WCW The Great American Bash 1995 Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet with a smaller viewership than AEW Dark! It’s time for WCW The Great American Bash 1995 with matches featuring The Blue Bloods vs The Nasty Boys for the WCW World Tag Team Championships, Renegade challenging for WCW Television Championship against Arn Anderson. Sting vs Meng to decide who is The WCW United States Champion and Randy Savage taking on Ric Flair as Flair took out Angelo Poffo! No Hogan? Interesting maybe I will enjoy this PPV! Let’s get it on!

 

Alex Wright vs Flyin’ Brian Pillman

It’s been a long time since I have seen Brian Pillman, poor Pillman was left high and dry as The Hollywood Blondes dissolved and Austin rose up the card and I am guessing Pillman was dealing with some sort of injury that took him out of most of 1994. His opponent is Alex Wright who kicked all sorts of ass in his match with Arn Anderson but can Pillman make Wright look as good in this match?

 

Wright and Pillman trade wrist-locks, some nice sequences here with both men showing off their agility. Crowd is on PIllman’s side, not looking good for Wright. Corner head-scissors and dropkick from Pillman, snap-mare into a Fujiwara arm-bar. Dropkick and head-scissors from Wright, Wright continues to catch Pillman with his quickness before Pillman avoids the enzuigiri and applies a bow & arrow, side headlock takedown. Wright counters and looks fo a Romero special but Pillman wriggles free, sunset flip for two by Wright. Schoolboy for two, small package for two. Massive chop by Pillman, hammerlock but Wright counters. Elbow by Pillman, Fujiwara arm-bar from Pillman. Wright survives and they begin to trade chops and uppercuts, Pillman is driven into the mat head-first.

 

Wright tries a dive, Pillman blocks with his knees. Wright is on the apron and suplexes Pillman to the floor, plancha by Wright. Uppercuts by Wright, Wright climbs high as Pillman is dazed. Beautiful missile dropkick for two, Pillman pulls Wright to the floor. Pillman lands a suicide dive, fired up by the crowd. Pillman tries a middle rope dive but Wright dodges! Both men try dropkicks and miss, Pillman is up first and looks for a superplex. Wright counters with the front suplex, diving crossbody for two. Pillman collapses to the mat off an Irish whip, Wright goes again but Pillman goes down once more. Wright tries another crossbody but Pillman lands the dropkick, Pillman climbs high and is thrown onto the top rope by Wright. Wright wants the German, Pillman gets caught and Wright gets a close two. Wright counters a crucifix attempt and gets a big win over Pillman.

 

Started off slow but this was great as it went on, showing some fantastic wrestling from both men, Pillman does a great job of making Wright look good. It was a tough task due to the match being in Pilllman’s hometown but they pull it off, some great near-falls throughout the match and some good false-finishes. Really happy with how this turned out, let’s see how the PPV continues!

 

 (Arm-Wrestling Match) DDP W/ Diamond Doll & Max Muscle vs Dave Sullivan W/ Ralph The Rabbit

If DDP wins, DDP wins the rabbit but if Dave wins, Dave wins a date with The Diamond Doll. DDP stalls and stalls, Dave and DDP try to win with the crowd getting into the contest. Dave pushes and pushes, Muscle tries to help DDP but the referee sees it so Dave Sullivan wins the date with The Diamond Doll! Luckiest man in the world, DDP is irate! Harmless fun!

 

Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs Sgt. Craig Pittman

Pittman is massive and angry, Duggan don’t give a shit. Pittman takes the back, Duggan cannot behead Pittman with an elbow so Duggan is frustrated. Pittman does some push-ups because why not am I right? Duggan’s stalling somehow doesn’t drive me insane maybe because he’s slid down the card to where I want him to be, imagine they had Duggan as United States Champion in there with Vader and Austin crazy right? Pittman works the arm, Pittman turns his intentions to the knee of Duggan, Duggan is rammed into the ring-post twice. This is quite vicious actually from Pittman, Duggan manages to fight back with a massive right hand. One knee Duggan gets swept by Pittman who applies a single leg Boston crab, spinning toe-hold by Pittman. Duggan kicks off Pittman, rights and lefts by Duggan. Duggan lands a scoop-slam and lands a clothesline too, Three-Point Stance is absorbed by Pittman. Did he really no-sell Duggan’s finish? Pittman applies Code Red, his cross-arm-breaker finish and Duggan wins by DQ.

 

Shite but passable shite as I like Duggan and Duggan makes things interesting enough in this one, kind of surprised they worked the leg for so long considering well you know his finish is an arm-bar. How utterly ridiculous like why bother working the leg?

 

Winner: Hacksaw Jim Duggan over Craig Pittman via DQ!

 

Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater vs Harlem Heat

Colonel Parker is continuing to manage Buck? I see very interesting well Buck teamed with Anderson and Terry Funk but Anderson is more with Flair now and Funk is gone so we have Dick Slater who many people would think of Terry Funk-lite although Slater had some great performances in him for sure that made him stand out. Anyways, not sure if there are babyfaces in this one but we are starting with a brawl as expected. Booker stomps Buck to the floor, Slater is looking to powder which he does eventually.

 

Booker and Stevie Ray take turns wiping out Buck, Stevie is wearing a shirt under his singlet, not sure what the deal is there maybe he’s hurt. Stevie sits in a front chancery with Buck, tag to Booker. Booker lands a dropkick, Buck tags in Slater. Slater drop toe-holds Booker, Booker scrambles out into a hammerlock. Stevie and Slater slug it out, Slater loses that war. Snap-mare into a reverse chin-lock from Stevie, tag to Booker. Slater drags Booker to the corner, Buck comes in and loses control as Booker lands a scoop slam. Slater tags in, Slater chops and chops Stevie. Tag to Buck, Buck has his eyes poked. Side headlock by Stevie, Slater lands a shot from the apron. Buck lands a boot and down goes Stevie, Stevie is beaten down on the floor before Booker lands a dropkick and flying forearm. Small package on Buck, Colonel Robert Parker rolls over the small package. Sherri rolls over the small package again and Harlem Heat win the match.

 

Well the crowd don’t really like either team which makes it awkward and then the match itself ain’t very good either so it is very on-point for WCW at this point.

 

Winners: Harlem Heat over Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater via Small Package!

 

(WCW World Television Championship Match) The Renegade vs Arn Anderson ©

The Warrior rip-off lives! Renegade is here to take on the man who was a pain at ringside during the main event of the Slamboree. Jimmy Hart is here with Renegade so maybe Anderson will get some heat on Hart?

 

Anderson jumps Renegade, rights and lefts to the ribs. Renegade whips Anderson to the opposite buckle, clothesline by the rookie powerhouse. Anderson lands a corner clothesline, Renegade takes down Anderson with two clotheslines and one clothesline to the floor. Renegade jumps to the floor, Anderson is running from the big man. Anderson wants the DQ win but no dice, side headlock by Renegade. Anderson tries a hip-toss but Renegade tosses off Anderson. Another side headlock by Renegade, Anderson shoves off Renegade and applies the abdominal stretch. Renegade reverses the hold, Anderson shoves Renegade to the corner. Shoulder thrusts by Anderson, Renegade whips Anderson to the opposite buckle but Anderson counters with an elbow. Sleeper by Anderson, sleeper by Renegade. Belly to back suplex by Anderson, Anderson uses the top rope to choke Renegade.

 

Reverse chin-lock by Anderson, Renegade escapes but gets caught by the spinebuster for a close two. Anderson wants to pin the shoulders of Renegade to the mat but Renegade is up. Whip to the buckle, Renegade lands an atomic drop but both men bang heads. Corner Samoan drop by Renegade, Renegade climbs high. Diving Top Rope Splash and we have a winner!

 

Wow was not expecting that, I just praised Anderson for all the great work he was doing as Television Champion and now they have given Renegade the championship and you can see from the beginning how limited Renegade seems to be at this time of his career. Anderson does his best but even the crowd wants to see Anderson pick up the win for the most part, nice splash by Renegade though I will give him that.

 

Winner: Renegade over Arn Anderson via Top Rope Diving Splash!

 

(WCW World Tag Team Championship Match) The Nasty Boys © vs The Blue Bloods

Bobby Eaton is back on my TV! I am so happy I don’t even care that it is The Nasty Boys in a non-brawling environment I will sit through it for Eaton. Everyone loves Eaton and talks about how good Eaton is so how is it that this man has gone almost 2 years without being on my screen?

 

We start brawling, Sags attacks Regal with his jacket while Eaton and Knobbs brawl up the ramp. Here I was thinking that they would not brawl but Eaton & Regal are playing to their strengths in this one. Regal has a horrified look on his face as Sags drills him into the guardrail and ring-post. Sags and Knobbs continue to batter the challengers, double shoulder block for Eaton and a corner beatdown for Regal. Back body drop and Regal is sent to a pit-stop. Corner splash on Eaton, Eaton takes a trip to pity city also. Eaton and Regal are thrown around by Knobbs, big clotheslines and such before Knobbs misses a crossbody and lands on the floor.

 

Regal lands a diving elbow drop to the head, Regal is legal now and uses forearms to batter Knobbs, Eaton gets involved from the apron as Sags comes in and decks Regal. Elbow drop by Regal for one, Sags fights back and sends Eaton to the apron after a slam. Regal behind the referee’s back comes in and tosses Sags to the floor. Sags is plodding around, I think Knobbs forgot his cue to distract the referee. Eventually, Sags is rammed into the apron. Sags is left on the apron, knee-drop by Eaton. Eaton is legal now and applies a camel clutch, crowd comes alive for Knobbs. Sags comes alive but Eaton cuts that off, Regal comes in and misses a senton so Knobbs gets the hot-tag and its surprisingly lukewarm. Knobbs slams Regal, Eaton makes the save. Knobbs and Regal bang heads, here comes Stevie Ray and Sherri. Booker T is here, Harlem Hangover but when Booker hopes over the rope, Eaton falls balls-first on the turnbuckle and Sags lands his elbow on Eaton with Knobbs to cover for the win.

 

Well it’s a bit comical really, I am happy to see Regal and Eaton back on my screen, both men had been forgotten really as the years went on, shockingly with Regal considering how good 1993 and the start of 1994 was for Regal. The Nasty Boys continue to suck outside of hardcore brawl matches, not hard to figure out that it’s the only style of match they can do on PPV yet they don’t want to do it. So, tag team wrestling in WCW ain’t my thing at all.

 

Winners: The Nasty Boys over The Blue-Bloods via Diving Elbow!

 

(WCW United States Heavyweight Championship Tournament Finals) Sting vs Meng W/ Colonel Robert Parker

What is interesting about the recap for this is the competitors in the tournament, many a forgotten relic of Flair’s reign as booker as we see Austin is still alive and kicking, Johnny B. Badd, Paul Orndorff and Pillman there too. All men who had done well throughout 1993 yet when 1994 and Hogan came around, things came crashing down quite quickly. Meng has been well protected a loss would not hurt him while Sting is too popular not to be pushed, I expect this to deliver.

 

Meng uses his martial arts to push Sting back to the corner, Sting has to think about it. They go nose to nose, throat chop from Meng. Meng unloads on Sting, rights and lefts plus headbutts of the vicious variety. Sting is down, Meng tortures Sting with more body-shots and a choke in the corner. Meng has Sting on his knees, not looking good for The Stinger. Sting blocks and kicks back at Meng, right hands stagger Meng. Dropkick doesn’t knock Meng, Parker talks advice with Meng. Meng takes the eyes and clubs Sting, kicks to the neck and ribs. Chop in the corner, brutal chops from Meng. Forearm shot, Sting rakes the eyes and lands a dropkick. Sting misses a crossbody and is on the apron, elbow from Meng. Sit-out powerbomb from Meng for two, Meng has a shoulder claw on Sting. Meng throws Sting to the floor, Colonel Parker lands some shots before Sting is back in the ring. Sunset flip attempt by Sting but Meng counters with a massive throat thrust.

 

Another shoulder claw, Sting escapes and goes toe to toe with him. Backslide attempt but Meng is too strong, Sting uses the buckle to flip and lands a middle rope ass to the face basically. Meng is up first, maybe they banged heads? Middle rope headbutt by Meng, two for Meng. Sting lands clotheslines, Meng wants more. Flying clothesline by Sting, face-buster by Sting. Inverted atomic drop and Sting clotheslines himself and Meng to the floor. Sting decks Colonel Parker and Meng misses a splash and smacks his head off the ring-post. Scorpion Death-Lock! Middle of the ring! Can Meng survive? Meng is powering up and shoves off Sting, Sting looks on in shock. Meng has his legs chopped by Sting, Sting climbs high. Diving clothesline by Sting, diving splash for a close two. Sting lands a jumping DDT and Meng has been beaten!

 

Solid stuff from these two, Sting finally is being built up again and not just as a background player, very happy for The Stinger. Sting controls the crowd well and keeps them engaged as Meng does what Meng does best: whoop ass and look mean while doing it. Crowd was into it, lots of energy and Sting had to work for the win, good way to make Meng look like a tough son of a bitch to keep down.

 

Winner: Sting over Meng via Jumping DDT!

 

Ric Flair vs Randy Macho Man Savage

Flair retired after his loss to Hogan at Halloween Havoc 1994, WCW had no intention of having Flair retire so they went back on that stipulation mere months later by having Flair be so annoying that Savage & Hogan wished for Flair to be a member of the roster once more just so they can kick his ass. To give this angle a bit of steam, Flair put the figure four on the father of Randy Savage. Savage and Hogan had already beaten Flair and Vader on PPV so yeah, that kind of takes away the appeal of Flair coming back but this company hadn’t a clue for quite some time now so this is nothing new for me.

 

Savage is all business here coming up against Flair, Flair chops Savage but Savage lands an elbow and tees off on Flair. Running corner elbow and back body drop by Savage, clothesline by Savage. Flair is clotheslined to the floor, Savage looks to fly. Diving axe handle to the floor, Flair manages to send Savage into the ring-post. Flair goes to work now, snap-mare into the knee-drop. Savage is hurt badly, his father is giving advice. Savage goes after Flair but Flair chops Savage, Savage lands right hands. Savage chokes Flair in the corner, Savage works the ribs and face. Right hand floors Flair, Flair is begging for mercy. Savage ground-pounds Flair and continues choking The Nature Boy, Flair is holding his face on the floor. Savage lands an axe handle to the back and sends Flair into the guardrail. Flair manages to regain control, Flair climbs high but Savage catches Flair and yanks off Flair.

 

Flair scrambles to the ropes to avoid a piledriver, Irish whip and Flair flip to the floor. Flair attacks Angelo Poffo, Savage saves his dad but Flair clips the knee. Shin-breaker using the guardrail, Flair chop-blocks Savage again in the ring. Flair stretches the leg, Savage hurls Flair to the apron. Like a wild beast, Savage throws everything at Flair. Figure Four Leg-Lock! Flair is in trouble though as Savage reverses the hold, Flair has to let go of the hold. Flair misses a top rope elbow drop, Flair chops Savage in the corner. Savage is fighting back and out-firing Flair. Flair Flip to the apron, clothesline by Savage. Two for Savage, scoop slam by Savage. Savage Diving Elbow Drop! 1…2.. Savage wants to deliver more punishment. Savage has a ring-bell, the referee is irate. The referee takes away the bell, Savage decides to climb high once more. Flair is on the floor, Savage dives but meets the guardrail. Flair lands shots to the eyes of Savage and chokes out Savage. Angelo Poffo attacks Flair with the cane, Flair knocks out Savage’s father. Flair has the cane in the ring, Savage is waffled with the cane in the face. Flair covers and Flair wins the match!

 

Intense and plenty of heat for this one and shockingly, right man wins this match. Flair had been on quite the losing streak against the big WWF guys so to have Flair go over Savage is big here, they can continue to build the feud between the two. Quite ballsy with Angelo Poffo at ringside too to have Savage not go over, good stuff from WCW in the main event. Savage is one of my favourite sellers from this era and possibly of all-time, Savage looks like he has been through hell and sells everything like death.

 

Winner: Ric Flair over Randy Savage via Cane To The Head!

 

That was WCW’s Great American Bash 1995, another poor performance from WCW. WCW are trying things for sure but I am not sure if any of those things are truly paying off for the company, Alex Wright vs Pillman is solid but the fans do not want to cheer for the young babyface that WCW is so desperately trying to build in Wright, there is not light heavyweight championship so Wright and Pillman don’t have that much direction in the company, Pillman seems to be coming back off an extended absence and the beloved high-flyer has to be built again from nothing to get back to where he was years prior and I have no faith in WCW to pull that off. The arm-wrestling contest is harmless fun, no real complaints there. Duggan vs Pittman is bad, very bad and just not entertaining in any way. I am glad Duggan has slotted into a role that allows him to do what he does best but Pittman is not bringing the best out of Duggan even on his best day if a best day Pittman actually exists. Buck & Slater vs Harlem Heat is two heel teams beating one another up, fans don’t know who to cheer for so it’s awkward, shame considering how much I like Buck & Slater but I don’t see a future for this team. The tag team championship match is not much better, I don’t need to see Nasty Boys without their brawling and the finish was rather comical when this could have been a chance to showcase the legitimate threat of Regal & Eaton. Renegade vs Anderson was solid, Anderson takes care of Renegade and makes him look as good as he can but the booking of the television championship has been baffling even during Regal’s reign, Johnny B. Badd should have been elevated and I don’t think Renegade is going to escape the same fate as Badd. Sting vs Meng is entertaining due to the crowd’s love of Sting, Sting is their guy and Sting gets big reactions and after years of pointless tags and being a backup to whoever it may be, Flair Hogan or Savage, Sting gets some shine finally by winning the United States Championship and Meng takes his first loss but looks like an animal in the process, not a bad day in the office. Finally, the main event between Savage and Flair two men who had good chemistry dating back to their Wrestlemania match. Savage is great here while Flair puts on a typical main event performance and the finish is a shock to me as Flair gets some steam put behind him which is shocking considering how he’s been treated the last year and a half so I am happy to see it and there is some fire added to this feud now. However, don’t be so sure that Flair and Savage won’t get wrapped up into whatever Hogan wants to do next. A year into the Hogan Era and it’s proving a tough watch, how WCW went from this to the NWO looks more like a miracle each day but I am interested to see the transition so let’s keep watching right? Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!

 

 

WCW Starrcade 1992 Battle Bowl Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that skateboards better than Cora Jade! It’s WCW’s Starrcade 1992 Lethal Lottery Battle Bowl II! They have learned from the first terrible concept by having at least a few normal matches to breakup the tournament matches. So, we have Sting vs Vader for The King of Cable crown, we have Ron Simmons vs Dr. Death for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship match, Barry Windham and Brian Pillman challenge Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas for the Tag Team Championships. I hate Battle Bowl and Lethal Lottery so we will see how this turns out!

 

 Van Hammer & Dangerous Danny Spivey vs Cactus Jack & Johnny B. Badd

Forgot Van Hammer was here, it’s been a long time since I saw him on PPV. Danny Spivey is back which sucks, Badd and Cactus is a lovely odd-pairing. Cactus and Hammer have feuded before, bit of continuity here. Elbow in the corner and rib shots by Cactus, knees in the corner by Cactus. Hammer blocks the Irish whip and clubs Cactus. Cactus meets the buckle but Cactus tackles Hammer and rolls him up for two, Hammer slaps Cactus twice. Corner clothesline and scoop slam by Hammer, leg drop by Hammer for two. Cactus grabs a side headlock and tags in Badd, Hammer lands a hip-toss but Badd lands two arm-drags and a massive hurricanrana for two. Tag to Cactus, hip-toss and the elbow drop misses so in comes Spivey.

 

Spivey clubs Cactus down, Cactus reverses the Irish whip but both men miss clotheslines before Spivey lands a massive clothesline on Cactus. Kick to the spine, tag to Hammer. Side headlock from Hammer, head-scissors counter from Cactus. Eye rake from Cactus and a tag to Badd, side headlock from Badd. Spivey lands a knee on the apron to take down Badd, Hammer is disgusted by the actions of Spivey. Sidewalk slam from Spivey, bearhug from Spivey. Hammer comes in and lands a suplex for two, tag to Spivey. Irish whip but Badd lands a knee-lift, tag to Cactus. Cactus lands elbows to Spivey, face-buster from Cactus. Elbow drop for two, Spivey sends Cactus to the floor. Clothesline from Cactus, Badd is down so there is no tag.

 

Spivey lands a clothesline to the back of the head, Russian leg-sweep for two. Flying shoulder block from Hammer, Badd elbow drops Cactus by mistake. Cactus shoves Badd who lands his Left Hook and Hammer & Spivey advance in The Battle Bowl!

 

Very basic tag match and the wrong team goes over in my eyes, where has Spivey been? What is the point of having Hammer in there over Cactus and Badd? Terrible stuff from WCW once again.

 

Winners: Team Spivey over Team Cactus via Roll-Up!

 

Dustin Rhodes & Vader W/ Harley Race vs Kensuke Sasaki & Barbarian

More can they co-exist bullshit, we have Vader and Rhodes against Barbarian and Sasaki. At least this will be stiff, lock-up and clean break. Clothesline does not phase Vader, clothesline does not phase Barbarian. Barbarian slams Vader, Vader is not happy. Headbutt by Vader, a second headbutt and a scoop slam. Vader lands his Vader Hammer and begins clubbing Barbarian, Barbarian lands two big clotheslines in retaliation. Irish whip reversal from Vader into a short-arm clothesline, tag to Rhodes. Hart Attack from Team Vader for two, side headlock is countered as Barbarian spikes Rhodes with a belly to back suplex. Two for Barbarian, Rhodes returns the favour. Tag to Sasaki who whips Rhodes to the buckle, elbow from Rhodes for two. Chops from Rhodes, Irish whip to the buckle but Sasaki lands a stiff lariat. Rhodes counters with a massive dropkick and a tag to Vader.

 

Middle rope shoulder block from Vader, lariat that drills Sasaki. Powerslam from Vader for two, Sasaki lands a dropkick and a big lariat but Vader comes back with a boot. Sasaki snap suplexes Vader, Rhodes and Barbarian come into the ring. Kick and knee-lift from Rhodes with a dropkick for added measure, flying clothesline for two. Sasaki makes the save, Rhodes and Sasaki trade blows. Barbarian clotheslines Sasaki off the apron as Rhodes dodges and Rhodes secures the win with a roll-up. After the match, Vader wipes out Rhodes with a clothesline.

 

It was stiff, that’s what I wanted and it was over before it got boring, not a lot more I can say, like that Vader gave Sasaki a little shine with that suplex. They do try to do some things with the NJPW talent when there are on WCW PPV which is nice.

 

Winners: Team Vader over Team Sasaki via Roll-Up!

 

Barry Windham & The Great Muta vs Flyin’ Brian Pillman & 2 Cold Scorpio

So look at this bullshit right here, we have Barry Windham and Brian Pillman challenging for the tag team championships later in the night but for now they have to beat the piss out of one another to advance in the Battle Bowl. Windham and Scorpio to start, Windham suplexes Scorpio before Scorpio lands dropkicks and arm-drags. Arm-bar from Scorpio, tag to Muta. Muta takes the back, Scorpio brings Muta to this corner and in comes Pillman who chops Muta. Irish whip and dropkick for two, Pillman has the arm before Muta lands a gut shot. Side headlock and shoulder block by Muta, dropkick and side headlock takedown on Pillman. Muta tags in Windham, the tag team championship challengers are in the ring now.

 

They chop one another, stalemate. Tag to Muta, kicks to the ribs. Irish whip but Muta lowers his head, kick and face-buster from Pillman. Side headlock and shoulder block but Muta lands his spinning sole butt. Pillman pulls Muta into the buckle and tags in Scorpio who misses a splash on Muta who blocks with his knees. Windham is in, flying lariat and leg drop for two. Big right hand knocks down Scorpio, tag to Muta. Double dropkick on Scorpio, snap-mare into the Flashing Elbow drop. Scorpio sends Muta to the buckle, corner splash and twisting leg drop for two. Spinning sole butt from Muta, slingshot splash from Scorpio before the match breaks down. Windham drills Scorpio with an Implant DDT, Moonsault from Muta for the win.

 

Best of the bunch for now, no surprise considering the four competitors inside of the ring. Hopefully big things for Scorpio moving forward in the company, always good to see Muta in a WCW ring and I have no issues with Windham and Pillman who always deliver inside of that ring.

 

Winners: Team Windham over Team Pillman via Moonsault!

 

Sting & Steve Williams vs Jushin Thunder Liger & Erik Watts

Seems a bit one-sided, Sting and Liger to start. They both show tremendous counters for one another, Sting grabs the arm and tags in Williams. Williams tries a suplex but Liger slips out, eye-rake by Williams but Liger dodges the splash and in comes Erik Watts. Watts lands two arm-drags before Williams clotheslines down Watts. Kick to the gut and knee to the face from Williams,  Watts ducks two clotheslines and lands a flying crossbody for two. Williams lands stiff chops on Watts, Irish whip and Liger blind-tags into the match. Kicks and chops by Liger, Irish whip to the buckle. Monkey flip is blocked and Williams lands a clothesline on Liger. Tag to Sting who sends Liger into the buckle in a powerslam fashion, two for Sting.

 

Sunset flip from Liger for two, tag to Williams. Chops from Williams, Williams military presses Liger onto the top rope. Tag to Sting who lands a scoop slam for two, Stinger Splash misses as Liger dodges but Liger cannot tag in Watts. Williams comes in and stomps all over Liger, Sting and Williams take turns stomping all over Liger. Liger is choked across the top rope, Liger reverses Williams for a sleeper before a Backdrop Driver from Williams puts down Liger. Tag to Sting who covers for two and lands a suplex for two, Williams comes in but eats a massive face-buster from Liger. Tag to Watts and they are trading bombs. Lariat to the back of the head and shitty dropkicks from Watts, Watts wants the STF. Williams makes it to the ropes, Watts is sent to the floor and is on the apron now. Stun-gun from Williams for the win.

 

They just beat up Liger forever and Watts messes up his hot-tag which speaks volumes about how this is way too much too fast but whatever, not sure why Williams would care about Battle Bowl if he is wrestling for the world championship later in the night. This concept is so dumb.

 

Winners: Team Sting over Team Liger via Stun-Gun!

 

(NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match) The Great Muta vs Masahiro Chono ©

Interesting piece of information about this match is apparently Bill Watts told the duo to not top their NJPW match so they proceed to have one of the most boring matches on PPV in existence. I could believe that considering how bad Chono vs Rude was at Halloween Havoc.

 

The match starts with Chono landing kicks, snap-mare into a Yakuza Kick but Muta answers right back with a forearm to the face. Side headlock takedown from Muta, head-scissors counter from Chono. Muta wriggles around and grabs the foot, enzuigiri from the champion. Side headlock from Chono, Muta looks to counter. Shoulder block by Chono, test of strength. They trade control before Muta applies an abdominal stretch. Chono counters the hold, Muta reverses and works the leg before applying a figure four head-scissors. Chono slips out for an Indian death-lock like hold, Muta makes it to the ropes and we have a clean break. Chono sends Muta to the floor, Muta returns the favour. Arm-wrench from Chono, arm-bar from Chono. They continue to wrestle on the mat before Chono decides to climb the buckle, Muta counters and lands a superplex. Back body-drop from Muta, single leg Boston crab. Indian Death-Lock from Muta, Muta bridges back into his Muta-Lock.

 

Chono breaks free and dodges a clothesline but eats a spinning sole butt, Chono powders while Muta continues to limp. Kick to the ribs and handspring elbow from Muta, back-breaker from Muta and Muta climbs high. Moonsault does not connect and Muta’s leg buckles on him. Chono kicks the leg multiple times, Yakuza Kick to the face. Another kick but Muta lands a massive forearm, small package for two. Chono lands a suplex, Chono wanted a belly to back suplex but Muta lands on top for a close two. Muta misses a dropkick off an Irish whip, Chono applies The STF and Muta gives up to the disappointment of everyone in the arena.

 

Poor Chono, in America everyone believed Muta to be infinitely more charismatic and cooler so nobody wants to see Chono do well in this match. They really do lots of mat work in this one, it’s quite dull when you consider how good these two can be inside that ring. Seen a few different reports now saying that Watts was worried the NJPW guys would blow the WCW guys out of the water so could very much been an order from Watts. Shame how he could not grasp a good match would help WCW, it’s not like NJPW is direct competition to WCW.

 

Winner: Masahiro Chono over Great Muta vis STF!

 

(WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match) Ron Simmons © vs Dr. Death Steve Williams

Will this be a stiff battle between these two? Side headlock by Simmons, Williams is looking for a suplex of some kind and to break the hold. Shoulder blocks and neither man move so they are going to charge one another like we have seen many times, they both do their crazy pose before Simmons does what Williams did on the Clash, Simmons leapfrogs Williams and clotheslines Williams hard. Arm-bar from Simmons, Williams pulls the hair to take down Simmons which Simmons does not appreciate in the slightest so they trade bombs. Simmons wins that war, whip to the buckle is reversed by Williams. Elbow counter by Simmons and a massive face-buster for two, arm-bar from Simmons.

 

Hammerlock with knees by Simmons, scoop slam from Simmons. Simmons climbs high but misses the diving shoulder block, Simmons lands on the mat hard. Williams starts working the leg of Simmons, dropkick to the knee. Stomp after stomp, Williams has his target. Single leg Boston crab from the challenger, Simmons kicks off Williams but Williams continues working the leg trying a heel hook next. Simmons mounts a comeback but the flurry comes to an end as Williams kicks the leg once more. Simmons continues to fight back but an eye-rake from Williams and a back-breaker for two. Clothesline from Williams for two, scoop slam from Williams. Chop-block to the damaged knee, make it two.

 

Simmons lands a clothesline out of desperation, Spinebuster from Simmons. I guess the knee is fine because Simmons is going to land a chop block and Simmons nails two chop-blocks with no problems. Simmons misses his third block attempt so they brawl on the floor, chops and right hands. Simmons clotheslines Williams against the ring-post, Williams dodges the second attempt but both men are counted-out.

 

Well that was shite but I am guessing you can have sympathy for them considering the match was meant to be Rick Rude vs Ron Simmons and it was expected to be Rick Rude capturing the championship but they could have had Williams lose right? What plans could they have for Williams with Gordy gone? What value is there in Williams without Gordy? Williams best years would be ahead of him in AJPW and I think putting over Simmons would have been fine, make the champion look more dominant before eventually dropping the championship but whatever, Williams heat segment was as dull as his tag segments where it is just a collection of different submissions back to back. Simmons is nowhere near WCW main event level but Bill Watts is in charge brother so that is what you get brother.

 

Double Count-Out!

 

(NWA/WCW World Tag  Team Championship Match) Ricky The Dragon Steamboat & Shane Douglas © vs Barry Windham & Flyin’ Brian Pillman

Douglas and Pillman to start, Douglas has Pillman in the corner for a clean break. Pillman takes the waist but Douglas shakes it off, Pillman has Douglas in the corner. Shoulder blocks and shoulder thrusts before Douglas sends Pillman to the opposite buckle, Pillman leaps over and lands a hip-toss but Douglas lands a massive right before we reset. Pillman and Douglas counter one another before Douglas lands a dropkick on both challengers. Double dropkick on Windham by the champions, Pillman watches from ringside. Double chop and back body drop on Windham, Windham is legal now and in comes Steamboat. The two are slugging it out, massive chops by The Dragon. Suplex on Windham, front chancery from The Dragon.

 

Snap-mare and tag to Douglas, diving axe handle from Douglas. Snap-mare into the reverse chin-lock, Windham counters with belly to back suplex. Douglas fights back with right hands though, tag to Steamboat. Snap-mare into a snap-over neck-breaker, chop to Pillman also and Steamboat clotheslines Windham to the floor. Scoop slam on the floor, Windham is dropped on the ramp and back into the ring before in comes Douglas. Snap-mare into a reverse chin-lock, jaw-breaker counter from Windham. In comes Pillman with a jaw-breaker and a face-buster, choke from Pillman. Chops in the corner, Irish whip to his corner with Windham landing an elbow. Douglas elevates Pillman to the apron, dropkick and Pillman lands throat-first on the guard-rail.

 

Douglas is on the top rope, Windham distracts Douglas and Pillman dropicks Douglas to the floor. Clothesline on the floor by Windham, Windham is legal now and roughs up Douglas. Behind the referee’s back, Pillman works the chest and throat of Douglas who cannot move. Rope guillotine from Windham, tag to Pillman who lands a massive chop. Douglas fights back but Pillman lands a drop toehold and tags in Windham, Windham tosses Douglas into the guardrail. Steamboat is pissed and waffles Windham in the spine with the chair, the fans are coming alive for The Dragon. Pillman gets the tag and lands a belly to back suplex to stop the tag, two for Pillman. Tag to Windham who lands a diving fist to the top of the head.

 

Belly to back suplex from Windham, right hand from Windham and a tag to Pillman. Forearm to the face, suplex with a splash for two. Pillman smacks Steamboat, Steamboat is with the referee as the challengers torture Douglas. Steamboat is irate on the apron, tag to Windham who kicks Douglas in the ribs. Douglas manages to suplex Windham, Steamboat wants the tag so badly. Douglas lands a right hand and tags in Steamboat who dropkicks and chops everything in sight, scoop slams for the challengers. Powerslam on Steamboat from Windham, belly to back suplex from Windham. Tag to Pillman, Steamboat is tossed over the top rope. Windham sends Steamboat into the ring-post, shoulder thrust from Steamboat. Springboard diving chop from Steamboat, Windham saves Pillman.

 

Head-scissors from Pillman for two, tag to Windham who lands an axe handle to the back. Steamboat is telling Windham he will take him down, chops from Steamboat. Right hands from Steamboat, boot by Windham but the diving fist misses. Superkick by Steamboat and a face-buster, Steamboat tags in Douglas. Elbows and right hands, scoop slams galore. Back body drop by Douglas on Pillman, Steamboat and Windham are brawling on the ramp. Pillman lands a boot but runs into The Belly to Belly Suplex from Douglas for the win.

 

Really good tag team match here, Douglas has probably the best match I have seen him in, full of promise here taking one hell of a beating from the big bully that is Barry Windham, I didn’t think Windham was used all that great during his 88’ run in The Horsemen when it came to people to work with but that’s not a problem when he has feuds lined up With Ricky Steamboat and Dustin Rhodes, Douglas as the smaller man is perfect against Windham. Steamboat shows another side of himself here, the quiet man gone mad who is so frustrated that he smashes Windham with a chair, just great stuff. Would have loved to have seen Steamboat clean house more but we get more of that trademark selling and Steamboat’s rage allows him to stop Windham from saving Pillman who does great in this match also from Douglas’ finishing manoeuvre. Very fun tag team match, hard to believe there is something so good on this PPV.

 

Winners: Team Steamboat over Team Windham via  Belly to Belly Suplex!

 

(King of Cable Finals Match) Vader W/ Harley Race vs Sting

The last time these two met Vader dethroned Sting as WCW champion, Vader has been unstoppable so can Sting show he has learned a thing or two since the Summer? Vader lands scoop slams and a clubbing blows, Sting is pressed onto the top rope. Vader does it again, Sting ducks two clotheslines and lands his Kappu Kick. Dropkick sends Vader down,  German suplex from Sting. Clotheslines to the floor from Sting, plancha by Sting onto Race and Vader. Vader re-enters the ring and clubs Sting in the corner, corner splash misses as Sting lands an arm-drag. Stinger splash is blocked with a boot to the face, Sting kicks back and lands a DDT.

 

Sting lands a superplex off the middle rope, two for Sting. On the floor, Sting misses a Stinger splash against the guardrail. Corner splash in the ring and a clothesline by Vader, cover for two. Vader lands right hands to the jaw, belly to back suplex. Reverse chin-lock from Vader, Vader lands a short-arm clothesline for two. Sting counters for a backslide, two for Sting. Sunset flip but Vader wants that splash, Sting moves out of the way and Vader crashes down on his ass. Another reverse chin-lock, Sting tries covering up but Vader continues punishing Sting again and again. Sting sells Vader’s shtick like death, Race wants Vader to finish the match. Vader wants a superplex, Sting punches Vader off the buckle. Both men are down, Sting says bring it as Vader continues to punch with everything he has got. Vader is slowing down, Sting is starting to shake off those blows. Sting is firing up, Vader is shocked. Right hand by Sting, another big one, a roundhouse right.

 

The fourth right hand knocks down Vader, can Sting capitalize? Samoan drop from Sting, the foot is on the ropes. Diving Top Rope Splash from Sting for a close two, Harley Race is on the apron. Sting is distracted and Vader lands his massive clothesline to the back of the head, chokeslam from Vader. Vader is going for a middle rope splash. It connects, Vader wants one more. Vader dives onto Sting who reverses for a powerslam and the three count!

 

Great match here, Sting got his ass handed to him for so long here and you believe it, Vader is an absolute monster who continues to dominate everyone in his path. Sting looks like one more shot can kill him, credit to Vader too though who puts over every attack from The Stinger. These two have great chemistry in there in that ring, I love the way they work with one another and the stories they have told so far with The Great American Bash and here at Starrcade. Looking forward to the next match between these two!

 

Winner: Sting over Vader via Powerslam!

 

Battle Bowl Match

Last time they had two rings and 40 competitors but not this time, we have a lot fewer competitors. Surprised that Muta redid his paint for this stupid battle royal. Anyways it is a mini-Royal Rumble. You know all the competitors as it is just everyone who won in their tag matches.

 

Vader and Sting brawl on the ramp which is no surprise while everyone works in the ring. Windham and Rhodes are going after one another, you would think there would be a little more fire there but it seems tame. They brawl for a long time, lots of kicks and punches no other way to really call the action before Steve Williams throws out Van Hammer and Sting throws out Danny Spivey. Vader and Sting are eliminated as Vader runs full-force at Sting and they both tumble over, not the final four you would expect right? Dr Death throws himself over basically by running full-force at Rhodes and they both go sailing over so we have Muta and Windham as the last two.

 

Right hand by Windham, Windham tries throwing over Muta but Muta will not let go of the ropes. Windham is frustrated but cannot do much about it, belly to back suplex from Windham. Superplex time and it connects big time for Windham, dropkick from Windham. Muta is thrown over the top but skins the cat and dropkicks Windham twice who falls over the top rope. Muta wins!

 

So you have Muta and Chono stink up the joint but you want Muta to win Battle Bowl in your big main event? I do not really get it at all but this was a very basic battle royal. No real spots, no real fire that you want to see. Sting and Vader remember they hate one another and give us a little interesting part but you have Vader and Williams fighting, Sting and Hammer. It just goes far too long and the Royal Rumble concept is infinitely more interesting than WCW’s way of doing things.

 

Winner: The Great Muta!

 

That was WCW’s Starrcade 1992 Battle Bowl and it was another bad PPV for WCW, they wisely realized that a card of 10 plus tag team matches was not a wise choice but they still had to get in their dumb concept of Battle Bowl so we have a bunch of meaningless tag matches that do nothing for me in terms of developing angles or meaning. Every battle bowl tag could be skipped and you would be fine, things get worse actually with the two heavyweight championship matches. Muta vs Chono is very tame, mostly mat-wrestling and has an anti-climatic finish while Simmons vs Williams is just so basic and barebones, nothing memorable and Simmons stills looks like a man way out of his depth as world champion. The Tag Team Championship match is tremendous, great tag team wrestling with Douglas and Pillman eager to show how good they can be given the opportunity and heel Windham is great here against the smaller Douglas while an irate Steamboat is quality, the man still draws huge reactions from the fans so I hope we get more meaningful performances from The Dragon. Sting vs Vader is also a great match, Sting and Vader work so well together. Sting has no qualms about showcasing Vader as an absolute menace, Vader looks like he is killing Sting with every move and the sympathy from the fans is off the charts. Sting comes back with great fire and just when all hope is lost, Sting pulls it off and makes everyone go insane. Love that shit, the Battle Bowl is a poor man’s rumble with an ok finish, nothing close to exciting in there and rather shocking when Sting and Vader are not your winners. 1992 began with potential to be my favourite year in WCW, I hated the likes of Tommy Rich, Big Josh and Richard Morton but they were all being phased out, The Dangerous Alliance against Sting and his friends had so much mileage. I could lose myself in all the great matches The Alliance had against Windham, Rhodes, Nikita, Steamboat and Sting but they cut it short and switched focus to the likes of Simmons and Vader. What hurt was the tag tournament from Great American Bash, Simmons’ underwhelming championship reign and the influx of NJPW stars who were not delivering what they could deliver when in their home country. Halloween Havoc and Starrcade were rough, matches and concepts both being at fault here. It’s a shame because had we continued with The Dangerous Alliance, I really think WCW could have been in a much better position but as we enter 1993, there is most uncertainty and now Bill Watts pays the ultimate price. Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!

WCW Halloween Havoc 1992 Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that asks the question: Who better than Kanyon? It’s time for WCW Halloween Havoc 1992, a card that centres around Jake Roberts vs Sting in a match that we will know the stipulation of when we have the spinning of the wheel! Other big matches on the card include Rick Rude challenging for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Masahiro Chono, Rick Rude picking a replacement to defend the United States Championship in his honour against Nikita Koloff, Ron Simmons defending his World Heavyweight Championship against The Barbarian and a tag team championship match! Decent card to be fair, one or two things might rub me the wrong way but we shall see as we make our way through this WCW PPV!

 

Michael Hayes/Bobby Eaton/Arn Anderson vs The Z-Man/Johnny Gunn/Shane Douglas

Not my idea of a hot opening match, Shane Douglas makes his return to WCW following the slow and painful death of The Dynamic Dudes. Anderson starts with Gunn, Anderson is over big time here with clubbing blows. Gunn leaps over Anderson and lands a dropkick, Eaton is knocked off the apron. Anderson is dropkicked off the apron by Zenk and Douglas dropkicks Hayes and none of the crowd want to see these young guys attack the veterans in Hayes, Eaton and Anderson. Gunn brings Anderson to his corner, tag to Zenk who lands a double axe handle. Anderson drop toeholds Zenk, right hand from Eaton who is in the ring now. Eaton and Zenk leapfrog and drop-down before a back body drop from Zenk and a massive dropkick.

 

Tag to Hayes, boot and chops from Hayes. Side headlock in the ropes, hip-toss by Zenk. Lock-up and tag to Douglas, axe handle from Douglas. Hayes grabs the hair for a side headlock, Douglas lands an arm-drag into the arm-bar. Eaton comes in and eats a back body-drop, head-scissors and a dragon screw. Tag to Zenk who wrenches the leg of Eaton, Anderson is tagged into the match. Sleeper from Zenk, Anderson lands a belly to back suplex to counter. Tag to Hayes who lands an elbow drop, fist drop and a reverse chin-lock. Elbows from Zenk, boot counter and a neck-breaker from Hayes for two. Tag to Eaton, Zenk fights back and nails Anderson and Hayes. Anderson is blind-tagged into the match, Zenk ducks a clothesline from Eaton but gets wiped out by Double A. Tag to Hayes, Zenk is thrown hard into the buckle. Camel clutch from Hayes, Zenk counters a suplex though.

 

Tag to Douglas while Hayes tags in Anderson, right hands to all the heels. Douglas wants a suplex, Eaton lands a chop-block behind the referee’s back. Anderson sees the damage is done and wrenches the leg, Douglas has his legs smashed into the mat. Anderson tags in Eaton who climbs high and lands a diving knee-drop onto the knee, Anderson poses for the fans. Eaton has the figure four, Hayes gives a little extra leverage from the apron. Anderson works the leg but Douglas gets in a shot and tags in Gunn for the hot-tag. Scoop slams and the match breaks down, Zenk back-drops Anderson to the floor. Johnny Gunn lands a Lous Thesz Press on Hayes for the win.

 

What? This random team beat Eaton, Anderson & Hayes? You are joking me? I don’t mind Hayes eating the pin but how did this team beat these established wrestlers? I am shocked to be honest, the heels are over big time here which kind of worries me going forward for the night. Might be a difficult night for the babyfaces of WCW but enough about that, the wrong team won here in my eyes and I am bitterly disappointed how quickly they have dropped the ball on my Dangerous Alliance boys.

 

Winners: Team Z-Man over Team Hayes via Lou Thesz Press!

 

Ricky The Dragon Steamboat vs Flyin’ Brian Pillman

Pillman had turned heel by taking out Brad Armstrong who was unable to compete against Pillman on the previous Clash. Steamboat looks like he is no longer Television Champion but maybe he does not have that championship as it is just a challenge match. The match starts with Pillman chopping Steamboat before Steamboat chops back and lands two shoulder blocks before skinning the cat and landing an O’Connor roll for two, Pillman shoves off Steamboat into the buckle and Pillman takes time to pose. Steamboat plays possum and drops Pillman to the mat and clamps on the arm-bar. Steamboat is pulled by the hair but lands shoulder blocks and two arm-drags into an arm-bar. Steamboat wrenches the arm, massive chop to the arm. Drop toehold counter from Pillman, no side headlock for Pillman as Steamboat slips out into an arm-bar.

 

Back body-drop and scoop slam from Steamboat, Pillman lands a headbutt and rakes the eyes. Pillman slams Steamboat to the mat hard by the head, Pillman chokes Steamboat with the top rope. Steamboat leapfrogs Pillman and lands a two-handed choke toss, Steamboat chops Pillman and sends Pillman to the buckle. Steamboat tries an Irish whip but Pillman collapses to the mat, Pillman lures in Steamboat to land a massive forearm. Steamboat’s face is rubbed into the canvas, Steamboat fights back but is caught with a head-scissors, Steamboat is choked over the middle rope again. Irish whip but Steamboat blocks for the backslide for two, Pillman slams Steamboat by the head to the mat. Pillman chokes Steamboat on the mat before wanting a superplex, Pillman is blocked and dropped face-first to the mat. Steamboat went for a diving chop but Pillman counters with a dropkick for two.

 

Steamboat is caught in a sleeper, Steamboat runs Pillman to the buckle twice and Pillman must let go. Pillman hot-shots Steamboat and climbs high, Steamboat lands a right hand and yanks Pillman off the top rope. Pillman begs for mercy and slides to the floor, Steamboat chops Pillman and throws him back in the ring. As Steamboat enters the ring, Pillman lands a massive knee-lift and chops. Steamboat does not fade though, massive chops from Steamboat. Pillman slides out again, Steamboat trips up Pillman who wanted the knee-lift again. Whip to the buckle, knee counter by Pillman. Diving crossbody by Pillman for two, Steamboat lands a back-breaker and Steamboat lands a diving sunset flip for two. Pillman and Steamboat trade covers and Steamboat manages to get the better of Pillman.

 

Very good wrestling match from these two, Pillman is finding his feet as a heel and has to work hard considering the size difference but Pillman is still flashy and tries a lot of heel tactics in this one which I appreciate for sure. Steamboat continues to be awesome since returning to WCW, I have confused as why we did not get a conclusion to Steamboat vs Rude and I also thought we would have Stunning Steve Austin on the card also against Ricky The Dragon Steamboat but as long as Steamboat has good people to work with, I will be a happy man and Pillman will live to fight another day.

 

Winner: Ricky The Dragon Steamboat over Brian Pillman via Roll-Up!

 

(WCW United States Championship No DQ Match) Vader © vs Nikita Koloff

Clean-shaven Rick Rude is a disturbing thing to look at but as you see written above, why is Vader listed as champion for this match? Well, Rick Rude does not want to be double-booked brother as Rude will be challenging for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship so we have Vader taking on Nikita Koloff. They lock-up and Vader clubs Nikita, Nikita fires back and Vader is staggered. However, Vader turns the tide and roughs the shit out of Nikita. Whip to the buckle and Vader corner splash, massive lariat from Vader. Headbutt from Vader, Nikita is thrown to the floor but lands on his feet. Nikita clubs Vader and lands a forearm that rocks Vader, flying crossbody to the back of the head for two.

 

Reverse chin-lock from Nikita, Vader backs Nikita to the corner. Punch after punch but Nikita dodges a corner splash in the opposite buckle and schoolboys Vader for two, flying crossbody for two. Vader powders, Vader lures in Nikita and sends the challenger into the guardrail. Nikita is dropped on the guardrail and smacked with a chair to the back of the head. On the apron, Nikita tries a sunset flip and Vader sits down crushing Nikita. Massive lariat from Vader, Nikita fights back though. Eye-rake from Vader, rough-looking chokeslam. Vader is on the middle rope, massive splash but Nikita kicks out at two. Reverse chin-lock from Vader, Nikita suplexes Vader which looks more like a brainbuster. Nikita fires up and lands right after right in the corner, shoulder blocks by Nikita. Flying shoulder block for two, scoop slam for two. Elbow drop for two, clothesline to the floor. On the floor, Nikita misses the sickle on the ring-post. Vader clubs the arm and lands a Vader Hammer, elbow drops from Vader. Powerbomb and it’s over.

 

Nikita takes so many moves awkwardly, it’s impressive he didn’t mess himself up in that ring. Anyways, Vader and Nikita do fine here, I am sure if the match was clipped it would flow a little better. Regardless, I love Vader throwing around people and Nikita does his best to give it right back to Vader so I am happy with how things worked out.

 

Winner: Vader over Nikita Koloff via Powerbomb!

 

(NWA/WCW World Tag Team Championship Match) Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes © vs Stunning Steve Austin & Dr. Death Steve Williams

Well can Dr. Death have a good match in WCW since returning is the big question here but also my boys Windham and Rhodes have captured the championships, this is shocking to me I thought their moment had passed but I imagine The Steiners will be in the WWF soon enough. However, they are saying that Rhodes and Windham have been having trouble as a team, are you serious?

 

Williams and Rhodes start, side headlock by Rhodes. Shoulder block has no effect on Doc, Doc starts talking trash to Rhodes. They run at each other and neither go down, this looks a little stupid but Doc leapfrogs Rhodes and lands a clothesline followed by two chop-blocks but Rhodes answers with a massive lariat of his own. Rhodes works the arm and tags in Windham, Doc shoves Windham to the ropes. Knee to the rib but Windham holds onto the arm, Doc shoves Windham to the ropes again. Massive chop, side headlock and shoulder block by Doc. Windham leapfrogs and lands a dropkick into the arm-drag, arm-bar from Windham. Doc pulls the hair, Rhodes comes into the ring and lands a dropkick but Doc tags in Austin. Rhodes grabs the headlock and tags in Windham, right hands by Windham. Austin lands a boot and a thumb to the eye, Windham meets the buckle.

 

Knees by Austin, dropkick from Stunning Steve Austin. Snap-mare for two, Windham manages to land a massive right hand and in comes Rhodes on the reset. Side headlock from Rhodes, Rhodes uses his speed to baffle Austin before Austin slows it down with a boot. Austin trips up Rhodes and stretches the leg, elbow to the back of the head. Rhodes is whipped to the buckle and counters with an elbow, two for Rhodes. Austin counters with a boot, Rhodes wants a monkey flip but Rhodes shoves off Austin and lands his flying lariat. In comes Windham for a flying lariat for two, Windham misses a flying lariat on Doc and it’s babyface-in-peril time. In comes Austin with a boot and a middle rope elbow, suplex by Austin. Two for Austin, tag to Doc who tries to wrestle and pin Windham on the mat.

 

Tag to Austin who works the arm, hammerlock from Austin. Doc is tagged in, shoulder block to Rhodes who is irate on the apron, headbutt and stomps from Doc on Windham. Irish whip into the powerslam for two, rear-naked choke from Doc. Jaw-breaker from Windham, tag to Austin who knocks down Rhodes. Austin wants the superplex on Windham, Windham fights back and knocks Austin back and Windham lands a diving lariat for two. Drop-downs and a leapfrog later, Austin and Windham bang heads. Rhodes gets the tag, Bulldog on Austin but Doc makes the save, Pier-Six Brawl before Windham has to leave the ring thanks to the referee and Doc lands a clothesline on Rhodes with Austin pinning for two.

 

Tag to Doc, Doc lands a massive forearm to the spine. Rhodes is in trouble now, Doc clubs the kidneys over and over. Rhodes fights back with massive right hands, Boston crab from Doc. Austin is in and trade pin-fall attempts with Rhodes before Austin lands a clothesline for two, Doc comes in and trade shots with Rhodes but Doc shoots for the leg and tags in Austin who uses his foot and knee to choke Rhodes. Rhodes starts trading shots with Austin, Austin catches Rhodes before the final blow and Austin poses for the fans. Two for Austin, tag to Doc. Snap suplex with the float-over for two, Doc tags in Austin who clubs down on Rhodes.

 

Snap-mare into the reverse chin-lock, powerslam from Austin but Austin misses the elbow drop. Small package by Rhodes for two, tag to Doc. Stomp by Doc, double-arm suplex for two. Windham receives the tag but the referee misses the tag, Rhodes is the legal man but Windham is pinned but another referee counted the pin but the original referee says that will not count. Rhodes lands an O’Connor roll for two but the timekeeper jumps the gun and it is an all-round clusterfuck at this point. The time comes up for the last two minutes so that all but tells you where we are going, Rhodes tombstones Austin. Ends as a draw.

 

Well that was rough to watch, Doc since coming to WCW has been rough along with Gordy, the tag matches with Steiners and Windham & Rhodes have not delivered. Here we have Windham and Rhodes wanting to have a good match but the finish given is a time-limit draw which means two babyface in peril parts to the match. The first 15 minutes are good, the match probably should have stopped when Windham made the tag to Rhodes but it goes on and while I like Rhodes a lot, I was starting to wish the match was over at that point. The referee bump with the false finish at the end gets all messed up with the timekeeper messing up but they work hard and Austin is doing better regardless of his haircut and no knee-pads look but the match just dragged by the end for me. Also, the reason given for Gordy’s suspension is dropping out due to loyalty Giant Baba which is curious considering they had no problems winning the championships.

 

Time-Limit Draw!

 

(NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match) Masahiro Chono © vs Ravishing Rick Rude

Chono is one of New Japan’s Three Musketeers of the 90s along with Keiji Mutoh and Shinya Hashimoto, Chono is your champion and we have two officials here as we have Harley Race as a referee and Kensuke Sasaki as a referee. What is curious here also is that Paul E. Dangerously degrades Madusa and says she is no better than a street-walker, Madusa beats down Dangerously but here she is still associating with Rick Rude. There is a coin toss and Harley Race is your referee for this match, Chono and Rude lock-up and we have a clean break from Rude. Chono turns the tide in the corner, a clean break? Yes we have another clean break, eye-rake and clubbing blows from Rude.

 

Rude poses in the middle of the ring, Chono comes back with an arm-drag. Side headlock from Rude, Chono counters with a massive belly to back suplex. Rude has his arm worked by the champion, hammerlock from Chono. Rude counters for his own before Chono drop toeholds Rude into an arm-bar. Rude counters for the reverse chin-lock, Chono counters for a hammerlock. Rude is on the floor and Madusa massages her man but Chono catches Rude on the apron, suplex into the ring. Boston crab attempt from Chono, Chono applies the hold. Rude makes it to the ropes, Chono yanks Rude to the centre of the ring. Rude begins to fight back with elbows, throat thrust from Rude. Sunset flip attempt from Chono, right hand by Rude. Rude poses, suplex for two.

 

Reverse chin-lock from Rude, Rude lands a shoulder block but Chono lands a drop toehold but Rude blocks the STF. Rude is covering up and refusing to gift Chono his chin. Rude fights back and lands a piledriver, Chono reaches the ropes for two. Rude climbs high, Madusa and Sasaki are having words on the floor. Chono avoids a diving axe handle but gets caught in the reverse chin-lock, Irish whip into a sleeper from Rude. Something happens in the crowd, cannot blame then for being more interested in that because this match is brutal so far. Chono charges Rude after a missile dropkick misses for Rude, Race is bumped to the floor. Rude Awakening but no referee, Rude misses a diving knee drop and Chono applies the STF for the win. Race wants to disqualify Chono for the bump to the floor.

 

This was rough, no heat to it and the fans turn immediately on the match. They go through the motions if I am honest, Rude does nothing here that makes me want to see Rude as world champion and its frustrating, so frustrating because I fall for the gimmick, I fall for the promos and he gives me an Iron Man Match with Steamboat that kicks all sorts of ass but then I have matches like this to sit through. Chono’s charisma would come later with his neck injury and his Yakuza like gimmick so Chono’s lack of connection with the crowd is understandable, does not have the offense of Hashimoto nor the connection with the fans like Muta so it was always going to be tough but Rude does Chono no favours here.

 

Winner: Rick Rude over Masahiro Chono via DQ!

 

(WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match) Ron Simmons © vs The Barbarian W/ Cactus Jack

So Teddy Long is back with Simmons? Not sure why but ok, also wasn’t the build supposed to be Simmons vs the ghost from his past aka Butch Reed? Why is he facing Barbarian for the championship? Whatever, Simmons winning the championship came out of nowhere and felt forced despite the company showing they wanted to push Simmons and do things with him.

 

Lock-ups and stalemates before a little shoving, side headlock by Barbarian. Shoulder block by Barbarian, Simmons shoulder blocks back. They collide, Simmons wins that exchange with a shoulder block, dropkick and forearm. Barbarian locks up and brings Simmons to the corner, knees and forearms from Barbarian. Barbarian lands an elbow drop after taking a breather, Simmons is tossed to the floor. Barbarian sends Simmons into the ring-post, clothesline against the ring-post. Irish whip and sunset flip from Simmons for two, seated cobra-clutch from Barbarian. Simmons sends Barbarian to the buckle but Barbarian maintains control with a throat thrust and scoop slam. Barbarian misses a diving elbow drop, right hands by Barbarian but Simmons slugs it out. Irish whip reversal, Spinebuster from Simmons for two. Clotheslines by Simmons, scoop slam and Cactus is on the apron. Flying shoulder block on Barbarian, Cactus is punched off the apron.

 

Barbarian boots Simmons to the floor, Cactus just throws Simmons back into the ring. Diving Headbutt connects from Barbarian for a close two, clothesline from Barbarian for two. Barbarian runs the ropes but runs into Simmons’ Powerslam and the match is over.

 

This was barebones, I cannot believe that was a World Heavyweight Championship match on PPV, this card is fading fast. This does not scream world championship calibre and it’s so obvious to everyone in attendance. Really bad stuff from WCW, probably time to take the championship off of Ron Simmons.

 

Winner: Ron Simmons over The Barbarian via Powerslam!

 

(Coalminer’s Glove Match) Sting vs Jake The Snake Roberts

So Jake Roberts came into WCW and took out Sting, Roberts continued to get heat by defeating Sting in the eight-man elimination match prior to the PPV on the previous Clash. Roberts is in the ring and Roberts looks terrible in my opinion, Roberts was never one for a great physique but Roberts really does not look good here. Sting is here looking for revenge, the coalminer’s glove is on a pole so you must climb the pole to use the glove.

 

Match starts with scoop slams from Sting, Roberts yanks Sting off the buckle. Forearm to the spine from Roberts, they lock-up. Roberts has the side headlock, leapfrog from Sting but Sting misses a dropkick. Knees to the spine from Roberts, stomp to the groin from Roberts. Sting is tossed over the top rope, Sting sends Roberts into the buckle. Sting sends Roberts by the shoulder into the ring-post, Sting goes for the glove. Roberts chases Sting, belly to back suplex from Roberts. Sting manages to work the arm before Roberts hip-tosses Sting to the floor, Roberts goes for the glove but Sting crotches Roberts on the rope. Roberts holds onto the leg of Sting, The Snake does not want Sting reaching that glove.

 

Sting wrenches the arm, arm-bar from Sting. Roberts pulls Sting to the outside, right hands from Sting and a chair across the back from Roberts. Roberts uses his wrist-tape to choke out Sting, Sting turns the tide briefly but misses the Stinger Splash. Short-arm clothesline from Roberts, Roberts calls for the DDT. DDT plants Sting, Roberts goes for the glove but Sting swings around the pole and smacks Roberts with an elbow. Sting grabs the glove, Roberts is handed a snake by Cactus Jack though. Sting smacks Roberts in the ribs and the snake bites Roberts. Pin for Sting and its over.

 

You know the pythons that Roberts usually had? The massive looking snakes? Yeah Roberts pulls out a snake that looks like a toy in this match and the crowd shits all over it appropriately. This was not main event level, it was not an interesting match by any stretch of the imagination. All that build-up for that finish? That’s your big match? Horrific WCW, horrific stuff.

 

Winner: Sting over Jake The Snake Roberts via Coalminer’s Glove to the ribs!

 

WCW’s Halloween Havoc 1992 was brutal no hiding that fact. We open up with a six-man tag that has the crowd eating the babyfaces alive and to top it off, they walk away with the win if you can believe that. Steamboat vs Pillman is good, two great workers and they pull off an entertaining match. I think there is still so much potential to Steamboat in WCW, so much that the man can do and I hope he continues to steal shows that I watch because I feel like I need him more than ever. Vader vs Nikita was alright too, they moved around and hit one another hard, can’t ask for more from two big tanks. The card falls apart then with one bad match after another, the tag team championship match goes about 12 minutes too long, should have ended after the Windham hot-tag to Rhodes. Rude vs Chono is abysmal, they did nothing to make that feel like a world championship match, one of the worst title matches for a major title that I have seen in a long time. Things do not improve with Simmons vs Barbarian, an average match if I have ever seen one that is not helping Simmons in his run on top and we finish with Sting vs Roberts which is absent of the psychology and mind-games that makes Roberts fun to watch and we also have a flat finish. Incredible how 1992 started so well and by the end of 1992, it feels like every other year in this company, one step forward and two steps back. Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!