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‘WCW GREED 2001’ Recap + Review – WCW’s Final PPV, Steiner vs. DDP Falls Count Anywhere, Dusty & Dustin vs. Flair & Jarrett

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DATE: March 18, 2001
VENUE:  Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum (Jacksonville, FL)
COMMENTATORS: Tony Schiavone & Scott Hudson
VIEWING METHOD: Peacock 

WCW Greed is the final WCW PPV before getting bought by the World Wrestling Federation and relegated to the annals of wrestling history as the “dumb company that only had one idea and nothing else but WWF beat them anyway because YOU DON’T BET AGAINST MR. MACMAHON” or whatever. Not bitter. I’M NOT BITTER. Did WCW at least end its PPV legacy on a high note? Let’s find out together because tbh this is the first time I’ve watched it. 

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‘NJPW WRESTLE KINGDOM 17’ Recap, Results, & Review – White vs. Okada, Ospreay vs. Omega, Muto’s Final NJPW Match

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DATE: January 4, 2023
VENUE: The Tokyo Dome (Tokyo, Japan)
ENGLISH COMMENTATORS: Kevin Kelly, Chris Charlton, & Gino Gambino
VIEWING METHOD: NJPW World (VOD)

Wrestle Kingdom 17 features a double main event as Kenny Omega returns to challenge Will Ospreay for the US Championship and Jay White defends the World Title against longtime rival Kazuchika Okada. Also on the show Mercedes Mone makes her (poorly kept) surprise debut, Zack Sabre Jr. finds a new faction, and Keiji Muto wrestles his final match both in the Tokyo Dome and for New Japan, the company he helped become a defining part of pro wrestling in the 1990s.

CHAMPIONS

  • IWGP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “Switchblade” Jay White
  • IWGP WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP: KAIRI
  • IWGP UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Will Ospreay
  • IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Taiji Ishimori
  • NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPION: “Machine Gun” Karl Anderson
  • NJPW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: Vacant
  • IWGP TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
  • IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: United Empire (TJP & Francesco Akira)
  • NEVER OPENWEIGHT SIX-MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: House of Torture (Evil, SHO, & Yujiro Takahashi)

LINEUP

  • United Empire [c] vs. YOH & Lio Rush for the IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (***) [RECAP]
  • KAIRI [c] vs. Tam Nakano for the IWGP WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP (***) [RECAP]
  • FTR [c] vs. Bishamon for the IWGP TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP(***1/4)  [RECAP]
  • Ren Narita vs. Zack Sabre Jr. for the vacant NJPW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (***3/4) [RECAP]
  • Karl Anderson [c] vs. Tama Tonga for the NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/4) [RECAP]
  • Keiji Muto, Shota Umino, & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (**1/2) [RECAP]
  • Taiji Ishimori [c] vs. Master Wato vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Desperado for the IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (***) [RECAP]
  • Will Ospreay [c] vs. Kenny Omega for the IWGP UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (****1/2) [RECAP]
  • Jay White [c] vs. Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (****) [RECAP]

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‘WCW WORLDWIDE’ 01.09.1993 Recap + Review – Best of Worldwide in 1992…But Mostly All November

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HOSTS: Tony Schiavone & Jesse “The Body” Ventura

Worldwide continues the clip show motif started earlier the day on Power Hour, with Schiavone & Ventura run down some of the highlights from the show in 1992. Most them apparently took place in November which seems…suspect. 

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Big Van Vader
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “Ravishing” Rick Rude
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: Scott Steiner
  • WCW/NWA UNIFIED WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat & Shane Douglas

LINEUP

  • Big Van Vader vs. Joe Thurman & T.A. McCoy (Worldwide – 11.07.1992)
  • CLIP: Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas vs. Brian Pillman & Steve Austin (Worldwide – 11.24.92)
  • CLIP: Sting vs. Big Van Vader – King of Cable Finals (Starrcade ‘92 – 12.28.92)
  • CLIP: Rick Rude vs. Nikita Koloff (Worldwide – 7.25.92)
  • CLIP: Sting vs. The Barbarian (Worldwide – 11.28.92)

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‘WCW POWER HOUR’ 01.09.1993 Recap + Review – Clip Show City, Sting & Dragon vs. Rude & Austin from COTC XVIII

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COMMENTATORS: Jim Ross & “The Living Legend” Larry Zbyszko

Power Hour this week features a look back at last week’s Saturday Night, the King of Cable finals from Starrcade ‘92, and the main event from last January’s Clash of the Champions in full, plus a PBS-style mini-documentary about Jim Ross’ football radio side gig. 

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Big Van Vader
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “Ravishing” Rick Rude
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: Scott Steiner
  • WCW/NWA UNIFIED WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat & Shane Douglas

LINEUP

  • CLIP: Johnny B. Badd vs. Barry Windham (Saturday Night – 01.02.1993)
  • CLIP: Dustin Rhodes vs. Vinnie Vegas (Saturday Night – 01.02.1993)
  • CLIP: Sting vs. Big Van Vader – King of Cable Final (Starrcade ‘92 – 12.28.1992)
  • Sting & Ricky Steamboat vs. Rick Rude & Steve Austin (Clash of the Champions XVIII – 01.21.1992)

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‘WCW MAIN EVENT’ 01.03.1993 Recap + Review – Steamboat & Douglas vs. Vader & Rude, Starrcade ’92 Highlights

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COMMENTATORS: Jim Ross & Michael “P.S.” Hayes

Main Event this week features a non-title match as Unified Tag Team Champs Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas battle Big Van Vader & Rick Rude. 2 Cold Scorpio and Dustin Rhodes are also in action and if you missed out on Starrcade ‘92 they’ve got some highlights for you.

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Big Van Vader
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “Ravishing” Rick Rude
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: Scott Steiner
  • WCW/NWA UNIFIED WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat & Shane Douglas

LINEUP

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‘WCW SATURDAY NIGHT’ 01.02.1993 Recap + Review – U.S. Title Tournament Quarterfinals, Hollywood Blondes Form

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AIRDATE: January 2, 1993
COMMENTATORS: Jim Ross & “The Living Legend” Larry Zbyszko

Saturday Night this week focuses on the Quarterfinals of the U.S. Title/U.S. Title #1 Contender’s Tournament, with Ricky Steamboat taking on Dan Spivey in the main event and Johnny B. Badd battling Barry Windham in a match whose closing moments has been burned into my brain since I first watched the show live. Also Brian Pillman & Steve Austin start their tag team journey this week but that probably won’t lead anywhere, definitely not to the best tag team of the year or anything, and we get a rundown of the Clash of the Champions card that is very subject to change. 

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Big Van Vader
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “Ravishing” Rick Rude
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: Scott Steiner
  • WCW/NWA UNIFIED WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat & Shane Douglas

LINEUP

  • Z-Man & Tommy Gunn vs. Cactus Jack & The Barbarian (*3/4)
  • Erik Watts vs. Mustafa Saied (COMPETITIVE SQUASH)
  • U.S. TITLE #1 CONTENDER’S TOURNAMENT – QUARTERFINALS: Dustin Rhodes vs. Vinnie Vegas (**1/4)
  • Brian Pillman & Steve Austin vs. Ricky Nelson & Larry Santo (**)
  • U.S. TITLE #1 CONTENDER’S TOURNAMENT – QUARTERFINALS: Van Hammer vs. Tony Atlas (*)
  • U.S. TITLE #1 CONTENDER’S TOURNAMENT – QUARTERFINALS: Johnny B. Badd vs. Barry Windham (**3/4)
  • U.S. TITLE #1 CONTENDER’S TOURNAMENT – QUARTERFINALS: Ricky Steamboat vs. Dan Spivey (**3/4)

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‘WCW WORLDWIDE’ 01.02.1993 Recap + Review – Rhodes vs. Spivey, Steamboat & Douglas vs. Windham & Pillman

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AIRDATE: January 2, 1993
COMMENTATORS: Tony Schiavone & Jesse “The Body” Ventura

The inaugural Worldwide of 1993 features a Unified Tag Team Championship main event as Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas defend against Barry Windham & Brian Pillman. Also on the show Erik Watts takes on Bobby Eaton in a Bounty Match and Dustin Rhodes wrestles not once, not twice, but THREE times.

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Big Van Vader
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “Ravishing” Rick Rude
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: Scott Steiner
  • WCW/NWA UNIFIED WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat & Shane Douglas

LINEUP

  • Dan Spivey vs. Scott Allen (SQUASH)
  • Dustin Rhodes vs. Danny Deese (SQUASH)
  • 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Chris Sullivan (SQUASH)
  • BOUNTY MATCH: Erik Watts vs. Bobby Eaton (*1/2)
  • Dustin Rhodes vs. Dan Spivey (*3/4)
  • Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas [c] vs. Barry Windham & Brian Pillman for the WCW/NWA UNIFIED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/2)

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‘WCW POWER HOUR’ 01.02.1993 Recap + Review – Armstrong & Bagwell vs. Pillman & Windham, New World Champion Announced

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AIRDATE: January 2, 1993
COMMENTATORS: Tony Schiavone & “The Living Legend” Larry Zbyszko

WCW begins their New Year with Power Hour, featuring a tag team main event pitting Brad Armstrong & Marcus Alexander Bagwell against Barry Windham & Brian Pillman, plus some big news as a new World Champion has been crowned…at a house show in Baltimore during the week.

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Big Van Vader
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “Ravishing” Rick Rude
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: Scott Steiner
  • WCW/NWA UNIFIED WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat & Shane Douglas

LINEUP

  • 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Joe Cruz (SQUASH)
  • Scotty Flamingo vs. Keith Cole (*)
  • Brad Armstrong & Marcus Alexander Bagwell vs. Barry Windham & Brian Pillman (**1/2)

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‘WWE CLASH AT THE CASTLE 2022’ Results & Notes – Roman vs. Drew, Gunther vs. Sheamus

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DATE: September 3, 2022
VENUE: Principality Stadium (Cardiff, Wales)
COMMENTATORS: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, & Byron Saxton
VIEWING METHOD: Peacock (Live)

WWE Clash at the Castle 2022 is the company’s first big UK stadium show since SummerSlam 1992 and they roll in with a big main event as Roman Reigns tries to overcome home country advantage and successfully defend the Undisputed Universal Championship against Drew McIntyre.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWE UNDISPUTED UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: Roman Reigns
  • RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Bianca Belair
  • SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Liv Morgan
  • WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: “The Ring General” Gunther
  • WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPION: “The All Mighty” Bobby Lashley
  • WWE UNDISPUTED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso)
  • WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah

LINEUP

  • Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss, & Asuka vs. Bayley, Dakota Kai, & Io Sky
  • Gunther [c] vs. Sheamus for the WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Liv Morgan [c] vs. Shayna Baszler for the SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Edge & Rey Mysterio vs. The Judgment Day
  • Matt Riddle vs. Seth Rollins
  • Roman Reigns [c] vs. Drew McIntyre for the UNDISPUTED WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP

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‘WCW BASH AT THE BEACH 1995’ Recap + Review – Hogan vs. Vader, Lifeguard Match, Coolest Wrestling Venue of All-Time

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DATE: July 16, 1995
VENUE: Huntington Beach (Huntington Beach, CA)
COMMENTATORS: Tony Schiavone & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
VIEWING METHOD: Peacock

Bash at the Beach 1995 brings the action of World Championship Wrestling to an honest to god beach, the only place that contain a main event as big as Hulk Hogan vs. Vader in a Steel Cage. Since we’re on a beach and Baywatch is a thing we’ve also got a Lifeguard match as Ric Flair and Randy Savage continue their year-long feud, The Renegade defends the Television Championship against “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff, and…Jim Duggan takes on Kamala? We sure this is a WCW show?

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