WCW SuperBrawl (Version II)

Original Airdate: May 19, 1991

From St. Petersburg, Florida; Your Hosts are Jim Ross and Dusty Rhodes

Opening WCW United States Tag Team Title Match: The Fabulous Freebirds v The Young Pistols: This is for the vacant title. Michael Hayes starts with Steve Armstrong, and gets right to stalling, so Armstrong schoolboys him for two. Hayes gets pissed and dumps him to the outside, but a double team effort backfires, so manager Big Daddy Dink trips Steve up, but Brad Armstrong runs out to even the score, and prevent any more interference. That ends in both Dink and Brad getting ejected, and the dust settles on Jimmy Garvin and Tracy Smothers. The Freebirds double up in the corner, but Steve comes in illegally to help, and the Pistols clean house. WCWs crack camera crew keeps missing spots by focusing on the wrong stuff, and it's annoying. The match keeps sputtering along until Garvin pulls down the top rope to send Smothers crashing over the top during a criss cross, and the Freebirds drop him across the guardrail out there. Man, some of these WCW fans, woof! I'm hoping literally none of them procreated. Well, less 'hoping' and more 'assuming,' really. The Freebirds cut the ring in half on Smothers, and Hayes is covered in about five times as much sweat as everyone else here, despite barely doing anything. Withdrawal? Tracy manages to superkick Garvin to get the hot tag to Armstrong, and Roseanne Barr the door! The Pistols go for the kill with a bearhug/flying backelbow combo, but the referee gets bumped in the process, and Fantasia runs out (in his debut) to DDT both Pistols and allow Hayes the pin at 10:11. Solid enough once it got going. * ¾ (Original rating: ½*)

Dan Spivey v Ricky Morton: Spivey blitzes him in the corner and dumps him to the outside, but Morton is feeling uppity, and keeps coming at him. Ricky manages to outrun Spivey for a bit, but gets caught with a DDT as they criss cross, and Dan levels him with a lariat for two. Crucifix powerbomb hits, but Morton fights back again, so Dan counters a bodypress with a fallaway slam, and adds a legdrop for two. Man, little Ricky just can't take a hint, can he? Bodyslam hits, but a charge is countered with a Japanese armdrag, and Morton schoolboys him for two. Dropkick misses, however, and Spivey powerbombs his ass for the pin at 3:11. Decent, though it felt like they were tripping over each other at points. * (Original rating: ¾*)

Nikita Koloff v Tommy Rich: Some little girl in the crowd actually has a sign supporting Rich. I'm going to assume that's a blood relation, because my mind can't wrap itself around the concept that Tommy Rich had actual fans in 1991. Rich peppers Koloff with some quick strikes, and a schoolboy is worth two. Rich with a pair of cross corner whips, but a charge misses, and Koloff takes over with a bodyslam. He works Rich over in plodding fashion, and an elbowdrop gets two. Nikita argues the count, and gets trapped in the corner for a ten-punch, but dodges a 2^nd rope flying bodypress attempt, and the Russian Sickle finishes things at 4:08. Dull stuff. ¼* (Original rating: ¼*)

Terrance Taylor v Dustin Rhodes: Feeling out process to start, with Rhodes able to hold his own against the more experienced Taylor, and avoid getting trapped in any holds. Taylor tries a vertical suplex, but Dustin is able to reverse for two, and he shoulderblocks Terrance down. Criss cross sees Rhodes miss a bodypress, however, and he ends up out on the elevated ramp. Taylor gives him a beat down out there, but Dustin looks to beat the count, so Terrance vertical suplexes him in from the apron to setup a kneedrop for two. Bodyslam sets up a 2^nd rope flying elbowdrop, but Rhodes lifts his boot to block, and starts mounting a comeback with a backdrop. Jumping clothesline is nicely sold by Taylor, and an inverted atomic drop is worth two. Bulldog looks to finish, but Alexandra York distracts the referee to prevent the count! That allows Mr. Hughes to grab Dustin, but he accidentally ends up clocking Taylor, and Rhodes scores the pin at 8:06. Everyone missed their cues on that ending (leading to the referee and York having to improvise to buy extra time), but the match was decent enough otherwise. * ¾ (Original rating: ½*)

Big Josh v Black Bart: Josh is accompanied to ringside by a pair of enormous bears. I'm actually (pleasantly) surprised that they're muzzled, considering who was running the show here. Too bad they weren't black bears, to fuck with Black Bart's head. Bart tries jumping him, but Josh fights him off, and works a wristlock. Bart rakes the eyes to escape, and throws some chops, as the announcers start to apologize for the match. Josh fights back with an axehandle and the Northern Exposure finishes at 3:47. Short and shitty. -* (Original rating: DUD)

Oz v Tim Parker: This was one of WCW's dumber, though ambitious, ideas, as they created 'Oz' - a literal Wizard of Oz character to be played by Kevin Nash. This is his debut, and they do an elaborate Emerald City opening - which comes off like a school play (middle, not even high) - featuring Dorothy, the Tin Man, etc cowering in front of Oz. Normally, this would get the pants sued off of them, but this whole thing stemmed from Ted Turner owning everything, and with the rights to the Wizard of Oz in his pocket, he could rape classic film at his leisure. Oz with a shoulderblock right away, and a helicopter powerbomb finishes at 0:27. DUD, but the debut was so bad it's a must-see. Shockingly, this character lasted for quite a while before the scrapped it - likely because the pyro for entrance alone was half of the budget for this show, and they needed to justify the cost. DUD (Original rating: DUD)

Taped Fist Match: Barry Windham v Brian Pillman: Feeling out process to start, with Pillman able to take him down with a hiptoss, then add a jumping shoulderblock. He unloads with rights in the corner, but Windham manages a bodyslam. He goes up, but Brian knocks him all the way to the floor with a dropkick, then dives after him with a flying punch. Pillman unloads with more rights until Barry bleeds, but takes a trip into the post, and Windham rams him into the rail to draw blood as well. Pillman manages a spinheel kick on the way back in, but gets his eyes raked, and Barry turnbuckle smashes him. A well executed side suplex hits, but a criss cross results in a double-knockout spot, and Pillman is able to reverse a vertical suplex. He goes up, but Windham crotches him on the top turnbuckle, and floatover superplexes him down at 6:09. It had some mojo. ** ½ (Original rating: * ¾)

Stretcher Match: Sid Vicious v El Gigante: Seeing Sid stare up at someone is weird. And it's not even a little height difference, either. Gigante really is a gigante. Gigante knocks him around until Sid bails, and Vicious kicks him in the balls on the way back in. He starts taking shots at the knee to corner Gigante, but a cross corner charge misses, and Gigante clawholds him for the pin at 2:14 - Vicious getting his shoulder up at three. And then Sid doesn't even ride out on the stretcher (per the stipulations), since fuck WCW (this was Sid's last match before jumping to the WWF). -* (Original rating: DUD)

Cage Match: Ron Simmons v Butch Reed: Teddy Long is suspended in a shark cage above the ring for this. Slugfest to start, and Ron manages a quick atomic drop and a clothesline before tossing Reed into the cage. Simmons with a side suplex and a cross corner whip, but a charge hits knee, and Reed delivers a 2^nd rope flying elbowdrop for two. I should note that the cage here is really low rent and shitty, like something right out of an indy. Reed tosses him into the cage and bites him to draw blood, and he adds a 2^nd rope flying axehandle. Ron tries to slug his way into a comeback, but a dropkick misses, and Reed hits a pair of fistdrops. Interesting to note that Reed has taken the Tito Santana route here, still wearing his Doom logo boots, while Ron has invested in all new kicks. You can always tell who the loser of the split is by their post-breakup fashion choices. See also: Jannetty, Marty. Reed with a piledriver for two, and he tosses Ron into the cage again. This one is starting to drag, and needs to wrap up. Reed grabs a chinlock, as the announcers note that this is the 'most violent of all wrestling contests.' I appreciate the sentiment, but did they really have to pick the one resthold of the match to bring it up? Reed with a swinging neckbreaker, and a flying shoulderblock looks to finish, but Ron gets a foot in the ropes at two. Butch responds with some mounted punches, but a splash hits the knees, and Simmons mounts his comeback. Backdrop hits, but an Irish whip gets reversed, and Reed manages a high knee. Long tosses a chain down to Butch to finish things with, but he misses, and Simmons hits a spinebuster for the pin at 9:40. This was okay, but should have been a lot better and more intense than it ended up being. ** (Original rating: ¼*)

WCW World Tag Team Title Match: The Steiner Brothers v Lex Luger and Sting: Rick Steiner starts with Luger, and they feel each other out, with Rick dominating on the mat, and Luger needing the ropes, but getting clean breaks all around. Criss cross sees Rick throw a jumping shoulderblock, but he literally BOUNCES off of Luger (in a neat visual), and Lex powerslams him for two. Cross corner charge misses, however, and Steiner hits a release German suplex, then adds a Steinerline for two. Corner whip sets up a backdrop, but another corner whip sees Lex rebound out with a lariat - sold with a 360 from Rick! Press-slam follows, and Sting tags in - clotheslining Rick over the top, then diving after him with a plancha! Back in, Sting hits a one-handed bulldog, but Rick pops up, so Sting regroups with an inverted powerslam into the turnbuckles! Stinger Splash, but Rick sidesteps, and gets the tag off to Scott Steiner! Scott comes in with a tiger driver and a tilt-a-whirl slam, but a whip into the ropes gets reversed, and Sting hits a hotshot. Tag back to Luger for a vertical suplex, but Sting runs into an inverted atomic drop while they switch off again, and Scott overhead superplexes him for two. He tries clotheslining Sting off the top turnbuckle, but Sting moves, and Scott goes crashing over the top. Tag to Luger to vertical suplex Scott back in for two, and he follows with a powerslam. Torture rack, but Scott counters with a sloppy Russian legsweep, and he makes a blind tag to Rick to nail Luger with a flying bulldog for two. Sting responds by coming in illegally with a missile dropkick on Rick, and both legal men (Rick and Lex) are down. Both get tags, and Scott slugs it out with Sting - Sting able to win that exchange with a side suplex. Scott blocks a backdrop and tries a tombstone, but Sting reverses for two when Rick saves. That brings Luger in, and Roseanne Barr the door, we've got a kettle on! Stinger Splash on Scott, but Nikita Koloff arrives to hit Sting with a chain before he can put Scott in the Scorpion Deathlock, and the Scott covers to retain at 11:10. Non-stop and hard-hitting action here. A few sloppy exchanges and the cheap finish are about all preventing it from achieving perfection. **** ¼ (Original rating: *** ½)

WCW Television Title Match: Arn Anderson v Bobby Eaton: Feeling out process to start, until Eaton tries going up too soon, and gets slammed out onto the elevated ramp way with a splat! Arn follows out to finish him off with a piledriver on the ramp, but Bobby manages to backdrop free, and another backdrop sends Anderson back into the ring. Eaton follows with a flying axehandle for two, and he grounds the champion in an armbar. Arn pops him with a right hand to escape, and he grabs Eaton over to the corner to wrap his knee around the post a few time to make sure Bobby gets the message. Arn goes to work on the leg, but Bobby manages to block a figure four, and unload some turnbuckle smashes. The leg slows him down, however, and Arn is able to clip it, then smash it into the ring apron to keep control of the match. Eaton is literally about as useful as a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest here. He keeps pounding the leg, but a vertical suplex gets reversed (with Eaton selling the leg the whole time - even in how he executes the hold), though Arn is able to keep control again because the knee prevents Bobby from following up. Arn tries a 2^nd rope pump-splash, but Bobby lifts the knees - which only hurts him too, and allows Anderson a spinebuster for two. 2^nd rope axehandle follows, but Bobby manages a gutpunch to block, and he's able to follow-up with a swinging neckbreaker. Bodyslam sets up the Alabama Jam, so here comes Barry Windham, but Brian Pillman cuts him off, and we have a new champion at 11:50! Not the most exciting of matches, but a technically sound outing, with some notably great selling by Eaton. ** ¾ (Original rating: **)

Main Event: WCW World Title v NWA World Title Match: Ric Flair v Tatsumi Fujinami: Feeling out process to start, until Flair starts blistering him with chops, so Fujinami cross corner whips him, and hits a backdrop. Fujinami ties Flair up in a Mexican surfboard, but Ric reverses a somersault cradle for two, in an awkward spot. Fujinami keeps control with a Boston crab and a stepover-toehold, but Ric vertical suplexes him, and goes to the eyes to take the pep out of Fujinami's step - only to get nailed with a jumping double-ax for two. Ric tries bailing, but Fujinami vertical suplexes him back in from the apron, and a pair of poorly executed jumping forearms send Flair over the top. Fujinami follows for a brawl on the floor, but ends up getting crotched on the rail out there, and cracked with chops. Back in, Flair starts going after the leg, and a kneebreaker sets up the Figure Four, but Fujinami manages a reversal. They trade chops upon breaking, and Fujinami sweeps him down for a scorpion deathlock, but Ric gets the ropes. Cheeky bugger. Fujinami responds with a side suplex for two, but Ric counters a headlock with his own side suplex, and he's able to add a kneedrop. Pinfall reversal sequence sees Fujinami fail to bridge out of a cradle several times before they just give up, and Flair dumps him to the outside instead. They did a good job of covering that gaffe there. Fujinami rams Ric into various steel objects to draw blood on the outside, then back in, he works the cut with tomahawk chops. Ric messes up the flip in the corner, but they do a good job of covering again, just going onto the next sequence as if nothing had happened. Mark of a couple of pros there. Fujinami hiptosses him, but Flair blocks him in the corner, and tries an Oklahoma roll, but Fujinami apparently didn't get the message there, and doesn't cooperate. Were they having language barrier issues here? Because this is an unusually high number of botches for two workers of this level. Flair does a reasonably good job of masking it by acting disoriented, and flopping on the outside. He goes to the top rope after shaking it off, but Fujinami slams him down, and applies an octopus hold. Flair manages to hiptoss free, and they slug it out, with both men falling out of the ring. Back in, Flair tries a bodyslam, but Fujinami topples him for two. Inside cradle gets two, and a rollup gets two, but the referee gets bumped, and Flair schoolboys him with a handful of tights at 18:39. Good enough for the most part, but they seemed to be having some pretty serious communication issues throughout, which hurt things significantly. ** ¼ (Original rating: **)

BUExperience: This is a pretty terrible show for the most part, with two negative star matches and tons of silliness, but the world tag title match is a real barnburner, and there are at least a few solid outings on the upper card to prevent it from becoming a total nightmare. Not enough to save it though, mind you

DUD