Starrcade 1991 from the Tokyo Dome (Japanese title for the show)
March 21, 1991
The tape starts off with a recap of everything that has been going on since WCW landed in Japan. This includes contract signings for the Flair/Fujinami match. Jim Ross informs us that the Japanese rule of titles able to change hands via DQ, will not be followed. However, there will be a 20 count on the outside as opposed to the US 10 count. While everyone is dressed in their suits, we're then shown clips of the tag team title contract signing with Rick Steiner in a cut off t-shirt and hat.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. More a very Orient Express montage of Arn Anderson trying on some clothes and everyone enjoying some food. Jim Herd is grabbing some meat while he still has a job. Load up Jimmy, I have a feeling you won't be lasting much longer. Jim Ross claims it's been a happening here in Japan. Someone's been watching a little too much Gorilla Monsoon I see.
Flyin' Brian, Z-Man and Tim Horner vs Shiro Koshinaka, Kuniaki Kobayashi and Takayuki Iizuka
I have no idea who the Japanese guys are. Z-Man and Pillman are the former WCW US Tag Team Champions. Iizuka looks like a young Kenta Kobashi, Kobayashi looks like Tenryu while Koshinaka looks a little like Orient Express member, Sato. For the sake of me remembering who's who, I'll just call them by who they look like. That's not the least bit racist, right?
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Ross informs us that this match is under Japanese rules. Tenyru starts off with Z-Man. Tenyru instantly makes Zenk his personal bitch. Tag to Pillman and nails a flying closeline to Tenryu. Tag into Sato. The audio in the ring is very high. Everything is sounding louder than normal. I suppose that's one way of making it sound more believable. The Americans make a lot of quick tags. Young Kobashi is tagged in but doesn't fair much better. Zenk and Pillman gets in a few good tag moves together. Pillman sets Young Kobashi on the top rope and just dropkicks him to the floor. Splash to the floor. Back in, Pillman tags in Tim Horner. Horner has a fairly terrible blond mullet, but not as back as say Ricky Morton. Horner and Pillman uses Demolition's Decapitator on Young Kobashi. Kobashi kicks out. Zenk nails a missile dropkick, but Sato saves his partner. Horner hits a splash, but doesn't even come close to landing on Kobashi, it was all on his knees and hands. Pillman uses some nice kicks. More double teaming from the former US Tag Team Champions. Piledriver from Zenk, but Kobashi grabs the ropes. Kobashi chops Pillman some making me think he sees the resemblance in himself to Kenta Kobashi. Young Kobashi finally is able to get in a tag to Sato. Some Butt Butts from Sato. The Japanese aren't even bothering to tag in. Dragon Suplex by Young Kobashi to Horner gets the pinfall.
Not bad, but it felt a little disjointed. The WCW guys got in a lot of moves on Young Kobashi, but the first real chance the Japanese wrestlers gets a pinfall attempt, they win. Young Kobashi looked good, but I didn't get to see much from his partners. Pillman as always looked really strong. For an opener, it wasn't too bad. I'm curious to check out some more Young Kobashi. Now, if only I can remember his real name. 7 Minutes. 2 Stars.
Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone hypes the next match. Tony totally butchers Lyger's name. You might want to learn it, buddy. WCW is about to see the debut of Thunder real soon and I'm not talking about the TV show.
Jushin Lyger vs Akira Nogami - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match
Lyger had just won back the title from Chris Benoit at the end of 1990. Hmm...I wonder if I can find that match somewhere. Akira sprays some silly string like shit from his fingers for his entrance. Akira looks like a gay version of The Great Muta. Lyger begins by just slapping the hell out of Akira's face. Lyger hits a senton to the outside. Lyger tries a splash, but Akira dropkicks Lyger. Both men looks like they're injured. It looks like we're clipped to Lyger getting a two count. Lyger tries a tombstone, but his ankle gives up on him. Akira works over the ankle with some kicks. Akira tries a Figure Four, but Lyger rolls him up for a 2 count. It takes Akira two dropkicks to take down Lyger. Lyger deflects a top rope splash. Powerbomb by Lyger, but it looks like his ankle is still hurting him. Sitdown Powerbomb by Lyger, but Akira kicks out. Big Lariat by Lyger. Lyger sets Akira up on the top rope and nails a top rope DDT for the victory. Ross credits the Steiners for the inspiration behind the move.
There was about 8 minutes clipped from this. I'm wondering whether it was clipped because of time issues (As all Turner videos had to be 2 hours or Lyger was actually injured and the match wasn't that good. Lyger looked really good before the possible injury. I believe WWE 24/7 aired an unedited version of this show, so I assume the full match is out there sometime. 4 Minutes. 2 Stars.
Jim Ross talks about how that was one of the best Junior Heavyweight matches ever. Well fuck you very much for editing it then.
Masa Saito and Masa Chono vs Arn Anderson and Barry Windham
Saito held the WWE Tag Team titles a couple of times with Mr. Fuji back in the day. Chono doesn't have the evil look yet. Barry looks like a gay cowboy from the Waltons. Seriously, stop cutting your hair using a bowl, Bar. Chono and Windham starts off with Chono in charge. Anderson and Windham works together on Chono until Saito is tagged in. The crowd comes awake when he steps in. Nothing too special happens until Chono is tagged back in. Chono sends Windham outside and nails a Suicide Dive through the ropes. Windham with the Saito Suplex on Chono. The tag team trademark, Abdominal Stretch spot is performed by the Horseman. The ref spots it early on though. Saito is tagged in and hits a couple of Saito Suplexes on the Horseman. While the ref is busy getting Chono out of the ring, Windham sneaks in a Lariat on Saito. Anderson covers for the victory. Post-match has Chono giving Windham an enziguri to send him back packing for the US.
A decent match, but it too felt directionless. Even with the Abdominal Stretch heel spot, the Horseman didn't really feel overly heel. This is what happens when you take a wrestler out of their comfort zone. 7 Minutes. 2 1/4 Stars.
Japanese people don't eat hot dogs. So we're shown what they do have at the concession stands.
Big Cat vs El Gigante
Dust off your snow flakes, I'm sure this match will need a lot. Ross tells a story about how everyone wanted to drink with El Gigante, but Gigante doesn't drink, so he had to toast with orange juice. Pfft...some giant you are. El Gigante is very over. It's too bad they didn't keep him. Gigante's music is sort of pimpish. I like it.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Supposedly Gigante wears a size 5XL t-shirt. Big Cat is still Mr. Hughes before the new look. He should be changing his gimmick soon though. Gigante gets a major applause when he's announced. Bill Alphonzo and Gigante compares their hand size. Gigante is huge, I'll give him that. Gigante shows off his agility by bouncing around. Gigante shoves down Cat and Gigante gives a 'WOO'. Body slam to the Big Cat. Cat: "Oh...shit." Cat tries punches Gigante in the gut, but Gigante doesn't even seem to notice them. Several blows to the back of Cat. Gigante teases the Suplex and the fans go crazy. Gigante delivers the best Snap Suplex ever. Okay, that's a lie. Gigante with the claw gets the pinfall.
Yet another terrible match with Gigante, but thanks to the fans reaction, it was actually bearable. I do wonder if Gigante spent more time in Japan. With the kind of reactions he was getting there, he could of made a god living. 3 Minutes. 3/4 Star. The Steiner Brothers vs Hiroshi Hase and Kensuke Sasaki - WCW and IWGP Tag Team Titles Match
This is title vs title. Steiners as guessed are the WCW tag champions while Hase and Sasaki are the IWGP champs. Hase was trained by Stu Hart and is just a year away from creating the Muta Scale. The Steiners are already the US Tag Team Champions, so they could hold three titles at one time. Scott starts with Hase. Scotty uses a Leg Lace to get in a few 2 counts. Hase very quick trips Scott up. Scott kicks out before an one count. Hase avoids a closeline with a mean looking spinning heel kick. Scott tags in Rick. Ross calls Rick unique. That's an understatement. Sasaki is tagged in and instantly takes down Rick. Rick tries jumping over Sasake, but Sasake catches Rick in midair and slams him! Bulldog and a closeline by Sasake before tagging Hase back in. Rick holds onto Hase while he tags in his brother. Scott nails a top rope Angle Slam to Hase. "Eat that now...YEAH!" Scott's great.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Rick turns Hase upside down and rams him into the corner. The crowd is cheering for Hase. Tag back to Scott. Bad ass belly-to-belly from Scott gets a two count. DDT by Scott. Rick's tagged back in and sets Hase up on the top rope. Overhead Belly-to-belly from the top. Sasake breaks up the cover. Rick sends Hase into a Steinerline from Scott. Sitdown Powerbomb by Scott. Hase once again gets help from Sasake. Hase avoids a double back body drop and hits a pair of Rock Bottom like moves to the Steiners. Sasake tagged in and comes close to pinning Rick. Scott gets upset and starts pounding away to Sasake. Sasake hits a Running Powerslam before Superplexing Hase onto Rick. Hase hits a Northern Light Suplex. One...Two...NO! Rick kicks out and Ross puts over how no one does that. Scott with a dropkick to Hase and a Tilt-a-whirl slam. Sasake with a DDT variation. The Japanese tries a top rope bulldog, but Rick breaks it up. Steiner hits their own tag team Bulldog finisher. Rick battles Hase. Franksteiner to Sasake. Scott botches the cover, but manages to hang on and get the victory over Sasake. The Steiners are now holders of three tag titles. The Steiners are awarded the titles and four trophies.
This is the 1991 Wrestling Observer's Match of the Year. The Steiners really mastered the art of the short, but fantastic non-stop action tag match in the early 90's. I do wonder how newer fans would react to the Steiners matches though. With most of these matches being short and without a real backstory, it may not translate as well. I don't know if I'd agree that it was the match of the year though. However, when you compare the regular Steiners match from this time to the WWF, only Randy Savage vs Warrior (WM) and Hart vs Perfect (Summerslam) comes close to being as good. I preferred the Superbrawl match, however; this is still a MOTYC though. 13 Minutes. 4 1/4 Stars.
Ross puts over The Steiners for their history making victory. Ross turns his attention to the next match and how people have been waiting for it.
The Great Muta vs Sting
Muta defeated Sting for the TV title back in 1989. Sting was the second man ever to pin Sting in WCW (The same night as Muta's first match). Their Starrcade match was good, but it wasn't enough time to be anything great. Muta opens the match with a handspring elbow. Sting avoids the Moonsault and no sells a kick. Muta splashes Sting on the outside. Sting gets a knee up to block another splash in the ring. Press Slam to Muta to the outside. Sting shows his agility by splashing Muta. Sting slows the match down with a front facelock. Big Monkey Flip to Muta sends Muta falling down on his chest. Back to the front facelock. Sting breaks it up only to lock it back in. Muta goes for Sting's eyes draws some boos. Stinger Bulldog follows. Sting presses Muta down on the steel railing. The Stinger goes for the Scorpion Deathlock, but Muta makes it to the ropes to break up the hold. Sting avoids a handspring Elbow. Muta moves out of the way of the Stinger Splash. Sting gets his knees up to block the Moonsault. Attempt at a Press Slam is botched by Sting. Yet another backbreaker by Muta setting up the Moonsault. This time Sting Dropkicks Muta. Belly-to-back Superplex gets Sting a 2 count. Muta moves out of the way of a Stinger top rope elbow. Sting and Muta are in sync with moves. Small package for a 2 by Muta. Another Scorpion Deathlock. Very weakly put on. Muta makes it to the ropes. More slamming to the steel rails. Sting goes for the Stinger Splash by Muta sprays the Green Mist! Splash by Muta gets the pin on Sting. Sting is pissed and Stinger Splashes Muta. Scorpion Deathlock by Sting ends up getting some boos from the crowd. All of the wrestlers argue about breaking it up or not.
Although Sting was in several really good matches in his career, he was also painfully average for most of the other matches. The match just didn't have any excitement to it until the green mist. They ran through the same spot sequence three times in the match. For such a short match, there was no need to resort to doing the same thing over and over. Not bad, but very underwhelming. 11 Minutes. 2 Stars. Ric Flair vs 'The Dragon' Tatsumi Fujinami - NWA World Title Match
While WCW treated the WCW title as the NWA title, Japan saw the titles as two distinct titles. Lets hope this is better than their rematch. Chono and "Sato" are with Tatsumi. Fonzie is your referee. the crowd is going crazy as soon as the bell hits. Dragon controls the match early on. Dragon Sleeper is slapped on quickly, but Flair gets a boot on the ropes. Tatsumi starts working over the leg of Flair. Once Flair goes on offense, he stops selling the leg injury. The Dragon is on the outside for awhile with Flair throwing him back out. Flair gets booed when he wears down the leg of his opponent. Nice chop sequence that gives me hope for this match. The match has several awkward moments where I'm not sure if a move is a botch or just poorly countered. On the outside, The Dragon smashes Flair's head into the steel railing. Flair blades and gets a crimson mask as only Flair can. Flair does a couple of Flair bumps on the inside. More Flair corner bumps. They fight on the outside again. Flair charges The Dragon, but Tatsumi ducks and Flair knocks out Fonzie. The Dragon has Flair pinned twice and nearly a third time. The crowd is going crazy wanting a referee. Flair charges again and The Dragon throws Ric Flair over the top rope right in front of Fonzie. Back in, The Dragon rolls Flair up one more time and Japanese referee, Tiger Hatori slides in the ring and counts Flair's shoulders down. NEW WCW/NWA Champion. Where the hell was Tiger earlier? The commentators instantly starts questioning how this is fair since Dragon threw Flair over the top rope.
Much like their rematch, Flair and Tatsumi has some serious chemistry problems. I'm inclined to believe that it's mostly due to the fact that both men were no longer in their primes. Believe it or not, but even way back in 1991, there were some who believed that Flair needed to be phased out of the main event, that his time was over. While Flair did prove that he had a few good years left in him (Key word is a few), I'm inclined to consider the fact that his critics are right. Even if The Dragon was over the hill, the old Flair could still fix any issues. Terry Funk and Harley Race are just two of the guys Flair did that with in the 80's. I hate the controversy. Now obviously, WCW couldn't have Tatsumi as their champion. However, there's better ways to go about keeping the belt on Flair, but not jobbing out The Dragon. A time limit draw would of been fine. Hell, the Flair of the 80's could of made the time limit draw incredible. But the way they went about it just made the whole thing a mess. The most annoying part was the commentators. I understand that Flair is the WCW guy, but did Ross really have to be so bias? Ross conveniently ignores the fact that The Dragon had Flair pinned two times and just focuses on the over the top which happened after the pinfall. In the rematch, Ross ignored the fact that Flair cheated to win. Flair is supposed to be the heel, why would you be on his side Ross? It'll be different if The Dragon was a heel in Japan, but in both matches, he was a babyface. The match was significantly better than their Superbrawl rematch though. The crowd being into the match helped greatly. The botches/awkward moments keeps me from giving this four stars and the fucked up finish leaves me to remove a half star or so due to it hurt my enjoyment. 23 Minutes. 3 1/4 Stars.
Backstage, a green mist covered Sting wants another piece of Muta.
During a press conference, Ric Flair storms in and steals the WCW title back from the Dragon. Flair tells Tatsumi if he wants it, he needs to come to America, thus setting up their Superbrawl match.
Overall
First off, the Tokyo Dome looked incredible. I've never seen a WCW event look as impressive as this did. It had a look similar to Wrestlemania 3 or Summerslam 1992. As for the show, it's very average. With the exceptions of the Steiners (And slightly Pillman), most of the WCW guys really seemed to care about putting on a great show. So even though there was only one bad match, most of the rest of the matches were not as good as I expected them to be. Surprisingly, El Gigante seemed more awake and excited in his match than most of the wrestlers on the show. Outside of the Steiners vs Sasaki/Hase match, everything is skip able. The Steiners are having an incredible year though. This is now their 3rd (Second in time order) MOTN on a WCW show. Overall, this felt a lot like a normal WWE UK PPV.
Best Match: The Steiner Brothers vs Hiroshi Hase and Kensuke Sasaki
Worst Match: El Gigante vs Big Cat
Overall Grade: C+
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