[PPV Review] ‘WCW HALLOWEEN HAVOC 91’ – Chamber of Horrors, Luger vs. Simmons

DATE: October 27, 1991
VENUE: UTC Arena (Chattanooga, TN)
COMMENTATORS: Jim Ross & Tony Schiavone

The 1991 edition of Halloween Havoc features the infamous CHAMBER OF HORRORS, the crowning of the first Light Heavyweight Champion, a Ravishing Halloween Phantom, and 2 out of 3 Falls Match for the World Title.

CHAMPIONS

• WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Total Package” Lex Luger
• WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Sting
• WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: “Stunning” Steve Austin
• WCW LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Vacant
• WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Enforcers (“The Enforcer” Arn Anderson & “The Living Legend” Larry Zbyszko)
• WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Patriots (Firebreaker Chip & Todd Champion)

LINEUP

• CHAMBER OF HORRORS: Sting, El Gigante, & The Steiner Brothers vs. Cactus Jack, Abdullah The Butcher, The Diamond Studd, & Big Van Vader (*)
• PN News & Big Josh vs. The Creatures (*1/4)
• Bobby Eaton vs. Terrence Taylor (***)
• Jimmy Garvin vs. Johnny B. Badd (**)
• Steve Austin [c] vs. Dustin Rhodes for the WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2)
• Bill Kazmaier vs. Oz (*1/2)
• Van Hammer vs. Doug Somers (SQUASH)
• Brian Pillman vs. Richard Morton for the vacant WCW LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (**3/4)
• Tom Zenk vs. WCW Halloween Phantom (SQUASH)
• The Enforcers [c] vs. The Patriots for the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (*3/4)
• 2 OUT OF 3 FALLS: Lex Luger [c] vs. Ron Simmons for the WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2)

*****

CHAMBER OF HORRORS
Sting, El Gigante, & The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner) vs. Cactus Jack, Abdullah The Butcher, The Diamond Studd, & Big Van Vader

The Chamber of Horrors is the Thunderdome cage from Havoc ‘89, with coffins at ringside and chains on the cage. The object of the match is to put a member of the other team in the “Chair of Torture” (electric chair) and flip the switch to “electrocute” them. Murder. The object of the match is murder. The heel team was originally supposed to be Studd teaming with Oz, One Man Gang, & Barry Windham but all three got replaced by Vader, Jack, and Abdullah. Honestly that’s kind of an upgrade. The teams get introduced in a staggered way, swapping between the two, and Sting is the only one who gets his own theme music because he’s f*cking STING.

Bell rings and chaos ensues both in and out of the cage. Referee has a small camera in his helmet called the “REFER-eye Cam”, a goofy thing that shows up in other matches tonight too. A random masked guy pops out of one of the wooden caskets, Scott Steiner beats him up as he’s wont to do. Sting clotheslines Vader out to the floor, Gigante pulls Studd off the cage (why he was climbing who knows). Chair starts to lower, Steiner Brothers put Jack under it with a Doomsday DDT but he rolls out of the way before being squashed. Jack gets busted open, Rick sends Vader back to the floor with a Steinerline after being placed in the chair, a team of GHOUL EMTs come out with a stretcher and kneel on the ramp, ready to take the loser away. Studd puts Sting in the chair, Scott Steiner makes the save. Cut to a shot of the switcher box located on the cage, Ross scrambling mid-sentence when it’s very obvious the switch has been flipped on but nothing’s happening. Jack flips the switch back on but Sting pulls him off the cage and the force of that knocks the switch back to ON. Abdullah puts Rick in the chair, Jack climbs to flip the switch but Rick Steiner belly-to-bellies Abby into the chair, causing Jack to flip the switch accidentally on his own partner. Sparks and pyro fly, Abby shakes around like he’s being electrocuted, and that’s the match.

Sting, El Gigante, & The Steiner Brothers defeated Cactus Jack, Abdullah The Butcher, The Diamond Studd, & Big Van Vader via electrocution (12:37)

• I appreciate how goofy and ridiculous a Chamber of Horrors match is, but it doesn’t mean it was any good. Just a lot of chaotic brawling that was both hard to follow and kinda boring. Felt like a waste of resources stinging folks like Sting and Vader in this match instead of something more productive later in the show. So yeah this sucks but it’s worth checking out at least once just because it’s weird that it exists. (*)

Cage lifts and everyone leaves except Jack, who yells and slaps at Abby to wake him up. Abby’s eyes pop open and he attacks Jack and the Ghoul EMTs, frightened and confused at the fact he was just MURDERED ON PPV. Abby and Jack leave, holding each other’s heads and making crazy noises.

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-Ross and Schiavone welcome the home audience, not sure what to make of what they just watched. They mention four title matches scheduled for tonight and take it backstage to Eric Bischoff (dressed as Dracula) and Missy Hyatt (dressed as a Showgirl/can can dancer?). Hyatt knows who the WCW Halloween Phantom is but doesn’t want to tell Bischoff because she doesn’t like him. The Young Pistols (Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong), now heels, are asked if they know. They don’t and instead cut a promo on how they want The Patriots and their U.S. Tag Team Championship. 

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“The Rapmaster” PN News & Big Josh vs. The Creatures

The Creatures are a masked duo making their one and only appearance on WCW PPV, existing only for this match. News treats us all to a pre-match rap, written by a white lady in the front row who won a contest. When I think of rap I think of middle-aged white ladies.

Creatures get some brief offense here and there but the match is mostly News and Josh, the former belly bumping them around and the latter throwing one of the Creatures around with suplexes and powerbombs. Josh hits the Northern Exposure on one Creature then News follows up with the Rapmaster Splash (top rope splash) for the 1…2…3.

PN News & Big Josh defeated The Creatures via pinfall (5:16)

• Mostly harmless showcase for News and Josh, two of WCW’s more popular midcarders (judging by fan reaction anyway) who have formed an odd couple tag team because reasons. Not necessarily one worth paying PPV money for but I digress. (*1/4)

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“Beautiful” Bobby Eaton vs. “The Computerized Man of the 1990s” Terrence Taylor [w/ Alexandra York]

Eaton in control early, forcing Taylor to seek the advice of York and her COM-PEW-TOR. Taylor tosses Eaton into the guardrail, Eaton responds by backdropping him into the front row. Back in the ring Eaton keeps control with a hammerlock, Taylor eventually finding his escape with a jawbreaker. Action moves to the ramp, Eaton connects with a flying kneedrop. Taylor begs off in the ring and throws Eaton out to the floor by the tights, giving himself a few seconds of rest from the onslaught. Eaton climbs the apron, Taylor sends him crashing into the guardrail with a running knee. Taylor sends Eaton to the ramp and continues working the back off with a gutwrench sit-out powerbomb, a move that should be his finisher and not just part of his arsenal. Taylor connects with a top rope splash for the 1…2…Eaton kicks out, Taylor argues with the ref then slaps on a chinlock. Eaton surprises Taylor with a top-rope sunset flip for the 1…2…Taylor kicks out and connects with a clothesline. Eaton escapes a sleeperhold with a jawbreaker, Taylor counters a splash with pair of knees, Eaton then counters Taylor’s Vader Bomb with a pair of knees in retaliation. Eaton mounts a comeback and hits a swinging neckbreaker. He goes to the top for the finish, Taylor shakes the ropes to crotch him and goes for a superplex. Eaton blocks it, sends Taylor crashing to the mat, and hits the Alabama Jam for the 1…2…3.

Bobby Eaton defeated Terrence Taylor via pinfall (16:39)

• Eaton and Taylor are no strangers to each other, going to war multiple times in 91 on PPV and TV, so it’s not surprising they went out and had themselves a damn good match. A little longer than I would’ve liked for attention span reasons but these two pros doing pro wrestling was engaging enough to help me power through. (***)

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Jimmy “Jam” Garvin [w/ Michael “P.S.” Hayes] vs. Johnny B. Badd [w/ Theodore R. Long]

The Freebirds make their entrance wearing Atlanta Braves gear and doing the tomahawk chant, the TN crowd for some reason going along with it. I don’t think TN has an MLB, or didn’t at the time, so I guess they adopted the Braves as their own. Hayes’ right arm in a sling, having gotten injured and having to back out of his scheduled match with Van Hammer. Badd gets a confetti-heavy entrance and shoots the Badd Blaster into the crowd. People who don’t like Johnny B. Badd frighten and confuse me.

This is a very pro-Freebirds crowd, I guess they’re faces now? At least in this match. Badd backs Garvin into the corner and connects with a left jab to the ribs, Garvin tosses him out and Hayes removes his arm from the sling to connect with a right hook, winking at the camera. SOMEBODY DIDN’T WANNA LOSE TO VAN HAMMER. Garvin launches a string of offense, Badd bails from the ring upset that he was hit in his pretty face. Garvin works the left arm to weaken it and prevent Badd from using his finisher, Badd fights back with jabs and a clothesline. Ref gets distracted, Badd uses his workout towel to choke Garvin. Badd rolls Garvin up with a flying sunset flip for two; he didn’t get all of it but he also flew HALFWAY ACROSS THE RING and still managed to make it work so I give it a pass. Badd misses a corner elbow and very obviously sends himself flying out to the floor. Garvin misses an elbowdrop, both men knock heads going for a leapfrog. Garvin dodges the left hook and hits the DDT, Long distracts the ref to prevent a count. Garvin goes over to Long, Badd hits him with the Left Hook and covers for the 1..2…Garvin gets his foot on the rope but Long shoves it off…3!

Johnny B. Badd defeated Jimmy Garvin via pinfall (8:25)

• Okay match. Badd was still finding his footing as a pro wrestler so some stuff didn’t look as snug as it could’ve but he had the energy to make up for it. A babyface Freebirds team is weird and does not compute in my brain, but they did a great job getting the crowd into the contest so it’s just a me problem. (**)

Hayes, forgetting all pretense of an arm injury, protests the finish to the ref but the decision has been made so too f*cking bad.

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-Missy Hyatt is backstage, admitting she doesn’t know who the Phantom is. Bobby Eaton walks by, Hyatt pleads with him to let her know who it is, Eaton has no idea and does a “pfft, women” thing before leaving with a pumpkin to celebrate his win. Is…is he going to f*ck the pumpkin?

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“Stunning” Steve Austin [c] [w/ Lady Blossom] vs. “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes for the WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

This match presents a good look at the potential future of WCW here, as both Austin and Rhodes are less than a year into their run with the company, and only a year or two into their careers overall. Austin has made the biggest splash thus far, winning the TV Title only weeks within his debut, while Rhodes has looked solid in all of his encounters since showing up in January. 

Rhodes and Austin trade holds and strikes earlier, Rhodes slowing things down with side headlock takeovers and escaping Austin’s headscissor counters. Austin gains control after dodging a crossbody, which cause Rhodes to BOUNCE OFF THE CANVAS and to the floor. NAAAASTY. Austin lays in stiff rights to the forehead, busting the challenger open, but can’t get the pin after both a gutwrench suplex and an inside out clothesline. The minutes on the click tick down as Rhodes rallies for a lariat and Austin dodges a dropkick, both men’s covers not enough to finish the contest. Austin misses a top rope splash, Rhodes connects with an atomic drop and lariat and covers, Austin gets his foot on the rope. On the floor Rhodes sends Austin into the ring post, busting the champ open as two minutes remain in the match. Rhodes connects with a powerslam for the 1…2…Austin barely gets the shoulder up. Rhodes hits corner mount count-along elbows and and a series of jabs, then hits a flying clothesline but covers too late and the time runs out before the ref can make the count.

Steve Austin [c] and Dustin Rhodes fought to a time limit draw; Austin retains the WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (15:00 officially, 15:02 by my count)

• Great stuff here as Rhodes and Austin put on a clinic that should not have been possible given their rookie status in professional wrestler. Bunch of f*cking overachievers. The immediacy of Rhodes’ offense as the time ticked down was great, and we even got a little blood to highten the drama as neither man would go down. A time limit draw I am okay with. What a match. (***1/2)

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Bill Kazmaier vs. “The Incredible” Oz

As mentioned earlier Oz was supposed to participate in the Chamber of Horrors, but instead was shifted to face Kazmaier in singles action, replacing Cactus Jack so Jack could try and save that goofball match. Kazmaier is a well-renowned strongman and bodybuilder, coming to WCW to give pro wrestling a shot. Replacing a then-injured Scott Steiner, he and Rick Steiner almost won the vacated WCW World Tag Team Titles but The Enforcers got the better of them. Oz debuted in May at SuperBrawl I, got a couple of cool entrances, and now comes to the ring with no light show, manager, or old man face mask. How quickly things change.

Oz, feeling arrogant, challenges Kazmaier to a test of strength and kicks him down to get the upper hand, but Kazmaier quickly gets back to his feet and brings Oz to his knees (now they’re the same size!) and stomps the hands. Oz dodges a corner splash and hits a belly-to-back suplex for a two-count. Kazmaier sent to the floor but he skins the cat and levels Oz with a clothesline and picks him up in the Torture Rack (a move now abandoned by Lex Luger) for the submission win.

Bill Kazmaier defeated Oz via submission (3:58)

• Poor Oz. Match wasn’t bad but was certainly clunky, though I’ll take 100 Kazmaiers in pro wrestling before another Ted Arcidi in terms of strongmen. He actually seemed like he got pro wrestling to a degree. (*3/4)

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“Heavy Metal” Van Hammer vs. “Pretty Boy” Doug Somers

Hammer’s gimmick is an 80s glam metal rocker, calling his fans “Hammerheads” and coming to the ring headbanging and carrying a guitar that he 10000% doesn’t know how to play. WCW didn’t learn from the whole Dynamic Dudes thing from two years ago. Michael Hayes was supposed to be his opponent but feigned injury or talked his way out of it I guess and now it’s former AWA star Doug Somers. 

Hammer takes his shirt off and women in the audience either SQUEAL REAL LOUD or WCW sweetened the audio a bit. Dude is ripped though, so the former wouldn’t be surprising. It’s all squash as Somers doesn’t get much offense in, Hammer awkwardly hitting his and winning with a slingshot suplex that Somers damn-near takes like a DDT because of how they land.

Van Hammer defeated Doug Somers via pinfall (1:13)

• Ooooof. Van Hammer has the look but that was ugly. He got better as the years went on to a degree but here…jeez. Somers also didn’t seem to really want to be there either and did him no favors. (SQUASH)

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-Pre-recorded comments from Brian Pillman and Richard Morton heading into the next match.

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“Flyin” Brian Pillman vs. Richard Morton [w/ Alexandra York] for the vacant WCW LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Morton defeated Johnny Rich and Mike Graham to reach the finals tonight, while Pillman only had to defeat Badstreet after receiving a bye in the quarterfinals. The latter is the face by the way. Pillman spent the summer under a mask as “The Yellow Dog” after being forced to leave WCW but was eventually reinstated while Morton turned heel for the first time in his mainstream career, embarking on a singles career as a member of The York Foundation. The Refer-EYE cam is back for this one; we get a good shot of the Light Heavyweight Championship which is a beaut. Looks like the TV Title circa 1998-1999.

Even match to start, Morton seeking solace in York and her COM-PEW-TOR but not as much as Taylor normally does, sparking Schiavone to wonder if he even takes the advice given to him by his boss. Pillman blocks a hip toss and connects with a slam, then sends Morton back to the floor with a spinning heel kick. Pillman keeps things in control using side headlock takeovers, even throwing shade at his opponent by using a Japanese arm drag. Morton wrestles control of the match with an inverted atomic drop and goes to work on Pillman’s shoulder, an injury he has been dealing with all year thanks to the events of WrestleWar ‘91. Morton catches a kick, Pillman hits an enzuigiri (then known as a “spinning karate kick” by WCW commentators) and fights back with a series of chops, both men run into one another and fall out of opposite ends of the ring. Morton sends Pillman shoulder-first into the post and rolls back in, Pillman quickly comes off the top with a high crossbody for the 1…2…3!

Brian Pillman defeated Richard Morton via pinfall to win the WCW LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (12:43)

• A good match to really set the table for the Light Heavyweight division which unlike the Cruiserweight division a few years later is not filled with luchadors and high spots, just dudes WCW think are too tiny to be actual World Champions so they threw them a bone. Pillman was the obvious choice to win here and the perfect guy to strap a new title to, so I have no complaints there. (**1/2)

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“The Z-Man” Tom Zenk vs. The WCW Halloween Phantom

The Phantom comes to the ring in a mask, cape, hat, and full bodysuit but we can see enough of his face to notice a most RAVISHING of mustaches. He RUDEly attacks Zenk as soon as he gets in the ring, brushing off Zenk’s attempts at offense to hit a reverse neckbreaker for the win.

The WCW Halloween Phantom defeated Tom Zenk via pinfall (1:27)

• Quick win for this “mysterious” man, though his finishing move gave him away to the commentators. Schiavone did some good “…wait a minute” work when he saw it, like light bulbs were flashing above his head. Poor Z-Man; started 1991 as TV Champion with a bright future, then got quickly brushed aside. He and his dainty superkicks deserved better. (SQUASH)

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The Enforcers (“The Enforcer” Arn Anderson & “The Living Legend” Larry Zbyszko) [c] vs. The Patriots (Firebreaker Chip & Todd Champion) for the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

The Enforcers defeated Rick Steiner & Bill Kazamier to win the Tag Team Titles at a Clash of the Champions event earlier in the year, The Steiner Brothers having to vacate the titles due to Scott Steiner’s injury. The Patriots, billed as being from “WCW Special Forces”, are the current United States Tag Team Champions but their belts are not on the line for this one.

Chip gets the better of Zbyszko to start, countering a neckbreaker attempt with a backslide for a nearfall. Anderson tags in and the crowd gives him a mixed reaction, but mostly cheers. Everybody loves Arn, this fall on the CW. Chip belts Anderson with a shoulderblock, Champion tags in and keeps things controlled with a wristlock and a backdrop to the floor from the apron after missing a sunset flip attempt. Champion puts Anderson in a bear hug but Chip distracts the ref for some reason, allowing Zbyszko to break the hold but The Enforcers eat a double clothesline. Zbyszko tags in and has Champion chase him into the ring, blind tagging Anderson who throws him out to the floor so Zbyszko can send him into the guardrail. The Enforcers work Champion over, almost getting the win after a backbreaker. Chip finally gets the hot-ish tag and treats The Enforcers to a pair of slams and dropkicks. Powerslam on Anderson, Zbyszko breaks the count and Champion runs in to attack. Anderson reverses an Irish whip, sending Chip into Zbyszko and following up with a spinebuster for the 1…2…3.

The Enforcers [c] defeated The Patriots via pinfall to retain the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (9:51)

• The Enforcers get a strong win and prove why they’re the top-tier tag team in WCW while The Patriots looked like a bunch of goofs who could barely keep up. Enforcers definitely carried the thing and I was not impressed with The Patriots whatsoever; why they are U.S. Tag Team Champions besides their name is beyond me. (*3/4)

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ENTRANCE RAMP

Eric Bischoff welcomes Paul E. Dangerously, who is joined by Madusa. Dangerously says the WCW office fired him from his announcing gig for being too outspoken and, manager’s license in hand, vows to bankrupt the company by declaring war. Dangerously’s first target is WCW United States Champion Sting and brings in the WCW Halloween Phantom who will help him in his quest. Phantom removes his guise and reveals himself to be the debuting “Ravishing” Rick Rude, last seen in mainstream American wrestling as part of the WWF. Rude says the only things he cares about his himself, his women, and his money, and will help the man who gives him his money tear WCW down brick by brick. Rude wonders if Sting is as weak and small as he looks on TV and vows to take his U.S. Championship.

• A tremendous segment here setting up The Dangerous Alliance, arguably the second greatest faction in WCW history behind The Four Horsemen (sorry nWo fans). Great fire from Dangerously and I love that his response to being fired is to return as a manager and DESTROY WCW for the slight. Real vindictive Wall Street sh*t there. Rude cut a great promo as well, introducing himself to those who may have never seen him before (how that could be possible I don’t know) and establishing himself as the biggest threat Sting now faces in his U.S. Title reign. Loved it. Absolutely loved it.

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-VIDEO: Ron Simmons returns to FSU to train for his World Title match.

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2 OUT OF 3 FALLS MATCH
“The Total Package” Lex Luger [c] [w/ Harley Race & Mr. Hughes] vs. “The All-American” Ron Simmons [w/ “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes] for the WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Camera leans in as the ref gives each man their directions; best 2 out of 3 falls with a 1 minute rest period between each fall. Luger has the new WCW World Championship which I will defend until my dying day as being WAY better than the Big Gold Belt everyone slobbers over. 

Luger backs Simmons into the corner, Simmons blocks a cheapshot attempt with a right of his own but misses a dropkick to the champ starts clubbin’ away. Simmons counters a backdrop with a faceslam, followed by a clothesline and powerslam, and finally a spinebuster for the 1…2…3. LUGER: 0 SIMMONS: 1

Both moved to their respective corners for rest. Luger is dazed and gassed and Race can barely snap him back into things, while Rhodes gives Simmons a helluva pep talk filled with sports cliches. Bell sounds for the second fall, Luger stumbles over, favoring his back. Simmons takes advantage with a suplex and bulldog but only gets a two-count, same for an inside cradle. Luger throws Simmons to the floor, Simmons comes back in with a sunset flip for another two-count. Luger sidesteps Simmons who charges and sends himself flying out to the floor. Champ rakes the eyes of his challenger across the ring ropes and hits a powerslam of his own for a two-count. Luger catches a charging Simmons with a boot and follows up with a clothesline for two. Ross mentions that in this match there are “no cheap ones” which I want you to remember in a second. Luger hits a vertical suplex but takes too long to cover and Simmons manages to kick out once he does. Simmons escapes a chinlock with a series of rights and rolls Luger up for the 1…2…nope. Race ankle picks Simmons, Rhodes lays into Race as the crowd pops huge. Luger hits Simmons with a crossbody, Race holds onto Simmons so only Luger goes over the top and the ref calls that a DQ in the champ’s favor. NO CHEAP ONES, HUH. LUGER: 1 SIMMONS: 1

Luger, bleeding over his right eye, starts the third fall with a bevy of forearms. Simmons hulks up to the roar of the crowd and hits count-along corner rights followed by a clothesline for the 1…2…Luger kicks out. Simmons ramps it up, hitting an inverted atomic drop and a middle-buckle superplex, much to Rhodes’ protests, for the 1…2…NOT ENOUGH. Luger rolls to the floor, Simmons follows and sends him into the guardrail. Simmons gets into a three point stance and charges at Luger, but he sidesteps and Simmons hits nothing but ring post. Sensing victory Luger quickly rolls Simmons and executes the Attitude Adjustment (in 1991 this means a Piledriver) for the 1…2…3. LUGER: 2 SIMMONS: 1

Lex Luger [c] defeated Ron Simmons 2 Falls to 1 to retain the WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (21:59)

• Helluva main event, with Simmons coming out strong and forcing Luger to play defense for the two remaining falls, and then falling in the end because of a single mistake. But for a World Champ a single mistake is all that’s needed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. I dug this a lot, from the presentation to the action to even Rhodes and Race getting into it. Mr. Hughes did absolutely nothing though and I forgot he was there. (***1/2)

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-Ross and Schiavone close the show and hype the next PPV, Starrcade ‘91, which will feature the first-ever BattleBowl. Oh booooooy I can’t wait to give that one a watch.

*****

FINAL THOUGHTS: Luger/Simmons, Austin/Rhodes, and Eaton/Taylor were the standout matches of the night, and the forming of The Dangerous Alliance was an all-timer when it comes to WCW segments. The rest of the show however is pretty weak; the Chamber of Horrors is awful but worth a watch for curiosity reasons but the other matches were forgettable to bad to squashes. Still I ended up liking it overall, so I can’t condemn the entire thing. At least there wasn’t a Master Blasters match like 1990.

• MATCH OF THE NIGHT: Steve Austin vs. Dustin Rhodes
• MOMENT OF THE NIGHT: WCW Halloween Phantom revealed to be Rick Rude, Paul E. Dangerously declares war on WCW.