WELCOME TO ROCK STAR GARY REFLECTIONS!

Live from St. Petersburg, FL

Airdate: February 11, 1996

Attendance: 7,200 (6,000 paid)

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

Match 1 (Street Fight): The Public Enemy versus the Nasty Boys

Highlights:

Rating: ***

Summary: This was a typical ECW-style brawl that both teams have mastered; therefore, it was very entertaining.

Backstage “Mean” Gene Okerlund plugs the hotline and hints that two former champions from the WWF could be making their way to WCW. Hmm…didn’t I mention that Nash and Hall were seeking more money in my previous RAW review? Anyways, Gene interviews Konnan who thanks his fans both in English and Spanish then cuts a promo on the One Man Gang.

Match 2 for the WCW World TV title: Johnny B. Badd (champion w/ Kimberly) versus DDP

Highlights:

Rating: ****

Summary: Have I said this enough? These guys have excellent chemistry.

After the match referee Jimmy Jett awards Badd with the $6.6 million check.

Backstage Gene interviews Harlem Heat minus Sister Sherri. Booker T refers to Sting and Luger as “sissified suckas.” Bonus points for that one.

Match 3 for the WCW World tag team titles: Sting and the “Total Package” Lex Luger (champions) versus Harlem Heat (w/o Sister Sherri)

Highlights:

Rating: **1/2

Summary: Lackluster tag match that set up the match later in the show. Good work by Booker T here.

Back at the entrance Gene interviews Sting and Luger.

Match 4 for the US title: Konnan (champion) versus the One Man Gang

Highlights:

Rating: *1/2

Summary: The One Man Gang wasn’t the right opponent for Konnan as lucha libre was more of Konnan’s style at this point in time.

Backstage Gene shills the hotline again and drops the same hints about Nash and Hall (sans name-dropping). He then interviews the Road Warriors. Hawk’s prepared to “deviate septums and detach retinas.” I didn’t realize he was a surgeon in his spare time.

Match 5 (“Respect” (i.e. strap/I quit) match): The Taskmaster (w/ Jimmy Hart) versus the “Loose Cannon” Brian Pillman

Highlights:

Rating: DUD

Summary: Let’s dissect what just happened. To everyone’s surprise not including Sullivan or Pillman this was a worked shoot. The term “bookerman” had NEVER been used on TV before. Only internet smarks and insiders knew that Sullivan was the booker for WCW at this point in time so that comment was directed at them.

With Pillman’s egregious breach of kayfabe Eric Bischoff fired him immediately. On the Pillman WWE DVD Bischoff stated that he wanted Pillman to go to ECW, hone his “Loose Cannon” character, and return to WCW with revenge in mind. As many of you know that didn’t happen.

Since nobody else knew what was happening here an aura of confusion occurs after the match. Jimmy Hart brings Arn Anderson in street clothes to the ring. Taskmaster whips Arn until Arn calls him a not-so-nice name, removes his shirt, and proceeds to take Pillman’s place.

REAL Match 5 (“Respect” (i.e. strap) match): The Taskmaster versus the “Loose Cannon” Brian Pillman the “Enforcer” Arn Anderson

Highlights:

Rating: DUD

Summary: WCW needed an exit strategy from the very carefully disguised worked shoot and this was it. Let’s move on.

After the “match” Flair claims that he’ll take both the belt and “Liz.” Cooler heads prevail as all three men leave the ring.

Backstage Gene interviews the Giant with Jimmy Hart. Despite standing up the Giant appears to be asleep until Gene asks him a question. He then cuts a promo on Hogan.

Match 6 for the WCW World tag team titles: Sting and the “Total Package” Lex Luger (champions) versus the Road Warriors

Highlights:

Rating: *1/2

Summary: This match could have been so much more with a better finish and game plan. I fear that none of the participants wanted to job so this finish was booked.

Backstage Gene interviews Flair with Woman in matching purple attire. When asked about Space Mountain Flair replies: “With Woman on my left and Elizabeth on my right I won’t tell anybody who I’m with tonight.” Woo! Classic Flair promo.

Be sure to watch Uncensored on March 24 live on PPV.

Gene interviews Savage with Elizabeth. Accidentally Savage name-drops the MegaPowers name. I guess WCW bought it. He then uses that overused line from Toy Story again.

Match 7 for the WCW World title (steel cage): “Macho Man” Randy Savage (champion w/ Elizabeth) versus “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (w/ Woman)

Highlights:

Rating: ****

Summary: We have an unbelievable heel turn as Elizabeth has betrayed Savage and joined Flair and the Horsemen. Flair became a 13-time World champion with this victory.

After the match Hogan confronts Elizabeth then enters the ring with a chair. Arn joined Flair in the ring then ate a chair shot to the back. A “Hogan sucks” chant occurs during Savage’s exit from the ring.

Backstage Gene interviews Hulk Hogan. Since Hogan’s eye had been injured the last two weeks on Nitro he has it bandaged. Nevertheless Hogan badmouths Flair and Elizabeth. According to Hogan this cage match will only have escape rules and is unsanctioned.

Match 8 (steel cage): Hulk Hogan versus the Giant (w/ Jimmy Hart and the Taskmaster)

Highlights:

Rating: ½*

Summary: Hogan’s days on the booking committee have to end soon. Nobody was buying this stuff in ’96 like they were in ’86.

After the match the Taskmaster wallops Hogan with a chair to the back, but it doesn’t faze him. The Taskmaster climbs into the cage as Hogan follows. Meng, Barbarian, Hugh Morrus, Shark, Zodiac, and the One Man Gang all enter the cage and suffer chair shots from Hogan. Loch Ness makes his WCW debut and tries to enter the cage. The entire cast of the Dungeon of Doom keeps him from getting humiliated. A chair-wielding Hogan seems to be equivalent to a sniper with an AK-47 here. Oh brother.

Conclusion: Historically this show carries some weight with Flair’s thirteenth World title victory as well as the bookerman worked shoot. In addition the street fight and TV title matches are noteworthy so I’d definitely recommend this show.

See you for the Monday Night War week 23!

Buyrate: 0.60

Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).

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