WCW Halloween Havoc '93

Can Cactus Jack exact revenge upon Vader and defeat him? Will Flair regain a “World” title? Who will be the “franchise” of WCW? Let’s find out!

To open the show, a Halloween-themed mini-movie airs featuring trick-or-treaters visiting a supposedly haunted house. When the doorbell rings, a loud scream startles them. An extremely robotic Tony Schiavone answers the door and offers them “cookies.”

As “Dracula” asks for “something scary,” Tony responds with the frightening Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal stipulation for the main event. “Dracula” refutes the offer, so Tony rips off his “mask” to reveal a monster. The trick-or-treaters attempt to flee, open the door, and the infamous wheel appears.

After Bischoff Texas Ranger welcomes us to the program, Tony Schiavone, dressed like Ventura, and Ventura, decked out like a gynecologist, hype the main event. Ventura then does his rectal thermometer joke. HA!

Match 1: Harlem Heat & the Equalizer versus the Shockmaster, Charlie Norris, & Ice Train

Please make this short.

Kole attempted to slam Train but received one instead.
When Train clotheslined him, Kole tagged in Kane.
Norris tagged in, mounted the second turnbuckle, and lowered the boom on Kane.
Shortly after, Kane put a knee into Train’s back while he came off the ropes. SNEAKY!
Kole then dropkicked Train and tagged in Kane.
As Harlem Heat delivered a double sidewalk slam, Kane got 2.
Equalizer tagged in, but Train face-planted him.
After Shockmaster tagged in, the New Orleans faithful cheered.
He then slammed Equalizer and tagged in Train.
While the New Orleans faithful chanted “Whoop, there it is,” Train and Shockmaster hit a double back elbow to Equalizer.
Norris tagged in and chopped Equalizer for 2.
When he reversed a cross corner whip, Norris ate boot on his follow-through.
Kane tagged in and slammed Norris for 2.
As Kole tagged in, Harlem Heat delivered a double clothesline to Norris.
Kole then hit a knee drop for another 2.
After Kole unleashed a spin kick, he couldn’t get 3.
He then slammed Norris, mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
Hot tag Shockmaster.
When he reversed an Irish whip, Shockmaster applied a bear hug to Kole.
He then converted it into a powerslam and pinned Kole.
As a result, Shockmaster, Norris, and Train won.

Summary: Despite following the tag formula, the only wrestler to earn heat was the Shockmaster. I definitely wouldn’t call this match a treat.

After the match, Shockmaster and Equalizer brawl until Shockmaster BLASTS him from the ring.

Backstage, Bischoff Texas Ranger interviews the second referee for the Flair-Rude match—the Red Rooster! Oh, wait, he’s wearing a referee’s outfit but without red hair. It’s Terry Taylor! Regardless, Taylor states he’ll call the match “down the middle.”

Match 2: Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat versus “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff (w/ the Assassin)

Steamboat replaced the injured Yoshi Kwan for this match.
Why is the Assassin seconding Orndorff?

While the New Orleans faithful taunted Orndorff with a “Paula” chant, their nemesis backdropped Steamboat.
Orndorff then delivered an elbow smash, but Steamboat rolled him up for 2.
As Orndorff responded with a clothesline, Steamboat sought refuge on the floor.
Orndorff joined and nailed him before ramming him face-first into the ramp.
On the ramp, Orndorff slammed Steamboat and followed with another elbow smash.
Steamboat then attempted a cross body block from the ramp and over the top rope, but Orndorff evaded him.
To counter a side head lock, Orndorff implemented a belly-to-back suplex for 2.
Steamboat rebounded with a cross body block and got 2.
When Steamboat rammed Orndorff’s left arm into the ring post, the Assassin allegedly asked referee Nick Patrick for some jambalaya. Mmmm…

Steamboat then made Orndorff HIT THE POLE in an effort to dislocate the shoulder.
Upon ramming Orndorff shoulder-first into the steel railing, Steamboat hit a pair of clotheslines.
Orndorff then sought refuge outside the ring only to eat the steps thanks to Steamboat.
As Patrick prevented Steamboat from leaping from the apron, Orndorff repeatedly rammed Steamboat face-first into it.
He then tossed Steamboat over the steel railing into the front row.
When Orndorff mounted the top turnbuckle, he delivered a flying elbow smash for 2.
They then attempted simultaneous cross body blocks but botched the timing.
While Orndorff attempted to pin Steamboat while grabbing the ropes, Patrick noticed his chicanery and didn’t count.
They attempted a sunset flip from it, but Orndorff landed too far for Steamboat to hook it.
After he tossed Orndorff to the ramp, Steamboat mounted the top turnbuckle and chopped him.
He then hit an atomic drop that sent Orndorff over the top rope back into the ring.
As he mounted an adjacent top turnbuckle, Steamboat delivered another chop for 2.
Orndorff then face-planted Steamboat and attempted a piledriver.
When Steamboat countered it with a back drop, he catapulted Orndorff face-first into the top turnbuckle.
He then rolled up Orndorff for another 2.
Upon hooking a belly-to-back suplex, Steamboat mounted the top turnbuckle and hit another cross body block.
Assassin then got up on the apron to distract Patrick causing Steamboat to earn a false pin.
As he delivered a pair of flying shoulder block, Steamboat couldn’t get 3.
Steamboat then tossed Patrick aside, so Orndorff launched him over the top rope to the floor. Nefarious!
When the Assassin loaded his mask, he pulled Steamboat from the apron to the floor and head-butted him. How dastardly!
Since Steamboat was OUT COLD, Patrick counted him out.
Orndorff won by countout.

Summary: Good solid match with a pair of botches and a crappy finish. I wonder if this will lead to something.

According to Schiavone, the Big Gold belt has been deemed a World title. That begs the question: with so many titles in WCW, why keep this one? By changing its status week-to-week, it devalues the other titles.

Match 3 for the WCW World TV title: Lord Steven Regal (champion w/ Sir William) versus the “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith

Ventura referred to Smith as a commoner and then insulted my intelligence by also referring to Jack the Ripper as one. Um, surgical precision wasn’t taught in my elementary school. How about yours?
When Ventura rescued himself by mentioning his daughter Jade, ring announcer Michael Buffer specifically noted the fifteen-minute time limit. Hmmm...

While Regal adorned us with his infamous facial expressions and a cartwheel, Smith monkey-flipped him.
During a second monkey flip, Regal forgot to somersault making it look awful.
Smith then hooked a Mexican surfboard, but Sir William caused the break by distracting referee Randy Anderson.
As Smith delivered a cross body block, he got 2.
Regal rebounded with a knee to the midsection for 2.
After a somersault senton, he got another 2.
He then whipped Smith into the corner causing a sternum-first bump. I wonder what his brother-in-law thought about that.

When Smith secured a sunset flip, he got 2.
Regal then hit a knee drop for 2.
As Smith clotheslined him, he whipped Regal into the corner but ate a knee to the midsection during his follow-through.
With one minute remaining, Smith clotheslined Regal.
He then suplexed Regal and prepped him for the running powerslam.
While Sir William got up on the apron, Regal’s legs inadvertently knocked him back down to the floor.
With thirty seconds left, Smith delivered the running powerslam.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
He then piledrove Regal with only seconds remaining.
While Smith covered Regal, the bell rang.
Anderson ruled the bout a time-limit draw; thus, Regal retained.

Summary: Since Smith had been battling Vader for the World title and was the headliner for the infamous upcoming European tour, he couldn’t lose. In addition, due to Regal’s similar British ancestry, he also couldn’t lose. I just wish there had been less grappling and more excitement. According to Meltzer, the timekeeper and Buffer got their wires crossed causing Smith and Regal to improvise after the powerslam.

Next, Bischoff Texas Ranger stands before the eerie wheel, and Vader with Race emerge. When Vader spins it, the gimmick of choice becomes Texas Death match. Did anyone tell Bischoff that New Orleans is approximately 264 miles from the Texas border? Cajun death match would seem more appropriate, but some people might think gumbo would be integrated.

Match 4 for the WCW US title: The “Natural” Dustin Rhodes (champion) versus “Stunning” Steve Austin (w/o Colonel Parker)

Austin delivered a back elbow, slammed Rhodes, and fed him a pair of knuckle sandwiches.
As Rhodes leap-frogged him, he dropkicked Austin.
Speaking of Austin, he gave Rhodes a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through. In the process, Austin injured his knee while falling over the top rope to the floor.
Back in the ring, Rhodes hit a knee crusher, but Austin punted Rhodes even further below sea level than New Orleans already was.
Austin then delivered a knee drop for 2.
When he slammed Rhodes, Austin used leverage to unleash a flying knee drop for another 2.
Rhodes rebounded with a back drop followed by a lariat for 2.
After he gave Austin a cross corner whip, Rhodes attempted a bulldog.
However, Austin countered by crotching Rhodes on the top turnbuckle. OUCH!
Rhodes then rolled up Austin for 2.
As he hooked an inside cradle, Rhodes earned another 2-count.
A pin fall reversal sequence got a pair of 2-counts, and a short chase around the ring post occurred.
Suddenly, Austin took Rhodes down and pinned him with his feet on the second rope.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
On the other hand, Patrick realized his mistake and restarted the match.

Austin then sought the belt from the broadcast table, but Rhodes rolled him up.
1-2-3.
Rhodes retained.

Summary: Another horrible finish to a match that felt flat. I bet these guys can work together and produce a better match down the road.

After the match, Austin grabs the belt, CREAMS Rhodes with it, and celebrates on the ramp. Meanwhile, Rhodes is BUSTED OPEN.

Match 5 for the WCW World tag team titles: 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell (champions w/ Teddy Long) versus the Nasty Boys (w/ Missy Hyatt)

“Last night” on WCW Saturday Night, Scorpio and Bagwell scored a HUGE upset by capturing the titles from the Nasty Boys (aired 10/23, taped 10/4). How will the Nasty Boys respond?

Ventura pointed out that Hyatt cut her hair while Buffer described her as an “escort.” Well, she did up the skank factor tonight.

When Scorpio and Bagwell cleared the ring of the challengers, Bagwell planted one on Hyatt. He’d better see the doctor backstage afterward to receive an antibiotic.
Sags delivered a knee drop and tagged in Knobbs.
As the Nasty Boys missed a double boot, Bagwell dropkicked them.
While the New Orleans faithful chastised Hyatt, Bagwell baited the Nasty Boys into a double cross body block by Scorpio from the top rope.
The Nasty Boys then regrouped on the floor until Bagwell hit a plancha onto them.
After tags were exchanged on both sides, the babyfaces delivered a drop toe hold/splash combo to Knobbs.
Scorpio then rolled up Knobbs for 2.
When Bagwell tagged in, the babyfaces hit a double flying shoulder block for another 2.
Bagwell then reversed an Irish whip, provided Knobbs with a Thesz press, but couldn’t get 3.
As tags were exchanged on both sides again, the babyfaces double hip-tossed Sags.
They then followed with a double elbow drop for 2.
After Sags gave him a cross corner whip, Scorpio leaped to the second turnbuckle and delivered a cross body block.
He then dropkicked Sags, and tags were once again exchanged on both sides.
While the Nasty Boys botched a double stungun sending Bagwell to the floor, both Scorpio and Long distracted referee Randy Anderson.
Knobbs continued to distract Anderson, and Sags held Bagwell so that Hyatt could SMACK him.
When Bagwell sauntered after Hyatt, Sags hooked a belly-to-back suplex on the floor. OUCH!
Back in the ring, Knobbs suplexed Bagwell for 2.
Sags tagged in and slammed Bagwell.
As he delivered a leg drop, Sags got another 2.
Shortly after, Sags gave Bagwell a cross corner whip that resulted in a sternum-first bump by Bagwell.
Sags then spat on Bagwell prompting Scorpio to distract Anderson.
In the meantime, the Nasty Boys double-teamed Bagwell.
Knobbs then illegally switched with Sags and applied a bear hug to Bagwell.
After Bagwell escaped, Sags tagged in and clotheslined him for 2.
Knobbs tagged in, but Bagwell dropped him head-first to the mat.
While Sags distracted Anderson, a false tag occurred.
The Nasty Boys then attempted a Sags-assisted cross corner whip, but Knobbs came up empty.
Hot tag Scorpio.
When Scorpio gave Knobbs a cross corner whip, he followed with an avalanche.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a moonsault.
As Scorpio escaped Sags’ attempt at a save, Hyatt and Long got up on the apron.
Bagwell then supplied Sags and Hyatt with a double noggin knocker while Scorpio mounted an adjacent top turnbuckle.
After Scorpio hit the Diss that Don’t Miss, Sags WALLOPED him with his boot unbeknownst to Anderson.
1-2-3.
WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!

Summary: With the tag formula in place and the babyfaces in full underdog mode, the New Orleans faithful loved every minute of the match...until the finish. Oh, well, the Nasty Boys aren’t pretty, and neither are their victories.

Backstage, Bischoff Texas Ranger interviews Sid with Parker. Only notable portion is Sid’s referring to himself as “psycho Sid.” That would prove prophetic in Blackburn mere days afterward.

Who will be deemed the “Franchise” of WCW?

Shut up, Shane, you’re late for work at Target.
Regardless, Sid missed a clothesline, so Sting slammed him.
As he clotheslined Sid, Sting followed with another one while Sid was on the apron.
He then suplexed Sid back into the ring, but Sid sought refuge on the other side of the ring.
When Sting joined him, he knocked Sid right into the front row!
They then battled among the New Orleans faithful until Sting straddled Sid across the steel railing.
Back in the ring, Sting mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered a third clothesline for 2.
Parker then distracted Sting, and Sid took advantage by chokeslamming Sting.
While Sid distracted referee Nick Patrick, Parker choked Sting with his handkerchief. Devious!
Sid then finally used a second wrestling maneuver by hitting a sidewalk slam.
After more chicanery by Parker, Sting chased after him only to receive a double axe handle from the apron by Sid.
Parker then distracted Patrick so that Sid could SMASH a chair into Sting’s back. OUCH!
As he guillotined Sting with the steel railing, Sid shoved him back into the ring.
While the New Orleans faithful chanted “Sid,” their hero powerslammed Sting for 2.
He then applied a bear hug, but Sting rang his bell to escape.
When Sid reapplied it, Sting escaped and rammed Sid’s head into the mat repeatedly.
He then face-planted Sid and followed with a Stinger splash.
After he gave Sid a cross corner whip, Sting delivered a second Stinger splash.
He then nailed Parker on the apron before Parker mistakenly grabbed Sid’s leg to trip him.
As Sting only got 2, a perplexed Sid stared down Parker.
Sid then pulled Parker up to the apron, but Sting rolled up Sid.
1-2-3.
Sting won.

Summary: Truly Sid knew how to drag a wrestler down to his level. Seeds of a face turn were planted here, but what will happen going forward? Meanwhile, Sting became the “Franchise” of WCW.

After the match, Sid confronts Parker but walks away from him rather than turn babyface.

Back in the locker room, Race warms up Vader as Cactus stews while holding his bag elsewhere backstage. Cactus then menacingly screams “you can’t hurt Cactus Jack.”

Match 7 for the WCW International World title: “Ravishing” Rick Rude (champion) versus “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (w/ Fifi)

Terry Taylor was the second referee and stood outside the ring.
Lest we forget, Buffer rumbled.
Flair backdropped Rude, gave him a cross corner whip, and delivered a delayed vertical suplex for 1.
When he gave Rude another cross corner whip, Flair followed with a corner clothesline.
A third cross corner whip by Flair, however, resulted in his eating Rude’s knees during his follow-through.
As Rude mounted the top turnbuckle, he missed a knee drop.
Flair then hit a knee crusher and applied a figure-four leg lock.
Do we have a new champion?
While the New Orleans faithful chanted “Whoop, there it is,” Rude barely escaped by grabbing the bottom rope. Therefore, the answer is...not yet at least.
After Flair rammed Rude’s leg against the ring post twice, he clipped Rude’s knee.
Rude then used momentum (and the tights) to toss Flair to the floor.
When Flair re-entered the ring via sunset flip, Rude grabbed the second rope.
Taylor then released Rude’s grip, and Flair took Rude down for 2.
As Flair hit a cross body block, both wrestlers spilled over the top rope, and Rude took out the producer’s chair on his way down.
While Ventura referred to Taylor as a “load,” Flair mounted the top turnbuckle and nailed Rude with an axe handle on the floor.
Flair then made a second attempt from the top turnbuckle but ate a shot to the midsection instead.
After Rude grabbed the chair he landed on earlier, Taylor snatched it away from him.
Rude then blocked a shot to the steel railing and made Flair taste it. It must have tasted like the Avenger at Buffa’s.
When Rude guillotined him with the top rope, he delivered a backbreaker for a 1-count.
He then gyrated at Fifi, mounted the top turnbuckle, and hit his own axe handle for 2.
In the process, he further injured his left knee.
He then gave Flair a cross corner whip that resulted in a Flair flip and a downed cameraman.
As Flair ate a clothesline on the apron, Rude suplexed him back into the ring.
He then mounted an adjacent top turnbuckle and delivered a second axe handle for another 2.
After Rude gave him a cross corner whip, he clotheslined Flair but couldn’t get 3.
He then applied a bear hug, and the New Orleans faithful chanted “go Flair, go.” Some of them MUST be from Texas.
When Rude took him down to the mat, he earned a series of 2-counts.
He then rammed Flair face-first into the mat yet couldn’t pin him.
As Flair rebounded with a sleeper, Rude SQUISHED him in the corner to escape.
Rude then mounted the opposite top turnbuckle, leaped, but Flair evaded him.
After Flair hit a Rude Awakening, he got 2.
He then hooked a backslide for another 2.
When he suplexed Rude, Flair mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate boot.
Rude then reversed a cross corner whip sending Flair directly into referee Randy Anderson.
As he clotheslined Flair, Rude earned a false count.
Taylor then substituted for Anderson, but Flair shoved Rude into him.
After Rude missed a shot with a foreign object, Flair hit a belly-to-back suplex.
For some unknown reason, a production staff member grabbed the foreign object and put it in the corner.
Flair then retrieved it and OBLITERATED Rude.
When Taylor counted to 2, Anderson stopped him and raised Rude’s arm.
Rude won by DQ and retained.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Summary: Unlike their match at Fall Brawl ‘93, the pace was much better, yet the finish stunk on Melba toast.

After the match, the New Orleans faithful rightfully serenades the decision with a “BULLSHIT” chant. Flair then grabs the belt and holds it overhead to comfort them. Nevertheless, Rude manhandles Fifi on the ramp until Flair stops and hooks him in another figure-four leg lock. Anderson and Taylor separate them, and Rude flees with his belt.

Match 8 (Texas death match/non-title): WCW World champion Vader (w/ Harley Race) versus Cactus Jack

In a nutshell, here’s the reason this match was booked:

The match began on the ramp, and within seconds, Vader removed his head gear. He meant business!
As he leaned Cactus against the ring post, Vader tried to nail him but HIT THE POLE instead.
Cactus then rammed Vader’s left hand on the steel railing and a chair into Vader’s midsection.
When he grabbed a camera from a member of the front row, Cactus CRACKED it against Vader’s skull.

He then CROWNED Vader with a chair to the head and tossed him into the ring.
With Vader in the corner, Cactus charged but ate boot.
Vader then clotheslined the bejeezus out of Cactus and nailed him sending him to the ramp. As you might expect, Cactus was BUSTED OPEN.
While Vader attempted to suplex him back into the ring, Cactus blocked it and suplexed Vader on the ramp.
He then delivered a belly-to-back suplex to Vader on the ramp, stopped a chair-wielding Race in his tracks, and hammered the former eight-time champion.
After Cactus BRAINED Vader with another chair shot, he CLOBBERED Vader’s back with it.
They then brawled into a hole on the stage, and Cactus emerged first.
As Vader finally emerged, he was BUSTED OPEN too.

Cactus then clotheslined and pinned him.
Upon receiving a thirty-second rest period, Vader got up at 3 only to get DESTROYED by a cactus prop.
With Vader prone on the concrete floor, Cactus delivered a Cactus elbow.
He then pinned Vader again, but Vader stood on his feet at 5.
When Cactus rammed him face-first into the steps, he heaved a table into the ring.
To ensure safety, referee Nick Patrick flipped the table around, and Ventura berated him for it.
Cactus then reversed a cross corner whip sending Vader directly into the table.
Though Vader weighed in excess of 400 pounds, the table didn’t break. Amazing!
Cactus then got 2.
After he BELTED Vader in the face with the table, Cactus attempted a sunset flip from the apron to the floor.
On the other hand, Vader attempted to SQUISH him but came up empty.
Cactus then hung Vader out to dry on the steel railing, charged at him, and flipped over the steel railing onto the concrete floor.
As Vader backdropped him over the steel railing, he POUNDED Cactus with a chair.
Suddenly, Race pulled a taser out and pushed the cameraman away.
Back in the ring, Vader slammed Cactus before mounting the top turnbuckle.
He then delivered a moonsault and pinned Cactus.

When Cactus got up at 3, Vader tossed him onto the ramp.
Cactus then jumped onto Vader’s back, but Vader fell back SQUISHING Cactus.

After he THUMPED Cactus with a chair shot, Vader hit a DDT on the chair.
While medical personnel checked on Cactus, Vader shooed them away and pinned Cactus.
During the rest period, Cactus delivered his own DDT on the chair.
With both wrestlers down and Patrick counting, Race used the taser on Cactus’ leg. Evil!

Patrick then noticed that Cactus didn’t answer the 10-count and declared Vader the winner.

Summary: There are very few matches where I alter my judgment for a rating, and this is one of them. Despite the lack of actual wrestling in the match, Cactus and Vader put on a clinic on how two people beat one another to a bloody pulp. Kudos, gentlemen!

Conclusion: Despite a show with an abundance of terrible finishes, excitement is contained within it. If you’ve never seen Vader-Cactus before, put the kiddies to bed and witness their destructive bloodbath. Trust me, WCW never rebroadcasted the match due to the amount of sheer violence, so it’ll be worth your while.