WCW Starrcade 1995 Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that asks the questions that have already been answered! It’s time for WCW’s Starrcade 1995 and I am fuming, you want an easy way to make me mad? Build all these interesting angles and then at your biggest show, throw them all aside for a battle bowl or in this case a series of matches between WCW and NJPW talent when the last PPV was perfect for this kind of thing being called you know a World War PPV. So this PPV is dominated by NJPW with Masahiro Chono, Shinjiro Otani, Koji Kanemoto, Jushin Liger and Kensuke Sasaki all making appearances on the card while we have a triple threat between Luger, Sting and Ric Flair to decide who will face the World Heavyweight Champion Randy Savage later in the night. What is this card? Let’s get this done with.

 

Chris Benoit vs Jushin Thunder Liger

A best of seven between WCW & NJPW to decide who wins the World Cup of Wrestling, I cannot believe they are doing this on their biggest show. Classic rivalry renewed here as Chris Benoit who was formerly The Pegasus Kid and later Wild Pegasus takes on Jushin Liger. Again, heels in WCW will play babyfaces here as they take on evil foreigners. At least Liger is known to the fans due to his battles with Brian Pillman in 1992 and even on the very first Nitro.

 

Lock-up and Benoit throws Liger to the mat, Benoit continues to out-power Liger. Side headlock by Benoit, shoulder block and leapfrogs and speed from both men. Arm-drags by Liger, dropkick. Baseball slide by Liger and an apron senton, crowd loves Liger. Dusty Rhodes is on commentary so you know tonight will have a special flavour, Benoit goes for a test of strength and pushes down Liger. Liger lands a beautiful head-scissors and a spinning wheel kick, chops from Liger. Tilt-a-whirl back-breaker by Benoit for two, Liger counters a powerbomb with an arm-drag, dropkick from Liger and Benoit powders. Benoit kicks Liger in the ribs and lands a snap suplex, Benoit lands a beautiful belly to back suplex. Left-arm lariat from Benoit, high-angle Boston crab from Benoit.

 

Liger escapes and strikes back at Benoit, Benoit goes low with a kick and plants Liger with a German suplex for two. Benoit is tripped for Liger who applies The Romero Special, Benoit is in agony. Liger transitions into a camel clutch with Benoit screaming out in pain, Benoit stands up with Liger on his back and plants him on the mat. Benoit tries a belly to back but Liger floats-over, Liger counters the tombstone for a slam. Liger climbs high, Benoit catches Liger. Top rope superplex, Benoit sells smacking his head off the canvas. Benoit covers for a close two, scoop slam by The Crippler. Benoit climbs high and misses The Diving Headbutt, Liger is dancing and prancing before grabbing Benoit by the hair.

 

Rolling Kappu Kick in the corner by Liger, Ligerbomb for a close two! Brainbuster from Liger! Benoit lands two German suplexes on Liger, Benoit lands a massive powerbomb and climbs to the top rope one more time. Benoit lands his Diving Headbutt, Kevin Sullivan has a problem with Benoit and Benoit is distracted by Sullivan and Jimmy Hart. Liger grabs Benoit in a hurricanrana and steals the win!

 

Nice match from these two who know each other so well, Benoit and Liger have great chemistry with one another and the bumps are crisp and nasty. Loved how physical it was, the finish leads into a big feud that will be coming soon and have big implications for both men but yeah from a neutral standpoint, it’s hard to see how the hot Horsemen who have been just reunited are going to feud with the comical Dungeon of Doom.

 

Winner: Jushin Liger over Chris Benoit via Hurricanrana!

 

Koji Kanemoto vs Alex Wright

It is really crazy to think that WCW said this is what we will do for Starrcade. Like the fans would be familiar with the likes of Liger, Chono and Muta but to bring over various juniors like Otani and Kanemoto is a brave choice. It’s even braver to put them with Alex Wright who has been floundering I would say during 1995, the babyface who is just a little too bland to really connect with the audience.

 

Kanemoto is in black pants with a sash looking like he’s come right out of a Bruce Lee Kung-Fu Movie. Big fan of Kanemoto and his work, don’t remember this look but certainly makes me laugh. They trade control to start out with both men showing great mat-work, Kanemoto takes down Wright by the leg before Wright lands an enzuigiri. Uppercut by Wright, Kanemoto doesn’t seem interested in selling for Wright. Kanemoto has wrist control before Wright uses a hip-toss. Japanese arm-drag and head-scissors from Wright, dropkick and Wright lands a spear to the chest. Wright lands a flying crossbody and both men spill to the floor, Wright is in the ring while Kanemoto comes back slowly. Baseball slide by Wright, plancha from Wright. Kanemoto regains control in the ring and lands chops, right hand to the head and more big chops.

 

Snap-mare into a knee to the back of the head, Kanemoto tries winding up the crowd but it’s for very little reaction. The fans chant USA at German born Wright so God knows who they are cheering for, Kanemoto dropkicks and kicks Wright all over. Wright tries suplexing Kanemoto into the ring, Kanemoto reverses and lands a tiger suplex but Wright is in the ropes. Kanemoto lands a Diving Moonsault but decides not to pin Wright, Kanemoto kicks Wright in the head over and over. More chops, whip to the opposite buckle. Wright leapfrogs Kanemoto and lands a German suplex for two, Wright keeps on the attack. Whip to the opposite buckle, elbow and a slam. Wright is climbing high, slingshot splash. Kanemoto has his foot on the ropes, Wright is on the top rope with both men trying dropkicks.

 

Wright is whipped to the corner, Wright leapfrogs to the top rope. Diving crossbody for two, Kanemoto kicks Wright in the chest. Scoop slam and twisting senton for two, Kanemoto climbs to the top rope. Wright avoids the diving crossbody with a dropkick, Wright lands a diving missile dropkick. Wright places Kanemoto on the top rope, superplex in the middle of the ring for a close two. Kanemoto reverses an Irish whip and Wright tries the leapfrog but Kanemoto lands the stun-gun and rolls-up Wright for the win.

 

They worked hard but the crowd did not give a damn in the slightest, I knew it was a brave decision to put the two out there on PPV, Kanemoto wasn’t going to give you 100% here, it was clear from the start and the finish wasn’t as smooth as it could have been.

 

Winner: Koji Kanemoto over Alex Wright via Roll-Up!

 

Lex Luger vs Masahiro Chono

Sweet Jesus we have one of the Three Musketeers coming in here against Luger who should be white-hot as a freshly minted heel. How could either man lose this match? I don’t see either man losing this match so this could be a disaster, Luger is cheered despite taking out Hogan & Savage. This is such an awful idea, let’s get it on though.

 

Luger slaps on a side headlock, shoulder block knocks down Chono. Military press drop from Luger, crowd has come alive for Luger. Vicious kicks to the ribs by Luger, Chono ducks and lands a flying forearm. Make it two, Yakuza Kick by Chono and Luger is on the floor. Both men stall before a test of strength, Luger cheap-shots Chono. Chono is man-handled into the corner, stomps by Luger. Chono blocks the suplex and drills Luger, knees in the corner and a choke by Chono. Luger fights back but is caught in a sleeper, Chono delivers a reverse DDT and applies The STF. Luger is in the middle of the ring and not doing well, Luger survives but eats an inverted atomic drop. Chono lands his Yakuza Kick again, Chono is climbing high but Luger counters with an elbow to the throat. Torture Rack from Luger! Chono taps!

 

Decent payday for Chono I imagine to lose like that to Luger, fans are cheering for Luger like a massive babyface which again fits the circumstances but damn man, throwing all this away for a random World Cup on your Wrestlemania Show is just nuts.

 

Winner: Lex Luger over Masahiro Chono via Torture Rack!

 

Johnny B. Badd W/ Diamond Doll vs Masa Saito

My boy Johnny B. Badd with Kimberly who looks fantastic and is flipping around the ring like a cheerleader, no DDP or continuation from feud but you can see the early formations of The Nitro Girls here. Masa Saito is a block of a man and I cannot see these two men’s styles gelling at all, this could be a disaster but let’s see how it goes between Saito & Badd.

 

Saito pushes Badd to the ropes, clean break and a bow. Hip-toss from Saito, sweep from Saito who looks for a cobra clutch like manoeuvre on the ground here. Both men are chopping one another, Badd celebrates prematurely as the two continue to chop one another. Side headlock and a throat shot from Saito, Badd is rammed off the turnbuckle. Sonny Onoo chokes Badd with the Japanese Flag behind the referee’s back, Kimberly is very concerned. Saito Suplex! 1..2.. Badd kicks out! Clothesline by Saito for two, Onoo attacks Badd again. Russian leg-sweep for two, Badd reverses an Irish whip and lands a knee-lift. Diving axe-handle from Badd, Badd climbs high again and lands his diving sunset flip for two.

 

Saito is begging for mercy and bows, Badd kicks Saito and throws his lefts and rights. Let it end soon oh Lord! Snap suplex by Badd, Onoo is on the apron and Saito measures and attacks Badd by the back and we have a DQ as Saito lifts Badd over the top rope.

 

Of all the matches to think that would end in a DQ I did not have this on my bingo card, the match is alright considering the contrasting styles but yeah this PPV is doing nothing for me and a whole lot of dull matches up and down the card.

 

Winner: Johnny B. Badd over Masa Saito via DQ!

 

Shinjiro Otani vs Eddie Guerrero

Very sad to hear about Otani’s current condition, the future was bright for both men here. So sad to think what the future would hold but anyways, Eddie Guerrero came to WCW and hasn’t had a chance to shine on PPV just yet but this should be a good showcase considering as Black Tiger, these two men would have tore it up in NJPW and much like Benoit, this style is very comfortable for Latino Heat. Otani rakes the eyes but is caught with an enzuigiri, Otani holds the back of his head, clearly rocked by Eddie’s kick to the head.

 

Eddie lands a snap-mare and stomps on Otani’s face, Otani trips up Eddie and works the leg. Eddie out-manoeuvres Otani and grabs a reverse chin-lock, Otani escapes and lands a monkey flip, Eddie lands a pop-up hurricanrana. Otani powders and recovers, Otani comes back into the ring to eat a dropkick. Scoop slam and tope atomico from Eddie, Boston crab from Eddie. Eddie lands a snap powerbomb for two, brainbuster from Eddie for a close two. Corner clothesline by Eddie, Otani leaps out of the corner and lands a springboard dropkick, springboard plancha. In the ring, Otani lands a dropkick. Otani grabs the hair of Eddie before going back to a foot-choke. Otani uses the bottom rope to choke Eddie, camel clutch with a little face-rake from Otani.

 

Eddie counters out of the hold with a belly to back suplex, Otani kicks out of the hold. Eddie lifts up Otani but Otani floats out and drills Eddie with a German suplex for a close two. Otani is on the apron, springboard spinning heel kick by Otani. Scoop slam and Otani goes high, the fans boo the Japanese talent. Eddie is too quick, Otani is caught with a top rope hurricanrana. Two for Eddie, Splash Mountain Bomb by Eddie for a close two. Standing switches from both men before Otani trips Eddie into a heel hook, Eddie reaches the ropes but Otani continues to hold on with Eddie screaming out in pain. Eddie side-steps Otani, Otani is sent into the guardrail. Scoop slam by Eddie, Eddie lands a springboard crossbody on Otani.

 

Otani is dead-weight at this point, Eddie has Otani and looks for a suplex on the floor. Otani suplexes Eddie into the ring, Otani lands a springboard dropkick to the back of the head. Dragon suplex attempt by Otani, Eddie counters with a hurricanrana, Otani rolls through for two. Eddie counters for two but Otani rolls-up Eddie and steals it.

 

Lots of fun in this one, more talent that is very familiar with one another and they just work at an electric pace towards the end with both men showcasing that junior heavyweight style that would be new to WCW fans, Otani and Eddie kick lots of ass here.

 

Winner: Shinjiro Otani over Eddie Guerrero via Roll-Up!

 

Randy Savage vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Tenzan was one part of Cho-Ten and would later become one of NJPW’s legends who stuck with the company through the good and bad, Savage is competing in this cup and will later defend his championship against the winner of a triple threat.

 

Savage pushes Tenzan to the corner, clean break from Savage. Tenzan is frustrated, Tenzan does not give a clean break the second time around. Tenzan stomps all over Savage, Savage is in trouble now. Savage meets the buckle, Tenzan applies the sleeper and dishes out some chops while Savage stumbles around the ring. Stiff clothesline for two, Savage is fighting back but Tenzan keeps coming back with massive headbutts. Shoulder claws from Tenzan, Savage rakes the eyes of Tenzan. Tenzan whips Savage off the ropes and lands a spinning heel kick. Tenzan lands an excellent throw and taunts the crowd, Diving Headbutt by Tenzan for two. Scoop slam and Tenzan misses the moonsault, Savage clotheslines Tenzan to the apron. Savage wants a suplex into the ring, Tenzan blocks before Savage lifts Tenzan onto the rope. Diving Elbow Drop by Savage and the match is over.

 

Wow pretty basic, really basic. Savage got beaten for 95% of it only to win like that? Talk about phoning it in, almost makes me want to laugh.

 

Winner: Randy Savage over Hiroyoshi Tenzan via Diving Elbow Drop!

 

Sting vs Kensuke Sasaki

Sasaki jumps Sting, we have a lot of history here as Sasaki took Sting’s WCW United States Championship and of course, the prestigious World Cup hangs in the balance. Sting fights back and lands a Stinger Splash within minutes, Sasaki reverses an Irish whip to the corner and lands a face-buster. Sasaki lands a massive clothesline, make it two. Sting ducks the third and lands a dropkick, clothesline to the floor. Powerslam in the ring by Sasaki, Northern Lights Bomb by Sasaki. Stretch-Hold by Sasaki, Sasaki releases the hold and applies his version of The Sharpshooter. Sting escapes, lands a kick and a face-buster before looking to apply The Scorpion Death-Lock. Sasaki gives up and Sting wins!

 

It's so short, how do I even write about it? It was a match, that’s about it.

 

Winner: Sting over Kensuke Sasaki via Scorpion Death-Lock!

 

Ric Flair vs Lex Luger vs Sting

Ric Flair is smarter than Luger & Sting as Flair did not wrestle in the World Cup and therefore, he is fresh. How do I feel about this match? Well, you think Hogan would be involved but nope why would the ex-champion be involved? Also how did Giant not involve himself in this one? Luger loses a coin-toss and must wrestle on the apron as Flair & Sting kick us off, this is a poor man’s version of the triangle match.

 

Sting shoves back Flair, Flair lets Sting do his thing. Flair kicks Sting, Sting lands his military press slam and clothesline, Flair scrambles to the ropes to avoid a Figure Four. Flair applies a hammerlock to wear down Sting, Flair uses the ropes for leverage. Flair lands a massive right in the corner, Flair works the hammerlock again. Sting fires up, hip-toss and dropkick. Military press slam again, Flair is begging for mercy. Ten punches by Sting, Sting bites the head of Flair. Face-buster by Sting, Flair powders. Sting is lured into Flair, Sting meets the guardrail but explodes out with a clothesline. Sting no-sells the guardrail this time, Flair is begging for mercy. Toss by Sting, Flair avoids the dropkick this time. Flair pounds on Sting before Sting rallies and lands a belly to back suplex, Sting looks for the win and Luger teases breaking up the pin.

 

Flair smacks Sting into the corner, Luger makes the tag and poses in front of Flair. Flair is on the ring, Luger gives chase. Luger picks up Flair and brings him to the ring, Flair is begging for mercy again. Flair goes low and works the ribs of Luger, shoulder block does not work for Flair. Luger knocks down Flair again and again, Irish whip and military press slam by Luger. Ten punches in the corner by Luger, Flair Flop. Flair suckers in Luger with a nice thumb to the eye, Flair goes after the knee. Chop block with precision accuracy, stomps to the knee over and over. Flair grabs a chair and waffles the leg of Luger, Sting was with the referee. Flair is strutting around in total control, Sting has to watch on from the apron. Flair drives his knee into Luger’s nuts and applies The Figure Four Leg-lock! Luger turns over the hold and reverses the pressure, suplex for two. Flair goes to the top rope, Luger yanks him off the top rope. Flair lands chops with no effect on Luger, Flair wants Sting & Luger. Flair tags in Sting, Sting & Luger now have to fight. Sting & Luger shake hands, Luger is ready to throw down.

 

Luger pushes Sting to the buckle, clean break. Sting does the same, Luger is not happy with Sting showing him up. Test of strength does not happen as Luger goes low and begins stomping Sting, Sting fights back before Luger lands a huge clothesline. Luger drops Sting throat-first across the top rope, Sting lands a diving crossbody for two. Sting lands a scoop slam but misses a Vader bomb as Luger uses his knees to block. Luger lands elbow after elbow, Sting holds onto the ropes. Back on their feet, Sting blocks a foot and smacks Luger. Luger blocks the scorpion and goes low on Sting, Luger wants a suplex but Sting counters for his own suplex. Sting lands a face-buster on Luger, Irish whip to the buckle. Stinger Splash connects, Sting misses the second splash. Luger has the Torture Rack. Sting kicks the referee with his boot by accident, Flair chop-blocks Luger who collapses to the floor, Flair throws Sting to the floor and both men are counted-out.

 

So this was one of the matches that had a bit of actual story and meat to it and it was executed poorly, really having someone stand on the apron in a three-way? You basically get 3 singles matches with the fans not exactly shouting to the heavens during the matches, Sting and Luger don’t even have that kind of will they or won’t they kind of thing going on, they just go at it like that. It was entertaining when it was Flair vs Sting or Flair vs Luger but Sting vs Luger was not nearly as interesting and I wasn’t invested sadly.

 

Winner: Ric Flair!

 

(WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match) Randy Savage © vs Ric Flair

The commentators talk about how Savage is all banged up and now has to wrestle again but Flair wrestled far longer than Savage and doesn’t even get a break so how does that make any sense that Savage would be more banged up or at a disadvantage?

 

Savage doesn’t even bother taking off his shirt, backslide and the match is almost over. Savage rips the shirt and tosses it at Flair, they lock-up with Flair having Savage in the corner. Kicks and chops by Flair, Flair wants the Figure Four but Savage kicks him off. Savage has a front chancery, Savage lands punches and drives Flair to the buckle. Flair Flip to the floor, Savage misses his diving axe handle. Paul Orndorff is here with a neck-brace, security get rid of him. Flair works the injured arm of Savage, Flair uses chops and the guardrail and finally, a hammerlock to hurt the arm of Savage. Flair continues working the arm but Savage fights back, shoulder block but Flair slaps on a sleeper. Savage runs into the rope so Flair smashes his face off the rope, Savage tries to sneak a pin-fall but Flair is too strong. Whip to the buckle and a back body drop by Savage, two clotheslines for two.

 

Measured right hands by Savage, Savage climbs high. Jimmy Hart is on the apron and throws Flair the megaphone. Savage is caught in the ribs coming off the top rope with a right hand, Flair tries using the megaphone but Savage lands a shot with the megaphone and a Diving Elbow Drop. Brian Pillman is here, Pillman is throw into Benoit. Flair is bleeding, the referee has missed all of this. Anderson nails Savage with a foreign object, Flair pins Savage.

 

Alright have to try and digest all of what I just saw, so Savage comes in the fresher man and having just won the World Championship in controversial circumstances at the previous month’s PPV. Savage and Flair have worked one another throughout the year with Savage ending the feud by gaining revenge for his father who was attacked by Flair. Flair had reformed The Horsemen and seemed to be heading towards a feud with Sting as Flair had once again double-crossed Sting yet here we are at the end of 1995 and Flair has beaten Savage and won the world championship. Did Hogan refuse to lose to Flair? Was Savage a transitional champion? Are they going to continue the feud? The match was short considering the nature of the show and I expected a Savage comfortable win as Flair was the one who went the distance to get here but nope, Flair triumphs and stands stall again in WCW. The match itself was nothing special, megaphone spot seemed a bit sloppy and Flair getting all that colour for the match to end seconds later? Wild stuff all around!

 

Winner: Ric Flair over Randy Savage via Foreign Object!

 

That was WCW’s Starrcade 1995, an easy enough PPV to breeze through with matches not reaching gigantic lengths but very little epic if any action on this one. I have hated for a long time the WCW concept of taking all their big angles and pissing them away on Starrcade for tournaments or battle bowl, this might take the cake as we have the show built around talent who half of them are not even WCW talent. So face and heel alignments are thrown out the window in favour of cheering the Americans over The evil Japanese and the Japanese talent are not over with the crowd at all. The matches that work well are the ones featuring talent who can work that NJPW Junior Heavyweight style so Benoit and Guerrero have very fun and entertaining matches with Liger and Otani respectively but with the likes of Wright vs Kanemoto and Saito vs Badd, it's a tough watch because they don’t really come together at any point. Luger vs Chono and Savage vs Tenzan are very short and kind of interesting considering how NJPW loved those two and you would think would be keen to protect them but here they are doing the JOBs quite quickly too, same treatment is dished out for Sasaki against Sting. The actual meat of the card comes in the poorly executed triangle, doesn’t really capture the drama that you would want considering the quality of star in that ring but they put over Flair big here as Flair comes out on top, raising questions about booking and how Hogan, The Giant and everyone will fit into this. I felt there was a lot of drama heading into the PPV considering how controversial the last show was and with Luger turning too, you had intrigue and interest but WCW throws this at me and it somehow feels just so WCW.

 

How did I feel about 1995? It sucks to see Vader out of the company considering how much fun Vader was in WCW, the thought of babyface Vader was interesting to me but alas, it wasn’t meant to be in WCW. Hogan on top in WCW has proved frustrating with The Hulkster phoning it in on multiple occasions and hamming it up to levels that would make any WCW fan change the channel. The influx of ex WWF talent hasn’t lit the world on fire but the wheels are beginning to turn a bit here now with the likes of Benoit & Guerrero coming in, the talent is coming into WCW but at the tip-top there is some weird things going on in the company. What will Hogan do next? Where does Sting fit in all of this? I guess we will see, thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!

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 Superbrawl III Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet with more long-term story-telling than NJPW! It’s time for WCW Superbrawl III where WCW enters the year of 1993 on PPV. This card looks a little rough, we have Dustin Rhodes as the WCW United States Heavyweight Champion taking on Maxx Payne? Cactus Jack vs Paul Orndorff in a Falls Count Anywhere Match and Great Muta vs Barry Windham for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. The PPV headlined by Vader vs Sting in a Strap Match with some fantastical whimsical name so we shall see how things go, Tony Schiavone steps up to the PPV plate as Jim Ross has sought greener pastures in the WWF.

 

The Hollywood Blondes vs Erik Watts & Marcus Bagwell

Austin and Pillman destroyed Douglas and Steamboat on the Clash after a fantastic tag match but now they are facing Watts and Bagwell? Bagwell has been directionless for some time now while Watts is far too high up the card with his inexperience. Austin and Bagwell begin, lock-up and stalemate. We have a heel crowd here tonight much like Anderson and Eaton’s experience at Halloween Havoc. Bagwell shoves Austin to the buckle, clean break but Austin shoves the face of Bagwell. Lock-up into an arm-drag from Bagwell, arm-bar from Bagwell. Wrenching arm-bar from Bagwell, Austin goes low and applies a top wrist-lock. Bagwell turns the tide and grinds down Austin with great wrestling, Austin pushes Bagwell to the corner and lands a massive elbow.

 

Right hand floors Bagwell, knees by Austin. Bagwell slips under two elbows and clubs Austin in the head. Bagwell throws Austin back in the ring, tag to Watts. Watts is hated by the fans, double back body-drop on Austin and double clothesline on Pillman. Pillman is in the ring now, Watts shoves down Pillman. Pillman goes low and lands elbows and chops, shoulder block by Pillman but Watts lands a Japanese arm-drag, dropkick and an arm-drag into the arm-bar. Bagwell comes in but Pillman rakes the eyes and in comes Austin, Bagwell lands a flying crossbody and dropkick on Austin. Side headlock takedown from Bagwell, tag to Watts who applies his own side headlock. Austin pulls the hair and shoves off Watts, Austin ducks his head too early and Watts lands a boot.

 

Abdominal stretch from Watts, tag to Bagwell. Bagwell applies the same hold, hip-toss and elbow counter from Austin. Tag to Pillman who lands chops before being caught in a military press slam, Pillman ducks a clothesline but eats another. Tag to Watts, Pillman shoves Watts into his corner. Austin lands a scoop slam and elbow drop, Watts blocks the splash with the knees. Oklahoma roll for two, Watts wants a Boston crab. It lands, Pillman steps in and boots Watts in the face. Austin makes the tag, Pillman stomps all over Watts. Chops from Pillman, Watts catches the boot and applies the STF but Pillman reaches the ropes. Pillman wants a time-out, Pillman cannot stand on his knee. Elbow in the ribs from Pillman, Watts is shit-canned to the floor. Pillman misses an apron axe handle and meets the guardrail.

 

Pillman pulls Watts into the buckle, tag to Austin. Double elbow from The Blondes, Austin tries an apron sunset flip after attacking Watts on the floor. Pillman clubs Watts from behind, tag to Pillman. Austin distracts the referee so the referee misses the sunset flip by Watts, Pillman rubs the face of Watts in the mat. Tag to Austin, middle rope elbow. Austin steps all over Watts, Austin nails Bagwell which allows the double-team, Watts is stretched all over the place. Watts blocks the rocket launcher from the Blondes! Austin lands a belly to back suplex for two, Austin whips Watts into the buckle. They bang heads from a whiplash effect and Austin misses smashing his knees off Watts on the ropes. Tag to Bagwell, right hands all around. Pillman begs for mercy, ten punches in the corner.

 

Powerslam, Austin rakes the eyes to make the save. Watts pairs off with Austin, Austin dumps Watts to the floor. Pillman clubs down Bagwell, Watts is distracted with the referee, Bagwell lands his Fisherman suplex but Austin comes off the top rope with an elbow to the ribs and Pillman picks up the win.

 

Apart from Austin and Pillman’s personalities, this one is fairly tame. I am not sure why we cannot have Austin and Pillman wrestling Douglas and Steamboat considering their last match was so good and it seems like a good way to have a great match on the PPV but sadly no, we have Watts and Bagwell.

 

Winners: The Hollywood Blondes over Marcus Bagwell & Erik Watts via Top Rope Elbow!

 

2 Cold Scorpio vs Chris Benoit

Benoit impressed in his PPV debut against Brad Armstrong while Scorpio impressed when bursting on the scene as the partner of Ron Simmons, Scorpio is pretty directionless though, this should be good.

 

Scorpio pushes Benoit to the ropes, headbutts and elbows by Benoit. Massive clothesline by Benoit, snap suplex from Benoit. Chop by Benoit, Scorpio counters with a middle rope crossbody for two, dropkick and spin-kick from Scorpio. We get down to business with some wrist-locks, Scorpio shows some fantastic athletics but Benoit is too quick, hip-toss into the arm-drag. Scorpio uses the ropes to escape, arm-bar from Scorpio. Benoit and Scorpio continue to trade counters before Scorpio lands a massive Japanese arm-drag and Benoit powders again. Test of strength, Benoit has Scorpio down and Scorpio is bridging before landing a monkey flip, Benoit tries a counter but Scorpio lands on his feet and dropkicks Benoit before landing an arm-drag into the arm-bar.

 

Benoit goes low and uses headbutts, they trade more counters before Benoit swats away a dropkick, Benoit misses an elbow drop. Superkick by Scorpio and another arm-drag, crucifix pin from Scorpio for two. Hammerlock from Scorpio, Benoit sends Scorpio to the buckle. More great counters before Benoit lands a clothesline, massive clothesline by Benoit. Back-breaker by Benoit, Scorpio knees away Benoit. Benoit lands a snap-mare into a reverse chin-lock, Benoit suplexes Scorpio onto the top rope. Forearm shots by Benoit, Scorpio shoulder thrusts Benoit but misses the missile dropkick as Benoit covers for two. Another chin-lock from Benoit, Scorpio fights back before eating a massive spine-buster and a Boston crab.

 

Benoit cannot make Scorpio tap so Benoit goes back to the chin-lock, Benoit chops at Scorpio. Benoit places Scorpio on the top rope, Benoit says it’s over. Belly to back Superplex from Benoit, both men are in tremendous pain. Benoit lands a powerbomb for a close two, Scorpio rolls through a powerbomb but too close to the ropes for a pin-fall. Scorpio is whipped to the buckle, knee and enzuigiri from Scorpio. Benoit ducks the spinning-kicks but Scorpio lands the clothesline, lefts and rights by Scorpio. Whip to the buckle and spinning splash, Twisting Moonsault for two. Irish whip reversed by Benoit, Scorpio tries a victory roll but Benoit face-plants him. Scoop slam and middle rope leg drop by Benoit for two, small package by Scorpio. Benoit tries the Dragon suplex but Scorpio counters with a victory roll for the win with a second left on the clock.

 

Good match here from these two, these two would hone and perfect their craft with more time but they are so young here and so athletic, they impress the fans with their counters and hard-hitting manoeuvres. A championship would add so much to this feud considering there is a light heavyweight championship or at least there might still be there. I think they could do a lot with a championship adding to the feud. Regardless, this had some really great moments in there and a sign of things to come with the cruiserweight division of WCW.

 

Winner: 2 Cold Scorpio over Chris Benoit via Victory Roll!

 

Wild Bill Irwin vs The British Bulldog

I like how Schiavone says Irwin returns to WCW, they are basically giving away that we brought him in just for the match. However, we are here to talk about the former Intercontinental Champion, The British Bulldog coming to WCW. Bulldog shoves down Irwin over and over, Irwin lands forearms but cannot rock Bulldog who lands shoulder block after shoulder block. Irwin is clotheslined to the floor, forearm and side headlock by Irwin. Hip-toss by Bulldog, Irwin kicks the ribs of Bulldog and clubs down Bulldog. Corner clothesline by Irwin and an elbow to the face, Bulldog kicks out at one.

 

Irwin sends Bulldog into the top rope and applies a sleeper but Bulldog clubs it out with Irwin, delayed vertical suplex from Bulldog. Bulldog lands a corner clothesline and a normal clothesline for two, whip to the buckle again and Irwin lands a boot. Middle rope dive into the Powerslam and this is over. Squash to establish Bulldog does the job.

 

Winner: British Bulldog over Wild Bill Irwin via Powerslam!

 

(Falls Count Anywhere Match) Paul Orndorff vs Cactus Jack

Orndorff’s post WWF career is certainly interesting, WCW did not work the first time around, the Gigante, JYD and Orndorff alliance against The Horsemen I would rather forget but here we have Orndorff with Vader going after the newly minted babyface in Cactus Jack. Cactus Jack attacks Orndorff in the interview area, Orndorff avoids the shovel and sends Cactus into the guardrail. Cactus fights back and headbutts, Orndorff meets the guardrail hard. Cactus slams Orndorff on the concrete, Cactus lands an elbow on the concrete for two. Cactus is on the middle rope, diving sunset flip onto the concrete. The sound of the flip is horrific, I cannot understand the logic here.

 

Orndorff kicks around Cactus in the ring, clothesline by Orndorff. They battle up the ramp and Cactus is whipped over two guardrails, Cactus is trading blows with Orndorff. Orndorff is sent back ringside, Orndorff suplexes Cactus over the guardrail. Orndorff attacks the braced knee of Cactus, shocking that it took this long to go there but here we are. Orndorff suplexes Cactus over the rope and onto the apron, Orndorff chokes Cactus with his knee-brace. Orndorff applies a figure-four, Orndorff sends the knee of Cactus into the concrete over and over. Orndorff grabs a chair, chair-shots to the injured knee. Quite brutal attacks here from Orndorff, good stuff as Orndorff calls for the piledriver on the chair but Cactus has the shovel. Orndorff is cracked between the eyes with the shovel and it’s over!

 

Ok I fell for Orndorff posing around the ring calling for the piledriver only to get waffled with the shovel, I forgot about the shovel so it was pretty clever how it was introduced in the beginning and didn’t play into the match until the finish. The attacks on the knee were brutal and was good stuff, shame there was not much heat for Orndorff but I liked this match, a decent effort from both men.

 

Winner: Cactus Jack over Paul Orndorff via Shovel To The Head!

 

(Smokey Mountain Wrestling Tag Team Championship Match) The Heavenly Bodies © W/ Bobby Eaton & Jim Cornette vs The Rock “N” Roll Express

How good it is to see Stan Lane and Bobby Eaton together once more, Eaton may only be on the floor for this one but such a nice sight. These tag matches were fantastic back in the day, always delivering when they would wrestle but this time, we have Tom Prichard in place of Bobby Eaton so will it make a massive difference? Also interesting to see Stan Lane after the Midnight Express because I am used to seeing Jimmy Del Ray in there with Prichard. Prichard and Gibson start, hip-toss and head-scissors from Gibson and a tag to Morton who lands a hurricanrana and a shot to the head of Lane.

 

Prichard makes a blind-tag but Lane runs into a hip-toss into an arm-drag into the arm-bar. Lane almost tags Prichard time and time again, Morton whips Lane into Prichard. Morton and Gibson continue to fluster The Heavenly Bodies, Cornette gets heat by hugging and consoling his boys. Prichard and Morton reset the match, to the corner we go with Prichard and Morton slugging it out. Morton continues to frustrate Prichard, atomic drop into Lane. Cornette is furious at ringside, Morton works the arm and tags in Gibson. Back-drop from Morton, Gibson lands an enzuigiri for two. Prichard begs for mercy, Morton comes back into the match.

 

Prichard pushes Morton to his corner, Morton fights out of the corner so The Bodies cannot double-team Morton. Cornette continues to talk strategy, Morton is talking to Cornette. Lane and Morton criss-cross, Cornette is chased by Morton and Lane knocks into Cornette. Big pop for that one, Morton is sent to the floor and Cornette stabs Morton with his tennis racket. Prichard throws Morton into the ring, Lane punishes Morton with the top rope. Clothesline and dance from Lane, Lane nails Gibson with a right hand so Prichard comes in and lands a diving axe handle. Scoop slam by Prichard, knee-drop for two. Prichard slaps on a reverse chin-lock, rest hold time boys.

 

Morton escapes but cannot avoid an axe handle from Lane, Prichard tags in Lane. Suplex and clothesline combination, elbow drop from Lane for two. Cornette is on the apron, Morton had a sunset flip but Prichard comes in for the boot. Morton fights back but cannot make it to Gibson, right hand after right hand. Prichard lands a sit-out powerbomb for two, tag to Lane. Morton lands a double DDT. Gibson gets the tag but its not much of a hot-tag, Prichard rakes the eyes. Back body drop on Gibson, double clothesline on Lane and double dropkick on Prichard. Lane and Morton are wrestling, Gibson yanks Cornette into the ring. Prichard lands a running bulldog, Gibson kicks out of the bulldog.

 

Lane and Morton are in the corner, Prichard back drops Gibson to the floor. Morton lands an inverted atomic drop on Prichard, the referee is arguing with Cornette. Bobby Eaton runs down and lands a diving elbow drop on Prichard by mistake, Morton knocks Eaton out of the ring and covers Prichard for the win.

 

Good tag team match, all the good stuff is here like Cornette getting involved, The Rock “N” Roll Express destroying Lane and Prichard before Lane and Prichard get the heat on Morton leading to a dramatic finish with lots of false finishes before sending the fans home happy. Great stuff here and a good advertisement for SMW.

 

Winners: The Rock “N” Roll Express over The Heavenly Bodies via Diving Elbow Drop!

 

(WCW United States Heavyweight Championship Match) Dustin Rhodes © vs Maxx Payne

Payne’s look is ridiculous, this was meant to be Rhodes vs Simmons but I have to ask where the fuck is Barry Windham? I know Rude was injured and had to vacate the championship but Rhodes vs Payne? Rhodes vs Simmons? Why is Windham battling Muta when the feud with Rhodes is there, I cannot even describe what I thought Payne would be wearing after seeing his gimmick but a black singlet with a thin blue stripe and no kneepads was not what I predicted. Rhodes is the quicker of the two, peppering Payne with right hands and roll-ups before Payne powders to the floor. Arm-bar from Rhodes, Payne shoves Rhodes to the ropes. Payne lands big knees, Rhodes lands another arm-drag.

 

Payne scrambles to the ropes, bearhug and slam to the corner from the challenger. Payne beats down Rhodes in the corner, snap-mare but Rhodes dodges the elbow drop. Rhodes works the arm, Rhodes is sent hard to the mat with a big slam. Arm-bar from Payne, Rhodes counters for his own hold but Payne reaches the ropes and lands a clothesline. Knee onto the arm of Rhodes, back body-drop by Payne. Rhodes fights back from his knees, boot to the head. Eye-rake by Payne, shoulder block with both men colliding. Flying crossbody does not work as Payne lands a scoop slam, Rhodes dodges the elbow drop.

 

Rhodes kicks back at Payne, flying clothesline from Rhodes. Rhodes suplexes the challenger for two, abdominal stretch from Rhodes. We sit in the stretch, Payne decides to pull the referee into Rhodes to escape the hold and we have a DQ. Payne continues to attack Rhodes, shoulder block from Payne on the floor and Rhodes is sent arm-first into the ring-post. Payne is sent into the ring-post, they keep fighting before it ends.

 

Garbage match really, who is Maxx Payne? What warranted him having that spot? Why was nobody else available for that match? It was really bad, I wish I didn’t have to sit through that because I should be enjoying an excellent program between Windham and Rhodes yet that is nowhere in sight. What gives WCW?

 

Winner: Dustin Rhodes over Maxx Payne via DQ!

 

(NWA World Championship Match) The Great Muta © vs Barry Windham

Muta is champion now defeating Chono at The Tokyo Dome show, Muta won the battle royal at Starrcade which I would rather forget because that event was a disaster but here we have the final two from the match doing battle for the championship. This is going to be interesting for me considering we have the NWA Championship being represented by The Big Gold Belt but by the end of the year the WCW World Championship will be back to being The Big Gold belt.

 

Fans chant for Flair who is watching at ringside, looks like these two have been overshadowed before locking up in that ring. Muta takes the back, Windham grabs the ropes. Windham shoves Muta, test of strength with Windham chants ringing out through the arena, the opposite of what they would want for a heel Windham. Side headlock by Muta, we will sit here for a while. We really do as Windham eventually sends Muta to the ropes, clean break before a roundhouse right from Windham. Shoulder block, dropkick from Muta back into the side headlock. We sit here for a while before Muta suplexes Windham, snap-mare into the Flashing Elbow.

 

Side headlock takedown, Windham elbows his way out of the hold. Muta misses a dropkick, big cheer from the fans. DDT by Windham, belly to back suplex on the floor. Suplex from the apron into the ring for two, scoop slam and knee drop from Windham. Make it two, two for Windham. Muta tries to fire up, sleeper from Windham. Windham uses the ropes for leverage before being caught, Windham lands a massive shot to the head. Muta is shit-canned to the floor by Windham, Muta rolls back into the ring. Muta begins to fire back at Windham, eye rake by Windham. Scoop slam and elbow drop for two, reverse chin-lock. Muta fights back, sunset flip goes awry as Windham lands a massive fist to the face.

 

Irish whip but Muta ducks and lands a flying crossbody for two, piledriver is blocked by Muta with a back body drop. Right hand by Windham, Windham continues to kick and punish Muta. Superplex time, Muta blocks the superplex with headbutts and chops. Diving chop from Muta, handspring elbow by Muta. Back-breaker and the moonsault misses for Muta, Muta lands a belly to back suplex. Back-breaker and the Moonsault is blocked with the knees, Windham lands a massive clothesline and the implant DDT for the win in the middle of the ring.

 

It's an interesting match for sure because the more you look at the WCW/NJPW relationship, you have to wonder was any of it good for NJPW apart from having The Steiners do business in their tag team division. Its been nothing but disasters for the likes of Muta and Chono since coming to WCW, the matches have been booed every time and it never works out for NJPW. This match was very boring, the headlocks were so drawn out and much like how Ric Flair had to wrestle like a blank canvas against Sting when portraying The Black Scorpion, I feel like Muta in WCW is stripped away of everything that makes him so much fun. Bad showing here for Windham!

 

Winner: Barry Windham over The Great Muta via DDT!

 

(White Castle of Fear Strap Match) Sting vs Vader W/ Harley Race

They are tied one a piece when it comes to matches, Vader defeated Sting for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship while Sting defeated Vader in the King of Cable Finals. Both matches were awesome because Sting puts over everything that Vader does like death, this is a strap match and normally, these are bottom tier gimmick matches for me because the finishes never vary. It is always some sort of oh the babyface was pulled in and touches it by mistake or the heel is crushed b the babyface and touches the buckle first. Sting lost his last strap match as Nikita Koloff was bounced into the buckle with the Stinger Splash.

 

This match starts with Vader pulling Sting around the ring, massive clothesline and elbow drop by Vader. Elbow drop to the groin by Vader, Vader wants a middle rope splash. It connects, Sting is dead already. Sting yanks the strap under the legs of Vader, right hands stagger Vader. Enzuigiri by Sting, Sting is on the middle rope. Diving clothesline by Sting, Sting is on the top rope. Diving top rope splash, second diving top rope splash. Sting wants to whip Vader, vicious shots to the spine of Vader. Race is on the apron and gets decked by Sting, Vader is down on the floor. Sting pulls Vader into the ring-post over and over.

 

Vader is bleeding on the back, Sting really went in on those strap shots. Scoop slam by Sting, Sting’s idea is to touch the posts on the outside as it is somehow easier to drag Vader. However, Vader sends Sting into the guardrail. Sting cannot maintain control as Vader kicks back Sting, Sting blocks the powerbomb and back-drops Vader. Sting misses his third diving top rope splash, splash from Vader. Vader Bomb connects, Vader whips Sting hard across the back. Avalanche Samoan Drop from Vader, Vader touches two corners but Sting survives by kicking Vader in the face. Vader climbs high again, Vader Bomb and Sting rolls out of the way. Vader climbs high again but Sting crotches Vader, Vader is yanked off the top rope.

 

Vader clubs Sting and wants a superplex, Vader connects with the superplex. Vader clubs Stings in the corner, Vader tries to pull Sting out but Sting lands a massive kick to the head of Vader. DDT by Sting, Sting is bleeding from Vader’s punches, shots in the corner by Sting who is looking like a different man. Vader is sitting down in the corner, unable to protect himself or fight back. Sting picks up Vader and touches three corners, the referee has been hit by a stray leg and Race pushes the referee in front of Sting who trips and does not reach the final turnbuckle. Vader drops all his weight on the ribs of Sting, Vader touches three corners with Sting fighting and fighting to stop Vader but the kick from Sting sends Vader into the final buckle.

 

This was a bloody war, we got to see another side of Sting here who is just unloading on Vader throughout the match. The visual of Vader’s back bleeding or Sting’s eyes as he smashed Vader in the corner was tremendous. These two have wonderful chemistry and I am guessing we have to have that championship match sooner rather than later because Sting overcoming Vader would be a fantastic story to tell considering how invested the fans are in the match and how much emotion Sting can draw from the fans when Vader is just smashing him around the ring. They don’t know how to have a bad match with one another, they always deliver and I am happy to see more of these two kick all sorts of ass in WCW.

 

Winner: Vader over Sting via Touching All 4 Buckles!

 

That was WCW’s Superbrawl III, a very up and down start to the 1993 PPVs for WCW, a lot of big names missing like Steamboat, Rude and Koloff leaves us with some less than stellar matches and we also have big matches that simply do not measure up to the hype. The Hollywood Blondes vs Bagwell/Watts is interesting only for Pillman & Austin, Bagwell has been left directionless not progressing from that rookie for a year now while Watts is being pushed beyond his capabilities. 2 Cold Scorpio vs Benoit is good in parts, both men are extremely talented and would improve greatly over the years but there are very solid here, they pop the fans and engage them in the match and also instead of giving us a draw, Scorpio gets the win at the last second which is a nice twist on the cliché draw finish.

 

Davey Boy picks up a big win in his debut in WCW, good star to have on your roster but can Davey Boy deliver with anyone not named Bret Hart at this stage in his career? Orndorff vs Cactus Jack in a Falls Count Anywhere match is quite fun, the finish was quite good I thought considering how the shovel had been introduced. Orndorff’s showmanship got a good laugh out of me and it continues to build momentum for Cactus Jack who is going to break through that glass ceiling in 1993. We have a solid tag match between The Bodies and The Express, all the good shenanigans I expected from Cornette and it still delivered but things take a drastic turn with what follows on from Cornette.

 

Dustin Rhodes vs Maxx Payne is horrific, really negative reaction to this gimmick from me. Seems out there and interesting, maybe a yin to Van Hammer’s yang but the guy looks like shit and wrestles like shit and I don’t know why champions in WCW have to have horrific opponents on PPVs especially in their first defenses, Rhodes could be getting the Simmons’ treatment here and that just makes me sad. Barry Windham winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship should be a wonderful moment for me as a big Windham fan, this match sucked. It was headlock after headlock, no heat to it, no flow to it and the fans only gave a shit about Flair. The main event kicks ass though, Sting vs Vader have that undeniable chemistry with one another, they work magic with one another and I want to see them continue to feud. Ups and downs, new faces again in WCW but can they deliver a year where they can gain steam? We shall see, thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!