WCW Clash of Champions XVIII

Has anything changed in WCW? How will the Dangerous Alliance be involved? Let's find out!

**BREAKING NEWS** As of January 8, Jim Herd resigned as Executive Vice-President of WCW. According to Meltzer, the final straw was WCW's loss of "Nature Boy" Ric Flair. Herd will be replaced by TBS attorney Kip Frey who was a key proponent for control of the NWA as well as the return of the WCW championship belt from Flair.

After a leap frog, Scott gave Hughes an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
Vader and Hughes then double-teamed Scott in their corner until Rick interrupted them.
When Hughes tossed Rick to the floor, Vader tossed Scott out as well.
The Steiners then mounted the same top turnbuckle and hit stereo Steinerlines.
As tags were exchanged on both sides, Vader delivered a belly-to-back suplex to Rick.
He then gave Rick a vertical suplex followed by a military press slam.
After a cross corner whip, Vader hit an avalanche.
He then gave Rick a a second cross corner whip but ate another Steinerline.
When Rick gave him an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, he clotheslined Vader over the top rope to the floor.
He then launched himself at Vader on the floor, but Vader caught and rammed him back-first into the ring post.
Back in the ring, Vader FLATTENED Rick with a clothesline.

He then mounted the top turnbuckle, but Rick caught, joined, and gave Vader an overhead belly-to-belly superplex. Wow!
As Scott tagged in, he clotheslined Vader for 2.
He then struggled to deliver a German suplex but succeeded when Rick repeatedly nailed Vader.
After Scott mounted the top turnbuckle, he leaped, but Vader caught and powerslammed him.
Scott then attempted a sunset flip but got SQUISHED instead.
GET OUT THE SPATULA!
When Hughes tagged in, he powerslammed Scott for 2.
He then clotheslined Scott as the Topeka faithful voiced their support for Scott.
As Hughes gave Scott a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
Hot tag Rick.
After he hip-tossed Hughes, Rick delivered a back drop.
All four wrestlers were in the ring.
When Hughes held Scott, Vader inadvertently nailed him.
Race then got up on the apron only to get hammered by Rick.
As Scott and Vader spilled over the top rope to the floor, Rick mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a bulldog on Hughes.
1-2-3.
The Steiners won.

Summary: Really good opener that showcased the Steiners well against super-heavyweights. I was also truly happy that Vader worked the bulk of the match instead of Hughes.

Match 2: The Taylor Made Man & Tracy Smothers versus “Flyin’” Brian Pillman & Marcus Alexander Bagwell

I see that Taylor upgraded his character from York Foundation flunky to a sharply-dressed flunky.

As Taylor reversed a cross corner whip, PIllman took him down with a flying headscissors.
He then delivered an atomic drop while he and Bagwell pinballed Taylor.
When Smothers came in, he ate a clothesline from PIllman.
Speaking of Pillman, he leap-frogged Taylor but succumbed to a backbreaker for 2.
After Taylor gave him a jawbreaker, Pillman came back with a second flying headscissors.
He then hit a cross body block for 2.
As Bagwell tagged in, he mule-kicked Taylor.
He then delivered a dropkick to an incoming Smothers.
Upon hip-tossing each heel, Bagwell gave them a double noggin knocker.
He then launched Pillman who double-clotheslined the heels.
Next, a double dropkick sent the heels reeling.
Bagwell and Pillman then hit stereo planchas to wow the Topeka faithful. Woohoo!
When Smothers tagged in, he gave Bagwell a superkick followed by a flying back elbow.
He then clotheslined Bagwell for 2.
After Taylor tagged in, he gave Bagwell a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
He then neck-snapped Bagwell for another 2.
As Smothers tagged in, he slammed Bagwell but ate knees on a splash.
Pillman tagged in and backdropped Smothers.
Afterward, he dropkicked Taylor off the apron.
Smothers then reversed an Irish whip but ate a spinning heel kick from Pillman for 2.
While Bagwell distracted referee Mike Adkins, the heels double-teamed Pillman.
Smothers then got Adkins' attention so that Taylor could suplex Pillman over the top rope to the floor.
From the apron, Smothers gave Pillman a double axe handle causing him to taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Texas Roadrunner at the Blind Tiger.
Smothers then made PIllman HIT THE POLE.
Back in the ring, he got 2.
Taylor tagged in and delivered a Doctorbomb for another 2.
As Smothers tagged in, he sent Pillman to the apron.
He then hit another flying back elbow causing Pillman to taste the steel railing again. Waiter, could you give the tiger-printed trunks-wearing wrestler an El Paso sandwich please?
When Pillman returned to the apron, he hit a springboard clothesline to Smothers.
Hot tag Bagwell.
After Bagwell backdropped Smothers, all four wrestlers were in the ring.
Taylor then tossed Pillman outside the ring and gave Bagwell a double axe handle.
As Bagwell attempted a sunset flip to Smothers, Taylor grabbed Smothers' arm to prevent it.
Pillman then re-entered the ring and dropkicked Taylor.
Ultimately, that enabled Bagwell to successfully hook Smothers.
1-2-3.
Bagwell and Pillman won.

Summary: Really good match where Bagwell didn't look bad. While Taylor held his own on the heel side, Pillman made the match exciting.

Prior to the next match, we revisit the title change from Christmas night at the Omni by Jushin "Thunder" Liger. Ross then shills SuperBrawl II on February 29 when Liger will make his next title defense. Unfortunately, his opponent is yet to be determined.

According to Schiavone, Badd weighed 235 lbs. which was the maximum weight for the light heavyweight division. Compared to Morton, Badd is not a light heavyweight wrestler.
Upon ramming Morton face-first to the top turnbuckle, Badd mounted the second turnbuckle and hit a double axe handle.
Morton then tossed him outside the ring, but Badd returned quickly to roll him up for 2.
As Morton clotheslined Badd, he followed with an inverted atomic drop.
He then tossed Badd outside the ring, joined him, and made him HIT THE POLE.
When Badd re-entered the ring via sunset flip, he got 2.
Morton then delivered a vertical suplex for 2.
After Badd reversed an Irish whip, he powerslammed Morton for 2.
Morton then attempted a cross body block, but Badd used momentum to land on top.
1-2-3.
Badd won.

Summary: Too short to be worth anything. Let's hope WCW doesn't keep Badd in the light-heavyweight division because he doesn't belong there.

From the podium, Eric Bischoff interviews Badd and Pillman. As Badd places the kiss that don't miss on Bischoff's cheek, Pillman cuts an angry, jingoistic promo on Liger. When Badd puts the sticker on Pillman's face, Pillman nails him. That was...strange.

After a criss-cross, DDP leap-frogged News but ate a butt butt.
News then dropkicked him over the top rope to the floor.
When DDP returned to the apron, News brought him in the hard way.
He then gave DDP a cross corner whip followed by an avalanche.
As he delivered a pair of sentons, News missed an elbow drop.
He then reversed a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Upon clotheslining News, DDP got 2.
He then hit a series of elbow drops and mocked News.

After he delivered a side-Russian leg sweep, DDP got another 2.
He then attempted a slam, but News fell atop DDP for 2.
When DDP guillotined him with the top rope, he gave News a springboard cross body block for 2.
News then reversed a cross corner whip, hooked a bear hug, and delivered a belly-to-belly suplex.
As he mounted the top turnbuckle, News hit the Broken Record.
1-2-3.
News won.

Summary: While this wasn't News' final WCW appearance, this was his last supershow appearance.

"Ravishing" Rick Rude
Sting
"Stunning" Steve Austin
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
The "Dog-faced Gremlin" Rick Steiner
Cactus Jack
The "Natural" Dustin Rhodes
Big Van Vader
El Gigante
The "Cruncher" Larry Zbyszko

On the ramp, Schiavone introduces the NEW "man in charge of WCW" Executive Vice-President K. Allen Frey. In his first act, Frey decrees that Luger will defend the WCW World title at SuperBrawl II. Next, he introduces a newcomer to the WCW broadcast team—Jesse "The Body" Ventura. Wow!

Wearing his customary boa, Ventura calls WCW "the wrestling of the future" and is ecstatic to return to wrestling. Schiavone then introduces the #1 contender to the World title—Sting. In a pre-recorded interview, Luger touts his "champions' prerogative." Sting then signs the contract but wants Luger RIGHT NOW. Um, that's not in the contract.

From the ramp, Hammer leaped over the top rope and hit a cross body block on Cactus for 2.
He then gave Cactus a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
As he mounted the second turnbuckle, Hammer delivered a bulldog.
He then gave Cactus a leg drop for another 2.
When he mounted the opposite second turnbuckle, Cactus caught him with a clothesline for 2.
He then delivered the Cactus clothesline and got 2 on the floor.
After ramming Hammer back-first into the steel railing, Cactus removed the mat on one side of the ring.
He then rammed Hammer face-first on the concrete floor. OUCH!

Upon mounting the second turnbuckle, Cactus hooked a sunset flip on the concrete floor for 2.
Hammer then rammed Cactus back-first into the steel railing, but Cactus came back by applying a sleeper on the ramp.
As Hammer escaped with a jawbreaker, he powerslammed Cactus on the ramp for 2.
Cactus then clotheslined Hammer on the ramp and attempted a vertical suplex.
On the other hand, Hammer countered with an inside cradle for another 2.
Cactus exploded with a clothesline, attempted a hip toss down to the concrete floor, but received one instead. That SPLAT you heard could allegedly have been Cactus' spleen. YEE-OUCH!

From the ramp, Hammer leaped and clotheslined Cactus on the concrete floor for 2.
They then fought their way backstage as a commercial break ensued.
Afterward, Cactus and Hammer brawled in the parking lot.
Cactus then WALLOPED Hammer with a 2x4 and tossed a traffic cone at him.
In an effort to be useful, Hyatt provided color commentary from the parking lot.
While they fought near some cattle, Hammer choked Cactus with a bull rope.
Suddenly, an extra-large cowboy got involved, and Ross outed him as Abdullah the Butcher. With all the cattle around, perhaps Abdullah was hungry. After all, doesn't he always carry a fork in his pocket?
Regardless, Abdullah SMASHED a shovel onto Hammer's back.
Upon shooing Abdullah from the rodeo arena, Cactus pinned Hammer.

Summary: This match is for the hardcore match lovers out there which does NOT include me.

After the match, Abdullah attacks Cactus and dunks him face-first into the watering trough. Abdullah then grabs Hyatt and dunks her bottom-first into it. HA! Cactus and Abdullah then take turns dunking one another. God bless WCW and their attempts to humiliate Hyatt.

We then get the supershow debut of "I'm a Freebird and what's your excuse." I now long for "Badstreet USA" more than ever.

Wait a minute! It's Brad Armstrong without a mask! Someone notify the media!

After a leap frog, Brad hip-tossed Hayes.
Speaking of Hayes, he escaped a slam and rolled up Brad for 2.
Garvin tagged in and clotheslined Brad.
As Brad reversed a cross corner whip, he ate a forearm from Garvin.
From the top turnbuckle, Garvin hit a cross body block for 2.
When Josh tagged in, Brad dropkicked Garvin into a Josh slam.
Josh then gave Garvin the log roll, waited until Hayes tagged in, and gave him the same treatment.
Upon hooking a sunset flip, Hayes got 2 on Josh.
Garvin tagged in, gave Josh a cross corner whip, but a mid-ring collision occurred.
As tags were exchanged on both sides, Brad gave Hayes a back drop followed by a dropkick.
He then dropkicked an incoming Garvin, but the Freebirds tossed him to the ramp.
When Josh came in, he double-clotheslined the Freebirds.
Brad then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit an axe handle on Hayes.
After Brad attempted to suplex Hayes, Garvin prevented it, and the Freebirds gave Brad a double-DDT.
In the meantime, Josh distracted referee Mike Adkins.
Hayes then pinned Brad.

On the podium, Bischoff interviews the Steiners. Prior to that, footage airs of the Steiners facing the Road Warriors, Samoan SWAT Team, Nasty Boys, Masa Saito & Great Muta, Hase & Sasaki, and Hase & Chono. Hmmm...three of those teams work for the WWF now. Also, we see footage of Rick Steiner challenging but losing to Luger for the WCW World title. Ultimately, the Steiners' next goal will be to regain the WCW World tag team titles.

During the live interview, Rick challenges Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton. Why? Because on 1/16 at a house show in Jacksonville, FL, Anderson and Eaton defeated Rhodes and Steamboat for the titles. Scott then uses Alice Cooper lyrics to challenge them.

Vinnie who? No way! It's Kevin Nash!

After Vegas face-planted Rich, he delivered a short-arm clothesline.
He then hit Snake Eyes.
1-2-3.
Vegas won.

On the podium, Bischoff interviews Uncle Paul who states that every prediction since his return at Halloween Havoc '91 has come true. He then runs down Windham, Rhodes, Simmons, Steamboat, and Sting and states that one of them "will wind up in the "Magnum T.A. wrestling retirement home."

Match 8 (six-man): The Dangerous Alliance (w/ Uncle Paul) versus Barry Windham, the "Natural" Dustin Rhodes, & Ron Simmons

At the onset, Eaton gave Windham a swinging neckbreaker.
He then placed Windham atop the top turnbuckle and joined him.
Next, he delivered a superplex, but Windham no-sold it. I understand why because it's so early in the match but doing that lessens its impact.
Windham then hit a pair of lariats to Eaton, placed him atop the top turnbuckle, and joined him.
When he delivered his own superplex, Eaton no-sold it.
Oops, my bad. Windham actually got 2 because his lariats temporarily stunned Eaton.

All six wrestlers were in the ring, and the babyfaces hooked stereo figure-four leg locks on the heels to the delight of the Topeka faithful.
As Zbyszko hooked a wrist lock, Simmons tried to power out.
Arn then hooked a wrist lock on his other arm, but Simmons flipped out of the holds and sent both Arn and Zbyszko directly into the babyface corner for some bionic elbows.
Afterward, Simmons hit a double flying shoulder block, caught Eaton who leaped from the top turnbuckle, and applied a bear hug to him.
While Windham distracted referee Mike Adkins, Arn nailed Simmons from behind.
The tag champs then gave Simmons a cross corner whip, but Simmons exploded with a clothesline to Eaton. Although Arn ducked, Simmons gave him a gorilla press slam.
When Zbyszko came in, Simmons shoulder-blocked him for 2.
Tags were exchanged on both sides as Uncle Paul told Zbyszko to trust him.

After Eaton gave Rhodes a cross corner whip, he ate a right hand.
Rhodes then tossed Eaton over the top rope to the ramp while Windham distracted Adkins again.
With Eaton on the ramp, Rhodes flew over the top rope and hit a lariat. Wow!
Again, tags were exchanged on both sides when Windham attempted a lariat. However, Zbyszko evaded him.
Zbyszko then attempted a piledriver, but Windham countered with a back drop.
As Eaton mounted the top turnbuckle, Windham dropkicked him down to the floor.
He then face-planted Arn, chased Zbyszko back into the ring, and tagged Rhodes.
When Rhodes attempted a cross body block, Zbyszko ducked causing Rhodes to fly into my living room. C'mon, Dustin. If you're going to come over, ask for an invitation beforehand. Sheesh!
Simmons and Arn then distracted Adkins so Uncle Paul WALLOPED Rhodes with the cellular phone. How dastardly!
After Zbyszko gave Rhodes a swinging neckbreaker, Arn tagged in and delivered a SPINEBUSTER for 2.
He then attempted a Vader bomb but ate knees.
As Rhodes attempted a slam, Arn escaped and hit a DDT for another 2.
Eaton tagged in and slammed Rhodes.
When he mounted the top turnbuckle, he hit the big elbow but couldn't get 3.
He then gave Rhodes a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
After Arn tagged in, he slammed Rhodes, mounted the second turnbuckle, but ate boot.
Hot tag Windham.
As he mounted the top turnbuckle, Windham hit a lariat to Eaton.
He then gave Eaton another lariat followed by a back drop for 2.
When Zbyszko tagged in, Arn put a knee into Windham's back. SNEAKY!
Again, all six wrestlers were in the ring.
While Rhodes gave Arn a bionic elbow on the floor, Eaton mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but got knocked silly by Windham.
1-2-3.
Windham, Rhodes, and Simmons won.

Summary: Incredible match with tons of workrate, high-flying, and excitement. In addition, limiting the amount of time Simmons and Zbyszko spent in the ring helped the flow of the match tremendously. Great work, gentlemen!

From the locker room, Schiavone interviews Windham, Rhodes, and Simmons. Windham's ready to "kick tail and forget about taking names" while calling out Zbyszko.

Match 9: Sting & Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat versus WCW World TV champion “Stunning" Steve Austin & WCW US champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude

Ventura replaced Schiavone at the broadcast table for the main event.
As he grabbed the microphone, Rude referred to me as a "cable-watching couch potato." I feel honored.
In clever Ross fashion, he hyped a fictitious relationship between Austin and former Rice University football standout James "Froggy" Williams who participated in the 1950 Cotton Bowl. In clever Ventura fashion, he joked about it being a long time since he saw Rice in a bowl. HA!
Steamboat hooked Austin in a backslide for 2.
Next, he executed a somersault rollup for another 2.
He then secured an inside cradle but couldn't get 3.
After a leap frog, Steamboat gave Austin a thrust kick.
Rude came in but ate a thrust kick too.
When Rude tagged in, he slapped the taste out of Sting's mouth.

Sting tagged in, reversed an Irish whip, leap-frogged Rude, and delivered an atomic drop.
As Sting gave Rude an inverted atomic drop, he followed with a pair of clotheslines.
Austin came in but got nailed by Sting.
After Sting gave him a HARD cross corner whip, Rude blocked a gutwrench suplex.
Sting then mocked Rude for Uncle Paul who got up on the apron.
With referee Nick Patrick distracted, Steamboat illegally switched with Sting as the Topeka faithful ate it up with a spoon.
Austin then distracted Patrick so the babyfaces cleverly did it again.
When Sting tried to butt-splash Rude's back, he received a pair of knees down the Kansas Turnpike to Emporia.
Austin tagged in while the Topeka faithful chanted "Sting."
After he gave Sting a back elbow, Austin got 2.
Rude tagged in and prevented Sting from tagging out.
As Austin tagged in, he delivered a belly-to-back suplex to Sting.
Sting then attempted a sunset flip and avoided a knuckle sandwich.
Hot tag Steamboat.
He then gave the Dangerous Alliance a double noggin knocker, took down Austin, and got 2.
When Steamboat hooked a victory roll, Uncle Paul got up on the apron again causing a false pin.
Rude tagged in and slammed Steamboat.
After Austin tagged in, Steamboat hooked another inside cradle for 2.
All four wrestlers were in the ring.
As Austin gave Steamboat a backbreaker, Rude tossed Sting to the ramp and distracted Patrick.
Sting and Austin then brawled on the ramp until Austin tossed Sting to the concrete floor.
When Austin gave Steamboat another backbreaker, he hoisted Steamboat up only to succumb to a cross body block by Sting from the top turnbuckle.
Both Sting and Steamboat pinned Austin.

Summary: Exciting main event that should have sent the Topeka faithful home happy.

After the match, Rude gives Steamboat a Rude Awakening while Sting misses a Stinger splash. Rude then delivers a second Rude Awakening to Steamboat, receives Uncle Paul's belt, and whips Steamboat with it. As WCW Security tries to break up the melee, Sting protects Steamboat from further lashings by Rude.

Conclusion: Absolutely fantastic show with several good matches along with one great match. Without question, I would recommend this show. Enjoy!

As an incentive for having the best match on the card, Frey awarded Cactus Jack and Abdullah the Butcher $2400 each while giving referee Nick Patrick a $200 bonus. Let's hope they didn't need it for hypothermia treatment.