Harlem Heat

‘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 THE GREAT AMERICAN BASH 1995’ Recap + Review – Savage vs. Flair, Sting vs. Meng, Hacksaw vs. Pitbull

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DATE: June 18, 1995
VENUE: Hara Arena (Dayton, OH)
COMMENTATORS: Tony Schiavone & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
VIEWING METHOD: Peacock

The Great American Bash returns to the WCW PPV lineup with this 1995 edition, headlined by the blood feud between Randy Savage and Ric Flair. A new United States Heavyweight Champion is also crowned as Sting & Meng battle waddle for the vacant wacant title witle, and Arn Anderson defends the World Television Title against The Renegade.

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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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[#everyNITROever] ‘WCW Monday Nitro’ 9.18.95 – Flair vs. Pillman, First-Ever Nitro Title Change

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Venue: Freedom Hall (Johnson City, TN)
Commentators: Eric Bischoff, Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan, & Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael

Coming off the heels of Fall Brawl the night before, this episode of Monday Nitro features footage of what happened to Hulk Hogan at the end of War Games, new Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat making their first defense, and an angry Ric Flair looks to get revenge on Brian Pillman in the main event.

Champion Roll-Call

  • WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Hulk Hogan
  • WCW United States Champion: Sting
  • WCW World Television Champion: Diamond Dallas Page
  • WCW World Tag Team Champions: Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray)

The Lineup

  • Harlem Heat [c] vs. ??? for the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (*1/2)
  • Johnny B. Badd vs. Paul Orndorff (**)
  • Ric Flair vs. Brian Pillman (**1/4)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WCW Fall Brawl 1995’ – War Games, Anderson vs. Flair, Badd vs. Pillman

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Date: September 17, 1995
Venue: Asheville Civic Center (Asheville, NC)
Commentators: Tony Schiavone & Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan

The third annual Fall Brawl features Hulk Hogan’s first time in a War Games match, as he leads his team into battle against The Dungeon of Doom. Also on the show Ric Flair takes on Arn Anderson for the first time, Johnny B. Badd and Brian Pillman fight to become #1 contender to the United States Championship, and Harlem Heat tries to win back the WCW World Tag Team Championship from Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater. Let’s goooo.

Champion Roll-Call

  • WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Hulk Hogan
  • WCW United States Champion: Sting
  • WCW World Television Champion: The Renegade
  • WCW World Tag Team Champions: Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater

The Lineup

  • #1 Contender’s Match: Johnny B. Badd vs. Brian Pillman (****1/4)
  • Cobra vs. Craig Pittman (SQUASH)
  • The Renegade [c] vs. Diamond Dallas Page for the WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
  • Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater [c] vs. Harlem Heat for the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (*1/2)
  • Arn Anderson vs. Ric Flair (****1/2)
  • War Games: Hulk Hogan, Lex Luger, Sting, & Randy Savage vs. The Dungeon of Doom (*)

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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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