Rewriting History

[Guest jm29195]

Notes taken from last week in March 1991 Wrestling Obsever Newsletter

 

 

 

Joe 'Road Warrior Animal' Laurinaitis has been said to have been 'pleased' with his efforts to establish younger brother Johnny 'Ace' Laurinaitis as a player in WCW, Jim Ross had been wishing to use the Road Warrior's reputation to make a star for some time, but with the giant egos of the Legion of Doom such a factor, it seemed that family member Ace would be the only choice. Fortunately Ace has risen admirably to the role and has been accepted by the fans as such.

 

In related news, with Ace now ready to branch out as a singles performer, WCW at present has no use for the Road Warriors and also 'Lariat' Stan Hansen, they have returned to NJPW in an effort to continue the talent swap which WCW hopes to take advantage of in the summer months.

 

Management is looking to continue the tradition of the Wargames match, look for it to feature at the Wrestlewar ppv in March.

[Guest jm29195]

Clash of The Champions XV

Knoxville, Tennessee.

March 1991

 

 

- Opening segment, Flair/Steiner the rematch, will be taking place at Wrestlewar, the team that wins tonight’s main event gets to choose the stipulation for this match

 

- Dusty Rhodes is introduced as the new colour commentator along with PBP man Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone

 

- Marc Mero beat Tracy Smothers (5:26) with a legit looking straight punch to the face, the referee stopped the match and awarded the win to Mero by TKO*1/2

 

- Johnny Ace/The Great Muta beat Brian Pillman/Vader (9:56) when Ace pinned Pillman following the Ace Cutter. Ace had saved his partner several times during the match and afterwards challenged Muta to a US title match at the Wrestlewar PPV**1/2

 

- Hiroshi Hase/Masa Chono beat The Rock and Roll Express (6:23) in a virtual squash after Chono pinned Morton with the Yakuza kick.**

 

- It is announced that Hase/Chono will face Luger/Bigelow for the WCW Tag Team Belts at Wrestlewar

 

- Nikita Koloff squashed Brad Armstrong (3:12) following the Russian Sickle. Koloff hit the move again after the match and Sting ran down to make the save. It is announced that Koloff will face Sting at the Wrestlewar PPV

 

- Sid beat Dan Spivey (7:20) following a chokeslam Spivey was stretchered out following the decision½*

 

- The Steiner Bros w/Ricky Steamboat beat Ric Flair/Barry Windham w/Arn Anderson (13:26) when the Brothers hit the body vice/elbow smash combination on Windham. Scott announced that the title match at Wrestlewar will be a catch as can wrestling match, wherein if a wrestle leaves the ring voluntarily, they loose the match. Dr Death and Arn Anderson tied to assuault Scott Steiner from behind but were held off by Steamboat. Big Van Vader ran in and proceeded to dominate, squaring off against Rick Steiner in particular. Sid ran down to help even the sides up. Finally the lights went out and when they came back on, Dustin Rhodes was in the ring. Dustin took the fight to the heels who were forced to retreat. The show ended with The Steiners, Dustin, Sid and Steamboat celebrating in the ring.***3/4

[Guest jm29195]

Wrestlewar 1991

March 1991

Phoenix, Arizona

 

 

- Marc Mero beat Brad Armstrong (7:16) following his KO Punch. After the match, Tracy Smothers attempted a beat down but was also knocked out.*1/2

 

- Ron Simmons beat Butch Reed (6:42) by DQ after Reed hit Simmons with a pipe. Simmons dominated throughout the match and looked to be about to win with the spinebuster, but Reed abandoned the ring, grabbed a pipe from under the announcer’s table and flattened Simmons and the referee.1/2*

 

- Johnny Ace and the Great Muta fought to a time limit draw (20:00) A well matched face/face title match with both men using many reversals. Jim Ross was selling the fact that if Ace did manage to hit the Cutter, he would be the new US Champ. At 19:55 Ace hit the cutter but the time ran out before he could capitalise.***3/4

 

- Nikita Koloff beat Sting (12:34) following the Russian Sickle. Jim Ross sold the result as an upset as Koloff celebrated to major heel heat.***

 

- Scott Steiner beat Ric Flair (14:00) to retain the WCW heavyweight championship after Fair deliberately left the ring and retreated to the back. Flair was dominated throughout the match and only achieved offence by cheating.All the horsemen came out with Flair and beat the shit out of Steiner, leaving the champion lying in a pool of blood.***

 

- Lex Luger/Bam Bam Bigelow beat Hiroshi Hase/Masa Chono (19:52) after Luger pinned Hase off a roll up… Chono/Hase double teamed the tag champs after the match, getting over majorly with the arena crowd as faces in the process.***1/2

 

- Rick Steiner/Sid/Dustin Rhodes/Rick Steamboat faced Barry Windham/Steve Williams/Arn Anderson/Vader in a Wargames match (30:29).The Horsemen team won the coin toss. The opening participants were Steamboat and Williams. Steamboat managed to evade Williams, even busting his face open and enraging his larger opponent by headbutting the wound. Williams barely got any offence in until Vader joined the match. Both the big men absolutely destroyed Steamboat, bloodying him and repeatedly employing cage assisted power moves. Dustin Rhodes entered next to even the field and squared off against Vader in particular. Arn Anderson was next, soon followed by Sid. At one point, Sid chokeslamed Anderson from one ring to the other, and generally was booked as the most dominant man in the match, as by this point Williams and Vader were bloody and fatigued. Windham was the last entry for the Horsemen and took down Sid from behind with a tyre iron assisted chop block. The story from then on was the Horsemen trying to get a leg submission victory from the nearly unconscious Steamboat with repeated tyre iron shots. Finally Rick Steiner entered to a huge ovation and went nuts on the horsemen members with loads of different suplex and slam variations.Steiner won the match he after belly-to-belly suplxexed Anderson into a turnbuckle and then made him submit by putting on a turnbuckle assisted fuijiuwara armbar.*****

[Guest jm29195]

WCW Television Special- Showcase of The Champions 2

(2 Hour Window)

Early April 1991

Atlanta, GA

 

 

- Sting/Ron Simmons beat Nikita Koloff/Butch Reed (9:26) after Sting made Reed submit to the Scorpion Deathlock. Koloff walked out on his partner after the match and was seen heading to the locker room area.***

 

- In a post match interview Sting was attacked by a chain wielding Koloff and left bloodied on the floor.

 

- Hype video for Steve Austin, debuting at The Great American Bash

 

- Hiro Hase/Masa Chono beat The Southern Boys (9:26) in a match that was designed mostly to showcase the NJPW team’s flashy offensive double team moves. After the match Hase and Chono were assaulted by Bam Bam Bigelow and Lex Luger**

 

- Sid beat Barry Windham (6:29) following a chokeslam *

 

- The Great Muta beat Arn Anderson (12:59) following a moonsault. After the match Steve Williams and Terry Gordy assaulted Muta but Johnny Ace and Ricky Steamboat made the save.

 

- Dustin Rhodes beat Cactus Jack w/Kevin Sullivan (9:22) following a bulldog. After the match Jack turned on Sullivan and left him lying after a ddt to the concrete. Dustin was then assaulted by Cactus and Vader .**1/2

 

- Ric Flair squashed Ricky Morton (6:22). Morton submitted to the figure-four. After the match Flair was humiliating Morton in the ring, Scott Steiner made the save, but was again assaulted by the rest of the Horsemen. This time however, Rick Steiner came out to even the odds and the faces cleared the ring.**

 

- The Full Line up for the Great American Bash PPV was announced:-

- Marc Mero vs Brian Pillman

- Steve Austin vs Tom Zenk

- Ron Simmons vs Butch Reed (No DQ)

- Bam Bam Bigelow/Lex Luger vs Masa Chono/Hiro Hase

- Steve Williams vs Ricky Steamboat

- Vader vs Dustin Rhodes

- Sid/Rick Steiner vs Barry Windham/Arn Anderson

- US Champ The Great Muta vs Johnny Ace

- Sting vs Nikita Koloff (Chain Match)

- Ric Flair vs Scott Steiner (Cage Match)

 

- Scott Steiner/Rick Steiner beat Dr Death Steve Williams/Terry Gordy (46:00) after a German Suplex/Lariat combo was performed on Gordy. After the match the remainder of the horsemen ran in and the show was closed with Jim Ross hyping the PPV while the brawl continued****

[Guest jm29195]

Wrestling Observer notes from mid April 1991:-

 

 

Sid, Flair approached by WWF

 

 

WCW main eventers Sid and Ric Flair have both been approached by representatives from the WWF in recent weeks seeking to sign them up for lucrative contracts. Both men are said to have considered the offers and have asked WCW officials if they can match the increased salaries offered by McMahon’s reps. Incidentally both men are supposed to be very satisified with the pushes they are receiving- Sid rarely loses and always looks dominant, and Flair has consistently been in the main event scene for the last decade.

 

 

Austin to debut at Great American Bash

 

 

Texas native Steve (Williams) Austin, highly touted by WCW official Jim Ross, is scheduled to debut at the coming PPV. Austin was originally scheduled to debut at the last Clash, but Ross decided to go with the PPV to provide a better start for Austin’s national career.

 

NJPW has expressed interest in using Johnny Ace, Steve Williams, and Terry Gordy in the future.

 

 

Zenk upset with lack of push.

 

Tom Zenk, once a promising midcard talent in WCW, is said to be upset with the total lack of a push that he has received… management has offered to placate him with a PPV pay off at The Great American Bash, but many of the boys think that they are just setting him up for a fall….

[Guest jm29195]

WCW Great American Bash 1991

Baltimore, Maryland

Late April 1991

 

 

 

- Marc Mero beat Brian Pillman (10:47) following a reversal cradle-roll-up. Pillman had gone through the weeks leading to the Bash saying he had scouted Mero and knew how to counter the KO PUNCH. Mero showed a lot more wrestling-savvy in this (noticeably longer than his normal) match and when Pillman elaborately ducked the KO punch, Mero simply rolled him up with the cradle for the victory. Pillman looked stunned after the match***

 

- Steve Austin beat Tom Zenk (4:32) in a squash match following a delayed sling-shot suplex. A very dominant debut for the proficient and credible looking Austin.*1/2

 

- Ron Simmons beat Butch Reed (4:33) following a spinebuster on a chair. Simmons finally caught up with his ex partner and squashed him accordingly.1/2*

 

- Masa Chono/Hiro Hase beat Lex Luger/Bam Bam Bigelow (9:23) for the WCW Tag Belts. Following miscommunication on the champions part, Hase pushed Luger into Bigelow, as Bigelow was about to perform the moonsault, knocking Bigelow to the outside and Chono polished Luger off with the Yakuza kick. Luger and Bigelow argued after the match.**1/2

 

- Ricky Steamboat beat Dr Death Steve Williams w/Terry Gordy (10:29) following a flying crossbody. A typical cat and mouse match, with Steamboat antagonising the much larger Williams with small bursts of stiff offence and dodging the power moves- Ross put Williams over in a way that if he connected with any of his heavy duty moves the match would be over. After the match Gordy and Williams beat down Steamboat and he had to be stretchered out.***1/2

 

- Vader beat Dustin Rhodes (10:22) following a Vader Bomb. Vader and Dustin fought on an equal footing throughout the match, with Dustin being put over as he took Vader’s nasty looking offence.***

 

- Sid/Rick Steiner beat Barry Windham/Arn Anderson (7:23) when Sid and Steiner scored double pins off a powerbomb and suplex/slam respectively. Basically a showcase for Steiner and Sid’s high energy offence, getting both men further over with the crowd.**

 

- Johnny Ace beat The Great Muta (19:45) with the Ace Cutter to win the US Championship. Another strong technical face/face match with both teasing the time-limit finish of the last match, however Ace countered a spot that Muta had successfully used in the previous match and turned it into the Ace Cutter for the pinfall.****

 

- Sting beat Nikita Koloff (10:23) after Sting touched all 3 corners and stinger splashed Koloff en-route to the third one.***

 

- Scott Steiner Beat Ric Flair (19:54) to retain the WCW World Heavyweight championship in a steel cage match. A very bloody match with Flair utilizing all sorts of cage assisted heelsih tactics. Pinfall occurred when Scott frankensteinered Flair off the third rope and covered for the 3 count.****

[Guest jm29195]

- Notes from The Wrestling Observer May 1991:-

 

 

Officials are apparently very happy with the 1991 PPVs and how they have played out. Ric Flair in particular has recieved heaps of praise for putting over Scott Steiner so profesionally whilst still remaining a top level threat himself. Still no word on those WWF negotiations though, although if televised pushes are anything to go by, then Flair and indeed Sid are both in for the long haul.

 

Tom Zenk has walked out of WCW in disgust at his character misuse through the previous year.

 

The Great Muta has been asked to practice his English interview skills in preperation for an interview at the next Clash

 

Ricky Steamboat has been given some time off to heal up, don't expect him to return until the autumn (Fall) events

 

Management is also very happy with the Japanese team of Masa Chono and Hiro Hase, many critics thought it would be impossible to get a Japanese star over as a babyface, but since Muta changed that perception, he has opened the gates of oppurtunity for other Japanese talents.

 

Expect Terry Gordy and Steve Williams to Work a NJPW tour soon after the Halloween Havoc PPV

[Guest jm29195]

Notable WCW Television results between Great American Bash 1991 and Clash of The Champions XVI

 

 

WCW Saturday Night week one:-

 

 

Tournament for the new WCW Television Title announced- opening matches will follow next week:-

 

 

WCW Saturday Night week two:-

 

 

Marc Mero beat Nikita Koloff (7:23) following the KO Punch**

Larry Zbysko (debutant) beat Cactus Jack (12:29) following a Guillotine Choke With Scissors (The Cruncher) **1/2 Zbysko was acknowledged as a former AWA Champion and a crafty veteran by the announcers.

 

 

WCW Saturday Night week three:-

 

Steve Austin beat Ron Simmons (9:28) following a delayed sling shot suplex **

Brian Pillman beat Tracy Smothers (11:11) following the pillmanizer. After the match the other two Southern Boys (Brad and Scott Armstrong) turned on Smothers and kicked him out of the group.***

 

 

It was announced that the semi- finals for the WCW TV title tournament will occur at Clash of The Champions XVI

[Rendclaw 0]

This is awesome! Keep it going!

[Guest Frank_Nabbit]

-wrong place -

 

 

 

BTW I failed in my mission to locate my Fantasy booking notebooks.

[ryankeast 0]

Well done mate - keep up the good work.

[Guest jm29195]

Clash of The Champions XVI

August 1991

Augusta, GA

 

 

 

 

 

- Tracy Smothers beat Scott Armstrong (6:23) with the Jaw Jacker (flying back elbow drop) After the match Smothers challenged Brad Armstrong to a match at Halloween Havoc**

 

- Dustin Rhodes/Bam Bam Bigelow beat Lex Luger/Vader (5:29) when Luger and Bigelow brawled up the aisle allowing Rhodes to use a roll-up to pin a distracted Vader. Johnny Ace ran in after the bell and levelled Vader and Dustin with the Ace Crusher, saying he was looking to beat prospective challengers with a pre-emptive strike. **1/2

 

- Barry Windham beat Hiro Hase (7:29) following the implant DDT, Arn Anderson was at ringside and at one point when Hase was going for a certain pinfall, put Windham’s foot on the rope, saving the match for his partner.**

 

- Dr Death Steve Williams/Bam Bam Terry Gordy beat The Rock and Roll Express (6:23) in a virtual squash match when Williams used the Oklahoma stampede on Morton .

 

- Larry Zbysko beat Marc Mero (9:23) to advance in the TV Title tournament by reversing Mero’s half cradle pin inyto one of his own. After the match Mero, realising he had been outsmarted by the wily veteran, shook his hand.***

 

- Ricky Steamboat promo- he and a mystery partner challenged Williams/Gordy to a match at Halloween Havoc

 

- Steve Austin beat Brian Pillman (8:23) with a stalling slingshot suplex to advance in the TV Title tournament.***

 

- Masa Chono beat Arn Anderson (8:27) following the Yakuza kick. Windham attempted to interfere but Hase ran him off.**1/4

 

- The Great Muta beat Rick Steiner (9:12) following a moonsault after Ric Flair ran in and levelled Steiner with a low-blow behind the referee’s back. After the match, however, Muta beat Steiner into oblivion with repeated chairshots. When Jim Ross got into the ring to ask Muta to explain himself, Muta explained that although he had garnered popularity as The Great Muta, it was now time to show fans the man behind the face paint, therefore at Halloween Havoc, Keiji Mutoh will be challenging Scott Steiner for the WCW World Heavyweight championship, Mutoh punctuated his statement with repeated hard chairshots to end the show**1/2

 

The card for Halloween Havoc so far stands as:-

 

Tracy Smothers vs Brad Armstrong

Steve Austin vs Larry Zbysko- TV Title Tournament finals

Bam Bam Bigelow vs Lex Luger

Arn Anderson/Barry Windham vs Masa Chono/Hiro Hase- WCW Tag Team Titles

Johnny Ace vs Vader- US Title

Ricky Steamboat/? Vs Dr Death Steve Williams/Bam Bam Terry Gordy

Ric Flair vs Rick Steiner

Keiji Mutoh vs Scott Steiner- WCW World Heavyweight Title

[Guest jm29195]

Halloween Havoc 91

October 1991

Chatanooga, Tennessee

 

 

 

 

- Tracy Smothers beat Brad Armstrong (8:22) following the Jaw Jacker. A convincing victory marking Smothers out as a rising singles competitor**1/2

 

- Steve Austin beat Larry Zbysko (12:23) following the delayed slingshot suplex, to become the new TV Champion. After the match Zbysko went to shake Austin’s hand but was rewarded for his efforts with a nasty looking short armed clothesline. Austin spat on Zbysko and left him lying in the ring as he departed with his new belt.***1/2

 

- Bam Bam Bigelow beat Lex Luger (6:13) following a moonsault. *1/2

 

- Hiro Hase/Masa Chono beat Barry Windham/Arn Anderson (10:29) following a Yakuza kick on Anderson. Another convincing victory on established names by the NJPW team.

 

- Johnny Ace beat Vader (18:22) following the Ace Crusher. A very stiff Japan Strong-style match with both men laying into each other with nasty shots through the course of the match. Ace countered the chokeslam into an Ace Crusher for the pinfall.****

 

- Ricky Steamboat/Sid beat Dr Death Steve Williams/Bam Bam Terry Gordy (6:22) after Sid chokeslammed Gordy for the pin. Steamboat came out alone and was destroyed for the first couple of minutes while Jim Ross on commentary speculated as to who the mystery partner was. At the 4 minute mark Sid ran down and destroyed the heel team with chokeslams and powerbombs. After the match Sid challenged Ric Flair to a match at Starrcade.**

 

- In a segment, Sting, who didn’t have an announced match for the card, challenged anyone in the back who he hadn’t faced before to a match.

 

- The WCW Halloween Phantom w/Paul E Dangerously beat Sting (6:22) following the Rude Awakening Neckbreaker. After the match, the Phantom unmasked to reveal Ravishing Rick Rude, who was then assisted by Dangerously with a beatdown on Sting before leaving to tremendous crowd heat.**

 

- Ric Flair beat Rick Steiner (10:00) after Steiner tried to turn the figure four into a cradle and this was itself reversed into the pinning move. Flair ran back to the locker room before the irate Steiner could regain his bearings.***

 

- Scott Steiner and Keiji Mutoh wrestled to a time limit draw (30:00) Scott didn’t get to hit the frankensteiner and Mutoh missed a moonsault during the course of the match. However the match did end just after Mutoh hit the handspring elbow on Steiner. After the match Steiner went to retrieve the belt but Mutoh spat red mist in his face and stole the belt, posing over the prone figure of the Champion to end the show.****

[Guest jm29195]

Clash of The Champions XVII

November 1991

Savannah, Georgia

 

 

- Promo recounting the debut of Rick Rude at Halloween Havoc- tonight’s main event is Sting vs Rick Rude in a rematch from that PPV

 

- Marc Mero/Tracy Smothers beat the Armstrongs (formerly the Southern Boys) (9:03) after Mero knocked Brad out of the ring with the KO punch and Smothers hit the Jaw Jacker on Scott for the pinfall.**1/2

 

- Steve Austin beat Ron Simmons (12:23) to retain the WCW TV Title following interference from his new manager Paul E Dangerously. Simmons beat down on Dangerously following the decision but was blindsided by Larry Zbysko who then also declared his support for the new Dangerously-led faction. Rick Rude made his way down the aisle and the new faction was christened the Dangerous Alliance.***

 

- Bam Bam Bigelow beat Lex Luger (5:23) following an enziguiri kick to the head. After the match Luger ambushed Bigelow with a chair and knocked him to the ground. Vader made the save and cleared Luger from the ring with stiff punches.1/2*

 

- It was announced that NJPW star Jushin Thunder Liger will make his WCW PPV debut at Starrcade 1991 opposite Brian Pillman.

 

- Sid/Rick Steiner beat Ric Flair/Arn Anderson (12:22) after Flair abandoned his partner leaving him easy prey for a Sid chokeslam. Jim Ross on commentary noted that Flair must be really afraid of Sid to abandon his best friend Anderson.**

 

- Johnny Ace beat Nikita Kolloff(8:46) following an Ace Cutter in a non title match.**

 

- In a post match backstage interview Ace was attacked by Barry Windham who challenged him to a match for the title at Starrcade.

 

- In an interview segment, Scott Steiner accepted Keiji Mutoh’s challenge to a no time limit 2/3 falls match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Starrcade.

 

- ‘Ravishing’ Rick Rude w/Paul E Dangerously beat Sting (20:23) following the Rude Awakening neckbreaker. Following the decision, the remaining Dangerous Alliance members ran in and beat down Sting. Ricky Steamboat made the save and levelled Austin and Rude with a plancha to close the show.****

[Guest jm29195]

Notes From The Wrestling Observer, December 1991

 

 

Sid is said to be very unhappy with his present role in the company. Despite being given a major push and very rarely being made to lose or even look weak on TV, Sid thinks he deserves more and has gone so far as to demand a title reign in the immediate future. Needless to say this does not sit well with WCW bookers

 

Lex Luger looks to be on the outs with the company following an offer to join Vince McMahon's new WBF.

 

The card for Starrcade 1991 looks like this so far:-

 

Marc Mero/Tracy Smothers vs Nikita Kolloff/Cactus Jack

Brian Pillman vs Jushin 'Thunder' Liger

TV Champion 'Stunning' Steve Austin vs Sting

Rick Steiner vs Arn Anderson

US Champion Johnny Ace vs Barry Windham

WCW Tag Champions Hiro Hase/Masa Chono vs Vader/Bam Bam Bigelow

Ricky Steamboat vs 'Ravishing' Rick Rude

Ric Flair vs Sid

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner vs Keiji Mutoh 2/3 falls no time limit

[ryankeast 0]

So has Vader gone face??

[Guest jm29195]

So has Vader gone face??

 

 

Vader and Bigelow have a mutual enemy in Luger, Bigelow is a face and has persuaded Vader to tag with him for a title shot after being saved by Vader from Luger at the last Clash....Vader is tagging with Bigelow for his own personal gains though, he doesn't really like him and is just in it for himself, kind of like the Mankind/Vader team that was used at Wrestlemania 13.......

[Rendclaw 0]

Thats a nice concept though... is it going to end predictably though, with Vader turning on Bigelow after the job is done?

[Guest jm29195]

Starrcade 1991

December 1991

(3 ½ hours long show)

Norfolk, Virginia.

 

 

 

- Marc Mero/Tracy Smothers beat Cactus Jack/Nikita Kolloff (9:52) when Kolloff hit the Russian sickle on Smothers but was then, in the same movement, hit by a KO punch from Mero, allowing Smothers to fall on Kolloff for the pin.**1/2

 

- Jushin Thunder Liger beat Brian Pillman (16:57) following the shooting star press. Liger came out wearing red and wrestled as a face. An incredibly fast paced, lightweight style wrestling match, getting both men massively over with the crowd.****3/4

 

- Rick Steiner beat Arn Anderson (7:22) following a modified belly to belly slam from the middle rope from Steiner**1/2

 

- TV Champion ‘Stunning’ Steve Austin beat Sting (20:33) after Sting overshot a Stinger Splash and got hit with a Paul E Dangerously cell phone shot.***1/2

 

- US Champion Johnny Ace beat Barry Windham (13:33) after reversing an implant ddt into the ace cutter. After the match Ric Flair and a banged up Arn Anderson ran in and joined Windham in a beat down on Johnny Ace. However the two horsemen then turned on Windham himself and kicked him out of the Horsemen- Sid ran in and Flair and Anderson beat a hasty retreat to the back***

 

- WCW Tag Team Champions Hiro Hase/Masa Chono beat Bam Bam Bigelow and Big Van Vader (20:24) when Chono Yakuza kicked Vader as he was about to powerbomb Hase, allowing Hase to roll up Vader with a jack knife pin for the win (Bigelow had been incapacitated with the ring steps outside of the ring. The match started with the Bigelow/Vader team trying to outdo each other with stiff power offence and dangerous slams. However during the course of the match the men seemed to develop a mutual respect for each other and the match turned into more of a face/face contest. Following the match, and after the champs had left, an angry Vader destroyed the announcer’s table, hit the referee with a chokeslam and then turned to Bigelow. Jim Ross on commentary warned that based on past behaviour Vader could not be trusted and for a few moments it looked like Vader was going to turn on his partner. However Vader helped Bigelow to his feet and signalled that he did not blame him for the defeat showing him respect and the two left together. Jim Ross speculated that we may have seen the birth of a great tag team, even in defeat.****

 

- ‘Ravishing’ Rick Rude (w/Paul Heyman, TV Champion and Larry Zbysko) beat Ricky Steamboat (45:23) following the rude awakening neckbreaker from the middle rope. The Dangerous Alliance was an intimidating force at ringside throughout, but Rude beat Steamboat cleanly, and only after the match did the Alliance attack Steamboat. Dustin Rhodes and Rick Steiner attempted to make the save but weight of numbers prevailed and the Dangerous Alliance stood triumphant in the ring to massive heel heat from the crowd.

 

- Sid beat Ric Flair (9:47) by DQ following a Flair lowblow. Sid looked sullen on the way to the ring and failed to acknowledge the cheers from the crowd. After several minutes of disappointing action Flair hit a lowblow and was disqualified. Sid chokeslammed and powerbombed flair and hastily left to a mixed reaction from a confused crowd.*

 

- Keiji Mutoh beat Scott Steiner (45:24) to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Muto won the first fall (10:22) by countering a Steiner top rope manoeuvre with a jumping knee to the head. Steiner landed almost directly on his head as a result of this, and the announcers sold it as if he had a concussion for the remainder of the match. Steiner drew even, winning the second pinfall (26:29) by reversing a handspring elbow into a release dragon suplex, and dumping Mutoh into the turnbuckles with the same move, busting Mutoh open to an incredible crowd reaction. Mutoh won the match by using the black mist as a visibly concussed Steiner attempted a top rope frankensteiner. Steiner plummeted to the mat and was left easy prey for a Mutoh moonsault for the final pinfall. Mutoh laid in a vicious barrage of kicks on his spent foe, and with Rick Steiner incapacitated due to the earlier beatings it looked like it was left to the WCW Tag Champions to make the save.

Instead Hase and Chono turned on Steiner and embraced the new champion. Steiner was further incapacitated with a Hase/Chono Northern Lights suplex/Yakuza kick combination. The Champions were then joined by a black wearing Jushin Thunder Liger who put the finishing touches on the beatdown with a shooting star press onto a chair which had been put on Steiner. The PPV ended with the announcers cursing the NJPW wrestlers and the crowd in a near riotous state.*****

[Guest jm29195]

Breaking News from the Day after Starrcade 1991:-

 

 

 

Sid appears to be gone from WCW. He was originally booked to lose to Ric Flair at last night's PPV but strongly objected, fearing it would damage his character and hurt his drawing power. Managment had to give in to his last minute demands , but have stood up to Sid in the aftermath of the PPV and he now appars to be gone from WCW, he may even have obtained a full release and could show up as soon as the WWF's Royal Rumble PPV

[Guest *KNK*]

My only beef here is the really long matches, nearly every show has a match going 40+ minutes.

 

While I love a long match, it's unrealistic for a company to throw out constant 40 minute matches. A match can be as good as it was in 45 minutes in 25 minutes.

[ryankeast 0]

Good Work Still - my only slight niggle is that we now appear to have three top heel groups in The Horseman, Dangerous Alliance and The Japensese team.

[Guest jm29195]

Good Work Still - my only slight niggle is that we now appear to have three top heel groups in The Horseman, Dangerous Alliance and The Japensese team.

 

You'll have to wait and see there, I've got something planned to even the odds somewhat but I'm away from tonight until Sunday evening so you'll have to wait until then to see what happens ha ha!

[Guest jm29195]

Clash of The Champions XVIII

January 1992

Topeka, KS

 

 

 

 

- Brian Pillman beat Jushin Thunder Liger (12:32) by DQ following interference from WCW Tag Team Champions Chono/Hase and WCW World Champion Keiji Mutoh. After the result the NJPW faction booted Pillman from the ring and conducted an interview, establishing the group’s name as ‘The Ronin’ and stating that they have been sent over by NJPW to take all of WCW’s gold and bring them back to Japan.***

 

- WCW TV Champion ‘Stunning’ Steve Austin (w/Paul E Dangerously) beat Tracy Smothers (6:23) following the Stungun (stalling slingshot suplex)**1/2

 

- Brian Pillman vs Jushin Thunder Liger is announced for Superbrawl 2

 

- Bam Bam Bigelow/Big Van Vader beat The Armstrongs (4:22) after Vader powerbombed Scott and Bigelow moonsaulted him.*1/2

 

- Bam Bam Bigelow/Big Van Vader vs Dustin Rhodes/Ricky Steamboat was announced for Superbrawl 2- the winner gets number one contendership for the WCW Tag Titles.

 

- ‘Ravishing’ Rick Rude beat Rick Steiner (9:22) following the Rude Awakening Neckbreaker. After the match Rude issued a challenge to Johnny Ace for the US Title at Superbrawl. Ace accepted and the two men brawled before being separated by security.***

 

- Ron Simmons/Barry Windham beat Ric Flair/Arn Anderson (9:12) after Simmons spinebustered Anderson. After the match Anderson and Flair assaulted Simmons, taking him out of action, but then Windham and Anderson both turned on Flair and destroyed him with an Anderson spinebuster on a chair and a Windham jumping DDT on the floor. Anderson grabbed a mic and said that The Horsemen’s days as a force in WCW were over, and if Flair couldn’t se this, then they would have to physically show him. Anderson and Windham said that they had joined the new dominant faction in wrestling, the Dangerous Alliance. Dangerously and the other members of the DA came down with Dangerously claiming that now the Dangerous Alliance was complete, they were invincible.***

 

- Keijih Mutoh beat Sting (14:23) following a moonsault. After the match Scott Steiner ran in and assaulted the champion to set up their rematch at Superbrawl 2***

[Guest jm29195]

Notes from the Wrestling Observer- Late January 1992:-

 

 

With the Flair/Windham/Anderson angle from the latest Clash, it looks like the Four Horsemen group has broken up, with Anderson and Windham joining the Dangerous Alliance Faction- Anderson to possibly tag with Larry Zbysko and Windham as a upper-midcard level threat.

 

For the time being, it seems that Masa Chono, Keiji Mutoh, and Hiroshi Hase have signed full time contracts with WCW. The bookers over in NJPW are pleased with their current high profile roles and pushes and hope that their US exposure will result in them being even greater draws when they return to NJPW full time, possibly in early 1993

 

Despite Lex Luger being apparently WW(B)F bound, he is still demanding one last PPV payoff, as his contract dictates one last PPV appearance. Expect Luger to appear, in some capacity at the Superbrawl PPV, although what role he will play remains to be seen.

 

A number of WWF stars who appeared in the 1992 Royal Rumble match are said to be disgusted with the fact that once again, Hulk Hogan was booked to win the match, which included the WWF Heavyweight Championship. It remains to be seen whether these dissatisfied wrestlers will want to stay on in the WWF, or whether they will attempt to obtain contract releases and join WCW. Watch this space!

[Guest jm29195]

WCW Superbrawl 2

February 1992

Milwaukee, WI

 

 

 

 

 

- Brian Pillman beat Jushin Thunder Liger (16:57) after reversing an arrogant pinfall into a surprise roll-up. After the match Pillman was beaten down by Liger and the Tag Champs Hase and Chono****

 

- Marc Mero beat Lex Luger (9:53) Mero dominated an uncooperative Luger throughout the match and finished him off with the KO punch. Jim Ross on commentary, buried the WBF bound Luger*1/2

 

- An interview aired with Ric Flair hyping his match later in the card with Barry Windham

 

- Bam Bam Bigelow/Big Van Vader beat Ricky Steamboat/Dustin Rhodes (18:28) after a chokeslam/moonsault combination was performed on Rhodes. After the match Hase and Chono assaulted the new number one contenders with chairs but were eventually held back as Rhodes and Steamboat helped their former opponents. The announcers made it clear that even enemies in WCW would unite against the mutual Ronin enemy.****

 

- ‘Ravishing’ Rick Rude w/Paul E Dangerously beat Johnny Ace (19:57) after Rude countered a top rope Ace Cutter by holding onto the ropes and then planting a top rope elbow drop on his fallen opponent. The announcers put Rude as the first person to beat Ace in over a year.****

 

- WCW TV Champion ‘Stunning’ Steve Austin/Arn Anderson/Larry Zbysko beat Sting/Rick Steiner/Ron Simmons (15:33) when Austin pinned Steiner after he was hit on the head with a Dangerously cell phone shot and Austin capitalised with a rollup with his feet on the ropes to score the cheap pin. After the match the two teams brawled with the Dangerous Alliance getting the upper hand through cheating and the involvment of Rick Rude, until a newly turned Nikita Koloff made the save and cleared the ring. After a moments hesitation between Sting and Koloff, the face team celebrated in the ring.****

 

- Barry Windham w/Paul E Dangerously beat Ric Flair (12:22) by DQ when Flair launched a barrage of chair shots on Windham. Windham and Dangerously had been cheating throughout the match and angered Flair to the degree that he could not control his temper and got himself disqualified.***

 

- Keiji Mutoh beat Scott Steiner (18:22) to retain the WCW World Heavyweight Title. Mutoh worked on Steiner’s head and kneck throughout the match as the announcers made reference to the fact that Mutoh had concussed Steiner before winning the belt at Starrcade. The referee even went to stop the match after a series of running Mutoh knees to the head but Steiner insisted the match continued. At one point Steiner hit the frankensteiner but was in such a state that he could not capitalise. Mutoh ended up spiking Steiner on his head with a release dragon suplex to score the pin.****

[Guest cacheton]

This is some wicked stuff. My only beef is that Sting is a jobber. I mean come on, jobbing to Austin??

[Guest Arnold_OldSchool]

I don't see muta drawing.

[Guest jm29195]

I don't see muta drawing.

 

 

That's why I'm using Keiji Mutoh as my main event heel!

 

But seriously, my WCW isn't carried exclusively by the NJPW faction, the DA, Flair, Steamboat, Sting and the Steiners are all major contributing factors aswell

[ryankeast 0]

Good work as usual.

 

Glad Luger was jobbed out.