Week 1, February 1993
Ford Centre (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
ATT: 16, 769
TV RATING: 3.04
Announce Team: Tony Schiavone & Jesse Ventura
It’s Saturday - it’s 6:05 on TBS - and that can mean only one thing- it’s time for WCW Saturday Night, and we are getting straight down to business - because joining Tony Schiavone and Jesse Ventura to open the show, is Cowboy Bill Watts - and the Cowboy has a lot to address in terms of Championships around here -
Watts tells Jesse and Tony that’s it’s time we cleared up a few things around here, straightened up house as it were, starting with the number of ‘vacants’ that are currently attached to the great titles here in WCW -
”- starting with the future of the Light Heavyweight division - now I said at the end of last year that we would be looking at crowning a new champion of the Light Heavyweight division in the coming months, and that’s exactly what we are going to do -“Watts says that a tournament to crown the new Light Heavyweight Champion will begin next month, culminating at the Clash of the Champions show in March - Watts says that all former champions will be offered a spot in the tournament should they so wish to compete, but you can also expect to see some new faces in the coming weeks, to bolster what is sure to be an exciting division -
”- on top of that, the month of March is also going to see a TAG TEAM tournament take place - and I know that we already have the unified champions, but as far as I and the WCW Championship committee are concerned, there are too many great teams in that locker room that deserve the opportunity to compete for tag team gold -
“- everybody wants to be the World Champion Jesse, you know that as well as anyone - unfortunately, not every man will reach that pinnacle, and it’s because of this that we have such hotly contested titles as the United States Title - titles which (the winning of) can not only be an achievement in itself, but can also propel you that one step closer to an opportunity at the World Championship -
“- so what we are going to do, is take those unified titles - and we are going to UN-unify them - I have already spoken to Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas, and they have surrendered the NWA tag team titles to myself, ready to be presented to the winning team at the culmination of this tag team tournament -“Watts says that while this company holds tradition in the highest regard, the name on the marquee is indeed WCW and World Championship Wrestling - which is why Steamboat and Douglas will continue at the WCW Tag Team Champions going forward, while the NWA tag team titles will be viewed much as the United States Championwhip is in the singles division -
”- and while we are speaking about tradition Tony, there’s not a title that’s perhaps been more hotly contested (and frequently defended) over the years than the Television Title -
“- this is a title that’s been held by men like Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Roddy Piper, Dick Slater, Dusty Rhodes - Sting - it’s lineage reads like a who’s who of men who have used that great title to showcase their talents and progress up the ladder here in WCW -
“- well, it’s time to add another name to that list -“Watts says that he’s spoken about the tournaments that will be taking place next month - but starting TONIGHT, a tournament to decide the next Television Champion will begin, culminating in the finals which will take place at SuperBrawl-
He says that tonight, in first-round matches, we will see Maxx Payne (who impressed against Sting on Worldwide) facing Heavy Metal Van Hammer - as well as 2 Cold Scorpio meeting Paul Orndorff - with more matches to come next week -
”- but both of those matches will be happening later tonight - so for now, let’s HOOK ‘EM UP -“Rating: B
Our first match of the evening sees Ricky Morton meet the massive Vinnie Vegas in singles action - which on paper seems extremely random -
There is reason for it though - and reason we show (picture in picture as the introductions are being made) -
As I was booking the first episode of Worldwide I threw a few random dark matches together - never know when you’re going to find a surprise hit on you hands after all - one of those matches was the Rock n Roll Express against the Vegas Connection pairing of DDP and Vinnie Vegas - well, during the match, Robert Gibson sustained an abdominal muscle contusion after a botch from DDP -
Initially I really didn’t care, since the injury would only keep Gibson out for a week (and I really had no plans for the Rock n Rolls anyway) but then I figured meh, may as well go with it -
So after giving everyone a view of the video footage of the dark match injury, we went ahead and played this off as Ricky Morton out looking for revenge, and DDP sending the biggest member of the Vegas Connection to claim it -
And so we have Ricky Morton vs. Vinnie Vegas here on WCW Saturday Night -
All caught up now? - okay good - shall we continue? -
So it’s Morton and Vegas - David vs. Goliath - (and in some respects) World Championship Wrestling vs. Smokey Mountain Wrestling - because the Rock n Roll Express are the current SMW Tag Team Champions, something highlighted on commentary, as well as by the fact that Ricky (and Robert, who’s at ringside with his ribs taped) come out with the SMW Tag Titles -
The match itself is pretty decent, especially considering how far down the pecking order Vinnie Vegas is - it’s the classic speed against size as the two men look to utilise their strengths to pick up the victory - in the end it was the strength of “strength in numbers” that tipped the scales - because Scotty Flamingo and Diamond Dallas Page come out towards the end and start bothering the injured Robert Gibson at ringside -
That distracted Morton long enough for Vegas to kick his head off with a Big Boot - before finishing him off with Snake Eyes for the three count -
Rating: C-
Winner: Vinnie Vegas
Not content with just picking up the victory however, the Vegas Connection look to add insult to (literal) injury, rolling Robert Gibson into the ring beside his (downed) partner, where the three men proceed to put the boots to the Rock n Rolls -
Diamond Dallas Page grabs a microphone to tell Ricky and Robert that their days around here are about done - saying that it’s not 1983 around here anymore - it’s 1993, and the Vegas Connection are where it’s at now, before telling Vegas and Flamingo to finish them off, while he picks up the (dropped) SMW Tag Titles and holds them up in celebration -
Surprisingly it’s a man who knows the Rock n Roll Express very well who comes out to make the save (folded chair in hand) mainly because he’s faced them so many times -
Michael “PS” Hayes -
Hayes rushes the ring - and it looks as though even the threat of a chair wielding Freebird isn’t even enough to discourage Vinnie Vegas from retreating - but Dallas pulls him away, telling him that they got the belts, so let’s roll -
And roll they do - right to the back, with the Smokey Mountain Wrestling Tag Team Titles in hand, as Michael Hayes checks on the Rock n Roll Express -
Rating: C+
Next up we have two young men, who’s blonde flat tops and rats tails would make even Sting jealous - it’s the Cole Twins (Kent and Keith) in action against the team that will be competing for (now only) the WCW Tag Team Titles at SuperBrawl III - Steve Austin and Brian Pillman -
This isn’t quite a squash match (the Cole’s do get SOME offence in) but at the same time, it’s clear which one of these two teams will be facing Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas at our next Pay Per View event, and which team isn’t scheduled to be on the card -
Austin and Pillman pick up the victory, after Stunning Steve nails Keith Cole with a Stun Gun for the one, two and three -
Rating: C
Winner(s): Steve Austin & Brian Pillman
Jesse Ventura was positively glowing with his comments about Pillman and Austin during this match, and was quick to grab them once it was over, looking to get word from them regarding their upcoming title shot - as well as the fact that they will now only be competing for the WCW Tag Team Titles, not the NWA Titles too -
Brian Pillman says that isn’t it just typical that a relic from yesteryear like Bill Watts, would be trying to keep the Team of the 90’s from capturing what was rightfully theirs -
”- and isn’t it just typical, that the man who debuted in this sport before Steve and I were even born, should want to deny the Team of the 90’s from their brush with greatness -
“- well, Bill - Cowboy Billy Boy - what you seem to be forgetting, is that be it for the unified Titles, the WCW Titles or the NWA Titles, the outcome is going to be the same - and that outcome is US, walking out of SuperBrawl with those titles around our waist -“Steve Austin says that it’s only a matter of weeks - and after leaving Shane Douglas in a bloody mess at the Clash of the Champions - (Austin and Pillman were disqualified when facing the Champions in January, after Austin cracked Douglas in the skull with one of the title belts, busting him open in the process) - so Steamboat and Douglas should make the most of what little time they have left with those belts -
”- because let’s face it, if you’re so willing to hand over the NWA titles to Bill Watts (like he said they were) without so much as a fight, then we will take those WCW titles off you too - just like that -“Austin snaps his fingers on the word “that” to emphasise his point, before asking Jesse Ventura is he’s ever heard of a champion just handing over their titles like that before (shaking his head in disgust) -
Ventura confirms that it would indeed be a cold day in hell before he would willingly hand over a championship without so much as a fight - before wishing Austin and Pillman luck in their efforts -
Although he’s sure they won’t need it -
Let’s go to commercial -
Rating: B+
WCW Television Championship: First Round MatchAnd when we come back, it’s time for the first match in the Television Title tournament - as Heavy Metal Van Hammer faces off against Maxx Payne -
Anyone that was expecting a scientific affair here was going to be sorely disappointed - Van Hammer is a (limited) brawler at the best of times, and while (I know I’ve said it before) Maxx Payne is an accomplished amateur wrestler, who CAN do more that brawl when he needs to, he really doesn’t need to here - so brawl he does -
It actually wasn’t a bad brawl either for what it was - both men hit some heavy blows, and got plenty of offence in - but after his impressive showing against Sting on Worldwide, it was Payne who was victorious here, catching Hammer by surprise with a roll up to advance into the semi-finals -
Rating: C-
Winner: Maxx Payne
We go from the ring to a pre-taped segment of WCW Up-Close, as Tony Schiavone sits down with the former WCW Champion Ron Simmons -
The two discuss Simmons’ World Title victory and reign - Ron says that there is no prouder moment in his life than being crowned WCW Champion - but he says that the true honour came from what being the World Champion allowed him to do - and that was to be a positive role model to millions of kids all around the country - visiting schools, visiting hospitals - being a visible champion to anyone that didn’t have someone to look up to -
Ron says that he took his eye off the ball for three seconds, but three seconds was all Big Van Vader needed -
”- and that’s on me Tony - I can own that - but what I can’t accept, is the fact that I’ve not had a single opportunity to face Vader again - no rematch - no opportunity - no number one contender shot, nothing -“Simmons says that he knows Sting has the next shot at Vader (and he truly wishes the Stinger nothing but luck) but rest assured, Ron Simmons is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that he’s next in line after that -
At this point the segment gets interrupted by the arrival of Teddy Long (and Tony Atlas) - Long has been primarily a backstage announcer around here recently, but he tells Ron that just like with him, WCW couldn’t keep a good man down for long -
Teddy says that he has re-activated his managers licence (and taken Tony Atlas as his first client) and he wants to add Ron Simmons name his list of clients - and take him right back where he belongs - the very top -
Ron looks surprised for a moment, asking Teddy if he is seriously trying to tell him that he wants to manage him back to the WCW Title? -
”- because Teddy, while me and you go way back, with all respect, I didn’t need no help to win the title the first time round - I don’t need no help to win it the second -“Long tells Simmons that he thinks he’s misunderstood him - he tells Ron that he is talking about the WCW World TAG TEAM titles -
”- because Ron, you’re right - we do go way back - and you know that Teddy Long knows how to lead you to that tag team gold playa - I did it before, I can do it again - and look, I even got you a hand picked partner that’s ready to rip through the competition -
“- but Ron, let’s get serious for a minute - you know, I know - and Big Van Vader sure as hell knows - that WCW Title win you got - you got a little lucky there -
“- everyone knows that Vader had prepared for Sting - you walked in through the back door and that title fell into your lap - because as soon as Vader walked into a match prepared to face YOU instead of Sting, he took that belt right back didn’t he -“Teddy says that Ron is a great athlete - and with the right guidance (and right partner) he can wear gold again round here - all he has to do is offer up that 10% for Teddy, sign on the dotted line - and he and Tony Atlas will be polishing up those WCW Tag Team Titles in no time -
Obviously Simmons takes offence to that - telling Teddy (and Atlas) that he can take his offer and shove it - Ron says that he’s here to take back the World Title - that’s the SINGLES World Title - and anyone that thinks his first title victory was “luck”, is welcome to step into the ring with him and see just how lucky they can be -
Atlas and Simmons come face to face for a moment, and it looks like they may even come to blows - at least until Teddy calls off his newest client - telling Atlas that Teddy don’t get his 10% from fights in the back - before telling Simmons that WHEN he changes his mind, to call him and set something up
”- because luck only gets you so far playa -“Let’s go back to the arena -
Rating: C+
Where the man that WILL be getting a shot at the WCW Title is set to be in action - as Sting faces the 6’9, 295lb Big Sky, as he continues his run of matches against much bigger opponents in the run up to his White Castle of Fear match with Big Van Vader -
On Worldwide Sting was victorious in a hard fought battle against Maxx Payne - here he was the victor once more, although the match was much more one sided in his favour - made even more impressive when he was able to wrap up the extra long legs of Big Sky and turn him over into the Scorpio Deathlock for a submission victory -
Rating: C
Winner: Sting
Sting heads over to the interview area, where Larry Zbyszko is standing by to get word with the Number One Contender -
Larry congratulates Sting on another impressive victory against a much larger opponent in Big Sky -
”- and that must give you confidence as you walk into the unknown that is the White Castle of Fear with Big Van Vader -“
“- confident Larry? You know someone told me once that you’d have to be either crazy or stupid to be confident about walking into a match with Big Van Vader - well, I know I’m not stupid, so you’d better send for the men in the little white coats, because I’m crazy confident right about now -“Sting says that he’s on the top of his game right now - he says he’s racking up win after win over the biggest and the baddest going - he says that he’s come out on top in his last two matches with Vader - taking the big man to his absolute limit in the King of Cable tournament at Starrcade, as well as being on the winning side of the Thundercage match at the Clash -
”- so the way I see it, I know I can beat Vader one on one - I know I can beat Vader in the Thundercage - and Larry, because of that, I know that I can beat Vader one on one inside this White Castle of Fear Thundercage match -“
Sting might be feeling pretty confident - but so is the WCW Champion - who makes his way out now alongside manager Harley Race -
Larry says that the interview set isn’t big enough for any funny business, but Harley tells him not to worry - Vader isn’t out here to destroy Sting - after all, why do it here, when he’ll have him trapped inside the White Castle of Fear in a few weeks time -
”- and Sting, you might be Mr. Confident right now - but believe me, as soon as that cage door shuts behind you - and you realise that there’s nowhere to run - nowhere to hide - no way to escape - all that confidence is going to wash away quicker than that face paint you wear - because facing Vader is one thing - facing Vader in the White Castle of Fear - well that’s a whole new ballgame -“Vader snarls that Sting has no idea what he’s walking into at SuperBrawl - that his White Castle of Fear is a destination that few can enter, and even fewer leave -
”- THIS IS NO ORDINARY MATCH STINGER - IN THE WHITE CASTLE OF FEAR, ANYTHING GOES - AND NO ONE CAN SPARE YOU BUT ME - YOU ARE JUST A MAN STEPPING INTO THE MONSTERS CAGE - I FEAR NO MAN AND I FEEL NO PAIN - AND AT SUPERBRAWL, ITS GONNA BE - VADER - TIME! -“Sting isn’t intimidated in the slightest - telling Larry to back it up a little bit, saying that he doesn’t think it’s Vader time at all - it’s Stinger time - and it’s Stinger time all the time, and whether it’s in the ring, in a cage, in the back, or right here in the interview area, before inviting the Champion to make his move -
Harley Race tells Sting to calm himself down a little bit - he’ll get Vader soon enough - but if he wants to actually make it to SuperBrawl, he should probably stop poking the bear -
With that Race leads (a reluctant looking) Vader to the back, as Larry Zbyszko sends us to messages from our sponsors -
Rating: B+
WCW Television Championship: First Round MatchThe tournament to crown a new TV Champion continues when we come back, and it’s two very conflicting styles when 2 Cold Scorpio meets Paul Orndorff -
Conflicting styles or not, the match itself is actually pretty good - Orndorff is a man with a long history and while Scorpio is still a relative newcomer to WCW, he’s certainly been racking up the wins since his debut - so much so that the crowd is unanimously behind the high-flying star -
The support clearly rallies the younger man too - because after a prolonged period of offence from Mr. Wonderful, Scorpio fights his way back into this one, before slamming Orndorff in the middle of the ring -
He goes to the top (looking for that 460 splash) but before he can land the move, he’s distracted by the arrival of a man he defeated on WCW Worldwide - Robbie V -
Robbie appears to be trying to make amends for his poor sportsmanship following that match up (where he refused the handshake of his opponent) and motions to Scorpio to come down from the top rope so that he can shake him by the hand and congratulate him properly -
Unfortunately for Scorpio, the distraction gives Orndorff time to recover - and the wily veteran walks over to the ropes and sweeps his opponents foot -
Scorpio crotches himself on the top rope, before falling to the mat, where Mr. Wonderful scoops him right back up again and Piledrives him into the canvas for the one, two, three -
Rating: C+
Winner: Paul Orndorff
Orndorff gets his hand raised and advances to the semi-final round, before heading to the back, as a (clearly over-dramatic) Robbie V climbs into the ring with the most insincere look of anguish on his face that you ever saw -
He checks on the fallen Scorpio, shaking him a few times to try and rouse him - 2 Cold is Out Cold though following that Piledriver - and finally Robbie gives up, instead choosing to pat the man on the shoulder, congratulating him on a good match
”- because even if you didn’t win, you gave it your all champ -“ Robbie then pulls Scorpio up to a slightly sitting position, before grabbing his hand and giving it an exaggerated shake - before leaving again with a cocky smirk on his face -
Let’s go over to Eric Bischoff -
Rating: D
Who’s here with another edition of the WCW Magazine -
Eric begins by condemning the attitude of young Robbie V and his poor sportsman like behaviour, before briefly running down the SuperBrawl card to date -
Bischoff finishes the run down by reminding us that the SuperBrawl event itself will see the WCW debut of the British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith - who’s going to be in action against Bobby Eaton -
Who we go to for (very) brief comments - Bobby isn’t much of a talker (which is why he usually has a mouthpiece to talk for him) but he basically tells us that everyone is talking about the British Bulldog competing at SuperBrawl, but no one is talking about the man he’s facing - well Bobby Eaton is going to change that - because by the time Bobby has finished with him, the only person they’re going to be talking about is him -
Bobby says that he’s a former Television Champion, former NWA Tag Team Champion, former US Tag Team Champion, as well as a former WCW Tag Team Champion -
He says that the Bulldog’s credentials don’t even almost measure up to his, so quite why everyone is so excited to see the British Mutt he doesn’t know, but at SuperBrawl, he’s going to send the Bulldog running back to Britain -
With his tail between his legs -
From one pretty poor talker, he go straight to another - this time it’s Erik Watts’ -
Watts hasn’t been in action since being suspended back in mid January, after he was (kayfabe) arrested for “assaulting and injuring Arn Anderson at a gas station” -
Video evidence would be uncovered that would expunge Watts of all wrongdoing (and clearly showing that Anderson was the instigator in the attack) and now Erik’s suspension has been overturned - and he’s keen to get back into the ring -
Watts says that after all the false allegations made against him, he just wants to get back to doing what he loves - and that’s wrestle - he says that he knows Arn Anderson is still injured, but if he wants to feel the STF again when he comes back, then Erik will be happy to oblige -
”- but until then, I don’t care who I face, I just want to compete - so consider this an open invitation to all the great stars of WCW, because Erik Watts is back, and I’m ready to pick right back up where I left off -“
And finally we wrap it up with someone who is at least vaguely entertaining - a newcomer to WCW, from Blackpool, England by way of Buckingham Palace - Lord Steven Regal -
His Lordship looks around the interview area for a moment with a look of utter distain on his face, before finally facing the camera with a shudder -
He says that since he graced WCW with his regal presence, all he’s come across are morons, apes and the dregs of human society -
”- like this scruffy little oik holding the camera - a baseball cap young man? Indoors? Really? Do you have no decorum at all - a gentleman should remove his hat when indoors, but clearly you and the rest of WCW have little regard for manners -“Regal says that it’s frankly a travesty that Mr. Watts has announced a tournament to crown a new WCW Television Champion and not seen fit to include his Lordship - but that’s okay, a gentleman and a scholar shall always overcome - and Steven Regal shall indeed claim championship gold for Queen and Country - and it shan’t take long at all -
Rating: C+
And we are back in the arena for the final match of the evening, which sees Ron Simmons facing off against Barry Windham -
We heard Ron Simmons earlier state that it was his mission to return to the top of the WCW mountain as Champion - while of the two, it’s actually Barry Windham that will be competing for gold at SuperBrawl - United States gold that is - when he meets Dustin Rhodes -
While Ron Simmons doesn’t even have a match at SuperBrawl -
As far as matches go, this was a great one for tv - the two men have some great back and forth action, with Windham displaying his new mean streak, while Simmons shows the raw power that he hopes will find him the success that it did in 1992 -
Unfortunately what was a good match was tainted by the arrival of 10% Teddy Long and his latest client Tony Atlas -
Teddy again try’s to talk Simmons into returning to the tag team ranks (telling him that they can recapture the success they had when Long managed him as a member of Doom) but it’s clearly a distraction at this point rather than an actual offer - evidenced by the fact that Atlas “inadvertently” trips Simmons right into the waiting hands of Barry Windham, who DDT’s him into the mat for the one, two, three -
Rating: B-
Winner: Barry Windham
And the fun doesn’t stop there - as Long and Atlas climb into the ring, where 10% Teddy tells his charge to show Simmons what happens when you try to embarrass Theodore R. Long -
Which is exactly what he does, as he proceeds to stomp the crap out of an already out of it Ron Simmons -
Barry Windham doesn’t really have any issues with Ron Simmons - but Barry Windham is kind of an asshole recently - so for the hell of it he decides to join Tony Atlas in putting the boots to the man he has just defeated -
Which brings Dustin Rhodes running out from the back to lend a hand -
Whether he would have made the effort had Barry Windham not been involved is anyone’s guess, but Rhodes and Windham have damn near tried to kill each other anytime they have been within ten feet of each other -
The Natural is able to hold off both Atlas and Windham just long enough for Simmons to get back into the mix, as the four men split off into two warring pairs -
And that’s how we close the show - because we are out of time -
Simmons and Atlas are going at it in the ring - Windham and Rhodes are close to killing each other on the floor - the live crowd gets to watch this unfold, but for you at home dear viewer, it’s goodnight -
We’ll see you next week fans -
Rating: B-
Final Rating: C+
