WCW World War III 1996

Hosted by Tony Schiavone, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes

Match 1 for the J-Crown Championship: Ultimo Dragon (champion w/ Sonny Onoo) versus Rey Mysterio, Jr.

This match took place in ring #1.
After escaping an arm bar, Mysterio delivered a knee breaker. Could that be a nod to a current no-show at WWF events--Mr. Perfect?
Upon slamming Mysterio, Dragon delivered an elbow drop for 2.
They then displayed some amazing athleticism before Dragon unleashed several kicks to Mysterio.
Speaking of Mysterio, he reversed a cross-corner whip, but Dragon vaulted him to the apron and delivered a springboard dropkick sending Mysterio to the floor.
While Dragon distracted referee Mark Curtis, Onoo put the shoes to Mysterio.
As Mysterio escaped a vertical suplex back into the ring, Dragon countered with a German suplex with a bridge for 2.
Upon face-planting Mysterio, Dragon delivered the Atlantida (spinning kneeling backbreaker drop).
He then gave Mysterio a standard backbreaker followed by a single-leg crab.
After powerbombing Mysterio, Dragon held on and delivered a stungun for 2. Impressive!
He then gave Mysterio a Dominator followed by a giant swing making both wrestlers dizzy.
Next, Dragon delivered a muscle buster for 2. Down in southern California, a young Samoa Joe thought that might be a great finisher someday.

Upon giving Mysterio a brainbuster, Dragon got another 2.
Afterward, he attempted a vertical suplex, but Mysterio countered with an inside cradle.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
To punish Mysterio for even thinking about beating him, Dragon delivered a tombstone piledriver for 2. Vicious!
After a dropkick sent Mysterio to the floor, Dragon leaped to the floor and rammed him back-first into the steel railing.
He then gave Mysterio a tombstone piledriver on the floor. GET OUT THE SPATULA!
Taking advantage of a downed Mysterio, Dragon returned to the ring and delivered a springboard splash ON THE FLOOR! I hope PAM was sprayed on the mats; otherwise, parts of Mysterio may be left behind after scraping him from them.

Back in the ring, Dragon placed Mysterio on the top turnbuckle and gave him a superhuracanrana.
Pin him! He’s toast!
1-2-NO! What?
After a running powerbomb, Dragon almost got 3.
He then gave Mysterio a cross-corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Upon giving Dragon a mule kick, Mysterio delivered a spinning heel kick.
He then delivered a double rope springboard splash but only grazed Dragon who was out of position. I’ll give him an A for effort anyway.
While that got 2, Mysterio gave Dragon a springboard dropkick sending him to the floor.
He then delivered a springboard somersault plancha. Wow!
Back in the ring, Mysterio tried a springboard sunset flip but only got 2.
Dragon came back with a somersault rollup and got 2.
Mysterio then used a cartwheel jump to land on Dragon’s shoulders. From there, he delivered the West Coast Pop, but only got 2.
Again, Dragon returned fire by hooking a dragon suplex for 2.
Mysterio then countered another powerbomb attempt with a sunset flip for 2.
He then attempted the West Coast Pop again, but Dragon countered with a slingshot powerbomb.
1-2-3.
Dragon retained. Awesome!

Summary: What an opener! Mysterio’s taking a shit-kicking combined with his heroic/underdog comeback falling short told a great story. Dragon’s move repertoire was truly on display here.

Back in the locker room, “Mean” Gene Okerlund shills wcwwrestling.com rather than the hotline. He then interviews DDP about his being recruited by the nWo. DDP categorically refutes any ties to his “next-door neighbor” Eric Bischoff. After that, he states that he’ll win World War III citing his Battlebowl victory.

Match 2: “Lionheart” Chris Jericho (w/ Teddy Long) versus referee Nick Patrick

This match took place in ring #2.
In order to make the match “fair,” Jericho had one arm tied behind his back.
You can’t fault Patrick for trying to elicit a heel reaction here because he came out wearing a black robe, sunglasses, and his customary neck brace.
After Patrick shoved Jericho, the latter shoved him down into the corner with one arm.
Upon delivering a leg sweep, Jericho hip-tossed a charging Patrick.
Patrick then sought refuge outside the ring.
As Jericho started a “Patrick sucks” chant,he won a test of strength then gave a flailing Patrick a series of kicks.
After receiving another hip toss, Patrick again escaped the ring. When Long got in his face, Patrick shoved him.
Before referee Scott Dickenson could admonish him, Long shoved him back.
Back in the ring, Jericho clotheslined Patrick.
Once again, Patrick left the ring, but Jericho leaped from the apron and gave him an elbow on the way down.
Patrick came back by ramming Jericho back-first into a pair of ring posts.
Upon charging Jericho, Patrick came up empty.
Jericho then tried to nail him but hit ring post instead. OUCH!
Back in the ring, Patrick gave Jericho a somersault neck snap. That was another toast to the no-showing Mr. Perfect, I believe.
Patrick then reversed a cross-corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Jericho then gave Patrick the ten-top-turnbuckle count-along.
After receiving a back drop, Patrick delivered a forearm shot then mounted the top turnbuckle.
As you’d expect, Jericho caught and slammed him down to the mat.
Jericho then delivered the superkick for the pin.

Summary: For those that didn’t care about the Patrick angle, this was the popcorn match. For those that wanted to see him get his comeuppance, you certainly got your money’s worth.

Backstage, Marcus Bagwell was chatting on the WCW web site. Let’s hope he wasn’t discussing his “stuff.”

Meanwhile, at the entrance, Okerlund interviews “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. There is no doubt that the Norfolk faithful love the Nature Boy.

Giant wore the US title belt to the ring despite not being champion.
Speaking of not being champion, Tony mentioned that Flair has been stripped of the title due to not being able to defend it within 30 days.
This match took place in ring #3.
After Jarrett tried, on different attempts, to give the Giant the ten-punch count-along, Giant clotheslined him.
He then gave Jarrett a cross-corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Jarrett responded with a corner clothesline.
After a dropkick, Jarrett charged again but ate boot.
Giant then slammed Jarrett and delivered an elbow drop.
As Tony noted that Giant played a role in the movie Jingle All The Way, Giant made a paw imprint on Jarrett’s chest with a chop.
After Giant gave Jarrett a HARD cross corner whip, he followed with a boot choke.
In the meantime, up in the rafters, Sting meandered to the Norfolk faithful’s delight.
In the ring, Giant delivered the big boot to Jarrett then delivered a leg drop. Can you tell he’s a fan of Hogan?
As Giant gave Jarrett a backbreaker, Sting made his way through the crowd to the ring.
Giant then mounted the second turnbuckle but missed a Vader bomb.
Jarrett then mounted the top turnbuckle, hit a flying body press, and got 2. Giant’s kick-out sent Jarrett FLYING over referee Randy Anderson.
Giant then tried to clothesline Jarrett but spilled over the top rope to the floor instead.
As Anderson exercised a ten-count on Giant, Sting entered the ring and delivered the Scorpion death drop to Jarrett. To say the Norfolk faithful erupted would be a colossal understatement.

As Jarrett got to his feet, Giant chokeslammed him.
1-2-3.

It’s time for the contract signing! Piper, with contract in hand, makes his way to ring #2 and calls out Hogan. Instead, Bischoff (wearing an nWo t-shirt), DiBiase, and Vincent come to the ring. According to Bischoff, Hogan provided Bischoff power-of-attorney to sign the contract. I smell shenanigans. Before Piper speaks to Bischoff, he dismisses Vincent (“I taught you how to fight, so get out of my way”).

He then challenges Hogan to a match at Starrcade and doesn’t want any disqualifications or count-outs for the match. After an eternity, Hogan comes out with the rest of the nWo. When Hogan gets to the ring, a healthy “Hogan sucks” chant emanates from the Norfolk faithful. As Hogan yells “show ‘em the hip,” Syxx uses a handheld camera. Hogan then reveals Piper’s scar from his hip replacement.

As Hogan continues to belittle Piper, he signs the contract. When Piper attacks Hogan, the nWo hold him so that Hogan can nail him. While the nWo keeps Piper at bay, Hogan WALLOPS him in his replaced hip. To further humiliate Piper, Hogan sprays “nWo” on his leg then spits on him. As Piper picks himself up, he tells Hogan “no retreat, no surrender” for Starrcade. Aren’t you ready to buy the PPV after that?

Match 4: Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri) versus the Amazing French Canadians (w/ Col. Parker)

Stipulations of this match: If the Amazing French Canadians lose, then Sherri will get five minutes with Parker.
This match took place in ring #1.
After both teams made their entrance, the Amazing French Canadians butchered the Canadian national anthem.
Upon receiving a shoulder block from Booker T, Jacques nipped up and dropkicked him.
In response, Booker T nipped up and kicked Jacques in the “belly-welly” if you will.
Stevie Ray tagged in and slammed Jacques with one arm. Wow!
Jacques then ducked a clothesline and nailed Stevie Ray with a flying back elbow.
Ouellet tagged in, caused Booker T to distract referee Scott Dickenson, and delivered an avalanche to Stevie Ray.
Stevie Ray then ducked a clothesline and delivered a belly-to-back suplex to Ouellet.
After a Mafia kick, Stevie Ray got 2.
Booker T tagged in and gave Ouellet a knee drop.
While Stevie Ray distracted Dickenson, Booker T guillotined Ouellet using the top rope.
Booker T tagged in again and gave Ouellet a scissors kick.
Ouellet came back with a slam but missed an elbow drop.
Booker T then tried an elbow drop, failed, entertained the Norfolk faithful with a spinaroonie, and followed with a leg lariat.
As Booker T came off the ropes, Jacques sent him down to the floor.
He then made Booker T taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Gwynn’s Island at Captain Groovy’s.
Afterward, Parker put the Legionnaire boots to Booker T.
Shortly after, Ouellet and Jacques gave Booker T the double goozle.
Jacques tagged in, slammed Ouellet atop Booker T, and got 2.
The Amazing French Canadians followed that with a double guillotine using the top rope.
Booker T then tried a surprise rollup of Ouellet but got 1 along with a thumb to the eye.
Ouellet then clotheslined Booker T resulting in a 360° sell. Woohoo!
Jacques tagged in and hooked a Boston crab on Booker T.
In the meantime, Ouellet mounted the second turnbuckle and delivered a flying leg drop to Booker T.
When Ouellet attempted a cover, Stevie Ray gave him a leg drop.
He then tagged in and gave Jacques a back drop.
Next, he military pressed Jacques and tossed him atop Ouellet.
All four men were in the ring.
Booker T then reversed a cross-corner whip from Ouellet sending him CRASHING into Dickenson. As you would expect, Dickenson was OUT COLD.
Booker T then tried a leg lariat, got crotched on the top rope, and was tossed down to the floor by Ouellet.
The Amazing French Canadians then gave Stevie Ray a spike piledriver.
Ouellet then brought a table into the ring as well as two sets of steel steps.
The Amazing French Canadians then attempted the Quebec Crash from atop their makeshift monstrosity, but Ouellet came up empty.
After Stevie Ray booted Jacques out of the ring, Booker T mounted the top turnbuckle.
He then hit the Harlem Hangover and got the pin.

After the match, Sherri smiles like the cat that ate the canary then decks Parker. Afterward, she gives Parker the ten-top-turnbuckle count-along and tosses him over the top rope to the floor. They move to ring #2, and she hits a pair of flying clotheslines. Next, she mounts the top turnbuckle, hits a flying body press, and gets 2. They then run to the back to end this mess.

Back in the locker room, Okerlund shills the hotline and alleges that another wrestling superstar will be joining WCW (**cough**Curt Hennig**cough**). He then interviews Lex Luger who wants a shot at Hogan.

Match 5 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Dean Malenko (champion) versus Psicosis

This match took place in ring #2.
After Malenko tripped Psicosis, the latter responded with a spinning heel kick.
When Malenko ventured to the apron, Psicosis dropkicked him to the floor.
Holy banana peels, Batman! Psicosis then mounted the top turnbuckle to dive onto Malenko but lost his footing falling down to the floor.
Back in the ring, Malenko delivered a leg drop for 2.
After a slam, Malenko hooked a single-leg crab as Heenan called Psicosis “Psoriasis.”
Regardless, Malenko then delivered a tiger driver and hooked the Texas Cloverleaf.
Immediately, however, Psicosis made the ropes.
Upon dropkicking Psicosis in the knee, Malenko delivered a knee drop to the injured knee.
Next, he pulled Psicosis’ leg to the apron and gave it an elbow smash.
Back in the ring, he gave Psicosis a cross-corner whip, attempted a monkey flip, and sent him to the floor.
After Malenko missed a baseball slide, Psicosis gave him a pumphandle backbreaker on the floor.
Psicosis then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a corkscrew plancha.
Back in the ring, he hit a guillotine leg drop for 2.
Upon dropkicking Malenko into the corner, Psicosis gave him a cross-corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Malenko then mounted the top turnbuckle, but Psicosis dropkicked him again.
Psicosis then joined him and gave Malenko a superhuracanrana.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
Psicosis then hooked a vertical suplex, but Malenko countered with an inside cradle for 2.
In retaliation, Psicosis delivered a somersault kick.
They then engaged in a tombstone reversal sequence until Malenko PLANTED him. Somehow, he only got 2.
He then gave Psicosis a cross-corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
After a Psicosis leap frog, Malenko hooked a rollup with a bridge and got the pin.
Malenko retained.

Summary: While this match had its moments, it was incredibly BORING with no heat.

Match 6 for the WCW World tag team titles (triangle): The Outsiders (champions) versus Faces of Fear (w/ Jimmy Hart) versus the Nasty Boys

This match took place in ring #3.
Before Faces of Fear made their entrance, the Nasty Boys attacked the Outsiders.
After Sags nailed Nash sending him down to the floor, the Nasty Boys nailed Hall sending him down on the other side of the ring.
Shortly after, Faces of Fear came to the ring and brawled with the Outsiders at ringside.
Back in the ring, while the Nasty Boys were hammering Nash, Faces of Fear gave Hall a double head butt.
After Barbarian received a cross-corner whip from Knobbs, he exploded with a clothesline during Knobbs’ follow-through.
Barbarian then gave Knobbs a cross-corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
After a Knobbs clothesline, Sags tagged in, and the Nasty Boys hit a double clothesline for 2.
Sags then gave Barbarian a leg drop for another 2.
He then slammed Barbarian and tagged in Knobbs who missed an elbow drop.
Meng tagged in and gave Knobbs a clothesline.
Nash tagged in and gave Knobbs a series of knees to the midsection.
Next, Hall tagged in, nailed Knobbs, and tagged in Meng.
As Meng tried to attack Knobbs, Nash tagged his back.
He then gave Knobbs a cross-corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
Shortly after, Barbarian gave Hall a cross-corner whip followed by an avalanche.
As Barbarian slammed Hall, he tagged in Meng, and a six-way brawl broke out briefly.
Sags tagged in, gave Barbarian a piledriver, and got 2 thanks to a save by Hall.
Meanwhile, Barbarian gave Nash a cross-corner whip, ate boot, but then received a clothesline.
Nash then gave Barbarian a sidewalk slam, but Meng made the save.
Upon whipping Barbarian into the corner, Hall delivered a corner clothesline.
Meng then gave Hall a belly-to-back suplex but only got 2.
Hall then tagged in Barbarian to face Meng, but Meng tagged out before chaos ensued.
Shortly after, Nash gave Meng a cross-corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
After slamming Meng, Nash missed an elbow drop.
Sags tagged in and gave Barbarian a backbreaker.
Meng tagged in and gave Knobbs a piledriver for 2 thanks to a save by Sags.
He then gave Sags a cross-corner whip followed by an avalanche.
Hall tagged in, but Sags gave him an inverted atomic drop.
He then nailed Hall down near Suffolk. OUCH!
In a clever move, Meng and Knobbs tagged in Hall and Nash.
They then tried to tag out, but Faces of Fear and the Nasty Boys jumped out of reach of them.
As the Norfolk faithful prepared themselves for Razor versus Diesel, Nash laid down so Hall could pin him. Luckily, the Nasty Boys made the save.
While all six men were in the ring, Hart got up on the apron, but Knobbs decked him.
As referee Mark Curtis was distracted by Barbarian and Sags at ringside, Hall leveled Knobbs with Hart’s megaphone.
Nash then gave Knobbs the jackknife powerbomb for the pin.
The Outsiders retained.

Summary: What a mess! That was completely disjointed and difficult to follow. Since it was too soon for the Outsiders to lose the belts, they retained by nefarious means.

Arn Anderson, Marcus Bagwell, Barbarian, Chris Benoit, Booker T, Jack Boot, Bunkhouse Buck, Ciclope, DDP, Disco Inferno, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Bobby Eaton, Mike Enos, Galaxy, Giant, Joe Gomez, Jimmy Graffiti, Johnny Grunge, Juventud Guerrera, Eddie Guerrero, Scott Hall, Prince Iaukea, Ice Train, Jeff Jarrett, Chris Jericho, Kenny Kaos, Konnan, Lex Luger, Mr. JL, Dean Malenko, Mongo McMichael, Meng, Hugh Morrus, Rey Mysterio, Jr., Kevin Nash, Scott Norton, Carl Ouellet, La Parka, Craig Pittman, Jim Powers, Robbie Rage, Stevie Ray, Lord Steven Regal, Renegade, Scotty Riggs, Roadblock, Big Bubba Rogers, Jacques Rougeau, Tony Rumble, Mark Starr, Rick Steiner, Ron Studd, Syxx, Taskmaster, David Taylor, Ultimo Dragon, Villano IV, Michael Wallstreet, Pez Whatley, & Alex Wright

Like last year, there will be three broadcast teams: Tony/Heenan, Rhodes/Tenay, and Zbyszko/Marshall.
Winner becomes the #1 contender to the WCW World title.
Dear God! As Benoit and Woman made their entrance, Benoit looked like he’d been pummeled in a bar fight. According to Lee, that’s due to last night’s match against Taskmaster in Baltimore.
Before the match began, Benoit and the Taskmaster brawled at ringside.
As they brawled into the crowd, Taskmaster made Benoit taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Hungry Fisherman at the Sandfiddler Café.
According to Tony, all members of the Four Horsemen and Dungeon of Doom have been eliminated.
In the melee, Marshall was injured and had trouble trying to continue.
According to Tenay, Tony Rumble was eliminated. If you bet he’d go first, you’re one of many.
Next, Ciclope was eliminated.
Marshall tried to make a comeback and chastised Zbyszko.
After Enos was eliminated, Luger eliminated La Parka.
Norton was eliminated.
Pittman eliminated Whatley as the nWo stood still.
As Graffiti and Starr were eliminated, Luger eliminated Kaos.
Iaukea was eliminated then Giant eliminated Gomez.
Once Rage was eliminated, Giant then eliminated Roadblock.
After Mr. JL was eliminated, all members of ring #1 ganged up on Studd then dogpiled him.

Jacques, Ouellet, and Duggan were eliminated as they crashed down to the floor.
Riggs and Bagwell were eliminated and argued.
As Eaton was eliminated, Wright dropkicked Taylor to eliminate him.
Afterward, Wallstreet and Scott Steiner were eliminated.
Jericho then eliminated Guerrera.
Incredibly, Jack Boot’s still in it! Whoops, no he’s not, as Hall eliminated him.
DDP then backdropped Grunge out.
As Jarrett tossed Malenko out, DDP then eliminated Pittman.
After Nash eliminated Booker T, Rick Steiner tried to eliminate Disco Inferno, but he snuck back in.
Whoops, Nash just tossed him out.
Wright then eliminated Buck.
As Guerrero backdropped Stevie Ray out, Wright eliminated Studd.
Giant then bearhugged Rick Steiner out.
After Ultimo Dragon was eliminated, Luger eliminated Wright.
As Jericho was eliminated, the nWo tossed Ice Train out.
Finally, the production team killed the 3-way split screen, and it’s WCW versus nWo.
With help from DDP, Regal eliminated Guerrero.
Giant then lifted Mysterio overhead with one arm and tossed him onto Guerrero outside the ring. Wow!
After Jarrett was eliminated, DDP charged at Regal and sailed over the top rope to the floor.
The nWo then eliminated Regal.
Five men were left as four nWo members and Luger remained.
Giant then gave Luger a cross-corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Briefly, Luger put Giant in the Torture Rack until Syxx made the save.
Hall then attempted the Outsider Edge, but Luger backdropped him out of the ring.
Luger then gorilla press slammed Syxx atop Hall on the floor.
He then nailed Nash with a forearm smash.
As Luger had Nash in the Torture Rack, Giant nailed him eliminating Nash.
Giant then eliminated Luger to win.

Summary: Hmmm…a member of the nWo just became the #1 contender to Hogan’s title. I wonder what’ll happen next.

Conclusion: Say it with me, folks. ONE. MATCH. SHOW. And that was the opener. The rest of the show felt like an extended Nitro. This show is truly meant for WCW completists and nobody else.