Week 2, February 1993
Avron B. Fogelman Arena (New Orleans, Louisiana)
ATT: 3,118
TV RATING: 0.01
Announce Team: Tony Schiavone & Jesse Ventura
It’s time again for WCW Worldwide, and Tony Schiavone & Jesse Ventura welcome us to another jam packed hour of World Championship Wrestling action, before Schiavone heads over to the announce desk, leaving The Body to bring out Cowboy Bill Watts -
Watts said that he recently announced the Television Title Tournament (which is currently in full swing) but he also announced two other tournaments -
He says that the ink is currently drying on a host of new contracts, as WCW looks to build on the already great Light Heavyweight Division, ahead of crowning a brand new champion - telling us that we can expect to see some exciting new faces in the coming weeks -
”- but I also promised to revitalise the tag team division here in World Championship Wrestling - but to do that, I’m going to need the current Unified WCW/NWA Tag Team Champions, Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas to come on out here - because they have something that I need -“
The Champions do indeed join us - and it’s clear they already know what they are here for - Watts says that they are the very definition of champions around here, and champions that WCW can be proud to have -
”- and I’m sure the NWA are proud to have you as their champions too - but if there is one thing that we do better than anyone else here in WCW, it’s provide competition - and right now, you’ve got a monopoly on those titles -
“- so in the spirit of competition (I know we have already had this conversation privately) I’m going to ask you now, to surrender those NWA Tag Team Titles - because we have a host of great tag teams waiting for their opportunity, and we want to give it to them -“Steamboat and Douglas are clearly reluctant to just hand over their hard earned titles (Douglas more so than Steamboat) but they say that they accept the mandate - and they can only hope that the team that goes on to be crowned the next NWA tag team champions, feel as much pride in wearing those belts as they did -
”- pride?!? - don’t talk to us about pride - because quite frankly you two make us sick -“
“Us” being the current number one contenders to what WAS the Unified tag team titles - but now only the WCW tag team titles - Flyin’ Brian Pillman and Stunning Steve Austin -
Pillman says that everyone out here right now (
”- apart from you Jesse, you’re okay by us -“) makes them physically sick to their stomach -
”- you come out here and talk about pride - and yet you stand there to attention, ready to hand over those title belts like the conformed little corporate pigs that you are -“Austin tells Watts that it’s clear why he is choosing now to try and claim back those NWA tag team titles - and that’s because he knows full well, that at SuperBrawl, he and Brian would have taken BOTH sets of titles - and then he would have had to pry those NWA titles from their cold dead hands -
”- because there was no way that we would have been handing those titles over to you willingly fat boy -“Watts tells Austin and Pillman that whatever their views are, they DO still have an opportunity to capture the WCW Tag Team Titles at SuperBrawl - so he would suggest that they spend their time preparing for THAT match instead of worrying about the titles they WON’T be competing for -
”- because you’ve already had one crack at becoming the tag team champions around here, and you didn’t get it done -“Douglas agrees, although he also tells the pair not to worry - he’s sure they can still have their opportunity at the NWA tag titles - because they can as Bill Watts here to include them in the tournament to crown the new champions, AFTER he and Steamboat defeat them at SuperBrawl -
Watts tells Austin and Pillman to hit the bricks, saying that the decision has been made - he says that they don’t have to like it, but frankly there is nothing they can do about it -
The challengers do indeed leave, as does Bill Watts (once the NWA titles have been handed to him) but as soon as Ventura tries to get comment from Steamboat and Douglas, Austin and Pillman fly back into shot, assaulting the WCW tag champs from behind -
Shane Douglas was bloodied back at the Clash of the Champions courtesy of a belt shot by Austin that saw he and Steamboat retain their titles by disqualification - well he gets the same treatment again here - because once the challengers have their SuperBrawl opponents down, Austin picks up one of the WCW tag title belts (while Pillman picks up Douglas) and drives it into the skull, reopening that wound and leaving the man bloody on the floor -
Officials rush to the area to finally put a stop to the assault, but the challengers are already done - holding their hands up as they walk away and telling Steamboat and Douglas that they will see them at SuperBrawl -
Speaking of SuperBrawl, let’s show a quick promo package for that and then finally get the first match underway -
Rating: C+
Which sees Heavy Metal, Van Hammer in action, as he faces off against newcomer Robbie V -
Young Robbie V has not been making friends around here recently - particularly with his display of poor sportsmanship with 2 Cold Scorpio, firstly shunning a handshake (following a loss to Scorpio) and then actively costing 2 Cold a victory against Paul Orndorff this past Saturday Night -
He’s up against a big, big man in Van Hammer this evening - and Hammer absolutely dominates the opening minutes of the match with big power moves that Robbie sells like a star -
The youngster eventually uses his speed to take control of the match - and his agility to WIN a the match too -
Because after regaining the offence, Van Hammer lifts Robbie up and tries to finish him off with that Slingshot Suplex - unfortunately for him, Robbie was able to use his momentum to wriggle free - land behind Hammer - roll him up - and (with a healthy handful of tights) pick up the one, two, three out of nowhere -
Rating: D-
Winner: Robbie V
From there we go to another episode of WCW Up-Close - which sees (a nervous looking) Tony Schiavone sitting down for an interview with the resident madman, Cactus Jack -
Tony begins by welcoming Cactus for his time, telling him that the tides have certainly turned for him as of late here in WCW - so much so that for perhaps the first time in his life, he’s actually hearing the cheers of the crowd -
”- it seems like they like you - does this surprise you at all? -“Cactus says that considering the fact that he doesn’t even like himself, it is somewhat confusing as to why these people would be cheering now -
”- maybe there’s been a glitch in the space-time continuum - or maybe it’s just a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend - and instead of torturing and tormenting their hero’s, I have a whole new who’s who of victims lined up, that they like even less than me -“Cactus says that whatever the reason, it doesn’t change who he is - and it won’t change what he does -
”- and what I do, is hurt people really, really, really bad - and yes, sometimes myself along the way - but you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs - and you can’t make someone suffer without breaking bones - theirs - yours - managers - referees - it’s really all the same to Cactus Jack -“ Tony touches on the “who’s who” of victims that Cactus spoke of - saying that clearly Big Van Vader and Paul Orndorff are on his list - is there anyone else? -
Cactus smiles a gapped tooth smile at that - asking Tony “isn’t thar enough?” - Cactus asks Tony if he’s seen Big Van Vader recently - he says that Vader is a who’s who list all by himself -
”- but since you asked -
“- go big or go home right? Well ‘home’ isn’t the most welcoming of places for a person Cactus Jack - even a home like Truth or Consequences - these people can cheer me, but you know as well as I do Tony (I can see the uneasiness on your face right now - you don’t want to be this close to me at all do you) you know that if Cactus Jack moved into their street, they’d be packing their bags quicker than you can say ‘BANG! BANG!’ - BANG! BANG! -“So ‘go big’ it is - Cactus says that Paul Orndorff is on that list - his former client/friend The Barbarian is on that list - but if you’re going to go big then they don’t come any bigger than the current WCW Champion - Big Van Vader is without a doubt the biggest and baddest that WCW has to offer -
”- so Vader - I’m not normally a man that concerns himself too much with the correct etiquette in life (you only have to look at me to know that) but in the interest of clarity I suppose you can consider this a challenge -
“- Saturday night is just around the corner - Cactus Jack doesn’t have anything to do - how about me and you meet in that ring and see how badly we can hurt each other - BANG! BANG! -“Schiavone quickly wraps up the interview (clearly in a rush to get as far away from Cactus as possible) telling us that the challenge has been made for WCW Saturday Night - Cactus Jack vs. Big Van Vader - whether Vader accepts the challenge remains to be seen -
Let’s go back to the arena -
Rating: B-
Where another newcomer to WCW is in action - and with the British Bulldog set to debut at SuperBrawl, it’s another British competitor - although a slightly more regal one -
Lord Steven Regal that is - and Jesse Ventura tells us that we are in for a wrestling clinic here, clearly already a fan of the mat work of the European -
Regals opponent here is the on and off tag team partner of the Z-Man - Johnny Gunn - and the fact that Gunn DOES spend so much of his time in tag team action is something that gives Steven Regal the edge according to Ventura -
Jesse says that Regal is used to focusing all of his attention on one on one competition, while Gunn is used to having that partner to fall back and rely on if needed -
I’m not sure how true that is, after all Gunn more than holds his own here - but ultimately Regal does pick up the victory, locking on the Regal Stretch and giving Gunn little choice but to concede the match -
Rating: D+
Winner: Lord Steven Regal
As Regal wipes his hands down in disgust at having to touch Johnny Gunn, we head over to Eric Bischoff at the Event Centre -
Bischoff opens up by recapping the title situation here in WCW - specifically the vacant ones -
He touches briefly on the NWA tag team title situation, as well as the promise of an upcoming Light Heavyweight rejuvenation, before moving onto the Television title tournament that is currently in progress - showing the brackets to date -
2 Cold Scorpio
Paul Orndorff Marcus Bagwell
Scotty Flamingo
Johnny B. Badd.
Dallas Page
Van Hammer.
Maxx Payne He says that to date, Paul Orndorff and Maxx Payne have advanced to the Semi-Finals, while this coming weeks WCW Saturday Night will see Johnny B. Badd face Dallas Page, while DDP’S Vegas Connection team mate Scotty Flamingo will be going one on one with Marcus Bagwell - and after the Vegas Connections recent comments about having gold in their sights, both men advancing to the next round of the TV Title tournament would be a good start -
Although two men who probably think the Vegas Connection already have too much gold would be Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson - because the current Smoky Mountain Wrestling tag team champions are champions without belts - after the Vegas Connection made off with them this past Saturday Night -
Ricky says that this Vegas Connection might think they’re tough guys, but the only reason they have the SMW tag titles right now is because they stole them -
Robert agrees - saying that Page and Flamingo might think they’re tough when they’re hiding behind the 7 foot frame of Vinnie Vegas, but they could never take those titles by actually wrestling and winning them - instead they have to jump guys on the outside and steal like common criminals -
Morton says that if the Vegas Connection wanted a shot at the belts, they only had to ask - he says the Rock n Rolls have been beating guys twice as big and three times as bad as them for years, and they ain’t about to start backing down from a fight now -
”- and you can be damn sure that we’re going to be taking those belts back one way or another boys - you can steal the belts, you can wear them - heck, you can hang them over your fireplace for all that it matters - the belt doesn’t make the champion - WINNING makes the champion - never backing down, always getting back up, and winning matches in that ring is what makes a champion - something the Rock n Roll Express has always done and will always do -“
“- so watch your backs boys - because we are coming to take back those titles - we guarantee you that -“
And finally we have words from the former WCW Champion Ron Simmons - who last week had that former championship on his mind - before a former manager of his decided to stick his nose into the All American’s business -
Simmons says that he doesn’t know what Teddy Long’s problem is - as far as he was aware they had no issues - but if Teddy thinks for one second that Ron Simmons needs him to guide him to the WCW Title, he’s very wrong -
”- Teddy Long, you might have lead Doom to the tag team titles, but that was a long time ago - and when it all came down to it, YOU turned your back on ME - it wasn’t my corner you were in when me and Butch Reed were beating the hell out of each other in that steel cage -
“- and you weren’t in my corner when I pinned Big Van Vader for the WCW Title - that was me and me alone - and if you think I need (or trust) you to manage my career then you must be either crazy, stupid, or both -“Ron says that Teddy might be getting his 10% from Tony Atlas, but he’d better start saving every penny - because after that stunt on Saturday Night, Tony Atlas isn’t going to be around for long -
Rating: C
Speaking of Tony Atlas, he’s in action next (what a coincidence) against the Z-Man -
We saw Zenk’s partner Johnny Gunn come up short earlier this evening in his outing against technical wrestler Steven Regal - well if there’s one thing no one is going to accuse Tony Atlas of being, it’s a technical wrestler -
Atlas out and out overpowers the Z-Man for the majority of the match - while 10% Teddy barks out instructions from the floor -
Teddy and Atlas actually make a remarkably good pairing - they have some fantastic chemistry and it really helps the match - Teddy isn’t shy about interfering in the match either, tripping the leg of Zenk (who turns around to yell at Long) leaving him wide open for Atlas to lock on the Full Nelson for the submission victory -
Rating: C
Winner: Tony Atlas
Our final match of the evening sees Sting continue his mission to compete against the biggest that WCW has to offer, in preparation for his White Castle of Fear match against Vader at SuperBrawl - and they don’t get much bigger than Vinnie Vegas -
As if the prospect of a near seven foot opponent isn’t enough to contend with, Vegas is also accompanied by his Vegas Connection team mates, Scotty Flamingo and Diamond Dallas Page - both of whom are wearing one of those stolen SMW tag team title belts -
This was actually a heck of a match considering the fact that Vinnie Vegas could be viewed as a mid carder at best - Sting is absolutely head and shoulders above him in terms of positioning on the card - but you wouldn’t know it by the amount of offence he got on the former WCW Champion - this is a real showing for Vinnie Vegas -
The big man uses all of the power at his disposal - as well as the team mates at his disposal - because Page and Flamingo interfere left, right and centre - so much so that Flamingo actually drives the Stingers head into the ring post, before rolling back into the ring for what should have been an easy victory for Vegas -
Had it not been for the arrival of Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson at ringside, as they draw the attention of Vegas away from Sting, chasing Page and Flamingo around the ring in an effort to take back their tag team belts -
The two Vegas Connection manage to hightail it to the back (still with the SMW Titles in their possession) with the Rock n Roll Express in hot pursuit - and that was all the opening Sting needed - because as Vegas turns around to face him he rolls him up with a surprise Small Package for the one, two and three -
Rating: B-
Winner: Sting
Vegas storms off to the back in frustration as Sting has his hand raised - only for the figure of WCW Champion Big Van Vader to come walking menacingly out from the back -
Not that he gets far -
Because before he can make it to the ring he is jumped from behind by a shovel wielding Cactus Jack -
Cactus cracks that weapon across the huge back of Vader, before throwing it down to the ground - he drops Vader to the concrete and proceeds to stomp the hell out of him, as well as stepping back to take a running start, dropping an elbow on that hard floor -
Schiavone says that in his sit down interview with Cactus Jack, Cactus made it clear that he was challenging Big Van Vader to a match on WCW Saturday Night - stating that clearly Cactus is out here looking for (or trying to force) an answer -
He picks Vader up and tries to Irish Whip him into the steel barrier, but Vader puts a stop to that, before reversing it and sending Cactus crashing to the steel, then driving his skull into the barricade too -
A pissed off looking Vader shakes off the cobwebs, then grabs Cactus by the hair and positions his head between his legs - and it looks like he’s going to Powerbomb him right there on that concrete floor! -
Sting has seen enough though - after being happy to watch from afar (he’s not Cactus Jack’s biggest fan either after all) a Powerbomb on the concrete is clearly a step too far, as he rushes to ringside, where he picks up that shovel and snaps the handle across the back of his SuperBrawl opponent -
Vader looks ready to go even after that - but finally Harley Race makes his way out to drag his client away - but not without Vader snarling threats of violence on both men - Cactus Jack on Saturday Night - and Sting in the White Castle of Fear -
Who’s the man? -
I guess we’ll find out -
We’ll see you at 6:05 on Saturday Night folks -
Rating: A
Final Rating: B-
