WCW World War 3 1995 Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that is more untrustworthy than a Twitter account without a blue checkmark! It’s time for WCW World War 3! Sixty men inside of three rings competing for the honour of being WCW World Heavyweight Champion! Randy Savage will also go up against Lex Luger and Sting will get his hands on Ric Flair, a lot of big matches here on this night, this could be a very good night for WCW but it all depends on how the rest of this card plays out, let’ see how WCW does on this night!

 

(WCW World Television Championship Match) DDP W/ The Diamond Doll vs Johnny B. Badd ©

DDP has brought out some horrible gear for this big match, DDP has also stolen Badd’s blaster on this night. Great entrance from Badd, fantastic ring gear too. DDP is in tremendous shape though which is good for him considering how bad his physique looked at times in his singlet. They are fighting for the championship and also the services of The Diamond Doll. DDP shoves Badd to the corner, slap from DDP and they brawl and roll to the floor. Right hand by Badd, DDP pokes the eye and grabs a headlock before Badd sends DDP into the ring-post. Elbow from DDP, Badd lands a crossbody with DDP rolling through for two. Shoulder block by DDP, Badd leapfrogs and lands a Samoan drop for two. Side headlock takedown from Badd, DDP is back on his feet and rolls-up Badd for two.

 

Top wristlock exchange with DDP using the hair to gain advantage, Badd rolls through and works the arm before DDP pulls the hair and locks back on an arm-bar. DDP has the arm-bar and drops his weight on the arm, Badd rolls through again but DDP uses the hair again. Badd returns the favour, DDP tries a clothesline and lands on the floor. Badd calls for a big move, plancha from Badd. DDP is on his knees begging for mercy, DDP hides behind Diamond Doll and throws Diamond Doll into Badd. DDP lands a right hand, Badd is tossed into the guardrail. DDP steps on the hand of Badd,  Badd is whipped to the buckle sternum first. Belly to back suplex by DDP, DDP begins to stomp the leg. Tilt-a-whirl pancake from DDP, DDP gloats at his greatness. Diamond Doll doesn’t have the numbers, no ten for DDP. DDP is irate, clothesline from the challenger for two. DDP lands a massive spear in the corner, DDP wants a ten but the Diamond Doll says no. DDP whips Badd to the opposite buckle, DDP charges for the spear and Badd dodges! DDP hurts his shoulder bad, DDP misses a kick and lands on his neck.

 

DDP lands a right hand to shake off Badd, DDP lowers his head on an Irish whip and Badd connects with a massive boot to the head. Badd kicks away DDP, inverted atomic drop. Left jabs and a clothesline by Badd, Badd is all fired up now. Diamond Doll gives Badd a ten! Badd nails a massive sit-out powerbomb for two! DDP is whipped to the buckle but hits an elbow, cover with the ropes for leverage for two. Sidewalk slam by DDP, head-scissors by Badd. Badd Mood misses as DDP uses his knees to block, DDP is calling for a Diamond Cutter. DDP’s unique gut-buster connects for a close two, DDP tries again but Badd reverses and looks for a German but DDP lands a massive elbow to rock Badd. Tombstone time, Badd reverses and spikes DDP with the tombstone for two.

 

Badd lands a massive left, DDP is on the floor. Bad Mood connects, Badd is feeling it now. DDP is tossed in the ring, Badd lands the slingshot leg drop for the win! Simple as that, Diamond Doll now belongs to Badd. She cannot believe that it is over. Diamond Doll is free!

 

Thought the finish was a little came out of nowhere but I love how these two work with one another and the simplicity of the gimmick is just great, Diamond Doll raising the ten card for Badd gets a huge reaction it is just good old wrestling fun there. DDP has lost everything now, interesting to see how DDP comes back from this loss.

 

Winner: Johnny B. Badd over DDP via Slingshot Leg-Drop!

 

 (Taped-Fist Match) Big Bubba Rogers vs Hacksaw Jim Duggan

Duggan jumps Rogers from behind and pummels him on the floor, Bubba has fallen far from his feuds with Sting. Bubba suckers in Duggan with a big right, Duggan ducks a right hand and lands a clothesline. Make it two, Duggan clotheslines Bubba to the floor. Duggan bumps Bubba into one of the other rings, Bubba has his head stuck between the ring-posts. Bubba is walloped to the floor with a right hand, Bubba catches Duggan and nails him with a right hand. Bubba begins working the ribs of Duggan, Bubba punches Duggan in the head again and again. Bubba chokes Duggan with his boot, Bubba runs around the ring and lands another shot to the ribs. Duggan begins to battle back though, enzuigiri by Bubba.

 

Bubba begins to re-wrap his knuckles for more venom on those punches, Duggan has his ribs cracked by Bubba. Duggan manages to shoulder block Bubba to the floor, Bubba is staggering around the floor. Bubba suckers in Duggan and lands a massive shot to the ribs. Bubba tapes up Duggan to the ropes, Duggan cannot break free as Bubba lands shot after shot. Duggan punches Bubba right between the eyes, the referee is helping Duggan break free. Duggan back-drops Bubba to the floor, Bubba hits the ring apron hard. Duggan lands a scoop slam in the ring, Three-Point Stance Clothesline. Wallstreet is here, Duggan smashes Wallstreet with his 2X4 but Bubba has a chain or brass-knuckles and Duggan has been cracked. Big Bubba is on his feet while Duggan cannot make the count, Big Bubba has stole this one!

 

I do have a soft spot for big wrestlers lumbering around and beating the piss out of one another but even I have to admit it was quite dull, these two feuding would be fine about 7 years earlier but in 1995, I am not sure who was clamouring to see these two wrestle. However, these two put on a solid slugfest and the finish leaves it open to another match.

 

Winner: Big Bubba Rogers over Jim Duggan via Knock-out!

 

Cutie Suzuki & Mayumi Ozaki vs Bull Nakano & Akira Hokuto

This should be good, I wonder what Schiavone and Heenan will say but they bring out Mike Tenay so I assume all will be fine. Nakano’s hairstyle is tremendous, lots of volume there. We have a bit of inter-promotional warfare here as we have two companies going at it on this night. Nakano and Hokuto jump Suzuki and Ozaki. Ozaki and Nakano to start off, Nakano tosses Ozaki by her hair. Nakano does it twice, Nakano tags in Hokuto. Elbow to the shoulder and a hair toss from Hokuto, Hokuto stretches Ozaki in front of Suzuki. Nakano bites the arm of Ozaki, Nakano is now legal and does the same thing. Suzuki is dying to get into the ring, Nakano is too powerful for Suzuki & Ozaki. Throat toss from Nakano, Hokuto helps with a neck-breaker but Suzuki makes the save. Ozaki fights and fights, Nakano lands a clothesline.

 

Hokuto uses the top rope to choke Ozaki, Irish whip and Ozaki lands a springboard clothesline and DDT, in comes Suzuki. Dropkick by Suzuki for two, single leg Boston crab by Suzuki. Ozaki has a Boston crab on Nakano, duel submissions and the crowd goes nuts. Suzuki stomps Hokuto again and again, Ozaki and Suzuki drop all their weight on the leg of Hokuto. Single leg Boston crab by Suzuki, Nakano breaks it up allowing Hokuto to tag Nakano. Nakano dodges a dropkick as Suzuki nails Ozaki by mistake. Powerbomb by Nakano, Nakano misses a giant moonsault. Ozaki with a double stomp, Suzuki does it too. They do it four times in total, two on Nakano. Nakano suplexes both women, tag to Hokuto who misses a crossbody. Hokuto is in the corner, double superplex but nope, Nakano stops that and a double crossbody connects.

 

Double Irish whip, double hurricanrana for two. Suzuki & Ozaki are on the top rope, double diving clotheslines for two. Ozaki is in the ring, dragon suplex on Hokuto for two. Ozaki gets planted with a German by Hokuto, Nakano lands a vicious lariat for two as Suzuki makes the save. Nakano misses a clothesline but Hokuto lands a double dropkick before Hokuto dives onto Ozaki & Suzuki on the floor with a senton. Nakano has Ozaki in the ring, doomsday device by Nakano & Hokuto but Suzuki makes the save. Hokoto lands the scoop slam, Nakano lands her Guillotine Leg Drop for the win.

 

Great showcase for the women involved, it’s a shame that WCW could never get the division firing on all cylinders because the amount of talent that had access to was ridiculous. Anyways, the quality of this match blows away anything else on the card I am sure and all these women are fantastic.

 

Winners: Akira Hokuto & Bull Nakano via Diving Guillotine Leg Drop!

 

(WCW United States Heavyweight Championship Match) Kensuke Sasaki © W/ Sonny Onoo vs Chris Benoit

Benoit had been in WCW before in late 1992 and early 1993 feuding with 2 Cold Scorpio before going on to dominate the NJPW junior division as Wild Pegasus and terrorizing your ECW favourites as part of the Triple Threat with Dean Malenko and Shane Douglas. Benoit is now in WCW as a member of The Four Horsemen and this is a big test against the protégé of Riki Choshu. Sasaki was starting to really put things together in NJPW but obviously, Sasaki could not match charisma with Hashimoto, Chono or Mutoh at this time but being US Champ is not a bad thing.

 

Lock-up with Benoit chopping Sasaki, stomps and kicks to the head. Benoit is going to bring the pain in this one. Sasaki chops back at Benoit, kick to the head. Sasaki has returned the favour, drop toehold by Benoit who works the arm in a hammerlock. Front chancery from Benoit, Sasaki tosses Benoit over his head. Benoit goes for the test of strength, not the wisest choice but both men test one another. Sasaki has the power advantage, hammerlock takedown from The Crippler. Sasaki easily scoops up Benoit and slams him into oblivion for two, reverse chin-lock from the champion. Shoulder block by Sasaki, Benoit uses his speed to confuse Sasaki before Sasaki picks up Benoit for a military press slam. Benoit avoids the Boston crab, Sasaki is on the floor. Suicide dive by Benoit, snap suplex by Benoit for two.

 

Benoit slips out of a suplex and lands three German suplexes before Sasaki counters with a vicious lariat. Benoit counters a tombstone and spikes Sasaki, Benoit is climbing high and lands a vicious diving headbutt. 1…2.. Sasaki manages to power out! Benoit is on his feet, diving hurricanrana for two. Sasaki counters a kick with a massive powerbomb and then Sasaki goes for his signature submission hold but Benoit hangs on before Sasaki lariats the shite out of Benoit and lands his Northern Lights Bomb for the win!

 

Solid match, Sasaki without a beard and that hairstyle is ridiculous but he is a big meaty bastard and Benoit is all too happy to trade stiff bombs with him and they beat the piss out of one another before Sasaki puts away Benoit with a beautiful Northern Lights Bomb, very solid hard-hitting match but obviously the mix of NJPW talent is going to lift the match quality especially when Benoit is quite familiar with that style.

 

 

Winner: Kensuke Sasaki over Chris Benoit via Northern Lights Bomb!

 

Macho Man Randy Savage vs Lex Luger W/ Jimmy Hart

Randy Savage defeated Luger at the prior pay per view thanks to Jimmy Hart. However, in the main event Luger would turn his back on Savage & Hogan and apply The Torture Rack to both men! Savage looks for a measure of revenge tonight against The Total Package. Savage goes right after Luger, Luger is bounced off the buckles and sent into the ropes, choking galore from Savage. Savage sends Luger to the buckle, right hand in the corner. Luger blocks Savage with a boot but is smashed with a clothesline, Savage pulls Luger to the middle of the ring and applies the Boston crab. On the floor, both men brawl before Savage is sent into the guardrail and Luger cripples Savage with a long Torture Rack. Arguably the longest rack I have ever seen, Luger slaps on an arm-bar on the injured and taped arm, Savage was already unconscious from the rack. Luger wins and Sting makes Luger release the hold.

 

These two have had two matches now and both have been more angles than anything else, Savage sells the shit out of that Rack. Luger has been put over strong here taking out Savage while we have the intrigue of Sting vs Luger and what’s going on between those two. What could it be? We will have to wait and see!

 

Winner: Lex Luger over Randy Savage via TKO!

 

Sting vs Ric Flair

Flair wanted Sting as his partner, Sting refused before eventually trusting Flair. This was a bad move by Sting as Flair would double-cross The Stinger and The Four Horsemen were reunited. The history between the two goes back to 1988, arguably the feud that everyone thinks of when they think of WCW. They have been kept apart, only being occasional partners in 1993 so this should be a great match and it’s not worn out or overplayed.

 

Flair and Sting talk trash to one another, Sting stares down Flair. Sting lands a massive right, Flair is in ring two and begins strutting begging Sting to come over to ring two. Flair is drilled again, gorilla press slam and Flair screams out in pain. Eye-poke by Flair, right hand to the jaw. Vicious chop from Flair, make it two. Sting is whipped to the buckle and explodes out with a clothesline, ten punches to the head of Flair. Massive hip-toss and a dropkick, Flair rolls all the way to ring three. Colonel Parker is here with Sister Sherri, what is going on here? Flair chops Sting but Stinger is unfazed, right hands by Sting. Flair has been knocked down, Flair has been clotheslined to the floor. Flair is taking a walk, we have a test of strength tease with Flair attacking Sting with a shoulder block and pulling the hair but Sting breezes past all that offense and Flair is slammed again.

 

Flair lures in Sting to ring one, Sting misses a Stinger Splash onto the guardrail. Nick Patrick stops Flair using the chair, Flair chops and rakes the eyes of Sting. Sting is dazed on the floor, Sting grabs Flair by the throat but Flair uses a low-blow. Not sure how the referee has missed that but Flair talks his way out of this one, Flair whips Sting hard against the buckle. Flair delivers a massive knee-drop to the head of Sting, Flair stalks Sting and works the hamstring and calves. Sting is hobbling it now, another shot to the leg floors Stinger. Flair tosses Sting over the top rope, Flair rakes Sting’s face across the ring apron. Chop block from Flair, Flair rakes the face of Sting. Belly to back suplex and now, it’s time to go to school. Figure Four Leg-Lock from Flair, Flair slaps and strikes the knee of Sting but Sting is firing up and begins to turn with the pressure being applied to Flair. Flair has to let go, Flair is limping now.

 

Sting avoids a hip-toss, looking for a backslide for two. Flair is irate and shoves the referee, the referee shoves down Flair. The chops do not work on Sting, Flair is changing ring again. Military press slam and clotheslines from Sting, eye-poke by Flair. Flair climbs high, Sting yanks Flair off the top rope. Flair flip into apron clothesline, ten punches from Sting. Sting wants a superplex, it connects and we have a Scorpion Death-Lock! Flair taps!

 

Very good match as always between the two, Sting and Flair do their usual stuff and it works because we are deep in WCW country ladies and gentlemen. Flair pulls out all his tricks and it’s not enough as Sting fires through Flair like only The Stinger can do, would have liked to have seen the leg sold considering how much Flair did to the leg but Sting slaps on the Scorpion Death-Lock and that’s all she wrote. Could watch them work every week, they don’t know how to have a bad match with one another.

 

Winner: Sting over Ric Flair via Scorpion Death-Lock!

 

(WCW World Heavyweight Championship Sixty-Man Battle Royal)

3 rings and sixty men, Giant is world champion actually because Jimmy Hart inserted a clause in the match contract that states if Hogan lost by DQ, the championship would change hands. However, the WCW Championship Committee decided to say fuck you Giant, it will be vacated and only the winner of this sixty man battle royal will hold the championship.

 

A battle royal of this magnitude will be impossible to call so I will do my best to give you my thoughts on the entrants and their careers to this point before getting down to the big moments of the match and of course, the final minutes will be covered in detail. We have Arn Anderson who is flying high after the Stud Stable never took off but old buddy Ric Flair has picked him up to be near that main event level once more, we have Alex Wright who has disappeared from PPV surprising considering he seemed like a perfect TV champion, we have Brian Knobbs who has not been on my TV for a while which I am thankful for. Dave Taylor really who I can assume is with Regal & Eaton despite their absence from TV, Scott Armstrong with a haircut only a mother could love. We have Sting, two more jobbers in Maggs and Whatley. The Disco Inferno is here which is interesting, Meng looking to have some momentum. Luger is here as well as more jobbers, Eddy Guerrero is here too. Paul Orndorff is still working? Bobby Walker and Chris Kanyon! Marcus Bagwell and The Yeti. Kurasawa and Hugh Morrus followed by Zodiac and Mr. Wallstreet. DDP and Scott Norton, Pillman is here. The One Man Gang is here in WCW? Shark? Steve Armstrong and Dave Sullivan is still there? Super Assassin 1? More tag team guys, Flair and Hulk Hogan. As you can see I ran out of steam for making comments on everyone but a few interesting faces in there who would go onto bigger things in the coming years.

 

So lots of bumbling around and shuffling and 3 commentary teams for an extended period of time, jobbers are thrown out left right and centre until we get down to the final 10! We are down to Sting, Giant, Hogan, Orndorff, One Man Gang, Arn Anderson, Eddy Guerrero, Lex Luger and Randy Macho Man Savage. Sting wants to splash The Giant but nails Eddy by mistake, Orndorff tries to piledrive Hogan but Hogan back-drops Orndorff to the floor. Flair & Anderson attack Eddy, beautiful missile dropkick by Eddy. Giant is choking Sting, Savage tries to slam The Giant. Giant slams Savage, Anderson spinebusters Guerrero. Hogan is battering Luger & Giant, Sting is battering Flair. Guerrero is thrown out but nobody could see it, nice one WCW. Sting begins to splash everything in sight, Giant atomic drops Sting. Flair and Anderson are working well with Giant.

 

Hogan is being double-teamed while Giant Chokeslams Savage, Sting is in serious trouble. Sting catapults Anderson into Flair, Flair is knocked to the floor while Hogan clotheslines Anderson to the floor. We have six men left, Luger and Sting are working together. Giant is being staggered by Luger and Sting, three clotheslines in a row and Hogan decides he’s going to dump out Giant, Luger & Sting. Savage has dumped out One Man Gang and the referee believes Hogan went over the top rope, Hogan is disgusted by this. Hogan explains to the referee that Hogan was thrown out underneath, Savage is like what is this about? Savage is declared the winner and we will have to live to fight another day!

 

Winner: Randy Savage!

 

That was WCW’s World War 3 1995, a solid pay per view from WCW. We kick things off with Badd vs DDP, I said it last time and I will say it again: They are two individuals who work well together, the crowd is invested and even with a flat finish, this was a great opening match for the crowd. Duggan vs Big Bubba is slow and plodding, the feud will continue but I am not sure I care when they couldn’t get me invested in a gimmick match. The women’s tag is very good, the four shine and beat the piss out of one another, I am all for that as it makes for a great watch while Sasaki vs Benoit is also hard-hitting despite the weird dynamic of heel Benoit as our babyface because boo, foreigners are always bad. Flair vs Sting is typical Flair vs Sting goodness, not of their finest matches but a collection of all those spots you know and love ending up with a satisfying finish of Nature Boy submitting to the Scorpion Death-Lock. The battle royal is horribly long with the only upside being the belt is off Hogan so no more bad championship matches but overall, I would say a PPV that you could watch and not want to hurl your monitor to TV through the screen when it is over which is rare for this company for sure. Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!

 

 

WCW Halloween Havoc 1995 Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet with less consistency than HHH’s booking! It’s time for WCW Halloween Havoc 1995! Headlined by Hulk Hogan vs The Giant, the son of Andre for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship! We also have Lex Luger vs Meng, Randy Savage vs The Zodiac and Ric Flair and Sting teaming together to take down Arn Anderson & Brian Pillman. Other matches that round out the card include Mr. JL vs Sabu and Johnny B. Badd challenging for the WCW World Television Championship. Could it be a good PPV from WCW? Let’s find out together eh?

 

(WCW World Television Championship Match) Diamond Dallas Page © W/ The Diamond Doll & Maxx Muscle vs Johnny B. Badd

Kimberley is getting over huge and it’s no surprise, she is gorgeous. DDP won the championship from Renegade which ended his big push, Johnny B. Badd was meant to challenge Sting for the US Championship. I imagine that happened and Badd lost so now he challenges for this championship, DDP is looking for Badd but Badd takes out DDP with a high knee and Muscle bangs heads with DDP on the floor courtesy of Badd. DDP is in the crowd now, DDP is whipped into the guard rail. Badd has a bucket and slaps it and runs DDP into the ring-post. In the ring, DDP clubs Badd but Badd lands a hip-toss and a drop toehold into an arm-bar. DDP cannot escape the clutches of Badd, DDP pulls Badd down by the hair but Badd kips-up and returns the favour.

 

Badd lands another hip-toss and a dropkick, ten punches in the corner is blocked as DDP lands a flapjack into the turnbuckle. DDP talks trash and kicks the ribs of Badd, forearms by DDP and an elbow to the face. DDP sends Badd into the buckle and lands a belly to back suplex. DDP wants a 10 and The Diamond Doll supplies the 10. Pancake by DDP for two, reverse chin-lock by DDP. DDP brings his weight down on Badd to do extra damage. DDP whips Badd who blocks, backslide in the middle of the ring for two. DDP lands a massive clothesline for two, DDP looks for a cover and gets two before Badd counters with a roll-up for two. DDP regains control with a boot, scoop turning slam by DDP for two. Reverse chin-lock by DDP, DDP calls for Badd to get up but DDP lands elbows to the back of the head.

 

Muscle is on the apron, DDP uses his wrist-tape to choke Badd behind the referee’s back. Reverse chin-lock again, Diamond Doll is frustrated with the cheating ways of DDP. Badd fires up, DDP calls for Muscle but Badd lands a belly to back suplex. Inverted atomic drop and atomic drop by Badd, jabs from Badd. Right haymaker and a flying head-scissors, diving axe handle by Badd. Badd looks at The Diamond Doll and Badd gets a 10! Two count for Badd, sit-out powerbomb for two. Diamond Dream by DDP, two for DDP. Diamond Cutter is blocked as Badd holds onto the ropes, DDP smacks his head off the mat. Badd covers for two, Badd is fired up again and wants those ten punches. Badd moneky flips DDP to the floor, Badd lands The Badd Day. Sling-shot splash for two, Badd calls for The Kiss that don’t Miss! Muscle grabs Badd, DDP tries to hit Badd but Badd dodges, dropkick and Badd almost schoolboys DDP for the win.

 

On the floor goes Badd who has been thrown there by DDP, Muscle is sent into the ring-post. In the ring, DDP grabs Badd and Muscle clotheslines DDP by mistake, big left hand by Badd on Muscle and Badd pins DDP for the win.

 

That was a fun match to kick off the show, the simplicity of DDP being a dick to Kimberly has connected with the fans and Badd is back on top in WCW working with someone who can make him look good. They have a good opening match that the crowd are invested in and it’s everything these two could hope for when opening a pay per view. Odd though how it looked like DDP was going to have some big wins coming his way and now, it’s all been swept away. I am sure the feud will continue between the two but DDP’s odd story in WCW continues.

 

Winner: Johnny B. Badd over DDP via Clothesline!

 

The Zodiac vs Macho Man Randy Savage

What a waste of a PPV match, I mean really? This would be a good Clash match but an actual WCW PPV match? Anyways, Savage goes right after Zodiac, who the hell is this in the ring though? We have a fan in the ring who is trying to get close to Zodiac and Savage, Savage expertly takes the match to the floor away from the fan as security beat the shit out of the fan presumably. Zodiac sends Savage into the ring-post, they talk about Kamala originally being in the match, perhaps payment issues? Savage lands his Flying Elbow Drop on Zodiac after re-entering the ring.

 

That was it? Really? Well, I guess that’s the best thing I could have hoped for between these two.

 

Winner: Randy Savage over Zodiac via Diving Elbow Drop!

 

Kurasawa vs Hawk

Kurasawa tried to break the arm of Hawk at a previous Clash, Hawk comes down to the ring and hits clotheslines, his neck-breaker and vicious chops and right hands. Classic Hawk, Hawk whips Kurasawa to the buckle and misses a corner spear hitting his shoulder. Hawk recovers and gut-wrench suplexes Kurasawa. Powerbomb by Hawk, Colonel Parker grabs the foot of Hawk. Scoop slam by Kurasawa, diving elbow drop misses. Hawk clotheslines Kurasawa to the floor, Hawk is on the apron and clotheslines Parker. Hawk is sent into the ring-post, fallaway slam and Samoan drop and with the help of Colonel Parker, Kurasawa pins Hawk.

 

Another short one, what is going on with this show?

 

Winner: Kurasawa over Hawk via Samoan Drop!

 

Mr. J.L. vs Sabu W/ The Sheik

There is only one Sabu ladies and gentlemen and unfortunately it would not work out for Sabu in WCW but Sabu is one of the most innovative wrestlers of the 90s and the world would eventually fall in love with Sabu. Sabu eats an enzuigiri with J.L. missing a baseball slide, Sabu lands an Asai Moonsault on Sheik and JL. JL lands a diving crossbody to the floor after Sabu misses a running splash, Sabu misses a moonsault. JL is on the top rope, moonsault connects for two. JL lands a sit-out powerbomb for two, JL whips Sabu to the corner but JL misses a splash. Sabu lands a sling-shot Arabian Face-buster for two, Sabu tries climbing the top rope but JL lands a German suplex for two. JL is on the top rope, Sabu stops JL and lands a victory roll from the middle rope for two. Sabu climbs high, springboard dropkick by JL knocks Sabu to the floor. Sheik is not happy, Sabu hot-shots JL. Springboard moonsualt and it is over and Sheik throws a fireball for good measure!

 

Another short match, that’s 3 in a row now what is going on with this PPV? Anyways, crowd seems indifferent to their efforts but soon they would go wild for this high-flying style.

 

Winner: Sabu over Mr. J.L. via Springboard Moonsault!

 

Meng W/ The Taskmaster vs Lex Luger

Meng must take out Luger, Luger starts the match by bashing Meng’s head off the buckle. Meng is staggered, side headlock by Luger. Meng shoves off Luger and wants a monkey flip but Luger stops that and kicks Meng low, Luger catapults Meng into the buckle. Meng has his eyes raked across the top rope but Meng kicks out at Luger, Luger reverses an Irish whip but Meng kicks Luger in the head and small packages Luger for two. Meng whips Luger to the buckle, boot counter by Luger and Luger clotheslines Meng to the floor. Luger shoves Meng into the ring-post, Luger pulls the arm into the top rope. Meng fights back with that injured arm, Meng bites the head of Luger. Chop to the neck, Luger blocks the second right hand and tees off on Meng. Meng to the buckle, Luger misses the splash but attempts the belly to back but Meng lands on top of Luger for a close two. Shoulder-breaker by Meng, Meng begins to work the right arm of Luger.

 

Meng kicks the ribs of Luger and chokes him with his boot, piledriver from Meng. Two for Meng, Meng chokes Luger over and over. Reverse chin-lock from Meng, Luger lands elbows to the ribs and escapes and lands a flying crossbody for two. Meng is still too powerful, Luger is kicked into the corner. Belly to back suplex by Meng, two for Meng. Meng tosses Luger to the floor, Sullivan talks trash to Luger who is not doing too good right now. Meng continues to kick down Luger and Sullivan continues talking to Luger, Sullivan is making the referee stop his count and Sullivan does not want Meng to come down on Luger on the floor. The commentators wonder if Luger could be recruited by The Dungeon of Doom. Meng continues to kick the ribs of Luger, Luger is using the ropes to pull himself up.

 

Irish whip by Meng and Meng looks for a dropkick but Luger holds onto the ropes. Meng is elevated over the top rope and onto the ropes, Luger suplexes Meng into the ring. Meng tries an Irish whip but Luger kicks Meng in the head, three clotheslines and Meng is down. Irish whip and back body drop by The Total Package, clotheslines by Luger. Luger lands a powerslam and Luger calls for the rack, Meng pulls something out of his boot. It’s the Golden Spike and Luger is knocked out, Sullivan does not like that and kicks Luger so that Luger wins by DQ. Meng is upset with this but Sullivan continues to explain his devious plan.

 

Well, it was a match and they worked but not sure these two were ever going to set my world on fire, they are two wrestlers who can be fun but this was just a match in the middle of the card. The story is definitely interesting though as Luger was going to be WWF’s next Hogan with his American gimmick and all and I like the idea of Luger going up against Hogan but we will see how the story develops as we know the summer of 1996 will lead to another group forming.

 

Winner: Lex Luger over Meng via DQ!

 

Arn Anderson & Brian Pillman vs Sting & Ric Flair

The Horsemen have reformed but without Ric Flair? Impossible but it has happened and before the match, Ric Flair has been assaulted by Anderson & Pillman. Flair is not really in condition to wrestle on this night so Sting comes to the ring alone, looking for Flair to appear but it looks as if The Stinger will be going alone in this one. Anderson & Pillman cannot help but smile as Sting is all alone, Sting is ready to whip ass though and it looks like Anderson & Pillman are going to be pin-balled around that ring.

 

Anderson & Sting to start, lock-up and side headlock into a hammerlock by Anderson but Sting reverses the hold. Anderson is in the ropes, Anderson goes low and attacks Sting. Anderson has a full-nelson, Pillman wants a shot but Sting reverses the hold and kicks Pillman. Anderson pulls Sting down by the hair, Sting pops-up and leapfrogs before landing a face-buster. Shots to Pillman too, Sting is on fire in this one. The Horsemen decide to talk strategy on the floor, Pillman comes in and eats a military press slam. Sting wants Anderson, Anderson is a little reluctant to get it on with Sting. Pillman & Anderson talk strategy again, Sting trips Anderson and catapults him into Pillman who was on the top rope. Sting tosses Pillman into the guardrail and now, Sting begins to jab Anderson.

 

Anderson goes low with a shot and throws Sting into Pillman’s head, gut-shot from Anderson. Flair is here! Flair is in a shirt and jeans but Flair is ready to go, Sting is tossed to the floor and Pillman sends Sting into the guardrail. Flair is firing up the crowd, the crowd is all over this. Anderson chokes Sting with his boot in the ring, Anderson tags Pillman. Chops by Pillman, Sting is firing back with chops and rights but a drop toehold allows Anderson to be tagged and Anderson kicks the crap out of Sting. Reverse chin-lock by Anderson, Flair is irate and wants in bad but Anderson lands a scoop slam. Tag to Pillman, Pillman looks for the rocket launcher but Sting blocks with his knees.

 

Sting crawls and crawls but Anderson lands a belly to back suplex for two, Anderson tries to force Sting’s hands to the mat but Sting is fighting back. Anderson is crotched by Sting, Sting is on his feet and almost makes the tag. Pillman distracts Flair, Sting cannot make the tag. Abdominal stretch by Anderson, Anderson uses Pillman for leverage. Tag to Pillman, Pillman bites the head of Sting. Tag to Anderson who applies a camel clutch, tag to Pillman who kicks Sting hard in the ribs. Pillman cannot pin Sting who continues to kick out, Anderson is in now and attacks Sting, Flair attacks Pillman briefly and Sting begins to fire back at Anderson. Spinebuster by Anderson for two as Flair makes the save, tag to Pillman.

 

Pillman lands an elbow to the knee and grape-vines the leg. Wishbone-split and Anderson is in there now with an elbow on the legs. Flair and Sting are talking to one another, the audio is clean and a lot of emphasis on it because the crowd is dying for it now. Almost at a fever pitch, Anderson has a bearhug. Sting escapes but Pillman is tagged and lands an elbow, chops by Pillman. Snap-mare into a seated abdominal stretch variation, Sting is in the heels’ corner but fights out and makes Pillman bang heads with Anderson. Flair is fired up now, the crowd can feel that tag is finally coming. Sting begins to stir and makes his way over, Sting tags in Flair and Flair runs in the ring and waffles Sting. What is this about? Why has Flair turned his back on Sting?

 

Sting is fighting back, irate as Flair has double-crossed him! Flair is back together with The Horsemen, where is Randy Savage? Where is Hogan? Where are Sting’s friends? How could this happen? Flair even attacks a referee, Sting has been beaten down, what a shocking display from The Nature Boy.

 

Classic tag team match wrestling right there, Anderson & Pillman shine up Sting here and they build like crazy for that hot-tag, Sting puts on a great babyface-in-peril act here and when that hot-tag comes and Flair double-crosses Sting, it is like poetry in motion. Crowd is shocked, fans are going there is no way this could happen but damn, that was a good angle. Sting has 3 great talents to work with now and I am sure the matches will be great like always, very happy with that as at least, Sting has a stand alone feud now. Is it a bit repetitive and make WCW look desperate? Possibly but I think it is the best thing for all involved because anything without Hogan is going to be gold in my books.

 

No Contest!

 

(Monster Truck Sumo Match) Hulk Hogan vs The Giant

Hogan and Giant are in giant monster trucks and both trucks are pushing one another, the way to win is push the other outside of the enormous circle like a Sumo Match. I am impressed by the customized Monster Trucks but that must have cost a fortune, I wonder what the view is like for those inside the arena. It is a bit difficult to describe in vivid detail considering how repetitive it is but they are pushing one another back and forth, Giant continues to push Hogan’s truck close to the edge multiple times. After a lot of Hogan almost losing, Hogan pushes Giant out of the ring. Giant is not happy and decides to fight Hogan on the roof, Hogan is backing up. Giant misses a clothesline, Giant chokes Hogan. Both are on the roof of the building, Hogan shakes off Giant and murders him by having him fall off the roof into the darkness below.

 

I like that Hogan tried to catch a 500 pound man with one arm and seems distraught at the fact that he has committed murder. Well it was an angle and it’s done, not sure how it helps Giant to come back from the dead.

 

Winner: Hulk Hogan over The Giant via Shove of Death!

 

Macho Man Randy Savage vs Lex Luger

Savage breezed past Zodiac in minutes while Luger struggled against Meng, advantage is in the corner of Savage. Savage and Luger talk trash before Savage boots Luger in the ribs. Luger explodes out of the corner with a clothesline, Luger stomps Savage in the corner. Jimmy Hart is here, dressed in black. Savage is fighting back from his knees, kicks to the ribs from Luger. Luger knees Savage to the floor, axe handle from the apron by Luger. Savage sends Luger into the guardrail and steel steps, Savage sends Luger into the guardrail again and again. Clothesline to the back of the head, Savage went for a diving axe handle but Luger lands a huge shot to the ribs. Jimmy Hart is on the apron, Savage whips Luger to the corner. Luger kicks Savage and has a roll-up using the ropes but Jimmy Hart has the referee distracted, Savage whips Luger into Jimmy Hart and Savage lands his Diving Elbow Drop for the win.

 

Like the match prior, it seems this is more of an angle than a match. It is often forgotten how good Jimmy Hart was as a heel manager in Memphis so I am excited to see what Jimmy Hart can do as a heel because the black suit and shades is such a giveaway you just know it’s coming.

 

Winner: Macho Man Randy Savage over Lex Luger via Diving Elbow Drop!

 

(WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match) Hulk Hogan © vs The Giant W/ The Taskmaster

Hogan is here in an early version of his NWO gear, dressed in all black with his lightning tights. Hogan is also clean-shaven and looks utterly bizarre. Hogan looks upset, not happy to be here possibly at the idea that he murdered someone. Hogan apologizes calling it an accident? Giant is here, not a scratch on him and Hogan is utterly shocked, the greatest challenge Hogan has ever faced. We really built up that cliff-hanger didn’t we?

 

Hogan rips a black shirt to reveal another black shirt, classic. Hogan rips off his bandana to showcase his darkside Hogan warpaint. Hogan lands right hand after right hand but nothing is working to knock this man off his feet, Hogan wants the slam but Giant is too big. Clotheslines and back-rakes, Irish whip and boot by Giant. Massive elbow to the back of the neck, more axe handles and chops. Hogan is choked in the corner, Hogan is staggering around the ring. Foot choke from Giant, Hogan is trying to fight back but Giant continues to take down Hogan. Giant lands a massive scoop slam, Giant takes a run-up and misses a leg-drop. Hogan hulks up! Right hand after right hand, Giant meets the buckle. Make it two, ten punches in the corner from Hogan. Hogan bites the head of Giant, back-rake from The Hulkster. Hogan clotheslines Giant and sends him to the floor, Sullivan and Giant talk strategy.

 

Hogan bangs the heads of Giant and Sullivan, eye-poke by Hogan. Hogan runs into a choke but an eye-rake saves Hogan again. Hogan bites the head but Giant rakes the eyes, back-breaker by Giant. Two for Giant, Hogan reaches out the crowd. Bearhug from Giant, Hogan escapes but gets slammed once more. Axe handles and a bearhug from Giant, Hogan escapes but runs into a choke, Chokeslam from Giant! Crowd is reacting huge to Giant! 1…2…. Hogan kicks out! Here comes the punches, the boot and Hogan calls for the slam. Scoop slam! Hogan lands The Atomic Leg Drop! The referee is down though, Jimmy Hart took out the referee but Hogan has no idea, Jimmy Hart nails Hogan with the championship. Of course, Hogan no-sells this act of treason. Giant has a bearhug and we have Luger and Savage here. Jimmy Hart takes down Savage, Luger turns on Savage. The Yeti is here, Yeti and Giant bearhug the fuck out of Hogan. Luger has Hogan in The Torture Rack! Luger racks Hogan! The referee is just giving the championship to The Giant? Wait, where was the DQ? Jimmy Hart hitting the referee makes Giant the winner? Ok fair enough.

 

For a first match, you can’t go wrong with being carried by Hogan. Giant looks competent in there apart from waiting there to be lifted for the scoop slam but yes, Giant had the perfect dance partner for his first wrestling match and there was nobody like him. Well, except for The Yeti who they bring out which is comical for multiple reasons but I think the one that sticks out to me the most is how they built up Giant as the son of Andre, this man who is referred to as Giant and in his first match, you debut someone who is taller than a man who his whole shtick is “Look at how big he is, he is literally named Giant”. Anyways, I always thought Giant became champion in his first match but he loses by DQ here so I guess that’s a Mandela Effect thing for me. Luger turning heel is a good call because of the top heavy babyface land of WCW where Sting has to play second-fiddle to Hogan & Savage. The Yeti is a ridiculous gimmick and WCW in 1995 is very cheesy.

 

Winner: The Giant over Hulk Hogan via DQ!

 

That was WCW’s Halloween Havoc 1995, a whole lot of nothing at the end of the day. WCW has a lot of big names coming into the company but the match quality and the overall intrigue is quite low for me. We begin with DDP vs Badd, two wrestlers who work well with one another and can garner attention from the crowd whether it be DDP’s mistreatment of The Diamond Doll or Badd’s high-flying manoeuvres, they can kick off a show and be a safe way to get the fans into the card. DDP losing the championship so soon after winning it isn’t a great look for him or his push but Badd has been handled so poorly despite his popularity and appeal that I am in favour of Badd continuing with the championship. Things take a turn as we have Savage running over Zodiac in no-time and Hawk does little to make the world fall in love with Kurasawa, both matches were not worth the PPV price and added nothing to the show or my enjoyment of the show.

 

Sabu vs Mr. JL was a showcase for Sabu who would soon leave the company so not much to say there, Sabu obviously didn’t get to do his most reckless acts that would become his signature but they still worked a much faster pace than anyone on the card with multiple dives and ranas giving us a glimpse of what the cruiserweight division will be like in the coming year. Meng vs Luger is middle of the road, nothing particularly interesting to note apart from Luger’s possible friendship with The Taskmaster. The Horsemen tag match is a masterful manipulation of the audience who fall hook, line and sinker for Flair and Sting working together. Flair is back in The Horsemen and Sting has great opponents to keep him away from this Hogan horseshite which makes me a happy man. We come to Luger vs Savage which is an angle much like Hogan vs Giant in the sumo match before we get to the main event which is a terrific first-outing for Giant and a standard possibly uninspired Hogan performance that was typical in his WCW days. The match is often remembered for the ridiculous end but I am more hurt with Giant not winning the match despite all the turns and betrayal but The Dungeon of Doom finally after months of being decimated have gotten one over on Hogan. I would only recommend the show for The Horsemen vs Sting match. Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!

 

 

WCW Fall Brawl 1995 Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that is more forgettable than Shorty G! It’s time for WCW Fall Brawl 1995, it is time for War-Games! The Hulkamania team doing battle against The Dungeon Of Doom, we also have two men facing one another that we thought we would never see, we have Ric Flair vs Arn Anderson, two men who know each other so well. How will this play out? We also have Johnny B. Badd vs Brian Pillman who feel like two men who have been in purgatory for ages at this point, what have they done in this year? We have Cobra vs Sgt. Craig Pittman which should be interesting? And of course the continuation of Harlem Heat vs Bunkhouse Buck & Dirty Dick Slater. War-Games can be hit and miss depending on the talent and how lob-sided the teams are but we shall wait to see how this plays out, let’s get it on!

 

Flyin’ Brian Pillman vs Johnny B. Badd

We are very far removed from The Hollywood Blondes and the TV Championship but I truly am struggling to think of what WCW has done with these two men following 1993 and 1994 respectively. Badd is still super over so how is the man not challenging for championships?

 

Anyways they lock-up, clean break by Badd. Pillman shakes the hand of Baddd, arm-drag from Badd. Pillman takes the back, Badd looks for the switch and gets it. Pillman takes the arm, Badd is caught in the hammerlock before Badd reverses only to be caught with a hip-toss. Side headlock takedown from Pillman, both men dodge one another before trading dropkicks. Lock-up into a wrist-lock, Badd wriggles free and lands an arm-drag. Hammerlock snap-mare counter from Pillman, side headlock takedown by Pillman. Shove off with Pillman arm-dragging Badd, two count. Arm-bar from Pillman, snap-mare but Badd trips Pillman and we have a La Magistral for two. Lock-up again with Badd taking the wrist, Pillman lands a drop toehold and rolls-up Badd for two.

 

Snap-mare into a reverse chin-lock, Badd fights out but Pillman lands a corner head-scissors and a victory roll for two. Badd is caught in a chin-lock again, Badd almost escapes but Pillman starts bringing the pain. Pillman leapfrogs Badd but Badd counters with an arm-drag and a reverse chin-lock. Pillman escapes with a vicious back-breaker for two, Boston crab before Pillman lands a shot to the head. Chop by Pillman, Badd reverses the Irish whip for a tilt-a-whirl back-breaker, Badd stretches the leg of Pillman.

 

Pillman escapes the stretch and pushes Badd, Badd pushes back so Pillman takes Badd to the corner and scores with an elbow that rocks Badd. Badd has his eyes raked across the ropes, Badd batters Pillman out of the ring. Pillman takes a breather and wants to shake hands with Badd. Badd wants none of that, Pillman lands a right hand and clubbing blows. Badd is canned to the outside, Pillman bites the head of Badd. Pillman is bounced off the top turnbuckle, sling-shot leg drop by Badd for two. Reverse chin-lock from Badd, Pillman escapes and both men drop-down and leap-frog before banging heads. Headbutt by Pillman, both men drop down to the mat. Pillman smacks Badd of the turnbuckle again. Pillman looks for a suplex into the ring, Badd reverses and sends Pillman to the floor.

 

Plancha from Badd, both men are spent at this stage but Badd is somewhat in control. Pillman is tossed into the ring, Badd is climbing high but the diving crossbody goes wrong as Pillman nails a dropkick for two. Irish whip but Badd nails a sit-out powerbomb for a close two, Pillman drops Badd with a tombstone piledriver for two. Pillman calls for a tornado DDT, Badd shoves off Pillman for two. Badd goes down for a submission with 2 minutes left in the match, this is where we are really going? Pillman lands a Russian leg-sweep into a stretch, Pillman squeezes but Badd is holding on in this match. Pillman switches holds, going for a seated abdominal stretch. Pillman tries an Irish whip but ducks his head, Badd lands a face-buster and a knock-out left! Pillman is in the ropes, Pillman lands Air Pillman but Badd kicks out, we have a draw!

 

The match continues as we need a number one contender to face Sting, Pillman bites the head of Badd. Badd lands a right hand, make it two. Pillman rolls to the floor but Pillman chops Badd, Badd throws rights hands back at Pillman. Irish whip to the guardrail, Pillman climbs high in the ring. Both men try dropkicks and both men crash to the mat, sleeper from Pillman. Badd is in serious trouble, Pillman has the legs around the body, this is in deep. Badd almost drops the arm three times but survives, rope break and Badd fights out. Sleeper from Badd, Pillman begins to fade but counters with a glorious belly to back suplex. Pillman lifts Badd to the corner, slap from Pillman.

 

Badd blocks though, no suplex here. Badd tries his diving sunset flip for a two and a half! Badd calls for a big manoeuvre, Pillman counters the powerbomb with a hurricanrana. Repeated pins by Pillman but Badd is not going down, Badd reverses an Irish whip but Pillman counters for an attempted sunset flip but Badd counters with a beautiful Samoan drop for two. Badd lifts Pillman to the corner, Bad Day by Badd! 1..2…Pillman kicks out! Badd looks for another top rope move, Pillman smacks Badd and lands a tornado DDT for two! Pillman climbs high, Badd falls into the ropes. Pillman is crotched on the top rope, Pillman is in a dangerous position. Badd tosses Pillman into the guardrail, The Bad Mood connects!

 

Badd tries to pick up the dead-weight of Pillman, Badd looks for a sling-shot splash but Pillman blocks with the knees. Pillman covers for two, Pillman drops Badd across the top rope suplex-style, Badd is wounded. Pillman scores with a suicide dive, springboard clothesline misses for Pillman. Badd covers for two, Irish whip and both men duck one another before they both go for crossbodies and Badd lands on top for the win.

 

Twenty-five minutes of Badd & Pillman, I like both men but I am left scratching my head with this one as to why one of these men will be Sting’s next challenger for the US Championship. Badd has had a rough 1994 and 1995 only slowly beginning to regain that momentum while Pillman hasn’t really regained any of that momentum since The Blondes so the match feels cold to me despite their recent interactions. As for the action, once they start mentioning time, you know where this is going and by God do they stretch it out for that time-limit. Submissions with only two minutes left = high IQ play ladies and gentlemen. I felt the struggle between the two and they have good chemistry but it was a long match to kick off the show. Not sure the crowd was invested to the level which they wanted but they worked hard and I appreciate their efforts!

 

Winner: Johnny B. Badd over Brian Pillman via Crossbody!

 

Cobra vs Sgt. Craig Pittman

Member of the Special Forces Cobra as our babyface against the crazy Sgt. Craig Pittman, a recruit comes to the ring. Looks like Prince Iaukea but I am not sure, Cobra talks trash to the recruit. Pittman rappels down to the ring, Sting be damned! Pittman has bullets, Pittman sneaks into the ring. Fantastic commitment to the gimmick. Cobra is choked with the bandolier of bullets, Pittman is beating the piss out of Cobra before Cobra sends Pittman into the ring-post. Cobra is climbing high, diving crossbody does not work as Pittman dodges with a face-buster. Code-Red which is an arm-bar ends the match.

 

Fuck me that was short? Well, that was the best thing they could do really because Pittman sucks. Did I need to see it on the PPV though? Probably not, what an elaborate entrance for a squash.

 

Winner: Sgt. Craig Pittman over Cobra via Code-Red!

 

(WCW World Television Championship Match) Diamond Dallas Page W/ Diamond Doll & Maxx Muscle vs The Renegade © W/ Jimmy Hart

Renegade is attacked from behind, elbows and kicks by DDP. Renegade meets the buckle, float-over Russian leg-sweep for two. Headbutt does not work for DDP, DDP falls to the floor and bangs his head off the ring-post. DDP tumbles into the crowd, DDP is back in the ring and begging for mercy. DDP pulls Renegade into the buckle, Renegade reverses DDP and bangs his head off the buckle. Side headlock by Renegade, DDP reverses Renegade and dodges a crossbody. DDP lands elbows to the back of the head and chokes the champion with the top rope. DDP lands a hot-shot on Renegade, swinging neck-breaker. Two for DDP, DDP stomps all over the face of Renegade.

 

Renegade is tossed to the floor but the big man hulks up before DDP kicks him to the floor, shoulder thrust and we have a sunset flip but DDP uses the ropes but Renegade counters for a two. Clothesline by DDP for two, DDP has Renegade down in the corner. Irish whip to the opposite buckle, Renegade dodges and DDP hits the ring-post hard. DDP gets kicked in the head by Renegade, clothesline by Renegade. Make it two, the champion is beginning to fire up. Handspring elbow muta-style and Renegade goes high, DDP is up and eats the double axe-handle for two. Renegade tries a powerslam but DDP lands a massive DDT, two for DDP. Diamond Cutter is blocked as Renegade shoves him into the buckle, schoolboy for two. DDP lands a right hand, Maxx Muscle is on the apron. DDP and Maxx Muscle collide, Renegade lands a powerslam on DDP. Renegade dives onto Muscle, Muscle holds onto the leg of Renegade and DDP lands The Diamond Cutter for the win!

 

Considering the talent in the ring, it wasn’t that bad. DDP is starting to put together an act that is resonating with the people and this is a big win for DDP considering how Renegade has been pushed since debuting in WCW. Future is going to be bright for DDP but let’s see how DDP develops now that a push has finally come his way. As for Renegade, this could be the descent into oblivion for the wrestler and the push.

 

Winner: DDP over Renegade via Diamond Cutter!

 

(WCW World Tag Team Championship Match) Harlem Heat W/ Sister Sherri vs Bunkhouse Buck & Dirty Dick Slater © W/ Colonel Robert Parker

Happy for Buck to have the gold, I am a fan of the man since his feud with Dustin Rhodes while Dick Slater is very fun to watch too. The tag team scene in WCW at this time has been a sore spot for me with Nasty Boys and Harlem Heat seemingly to have the focus on them constantly with neither team putting together matches that would been entertaining unless it was some sort of tornado tag hardcore affair. Harlem Heat don’t seem to be catching on as babyfaces but we shall see how things develop, Slater and Booker to kick us off.

 

Clothesline by Booker to kick us off, Slater is backing up to the corner. Drop toehold and face-lock by Slater, Booker escapes and tags in Stevie Ray who slaps on a side headlock. Tag to Booker, Slater backs Booker to the corner and in comes Buck. Elbows to the neck, Buck tries to stretch Booker who has counters for days and backs Buck into the corner. Tag to Stevie who lands kicks too. Clothesline and choke from Stevie, reverse chin-lock. Buck fights out but Booker is too quick who comes in and takes him down. Reverse chin-lock from Booker, Buck fights out but is hit with a hip-toss and a knee drop for two. Buck rolls away and tags Slater, Slater drills Stevie Ray but Stevie Ray stays strong and lands punches before an inverted atomic drop and neck-breaker takes him down. Two for Slater before Stevie Ray spears him and chokes him with his bandana.

 

Slater back-drops Booker onto the steps, Buck lands a right hand to Booker. Sherri helps Booker up, Slater stomps Booker when he re-enters the ring. Tag to Buck, Buck lands knee after knee to the head of Booker. Tag to Slater who lands kick after kick, Buck gets in some shots too. Russian leg-sweep by Slater for two, Slater wants a piledriver. Booker is spiked, two for Slater. Tag to Buck, Booker is tossed over the top rope behind the referee’s back. Slater slams Booker into the guardrail, Buck lands a big boot on Booker. Booker begins to fight back on Buck, right hand in the corner but Booker misses a turnbuckle kick. In comes Slater who kicks Booker’s head and attacks Stevie Ray, belly to back suplex for two. Slater jabs away at Booker, measured knee-drop for two. In comes Buck who stomps the head of Booker and slaps on a reverse chin-lock.

 

Slater comes back in and applies a Boston crab, the fans seem disinterested in this one. Stevie Ray boots Slater in the head, Buck just takes Slater’s spot and slaps on the single leg Boston crab. Buck Irish whips Booker and lowers his head, Axe Kick from Booker! Tag to Stevie Ray, right hands all around. Scoop slams all around, Slater is clotheslined onto the apron. Powerslam on Stevie Ray, Booker and Slater brawl in the corner. Buck throws Stevie Ray to the apron, Buck and Slater are double-teaming Booker. Double right hand on Booker, Colonel Parker and Sherri are in the second ring, it looks like we might have something going on here. Sherri crawls over to Parker, Parker kisses Sherri while The Nasty Boys smash Slater with the boot and we have new tag team champions.

 

Oh boy, the biggest pop was for Sherri and Colonel Parker kissing. Harlem Heat are champions again so I guess that experiment is over, not sure if we are going back to Nasty Boys vs Harlem Heat but I really hope not, I have seen enough from those two teams. Anyways, Harlem Heat are not delivering for me as babyfaces, I am not sure if that will ever change which means tag team matches might be the toughest watch for me as I continue to watch WCW.

 

Winners: Harlem Heat over Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater via Boot To The Head!

 

Ric Flair vs Arn Anderson

Two best friends going to war, Flair & Anderson go back many years, as thick as thieves. Anderson was unwaveringly loyal to Flair, would do anything for him but when things went wrong as Anderson & Flair could not take down Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage or Vader, it was decided the two would do battle inside the ring. They make the match feel big by having wrestlers in the crowd, wanting to see what happens between these two. Big fight feel for sure, Flair does Flair, strutting and trying to throw Anderson off his game. Anderson remains stoic, they lock-up. Shoulder block by Flair, drop toehold by Anderson and slap to the head. Flair squares up to Anderson, side headlock by Anderson.

 

Big shoulder block and shove by Anderson, slap from Anderson. Flair is ruffled by that, Flair rolls to the floor. Flair tries to work the arm but Anderson reverses, knees the arm and slaps Flair. Side headlock into a hammerlock but Anderson reverses the hold, drop toehold into a front chancery but Anderson counters with a hammerlock. Anderson continues to work the arm, Flair trips Anderson but Anderson continues kicking the arm and works into a short-arm scissors. They continue to trade counters before Flair chops down Anderson, second chop takes down Anderson. Whip to the buckle, elbow from Anderson who climbs high. Flair tries stopping Anderson, Anderson lands a right hand and applies the sleeper but Flair knocks Anderson into the buckle.

 

Anderson counters with a middle rope knee to the back, hammerlock scoop slam by Anderson. Flair begs for mercy, Anderson goes into the hammerlock. Flair gets to his feet but Anderson pulls the hair and works the arm, Flair’s arm is smashed into the ring-post. Single arm DDT into a hammerlock, Flair is on his feet and uses Anderson’s trunks to send him to the corner. Chop by Flair, Anderson lands left hands. Flair flip to the apron but Anderson is low-bridged and tumbles to the floor. Flair is on the top rope, there is no way Flair is going to hit this. Diving axe handle to the floor, Flair nails a top rope move! Flair continues chopping Anderson, Flair admires his handy work on the floor. Anderson is on the apron, hot-shot from Flair. Another chop from Flair, Flair pulls down the knee-pad and lands the knee-drop.

 

Flair tries to steal the win with the ropes but Anderson is fighting out, Flair is caught as Anderson lands a knee and left hands. Whip to the buckle, back body-drop for two. Flair kicks Anderson hard in the ribs, Flair dumps Anderson to the floor. Anderson does something to Flair, it is obscured by Anderson’s back. Anderson back-drops Flair on the floor, left hands on the floor by Anderson. Anderson is suplexed on the floor by Flair, a right-hand floors Anderson. Suplex from Flair, stalling suplex that leaves both men down. Flair lands a clothesline for two, sunset flip counter from Anderson but Flair won’t go down. Flair tries a punch and punches the canvas, Anderson staggers to his feet.

 

Flair’s eyes are raked across the top rope, Flair flip into the tree of woe. Anderson stomps and chokes Flair, Anderson calls for the DDT. Flair holds onto the ropes to avoid the DDT, Anderson whacks his head off the canvas. Flair climbs high, Anderson stops that bullshit with a chop. Flair is yanked off, knee-drop by Anderson for two. Anderson calls for the end, Anderson is on the middle rope and eats a clothesline. Figure Four in the middle of the ring but Anderson blocks the foot of Flair but Flair fights through and locks in the hold. Middle of the ring, Anderson screams in pain as Flair almost gets the pin off of Anderson. Anderson finds a second-wind and reverses the hold, Flair has to break the hold. Anderson cannot stand, Flair is struggling too. Massive chop block from Flair, Anderson clutches the knee.

 

Flair is hobbling too, Figure Four is blocked for a small package by Anderson. 1…2… Flair kicks out and chop blocks Anderson, stomp to the knee and chops. Lefts and rights by Flair, Flair tries an Irish whip but Anderson collapses to the canvas. Brian Pillman is on the apron, Pillman decks Flair but Flair strikes back with a right-hand. Pillman kicks Flair in the head and Anderson lands a massive DDT on Flair for the win.

 

Excellent match between two people who know each other so well, these two are absolute masters in the ring and the crowd knows the history between the two, a huge amount of respect between the two men kicks us off with respect but Anderson has no time for Flair’s games which takes this to a whole other level as they continue to tear one another down and the crowd buys into Anderson against Flair as Flair styles and profiles like only he can as they tear one another limb from limb. Tremendous wrestling from both men with a finish that keeps us wanting more as we will see just what Pillman has to do with all of this and what a way to reinvigorate Pillman who I complained earlier was doing nothing in WCW.

 

Winner: Arn Anderson over Ric Flair via DDT!

 

(War-Games Match) The Dungeon of Doom vs The Hulkamaniacs

The Three Faces of Fear a.k.a. The Dungeon of Doom have declared war against The Hulkamaniacs. Lex Luger is here after jumping ship from the WWF, this is a big match. So, we have some of the cheesiest WCW content at this time with Hogan hamming it up to epic proportions. We have Sting, Savage & Luger as his back-up, interesting to know that Vader was meant to be originally part of the match before fucking off out of WCW.

 

If you do not know the rules of this match, this is a two-ring cage match that starts out with two men and continues until every member of each team has entered the ring, who enters is decided by a coin toss giving one team the advantage over the other. The match can only end when everyone has entered the cage and the way to win is by either submission or surrender. I do have to say that Sullivan hams it up to epic proportions in the pre-match vignette.

 

Sting to start with Shark, Shark starts hammering away on Sting. Shark snap-mares Sting and steps all over him, Shark bites the arm of Sting. Shark whips Sting to the buckle, the splash misses. Sting begins attacking Shark who powders to the other ring, Sting dives from the first ring to the second ring. Bearhug from Shark and biting too, Sting begins to fade and fade but manages to escape but Shark is still in control. Shark tries to dive onto Sting but gets caught between the ropes, Sting kicks Shark in the ribs over and over. Sting tries a dive but Shark tosses Sting down, Shark poses on the ropes and Sting crotches the big man. Sting kicks the legs of the big man, scissor-sweep from Sting. Sting wants a Scorpion Death-Lock, Sting turns Shark!

 

The first man will now enter as Team Dungeon of Doom win the coin toss, Zodiac is here but Sting is ready for the fight, Zodiac is kicked down by Sting. Scoop slam and Sting has a Scorpion Death-Lock before Shark lands a clothesline, Shark lands an elbow drop and Zodiac nails an elbow drop too. Leg drop by Shark, Sting lands a clothesline on Shark and Zodiac. Randy Savage comes into the match, Savage axe handles his way through both Zodiac and Shark. Boston crabs for Zodiac, Meng and Kamala are stretching the arm of Sting under the cage. Sting clotheslines Zodiac while Shark tosses Savage into the cage.

 

Kamala is in now, Kamala had beaten Duggan to establish him so yeah big deal here in WCW. Kamala starts clubbing Sting while Savage is being beaten down by Zodiac and Shark. Sting begins fighting back against Kamala but Shark comes in there and attacks Sting, here comes Luger though. Clothesline to Zodiac, clothesline to Kamala & Shark. Zodiac meets the cage, Luger cleans house before Luger hits Savage by mistake. Sting is trying to break up the two men fighting before Meng comes in and starts smacking everything in sight. Luger screams like only Luger can, Meng and Kamala are destroying Luger. Meng chokes the life out of Luger, Zodiac and Kamala batter Sting. Hogan comes in and has powder, the powder is throw into the eyes of all Dungeon of Doom members.

 

Eye-rakes and right hands to the head, Hogan batters Zodiac with right hands and biting to the head. Hogan & Luger throw Kamala into the cage, Zodiac meets the cage too. Meng meets the cage too, Shark meets the cage. Zoadiac meets the cage and is locked in the camel clutch, Zodiac gives up!

 

That’s it? That was tame as all hell! Are you serious? Hogan came in and did nothing but throw people into the cage and a camel clutch like that ends the match? Thank God for Anderson vs Flair because this was brutal, War-Games without blood is always a tough-sell but this was so comical in a way that this was meant to be this big main event but it was just so pedestrian. I felt this was genuinely insulting as a main event, could Hogan half-ass it as much as this? I didn’t think it was possible but it’s WCW in 1995 and the business in 1995 is not a pretty sight. I really do not know what else to say, it’s just there like so much of what Hogan has done in WCW. After the match, Hogan has Sullivan in the cage, beats on him for an eternity before Giant lumbers out and puts down Hogan setting up their match. Bleh

 

Winners: Team Hulkamaniacs over The Dungeon of Doom via Submission!

 

That was WCW’s Fall Brawl 1995, a middle of the road PPV from WCW. I have been harsh on the product, voicing my disdain for the direction of the company and the overhaul of talent with many 1993/1994 favourites like Regal, Pillman, Austin and Badd being pushed out or released in favour of Duggan, Kamala and more but I must say this PPV did not bother me majorly. We kick off with Badd vs Pillman that has a little meat to it but mostly is two guys going at it killing time so they can do sudden death, they have good chemistry and I would say the loss for Pillman did nothing to hurt him because he was already going nowhere in the company but with the angle that comes later in the show, this loss was definitely not going to hurt Pillman who finally looks like he will be back on track to be a big star in the company. Cobra vs Pittman and DDP vs Renegade are mercifully short so they are inoffensive and do little to sour my mood while watching the PPV, do they deserve to be on PPV? No but they weren’t horribly long so I will take them, Harlem Heat vs Buck & Slater is in an awkward spot because the crowd only wants to see Sherri and Parker and Harlem Heat are just so rough around the edges as babyfaces that it is not working.

 

Anderson vs Flair is everything that you could want from two old friends fighting for the first time ever, the history is there and the crowd is hot. Both men shine with their strengths on full-display and of course, Flair is going to make Anderson look like a threat and a huge big deal, the finish adds another interesting layer to what is going on here, what could be Pillman’s issue with Flair? Were Anderson & Pillman planning this attack? Does Anderson know his win over Flair was tainted? So many questions packed into an awesome match that just left me wanting more, excellent wrestling between the two. Finally, we come to the most timid and tame War-Games I have ever seen, it is a disgrace to the concept as Hogan walks out there, does a little work with the cage and slaps on the camel clutch and just like that, Dungeon of Doom vanquished once more. A one match pay per view when all is said and done but still more watchable than more recent efforts from WCW. Thanks for reading and checking out the page and remember: there’s always another night!