WELCOME TO ROCK STAR GARY REFLECTIONS!

Live from Tupelo, MS

Airdate: March 19, 1995

Attendance: 5,782 (4,900 paid)

Hosted by Tony Schiavone and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

So the March-April PPV calendar for wrestling was mainly reserved for the WWF and its annual WrestleMania card. In its continuing effort to compete with the WWF, WCW took a chance creating this unique PPV. Let’s see what happened at this inaugural event. While title holders competed, no titles were defended. “Iron” Mike Tenay joins Tony and Bobby to open the show. They mention a newcomer named the Renegade who will be in Hulk Hogan’s corner.

As a bait-and-switch tactic WCW teased an “ultimate surprise” making the fans believe that the Ultimate Warrior was signed by WCW. However, the Renegade was WCW’s response as he resembled the Ultimate Warrior and was dressed similarly.

Match 1 King of the Road: “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes versus the Blacktop Bully

Highlights:

Rating: *

Summary: Excellent idea in theory, terrible in execution. The unfortunate outcome I mentioned earlier deals with the blading within the match. To me it didn’t look blatant but it was still there. With that being said not only was both Dustin Rhodes and the Blacktop Bully FIRED for this but also Mike Graham for suggesting the idea. Rhodes would resurface later in the year in the WWF as Goldust.

Back in the dressing room Tenay interviews Colonel Parker, Arn Anderson, and Meng.

A video package set up the Meng-Duggan match.

Match 2 Martial Arts: “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan versus Meng (w/ Colonel Parker)

Highlights:

  • Sonny Onoo was the special guest referee. WCW and NJPW had a working agreement which allowed Onoo to work in the US while WCW wrestlers worked in Japan.
  • Duggan refused to bow initially but eventually did. For his compliance he received a kick from Meng.
  • While Meng used chops and thrusts Duggan only used fists. I smell a mismatch.
  • Duggan removed his boot but only got a couple of shots in.
  • As soon as Duggan removed his other boot Meng applied the nerve hold.
  • Nerve hold by Meng wasted a lot of time.
  • Head butt by Duggan had the opposite effect as Duggan went down instead.
  • While Meng distracted Onoo, Parker choked Duggan on the apron with his handkerchief.
  • Meng missed a pair of elbow drops.
  • Duggan tried to toss Onoo out of the ring until Meng stopped him.
  • Three-point clothesline from Duggan, but Meng got right up!
  • Parker got on the apron and ate a Duggan right hand.
  • After a couple of lefts from Duggan to Parker, Onoo grabbed and held Duggan’s left arm leaving him defenseless.
  • Meng took advantage by levelling him with a savate kick and got the pin.
  • Rating: DUD

    Summary: If you want to teach your kid some martial arts DON’T LET THEM WATCH THIS MATCH! Next!

    Back in the locker room Tenay interviews Johnny B. Badd and his trainer Rock Finnegan.

    A video package showcasing Arn Anderson is shown. Arn was always a great interview and his spinebuster was awesome.

    Match 3 Boxer versus Wrestler: “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson (w/ Colonel Parker) versus Johnny B. Badd

    Highlights:

    Rating: *

    Summary: A stark contrast in styles made this “match” mostly awful.

    Video package on Savage followed by an interview backstage with Tenay.

    Match 4: “Macho Man” Randy Savage versus Avalanche

    Highlights:

    Rating: **1/2

    Summary: Good match and better than I expected it to be. Hopefully Flair and Savage can rekindle their feud from 1992 going forward. Well, you can’t say Flair doesn’t go all out when it comes to anything. On top of dressing like a woman he even wore makeup.

    Backstage Tenay interviews Harlem Heat with Sister Sherri.

    Video package on Big Bubba Rogers.

    Back in the locker room Tenay interviews Sting.

    Match 5: Sting versus Big Bubba Rogers

    Highlights:

    Rating: **1/2

    Summary: Great psychology that factored into the incredibly unexpected finish. A couple of botches kept this from being rated higher.

    Tony shills Slamboree ’95 on May 21.

    Video package on the Harlem Heat-Nasty Boys rivalry followed by an interview conducted by Tenay of the Nasty Boys.

    Match 6 Falls Count Anywhere Texas Tornado: The Nasty Boys versus Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri)

    Highlights:

    Rating: *1/2

    Summary: Before hardcore wrestling (e.g. ECW) became popular this type of match was its template. Although the matches between the Nasty Boys and Sullivan/Cactus Jack/Maxx Payne were infinitely better than this one at least it was somewhat entertaining.

    Tenay interviews Vader…oh, wait…Vader steals the microphone from him and cuts a promo on Hogan. Flair sans dress but still wearing makeup cuts his own promo on Hogan. God bless Flair. He even painted his fingernails.

    Next we get a recap of the feud between Hogan and Vader. The brief aftermath of SuperBrawl is shown then during an interview on WCW Saturday Night on 2/25 (taped 2/22) Hogan ran out with a leather strap towards Vader, Flair, and Bockwinkel. Following that we see a match between Vader and the Patriot on 3/4 (taped 2/22). After a Vader powerbomb Hogan ran in with the strap and beat up Vader. Following that is a promo from 3/18 where Hogan announces his “ultimate surprise.”

    Match 7 Leather Strap: WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan (w/ the Renegade) versus Vader (w/ Ric Flair)

    Highlights:

  • Buffer rumbled.
  • Harley Race could no longer manage Vader due to a hip replacement he underwent in January caused by a car accident. While still in retirement Flair wearing a t-shirt and khakis seconded Vader.
  • All show long Tony and Bobby questioned the whereabouts of Jimmy Hart.
  • Renegade appeared to be MIA as well until…
  • Hard rock music played the Renegade to the ring. Gee, this guy didn’t have big shoes to fill, did he?
  • Renegade subdued Flair as Hogan and Vader fought at ringside.
  • Vader was the first victim of the strap.
  • Unfortunately Flair was the second victim.
  • Flair chopped Renegade, but the Warrior clone no-sold it and chased him down the entranceway.
  • Vader tried to take a powder but Renegade tossed him back in.
  • Running body block by Vader.
  • Make that 2.
  • Vader bomb.
  • After Vader whipped Hogan with the strap Jimmy Hart emerged with his clothes torn.
  • By this point Hogan wasn’t wearing the strap.
  • Vader attempted to level Hogan with a chair, but Hart stopped him.
  • The Hart distraction allowed Hogan to give Vader a chair shot.
  • Make that 2.
  • Make that 3.
  • And a running chair shot made that 4.
  • Hogan then reattached the strap.
  • Another chair shot by Hogan.
  • Hogan pulled the strap causing Vader to hit the ring post. OUCH!
  • Make that twice.
  • Make that thrice.
  • Another chair shot by Hogan.
  • With Hogan and Vader on the floor Flair and Renegade occupied the ring.
  • Much to his chagrin Flair tried a shoulder block and hit the canvas himself.
  • Hogan tossed Vader over the top rope to the floor. By proxy he had to follow him.
  • He then slammed Vader on the floor.
  • Hogan tried to drag Vader around the ring in order to touch all four corners.
  • Before Hogan could drag Vader to the third corner Vader used momentum to make Hogan eat the steel railing. Appropriately it tasted like the smashburger at the Neon Pig.
  • Make that twice. Must’ve been a big burger.
  • Back in the ring Vader gave Hogan a chokeslam.
  • Splash by Vader.
  • Vertical suplex by Vader.
  • Hogan no-sold it.
  • Big boot.
  • Leg drop.
  • After Hogan touched three corners on his way to victory a masked man ran in and delivered a chair shot to the Renegade.
  • Flair then entered the ring and nailed Hogan with a balsa wood chair.
  • Seeing the Renegade get up Flair went outside the ring and walloped him with the balsa wood chair splintering it.
  • As Vader hit the third corner Flair made Renegade eat the steel railing. Tasted like the Apalachicola oysters at Kermit’s Outlaw Kitchen.
  • Before Vader can touch the fourth corner Flair convinced him to splash Hogan with the balsa wood chair underneath him. Vader mounted the second turnbuckle, tumbled, and missed.
  • After Flair dragged Vader out of the ring he obtained a second balsa wood chair (is Tupelo known for these?) and hammered Hogan with it. The chair disintegrated upon impact.
  • Hulk-up time!
  • Flair received a lashing then the big boot.
  • Hogan then hooked Flair with the strap and touched all four corners to win the match?
  • How is that legal?
  • Rating: *1/2

    Summary: OK, who booked this? If Hogan didn’t want to job during the previous month to a powerbomb then a gimmick match where Hogan didn’t have to lie down would have been the optimal place where Hogan jobs, right? Nope, not even in a NON-TITLE match. Pure speculation on my part believes that Hogan got wind that Diesel wasn’t jobbing his title at WrestleMania; therefore Hogan needed to look strong too. Oh, and Vader couldn’t look weak, so let’s make Flair look stupid, OK? Methinks the Hogan experiment in WCW isn’t working as well booking-wise as it is money-wise.

    After the match Vader gives Hogan a running body block followed by an elbow drop to the back. Both men try to double-team Hogan, but a double clothesline by Hogan ends that threat. Renegade wields a chair and enters the ring to cause a stalemate. Another masked man runs in with a chair and stands by Flair and Vader.

    Meanwhile Arn Anderson in masked man attire is bound and gagged, but makes his way down the aisle. The masked man in the ring then nails Vader and Flair. He unmasks to reveal himself as…”Macho Man” Randy Savage!

    Conclusion: Can you say concept show, boys and girls? That’s what this crappy show was. Almost inexplicably this terrible show garnered a good buyrate. Ric Flair, ever the model WCW employee, bent over backwards to assist Hogan in getting over with the WCW crowd. In my eyes he was just abused. Dressed in drag and forced to be an active participant (and take the loss) in the main event despite not being Hogan’s antagonist? Shenanigans, I tell ya. If I can say anything good about this show it’s that Sting and Savage brought the goods, and that Badd-Anderson match was somewhat better than the Mr. T-Piper match back at WM II. If you’ve never seen this show be forewarned that no great matches exist within; otherwise, skip it!

    See you at Slamboree!

    Buyrate: 0.96

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

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