SUPERBRAWL III (February 21, 1993)
Marcus Alexander Bagwell and Z-Man defeated The Destruction Crew (Mike Enos and Wayne Bloom) when Bagwell pinned Enos with the Fisherman Suplex in 7:43.
Rating: ** ¾
The Destruction Crew claimed Bagwell and Z Man’s win at last month’s Clash of Champions was a fluke. They’ve been going on for weeks that two “pretty boys” can’t stand up to them in a real fight.
But sure enough, Bagwell and Z-Man did it once again, defeating the former US Tag Champs and pushing them high on the ladder in the WCW tag team division.
Van Hammer defeated Diamond Dallas Page by disqualification in 13:24.
Rating: 1/2*
[Vinnie Vegas interfered against Van Hammer.]
After DDP got involved in Hammer’s match last month against Vinnie Vegas, Hammer goaded Page to get in the ring with him himself.
The reverse of last month played out, as Hammer was setting up to go for the win, only for Vegas to run in and cause the DQ.
Dustin Rhodes made Shane Douglas submit to a figure-four leglock in 9:20.
Rating: *** 1/4
(Dustin Rhodes retained the WCW TELEVISION TITLE.)
Former TV champion Shane Douglas has returned to WCW. He said he’s heard the claims that Rhodes is becoming one of the best TV champs of all time, but that’s only because Douglas hasn’t been around.
Rhodes immediately granted Douglas a shot to prove who’s better, and on this night it was Dustin, reaching deep into his ever-expanding arsenal of moves pulling out a figure-four leg lock that made Douglas give up.
Flyin' Brian and Steve Austin defeated 2 Cold Scorpio and Johnny B. Badd when Brian pinned Badd after a roll up in 12:38.
Rating: ***
(Flyin' Brian and Steve Austin retained the WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM TITLES.)
With Ricky Steamboat scheduled for a US title defense tonight, Johnny B. Badd recruited 2 Cold Scorpio as his partner for the US tag title return match.
Scorpio was a good pick, as the impressive rookie made quite a showing for himself. But Brian and Austin have worked to become a polished tag team and that was too much for Badd and Scorpio to overcome.
Ricky Steamboat pinned Rick Rude with the Flying Cross Body Press in 18:51.
Rating: **** ½
(Ricky Steamboat retained the WCW UNITED STATES TITLE.)
Rude feels his best path back to a world title is to regain the US title he never lost. But since he gave up the US gold, Steamboat has had a strong run as champion.
Rude was unable to get his title back despite having an epic battle with Steamboat.
Davey Boy Smith pinned Cactus Jack with the Running Powerslam in 0:08:01.
Rating: * 3/4
Cactus Jack has been pestering Harley Race lately, begging him to take him on as a client, but Race has been reluctant, keeping his focus on Vader and his new reassociation with Paul Orndorff.
But Race said if Jack wanted to prove himself, he could take out Davey Boy Smith at Superbrawl.
He didn’t.
Smith hit his patented powerslam to end the match.
Dick Slater and Terry Gordy defeated The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin) when Slater pinned M. Hayes with the Piledriver in 15:00.
Rating: *** 1/4
(Dick Slater and Terry Gordy won the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES.)
Terry Gordy continued to take aim at his former partners, especially now with them being tag team champions, he kept claiming he was the backbone of the group and would prove it by taking those titles away.
Slater’s tough nature complimented Gordy well as has been shown by the success the team has had leading up to the match.
Slater also liked to wear heavy cowboy boots to the ring for matches, which came into play.
After the match broke down and bodies were everywhere, the ref was trying to put Garvin out of the ring while Hayes had Gordy set for a DDT. But Slater took off his boot and clocked Hayes with it, then hit him with a piledriver for the win.
Paul Orndorff pinned Barry Windham with the Piledriver 9:10. Barry Windham suffered a sprained ankle. He will be out for approximately 1 card.
Rating: *** 1/2
Harley Race was mightly pleased with the performance of his man Orndorff as he dispatched of an old rival.
Windham looked hobbled after the match and had to be helped to the back.
Ron Simmons pinned Sid Vicious after a powerslam in 17:32.
Rating: * ¾
(Ron Simmons retained the WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE)
This was as hard-hitting and as physical as you’d expect. The two took turns beating on each other, both in and around the ring.
Yet despite the punishment handed out, neither was able to get the other down for a pin.
Late in the match, Sid tried to position Simmons for a powerbomb, only to have Simmons counter with a backdrop. From there, Simmons whipped Sid into the ropes and caught him coming off with a vicious (pardon the pun) powerslam that was enough to get the pin.
Caribbean Strap Match:
Big Van Vader defeated Sting in 26:53.
Rating: ***
(Big Van Vader retained the NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE.)
Vader accepted a challenge from Sting for a title match, but only if Sting agreed to the stipulation of a strap match.
Vader used the strap to punish Sting early, whipping him and choking him. His power and prowess with the strap kept him in control early, but Sting kept fighting back. At one point, Vader went up top to him a Vader bomb, but Sting had the presence of mind to yank the strap, bringing Vader crashing down to the mat.
Sting then took his turn whipping and choking Vader with the strap , but Vader’s power later again swung the match in his favor.
To win a strap match, you have to drag your opponent around the ring, touching all four corners. Vader had three out of the four, but Sting refused to give in and let Vader get to the fourth.
Unfortunately for Sting, his revival including a devastating dropkick, but it actually sent Vader into the final corner, giving him the win.
