WCW Starrcade '91

Tag team turmoil surrounds this inaugural event. Who will survive to become Battlebowl champion? Read on!

On the podium, Eric Bischoff, Missy Hyatt, and Magnum T.A. stand in front of a tumbler. All forty wrestlers appear with fireworks at the entrance.

Match 1: Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Jimmy "Jam" Garvin versus Michael “P.S.” Hayes & WCW US tag team champion Tracy Smothers

This match took place in ring 2.
Freebird versus Freebird? I wonder which one was the simple man.

Three of the four wrestlers were babyfaces as Smothers played heel.
Speaking of Smothers, he and Steve Armstrong defeated the Patriots (Firebreaker Chip & Todd Champion) on 12/15 for the US tag titles (taped 11/5).

After a leap frog, Bagwell hip-tossed and dropkicked Smothers.
Smothers wanted a piece of Garvin, so Bagwell tagged out.
As Garvin leap-frogged Smothers twice, he delivered his own hip toss and dropkick.
Smothers then sought refuge on the apron, but Garvin bumped him causing him to taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Gwynn's Island at Captain Groovy's.
Upon Smothers' return, Garvin gave him an atomic drop sending him over the top rope to the floor.
Bagwell tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and lowered the boom on Smothers.
After Smothers came back with a knee lift, Hayes tagged in and gave Bagwell a back elbow.
Smothers tagged in as the Norfolk faithful chanted "Tracy sucks."
When Bagwell escaped a slam attempt, he gave Smothers his own slam.
Garvin tagged in so Smothers tagged in Hayes.
As Hayes rolled up Garvin, he got 2.
Each wrestler strutted then tagged out.
Upon superkicking Bagwell, Smothers slammed him but missed an elbow drop.
Garvin tagged in and backdropped Smothers.
Next, I believe a criss-cross should have happened, but Smothers didn't get the memo.
Instead, Garvin flattened Smothers with a forearm.
Bagwell tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and hit a cross body block for 2.
When Bagwell nailed him, Hayes came in and CREAMED Bagwell with a vicious left.
He then gave his fellow Freebird the same treatment.

While the Freebirds argued, Smothers slammed Bagwell, mounted the top turnbuckle, but ate knees on a splash attempt. That did NOT look crisp.
Bagwell then hooked a fisherman's suplex and pinned Smothers.
Bagwell and Garvin advanced.

Match 2: WCW US champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude & WCW World TV champion “Stunning” Steve Austin (w/ Uncle Paul) versus Van Hammer & Big Josh

This would be the supershow debut of the Dangerous Alliance as Rude and Austin were part of the group.
This match took place in ring 1.
After Hammer slammed Austin, he blocked a vertical suplex and delivered one of his own for 2.
He then reversed a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
As Rude tagged in, he clotheslined Hammer.
He then delivered a knee lift and put a knee into Hammer's midsection.
When Austin tagged in, he gave Hammer a short-arm clothesline.
He then delivered a gutwrench suplex and tagged in Rude.
After Josh tagged in, he powerslammed Rude and gave him a log roll.
He then tried to nail Rude in the midsection, but Rude's abs are impenetrable.

As Josh hit a clothesline, he got 2.
He then caught an incoming Austin with a clothesline and gave the Dangerous Alliance members a double noggin knocker.
When Austin tagged in, Josh caught and guillotined him using the top rope.
He then clotheslined Austin for another 2.
After Hammer tagged in, you could hear a pin drop in the Norfolk Scope.

Josh tagged in and attempted to roll Austin up but ate a Rude clothesline instead.
As Rude tagged in, he mounted the top turnbuckle and hit an axe handle for 2.
Austin tagged in and distracted referee Nick Patrick so that Rude could manhandle Josh.
Also, it enabled Austin to deliver a running guillotine for 2.
Rude tagged in, and Uncle Paul got up on the apron.
When the Dangerous Alliance made an illegal switch, Austin gave Josh a back elbow.
He then tossed Josh to the floor so that Rude could make Josh taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Bundoran Burrito at Grace O'Malley's.
Back in the ring, Austin got 2 as a glimpse into each locker room revealed an arm injury for the Diamond Studd. Quite possibly, this was Hall's last WCW supershow appearance until 1996.
Upon slamming Austin, Josh missed an elbow drop.
While Rude distracted Patrick, Uncle Paul held Josh so that Austin could successfully hit another running guillotine. Unfortunately for Austin, Josh put Uncle Paul in his place, and Austin got his manager instead.
Hot tag Hammer.
After a powerslam, Hammer delivered a belly-to-back suplex.
He then hit a flying shoulder block for 2.
All four wrestlers were in the ring.
While Hammer backdropped Austin, Rude had been tagged in.
Rude then hit the Rude Awakening on Hammer.
1-2-3.
Rude and Austin advanced.

Summary: Did you truly believe the newly-formed Dangerous Alliance would lose?

Match 3: Richard Morton & WCW World tag team champion the "Natural" Dustin Rhodes versus the "Cruncher" Larry Zbyszko & El Gigante (w/ Madusa)

This match took place in ring 2.
After a criss-cross, Rhodes put a knee into Zbyszko's midsection.
Tags were exchanged on both sides, and the size mismatch was extraordinary.

As El Gigante slammed Morton, Rhodes dropkicked El Gigante to no avail.
He then attempted a drop toe hold but couldn't take El Gigante off his feet.
When El Gigante slammed Rhodes, Zbyszko tagged in.
After slamming Rhodes, he gave Rhodes a swinging neckbreaker for 2.
He then attempted another slam, but Rhodes countered with an inside cradle for 2.
As Zbyszko gave Rhodes a spinning thrust kick, Madusa had issues with a cameraman who was too close for comfort.

Meanwhile, Rhodes delivered a series of bionic elbows, reversed a cross corner whip, and hit a corner clothesline.
He then attempted a bulldog, but Zbyszko shoved him away.
When El Gigante tagged in, Zbyszko slapped him for disobeying orders.
El Gigante then picked Zbyszko by the neck and tossed him like a rag doll into the ring.
As El Gigante whipped Zbyszko into a double dropkick, Rhodes pinned Zbyszko.

Summary: More storyline than match as the miscommunication between Zbyszko and El Gigante was the catalyst to their demise.

Match 4: WCW Light Heavyweight champion Jushin “Thunder” Liger & Bill Kazmaier versus Mike Graham & Diamond Dallas Page

This match took place in ring 1.
In addition, it marked the PPV wrestling debut of DDP at 35 years old.
Wait a minute! How did Liger win the light heavyweight title?

Graham gave Liger a cross corner whip but fell victim to a flying headscissors. In fact, he flew between the ropes to the floor.
When Liger attempted a handspring back elbow, Graham evaded him for 2.
Kazmaier and DDP tagged in respectively, but DDP failed to slam him.
After Kazmaier slammed him, DDP tossed him over the top rope.
Was it a DQ?
Nope, believe it or not, Kazmaier skinned the cat back into the ring.

He then clotheslined DDP for 2.
Upon giving DDP a gutwrench slam, he got another 2.
He then slammed DDP, mounted the second turnbuckle, but missed a splash.
As DDP guillotined Kazmaier using the top rope, Liger tagged in.
DDP then gave Liger a side-Russian leg sweep for 2.
When Liger came back with a spinning heel kick, Graham tagged in.
Liger then hit an enziguri, but Graham backdropped him to the apron.
After a springboard splash, Liger got 2.
Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Kazmaier clotheslined DDP.
As DDP attempted a slam, Kazmaier fell on top for 2.
Again, tags were exchanged, and Liger mounted the top turnbuckle to lower the boom on Graham.
He then hooked Graham in a bow-and-arrow, but Graham wouldn't submit.
When Graham applied a Boston crab, Liger countered with momentum for 2.
Graham then hooked a backslide for 2.
Shortly after, tags were exchanged, and DDP gave Kazmaier a back elbow.
Coincidentally, the Norfolk faithful were taking a collective nap.

Once again, tags were exchanged on both sides. Am I watching a tag team or mixed tag match here?
Liger then hit his Abisegeri and unleashed a series of kicks to Graham's midsection. Let's hope Graham didn't eat sea scallops for dinner.
After Kazmaier tagged in, he launched Graham across the ring with a slam for 2.
Yet again, tags were exchanged, and Graham reversed a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through. In fact, he fell over the top rope to the floor.
LIger then hit a somersault plancha to wake up the slumbering crowd.

With Graham on the apron, Liger suplexed him back in for 2.
After a backbreaker, Liger mounted the second turnbuckle and delivered a moonsault for another 2.
DDP made the save, and all four wrestlers were in the ring.
When Kazmaier and Liger whipped Graham and DDP together, Kazmaier military-pressed Liger into DDP. Nifty!
1-2-3.
Kazmaier and Liger advanced.

Summary: With the exception of the finish, the rating reflects Liger's work solely. DDP didn't look lost, and Kazmaier showcased his strength, but Graham didn't know how to handle Liger.

Promo airs for SuperBrawl II airs. It will be LIVE on PPV on 2/29. Celebrate Leap Day with WCW!

Match 5: WCW World champion the “Total Package” Lex Luger & the “Enforcer” Arn Anderson (w/ Harley Race) versus Z-Man & Terrance Taylor

This match took place in ring 2.
When Arn escaped the ring to avoid a right by Z-Man, Taylor nailed him.
Was Taylor going to play babyface in this match? Let's find out!
Z-Man then gave Arn an enziguri for 2.
As Luger tagged in, Z-Man leap-frogged, hip-tossed, and dropkicked him.
Taylor tagged in but received a military-press slam from Luger.
As Taylor came back with a jawbreaker, he gave Luger a rolling neck snap for 2.
He then delivered a swinging neckbreaker for another 2.
After an elbow by Luger sent him to the apron, Taylor ultimately hooked a sunset flip.
On the other hand, Arn tagged in before Luger could get pinned.
In a rare snafu on live TV, Schiavone mixed his metaphors and coined a "bone in his cap." HA!
Taylor then reversed a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow from Arn.
When he hooked a backslide, Taylor got 2.
He then clotheslined Arn for another 2.
As Arn reversed a cross corner whip, he ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
Taylor then hit a Vader bomb but couldn't get 3.
After Z-Man tagged in, he mounted the top turnbuckle, hit a cross body block, and got 2.
He then gave Arn the ten-punch count-along and blocked an inverted atomic drop attempt.
When Z-Man came off the ropes, Race tripped him. How dastardly!
That allowed Arn to deliver the DDT for 2. Woohoo!
Luger came in and hit a vertical suplex for 2.
As he gave Z-Man a knee lift, Luger tagged in Arn.
Z-Man then countered a back drop attempt with a face plant.
After Luger tagged in, he powerslammed Z-Man for 2.
Arn tagged in, gave Z-Man a cross corner whip, but ate knee on his follow-through.
When Z-Man mounted the second turnbuckle, he leaped but ate a shot to the midsection.
Arn then mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but ate boot.
Hot tag Taylor.
As Taylor cleaned house, he gave Luger an atomic drop that sent him directly into Arn.
He then rolled up Luger for 2.
Upon hitting a cross body block, Taylor got another 2.
He then hooked another backslide but couldn't get 3.
Next, Taylor delivered a Doctorbomb, but Arn made the save.
With all four wrestlers in the ring, Taylor countered a vertical suplex with an inside cradle on Luger. Unfortunately for Taylor, referee Nick Patrick was putting Z-Man back in the corner.
Taylor then attempted the Five-arm but collided with Arn on the apron.
That allowed Luger to hit the piledriver.
1-2-3.
Luger and Arn advanced.

Summary: Extremely good match where all four wrestlers looked sharp, but the World champion's team found a way to advance.

After Bischoff announces Cactus Jack for the next match, Parker rises from his chair too early. D'oh! Abdullah the Butcher then rams him face-first into a locker for breaking kayfabe. Upon ramming him again into the locker, Abdullah SMACKS Parker with a steel chair. He then repeatedly bounces Parker's head into the locker and breaks a broomstick over Parker's back. With whatever energy Parker has left, he makes his way toward the entrance.

Match 6: WCW World tag team champion Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat & Todd Champion versus Cactus Jack & Buddy Lee Parker

When Cactus kept asking "where's my partner," Abdullah emerged through the entrance.
Officials then prevented Abdullah from entering the ring.
This match took place in ring 1.
As Parker emerged through the entrance, Abdullah whacked him repeatedly with his kendo stick.
Cactus then clotheslined Steamboat for 2.
While Champion distracted referee Randy Anderson, Cactus tossed Steamboat over the top rope.
Steamboat then skinned the cat back into the ring and dumped Cactus over the top rope. SNEAKY! Somehow Anderson missed that.
Next, Steamboat then hit a tope suicida. Woohoo!
He then made Cactus taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Greg Brady at Jack Brown's joint.

Not THAT Greg Brady!
Regardless, Steamboat gave Cactus a second helping of the steel railing. Waiter, could you give the toothless wrestler a Danny LaRuso?

Back in the ring, Steamboat delivered a superkick followed by an enziguri.
Champion tagged in, mounted the second turnbuckle, and lowered the boom on Cactus.
Following that, he slammed Cactus and delivered a leg drop.
While the Norfolk faithful chanted "Bud-dy" at him, Parker slowly crawled his way on the ramp toward the ring.
Champion then applied a bear hug, but Cactus escaped and tossed Champion to the floor.
As Cactus mounted the second turnbuckle, he hit the Cactus elbow.
He then made Champion taste the steel railing. Um, waiter, one more thing, could you give the tall wrestler with a flat top the Chiflet please?
Meanwhile, Parker had progressed to ring 2.
Champion then powerslammed Cactus for 2.
When Champion missed a leg drop, Cactus mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a shot to the midsection.
Both wrestlers then bonked heads, and Cactus tagged in Parker.
After Steamboat tagged in, he powerslammed Parker.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle, hit a flying body press, and pinned Parker.
Champion and Steamboat advanced.

Summary: Cute story told here as the down-but-not-out Parker survived his way to the ring only to succumb to defeat.

Match 7: Sting & Abdullah the Butcher versus “Flyin’” Brian Pillman & “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton

As Abdullah made his entrance, he attacked Sting on the ramp.
Pillman then dashed down the ramp to save Sting and repeatedly nailed Abdullah with the kendo stick.
When Abdullah got to his feet, he launched Pillman off the ramp causing him to taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Dirty Chick at the Dirty Buffalo. I wonder if any ring rats hang out there.

Eaton and Sting then brawled on the ramp.
Nonetheless, this match took place in ring 2.
With Sting leaned against the ropes, Eaton charged, but Sting backdropped him to the ramp.
He then leaped over the top rope and hit a flying clothesline to Eaton on the ramp.
Next, he delivered a standing dropkick on the ramp and gave Eaton the ten-punch count-along.
With Sting on the apron, Eaton brought him in the hard way.
Abdullah then grabbed a pencil from the broadcast table and jabbed it into Sting's throat.
With Sting on the apron again, Eaton attempted to bring him in the hard way, but Sting sent him flying over the top rope to the floor instead.
Sting then joined and made Eaton HIT THE POLE.
Supposedly, Pillman slammed Abdullah in the ring, but the camera missed it.
Pillman then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a splash on Abdullah.
After Eaton hooked an abdominal stretch, Sting tried to counter with a tombstone; however, Eaton blocked it.
Sting then backdropped Eaton while Pillman distracted referee Mike Adkins.
When Abdullah grabbed Sting, Cactus Jack returned to the ring with another stick but nailed Abdullah inadvertently.
Sting then dropkicked Cactus out of the ring, mounted the top turnbuckle, and hit a cross body block.
1-2-3.
Sting and Abdullah advanced.

Summary: More angle than match as the Sting-Abdullah-Cactus feud eclipsed the wrestling within the match.

Match 8: Big Van Vader & Mr. Hughes versus Rick Steiner & the Nightstalker (w/ the Diamond Studd)

The Nightstalker substituted for the Diamond Studd due to the aforementioned injury.
In any case, this match took place in ring 1.
As Vader gave Rick a short-arm clothesline, he followed with a running body block.
He then gave Rick a cross corner whip but ate a Steinerline.
Next, Rick delivered an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
He then clotheslined Vader over the top rope to the floor.
When Hughes came in, Rick leaped from the apron to nail Vader on the floor.
Vader came back and rammed Rick back-first into the ring post.
From the apron, Vader attempted to suplex Rick to the floor, but Rick blocked it and somehow suplexed Vader back in.
Hughes tagged in and slammed Rick.
Upon hitting an elbow drop, Hughes got 2.
Rick then reversed an Irish whip and backdropped Hughes for 2.
After Hughes gave Rick a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
Rick then delivered a release German suplex for another 2.
As a mid-ring collision occurred, Nightstalker tagged in.

He then mounted the top turnbuckle, hit a flying clothesline, but couldn’t take Hughes off his feet.
When Vader tagged in, he clotheslined Nightstalker.
In the meantime, Rick mounted the top turnbuckle and bulldogged Hughes.
Vader then splashed and pinned Nightstalker.

Vader and Hughes advanced.

Summary: Poor Rick Steiner had a worthless partner who cost his team the match.

Match 9: Johnny B. Badd & Arachnaman versus Scott Steiner & Firebreaker Chip

For those unaware, Arachnaman was portrayed by Brad Armstrong. Was he SO ugly that he needed TWO masked gimmicks in one year?

This match took place in ring 2.
Upon giving Chip a back elbow, Badd delivered an elbow drop for 2.
He then gave Chip a cross corner whip, but Chip leaped to the top turnbuckle.
As Chip hit a cross body block, he got 2.
Tags were exchanged on both sides while Scott caught Arachnaman in mid-leap-frog and slammed him.
He then backdropped Arachnaman and followed with a clothesline over the top rope to the floor.
When Badd tagged in, Scott hooked an over-the-shoulder backbreaker and rammed him sternum-first into the top turnbuckle.
He then gave Badd a pumphandle slam and tagged in Chip.
Shortly after, Scott delivered a Steinerline to Badd.
As Scott gave Badd a butterfly bomb, tags were exchanged on both sides again.
Chip then gave Arachnaman a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
After he slid back into the ring, Chip hooked a rollup for 2.
Arachnaman came back with a knee lift for his own 2-count.
Upon dropkicking Chip, Arachnaman attempted a second one, but Chip countered with a Boston crab.
Badd tagged in while the Norfolk faithful chanted "John-ny."
When Arachnaman tagged in, a criss-cross occurred.
Chip then tagged in Scott who gave Arachnaman a Steinerline.
As Scott delivered a tilt-a-whirl slam to Arachnaman, he also slammed an incoming Badd.
Arachnaman then mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but Scott caught him.
After Scott gave him an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, he pinned Arachnaman.
Scott and Chip advanced.

Summary: Credit that rating mostly to Scott's work as the vast amount of inexperience between Badd and Chip didn't amount to much.

Match 10: Ron Simmons & Thomas Rich versus PN News & WCW US tag team champion Steve Armstrong

This match took place in ring 1.
As Simmons gave Steve a military-press slam, he delivered a flying shoulder block.
Rich tagged in and backdropped Steve.
When News tagged in, Rich failed to slam him. Conversely, News successfully slammed Rich.
Fed up with Rich, the Norfolk faithful chanted "We Want Ron." I don't blame 'em, 'cuz I'm fed up too.

After Simmons tagged in, News gave him a cross corner whip followed by an avalanche.
When he attempted a second one, Simmons caught him with a back elbow.
He then gave News a bulldog for 2.
As News clotheslined Simmons, he hit a cross body block for 2.
Tags were exchanged on both sides while Rich gave Steve a cross corner whip. Unfortunately for Rich, he ate boot on his follow-through.
Upon giving Rich a cross corner whip, Steve used Rich's wrist tape to clothesline him.
Simmons tagged in, reversed an Irish whip, and clotheslined Steve for 2.
When Rich tagged in, he gave Steve a belly-to-back suplex.
He then mounted the second turnbuckle and delivered a fist drop.
After News tagged in, he gave Rich a flying clothesline for 2.
Steve tagged in, gave Rich a cross corner whip, and hit an avalanche.
As he made a second attempt, Steve came up empty on his follow-through.
News tagged in and slammed Rich.
When Steve tagged in, he ate knees on a splash attempt.
He then gave Rich a swinging neckbreaker for 2.
After Rich came back with a jawbreaker, he tagged in Simmons.
Speaking of Simmons, he powerslammed Steve and slammed an incoming News.
Steve then charged Simmons but fell victim to a spinebuster.
1-2-3.
Simmons and Rich advanced.

Summary: Too long and disjointed. Hopefully in '92, Simmons can achieve higher goals.

Abdullah the Butcher, the “Enforcer” Arn Anderson, “Stunning” Steve Austin, Marcus Alexander Bagwell, Todd Champion, Firebreaker Chip, Jimmy 'Jam" Garvin, Mr. Hughes, Bill Kazmaier, Jushin “Thunder” Liger, The “Total Package” Lex Luger, Richard Morton, the "Natural" Dustin Rhodes, Thomas Rich, “Ravishing” Rick Rude, Ron Simmons, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, Scott Steiner, Sting, Big Van Vader

The match began in ring 2.
The main difference between a standard battle royal and BattleBowl was that a wrestler had to eliminate an opponent by sending him to the second ring rather than over the top rope to the floor. Once a wrestler went to the second ring, an over-the-top-rope elimination would remove a wrestler from the match.
While the other eighteen wrestlers brawled in the ring, Arn slammed Steamboat on the ramp.
Steamboat came back with an atomic drop, mounted the top turnbuckle, and chopped Arn.
From the ramp, Vader clotheslined Steamboat over the top rope onto the ramp.
He then slammed Steamboat on the ramp but missed a splash.
Next, he military-pressed Steamboat over the top rope to the ramp.
He then joined and gave Steamboat an elbow drop.
After Rhodes crotched himself on the top turnbuckle, Champion backdropped Rich into ring 1.
Sting and Luger began brawling and woke up the slumbering Norfolk faithful.

As Morton sent Bagwell to ring 1, Rich delivered a vertical suplex to Bagwell.
Uncle Paul then interjected himself at the broadcast table much to Ross' and Schiavone's chagrin.
When Mr. Hughes tossed Chip to the second ring, Bagwell caught him.
Morton then sent Liger to the second ring yet followed him.

After Morton mounted the top turnbuckle, he leaped, but Liger caught and powerslammed him.
Liger then hit a somersault senton to amaze the Norfolk faithful.

Following that, he delivered an Asai moonsault to Morton.
Morton then reversed a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
As Liger mounted the second turnbuckle, he used his knees to drive Morton's head into the mat. Sweet!
He then missed a spinning heel kick but nailed a second one.
When Liger hit a cross body block, both wrestlers spilled over the top rope to the floor.
With Rhodes on the floor, Vader leaped and nailed him with a double axe handle.
Hughes then dove at Simmons but sailed into ring 1. Methinks his elevator doesn't reach the top floor.
Off camera, Rich got eliminated.

Steamboat and Arn headed to ring 1, and Steamboat hit another flying chop from the top turnbuckle.
On the ramp, Luger and Simmons brawled while Champion and Garvin moved to ring 1.
Both Scott and Austin were sent to ring 1.
Meanwhile, Abdullah hung out between the rings. I wonder if he found a Varsity cheeseburger.

Chip then eliminated Garvin.
Shortly after, Kazmaier and Abdullah moved to ring 1.
Simmons then charged Rude but sailed into ring 1.
When Rhodes charged, Luger backdropped him into ring 1.
In ring 2, Rude and Sting brawled much to the delight of the Norfolk faithful.
They then fought their way into ring 1.
With two men left in ring 2, Vader gave Luger a running body block.
He then splashed Luger but would require a spatula to send him to ring 1.
Upon giving Luger a cross corner whip, Vader hit an avalanche.
Arn then eliminated Chip.
After Vader gave Luger another cross corner whip, he ate boot on his follow-through.
Luger then clotheslined Vader into ring 1 to win ring 2 and will await the winner of ring 1.
In the meantime, Abdullah was eliminated.
Both Kazmaier and Champion were also eliminated.
While Uncle Paul rallied the Dangerous Alliance members, Arn mounted the top turnbuckle; yet Rhodes crotched him.
Steamboat then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a double axe handle to Vader.
Immediately after, Rhodes eliminated Arn via dropkick.
He then gave Austin a bionic elbow. As he tried for another, Austin backdropped him over the top rope to the floor.
When Simmons and Hughes eliminated one another, Bagwell flew out of the ring thanks to Austin.
Steamboat and Sting then gave Vader a double clothesline eliminating him.
Also, Scott was eliminated.
Final four in ring 2: Sting, Rude, Austin, and Steamboat.

As Austin and Rude tried to whip the babyfaces into one another, Steamboat ducked so that Sting could launch himself at Rude.
Sting then gave Rude a cross corner whip into Austin and got inadvertently reversed by Rude resulting in a Stinger splash to Austin.
After Steamboat gave Rude a superkick, Sting face-planted Rude.
Steamboat then gave Rude and Austin a double noggin knocker.
When Rude tried to clothesline Steamboat out of the ring, he mistakenly knocked Austin out.
Rude then tossed Steamboat over the top rope, but Steamboat skinned the cat to avoid elimination.
While he used a flying headscissors to eliminate him, Rude took Steamboat with him.
Sting won ring 1 and challenged Luger. A main event in any arena in the country!
Outside the ring, Rude made Steamboat taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Juicy Lucy at Mack's Barge.
Rude then re-entered the ring and delivered the Rude Awakening to Sting. Nefarious!
After Sting got his bearings, he mounted the top turnbuckle, but Luger pulled him into ring 2.
He then clotheslined and mocked Sting.
Upon giving Sting an inverted atomic drop, Luger tossed him to the ramp.
While Luger distracted referee Nick Patrick, Sting slammed Race on the ramp.
Luger then exited the ring and launched Sting causing him to taste the steel railing. Waiter, could you give the bleached-blond guy with the flat top a Rise and Shine please?
Nevertheless, Sting blocked a second helping and gave Luger a taste of his own medicine.
He then gave Luger another shot into the always delicious steel railing and rubbed his face into the mat.
As he placed Luger atop the top turnbuckle, Sting punted him.
Race entered the ring, but Sting suplexed him.
When Sting attempted a Stinger splash, he came up empty.
Luger then tried to eliminate him, but Sting held on.
With the Norfolk faithful chanting his name, Sting face-planted Luger.
He then eliminated Luger to win Battlebowl.

Summary: While the earlier portion of the match was convoluted and lacked heat, the climax hit a fever pitch in the Norfolk Scope.

After the match, fireworks explode as Sting celebrates for the Norfolk faithful.

Conclusion: Concept show that did not belong on the biggest show of the year. Most of the matches didn't mesh well due to lack of chemistry yet the climax of Battlebowl literally saved this show from eclipsing Great American Bash '91 levels of heinousness. Unless you're a tremendous fan of Sting, I'd pass on this one.