- This is a first time viewing, I'm looking foward to it as i've heard nothing but good things about Benoit/Sullivan, this PPV is also Reys WCW debut and the last PPV before nWo formed, brother.
- June 16th, Baltimore, Maryland
Fire & Ice Vs. Steiners
Ice is Ice Train and Fire is Scott Norton. Ice throws Scott across the ring but Steiners soon clear the ring, crowd digs Steiners. Belly-To-Belly by Rick. Ice beats on Scott until Scott gets a boot in the corner then a belly-to-belly suplex, he then almost suplexes Fire on his head. Fire catches Scott in a powerslam for 2 then a shoulder breaker followed by an armbar after earlier working over Steiners shoulder. Powerbomb and Splash to Rick gets 2. Steiners make a tag, even though they're in the wrong corner, a doomsday device style bulldog gets 2 but Scott gets 3 with a botched Frankensteiner. ** - Was alright apart from the botch at the end. Never thought a Norton match would get 2 *s from me.
US Title - Konnan (c) Vs. El Gato
- El Gato should be renamed El Gateau and what the hell is Konnan wearing??
Nothing much happens, a few takedowns by Gato. Springboard armdrag by K-Dawg, he then does a few leapfrogs but Gato kicks him. Sitout powerbomb gets Gato 2. K-Diggity locks in a leg submission and soon hits his rolling clothesline. K-Diggity-Diggity-Dawg powerbombs Gato on the outside then gets 3 with a Alabama Slam into a roll up. *1/2 Meh. (Meh is normally saved for matches at little better than *1/2)
Lord Of The Ring - DDP Vs. Marcus Bagwell
Match is for DDPs Lord Of The Ring ring that he won by winning a BattleBowl. DDP has a cigar cause he's badass, cheap heat promo by Page. DDP attacks Bagwell when his back's turned, they fight on outside where DDP's knocked into crowd. DDP pulls Bagwell off the top then kicks and chokes him. Gutwrench backbreaker and a side slam both get 2 for Page. Abdominal stretch is locked in, has anyone tapped to that since 1953?? Two atomic drops by Bagwell complete with dramatic jumps by Page. Diamond Cutter gets 3. ** Lasted to long for my liking, as do most Buff matches, but the effort was there.
Cruiserweight Title - Dean Malenko (c) Vs. Rey Misterio, jr.
- Reys WCW debut, if a kid swapped places with Rey would anyone tell the difference?
Mike Tenay joins commentary so that somebody can name the moves. Aeroplane spin armdrag by Rey, then a springboard dropkick, the one Jericho later used. Nice sequence by the pair ends with Dean slingshotting Rey over the top rope. Hammerlock scoop slam by Dean who works Reys arm by kicking it into the guardrail. Springboard dropkick by Rey. Dean dropkicks Reys arm then hits a nice suplex, man Dusty Rhodes really annoys me. Dean puts Rey in a surfboard then bridges him for 2, now he locks in arm submissions. Double underhook suplex gets 2. Springboard somersault to outside by Rey gets a big pop. Springboard hurricanrana gets 2 as does a top rope hurricanrana. Rey goes for another hurricanrana but Dean powerbombs him and uses the ropes for 3. **** Awesome, some people might not like mat/submission wrestling but I do, I used too hate it and loved the brawling style but now i'm older I appreciate technical wrestling. A fantastic debut for Rey and Dean was fantastic in WCW. I couldn't review everything as it was too fast at points.
Big Bubba (w/ Jimmy Hart) Vs. John Tenta
They fight in the aisle. Tenta throws Bubba into ring steps. Butt to the face by Tenta. Bubba pulls something from his tights and hits Tenta, this is like the complete opposite of Rey/Malenko. Powerslam by Tenta ends it. * Sucked but what did you expect. (My new rule is match under 3 mins gets no rating, i'll have to check match times as they was either short or they just didn't do much -- According to Wikipedia it went 5:26)
Falls Count Anywhere - Chris Benoit Vs. Kevin Sullivan
- Part of IV Horsemen Vs. Dungeon Of Doom. Anderson was apparently on the verge of joining the DOD or something, also Nancy Sullivan, Kevin's wife, would later marry Chris Benoit and i'm sure everybody knows how that ended, RIP Nancy.
Start in the aisle way trading chops, eye pokes etc. they both look pissed. They fight in the crowd through to the backstage area and into the toilets where Kevin slams Benoit's head in the toilet door, Schiavone: 'He's gonna pin him near the commode (Best call ever). Double foot stomp by Kevin on the bathroom floor 'There's a lady in the men's bathroom!' Toilet papers are thrown on Benoit. They trade punches back in the crowd and Benoit goes down the stairs then Kevin throws him down some more, that must've been painful. Back ringside now and Kevin throws a chair at Benoit but he is soon thrown into the crowd so Benoit gets a table, it is soon placed over the turnbuckle like a platform from which Benoit superplexes Sullivan for 3. ****1/2 Post match Benoit slaps Sullivan until Arn Anderson comes out pulls him off put then beats on Sullivan to a pop. Awesome especially for 1996, innovative for the time. This match might be thrown in with the WWF Hardcore matches of late 90s but this was the prototype for them matches.
Sting Vs. Lord Steven Regal
This matchup seems weird. Regal is whipped to outside then backdropped. Euro uppercuts by Regal. 'USA' Chant. Regal offers a handshake but Sting does a pelvis thrust. Cobra clutch then full nelson by Regal, Sting manages to get 2 off a sunset flip. Dropkick by Regal then some stiff shots after which he works Stings arm. Punches by Regal are no sold so he rakes Stings eyes. Dropkick, clotheslines by Sting and he heads up top but gets butterfly/Double underhook superplexed by Regal. Punches by Regal but Sting no sells and pummels Regal, fans dig it. Regal blocks Stinger Splash but gets back body dropped and a Scorpion Deathlock ends it. *** Regal controlled the match mainly with his funky submissions and that allowed Sting to play underdog, so his comeback garnered a pop. Regal dominating Sting may of made some wrestling fans take notice. One of 'Surfer' Stings last PPV appearances.
Ric Flair/Arn Anderson (w/ Bobby Heenan) Vs. Mongo McMichael/Kevin Greene (w/ Macho Man)
Star jumps by AA. Schiavone says Mongo left Chicago Bears for money, Mongo doing things for money is important. 3 pt stance and Mongo takes down AA, so they do another but AA drop toeholds Mongo. NFL guys pound AA and Macho Man gets a shot in. Greene comes in and rolls around, he's psyched, Flair styles and profiles. Shoulder tackles by Greene who struts so Flair bails but Savage catches him. Mongo no sells chops then does his own and back body drops Flair. Mongo/Greene do simultaneous Figure Fours to a pop. Liz and Woman get rid of Debra and Tara. Mongo is dominated by Horsemen until he atomic drops AA who bumps into Flair, flair flop. Greene in with football tackles, powerslams etc. AA attacks Greene's knee which leads to a Ric Flair Figure Four, psychology I like that. Benoit comes down and beats on Macho Man with AA. Debra reappears with Liz and Woman carrying a briefcase that she show Mongo, it's got money and a IV Horsemen shirt in it. Kevin Greene asks Mongo for help so Mongo helps him .... lose by hitting Greene with the briefcase so Ric pins Greene and Mongo joins the Horsemen. **1/2 - Wasnt to bad considering it had 2 NFL players in it, is important as well as now the IV Horsemen were complete. (This was a great performance by Flair/Arn in a way as they helped Mongo/Kevin through the match and the fact it didn't outright suck is a testament to them)
| cant believe what Nash did. |
Promo time - Eric Bischoff brings out Hall and Nash, he point blank asks them if they work with WWF which they dont, they had to say that as WWF was threatening law suits saying Scott was portraying his Razor Ramon character or something, he reveals they'll have their match Vs. WCW at Bash At The Beach but when he refuses to reveal the team Scott punches him and Nash powerbombs him through some tables. Awesome!! I think Schiavone and Rhodes sold it well aswell. I praised Nash and Rhodes in one paragraph, you'll never see that again.
WCW Championship - Giant (c) (w/ Jimmy Hart) Vs. Lex Luger
Lex checks on Bischoff on his way to ring also Lex is TV champion and 1/2 of Tag Team Champions along with Sting and Giant is in Dungeon Of Doom. Lex runs into a big boot but soon fires off punches and clotheslines Giant over the top but he lands on his feet. Punches, kicks etc. then Lex jumps on Giants back for a sleeper, Jimmy tries to interfere but Sting chases him off. This match is killing the crowd. Backbreaker by Giant then his variation of Torture Rack. Lex picks up Giant but falls over. Giant focuses on Lexs back. Dropkick, clotheslines and chop blocks by Lex gets Giants down to one knee. Giant misses a corner splash and lies across the top so Lex Torture Racks him but he falls over and a Chokeslam finishes him. ** I'm feeling generous after this good PPV.
22.5 / 45 - I recommend this PPV for Rey/Malenko, Benoit/Sullivan and Nash powerbombing Bischoff but also nothing was terribly offensive, some was boring don't get me wrong but the good far outweighs the bad. I really liked the PPV.
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