WWE DVD Collection: The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions (2012)

WWE DVD Collection: The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions (2012)

This is a three disc set released by the WWE in 2012, on both DVD and BluRay (with the BluRay featuring three bonus matches not available on DVD). The set is currently available on Netflix.

You host for this set is Dusty Rhodes, fittingly enough.


Disc 1

NWA World Title Match: Ric Flair v Sting: The main event from Clash of the Champions I, and a fitting start. Motley crew of judges at ringside: Gary Juster, Sandy Scott, Jason Hervey, Patty Mullen, and Ken Osmond. To add intrigue, Flair manager JJ Dillon is suspended in a shark cage above the ring to prevent interference. Though, really, I say Sting let him run wild. If JJ hadn't interfered in the earlier match, his men might still be tag champions. Flair gives him the 'pleasures all yours' treatment at the bell, toying with him as they prepare to lockup, and playing the crowd. Sting responds with a standing side-headlock, but veteran Flair counters into a wristlock - making sure to talk trash at him in the meantime. Sting calls for a test-of-strength, and Flair acts like he's humoring him, but the joke ends up being on Ric, as Sting overpowers him, and hits a dropkick to put the champ on the floor. Flair regroups, and becomes more aggressive as he re-enters the ring, but Sting overpowers him, and hooks an armbar. Flair refuses to let him take it to the mat, instead powering into the ropes, and triggering a criss cross - ending in Sting press slamming him. Sting follows with a quick headscissors takedown, and he finally gets Flair on the mat with a headlock. The champ wrestles up to a vertical base, but Sting fires off a shoulderblock to put him back on the mat in another headlock - Dillon shouting tips from high above the ring. Flair powers into the corner for some chops, but Sting no-sells, and unloads a ten-punch before dropkicking the champ. Flair desperately tries to turn the tide by dumping Sting to the floor, but he literally bounces right back, and gives the champ another ten-punch before re-hooking the headlock. Now worried, Flair tries to counter the hold into some pinfall attempts, but Sting holds firm. The chops still aren't working, so Flair fires a swift shot to the kidneys to get Sting's attention - and he does, as Sting press slams him. Bearhug has Flair desperately reaching for the ropes, but Sting holds firm again, and takes it to the mat for a couple of pinfall attempts. Finally sick of Flair's endless kickouts, Sting mounts him with punches to make a more direct point, but a Stinger Splash misses - and the challenger's on the mat holding his shoulder. He still fights Flair off with another ten-punch, but this time Ric counters with an inverted atomic drop. To the floor, Flair bends the guardrail with a couple of hard whips, but Sting's game to beat the count back in. Ric goes to work with chops in the corner, and a snapmare sets up a pair of shindrops. Flair takes him on tour - beating him from corner to corner - then finally tossing the punch-drunk Sting to the floor for another whip into the rail. Inside, Flair goes for the kill with another series of chops, but Sting no-sells, and knocks Flair to the floor with a single punch. He misses a charge into the post out there, however, and Flair goes to work on the arm with a wristlock inside. Sting with a hiptoss to break the hold, and a hanging vertical suplex sets up the Scorpion Deathlock, but Flair's in the ropes. Sting gets overzealous with another charge, and goes flying to the floor when Flair hits the deck, but still manages a flying bodypress on the battered champion. Headlock, but Flair counters with a kneebreaker, and wastes no time pounding the part in the corner. Second kneebreaker leaves Sting crawling to the floor to avoid the Figure Four, but he doesn't have long, 'cause the referee is counting. He hobbles back in for more abuse, and Flair hits a side suplex to set up the Figure Four. He has little trouble applying the hold now - using the ropes to really get Sting selling - but the Stinger beautifully pulls him to center ring while in the hold, and reverses. That leaves both men struggling to maintain a vertical base, with Flair firing first with a suplex to the floor - only to get reversed into the ring. Flair tries to go to the top rope, but Sting meets him with a slam for two, then crotches him on the ringpost for fun. Sting with a figure four of his own to get Flair doing his Al Pacino impression, and Flair Flips to the floor. Sting is right on him with a shot into the rail, and another into the judges table. One into the ringpost leaves Flair flopping into the first row, but Sting drags him back to finish. Flair openly begs off in the corner, but Sting's SURFING UP!! Ten-Punch Count! Clothesline! - but the Stinger Splash misses, and Sting crashes over the top rope to the concrete. He manages to beat the count in for a slugfest, but walks into a sleeper. Sting counters by ramming Ric into the corner, and a sunset flip gets two. Stinger Splash finally hits to set up the Scorpion Deathlock, and this time Flair's no where near the ropes. Ric looks about ready to submit, but time expires at 39:14. Poor JJ. That’s a long time to sit in a suspended shark cage. The time limit leaves it up to the esteemed judges, but they're at a stalemate, so we have a draw, and Flair retains the title. Really great, legendary stuff here. Sting may not have won the title, but this match cemented his position on the card as a main event title threat with fans for good, and gave the NWA a new star in the process. The match built wonderfully – from Flair’s initial condescending ‘yeah kid’ attitude, to Sting pushing the veteran literally to the limit, and leaving Flair begging off and scrambling for counters. *** ¾

NWA World Tag Team Title Match: Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard v Lex Luger and Barry Windham: Also from Clash I. Blanchard starts with Luger, and gets thrown across the ring during the initial tie-up. That draws Arn in to double-team, but former Horsemen Luger sees it coming and blasts them both with clotheslines before hooking Tully in the Torture Rack. Arn saves with a swift kick to the knee, and with the vertical base gone, the champs have him right where they want him. Both guys destroy the knee, but Luger overpowers Anderson from flat on his back, and passes to Barry. Windham levels Blanchard with a diving clothesline, and a powerslam for two. Sleeper sends them spilling to the outside when Tully goes for the ropes - Barry holding him in it as they fall to the floor. Windham drags him with in with a slam from the top rope, and hooks an abdominal stretch to stretch the abdominals, but Arn breaks it up with a DDT. He doesn't even bother tagging before giving Windham a spinebuster for two, but gets crotched during a test-of-strength, and quickly passes back to Tully to literally save his balls. Criss cross ends in a Windham bodypress for two, and another in a double knockout spot - Blanchard getting the tag off. Anderson tries to keep control with a wristlock, but Barry keeps sticking and moving - though unable to get the tag to Luger before Blanchard comes back in with a slingshot suplex for two. Barry's so dazed he doesn't know where he is, but manages to fall into his corner during a slugfest, and tags Luger. He's a house of arson, and after heel manager JJ Dillon's attempt at bringing a chair into things backfires, Luger pins Anderson for the titles at 9:33. Not a psychological thriller, but great tag wrestling (properly cutting the ring in half, quick tags, double-teams), and all at a non-stop pace. ***

NWA World Tag Team Title Match: Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard v Sting and Dusty Rhodes: From Clash II. Arn starts with Sting, and immediately tries to take it to the mat with a wristlock, but Sting kips up, and powers out. Anderson bails to the floor to regroup, and Sting follows - posting Arn's arm. Inside, Sting works the arm, but Arn rakes the eyes to tag Tully. Blanchard charges into an armdrag, and Sting follows up with a headscissors takedown before passing to Rhodes. Dusty goes ballistic with elbowsmashes, and puts Tully in a figure four, but Anderson breaks it up, and takes a tag. The champs double-team (well, triple, if you count JJ Dillon's barrage of cheap shots), but Blanchard's attempt at a suplex gets countered with a clothesline, and Sting steps in. Press slam sets up a Stinger Splash on Tully, but Anderson breaks up a Scorpion Deathlock attempt, and throws Sting into the guardrail for good measure. The Horsemen cut the ring in half on Sting with brutal double-teams, but the Stinger keeps getting uppity, so Arn drops him with a DDT on the exposed concrete floor. Inside, that gets Tully two, but Arn loses a slugfest, and a backslide gets the challenger two before he manages to tag Dusty. He's a house of arson, but a four-way brawl sees the referee getting tossed aside by Sting in the fog of war, and Horsemen Ric Flair and Barry Windham joining the party to make it five-on-two - until the referee throws it out as a double disqualification at 11:00. Really fun, well paced back-and-forth tag action here - the Horsemen in fine form, as always. ** ¾

Russian Chain Match: Ricky Morton v Ivan Koloff: From Clash III, this 'touch four corners' rules. Tug-of-war ends in Koloff blasting him with the chain, and he uses it to choke Morton, but Ricky slides through his legs, and crotches him with it. Ivan has no balls, apparently, and pops right up to blast Morton, and hit two corners before Ricky breaks the momentum. Koloff responds by dumping him to the floor, but they're still connected at the wrist, so Ricky just uses the momentum to pull him against the ropes and knock the wind out of him. Morton still can't take control, though, and Koloff beats him with the chain again, but can't drag him to more than two corners before Morton starts kicking at his leg to break the momentum. Morton gets some revenge with the chain before trying for the corners, but Koloff derails him at one, and hits a 2^nd rope axehandle. Flying version, but Morton tugs the chain to knock him off, and makes three corners before Koloff manager Paul Jones gets involved, but his attempt at anchoring Ivan fails, and Morton falls into the fourth corner for the victory at 9:52. Afterwards, Jones berates Koloff for the loss, and the Russian Assassin runs out to give him a beat down - joined by a second masked Assassin to form a new team, and turn Koloff face. The match was fun, and well paced, but all punch-kick. Also the first poor choice on the set, as this wasn’t even the best match from Clash III, let alone worthy of inclusion. ½*

I Quit Match: Ric Flair v Terry Funk: From Clash IX. Flair is so pissed, he blasts Funk with a hellacious knife-edge chop so hard Terry flies over the top, and into the first row. Paging Hennig, Curt. Paging Hennig, Curt. Your bit has been stolen. Not that Flair is impressed though, diving at Funk with more brutal chops on the floor, and putting up his dukes for a slugfest. Terry tries a headlock, but Flair drops to the mat to sweep Funk, and starts choking at him like they're on the schoolyard. Terry responds by stomping Flair's head like he owes him money (to be fair, he probably did), and Terry tosses the limp Flair to the floor for some abuse with the guardrail. Inside, Funk keeps unloading closed fists, but Flair won't quit, so Funk shoves him into the corner for a ten-punch count - only he unloads some thirty shots before letting off. Still, Flair won't quit, so Terry decides to up the ante with a neckbreaker. Ric fires back by grabbing Terry by the throat, and chopping him right out of the ring again. Flair gets some revenge with the rail, but Funk is in no mood to quit, and Funk manager Gary Hart distracts Flair long enough for Terry to takeover and give Flair another of the dreaded neckbreakers. Flair still won't give, so Funk decides to teach him a lesson with another broken neck, and sets up the piledriver. Ric hits his knees to block, so Terry brilliantly uses his legs as a vise around Ric's neck to loosen him up, allowing him to hit the piledriver, but Flair still won't quit. To the floor, Funk drags the battered Flair over to the exposed concrete in the aisle, and it's piledriver: the sequel. Flair still says 'no,' so Funk beats him with the microphone for being insolent, and slams him on a table at ringside. Funk shoves Flair off of it so that he can set the table up against the ring apron for some more fun, but Flair reverses him going into it, and shoves him HARD into the rail. More chops have people in the front row groaning in sympathy for poor Terry, but Flair shows no mercy as he drops Funk onto the rail - nuts first. Back inside, Flair works in a shindrop, and an inverted atomic drop follows. Flair starts going for the knee between a series of vicious chops, so Funk starts running. He's limping badly, however, and Flair tackles him in the aisle before giving him a kneebreaker on the floor. Hanging vertical suplex brings Funk back into the ring, and Ric calls for the Figure Four - but Terry rakes the eyes to block. He tries a suplex of his own, but Flair reverses - dropping Funk hard onto the ring apron. Inside, Ric takes a couple more shots at the knee before hooking on the Figure Four, and Funk is flailing in pain - grabbing at the official. He tries to counter or reverse, but Flair just keeps wrenching it on, and Funk finally submits at 18:33. Afterwards, Funk shakes Flair's hand out of respect, but that just earns him a beat down from manager Gary Hart, turning Terry face as the angle gets blown off. Really intense, stiff match - filled with well paced, hard hitting brawling and almost palpable hatred. Not putting Flair's NWA World Title belt on the line also helped make it seem intense - as if their hatred went beyond any championship. That said, for all the positives, there are some negatives: notably Flair's almost non-existent selling - especially for Funk's neck oriented offense – and very little psychology otherwise. Still one hell of a match, and a suitable blowoff to the epic feud - but not quite as good as the Great American Bash one. *** ½

Mil Mascaras v Cactus Jack: From Clash X, and a good choice for historical significance, if nothing else. Mascaras dominates with armdrags and hiptosses in the early going, and wins a test-of-strength but twisting Jack around in a couple of headscissor takedowns. Mascaras with a diving forearm and a dropkick to put Jack on the floor, and Mil tries a full-nelson on the way back in, but Jack quickly breaks with a closed fist. He looks completely lost as he stumbles around hitting Mascaras before going to the apron to set up his brutal spot where Mascaras dropkicks him - sending Jack crashing backwards onto the concrete, completely unprotected. Back inside, Mascaras hits a flying bodypress on the dazed Cactus, and that's that at 5:00. Young Mick Foley was already a bump machine in 1990, but he was completely lost out there otherwise. ¾*

NWA United States Tag Team Title Match: The Midnight Express v The Rock 'n' Roll Express: From Clash XI. Bobby Eaton starts with Robert Gibson, and they're off to a slow start messing with armdrags and armbars that go absolutely nowhere. Things finally get going when Gibson takes him down with a headscissors off of a criss cross, but Eaton passes to Stan Lane before Robert can properly rock his roll. Stan comes in hot with a series of savate kicks, but walks into an enzuigiri, and Gibson tags out to Ricky Morton. He does so little that Lane gets bored and tags Eaton to take a rana. He and Gibson take turns working armbars, before all four end up brawling, and the Rock 'n' Roll Express start throwing double-team pinning combinations at the champs. Morton can't keep it going once the referee clears Gibson out though, and the Midnight's take turns making him their bitch. They miss a double-team to allow the tag to Gibson, and it's another four-way brawl dominated by the challengers, so Stan Lane grabs the referee to force a disqualification and save the titles at 12:07. This was like a house show version of an Express/Express match (down to the finish), and certainly not worth putting on the set, but the crowd ate it up. A weird case where the pace was fine, and they were always moving, but not actually going anywhere. ¾*

Disc 2

NWA United States Title Match: Lex Luger v Ric Flair: From Clash XII. Luger dominates with power to start, so Flair tries to outsmart him with a cheap shot out of a test-of-strength - only to have Luger start no-selling when he tries chops. Lex with a press slam to leave Flair bailing to the outside, but Ric's not the defending champion this time around, and countouts aren't going to save him. Flair takes his time re-entering (killing Luger's momentum in the process), but his barrage of chops just gets no-sold again, and Luger delivers another press slam. A big clothesline sends Ric tumbling over the top, but this time Luger follows with a running clothesline on the floor before Flair can try and disrupt the momentum. Back inside, Lex press slams his challenger, but a leaping elbowdrop connects only with the canvas - Ric finally managing to slow him down. Flair with a series of chops, but Luger counters a cross corner whip with another thunderous clothesline, and Flair is actively begging off now. It's all a ploy, of course, and Ric blasts Luger with a closed fist, and dumps him to the outside for a hard shot into the rail. Ric styles and profiles as Luger tries to get back into the ring, and once he does, Flair is right there to meet him with a series of boots to the midsection. Back to the floor, Flair nearly breaks skin with some knife edge chops, and he teases trying to steal a chair from a shocked security guard seated at ringside to finish the job. Flair starts targeting the knee as they go back inside, but Luger's power advantage allows him a backslide for two. More chops and kicks at the knee, but Luger's now officially CHOKING UP!! Ten-Punch Count! Clothesline! Slam! Flair Flip! Clothesline! Press Slam! Powerslam! Superplex! Fists of Fury! They spill out to the floor again, but this time Stan Hansen runs out, and attacks Luger to cause a disqualification at 14:26. I could have done without the ending, but this was the usual well paced Flair/Luger match: repetitive, but entertaining and well worked. ***

Six-Man Tag Team Match: The Fabulous Freebirds v Tom Zenk and The Young Pistols: From Clash XV, and I have no idea how this made the cut. Jimmy Garvin starts with Tom Zenk, and a criss cross goes Tom's way with a hiptoss, drawing the other four guys in for a brawl - Zenk and the Pistols cleaning house. The dust settles on Michael Hayes and Steve Armstrong - Steve using his speed to dominate Hayes with a dropkick. That once again triggers a six-way brawl, and once more the faces clear the Freebirds in short order. The dust settles again - this time on Badstreet and Armstrong - and a bit of Freebird triple teaming allows them to take control. It doesn't take long for yet another brawl to break out, and the faces band together for a triple sunset flip for the triple pin at 4:43. Far too rushed to properly build flow, but fun for the five minutes it went on. ½*

15-Man Battle Royal: From Clash XVI. We've got El Gigante, Tom Zenk, Thomas Rich, Bobby Eaton, Ranger Ross, Tracey Smothers, Oz, P.N. News, Buddy Lee Parker, Steve Austin, Dustin Rhodes, Terrance Taylor, Big Josh, Barry Windham, and One Man Gang. Typical punch-kick battle royal with nothing of note happening until the field narrows down to Oz, Gang, Rhodes, and Gigante. Dustin is first to go (being the bookers offspring doesn't help against fatties, unfortunately), but Gigante avenges him by clotheslining both Oz and Gang out at 9:32. Pretty much only worth fast forwarding through to see Kevin Nash dwarfed - something you certainly don't see every day. Still, not worthy of inclusion – like most everything from this period. DUD

WCW United States Title Match: Sting v Rick Rude: From Clash XVII. Sting is in the hospital after Lex Luger attacked him earlier in the show, and there is doubt whether or not he will be able to wrestle. Rude manager Paul E. Dangerously quickly points out that if Sting can't make it, Rude should win the title by forfeit, but as the referee starts counting, Sting pulls up to the building in an ambulance he commandeered earlier in the show, and he's heading for the ring. Rude meets him on the ramp way, but Sting press slams him, and tosses him into the ring to get thing started. Sting with a big backdrop, and an even bigger clothesline (no one sold like Rick Rude), but Rick finally grabs at the bad leg, and sweeps him for a few shots into the post. Inside, Rude goes for the Rude Awakening, but Sting blocks and thumps Rude with a few closed fists. Unfortunately, he thumps him a little too good, and the knocked out Rude falls right into Sting's bad knee. Dangerously adds a cheap shot with his giant ass cell phone for good measure, and a handful of tights crowns a new US champ at 4:53. Maybe not the best match, but the angle surrounding it was top notch, and the crowd ate it up and asked for seconds, so it was a good inclusion – even if not the best match from Clash XVII. ¾*

NWA & WCW World Tag Team Title 2/3 Falls Match: The Hollywood Blonds v Ric Flair and Arn Anderson: From Clash XXIII. Brian Pillman starts with Anderson, but Pillman's even more excited about mocking and taunting Flair than locking up. Arn takes him to school once they do, casually countering a headlock, and dropping Brian across the ropes. Pillman wisely bails to Austin, and Steve one-ups Pillman by mocking Anderson's physic as well as Flair's. Tag to Ric nearly blows the roof off of the Scope, and Flair pleases them by destroying Austin with chops - even throwing a couple Pillman's way for good measure. Flair gets vicious on Austin by fish hooking his nose and mouth, so Steve desperately throws a thumb to the eye to allow him to bail. Tag to Anderson to allow the Enforcer to have his share of fun, and he goes after Steve's arm - hitting a hammerlock-slam. Flair with a snapmare to set up a shindrop - the challengers working quick tags as they pound Austin. Pillman manages to fire off a cheap shot from the apron to take Anderson down, and Austin is like a shark - wasting no time pouncing. Anderson manages to dodge a charge into the ropes to allow him a DDT, and he tags Flair - Ric diving in with a flying axehandle to take both Blonds out. A four-way brawl breaks out, and Flair clobbers Pillman as Anderson takes Austin out on the floor - the challengers scoring the first fall at 9:41. The dust settles back on Pillman and Flair, and Brian tries his own set of knife edge chops to set up a Flair Flip. Ric charges down the apron to chop at Austin, but the champs double-team, and Steve suplexes Ric on the floor. The Blonds cut the ring in half, but a double knockout spot with Pillman allows Flair the tag. Anderson comes in hot, and nails Austin with a spinebuster for two - drawing Pillman in to clip his knee, and allow Austin a two count. The Blonds start targeting Anderson's knee as they cut the ring in half again - Pillman holding him in a half-crab as Austin aids with illegal leverage, and Flair helplessly watching someone else get away with that is a thing of beauty on its own. Arn manages to block a 2^nd rope axehandle from Pillman to get the tag to Ric, and Flair is a house of arson! The Blonds eat chops, and Austin ends up in the Figure Four, but Barry Windham runs in to break it up, giving Flair and Anderson the second fall by disqualification at 21:00 - but not the titles. Somewhat disappointing, but this was a fun main event, and the superhot crowd certainly made everything click. ** ½

Steve Austin v Brian Pillman: From Clash XXV. Pillman jumps Austin on the way in, but gets caught up chasing Steve's new manager (Colonel Rob Parker) and clotheslined as he rounds a corner on the floor. Pillman manages to reverse Austin into the rail before taking it inside for a backdrop, and he unloads on his former partner with knife edge chops in the corner. Headscissors takedown has Austin begging off, but Brian spits in his face, and kicks him out of the ring onto the elevated ramp way. He follows to backdrop him out there, but a flying splash runs into Austin's boot, and Steve tosses him off the ramp and into the guardrail. Pillman manages a slingshot bodypress on the way back in for two, but he can't properly capitalize before Austin stunguns him for two. Rope-assisted half-crab grounds Flyin' Brian, but he won't submit, and starts firing off chops and backelbows as he gets back to his feet. Springboard 2^nd rope backelbow leaves both Blonds looking up at the lights, and Austin's attempt at going to the top rope ends with him getting crotched. Pillman with a superplex to follow-up, but Austin dumps him and leaps - only for Brian to block him with a dropkick on the way down, getting two. Austin tries a piledriver, but Pillman counters with a rana for two. Slingshot shoulderblock countered with a powerslam by Austin for two, but he misses a dive into the ropes, and Pillman DDT's him for two. Crucifix is countered with a fallaway slam by Austin, but he misses a flying splash, and Pillman cradles him for two. Austin tries a stungun, but Pillman sees it coming and holds the ropes to get to the apron for a slingshot shoulderblock, but Colonel Parker trips him up, and Austin gets the pin at 9:11. I would have loved to see this get a bit more time, but it was a hell of a match for the ten minutes it went on, loaded with dramatic near falls and 'former partners who know each others counters to counters’ - which I'm a huge sucker for. *** ¼

WCW Television Title Match: Steven Regal v Dustin Rhodes: From Clash XXVI. Rhodes is ready to go, but Regal stalls him in the early going until Rhodes flips out and starts firing off closed fists, and dropkicks the Television champion to the outside. Back inside, Regal tries to stall some more, but Dustin gets his ass into gear the hardway: hiptossing him clear across the ring. A fight over a wristlock doesn't really go anywhere, and a shoulderblock from Rhodes sends him back to the outside - Regal now actively trying to run the time limit out. Inside, Rhodes with a bodyslam for two, and he takes the champ to the mat with a side-headlock. Regal fights up to a vertical base to break the hold with a series of uppercuts (European uppercuts!), and turns the tables on Dustin by taking him to the mat with an overhead wristlock. Rhodes breaks with a snapmare and quickly follows with a clothesline for two - Regal breaking the count by getting his foot onto the ropes. He frustrates Rhodes by rolling to the floor to stall, but a sunset flip on the way back in gets him pounded with mounted punches. Dustin with a jumping clothesline for two, but Regal is on the floor stalling again before he can follow-up. Inside, Rhodes with a dropkick for two, and a backdrop sets up a splash for two - Regal bailing to the floor yet again. Dustin drags him in for a flying elbowsmash and a bulldog, but the fifteen minutes time limit expires at 14:55. I liked the psychology of Regal running down the time limit to save his title, but unfortunately it translated into a really slow, stall-filled match. I have no idea how this made the cut. ¼*

Elimination Match: Ric Flair and Sting v Vader and Rick Rude: Also from Clash XXVI, and a much better choice for highlighting that particular episode. Sting starts with Rude, and they play mind games with each other - each taking a turn taunting the other man after overpowering him into the corner. Sting ends up taking Rude to the mat in an overhead wristlock, but Rick quickly fights up to a vertical base - though is unable to break the hold. Sting takes him back to the mat with a standard wristlock, but Rude powers into the corner, and breaks the hold with a series of kneelifts. Tag to Vader to casually press slam the Stinger across the top rope, and he follows with a powerslam, but a 2^nd rope sunset flip is blocked with a buttsplash by Sting. Rick runs in before Sting back follow-up, however, and Vader takes the opportunity to swat at Sting with forearms to the head and body. A wild haymaker misses to allow Sting a German suplex, and he reaches Flair for a tag. Ric comes in hot with a series of chops for the big man, but Sting can't keep it going, and gets clobbered when Flair prematurely tags him back in. Rude cuts the ring in half with a bearhug, but Sting hits a sloppy flapjack, and gets back to the corner. Flair with an inverted atomic drop, but Rude blocks him coming into the corner, and Vader tags to hit an avalanche. Vader with a slam to set up the Vaderbomb, but he's still not satisfied, and adds a superplex. He still doesn't even bother to make a token pinfall attempt, and takes Flair to the top turnbuckle again - this time for a super-duperplex. Still not satisfied, Vader drags Flair to the corner (kicking and screaming) for a flying splash, but Sting finally steps in and pulls Flair out of the way. That triggers a four-way brawl, and Flair and Vader both end up getting countout out at 15:30. Sting goes right to business on Rude with a flying clothesline, and a beautiful backdrop, but an attempt at an inverted atomic drop is countered with an eye rake, and Rude capitalizes with a flying forearm. He works Sting over with a clothesline and a fistdrop for two, and hooks a reverse chinlock at center ring. Sting powers up with an electric chair to break, and both guys are dazed as they collide in a double clothesline. Rick up first for the Rude Awakening, but Sting blocks by holding the top rope, and hitting his own version for two. Rude with an inverted atomic drop, but a tombstone piledriver gets reversed, and Sting hits a flying splash for the win at 21:00. A fun, well paced, and hard hitting main event – especially Vader and his stiff, casual brutality. The bout slowed down significantly towards the end (after the double elimination), but still good stuff from everyone involved. * ½

Disc 3

Unification Match: WCW World Title v WCW International World Title: Ric Flair v Sting: From Clash XXVII. After nearly a year, WCW finally figured out that they could start using the 'Big Gold Belt' as their world title again (since they owned it, and all), thus this unification match. Sting overpowers Flair out of the initial lockup, so Ric tries an overhead wristlock, but Sting kips up, and forces the Nature Boy into the corner. They fight over a hammerlock next, and Flair gets frustrated - shoving Sting. That ends badly for Flair, and he bails out onto the ramp way to regroup. Inside, a criss cross ends in a pair of Sting press slams, and Flair bails to the outside before flopping on the floor. Back inside, Sting tries a wristlock, but Ric rakes the eyes, and unloads chops in the corner. Sting no-sells and hiptosses Flair, then fires off a series of clotheslines to send Flair tumbling over the top rope. He stalls out there to try and break the momentum, and comes in begging off as the referees count nears ten - nailing Sting with a cheap shot. More chops are no-sold to set up another hiptoss, but Flair dodges a dropkick, and goes for the Figure Four - only for Sting to cradle him for two. Stinger Splash misses, however, and Flair distracts the referee so he can launch Sting over the top to the floor. Flair follows with a series of chops against the rail, and Sting ain't no-selling now! Inside, Flair hits a pair of shindrops for two, and a side suplex sets up the Figure Four - but again Sting blocks. Flair unloads a backelbow before locking a sleeper, but Sting rams his head into the turnbuckle to break. Sting with a shoulderblock and a poorly executed slingshot to capitalize, and a suplex gets two. Flair begs off, but Sting responds by sending him flipping into the corner, and unloading a ten-punch count. Sting with a super-duperplex, but a flying splash misses, and Flair capitalizes with a hanging vertical suplex - which Sting promptly no-sells. Sting with a hiptoss into a dropkick, and a press slam sets up another series of clotheslines to put Flair on the floor. Plancha, but Flair shoves Sensational Sherri (at ringside supposedly scouting Sting) into his flight path, and he clobbers her. Naturally, babyface Sting stops to check on her, but that allows Flair to clobber him. Inside, Sting still hooks a backslide for two, but he gets distracted by Sherri again, and this time Flair hooks the tights into a schoolboy - unifying the titles at 17:15. Afterwards, Flair and Sherri go after Sting, but Hulk Hogan (who challenged the winner of this to a title match at Bash at the Beach earlier on the show) makes the save. Not a great match, but it certainly served it's purpose of getting one unified belt onto Flair ahead of the anticipated showdown with Hogan at Bash at the Beach the next month, and it wasn't a BAD match, or anything. What this really suffered from is being booked as an epic, but failing to properly deliver - especially the heavy stalling in the early going. **

WCW United States Title Match: Steve Austin v Ricky Steamboat: From Clash XXVIII. If Austin gets himself disqualified, Steamboat picks up the title here. Austin complains of hairpulling almost immediately, but that's almost like accusing Gandhi of doing a drive-by. Steamboat with a mat-based side-headlock, but Austin grabs a handful of hair and powers up to a vertical base for a bodypress and a schoolboy for two - as the announcers wait for an update on Hulk Hogan. Steamboat with a pair of dropkicks to rattle Austin, and a powerslam gets two as we cut to footage of Hogan's ambulance on its way to the hospital. A reversal sequence ends with Steamboat hooking an armbar on the mat, and a criss cross ends with them trading sleepers - Austin getting the final word with a stunner (before it meant as much). Chopfest goes Steamboat's way with a hiptoss, and he cracks Austin's arm on the ringpost for good measure. Steamboat with a wicked spot where he sets Austin up for a ropewalk forearm, then simply drops to the floor to snap Steve's arm on the top rope before hitting a flying axehandle, but Austin ends up getting him on the mat, and hitting a kneedrop for two. Austin with a series of closed fists to get the challenger on the ropes, and he hooks a chinlock to get him on the mat. To a vertical base, Steamboat wins another chopfest, but a splash is blocked by Austin's knees - giving the champ a two count. 2^nd rope pointed elbowdrop gets Austin two, and a suplex for two. Another suplex, but Steamboat blocks, and puts Austin on the top for a superplex - which Austin blocks by shoving him off the ropes, and Steamboat lands badly on the mat, legitimately injuring his back. He still manages to go back after Austin with the superplex, but Steve dumps him for a forward falling superplex - only to have a flying axehandle met with a gutpunch! Steamboat with a flying bodypress, but Austin sidesteps, and the Dragon face plants. Austin kills time as Steamboat works through his back issues, and Steamboat is up with a series of clotheslines for two. Spinebuster gets two, and an electric chair for two. Inside cradle for two, rolling cradle for two, and a backslide for two. Sunset flip for two, but Austin finally fires back with a hard clothesline. He tries to capitalize with a quick bodyslam, but Steamboat hooks him up with a cradle on the way down, and we have a new US Champion at 16:08. Great ending to a hot match - filled with both guys countering counters, fighting over even simple moves, and eye popping spots. As a kid, I didn't know who Steve Austin was, and barely knew who Steamboat was (I recognized him from some old WWF tapes I had rented), so the ongoing saga of Hogan intrigued me and kept me glued to the screen more than the match. Now, I felt it really hurt the match, and found it annoying. Unfortunately for the new champion, the back injury proved worse than it looked, and effectively ended the long and brilliant career of the Dragon not long after. Good inclusion for historical significance alone here. ** ¼

Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage v Ric Flair and The Giant: From Clash XXXII. The Not Mega Powers bring Kevin Greene and a group of women with them to ringside (though Greene looks pretty womanly himself, with that particular haircut) - including Miss Elizabeth, in her WCW debut. Savage and Flair start us off, but Flair wants Greene instead - and he obliges, getting into the ring and challenging Flair to a showdown. Ric bails, of course, and finally the dust settles back onto Savage and Flair. Ric unloads chops in the corner, but walks into a backdrop, and takes a pair of clotheslines. Flair flip puts him onto the apron for Hogan to big boot onto the floor, and Savage brings him back in - slapping Ric across the face. Into the corner, Flair tries chops again, but a hiptoss is countered with a backslide for two. Savage with a series of jabs, but Flair begs off, and tags the big man. He wants Hogan, so Savage makes the tag, and the Hulkster goes eye-to-eye with the 'son of Andre.' Giant overpowers him out of the first few lockups, so Hulk stupidly tries a bodyslam, and gets swatted. Giant with his own bodyslam, and he works Hogan over - cutting the ring in half. A missed elbowdrop allows Hogan to hit the bodyslam instead of tagging Savage, but his back gives out after completing the spot, and Giant tags Flair in to hit Hulk with an impressive hanging vertical suplex. Hogan no-sells though (you must be over this tall for Hulk Hogan to sell for you), so Giant pulls him out to the floor in a bearhug to help the heel cause. Inside, Flair tries chops, but he's still not tall enough, so Hulk no-sells. To the top rope, but Hogan is right there to slam him off, and he gets the tag to Randy. Savage is a house of arson as a four-way brawl breaks out, and Flair bops Savage with the brass knux for the pin at 9:52. Just paint-by-numbers stuff here to set up the two cage matches for SuperBrawl VI - though at least Liz looked smoking hot in red. DUD

Madusa v Bull Nakano: From Clash XXXIII. Madusa jumps the Bull right at the bell, but misses a dropkick, and takes a vicious hairpull slam. Another, and Bull grabs nunchuks - going ballistic on poor Madusa as manager Sonny Oono distracts the referee. Nakano with a splash for two, but Madusa counters a cross corner whip with a springboard bodypress for two. Series of hairpull slams get two, but a sunset flip is countered with a buttsplash for two. To the top, but Madusa dropkicks Nakano off of the turnbuckle to the floor - only to miss a flying bodypress, and hit the rail. Unfortunately for her, Oono accidentally misses a roundhouse kick, and Madusa schoolgirls her for the pin at 2:42. I’m assuming this was just here to highlight a women’s match – though there was a better one back at Clash XII if that was the goal. ¼*

WCW Battle Bowl Title Match: Diamond Dallas Page v Eddie Guerrero: Also from Clash XXXIII. Page overpowers him out of the initial lockup, so Eddie starts a criss cross to try and blow him up - ending with a headscissors takedown. Guerrero with a dropkick, but a blind charge misses, and DDP stomps him. Gutbuster hits, and a tilt-a-whirl sidewalk slam gets two. Page hooks a rope-assisted chinlock, but Eddie manages a hiptoss to break. Slugfest goes Guerrero's way, and a dropkick sets up a slingshot somersault senton for two. Page fires back with a jawbreaker and a sitout powerbomb for two, but a superplex attempt is blocked by Eddie, and he hits the Frogsplash to win the BattleBowl ring at 4:22. Too short to really go anywhere, but both guys worked hard, and it was good big/little stuff while it lasted. * ¾

WCW World Tag Team Title Triangle Match: Harlem Heat v The Steiner Brothers v Lex Luger and Sting: Yet another match from Clash XXXIII – though out of three matches chosen from this forgettable show, they failed to put on the best match from it (the Rey Mysterio/Dean Malenko opener). Triangle rules mean only two guys in at a time, and the first fall takes the titles. Booker T starts with Scott Steiner, and actually manages to match power with him - hitting a sidekick. To the top, but Steiner is there to crotch him on the top rope, and Luger drives it home by driving him to the floor with a clothesline. Tag to Stevie Ray on the way back in, but Scott is over it, and passes to Luger. Stevie wants revenge for what Lex did to his brother (anal rape), and stomps a mud hole in the corner, but Lex returns fire, and hits a clothesline. Tag to Rick Steiner to clothesline both guys, and a flying bulldog gets two on Stevie - broken up by Luger before the referee can clear him out. The distraction allows Stevie to blast Rick with a sidekick, and he tags Booker back in. Criss cross ends in Steiner powerslamming him, but he gets a little too close to the wrong corner, and Sting tags himself in to get the pin himself. Flying clothesline gets two, and a press slam follows for two. Tag to Luger for a 2^nd rope axehandle, and Booker is begging to tag ANYONE, but Lex responds with a vertical suplex for two - saved by Stevie, who then tags. He ends up in with the Stinger, but does so little that Scott Steiner gets bored, and tags himself in. He has a proper showdown with Sting over a wristlock, and a criss cross ends in Sting stungunning him. Flying clothesline gets two, but Scott counters a suplex with an inverted DDT, and follows with a double-underhook powerbomb for two - saved by Luger. Tag to Rick, and Steiner tries a sleeper, but Sting manages to get to Luger. He blasts Steiner with a clothesline out of the corner, and another leaves Steiner stumbling. A third misses though, and Rick drops him with a German suplex before passing back to brother Scott for a belly-to-belly suplex. Scott off the 2^nd rope, but Luger catches him in the Torture Rack - triggering a six-way brawl. In the chaos, Scott catches Booker with a Frankensteiner, but referee Nick Patrick notices the Outsiders at the entrance area, and calls a no-contest at 12:00. Normally, that would be a ridiculously stupid ending, but seeing as they were establishing Patrick as a heel, nWo influenced referee, it's actually a great ending - and perfect for TV. The match lacked flow, but was well paced (especially when the Heat were on the apron), and filled with fun spots. **

WCW Cruiserweight Title Match: Ultimo Dragon v Dean Malenko: From Clash XXXIV. Dragon makes the mistake of trying to wrestle Malenko at the bell, and ends up in a hammerlock on the mat after a reversal sequence. Dean tries a suplex, but Dragon snags the top rope to block, so Dean tosses him into the corner, beats the shit out of him with forearms, and then pulls him right back to center ring for the suplex. It only gets two, but FUCK, that was awesome. To the mat, Malenko hooks a headscissors, but Dragon powers up with lightning kicks, and punts a field goal in Malenko's ribcage. Dean slides out to the floor to regroup, and comes back in cautiously - nailing the champ with a side suplex after dodging more lightning kicks. Malenko with a grapevine, but Dragon keeps coming, so Dean tries a half-crab. Dragon grabs the ropes to force a break, but Dean keeps after the leg with a kneebreaker and a stump puller. Dragon won't give, so Malenko jabs him with a backelbow, and tosses him to the floor. Now, you may be thinking, 'Well, that's horrible psychology! He can't win the title out on the floor!' Well, shut the fuck up, dickface. This is Dean Malenko we're talking about. See, he dumps Dragon to the floor not for a countout, but so use the guardrail to properly abuse his leg. Inside, Dean hits a cross corner clothesline and a super-duperplex pops the crowd, but Malenko is too battered from the move to cover. He manages a standing victory roll for two and a reversal sequence ends in Dragon hooking a rana for two. Springboard dropkick puts Malenko on the floor, and a springboard moonsault follows as the referee counts - Dragon's title not in jeopardy if it ends in a double countout. They make it in, for Dragon to suplex him, but a flying moonsault is only worth two around these parts. Dragon tries a rana off the top, but bangs his knee on the way down, and doesn't cover. Backdrop, but Dean catches him with a double-underhook powerbomb, and locks on the Texas Cloverleaf to take the title at 15:00. Great stuff here - filled with hard hitting, psychologically sound action, and subtle bits of work from both guys that gets better with repeat viewings. *** ¼ 

WCW Cruiserweight Title Match: Chris Jericho v Eddie Guerrero: From Clash XXXV – the final Clash. Both men take their time sizing each other up, and the initial lockup ends in Guerrero taking the champ down with a snapmare. Jericho fires back with a series of hiptosses and a dropkick, but Guerrero bitches to the referee about hair pulling to stall. Criss cross goes Chris' way with a press slam, and he follows with a flapjack - Eddie bailing to the floor. Guerrero stalls out there, and manages a sneak attack with a series of chops, and a jumping backelbow. Guerrero with a slingshot somersault senton, and an uppercut weakens Jericho for a trip to the top turnbuckle - Eddie bringing him down with a rana for two. Springboard rana is blocked by Jericho with a powerbomb, but a big swing leaves both men wobbling. Jericho manages to shoot first with a spinheel kick, but he trips while springboarding, and ends up face planting on the floor. He still manages a suplex off of the apron, but Guerrero brings him back in with a super-duperplex for two. German suplex is countered into a powerbomb by Jericho, but Eddie counters into a droptoe-hold, only for Chris to counter into a German suplex for two - ending a great sequence. Guerrero with a springboard sunset flip for two, but a reversal sequence ends with Jericho on top in a cradle, and he retains at 6:42. Fun and fast paced, but both guys looked off of their marks (particularly Jericho), and it came though in the performance. * ¾

WCW World Tag Team Title Match: Scott Hall and Randy Savage v Diamond Dallas Page and Lex Luger: Also from Clash XXXV – this has the distinction of being the last match on the last Clash. Hall and Kevin Nash are actually the official champions here, but by this point essentially any two nWo members were defending them on a regular basis. Hall starts with Page, but Scott wants Luger, and the faces oblige - giving us this epic rematch from Clash XXXIV. The initial lockup ends in a stalemate, so Luger shoves Hall - only for Scott to tug the tights, and knock him to the floor. Miss Elizabeth shoves her boobs in his face out there, but it's only a distraction to allow Kevin Nash to clobber him with a clothesline, and back inside, the champs cut the ring in half. Savage misses an elbowdrop to allow the tag to Page, and he comes in hot - taking both Savage and Hall out with atomic drops and clotheslines. A double-team allows the champs to takeover again, and this time they properly cut the ring in half. Page manages to catch Hall with a short-clothesline to leave both men looking up at the lights, and Dallas gets the tag to Luger. He's a house of arson, and puts Hall in the Torture Rack, but Savage breaks it up before Page can stop him. Dazed, Page accidentally hits Luger with the Diamond Cutter in the fog of a four-way brawl, and Hall pins him to retain at 9:57. Well paced, but not much else, unfortunately. ¼*

BluRay Extras

The Midnight Express v Ric Flair and Barry Windham: From Clash IV. Bobby Eaton starts with Flair, and paintbrushes the Nature Boy as he taunts him. Flair responds with chops in the corner, but Bobby backdrops him and Flair Flips into a boot from Stan Lane. Lane tags in with a savate kick, but an enzuigiri drops Flair into a tag to Windham. Barry tries to use his size advantage to overpower Lane, but gets dropkicked and savate kicked to the floor. Lane brings him back in with a slingshot, but Windham scurries over to Flair as Stan tags Bobby. A big criss cross ends in Eaton hiptossing Flair, and following with a jumping clothesline to take out both Flair and an interfering Windham. Both Horsemen bail to the floor to regroup with manager JJ Dillon, but Flair's attempt at another criss cross ends in Lane hooking him in a figure four. Lane with a slingshot elbow for two, and looks to finish the job, but Flair cowers in the corner and tags. Slick Ric manages a low blow to turn the tide, but he wastes time playing to the crowd from the top rope, and gets slammed off. Tag to Eaton for a flurry of right hands in the corner, and a swinging neckbreaker is enough to draw Windham in. The Midnight's win a four-way brawl by flapjacking Flair for two, but a cheap shot from Windham allows him to tag. Barry blasts Bobby with an inverted atomic drop, and a hanging vertical suplex sets up a powerslam. Tag to Flair for a shindrop, and a series of chops put Eaton on the floor for Windham to slam into the guardrail. The Horsemen cut the ring in half on Eaton, but all their double-teams and cheap shots aren't enough to put him away, and Bobby gets a desperate tag to Stan. Lane's a house of arson to trigger a four-way brawl, and the Express look to finish Windham with the Alabama Jam, but JJ Dillon passes Flair his shoe, and Bobby gets bashed for the pin at 17:41. Fabulous match here. A few mistimed spots, but they're easily forgiven in exchange for twenty minutes at a breakneck pace, masterful flow, and drama. *** ½

Sting and Ricky Steamboat v Rick Rude and Steve Austin: From Clash XVIII. Steamboat starts with Steve, and the initial lockup goes to a stalemate. Criss cross goes Steamboat's way with a shoulderblock, and he unloads a series of right hands to send Steve scurrying to safety in the ropes. Steamboat backslide gets two, and a rolling cradle for two. Inside cradle for two, and a superkick draws Rude in - so Steamboat gives him one, too! That leaves both heels on the floor to regroup with manager Paul E. Dangerously, and the dust settles on Ricky and Rude. The heel waste no time trying to cheat, so Steamboat tags Sting. Rude fires off a shot to the throat to take control, but a criss cross goes Sting's way with a big atomic drop - sold as only Rick Rude can sell it. Inverted version gets the Rude treatment as well, and Sting starts hammering on the back. He messes up a gutwrench suplex, so he ends up putting Rude down before dropping him incorrectly, and hooks a reverse chinlock. He and Steamboat trade off with the hold (both stopping to mock Rude's hip swivels, of course), but Sting eventually pays the price - Rude driving his knee into Stinger's nuts.  Tag to Austin to help cut the ring in half, but a tag to Steamboat starts a house of fire! A standing victory roll looks to finish Austin, but Rude runs in for the save behind the referees back, and now Steamboat falls victim to a little friendly ring cutting. Sting finally gets sick of the cheating, however, and bodypresses Steamboat onto Austin for a dog pile pin at 11:22. I'll never get sick of typing 'good effort from everyone,' but this show can certainly put that theory to the test. Lots of good choices from Clash XVIII, and I’m shocked this was the only one included on the entire set. ***

Thundercage Six-Man Tag Team Match: Sting, Dustin Rhodes, and Ron Simmons v Vader, Barry Windham, and Paul Orndorff: From Clash XXII. Unfortunately for Simmons, Vader beats the shit out of him before the match, and leaves Sting and Rhodes to go it in a handicap match. After a big melee at the bell, the dust settles on Rhodes and Windham, and Dustin dominates with closed fists and clotheslines. Tag to Sting for a bulldog and a press slam sends Barry scurrying to tag the monster Vader. Sting makes a go of it with jabs, but Vader quickly shrugs him off, and starts unloading forearm shots. Sting fires back with an inverted atomic drop and a DDT to set up the Stinger Splash, followed by an insane sequence where he just unloads about fifteen unanswered closed fists in the corner until Vader takes a Flair Flip (which the camera helpfully misses). Vader fires back with a flying bodyblock, but a 2^nd rope splash misses, and Sting dumps him to the floor (the Thundercage covers ringside, like the Hell in a Cell). He gets too worked up to notice Orndorff coming in to beat him down, and Windham joins the fun with a flying axehandle. Suplex gets two, and Vader comes back in with an avalanche as the heels methodically destroy the Stinger. Press slam/gutpunch combo hits before Windham tags back in for a superplex, but Sting blocks from the top turnbuckle, and tags Rhodes. That immediately draws all the heels in to triple-team Dustin (Sting still too battered to help), but here's Cactus Jack to save the day! He uses  bolt cutters to break into the cage, and it's a six-way brawl with Jack unloading with his cowboy boot. In the chaos, Orndorff tries a piledriver on Rhodes, but Jack blasts him with the boot from the top rope, and gets the pin at 11:23. Not a classic, or anything, but this was good fun to end the show (this was the main event of Clash XXII). The cage was completely pointless though, as no one so much as climbed it, let alone used it as a weapon. * ¾

BUExperience: While I don’t agree with all of the choices for inclusion here (and certainly there was a lot skipped over), this is a fantastic set in both DVD and BluRay form. The BluRay isn’t worth picking up for the picture quality, but if you have the means, it’s worth checking out for the additional content, for sure.

The thing to remember with this set is that it’s a ‘best of,’ not a ‘complete series.’ Sure, there’s stuff missing, and sure I would have made some different choices, but as a sampling of the Clash through the entire nine plus years it ran – this is fantastic. A great addition to your WWE DVD Collection.