WCW Beach Blast '93

Will the Masters of the Powerbomb dominate? Or will Sting and Smith prevail? Can Flair win his tenth world title? How will the other Horsemen fare against the Hollywood Blonds? Let’s find out!

In lieu of being at ringside for color commentary, Ventura hangs out with some bikini beauties at the flamingo bar. Can you blame him? The beauties then lead him to the ring.

Match 1 for the WCW World TV title: “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff (champion) versus Ron Simmons

According to ring announcer Gary Michael Cappetta, if Orndorff got disqualified, the title changed hands.
Simmons delivered a back elbow followed by a dropkick for 2.
When Orndorff countered a hammerlock with a series of elbows, he gave Simmons a cross corner whip yet came up empty on his follow-through.
He then hooked a sleeper, shoved Simmons into the corner, and delivered a belly-to-back suplex.
As he mounted the top turnbuckle, Orndorff missed a flying knee drop.
While the Biloxi faithful chanted “Paul-a” at Orndorff, Simmons applied a figure-four leg lock, but Orndorff made the ropes immediately.
With Orndorff on the floor, he pulled Simmons down from the ring and rammed him face-first into the broadcast table.
Back in the ring, Orndorff put a knee into Simmons’ midsection and followed with a knee lift.
Simmons then gave Orndorff a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
After Orndorff face-planted Simmons, he got 2.
Simmons rebounded by reversing an Irish whip and powerslamming Orndorff for 2.
When he secured a sunset flip, Simmons got another 2.
He then clotheslined Orndorff, delivered a back elbow, but couldn’t get 3.
As he suplexed Orndorff, Simmons earned yet another 2-count.
Orndorff then attempted a piledriver, but Simmons countered with a back drop over the top rope to the floor.
As a result, referee Randy Anderson called for the bell to disqualify Simmons.
Orndorff retained.

After the match, Simmons tosses Orndorff back into the ring, mounts the top turnbuckle, and hits a flying shoulder block.

Match 2: 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell versus Shanghai Pierce & Tex Slazenger

For those unaware, Pierce and Slazenger were portrayed by Mark Canterbury and Dennis Knight who would morph into the Godwinns in the WWF.
After Bagwell hit a cross body block on Pierce, he and Scorpio double-face-planted Slazenger.
They then attempted a double-team high-flying move which the camera missed; however, it backfired.
As Scorpio delivered a springboard cross body block on the ramp to Pierce, tags were exchanged on both sides.
Slazenger then backdropped Scorpio whose feet hit the opposite ropes thus proving the 18’ x 18’ dimensions of a WCW ring were too small for that maneuver.

When Slazenger placed him atop the top turnbuckle, Scorpio hit another cross body block for 2.
He then dropkicked Slazenger and tagged in Bagwell.
After the babyfaces double hip-tossed Slazenger, Bagwell got 2.
Pierce tagged in, but Bagwell leap-frogged him twice and hip-tossed him.
As Pierce slammed Bagwell, he tagged in Slazenger.
Bagwell then suplexed Slazenger for 2.
When referee Nick Patrick placed Scorpio back in the babyface corner, Pierce put a knee into Bagwell coming off the ropes. SNEAKY!
Slazenger then delivered a single-arm DDT to Bagwell but received a sunset flip from Bagwell for 2.
After Slazenger ANNIHILATED Bagwell with a clothesline, he got 2.
Pierce tagged in, mounted the second turnbuckle, and put a knee into Bagwell’s flank.
As Pierce distracted Patrick, Slazenger gave Bagwell the business in the heel corner. How dastardly!
Pierce then hit a Doctorbomb on Bagwell for another 2.
When he slammed Bagwell, Pierce missed an elbow drop.
Slazenger tagged in while Ventura told lawyer jokes.

After Slazenger gave Bagwell a shoulder breaker, Pierce tagged in and delivered an elbow drop for 2.
He then gave Bagwell a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Hot tag Scorpio.
As he gave Pierce a cross corner whip, Scorpio hit a superkick.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a flying splash for 2.
With all four wrestlers in the ring, the babyfaces whipped the heels into one another.
Scorpio then dropkicked Slazenger over the top rope to the floor.
When Bagwell gave Pierce a belly-to-back suplex, Scorpio mounted the top turnbuckle and hit the Diss that Don’t Miss.
1-2-3.
Scorpio and Bagwell won.

Summary: They followed the tag formula to a tee, and the Biloxi faithful stuck with it and enjoyed it.

At the entrance, Missy Hyatt interviews Orndorff with the Equalizer. After he dismisses Simmons, Orndorff runs down Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat.

A pinfall reversal sequence occurred, and Watts hip-tossed Regal.
When he hooked a sunset flip, Watts got 2.
He then attempted an STF, but William nailed Watts behind referee Randy Anderson’s back. Devious!
As Watts concerned himself with William, Regal rolled him up while grabbing the tights.
1-2-3.
Regal won.

Summary: Without question, Watts was out of his league here, and the Biloxi faithful treated the match as a popcorn break.

After the match, Ventura interviews Regal with Sir William at ringside. Regal vows to regain the World TV title and calls out Orndorff.

We then revisit Clash XXIII when Payne shot the Badd Blaster in Badd’s face.

Payne played Norma Jean during his entrance.
As Badd made his entrance, he wore a unique mask to cover his scars.

Badd hit a cross body block for 2.
When he gave Payne a cross corner whip, Badd came up empty on his follow-through. In fact, he flew over the top turnbuckle and fell down to the floor.
Payne then delivered a snap suplex followed by an Anderson slam.
After he gave Badd a cross corner whip, he followed with an avalanche.
He then hit a backbreaker for 2.
As he hooked the Payne Killer, Badd made the ropes immediately.
Payne then suplexed Badd for another 2.
When Badd secured a sunset flip, he got 2.
He then attempted another cross body block, but Payne caught and slammed him.
After Payne missed an elbow drop, Badd dropkicked him over the top rope to the floor.
Badd then delivered a plancha, yet I believe Payne wasn’t prepared for it.
As Badd tried to ram him into the ring post, Payne made him HIT THE POLE instead.
He then steadied Badd against the ring post but nailed it rather than Badd.
When Badd mounted the second turnbuckle, he hit an odd cross body block.
1-2-3.
Badd won.

Summary: While Payne brought some workrate, Badd’s high-flying made the difference in the match.

Match 5 for the WCW/NWA World tag team titles: The Hollywood Blonds (champions) versus the “Enforcer” Arn Anderson & “Pretty” Paul Roma

While the Biloxi faithful chanted “Horse-men,” Pillman requested referee Randy Anderson scan Roma’s elbow pad.
In the meantime, he teased the use of a foreign object just to irritate the Biloxi faithful. Clever!
Arn tagged in and reversed a cross corner whip.
When Pillman floated over, he hip-tossed Arn.
Austin tagged in and backdropped Arn.
As Roma tagged in, he lowered the boom on Austin.
Roma then escaped a bear hug and countered with a sunset flip for 2.
After he hooked a backslide, Roma got another 2.
He then missed a cross body block, so Austin tagged in Pillman.
When Roma reversed an Irish whip, he placed Pillman atop the top turnbuckle.
Pillman then leaped over him, but Roma clotheslined him for 2.
As Arn tagged in, he reversed a cross corner whip, caught Pillman mid-float-over, and guillotined him with the top rope.
He then catapulted Pillman into a right by Roma.
After Pillman tossed Arn to the floor, he leaped from the apron but tasted the steel railing instead of hitting Arn. It must have tasted like the Porky Pig sandwich at Adventure Pub & Spirits.
Upon Pillman’s return, Roma tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, secured a sunset flip, and got 2.
While Pillman distracted Anderson, Austin guillotined Roma with the steel railing. OUCH!
Roma then got up on the apron only for Pillman to guillotine him with the top rope.
When Austin tagged in, he delivered a gutwrench suplex to Roma.
He then gave Roma a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
As Austin baited Arn to distract Anderson, the Blonds double-teamed Roma in their corner. Nefarious!
Roma then mounted the top turnbuckle and attempted a missile dropkick. Simultaneously, Pillman tried to dropkick him in mid-air. Neither wrestler hit the mark.
Hot tag Arn.
After he backdropped Austin, Arn hit a DDT on Pillman.
With Anderson distracted by Roma, Austin nailed Arn.
That allowed Pillman to get 2.
When Austin tagged in, he slammed Arn, mounted the top turnbuckle, and delivered a flying elbow smash for another 2.
He then tossed Arn to the floor so Pillman made Arn taste the steel railing. Waiter, could you give the elder Horseman a Mind Melter please?
Regardless, Austin joined Arn on the floor and attempted a piledriver.
On the other hand, Arn countered with a back drop.
He then attempted another DDT, but Austin countered by hanging Arn out to dry.
As Austin distracted Anderson, Pillman pounded Arn mercilessly.
Arn then countered a spinebuster by Austin with a stungun. Nifty!
After Pillman tagged in, he baited Roma to distract Anderson.
Meanwhile, Arn hooked an inside cradle on Pillman for a false pin.
Next, a mid-ring collision put both wrestlers down on the mat.
Austin tagged in and gave Arn a belly-to-back suplex for 2.
With Arn on the apron, Austin attempted to suplex him back in.
However, Arn blocked it and suplexed Austin to the floor.
Pillman tagged in, prevented Arn from tagging out, and got another 2.
When Arn reversed an Irish whip, Pillman delivered a flying headscissors.
He then mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but Arn nailed him.
Hot tag Roma.
As he backdropped Austin, Roma military-press-slammed Pillman.
With all four wrestlers in the ring, Roma clotheslined Pillman, and Arn tossed him to the floor.
Roma then Irish-whipped Austin straight into a SPINEBUSTER by Arn.
After Roma made the cover, he only got 2 thanks to a save by Pillman.
Roma then rolled up Austin, but Anderson placed Arn back into the babyface corner.
Nevertheless, Pillman clotheslined Roma allowing Austin to pin Roma while grabbing the tights.
The Blonds retained.

Summary: What a roller coaster ride of a match that was! While the formula was performed to perfection, both teams busted their asses to tell a great story. Excellent work, gentlemen!

Match 6 for the vacant WCW US title (Iron Man):” Ravishing” Rick Rude versus the “Natural” Dustin Rhodes

The title was vacated following a controversial match on Worldwide (aired 5/15, taped 4/20).

As Rhodes reversed an Irish whip, he backdropped Rude.
He then gave Rude a series of cross corner whips to further injure the back.
When Rude clotheslined him, Rhodes provided a 360° sell. Woohoo!
Rude then mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered an axe handle.
After Rude applied a bear hug, he converted it into a belly-to-belly suplex for 2.
Rhodes then countered a rear chin lock with an electric chair.
As he attempted a splash, Rhodes ate knees.
While the match reached the ten-minute mark, Rhodes rammed Rude’s left leg into the apron.
Rude then hit the Rude Awakening, pinned Rhodes, and took a 1-0 lead.
When he mounted the top turnbuckle, Rude delivered a flying clothesline for 2.
He then guillotined Rhodes with the top rope.
Upon giving Rude a cross corner whip, Rhodes ate knee on his follow-through.
Rude then attempted a tombstone piledriver, but Rhodes reversed it and PLANTED Rude with one of his own.
Can Rhodes tie it up?
1-2-NO!
Rhodes then tried to clothesline him over the top rope to the floor, but Rude ducked. As a result, Rhodes’ momentum sent him to the floor.
As Rhodes re-entered the ring, Rude snap-suplexed him for 2.
He then hit a second snap suplex for another 2.
At the twenty-minute mark, Rhodes blocked a third attempt and suplexed Rude for 2.
Rude then used momentum to send Rhodes face-first into the top turnbuckle.
When he mounted the top turnbuckle, Rude delivered another axe handle.
Rude then loudly informed Rhodes that “he ain’t shit” for which Schiavone subtly apologized.

After Rude reversed an Irish whip, he hooked a sleeper.
Rhodes, after what felt like an eternity, countered with a jawbreaker.
As four minutes remained, Rhodes spat on Rude, but Rude retaliated with an eye rake.
Recovering from the eye rake, Rhodes spilled over the top rope to the floor.
For the third time, Rude shot a snot rocket from his nose completely disgusting Schiavone in the process. HA!

Rhodes then gave Rude a bulldog, pinned him, and tied the match at one with three minutes left.
When Rhodes mounted the top turnbuckle, he hit a flying bionic elbow for 2.
At the twenty-eight-minute mark, Rhodes delivered a piledriver for another 2.
He then slammed Rude, hit an elbow drop, but couldn’t get 3.
While one minute remained, Rhodes clotheslined Rude for yet another 2.
Rhodes then secured a sleeper, but Rude countered with a jawbreaker.
After he mounted the top turnbuckle, Rude leaped over Rhodes but received a DDT.
Can Rhodes get a last-second pin to win the title?
1-2-…
Nope, the bell rang to signal the time limit.
Referee Nick Patrick ruled the bout a time-limit draw; thus, the title remained vacant.

Summary: Due to the numerous rest holds, this match doesn’t hold up against its predecessor from last year. While Rude left his feet and supplied some suplexes, the downtime between maneuvers stood out like a sore thumb.

We then revisit Clash XXIII when Flair attacked Windham during a post-match interview. Next, we revisit Worldwide when Flair and Windham brawled in the ring as well as the parking lot.

Match 7 for the NWA World title: The “Lone Wolf” Barry Windham (champion) versus “Nature Boy” Ric Flair

For those that get a kick out of disparaging WCW (warranted at times), Windham’s name is actually affixed to the NWA World title belt so someone was paying attention.

Flair gave Windham a cross corner whip but ate a lariat.
When Windham gave Flair a cross corner whip, a Flair flip ensued causing Flair to fall to the floor.
Windham then joined and clotheslined Flair on the floor.
With Flair on the apron, Windham suplexed him back into the ring.
Flair then gave Windham a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
As Flair applied a sleeper, Windham countered with momentum sending Flair face-first into the top turnbuckle. That resulted in a Flair flop.
Windham then delivered a Samoan drop followed by a powerslam for 2.
After a leg drop, Windham got another 2.
He then hit a second lariat but couldn’t get 3.
When Flair rebounded with a somersault roll-up, he got 2.
A cross body block by Flair then sent Windham over the top rope to the floor.
As Flair joined him, Windham slammed him on the floor.
He then gave Flair the ten-punch count-along, but Flair countered with an inverted atomic drop.
After he hit a knee drop, Flair attempted a suplex, but Windham blocked it.
He then placed Flair atop the top turnbuckle and delivered a top rope superplex. Wow!
When he mounted the top turnbuckle, Windham missed a flying elbow drop.
He then attempted a slam, but Flair secured an inside cradle for 2.
As Windham gave Flair another cross corner whip, a second Flair flip occurred.
However, this time, Flair landed on the apron, mounted the top turnbuckle, and delivered a cross body block.
Notwithstanding, Windham used momentum to land on top for 2.
A mid-ring collision occurred, and Flair gave Windham a belly-to-back suplex.
While Flair attempted a figure-four leg lock, Windham blocked it before securing the bottom rope.
Flair then successfully applied a figure-four leg lock.
Will Windham lose the title?
1-2-3.
Flair won.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Summary: Not quite the barnburner as their 1987 match, but Flair and Windham told a great story. Flair became World champion for the tenth time. Is it me or did Windham just forget to remove a shoulder from the mat?

After the match, Ventura interviews Flair who touts Windham as a “great champion.”

Match 8: “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith & Sting versus WCW World champion Big Van Vader & Sid (w/ Col. Rob Parker & Harley Race)

For those who haven’t seen the mini-movie to promote this match, check it out.
Sid reversed an Irish whip, but Sting face-planted him twice.
As he clotheslined Sid, Sting succumbed to a chokeslam.
Vader and Sid then tossed them to the floor, but the babyfaces mounted the same top turnbuckle and hit stereo flying clotheslines similar to the Steiners.

When tags were exchanged on both sides, Vader gave Smith a short-arm clothesline.
Smith then blocked a suplex from Vader and delivered a delayed vertical suplex for 2. Impressive!
After Vader rebounded with a running body block, a portion of the Biloxi faithful chanted “Va-der.”
Sid tagged in, and the Masters of the Powerbomb provided Smith with a running body block/big boot combo.

Nonetheless, Vader tagged in and clobbered Smith with running body block #3.
Sting then pissed off Vader enough for him to remove his headgear.
In the meantime, Sid guillotined Smith with the top rope.
Smith then attempted a sunset flip yet somehow avoided getting SQUISHED by Vader.
As Sid mounted the second turnbuckle, he gave Smith a double axe handle.
Smith rebounded by slamming Sid who tagged in Vader.
When Sid distracted referee Nick Patrick, Vader and Race tried to double-team Smith, but Race got nailed instead of Smith.
Hot tag Sting.
Vader then reversed a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
After he clotheslined Sting, Vader mounted the second turnbuckle and hit a flying (as opposed to running) body block.
He then placed Sting atop the top turnbuckle and joined him.
Conversely, Sting bit Vader, rang his bell, and shoved him down to the mat.
Sid tagged in and slammed Sting.
As Smith tagged in, he took Sid off his feet with a clothesline and shoulder block.
Sid rebounded with a kick to the midsection and tagged in Vader.
While the “Va-der” chant continued from a smidgeon of the Biloxi faithful, their hero delivered a Samoan drop to Smith for 2.
He then mounted the second turnbuckle and hit a Vader bomb for another 2 thanks to a save by Sting.
When Sting and Sid took their beef to the ramp, Vader mounted the top turnbuckle and DEMOLISHED Smith with a moonsault.
GET OUT THE SPATULA!
After Sting somehow saved Smith’s bacon, Smith hooked a crucifix and pinned Vader.
Smith and Sting won.

Summary: Sizzling hot main event that had the Biloxi faithful on the edge of its seat from bell to bell.

Conclusion: With the hot main event, the rather good NWA title match, and the excellent tag title match, this show’s a no-brainer to recommend. Gather some friends, have a feast, and enjoy!