Obviously, the focus for the next month is Flair/Funk. We pull up the 1989 footage, hell run the Funk/Flair match on one of the B-Level shows one of the weeks w/ wrap arounds to hype it up. We sell Funk as completely and totally over-the-edge and after a few years of being away, he's seemed to have gone even crazier than he was five years. Meanwhile, Flair is getting close as well. His closest friend has turned on him and he's facing probably his toughest opponent in a month.
On the other end, Arn Anderson is the picture of cool, calm, and collective. Until Ricky Steamboat enters the picture. Ricky says that the one thing that he thought Arn had was loyalty, if nothing else. But, he's even that tossed that away for greater glory. Arn fires back. What do you know about loyalty? Loyalty is suppressing your talent for a decade so your best friend can be seen as the best wrestler in the world. Doing the dirty work, the sneak attacks, all the work while Flair is in a hotel room with three twenty-year olds.
So, there's your top two matches. Flair/Funk & Steamboat/Arn.
But, that's not all. Jack & Sullivan are happy. Crazy still. That ain't gonna' change. However, one week on Saturday Night, they get challenged by Harlem Heat for a title match. They say they've got a new manager who has led men to champions before and this manager will do the same. Booker & Stevie are still mid-card heels, so Cactus & Kevin agree...then start a brawl. Like I said, crazy. We get vignettes with either Booker & Stevie on the phone with their mystery manager before matches. There's your tag main event.
Hey, how about Sting? Sting's probably feeling lonely. He wasn't even on the Clash. He's getting his fans, but he has no hook. That is, until he follows up a Steve Austin squash and hears Austin claiming to be the greatest US champ...again. Sting comes out and say, "hmm...that's odd. I remember a few years ago pinning you right in the middle of the ring for the US Title." Austin says that was years ago, so the next week we get a Sting/Austin match as the TV main event. Match is back-and-forth, Austin is totally treated at Sting's level.
Sting gets the advantage and is about to slap on the Scorpion when the lights go out. (Yes, I'm stealing this from WCW.) Lights come back - Muta's in the ring! Muta's back! MIST! MIST!
Boom, Sting/Muta for the International Title. Now, how about Austin? Well, unfortunately, at least for this show, he's sort of a man without an island. So, after a Dusty/Dustin tag squash to build up the tag match at the PPV, Austin will come out and volunteer himself to be part of the Stud Stable vs. Rhodes Tag Match. Austin basically says he doesn't care who the Colonel finds as his partner, he just wants the chance to beat up both Rhode's at once. If Dusty is up to it, we'll do a Dusty/Austin match at a TV just to continue the hype.
So far, not a bad show? Right? Well, the fun continues. At a TV, Regal/Badd goes to a ten-minute draw, so we get a rematch with a 15 minute time limit at the PPV. Simple booking, kids. Sometimes, that's all it takes.
Then, on the undercard, we get wacky matches a go go as Terra Ryzing forms a mutual appreciation society with Pretty Wonderful, but they run afoul of The Guardian Angel when they continue a beatdown on some jobbers. Guardian gets Stars 'n' Stripes and we have a fun little six-man.
So, there's your card. Flair/Funk for the first time in five years. Arn/Steamboat. The Great Freakin' Muta returns to WCW to take the International Title away from Sting. Steve Austin and a partner battle the Rhodes. Regal/Badd in a rematch for the TV Title. Six-man madness w/ Terra Ryzing, Stars 'n' Stripes, Pretty Wonderful, and the Guardian Angel. Buy it!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Clash of the Champions XXIII
Clash of the Champions XXIII
6/23/94 - Charleston, SC
Heenan & Schiavone are your announce team and they basically go straight to the ring.
Tags: 1. Jack & Sullivan (c) d. Nasty Boy's
Pretty much the same match as RL, both teams go crazy. Ends when Cactus hits the Double-Arm DDT and picks up the win. Nasty's try to attack afterward, but Sullivan & Cactus kick their ass out of the ring. This pretty much wraps up the Jack & Sullivan/Nasty's feud. We'll even have Evad come out and celebrate with the boys. One big happy family.
2. Guardian Angel p. Tex Slazenger
Basic squash to get the gimmick over. After the match, quick promo, says it doesn't matter who WCW puts in front of him, he's rising straight to the top. Again.
From there, cut to a backstage promo w/ Flair & Steamboat. Ricky is Ricky and Ric is Ric. Then, Funk enters the area. Flair bigtimes him how he has no partner, that nobody even likes him in the back, how he's still the best thing going today when - KONK!
Enter Arn Anderson knocking Ric Flair in the back of his skull. Steamboat tries to save, but Funk attacks him too. Funk takes the mic, does a 'WOOO' of his own, then he and Arn simply walk off as Steamboat tends to Flair.
TV : 3. Lord Steven Regal p. Larry Zybysko (c)
Regal gets his title back in what should be a solid match. Zybysko goes back to the commentary booth permanently.
After that, Dustin Rhodes comes out and says he has a big surprise. He's calling out the Stud Stable for the Bash at the Beach and he's got a partner...cue Dusty. Big family reunion promo, how Dustin is the future of the business and Dusty is honored just to be asked to be his partner.
US: 4. Steve Austin (c) p. Johnny B Badd
Good match just like it was in RL. However, no screwy finish like in RL. Austin gets the semi-clean pin (w/ tights) and says to the camera he's the most dominant US champion of all-time.
We're back to the locker room where Gene is w/Arn & Funk. Arn explains his turn, how for almost two years, Ric walked out on Arn and 'went up North trying to become a bigger legend' and forgot all about Arn. Then, when he came back, he acted like it was old times again and how he blamed Arn when the Horsemen fell apart. "Well, the Horsemen are dead. Buried in the ground."
5. Funk/Arn (w/ Col. Rob Parker) d. Flair/Steamboat
This one will go long. Around twenty-five minutes. Things will split opposite of what people expect at the beginning with Arn/Steamboat and Flair/Funk being paired together for the most part. In fact, the only contact Arn & Flair have is a few skirmishes breaking up pins, etc. Match ends in a Pier Six, Arn knocks Steamboat to the outside, Meng & Arn destroy Steamboat on the outside, Funk hits the piledriver on Flair and gets the pin. Show ends with the whole Stud Stable in the ring celebrating.
Next Up - We go the Beach. For a Bash.
6/23/94 - Charleston, SC
Heenan & Schiavone are your announce team and they basically go straight to the ring.
Tags: 1. Jack & Sullivan (c) d. Nasty Boy's
Pretty much the same match as RL, both teams go crazy. Ends when Cactus hits the Double-Arm DDT and picks up the win. Nasty's try to attack afterward, but Sullivan & Cactus kick their ass out of the ring. This pretty much wraps up the Jack & Sullivan/Nasty's feud. We'll even have Evad come out and celebrate with the boys. One big happy family.
2. Guardian Angel p. Tex Slazenger
Basic squash to get the gimmick over. After the match, quick promo, says it doesn't matter who WCW puts in front of him, he's rising straight to the top. Again.
From there, cut to a backstage promo w/ Flair & Steamboat. Ricky is Ricky and Ric is Ric. Then, Funk enters the area. Flair bigtimes him how he has no partner, that nobody even likes him in the back, how he's still the best thing going today when - KONK!
Enter Arn Anderson knocking Ric Flair in the back of his skull. Steamboat tries to save, but Funk attacks him too. Funk takes the mic, does a 'WOOO' of his own, then he and Arn simply walk off as Steamboat tends to Flair.
TV : 3. Lord Steven Regal p. Larry Zybysko (c)
Regal gets his title back in what should be a solid match. Zybysko goes back to the commentary booth permanently.
After that, Dustin Rhodes comes out and says he has a big surprise. He's calling out the Stud Stable for the Bash at the Beach and he's got a partner...cue Dusty. Big family reunion promo, how Dustin is the future of the business and Dusty is honored just to be asked to be his partner.
US: 4. Steve Austin (c) p. Johnny B Badd
Good match just like it was in RL. However, no screwy finish like in RL. Austin gets the semi-clean pin (w/ tights) and says to the camera he's the most dominant US champion of all-time.
We're back to the locker room where Gene is w/Arn & Funk. Arn explains his turn, how for almost two years, Ric walked out on Arn and 'went up North trying to become a bigger legend' and forgot all about Arn. Then, when he came back, he acted like it was old times again and how he blamed Arn when the Horsemen fell apart. "Well, the Horsemen are dead. Buried in the ground."
5. Funk/Arn (w/ Col. Rob Parker) d. Flair/Steamboat
This one will go long. Around twenty-five minutes. Things will split opposite of what people expect at the beginning with Arn/Steamboat and Flair/Funk being paired together for the most part. In fact, the only contact Arn & Flair have is a few skirmishes breaking up pins, etc. Match ends in a Pier Six, Arn knocks Steamboat to the outside, Meng & Arn destroy Steamboat on the outside, Funk hits the piledriver on Flair and gets the pin. Show ends with the whole Stud Stable in the ring celebrating.
Next Up - We go the Beach. For a Bash.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Road to Clash of the Champions XXIII
All right, let's start with who we have to work with. Here's the WCW roster according to solie.org in May of 1994.
Bobby Eaton, Sting, Brian Pillman, Arn Anderson, Brad Armstrong, Big Van Vader, Dustin Rhodes, Johnny B. Badd, Steve Austin, Cactus Jack, Ricky Steamboat, Diamond Dallas Page, Marcus Alexander Bagwell, Paul Orndorff, Lord Steven Regal, Maxx Payne, Ric Flair, Paul Roma, Stevie Ray, Booker T, Dave Sullivan, Brian Knobbs, Jerry Saggs, Mark Starr, Terry Taylor, The Guardian Angel, Kevin Sullican, The Patriot, Bunkhouse Buck, Steve Armstrong, Brian Armstrong, Meng, Terra Ryzing, Terry Funk, Alex Wright, Frank Anderson
Now, there's a few people in this list out of action or otherwise unavailable. Pillman's still in ECW for another couple of months, I'm writing Vader out for a couple of months since he didn't appear on TV, Maxx Payne was injured, and Meng isn't wrestling...yet.
But, let's start at the top of the card. In real life, they went with Flair/Sting to unify the titles and setup Hogan/Flair, but we ain't got to do that. So, we'll let it simmer for a while. Ric & Sting are still faces, but we'll play up the tension since they've warred before.
However, like I said, not time for Flair/Sting yet. Because indeed, it's time for Ric Flair's old nemesis to return in the form of Terry Funk. We'll have Funk insult Flair for a couple of weeks, leading to a confrontation. Words will be exchanged, but Flair will deny Funk a World Title match. Instead, he says come to the Clash with a partner. I'll have one. Cue Steamboat.
Main Event : Flair & Steamboat vs. Funk & ???
We'll tease various people for the next couple of weeks including Dory Funk Jr. and a host of others. Also, while all this is going on, we'll air hype videos of Vader 'training' to return to WCW as he feels he's lost his focus, etc., etc. They say he'll be back in September, but the videos will run all summer long.
Now, on to the tag titles. We'll continue the Nasty's/Cactus & Sullivan feud, but we'll write Dave Sullivan out by having the Nasty's jump Evad somewhere and completely destroy them. That'll anger up Kevin and hey...we gotta' reason for a rematch.
Tag Title Match: Cactus Jack & Kevin Sullivan (c) vs. The Nasty Boy's
As far as the US title goes, at Slamboree, Johnny B Badd lost to Steve Austin in a fluke pin, then nailed Austin after the match. As a result, it's rematch time. Over the next month, Austin will slowly seperate from Col. Rob Parker and basically go lone wolf. Both guys will get big wins, we'll even have a tag match with Austin/Regal vs. Dustin/Badd or something like that where Badd gets the big win on Austin.
US Title Match: Steve Austin (c) vs. Johnny B Badd
Next up, we'll go with RL and Zybysko upsetting Regal for the title, leading to an immediate rematch at the Clash. Worked in real life, it'll work in alternate reality too.
TV Title Match: Larry Zybysko (c) vs. Lord Steven Regal
That was pretty much the real-life card aside from the Guardian Angel's (Ray Traylor) re-debut, so I'll throw it in here as well.
As far as the rest of the roster goes, Dustin Rhode will continue his war with the rest of the Stud Stable and say he'll have a big challenge for the Stable at the Clash. Meanwhile, we'll start up a nice fun midcard tag feud between Pretty Wonderful & Stars 'n' Stripes with Harlem Heat running in a secondary role, but still winning matches. Meng will have his real life debut and start off as just Rob Parker's manager, but we'll hype his real life toughness and say he's probably the most dangerous man in WCW, even though he's not a wrestler. Finally, both Terra Ryzing and DDP will continue to drift on the bottom of the card.
That's it for CotC. Flair & Steamboat teaming together to take on Terry Funk & a mystery partner, Austin/Badd again, Zybysko/Regal for the TV Title, and the hardcore duo of Sullivan & Jack getting revenge for Evad against the Nasty Boy's. Plus, the Guardian Angel debuts! All for free. Remember to watch TBS.
Bobby Eaton, Sting, Brian Pillman, Arn Anderson, Brad Armstrong, Big Van Vader, Dustin Rhodes, Johnny B. Badd, Steve Austin, Cactus Jack, Ricky Steamboat, Diamond Dallas Page, Marcus Alexander Bagwell, Paul Orndorff, Lord Steven Regal, Maxx Payne, Ric Flair, Paul Roma, Stevie Ray, Booker T, Dave Sullivan, Brian Knobbs, Jerry Saggs, Mark Starr, Terry Taylor, The Guardian Angel, Kevin Sullican, The Patriot, Bunkhouse Buck, Steve Armstrong, Brian Armstrong, Meng, Terra Ryzing, Terry Funk, Alex Wright, Frank Anderson
Now, there's a few people in this list out of action or otherwise unavailable. Pillman's still in ECW for another couple of months, I'm writing Vader out for a couple of months since he didn't appear on TV, Maxx Payne was injured, and Meng isn't wrestling...yet.
But, let's start at the top of the card. In real life, they went with Flair/Sting to unify the titles and setup Hogan/Flair, but we ain't got to do that. So, we'll let it simmer for a while. Ric & Sting are still faces, but we'll play up the tension since they've warred before.
However, like I said, not time for Flair/Sting yet. Because indeed, it's time for Ric Flair's old nemesis to return in the form of Terry Funk. We'll have Funk insult Flair for a couple of weeks, leading to a confrontation. Words will be exchanged, but Flair will deny Funk a World Title match. Instead, he says come to the Clash with a partner. I'll have one. Cue Steamboat.
Main Event : Flair & Steamboat vs. Funk & ???
We'll tease various people for the next couple of weeks including Dory Funk Jr. and a host of others. Also, while all this is going on, we'll air hype videos of Vader 'training' to return to WCW as he feels he's lost his focus, etc., etc. They say he'll be back in September, but the videos will run all summer long.
Now, on to the tag titles. We'll continue the Nasty's/Cactus & Sullivan feud, but we'll write Dave Sullivan out by having the Nasty's jump Evad somewhere and completely destroy them. That'll anger up Kevin and hey...we gotta' reason for a rematch.
Tag Title Match: Cactus Jack & Kevin Sullivan (c) vs. The Nasty Boy's
As far as the US title goes, at Slamboree, Johnny B Badd lost to Steve Austin in a fluke pin, then nailed Austin after the match. As a result, it's rematch time. Over the next month, Austin will slowly seperate from Col. Rob Parker and basically go lone wolf. Both guys will get big wins, we'll even have a tag match with Austin/Regal vs. Dustin/Badd or something like that where Badd gets the big win on Austin.
US Title Match: Steve Austin (c) vs. Johnny B Badd
Next up, we'll go with RL and Zybysko upsetting Regal for the title, leading to an immediate rematch at the Clash. Worked in real life, it'll work in alternate reality too.
TV Title Match: Larry Zybysko (c) vs. Lord Steven Regal
That was pretty much the real-life card aside from the Guardian Angel's (Ray Traylor) re-debut, so I'll throw it in here as well.
As far as the rest of the roster goes, Dustin Rhode will continue his war with the rest of the Stud Stable and say he'll have a big challenge for the Stable at the Clash. Meanwhile, we'll start up a nice fun midcard tag feud between Pretty Wonderful & Stars 'n' Stripes with Harlem Heat running in a secondary role, but still winning matches. Meng will have his real life debut and start off as just Rob Parker's manager, but we'll hype his real life toughness and say he's probably the most dangerous man in WCW, even though he's not a wrestler. Finally, both Terra Ryzing and DDP will continue to drift on the bottom of the card.
That's it for CotC. Flair & Steamboat teaming together to take on Terry Funk & a mystery partner, Austin/Badd again, Zybysko/Regal for the TV Title, and the hardcore duo of Sullivan & Jack getting revenge for Evad against the Nasty Boy's. Plus, the Guardian Angel debuts! All for free. Remember to watch TBS.
The Ghost of Wrestling Future
It had been a long night for Eric Bischoff. However, it was all for a reason. Tomorrow, the biggest star in the history of pro wrestling would be signing with World Championship Wrestling. Finally, he would have the star to take on Vince McMahon and his WWF, which to most wrestling fans was synomomous with wrestling. Yes, Hulk Hogan would be in a WCW ring.
He finished the last swig of his water as he tried to sober up a bit. That last boilermaker almost did him in, but you did what you had to do when you were thousands of miles away from your wife and family. Sure, the twenty-three year old stripper was fun to play with, but it was time to hit the hay.
The lights go off and Eric falls quickly into slumber. But, he can't actually go to sleep. It seems every few minutes he hears almost random sounds, but it makes no sense. He's on the 45th floor in a $2,500/night suite. There's nobody even close to him. He sits up and reaches over into the mini-bar for another eight dollar bottle of water and goes to take a swig when the world suddenly stops for Eric Bischoff...
...because The Undertaker is standing in front of him. "OK, I'm obviously having a dream. This can't be happening."
A well-placed forearm to the forehead quickly makes Eric believe that this is in fact real. "What the -" Eric starts to say until he's simply grabbed by the neck and thrown to the ground. Then, the large gloved hands go over Eric's face and he starts seeing visions...
...Hulk Hogan in a parade as he enters WCW...
...Holding the WCW Title up high...
...Facing Off Against Randy Savage...
...Hogan Turning Heel...
...Roddy Piper in WCW...
...Crow Sting...
...Hogan/Piper in a Cage...
...Hogan/Sting and the fuck finish...
...nWo Wolfpac & nWo Hollywood...
...Vince Russo coming to WCW...
...The Russo/Bischoff Era...
...Shane McMahon on WCW TV...
...Vince McMahon & Eric Bischoff hugging...
...Bischoff being a smarmy heel character w/ no power...
"What was all that?" Eric asks as he looks up at this spirit/figure/something?"
"The future if you continue on this path," is all the figure says, then he is gone.
[SMASH CUT TO]
Wrestling Observer - May 27th, 1994
In what has to be a bit of a surprise, negotiations between WCW & Hulk Hogan have fallen apart. It was thought to be a done deal between Hogan and WCW....
So, here we go. A world where Hogan never went to WCW.
He finished the last swig of his water as he tried to sober up a bit. That last boilermaker almost did him in, but you did what you had to do when you were thousands of miles away from your wife and family. Sure, the twenty-three year old stripper was fun to play with, but it was time to hit the hay.
The lights go off and Eric falls quickly into slumber. But, he can't actually go to sleep. It seems every few minutes he hears almost random sounds, but it makes no sense. He's on the 45th floor in a $2,500/night suite. There's nobody even close to him. He sits up and reaches over into the mini-bar for another eight dollar bottle of water and goes to take a swig when the world suddenly stops for Eric Bischoff...
...because The Undertaker is standing in front of him. "OK, I'm obviously having a dream. This can't be happening."
A well-placed forearm to the forehead quickly makes Eric believe that this is in fact real. "What the -" Eric starts to say until he's simply grabbed by the neck and thrown to the ground. Then, the large gloved hands go over Eric's face and he starts seeing visions...
...Hulk Hogan in a parade as he enters WCW...
...Holding the WCW Title up high...
...Facing Off Against Randy Savage...
...Hogan Turning Heel...
...Roddy Piper in WCW...
...Crow Sting...
...Hogan/Piper in a Cage...
...Hogan/Sting and the fuck finish...
...nWo Wolfpac & nWo Hollywood...
...Vince Russo coming to WCW...
...The Russo/Bischoff Era...
...Shane McMahon on WCW TV...
...Vince McMahon & Eric Bischoff hugging...
...Bischoff being a smarmy heel character w/ no power...
"What was all that?" Eric asks as he looks up at this spirit/figure/something?"
"The future if you continue on this path," is all the figure says, then he is gone.
[SMASH CUT TO]
Wrestling Observer - May 27th, 1994
In what has to be a bit of a surprise, negotiations between WCW & Hulk Hogan have fallen apart. It was thought to be a done deal between Hogan and WCW....
So, here we go. A world where Hogan never went to WCW.
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