WCW 1992 Year in Review - The Year Bill Watts came to town and left his emmmm mark...

[Keith]

I will try and stick at this this time (I might even try to go back and do the 91 reviews!). . But I will be covering WCW on TV and PPV in 92. As much as I can. I will also create my own top ten wrestlers and matches of the year which I will update as I go.. 92 is a big year for me as it was when I started watching WCW regular and maybe wrestling as a whole. WCW in 92 has many highs and lows. Watch this space.

 

[Keith]

WCW - World Championship Wrestling 4/01/92

Host: Jim Ross

We open with highlights of The Dangerous Alliance attacking Marcus Bagwell after the rookie turned down Paul E's offer to join them. Sting comes to the rescue but then is hammered by Rude who hits a Rudeawakening on the stage and nails Sting's leg with a cast.

Dangerously compares Sting to Magnum TA in 1986 Saying TA was at his peak during his US Title run but then had his accident. Paul warns that history could repeat itself for Sting. Rude says Sting has one foot in the grave and one on a banana peel. The US Champ tells Ricky Steamboat to stay away from his woman (Madusa). Steamboat had struck Madusa during a segment a previous week.



Rude rolls over Greg Sawyer in a standard job match.


In the WCW Magazine Bischoff shows highlights of the Christmas Night match where Jushin Liger pinned Flyin' Brian become the new WCW Lightheavyweight Champion.



Larry Zbyszko roughs up Larry Saito getting decent heat and winning the match with a submission. Post-match Zbyszko hits a brainbuster for fair measure.

Terrance Taylor is considering leaving the York Foundation, so him and Alexander O'York have a secret meeting over the weekend. York lets her hair down in a flirting way suggesing she will sleep with Taylor during the meeting.

Terrance Taylor VS. Terry Bronson
Taylor seems off his game and concedes a couple of near falls to the jobber including off a backslide. He refuses to pin him a couple of times before polishing him off with the Five Iron. *1/2

Post-match despite both agreeing the meeting went well Taylor gives York the boot and leaves the York Foundation. In the coming weeks Taylor would form a team with Greg Valentine.

Van Hammer beats Paul Lee in a basic match with a sloppy looking Hammer Jack. Post-match Hammer and Cactus Jack brawl to the back.

Mr. Hughes squashes two jobbers. During the match Hughes hits a nice looking standing dropkick. Hughes has recently formed a team with fellow big man Big Van Vader and their set to feud with The Steiner Brothers.


Main Event - Arn Anderson (W/Paul E. Dangerously) VS. Dustin Rhodes
A nice slow build, with some good logical counter wresting to start. Paul E. screams that Rhodes pulled the hair (he didn't), later Arn did pull the hair to gain the edge. Arn catches Rhodes up top, but Double A's attempted superplex is countered and Dustin hits a nice looking clothesline from the top. Arn uses his experience to roll outside and use as much of the ten count as possible to regroup. Later Rhodes wraps Arn's leg round the ringpost. Dustin dominates the next few minutes, with Arn selling like a boss. Anderson even takes a figure four and is nearly pinned. Anderson trying to fight back on one leg is a great visual. He hits his spinbuster, but struggles to make pin, in the end getting a two. Dangerously hits Dustin with a telephone shot as Arn distracts the ref. Rhodes tastes the ringpost. Anderson blocks a monkey flip, and scores with a top rope double axe handle for a 2 count. A second Paul E. phone shot follows, but Rhodes digs deep to kick out before 3. Rhodes counters a piledriver backdropping Arn on the outside. Rhodes hits a running bulldog, but with the ref distracted by Paul E. Bobby Eaton comes in and nails Rhodes who again kicks out of the following pin. Ricky Steamboat (Rhodes regular tag partner) arrives and tells the ref about the Bobby's interfearance. With everything kicking off, TV time is up, but Ross says the result will be shown tomorrow on the Main Event
***1/2




Champions at the Start of 92
WCW World Champion: Lex Luger
U.S. Champion: Ravishing Rick Rude
Tag Champions: Dustin Rhodes and Ricky Steamboat
Television Champion: "Stunning" Steve Austin
Light Heavyweight Champion: Jushin Thunder Liger
U.S. Tag Team Champions: The Young Pistols


My Top Ten
1. Arn Anderson - 7 points
2. Dustin Rhodes - 6 points
3. Larry Zbyszko - 4 points
4. Mr. Hughes - 4 points
5. Rick Rude - 4 points
6. Terrance Taylor - 3 points
7. Terry Bronson - 3 points
8. Larry Saito - 2 points
9. Van Hammer - 2 points
10. Paul Lee - 2 points

 

[Keith]

WCW Worldwide 4/01/92

Host: Tony Schiavone

Johnny B. Badd VS. Chris Sullivan
Badd has his sights set on Jusin Liger's Lightheavyweight title. He wins quickly with a knockout shot and applies the "kiss that don't miss"



The Steiners polish off Chuck Coats and Dan Pazer with a top rope DDT double team.

Cactus Jack and Mr. Hughes VS. The Patriots
The superheel team of Jack and Hughes do some really solid work in making the useless Patriots look half decent. Highlights include Jack's iconic crazed scream His legdrop off the apron and the heels selling double teams. Hughes hits the knockout elbow drop saving Jack from a possible pin, Jack then scores the pin. **


Main Event - Television Title Match: "Stunning" Steve Austin (C) (W/Paul E. Dangerously) VS. Ron Simmons
On Simmons' comeback from a hand injury he dominates most of the match with a solid power game, decent basic wrestling holds, with a rolling headlock on the mat. Austin picks up the pace with a nice leapfrog, but is caught mid air on the return and dumped across the top rope. The champ turns the tables by attacking Simmon's fist, with a help from Paul E. taking a cheap shot with the phone. Ron gets a two after catching the champ off the ropes with a powerslam. He later hits a spinbuster, but Austin's manager ties up the ref. Bobby Eaton comes in with a legdrop off the top which the ref sees and calls for the DQ. Things end with the likes of Anderson, Rhodes and Windham all getting involved. Leading to next week's main event being signed. A decent comeback for Simmons, but things are about to take a nose dive as he is soon to be teamed with Big Josh **1/2



Terry Taylor says he doesn't need the computer, the York Foundation or the fans. But Terry you were a heel anyway!

My Top Ten
1. Mr. Hughes - 8 Points
2. Arn Anderson - 7 Points
3. Dustin Rhodes - 6 Points
4. Ron Simmons - 6 Points
5. Stunning Steve Austin - 6 points
6. Cactus Jack - 5 Points
7. Larry Zbyszko - 4 Points
8. Rick Rude - 4 Points
9. Scott Steiner - 4 Points
10 . Terrance Terry - 3 Points

 

[Keith]

WCW Main Event 5/01/92



Hosts: Tony Schiavone and Missy Hyatt

Hyatt says both Madusa and Madonna are Missy wannabes

We get the finish of the Rhodes/Anderson match from the previous day's show. Rhodes wins by DQ following more Dangerous Alliance antics.

Arachnaman (Brad Armstrong) VS. Cactus Jack
Arachnaman a rip-off of Spiderman had to be the worse of multiple bad gimmicks given to Brad Armstrong by WCW. Arachnaman's superheros poses and hands teasing a strength was classic camp stuff. These two have a solid tangle, with some sold psychological and back forth. Arachnman controls arm, takes a clothesline off the apron from Jack. The face gets the edge by reversing Jack into the post and hitting a backdrop on the floor. The Superhero scores a two from a flying heatbutt off the top. His rolling credle pin looks good, but Jack makes it to the rope. The madmen face plants Arachnaman and rolls him up for the pin, using the tights just to be sure. **1/2




Marcus Bagwell looking a Elivis knockoff pins Chuck Coates with a fisherman surplex.

Main Event: Van Hammer and Big Joss VS. Stunning Steve Austin and Beautiful Bobby Eaton (W/Madusa)
Big Josh was a terrible character, but Matt Borne himself was solid, Van Hammer on the other hand was the pits. This match is just alright, with some fun heel bumping. Madusa gets involved and mocks "The Hammerheads". It ends with Bobby hitting the Alamabama Jam on Josh as he covers Austin. Austin gets the pin. **

Signed for next week: Hammer VS. Austin for the TV title. Steamboat VS. Eaton



Top Ten
1. Cactus Jack - 11 Points
2. Stunning Steve Austin - 11 Points
3. Mr. Hughes - 8 Points
4. Arn Anderson - 7 Points
5. Dustin Rhodes - 6 Points
6. Ron Simmons - 6 points
7. Beautiful Bobby Eaton - 5 Points
8. Larry Zbyszko - 4 Points
9. Rick Rude - 4 Points
10. Arachnaman - 4 points

 

[Grimoire Lenin]

I personally love 1992 WCW despite the fact it financially was an unmitigated disaster on PPV. That War Games match is still legendary.

 

[Keith]

I personally love 1992 WCW despite the fact it financially was an unmitigated disaster on PPV. That War Games match is still legendary.

Yeah that's my fave ever War Games match. I think what we see with stuff like that is when the talent is left alone to do what their good at they produce gems.

 

[Keith]

Worldwide Wrestling 11/01/92

Flyin' Brian runs over Chuck Coats who looks even more like a homeless guy than last week and gets blown up in two minutes. Its one of the naffest jobber performances I've seen . Pillman gets the pin with a springboard clothesline (which Coats was barely in position for). *


Paul E. and Madusa hype up the six man main event. Madusa seems to be wearing German national stripes. Dangerously's comment about Simmons being "from the hood" has dated badly...

Larry Zbyszko (W/Madusa) VS. Terry Bronson
Bronson was the one who gave Terry Taylor a few scares last week, but Larry crunched him! A shoulderbreaker sets up a armbar submission. We get another post-match brainbuster and a STRETCHER JOB!!!. Madusa is on fire at ringside giving shit to the cameraman and saying she's got a better ass than Missy. She's wearing a hot leatherjacket too. .



Van Hammer and Big Josh VS. Jim Boss and Jack Savage
The only things to report here are that they are teasing a Big Josh heel turn. If anything Van Hammer should be turned because of his rock star persona, and real life primadona attitude. Also Hammer didn't screw up his Hammer Rocks finish



Mr. Hughes squashes Rick Ryder and Larry Santo. Hughes still looks boss.

Six Man Main Event: The Dangerous Alliance (Beautiful Bobby Eaton, Arn Anderson and Stunning Steve Austin) (W/Paul E. Dangerously) VS. Ron Simmons, Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat and Dustin Rhodes
Things get off to a fast start with Bobby's crisp swinging neckbreaker on the Dragon. Arn is tag in and tosses Steamboat, the face lands on his feet and hits a reverse karate kick on Double A before taking out all three heels with hit and run shots. Arn shots on Steamboat look real stiff. Their interactions are the highlight of the match. The match sells the feud between Rhodes/Steamboat and Bobby/Arn over the tag straps. In a beautiful sequence Steamboat dives on his own partner to save him from the blow. Another old school moment is when Arn rams Dustin into Bobby. The faces dominate most of the first part of the match. Heyman losing his shit and screaming on the telephone at ringside is good shit! The heels take over with quick tags in and out. Rhodes gets a small package on Austin for two, but the TV Champ bources up and hits a stiff looking clothesline for a near fall. As Rhodes is double teamed outside Streamboat loses it and goes after Arn, but this exposes Rhodes for a posting. Dustin finally makes the hot tag after hitting heads with Arn. Before long all six are in the ring and are brawling. In the confusion Simmons hits the match winning spinbuster on Eaton. Post-match Windham and Zbyszko join the war. ***1/2


WCW This Week: Young Pistols interview. Tracy claims the Steiners are washed up as a team and makes a OJ Simpson reference... He also uses some crappy metaphor involving a Cabbage. Basically even as heels the Pistols still suck.

Updated Top Ten

1. Stunning Steve Austin - 17 points
2. Arn Anderson - 14 Points
3. Dustin Rhodes - 12 Points
4. Ron Simmons - 11 Points
5. Cactus Jack - 11 Points
6. Beautiful Bobby Eaton - 11 Points
7. Mr. Hughes - 11 Points
8. Ricky Steamboat - 8 points
9. Larry Zbyszko - 7 Points
10. Rick Rude - 4 Points


Steamboat jumps into the top ten after a cracking performance in the six man. No surprise the points are close at the top with a bunch of guys involved in the Dangerous Alliance-Sting's Friends feud all up there. Austin tops the list following 3 good performances already this year. Cactus Jack and Mr. Hughes are the early wildcards

 

[Keith]

Beautiful Bobby (W/Madusa) VS. Ricky Steamboat (from The Main Event, Jan 12)

Missy makes some crack about Madusa being like ET which doesn't really make sense . This is a really sound wrestling match, with intense an intense performance from Steamboat who at this point in the early 92 was still world class IMO. The Dragon catches Bobby off guard wrapping his karete belt around his neck. Steamboat takes it to the mat with a chinlock, when the pace quickers he catches Eaton in a smart flying headscissors before returning to basics. Bobby slowly finds his groove reversing Steamboat into the buckle, shooting him outside where the former NWA champ takes a ringpost shot. Bobby smartly breaks the ten count. Back inside the Dragon hits a weak looking sunset flip which isn't enough to hold Eaton down. Madusa earns her money at ringside by covering for Bobby when he puts his feet on the rope on an hammerlock, she tells the ref she moved the ropes. Eaton hits his sweet swinging neckbreaker, but misses with a top rope elbow drop. A dazed Steamboat is a bit rash coming off the second rope and is caught with boots. Bobby grabs a handful of tights on a rollup, but the ref catches him, allowing Steamboat to reverse it for the win. Post-match Madusa aims a kick at Steamboat but is caught. Austin comes out, him and Bobby double team the face, but Windham makes the save leading to another brawl. ***.




Big Josh won a squash match and Steve Austin retained the TV belt against Van Hammer on the same show.

Soon Clash of the Champions 18.

 

[Keith]

Clash of the Champions 18 (XVIII)

Date: January 21, 1992

Setting: Kansas ExpoCentre, Topeka, Kansas

Attendance: 5, 500

Announcers: Jim Ross & Tony Schivone (Jesse Ventura joins for the main event)



Vader and Mr. Hughes (W/Harley Race) VS. The Steiner Brothers
Vader wears his awesome harmet. JR claims that the Steiner Brothers won the tag belts from Arn and Bobby on a house show. But if you notice later in the same show they claim that Arn and Bobby won the belts recently, and since their actually wearing them that seems to be true. This is a high energy opener which was never going to be the longest match, but is exciting while it lasts. Scott dominates Hughes in the opening minutes with a sitdown fireman's carry, and belly to belly surplex. In an impressive looking sequence both Steiners leap off the top nailing the heels with clothesline. Vader comes back with a back surplex on Rick and gorrilla press. The Dogface Gremlin takes a post shot outside, but Vader is knocked off the top by younger brother Scott and Rick scores with a belly to belly off the top. Scott gets the hot tag and gets a two count. Vader turns the tables with a good looking powerslam catching Steiner off the ropes. The heels take over, but Hughes misses Steiner on the middle rope instead hitting his nuts. . We saw get a brawl with all 4 in the ring. Vader charges at Rick who moves and instead Hughes takes the blow. Vader powers Scott over the top to the floor. With Vader also outside Rick catches Hughes from behind with a messy looking top rope bulldog for the win. Seeing these teams is a nice novelity. It was a good choice to open the show and get the fans into the action early. ***

The Taylor Made Man & Tracy Smothers VS. Flyin' Brian and Marcus Bagwell
Another pretty solid match. But doesn't Taylor look a prat with his ponytail. The faces both get shots at him in the corner. Pillman's quickness is too much, until Taylor counters a flying headscissors with decent tilt to whirl backbreaker . Pillman hits back with air Pillman catching the ex-York Foundation member off guard. Him and Bagwell then hit stereo dropkicks and crossbody dives to the floor on the heels. Taylor gets a two on Bagwell after a chinbreaker, but is off on a dive off top as Bagwell gets knees up. Taylor saves Smothers from a Pillman pin after a spinning karete kick. The heels double team Pillman. Taylor hits his gut wretch powerbomb for a two count. Bagwell goes for a sunset flip on Smothers, Taylor holds onto his partners hand stopping him from going over, but Pillman breaks the contact with a dropkick Smothers falls back and Bagwell gets the pin. A solid match which probably didn't do much for any of the four in it. **1/2



Richard Morton VS. Johnny B. Badd
Throw away match. The ex-Rock 'N' Roll Express star is just like any other wrestler. Badd at least stands out in his flashy rainbow outfit. Badd reverses a Morton crossbody and gets his feet tangled in the ropes for a sloppy looking 3 finish
*1/2

Eric Bischoff talks to Badd and Pillman about the Light Heavyweight Division and their prospects of challenging Champion Jushin "Thunder" Liger at Superbrawl. Easy E screws up saying Pillman was in six man action earlier. Badd is all light hearted and plants the "kiss that don't miss" on Eric. Pillman is much more serious, heeling it up, the former Champion goes into a political rant about Japanese industry taking over American businesses. He decks Badd to end the segment. It would be Pillman VS. Liger in a rematch at Superbrawl.

PN News VS. Diamond Dallas Page
In the up and down career of DDP jobbing to the god awful News must be one of the low points. The Rapmaster was voted
WCW Magazine Rookie of the Year!. Page mostly has to bump about for News' awful power moves including a butt bump before being polished off with The Rapmaster splash. *.


New WCW Senior Exc K Allen Frey is introduced to the crowd. Frey looks like a pencil neck geek who is regional manager of a MacDonald's store. Frey says there will be will be a WCW Title defence at Superbrawl 2 on Feb 29th. He brings out special guest Jesse "The Body" Ventura to make the announcement. This is Jesse's WCW debut and he is in fine form hyping up the company calling WCW "The wrestling of the future" and also saying he will be at Superbrawl to announce the show. I was such a mark for Jesse in WCW as a kid. It was announced that Sting would challenge his former best friend Lex Luger for the title at Superbrawl. The Stinger comes out to a big pop.



Cactus Jack VS. Van Hammer - Falls Count Anywhere Match
Months before Jack would face Sting in a more high profile version of this match WCW roll it out with him and Van Hammer. And its actually an entertaining match, mostly because of Jack, the gimmick working around Hammer's sloppy ring work, and also a so silly its enertaining finish. Jack once again puts his body online, pupulling him and Hammer to the floor on a clothesline. The rookie strikes the ringpost and Jack rapes the back with added primal screams. A sunset flip on the concrete gets two, but the wildman probably took more out of himself. The two brawl on the ramp. Jack hits a jawbreaker to counter a Van Hammer move. But the rocker comes back with a powerslam on the ramp for two. Hammer dumps Jack off the ramp to the concrete and hits a good looking flying clothesline for two. The two brawl to the back and outside. On the live broadcast they cut to a break!

They fight outside into a barn with a horse in there. Missy is out there on a spot!. She screams at Randy Anderson to do something... Things take a turn when a mystery cowboy shows up with a shovel?!!!



It's revealed that the Cowboy is Abdullah "The Butcher" who has a big beef with Jack. He aims the shovel at Jack but instead nails Hammer, allowing Cactus to get the pin. This made no sense since Jack and Abdullah are both heels and Hammer's a face. Was it some weird way to protect Hammer. It was so goofy I loved it. The brawl goes on post match and to top things off Missy gets dumped in some water. **1/2



"The New Freebirds" VS. Big Josh and Brad Armstrong
More filler. Its the same Freebird lineup of Hayes and Garvin the only change is their new look... The Birds hit a double DDT for the win in a nothing match. *

Thomas Rich VS. Vinnie Vegas
Rich had a cup of coffee as NWA Champ in 81. Here he looks like a second rate Barry Windham. WCW debuts Kevin Nash's latest gimmick a Vegas conman in shades and bright pink and black suit. Vinnie tricks Rich at the start, its a con! The bigman quickly puts Rich away with his finisher "The Snakeeyes". Its not Nash's worse WCW gimmick, but its still a bomb.



Six Man Tag Match: Dustin Rhodes, Barry Windham and Ron Simmons VS. Arn Anderson, Beautiful Bobby Eaton and Larry "The Crutcher" Zbyszko
Bobby hits his smooth swinging neckbreaker on Windham, and gets a superplex, but Windham bounces up and nails a hard flying clothesline. He then scores with his own Superplex (normally his finisher), but Arn makes the save on the pin. We get a triple figure four spot from the faces on all three Dangerous Alliance members. Larry and Simmons lock up in a test of strength, Arn tries to help his partner out but Simmons does a reverse flip over the top of them and tosses them over. Eaton bumps like a pro for Rhodes taking a tumble over the top to the floor. Windham and Zbyszko who hate each other go at it and take a sick bump over the top rope. Dangerously gets his standard telephone shot in on Dustin. Arn scores with his spinbuster for a hot two count. Double A then telegraphs a double foot shot as he dives off the second rope. Arn fires back with a DDT and makes a much needed tag to Eaton. A sweet Bobby elbow drop off the top gets two and an half. Windham finally tags in and takes on all three with flying clotheslines. All hell breaks loose, in all the confusion Windham catches Bobby coming off the top nails him with the cast for the win. This is actually murky. Does Barry still need that cast or is it just there to be a weapon?... ***1/2

A Passionate Windham cuts a great post-match promo.




Jesse joins Ross for the Main Event. I like this team. Ross was said to be jealous of the money Ventura was getting and for that reason was unprofessional working with him, but later owned up to this.

Ravishing Rick Rude and Stunning Steve Austin VS. Sting and Ricky Steamboat
Ross flags up that these are the top four rated wrestlers in the top ten which is neat. Austin and Steamboat start the match with back and fourth blows. These two always had good chemistry. The Dragon out quicks Austin and nails a karete kick, then scores a two from a backslide. Another two comes off a inside cradle. The heels take a break on the outside of the ring. Rude slaps Sting to get his attention. Sting tags in and Rude backs off. The Stinger builds up with atomic drops and running clotheslines. The former US Champ rapes the current's champ's back which has the Body pissed. Sting then locks a camel clutch on. The face team then make a couple of illegal switches which the ref does nothing about. Rude blocks Sting with knees to the nuts. The US champ tags in the TV champ and the heels control the action for the next couple of minutes. Rude nails the Dragon to stop Sting tagging. Dragon gets hot tag and takes on both. He gets a victory roll on Austin, with the ref tied up by Sting, Rude breaks up the pin. All four end up in the ring. The finish comes when Sting hits a top rope crossbody onto Austin and Steamboat and we get both Sting and Steamboat both pinning Austin. Post match Rude hits two Rudeawakenings on Steamboat. Things break loose and Dangerously starts wracking security guys with his telephone. ****



A few days later on WCW Pro The Steiners beat Vade and Mr. Hughes in a rematch. This was a shorter match which wasn't as good. Hughes did the job to a Rick Steiner Steiner line. **

 

[GARBAGE]

I haven't started reading too much of this thread yet (and only saw its existence now) but I absolutely ADORE 1992 WCW. It has many hiccups, mismanagements, conflicts in philosophies, and some rubbish matches like Rude vs. Chono or Sting vs. Jake, both from Halloween Havoc, but the overall constantly great work is why I eyeballed it in the first place, and why I came to love eyeballing it. Legit, I would maybe put ten workers that year over anybody in the WWF at the same time. I once made a top 100 WCW matches list a decade ago with a bunch of other hooligans, and on my own 100 I think I had like 26 matches from 1992 alone (that Arn/Dustin was pretty high on it, I've always been a HUGE fan). If I had to rank my favourite "things" about wrestling ever, the Dangerous Alliance might crack a single digit number. In fact it was a 12 disc DA compilation that made me initially fall in love with the year. I could type like 20 more paragraphs and that's just on stuff I haven't watched in like 10 years.

 

[Keith]

Top Ten (Updated)

1. Stunning Steve Austin - 22 Points
2. Beautiful Bobby Eaton - 21 Points
3. Arn Anderson - 20 Points
4. Dustin Rhodes - 19 Points
5. Ricky Steamboat - 19 Points
6. Ron Simmons - 15 Points
7. Mr. Hughes - 14 Points
8. Cactus Jack - 11 Points
9. Larry Zbyszko - 11 Points
10. Flyin' Brain Pillman - 9 Points

With the Dangerous Alliance-Sting & Friends feud playing a key part at the Clash of Champions Main Events and typically polished performances from the likes of Austin, Eaton, Rhodes, Steamboat and Anderson no surprise to see them riding high in the rankings. Flying Brian breaks into the top ten for the first time. It would be a big year for Pillman. Its worth saying having only seen Sting once and Rick Rude twice they are both below the top ten, but as the year progresses and they appear in big PPV matches that may change. Barry Windham is just below the top ten. Weirdly Van Hammer has shot up after Cactus Jack brought the best out of him at the Clash.

 

[Keith]

World Championship Wrestling February 1st 1992

The WCW Top Ten for that weekend is: 10. Taylor Made Man 9. Abdullah the Butcher 8. Big Van Vader 7. Cactus Jack 6. Dustin Rhodes 5. Ron Simmons 4. Ricky Steamboat 3. Stunning Steve Austin 2. Sting 1. Ravishing Rick Rude

Arn Anderson and Beautiful Bobby (W/Paul E. Dangerously) VS. Flyin' Brian Pillman and Mike Graham
Graham gets the edge on Arn after a criss cross and hooks a good looking abdominal stretch. Arn escapes quickly but is then caught in an armdrag. A second criss cross leads to Graham making a blind tag, and Pillman coming in with a top rope clothesline for a near full. Anderson argues if there was a tag and takes a time out. Bobby tags in but then takes two headscissors, two drop kicks and a armdrag into an armbar. We get a back and forth and a test of strength. In a neat spot Pillman climbs up Bobby and dives onto Arm taking out his knee. Double A sells knee (is it a trick?), he tags in. Pillman counters tilt to whirl slam with headscissors. Graham in and goes for Arns legs. The face is double teamed in the heels corner, his comeback is stopped by a Double A thumb to the eye. Graham comes back again, he tags Pillman, but ref didn't see it. Pillman gets dropkicks on both Arn and Bobby. Graham hooks Arn in a figure four, but the ref is distracted putting Pillman out, allowing Bobby to hit his top rope legdrop and Arn to get the pin. This was smart booking as it protected Pillman the top contender for the Light Heavyweight title. **1/2



Luger and Sting hype their Superbrawl Main Event in the WCW magazine. Lex's promo is sleep inducing like he's stuck in 1985. Steamboat and Rude also hype their U.S. title match at the big PPV.

Mr. Hughes and Vinnie Vegas (W/Harley Race) VS. "Jumping" Joey Maggs & Brad Armstrong
The face team barely get any enfence in and Armstrong takes most of the punishment (someone in the office must really hate him ). Vegas looks half decent dropping Brad across the top rope, hitting a side drop and elbow drop. Hughes acting cool after blocking sunset is funny!. The Bodyguard straddles himself on the middle rope, allowing Meggs to tag in. Hughes catches him with a powerslam and Vinnie finishes him off with the Snake Eyes. Post match Vinnie talks poker terms. *1/2


Marcus Bagwell runs through Mark Kyle in a standard Bagwell job match *
Post-match The Taylor Made Man cuts the Rookie off in an interview. Taylor brags about going to London to get a flashy new suit

Sting runs through Mike Samples.

WCW Television Title: Stunning Steve Austin (C) (W/Paul E. Dangerously) VS. Barry Windham
These two have one hell of a feud of the TV title. The story of this short match is Austin comes in with an injuried leg which Windham targets. Austin gets on top on the outside, running Windham into the gaurdrail and then the steps. The champ then tries to unwrap the bandage from Barry's hand, Windham fires back and wraps Austin's leg round the ringpost. He stays on the leg, driving all his weight down. As Windham controls the match Paul E. screams on the telephone. Windham hooks on a figure four, then has to fight off Dangerously, other DA memeber hit the ring leading to a DQ. The Steiners and other faces make the save. **

Rick Rude VS. The Z-Man
Rude opens with some mindgames, shaking Z-Man's hand then breaking cleanly. A Z-Man crossbody scores a two count. The Cruiserweight then hits two drop kicks and an armdrag. The pair engage in a test of strength, Rude gets the edge with a hair pull. Z-Man reverses into a hammerlock. The US Champ takes a time out, then pounds his foe with a backdrop and hard clothesline. Rude then locks on a camel clutch. Getting more cocky he poses and screams into the camera at Steamboat. Zenk goes for a comeback, but is distracted by Paul E. and then dropped across the guard rail. A sunset flip back inside doesn't look too convincing and only gets two. A Rude chinlock is counter by Zenk's jawbreaker, Rude catches Z-Man off the top places him in a bearhug, then hits a stun gun followed by the Rudeawakening for the win. One of Zenk's better singles matches. **1/2



Updated Top Ten

1. Arn Anderson - 25 Points
2. Beautiful Bobby Eaton - 25 Points
3. Stunning Steve Austin - 25 Points
4. Dustin Rhodes - 19 Points
5. Ricky Steamboat - 19 Points
6. Mr. Hughes - 17 Points
7. Ron Simmons - 15 Points
8. Flyin' Brian Pillman - 14 Points
9. Rick Rude - 14 Points
10. Barry Windham - 11 Points

Check out that heel gangbang in the top three!. Rude and Windham crash into the top ten stacking strong claims. Who would have thought Mr. Hughes would be in my top ten of the year a month in?...

 

[Keith]

WCW Main Event 16th February 16th 1992

Sting, Ricky Steamboat & Marcus Bagwell VS. Rick Rude, Stunning Steve Austin and Bobby Eaton

Rude and Steamboat start. Steamboat gets the upper hand, nipping up on Rude hair pulls, even rapeing the face before taking control of the arm (a solid game plan which the face team would keep up). The pair exchange blows, they hit the ropes, the Dragon slides through Rude's legs and scores with an atomic drop. Bagwell tags in and hits an axe handle off the top across Rude's arm. The rookie gets trapped in the heel corner allowing Bobby to tag in. The Elivis lookalike stays on top with a slam, with Sting karating chopping Eaton in both ears. Austin sees his first action, but is met coming in with a Bagwell armdrag. Sting tags in, at first Austin gets the best of him with a couple of shoulder blocks. Sting fires back with hip tosses. The takes on both Bobby and Austin, dodging a double clothesline and knocking both down with clotheslines. Sting mocks Rude, and the Ravishing One is chomping at the bit to get in. The heels including Paul E grab onto Rude and talk him into staying put. The crowd are really getting into the match Steamboat back in, but he takes an Austin backdrop and clothesline. Eaton tags in and gets a 1 and a 2 count from each backbreaker. A typically good swinging neckbreaker (Steamboat telegraphed it too much), Rude in. The Dragon tags Sting, but the ref is caught up in the heel corner so doesn't see it. The crowd really want to see Sting back in. The heels gang up on the Dragon. Rude hits the forearm off the top, but is caught out posing with a Steamboat rollup, Bobby makes the save. The TV champ tags back in, him and Steamboat butt heads. The fans chart "We Want Sting" They get Bagwell instead!. Bagwell takes on all three heels, all six men end up in the ring. Bagwell goes for the pin on Austin, but with the ref destracted Bobby hits the Alabama Jam allowing Austin to get the pin. This match shows just how over Sting was, the appeal of the Dangerous Alliance feud (and them as a stable), and just how out of his depth Bagwell was. ***


In the WCW Magazine Bischoff hypes up Superbrawl 2. Its revealed that Steamboat has hired a Ninja as his bodyguard for the match with Rude.


Also that Dangerously has been banned from ringside for the match. Jesse Vantura hypes up his appearance at the PPV and the Light Heavyweight title rematch between Jushin Liger and Brian Pillman. Bischoff runs down the card two weeks out. He's no Mean Gene but does a solid job anyway. Looking at the full PPV card its clear that WCW has a very strong top main event picture, a decent tag division, but a midcard and undercard filled with too many useless jobbers or outdated cartoonish characters. Some of the talent are capable, but have the wrong spot or characters to showcase that.

P.N. News smashes some jobber (this is one time I'm not complaining that the match is edited on youtube).

In The Ross Report, Paul E. slams WCW for banning him from ringside for the US Title match at Superbrawl, but says they have a backup plan. Rude insists he remains focus and claims Steamboat will be less focus because of his wife and kid bugging him


Missy plugs her exclusive scoops on the hotline (GET YOUR MINDS OUT OF THE GUTTER!!)


U.S. Tag Title Main Event: Ron Simmons & Big Josh VS. The Young Pistols (C)
For what it is this match is solid enough. The champs do lots of stalling early on. Tracy does some nice crowd working including trying to get the fans to cheer for him. Simmons takes out both Pistols with clotheslines before tagging in Josh. The future Doink "the Clown" press slams Smothers, but is caught taking too long on the log roll (foot stomps) and double team by Smothers and Armstrong. Tracy scores with a nice karate superkick, but then is caught up top with a Josh drop kick. Simmons tags back in, power slams Tracy, but then is tripped coming off the ropes by Steve. Simmons gets sunset flips and a small package, but only gets two on both when the ref is caught out of position thanks to the Pistols. Tracy grounds the All American. The champs double team again, Tracy hits his splash in the corner, but Steve is off target, leading to Josh getting tagged in. All four go at it. Simmons hits his spinebuster setting Steve up for Big Josh's Northern Exposure. This double team isn't as smooth as it should be, but it gets them the win and U.S. Tag belts. For Josh this is probably a step up. I wouldn't want to be the wise ass who reminds Ron that he was in the World Title main event just 4 months before this.... . **



Updated Top Ten

1. Beautiful Bobby Eaton - 30 Points
2. Stunning Steve Austin - 30 Points
3. Arn Anderson - 25 Points
4. Ricky Steamboat - 24 Points
5. Dustin Rhodes - 19 Points
6. Rick Rude - 19 Points
7. Ron Simmons - 19 Points
8. Mr. Hughes - 17 Points
9. Flyin' Brian Pillman - 14 Points
10. Sting - 14 Points

The Dangerous Alliance stronghold on the top ten doesn't let up. Eaton and Austin are neck to neck at the top after consistant performances in the six man. The U.S. Champ Rick Rude jumps up to 6th and with some big matches to come could be a contender for the top spot soon. Not surprislingly Sting's friends feature strongly. For the first time Sting himself hits the top ten. With a World Title shot coming up at Superbrawl big things might be on again for the Stinger. Ron Simmons jumps up two spots carrying on a solid start to 92.

 

[BigVanDonnie]

MR HUGHES.

Love these reviews, dude.

Also, please don't slander the good name Vinnie Vegas

 

[Keith]

MR HUGHES.

Love these reviews, dude.

Also, please don't slander the good name Vinnie Vegas

Thank-you! Hey I guess by Nash standards Vegas counts as a good gimmick