THE MOSS COVERED THREE HANDLED FAMILY CREDENZA
ARTICLE #7
OCTOBER 1, 2001
It’s Vader Time!!!
While the return of Ric Flair certainly helped WCW, it was probably the constant greatness of Vader that held the faltering company together through its driest box office period. Look at the Pro Wrestling Torch’s 1993 Match of the Year awards: the top 3 matches featured Vader against Flair, Sting & Cactus Jack (not sure if that was the order). Vader also had some great matches against British Bulldog, including one reviewed below.
Few will argue against 1993 being Vader’s best in-ring year. Since his pro debut in 1986, the wrestling world knew that this superheavyweight had potential to be a star. However, few had any idea as to the extent of that potential. Over the next several years, Vader would gain weight, yet grow in his in-ring athletic output. He became a monster heel who could use the top rope as effectively as any big man in the industry. Vader was certainly not a high flier, especially since he weighed at least 350 pounds, but his splashes off the middle and top ropes became among the deadliest and most believable in wresling. He became such an effective monster in his mannerisms and psychology that he was probably one of the few wrestlers who could regularly add to the excitement of a match by no-selling. As the 1990s began, Vader also became an amazing bump-taker for a superheavyweight, enabling much smaller opponents, who were often crowd favorites, to throw him around the ring with relative ease. All that bump-taking actually did not seem to hinder his credibility as a monster heel, since he was such a good all-around worker and fans could realize that.
Vader’s ability to adapt his style to better fit the 1990s version of David vs Goliath matches enhanced his value. Gone were the days of an extended squash followed by a couple lucky moves by the underdog and miscues by the giant leading to the inevitable result. Vader’s matches were quite competitive, and some could argue that he gave some of his opponents too much offense. While on offense, Vader would compensate with some of the stiffest strikes seen in the U.S. at the time. That stiffness became a focal point of Vader’s reputation, which caused some opponents, especially jobbers, to fear the possibility of facing him in the ring. Also, Vader added a new dimension to his already-impressive offense in mid-1993: a moonsault, which was a monumental feat for someone who weighed nearly 400 pounds at the time.
In this article, I review five of Vader’s most memorable matches of 1993.
Strap Match: Vader (w/Harley Race) vs Sting 2/21/93
Vader dominated the early portion as he basically overpowered Sting. Vader elbowed Sting’s leg and whipped him with the strap. Vader hit a second rope splash on Sting. Sting recovered, crotched Vader with the strap and knocked him down with a series of blows. Sting gave Vader a Kawada-like kick and a clothesline off the second rope. Sting splashed Vader from the top rope twice and then whipped Vader with the strap. Sting used the strap to pull Vader into the ringpost outside the ring twice. Sting slammed Vader on the floor and touched 2 ringposts outside the ring but Vader then whipped him into the barricade. Sting gave Vader a Samoan drop. Vader fought back and attempted a powerbomb but Sting backdropped him. Sting missed a top rope splash and Vader gave him a big splash. Vader’s back was bleeding from the shots he took from Sting whipping him with the strap earlier. Vader gave Sting a Samoan drop and a Vader bomb (2nd rope inverted splash). He whipped Sting with the strap and gave him a Samoan drop off the second rope. Vader touched 2 posts but Sting cut him off. Vader missed a Vader bomb but recovered. He went to the top rope but Sting crotched him by pulling on the strap. Sting pulled Vader and Vader took a flip bump off the top rope. They traded blows but Vader maintained the advantage. Vader superplexed Sting and touched 3 posts but Sting kicked him to end the victory attempt. Vader pummeled Sting with his clubbing strikes. Sting fought back with a koppo kick as Vader pulled the strap. Sting gave Vader a great released German suplex. He DDTd Vader and pounded him in the corner. Sting lifted Vader, who accidentally kicked the ref and knocked him for a loop. Sting lifted and carried Vader as he touched 3 corners but just missed the 4th when he caved under Vader’s weight. By this point Vader was also bleeding from the ear. Vader regained the advantage and touched three corners. Sting held on but kicked Vader, which caused Vader to back up and touch the 4th corner to win the match at 20:56. A remarkable and memorable match, one of the best strap matches ever. Vader turned in a hall of fame performance while Sting held up his end. ****1/4
WCW Title: Vader (w/Harley Race) (c) vs British Bulldog 5/23/93
They started slow with tests of power and stature. Vader was unable to knock Bulldog down with a short lariat nor could he with one of his running Big Van crushes. Vader pounded Bulldog in the corner with his trademark clubbing strikes. Race punched Bulldog outside the ring. Vader missed a splash and crashed into the barricade and fell into the crowd. Bulldog slammed Vader on the floor. Back in the ring Bulldog gave Vader an amazing vertical suplex but ran into a boot in the corner. Vader jumped off the second rope but Bulldog caught him with a powerslam. Bulldog clotheslined Vader over the top rope to the floor. He attempted a crucifix but Vader countered with a Samoan drop. Vader elbowsmashed Bulldog’s thigh twice. Vader hit a Vader bomb for a near fall. Vader continued to dominate Bulldog and gave him a Big Van crush off the second rope. Vader gave Bulldog more stiff blows in the corner. He went for a superplex but Bulldog countered and threw Vader front first to the canvas. Bulldog hit a top rope headbutt but hurt himself as well. Bulldog lifted Vader and dropped him on his butt for a near fall. Vader fought back and gave Bulldog a lariat. Bulldog went for a sunset flip, Vader went to pounce on him, but Bulldog moved out of the way. Bulldog gained a near fall but Vader maintained the advantage. Vader snapmared Bulldog and gave him a top rope splash but appeared to injure his ribs in the process. Vader threw Bulldog out of the ring and Race gave him a kneedrop. Vader gave Bulldog more clubbing punches and forearms in the corner and then hit a sitting splash. Vader applied a loose camel clutch but Bulldog lifted him up and dropped him backwards onto the mat. Bulldog scored with some clubbing blows of his own and a lariat for a near fall. Vader attempted a corner splash but Bulldog caught him and powerslammed him for a near fall. Race dragged Bulldog out of the ring but Bulldog struck back. Vader hit Bulldog with a chair at 16:19 and got DQed as a result. Vader continued to assault Bulldog until Sting made the save. An excellent match as Vader was his usual great self and Bulldog kept up with him. ****
Sting & British Bulldog vs Vader & Sid Vicious (w/Harley Race) 7/18/93
Sting got the better of Sid early on with moves such as a bulldog and a lariat. Sid fought back and chokeslammed Sting. Sting and Bulldog surprised their opponents with clotheslines off the top rope. Vader nailed Bulldog with his trademark clubbing blows in the corner. Vader gave Bulldog a short lariat and a headbutt. Bulldog gave Vader a vertical suplex for a pop but Vader fought back with a Big Van crush. Vader elbowsmashed Bulldog’s thigh. Vader clotheslined Bulldog and Sid gave him a high kick. Sid applied a loose version of the camel clutch on Bulldog. Vader gave Bulldog another Big Van crush and continued to batter him. Bulldog went for a sunset flip, Vader attempted to counter with a splash, but Bulldog moved. Vader recovered and elbowsmashed Bulldog. Sid picked up where Vader left off for a time. Bulldog fought back and slammed Sid. Race held Bulldog for Vader but Bulldog moved and Vader hit Race with a Big Van crush. Sting finally tagged in and went to work on both opponents. He dropkicked Vader and punched Sid out of the ring. Vader missed a corner splash but recovered and gave Sting a lariat. Sid dominated Sting with his usual unspectacular offense. Vader hit Sting with clubbing blows in the corner. He gave Sting a second rope Big Van crush. Vader went for a superplex but Sting fought back. Vader elbowsmashed Sting and Sid continued the dominance of Sting. Sid missed an elbowsmash. Bulldog lit into Sid but ran into a boot. Vader gave Bulldog a Samoan drop for a near fall. Vader gained another near fall with a Vader bomb. Sting and Sid fought on the entrance ramp. Vader then went to the top rope and moonsaulted Bulldog in one of the great highspots in wrestling history. Bulldog gave Vader a crucifix and pinned him at 16:44. A very good match with Vader carrying things for his team. It could have been great if Sting had made the hot tag at the end for a hot closing stretch. But the quality of the match means nothing- Vader’s moonsault automatically provided one of the most memorable moments of the 1990s. ***1/4
Texas Death Match: Vader (w/Harley Race) vs Cactus Jack 10/23/93
Cactus charged Vader on the ramp before the bell and attacked him. Vader fought back with some clubbing blows but hit his arm on the ringpost when Cactus ducked. They continued to trade blows outside the ring. Cactus hit Vader with a fan’s camera and with a chair. Cactus ran into a boot and Vader gave him a lariat. Vader gave Cactus more clubbing strikes in the corner and knocked him out of the ring onto the ramp. Vader attempted to suplex Cactus back into the ring but Cactus countered and suplexed Vader onto the ramp. Cactus back suplexed Vader on the ramp. Race went to hit Cactus with a chair but got punched for his efforts. Cactus hit Vader twice with the chair and they fought into a graveyard set and into a mock grave above which the tombstone read “R.I.P. Vader”. Cactus maintained the advantage but was busted open as was Vader. Cactus clotheslined Vader for a pin. Vader recovered during the 30 second rest period but Cactus hit him with a fake cactus that was part of the stage. Cactus elbowed Vader off the apron to the floor and pinned him. Vader recovered again but was bleeding badly. Vader fought back but Cactus aborted his comeback. Cactus brought a table into the ring. Vader scored with a barrage of stiff blows but Cactus whipped him into the table for a near fall. Cactus hit Vader with the table. He attempted a sunset flip off the apron to the floor, Vader attempted a splash but Cactus moved. Cactus slingshot Vader into the barricade. He dove at Vader but Vader moved and Cactus landed hard on the concrete. Vader backdropped Cactus over the barricade to the floor at ringside. A cameraman caught Race holding a stun gun. Vader moonsaulted Cactus and pinned him. Cactus recovered before the count reached 10 but Vader continued to dominate him. Vader squashed Cactus on the ramp and hit him with a chair. Vader then DDTd Cactus on the chair. Several attendants checked on Cactus’s condition. Vader pinned Cactus but Cactus recovered before the end of the rest period and DDTd Vader on the ramp. As Cactus got back to his feet Race jabbed him in the leg with the stun gun. As a result, Vader got to his feet first and won because the rest period was not discontinued and the 10 count was still in effect, ending the match at 16:08. A classic brawl but the screwy ending hurt it. Cactus DDTd Race on the ramp after the match. ****
WCW Title: Vader (c) w/Harley Race vs Ric Flair 12/27/93
Vader overpowered Flair early in the match. Vader chased Flair outside and back into the ring as Flair was trying to tire him out. Vader hit Flair with his clubbing punches and gave him a short lariat. Flair fought back with two of his trademark chops, but they had little effect on Vader. Vader gave Flair more clubbing blows in the corner and then press slammed him. Vader press slammed Flair neck first onto the ringside barricade. He missed a splash against the barricade and Flair lit into him with a barrage of blows. Flair sent Vader into the ringpost. Race attacked Flair at ringside to turn the tables. Vader suplexed Flair back into the ring. Vader then suplexed Flair from the apron into the ring on the opposite side. Vader continued to pummel Flair and threw him into the corner, resulting in Flair taking his flip bump and collapsing on the ramp. Vader continued to dominate Flair, including aborting a couple of attempted comebacks by Flair. Vader slammed Flair for a near fall and gave him a second rope lariat. Vader missed a second rope splash and Flair came off the top rope with an elbow. Flair hit a kneedrop but Vader quickly recovered and gave Flair a lariat. Vader superplexed Flair and elbowsmashed his thigh. Vader missed a big splash but recovered with a Big Van crush. Race attacked Flair again outside the ring. Flair landed a couple chops and Vader missed a corner splash. Vader recovered and hit a second corner splash attempt. Vader pummeled Flair again in the corner. Flair fought back with a ton of chops and punches and wrapped Vader’s leg around the post. He hit Vader’s leg with a chair as the ref was distracted by Race. Flair pummeled Vader outside the ring. He hit Vader with a chair and gave him a lariat outside the ring. Flair worked on Vader’s leg back in the ring and went to apply a figure 4 leglock but Vader kicked him away. Vader missed a Vader bomb and Flair successfully applied a figure 4 leglock. Flair ran into Vader’s boot and Vader elbowed Flair’s thigh again. Vader missed a moonsault and Flair gained a near fall. As Vader lifted Flair off of him Race came off the top rope but landed on Vader. Flair hit Vader with a slew of chops. Vader gave him a Big Van crush but hurt his leg in the process. Flair rolled Vader up and pinned him at 21:11 to win the title as fans popped huge for the result. Not a classic, but very close. Amazing how Vader could let Flair beat him up so much yet maintain his credibility, but in 1993 Vader was that damn good. ****1/4
NEXT ISSUE: FMW: It’s Da Bomb!!!
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