WCW World War III '97

Hosted by Tony Schiavone, “Iron” Mike Tenay, and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

Who will win the 60-man battle royal for a shot at the World title? Can Flair get revenge against Hennig and steal the US title? Will Eddie and Rey duplicate their efforts from the previous PPV? Let’s find out!

Match 1: Faces of Fear (w/ Jimmy Hart) versus Glacier & the “Cat” Ernest Miller

This match took place in ring #1.
When all four wrestlers brawled at the onset, Miller kicked Barbarian from the ring.
Miller tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and lowered the boom on Meng.
As Meng reversed an Irish whip, Miller attempted a cross body block, and Glacier dropkicked him atop Meng for 2.
Shortly after, Meng tagged in, but Glacier dropkicked him sending Barbarian to the floor.
Miller then leaped to the top turnbuckle and hit a tope to Barbarian. Woohoo!
When Meng saved Barbarian on the floor, Glacier delivered a plancha to him. Sweet!
Hart then distracted Glacier so that Barbarian could nail him from behind. SNEAKY!
Back in the ring, Barbarian gave Glacier a cross corner whip but came up empty on this follow-through.
Meng tagged in, and the Faces of Fear executed their backdrop/powerbomb combo for 2. Excellent!
As Meng tagged in, he dropkicked Glacier for another 2. Holy flying assassins, Batman!

He then hit a backbreaker but couldn’t get 3.
After Barbarian tagged in, he slammed Glacier.
Meng tagged in and delivered a shoulder breaker to Glacier for 2.
When Barbarian tagged in, he split Glacier’s uprights.
Meng tagged in, slammed Glacier, but missed an elbow drop.
As Meng reversed an Irish whip, Glacier hit a belly-to-back suplex.
Hot tag Miller.
After Miller supplied each Face of Fear with a lariat, Hart got on the apron, but Miller disposed of him.
Meng then hooked a Tongan death grip on Miller.
1-2-3.
Faces of Fear won.

Summary: Excellent opener that was better than it had any right to be. Great job, gentlemen!

Backstage, Mark Madden interviews DDP for wcwwrestling.com. Let’s hope for his sake that Mark didn’t ask about Kimberly.

Match 2 for the WCW World TV title: Saturn (champion w/ Raven) versus Disco Inferno

This match took place in ring #2.
As Disco hip-tossed Saturn, he followed with a slam.
He then reversed an Irish whip and hip-tossed Saturn again.
When Saturn rebounded with a clothesline, Disco delivered an inverted atomic drop.
He then gave Saturn a cross corner whip followed by a back elbow.
After he hit a fist drop, Disco got 2.
He then mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, caught Saturn’s boot, but missed an elbow drop.
As Saturn delivered a T-bone suplex, he got 2.
He then slammed Disco, mounted the second turnbuckle, but missed a moonsault. Considering Saturn’s knee, this probably wasn’t a wise move.
When Disco clotheslined Saturn, he got 2.
Saturn then hooked an inside cradle for 2.
After Disco caught Saturn with a back elbow, he got 2.
Saturn then secured a backslide for 2.
As Saturn crotched him on the top rope, he leaped to the second turnbuckle, and hit a cross body block. In doing so, he sent Disco CRASHING to the floor.

Disco then grabbed and tossed Kidman over the steel railing.
When he hit a Chartbuster on Kidman, Disco guillotined newcomer Lodi with the steel railing.
Disco then tried the same to Hammer to no avail.
Next, Saturn made Disco taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the DiMaggio at Hoops Sports & Spirits.
Back in ring #2, Disco delivered a swinging neckbreaker.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
Disco then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a cross body block.
On the other hand, Saturn hooked the Rings of Saturn.
Disco submitted, so Saturn retained.

Summary: Solid match with good back-and-forth action as Saturn’s victory solidifies his reign.

Back in the locker room, “Mean” Gene Okerlund shills the hotline then interviews Giant. Okerlund rightfully points out Giant’s broken thumb thanks to his match last week on Nitro against Hall. Giant then states that he may not be able to chokeslam anyone but can certainly toss them over the top rope to the floor. Are we sure he didn’t suffer the injury while hitchhiking?

This match took place in ring #3.
If Dragon wins, he gets 5 minutes with Onoo.
Dragon gave Nagata a cross corner whip and attempted a handspring elbow.
When Nagata caught him, he applied a cross arm breaker.
Dragon rebounded with a dropkick, so Nagata sought refuge outside the ring.
As Dragon went after Onoo on the floor, Nagata nailed him from behind.
Nagata then countered a side head lock with a belly-to-back suplex.
After he piledrove Dragon, Nagata got 2.
Dragon then countered Nagata’s side head lock with a belly-to-back suplex.
When Nagata piledrove Dragon again, he got another 2.
He then delivered an enziguri and followed with a Fujiwara arm bar.
As Dragon escaped, Nagata hit an overhead belly-to-belly suplex but didn’t get 3.
Dragon rebounded with a series of kicks and booted Nagata in the face twice.
After Nagata followed him to the floor, Dragon attempted a plancha.
Nagata attempted to counter with a kick to the midsection, but Dragon caught his leg.
When Dragon applied a dragon screw leg whip, he mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a cross body block to Nagata on the floor. Woohoo!
Back in the ring, Dragon mounted the top turnbuckle again, but Nagata caught and joined him.
Dragon then delivered a sunset flip powerbomb for 2.
As Dragon slammed him, he mounted the top turnbuckle again and hit a moonsault for another 2.
He then attempted a vertical suplex, but Nagata countered with one of his own.
On second thought, Dragon escaped and applied a dragon sleeper.
Before referee Billy Silverman could get Nagata’s submission, Onoo got up on the apron to distract him.
Dragon then placed Nagata atop the top turnbuckle, joined, and delivered a super huracanrana for 2. Double woohoo!
After Dragon suplexed Nagata into Onoo on the apron, Nagata pinned him.

Summary: Another solid match but with too many rest holds in the middle. On the other hand, Onoo performed his job perfectly and cost Dragon the match.

Match 4 for the WCW World tag team titles: Steiners (champion w/ Ted DiBiase) versus Lord Steven Regal & “Squire” Dave Taylor

This match took place in ring #1.
As Taylor attempted a hip toss, Scott blocked and hip-tossed him.
He then delivered a double underhook slam, and Rick entered to Steinerline him.
When Regal tagged in, Rick reversed a cross corner whip but ate knee on his follow-through.
Rick then countered a European uppercut with an armbar submission, yet Regal didn’t submit.
After Scott tagged in, Regal reversed a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
Scott then hit a belly-to-belly suplex upon Regal for 2.
As Scott briefly hooked an STF but released it, tags were exchanged on both sides.
Taylor delivered an inverted atomic drop but received a powerslam from Rick for 2.
When Scott tagged in, Rick distracted referee Nick Patrick.
That allowed Taylor to clothesline Scott over the top rope to the floor. SNEAKY!
While Taylor, Rick, and DiBiase continued to distract Patrick, Regal gave Scott the business on the floor. How dastardly!
Regal tagged in, landed a European uppercut, followed with an elbow drop, and got 2.
After Scott rebounded with a Steinerline, Taylor tagged in, delivered his own European uppercut, and got another 2.
Regal tagged in, but Scott reversed a cross corner whip and hit an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
Hot tag Rick.
With all four wrestlers in the ring, Scott supplied Taylor with a ten-punch count-along.
In the meantime, Rick gave Regal a cross corner whip followed by a back drop.
Scott then reversed a cross corner whip and backdropped Taylor atop Regal.
As the Steiners blatantly tossed Taylor over the top rope to the floor while blocking Patrick’s view, Rick mounted the top turnbuckle.
The Steiners then hit the Steiner bulldog, and Rick pinned Regal.
To no one’s surprise, the Steiners retained.

Summary: While Taylor and Regal put up a good fight, the Steiners achieved victory in their hometown. Take that, WWF! As you’d expect, solid technical wrestling from both sides told a good story here.

At the entrance, Okerlund interviews WCW Executive Chairman JJ Dillon. According to Dillon, Raven has 24 hours to sign a contract with WCW or hit the bricks.

During Raven’s entrance, Kidman grabs the microphone and informs Riggs that “it’s no DQ, or no fight.” Riggs responds with a plancha onto Raven, Saturn, and Kidman.

This match took place in ring #3.
Riggs brawled with Raven outside the ring to begin the match.
When he rammed Raven face-first into the steps, Riggs delivered a swinging neckbreaker.
He then splashed Raven for 2.
As Riggs gave Raven a cross corner whip, he ate boot on his follow-through.
He then leap-frogged Raven and rolled him up for another 2.
After Raven tossed Riggs to the floor, he joined and rammed Riggs into the apron of ring #2.
Riggs then reversed an Irish whip sending Raven shoulder-first into the steps.
When they headed into ring #2, Raven hit a jawbreaker.
Saturn then placed a chair in the ring, and Raven CREAMED Riggs’ back with it.
As Riggs reversed another Irish whip, he gave Raven a receipt by delivering a drop toe hold onto the chair. OUCH!
Referee MIckey Jay counted to 9, and Riggs covered Raven for 2.
After Riggs tossed the chair to Raven, he dropkicked it into Raven's face.

Unfortunately, Riggs only got 2 thanks to Raven’s foot on the bottom rope.
Riggs then bulldogged Raven ON THE CHAIR but couldn’t get 3.
When Raven escaped a suplex attempt, he hit a DDT.
Raven then took the microphone and pleads with Riggs to join the Flock.
As he mentioned “I feel your pain,” Raven delivered DDT #2.

While continuing his soliloquy, Raven punished Riggs with DDT #3.
Jay then counted Riggs out; thus, Raven won.

After the match, Jay requests medical attention for Riggs, and the entire Flock enters the ring. Rather than the EMTs removing Riggs from the ring, Hammer carries him over his shoulder through the crowd. Methinks Riggs may get brainwashed to become a Flock member.

Match 6: ~~Bill Goldberg~~ “Das Wunderkind” Alex Wright (w/ Debra) versus Steve “Mongo” McMichael

This match took place in ring #3.
After Mongo made his entrance while carrying a lead pipe, he grabbed the microphone and instructed the cameras to go backstage.
Upon doing so, the cameras showed Goldberg face-down on the concrete floor. In reality, Goldberg suffered a groin injury so he couldn’t compete.

Meanwhile, Mongo recovered his Super Bowl ring and challenged anyone from the locker room.
Reluctantly, Wright got dragged by Debra to the ring to answer the challenge.
Mongo reversed Wright’s Irish whip and delivered a back elbow.
As he clotheslined Wright twice, Mongo slammed him.
He then reversed another Irish whip and face-planted Wright.
When he hit a sidewalk slam, Mongo got 2.
Wright rebounded by reversing an Irish whip, leap-frogging Mongo, and delivering a spinning heel kick for 2.
After Mongo reversed a cross corner whip, Wright took a sternum-first bump.
Mongo then supplied a pair of three-point stance tackles and hit clothesline #3.
As Mongo gave him a cross corner whip, Wright floated over but ate another back elbow.
Mongo then provided him with sidewalk slam #2 before delivering a tombstone piledriver.
1-2-3.
Mongo won.

Summary: Showcase match for Mongo as he completely destroyed Wright. While I can forgive wrestling being Mongo’s second career, move repetition, especially on PPV, shows a lack of technical skills.

At the internet table backstage, Madden interviews the victorious Saturn who dismisses Disco. Although we probably wish it were true, Saturn didn’t deliver total elimination to Madden.

Match 7 for the WCW Cruiserweight title: Eddie Guerrero (champion) versus Rey Mysterio, Jr.

This match took place in ring #1.
While the Auburn Hills faithful LOUDLY chanted “Eddie sucks,” Mysterio hooked a flying headscissors.
Guerrero then delivered a release German suplex followed by a belly-to-back suplex.
When another flying headscissors by Mysterio sent Eddie to the floor, they countered each other’s moves until Eddie hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on the floor.
With both wrestlers atop the top turnbuckle, Eddie delivered a top rope superplex. Wow!
Eddie then remounted the top turnbuckle but missed a frog splash.
Although Eddie rolled through, Mysterio caught him with a West Coast Pop for 2.
Eddie responded by face-planting him, yet Mysterio supplied him with flying headscissors #3 for another 2-count.
As Eddie dropkicked him, he hung Mysterio out to dry.

Eddie then attempted a sunset flip into a powerbomb onto the floor, but Mysterio countered with flying headscissors #4.
After Mysterio returned to the ring, he hit a corkscrew plancha.
He then tossed Eddie back into the ring and delivered a springboard corkscrew splash for 2. Impressive!
When Eddie reversed a cross corner whip, he not only came up empty on his follow-through but also HIT THE POLE.
Mysterio then attempted a huracanrana, but Eddie countered with a powerbomb.
As he applied a Gory special, Eddie lowered Mysterio’s shoulders for 2.
Mysterio then countered with a sunset flip for 2.
After he hit a spinning heel kick, Mysterio slammed Eddie.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle, but Eddie caught him.
When Eddie attempted a running Liger bomb, Mysterio attempted a counter but fell down to the mat.

Eddie then gave him a cross corner whip, but Mysterio climbed the turnbuckles and delivered a moonsault for 2.
As he exited to the apron, Mysterio hit a springboard guillotine leg drop.
He returned to the apron, delivered another West Coast Pop, and got another 2.
After he placed Eddie atop the top turnbuckle, Mysterio attempted another huracanrana.
However, Eddie countered by guillotining Mysterio on the top rope.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a frog splash.
1-2-3.
Eddie retained.

Summary: While it doesn’t compare to last month’s spectacular act, they once again gave it their all and wowed the Auburn Hills faithful with a fantastic match. Kudos, gentlemen!

Match 8 for the WCW US title (no-DQ): Curt Hennig (champion) versus “Nature Boy” Ric Flair

This match took place in ring #2.
As the match began on the floor, Flair made Hennig HIT THE POLE.
He then rammed Hennig into the steel railing and took him among the Auburn Hills faithful.
When Flair tried to make Hennig eat a steel trellis, Hennig blocked and made Flair taste it.
Hennig then dragged Flair through the crowd and made him taste the steel railing twice. Whew! It must have tasted like the Wild Bill at Avery’s Tavern.
To reinforce the no-DQ stipulation, Hennig choked Flair with a camera cable.
He then clotheslined Flair over the top rope to the floor.
From the apron, Flair guillotined Hennig with the top rope.
He then returned to the ring and tossed Hennig over the top rope to the floor.
Upon mounting the top turnbuckle, Flair delivered a double axe handle. In the process, he legitimately injured his left ankle.
He then made Hennig taste the steel railing. Waiter, could you please give the not-quite-Perfect one a Kendall?
As Hennig rebounded by backdropping Flair on the floor, he landed an Axe.
The match then returned to the ring, and Hennig got 2.
When he realized referee Randy Anderson only counted to 2, Hennig poked him in the eye. Nefarious!
Hennig then hit an elbow drop for another 2.
After he applied a knee crusher, Hennig split Flair’s uprights. Eddie Murray would be proud.

He then applied a spinning toe hold followed by an Indian death lock.
As Flair escaped, he hit a chop block.
He then landed a knee drop and mounted the top turnbuckle.
Like you’d expect, Hennig caught and slammed him down to the mat for 2.
A chop-fest then led to a Flair flop.
When a mid-ring collision occurred, Hennig sought refuge in ring #1.
Flair then delivered a belly-to-back suplex for 2.
After Hennig applied a somersault neck snap, he gave Flair a cross corner whip.
Nonetheless, a Flair flip led to Flair’s falling to the floor.
As Hennig gave him another taste of the steel railing, he rammed Flair face-first into the steps.
A third taste of the steel railing from Hennig to Flair resulted in Flair’s use of momentum to send Hennig into the steel railing. Unfortunately, due to the late hour, the waiter informed me of some bad news.

When Flair suplexed Hennig back into the ring, he got 2.
He then grabbed a chair and provided Hennig with an atomic drop onto it. YEE-OUCH!
After he punted the chair, all of the male members of the Auburn faithful groaned in empathy for Hennig.
Flair then retrieved a different chair as well as the US belt from ringside and WHACKED Hennig’s left knee with the chair.
As he tossed the belt toward Hennig’s head, Flair applied a figure-four leg lock.
Will Hennig submit and forfeit the title?
No, he grabbed the belt and SMASHED it into Flair’s knee and then his face.
Flair was OUT COLD.
1-2-3.
Hennig retained.

Summary: Like a pair of pros, Flair and Hennig told a great story while trying to beat each other up. The double axe handle from the top turnbuckle by Flair altered the pace of the match, but it was still exciting and worthwhile.

Winner challenges for the WCW World title at SuperBrawl VIII.
Buffer rumbled.
If any wrestler goes to the floor, he is eliminated whether over the top rope or not.
This match marked the first PPV match for Darsow since Uncensored ‘95.
Due to injuries, neither Flair nor Konnan participated in the match.
You may notice only fifty-nine names. I guess we have a surprise entrant during the match. Who could it be?

As Lizmark, Jr. was the first wrestler eliminated, Disco Inferno followed suit.
Giant then eliminated both Villanos.
When Spicolli was eliminated, La Parka chaired his own meeting at ringside.
Public Enemy then eliminated Smiley.
After Meng got rid of Public Enemy, Hall dumped Dandy to the floor.
Blaze left a trail as he got deposited outside the ring.
While Schiavone and Tenay questioned the whereabouts of Nash, Booker T sent Armstrong to the showers.
Stevie Ray then guillotined Silver King with the top rope, so Booker T used an Axe kick to eliminate the luchador.
As Damien got sent packing, DDP presented Iaukea with his ticket to ride.
He then sent Nagata on a one-way trip back to the midcard.
When both Wrath and Renegade tumbled from the ring, Jericho exited stage left.
Hall almost got his walking papers, but Bagwell saved him.
After Dragon skinned the cat to avoid elimination, Valentine got dumped.
Adams’ feet touched the floor, so referee Randy Anderson ejected him.
As Finlay found a ride home, DDP and Benoit both teased but escaped elimination.
Wright then dropkicked Taylor over the top rope to get rid of him.
When Benoit was gone, Malenko followed suit thanks to Miller.
Morrus then backdropped Duggan over the top rope to deflate the Auburn Hills faithful’s enthusiasm.
After Miller took a spill, DDP disposed of Barbarian.
Mysterio then delivered a flying headscissors to get even with and eliminate Eddie.
As Hennig tenaciously exterminated Mysterio, Traylor got eliminated.
Darsow couldn’t break anyone’s “stinkin’ arm,” so he got turfed.
When Meng clotheslined Mongo to the floor, Mortis and Wright tried to do the same to Giant.
Instead, he backdropped both of them over the top rope to the floor.
That left only Meng and Giant in ring #3.
While Giant and Meng brawled, Schiavone mentioned that the nWo eliminated Scott Steiner.
Luger then tossed Stevie Ray out while Giant reversed a cross corner whip from Meng.
After Giant dropkicked Meng into the depths of elimination, ring announcer David Penzer instructed the remaining wrestlers to go to ring #2.

In lieu of heading to ring #2, the nWo wiped out referee Billy Silverman. Heinous!
Four of the five members of WCW then headed to ring #1 to battle them.
As Giant slowly joined the fray, DDP hit a Diamond Cutter to Vincent.
Giant then rolled Vincent under the bottom rope to eradicate him.
When Hennig eliminated Booker T, Rick Steiner’s evening was over as well.
Giant then provided Bagwell and Savage with a double noggin knocker.
After Luger supplied Hennig with a ten-punch count-along, Giant disposed of Bagwell.
Hennig and Luger also hit the floor.
FINAL FOUR: Giant, DDP, Hall, and Savage.
As DDP signaled for another Diamond Cutter, Savage delivered a jawbreaker to him.
He then slammed DDP and mounted the top turnbuckle.
Meanwhile, Giant powerslammed Hall and blocked Savage from hitting the big elbow on DDP.
Savage leaped, but Giant caught him in a bear hug.
When Savage raked Giant’s eyes to escape, DDP delivered a Diamond Cutter to a HUGE ovation.
Surprisingly, Giant prevented DDP from rolling Savage to the floor. I smell some babyface shenanigans.
With DDP’s assistance, Giant chokeslammed Savage, and DDP dumped Savage to the floor.
Outnumbered, Hall sought refuge in ring #2.
He then signaled toward the back, and “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan appeared.

After Hogan joined Hall, the Auburn Hills faithful LOUDLY chanted “we want Sting.”

Hogan then slammed Giant, but Giant placed Hall atop the top turnbuckle.
As Hogan ensured DDP’s lonely night with a straddle across the top rope, Giant captured Hall in a bear hug.
While Giant double-bearhugged Hogan and Hall, “Sting” repelled from the ceiling.

In the meantime, Hogan disposed of DDP.
“Sting” then uncharacteristically climbed over the top rope. Hmmm...
When Hogan “eliminated” himself, “Sting” WHACKED Giant with a baseball bat to eliminate him.
“Sting” then joined Giant on the floor leaving Hall alone in the ring.
As a result, Hall won.

Summary: Who is this mysterious masked man? Nevertheless, I liked the unpredictable ending.

After the match, “Sting” hammers Giant’s injured hand with his baseball bat and returns to the ring. While pantomiming the real Sting, “Sting” raises his mask to reveal himself as Nash. Hogan then hits DDP with his own Diamond Cutter on the floor to celebrate the nWo victory. Next, Rude, Norton, Konnan, and Bischoff join their brethren while Hogan and Hall drag DDP’s lifeless body into the ring. Another Diamond Cutter from Hogan to DDP ends the show.

Conclusion: For the second year in a row, a member of the nWo wins the battle royal. Let’s hope WCW gives them their comeuppance at Starrcade. Regardless, this show is a hidden gem with Eddie/Rey II, Hennig/Flair, the opening tag match, and others. Gather your friends and cue up this PPV. Just be sure not to hit the eject button during it.