Post by mal on Nov 27, 2010 14:29:20 GMT -5
So I gave some of you false spoilers to swerve you all while I was working on what is turning into my favorite idea for a series yet....
Here's a back story on WCW. WCW in the 80's was of course, the NWA as we all know. I don't need to get into their history for you. But the point I want to emphasize is Ted Turner's involvement. Ted Turner purchased the NWA, renamed it WCW, and took the company global in an attempt to compete with the WWF and Vince McMahon.
In 1993, a big feat when WCW is finally able to lure Ric Flair back from the WWF. WCW gets their icon back, but still has a long way to go.
1994 was indeed a hot year. It started out with a solid CLASH of the CHAMPIONS which set the stage for SUPERBRAWL IV. From there, two of the most popular and sought after pay per view events among tape traders, SPRING STAMPEDE 1994 and SLAMBOREE 1994. Both featured wild matches involving Dustin Rhodes vs Bunkhouse Buck, as well as wild tag team matches from the Cactus Jack/Kevin Sullivan/Maxx Payne vs Nasty Boys feud. Slamboree also saw Terry Funk return to WCW to the delight of the Philly crowd.
HERE are the results for those cards...
Clash of the Champions XXVI - Baton Rouge, LA - Riverside Centroplex - January 27, 1994 (3,200)
Shown live on TBS - featured an opening segment in which Gene Okerlund introduced Bobby Heenan on the entrance stage, with Heenan then calling the show alongside Tony Schiavone (Heenan's surprise debut); Gordon Solie subbed for Schiavone alongside Heenan for the Dustin Rhodes vs. Lord Steven Regal and Nasty Boys vs. Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne matches; included Okerlund conducting an interview with WCW US Champion Steve Austin & Col. Rob Parker on the platform, with Austin dressed and talking like Parker and announcing he obtained a manager's license to be in Parker's corner later in the show during his match against Brian Pillman; Parker wore a "Hollywood Blonde" t-shirt during the segment; moments later, Okerlund introduced Nick Bockwinkel as the new commissioner of WCW; other names Okerlund mentioned as those in the running for the role were Lou Thesz, Verne Gagne, and Bruno Sammartino; Bockwinkel's matches against Gagne, Hulk Hogan, and Dory Funk Jr. were mentioned before he was introduced; featured Okerlund conducting an interview on the platform with Aaron Neville who was in attendance for the show; included the announcement that SuperBrawl IV would include WCW World Champion Ric Flair vs. Vader in a Thundercage match and a 6-man Thundercage tag team match with Sting and WCW International World Champion Rick Rude as the respective team leaders; featured the announcement Johnny B. Badd would face Shanghai Pierce on WCW Saturday Night with the stipulation Pierce would have to unmask if he lost:
2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell (w/ Teddy Long) defeated Paul Orndorff & Paul Roma (w/ the Assassin) at around the 12:30 mark when Bagwell pinned Roma after Roma accidentally sustained a knee to the head from Orndorff after Orndorff loaded his kneepad with a foreign object; due to pre-match stipulations, Scorpio & Bagwell earned a title match against WCW Tag Team Champions the Nasty Boys that weekend on WCW Saturday Night
Ron Simmons pinned Ice Train with a roll up and grabbing the tights for leverage after Simmons avoided a charge in the corner
Dustin Rhodes fought WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal (w/ Sir William) to a 15-minute time-limit draw at 14:55; the match ended just as Rhodes had Regal covered following the bulldog
Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne defeated WCW Tag Team Champions the Nasty Boys (w/ Missy Hyatt) in a non-title match at 6:49 when Cacuts pinned Brian Knobbs after hitting the double arm DDT and Jerry Saggs and Maxx Payne then hitting elbow drops behind the referee's back on Cactus and Knobbs respectively; prior to the bout, Jack & Payne's music played for several minutes - through a commercial break - before they finally appeared by coming through the crowd and attacking the champions from behind; after the match, Payne and Cactus took turns kissing Missy on the lips; after the commercial break, Gene Okerlund said there was a backstage commotion between Missy and the Nasty Boys and hyped the WCW Hotline for more information
Brian Pillman pinned Col. Rob Parker (w/ WCW US Champion Steve Austin) with a roll up at 5:43 after Parker became distracted by the Boss chasing Austin backstage after he attempted to interfere; prior to the bout, footage of Pillman and Austin's match on WCW Saturday Night two weeks earlier was shown; Parker attempted to leave ringside at the 3-minute mark until the Boss appeared on the ramp to block his exit, with the Boss then remaining ringside for the rest of the match; pre-match stipulations stated the loser would have to wear a chicken suit the coming weekend on WCW Saturday Night
WCW World Champion Ric Flair & Sting defeated Vader (w/ Harley Race) & WCW International World Champion Rick Rude in an elimination match at around the 21-minute mark; Vader & Rude came out to generic music while Flair & Sting came out to Flair's theme; WCW Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel provided guest commentary for the match; Flair and Vader were counted-out at around the 15:30 mark as Bockwinkel prevented Vader from assaulting Flair at ringside with a chair; moments later, an injured Flair was helped backstage by officials; Sting pinned Rude with a tombstone and splash off the top
SuperBrawl IV - Albany, GA - Civic Center - February 20, 1994 (7,600)
2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker & Lt. James Earl Wright
Pay-per-view bouts - featured Tony Schiavone & Bobby Heenan on commentary; it was announced at the beginning of the broadcast that Johnny B. Badd would face Michael Hayes in an unscheduled match following Hayes turning on Badd the previous day on WCW Worldwide during a tag match against Harlem Heat; moments later, Badd came out for the match, with an "injured" Hayes being brought out in a wheelchair by Jimmy Garvin; Gene Okerlund and WCW Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel then came out on the ramp, with Hayes telling them he was unable to wrestle; Bockwinkel then said there was still a WCW contract for the Freebirds and Garvin, even though retired, would have to take Hayes' spot in the match later in the show or they would both be fined and suspended indefinately; included Okerlund backstage showing the heavy security backstage between the lockerrooms of WCW World Champion Ric Flair and Vader; featured Okerlund speaking with Ricky Steamboat and Bockwinkel in which it was announced Steamboat would get a title match against the winner of the Flair / Vader match; included Okerlund speaking with WCW's German commentator Olivier Muffler; featured the announcement the next pay-per-view, Spring Stampede, would take place in Chicago on April 17; included Okerlund trying to speak with Vader & Harley Race in their lockerroom but Vader scared him off; featured Okerlund speaking backstage with Flair, Steamboat, and Arn Anderson, with Okerlund saying Hulk Hogan was watching the show with great interest; Flair said if he and Hogan ever met it would be the biggest match of all time but he would first have to go through Vader and then the challenge of Steamboat:
Harlem Heat defeated Thunder & Lightning at 9:46 when Kole pinned Lightning after Kane kicked Lightning in the ear behind the referee's back as he had Kane rolled up; during the match, WCW World Champion Ric Flair was shown meeting with Arn Anderson and Ricky Steamboat in his lockerroom
Jim Steele pinned the Equalizer with the Thesz Press at 6:30; during the match, Heenan said even Hulk Hogan had been asked about the Flair / Vader match, to show how important it was
Terry Taylor pinned Diamond Dallas Page at 11:46 after avoiding a charge into the corner
Johnny B. Badd pinned Jimmy Garvin (sub. for Michael Hayes) (w/ Michael Hayes in a wheelchair) at 10:47 with the sunset flip off the top; after the bout, Garvin hit Badd with Hayes' boot and dropped him with the "911" jawbreaker (Stunner)
WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal (w/ Sir William) pinned Arn Anderson at 27:32 by blocking a sunset flip into the ring and grabbing Sir William's umbrella from the outside for leverage; the match was given a 30-minute time limit rather than the usual 15-minute but the match ended as Gary Michael Cappetta said there was 6 seconds remaining in the contest
Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne defeated WCW Tag Team Champions the Nasty Boys via disqualification at 12:26 when Saggs twice smashed a guitar over Payne's head as Payne had the Pain Killer applied on Knobbs; the champions brought the guitar to the ring before the match (the Nastys' first appearance without Missy Hyatt)
Sting, Dustin Rhodes, & Brian Pillman defeated WCW International World Champion Rick Rude, WCW US Champion Steve Austin (w/ Col. Rob Parker), & Paul Orndorff in a Thundercage match at 14:37 when Pillman pinned Austin after being press slammed onto Austin by Sting; after the bout, Rude slammed the cage door into Sting's face and dropped him with the Rude Awakening on the floor (Brian Pillman: Loose Cannon)
WCW World Champion Ric Flair defeated Vader (w/ Harley Race) in a Thundercage match at 11:30 when guest referee the Boss stopped the match as Flair had Vader in the figure-4, but he never asked Vader if he wanted to submit; the Boss was attacked from behind and handcuffed to the cage by Vader at the 7:30 mark, who then used the Boss' nightstick on the champion; several minutes later, Arn Anderson and later Ricky Steamboat attempted to break into the cage to help Flair but couldn't; the Boss then broke free of the handcuffs and assaulted both Vader and an interfering Race before awarding the match to Flair; after the contest, a furious Vader confronted Heenan at the commentary table, saying he never gave up and wanted Nick Bockwinkel to do something about it
Spring Stampede 94 - Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - April 17, 1994 (12,200)
The card was originally scheduled to include Tom Zenk vs. Terra Ryzing but the bout was never announced on TV and was eventually replaced by Badd vs. DDP
Danny Bonaduce pinned Christopher Knight
Kevin & Dave Sullivan defeated Pat Tanaka & Paul Diamond; during the bout, Dave tore his knee ligaments
Pay-per-view bouts - featured Tony Schiavone & Bobby Heenan on commentary; included Aaron Neville performing the National Anthem to begin the show; featured Jesse Ventura interviewing Rick Rude backstage in the heel lockerroom about his loss of the world title with Rude blaming Vader before he and Vader had to be pulled apart by Steve Austin, Lord Steven Regal, and the Nasty Boys:
Johnny B. Badd pinned Diamond Dallas Page (w/ the Diamond Doll) at 5:52 with a sunset flip off the top; prior to the bout, the Doll gave Heenan a present from Page
Brian Pillman fought WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal (w/ Sir William) to a 15-minute time-limit draw just as Pillman suplexed the champion back inside the ring
WCW Tag Team Champions the Nasty Boys defeated Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne in a non-title streetfight at 8:59 when Jerry Sags pinned Cactus with a shovel blow to the side of the head after Cactus was tossed from the walkway to the floor; after the bout, Payne was knocked out after being hit in the head with part of a broken table (Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses)
WCW US Champion Steve Austin (w/ Col. Rob Parker) defeated the Great Muta via disqualification at 16:27 when Muta backdropped Austin to the floor after kicking Parker off the ring apron; Aaron Neville was seen sitting next to the commentary table watching the match, where he remained for the rest of the show; after the bout, Muta hit a plancha to the floor onto both Austin and Parker
Sting pinned WCW International World Champion Rick Rude to win the title at 13:07 after an interfering Harley Race accidentally hit Rude in the back with a steel chair as Rude attempted the Rude Awakening on the challenger; prior to the bout, Race interrupted Rude's pre-match promo and issued a challenge to both men that Vader wanted a shot at the winner; Race then attempted to attack Sting from behind but Sting threw Race to the floor, with Rude jumping Sting to start the match; both Race and Vader interfered late in the bout (The Rise and Fall of WCW)
Bunkhouse Buck (w/ Col. Rob Parker) pinned Dustin Rhodes in a bunkhouse match at 14:14 after hitting him with a foreign object handed to him by Parker
Vader (w/ Harley Race) pinned the Boss at 9:17 with the moonsault, moments after the Boss kicked out of a Vader Bomb; after the bout, the Boss fought off an interfering Race before beating down both Vader and Race with the nightstick; moments later, Bockwinkel intervened and escorted the Boss backstage; Ventura then interviewed the Boss and Bockwinkel backstage in which Bockwinkel took away the nightstick and handcuffs and said, in his opinion, he was no longer "the Boss" because of the way he handled himself after the match
WCW World Champion Ric Flair defeated Ricky Steamboat at 32:19 when all four men's shoulders were down as Steamboat had Flair covered with an elevated double chicken wing into a bridge; during the match, Flair's wife Beth was shown in the crowd; after the bout, referee Nick Patrick told Bockwinkel he had to count them both down and Bockwinkel gave the decision to Flair since it was a draw (Nature Boy Ric Flair: The Definitive Collection)
Slamboree 94 - Philadelphia, PA - Civic Center - May 22, 1994 (4,800; 3,600 paid)
Paul Orndorff & Paul Roma defeated Brad & Brian Armstrong
Pay-per-view bouts - featured an opening segment in which Gene Okerlund introduced many of the legends in attendance - Ole Anderson, the Masked Assassin, Penny Banner, Red Bastien, Tully Blanchard, the Crusher, Don Curtis, Terry Funk (who did not appear), Verne Gagne, Hard Boiled Haggerty, Larry Hennig, Killer Kowalski, Ernie Ladd, Wahoo McDaniel, Angelo Mosca, Harley Race, Ray Stevens, Lou Thesz, Johnny Weaver, Mr. Wrestling II, and Tommy Young; included Tony Schiavone & Bobby Heenan on commentary; featured Schiavone & Heenan speaking with WCW Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel before the opening bout in which Bockwinkel had Sting come out, announced Rick Rude was no longer the WCW International World Champion due to the way he won the title in Fukuoka, Japan, and that the title would be returned to Sting; as Bockwinkel made his announcement, footage from the Japan match was shown; Sting said he didn't want the title to be won or lost in the board room but said he would compete against Vader later in the show to determine the new champion, with Bockwinkel agreeing; included Okerlund speaking with McDaniel and Ladd; Okerlund then introduced a promo of Dusty Rhodes, who was unable to make the show because he was in Hollywood, with Rhodes wishing Dustin Rhodes good luck since he wouldn't be able to be there with him; featured Jesse Ventura interviewing WCW World Champion Ric Flair backstage regarding Col. Rob Parker and his mystery man; included Okerlund interviewing Funk backstage in which Funk said he didn't appear at the beginning of the show because he's not "a" legend, he's "the" legend, alluded to wanting to beat up Dustin Rhodes, and said he would be seen later in the show; featured Gordon Solie, with Lou Thesz, hosting the WCW Hall of Fame segment in which Harley Race, the Crusher, Ernie Ladd, the Assassin, Ole Anderson, and the late Bruiser were inducted; included Ventura interviewing Col. Parker about the upcoming bullrope match and his mystery man; featured Okerlund interviewing Bastien and Stevens; included Okerlund interviewing Curtis and the Crusher; featured Okerlund interviewing Gagne and Thesz:
WCW US Champion Steve Austin (w/ Col. Rob Parker) pinned Johnny B. Badd at 16:14 when Austin kicked off the ropes as he had Badd in a headlock and landed on Badd for the win; during the bout, Sherri Martel was shown sitting ringside; the heavily-ECW crowd chanted "We're not hostile" during the contest; the bell inadvertantly rang at 15:30 following a near fall from Badd
Legends Match: Terry Funk fought Tully Blanchard to a double disqualification at 7:22 after Blanchard kicked referee Nick Patrick and Funk attacked Blanchard with his branding iron; Gordon Solie subbed for Tony Schiavone on commentary during the match; during the contest, the crowd chanted "ECW" and "We want blood;" after the match, Funk took "Hat Guy's" straw hat, put it on, and then dropped an elbow on it (Legends of Wrestling: Roddy Piper and Terry Funk)
Larry Zbyzsko pinned WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal (w/ Sir William) in a non-title match at 11:36 by reversing Regal's butterfly suplex attempt into a backdrop and bridge; during the bout, Sherri Martel was again shown taking notes
Dustin Rhodes pinned Bunkhouse Buck (w/ Col. Rob Parker) in a bullrope match at 12:46 after fighting off an interfering Parker and hitting Buck in the face with the cowbell; during the bout, the crowd chanted "We want blood;" after the match, Terry Funk appeared, bloodied Rhodes, and double teamed him with Buck until officials swarmed the ring
WCW World Champion Ric Flair pinned Barry Windham (mystery opponent) (w/ Col. Rob Parker) at 13:22 with a crossbody off the top; Jesse Ventura subbed for Heenan on commentary for the match; Sherri Martel was shown taking notes during the bout (Windham's surprise return after a 10-month absence; Windham's last appearance for 4 years)
Cactus Jack & Kevin Sullivan defeated WCW Tag Team Champions the Nasty Boys to win the titles in a streetfight at 9:34 when Cactus pinned Jerry Saggs after guest referee Dave Schultz beat up on Saggs, pulled his shirt up over his head, and Cactus hit Saggs with Shultz' hockey stick; prior to the bout, Dave "The Hammer" Schultz of the Philadelphia Flyers cut a pre-taped promo about his participation; after the match, Saggs repeatedly hit Cactus with the stick until Maxx Payne walked out, came up behind Saggs, and smashed his guitar over Saggs' head; moments later, Cactus, Sullivan, and Payne scared Brian Knobbs up the ramp, where Dave Sullivan appeared and smashed one of his crutches over Knobbs; Ventura again subbed for Heenan on commentary
Sting (sub. for Rick Rude) pinned Vader (w/ Harley Race) at 13:54 with a splash off the top after Race accidentally hit a diving headbutt on Vader; during the match, some in the crowd chanted "Sting must die;" stipulations stated the winner would win the vacant WCW International World Title (Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 90s)
However, after Slamboree, Hulk Hogan came to WCW, and brought with him the WWF 80's circus act with names like Brutis Beefcake, The Honky Tonk Man, Earthquake, and Hacksaw Jim Duggan. You only have to look at Starrcade 94 (With a main of Hogan vs Beefcake) to see how much WCW had changed.
Well, here's where we enter my fantasy WCW!
Because it's 1994...
Negotiations with Hulk Hogan have fallen through...
WCW is on the verge of going bankrupt...
It's a case of make a MAJOR move or admit defeat...
and desperate times... call for desperate measures!
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...
I GIVE YOU...
1994
WCW - THE ATTITUDE ERA
*Thank you to www.thehistoryofwwe.com for the results
Here's a back story on WCW. WCW in the 80's was of course, the NWA as we all know. I don't need to get into their history for you. But the point I want to emphasize is Ted Turner's involvement. Ted Turner purchased the NWA, renamed it WCW, and took the company global in an attempt to compete with the WWF and Vince McMahon.
In 1993, a big feat when WCW is finally able to lure Ric Flair back from the WWF. WCW gets their icon back, but still has a long way to go.
1994 was indeed a hot year. It started out with a solid CLASH of the CHAMPIONS which set the stage for SUPERBRAWL IV. From there, two of the most popular and sought after pay per view events among tape traders, SPRING STAMPEDE 1994 and SLAMBOREE 1994. Both featured wild matches involving Dustin Rhodes vs Bunkhouse Buck, as well as wild tag team matches from the Cactus Jack/Kevin Sullivan/Maxx Payne vs Nasty Boys feud. Slamboree also saw Terry Funk return to WCW to the delight of the Philly crowd.
HERE are the results for those cards...
Clash of the Champions XXVI - Baton Rouge, LA - Riverside Centroplex - January 27, 1994 (3,200)
Shown live on TBS - featured an opening segment in which Gene Okerlund introduced Bobby Heenan on the entrance stage, with Heenan then calling the show alongside Tony Schiavone (Heenan's surprise debut); Gordon Solie subbed for Schiavone alongside Heenan for the Dustin Rhodes vs. Lord Steven Regal and Nasty Boys vs. Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne matches; included Okerlund conducting an interview with WCW US Champion Steve Austin & Col. Rob Parker on the platform, with Austin dressed and talking like Parker and announcing he obtained a manager's license to be in Parker's corner later in the show during his match against Brian Pillman; Parker wore a "Hollywood Blonde" t-shirt during the segment; moments later, Okerlund introduced Nick Bockwinkel as the new commissioner of WCW; other names Okerlund mentioned as those in the running for the role were Lou Thesz, Verne Gagne, and Bruno Sammartino; Bockwinkel's matches against Gagne, Hulk Hogan, and Dory Funk Jr. were mentioned before he was introduced; featured Okerlund conducting an interview on the platform with Aaron Neville who was in attendance for the show; included the announcement that SuperBrawl IV would include WCW World Champion Ric Flair vs. Vader in a Thundercage match and a 6-man Thundercage tag team match with Sting and WCW International World Champion Rick Rude as the respective team leaders; featured the announcement Johnny B. Badd would face Shanghai Pierce on WCW Saturday Night with the stipulation Pierce would have to unmask if he lost:
2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell (w/ Teddy Long) defeated Paul Orndorff & Paul Roma (w/ the Assassin) at around the 12:30 mark when Bagwell pinned Roma after Roma accidentally sustained a knee to the head from Orndorff after Orndorff loaded his kneepad with a foreign object; due to pre-match stipulations, Scorpio & Bagwell earned a title match against WCW Tag Team Champions the Nasty Boys that weekend on WCW Saturday Night
Ron Simmons pinned Ice Train with a roll up and grabbing the tights for leverage after Simmons avoided a charge in the corner
Dustin Rhodes fought WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal (w/ Sir William) to a 15-minute time-limit draw at 14:55; the match ended just as Rhodes had Regal covered following the bulldog
Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne defeated WCW Tag Team Champions the Nasty Boys (w/ Missy Hyatt) in a non-title match at 6:49 when Cacuts pinned Brian Knobbs after hitting the double arm DDT and Jerry Saggs and Maxx Payne then hitting elbow drops behind the referee's back on Cactus and Knobbs respectively; prior to the bout, Jack & Payne's music played for several minutes - through a commercial break - before they finally appeared by coming through the crowd and attacking the champions from behind; after the match, Payne and Cactus took turns kissing Missy on the lips; after the commercial break, Gene Okerlund said there was a backstage commotion between Missy and the Nasty Boys and hyped the WCW Hotline for more information
Brian Pillman pinned Col. Rob Parker (w/ WCW US Champion Steve Austin) with a roll up at 5:43 after Parker became distracted by the Boss chasing Austin backstage after he attempted to interfere; prior to the bout, footage of Pillman and Austin's match on WCW Saturday Night two weeks earlier was shown; Parker attempted to leave ringside at the 3-minute mark until the Boss appeared on the ramp to block his exit, with the Boss then remaining ringside for the rest of the match; pre-match stipulations stated the loser would have to wear a chicken suit the coming weekend on WCW Saturday Night
WCW World Champion Ric Flair & Sting defeated Vader (w/ Harley Race) & WCW International World Champion Rick Rude in an elimination match at around the 21-minute mark; Vader & Rude came out to generic music while Flair & Sting came out to Flair's theme; WCW Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel provided guest commentary for the match; Flair and Vader were counted-out at around the 15:30 mark as Bockwinkel prevented Vader from assaulting Flair at ringside with a chair; moments later, an injured Flair was helped backstage by officials; Sting pinned Rude with a tombstone and splash off the top
SuperBrawl IV - Albany, GA - Civic Center - February 20, 1994 (7,600)
2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker & Lt. James Earl Wright
Pay-per-view bouts - featured Tony Schiavone & Bobby Heenan on commentary; it was announced at the beginning of the broadcast that Johnny B. Badd would face Michael Hayes in an unscheduled match following Hayes turning on Badd the previous day on WCW Worldwide during a tag match against Harlem Heat; moments later, Badd came out for the match, with an "injured" Hayes being brought out in a wheelchair by Jimmy Garvin; Gene Okerlund and WCW Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel then came out on the ramp, with Hayes telling them he was unable to wrestle; Bockwinkel then said there was still a WCW contract for the Freebirds and Garvin, even though retired, would have to take Hayes' spot in the match later in the show or they would both be fined and suspended indefinately; included Okerlund backstage showing the heavy security backstage between the lockerrooms of WCW World Champion Ric Flair and Vader; featured Okerlund speaking with Ricky Steamboat and Bockwinkel in which it was announced Steamboat would get a title match against the winner of the Flair / Vader match; included Okerlund speaking with WCW's German commentator Olivier Muffler; featured the announcement the next pay-per-view, Spring Stampede, would take place in Chicago on April 17; included Okerlund trying to speak with Vader & Harley Race in their lockerroom but Vader scared him off; featured Okerlund speaking backstage with Flair, Steamboat, and Arn Anderson, with Okerlund saying Hulk Hogan was watching the show with great interest; Flair said if he and Hogan ever met it would be the biggest match of all time but he would first have to go through Vader and then the challenge of Steamboat:
Harlem Heat defeated Thunder & Lightning at 9:46 when Kole pinned Lightning after Kane kicked Lightning in the ear behind the referee's back as he had Kane rolled up; during the match, WCW World Champion Ric Flair was shown meeting with Arn Anderson and Ricky Steamboat in his lockerroom
Jim Steele pinned the Equalizer with the Thesz Press at 6:30; during the match, Heenan said even Hulk Hogan had been asked about the Flair / Vader match, to show how important it was
Terry Taylor pinned Diamond Dallas Page at 11:46 after avoiding a charge into the corner
Johnny B. Badd pinned Jimmy Garvin (sub. for Michael Hayes) (w/ Michael Hayes in a wheelchair) at 10:47 with the sunset flip off the top; after the bout, Garvin hit Badd with Hayes' boot and dropped him with the "911" jawbreaker (Stunner)
WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal (w/ Sir William) pinned Arn Anderson at 27:32 by blocking a sunset flip into the ring and grabbing Sir William's umbrella from the outside for leverage; the match was given a 30-minute time limit rather than the usual 15-minute but the match ended as Gary Michael Cappetta said there was 6 seconds remaining in the contest
Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne defeated WCW Tag Team Champions the Nasty Boys via disqualification at 12:26 when Saggs twice smashed a guitar over Payne's head as Payne had the Pain Killer applied on Knobbs; the champions brought the guitar to the ring before the match (the Nastys' first appearance without Missy Hyatt)
Sting, Dustin Rhodes, & Brian Pillman defeated WCW International World Champion Rick Rude, WCW US Champion Steve Austin (w/ Col. Rob Parker), & Paul Orndorff in a Thundercage match at 14:37 when Pillman pinned Austin after being press slammed onto Austin by Sting; after the bout, Rude slammed the cage door into Sting's face and dropped him with the Rude Awakening on the floor (Brian Pillman: Loose Cannon)
WCW World Champion Ric Flair defeated Vader (w/ Harley Race) in a Thundercage match at 11:30 when guest referee the Boss stopped the match as Flair had Vader in the figure-4, but he never asked Vader if he wanted to submit; the Boss was attacked from behind and handcuffed to the cage by Vader at the 7:30 mark, who then used the Boss' nightstick on the champion; several minutes later, Arn Anderson and later Ricky Steamboat attempted to break into the cage to help Flair but couldn't; the Boss then broke free of the handcuffs and assaulted both Vader and an interfering Race before awarding the match to Flair; after the contest, a furious Vader confronted Heenan at the commentary table, saying he never gave up and wanted Nick Bockwinkel to do something about it
Spring Stampede 94 - Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - April 17, 1994 (12,200)
The card was originally scheduled to include Tom Zenk vs. Terra Ryzing but the bout was never announced on TV and was eventually replaced by Badd vs. DDP
Danny Bonaduce pinned Christopher Knight
Kevin & Dave Sullivan defeated Pat Tanaka & Paul Diamond; during the bout, Dave tore his knee ligaments
Pay-per-view bouts - featured Tony Schiavone & Bobby Heenan on commentary; included Aaron Neville performing the National Anthem to begin the show; featured Jesse Ventura interviewing Rick Rude backstage in the heel lockerroom about his loss of the world title with Rude blaming Vader before he and Vader had to be pulled apart by Steve Austin, Lord Steven Regal, and the Nasty Boys:
Johnny B. Badd pinned Diamond Dallas Page (w/ the Diamond Doll) at 5:52 with a sunset flip off the top; prior to the bout, the Doll gave Heenan a present from Page
Brian Pillman fought WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal (w/ Sir William) to a 15-minute time-limit draw just as Pillman suplexed the champion back inside the ring
WCW Tag Team Champions the Nasty Boys defeated Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne in a non-title streetfight at 8:59 when Jerry Sags pinned Cactus with a shovel blow to the side of the head after Cactus was tossed from the walkway to the floor; after the bout, Payne was knocked out after being hit in the head with part of a broken table (Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses)
WCW US Champion Steve Austin (w/ Col. Rob Parker) defeated the Great Muta via disqualification at 16:27 when Muta backdropped Austin to the floor after kicking Parker off the ring apron; Aaron Neville was seen sitting next to the commentary table watching the match, where he remained for the rest of the show; after the bout, Muta hit a plancha to the floor onto both Austin and Parker
Sting pinned WCW International World Champion Rick Rude to win the title at 13:07 after an interfering Harley Race accidentally hit Rude in the back with a steel chair as Rude attempted the Rude Awakening on the challenger; prior to the bout, Race interrupted Rude's pre-match promo and issued a challenge to both men that Vader wanted a shot at the winner; Race then attempted to attack Sting from behind but Sting threw Race to the floor, with Rude jumping Sting to start the match; both Race and Vader interfered late in the bout (The Rise and Fall of WCW)
Bunkhouse Buck (w/ Col. Rob Parker) pinned Dustin Rhodes in a bunkhouse match at 14:14 after hitting him with a foreign object handed to him by Parker
Vader (w/ Harley Race) pinned the Boss at 9:17 with the moonsault, moments after the Boss kicked out of a Vader Bomb; after the bout, the Boss fought off an interfering Race before beating down both Vader and Race with the nightstick; moments later, Bockwinkel intervened and escorted the Boss backstage; Ventura then interviewed the Boss and Bockwinkel backstage in which Bockwinkel took away the nightstick and handcuffs and said, in his opinion, he was no longer "the Boss" because of the way he handled himself after the match
WCW World Champion Ric Flair defeated Ricky Steamboat at 32:19 when all four men's shoulders were down as Steamboat had Flair covered with an elevated double chicken wing into a bridge; during the match, Flair's wife Beth was shown in the crowd; after the bout, referee Nick Patrick told Bockwinkel he had to count them both down and Bockwinkel gave the decision to Flair since it was a draw (Nature Boy Ric Flair: The Definitive Collection)
Slamboree 94 - Philadelphia, PA - Civic Center - May 22, 1994 (4,800; 3,600 paid)
Paul Orndorff & Paul Roma defeated Brad & Brian Armstrong
Pay-per-view bouts - featured an opening segment in which Gene Okerlund introduced many of the legends in attendance - Ole Anderson, the Masked Assassin, Penny Banner, Red Bastien, Tully Blanchard, the Crusher, Don Curtis, Terry Funk (who did not appear), Verne Gagne, Hard Boiled Haggerty, Larry Hennig, Killer Kowalski, Ernie Ladd, Wahoo McDaniel, Angelo Mosca, Harley Race, Ray Stevens, Lou Thesz, Johnny Weaver, Mr. Wrestling II, and Tommy Young; included Tony Schiavone & Bobby Heenan on commentary; featured Schiavone & Heenan speaking with WCW Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel before the opening bout in which Bockwinkel had Sting come out, announced Rick Rude was no longer the WCW International World Champion due to the way he won the title in Fukuoka, Japan, and that the title would be returned to Sting; as Bockwinkel made his announcement, footage from the Japan match was shown; Sting said he didn't want the title to be won or lost in the board room but said he would compete against Vader later in the show to determine the new champion, with Bockwinkel agreeing; included Okerlund speaking with McDaniel and Ladd; Okerlund then introduced a promo of Dusty Rhodes, who was unable to make the show because he was in Hollywood, with Rhodes wishing Dustin Rhodes good luck since he wouldn't be able to be there with him; featured Jesse Ventura interviewing WCW World Champion Ric Flair backstage regarding Col. Rob Parker and his mystery man; included Okerlund interviewing Funk backstage in which Funk said he didn't appear at the beginning of the show because he's not "a" legend, he's "the" legend, alluded to wanting to beat up Dustin Rhodes, and said he would be seen later in the show; featured Gordon Solie, with Lou Thesz, hosting the WCW Hall of Fame segment in which Harley Race, the Crusher, Ernie Ladd, the Assassin, Ole Anderson, and the late Bruiser were inducted; included Ventura interviewing Col. Parker about the upcoming bullrope match and his mystery man; featured Okerlund interviewing Bastien and Stevens; included Okerlund interviewing Curtis and the Crusher; featured Okerlund interviewing Gagne and Thesz:
WCW US Champion Steve Austin (w/ Col. Rob Parker) pinned Johnny B. Badd at 16:14 when Austin kicked off the ropes as he had Badd in a headlock and landed on Badd for the win; during the bout, Sherri Martel was shown sitting ringside; the heavily-ECW crowd chanted "We're not hostile" during the contest; the bell inadvertantly rang at 15:30 following a near fall from Badd
Legends Match: Terry Funk fought Tully Blanchard to a double disqualification at 7:22 after Blanchard kicked referee Nick Patrick and Funk attacked Blanchard with his branding iron; Gordon Solie subbed for Tony Schiavone on commentary during the match; during the contest, the crowd chanted "ECW" and "We want blood;" after the match, Funk took "Hat Guy's" straw hat, put it on, and then dropped an elbow on it (Legends of Wrestling: Roddy Piper and Terry Funk)
Larry Zbyzsko pinned WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal (w/ Sir William) in a non-title match at 11:36 by reversing Regal's butterfly suplex attempt into a backdrop and bridge; during the bout, Sherri Martel was again shown taking notes
Dustin Rhodes pinned Bunkhouse Buck (w/ Col. Rob Parker) in a bullrope match at 12:46 after fighting off an interfering Parker and hitting Buck in the face with the cowbell; during the bout, the crowd chanted "We want blood;" after the match, Terry Funk appeared, bloodied Rhodes, and double teamed him with Buck until officials swarmed the ring
WCW World Champion Ric Flair pinned Barry Windham (mystery opponent) (w/ Col. Rob Parker) at 13:22 with a crossbody off the top; Jesse Ventura subbed for Heenan on commentary for the match; Sherri Martel was shown taking notes during the bout (Windham's surprise return after a 10-month absence; Windham's last appearance for 4 years)
Cactus Jack & Kevin Sullivan defeated WCW Tag Team Champions the Nasty Boys to win the titles in a streetfight at 9:34 when Cactus pinned Jerry Saggs after guest referee Dave Schultz beat up on Saggs, pulled his shirt up over his head, and Cactus hit Saggs with Shultz' hockey stick; prior to the bout, Dave "The Hammer" Schultz of the Philadelphia Flyers cut a pre-taped promo about his participation; after the match, Saggs repeatedly hit Cactus with the stick until Maxx Payne walked out, came up behind Saggs, and smashed his guitar over Saggs' head; moments later, Cactus, Sullivan, and Payne scared Brian Knobbs up the ramp, where Dave Sullivan appeared and smashed one of his crutches over Knobbs; Ventura again subbed for Heenan on commentary
Sting (sub. for Rick Rude) pinned Vader (w/ Harley Race) at 13:54 with a splash off the top after Race accidentally hit a diving headbutt on Vader; during the match, some in the crowd chanted "Sting must die;" stipulations stated the winner would win the vacant WCW International World Title (Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 90s)
However, after Slamboree, Hulk Hogan came to WCW, and brought with him the WWF 80's circus act with names like Brutis Beefcake, The Honky Tonk Man, Earthquake, and Hacksaw Jim Duggan. You only have to look at Starrcade 94 (With a main of Hogan vs Beefcake) to see how much WCW had changed.
Well, here's where we enter my fantasy WCW!
Because it's 1994...
Negotiations with Hulk Hogan have fallen through...
WCW is on the verge of going bankrupt...
It's a case of make a MAJOR move or admit defeat...
and desperate times... call for desperate measures!
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...
I GIVE YOU...
1994
WCW - THE ATTITUDE ERA
*Thank you to www.thehistoryofwwe.com for the results
