Superbowl V February 19th, 1995 from Baltimore, Maryland
Paul Roma Vs. Alex Wright
JIP from the off, the Network said something about technical difficulties in its original form, I guess WCW cut the opening and some of this match off its master copies or what have you. Mr. Wonderful walks out as Alex has Roma on the mat, Orndorff was Romas tag partner. Romas hair is magnificent if he'd had it like that during the Horsemen debacle it would've been more acceptable. Roma hits a trio of rib breakers as he's on top, is this the famous match where he was meant to put over Wright and make him look good? Wright starts a comeback on the apron but when he slingshots in Roma hits him. A backside gets Wright 1 and an inside cradle gets 2. Paul Roma kind of resembles Ken Shamrock in a Liu Kang wig, he at times reminds me of Owen Hart too. There's a slight boring chant as Roma has a chinlock. Wright misses a dropkick as Roma holds the ropes. Roma hits an elbow off the top and Heenan declares Wright's career is over. They make a mess of a hip toss though may of been intentional. Wright hits a crossbody but Orndorff breaks the pin. Wright dropkicks Roma into Orndorff and rolls him up for 3. Had to stop the analysis as I had a mini rave to Das Wunderkids theme. *1/2 Roma wasn't trying and not in a he's bad way more in a screw management I'll do it my way way and not help Wright. Good hair though.
JIP from the off, the Network said something about technical difficulties in its original form, I guess WCW cut the opening and some of this match off its master copies or what have you. Mr. Wonderful walks out as Alex has Roma on the mat, Orndorff was Romas tag partner. Romas hair is magnificent if he'd had it like that during the Horsemen debacle it would've been more acceptable. Roma hits a trio of rib breakers as he's on top, is this the famous match where he was meant to put over Wright and make him look good? Wright starts a comeback on the apron but when he slingshots in Roma hits him. A backside gets Wright 1 and an inside cradle gets 2. Paul Roma kind of resembles Ken Shamrock in a Liu Kang wig, he at times reminds me of Owen Hart too. There's a slight boring chant as Roma has a chinlock. Wright misses a dropkick as Roma holds the ropes. Roma hits an elbow off the top and Heenan declares Wright's career is over. They make a mess of a hip toss though may of been intentional. Wright hits a crossbody but Orndorff breaks the pin. Wright dropkicks Roma into Orndorff and rolls him up for 3. Had to stop the analysis as I had a mini rave to Das Wunderkids theme. *1/2 Roma wasn't trying and not in a he's bad way more in a screw management I'll do it my way way and not help Wright. Good hair though.
Mean Gene is with Harlem Heat and Sherri, Gene gets Book and Stevie mixed up. Book says they've got a new move concocted and its gonna be a Halrem Hangover tonight.
Bunkhouse Buck (w/ Col. Parker and Meng) Vs. Jim Duggan
We see Savage on the WCW Hotline. Duggan pummels Buck whilst holding his flag and gets a USA chant going. Duggan is sent I to the ring post then back in Buck drops down but rather than jump over him and run the ropes Duggan hits a knee drop making Duggan the smartest man in WCW. Someone in an ECW shirt opposite the hard camrta walks off screen twice and both times people follow them, hmmm wonder of it was wrestling fans following to knock sense into the ECW fan? Duggan's been on top for most of this bar the odd Buck shot. Buck does a back rake but without the power of Hollywood's pythons it doesn't do anything. Meng is ring side in a suit and there's someone in the front row looking just like him suit and all, my god is that a Terminator style Meng from the future sent to destroy 1995 WCW so that the nWo never happened and WCW didnt become what it did in 99. Parker is on the apron and Duggan hits him then hits 3 point stance on Buck for 3. PM Meng savate kicks Duggan into whatever time the future Meng was from then uses the Vulcan death grip to KO him. *1/2
We see Savage on the WCW Hotline. Duggan pummels Buck whilst holding his flag and gets a USA chant going. Duggan is sent I to the ring post then back in Buck drops down but rather than jump over him and run the ropes Duggan hits a knee drop making Duggan the smartest man in WCW. Someone in an ECW shirt opposite the hard camrta walks off screen twice and both times people follow them, hmmm wonder of it was wrestling fans following to knock sense into the ECW fan? Duggan's been on top for most of this bar the odd Buck shot. Buck does a back rake but without the power of Hollywood's pythons it doesn't do anything. Meng is ring side in a suit and there's someone in the front row looking just like him suit and all, my god is that a Terminator style Meng from the future sent to destroy 1995 WCW so that the nWo never happened and WCW didnt become what it did in 99. Parker is on the apron and Duggan hits him then hits 3 point stance on Buck for 3. PM Meng savate kicks Duggan into whatever time the future Meng was from then uses the Vulcan death grip to KO him. *1/2
Mean Gene is with the Nasty Boys, not sure I've ever heard Nasty Boys talk.
Kevin Sullivan (w/ The Butcher) Vs. Dave Sullivan
Dave sends Kevin ringside early where he gets a shot in on Butcher who looks like Mongo in Surfer Sting attire. Butcher trips Dave but all's fair with karma man. Kevin has the advantage now but theres nothing real noteworthy happening. Dave bounces Kevin off the turnbuckle 10x but is then distracted by Buthcer so Kevin knocks Dave into Butcher and rolls him up for 3. Butcher is selling his face ringside as the announcers note his past surgery. * I think this is when Butcher became the man with no face, Butcher had about 657 gimmicks and all were pretty, pretty bad.
Dave sends Kevin ringside early where he gets a shot in on Butcher who looks like Mongo in Surfer Sting attire. Butcher trips Dave but all's fair with karma man. Kevin has the advantage now but theres nothing real noteworthy happening. Dave bounces Kevin off the turnbuckle 10x but is then distracted by Buthcer so Kevin knocks Dave into Butcher and rolls him up for 3. Butcher is selling his face ringside as the announcers note his past surgery. * I think this is when Butcher became the man with no face, Butcher had about 657 gimmicks and all were pretty, pretty bad.
Mean Gene is with Big Bubba and Avalanche or Bossman and Earthquake if we use WWF talk. WWE stopped the Renegade/Warrior thing and surely had some sort of right to do something over the Earthquake/Avalanche thing if Vince was feeling petty, not that a McMahon ever is of course.
WCW Tag Titles - The Nasty Boys Vs. Harlem Heat (c) (w/ Sherri)
Unsure which match this is out of the 634 they had around this time. We see Sting on the WCW Hotline probably on the line to the face make up artiste giving her or him their P45. Book says he'll knock a fan into next week, to be fair he'd be doing him a favour. I don't know how far behind the times Baltimore was in 1995 but a fan looks like he's straight out of Lord of the rings, big beard, cloak and may of even had a cane. Knobs slaps Book which ignites a fire, albeit a short one, in Book. Stevie in as Book is either a great seller or really hurt. Nastys pummel Stevie in the corner and then work on his legs, who would've thought the Nastys would show any sense? Heat stop the Nasty dominance as Stevie cheapshots Saggs and Booker dropkicks him to outside. Nastys regain control but Book sends Saggs ringside where Stevie and Sherri get shots in. The guy like M3ng in the crowd has a Harlem Heat look-a-like next to him, possibly to warn them about the version of Harlem Heat with Big T in fact maybe he did get word to Booker and that's why he wasn't in that version. Heat have taken over with Saggs as the Nasty-in-peril. Knobs in and he's cleaning trailer, fans liked his double DDT. Saggs dumps Book over the top then Sherri accidently hits Stevie and he's rolled up for 3 but the decision is reversed due to Book being thrown over the top and Harlem retain. ** I appreciate the psychology - Nastys working the legs and then the heat segment but the ending is an insult, the first ref saw the over the top bit so why did he count the pin then have to get consulted by another ref?
Unsure which match this is out of the 634 they had around this time. We see Sting on the WCW Hotline probably on the line to the face make up artiste giving her or him their P45. Book says he'll knock a fan into next week, to be fair he'd be doing him a favour. I don't know how far behind the times Baltimore was in 1995 but a fan looks like he's straight out of Lord of the rings, big beard, cloak and may of even had a cane. Knobs slaps Book which ignites a fire, albeit a short one, in Book. Stevie in as Book is either a great seller or really hurt. Nastys pummel Stevie in the corner and then work on his legs, who would've thought the Nastys would show any sense? Heat stop the Nasty dominance as Stevie cheapshots Saggs and Booker dropkicks him to outside. Nastys regain control but Book sends Saggs ringside where Stevie and Sherri get shots in. The guy like M3ng in the crowd has a Harlem Heat look-a-like next to him, possibly to warn them about the version of Harlem Heat with Big T in fact maybe he did get word to Booker and that's why he wasn't in that version. Heat have taken over with Saggs as the Nasty-in-peril. Knobs in and he's cleaning trailer, fans liked his double DDT. Saggs dumps Book over the top then Sherri accidently hits Stevie and he's rolled up for 3 but the decision is reversed due to Book being thrown over the top and Harlem retain. ** I appreciate the psychology - Nastys working the legs and then the heat segment but the ending is an insult, the first ref saw the over the top bit so why did he count the pin then have to get consulted by another ref?
Mean Gene whos tan is almost permeating out of the TV screen is with Sting and Savage. Randy says I'm not talking which is talking really, kind of like Butcher gimmick 846 the man with no name when that is his damn name.
They hype uncensored and note its uncut of course that match featured the Blacktop Bully Vs. Dustin Rhodes match that was indeed edited due to blood. Cost both of them and the 'producer', or whatever these days, their jobs I think. Holiday would soon follow.
The Blacktop Bully (w/ Col. Parker) Vs Dustin Rhodes
Nick Bockwinkel, the commissioner, bans Meng from ringside. Bully is Demolitions Smash. Dustin is a year or so, give or take a few months, from the Goldust era. Dustin is on top straight away without losing his Natural jacket. Bully hits a chopblock after Dustin does 10 corner punches. Bully does HBKs bit of lying across the turnbuckle after a whip. Dustin had an armbar type move so Bully tries to slam him but Dustin keeps it applied. KFC chant or something aimed at Colonel. Fake Meng and Booker in the front row do some hand sign, possibly thinking damn why did we travel back to 1995 and have to see this? Not sure a match has ever done so much yet so little, nothing noteworthy for a fair few minutes here. Bobby Heenan says take him home right now, sadly not loud enough for them to hear and think the ref said it and indeed take it home. Can't the fake Meng run in to confuse the ref and call for a DQ? Dustin hit the bulldog, after Bully helpfully turned around, but Parker causes a rope break. Suplex to Parker, I thought Bully was gonna win then. Rhodes goes to suplex Bully but Parker holds his foot and Bully falls on top for 3, never got how holding the foot would hold someone down for a pinfall. *1/2 Booooooooooooooooooring, boooooooooooooooooring.
Nick Bockwinkel, the commissioner, bans Meng from ringside. Bully is Demolitions Smash. Dustin is a year or so, give or take a few months, from the Goldust era. Dustin is on top straight away without losing his Natural jacket. Bully hits a chopblock after Dustin does 10 corner punches. Bully does HBKs bit of lying across the turnbuckle after a whip. Dustin had an armbar type move so Bully tries to slam him but Dustin keeps it applied. KFC chant or something aimed at Colonel. Fake Meng and Booker in the front row do some hand sign, possibly thinking damn why did we travel back to 1995 and have to see this? Not sure a match has ever done so much yet so little, nothing noteworthy for a fair few minutes here. Bobby Heenan says take him home right now, sadly not loud enough for them to hear and think the ref said it and indeed take it home. Can't the fake Meng run in to confuse the ref and call for a DQ? Dustin hit the bulldog, after Bully helpfully turned around, but Parker causes a rope break. Suplex to Parker, I thought Bully was gonna win then. Rhodes goes to suplex Bully but Parker holds his foot and Bully falls on top for 3, never got how holding the foot would hold someone down for a pinfall. *1/2 Booooooooooooooooooring, boooooooooooooooooring.
Justin Trudeau was recently pulled up for 'blackface' in 2001 well Mean Gene seemed to do it here in 1995, Vader has words for Hogan.
Mean Gene is now in the aisleway and brings out Ric Flair, who was retired at Halloween Havoc the previous year. Gene asks Flair if he was in Vaders limo. Naitch says he'll be in the crowd and goes to his seat in the front row.
Avalanche/Big Bubba Vs. Sting/Macho Man
Big Bubba is Bossman/The Boss/Guardian Angel. This is Savage's WCW PPV in-ring debut, he appeared at Starrcade to help Hogan but didn't wrestle. Sting fails to get Avalanche off his feet then Bubba gets a shot in from the apron and Sting is on the defensive. Big Bubba is pinballed between Savage and Sting. Randy hits his Axe Handle to the outside. Savage and Avalanche get into a shoving match until Savage hits a slap and thus breaks the rules of a shove off. Sting works over Avalanche's leg and gets him down but the Scorpion Deathlock is avoided. Macho Man and Flair exchange words. Sting slams Avalanche but Bubba knocks him down. Savage slams Bubba and hits the Big Elbow then Sting pins Avalanche with a crossbody. *** Good tag match without resorting to restholds, boosted as fans were into it which is always a plus.
Vader won the no. 1 contendership at Fall Brawl .... In September.
They hype Vader and Hogan, during the video we are Vader in Hogans locker room or something and I think it's the first time I've seen Jimmy Hart sans glasses. Mean Gene is with Hogan and Hart.
WCW Title - Hulk Hogan (c) (w/ Jimmy Hart) Vs. Vader
Vader is apparently the U.S. Champion. Vader removes his mask early. The Great Muta is in the audience though technically it's Keiji Muto as he is without the facepaint. Flair is having with a fan. Hogan does a crossarmlock type takedown, I'm currently reading the Observer Flashbacks on Scott Keith's Blog of Doom and apparently WCW wanted to do a UFC style thing and I guess Hogan would've walked it. Vader floors Hogan and they go ringside where Vader is whipped into the crowd. Back in Hogan hits 10 corner punches then clotheslines Vader down. Vader is in control with punches and has Hogan down with a shortarm clothesline. Vader Bomb connects but only gets 2. Vadersault misses then Hogan takes Vader to ringside and hits him with a chair. Heenan says if the Orioles could hit like that they'd still be playing ball, how long were the 1994 MLB playoffs on for? He's Hulking Up, big boot hits and the Leg Drop gets a 1 count. There red is KOd and Vader powwrbomb Hogan but the ref is out, Flair runs in to wake the ref then Vader splashes Hogan for 2. Flair is back in the ring which draws the DQ. Naitch and Vader attack Hogan until Savage makes the save, here's Sting too. *** I did quite enjoy it but it is WCW Vader. The DQ ending makes sense for the first match, kind of weird though in a way watching Vader and essentially WWF Hogan.
13 / 35 - Poor showing really to start 1995 on PPV for WCW, the undercard was just plain boring which is sometimes worse than a 'bad' match as at least they can be entertaining in a way. The penultimate match was okay and the fans were into it at least.
The main event was good but by no means a show saver, see Austin matches during 1998 PPVs, and I know fantasy booking is just that but I think they should've gone with Vader winning here, maybe ala Brock at SummerSlam 2014, as although some WCW fans had turned on Hulk he still performed well on PPV, at least by WCW standards, and I think a vengeance seeking Hulkster at Uncensored could've done well.
Thumbs down.
The main event was good but by no means a show saver, see Austin matches during 1998 PPVs, and I know fantasy booking is just that but I think they should've gone with Vader winning here, maybe ala Brock at SummerSlam 2014, as although some WCW fans had turned on Hulk he still performed well on PPV, at least by WCW standards, and I think a vengeance seeking Hulkster at Uncensored could've done well.
Thumbs down.
