THE MOSS COVERED THREE HANDLED FAMILY CREDENZA
ARTICLE # 72
SEPTEMBER 1, 2003
Clash of the Champions: Prime Cuts
Before the era of the Monday Night Wars made us take competitive matches and good quality TV matches for granted, a few times a year NWA/WCW would give us such matches for free on TBS. Not all these shows were good, and a few were pretty atrocious, but many of them produced some of the best non-PPV matches ever televised. Although I have previously looked at the 3 best matches in Clash of Champions history, here I take a look at 7 more quality matches that made these shows successful.
12/7/88 Clash of Champions IV: Ric Flair & Barry Windham (w/JJ Dillon) vs Midnight Express (Stan Lane & Bobby Eaton) w/Jim Cornette
Flair taunted Eaton but Eaton slapped him. Flair punched Eaton and chopped him twice. They traded blows with Eaton winning with a series of punches. Eaton whipped Flair into the corner and backdropped him. Eaton punched Flair and whipped him into the corner. Flair took his flip bump to the apron but ran into a punch from Lane. Lane gave Flair a savate kick. After a commercial, Flair slapped Eaton and gave him a boot scrape. Flair slapped Eaton and chopped him. Flair punched Eaton and Eaton fell out of the ring. Windham dropped Eaton neck first across the barricade. Flair gave Eaton an axhandle off the apron and chopped him on the floor. Flair chopped Eaton and Windham gave him a lariat for a near fall. Windham gut wrench suplexed Eaton and kneedropped him. Windham applied a sleeper on Eaton. Flair punched Eaton but Eaton responded in kind. Flair chopped Eaton but walked into a punch. Flair elbowed Eaton but Eaton punched him. Eaton won an exchange of blows with Flair. Lane attacked both opponents with savate kicks and punches. Lane backdropped Flair and backdropped Windham as well. Lane rammed his opponents� heads together and kicked Windham. Eaton clotheslined Windham and Lane knocked Flair over the top rope to the floor with a superkick. Eaton gave Windham a top rope legdrop. Cornette hit Dillon with his tennis racquet. Flair hit Eaton with a shoe when the ref�s back was turned. Windham then pinned Eaton. Just 7:17 aired (this aired on the WCW All-Nighter in 1994), and I�m sure the match lasted several minutes longer given what was shown after the break. Looked like a good if not very good match like you�d expect, but not near the classic match these four were capable of at the time. Then again, very little of the body of the match was shown, which is where the Midnight Express were often at their best as a team. Probably in the *** range.
9/5/90 Clash of Champions XII WCW U.S. Title: Lex Luger (c) vs Ric Flair
Luger headlocked and tackled Flair. Luger went for a test of strength but Flair kicked him. Luger no-sold a couple chops from Flair. Flair kicked Luger but Luger whipped him into the corner and press slammed him. Flair stalled on the floor. Flair gave Luger a kneelift and whipped him into the corner but Luger no-sold another chop. Luger press slammed Flair and clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor. Luger clotheslined Flair on the floor but Flair punched him and raked his eyes. Flair brought Luger�s neck down across the top rope but Luger held on and backed Flair down. Luger press slammed Flair but missed an elbowsmash. Flair gave Luger a couple chops and whipped him into the corner but Luger ran out of the corner and clotheslined him. Flair sold his shoulder but suckered Luger into a punch. Flair stomped Luger and threw him out of the ring. Flair whipped Luger into the barricade twice. Flair punched Luger and stomped him. Flair chopped Luger and threw him out of the ring. Flair chopped Luger twice and rammed him into the barricade. Flair kicked Luger�s left knee and rammed his knee into the apron. Flair kicked Luger�s knee twice and chopped him. Flair alternated chops and kicks to the knee. They traded blows and Luger fought back with a series of punches. Flair poked Luger�s eyes but Luger blocked a hiptoss and gave Flair a backslide for a near fall. Luger no-sold two chops from Flair. Flair gave Luger more chops but Luger gave him several punches in the corner. Luger countered an atomic drop and clotheslined Flair for a near fall. Flair snapmared Luger for a near fall and stomped him. Luger caught Flair on the top rope and slammed him to the mat. Luger whipped Flair into the corner, Flair took his flip bump to the apron and Luger clotheslined him. Luger press slammed Flair and powerslammed him. Flair poked Luger�s eyes but Luger caught him in a bearhug. Luger placed Flair on the top rope and superplexed him for a near fall. Luger gave Flair some punches but Flair poked his eyes when the ref tried to restrain Luger. Luger missed a clothesline, Flair gave him a cross bodyblock and they both tumbled to the floor. Luger punched Flair but Flair whipped him into the barricade. Luger punched Flair and returned to the ring but Stan Hansen then ran in and attacked him out of nowhere for the DQ at 14:26. Given the circumstances with Flair as challenger and his stature a screwjob was to be expected and the bookers did not �disappoint�. Oh well, this was a really good match thanks in large part to Flair, who once again made Luger look like a million bucks. Flair on offense was a bit methodical for my taste, but that was his style and everything he did had meaning. Flair�s real worth here, though, was in taking bumps for Luger�s offense and doing a great job of selling for him. To Luger�s credit, he wasn�t as bad back in 1990 as he would be in later years as his offense seemed sharper and more intense. This was nowhere nearly as dramatic as their dramatic �88 and �90 PPV battles (Wrestle War comes to mind for me), but mainly because this was shorter and the stakes weren�t as great so they had a weaker starting point. Still one of Luger�s better singles matches. ***1/2
11/17/91 Clash of Champions XVII WCW Tag Team Title: Enforcers (Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszco) (c) vs Dustin Rhodes & Ricky Steamboat
Barry Windham was supposed to be in this match, but was out of action nursing/selling a hand injury. He and Rhodes brought out the returning Steamboat to a huge pop, and fans stayed hot for much of the match. Steamboat gave Anderson some chops but Anderson raked his eyes. Steamboat was double teamed but fought his way out of the heels� corner with chops and punches to both opponents. Rhodes attacked Anderson with punches as Steamboat got the better of Zbyszco and the fight left the ring. Steamboat chopped Zbyszco and Rhodes rammed Anderson into the ringpost. Zbyszco fought back but Steamboat rammed him into the corner and gave him a flying elbow. Rhodes punched Anderson and Steamboat him an atomic drop. Steamboat dropkicked Anderson out of the ring and the champs stalled on the floor. Steamboat headlocked Zbyszco and tackled him. Steamboat took Zbyszco down with a headlock but Zbyszco rolled him up for a near fall. Rhodes kicked Zbyszco and gave him an armwringer. Rhodes legdropped Zbyszco�s arm and applied an armbar. Zbyszco slammed Rhodes but Rhodes maintained the armbar. Steamboat jumped off the top rope with a chop to Zbyszco�s arm and rammed Zbyszco�s arm into the ringpost twice. Rhodes kneedropped Zbyszco�s arm and applied an armbar. Rhodes kneedropped the arm again but Zbyszco tagged Anderson and Anderson pounded Rhodes. Anderson kicked and punched Rhodes in the corner. Rhodes whipped Anderson into the corner but ran into a knee to the gut. Rhodes caught Anderson on the top rope and went to slam him to the mat but Anderson poked his eyes. Anderson gave Rhodes a top rope axhandle and a boot scrape. Anderson whipped Rhodes into the corner but ran into a knee and a boot. Rhodes gave both opponents bionic elbows and Steamboat punched Anderson from the apron. The champs rolled out of the ring again. Steamboat chopped and superkicked Anderson but Anderson gave him a low blow. Steamboat sunset flipped Anderson for a near fall but Zbyszco was tagged in and stomped Steamboat. Zbyszco slammed Steamboat and gave him a boot scrape. Zbyszco applied an abdominal stretch and held onto Anderson�s hand for added leverage. Anderson punched Steamboat but Steamboat fought back. Steamboat telegraphed a backdrop and Anderson elbowed him. Anderson back suplexed Steamboat for a near fall. Anderson landed some punches but Steamboat responded with chops. Anderson telegraphed a backdrop and Steamboat rammed him into the mat. Zbyszco stomped Steamboat for a near fall. Steamboat punched Zbyszco but Zbyszco gave him a backbreaker for a near fall. Steamboat raked Zbyszco�s eyes and went for a slam but Zbyszco fell on top of him for a near fall. Zbyszco applied a front chancery and gave him a drop toehold. Anderson stomped Steamboat and punched Rhodes. Anderson bearhugged Steamboat and gained a couple near falls. Anderson mounted Steamboat but Steamboat applied a bodyscissors. Anderson countered with a Boston crab on Steamboat. Zbyszco tagged in and applied his own Boston crab on Steamboat. Rhodes tagged in but the ref didn�t see the tag. Steamboat punched Anderson and chopped him. Anderson whipped Steamboat into the corner but missed a punch and Steamboat atomic dropped him into the corner. Anderson and Steamboat hit heads. Anderson jumped off the top rope but hit his head on Steamboat�s boots. Rhodes made the hot tag and hit both opponents with punches. Rhodes clotheslined Zbyszco and slammed Anderson. Rhodes punched both opponents and gave Anderson a bulldog. Steamboat came off the top rope with a chop on Zbyszco. Zbyszco threw Steamboat over the top rope but Steamboat went to the top rope and gave Anderson a flying bodypress for the pin at 14:48 to win the title (12:36 aired). A sensational match and perhaps my all-time favorite Clash of Champions memory. Steamboat was making his return to WCW after a forgettable stint in the WWF as �The Dragon�. He was like Steamboat circa 1989 with a vintage performance here. He was as fired up as he ever got and stole the show with his work. Anderson was just as valuable, though, because of how well he sold for his opponents. His mannerisms were animated yet not overdone, and added meaning to every move. Even Zbyszco was very good. When the setting and the workers around him would not allow Zbyszco to do his excessive stalling, he was a pretty solid worker who could keep up with most great workers. Rhodes, even with all the politics in WCW at the time, was one of my favorites back in 1991. The Dustin Rhodes of 1991 and 1992 was a much better worker than Rhodes/Goldust since 1993. His intensity was great and he had an aura of freshness in his charisma. The body of the match was really dramatic with one hope spot after another before Rhodes made the hot tag. The beginning was just sensational though as the faces popped the crowd with their work. Not quite a classic match, but very close. ****1/4
6/16/92 Clash of Champions XIX: Brian Pillman & Jushin Liger vs Chris Benoit & Beef Wellington
Liger and Benoit started out with a wristlock/flip counter sequence. Benoit gave Liger a fireman�s carry takedown. Benoit won a test of strength but Liger bridged up. Liger gave Benoit an overhead suplex. Benoit headlocked and tackled Liger. Liger armdragged Benoit twice. Liger countered a backdrop and sidestepped a dropkick from Benoit. Liger missed a dropkick as well. Beef headlocked Pillman and tackled him. They did a criss cross and Pillman monkey flipped Beef. Pillman dropkicked Beef out of the ring and knocked him off the apron to the floor with another dropkick. Pillman charged but Beef gave him a slingshot shoulderblock. Beef snap suplexed Pillman and threw him out of the ring. Beef tried to suplex Pillman back into the ring but Pillman countered and suplexed Beef over the top rope to the floor. Pillman chopped Beef and Liger gave him a bunch of quick roundhouse kicks. Beef took Liger down and applied a leglock. Benoit headbutted Liger and chopped him twice. Benoit clotheslined Liger and tackled him. They did a criss cross and Benoit gave Liger an enzuguiri. Benoit rammed Liger into the corner. Beef threw Liger clear out of the ring but missed a tope. Liger whipped Beef into the corner and monkey flipped him. Pillman kicked Beef but Benoit tagged in and kicked him. Benoit elbowed and tackled Pillman. They did a criss cross and Pillman used Benoit�s own momentum to throw him out of the ring. Benoit kicked Pillman but Pillman caught him on the top rope. Pillman gave Benoit a back superplex and a top rope dropkick. Benoit rolled out of the ring and moved when Pillman ran towards him but Pillman then gave him a flying bodypress from the apron. Pillman and Benoit traded chops in the aisle. Benoit took Pillman down but Beef missed an elbowsmash. Beef whipped Liger into the corner but missed a corner splash and crashed to the floor. Liger hit a plancha on Beef for a pop. Beef missed a clothesline but countered a crucifix with a Samoan drop on Liger for a near fall. Benoit kicked Liger and rammed him into the corner. Benoit placed Liger on the top rope and went for a top rope back superplex but Liger fell on top of him. Beef stomped Liger but Liger recovered and spin kicked Benoit out of the ring. Liger hit an Asai moonsault on Benoit. Benoit elbowed Pillman but Pillman countered a backdrop. Benoit pulled Pillman into a kick from Beef. Beef slammed Pillman but missed a top rope dropkick. Liger gave Beef a sloppy back suplex but Benoit prevented the pin. Beef rammed Liger into a corner and gave him a kneelift as Pillman and Benoit left the ring. Pillman and Benoit traded chops on the floor. Pillman rammed Benoit into the apron. Beef and Benoit were whipped into each other. Pillman dropkicked Benoit and Liger moonsaulted Beef for the pin at 11:32. A great match with Pillman, Liger and Benoit all looking great. Beef prevented this from hitting the **** level because several of his spots were sloppy and he didn�t work well with Liger, who was arguably the best worker in wrestling at the time. Pillman looked great with his spots that, while not as spectacular as Liger�s, were a step above what just about every American worker was doing at the time. Benoit was great with his top rope and high impact offense. Liger was still the vintage standard setting high flyer he was known as, and it was fun to see him before injuries forced him to tone down his style. The exchanges between Liger and Benoit were exceptional and far greater than the other exchanges in the match. Thankfully, there were plenty of Liger-Benoit exchanges, although Benoit also worked well with Pillman. Wellington was a fifth wheel, but not enough to bring the match down too much. ***3/4
6/18/93 Clash of Champions XXIII NWA Title: Barry Windham (c) vs Too Cold Scorpio
Scorpio rolled out of harm�s way and dropkicked Windham. Windham gave Scorpio an armwringer but Scorpio slammed him. Windham gave Scorpio a kneelift and punched him. Windham whipped Scorpio into the corner and gave him a running lariat. Windham punched Scorpio and whipped him into the corner but Scorpio eluded him and took him down. Scorpio went for a half crab but Windham quickly grabbed the ropes. Windham raked Scorpio�s eyes and punched him. Scorpio whipped Windham into the corner, ducked a clothesline but missed a clothesline of his own. Windham kicked Scorpio and gave him a top rope lariat. Windham slammed Scorpio and gave him a kneedrop. Windham vertical suplexed Scorpio for a near fall and raked his eyes angrily. Scorpio elbowed Windham twice and punched him. They traded punches but Scorpio then missed a dropkick. Windham DDTd Scorpio for a near fall. Windham went for a slam but Scorpio rolled him up for a near fall. Windham punched Scorpio and gut wrench suplexed him for a near fall. Windham landed a couple punches but Scorpio fought back and dropkicked him. Windham clotheslined Scorpio and dropped him neck first across the top rope. Windham threw Scorpio out of the ring. Windham pounded Scorpio on the apron. Scorpio gave Windham a couple shoulderblocks and dove onto him for a near fall. Windham kicked Scorpio and dropkicked him. Windham gave Scorpio a Samoan drop for a near fall. Windham punched Scorpio twice and back suplexed him for a near fall. Windham slapped Scorpio and they traded blows until Windham raked Scorpio�s eyes. Scorpio countered a Samoan drop and sunset flipped Windham for a near fall. Windham clotheslined Scorpio but Scorpio flipped out of a back suplex attempt and back suplexed Windham. Windham punched Scorpio and placed him on the top rope. Windham went for a superplex but Scorpio blocked it and dropped him to the mat. Scorpio hit a top rope corkscrew splash for a near fall and gave Windham a huracanrana. Scorpio punched and superkicked Windham. Scorpio gave Windham a cool rollup for a near fall. Scorpio slammed Windham and hit a slingshot 450 splash for a great near fall. Scorpio gave Windham a top rope dropkick for a near fall. Windham threw Scorpio out of the ring but Scorpio landed on his feet. Scorpio went for a slingshot move but Windham punched him in mid-air. Windham DDTd Scorpio for the pin at 12:51. The closest thing to a technically flawless match you�ll ever see Scorpio in. There were a few flaws, including the finish as it was a bit sudden, and I think the closing stretch was a bit too short given how they worked the rest of the match. From a technical standpoint this was among the best matches of Scorpio�s career and turned out to be perhaps the last great singles match of Windham�s career. Windham�s workrate could have been a tad stronger, but he was masterful in leading Scorpio through the match and did so many little things well, including his heelish charisma and his selling. Although the closing stretch was short, Windham gave Scorpio just enough offense and near falls to make it work. This had a Japanese feel to it, with the veteran vs underdog storyline as well as the dramatic near falls towards the end. Windham�s offense, had he been a regular with All Japan during the early 90s, would have made him one of the best gaijin workers in puroresu if not the best. Some will underrate this match because the work wasn�t quite as spectacular as it could have been. This was one of those matches that must be viewed multiple times in order for it to be fully appreciated. ***3/4
8/28/94 Clash of Champions XXVIII WCW U.S. Title: Steve Austin (c) vs Ricky Steamboat
Austin took Steamboat down with a headlock but Steamboat countered with a headscissors. Austin took Steamboat down with a headlock again but again Steamboat countered with a headscissors. Austin shoved Steamboat but Steamboat shoved him to the mat. Steamboat took down Austin with a headlock but Austin rolled him up for a near fall. Austin missed a clothesline and Steamboat gave him a cross bodyblock but Austin rolled through for a near fall. Austin rolled up Steamboat and pulled his tights for a near fall. Steamboat won an exchange of chops but telegraphed a backdrop and Austin kicked him. Austin landed a couple chops but missed a third and Steamboat dropkicked him twice. Steamboat chopped Austin and whipped him into the corner but ran into an elbow. Steamboat powerslammed Austin for a near fall and applied an armbar. Austin missed a clothesline and Steamboat rolled him up for a near fall. Austin monkey flipped Steamboat but Steamboat rolled him up for a near fall. Steamboat armdragged Austin and applied an armbar. Austin gave Steamboat some kneelifts and snapmared him. Steamboat got the better of Austin on the mat and applied an armbar. Steamboat gave Austin an armwringer but Austin threw him out of the ring during a criss cross. Steamboat gave Austin two chops on the floor and caught Austin with a third. Steamboat telegraphed a backdrop and Austin applied a sleeper but Steamboat escaped and applied a sleeper of his own. Austin countered with a jawbreaker and rammed Steamboat into the corner. They traded chops but Austin kicked Steamboat and whipped him into the corner. Steamboat leaped over Austin and hiptossed him. Austin whipped Steamboat into the corner but crashed shoulder first into the ringpost when Steamboat moved. Steamboat rammed Austin�s arm into the ringpost and brought his arm down across the top rope. Steamboat gave Austin a top rope chop for a near fall and applied an armbar. Austin punched and kicked Steamboat. Austin kneedropped Steamboat for a near fall and slapped him. Austin rammed Steamboat into the mat and punched him. Austin chopped, snapmared and kneedropped Steamboat for a near fall and applied a chinlock. Austin headlocked Steamboat but Steamboat escaped with elbows. Steamboat won an exchange of blows and they did a criss cross. Austin countered a back suplex but Steamboat clotheslined him. Steamboat went for a splash but crashed onto Austin�s knees and Austin gained a near fall. Austin gave Steamboat a second rope elbow for a near fall and slapped him. Austin suplexed Steamboat for a near fall. Steamboat countered a second suplex, shoulderblocked Austin and placed him on the top rope. Steamboat landed a couple chops but Austin chopped him back. Steamboat chopped Austin but Austin raked his eyes. Steamboat crotched Austin on the top rope and went for a top rope superplex but Austin slammed him to the mat. Austin jumped off the top rope but Steamboat met him with a punch. Steamboat rammed Austin into the mat but missed a flying bodypress. Austin slapped Steamboat and taunted him. Steamboat fought back and pelted Austin with punches. Steamboat chopped Austin repeatedly for a near fall. Austin telegraphed a backdrop and Steamboat gave him a spinebuster for a near fall. Steamboat caught Austin on the top rope and gave him an electric chair for a near fall. Steamboat rolled up Austin for a near fall twice. Steamboat countered a powerbomb with a backslide for a near fall and sunset flipped him for another near fall. Austin clotheslined Steamboat but Steamboat chopped him. Austin dumped Steamboat over the top rope but Steamboat skinned the cat and rolled up Austin for a near fall. Austin went for a slam but Steamboat rolled him up for a near fall. Austin went for a slam but Steamboat rolled him up for the pin at 16:08 to win the title. Steamboat clearly clutched his back after the match. This was his last match as he would be forced to retire due to back injuries. Given the circumstances this was a pretty satisfying match. Lots of near falls, as in many of Steamboat�s matches. They worked well with each other and worked the crowd well even though the work wasn�t their most spectacular. They did some meaningless armbars and chinlocks but the match never dragged. Overall a good match with some very good segments, but most important because Steamboat ended his career in fine form. ***
1/21/97 Clash of Champions XXXIV WCW Cruiserweight Title: Ultimo Dragon (c) w/Sonny Onoo vs Dean Malenko
Dragon applied a waistlock but Malenko countered with an armbar. They traded wristlocks and Malenko gave Dragon a drop toehold. They traded holds on the mat and Malenko applied a hammerlock. Dragon countered and applied a leglock. Dragon blocked a suplex and backed into the ropes. Malenko kicked Dragon and rammed him into the corner. Malenko landed some forearm shots and vertical suplexed Dragon for a near fall. Malenko applied a chinlock and then a headscissors on Dragon. Dragon escaped and stomped Malenko. Dragon gave Malenko 3 kicks in quick succession and knocked him out of the ring with a fourth stiff kick. Dragon went after Malenko as he reentered the ring but Malenko fought back with kneelifts and a back suplex. Malenko applied a legbar on Dragon but Dragon reached the ropes. Malenko stomped Dragon�s leg and kneedropped it. Malenko applied a half crab. Dragon turned Malenko over but Malenko maintained a hold on his leg. Dragon finally reached the ropes to break the hold. Malenko gave Dragon a kneebreaker and applied a stump puller. Malenko gained a near fall and elbowed Dragon. Malenko won an exchange of blows and threw Dragon out of the ring. Malenko placed Dragon�s knee on the barricade and kicked it. Back in the ring Malenko applied a figure 4 leglock that Dragon tried but failed to block. Malenko whipped Dragon into the corner and gave him a running lariat. Dragon whipped Malenko into the corner and spin kicked him. Malenko caught Dragon on the top rope and gave him a top rope superplex. Malenko rolled up Dragon for a near fall. Malenko missed a clothesline but blocked a kick. Malenko countered a suplex and went for a powerbomb but Dragon countered a huracanrana for a near fall. Dragon kicked Malenko but Malenko whipped him into the corner. Dragon dumped Malenko to the apron and knocked him to the floor with a second rope dropkick. Dragon missed a tope but landed on his feet. Dragon missed a clothesline and Malenko kicked him. Dragon whipped Malenko into the barricade in the aisle and hit his Asai moonsault. Back in the ring Dragon suplexed Malenko and moonsaulted him for a near fall. Dragon placed Malenko on the top rope and gave him a top rope Misteriorana. Dragon went for a tiger suplex but Malenko grabbed his leg. Malenko went for a Texas cloverleaf but Dragon rolled him up for a near fall. Dragon telegraphed a backdrop and Malenko kicked him. Dragon countered a powerbomb but Malenko clotheslined him. Malenko gave Dragon a tiger driver and went for a Texas cloverleaf but instead knocked Onoo off the apron. Malenko blocked a kick and applied a Texas cloverleaf on Dragon for the submission win at 15:50 (12:20 aired sans commercial) to win the title. Fans popped big for the title change, but that was indicative of their general reaction to the match as they were really into everything from bell to bell. Although Malenko was the face in this match, he made such a great heel as a cruiserweight because of his technical brilliance, particularly on the mat. Malenko really grew as a worker early in WCW, learning to work with the high flying cruiserweights such as Misterio. Dragon turned in a great performance again, and in 1997 was one of the top 10 workers in wrestling. Not the most innovative athlete, but Dragon came across as a breathtaking performer because everything he did was so quick and sharp. Not as great as their Starrcade classic the month before (which was one of the best WCW cruiserweight matches of the decade), but still an excellent match. I�d be surprised if Dragon�s work in WWE were to ever be in the same league as this. ****
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