Royal Rumble 1991
Date: January 19, 1991
Location: Miami Arena, Miami, Florida
Attendance: 16,000
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon, Roddy Piper

It’s been a minute (or about eleven years) since I’ve done this show so we might as well take advantage of it being uploaded. It’s the height of the WWF using the Gulf War as a top story, which is why the evil Sgt. Slaughter is getting the WWF Title shot against the Ultimate Warrior. And there’s that whole Royal Rumble thing. Let’s get to it.

We open with a shot of a massive American flag because it’s going to be one of those shows. This takes us to the Star Spangled Banner.

The opening video hypes up some potential Royal Rumble winner, though thankfully we do hear about the rest of the card.

Roddy Piper gives quite the promo about how much he cares for the military.

Orient Express vs. Rockers

Mr. Fuji is here with the Express (Tanaka/Kato version), who jump the Rockers to start but are quickly cleared out. The Rockers go up so Kato pulls Tanaka to the floor, meaning it’s time for stereo suicide dives (a really big spot back in the day). We settle down to Jannetty headlocking Kato down, which doesn’t last long.

Instead Kato takes him into the corner, where Jannetty’s leapfrog leaves the Express crashing into each other. Michaels comes in to start on the arm but Tanaka is back up with a leg lariat. The chinlock keeps Michaels down, which doesn’t last long either as he’s on his feet for the jumping knee. Now it’s Michaels grabbing his own chinlock, followed by a sleeper to mix it up a bit.

That doesn’t last very long and everything breaks down, with the Express actually getting the better of a do-see-do. The Rockers backflip out though and stereo dropkicks have the Express on the floor. The big planchas take them out again and it’s a double back elbow for two on Kato. Jannetty slaps on the chinlock for a bit before handing it back to Michaels, who is taken into the wrong corner.

The nerve hold goes on for a good while before a double clothesline gives Tanaka two. Michaels kicks Tanaka down so the Express tries to use their belt…which Michaels dives onto sent them into each other. See he’s not just good, but he’s smart. Jannetty comes in to clean house, even with some not great dropkicks.

Everything breaks down and Tanaka kicks Jannetty into a backslide for two as we slow back down. Michaels trips Kato down for two but Jannetty gets catapulted into a chop. Back up and the catapult is loaded up again but Michaels makes a save, allowing Jannetty to sunset flip Tanaka for the pin at 19:13.

Rating: B. Good stuff here, with the Rockers getting to show just how talented they really were. Their eventual split is what gets the attention but they could do some great stuff in the ring as well. It’s nice to see a match like this getting some time and it made for an awesome opener. Throw in the underrated Express getting their chance to showcase themselves and it made for a heck of an opener.

Randy Savage says he’s the best WWF Champion of all time and it’s time for Queen Sherri to bait the Ultimate Warrior into giving Savage a title shot.

We go to the arena where Gene Okerlund is on the platform with Sherri, who wants to challenge the Ultimate Warrior. She knows Sgt. Slaughter would give Randy Savage a title shot because he’s brave, but she’s not sure in Warrior’s case. Sherri calls Warrior out for a chat but he won’t say anything about the challenge. She then talks about his lips, chest and hair while walking around him.

With that not working, she opens his jacket and kneels before him, asking if Warrior will be honorable and a great champion by giving Savage a title shot. Warrior starts shaking and screams NO in her face and we cut to the back where Savage is livid and swears revenge. He runs into the arena but Warrior is gone. This segment has always been kind of cringey and that was the feeling again here.

Big Boss Man vs. Barbarian

This is part of Boss Man’s march through the Heenan Family (meaning Bobby Heenan is here too) to get revenge on Heenan himself. Barbarian bails to the floor to start and walks around a bit, getting inside for the lockup about 1:45 in. Boss Man boots him in the face and hits an elbow which has Barbarian out on the floor and Boss Man spinning in circles. You can criticize Boss Man about a few things, but in this era, he was never phoning it in.

Back in and Barbarian gets in a shot to go up top, only for Boss Man to knock him out of the air. A Cactus Clothesline sends Barbarian outside for another breather, with Boss Man rather fired up (shocking I know). Back in and Barbarian muscles him up with a suplex and hits a clothesline as commentary talks about how strong these two really are. Well, yeah, they’re power wrestlers.

They head outside, with Boss Man’s back being sent into the post to leave him down for a bit. Even Heenan can get in a few shots before Boss Man is sent inside for a bearhug. The comeback doesn’t last long as the bearhug goes right back on. Boss Man fights out again and manages a knockdown to get a bit of a break.

A clothesline gives Boss Man two as the foot is on the rope, meaning it’s a collision to leave them both down again. Barbarian gets up top for the clothesline but walks into the Boss Man Slam….for two, as he gets a hand on the rope. Boss Man is knocked back again so Barbarian goes up for a high crossbody, with Boss Man rolling through for the pin at 14:15.

Rating: C+. Boss Man was doing some of his best work around this point and it was interesting to see him face someone who could match him with power. This was just another step in the Heenan Family story for Boss Man and that’s not a bad way to go. The fans were behind him here and that isn’t a surprise given the effort he was putting in every time he was out there.

Sgt. Slaughter and General Adnan promise to create even more turmoil. The people here need a leader and he will provide that, as Ultimate Warrior’s time as champion is no longer even measured in hours.

Ultimate Warrior isn’t so convinced.

WWF Title: Sgt. Slaughter vs. Ultimate Warrior

Slaughter, with General Adnan, is challenging and Piper goes off about the love of the military again. A cheap shot with the flag pole doesn’t work as Warrior knocks Slaughter outside and rips up the Iraqi flag, sending Piper into overdrive. The flag is shoved into Slaughter’s mouth (that isn’t sanitary) and there’s his big bump over the corner.

Cue Sherri to watch at ringside as Warrior sends him back inside for the running shoulders. Sherri trips the leg so the chase is on, with Savage jumping Warrior near the entrance. A shot with a light stand leaves Warrior down and he takes his sweet time getting back to the ring. Thankfully Slaughter is smart enough to keep breaking up the count, as otherwise he can’t win the title.

Back in and Slaughter hits a backbreaker and spits on him before sending Warrior face first into the curled boot. A double clothesline gives them a double breather, with Slaughter popping up first…and falling right back down. Warrior gets up as well and walks right into a bearhug. That’s broken up so Slaughter drops him again, this time for the camel clutch. The feet are underneath the ropes though and Warrior starts another comeback, only to have to pull in the invading Sherri. Cue Savage with the scepter to shatter it over the Warrior’s head (because this referee is blind), giving Slaughter the pin and the title at 12:45.

Rating: C. They had to do it. Slaughter was the top heel in the company, but more importantly, Warrior just wasn’t clicking as champion. It was clear that there was nothing going on there and while you could put part of that on things beyond Warrior’s control (Hogan still being around), he wasn’t working in the spot. Yeah the result is there to set up Hogan triumphing for America, but what choice did they have?

Warrior chases after Savage and Slaughter is announced as champion, sending Monsoon and Piper into some awesome rants about how he didn’t earn it.

The Mountie vs. Koko B. Ware

Jimmy Hart is here with Mountie. They start slowly with Ware chasing him out to the floor, meaning it’s time to hit the stall button. Back in and Ware takes him down by the arm and cranks away, earning himself a right hand. Mountie avoids a charge and sends him out to the floor, followed by what looks like a claw back inside. Naturally Hart goes over to mock Frankie the bird, because Hart is amazing.

The piledriver is loaded up but Ware backdrops his way to freedom. Ware fights back and hits the missile dropkick (sticking the landing of course) but he makes the mistake of going after Hart. The distraction lets Mountie grab something like a chokeslam (uh, ok then) for the pin at 9:12.

Rating: C-. This was the filleriest of filler matches you could ask for, with pretty much nothing of note happening, saves for Ware’s always awesome dropkick. That being said, Hart yelling at Frankie was one of the best things I’ve seen in a long time, as Hart was always fine with looking goofy. Somehow, Mountie would be Intercontinental Champion a year later. The biggest surprise? The gimmick lasted for A YEAR.

Randy Savage isn’t sorry for costing Ultimate Warrior the title. Then he and Sherri run away at the sound of someone at the door.

Sgt. Slaughter and General Adnan are proud of their victory because they told you so. Unlike the rest of the military, he has no boundaries. We must be in intermission.

Piper goes on another rant about Slaughter. If there was a February PPV, Piper getting a title shot would have been ALL the money.

Jake Roberts, Earthquake, Greg Valentine, the Texas Tornado, the Legion Of Doom, Undertaker (with Brother Love), Jim Duggan, Rick Martel, Mr. Perfect and Tugboat are ready for the Royal Rumble.

Roddy Piper doesn’t think much of Virgil being Ted DiBiase’s servant.

DiBiase says Virgil does everything for him for the almighty dollar. Virgil looks ready to kill him.

Ted DiBiase/Virgil vs. Dusty Rhodes/Dustin Rhodes

No polka dots for Dusty here. The villains are cleared out to start and DiBiase tells Virgil to go take them out. Back in and Dustin takes over on Virgil without much trouble, followed by a clothesline out to the floor. Virgil gets sent outside again and now DiBiase is willing to do it himself. That means taking over on Dustin, so it’s quickly off to Dusty for the elbows in the corner.

The sleeper has DiBiase in more trouble so Virgil has to make a save. Dustin comes back in and gets his knee taken out, allowing Virgil to actually take over for once. DiBiase wraps the knee around the post and it’s time for some double teaming…but Virgil clotheslines DiBiase by mistake. That’s too much for DiBiase, who beats Virgil up and sends him outside, only for Dusty to miss a charge and get rolled up (with trunks) for the pin at 9:58.

Rating: C. The match was pretty much just a backdrop for Virgil finally having enough of DiBiase, to the point where it got physical between them. They had a great run but you had to do the turn at some point and this made sense. At the same time, this was pretty much it for Dusty and Dustin, with the former heading back to (kind of) run WCW, where he was much better suited.

Post match DiBiase berates Virgil again and orders him to put the Million Dollar Title around his waist. Instead, Virgil throws it down, with DiBiase telling him to pick it up. Virgil does so, and blasts him with the belt for the big turn and monster pop. And then after Wrestlemania, they never could follow up on it.

Hulk Hogan promises to win the Royal Rumble for the troops. We’re told that Sgt. Slaughter is planning to deface the American flag and you might as well just make Wrestlemania right now. Then Hogan forgets Sadaam Hussein’s name and the whole thing goes off the rails.

Royal Rumble

Two minute intervals and Bret Hart is in at #1 (second time in four years) and Dino Bravo is in at #2. Piper does his job as a commentator and makes sure to go over the rules (remember that this is only the third time with the 30 man variety so it was still pretty new) as Hart takes over with an early atomic drop. Bravo knocks him down and starts stomping away but misses the elbow as Greg Valentine is in at #3. Valentine goes after Bravo as we’re still in his bizarre face run. That works as well as…well as well as Valentine’s face turn, though he does toss Bravo out.

Hart goes to toss Valentine out but it’s Paul Roma in at #4 (with Slick running after him for a weird visual) to break it up. The three slug it out until Kerry Von Erich is in at #5, giving us a tag match which would leave Hart wondering what in the world he’s supposed to do. They pair off for a bit until Rick Martel is in at #6. That means more general brawling until Saba Simba is in at #7 to add some muscle.

Even more brawling ensues with no one even getting close to an elimination until Butch is in at #8. Martel dumps Simba to clear the ring out a bit and it’s Jake Roberts (who cannot stand Martel) in at #9 to go right after him to a huge reaction. The short arm clothesline sends Martel under the ropes to the floor, with Valentine cutting Roberts off on the way back inside. Roberts can’t quite knock Martel off the apron and it’s Hercules in at #10. That gives us Hart, Valentine, Roma, Von Erich, Martel, Butch, Roberts and Hercules for rather unique midcard lineup.

That means more standing around on the ropes and brawling until Tito Santana is in at #11. Roma misses a charge and crashes out to the floor and Von Erich grabs a Claw on I believe Hercules. Undertaker is in at #12 and immediately gets rid of Hart before doing the scary faced choking. Jimmy Snuka (with his crazy afro) is in at #13 and Undertaker tosses Butch as they’re doing a better job of keeping things moving. Davey Boy Smith is in at #14 and the ring is starting to get full.

There’s nothing else going on at the moment so we’ll stop to look at fans who realize they can get on TV near the front row, leaving the security guard to clear them out. There’s nothing in particular about these fans, but it’s talking about them or talking about Hercules and Von Erich in the Royal Rumble. Smash is in at #15 and the nothing continues. Roberts is tossed out and Hawk is in at #16, with a bunch of people going after him.

That’s broken up and it’s Shane Douglas (looking like Brian Pillman) in at #17. Von Erich and Snuka are out back to back and #18….is no one, as nobody comes through the curtain. More on this later so we’ll go with Undertaker hitting Smith low without doing much damage. The person who didn’t enter is officially eliminated and Animal is in at #19. The LOD gets rid of Undertaker but Hawk is thrown out as well, with Crush coming in at #20.

That gives us Valentine, Martel, Hercules, Santana, Bulldog, Smash, Douglas, Animal and Crush. Demolition double teams the Bulldog and Jim Duggan is in at #21. Animal’s bearhug on Martel doesn’t last long and it’s Earthquake in at #22. Animal fires off some running clotheslines but misses a charge and gets dumped. Mr. Perfect is in at #23 and takes a heck of a bump off Duggan’s whip into the corner. It might not make sense from a physics standpoint but it looked good. Duggan’s missed charge puts him out as well and none of that matters as Hulk Hogan is in at #24.

A bunch of people jump him but Smash is the first one out. Some right hands rock Earthquake but Perfect comes over to cut Hogan off. Smith makes a save of his own and it’s Haku in at #25. Hogan tosses Valentine to little fanfare after almost 45 minutes and Jim Neidhart is in at #26. Santana is out and Luke it in at #27, lasting a then record 4 seconds before marching right back to the back (and it’s still funny).

Brian Knobbs is in at #28 and things are slowing down a big. Hogan sends Perfect into the corner, likely jealous over Perfect wearing the yellow singlet. Knobbs actually tosses Hercules and it’s Warlord in at #29. Hogan tosses Crush and gets pummeled by Knobbs, with Perfect coming over to help. Perfect chops Warlord by mistake so Hogan is back over to go after Warlord as well. A clothesline gets rid of Warlord and it’s Tugboat to complete the field (meaning Randy Savage was #18 who didn’t show up, likely out of fear of the Ultimate Warrior).

We have a final grouping of Martel, Bulldog, Douglas, Earthquake, Perfect, Hogan, Haku, Neidhart, Knobbs and Tugboat, which isn’t exactly great. Douglas is tossed and Tugboat actually splashes Hogan in the corner, which is good for a toss to the apron. Back up and Hogan dumps Tugboat, which is actually deserved for once. Bulldog dropkicks Perfect out and Martel actually dumps Neidhart.

Bulldog backdrops Haku out as the ring is clearing in a hurry. That leaves us with five, as Martel goes up, which just seems dump. Bulldog crotches him on top and hits a clothesline, leaving us with Bulldog, Hogan, Earthquake and Knobbs. Earthquake and Knobbs get rid of Bulldog and Earthquake splashes Hogan, which means it’s time to celebrate.

The Earthquake crushes Hogan, who pops up and kicks Knobbs out without much trouble. The big boot drops Earthquake and Jimmy Hart’s interference is easily cut off. Hogan tries a slam but Earthquake falls on top of him and the big elbow crushes Hogan again. Earthquake powerslams Hogan, which triggers the Hulk Up. Hogan hits the slam and knocks him out to win at 1:05:18.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t exactly a thrilling Rumble, but it was best known as the one where Brian Knobbs was there at the end. What else do you really need to know about it? The last two years have ended with Hogan facing a pair of villains. Last year it was Rick Rude and Mr. Perfect, while this year it was Earthquake and Knobbs. There were a few ok parts to the match, but Hogan had to win after the big soul crushing loss from Warrior. They were still figuring out the Rumble formula here and this didn’t work very well.

Hogan poses a lot, including holding a bunch of signs to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. It was not a good time for the WWF and this show was a good illustration of why. You had a good opener, but the rest of the show is just totally mediocre, with something of a transition from the Golden Era taking place. Things wouldn’t get much better anytime soon, though Savage vs. Warrior would be rather excellent. Unfortunately that didn’t happen here, as instead we got a bunch of matches which were just kind of there, plus the good opener. Skip this one, as you probably have.

Ratings Comparison

The Rockers vs. The Orient Express

Original: A
2013 Redo: B+
2026 Redo: B

Big Boss Man vs. Barbarian

Original: B
2013 Redo: C
2026 Redo: C+

Sgt. Slaughter vs. Ultimate Warrior

Original: D
2013 Redo: D+
2026 Redo: C

The Mountie vs. Koko B. Ware

Original: D
2013 Redo: D
2026 Redo: C-

Ted DiBiase/Virgil vs. Dustin Rhodes/Dusty Rhodes

Original: B
2013 Redo: D+
2026 Redo: C

Royal Rumble

Original: D+
2013 Redo: D
2026 Redo: C-

Overall Rating

Original: C-
2013 Redo: D+
2026 Redo: C-

Geez and I thought I was being harsh on the show this time.

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

WWE Vault Grab Bag II
Commentators: Dean Hill, Kenny Bolin, Lenny Leonard, Bryce Remsburg, Chris Cruise, Mike Tenay, Jim Cornette

So this is one of my favorite things to do, as the WWE Vault releases a bunch of matches on a regular basis. In this case, there are enough that I can do a few collections, as I’m basically making my own playlists. There is no running theme for these matches and they’re just whatever I happen to pick. Let’s get to it.

From August 22, 2008, a dark match before Smackdown/ECW.

Takeshi Morishima vs. Jamie Noble

Tony Atlas is here to introduce Morishima, who is a power guy and former Ring Of Honor World Champion. Morishima runs him over to start and knocks Noble into the corner. Noble tries to fight back with a few shots to the head, including an enziguri to stagger Morishima. That just earns Noble a Boss Man Slam into a neck crank, followed by a big leg for two. Morishima picks him up at two and adds a big Saito suplex for the pin at 3:03 (with the announcer naming him “Orishimo”).

Rating: C. This wasn’t quite a squash for Morishima but it was close enough, as he looked dominant. You don’t get to see someone with his size and athleticism very often and it makes sense that WWE would be interested. Morishima looked good out there and it would be nice to see more of him in WWE, if nothing else due to him using the old Orient Express theme. Because of course.

From August 18, 2008, a dark match before Raw (I have no idea why they went out of order).

Takeshi Morishima vs. Charlie Haas

Haas yells at the fans to start and gets sent face first into the buckle for his efforts. The big leg connects but Haas manages to snap his arm over the top rope. That doesn’t seem to matter as it’s a Boss Man Slam to drop Haas, followed by a missile dropkick for the pin at 2:36.

From July 29, 1995, a dark match at a Superstars taping.

Bret Hart vs. Hakushi

In a cage. Hakushi jumps him to start fast and strikes away, only to get knocked back down. Hart goes for the climb out but gets pulled back down rather quickly. That lets Hakushi go up but Hart pulls him down and climbs as well. Hakushi cuts that off just as fast and strikes away on the top. They get back down and Hart whips him into the corner, followed by a bulldog.

It’s too early for Hart to get through the door though and Hakushi starts in on his leg. A ram into the cage lets Hakushi make a rather slow climb, which Hart cuts off with a DDT. Hart still can’t get out and Hakushi goes for the leg again, only to get pulled back inside as well. That lets Hart climb up a lot faster than before but Hakushi grabs him by the hair for a rather painful looking stop.

A backbreaker drops Hakushi but the middle rope elbow misses (you don’t see that very often). Hakushi’s top rope headbutt misses just as well so Hart turns him inside out with a clothesline. They take turns pulling the other down again and there’s a hard whip to send Hart chest first into the buckle. He’s right back up though and it’s a superplex off the cage for the big crash, leaving them both down. With Hakushi barely able to move, Hart manages to escape for the win at 12:31.

Rating: B-. For a dark match, this turned into something pretty good and the superplex was a nice surprise. They started slowly but eventually it picked up with more intensity and hard hitting. These two always had good chemistry together and it was on display again, which is cool for a less than readily available match.

From OVW TV, June 23, 2007.

CM Punk/Cody Runnels vs. Shawn Spears/Jay Bradley

Runnels (Rhodes of course) is distracted by Spears to start and gets hiptossed by Bradley. That’s broken up and Runnels goes after Spears again, only to kick Bradley in the face. A fall away slam sends Runnels flying into the corner for the tag to Punk, meaning trash can be talked. Punk strikes away to knock him into the corner and Spears realizes the tag means he’s in trouble.

Runnels gets the tag as well and Spears runs straight to the floor (apparently they kind of hate each other). Spears crawls back inside and hands it off to Bradley, who sends Punk into the corner. Now Spears is willing to come in and gets knocked down, allowing Runnels to come in and chase Spears to the floor. Punk cuts that off but Bradley comes in to jump Runnels from behind.

We take a break and come back with Bradley hammering on Runnels, which is enough for Spears to come in and stomp away. Runnels fights up so it’s immediately back to Bradley for a chinlock. Spears comes back in and goes after Punk, drawing him in so Runnels can be double teamed in a perfectly logical cheating sequence. The drop down shot to the face allows the tag off to Punk, who is in to clean house.

The running knees in the corner set up a bulldog/clothesline combination, followed by the springboard clothesline for two on Bradley. Cue Michael W. Kruel to pull the referee out, allowing Spears to get in a cheap shot on Punk. Runnels is back in with a strap to Spears’ back (before their strap match in a few days) so here are Spears’ goons to be dispatched. Runnels straps Spears to the back, leaving Punk to Anaconda Vice Bradley for the tap at 11:26 (earning Punk a shot at Bradley’s OVW Title in the process).

Rating: B-. Perfectly nice match here, with the all star team overcoming the odds to get some revenge and a title shot at the same time. That’s a case where simple storytelling works out well and I liked what we got here. Punk was red hot in OVW but he was already up on the main roster at this point, so he was pretty much just visiting here. The results worked out though as he and Rhodes always work well together.

From Evolve 17.

Sami Zayn gives us a quick introduction, as he got to pick the match. This just happens to involve someone he has been compared to a lot over the years.

El Generico vs. Samuray del Sol

Sol is better known as Kalisto. They fight over arm control to start and go to the mat, meaning it’s time to exchange flip ups. Generico grabs a headlock into a chinlock before working on the arm. A wristdrag takes Sol down but he flips out of a hurricanrana and Generico isn’t sure what to do. Generico’s running shoulder drops So and he springboards over Sol into some more armdrags.

Some chops in the corner seem to wake Sol up as he walks on his hands into a headscissors. A slingshot 450 gives Sol two and he bends Generico over his back for quite the painful visual. That’s broken up and Generico hits a clothesline but Sol is back with another headscissors. A rather springboardy wristdrag sends Generico outside and there’s the step up corkscrew dive to drop him again.

Back in and Generico exploders him into the corner, where the Helluva Kick is cut off. What would become known as the Salida del Sol gives Sol two but Generico is back with the Blue Thunder Bomb for two more. Generico’s Michinoku Driver gets two more so Sol steps onto his back for a Code Red. The Rising Sun (poisonrana) gives Sol two but a super version is countered with a facebuster onto the turnbuckle. The Helluva Kick into the turnbuckle brainbuster gives Generico the pin at 14:08.

Rating: B+. I can see why Zayn picked this, as Generico and Sol were both working rather hard out there and put on a heck of a match. That’s the point of something like this as it was not only the show’s main event but also a rubber match. It made things feel that much bigger and they lived up to the hype. Pretty awesome match here and a sign of what they would be able to do on the big stage.

From AAA When Worlds Collide.

Fuerza Guerrera/Madonna’s Boyfriend/Psicosis vs. Rey Mysterio/Heavy Metal/Latin Lover

Mysterio is only 19 here and this is described as his Breakout Match. Guerrera and company (the rudos here) clear the ring to start before we can even get the introductions. Guerrera and Metal start things off with an exchange of armdrags before Psicosis comes in to clothesline Mysterio. The top rope hurricanrana sends Psicosis bailing up the aisle and it’s Boyfriend (Louie Spicolli, who towers over Mysterio) comes in and picks Mysterio up.

That doesn’t last long and it’s off to Lover for an exchange of running shoulders. A superkick drops Boyfriend and it’s back to Psicosis for a clothesline to Metal. They grab stereo faceplants for a double down and Mysterio comes in, only to get hit in the face by Guerrera. Mysterio sends Guerrera outside for a dive, leaving Lover to send Psicosis into the corner.

Back in and Guerrera hits Lover low, only for Metal to come in with a low blow of his own. That doesn’t work for Boyfriend, who gorilla presses Mysterio over the barricade for a crash into the crowd. The villains get to double team Lover but Mysterio comes back in to give Psicosis a faceplant. Guerrera gets powerbombed out of the corner but Lover misses a top rope splash. Everything breaks down and we get a parade of dropkicks to the floor but Metal misses a Swanton to Guerrera. A seated armbar makes Metal tap at 13:40.

Rating: B. It’s much more in the lucha libre style, which wasn’t a thing in America at this point. That was the entire point of this show and it absolutely worked, as they were displaying something that had fans rather impressed. I can definitely see why Mysterio’s performance was so well received, as he looked like a star in the making, which is absolutely what he would be in just a few more years.

From May 13, 2003, a dark match before Smackdown/Velocity.

CM Punk introduces this one, talking about how he had wrestled a dark match the previous night and been unofficially banned from WWE for being unsafe. He showed up anyway and was asked if he wanted to face the Road Warriors. Apparently that was quite the affirmative.

CM Punk/Doug Delicious vs. Legion Of Doom

We’re joined in progress with Hawk throwing Delicious around and handing it off to Punk, who jumps Animal for some reason. This goes as well as expected, with Animal hitting a hard clothesline and a powerslam. Hawk misses a running charge into the post though, allowing Punk to get two off a snap suplex. We’re clipped (in a dark match) to Hawk hitting a double clothesline as everything breaks down. The Doomsday Device finishes Delicious at 2:44 shown (possibly out of 4:14 total). Actually not a squash and LOD looked decent enough.

From OVW TV, January 19, 2002.

Prototype vs. Randy Orton

As you probably know, the Prototype (with Kenny Bolin) is an early (and evil) John Cena. Orton sends him into the corner to start and gets two off a crossbody. A powerslam gives Orton two more as Cornette gives the hard sell for the Last Dance later this month. Prototype sends him hard into the corner for two and a sidewalk slam gets two more.

A pair of snap suplexes give Prototype two but Orton catches him on top. The ensuing superplex gives Orton two so Bolin gets on the apron. Some powder only hits the referee though so here is Rico Constantino to jump Orton as well. Bobby Eaton of all people comes in to go after Constantino and then jumps Prototype for the DQ at 6:32.

Rating: C. The match was pretty much just there, but it’s more of an historical curiosity than anything else. Cena and Orton have one of the most legendary rivalries in WWE history and seeing them both at such a young age is rather odd to see. They would get a lot better, but this was hardly a bad match, especially for developmental television.

From Dragon Gate USA Open The Ultimate Gate 2013 (the Wrestlemania XXIX weekend show).

Johnny Gargano introduces this one and it’s a bit different.

Open The Freedom Gate Title: Johnny Gargano vs. Shingo

Gargano is defending. They stare each other down to start as the fans want Shingo (better known as Shingo Takagi) to do bad things to Gargano. A battle of arm control takes them to the mat with Shingo working on the leg to limited avail. Gargano goes to the arm so Shingo gets to the ropes, allowing him to start another arm control battle. Gargano’s chops don’t work but Shingo’s certainly does, allowing Shingo to grab a headlock. A suplex puts Gargano down and it’s a backsplash for two, setting up a neck crank.

Back up and they slug it out, with Gargano not being able to get the Gargano Escape. Shingo sends him into the corner but gets caught with a quick hurricanrana. Gargano grabs a double arm crank and leans back onto the arm for a rather painful visual. A neckbreaker gives Gargano two and he actually wins a strike exchange by elbowing Shingo down in the corner. It’s back to working on the arm to keep Shingo in trouble, with a cradle even getting two.

The Gargano Escape is broken up with pure power and a clothesline sends Gargano outside. Shingo strikes away against the barricade and boots Gargano into the crowd, which is never a good idea. A superkick gets Gargano out of trouble and he runs back inside for quite the suicide dive. It works so well that Gargano does it again, only to charge into a Death Valley Driver on the floor (which probably won’t have the effect that it should).

Naturally Gargano beats the count back in, where a neckbreaker and sliding lariat give Shingo two. A slingshot DDT plants Shingo for two more and the fans are a lot more split. One heck of a clothesline puts Gargano down again and another pop up Death Valley Driver gives us a double breather. More clotheslines don’t even put Gargano down so he pulls on the Gargano Escape.

That’s broken up again and they go up top, where Shingo’s superbomb is countered into a super hurricanrana for two. The lawn dart gives Gargano another near fall and he can’t believe the kickout. They slug it out from their knees and then their feet until Shingo hits a Saito suplex and a hard clothesline for another double down. Shingo is up first with a super Death Valley Driver for two but Made In Japan is countered into the Hurts Donut (spinning full nelson faceplant).

The Gargano Escape sends Shingo over to the rope as we get a PLEASE DON’T STOP chant. Shouldn’t it be PLEASE DON’T GET PINNED OR SUBMIT TO CAUSE THE MATCH TO END? Made In Japan gives Shingo two more and the hue running clothesline gets an even nearer fall. Another Death Valley Driver gets another two and the referee gets bumped. That means it’s a low blow to drop Shingo and Gargano whips out a rope to choke him into the Gargano Escape to retain at 33:27.

Rating: B+. It’s an excellent back and forth match, but dang I was having some trouble buying that Gargano was surviving all of this. That’s been an issue of his for longer than I can remember and it was certainly true again here. Shingo definitely had the skill to back up his reputation and he felt like a big get for a show of this magnitude.

From February 7, 1993 at a WCW house show. This isn’t a complete match but it’s certainly some awesome sounding footage.

Dustin Rhodes/Ricky Steamboat/Shane Douglas vs. Steve Austin/Brian Pillman/Barry Windham

This is an elimination match and we’re joined in progress with Austin working on Steamboat. A suplex gives Austin one and he drops Steamboat with a clothesline to cut off a comeback attempt. Austin hits a side slam as I don’t see any partners anywhere around. Some slams stay on the back and Austin grabs a bearhug, which isn’t something you see him do very often.

With that broken up, Austin makes the mistake of spitting on Steamboat, which triggers the comeback you’re probably expecting. A top rope superplex sends Austin crashing down hard for a rather delayed two but he reverses a Tombstone into one of his own for two more. Austin goes up (this can’t end well) and Steamboat rolls through a high crossbody for the pin at 4:37 shown. Not enough shown to rate as the whole match is about 25 minutes, but these two always worked well together.

Post match Pillman runs in for the beatdown, with Windham making the save. The big brawl goes outside, with Douglas coming back in to drop Pillman onto the barricade. More wrestlers (including 2 Cold Scorpio in a Ribera shirt) can’t break it up either and the brawl continues. Johnny B. Badd and I think William (Lord Steven at the time) Regal are in there but can’t get very far either. Things finally settle down but Pillman chop blocks Douglas in the aisle and the pain is real to end things. Good match, very hot post match brawl.

From December 15, 1996, a dark match after In Your House: It’s Time.

Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind

We’re a few months after their famous match at Mind Games and Paul Bearer is here with Mankind. Michaels jumps Mankind to start on the floor and then takes him inside to hammer away. The discus lariat puts Michaels down and some right hands drop him in the corner. Michaels is sent into the steps and choked on the ropes as Mankind gets in the creepy “COME ON SEXY BOY!”.

The Mandible Claw is blocked and Michaels manages a belly to back suplex. The flying forearm lets Michaels nip up…and go right into the Mandible Claw. Well that didn’t work. They crash out to the floor, where a nasty ram into the steps is enough to get Michaels free. Mankind’s hand is sent into the steps and the top rope elbow connects inside. Bearer’s distraction lets Mankind get the urn but Michaels superkicks him down for the win at 6:56.

Rating: C+. It’s a dark match so you’re only going to get so much out of it, but it could have been far worse. These two could have a good match in their sleep and while this wasn’t quite that, it was hardly some great match that tore the house down. It doesn’t help that they had such a classic the previous time so the expectations were probably high, even though it wound up being the Cliffnotes version.

From May 5, 1993, a dark match at a Wrestling Challenge taping.

Harlem Knights vs. Tony DeVito/Mike Bell

The Knights are better known as Men On A Mission and this is their tryout match. They’re already doing the wave as Bobby (Mo) backs DeVito into the corner to start. That means more waving and an armdrag before it’s off to Nelson (Mabel), who trades hammerlocks with DeVito. Thankfully Nelson finally wakes up and realizes HE’S A GIANT AND SHOULDN’T BE DOING HAMMERLOCKS and grabs a chokebomb.

Bobby comes back in for a double elbow and we’re clipped ahead about six seconds (I’m guessing something a fan said/did) to Bell kicking Nelson low to escape another hammerlock. Nelson no sells some forearms and hits a World’s Strongest Slam, setting up the double splash for the pin at 4:49.

Rating: D. How in the world did this get them hired? Bobby barely did anything other than the waving deal and Nelson was trading hammerlocks with and selling punches from someone half his size. I could see how the team could be fun, but they completely missed the point…and then got signed anyway. Of course they did.

Overall Rating: B-. This is exactly the kind of thing I love doing with the WWE Vault, as you never know what kind of awesome stuff you might find. I just picked a bunch of matches here and watched them mostly straight through in a kind of do it yourself playlist. It’s by no means a regular playlist or anything close, but there is some stuff in there that is worth a look. I’ll definitely be doing this again, as just seeing what they had next was more than worth the time.

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Rick Rude Collection
Commentators: Bill Mercer, Tony Schiavone, David Crockett, Gorilla Monsoon, Lord Alfred Hayes, Nick Bockwinkel, Ron Trongard, Billy Graham, Jesse Ventura

Rude is someone who has some distinct periods in his career, as he started off as mostly a comedy heel and then turned into a rather dangerous villain. Unfortunately he wasn’t on the main stage for very long but he has a lot of moments to remember. That is what we’re taking a look back at here so let’s get to it.

Quick opening video.

From the 1986 WCCW David Von Erich Memorial Parade Of Champions.

WCWA World Title: Rick Rude vs. Bruiser Brody

Rude, with Percy Pringle (Paul Bearer), is defending and can lose the title via DQ. Brody runs him over with a shoulder to start and we’re already in the front facelock. That’s broken up and Rude gets in a hiptoss, setting up a chinlock. Brody isn’t having that and powers back up for a trip to the floor.

Rude gets posted and sent back inside for a suplex, followed by a big leg for two. Rude’s suplex gets two more, with Pringle shoving the foot off the rope. The chase is on and Pringle is brought inside, which…isn’t enough for the DQ, but Brody throwing Rude over the top at 7:09 appears to be.

Rating: C. Rude was still pretty green here and it showed rather badly. At the same time though, he was a cross between his goofy self and the serious version that he would hit after losing WCW, which isn’t a combination you see very often. This wasn’t much of a match and the ending hurt, but Brody was always worth a look.

Post match Brody wrecks both of them and Rude runs off, only for Brody to give chase and keep up the beating.

From World Championship Wrestling TV, December 6, 1986.

NWA Tag Team Titles: Rick Rude/Manny Fernandez vs. Rock N Roll Express

The Express is defending and this would actually be the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles, which would evolve into the WCW World Tag Team Titles. Fernandez and Morton start things off with Morton grabbing a headlock, much to Crockett’s delight. Morton misses a charge in the corner but elbows him in the face, leading to a four way standoff. Rude comes in and gets his arm worked on, with a hiptoss not getting him very far.

Morton comes up favoring his own (already bandaged arm) so it’s off to Gibson. That doesn’t last long though as Morton is back in for an armdrag to Fernandez. Morton’s arm is banged up again though and it’s right back to Gibson for more arm cranking. Fans: “BREAK IT! BREAK IT!” Morton comes back in to stare at Fernandez and we take a break. We come back with Fernandez dropping a middle rope knee on Gibson’s knee and cranking on the legs.

Rude comes in without a tag and stays on the leg before Fernandez does the same (this referee doesn’t pay much attention). We actually get a tag as Rude comes in to stay on the leg but Gibson kicks him away. Morton comes back in but gets taken down by the arm as we take another break.

We come back again with Rude staying on the arm and Fernandez coming in to drops knees. Rude’s top rope fist drop hits the arm and it’s back to the armbar. Some knees to the arm set up another armbar as there is definitely a theme here. Fernandez comes in to crank on the arm even more before Rude’s armbar takes us to a THIRD break.

We come back again with Morton getting fired up to come out of a wristlock but Rude slaps on another armbar. They go outside with Rude sending the bad arm into the post and Morton is down again. Back in and Morton slugs away with the good arm, only to have his bad arm sent into Fernandez’s knee in the corner.

We hit the armbar again and take a fourth break (actual caption on the graphic: “How long can they keep this up?”) before coming back with even more armbarring. Morton FINALLY hits an atomic drop and brings in Gibson to clean house, including a dropkick to Fernandez. Everything breaks down and Gibson gets an O’Connor roll but Fernandez reverses into a rollup of his own and grabs the tights at 46:52 (with over 32 minutes shown).

Rating: B-. This was a huge upset and it’s awesome to see the titles change hands, even with so much of the match cut out on the breaks. That being said, while a huge portion of the match was spent in the armbar, Morton was constantly fighting to get out of it and make the tag. That’s the difference between working and sitting there and those are two very different things. I stayed with this and was stunned at how long it had gone as it’s never dull. Good stuff here, with Rude and Fernandez working well together. The Express would get the titles back in about six months in a phantom title change when Rude jumped to the WWF.

From New York City, New York, November 24, 1987.

Rick Rude vs. Paul Orndorff

Bobby Heenan is here with Rude and this is two days before the inaugural Survivor Series, which featured these two in the main event. Orndorff pulls him to the floor to start fast and then goes inside to chase Heenan around. The villains are rammed together so Orndorff can pose and my goodness the differences in the size of his arms is disturbing. Orndorff drops an elbow and hammers away in the corner but charges into a knee to the face.

Some big forearms have Orndorff in trouble as the pace slows way down. Heenan jumps in on commentary to praise Rude as he gets his knees up to cut Orndorff off again. Back up and Orndorff slugs away, setting up a nice backdrop. Heenan gets on the apron and fails miserably as Rude hits him by mistake. The distraction lets Rude grab a rollup with trunks for the pin at 8:44.

Rating: C+. Orndorff is someone who gets better every time I see him. He has so much fire almost every time he’s out there and it makes things rather fun to watch. That was the case again here, as it looked like Orndorff wanted to beat the fire out of Rude, which he pretty much did for the beginning. Rude winning makes sense as Orndorff was on his way out anyway (to run a bowling alley) but he would be back in WCW eventually.

Post match Orndorff chases Rude off.

We look at Rude hitting on a woman at ringside, who isn’t interested. Rude asks if she finds him as the sexiest man in the WWF but that would be her husband. It turns out her husband is a wrestler too: JAKE ROBERTS! Rude insults Roberts and grabs his wife, which brings out Roberts as the war is on. A bunch of jobbers come out to try and split them up, which only works so well.

From New York City, New York, October 24, 1988.

Rick Rude vs. Jake Roberts

This has special rules as you win just by hitting your finisher rather than having to get a pin. Rude’s music is overdubbed, to the point where you can’t even hear his introduction. Cheryl Roberts is here with Jake but there’s no Heenan for a change. Rude misses a charge into the corner to start and Roberts works on the arm as commentary talks about how important it is to build up your neck.

That can help you against the Rude Awakening, but not so much with the DDT. Rude bails out to the floor and comes back in, with Roberts snapping off the left hands. A clothesline takes Roberts down and Rude ties him in the ropes, meaning it’s time to stalk Cheryl. Roberts cuts that off and is quickly posted, allowing Rude to stomp on the fingers (how rude). The chinlock goes on (you knew that was coming in this match) for a bit until Roberts fights up, only to charge into a raised knee in the corner.

Rude’s own back is banged up though and they’re both down. A necksnap over the top rope has Roberts in more trouble but he manages to post Rude’s arm. Back in and a gutbuster has Rude in more trouble, followed by the knee lift. The short arm clothesline looks to set up the DDT but Rude drives him into the corner. Rude goes after Cheryl though and gets shoved away, allowing Roberts to snap off the DDT for the pin (maybe I got the rules confused) at 12:26.

Rating: C. This was kind of dull, but it’s light years ahead of their boring Wrestlemania IV match. Instead there was more of a point to the match and Cheryl added a lot here. It made things feel more personal and gave Roberts more of a reason to want to take Rude out. That’s what it needed to be and I liked this well enough.

Post match Roberts gives him the Damien treatment.

From Wrestlemania V.

Intercontinental Title: Rick Rude vs. Ultimate Warrior

Rude, with Bobby Heenan, is challenging and has the awesome tights with the title already painted on. Warrior even runs down the steps to the ring, which is rather impressive. Or stupid. Yeah probably stupid. Rude tries a knee to the ribs while Warrior still has the belt on and Warrior hammers away as a result. Some big shoves (and bigger jumps from Rude) send Rude hard into the corner and Warrior sends him flying into another corner.

The bearhug goes on and even Ventura is worried at this point. Rude gets smart by going to the eyes and he even busts out a MISSILE DROPKICK FOR…and Warrior kicks out before one. Warrior slams him down to stay on the back and the bearhug goes on again. Rude goes for the eyes again but this time the referee catches it, so Warrior bites Rude in the head instead. Monsoon: “Perhaps hunger.”

The Warrior Splash hits raised knees (and it wouldn’t have been close anyway) and Rude grabs a piledriver for a delayed two. We pause for some hip swiveling, but Rude’s ribs are banged up. A clothesline gives Rude two and we hit the double arm crank. Ventura: “Where are the big muscles now?” Uh, still there?

Muscular guys can get beaten up too. Warrior fights up and hits a running shoulder, followed by some faceplants. What looks like a backbreaker doesn’t work as Warrior almost falls down, so he hits a big shoulder into the corner. A charge misses but the Rude Awakening is broken up with raw power. Warrior clotheslines him out to the apron for a suplex, but Heenan sweeps the leg and holds it down to give Rude the title at 9:43.

Rating: B. This is one of the two matches are remembered from this show and possibly the better of the pair. These two just had awesome chemistry together and that’s the kind of thing you can’t plan for when setting up a feud. Rude winning the title instantly makes him a bigger deal, as the idea of Warrior losing was impossible to fathom, even with Heenan cheating to help. It’s still a memorable match, though I was a bit surprised by how show it was.

From Summerslam 1989.

Intercontinental Title: Rick Rude vs. Ultimate Warrior

Rude, with Bobby Heenan, is defending in a rematch from Wrestlemania. Rude is hesitant to start and slowly hammers away, only to get clotheslined to the apron. Warrior knocks him outside, sending Ventura into a rant about how Warrior is a lunatic. Ventura screams for the referee so Schiavone says it’s fine outside of the ring. Ventura: “YOU’RE EVEN DUMBER THAN MONSOON!”

Back in and Warrior hits a top rope ax handle for two before sending him hard into the corner. A suplex gives Warrior two and we get the big atomic drop, which lets Warrior do his own hip swivel. Warrior goes up and gets crotched, allowing Rude to hit some big forearms to the back. The reverse chinlock goes on for a bit but Warrior is fine enough to block the Rude Awakening.

Rude jumps on his back for a sleeper, which is broken up with a jawbreaker. Warrior runs Rude over and the referee is bumped, leaving everyone down. It’s time for Warrior to Hulk Up and hit some clotheslines into a powerslam but the referee is still down (likely needing a stretcher at this point). Warrior hits a piledriver for a rather delayed two, with Rude getting a foot on the rope.

A running powerslam sets up the Warrior Splash, which again hits raised knees. Rude grabs his own piledriver (but kneels down like a Tombstone for some reason) for two, followed by a top rope fist drop for the same. Cue Roddy Piper as Rude hits another piledriver for two more, leaving Piper to flash Rude. The distraction lets Warrior suplex him out of the corner, setting up the gorilla press. The Warrior Splash gives Warrior the title back at 16:04.

Rating: B. It’s not as memorable as the original, but the chemistry was absolutely still on display. Warrior getting the win/title back makes sense as he now looks all the more dominant. This gets rid of his one blemish as Rude moves on to Piper and he’s already looking that much better, which is due to the matches with Warrior. It’s a rare feud where both of them come out looking a lot better and it worked very well.

From Clash Of The Champions XVII as we jump ahead to WCW.

US Title: Rick Rude vs. Sting

Rude, with Paul E. Dangerously, is challenging in a match I’ve seen several times. Also, this lets me ask the same question I always have in this era: why was the big WCW logo at the entrance tilted to the side? It comes off as more a mistake than anything else and….yeah that’s what I would expect from WCW.

Anyway, Heyman insists that Sting isn’t here tonight but we see an ambulance coming up with Sting limping out, sporting a rather taped up knee. The bell rings and Sting, ever the moron, goes to the wrong door but has to get to the ring in time to beat the ten count. Sting makes it into the arena and brawls with Rude on the ramp, as I guess the ten count is forgotten. They get inside with Rude raking the eyes but getting punched out of the air, followed by a backdrop.

Sting clotheslines him over the top but Rude gets smart by going after the bad knee. Said knee is wrapped around the post a few times and Rude comes off the top with a forearm. The Rude Awakening is broken up again (must be a Blade Runners thing) but Rude falls down into a chop block. Dangerously gets in a cell phone shot for two in a nice false finish. Sting hits a DDT but goes after Dangerously, allowing Rude to chop block him for the pin and the title at 4:52.

Rating: C+. This was more of an angle than a match and that’s how it should have gone. Rude does the same thing he did by beating the Warrior as he takes out the seemingly invincible champion. The difference is here he looked serious coming in rather than stealing a win. You can see Rude’s development and evolution and it’s great to watch over time.

From Worldwide, May 30, 1992.

Rick Rude vs. Dustin Rhodes

Rude’s US Title isn’t on the line and he has Madusa with him. They start fighting….I guess, as we look at pictures from WCW Magazine as commentary is REALLY quiet for some reason. Rude works on the arm but Rhodes reverses into a hammerlock and drives some knees into the arm. A clothesline out of the corner drops Rude and a suplex does it again. Rhodes knocks him into the corner and starts hammering away, as Rude’s history of back issues continue.

The reverse chinlock goes on for a good while until Rhodes tries to drop down onto Rude’s back, landing on raised knees. In other words, Rhodes is an Arn Anderson fan. Rude slowly works on the back before grabbing a chinlock. That’s broken up but Rude turns him inside out with a clothesline. A top rope shot to the head gives Rude two and he hits Rhodes fairly low to cut off a comeback attempt.

Rhodes wins a fight over a Tombstone and gets two, with Rude getting a foot on the rope. Rude is banged up but still manages to send him outside for a needed breather, plus a kick from Madusa. Back in and Rhodes makes a very quick comeback, including the bulldog, but Madusa has the referee. A clothesline puts Rude on the floor instead but the referee is distracted, allowing Rude to get in a belt shot. The Rude Awakening gives Rude the pin at 12:43.

Rating: B-. This feud went on for a LONG time and it only got so good, though they had a nice match here. Madusa getting involved fit well, which was the case with pretty much anything involving the Dangerous Alliance. It’s good to see Rude getting another win, as you could absolutely see his rise in WCW in short order.

From Fall Brawl 1993.

WCW International Title: Rick Rude vs. Ric Flair

Flair, with Fifi, is defending. Before the match, Rude holds up a Flair towel and promises to leave with Flair’s title, reputation and his woman, who is painted on his tights (Ventura loves it). They fight over a top wristlock to start as Ventura talks about how Fifi should be in the kitchen like most women. Rude grabs a headlock but Flair is already going after the leg with the Figure Four just a few minutes after the bell. That’s broken up so Flair goes after the wristlock, followed by an armbar and a hammerlock. Oh this is going to be one of those matches isn’t it?

Rude fights up, gets punched down, and wristlocked again. The arm is wrapped around the rope and it’s back to the arm cranking. A running crossbody sends both of them crashing out to the floor for the bad landing. Back in and Rude hammers on the back, setting up the reverse chinlock. Flair finally avoids a drop down and slugs away but gets dropped throat first across the top rope. The bearhug goes on to keep Flair’s ribs in trouble and they go to the mat, with Flair actually turning it over and getting on top of him for a cover in a unique twist.

Rude gets up and hits a top rope shot to the head but keeps yelling at Fifi. Another try is punched out of the air and Flair drops a knee in the vicinity of Rude’s head. Rude is right back with a DDT for two but the Rude Awakening is countered into a neckbreaker from Flair, with Rude getting a foot on the rope.

Flair goes after the leg and sends Rude outside for a top rope shot to the head. Back in and Rude drops him again, only to yell at Fifi. That earns him a slap so Rude kisses Fifi and pulls her inside. Flair makes the save and grabs the Figure Four as the referee gets rid of Fifi. That’s enough of a distraction for Rude to pull out some brass knuckles and knock Flair cold for the pin and the title at 30:55.

Rating: C. This took a long, long time to get going and the good parts did work, but dang that ending fell flat. The idea of Flair defending the honor of one of the women who comes to the ring with him doesn’t feel right and it was a pretty lame way to switch the title. At the same time, I do like the idea of Rude winning the title though, as he was worth trying out in the main event scene.

Overall Rating: C+. Rude is an interesting case as he only had so many good matches, but that’s partially because he didn’t have a long career. He showed up in the WWE in 1987, was gone in 1990, spent about a year in the indies, showed up in WCW in 1991 and was done by 1994. It makes it all the more impressive that he was so memorable, as he went from a goofy heel to a heavy hitting threat in WCW. What is best remembered is his talking though, and unfortunately we only got so much of it here. They left out a lot of what could have been included and it makes me want to see more, so call this an ok enough collection.

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Best Of Sid
Commentators: Jim Ross, Bob Caudle, Gordon Solie, Dusty Rhodes, Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby Heenan, Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler,

Sid is next up on the list of stars getting a collection on the WWE Vault and that can make for quite the offering. Usually these Best Of’s are more of a chronological look at someone’s career, which can go rather well. Sid might not be the most polished wrestler, but his charisma can take him a very long way. Let’s get to it.

From Halloween Havoc 1989.

Skyscrapers vs. Road Warriors

The Skyscrapers (with Teddy Long) are Sid and Dan Spivey and the Warriors have Paul Ellering to keep things even. Hawk and Sid have a staredown to start and yeah the fans are way into this. Spivey knocks Animal up against the ropes to start but a clothesline sends Spivey over the top. Hawk comes in to trade shoulders with Spivey, who is more than happy to oblige.

A flying shoulder sends Spivey crashing out to the floor and now it’s off to Sid, who is knocked into the corner as well. Animal is in to shoulder Sid and it’s back to Hawk for the test of strength. Sid actually takes over and starts hammering away, with Sid knocking him down and nipping up. A helicopter slam drops Hawk again and Spivey kicks him out to the floor. That means Sid can drop Hawk onto the barricade, followed by a big boot to the….hip?

Back in and Spivey and Hawk trade suplexes as JR goes on and on about Spivey’s football career. Hawk finally clotheslines his way out of trouble and it’s back to Animal for one heck of a flying shoulder. Sid and Animal get in a fight and the fans are VERY appreciative. Everything breaks down and the managers get into it, with Long throwing in his metal key (it was a thing), which Spivey uses on Hawk for the DQ at 11:39.

Rating: B-. Yeah this worked as it’s exactly what they advertised. This was about four big power guys beating the fire out of each other until the ending when the ending was designed to protect both of them. In this case that makes enough sense and it was a fun trip to get there, which I’ll definitely take.

Post match the brawl stays on, with Hawk hitting the top rope clothesline (that always looked awesome) and stealing the key to clean house.

From Clash Of The Champions IX.

Skyscrapers vs. Steiner Brothers

Oh this should work. Naturally Rick is in the crowd eating popcorn with the fans. The Steiners clear the ring to start and hit their pose, with the Skyscrapers chilling on the floor. We settle down to Spivey tombstoning Rick, who pops back up to take over. Scott comes in for the Frankensteiner and a flipping fall away slam to Sid, because that’s something a human can do.

Back up and Sid misses a heck of a charge into the corner, allowing Scott to start in on the arm. Spivey is back in with a clothesline and a tilt-a-whirl slam, followed by a heck of a big boot. Scott gets up and brings in Rick for the house cleaning as everything breaks down. Cue Doom to go after the Steiners, which is enough for the DQ at 6:08.

Rating: B-. Yeah I could have gone for a lot more of this, as they were beating each other up, with Scott getting to come in there and do his stuff to make him look like a phenom. The Steiners were on another planet in this era and when you gave them a team of big guys to throw around, there was very little that was more entertaining.

Post match the brawl stays on, with Woman (Doom’s manager and the Steiners’ former manager) hits Rick with a shoe. Cue an unnamed giant (later named Nitron, who would be better known for his acting career, as Sabretooth in the original X-Men movies). The Road Warriors run in for the save and it’s a huge brawl.

From WrestleWar 1991.

Sid Vicious/Ric Flair/Barry Windham/Larry Zbyszko vs. Sting/Brian Pillman/Steiner Brothers

It’s WARGAMES. In case you’re somehow unfamiliar, each team sends in a man for the first five minutes. When that is done, there will be a coin toss (the heels will win) and the winning team gets to send in its second man for a two minute advantage. When that time is up, the losing team sends in its second man to even things up for two minutes. Entrances alternate until all eight are in and then it’s first submission only to win.

Windham and Pillman (with a bad shoulder) start things off, with Pillman having to break away from his team to get in first. Pillman clotheslines him down and grabs the top of the cage for a dropkick before stomping away. A head fake lets Pillman hit a missile dropkick and he rakes Windham into the cage. Windham is already busted open and some jawbreakers stagger him even more. Pillman throws him into the other cage as Windham is gushing blood.

Pillman goes after the legs and keeps striking away, setting up a backdrop (which barely works as the ceiling is REALLY low. The first period ends and the villains win the coin toss (of course) so it’s Flair coming in to make it 2-1. Flair goes after Pillman and sends him into the cage and Windham does it as well, with the shoulder taking a beating. A nasty tumble sends Pillman into the other cage and they go after his shoulder until Sting is in to tie it up (the fans go NUTS, as expected).

Sting hits those big bulldogs but Windham crotches Pillman on the top. Flair’s chops have no effect and Sting goes after him in the corner, with the Stinger Splash connecting. Zbyszko (subbing for an injured Arn Anderson, who is at ringside) is in to get the advantage back so Sting dives over two sets of ropes to clothesline him down. Pillman Figure Fours Windham but Flair and Zbyzsko fight back, with Flair kicking Pillman in the shoulder for the break.

Rick comes in and hammers on Flair and Windham to start cleaning house. Flair goes into the cage and gets his head rubbed to draw some blood (the blading was about as obvious as you could get). The villains take over again but Scott Steiner is in to complete the field, meaning it’s officially first submission wins. Sting gets the Scorpion on Flair, which is broken up, so we get the quadruple Figure Four on the bad guys.

Those are broken up so Sting gorilla presses Flair into the roof. The brawling continues and Sid loads up a powerbomb, but Pillman’s feet hit the top of the cage so Sid DROPS HIM ON HIT HEAD (called the shoulder but it was his head). Sid hits another powerbomb and El Gigante comes out to save Pillman (by ripping the door off) so the referee calls it at 21:50.

Rating: A. I know 1992 gets all of the praise (and rightfully so) but DANG this was an outstanding match, as you could feel the hatred and violence between the two sides. It felt like people wanting to get in there and destroy each other and it made for an instant classic. Also of note: once the field was complete, the match was over in about seven minutes. You don’t need the end of WarGames to take half an hour. WWE could learn a lot from this.

From Wrestlemania VIII.

Sid Justice vs. Hulk Hogan

Harvey Wippleman is here with Sid, who jumps Hogan while Real American is still going. Hogan fights back, knocks him to the floor and tears the shirt for an absolutely awesome entrance, all before the bell. Back in and we officially start with Sid knocking him down but Hogan is right there with the right hands to the floor. Sid teases walking out but comes back in to ask for a test of strength. Hogan obliges and is put on his knees until he fights up with a clothesline.

Sid is right back with a chokeslam and stops to yell at the camera, which has Monsoon rather annoyed. Some forearms to the back have Hogan in more trouble and Sid hits him in the back with Wippleman’s doctor bag. The nerve hold goes on and Hogan fights up, which has Heenan annoyed all over again. Sid is right back up with the powerbomb for two, as it’s Hulk Up time. The legdrop connects for two, with Wippleman coming in for the DQ at 12:28.

Rating: C. Yeah it’s really just an ok Hogan match at best, especially with the screwy finish. There’s only so much they could have done here, as Hogan wasn’t going to lose in his alleged retirement match. They did show some good chemistry though, as Hogan knows how to fight a monster like no one else.

Post match Hogan throws Wippleman at Sid as Papa Shango runs in (COMPLETELY missing his cue, as he was supposed to come in and break up the legdrop for the DQ, with Wippleman having to improvise). The beatdown is on….and the ULTIMATE WARRIOR returns for the save.

From Clash Of The Champions XXIII.

Sid Vicious/Vader/Rick Rude vs. Sting/Dustin Rhodes/British Bulldog

The villains have Harley Race and Colonel Robert Parker in their corner. Sting grabs a rather aggressive headlock on Rude to start but Rude powers out. The top wristlock doesn’t work so Sting gorilla presses Rude and throws him at Sid and Vader, who catch him in the air. They throw Rude back at Sting but miss, allowing Rhodes to come in and hammer away.

Vader comes in and gets knocked onto Rude, leaving Bulldog to come in instead. Sid tries his luck and gets punched around the corner, with Sting using the middle rope for a low blow. It’s back to Rhodes who hammers Vader down in the corner, followed by a rather impressive suplex. Rhodes takes too long going up and misses an elbow, allowing Vader to knock him silly with a clothesline.

Rude comes back in for the gordbuster and a rather arrogant cover. Another suplex is blocked but Sid comes back in with a clothesline for two. It’s back to Vader to unload in the corner, only to dive into the powerslam (as tends to be his nature). Rude’s Tombstone is reversed but the referee doesn’t see the tag off to Sting. Bulldog and Sting aren’t having that and come in anyway as the brawl is on. In the melee, Race slips Rude a briefcase, which knocks Rhodes out for the pin at 10:59.

Rating: B. Of course Rhodes was going to take the fall here given who all was in there, but it was a pretty fun match to see these guys beat each other up for a bit. Vader was getting to smash through people and most of the people got to be their usual impressive selves. This was good stuff with the talent involved making that pretty much expected.

Post match Sid and Vader hit a powerbomb on Bulldog but Sting gets the briefcase and cleans house.

From Survivor Series 1996.

WWF Title: Sycho Sid vs. Shawn Michaels

Sid is challenging and the fans in Madison Square Garden just go nuts for him. Michaels has Jose Lothario with him. Sid gets right to the point by slugging away and knocking Michaels into the corner. Back up and Michaels grabs a headlock takeover and grinds away a bit as things slow back down (odd for Michaels but so is Sid).

For some reason Michaels tries a slugout, which doesn’t exactly work very well. Instead Michaels slips out of a gorilla press but ducks down, meaning he has to escape the powerbomb attempt. With the stand up not working, Michaels chop blocks the leg and goes Perfect with a Robinsdale Crunch. Michaels grabs the Figure Four, followed by some drops down onto the knee. Sid kicks him away though and, after shoving a camera away, runs Michaels over without much trouble.

Michaels goes right back to the knee but gets clotheslined out to the floor. A big drop onto the barricade has Michaels in trouble and Sid is limping a bit, even as the fans cheer him like never before. Back in and Sid hits a big backdrop, followed by a whip over the corner but Michaels manages to snap the throat across the top. Sid knocks him into the corner again but Michaels slugs away, setting up a slam. Michaels dives into a raised boot though and we’re off to a cobra clutch.

That sets up the chokeslam but Michaels reverses the powerbomb into a small package for two. With nothing else working, Sid grabs a camera and hits Lothario. Michaels gets in the superkick but makes the mistake of going to check on Lothario rather than covering. Back in and a middle rope crossbody hits the referee so Michaels checks on Lothario again. That’s enough of a delay for Sid to hit Michaels with the camera, followed by the powerbomb for the pin and the title at 20:02.

Rating: C+. This was a fairly slow match with the action not being great, but the crowd reaction here was fascinating. The fans were just not having it with Michaels and they let him know, with Sid getting some very strong reactions. It made for a pretty amazing spectacle and taking the title off of Michaels so he can get it back in his hometown is a pretty simple move.

Post match Lothario is stretchered out and Michaels staggers after him.

From In Your House XII: It’s Time (nice touch by the Vault as commentary was hyping this match up at the end of the Survivor Series match and they transitioned right into it).

WWF Title: Sycho Sid vs. Bret Hart

Sid is defending and Shawn Michaels is on commentary. Hart jumps him during the entrance to start fast and gets clotheslined down for his efforts, allowing Sid to stomp away. Hart fights back and slugs away, managing to knock Sid down this time. Michaels keeps right on both of them as he doesn’t like either guy and doesn’t sound thrilled to be there either.

They head outside again, with Sid getting in a few shots of his own, only for Hart to score with a headbutt back inside. Sid dumps him over the top for a big crash to the floor but can’t hit a powerbomb out there. Instead Hart picks him up for a ram into the post and takes him back inside for a backbreaker. Some elbows stay on the bad back and we hit the reverse chinlock. With that broken up, Hart chokes away in the corner and then takes a turnbuckle pad off (odd to see from him).

A belly to back suplex gets two on Sid and the middle rope elbow to the back gets the same. Hart goes up and gets slammed back down to give Sid a needed breather. Sid kicks away a Sharpshooter attempt…and here is Steve Austin to take out Hart’s knee. Back in and Hart begs away in the corner, which doesn’t work as Sid pounds him down without much trouble.

Hart fights back but misses a charge into the exposed buckle and a chokeslam gives Sid two. A Cactus Clothesline puts them both on the floor, where Hart and Michaels get into it again (shocking I know). Back in and Michaels gets on the apron, with Hart being whipped into him for the crash. The powerbomb retains the title at 17:05.

Rating: B-. This was another example of Hart being able to make anything work, as he knew how to have a good match with someone like Sid. The Michaels stuff was fine as well, as he was the other third of the main event scene around this time. Sid got to do his power stuff and that was always going to work for him.

From the 1997 Royal Rumble.

WWF Title: Sycho Sid vs. Shawn Michaels

Michaels, in his hometown and with Jose Lothario, is defending (and has the flu so this might not go well). Thankfully we get at least one more instance of the SID pyro, which is one of the coolest ever. Sid shoves him down a few times to start but Michaels picks up the pace with a running crossbody, allowing him to slam Sid’s head into the mat. They go outside with Sid sending him into the apron, followed by a powerbomb to pull Michaels out of the air back inside.

The camel clutch goes on early, followed by Sid taking him outside for some rams into the post. Back in and we hit the regular chinlock, followed by the back as they keep having to find ways to let Michaels rest. Michaels breaks out but dives into a bearhug, with Sid even kneeling down this time. The big leg sets up a chinlock with a knee in Michaels’ back but he gets up and manages a slam.

There’s the flying forearm and the top rope elbow connects. The superkick is blocked though and Michaels is backdropped over the top for a big crash. The powerbomb plants Michaels on the floor and Sid grabs Lothario. That’s broken up but the referee is bumped inside. Sid’s chokeslam gets no count so another referee comes in for the rather delayed two. The other referee gets punched down so Michaels grabs the camera (ala Survivor Series) to knock Sid down for a VERY delayed near fall. The superkick gives Michaels the title back at 13:48.

Rating: D+. Yeah there wasn’t much that could be done here, as Michaels was barely able to function (for once, not his fault). That meant a lot of laying around in holds until the finish, which was the only way it could have gone. Sometimes it’s ok to set up an obvious finish and then go there, which is exactly what they did here.

From Monday Night Raw, February 17, 1997.

WWF Title: Sycho Sid vs. Bret Hart

Sid is challenging after Hart won the title last night. We’ve tried to do the match twice but Steve Austin has jumped Hart both times. Hart stomps away in the corner to start but Sid just unloads with shots to the ribs. The big whip into the corner has Hart’s back/ribs in more trouble and things slow down. Sid clotheslines him down and stomps away but Hart manages a quick backbreaker.

JR incorrectly says that Sid isn’t 6’9 on the mat before Hart hits the middle rope elbow. Sid gets his own two off a backbreaker and it’s time to choke on the ropes. Hart is able to get up and kick the leg out before jumping down onto it in the Ric Flair starter package. The Figure Four around the post has Sid in more trouble and we take a break.

We come back with Hart working on the leg in the corner until Sid drops him with a clothesline. The big legdrop gets two and a middle rope version crushes Hart for the same. A rake to the eyes breaks up the chokeslam attempt but Sid avoids a charge to send him crashing into the ropes. The powerbomb attempt is broken up and Sid is sent outside, followed by the Sharpshooter back inside. Sid tries to power out and gets quite the assist from Steve Austin, who comes in to crack Hart with a chair. The powerbomb gives Sid the pin and the title at 11:55 (the first time the title had ever been won on Raw).

Rating: C+. It wasn’t quite as good as their pay per view match but Austin screwing Hart over will never get old. Having Hart lose the title the night after he won it played into his conspiracy deal perfectly well as things were starting to get bad for him in a hurry. At the same time, Sid gets the title back and is likely headed to Wrestlemania, which is a fine way to go as he’s been around the title scene for months now.

Post match Sid celebrates until Undertaker comes out for the staredown to set up Wrestlemania.

From Wrestlemania XIII.

WWF Title: Sycho Sid vs. Undertaker

Sid is defending and Shawn Michaels is on commentary. The bell rings and they stare each other down..and Bret Hart is here. Michaels mocks Hart for not being happy about not being in the main event. Hart yells at Michaels for faking an injury (eh, exaggerating but not exactly faking), blames Undertaker for ending their friendship by slamming a cage door in his face, and saying that the title belongs to him.

Sid responds with a powerbomb and tells Hart to get out of here. Hart is carried out and the bell rings again, with Undertaker hammering him to start. A boot in the corner staggers Sid and a Stinger Splash of all things connects for Undertaker. Old School connects but Sid doesn’t actually go down, allowing him to grab Undertaker in a bearhug. That stays on for a good while and they go to the floor, with Undertaker being dropped onto the announcers’ table.

Sid rams him into the post for two back inside and we hit the camel clutch. This lets Michaels get in a great bit of psychology that so many people miss: Sid is going to stick with power because it’s what makes things work. Why would he make it more complicated than that? A powerslam gives Sid two and the slow beating continues. They head outside with Undertaker sending him into the steps for a needed breather but Sid pounds him back down. This allows commentary to point out that oh yeah this is no holds barred.

The chinlock goes on again but Undertaker fights up and hits a powerslam. Undertaker grabs a nerve hold for a bit, followed by a clothesline for two. Back up and they both hit big boots to put them both down. Michaels: “Sid can lay there all day and walk out with the championship belt.” Well not if he lays there while Undertaker covers him. Sid is back up with a middle rope ax handle and a middle rope punch to the face. Undertaker catches him up top and slams him off, setting up the always great top rope clothesline.

Lawler gets in an interesting line by suggesting that they’re both scared the other can kick out of the finisher. That’s an interesting thought but Undertaker tries the Tombstone, which Sid reverses into one of his own for two. They go outside where Hart pops up again with a chair shot to Sid’s back. An awkward looking chokeslam gets two on Sid and he avoids the jumping clothesline. The powerbomb is loaded up but Hart comes in AGAIN. This time it’s something like a Stunner over the top to send Sid into the Tombstone to give Undertaker the title at 21:23.

Rating: D+. I’ve seen this match a bunch of times and it’s not overly good. They had similar styles and it didn’t make for the most thrilling match. The best part is probably Michaels burying Hart on commentary, which never gets old. It didn’t help that this was coming after the all time classic of Hart vs. Austin, but I get why you want to close Wrestlemania with the title change.

Post match Undertaker poses for a good while, with JR getting in the awesome line of “the WWF Title lives in the Dark Side!”.

From ECW Guilty As Charged 1999.

Judge Jeff Jones isn’t happy with Kronus for attacking him so he is sentencing him to pain. Guess who is providing said pain.

Sid Vicious vs. Kronus

Kronus hammers on Sid to start and that goes very badly. Sid chokeslams him over the top and through a table, followed by some chair shots to the back. The fans demand and receive a powerbomb and Kronus is done at 1:31. To say the fans lose their minds is an understatement as Sid is as over as free beer in a frat house. Sid’s bizarre charisma and power style were tailor made for a short run in ECW and I’m not surprise in the slightest that the fans went that nuts. Nothing match of course, but Sid in ECW is a great thing to see, as it couldn’t have gone much better.

The fact that we’re skipping multiple WCW World Titles in the late 90s is rather telling of how bad things were back then.

Overall Rating: B-. After he passed away, someone said that Sid was the person who looked most like a wrestler and….yeah I can see it. If you look at him, “professional wrestler” probably comes to mind. He was big, he was scary, he was in good shape and he felt just a bit off. It was an odd charisma that always worked and it’s a big reason why he became such a star.

No the matches weren’t very good a lot of the time, but that’s kind of the point. Sid worked because he fit the mold of a wrestler and that’s hard to break. There’s a reason he had two Wrestlemania matches and both of them were the main event (a feat which will likely never be duplicated): he worked very well in short runs, which is what made his career such a success.

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Uncensored 2000
Date: March 19, 2000
Location: American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Mark Madden, Mike Tenay

I might as well take another look at some of the shows on the WCW YouTube channel so we’ll go with something from the terrible days of the promotion. Well terrible is kind of a stretch, as I’ve always had a soft spot for this year. This is the show that tends to be more hardcore and violent, and in this case it’s YAPPAPI time. Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at Lex Luger hurting Sting and various other people, so tonight Sting is back for revenge. The other big matches: Hogan vs. Flair and Sid vs. Jeff Jarrett. That’s…really not a great lineup.

Various people arrive, including someone we don’t see in a limo. That’s never good. Like, at all.

Schiavone: “We’re getting ready to break some heads!”

Cruiserweight Title: Psychosis vs. The Artist Formerly Known As Prince Iaukea

Prince, with Paisley (better known as Sharmell) is defending and we’re in the weird unmasked Psychosis (with Juventud Guerrera) era. Hold on though as the bell rings and some music plays, with Chris Candido coming out to join commentary as a surprise. Psychosis starts fast by knocking Prince outside for a big dive (Candido: “I can do that.”) but Prince is right back inside to hammer away. A running shoulder drops Guerrera for two and Prince sends him outside as Candido wonders where his own (unnamed) valet is.

Back in and Prince pulls out the hair a bit before dropping a knee for some near falls. A super hurricanrana drops Prince and they….I’m not sure what it was supposed to be but Psychosis snaps off a gordbuster. Paisley offers a distraction so Juventud kisses her, earning a whipping with his own shirt. For some reason Paisley tries to take his belt off as Psychosis hits a guillotine legdrop. Psychosis lets up on the pin for no apparent reason, allowing Prince to hit a middle rope DDT and retain at 7:21.

Rating: C-. Like most Prince matches, this wasn’t bad, but it was really, really dull. There was nothing about the Prince that made you want to see him and having him do this gimmick didn’t make things any better. Psychosis was little more than a random challenger and he added almost nothing. Finally you have Candido, who felt like a total afterthought and did pretty much nothing here, which sums up a lot of his time in WCW.

Bam Bam Bigelow isn’t sure what the Wall is doing but he’s going to stop him tonight.

XS vs. Norman Smiley/The Demon

XS is Lenny Lane/Lodi, now a couple of stereotypical party guys, but Miss Hancock comes out for commentary. She’s not happy with her for turning her down so she’s managing Smiley and Demon instead. Smiley comes out of Demon’s casket, but gets scared by the pyro. It’s a…well not really a brawl to start but Demon and Lodi fight to the floor and Norman (in Demon paint) gives Lane the Big Wiggle.

The spinning slam is broken up so Norman brings in the Demon, who gets caught in the wrong corner. A double clothesline gets Demon out of trouble and it’s back to Norman, who is quickly caught with a Skull Crushing Finale. The Demon makes the save and Norman’s Conquest gives Norman the win at 3:42.

Rating: D-. Why was this on pay per view? XS was as low level of a team as you can get and yet they were at least a regular team. Smiley and the Demon might have teamed together occasionally but it was there for the gag of Smiley as a demon and nothing more. It wasn’t funny and thankfully it was short, with Hancock sounding more like a heel than anything else here.

Post match XS blames Hancock for the loss and seem to try kidnapping her, with Demon and Norman making the save so Hancock can dance.

Billy Kidman, with Torrie Wilson, apologizes to Booker (not T., which we’ll get to later) before their tag match. Booker says if Kidman is going to be there, he needs to be there.

David Flair and Crowbar, both in neck braces, want Daphne to stay in the back. She agrees and then smiles once they leave.

We recap the Wall’s recent path of rage, involving him beating up people like Bam Bam Bigelow, David Flair and Crowbar, with Bigelow (Wall’s mentor) standing up against him. I’ve heard far worse stories.

The Wall vs. Bam Bam Bigelow

They slug it out to start and Bigelow hits a splash in the corner, followed by a clothesline to cut Wall off. A top rope headbutt connects for two but Wall is right back with a big boot. They fight out into the production area, with Wall chokeslamming him through a table for some sparks and a DQ at 3:20.

Rating: D. What was that? Well other than another TV style match which happened to be on the pay per view that is. The idea of Bigelow trying to stop the monster is fine, but could you at least let them have a decent fight first? The match didn’t even make it four minutes and Wall never felt in any real danger. Why was this here?

Immediately after the match, Crowbar and David Flair jump the Wall, with Crowbar getting him up onto the scaffolding. Wall chokeslams him through the stage in a pretty awesome crash. Ah, that’s why the match was there. Wall gets to do his signature look, which is NO WAY like Bubba Ray Dudley’s look after he powerbombed people through tables. We pause for Crowbar to be put in an ambulance as wrestlers watch.

Brian Knobbs dedicates his Hardcore Title match to Bigelow and Crowbar. Uh, thanks?

Hardcore Title: Brian Knobbs vs. 3 Count

3 Count is defending in a gauntlet match. In one of the most bizarre choices of all time (and this is WCW), Knobbs’ theme music at this point is….a rock version of My Sharona. Naturally since this is WCW, they don’t seem to get the definition of GAUNTLET match, as 3 Count goes after Knobbs at the same time. They jump Knobbs together to start but he easily fights back with trashcan shots.

The Pit Stop puts Moore and Karagias down but Helms, wearing a mask to protect a broken nose, is immune. I’m not sure that makes sense but Knobbs is sent into a ladder, setting up some splashes off of said ladder. Knobbs is back with a fire extinguisher and a chair to Helms for the first pin (Knobbs’ music plays because even WCW doesn’t get it).

The table is pulled out and Karagias is powerbombed through it for the second fall. Another table is set up but Helms is back in with a dropkick to Knobbs…whose foot it is in the ropes so it doesn’t count. In a hardcore match. Which is called a gauntlet but isn’t. Knobbs throws a ladder over the top onto Karagias and drives a trashcan onto Moore for the final pin and the title at 6:55.

Rating: D-. Do they not know what a GAUNTLET match is? If you want this to be an elimination match then fine, just call it that instead. But no, the idea is to just call it a gauntlet match when that has nothing to do with anything. You might as well say Knobbs is challenging in an Icepick Donkey match, because it has as much to do with a gauntlet as this mess did. It wasn’t even like Knobbs was in any danger here, even with 3 Count’s cool dives off the ladder. Oh and one more thing: BRIAN KNOBBS IS WINNING A TITLE ON PAY PER VIEW IN 2000. Stop that!

Harlem Heat 2000 is ready to…..I have no idea, as it’s Big T (Ahmed Johnson) yelling. Now, you might remember earlier that I said his name was just “Booker”. That’s because the story is Booker has lost the rights to the Harlem Heat material, which somehow included the middle initial T. I’m not kidding.

Vampiro talks about doing bad things and how people like Fit Finlay drive him to do them.

Booker/Billy Kidman vs. Harlem Heat 2000

Torrie Wilson, J. Biggs (Clarence Mason) and Cash (a big bodyguard) are here too. Ray stomps on Booker to start as Biggs talks about how he doesn’t care what happened to Crowbar. Kidman comes in for a dropkick so it’s off to Big T., who powers Kidman down. Booker fights up but the numbers game gets to him. Kidman is taken outside and held so Big T. can dive over the barricade to take him down.

That’s fine in theory except Big T. barely clears the barricade and only grazes Kidman, who doesn’t even leave his feet while Big T. faceplants. And that’s his post WWF run in a single moment. Back in and Big T. spinebusters Kidman for two but Kidman bulldogs Ray out of the corner. The Book End plants Ray with Big E. making the save, followed by a double spinebuster. Kidman dives in for the save and Ray is sent outside. That leaves Booker to kick Big T. into a rollup for the pin at 6:59.

Rating: D. And that might be the second best match of the night. That dive summed up everything about Big T.’s time here, as it was just embarrassing to see what used to be one of the coolest looking stars in years reduced to an embarrassment because he can’t do it anymore. Just dreadful here, with Booker and Kidman looking fine as a team but having absolutely nothing to work with on the other side.

We look at the Wall attacking Crowbar again.

Recap of Vampiro vs. Finlay. Vampiro is the young punk and Finlay is here to teach him some respect.

Vampiro vs. Fit Finlay

Falls Count Anywhere. Finlay hammers him down to start and hits a clothesline for a bonus. Vampiro is back up and hits a top rope spinwheel kick to drop Finlay, who shrugs it off again. Instead Finlay grabs a chair, which the referee takes away, allowing Vampiro to kick Finlay down again. They go outside and Finlay is sent into the announcers’ table but Vampiro gets too cocky and is sent over the barricade.

The fight heads out into the concourse and into the men’s room (where Finlay had promised to take him). Finlay slams a stall door onto his head but Vampiro is back with a trashcan to the ribs. Vampiro climbs onto the top of a stall but gets trashcanned out of the air. Now it’s time to go back into the concourse and even outside, which doesn’t last long. Finlay backdrops him onto the concrete but gets sent into concrete column. The Nail In The Coffin (Michinoku Driver) finishes for Vampiro at 8:39.

Rating: C-. I guess the idea here was to have Vampiro become a future star but…he just wasn’t very good. The spinwheel kick looked good but the rest was just a bunch of standard hardcore stuff. That doesn’t really make me want to see Vampiro do anything and he doesn’t exactly stand out. Finlay was his usual good self and Vampiro isn’t totally awful by any means, but he isn’t this next big thing that WCW seemed to think he was going to be.

Vampiro goes back into the arena to celebrate with the crowd.

Jeff Jarrett gives the Harris Twins a pep talk but they seem confident.

Disco Inferno and the Mamalukes are ready to retain the Tag Team Titles.

Tag Team Titles: Harris Twins vs. Mamalukes

The Twins, still part of the NWO, are challenging in a No DQ match. Vito and Ron start things off with Vito taking over to start, as Disco Inferno is already annoying the rest of commentary. Don comes in and hammers away but gets pounded down. A low blow drops Vito, who is right back up to knock Ron down. Johnny comes in for a double double ax handle to the chest, followed by something like the Harris’ H Bomb to Ron.

Don is back up to send Johnny outside and into the barricade, followed by a side slam back inside. The slow beating allows Johnny to fight back up with a clothesline, allowing the needed tag off to Vito. House is cleaned and a top rope elbow gets two, followed by a Hart Attack for two. Vito is sent outside so a double flapjack can connect for two more. A double spinebuster gets two more with Vito making the save. Inferno comes in and hits Ron in the face with the belt for two, leaving Ron to hit Johnny with the belt. The H Bomb gives Don the pin and the titles at 8:47.

Rating: D. The fans’ silence during this match sums up the issue: the Harris Twins are a perfect example of a team who is fine on paper but falls apart as soon as you get away from said paper. They’re just so, so, so boring and there’s no way around it. At the same time you have the Mamalukes and Disco Inferno, which a story that has gone on for so long that it stopped making sense months ago without ever being interesting in the first place. Boring match and the Twins winning the titles is about the worst result imaginable.

Fit Finlay says he beat respect into Vampiro but the better man won tonight. Now keep the fire burning from here on out.

Team Package (Lex Luger/Ric Flair/Elizabeth in a terrible name) is ready for Sting and Hulk Hogan tonight.

We recap Dustin Rhodes vs. Terry Funk, with Rhodes attacking Funk to continue the Funk vs. Dusty Rhodes feud. This resulted in Funk pulling out a chicken and saying it was Dusty’s son. Funk then knocked Rhodes out with the chicken, because that was a thing. Therefore, it’s bullrope match time.

Rhodes promises to make Funk bleed and retire him.

Dustin Rhodes vs. Terry Funk

Texas Bullrope match and yes Funk brings a chicken with him. Funk does a Foghorn Leghorn impression and says he thinks he sees a chicken in the ring. The only difference between Dusty and Dustin is Dusty is a lot fatter, but Funk has Dustin’s younger brother here. Cue a man in a chicken suit, causing Dustin to run up the aisle, where Funk hits him in the head with the chicken.

The bell rings and Funk beats him into the ring, where Funk whips him with the rope. Some left hands in the corner have Rhodes in more trouble and the cowbell to the head gets two. A low blow gives Rhodes a breather and he knocks Funk into the ropes to keep up the beating. Rhodes pounds him down on the floor and they finally bother attaching the rope about four minutes into the match. A belly to back toss gives Rhodes two and the bulldog onto the cowbell gets the same.

Cue the Chicken to go after Rhodes, who beats the Chicken up, complete with clucking sound effects. Funk is back up with a low blow and of course he wants a microphone. He’s changing the rules and now it’s an I Quit match (the previous rules said you could only win by pinfall). The referee doesn’t like that so Funk hits him with the cowbell and demands that Rhodes quit. Rhodes finally quits, which doesn’t count, so he hits Funk in the head with the cowbell again. A piledriver onto the cowbell gives Rhodes the pin (which counts) at 9:01.

Rating: D+. I have no idea what to make of this, as it wasn’t a bullrope match for a good while, but then it was kind of an I Quit match and then Rhodes won by pinfall, as is usually the case. Oh and something about a chicken. Throw in the fact that we’re doing Rhodes vs. Funk (of any generation) in 2000 and acting like fans care is bizarre enough. Even in Florida.

Sid expects Jeff Jarrett to do something stupid and he’s ready to move on to bigger and better things. Was that insulting to Jarrett? I’m not sure.

We recap Sting vs. Lex Luger, which involves Luger breaking A LOT of arms (as in probably six or seven people, many of whom were wrestling in casts on this show). Now it’s time for Sting to get revenge.

Sting vs. Total Package

This is a lumberjack match, with the wrestlers Luger has injured standing around the ring. Oh yeah and it’s THE TOTAL PACKAGE now instead of Lex Luger, because that was the big change he needed. Before Sting comes out, Luger apologizes to the lumberjacks for breaking their arms. He has a backup plan though and brings out his own lumberjacks, who have their own unnecessary casts.

Luger jumps Sting to start and the fight is on, with Sting knocking him outside. Back in and Sting gets to stomp away and the jumping elbow gets two. Luger is sent outside and the lumberjacks (including Doug Dellinger) get to stomp away. Back in again and Sting is sent outside for a change, with Luger’s lumberjacks hammering on him. Cue Tank Abbott (no cast) to knock Dellinger out and leave, because Abbott is a weird guy.

All of the lumberjacks brawl to the back, leaving Luger to chinlock Sting, as Ric Flair and Elizabeth come out. Flair and Vampiro (who was apparently still there) brawl at ringside until Flair gets inside to chop Sting. This goes as it has gone for over ten years now but Luger ax handles Sting down.

Elizabeth hits Sting in the back with the baseball bat so here is Jimmy Hart, with a Hulk Hogan weightlifting belt, to chase her off. Luger loads up the Rack but Vampiro hits him with the bat (the referee looks at it happen and glares at Vampiro, allowing Sting to hit the “Stinger” Death Drop (as Schiavone can’t even get that right) for the pin at 7:01.

Rating: D-. I’m sure he was on a huge contract and all that, but who in the world thought it was a good idea to put Lex Luger in this prominent of a role in 2000? The guy hadn’t been interesting in a very long time at this point and while the arm breaking thing was something different, it was still only going to get him so far in yet another match with Sting. The fact that this was the third decade in which they had been working together in some fashion isn’t a great sign, and the results showed badly.

Tank Abbott says he took out Doug Dellinger because he can, and accuses Dellinger of taking his money.

We recap Jeff Jarrett vs. Sid for the World Title. Jarrett keeps getting title shots and has a history of cracking Sid with a guitar. End of build.

The limo door is opened but we don’t see who is in it.

The format has been changed, as this match was scheduled to go on last. Sid’s response? “Oh let’s go.” And he heads to the ring.

WCW World Title: Sid vs. Jeff Jarrett

Sid is defending and Jarrett’s US Title isn’t on the line. Before Sid shows up, Jarrett goes on a rant about how he’s tired of getting ripped off so he has something up his sleeve. He also promises that the NWO girls will show some skin if he wins the title. Sid drops him with a clothesline to start and then pounds him into the corner for the right hands. The chokeslam is broken up with a rake to the eyes so Sid takes him outside for a slam onto the announcers’ table. The beating goes into the crowd before Sid chokes against the barricade.

Cue the Harris Brothers to jump Sid, even going inside to stay on him, as Jarrett argues with the referee in the aisle. Back in and Jarrett pounds him down, followed by the sleeper. That’s broken up so the Harris Twins offer a distraction, only for Sid to send Jarrett into the belt (as held by Don) for two. The chokeslam is broken up with a low blow and the referee gets decked (because that matters in this match). The guitar to the head knocks Sid silly and Jarrett calls in….crooked referee Slick Johnson. Hulk Hogan follows him out and cleans house, including dropping the leg on Jarrett so Sid can get the pin to retain.

Rating: D. So not only did they have a terribly dull match, but somehow, HULK HOGAN is needed to beat Jeff Jarrett. Hogan drops the leg and puts Sid on top for the pin. This is getting into 1995/6 territory of Hogan having to be there to save everyone and that’s one of the last things you want to see happen. Sid was even fine as champion, but it doesn’t matter when you’re having Hogan wedged into the top spot over him.

Post match here is Scott Steiner (apparently the person in the limousine) with a guitar to Hogan’s back. The villains wreck Hogan but Sid is up for the save. Cue Ric Flair and it’s time for the strap match.

Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan

Strap match, four corners variety. Flair whips and stomps away to start as Jimmy Hart (with his eyes bugging out) comes to the ring to play cheerleader. It seems to work as Hogan fights up and hammers away but Flair manages a cheap shot back inside. Some choking with the strap has Hogan in more trouble but he’s back up to whip away with the weightlifting belt.

The beating continues on the floor before Hogan rains down the right hands in the corner. A bite to the head busts Flair open and Hogan keeps hammering at the cut. Flair manages to go up and gets slammed down, with Hogan sending him outside for a clothesline. Hart gets in some whips as the squashing continues. Cue Lex Luger to chair Hogan down and leave, allowing Flair to whip Hogan back to ringside. A low blow drops Hogan again and Flair unhooks himself for the sake of chasing Hart.

They hook up again with Hart getting in as well, only to get taken down. Flair goes after the knee and drags Hogan to two corners and then a third before using a foreign object to knock Hogan silly. That’s enough to break the chain so the corners are broken…and Flair covers Hogan for two. That triggers the Hulk Up and Hogan knocks him silly to get three buckles but Luger is back. Hogan boots him down and drops a leg to pin Flair at 14:26 (the referee is fine with this).

Rating: D-. There’s a clip from Family Feud where the question is asked “Do you understand the concept of this game?”. That’s what I’d want to ask here, as it seems like they just kind of changed the rules halfway through. That’s dumb enough on its own, but they tried to do the same thing in the other match involving two people being tied together (because they did that same gimmick twice in about an hour). Hogan gets to slaughter Flair again though, because that’s what he did most of the time, and if that involves changing the rules as they go, so be it. Horrible main event, which shouldn’t be a surprise whatsoever.

Hogan touches the fourth buckle to really rub it in. Posing ends the show. Wait: why was it a big deal that they changed the order of the last two matches? That was treated as some kind of a big plot point and it didn’t seem to matter at all.

Overall Rating: R. For Reset, which is what this company did three weeks later. On April 10, WCW decided to tap out and completely relaunch everything, because the place that the shows were at, spearheaded by this one, was so bad that they didn’t think there was a way out. Think about that for a second. This show was so bad and put the company in such a place that WCW just blew up its continuity and started over. It might not seem possible to get that low, but WCW decided that was the best course of action.

And really, can you blame them? The matches ranged from passable at best to WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE, with rules literally being changed in the middle of matches and the same pairings we’ve seen for years now being trotted out again and again. The end result of the main event was Hogan pinning Flair to win a match where you have to touch all four corners. This was meant to be celebrated due to reasons beyond my comprehension.

That’s on top of the Harris Twins as the Tag Team Champions, XS, Psychosis and David Flair getting pay per view time, plus a group named Team Package and a fight over the letter T. This show was an all time disaster and I can’t blame them for just giving up. Hogan is doing some of his worst stuff here and unfortunately he’s not alone. I have no idea what good came out of this show, and apparently neither did WCW.

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WCW House Show
Date: March 13, 1993
Location: G-Mex, Manchester, England

This is a show from the WCW European tour, which was apparently filmed back in the day and now we get to see what happened during a pretty bad period for the company. It should be fun though as this is a different kind of presentation from WCW and not something that has been seen before. Let’s get to it.

We open with a look at fans’ thoughts on WCW, even with some of them saying they like WWF better. This goes on rather long and apparently Arn Anderson has a big fan base in England.

The show is sold out so they’re doing ok enough.

We see Gary Michael Cappetta welcoming the fans to the show and the arena does look full. Not the biggest place, but there are people there. Cappetta tells us about the new NWA Champion (Barry Windham) being crowned at SuperBrawl. We run down some of the matches and wrestlers appearing tonight, plus we hear some rules, because that’s how you get the fans going.

Oh and Cappetta has one more announcement: Sting won the WCW World Title in London a few days ago and is defending the title tonight.

The cameras are a bit wide but this was clearly filmed to air somewhere rather than just being for internal use.

Johnny B. Badd vs. Scotty Flamingo

Flamingo (better known as Raven) dances to the ring, with the referee coming behind him for a weird visual. Badd backs him into the corner to start and Flamingo isn’t happy, only for Badd to do it again. An exchange of arm wringing goes to Badd so Flamingo grabs the hair (as he had falsely accused Badd of doing), only to get caught like a good heel should.

Flamingo’s arm is sent into the corner and we hit the armbar on the mat to keep him in trouble. Eventually they get up so Flamenco can hit a clothesline, only to get taken right back into the armbar. It works so well that they do it again, though this time Flamenco manages to elbow him in the face to actually take over. A snap suplex gives Flamenco two and it’s choking into the reverse chinlock.

Badd fights out of the regular chinlock…and is pulled right back down into the same thing. Another comeback attempt is cut off with a knee to the ribs but Badd is able to get up a third time for the real comeback. Flamenco whips him hard into the corner a few times though and a clothesline gets two. Back up and Badd has had enough of this and drops him with the left hand for the win at 15:21.

Rating: C+. This was a match where they had the chance to set things up and it worked out well enough. I could have gone for some more variety, but at the end of the day, this was about having Badd pop the crowd with his flamboyant style. Also, there’s something so effective about a finisher of just hitting the other guy in the face. Nice enough opener here and the fans seemed to like it.

Maxx Payne vs. Michael Hayes

So this is grunge vs. southern rock and…I don’t think anyone was asking to see it but at least it’s something. Hayes punches away to start and doesn’t get very far so they slow back down (I’m sure Hayes is disappointed). They take turns asking the crowd to cheer before Payne takes him to the mat with a headlock.

That’s reversed into a headscissors before they both get up as we’re somehow more than four minutes into this thing. A backdrop puts Hayes down and we hit the nerve hold to really keep the intensity up. Payne switches to choking on the ropes, followed by a belly to back suplex to cut off a comeback.

The chinlock goes on as this is setting a new level for dragging. Now we switch to a nerve hold, allowing us a few shots of the utterly bored crowd. Nice job WCW, as you’ve killed a crowd in less than half an hour. Hayes fights up and hits a clothesline to actually start the comeback, including a boot out of the corner. The DDT is blocked though and the Payne Killer (Fujiwara armbar) makes Hayes give up at 12:33.

Rating: D. This is the second Payne match I’ve seen recently and my goodness he was awful. It’s a bunch of dull holds and shrugging off Hayes’ already limited offense before finishing with an armbar. Ignore that he didn’t touch the arm before the finish so it comes right the heck out of nowhere.

Rick Rude/Barry Windham vs. Dustin Rhodes/Van Hammer

Hold on though as Windham and Rhodes get in a fight on the floor and Rhodes is beaten down. Van Hammer (in his not so great cowboyish phase) makes the save and apparently we’re getting something else.

Rick Rude vs. Van Hammer

Windham just vanished so this is all we have left. They take turns shoving each other into the corner and posing before Rude gets in a top wristlock. He even manages to throw in a hip swivel for the fans, which unfortunately doesn’t have Jesse Ventura there for the cheering. Hammer fights up and whips him into the corner, meaning we get to hit the reverse chinlock.

Some counterfeit hip swiveling gives Hammer a nice enough response but he misses a sitdown splash. Back up and Rude gets caught in a bearhug, with Hammer shaking him around, I guess trying to get the hip swiveling going again. Rude pokes him in the eyes to cut that off but gets clotheslined back down. A splash hits knees though and Rude swivels his hips, only to hurt his own ribs in the process.

The reverse chinlock goes on again but Hammer picks him up for an electric chair (Rude flailing his arms with his mouth wide open is a great visual). Hammer goes up and dives into raised boots, only for Rude to go up and dive into raised boots. Rude grabs a sleeper for a bit, with Hammer jawbreaking his way to freedom. The slingshot suplex gives Hammer two but he misses a charge into the corner, allowing the Rude Awakening to finish at 16:01.

Rating: C-. The good parts of this were ALL from Rude as his mannerisms were carrying things. I loved the early days of Hammer with the Heavy Metal stuff but once he lost his initial push, it was all downhill in a hurry. That was the case here, as he was doing almost nothing and even that looked bad. Rude on the other hand was great, and the fans were way into booing him.

Here is Johnny B. Badd for a special presentation. A woman announces that Badd is receiving an award from the British National Institute Of Sign Language. Badd seems appreciative and thanks everyone involved before getting in the ring to show off the certificate he received. There were some kids there with the woman presenting it so this is hard to complain about.

Intermission (cut out of course).

Davey Boy Smith vs. Vinnie Vegas

Vegas is a rather generic villain who is better known as Kevin Nash. Believe it or not, Bulldog (who is very new at this point) is crazy popular in England. They trade running shoulders to start until Bulldog hits a dropkick, leaving Vegas to pose. The fans like Bulldog’s posing more and also approve of him knocking Vegas outside. Back in and the test of strength goes to Vegas until Bulldog powers up and tries a slam…which fails.

Something like a Samoan drop gives Vegas two and he cuts off the suplex attempt rather quickly. The side slam plants Bulldog for two and we hit the sleeper. This goes on for a good while until Vegas hits a big boot and yells a lot. Bulldog fights up and makes the clothesline comeback, followed by the running powerslam for the win at 12:10.

Rating: C+. Gee do you think Bulldog was going to be over here? This was still brand new into his run with the company so not only was he in front of his crowd but he was fresh as well. Bulldog did most of his usual stuff here and looked good, though there was only so much anyone could get out of Vegas at this point.

Post match a kid gets in the ring to pose with Bulldog. Yeah that’s always going to work.

Vader vs. Cactus Jack

Harley Race is here with Vader, who poses at Jack a lot, giving us a rather amused look from Jack. Vader shoved him into the corner a few times and then runs him over with the standing splash. The big forearms in the corner connect and Race gets in some choking on the rope, as he is supposed to do. Back up and Jack gets a boot up in the corner, followed by a pair of DDTs.

A sleeper is broken up with a crash down onto the mat and they go outside. Vader misses a charge and crashes over the barricade, allowing Jack to slug away. A slam onto the concrete has Vader in more trouble and with Race yelling at the referee, Jack drops Vader with some chair shots.

Back in and Jack unloads in the corner but Vader gets a boot up and hits a middle rope clothesline. Kid in the crowd: “Come on Mr. Jack!” So polite. Vader sits down on Jack to cut off a sunset flip and (I’m assuming) the same kid says “YOU SHOULD HAVE MOVED!” Vader clotheslines Race by mistake but knocks Jack down again and hits the Vader Bomb. A second Bomb connects for two and Jack starts to get up, earning the classic Vader response of HITTING HIM REALLY HARD IN THE FACE.

After some spit for a bonus, Vader misses another sitdown splash but is right back with a middle rope splash. The second misses though and the Cactus Clothesline…well you know what it did as it’s the only thing it can do by definition. Jack flip dives off the apron and hits the double arm DDT but Race has the referee. That earns Race a beating but Vader hits a splash in the corner, followed by the powerbomb for the pin at 14:04.

Rating: B+. Yeah these guys always worked well together and this was no exception. Vader could work the smash mouth style like almost no one else and you know Foley is going to be right there with him the whole way. This was by far the best thing on the show thus far and I could watch these two hit each other in the face for a good while.

A fan who is described as “loud” gets a free program. Eh cool.

Cappetta thanks the fans for coming, which is always a nice touch.

WCW World Title: Sting vs. Paul Orndorff

Sting is defending, having won the title two days earlier. Orndorff grabs a headlock to start before they run the ropes, with Sting grabbing a backdrop to send Orndorff bailing for a breather. A wristlock works better for Sting but Orndorff kicks him out to the floor. The fight over a suplex goes to Sting though and he’s back in for an armbar. That’s broken up as well and Orndorff chokes on the rope, followed by some rammings into the barricade.

Back in and the front facelock goes on, with Orndorff even tying up his arms as well. Sting finally fights up but misses a Stinger Splash, allowing Orndorff to hit a dropkick. Back up and Sting hits a crossbody, only to get pulled back into the front facelock. With that not working, Orndorff calls for the piledriver but Sting backdrops his way out. Some right hands have Orndorff rocked and the Stinger Splash retains the title at 14:59.

Rating: C. The whole point of this was to have Sting out there defending the title against a warm body and Orndorff worked as well as anyone else. It was never going to be some classic and while the title wasn’t in jeopardy in theory, one would have thought the same thing when Vader was facing Sting two days earlier so it’s not a totally insane thought. The match itself wasn’t great, but Sting did what he was supposed to do.

And we’re out pretty fast.

Overall Rating: C. Other than Vader vs. Jack, there is nothing on here worth seeing but that’s not the point. The idea here was to give the fans a special experience and since England isn’t going to get something like this very often, it worked well. There is something so cool about seeing this kind of thing and I had a good time with it, even if most of the matches were a bit weak.

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Collision
Date: July 31, 2025
Location: Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

We’re wrapping up the run in the Ballroom and the shows have been good enough while they’ve lasted. This week is going to include quite the title match, as Dustin Rhodes is defending the TNT Title against Kyle Fletcher in a street fight. That is a big enough match and we should be in for a nice show so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We start fast, with the Death Riders jumping a security guard. Jon Moxley talks about how the team attacked Darby Allin a few months ago and wants him out here right now. Cue Allin the crowd and the team goes after him. More on this later it seems.

We look back at Hangman Page retaining the AEW World Title over Jon Moxley last night on Dynamite.

#1 Contenders Tag Team Tournament First Round: Bandido/Brody King vs. Gates Of Agony

Kaun shoulders Bandido down to start, earning himself a nip up right back. Bandido kicks Kaun into the corner and it’s off to Liona vs. King for the power showdown. They trade running shoulders until King hits a running clothesline to the floor. King drops Kaun as well and then slams Bandido onto him for two. Back up and the Gates clear the ring as we take a quick break.

We come back with Bandido still in trouble but he manages to kick Liona down and tag King. House is quickly cleaned before it’s right back to Bandido for stereo dives to the floor. Back in and a frog splash gives Bandido two on Liona with Kaun making a save. Kaun’s superbomb gets two more on Bandido but King hits a Death Valley Driver to plant Liona on the apron. King isn’t done as he superplexes Kaun and flips Bandido into a 450 for the pin at 12:43.

Rating: B-. This got going and I can go with a makeshift team getting to make a nice run in this kind of tournament. I don’t believe that Bandido and King are going to move on after this, but they looked good against a team like the Gates. They were all working and moving out there, which made for a rather nice opener.

Don Callis, with Lance Archer, is ready for Kyle Fletcher to win the TNT Title tonight. That gives them the power and the titles but Shane Taylor comes in to protest (calling Callis “Vigo The Carpathian looking”). Archer and Taylor are about to brawl but Callis seems to have an idea.

We look back at last night’s MJF/Mark Briscoe argument.

The Paragon is upset by the loss of Adam Cole but give the Conglomeration a pep talk.

The Death Riders are looking for Darby Allin, who jumps Jon Moxley and puts a towel over Moxley’s face.

Kris Statlander vs. Lena Kross

Kross is rather tall but Statlander shoulders her down anyway. Back up and Kross grabs a German suplex but gets electric chaired into a faceplant. Statlander pulls her into an armbar with a headscissors for the tap at 1:26. Well Kross was impressive while she lasted. She just didn’t last very long.

Post match Statlander poses and Willow Nightingale comes out for her match, though they pass without issue.

Willow Nightingale vs. Thekla

The rest of the Triangle Of Madness is here with Thekla. Nightingale grabs a waistlock to start and sends her flying into the corner without much trouble. Thekla spiders away from a clothesline and we have a rather odd faceoff. Nightingale cuts off a spin with a backbreaker and nails a big Pounce to send Thekla out to the floor.

We take a break and come back with Thekla grabbing an Upside Down choke, with the rest of the Triangle approving. Nightingale gets back up and hits a middle rope dropkick, followed by a clothesline on the apron. Back in and Thekla catches her on top, setting up a heck of a spider superplex. Thekla hits a nice dive to the floor but Nightingale is right back up. Julia Hart offers a distraction though and Thekla drops Nightingale with a spear. The running stomp finishes for Thekla 11:15.

Rating: C+. This match was designed to keep the feud going for at least another match, with Nightingale getting distracted by the numbers game. That’s going to result in her needing some friends to help fight the Madness and we should be in for something decent as a result. If nothing else, at least Thekla won something, which she has been needing to do more often.

Post match the Triangle beats Nightingale down, with Penelope Ford joining in on the fun. Megan Bayne loads up a powerbomb but Queen Aminata (with a chair) leads Tay Melo and Anna Jay out for the save.

Billy Gunn isn’t sure what happened with Anthony Bowens last week when Bowens interrupts. Bowens says Gunn hasn’t contacted him since last week and yells a lot, with Gunn saying he doesn’t know who Bowens is anymore.

Swerve Strickland is happy with taking everything away from the Young Bucks. The Bucks are still trying to abuse the power they have though and Strickland isn’t going to let that happen. He’s going to be there to stop Kazuchika Okada too.

Don Callis and Okada don’t think much of Strickland, or Prince Nana for that matter. Okada is willing to face Strickland at Forbidden Door and the match is set.

#1 Contenders Tag Team Tournament Semifinals: FTR vs. Bang Bang Gang

Schiavone is impressive, as he has moved from calling this the first of four semifinals earlier in the night to the final semifinal here. Wilder and Robinson start things off before quickly going over for the double tag. Harwood grabs a headlock on Gunn and then shoulders him down for a bonus. Robinson comes back in to send Harwood into the corner but Harwood is fine enough to hit an elbow to Gunn’s face. Everything breaks down and FTR is double clotheslined to the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Wheeler missing a Bronco Buster but Harwood grabs an abdominal stretch on Gunn. That’s broken up and Gunn gets over for the tag, which the referee doesn’t see so the beating continues. A Hart Attack gets two on Gunn and he’s sent outside, where Wheeler misses a dive into the barricade. Back in and it’s off to Robinson to clean house.

Stokely Hathaway tries to help on a rollup but the referee breaks it up, allowing Robinson to get two off a sunset flip. A PowerPlex gets the same on Harwood, with Wheeler making the save. Robinson’s spinning Downward Spiral gets a very close two on Harwood and he knocks Wheeler into the Fameasser. Hathaway distracts Robinson though and Wheeler sends him into the steps. Back in and Wheeler gets a cheap shot, allowing Harwood to roll Gunn up for the pin at 15:23.

Rating: B. It shouldn’t be a surprise that FTR and the Gang had a good match, as they had a great one a year or two ago. They work well together and that was the case again here, even with the roles reversed. FTR has felt destined to make the finals and now they have, which shouldn’t be stunning, but I’m not sure how it’s going to go in the finals. Either way, pretty awesome stuff here, which is no shock at all.

We get a Technique By Taz video on Athena’s O Face. Good stuff, as usual.

Athena brags about pinning Toni Storm last night and now she is ready to sign the contract for Forbidden Door. Works for me.

Here is Max Caster for his latest open challenge, plus an insult at Anthony Bowens (who is apparently a boring, bland b****).

Max Caster vs. Rush

Caster gets smart and runs to the floor, with the chase burning off the first minute. Some laps around the ring take off even more time but Rush goes outside to drop Caster. Rush sends him into the barricade and pounds Caster down, only for Caster to come back with a slingshot dive. Back in and Rush gives him the cocky running boot in the corner as we have less than a minute to go. Another toss sends Caster into the corner and Rush chokes away but spends too long posing as time expires at 5:00.

Rating: C. This was more of an angle than a match and I’m actually digging the idea of Caster turning after all of those losses. He’s almost goofily sympathetic and that could make for a nice run. If nothing else, the pre-match promo should mean we’re on the way to something else with Bowens, and that could be fun.

Post match Rush gives him the Bull’s Horns so the rest of LFI runs in for the beatdown. Jet Speed and AR Fox make the save. Caster is laid out but raises a fist from the mat.

Mercedes Mone has won a women’s title in Poland. She’ll be back next week.

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Skyflight

Sky knees away at Taylor to start but gets powered into the corner for his efforts. It’s quickly off to Bravo, who gets elbowed down by Top Flight. Dean trips Darius down though and Taylor drops a leg on the apron as we take a break. We come back with Dante cleaning house, including a high crossbody for two. Dante has to roll away from some double teaming and it’s back to Sky. Things pick up again and a quick TKO finishes Bravo at 6:54.

Rating: C+. I’ve always liked Sky and Top Flight so this is a pleasant surprise. It’s not like there are teams beating the door down to come after the Opps, or possibly even the Sons Of Texas in Ring Of Honor. At the same time, Taylor and company losing again is almost funny, as it’s become a running joke at this point.

Darby Allin tries to dump Jon Moxley out of a fire escape but security does their job to break it up.

TNT Title: Dustin Rhodes vs. Kyle Fletcher

Fletcher is challenging in a street fight. They go outside rather quickly and Rhodes knocks a kendo stick away, only to get DDTed onto the steps. It’s time for a table as Rhodes is already busted open. Fletcher misses a dive and crashes through the table, allowing Rhodes to grab another table. Before we get there though, it’s the cowbell to the head for two but Fletcher sends him through the table at ringside.

We take a break and come back with Fletcher busted open as well and using the cowbell to hammer on Rhodes’ knee. Rhodes fights up and hits Cross Rhodes before unloading with a chair to the back. Fletcher superkicks said chair into Rhodes’ face, setting up a jumping Tombstone onto an open chair for two. A third table is set up but Rhodes catches him on top with a super Canadian Destroyer. It’s time for a glove loaded up with thumbtacks, meaning the Claw can go on.

Fletcher breaks that up and brings in the bag of thumbtacks (of course), only to get powerslammed onto them for two. Rhodes pours the tacks into Fletcher’s trunks for Shattered Dreams but Don Callis slips Fletcher the screwdriver. Fletcher stabs the screwdriver into Rhodes’ knee (it sticks) but the doctor gets it out. A brainbuster is countered into a small package to give Rhodes two, followed by the brainbuster onto the tacks to give Fletcher the title at 16:42.

Rating: B. They beat each other up and it’s rather nice to see Rhodes lose the title so soon. Fletcher winning the title is what should have happened and hopefully this lets them give Rhodes his big moment and start to wrap up his time as a focal point. It made for a big time feel to the main event, and at least Rhodes didn’t hold the title very long.

Post match Fletcher smashes a chair over Rhodes’ knee against the post, leaving Rhodes to be taken out on a stretcher. If this is how they get both ROH titles off of him….honestly I wouldn’t be a bit surprised.

Overall Rating: B. The two rather good matches carried this one and they did at least set up some matches for Forbidden Door. I’m more interested in the pay per view than I was coming in and that’s a sign of a good show. This needs to be the first of more than a few focused on Forbidden Door though, as the show is needing a lot more work.

Results
Bandido/Brody King b. Gates Of Agony – Assisted 450 to Kaun
Kris Statlander b. Lena Kross – Headscissors armbar
Thekla b. Willow Nightingale – Spear
FTR b. Bang Bang Gang – Rollup to Gunn
Skyflight b. Shane Taylor Promotions – TKO to Bravo
Kyle Fletcher b. Dustin Rhodes – Brainbuster onto thumbtacks

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Collision
Date: July 26, 2025
Location: Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

We are less than a month away from Forbidden Door and that means we might be getting some of the card set up this week. If nothing else, we are probably going to be seeing more of the #1 contenders tag team tournament, which means we might be finding out who is actually in the thing. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

TNT Title: Dustin Rhodes vs. Lee Moriarty

Rhodes (and only Rhodes) is defending. Feeling out process to start, including an exchange of wristlocks. Moriarty grabs a quick Border City Stretch to send Rhodes bailing over to the ropes but he’s back up with a Cactus Clothesline. Back in and an armdrag sends Moriarty into an armbar, which doesn’t last very long. Moriarty is right back out and grabs a shinbreaker to send Rhodes out to the floor. That doesn’t last long as Moriarty comes back in to work on the leg.

We take a break and come back with Rhodes kicking him out to the floor. Back in and Rhodes snaps off a powerslam before hitting an atomic drop. That bangs up Rhodes’ knee, though he’s fine enough to hit a quick Cross Rhodes. Moriarty gets his foot on the ropes for the break so Rhodes plants him in the middle for two more.

A shot to Rhodes’ leg cuts him down again though and it’s an ankle lock with a grapevine. Rhodes makes the rope again and avoids a boot in the corner. Shattered Dreams doesn’t work so Moriarty hits a running boot, followed by a spinning butterfly suplex for two. An attempt at a Figure Four is reversed into a small package to retain the title at 16:35.

Rating: B. Nice match here, though I could have gone without another champion losing. Rhodes getting a win over a lower name is ok as odds are he won’t be holding the title for very long. I still have no idea why he needs to hold all three titles at once, but at least he didn’t pick up a fourth one here.

Post match here are Don Callis and Kyle Fletcher, with the latter saying he wants the TNT Title. Rhodes agrees, but he wants it next week in a Chicago Street Fights. Rhodes: “I’ll be your Huckleberry b****.”

The Bang Bang Gang is ready to face Bryan Keith and Big Bill in the tournament tonight. Yeah one of them is injured, but next man up.

Tony Schiavone pays tribute to Hulk Hogan.

Toni Storm says no one goes as deep as she does and she wants to see Alex Windsor beat Athena. Storm doesn’t think Athena has the ovaries to take the AEW Women’s Title from her.

#1 Contenders Tag Team Tournament First Round: Big Bill/Bryan Keith vs. Bang Bang Gang

Robinson and Keith start things off with Robinson working on the arm. Gunn (Austin) comes in for a neckbreaker but it’s off to Bill to easily shove him down. Bill misses an elbow though and Gunn jabs away, only to get dropped with a shot to the face. A half crab keeps Gunn in trouble and we take a break.

We come back with Gunn jumping over Keith out of the corner but his knee is in bad shape. A lariat puts Keith down but Bill is in to cut off the tag attempt. Gunn manages to fight his way out of the corner though and the big tag brings Robinson in to clean house. An atomic drop into a backsplash hits Keith and the cannonball in the corner gets two. Bill boots Robinson in the face though and Keith gets two off a suplex. Keith goes up top but Robinson hurricanranas him down. That’s reversed into a sunset flip, only for Gunn to turn it over and give Robinson the pin at 12:19.

Rating: C+. Nice enough match here, though it’s kind of a shame to see Keith and Bill go from being a good team to losing to a fairly makeshift team here. At the same time, this tournament has me worried that we’re coming up on another FTR vs. Young Bucks final, with the Bucks going on to the title match. Maybe it’s too early for that to be the case, but it seems like a real possibility.

Video on the Outrunners vs. the Young Bucks.

Don Callis interrupts a Shane Taylor interview and talks about tonight’s match for $400,000, because we have to do another match for money as that’s the hot thing at the moment.

Here is Max Caster for his next open challenge.

Max Caster vs. Anthony Bowens

Bowens takes him into the corner to start so Caster hides in the corner, with the fans cheering for Caster. Some shots to the back of the head have Caster in more trouble and Bowens yells at him, followed by the running Fameasser. The Mollywop finishes Caster at 2:07.

Post match Bowens beats on him even more but Billy Gunn breaks it up. An angry Bowens leaves on his own. So we took that long to get to a Bowens heel turn after he was upset about losing so much and he turns after winning? Am I getting that right?

AR Fox interrupts the Matriarchy and wants to face Nick Wayne. Kip Sabian thinks it’s a good idea and the match is on.

Don Callis Family/Infantry vs. Outrunners/Tomohiro Ishii/Hologram

For $400,000 and Don Callis is on commentary. Bravo’s chops in the corner just annoy Ishii, who runs him over without much trouble. Hologram comes in to wristdrag Hechicero, followed by an anklescissors into the corner. The Outrunners clean house but Floyd wants to face Archer on his own. Hologram tries a springboard hurricanrana but Archer pulls it out of the air and powerbombs him into the Outrunners (ouch).

We take a break and come back with Archer knocking some people off the apron, only for Hologram to get the tag off to Ishii anyway. Hologram comes back in with a top rope double stomp to Hechicero and everything breaks down again. Magnum drops the Infantry and Hologram adds a nice top rope hurricanrana to Hechicero. The Mega Powers Elbow hits Dean but Callis gets off commentary for a cheap shot. Cue Paragon to chase an interfering Taylor off and Total Recall finishes Dean at 11:42.

Rating: B-. Ok. What else am I supposed to think here? It was the same perfectly good eight man tag that we’ve seen a bunch of times around here, with one team winning money which changes nothing for their status in AEW. Commentary mentioned that Hologram has been around for fifty three weeks. The fact that he is undefeated and still in this spot isn’t exactly a great sign.

Video on Hangman Page vs. Jon Moxley on Dynamite.

Triangle Of Madness vs. Mazzerati/Laynie Luck/Rachael Ellering

That would be Skye Blue/Thekla/Julia Hart. We start fast with Hart hitting Old School on Luck and it’s off to Thekla for a running shot in the ropes. Hart’s standing moonsault hits raised knees though and it’s Ellering coming in for a backsplash. Everything breaks down and Thekla spears Luck on the floor. An assisted swinging Rock Bottom plants Mazzerati and Thekla hits a Stomp for the pin at 3:11.

Rating: C. I was worried that this was going to be a long match to make the jobbers look good but instead the new team smashed through them. We’ve seen all of the members of the Triangle (AEW likes that name) before so it’s nice to see them getting this kind of a win in their first match together. Not exactly a thrilling match, but it’s how this should have gone.

Post match Queen Aminata runs in with a chair but Megan Bayne takes her out.

Stokely Hathaway doesn’t think much of Cope coming after him but promises FTR will win the tournament.

Paragon interrupts Hologram and Tomohiro Ishii’s interview and the Conglomeration seems to be back together. Hologram and Ishii look…confused?

Nick Wayne/Kip Sabian vs. AR Fox/Angelico

Fox takes over on Wayne to start and drags him into the corner so Angelico can crank on his arm. A Mother Wayne distraction lets Nick get in an elbow though and we take a break. We come back with Angelico and Sabian knocking each other down, allowing Fox to come in and clean house. A slingshot dropkick in the corner sets up a rolling cutter and no one can believe the kickout. Sabian is back in with a missile dropkick to Angelico as everything breaks down. Nick Killswitches Angelico for the pin at 8:10.

Rating: C+. I continue to have no idea why Sabian is around, as he’s a completely forgettable star who was mostly just a warm body here. At the same time, it seems like we could be setting up a big Christian Cage vs. Nick Wayne match and that’s….only kind of interesting at best. Angelico being thrown in there was a bit weird but Fox was a highlight reel, as usual.

Kris Statlander goes on a heck of a rant about how Willow Nightingale hasn’t thanked her for anything. Now Statlander is going to be herself because you can’t stop Stat. She was bringing the fire here.

Ring Of Honor Women’s Title: Alex Windsor vs. Athena

Athena, with Billie Starkz, is defending. Windsor takes her into the corner to start and they go to the mat for a quick standoff. Athena hits her in the face and poses a bit, only to get armdragged into a basement dropkick. Windsor gets in a shot to the back of the head and they head to the apron for a chop off. Athena plants her onto said apron and we take a break.

We come back with Windsor getting in a shot of her own for a knockdown, followed by a running clothesline for the same. Athena bites the leg to get out of a powerbomb and rolls into a Koji Clutch. That’s reversed into a rollup to give Windsor two and she powerbombs Athena out of the corner. A faceplant on the floor has Athena in more trouble and Windsor sends Starkz into the steps. The distraction lets Athena come back with a running dropkick before knocking her off the barricade. Back in and the O Face retains the title at 12:20.

Rating: B-. Windsor was a good enough challenger for a basic televised title defense, but what matters the most here is getting Athena on the bigger stage. She has gone from a good hand to an absolute star during her Ring Of Honor title reign. I could go for seeing her winning the title from Storm, though we could be waiting a bit for that to happen.

Post match Athena and Starkz go after Windsor again but Toni Storm runs in for the brawl. The running hip attack sets up the chickenwing but Starkz makes the save. Windsor is up again and the villains are knocked to the floor to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Well, it was a show featuring a bunch of Ring Of Honor stars and champions, with the Athena/Storm stuff being the highlight. As usual, Collision only feels somewhat important and you would probably be better off just reading a recap. Next week’s show will be back on Thursday and hopefully things pick up a bit. It’s absolutely not a bad show in any way, but it only matters so much in the grand scheme of AEW.

Results
Dustin Rhodes b. Lee Moriarty – Small package
Bang Bang Gang b. Big Bill/Bryan Keith – Rollup to Keith
Anthony Bowens b. Max Caster – Mollywop
Tomohiro Ishii/Hologram/Outrunners b. Infantry/Don Callis Family – Total Recall to Dean
Triangle Of Madness b. Mazzerati/Laynie Luck/Rachael Ellering – Stomp to Mazzerati
Nick Wayne/Kip Sabian b. Angelico/AR Fox – Killswitch to Angelico
Athena b. Alex Windsor – O Face

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Collision
Date: July 19, 2025
Location: Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, Colt Cabana

We’re done with All In and back in the normal time slot, with the promise of must see TV in the form of comments from new TNT Champion Dustin Rhodes. That could go in a few different ways but for now at least it seems they have something in mind for the next few weeks. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring to bring out Dustin Rhodes for a chat. The fans think Rhodes deserves it and he wishes his dad was here. His dad told him to “keep stepping” and he has remembered it for a long time because it means being persistent. One day he hit rock bottom but the one thing he has never done is tell himself that he isn’t good enough. Getting back up is what keeps himself going every day. He is now the face of TNT and he will give his all every week.

Cue Don Callis and Kyle Fletcher to interrupt, with Fletcher saying this should be his celebration. The only thing Rhodes has done is sign his own death certificate because the title belongs to Fletcher. Rhodes talks about the times he has come short with this title but now he’s here because he pulled off what Fletcher couldn’t.

Callis says Rhodes is a great wrestler and a better man but the high that he is still chasing is being champion. So what happens when Fletcher takes the title? Callis will save a place in the Family for him, because it’s better than being the third wheel in his horrible family. The fight is on and Rhodes easily clears the ring. In theory Fletcher takes the title from Rhodes sooner or later, but you never can tell with Rhodes. Fletcher might pin Rhodes and Rhodes will get another title as a result.

Video on Willow Nightingale vs. Kris Statlander.

AR Fox vs. Ricochet

Ricochet bails to the floor to start and then comes back in to spin around Fox. Back in and Fox scares him out to the floor, where Fox takes him down again. Cue the Gates Of Agony but Fox drops Ricochet on the apron again for a running flipping double stomp. Back in and a spinning belly to back suplex drops Ricochet again but the Gates drop Fox on the apron.

We take a break and come back with Fox fighting back and hitting his Swanton. They trade some rollups for two each until Ricochet muscles him into a Death Valley Driver for two. The Spirit Gun misses so Fox ties him in the ropes for the slingshot Canadian Destroyer for two of his own. The Gates offer a distraction though and Fox misses the 450. Now the Spirit Gun can finish Fox at 11:17.

Rating: B-. Fox is firmly in the “he’s going to be entertaining” mode and has been for a few months now. That’s the kind of thing that can be rather valuable, and now it seems that AEW is giving Fox more of a chance. On the other hand you have Ricochet, who is his usual self and finding something with the Gates behind him. Having him take the TNT Title from Rhodes wouldn’t be the worst idea either.

We look at Hangman Page beating Jon Moxley at All In and the fallout on Dynamite.

We go to commentary…where the Death Riders jump Colt Cabana and bust him open. Cabana gets hung with a chain and the villains leave through the crowd.

Kris Statlander is ready to face Willow Nightingale because she is a wrestler. Wheeler Yuta comes in and tells her that champions bounce back. Statlander is not pleased.

Megan Bayne vs. Tay Melo

Everyone is banned from ringside. Bayne fires shoulders in the ribs to start and then drops her with a clothesline. Melo pulls her into a Fujiwara armbar and then a triangle choke, which is broken up with the usual spinebuster. Back up and Bayne sends her outside as we take a break.

We come back with Melo firing off some running forearms and a German suplex drops Bayne. The running knee is blocked so Melo switches to a guillotine choke, which is reversed into a Falcon Arrow for two. Melo is back with a running knee into a Canadian Destroyer for two of her own. Bayne isn’t having this and hits a running clothesline, followed by a running Liger Bomb for the pin at 9:55.

Rating: B-. This is more like it from Bayne, who survived a fired up comeback from Melo before putting her away. Bayne is the monster of the division at this point and it should be interesting to see where she goes from here. Odds are she has to beat up Anna Jay as well, but then it might be time to have her go after the winner of Athena vs. Toni Storm. Just give her something involving gold, as it would be an appropriate part of her look.

Sky Flight is still looking for a fight when Don Callis comes in. Christopher Daniels says they’re not looking for management, but rather competition. Anytime.

Alex Windsor took Athena to her limits so now she’s All Elite.

Alex Windsor vs. Taya Valkyrie

Valkyrie has Johnny TV and the MxM Collection with her. Valkyrie knocks her down and hits a running corner clothesline to start fast. Back up and Windsor takes her down by the arm for a basement dropkick before knocking Valkyrie into the corner. They trade quickly escaped leglocks before Windsor’s discus lariat gets two. A Sharpshooter makes Valkyrie tap at 3:12.

Rating: C+. Windsor was fine enough here, but not exactly anything that stood out. I’ll take that over nothing though, as occasionally you need to bring in some fresh faces. Beating Valkyrie still means enough so it’s a good first win, as Windsor is already feeling a bit better presented than Thekla.

Post match Athena pops up in a balcony and says Windsor didn’t take anyone to her limit so get out of there. Athena says it’s time for her to take over and mocks Toni Storm’s voice and posing. Cue Storm to challenge Athena to come fight right now, but Athena says Storm gets to face Billie Starkz on Dynamite. Works for Storm, who storms the balcony, sending Athena running away. Athena comes off like a star, which makes waiting this long to bring her up all the more frustrating.

Billy Gunn comes in to see Anthony Bowens, who thinks they’re on different pages. Gunn says Bowens is obsessed with Max Caster, but he has a slump buster next week. Bowens is in.

Big Bill/Bryan Keith vs. Cru vs. Gates Of Agony vs. Gunns

For $200,000 and Juice Robinson is here with the Gunns. Austin jabs away at Rush to start but Andretti comes in for a double team to bring him down. Kaun comes in but walks into a dropkick, allowing Keith to come in. The Gunns double team Keith down, meaning it’s off to Bill (the fans approve). Everything breaks down and they brawl to the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Colton fighting out of a wristlock but Rush takes out most of the potential taggees. Bill gets to come in though and house is cleaned, including a running boot to knock Kaun off the apron. Some big boots on the floor drop various people until Liona tackles Bill over the announcers’ table. Back in and Austin takes over but cue Ricochet to pull him to the floor. Open The Gates finishes Andretti at 9:48 to give the Gates the money.

Rating: B-. You know pretty much exactly what you’re going to get with this kind of a match, but I’m not overly interested in the money deal for the winners. AEW has been using that more and more often lately and that feels like quite the waste when they have a bunch of titles hanging around. Heck the Hurt Syndicate has been begging for competition, but instead of going after a title shot, these teams are fighting for money that won’t likely play any kind of an important role. I don’t get this and hopefully this deal fades away a good bit.

Video on the end of the Patriarchy, with Cope wanting Christian Cage to turn it around.

Here is Max Caster for the usual.

Max Caster vs. Kyle O’Reilly

Roderick Strong is here with O’Reilly, who kicks Caster outside. Caster grabs the mic and wants a chase, only for Strong to offer a trip. O’Reilly kicks away on the floor but Caster goes for the eyes back inside. Caster tries a sunset flip and gets cross armbreakered for the tap at 2:18.

Juice Robinson calls out Ricochet for costing the Gunns but Big Bill comes in for a brawl.

Rush vs. Katsuyori Shibata

They glare at each other to start and go straight to the slugout, with Shibata chopping him into the corner. Rush’s big forearm sends Shibata out to the floor and Rush rams him into various hard objects. Back up and Rush stops to yell at the crowd, allowing Shibata to hit a knee to the floor.

We take a break and come back with Shibata hammering away, followed by a front facelock DDT for two. They fight over rolling suplexes until Shibata gets two off three in a row. An exchange of German suplexes doesn’t go to either of them and Shibata misses the PK. Rush knocks him into the corner and hits the Bull’s Horns for the pin at 10:18.

Rating: C+. Well, Rush and LFI as the next challengers for the Trios Titles isn’t the worst idea, though I’m not sure when Samoa Joe is going to be back to defend the things anyway. As tends to be the case, the Trios Titles are often in need of challengers and Rush/LFI might be next. It nothing else, it’s weird to see Shibata job clean like this, but it could be leading elsewhere.

Post match the beatdown is on but Powerhouse Hobbs makes the save.

Don Callis Family vs. Jet Speed/Mascara Dorada/Bandido

Bandido and Hechicero waste no time in slugging away at each other to start, with Hechicero managing to knock him down. They trade places so Bandido hits a basement superkick. Back up and Bandido hits a kicks him down again, meaning it’s off to Dorada vs. Archer. The villains take over on Dorada, leaving some dropkicks and a superkick to put the villains down. Stereo dives connect but Alexander suplexes Bailey down back inside.

We take a break and come back with Knight dropkicking his way out of trouble. It’s back to Bandido to clean house but Hechicero is right there with some running knees in the corner. Hechicero manages a double down though and Archer comes in to to break various people. Everything breaks down and Bandido German suplexes Alexander but Archer runs him over. Knight dropkicks Archer to the floor and Romero hits a running Sliced Bread for two. Jet Speed hit stereo dives, leaving Bandido to 21 Plex Romero. Dorada’s shooting star press finishes at 12:38.

Rating: B. Yep, that was exactly what I was expecting and that’s not a bad thing. AEW knows how to do this match in their sleep and even had Romero take the fall, which is the main reason you have him in a match like this. It’s another fun one, as AEW has figured out the formula for something like this and it works.

Bandido and Hechicero yell at each other to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was a very Collision-esque Collision, as they focused on a lot of lower level stuff, had some bigger names make a few cameos, and included some good enough action. Collision tends to be a show that I never look forward to but always winds up being entertaining. I could go for making it feel more important, though what we get is working well enough.

Results
Ricochet b. AR Fox – Spirit Gun
Megan Bayne b. Tay Melo – Running Liger Bomb
Alex Windsor b. Taya Valkyrie – Sharpshooter
Gates Of Agony b. Big Billy/Bryan Keith, Gunns and Cru – Open The Gates to Andretti
Kyle O’Reilly b. Max Caster – Cross armbreaker
Rush b. Katsuyori Shibata – Bull’s Horns
Jet Speed/Bandido/Mascara Dorada b. Don Callis Family – Shooting star press to Romero

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Ring Of Honor
Date: July 17, 2025
Location: Curtis Culwell Center, Garland, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re done with Supercard Of Honor and Bandido is still World Champion, having retained the title over Konosuke Takeshita in a great match. Other than that, the Sons Of Texas and Athena retained their titles and we are likely back to the run of the mill shows around here for a good while. Let’s get to it.

Here is Supercard Of Honor if you need a recap.

We actually see commentary so you know we’re taped from something special.

We get a quick recap of Supercard Of Honor’s results and preview tonight’s show.

Lee Johnson vs. Atlantis Jr.

Blake Christian is here with Johnson. They fight over arm control to start and then trade standing switches until Atlantis grabs a headscissors. Johnson is sent outside so the big dive takes him out again. Back in and Johnson gets him in the ropes, with Christian running in for a sliding German suplex. The chinlock doesn’t last long but Atlantis misses his frog splash. A Death Valley Driver gives Johnson two but he can’t hit a powerbomb. Atlantis hits a Canadian Destroyer and the frog splash for the pin at 6:35.

Rating: C+. As usual, the in-ring side of things is not the issue for Atlantis, who can do well against anyone. The issue is more that he’s only so interesting, which was the case here. The match was perfectly fine enough, though I’m not sure what is next for Atlantis. He’s in the middle of the clogged up midcard, and it’s hard to imagine that changing anytime soon.

Lee Moriarty is the longest reigning Pure Wrestling Champion ever and wants to become the face of Ring Of Honor.

We look at Mina Shirakawa winning the Interim Women’s TV Title…but then she got injured the next day. No word on what this means, but maybe we can have an Interim Interim Women’s TV Title!

Diamante vs. Maya World

Diamante snaps off a running hurricanrana to start and rakes World’s eyes across the top rope. Some more shots to the face set up a Code Red to finish World at 1:56. Just a squash.

We get an ad for Seed, the MxM Collection perfume.

Athena is ready to be the AEW Women’s World Champion.

We look at Dustin Rhodes becoming a triple champion at Supercard Of Honor, with a look at his quest to win the TNT Title over the years.

Rhodes can’t believe he won and his dad taught him to always keep going. He wants to carry the title for as long as he can. This was a rather humble promo.

Jay Lethal vs. Michael Oku

Amira is here with Oku, whose Rev Pro Title isn’t on the line. Oku wins a wrestle off to start and Lethal isn’t sure about this. Back up and they lock hands for some big forearms. Lethal snaps off a suplex but the Lethal Injection is countered with a hurricanrana. They head to the apron, where Lethal gets backdropped out to the floor. Oku hits a triangle dropkick, which is one of Lethal’s moves, for a nice touch. Back in and Lethal grabs a pair of cutters, setting up the Lethal Injection for the fast pin at 5:47.

Rating: C+. I’m still not sure I get the appeal of Oku, but this seems like the latest attempt to push Lethal a bit around here. He certainly has the pedigree to be in the spot, but he’s also only so interesting. That’s a recurring issue in Ring Of Honor, but there are worse choices than Lethal.

Respect is show post match.

The Frat House is upset at losing at Supercard Of Honor but they go to the bar anyway.

We look at Bandido retaining the World Title and Hechicero seeming to step up next after the match.

Hechicero vs. Angelico

Rocky Romero and Serpentico are here too. Hechicero wins a wrestle off to start and blocks a snap off the arm. Angelico takes him down by the leg and does his dance, earning himself a choke in the ropes. Hechicero goes up but gets kicked out of the air for a big crash. Back up and Angelico strikes away and grabs la majistral for two. A lifting Downward Spiral gives Angelico two but Romero’s distraction lets Hechicero hit a DDT. The spinning backbreaker finishes for Hechicero at 6:24.

Rating: C+. Another fine match here but it only had so much time. They wanted to make Hechicero feel like a big deal here and a threat to Bandido, but there is only so much to be gotten out of beating Angelico. Odds are Hechicero gets the title shot at Death Before Dishonor though so he needs the build as fast as it can be done.

Post match the beatdown is on but Hologram makes the save to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Perfectly fine show, which again is made better by the shorter run time. Ring Of Honor had a bad habit of stretching the show out longer and having so much filler, but the 45ish minute run time is pretty much the perfect fit. They have enough action to keep you engaged without realizing how low level a lot of this stuff can be. Nice follow up show here, which is a good thing to see.

Results
Atlantis Jr. b. Lee Johnson – Frog splash
Diamante b. Maya World – Code Red
Jay Lethal b. Michael Oku – Lethal Injection

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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