WELCOME TO ROCK STAR GARY REFLECTIONS!

Live from Albany, GA

Airdate: February 20, 1994

Attendance: 7,600 (4,217 paid)

Hosted by Tony Schiavone and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

The opening of the show lists three title matches along with two cage matches. “Nature Boy” Ric Flair is shown working out and jogging through the steps of the arena. In spite of living the “Naitch” lifestyle you can’t fault Flair for lack of endurance during his career.

Schiavone and Heenan preview the main event noting that the Boss will be the special guest referee. They then show highlights of Michael P.S. Hayes turning on Johnny B. Badd.

Match 1: Johnny B. Badd versus Michael P.S. Hayes (w/ Jimmy “Jam” Garvin)

Highlights:

Rating: NONE

REAL match 1: Harlem Heat versus Thunder and Lightning

Highlights:

Rating: **

Summary: I must say that Jeff Farmer impressed me here; however, the match was a standard tag team affair with a predictable outcome.

Okerlund is outside Flair’s dressing room. Plenty of security is shown in the hallway.

Match 2: The Equalizer versus “Jungle” Jim Steele

Highlights:

Rating: DUD

You know when you introduce someone who is oblivious to pro wrestling a great match like Flair/Steamboat from 1989 in order to pique their interest? Well, this match would be the polar opposite of that. Please don’t show this match to any aspiring wrestling fan EVER. You have been notified. Moving along…

Call the hotline to listen to Gordon Solie and Larry Zbyszko. Meanwhile Bockwinkel and Steamboat join Okerlund on stage to discuss the #1 contender for the WCW World title.

Match 3: Diamond Dallas Page (w/ a Diamond doll) versus Terry Taylor

Highlights:

Rating: *1/2

Summary: At this stage in his career Page was still learning to be a pro wrestler. His moves were not crisp, but Taylor was a great veteran to assist in Page’s ring education.

Okerlund interviews the German broadcaster for WCW International Olivier Muffler. Pass the Weihenstephaner please!

WCW Spring Stampede is on April 17 from Chicago.

Match 4: Jimmy “Jam” Garvin (w/ Michael P.S. Hayes) versus Johnny B. Badd

Highlights:

Rating: *

Summary:If you want to try a cure for insomnia, watch this match. It didn’t get exciting whatsoever until the finish which was basic wrestling 101. I understand Garvin was not a regular wrestler at this point in time; however, perhaps a young buck from the Power Plant may have wrestled a better match than he did here.

After the match Badd sees Hayes in the wheelchair and goes after him. Garvin catches him with a knee to the back and throws him back into the ring. Hayes throws his boot, and Garvin nails Badd with it. He then gave Badd a jawbreaker (early variation of the Stone Cold Stunner possibly?) Tony calls the move “the 911.” The aftermath was more exciting than the match.

Okerlund is backstage and tries to enter Vader’s dressing room. Inside Vader is tossing around a steel chair before denying Gene an interview.

Match 5 for the WCW World TV title: Lord Steven Regal (champion w/ Sir William) versus “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson

Highlights:

Rating: ***

Summary: Great technical match between these two wrestlers. Despite the methodical pace the psychology worked very well. Anderson made Regal look excellent here. The push continues.

They show the ending to the match at the Clash between the two teams. In an attempt to pick a winner “The Brain” makes a good point. None of them “knows how to wrestle. They know how to fight.” Tony is beside himself after that comment.

Match 6 for the WCW World Tag Team titles: The Nasty Boys (champions w/o Missy Hyatt) versus Cactus Jack and Maxx Payne

Highlights:

Rating: ***

Summary: The wrestling maneuvers by Payne shocked me until he hurt Knobbs with that last suplex. These teams have good chemistry. I hope to see more matches in the future between them.

Okerlund is back in the dressing room shilling the hotline. He then interviews Flair and Steamboat. Okerlund name drops Hogan’s name. Flair states that a match between him and Hogan would be legendary. Hmmm…I wonder what Bischoff has cooking here. Arn Anderson joins the group and offers words of encouragement to Flair.

The lights go out. The fireworks explode. The cage is lowered. Let’s get brutal!

Match 7 Thundercage: “Stunning” Steve Austin, “Ravishing” Rick Rude, and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff (w/ Colonel Parker) versus Sting, “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes, and “Flyin’” Brian Pillman

<>Highlights:

<>Rating: ****

Summary: What a great cage match! The fans were into it. The blood was flowing. A fine wrap-up of the Hollywood Blonds feud occurred. What else can happen here?

After the match head of security Doug Dillinger unlocked the cage. Immediately thereafter, Rude rammed the cage door right into Sting’s face. He then gave Sting a Rude Awakening. Wow! Give that match an extra ½ star for building a high-profile feud as well.

Highlights from the previous Clash are shown. A clip from WCW Saturday Night(1/29/94) is shown where Bockwinkel postpones the World title match at SuperBrawl and Vader interrupts.

WCW Saturday Night (2/5/94) Harley Race disturbs a Steamboat squash while Vader (in street clothes) manhandles him. In the next video Bockwinkel on-screen talks with Flair over the phone. Flair begs to fight Vader at SuperBrawl. Later in the show Bockwinkel announces that if Flair can provide a doctor’s release by 2/7 the title match at SuperBrawl will be reinstated. Flair decries that he will fax the medical release ASAP. Regardless he states that he will be at SuperBrawl.

On WCW Saturday Night (2/12/94) Bockwinkel announces that the match is reinstated. He also decries that a special guest referee will be appointed. That referee will be the Boss!

Match 8 for the WCW World title: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair versus Vader (w/ Harley Race)

Highlights:

Rating: ***1/2

Summary:Great brawl marred by a weak finish. Since Vader and the Boss will begin feuding the ending made sense albeit being a very sports-entertainment finish rather than another job by Vader.

After the match Vader screams at Tony and Bobby for justice. I don’t blame him.

Conclusion:The first hour is extremely forgettable. The only interesting part is Heenan’s commentary. Take a pass on that part of the show as well as the guacamole.

If you skip the first hour of the show then it’s an enjoyable show. The mat wrestling between Anderson and Regal was really good. The finish of the tag title match ensured there would be more fights between the Nasty Boys/Payne-Jack. The first Thundercage match is excellent.

But as far as the main event is concerned I understand that a change in World title contenders had to happen. But they didn’t have to make Vader look terrible with that finish. If you’ve never seen this show, please heed my advice and watch the last 90 minutes.

See you at Spring Stampede!

Buyrate: 0.50

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

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