REVIEW: Clash Of The Champion #22: Clash Gets All Thundercagey

Clash of the Champions XXII
Date: January 13, 1993
Location: The Mecca, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Attendance: 4,000
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jesse Ventura

The major match this night sees Sting/Ron Simmons/Dustin Rhodes/Van Hammer vs. Vader/Barbarian/Barry Windham/Paul Orndorff (change for an injured Rick Rude) within the Thunder Cage. We’re nearing the tip of an technology right here in WCW as Bill Watts’ activity is already at the verge of collapse and can be ended quickly thereafter. In different phrases, lots of the suits this night don’t imply a lot, particularly with a couple of adjustments coming quickly. Let’s get to it.

Bill Watts welcomes us to the display and talks about his historical past wrestling in Milwaukee. Also Van Hammer is injured and out of the principle match this night. There will probably be a substitute in his arm wrestling fit later. No point out of the principle match. Also, Erik Watts has been arrested (kayfabe) and is out of his fit this night.

It’s every other new set with the doorway being below a steel body like ultimate time, however no lengthy curtain at the back of it.

We pass to Erik who says that the allegations are false and he’ll make this unhealthy state of affairs right into a just right one.

Cactus Jack vs. Johnny B. Badd

Cactus has been a face for approximately 3 days now for causes we’ll get to later. This stems from a the Lethal Lottery at Starrcade the place the 2 teamed in combination however were given in a struggle. Badd’s headlock is readily countered by means of forearms to the again however Jack grabs the ropes to steer clear of the large punch. Jack misses a rate into the nook and will get dropkicked down adopted by means of an armbar. Back up and Badd will get some boots into Cactus’ face and a small package deal will get two. Johnny is going up for his sundown turn however most effective hits mat, permitting Jack to drop an elbow for a quick pin. This didn’t have time to head any place.

Great Muta has change into NWA World Champion and there will probably be a recap of ways he did it on Sunday.

We get a track video from 2 Cold Scorpio that includes children dancing on a basketball court docket.

2 Cold Scorpio vs. Scotty Flamingo

They business headlocks to begin till Scorpio cartwheels into Scotty earlier than kicking him within the face to position Flamingo at the flooring. Back in and Scotty takes over with a dropkick to ship him outdoor, adopted by means of a pleasant plancha. They get again within once more with Scotty nonetheless in regulate and stomping away at 2 Cold. We hit the chinlock from Flamingo however Scorpio fights up and hits a spinning splash for 2. Flaming comes proper again with a working clothesline however walks into every other kick to the face. A spinning leg drop units up the 450 to provide Scorpio the win.

Rating: C. That 450 continues to be beautiful and Flamingo used to be just right sufficient within the ring to stay alongside of 2 Cold. It’s so attention-grabbing to look Flamingo pass from what he’s right here to what he would change into in ECW as Raven. He wouldn’t be round for much longer after this display which is a disgrace as he used to be beginning to in reality develop into the position.

Rick Rude is out of the principle match because of an harm, however he’s discovered a substitute. A couple of days previous he put in combination a fit between Paul Orndorff and Cactus Jack with the easier performer profitable the spot. Harley Race interfered on Orndorff’s behalf so Jack went after Harley, incomes Vader’s consideration. Vader attacked Cactus and value him the fit in spite of everything. Orndorff were given the spot, so Jack beat up Paul, Harley and Vader with a shovel to show face for the primary time.

Chris Benoit vs. Brad Armstrong

Feeling out procedure first of all Benoit grabbing a headlock earlier than making an attempt a powerbomb however Brad counters with an armdrag, resulting in a surprisingly speedy pinfall reversal collection and a stalemate. They earn a pleasant ovation as Brad takes him down with every other armdrag and slapping on an armbar. Benoit tries to nip up however Brad takes him again to the mat to deal with regulate. Chris in any case will get up and they are trying a check of power with each guys going to the mat and bridging off the mat with natural neck power. That all the time appears cool.

They persist with the arm motif by means of buying and selling hammerlocks till Brad sends him to the ground by means of the arm. Back in and Benoit is taken down by means of the arm once more earlier than going with forearms to the again to take over. Chris lifts him up and drapes Brad excessive rope earlier than knocking him to the ground with a springboard clothesline.

Back in and Benoit takes his head off with a clothesline adopted by means of chops and headbutts. A backbreaker has Armstrong in bother and Chris bends him over the knee for a submission strive. Benoit misses the swan dive however Brad misses an elbow drop, permitting Chris to snap off the dragon (complete nelson) suplex for the pin.

Rating: B-. This used to be a pleasant method to get up the gang a little bit bit after some respectable at perfect suits previous. Benoit would get a task quickly after this if no longer from this fit on my own. Armstrong remains to be as just right a hand as someone else and may have a just right fit with virtually someone you set out him available in the market towards.

We have a look at a clip from Smoky Mountain Wrestling with the Rock N Roll Express taking the Tag Team Titles from the Heavenly Bodies, putting in place the Express’ look at SuperBrawl III.

Van Hammer used to be scheduled to protect the Strongest Arm Title in an arm wrestling fit right here however is injured, so Vinnie Vegas replaces him towards Tony Atlas. Vegas in any case wins a left passed fit after just about a minute.

Vader is status within the snow and demanding situations Sting to a White Castle of Fear fit at SuperBrawl III.

We recap the match to resolve a #1 contender to the United States Title. At this level we’re right down to Ricky Steamboat vs. Dustin Rhodes. The match would ultimately be for the name itself after Rick Rude used to be injured.

Wrecking Crew vs. Z-Man/Johnny Gunner’s

The Wrecking Crew is Rage (Al Green) and Fury (Marcus Laurintis, Road Warrior Animal’s brother). Z-Man grabs a headlock on Rage to begin and Rage claims a hair pull, which might be tough because of his mohawk. Rage sends him to the apron however Z-Man runs as much as the highest for a dropkick and the Crew is shipped to the ground.

Gunn hits a HUGE dive to take each guys out and the enthusiasts are all fired up. Back in and Gunn takes over at the arm, most effective to be dragged to the nook for the off to Fury. The Crew shoves Gunn into the nook and Fury powerslams him down. Gunn avoids a clothesline and it’s again to Z-Man to hurry issues up. Rage slams him down and Fury provides what would ultimately be referred to as the World’s Strongest Slam.

Z-Man fees right into a knee within the nook however nonetheless superkicks Fury out of the air. Gunn is available in off the recent tag and cleans area with slams earlier than ramming the Crew’s heads in combination. Things calm down however Fury will get in an affordable shot from the apron, putting in place a powerbomb/most sensible rope forearm to the chest (the Wrecking Ball) for the pin on Gunn.

Rating: D+. Not a horrible fit right here however the groups had been precisely attention-grabbing. It used to be a generic beautiful boy tag crew towards a generic monster tag crew, neither of whom lasted lengthy in any respect. It used to be superb for a six minute fit however neither crew had a lot of a long term. I imply that actually as each had been long gone quickly if no longer right away after this.

Brian Pillman and Steve Austin, quickly to be referred to as the Hollywood Blonds, promise to win the Tag Team Titles this night. Austin used to be a substitute for Barry Windham who were teaming with Pillman when Barry used to be moved right into a singles push.

Sting, Dustin Rhodes and Ron Simmons pop out and say they’re in a position for the Thunder Cage fit this night.

Harley Race says Vader’s crew will handle Sting and corporate. He additionally promises that his males gets their palms on Cactus Jack sooner or later, however for now they don’t like someone related to Cactus. Therefore, Barbarian is fired. Barbarian chokes Race and will get crushed up by means of Vader in consequence.

We get highlights from SuperBrawl I and II to get us in a position for this 12 months’s version.

Shane Douglas and Ricky Steamboat aren’t in a position to lose the Tag Team Titles.

Unified Tag Team Titles: Steve Austin/Brian Pillman vs. Shane Douglas/Ricky Steamboat

Pillman and Austin are protecting. Steve and Steamboat get issues going because the announcers communicate in regards to the cut-off date most effective being thirty mins as a substitute of sixty. Steamboat will get an excessively early rollup for 2 earlier than working the ropes for a go frame, drawing within the companions as the whole thing breaks down. The champions temporarily transparent the hoop and Ross is already making soccer comparisons. Back in and Ricky gained’t shake Pillman’s hand, incomes him a difficult chop and ram into the buckle.

A couple of dropkicks ship Pillman into the nook for a punch from Shane and it’s off to an armdrag from Ricky. Douglas is available in to crank at the arm and the champions get started some speedy tags with a focal point at the shoulder. They tag 5 occasions in lower than thirty seconds till Douglas remains in. He sends Pillman into the ropes and Brian fakes a knee harm to get in a thumb to Shane’s eyes. Brian tries a springboard go frame however will get powerslammed out of the air in a pleasant spot.

Off to Austin who will get stuck in a hammerlock and we get an old-fashioned hammerlock slam. Austin and Douglas business some very speedy rollups for a number of two counts every earlier than Shane runs to the center rope and jumps again to crash into Austin. Pillman breaks up the pin however the champions take Austin into the nook. Brian runs in once more however Steamboat selections him up and tosses him onto Austin for a large crash. Austin in any case comes again with a stomach to again suplex to Ricky and makes the tag off to Brian.

Steamboat is tossed excessive whilst Shane tries to return in, permitting Austin to slam the Dragon down onto the concrete. Austin kicks him within the again and Pillman suplexes Ricky again in from the apron for 2. Pillman remains on Steamboat’s again earlier than it’s again to Steve for a gutwrench suplex. Ricky is in a position to knock Pillman to the ground however Austin breaks up a tag strive with every other suplex for 2. Austin places on an over the shoulder backbreaker however Steamboat makes use of the nook to turn ahead to flee.

The cling is going proper again on however Ricky will get out once more, transferring simply speedy sufficient to steer clear of a springboard clothesline from Pillman which drills Austin as a substitute. Steamboat suplexes Pillman down and falls into Shane for the tag. Douglas is available in and cleans area as the whole thing breaks down. Shane’s stomach to stomach knocks Pillman foolish however Austin comes off the highest with an ax deal with to get a divorce the nook. Pillman is thrown on most sensible however Douglas kicks out at two. Austin and the Dragon fights at the flooring as Shane rolls up Pillman. Steve is available in with a name belt to knock Shane out however it’s a disqualification.

Rating: B+. This used to be a in reality cast old-fashioned tag crew fit with each groups operating the tag crew method rather well. Steamboat and Douglas are an underrated crew and held the belts for a number of months however they’re no longer rather well remembered. The finishing got here out of nowhere although and didn’t are compatible with the fit in any respect. WCW could have had some issues round this time however the tag department wasn’t considered one of them in any respect. The fit lasted about 13 and a part mins so the shorter cut-off date wasn’t an element in any respect.

The champions get crushed up with the belts, busting either one of them open. Some of Steamboat and Douglas’ buddies are available in for the save however Pillman and Austin make off with the belts.

We have a look at Vader profitable the World Title again from Ron Simmons about two weeks in the past with a shoulder breaker. Simmons had a nasty shoulder coming in and the harm used to be worsened right through the fit.

Here are Vader and Race with one thing to mention. Race talks about how wonderful of an athlete Vader is and guarantees he’ll be the longest reigning champion in wrestling historical past. Ron Simmons comes out and guarantees to take the name again the primary likelihood he will get. Race is going after Simmons and will get decked. Vader is going after Ron and takes a HUGE spinebuster. Simmons is going after Race once more however will get jumped by means of Vader. The champion nails him with two shoulder breakers and Simmons is in agony.

The Thunder Cage is decreased.

Sting/Dustin Rhodes vs. Vader/Paul Orndorff/Barry Windham

This is mainly Hell in a Cell and everybody however Vader is in boulevard garments. It’s a large brawl to begin till most of the people pass to the apron like a standard tag fit. I’m no longer positive why that’s the case in a large cage fit without a disqualifications however I’ll pass with it. We get started with Dustin vs. Barry and Rhodes takes over with a suplex earlier than handing it off to Sting for a bulldog.

Vader is available in to hammer on Sting however the hero comes again with some giant punches and a DDT. Sting will get him into the nook and punches Vader down with proper hand after proper hand. Vader will get despatched into the nook the place he flips the other way up, most effective to land catch Sting coming in with a large status splash. A most sensible rope clothesline places Sting down and Vader takes over. Sting avoids a center rope splash and hits a working clothesline to position Vader at the flooring.

Orndorff is available in and not using a tag and stomps on Sting earlier than Vader comes again in to make a prison tag. A low blow has Sting in much more bother and it’s off to Windham for some giant proper palms. Back to Vader for a dash within the nook earlier than he throws Sting into the air and decks him at the method back off.

Barry will get every other tag however Sting fights his method out of the superplex and makes the recent tag to Dustin. The numbers temporarily catch as much as him, however right here’s Cactus Jack with some bolt cutters. He breaks into the cage and takes to the air his boot to overcome up Vader and corporate. Everything breaks down and Cactus comes off the highest with a boot shot to Orndorff for the pin.

Rating: B-. Good brawl right here with a wonder finishing that are compatible the tale, however I’m no longer wild at the tagging in cages. They emphasised that it used to be a boulevard struggle within a cage however the guys needed to tag? I’ve by no means cared for that rule however no less than we were given a cast fit in consequence. There’s not anything mistaken with combining a host of feuds into one fit and it labored neatly right here.

Cactus Jack is within the target audience and says he has an excessively unhealthy neck at this time, however he needs extra of Vader and Paul Orndorff. The announcers communicate slightly however Cactus climbs onto the cage and poses for the gang.

Overall Rating: B. This used to be every other just right access within the sequence with lots of the suits being just right and the worst fit being utterly watchable. Cactus turning face used to be a large transfer for him as he were a heel his complete profession however gained the folk over thru arduous paintings. WCW continues to be on a roll at this level and issues are having a look up for them in this day and age.

Thomas Hall has been a wrestling fan for over thirty years and has observed over 50,000 wrestling suits. He has additionally been a wrestling reviewer since 2009 with over 5,000 complete presentations coated. You can to find his paintings at kbwrestlingreviews.com, or take a look at his- Amazon creator web page with 30 wrestling books. Get the most recent and largest in skilled wrestling information by means of signing up for our day-to-day e mail e-newsletter. Just glance under for “GET EXCLUSIVE UPDATES” to enroll. Thank you for studying!

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