This tape is compiled of matches that the WCW fans (supposedly) voted for as their favorites of all time. Personally, I have a hard time believing that WCW actually let the fans vote, so I'm sure this was rigged. Oh well.....let's just get to YOUR matchlist.......
Vader vs. Cactus Jack World Title Match, Halloween Havoc 93Yep, that's it for ya. A mixed bag, that's for sure. Scott Hudson and Mike Tenay are your guides through these great matches, so of course they give the most pop to anything involving the NWO. Oh well, fuck em.
Outsiders vs. Sting/Lex Luger/Randy Savage Bash at the Beach 96 (Birth of the NWO)
Ric Flair vs. Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat NWA Title Match, Chi-Town Rumble 1989
Hollywood Hogan vs. Sting World Title Match, Starrcade 97
Vader (w/Harley Race) vs. Cactus Jack
This was the blowoff for these two, and WCW was nice enough to give them main event status even though NOBODY wanted this fued to continue or succeed in any way whatsoever. It even says so in Foley's book if you don't believe me. What's amazing is that Mick even GOT a main event slot after the horrible amnesia angle, which just goes to show you what kind of dedication the guy had.
This match was the last one ever to use Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal stipulations, and it ended on Texas Death Match. Before we start, Texas Death Matches suck. I hate them, so there you go. Remember, this was during the time when WCW had the big ramp that connected to the ring. BIG pop for Jack and he jumps Vader on the ramp right away, and we brawl. Jack ducks a clothesline and Vader hits the post, then gets introduced to the railing a few times and a couple chair shots. Jack takes some lady's camera from ringside and cracks Vader in the head with it. We head into the ring, but Jack tastes foot on a charge, and a BIG clothesline puts him down. Ultra stiff lefts and rights in the corner by Vader, and if you look at Nick Patrick even HE is wincing in pain. A big right puts Jack on the ramp. Vader trying to suplex Jack back in, but Jack reverses and suplexes Vader on the ramp. Jack is busted open. Punches and belly to back on the ramp by Jack. Race tries to break up the pin with a chair, but Jack cuts him off and beats ass. Jack takes the chair to Vader a couple times, and they fall into one of the grave props that says Vader R.I.P, which gives them time to blade. They both come out bleeding a mess, and Jack flies down the ramp with a clothesline for the pin. Vader answers the ten count (after a 30 sec rest period which in reality lasts about 10 seconds.....bleh), and Jack hits him with the prop cactus. Vader tries to roll off the ramp to get away, but Jack follows with the Cactus Elbow for the pin. Vader answers the ten count again and immediately starts kicking ass. Jack grabs a table at ringside and gets it in the ring (with Nick Patrick helpfully setting up the table correctly for him) and the fans are seriously pumped. Tables=ratings, Paul was paying attention, by God. Trading punches, but the table no-sells as Vader gets whipped into it, for 2. Vader rolls outside, and Jack follows up with a sunset flip off the apron to the floor. Mick is fuckin INSANE for doing shit like that. But that's why he's Mick. I both admire the man and hate him for some of the shit he's done. Jack drops Vader on the railing, then charges and meets the concrete on the other side of the railing. Again, and he takes an even worse bump the other way as he gets back body dropped. OUCH!!!! Chairshot and Vadersault back inside gets the pin. Jack up, and Vader just unloads in the corner, then tosses Jack on the ramp. Sleeper attempt by Mick, but Vader just takes a couple steps and falls straight back with all of his weight, no sugarcoating at all there, and it looks and sounds absolutely sickening. BTW, that is the move Mick talks about when he said he was basically trying to commit career suicide. Jack staggers to his feet, and Vader hits a fuckin home run on his head with the chair. I can take the visual of Vader falling on Mick, but Vader following right up with a chairshot is just disturbing and uncomfortable. DDT on the chair, and medics come out to check on Cactus, but Vader just throws them off and finally pins Jack. Jack gets up quickly though and they brawl before the official rest period is over, and Jack gets a DDT to put both guys down. Both men up, but Race uses a tazer so Jack can't answer the ten count. Wow. ****3/4 Postmatch, Jack hits a double arm DDT on Race. This is just one of those matches that might earn ***** on a different day when I think it over more, but I just can't go the full boat at this time. Just an incredible brawl, and unlike most brawls, it was done with a bare minimum of outside objects. I mean, there was a chair, one table spot which was a non-factor (unlike a table spot today), and they turned out one of the best matches I've ever seen.
The Outsiders/ ????? vs. Sting/Savage/Luger
And here we go children. No preamble because if you don't know the importance of this main event I have no clue how you made it this far on our page......It's 2 against 3 in favor of WCW to start because nobody knew who the 3rd guy was. Luger and Hall start, and Luger bitchslaps Hall. Hall fires back, but Luger hits a flying forearm and it all breaks down as everyone comes in. Stinger Splash on Nash in the corner, but Luger gets caught and knocked out and stretchered to the back. So we're 2 on 2 now as Tony finally names Hall and Nash as such. We brawl as Sting is in, atomic drop and Jericho face plant, and the tag to Macho. Double axe attempt, but since this is 1996, Hall hits him in the gut, and Nash hits Snake Eyes. Macho comes back with a clothesline for 2, but Nash gets the tag and just pounds him. Slam by Nash, and then miscommunication as Nash hits a sick elbow drop as Macho was sitting up. I'm pretty sure that wasn't supposed to happen there. Sting quickly in and takes a beating. Floatover on a corner whip, dropkick, but Nash blocks a sunset flip with the chokebomb. Hall is in and promptly nails Sting in the nuts, punches, and the fallaway slam for 2. Tag back to Nash and he hits the big boot while talking shit to Macho. Forearms, but Sting ducks a clothesline and dropkicks him right in the knees. Hall prevents the hot tag, but Sting gets a small package for 1. Hall drops elbows and slaps Sting around. Abdominal stretch as Nash helps out with leverage, then they switch places. Sting tries to power up but Hall hits a big clothesline for 2. Sleeper, rights, and the spinning punch gets 2. Nash comes in and hits the side slam for 2. Sting finally comes back and gets the hot tag to Macho, who cleans house. Double axe to the outside on Hall, then the same back inside, but Nash hits him with a ballshot so hard Im surprised Macho was able to do anything with Gorgeous George. BIG pop for Hogan as he finally comes out, and as he's about to climb in the ring, Bobby asks "But whose side is he on?" Tony immediately dismisses that as Hall and Nash bail as Hogan comes in, and then history is made as he drops the leg on Savage, then does it two more times. ** Hogan then gives THE INTERVIEW and sets 3 years of television programming. Match was nothing really, and there was never even an official decision given. This was all about Hogan and the interview. Garbage litters the ring as Hogan talks to Mean Gene, and Nash beats the everliving hell out of a fan who charges the ring. Hall got a hella stiff kick to the guy too. This was the absolute best of what WCW could do in the creative process, as the angle went down perfectly, the announcers were right on for the main event call, and most importantly of all, Bobby Heenan was finally vindicated after he had told people for so long how bad Hogan was.
Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat
This was for Flair's NWA Title. During the match, Magnum T.A. talks about the title belt, and says it was quoted at about $40,000, but it's probably increased in the last few years because of inflation. I must say, Flair got ripped off then when he jumped to the WWF and had to sell the belt. Jim Ross also makes a mistake as he's talking about the history of the NWA title, starting in 1905, and mentions that the title has changed hands in Chicago before, in 1961, when Nature Boy Buddy Rogers upset Lou Thesz......actually, Buddy defeated Pat O'Connor, and you can find out all about THAT MATCH in my Wrestling Classics Volume 1 rant. Cheap plug.
Big pops for both Flair and Steamboat on their entrance. Shoulderblock gets 2 for Ricky right away. Flair drops down after a whip, but Ricky puts the brakes on, going to the side headlock. Nice. Ricky flips out of a belly to back attempt and gets a rollup for 2, and Flair bails. Back in, cheapshot by Flair, but Ricky isn't playin that shit and comes back with chops and a back body drop. Flair begs off then decides to open up with chops, but Ricky says "Fuck you" and chops Flair clear off his feet. Staredown, and the crowd is getting pumped as they know this is just the beginning. Nice headlock reversal to drop toe hold sequence leads to a dropkick and side headlock takeover for 2 by Ricky, but Flair counters that for 2. We trade a few more 2 counts before they just start opening up with VICIOUS chops until Ricky gets 2, and Flair bails. Don't blame him there......BTW, if I havent accurately conveyed the magnitude of these chops, just picture Benoit and his clone in a chopping contest against each other. Flair back in for a staredown, then they fight over a lockup as JR mentions how funny it is that both of these great athletes from different backgrounds (Minnesota and Hawaii) somehow ended up in North Carolina. Well, considering that North Carolina was just about the only territory still alive, it's not really that shocking. Shoulderblock by Flair, and an off the ropes sequence leads to absolutely staggering chops by Steamboat. Test of strength time, but both guys are extremely tentative, and finally Flair taunts Ricky. We get going again (not that the match or intensity actually slowed down) as Ricky gets a hiptoss, headscissors takeover, and dropkick. Side headlock takeover gets a hot 2 count as this crowd is jacked. Trading just brutal punches and chops now. Ricky with a shoulderblock, but Flair comes back wit da SICILIAN ELBOW!!!!! Ricky answers that by just chopping the living shit outta Flair until Flair goes over the top rope. Damn. Flair decides he wants to hand out some actual punishment himself, so he drags Ricky out and says "Kiss the rail, boy". Flair searches for a chair and can't find one, so he just throws Ricky into the rail again.
Back in, snapmare and knee drop get a couple 1 counts, then a 2 count. Beautiful butterfly suplex only gets 1. Flair just crushes Ricky in the corner, then Ricky comes back and does the same. Flair Flip, and it actually works as Flair runs to the other corner and gets a quick flying crossbody....but Ricky rolls through for a mega-hot 2 count. Considering this is 89, that's probably the first time since Crockett Cup 87 he actually got the move.....although both times it was rolled through for 2. Anyway.....Flair is pissed, but he gets an atomic drop, and it's figure 4 time as Flair grabs the ropes for everything he can get. Ref Tommy Young finally forces the break after he catches Flair, and Steamboat and Flair stand toe to toe trading punishment. Ouch. Outside, and they trade more viciousness until Ricky gets posted. Stalling vertical inside gets 2 for Flair, as does a second cover. Belly to back for a long 2, and Flair gets right in Tommy Young's face after that one. In a funny moment, Young just points at his NWA badge on his shirt, then points at Steamboat, basically saying "Go to it champ." Backbreaker, and Ricky fights off about five 2 counts as Flair has feet on the ropes for more leverage. Awesome visual there. Ricky tries a splash, but Flair dodges and we hit the Flair pin reversal spot, finally getting a butterfly suplex by Ricky for 2. Fighting over a backslide until Ricky wins and gets 2. More big chops and clothesline get 2. The whole building is literally standing up here. Ricky goes up top, just to see if he can make them more excited, and hits the judo chop. Again, but Young gets caught along with Flair on the crossbody. Flair gets a surprise rollup with a handful of tights, but no ref. Flair tries to toss Ricky outside, but Ricky holds on and powers back in, but misses a flying splash. New ref in, going for the figure 4 again, but Ricky counters for the 3 and the title as the roof blows off the place. Holy shit. ***** Steamboat celebrates the title win with his wife and son. They would go on to have two more ***** matches at Clash VI and WrestleWar 89. All three are great, but this one's my personal favorite.
Hogan vs. Sting
Well, this is the blowoff for 18 months of storyline. BIG pop for Sting. We get a couple manly (note the sarcasm there) bitchslaps to start, then a HUGE Hogan sucks chant. Maybe the fans could smell the bullshit coming. Rights by Hogan, corner clothesline, and slam. He goes for an elbow drop three times, but Sting moves each time. Dropkick puts Hogan out, and we stall. Back in for a shoulderblock from Hogan, but another dropkick sends Hogan out again. Back in, and Sting hits the side headlock. DAMN IT!!!! This is just so frustrating to watch. Clothesline and superplex gets no-sold by Sting, and he beats some ass. About time. Hogan with a cheapshot back and throws Sting into the timekeepers table outside. Shot with the baseball bat., and into the post. Rights by Sting, and whips Hogan into the railing, who promptly takes it like a pussy. Stinger Splash meets nothing but rail, and I'm glad to say he took it like a man at least. Hogan crotches Sting on the railing. Atomic drop and choking. Big boot and leg drop get the 3......but wait, Bret Hart is at ringside, and says that Nick Patrick's count was fast (it looked alright to me) and won't allow the bell to ring. We start again as Bret tosses Hogan back in, Stinger Splash, Sting fights off Scott Norton and Buff, another Splash, Scorpion Deathlock get the submission to end one of the most pathetic things I've ever witnessed. 1/4* The whole match is a fuckin waste of people's precious money, time, and energy that they spent watching compelling television, just waiting for when Sting would finally get the chance to lay into Hogan. Remember on Nitro when Jo Jo Dillon kept trying to offer up opponents to Sting, but he just wanted Hogan. Hogan would run like a sniveling coward baby everytime though. Then, we get to Starrcade, and the match is shit, as Hogan is suddenly a badass, and the guy who has been waiting for vengeance for 18 months is made to look like a fuckin pile of shit by Hogan's wrestling and the stupid finish that came after it. And WCW actually wondered why people were tuning into WWF to see Stone Cold beat ass and actually get the win when he was done. This match should have lasted no longer than 3 minutes........Hogan desperately comes out to pound Sting, he takes it for about 2 minutes, then just shakes his finger at Hogan, Death Drop, Deathlock, see ya. THEN, with the gift WWF gave them in Bret Hart, they could have ran for a couple MORE years fighting over who really was the champ, or the better wrestler, or whatever. I mean, you have a champ who was just screwed by the rival company because he was coming to YOUR company, a guy who just culminated the greatest angle in history, and to top it off they both use the same submission finisher.......HELLO!!!!!! WAS ANYBODY AWAKE OUT THERE?!!!!!! Instead, the fans got shit upon. That's why WCW is gone and WWF is here. Plain and simple.
Comments----I just have to believe that this balloting was rigged. I have no trouble believing that most marks would want Bash and Sting/Hogan on the tape, but I find it very difficult to believe that most marks would even REMEMBER Flair/Steamboat, let alone vote it in the top 4. Cactus and Vader just seems to me like a very easy way to cash in on Mick's WWF success by saying "Hey, look, it's Mick Foley when he was Cactus Jack, he's hardcore, buy our tape." Honestly, if Mick wasn't a successful WWF star, he would NEVER be on this tape. But I'm definately no complaining....in fact, we need to truly thank whoever rigged the ballot to get those matches on there.
Official Grade-- A. No doubt here. Flair/Steamboat and Vader/Cactus are must-sees, without question. The Outsiders and the Hogan interview are truly historic industry changing events and worth the view if you want to relive that moment. Even with the piece of shit that was Hogan/Sting on this tape, the other 3 matches MORE than make up for it. And with the Hogan/Sting match the last one on the tape, you can just stop after Flair/Steamboat, which is highly convenient. It's actually amazing that WCW, the company that fucked up so much, put together such an awesome tape. Most importantly....ZERO CLIPPING!!!! When I bought this tape I was fully expecting it, but it never happened. May God bless whoever put together this tape.