NFB Watches Wrestling #21: WCW Fall Brawl 1995

We’re back with WCW and yet another interesting time, just a few weeks removed from the start of the Monday Night Wars. It’s the 17th September 1995 and we’re in the Asheville Civic Centre of Asheville, North Carolina for Fall Brawl! The main event tonight: the Hulkamaniac alliance of Hulk Hogan, Sting, Lex Luger and Randy Savage vs the Dungeon of Doom in (William Regal voice) WAR GAMES.

You know, wrestling fans and the Monday Night Wars are a lot like historians and World War Two: we never shut up about it because it’s the last time something actually happened. Maybe that’s a bit harsh, but sometimes it fits. This show comes at a time when the Wars had just begun with the debut of WCW’s Nitro on few weeks before, but it would be a while before the ratings battle with Raw became such a defining part of the wrestling landscape. Indeed, the first episode of Nitro actually aired unopposed since Raw was pre-empted by some sports thing I can’t remember. Bischoff is the guy in charge – well, him and Hogan I suppose – right now, so things would heat up quickly. The dumping of the WWF Women’s Title and the “Billionaire Ted” skits were all to come pretty soon, but at this exact time it’s still all just about WCW’s stuff, and the card is…OK. Let’s see if they pulled something off to justify the extra story-telling time of Nitro.

Straight off I note that this is a near three hour show with only six matches on the card, so I smell another WCW time-limit draw in the near future.

“A continuous bombardment of excitement” is grandiosely promised by the opening package, which consist of very cheap cut-outs of the wrestlers popping up behind some cartoon sandbags. Oh, and there’s a purple tank. We are, noughties-era Wrestlemania style, promised multiple main events. Rest assured that the real main event, the one with Hulk Hogan in it, gets the most attention. His teammate, Lux Luger, is described as having returned “from behind enemy lines”. THE BATTLE LINES HAVE BEEN DRAWN JR. The nearest WWF PPV had Undertaker vs King Mabel as a main event, so not sure the Fed is in better shape. Anyway.

We have two rings, a cage suspended above, and some pyro going off in the ceiling. Your commentators tonight are Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan, so this will either be great or a disaster. Schiavone outlines that prior to the show The Giant ran over Hulk Hogan’s Harley Davidson in a Monster Truck, but there does not appear to be any footage of this shocking incident. Giant isn’t booked tonight, but they are building to a Hogan/Giant match at the next PPV. Heenan says Giant is “sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry”, that Hogan wasn’t on the bike when it was crushed. Oh Bobby. Onto our first contest.

Johnny B. Badd vs Brian Pillman (WCW United States Championship #1 Contenders Match)

Schiavone says this is the biggest match of Flyin’ Brian’s career, but from the uncaring look on his face on the way out he doesn’t seem to agree. Winner here faces Sting for the title on TV in a few weeks. Michael Buffer, well on his way to milking WCW for every cent he can get, makes the announcements. Badd gets the bigger reception for sure, but I believe this is face vs face.

Lock chains, Pillman on top early with a few moves, awkward dueling drop-kick spot where neither guy really made contact. More chains and this time Badd with the advantage. Heenan talks about Pillman’s Gridiron career, drink! Slow enough start to this one, with Pillman going to a few rest-holds early. Very awkward looking quasi-slingblade from Pillman that barely makes any connection, and then another rest-hold. A very bad looking spot follows, where Pillman slowly jogs into a trip from a prone Badd.

Pillman maintaining the advantage, but another sloppy-looking spot with a pinning predicament is really making this look like a half-assed effort, and then we return to rest-hold city. Things finally coming to life with a sweet modified rana from Flyin’ Brian out of the corner, then a roll-up for a near fall. Another rest-hold straight away though, and only a brief bit of action in-between another, is Badd getting gassed super quick or something?

Backbreaker from Pillman is followed by a super relaxed cover, so maybe he’s the one not in the best shape or something? He puts on a very poor-looking Boston Crab after, which had no hint of torque, and then he just drops it for some reason. Nails Badd with a punch, so I guess he’s playing heel then? Badd reverses Pillman’s dominance with a Tilt-A-Whirl backbreaker, then takes over. Modified Surfboard, but Brian gets to the ropes, before jumping up no-selling the effects. The two exchange some decidedly unfriendly shoves, and Pillman gets boos as he grinds Badd’s face against the top rope. Badd rallies back with some body punches, and Pillman takes a powder for a bit. Weird energy to this one, and the crowd doesn’t seem sure who to cheer for.

Pillman back in, offers a handshake to the crowd’s derision. Badd refuses, and Brian lays in some shots before sending Badd out. Badd back in and hits a springboard leg-drop for two, because only one man can use a leg-drop as a finisher. Back to the rest-holds, and this is a lengthy one as Schiavone plugs the hotline. Pillman back up, jumping chains until the two guys just jump into each other. A wait for the two to get back up, and Pillman maintains the advantage as we get a five minute warning from Buffer. Pillman trying to suplex Badd over the ropes, but Badd reverses and sends Pillman out instead. They act like this could be a DQ, so I guess WCW is still enacting some of the stupid rules discussed in previous entries. Badd follows up with a crossbody to the outside, which is probably the move of the match so far.

Pillman back in, Badd to the top, but his top-rope-nothing is countered with a drop-kick for two. Badd hits a sitting powerbomb for two. Three minutes left. Pillman hits a Tombstone Piledriver for two. Neither man spending much time selling these moves. Brian going for a Tornado DDT out of the corner, gets thrown by Badd instead, but only two. Despite the time running down Badd decides to lock in another rest-hold, because things had briefly gotten too exciting. Two minutes left. Pillman counters a Scoop Slam into a Side Russian Leg Sweep, and then transitions into a prone octopus-type thing, then a seated abdominal stretch. One minute left. Badd rallying back from the hold. 30 seconds. Badd hits a facebuster, Tutti Frutti Kick, but Pillman lands too close to the ropes for a pin. Pillman up and hits a springboard clothesline for two because selling is for fools, but only two. Goes for a Crucifix Pin but the time expires.

But wait! Buffer announces that we are authorised for “sudden death”, and this makes no sense because why have a time limit at all then? Both men exchanging blows, then brawling at ringside. Badd sent into the barricade. Both back into the ring, Pillman with a drop-kick off the ropes but Badd counters with his own, and man they love that spot. Both back up at a count of eight. Pillman slaps on a sleeper, lies back and applies a head scissors. Badd’s arm drops once, twice, but not a third. Badd to the ropes, both men up, and now Badd applies a sleeper, but Pillman counters with a reverse suplex quick enough.

Badd set up on the top, Pillman going for a superplex, but gets dropped off. Badd with a huge top-rope sunset flip, but only two, with Pillman grabbing the ref’s hand before he can count the third. Badd looking for another powerbomb, but Pillman counters with a rana for two. Pillman looking for a crucifix pin, Badd slams him instead, but only two. Just a kind of flavourless exchange of big moves now. Pillman set-up on the top, Badd hits a Frankensteiner, but only two. Badd sets him up again, this time Pillman counters with the Tornado DDT but, you guessed it, only two. Pillman to the top, but crotched, and Badd sends him into the barricade from a height. Badd with a somersault seated tope, but the crowd gives it almost no reaction. Back in, Badd going for a springboard moonsault, but Pillman with the knees up. Only two, and how much longer is this going to go for?

Pillman hangs Badd up on the rope, and he drops to the outside. Pillman with the tope, but Badd placed himself too far away and commentary has to pull the “Didn’t get all of it” to cover. Pillman going for a top-rope move as Badd gets back to the apron, but crotched again. Awkward double crossbody spot after some furious running, and Badd gets the cover for the 1, 2, 3 in an astonishing 29 minutes and change.

Winner: Johnny B. Badd, eventually.

Verdict: God this was long. Way too long for an opener. Had plenty of sloppy spots, too many rest-holds, and a sense that Pillman wasn’t motivated for large stretches.

We don’t stick around too long as the commentators run down the card again. Mean Gene is backstage with the Nature Boy. Flair talks about his previous relationship with Arn Anderson, saying they were closer than brothers. Four Horsemen, sweat together, cry together, etc. Flair loves Anderson so much, and that’s why he has to prove that there is only one King of the hill. This is rambling even by Flair’s standards.

Cobra vs Sgt Craig Pittman

Cobra, better known a few years later as “nWo Sting”, is a CIA operative. Pittman, a little-remembered Marine vet who used his military career as a gimmick, sends out a Private to distract Cobra while he shimmies down from the ceiling and attacks before the bell with a belt. Have to pause to copy/paste the details of this feud from Wikipedia, because it’s simply too good not to: “Cobra…served in the Gulf War. Sgt. Craig Pittman, a legit Marine sergeant, abandoned Cobra in the Jungle, then reported him AWOL back at camp. Cobra lost all rank and respect, learned to wrestle, and came to WCW seeking revenge on Pittman.”

Beatdown, and Cobra sent to the outside. Hilarious whiffed spot where Pittman goes for a knee strike off the apron and very obviously fails to get any contact. Cobra reverses an Irish Whip into the ring-post. Back in, Cobra to the top and I think he goes for some kind of splash but gets hit by a drop-kick to the legs instead? Looked real bad. Pittman locks on an armbar called “Code Red” – only the three years since A Few Good Men – and Cobra submits in just under 90 seconds.

Winner: Sgt Craig Pittman, but this Slaughter gimmick isn’t going to go anywhere.

Verdict: If you think this might be at least building to something bigger, you’d be disappointed.

Pittman keeps the armbar on for a bit and then mutters into the camera.

Schiavone and Heenan run down a recent story where Paul Orndorff is having a crisis of confidence, showcased by a rapidly cut montage of him talking to himself in his dressing room. Gary Spivey “of the Psychic Companions Network” arrives, apparently a “spiritual healer”. Even for WCW this is a random celebrity insert. Spivey tries to gee up Mr Wonderful for a bit in a very strange segment. Orndorff would retire not too long after this as I recall.

The Renegade (c) w/Jimmy Hart vs Diamond Dallas Page w/Diamond Doll and Max Muscle (WCW World Television Championship)

Isn’t the TV Title supposed to be defended on TV? I’ve never got to see much of “early” DDP, so looking forward to this. Page playing heel at the time. Internet nice guy Tony Schiavone says Page and “Doll’s “relationship reminds him of the beautiful girls in high school who would only ever date dirtbags”. “The Renegade” is a little remembered rip-off of the Ultimate Warrior, who won WON’s Worst Wrestler award the year of this show. Might still be better than the Warrior’s actual WCW run though.

Page on top from the off, getting a near fall off a Side Russian Leg Sweep, but when he headbutts Renegade it’s Page who stumbles out, and into the front row. Renegade beating up Page for a bit on the outside, back in, and Renegade locks in a headlock. Schiavone keeps going on about “the power” of the Renegade, but nothing really impressive so far. Renegade with a clothesline, then misses on a running crossbody. Page with a rope choke, then a “Zircon Cutter” as Heenan calls it, with Page pulling Renegade’s  head against the rope. Page with a swinging neckbreaker and a beatdown while Doll looks annoyed at ringside.

DDP dumps the Renegade out, and then dueling pin predicaments when back in, with Page grabbing the ropes. Nothing doing and Page retains the advantage with a corner spear. This match isn’t even five minutes and it’s apparently the longest match of the Renegade’s career, which is a real bad indictment. Goldberg he ain’t. Renegade dodges a corner spear and rallies back with an awkward knee strike. Running clothesline, another that DDP oversells with a stupid flop. Elbow sends Page prone, Renegade to the top with a double axe-handle for two. DDP counters a back body drop into a spinning DDT, and that looked pretty cool admittedly. Late over gets two.

Page going for the Diamond Cutter but Renegade out. Roll-up from Renegade for two. Maxx Muscle on the apron, gets distracted by Hart and Page inadvertently knocks Muscle off then walks into a powerslam. Renegade to the top and plancha to Muscle for some reason. Back in, Muscle hangs onto Renegade’s leg just long enough for Page to hit the Diamond Cutter for the pin in just over eight.

Winner (and new WCW World Television Champion): The dirtbag your high school crush dated.

Verdict: Pretty unremarkable and pretty short. Renegade, real name Richard Wilson, would be quickly reduced to jobber status. He consistently suffered from depression and would commit suicide four years later.

Doll looks annoyed as Page runs off with the title. Very little reaction from the crowd.

Commentary setting up the next match straight away, talking about a nascent romance between Colonel Parker and “Sister” Sherri, who are on either side of the tag title encounter.

The Stud Stable (Bunkhouse Buck and Dick Slater) (c) w/Colonel Robert Parker vs Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) w/Sister Sherri (WCW World Tag Team Championship)

Buck will go onto have a random cameo in a few WWE segments playing Jack Swagger’s father. Heat are a few years removed from their unfortunate slaves gimmick, and can probably be considered the mainstay of the WCW tag division at this time. There’s still 90+ minutes left in this show and only three matches, so I assume these will all go quite long.

Booker and Slater to start, and Booker floors him pretty easily. Slater comes back, and there are some dueling locks. Stevie in and continues working over Slater. The commentary have to spend some time covering for Harlem Heat, who I think are still nominally heel, but have been tweening for a bit. Booker and Buck in, and again the Heat retain the advantage, with Sherri lending a hand. Nothing too special in the first few minutes and Booker slaps on a rest-hold.

Buck eventually tries to get something going but gets floored by a hip-toss and knee strike from Booker for two. Ray and Slater in, and Ray lays in a few corner strikes before Slater hits him with an Atomic Drop, then a swinging neckbreaker for two. Stevie with a takedown and a chokehold almost immediately. The Heat continue what has to be considered a fairly dull period of dominance while Parker leers at Sherri. Things to to the outside for a brief bit between Booker and Buck, and now the Stud’s are finally able to have a sustained bit of offence. Fairly basic strikes and slams. Slater hits a piledriver for two in one of the few moments of interest.

Booker sent to the outside where he is worked over by Slater. Back in, Buck hits a big boot, then a choke, then a chin-lock for a bit. Crowd is deader than dead. Booker slowly to his feet and shrugs Buck off, but then misses a corner charge, landing awkwardly on his head. Slater in, reverse suplex for two. More basic beatdown from the Stud’s, more rest-holds. Slater puts on a Boston Crab, which Stevie breaks up, then Buck puts in a half version. Eventually back up, and Booker hits a scissors kick, and gets the hot tag to Stevie. Clears house with slams to both opponents. Everyone in the ring exhanging blows. Buck dumps Stevie out, then the Stud’s double-teaming Booker.

While all of that is going on Sherri and Parker get into the adjoining ring. Sherri crawling towards Parker on her hands and knees in an unpleasant image, and now the two are going at it in a non-wrestling sense. Suddenly the Nasty Boys are in the ring attacking the Stud’s. I don’t see exactly what happens, but Slater is taken out with the ref distracted, Stevie gets the cover and that’s that in just under 17 minutes.

Winners (and new WCW World Tag Team Champions): Harlem Heat

Verdict: Very dull and the ending was weird, making the titles seem completely meaningless.

Parker and Sherri continue making out, to the unhappiness of both teams. Replays focus almost exclusively on the kissing. All seems a bit silly. Mean Gene is with the Studs and Parker. Buck criticises Parker, Parker promises to get the two another title match. Alone with Mean Gene, Parker says his heart is soaring like an eagle. What a weird story.

Schiavone plugs the upcoming Halloween Havoc, which you will be able to get “on Videocassette”. Then he and Heenan run down the rules of War Games, which I won’t bore you with right now.

Okerland is with Arn Anderson as a video package runs down the feud. Once brothers, there’s been dissension in the Horsemen recently. Flair has been out of sorts since Hogan arrived, in the ring and at home where we get a brief look at a young Ashley “Charlotte” Flair I think, who would have been nine at the time. Anderson has gotten sick of Flair’s attitude. Hence match. Solid set-up I have to say. With Mean Gene, “Double A” says every family has a member that is messing up, and he’s here to shake Flair out of it. He’s going to give Flair everything that he’s got, and whatever happens he will respect himself in the morning. I’m more excited for this than I was.

I’m guessing this is an informal intermission as the commentary desk keeps talking about the match about to happen. Eventually the competitors come out, as we are informed that there is, gulp, a 45 minute time limit. Please no.

Ric Flair vs Arn Anderson

Flair out with pyro, but with none of his signature cockiness. Confession time: I’ve never been a Flair fan, not of his 80’s work, not of this period, and definitely not of his final ten or so years, so even with what appears to be a decent build I’m in two minds on this one. They do a good job of playing up how big of a contest by showing parts of the roster – the American Males, Brian Pillman, “Big Bubba”, a young Eddie Guerrero – sitting near ringside to take the match in.

Flair doing his strut as they circle. Flair floors Anderson with a shoulder charge, Anderson responds with a drop toe-hold. Face-off. Lock-up, and now Anderson floors Flair a few times, then gives him a slap that gets a big reaction. Flair, stunned, rolls out for a breather. Good start to this one. Back in, Anderson again with the advantage, spins Flair to the mat and lays in a a brief arm-lock. Flair getting annoyed, then eats another slap that floors him. Anderson mugging to the crowd now as Flair simmers in the corner.

Exchanging hammerlocks, commentary points out that in Flair’s 11 World Title reigns Anderson never got a shot which would be a good basis for a feud if they had incorporated it into this one. Anderson with a weak looking armbar, Flair eventually rolls it into a head-lock, then up and the Nature Boy floors AA with a big chop, then a boot, then another. Nice spot where Anderson goes to the top, Flair moves to intercept but Anderson hops down to stop him. Flair pops on a sleeper, AA out of it then a knee strike off the second rope. Anderson with a big slam, and goes back to an elbow lock.

After a long wait they are back their feet briefly for some chops, then right back to Anderson working over the arm. This time he does it with the help of the ring-post, then another armbar. Unfortunately this number of rest-holds is killing the momentum of the match, but that’s typical of Flair matches in my experience. Eventually back-up, exchanging chops and strikes, Flair to the apron and sends Anderson out on a charge when he pulls down the top rope. Flair to the top and hits a double axe-handle. Chops on the outside, then a head-drop onto the rope as AA heads back in. Stomps from Flair, another big chop, then a knee to the head. Flair with a few pin attempts with the help of the ropes, but only two each time.

Anderson rallying back with left hands then a back body-drop for two. Flair begging off, the ref distracted and Flair with a low shot if not quite a low blow. Flair back in control and the two go to the outside for another big chop, but the Enforcer fights dirty too with a rake to the eyes, then a back body-drop on the floor. Anderson going for a suplex, but Flair reverses it into one of his own. Back in Flair with a shot that the Brain compares to Mick Tyson. Big suplex and both men down. Flair with a delayed cover for two.

More chops, and I know Flair is famous for them but they were also a crutch the longer he went in his career. AA going a sunset flip, Flair resists then misses on a big punch to the mat. Flair hung up in the Tree of Woe and Anderson goes to town. AA calling for a DDT, but Flair holds onto the ropes to avoid it. Flair to the top, Anderson intercepts and chucks him to the mat, but only two. Top-rope nothing from Anderson gets a punch from Flair, and he locks on the Figure 4. Anderson enduring for a while, then slowly able to turn it over, and Flair lets go.

Flairr going for it again, Anderson with a roll-up for two, and the crowd thought that might be it. Flair beating down Anderson a bit, then suddenly Brian Pillman is on the apron. A punch to Flair with the ref distracted, then a kick. Anderson hits the DDT and that’s the 1, 2, 3 in just over 22 and a half.

Winner: Arn Anderson

Verdict: Had its moments but a really dull middle section killed it. The Pillman interference was a bit disappointing, but I guess Flair didn’t want to lose clean. This one will go and go.

We go straight into a video package for the main event. Taskmaster taunts Hogan, and doesn’t even mention the other three “Hulkamaniacs”. We finally get footage of the Giant running over Hogan’s Harley, so I’m sure he’s going to turn up here. Another video package, and you’d think this was Hogan vs the Dungeon of Doom on his own the way they go on. They tease that Luger might turn on Hogan, but I doubt it. Backstage the “Hulkamaniac” team is with Mean Gene. They’re in camouflage gear with camouflage paint, they’ve just drank a few gallons of Agent Orange, they are united, and they’re ready to go to war. Team shouty shouty for sure. Jimmy Hart is there too with the American flag, because we need to add that to the story. The team departs, Hogan has more words for Mean Gene, the team comes back. The man always needs to be the centre of attention.

Hulkamaniacs (Hulk Hogan, Sting, Lex Luger and Randy Savage) vs the Dungeon of Doom (Kamala, Meng, the Shark and Zodiac) w/the Taskmaster (War Games)

For the uninitiated this is a double ring cage match where participants enter at two minute intervals, where falls only count when everyone is in, and it’s first fall to a finish. Buffer back to earn his money for the night as fireworks herald the lowering of the cage (“the sounds of war” says Schiavone). Last minute addition to the rules: if Hogan’s team wins, then he gets to “face” the Taskmaster tonight. Who made that stipulation?

Brief notes on the competitors: Hogan is champion and top dog, of course, and the nWo is still over a year away. Sting is US Champion. Luger is newly in WCW, and this is only his second match there. Randy Savage is Randy Savage. Kamala is on his last run of significance. Meng is Haku. The Shark is the former Earthquake. Zodiac is Brutus Beefcake. And the Taskmaster is future WCW booker Kevin Sullivan. Commence preparations for rumbling.

Sting up first for the faces, and it’ll be Shark for the DOD. Away we go. Shark on top early until Sting dodges a charge. Even now the camera spends a lot of time on Hogan at ringside, to the extent that we get a really bad angle on a Sting tope between rings. Then lands a scoop slam on the huge Shark. Goes for another but the Shark collapses on him. Bear hug for a good bit, because this first section lasts five minutes, then it will be two minutes per entry. Shark goes for a tope of his own but gets hung up on the ropes. Sting rallying back with kicks, then gets caught on his own charge and flung back. Shark crotched as he taunts the crowd. Sting floors Shark with a sweeping kick as a timer counts down the last 30 seconds. Sting locks in a Scorpion Death Lock as the clock expires, and weirdly little reaction from the crowd.

The DOD have won the coin toss so get the temporary advantage. Zodiac in, walks into another Deathlock, but quickly gets a double team sequence with Shark. Beatdown, double shoulder charges. “45 seconds remaining” says Buffer, and I swear 4 seconds later he says “30 seconds remaining”. Sting trying to get back into it but nothing doing, and in comes the Macho Man to clear house.

Savage locks in a Boston Crab on Zodiac and no-sells Shark’s efforts to get him out. Sting being grabbed by the DOD members on the outside, so Savage is double-teamed for a bit. Now getting involved, and it’s just chaotic brawling. Shark with a slam to Sting as Savage works over Zodiac. The cage has a gap at the bottom, so it’s possible for Savage to be pulled out partly, which is kind of stupid. Faces rallying back as the time expires, and Kamala in now.

Heenan says Kamala is now “back in the jungle” in this environment, and I’m not sure the Brain has ever been in a jungle. More double-teaming against the faces, and the action is just fairly standard heel beatdowning. Crowd not super into it. Sting getting in some offence against Kamala, but quickly double-teamed again. Time expires and in comes Luger.

Kamala and Shark wait patiently for Luger to get through the ropes into the far ring, and he floors them with a double clothesline. Zodiac sent crashing into the cage by Luger and Savage. Faces on top now for a bit, and the match now see’s all six guys in the ring just brawling in a rather dull fashion. Luger accidentally nails Savage with a clothesline, and suddenly they are going at it, with Sting trying to pull them apart. Time expires and in comes Meng.

Meng clearing house, and I suppose he’s the most infamously capable shoot-fighter of all eight. Heels on top again with Meng choking out Luger. Faces getting thrown around, but the time expires and here comes Hogan to the typically big reaction. He’s got some kind of powder and he’s throwing it in the eyes of the DOD. Beating down Shark, then Kamala, then Zodiac, and nice spot where he punches Zodiac between the ring and Zodiac keeps bouncing back at him. All a bit hard to follow now as the eight guys pair off. “It’s like Bosnia in a cage” says Heenan. Just a couple of months after Srebrenica, so cheers for that Heenan. After a bit of brawling the faces are on top, and take turns flinging the DOD members into the cage. A few minutes of this and Hogan slaps a Camel Clutch on Zodiac, who submits in just under 19 minutes.

Winners: The Hulkamaniacs, shocker.

Verdict: Nothing but unsatisfying brawling. At least NXT knows what to do with this match type.

Taskmaster runs off but is dragged back to the ring by Sting. This doesn’t appear to be an official match, just an opportunity for Hogan to fling Taskmaster around the ring, and outside of it. Taskmaster blades, Hogan chokes him with his belt, and here comes the Giant. He chucks a ref out of the way and confronts Hogan in the cage hopping over the ropes with a crazy agility that seems so unnatural for the Big Show. Hogan with a few shots to the Giant, but gets put down with a choke as the crowd tries to rally Hogan. Hogan’s allies coming back to make the save. The Giant and the Taskmaster make their retreat as the Hulkamaniacs check on a prone Hogan. Heenan laughs at Hogan’s misfortune as the credits roll. All a bit much, but at least Hogan is left laying.

Best Match: I suppose Flair/Anderson by default, as it was the only match I enjoyed at all.

Best Wrestler: You can tell how good Page is despite the poor match, which is so strange for a guy who got into the business so late in his life.

Worst Match: The main event was just lame brawling and an undue focus on Hogan. Too short as well, which is weird to say.

Worst Wrestler: You could take your pick of, like, seven of the main event guys (Sting is the exception), but I’ll say Bunkhouse Buck, who didn’t really do much of anything in his match.

Overall Verdict: Real disappointing one here. Some rave about the opener but it was too long and too mediocre in large stretches. Three of the other five matches were wastes of time. I suppose that makes this a not great show, at a time when WCW was on the cusp of really taking off as the threat to the WWF that it became. Pass.

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