Big Van Vader

‘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 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 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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‘WCW BEACH BLAST 1993’ Recap + Thoughts – Superpowers vs. Masters of the Powerbomb, Flair vs. Windham

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DATE: July 18, 1993
VENUE: Mississippi Coast Coliseum (Biloxi, MS)
COMMENTATORS: Tony Schiavone & Jesse “The Body” Ventura

WCW Beach Blast 1993 features a tag team main event as Sting & Davey Boy Smith join forces against Big Van Vader & Sid Vicious aka The Masters of the Powerbomb. The NWA World Heavyweight Championship is also on the line as Barry Windham defends against “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair and Dustin Rhodes defends the United States Heavyweight Championship against “Ravishing” Rick Rude in an Iron Man Match. 

BUT FIRST, a movie:

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[PPV Review] ‘WCW HALLOWEEN HAVOC 1993’ – Spin the Wheel Make The Deal 2, Flair vs. Rude, Rhodes vs. Austin

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DATE: October 24, 1993
VENUE: Lakefront Arena (New Orleans, LA)
COMMENTATORS: Tony Schiavone & Jesse “The Body” Ventura

The 1993 edition of Halloween Havoc tries its hand at Spin the Wheel, Make The Deal as Cactus Jack takes on Big Van Vader in a match to be decided in the main event. Also on the show Rick Rude defends his Big Gold Belt that’s also a World Title now against Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat trades up from his scheduled opponent to take on “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff, and Sting and Sid Vicious have a Halloween Havoc ‘90 rematch to decide who the franchise of WCW is.

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Big Van Vader
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: “Lord” Steven Regal
  • BIG GOLD BELT CHAMPION GUY: “Ravishing” Rick Rude
  • WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Marcus Alexander Bagwell & 2 Cold Scorpio

LINEUP

  • The Shockmaster, Charlie Norris, & Ice Train vs. The Equalizer & Harlem Heat (*1/2)
  • Ricky Steamboat vs. Paul Orndorff (***)
  • Lord Steven Regal [c] vs. Davey Boy Smith for the WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/4)
  • Dustin Rhodes [c] vs. Steve Austin for the WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2)
  • Marcus Alexander Bagwell & 2 Cold Scorpio [c] vs. The Nasty Boys for the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**3/4)
  • Sting vs. Sid Vicious (**1/2)
  • Rick Rude [c] vs. Ric Flair for the BIG GOLD BELT (**)
  • SPIN THE WHEEL, MAKE THE DEAL: Cactus Jack vs. Big Van Vader (**1/2)

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[PPV Review] ‘WCW HALLOWEEN HAVOC 1992’ – Spin the Wheel Make The Deal, Simmons vs. Barbarian, Steamboat vs. Pillman

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DATE: October 25, 1992
VENUE: Philadelphia Civic Center (Philadelphia, PA)
COMMENTATORS: Jim Ross & Jesse “The Body” Ventura

Spin the wheel, make the deal. Spin the wheel, make the deal. SPIN. THE. WHEEL. MAKE. THE. DEAL. SPIIIIIIIIIN THEEEEE WHEEEL MAAAAKE THE DEEE-okay you get my point.

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The All-American” Ron Simmons
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “Ravishing” Rick Rude
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: Scott Steiner
  • WCW/NWA UNIFIED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes & Barry Windham

LINEUP

  • Shane Douglas, Tom Zenk, & Johnny Gunn vs. Michael Hayes, Arn Anderson, & Bobby Eaton (**)
  • Ricky Steamboat vs. Brian Pillman (***1/4)
  • Big Van Vader (on behalf of Rick Rude) [c] vs. Nikita Koloff for the WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/4)
  • Dustin Rhodes & Barry Windham [c] vs. Steve Williams & Steve Austin for the WCW/NWA UNIFIED WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**3/4)
  • Masahiro Chono [c] vs. Rick Rude for the NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (1/2*)
  • Ron Simmons [c] vs. The Barbarian for the WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
  • SPIN THE WHEEL MAKE THE DEAL: Sting vs. Jake Roberts (*3/4)

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

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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)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WCW Great American Bash 1990: New Revolution’ – Flair vs. Sting, Luger vs. Callous, Doom vs. RNR

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Date: July 7, 1990
Venue: Baltimore Arena (Baltimore, MD)
Commentators: Jim Ross & Bob Caudle

The 1990 edition of The Great American Bash is best remembered for the official crowning of Sting as the top dog in WCW, months after it was initially planned due to a knee injury suffered in January. Have I watched this show a bunch? Yup. Have I recapped this at least twice before? Yup. Is it going to stop me now? Nope.

CHAMPION ROLL-CALL

  • NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair
  • NWA UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Total Package” Lex Luger
  • NWA WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson
  • NWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Doom (Ron Simmons & “Hacksaw” Butch Reed)
  • NWA UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Midnight Express (“Beautiful” Bobby Eaton & “Sweet” Stan Lane)

THE LINEUP

  • Brian Pillman vs. Buddy Landell (**1/2)
  • Mike Rotunda vs. The Iron Sheik (1/4*)
  • Doug Furnas vs. Dutch Mantell (**)
  • Tommy Rich vs. Harley Race (**1/2)
  • The Midnight Express [c] vs. The Southern Boys for the NWA UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (****1/2)
  • Tom Zenk vs. Big Van Vader (SQUASH)
  • The Steiner Brothers vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (**3/4)
  • El Gigante, Paul Orndorff, & The Junkyard Dog vs. Arn Anderson, Barry Windham, & Sid Vicious (**)
  • Lex Luger [c] vs. Mark Callous for the NWA UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (**3/4)
  • Doom [c] vs. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express for the NWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (***)
  • Ric Flair [c] vs. Sting for the NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WCW Uncensored 1995’ – Hogan vs. Vader, Nasty Boys vs. Harlem Heat

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Date: March 19, 1995
Venue: Tupelo Coliseum (Tupelo, MS)
Commentators: Tony Schiavone & Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan

The first-ever Uncensored set the tone for the soon to be annual PPV event, featuring a whole host of matches considered ‘unsanctioned’ by WCW. That meant no rules, no mercy, and NO TITLES ON THE LINE. It was a cool idea on paper but this is WCW we’re talking about so the execution left a lot to be desired. Like “a lot” a lot. I’ve never watched this one before after reading so much bad press around it but you know what? I’m game to give it a shot. What’s the worst that could-wait Jim Duggan is competing in a MARTIAL ARTS match? And this is the debut of THE RENEGADE? Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no.

Champion Roll-Call

  • WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Hulk Hogan
  • WCW United States Champion: Vader
  • WCW Television Champion: Arn Anderson
  • WCW World Tag Team Champions: Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray)

The Lineup

  • King of the Road Match: Dustin Rhodes vs. The Blacktop Bully (*3/4)
  • Martial Arts Match: Jim Duggan vs. Meng (DUD)
  • Boxer vs. Wrestler: Johnny B. Badd vs. Arn Anderson (*1/4)
  • Randy Savage vs. Avalanche (*1/2)
  • Sting vs. Big Bubba Rogers (*1/2)
  • Texas Tornado Match: The Nasty Boys vs. Harlem Heat (**)
  • Strap Match: Hulk Hogan vs. Vader (DUD)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WCW WrestleWar ’91: War Games’ – War Games Returns, Vader vs. Hansen, Luger vs. Spivey

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Date: February 24, 1991
Venue: Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Phoenix, AZ)
Commentators: Jim Ross & Dusty Rhodes

NOTE: Did I just repurpose a review I did for Legacy of WCW again? You bet your ass I did! I reformatted it a bit but kept in all the references to the original Legacy of WCW website because why edit and put in more work, am I right?

The first PPV for WCW in 1991 features one of the company’s notorious matches, as Sting teams with Brian Pillman and The Steiner Brothers to take on The Four Horsemen in War Games. Also on the show we get our FIFTH Z-Man/Terry Taylor match as the two meet in a No-DQ contest, the WCW Six Man Tag Team Championship gets defended for the first time, and Lex Luger defends the United States Championship against ‘Dangerous’ Dan Spivey. After a month of TV matches I am ready for some actual competitive contests so let’s dive right the hell in.

CHAMPIONS
  • WCW World Champion: Ric Flair
  • WCW United States Champion: Lex Luger
  • WCW Television Champion: Arn Anderson
  • WCW World Tag Team Champions: Doom (Ron Simmons & Butch Reed)
  • WCW United States Tag Team Champions: The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner)
  • WCW Six-Man Tag Team Champions: Ricky Morton, Tommy Rich, & The Junkyard Dog
LINEUP
  • Ricky Morton, Tommy Rich, & Junkyard Dog [c] vs. Big Cat & The State Patrol for the WCW SIX-MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (*)
  • Brad Armstrong vs. Bobby Eaton (***)
  • Mami Kitamura & Itsuki Yamasaki vs. Miss A & Miki Handa (**1/2)
  • Dustin Rhodes vs. Buddy Landell (**)
  • The Young Pistols vs. The Royal Family (*)
  • No Disqualification Match: Tom Zenk vs. Terry Taylor (*1/2)
  • Big Van Vader vs. Stan Hansen (***1/4)
  • Lex Luger [c] vs. Dan Spivey for the WCW UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP (***)
  • Doom [c] vs. The Fabulous Freebirds for the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (*)
  • War Games: The Match Beyond: Sting, Brian Pillman, & The Steiner Brothers vs. Ric Flair, Barry Windham, Sid Vicious, & Larry Zbyszko (***3/4)

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