WCW Superbrawl V Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that makes less of an impact than Bobby Fish debuting in a new company! It’s time for WCW’s Superbrawl 1995 headlined by Hulk Hogan defending against Vader, a man who has been number one contender for many months and was sidelined by The Three Faces of Fear vs Hogan angle. However, we are going to see the two clash. Sting is teaming with Randy Savage to take on the newly minted heel Big Bubba Rogers who has aligned himself with Avalanche. We also have the continuation of Harlem Heat vs The Nasty Boys, Alex Wright is taking on Paul Roma and Hacksaw Jim Duggan is taking on The Bunkhouse Buck! Doesn’t seem like a great card at all, quite disappointing if I am honest. I have little faith in this undercard but I guess we will see how things goes!

 

Paul Roma vs Alex Wright

How the hell was Roma in The Horsemen? Every time I look at him I think how could this guy have been the man to fill that gap? Happy to see Wright continue to be featured, this match starts with Roma jumping Wright while Wright is dancing. Roma has a red and black singlet which covers his physique so not sure what he was thinking as it’s all he really had going for him, Roma is going for a military press and Roma lands an ugly one. Roma mocks Wright’s dance, good to see Wright struggling to be a babyface due to his dancing. Right hands by Wright but Roma uses the laces of his boot to take down Wright. Sunset flip counter by Wright for two, arm-drags by Wright into an arm-bar. Roma reverses and pulls the hair of Wright to maintain control. Arm-drag counter by Wright, we have babes at ringside. Why do we have babes? Another arm-drag by Wright, Paul Orndorff is coming down to ringside.

 

Wright looks concerned, Roma looks to his partner feeling a bit more confident. Roma escapes with big elbows, landing elbow drops and pulling down his singlet. Back-breaker by Roma, make it three. Wright is tossed to the floor, Orndorff watches on not interfering. Clubbing blows to the chest, Roma kicks Wright to the floor. Back in the ring, Wright tries a backslide and small package but Roma survives. Elbows and stomps to the head, Roma rakes the face of Wright. Reverse chin-lock from Roma, Wright fires up and escapes. Right hands but Roma holds onto the ropes and avoids a dropkick, Roma lands his massive elbow drop. Roma marks out for himself, Roma misses a corner splash. Wright lands European uppercuts, ugly looking hip-toss. Spinning heel kick. Wright lands a diving crossbody, Orndorff pulls off Wright to save Roma. Roma is jaw-jacking with the referee, Roma lands a scoop slam. Orndorff and Roma chat, Wright dropkicks Roma into Orndorff and rolls-up Roma for the win.

 

That felt long, not insulting but definitely on the long side, there was a reason Roma was in tags because nobody wanted to pay to see Roma in singles matches while Wright’s gimmick is probably not connecting the way WCW wanted but still Wright is building momentum. Definitely a tough spot but this was far too long for me.

 

Winner: Alex Wright over Paul Roma via Roll-Up!

 

Bunkhouse Buck W/ Meng & Colonel Robert Parker vs Hacksaw Jim Duggan

Yeah this is where I expected Duggan to be on the card but makes me sad for this stable considering how good Buck was in that match with Rhodes before they ran that shit into the ground. Hopefully this is brief, Duggan punches the shit out of Buck to begin the match. Right hands and forearms stagger Buck, Buck rakes the eyes. Irish whip and a hip-toss by Duggan, Duggan clotheslines Buck to the floor. Duggan is sent into the ring-post, Buck tastes a knee to the back of the head. Reverse chin-lock by Duggan, atomic drop and heavy right hand by Duggan. Another chin-lock by Duggan, Duggan bounces Buck off the buckle. Duggan is smashed in the throat with a rope by Buck behind the referee’s back. Duggan is thrown to the floor, smashing into the guardrail.

 

Duggan is caught in a reverse chin-lock from Buck, this is rough. Duggan carries Buck to the corner, gut shots by Duggan. Elbows to the ribs, Buck lands an elbow to stagger Duggan. A brawl breaks out with Duggan winning that war, Duggan begins to fire up and throws right hands before dragging Buck to the corner. Shoulder thrusts in the corner, back body drop by Duggan for two. Buck takes over with knees and back-rakes, Duggan is firing up though. Rights and lefts by Duggan, reverse chin-lock by Duggan. Duggan and Meng have words, Duggan scoop slams Buck and lands the Old Glory Knee-Drop for two.

 

Duggan applies another REVERSE CHIN-LOCK, why is the babyface dominating the match? Why is he leading this match? How am I suppose to cheer for Duggan when he’s kicking the ass of Buck? Ten punches in the corner by Duggan, Buck fights back with Parker getting knocked off the apron. Buck freaks out so Duggan lands The Three Point Stance Clothesline for the win. Meng superkicks Duggan’s head off after the match and a nerve hold is applied.

 

Sweet Jesus this was rough, recently wondering what the fuck they were thinking making Duggan go 12 minutes, it’s brutally long and if you weren’t already lukewarm on WCW in 1995, their first two matches on PPV in 1995 have done nothing to squash your fears, it is brutal.

 

Winner: Hacksaw Jim Duggan over Bunkhouse Buck via Three-Point Stance Clothesline!

 

(Special Grudge Match) Dave Sullivan vs Kevin Sullivan W/ The Butcher

Oh my God, WCW what are you doing to me? No longer in his Hogan gear, Dave is here to kick some ass, scoop slams and right hands by Dave. Irish whip and an elbow to the face, shoulder blocks by Dave before Butcher trips up Dave. On the floor, Sullivan sends Dave into the ring-post. Butcher stomps Dave behind the referee’s back. Sullivan continues to stomp and chop Dave, Dave begins to kick back at Sullivan but Sullivan is just chopping away at Dave. On the apron, Dave fights back. Two-handed toss by Dave, more chops by Sullivan. Leg across the back by Sullivan, Dave blocks the second attempt. Dave is smashing Sullivan, Butcher is on the apron. Dave is distracted, Sullivan sends Dave into Butcher and wins with a roll-up.

 

What a great grudge match right? Lots of hardcore spots and weapons etc right? Yeah absolutely nothing, Dave is horrific in the ring and Sullivan is laughable at times due to his size but their original match was horrific this was even worse so yeah, brutal kick off to this PPV.

 

Winner: Kevin Sullivan over Dave Sullivan via Roll-Up with Handful of Tights!

 

(WCW World Tag Team Championship Match) Harlem Heat © W/ Sister Sherri vs The Nasty Boys

This feud kicked off as Harlem Heat returned to WCW from wherever they went, they were missing for like a year on PPV and Clashes but anyways, they came back with a vengeance and had a secret weapon: that being Sister Sherri who helped them capture the championships.

 

Lots of stalling before Booker and Knobbs kick us off, clean break before Booker works the arm. Knobbs reverses, Booker goes to the ropes. Slap by Knobbs, eye-poke by Booker. Knees to the ribs, Booker misses his Harlem side-kick and has his balls smashed into the rope over and over. Sags lands a clothesline on the floor, shockingly we have Nasty chants in this match. Sags works over Booker’s groin. Sags and Booker wrestle for what seems like a millennium as nothing really goes on until Booker dropkicks Sags to the floor, Stevie Ray and Sherri gets some heat on Sags. Stevie Ray and Booker work over Sags who is getting his ass kicked here, Sherri taunts Sags while Knobbs is irate on the apron. Slap from Sherri, Booker has Sags in a reverse chin-lock before Booker nails a Harlem Sidekick. Stevie Ray comes in and roughs up Sags, Booker and Stevie Ray take turns battering Sags before Booker misses a middle-rope elbow. Powerslam by Sags, could we finally have a tag? Knobbs gets the hot-tag, clotheslines and right hands all around. Scoop slams too, Knobbs is fired up. Stevie is whipped to the buckle, corner clothesline. Double DDT by Knobbs, an actual reaction from the fans. Splash on Stevie Ray, Sags and Booker on the floor. Sherri cracks Stevie Ray with her shoe and Knobbs rolls-up Stevie Ray for the win but the referee has to reverse the decision because Sags threw Booker T over the top rope.

 

Fucking terrible, proper terrible. Could not wait for this match to end, it’s unbelievably bad. Anything with Nasty Boys that is not a brawl is brutal, this went 15 plus minutes, this was horrific. Easily on its way to becoming one of the worst PPVs I have ever recovered.

 

Winners: Harlem Heat over The Nasty Boys via DQ!

 

Blacktop Bully vs Dustin Rhodes

So the former Khrusher Kruschev, Smash and Repo Man is here as Blacktop Bully, Bully has been sitting ringside for months antagonizing the babyfaces before stepping over that guardrail and getting involved, Meng and Colonel Robert Parker cannot stay at ringside. Rhodes has unfortunately slid down the card with this horrific feud, Rhodes lands huge right hands on Bully. Bully comes back into the match but Rhodes will not be denied in this one, working over the arm of Bully. Scoop slam by Bully but Rhodes still has control over the arm. Rhodes uses his laces on Bully, Bully lands a knee and goes into a reverse chin-lock but Rhodes comes back with a hammerlock. Rhodes continues to work the arm, Bully whips Rhodes to the opposite buckle. Springboard elbow by Rhodes, Rhodes lands a roundhouse right on Bully.

 

Suplex by Rhodes, sunset flip by Rhodes for two. Bully misses a clothesline and tumbles to the floor, Rhodes slams Bully into the steel steps. Bully lands a clothesline in the ring to regain control, Bully lands a belly to back suplex for two and then grabs a reverse chin-lock. Rhodes tries a flying crossbody but cracks himself over the steel steps, Bully sends Rhodes into the apron. Stomps to the head from Bully, Bully turns to face the crowd. Rhodes trips up Bully and sends Bully into the ring-post but Rhodes misses an elbow drop in the ring.

 

Bully looks for a suplex, beautiful snap suplex. Bully goes to the middle rope, clothesline counter from Rhodes. Back body drop and Rhodes pulls the shirt over Bully’s head, inverted atomic drop by Rhodes. Bulldog by Rhodes, Parker places Bully’s foot on the ropes, Parker is caught by Rhodes. Suplex into the ring? Parker is planted and sells accordingly, Bully is up though and misses a clothesline. Bully is on the apron, Rhodes wants a suplex into the ring. Parker trips Rhodes and holds down his legs so Bully can win the match.

 

Another long snooze fest here which is so sad to see considering I am such a huge fan of Rhodes but this Parker feud has gone on far too long. Bully getting the win means this shit is going to continue and it’s just beyond stale at this point, they had The War Games match and the perfect blow-off but they just couldn’t let it go.

 

Winner: Blacktop Bully over Dustin Rhodes via Shenanigans!

 

Sting & Randy Savage vs Big Bubba Rogers & Avalanche

Are we to believe any of these guys are threats to Savage or Sting? At every corner, The Three Faces of Fear have failed and even with Big Bubba Rogers, they have an abysmal win and loss record. Why is Keiji Mutoh here?

 

Sting and Avalanche to start, Avalanche powers over Sting. Sting clotheslines and dropkicks Avalanche, Big Bubba attacks Sting on the apron. Gut shot by Big Bubba, Big Bubba lands a massive back-breaker. Big Bubba climbs high, Savage derails Big Bubba who lands on his groin and Sting lands a superplex. Sting getting the biggest reactions on the card right now, Big Bubba is bounced around by the babyfaces. Savage is here now, Big Bubba jumps Savage. Right hand by Big Bubba, Savage fights back from underneath. Sunset flip doesn’t work for Savage but Big Bubba misses the splash. Savage slaps Avalanche, Avalanche comes in. Another slap, Savage is tossed down like a scrub. Avalanche falls on Savage who tried a scoop slam, Avalanche misses a splash and is stuck on the top rope. Gut kicks from Savage and Sting, Sting kicks the knees of Avalanche, Scorpion Death-Lock time. Savage and Big Bubba are brawling, we have a pier-six brawl.

 

Stinger Splashes all around, Avalanche explodes out of the corner and throws down Sting, Avalanche misses a splash and Sting slams him but Sting is in the wrong corner. Big Bubba decks Sting but Sting falls on the crotch of Avalanche, hot-tag time? Savage is in the ring, diving axe handle to Avalanche. Clotheslines all around, we have another breakdown with Savage slamming Big Bubba. Diving Elbow Drop connects on Big Bubba, Sting is climbing to the top rope. Savage is with the referee, Sting lands a diving clothesline on Avalanche for the win.

 

Wait Sting was not the legal man? Like usually these breakdowns get complicated and it’s hard to tell but Savage clearly just got the tag, how did the referee lose track of that? Incompetent twat but anyways, this was easily the best match on the card, actual action and interesting wrestling.

 

Winners: Team Sting over Team Big Bubba via Diving Crossbody!

 

(WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match) Hulk Hogan © W/ Jimmy Hart vs Vader

Oh it’s time with Vader being out of the championship picture for at least a year at this point as Ric Flair would defeat Vader in that cage match at Superbrawl but now after being number one contender for many months, Vader gets his chance at Hogan.

 

They lock-up, we go to the corner. Clean break from Vader, right hands from Hogan but Vader does not even move, Vader just takes off his mask. Lock-up, slaps to the face from Hogan. Vader is just getting angry, corner clothesline and no effect. Hogan grabs the arm, elbows to the wrist. Vader sends Hogan to the corner, rights and lefts from Vader. The challenger is destroying Hogan, short-arm clothesline rocks Hogan. Corner splash by Vader, Vader chases Hogan on the floor. Vader is whipped into the crowd onto the lap of Flair, Vader is not happy. Hogan batters Vader in the ring, chops over and over. Ten punches and a clothesline knocks down Vader, big boot and clothesline sends Vader to the floor.

 

Vader Hammer floors Hogan, headbutt by the challenger. Rights and lefts and a short-arm clothesline by Vader. Vader sets it up, Vader Bomb connects! 1…2… Hogan kicks out! Vader chokes Hogan on the mat, Vader misses the Vadersault as Hogan dodges. Hogan grabs a chair, chair to the face from The Hulkster. No DQ? Hogan misses his clothesline, Vader chokeslams Hogan down. Elbow drop on Hogan, Hogan kicks out and Hulks Up! Right hands by Hogan, big boot by Hogan. Atomic Leg Drop and Vader kicks out at one, Vader knocks Hogan into the referee. Vader Powerbombs Hogan, cover but there is no referee. Ric Flair sprints into the ring and counts the three, referee is not able to count the three when needed. Splash by Vader, Hogan kicks out at two and sprints up. Clothesline to the floor, Flair chops Hogan and that doesn’t work. DQ.

 

Well when Vader was smashing Hogan it was electric, there was a feeling in that building that Vader would topple Hogan, both men do their best in this one and while the finish is weak, it’s still a seriously fun match. Vader no-selling everything is always great, Hogan rallying with the crowd is always good stuff so I don’t hate it as much as I have seen others hate it. Leaves it open to a rematch so that could be fun, I am optimistic surprisingly.

 

Winner: Hulk Hogan over Vader via DQ!

 

That was WCW’s Superbrawl 1995 and oh boy, that was WCW showcasing some of its absolute worst stuff on PPV. The first three matches are awful, horrific long matches that don’t do anybody involved any favours. Alex Wright is not looking great after that match, I never want to see Buck vs Duggan ever again after that match and The Nasty Boys are one of the worst teams to ever exist when it comes to putting together matches, they are horrible in that ring when it is not a brawl. Really disappointed with this stretched out feud for Rhodes vs Colonel Parker, it should have ended a long time before this but they continue to stretch it out, it’s beyond frustrating for me to see the downfall of Rhodes but that will end soon. Sting and Savage bring the crowd alive, they bring energy and a much needed passion/intensity to the PPV and have a solid match with two big men who can get the job done with the right opponents, the crowd stays with them for the main event also but this was so rough to get through, so boring at times I questioned do I really want to do this with my spare time but nonetheless, the last two matches are entertaining and watchable but everything else is horrific, avoid this like that cheap chipper on the way home after a rake of pints because you know that shit ain’t no good for you! Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!

WCW Clash of The Champions XXIX Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another episode of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that throws kayfabe out the window at media scrums! It’s time for Clash of The Champions XXIX! The last Clash of 1994 and there are not many of these clashes left as we will be limited to 2 per year moving forward, mad to think that I have ran through so many of these cards, most were forgettable with the occasional classic in there, let’s see if we can end 1994 on a high with this Clash? The only match they promote is the six-man tag between Kevin Sullivan’s team against Hogan’s team. Let’s get it on!

 

(WCW World Tag Team Championship Match) Pretty Wonderful © vs The Stars & Stripes

Another rematch? Got damn it, can’t we get some fresh blood in here? Looking at the card, it is all rematches except Vader vs Rhodes and the main event. We even have Honky back on the card, what have I done to deserve this?

 

The champions are annoyed by the Paula chants, if the challengers lose The Patriot will unmask. Bagwell and Orndorff to start, elbows from Orndorff and a right-hand floors Bagwell. Tag to Roma, boots and right hand from Roma. Bagwell is rocked, Irish whip is reversed by Bagwell. Roma leaps over Bagwell before getting caught with a clothesline after a crossbody, hip-toss and a dropkick. Patriot clotheslines down Orndorff, the champions are being pin-balled around by the challengers, the crowd is hot. Patriot and Orndorff are going to reset the match, we have a lock-up with both men trying to push the other. Arm-drag by Patriot, hip-toss but the elbow misses, Orndorff misses an elbow. Drop toehold by Orndorff, Patriot counters with a hammerlock to avoid a side headlock. Orndorff scrambles to the ropes, Orndorff reassesses the situation.

 

Side headlock by Patriot, shoulder block but a knee lands by Orndorff. Tag to Roma, back-breakers by Roma. Three of them, impressive and a fist-drop from Roma. Two for Roma as Bagwell makes the save, shoulder block by Patriot. Inverted atomic drop, Bagwell lands a right from the apron. Atomic drop on Roma, Thesz press for two. Tag to Bagwell, axe handle to the arm. Stun-gun like manoeuvre by Roma, think it was a flapjack but Bagwell is dropped on the floor and Orndorff decimates Bagwell on the floor with knees. Patriot looks on concerned for his partner. Hot-shot from Orndorff, elbow to the groin.

 

Right hand by Orndorff, Bagwell eats the mat. Orndorff lands his elbow to the head, dropkick from Roma. Powerslam by Roma for two, tag to Orndorff. Reverse chin-lock by Orndorff, Bagwell fights back briefly before Orndorff rakes the eyes. Snap-mare is countered by Bagwell, clothesline by Orndorff after the backslide attempt by Bagwell. Sunset flip from Bagwell, Roma makes the save with an elbow. Patriot comes in to help but Patriot is dumped to the floor, Orndorff suplexes Bagwell while Patriot shoves Roma off the top rope. The referee counts and Bagwell puts up his shoulder at the last second.

 

On par with the other matches these have had, a bit shorter but I am fine with that. The crowd is with Stars & Stripes which adds a bit to the match, usually the crowd would have the same tepid reactions to Stars & Stripes that I have, the tag team division is still not great so I am hoping major changes is coming soon enough. Might be the end of Orndorff’s run in the next year so I would just like to go on record and say I had no idea how much of a part he was in early 90s WCW, the guy had been involved in some major feuds and a constant feature in the mid-card scene and with his goofy elbow and brutal piledriver, you can count me as a big Mr. Wonderful fan.

 

Winners: Stars & Stripes over Pretty Wonderful via Shoulder Up!

 

(WCW World Television Championship Match) Johnny B. Badd © vs The Honky Tonk Man

Rematch city bitches, these two stunk it up at Halloween Havoc. I am not sure how much things will change here but the crowd is lively, Honky ducks Badd. Honky wants no part of him, they lock-up. Clean break from Badd, Honky is not happy with the fans calling him a coward. Honky takes the arm, arm-wrench and a stomp to the arm. Elbows to the arm, Badd comes back with a hammerlock and sends knees into the elbow of Honky. Honky is in the ropes, Honky is not happy claiming Badd pulls the hair. Fist to the head from Honky, Honky says it was open-handed, back-rakes and to the buckle. Atomic drop from Badd, Badd messes up the hair and lands a massive right hand. Honky pulls down the strap, Honky wants to box.

 

Honky hides again, the referee gets between the two and Honky lands a fist to the head. Elbows from Honky, scoop slam and middle rope fist drop. Reverse chin-lock, Badd counters the shake, rattle and roll. Badd is fighting back, Honky meets the buckle. Inverted atomic drop, ten punches in the corner. Knee-lift from two, Honky shoves Badd into the referee. Honky has the guitar, Badd is cracked in the head but the referee saw it, Honky is disqualified!

 

Much better than a time-limit draw, much shorter too. However, we are going to have another match aren’t we? I think Honky coasted on the success of the gimmick and how hot the WWF was at the time because seeing Honky in WCW just does not have the magic of the WWF days. Maybe he was never any good haha but here in WCW, Honky has not been doing anything to make Johnny B. Badd look good.

 

Winner: Johnny B. Badd over Honky Tonk Man via DQ!

 

The Nasty Boys vs Harlem Heat

Feels like a year since I have seen Harlem Heat on PPV, Sid being fired from WCW may have hurt them a lot because they were his backups heading into that War Games Match with The Shockmaster etc. The Nasty Boys are your babyfaces still and any match that isn’t a brawl with these two is usually horrific. Booker and Knobbs begin, lots of brawling. Eye-rake by Booker, Knobbs is whipped to the buckle. Elbow counter and a stiff clothesline, scoop slams for Harlem Heat. Tag to Sags, double clothesline. Double corner splash, Sags and Stevie Ray brawling now, Stevie Ray winning that war. Boot by Sags,  face-buster by Sags. Tag to Knobbs, double beatdown on Stevie Ray, Booker is irate.

 

Wishbone-split on Stevie Ray, knee-drop for two. Tag to Knobbs, splash to the knee. Knee-wrench by Knobbs, we have a commercial break and Booker is kicking Knobbs in the face and to the floor. Stevie Ray lands a clothesline to the floor, Booker is limping and I am not sure if he is selling. In comes Stevie Ray and pump-kicks Knobbs, beatdown in the corner. Flying clothesline by Stevie Ray, tag to Booker. Harlem side-kick by Booker, Knobbs avoids the diving fist-drop. Tag to Sags, clotheslines and fists all around. Elbow to Stevie Ray, clothesline to the floor. Stevie Ray is calling someone, what? Knobbs sends Booker into the ring-post, Booker continues calling. Sherri is the secret boss, Sherri is coming to ringside. Knobbs is distracted, Booker T lands a diving fist drop on Sags and Stevie covers to steal the win as Knobbs deals with Sherri.

 

Well that’s the start of a tag team rise and it’s exactly what the WCW tag team division needed because it was dying a slow-death. Lots of brawling with this one, no real build to the hot-tag but that’s the thing about Nasty Boys matches: If I was forced to sit through that, I would probably not finish the match because I can’t stand them.

 

Winners: Harlem Heat over The Nasty Boys via Diving Fist Drop!

 

Vader W/ Harley Race vs Dustin Rhodes

So Vader is still number one contender yet his match at Starrcade will more than likely not be Hogan as Hogan is busy with The Three Faces of Fear. Dustin Rhodes has been stuck battling The Stud Stable which has slid down the card and lost its centrepieces in Sid and then Austin. Rhodes has moved on but against the number one contender, I don’t fancy Rhodes’ chances. Vader shoves Rhodes to the corner, massive shots. Rhodes tackles Vader and drops all his weight on him, slaps all around. Vader is being bitch-slapped, this is insane. Crowd is going wild, Rhodes ducks clotheslines and lands a flying crossbody for two. Vader is clotheslined to the floor, Rhodes is on fire.

 

Rhodes knocks down Race, Vader has to recover. In the ring, Rhodes beats down Vader in the corner. Corner splash, Rhodes suplexes Vader. Vader rolls to the floor, Rhodes is with the referee before Vader comes back with a massive splash. Rights and lefts shots to Rhodes, Rhodes is down. Vader misses a corner splash, roll-up by Rhodes for two. Clothesline by Vader turns Rhodes inside-out, Vader tries a splash but Rhodes counters for a scoop slam. Sunset flip but Vader misses his splash, flying clothesline and mounted right hands by Rhodes. Rhodes shoves the referee, Rhodes tries a bulldog but Vader picks up Rhodes and dumps him on the floor. Vader Bomb! Vader climbs high again, Vader Bomb for two. Clubbing blows from Vader, Rhodes begins to rally though. Rhodes slams Vader who tried a middle rope crossbody.

 

Rhodes lands right hands, Vader cannot land any attacks. Elbows and a slap, clothesline staggers Vader. Vader will not go down, bionic elbows are not enough. Rhodes lands a diving clothesline on Vader, two for Rhodes. Middle rope DDT by Rhodes for two, bulldog time for Rhodes. Bulldog connects! 1..2… Race is in the ring. Rhodes is squished into Race, wheelbarrow slam by Vader for the win.

 

A damn good match from the fiery Rhodes who can turn it up and I would say is underrated in WCW during this era because Rhodes can go and take a match that has no angle and make it into something super meaningful. Would love to see these two go at it again. At the end of the match, Duggan makes the save which makes me laugh that we could have Vader vs Duggan. Anyways, Rhodes is great and Vader is great and it’s nice to see how good these two can be.

 

Winner: Vader over Dustin Rhodes via Wheelbarrow Slam!

 

 (WCW United States Heavyweight Championship Match) Hacksaw Jim Duggan © vs Stunning Steve Austin

Rematch time, Duggan gets the crowd going before shoving down Austin, Austin cowers in the ropes. Austin says Duggan pulled the hair, Vader is here and the match is over. Vader beats the shit out of Duggan briefly before Duggan picks up the 2X4 and we have a stand-off. Vader and Austin as allies? We shall see, that was a waste though.

 

Winner: Hacksaw Jim Duggan over Stunning Steve Austin via DQ!

 

Hulk Hogan/ Sting/Dave Sullivan vs The Three Faces of Fear

A mystery man had attacked Hulk Hogan multiple times before the cage match at Halloween Havoc, Hogan after overcoming Ric Flair would take off the mask of this mystery man and it would be Brother Bruti! Brother Bruti would be assisted by Avalanche and Kevin Sullivan, forming The Three Faces of Fear.

 

This starts right away, Hogan and Sullivan to start. Hogan punches and sends Sullivan into the buckle, corner clothesline by Hogan. Hogan bites the head of Sullivan, Sting back-drops Sullivan. Scoop slam and elbow drop, dropkick from The Stinger. Hogan is back in, right hands by Hogan. Team Sullivan beat down Hogan, Mr. T cannot control the ring. Dave Sullivan is fighting away now, we have lost all order. Avalanche splashes the arm of Dave Sullivan, it’s possibly broken. Dave Sullivan is out of this match, his arm may be broken. Avalanche splashes Hogan in the corner. Scoop slam attempt but Avalanche stops that shit, tag to The Butcher. Butcher chops at Hogan because he is a backstabber brother, chops and boot to the throat. Avalanche is in, Avalanche misses a splash. Scoop slam goes wrong as Avalanche lands on top, headbutt to the chest.

 

In comes Sullivan who chops all over Hogan, Mongolian chops don’t work though as Hogan battles back. Hogan is in Sullivan’s corner though, triple team attacks to Hogan. Avalanche comes in, Hogan is down. Bearhug from Avalanche, Hogan fights out of it and lands right hands before Butcher trips up Hogan. Hogan rocks Avalanche and tags in Sting who kicks and punches everything in sight. Stinger Splash on Avalanche, military press slam with Sullivan but Avalanche catches Sullivan and Sting is squished by both, top rope knee-drop and double stomp by Sullivan. Hogan breaks that shit up, double clothesline on Sting. Butcher chokes Sting, Avalanche lands a leg drop to Sting. Two for Avalanche, Hogan makes the save.

 

Sullivan is in, chops to the chest of The Stinger. Sting whips Sullivan to the buckle, boot counter by Sullivan. Sullivan is up high, Sting yanks Sullivan off the top rope. Hogan and Butcher are now legal, Butcher begs for mercy. Right hands all around by Hogan, Sullivan takes the megaphone from Jimmy Hart. Mr. T stops Sullivan using the megaphone, Sting is with Avalanche and Hogan pins Sullivan but you can’t really see what went down and the heels get their heat back as the match ends. Avalanche crushes Sting, Hogan is cracked with the megaphone. Butcher puts Hogan to sleep and the babyfaces clear out the locker room to try and help.

 

It was fine, I thought Dave Sullivan would be eating the pin but nope, Team Hogan still wins over the newly minted heel faction, off to a great start aren’t we? Anyways, the match isn’t much compared to the last match between Rhodes and Vader, it’s like stepping into a time machine. Looks like this is going to be the main event scene for the next year so buckle up for some Hogan action with Butcher, Sullivan and Avalanche. What’s Sting doing for Starrcade? No idea again, unbelievable how the guy is treated.

 

Winners: Team Hogan over The Three Faces of Fear!

 

This clash sets up Starrcade 1994 and I can’t say I am too thrilled based off of what I have been given, I imagine we will have Badd vs Honky III, not sure what Sting is doing or Rhodes or Austin. We could possibly have Vader vs Duggan for the United States Championship despite Vader being number one contender for the world’s championship and with Flair gone I cannot fathom how we are not getting Vader vs Hogan for the championship at the biggest show of the year but regardless, the card is not looking great and the influx of talent of Hogan’s buddies is really starting to dominate much of the card. From top to bottom, the quality is changing and not for the better. Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!

WCW Fall Brawl 1994 Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that stays off those weird IWC sub-reddits! Seriously, those things are disgusting but I tell you what is not disgusting: WCW Fall Brawl 1994! Matches on this night include Lord Steven Regal defending his WCW Television Championship against Johnny B. Badd once more, we also have Stunning Steve Austin defending his WCW United States Championship against a surprise opponent as Ricky The Dragon Steamboat is no longer able to compete inside of the ring. A random triple threat between Guardian Angel, Vader and Sting but of course, that main act is The War Games Match! Featuring Hogan right? Nope we have The Rhodes and The Nasty Boys taking on The Stud Stable! Can’t believe they did Hogan vs Flair on a Clash before a PPV but I guess it all makes sense now right? What a company. Let’s get it on!

 

(WCW Television Championship Match) Lord Steven Regal © vs Johnny B. Badd

Most improved wrestler in my eyes is definitely Johnny B. Badd considering I could not stand the guy in the years 91 and 92 and Badd did nothing of note despite still being employed throughout that time but here we have Regal, a man who has held that championship for almost 2 years with one hiccup loss too Larry Zbyszko in there. When Regal drops the championship it has to be a big deal, Badd has lost on PPV and Clashes to Regal for that championship before, I don’t remember how many times but I feel it was at least 3 so surely this has to be Badd’s night.

 

Regal stalls as Badd wants to rip his head off, Regal uses his skills to get a side headlock before Badd looks to turn the tide. Badd is caught by the hair, Badd manages to land a top wristlock though before Regal makes it to the ropes. Clean break, Regal takes down Badd but Badd has the wristlock. Side headlock by Regal, Badd shoves off and leap-frogs. Hip-toss, arm-drag and dropkick. Regal reverses a top wristlock, monkey-flip by Regal but Badd counters back and goes back to the arm-bar. Regal uses forearms to break free, sunset flip is rolled through by Badd for two, arm-bar by Badd. Forearms by Regal but Badd counters with an airplane spin. Regal is on the floor, Badd dives onto Regal with a massive Plancha.

 

On the apron, Badd hangs-up Regal with the ropes. Badd tries a crossbody though which Regal dodges, Regal stomps the head and rubs the face of the challenger into the canvas. Sir William chokes Badd with the cane, the referee is with Regal. European uppercuts and forearms by Regal, Badd asks for more. Regal gladly obliges, Regal pulls Badd down by the hair. A forearm to the nose, Regal lands strikes to the head of Badd. Blacktop Bully is talking shit in the crowd once more, Badd begins to fire back at Regal. Regal lands a boot and an European uppercut for two. Regal applies a reverse chin-lock, Badd fights out and lands a knee-lift before Regal lands another uppercut. To the corner, more uppercuts are on the menu. Regal lands a drop toehold and applies a full-nelson on the mat.

 

Badd is coming up though, Badd escapes the hold but eats an elbow to the jaw, two for Regal. Uppercuts but Badd lands a massive right, atomic drop and more rights. Back body-drop, Regal reverses an Irish whip but gets caught with a flying head-scissors for one. Regal pulls Badd to the floor, apron sunset flip but Regal reverses, Sir William uses the cane to aid Regal but the referee sees it, two for Badd. Sir William is on the apron, he grabs Badd. Regal decks Sir William by mistake, schoolboy by Badd for two. Badd misses an elbow, uppercut by Regal. Make it two, Badd reverses for a backslide and Badd is your champion!

 

Very good match, liked this match a lot. Crowd is up for it which helps, love Regal’s work inside of that ring. Stands out with his unique style, makes you believe he is fighting for every inch inside that ring, the rest-holds look organic as opposed to say a Bulldog match where it’s chin-locks galore! I like the call-backs to the previous finish, Badd really overcame all obstacles here. I think they could have finished it with a schoolboy after Sir William was decked but the backslide still works and Badd is starting to put it together, need some fresh blood in that division now so we shall see where we go from here for Regal and Badd but two stars they have been carefully building throughout 1993 and 1994 so let’s see what happens next.

 

Winner: Johnny. B. Badd over Lord Steven Regal via Backslide!

 

Cactus Jack vs Kevin Sullivan (Loser Leaves WCW)

Former tag team champions go to war, WCW tried to turn Cactus heel which doesn’t seem to be working but Cactus took out Dave and Kevin Sullivan, crazy how Cactus’ first championship win in WCW was so tainted and turned sour so quickly. This starts on the floor, they are in the crowd now. Cactus throws Sullivan ringside, Cactus meets the guardrail. In the ring, Sullivan throws a headbutt but Cactus throws a boot and bounces Sullivan off the buckle. Elbows by Cactus, Sullivan is on the floor. Sullivan is sent into the ring-post, Cactus rips up the ring-mats. Cactus is on the middle rope, Dave stops Cactus and Sullivan slams Cactus to the concrete. Scoop slam on the concrete, Sullivan stomps Cactus in the ring.

 

Sullivan chops the ear and wrenches at the ear of Cactus, it’s been well established how messed up Cactus’ ear is at this point. Cactus fights back to cheers from the fans, still very popular and Cactus bites the head of Sullivan. Elbow, running elbow drop from Cactus for two. Sullivan is dumped to the floor, Cactus wants a piledriver on the floor but Sullivan reverses and Cactus takes a big bump on the concrete. Cactus throws in a chair, Cactus runs into a boot from Sullivan. Cactus is dumped to the floor again, they begin brawling. Dave stops Cactus using the chair, Sullivan decks Cactus in the nose. Sullivan has the chair, Cactus decks Dave off the apron with a knee aiming for Kevin Sullivan but Sullivan rolls-up Cactus for the win.

 

Now, turning Cactus was a dumb move but the thing was Ric Flair was the booker in WCW and Cactus was a glorified stuntman in the eyes of The Nature Boy. Cactus already had heat for spitting on the WCW tag team championships in a promo in ECW so it was not looking good for Cactus so Cactus gave his notice and this match was the result. So, nobody was happy with the result but there would be greener pastures ahead for one Mick Foley.

 

Winner: Kevin Sullivan over Cactus Jack via Roll-Up!

 

(WCW United States Heavyweight Championship Match) Stunning Steve Austin vs ????

At the previous Clash, The Dragon injured his back and has to forfeit the championship, bringing an end to a legendary career. I will say that Steamboat’s WCW career was mishandled as The Dragon could have torn it up so much more in that ring but when given a sliver of a chance, Steamboat absolutely killed it inside the square circle. From that extreme sadness to the bizarre as we have the influx of Hogan’s buddies with Hacksaw Jim Duggan coming in as the surprise opponent. Austin freaks out, Duggan is getting big reactions though so I can’t exactly say this was not working. Austin continues to talk with Bockwinkel about how unfair this is, Austin is freaking out! Duggan lands his Three-Point Stance Tackle and pins Austin just like that.

 

I like Duggan, always liked Duggan inside of that ring but Duggan as a United States Heavyweight Champion? The second most prestigious championship in the company? As much as I loved Duggan, I can’t justify that and with Austin sliding down the card, I am not a happy man.

 

Winner: Hacksaw Jim Duggan over Stunning Steve Austin via Three-Point Stance Tackle!

 

(WCW World Tag Team Championship Match) Pretty Wonderful © vs Stars & Stripes

Speaking of WCW not giving up on talent, we have two examples in Bagwell continuing to be in prominent matches despite being a nothing in terms of development over the past two years and Mr. Wonderful continues to hold the gold in WCW. So, the tag team is at its least interesting for me, can’t believe we lost The Hollywood Blondes and 2 Cold Scorpio and these two teams are battling for the championships. The Paula chants are still a thing, unbelievable the mileage they have gotten out of that. Roma and Bagwell to start, Roma batters Bagwell for talking trash. Kicks in the corner, clubbing blows by Roma. Bagwell ducks two rights, flying crossbody for two. Hip-toss and a wristlock, Bagwell wrenches the arm. Tag to Patriot, lots of wrenching of the wrist. Roma escapes and in comes Orndorff but Orndorff has his arm worked by the challengers.

 

Lots of wrenching of the arm, Orndorff is down on his knees. Bagwell is in and rocked with some forearms but Bagwell answers with a shoulder block and a flying crossbody. In comes Patriot for his own crossbody for two, Orndorff is in his corner. The champions talk strategy, Roma is caught now with a double hip-toss for two. Bagwell has the arm, shoulder block by Bagwell. Orndorff grabs Bagwell with the referee looking at Roma, Orndorff yanks down Bagwell. Roma clamps on a camel clutch, Orndorff nails his great elbow drop to the throat of Bagwell. Bagwell is worked over in the corner, shoulder thrusts from Orndorff. Another elbow to the head, front chancery from Orndorff. Bagwell almost makes the tag but Orndorff is just too good, Roma marks out to his own dropkick.

 

Two for Roma, scoop slam into a diving elbow drop from Roma. Roma continues to mark out to his own greatness, Patriot makes the save. Orndorff dumps Bagwell to the floor and pulverizes the youngster. Bagwell is bounced off Heenan’s cooler, Roma is celebrating in the ring. Patriot checks on his partner, Bagwell has the contents of the cooler dumped on his head. Orndorff denies doing anything, Bagwell has a bottle of water from the cooler but it is dropped. Clothesline by Orndorff, piledriver time? Bagwell kicks and kicks and back-drops Orndorff, Roma tags into the match and lands an elbow drop. Front chancery from Roma, Bagwell tries and tries to reach his corner. Orndorff distracts the referee so the referee misses the hot-tag. Patriot drills Pretty Wonderful with right hands and scoop slams, dropkicks too. Double clothesline and Patriot is cooking big time! Roma is down with the dropkick, Orndorff Piledrivers Bagwell on the floor. Patriot lands the Uncle Slam on Roma but he’s not the legal man, Roma crawls over to Bagwell and wins the match.

 

Enjoyable again, you know I rag on Roma and Orndorff but I haven’t hated their matches as champions yet, Orndorff is unintentionally hilarious while Roma marking out to his own moves gets me each time, crowd was into the match too but damn, Patriot looks like a massive idiot in this match. The referee was telling him constantly that he was not legal, why would he not listen to the referee? No ear holes in the mask? Maybe!

 

Winners: Pretty Wonderful over Stars & Stripes via Piledriver!

 

Triangle Number One Contender’s Match Guardian Angel vs Vader vs Sting

Oh WCW how do you ignore The Stinger when nobody can touch the man in terms of popularity? In what universe is Guardian Angel near the WCW Championship? Anyways, there are two rounds to this trash so Sting the babyface gets the bye to the next round and we have to watch the trilogy fight between Vader and Guardian Angel.

 

The first match between these two I loved, they battered one another. They lock-up, clean break. Shoulder block and neither man moves, Vader calls for a test of strength. Vader goes low to gain control, Vader pummels Angel with rights and lefts. Irish whip to the buckle, Angel explodes out with clotheslines but Vader is still on his feet. Vader blocks the scoop slam attempt, Vader squishes Angel in the corner. Angel ducks a clothesline and slams down Vader, Angel looks at Race as he drives his elbow into the groin of The Monster. Scoop slam does not work though, Angel lands uppercuts with Vader going down to a knee. Angel is on the top rope, Vader dodges that shit. Reverse chin-lock from Vader, Angel escapes and almost pins the big man before Vader lands a Cactus clothesline. Race grabs Angel, Vader decks Race as Angel ducks the blow.

 

Vader runs into the ring-post, Angel finally slams Vader in the ring for two. Punches by Angel, leg across the back on the ropes. Irish whip and the referee is annihilated, Angel lands the Bossman slam but Race comes in and nails a diving headbutt on Angel. Vader Bomb and this match is over!

 

Sting has to come down to the ring and wrestle Vader, fuck yes! Love me when these two mix it up inside of the ring, they always kill it when given the time. Why did Vader put his mask back on? They lock-up, clean break from The Stinger. Lock-up, Vader shoves down Sting. Sting is right back-up, Vader is backed up to the corner as Sting refuses to back down. To the opposite corner we go, no clean break from Vader who roughs up Sting with clubbing blows. However, those blows fire up Sting. They are shoving one another, kicks by Sting and a dropkick. They lock-up again, Vader whips Sting. Sting ducks and ducks but a Vader splash drops Sting. Vader Bomb squishes Sting, Vader goes again and kicks Vader in the dick twice. Vader is down off the buckle but still has control with big punches, clothesline almost beheads Sting.

 

Vader thinks Vader Bomb again, Sting dodges and Vader crumbles to the mat. Sunset flip attempt, Vader tries sitting on Sting but Sting dodges. Clothesline to the floor by Sting, they brawl on the floor. In the ring, Sting calls for the end. Suplex? There’s no way! Sting lifts up Vader and drills him with a suplex, diving splash by Sting. Sting tries a running splash but Vader uses his knees to block the splash, Vader slams Sting down to the mat. Vadersault misses, can Sting capitalize? Sting wants a superplex, this is not the smartest strategy. Sting plants Vader with a superplex, Sting is screaming now. Big elbow drop to the heart of Vader, Race is on the apron. Sting lands another elbow, Sting lands a Samoan drop for two. Stinger splash and clothesline for two, Sting lands a massive German suplex for two. Vader drops Sting and regains his composure, Sting is tossed to the floor.

 

In the corner, Vader clubs Sting over and over. Sting is firing up, Sting strikes and strikes and clotheslines Vader. Race places the foot of Vader on the ropes, Vader re-enters the second ring. Sting dives off the top rope with a clothesline, Sting goes high again. A second diving clothesline and Sting says one more time, Sting lands a diving splash for a close two. Vader lands right hands to the eyes, Sting covers up but Vader continues to decimate The Stinger with a belly to back suplex. Sting kicks out at two, clothesline by Vader. Vader goes to the middle rope, Sting lands a powerslam. Less than a minute on the clock, clothesline by Sting for two. Scorpion Death-Lock!, can Vader hang on? Vader rolls and rolls and makes it to the ropes.

 

We have overtime in this match, the match continues as Sting applies a sleeper. Vader boots Sting in the face, stiff knees to the ribs. Vader waffles Sting with big rights, kick to the ribs from Vader. Vertical suplex from Vader, Vader wants a superplex and calls for the end. Sting is blocking the superplex, Vader is cracked in the ribs. Sting bites the head of Vader and shoves off the big man, Sting comes down from the top rope and slowly covers for two. Sting wants a spine-buster but Vader blocks and lands a headbutt, Vader goes high again. Vader gets caught on the top rope, back body-drop from the middle rope by Sting. Vader tries and tries to pin Sting but Sting continues to kick out, Vader wants a powerbomb. Vader is too slow to capitalizewe are out of time in overtime.

 

So it is Sudden Death and the stipulation is the first person knocked off their feet. Vader peppers Sting who is staggering around the ring, selling the shit out of the drama. Sting uses the ropes to stay on his feet, short clotheslines pummel Sting. Sting is in la-la-land, Vader punishes Sting. Sting fires back at Vader, Vader is staggered now. Sting and Vader are colliding in the middle of the ring, The Guardian Angel brawls with Harley Race so the referee misses that Sting knocks down Vader. The Masked Man clips Sting in the knee and Vader is considered the winner.

 

Kind of strange to have the heel go the distance, you think the story would be made for a babyface to do so but whatever, this match was bizarre in execution. The action however was tremendous, Angel and Vader run through their best spots from that awesome match that they had a few months ago while Sting and Vader have another great match because that’s just what those two motherfuckers do when they are in the ring with one another. Sting deserves better as always, WCW’s top star despite what they tell you about Hulk Hogan.

 

Winner: Vader over Sting via Not Dropping To The Mat!

 

(War-Games Match) Team Rhodes (Dustin Rhodes/Dusty Rhodes/The Nasty Boys) vs The Stud Stable (Arn Anderson/Terry Funk/Bunkhouse Buck/Colonel Robert Parker)

Two men start, one man from each team enters after a coin-toss, you can only win by submission or surrender, there are two cages and there is always blood in these matches. Great War-Games Matches are the ones you count telegraph but we have a problem here tonight as Meng will not be the fourth man in this match for The Stud Stable but it will be a manager in Colonel Robert Parker. Definitely takes a lot of drama away from this one, not happy that you should be able to see the main event and what’s going to happen so clearly. Not a soul in that arena believes that Team Rhodes is losing this match. All that heat on Meng do surviving the chair-shot to the head and taking out Dusty Rhodes but he is not even in the match.

 

Dustin Rhodes jumps right in for his team and Arn Anderson will start for The Stud Stable. Rights and lefts by both men, Rhodes is giving chase after Anderson. Diving axe handle to the head, both men block being sent into the cage. Anderson lures in Rhodes, Anderson drops Rhodes but Anderson is the first man to meet the cage wall. Back-rake from Rhodes, inverted atomic cdrop and a big boot which sends Anderson over the top rope. Flying clothesline from Rhodes, big kick to the chest of Anderson. Bionic Elbow from Rhodes, measured right hand from the broken wrist. Kick to the ribs, flying lariat from Rhodes.

 

Elbow to the throat, Anderson is getting decimated. Rhodes stomps all over the arm, Rhodes look for a back body-drop but Anderson drops Rhodes with a DDT. Measured left hands to the head, Anderson uses wrist-tape to choke Rhodes. Clothesline from Anderson, Rhodes lands a dropkick. Team Stud Stable has the advantage winning the coin toss, Bunkhouse Buck is in and boots Rhodes and steps all over the head of Rhodes. Double elbow by The Stud Stable, double single leg Boston crabs from Anderson & Buck. Jerry Sags comes in for Rhodes, slams all around. Buck meets the cage wall, piledriver on Buck. Rhodes has a sleeper on Anderson, Sags punishes Buck. In comes Terry Funk for The Stud Stable, Funk waffles Rhodes and Sags with his boot. Funk chokes Rhodes right in front of Dusty, Dusty is doing everything in his power not to snap.

 

Sags is drilled with the boot of Funk, Knobbs is coming into the match now. Buck meets him at the door, the heels are sent into the cage though. Shockingly, no blood so far. Maybe a new family-friendly policy? Anderson has his face raked across the cage by Knobbs, Anderson is sent flying into the cage wall. Funk is knocked down by Knobbs, Colonel Parker is sweating bullets but he does not want to enter the ring. Slowly, Parker gets into the ring but Rhodes has him at the door. Buck makes the save, Parker boots Rhodes. Buck uses his belt to choke Sags, Funk whips Rhodes with his belt. Parker whips Sags with his belt, Rhodes whips back at Funk. Rhodes whips Anderson and whips Parker, big reaction from the fans for that. Loud Dusty Rhodes chants are ringing out in the arena, The American Dream is now in the match.

 

The Stud Stable all take Bionic Elbows, noggin-knockers and everyone meets the cage wall. Parker is all alone, Dusty Rhodes watches as The Nasty Boys land a double clothesline. Body splash on Parker, Dusty Rhodes applies the figure four on Parker in the middle of the ring, Funk and Anderson try desperately to save Parker as The Nasty Boys drop elbows after elbows on Parker. Parker submits and it’s over.

 

Yeah not one of my top War-Games matches for obvious reasons, it starts off heated enough with Rhodes and Anderson but in a match where blood is almost a stable, it’s crazy to see nobody bleeding. We also have Parker getting destroyed which was accepted but man if people paid to see Dusty Rhodes, they got to see him for less than a minute and a half in total. Definitely not a worthy main event match for a PPV, such a shame because I did like this show but it was just not that good. I imagine that is the blow-off too so where does The Stud Stable go from here? Not like they have anyone who can main event against Hogan in that faction.

 

Winners: Team Rhodes over The Stud Stable via Surrender!

 

So that was WCW’s Fall Brawl 1994, we are getting into the Hogan Era now with Flair booking and things are changing but are they for the better? Let’s address the main event scene first, we have Hogan vs Flair for Halloween Havoc in a cage with Hogan’s career on the line. Dramatic? Yes! What the fans want? I am not so sure, Flair did a tremendous job decimating the knee of Hogan and wiping out Sting with Sherri by his side, it would be a shame to waste all that momentum but honestly, the Clash match was such a debacle in my eyes that nothing can really save this feud for me. Vader is coming though, can Hogan vs Vader be good? Possibly but it remains to be seen.

 

So Johnny B. Badd vs Regal kicks us off, really fun opening match with Regal’s unique style on full display here for an entertaining encounter between two rising stars in the company. Regal should ascend the card to the United States Championship and Badd should have a long and solid reign as champion, that is what should happen so we will see where both men end up as we enter 1995 but two stars that WCW has invested heavily in over the last year and they have a good match so all is well. Sullivan vs Cactus was bad, Cactus takes some nasty bumps for no reason and despite being a heel, is the man the fans want to see. I like Sullivan, the devil-worshipper gimmick and the promos is an all-timer great gimmick and run but what has Sullivan offered to this company post that? I am not sure as The Varsity Club never truly took off so we shall see how this is going to transform into the infamous Dungeon of Doom but at least Sullivan will do some good in-ring stuff right? Duggan vs Austin is disappointing considering how Austin was bowled over here for a man who while I enjoy his work was not US Champ material in 1994, the tag division is not exactly on fire with The Nasty Boys as the top babyface team and Stars & Stripes and Pretty Wonderful but that hasn’t stopped Roma & Orndorff putting on some solid matches, I hope something dramatic happens soon because I am not sure how many rematches we might see before the end of the year with the serious lack of teams.

 

The triangle match has some great spots in there, the crowd comes alive for The Stinger as they always do and I understand we need to get to Vader vs Hogan but surely there must have been another way, that’s two matches that Sting has lost with big implications during this year. Sting dropped his WCW International World Championship to Flair with no revenge in sight and now, Sting loses to Vader in a number one contender’s match. Is Sting going to be the man who takes out The Masked Man? If not, where does Sting go for Starrcade? I have seen Sting sit back in tags for 1993, I would like to think there is a big plan here to make Sting seem more but I just don’t see how WCW is going to have something good for Sting and that’s ridiculous. The main event as a blow-off to an angle that had a lot of heat and emotion with the betrayals from Funk and Anderson to Dusty teaming with his son, you think Dustin Rhodes standing tall at the end would be the defining image and we would all be sent home happy but it’s not, it’s the Dusty Show. And don’t get me wrong I have no problems with aging legends having their moments on PPV but surely someone must have thought: We should have Dustin, the young gun we are trying to get over be the one to stand tall. It wasn’t main event worthy and it lacked what makes War-Games fun so a sad end to an otherwise solid PPV from WCW. Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!

WCW Spring Stampede 1994 Review!

 

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

 

Johnny B. Badd vs Diamond Dallas Page

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Time-Limit Expires!

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Winner: Stunning Steve Austin over Great Muta via DQ!

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Winner: Bunkhouse Buck over Dustin Rhodes via Brass Knuckles!

 

The Boss vs Vader W/ Harley Race

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Winner: Vader over The Boss via Vadersault!

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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