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

[Keith]

WCW Worldwide Wrestling May 16, 1992 (Wrestlewar weekend)

Taylor Made Man and Greg Valentine VS. Scott Allen and Danny Posten
Valentine dominates the jobbers, with a buttefly surplex, and gut wretch slam. He teases the figure four but instead tags Taylor for the easy pin as the Hammer takes out other job guy.

Fabulous Freebirds VS. Diamond Dallas Page and Richard Morton
Props to Tony for pointing out that Morton is a 4 time World Tag champ. This is bog standard stuff, the heels get hardly any offense in before Hayes pins Morton with a DDT. The Birds are ready for their US Tag title shot at Wrestlewar. **




In the WCW Magazine Bischoff looks at the history of Sting's War Games team and The Dangerous Alliance, starting with the injuring of Windham's hand and the unveiling of Rick Rude as the WCW Masked Phantom




Dustin Rhodes VS. Bobby Eaton (W/Paul E. Dangerously)
Return from last week. They can't wait, the fight starts up the isle as Rhodes hammers Eaton outside. Bobby strikes with a sharp right, but Dustin knocks him down with a stiff shot of his own, before grounding the former tag champ with a hammerlock. Bobby is run back first into the post, and knocked to the floor by a clothesline. Eaton gets a brief comeback with a thumb to the eye, kneeing the Taxan into the guard rail, Rhodes tastes steel a second time, but reverses a whip back inside, scoring with a flying laret and rolling credle which is enough for the pin. Post match the Diamond Studd comes out, Bobby holds Rhodes in place, but the Natural dives out the way and clears the ring of both. Dangerously holds Studd back (he's a smart business man, telling Studd wait for the payday, which of course never comes...). **1/2





Nintendo Top Ten Challenge: Big Van Vader (W/Harley Race) VS. Nikita Koloff (W/Dusty Rhodes)

Rhodes a former NWA Title rival of Race makes a guest appearance in Koloff's corner to even up the odds. Jesse makes a crack about maybe they should have an old timers match. He gets his wish as Dusty runs Race out of ringside with the bionic elbow. Koloff gets caught outside, as Vader dominates early on. This sets Nikita up as the underdog of the match. Clubbing Koloff with big forearms and a clothesline, Vader sends a message to Sting with his own version of the Scorpion Deathlock. Nikita struggles to make the bottom rope. He makes a comeback, blocking a guard rail shot on the outside, nailing the Masterdon with two, back inside he strikes with shots to the head and bodyslams the big man for a big pop and Jesse puts this moment over nicely

Koloff misses a dropkick, but some how kicks out of a Vader splash! Koloff also kicks out from a powerslam after Vader fails to hook the leg. Koloff makes a spirited comeback, hitting a Russian Sickel the momentum of which fires Vader outside. Getting a bit over excited The Russian Nightmare chases Vader outside, the pair brawl back and fourth and are both counted out. This booking makes sense since they want to keep Vader strong for his WCW Title feud with Sting, and Koloff is about to be a big part of War Games. Neither of them really need this tournament. The fight goes up, Vader misses Koloff, hitting the post. Race returns distracting Koloff, giving Vader enough time to recover putting Nikita down with two splashes as Race holds him in position. To quote Jesse, "Where's that big fat Dusty"?. **1/2





We find out that next week there will be two Nintendo Top Ten Challenge matches Austin VS. Simmons and Zbyszko VS. Rhodes. Next time the final WCW Saturday Night before the big PPV.

 

[Keith]

WCW Saturday Night 16 May, 1992

On the final Saturday Night before Wrestlewar JR has two co-hosts, the recently turned babyface Teddy Long and Light Heavyweight Champion Flyin' Brian. Long and Ross talk about Teddy's new outlook on life, and his work in the community. Long is always a charismatic presence, but was more fun as a heel.

The Super Invader (W/Harley Race) VS. Ian Weston and Keno McKenzie
Race's new man under a Japanese style mask and red tights is announced as being "from the land of the rising sun", under the hood is the washed up Hercules Hernandez of Mid-South and WWF fame who at this point has seen much better days. New CEO Bill Watts knows Herc very well. Even in a very short, basic match Race's guy lacks any sense of direction, winning with a pair of lame powerbombs on each job guy.

Larry Zbyszko and Arn Anderson (W/Paul E. Dangerously) VS. Ricky Steamboat and Nikita Koloff

Ross sells the recent friction between Zbyszko and the rest of the Dangerous Alliance. Steamboat and Anderson have some great exchanges early on. The Dragon skins the cat back in, sending Arn the other way to the floor. Ricky grabs sleeper, but the enforcer reverses it and hooks one of his own, but is dumped chin first on the buckle. Steamboat catches the foot, spins Anderson around hitting an atomic drop as both men crack heads. Anderson is caught up top with a dropkick, sending him to the floor, the heels make a blind tag, Koloff also tags in and the faces work over Larry's arm. Arn tastes a face plant from the Dragon, fresh tags are made on both ends, Koloff fends off both heels, before all four end up in the ring. Nikita hits the Russian Sickel, Eaton runs in and hits an axe handle off the top, but is caught by the ref for the DQ. The Dangerous Alliance gang up on Koloff post match, Double A hits a DDT, before Steamboat makes the save with a chair. **1/2

In the WCW Magazine Bischoff gives the final push for the PPV, and War Games. We gets clip of him cornering Steamboat for an interview, while he's on a pay phone . Steamboat says the three women who made claims against him in the Jerry Springer style segment last week were all lying and he is trying to find out who's behind the plot? DDP (remember him!?) makes a random appearance saying he might have the answer?!

Flyin' Brian and Ross are joined by the Z-Man for an interview ahead of Zenk and Pillman's Wrestlewar match. Its mostly them being friendly with each other, with just a hint that Pillman might be playing the heel, claiming cheekily that he was dominate one when he and Zenk teamed

Johnny B. Badd VS. Scotty Flamingo (W/J.T. Southern) - 2 out of 3 falls match

This is a really flat main event. Badd controls most of a sluggish opening fall, but loses it after being rolled up from a headlock, with Scotty grabbing a hand full of tights. Early in fall 2 Badd wins a boxing exchange before hanging Flamingo up by his ankles in a comedy spot. A superplex attempt is blocked, Badd shoots Flamingo off the top and hits a sunset flip to tie things up 1-1. In the deciding fall, Badd gets a number of near falls including from a power slam off the ropes, Flamingo also gets two after a double axe handle from the middle rope. There's some sloppy exchanges leading into the finish, Badd blocks a rollup in the corner but is hit with a lame guitar shot by Southern, to make matters worse we get a delayed sound effect telegraphing just how off target he was. Flamingo steals the deciding fall. IMO Scotty should have won 2 straight falls to give him more momentum going into a future title fend. Badd's push has stunted at this point. Post match the heels team up on the "Bad Man", Zenk makes the save and Pilman helps to clear the ring. **

Post-match Z-Man airs his frustration at the heels always getting in his business. He pisses Pillman off after saying that he would put the title up against those two punks anytime. That would be the title he hasn't actually wrestled for yet, opps!. The former tag partners tease they might get it on before the PPV. This is a heated segment, Pillman and Zenk have good chemistry not surprisingly.

WCW Main Event 17 May 1992 (pre-Wrestlewar show)

Rude and Madusa both put more heat on Steamboat going into the show, the US Champion claiming Steamboat's actions could wreck his home life.

Magnum T.A. who knows Koloff very well still has doubts over whether Sting's team can trust him in The War Games.

In results:

DDP pins The Z-Man. Yep DDP who doesn't even have a match on the PPV and has been jobbing to everyone beats the guy challenging for the Light Heavyweight belt, fuck you 92 WCW!

Badd beats jobber Randy Starr.

Steamboat runs through Fred Avery.

In the main event, Koloff pins Bobby Eaton in a solid match with the Russian Sickel.

Next time its time for War Games!

 

[Keith]

Wrestlewar 1992

Date: May 17, 1992

Setting: Jacksonville Florida (Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum)

Announcers: Jim Ross and Jesse "The Body" Ventura (Schivone and Bishchoff were again co-hosts)

Attendance: 6'000 (roughly)

Bayrate: 105,000 (down quite a bit from Superbrawl which had been better hyped)

Tagline: Destroy or Be Destroyed! One team will stand! One team will fall! In a match so brutal it can happen only once a year.
This was a final time the War Games would be hosted on the Wrestlewar PPV, the following year the event would be renamed Fall Brawl and moved to September (this change would prove a jinx to the War Games as most of them from that point on were different degrees of shite).
In the Dark match DDP and Thomas Rich went over jobbers Bob Cook and Firebreaker Chip (even for a dark match this is scrapping the bottom of the barrel )

US Tag Team Championship: The Taylor Made Man and Greg Valentine (c) VS. The Freebirds
This feud has been hit and miss. The Birds aren't quite gelling as faces, but on this night they got a pretty strong reaction from the crowd and the match itself was solid, lively opener to warm the crowd up. Hayes fights off some stiff blows from the Hammer, catching the foot off the ropes, twisting him around for the atomic drop, followed by a pair of running clotheslines for two. Gavin works over the arm, and despite being faces we see the Birds do the illegal switch a roos. Taylor gets the same treatment, but double, his frantic selling is pretty funny! Just when Taylor thinks he's getting somewhere with a series headbutts Hayes pulls the hair. The heels finally get a break when Taylor shoots Gavin outside, and Valentine drops an elbow off the appron. We then get a Taylor jawbreaker and tag, at this point Gavin gingerly attempts to fight back. Valentine does the 1980s comedy face plant spot after taking a boot. Using his smarts the Hammer cheap shots Hayes to stop the tag, but Gavin then revereses a surplex into one of his own. Hayes gets shots in on both after getting the tag, but a DDT attempt is cut off by a Taylor forearm. The champs dominate the next part of the match, slowing down the pace, and keeping Hayes grounded (the Freebird does some nice selling, and short comebacks). Taylor scores two from a tilt to whirl sitdown powerbomb. Valentine looking blown up and stumbling around gets a figure four, but Gavin makes the save so quickly there's little tension. Haye blocks a series of Taylor turnbuckle shots, each time hitting one of his own, after the third shot he decks the heel with the Hayes right. Gavin tags in and takes on both heels, running them into each other, leading to roll up for a near fall, Tayor kicks him towards Valentine, but Gavin has his wits about him and meets the Hammer with a clotheline, he then ducks a double sledge and hits a double clothesline. Taylor nearly steals the pin when Valentine grabs the leg from the outside, allowing him to hit a knee drop. A minute later Gavin grabs Valentine for the DDT, back dropping Taylor out the way, Hayes nails him for good measure allowing the match winning DDT, new US Tag champs at 16:02. This should have been the end of the feud, but sadly it goes another few matches. Later in an interview with Missy Hyatt, its revealed that Precious (Gavin's real life wife) is back with the Freebirds and they play up her role in the victory, doing the behind every great man there's a great woman thing. In which case it would have made sense for Precious to have been at ringside for the match **1/2



Johnny B. Badd VS. Tracy Smothers
The first of many filler boats. The match never really gets into its groove, Badd is slugglish, Smothers does some great heat seeking work, dominating most of the match with his karate moves, wear down and hit and run tactics. Badd scores the pin at 7:03 with a sloppy top rope sunset flip. **





Scott Flamingo VS. Marcus Bagwell
Another useless outting for Bagwell. The only thing I'm happy about is they had the sense to put the new coming Flamingo over (which makes sense as he would challenge Pillman for the Light Heavyweight belt in the coming month). The attempts at brawling are lame, Bagwell's fisherman surplex so crappy Mr. Perfect most be choking on his beer somewhere. The finish comes when Scotty revereses Bagwell's rollup (with tights) for one of his own (with tights) for the pin at 07:11. *1/2




We then get a trailer for a brand new PPV coming in June Beach Blast



More details this weekend, but Jesse makes a suggestive remark about some of the content being rauchy (he's referring to the Bikini contest to crown the first lady of WCW Between Hyatt and Madusa).

Ron Simmons VS. Mr. Hughes (W/Catcus Jack)
This was originally supposed to be a tag match, with Hughes teaming up with Jack and Simmons with JYD. Before the match Jack attacks Dog coming down the ramp, injuring him, making it a singles match in stead. As far as I know JYD didn't have a real life injury, so this was pure storyline (I can only assume it was a way to put Simmons over stronger since Jack was at ringside also, but it seems pointless killing the JYD comeback story for no reason). Simmons predictably wins in less than 6 minutes with a chop block. *1/2



Super Invader (W/Harley Race) VS. Todd Champion
IT JUST GETS WORSE!!. As if the Super Invader's debut wasn't bad enough this match was a complete comedy of errors with so many blown spots for a match which went just 5:26. At one point Champion had to jump and clothesline himself on the top rope because Invader couldn't get him up The finish was weird too, the heel hit his powerbomb, the ref counted 2, but called for the bell before 3? WTF?!. 1/2




Big Josh VS. Richard Morton
This was one of the better filler bouts, with both men working their asses off and putting together a watchable match. Morton replaced the departing Diamond Studd (Scott Hall left for WWF, but would still appear on a few more pre-recorded WCW shows airing after the PPV). Josh took the win with a seated senton, chances are the result might have been reversed if Studd was still in the match. **





WCW Light Heavyweight Championship: Flyin' Brian Pillman (c) VS. The Z-Man
This might be Zenk's best ever match. The build up had been a bit lacklustre (like the build for most this PPV), but the segment on the Saturday Night show before the PPV convincing and set the table nicely. Jesse does that classic heel annoucer thing of wondering when these two clean cut babyfaces will do the dirty?. The match does have an edge, with Zenk coming off as more the heel and aggression. The early feeling out process sees some sound wresling from both, Pillam working over the leg, Zenk focusing on the back. We see how well they know each other with spots including both drok kicking the other at the same time, the timing is spot on. Zenk reverses a Pillman hip block into a smooth arm drag for two, grounding the champ with a hammerlock. Pillam bounches back with an Indian Deathlock, half a Boston crab and a figure four. Proving that the match has boiled off both take turns in slapping the other during this spot. Since Pillman has the hold it benefits him more as Z-Man weakens and is nearly pinned in the hold. Finally the challenger reverses it, but is quickly reveresed himself as both end up in the ropes.

Z-man scores a dramatic near fall catching his former partner with a power slam in mid-air, the crowd clearly divided pop for this. The Champ also gets a near fall from a crucifix. In a rare blown spot, Zenk hits Pillman with a top rope crossbody, this twists Pillaman around meaning the pin is delayed as Zenk drapes the arm accross for 2. Clearly playing the heel Z-Man showboats a bit too much after sending Brain up in the lights, leading to sloppy unsuccessful cover. After struggling with his knee, Z-Man counters a Pillman top rope move with a superkick for a close two (Pillman smart enough to slide over to the ropes following the move). The finish comes when Zenk misses a top rope drop kick and Pillman quickly rolls both over the top of him for the credle pin. The finish maybe fell a bit flat, but a strong match, easily the best of the night so far. ***1/2



The Steiner Brothers VS. Takayuki Iizuka and Tatsumi Fujinami
This match wasn't for any titles (The Steiners were the WCW Tag champs), but in stead was to decide who would challenge for the IWGP Tag Titles in the future. With this being 92 the US VS. Japan angle was played up much more than it would be today. The teams produced a head hitting, super stiff clinic of surprexes, wear down spots, and violent brawling. The bruised eye of rookie Iizuka proving that some of this was legit. Fujinami impressed the most for the Japanese duo, with some smooth mat wrestling, including a boston crab and STF, him and Iizuka hitting a brutal spike piledriver was one of the spots of the match. They survived a top rope double team bulldog spot, the predictable win came with a Rick belly to belly surplex on Iizuka at 18:17. My only complaints being how one sided the match felt at times (with the Steiners recovering a bit too fast on some spots), and how telegraphed the Steiner's win was. The Brothers would become the IGWP Champs beating the team Big, Bad and Dangerous (Big Van Vader and Bam Bam Bigelow) in Japan at the end of June. ***1/2






The War Games: Sting's Squadron (Sting, Ricky Steamboat, Nikita Koloff, Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes) VS. The Dangerous Alliance (Rick Rude, Stunning Steve Austin, Larry Zbyszko, Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton)
Some much trash to shift through on this PPV, but it was worth it just for this main event. Maybe the greatest War Games in history. Two stacked teams, with plenty riding on the match, with lots of drama and riverly. It was set up perfectly with this being Sting's first time back in the ring since the rib injury at the hands of Vader. Adding to that you had the X-Factor of wheather the faces could trust former Sting rival Nikita Koloff. The moment where Koloff enters the cage, stares down Sting, then helps him fend off the heels, before a hug and big pop from the crowd is gold. There's plenty of blood and big spots throughout, with former TV Champion Austin and new Champion Windham setting the tone perfectly with these crisp exchanges.



Both Windham and Rhodes would do effective juice jobs (when you hold it back for the big match it pays off). Later in the match Madusa shows her worth to the heels, bravely climbing the cage, dropping Paul E's Telephone into the ring for Anderson to make a collect call on Steamboat



Speaking of which The Dragon's intense back and forths with Rude proved there's still spark in that feud. Sting's Gorrilla pressing Rude into the cage is a big moment showing his health. The finish finally comes as the heels appear to be on top, with Zbyszko and Eaton double teaming Sting, Bobby unhooks the turnbuckle, Larry grabs it and takes a swing as Bobby holds Sting, but the WCW Champ dodges the blow, Eaton taking it instead, Sting locks on the arm bar for the match deciding submission at 23:27. Post match Zbyszko is blamed for the finish as the heat on him increases (the original plan was for The Diamond Studd to replace Zbyszko in stable before his depature to WWF). This was the peak of the Dangerous Alliance-Sting feud and proves why Bill Watts was an idiot to pull the plug on the hottest faction in wrestling at the time. *****





PPV Rating: 5.5/10

Coming next Time the Cowboy arrives in WCW, and its time for a new PPV in Beach Blast!

 

[Keith]

WCW Saturday Night 23 May 1992

Missy bounces for excitement looking like she's in a Jane Fonda workout video!!!



She's joined by JR and some no name baseball player Dave Casper? who also hosts MTV's Death match (he looks like if Bobby Eaton was a headmaster) as the hype starts for the NWA Tag Title Tournament which will feature teams from all over the World.



We also get comments from the Ricky Steamboat, Dustin Rhodes and The Dangerous Alliance about the 2 out of 3 falls six man main event.

The Steiner Brothers VS. Richard Morton and Tracy Smothers
A solid but one sided opener. Nice to have the pairing of a former World tag champ Morton (Rock 'N' Roll Express) and Smothers former US Tag Champ (Young Pistols) together. Smothers works the crowd and sells like a Pro as always taking an impressive belly to belly from Scott and a nice looking shoulder breaker from big brother Rick. Morton gets a few brief shots in but is stopped dead in his tracks with the mid-air power slam and stiff Steiner line. Morton and Smothers come back with a double team on Rick, but he fires back with a double clothesline on both after dodging theirs. They try the same tactic on Scott who nails Morton with a double under hook sitdown power bomb, followed by the tilt to whirl on Smothers and the match winning top rope bulldog from Rick. **1/2

Next up DDP is the latest guest for talk show style interview part of the show, but Page has other plans hjacking the segment, instead turning it into what he calls "Down with DDP". This is pretty funny stuff as Page becomes the host and invites Paul E. Dangerously out, but when things don't go quite to plan and Page goes off script all hell breaks loose




The Super Invader smashed through a pair of no name jobbers with a pair of powerbombs. At least this time he didn't screw it up.




Bischoff and Lance Russell run down the first Bracket for the NWA Tag Title Tournament which features The Steiners as the number one seeds, and recent WCW signings Dr. Death Steve Williams and Terry Gordy who's first match in the tourney is against an Aussie team called "O'Days". Russell is a real Pro who has lost none of his spark over the years. Him and Bischoff make for a decent pairing. The tournament concludes at The Great American Bash in July.


Dr. Death Steve Williams and Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy VS. "Jumpin' Joey Maggs and Terry Bronson
The Saturday Night debut of this new monster heel team. They lay their mark down early, charging to the ring and attacking Maggs and Bronson before the bell could ring. The jobbers give them a surprisingly decent match. Gordy nails a pair of smooth swinging neckbreakers for a 2. A nice staked belly to back surplex from Doc on Bronson. Maggs gets the hot tag and gets a couple of shoulder charges into Williams, but is cut off a Gordy hair pull from the outside, Doc then swings him through the air by the hair. Bam Bam shows his agility with a nice standing drop kick. Dr. Death shows his raw power with the beautiful triple backbreaker spot (maintaining contact throughout), a lax cover only gets two. Gordy scores just 2 again this time on Bronson after a running clothesline in the corner. Finally, the newcomers pick up the win with Doc's stampede running powerslam, bouncing Bronson off all 4 corners of the ring, Gordy gets overly excited charging in with a powerslam on Maggs which almost breaks up the count, but they get the win anyway. A super stiff win and impressive debut. **



In get comments from new US Tag Champs The Fabulous Freebirds as they set their sights on the WCW Tag titles. In the WCW Magazine Bisch previews the Falls Count Anywhere match between Sting and Cactus Jack at Beach Blast, by showing footage of a wild brawl between Jack and Van Hammer which ended up in barn with a running commentary by a crazed Missy Hyatt



Taylor Made Man VS. Ron Simmons
Simmon's power game takes over early, spinning Taylor around for an atomic drop, followed by a running clothesline for a 2 count. Showing his quickness The All American leap frogs over Taylor, but a nice back surplex by Taylor turns the tables, as he heelish chokes Simmons on the ropes. Ron almost snatches the win with a sunset flip, but then takes a vintage Taylor jawbreaker. Simmons is off target with a drop kick, in stread scoring with a flying shoulder braker, Terry's tag partner Valentine hits the ring, places his foot on the bottom rope to save the pin. Moments later Simmons run the former US champs into each other, rolling Taylor up for the 3 count, but is then double teamed by the heels. Valentine targeting the knee. Decent enough match. **1/2




We get a cartoony segment where Bischoff tries to get an meeting with the Freebirds at "Freebirds Enterprises" BTW the ditzy secretary keeps answering the phone "Freebird Enterprise" (there's a sign right behind her..). In a series of mishaps he keeps getting passed over, until finally meeting them, they can only spare him a minute, and tell him to book ahead in the future. I don't have any clue what the point of this was or how it makes us like the Birds as faces any more?.

Dustin Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat and Nikita Koloff VS. Bobby Eaton, Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyszko - 2 out of 3 falls

A strong Main event. A slow start with a feeling out process between the Dragon and Eaton, as they exchange headlocks, Bobby rolling Steamboat up from a rolling headlock off the buckle, which was reversed into a pin attempt. Extended headlock spot from Bobby, before he is fired off the ropes, nice leap from spot from Ricky who then hits an atomic drop. A slingshot surplex is countered and Bobby posted onto the opron via a clothesline, no DQ, Steamboat rolls through on a sunset flip and smoothly places Eaton in a boston crab, some good selling from the heel. A slingshot in a the corner and roll up gets Steamboat 2, followed by a sharp armbar. Rhodes works over Larry's arm with arm drags and armbars and hammerlocks.

Steamboat and Anderson both tag in. The Dragon spins Arn around for the atomic drop and he takes shots from all 3 faces, the Dargon chases away Zbyszko and Eaton when they try to interfer. Steamboat makes a blind tag to Koloff and the heels sell the fear so well. Eaton gets a surplex which has no effect on the Russian Nightmare, Koloff flexes his muscles and hits a drop kick before surplexing the Beautiful one back inside, but he allows him to get to his corner and tag in Zbyszko. The heel is reversed into the corner and takes some clubbing blows for a 2 count, but he gets a back surplex and makes a smart tag to Anderson. Double A drops the knee across the chest and gets 2. Larry tags back in, Steamboat makes a blind tag and hits a crossbody off the top rope putting the faces up one fall.

The heels are fighting going into the second fall. An intense Zbyszko grinds away on Streamboat's knuckles on a test of strength, but it is reversed. Anderson tags in and gets caunght in the abdominal stretch Steamboat arm drags Arn and tags in Koloff who also works the arm, he tags in Rhodes. Anderson catches the Natural in the corner with a boot, but is sloppy getting caught up top with a rocket launcher, followed by a figure four. Eaton runs in but Steamboat traps him in a figure four too. Koloff makes up the trio doing the same to Larry, Larry grabs the rope but isn't legal anyway. Anderson escapes his hold, for some reason the baffled ref decides Rhodes and Eaton are the legal men. Eaton takes 3 bionic elbows bouncing off the rope each time, Rhodes knocks him to the floor, but he is caught outside and is posted by Bobby a couple of times, including one on the arm. Anderson and Eaton tag in and out forcusing on Dustin's arm with armbar slams. Eaton gets 2 from a top rope elbow drop, Koloff savges the pin. Dangerously gives Larry the telephone who tosse it to Bobby, but his throw isn't the best, it lands at the foot of Dustin, Larry is saved when Rhodes hits Arn in front of the ref for the DQ. 1-1. Dangerously goes nuts at ringside at the start of fall 3 as the faces work over Bobby's arm. Steamboat and Koloff double team Arn, but Anderson turns the tables with a nice DDT on Steamboat. The Enforcer works on the head, neck and nose of the Dragon ripping off his plaster, Larry also takes shots from outside. Great selling from Steamboat, Eaton tags in a hits a forearm off the top right to the nose. Steamboat takes a swinging neckbreaker and Zbyszko is tagged back in. Swinging neckbreaker but Rhodes saves the pin. Steamboat just kicks out after a shoulder breaker, and gets trapped in the heels corner. Steamboat catches Eaton in a neckbreaker and makes the hot tag to Koloff, Arn also tags in. Back drop from Nikita, he clubs aways on Arn's head in the corner as the fans count. A flying shoulder block, but Larry breaks up the pin. All six end up in the ring, Anderson holds Koloff for Zbyszko, but Larry misses him and instead nails his own partner. Koloff hits a Russian sickel for 3 count and the match winning fall. Once again Larry takes heat from the other Dangerous Alliance members, this could be the end for The Cruncher in the group. ***1/2



We get comments from Brad Armstrong and The Great Muta who will face each other in next week's 2 out of 3 falls main event. Once again the audio is terrible and drowns Ross out as he and Casper sign us off.

 

[Leon TrotSky]

The O'Days were Larry O'Day (long time Australian wrestler who'd been retired for a while since WCW Australia closed) and his son Jeff. Larry really TAKES this back suplex from Gordy in that match

 

[Keith]

The O'Days were Larry O'Day (long time Australian wrestler who'd been retired for a while since WCW Australia closed) and his son Jeff. Larry really TAKES this back suplex from Gordy in that match

Thanks for the background Didn’t know there was a WCW Australia

 

[Leon TrotSky]

Thanks for the background Didn’t know there was a WCW Australia

Completely unrelated promotion to WCW in the US, which even used the name first. Was active in the 1960s and 1970s.

 

[Keith]

WCW Worldwide May 23, 1992

The Taylor Made Man runs through jobber Kenny Kendall in the opener.

The new look team of The Junkyard Dog and Big Josh make easy work of jobber team Randy Starr and Tony Mella. I really feel for Matt Bourne.



Nintendo Top Ten Challenge Quarter-Finals

Stunning Steve Austin (W/Paul E. Dangerously) VS. Ron Simmons

We get a classic test of strength to start the match, Austin uses a low blow to get the edge and steps on Simmon's knuckles. Nice bodyslam, the heel mocks Simmons doing the Simmonian chop to the crowd (this is in Simmon's home state where he played Football), the All American lays in wake, scoops Austin up his by the throat and tosses him into ringside, Dangerously calls for a time out. Back inside Simmons locks in a firm headlock, he counters a Stunning Steve hip-toss with one of his own, but is taken down by the hair. The former Doom member hits the back drop but then is off target with a drop kick. The TV champs works over the back and gets a pair of near falls from a backbreaker and smooth ventical surplex. A lax cover from a back drop doesn’t get the job done either. Simmons catches Austin with a face plant. Austin reverses Simmons into the buckle and hits a back surplex but again only gets two. Simmons hits a loose power slam which isn't enough, his weight crashes down on Austin from a body slam attempt, the heel barely escapes. Dangerously throws in a chair and destracts the ref. Simmons blocks a chair shot and nails Austin, at which point Randy Anderson has turned around and DQ's The All American. **1/2




Larry Zbyszko (W/Madusa) VS. Dustin Rhodes

Madusa looks killer in the cowboy hat, and boots . She makes it work, sod Missy! Larry catches Rhodes on the ropes with his unorthodox reverse karate kicks and a back surplex, ref Bill Alfonso counts 2. Larry desperate to impress goes for quick pins off a bodyslam, and rolling credle, he takes a pop at the ref claiming slow counts. They tussle in the corner, Larry catches Dustin with a boot and hits a smooth swinging neckbreaker for a near fall. Zbyszko grounds the Natural with a chinlock, Rhodes slowly comes back with a boot off the ropes but is off target with an elbow drop and is almost pinned. Dustin hits a pair of bionic elbows, chases Larry around the ring, but is waiting for him coming back in, hits 2 more elbows and a nice flying clothesline for a hot two, he gets the same result from a backslide. They mess up a spot where Dustin goes for a leap frog. Larry jaws with Madusa at ringside. Rhodes gets a small package to steal the win. ***

 

[Keith]

WCW Pro May 23, 1992

The Diamond Studd VS. Dan Beard
WTF is the Studd still doing in WCW?! Those dreams of replacing Larry in the Alliance are now a distance dream . I like the surname of his opponent (because its my surname!). Beard also has Texas Tornado style tassel's on his boots!. Hall wins with no fuss after a choke slam, back surplex off the top and the move which would soon be renamed the Razor's edge. The Razor Ramon era would start before Summerslam in August.



We get a promo from Madusa about the claims that Streamboat has been stalking her. Its a comically bad promo where she is clearly reading from a script as the first lady references films such as Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct and The Seven Year Inch
Madusa looks cool as always. Fair play to WCW on the Basic Instinct one. That came out in 92 and was a box office smash.

In the WCW Magazine Bischoff hypes up Beach Blast and the WCW tag title match between The Steiners and. Doc and Gordy. We get a standard pro-US flagwaving promo from the champs.

Dustin Rhodes VS. Ricky Morton (for the 50th time!)
Morton sends Rhodes for the ride, docks clothesline out on the corner but takes a lariat from the other side. The Natural hits a good looking press slam before dipping into Dusty's playbook with the fast paced jabs. After a time out, Morton grabs a handful of hair and takes Dustin down, the experienced heel ties Rhodes up in an armbar. The heel scores a 2 from an atomic drop. Rhodes is off target with an elbow drop off the ropes as Morton grounds the bigger man once again. Fighting his way back up Rhodes scores a 2 count from a lariat (not the best cover). Dusin catches Ricky with a boot out of the corner and. gets the win with a running bulldog. **





The Freebirds tell kids out there to stay off the juice

Jim Ross interviews The Diamond Studd. Hall says he cost Rhodes the match against Eaton on Worldwide to expose him as a freud. A raspy Hall says, there's only one Studd in WCW and that Rhode's old man is a hasbeen but Dustin is a never was.

US Tag Titles: Greg "the Hammer" Valentine and The Taylor Made Man VS. The Fabulous Freebirds (C)
Garvin gets a quick 2 count on Taylor with a roll up, the champs then focus on the arm as Hayes comes off the top with an axe handle. PS gets a two from a sharp back drop out the corner. Valentine tags in and changes things up with some heavy elbows and reverse chops in the corner. We get the typical Valentine cartoon face drop after missing in the corner. Later the heels double team Garvin in their corner, Hayes comes in to even things up as all four go at it. Garvin hits the sunset flip, but the ref is destracted so just 2 on that one. The heels again double team as the Hammer hits an axe handle off the top, followed by a nice surplex into a throw for a 2 count as Garvin saves himself with a foot on the rope. Taylor telegraphs a second rope sitout splash and is caught with knees. Hayes hits a back drop off the ropes, an atomic drop then pops Taylor with a right and one on Valentine for good measure. Hayes then gets a near fall following a running crossbody off the ropes. We get a weird DQ finish out of no where after Garvin is posted on the outside. I think its decided by the ref that he isn't fit to go on. Why this would be a DQ I don't know, but it could be the start of some of the Bill Watts shit that we would see in the next few months. This feud has gone stale. **



More Beach Blast hype as Bisch discusses the 30 Minute Iron man between Steamboat and Rude. Steamboat says its the hottest issue of the summer, and gets over what a gruelling match it will be. Rude says it will be their last, and that he will prove what the ladies already know than as the night gets longer, Rick Rude gets stronger!

Scotty Flamingo VS. Larry Santo
Flemingo is decked out in street skateboarding wear. Santo is decked out in green and red festive looking tights. Yes he looks like a Christmas tree!
Flemingo will challenge Brian Pillman for the Light Heavyweight belt at Beach Blast. He cruises past the jobber, rapping the back, dodging a Santo flip over the ropes, before the heel hits a tight running elbow in the corner, a clothesline and his palm beach blast piledriver for the 3.

Ross interviews Cactus Jack who talks about his Falls Count Anywhere match with Sting at Beach Blast. Jack says its his time to step out of the spot-light in his own kind of match. He says the title doesn't matter as Sting might not even make it to the PPV with the belt if the likes of Vader and Rhode have anything to say about it. Jack talks about Sting sinking further into the water and maybe ending his career, "BANG BANG"!

Vinnie Vegas and Mr. Hughes VS. Ricky Steamboat and Nikita Koloff
Steamboat and Koloff are starting to strike up a nice partnership ahead of their appearance in the NWA tag team tournament. The heels are sharply dressed at least. The Dragon's quickness comes into play as he dives down out the way of Hughes before hitting a textbook arm drag and hip toss on Vegas (using the big man's own momentum). Hughes hits a running elbow drop on Steamboat, Vegas gets 2 off a clothesline and then slams the face. A sunset flip on Vinne doesn't look too good (because of Nash's bumbling selling), just 2. Ricky goes for a body slam, but the weight is too much as Vegas comes down full weight almost pinning Steamboat, he makes a well timed tag to Koloff. The Russian Nightmare works over Vegas' arms, a soulder tackle and delayed fall from the future Diesel. The heels trap Nikita in their corner. Decent flying soulder tackle on Vegas. Steamboat back in with a nice standing drop kick on Vegas. All four in the ring as the Dragon-Koloff run the heels into each other. The pin attempt is saved after by Hughes after a Dragon chop off the top. A Russian sickel elimates Hughes from the ring, allowing Steamboat to hit the match winning crossbody off the top. A bit sloppy this one, but I did enjoy the new team of the Dragon and Koloff. **



Bischoff promotes the Bikini contest at Beach Blast. Suddenly Madusa's promo from earlier doesn't seem so bad. Missy says there's no point Madusa even taking off her clothes. She claims WCW also stands for WRESTLING'S MOST CLASSY WOMAN"!
She ends by calling Beach Blast, BEACH BRAWL!



More soon...

 

[Leon TrotSky]

Bischoff promotes the Bikini contest at Beach Blast. Suddenly Madusa's promo from earlier doesn't seem so bad. Missy says there's no point Madusa even taking off her clothes. She claims WCW also stands for WRESTLING'S MOST CLASSY WOMAN"!
She ends by calling Beach Blast, BEACH BRAWL!

Maybe she just wants to promote replays of the Herb Abrams show