WCW Clash of the Champions XXVII

No introduction as the WWE Network provides this disclaimer: “Presented in the most complete form possible, due to original production technical difficulties.” Was there a summer thunderstorm in Cedar Rapids or something?

The Nasty Boys made their entrance as the show started.
The Blacktop Bully (Barry Darsow) made his debut in attendance here.
Roma attempted a high crossbody from the top rope, but Sags caught and powerslammed him.
Outside the ring Orndorff made Sags eat the ring steps. If it had been the steel railing it would have tasted like corn.
The Honkytonk Man’s video was hyped.
Top rope elbow from Roma.
Heenan was shown wearing a neck brace.
Excellent dropkick from Roma.
Orndorff attempted a piledriver but Sags countered it.
HOT TAG to Knobbs.
Orndorff gave Knobbs a vertical suplex then Roma splashed Knobbs from the top rope.
Immediately Sags delivered a top rope elbow to Orndorff from ¾ of the way across the ring.
Sags then pinned Orndorff.

Summary: It was obvious from the crowd reaction that they liked the Nasty Boys, but couldn’t care less about Pretty Wonderful. A tag title switch here wouldn’t have been out of the question. The Nasty Boys should be the #1 contender following that victory.

“Mean” Gene Okerlund interviews WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan. Out of nowhere a masked man dressed entirely in black nails Hogan in the knee with a blunt object. Chaos ensues as Hogan writhes in pain. A WCW trainer places a brace upon Hogan’s left knee as Eric Bischoff looks on. Heenan makes a Nancy Kerrigan joke. Maybe it was Jeff Gillooly in disguise! EMTs place Hogan on a gurney and take him backstage.

Match 2 for the WCW US title: “Stunning” Steve Austin (champion) versus Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat

As Steamboat made his entrance including a spectacular fireball Tony believed Hogan would be taken to a nearby hospital via ambulance.
As Tony mentioned that the DQ stipulation had been waived Austin made his entrance with a handlebar mustache and his customary “Dragon Slayer” black trunks.
Meanwhile Eric Bischoff accompanied Hogan in the ambulance.
Back in the ring Steamboat delivered a pair of dropkicks.
Austin countered a Steamboat sleeper with a jaw breaker.
According to Tony, Sting chartered a plane from Chicago to take Hogan’s place if necessary.
Top rope chop by Steamboat.
Steamboat splash got nothing but knees.
Pointed elbow drop from the second rope by Austin. No flip off to Steamboat beforehand however.
Vertical suplex by Austin.
Second one blocked by Steamboat. He then lifted Austin onto the top turnbuckle.
Next he tried to set him up for the superplex, but Austin headbutted him down to the mat.
Ordinarily this wouldn’t mean much; however, Steamboat landed on his tailbone which became a career-ending injury.
But Steamboat’s a real man’s man and continued the match.
In fact he attempted a top rope superplex but Austin countered to a gourdbuster.
Austin then leaped from the top rope but ate a right hand to the gut.
Steamboat mounted the top turnbuckle, but Austin made him eat the mat. It didn’t taste like the steel railing so it doesn’t get my approval.
In a flashback to his Hollywood Blond days Austin rolled the camera.
Spinebuster by Steamboat. Wow! Never saw him use that maneuver before.
Austin tried to escape by climbing the turnbuckle, but Steamboat caught him and gave him an electric chair.
After several pin attempts by Steamboat Austin tossed Steamboat over the top rope.
Steamboat may have aggravated the tailbone here as well.
Did Steamboat win the title via DQ here?
Nope, but he skinned the cat back in.
Soon afterwards Austin tried to slam him, but Steamboat countered with an inside cradle (same finish as Savage-Steamboat at WrestleMania III) and got the pin.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Summary: The chemistry between these two wrestlers is amazing. The numerous pin attempts by Steamboat gave the match such realism since he was on a quest to win the title. If only Steamboat hadn’t gotten injured during this match these two could have had a third match at Fall Brawl that would have torn the house down.

After a commercial break Okerlund describes the attack on Hogan from earlier in the show. As he details the story, Heenan pantomimes playing a violin. HA! Gotta love Heenan’s disdain for Hogan being transferred to WCW.

We see Hogan being lifted out of the ambulance as Bischoff provides a live report from the hospital.

Honkytonk Man is coming to WCW. A video with his driving a pink Cadillac is shown. “Honky Dog Baby” is played and is a poor substitute for “Cool Cocky Bad.”

Okerlund interviews WCW Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel. If Hogan is unable to defend the World title tonight Bockwinkel declares that Hogan would have to forfeit the title.

From WCW Saturday Night (7/24/94) Dusty Rhodes speaks with Dustin in the ring. He refers to Colonel Parker and his men as “chicken feed.” Subsequently he runs down “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson then asks Dustin to be his partner at the Clash. Emotional promo from Dusty ends in a hug between father and son. Aw.

Match 3: Terry Funk and Bunkhouse Buck (w/ Col. Parker and Meng) versus “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes and “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes

The Rhodes cleared the ring to begin the match.
Dustin had a cast on his right arm.
When Dusty tagged in the crowd erupted.
Bionic elbow sent Buck straight into 1997.
Powerslam by Rhodes on Buck.
Buck removed his boot and nailed Dustin in the head.
False tag as Buck had referee Randy Anderson occupied.
Buck then mistakenly hit Funk coming off the top rope.
Hot tag Dusty.
Arn Anderson came to the ring and tripped Dusty.
Lariat by Dustin.
Bulldog by Dustin, but Anderson entered the ring and broke it up.
The Rhodes won by disqualification.

Summary: Another chapter is written in the Dustin Rhodes-Stud Stable feud. Another one will need to be written as this feud continues.

After the match Anderson gives Dustin a DDT then eats a bionic elbow from Dusty. Meng gets in Dusty’s face, but Dusty exits the ring to grab a balsa wood chair. He then nails Meng in the head with it to no effect. Yikes! That’s one tough Tongan. Meng then puts a nerve hold on Dusty. Frankie Lancaster dressed in regular clothes comes to Dusty’s aid, but Meng dispatches him. Finally Doug Dellinger and Greg Gagne break up the fracas.

Tony promotes a World tag team title match on WCW Saturday Night (8/27/94, taped 8/10/94) between champions Pretty Wonderful and challengers The Nasty Boys. Very sneaky, WCW. Glad to know that the Nasty Boys won earlier tonight to earn that pre-taped match.

Bischoff is live at the hospital and interviews Henry Holmes, Hogan’s attorney. Holmes wants Hogan to concede the belt in exchange for the first shot at Flair. “Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart and Bruti (Ed Leslie) stand by quite despondent. According to Holmes and corroborated by Hart Hogan is determined to defend the title tonight.

Okerlund interviews “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. Sensuous Sherri is dressed in all black and wearing a veil. Okerlund claims shenanigans to Flair. Flair states that he only wants Hogan to hand over the belt instead of Bockwinkel. Flair: “Hogan, walk that aisle!”

Match 4: WCW World TV Champion Lord Steven Regal (w/ Sir William) versus Antonio Inoki

This match was set up from the ceremony for Inoki at Bash at the Beach.
Tony and Bobby mentioned that Inoki fought Muhammed Ali in 1976 and held a victory over Andre the Giant in a martial arts match.
As one might expect from these two lots of mat wrestling to begin the match.
At one point Regal kicked Inoki onto the broadcast table. Sir Wiliam got a shot in as well.
As Regal applied a leg bar Hogan was shown entering the arena.
Bockwinkel made his way to the broadcast table.
He stated that if Hogan wrestled that WCW could not be held responsible.
In the meantime this borefest continued.
Butterfly suplex by Regal.
Choke sleeper by Inoki put Regal out.

Summary: I mean no offense to the legendary Antonio Inoki but this was a complete clash of styles with zero redeeming value.

Match 5 for the WCW World title: Hulk Hogan (champion) versus “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair

A ripe Hulk Hogan should be easy prey for Flair.
Buffer rumbled.
Flair got on the microphone: “Bring me the title now!”
So has Hogan lost his smile?
NOPE! He attacked Flair immediately.
Cross-corner whip by Hogan caused a Flair flip to the floor.
Outside the ring Hogan sent Flair into the ring post.
He then made Flair eat the steel railing. Considering the look on Flair’s face afterwards it didn’t taste like Filet Mignon.
After a snap mare Flair mounted the top turnbuckle but got tossed to the mat.
Hogan knocked Flair to the floor again.
Again he made Flair eat the steel railing. I’m practically certain it didn’t taste like Flair’s favorite champagne Dom Perignon.
Again he sent Flair into the ring post.
Hogan grabbed a chair but missed.
Delayed vertical suplex by Flair no-sold by Hogan.
A second Flair flip was met with a Hogan clothesline to the floor.
Chop block by Flair.
Like a shark smelling blood in the water Flair targeted the bandaged knee.
Behind referee Randy Anderson’s back Sherri hit a leg drop low on Hogan.
First figure-four attempt blocked by Hogan.
Second attempt was successful however.
Will Hogan submit?
NO!
An eye rake broke the hold.
Hulk-up time!
Big boot, but the knee hindered the Hulkster.
Leg drop, but again the knee stopped the Hulkster from pinning Flair.
Another figure-four by Flair but Hogan reversed it.
Sherri hit Hogan in his knee with her shoe twice sending Hogan writhing in pain to the floor.
Hogan was counted out.
Flair won, but Hogan retained the title. Boo!

Summary: Boo that finish out of the building, Cedar Rapids! Cop-out finish to a decent main event, really? This was the first sign that Hogan had creative control over his character.

Buffer proceeds to screw up by giving Flair the title. He then corrects himself by calling it a disqualification. D’oh! C’mon, Buffer, it was a countout.

After Hogan re-enters the ring, beats Flair down, and takes back his belt the masked man comes in and works with Flair to continue punishing Hogan’s bad knee. While the masked man escapes Flair slaps on another figure-four. Sting comes to Hogan’s aid shooing Flair and Sherri away.

Who was the masked man, by the way? Jeff Gillooly, perhaps? No, it was supposed to be Curt Hennig, but he’s still under WWF contract. It was actually Arn Anderson.

Conclusion: While the finish of the main event appeared to make Flair look weak, the strategy behind the booking makes sense. You might be thinking to yourself: “Huh?” Let me explain why.

When Hogan was signed in June the agreement was a six-month contract. With WCW in deep financial crisis bordering on extinction from Ted Turner the signing of Hogan meant he had to make a significant impact on the bottom line especially considering the financial terms of his salary.

The buyrate of BatB was 1.02 was a big financial grab for WCW and a feather in Hogan’s cap. As you can see from the rating below Hogan justified his salary once again.

With that being said even with the third big show on Hogan’s contract (Halloween Havoc) yet to even be marketed by this point in time WCW wanted to resign Hogan to a long-term contract. Hence the decision in the main event here made sense for long-term booking purposes.

In addition two other major happenings occurred in August 1994. While Bret Hart retained the WWF title at Summerslam against Owen Hart (and looked good in the process) Shane Douglas threw down the NWA title and changed what was a regional NWA affiliate into an independent EXTREME promotion. It behooved WCW to maintain the course with Hogan at this point.

As far as the rest of the show is concerned, check out that Austin-Steamboat match. While it was short-changed on commentary the name on the marquee says wrestling and they brought it. Also, the Rhodes-Stud stable feud is red hot and will continue.

Lastly but certainly not least this was the first live WCW show without Jesse Ventura in 2 ½ years. Greener pastures were ahead for “The Body” though.

Definitely check this show out if you’ve not seen it. See you at Fall Brawl!