Post by anthonymm13 on Jun 24, 2022 16:51:54 GMT 1
HALLOWEEN HAVOC '96 (Oct. 27, 1996)
Rey Misterio Jr. pinned Dean Malenko with the Top-Rope Frankensteiner in 17:09.
Rating: ****
(Rey Misterio Jr. retained the WCW WORLD CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE.)
After weeks of vicious attacks, Malenko finally got what he wanted, a shot at the Rey Misterio and the Cruiserweight title.
Their match was a classic. The two went back and forth until Malenko tried to hit Misterio with a top-rope powerbomb. Instead, Misterio reversed it into a hurracanrana and scored the pin.
Disco Inferno pinned Johnny B. Badd with the Last Dance in 13:55.
Rating: *** ¼
Disco Inferno came to the ring first flanked by a number of dancing girls. But before he was even able to get into the ring, Johnny B. Badd raced down and attacked Disco from behind.
But Disco recovered and got back into the match. He ended up putting Badd away with The Last Dance. The dance party then recommenced.
Eddie Guerrero pinned Marcus Bagwell after a Frog Splash in 12:05.
Rating: ***
(Eddie Guerrero retained the WCW TELEVISION TITLE.)
Perhaps thanks to the rest of the Horsemen getting ready for their 6-man match, Bagwell was alone in the ring which led to a pretty great, clean, match.
The two traded control back-and-forth until Bagwell, sitting on the top turnbuckle, tried to hit Guerrero with a top rope move he’s been calling the Blockbuster, but Guerrero instead backdropped him to the mat.
Guerrero then followed it up with a frog splash to get the win.
Big Van Vader, Meng and Rick Steiner defeated Arn Anderson, Davey Boy Smith and Ric Flair when Vader pinned A. Anderson with the Vader Bomb in 18:27.
Rating: ** 3/4
(Scott Steiner no-showed)
Before the match, it was announced that Scott Steiner was attacked in the locker room before the match. The Horsemen thought they had a handicap match, but instead, Meng stepped up and filled Scott’s place.
It was actually pretty amazing how well three wrestlers with no history of working together did against an established group like the Horsemen.
If the Horsemen are aiming to portray themselves as the only group that can save WCW, that argument took a big hit as they couldn’t conquer this unique trio of Vader, Meng and Rick Steiner.
Lex Luger made Diamond Dallas Page submit to the Torture Rack in 15:41.
Rating: * 1/4
A lot of hatred have built up between these two, leading to a great brawl for the match’s first few minutes.
Rick Rude was at ringside with DDP and gave him a hand at several points during the match. But Luger was able to overcome and kept fighting back.
But with Rude distracting the ref, Page hit a low blow then tried for a Diamond Cutter, but Luger countered, throwing Page off into Rude who was standing on the ring apron. Page was staggered and Luger was able to get him in the torture rack to which there was no escape.
Stone Cold Steve Austin pinned Chris Candido with the Stone Cold Stunner in 11:17.
Rating: *** 1/4
(Stone Cold Steve Austin retained the WCW UNITED STATES TITLE.)
Austin immediately ran to the ring and attacked Candido, who for a moment tried to find cover behind Tammy Lynn. Though Austin was more than willing to run through her to get to Candido, Tammy ran away and left the ring, allowing Austin to chase Candido.
Things settled down and Candido had the advantage for a good portion of the match, but Austin was always able to follow with a counter to get back into it.
Late, Tammy tried to slip Chris her purse that Candido tried to swing at Austin. Fortunately for the champ, he ducked and then hit Candido with a Stunner.
The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) defeated The Unforgiven (Barry Windham and Justin Bradshaw) when Nash pinned B. Windham with the Jackknife Power Bomb in 21:48.
Justin Bradshaw sprained his left ankle. He will be out for approximately 1 month.
Rating: ** 1/4
(The Outsiders won the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES.)
Hall and Nash weren’t alone. Rick Rude and Syxx were there supporting their nWo mates. The Unforgiven, though WCW members, haven’t made many friends since they came together and didn’t have any backup during the match.
It played out as you’d expect, Syxx and Rude taking cheap shots when given the opportunity. Though at one point, Bradshaw caught him and hit Syxx with a wicked lariat that knocked him out on the floor.
This caused a bit of chaos on the floor that allowed Nash to grab a title belt and hit Barry Windham with it while no one was looking. Nash followed it up with a jackknife as Hall held Bradshaw on the floor.
Hollywood Hogan pinned Randy Savage with the Big Leg Drop in 12:45.
Rating: * 1/4
(Hollywood Hogan retained the WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE.)
The main event turned into an nWo vs. WCW brawl. While Savage was fighting Hogan in the ring, the nWo tried to make sure Savage wouldn’t get the win. But WCW had his back, with people like Lex Luger, Vader, Rick Steiner and the Faces of Fear running down to even the odds.
But with so much chaos all around the arena, it’s easy to lose track of things in the ring. Savage was on the top rope ready to put away Hogan with his elbow drop, when a man in a hood came out of the crowd to push Savage off the top rope. Lex Luger ran down to the ring and punched the man in the hood, as it flew back, it revealed it was Sting under the hood. Luger was frozen for a second in shock, but Sting kicked Luger in the stomach then hit him with a reverse DDT on the floor. He put the hood back over his head and ran back out through the crowd.
Hogan took advantage, got a referee in the ring, hit his leg drop on Savage and got the pin to retain his title.
Card rating: **