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WCW Clash of the Champions XV: Knocksville USA!

Live from Knoxville, TN

Airdate: June 12, 1991

Attendance: 5,000

Hosted by Jim Ross & Tony Schiavone

Can "Beautiful" Bobby become champion? How is Jason Hervey involved? Read on!

Match 1 (six-man): The Young Pistols & Z-Man versus WCW US tag team champions the Freebirds & Badstreet (w/ Diamond Dallas Page & Big Daddy Dink)

Highlights:

Rating: **

Summary: Way too short to be worth anything, but the Pistols seemingly got revenge for losing to the Freebirds at SuperBrawl.

A promo for the Great American Bash sweepstakes airs featuring Robin Leach. By the way, Great American Bash '91 will be LIVE on PPV on 7/14.

Match 2: Oz (w/ the Great Wizard) versus Johnny Rich

Highlights:

Rating: DUD

Summary: Showcase match for Oz.

Video featuring P.N. News airs.

Match 3: "Dangerous" Dan Spivey versus Big Josh

Highlights:

Rating: *

Summary: Showcase match for Spivey as Sullivan attacked Josh on Black Blood's behalf.

WCW TOP 10:

Champion: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair

  1. The "Total Package" Lex Luger
  2. The Great Muta
  3. El Gigante
  4. "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton
  5. Nikita Koloff
  6. Sting
  7. The "Enforcer" Arn Anderson
  8. Barry Windham
  9. One Man Gang
  10. "Stunning" Steve Austin

DANGER ZONE: Uncle Paul interviews Jason Hervey from ABC's The Wonder Years. As you would expect, Uncle Paul monopolizes the microphone to besmirch Hervey. He then asks Hervey if he's dating Missy Hyatt, and Hervey admits to such vile behavior. When Uncle Paul asks Hervey about being in love with her, Hervey dodges the question (smart man) and teases Uncle Paul about getting beaten up by Missy.

Uncle Paul rebuts by calling Missy "used merchandise." BURN! As Hervey abruptly ends the interview. Uncle Paul FLATTENS him with his cell phone. Wow! Missy bounces to the ring to chase Uncle Paul from the ring and to check on Hervey. According to Tony, Hervey is "OUT COLD."

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

Highlights:

Rating: *

Summary: More angle than match as you will see.

After the bell, Hughes hits Rhodes in the kidneys while wearing the heinous black glove. Morton then attacks Rhodes as it looks like he's joined the York Foundation. WE HAVE A HEEL TURN! As the heels triple-team Rhodes, Josh hits the ring with his axe handle to clear them from the ring.

Video featuring Johnny B. Badd airs.

After a commercial break, we revisit SuperBrawl when Koloff cost Sting and Luger the titles when he nailed Sting with a chain.

Match 5: Sting versus Nikita Koloff

Highlights:

Rating: **

Summary: Sting was on defense from the moment the bell rang until the finish. That does NOT bode well for a good match rating from me.

Schiavone's in the ring and introduces PN News with Salt-N-Pepa. Unfortunately for us, he performs rather than them. Suddenly, Badd and Teddy Long come to the ring and diss PN News.

Video featuring the Diamond Studd airs.

Match 6 (loser leaves WCW): Barry Windham & the “Enforcer” Arn Anderson versus “Flyin’” Brian Pillman & El Gigante

Highlights:

Rating: **

Summary: Too short to have a match with this type of stipulation. I smell a ruse. Perhaps, Pillman will enlist some canine assistance to investigate.

GREAT AMERICAN BASH UPDATE: Uncle Paul shills the Great American Bash tour around the country culminating on 8/25 in the Omni. As he shills the upcoming PPV, we revisit moments from Great American Bash '90 when Sting captured the NWA World title from Flair.

We then revisit WCW-NJPW Supershow '91 when the Steiners won the IWGP tag titles.

Match 7 for the IWGP tag team titles: The Steiners (champions) versus Masahiro Chono & Hiroshi Hase

Highlights:

Rating: ****

Summary: Holy smokes, they crammed a shitload of wrestling into eight minutes. This was great topped with awesome sauce. Give these guys twenty minutes at the PPV, and it could top the match at the Supershow.

After the match, Dick Slater and Dick Murdoch hit the ring to ambush the Steiners. Slater gives Scott a swinging neckbreaker and tosses him out of the ring. As Murdoch removes Slater's boot, Murdoch WHACKS Rick's arm with it. Remarkably, two days later in St. Louis, Scott tore his bicep and wouldn't return until November.

Match 8: The Diamond Studd (w/ Diamond Dallas Page) versus Tommy Rich

Highlights:

Rating: DUD

Summary: Showcase match for the "undefeated" Studd. Actually, Studd had lost to Zenk on 6/7 in Green Bay, WI.

At ringside, Ross interviews the winner of the Sting look-alike contest—Ben. According to Meltzer, that is Ben Sullivan—Kevin's son. After Ben tells Ross how much he admires the Stinger, Sting comes out and high-fives him. Abruptly, Koloff comes to ringside and gives Sting a chain-wrapped Russian sickle. How dastardly! He then makes Sting taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the William Wallace at the Jig & Reel. When Koloff turns his attention to Ben, Ben's mother hops the steel railing to protect her son. After WCW head of security Doug Dillinger escorts Koloff away from the ring, Ben checks on Sting. Good angle!

Promo for the WCW Bruise Cruise airs.

Match 9 (non-title): WCW US Champion the “Total Package” Lex Luger versus the Great Muta

Highlights:

Rating: **

Summary: Showcase match for Luger who will face Flair at Great American Bash '91.

Video featuring "Stunning" Steve Austin airs.

Match 10: “Stunning” Steve Austin (w/ Lady Blossom) versus “Jumpin'” Joey Maggs

Highlights:

Rating: DUD

Summary: Showcase match for Austin. Twenty seconds on his first WCW supershow? No wonder Austin was pissed at WCW.

Video featuring Black Blood airs.

In the ring, Schiavone interviews York who presents the newest member of the York Foundation—Richard Morton—who comes out wearing a suit. I'm surprised he didn't use his bandana for his pocket square. Suddenly, Robert Gibson comes to the ring ready to reform the Rock'n'Roll Express. When Taylor and Hughes try to nail Gibson, Morton calls them off. Morton then decks Gibson himself and delivers a piledriver. Quickly, Rhodes hits the ring to shoo the York Foundation from the ring. Allegedly, all the baby mamas among the Knoxville faithful were crying due to the break-up.

Match 11 for the WCW World title (2 out of 3 falls): “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (champion) versus “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton

Highlights:

First fall:

Second fall:

Third fall:

Rating: ***1/2

Summary: Inserting Eaton into the Flair formula worked wonders as Flair elevated Eaton to his level. While fifteen minutes seems criminally short for a best 2-out-of-3 falls match, Eaton's stamina may have caused an issue if the match lasted over twenty minutes.

According to Ross, Flair, having successfully defended the WCW World title, will face Luger at Great American Bash '91.

Conclusion: This show served as a turning point for WCW as you will see with my Great American Bash '91 reflection. Having said that, the main event along with the IWGP tag title match are great examples of the excellent wrestling produced by WCW. Also, the heel turn by Morton along with the destruction of Jason Hervey make this show a no-brainer to recommend.

See you for WCW Great American Bash ‘91!

Rating: 3.90

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

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