Deadly Venom: The Best of Sting

[Guest Black Tiger]

This is a WCW release from 1993. I got this when I was ten for helping stack firewood. I have no clue where one would find this bad boy nowadays.

 

Jesse Ventura gives us an introduction to Sting. In a funny bit he calls Sting "The Franchise" wonder if Shane Douglas took any exeption?

 

Recap of the Sting VS Nikita Koloff Feud from 1991. Koloff knocks out Sting a few times with the sickle and makes some kid cry.

 

Match 1. Russian Chain Match Sting VS Nikita Koloff.

 

This is from GAB 1991. JIP as Nikita is using the chain to choke Sting. Sting fights back and Nikita hits the sickle. Nikita touches 3 corners and Sting blocks him from the last one. Sting hits a stinger splash and Nikita touches one. Nikita overpowers him for the next two and Nikita drags him to touch the last one and win the match. Afterwards Sting crotches him for fun. **

 

Recap of the Sting getting presents angle.

 

Match 2. WCW US Title Sting (Champ) VS Ric Rude.

 

Sting's knee is injured and Rude goes right to work on it. Sting can barley stand up. Rude slams it into the post and Tony makes some stupid comment about how hitting the ankle on the post will injure the knee further. Clip as Sting comes back and Paul E. hits him with the phone. Sting attacks Paul E. and Rude clips the knee and covers for a 3 count. **1/2. Sting jobs twice on his own tape.

 

Match 3. WCW World Title Sting VS Lex Luger (Champ)

 

JIP as Sting and Luger are doing chops in the corner. Luger whips him into the ropes and tries a backdrop but Sting jumps and hits a cool looking DDT. Clip (AGAIN!) and Sting has just kicked out of a piledriver. Sting sends Luger into Race and hits a body block for the 3 count. *** Much better, still clipped but still better.

 

Matcah 4. WAR GAMES. Sting's Squadron VS Dangerous Alliance.

 

Windham and Austin start. Clip to Madusa dropping the phone to AA and he knocks out everyone with it. Sting comes in and puts AA in the Scorpian. Koloff and Sting have words and Koloff shoves Sting out of the way of a double team by AA and Austin. Everyone is bleeding like stuck pigs it's too cool. Larry hits Eaton with the turnbuckle by accident and Eaton uncles. **** I'd give it all 5 but it's clipped.

 

Match 5 Falls count anywhere Sting VS Cactus Jack.

 

They start it out right on the ramp. Cactus hits his famous elbow and Jesse mentions that there are no mats in WCW, "It's the C Ment". Sting hits a nice facebuster on the ramp. Jesse notes that this match could go 30 seconds or 30 minutes. Right after he says that Sting hits a clothesline off the top on the ramp for the 3 count. Wow, that kicked ass ***3/4.

 

Clip of Vader breaking Sting's ribs.

 

Match 6. WCW World Title Sting (Champ) VS Vader

 

This is clipped worse than anything. They go from the opening of the match to Sting kicking his ribs a bit to Sting missing the Stinger Splash and hitting the post. Sting can't stand. Powerbomb. That's all. Waste of time for a good match. DUD

 

Sting spins the wheel and makes his deal.

 

Match 7. Sting VS Jake Roberts: Coal Miners Glove.

 

Sting brawls to start as Jesse makes comments about Snakes slithering up poles. Jake almost gets the glove but Sting crotches him on the top rope. Sting gets a running start on the apron and swings around the pol.e to knock down jake and get the glove. Cactus hits the ring and gives Jack his snake and his own glove. Sting hits Jake and pins him as the snake bites him. What sucks here is that on the complete version of the match they say you win by touching you opponent with the glove. Why the hell did Sting pin him? *

 

Match 8: King of Cable Sting VS Vader.

 

JIP as Sting gets a pildriver. Sting hits a nice dropkick and trips Vader. Jesse makes some Ali/Frazier comparason as Vader is hitting Sting and Sting won't go down. Vader goes up top and Sting catches him in the powerslam for the pin. *1/4 They've done better.

 

They skip the skits of the White Castle of Fear and go right to

 

Match 9: Sting VS Vader: Strap match.

 

They take turns whipping each other with the strap. Vader's back is covered in welts. Sting jumps to the top from inside like RVD does and stomps him. On the floor and Sting touches the post and the ref yells "One" but Vader throws him into the guardrail. Back in and Vader's ear is gushing blood. Sting lifts Vader (no small feat) and carries him on his back to 3 corners before he falls. Vader ties Sting up and touches the first two and Sting hangs on to the ropes. Harley Race slaps his hands and Vader touches the third one. Sting dropkicks him into the fourth and Vader touches it to win the match. Not too shabby ***

 

Conclusion. I would have liked to see some Sting VS Muta, Sting VS Flair, and the Sting/Luger VS Steiners match was only for buildup to Sting VS Nikita. I can't reccomend this in good concious. The end has ads for "Rick Rude RAW" and "New Blood on the Block" if they are as good as this one was. I'll take a pass.

[Guest Tony149]

Good review. I bought the tape back in 1996. It must be very hard to find now. All the matches on the tape are good-great when they're shown in full, but the clipping hurts it. The tape is only 30-45 minutes.