WCW Saturday Night (January 22, 1994)

Original Airdate: January 22, 1994 (taped January 10)

From Atlanta, Georgia; Your Hosts are Tony Schiavone and Jesse Ventura

The Nasty Boys v Mark Starr and Ron Oates: The WCW World Tag Team title is not on the like here. Meanwhile, Cactus Jack and Maxx Payne split screen in, hyping their ‘super fridge match’ at the Clash of the Champions. Jerry Sags with the flying elbowdrop on Starr at 7:43. This was extremely long for a squash match. DUD

Colonel Robert Parker hypes up his mystery man

Gene Okerlund brings WCW World Champion Ric Flair out, but he doesn’t have his title belt, because his son took it in for show-and-tell. Anyway, he’s ready for Big Van Vader in the tag match at the Clash

Dustin Rhodes v Ricky Tango: Rhodes with a bulldog at 2:28, with Jesse immediately noting that he had a handful of hair. I dig that he doesn’t hate on him for it, just for not doing a better job of hiding it. Afterwards, Okerlund comes out to chat, and Dustin is coming for Lord Steven Regal’s TV title at the Clash. DUD

Okerlund is in the control center for the Clash of the Champions Report

Shanghai Pierce accepts Johnny B. Badd’s challenge to a match where he will have to unmask if Badd wins

Ron Simmons v TC Carter: Simmons puts him away at 2:27. Ron was looking like one bad motherfucker here. Ice Train is out after the bell, trying to make peace with his mentor, but Simmons brushes him off. DUD

Clash of the Champions ad

Okerlund catches up with WCW United States Champion Steve Austin, and he’s quickly joined by Ron Simmons, who is now aligned with Colonel Robert Parker

Jim Steele v Bob Starr: Steele with a Thesz press at 0:57. DUD

Big Van Vader v Al Phillip: Vader with a powerbomb and an arrogant cover at 1:36. Afterwards, Gene comes by, so Vader can tell us what time it is. DUD

2 Cold Scorpio and Marcus Alexander Bagwell v Bill Payne and Tom Burton: Pretty Wonderful split screen in, and they’re going to beat Scorpio and Bagwell at the Clash once and for all - especially since the winners are getting a title shot. Bagwell score the pin following a combo at 2:42. DUD

WCW Hotline ad

Okerlund catches up with Brian Pillman, who is walking around with that chicken suit under his arm, like Christoph Waltz

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Ric Flair, Sting, and Boss v Rick Rude, Steve Austin, and Ron Simmons: Ice Train is out to jaw at Simmons again, and he gets beat up for his trouble this time. That triggers a big brawl between the actual participants, and the babyfaces clean house. The dust settles on Boss and Rude, and they slug it out. Boss gets control with an inverted atomic drop, and he passes to Sting to tee off on Rude as well. Sting with a standard atomic drop, and he grabs a wristlock, so Rude throws punches. Tag to Austin to hammer on Sting, but a cross corner whip gets reversed, and Sting adds a few more for good measure. Sting with an electric chair, and he tags to Flair to unload on Steve with chops. Austin fights back with a bodyslam, but a kneedrop misses, and Flair puts him in a figure four. Steve has the ropes, so Flair tags to Boss, with Boss keeping the hurt on the leg. Rude comes in to save, and he puts Boss in a sleeper, but Boss drops down in a jawbreaker. He looks for a follow up, but Simmons pulls the top rope down, and Boss takes a spill over the top. The heels work Boss over, until Sting gets the hot tag, and Roseanne Barr the door! Train gets a shot on Simmons in the chaos, and Sting schoolboys him at 8:42. *

BUExperience: I’ve really been enjoying this period, but this was pretty dull.