(These are recap of shows/reviews from WCW circa 1993. Once i get the other B shows, they will be added.. also if you have any suggestions for a year in wrestling to be reviewed, let me know. I have plenty of footage.)



WCW 1993

January 2nd , 1993: Saturday Night
WCW opens up the new year with a new WCW Champion. Big Van Vader defeated Ron Simmons at the same arena he lost the belt at in August of 1992. Many people at the time forget about the title change or didn’t know of it because the title change occurred at a house show. For those who don’t know, a house show is when the event isn’t televised and is seen only by people in the arena.

Cactus Jack and the Barbarian open up the action defeating the young team of Tom Zenk and Johnny Gunn. For those who may not know Zenk and Gunn they were portrayed as being ladies men. However, they weren’t able to be portrayed as winners, as Barbarian pinned Gunn following a running knee while Gunn was pinning the wrong man.

Eric Watts old high school puts him over as a great athlete. Take that for what its worth.

Eric Watts would be in action defeating Mustafa Saed in what can be described as a squash match. STF awards Watts the win.

Cactus Jack cuts a promo backstage saying that he will collect on the bounty that is out on Eric Watts. Jack also says that Atlas will defeat Van Hammer at the Clash of the Champions. Well, Atlas will be facing Hammer tonight also. Atlas also says he has the largest arms in WCW.

We go to remarks from Rick Rude at WCW StarrCade 1992. Rude believes that WCW is conspiring against Rude by stripping him of the WCW United States Championship because of injury. Rude says they will not take his championship

WCW had began a tournament to crown a new WCW United States Champion. On this episode, Dustin Rhodes would defeat Vinnie Vegas (Diesel, Kevin Nash) to advance following a running bulldog.

Barry Windham would defeat Johnny B. Badd as well to advance in the tournament after rolling through a sunset flip pin attempt and delivering a jumping DDT for the win.

Speaking of Barry Windham, who is feuding with Dustin Rhodes, introduced a new tag team. The tag team of Brian Pillman and “Stunning” Steve Austin. At the time, they did not have a team name nor did they have matching trunks. Also, having not even compete in a tag team match together, they were somehow the number one contenders to the WCW Unified Tag Team Champions, Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas at the Clash of the Champions. Obviously, Pillman and Austin would win their first match against Larry Santo and Ricky Nelson.

Highlights from Sting versus Vader at StarrCade 1992 is shown. Sting would go on to beat Vader and win the King of the Cable tournament. That would make you think, how Vader was granted a World Championship shot and ended winning the title.

The big event of the month of January was as stated before, Clash of the Champions. Here is the card for the event.
Sting, Ron Simmons, Van Hammer and Dustin Rhodes versus Vader, Rick Rude, Barbarian and Barry Windham in a Thunder Cage street fight.
(champions) Shane Douglas and Ricky Steamboat versus Steve Austin and Brian Pillman for the WCW Unified Tag Team Championships
Cactus Jack versus Eric Watts in a bounty match.

You may be wondering, “that’s only three matches.” Well, WCW only advertised three. Those three matches are the matches that are to persuade you to tune into the product. Did it work?

Tony Atlas defeated Van Hammer following Cactus Jack tripping Hammer. Hammer has been feuding with Cactus Jack and his followers, Tony Atlas and the Barbarian. Atlas will meet Dustin Rhodes next week in the next round of the WCW United States Tournament.

Jesse Ventura has a sit down interview with Arn Anderson. Ventura asks how Arn Anderson’s injured knee is doing. Anderson talks about the numerous injuries he has had, including a broken neck. Anderson says that he hurt his knee in a match with, Eric Watts and his STF submission hold. Anderson says that Bill Watts is not renewing his contract. Anderson says that Bill Watts is making sure Anderson doesn’t get a contract. This angle would work, if Anderson wasn’t cutting a promo in a WCW arena with a WCW camera crew. Ventura believes Watts is protecting Eric Watts.

The Unified Tag Team Champions, Shane Douglas and Ricky Steamboat share their thoughts on Barry Windham and the tag team titles. They both say that their number one focus is keeping the tag team titles. Steamboat wants to get revenge on Barry Windham for the chair shot he suffered a few weeks ago.

Ricky Steamboat will get his chance for revenge as he managed to get past Dan Spivey in the main event. Spivey did hold his own throughout the bout using his size to control Steamboat. The match was actually pretty good. The crowd was dead, but the match itself was fairly entertaining. Steamboat meets Windham next week.

The episode ends with Barry Windham cutting promo on Ricky Steamboat. Windham says he will take care of Steamboat and then take care of Dustin Rhodes.

Jim Ross and Larry Zybysko sign off.

Quick Results:
Cactus Jack/The Barbarian defeated Tom Zenk/Johnny Gunn
Eric Watts defeated Mustafa Saed
Dustin Rhodes defeated Vinnie Vegas to advance in the WCW United States Championship Tournament
Barry Windham defeated Johnny B. Badd to advance in the WCW United States Championship Tournament
Steve Austin/Brian Pillman defeated Larry Santo/Ricky Nelson
Tony Atlas defeated Van Hammer to advance in the WCW United States Championship Tournament
Ricky Steamboat defeated Dan Spivey to advance in the WCW United States Championship Tournament

Originally Posted by Marketh. To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Was this meant to be a review? I only quickly read through it, but it seemed to be more of a recap.

January 9th, 1993: Saturday Night
Ricky Steamboat takes on Barry Windham, Dustin Rhodes meets Tony Atlas and footage of how Vader regained the WCW World Heavyweight Title will be shown and only two weeks after the fact!

Marcus Alexander Bagwell kicks off Saturday Night beating Bob Cook. Jim Ross points out that Bagwell was awarded Rookie of the Year by WCW magazine. Conflict of interest? Surprisingly, Cook gets a good amount of offense in. However, Bagwell finishes Cook off with a fisherman suplex.

Footage from last week is shown showing all the men who advanced in the US Title tournament.

Video from December 30, 1992 in Baltimore, Maryland is shown. This is video of Vader defeating Ron Simmons to regain the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Vader finishes Simmons with a shoulder breaker on Simmons’s bad right shoulder.

Promo by Harley Race with World Champion Vader grunting. Race puts his man over saying he will take care of all the competition in WCW.

Van Hammer takes care of Randy Sledge in the second match of the night. Hammer will be facing Atlas at the Clash of the Champions in a arm wrestling contest. Hammer wins following a slingshot suplex.

Footage of Tony Atlas cutting a promo on Van Hammer putting himself over as having the strongest arm in WCW. Tony Schiavone is standing with Hammer who is involved in the thunder cage match and a arm wrestling match. Hammer basically says he is going to beat Atlas.

Tom Zenk and Johnny Gunn are next to compete taking on Chip Diamond and Mike Thor .Throughout the match, Gunn botches several moves. Zenk has Chip Diamond in one of the longest side headlocks in history. Mike Thor and Diamond have gotten plenty of offense in throughout this match. Gunn pins Diamond with a Thez Press for the win.

Cactus Jack and Tony Atlas are backstage. Cactus Jack hypes up Barbarians appearance in the thunder cage. Atlas facing Hammer and Jack collecting on the bounty out on Watts. Well, Eric Watts and Dustin Rhodes enter the scene and Watts doesn’t want to wait for Clash of the Champions. Watts and Rhodes brawl with Jack and Atlas. Watts gains the advantage by locking in the STF on Jack as security breaks them up.

Too Cold Scorpio takes on Mustafa Saied continue the action. Should be noted that this match was taped in a completely different arena compared to the earlier matches. Scorpio controls the whole contest before finishing Saied off with a 450 splash. Ross announces that Scorpio will take on Scotty Flamingo at Clash of the Champions.

Time for Tony Schiavone’s sit down interview with Barry Windham. Windham says that Rhodes has started this whole issue. Windham says that Rhodes cost him the tag team titles. Video for WCW World Wide on January 2nd is shown. Windham teaming with Pillman taking on Steamboat and Douglas. Windham nailing Douglas with a DDT on the floor. Dustin Rhodes eventually runs down to ringside and checks on Shane Douglas. Rhodes eventually enters the ring and controls Windham and Pillman. Oddly enough, the referee didn’t call for the bell. Rhodes nails Windham with his cast on his hand and costs Windham the match. Windham tells Rhodes that their issues isn’t over yet, and will not for quite some time. Windham promises to get his revenge.

Vegas Connection (DDP/Vinnie Vegas) take on Tex Slashinger and Shanghai Pierce. There is a huge “TEX” sign in the crowd. Whenever Tex has any form of offense, the crowd makes sure to make some noise, but its only for his offense. Evenly contested match between these four heels, though the Vegas Connection seemed to be play the baby face role. Tex grabs his rope and hangs Page over the top rope. Vegas comes over and nails Tex with a chair. Referee disqualifies both teams.

WCW Up Close with the new WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Big Van Vader. Vader grunts plenty of times. Vader talks about his football days playing for University of Colorado and playing for the LA Rams where he won a Super Bowl championship. Vader doesn’t mind facing Sting. Vader gives Ron Simmons credit until he says Simmons “stole the belt from me”. Vader tells Simmons to bring on the challenge. Vader fears no man and feels no pain!

Dustin Rhodes battles Tony Atlas in the second round of the WCW United States Tournament. Jim Ross mentions that Van Hammer will not be able to compete in the Thunder Cage at the Clash of the Champions. Rhodes connects with a running bulldog to pick up the win and reach the finals.

Before the next match, Jim Ross announces that Harley Race has pulled Rick Rude out of Thunder Cage. Race will have a wrestle off on the Main Event tomorrow to see who replaces Rude in the match.

The main event for this edition of Saturday Night saw Barry Windham go one on one against Ricky Steamboat. Throughout the match, Windham works on Steamboat’s left wrist for several moments. Steamboat fights back and works on Windham’s left arm. Halfway into the match Windham plants Steamboat with a DDT and locks in the figure four while using the ropes for leverage. Windham fights out a figure four leg lock by working on Steamboat’s injured left knee. Steamboat knocks the referee down accidentally while scoop slamming Windham to the floor. Windham sends Steamboat over the top to the floor and referee calls for the bell. After the match, Austin and Pillman brawl with Steamboat as Rhodes brawls with Windham both in and out of the ring.

Teddy Long is backstage with Brian Pillman and Steve Austin. Pillman says that the tag team champions will find out at the Clash that they will do whatever it takes to win the titles. Austin promises to walk out with the championships.

Ross and Larry Z. promote the clash of the champions before signing off.

Quick Results:
Marcus Bagwell defeated Bob Cook
Van Hammer defeated Randy Sledge
Tom Zenk/Johnny Gunn defeated Mike Thor/Chick Donovan
Too Cold Scorpio defeated Mustafa Saied
Shanghai Pierce/Tex Slashinger fought Vegas Connection to a double disqualification
Dustin Rhodes defeated Tony Atlas to advance to the finals of the United States Contender Tournament
Ricky Steamboat defeated Barry Windham via disqualification to advance to the finals of the United States Contender Tournament [/CENTER]

My Take: Bagwell/Cook was actually fairly competitive. Johnny Gunn was simply awful on this edition, he botched a series of moves that hurt the match. Scorpio seems to have only one thing going for them. That’s having the 450 splash as his finisher. Steamboat/Rhodes should be a good match on the next show, and the way Windham lose didn’t hurt him at all. Though, I would rather see Windham take on Rhodes since there is much more of a story than between Windham and Steamboat. This show was main event driven with a good aftermath to the match.

Overall: 5.5/10

January 13th, 1993: Clash of the Champions #22

Opening video has it that Paul Orndorff has replaced Rick Rude in the Thunder Cage. Van Hammer is still being promoted for the show.

Tony Schiavone is with Bill Watts. Watts announce that Hammer has a muscle tear and will not be at the show. He also announces that Vinnie Vegas will replace Hammer in the arm wrestling contest against Atlas. Watts says that he suspended his son Eric Watts from competing against Cactus Jack so they can investigate Arn Anderson.

Eric Watts is with Larry Z. Eric absolutely butchers this promo. He will sit aside and watch the great action. We will Cactus Jack competing against Johnny B. Badd.

To open up the wrestling action, Cactus Jack takes on Johnny B. Badd. Ross goes over the history between Badd/Jack from StarrCade where they didn’t get along and Badd cost his team the match. Cactus Jack is really over with the crowd tonight. Badd misses a sunset flip from the top and Jack connects with a elbow drop to pick up the win.

Tony Schiavone says that The Great Muta defeated Masahiro Chono to win the NWA Championship.

A rather hilarious video of Too Cold Scorpio convincing kids to go to the school which turns into a dancing video. Though WCW does add some good highlights including a few picture perfect 450 splashes.

Too Cold Scorpio is next up to compete as he takes on Scotty Flamingo. Scorpio controls Flamingo early on with a somewhat botched handspring back elbow. Flamingo with a high sport offense with a splash over the top to the floor. Scorpio connects with a twisting splash but only gets a near fall. Scorpio finishes Flamingo off with a 450 splash for the win. This should have been the opening match.

Tony Schiavone promotes the main event. Schiavone shows us footage from WCW Main Event where Race set up a match to find the replacement for Rick Rude for Thunder Cade on that show. The match was between Paul Orndorff and Cactus Jack. Jack appears to have turned baby face by diving off the apron onto Harley Race. Vader entered and attacked Jack in the street fight. Orndorff spikes Jack with the pile driver. Orndorff chokes Jack with a belt as Vader delivers several big splashes. Orndorff joins the match. Cactus Jack gets revenge that same night taking all three men down with a shovel.

Brad Armstrong takes on the singles debut of Chris Benoit. Benoit impresses the crowd with a nice springboard clothesline taking Armstrong off the apron to the floor. Benoit misses a flying head butt which allows Armstrong to connect with a swinging neck breaker. Moments later, Benoit wins the match with a full nelson suplex. Good contest.

A video promoting the Rock N’ Roll Express is shown. They are apparently back together in SMW. It is announced that the Rock N’ Roll Express will compete at Super Brawl III. Video of their match against the Heavenly Bodies in SMW is shown.

Time for the arm wrestling competition between Tony Atlas and Vinnie Vegas. They will do the contest left handed since that is Vegas’s strong arm. Atlas is screaming throughout the process, actually both men are. The facial expressions both men make are quite funny. After a few minutes, Vegas wins the contest. Atlas is made out to be a fool. Vegas calls Hammer a coward.

Video with Big Van Vader challenging Sting to a White Castle of Fear match at WCW Super Brawl III. It will be for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.

Video promoting the number one contenders tournament to meet Rick Rude is shown. Dustin Rhodes will take on Ricky Steamboat on next edition of WCW Saturday Night. If Rude is unable to defend his championship, then the match will be to crown a new champion.

Up next the Wrecking Crew takes on Tom Zenk and Johnny Gunn. Zenk with a nice cross body and Gunn connects with a nice dive over the top to the floor on both Crew members. This match is a good big guys versus smaller guys match. Nice flow to the match for the most part. Rage pins Gunn following the “Wrecking Ball”.

Larry is with Pillman/Austin who make it known that they will do whatever it takes to win the titles. Pillman does all the talking.

Sting joins Tony Schiavone for his thoughts on Vader’s challenge for Super Brawl III. Dustin Rhodes and Ron Simmons quickly join Sting. Sting really doesn’t address the match and walks off with the guys.

Larry is with Vader’s team. Race cuts a promo on Cactus Jack and says that Jack will pay for putting his hands on him. Race says they don’t like anyone who is associated with Cactus Jack. Race proceeds to fire The Barbarian. Vader attacks Barbarian and Orndorff pile drives Barbarian on the concrete floor. That makes the main event a three on three encounter.

Highlights from the first two Super Brawls is shown. Oddly enough, they show Flair getting offense in during his Super Brawl I match. He is still employed by the WWF at this time. They do show Luger getting dominated in his Super Brawl II match.

Larry interviews Steamboat and Shane Douglas. Steamboat says that they have came too far to have it end. Douglas wants to see who the better tag team is.

Next up is the WCW Unified Tag Team Title match. With Shane Douglas and Ricky Steamboat taking on “Stunning” Steve Austin and Brian Pillman. Interesting that neither team get an entrance to the ring. Pillman fakes a knee injury and attempts a slingshot cross body but Douglas takes Pillman over with a power slam. The champions control the match until Pillman sends Steamboat over the top the floor behind the referees back and Austin slams Steamboat on the concrete floor. Steamboat is worked on for several moments until Pillman accidentally hits Austin with a springboard clothesline and Douglas gets the tag. Douglas connects with the belly to belly suplex on Pillman but Austin leaps off the top and hits Douglas with a double axe handle. Douglas has Pillman rolled up and Austin nails Douglas with one of the tag team belts to cause the disqualification and Douglas is busted open. Pillman whips Pillman with the title belt until several baby faces run down. They still the belts, as well. Good match.

Video of Vader defeating Ron Simmons to regain the WCW World Heavyweight Championship is shown. This leads to a interview with Vader in the ring, but Ron Simmons comes down and confronts Vader. Simmons says he will have Vader on his back, again. Simmons nails Harley Race and spine busters Vader. Simmons continues to attack Race but Vader comes back and splashes Simmons and connects with two shoulder breakers on the bad shoulder before Sting and Dustin Rhodes head down to the rescue.

Thunder Cage is up next. Even though it is a Street Fight, there are still tag team rules. Odd. This match is also suppose to have everyone in street clothes. Vader decided not to follow the rules. Windham and Rhodes start off but doesn’t last long. Sting battles Vader for a few moments and gains the upper hand throughout the encounter. Orndorff attacks Sting which allows Vader to connect with a top rope clothesline of sorts. However, Vader misses a middle rope splash. Orndorff controls Sting with clotheslines and rather simple offense. Vader with a splash in the corner on Sting. Rhodes gets the tag and cleans house. Cactus Jack comes down and piles open the change, which takes him a moment. Jack has his boot off and he knocks all of the heels down. Jack pins Orndorff to win the match after leaping off the top with a boot shot.

Cactus Jack cuts a promo on the people who questioned his ability to take out Vader and Orndorff. Jack wants revenge on Orndorff and Big Van Vader. Jack says you can beat Jack but you can’t kill Cactus Jack. He will be facing Orndorff on Saturday Night.


Quick Results:
Cactus Jack defeated Johnny B. Badd
Too Cold Scorpio defeated Scotty Flamingo
Chris Benoit defeated Brad Armstrong
Vinnie Vegas defeated Tony Atlas in a arm wrestling contest.
Wrecking Crew defeated Tom Zenk/Johnny Gunn
Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas defeated Steve Austin and Brian Pillman via disqualification to retain the WCW Unified Tag Team Championships
Sting, Dustin Rhodes and Cactus Jack defeated Big Van Vader, Barry Windham, and Paul Orndorff in Thunder Cage


My Take: The first three matches on the card were actually alright. Rather see Johnny B. Badd then Eric Watts. That interview with Watts was one of the worst I have ever witnessed. Scorpio had a few bright spots with Flamingo. Benoit/Armstrong was very entertaining and the crowd really liked Benoit by the end of the match. Vegas/Atlas was pointless without Van Hammer. Johnny Gunn/Tom Zenk did much better than the last time they competed. This Wrecking Crew could end up being a decent powerhouse team. The Tag Team Title match was a pretty good wrestling contest that lacked the proper build considering the men involved. That whole match was rushed to be set up. Though, by the finish of the match I suspect a feud is in the works. Want to know how not to book a main event? This is a good example. Over the course of the show it was advertised that it was a four versus four match. Sting, Dustin, Simmons and Hammer taking on Vader, Windham, Barbarian, and Rude. Throughout the show and leading up the show Hammer was taken out of the match but was still advertised, as was Rick Rude. Neither man appeared on the show. Then, you have Ron Simmons be “injured” by Vader. Remember, originally the heels had a 4-3 advantage because of Hammer being out but they decided to attack Barbarian to even the odds, brilliant. So, you have a 3-2 advantage heading into the match. For another switch, Cactus Jack turns baby face completely here and attacks the heels and pins Orndorff as if he really needed to. Though, Cactus Jack was really getting a baby face reception from the crowd. Thankfully. WCW looks to have dropped the whole bounty on Eric Watts. The show itself, was pretty good, minus the arm wrestling crap.

Overall: 7.5/10

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

January 16th, 1993: Saturday Night

Saturday Night quickly opens up with Brian Pillman, Steve Austin and Barry Windham taking on Johnny B. Badd, Brad Armstrong and Too Cold Scorpio. This was a fast paced six man tag team match with the crowd really into the bout. Scorpio nearly pins Pillman with a top rope flying cross body. Rather funny moment with Barry Windham begging Armstrong to not hit him. All six men brawl in and out of the ring with Pillman hitting Armstrong from behind which leads to Windham connecting with a jumping DDT for the win. Great opening contest.

Larry is standing with Barry Windham. Windham puts over Austin and Pillman while putting down Rhodes and Steamboat. Windham is going to watch the main event with great interest because “you never know what is going to happen.”

Video of the challenge made by Vader towards Sting from the Clash of the Champions is shown.

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Vader is up next to compete as he takes on Tim Dixon. Vader simply destroys Dixon with a middle rope big splash and power bombing Dixon to mercifully end the bout. Several jobbers come out t help Dixon to the back which really sells the beating by Vader.

Teddy Long is with Ron Simmons. Remember when Long was Simmons’s manager? Simmons actually references to that. Simmons puts himself over as a winner. Simmons will do whatever it takes to get the WCW World Heavyweight Championship back.

Tony Schiavone is with WCW’s brightest young star, Eric Watts. I’m kidding. A video tape made by a fan is shown from Charlotte, North Carolina. Watts is signing an autograph for a child which takes him a long time. Watts proceeds to pose for the video camera. Arn Anderson ends up coming over and attacks Watts! Anderson tries to slam Watt’s leg in the car door. Watts blocks it and proceeds to lock in the STF! The police proceed to arrest Eric Watts as Arn Anderson is on the ground selling the attack like a pro. Schiavone asks for Watts thoughts. Watts tells Anderson he can find him as he is a easy person to find.

Back to the action, the Wrecking Crew take on Keith Cole and Chris Sullivan. Interesting to see Cole kick out at a one count against one of the Crew members, considering they are jobbers. The match itself is competitive but Sullivan/Cole come up short as expected. Wrecking Crew connect with the Wrecking Ball to win the match.

Tony Schiavone is backstage with Dustin Rhodes. Tony hypes up the fact that tonight it is Rhodes/Steamboat for the now vacant WCW United States Championship.

Jim Ross graces everyone with the WCW Super Brawl III Control Center. Ross basically promotes Vader/Sting in “some sort of match”. Ross mentions that both the Rock N’ Roll Express and the Great Muta will be competing on the show.

Tony Schiavone is with one half of the Unified Tag Team Championships, Ricky Steamboat. Steamboat wants Rhodes to pin him if he can. He doesn’t want Rhodes to let up.

To continue the action Max Pain goes to battle against Rick Savage. The match lasts about forty five seconds as Pain wins with a arm breaker of sorts.

Larry Zybysko is with Vinnie Vegas. Vegas says that Hammer is coward in his attempt to get a rematch in a arm wrestling contest. Vegas is convinced in Hammer is dodging him. Vegas’s ascent is rather horrid.

Video of Cactus Jack’s recent baby face turn is shown. Jack cuts a promo saying he will “feed off the hatred I have for you Vader and Paul Orndorff!”

Continuing with the wrestling portion of the show, Marcus Alexander Bagwell faces Chris Benoit. A good start with some fast paced counter wrestling, though Bagwell seems to be a little slower than Benoit. Benoit controls the match for a few moments but Bagwell comes back with some simple offensive moves of his own. Benoit finishes Bagwell off with a full nelson suplex.

Larry Zybysko interviews Chris Benoit who calls out a few baby face wrestlers such as Too Cold Scorpio and Ricky Steamboat as people who will be disappointed when they lose to Benoit. Not a good promo by any means

Weekly ‘WCW Up Close” with Tony Schiavone is interviewing Brian Pillman and Steve Austin. Pillman really puts them over as a “dynasty”. Austin says people are right when they say he is “the greatest singles wrestler of the 1990’s”. He believes no team can stop them from achieving great things. Pillman says they want to face Steamboat/Douglas in a 2 out of 3 falls match for the WCW Unified Tag Team Championships. Austin says no team can beat them in match of that nature.

Time for the semi-main event of the evening. Paul Orndorff and Cactus Jack will do battle. Orndorff with a running knee taking Jack off the apron and hitting the concrete floor. Orndorff continues his offense after a brief comeback by Jack by connecting with a top rope axe handle. Jack misses a splash in the corner and falls to the floor, again. Orndorff with a running bulldog by the hair off the apron and Jack is driven face first onto the concrete floor. Jack battles back and drops a forearm but Big Van Vader storms the ring and attacks Jack along with Paul Orndorff. The crowd wants Sting, but instead, they get the ever popular The Barbarian who gets knocked down by Vader. Eventually, all four men brawl in the ring with Jack and Barbarian getting the advantage.

Who will become the new WCW United States Champion? Dustin Rhodes or Ricky Steamboat? They shake hands before the match to show their friendship. Both men with power slams early on. Slow match with plenty of mat wrestling by Steamboat. Rhodes with three power slams and a abdominal stretch. Rhodes focuses on working on Steamboats lower back. Rhodes plants Steamboat with the running bulldog but Steamboat manages to kick out. They botch a bridge out of a pin attempt. Rhodes kicks out of the top rope flying cross body from Steamboat. Steamboat crashes into the referee. Barry Windham comes down and plants Steamboat on the concrete floor with a DDT. The referee just so happens to get up and begins to count. Steamboat is counted out. Rhodes wins the US Championship.

To finish off the show, Jim Ross and Larry Zybysko interview Dustin Rhodes. Ross shows Rhodes that Windham attacked Steamboat. Rhodes says he is going to talk to Ricky Steamboat.

End of Show



Quick Results:
Barry Windham, Brian Pillman and Steve Austin defeated Too Cold Scorpio, Brad Armstrong and Johnny B. Badd
WCW World Heavyweight Champion Big Van Vader defeated Tim Dixon
Wrecking Crew defeated Keith Cole and Chris Sullivan
Max Pain defeated Rick Savage
Chris Benoit defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell
Cactus Jack defeated Paul Orndorff via disqualification
Dustin Rhodes defeated Ricky Steamboat via count-out to win the vacant WCW United States Championship

My Take: The opening six man tag team match was a great way to start the show. The next three matches where really just squash matches. The Erik Watts segment was awful on so many levels. Who honestly would do a STF in a gas station parking lot? Seriously. Not to mention, Watts is a terrible talker yet he is given the microphone every show, brilliant. Benoit/Bagwell had a solid showing but I don’t think Bagwell matches up well with Benoit’s style at the time. Jack/Orndorff was a fun brawl, but Sting not running in to the make the save was disappointing. The Barbarian doing the run in was a major let down, which you could tell the fans thought the same thing. The main event was really slow for a few moments but picked up at the end. The finish however was really weak. Though, it does get Windham some more heel heat.

Overall: 6/10

January 23rd, 1993: WCW Saturday Night

On this weeks edition we will see a rematch from last week when Dustin Rhodes defends his newly won US Championship against Ricky Steamboat, Vader and Orndorff take on Tom Zenk and Johnny Gunn and lastly Cactus Jack and Barbarian team up to face Tex Slashinger and Shangai Pierce

The show opens up with Johnny B. Badd and Marcus Bagwell taking on Scotty Flamingo and Bob Cook. Badd and Bagwell control Cook early and often to begin the match. Flamingo gets the tag and shows a flurry of offense against Badd. Flamingo tags out after a shoulder block from Badd. Cook controls Bagwell with a right hand. Double cross body spot by Badd and Flamingo leading to hot tags to Bagwell and Cook, where Bagwell cleans house. Bagwell pins Cook with a backslide.

Tony Schiavone is with Barry Windham. Windham says that Rhodes won the US Championship by himself. Tony announces that Windham will be challenging The Great Muta for the NWA Heavyweight Championship at Super Brawl. Windham is going to “send Muta back to Japan, a loser.”

Jim Ross is standing with Bill Watts. Watts says that Rhodes was not given the WCW US Championship last week because Rick Rude did not want to give the title up. Watts says that Rhodes will get the belt eventually. Footage of how Rhodes won the championship last week is shown. Back to Watts, who defends Rhodes for not knowing what happened.

Vinnie Vegas heads out to compete against Chad Byrd. Byrd seems to be a Bobby Eaton rip off. Vegas controls the whole match with various slams. Vegas finishes Byrd off with the snake eyes.

The young and impressive Chris Benoit takes on Johnny Rich. Mat wrestling based contest early on until Benoit nails Rich with a kick to the side of the head. Benoit continues with a clothesline, backbreaker and a middle rope leg drop. Rich blocks a crucifix pin by dropping down into a Samoan Drop of sorts. Rich with a nice power slam as Benoit comes off the ropes. Seconds later, Benoit connects with a full nelson suplex for the win.

The ever energized Jim Ross with the WCW Super Brawl III Control Center. Ross hypes up the Sting/Vader match-up for the WCW Heavyweight Championship, Barry Windham taking on Great Muta for the NWA Heavyweight Championship. Video of Muta beating Windham at Battlebowl event at StarrCade is shown. Also announced, the Rock N’ Roll Express will defend the SMW Tag Tea Championships against the Wrecking Crew.

Taped comments by the SMW Tag Team champions, Rock N’ Roll Express. Really, they just hype up their upcoming match at Super Brawl, and do average job of doing so.

Wrecking Crew compete against the Italian Stallion and Larry Santo. Ross confuses Stallion and Santo even thought Stallion has his name on his trunks. Wrecking Crew really dominate the contest with simple offense. Santo gets the hot tag and does a series of awful moves. Santo is finished off with the Wrecking Ball.

Larry Z is standing with the Wrecking Crew. Fury cuts a awful promo. Rage seems to ignore the fact that they are facing the Rock N’ Roll Express and make it known they are coming after Douglas and Steamboat. Larry even seems to know that this was a awful promo.

Time for the “Underdog Challenge”. Pat Rose will be competing against Robbie V. Robbie V is indeed Rob Van Dam of ECW fame. Robbie takes Rose off his feet with a savant kick. Robbie connects with a springboard cross body. Rose’s offense consists of boots, right hands and headlocks. Robbie wins the match with a split legged moonsault.

Taped interview from the last Clash of Champions with Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas the Unified Tag Team Championships. Steamboat says a war has begun. Douglas, who has dried blood on his face and bandage on his forehead, tells Austin and Pillman they can continue the war whenever and wherever.

Promo by Harley Race, Paul Orndorff and Vader. They actually cut a promo on a under card tag team in Johnny Gunn and Tom Zenk. Orndorff cuts a promo on Cactus Jack, as Vader turns his attention to Sting.

Tom Zenk and Johnny Gunn head to the ring to take on Paul Orndorff and WCW Heavyweight Champion Vader. Zenk takes Orndorff down with a boot to the side of the head. Gunn enters but Orndorff controls Gunn with a knee lift before tagging in Vader who delivers a series of rights and lefts. Gunn avoids a big splash and school boys Vader for the win. I’m joking. Vader kicks out at one. Gunn does clothesline Vader to the floor and dive over the top rope onto Vader on the floor! That looked nice. Orndorff attacks Gunn to give Vader the advantage again. German suplex by Orndorff on Gunn. Zenk gets the hot tag but is taken down with a vertical suplex by Orndorff. Vader misses a left hand but Zenk still sells it. Zenk with a cross body on Orndorff for a near fall and avoids a big splash by Vader. All four men go at it in the ring. Gunn misses a dropkick and suffers a big splash. Vader finishes Gunn off with the a power bomb. Orndorff pile drives Zenk on the concrete floor!

The weekly “Up Close” segment is next. Tony Schiavone is sitting with “The Franchise” Sting. Schiavone brings up Sting’s loss to Vader at Great American Bash 1992. Schiavone asks Sting for his thoughts on that night. Sting doesn’t really answer the question and just puts Vader over. Sting says he didn’t change his game plan when he met Vader at StarrCade 1992. Schiavone brings up Super Brawl III. Sting doesn’t know anything about the White Castle of Fear. Sting brings up taking Jake Roberts out at the Spin the Wheel make a Deal match at Halloween Havoc 1992. Sting doesn’t walk away from a challenge and he will meet Vader at the White Castle of Fear.

Continuing with the wrestling portion of the show, Too Cold Scorpio meets Barry Windham. Scorpio controls Windham with a suplex from the apron back into the ring. Windham takes Scorpio down by dropping Scorpio on his midsection. Windham controls Scorpio with a vertical suplex. Scorpio comes back with a sunset flip pin attempt but Windham rolls through and clotheslines Scorpio. Gut wrench slam by Windham. Scorpio comes back with a back suplex and back drop. Windham walks right into a super kick but kicks out of a pin attempt. Scorpio with a twisting leg drop for a near fall again. Scorpio misses a slingshot 450 splash from the apron. Windham takes advantage connecting with a jumping DDT for the win.

Larry is with Cactus Jack and The Barbarian. Jack says that as long as his ribs keep him awake, he will continue to go after Vader. As long as his neck continues to pop, he will continue to go after Paul Orndorff. Barbarian says nothing as this is all about Cactus Jack.

Cactus Jack and The Barbarian compete against Tex Slashinger and Shanghai Pierce. Yet again, Tex has another strong fan base. The match itself is actually a pretty good brawl for what its worth. Jack pins Tex following a double arm DDT.

This weeks main event is a rematch from last week, as Dustin Rhodes will defend the WCW United States Championship against Ricky Steamboat. Slow mat wrestling based match between these two to begin the match. They argue on the floor when they both fall through the middle rope after countering hip tosses. They shove each other before calmly heading back into the ring. They trade slaps after a breakup in the corner. The pace begins to quicken up as both men connect with a cross body. Jim Ross mentions that there is one minute left of wrestling. Steamboat avoids a running bulldog by shoving Rhodes off. The bell sounds as apparently it’s a TV time limit draw.

Quick Results
Johnny B. Badd/Marcus Bagwell defeated Scotty Flamingo/Bob Cook
Vinnie Vegas defeated Chad Byrd
Chris Benoit defeated Johnny Rich
Wrecking Crew defeated Italian Stallion/Larry Santo
Robbie V defeated Pat Rose in a “Underdog Challenge”
Big Van Vader/Paul Orndorff defeated Tom Zenk/Johnny Gunn
Barry Windham defeated Too Cold Scorpio
Cactus Jack/the Barbarian defeated Tex Slashinger and Shanghai Pierce
Dustin Rhodes fought Ricky Steamboat to a TV time limit draw, Rhodes retains the WCW United States Championship.


My Take: How Bob Cook continues to get a good amount of offense continues to baffle me. The opening contest was evenly contested which I have to give WCW credit for, every match even involving jobbers are competitive, usually. Vegas needs to drop the ascent and he will be tolerable. Benoit/Rich was a fun match oddly enough. Rich may look like he is forty years old, but he can sure keep up with a guy like Benoit. Never, ever allow Wrecking Crew to ever cut a promo. They were out of sync and seemingly didn’t know what the purpose of the promo was. Robbie V’s style simply didn’t match up well with Pat Rose so in turn the match sucked. Vader/Orndorff against Zenk/Gunn was alright, Zenk never manages to get any good offense in, really. Good contest with Barry Windham and Too Cold Scorpio. The next tag team match was a fun brawling encounter. I’m still confused as to how Tex Slashinger is over with the crowd. Main event took a few minutes to become a good contest. After the finish from last week, you’d think their would be a clean finish this week. I guess WCW doesn’t want either man to be made out to be weak.

Overall: 7/10