WCW Halloween Havoc 1994 Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that always hangs on to the tag rope! It’s WCW Halloween Havoc 1994: Rematch City! Yes we have a lot of feuds still continuing as Vader squares off against Guardian Angel again, Stars & Stripes face Pretty Wonderful again, Steve Austin faces Jim Duggan again and Dustin Rhodes continues his war with Arn Anderson. The main event is Career vs Career which is just the dumbest shit really because Flair nor Hogan are following through it with it but ok why not and it’s also a cage match! It all seems a bit too gimmicky and OTT to buy into it but I guess Flair teased retirement the year prior so who knows maybe he just might do it if he loses. Not thrilled looking at the card but its not what is on paper that is in important, it's the matches themselves so let’s get it on!

 

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

I have seen it all now haven’t I? Honky Tonk Man is here in WCW, the challenger for the television championship. This should be an easy win for Badd right? Honky talks trash with the dans before backing away from the fists of Badd, Badd is over now. Wrist-lock and elbows to the arm from Honky, Badd reverses and drops the leg on the arm of Honky. Honky is in the ropes, Honky misses a right hand and takes an atomic drop. Badd grabs the hair and messes up the hair, right hand sends Honky to the floor. Honky re-enters the ring and lands a knee, snap-mare into a knee-drop. Kick to the rib from Honky, Badd begins fighting back but Honky lands a knee to the gut. Irish whip and elbow to the face, Honky dances which pisses off the fans.

 

Elbow to the ribs, reverse chin-lock from the challenger. Badd escapes and lands a shoulder block, Honky lands a knee to the ribs to stop the champion’s comeback. Kicks to a downed champion by Honky, reverse chin-lock from Honky. Badd fires up and Honky clamps on the hold once more, Badd uses elbows to the ribs but Honky wants Shake Rattle and Roll but Badd lands a back body-drop to survive. Shots to the ribs, Honky is whipped to the buckle. Honky dodges, Badd smashes his ribs off the buckle. Roll-up with the ropes for leverage by Honky for two, Badd is dumped to the floor. Another chin-lock in the ring, this is reaching torture levels of boring. Honky lands a knee to the spine to stop Badd coming back, Badd kicks away Honky and smashes his head off the buckle. Ten punches in the corner, jabs and knee-lift from Badd. Honky begs for mercy, elbow by Badd. The Kiss That Don’t Miss does not connect, belly to back suplex by Honky and a choke-hold. They brawl and time expires.

 

Fucking hell that was not a great way to kick us off, Honky does not come in and capture a championship but Badd does not go over in his first PPV defence of his championship. Fans are not happy and Honky used repeated chin-locks that really made a ten-minute match feel like a half an hour of trash. Bad way to introduce me to WCW Honky and kick off this PPV!

 

Time Limit Expires!

 

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

Well the championships changed hands on Main Event, cannot say that I am invested in Bagwell or Patriot plus their gimmick is as corny as it gets plus they do not really have any chemistry between them but we are here so let’s start. Orndorff and Patriot to begin, clean break from both. Match breaks down quickly with brawling, Orndorff is on the floor with Patriot while Bagwell clotheslines Roma to the floor. Orndorff is sent into the barricade, Patriot climbs high and lands an axe handle. Orndorff is pin-balled between the champions, tag to Roma. Patriot grabs the wrist-lock, tag to Bagwell who lands a diving axe handle. Bagwell works the arm, Roma lands a forearm and lands a big scoop slam. Roma delivers a diving fist drop before marking out to himself once again, Bagwell ducks two forearms for a flying crossbody. Two for Bagwell who slaps on an arm-drag.

 

Bagwell is rocked with an elbow, in comes Orndorff who eats a drop toehold. Bagwell wrenches the arm of Orndorff, Orndorff backs off away from Bagwell. Side headlock takedown and tag from Orndorff, in comes Roma with elbow drops. Kick to the ribs and stomps from Roma, Orndorff lands cheap shots from the apron. Roma taunts Patriot, Bagwell lands forearms and kicks. Tag to Patriot, elbows and clubbing blows from Patriot. Whip to the buckle and corner clothesline. Two for Patriot, Bagwell comes in but gets sent head-first into the challenger’s corner. Orndorff unloads with boots and forearms as Patriot has to watch on, another gut kick from Orndorff. Orndorff’s elbow drop connects on Bagwell to the biggest reaction in this match so far.

 

Bagwell begins to fight back, Orndorff cuts off that shit immediately. Tag to Roma, diving axe handle. Bagwell fights back but lowers his head off an Irish whip, boot and elbow drop by Roma. Dropkick by Roma, Roma marks out to his own manoeuvres again, Bagwell is whipped to the buckle but counters with a diving crossbody for two. Bearhug by Roma to thwart the tag, Roma backs Bagwell into his team’s corner. Orndorff lands a low elbow to the groin, front chancery from Orndorff. Bagwell fights back again but Orndorff delivers a clothesline, Bagwell is rammed into the mat. Bagwell blocks the suplex and drills Orndorff, hot-tag time! No! Orndorff says screw that, backslide attempt by Bagwell with Roma making the save, Patriot is going mental on the apron.

 

Bagwell is whipped to the buckle, boot counter and Orndorff is caught in the sleeper, Roma knocks down Bagwell. Patriot snaps and we have a pier-six-brawl between these two teams. Patriot slams Roma down, Bagwell lands a knee-lift on Orndorff. The champions land clotheslines on the challengers, Bagwell lands a fisherman suplex on Orndorff, Roma is behind the referee’s back. Roma lands a diving elbow drop on Bagwell and we have new tag team champions!

 

That’s rough, I have riffed on Bagwell before but it is shocking how in two years despite his youth, Bagwell has not progressed or grown as a performer inside of that ring, things are not going to improve as American Males will be next but it’s honestly shocking how the crowd continues to just shit on the guy and the company does nothing about it. The work inside the ring is fine, Orndorff and Roma continue to be unintentionally hilarious, the fans only care about Orndorff which makes thing incredibly difficult for the babyfaces, the tag division needs a serious kick up the ass.

 

Winners: Pretty Wonderful over Stars & Stripes via Diving Elbow Drop!

 

Kevin Sullivan vs Dave Sullivan

Oh this feud, Sullivan comes out doing a Bruiser Brody-esqe sound. Dave is a huge Hulkamaniac fan and that has driven Kevin Sullivan crazy. They will now do battle and believe me when I say, the best part of this feud was Cactus Jack and he’s in ECW now. Save pummels Kevin, right hands and an elbow knocks Kevin to the floor. Dave chases Kevin who fools Dave into the ring, stomp to the head by Kevin, big chest slaps and kicks from Kevin. Short-arm clothesline by Kevin and a dropkick, Kevin is rammed into the buckle by Dave. Clothesline by Dave, back body-drop. Kevin pulls Dave to the floor, Kevin rakes the eyes and lands a leg to the back. Dave meets the buckle, snap-mare and boot by Kevin. Kevin grabs a bandana and chokes Dave with the bandana before landing a Gut Stomp. Kevin imitates Hogan, another double stomp. Kevin climbs high, Save yanks Kevin off the top rope. Clothesline by Dave, big boot by Dave. Kevin is trying to convince Dave that he does not hate Hogan. Kevin smacks Dave in the face, they brawl on the floor. Dave wins by count-out as Kevin doesn’t make it back in the ring after brawling.

 

Wow that was horrific, decent Hulk impression though from Dave but surely there is no way Kevin could come back from that to being the head of the top heel faction in the next year right? Right?

 

Winner: Dave Sullivan over Kevin Sullivan via Count-Out!

 

Arn Anderson W/ Meng & Colonel Robert Parker vs Dustin Rhdoes

Whooping these boys in War-Games was clearly not enough for this feud, we have Dustin Rhodes taking on Arn Anderson one on one as Rhodes looks for revenge for what Anderson did to him in that tag match. They lock-up, clean break from Rhodes. Side headlock by Anderson, Anderson stops a hip-toss but Rhodes counters with a head-scissors. Anderson claims Rhodes pulled the hair, hammerlock from Anderson. Snap-mare counter by Rhodes, Anderson claims the hair again. Rhodes gets caught with a left, a right from Rhodes catches Anderson. Whip to the buckle, atomic drop and clothesline to the back of the head by Rhodes. Rhodes climbs high, Anderson sweeps the feet.

 

Anderson wants the superplex, Rhodes lands a headbutt and scores with a diving clothesline for two. Big right by Rhodes, Anderson catches Rhodes with a huge left. Anderson is on the middle rope, Rhodes tries a block but Anderson lands an elbow drop. Stomps to the leg by Rhodes, Rhodes stops the figure four and Anderson is on the floor. We are on the floor, Anderson hits the ring-post with his arm. Rhodes sends Anderson back into the ring-post, hammerlock throw to the buckle in the ring. Schoolboy by Rhodes for two, arm-bar from Rhodes. Rhodes begins working the arm, Anderson pulls the hair but Rhodes holds onto the hold. Cross arm-breaker from Rhodes, inverted atomic drop by Rhodes but Anderson dodges the flying lariat. Rhodes lands hard on the floor, Anderson lands an elbow to the nose and stomps Rhodes onto the steel steps.

 

Irish whip and gut shot from Anderson for two, Rhodes and Anderson are brawling now. Anderson whips Rhodes and we have a double clothesline, both men down. Rhodes comes back with a boot to the ribs and a kick to the head, flying lariat from Rhodes for two. Right hands by Rhodes, Irish whip but Rhodes lowers his head. Anderson tries a DDT but Rhodes blocks by holding the ropes, stun-gun by Rhodes. Rhodes pulls down his kneepad and tried to break the arm of Anderson, Anderson dodged though. Piledriver attempt by AA, Rhodes survives with an attempted sunset flip. Anderson reverses and tries to use the ropes to steal the win but the referee catches Anderson so Rhodes rolls-up Anderson for the win. Anderson DDTs Rhodes after the match, laying out The Natural.

 

It's a technically good match, you are always going to get that with these two but I just didn’t want to see it. The reason? Well this feud should be dead and done by now, we had a War Games Match to blow it all off, why continue with this feud? I don’t understand that at all, Anderson laying out Rhodes at the end makes me think it is going to keep going into Starrcade which is nuts at this point, it’s time to move for both men as they deserve better than carrying a feud that has lost so much of its steam.

 

Winner: Dustin Rhodes over Arn Anderson via Roll-Up!

 

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

Austin jumps Duggan, stomps in the corner before Duggan comes back with two clotheslines and a scoop slam. Irish whip but Duggan lowers his head, Austin lands a boot and punches. Duggan counters with a sleeper, Austin escapes a belly to back suplex and stomps the shit out of Duggan’s knee. Austin tears at the leg of Duggan, Austin wants a figure four but Duggan sends Austin to the buckle. Roll-up by Duggan for two, Austin pokes the eyes and stomps all over the leg. Austin misses an attack to the leg of Duggan, atomic drop and Austin is on the floor. Austin begs for mercy, Austin wants a handshake. Austin covers up in the corner, Austin and Duggan tie-up. Side headlock by Duggan, Austin shoves off Duggan. Shoulder block by Duggan, Austin stomps Duggan who was running the ropes. Austin climbs high, middle rope axe handle. Austin lands another axe handle before Duggan counters with a big clothesline, Duggan fires up. Rights and lefts by Duggan, Austin runs to the referee. Duggan is cracked with a low blow.

 

Austin denies kicking Duggan down low and continues battering Duggan, Duggan attempts a comeback but he cannot fight off the challenger. Austin climbs to the middle rope, middle rope Austin elbow connects. Two for the challenger, Austin mocks Duggan and climbs to the top rope. Duggan dodges and fires up, Austin meets the buckle hard. Right hands and headbutt by Duggan, back body drop by Duggan. Duggan looks for his finish but Austin back-drops Duggan to the floor, this match ends in a DQ.

 

I was curious as to what would be next for Stunning Steve, Austin turns it up here in this match with his heel work, hiding behind the referee and more in this one to put over Duggan, Duggan doesn’t hold his own with Austin but Duggan does a good job of hanging in there but the star of this one is Austin. I am still surprised that the championship remains on the waste of Duggan, curious to see what they do next there but it’s WCW so it could be something logical or crazy.

 

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

 

The Guardian Angel vs Vader W. Harley Race

Angel came to WCW and feuded with Rick Rude which stank before moving onto messing with Vader and costing him his rematch with World Champion Ric Flair at Superbrawl, they have fought twice on PPV since this moment. The first match seems like lightning in a bottle now as there was a magic as they smashed one another in the face, the second match was not as fun but I am keeping an open mind as we have two big massive bastards who love hitting one another. Race tries attacking Angel, not a good idea and Vader is disappointed his manager has been attacked.

 

We are in the ring now, both men lock-up. Angel pushes Vader to the corner, a slap from Angel. Another slap, they lock-up and Vader pokes the eyes and clubbing blows in the corner. Vader pummels Angel down, Angel is smiling though he likes it but the camera does not really capture that. Short-arm clothesline from Vader but Angel is still on his feet, Angel is clotheslined to the floor. Angel fights back though, clothesline to Vader and right hands to Harley Race in the ring. Angel pummels Race in the middle of the ring, gut kick to Vader and Vader is slammed on top of Race. Big pop, elbow drop from Angel. Leg-drop to the groin, headbutts and right hands by Angel. Massive corner splash by Angel, Vader fights back with gut punches. Angel is rocked, suplex is blocked by Angel though. Angel suplexes Vader, another reaction from the fans.

 

Big boot and an elbow, Vader is staggered. Vader jabs the face of Angel, left hook rocks the world of Angel. Vader tries a splash from the middle rope, powerslam counter by Angel. Angel nails a diving headbutt for two, Angel clotheslines Vader to the floor. Headbutt again by Angel, Vader clotheslines Angel down on a blown spot. Vader slams down Angel, we are going to the top. Vader Bomb connects, 1…2.. Angel kicks out! Angel blocks the bomb with his knees, Angel is up to his feet. Running Splash for two, spinebuster from Angel. Spike Slam by Angel, Race is on the apron. Angel chases Race, right hand by Angel. Suplex into the ring, Vader takes advantage of the situation with a splash and it’s over.

 

Yeah, I have a soft spot for two massive beasts killing one another but these two are not going to top their first match, there is no way no matter what they do. They had the crowd at various points though, those big spots still make the audience come alive but I just cannot sink my teeth into The Guardian Angel, looks rough around the edges and one feud that has been going far too long with him coming up on the losing side again and again, maybe brighter days are ahead.

 

Winner: Vader over The Guardian Angel via Splash!

 

Terry Funk & Bunkhouse Buck W/ Col. Fuller & Meng vs The Nasty Boys!

We start brawling, The Nasty Boys send The Stud Stable into one another and tumbling to the floor. Fuller is irate and Meng is Meng at ringside, Funk and Knobbs to start. To the ropes, Funk slaps Knobbs who fires up with massive right hands. Buck gets clocked by Knobbs, Funk is irate on the floor. In comes Sags, Sags wipes his ass on Funk. Knobbs gives Funk pit city, Funk says “Damn You, You Son of A Bitch!”. Have I mentioned Funk is awesome? Sags is clubbed down by The Stud Stable but Sags fires up, Funk meets the buckle. Buck comes in and Knobbs lands forearms to his head. Tag to Sags, double beatdown. Funk is whipped into Buck who watches as Funk is battered, The Stud Stable is down once again. Funk and Sags brawl before Buck chokes Sags with his belt. Sags escapes though and tags in Knobbs, more brawling.

 

Knobbs clotheslines Funk, calling for a bulldog. Buck trips up Knobbs as the referee deals with Parker. Buck has a loaded glove, the referee catches Buck. Sags comes in the ring with a pumpkin, Meng decks Funk by mistake. Piledriver on the pumpkin and Knobbs covers for the win.

 

Mercifully a short match containing The Nasty Boys, good stuff from Funk throughout, it was your buffer match before the main event so I can’t fault it too much. However, the WCW tag team division is in the dumps currently so I do hope something fantastic comes around the corner soon enough.

 

Winners: The Nasty Boys over The Stud Stable via Piledriver on Pumpkin!

 

(WCW World Heavyweight Championship Steel Cage Career vs Career Match) Hulk Hogan © vs Ric Flair

Frustrated by his loss to Hulk Hogan, Flair has lost his mind once more and put it all on the line by challenging Hogan to this rematch and both men have their careers on the line. Mr. T is here so we are trying to make this as big as possible. How much did they pay him to show up for this? We eventually start, classic Flair with a chop that is not sold by Hogan. Irish whip and back-drop, bandana in the mouth and ten punches, Hogan stomps all over Flair. Hogan and Mr. T are having words, eye-poke and eye-rake by Flair. Chopping time, right hand but Hogan blocks the cage. Flair meets the cage, back-rake and Flair meets the cage once more. Hogan mounts Flair and lands right hands, Flair goes low with a right hand. Chop block by Flair, Hogan’s leg is heavily bandaged. Flair drops all his weight on the leg of Hogan, stomps to the knee again and again. Mr. T and Flair have words, snap-mare into a knee-drop from Flair.

 

Hogan recovers to send Flair into the buckle, Flair begs for mercy. Flair meets the cage hard, Hogan lawn-darts Flair into the cage. Hogan chokes Flair with his shirt, Flair tries to escape. Hogan and Mr. T are having words again, axe handle by The Nature Boy. Suplex by Flair, Flair is stalking Hogan. Hogan blocks the chops in the corner, right hands by Hogan. Irish whip to the corner, Flair gets up a foot. Flair chops Hogan, Hogan shakes it off. Hogan sends Flair to the corner, back body-drop by Hogan. Flair meets the cage again, no blood in a cage? Flair is raked into the cage wall, belly to back suplex by Hogan. Two for Hogan, right hands to the head by the champion, Mr. T and Hogan continue to have words. Flair is climbing the cage, Flair is almost out. Flair is smacked into the cage, chops by Hogan.

 

Flair suckers in Hogan for the shin-breaker, Flair drops the knee on Hogan’s leg. Flair continues tearing at the leg and the bandages of Hogan, Figure Four Leg-Lock! Hogan Hulks Up, and fights back before Hogan runs into T as Flair dodges the shoulder block. Kick to the face, belly to back suplex with no referee though. Flair decides to stomp down Mr. T, Jimmy Hart rips the skirt of Sherri who was climbing the cage. Sherri continues climbing but Sting is here and Sting pulls down Sherri by the hair. The Masked Man is here though, The Masked Man batters Sting and Jimmy Hart, who is this maniac. Sherri is on the cage, axe handle onto Hogan who no-sells that shit. Flair takes out the knee of Hogan, Sherri rips off her jacket. Mr. T is being handcuffed to the cage, what is this shit?

 

Flair and Sherri send Hogan into the baseball bat, Sherri begins climbing out of the cage. Why would they attack the referee though? Makes no sense, has the match been thrown out? Hogan eats a suplex in the middle of the ring, Sherri beats the shit out Mr. T. Hogan Hulks Up, clothesline to Sherri and Flair. Scoop slams to Sherri and Flair. Flair chops but it doesn’t work, Hogan clotheslines Flair and Sherri. Sherri is trying to escape, military slam from Hogan to Sherri. Flair and Hogan battle on the cage, Flair is rammed into the cage. Big boot to Sherri, Flair chops at Hogan but Hogan continues Hulking Up. Right hands by Hogan, big boot and Atomic Leg Drop. Mr. T counts the pin handcuffed to the cage for The Hulkster.

 

Career vs Career? Hogan beats Flair and Flair fucks off just like that? The end of The Nature Boy’s career and not a moment in front of the fan or a goodbye? Wild but then again, nobody believed either man would retire so maybe that’s the reason why they did not even bother. As far as action goes, not my cup of tea. Hogan and Flair at their most ridiculous, Hogan batters Sherri like crazy to the point of overkill, no blood in the cage and just Hogan coming back from everything without a single mark on him. That leg work meant zero in this match, everything meant zero in this match. In a match about both men’s careers, this was it?

 

It continues with the big angle with The Masked Man being revealed, it’s Brother Bruti! Kevin Sullivan is here with Earthquake and they destroy Hogan, Sting makes the save but it’s too late for Hogan. Sting once again playing second-fiddle to the top babyface. Anyways, the match and the angle is not great. Poor old Brutus was never going to be that main eventer that WCW needed, definitely not the main event of Starrcade.

 

Winner: Hulk Hogan over Ric Flair via Atomic Leg Drop!

 

That was WCW’s Halloween Havoc 1994! Very rematch heavy pay per view with the matches not being on particular stand-out quality, Johnny B. Badd’s reign as TV champion does not get off to an electrifying start with Honky Tonk Man, match was dull and the finish helps neither man with Honky Tonk finishing up with the company by the end of the year, how many of Hogan’s buddies will be pushed? We shall see but not a good kick-off, things do not get better with the tag team championship match. The division is very weak right now and Bagwell & Patriot are certainly not the team to lead that division, I have a soft spot for Pretty Wonderful but I would like to see something new. Rhodes vs Anderson is solid but for the love of God, the feud needs to end. We had a War Games Match and a Dusty Rhodes return for a reason, how do we have these two still fighting? Austin vs Duggan is better than their first match but again, Duggan going over Austin? That championship doesn’t need to be around Duggan’s waist and Austin was climbing the card, it’s fallen apart so very fast with Hogan’s arrival. Nasty Boys vs Stud Stable was fine filler, I am fine with seeing The Nasty Boys in that capacity, it seems The Stud Stable is not going to be the next big faction in WCW without Sid and without Austin, it crumbled fast. Finally, we had Hogan vs Flair which was frustrating to sit through, no blood from Flair should have been a warning sign but Hogan is at his most mighty here, surviving everything that Flair and The Masked Man and Sherri throw at him, truly a God amongst men as he decimates The Nature Boy and it’s so over the top, so comical at times that I just could not get behind it at all. WCW in the span of a number of months is completely different, our top heel now is Brother Bruti and the top faction is led by Kevin Sullivan and consists of Earthquake who will be named Shark soon enough by his side, another man who drew big with Hogan in 1990. I would not recommend this show, it was not great by any stretch and the card is starting to feel much more like WWF lite with the influx of talent and the subsequent changing of style/feel to the product. WCW is in a weird place, let’s see how they finish the year! Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!

WCW Fall Brawl 1994 Review!

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Cactus Jack vs Kevin Sullivan (Loser Leaves WCW)

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Winners: Pretty Wonderful over Stars & Stripes via Piledriver!

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Winners: Team Rhodes over The Stud Stable via Surrender!

 

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

 

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

 

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

WCW Clash of The Champions XXVIII Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that continues well past its prime like The Nature Boy! It’s time for the Clash of The Champions XXVIII! Let’s just get it on!

 

Pretty Wonderful vs The Nasty Boys

Our new tag team champions take on the freshly-babyface Nasty Boys which has me groaning before the bell has rang because two teams I am not exactly high on are going to fight without weapons. Orndorff and Knobbs to start, Knobbs roughs up Orndorff and tags in Sags. Double shoulder block and Roma is knocked off the apron, we are starting hot. Double forearm by Nasty Boys, Roma rolls to the floor. Knobbs continues bashing Orndorff off of every buckle. Whip to the buckle and right hands, Sags and Roma reset with Sags running into a boot from Roma. Roma tries a diving crossbody but Sags lands a scoop slam counter. More brawling with The Nasty Boys destroying Orndorff and Roma, Sags is on the floor stalking Roma. Roma begs for mercy and Orndorff damn nears decapitates Sags with a clothesline.

 

Orndorff goes to work with a headlock of all things on the floor (EXTREME) Orndorff uses a camera cable to choke out Sags, Sags does fight back but has his eyes raked and Sags meets the steel steps with his face. Sags is selling the eye pretty good, anything is better than watching Sags and Knobbs wrestle I suppose. Sags stumbles into the ring, scoop slam by Roma and a beautiful diving elbow drop. Roma marks out to himself as Knobbs tries to get in a shot, Orndorff comes in and stomps all over Knobbs and lands a massive elbow. Reverse chin-lock from Orndorff, a wild Blacktop Bully is watching from the crowd. Roma slaps on a reverse chin-lock on Sags, Nasty Boy chants are ringing out through the arena. Sags fights out of the headlock but Orndorff lands a knee as Sags runs the ropes.

 

Knobbs cannot help as Orndorff elbows Sags in his jewels, Roma is not happy there was a 3 for such a great manoeuvre. Sags lands a shoulder block on Orndorff, Orndorff decks Knobbs and Pretty Wonderful do some fine cheating behind the referee’s back. Roma marks out to his own dropkick for two, Orndorff calls for a piledriver. Sags is a big boy though and counters with a back-drop, tag to Knobbs. Punches all around, elbows to Roma. Clotheslines all around, Knobbs showing some fire. Orndorff meets the buckle, Roma makes the save. Sags is up, more brawling all around the ring. Orndorff knees down Knobbs, suplex by Orndorff, splash by Roma on Knobbs but Sags lands a Diving Elbow Drop on Orndorff for the win despite being the illegal man.

 

Not bad boys, not bad. I still cannot believe Roma made it into The Horsemen and it’s going to be tough to accept The Nasty Boys as top babyfaces in this division but this match was not bad, Sags looked blown-up despite being battered and Knobbs’ hot-tag was a lot of ugly punches but I expected worse so let’s call this a win!

 

Winners: The Nasty Boys over Pretty Wonderful via Diving Elbow Drop!

 

(WCW United States Heavyweight Championship Match) Stunning Steve Austin © vs Ricky The Dragon Steamboat

Before this match, Hulk Hogan is on his way to do an interview before some masked man clips his knee and is injured! What will happen at the PPV? Anyways, these two tore it up the last time on PPV and I fucking love me some Steamboat. This should be excellent like last time, Austin continues to impress despite looking like the main event was the destination for Austin at the start of 94 but that seems like a distant memory now.

 

Austin starts with a side headlock but Steamboat counters with a head-scissors, Austin excuses Steamboat of grabbing the hair. The hair which is thinning fast on poor Austin’s head, Steamboat counters Austin again and Austin complains once more. Austin slaps Steamboat and shoves him, doesn’t work as Steamboat shoves down the champion. Austin gets caught in a side headlock before trying to roll-up Steamboat with a handful of tights. Steamboat chops away at Austin, Austin chops back and whips Steamboat but Steamboat ducks and lands two massive dropkicks. Chop from Steamboat, Austin is whipped to the buckle and lands an elbow counter but Steamboat lands the powerslam for two.

 

Arm-bar by Steamboat, Austin shoves off Steamboat. O’Connor roll from Steamboat for two, Austin tries a roll-up for two. Steamboat pops up and lands an arm-bar, Austin escapes and lands a snap-mare but Steamboat and Austin scramble on the mat before Steamboat slaps on an arm-bar. Steamboat is whipped and side-stepped by Austin, Steamboat lands on the floor. Austin is pulled to the floor, chops by Steamboat. Austin tries running but runs into a massive chop from Steamboat. Austin and Steamboat trade sleepers, Austin lands a jaw-breaker to stop Steamboat in his tracks. Steamboat is bounced off the buckle, chops by Austin. Steamboat chops back, Austin goes low. Steamboat lands a hip-toss, Austin tries a corner spear but hits his arm off the ring-post. Steamboat sends the arm into the ring-post, Steamboat climbs to the top rope and yanks Austin’s arm down on the rope.

 

Diving chop for two, arm-bar from the challenger. Blacktop Bully screaming in the crowd, Steamboat has his eyes poked and Austin lands a massive knee to the head. Knee-drop from the champion for two, Austin slaps the face of The Dragon. Steamboat is slammed into the mat, right hands and chops from Austin. Snap-mare into a knee-drop for two, reverse chin-lock from Austin. Steamboat escapes and lands a shoulder block, Steamboat tries a splash but Austin blocks with his knees. Two for Austin, middle rope elbow drop from Austin for two. Austin continues slapping around Steamboat, suplex in the middle of the ring for two. Steamboat fights back, placing Austin on the top rope. Chops from Steamboat, Austin lands a headbutt and Steamboat lands awkwardly on his tail-bone, this is the bump that ended his career unfortunately. Steamboat is up though, Austin is crotched on the top rope.

 

Steamboat is up there now, superplex off the top rope? Austin blocks, Austin sends Steamboat down face-first, you can see The Dragon is hurting. Austin dives off and eats a chop to the ribs, face-buster from Steamboat. Steamboat is clutching his back every time, diving crossbody fails as Austin side-steps and slams Steamboat into the mat. Austin slaps Steamboat and The Dragon fires up big-time, Steamboat takes down Austin and lands massive rights. Double chop floors Austin, four times Austin tastes the chop. Steamboat lands a spine-buster for two, Steamboat continues to clutch his back. Electric-chair-drop for two, small package for two.

 

Steamboat lands a jacknife cover for two, Austin wants a piledriver but Steamboat counters for a backslide. Kick to the ribs and a sunset flip for two, Steamboat cannot beat Austin. Clothesline by Austin, Austin tries to back-drop Steamboat to the floor, Steamboat skins the cat with his injured back. Schoolboy for two, small package by Steamboat for the win!

 

What a match, it absolutely sucks that this would be the end of The Dragon but what an end for The Dragon, Steamboat was such a joy to watch in WCW. I thought they wasted him at times in the tag division when it was clear Steamboat was so much better than that but I have so many great memories of Steamboat in WCW from The Flair trilogy to the Iron-Man Match with Rude to the series with Austin, tremendous way to bow out for The Dragon. Austin and Steamboat have great chemistry, Steamboat firing up after the slaps is just great as is the series of rapid-fire pins that had me freaking out, great match just like their previous match!

 

Winner: Ricky The Dragon Steamboat over Stunning Steve Austin via Small Package!

 

Dusty & Dustin Rhodes vs Terry Funk & Bunkhouse Buck W/ Col. Robert Parker & Meng

Dustin had problems with that damn Bunkhouse Buck before Terry Funk took him out and then when Dustin turned to Arn Anderson, Anderson betrayed Dustin too. With all this going down, it was The American Dream Dusty Rhodes who asked his son to allow him to be his partner in a very emotional promo that you should seek out if you have not seen it before. This starts hot with a brawl, The Rhodes take out The Stud Stable.

 

Dustin and Buck to start, Dustin has Buck with a boot and a knee to the head. Funk talks strategy with Buck, Buck brings Dustin to the corner. Tag and the Stud Stable batter Dustin before Buck clotheslines Funk by mistake, Dustin Rhodes clotheslines Buck to the floor. Atomic drop for both Funk and Buck as they bang heads. Tag to Dusty Rhodes, big pop as The American Dream calls for the fans to give him energy. Bionic Elbow drops Buck, Funk comes in and talks trash. Buck takes Dusty to the corner, eye-rake. Dustin helps Dusty and Dusty lands Bionic Elbows all around. Funk and Buck are whipped into one another, Funk smashes into Buck. Funk and Buck manage to rock Dustin, Funk has a front chancery.

 

Headbutt by Funk, Dustin Rhdoes is down but still fighting to get that tag. Buck distracts the referee and the tag to Dusty Rhodes is missed, Buck cracks Funk with his boot with a very bad double axe handle, the tag to Dusty Rhodes is made this time. Noggin-knocker by Dusty Rhodes, Arn Anderson sends Dustin Rhodes into the ring-post. Funk and Buck are taking down Dusty Rhodes, the arm is the target. They want to break the arm, right hands to the head from Buck. Boot to the head, Dustin gets the tag and lands right hands all around. Flying clothesline on Funk, flying clothesline on Buck. Bionic Elbow by Dusty on both Buck & Funk, Dustin Rhodes wipes out Parker. Arn Anderson interferes and lands a DDT on Dustin Rhodes. Meng is in the ring, Bionic Elbow on Arn Anderson. Meng stands up to Dusty, Dusty grabs a chair. Dusty waffles Meng with the chair, Meng does not even feel it and down goes Dusty Rhodes. Tonga Death Grip as Meng takes out the beloved Dusty Rhodes. A bunch of security are drilled as Meng chokes Dusty.

 

Well I thought it was weird that Dusty would make his big return on a Clash but this was little more than an angle with Meng getting The Big Bubba Rogers’ push by no-selling a chair to the head. Still good fire shown here and the crowd super hot for Dusty, happy to see where it goes from here.

 

Winners: The Rhodes over The Stud Stable via DQ!

 

Lord Steven Regal W/ Sir William vs Antonio Inoki

51-Year Old Antonio Inoki on his retirement tour takes a stop in WCW, this is kind of crazy but whatever, Regal is not happy with Inoki and stomps the shit out of Inoki. Regal and Inoki circle one another, Regal lands forearms and boots but Inoki is too strong with his big forearms. Regal takes down Inoki, Inoki reverses into a sleeper. Regal is in the ropes, Regal lands forearms and uppercuts and tries to ground Inoki. Regal fights for a double-arm suplex, Inoki blocks by staying down on the mat. Regal kicks Inoki in the head, they circle one another once more. Lock-up, headbutt by Regal and kicks to the ribs. Regal uses a forearm across the face, Inoki lands some strikes and looks for a massive suplex but Regal kicks and sends Inoki to the mat.

 

Inoki is on the apron, being kicked onto the announce table, Sir William lands a strike but I think Koji Kanemoto scares him off at ringside. Uppercuts and kicks by Inoki, Regal is back on top with a face-lock. Uppercuts by Regal, Regal applies a heel hook. Inoki escapes and lands big blows, sleeper from Inoki. Regal is not doing well, Regal escapes but gets caught again in the sleeper and Regal is in serious trouble. Regal tries knees to the head, Regal succeeds and lands a double arm suplex for two. Regal works the arm, more uppercuts, Inoki dodges the uppercuts and lands his Sleeper and Regal is out.

 

Not the most amazing showcase for Inoki but Regal did enough to keep it somewhat interesting, a match where they were trying constantly to gain control and scrambling, very different to everything else on the card so happy with that, always good to see something different but I am happy to get back to normality.

 

Winner: Antonio Inoki over Lord Steven Regal via Sleeper!

 

(WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match) Hulk Hogan © vs Ric Flair W/ Sherri

Are we really rematching this on a Clash? The biggest match in wrestling done on a Clash? Hogan was in hospital but he’s here now, his knee is heavily taped. Would be the perfect time to give Flair the championship back but I don’t think Hogan is doing the J-O-B brother. Hogan pummels Flair sending him to the mat, right hands by The Hulkster. Flair is scrambling to the corner, eye-rakes by Hogan but Flair counters with chops. They do not work, Hogan chokes Flair with his shirt. Hogan bites the head of Flair, Hogan is limping though. Flair is whipped to the buckle, Flair Flip to the floor. On the floor Hogan sends Flair into the ring-post. Flair meets the guardrail, Hogan steps on the face of Flair. Hogan has a towel from the fans, Flair begs for mercy in the ring. Irish whip and clothesline with the towel.

 

Flair pokes the eyes of Hogan, snap-mare as Flair climbs high. Hogan limps over and yanks Flair to the mat, clotheslines by Hogan. Eye-rake and right hands sends Flair to the floor again, Hogan chokes Flair with his boot on the floor. In the ring, Flair momentarily turns the tide with a suplex but Hogan is back up right away and lands a clothesline. In his knee even injured? How is Hogan dominating like this? Elbow drops by Hogan and a boot to the head with a handful of right hands, Flair Flip and Hogan clotheslines Flair off the apron. Hogan chases Flair, Flair lands a massive chop block and Flair drops all his weight on the knee. Sherri is in the ring, attacking the groin of Hogan with a beautiful leg-drop that makes me think Jeff Hardy stole that move. Flair continues working the knee, knee-drop to the leg.

 

Flair yanks the leg, figure four is the goal but Hogan kicks off The Nature Boy. Chop block from the challenger, Hogan tumbles to the floor. Flair continues stomping the knee, Figure-Four Leg-Lock in the middle of the ring. Hogan hulks-up out of the hold and rakes the eyes of Flair, Flair stomps the leg again but Hogan is firing up and no-selling that weak WCW shit boy! Right hands by Hogan, big boot but Hogan collapses after nailing the boot but no, Hogan is up like a mad man. Hogan taunts a little, Atomic Leg Drop and Hogan is hurting bad. Can the champion pin Flair? Nope, Hogan cannot take advantage so Flair is up and Flair applies The Figure-Four Leg-Lock! Hogan reverses the hold but Sherri uses her high-heels to waffle Hogan. We have a count-out, Flair wins by count-out!

 

This was bad, really bad despite the crowd loving every minute of it at times. Flair was beaten like a drum throughout by a man who has a heavily bandaged knee, how did Hogan take so much control of this match. Could they not build for a trilogy by maybe having Flair take the championship from Hogan due to his injured knee? Could we not have done anything more than that? The Masked Man is here again and helping Flair destroy the knee of Hogan. Yeah I am shocked they went ahead and did the match again after the PPV match, even more shocked with the way they went about the damn thing but this is Hogan in WCW and watching Hogan lose clean or do anything that doesn’t help Hulk will be a hard thing to find.

 

Winner: Ric Flair over Hulk Hogan via Count-Out!

 

Not a bad Clash to come back to for reviews, we are in The Hogan Era now and that is going to complicate my love of things in this company, we don’t even have Vader on this card and now in a matter of months, we have lost Rick Rude and Ricky Steamboat which are two big names. WCW tends to go through a cycle of losing and attracting big names so we know who else is coming soon but the card and company is changing and for the better? I cannot say just yet it is too early so we shall see where things go from here. Steamboat has a fantastic big last match, The Nasty Boys have a decent match and a rare Antonio Inoki appearance make this an enjoyable Clash but man, that last angle does not make me want to see Flair vs Hogan. Thanks for reading as always and remember: there’s always another night!

WCW Clash of The Champions XXVII Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that breaks your heart more than The Rockers break up! It’s time for Clash of The Champions XXVII! Sting vs Ric Flair to unify the world championships! Stunning Steve Austin defends his championship against Johnny B. Badd, Larry Zbyszko defends his Television Championship against Lord Steven Regal and The Nasty Boys challenge for the WCW World Tag Team Championships held by Kevin Sullivan & Cactus Jack!

 

(WCW World Tag Team Championship Match) Cactus Jack & Kevin Sullivan © vs The Nasty Boys

Sags and Cactus to start, slap-fest with both men brawling it out. Cactus wins that war, Knobbs comes in to help his partner but Knobbs cuts that off. Double clothesline by the champions to both Nasty Boys, another clothesline to Knobbs. Sullivan and Knobbs reset the match, more brawling all over the ring. Knobbs meets the buckle, Knobbs catches Sullivan with rights and lefts. Push to the corner, in comes Sags. They rough up Sullivan before Sullivan lands a noggin-knocker, Sullivan slams Cactus into both Nasty Boys. Cactus rallies the crowd, Knobbs is in there with Cactus. They slug it out, whip to the buckle by Knobbs but Cactus blocks with a boot and lands a clothesline for two. Sags saves Knobbs, Sullivan comes in and works the arm before Cactus lands shots to the ribs and a headbutt to the arm.

 

Knobbs rakes the eyes, Sags comes into the ring. Elbows by Cactus for two, Sags trips up Cactus. Knees to the head, tag to Knobbs. Sags and Knobbs double-team Cactus, Cactus lands a kick to the face. Tag to Sullivan, biting from Sullivan. Right hand decks Knobbs, Sags comes in and kicks Sullivan. Scoop slam by Sags, leg drop from Sags. Tag to Knobbs, kicks to the ribs. Eye-rake from Knobbs, Sags comes in and tosses Sullivan to the floor. Knobbs kicks Sullivan in the head twice, axe handle to the floor. Sags misses a knee-drop, in comes Cactus. Elbow to the chin, Cactus works over both with headbutts and biting. Cactus Jack clothesline to the floor on Knobbs, Cactus low-bridges Sags but misses a springboard elbow to the floor. Cactus cracks his head off the guardrail, that was rough to watch.

 

Belly to back suplex on the floor, Sags has Cactus in the ring. Whip to the corner, Knobbs misses a corner splash and Sags gets hit with a clothesline. Sullivan rallies the crowd, Sullivan lands rights and lefts to the ribs. Clothesline on Knobbs, Knobbs is thrown to the floor. In the ring, we have Cactus and Sags. Knobbs attacks Dave Sullivan at ringside, referees are involved. Sags chases Dave, they fight over the crutch. In the ring, Cactus lands his Double Arm DDT for the win!

 

Not bad but these two teams were made for brawling and their previous match blows this out of the water with how much fun it was, happy for Cactus to be getting that push but Maxx Payne did win me over so this partnership with Sullivan really feels like it came out of nowhere.

 

Winners: Team Cactus over The Nasty Boys via Double Arm DDT!

 

The Guardian Angel vs Tex Slazenger

The Boss hit a little too close to home so we have a new gimmick for Ray Traylor, Boss had done nothing of note since joining WCW apart from one good match with Vader. The white shirt tucked into his pants does nothing for him either, Guardian Angel looks really big. Slazenger hits Guardian Angel three times which breaks his golden rule. Rights and lefts by Guardian Angel, leg across the back. Massive uppercut and massive sidewalk slam and it’s over.

 

Winner: Guardian Angel over Tex Slazenger via Sidewalk Slam!

 

(WCW Television Championship Match) Lord Steven Regal W/ Sir William vs Larry Zbyszko ©

So this was bizarre to me, we had waited almost a year to see Regal lose that championship and when that time comes, it is Larry Zbyszko of all people. Lots of stalling before Regal stomps all over Zbyszko. Uppercuts in the corner, forearms to the side of the head. All Regal so far, more forearms to the face. Uppercut takes the champion down, Zbyszko uses the ropes to survive. Slaps from Regal, Zbyszko lands rights, lefts and a spinning sole butt. Rake of the eyes and Regal is tossed onto the ramp, stomps on the ramp. Regal is thrown back into the ring, Regal shoots for the single leg. Regal steps on the head of Zbyszko, butterfly suplex time. Zbyszko blocks and we have the finish from their previous PPV encounter but Regal survives this time, Zbyszko lands a suplex for two.

 

Piledriver plants Regal for a close two, Zbyszko cannot believe it and starts choking the challenger. Swinging neck-breaker for two, Zbyszko steps on the face of Regal. Regal fires up and wants a fist-fight, Zbyszko tells the referee to get out of the way. More stalling, both men land forearms and uppercuts before Regal takes down the champion. Reverse chin-lock from the challenger, Zbyszko breaks free but Regal continues the control with a headbutt and knees to the head. Another uppercut, forearm shots by Regal. Zbyszko reverses an Irish whip and lands a bearhug into the Boston crab but Sir William cracks Zbyszko with the umbrella and Regal reverses the crab for a cradle and the top ropes give Regal that helping hand to win.

 

Not even a replay of the screwy finish? Damn Zbyszko deserved better than that but yeah I enjoyed this match an awful lot, a very physical battle between the two, plenty of good shots in there. Very happy with how this match turned out with both men just beating the hell out of one another. Regal is champion again so I have to question what was the purpose?

 

Winner: Lord Steven Regal over Larry Zbyszko via Roll-Up!

 

(WCW United States Heavyweight Championship Match) Stunning Steve Austin © W/ Colonel Rob Parker vs Johnny B. Badd

Rematch time, no Colonel Rob Parker. Has Parker disassociated from Austin? Anyways, Badd is continuing to grow inside of that ring so fair play to Badd who went from someone I did not want to see to someone who is doing quite well for himself inside of that ring. Badd starts hot before being taken out with an elbow, Austin jaw-jacks with the crowd. Austin sends Badd to the floor, Austin is taunting though. Badd takes out Austin and slams the champion into the ring apron. Badd works the arm, arm-wrench from Badd. Austin escapes and we have some drop-downs and leapfrogs before a dropkick from Badd and an arm-wrench. Austin pulls Badd down by the hair, Badd pops right back with a dropkick. Badd is on the top rope, diving clothesline from Badd for two.

 

Drop toehold into a front chancery, Austin pushes back Badd to the corner. Right hand by Badd and more arm-work, Austin shoves off Badd. Shoulder block by Badd, Austin dodges the left hook. Whip to the buckle, Austin blocks with a boot and slams Badd to the mat by the hair. Elbow to the back of the head, knee to the throat. Make it two, Irish whip and Badd dodges the knee to the ribs for a schoolboy, close two. Austin grabs the hair and slams Badd into the mat, Badd lands two massive lefts to the ribs. Austin kicks Badd in the face, Badd lands a single leg dropkick to turn the tide. Inverted atomic drop, flying head-scissors takedown from Badd. DDT from Badd, back body drop from Badd. Whip to the buckle, corner clothesline and a scoop slam.

 

Badd climbs high, Badd is looking for that sunset flip. Austin plays possum and crotches Badd, Badd blocks the suplex and Austin falls to the mat. Austin dodges the diving sunset flip and cracks the mat hard, Austin covers for two. Austin chokes Badd with the middle rope, Austin misses the leg across the back as Badd dodges. Clothesline for two, ten punches in the corner by Badd. Austin reaches into his tights for an object, Austin cracks Badd in the ribs and lands a small package for the win. However, there is another referee in the ring and they restart the match. Badd rolls-up Austin to capture the championship but are we sure that this counts? They are not giving us much so I don’t know if it is official.

 

These two work well together, Austin did a very good job of making Johnny B. Badd seem like a credible contender, there is still room of improvement but the changes from the last three years to this year is incredible it is like night and day. Probably will have a blow-off at the PPV, good for them, both are working hard and maybe bigger things await both men in their careers.

 

Winner: Johnny B. Badd over Stunning Steve Austin via Schoolboy!

 

(WCW World Heavyweight & WCW International Championship Unification Match) Ric Flair © vs Sting ©

The two rivals going at it once more going for the two biggest championships in the company, Flair is back to being a heel once more. We have Sensational Sherri at ringside, there was intrigue to see who she would sign with but here she is in Sting facepaint, she must be in The Stinger’s corner!

 

Sting shoves down Flair twice, Flair goes for a hammerlock but Sting counters. Same thing happens off the front chancery, Sting shoves down Flair again. Shoulder block by Flair, military press by Sting. Irish whip into another military press, Flair rolls to the floor and does his Flair Flop. Flair scares off fans and Sherri, Flair has lost control. Sting wrenches the arm, eye rake by Flair. Chop in the corner that Sting shakes off, hip-toss out of the corner and a clothesline, make it three. Flair goes to the floor to recover, lock-up and Flair lands a knee. Fist to the head, right hands pepper Sting. Chop in the corner but Sting shakes it off, Flair is backing off. Hip-toss and dropkick, Irish whip but Flair dodges the dropkick and goes after the knee. Figure four countered into a small package for two, Flair shoves the referee. Flair walks to the ramp, looking to re-evaluate. Flair chants, Sting lands fist after fist but misses The Stinger Splash! Sting’s ribs are bothering him now, Flair tosses Sting over the top rope. Flair chops and lands rights against the guardrail, Sting is rattled by these attacks.

 

Sherri screams at Sting to get up! Hot-shot from Flair, Flair uses the ropes to pin Sting but Sting continues kicking out, Sherri informs the referee which results in Flair screaming once more. Belly to back suplex from Flair, elbows crack Sting in the chin. Flair kicks the ribs again and again, sleeper from Flair. Sting shakes off the sleeper, side headlock by Sting. Shoulder block and Sting catapults Flair into the buckle, both men are down currently. Sting suplexes Flair into the ring for two, Flair Flip to the apron and a clothesline for good measure. Flair begs for mercy, ten punches from Sting. Inverted atomic drop does not work for Flair, Sting lands a massive clothesline. Superplex time, it connects in the middle of the ring. Sting climbs high, diving splash misses for The Stinger.

 

Flair drills Sting with a delayed vertical suplex but Sting is back on his feet. Flair backs up to the corner, hip-toss and dropkick again. Irish whip and a military press slam. Clothesline by Sting, clothesline to the floor and Flair pulls Sherri in front of him so Sting dives onto Sherri. Sting is concerned for Sherri, Sherri is not moving. Flair kicks Sting in the head, Irish whip and Sting has Flair in the backslide for two. Clothesline by an irate Sting, Sting wants to check on Sherri but Flair rolls-up Sting for the championship. Sherri was with Flair all along though, Flair has Sting as Sherri lands a top rope dive. Two splashes from Sherri, Flair takes out the referee. Hogan comes out and challenges Flair after punching his lights out.

 

Sting and Flair do their usual song and dance and the crowd eats it up, not on par with their initial Clash encounter or the Bash of 1990 but still good old Flair vs babyface that beats the shit out of him cheese. Interesting dynamic with Sherri, Flair having a valet is not new as Fifi was with The Nature Boy before but it gives a different dynamic to having The Brain with him or JJ Dillon. Of course, I know that further down the line Flair will have trio of women by his side but we will deal with the here and now, Flair vs Hogan is big business and fresh, lots of fresh match-ups for Hogan in WCW but to see Sting shoved to the side once more is heart-breaking considering his popularity and ability inside of the ring. I complained that 1993 was the year of Sting in multi-man matches on PPV and I fear 1994 will be Sting sliding down the card. Maybe I am wrong but I know it will be all about Hogan for the next wild.

 

Winner: Ric Flair over Sting via Roll-Up!

 

I would strike this as an important Clash with the set-up between Hogan and Flair for the Bash and of course, another entry in the Flair vs Sting series, that is where the importance ends as we mostly have rematches from the previous PPVs and a gimmick change that I don’t care for in The Boss turning into The Guardian Angel. WCW is going to go through quite the shift, let’s see where it takes us. Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!