WELCOME TO ROCK STAR GARY REFLECTIONS!

Live from St. Petersburg, FL

Airdate: May 21, 1995

Attendance: 7,000

Hosted by Tony Schiavone Eric Bischoff and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

Eric is subbing for Tony as neck surgery claimed the latter for this show. “Mean” Gene Okerlund joins Eric and Bobby, and they discuss Road Warrior Hawk and Meng mixing it up on Main Event prior to the telecast.

Back on 4/15 (taped 4/4) Ric Flair was reinstated to WCW by a 3-2 vote. Therefore, instead of being either a member of the crowd or a manager he will participate as a wrestler in the main event. About time.

A video package on Harlem Heat is shown.

Match 1 for the WCW World Tag Team titles: Harlem Heat (champions w/ Sister Sherri) versus the Nasty Boys

Highlights:

Rating: ***

Summary: Great little tag team match here. Both teams brought the goods and the finish blew the roof off the Bayfront Center.

After the match Regal and Eaton clad in suits come out to observe the new title holders. I believe Eaton was replacing Jean-Paul Levesque as a member of the Blue Bloods due to Levesque’s departure to the WWF. I wonder whatever happened to him.

The Nasty Boys then join Bischoff at the announcer’s desk and cut a promo on the Blue Bloods.

Backstage Gene interviews Kevin Sullivan. He cuts a promo on the man formerly known as Butcher.

Match 2: Kevin Sullivan versus the Man with No Name

Highlights:

Rating: *

Summary: One mistake by TMWNN and it was over. Bookerman wins again. Nothing to see here. Move along.

After the match King Curtis (not named as of yet) appears on the video wall calling for Sullivan to come forth. Sullivan then makes his way through the crowd.

Backstage Gene interviews “Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart. Shortly thereafter Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage make their presence felt. Randy is excited that his father, Angelo Poffo, will be inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame. A Slim Jim reference occurs in this extended promo.

A short clip of Angelo Poffo is then shown.

Match 3 (Legends): “Chief” Wahoo McDaniel versus “Dirty” Dick Murdoch(/p>

Highlights:

Rating: *

Summary: Although I offer no disrespect to the dead a throwback to the 70s match was not something this show needed.

Backstage Gene interviews Big Bubba Rogers. He touts his victory against Sting at Uncensored.

Match 4 for the IWGP World title: The Great Muta (champion) versus “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff

Highlights:

Rating: ***

Summary: In spite of Orndorff’s mat work Muta’s high-flying saves this match.

Video package highlighting Arn Anderson and the still undefeated Alex Wright.

Backstage Gene interviews Anderson, Ric Flair, and Vader.

A short clip of Terry Funk is then shown.

Match 5 for the WCW World TV title: “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson (champion) versus “Das Wunderkind” Alex Wright

Highlights:

Rating: ***

Summary: While Wright got to show some great aerial maneuvers it was Arn’s veteran knowledge that earned him the victory. Additionally you could hear a pin drop in the Bayfront Center so the end of the Alex Wright push made perfect sense. This marks the first blemish on Wright’s record.

If I can add one more thing by 1995 the clean-cut babyface just didn’t sell tickets anymore. WCW had to learn this the hard way. Since Arn Anderson was on the booking committee he got a first-hand look at how the crowd didn’t support Wright.

As confirmation to what I was saying after the bell rung the crowd not only cheers the DDT but also the Anderson victory. I wonder who Arn’s next challenger will be.

Match 6: Meng (w/ Colonel Parker) versus Road Warrior Hawk

Highlights:

Rating: *

Summary: While this was a surprise, it was no bonus.

After the match a gaggle of wrestlers with Doug Dellinger separate Hawk from Meng.

Gordon Solie conducts the Hall of Fame induction.

  1. “Chief” Wahoo McDaniel
  2. Terry Funk
  3. Angelo Poffo (much to Solie’s chagrin.)
  4. Antonio Inoki. (Gordon touts Inoki’s victory a few weeks ago in North Korea. Inoki’s interpreter reads Inoki’s acceptance speech.)
  5. The late Big John Studd (His son, Robert, accepts on his behalf.)
  6. “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes. (Cody and his sister accompany their father.)
  7. Dusty then inducts Gordon Solie who is utterly surprised.

Backstage Gene interviews Sting. He paints a different picture than what transpired at Uncensored.

Match 7 (Lights Out): Sting versus Big Bubba Rogers

Highlights:

Rating: **

Summary: Very short and not very convincing blow-off match for this feud. I hope Sting finds a better opponent for the Bash.

A video package on the Monster Maniacs main event is shown.

Match 8: WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage (w/ Jimmy Hart and the Renegade) versus Vader and “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (w/ Arn Anderson)

Highlights:

Rating: **1/2

Summary: Vader was the catalyst in this match as the other three men had a punch and kick fest.

After the match Flair, Vader, and Arn attack the Monster Maniacs and the Renegade. Arn sends Jimmy Hart flying over the top rope. Angelo Poffo hops the steel railing and enters the ring as Flair and Arn put the boots to Savage. After acquiescing to Poffo, Arn grabs his arms as they double-team him. Flair then applies the figure-four leg lock to him. Hogan and Renegade then come to his rescue.

Savage pleads for an ambulance for his father as the show goes off the air.

Conclusion: As you can now see the Angelo Poffo involvement in the Hall of Fame was merely a setup for his involvement in the main event. There will be more to this story at the Great American Bash. Interestingly neither did they hype the next PPV show nor the hotline.

Three undercard matches reached the *** plateau making this show watchable. However, I am clamoring for a great wrestling match in WCW soon. The opening tag title, IWGP title, and the TV title matches are those that I would seek out. Skip the rest and save it for the Great American Bash.

See you there!

Buyrate: 0.57

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

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