CLASH OF THE CHAMPIONS XIV (January 30, 1991)
World Heavyweight champion Sting has had a lot on his plate in the last month. After he beat Big Van Vader at Starrcade, a mysterious figure calling him The Black Scorpion addressed Sting and has continued to harass Sting in recent weeks alluding to being someone from Sting's past.
In addition, the WCW championship committee has granted Barry Windham a title match with Sting tonight at the Clash, something that has further strained relations between Windham and the Four Horsemen who want to get Ric Flair back into the championship picture. Instead, Flair is challenging Lex Luger for the United States title.
The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin) defeated The Young Pistols (Tracey Smothers and Steve Armstrong) when M. Hayes pinned T. Smothers with the DDT in 8:23.
Rating: ** 1/4
Prior to their match tonight, The Freebirds announced they were tired of teams like Doom and the Midnight Express getting an edge cause of their managers, so they got one of their own. They unveiled their new manager tonight, Diamond Dallas Page.
DDP was there to lend a hand to his team tonight as they scored an impressive win over the new team of the Young Pistols.
Interview with Barry Windham
Jim Ross conducted an in-ring interview with Barry Windham ahead of his world title match tonight against Sting. Ross asked how the rest of the Horsemen felt about him getting a shot, noting they were not out here by his side.
Windham tried to play everything off saying they're united behind him, but then Ric Flair, Arn Anderson and Sid Vicious came to the ring. They said Barry should do the right thing, and grant the match instead to Flair, who promised to turnover his US Title match to Windham in return.
Windham laughed off the suggestion but the Horsemen showed they were serious with Sid clotheslining Windham from behind and then starting a triple team. Flair even put Windham in the figure four before, of all people, Sting rushed down to chase the Horsemen off. Officials and Sting checked on Windham. Doctors said Windham, who was in excruciating pain, shouldn't wrestle tonight.
This led to Flair calling out Sting saying this was all on him. Flair should have the match and Sting can't keep ducking him. He’s ready for his rematch. Sting said Flair is crossing the line and he would love a chance to shut him up for good.
This eventually led to Sting accepting Flair taking Windham's place in tonight's world title main event.
Nikita Koloff pinned Terry Taylor with the Russian Sickle in 7:09. Nikita Koloff tore his left quadricep muscle. He will be out for approximately 6 months.
Rating: * 1/2
After being away for a few years, Nikita Koloff has made a return to WCW. He defeated Terry Taylor, but had to be helped to the back after the match.
Shane Douglas pinned Junkyard Dog with the Belly-to-Belly Suplex in 8:08.
Rating: -1/4*
(Shane Douglas won the WCW TELEVISION TITLE.)
The roll Shane Douglas has been on has carried him to gold. Douglas, known mostly for his speed and athleticism, showed he can match up with the power wrestlers, too, scoring a win over JYD, even hitting the now former champ with a belly-to-belly to end it.
Sid Vicious pinned Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker with the Power Bomb in 4:24.
Rating: -1/4*
The four Horsemen's strong man, Sid Vicious, dominated Buddy Lee Parker in an easy win.
Ricky Morton and Tommy Rich defeated The Lightning Express (Tim Horner and Brad Armstrong) when R. Morton pinned B. Armstrong with the Rock'n'Roll Buster in 8:23.
Rating: *** 1/4
Ricky Morton and Tommy Rich have been improving greatly as a team in recent weeks, and now they got a manager of their own to support them. Alexandra York, who had been scouting potential new wrestlers and teams, has picked Morton and Rich to be the new cornerstone of her foundation.
Flyin' Brian and Z-Man defeated Doom (Butch Reed and Ron Simmons) when Brian pinned Simmons with the Springboard Clothesline in 14:19.
Rating: *** 1/2
(Flyin' Brian and Z-Man retained the WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM TITLES.)
The US champs stayed hot with an impressive win over Doom. After the match, Reed was clearly not happy with Simmons losing the match, but Teddy Long played peacekeeper between the two.
Interview with Lex Luger
After Flair pulled out of their US Title match tonight, Lex Luger gave an interview about being proud to be United States champion but still has his sights set higher. No matter how tonight plays out, he wants to put his name on the list and feels he should be high up as far as future world title challengers.
While he was talking, from behind, Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff came from behind and hit Luger with a chair.
As Luger recovered, Orndorff grabbed the mic and said last Summer, he came to WCW to help out Sting and Luger and got absolutely nothing for it. It's time he gets what he's owed. And if no one will give it to him, he's going to take it.
The Midnight Express (Stan Lane and Bobby Eaton) defeated The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner) when B. Eaton pinned
R. Steiner with the Alabama Jam in 18:05.
Rating: *** 1/4
(The Midnight Express won the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES.)
[Jim Cornette interfered against Rick Steiner.]
What a night it's been for Jim Cornette. First, Shane Douglas captures the TV Title, now, the Midnight Express have won the world tag team titles, thanks to a tennis racket shot from Cornette that started things toward the ending for the Midnights to beat the Steiner Brothers.
Ric Flair defeated Sting via pinfall in 16:53.
Rating: ***
(Ric Flair won the WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE.)
It what may go down as one of the wildest finishes ever to a WCW world title match, Ric Flair, who wasn't even supposed to be in the match, is once again world champion. Flair had Anderson and Sid ringside to help him against Sting. And eventually, Barry Windham, who was originally supposed to face Sting, hobbled to the ring on crutches to keep an eye on the other two Horsemen.
Sting looked ready to put away Flair, setting him up for the Scorpion Death Lock, when the lights flickered, smoke poured into the arena and when it cleared, the Black Scorpion stood at the top of the ramp. This drew Sting's attention as a voice bellowed throughout the building calling to Sting saying his time was up. The past is coming back to haunt Sting, and he will soon be wiped off the face of existence.
With the referee distracted by Anderson and Sid who told the ref he can't let this match turn into a circus. Flair pulled out brass knuckles and tried to hit Sting with them, but Sting caught Flair with a right hand first and the knucks flew out of the ring. As Sting was going to put Flair in the Scorpion Death Lock, Windham came into the ring and hit Sting in the back with his crutch, revealing his injury to be a set up all along.
The referee turned back around just in time to see Flair get the pin!
As the Horsemen celebrated, the Scorpion could be heard laughing as the smoke came back and he disappeared.
Windham hugged the rest of the Horsemen, showing it was all a hoax and the group was as united as ever. They started a 4-on-1 beatdown of Sting before the Steiners and Lex Luger ran down to chase the Horsemen off, but they left with the gold!
