WCW Fall Brawl '96

Hosted by Tony Schiavone, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” – Sir Walter Scott

Prior to the first match, we revisit Nitro when Sting attacked Luger in the rain. We then revisit WCW Saturday Night when the nWo destroyed Luger’s Cadillac as payback for their limo.

This match took place in ring #1.
To begin the match, Chavo delivered a pair of dropkicks sending DDP between the ropes to the floor.
He then followed with a somersault senton.
Next, he whipped DDP back-first into the steel railing then into the steps.
Upon whipping DDP with a belt, Chavo tossed him back in and hit a springboard splash for 2.
Following that, a cross body block by Chavo got another 2.
Shortly afterward, another dropkick by Chavo stuck DDP between the ropes, but a fourth one missed sending both men to the floor.
Upon tossing Chavo back in, DDP mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a clothesline.
Later on, Chavo countered a vertical suplex with an inside cradle for 2.
After giving Chavo a sternum-first bump in the corner, DDP then flipped him face-first to the mat for a pair of 2 counts.
After a knee lift, Chavo came back with a springboard cross body block.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a missile dropkick for 2.
Again, he mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a flying headscissors for another 2.
Upon giving DDP a cross-corner whip, Chavo ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
DDP then tried to pin him with his feet on the ropes but only got 2.
He then tossed Chavo straight into ring #2.
A subsequent tilt-a-whirl sidewalk slam by DDP got 2.
Another try earned him a headscissors from Chavo.
DDP then reversed a cross-corner whip, came up empty, and was rolled up for 2.
Afterward, a helicopter powerbomb by DDP only got 2 but popped the crowd.
Upon attempting the Diamond Cutter, Chavo countered with a backslide attempt.
However, DDP countered again, hit the Diamond Cutter, and got the pin.

Summary: Really good opener as DDP gave Chavo a lot of offense but ultimately succeeded using his size advantage.

Harlem Heat with Sister Sherri and Colonel Parker are chatting on Compuserve. Log on now! Of course, the Compuserve typist has a Nitro denim shirt that I want.

SPECIAL REPORT: “Mean” Gene Okerlund runs down the history of the Outsiders then the unfolding and upgrading of the nWo.

Match 2 (submission): Scott “Flash” Norton versus Ice Train (w/ Teddy Long)

Popcorn match! Who needs butter and salt?
This match took place in ring #2.
Referee Mark Curtis had a microphone so that we can hear someone submit.
After a leapfrog, Ice Train gave Norton a hip toss followed by a clothesline.
A subsequent splash by Ice Train preceded a powerslam.
Another splash missed however.
Norton then gave him a DDT followed by a belly-to-back suplex.
Next, he delivered a clothesline, but Ice Train came back with another powerslam.
After a snap suplex, Ice Train gave Norton a cross-corner whip and avalanche.
Another cross-corner whip by Ice Train resulted in an exploding clothesline from Norton.
Fujiwara armbar by Norton as Long got up on the apron ready to throw in the towel.
After a hangman’s neckbreaker by Norton, Ice Train reversed a cross-corner whip and slammed him.
Ice Train then applied an arm bar submission, but Norton declined to submit.
He then delivered a clothesline followed by a senton splash, but a follow-up splash hit knees.
Ice Train then reversed an Irish whip, attempted a leap frog, but got caught.
Norton then gave him the Dominator and hooked a Boston crab.
Once again, Long got up on the apron so Norton pulled him into the ring.
After he gave Long a standing choke, Ice Train nailed him in the back.
He then hooked the full nelson on Norton, and Norton tapped out.
Wow! I didn’t expect that finish.

Summary: Good power match with some decent submission moves mixed in. I thought this would be bad, but I was mistaken.

Match 3 for the AAA Mexican title: Konnan (champion w/ Jimmy Hart) versus Juventud Guerrera

This match took place in ring #1.
“Iron” Mike Tenay joined the broadcast team for this match.
Hopefully Konnan won’t pull a Joe Gomez tonight.
A release German suplex by Konnan actually made Guerrera land on his front.
He then vaulted Guerrera over the top rope to the floor. Isn’t that a DQ?
Guerrera then re-entered the ring via a three-rope springboard spinning heel kick for 2.
A series of kicks by Guerrera caused Konnan to exit the ring to regroup.
Guerrera then followed him by hitting a tope suicida. Wow!
After being whipped to the steel railing, Guerrera used it as a springboard but ate a powerbomb.
Somersault clothesline by Konnan was followed by a seated dropkick for 2.
As Tenay shilled the WCW hotline, Konnan booted Guerrera into ring #2.
Afterward, Guerrera used a springboard headscissors, but they were too close to the ropes.
Savate kick by Guerrera sent Konnan outside the ring, and Guerrera followed with a plancha.
He then delivered a springboard dropkick, but Konnan backdropped him into ring #2.
Konnan then powerbombed him back into ring #1.
Springboard moonsault by Guerrera came up short so Konnan powerbombed him again. That’ll learn ‘im!
After a dropkick to the knee, Konnan gave him a pair of German suplexes.
Upon exiting the ring to regroup, Guerrera then re-entered the ring via a springboard dropkick.
Shortly after, Guerrera tried a sunset flip to the floor, but Konnan nailed him to escape.
He then leaped from the apron and gave Guerrera a dropkick.
After tossing Guerrera back in, Konnan mounted the top turnbuckle but got caught.
Guerrera joined him, backflipped off the top rope, but ate a dropkick from the second rope for 2.
Guerrera then escaped a vertical suplex and delivered another springboard spinning heel kick for 2.
Konnan came back by countering a victory roll into an Ocean cyclone suplex.
With Konnan tied up in the ropes, Guerrera delivered a somersault leg drop, but Konnan put his feet on the ropes.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle, hit a 450 splash, but only got 2.
Another trip to the top turnbuckle by Guerrera resulted in a corkscrew splash for another 2.
Konnan then reversed a cross-corner whip and delivered powerbomb #5.
A subsequent somersault roll-up got 2.
After putting Guerrera on the top turnbuckle, Konnan gave him a Muscle Buster and got another 2.
Again, Konnan put Guerrera on the top turnbuckle and hit a super Splash Mountain for the pin.
Konnan retained.

Summary: Great match as Konnan walked Guerrera through both of their spots beautifully.

Match 4: The “Crippler” Chris Benoit (w/o Woman) versus “Lionheart” Chris Jericho

This match took place in ring #2.
After giving Jericho a back drop, Benoit delivered a belly-to-back suplex for 2.
Just to piss off Ron Simmons, Benoit gave Jericho a Dominator followed by a LionTamer.
Jericho then countered a powerbomb into a sunset flip for 1.
After Benoit missed a clothesline, Jericho delivered a spinning heel kick for 2.
He then countered a stomp with a dragon screw leg whip.
Bridged roll-up by Jericho got another 2.
After Jericho reversed a cross-corner whip, he gave Benoit a dropkick to the back of the head. OUCH!
With Benoit on the apron, Jericho delivered a springboard dropkick sending Benoit to the floor.
He then gave Benoit a plancha that didn’t look crisp.
After tossing Benoit back in, Jericho mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a missile dropkick for 2.
Due to the Horseman-biased crowd, Jericho was soundly booed.
Nevertheless, a powerbomb by Jericho got another 2.
Jericho then wowed me with a tiger suplex but only got 2.
Chops were exchanged until Jericho hit a spinning crescent kick to the midsection.
After Benoit escaped to the apron, he suplexed Jericho down to the floor.
While I admire Heenan greatly, he was slurring his words badly during this match.
Regardless, Benoit rammed Jericho face-first into the ring post.
Back in the ring, Benoit gave Jericho a knee to the midsection then hung him out to dry on the top rope.
He then hooked an abdominal stretch, but Jericho arm-dragged out of it.
After a slam, Benoit mounted the top turnbuckle and hit the diving head butt for 2.
Next, he tossed Jericho outside the ring and rammed him back-first into the apron.
Upon Benoit tossing him back in, Jericho hooked an inside cradle for 2.
He then countered a back drop with a backslide for another 2.
Heenan then mentioned the Shell Answer Man. Bartender, I’ll have what he’s having.
Anyway, Jericho reversed a cross-corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
He then countered a Boston crab with a rollup for 2.
Next, Jericho hooked a Northern lights suplex and almost got 3.
After that, Jericho reversed a tombstone piledriver with one of his own.
He then tried the Lionsault but Benoit moved out of the way. Fortunately for Jericho, he landed on his feet.
After a clothesline by Jericho, it was almost curtains for Benoit.
Jericho then placed Benoit on the top turnbuckle, hit a huracanrana, and got yet another 2.
When Benoit reversed a cross-corner whip, Jericho leaped to the turnbuckle but got caught and crotched. YEE-OUCH!
Benoit joined him and hit a belly-to-back superplex. Wow!
1-2-3.

Summary: Encore! Encore! Put these guys on PPV every month! Awesome match with awesome sauce! Seek this match out STAT. This was one botch away from being perfect.

Match 5 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Rey Mysterio, Jr. (champion) versus Super Calo

This match took place in ring #2.
Once again, Tenay joined the broadcast team for this match.
Calo reversed a cross-corner whip then delivered a rolling powerslam.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit the big elbow for 2.
After a leapfrog, Mysterio gave Calo a springboard headscissors that sent him outside the ring.
Calo came back with a dropkick followed by a springboard powerbomb for 2.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a flying shoulder block.
Next, he clotheslined Mysterio over the top rope to the floor.
Afterward, he mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a missile dropkick on the floor. Wow!
Upon slamming Mysterio on the floor, Calo hit a somersault senton.
Back in the ring, Calo got a pair of 2 counts then followed with a sidewalk slam and got another pair of 2 counts.
After tossing Mysterio into ring #1, Calo put Mysterio on the top turnbuckle and gave him a headscissors down to the mat for another pair of 2 counts.
Back in ring #2, Calo hooked a key lock on Mysterio’s left arm.
Shortly after, he hooked Mysterio into a surfboard then dropped his shoulders for another 2.
Mysterio then exited the ring to regroup.
Upon his return, he gave Calo a dropkick then followed with a cross body block that practically turned Calo into a crab. Eventually, Mysterio snap-mared him over the top rope to the floor. Isn’t THAT a DQ?
Regardless, Mysterio then hit a somersault senton on the floor.
After tossing Calo back in, Mysterio attempted a springboard maneuver, but Calo hit him with a dropkick.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
Back in ring #1, Calo mounted the top turnbuckle and yanked down on Mysterio’s arm.
Outside the ring, he rammed Mysterio back-first into the steel railing.
When he tossed Mysterio back into ring #2, both men fought on the apron. That was until Mysterio gave him a huracanrana to the floor.
Baseball slide by Mysterio preceded another somersault senton on the floor.
He then tossed Calo in, hit a sunset flip, and got 2.
A subsequent corkscrew moonsault got another 2.
He then tried to set up a victory roll, but Calo gave him the electric chair instead for a pair of 2 counts.
West Coast Pop for Mysterio only got 2.
After a spinning heel kick by Mysterio, Calo missed a dropkick.
Upon flipping into ring #1, Mysterio used both top ropes as springboards, hit the West Coast Pop again, and got the pin. Holy flying chimichangas, Batman!
Mysterio retained.

Summary: Winston-Salem was not ready for this in ’96. A hotter crowd reaction boosts this higher.

Match 6 for the WCW World tag team titles: Harlem Heat (champions w/ Sister Sherri and Colonel Parker) versus the Nasty Boys

And now for something…COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
This match took place in ring #1.
After a cross-corner whip by Stevie Ray, he ate a back elbow from Sags on his follow-through.
Sags then followed with a clothesline for 2.
Behind referee Mark Curtis’ back, Sherri yanked Sags out of the ring by his legs. She then gave him the universal sign for hello in Hades.
Knobbs tagged in and gave Rhodes the chance to yell “Clubberin’!”
He then gave Stevie Ray a back elbow for 1.
Spinning savate kick by Stevie Ray preceded a tag to Booker T.
Knobbs came back with a cross-corner whip followed by a clothesline for 2.
After a drop toehold, Sags delivered a knee drop.
He then gave Booker T a hangman’s neckbreaker for 2.
Booker T then reversed a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
A subsequent clothesline by Knobbs resulted in a 360° sell by Booker T. Woohoo!
Before Knobbs could take Booker T to Pity City, Sherri got up on the apron to distract Curtis. Stevie Ray then nailed Knobbs in the back.
While Sags kept Curtis’ attention by grabbing a chair, Harlem Heat double-teamed Knobbs.
Afterward, a running clothesline and knee drop by Stevie Ray got 2.
Then a bicycle kick by Stevie Ray got another 2 as Sags made the save.
After a flying forearm by Booker T, he tossed Knobbs outside the ring as Curtis was occupied with Sags.
Sherri then attacked Sags with little damage, so Booker T nailed him from behind while leaping from the apron.
Meanwhile, Sags chased Sherri through both rings but couldn’t catch her.
After a leg drop by Stevie Ray, Booker T tagged in, mounted the second turnbuckle, and hit Knobbs with a double axe handle.
Booker T attempted a Harlem sidekick, but Knobbs ducked sending Booker T over the top rope to the floor.
Sags tagged in, gave Stevie Ray a cross-corner whip and followed with a clothesline.
Upon powerslamming Booker T, Sags grabbed Sherri by the hair and brought her in the hard way.
He then rolled up Booker T and almost got 3.
Following that, he gave Booker T a piledriver but only got 2 thanks to a save by Stevie Ray.
Next, he mounted the top turnbuckle, but Parker tripped him sending him down to the mat.
As Sags sauntered after Parker, Stevie Ray clobbered him from out of nowhere.
Back in the ring, Booker T delivered a scissors kick.
With Sags outside the ring, Stevie Ray and Sherri double-teamed him.
Stevie Ray then delivered a back elbow and got 2.
Shortly after, Sags ducked a double clothesline and face-planted both members of Harlem Heat.
Hot tag Knobbs.
After giving Booker T a back drop, Knobbs splashed him but only got 2 thanks to another save by Stevie Ray.
All four men were in the ring as Knobbs gave Booker T a cross-corner whip and avalanche.
The Nasty Boys then gave Stevie Ray a double shoulder block.
As Knobbs had the false pin, Sherri came into the ring and WALLOPED Knobbs with Parker’s cane.
1-2-3.
Harlem Heat retained.

Summary: Messy, convoluted match with too much interference for my tastes. If only Scott Steiner’s hip had been healthy, the Steiners could have gotten some gold.

In the locker room, Tenay interviews “the evil necessity” Savage who cuts a promo on Giant and Hogan. He wants to “cut the Giant in half” and make him only “44 feet tall.” Now THAT’S hyperbole!

Match 7: The Giant versus #1 contender to WCW title “Macho Man” Randy Savage

Since Savage wouldn’t let Giant get into the ring, Giant dragged Savage from it.
A crazed Savage tried a slam on the floor, but Giant landed on top of him.
Giant then pressed him and tossed him over the top rope INTO the ring.
Boot choke in the corner by Giant was followed by a cross-corner whip and clothesline.
A subsequent backbreaker by Giant preceded a head butt to the midsection.
Giant then hooked a Boston crab, but Savage made the ropes.
Afterward, Giant hooked a bear hug until Savage raked his eyes.
Savage then mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but got caught and slammed.
After Giant missed a knee drop, Savage went for the knee.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle again and face-planted Giant for 2 with a HUGE kick-out.
Savage then slammed the Giant. Wow!
Once again, he mounted the top turnbuckle as Hollywood Hogan came to the ring.
After Savage hit the big elbow, he chased after Hogan until the Outsiders attacked him.
Nash even hit Savage with a chair to the back.
On the video wall, referee Nick Patrick was “occupied” with Giant.
Hogan gave Savage another chair shot to the back then the Outsiders tossed him back into the ring.
1-2-3.
Giant won.

Summary: Essentially, this was more angle than match as the nWo wanted to soften Savage up for the next PPV. Does that make Giant the #1 contender?

Back in the locker room, Tenay interviews Flair, Arn, and Luger with Woman and Elizabeth. Flair’s so tuned into his promo that he refers to Tenay as “Gene.” Where is he, by the way? I realize his “special report” was taped beforehand, but was he in contract negotiations? According to Meltzer, his contract was up. Will he return? Could there be other front office moves as well?

Suddenly, Sting shows up and interrupts the interview as Flair, Arn, and Luger are trepidatious. He claims that it wasn’t him on Nitro, but Luger doesn’t believe him.

Match 8 (WarGames): Hollywood Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall & ???? (w/ the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase) versus “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, the “Enforcer” Arn Anderson, the “Total Package” Lex Luger, & ????

Buffer rumbled.
Hall and Arn began the match in ring #1.
As the crowd roared, Arn rammed Hall face-first into the cage.
After a cross-corner whip, Hall delivered a clothesline.
He then bounced the back of Arn’s head against the cage.
After nailing Hall in the knee, Arn applied a spinning toe hold.
Hall came back with a catapult using the bottom rope.
After delivering a shot to the midsection, Arn applied a sleeper.
According to Tony, the coin toss will occur in the back rather than at ringside.
Arn then reversed an Irish whip and delivered a spinebuster.
According to Tony, the nWo won the coin toss. Uh huh.
Nash then entered the cage.
As Hall held Arn, Nash gave him a big boot to the head.
They then rammed Arn face-first into the cage.
Next, Nash gave Arn snake eyes as Hall followed with a clothesline.
Luger then entered the cage fifteen seconds early.
He then gave the Outsiders a double clothesline.
After ramming Nash into the cage, Luger rammed Hall into it.
He then gave each Outsider a clothesline and a flying forearm.
Upon ramming Hall face-first into the cage twice, Luger got nailed from behind by Nash.
Arn then came back and rammed Nash into the cage.
Shortly after, Hall rammed Arn into the cage.
Arn gave Nash a DDT as Hogan entered the cage.
While Arn and Luger double-teamed Hogan, Luger gave him the ten-punch count-along until Hall intervened.
As Nash rammed Luger into the cage and Hogan slammed Arn, the Winston-Salem faithful chanted “We Want Flair!”
In ring #1, Arn blocked a shot to the cage then gave Hogan one.
Upon giving Arn another shot to the cage, Hogan delivered a leg drop.
Flair then entered the cage and challenged the nWo.
Hogan approached him, but Flair brandished a foreign object and nailed Hogan to a HUGE ovation.
Nash came to attack him so Flair nailed him in south Detroit. OUCH!
Hall tried to sneak up behind him but got hit with a trick knee.
Luger then gave Hall an inverted atomic drop. Afterwards, I’m certain Hall’s late-night plans had to be altered.
Nonetheless, as Luger gave Hall another one, Flair hooked the figure-four leg lock on Hogan.
Sting then came to the ring, but he looked…different.
He face-planted Luger, but his familiar howl wasn’t very familiar.
The crowd recognized it and chanted “We Want Sting!” I smell a ruse.
Meanwhile, Hogan rammed Flair face-first into the cage.
After Hogan slammed Flair, he delivered the leg drop.
Sting then gave Arn, Luger, and then Flair the Stinger Splash.
Who will be the fourth man for WCW?
The real Sting then emerged through the curtain!
He got into “Sting’s” face and face-planted him.
He then gave Hogan and Nash Stinger Splashes that made the earlier ones pale in comparison.
Following that, he gave Nash and “Sting” more Stinger Splashes.
Tony noted that Sting was the only one fighting for WCW at this point.
Sting then asked Luger: “Is that good enough for ya…?” He then flipped them off and left.
Afterward, Hogan gave Luger the big boot and leg drop in ring #2.
He then followed with a belly-to-back suplex.
“Sting” then applied the Scorpion Death Lock as Hogan also applied a front face lock to Luger.
According to referee Nick Patrick, Luger submitted.
The nWo won.

Summary: This was certainly an angle-driven match rather than a feud-settling bloodbath. What’s going to happen to Sting after this?

After the match, Luger crawls toward the back yelling “Stinger!” As the nWo beats down Luger, Arn and Flair attack them. Savage comes out, grabs Hogan, and tosses him into the ring. As Savage saunters after Hogan, Giant, Hall, and Nash ambush him. Giant then gives Savage the chokeslam.

Surprisingly, Elizabeth comes to the ring to check on Savage. As Hogan intimidates her, Giant chokeslams Savage again. As she covers him to protect him, Hogan proceeds to spray-paint her dress. While the crowd chants “Hogan sucks,” Hogan gets on the microphone and runs down both Savage and Elizabeth. After Giant and Hogan sing to the camera, Giant gives Savage yet another chokeslam. Referee Randy Anderson tries to protect Elizabeth, but Nash tosses him down.

Finally, the nWo take over the broadcast table as Hogan holds up a sign that reads “This is nWo country” with nWo in spray-paint. DiBiase wants all of the nWo’s demands met as Elizabeth and a WCW trainer assist Savage backstage.

Conclusion: Well, the nWo storyline is certainly center-stage as they dominated WCW partially due to Sting’s early exit. As for the rest of the card, the Konnan-Guerrera, Benoit-Jericho, and Mysterio-Calo matches deliver in spades making this a must-see show. Questions lingering into Nitro are: