WCW SuperBrawl

Can Flair regain the NWA World title? Or can he retain the WCW World title? Confused? Read on!

Match 1 for the vacant US tag team titles: Freebirds (w/ Diamond Dallas Page & Big Daddy Dink) versus Young Pistols

According to Ross, the Steiners relinquished the US tag titles when they won the World tag titles. However, they didn’t forfeit the World tag titles when they won the IWGP tag titles.
DDP only stuck around for the introduction and to say “Good Gawd” a few times.
As Hayes performed a quick number, Steve rolled him up for 2.
After Hayes tossed Steve outside the ring, the Freebirds whipped Steve toward Dink.
Steve then ducked a clothesline from Dink and clotheslined him.
Next, he double-clotheslined the Freebirds to a raucous ovation.
As Steve came off the ropes, Dink tripped him. How dastardly!
Steve’s brother, Brad, then came to the ring to antagonize Dink.
To return order to the match, referee Mike Adkins ejected both Brad and Dink.

When the Pistols tried Steve’s top rope cross body block, the Freebirds FINALLY had it scouted.

After the Pistols dispatched the Freebirds from the ring, Smothers gave Garvin a baseball slide.
Steve tagged in, and the Pistols delivered a double flying shoulder block to Garvin for 2.
As Hayes leap-frogged Smothers, Garvin low-bridged Smothers sending him down to the floor.
The Freebirds then gave Smothers a springboard guillotine using the steel railing.
When Smothers got up on the apron, Garvin gave him a knee sending him back-first into the steel railing. OUCH!
Steve then distracted Adkins so Hayes nailed Smothers with a left.
Back in the ring, Garvin slammed Smothers for 2.
A small “Badstreet” chant then emanated from the St. Pete faithful.
As Hayes tagged in, Smothers reversed a cross corner whip and gave Hayes the ten-punch count-along.
Hayes tried to counter with an inverted atomic drop, but Smothers blocked it.
However, Smothers couldn’t block another stinging left from Hayes.
Garvin tagged in, but Smothers leap-frogged and superkicked him.
Hot tag Steve.
All four wrestlers were in the ring as the Pistols gave the Freebirds a double noggin knocker.
After they mounted opposite top turnbuckles, the Pistols WHIFFED on a pair of missile dropkicks.

Upon getting dispatched by the Freebirds, Smothers mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a double clothesline.
He then double-clotheslined the Freebirds over the top rope to the floor.
When Steve mounted the top turnbuckle, he hit a double cross body block on the Freebirds on the floor.
Steve then held Hayes while Smothers mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a flying back elbow.
After the Pistols brought Garvin in the hard way, they gave Garvin the same medicine.
Unfortunately, they knocked down Adkins causing him to be OUT COLD.
Suddenly, a masked wrestler ran to the ring, mounted the top turnbuckle, and clotheslined Smothers.
He then gave each Pistol an elevated DDT in consecutive fashion.
According to Ross, the masked man had “Fantasia” written on him.

Not THAT Fantasia!
Hayes then covered Smothers.
1-2-3.
WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!

Summary: Good opener with a new gimmick providing interference. I’m sure WCW had to change the masked wrestler’s name due to Disney copyrights.

After Morton won a game of cat-and-mouse, Spivey caught him with a DDT.

He then hit a lariat for 2.
Next, he gave Morton a crucifix powerbomb followed by a fallaway slam.
Upon delivering a leg drop, Spivey got another 2.
He then slammed Morton but received a Japanese arm drag.
As Spivey reversed a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
Morton immediately rolled him up for 2.
When Morton missed a dropkick, Spivey missed an elbow drop.
He then delivered a powerbomb and pinned Morton with one foot on his chest.

On the ramp, Tony Schiavone and Missy Hyatt interview the Z-Man. Due to a torn bicep, Z-Man has missed six weeks of action. According to a hotline poll, Hyatt will return to the wrestlers’ dressing room for an interview. We then revisit Hyatt’s first attempt back at WrestleWar ’91. As Hyatt throws a tantrum, Schiavone states that “all the fans are behind Missy Hyatt.” I hope they got inoculated afterward.

Rich hit a cross body block and got 2.
As Koloff came back, he gave Rich a cross corner whip.
During his follow-through, he put on the brakes before coming up empty.

Rich then rolled him up for 2.
When he gave Koloff a cross corner whip, he followed with an elbow smash.
After a second cross corner whip, Rich came up empty on his follow-through.
Koloff then slammed Rich and hit an elbow drop for 2.
As Rich came back, he gave Koloff the ten-punch count-along.
Koloff then reversed a cross corner whip, but Rich leaped to the second turnbuckle.
Next, he missed a second cross body block.
Koloff then hit the Russian sickle.
1-2-3.
Koloff won.

On the ramp, Schiavone interviews Johnny B. Badd. For those unaware, this is Marc Mero’s WCW debut. Teddy Long joins him for the interview. To quote Badd, “(he’s) so pretty, (he) should have been born a little girl.” Badd epitomizes flamboyance to say the least.

Match 4: The “Computerized Man of the 1990s” Terrance Taylor (w/ Alexandra York & Mr. Hughes) versus Dustin Rhodes

A quick shoulder block by Dustin got 2.
As Taylor sought refuge outside the ring, he consulted York’s computer.
Did Dustin woo Terri with “Mind if I push your buttons?”

Shortly after, he slammed Dustin but missed an elbow drop.
He then tried to suplex Dustin but received one instead.
After a leap frog, Dustin attempted a cross body block, but Taylor ducked.
As the St. Pete faithful chanted “Dus-tin,” Taylor guillotined him using the top rope.
He then suplexed Dustin back into the ring, hit a knee drop, and got 2.
After a slam, Taylor mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but ate boot.
Dustin came back with a back drop followed by a lariat.
Upon giving Taylor an inverted atomic drop, Dustin got 2.
He then hit the bulldog, but York distracted referee Nick Patrick.
As Hughes got up on the apron, he grabbed Dustin so that Taylor could nail him.
Hughes then put on a black glove but hit Taylor instead of Dustin.
In fact, Taylor was OUT COLD.
After Dustin nailed Hughes, he pinned Taylor.

Summary: Dustin's undefeated streak continues as he beat a truly cocky heel.

Black Bart substituted for Larry Zbyszko here.

Amazingly, Big Josh, portrayed by Matt Borne, brought a couple of bears down the ramp with him.
After a pair of hip tosses, Big Josh clotheslined Bart.
Shortly after, Big Josh hit a double axe handle followed by Northern Exposure (diving seated senton).
1-2-3.
Big Josh won.

DANGER ZONE: Uncle Paul, wearing a costume cowboy hat, interviews Hansen who’s appalled that Uncle Paul would attempt such a dubious gesture. While Hansen challenges Dustin Rhodes, Uncle Paul shakes like a leaf.

In 1985, Ted Turner bought the MGM/United Artists Entertainment Company. Encompassed in its library was The Wizard of Oz; so WCW created a gimmick and inserted 7’ tall Kevin Nash.
The entrance for Oz included Dorothy, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Tin Man, and the Great Wizard portrayed by Kevin Sullivan. As Oz emerged, the Great Wizard repeatedly said, “Welcome to Oz.”

As Oz removed his mask, Nash had colored his hair silver.
Oz slammed Parker, gave him a helicopter slam, and pinned him with one foot.
Oz won.

Hyatt makes her second attempt for a locker room interview and finds Terrance Taylor. As she seeks Z-Man in the shower, she encounters Hansen in his boxers who spanks and expels her. That was HYSTERICAL!

After a leap frog by Windham, Pillman hip-tossed him.
He then hit a flying shoulder block, but Windham came back with a slam.
As Windham mounted the top turnbuckle, Pillman dropkicked him to the floor.
Pillman then mounted the top turnbuckle and nailed Windham on the floor.
Due to Pillman’s taped fists, Windham was BUSTED OPEN.
Using momentum, Windham made Pillman HIT THE POLE.
Pillman was also BUSTED OPEN.
From the ramp, Windham made Pillman taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Wheels Up at the Hangar Restaurant & Flight Lounge.
Back in the ring, Pillman hit a spinning heel kick, but Windham came back by guillotining him with the top rope.
Windham then delivered a belly-to-back suplex, but a mid-ring collision put both wrestlers down on the mat.

After Pillman blocked and delivered a suplex, he mounted the top turnbuckle.
Windham then shoved referee Nick Patrick and nailed Pillman down near Islamorada.

Upon joining him on the top turnbuckle, Windham hit a superplex.
1-2-3.
Windham won.

DIAMOND MINE: DDP, with a pair of Diamond Dolls, yammers about the upcoming tag match. In a pre-recorded interview, Sting and Luger appear nervous to face their friends—the Steiners. DDP then reveals his newest protégé—the Diamond Studd, portrayed by Scott Hall.

Upon reversing an Irish whip, El Gigante delivered a clothesline.
With El Gigante in the corner, Sid charged but ate boot.
El Gigante then applied the claw hold.
1-2-3.
El Gigante won.

Summary: According to Meltzer, both WCW and the WWF expected Sid to appear and do the job. This was Sid’s last WCW appearance for two years.

After the match, One Man Gang hits the ring to brawl with El Gigante. Sullivan joins him and nails El Gigante from behind to no avail. Upon choking Sullivan, El Gigante clotheslines One Man Gang over the top rope to the ramp.

While the St. Pete faithful chants “Na Na Goodbye” at Sid, El Gigante places One Man Gang on the stretcher. On the other hand, Sullivan tosses powder in El Gigante’s face. One Man Gang then picks up the stretcher and hits El Gigante’s back with it.

Match 9 (steel cage): “Hacksaw” Butch Reed (w/ Teddy Long) versus Ron Simmons

Long was suspended in a cage above the ring despite his objections.
After giving Reed an atomic drop, Simmons clotheslined him.
He then whipped Reed into the cage, charged, but ate cage himself.
Next, he reversed a cross corner whip causing Reed to take a sternum-first bump.
Simmons then delivered a belly-to-back suplex, gave him a cross corner whip, but ate knee on his follow-through.
As Reed mounted the second turnbuckle, he hit a flying elbow drop for 2.
He then rammed Simmons face-first into the cage.
Simmons was BUSTED OPEN.
When Reed returned to the second turnbuckle, he delivered a double axe handle.
Simmons then attempted but missed a dropkick.
After Reed delivered a pair of fist drops, Simmons tossed him face-first into the cage.
Reed then guillotined Simmons using the top rope for 2.
As Reed hit a piledriver, he got another 2.
He then rammed Simmons into the cage again, nailed him, but couldn’t get 3.
While the St. Pete faithful chanted “go Ron go,” Reed gave Simmons a swinging neckbreaker.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle, hit a flying shoulder block, but only got 2 thanks to Simmons’ foot on the second rope.
When Reed ate knees on a splash, Simmons gave him a back drop.
then reversed an Irish whip and delivered a high knee.
After a double clothesline put both wrestlers down on the mat, Long tossed a foreign object into the ring.
Reed then grabbed it, tried to nail Simmons with it, but Simmons ducked.
As Simmons delivered a spinebuster, he pinned Reed.
Simmons won.

Summary: Reed carried Simmons to a decent match here as the St. Pete faithful got behind the Florida State Seminole.

Match 10 for the WCW World tag team titles: The Steiners (champions) versus the “Total Package” Lex Luger & Sting

This was a babyface versus babyface match.
When Rick attempted a shoulder block on Luger, he bounced off him like a superball.

Luger then hit a powerslam for 2.
As Luger gave Rick a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
Rick then delivered a release German suplex and a Steinerline for 2.
Upon giving Luger a cross corner whip, Rick followed with a back drop.
After another cross corner whip, Luger exploded out of the corner with a clothesline. Rick enjoyed it so much that he sold it with a 360° spin. Woohoo!
Luger then gorlla-press-slammed Rick and tagged in Sting.
When Sting clotheslined Rick over the top rope to the floor, he hit a plancha. Wow!
He then face-planted Rick as they returned to the ring.
Upon hoisting Rick into an over-the-shoulder backbreaker, Sting pancaked him on the top turnbuckle but missed a Stinger splash.
As Scott tagged in, he hit a butterfly bomb followed by a tilt-a-whirl slam as the St. Pete faithful went APESHIT!
Sting then reversed an Irish whip and delivered a stungun to Scott.
When Luger tagged in, he gave Scott a vertical suplex.
Sting tagged in, but Scott delivered an inverted atomic drop.
Next, he placed Sting atop the top turnbuckle, joined him, and hit an overhead belly-to-belly superplex for 2. Amazing!
As Scott placed Sting atop the opposite top turnbuckle, he whiffed on a clothesline and spilled to the apron.
Luger tagged in and suplexed Scott back in for 2.
Afterward, Luger hit a powerslam and signaled for the Torture Rack.
During Luger’s attempt, Scott countered with a side Russian leg sweep. Neat!
When Rick tagged in, he mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a bulldog on Luger.

He then delivered an elbow drop for 2.
Immediately, Sting hit a missile dropkick to Rick.
After a mid-ring collision, Scott and Luger both got hot tags.
Sting then caught Scott with a belly-to-back suplex.
As Scott attempted a tombstone piledriver, Sting reversed and hit it.
Do we have new champions?
1-2-NO!
Rick made the save.
As referee Randy Anderson put Rick back in his corner, Luger charged and sent both of them crashing to the floor.
Anderson was OUT COLD.
Rick then made Luger taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Saganaki burger at Engine #9.
Meanwhile, Sting gave Scott a Stinger splash as Koloff hit the ring.
Luger stood on the apron and ducked when Sting instructed him.
As Koloff attempted a chain-wrapped Russian sickle, he nailed Sting.
Scott then covered Sting.
1-2-3.
The Steiners retained.

Summary: Great match showcasing all four wrestlers as the Koloff heat transfers from Luger to Sting.

Backstage, Schiavone interviews Koloff who states that “Sting was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Sting then attacks Koloff from behind, and they brawl into the parking lot.

Match 11 for the WCW World TV title: Arn Anderson (champion) versus “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton

As Ross shilled Great American Bash ’91 on 7/14, Arn charged Eaton in the corner but ate knee.
Eaton then hit a clothesline for 2.
With Arn on the apron, Eaton mounted the top turnbuckle.
However, Arn caught and tossed him face-first on the ramp. OUCH!
Arn then attempted a piledriver on the ramp, but Eaton countered with a back drop.
backdropping Arn back into the ring, Eaton mounted the top turnbuckle again and hit a double axe handle for 2.
Arn then rammed Eaton’s left leg into the ring post twice.
Next, he applied a rope-assisted leg bar, attempted a figure-four leg lock, but Eaton kicked him into the top turnbuckle.
Eaton then gave Arn the ten-turnbuckle count-along.
On the contrary, Arn rammed Eaton’s leg into the apron.
Eaton then blocked and hit a vertical suplex despite his injured leg.
As Arn mounted the second turnbuckle, he ate knees on a Vader bomb.
Eaton then missed a clothesline but ate a SPINEBUSTER for 2.
When Arn mounted the second turnbuckle, he attempted a double axe handle but ate a shot to the midsection.
Eaton then hit a swinging neckbreaker and slammed Arn.
Suddenly, as Windham tried to interfere, Pillman beat him to the punch.
While that transpired, Eaton hit the Alabama Jam.
1-2-3.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Summary: One of the more exciting moments in pro wrestling as Eaton achieved his one and only singles championship. Great job, Bobby!

Backstage, Schiavone promotes the next match in front of Fujinami’s dressing room. He then interviews Hiro Matsuda who vows to bring the title back to Japan.

WCW, in order to distance itself from the NWA, named Flair WCW World champion when he defeated Sting on 1/11/1991.
According to WCW, Flair won by disqualification at WCW-NJPW Supershow ’91; thus, Flair remained WCW World champion.
Since the NWA recognized Fujinami as its champion, WCW and NJPW organized a rematch.
For some convoluted reason, WCW presented Fujinami as a challenger for the WCW World title rather than Flair for the NWA World title. Regardless, let’s stick the fork and knife into it and enjoy.

Match 12 for the NWA World title: Tatsumi Fujinami (champion) versus “Nature Boy” Ric Flair

Geisha girls laid roses on the ramp for Fujinami’s entrance.
Similarly, Flair’s “staff” stood at the entrance, and Flair placed his Rolex watch on a sterling silver tray.

Tiger Hattori from New Japan Pro Wrestling was the primary referee while Bill Alfonso was the alternate. Fortunately, this was well before his whistle-blowing days in ECW.
After a cross corner whip, Fujinami delivered a back drop.
He then hooked Flair in a bow-and-arrow, but Flair wouldn’t submit.
Next, Fujinami applied a Boston crab then switched to Flair’s legs.
Flair came back with a vertical suplex, but Fujinami hit a flying forearm for 2.
With Flair on the apron, Fujinami suplexed him back in.
He then gave Flair a body block that spun Flair over the ropes to the floor.
When Fujinami joined Flair on the floor, Flair crotched him on the steel railing. OUCH!
Back in the ring, Flair gave Fujinami a chop block.
He then delivered a knee crusher and hooked the figure-four leg lock.

As Fujinami reversed it, Flair escaped.
Fujinami then hooked the sasori-gatame, but Flair made the ropes.
After Fujinami hit a belly-to-back suplex, he got 2.
Flair then countered a side headlock with his own belly-to-back suplex.
As Flair gave him a knee drop, Fujinami proved that not everyone could bridge into a backslide.
Flair then tossed Fujinami outside the ring and joined him.
Afterward, Fujinami blocked a shot to the steel railing and made Flair eat it instead. It must have tasted like the Ray’s Deluxe at Ferg’s Sports Bar.
Fujinami then rammed him face-first into the ring post causing Flair to be BUSTED OPEN.
Back in the ring, he gave Flair a cross corner whip resulting in a Flair flip.
Shortly after, Flair missed an Oklahoma roll and exited the ring. A Flair flop followed.
Flair then mounted the top turnbuckle, but Fujinami, with some assistance, caught and slammed him down to the mat. Obviously, the language barrier was becoming a problem.

When Fujinami hooked the octopus, the St. Pete faithful chanted “U-S-A.”
Flair then escaped but couldn’t capitalize.
After they exchanged blows, a second Flair flop occurred.
A mid-ring collision then sent both wrestlers outside the ring.
As they returned to the ring, Flair attempted a slam, but Fujinami fell on top for 2.
Flair then attempted a back drop, but Fujinami countered with an inside cradle for another 2.
When Fujinami rolled him up, Flair kicked out sending Fujinami directly into Hattori.
With Hattori down, Flair rolled up Fujinami while hooking the tights, and Alfonso counted the pin.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
Or, if you believe WCW’s version, Flair retained the WCW World title.

Summary: Personally, I liked the Tokyo match better, but this match stood well on its own.

Conclusion: Politics aside, with three title changes and a fantastic tag match, this show holds historical value so I will give it a positive recommendation.

With the exception of the Taylor-Rhodes match, the poor-to-mediocre stuff was kept short. Also, Oz’s entrance was longer than his match. If you’ve not seen this show before, give it a glance. If you’ve not seen the Luger/Sting versus Steiners match in a while, you owe it to yourself to watch it again ASAP.