NWA/WCW Big Event Project #48: Japan Supershow '92

-Taped 1/4/92, aired March '92

-From Tokyo

-Hosts are JR & Tony

-Eric Bischoff runs down the card.

-Match 1: Masashi Aoyagi, Akira, & Jushin Thunder Liger VS Hiro Saito, Tanaga, & Super Strong Machine

-Match breaks down right away. Heels work on Aoyagi to start. Akira gets in, and is immediately dumped on his head by Machine. Akira and Saito exchange eye-rakes, and Liger gets in with a double stomp off the top on Saito. Saito turns the tide, and Machine gorilla presses Liger into a gutbuster. Liger hits a rolling Liger kick and tags Aoyagi.

Heels completely dominate the match for a good while, before Liger gets back in and gets the advantage for his team. I'm not into puro at all, so this just seems like a bunch of moves loosely strung together to me. Machine & Tanaga hit a spike piledriver on Akira for two. Liger and Akira quickly return the favor. Machine misses a move off the top, and Liger hits him with a splash in return. Akira manages to survive an assisted powerbomb from Saito & Tanaga, and he pins Saito with a dragon suplex. Not my thing at all.

-Match 2: Larry Zbyszko & Arn Anderson VS Michioshi Ohara & Shiro Kashinaka

-Larry stalls to start, drawing boos. Japanese team control the first few minutes. Larry is VERY verbal, which is more noticeable because of the quiet crowd. Pretty basic work, but a brisk pace. AA hits Kashinaka with a Rude Awakening, and Larry follows up with a suplex for two. Dangerous Alliance turn the match into tag formula, cheating and drawing in Ohara to allow themselves the chance to double-team Kashinaka.

Ohara gets the hot tag, and a couple near-falls on AA. Ohara fires up, drawing cheers from the crowd. Ohara drops an elbow off the top for two. Kashinaka gets in, and hits butt bumps on both DA members, and covers AA for two. Larry catches Ohara with a cheap knee to the back, and AA finishes with a spinebuster. Match was decent. Got better when they worked the tag formula a bit.

-Match 3: Dusty & Dustin Rhodes VS Kim Dok & Masa Saito

-Dustin almost blows a leap frog right away. Dustin hits a flying headscissors, and JR & Tony talk about the difference between Japanese and Americans in their respect for authority, including pro wrestling referees. Dok works Dustin over, and Saito refuses to tag in, drawing laughs from the crowd. Dusty gets in (drawing a nice cheer), and throws Dok into his corner, DEMANDING that Saito tag in. Saito does so, and the crowd is pumped to see this showdown.

Dusty tosses Saito to the rampway. Dusty slams Saito on the ramp and drops an elbow. Saito offers a handshake and a bow, drawing Dusty into bowing before kicking him to take control. Crowd pops for that, and JR & Tony spin that as the crowd cheering for Dusty's attempt at a bow. Saito wants to tag, and Dok takes his turn to refuse. Cute spot as Dusty tries a couple headbuts, and responds to the wooziness they cause by getting a little funky before falling on his ass.

Dok gets in, and chops Dusty in the throat. Miscommunication allows Dusty to make the tag. Dustin hits Saito with a lariat for two. Dustin gets caught in the wrong corner. Saito pounds on him, then Saito/Dok hit a double suplex. The ref refuses to count the pin, so Dok hits Dustin with a piledriver for two. Dustin misses a bodypress and rolls onto the ramp. Dusty hovers over Dustin to protect him. Dok hits Dustin with a suplex for two.

Dustin catches Dok as Dok goes up top, and slams him down. Dustin drops a leg for two and tags are made on both sides. The Rhodes' try to work on Saito's arm, but Saito catches Dustin with a pair of Saito suplexes for a couple near-falls. Dok gets in, and Dustin catches him with a series of chops and a dropkick for two. Dustin finishes Dok with a bulldog as Dusty stops Saito from making the save. Best match so far, with more American flair than the first two.

-Match 4: El Gigante VS Big Van Vader

-No mask for Vader. Babyface reactions for both. Fonzie is the ref. Vader gets the crowd to chant his name. Gigante hits some shitty punches in the corner, and Vader responds by showing him how it's done. Vader hits an avalanche, drawing a big reaction. Vader hits a big splash for two. JR & Tony put Vader over as a world title contender whenever he decides to go for it. Vader charges into a big boot. Gigante locks in the claw. Crowd chants for Vader to escape, and Vader makes it to the ropes.

Shoulderblock sends Vader over the top to the ramp. They fight on the outside. Vader works Gigante over, and both are counted out. Crowd really doesn't like that decision. Vader uses his entrance helmet to blast steam into Gigante's eyes. Match was pretty good before the crap finish.

-Eric Bischoff cuts in to pimp Wrestle War '92 and announce that Vader's attack caused a huge international stir.

-Match 5 for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Lex Luger [c] VS Masahiro Chono

-Streamers for Chono, boos for Luger. Luger hits a massive gorilla press and flexes. Chono almost gets Luger into the STF, but Luger makes it to the ropes. Luger controls a test of strength, but Chono turns it into a suplex. They exchange holds and counters while JR wonder what Luger did to get kicked out of Miami University. Liger cheap shots during a break, but Chono regains control with an armbar.

Luger catches Chono with a big clothesline to take control. Luger works Chono over with basic offense, with Chono only hitting a Saito suplex in the interim. Chono slides out of a torture rack, and gets a backslide for two. Chono locks in the STF, but Luger makes it to the ropes. Luger low-bridges Chono to send him flying outside, but Chono gets right back in, and gets a school boy for two. Luger gets his own for two, Chono comes back with a small package for two, and the crowd is really starting to react to this.

Chono misses a move off the top. Luger gets Chono in the torture rack, but they spill outside. Luger sends Chono into the guardrail and puts him in the rack. Chono gets in at 18, and the crowd erupts. Luger catches Chono with a low blow, and finishes with an axe handle off the top. Match started out pretty slow, but really picked up at the end.

-Match 6: Greatest 18 Club Champion Riki Choshu VS IWGP Champion Tatsumi Fujinami [Title VS Title]

-JR & Tony explain that the "Greatest 18 Club" is essentially what a WWE Legends title would be (not in those words, obviously). Slow start. They exchange holds for about ten minutes. Choshu locks in the scorpion deathlock, but he ends up simply letting go of the hold when Fujinami doesn't submit. Fujinami locks in his own scorpion deathlock, but Choshu makes it to the ropes. Fujinami starts working on Choshu's leg, and drops a knee to the back of Choshu's head off the top.

Fujinami switches it up, hitting a piledriver and locking in a dragon sleeper, but Choshu makes it to the ropes. Fujinami locks the hold on again, but opts to let go when he can't get the submission. JR & Tony put Wally Yamaguchi over as someone they couldn't survive in Japan without. About 6 1/2 years later, he'd become known for trying to cut Val Venis' dick off. They keep a pretty good pace and the match on the mat. Choshu counters a headlock with a Saito suplex, then adds a second one.

Choshu hits a lariat from the front, then from behind, then again from the front for the pin. Really good match. Worth checking out if you're not well-versed in Puro like me.

-Match 7: Steiner Brothers VS Sting & The Great Muta

-Fonzie is once again your referee (daddy!). Crowd loves them some Sting. Rick hits Sting with a bulldog right off the bat for two, but then Sting hits Rick with a clothesline, which knocks Rick for a loop. Rick avoids a Stinger splash, and tags Scott. Scott hits a Pearl River Plunge, but doesn't go for the cover. Scott does hit Sting with a tilt-a-whirl slam for two. Sting comes back with a tombstone, and drops a leg for two.

Muta gets in, and hits a powerdrive elbow on Scott. Steiners turn the tide, and Rick hits Muta with an overhead throw off the second rope. Rick folds Muta up with a release German for two. Scott gets in, and throws Muta with a pump handle slam. Scott hits a Samoan drop off the top. Scott locks Muta in a dragon sleeper. Rick gets in, and hits an elbow drop off the top for two.

Rick drives Muta upside down in a neutral corner. Steiners throw Muta outside, and Rick hits him with a belly-to-belly suplex on the floor. Muta hits Scott with a Saito suplex, and tags are made on both sides. Sting hits Rick with a Stinger splash, and tags Muta. Muta goes for the handspring elbow, but Rick catches him in mid-air and dumps him. Match breaks down, and Sting & Muta hit a double-team bulldog, which draws a big pop. Sting & Muta hit dives onto the floor. Sting and Muta stop to celebrate a little, and the Steiners hit simultaneous bulldogs from the top. Sting rolls up Rick while Scott rolls up Muta, and they both get pins. Fonzie declares Sting & Muta the winners. The two teams shake hands after the bell. Good main event that was pretty much all action bell-to-bell.

-Video package shows highlights from some of the matches. Eric closes the show by pimping Wrestle War '92, which will include a War Games match.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Show was pretty good. Didn't care much for the opener, but even that wasn't bad by any stretch.

NWA/WCW Big Event Project #47: SuperBrawl II (Turner Home Entertainment Edit)

-2/29/92

-From Milwakuee, WI

-Hosts are JR & Jesse Ventura

-CUT FROM THE HOME VIDEO: Marcus Bagwell def. Terry Taylor, Ron Simmons def. Cactus Jack, Van Hammer & Tom Zenk def. Richard Morton & Vinnie Vegas

-Match 1 for the Light-Heavyweight Championship: Jushin Thunder Liger [c] VS Brian Pillman

-Small smattering of boos for Pillman during his entrance. Jesse is pumped to see Liger in the flesh. Liger dumps Pillman outside, and follows up with a somersault off the top to the floor. Pillman comes back with Air Pillman, then suplexes Liger over the ropes, to the outside, somehow not getting DQ'd for it. Jesse already declares it the greatest airial match he's ever seen before Pillman hits a dive off the top to the floor. Pillman goes for a dive off the apron, but misses and eats the guardrail.

Back in, Liger flies off the top, but Pillman counters with a dropkick. Pillman hits a big powerslam for two. Liger hits a bridged German suplex for two. Pillman fights off a superplex, dumps Liger, and hits a crossbody off the top for a close near-fall. Pillman lowers his head too early, and Liger hits a powerbomb for two. Pillman hits a spike DDT for two. They run the ropes, and both go for a crossbody, causing them to smack heads in mid-air.

Liger shakes the ropes to crotch Pillman, and hits a superplex for two. Liger misses a diving headbut, and Pillman rolls him up for the pin and the title. Show of sportsmanship after the pin. Excellent opener. Crowd was going nuts the whole time. Pretty much the prototype for RoH main events.

-Tony Schiavone & Eric Bischoff react to the opener, then send it to Missy, who is with the Taylor-Made Man. Taylor's suit looks like a really cheap version of DiBiase's. Taylor was going to show Marcus Alexander Bagwell how to be a winner, but now he's going to show him how to be a loser.

-Match 2: Larry Zybyszko & Television Champion Steve Austin (w/Madusa) VS Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes

-Jesse goes into Jerry Lawler mode, commenting on how great Madusa's chest looks. Match immediately breaks down, and the babyfaces dominate the first few minutes. Windham throws Austin in Austin's corner on purpose, so Austin will tag Larry. Larry kicks Windham onto the ramp, but Windham counters a piledriver with a backdrop, then floors Larry with a clothesline. Back in, Windham hits a flying clothesline, but then pulls Larry up at two.

Dustin gets in, and goes after Larry's hand and arm. Windham hits a gutwrench suplex. Windham goes for a piledriver, but Austin breaks it up with a clothesline. Windham gets throws over the top, and Larry crotches him on the guardrail. Austin works Windham over, and avoids a flying clothesline, which sends Windham out over the top, where Larry can do more damage.

Larry gets in, and hits a swinging neck breaker, which causes Dustin to get in to make the save. Windham plays the face-in-peril as Jesse and JR discuss college football, with Jesse getting a nice shot in at Oklahoma, stating that it's the one place where players take a pay cut to go from college to the NFL. Windham finally makes the tag. Dustin hits Austin with an inverted atomic drop, dropkick, and an elbow drop for two. Larry & Windham fight on the ramp, and Dustin does a Jannetty flip off an Austin clothesline.

Dustin hits a flurry on Larry, but lowers his head and takes a DDT for two. Madusa slaps Dustin across the face. Dustin chases her, allowing Austin to hit Dustin with a clothesline on the ramp. Dustin fights out of an Austin chinlock and hits a crossbody, but is again knocked for a flip by an Austin clothesline. Dustin manages to get a small package on Austin, but Nick Patrick is with Windham, and the delay allows Austin to kick out at two.

Match slows down as Austin works another chinlock. Dustin gets out, hits Austin with an awkward hot shot, and makes the hot tag to Windham. Larry blocks a superplex and dumps Windham, but Rhodes knocks Larry off the top, and Windham finishes Larry with a flying clothesline off the top. Great tag match, with only a small lull when Austin was working the chinlock.

-Tony & Eric (now in a Michigan jacket) discuss the tag title match. Missy tries to get an interview with Ricky Steamboat. The Ninja, who is guarding Steamboat's locker room, allows her in when Steamboat sets something on fire, and they leave. Madusa tries to get past the Ninja, but he refuses. Madusa slaps the Ninja, and he gives chase.

-Match 3 for the World Tag Team Championship: Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton [c] (w/Paul E. Dangerously) VS The Steiner Brothers

-Before the match starts, it is announced that Kip Frye has banned Paul from ringside during this match in top of banning him from the U.S. title match. As Paul is pulled away, Jesse demands an investigation of the University of Michigan, since Rick Steiner is too dumb to have passed any SAT requirements or pass his classes. Can't say I argue with that. Madusa takes Paul's place.

Scott out-wrestles Bobby to start. Bobby manages to hit a swinging neck breaker and goes up top, but Scott catches him with an overhead throw on the way down. AA gets the tag, and talks Scott into tagging Rick in. Cute spot as AA drops down, and Rick drops down beside him before kicking AA in the head, causing Arn to slide into the ring post. Rick hits a big powerslam, and AA slides into his corner to regroup. Scott gets in and powers out of an overhead wrist lock from AA, and the Steiners clothesline the champions out over the top.

Jesse and JR have a political discussion as Scott drops Bobby with a clothesline on the floor. Scott almost gets AA in Dragon sleeper position, but gets backed into the champions' corner. Scott and Bobby go to the ramp, where Scott hits a tilt-a-whirl slam. Scott locks in what would years later become the Steiner Recliner, but here it's just a transition move that allows Scott to make the tag. Rick catches Bobby as Bobby climbs the turnbuckles, and the Steiners hit a modified Doomsday Device with Scott walking the second rope to deliver the clothesline.

Rick flies off the top, but Bobby catches him with an inverted atomic drop on the way down that was pretty slickly executed. Bobby gets two off that, and now Rick is the face-in-peril. That doesn't last long as the Steiners turn the tide. Scott gets in, and AA rams Scott's head into Bobby's to regain control. Scott becomes the face-in-peril. Champions get Scott on the ramp, where they hit a Rocket Launcher.

Scott makes the tag. Champions get Rick in Doomsday Device position. Rick is supposed to catch Bobby with a slam as he goes for the clothesline, but he blows the spot. Rick hits AA with a top rope bulldog for two. Madusa blinds Rick with powder, and Rick suplexes the referee. Match completely breaks down, and Scott pins Bobby with a Frankensteiner with a second ref making the count, After the pin, three referees conference, and the decision is changed to a DQ win for the Dangerous Alliance. Match was really good before the Dusty Finish.

-Backstage, Missy is outside Steamboat's locker room, where the Ninja is posted again. Steamboat exits for the match. Tony & Eric preview the U.S. title match. Eric picks Steamboat while Tony picks Rude.

-Match 4 for the United States Championship: Rick Rude [c] VS Ricky Steamboat (w/The Ninja)

-HUGE heat for Rude, who takes four attempts to go through his pre-match spiel because the boos are so loud. Steamboat hits a series of arm drags and a choke lift. Steamboat crotches Rude with the ring post, which insenses Jesse. Rude lands a series of forearms, but Steamboat goes right back to work o Rude's arm with a hammerlock slam. Steamboat hits another arm drag and locks in another arm bar.

JR & Jessie argue over whether The Ninja is actually protecting Steamboat from anyone while Rude fights out of an overhead wristlock. Rude goes for a crossbody and they're supposed to fall over the top, but they can't make it over the ropes. Rude works Steamboat over as Jesse tells JR he should wear a cowboy hat. Heh. Rude hits a big clothesline, but it's with the injured arm, and Rude sells the injury well. Rude uses the injured arm again, and can't flex while he swivels his hips.

Rude starts working on Steamboat's neck, including a piledriver for two. Rude hits a belly-to-back suplex for two. Steamboat counters a side headlock with a shinbreaker and locks in a figure 4. Rude grabs the ropes to escape, then kicks Steamboat into the turnbuckles before hitting a clothesline from behind. Rude hits a couple axe handles off the top and a right-armed clothesline for two.

Rude locks in a rear chinlock, which Steamboat counters with an electric chair drop. They run the ropes and both go for a leap frog at the same time, colliding in mid-air. Steamboat fights out of a sleeper and locks in one of his own, but Rude counters that with a chin breaker. Rude goes up top, but Steamboat kicks Rude's leg out from...his leg, and crotches Rude. Steamboat hits a superplex for two.

Awkward moment as Steamboat is apparently supposed to hit a series of three clotheslines, but pauses before hitting the third, instead hitting an enziguiri that catches Rude in the back. Steamboat swivels his hips to mock Rude. Steamboat hits a flying chop and goes up top for another, but then the Ninja suddenly attacks Steamboat with a mobile phone, knocking Steamboat off the top, and Rude gets the pin off that. Awesome match. A completely different world than their match at the '89 Royal Rumble. Jesse speculates that the Ninja isn't Paul, and that Steamboat didn't pay the Ninja enough money.

-Eric & Tony react to the U.S. title match. Missy tries to get a word with Rude and gets into the Dangerous Alliance locker room, where Paul is changing out of the Ninja outfit. Missy is SHOCKED that the Ninja was Paul.

-Jesse gives JR credit for being right about Paul as the Ninja, and they preview the main event.

-Match 5 for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Lex Luger [c] (w/Harley Race) VS Sting

-Crowd loses their shit for Sting, who gets a smoke and pyro entrance. JR & Jesse speculate on how Luger bulked up a lot in 30 days. The two have a conversation and a shoving match to start. Luger roughs Sting up early. Luger misses an avalanche. Sting hits a Stinger splash, but Luger no-sells and floors Sting with a clothesline. Luger hits a powerslam and goes for the torture rack.

Sting flips out of the rack and hits a release German suplex. Sting locks in the rack. Luger struggles with it, and it pretty much turns into an inverted TKO. Luger sets too early, and Sting hits a leaping DDT, causing Luger to bail. Sting gets caught up with Handsome Harley. Luger tries to take advantage, but Sting fights him off. Sting hits a backdrop for two. Sting goes for the Scorpion Deathlock, but Luger immediately makes it to the ropes.

Luger pokes Sting in the eye, and gives him a rope burn. Sting locks in a blatant choke, and while Nick Patrick tries to pull him away, Luger hits a low blow. Luger hits the Attitude Adjustment, but Sting kicks out at two. Luger pounds away, but Sting hulks up to turn the tide. Sting gives Luger a rope burn. Sting dives at Luger, who ducks, which sends Sting over the top. Harley tries to piledrive Sting on the floor, but Sting backdrops Harley, and hits Luger with a crossbody off the top to win the title and send Luger to the WBF. Decent main event, but it was missing a big finishing sequence.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Can't say anything about the whole show with so much cut out, but the home video is awesome, with only the main event falling below great.

NWA/WCW Big Event Project #46: Clash of the Champions XVIII

-1/21/92

-From Topeka, KS

-Hosts are JR & Tony

-JR & Tony hype surprises and a big announcement before throwing it over to Eric Bischoff & Missy Hyatt, who then throw it to Gary Michael Chiapetta.

-Match 1: Big Van Vader & Mr. Hughes (w/Harley Race) VS The Steiner Brothers

-Hell of a choice for an opener. Crowd is molten to start the show. JR & Tony note that Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton won the WCW World Tag Team Championship at a live event the Thursday before this. Hughes and Scott start, and it doesn't go well for Scott until Hughes stops to jaw with the fans, allowing Scott to hit a scary-looking overhead belly-to-belly throw. Heels double team Scott, and throw both Steiners out of the ring, but then stop to bask in the glory, allowing the Steiners to hit stereo flying clotheslines from the top. Vader & Rick tag in, and Vader casually tosses Rick around. Rick fights back with a clothesline, another scary-looking overhead throw, and a clothesline to send Vader outside. Rick stupidly dives off the apron at Vader, who catches him and sends him back-first into the post.

Back in, Rick falls right on his head and neck bumping off a Vader clothesline. Vader goes up, but Scott shakes the ropes, allowing Rick to hit an overhead throw off the second rope. Scott gets in. Vader blocks a German suplex by holding the ropes, so Rick repeatedly punches Vader in the face, allowing Scott to complete the release German. Vader catches a flying Scott with a powerslam, then counters a sunset flip with a sit-down splash before tagging Hughes. Hughes accidentally smashes his nuts on a turnbuckle, allowing Scott to make the tag. Hughes not-so-subtly jumps into a hiptoss, but gets impressive air on a backdrop. Match breaks down, and Rick hits the top rope bulldog on Hughes for the pin. Good opener. Was pretty much all action from bell-to-bell, and the kept the crowd hot.

-Match 2: Tracey Smothers & Terry Taylor VS Brian Pillman & Marcus Alexander Bagwell

-So instead of turning Taylor, they kept him heel and gave him the "Taylor Made Man" gimmick. Taylor opens things up by bitch-slapping Pillman. Taylor loses a chop exchange, and Pillman hits a flyig head scissors. Taylor bounces back-and-forth between Pillman & Bagwell before flopping face-first. Babyfaces keep control of the match, flying around the ring and finishing the sequence with stereo dives to the floor. Bagwell and Smothers get in. Bagwell stops to punch Taylor, and turns right into a sweet superkick from Smothers. Bagwell becomes the face-in-peril for a short time before blocking a Smothers' splash with his knees, and making the hot tag to Pillman.

Pillman cleans house, but Bagwell has the referee, allowing the heels to double team Pillman, including Taylor suplexing Pillman from the inside to the floor. Taylor hits Pillman with a gutwrench sitout powerbomb for two. Smothers knocks Pillman off the apron into the guardrail, but then stops to jaw with Bagwell, allowing Pillman to hit a springboard clothesline and make the tag. Cute finish as Bagwell tries to sunset flip Smothers, who holds onto Taylor to block until Pillman dropkicks Taylor, allowing Bagwell to complete the move and gets the pin. Another pretty good match.

-JR & Tony preview the next match, including a short video highlighting Light-Heavyweight Champion Jushin Thunder Liger. JR announces that Liger will defend the title at SuperBrawl II against an opponent yet-to-be-named.

-Match 3: Richard Morton VS Johnny B. Badd

-I think WCW could have gotten more mileage out of Badd as a heel, but Mero does a good job of keeping the gimmick as a babyface, and the crowd seems to be into him. Fast pace to start. Morton takes Badd outside and sends him face-first into the post. Morton controls the match for the most part. Morton goes for a cross-body, but Badd rolls through and gets a really weak and awkward pin. Match was decent while it lasted before that weak sauce finish.

-Eric interviews Brian Pillman and Johnny B. Badd. Pillman grows visably irritated as Bischoff puts Liger over. Pillman goes on a weird rant about how his rivaly with Liger goes deeper than wrestling and how he has to see friends lose jobs because of Japanese auto makers. Badd mugs for the cameras the whole time and plants a big kiss sticker on Eric's cheek. As Pillman wraps up his rant, Badd plants the kiss on Pillman, who responds by punching Badd in the face. Badd is SHOCKED at this for some reason.

-Match 4: Diamond Dallas Page VS PN News

-They actually cut a good pace. News dominates the first couple minutes until DDP avoids an avalanche. DDP works News over, but then makes the mistake of trying to slam News, who falls on top of him for two. DDP controls the match until News hits a belly-to-belly and quickly finishes with the Rapmaster Splash off the top. Short and sweet. Man the Diamond Cutter really saved DDP from being an undercard worker his whole career.

WCW TOP TEN:

10. Larry Zbyszko
9. El Gigante
8. Big Van Vader
7. Dustin Rhodes
6. Cactus Jack
5. Rick Steiner
4. Ricky Steamboat
3. Steve Austin
2. Sting
1. Rick Rude

-Tony introduces K. Allen Frye. Frye announces that Lex Luger will defend the WCW title at SuperBrawl, then introduces WCW's newest commentator: Jesse "The Body" Ventura. Frye lets Tony announce the World title match at SuperBrawl; Lex Luger defending against Sting. Sting comes out, and the crowd is happy to see him. Before Sting signs the contract, he introduces a video of some comments from Luger. Luger doesn't want to be known as just the greatest wrestler of all time, but the greatest athelete of all time, and that Sting will be just another footnote after SuperBrawl. Sting signs the contract for SuperBrawl, but wishes they could do it now.

-Match 5: Cactus Jack VS Van Hammer (Falls Count Anywhere)

-Cactus has his fans in Topeka. JR clarifies that falls count anywhere not just in or outside the building, but anywhere in Kansas. Hammer starts off fast, getting two near-for two. Cactus clothesline sends them both to the floor. Cactus exposes the floor, and shockingly does not get tossed into it right away. Cactus tries a sunset flip off the second turnbuckle to the floor, but doesn't catch Hammer, and Cactus lands ass-first on the concrete. That must have felt WONDERFUL. Nick Patrick's "eww" face said it all.

Hammer gets a powerslam on the ramp for two. They fight up the ramp. Hammer reverses a hip toss and throws Cactus off the ramp to the floor. Hammer leaps off the ramp with a clothesline for two. Cactus drags Hammer backstage as the crowd boo's and we go to a mid-match commercial.

Back from commercial, they're outside the arana, and Cactus is hitting Hammer with anything he can get his hands on. Cactus rakes Hammer's face with a cow skull. You don't see that every day. They fight into a rodeo arena, and Abdullah the Butcher (in cowboy garb) joins the fight. Abby tries to hit Cactus with a shovel, but accidentally hits Hammer, and Cactus gets the pin off that.

Abby and Cactus continue the fight. Abby dunks Cactus' head into a water trough before grabbing Missy Hyatt (who had rushed outside to help with the coverage) and dunking her as well. The fight continues as we go to commercial. Really fun brawl, definitely deserving of the Kip Frye Bonus. I would imagine this was Hammer's best match of his career.

-The Freebirds debut a new song, with a video intercut with their entrance. The Freebirds (badly) lip-synch until they go into the crowd and actually start "singing". Song isn't bad, especially by wrestling standards. Mixed reaction for this.

-Match 6: The Fabulous Freebirds VS Big Josh & Brad Armstrong

-Another fast-paced start. After Armstrong does some work with both 'Birds, Big Josh gets in and does his log roll on Garvin. Really good back-and-forth action. Armstrong tries to suplex Hayes, and Garvin helps Hayes block it before they finish with a double DDT. Freebirds' entrance was longer than the match, which was good while it lasted.

-Lengthy video hypes the Steiner Brothers. Eric brings them out, and they challenge AA and Bobby Eaton for the World tag titles.

-Match 7: Thomas Rich VS Vinny Vegas

-JR & Tony try really hard to sell this as Kevin Nash's first WCW appearance. Nash's "Itallian" accent is horrendous. Nash acts like he's getting Rich's help in taunting the fans before hitting Rich with a cheap shot. Nash finishes quickly with snake eyes. Nash was trying with the gimmick (the rolling of the dice before the finish was a nice touch), but he really didn't fit it.

-Eric brings out Paul E. Paul predicts that one of the Dangerous Alliance's opponents for tonight will never wrestle in WCW again.

-Match 8: WCW World Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton & Larry Zbyszko (w/Paul E. Dangerously) VS Dustin Rhodes, Ron Simmon, & Barry Windham

-Windham and Eaton start. Windham no-sells a superplex, and floors Eaton with a couple lariats. Windham hits Eaton with a second rope superplex for two. Match breaks down, and the babyfaces lock all three opponents in figure 4s in a cute spot. Simmons fights off a double suplex from AA and Larry. Simmons dominates Larry until Larry can tag Eaton. Dustin gets in with Eaton. Dustin throws Eaton over the top onto the ramp (which the ref doesn't see because he's talking to the faces). Dustin follows up with a slingshot clothesline. Barry & Larry get in, and the crowd gets hot for Windham. Windham counters a backdrop with a piledriver, then dropkicks Eaton off the top to the floor, then drives AA face-first into the canvas before tagging Rhodes.

Larry helps Eaton avoid Rhodes, and Dustin spills outside, where Eaton holds him so Paul can hit Dustin in the stomach with the mobile phone. Back in, AA hits Dustin with a spinebuster for two. Dustin counters a AA splash with knees, but then walks into a vicious DDT for two. Eaton gets in, and hits an elbow off toe top for two. Eaton misses a flying somethingorother in the corner, but tags AA before Dustin can make a tag himself. AA goes up top again, but this time hits feet instead of knees. Eaton & Windham gets tags, and Windham dominates until AA lands a cheap shot. Match breaks down. Eaton comes off the top, but Windham catches Eaton with a punch on the way down for the pin. Really strong six man, Shocking lack of Simmons though. Was he nursing an injury here?

-After a commercial break, Tony interviews the six man winners in the locker room. Windham says Larry will suffer 10,000 times more pain than Windham did when Larry & AA broke his hand. Windham predicts every member of the Dangerous Alliance will be crippled.

-Match 9: United States Champion Rick Rude & Television Champion Steve Austin (w/Paul E. Dangerously) VS Sting & Ricky Steamboat

-Jesse is on color for this. Austin & Steamboat start. Steamboat wins a slugfest. Steamboat sends Austin outside, where the DA talk strategy. Rude gets the tag, and slaps Sting across the face, so Sting DEMANDS the tag. Sting hits a couple inverted atomic drops, then scratches Rude, which of course doesn't please Jesse. Sting locks in a camel clutch, then mocks Rude before switching with Steamboat. Steamboat does the same, and Jesse goes nuts because the faces are cheating. Sting tries to jump on Rude's back, and Rude quickly spins and punches Sting in the nuts.

Sting becomes the face-in-peril. That doesn't last long. Austin tries to block a Sting sunset flip with a punch, but Sting avoids it and makes the hot tag. Steamboat gets Austin in a victory roll, but Sting stupidly distracts the ref, allowing Rude to break up the pin and turn Steamboat into the face-in-peril. Austin tries to get Steamboat in a back breaker, but Sting comes off the top with a cross-body, and both Steamboat & Sting pin Austin (which Jesse rightly objects too).

Rude hits Steamboat with two Rude Awakenings while Sting misses a Stinger Splash on Austin. Rude whips Steamboat with a belt until Sting dives on top of Steamboat to protect him. Huge heat for the Dangerous Alliance. Pretty good, if surprisingly short, main event. Not a fan of the double team finish, but the post-match beat down was good.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Pretty good show overall, with the potential crap being kept mercifully short. The hot crowd really helped this show. The Dangerous Alliance rules the world.

NWA/WCW Big Event Project #46: Starrcade '91

-12/29/91

-From Norfolk, VA

-Hosts are JR & Tony

-So, this is the first BattleBowl tournament. The idea is that 20 teams are picked at random, then paired in a series of 10 matches, with the winning teams advancing to a 2 ring battle royale to end the night. I like the idea, just not as what is supposed to be WCW's biggest show of the year.

-Eric Bischoff, Missy Hyatt, & Magnum TA draw the teams. All forty wrestlers involved are on the stage, and head to the ring when their name is called.

-Match 1: Michael Hayes & U.S. Tag Team Champion Tracey Smothers VS Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Jimmy Garvin

-Smothers and Bagwell start. Smother flops around after taking a shoulderblock. Lots of stalling to start, with Smothers bitchig at the ref after every move. Bagwell completely owns Smothers, who refuses to make a tag to Hayes. Garvin gets tagged in, and Smothers mocks the Freebird dance. Crappy dropkick sends Smothers to the apron, where Garvin kicks Smothers in the face, sending Smothers into the guardrail. Smothers tries to cheap shot Garvin after a handshake, and gives Smothers an atomic drop, which Smother sells by flying out over the top rope.

Smothers finally gets control of Bagwell and tags Hayes, who struts after striking Bagwell with a back elbow. Bagwell turns the tide on Smothers and works him over some more. Bagwell tags Garvin, and Smothers dives to his corner to tag Hayes. Crowd comes alive at the thought of a Freebirds explosion. They do more dancing than wrestling before tagging their partners. The crowd loves that, then goes silent once Bagwell and Smothers lock up. Garvin gets in and nails Smothers with a running forearm, then tags in Bagwell, who gets two off a cross-body off the top.

Bagwell cheap shots Hayes, who lays Bagwell out with a left hand, then accidentally punches Hayes. The Freebirds argue as Bagwell counters a Smothers' splash with knees, then pins Smothers with a fisherman's suplex. Not good, but not terrible either thanks to the crowd caring about the Freebirds.

-Match 2: TV Champion Steve Austin & U.S. Champion Rick Rude VS Van Hammer & Big Josh

-Only the finish is shown with Tony narrating. Rude makes a blind tag, and pins Hammer after a Rude Awakening.

-Match 3: Larry Zybysko & El Gigante VS WCW World Tag Team Champion Dustin Rhodes & Richard Morton

-Again only the finish, as Gigante gets tired of Larry yelling at him, and tosses Larry into the ring right into a double dropkick and the pin by Rhodes.

-Match 4: Bill Kazmaier & Light-Heayweight Champion Jushin Thunder Liger VS Mike Graham & Diamond Dallas Page

-Graham & Liger start, and don't seem to be on the same page. Kazmaier gets in and tosses Graham around. DDP gets in, and doesn't do much better. Kazmaier skins the cat in an impressive spot. DDP actually does get the advantage on Kazmaier. Liger gets in and takes DDP down with a spinning heel kick. Graham gets in, and immediately takes an enziguiri and slingshot splash for two. Kazmaier gets back in and over powers both opponents. Liger gets back in, and Graham gets him in a Boston crab. No reaction for any of this, BTW.

Graham & Liger do some more mat wrestling to silence. Liger hits some rapid fire kicks to momentarily wake up the crowd, which dies again when Kazmaier tags in. After a couple more exchanges and tags, Liger hits a big dive on Graham to a pop. Finish finally comes when Kazmaier presses Liger onto DDP for the pin. Match was technically fine, but went way too long, and they didn't adjust when the crowd wasn't respondig to anything.

-Eric draws the next two teams (with the faces and heels now in their respective locker rooms).

-Match 5: WCW World Heavyweight Champion Lex Luger & Arn Anderson (w/Harley Race) VS Terrence Taylor & The Z Man

-Zenk & Taylor actually win the first exchange. They completely dominate the first few minutes. Zenk almost overshoots AA on a cross-body off the top. Harley trips Zenk (on the second try), and AA hits a big DDT. Luger works Zenk over, but when AA gets in, he lowers his head too early, and takes a modified face buster. Luger gets back in, and Zenk is officially the face-in-peril. Luger gets two off a powerslam. AA dives into Zenk's boots, allowing the hot tag. Taylor gets a couple near-falls on Luger. Taylor hits a gutwrench powerbomb for two, as AA makes the save. AA catches Taylor with a knee to the back, and Luger quickly finishes with the Attitude Adjustment piledriver. Best match so far. They really put Taylor over right before, I'm assuming, a face turn.

-Match 6: WCW World Tag Team Champion Ricky Steamboat & Todd Champion VS Cactus Jack & Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker

-Abdullah the Butcher gets pissed at not being Cactus' partner, and beats the shit out of Parker as the other heels sit and watch. Cactus gets excited when Abby walks down to the rings, but Abby is escorted away from ringside. Parker makes the mistake of passing Abby on the entrance ramp, and Abby adds some shots with his walking stick. Steamboat starts with Cactus (did they ever have a 1-on-1 match?). Cactus' shrieks as he rakes Steamboat's face are horrifying. Steamboat skins the cat, backdrops Cactust to the outside, then follows up with a suicide dive.

Champion gets in and works on Cactus as Parker gets a small "Buddy" chant for continuing to crawl towards the rings. Cactus throws Champion outside, and hits the flying elbow. Cactus avoids a legdrop, but gets caught with a punch as he flies off the top. Cactus tags Parker and throws him in the ring, and Steamboat quickly finishes him with a powerslam and cross-body off the top. Cute booking elevated a pretty mediocre match.

-Match 7: Sting & Abdullah the Butcher VS Brian Pillman & Bobby Eaton

-Johnny B. Badd mugs for the camera as Abby is drawn as Sting's partner. Eaton has apparently turned heel, coming out of that locker room. Abby is all smiles as he walks down the ramp, before suddenly attacking Sting with Abby's walking stick. Tremendous. Pillman goes after Abby, hitting Abby with the stick. Eaton works on Sting as Pillman brawls with Abby. Sting turns the tide and hits a splash onto the ramp. Abby keeps attacking Sting when it looks like Sting might gain control. Pillman slams Abby to big pop, then refuses to tag Eaton.

Sting almost break Eaton's neck with a botched tombstone. Cactus Jack interferes, but accidentally hits Abby with the stick. That allows Sting to finish Eaton with a cross-body off the top. Pretty wild match.

-Abby gets pissed and goes after Cactus, triggering a huge brawl. They have to be pulled apart by security.

-Match 8: Rick Steiner & The Nightstalker VS Big Van Vader & Mr. Hughes

-Vader is sans helmet and mask here. Nightstalker (Bryan Clarke) is filling in for an injured Diamond Studd. Vader & Hughes are a regular team at this time. Vader pounds on Rick, who answers with a big clothesline, belly-to-belly suplex, and another clothesline to send Vader outside. Rick dives off the apron onto Vader, who takes control on the outside, ramming Rick's back into the ring post. Rick suplexes Vader inside, then gets two on Hughes off a backdrop when Hughes gets in.

Rick refuses to tag Nightstalker, who finally tags himself in. Rick hits a bulldog off the top while Vader drops Nightstalker and hits a big splash (on Nightstalker's head and neck, since he forgot to lay down) for the pin. Not much here.

-Match 9: Scott Steiner & Firebreaker Chip VS Johnny B. Badd & Arachnaman

-Another match clipped down to the finish. Scott pins Arachnaman after an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.

-Match 10: U.S. Tag Team Champion Scott Armstrong & PN News VS Ron Simmons & Thomas Rich

-Another clipped match. Simmons pins Armstrong after a really crappy spinebuster.

-Match 11: BattleBowl Finals: Big Van Vader VS Marcus Alexander Bagwell VS Jimmy Garvin VS Dustin Rhodes VS Bill Kazmaier VS Jushin Thunder Liger VS Steve Austin VS Richard Morton VS Todd Champion VS Abdullah the Butcher VS Firebreaker Chip VS Thomas Rich VS Ron Simmons VS Ricky Steamboat VS Mr. Hughes VS Scott Steiner VS Lex Luger VS Rick Rude VS Arn Anderson VS Sting

-Wrestlers have to be thrown from ring 1 into ring 2 to be eliminated from ring 1. Last man in ring 1 will meet the last man in ring 2. AA & Steamboat fight on the ramp. Vader & Hughes dump Kazmaier onto the ramp, but it doesn't matter, since he didn't go into ring 2. Steamboat gets caught on the ramp with Vader, but avoids a big splash. Just a big clusterfuck (I know you're shocked). Vader tries to march Steamboat across ring 1 into ring 2, but fails. Vader does manages to gorilla press Steamboat onto the ramp.

Rich is the first to be sent into ring 2. Crowd gets into it as Sting goes after Luger. Bagwell soon joins Rich in ring 2. Ring 2 starts to fill up. Liger starts hitting Morton with some high-flying moves, to the crowd's approval. Liger eliminates Morton, but the momentum takes Liger out too. Rich is eliminated as Vader works Dustin over on the outside of ring 1. Steamboat and AA brawl with each other, eventually ending up in ring 2.

Garvin is eliminated from ring 2 by Chip. Simmons charges Rudes, who moves out of the way, and Simmons goes flying into ring 2. Sting and Rude go at it, and go tumbling into ring 2, leaving Luger & Vader in ring 1. Chip is eliminated, then Luger clotheslines Vader into ring 2, winning ring 1. The herd starts to finally thin, as Dustin eliminates AA, then gets dumped himself. Simmons eliminates Hughes and himself. Steiner, Bagwell, and Vader all go out in short order. That leaves Sting, Steamboat, Rude, and Austin in ring 2. Rude accidentally eliminates Austin with a clothesline. Steamboat pulls Rude out with a headscissors, then Rude pulls Steamboat out in revenge, so Sting wins ring 2. Rude gets back into ring 2 and hits Sting with a Rude Awakening.

Luger takes his time in working Sting over. Luger throws Sting through the ropes onto the ramp, then holds Nick Patrick so Harley ca gets a cheap shot in, but Sting slams Harley. Luger knocks Sting off the ramp onto the guardrail. Sting fights back, ramming Luger into the guardrail before dragging him back into the ring. Sting drapes Luger over the corner and hits a bunch of kicks, stopping to suplex Harley when he tries to interfere.

Sting misses a Stinger splash, but does not go over. Luger throws Sting, who holds on. Luger thinks he's won, but Sting Hulks up, and eliminates Luger to win. Match was pretty boring until the final segment between Sting & Luger.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Well this was...interesting. The show only really picked up when the booking was able to carry it, as the wrestling itself wasn't that great, at least what was shown here.

NWA/WCW Big Event Project #45: Clash of the Champions XVII

-11/19/91

-From Savanah, GA

-Hosts are JR & Tony

-Eric Bischoff is with Missy Hyatt, who is excited about interviewing WCW's newest rookie: Marcus Alexander Bagwell.

-Match 1: Thomas Rich (w/Alexandra York) VS Big Josh [Lumberjack Match]

-Rich jumps on Josh as he enters the ring. Josh Hulks up, and Rich tries to bail, but has nowhere to go. Josh dominates Rich, until Rich manages to send Josh out on the heel side. Judging by the sides, the Freebirds are now babyfaces, while the Young Pistols are heels. Mostly punch-kick offense. Rich goes up, but gets tossed by Josh. Josh hits a snap suplex for two. They do a criss-cross, and for some reason Terrence Taylor trips Rich, and Josh finishes with the Northern Exposure (sit down splash). Nothing special. Finish is a bit intriguing though.

-Match 2: Firebreaker Chip VS Bobby Eaton

-Crowd is pro-Eaton. Chip tries flying around, and it's awkward to say the least. Chip misses a splash in the corner, but no-sells the miss, and hits a flying clothesline off the top. They go on the mat as the crowd gets restless. Chip runs right into a nice clothesline, and Eaton follows up with a back breaker for two. Eaton smashes Chip's face into the turnbuckle, and finishes with a belly-to-back suplex. Nothing to see here.

-Starrcade '91: Battlebowl-The Lethal Lottery promo.

-Tony brings out the United States Champion Sting, as he is to receive the final gift box tonight. Sting, like an impatient kid on Christmas morning, wants the final box RIGHT NOW. Some guys carry a royal-looking cart down the ramp. Madusa exits and acts all seductive towards Sting. Sting, as we all know, is the biggest idiot in wrestling, so he falls for it. That allows Lex Luger to attack Sting and go after his previously-injured knee.

-Match 3: Z Man VS The Diamond Studd

-Match is joined in progress after a commercial break. The match is rendered pretty much inconsequential, as Sting is placed in an ambulance. Zenk wins in short order with a crucifix, but Studd destroys him after the fact with a chokeslam and Diamond Death Drop. Well that didn't help anybody.

-Match 4 for the Television Championship: Steve Austin [c] (w/Lady Blossom) VS PN News

-Austin tries to get the early jump, but gets caught with a tree slam. News hits a bodyslam and elbowdrop, causing Austin to bail. News sends Austin into the guardrail. Austin goes for a slam, but can't hold News, who falls on top for two. News suplexes Austin into the ropes, and gets two off that. News hits a belly-to-belly, but Lady Blossom puts Austin's foot on the bottom rope at two. News stupidly goes after her, and gets nailed by Austin for his troubles. News misses an avalanche, and Austin gets the pin with his feet on the ropes. Match was OK. Austin really put News over before retaining the title.

-Missy interviews Bagwell, who is presented as a rookie to wrestling itself. Missy is mad Bagwell didn't ask her out.

-WCW TOP TEN:
10. Big Van Vader
9. Bobby Eaton
8. Bill Kazmaier
7. Cactus Jack
6. Barry Windham
5. Dustin Rhodes
4. Ron Simmons
3. Steve Austin
2. Rick Steiner
1. Sting

-Match 5: Cactus Jack VS Van Hammer

-Cactus gets an organ version of "the funeral march" as his entrance music. Hammer gets a good reaction. Cactus gets the jump at the bell, but takes a belly-to-back suplex and a shitty dropkick to send him outside. Hammer hits a slam and legdrop for two. Jack comes back with a Jericho bulldog, Cactus clothesline, and flying elbow off the second rope to the outside. Crowd chants for Hammer, who Hulks up. Hammer hits a flying knee to the back of Jack's head for two. Jack goes outside, and rams the edge of Hammer's guitar into Hammer's throat, then rolls Hammer up for the pin, and Hammer's first loss. Hammer doesn't take the loss well, hitting a slingshot suplex onto the runway. They brawl to the back to continue the feud. Best match so far, but the bar was pretty low.

-JR gets Eric Bischoff on the phone (as we can hear the director tell Tony to move his head so we can see JR). Eric says Sting's injury isn't as bad as was feared, but his knee has swelled up.

-JR & Tony preview the world tag team title match. Video of the Enforcers attacking Barry Windham before Halloween Havoc is shown.

-Match 6 for the World Tag Team Championship: The Enforcers [c] VS Dustin Rhodes & ?????

-Windham comes to the ring with Dustin, but says he can't wrestle because he just had surgery on his hand. Windham calls out Dustin's partner, who comes to the ring in a dragon costume. Naturally, it's Ricky Steamboat. The crowd goes wild as The Enforcers lose their shit.

Challengers start out fast, as the champions have no answers for Steamboat. Ricky & Dustin go after Larry's arm. AA gets in, and manages to take over on Dustin. Dustin comes back with bionic elbows, and the champs bail out. Brilliant sequence as Larry slaps Steamboat across the face, which causes Steamboat to chase him. AA makes a blind tag as the chase continues, then nails Steamboat from behind when Steamboat gets his hands on Larry.

AA gets two off a belly-to-back suplex. Steamboat turns the tide on AA, but Larry gets in, and regains control. Long heat segment on Steamboat, and the crowd is with them the whole time. They throw in a false tag. AA goes off the top, and meets both Steamboats' feet, finally allowing the hot tag. Dustin gets the bulldog on AA, and Ricky makes a blind tag. Ricky hits AA with the cross-body off the top for the pin and the titles. To say the crowd goes wild would be an understatement. Excellent tag formula match. If you haven't seen it, it's well worth going out of your way to track down.

-After a commercial break, JR & Tony note that the Enforcers are protesting the decision on the grounds that they signed to wrestle Dustin and Windham. JR & Tony introduce a hype video for the soon-to-debut Jushin Thunder Liger, who will challenge the winner of the Light-Heavyweight title match.

-After the video, JR is with Paul E., who is ashamed to have ever known Lex Luger or Madusa. Paul shows JR the contract for the U.S. title match, specifically a clause (and Paul notes that "I'm not lying this time"), that states that if Sting is not in the ring by bell time, he will forfeit the U.S. title to Rick Rude.

-After another commercial, JR gets on the phone with Eric Bischoff, who is at the hospital with Sting. Sting gets out of the examining room, and when Eric informs him of the "loophole" on the title match contract, Sting flips out, and steals an ambulance to get back to the arena.

-Match 7 for the Light-Heavyweight Championship: Brian Pillman [c] VS Johnny B. Badd (w/Teddy Long)

-JR notes that Badd and Long have been having issues recently. Badd has a few female plants stuff dollar bills in his garter belt. Badd lands some rapid body punches, and Pillman responds with a STIFF overhand chop. Pillman hits Air Pillman out onto the entrance ramp. Pillman tries a piledriver on the ramp, but Badd counters. Badd takes Pillman off the ramp and into the guardrail. Pillman hits a slingshot cross-body for two. Pillman goes for a big splash off the top, but only gets Badd's knees.

Badd flies off the top, but is met with a dropkick from Pillman. Pillman hits another really stiff chop. Pillman hits a spinning heel kick for two. Badd comes off the top with a sunset flip, but Long has the referee detained. Badd tells Long to get off the apron, but Pillman runs Badd into Long, and gets a rollup for the pin to retain. Badd KO's Long after the loss. Match was good while it lasted, but seemed to be more of a backdrop for the turn after the match.

-Match 8 for the United States Championship: Sting [c] VS Rick Rude (w/Paul E. Dangerously)

-Paul takes the time to trash talk Sting, conveniently giving Sting enough time to arrive at the arena. Paul sees this, and frantically calls for Nick Patrick to ring the bell. Sting has until the count of ten to get to the ring. Sting goes to thr wrong door, but fortunately, there are some babyfaces waiting for him, and they guide him to the right entrance.

Rude rushes out to meet Sting on the entrance ramp. Sting completely dominates the first couple minutes until Rude gets a hold of Sting's injured knee and wraps it around the ring post. Rude hits an axe handle off the top, and poses to huge heat. Sting blocks the Rude Awakening, but gets poked in the eye. Paul nails Sting with the mobile phone, and Rude gets a very close two count off that. Sting goes after Paul, but gets clipped from behid. Rude gets a schoolboy, and pulls the tights to get the pin and the title. More of an angle than a match, but the perfect way to get the title off Sting and prepare him for a run at Luger, while putting more heat on Rude.

-After a commercial break, Tony is with Paul, Rude, and Madusa. Paul reveals that everything was a conspiracy between Paul, Rude, Madusa, and Luger. Paul spits on WCW, and says the championship commitee now answers to the Dangerous Alliance. Rude says that tonight shows nice guys finish last.

-After another commercial break. JR interviews the injured Ron Simmons. Simmons is here to scout the world title match, and vows to be the first black world champion.

-Video shows recent confrontations between Lex Luger and Rick Steiner.

-Match 9 for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Lex Luger [c] (w/Harley Race & Mr. Hughes) VS Rick Steiner (w/Scott Steiner)

-Randy Anderson ejects Mr. Hughes before the match starts. Mat wrestling to start, which obviously goes Rick's way. Rick catches Luger with a powerslam for two, and clotheslines him outside the ring. Luger bashes Rick's head into the turnbuckle, but Rick no-sells, and regains control. Rick hits a German suplex for two. Luger shoves the ref out of the way, and crotches Rick on the top rope. Rick tries a somersault sell off a clothesline, but it doesn't go well. Luger punches Rick in the throat (reality: the forehead), and throws him through the ropes.

Rick fights back with punches and a powerslam for two. Rick hits the Steiner bulldog for two, as Luger gets his foot on the bottom rope. Rick hits an overhead belly-to-belly throw off the second rope. Scott goes after the returning Hughes, throwing him into the ring, and hitting a sloppy Frankensteiner. Rick hits a belly-to-belly suplex on Luger, but then goes after Harley, suplexing him into the ring. As Randy Anderson gets Harley out of the ring, Luger grabs the title belt and KO's Rick to retain. Match was pretty much the same as the TV title match, with the challenger dominating before the champion retains with a cheap pin.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: This was a pretty good show, especially once the title matches started. The tag title match is awesome, while everything else watchable and pretty heated at least. Possibly the best Clash so far.

NWA/WCW Big Event Project #44: Halloween Havoc '91 (Turner Home Entertainment Edit)

-10/27/91

-From Chattanooga, TN

-The matches left off the video are: Big Josh & PN News def. The Creatures, Bobby Eaton def. Terrence Taylor, Bill Kazmeier def. Oz, Van Hammer def. Doug Summers, and Brian Pillman def. Richard Morton to become the 1st WCW Light Heavyweight Champion.

-Hosts are JR & Tony.

-JR previews the show, and notes that we don't know the identity of the WCW Halloween Phantom. Tony says Barry Windham was attacked earlier today, and cannot compete in the Chamber of Horrors match.

-EARLIER TODAY: Eric Bischoff is in the parking lot, greeting wrestlers as they arrive at the arena. When Windham & Dustin Rhodes arrive, Arn Anderson & Larry Zybyszko slam a car door on Windham's arm.

-Match 1 is the "Chamber of Horrors": El Gigante, The Steiner Brothers, & United States Champion Sting VS Big Van Vader, Diamond Studd, Cactus Jack, & Abdullah the Butcher

-Everyone comes out to the same generic "scary" music except for Sting, who has his own. Jack brings a chainsaw with him. Jack & Abby go after Sting before he even gets to the cage. Nick Patrick has a camera on his head. Sting beats everyone on the other team with a kendo stick. A masked man jumps out of one of the caskets that are in the cage, and promptly gets beaten down by the Steiners. Sting & Vader go at it, bringing the crowd to life.

The chair is lowered, and Jack has to roll out of the way before he gets crushed by it. Vader gets rick in the chair, but Rick fights out of it. Rick throws a coffin lid at Jack's head. "Ghouls" make their way down the ramp with a stretcher. Rick bashes Jack's head into the cage. Jack gets busted wide open. Cactus and Sting climb the cage, and Sting sends Cactus down. Jack flies over the top rope and into the cage off a whip from Sting.

Everyone just wanders aimlessly for a bit. Sting got opened up somehow, Abby is too, of course. Studd almost gets Scott in the chair, but takes a stick to the nuts from Rick. Abby gets Rick in the chair as Cactus Jack prepares to throw the switch. Rick gets Abby in the chair and shackles him down. Cactus isn't paying attention, and he throws the switch to lose the match and "electrocute" Abby.

Not so much a match as it was a complete clusterfuck. I can appreciate them trying something different, but they went way too overboard with the Halloween theme, and the idea of a wrestler getting put into an electric chair is really fucking stupid.

-Cactus Jack tries to revive Abby by yelling in his face. It somehow works, and Abby goes nuts, attacking Jack, and the ghouls.

-"I guess when he opened his eyes, he thought he was in heaven, and realized he shouldn't be there..."-Tony Schiavone.

-Match 2: Jimmy Garvin (w/Michael Hayes) VS Johnny B. Badd (w/Teddy Long)

-JR laughs at a "Michael PMS Hayes" sign. Garvin is filling in for an "injured" Hayes. Freebirds play faces here, leading the crowd in the Atlanta Braves' tomahawk chop. You know you're over-the-top flamboyant when THE FREEBIRDS are giving you a "WTF?" look. Crowd is pretty split. There's a "Freebirds suck" chant, then more tomahawk chopping and a "DDT" chant.

Crowd pops huge when Garvin backdrops Badd over the top, and then Hayes punches Badd in the face. Garvin runs the ropes twice before hitting Badd in the face with a forearm. Badd lands some body punches and a leaping clothesline. Badd chokes Garvin with a cloth. Badd comes off the top with an ugly sunset flip for two. Crowd dies down dramatically with Badd on offense. Garvin counters a double axe handle with a punch to the stomach.

Badd misses an elbow in the corner, and flies out over the top. The two bash heads when they try a leap frog at the same time. Garvin hits the DDT, but Teddy has the referee distracted. Garvin turns right into a Badd left hand for the pin, as Teddy pushes Garvin's leg off the rope. Michael Hayes nails Teddy, and tries to explain what happened to the ref. JR refers to Teddy as "peanut head". First time for that?

-JR sends it TO THE BACK to Missy Hyatt (dressed as a showgirl). She can't find the WCW Halloween Phantom. Missy bugs Bobby Eaton, who is carrying a pumpkin because that's what people do around Halloween. Eaton says he wants to go celebrate his winning a match and leaves her.

-Match 3 for the Television Championship: Steve Austin [c] (w/Lady Blossom) VS Dustin Rhodes

-Dustin scores with a big clothesline and a dropkick for two. They go through a series of moves and counters, ending with Dustin clotheslining Austin out over the top. Austin counters a side headlock with a suplex for two. Austin blocks a bulldog. Match is slow, so JR takes time to bitch about managers constantly getting involved in matches. Dustin misses a cross body and bounces off the mat out to the floor.

Austin pounds away on Dustin, busting Dustin wide open. Match picks up as Austin pounces on the injury. Austin hits a gutwrench suplex for two. Match slows down again as Austin uses a headlock with the ropes for leverage. Dustin tries for a monkey flip, but Austin blocks it, and knocks Dustin for a flip with a clothesline. They fight over a small package, then Dustin hits a lariat for two. Dustin misses a dropkick, and Austin gets two off that.

Dustin hits an atomic drop and a clothesline for two. Dustin throws Austin outside and sends him head-first into the ring post, which busts Austin open. Dustin hits a powerslam for two. Dustin hits a bionic elbow for two. Dustin pounds on Austin's open wound with 30 seconds left. Dustin flips, flops, and flies for two. Dustin hits a cross body off the top for two as the time limit expires. Match started out painfully slow, as they used a lot of headlocks to fill time. Match picked up towards the end, but was still pretty disappointing. Jarring to see so much blood on this show with it not being a factor for some time.

-Match 4: The Z Man VS The WCW Halloween Phantom

-Phantom goes from shielding his face to attacking Zenk in a split second. Phantom hits a vicious clothesline. Close up shots pretty much give away the Phantom's identity. Zenk fights back and hits a dropkick. Phantom no-sells, and quickly finishes with a Rude Awakening. Tony pretty much gives it away by referring to the move as that. Just a quick squash to showcase the Phantom.

-Match 5 for the WCW World Tag Team Championship: The Enforcers [c] VS United States Tag Team Champions The Patriots

-Larry & Chip start it out. It doesn't go well for Larry. Arn gets in, and it doesn't get any better for him. Todd Champion gets in, and AA quickly turns the tide. Arn gets sent outside. Arn tries a piledriver on the floor, but gets backdropped for his troubles. Enforcers try double-teaming, but Champions is able to floor them both with a double clothesine.

Larry slaps Champion across the face then runs. Larry tags Arn on the way by, allowing Arn to grab Champion and hold him for a kick from Larry. Larry hits a swinging neck breaker for two. Champion becomes the face-in-peril, which seems kind of backwards, considering he is the bigger and apparently less adapt at mat wrestling half of his team. Chip gets the hot tag and hits a big slam on AA for two. Chip smashes into Larry right into a AA spinebuster for the pin. Match was pretty good while it lasted, with the Enforcers completely carrying everything, and doing it well.

-We go to ringside with Eric Bischoff dressed as the world's most effeminite vampire. Eric brings out Paul E. and Madusa. Madusa is as tall as Paul and Eric, but her hair gives her a six inch height advantage. Paul bitches about losing his job as a commentator, and says that WCW forgot he has a manager's license. Paul says he wants to bankrupt WCW, and the way to do that is destroy their heroes. Paul says he's starting at the top; Sting. Paul says he told Madusa to find the man who can eliminate Sting, and he is the WCW Halloween Phantom. Paul brings out the Phantom, who unmasks as Rick Rude. Rude wonders aloud if Sting is as small as he looks on TV. So begins the Dangerous Alliance.

-JR presents a video of Ron Simmons going to the campus of Florida State University to train for the World title match. Ron does a bunch of football drills as more music I remember from NFL Primetime plays.

-Match 6 for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Lex Luger [c] (w/Harley Race & Mr. Hughes) VS Ron Simmons (w/Dusty Rhodes) [2 out of 3 Falls]

-Maybe Dustin could have won the TV title if his dad wasn't too busy latching on to Simmons.

-FIRST FALL: Slow start. Simmons misses a dropkick, and Luger goes to work. JR mentions that Luger call his piledriver the "Attitude Adjustment". Simmons lands a big clothesline and a powerslam, then follows up with a spine buster for a quick pin to go up 1-0.

-SECOND FALL: Nice touch as Luger stays slumped in his corner between falls, and gingerly gets to his feet. Simmons counters a suplex with one of his own, and goes to work on Luger's back. Simmons gets two off a bulldog. Simmons gets a small package for two. Simmon keeps the momentum, getting two off a sunset flip. Luger manages to side step Simmons and send him through the ropes. Luger takes control, and hits a powerslam for two.

Luger holds a rear chinlock for some time. Simmons fights out, avoids a charges, and gets a school boy for two. Simmons gets a backslide for two. Race distracts Simmons, so Dusty goes after Harley. Luger dives at Simmons. Harley holds Simmons' tights so Simmons stays on the mat while Luger goes over, and Nick Patrick DQs Simmons to even the match at 1. I hate the total inconsistency with whether or not that is called.

-THIRD FALL: Luger connects with a cheap shot to start the fall. Luger has been cut around his eye. Simmons Hulks Up and gets two off a clothesline. Simmons hits a superplex for two. They brawl on the outside. Simmons goes for the three point stance, and hits the ring post. Luger finishes with a really shitty Attitude Adjustment to retain 2-1.

Match was OK, but it didn't look like Simmons was quite ready to be a main event guy despite the Jesus Push he was apparently getting at the time. Tony calls it "one of the greatest matches of all time", but I will respectfully disagree.

-JR & Tony recap the main event and the angle with Paul E. and Rick Rude.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Can't really comment on the show as a whole since half the matches are missing, but the home release was nothing special. The opener sucked, and Austin/Dustin was disappointing. Everything else was decent, if unmemorable.

NWA/WCW Big Event Project #43: Clash of the Champions XVI

-9/5/91

-From Augusta, GA

-Hosts are JR & Tony Schiavone. Tony's comb over is...something.

-Eric Bischoff is with Paul E. and Missy Hyatt. Missy is going to get an interview with WCW Champion Lex Luger, while Paul will interview his next challenger; Ron Simmons.

-Match 1: Georgia Brawl Battle Royale: The Z Man VS Thomas Rich VS Bobby Eaton VS Ranger Ross VS Tracey Smothers VS Oz VS PN News VS Buddy Lee Parker VS Television Champion Steve Austin (w/Lady Blossom) VS Dustin Rhodes VS Terrence Taylor VS Big Josh VS Barry Windham VS One Man Gang VS El Gigante

-WCW is quite thrilled about there being OVER 5,000 POUNDS IN THE RING. Rich has joined the York Foundation. Zenk & Josh are wearing title belts, but what they are is not mentioned in their ring introductions.

Gigante gets Taylor in a choke lift, but doesn't toss him. He does the same to Parker, who walks the top rope. News' "Yo Baby Yo" tights are truly hideous. Austin & Eaton fight on the apron, but neither are eliminated. JR gets a shot in on the Atlanta Braves, which I'm sure Ted Turner appreciated. Josh, Taylor, & Ross are eliminated at the same time. We miss Rich's eliminated. Parker is eliminated, then we miss Zenk's elimination as Gigante beats on everyone he can get his hands on. Austin ducks a clothesline and eliminates Smothers.

Eaton is whipped into OMG, who throws Eaton onto the ramp to eliminate him. News charges OMG, but misses and goes out. Windham & Austin eliminate each other, then fight some more on the floor. Final four are Oz, Gang, Dustin, & Gigante. Oz & Gang work together, and eliminate Dustin. Gigante then takes them both out with a double clothesline to win it. This was really boring and went way too long.

-Match 2: Light Heavyweight Championship Tournament Semi-Final: Badstreet (w/The Fabulous Freebirds) VS Brian Pillman

-Randy Anderson kicks the Freebirds out before the match starts. Badstreet controls the early going until Pillman gets a flying headscissors followed by a victory roll for two. Pillman gets a springboard sunset flip for two. Badstreet suplexes Pillman off the apron, to the floor. Badstreet kicks Pillman off the apron, onto the guardrail. They fight on the apron, and Badstreet uses Pillman's tights to send him back first into the ring post. Pillman comes back with a slingshot shoulder block for two.

Badstreet hits a neck breaker for two. Badstreet goes up, but Pillman dropkicks him to the floor, and follows up with a suicide dive, almost knocking himself out on the guardrail in the process. Pillman goes for a missile dropkick, and Badstreet throws a dropkick as Pillman comes down, and they both miss. Pillman hits a spinning heel kick for two. Badstreet hits a DDT for two. Badstreet counters a crucifix with a Samoan drop. Badstreet sets up for a superplex, but Pillman fights it off, and hits a flying crossbody for the pin. Really good match with action pretty much from bell to bell.

-WCW TOP TEN:
10. Bobby Eaton
9. Z Man
8. Diamond Studd
7. One Man Gang
6. Dustin Rhodes
5. Steve Austin
4. El Gigante
3. Barry Windham
2. Ron Simmons
1. Sting

-Match 3: Johnny B. Badd (w/Teddy Long) VS United States Champion Sting

-Video shows Sting opening a box and getting jumped by Abdullah the Butcher. Really fast start. Sting misses two moves off the top, and Badd gets a sunset flip off the top for two. Match slows to a crawl as they trade arm locks. Badd no-sells a suplex. Awkward moment as Badd falls down on an Irish Whip attempt. Sting misses a Stinger Splash, and Badd hits a big body punch. Badd focuses on the big box that is at ringside. Sting simply rolls Badd up with a small package for the pin and Badd's first loss. Just as Fonzie counts three, Cactus Jack rushes into the ring and lays out Sting. Cactus hits his elbow smash to the outside, and finishes Sting off with a double-arm DDT. A couple wrestlers run out to help Sting, and Jack bails. Match started out good, but they lost their way before the finish. Really crappy way for Badd to take his first loss. The Cactus Jack beatdown was pretty good though.

-Match 4: Light Heavyweight Championship Tournament Semi-Final: Mike Graham VS Richard Morton (w/Alexandra York)

-Winner faces Pillman at Halloween Havoc. One lone fan chants "Rock and Roll!". Morton gets a rolling Boston Crab, but Graham counters, which sets off a roll up reversal sequence before Graham shoves Morton down, and Morton bails to conference with York and the computer. Morton gets to the second rope, but Graham takes him down with a German suplex for two. Graham locks in a quick figure 4, but Morton grabs the ropes.

Morton uses a couple hair pulls to gain the advantage and work on Graham's arm. Morton hit a reverse atomic drop, but misses an elbow drop. York distracts the ref, and Graham gets a visual fall. Morton sends Graham into the turnbuckle, and gets the pin with a school boy and a pull of the tights. Match was technically fine, but not particularly exciting. The finish was way too contrived. Graham is a pretty decent wrestler, but his look is 100% jobber, and he has no charisma to speak of.

-JR pimps the new edition of WCW Magazine. JR & Tony point out all the records Bill Kazmaier has.

-Uncle Eric brings out Kazmaier, as he tries to set another record. Kazmaier attempts to bend a steel rod around his neck and make it a closed circle. Naturally, Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyzsko, who will face Bill and Rick Steiner for the WCW tag titles later, hit Kazmaier with a weight to lay him out.

-Match 5: United States Tag Team Champions The Fabulous Freebirds VS The Patriots (Todd Champion & Firebreaker Chip)

-I love the idea of "WCW Special Forces". Like Champion and Chip are traveling the world and fighting wars to raise the flag of WCW. JR mentions that these two teams will wrestle again for the titles on Saturday Night. WHY DON'T YOU MAKE THE MATCH AT THE BIGGER SHOW THE TITLE MATCH?!

As per the Freebirds tag match manual, Chip dominates both of them to start the match off. Garvin's perm and mustache combination is a thing of beauty. Champion gets in and tosses both Freebirds around. Patriots completely dominate the match until Hayes drops an elbow on Chip behind the referee's back, and Garvin gets the pin off that. Not much here, and the finish was weak sauce.

-To make matters even better, a graphic after the match advertises Freebirds VS York Foundation for the following Saturday.

-Paul E. interviews Cactus Jack. Paul asks Jack who's behind everything, and Jack asks the fans to applaud for Sting, as Sting had a great career. Jack says it makes him smile knowing that Sting's career is over because of him. Another big box is brought to ringside. Jack and Paul assume it's Abby, and Jack goes to the box to give Abby "a big Cactus Jack hug", so naturally it's Sting in the box. Sting goes crazy on Cactus. Cactus fights back by hitting Sting with a garbage can, and they brawl as we go to another commercial break.

-We see the ceremony for the retirement of Ron Simmons' number at Florida State. FSU coach Bobby Bowden (clearly reading off cue cards), wishes Ron good luck in his world title match.

-Match 6: The Diamond Studd VS Ron Simmons

-No DDP tonight. Studd jumps Simmons' before the bell, but Ron quickly turns the tide. Studd counters a leap frog with a chokeslam. Don't think I've seen that before. Studd hits a bulldog off the second turnbuckle, but makes an arrogant cover, which gets reversed for two. Simmons crotches Studd on the ring post. Simmons finishes quickly with a spine buster and three point stance shoulder block. Not bad.

-Paul E. interviews Simmons. Simmons says he's the man to beat Luger, which brings out Harley Race & Mr. Hughes. Simmons says he's tired of seeing them, and leaves to go find Lex.

-Match 7: Terrence Taylor (w/Alexandra York) VS Van Hammer

-This is Hammer's WCW debut. Taylor whacks Hammer with the computer before the bell, but it does nothing. Hammer does a dance that gets the crowd to do the "We Will Rock You" beat, and finishes with...a flying knee to the back. OK then. Crowd was rally into Van Hammer here.

-Missy goes to interview Lex, but is interrupted by Ron Simmons. Simmons tries to get at Luger, but is held back.

-Match 8 for the Television Championship: Steve Austin [c] (w/Lady Blossom) VS The Z Man

-JR mentions that Zenk, Big Josh, & Dustin Rhodes are the 6 man champions, explaining the title belts from earlier. Mat wrestling for the first few minutes. They trade head and arm locks. Zenk hits a super kick and a back drop, causing Austin to take a powder. Zenk misses a cross body off the top. Austin hits the Stun Gun, but doesn't make the cover, allowing Zenk to get a small package for two. Zenk locks in a sleeper. Austin gets to the ropes, and Lady Blossom hands Austin some brass knuckles, which he uses to KO Zenk and retain. Match was pretty boring until the missed cross body.

-Lex Luger isn't ready for the contract signing, conveniently allowing WCW time to air a couple videos of Ron Simmons working with a children's club in Atlanta. Man, they really tried laying it on thick with Ron.

-Luger, very insincerely, applauds Simmons for his community service. Luger offers Simmons a job as his driver after Luger retains the title, which sets Simmons off. Luger and company get out of dodge ASAP.

-Video recaps the road Rick/Kazmaier and The Enforcers (AA, Zbyszko) took to the finals of the WCW tag title tournament.

-Match 9 for the vacant WCW World Tag Team Championship: The Enforcers VS Rick Steiner & Bill Kazmaier

-Titles were vacated after an injury to Scott Steiner. Enforcers are lead to the ring by Ras Al Ghul's ninjas from BATMAN BEGINS. Rick tries to fight off both Enforcers, but it doesn't work too well for him. Everytime Rick gets a move in, they cut him off. Kazmaier tags himself in. Kazmaier gets Larry in a gorilla press, but AA punches him in the injured ribs, and Larry gets the pin for the titles. Really short for a main event.

-JR & Tony interview the new champions. AA says they proved the biggest, strongest boats can't move without any wind. Larry finishes up, and we're out of here.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Not much here. Pillman/Badstreet was really good, and the angle between Cactus and Sting was good, and if you like Ron Simmons, this show featured WCW giving him a blowjob whenever he was mentioned.

NWA/WCW Big Event Project #42: Great American Bash '91

-7/14/91

-From Baltimore, MD

-Opening video puts us in the perspective of some random dude who walks into the arena and buys two tickets for the show. This is all set to music I remember from ESPN's NFL Primetime.

-Hosts are JR & Tony

-Match 1: PN News & Bobby Eaton VS WCW Television Champion Steve Austin (w/Lady Blossom) & Terrence Taylor ["Skywalkers II" Scaffold Match]

-Terrible choice for the opener. Tony openly questions why Austin, especially as a title holder, would risk his career in this match. Two ways to win: toss your opponents or capture their flag. Eaton and Taylor look to start, but Taylor says "fuck that", and crawls back and begs Austin to start. Austin lands a couple weak punches, and Eaton comes back with a kick and a modified X-Factor. Heels back Eaton up, but then beg off when News gets in front.

News easily makes it to the heels' section of the scaffold, and fights with Austin. Crowd chants for Eaton while he fights with Taylor on the face side. News lays like a slug while Austin stomps on him. News holds the heels back while Eaton grabs their flag, and walks it across for the win. Austin gets hair spray and blinds the faces, and no one seems to know the match is over. Everyone climbs down, and there's a short skirmish in the ring to at least provide some action here. This was just fucking awful. I can't stand scaffold matches, and this one, with the "capture the flag" rules, took away the one thing anyone would want to watch one of these for: someone falling/getting thrown off the damn thing and getting hurt.

-JR & Tony note that WCW has tried to re-sign Ric Flair, but he turned them down, so it will be Luger VS Barry Windham in a Cage for the vacant World title.

-Eric Bischoff interviews Paul E. and Arn Anderson. Paul says Rick would break Paul in half and shut him up for good if Paul had any other partner than AA. Arn delivers a good promo about how if they're locked in a cage like criminals, then they'll commit a criminal act.

-Tony & JR talk about the World title match, and a couple other matches on the card to kill some time.

-Match 2: The Diamond Studd (w/DDP) VS The Z Man (w/some random women)

-Zenk leaps over the top rope to lay out both the Studd & Page. DDP low-bridges Zenk to turn the tide. Studd throws Zenk into the guardrail. Studd wins a slugfest. Zenk gets a cross-body for two. Studd locks in an abdominal stretch, and uses the ropes for leverage. Zenk gets out, but misses an elbow drop. Studd hits a chokeslam for two, but his arrogant cover gets reversed for two.

Studd pounds away, but Zenk hits a kick to the face to send Studd outside. Zenk sends Studd into the guardrail. Zenk hits a missile dropkick for two, as DDP breaks up the cover by slapping Zenk across the face. Zenk attacks DDP, and gets caught with a belly-to-back suplex for the pin. Match started out hot, but died a painful death when Studd took control.

-JR & Tony preview the next match.

-Match 3: Oz (w/The Great Wizard) VS Ron Simmons

-Very slow start. Oz hits the one big move Nash had at the time: the big boot. It takes Simmons three tries to clothesline Oz over the top, but the crowd explodes when he finally does. Oz controls a test-of-strength, but Simmons escapes, and manages to throw Oz. Simmons misses a dropkick to allow Oz to regain the advantage. Oz hits a side slam for two. Simmons hits a couple low tackles, then finishes with a flying shoulder tackle. Ugh. Early Kevin Nash is NOT good. Not good at all.

-JR & Tony preview the exploding of the Rock 'N' Roll Express.

-WCW TOP TEN (w/NFL Primetime music):
10. Johnny B. Badd
9. Ron Simmons
8. The Diamond Studd
7. El Gigante
6. Arn Anderson 5
5. Bobby Eaton
4. Steve Austin
3. Sting
2. Barry Windham
1. Lex Luger

-Match 4: Robert Gibson VS Richard Morton (w/Alexandra York)

-The fight starts on the entrance ramp. Gibson controls the first couple minutes. Morton keeps stalling to frustrate Gibson. Morton goes after Gibson's previously injured knee. Morton rips at Gibson's tights to expose the knee. Small "Morton Sucks" chant breaks out as Morton continues to work the injured knee, and eventually applies a Figure 4. Morton keeps methodicaly working over the knee.

Gibson fights back, but gets cut off so Morton can work the leg some more. JR notes that he was expecting an entirely different match. Gibson hits a DDT out of nowhere to wake up the crowd. Morton goes back to work on the knee. Gibson manages to toss Morton off the top, and hit an enziguiri. They fight on the entrance way, and both go for a dropkick at the same time and miss. York distracts the ref, and Morton KO's Gibson with the computer for the win. Psychologically sound for the most part, but this was way too long if it was going to be 90% Morton working the knee. The knee didn't even play into the finish after all of that. This was like the first Michaels/Jannetty match or the first match between the Hardys, in that what the crowd wanted and expected and what they got were two entirely different things.

-Eric Bischoff is with the Young Pistols & Dustin Rhodes. Dustin tries to channel his dad a little bit, but it doesn't sound natural, no pun intended.

-Match 5: WCW 6 Man & United States Tag Team Champions The Freebirds & Badstreet (w/Big Daddy Dink) VS The Young Pistols & Dustin Rhodes [Elimination Match]

-FIRST FALL: "Freebirds Suck" chant to start. Dustin mocks Hayes' moonwalk. Dustin hits slams and elbows on all three members of the Freebirds' team. Freebirds stall. Some Freebirds fans chant "Dustin Sucks". Match speeds up for a few seconds, and the faces clean house. Freebirds stall for so long Tony wonder why Smothers doesn't clobber them from behind. Brad makes a blind tag, and sits on the top turnbuckle for an eternity before he nails Badstreet with a flying clothesline off the top. Freebirds cross Smothers up, and Badstreet low-brideges him.

Badstreet and Dink work Smothers over on the outside. Back in, Hayes locks in a sleeper on Smothers. Freebirds slowly work over Smothers. Smothers gets a sunset flip on Badstreet for two. Hayes hits a big left hand and struts. Smothers blocks a DDT and tags in Armstrong. Match breaks down. Armstrong tries to unmask Badstreet, but ends up taking a spectacularly fucked up double DDT from Badstreet and Hayes for the pin.

-SECOND FALL: Smothers charges Hayes and gets backdropped over the top. Randy Anderson DQ's Hayes for that. Haven't seen that one called in a while. Hayes rightfully complains that all he did was duck.

-THIRD FALL: Smothers gets pounded on. Smothers makes the tag, but Anderson doesn't see it, and Garvin and Badstreet finish Smothers with a much smoother double DDT.

-FOURTH FALL: Dustin immediately pins Garvin after a big clothesline.

-FIFTH FALL: Badstreet gets the advantages, but Dustin manages to punch Badstreet as he comes off the top, and hit a flying clothesline. Dink distracts the ref, so that only gets two. Dustin quickly hits a bulldog on Badstreet and a dropkick on Dink at the same time to win the match. Finish was hot, but that first fall was way too long for what they were trying to accomplish.

-Match 6: The Yellow Dog (w/Man's Best Friend) VS Johnny B. Badd (w/Teddy Long) [If Dog loses, he must unmask.]

-JR & Tony note that the speculation is that Dog is Brian Pillman. A fan holds up a sign for Badd, which JR jokes that he hopes the fans parents don't see. Dog calls Badd "Johnny B. Gay", which JR notes does not represent the opinion of WCW, then leads fans in a "cigarette" chant. Pillman lands a nice dropkick and a STIFF chop to send Badd outside. Dog gets a crucifix into a sunset flip for two. Teddy picks a bad time to conference with Badd, and Dog dropkicks Badd in the back, sending him into Teddy.

Badd wins a chop exchange. Dog misses a cross-body. Badd comes off the top with a sunset flip for two. Badd hits a high knee, but Dog avoids a left-handed punch, and hits a German suplex. Dog hits a spinning heel kick. Dog hits a cross-body from the top, but Teddy runs in for the DQ. Teddy tries to unmask Dog and gets laid out, but Badd then lays Dog out with a left hand. Match was getting good before the finish.

-Eric Bischoff goes into Missy Hyatt's locker room for an interview. Eric's good buddy Jason Hervey sends Missy some flowers and a card. Eric gets real excited when he hears the shower running and goes in. Missy freaks out when she sees him, and throws stuff at Eric until he leaves.

-Match 7: Big Josh (w/country girls) VS Blackblood [Lumberjack Match]

-Blackblood is announced as being from "a little town in France". Blackblood gets the early jump, and tosses Josh outside on the heel side, where they beat Josh up, then the face side, where they don't. Josh fights back and hits a dropkick. Josh sends Blackblood over to the heel side, where they let Blackblood rest. Blackblood regains control and knocks Josh out on the face side. The faces let Josh rest, which pisses off the heels. Blackblood works Josh over as the lumbjerjacks brawl.

Josh takes control as the fight outside subsides. Josh runs into a boot from Blackblood, and the lumberjack fight re-ignites. Blackblood grabs the ax, but Dustin Rhodes hits Blackblood in the knee with Josh's axe handled, and Josh gets a small package for the win. This was pretty crappy.

-Eric Bischoff interviews Kevin Sullivan and the One Man Gang, who look appropriately dressed for an Alice Cooper. Sullivan tells a story about him and Gang meeting a woman with a third eye.

-Match 8: One Man Gang (w/Kevin Sullivan) VS El Gigante (w/little men)

-OMG avoids a charge and hits a flying clothesline, that knocks Gigante to his knees. OMG hits Gigante with a wrench. OMG slowly works Gigante over, and Sullivan adds a couple cheap shots. 747 splash only gets two for OMG. OMG goes up, but gets tossed. Sullivan tries to give OMG powder, but Gigante kicks the powder into OMG's face, and finishes with a clothesline from behind. This sucked, but that's no surprise.

-Video recap of the Sting/Koloff feud.

-Match 9: Nikita Koloff VS Sting [Russian Chain Match]

-Sting immediately takes Koloff outside. Sting manages to get to two corners before Nikita breaks his momentum. Sting pulls Koloff shoulder-first into the ring post. Nikita chokes Sting with the chain. Sting uses the chain to low-blow Nikita, which the crowd loves. Nikita drags Sting by the collar around his wrist to three corners, before Sting breaks the momentum with a kick to the gut. They hit two corners simultaneously, then give each other Flair uppercuts. They rush to hit corner three at the same time. Koloff prevents Sting from getting to corner four, and hits the Russian Sickle. Sting dives at Koloff, knocking both men into the fourth corner. Since Nikita was on the inside, he touched the corner first for the win. A regular match could have been good, but this got bogged down by the gimmick, and by ignoring the rules about breaking the momentum when it was convenient for the finish. Sting bashes Koloff's nuts with the chain one more time before leaving.

-JR & Tony, then a video package, preview the World title match.

-The cage is still being set up. "WE WANT FLAIR!..."

-Match 10 for the Vacant WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Barry Windham VS WCW United States Champion Lex Luger [Cage Match]

-Since Flair is still in possession of the Big Gold, the "World title belt" is another belt with a cheap and ugly name plate slapped on it that says "World Champion". That's pretty terrible. "WE WANT FLAIR! WE WANT FLAIR! WE WANT FLAIR!"

Very slow start. These two seem as disinterested in this match as the crowd is. Lex blocks a kick, and hits an atomic drop. They trade sleepers. Lex hits a DDT for two. Windham tosses Luger off the top, and drops a knee to Luger's face for two. Windham goes up, but misses the big elbow, as the crowd forgets to chant for Flair for a little bit. Luger hits a series of clotheslines for two. Luger gets Windham in the Torture Rack, but Windham fights out, and hits a belly-to-back suplex.

Windham fights off a superplex, and hits a flying clothesline for two. Windham hits an awkward missile dropkick for two. Harley Race & Mr. Hughes come down to the ring. Hughes distracts Windham, while Race tells Luger that "now's the time". Luger clobbers Windham from behind, and wins the title with a piledriver. The crowd actually pops a bit for the finish. Luger leaves with Race & Hughes, as the crowd can't seem to figure out that this is a heel turn. Match started off bad, got good, then ended with a weak sauce finish and an un-needed heel turn by Luger.

-Match 11: Paul E. Dangerously & Arn Anderson VS WCW World Tag Team Champion Steiner & Missy Hyatt [Cage Match]

-Dick Slater & Dick Murdoch kidnap Missy before she gets to the ring. Rick catches AA in mid-air with a slam. Rick picks up AA, but Paul actually hits Rick from behind. Paul gives AA one of Paul's boots, but Rick nails AA as he comes off the top. Rick destroys Paul, pinning him with a clothesline. What a main event.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Absolutely awful show, especially booking wise. The matches were mostly bad, and even the ones that looked to be getting good were hampered by either a sudden finish, bad booking, or both. Boring wrestling + horrible booking = one of the worst shows I have ever seen.

NWA/WCW Big Event Project #41: Clash of the Champions XV

Clash of the Champions XV 6/14/91
-6/14/91

-From Knoxville, TN

-Hosts are JR & Tony Schiavone

-Missy Hyatt opens the show, welcoming us to Knoxville, USA. Paul E. Dangerously interrupts, asking why no one told him we were live. Paul throws it to JR & Tony.

-Match 1: WCW United States Tag Team Champions The Fabulous Freebirds & Badstreet (w/DDP, a Diamond Doll, & Big Daddy Dink) VS The Young Pistols & The Z Man
-As usual with the Freebirds, the face team dominates the opening couple minutes. The 'Birds manages to cross Tracy up, and send him over the top. Freebirds whip Badstreet into the face team's corner, and he knocks Armstrong & Zenk off the apron. Twice the Freebirds send all three babyfaces outside, but they take time to celebrate, and get caught with three simultaneous sunset flips for a triple pin. Short and sweet, and the finish was cute.

-Great American Bash sweepstakes commercial featuring Ric Flair. Man, things must be going great for Ric in WCW. I don't see anything bad happening in the near future. Nope, nothing at all.

-Match 2: Oz [Kevin Nash] (w/The Great Wizard) VS Johnny Rich
-Oz's entrance is interesting, and his pre-match attire is...something. Rich falls right on his head and neck off a clothesline. Nash finishes the squash with a helicopter slam.

-Hype video for PN News.

-Match 3: Dan Spivey VS Big Josh
-They trade punches and no-selling of those punches, until Spivey goes to the eyes. Josh gets a double-leg takedown, and pounds on Spivey. Spivey gets an arm drag, but Josh counters a suplex with one of his own. Spivey misses an avalanche, and Josh hits a nice belly-to-back suplex. Kevin Sullivan walks out, and breaks a crutch over the back of Josh (which Nick Patrick clearly sees). Spivey catches the distracted Josh with a German suplex for the pin. This was not good.

-WCW TOP TEN:
10. Stunning Steve Austin
9. One Man Gang
8. Barry Windham
7. Arn Anderson
6. Sting
5. Nikita Koloff
4. Bobby Eaton
3. El Gigante
2. The Great Muta
1. Lex Luger

-Paul E. is in the Danger Zone with Jason Hervey. Paul does the old gimmick of asking questions, and not giving time for Hervey to answer them. Hervey says he's dating Missy Hyatt. Paul says his dad is a lawyer and good at pre-nuptual agreements. Paul asks Hervey if he and Missy are in love. Hervey doesn't answer, instead he wants to ask Paul how it felt to get his butt kicked by a woman. Paul asks Hervey if everything in his life is new (like his car and his house), then why is his girlfriend "used merchandise". Hervey gets upset and ends the interview, and Paul responds by KO'ing Hervey with the cell phone.

-Match 4: Dustin Rhodes VS Terrance Taylor (w/Alexandra York & Mr. Hughes)
-JR & Tony note that the York Foundation has signed a new member, to be announced later tonight. Shoving match leads to a Rhodes near-fall. Dustin hits both a regular and inverted atomic drop, but misses a charge and rams his shoulder into the ring post. Taylor hits a knee drop for two. Taylor hits a sit-out gutwrench powerbomb for two. Dustin gets a sunset flip for two. Dustin gets a backslide for two. Dustin flips, flops, and flies. Dustin hits an elbow drop for two.

Dustin hits the bulldog, but Hughes has the ref distracted. Ricky Morton rushes out. Hughes hits Dustin in the back, for the DQ, and Morton stomps on him, showing himself to be the newest member of the York Foundation. Big Josh makes the save with his axe handle.

-Johnny B. Badd hype video. It makes him look irritating as hell, so I guess it was effective.

-Video recaps Nikita Koloff interfering in the tag title match at SuperBrawl, and Sting going after Nikita backstage.

-Match 5: Nikita Koloff VS Sting
-Sting sprints to the ring, but Nikita catches him as Sting gets caught up in the ropes. Nikita works Sting over, but stops to talk trash. Sting hits a piledriver, which Nikita no-sells, and goes back on offense. Nikita hits a tombstone...for two. Nikita completely overwhelms Sting, hitting a back breaker for two. Koloff slowly works Sting over. Sting gets a couple shots in, but Koloff shuts him down. Sting starts to slowly Hulk up, and eventually counters a whip into the guardrail with one of his own.

Sting counters a tombstone with one of his own. Sting fires up, but misses a Stinger splash. Koloff misses the Russian Sickle, and Sting school boys him for the pin. Pretty disappointing match, actually. Koloff's slow offense didn't do much for the match, and the Sting comeback could have gone longer, or been his first comeback out of two or three.

-Tony brings out PN News (w/Salt 'N' Peppa). Before the interview can really start, Johnny B. Badd comes out with Teddy Long. Teddy tells SnP that both can't be next, but one can be first. Badd calls News ugly. News gives Badd a shove, and Teddy hold Badd back.

-Hype video for The Diamond Studd (Scott Hall).

-Match 6: Arn Anderson & Barry Windham VS El Gigante & Brian Pillman
-The man that loses the fall must leave WCW. Pillman gets a couple near-falls right off the bat on AA. Windham gets in, and spikes Pillman with a DDT for two. AA goes up, but Pillman dropkicks him down to the floor. AA tries to cheap shot Gigante, and almost gets choked out for his troubles. Pillman hits a cross body off Gigante's shoulders onto Windham, but AA makes the save at two. Pillman stupidly goes up from the Horsemen's corner, and AA trips him. Gigante locks the claw on AA outside the ring, but Windham kicks Pillman in the face for the pin. Probably a good thing Gigante never got in, but that was inexcusably short for a Loser Leaves Town match.

-Paul E. previews the Great American Bash tour, with the PPV on 7/14 from Baltimore. Some footage from last year's PPV airs, specifically the finish to Steiners/Freebirds.

-JR & Tony present a video of the Steiners winning the IWGP tag titles at the Japan Supershow.

-Match 7 for the IWGP Tag Team Championship: The Steiner Brothers [c] VS Hiroshi Hase & Masahiro Chono
-Scott and Hase start. Hase catches Scott with an enziguiri to the face. Scott hot shots Hase (say that three times fast) for two. Hase hits Scott with a swank kick to the face, but takes time to gloat, and gets taken down. Chono kicks Rick so hard it breaks Rick's head gear. Steiners try to murder Chono with an overhead back breaker drop/flying elbow combo. Rick casually tosses Hase with a release German suplex. Hase catches Rick with a slam, then holds Rick for a flying shoulder block from Chono.

Chono hits a Samoan drop on Rick, and locks in the STF. Scott suplexes Hase on the floor, then misses when he tries to fly off the top to break up the STF. Scott basically dives on Chono to break the STF. Scott & Hase tag in, and Scott takes Hase over with a tilt-a-whirl slam, then follows up with a Tiger Driver. Scott hits Hase with a belly-to-belly throw off the top, but Chono makes the save at two. Hase hits Scott with a full-nelson suplex, but Rick makes the save at two.

Hase & Chono try to double team the Steiners, but Rick trips up Chono, and Scott catches Hase with the Frankensteiner for the pin. Pretty action-packed match, even if the psychology was pretty non-existant.

-The Hardliners (Dick Murdoch & Dick Slater) run out and destroy everyone, focusing on Rick's arm.

-Match 8: The Diamond Studd (w/DDP) VS Tommy Rich
-Rich doesn't even get an entrance, so he must be pretty low on the totem pole at this point. DDP calls a plant in to disrobe Hall, stating that there's a nationwide search for a "Studette". Studd hits a chokeslam to take control. Studd splash hits knees, but he avoids a cross body, a quickly finishes with the DDD (Diamond Death Drop), a.k.a. the Razor's Edge. Match was nothing.

-JR interviews Ben, the winner of the "Sting Look-Alike Contest", who just so happens to be from Knoxville. Sting comes out to see him, but then is ambushed by Nikita Koloff. Koloff makes moves towards the kid, but is held back by WCW officials.

-The BRUISE CRUISE is coming!

-Match 9: The Great Muta VS WCW United States Champion Lex Luger [Winner gets a World title shot at the Great American Bash]
-Lex no-sells a chop, and hits a belly-to-back suplex for two. Luger hits a slam, but misses an elbow drop. Luger hits a military press slam. Muta hits a kick to the throat, but misses the hand spring elbow, and flies outside over the top. Luger blocks the green mist, and hits a powerslam for the pin. Criminally short.

-Steve Austin hype video.

-Match 10: Stunning Steve Austin (w/Lady Blossom) VS Jumpin' Joey Maggs
-The crack WCW team puts up Maggs' graphic while Austin is on the screen. Austin wins in seconds with the Stun Gun. Well that was brisk.

-Black Blood hype video. Anyone know who that is?

-Richard Morton is officially introduced as the newest member of the York Foundation. Morton says it's the greatest night of his life, because signing the contract means he never has to sign another autograph. Robert Gibson comes out to find out what's going on, and Morton sucker-punches him before hitting a piledriver. Dustin Rhodes rushes out to make sure no further damage is done to Gibson.

-Match 11 for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Ric Flair [c] VS Bobby Eaton [2 out of 3 Falls]
-Flair tries to intimidate Eaton, but it doesn't work. Eaton hits an elbow drop, and Flair bails. Eaton wins a chop/punch exchange, and hits a backdrop for two. Eaton almost gets a pin with a short-arm scissors. Eaton keeps the pressure on Flair's arm. Eaton takes a chop, and responds with a huge right hand. Flair bails, and suckers Eaton into following him outside, then gains the advantage when Eaton rolls back in. Big "Bobby" chant. Flair launches Eaton into the corner, and Eaton's head smacks the ring post. Flair keeps the pressure on, and drops a knee for two.

Flair drops Bobby on his ass with a butterfly suplex. Flair uses the ropes to try to score the pin, but Nick Patrick notices. Eaton wins a slug fest. Eaton slams Flair off the top. Eaton hits a back breaker, and follows up with a neck breaker. Eaton hits the Alabama Jam for the pin to go up 1-0.

Eaton counters a hip toss with a backslide for two. Eaton hits a swinging neck breaker and goes up, but Flair falls into the ropes, and Eaton falls to the floor, hurting his knee. Eaton is counted out to tie the match at 1.

Flair rolls Eaton back in, but Eaton fights back, and hits a superplex for two. Flair hits a teardrop suplex, and apllies a ropes-assisted figure 4. Patrick makes Flair break the hold. Figure 4 attempt is countered with a small package for two. Third figure 4 attempt is successful. Flair uses the ropes for leverage, and Eaton leaves his shoulders down for the pin, and Flair retains 2-1. Really good main event. I reminds me that WWE today is largely missing these types of TV world title defenses these days.

-Flair walks away with the belt, and barring injury or someone getting fired, Flair will defend the title against Lex Luger at the Great American Bash. That should be huge, and I sure hope nothing happens to rob WCW fans of it...

-FINAL THOUGHTS: This show could have been a lot better with some trimming. Eleven matches is just way too many, and some good matches on paper fell way short of their potential because of the lack of time. The main event was really good, but also suffered the same fate.