Marcus Alexander Bagwell

‘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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‘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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‘WCW GREAT AMERICAN BASH 1996’ Recap + Review – Hall & Nash, Mysterio’s Debut, Giant vs. Luger

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DATE: June 16, 1996
VENUE: Baltimore Arena (Baltimore, MD)
COMMENTATORS: Tony Schiavone & “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes
VIEWING METHOD: Peacock

Great American Bash 1996 features a tag team match pitting wrestling vs. football as Ric Flair & Arn Anderson of The Four Horsemen (joined by special advisor Bobby “The Brain” Heenan) take on the NFL’s Kevin Greene and Steve “Mongo” McMichael (coached by “Macho Man” Randy Savage). The World Championship is also on the line as The Giant defends against Lex Luger, a man looking to hold THREE championships at once.

…

OH RIGHT Scott Hall & Kevin Nash are also here to continue their “Hostile Takeover” of WCW, which may or may not come to a head next month at Bash of the Beach with one of the biggest moments in professional wrestling history. Almost forgot.

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‘WCW BEACH BLAST 1992’ Recap + Review – Steiners vs. MVC, Sting vs. Cactus, Steamboat vs. Rude

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DATE: June 20, 1992
VENUE: Mobile Civic Center (Mobile, AL)
COMMENTATORS: Jim Ross & Jesse “The Body” Ventura

Just four days removed from Clash of the Champions XIX, WCW presents its first-annual Beach Blast live from the summer capital of the world: Mobile, Alabama! This show features one of the greatest World Championship matches in WCW history, the Tag Team Championship main-eventing a PPV for I think the first time ever, and a 30 minute Iron Man match. Let’s see how it holds up.

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Sting
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “Ravishing” Rick Rude
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: “Stunning” Steve Austin
  • WCW LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “Flyin” Brian Pillman
  • WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner)
  • WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “P.S.” Hayes & Jimmy “Jam” Garvin)

LINEUP

  • Brian Pillman [c] vs. Scotty Flamingo for the WCW LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/4)
  • Ron Simmons vs. The Taylor Made Man (*1/2)
  • Marcus Bagwell vs. Greg Valentine (*1/4)
  • FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE: Sting [c] vs. Cactus Jack for the WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (****1/4)
  • IRON MAN CHALLENGE: Ricky Steamboat vs. Rick Rude (****1/2)
  • Dustin Rhodes, Barry Windham, & Nikita Koloff vs. The Dangerous Alliance (**3/4)
  • The Steiner Brothers [c] vs. The Miracle Violence Connection for the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2)

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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’ 10.2.95 – Savage vs. Luger, Flair vs. Anderson

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Venue: Denver Coliseum (Denver, CO)
Commentators: Eric Bischoff, Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan, & Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael

The beef between Randy Savage and Lex Luger gets physical this week as Luger puts his WCW career on the line in their first-ever encounter. Also on the show perennial ECW opponents Eddie Guerrero and Dean Malenko face off in a WCW ring, Hulk Hogan wants The Giant (BROTHER), and Ric Flair and Arn Anderson square off once again in a Fall Brawl rematch.

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: The American Males (Marcus Bagwell & Scotty Riggs)

The Lineup

  • If Luger Loses He Must Leave WCW: Randy Savage vs. Lex Luger (*1/2)
  • Eddie Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko (***)
  • Ric Flair vs. Arn Anderson (***)

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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 SuperBrawl III’ – The White Castle of Fear

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Date: February 21, 1993
Venue: Asheville Civic Center (Asheville, NC)
Commentators: Tony Schiavone & Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura

The war between Sting and Big Van Vader continues into 1993 as the two headline WCW’s first PPV of 1993. It’s not just any match, however, it’s a ‘White Castle of Fear’ match. What does that mean exactly? Strap match. It’s a strap match. Also on the show The British Bulldog makes his debut, Ric Flair makes his PPV, and Maxx Payne of all people gets a shot at the United States Championship.

CHAMPIONS
  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Big Van Vader
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: ‘The Natural’ Dustin Rhodes
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: Vacant
  • WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat & Shane Douglas
  • NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: The Great Muta
LINEUP
  • Erik Watts & Marcus Alexander Bagwell vs. The Hollywood Blondes (*3/4)
  • 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Chris Benoit (***3/4)
  • Davey Boy Smith vs. Bill Irwin (**)
  • Falls Count Anywhere: Cactus Jack vs. Paul Orndorff (**1/2)
  • The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express vs. The Heavenly Bodies (***1/4)
  • Dustin Rhodes [c] vs. Maxx Payne for the WCW UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP (DUD)
  • The Great Muta [c] vs. Barry Windham for the NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (***)
  • White Castle of Fear: Sting vs. Big Van Vader (****)

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‘WCW SUPERBRAWL II’ Recap + Review – Luger vs. Sting, Pillman vs. Liger, The Body Comes to WCW

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Date: February 29, 1992
Venue: Milwaukee Theatre at the MECCA (Milwaukee, WI)
Commentators: Jim Ross & Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura

The second edition of SuperBrawl moves the PPV to February where it would remain for the rest of WCW’s life. It’s a pretty important show too, as Sting finally gets his shot at WCW World Champion and former best friend Lex Luger, Jesse Ventura returns from Hollywood to debut for WCW, and the American wrestling fans get their minds blown out the back of their skulls by Brian Pillman and Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger. Let’s see how it holds up.

CHAMPIONS
  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: ‘The Total Package’ Lex Luger
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: ‘Ravishing’ Rick Rude
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: ‘Stunning’ Steve Austin
  • WCW LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger
  • WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Arn Anderson & ‘Beautiful’ Bobby Eaton
  • WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: ‘The Taylor Made Man’ Terry Taylor & Greg ‘The Hammer’ Valentine
LINEUP
  • Jushin Liger [c] vs. Brian Pillman for the WCW LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (****)
  • Marcus Alexander Bagwell vs. Terry Taylor (*1/2)
  • Ron Simmons vs. Cactus Jack (**1/4)
  • Van Hammer & Tom Zenk vs. Richard Morton & Vinnie Vegas (*3/4)
  • Dustin Rhodes & Barry Windham vs. Steve Austin & Larry Zbyszko (***)
  • Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton [c] vs. The Steiner Brothers for the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/2)
  • Rick Rude [c] vs. Ricky Steamboat for the WCW UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2)
  • Lex Luger [c] vs. Sting for the WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/2)

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