Sage Cortez
WCW with Dusty in charge is likely to be a whole lot of fun, sometimes in a good way and mostly in a very bad way. I’m okay with that as long as it isn’t offensive! The upcoming PPV looks great, but I want to see how they get there. Apparently Teddy Long got suspended for pain killers, which sucks seeing as the Doom thing was wrapping up. There are also a lot of new guys here!
– Taped to air February 2nd, 1991, on Worldwide, from Reaves Arena in Perry, Georgia
The Fabulous Freebirds vs. Brian Pillman & Brad Armstrong
Pre-Match Thoughts: I’m sure there’s a reason I chose to watch this in the first place. Look, there’s Kevin Sullivan on commentary with Tony Schiavone. Maybe that’s why! Very weird seeing Pillman teamed up with Armstrong, doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
Match Review: Armstrong and Hayes start the match, and break cleanly after locking up and going into the corner. The fans say that the Freebirds suck, something they’re definitely used to hearing by now. Hayes throws Armstrong to the outside, but he lands on his feet, comes back in, and backdrops Hayes. Armstrong tags in Pillman, and there’s a double back elbow. Garvin gets in there, and Pillman puts a headlock on him. He prevents Hayes from breaking the headlock, backdrops him, and takes Hayes over with a flying head-scissors while taking Garvin down with a headlock! Very nice. Pillman runs the ropes and Hayes kicks him in the back, and Garvin clotheslines him. There’s some control. Garvin throws Pillman to the outside where Hayes decks him, and when Pillman makes the apron, he takes a guardrail bump after Garvin gives him a running knee. Garvin follows that with a bodyslam, and brings Hayes in for an elbow drop that gets 2. Hayes puts Pillman in a chinlock, and goes for a suplex, but Pillman reverses it into his own. Both guys make tags, and Armstrong comes in with a backdrop and dropkick for Garvin. A dropkick knocks Hayes off the apron, and he makes the Birds run into each other. That’s followed by a noggin-knocker, and Pillman comes off the top with AIR PILLMAN to both of them! Armstrong goes for a pin of Garvin with a cross body off the top, but Hayes runs in and gives Armstrong a DDT for the Garvin pinfall victory at 6:19.
My Thoughts: Pillman was primed for a push here, he looked so good and so polished. The crowd was on fire for everything he did, he had some really great spots to show off. I do remember why I wanted to watch this now. It was Pillman. No other explanation needed. **1/2.
Arn Anderson vs. Tom Zenk for the WCW Television Championship
Pre-Match Thoughts: Well, they didn’t give Arn long before having a rematch. In Dusty’s infinite wisdom, I’m sure he knew what the best thing to do here was. This on the same show as the Freebirds match makes this quite a nice television episode for those days. Zenk is wearing hot pink trunks. I await the pop for the finish of this match.
Match Review: These two lock up, and Arn takes Zenk down with a headlock that Zenk gets out of. Arn does it again, the same thing happens, and Arn complains about Zenk grabbing his hair. There’s not exactly a lot of it. Zenk puts his own headlock on Arn, and takes Arn down with a shoulderblock. Arn ducks to the outside after being taken down once again, and he’s not happy. He gets back in the ring, stalls a little bit, and they lock up again, with Arn throwing Zenk out of the ring. Zenk pulls him down, and rams the right leg of Arn’s into the corner. After a wishbone split into the post, which would hurt your groin quite a bit, Zenk takes Arn down with a headlock. Arn gets up, shoulders Zenk in the gut, and misses a knee drop. Zenk puts a figure-four on him, and they tease the submission right here. However, that is not to be. Arn makes the ropes, but eats a dropkick for a 2 count. Zenk follows with a small package for 2 as well, and tries a cross body. Arn reverses and has his feet on the ropes, and regains his title with the pin at 5:49!
My Thoughts: Nice to see Arn get that belt back, as he never should have lost it. The match was short and to the point, didn’t give the viewer any room to think that Zenk would get this title back. Nor did he deserve to have it. Now that Dusty was back in the company, Arn Anderson was going to be used properly, and it wasn’t time to fuck around anymore. **.
The Master Blasters vs. The Steiner Brothers for the WCW United States Tag Team Championships
Pre-Match Thoughts: That title is far too long for any championship, much less one so insignificant. Haven’t seen the Master Blasters in some time. I hope the Steiners do something funny to Kevin Nash.
Match Review: Instead, they do it to the other guy, with Scott giving him a neckbreaker as Nash and Rick Steiner fight on the floor. Scott gives the other one a belly to belly suplex, signals for the FRANKENSTEINER, and finishes the match off after just 52 seconds.
The Freebirds hit the ring and attack both Steiners, trying to give them each DDT’s. Instead, they get backdropped, hit with STEINERLINES, and sent to the back.
My Thoughts: This was eventful. I probably won’t be seeing Nash much for some time. DUD.
– Taped to air February 2nd, 1991, on World Championship Wrestling, from Center Stage Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia
El Gigante confronts Ric Flair
This should be fun, right? Flair talks about being champion, and says people better get used to it. He’s right, you know. El Gigante walks out there, and says that he wants the belt. Haha. Flair tells him that he better remember his place, which gets Flair over in terms of not backing down from the bigger man. HE WILL STAND TALL.
– Taped to air February 3rd, 1991, on NWA Main Event, from Municipal Auditorium in Columbus, Georgia
Terry Taylor vs. Tom Zenk
Pre-Match Thoughts: This is strange in that Taylor wasn’t in the York Foundation when this was taped. So, what they did to explain this match, was have the commentary say that Taylor was so confident that he felt he didn’t need York at ringside for this. This match did have a 10 minute time limit, and the winner would be given a shot at the TV title. Oh no, Missy Hyatt is on commentary for this.
Match Review: Zenk tries a quick roll-up that gets 2, and a shoulderblock also gets 2. Zenk takes Taylor down with a small package for 2, and Taylor goes to a hammerlock to put a stop to these. They reverse the hammerlocks for a while, and Zenk takes Taylor down with a headlock. Taylor reverses to a wristlock, and Zenk gets out of it with a hip toss. Back to the headlock for Zenk again, but Taylor gives him a bodyslam. He misses an elbow drop, but has all the momentum and drops a knee anyway for a 2 count. Taylor gives Zenk a jawbreaker for 2, so Zenk goes back to the headlock. He takes Taylor to the outside with a shoulderblock, and that makes Taylor a bit angry. He gets back in the ring, and the guys trade forearms for a little bit. Taylor gives Zenk a back suplex, but Zenk cradles him up again for 2. Taylor finally resorts to punching for the first time, and gives Zenk a double stomp. Don’t see that often! Taylor follows with a gut buster, and there’s a suplex for 2. Taylor takes Zenk down for a backslide that gets 2, and Zenk tries a sunset flip that also gets 2. Taylor then slams Zenk and heads up to the second rope, coming down with a double axehandle for 2 again. Only one minute left in the time limit, and Zenk takes Taylor down with a clothesline. He follows that with his own suplex, and gets 2 on the cover. Zenk tries another sunset flip, and it gets 2 once more. Into the countdown, and the 10:00 time limit expires at the same time as Zenk hitting Taylor with a superkick.
After the match, Taylor slaps Zenk, good way to get a heel reaction!
My Thoughts: This was a good match, with nice near falls and an interesting thing happening after it was over. **3/4 for the match, it was a fun watch. On the two episodes of the Main Event that followed this, Zenk faced Taylor again, and they had Zenk beat Taylor by disqualification. The week after that, Taylor beat Zenk by disqualification. What does this all mean? A PPV match with no disqualifications!
– Taped to air February 9th, 1991, on WCW Pro
El Gigante confronts Ric Flair again!
This starts with Lance Russell interviewing David Sierra (you may know him as….Fidel Sierra!), who was the interpreter and friend of El Gigante. Okay. El Gigante then walks out to the ring, and points at Ric Flair! Flair grabs the microphone and says if he wants his belt, he better not let that big mouth overload his ass. Oh boy. He slaps Gigante, and the big man gets in the ring. Oh shit. Flair tries to beat him up, but Gigante doesn’t sell anything. He grabs hold of Flair’s neck, and chokes him until some job boys run out from the back. This is a great example of why Ric Flair is the best. Genuinely one of the funniest segments I’ve ever seen, and if you disagree, I don’t know.
– Taped to air February 9th, 1991, on Worldwide
Barry Windham vs. Ron Simmons (WCW Tag Team Champion, w/Butch Reed & Teddy Long)
Pre-Match Thoughts: Long was suspended, but this was taped before that. Anyway, it’s a nice singles matchup for television, although I’m not really expecting fireworks. Before the match, we got a promo from Doom and Teddy Long!
Match Review: Windham attacks, so the match begins fairly quickly. Simmons gives him a powerslam, but misses a charge to the corner. These two guys are pretty big, you know. Windham plants Simmons with a PILEDRIVER, and follows that with a bodyslam. He heads up top, but Simmons gets up quickly and slams him down. Simmons gives him his own bodyslam and heads up top, and Simmons gets slapped in the face. Windham decides to give him a SUPERPLEX, and it only gets 2. Simmons wrecks Windham with a clothesline, and knocks him around the ring to send him to the outside. Simmons follows, rams Windham into the rail, and back in they go. Simmons gives Windham a spinebuster for a 2 count, and Long gets on the apron for a distraction. Reed accidentally clotheslines Simmons, so Windham covers Simmons for the victory at 3:21.
My Thoughts: Fun sprint, and the Doom breakup was being alluded to as early as this, it seems. That was good booking, I’ve liked the stuff on here quite a bit. **.
– Taped to air February 10th, 1991, on NWA Main Event, from Municipal Auditorium in Columbus, Georgia
DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE’S MYSTERY TEAM vs. Doom (w/Teddy Long) for the WCW Tag Team Championships
Pre-Match Thoughts: Nice to see DDP in WCW, it’s about damn time. His role was that of a manager, and nobody knew who he clients were. Yet. The week before this, DDP proclaimed that he’d find a perfect team to be his clients, and made a deal to have this match. DDP’s team is…
THE FABULOUS FREEBIRDS
Match Review: Teddy Long thought these were going to be jabronis, so he and Doom weren’t too happy. Garvin and Simmons start the match, and of course, Garvin gets shoved around. Missy Hyatt is so bad on commentary for these matches. Garvin takes Simmons down with a cross body, and runs Simmons over a few times, returning the favor from earlier. I guess the Freebirds are babyfaces here. Reed tags in there, and Garvin takes him down with a sunset flip that gets 2. Hayes tags in for the first time, and goes to work on the left arm of Reed. Reed does the exact same to Hayes, but Hayes bodyslams him twice. Reed comes back with a press slam, and Hayes has to make a tag out. Garvin clotheslines Reed and Simmons, this babyface shit with the Birds looks so weird to me. Doom collects themselves for a moment, and Reed works over Garvin when he gets back in there. Simmons tags back in, and blocks Garvin’s charge to the corner. Simmons then slams Garvin, and drops a leg on him for 2. He goes to the chinlock, putting his feet on the ropes to cheat. DDP should walk over and take care of that, you know. Reed tags in, has his backdrop attempt blocked, and Hayes comes in there too. He clotheslines Reed, and follows that with an elbow drop for 2. Hayes tries a front face-lock, but Reed gives him an inverted atomic drop to break it. Then, he follows with an atomic drop, and tags in Simmons once more. Garvin tags in as well, goes into the buckle, and Simmons gives him an inverted atomic drop. Back in comes Reed, as does Hayes, and they trade shots for a little bit. Hayes takes Reed down with a choke, tags back out, and Reed does too. This feels a bit aimless. Simmons gives Hayes a powerslam when he runs in there, and delivers one to Garvin too. Long gets in the ring with his shoe off, and Reed holds Hayes in place, but the referee catches Long in the act. The bell rings for a DQ at 9:43, and the Birds give Reed a DOUBLE DDT while nobody else is paying attention.
My Thoughts: Like I said, an aimless match. I guess the Freebirds are babyfaces for now, it doesn’t make sense to me otherwise. Given how they were, and how DDP was, I don’t see how they could have been babyfaces for very long. We’ll see! *1/2.
– Taped to air February 16th, 1991, on Worldwide, from the Civic Center in Dothan, Alabama
Bobby Eaton vs. Arn Anderson for the WCW Television Championship
Pre-Match Thoughts: It really seems to me like a lot more stuff was happening on the syndicated shows at this point. That’s definitely a Dusty thing. Nice matchup once again, one I won’t pass on watching. This is quite a bit more people than I’m used to seeing at WCW’s TV tapings. They must have been doing something right, maybe the tickets were dirt cheap. I don’t know. Gordon Solie and Tony Schiavone is a good commentary team.
Match Review: These two lock up, and walk around the whole ring while being locked up. Eaton runs Arn over with a shoulder that gets 2, and winds up slapping him. Eaton follows with a bodyslam for 2, and takes Arn down with a running bulldog. Arn tries a sunset flip, but Bobby clocks him with some big rights to block it. He knocks Arn to the outside, and Arn’s not too happy about it. He slowly gets back in the ring, and goes to a hammerlock. Eaton elbows his way out of it, and Arn takes time again. They lock up once more, and Eaton punches his way out, only to be given a GOURDBUSTER. Arn kicks Eaton out of the ring, and grinds his face into the rail, before posting him. Arn waits for Eaton to make the apron, but Eaton drops him throat-first on the top rope. Eaton follows that with a neckbreaker, and covers for 2. Eaton bodyslams Arn and heads up top, and down he comes with A BIG KNEE DROP for 2. Arn then shoots Eaton into the ropes, and when Eaton tries a leap frog, he runs head-first into Eaton’s balls. Arn grabs the tights and covers, and that gets the W for Arn a 6:14.
My Thoughts: That was quite the interesting finish, I haven’t seen that before. Solid TV match once again, very good stuff. I can’t wait until SuperBrawl as I know they have a longer match. Bet they tore it up. **1/2.
– Taped to air February 16th, 1991, on World Championship Wrestling, from Center Stage Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia
Rip Rogers vs. Dustin Rhodes
Pre-Match Thoughts: It’s time to see what happens with THE NATURAL, and I know he gets pushed very strong by his dad. I’ve always been interested in seeing whether or not it was merited. I really don’t know, I haven’t watch any of this stuff. This wasn’t his first match in WCW, but it’s pretty close. Rogers is a very good jobber, let’s see what these two can do.
Match Review: Rhodes tries to get the crowd involved, as he does an insert promo where he basically rips his dad’s voice off completely. Oh dear. He puts a headlock on Rogers, then runs him over with a shoulderblock. Rogers returns the favor, and Dustin gives him a hip toss. Rogers runs to the outside, but Dustin brings him back in and rams him into the buckle. They exchange chops, and Dustin gives Rogers another hip toss, following that with a dropkick and arm drag. Dustin then gives Rogers a flying clothesline, sending him to the outside again. Back in again, and Rogers throws Dustin into the corner. He tries again, but Dustin reverses and gives him a backdrop for 2. Rogers throws Dustin to the outside and heads up top, but Dustin hits him on the way down. Big jump to land on your feet on. Dustin hip tosses Rogers on the floor, hits him with another clothesline, and sends him back inside. Dustin then hits Rogers with a bulldog, and that’s it after about 4 minutes.
My Thoughts: I don’t really know what to make of Dustin yet, but this was a standard squash match that wasn’t entirely impressive. Won’t make any judgments yet. *1/4.
That’s going to be it for this, but I do have some things to explain. One is that there was a great Lightning Express vs. Barry Windham & Arn Anderson match that I couldn’t find in full. That sucked. There was also a supposedly great Horsemen beatdown of Brian Pillman right before the PPV that I could not find. Little bummed about that, but I didn’t have the same problems finding other stuff for this promotion in the future. Next up for me is WrestleWar ’91 and I can’t wait to see it. I never have before!
Best: Terry Taylor vs. Tom Zenk. Definitely.
Worst: The Freebirds continuing to be pushed so strong. I’ve really had enough of it.
