WCW Fall Brawl 1995 Review!

 

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

 

Flyin’ Brian Pillman vs Johnny B. Badd

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Cobra vs Sgt. Craig Pittman

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

Winner: DDP over Renegade via Diamond Cutter!

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Ric Flair vs Arn Anderson

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Winner: Arn Anderson over Ric Flair via DDT!

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

WCW Clash of The Champions XXXI Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that brings you down more than a worked shoot promo from AEW’s finest! It’s time for Clash of The Champions XXXI, one of the last Clashes I will be covering as part of this series and we have some big tag team matches on this one with Sting and Hawk reuniting while we also have Harlem Heat & Sister Sherri taking on Dirty Dick Slater & Bunkhouse Buck & Colonel Robert Parker. The big main event is a handicap match as Vader takes on Ric Flair & Arn Anderson. Will this be a good show? Possibly, let’s see how things play out!

 

Sting & Road Warrior Hawk vs Kurazawa & Meng W/ Colonel Robert Parker

Sting & Hawk have been a team of sorts in WCW, teaming together once on PPV in 1993 which I refer to as Sting’s tag crisis year as he teamed with Davey Boy and Hawk instead of going after singles championships while opposite the duo we have Manabu Nakanishi on his American excursion and Meng. The heels jump the babyfaces and Hawk shoulder blocks Kurazawa, Kurazawa has been dumped to the floor. Kuruzawa and Hawk are trading kicks, Hawk trips up Kurazawa and headbutts him low. In comes Sting, inverted atomic drop and Kurazawa meets the buckle. Kurazawa fights back with chops in the corner, Kurazawa misses a knee in the corner and Sting chops Kurazawa. Suplex for two, tag to Hawk. Double elbow, Irish whip and Hawk lowers his head and eats a kick followed by a clothesline.

 

Tag to Meng who kicks Hawk and lands a clothesline, neither man move. Lock-up, clean break by Hawk. Chops by Meng, clothesline by Meng but Hawk doesn’t go down. Tag to Kurazawa, diving chop to the arm. Chops and Hawk is thrown to the floor. Massive firemen’s carry like slam on the floor, Hawk has been rattled. Sting is brawling with Kurazawa, Hawk fires back in the ring with a clothesline and a fist drop. Dragon sleeper form Hawk, Meng makes the save. Kurazawa grabs a front chancery, tag to Meng. Hawk lands his neck-breaker on Meng but Meng makes the tag to Kurazawa. Hawk lands a scoop slam, Hawk climbs high. Splash connects for Hawk, Hawk lands a powerbomb with Meng making the save. Sting lands a diving clothesline on Meng, back body-drop by Meng. Sting DDTs Meng, Kurazawa and Hawk have fallen apart. Stinger Splash and bulldog on Meng, double clothesline on Kurazawa. Doomsday Device and Hawk picks up the win! Kurazawa breaks the arm of Hawk after the bell! Taking the arm of a Road Warrior, what a way to get your heat back!

 

Perfectly fine for what it was, crowd is loving it which I am all for considering the last show was awful due to lack of energy and enthusiasm from the crowd. Sting and Hawk bust out some fun moves like a powerbomb and diving clothesline and while the sloppy finish definitely is not ideal, it was a fun match at the end of the day and a good way to kick off the broadcast.

 

Winners: Sting & Hawk over Kurazawa & Meng via Doomsday Device!

 

DDP W/ The Diamond Doll vs Alex Wright

Lower card fun here hopefully, DDP will always be over with me for pulling Kimberly when he looks like a complete joke. Lock-up with DDP giving a clean break. DDP shoves down Wright, DDP talks trash is rolled-up twice for two. DDP is furious, claiming that Wright pulled the tights. Dropkicks by Wright, DDP is talking to the Diamond Doll before Wright lands a massive plancha. DDP hot-shots Wright with the top rope, DDP begins working the arm. Elbow to the face behind the referee’s back, Wright uses his ability and flexibility to escape the hold and apply an arm-bar. DDP pulls the hair to bring Wright to the corner, shot to the ribs. Wright moonsaults out of an Irish whip and dropkicks DDP, DDP sends Wright to the floor before Wright lands a shot to the ribs and a slingshot splash for two. Fujiwara arm-bar from Wright, DDP escapes but meets a flying crossbody for two. DDP rocks Wright with a right-hand to stop that attack, DDP kicks Wright in the ribs.

 

Argentine back-breaker into an inverted back-breaker, swinging neck-breaker for two. Backslide from Wright for two, DDP lands some forearms. Shots to the ribs, DDP charges and misses a corner spear, spearing the ring-post. DDP tries a kick but Wright moves and DDP slips, right hands by Wright. Forearms, whip to the buckle and an elbow by Wright. Spinning Wheel Kick by Wright, jumping knee by Wright for two. Wright climbs high, diving missile dropkick for two! DDP is in the corner, Wright lands ten punches in the corner before DDP flapjacks Wright into the buckle. 1…2 Wright kicks out! Wright counters a belly to back for a German Suplex for a close two, flying forearm knocks DDP to the floor. Wright misses a plancha over the top rope and DDP rolls Wright into the ring and covers him.

 

Well that finish does make Wright look like a geek, DDP could have at least used some sort of a move to put him away but nope, Wright’s dive leads to his loss and it seems that push is but  a distant memory at this stage. DDP covering up his physique with a singlet makes me laugh considering the shape DDP is in now and in a year’s time. Not much of a good match but I wasn’t bored so fair play to these two on this night.

 

Winner: DDP over Alex Wright via Missed Dive!

 

(WCW World Television Championship Match) The Renegade © W/ Jimmy Hart vs Paul Orndorff

Bash At The Beach rematch time! Mr. Wonderful who was hugely over with the crowd at that PPV against the Warrior rip-off Renegade where things are going from bad to worse for our cheap imitation. Orndorff jumps Renegade, Renegade comes back with a powerslam and Orndorff powders. Renegade celebrates on the buckle, Orndorff nails a belly to back suplex for two. Renegade is stomped repeatedly by the challenger, beautiful elbow by Orndorff. Orndorff nails knees against the ropes, left to the head. Renegade meets the buckle, Irish whip and a clothesline by Orndorff. Renegade is dumped to the floor but lands on his feet and rocks out I suppose before Orndorff nails Renegade with knees and leaves him laying. Jimmy Hart is trying to motivate Renegade but Orndorff will not let the big monster back in the ring. Hot-shot by Orndorff, Renegade lands a slingshot crossbody for the win just like that.

 

So Renegade gets battered the whole match only to land a fluke slingshot crossbody to win? Well I suppose I should give WCW credit no? They took something that didn’t work at all and said well we are going to push him in a way that doesn’t make him look like shite in the ring.

 

Winner: Renegade over Paul Orndorff via Slingshot Crossbody!

 

Harlem Heat & Colonel Robert Parker vs Harlem Heat & Sister Sherri

Stevie Ray and Slater start, Stevie Ray slams Slater into the buckle. Eye-rake and scoop slam by Stevie Ray, Stevie Ray pushes Slater to the corner. Buck comes in now, Booker will come in too. Lock-up, Booker nails Buck with right hands and clubbing blows. Eye rake by Buck, Buck clubs back. Buck kicks back at Booker, Buck climbs high but Booker is too fast and dropkicks Buck to the apron. Sherri lands a right hand on Buck, scoop slam by Booker. Booker misses an elbow drop but spinaroonies up and lands a flying forearm. Slater comes in as does Stevie Ray, eye-rake by Slater. Headbutt by Slater, Stevie Ray lands a thrust kick. Sherri lands a right too, we have a commercial break and we come back with Booker & Buck. Slater kicks Booker in the spine and Buck lands a Stun-Gun.

 

Slater tags in and stops on the head of Booker, jabs from Slater and Booker is down. Knee-drop to the head, Buck comes in and lands a dropkick. Bearhug from Buck, Slater and Buck continue to beat up Booker. Parker comes in and nails Booker before being rocked with a right hand and in comes Stevie Ray. Double suplex on Parker, the fans want Sherri and in comes Sherri. Diving Crossbody for two, Sherri kicks the ass and elbow drops Parker. Leg-drop to the groin from Sherri, Sherri climbs high again. Sherri misses a top-rope dive, Parker does not want to hit Sherri as Sherri seems out-cold. Parker is hesitating, Sherri jumps on Parker and kisses him to get the win.

 

Good comedic fun, nothing wrong with it. A slow babyface turn for Harlem Heat, they needed it for sure with this division losing team with each passing pay per view. How badly do they need The Steiners or LOD or Sting & Luger at this time, I cannot wait to see how things change with the beginning of Nitro, we are going to get even more people jumping ship and I am hoping for a serious restart of the tag team division.

 

Winners: Team Sherri over Team Parker via Kiss!

 

Ric Flair & Arn Anderson vs Vader

They kept them apart for a while but there was simply no way they could keep Anderson and Flair from one another, they were meant for one another. Flair’s alliance with Vader didn’t work out for The Nature Boy so here we have Vader going after Flair and his buddy Anderson. This is an interesting time for me because I know soon Vader will be going to the WWF so will Flair be picking up a big win on PPV before that day comes? The first time Vader is a babyface in WCW too so would the crowd buy into the big man as a babyface?

 

Vader and Anderson to start, stalemate between the two before Flair distracts Vader. Anderson tries to go toe to toe with Vader, big mistake and Vader rightly murders Anderson in the corner. Anderson scrambles to the ropes, inverted atomic drop and clothesline to the floor by Vader. Anderson is back in the ring and Vader clubs and headbutts Anderson. Clothesline floors Anderson, Irish whip and Anderson lands his spinebuster on Vader. Tag to Flair and Flair is smiling, Flair is stomping on Vader’s head. Vader gets back up and military presses Flair, make it double. Irish whip and Flair flip to the buckle, clothesline off the apron. Anderson chop-blocks Vader, Flair zeroes in on the leg. Vader is limping, the duo attack Vader. Knees by Anderson, DDT by Anderson. Tag to Flair, Figure Four Leg-Lock by Flair! Vader reaches the ropes, Flair attacks the knees. Chops by Flair, Flair climbs high.

 

Bad idea Flair! Vader yanks Flair to the canvas. Irish whip and back body-drop into a splash, Anderson makes the save. Snap-mare and Flair is trying to stop Vader climbing high, Vader lands a top rope splash. Anderson makes the save again, Vader clubs both down with clotheslines after a tag to Anderson. Vader calls for The Powerbomb. Anderson is drilled and Vader wins the match! Flair and Anderson have words after the match, the duo have words and get heated, could Anderson and Flair be doing battle?

 

Not a bad match, brief and action-packed. Vader does what Vader does best and beat the shit out of people, Anderson and Flair are in fine form jumping all around the ring for Vader and the big man picks up the win. Fine main event for a Clash.

 

Winner: Vader over Flair & Anderson via Powerbomb!

 

WCW Clash of The Champions XXXI was a quite good WCW show, some of the recent PPVs have been a slog to get through with the action not hitting anywhere near good territory but the quicker matches here made this show fly-by and showed that even in 1995, WCW could be watchable but I dread covering the next few PPVs because they are going to be so different to this but WCW is setting up some major angles here with The Dungeon of Doom going up against Hogan, Flair vs Anderson and more. Good show overall, thanks for checking it out and remember: there’s always another night!

 

 

WCW Bash At The Beach 1995 Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that is Ucey every night of the week! It’s WCW Bash At The Beach 1995! Hulk Hogan vs Vader inside the steel cage, the second steel cage match for the world championship involving Hogan in a matter of 7/8 months. Not sure how this is going to go considering their last encounter but a cage match with no blood is low on my list of fun times. We also have a rematch as Meng battles against Sting for the WCW United States Championship while Renegade is going to defend his Television Championship against Paul Orndorff. We are also going to have Kamala vs Jim Duggan? What? Dave Sullivan continues his feud against DDP which should be a good laugh hopefully and this PPV takes place on a beach so it’s not exactly WCW’s usual audience (Think Road Wild with the bikers except everyone is in swimming gear) so we shall see unfold, let’s get it on!

 

(WCW United States Heavyweight Championship Match) Sting © vs Meng W/ Colonel Robert Parker

Meng gets a rematch and a video package showing how much of a badass he is which is great, Meng corners Sting to begin. Sting sells the educated feet of Meng, Sting is hesitant to close the distance. Meng locks up with Sting, sends him to the corner and lands chops and forearms, Sting is fighting back though with right hands and chops. Another lock-up, clean break from Meng does not happen as Meng lands shoulder blocks and shoulder chops. Meng chokes Sting in the corner, the referee cannot stop Meng. The challenger has Sting on his knees, Meng wants a suplex but Sting blocks and we have a clean break. Sting clotheslines Meng but Meng holds his position. Meng poses and Sting considers a different strategy, lock-up and Meng rakes the eyes. Tomahawk chops and a scoop slam, Meng misses a middle rope headbutt. Sting goes for the Scorpion Death-Lock, Colonel Parker is on the apron distracting Sting.

 

Sting is kicked in the spine by Meng who throws Sting to the floor, Sting is bounced off the buckle. Suplex into the ring for a close two, triple back-breaker from Meng for two. Meng continues to dish out punishment to Sting, Sting is thrown to the buckle and caught in an abdominal stretch. Sting fights back and tries a sunset flip but Meng is in the ropes. Sunset flip attempt by Meng but Sting blocks and drops his ass onto Meng’s head. Both men are on their hands and knees and Meng headbutts Sting. Sting is dragged to the middle of the ring, Texas cloverleaf from Meng. Sting makes it to the ropes, Meng stomps Sting.

 

Running elbow drop misses Sting, Sting lands a belly to back suplex. Sting begins his comebacks with massive clotheslines, back body drop and a chop block from Sting. Flying Lou Thesz Press for two, Sting lands a hurricanrana with a cover for two, Sting is all fired up now. Sting is sent to the buckle, Meng is caught with a diving crossbody. Sting wants the splash, Stinger Splash is blocked with a massive boot in the face. Meng covers Sting but Sting places his foot on the ropes. Meng slams Sting and climbs high, Meng wants a splash. Meng connects with the splash for a close two, Parker is irate at ringside. Irish whip by Meng, Meng goes for a boot but misses as Sting rolls him up for the win. Meng gets his heat back after the match with an attack on Sting.

 

I like Sting and I like Meng too but this was not great, some big moments and cool things going on at times but not enough to keep me entertained. Happy for Sting’s continued push, not sure what to do with Parker at this stage, his Stud Stable never dominated WCW and Parker has feuded with everyone at this stage so probably best to wrap up that angle but we shall see, you never know with WCW. Happy to see where Sting goes next, Meng will do fine by breaking people up.

 

Winner: Sting over Meng via Roll-Up!

 

(WCW World Television Championship Match) The Renegade © W/ Jimmy Hart vs Paul Orndorff

Arn Anderson was having some fun matches with the championship before running into Renegade who WCW want to push to the top. His opponent is Paul Orndorff who has been mostly out of the picture since the end of Pretty Wonderful, this match starts with Orndorff taking down Renegade with a shot to the gut and pulling him down by his hair. Orndorff is taking the piss out of the crowd but runs into the boot of Renegade. Shoulder block and clothesline, Orndorff is clotheslined to the floor into the sand, that looked a little rough for the challenger. Back in the ring, Renegade squeezes the head of Orndorff. Orndorff seems to be calling the whole match to Renegade, shoulder block and dropkick by Renegade. Orndorff picks up some sand, luring in Renegade and throwing the sand into his eyes. Belly to back suplex by Orndorff, Orndorff continues to smash Renegade in the face. Renegade rallies but Orndorff cuts off Renegade with a dropkick. Fans are cheering for Orndorff, piledriver time. Renegade blocks and back drops Orndorff, terrible looking dropkicks by Renegade. Renegade is jumping vertically it looks bizarre, powerslam to no reaction for Renegade.

 

Renegade stalks Orndorff, Orndorff begs for mercy before throwing Renegade to the floor. Knees to the head by Orndorff, Orndorff wants a suplex but Renegade slips out and lands a belly to back suplex with a pin, Orndorff had his shoulder up and there is controversy, is that the legit ending? Well Orndorff gets his heat back but kicking the shit out of Renegade. Crowd is going nuts for the piledriver and well, your babyface shakes it off but nobody wants to see Renegade take down Orndorff. Talk about completely mis-reading the situation.

 

Mercifully short, I feel like Renegade might possibly be able to do some things right in the ring but the gimmick holds him back significantly. Crowd have turned on him which tells you all you need to know. In the times where 90% of the crowd is happy to cheer the babyfaces and boo the heels, this is a really bad sign for Renegade.

 

Winner: The Renegade over Paul Orndorff via Belly To Back Suplex!

 

Kamala W/ The Taskmaster vs Hacksaw Jim Duggan

Oh good lord, this might pass in the WWF in the late 80s but in 1995, you really going to make me sit through this? They lock-up and slug it out, Duggan is winning the war and almost knocks down Kamala. Clothesline by Duggan, Kamala is still on his feet. Third clothesline knocks down Kamala, Kamala is begging for mercy or a hug, no idea what is going on here to be honest. Eye rake by Kamala, chops to the head of Duggan. Multiple headbutt by Kamala and a superkick, choke across the top rope. Bearhug from Kamala, Duggan attempts to fight his way out of the hold. Headbutt from Duggan, Kamala regains control. Kamala works the armpit? Duggan bites the head and ear of Kamala, Duggan tees off on Kamala. Clothesline by Duggan, scoop slam by Duggan. Three-Point Stance Clothesline by Duggan, Taskmaster is on the apron. Zodiac nails Duggan with an object to the back of the head and covers for the win.

 

Mercifully short again, I like Duggan and he’s on the spot he needs to be in on the card but the cheese-fest of Duggan vs Kamala is something I don’t need to see in WCW. It goes exactly how you think it would and depending on your level of patience, this is either agonizing or inoffensive at best.

 

Winner: Kamala over Hacksaw Jim Duggan via Shenanigans!

 

DDP W/ The Diamond Doll vs Dave Sullivan

Evad is here, DDP is grabbed by the head and that is one ugly attire on Page. Dave shoves roses down the throat of DDP, DDP meets the buckle. Suplex into the ring. Clothesline by Dave, Dave lands a shoulder block. Snap suplex, Dave calls for the finish. Diamond Doll is talking to Dave, Dave is distracted and DDP takes control stomping the fingers of Dave. Foot choke in the corner, DDP tries a running clothesline but gets caught in a bearhug. DDP rakes the eyes, Dave is whipped to the buckle. DDP tries an attack and crotches himself, Dave is fighting back but the fans do not care about the match, I believe someone is getting naked in the crowd or fighting. Dave stomps on DDP’s fingers, DDP is rammed off the buckle. Eye poke by Dave and a hangman’s neckbreaker. Here it comes, Inverted Bearhug but Maxx Muscle is taken down off the apron and DDP lands The Diamond Cutter for the win.

 

So many thankfully short matches, I am truly thankful for that but yes, WCW continues to deliver a very middle of the road card so while its not boring me to tears, it is also not interesting at all.

 

 

Winner: DDP over Dave Sullivan via Diamond Cutter!

 

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

Booker to start with Knobbs, Booker goes to get heat from the get-go. Nasty Boys beat-up everyone, Regal takes a trip to Pity-City. Same for Eaton, Knobbs and Booker start the match properly. Knobbs runs into a boot before landing a clothesline, Regal tags in off of Knobbs. Judo hip-throw and uppercuts by Regal, Booker trips Regal and lands a massive side Harlem kick. In comes Stevie Ray who smashes up Regal, Eaton and Stevie Ray are legal now. Powerslam by Stevie Ray but Sags tagged in off Eaton. Nasty Boys beat down Stevie Ray, headbutt to the groin. Tag to Sags, wishbone-split. Leg-drop to the balls, Regal is in the ring but Stevie jokes Regal to the corner. In comes Booker who waffles Regal, in comes Eaton. Eaton lands his trademark right, in comes Knobbs who runs into another boot. Clothesline and splash by Knobbs, Stevie Ray saves Booker.

 

Sags is legal, double clothesline on Booker for one. In comes Regal, uppercuts and throw with a knee to the head. Knees and uppercuts by Regal, Sags is tagged in by Regal. Nasty Boys and Blue-Bloods begin brawling before Booker wipes out Sags. In comes Stevie Ray, Knobbs lands elbows and a splash. Regal makes the save, Knobbs decks Regal. Harlem Sidekick from Booker for two, Sags made the save on that occasion. Stevie Ray is in, elbow to the face. Regal tags into the match, forearms and uppercuts all around. Snap-mare and a tag to Eaton, sweet right hand from Eaton. Eaton lands a top rope fist-drop, tag to Regal who looks for his Regal Stretch but Sags makes that save. Regal tags in Stevie Ray who stomps and chokes Knobbs, Knobbs is trying to brawl back into it but it’s not super effective.

 

Tag to Booker, Booker wants his scissors kick but Regal tags in and screws that up for Booker. Knobbs slaps down Regal but Eaton and Regal combine to beat down Knobbs. Knobbs is caught with a sunset flip before sitting down on the chest of Regal, in comes Sags. Sags decks Eaton & Regal with right hands, Harlem Heat are brawling with Knobbs. Match is breaking down now, Knobbs back-drops Regal. Sags back-drops Booker onto Regal, Knobbs splashes Booker & Regal. Sags sits on Booker and Regal but Booker is on top of Regal so Harlem Heat retain their championships.

 

WCW’s tag division has always been a difficult subject for me to navigate with the quality of the matches and the division varying constantly. Here we have a three-way match that doesn’t capture the drama or excitement of a straight up normal tag team match. Nasty Boys look like fools following the finish while Harlem Heat have nobody to work with because they have beaten them many times at this point and boy I am sick of this Nasty Boys feud. Would love a hard reset on the division, maybe something interesting will happen soon.

 

Winners: Harlem Heat over Everyone Else!

 

(Lifeguard Match) Ric Flair vs Macho Man Randy Savage

A lumberjack match between two men who despise one another, Ric Flair had taken out Savage’s father Angelo Poffo and defeated Savage at the prior pay per view so this is a huge match for Savage who is looking for revenge. The lifeguards surround the ring in terrible looking beach attire, Savage slaps down Flair. They lock-up, shoulder block and right hands by Savage. Corner clothesline and back-drop by Savage, Flair is knocked down by two clotheslines and a clothesline to the floor. The Lifeguards protect Flair as it is the heel guards that have Flair. Savage stomps Flair on the ring apron, Savage looks for the ten punches in the corner but an inverted atomic drop cuts off Savage. Chops and right hands in the corner by The Nature Boy, Savage is dumped to the floor. Babyface guards protect Savage, Savage lands an elbow on Flair and sends him into the buckle.

 

Flair chops and punches Savage but Savage continues to dish out jabs. Elbow takes down Flair, Flair wants an apron suplex but Savage suplexes Flair to the floor. Flair is begging for mercy, Savage stomps on Flair. Back-drop again, Flair begs for mercy before eye-poking Savage. Sleeper from Flair, Savage uses elbows to escape and lands a shoulder block before running into a another sleeper. Savage uses his wits to ram Flair into the turnbuckle, Savage throws punches from his knees. Chop by Flair, three in a row. Clothesline by Flair, Savage is dumped over the top rope to the floor. We have a brawl between the lifeguards as they throw Savage back into the ring, Flair is on the top rope. Savage crotches Flair but Flair jumps off onto Savage’s head so it looks rough. Flair is whipped to the buckle, Flair uses a knee to stop Savage. Savage reverses an Irish whip and applies a sleeper before Flair counters with a shin-breaker.

 

Flair slaps on The Figure Four Leg-Lock, the crowd comes alive for Savage. Angelo Poffo is here with shades on, Savage is rallying and turns the pressure onto Flair. Flair has to break the hold, vertical suplex by Flair. Savage fights back and Flair tries to leave but that’s not going to work. Back-drop by Savage, Savage climbs high and lands a diving axe handle. Arn Anderson is on the apron and in the ring, Knobbs is on the apron. Savage decks Anderson but Flair lands the thumb to the eyes. Savage back-drops Flair onto The Nasty Boys while Anderson nails Savage with the DDT. 1…2.. Savage kicks out! Backslide from Savage for two, Savage lands right hands. Whip to the buckle, elbow counter from Flair. Savage yanks Flair off the top rope, diving axe handle by Savage. Diving Elbow Drop by Savage and Savage wins!

 

Thought they would have the lifeguards play more into the finish but they were more of a non-factor at the end of the day. Shame that this stipulation rarely results in a fun match, they also immediately cut away from Savage for some reason where this is meant to be Savage’s revenge for what happened to his father but you know it is what it is with WCW. Being outside and being away from that normal wrestling audience hurts what would have been an even better match had it taken place in a normal arena. Savage is a fantastic seller and works so well with Flair, they always do deliver inside that ring so I am hoping they could continue this feud but with Flair’s constant losses, it will be hard to get me invested in the feud once more.

 

Winner: Randy Savage over Ric Flair via Diving Elbow Drop!

 

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

These two were destined to do battle since Vader became number one contender for the championship, the match was postponed as Hogan feuded with The Three Faces of Fear but Vader and Hogan did have their match with Hogan coming out on top in the leather strap match. However, now we are in the cage and there is no escape, Hogan starts hot with punches and sending Vader into the cage. Bandana down the throat and ten punches followed by stomps on the head of Vader. Axe bomber by Hogan, chops yet Vader is still standing. Vader blocks the cage and works the ribs, they are trading blows. Vader wins that war and bashes Hogan with rights and lefts. Dennis Rodman is here in full Hogan gear, Jimmy Hart screams words of encouragement. Vader doesn’t care, rights and lefts followed by headbutts. Hogan sends Vader into his helmet and Hogan is wearing the helmet. Hogan hits the most phony-looking headbutts on the planet with the helmet and takes it off.

 

Vader squishes Hogan with a corner splash, Vader Bomb squishes Hogan. Second Vader Bomb and Hogan kicks out at two, Vader picks up Hogan and rams him into the cage. Vader suplexes Hogan, Vader calls for the finish. Vader is ripping at something in the corner, Hogan sends Vader into the cage. Hogan wants a slam but Vader has none of it, sending Hogan crashing to the mat. Headbutts and a snap-mare by Vader, Vader is on the top rope. Vader misses the senton! Hogan tries a slam but Vader falls on him, reverse chin-lock by Vader. Hogan escapes and calls for the slam, the crowd eats that shit up. Hogan pulls it off, Hogan’s back is killing him. Vader goes right back on the offensive, blistering Hogan with fists and a short-arm clothesline. Middle rope splash by Vader for two, Hogan is Hulking Up!

 

Hogan lands right hands, Vader meets the cage over and over. Irish whip and a big boot, Vader is still on his feet. Hogan kicks Vader in the dick but here comes Sullivan and Zodiac, Dennis Rodman is fighting off these two heels with a chair. Zodiac and Sullivan have been thwarted by Dennis Rodman, Atomic Leg Drop on Vader. Second Atomic Leg Drop! Hogan is going to climb out of the cage, Vader is on his feet though. The scramble is at the corner on the top rope, chops and punches galore. Vader is crotched very slowly and Hogan climbs out of the cage and wins the match.

 

What I can appreciate it is Hogan did not pin Vader, Vader is somewhat protected while being in there with The Hulkster but as for the match itself, I never felt that Hogan was truly in danger. Such a shame considering the size of Vader and how Vader could tear apart Hogan but it just never takes off really, it is like most matches that we have seen with Hogan by this point, it is Hogan going through the motions and the quality of the main events are suffering because of it, Hogan has beaten Flair and Vader now so who else is truly left on the heel side to thwart Hogan? The goofs ran off by Dennis Rodman? God help us all in WCW.

 

Winner: Hulk Hogan over Vader via Escaping The Cage!

 

That was WCW’s Bash At The Beach 1995, an inoffensive pay per view from WCW. We have matches that aren’t horrifyingly bad or super boring but they seem to just be there and exist like this was some throw-away show that didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things like a Christmas RAW but this was a PPV, people paid money to see this. Sting vs Meng starts out interesting enough and they is a strong effort to protect Meng here and made him look like a credible threat and I appreciate that and I am all for a bigger push for Sting because lord knows I have been suffering long enough with Sting taking the backseat to others, Orndorff vs Renegade demonstrates the failure of The Renegade project, crowd turns on him immediately and are not happy campers when Renegade wins. Late 80s WWF cheese doesn’t work in 1995 so Kamala and Duggan is horrific as you would imagine while DDP vs Dave Sullivan is another safe and standard affair, nothing memorable whatsoever. The three team tag team match is really bad, none of it gels together and the finish makes Nasty Boys look like fools which is definitely not a great look for your number one babyface team. Flair vs Savage is a decent match, the gimmick doesn’t really play a part in the finish while Anderson’s DDT isn’t exactly treated like a false-finish as Savage kicks out pretty early on that two count but at least it was better than anything else on the card while the main event cage match sucks, no real drama or excitement, Hogan no-selling Vader’s crushing attacks and a sloppy ending as Vader can’t even crotch himself on the rope and Hogan anti-climatically climbs out. Bad stuff from WCW, the bad hits keep coming. Thanks for checking this out and remember: there’s always another night!

 

 

WCW Uncensored 1995 Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that pays less than an appearance on AEW Dark! We are going to review WCW Uncensored 1995! We have a bunch of gimmick matches as it’s uncensored and all the rules have been thrown out so we have Hulk Hogan vs Vader in an Indian Strap Match, the only strap matches I have ever found interesting feature one of these men but Hogan is not Sting and I doubt he will pull it off, we also have Sting vs Big Bubba continuing their feud in an Anything Goes Match and Randy Savage takes on Avalanche in a No Disqualification Match. Other matches rounding out the card include Nasty Boys vs Harlem Heat in a Texas Tornado Falls Count Anywhere Match, Meng vs Hacksaw Jim Duggan in a Martial Arts Match and a King of The Road Match which will be infamous as I describe it so let’s get it on!

 

(King of The Road Match) Dustin Rhodes vs Blacktop Bully

 

So they are on an 18-Wheeler truck with a bunch of hay around it and some ropes etc, they have to ring a bell to win. Rhodes almost wins immediately but no, Bully hangs onto Rhodes and stops him winning. Bully tries winning but Rhodes smashes Bully with some sort of pole, piledriver by Rhodes on Bully. Rhodes uses the bar to kick Bully in the face, Rhodes is throwing hay at Bully? I think, I can’t see too clearly but here we have Rhodes pummelling Bully. Bully is domed with the bale of hay. Heenan talks about great camera work which cracks me up, Bully lands a suplex on Rhodes. Bully is yanking at something, Rhodes is choked with the rope. Rhodes almost makes it to the horn but a turn messes up Rhodes’ balance. Bully and Rhodes brawl with one another near the horn, belly to back suplex in the hay. Both men are bleeding now which is a massive no-no in the family friendly WCW at the time.

 

Well it’s a unique match but not sure how to really call much more of this, they are brawling and Rhodes wants a scoop slam, Bully drags Rhodes towards the horn. Not the wisest strategy, Bully is climbing towards the horn. Rhodes hits a massive low blow before stomping all over Bully. Bully rips off the shirt of Rhodes, Bully chokes and punches the head of Rhodes. Rhodes smacks the head of Bully with a trough, we are coming towards the end of this one thankfully. Rhodes is cracked with a box, Bully is close to reaching the horn but the footage of the helicopter is off but with Rhodes stopping Bully, is this nearly over? Bully has his balls yanked onto the side of truck, they are both battling for the horn. Rhodes is climbing up there with Bully, Bully manages to knock down Rhodes but Bully cannot capitalize as Rhodes knocks him down and lands a boot to the nuts. Bully pulls down Rhodes, Bully misses a clothesline and lands further behind Rhodes. A bucket of water crashes off Rhodes’ head, Bully begins climbing high.

 

Diving shoulder block by Bully, Bully reigns down with right hands to the head. Bully begins climbing once more, Rhodes is climbing too. Both men struggling for it, Rhodes rakes the eyes of Bully. Bully smashes Rhodes right in the face with a right hand and wins this match.

 

A spectacle but not of the noteworthy or interesting variety and this would lead to the end of Dustin Rhodes in WCW. Let me say this, Rhodes & Windham may be one of my favourite tag-teams of all-time and the sour ending to Rhodes’ career in WCW makes me sad because had they not dropped the ball so hard throughout 93 and 94, Rhodes could have been a huge star. Another WCW main-stay gone with the transition to Hogan’s WCW continuing.

 

Winner: Blacktop Bully over Dustin Rhodes via Ringing The Horn!

 

Martial Arts Match Meng W/ Colonel Rob. Parker vs Hacksaw Jim Duggan

 

Meng has stood on as a menacing bodyguard for a year now in WCW taking out anyone who has stepped up to Colonel Robert Parker, Meng would take out Duggan at the prior PPV so it makes sense that these two would do battle but as we are on a gimmick PPV, we have to have a martial arts match. Duggan’s martial arts skill are non-existent but Duggan is dressed for a street fight. Sonny Onoo is the referee, Duggan bows after saying that he would not and Meng kicks him in the head. Two for Meng, Duggan fights back with massive rights and lefts but Meng hits throat thrusts and a neck-chop.

 

Duggan uses his boot to batter Meng, Meng takes the boot. Forearms do nothing as Meng lands an elbow to the head, Duggan takes off the other boot. Meng has a shoulder claw, Duggan uses the boot on Meng’s toe. Meng dodges the boot, chops in the corner and a choke. Duggan is fighting back but Meng is too strong, another shoulder claw by Meng. Duggan begins to fire up, elbows to the ribs. Headbutt by Duggan does not work as Meng does not sell headbutts, foot choke by Meng. Duggan dodges falling headbutts, right hands by Duggan. Ten punches in the corner by Duggan, Duggan is getting sick of Sonny Onoo. Duggan continues whipping Meng, Duggan calls for The Three-Point Stance Clothesline but Meng is right back up, Duggan decks Parker. Duggan eats a Savate Kick to the face and Meng picks up the win.

 

Acceptable in the WWF during the late 80s when the territory was on fire, here in 95 not as much fun at all. Duggan is where he should be on the card though while Meng could be something more considering how badass he can be inside of that squared circle.

 

Winner: Meng over Hacksaw Jim Duggan via Thrust Kick!

 

Boxer vs Wrestler Match Johnny B. Badd vs Arn Anderson W/ Colonel Robert Parker

 

I thought this was a boxing match, why would Badd agree to use gloves in this match? Should be a decent comedy match considering how good Arn can be in there. Badd starts with jabs to the face of Anderson, Anderson is not a happy man. Anderson grabs Badd but Badd turns the tide and pummels Anderson who dives to the floor. Badd continues punishing the ribs of Anderson, Anderson is saved by the referee. Anderson shoots for the leg and tries to close the distance but Anderson cannot make a move. We have rounds in this trash so the first round is over, round two is the same as Badd boxes the head of Anderson who is knocked down for a count of eight. Anderson is covering up in the corner and having his ribs worked, Anderson nails a knee to the ribs and a DDT during the rest period.

 

Definitely one way to get where we need to go, Badd is thrown to the floor during the rest period. Scoop slam and a knee by Anderson, Anderson chokes Badd with the middle rope. Left hands by Anderson, knee to the ribs. Parker has the stool, Anderson whips Badd into the stool. Spinebuster by Anderson, Badd’s trainer tries to make the save, Anderson is taunting Badd. Choke in the corner by Anderson, jaw-breaker. Badd begins fighting back but Anderson tosses Bad to the floor. Round 4 of this fight, Anderson meets the buckle and has a bucket put on his head, Badd lands The Kiss that don’t Miss!

 

An entertaining one, cannot fault WCW here the first decent match of the night. Just a little difficult to stomach considering the prior matches but definitely the best of the three so far. Nice to see the fans still enjoying Badd considering where Badd was as 1994 came to an end.

 

Winner: Johnny B. Badd over Arn Anderson via Knockout!

 

Randy Macho Man Savage vs Avalanche

 

Match starts hot with Savage hitting boots and jabs to the bigger Avalanche, shoulder block does not work for Savage. Savage slaps Avalanche, Avalanche shoulder blocks Savage and poses with his work. Savage ducks and Avalanche lands on the floor, Savage lands a diving crossbody to the floor. Avalanche meets the ring-post, Savage sends Avalanche into the steel steps. Avalanche lands on Savage as Savage tried the scoop slam, Savage tries fighting back but Avalanche lands a knee to the head. Belly to belly suplex by Avalanche, dropkick by Avalanche for two as Savage uses the ropes to survive. Scoop slam but Avalanche misses the elbow drop, Avalanche tosses Savage to the floor.

 

Avalanche has his face sent into the top, Savage lands a diving crossbody for one as Avalanche is pissed, clothesline by Savage. Make it two but Avalanche is still on his feet, Savage tries a sunset flip but Avalanche sits down on that fool. Splash by Avalanche for two, Savage fights back with a roll-up for two. Eye-rake by Savage, Savage climbs high again. Crossbody is countered with a bearhug, Savage is rammed into the buckle. Powerslam by Avalanche, middle rope splash misses for Avalanche. Savage climbs high once more, diving axe handle to the floor. Savage lands right hands to the head, somebody in drag attacks Savage and it’s none other than The Nature Boy. Hogan comes down to make the save as Flair and Avalanche powder, there are no DQs but Savage is declared the winner? Ok….

 

Bad match, Savage seems pumped up to wrestle and prove Mcmahon wrong but the people he has been given to work with to kick us off ain’t going to help him, I like John Tenta but the man is not lighting my world on fire in 12 minutes matches.

 

Winner: Randy Savage over Avalanche via DQ!

 

Sting vs Big Bubba Rogers

 

Sting continues to be one of the most popular people in the company but has to take a backseat to Savage and Hogan, Big Bubba turned heel because not one fuck was given about The Guardian Angel. Sting bites the finger of Big Bubba and tee’s off with right hands. Big Bubba has his hat destroyed by Sting, Sting lands a back-drop and kicks down Bubba. Bubba is slammed, elbow drop by Sting. Bubba tries to pull Sting into the ring-post, Sting uses his feet to throw Bubba into the ring-post. In the ring, Sting lands a splash and slaps Bubba. More slaps, Sting tries a leap-frog but Bubba runs into his knee. Sting goes down and clutches his knee, Bubba works the knee by dropping his weight on it. Sting begins to fire back before Bubba kicks out the knee, headbutt and attacks by Bubba. Right hands to the ribs, Sting back-drops Bubba. Sting is bounced off the buckle, right hand by Big Bubba. Big Bubba has a single leg Boston crab, Sting screams out in pain.

 

Bubba climbs to the top rope, Sting brings down Big Bubba. Sting lands a diving chop, not a good idea on his leg but Sting connects. Scoop slam on the bad leg again, Sting is damaging himself. Bubba sees Sting on the ropes, Bubba tries his slide and right hand but Sting dodges and applies a sleeper, Bubba uses his tie for a jaw-breaker. German suplex by Sting, Sting lands a snap-mare and Sting lands a diving splash. Sting rocks Bubba, Bubba chop-blocks Sting. Bubba misses a corner splash, Sting tries a scoop slam but Bubba falls on top and covers for the win.

 

Of course only Sting will be doing the J-O-B on this night for the babyfaces, it wasn’t that bad at times, that German suplex was nasty and the crowd love Sting which makes it a bit more watchable but only the occasional gem with Vader has made me a fan of Big Bubba and it’s been a long time since that banger match Bubba had with Vader.

 

Winner: Big Bubba Rogers over Sting via Crushing Him!

 

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

 

Oh how I loathe The Nasty Boys, I am so happy that this is a falls count anywhere brawl match because at least this will be fun because any Nasty Boys match where they cannot brawl is shite. Anyways, these two have been brawling all year with Harlem Heat continuing to escape with the championships, luckily escaping last time as Sags had dropped one of the champions over the top rope last time leading to a reversed decision. In the ring, the champions jump the challengers and it’s a lot of punching and kicking here. Stevie Ray lands a big kick to the face of Sags, Stevie Ray continues to torture Knobbs in the ring.

 

Sags fights back and takes down Stevie Ray, double clothesline in the ring. Sherri is dragged into the ring, stripped of her cloak and takes a trip to pity city. Sags and Stevie Ray are brawling up the ramp, Knobbs and Booker are also joining them as Knobbs cracks Booker with a trashcan. Sags and Stevie are fighting in the concession stands, cotton candy and drinks are being thrown as Sherri chokes Sags with an item of clothing. Mustard is everywhere, everyone is covered in food and condiments. Knobbs meets the funnel cakes, Sherri is shoved down by Sags. Sherri looks good though, they continue brawling. Sherri takes a nasty bump as Sags pushes her into the floor. All of a sudden, The Nasty Boys are declared the winners, we only see the pin-fall in the replay. Did they win the championships?

 

Doesn’t look like they won the championships but why would The Nasty Boys have the match without the titles on the line? Maybe it was on the line but we missed the finish and we didn’t even see The Nasty Boys holding the championships so that’s definitely a colossal failure given those are two massive moments we were waiting for as fans. Well, I mean I wasn’t waiting for that but the fans in the arena maybe some of them paid to see The Nasty Boys become champions but regardless this was a brawl that suited The Nasty Boys but the finish and handling of said finish were a trainwreck.

 

Winners: The Nasty Boys over Harlem Heat via Powerslam!

 

(Indian Strap Match) Vader W/ Ric Flair vs Hulk Hogan W/ Jimmy Hart

 

They don’t talk about the world championship, would these two really wrestle without the championship on the line? Ridiculous, Hogan talks about The Ultimate Surprise I wonder who that could be. Anyways, Ric Flair has aligned himself with the ultimate threat to Hulkamania because Hogan cost Flair his career so at least that makes sense. Hogan is intimidated by Flair & Vader, Hogan is at a disadvantage here but the music plays, it can only be one man and it’s The Renegade! Renegade chases off Flair, Hogan and Vader begin their match. Hogan is chopping and choking Vader in the corner, Hogan is whipping Vader and Flair as Renegade gives an assist. Renegade does not budge as Flair chops and lands right hands, Vader lands a bearhug in the ring.

 

Vader slams Hogan to the mat, Flair struts on the floor. Vader Bomb connects, Vader chokes Hogan with the strap, Jimmy Hart is here. Something had happened to Jimmy Hart, Vader continues whipping Hogan. Hogan rolls to the floor, headbutt by Vader. Jimmy Hart takes a chair away from Vader, Hogan waffles Vader with the chair three times. Vader is sent into the ring-post, Renegade is staring down Flair again. Flair tries a shoulder block, doesn’t work for The Nature Boy. Hogan continues to work on Vader, Vader is whipped some more with the strap. On the floor, Hogan is touching the poles as Vader is very difficult to drag around. Not sure how this makes it easier but you do you Hogan. Vader sends Hogan into the guardrail, in the ring Hogan regains control and lands his big boot and Atomic Leg Drop. Hogan begins dragging the carcass of Vader, three buckles have been touched. The Masked Man is back, seriously this shit again? Renegade is down! Flair cracks Hogan in the back with the chair!

 

Vader is on the middle rope, Hogan dodges the splash. Flair is hysterical, Flair cannot believe this tragedy. Flair leaves the ring and drags Vader to the floor, they aren’t wearing the strap anymore though. Flair cracks Hogan in the back with the chair, Hogan Hulks Up! Hogan whips Flair like a dog, right hands by Hogan. Big boot and lots of whipping, Hogan drags around Flair and touches the corners to win even though the match was against Vader.

 

Yeah that’s a good way to end this travesty, this show was really bad but here we have Hogan beating Flair, not even Vader when Vader vs Hogan could have done big business but they managed to fuck that up just like they did with Flair vs Hogan. The Masked Man is here with Flair and Vader, this must be a trap though as Masked Man Arn Anderson is all tied up and is coming to ringside like this while Randy Savage is revealed to be the real Masked Man and this is all sorts of convoluted pantomime. Yeah this match was not Sting vs Vader, not even close and the longer the feud continues the less I care. Really disappointing end to a shitty pay per view.

 

Winner: Hulk Hogan over Vader via Touching All 4 Posts!

 

That was WCW’s Uncensored 1995, one of the worst from WCW. Nothing redeeming, nothing positive about this card from top to bottom. Let’s talk about these matches: we kick off with The King of The Road spectacle and it’s rather long and not exactly action packed and results in the release of one of my favourite WCW performers over the last few years so definitely a bummer there. Things do not improve with Duggan vs Meng, its not late 80s WWF so the crowd is not into it as much as before, the don’t exactly work an exciting pace so it just plods along. Badd vs Anderson might be a bright spot, Badd continues to be over despite poor booking but the match is quite on the long side too. Things continue to take a down turn with Savage doing his utmost to drag a good match out of Avalanche but with the time given to the match, it was damn near impossible, Sting takes a loss to Big Bubba which is shocking considering how bulletproof Sting should be but with these other giant stars in WCW, Sting is taking a backseat and the tag team championship match is a complete mess and the main event is not any better so an abysmal show really showcasing how WCW was as Hogan and Co came into the company. Avoid this one and thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!