I love the team but this match worked on this night and the stars aligned. Muta vs Austin is awful, nothing happens its like Steamboat vs Flair without the urgency or passion. Headlocks to kill time, the finish is lame.

 

Sting vs Rick Rude is not great but by God have they finally put a championship on Sting, I am all for it. It’s been too long and way too many tag matches, Sting is their most popular star and should be champion. After that match, the card just gets taken to another level. Rhodes vs Bunkhouse is a great brawl, Rhodes has been lacklustre for me for a little while now, I was pissed about the feud with Windham not happening and how the Rude feud played out but here we have something personal and Rhodes is fired up, the blood is great and the belt shots are great and the finish leaves the babyface Rhodes searching for revenge. Quality stuff there, it continues with The Boss vs Vader. Two big men who hit hard, it should not be this good but I was going wild by the end. Vadersault is the icing on the cake, Vader continues to be booked strong after the world championship which is important to me and then, we have the main event. Another classic chapter written in the Steamboat vs Flair book, great from bell to bell. Great end to the PPV! So you can see, ups and downs but a much better experience than what happened in 1993, this could be a good year for WCW. Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!