Beach Blast '93

Legacy Review

Beach Blast '93

July 18, 1993 from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, MS

Commentary: Tony Schiavone and Jesse Ventura

In a rare move of consolidation in this period of PPV expansion, the second Beach Blast moves from June to July and takes the Great American Bash's spot in the calendar. The GAB name, traditionally WCW's second biggest and second oldest show after Starrcade, would be rested until '95.

 

Before diving into the show proper I have one note I need to preface it with- the Disney Tapings. In what was viewed as a cost cutting move, a couple of weeks before this show the whole WCW crew went to Orlando and recorded literally months worth of TV over a 3 day period at Hollywood Studios in Disney World. This was the arena with the ring on a spinning turnstile. There was no paid attendance, instead they invited park guests to be in the audience whether they were wrestling fans or knew anything about wrestling or not. They were given merch to wear on camera and coached to cheer or boo on cue. This had two negative effects: 1. it put WCW in a box as far as future booking went, which would become an issue very quickly, and 2. in an era where kayfabe was still hanging on, it seriously exposed the business to all in attendance with different guys coming out as champions as the tapings went on, giving away future booking plans. This was one of the reasons for the final NWA/WCW divorce in the fall of '93.

The raised entrance ramp continues its comeback and the whole stage area set up like a beach. Jesse Ventura gets an overly extended intro, drinking at the bar and forgetting what time it was then dragging all the women with him to the announce table.

WCW World Television Championship: "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff (c) def "The All American" Ron Simmons by DQ in 11:15- Orndorff can lose the title on a DQ. He spends a while getting all bent out of shape at the Paula chants again. There's even Paula pennants now. Wonder if those were handed out or if people actually bought them. While Orndorff's agitated at the crowd Simmons punches him off the apron. Orndorff gets wobblelegged in the ring. Simmons dropkick for 2 and Orndroff rolls out. Back in Simmons goes to some arm work. Orndorff hits back elbows and locks on a sleeper. Simmons tries to run him into the corner to get out, but Orndorff anticipates and pushes Simmons into it, then hits a back suplex off the ricochet. Simmons dodges a kneedrop off the top rope and starts working said knee. Figure four, but Orndorff is right by the ropes and easily gets out. Orndorff rolls out again. Simmons follows. Orndorff catches him and rams his head into one of the TV monitors. He cuts off a Simmons comeback with kneelifts, gets a boot up in the corner and faceplants Simmons for 2. Simmons reverses a whip into a powerslam for 2. Simmons sunset flip for 2. Orndorff goes for a dropkick but Simmons either dodges or no sells it, it's hard to tell. Clothesline and back elbow from Simmons for 2. Orndorff goes for a piledriver. Simmons backdrops him over the top rope, and that causes a DQ. Simmons hits a tackle off the top rope and covers but the ref tells him it's over. Your usual decentish Orndorff match. Even this late in his career he was a textbook high floor/low ceiling guy. **1/4

 

2 Cold Scorpio and Marcus Alexander Bagwell def Shanghai Pierce and Tex Slazenger in 12:48- Pierce and Slazenger are best known for their mid-'90s WWF run as the Godwinns. They're in matching gear but only Pierce wears a mask. Bagwell and Pierce start. Pierce does some jawing and spitting. Shoulderblock standoffs. Bagwell goes into dodge mode and hits a crossbody for 2. Everyone gets in and there's a brawl on the apron with Scorpio doing a springboard off the second rope for shits and giggles. The faces win out and the heels go to the floor for a think. Reset with Slazenger wanting Scorpio in. Scorpio confuses him with some dancing. Slazenger hits a backdrop that Scorpio gets a huge lift off of and he flies all the way into the top rope. Scorpio crossbody off the second rope, dropkick and armdrag. The faces hit a double hiptoss. The heels tag a couple of times but both times walk right into a move that sends them into the canvas. Bagwell floatover suplex for 2. Slazenger pops Bagwell in the throat to turn things around. The heels work Bagwell's arm for a while. Bagwell gets a sunset flip for 2. Slazenger kills him with a clothesline. Pierce hits a nice gutwrench powerbomb. Scorpio saves the pin. Bagwell dodges an elbow drop but Slazenger keeps him from tagging. Heel shoulderbreaker/elbow drop combo for 2. Another Bagwell dodge and Pierce crashes into the corner. Hot tag to Scorpio and house cleaning commences. Huge big splash off the top on Pierce for 2. I can think of several Golden Age ROH venues where Scorpio would have been through the ceiling on that one. Everyone in the pool! The heels get whipped into each other. Scorpio hits the 450 splash and it's done. Wasn't a whole lot of flash, but it was a lot of action with almost no resting. The heels looked a hundred times better here than at any point in their WWF run. **3/4

 

Lord Steven Regal (w/Sir William) def Erik Watts in 7:31- Zero reaction for Watts, which in a lot of ways is an improvement. The boys in the tuck couldn't even be bothered, they give Watts Regal's graphic. Capetta's got the "stone" thing right this time. If you've never seen a match from Regal in his younger days, he was a lot like ZSJ in that his mat wrestling/catch as catch can style would often be the dominant style in his matches no matter who he was wrestling. Regal oozes arrogance, refusing to lock up. Watts mocks him by doing the same thing. Long lockup. Regal cranks the arm. Watts reverses, stays out of range of Regal's counter attempts and rolls through when he does get one. Regal snap mares him into an armbar. Watts bridges out of a leverage pin. Drop toe hold by Regal and more good mat counters. Regal flips Watts over to try to get out of a hammerlock, but Watts turns it into a sunset flip for 2. Watts has ably countered his arm work so Regal changes gears and start to work Watt's ankle. European uppercuts and forearms in the corner. Watts gets a single leg crab and turns it into the STF. Sir William slaps him behind the ref's back. That fires Watts up. Regal comes from behind, rolls him up and grabs a handful of tights for the pin. I've constantly been hard on Watts, but he was an accomplished amateur wrestler, meshed with Regal well and was a good foil for Regal's ground game. Of course Regal could make anyone look good. If you're a fan of the British style like me, this was a decently fun match. **1/2

Ad for the next PPV, the first Fall Brawl. War Games moves to another date on the calendar, this time to stay for most the rest of WCW's run. In an interview with Ventura Regal challenges Orndorff for the TV title. Interesting as they're both heels.

 

Johnny B Badd def Max Payne in 4:50- Payne stole Badd's Baddblaster then shot him in the face with it to set up this grudge match. Badd's got a mask on to cover his wounds and it looks like wallpaper that would be on the walls of your grandmother's house. Or Randy Savage's tights at Summerslam '92. Badd immediately takes Payne down and gives him some ground and pound. Crossbody for 2. Payne dodges and Badd flies over the corner to the floor. Snap suplex from Payne. Hammerlock slam. After a comeback attempt Payne hits a backbreaker for 2. He goes for the Paynekiller but Badd's already in the ropes. Another suplex for 2. Payne's already used up his moveset. Badd dodges a clothesline and elbow, goes for a crossbody but gets caught. After getting slammed Badd dodges an elbow drop. A dropkick sends Payne outside. While the camera's focused on Payne Badd dives onto him from the ring. That might have been cool if Payne knew how to sell. Back in Badd tries coming off the top rope, slips off, and settles for a half crossbody half tackle off the second rope to get the pin. 1/2*

 

Unified WCW and NWA World Tag Team Championship: The Hollywood Blondes (c) def Arn Anderson and Paul Roma in 26:14- Three guys that absolutely rule....and Paul Roma. He's been in a lot of tag teams though so at least he knows how to work the formula. Roma and Austin start. The Blondes hop out to jaw at the crowd. Pillman looks like he's about to go loose cannon on a fan. Austin gets in Roma's face on a corner break. Roma throws the first punch and Austin rolls out. Pillman tells the ref to check Roma's giant elbow pad, then messes with something in his tights and it's not his wang. Sadly that would end up going nowhere later in the match, a rare miscue on match psychology from these guys. Pillman uses his agility to dodge around Arn, hits a hiptoss and gives him the camera crank. Arn goes into his old heel playbook and responds by pulling Pillman down by his hair. Austin backdrop on Arn. Austin offers a handshake. Arn, wily veteran, takes it and kicks Austin. After some arm work Austin dodges a Roma crossbody and he crashes to the mat. Arn catches Pillman leaping in the corner and drops him over the top rope, then slingshots him into the Horsemen corner and Roma punches him. Pillman's knee "gives out" on a whip attempt and the Blondes want a time out. Of course it's a RUSE and Pillman clips Arn's knee. Arn gets tossed outside. He dodges a Pillman dive and Pillman crashes into the guardrail. Arn gets a sneaky tag to Roma while fighting a Pillman suplex attempt. Roma comes off the top with a sunset flip. Austin breaks it up. Roma goes after Austin and Pillman hits him from behind. Austin drops Roma on the guardrail and Roma is Horseman in peril. Austin gutwrench suplex. Short clothesline. Lots of great Austin mocking. Pillman gets a drop toe hold and Austin elbows Roma in the back of the head to cut off a comeback. Roma comes off the top with a dropkick. Pillman tries to counter it with a dropkick and they both miss. Both sides tag. Arn backdrop on Austin and DDT for Pillman. While the ref is holding Roma back Austin elbows Arn in the back of the head. Pillman covers for 2 as Arn is now in peril. Austin elbow off the top for 2. Arn fights back in the corner. Austin chokes him with his boot. Arn flop! Austin tries to piledrive Arn on the floor but Arn backdrops out. Back in Arn tries to give Austin a DDT but Austin lifts him up and drops him on the apron. Think that was supposed to be a crotch shot but they didn't pull it off quite right. Arn gets a small package but the ref is distracted by Roma trying to get in and doesn't see it. Dumbass Roma. Worst Horseman ever, even worse than Mongo. Midring collision. Austin cuts the tag off with a back suplex. Arn gets on the apron and Austin tries to suplex him back in. Arn blocks it and suplexes Austin to the floor! Austin doing Pillman's usual spot there. Again Pillman cuts the tag off. Flying headscissors from Pillman. He tries coming off the second rope but Arn chops him. Tag to Roma. DONNYBROOK! World's Greatest Spinebuster on Austin! Pillman breaks up the pin. Roma rolls Austin up. With the ref's tied up with Arn Pillman clotheslines him and Austin reverses with a handful of tights for 3! The Horsemen were supposed to win the titles here, however word leaked out on the embryonic version of the internet there was at the time of Arn and Roma at the Disney tapings with the tag belts so this was Bischoff's attempt to swerve everyone. I know, I know, Bischoff and swerves, we'll never hear that one again. All this pretaping and swerving around the tag titles would come back to bite them in the ass at the next Clash. The match itself was still good but below most of these guys' standards, especially the tear the Blondes were on at the time. There were some atypical lapses in psychology, a sign they were going through the motions. I hate to say it for these guys, but I think they got too much time for what they were doing too. Shave 10 minutes off and it's probably a better match. ***1/4

 

30 Minute Iron Man Match for the Vacant WCW United States Heavyweight Championship: "Ravishing" Rick Rude and "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes draw- The US title had been held up for nearly two months at this point after multiple matches between these two with inconclusive finishes. This is supposed to settle it once at for all. Rude's injury really killed his momentum, he's not getting nearly the crowd reactions he was last year. Of course the end of the Dangerous Alliance probably had something to do with that too.

FALL ONE: They go nose to nose. Long, rough, rollaround lockups that ref Nick Patrick has to physically separate. Both guys yell at each other to break. Rude pounds Dustin's back and gives us a hip swivel. Classic Rude forearms. Dustin gets a backdrop and corner whips with the usual great Rude selling. Double chinlock to crank Rude's back. Dustin mocks the hip swivel. I think that's in the contract for any match against Rude to do that. Rude gets his knees up and Dustin gets crotched. Rude ax handle off the top. Bear hug. Dustin tries to elbow out so Rude turns it into a belly to belly suplex. Now it's Rude's turn to work the double chinlock. Dustin lifts him into an electric chair and drops him. Rude gets knees up again on a splash. 10 minutes are gone, 20 left. Dustin hits kicks to the hammy and starts working Rude's knee. He hooks in a kind of reverse cloverleaf. Rude eye rakes out. Rude Awakening! That gets a pin!

FALL TWO: Rude goes up top. Dustin staggers around forever. Finally Rude hits a clothesline off the top for 2. More Rude trash talking. He's been vocal the whole match, which has probably been the highlight. 15 minutes gone as we hit the halfway mark. Dustin goes out to the ramp and Rude's willing to take a countout. Dustin gets back in and Rude gives him a snap mare and chinlock. Dustin elbows out. Corner whip, Rude gets a boot up. They do the same tombstone reversal with Dustin hitting it spot they do every match of theirs. Rude kicks out. Rude dodges and Dustin flies over the top to the floor. Back in Rude hits a series of suplexes for 2 counts. 10 minutes left. Rude takes his time with another suplex and Dustin reverses it. Rude tights pulls Dustin into the turnbuckle. Another ax handle off the top. That one caught Dustin really stiff. "You ain't shit Rhodes!". Rude goes into slow, cocky beatdown mode, clearly playing prevent defense until the match is over. Sleeper. They do the arm drops a couple of times and Dustin jawbreakers out. 5 minutes left. Rude blows some snot on Dustin and continues the cocky, time killing beatdown without seriously trying to get another decision. Dustin blocks a buckle shot. Rude spits in his face. It got in Dustin's eyes and he tumbles outside. Rude blows more snot on him. He must have a cold. Dustin does some dodging, fakes Rude out and hits the bulldog! 3 count! It's tied up!

FALL THREE: 3 minutes left. Dustin bionic elbow off the top for 2. 2 minutes left. Dustin hits a piledriver. Rude gets a foot on the rope. Dustin ground and pound and big elbow drop for 2. 1 minute left. Dustin forever clotheslines get a 2 count. He hooks on a sleeper. Rude jawbreakers out. 30 seconds. Rude goes up top. Dustin dodges and hits a DDT! Time expires as he covers, and it's a draw. The US title remains in purgatory, and it would be nearly two more months before it was finally settled. Crap decision. The match was fine but nowhere near the level of the Rude/Steamboat Iron Man match the previous year. The draw stalling down the stretch was pretty obvious. **3/4

 

NWA World Heavyweight Championship: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair def Barry Windham (c) in 11:15- These guys wrestled each other a ton in the '80s so there's familiarity. For some reason Flair's music cuts off during his entrance. Opening slugfest/chopfest in the corner. Windham gets whipped into the corner but pops out with a huge lariat. More chops and Windham ducks under the bottom rope to stall. Back in Windham hits a shoulderblock and does some ground and pound. Flair Flip! And a huge one, his legs hit the post and he fell all the way to the floor. Windham hits a clothesline on the floor and suplexes Flair back in. Flair goes to the ol' eye poke for some breathing room. Corner clothesline and chops. Flair with a sleeper! Windham moves over to the corner. Windham ducks down and Flair rams his own head into the turnbuckle. That was a bit sloppy. Flair Flop! Windham with a Samoan drop. Powerslam for 2. A diving lariat gets a long 2. Windham argues balls and strikes with the ref, giving Flair an opening to get some punches in. There's another ugly spot where it looks like Flair's going for a crossbody but he launches straight, flies into Windham shoulder first, and Windham flops over the top rope to the floor. Windham drags Flair out and slams him on the floor. Flair counters mounted punches with an inverted atomic drop. Snap mare/kneedrop combo. Windham blocks a suplex and sets Flair up on the top. Superplex! Flair's selling out to the cheap seats. No cover. Windham goes up top again and misses an elbow drop. Flair small package for 2. Flair Flip 2! He runs across, bounces up top and hits a crossbody. Windham rolls through it for 2. Midring collision. Flair hits a back suplex and kicks Windham's knee. After a few attempts he gets the figure four on! The ref counts Windham's shoulders down, and even though it both looks like Windham got them back up and he's still selling like the match isn't supposed to end, the ref counts 3 and calls for the bell. OK then. Weird ending. It catches everyone off guard, even Flair's music takes a bit to start up. Regardless, all is right with the world as Flair once again has the Big Gold Belt for his record 10th NWA world title reign (12 world titles overall counting his WWF titles, and that's not even getting into the disputed title changes). Disappointing match though. Both guys were off and it showed. We're now officially in post-peak Flair, and while he'll still be good for a long time, he's not going to go out and lay 4+ stars down night after night anymore. **

It's never shown or even mentioned during the PPV, probably because they knew how awful it was, but WCW produced one of their infamous mini-movies to hype up tonight's main event. I won't go into the details, just watch it in all its Rifftrax level glory:

Sting and "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith def WCW World Heavyweight Champion Big Van Vader and Sid Vicious (w/Harley Race and Col. Robert Parker) in 16:44- Vader forgot the belt again. Everyone stands off and stares. Sting and Sid start. Sid shoves. Sting takes him down and pounds away, then hits a couple of face plants. Sid chokeslam! Sting gets beat down and choked in the heel corner. They do the spot where the faces get thrown out, go to the top rope, and tackle both heels. Reset with Bulldog and Vader. Big time Vader corner beat down. Sid walks over and gets a stomp in from the apron, which is kinda funny. Bulldog with a DELAYED suplex on Vader for 2. Vader hits a tackle. There's a small but audible "Vader" chant from somewhere in the crowd. Vader clothesline/Sid big boot combo. Sid decides things have been moving too quick and locks on a chinlock. Another Vader tackle. Sting wants in and takes a swing at Vader. The mask is off! Bulldog tries to roll Vader up from behind but gets pounded down again. Sid double ax handle off the second rope for 2. He locks in the Nerve Pinch of There's No Way I Can Keep Up With What Vader's Doing +3. Race holds Bulldog but Vader takes Race out. Tag to Sting. More unintentional comedy from Sid as he seesaws in the ropes while Sting cleans house. Sting dodges a Vader avalanche but Sid hits him from behind. Sid goes into slow beatdown mode and Vader hits more potatoes in the corner. Tackle off the second rope. Sting fights out of a Vader superplex attempt. Sid misses an elbowdrop and Sting tags Bulldog. After an initial flurry Bulldog runs into a Sid boot. Vader Samoan drop for 2. Vader bomb! Sting saves the pin. Sid takes Sting out and they go up the aisle. Vader goes up to the second rope again....no, to the top rope..... VAAAAAAAAADERSAULT! The honest to God motherfrakking accept no substitutes VADERSAULT! Sting dives over the top rope to break the pin up! Bulldog wraps Vader up in a crucifix and gets a very anticlimatic 3 count. Man, if you're going to debut the Vadersault there's no way in hell that shouldn't be the finish. That complaint aside it was still a fun match that was absolutely carried by Vader. He's in his peak here and it's glorious to watch. Sid spelling Vader to let him rest a moment between his unleashing of awesomeness is not a bad tag team dynamic. ***

OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS- As middle of the road as middle of the road gets. Nothing really great, nothing really awful. Having months worth of TV in the can isn't exactly a great motivator for the wrestlers.

OVERALL SHOW GRADE: C

In Your House 7

Legacy Review

In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies

April 28, 1996 from the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, NE

Commentary: Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler

"The King of Harts" Owen Hart and "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith def Ahmed Johnson and Jake "The Snake" Roberts in 13:47- Before the match Jim Cornette and Clarence Mason present ref Tim White with an injunction barring Roberts' snake from ringside. Roberts responds by ripping it up and presenting said snake to the court. Everyone bails. Cornette passes out in the ring and has to be revived and carried off. White tells Roberts the order is legally binding no matter how many pieces you tear it up in and the snake has to go. Roberts complies, but comes back with a very pissed off Ahmed Johnson. Also known as normal Ahmed Johnson. Johnson's got a broken thumb courtesy of the Bulldog. Roberts jumps Owen before the bell finally rings. Owen tags out to a very reluctant Bulldog. Johnson tags in. Bulldog says nope, turns around and tags Owen's back! Johnson throws Owen around and points for Bulldog. After getting tossed around some more Owen escapes a Roberts' DDT attempt. Bulldog runs away from Johnson again. Owen badly loses a test of strength. Johnson clotheslines Owen as Owen was already in mid-dive in a not good stiff way. While he's stomping Owen down in the corner in a.....unique Johnson style Bulldog hits him from behind. Johnson no sells almost everything and chokes Bulldog back into the heel corner. Dumb move, as it allows Owen to get a cheap shot in. Johnson blocks a slam and press slams Owen. Owen Bret bumps but turns around and gets a knee up on Roberts. Missile dropkick as Roberts goes face in peril, because he's the only one that will sell, with heel double teams. There's a lot of "it's still real to me dammit" guys in the front row of the crowd tonight. Roberts fights out of a Sharpshooter attempt. Owen locks on a sleeper. Roberts jawbreakers out. Tags. Johnson spinebuster on Bulldog. The heels stop another DDT attempt. The faces clear the ring. Bulldog grabs the tennis racket Cornette left behind, whacks Roberts in the knee with it, and hooks up a kneebar to make him submit. Owen and Bulldog tried the best they could. Roberts was not his old self physically and Johnson was both terrible and terribly unsafe. *1/4

 

WWF Intercontinental Championship: The Ultimate Warrior def Goldust (c) (w/Marlena and bodyguard) by countout in 7:38- Instead of throwing Warrior right back in the main event Vince is testing his commitment with a secondary title match instead. Smart. Goldust's bodyguard is the artist formerly known as Mantaur and his making his debut in the role tonight. Goldust blew some gold dust in Warrior's face on the preshow and tweaked his knee while doing, apparently a legit injury they had to cover for considering how this whole thing unfolds. Goldust immediately stalls on the floor and meanders back up the aisle. Marlena left her cigar behind, so Warrior picks it up and puffs on it. He scoops Goldust's chair up and sets it up in the ring while casually smoking. I remind you the bell has rung to start the match. Now he gets the wig and robe and sets them up on the chair. Warrior plonks down in it and chills. I remind you the bell has rung to start the match. Goldust walks toward the ring, gets scared and walks away again. Eventually he goes around to the timekeeper's area, grabs a mic, and threatens to kiss everyone in the crowd. No comment. Finally, slowly, Goldust gets in the ring. Behind Marlena. Warrior, the gentleman, gives Marlena her cigar back. He then offers to put Goldust's robe on him and does. Goldust sits down in the chair and everyone plays nice....until Warrior puts the cigar out on his hand and clotheslines him out of the chair. Goldust rolls out, walks away and doesn't come back. After the bell for the countout Warrior beats up the bodyguard. Only a match in the most technical definition of the word. DUD

Bulldog is outside Shawn Michaels' dressing room door looking extremely pissed off and being held back by Owen and officials. Dok Hendrix says it's "something about his wife".

 

Vader (w/Jim Cornette) def Razor Ramon in 14:49- Vader had just put Yokozuna on the shelf by destroying his leg with a series of Vader bombs. On the opening lockup Vader tosses Ramon aside and Ramon flies over the top rope to the floor! More power and Vader gut shots, followed by the Vader stiff potato punches. Short clothesline. Ramon runs under a couple of clothesline attempts and hits some punches. He goes for a Razor's Edge but Vader backdrops him to the floor. Ramon pops right back up and pounds Vader down in the corner. A series of Ramon clotheslines take Vader to the floor. Vader stalls a while getting back in. He tries to ambush during a Cornette distraction but Ramon is all over it. Vader reverses a corner whip and hits an avalanche. Big splash for 2. More potatoes in the corner. Ramon counters with a back suplex for 2. Vader bomb! Ramon kicks out! Vader hits a back suplex. Ramon blocks a suplex and hits Vader with one for 2. Vader goes up to the second rope, flips off and Ramon tries to make it look like he's slamming him. Ramon bulldog off the second rope for 2. Vader hits a tackle. He sets up another Vader bomb. Ramon counters and tries to lift him up for a Razor's Edge but can't hold him. Vader goes up top. Ramon lifts him up and drops him with an electric chair. Vader counters another Razor's Edge attempts, squashes Ramon with a butt splash, and it's over. Ramon goes out on his back. More on that later. Mostly solid with Vader's usual stiffness, but they also struggled to get on the same page in places. **1/2

After the match Hendrix tells Vader and Cornette that per Gorilla Monsoon, at the next In Your House Vader will face Yokozuna. Corny and Vader are all kinds of pissed off.

 

WWF Tag Team Championship: The Bodydonnas (c) (w/Sunny) def The Godwinns (w/Hillbilly Jim) in 7:17- The overarching story here is Sunny has been using her....assets to attract dimwitted Phineas Godwinn and cost his team wins. Zip and Henry start. Immediate Bodydonnas double team. Henry takes them out with a double clothesline. Phineas bites Zip's arm. Henry catches Skip and hits a fireman's carry slam, followed by a wheelbarrow slam. The heels try to swap without a tag but the ref catches them. Phineas uses some dumb mirroring strategery to take out Zip. Damien Mizdow he is not. Skip pulls the top rope down and Phineas tumbles to the floor. Bodydonna double slingshot suplex for 2. Zip hits a frankensteiner for 2. Phineas comes back with....I don't know what the frell he's trying to do. Henry gets the hot tag and cleans house, but the camera is solely focused on Sunny gifting Phineas with a framed autographed picture (sadly of her fully clothed). With the ref distracted the heels pull off the no tag swap and, er, one of them gets Henry in a Paul Smackage for 3. That was a match that existed. 3/4*

Ad for next month's IYH on Memorial Day weekend. We get clips of Triple H interfering in the Marc Mero/1-2-3 Kid match on the preshow. Mero promises revenge on Trips next month while the cameraman desperately tries to keep Sable in shot at all times. After that is a really good video package recapping the entire Shawn/Diesel saga. In an interview earlier tonight Diesel promises "something big" for Vince. Kevin Nash was ahead of the curve when it came to working "smart" fans that were starting to become a larger segment of the audience thanks to the internet, a lesson Triple H would take to heart for most of his career.

 

No Holds Barred Match for the WWF Championship: "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels (c) (w/Jose Lothario) def Diesel in 17:53- During his entrance Diesel throws his jacket onto Vince. There's a totally random and not at all important shot of Mad Dog Vachon sitting at ringside. Shawn is all business, charging straight in and we're on! A Diesel knee to the gut cuts Shawn's momentum off. Shawn leaps over in the corner and dropkicks Diesel to the floor. Baseball slide. Shawn crossbody off the top to the floor! Shawn goes around to the Spanish announce table and pulls Hugo Savinovich's boot off! He comes off the top rope and whacks Diesel with it for 2. Shawn flip in the corner and Diesel knocks him off the apron into the guardrail. Slow Diesel beatdown. Snake eyes. He has more words for Vince. Huge leaping side suplex. Diesel pulls off his wrist tape and chokes Hebner out! Then he pulls off Hebner's belt and whips Shawn with it! Shawn gets choked with the belt. Diesel flips him over the top rope and hangs him with the belt! While Shawn's dangling Diesel goes over and appropriates Fink's chair, comes around and nails Shawn in the back with it. Back in Shawn dodges another chair shot. Diesel hits the top rope and the chair ricochets back in his face! Shawn loads up a chair shot. Diesel stops it with a low blow. Big backdrop. Diesel punches send Shawn tumbling outside. Diesel sets up a jackknife on the floor.....THEN TURNS 90 DEGREES AND POWERBOMBS SHAWN THROUGH THE MAIN ANNOUNCE TABLE! No setup at all, nothing, just straight into it. The monitors fall on top of Shawn. Commentary gets cut off. Shawn doesn't lay there long, quickly and angrily crawling back to the ring. He grabs a fire extinguisher and gives Diesel a blast in the face! Flying forearm and kip up. Commentary's back. Shawn takes Lawler's chair, bringing his headset and entire hookup with it, and gives Diesel a couple of chairshots to the head. Diesel recovers and hits a bit boot. He lifts Shawn up for a jackknife but Shawn punches out of it. Shawn elbow off the top rope. Diesel blocks the superkicks and hits a clothesline. Another clothesline sends Shawn back to the floor. Diesel drops him on the guardrail and throws him back in. Diesel starts to get back in, stops, and has a thought. He pulls the guardrail open and drags Mad Dog Vachon to ringside! HE PULLS OFF MAD DOG'S PROSTHETIC LEG! Well Shawn took a boot earlier, I guess Diesel had to one up him. Kliq rules. He goes to nail Shawn with the leg but Shawn hits him with a low blow. Shawn loads up and hits Diesel with the leg! Superkick! Good night. Fantastic plunder match. You could criticize the lack of selling after some big spots but that's a small quibble. In many ways this would be the template for most WWF main event matches for the next 5-6 years. All that was missing was the going through the crowd brawl and finisher kickouts. Diesel goes out on his back. ****1/2

 

This show would end up being Diesel and Ramon's final major WWF appearance before moving over to WCW. A couple of weeks later the infamous "curtain call" at MSG took place, with four members of the Kliq, Shawn, Diesel, Ramon and Triple H, completely obliterating kayfabe by congregating in the ring after the main event in front of the whole crowd and giving Nash and Hall a big sendoff. Unluckily for them, a fan had snuck a camcorder into MSG and recorded the whole thing. Soon after it was all over the wrestling magazines and what little there was of the internet at the time. Punishments were meted out, more on that when I get to King of the Ring '96 as it's relevant there. Within a few weeks after that both Hall and Nash made their WCW debuts, with it being played with deliberate ambiguity as to whether they had signed with WCW or if this was a legitimate invasion by WWF talent. The entire wrestling world was turned upside down, and that was just the beginning.

 

One last note before closing out- though WWF kept these old IYH shows to 2 hours for PPV, there were always a few more dark matches in the arena for the live crowd after TV went off the air. None of it was worth mentioning until now, as on this night the dark main event was the Undertaker taking on the recently debuted Mankind. Much more on them as the year goes on.

OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS- Another one match show, but that one match is both must see and hugely important historically.

OVERALL SHOW GRADE: C+

Clash of the Champions XXIII

Legacy Review

Clash of the Champions XXIII

June 16, 1993 from the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, VA

Commentary; Tony Schiavone and Jesse Ventura

"The All American" Ron Simmons def "Dirty" Dick Slater (w/Paul Orndorff) in 3:56- This was scheduled to be Simmons vs Orndorff for the TV title, which was still listed in the opening rundown, but Orndorff had just been injured in a car accident. The whole "Paula" thing was going full steam at this point and the crowd goes nuts chanting it at Orndorff. Simmons gets a shot in on a corner break and hits an atomic drop. He rolls through power moves and Slater rolls out. Back in Slater counters a sunset flip with a slap to the face. That sets Simmons off. Orndorff grabs Simmons' foot and Slater kinda nudges him in the top of the head. Swinging neckbreaker. Simmons gets a foot on the rope but the heels think it's 3 and celebrate. Simmons hits a .7 powerslam for the win. Sloppy last second thrown together mess. 1/2*

Eric Bischoff is on the host stage with Larry Zbyszko. Zbyszko's tie looks like Tetris. Bischoff brings in Michael Buffer, making his WCW debut tonight. Oh great. I honestly thought he didn't come in until later. Greatest ring announcer of all time.....at getting himself over.

 

Lord Steven Regal (w/Sir William) def Marcus Alexander Bagwell in 6:18- Regal joined WCW early in '93 as a babyface of all things, but quickly turned to his natural heel self. This is his first appearance on a major show. That weight is 18 stone Capetta, not 18 "stones". Surprised Regal didn't grab the mic and correct him on the spot. Regal does his superb disgusted at the world look and takes forever to lock up. After a Regal leg takedown they trade off arm holds, with Regal doing some wonderful British style escapes but Bagwell always getting the edge back through sheer power. Bagwell flips Regal over by the arm with a fantastic Regal sell. Regal hits some European uppercuts and clips Bagwell's knee. Most of the rest of the match is airtight psychology from Regal, always getting back on the knee no matter what. Commentary mentions that Cactus Jack is still missing and maybe they'll find him in Cleveland on regular TV this week. Oh hell, that's a legendary piece of absolute shit. Don't watch it. But watch it. Bagwell rolls Regal up. Regal reverses it, they have a lot of trouble positioning right, and finally Regal gets a handful of tights for the 3 count. Not bad thanks to Regal, I wish they'd gotten more time. I love British catch as catch can style almost as much as Japanese strong style. *3/4

Bischoff is with Maxx Payne, who stole Johnny B Badd's Baddblaster and is scheduled to have a match with him tonight. Payne calls Badd out and says he'll give him back the blaster now. Badd comes out, and Payne shoots him in the face with it! Who didn't see that coming? It was pretty damn sick looking though. Payne: "Consider it returned". Badd writhes in agony on the floor as we go to break. After commerical Payne declares victory by forfeit in the ring. Tom Zenk runs out, jumps Payne, and does OK for a bit but eventually gets stuck in the Paynemaker and the refs have to get him out.

 

NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Barry Windham (c) def 2 Cold Scorpio in 12:53- Buffer intros his first ever WCW match, and in super special ring announcing style after both guys are already in the ring. Man, Big Gold still looks great on Windham. Windham's still getting 50/50 reactions despite his heel status. Full on cocky Windham mode to start. A Scorpio dropkick makes him think for a second. After some Windham pounding Scorpio leaps over in the corner and gets a leg takedown. Nice sequence where both guys duck punches, so Windham fakes a punch then kicks Scorpio. Windham lariat off the top rope! He can fly too, Scorpio. Well, drop at least. That got a big pop as well. Delayed suplex with a floatover for 2. Scorpio misses a dropkick. Windham DDT! Slow arrogant cover and Scorpio kicks out. Windham tries a slam but Scorpio wraps up a flash small package for 2. Windham gutwrench suplex for 2. He really put some extra oomph on that one, pushing Scorpio hard to the mat. Windham's hitting everything with a little extra sauce tonight. Scorpio hits a standing dropkick. Windham cuts him off with a tackle and tosses him to the floor. Scorpio comes back in with a slingshot tackle! Windham hits a standing dropkick! Nice. Windham Samoan drop for 2. A back suplex gets a long 2. Windham sets up for the superplex. Scorpio fights it off. Splash off the top rope! Windham kicks out! Hurricanrana from Scorpio. Slingshot splash! Another near fall. Scorpio missile dropkick. He tries for another slingshot but Windham pops him in midair. Leaping DDT! Good night Scorpio. Good stuff, with a very smart layout of the veteran Windham always staying cool, calm and in control, and Scorpio getting his spunky flurry at the end to try to pull off the upset. ***1/4

 

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Big Van Vader, "Ravishing" Rick Rude and Sid Vicious (w/Harley Race and Col. Robert Parker) def Sting, "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith and "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes in 10:59-  Five guys who absolutely rule, and Sid. Vader left the belt at home. Rude has a briefcase that's supposedly got the US title belt in it. That title was still officially held up because of the controversial finishes in his and Dustin's matches. Vader and Sid had just formed an official tag team called The Masters of the Powerbomb. Sting is all kinds of fired up. So is the crowd. Rude and Sting start, a feud we should have gotten a lot more of. After a headlock test of strength Rude hits a back elbow in the corner. Sting backdrops him, then presses him up and throws him into Sid and Vader! Dustin unloads on Rude. Vader accidentally splashes Rude! Sid gets bounced around in the face corner. He straddles the middle rope and Sting pulls it up into his crotch! Of course being Sid he barely sells it. Dustin goes absolute fists of fury on Vader! I mean he beats the shit out of him in the corner the way Vader usually does to everyone else. Dustin suplex on Vader! He goes for an elbow off the top but Vader dodges it. Vader bomb for 2. Rude pounds Dustin's back and hits a front suplex. "You ain't shit, Rhodes!". Not PG. Dustin blocks and hits a front suplex of his own. Sid kips up out of a Dustin headscissors and kills him with a clothesline. Vader tries coming off the second rope but Dustin catches and powerslams him! Rude goes for a tombstone but Dustin reverses and plants Rude with one. They do the ref didn't see the tag bit but screw it, everyone in the pool! Sting and Vader fight on the floor. Vader dodges and Sting Stinger splashes the guardrail! Vader gets the briefcase, whacks Dustin with it, and Rude covers for the pin. Helluva sprint. ***1/2

 

2 out of 3 Falls Match for the Unified WCW and NWA World Tag Team Championship: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair and Arn Anderson def The Hollywood Blondes (c) by DQ in 20:45- This is Flair's first match back in WCW after his WWF no-compete expired. Austin and Pillman did their famous "A Flair for the Old" promo in the build to this. Mocking Flair and Arn's age in 1993. If they'd only known how many more years Flair would keep wrestling. 

FIRST FALL- Arn and Pillman start. Pillman mocks him with some slick Ric, then backs Arn into the corner and gives him the camera crank. Arn says screw this and dumps him to the mat. Flair struts on the apron. Pillman slaps Arn and that really sets him off. Pillman begs off as cover to get in an eye poke. Arn should have seen that coming. He kicks Pillman into the heel corner and orders Austin to tag in. They start working, but Arn hears the huge "We want Flair" chant from the crowd, stops, and reaches out to tag Flair. Flair gives Austin the real slick Ric. The crowd is molten. Chops! Flair backdrops Austin then flips Pillman in the ring by the hair! Early insanity with action everywhere. Austin eye pokes Flair and scrambles to the floor for a breather, but as soon as he gets back in gets pounded down again. Arn works his arm a bit in true Anderson fashion. Hammerlock slam. Flair hits the kneedrop and smoothly rolls over to the heel corner and chops Pillman! While Arn's cranking Austin's arm Flair and Pillman almost come to blows on the apron. While ref Nick Patrick gets Flair back Pillman chokes Arn with his towel, a classic Blondes maneuver. Excuse me, VINTAGE Blondes. Arn goes Horseman in peril. He tries to fight out of the corner with chops and headbutts. DDT on Austin! Tags. As he's getting out of the ring Pillman clips Arn's chronically bad knee. Flair runs right to the top rope and hits a double ax handle. Inverted atomic drop and mounted punches on Pillman. Austin comes in from behind and the Blondes double team. Arn grabs Austin's boot, and Flair hits Pillman with a flying forearm and gets a pin! As they're going to break Buffer has a massive Lillian Botch and starts announcing the Horsemen as the new champs. Did he pay any attention at all to any of the prep? He reads the stuff his staff prepares for him less than Kamala Harris.

SECOND FALL- Pillman and Flair have a full on cannon shot chop exchange. So fantastic. Flair Flip! He lands on the apron and chops both Blondes! Pillman pushes and Flair splats on the floor. Austin suplexes Flair on the floor! More Pillman chops outside. Flair gets run into and dropped on the guardrail. Flair Flop! Back in Austin gives Flair more chops while Pillman chokes him with the towel. Austin hits a superplex! Flair chops back out of the corner but collapses. Another Pillman/Flair chop exchange. Never gets old. Midring collision. Tags! Arn backdrops Austin. World's Greatest Spinebuster! Pillman saves the pin. While the ref's pulling Flair back Pillman clips Arn's knee again! Austin covers. Kickout! The Blondes start picking Arn's knee apart. He can't even stand after an Irish whip. Pillman hooks in a single leg crab. Arn enzuguri outta nowhere! Austin cuts off the tag. More knee work. Pillman comes off the second rope but Arn gets a boot up! Tag to Flair! Chops for everyone. Pillman gets thrown over the top to the floor. Back suplex on Austin. Figure four! Barry Windham runs in, jumps on Flair off the top rope and draws the DQ. Screw attacking Flair, I'm booing the hell out of Windham just for ending that match. Paul Roma comes in from the crowd and everyone brawls in the ring until the heels run off. What an absolutely phenomenal match. Stick a clean finish on it and it's the full monty, no question. ****3/4

Flair jumps Windham during an interview and they brawl again to close the show with Tony yelling "We're out of time folks!", something that would become a fun cliche during the Bischoff era.

OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS- This is a hell of a pleasant surprise hidden in what's otherwise a very rough year. Once again the unified tag title match steals the show, as it did a lot during the unified title run, but all of the top three matches are more than worth the time.

OVERALL SHOW GRADE: A-

WrestleMania XII

Legacy Review

WrestleMania XII

March 31, 1996 from The Pond in Anaheim, CA

Commentary: Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler

This is another tiny card, tiny arena mid-'90s WM, but this time the tiny card is due to the big 60 minute Ironman match main eventing and WWF still keeping the shows at around the 2:45 range. The opening video hyping up the Ironman match is quality stuff. For the first and, unless there's something I'm forgetting, only time in WWF/E history the show logo is printed on the ring mat. Not on the Network copy is the Free For All preshow match, which saw the Bodydonnas defeat the Godwinn brothers in a tournament final for the vacant WWF Tag Team titles (vacated by the Smoking Gunns in February due to a Billy Gunn neck injury).

Vader, "The King of Harts" Owen Hart and "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith (w/Jim Cornette) def Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Ahmed Johnson and Yokozuna (w/Mr. Fuji) in 13:08- This was originally scheduled as Vader vs Yoko but was changed to a 6 man tag, probably to keep Yoko from having to work a full singles match. If the face team wins they get 5 minutes with Cornette. Vader and Yoko immediately shove and start slugging it out. All out six man brawl! Owen and Bulldog get tossed out and Yoko clotheslines Vader 360 to the floor. Johnson hits Vader with his wild out of control plancha. After he lands the heels beat him down on the floor. Things settle in with Yoko and Vader in the ring. Vader gets Yoko in the heel corner and lays in the potato shots. Yoko no sells an Owen dropkick to his back. Bulldog saves Owen from a Yoko avalanche and they team up to pummel Yoko down. Yoko ducks a Vader punch and hits him with a rock bottom slam! Tag to Johsnon, who cleans house. Powerslam on Bulldog. Vader kills Johnson with a clothesline from behind. The heels go on offense but Johnson decides selling is optional and sets Bulldog up for the Pearl River Plunge. Owen saves him with a missile dropkick, then hits an enzuguri. Vader big splash and tackle. Johnson hits Owen with a wild clothesline and milks the hell out of crawling over to tag Roberts. Short arm clothesline on Owen. The DDT is blocked. Roberts comes off the second rope but Owen gets his knees up. Now it's Roberts' turn to get beat down in the heel corner. Vader hits an avalanche. Roberts is still standing so he gives him a clothesline. Owen elbow off the top for 2. Bulldog powerslam. Roberts kicks out! Vader splash. Roberts kicks out again! It's like a kid is rapid firing the John Cena kick out at 2 button. Roberts dodges a Bulldog legdrop and tags Yoko. Yoko turns the tables and pounds Vader down in the corner. Avalanche. Yoko says screw it, that's enough work, and tags Roberts back in. Bulldog saves Owen from a DDT. DONNYBROOK! DDT! The ref is distracted by all the brawling. Cornette comes in. Roberts sees him coming and cinches him up for a DDT. Vader runs over Roberts from behind. Vader Bomb! No kicking out of that, this one's over. Solid opener. **1/2

Video recap of the Roddy Piper/Goldust feud leading to the Hollywood Backlot Brawl, voiced by none other than Michael Cole in his first WWF job. He definitely sounds like a news reporter. This was supposed to be Goldust and Ramon wrapping up their long feud, but Ramon was suspended by the WWF for repeated drug use.

Hollywood Backlot Brawl (opening segment)- Piper is waiting in an alley with a bat. Goldust drives up in a big gold car and threatens to run Piper over. Piper responds by spraying the car down with a fire hose. He smashes the driver side window. Goldust escapes the other side but Piper tracks him down and goes to work. Goldust gets the bat, the car, the conveniently placed catering table, some dumpsters, and gets busted open. Finally Goldust hits a low blow and scurries back into the car. He drives into Piper! Piper's on the hood and Goldust drives around for a bit with him on there. Piper slides off and Goldust takes off. Piper gets into another conveniently placed car, a white Ford Bronco, and speeds of in pursuit. End scene. Not a bad, and pretty intense, brawl but it would go downhill after this.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin (w/Ted DiBiase) def Savio Vega in 10:05- The Ringmaster is out and Stone Cold is in. We're slowly getting there. As would become his usual MO Austin jumps Vega as he's getting in the ring. Good slugfest. Vega hits a side suplex. Roll around brawl where they both roll to the floor. More brawling there with nice stiff pops. Back in Austin counters a backdrop and posts Vega's shoulder. Vega flips over Austin out of an armbar. Austin ducks a roundhouse kick but eats a superkick. Vince goes to Piper on his cell phone with the sounds of police sirens behind him before it cuts off. Austin posts Vega's shoulder again. Vega hurts his arm going for a clothesline and Austin starts working on it. Piper's on the phone again. Vega tries to flip over again, but this time Austin blocks it and plants him. Psychology! Vega crossbody for 2. Austin Thesz Press! They go into a nice trading rollups and cradles run for near falls but blow the bridge up spot. Vince says they've got a camera on Piper and.....it's the OJ Simpson chase footage. It's only a quick shot but there's no doubt. I remember watching this on the night and thinking it was the dumbest thing I'd ever seen. Meanwhile Vega hits a spinning heel kick. Austin gets his knees up on a splash attempt. Vega small package for 2. Austin tries coming off the top but Vega gets a boot up. Pillar to post beating. Austin ducks another spinning heel kick and the ref gets taken out. DiBiase slips Austin the Million Dollar belt. He whacks Vega with it and hooks on the Million Dollar Dream. DiBiase revives the ref with a face full of coke. He checks Vega, sees he's out and calls for the bell. **3/4

More OJ chase footage. Vince: "This footage looks awfully familiar." Tony Stark eye roll.

 

The Ultimate Warrior def Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/Sable) in 1:39- This is Sable's debut. MASSIVE pop for the Warrior in his much hyped WWF return after being away for nearly four years. In fact out of wrestling almost completely, only making sporadic appearances on the independent circuit. He milks his entrance for all its worth. When he's finally had enough Trips jumps him from behind. Pedigree! Warrior pops right back up! Forever clotheslines, tackle, gorilla press, splash, classic Warrior squash done. Warrior's crowd reaction noticeably got quieter as the match went on, a sign of how things would go this run. The magic was gone. Trips did this on the promise of a big push later in the year, but that was derailed by a little thing known as the Curtain Call. NR

Todd Pettingill introduces another new WWF signee, "Wildman" Marc Mero (formerly Johnny B Badd in WCW). As they're talking Trips wanders in, bumps into Mero, and that sets off a big backstage brawl. After that is more OJ chase footage, ostensibly of Piper "heading in the direction of the arena". Uh huh. I get wanting to save some cash in not having to film an actual car chase, but come on, pick some footage that people aren't going to instantly recognize.

 

The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer) def Diesel in 16:46- These guys cost each other WWF Title matches the past couple of PPVs to build up a pretty heated feud. Diesel is creeping more and more toward straight heel instead of tweener but still gets a near 50/50 reaction on his entrance. Another immediate slugfest. Must be Wrestlemania. Huge corner clothesline from Diesel. He goes for another one but Taker gets a boot up. A clothesline sends Taker 360 and out and of course he lands on his feet. He drags Diesel out for some floor brawling. Diesel takes a stair shot. Back in Diesel fights out of an early tombstone attempt. Taker crossbody (!) for 2. Rope walk drop. Diesel dodges another crossbody. Taker drops Diesel's throat across the top rope. A punch sends Diesel 360 over to the floor, and he also lands on his feet. Taker grabs a chair, but misses the target and whacks the post. Diesel whips Taker into the guardrail and posts his back, then gets back in to pose for the crowd and gets almost nothing but boos. Big boot and Diesel goes into full cocky strut mode. He's turning into almost full NWO Kevin Nash right before our eyes. Side suplex for 2. Snake eyes (ironically a move Taker would appropriate later in his career). Taker hits a back elbow in the corner to turn things around. Simultaneous punches. Simultaneous big boots! After both guys get up Diesel locks in a bear hug. Taker slowly works around to Saito suplex out. Clothesline off the top for 2. Diesel counters a backdrop. Jackknife! No cover. We're getting mega super ultra cocky Nash now. He gently kicks Taker and tells him to get up. Taker does. Second jackknife! Again no cover. Diesel taunts Bearer, then finally slowly goes down to cover. Taker goozles him! Diesel counters with a back suplex. Zombie situp. Diesel realizes he's messed up and backs off. Flying clothesline. Choke slam! Tombstone and good night. It had some moments but didn't come together as well as it could have. Taker goes to 5-0 at WM in easily the "best" match of the streak so far. He continues to slowly throw off the gimmick shackles and wrestle a more athletic and realistic style. **1/4

Goldust and Piper tear into the arena vehicle entrance. Piper sideswipes Goldust's car! Both guys get out and work their way into the arena.....

 

Hollywood Backlot Brawl (In-Arena Segment)- They brawl into the ring where Goldust takes control with some pounding and fondling. He attacks Piper's wounded leg a bit. Goldust goes up top and Piper shakes him off. While he's sitting on the top rope Goldust headbutts Piper, then kisses him! That really sets Piper off. He grabs Goldust in a very traditional hold, the Greco Roman Nut Vice, then bends him over and spanks him. No no, he's only going to enjoy that. Piper pulls Goldust's ring gear off and exposes a full set of lingerie underneath. One more nut shot and Goldust bails while Marlena tries to cover him up. Piper's music plays so I guess he's the "winner". This would turn out to be Piper's last WWF appearance before moving to WCW with the rest of his fellow '80s stars in the fall.

Another hype video narrated by Michael Cole, this time for the Ironman match. Before kicking off main event intros Howard Finkel announces Gorilla Monsoon, returning from the Vader attack and injury angle, to the crowd and confirms he is once again WWF President. All well and good but I'd much rather have him back on commentary.

 

60 Minute Ironman Match for the WWF Championship: "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels (w/Jose Lothario) def Bret "Hitman" Hart (c) in 61:56- Shawn does his legendary zipline entrance from the top of the arena. Wonder if he landed where they planned him to or if he just ended up where he ended up. Afterward a mic'd up Hebner gives instructions and desperately tries to remember his lines.

0:00-15:00- First lockup of the whole night! Shawn gets a waistlock takedown and both guys maneuver for leverage but it ends in a standoff. Shawn keeps outwrestling Bret to get in his head. Bret works over into a headlock and keeps Shawn in that for a while off and on. Shawn tries to power out so Bret works over into a front facelock. After a speed run Shawn gets a couple of armdrags and works hold #642, ARMBAR. Bret does the smoothest and crispest drop toe hold ever. Shawn turns it over into a hammerlock. On a corner break Bret hits an elbow to Shawn's chest to ratchet things up a bit. Shawn turns them around and pummels Bret with forearms. A Shawn flying headscissors sends Bret to the floor. He takes his time getting back in and we have a reset lockup. Shawn fireman carries Bret over into hold #187, ARMBAR. On another speed run Bret uses momentum to send Shawn over the top, but Shawn skins the cat back in and goes back to the arm. Bret with a knee to the gut on a rope run. Shawn jawbreakers out of a chinlock. Bret catches a Shawn leapfrog and hits a spinebuster. He goes for the Sharpshooter but Shawn fights it off. Shawn gets clotheslined 360 over to the floor. Bret follows but gets posted and falls on top of a young Tony Chimel sitting in the timekeeper's area. Shawn goes for a superkick. Bret ducks and SHAWN SUPERKICKS CHIMEL! OH THE HUMANITY!

15:01-30:00- Slow work in the ring so all the replays of Chimel getting killed can be shown on TV. Finally he gets stretchered out. Both guys trade clotheslines. The crowd is still very into it, they're holding interest really well despite all the pacing for the long match. Shawn slips out of a slam. Bret blocks a roll up attempt. Shawn hits a dropkick and goes to the arm again. Bret's starting to hit Flair levels of scream selling. He works Shawn into the corner and hits back elbows. Huge Bret European uppercuts. Shawn reverses a corner whip and posts Bret's shoulder. Shoulderbreaker. Double ax handle off the top rope to the shoulder. Hammerlock slam. Airtight psychology from Shawn so far, laser focused on taking Bret's arm apart. Commentary is surprised he's gone that way instead of his usual high flying, but it's sound strategery as it wasn't something Bret was expecting. Bret goes for a backdrop but Shawn pops his shoulder again. Fujiwara armbar. Bret leverages up and uses his boot sole to eye rake out. Bret lifts Shawn up and hits a hot shot on the second rope! He slingshots Shawn into the post! Bret's slow to cover and Shawn kicks out. Bret inverted atomic drop for 2. Bulldog. Bret goes up top. Shawn tries to slam him off. Bret blocks it and falls down, with his knee falling on the back of Shawn's head on the way down. Hebner got knocked down in that exchange too as we hit the halfway mark.

30:01-45:00- Hebner's OK. Shawn hits a powerslam for 2. Bret piledriver! Shawn just kicks out! The crowd bit hard on that one. Bret goes up again and this time Shawn successfully slams him off. Shawn hurricanrana! He sets up for a superkick. Bret bails to the floor to a chorus of boos. Shawn crossbody off the top to the floor! He doesn't want the countout and rolls Bret back in. Another crossbody off the top in the ring, but Bret rolls through it for a 2 count! Backslide leverage fight. Shawn flips over and wraps up a small package for 2. Shawn with a Perfectplex! Bret kicks out! Digging deep in the playbook here. Shawn slaps on a sleeper. They do the arm drops and Bret powers out. Shawn charges. Bret backdrops him over the corner all the way to the floor! Great shot there with the active cameraman having to dodge Shawn on the way down. Kevin Dunn would have found a way to ruin that with 5 camera cuts minimum. Bret posts Shawn's back and goes to work on it in the ring. Shawn flip in the corner and he lands on the top rope. Bret hops up and gives him a back superplex! Shawn sunset flip for 2. Bret goes back to the back. He sets Shawn up for a superplex. Shawn fights out and tries coming off the second rope but Bret catches him with a punch in the gut. Russian leg sweep. Corner whip and Shawn FLIES over the corner to the floor, taking Lothario down with him! Bret whips Shawn into the stairs and Lothario goes down again. Bret clearly doesn't give a shit if Lothario lives or dies, walking right past him to get to Shawn.

45:01-60:00- Bret belly to belly for 2. Shawn tries to fight back but Bret pops him in the back again to cut it off. Shawn flips out of a suplex and rolls Bret up for 2. The kickout sent Shawn to the floor. TOPE SUICIDA! Shawn crawls back to the ring. Bret tries to suplex him back in but Shawn slips out again. After a standing switch Bret hits a German suplex with a bridge for 2. Slugfest. Both guys are showing clear exhaustion. Bret hooks in a double chinlock with 10 minutes left. Double clothesline! Bret sets Shawn up on the top rope.....SUPERPLEX! Bret goes for the Sharpshooter but Shawn fights it off again. Bret tries a figure four instead, then switches to a single leg crab. Shawn gets to the ropes. 5 minutes left. Bret tries the backbreaker/second rope elbow combo but Shawn gets a boot up. Shawn dropkick. Bret bump! 4 minutes left. Flying forearm. Kip up! 3 minutes left. Shawn double ax handle off the top for 2. I think he was planning a moonsault there but bailed out at the last second, realizing he couldn't do it safely or something. Elbow off the top for 2. Gutwrench powerbomb. 2 minutes left. Now Shawn hits the moonsault! Bret kicks out! Shawn hurricanrana off the second rope with a cradle! Bret kicks out again! ONE MINUTE. Shawn can barely stand. He comes off the top rope again. Bret catches him. SHARPSHOOTER! 30 seconds left! Shawn holds on! The bell rings for the time. It's a good old fashioned 60 minute draw. Hebner gives Bret the belt back and he leaves. Monsoon gets in the ring and confers with Hebner. Fink gets on the mic and says this match will continue with sudden death rules! There must be a winner! Bret comes back looking very pissed off and argues with Monsoon, but then tells them to ring the bell so he can finish it.

OVERTIME- Bret goes right back to Shawn's hurt back. Backdrop. Backbreaker. Shawn flips over in the corner and hits the superkick! Both guys are down and slowly crawl back up. SUPERKICK! Shawn falls on Bret and gets the pin and the title! Huge pop and celebration. Another famous moment here as Shawn tells Hebner to tell Bret to get out of the ring, and when Hebner relays the message Bret has a very "What the fuck?" look on his face. It was urban legend for years that this was a legit dickhead Shawn moment, but it's come out since it was all part of the plan to build to the expected rematch at the next WM, which of course got Meltzered. Vince has possibly his greatest moment on commentary, with the legendary "The boyhood dream has come true!". Bret would take some time off after this to do some acting work and rest up his body after years of grueling full time wrestling before coming back in the fall.

I have a lot of thoughts on this match so bear with me here. For years I agreed with those that thought it was good but overrated, mostly because of the lack of decisions before the deciding pin in OT. As time has gone on though I've come to appreciate this match more and more as a true masterpiece. One reason was listening to Bret and Shawn commentate the whole thing on the Bret vs Shawn Rivalry blu ray set, where they laid the whole plan out step by step and showed how well they stuck to it the whole match. Even more recently I've become enamored with the art of the 60 minute draw and really enjoy how it's had a small comeback in modern wrestling (Okada/Omega II at Dominion 2018, Hangman Page and Bryan Danielson on Dynamite). The intensity and especially the crispness in the wrestling was off the charts here. I've said for many years a huge thing that separates the truly great wrestlers from the really good is doing all the little things right. Kevin Owens is a great example of this, no detail is too small for him. In this match all the little things were done absolutely perfectly. Combine that with the wrestling PhD level layout, an intense feud, a huge new star crowned and a hot crowd, and it's easily one of the greatest Wrestlemania matches of all time. *****

OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS- You can't get more one match show than this, with the main event taking up nearly half of the show's runtime. Thankfully it's tremendous. But everything on the undercard fell in the decent to average category, making this a pretty solid WM top to bottom as WWF continues to slowly bridge from the mostly horrible New Generation era to the Attitude Era.

OVERALL SHOW GRADE: B+

Slamboree '93

Legacy Review

Slamboree '93: A Legends' Reunion

May 23, 1993 from the Omni in Atlanta

Commentary: Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko

 

This is less a new PPV and more a rebranding. The past two years the May PPV was the first Superbrawl ('91), and the last Wrestle War ('92) after Superbrawl II took Wrestle War's former February slot. And this is almost needing a chart now. Moving on. After the success of the legends' appearances at the 20th anniversary Clash of the Champions in '92 WCW decided to expand the concept to a full PPV, including several matches involving the legends.

All the legends are crammed together in the ring to start the show. Apparently they were all introduced to the crowd beforehand because there's no on-screen intros. That'd eat up the first half hour of TV time anyway so I shouldn't complain. The Jim Herd era raised entrance ramp is back! I'm also not going to complain about that. Tony says Jesse Ventura is in the hospital back in Minnesota so Zbyszko is filling in. Maxx Payne plays during the opening again. A bunch of barefoot wrestlers carry out The Fabulous Moolah in a chariot. New WCW showrunner Eric Bischoff is still doing the hosting gig with Missy Hyatt. Their light goes out in the middle of their segment. Clearly Vince's saboteurs are in the building.

 

2 Cold Scorpio and Marcus Alexander Bagwell def Chris Benoit and "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton in 9:22- I forgot to mention in the Superbrawl III review that Eaton had been fired by Bill Watts in a Nick Khan style cost cutting move soon after the Dangerous Alliance started coming apart, and he's just coming back after Bischoff re-hired him. I think they had finally settled on Benoit as a heel at this point. Scorpio and Bagwell have matching gear, showing they're a serious tag team. Benoit and Scorpio start with a crazy speed/counter run echoing their Superbrawl match. Scorpio ends it with a dropkick and armdrag. Benoit suckers Bagwell in and Eaton hits Scorpio from behind. Scorpio hits a springboard reverse crossbody. Eaton tries to break up the pin but Scorpio sees him coming and Eaton elbow drops Benoit. Double dropkicks send the heels to the floor. Benoit holds Bagwell from the apron, but when Eaton charges Bagwell backdrops him over Benoit to the floor! Bagwell's hands slip and Benoit flips himself into the ring. After another miscommunication the heels regroup on the floor again. Benoit hits Bagwell from the apron and Eaton tosses him to the floor, sending Bagwell face in peril. Eaton kneedrop off the top rope. The heels double team while Scorpio protests. Benoit hits a back suplex for two and wraps Bagwell in a headscissors with leverage help from Eaton. Bagwell gets his knees up on a Benoit splash off the top and gets the hot tag. Scorpio runs wild. Donnybrook! Scorpio hits the twisty splash off the top. Eaton breaks the pin up. The heels take each other out yet again. Eaton's one of the best tag wrestlers of all time, you'd think he'd keep that from happening. Scorpio hits a 360 legdrop off the top on Benoit for the pin. Rock solid. It tried hard to be good but didn't quite get there. **1/2

 

Sid Vicious (w/Col. Robert Parker) def Van Hammer in :35- Hammer comes out in a generic singlet with no bells or whistles. I guess Payne won the guitar gimmick at kangaroo court or something. Parker had just arrived in WCW a few weeks prior. He will be the promotion's top manager for the next several years. Hammer's repeatedly turned down his offers to join his stable, so Parker's got a mystery opponent to teach him a lesson. Sid is his big surprise, making his WCW return a good year after leaving WWF. He gets a massive pop too, it's a true surprise no one was expecting. Hammer tries, but Sid kills him with a clothesline, plants him with the powerbomb and good night. NR

 

Don Muraco, Dick Murdoch & "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka and Blackjack Mulligan, Jim Brunzell & Wahoo McDaniel go to a no contest in 9:06- The first of three legends matches tonight. The choice of team pairings is....interesting. The Muraco/Murdoch/Snuka team are the nominal heels. Brunzell and Snuka start with some slow basics. Mulligan hiptosses and armdrags Murdoch, who tries to tag out in the wrong corner. After some more back and forth Murdoch tries to walk up the aisle. Wahoo cuts him off. Wahoo gets worked over in the heel corner. He's still got the chops, which he uses to get out. Brunzell comes in with a dropkick. MURDOCH DOES A FLYING HEADSCISSORS ON BRUNZELL! That almost deserves a "holy shit" chant. Damn! Brunzell responds with an armdrag and a sleeper. Murdoch backs him into the heel corner. Muraco hits a powerslam and legdrops. Muraco accidentally clotheslines Snuka! This really works because old fans remember their WWF feud, whether WCW mentions it or not. Murdoch gingerly climbs the top rope and faceplants Brunzell. Brunzell crossbody on Muraco for 2. Desperation small package on Snuka for 2. Now Snuka accidentally chops Muraco! They shove each other in the ring, allowing the faces to sneak in and roll them up. Everyone in the pool! After a minute the ref calls for the bell, throwing the match out because it's gone completely out of control. Weak finish. Somewhere in there had to be willing to do the job, it's not like they're working regularly and have a spot to protect anymore. After the bell Snuka flies over the top rope for no reason and legit bangs his head on the announce table. There was some sloppiness, but overall not a bad match for a bunch of retirees. It even had a story. *3/4

 

Thunderbolt Patterson and Bob Brad Armstrong def Ivan Koloff and Baron Von Rashke in 4:39- Patterson is kind of a poor man's Junkyard Dog. He's from Atlanta so he gets a huge reaction. He says Bob Armstrong is out because of a bad knee and he's willing to take both guys on himself! The heels run down the whole Armstrong family, so Brad Armstrong comes out to take his dad's place in his street clothes. Big brawl start. After a couple of minutes the faces stand tall. Koloff headbutts the guardrail in frustration. He was a unique guy. When things settle back in Rashke can't handle Patterson's jiving around. Patterson slips out of headlock attempts. Koloff muscles Armstrong down. Rashke hooks on the claw and Patterson makes the save. After more donnybrooking Patterson hits Rashke with a throat chop to get the pin. Sure, make your full time wrestler look like a geek. Though to be fair it's not like they ever saw Armstrong as much more than a jobber anyway. 1/2*

Next up is a PPV segment of the Flair for the Gold talk show, which was how they kept Flair on TV while he waited out his WWF no compete clause. Flair had promised a Four Horsemen reunion and reformation tonight. First out is Arn Anderson. Arn is wrestling Barry Windham tonight so Windham's out of the reunion and the group. He's been a dick lately anyway. They also mention Tully Blanchard won't make it tonight and blame Windham. In reality it's because Blanchard thought WCW was lowballing him with the money they offered to appear and turned it down. Next out is Ole Anderson. JJ Dillon goes completely unmentioned because he's working for the WWF. After that is an infamous moment in Horsemen history. To fill the last spot, Flair introduces a brand new Horseman. And he is.....Paul Roma. The crowd is less than thrilled. Roma, no shock, was a disaster in the group and lasted less than a year before getting kicked out. Flair closes the segment by challenging the Hollywood Blondes for the tag titles, and says "The tights are coming back on". After that is an ad for the next PPV, Beach Blast in July. Johnny Valentine joins commentary for what's essentially the main event of the legends' portion of tonight's program.

 

Dory Funk Jr (w/Gene Kiniski) and Nick Bockwinkel (w/Verne Gagne) go to a 15:00 time limit draw- This is billed as "NWA vs AWA", which they could do since AWA finally had its final death rattle a couple of years ago. Cautious start with lockup stalemates. They swap hammerlocks with Bockwinkel coming out on top and cranking it. Funk hits his uppercuts in the corner and works his way out of a headscissors. After a slam tradeoff Funk powders. Back in Funk hits a back elbow and more uppercuts. Forearm tradeoff in the corner, and they're fairly stiff too. Bockwinkel gets in it with Kiniski, who more than anyone else in this match is trying to heel it up. You'd think that'd be Bockwinkel's natural wheelhouse. Funk fights out of a Boston crab attempt and back suplexes out of a headlock. Both guys are fighting for standing leverage at the 5 minutes left call. Reset with 4 minutes left. They trade shots in the corner. Bockwinkel has a headlock with 3 minutes left. A Funk uppercut sends Bockwinkel to the ramp. He suplexes Bockwinkel back in for 2. 2 minutes left. Funk hits a piledriver. Bockwinkel gets a foot on the rope. Bockwinkel counters a double underhook into a backslide for 2. Funk cranks up his patented spinning toe hold with one minute left. Bockwinkel small package for 2! Figure four! Kiniski helps Funk get to the rope. After a couple more near falls the bell rings for the time limit. They get a nice respect ovation from the crowd, who seemed pretty indifferent most of the match. Not too shabby, especially for a couple of very grupy grups. The mat wrestling was intense, and even though I thought they were running out of steam at around 5 minutes left but both guys held enough in reserve for a really nice stretch run. **1/2

 

"Ravishing" Rick Rude and WCW World Television Champion "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff def Kensuke Sasaki and "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes in 9:25- Rude comes in wearing the US title belt and is announced as the US Champion following a controversial decision over Dustin on TV the week before. However, not long after this show the title was retroactively vacated due to the controversy and the title change was erased from the records books. Rude and Dustin would spend all summer having non-decisive matches over the vacant title before Dustin finally got it back in August. Add Rude to the list of guys that got shitty new music after the Bischoff takeover. Sasaki and Rude start. Sasaki takes a minute to check Rude out from every angle, then shoves him across the ring all the way back to the heel corner! Rude pounds away. Sasaki goes nuts jerking Rude's arm out of its socket. Rude is selling like, well, Rude. He was so damn great. Orndorff tags in and the faces work his arm for a bit. After that Dustin and Rude end up in together and the intensity picks up several notches. Hockey fight slugfest! Both guys get knees up in the corner. Rude dodges a wild Dustin charge and he flies over the top to the floor! Nice touch with Zbyszko calling him "overemotional" from commentary. Orndorff rams Dustin into the guardrail while the ref is distracted. Back in Rude hits a swinging neckbreaker for 2. Hip swivel! Dustin gets worked over as face in peril for a bit. Rude goes for a piledriver but Dustin blocks it. Rude tries to turn it around into a tombstone. Dustin reverses it and hits almost a package piledriver! Orndorff cuts the tag off. Midring collision. Dustin rolls over and tags! Sasaki and Rude need a couple of moves to get on the same page but they do. Inverted atomic drop with that classic Rude sell. Sasaki does the hip swivel! Well that's just rude. No pun intended. Forever clotheslines and Rude begs off. Sasaki presses Rude as everyone gets in. Sasaki goes to the top rope. Orndorff shoves him off. Rude hits the Rude Awakening (with a nice job by Sasaki fighting it the whole way down) and it's over. Good stuff. ***

Gordon Solie emcees the announcement of the inaugural class for the brand new WCW Hall of Fame. After a moment of silence for wrestlers who had recently passed away, including Andre the Giant, the class is announced: Lou Thesz, Verne Gagne, Mr. Wrestling II and the late Eddie Graham.

 

Sting def The Prisoner in 5:16- This was originally supposed to be Sting against Scott Norton, but in true WCW planning style Norton was still in Japan. To replace him, they signed the artist formerly known as Nailz off the street. That's right, the guy WWF fired for literally trying to murder Vince McMahon over money. That guy. Wonder if Bischoff saw that as a positive or a negative character reference? He looks exactly the same as he did in WWF. Same orange jumpsuit, and he's even still got Boss Man's nightstick! At the bell Prisoner goes right to the chokes. And chokes. And more chokes. Back elbow and yet more chokes. He hits some super weak chops in the corner. Backbreaker! He did a wrestling move! Sting dodges a corner charge and goes punchy. Prisoner responds with punchy and eye rakey. Sting gets tossed to the floor. Prisoner chokes him with a TV cable for, you know, variety. Back in Sting ducks a clothesline and hits his own, with Prisoner having no idea how to sell it. Backdrop. Stinger Splash! Sting covers for 2. Prisoner dodges an elbow drop. He gets mad at the ref, allowing Sting to climb to the top rope behind his back. Clothesline from Sting and that gets the pin. Sting gets out of town in one hell of a hurry with that Victory Road '11 look on his face again. Like any Nailz match, this was complete and total shit. DUD

 

Steel Cage Match for the Unified WCW and NWA World Tag Team Championship: The Hollywood Blondes (c) def Dos Hombres in 16:08- The Blondes defeated Steamboat and Shane Douglas for the titles on weekly TV in March. After that the Blondes lost to a masked lucha team calling themselves Dos Hombres in a non-title match, who were after revealed to be Steamboat and Douglas. Well, Steamboat. Douglas, as was his occasional wont, had a falling out with management and wasn't present then or now. He'd next be seen in his first ECW run. Tonight Tom Zenk is playing Shane Douglas in a mask. The masks are a fun angle, but they make trying to recap the match accurately hell. They could at least be different patterns or something. Even though the tag titles are officially still unified they've gone back to just one set of belts. Austin and who we figure pretty quick is Steamboat start. Austin goes right for the mask. Steamboat exchanges chops with both Blondes. Pillman takes the first of many cage shots. DEEP armdrag. Austin gets pushed into the cage. After a crazy speed run Austin gets backdropped into the cage! An atomic drop sends him into the cage again. Good Pillman/Zenk back and forth. They were partners and opponents in the past so they know each other well. Steamboat presses Pillman and throws him into the cage! Austin gets back in. Steamboat suplexes him, and Austin gets tied up in a tree of woe on the top of the cage! Steamboat splashes him. Zenk gets whipped to also splash Austin, but Austin's feet came unhooked at the same time and they have a pretty ugly collision and fall. They take a second to check on each other before continuing. Zenk goes hombre in peril. Austin snap mare and elbow off the second rope for 2. Pillman chokes Zenk with his towel. He tries coming off the second rope but Zenk gets a boot up. Austin cuts the tag off. After a whip reversal Zenk hits a dropkick and Austin's in the cage again. Austin has been flying around with 150% intensity all match and it's amazing to watch. Another tag is cut off with a spinebuster. The Blondes go for a rocket launcher. Zenk gets his knees up! Tags! Steamboat chops and throws both heels into the cage. Austin tries to climb out. Steamboat lifts him in an electric chair and drops him! DONNYBROOK! The Hombres do stereo mounted punches. Everyone hits the cage. Steamboat takes his mask off so everyone knows for sure it's him and goes all the way to the top of the cage. CROSSBODY OFF THE TOP OF THE CAGE ONTO BOTH BLONDES! AND THE BLONDES KICK OUT! The timekeeper frakked up and rang the bell early but everyone thankfully keeps going with no confusion. Both Blondes kick out of Steamboat DDTs and a double dropkick. Stun Gun on Zenk outta nowhere! Austin covers for the win! Amazing match, with Pillman and especially Austin going all freaking out on smashing themselves into the cage. Great finish too, with the Blondes almost coming out like babyfaces kicking out of everything and getting a clean pin. You can quibble about the ref not caring about who was legal in the stretch run, but it's a cage match, it makes sense. ****

 

NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Barry Windham (c) def Arn Anderson in 10:55- This is Arn's one and only shot at a world title on a major show. Mixed reactions for both guys even though Arn has clearly been booked as the face and Windham the heel. This is Windham in his "lone wolf" phase, the guy that doesn't need the Horsemen. Shoulderblock and quick cover by Arn to get in Windham's head. Windham leapfrogs. Arn slams on the brakes and hits a belly to belly for 2! Windham is shocked. No no no Tony, we will not speak of Paul Roma in the Horsemen. Stop it. Verboten. Arn hits a backdrop. A straight right from Windham floors Arn. Arn ducks another punch and hits a DDT! Windham powders. Back in Arn tries coming off the second rope but Windham kills him with a clothesline. Windham DDT and elbow drop for 2. Arn goes to the floor. Windham tries to flip him back in, but Arn blocks it and flips Windham to the floor! Rail shot for Windham and he's busted open. Arn works it. Small package for 2. Windham is gushing really good, almost a full crimson mask. Arn goes up top. Windham dropkicks him off and all the way to the floor! Arn hurt his knee on the way down. Windham hits a suplex on the floor, then a lariat off the top back in. Kneedrop to the back of Arn's head for 2. Arn tries a suplex but Windham blocks it and hits the floatover suplex for 2. World's Greatest Spinebuster! But Arn's hurt and can't cover! Windham rolls out, grabs the belt and takes a walk. Arn smartly takes the ref out first so he can't count, then chases. He throws Windham over the top back in, with Windham doing an incredible extended midair flop. Arn pounds away in the corner and pushes the ref away every time he tries to stop him. After a few times the ref goes down and Arn realizes he's pushed too far. Windham with a belt shot! He covers Arn for the pin. Damn good match with two old friends, even late in their careers, going out and laying it all out there with all action and pretty much no resting. It's very a '80s NWA match too which is only appropriate on a number of levels. I just wish they'd gotten more time to let it breathe a little more. ***1/2

 

WCW World Heavyweight Championship: "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith def Big Van Vader (c) (w/Harley Race) by DQ in 16:16- In one of '93 WCW's few good angles, Vader was running roughshod over the whole company and had just put the indestructible Cactus Jack in the hospital. Bulldog is one of the few guys that can stop the reign of terror, so he thinks, because he can match Vader in strength. Bulldog no sells a clothesline and the big Vader tackle. A corner beatdown from Vader finally rocks Bulldog. Bulldog goes to the floor and Race gets a punch in. DBS dodges a charge on the floor and Vader flips over the rail into the first row! Then Bulldog lifts him back over the rail and slams him on the floor! Back in Bulldog hits the delayed suplex to the delight of the crowd. Vader gets a boot up in the corner and tries coming off the second rope. Bulldog catches and powerslams him! A clothesline sends Vader 360 and out. Back in Bulldog tries a crucifix but Vader drops him. Vader hits elbows to the *ahem* lower midsection. Vader bomb! Bulldog kicks out! Huge Vader potato shots. Tackle off the second rope and more potatoes in the corner. Bulldog fights off a superplex attempt and shouts out Dynamite Kid with a headbutt off the top rope. Both guys are down. Bulldog gets a roll up for 2. Vader big splash off the top rope! But he had tweaked his sternum/ribs area earlier in the match, and hit that spot too hard to cover now! Another Vader corner beatdown. He hits a butt splash and puts on a double chinlock. Bulldog lifts him up in an electric chair and drops him! Bulldog clotheslines for 2. Vader tries an avalanche. Bulldog catches and powerslams him! Damn! Race pulls Bulldog off the pin attempt. Bulldog's had enough of him and takes him out. While that's going on Vader grabs Zbyszko's chair and whacks Bulldog with it for the cheap DQ. Vader looks to continue the assault. He brushes aside Bagwell and Scorpio, but Sting comes out to make the save. Bad finish aside that was a pretty good match. It shows how damn good Vader was- he made sure to make Bulldog look great (not to say Bulldog didn't hold his end of the power game because he did) and still came off looking like a complete badass, DQ or no DQ. **3/4

OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS- Quite the underrated show this one. There's some bad to be sure, but everything outside the Nailz crap the second half of the show delivers to one degree or another and the legends portion was mostly inoffensive. But don't get your hopes up, there's still lots of awfulness to come in '93.

OVERALL SHOW GRADE: B